Hong Kong: CS concludes visit to Switzerland

Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki returned to Hong Kong today after attending meetings of the Universal Periodic Review Working Group of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Switzerland and meeting representatives of several international and local organisations during his visit to the country.

The working group met on January 23 to examine Chinas fourth report, which was submitted under the UNHRC Universal Periodic Review mechanism and includes a part concerning the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The review report was adopted on January 26.

Mr Chan attended the working group meetings as Deputy Head of Chinas delegation. He responded in the meetings to comments and suggestions about the Hong Kong SARs human rights situation, and refuted unfounded and untrue remarks from a small number of countries during the review.

The review report will be presented to a plenary session of the UNHRC in due course. Mr Chan said the Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to join the motherland in undertaking work under the review mechanism, and tell the international community good stories about the Hong Kong SARs human rights situation in a reasoned and robust manner.

In addition to attending meetings of the working group, Mr Chan also called on representatives of several international and local organisations whilst in Switzerland to foster mutual understanding and keep them abreast of developments in Hong Kong.

On January 25, Mr Chan visited the International Social Security Association to meet its Secretary General Marcelo, Abi-Ramia Caetano. They exchanged views on topics including how to establish a sustainable social security system, and how to tackle the challenges brought about by an ageing population.

Mr Chan highlighted that besides enhancing the prevailing non-contributory social security system to provide suitable cash assistance to people with a variety of needs, the Hong Kong SAR Government has recently been implementing a strategy of targeted poverty alleviation to further direct resources to the grassroots groups most in need.

He then visited the International Labour Organization to meet its Director-General, Gilbert F Houngbo, and briefed him on Hong Kongs labour market and social situation.

Mr Chan said that the Hong Kong SAR Government is committed to safeguarding workers rights and benefits and promoting harmonious employer-employee relations. He stressed that imported workers enjoy the same protections as local workers do under Hong Kongs labour laws. He added that the Hong Kong SAR Government has introduced various measures to improve workers rights and benefits in recent years.

Next, Mr Chan visited the World Health Organization (WHO) to meet its Assistant Director-General, External Relations & Governance, Catharina Boehme. They discussed collaboration and exchanges between the Hong Kong SAR Government and the WHO on public health-related issues, including co-operation in combating the COVID-19 pandemic.

On January 24, Mr Chan visited the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) and briefed Director of the IMD World Competitiveness Center Prof Arturo Bris on the latest situation in Hong Kong. He highlighted the citys resumption of full normality following the pandemic and various new policy initiatives which have been introduced, such as those attracting enterprises and talent from around the world to Hong Kong to enhance the citys international competitiveness.

On January 23, Mr Chan met the vice president of the Swiss-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Romandie Chapter, Vincent Subilia, to learn about the chambers work on promoting exchanges and co-operation in business and trade between Switzerland and China.

Mr Chan also spoke to Mr Subilia about Hong Kongs latest social and economic developments, as well as the Hong Kong SAR Government's initiatives to attract enterprises, investment and talent to the city and develop a mega-event economy.

He invited the Swiss business sector to leverage Hong Kongs unique advantages and professional services to further tap into the Mainland market.

This story has been published on: 2024-01-27. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
West's fear of "Chinese hegemony" stems from its own brutal history

Xinhua) 14:41, January 27, 2024

People walk past a foreign exchange office in Cairo, Egypt, on March 21, 2022. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

The hysteria over "Chinese hegemony" reflects a narrow political mindset, while China continues to leverage its influence for the global good.

BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Western assumptions of "Chinese hegemony" reflect their own biases and illustrate a preconceived notion that any powerful nation will inevitably seek supremacy.

The public policy journal platform Pearls and Irritations observed that the West sees China through its own eyes. It ascribes to China the actions the West would take in similar situations.

It is not hard to apprehend this inaccurate but traceable motivation. "Western analysts reach back into European history for solutions to geopolitical contexts which are inevitably based on concepts of hegemony," as the platform notes.

Historically, many Western powers, including Spain, the Netherlands, Britain and France, established hegemonic dominance through military aggression, colonial exploitation and oppression. Their pursuit of hegemony often unfolded amidst conflicts and wars in past centuries.

Western hegemony came with colonialization and the tragic plunder of developing countries, as Pakistani scholar Ikramul Haq observed. However, the mindset of hegemonism did not die with the two World Wars, and some Western countries are still trapped in a hegemonic mindset.

While many developing countries have gained sovereignty after long years of struggles, they continue to face oppression and blockades under the Western-dominated international order. The specter of hegemony persists, shaped by a history of colonization and violence.

Firefighters attend a celebration of the 66th anniversary of Malaysia's independence in Putrajaya, Malaysia, Aug. 31, 2023. On Aug. 31, 1957, the then Federation of Malaya gained independence from British rule. (Photo by Chong Voon Chung/Xinhua)

Therefore, the belief that powerful countries tend to pursue hegemony has dominated the Western world.

However, Western observers must recognize stark distinctions between China and the West in culture, history and development trajectory.

Despite its strength, China refrained from military expansion and invasion. In the Ming dynasty, Chinese navigator Zheng He embarked on seven voyages, establishing friendly relations with more than 30 states, in contrast to the Western subjugation of other nations.

China's political philosophy prioritizes peace, harmony and global well-being. This aligns with its developmental principles and strategic concept of enhancing national strength without seeking hegemony, as Thai scholar Wirun Phichaiwongphakdee said.

Contrary to Western-centric paradigms, China embraces inclusivity, mutual respect among civilizations and every country's fair approach to development. Its pursuit of harmony helps foster a more inclusive world order defined by exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations.

When China and Nicaragua established a strategic partnership, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega said that China came to shake hands with Nicaragua. He noted that imperialist countries should learn from China and strive for peace. He also underscored China's significant contributions to helping people in developing countries achieve shared prosperity and raise living standards.

People welcome Chinese naval hospital ship Peace Ark in Indonesia's capital Jakarta, Nov. 10, 2022. Peace Ark is China's first hospital ship that has a capacity of over 10,000 tonnes. The ship arrived in Indonesia's capital Jakarta on Nov. 10 and has since provided free medical checkups for members of the public. (Photo by Peng Bingjie/Xinhua)

In a world where a hegemonic mindset still holds sway, China's pursuit of peaceful development offers valuable lessons to other nations. The country's rapid development has captured the attention of many interested in exploring new ways to advance human civilization.

"Chinese modernization offers many valuable lessons to developing countries," said Phichaiwongphakdee. He said the Belt and Road Initiative serves the interests of developing countries with its infrastructure cooperation and technological innovation and helps them participate in global governance.

Resonating with Phichaiwongphakdee, Gabriel Merino, adjunct professor at the National University of La Plata, Argentina, said that with hegemonism still rampant worldwide, China has successfully blazed a path of peaceful development, providing excellent experience and reference for other developing countries.

China's steadfast commitment to peace in the international community reflects its broader vision of global cooperation and shared prosperity. The country has no interest in seeking hegemony. The hysteria over "Chinese hegemony" reflects a narrow political mindset, while China continues to leverage its influence for the global good.

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Wu Chaolan)
Duong Dai Luu, 47, was charged for taking selfies and videos while at the United States Capitol during the Jan. 6 siege. U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas

A 47-year-old Katy man was indicted Thursday in Houston on federal charges after he allegedly took multiple selfies and videos during the Jan. 6 siege of the United States Capitol.

Duong Dai Luu was arrested after admitting to FBI agents that he went into the Capitol building for three minutes after following behind rioters who attended a rally for Donald Trump in Washington D.C., that day, according to court documents. Before entering the building, Luu took two selfies of himself on Capitol grounds, the documents continued.

Duong Dai Luu, 47, was seen on video at the United States Capitol during the Jan. 6 siege. U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas

Luu provided two videos of himself he took during the insurrection to the FBI agents Aug. 4, 2021, court records show. One of the videos included a selfie of Luu's face outside of the Capitol, while the other was taken when he was inside the building.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The FBI learned about Luu's alleged participation in the siege after a search warrant was served on Google for "all accounts present at and inside" the Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021, according to court documents. Google location data determined that Luu's account was inside the Capitol during the insurrection, the documents continued.

An FBI agent who saw the videos handed over by Luu observed him entering the Capitol around 2:56 p.m., according to court documents. The agent said he recognized Luu from his "distinctive white North Face puffer jacket," red MAGA trucker hat with an American flag pattern on the mesh, black and gray plaid scarf and bluish-green colored COVID-19 mask. Luu exited the Capitol building at 3 p.m., the agent documented.

The agent also observed Luu inside one of the Capitol building's offices where paper and debris were all over the floor, court records show.

Duong Dai Luu, 47, was seen on video inside an office at the United States Capitol during the Jan. 6 siege. U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas

Luu admitted to an FBI Task Force Officer on Dec. 13, 2023, that he was inside the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, according to court records. During the interview with the officer, Luu was unable to describe what officials did at the Capitol or the purpose of the building. He did tell the officer that he knew "it wasn't good to be inside the building as it was the property of the government and that he was not allowed to enter without permission," court documents showed.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad
From her home in Georgia, the sister of Marcelle Jerrill Waldon has read about his ongoing murder trial in the double slayings of a former Lakeland city commissioner and her husband in November 2020.

Marcelle Waldon smiles as he listens to testimony given by Jarvis Collins during his first-degree murder trial in Bartow on Thursday. Waldon is charged with killing Edie Yates Henderson and David Henderson in their Lake Morton home in November 2020.

She still calls him a monster.

Waldon, 39, is on trial in Bartow on two first-degree murder charges, among a long list of charges against him. He is accused of stabbing Edie Yates Henderson and David Henderson to death in their Lake Morton home.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty if Waldon is convicted.

In a phone interview Friday from Georgia, his sister recalled many details of growing up with him  including details she shared with a Ledger reporter in 2020 following his arrest. Because she alleges he molested her, the Ledger is not naming her.

I'm not here to defend him, she said. I'm against him because I already know about him.

She said she understands his lawyers must defend him, however, I dont like how they try to make it seem like the evidence is not accurate or as if hes innocent or try to portray that he is an innocent man.

She said she does not believe that he has a mental illness because he told her about crimes he committed in the Lake Morton area years before the killings for which he's currently on trial.

They can try to act like he has a mental problem when he doesnt because he acknowledged the wrong that he does, she said. As early as 2014, she said, he told her he liked to go to the Lake Morton neighborhood to steal items from unlocked cars and homes.

They're comfortable on that side of town, she recalled Waldon saying.

But she and his mother warned Waldon after police were called on him by a resident years before the killings that he could end up shot or incarcerated if he kept taking from the neighborhood.

She said Waldon took from her the red Nike bag that has played a prominent role in the trial. Police and prosecutors say it contained DNA from Waldon and Edie Henderson on the drawstrings. She had gotten it when she attended Catherine High School.

Waldon's sister added that she expects the defense to say his mother was an abused spouse and Waldons step-father beat him and he suffers from mental illness

Aint nothing wrong with him, I know that for a fact, she said, adding Waldon had molested her as well as a daughter of his girlfriend, who told a Ledger reporter in 2020 she got a gun to protect her and her kids from Waldon.

Defense attorney Debra Tuomey questions Jarvis Collins during the first-degree murder trial of Marcelle Waldon.

A Ledger report attempted to reach Waldons girlfriend but was unsuccessful.

The 33-year-old sister has not been attending his trial, because it is too toxic around the family in the Lakeland area. And she moved to Georgia to get away from that environment, she said.

She is also nine months pregnant and cannot afford to travel to Florida for the trial, she said, adding that she still has nightmares about the killings her brother is accused of.

Waldons mother and father have been seated in the front row of the courtroom each day to observe as the prosecution piles up evidence against their son and his defense attempts to convince the jury that he is not guilty. They are expected to testify should there be a penalty phase.

At the Hendersons home, the prosecutors allege that Waldon brutally stabbed the couple and robbed them of their jewelry, took two bank checks, credit cards and then drove off in the husbands white Audi. The stolen car was later recovered torched in a field along Oregon Avenue near Lakeland.

In all, he is charged with:

Two counts of first-degree murder.

Burglary of a dwelling with assault and assault and battery while armed with a firearm.

Two counts of kidnaping.

Robbery with a firearm.

Attempted arson.

Arson.

Grand theft of a motor vehicle.

Tampering with physical evidence.

Uttering a forged bill, check or draft.

Lakeland police crime scene technician Kimberly Patterson walks the jury through photos during Marcelle Waldon's murder trial.

Key evidence and testimony so far

Multiple witnesses for the prosecution were called in the first four days of the trial, which started Monday. The prosecution opened the trial by presenting the jury with a narrative of the alleged crimes and calling Waldon twisted for taking pictures of the crime scene. The defense opened with a brief statement saying the states witnesses would give inconsistent testimony.

Among the key pieces of evidence and testimony presented so far:

The victims' family members took the stand, including Todd Baylis, Edie Henderson's son, who called 911 to report something was wrong at his parents' home. He had gone there after work after receiving several calls that his mother had missed business appointments, he said.

The jury also heard from Lakeland police officers who made the gruesome discovery of the deceased victims in the third-floor master bedroom of the Lake Morton Drive home.

Prosecutors showed pictures and video of the bloody crime scene, taken by police.

Two men, Jarvis Collins and Roderick Burgess, testified that they drove around with Waldon in the day after the killings trying to help him pawn jewelry. Prosecutors say the jewelry was taken from the Hendersons' home.

Text messages between Collins and Waldon were presented to the jury. In one exchange, Waldon told Collins, "yeah, got jewelry. A whole lot."

Collins testified that Waldon bought gasoline in Lakeland and had shown him the Audi key fob inside his room at the Relax Inn.

Workers and a walker near the Hendersons' home testified they saw David Henderson routinely walking around the lake as well as Waldon lurking nearby their home.

A member of the LPD SWAT team testified about items found on Waldon during his arrest at the Relax Inn, which included a silver revolver and credit cards.

A woman who worked for Amscot said Waldon tried unsuccessfully to cash a $5,000 check belonging to the Hendersons.

Fire investigators said the burned-out Audi stolen from the Hendersons was started by an accelerant.

The defense, meanwhile, has questioned police about the integrity of the crime scene. No DNA evidence from the crime scene has been presented at trial.

Defense attorney Debra Tuomey also challenged the believability of Collins, asking him about the immunity he enjoyed while under subpoena as a witness. She jumped on inconsistencies in some of his statements. At times, Collins seemed confused by questions. And Tuomey noted that Collins told investigators information about the killings that had not yet been made public or distributed to the news media.

Tuomey also pointed out that Waldon had no apparent injuries that might be consistent with an intense struggle. Collins had several injuries, attributed to fall down a flight of stairs during a seizure.

What's next?

The trial is set to resume on Monday and the prosecution could present its final witness by Tuesday.

The upcoming witnesses for the state are expected to include Lakeland police investigators who interviewed Waldon, Collins and Burgess, as well as the medical examiner who performed autopsies on the victims.

As of Friday, no list of defense witnesses was available.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: The key moments of Marcelle Waldon's murder trial at the break
Physician associates have attempted to illegally prescribe drugs at dozens of NHS trusts and missed life-threatening diagnoses, a dossier claims.

Doctors working across the country claim patients lives have been put at risk by physician associates (PAs) who they say have failed to respond appropriately to medical emergencies  alleging more than 70 instances of patient harm and near misses.

The Telegraph has seen responses from more than 600 doctors to a survey on PAs run by Doctors Association UK (DAUK), a campaign group.

The data suggest that at over half of Englands hospital trusts, doctors are being replaced by PAs on the rota, despite associates only completing a two-year postgraduate course and having no legal right to prescribe.

A spokesperson from the Department of Health said their role is to support doctors, not replace them.

Missed diagnoses

This Telegraph has interviewed more than a dozen surveyed doctors, as well as other clinicians worried about patient safety.

At Dudley Group NHS Trust, one junior doctor said a PA had missed an obvious heart attack on an ECG, having just signed it as if it was normal.

A clinician in primary care alleged PAs repeatedly misdiagnosed a patients metastatic cancer as muscle ache  despite blood results that were tantamount to a cancer diagnosis.

They said: The patient could have been saved eight months of pain; their life could have been prolonged.

Scrutiny of the role has intensified since last July when a coroner attributed the death of 30-year-old Emily Chesterton to the failings of the physician associate she consulted.

But this dossier is the first indication of the potential scale of the problem.

Several peers, including Lord Lansley, the former health secretary, have voiced concern at The Telegraphss findings, with two members intending to raise them in Parliament.

The British Medical Association (BMA) said ministers plan to regulate PAs alongside doctors is dangerous, but that there is still time to stop it.

Surveyed doctors at 24 trusts in England claim to have witnessed associates prescribing medications and requesting X-rays that use ionising radiation  both of which would be illegal.

And at a third of hospital trusts, doctors report seeing PAs introduce themselves as doctor, or not correct those who wrongly identify them as such.

Dr Matt Kneale, DAUKs co-chair, said: Despite being introduced to alleviate the burden on doctors, the survey reveals that PAs have done the opposite.

After the Commons approved draft legislation to enable the General Medical Council (GMC) to regulate PAs last Monday, campaigning doctors are calling for a last-minute intervention from peers.

Citing patient safety concerns, they want the order amended so PAs are regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) responsible for physiotherapists and paramedics.

Baronesses Foster of Oxton and Fox of Buckley both said they would raise The Telegraphs revelations on Feb 6, when the statutory instrument is put to the Lords.

Baroness Foster said the dossier was further evidence that PAs should not be licensed with the GMC, while Baroness Fox said it showed the legislative change was much bigger than [ministers] are letting on.

Assistant vs associate

Lord Lansley proposed reverting to physician assistant as a title, as it better indicated to patients that a PA is in a supervised position, rather than the clinician responsible for their care.

At Birmingham Childrens Hospital, a junior doctor told the newspaper they felt very unsafe when one of just four doctors covering inpatient wards at night was replaced by a PA.

We are talking about the sickest of the sickest children who have had major cardiac surgeries, multi-organ transplants, said the doctor, who separately alleged having to physically intervene to prevent an associate from writing a prescription.

The childrens hospital confirmed that PAs are on the doctors rota, but said it will investigate the claim of attempted prescription misuse.

A clinician at Dudley Group NHS Trust also expressed fury over a PA using their GMC credentials to prescribe: When I confronted him he said, Well, youre going to sign it for me anyways.

BMA chair Professor Phil Banfield said: Regulating doctors and non-doctors together is potentially dangerous, as it increases the risk of patients mistakenly believing PA care equals doctor expertise. It does not.

It is shameful for this fundamental change to patient care to have been carried out by a legislative back door, but there is still time to stop it.

The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) said that patient safety is paramount, and while these incidents are rare, any harm caused is unacceptable.

They added that regulation will boost patient safety and the GMC would operate strict fitness-to-practice procedures and set education and training standards.

Both NHS and DHSC spokespeople said PAs should work with appropriate supervision and within their scope of practice, which excludes prescribing.

The Telegraphs Investigations Team is looking to speak to readers who have been treated by a physician associate in the NHS. To get in touch, please email investigations@telegraph.co.uk

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
Colfax High School and Elementary Schools were placed on lockdown Friday, which was ultimately lifted after deputies canvassed both campuses following reports an unauthorized person trespassed on each school site, according to the Placer County Sheriffs Office.

The Placer County Sheriffs Office said about 2:30 p.m. deputies still were on site but had cleared both schools because the suspect left.

All children and staff are currently safe, deputies said in a social media post. The schools have both been taken off of lockdown.

Both schools are located less than a mile apart near heavily wooded areas.

The Sheriffs Office said a person reported a single gunshot fired close to both schools while deputies were on scene. This incident is not related to why the school was placed on lockdown, deputies said.

We will be conducting area searches in relation to the gun shot, the Sheriffs Office said.

It was unclear how long the lockdown lasted. No one was arrested in either incident and the suspect left Colfax, said Sgt. David Smith, a spokesman with the Sheriffs Office.

Colfax High School on Ben Taylor Road is part of the Placer Union High School District. Colfax Elementary School is the sole school in the Colfax Elementary School District, serving transitional kindergarten through eighth grade.
Before Kaitlin Armstrong was found guilty of killing professional gravel cyclist Anna Moriah "Mo" Wilson, she was on the run in Costa Rica from the murder charge.

A few days after Wilson was murdered on May 11, 2022, a warrant was issued for Armstrong. She had become a suspect because her Jeep was seen on security cameras shortly before Wilson was murdered. She had also been described as being angry over a past relationship her boyfriend Colin Strickland had with Wilson. But when investigators went to look for her, she was nowhere to be found. The Lone Star Fugitive Task Force got the job of tracking her down. They suspected Armstrong had flown to Costa Rica on May 18, 2022. There, she tried to hide her identity by using other names  Beth and Ari  and she cut and dyed her hair.

Two Deputy U.S. Marshals, part of the task force, headed to Costa Rica to find her. "48 Hours" contributor Jonathan Vigliotti has the first interview with members of the task force in "Capturing Moriah Wilson's Killer," now streaming on Paramount +.

Deputy Marshals Emir Perez and Damien Fernandez landed in San Jose, Costa Rica, on June 20, 2022. They quickly moved to the beach town of Jaco, looking for Armstrong, but they did not find her. From there, a tip led them to Santa Teresa, another beach town popular among surfers and yoga enthusiasts.

The Marshals made it to Santa Teresa at night on June 22, 2022, and they quickly found that Armstrong was likely blending in. "I think from the get-go we were told  you're gonna be in for a surprise 'cause a lot of the women in Santa Teresa look just like Kaitlin -- a lot of them," said Fernandez.

Perez and Fernandez knew that Armstrong was into yoga, so they sent a female operative to a few classes to see if they could spot her. "She actually did, three different classes for us," said Perez. And they tapped into local contacts who reported various possible sightings of Armstrong. But nothing panned out.

The Marshals later discovered why they initially failed to find her in Santa Teresa. Those first few days they were searching for Armstrong, she was not there. Armstrong had gone to San Jose where she got plastic surgery. The Marshals and Armstrong had just missed each other.

"I mean, talk about odds. the whole time that we're in Santa Teresa, she's not there," said Perez.

Kaitlin Armstrong before,left, and after her plastic surgery. / Credit: U.S. Marshals/Harris County Sheriff's Office

The Deputy Marshals did not give up and came up with another plan to track her down that finally worked. Armstrong was caught and arrested on June 29. A receipt for cosmetic surgery was discovered at the hostel where she was found. Perez said she had a bandage on her nose when he found her, but it was her eyes that gave her away.

U.S. troops killed in drone strike identified

Why U.S. journalism is facing an uncertain future

Several major U.S. companies announce layoffs, office mandates
When Donald Tusk first won power in Poland in 2007, the countrys media coined a tender moniker to describe his approach towards his political rivals: the politics of love.

His second stint as the countrys prime minister is proving far less amorous.

The returning veteran of Polish centrism, who formed a coalition government after an impressive election result last year, has surprised critics and even many supporters with a confrontational approach towards Law and Justice (PiS), the populist group he defeated.

His attitude (in 2007) was extremely conciliatory towards the defeated enemy. I think he later regretted that, said Jacek Kucharczyk, the president of the Warsaw-based Institute of Public Affairs think tank.

This time, Tusk has moved as quickly and decisively as possible in tackling the gargantuan task of undoing PiS illiberal and far-reaching changes to the Polish state  an agenda he and his supporters say will restore Polands democratic institutions.

He wanted to do the most difficult  politically, legally  things first, in order to clean the slate, Kucharczyk said.

But cleaning the slate is painful business, and Tusks early moves as prime minister have caused fissures in Polish society to explode into outright hostility.

The countrys public television channel, TVP, which essentially became a mouthpiece for the previous government, has been ripped off the air. Two senior ex-ministers in PiS governments have been arrested inside the Presidential Palace. And those on the right of Polish politics have taken to the streets in an effort to drum up pressure on the new leader.

It has delighted many of those who voted for Tusks alliance of parties, and satisfied a blood lust among much of Polands population after eight divisive years of PiS rule. Theres a sense of justice being seen to be done, said Stanley Bill, a professor of Polish Studies at the University of Cambridge.

But there are also concerns too that Tusk is doing too much, too fast.

No plan has been presented for how the institutions will be restored in the medium or long term, Bill argued. Its been done in a hurry.

Were in an ad hoc state of exception, he added. Were seeing an escalation of a genuine political and legal crisis in Poland.

An aggressive first move

The central question facing Tusk is how to restore the independence of Polands media and judiciary, which has been degraded by eight years of authoritarian PiS reforms.

It is a question with no right answer. PiS protected its changes to the state by stuffing legal and decision-making bodies with loyalists, and the PiS-aligned President Andrzej Duda is expected to block legislative attempts to undo those reforms.

(PiSs) philosophy was to create as much legal ambiguity as possible, explained Kucharczyk.

A protest by PiS supporters in Warsaw against Tusk's effort to overhaul TVP. The populist group has reacted furiously to his first moves in office. - Omar Marques/Getty Images

But Tusk  a politician with a reputation for pragmatism and restraint  showed his intentions within days of taking office.

He dismissed the heads of public broadcaster TVP, replacing them with new executives, in an effort to rapidly remove the pro-PiS bias that had turned the national broadcaster into a partisan outlet.

That move outraged PiS, causing a weeks-long sit-in protest inside TVPs headquarters and forcing its news channel off the air over Christmas. A subsequent spat with Duda over funding for the broadcaster ended with the government putting it into liquidation, alongside news agency PAP.

But it fulfilled a promise Tusk made during the election to remove PiSs influence on the channel in 24 hours. And it brought relief to millions of voters  including even some PiS supporters  who had become increasingly embarrassed and tired of the broadcasters slant.

It became symbolic of the excesses of the PiS government, Bill said of TVPs transformation into a Hungarian-style state-captured medium. Even his more moderate voters didnt want to watch the propaganda on TVP for a day longer.

People who support this government considered the status quo in public media as not only a political scandal, but a moral scandal, Kucharczyk added. (They) are relieved that the people who ran the media are gone, and theyre thankful that this happened so quickly many people didnt think this would be possible.

There was a personal motive for Tusk, too. You couldnt be in the situation that Tusk has been in for eight years  totally demonized, and presented as the root of all evil  and not have it affect you, Bill said.

The political and personal motives here are very strongly connected, added Kucharczyk.

A trade-off between two evils

Tusk fanned the flames of Polands societal divide with his early moves on public television  an egg-breaking approach to restoring democracy that critics say mirrors the methods of his populist rivals.

His initial move to dismiss the PiS-appointed executives of TVP was ruled unlawful by the PiS-filled Constitutional Tribunal  a body whose authority the government dismisses  and it caused an early first standoff with Duda.

Then, soon after, Polish police dramatically entered the Presidential Palace to arrest on abuse of power charges two PiS politicians who had seemingly taken refuge in Dudas place of work. Duda and PiS had maintained they were legally pardoned years ago, a stance the courts disagreed with, and the party has since made the two politicians martyrs of their wounded populist movement. Duda issued a second pardon on Tuesday.

The timing of the saga coincidentally fell in Tusks first weeks, and in the wake of the clash over TVP, intensifying the dogfight between Tusk and his predecessors in power.

Just as the PiS occupation of Poland ended, the PiS occupation of state offices will end, Tusk wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, last week, in a comment indicative of his pugnacious attitude towards the partys leaders. The occupiers reputation will stay with them for a long time.

His moves have heightened a tense political environment inside Poland, which had been simmering since long before Octobers election and increased during a drawn-out transfer of power.

Central to the problem is that PiS built many of its reforms into law, and created a sympathetic legal apparatus to further protect its changes.

The result is that Poles effectively live in two separate realities depending on their political leanings, with each universe containing courts and institutions that question the authority of the other.

Its extremely difficult to find any way to undo (PiS reforms), without resorting to the same sorts of decisionist, legally dubious means that PiS used to capture the institutions in the first place, Bill argued.

To force changes at TVP, for example, Tusk had to bypass the National Media Council  a body that PiS created in 2016 to oversee public media, and promptly filled with loyalists. The agency is widely dismissed as an effort by PiS to cement its influence over public media while creating the semblance of independence in how it is governed; but its creation was nonetheless codified in law, so to dismantle it would require Dudas sign-off.

But Bill added that Tusks dilemma is a tradeoff between different evils.

The alternative would have been to work more slowly, more deliberately, which could take years, he said. Taking the more delicate approach (would) mean, in practice, having to leave degenerated, captured institutions as they are for some period of time.

No clear plan for whats next

Early signs suggest Poles have not been turned off by Tusks politically aggressive first weeks.

Opinion polls indicate his coalition would win another election with a slightly increased vote share. PiS share of the vote has meanwhile slumped amid the partys angry backlash to Tusks moves, with less than a third of Poles supporting the group in most surveys.

And his appointment has been celebrated in Brussels. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told reporters at a joint news conference with Tusk last month: I welcome your commitment to put the rule of law at the top of your governments agenda we will need to make up for lost time.

But the road ahead could be difficult to navigate.

There is no clear plan for what happens next, Bill said. He pointed to the liquidation of TVP as a short-term measure; currently, Tusks re-capturing of public media is being debated in duelling courts, neither of which accepts the authority of the other.

Tusk enjoys universal support across his coalition for his mission to de-PiSify Poland. But he must also turn soon to his own agenda  and he will hope that such moves do not become entangled with or complicated by the effects of his fight with the former ruling party.

Police cars leave the Presidential Palace after two former PiS ministers are arrested. PiS say they were legally pardoned years ago. - Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto/Getty Images

Tusk recently reiterated a campaign promise to loosen Polands abortion rules, which were changed by PiS and currently make the procedure virtually impossible to access. He has been pushed to make progress on that issue by the left-wing party in his alliance, but he will need also to keep more conservative, center-right lawmakers onside.

And on the European stage, Tusk will hope to soon unfreeze funds for Poland that were blocked by the European Union over PiS degradation of the rule of law.

It is a hefty in-tray, and his every move will continue to be criticized by the opposition, who remain a formidable force even without the control of the national broadcaster.

One of the unifying forces of PiS supporters is distrust, or even hatred, of Donald Tusk, Kucharczyk said. That hasnt changed.

The politics of love feel like a relic from a different world. And Tusks gameplan makes clear that things will get messier before they get better.

Nonetheless, after eight years of populist rule that hardened the battle lines of Polish politics, much of the public is spoiling for a fight.

Tusks approach can only further damage Polands institutions, legal order, and perhaps most importantly the set of conventions in which those institutions are practiced, Bill said. (But) from a political point of view, its simple: this is what the voters want.

Correction: This story has been updated to reflect that the two PiS politicians were charged with abuse of power.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now)  A man was arrested Friday morning for distributing fentanyl around Northern Virginia after several months of investigations.

The Loudoun County Sheriffs Office (LCSO) conducted an arrest and search warrant and took Austin Shin, 24, into custody outside his residence.

LCSO found and seized thousands of fentanyl pills, a gun, ammunition, more than $6,000 in U.S. currency and 10.2 ounces of marijuana.

Woman sentenced to life in prison for killing mom, sister in Fairfax County

Shin was also arrested in 2022 in Alexandria and was found with about 1,000 fentanyl pills and a gun. He was on probation for those charges when he was arrested Friday.

LCSO charged Shin with the following:

Three counts of distribution of fentanyl

Two counts of possession with intent to distribute

Three counts of distribution of narcotics on or near school property

One count of possession, manufacturing and distribution of weapon of terrorism (Fentanyl)

One count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon

One count of possession of a firearm while in possession of narcotics

He is being held without bond at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center in Leesburg.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Police have been urged to reveal how many cases of potential surgical malpractice they are investigating at a scandal-hit Brighton hospital.

Lawyers for victims of allegedly incompetent surgeons at Royal Sussex County Hospital have said the reported number of just over 105 cases is likely to be the tip of the iceberg.

In June 2023 Sussex Police launched Operation Bamber, an investigation into allegations of cover-up and medical negligence, including reportedly dozens of cases where patients died.

The investigation concerns incidents in the neurosurgery and general surgery departments of the hospital between 2015 and 2021, including 23-year-old Lewis Chilcott, who died after an alleged error during a tracheotomy procedure led to a fatal arterial bleed.

The Telegraph can reveal that police have begun the process of interviewing witnesses among the staff, and have notified the surgeons under suspicion that they will form part of the investigation.

However, lawyers for the victims have said that many families of affected patients have yet to be notified that their cases are under review, leading to widespread distress and confusion.

One major London firm is even staging a walk-in event in Brighton next week so that people who think they might have been affected can seek advice.

Nisha Sharma, a lawyer at Slater Gordon, said: I do suspect that there will be more cases involved in this investigation.

My feeling based on experience of this sort of thing is that the cases that have come forward so far are the tip of the iceberg.

She added: The fact that families of the affected patients have yet to be notified by the University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust that their cases are part of Operation Bamber, has caused widespread concern, as has the fact the Trust has not suspended the surgeons alleged to be involved.

Police called

It is understood that it was the number of adverse incidents in the two departments concerned that prompted police to take action, rather than a particular type of medical injury.

Awareness of the scale of the problems at the trust has been growing in and around Brighton, and local MP Caroline Lucass office has forwarded on numerous enquiries from concerned former patients.

The trusts clinical competence was also questioned in the recent inquest of Abigail Fowler Miller, a baby who was delivered by emergency caesarean in the hospital foyer after her mother had been repeatedly assured by maternity staff over the phone that she did not need to come to the hospital.

By the time the mother, Katie Fowler, arrived at the hospital in a taxi she was in cardiac arrest.

She briefly met Abigail two days later, after being woken from an induced coma, but the baby died shortly after.

This week Sussex Police would not say how many cases it is investigating, but urged anyone with concerns to contact the force quoting Operation Bamber.

University Sussex NHS Foundation Trust says it is cooperating fully with the police inquiry but is unable to discuss publicly matters related to it.

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.
CHARLOTTE  A man who was shot and killed by police in a rural part of Eaton County on Jan. 11 had threatened to get in a shootout with officers and fired a weapon at deputies after they forced his vehicle off the road, the Eaton County Sheriff's Office said.

Three members of the sheriff's department were involved in the incident, and officials identified them as Lt. Preston Dahlgren and deputies Shelby Studley and Randi Lane. The sheriff's department on Friday also released video footage from the incident.

The fatal shooting of Garrett Roger Freeman, 33, happened in the area of St. Joe Highway and Gates Road, near Sunfield in Roxand Township.

Freeman's name was not released until earlier this week, and Friday's news release included the first substantive update about events leading up to the shooting more than two weeks ago.

Those events began on Jan. 9, when Charlotte police responded to a domestic assault call in the 500 block of North Cochran Avenue, the release said. During that incident, Freman reportedly "rammed his car into the victim's vehicle and came dangerously close to her house," police said.

The sheriff's department learned of the incident the next day, according to Friday's news release. Officials said Freeman "claimed he was ready for a shootout with the police and stated he was in possession of over 100 rounds of ammunition." Officials also noted that Freeman had "mulitple handguns" registered in his name. The release did not say to whom Freeman made the claims about getting in a shootout with police.

This image was released by the Eaton County Sheriff's Office Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. Police said Garrett Freeman, in the white truck, claimed he was "ready for a shootout with the police and stated he was in possession of over 100 rounds of ammunition" before fleeing police in rural Eaton County in connection with a domestic violence incident. The sheriff's office said Freeman fired a handgun at police after he was stopped, and police returned fire, killing him.

On the day of the shooting, the county's 911 call center told deputies Freeman claimed he was headed to the same house on Cochran Avenue, "expressing his intent to start shooting before police arrived," the release said.

A deputy spotted his truck, which was pulling a trailer, shortly after 1 p.m. and tried to make a traffic stop, but Freeman sped off, leading to a brief road chase, according to the release. The chase ended when a deputy managed to force Freeman's truck off the road, where it became stuck in snow, it says.

Freeman ignored commands to raise his hands and eventually fired on officers with a semi-automatic handgun, officials said.

"In response, the deputies on the scene returned fire," the release said.

Freeman was taken to Sparrow Hopsital, where he was pronounced dead, officials said. Freeman's handgun was recovered and turned over to state police, who are investigating the shooting and have all of the evidence, they said.

The officers involved in the shooting are on paid adminsitrative leave pending the outcome of the state police investigation, officials said previously.

The sheriff's department will do a full internal investigation once the state police investigation is finished, according to the release.

Michigan State Police have not commented on the incident.

Contact Ken Palmer at kpalmer@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @KBPalm_lsj.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Officials: Man killed by Eaton County deputies fired on police first
Police forces are failing to attend four out of five calls to shoplifting offences, data obtained by The Telegraph shows.

The proportion of shoplifting offences where police forces send an officer has fallen from 36 per cent in 2019 to just 19.7 per cent in 2023, according to the figures obtained under Freedom of Information laws.

National data last week showed shoplifting offences have risen by more than 30 per cent in a year to a record 1,300 a day but only one in seven are being solved.

The number of shoplifting offences reported to police jumped from 304,459 in the year to Sept 2022 to 402,482 in the year to Sept 2023, a rise of 32.2 per cent. It is the first time on record that it has passed 400,000 in a year.

Harvey Redgrave, a former No 10 adviser and chief executive of crime consultancy Crest Advisory, said: These figures confirm a worrying trend, which has seen the police less likely to respond to bread and butter crimes.

Most forces provided no data

There is little point in politicians promising to toughen penalties for shoplifting if the police arent able to get past first base, which is attending the scene of the crime.

Most forces contacted by The Telegraph under Freedom of Information laws failed to provide data when asked whether officers attended reports of shoplifting.

Of the six that responded, Leicestershire showed the worst figures, with officers attending just 11.6 per cent of reported offences.

That compared with 26.9 per cent in Merseyside, the best force, though its response was down from 35.5 per cent in 2019.

In North Wales, just 13.6 per cent of shoplifting offences were attended by a police officer, down from 26.4 per cent in 2019.

In South Yorkshire, one of the biggest urban forces, the figure was down from 38.7 per cent in 2019 to 17.7 per cent last year.

Durham logged the biggest fall, from 77.9 per cent in 2019 to 22.2 per cent last year.

Staffordshire remained relatively constant at 29.8 per cent in 2019 and 26.3 per cent last year.

Rick Muir, director of the Police Foundation think tank, said: These figures show that the police have tended to deprioritise retail crime in recent years, passing responsibility on to shopkeepers and supermarkets to retrieve evidence and only rarely pursuing cases.

This was in the context of a shortage of officers and rising demand in other areas. Now officer numbers have increased, there is more capacity to refocus on this problem.

Many shoplifters never attend court

The shoplifting surge has been blamed on the cost of living crisis but in recent years, police forces have also stopped attending reports of routine shop theft, and will only send an officer to investigate if there has been a threat of violence against a member of staff.

Even if shoplifters are caught, a change in the law in 2014 means those charged with the theft of goods below 200 no longer have to attend court, and often escape with a small fine or an out of court disposal.

As a result, many shopkeepers claim they have been left at the mercy of persistent thieves who act with virtual impunity without fear of arrest.

Under an agreement announced last October police will attend shoplifting incidents if there is violence against a store worker, a suspected thief is detained or officers are needed to secure evidence. Police chiefs said it was not realistic for officers to respond to every shoplifting incident.

The police action plan will instead encourage retailers to send in CCTV pictures of all shoplifting suspects, which officers will check against the police national databases 20 million images using facial recognition technology.

Ministers claim this will exponentially increase the chances of catching shoplifters and identifying prolific offenders who will be specially targeted.

A spokesman for the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) said: Retail crime can have a significant impact on victims which is why we are committed to doing all we can to reduce thefts and pursue offenders, especially those prolific and habitual offenders, who cause misery within the community.

Organised crime can also be responsible for a proportion of these offences which is why we welcome the collaboration between retailers, police and crime commissioners and policing through Project Pegasus, which enhances our ability to identify and tackle the groups involved.

In addition to this, we have also developed a Retail Crime Action plan which sets out clear guidelines for the response to retail crime, including following all reasonable lines of enquiry.

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.
Since this column aims to highlight aspects of culture of which readers may be unaware, it tends to avoid becoming too philosophical. However, having just read David Stubbss recent study Different Times: A History of British Comedy, I feel a little philosophy is required on the subject of British humour.

Stubbss survey starts with the films of Chaplin and Laurel and Hardy, and culminates in the largely tedious sitcoms of current times. The latters function appears to be to present to viewers a right-on, offence-free world in which many of us simply do not live.

Stubbss book is so earnest in its virtue-signalling that I found it shocking whenever he said something with which I agreed  such as about the magnificence of Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949), or the terrible sadness of Tony Hancock, or the clever role of class in Dads Army (1968-77): though Stubbss use of the last as a means of voicing his obsession with Brexit is one of several reasons why one struggles to take his book seriously.

It is another exercise in arguing that much of the British past merits disapproval, not least because of our penchant until well into the television age to make jokes about black people, brown people, Irish people, Scottish people, Welsh people, disabled people, unintelligent people and homosexual people. If there is a national sense of humour, was it really once based so much on mockery and cruelty?

We forget that it is part of our character to seek weakness, not to deride it cruelly, but to tease people, often as a perverse form of comradeship. There are many white, heterosexual, able-bodied men who have been the target of jokes because they are fat, bald, coarse, refined, have ginger hair, a peculiar voice, or beards. Stubbs believes political correctness saved our comedy because it stopped it relying on giving offence and forced it to be more inventive. Perhaps he is right, though we have all heard offensive jokes that are cripplingly funny. I remember first watching the Fawlty Towers episode The Germans (1975) and laughing so hard, I almost had to go to A&E. (Perhaps that makes me monstrous.)

Stubbs rules out large areas of potential amusement because of the terror of causing offence; I dont, because we all get offended in life, and that is human nature. I know it will upset many black people that a character in the dire sitcom On the Buses (1969-73) was called Chalkie, so named because he was black. Yet he did not appear disliked in any way: there is quite a road from giving someone a nickname to persecuting them, but the wokerati dont do degree.

We probably now lack a national sense of humour, not least because we are so deeply divided about what, or whom, to laugh about. Perhaps it takes a war to change that; if so, I hope we remain without an agreed target for a while yet. But we must conquer this deranged hatred of causing offence. If you try hard enough, you can find someone who is offended by almost anything: but I really wouldnt bother.

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 Metro light rail train passes the University of Houston-Downtown along the Buffalo Bayou shown from a window view in the Harris County Criminal Justice Center Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024, in Houston. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer

University of Houston-Downtown leaders hope to nearly double the school's physical footprint by 2050, taking advantage of a reconstructed freeway to build a more cohesive campus that extends into the Warehouse District.

President Loren Blanchard unveiled a new campus master plan Thursday at the universitys 50th anniversary celebration, drawing gasps and applause at a map that included five new academic buildings and two residence halls. The university will also complement the growth with a slate of new majors for its undergraduate and graduate students.

The future of the University of Houston-Downtown is a bigger, better university that stands as a well-grounded, undeniable, well-known anchor of the city of Houston, Blanchard said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

University of Houston-Downtown currently has eight buildings split between both sides of Interstate 10 at the intersection of White Oak and Buffalo bayous. Enrollment has nearly doubled at UHD over the past 25 years, but the spatial constraints have prevented wide-scale physical expansion and largely kept the school a commuter campus. (UHD last had a residence hall in the 1980s.)

A University of Houston Downtown campus master plan shows massive growth through 2050, aided by the slight movement of Interstate-10 in the North Houston Highway Improvement Project. Courtesy of University of Houston Downtown

The Texas Department of Transportations 20-year project to reconstruct the downtown freeways should erase many of those limitations. The project will relocate Interstate 10 slightly north through a different part of campus, freeing up space for future development and allowing the university to stretch east without requiring students to cross under major highways to walk from building to building.

The campus will become more pedestrian-friendly with added green space, Blanchard said. And aside from the residence halls and academic building, other envisioned spaces include a student union, an innovation and entrepreneur center, a performance arts building, two parking areas and a convocation center.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The University of Houston System has approved the plan as aspirational, UHD executive director of communications Marie Jacinto said.

NEW BUILD: University of Houston Downtown opens new rec center with hopes of building more community on campus

Building costs and fundraising details will come later in the process, she said, confirming that UHD does not own land in the Warehouse District.

UHD opened its new $39 million Wellness & Success Center this semester on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023 at University of Houston Downtown in Houston, TX. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer

UHD has already seen massive growth in recent years, with its most recent addition being a $39 million Wellness & Success Center. Students and administrators said they hoped the exercise facility would be the first of many improvements to create a larger sense of community at the campus  although UH Downtown serves more than 14,000 students, many of them are part-time and are older than the traditional post-high school student.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The next round of improvements should make campus feel safer and even more cohesive than it has become, senior Kaytilyn Gant said.

There has been an immense amount of growth since I started my freshman year to my senior year now, Gant said. This is amazing advancement.

UHD opened its new $39 million Wellness & Success Center this semester on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023 at University of Houston Downtown in Houston, TX. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer

STUDENT SUCCESS: UH Downtown partners with national institute to double graduation rate

University officials are also working on approvals for new master of social work and bachelor of science in cyber security programs, which are planned to launch in fall 2025, Jacinto said. University officials revealed Thursday that other programs could roll out in the next five to 10 years, including a Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing and Process Engineering Technology, a Bachelor of Arts in Translation, and more programming in computer science, engineering and artificial intelligence fields.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad
WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden vowed to take immediate action to "shut down" the U.S.-Mexico border if Congress approves a proposal under negotiation in the Senate as he urged lawmakers to pass a bipartisan bill "if they're serious about the border crisis."

Biden, in a statement released Friday night, said what's being negotiated in the Senate would be "the toughest and fairest set of reforms to secure the border weve ever had in our country."

He said the proposal would include new presidential authority to "shut down the border when it becomes overwhelmed."

"And if given that authority, I would use it the day I sign the bill into law," Biden said.

Biden's statement sought to save a bipartisan border deal on the verge of collapse after Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., acknowledged privately to other Republican senators this week that opposition from former President Donald Trump  the 2024 Republican presidential frontrunner  puts the party in a dilemma.

The demise of a bipartisan border deal would deny Biden the chance to claim a victory in addressing surging migration at the southern border  a topic that Republicans have hammered Biden over throughout his presidency.

President Joe Biden speaks at Earth Rider Brewery, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024, in Superior, Wis.

Trump reiterated his opposition to a border deal in a Saturday morning post on his social media website Truth Social.

"A BAD BORDER DEAL IS FAR WORSE THAN NO BORDER DEAL!" Trump wrote.

In an unusually blunt assessment last week, Biden told reporters the border is not secure amid record surges in migration, calling for "significant policy changes" with the asylum system and executive authorities to control the border.

Biden is seeking a deal for a $110 billion supplemental spending package in Congress that would include border measures to bring Republicans on board to back more funding to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia.

Under the package discussed in the Senate, the Department of Homeland Security would be granted the power to shut the border down when migrants seeking to cross without prior authorization exceed a daily average of 4,000 over a one-week period, CNN and other media outlets reported.

And if migrant border crossings surpass an average of 5,000 a day, the Department of Homeland Security would be required to close the border to migrants crossing illegally and not at ports of entry. According to CNN, certain migrants would be allowed to remain in the U.S. under the proposal if they are fleeing torture or persecution in their countries.

"Securing the border through these negotiations is a win for America," Biden said in his Friday statement. "For everyone who is demanding tougher border control, this is the way to do it. If youre serious about the border crisis, pass a bipartisan bill and I will sign it."

Yet even if an agreement is reached in the Senate, any proposal would likely face Republican resistance in the House.

Speaker Mike Johnson, who said he has spoken to Trump regularly about border talks, warned in a letter Friday that a Senate bipartisan border and immigration deal is likely dead on arrival in the House. And on Saturday, Johnson released a statement arguing that Biden can stop migration without Congress' help: "He can and must take executive action immediately to reverse the catastrophe he has created."

Johnson reiterated the Democratic-controlled Senate should take up the Houses strict, hardline border and migrant policy bill passed last year, referred to as H.R. 2. He said the measure already contains the core legislative reforms that are necessary to actually compel the Biden Administration to resolve the border catastrophe.

President Donald Trump departs for his sexual assault defamation trial in New York on January 25, 2024.

Contributing: Ken Tran and Riley Beggin.

Reach Joey Garrison on X, formerly known as Twitter, @joeygarrison.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: President Biden seeks power to 'shut down' border in bipartisan deal
Hundreds of pro-Palestine protesters occupied branches of Barclays on Saturday, calling for a boycott of the bank over links to Israel.

Activists brandishing banners with the phrase From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free  which many regard as a call for the destruction of the state of Israel  staged an occupation of the Peckham branch in south London.

Similar protests were being held outside branches in London, Derby, Coventry, Ipswich, Leeds and several other towns and cities.

A small number of branches were forced to shut their doors for part of the day as a result of the protests, including one in Oxford which apologised to customers that due to circumstances beyond our control, were unable to open this branch at the moment.

A branch in Brighton was also occupied, with dozens of activists entering the building and chanting Barclays Bank, you cant hide, youre committing genocide as police looked on.

Around 20 activists also held a protest outside the Kensington branch of Barclays, in west London, which is a few hundred metres from the Israeli Embassy.

Several carried banners that read Barclays blood money, ceasefire now and stop investing in Israels crimes against humanity.

Chanting over a megaphone, the group were heard calling for the bank to divest now and claimed the institution had blood on their hands.

Motorists passing the protesters on the busy high street honked horns and waved to the crowd in shows of solidarity, as activists shouted Barclays, Barclays, you cant hide, we charge you with genocide and Barclays, Israel and UK, how many kids did you kill today.

Inside the banks Kensington branch, the main counters were closed but self-service ATMs were operating.

Protesters outside a Barclays branch in London call for the bank to 'divest now' - Anadolu

At one stage, two uniformed police officers walked into the branch and were taken downstairs by the on duty manager to discuss the situation.

Dozens of protesters also entered a branch of the bank in central Manchester, with one standing across the main entrance holding a banner reading Ceasefire Now as two police officers looked on.

A branch in Brighton was also occupied, with dozens of activists entering the building and chanting Barclays Bank you cant hide, youre committing genocide as police looked on.

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), which is organising the pickets along with other groups, told supporters: As Israels genocidal assault on Palestinians continues, take action on Saturday 27 January 2024 to demand Britain stop arming Israel!

Barclays bank holds substantial financial ties with arms companies supplying weapons and military technology to Israel, used in its attacks on Palestinians.

Pro-Palestine activists have targeted Barclays since Israel launched its bombing of Gaza in response to the Oct 7 attacks, with calls for a repeat of the boycott of the bank staged by some during the South African apartheid era.

Protesters held demonstrations at Barclays branches up and down the country - Anadolu

The PSC has stated: Unfortunately, most high street banks hold financial ties with companies complicit in Israeli apartheid. Our research has identified Barclays as a major financier of companies arming Israel. It is therefore the current target of our campaign.

Barclays has defended offering banking services to firms in the defence and weapons industry.

A spokesman for the bank said: Barclays is committed to respecting human rights as defined by the International Bill of Human Rights and takes account of other internationally accepted human rights standards and frameworks.

We have a published statement on defence and security which sets out our policy positions and governs any business activities in the defence and security sector, including setting restrictions on certain financing activities and requiring enhanced due diligence as appropriate on clients in the sector.

As a universal bank, Barclays provides a range of client services in relation to the shares of publicly listed companies, including those in the defence and security sector.

Such client-driven activities may result in Barclays holding shares in those companies, for example, through hedging positions, market making, custody and underwriting activity.

Barclays does not itself intend to make any direct strategic equity investments in the defence and security sector.

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.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Washington state lawmakers have proposed a bill that would lower the states legal blood alcohol concentration limit for driving.

Under current law, drivers are considered unfit to operate a vehicle if their BAC levels are over 0.08%. According to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, that limit was last established in 1999  and before then, the state enforced a limit of 0.10%.

Top entertainment events happening in Portland this weekend

House Bill 2196, which was introduced to the House Committee on Community Safety, Justice, & Re-entry on Thursday morning, would drop the legal limit to 0.05%. Legislators have been pushing for the new reduction in hopes that it would help prevent traffic deaths statewide.

Between 2017 and 2021, the Traffic Safety Commission reported that more than 50% of deadly crashes in Washington involved a driver who was impaired by drugs or alcohol. The commission additionally reported that 32% of deadly crashes involved an alcohol-positive driver.

During Thursdays House meeting, Washingtons senior policy advisor for transportation also told lawmakers that the state saw at least 800 traffic deaths in 2023  the highest recorded number in 33 years.

Ditch the switch: Oregon to consider bill making Pacific Standard Time permanent

While national statistics are starting to show that other states are plateauing and even started to decrease in their number of fatalities, Washington state is going in the opposite direction, Debbie Driver said. These are preventable losses of life, many of which could be saved if individuals simply chose not to drink and to drive, and thats the goal of this bill to change that decision, to change that behavior of drinking and driving which is a deadly combination.

Washington Rep. Brandy Donaghy, HB 2196s chief sponsor, noted that police officers would still look for the same impaired behaviors before conducting a DUI arrest. She added that the bill shouldnt have a marked impact on the states bar and restaurant industries.

Portlanders can set out extra yard waste in the coming week

A 2013 National Institute of Health study in the National Library of Medicine found that the average man of 170 pounds would need to drink at least four alcoholic beverages in two hours in order to exceed a BAC of 0.05%. For women around 137 pounds, it would take at least three drinks in the same amount of time.

Utah was the first U.S. state to drop its legal BAC limit to 0.05% in December 2018. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the states fatal crash rate fell by 19.8% during the following year.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Texas Primary [Simplified] is a six-day newsletter course breaking down need to know information about the 2024 Texas primary election. Susan Barber/Houston Chronicle

Hello, and welcome back to the third edition of Texas Primary [Simplified]. Im your host, Cayla Harris (OK, Im really your author, but Ive always wanted to say that), and today well be talking about the hottest primary contests in Texas this year.

Quick reminder that all members of the U.S. House and the Texas House are up for election this year, alongside a handful of state Senate seats. And how could we forget that Ted Cruz is up for another term?

Lets start with that race, because everyone loves talking about Texas junior senator and top tweeter. Cruz is vying for a third term in Washington  his first re-election bid since former U.S. Rep. Beto ORourke came within 3 points of unseating him during a blue wave in 2018.

Cruz is expecting his race to be pretty expensive and high-profile again, and there are nine Democrats vying to be his opponent.

Leading the pack is U.S. Rep. Colin Allred of Dallas, a moderate Democrat who is pitching himself as more polished and bipartisan than Cruz. State Sen. Roland Gutierrez of San Antonio, who has become an outspoken advocate for gun restrictions after the 2022 Uvalde school shooting, is one of the more progressive candidates in the very crowded field.

Other candidates include state Rep. Carl Sherman of DeSoto, attorney Mark Gonzalez of Corpus Christi and law professor Steve Keough of San Antonio.

This is also a big year for state House races  and the future of education in Texas may depend on the results.

Gov. Greg Abbott has spent a year unsuccessfully trying to get House Republicans to approve his priority school voucher legislation, which would spend taxpayer dollars to help send kids to private school. The proposal, which has long been unpopular in the House, garnered some more support this year  but not enough to pass.

Twenty-one Republicans repeatedly joined with Democrats to oppose the measure, and Abbott wants them all out of office. The governor is hoping hell be able to fill up the Legislature with supporters of private school vouchers, essentially securing their approval next session.

But Abbott isnt the only state official meddling in state House races over political vendettas. Attorney General Ken Paxton has also been on the campaign trail, targeting Republicans who voted to impeach him last spring.

The attorney general was later acquitted by the state Senate, but he has a personal mission to unseat anyone who aided in the effort to remove him from office. And there are a lot of them! The impeachment vote was 121-23.

Abbott and Paxton are supporting opposing candidates in at least 20 House races statewide, but theyre also teaming up against at least four incumbents. So how will their involvement translate to ballots cast? Only time will tell.

Here are a few of the most interesting Texas House races in the Houston area:

Rep. Lacey Hull of Houston is fighting for re-election against Jared Woodfill, a lawyer and former chairman of the Harris County Republican Party. Hull has Abbotts endorsement, while Woodfill has Paxtons support.

Rep. Briscoe Cain of Deer Park is one of the most conservative members of the state Legislature, but hes still getting a primary challenge from his right. Cain helped lead the impeachment effort, so Paxton is supporting community organizer Bianca Gracia, while Abbott endorsed Cain for another term.

Rep. Jacey Jetton of Richmond is seeking a third term, and Abbott is trying to help him get there. But Paxton is backing one of Jettons conservative opponents, insurance adjuster Matt Morgan.

There are a bunch of other really compelling primaries across the state, some of them just because the field is so crowded.

For example, six Democrats are vying to replace former state Sen. John Whitmire, who recently became the mayor of Houston. The field includes an attorney, a current state representative and an emergency room nurse.

You can read more about competitive races here.
Federal investigators are probing allegations of fraud in work done over many years on the now-closed northern span of the Washington Bridge.

The investigation won't help drivers stuck in Interstate 195 traffic, but it might shed some light on how a bridge that's been ticketed for repairs for nearly a decade could get into such bad shape that it needed to be abruptly closed on Dec. 11.

What documents have been demanded by federal investigators?

In its Civil Investigative Demand for records, the U.S. Justice Department District of Rhode Island seeks bridge-related records going back to Jan. 1, 2015, days before Gina Raimondo was sworn in as governor.

Raimondo, now U.S. secretary of commerce, appointed current Rhode Island Department of Transportation Director Peter Alviti Jr., who launched an agency overhaul and a bridge-repair campaign they branded RhodeWorks.

An image from a Washington Bridge inspection report dated Dec. 8 shows a sheared tension rod in pier 7, one of the key supports for the main span.

One of the structurally deficient bridges identified for repair at that time was the northern span of the Washington Bridge, which carried I-195 West over the Seekonk River.

The DOJ demand letter specifically seeks materials  including texts, videos, emails, photos and notes  depicting problem areas of the main span's support piers, known as piers 6 and 7.

Investigators want materials related to bridge "beam tie-downs," or tension rods, plus "beam seats."

The tension rods hold down the cantilevered beams that hold the main span, and when several broke, "bouncing" was observed by inspectors, triggering the shutdown.

More: All options, including complete rebuild, on table for Washington Bridge, Alviti says in update

Investigators asked for all images and diaries of what was done at the beam seats, plus all invoices and progress reports from contractors.

The investigation "concerns the allegation that false claims for payment for services and-or false statements in support of such payments have been submitted to the U.S. government," the demand letter says.

As with most big highway projects, the federal government is paying for roughly 80% of the cost of work on the Washington Bridge.

Who are possible targets of the investigation?

The probe could be targeting any of the numerous contractors hired by the Rhode Island DOT to build new lanes and ramps for the bridge, repair sections or inspect the bridge to make sure everything was going as planned.

Anyone who helped a contractor submit a false claim could also be targeted.

The DOT has until Feb. 26 to turn over the materials.

Have the feds brought similar cases in RI?

Yes.

In 2022, Dennis Ferreira, a former employee of Barletta Heavy Division, one of the lead contractors on the current Washington Bridge project, pleaded to making false reports about fill used on the Route 6-10 Connector project in Providence.

In 2017, Cardi Corporation, agreed to pay a $500,000 fine to settle claims it installed a faulty railing on the "I-Way" I-195 bridge over the Providence River, roughly a mile west of the Washington Bridge.

Who is leading the investigation?

Assistant U.S. Attorney Bethany Wong.

Wong was one of two attorneys who prosecuted the Ferreira 6-10 Connector case.

What work has been done on the bridge?

Although the structurally deficient Washington Bridge span was high on the RhodeWorks list of projects in 2015, it is not clear whether repairs to the troublesome beam seats and tension rods were ever planned.

A view beneath the Washington Bridge near Valley Street in East Providence in mid-December.

Shoring up the span has been part of a larger project that includes new exit and entrance ramps on both sides of the river, plus an additional westbound travel lane.

Cardi was the first contractor hired to work on the bridge, but the project was paused after the temporary traffic pattern used to accommodate bridge work caused massive backups into Massachusetts.

When the DOT rebid the project, Cardi won again, but Barletta sued, claiming Cardi had unfairly used information from its prior work to undercut other bidders.

More: St. Mary's, Washington Bridge shutdown will get a closer look from lawmakers in coming weeks

The Federal Highway Administration refused to sign off on a contract for Cardi and, when the DOT went out to bid again, Barletta won.

A news release for the October 2021 groundbreaking, when work resumed under a $78-million contract to Barletta's joint venture, said the project "will address the structural deficiencies of the westbound portion of the Washington Bridge."

A March update from the DOT said workers were continuing "bridge deck and concrete substructure repairs."

Since the shutdown, Alviti has said repairs to the parts of the bridge at risk of collapse were not part of either the Cardi or Barletta contracts.

Westbound traffic backs up on I-195 as drivers prepare to merge into temporary bypass lanes on the eastbound span of the Washington Bridge.

Who is working on the Washington Bridge now?

AECOM is the consultant acting as the DOT's "owner's representative." The firm also performed the July inspection that gave the span a clean bill of health.

Barletta and Aetna Bridge Company lead a joint venture doing the construction on the bridge.

Vanasse Hangen Brustlin Inc. is the joint venture's design consultant. The engineer who first spotted problems in the span worked for VHB.

VN Engineers is doing "modeling analysis" of the bridge.

Michael Baker International was hired by DOT to conduct an "in-depth inspection" of the bridge.

BDI is a Michael Baker subcontractor "monitoring for movement" on the bridge.

WJE is a Michael Baker subcontractor conducting a "forensic analysis" of what broke.

Consor is a Michael Baker subcontractor doing underwater inspections.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Washington Bridge federal investigation: What you need to know
FAIRFAX, Va. (DC News Now)  On Friday, it became clear that the opposition to the potential for a casino to come to Fairfax County was more widespread than the several community groups who have vocalized their concerns.

At a meeting, nearly all of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Legislative Committee supervisors expressed frustrations with the process of the proposal.

Small plane crash at Leesburg Executive Airport

Every attending member of the board shared concerns, ranging from the finances of the deal to the lack of involvement from local officials.

I have a lot of concern, Supervisor Dalia Palchik said.

Its a really bad financial deal, Chair Jeff McKay said.

Dont let anybody tell you that the bill in its current form is about getting more money to Fairfax County, said Supervisor Jimmy Bierman. Its not.

Those statements came moments after McKay told his board colleagues he was sending a letter to Democrat and Republican leaders of both the Virginia House and Senate.

In the letter was an outline of his concerns, but a step short of declaring opposition to the project. McKay explained a desire to be involved if the bill were in fact to move forward as the reason for that.

Out-of-the-ordinary Facebook Marketplace finds of the week in DC, Maryland, Virginia

Richmond can also pass some really bad bills and leave us with a mess on our hands, he said.

The bill has already passed the Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology, but still has to go through the Finance Committee, then the full Senate, House, and then Gov. Glenn Youngkin before it would head to the ballots of Fairfax County voters.

Sen. Dave Marsden, who introduced the bill, has said it would be a financial boost for the area, citing frustration with how often Virginians travel to Maryland to gamble at MGM National Harbor.

Im getting tired of paying for Maryland schools, he told a subcommittee. I think its time we paid for Virginia schools.

However, supervisors said where that revenue goes is part of their concern. McKay said current Virginia law says 70% of the gaming tax revenue would go to the state, with only 30% staying in the county.

We get hosed, he said. We are the states ATM and the financial model, at a minimum, would have to improve drastically.

Longtime Baltimore Ravens super fans in Prince Georges County excited about playoff game

Supervisor Dan Storck said he sees the benefits of a casino, and would not rule out supporting one in the future. But did make clear he agreed with concerns raised by several of his colleagues.

Almost every day I look at the MGM across the Potomac River, and its a beautiful, wonderful facility, he said. So youre not going to hear me say, this is bad, dont ever do it. But I am saying that the process is flawed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
After former president and current GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trumps disqualification from the ballots in Colorado and Maine for engaging in insurrection on Jan. 6, it didnt take long for Republicans to respond with retributive calls to do the same to President Joe Biden, among other Democrats.

If Democrat states are saying were not going to let these Republicans run, you bet youre going to see the same thing happening from Republican states. And its not good, Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, a Republican, told NBC on Jan. 5.

Seeing what happened in Colorado tonight  makes me think  except we believe in democracy in Texas  maybe we should take Joe Biden off the ballot in Texas for allowing 8 million people to cross the border since hes been president, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a Republican, suggested in December.

The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on Feb. 8 on Trumps disqualification from the Colorado ballot by the states Supreme Court under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. That constitutional provision bars anyone who engaged in insurrection or rebellion from holding an office under the United States, and was originally adopted in the aftermath of the Civil War. At least six of the briefs filed with the Supreme Court in support of Trump, including one submitted by the Republican National Committee and another by 179 GOP members of Congress, feature similar warnings of retribution.

These briefs argue that the Colorado Supreme Court adopted overly broad definitions of insurrection and engage in that could be applied to Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and numerous Democratic members of Congress in a retributive fashion.

Former President Donald Trump arrives to speak during a campaign event in Waterloo, Iowa, on Dec. 19, 2023, the same day the Colorado Supreme Court ordered him off the ballot.

Former President Donald Trump arrives to speak during a campaign event in Waterloo, Iowa, on Dec. 19, 2023, the same day the Colorado Supreme Court ordered him off the ballot.

Many of them highlight Democratic politicians involvement in causes that are already unpopular with conservatives. Biden and Harris could be disqualified because they advocated for, marched with, and provided material support to rioters in the wake of George Floyds death in 2020, the RNCs brief claims, referencing the 2020 reemergence of the Black Lives Matter movement. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) could face disqualification for speaking at a demonstration advocating for a cease-fire in Gaza before pro-cease-fire Jewish protesters staged a sit-down protest in a Senate office building. Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) could be disqualified for pulling a fire alarm during congressional votes, another brief claims. Even Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer could be disqualified for allowing pro-union protesters to enter the Michigan Capitol building in 2012, according to yet another brief.

These examples are presented in an effort to prove that Trumps disqualification from state ballots under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment would cause anarchy by open[ing] the floodgates to tit-for-tat challenges.

To be blunt, blue states will apply Section 3 to harass red candidates, while red states will apply that provision to harass blue candidates, according to a brief filed by Judicial Watch, a conservative legal group that backed Trumps effort to steal the 2020 election.

Aside from posing effectively as threats for retributive action should the court side against Trump, these examples all have one big problem: none of the activity they identify would qualify as an insurrection leading to Section 3 disqualification under the Colorado Supreme Courts definitions of insurrection or engaging in insurrection. But thats also kind of the point.

First: Whats An Insurrection?

This whole argument about retribution depends on the definition of insurrection. Since Section 3 of the 14th Amendment doesnt define insurrection or rebellion  a common problem with constitutional provisions  the question at hand is how to define it.

The Colorado Supreme Courts decision disqualifying Trump relied on the prior decision by a state district court judge that kept Trump on the ballot but found that he nonetheless engaged in insurrection.

An insurrection is a public use of force or threat of force  by a group of people  to hinder or prevent execution of the Constitution of the United States, according to the Colorado district court. The courts definition notes that Section 3s statement that insurrection or rebellion must be against the Constitution of the United States limits the scope of the provision by excluding insurrections against state or local law.

In endorsing the district courts decision, the Colorado Supreme Court stated that it did not find it necessary to adopt a single, all-encompassing definition of the word insurrection.

Republicans claim that Vice President Kamala Harris' support for Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, including sharing a fundraising link for a bail fund, could be used to disqualify her from the ballot.

Republicans claim that Vice President Kamala Harris' support for Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, including sharing a fundraising link for a bail fund, could be used to disqualify her from the ballot.

Rather, it suffices for us to conclude that any definition of insurrection for purposes of Section Three would encompass a concerted and public use of force or threat of force by a group of people to hinder or prevent the U.S. government from taking the actions necessary to accomplish a peaceful transfer of power in this country, the decision states.

The threats of retributive action by Republicans under Section 3 all claim that this definition could encompass various actions taken by Democrats leading to disqualification challenges. But that does not add up.

Take the most heavily cited example by Republicans to claim that they could disqualify a Democrat under Section 3: the protests and riots that followed the police murder of George Floyd in May 2020.

Around 20 million people participated in the protests in the U.S. after Floyds murder. A much smaller group of people engaged in violence against persons or property causing over $1 billion in property damage and leading to at least 19 deaths. Over 14,000 people were arrested, although arrests were for extremely minor offenses. A large portion of the property damage and violence occurred in Minneapolis-St. Paul, where Floyd was killed.

Did the totality of the damage caused by the people who engaged in rioting and looting constitute insurrection under Colorados definition? This claim requires showing that a group of people used force or the threat of force in order to hinder or prevent the execution of the Constitution of the United States. It would be very hard to say that that is what rioters or looters were doing.

Those engaged in looting were not acting upon a public purpose aimed against the Constitution. They engaged in a private purpose for private ends, like stealing items for themselves. This isnt an effort to attack the Constitution, its petty crime on a mass scale.

In other cases, attacks on police stations, like the burning of the Minneapolis 3rd Precinct police station, may be major crimes. But they arent efforts to hinder or prevent the execution of the Constitution. If anything, they could be classified as efforts to hinder the execution of state law, but that is exempt under Colorados definition.

Defining Engage In

For a politician to be disqualified under Section 3, they would also need to be engaged in the insurrection itself. Biden, Harris, all elected Democrats and some elected Republicans stated support for the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, sometimes, as in the case of Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), with heated rhetoric. Harris also tweeted a fundraising link for a Minneapolis bail fund. Not only are these actions not connected to an insurrection as defined by Colorado, but they also are not acts that could be classified as engaging in insurrection under Colorados definition.

For its definition of engage, the Colorado Supreme Court again looked to the district courts decision. There the judge relied on statements made by Attorney General Henry Stanbery, who served from 1866-1868, when the 14th Amendment was up for ratification by the states.

[A]n act to fix upon a person the offence of engaging in rebellion under this law, must be an overt and voluntary act, done with the intent of aiding or furthering the common unlawful purpose, Stanbery said in a statement in 1867.

Those who made disloyal sentiments, opinions, or sympathies toward those engaged in insurrection would not face disqualification, Stanbery said. Instead, the offending person must, by speech or by writing, have incited others to engage in rebellion to be disqualified.

Republicans claim that Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) could face disqualification for speaking at a rally before pro-cease-fire demonstrators staged a sit-down protest inside the Cannon House Office Building on Oct. 18, 2023.

Republicans claim that Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) could face disqualification for speaking at a rally before pro-cease-fire demonstrators staged a sit-down protest inside the Cannon House Office Building on Oct. 18, 2023.

As the district court and Colorado Supreme Court found, this applies to Trump. He chose to lie about the election results and foment a plan to steal it and stay in office. He invited his supporters to a wild rally on the National Mall, paid for by his campaign, the day the Constitution ordered for the opening of the electoral votes. He did so with the full knowledge of the violent proclivities of some of those supporters. When his plot to have Vice President Mike Pence reject certain electoral votes fizzled, he told his supporters to fight like hell and march on the Capitol. And when he was asked to call off his supporters by then-House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), he said, Well, Kevin, I guess these people are more upset about the election than you are.

Trump and the insurrectionists shared the same public purpose: to derail or delay the constitutionally mandated transfer of power on Jan. 6. He invited and incited them to help him carry out their united purpose. That purpose involved an attempt to hinder an explicit provision of the Constitution. And they used violence and the threat of violence to do so.

None of the examples bandied about as potentially disqualifying acts for Democrats come close to meeting the full definitions for insurrection and engage in put forward by the Colorado courts.

Perhaps, one could argue a case for disqualification if some elected Democrat had called on protesters to attack the courthouse in downtown Portland that faced a siege for weeks in the summer of 2020. But that didnt happen. Instead, allies of those protesters burned down the local Democratic Party office after Bidens inauguration. This is not exactly a group that had joint goals together with leaders of the Democratic Party.

But the ultimate point that Republicans make with these specious examples is still one thats worth considering. They are promising to engage in a tit-for-tat, no matter the factual accuracy of their allegations. This would create a new realm of lawfare where partisan activists are constantly fighting to get their partisan opponents disqualified from the ballot whether they meet the definition of insurrection.

Its not as though Republicans are beyond seeking retribution rooted entirely in fantasy. House Republicans are right now engaged in an impeachment inquiry into Biden with no evidence of any wrongdoing purely as an act of revenge for Trumps two impeachments, one for attempting to use congressionally mandated appropriations to blackmail a foreign country into opening an investigation into his political opponent and one for trying to steal the 2020 election by inciting an insurrection.

The Supreme Court may claim that it does not base its decisions on political concerns like these, but its hard to see how these threats of retribution in briefs filed by Trumps supporters dont color their thinking.
It appears that were all going to pretend to have a GOP primary a little longer. Eight days after his decisive win in the Iowa caucus winnowed the field to two, Donald Trump comfortably beat Nikki Haley in the New Hampshire primary. The former South Carolina governor is soldiering on, apparently on the grounds that hers was but a minor shellacking and not a campaign-killing blowout. But the end will arrive soon enoughperhaps in her home state next month.

With Trump all but officially the nominee, though, Republican politicians are now turning to the question of how he can win over non-MAGA votersand there is a scent of uneasiness in the air. In something of a plot twist, GOP lawmakers have grown discontented with the way their partys rickety platform offers few selling points for the party, with some members very publicly complaining about [its] lack of accomplishments, according to reports.

NBC Newss Sahil Kapur reported that there is a dynamic that looms over Republican lawmakers, in which theyve passed little substantive legislation since winning the majority and are struggling with the basics of governing and beset by internal fractiousness and chaosall of which is apparently complicated by the fact that Trumps policy platform is mainly about retribution and spreading fabricated claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him.

Last November, we got our first inkling of this strange insecurity when Texas Representative Chip Roy went to the floor of the House to have a nervous breakdown about the deficiencies he saw in his own party. One thing. I want my Republican colleagues to give me one thing. One. That I can go campaign on and say we did, Roy ranted. One! (Apparently taking credit for the infrastructure bill that most of them voted against doesnt quite cut it.)

This is a lot like a Girl Scout expressing outrage over the organizations commitment to cookies. Nearly all of Roys disgruntlement can be chalked up to the simple fact that hes a member of the Republican Party, which hasnt really been trying to accomplish anything for a long while. Three years ago, TNR contributor Katelyn Burns took stock of the GOP and found that it had all but abandoned meaningful policymaking in favor of entrenching itself in the distant patriarchal mythology of Americas past and waging culture war against liberals. A Republican adviser to former Senator Rob Portman summed it up: If you want to spend all your time going on Fox and be[ing] an asshole, theres never been a better time to serve. But if you want to spend all your time being thoughtful and getting shit done, theres never been a worse time to serve.

It is deeply funny that Roy has emerged as one of his partys foremost critics in this regard. In a profile last year, TNRs Pablo Manriquez described Roy as a viral bomb thrower with scant history of bipartisan accomplishment and a tireless critic of the debt ceiling and funding deals that House Speaker Kevin McCarthy had to make to keep things running. While Roy came out against the motion to vacate that began the process of ousting McCarthy, his replacement pick, Jim Jordan, was even less suited to accomplishing anythingunless his quixotic efforts to invent some sort of reality-based foundation for the partys incessant culture warring counts as a thing.

In his public remarks, Roy seems to understand that the primary impediment to Republican accomplishments is the fact that Democrats control the Senate and Joe Biden occupies the White House, and that getting things done requires Republicans to engage Democrats and forge deals. From what I can discern from his rantings, though, he has no real plans to do this, preferring instead to shout loudly and indiscriminately at the situation while assailing other members of his party for their lack of magical thinking.

This is where Roy stands out, even among his caucus: He seems to hate some of his Republican peers at least as much as Democrats. At one point during a recent floor speech, Roy professed outrage over the fact that passing a border deal might require Republicans to have to talk to Senator Mitt Romney and other Republican senators to convince them to support the effort. So what? he declaimed about his House colleagues plans to pass a border security bill out of the House. Are you going to pass that bill and walk over [to the Senate] and convince that great stalwart of defense of our border, Mitt Romney, that he should vote for it? Are you going to convince any of the 12 who just voted to redefine marriage and stomp all over religious liberty  are you going to convince any one of them to vote for a strong border security bill?

Its notable that Romney features here, as Romney is perhaps the last prominent Republican to rise up through the ranks on the back of a famous policy accomplishment. But over the years, the Commonwealth Care health care reform he enacted in Massachusetts has gone from being an acclaimed example of GOP problem-solving to forbidden knowledge of which none must ever speak.

Romneys stock within the party has declined in direct proportion to his partys commitments to policymaking. Its been an ignominious trajectorybut more so for the country than the GOP. Because for all of Chip Roys carping, its a simple fact that the modern GOP doesnt actually need policy accomplishments to win elections. This is a party built to thrive on gerrymandered districts, Senate malapportionment, Electoral College shenanigans, and other well-funded game-rigging and voter-suppression effortsthe better to survive the unpopularity that comes from not ever contributing to the civic fabric or the betterment of the country.

But Chip Roy should take heart, because Trumps presumptive nomination suggests that Republicans will have specific things to run on in 2024: another round of tax cuts for rich corporations to fund more stock buybacks, a fresh attack on Obamacare and its protections for patients with preexisting conditions, and, of course, the furtherance of abortion restrictions as dictated by the partys most sociopathic extremists. I would definitely encourage Republicans to be true to themselves, and run on a promise to accomplish these things.

This article first appeared in Power Mad, a weekly TNR newsletter authored by deputy editor Jason Linkins. Sign up here.
Hell Spawn

In 2014, scientists identified a new species of dinosaur nicknamed the "chicken from hell"  a birdlike, clawed beast weighing up to 750 pounds that stood over 11 feet tall.

Now, it turns out that Anzu wyilei, the species' official name, was not the only one of that infernal ilk. A team of researchers say they've discovered another species part of the same family, caenagnathid, which until now Anzu was the sole member of.

The new dino, at roughly the weight of a human, is being christened as the no-less-fearsome-sounding "pharaoh's dawn chicken from hell," or Eoneophron infernalis. Its discovery, as detailed in a study published in the journal PLOS One, could challenge existing theories that hold that the dinosaurs were already declining in diversity before going extinct from the asteroid that struck the Gulf of Mexico at the end of the Cretaceous period.

Despite the hell bird's lofty title, the study's lead author says that its fossil had a rather unceremonious provenance: he bought them online in 2020, when they were mistakenly sold as Anzu remains. Little did he know at the time that he had a whole new species on his hands.

"I felt my heart skip a beat," Kyle Atkins-Weltman at Oklahoma State University told Live Science. "I was like, is this really happening to me this early in my career?"

No Kidding

In a writeup for The Conversation, Atkins-Weltman describes the steps that led to the discovery.

His team's initial examination of the bones found that they were "significantly smaller" than Anzu. Their assumption was that it must've been a juvenile specimen, which would've been a tantalizing discovery on its own because no such Anzu fossil had ever been found.

When they cut into the fossil, however, they encountered something else entirely. The bones' lines of arrested growth, which Atkins-Weltman explains are sort of like the rings in a tree that help scientists estimate their age, were progressively denser in their spacing.

That meant the specimen was fully-grown, and that what they were dealing with was not, in fact, Anzu.

Big Family

The researchers now conclude that there were more caenagnathids roaming North America than once believed. In fact, they suspect that there's a third hell-chicken out there that would be the smallest of the batch at around the size of a dog, based on a recovered partial foot bone.

The abundance of similar species, the researchers say, challenges the belief that caenagnathids and other dinosaurs were already dying out before the asteroid hit.

"While there are plenty of questions still outstanding in this extinction debate, Eoneophron adds evidence that caenagnathids were doing quite well for themselves before the asteroid ruined everything," Atkins-Weltman wrote in The Conversation.

The apparent decline in diversity may be attributed to biases in how remains are fossilized and identified. After all, we only have a pretty slim picture of all the creatures that existed in the dinosaur age. Who knows how many whole new species are being mistaken for existing ones?

More on dinosaurs: Scientists Unearth Skull of Terrifying Sea Monster
President Joe Biden talks with Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, second from left, as they walk along a stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border in El Paso Texas, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023. Oscar Leeser, Mayor of the City of El Paso is at right. Andrew Harnik/Associated Press

Enforcement

Regarding Razor wire at the Texas border: Come and take it (Opinion), (Jan. 26): In a letter to the editor in Fridays Chronicle, Tim Johnson decries U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, for wanting to ignore last weeks Supreme Court ruling concerning the border. He says that, as a member of Congress, he has sworn to support and defend the Constitution. What Johnson conveniently omits is that we are in this border mess because Joe Biden also has sworn to support and defend the Constitution but feels he is free to not enforce our immigration laws that are already on the books.

Jess Matthews, Bellville

Regarding Some Republicans call for Texas to ignore Supreme Court border ruling: Lets see them enforce it, (Jan. 23): As I write this, I am on my way back from Cancun.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

1) I had to show my passport twice at the U.S. airport before boarding our flight to Mexico.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

2) When we arrived in Cancun, we stood in line for an hour and then inserted our passports in a digital machine that recorded our arrival.

3) We then proceeded to a visual scanner that matched our passport to our face.

4) We then were given a mandatory notice that ordered us to scan the QR code on the notice. It stated that we must download an electronic Multiple Migratory Form, per Mexican law. It stated that if we did not comply, we would not be able to leave Mexico.

5) At the hotel, we were sent a form from American Airlines that said: The U.S. government requires each passenger flying to the United States to provide complete and accurate contact information. Complete the contact tracing form now or you wont be allowed to check-in or board your return flight.

6) Naturally, we had to show our passport twice at the Cancun airport and again in the U.S. airport.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

All this while thousands of people crossed the border illegally! The point is this: There are enough checks and balances to enter the U.S. No new policy needed. Its a matter of enforcement  something we do not have at the land border.

Don Mendel, Fayetteville

Regarding Greg Abbotts dangerous misreading of the U.S. Constitution (Opinion), (Jan. 26): First, razor wire at the border is nothing but a stage prop in GOP political theater. Theyve never shown interest in practical immigration solutions. Certainly not during an election year, as U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls helpfully pointed out, even if it means addressing what many of their voters rank as the most important issue of our time.

Theatrics aside, Im not surprised by the suggestion from the states extreme right to defy the Supreme Courts ruling. For years, the Freedom Caucus has been defined by its refusal to compromise. Period. It continually distills this extremism by banishing to the hinterland those who do, including the last three Republican House speakers. Mike Johnson, youre on notice!

And now we find ourselves here, hostage to this dysfunctional dynamic reinforced by the laws of primaries and inertia, which state that things that go bad tend to get worse. We have a political contingent that increasingly considers violence as kind-of-maybe-sometimes justified when it doesnt get its way. That has chosen to back a criminally indicted presidential candidate who believes he is above any law. That disdains compromise of any kind in one of the most diverse nations on planet Earth.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Not to sound alarmist, but where does this go? You cant organize a picnic without compromising on snacks. What is the trajectory of a vengeance-fueled political party ever more intent on nullifying, when convenient, our Constitution, amendments and all? Of voters driven to distraction, many of whom take for granted the imperfect institutions that have nonetheless supported a relatively peaceful, prosperous and functioning society since the end of World War II?

I hope voters consider their history and future  that these nihilists promising to tear everything down have nothing to replace it with. And that razor wire may become more than a quirk at the southern border.

Robert Campbell, Katy

I get high blood pressure when I hear John Kirby, U.S. National Security Council spokesman and White House puppet, lie when he says the southern border is secure and under control. If that is the case, thousands of people walking across the border illegally should be returned to their country of origin rather than going directly to the Border Patrol to be processed. That doesnt account for the thousands who slip past the Border Patrol and enter without being processed.

Kirby and the president ask for more money to allegedly secure the border. What a joke. The Biden administrations border policy is a failed policy.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad
AUSTIN (KXAN)  A study published Wednesday in the medical journal JAMA Internal Medicine claims that Texas leads in rapes and rape-related pregnancies when compared to states with total abortion bans.

The study, conducted by Drs. Samuel Dickman, Kari White and David Himmelstein, examined data from the FBI, CDC and Bureau of Justice Statistics. The research team narrowed its study to the 14 states that outlawed abortion after the U.S. Supreme Courts 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization decision, which overturned the courts prior decision in Roe v. Wade.

According to their study, 26,313 rape-related pregnancies occurred in Texas during the 16 months after the state legislature banned abortion. That figure comprises nearly 45% of all such pregnancies estimated to occur among the nine ban states that did not make a legal exception for rape.

2021: Gov. Abbott said abortion bill wont force rape victims to have babies, Texas will eliminate rapists

Including Texas, an estimated 519,981 vaginal rapes of women aged 15-45 occurred in ban states (211,919 in Texas), and an estimated 64,565 pregnancies occurred as a result.

Thousands of girls and women in states that banned abortion experienced rape-related pregnancy, but few (if any) obtained in-state abortions legally, suggesting that rape exceptions fail to provide reasonable access to abortion for survivors, the authors wrote. Survivors of rape who become pregnant in states with abortion bans may seek a self-managed abortion or try to travel (often hundreds of miles) to a state where abortion is legal, leaving many without a practical alternative to carrying the pregnancy to term.

The authors note that such highly stigmatized experiences are difficult to measure accurately and are often underreported.

Disproportionate impact on Black, Hispanic women

Qiana Lewis-Arnold, a birth justice advocate with Dallas-based non-profit The Afiya Center, called the situation for Texans taxing and terrifying.

People in Texas, especially Black women, already had limited access to abortion, health care, and abortion is health care, Lewis-Arnold said. What weve noticed since [Dobbs], its more than taxing  Its actually pretty terrifying because now folks are facing criminalization and death.

She notes that many of the states with total bans are in the southern states, where the majority of the countrys Black population lives.

I hope that this recent reportand the maternal mortality report that recently came out of Texas, really sounds off some alarms and helps folks to see what weve been saying all along, that these total bans on abortion, taking away access to healthcare is going to cause folks to die, Lewis-Arnold said. Unfortunately, its going to be the most marginalized communities that feel the full impact of this. The impact that thats going to have on the survivors, the impact that thats going to have on these babies,the impact thats going to have on the families that support the survivors, and then the burden that is going to be on the community.

Teen pregnancies rise for first time since 2007

A report published by the University of Houstons Institute for Research on Women, Gender & Sexuality (IRWGS) on January 19 provides a helpful baseline for Texas pregnancy and fertility situation.

IRWGS Director Elizabeth Gregory said that the report, titled Texas & Harris County Reproductive Health Update: 2022 Fertility Rates, post-2021 Six-Week Abortion Ban examined data from between Texas six-week ban in 2021 and the end of 2022. This period is just before the impact of Dobbs could be seen.

There was a 2% rise [in fertility] across Texas overall, Gregory said. When we looked at it by race and ethnicity, we saw that actually there were very distinct effects across groups. There was actually a 5% rise among Hispanic women and a 2% decline among non-Hispanic white women, as well as a 0.6% decline among non-Hispanic Black women.

The study also showed a rise in teenage pregnancies, showing the potential reversal of a nationwide, decades-long decline.

Since 2007, teen births have declined by 67%, both in the state of Texas and nationally. Thats an enormous decline, and that can be attributed to improved access to contraception like Plan B, or implant[able] contraceptives, as well as behavioral changes, Gregory said. It was notable that there was the first uptick in teen births in Texas in 2022. It was a small uptick, 0.4%. While it looks small, it is a small rise; in 2021, teens saw a 9% decline.

Like the overall state fertility trend, the increase in teenage pregnancies also disproportionally affected Hispanic children and young adults (1.3% increase). Non-Hispanic Black children and young adults saw a 0.5% increase, but non-Hispanic white children and young adults saw a 5% decline.

Whether these trends continued into 2023 and the future will be a topic of further research, according to Gregory.

They are predicting that there will be potentially an additional 5% rise over the 2% that occurred in 2022 and 2023, said Gregory, discussing work by other researchers looking at provisional data for 2023. The issue will be, how does that break out across groups? Will there be similar differential disadvantages to certain groups or certain ages?

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
When thinking about invasive species, you may picture weeds in peoples yards or the infamous spotted lanternfly  but youre not likely to associate them with fine dining and restaurant menus.

Yet restaurants are increasingly including invasive species on their menus in an effort to curb their growing populations and promote ethical eating, reported The Guardian.

Invasive species are natural species of flora or fauna introduced to new ecosystems due to human-related activities such as importing and exporting, shipping exotic animals to new areas, and travel. When invasive species are introduced to new ecosystems, they can wreak havoc on the existing biodiversity.

By using invasive species in their dishes, chefs help control their populations and honor new ways to eat ethically. This method of addressing invasive species is called invasivorism, Scientific America reported.

Silo, a zero-waste restaurant in east London, has begun incorporating Japanese knotweed into its menu. Silos chef and owner, Douglas McMaster, is using invasive species to bring new flavors to his menu.

Not only is eating invasive species a solution, but were taking pressure off the food system, saving resources  Japanese knotweed is incredible, its like a mix of asparagus and rhubarb, McMaster said in an interview with The Guardian.

Other examples of invasive species used in fine dining include muntjac deer tartare in the United Kingdom, squirrel haggis in Scotland, and lionfish crudo in the southern United States, according to a National Geographic article.

Alex Fogg is a Florida-based biologist and spear fisherman who runs a lionfish derby to encourage residents to net the invasive species out of the water and use them for food.

Theres people who would never in a million years consider taking the life of a wild animal  but lionfish are something that those people can get behind, because theyre helping the environment, Fogg told National Geographic.

All of these examples of invasivorism highlight the numerous ways that chefs and others  like Inversa, a company turning lionfish into leather for handbags and other items  have found to make a positive impact on the growing issue of invasive species.

While it can take time (as McMaster admitted, Kentucky Fried Squirrel didnt take off) for people to warm up to new types of foods on a menu, it is still a great solution and opportunity that contributes to a common goal.

Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
RINGWOOD  It is expected to be a summer of transition for district schools, as officials are progressing toward redistricting and the hiring of a new superintendent.

Superintendent Nicholas Bernice released a districtwide committee recommendation to shift grade level bands at district schools to better utilize existing space. The Peter Cooper Elementary School is at capacity, he said. More room is needed to accommodate the district's early childhood special education preschool program for 3- to 5-year-olds currently housed there, he added.

"We are not a growing competitor in the Ringwood preschool sphere," Bernice said. "However, the district does have legal responsibilities to students with particular needs, and we need to rise to meet those needs."

The proposed shift would move all fifth-grade students to the Ryerson Middle School. Third-grade students would accordingly move to the Hewitt school. The Cooper and Erskine schools would be reserved to prekindergarten through second grade, district records show. The shift would allow students to remain in district and open up the potential for revenue-generating out-of-district placements, according to Bernice.

The shift, called the Ryerson plan, would have a secondary impact on young students in the Bald Eagle Park section. Under the plan, they would attend classes at the Cooper school rather than the Erskine school. However, the shift would allow the district to lower class sizes in the school to about 16 to 20 students, records show.

Bernice said the investigating committee, which included board members, staff and administrators, examined a variety of options. They ranged from buying prefabricated classrooms and renting retail space to converting board offices and holding a referendum to build a new campus on the Erskine property.

During a public town hall held by Bernice on the findings this month, parents expressed some concerns about moving students to new schools. The potential for bullying inside a school with students in grades five through eight was also broached. Bernice said the staff has already committed itself to creating the feel of a smaller school inside greater Ryerson through scheduling and classroom assignments.

'A legacy of sacrifice and service': Officials remember Passaic Sheriff Richard Berdnik

In a statement on behalf of the Ringwood Education Association, group treasurer Jennifer Romaro said its members are committed to supporting students, parents and staff during the transition.

Beyond the redistricting, Romaro's statement referenced the expected summer departure of Bernice, the New Jersey Association of School Administrators' 2024 Superintendent of the Year who has nonetheless been criticized locally for curriculum decisions and the district's standardized test scores.

Board members left the door open for possible negotiations on a contract extension with Bernice this year after announcing they would not trigger Bernice's automatic contract extension in late 2023. However, board members voted on Jan. 22 to seek proposals from firms willing to search for a new superintendent and curriculum director. Board officials are aiming to award a contract for the search on Feb. 26 following interviews with various firm principals, records show.

The firm would be responsible for developing search criteria that consider the board's goals, advising the board on compensation package options and developing an application process for the candidates, among other tasks, records show.

Paterson seeks new wall to mitigate floods  but not in vulnerable Northside neighborhood

Romaro said the education association membership has the utmost respect for Bernice and wishes him well in his future endeavors. She said the membership, despite joining in mild community protests regarding the non-renewal of Bernice's contract, has accepted the offer to work with the board in its search for a new superintendent.

"We are grateful that the board recognizes our crucial role in shaping the district's future," she said.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Ringwood schools face redistricting, new superintendent this summer
ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) The Roanoke Police Department has partnered with the Virginia State Police for targeted traffic enforcement in school zones this past week.

According to the police department, RPD and VSP officers issued 133 summons total during this week. This includes:

100 summons for speeding

four summons for drivers passing buses

10 summons for reckless driving

nine summons for driving without/with a suspended license

10 for other moving violations

Moneta Vol. FD is hosting benefit fundraiser to support departments President cancer treatment

Roanoke Police remind drivers to remain alert and cautious when driving in a school zone to help students and staff have a safe school year.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.
Rock Falls Police ask the publics help as they investigate a gunfire incident that happened late Friday, according to a news release.

About 9 p.m., Rock Falls Police were called to the 400 block of 3rd Avenue for a report of gunshots fired in the area. When officers arrived, they found a residence that had been struck by gunfire.

Cordon tape seals off an active crime scene.

No injuries were reported, the release says.

Rock Falls Police, with the assistance of the Illinois State Police Crime Scene Unit, collected evidence from the scene. The incident remains under investigation, and no information about a suspect is available.

Police ask anyone with information about the case to contact Rock Falls Police at 815-622-1140. Officers are especially interested in any private surveillance video that show vehicles traveling in or around that location at the time of the incident. If you want to remain anonymous, you can call Whiteside County Crime Stoppers at 815-625-STOP.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
Russia attacked Ukraine with four Iranian Shahed-136/131 attack UAVs, all of which were destroyed, the Ukrainian Air Force stated on Telegram on Jan. 27.

According to the Air Force, Russia launched the drones from Krasnodar Krai in the Russian Federation. All four drones were destroyed in Kirovohrad Oblast.

Read also: One dead, 14 injured, widespread damage after Russia targets Kyiv in another mass missile attack

Citing the head of the Kirovohrad Regional Military Administration, Andriy Raykovych, the fence of an abandoned private house in Kropyvnytskyi district was damaged. However, there were no casualties as a result of the attack.

The Russian occupiers also fired an Iskander-M ballistic missile into Donetsk Oblast from Rostov Oblast. There were no reported casualties.

Read also: 8 dead, incl. a child, and nearly 70 injured after Russia attacks Kharkiv 3 times in a day  photos

On Jan. 27 night, an air alert was declared in a number of regions of Ukraine due to the threat of ballistic missiles.

Press officer for Operational Command South Natalia Humeniuk said that Russia was launching suicide drones from the sea to muffle the sound of their approach and avoid detection by air defense systems.

Humeniuk also noted that port infrastructure in Odesa Oblast remains a top priority for Russian strikes.

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
Russias military industry continues to source modern machinery from Taiwan, despite the sanctions.

Source: a joint investigation by The Insider and the Reporter.

Russia is still obtaining modern machine tools used in the military industry from Taiwan, which has joined the sanctions against Russia.

Although there is a direct ban on exporting such products, Russia can purchase them through third countries. Parallel imports mainly go through Turkiye or China.

Between March and September 2023, Russia imported at least 193 Taiwanese-made machining centres with a total value of nearly US$29 million, the investigation says.

Parallel imports generate huge profits for both intermediaries and manufacturing companies.

For instance, a machine that cost intermediaries in third countries US$60,000 to US$180,000 was purchased by the Kometa Corporation in Moscow, a Russian manufacturer of cruise missiles and space technology, for US$1 million.

Background:

Over the past year, Chinese military entities, state AI research institutes and universities have been buying up small batches of Nvidia A100 and H100 semiconductors, which are banned for export to China by the US.

On 20 January, it was reported that businessman Ilya Kahn, who is accused of supplying semiconductors to sanctioned companies associated with Russian intelligence agencies and the military, had been arrested in Los Angeles.

Support UP or become our patron!
The victory of the DPP candidate in the Taiwanese presidential election has exacerbated the situation in the region

Escalating global tensions, rooted in conflicts directly or indirectly linked to Russias extensive aggression against Ukraine, are fostering a breakdown of the international security system, fueled by Moscows persistent ties to radical terrorist groups and authoritarian regimes, as the Kremlin strategically instigates new conflicts to divert attention from its illegal actions, according to analysis by Kyiv Security Forum experts.

Moscow actively pursues arms deals with marginal partners, especially Iran and North Korea. Additionally, it expands military-technical cooperation with nations long under international sanctions, providing advanced technologies that significantly boost their military capabilities and aggressive ambitions.

Experts pinpoint five geopolitical hotspots crucial to Moscows strategy for fostering instability. Developments in these regions will determine the overall instability orchestrated by Moscow.

Middle East

The situation in the Middle East remains tense. Following a significant terrorist attack by HAMAS on Israel, the conflict persists. Israel continues military operations in the Gaza Strip to counter the threat. Despite partial IDF withdrawal, recent offensive actions have raised concerns, including civilian casualties and targeting of refugee camps.

Read also: Kyiv Security Forum to urge Biden to back NATO accession for Ukraine

Efforts from the US, Egypt, and Qatar to facilitate hostage return face challenges. HAMAS demands Israeli withdrawal, cessation of hostilities, and release of Palestinian prisoners, which Israel finds unacceptable. Israel aims for the complete destruction of HAMAS and demilitarization of the Gaza Strip, a process that may take months.

Israel rejects the idea of an independent Palestinian autonomy, creating uncertainty for long-term stability. Moscows support for HAMAS strains relations with Israel, with evidence of Russian military assistance. Arab countries and Iran offer moral support, while proxy groups engage in regional conflicts.

Yemeni Houthis respond to Gaza events with piracy and shelling in the Red Sea, blocking navigation. Despite targeted airstrikes by the US, UK, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands, Houthi aggression persists. Efforts to influence China to stop Houthi actions remain unfulfilled.

Read also: KSF experts assess Ukraine's EU and NATO prospects in 2024

China  Taiwan

Tensions in the Taiwan situation have risen following the recent victory of Democratic Progressive Party candidate Tsai Ing-wen in the presidential elections. Tsai supports Taiwans independent development, challenging Chinas President Xi Jinpings plans for swift reunification.

Currently, the conflict involves strong political statements.

On Jan. 25, Colonel Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, reiterated that Taiwan is part of China and will never be sovereign. He emphasized Chinas military readiness to defend its national sovereignty.

Despite the importance of trade with the West for Beijing, there are hopes to avoid military conflict. Both China and Taiwan are preparing for potential conflict, with Beijing modernizing its military and conducting purges, while Taiwan enhances its armed forces and missile capabilities.

Taipei seeks continued support from the United States, as expressed by President Tsai Ing-wen. However, the blocking of a U.S. Congress aid package and the possibility of Donald Trumps re-election could bring adjustments. Trumps ambiguous remarks in a Fox News interview, where he mentioned Taiwans impact on chip manufacturing, were enthusiastically received by Beijing.

North Korea

Statements from Kim Jong Un, the leader of one of Russias key partners, North Korea, are becoming increasingly aggressive, backed by demonstrations of military capabilities and military provocations.

Read also: Yatsenyuk urges clear signal to Putin at Kyiv Security Forum

In early January, during an inspection of military plants, Kim Jong Un referred to South Korea as the most hostile state and threatened to turn the neighboring country into ashes in the event of confrontation. He stated that he would not initiate war unilaterally but had no intention of avoiding it. He also expressed a lack of interest in a policy of reconciliation and reunification with South Korea. Kim Jong Un expressed satisfaction that North Korean enterprises are flawlessly executing the plan for military equipment and emphasized the need to produce more weapons and military equipment.

North Korea goes beyond bellicose statements, engaging in dangerous military provocations. On Jan. 5, North Korea fired 200 shells towards South Korea, landing in the maritime buffer zone north of the demarcation line, essentially the maritime border with South Korea. More recently, North Korea launched several cruise missiles toward open waters, falling between the Korean Peninsula and China.

Venezuela

Tensions persist in the relations between Guyana and Venezuela following the referendum held on Dec. 3, 2023, regarding the annexation of the oil-rich Guyanese province of Essequibo.

The referendum, organized by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, aimed to expand his support ahead of the upcoming elections scheduled for this year. The return of control over Essequibo is supported by a significant majority of the population, both pro-government and opposition forces. Observers note that Maduro is employing strategies previously used by Russia in Ukraine, including distributing Venezuelan passports to residents of the province.

Venezuela remains a steadfast ally of Russia, one of the few countries consistently supporting Moscow in UN General Assembly resolutions condemning aggression against Ukraine and the annexation of Ukrainian territories. There is also a military dependency of Venezuela on Russia, with its armed forces extensively using Russian weapons, from Kalashnikov rifles to Sukhoi aircraft and missile defense systems, while Russian instructors provide training for the armed forces.

The question of Essequibo is currently under consideration at the International Court of Justice. However, some observers do not rule out a potentially conflictual development in the situation in the future, according to experts.

Africa

In this continent, Russia also plays a certain destructive role.

The results of Russian influence include military coups in certain countries, with a shift from the West to Moscow, from democratic governance to autocracy, with Russias involvement in the plundering of Africas natural resources by corrupt regimes and the artificial support of controlled instability, the research states.

Read also: As support sags, experts grapple with West's flagging resolve in crucial Ukraine aid debate

In May 2021, a military coup occurred in Mali, and in September 2022, in Burkina Faso. The new juntas oriented themselves towards Moscow and became dependent on the presence of Wagner Group mercenaries.

In July 2023, this process continued in Nigeria. The pretext for these coups was the intensification of jihadist groups, which since 2012 have transformed West Africa into one of the least stable regions on the planet.

In the list of African countries where military abuses of power have occurred in recent years, Chad, Sudan, and Gabon can be mentioned, although the nature of the coups there was somewhat different. Attempts at coups (Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Sao Tome and Principe) and military conspiracies (Sierra Leone) failed in several other countries.

While not all countries show clear evidence of direct Russian intervention, Russias aggression against Ukraine remains one of the factors contributing to increased instability on the continent. At a minimum, it contributes to rising prices, particularly for food, leading to heightened social and political tensions, concludes the Kyiv Security Forum.

Founded by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk Open Ukraine Foundation, The Kyiv Security Forum, is the states key platform for discussing issues of war and peace, national and global security.

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
Mayor John Whitmire speaks to the media following a speech on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

Mayor John Whitmire has reshuffled the citys leadership deck, appointing senior officials from within the Department of Planning and Development and the Department of Neighborhoods to run their respective departments.

The planning department monitors the citys land development, sidewalk construction, historic preservation and transportation planning, among other efforts. The neighborhoods department works with local organizations to beautify streets and organize community events, while providing services to youth, new immigrants and other groups. It also has an inspection team tasked with identifying code violations and addressing nuisance complaints in neighborhoods.

Margaret Wallace Brown, appointed by former Mayor Sylvester Turner to lead the planning department in 2019, retired after nearly four decades of work at the city. She was replaced by her deputy Jennifer Ostlind, who assumed the role of interim director Friday. Ostlind joined the department in the 1990s. She was promoted to assistant director in 2018 and deputy director in 2022.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

"Interim Director Ostlind has an excellent track record throughout her past 31 years at the City of Houston, and I am confident that she will continue to lead with the same dedication and quality she has shown over the past three decades of public service," Whitmire said in a memo to Houston City Council members Friday afternoon. "For 37 years, Margaret has been a pillar of the Houston planning community, helping to shape the policies and physical look of our great city. I congratulate her on her retirement and offer my sincere appreciation for her dedication to Houston and Houstonians."

TaKasha Francis, director of the neighborhoods department since her appointment by Turner in 2016, is also stepping down. She is currently running for judge of the 152nd Civil District Court. Herbert Sims, the departments assistant director, will take over as the interim director, according to the Friday memo. Sims has worked for the city for two decades and in recent years has specialized in managing the department's budget and finance.

"With 21 years of experience at the City, I am confident that Interim Director Sims will lead with the same commitment to excellence he has built his reputation on. I look forward to his experienced leadership during this period of transition," Whitmire said. "Over the past 8 years, Takasha has been a strong, dedicated leader for our City. As she embarks on a new chapter, I extend my appreciation for her contributions and wish her the best in her future endeavors."

The two departments, along with the mayors office, have led the implementation of Turners controversial legacy program, Complete Communities. The program allows community leaders to work with city liaisons to identify needs in 10 low-income neighborhoods and create action plans for addressing them. But residents have expressed mixed feelings about the programs success to date. Whitmire has not yet announced what, if anything, he will do with the program.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia is ready to hold talks with the European Union on natural gas supplies as a transit deal with Ukraine expires at the end of 2024, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak was quoted as saying by several news agencies on Saturday.

Under a five-year deal agreed between Moscow and Kyiv in 2019, Russia is exporting gas to Europe via Ukraine and pays Ukraine for the usage of its pipeline network.

The arrangement has continued despite the start of Russia's war in Ukraine in February 2022, although Russian gas deliveries to Europe have plummeted since then.

Earlier this week, various media outlets cited Ukraine's government as saying that Kyiv will not seek talks with Moscow on the possibility of extending the gas transit agreement.

"If the other party [EU] wishes, we are ready to discuss. So far we don't see such a desire," Novak was quoted as saying by the RIA news agency.

A European Union official on Friday declined to speculate on whether the Ukraine transit deal would be extended beyond the end of 2024, but said the bloc was assessing all scenarios to ensure its preparedness.

The conflict in Ukraine, which Moscow calls a special military operation, prompted a European drive to replace Russian fuel with alternative supplies and renewable energy.

But the Kremlin-controlled gas pipeline exporting monopoly Gazprom still continues shipping gas via Ukraine.

(Editing by Clelia Oziel)
Russia has fulfilled its obligations to reduce oil supplies abroad.

Source: Bloomberg

Details: Moscow, in coordination with the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC+) and its allies, has promised to deepen the reduction in oil exports to 500,000 barrels per day this quarter compared to the average in May-June. This includes limiting daily crude oil exports by 300,000 barrels and refined products by 200,000 barrels.

By reducing oil exports, OPEC aims to raise prices.

Background: Oil production in non-OPEC+ countries, particularly in the US, may grow faster than global demand, leading to a decline in oil prices in 2024.

In December 2023, Angola withdrew from OPEC following Russia's initiative to cut oil production.

Support UP or become our patron!
Russian military commanders could be prosecuted for starving the people of Mariupol in a first-of-its-kind test case with major implications for Israels war in Gaza.

International investigators will seek the prosecution of Russian military commanders for intentionally starving civilians during the siege of Mariupol between February and May 2022.

Catriona Murdoch, of the Global Rights Compliance, an international law firm working with the office of Ukraines prosecutor general, said her team had gathered sufficient evidence to accuse individual Russian units and commanders of destroying critical infrastructure and blocking aid supplies in an intentional effort to weaponise starvation during the battle for the city.

A full dossier of evidence, which is being compiled, will be formally submitted to the International Criminal Court in January next year. If the courts prosecutors decide there is a case to answer, they may issue arrest warrants for commanders and officials.

It would be the first time the war crime of starvation has been prosecuted since it was outlawed under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court in 1998.

The Azovstal steelworks was a Russian target as it encircled Mariupol - ALEXANDER ERMOCHENKO/REUTERS

From damage mapping, from weapons experts, from all kinds of social media, Telegram and open source analysis, [it is clear] that this was calculated, Ms Murdoch told The Telegraph.

There was a very clear, calculated way in which that siege unfolded in a very short space of time, that we think there can be few other ways to reframe it than starvation being used in a fairly calculated way.

The plan, as far as we could see, there were sort of three phases: the encirclement, then the attacks on critical infrastructure, and simultaneously going into the third phase of withholding aid, withholding evacuation and the start of the filtration process.

So what we see there is, in the first days, the attacks on critical infrastructure, and what that did in terms of civilian population and to water, in particular. What that means in terms of shelter. So when you see in the drama theatre, these big muster points for civilians sheltering, receiving food and medicine, and meeting there in order to evacuate, that these types of distribution points themselves are being then attacked. It starts to show a pattern that this cant be...that its not accidental that all of those things were happening within days of each other.

Russia encircled Mariupol in the first week of its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. There followed a 13-week siege that ended when the last Ukrainian defenders were starved out of their final redoubt in the Azovstal steelworks. Much of the city was destroyed and the municipal government in exile estimated when it fell that at least 25,000 civilians had been killed in the fighting.

An apartment building is hit in the battle for Mariupol - AP

The battle was relatively short, compared to other contemporary urban conflicts, but displayed patterns that strongly correlate with other possible cases of starvation being used, said Ms Murdoch.

That means if a prosecution is launched it could have profound implications for other conflicts, including the war between Israel and Hamas.

The framing of what is happening in Gaza is tragic but incredibly helpful in terms of understanding the narrative of what this looks like in the context of the wars we are seeing in the 21st century. Weve seen it time and again from Yemen to Syria to Tigray to South Sudan to Gaza to Ukraine, she said.

This is in many ways one of the faces of modern urban conflicts and modern conflicts more generally. So there is an increasing sense of urgency that this needs to be looked at forensically at the international level, she added.

Human rights activists accused Russia and Syria of using starvation during the sieges of Aleppo and eastern Ghouta during the Syrian civil war. In 2017 Penny Mordaunt, the then international development secretary, said Saudi Arabia could be guilty of the crime over its blockade of the Houthi-held Yemeni port of Hodeida. Riyadh later agreed to lift the marine blockade.

Israel accused

More recently Israel has been accused of using starvation in its operation in Gaza, where it initially blocked all aid flows.

The patterns are really similar in that you have encirclement and siege, you have attack on critical infrastructure, you have attack on shelter, and you have the withholding of aid and display the forcible displacement of people. So those types of elements are usually what you would see in a general starvation case, said Ms Murdoch.

The crime itself talks about the destruction, deprivation or rendering useless of anything essential to survive. That is context-specific. What a South Sudanese mother will need in summer is different to what an elderly Ukrainian man will need in Mariupol in winter, but it is anything thats essential to survival and we are certainly seeing those essential items being destroyed and deprived. The other component is the withholding of aid. We are seeing that on a really significant level in Gaza.

To meet the threshold for a successful conviction prosecutors would be demonstrating that starvation was part of an intentional strategy, rather than an unintended consequence of legitimate tactics.

Neither Russia nor Ukraine are state parties of the Rome Statute but Ukraine has accepted ICC jurisdiction over alleged crimes occurring on its territory.

War crimes

That means the ICC could prosecute Russian citizens for crimes allegedly committed in Ukraine even though Russia itself is not a state party.

In March 2023 the court issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin and Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova, Russias childrens rights ombudswoman, for the alleged illegal transfer and deportation of Ukrainian children.

Israel is not a member of the International Criminal Court, which is designed as a court of last resort for the prosecution of individuals accused of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression.

It is separate from the International Court of Justice, which was established in 1945 as the United Nations top court and a place for states to litigate one another.

South Africa earlier this month brought a case against Israel in the ICJ, accusing it of pursuing genocide in Gaza. Israel fiercely denies the allegation.

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.
Infographic reads: As of 07:00 on 27 January 2024, 4 Shahed-136/131 attack drones have been destroyed. Image: Ukraines Air Force

Russian forces deployed four Shahed drones and an Iskander-M missile to attack Ukraine on the night of 26-27 January, with Ukraines air defence disabling all four drones.

Source: Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Quote: "Enemy forces deployed four Shahed-136/131 attack drones to attack [Ukraine] from the southeast (Primorsko-Akhtarsk in the Russian Federation) on the night of 26-27 January.

All four drones were disabled over [Ukraines] Kirovohrad Oblast."

Details: Russian forces also launched an Iskander-M missile on Ukraines Donetsk Oblast from Russias Rostov Oblast.

Early reports indicate there were no casualties.

Support UP or become our patron!
The National Security Agency has confirmed that it was able to acquire internet data of Americans even without a warrant, sidestepping critical legalities in data privacy.

In an undisclosed letter addressed to Sen. Ron Wyden, NSA Director Gen. Paul Nakasone verified that the spy agency is indeed able to buy "netflow" data without the user's consent.

Netflow data refers to the user's internet activity, such as which websites and which other users they engage inside and outside the US. Data content and personal information are not included in the records.

NSA Letter Sheds Light into Gray Area of Data Purchasing

The NSA defended its actions as part of its "critical" mission in protecting the citizens from cyber threats, insisting that it only acquired "commercially available information."

Wyden, however, said the NSA's operations are a violation of the Federal Trade Commission's standards against collecting sensitive data for tracking.

The Democrat senator pointed to the revelation as a "wake-up call" for the government to limit the purchasing power of state agencies over users' data.

Also Read: Facebook Introduces 'Link History' on Mobile to Track Visited Websites

Data Purchasing is Rampant on US Intelligence Agencies - Wydem

This was not the first time Wyde has released information that a government body was able to acquire sensitive data from its citizens.

In 2021, the senator obtained a memo confirming that the Defense Intelligence Agency is able to buy commercially available smartphone apps without warrants.

Wyden has been demanding the intelligence agencies to disclose how much information they are collecting from Americans.

Coincidentally, the NSA letter was released to the public at the same time the FTC started cracking down on companies for trading the personal information of its customers.

Just earlier this month, the FTC ordered Virginia-based data broker Outlogic to stop selling sensitive location data that can be used to track internet users.

Wyden has already barred the appointment of a new NSA director following the release of the letter, requesting the agency to first clarify inquiries on collecting American's internet and location data.

Related Article: Senators Reintroduce Bill Safeguarding Online Personal Data
A Russian man who flew from Europe to LAX without a passport, visa, or plane ticket in November was found guilty of being a stowaway on an aircraft, the Department of Justice announced Friday.

The crime carries a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison.

Evidence presented during the three-day trial found that Sergey Vladimirovich Ochigava, 46, tailgated an unsuspecting passenger through a security turnstile at Copenhagen Airport in Denmark. The next day, he successfully passed through the boarding gate undetected and stowed away on a Scandinavian Airlines flight to Los Angeles.

Former L.A. City Councilman Jose Huizar headed to federal prison

During the flight, Ochigava stuck out to the cabin crew since he kept moving to unassigned seats, a news release said.

Once the flight landed at LAX, Ochigava could not pass through the immigration checkpoint at the airport since Customs and Border Protection officers noticed that he was not listed as a passenger on that Scandinavian Airlines flight or any upcoming international flight.

Ochigava had no passport, visa, or other travel document needed to enter the country.

Evidence also showed that he told CBP officers false and misleading information about why he traveled to the U.S., including officers that he had left his passport on the plane, a news release said.

Ochigava has been in federal custody since November and is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 5.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
The Russian publication The Insider claims to have found in Brussels an agent of Russian military intelligence (GRU), Viktor Labin, who, together with his family, provides the Russian defence industry with coordinate-measuring machines.

Source: European Pravda

The Insider refers to Viktor Labin as a GRU agent because he previously lived in the dormitory of the Russian Military Intelligence Academy in the Russian Federation. Afterwards, he resided in a building where some apartments were rented by military personnel.

Viktor Labin

Viktor Labin, along with his sons Roman and Ruslan, owns the Groupe d'Investissement Financier company in Belgium. The Insider says that, through this company, the supply of scarce equipment for the Russian defence industry is carried out, specifically to the Sonatec Moscow-based LLC, owned by Ruslan Labin.

In at least 2022, Sonatec LLC was a contractor for 18 Russian defence companies. The company imports measuring instruments, challenging to substitute in Russia, from different countries, such as Italy (Tomelleri Engineering), Germany (Messtechnik), and the UK (Aberlink).

Journalists also point out that the office of the Labin family's Brussels firm, Groupe d'Investissement Financier, is located within a 15-minute drive from the headquarters of the European Commission.

Viktor Labin told The Insider that "after the sanctions" and the start of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine in 2022, his son's firm no longer conducts shipments to Moscow.

Ruslan Labin, the Sonatecs owner, did not deny that his company was a contractor for 18 defence companies and may still be supplying. Roman Labin, who organises pro-Russian actions in Europe, refused to communicate with journalists.

Background:

Journalists have previously uncovered individuals in Europe associated with Russian intelligence or defence. Last summer, it was revealed that the relatives of Boris Obnosov, Director General of Tactical Missiles Corporation, whose missiles are used to attack Ukraine, continue to reside in Czechia and own real estate worth tens of millions of crowns.

In August 2023, the Czech Financial Analytical Office seized assets belonging to the family of Boris Obnosov.

Support UP or become our patron!
A Russian sabotage group shot to death a brother and a sister in the Khotin community of Sumy Oblast on the morning of Jan. 27, the regional military administration said.

According to the Ukrainian military, Russian sabotage groups often attempt to penetrate Ukraine's northern border, namely in Chernihiv and Sumy oblasts.

Sumy Oblast officials said that the house of the two victims lies in the village of Andriivka, located within the five-kilometer border zone.

In the summer of 2023, regional authorities announced a voluntary evacuation from settlements in the five-kilometer border zone most affected by Russian attacks, although not all residents agreed to leave.

"I once again appeal to the residents of the five-kilometer zone to evacuate. This process has been going on for some time, " Sumy Oblast Governor Volodymyr Artiukh said.

"Russian terrorists continue to kill civilians. By evacuating from dangerous areas, you will save your life."

Read also: All residents evacuated from 19 villages in northern Ukraine following Russian attacks

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
A Russian sabotage and reconnaissance group shot dead a brother and sister from Khotin hromada of Sumy Oblast on the morning of 27 January [a hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories  ed.].

Source: Sumy Oblast Military Administration

Details: It is specified that their house is located in the village of Andriivka, which is located in the 5-kilometre zone near the border with Russia.

The authorities have once again asked residents to evacuate the 5-kilometre border zone.

Update: The Prosecutor Generals Office later revealed the details of the murder of these civilians.

According to the investigation, the occupiers fired at the vehicle with civilians inside on the morning of 27 January, while they were travelling between two villages in Khotin hromada of Sumy Oblast.

A 54-year-old man who was driving and his 68-year-old sister were killed.

Support UP or become our patron!
Russian troops launched a missile attack on an industrial facility in the Kremenchuk district of Poltava Oblast on Saturday evening.

Source: Filip Pronin, the Head of Poltava Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote: "The enemy attacked Poltava Oblast using missiles. Air defence systems were responding in the oblast.

An industrial facility in the Kremenchuk district was hit, causing a fire.

Information about casualties is being confirmed. All necessary services are working at the scene."

Updated: Pronin later added that early reports indicate that Russian forces deployed two ballistic missiles to attack the industrial facility in the Kremenchuk district. A fire was still being extinguished at the site of the Russian attack at the time of his writing. Pronin shared several photos of the fire.

So far, there is no information about casualties or fatalities.

Background: On Saturday evening, an air-raid warning was issued over most of Ukraine, including Kyiv, presumably because of ballistic missile launches.

Ukraine's Air Force reported on missiles coming from the east towards Poltava and Kremenchuk. Explosions rang out in Kremenchuk and Poltava districts.

Support UP or become our patron!
Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the State Duma, arrives for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. -/Kremlin/dpa

Russian parliamentary leader Vyacheslav Volodin has evoked the danger of a third world war on the 80th anniversary of the end of the siege of Leningrad.

"Fascist ideology has become the norm for the leadership of NATO countries," Volodin wrote on his Telegram channel on Saturday.

He accused Western governments, including explicitly the German government led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, of supporting a policy of genocide in Ukraine. "This is a dangerous path that could lead to a new world war," Volodin said.

Russia's main justification for its war against Ukraine, which has been going on for almost two years, is the claim that the neighbouring country needs to be "de-Nazified."

Russian President Vladimir Putin repeatedly uses historical comparisons with World War II to justify his attack on the neighbouring country.

He equates the invasion of Ukraine that he ordered with the Soviet Union's defence against Nazi Germany's criminal war of aggression. Especially on anniversaries, Moscow uses the argument of "defending the memory of the war dead" for its war propaganda.

Exactly 80 years ago, on January 27, 1944, Soviet troops broke through the German Wehrmacht's siege ring around what was then Leningrad, now St Petersburg.

Before this, German troops had deliberately caused the deaths of an estimated 1.2 million people, who died from bombing, hunger and cold.

Germany's ambassador in Moscow, Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, characterized the blockade as "a particularly shocking and brutal war crime in the midst of the criminal invasion of the Soviet Union."
Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the State Duma, arrives for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. -/Kremlin/dpa

Russian parliamentary leader Vyacheslav Volodin has evoked the danger of a third world war on the 80th anniversary of the end of the siege of Leningrad.

"Fascist ideology has become the norm for the leadership of NATO countries," Volodin wrote on his Telegram channel on Saturday.

He accused Western governments, including explicitly the German government led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, of supporting a policy of genocide in Ukraine. "This is a dangerous path that could lead to a new world war," Volodin said.

Russia's main justification for its war against Ukraine, which has been going on for almost two years, is the claim that the neighbouring country needs to be "de-Nazified."

Russian President Vladimir Putin repeatedly uses historical comparisons with World War II to justify his attack on the neighbouring country.

He equates the invasion of Ukraine that he ordered with the Soviet Union's defence against Nazi Germany's criminal war of aggression.

On anniversaries, Moscow often uses the argument of "defending the memory of the war dead" for its war campaign.

Exactly 80 years ago, on January 27, 1944, Soviet troops broke through the German Wehrmacht's siege ring around what was then Leningrad, now St Petersburg.

Before this, German troops had deliberately caused the deaths of an estimated 1.2 million people, who died from bombing, hunger and cold.

Germany's ambassador in Moscow, Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, characterized the blockade as "a particularly shocking and brutal war crime in the midst of the criminal invasion of the Soviet Union."

Meanwhile, on the battlefield, the Russian military has stepped up its efforts to capture Ukrainian towns and villages in recent days, according to the Ukrainian military.

"The occupying forces have significantly increased the number of attacks and assaults - for the second day in a row, the enemy has carried out 50 combat operations," brigadier general Oleksandr Tarnavskyi wrote on his Telegram channel on Saturday.

Tarnavskyi, who is responsible for the front section in the south and south-east of Ukraine, said that the number of airstrikes has also increased.

The figures cited by Tarnavskyi apparently refer to the southern part of the Donetsk region.

He explicitly mentioned strikes against the towns of Myrnohrad and Novohrodiivka, which are located close to the front and which were hit with converted air defence missiles the day before.

Moscow launched a new offensive in the area in the autumn of 2023 to capture the town of Avdiivka, which borders directly on the large city of Donetsk and has been controlled by Russian forces since 2014.

According to media reports, after initially gaining ground, the Russians are barely making any progress despite the large amount of manpower and equipment they have deployed.

The Russian military reported the capture of small town of Maryinka, which lies in ruins to the south of Donetsk, at the end of December. Despite intensive attacks, the Russian forces have not succeeded in making any further advances.

Ukraine has been defending itself against the all-out Russian invasion with a significant amount of Western support. The fighting is still concentrated around the east and south.

Ukrainian forces launched a counteroffensive in June 2023, but progress has been limited. Kiev has vowed to retake all the land occupied the Russia, including the Crimean peninsula which the Kremlin annexed in 2014.

Even as the war drags on, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says international supporters are not losing energy in their support, despite current problems with weapons supplies.

"Despite various challenges and many difficulties, Ukraine has managed to maintain international attention for our, the Ukrainian struggle for independence," he said in his daily video address.

He reviewed progress made in the last month, underlining an agreement with Britain as a particular success and saying this would serve as a model for similar security agreements with other countries.

Zelensky also spoke of a "good dynamic" in terms of international defence aid, though he emphasized the importance of the US as the most important military supporter to date.

Meanwhile Ukraine and Lithuania discussed the joint production of drones during talks between the foreign minister of both countries.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said at a joint press conference in Kiev that a large part of the talks with his Lithuanian counterpart centred on this area.

Kuleba said, "Lithuania has the technologies, we have the opportunity to expand our cooperation, and that was the key topic."

The pair also discussed Ukraine's path to NATO membership, further military aid for the country and sanctions on Russia, he said.

Drones have proved one of the most important weapons in the war launched by the Kremlin.

Fear of a Russian attack runs high in the Baltic states and Vilnius is one of Kiev's most committed backers.
Russias transition to a war economy could give it a material advantage in the war against Ukraine if the West fails to keep up with manufacturing weapons at the same pace, given Russias intention to continue fighting for at least 3-4 years.

Source: The Telegraph, a UK newspaper, citing sources and open data analysis

Details: The Telegraph reported that "as Moscow turns bakeries and even classrooms into tools to ramp up weapons production, NATO is struggling to keep up".

For example, the former Italmas shopping mall in Izhevsk is now serving as a drone manufacturing facility, where Lancet drones that are deployed on the battlefield in Ukraine are produced.

"It is one of a clutch of shopping centres, bakeries, and other civilian infrastructure to be turned into arms factories since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Russians have also been called upon to work six-day weeks and volunteer in factories as part of an intensified war effort. There is even footage from Russian TV which appears to show Russian children learning to assemble munitions parts in workshops," The Telegraph said.

A Western official told The Telegraph: "Were currently in a scenario where Russia is spending 40 per cent of GDP on this war  thats more than health and education."

"It is a statistic that the collective West is struggling to match. Over time, defence experts warn, it could give Russia the overwhelming materiel superiority to win the war in Ukraine. And while the urgency of the situation is widely recognised behind the scenes, Western governments are simply not keeping up," The Telegraph wrote.

The Telegraph also said that the secrecy cloaking Russias defence industry and Russian officials tendency to exaggerate statistics for propaganda purposes make it difficult to accurately assess the scale of Russias transition to a war economy.

"But almost all experts agree it is real, dangerous, and well under way," The Telegraph reported.

Official data suggest that Russia has increased its military spending from 2.7% of its GDP in 2022, to 3.9% in 2023, and up to 6% (or about a third of all government spending) in 2024. However, the actual figure could be much higher, The Telegraph said.

In a December report to the Russian parliament, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said that in 2023, Russia produced 1,530 tanks and 2,518 armoured combat vehicles. Shoigu said this represents a 560% increase in tank production since February 2022. Production of infantry fighting vehicles increased by 360%, and armoured personnel carriers by 350%.

The Telegraph said, however, that this would only be enough to replenish Russias losses on the battlefield, not to expand its capability.

The article went on to say that Russian production is unlikely to provide enough materials to launch a major offensive in 2024. Over the past two years, Russia has suffered too many losses to create a reliable offensive force. But the Kremlin is thinking beyond 2024.

"They are talking about mobilising their defence industry over the next three years, which implies they are looking to fight the war for at least three to four years. We are at a moment where the Russians are vulnerable because production does not meet their demands. But they will turn a corner," a defence insider told The Telegraph.

If the West does not act, The Telegraph wrote, "Ukraine may lose the war. And what comes after that, no one knows  but there have been some alarming signals from Moscow about further land grabs in Europe."

Support UP or become our patron!
The Sacramento City Council cannot constructively engage in the debate on Israels war in Gaza and the merits of a ceasefire if incidents during and after the last council meeting are any indication.

Councilwoman Lisa Kaplan, who is Jewish, has been somewhat outspoken against a ceasefire and its proponents on social media. During a two-hour public comment period Tuesdays council meeting, Kaplan was called a proponent of genocide.

Opinion

None of my colleagues would stand up for me, she later said about the meeting.

Early the next morning at her Natomas home, Kaplan faced a brief demonstration of banging pots and pans outside her backyard, which is next to a city park. Kaplan said a light beamed into her bedroom window. The intrusion was denounced on social media by Mayor Darrell Steinberg and Councilwoman Caity Maple.

Two other of Kaplan fellow council members, Katie Valenzuela and Mai Vang, later advanced a resolution calling for a ceasefire. Steinberg also has been working on a resolution of his own.

This is not an issue where wordsmithing can result in a consensus at a council meeting that could possibly approach civility.

Were the council to place a Gaza resolution on its agenda, all sides can be expected to show up. The meeting also could attract people seeking to exploit the moment into something dangerous downtown.

I fear Sacramentos version of the distant war.

I hope for a way to channel very real feelings and views about this conflict into constructive and impactful ways. One speaker at Tuesdays meeting estimated that Sacramento-area residents have lost about 250 loved ones in the conflict so far.

International affairs do belong in the local discourse. The question is how to do it in order to not make matters worse.

Kaplan says she has been a commenter on this topic since it began with the brutal attack in Israel by the terrorist group Hamas, which was also elected as the government leader in Gaza. I am commenting as Lisa Kaplan, council member as well as being Jewish, she said.

In December, she said the following on social media:

Any request for a #ceasefirenow w/o an immediate release - 100% of the hostages #Hamas kidnapped on 10/7 is a position of supporting Hamas & their genocide of Jews. Why are there no demands of the Aggressor (Hamas) to stop hiding behind...innocent citizens they are killing? If youre protesting & advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza where were you in protesting the innocent killing of Muslims? Check yourself -quit being a hypocrite - maybe take a step back & ask yourself, do you really know whats going on or are u promoting Hamas & being antisemitic.

Tuesday night, a council meeting that had been dominated by cannabis seemed to be drawing to a close. Last on every agenda is the public comment period on items not slated for discussion. On this night, 72 people signed up to speak, nearly all of them about Gaza and all of those in favor of a ceasefire.

It did not take long for Kaplan to become a target of speakers, some providing full names, others just a first name.

You attempted to shame and silence those speaking out against this genocide by saying we are antisemitic hypocrites, one said.

Kaplan has been looking down or on her phone distracted, perfectly displaying her obvious contempt for Palestinians, said another.

Somewhere after this, Kaplan decided to stand up and leave the chambers behind the councils dais. I did not believe I needed to personally be the target of their anger, she said.

The comments continued.

We know Lisa Kaplan supports genocide from her tweets, another said.

Kaplan returned after more than two hours of comments were completed and Steinberg was scheduled to close the session in honor of former council member Lauren Hammond, the bodys first black woman, who had tragically died recently. Emotions, and voices, were still running hot and high.

When I entered the room, that is when chaos started, Kaplan said.

Steinberg chose against trying to close the meeting in honor of the late Hammond. I will save it for another time, the mayor said. We are adjourned.

Kaplan, who is married and with two young children, headed home to Natomas. Her backyard is separated from an adjacent park by an iron fence. And at about 1:30 a.m. light pierced her bedroom window, and there was the sound of banging pots and pans coming from the park. She only managed to see two people from a vantage point inside her home. Steinberg has endured similar intrusions, but this was Kaplans first.

I dont know if these individuals have guns, so I am not going to allow my husband or anybody else to go out and verify who they are, she said.  Our husband called neighborhood security and I called 911.

Soon, the lights and noise were over, and the intrusion over. Kaplan said a police report was filed and provided a number, but attempts to retrieve a copy from the department over two days were unsuccessful.

The mayor has since said he does not intend to refer the proposed resolution by Vang and Valenzuela to a city committee or to place it on the agenda. The prospect of a formally announced council meeting on the subject appears to be over for now.

Personally, I support a ceasefire. I believe it is in the interests of both sides. And I understand why proponents of a ceasefire are coming to city councils because the country has a president and a Congress who think otherwise, in stark contrast to most of the world.

That said, I also fear for the night that Sacramento would put Gaza on center stage downtown given the councils public comment format that is sure to get out of control, the agendas purpose lost in emotions that go back centuries.

A city council that has a horrible budget crisis, homeless crisis and housing crisis is not equipped for the Middle East crisis.

A broader resolution that is carefully crafted in a separate process by local elected officials and religious leaders of Jewish and Muslim faiths would deserve to be heard loud and clear, here and throughout the world. That day may never happen, given how Steinberg says our interfaith community isnt now talking to one another and how tensions are at an all-time high.

If our community leaders are not finding common ground in private, imagine trying the same in public amid a fury of emotions before the City Council.

If that were to happen, says Kaplan, you put my life and my familys life in danger.
A search continues for a suspect that robbed a Rite Aid in Carmichael at gunpoint, according to Sacramento County sheriffs radio calls reviewed by The Sacramento Bee.

The robbery was reported Friday night on Marconi and Walnut avenues. The suspect was described as a tall man in his early 30s in a black hoodie and blue facial mask, per sheriffs dispatcher calls. He reportedly ran out the front door and headed east on foot after the robbery.

A Sacramento County Sheriffs Office spokesperson declined to disclose details on the suspect description or the business robbed, but said the case is now with detectives.

The robbery comes as the number of Rite Aid stores is shrinking in the Sacramento region. Last year, the pharmacy chain closed eight locations in a few weeks after a bankruptcy filing.
Apple could face "strong action" once the EU regulators see that the changes to the App Store are not sufficient to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA).

Starting March 7, Apple is expected to allow iPhone users to download alternative app stores and give options to opt-out of its in-app payment system that charges up to 30% fee.

Read Also: Epic Games Store, Fortnite Prep for Comeback on iOS in EU

Critics See Apple's Changes Remain Unfair

Earlier this week, Apple announced its intention to allow sideloading which lifts off the current restrictions and commission payments of the company. However, critics argued that Apple's fee structure remains unfair and could still violate the DMA.

In an interview with Reuters, EU industry chief Thierry Breton said that in March, the regulators will start to assess the companies' proposals, along with the feedback from third parties.

"If the proposed solutions are not good enough, we will not hesitate to take strong action," he added. Apple previously stated that sideloading will be allowed but developers will have to wait for Apple's review before getting approved.

Third-Party Companies Complaints Apple Fees are Still High

Despite opening the option for other web browsers and contactless apps outside Apple's default apps, developers will still have to pay a core technology fee of 50 euro cents per user account per year.

"This was definitely a good move, but the fees are still too high. We are preparing to send formal feedback to the European Commission," CEO of alternative app store Aptoide, Paul Trezentos, said.

Spotify CEO Daniel Ek called it "extortion, plain and simple." He also added how big of an impact the fees would have on popular apps like WhatsApp, Duolingo, X, and Pinterest, which all offer free services to their users but will get taxed by tens to hundreds of millions.

After sitting with our legal team to parse through the fine print of Apple's DMA announcement (that took a while), which is, at best vague and misleading, I wanted to share my thoughts.



While Apple has behaved badly for years, what they did yesterday represents a new low, even  Daniel Ek (@eldsjal) January 26, 2024

Meanwhile, the European Commission that they have already noted Apple announcements but would not comment yet. In the meantime, the regulation encourages the gatekeepers to test their proposals with third parties.

Related Article: Spotify Introduces In-App Purchases Once DMA Starts in March
(FOX40.COM)  A community investment program funded in part by the city of Sacramento is offering Oak Park homeowners an opportunity to apply for free repairs.

This initiative aims to bring together volunteers and residents to complete health, safety, and beautification home repairs, ensuring that Oak Park families can continue living in their homes comfortably, said the Citys Housing Administrative Analyst Axel Magallanes.

Homeless site not opening due to miscommunication between Sacramento County and city governments

The program is known as the Rock the Block initiative and is led by Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento. Some repairs include landscaping, yard cleanup, fencing, external paint, dry rot, gutter cleaning, HVAC, roof replacement, pest abatement, windows, water heater replacement, energy efficiency repairs, and other beautification or critical home repairs.

Applications are open until Feb. 1.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40.
As mayor of Sacramento, I will not use my authority to refer a Gaza ceasefire resolution proposed by Councilmembers Katie Valenzuela and Mai Vang for a hearing before the City Council or any of its committees.

Given the controversy and strong feelings about the issues, I want to take a moment to explain my motivations and why I am making this decision.

I oppose the current resolution because it is far too one-sided and will further inflame the already high tensions in our community.

Opinion

My colleagues and I heard directly Tuesday and over the last months about the terrible suffering of the people in Gaza. I am deeply moved by what we have all seen and heard. I decry the death and suffering of innocents in Gaza and the impact of this suffering on their family and friends living in our beloved city. I want the war to end. I fully support all humanitarian aid to the people suffering in Gaza. And I have not been afraid to publicly criticize the Israeli government for its settlement policies and other decisions over which I have disagreed.

But this proposed resolution is unfair and divisive. It does not begin to acknowledge the Hamas atrocity against the Jewish people on Oct. 7. While it mentions the hostages taken by Hamas, it fails to address how a unilateral ceasefire would prevent Hamas from rearming and repeating its terror. The resolution fails to look forward and promote a vision and the only hope for real peace, a safe and secure Jewish homeland and a free Palestinian state.

I strongly prefer not to have any formal resolution come before the City Council. In most cases, I do not believe our City Council should spend council time on foreign policy.

And yet, about 70 people came to the City Council this past Tuesday evening from one perspective to express their deeply held point of view for a ceasefire resolution. That was and is their right. But the council cannot be the only place where dialogue and decision making happens  especially on issues over which we dont have any authority.

To those who believe that defeating even a one-sided resolution will make the anger and division go away, that is wishful thinking.

I remain deeply concerned that our communitys long history of bridge building and strong interfaith relationships is at great risk. The communitys trauma around Oct. 7 and its aftermath is real and profound.

The current dialogue in our community, reflected in weekly protests, disrupted civic meetings, and broken friendships, Is both disturbing and potentially dangerous.

Our interfaith communities are not talking to one another. They are too angry, distrustful, and hurt to reach across the divide.

Even if the divide is understandable, we must at least try to talk and to model the behavior we want to see elsewhere. That has always been the Sacramento way.

A formal resolution by a city council is just one way to try and heal the breach. It is not the only way.

Several months ago, anticipating the demand for a one-sided resolution and the expected response from both sides, I convened a small group of community leaders and drafted a fair resolution consistent with the principles I described above. Both the Jewish and Palestinian/Muslim community leadership flatly rejected the effort.

If leaders and community members from each community are unwilling to talk to one another, and the issues continue being brought to the City Council chambers in ways that dominate our time and attention, there may be no alternative than for my colleagues and me to bring forward a fair resolution ourselves that reflects the views of most of the people in our city.

I hope instead that our communities reconnect, re-engage, and rebuild those bonds of friendship that have always distinguished Sacramento as a courageous city.

Darrell Steinberg is mayor of the city of Sacramento
A recent study on protein-rich foods, including beef and tofu, revealed microplastics in nearly 90% of samples.

What happened?

Researchers from the Ocean Conservancy and the University of Toronto analyzed more than a dozen different types of proteins including seafood, pork, chicken, beef, and tofu. They found microplastics in nearly 90% of the samples they tested and estimated that the average American adult may consume at least 11,000 pieces of microplastics each year.

Per serving, breaded shrimp had the most microplastics, followed by plant-based nuggets and chicken nuggets. Chicken breasts, pork loin chops, and tofu had the least.

Because highly processed products like breaded shrimp and chicken nuggets contained significantly more microplastic particles per gram, researchers suggested that food processing could be a source of contamination.

Why is this study important?

This study adds to mounting evidence about the prevalence of microplastics in the natural environment and in our bodies. Research has already documented microplastics in water, fruits and vegetables, salt, sugar, rice, milk, and beer.

In fact, one study found that the average adult takes in about 2,000 microplastics annually through salt alone. Human exposure to microplastics also comes from inhalation.

The World Health Organization recently released a report summarizing the body of research about the health impacts of microplastics. However, it says its still too early to make any real conclusions.

While we still really dont have any idea what the human health consequences of this are, if there are any at all, we need to take this seriously because this is a problem thats not going away on its own, and its only going to get worse the more plastic we use and throw away, George Leonard, one of the studys authors and chief scientist at Ocean Conservancy, told The Washington Post.

Whats being done about microplastics?

Theres no way to hide from plastics if youre eating, Leonard told The Washington Post. If your desire is like, I want to pick something that doesnt have any plastic in it, you really cant.

That said, experts say that microplastics will persist in the environment if humans continue using plastics designed to last, The Washington Post reported.

We have designed these materials to be persistent for centuries, if not millennia, so that should be regarded as a design flaw, Paul Anastas, director of the Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering at Yale University, told the publication. We know how to design polymers that degrade harmlessly into the environment, not into smaller, smaller particles.

Meanwhile, more eco-friendly alternatives to plastic are gaining traction. These include materials made of recycled seaweed and algae. Scientists have also discovered how to break down plastics before they become a problem by using hungry wax worms and fungus.

Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the coolest innovations improving our lives and saving our planet.
Elon Musk is reportedly planning to acquire AI chips from AMD as Tesla ramps up purchases of the technology for its electronic vehicles.

The confirmation comes after Musk said that the EV manufacturer is allocating $500 million to buy at least 10,000 H100 chips from NVIDIA.

According to Musk, Tesla is prepared to shell out "at least several billion dollars per year at this point."

The AI chips are supposed to be used for the so-called "Project Dojo," a planned supercomputer that will handle most of Tesla's massive amount of data.

Musk has yet to respond to other inquiries regarding the acquisition plan.

Elon Musk Demands 'Strong Influence' on Tesla

The news of plans for Tesla comes in amid his calls to shore up more "influence" on the company.

According to Musk, the company's so-called activist investors can oust him unless he holds more shares to sway through future voting.

The CEO is proposing to raise at least a 25% stake in the company.

Tesla's performance has been plummeting for the past months amid controversies after controversies, a "train wreck" for many of its investors.

The EV manufacturer only grew by 3% last year, much lower than the projected revenue with the promised Cybertruck debuting in the final quarter.

Also Read: Elon Musk Plans to 'Build Products Outside of Tesla' If His Share Was Not Increased

Elon Musk Builds Up AI Start-Up to Challenge OpenAI

Tesla is not the company the tech billionaire is planning to expand his AI vision.

Musk's xAI, the developers of the snarky chatbot Grok, is in talks to raise at least $6 billion in investments to rival the Microsoft-backed OpenAI.

Musk, who also helped founded OpenAI in 2015, was reported to be fundraising with sovereign wealth funds in the Middle East, Japan, and South Korea, people familiar with the matter told the Financial Times.

This is after xAI's recent Securities and Exchange Commission filing revealed that the company is planning to raise $1 billion in funding from equity investors.

The start-up's only product for now is Grok, which is currently being trained on X (formerly Twitter) as part of its paid subscription service.

Musk bought the platform for $44 billion in 2022, a value that has since severely dropped by over 70%, according to investor Fidelity.

Related Article: Apple, NVIDIA, AMD Chips Will Soon be Manufactured in Arizona's New Chip Factory
Scientists in Peru are using their knowledge of the changing climate to better understand its link to the growing cases of diseases spread through rodents and mosquitoes, as reported by The Washington Post, which noted a perfect storm of illness is brewing.

The relationship between climate and public health has been studied for ages. As our climate changes, so do those links.

In Peru, the number of cases of dengue, malaria, and leptospirosis hit an all-time high in 2023, according to the Post. In the capital city of Lima alone, cases of dengue rose to 30,000 in 2023, compared to fewer than 1,000 in 2022, according to Perus Ministry of Health.

Peru isnt alone in seeing disease outbreaks increase in part because of the impacts of climate change.

In the American West, cases of the fungus known as valley fever have spiked because of the extreme drought the region has experienced for years. Bangladesh is another example of a country with an uptick in dengue cases; increased rainfall and temperatures were included in this World Health Organization report as contributing factors because wetter and warmer conditions offer favorable environments for disease-carrying mosquitoes to breed.

Gabriel Carrasco, an epidemiologist based in Peru, is looking to measure and monitor all the factors that cause dengue, malaria, and leptospirosis.

As climate change makes Peru more welcoming to mosquitoes, its also pushing humans into the kind of communities where theyre more likely to get infected: informal settlements with no running water or regular trash service, Carrasco told the Post.

Carrasco and his team are using technology to track the factors causing outbreaks. According to the Post, they use drones and sensors in and around these settlements to zoom in on those environmental clues.  Along with scanning from potential mosquito breeding sites, [the drones] can identify homes that are prone to flooding  and whose dwellers are at greater risk of stepping into puddles contaminated by rat urine.

With data collected from these drones as well as from local health care workers, Carrasco is hoping to get ahead of events that trigger disease, so when we see them, we can predict the chances of an outbreak in the following weeks or months.

Though some experts are skeptical of Carrascos studies and want to see more non-weather related pieces of the malady puzzle included, there is no question that weather and climate changes play a major role in the increase of animal-borne disease outbreaks.

It is the hard work of scientists such as Carrasco around the world that will help to better monitor, track, and forecast disease outbreaks in order to curb cases.

Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the coolest innovations improving our lives and saving our planet.
A search-and-rescue team based in Stark County has been honored for finding and saving the life of a 62-year-old former Marine Corps veteran who went missing in September in Richland County.

The Mansfield man, who had medical issues, was reported missing Sept. 15. He was found in dense underbrush along a creek after a search by members of the all-volunteer Ohio Special Response Team.

"The missing man in Mansfield was in extreme hypothermia when we located him," response team Capt. Alan Plastow wrote in an email. "He originally only had vision in one eye but injured the other eye in a fall early in the incident timeline.

"Essentially, he was almost completely blind during the entire time he was lost. He was extremely disoriented and could no longer walk when we found him. (He) had to be carried out to a waiting ambulance. He has since recovered."

Richland County Sheriff Steve Sheldon on Tuesday presented a certificate of appreciation and letter to the response team members at the Sheriff's Office, telling them they "saved a life."

Capt. Alan Plastow: Volunteer team found man using research

The team of volunteers was called after the Sheriff's Office exhausted its search, which included a K-9 and Ontario Police Department's drone. Due to the missing person's health, nightfall approaching within hours and dropping temperatures, it was crucial to call in the rescue team, Sheldon said.

Thirteen members, plus a K-9 named Besa owned by Sarah Gentry, a nurse from Ashland, attended the event Tuesday. Nineteen volunteers plus the German shepherd responded in the September search.

Richland County Sheriff J. Steve Sheldon, at left, thanks Capt. Alan Plastow, Sarah Gentry and K-9 Besa on Tuesday. They are among members of the Ohio Special Response Team honored for finding a missing Marine Corps veteran Sept. 15 in Richland County.

Plastow said there was a brief discussion about calling off the search, but he feared it would become a recovery mission.

First, the group searched areas the missing man would not be in, as training dictated. Then members used their research for finding people who are disoriented or diagnosed with dementia to determine where the person would most likely be  near water and down a hill.

"I yelled, 'Attention on deck' to get his attention," Plastow said, noting the man, while very disoriented, seemed to know they were there to help him.

Members of the search team said the man sent them a thank-you note. He declined to attend the ceremony.

A 62-year-old man with medical issues who was reported missing Sept. 15 was found in dense underbrush on the city's east side by members of the Ohio Special Response Team. The Richland County Sheriff's Office lauded members Tuesday for their life-saving actions.

Sgt. Jason Shoemaker of the Richland County Sheriff's Office said it was a daunting task getting the man out of the woods. The man was not able to walk and could barely stand. He was carried to a utility vehicle and then transported to an emergency squad and taken to a hospital for treatment.

Shoemaker recalled the man telling rescuers he had taken trash outside at 5:30 a.m., became disoriented and couldn't find his way back to the residence.

"He said he fell and something hit his good eye and it was very hard for him to see at that point," Shoemaker said.

The response team found him after he had been outside for 17 hours.

"This positive outcome is partly due to the cooperation of all parties involved including the volunteers who stopped what they were doing that day to aid us in the situation," Shoemaker said. "Our department would like to publicly thank the Ohio Special Response Team for their dedication to our community and for those in need. Thank you each and every one of you."

Neighbors helping neighbors: Search-and-rescue group starting Stark chapter

Anyone who wants to join the Ohio Special Response Team can as long as they have a clean police record.

"We take everybody. We need anybody who can do ground-pounding," said team member Denise Kroger, a deputy at the Medina County Sheriff's Office. "We have the K-9, we have the drone. We have a little bit of everything. We need somebody who is good and can run with our electronics and setup."

There are several teams in the state of Ohio, she said.

Stark County: Volunteer search and rescue team to hold open house

Canton Repository staff writer Nancy Molnar contributed to this story.

lwhitmir@gannett.com

419-521-7223

X (formerly Twitter): @lwhitmir

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Ohio Special Response Team honored for saving life of Mansfield man
The top Senate Democrat with oversight of foreign affairs said Friday he is greenlighting a sale of F-16s to Turkey following Ankaras following through on Swedens accession to NATO.

Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in a statement that he will permit the sale of F-16s to Turkey, but raised concerns about the Turkish governments human rights record domestically and its ties with bad actors globally.

My approval of Turkeys request to purchase F-16 aircrafts has been contingent on Turkish approval of Swedens NATO membership. But make no mistake: this was not a decision I came to lightly, Cardin said, raising concerns about Ankaras human rights record, ties with Russia amid its war against Ukraine, and support of Hamas and criticism of Israel in the Middle East.

My concerns have been strongly and consistently conveyed to the Biden administration as part of our ongoing engagement, and I am encouraged by the productive direction of their discussions with Turkish officials to address these issues.

Turkey had held back for more than a year on permitting Swedens accession to NATO, eking out concessions from Stockholm on its handling of what Ankara views as Kurdish terrorist groups, its ban on arms sales to Turkey and calling for the country to help Turkey join the E.U.

In addition, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had pressed the U.S. to override a hold imposed by former Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) blocking the sale of F-16s in order to get Ankara to permit Swedens accession.

Menendez stepped down as committee chairman in September following a federal indictment that he accepted bribes in exchange for using his position to exercise influence with foreign governments.

Cardin took up the post shortly after but maintained the hold on the F-16 sales until Turkey followed through on Swedens accession.

While Erdogan had made clear his quid pro quo for allowing Swedens entry into the alliance, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has also held back on ratifying Sweden joining NATO.

Cardin accused Orban of obstruction.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban has once again shown himself to be the least reliable member of NATO, in addition to playing the role of spoiler in the European Unions effort to provide much-needed economic assistance to Ukraine, Cardin said, criticizing Budapests frustrating efforts for the European Union to commit more economic aid to Ukraine.

The expansion of NATO is viewed as a key bulwark against Russian President Vladimir Putins campaign of aggression against Ukraine and threats to Europe. Sweden joining the alliance, following Finlands accession in June 2023, expands NATOs northern border with Russia.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  Presidential politics could kill an immigration deal in Congress. Senate negotiators are working on a border package, but former President Donald Trumps opposition to the plan is complicating it.

Senate Democrats and Republicans have been working with the White House for months to try to strike a border reform deal.

The immigration system is broken and it has been for decades now, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.

Negotiators say theyre almost done, but now the deal is in danger of collapsing.

Former President Donald Trump has been vocally criticizing their work. His political pressure could influence lawmakers support.

Senator Mitt Romney (R-Utah) accuses Trump of playing politics.

Former President Trump has indicated to senators that he does not want us to solve the problem at the border, Romney said. That he doesnt want us to solve the border problem because he wants to blame Biden for it, is really appalling.

The White House is making an appeal to the other party.

House Republicans have to choose, do they want to help or do they want to score political points? Jean-Pierre said.

But many Republicans are taking Trumps side.

On Friday, House Speaker Mike Johnson sent a letter to his colleagues saying, If rumors about the contents of the draft proposal are true, it would have been dead on arrival in the House anyway.

While the details of the deal arent public yet, Senator J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) says from what he does know he doesnt like it.

Frankly Im not too happy with the package, Vance said.

The lawmakers leading negotiations say the deal isnt dead yet though. Before leaving for the weekend Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) gave a hopeful update.

We know how important this is. We are negotiating in good faith. And want to get this done in a bipartisan way, Schumer said.

The White House also expressed optimism that lawmakers can still reach a compromise.

There has been progress in their conversations, Jean-Pierre said.

If the package does fail to pass, Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) says President Biden should take steps to crack down on the border himself.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
I am old now. Lines criss-cross my face in no particular pattern as if some half-crazed spider forgot how to spin her web. Those two sentences are from a short story I wrote years ago when there were no lines on my face, no furrows across my brow. I was young then and never gave a second thought to aging. In a way, our country was young then, too. As women marched for equal rights and protestors yelled Hell no, I wont go in reference to the Vietnam War, it was a time most people my age had never experienced.

Sharon Kennedy

Compared to today, those years from the last century had a sense of innocence. It was the first time many of us had seen angry women on the march and students pleading to be heard. The Hare Krishna movement was popular then. I lived in Dearborn and worked in downtown Detroit. Krishna followers were everywhere. In their strange, colorful garb and weird hairdos, they looked out of place on the streets of the cities. They shook their tambourines and chanted prayers in a language my friends and I did not understand. They were harmless enough and never rebuked us as we walked by. Nor did they try to convert us to the teachings of Krishna, the Supreme Person according to their beliefs.

I rented a flat on Indiana Street which separated Dearborn from Detroit. My neighbors were Arabs. Occasionally one of their daughters knocked on my door and handed me a special dessert indigenous to their culture or a plate of grape leaves stuffed with rice and lamb. Sometimes the little girls played in my backyard. When my cat got out and I was at work, the children kept him safe until I returned home.

Prior to working for a law firm where all the lawyers and their secretaries were as white as bleached bones, I worked for Wayne County Civil Service in the City-County Building on Woodward Avenue. The office was large. There were no partitions separating employees. Workers consisted of nine Black women, one Mexican girl, four White women and one White man. We worked together, ate our lunches at our desks and visited with each other. Even our White female supervisor stayed at her desk and talked to us. This was in the early 1970s.

Every weekday I rode a city bus to work. Diversity was as common as were the gas fumes. The bus was always quiet. People read newspapers, magazines or books. Some slept during the morning and evening hour-long rides. The bus was an express so once out of downtown Detroit, there were no stops until we crossed into residential areas. In all the years I took public transportation, never once did I hear an altercation of any kind. Nobody fought over a window seat. No one held his nose if a chocolate-colored person sat next to him.

Was that because most of the riders were young and had left racial prejudice in the hands of the older generations? Was it because everyone was too tired to argue? I caught the 8 a.m. bus in the morning and the 5:15 after work. During summer, the air conditioning was often on the blink. Maybe the heat made us too weak to spar with each other.

I am old now. The lines on my face, the veins on my hands bespeak of age. We elderly people have made a mess of things. We lost something perhaps given only to the young. We lost hope in the goodness of our fellow man.

 To contact Sharon Kennedy, send her an email at sharonkennedy1947@gmail.com. Kennedy's new book, "View from the SideRoad: A Collection of Upper Peninsula Stories," is available from her or Amazon.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Sharon Kennedy: Age doesnt always bring wisdom
In a move aimed at enhancing recreational amenities for the local community, the St. Johns County Parks Foundation has announced a new partnership with the Rotary Club of Ponte Vedra.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

The Rotary Club of Ponte Vedra made a substantial donation to the St. Johns County Parks Foundation on January 23rd at 9:00 a.m. at Nocatee Fields. This generous contribution will play a pivotal role in advancing community recreation resources.

At the heart of this partnership lies the acquisition of a cutting-edge water bottle refill station, generously funded by the Rotary Club of Ponte Vedra. The station is slated to be installed at Nocatee Fields in Ponte Vedra, serving as a valuable resource for individuals utilizing the facilities.

Josh Hull, President of the Rotary Club of Ponte Vedra, expressed sincere appreciation for the chance to give back to the community. Our club members are active users of Nocatee Fields, and were thrilled to have the opportunity to contribute to the enhancement of these facilities, Hull remarked. This initiative aligns perfectly with our Rotary mission of Service Above Self and addresses the crucial need for access to clean drinking water.

Michael F. Payne, Sr., Executive Director of the St. Johns County Parks Foundation, lauded the swift action taken by the Rotary Club of Ponte Vedra. We are thrilled by the proactive approach demonstrated by the Rotary of Ponte Vedra in addressing a pressing community need, Payne stated. This partnership exemplifies the spirit of collaboration and underscores our shared commitment to improving the well-being of our residents.

Both organizations are confident that this collaboration will have a lasting impact, fostering a sense of community engagement and bolstering the overall quality of life for St. Johns County residents.

[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Skeletons with buckets on their feet and rings around their necks discovered in a Dark Ages graveyard, say reports

A 1,000-year-old cemetery discovered near Kyiv, Ukraine, is presumed to have a pagan history.

Researchers found some skeletons with buckets on their feet and elaborate rings around their necks.

The mysterious burial site provided a glimpse into the Dark Ages.

Archaeologists discovered human remains ceremonially adorned with buckets on their feet and rings around their necks in a 1,000-year-old cemetery, reports say.

Archaeologists discovered the mass grave holding over 107 skeletons in what is believed to have been a pagan-era cemetery near Kyiv, Ukraine.

The mysterious burial site provided a glimpse into the Dark Ages, the 1,000 years of European history between the fall of the Roman Empire and the beginning of the Italian Renaissance.

Researchers unearthed axes, swords, spears, jewelry, bracelets, and food remains such as eggshells and chicken bones alongside the bones of the long-forgotten people.

Vsevolod Ivakin and Vyacheslav Baranov, two researchers who led the excavation, described the weapons as typical for Kyivan Rus  a medieval political federation whose territory included modern-day Belarus, Ukraine, and western Russia  and northeastern Europe.

The excavation process of the Ostriv graveyard. Vyacheslav Baranov | National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

A stone altar found at the site could have been used for pagan or early Christian rituals.

Ivakin and Baranov presented their findings at the Archaeological Institute of America's annual meeting in Chicago in early January, Live Science reported.

The researchers said the graveyard contained male and female skeletons, but only females were adorned with elaborate neck rings, which "were apparently a kind of social marker," Ivakin and Baranov said, Live Science reported.

A skeleton adorned with rings and the site of the cemetery. Vyacheslav Baranov | National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

The wooden buckets on the feet found in some of the male graves  which may have been part of funerary rituals  are reminiscent of 11th-century Prussian cremation and Pomeranian and Masovian inhumation cemeteries of military elites, the Independent reported.

Some artifacts are similar to those uncovered in the Baltics, Live Science reported. Volodymyr the Great  who converted to Christianity around 987  ruled territories that extended to the Baltics.

The findings speak to a religious shift in Ukrainian history and to the arrival of Christianity in Eastern Europe.

Baranov told Business Insider that the findings date back to the late Viking Age, a period during which the territory of Ukraine was involved in common North European processes.

He said the findings "correspond well with the pan-European historical processes in Europe, and once again show the importance of studying the pan-European history as a whole and European peoples in the general context."

He added that the nature of such a small and closed group was rare for its time.

At the time of the cemetery's use, the people of the Ukraine region were undergoing a conversion to Christianity, most notably documented by the baptism of Volodymyr the Great, when he converted from his pagan beliefs to Christianity.

The archaeological project in Ukraine began in 2017. Research continued in 2022 and 2023 despite the challenges the war posed. Baranov told BI that several regular members of the expedition had already died in battle and that others were on the frontlines after being mobilized. The dwindling numbers have hindered the excavation process.

The ongoing research is a collaboration between several research centers, with the German Research Foundation and other organizations providing funding.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Destruction in Sloviansk after a Russian strike on the night of January 27

Russian forces attacked Sloviansk in Donetsk Oblast on the night of Jan. 27, targeting a ceramic workshop with a missile, resulting in near-total destruction, the citys mayor, Vadym Lyakh, reported on Facebook the same day.

Sloviansk was attacked with an Iskander ballistic missile, according to the General Staff.

As a result of the attack, nearby apartment buildings and a kindergarten, which houses a social cafeteria, were affected.

Read also: Russians fire missiles at center of Slovyansk: 2 killed, 25 wounded

Windows are shattered. Fortunately, there were no casualties, wrote Lyakh.

Read also: Russian shelling collapses Slovyansk dormitory, rescuers search for two trapped under rubble

According to the Donetsk Oblast Military Administration, on Jan. 26, Russia killed two residents of the region  in Serebrianka and Krasnohorivka, while another person in the Donetsk region was injured.

Vadym Lyakh/Facebook

Vadym Lyakh/Facebook

Vadym Lyakh/Facebook

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The estate of the later comedian George Carlin has filed a lawsuit against the media company that broadcasted the company special featuring an AI-generated Carlin.

The estate is suing the podcast outlet Dudsey for using a synthetic voice of the deceased Carlin for its hour-long audio special, "George Carlin: I'm Glad I'm Dead."

Carlin's family claimed that none of them consented to what they call a "poorly executed facsimile cobbled together by unscrupulous individuals" to capitalize on the comedian's fame.

Filed to a federal court in Los Angeles, the estate and Carlin's family are requesting for the audio special to be taken immediately and receive reparations from Dudsey and its hosts, Will Sasso and Chad Kultgen.

Also Read: Comedian George Carlin Comes Back to Life With AI-Generated Comedy Special

AI Copyright Cases are a Legal Mess

If the copyright case of the Carlin estate won, it will lead to a legal precedent in the ever-increasing gray area of AI use applications on people's likenesses.

The past year has seen more and more companies using technology to replicate the likeness of famous personalities, many of which are made without the person or their estate's permission.

Members of SAG-AFTRA won their hard-fought battle to secure protection from unconsented AI use last year.

However, the demand mainly falls on the streaming companies and Hollywood studios, not small start-ups not covered by the union's demands.

Several personalities, both alive and dead, have already filed their cases against companies for illegally using their likeness via AI generation. Many are still stuck in legal procedures.

Deceased Actors Back from the Grave Thanks to AI

One of the common applications of AI on celebrities was in deceased personalities.

Several actors' likenesses have been replicated and pasted on live actors to recreate their roles in several movies, including Star Wars.

While most of these were made with the consent of the actors' families, it does not stop content creators, social media users, and small companies from using the same technology without going through all the legalities.

Aside from the provisions in the copyright law, no legal rule has yet been implemented to address these issues.

Related Article: AI-Generated Voice of the Late Jimmy Stewart Will be Featured in Bedtime Story App
In a landmark ruling on Friday, the International Court of Justice ordered that Israel must take action to protect human life in Gaza, siding with South Africa after it accused Israel of committing genocide in the territory  while stopping short of demanding a ceasefire.

Most Read from Bloomberg

South Africa accused Israel of genocide on Dec. 29, three months after a Hamas attack killed 1,200 people and took many more hostage. Israel responded by launching a war on Hamas in Gaza which, at the time of the ICJ filing, had killed more than 23,000 people, according to Hamas-run authorities.

The case, which won widespread support across the Global South, represents a step by President Cyril Ramaphosa to reclaim the moral authority that South Africa gained after Nelson Mandela became president and then lost during Jacob Zumas corruption-tainted decade in power, according to political analysts.

Some have told us to mind our own business, Ramaphosa said in remarks after the ruling. Others have said it was not our place. And yet it is very much our place, as people who know too well the pain of dispossession, discrimination, state-sponsored violence.

With Ramaphosas African National Congress facing the prospect of losing its majority in this years elections, the Gaza issue is at the center of what his party hopes will be his administrations legacy. South Africas stance against Israel is the latest in a series of outspoken positions Ramaphosa has taken on foreign policy, even as his government has struggled with domestic issues such as a crippling power crisis.

According to Sanusha Naidu, an independent foreign policy analyst, after years of losing its standing in the world order, the ICJ case represents a moral victory for South Africa. History will remember this as the moment that defines a precedent in international law and a precedent in international relations, she said.

The case has unified the ANC, which has been divided in recent years, and helped rally the party around Ramaphosa. The fate of Israel and the Palestinian people is a particularly charged issue in the country, as South Africas white supremacist apartheid government was established in 1948, the same year the state of Israel was founded, and the two developed strong economic ties right from the beginning.

The ANC, the black liberation party that in later years would take up arms against the government, recognized a counterpart in the Palestinian cause. Since the war began on Oct. 7, South African critics of Israel have drawn parallels between the killing of civilians in Gaza and the violence of South Africas own apartheid regime.

South Africas delegation was led by the youngest minister in Ramaphosas cabinet, 40-year-old Ronald Lamola, who delivered the opening speech before the court. In it, he outlined how the decades-long conflict had escalated, and why urgent intervention was needed.

The international community has now seen in forensic detail the atrocities of what is happening in the Gaza strip, Lamola told Bloomberg before the ruling was handed down. We believe we have exposed the propaganda by the state of Israel under the guise of hunting for Hamas.

Read More: UN Tells Israel to Protect Gazans, Avoids Cease-Fire

Israel has denied any intent to commit genocide and characterized the South African case as absurd blood libel. It maintains its right to self-defense against Hamas, which is categorized as a terrorist organization by the EU and US. Despite mounting international pressure, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained that the war will continue until Hamas is eradicated and all of the hostages have been freed.

According to Sydney Mufamadi, a former security minister under Mandela and now Ramaphosas envoy to conflict zones, South Africas reckoning with its own dark history has given it a moral authority in matters of international law, including Israels intervention in Gaza.

After more than four decades of repressive white minority rule, the country negotiated a relatively peaceful transition to democracy in 1994 with the election of Mandela. His conciliatory approach towards the outgoing regime was credited with averting the kinds of violence then taking place in other former colonial territories.

Partly as a result of this legacy, Mufamadi noted that South Africa has been consistent in its view that warring parties must be open to dialogue. We dont know of a conflict which does not end up at the table, he said.

At the same time, the ICJ decision is likely to further polarize an increasingly fragmented global order. Dozens of countries have aligned themselves with South Africas bid to bring about a ceasefire in Gaza, while Western nations including the US, UK, Germany and France continue to side with Israel.

To many South Africans, the countrys outspoken advocacy on behalf of Palestinians has become a point of national pride. Sithembile Mbete, a political analyst, characterized the ICJ case as having cemented a global reckoning that was already underway.

The majority of states in the world, judging by the decisions in the UN general assembly, she said, support South Africas position on this. South Africa is not deviating from the commonly accepted international line.

(Bloomberg) -- Within South Africa, the case has also helped bring together the ANC at perhaps the most challenging moment in its history. After being propelled to power on a commitment to a better life for all, the partys standing eroded under former President Zuma, who presided over the hollowing out of key state institutions.

Zuma has yet to be indicted for alleged corruption, and nor have friends of the former leader who stand accused of looting an estimated 500 billion rand from state coffers been held to account. As a result of protecting Zuma, the ANC suffered major losses in the last election, though still retained majority control.

When Ramaphosa, Zumas former deputy, took office in 2017, his first task was to address the corruption and malfeasance that had grown under his predecessor.

In recent years, Ramaphosa has tried to position himself as a voice of justice and moral clarity in international affairs. He lobbied the World Trade Organization to provide broader vaccine access during the Covid-19 pandemic, spearheaded an initiative to help bring an end to Russias war with Ukraine and led the charge to expand the BRICS economic bloc by inviting six nations, among them major oil producers, to join.

While these moves have been criticized as political opportunism  or as a way for Ramaphosa to deflect attention from internal politics  they have also increasingly made South Africa the voice of the Global South.

Read More: El Al Stops South Africa Route After ICJ Case Against Israel

Despite his global ambitions, Ramaphosa will have to rely on envoys in coming months as he campaigns for re-election. After 30 years in power, the ANC is more vulnerable than ever, with some polls indicating that the party will lose its majority and be forced either to govern through a coalition or out of power. Concerns about sluggish economic growth, failing state-owned companies and energy insecurity are top of mind for voters, who are unlikely to reward Ramaphosas international efforts so long as their quality of life continues to deteriorate.

Yet inside the party, Ramaphosas crusading has won him support he previously lacked.

Hes proven to have instincts around this that are much sharper than what he was given credit for, said Mbete.

Whatever happens with the election, she added, he will have set a good foundation for himself to continue playing an international role.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Fadi Shana

DOHA/GAZA (Reuters) -Israel pressed ahead on Saturday with its campaign against Hamas in Gaza's Khan Younis area, while bad weather hit displaced Palestinians seeking refuge further north in the battered enclave.

Residents reported heavy aerial and tank fire across Khan Younis, a part of southern Gaza that has become the focus of Israel's ground offensive against Hamas, and around two main hospitals there.

Hamas said its fighters fired an anti-tank missile at an Israeli tank in southwest Khan Younis.

The Israeli military said it killed at least 11 gunmen who were trying to plant explosives near troops and others firing rifles and rocket-propelled grenades at soldiers in Khan Younis. Over the past week, it added, commandos killed more than 100 militants and raided weapons warehouses.

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, allied with Hamas, said its fighters were engaging Israeli forces in the area and had fired rockets into Israel.

The Gaza Health Ministry said Israeli strikes hit near the largest functioning medical facility in the south, Nasser Hospital, and Al-Amal Hospital, where one person was killed in the courtyard, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society.

The Israeli bombardment was compromising healthcare and endangering the lives of doctors, patients and displaced people, said ministry spokesman Ashraf Al-Qidra.

The Israeli military says it is in contact with hospital directors and medical staff by phone and on the ground to make sure that they are running and accessible. Israel says Hamas operates in and around medical facilities, an allegation the group denies.

In a ruling on Friday, the World Court stopped short of ordering a ceasefire but ordered Israel to prevent acts of genocide against Palestinians and do more to help civilians. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said afterwards that the war aimed at eliminating Hamas would continue.

In the southern city of Rafah, Zainab Khalil, 57, displaced with her family several times until reaching shelter not far from the border with Egypt, said the International Court of Justice's ruling was important but not enough. "We want a ceasefire now," she said.

UNRWA PROBE

Israel launched its air, sea and land offensive after militants from the Hamas group that rules Gaza stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and abducting 253.

Some 26,257 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 65,000 wounded so far, including 174 killed in the last 24 hours, Gaza health authorities said on Saturday. The majority of the enclave's 2.3 million population has been displaced.

Israel says 220 soldiers have died since it launched its ground offensive. It says it has killed at least 9,000 Gaza militants so far, a figure that Hamas has dismissed.

Residents and Hamas militants reported fighting on Saturday in the central and northern parts of the enclave, where heavy rain flooded tents of those displaced, forcing some to seek alternative shelter in the middle of the night.

On Friday, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said it had opened an investigation into several employees suspected of involvement in the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks and that it had severed ties with those staff members.

The Palestinian foreign ministry criticised what it described as an Israeli campaign against UNRWA, and Hamas condemned the termination of employee contracts "based on information derived from the Zionist enemy".

In Rafah, where over half of Gaza's people are now taking cover in shelters and tents, the Gaza Health Ministry said an Israeli air strike killed three people in a house there.

It was not immediately clear who the casualties were and there was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.

In the occupied West Bank, one man was killed in an exchange of fire with Israeli forces near Jenin, residents said.

(Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi in Doha, Fadi Shana in Gaza and Maayan Lubell in JerusalemAdditional reporting by Ali Sawafta in RamallahEditing by Frances Kerry and Giles Elgood)
A southern Illinois man was sentenced Friday to 50 years in prison for his daughters murder.

IKera Hill, 3, died of malnutrition and dehydration at a Carbondale hospital June 22, 2022, charging documents stated.

Her father Isaac Hill, 47, of Carbondale, was initially charged with child endangerment. The Jackson County States Attorney told WSIL TV that additional information from medical professionals led to an upgraded charge of first-degree murder.

The girls mother also faced criminal charges related to IKeras death: Katrina Simelton, 43, was sentenced to probation for felony child endangerment, according to online court records.

Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Steven M. J. Bost handed down both sentences to the parents.

CBS 2 in Chicago reported that child protective services had been involved with the family before IKeras death because of allegations related to their other children.

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services told CBS 2 it hadnt received reports alleging IKera was abused or neglected.
The space shuttle Endeavour is wrapped in protective shrink wrap and is parked next to its external fuel tanks as it awaits being lifted by a 450-foot crane and placed next to its fuel tanks next week at the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Barring weather delays, the space shuttle Endeavour will undergo its final, historic lift starting Monday night, a maneuver no other retired orbiter has undergone.

Plans for the coming move  setting into place the crown jewel of the new Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center  have been in the works for more than a decade. First, a pair of cranes will hoist the shuttle from a horizontal position to a vertical one; the spacecraft will be attached to a sling, a large metal frame that'll support it during the move. An 11-story crane will lift the tail of Endeavour, while a 40-story crawler crane  about the height of City Hall  will lift the nose.

Once the shuttle is pointed toward the stars, the shorter crane will be disconnected, leaving the taller crane to gently swing the orbiter to its final position and lowering it to be affixed with the giant orange external tank. The external tank is attached to twin solid rocket boosters, which are connected to the exhibit's foundation.

Once complete  and the rest of the museum is constructed in the coming years  L.A. will be home to the only retired space shuttle displayed in a full-stack arrangement as if ready for launch.

A 2012 file photo shows the space shuttle Endeavor on L.A. streets en route to the California Science Center. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

There will be two parts to the move. The first  the so-called "soft mate"  is scheduled to begin around 10 p.m. Monday and could take hours.

"That's the part of lifting it into the building and getting it close to the orbiter," said Jeffrey Rudolph, president of the California Science Center.

The second part will be to "capture" Endeavour to the external tank.

"It is extremely sensitive to get it in exactly the right position," Rudolph said. "It puts all the attached hardware in the right place on the orbiter. And several of the pieces inside the orbiter that it attaches to are very fragile, so they will do this very slowly."

Once that is done, everything will still need to be tightened, Rudolph said, but the move will effectively be complete. It's believed that by Thursday, everything will be "hard mated, meaning everything will be torqued, bolted as it will be forever. And the sling will come off, and we'll say, 'Done,' " he said.

The schedule could change because of weather, as strong winds would force a postponement of the move.

Read more: Space shuttle Endeavour makes one more voyage to its final destination at a new space center

Nothing should change after that until the museum opens the payload bay doors in a few years when Endeavour is ready for public display, Rudolph said.

There are different challenges lifting the shuttle than the external tank, which was completed earlier this month. The tank is so large that, as it was lowered, there was less than an inch of space between it and the solid rocket boosters.

With the Endeavour orbiter  the last space shuttle ever built  crews will need to maneuver an object with a 78-foot wingspan and get "everything absolutely level and aligned properly, and extremely gently," Rudolph said.

"There are a few places where there's some challenging parts in the lowering of it because of the tight fit with the wings and vertical stabilizer," he said. "And then the challenge is actually bringing the orbiter  'capturing it'  at the three attach points."

Because Endeavour is essentially a glider with a massive wingspan, it'll be difficult to guide it down if there are strong winds.

"Wind and wings don't go well on a crane," Rudolph said.

"This has never been done like this before, with cranes and outside and at a construction site," he said.

When the shuttle was stacked with its external tank and solid rocket boosters at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the assembly was done inside NASAs Vehicle Assembly Building  one of the largest by volume in the world, rising more than 50 stories and equipped with plenty of cranes and platforms from which to work.

Read more: Mission accomplished: Space shuttle Endeavour's giant orange fuel tank moved into viewing spot in L.A.

Beginning Monday night, the space shuttle Endeavour will be lifted by a 450-foot crane and placed next to its fuel tanks. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

In Los Angeles, crews have had to painstakingly build up, take down and reformat scaffolding to enable them to make the proper connections.

There have been last-minute changes too. During the arrival of the external tank, there were times when the crew "had to scurry up and remove some scaffolding pieces and reconfigure it while we were doing the lowering," Rudolph said.

The main lift of the orbiter is likely to take one night. By contrast, the external tank lift took two nights. The first was delayed by winds, although crews were able to begin the lift before stopping work mid-morning. On the second night, the tank was able to be lowered further, in between the solid rocket boosters.

Officials hope to livestream the latest lift. A livestream for raising the external tank was scrapped because of technical difficulties, and officials are working to iron out those problems ahead of Monday's orbiter move.

Read more: A successful liftoff: Space shuttle Endeavour's rockets are installed

A veteran of 25 space trips from 1992 to 2011, Endeavour made its last flight in 2012, ending a cross-country journey at Los Angeles International Airport before undertaking a three-day trek along city streets to the California Science Center. For 11 years, Endeavour was displayed in a temporary hangar, the Samuel Oschin Pavilion, as the museum worked on a permanent home. Endeavour was taken off display Dec. 31.

The full-stack configuration is so tall that the new museum will rise 20 stories to make room for it.

To keep views unobstructed, the building has been engineered with no vertical supports except its walls. It will feature a a diagonal grid developed by engineering firm Arup and covered by a stainless-steel facade. Such "diagrids" have been used in other tall buildings, including the 46-story Hearst Tower in New York City, the iconic 40-story ovular Gherkin skyscraper in London and a section of the egg-shaped London City Hall.

Once the shuttle full stack is in place, the rest of the museum will be built around it. It could be a few years before it is open to the public, given the construction schedule and additional time needed to install exhibits.

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.
Most voters only see what happens on Election Day during the 15 minutes it takes them to park, walk in, stand in line, show identification, get a ballot, vote behind a curtain, and insert their ballot into a vote-counting machine. Here are some behind-the-scenes.

Tuesday, 4:00 a.m. Throughout Portsmouth over a hundred citizens get up, make coffee or tea, have breakfast, feed the cat, walk the dog, get to their car  whoops, run back into the house for a quick shower  then drive to a place that for a day becomes a center of American democracy.

Jim Splaine

Two weeks earlier they had squeezed into Portsmouth City Hall for training led by state election officials. Election laws are sometimes complicated. The process demands accuracy and transparency, so training is precise and extensive. A week later there's another mandatory training by City Clerk Kelli Barnaby and her staff.

Despite being involved in over a hundred elections during more than fifty years, I experienced the entire process from the inside only once before. This past week I spent the day at Ward 1, New Franklin School off Woodbury Avenue. Here's a short story of seeing an election start to finish.

By 7 a.m. all the poll workers, around 20 of them, arrive. The city's Public Works Department staff had earlier brought heavy voting equipment, now it has to be set up and plugged in. City staff soon come with boxes of official ballots. A police officer walks his K9 dog to clear the location in these times of needed caution.

Bruce Aquizap shows off his "I Voted" sticker after voting in the New Hampshire primary Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024 at Winnacunnet High School in Hampton.

Everyone has to be ready for voters at 8 a.m., and much needs to be done. As the clock ticks there's a rush to finish dozens of little tasks. About ten minutes before launch time, Steve Pesci, elected last November as Ward Moderator, calls the staff together to administer the oath.

That is perhaps the first moment everyone realizes how important their collective roles are. We're about to run an election that is special not only in the world, but in America too: the New Hampshire First-in-The Nation Presidential Primary, which comes once every four years.

Precisely at 8 a.m. Pesci lets it be known: "The polls are open." The next 11 hours are filled by people of varying philosophies and political beliefs joined together by agreeing to use a ballot rather than other means to choose who governs us. It's a beautiful thing to see.

From then until the final voter finishes at 7 p.m., 1,456 ballots are cast at Ward 1, most of them in person with several dozen by absentee. Pesci officially closes the polls and the counting process begins.

News reporters and other observers arrive to watch the process as ballots are placed on tables. Unlike most elections these ballots have many write-ins which have to be counted by hand. It isn't until around 10 p.m. that the jobs of most ward workers are finished.

Steve Pesci isn't finished. Having put on miles walking around all day checking on everything from tables to assigning lunch breaks, looking outside to make sure candidates are following rules, handling minor machine malfunctions and answering questions from voters and media, he has more to do.

He has to bring the ballots and final results to the City Clerk's Office for their confirmation. He gets home at 2 a.m. Wednesday.

Many people have died to protect our democratic process A little lost sleep is a small donation.

Some results: President Joe Biden is well-liked in Portsmouth. Citywide he received 2,672 write-ins. That's 74.3 percent of Democrats voting. In Ward 1, he received 478 votes, or 71.99 percent. Citywide, ex-President Trump received 1,445 votes. That's 36.5 percent among Republican ballots. In Ward 1 he received 290 votes, for 36.6 percent. All results are reported on the city's website.

Today's thought: I wrote in my mom Althea Duval Splaine for President of the United States. I smiled.

Today's quotes: "That was fun, I'll be back again." - A 10 year old girl after I gave her an "I Voted" sticker when she placed a ballot into the vote counting machine. Maybe a future President.

"I don't get too angry. I get even." - Donald J. Trump, speaking to supporters the day after the election. He wants to be President again.

Next time: Ward 1: The Rest of The Story.

Variously since 1969, Jim Splaine has been Portsmouth Assistant Mayor for 6 terms, Police Commissioner, and School Board member, as well as N.H. State Senator for 6 years and Representative for 24 years. Tuesday he was Ward 1 Clerk. He can be reached at jimsplaineportsmouth@gmail.com

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Splaine: NH primary: Behind the scenes at a Portsmouth polling place
RALEIGH, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  North Carolina state employees will soon have to pay out of pocket for WeGovy and other similar weight-loss drugs.

Theres no reason that the state health plan North Carolina should be one of the largest purchasers of this drug in North America said Dale Folwell, State Treasurer and chair of the Health Care Plan Board of Trustees.

City of Charlotte call centers down, impacting 311, CATS and Charlotte Water

In a 4-3 vote, the state board made the move to save $100 million dollars in 2024. Folwell says officials tried to negotiate with the drug maker NovoNordisk to reduce the cost. The state had already voted to stop covering new prescriptions back on Jan. 1.

We tried to put in place, [maybe change the requirements to] a body mass index thats higher than 27 and our pharmacy benefit manager [CVS] said, We have no interest, youd lose your rebates, we have put forth four different solutions to try to resolve this problem leading up to this vote, Folwell said.

N.C. Treasurer Dale Folwell.

The state released the top 25 prescribers of GLP-1 medications in North Carolina. The list includes several providers across the Charlotte region; some of the prescribers are not medical offices. Experts say obese people are more likely to get diabetes or heart disease, which could cost the state health plan more money in the long run.

People in this state have some of the poorest quality health care at the highest cost in the United States, and with the dramatic increase in pharmaceutical cost, were doing everything we can to continue to freeze the family premiums, Folwell said.

CVS/Caremark is the state plans pharmacy benefits manager, a spokesman sent a statement about the cost of the drug saying in part:

Drug manufacturers need to stop dragging their feet and agree to offer their medicines at a fair price to North Carolinas public servants. Let me be clear: The drug manufacturers can choose to lower the cost of these medicines today and offer relief to the State Health Plan. CVS/Caremark

Rogue CMPD pursuit led to tragic death of young mother of two, lawsuit claims

Folwell says his office will continue to search for solutions to help cover the cost of weight-loss drugs.

Our responsibility is to do the most good for the most number of people and all of your viewers who are who are hearing this, maybe for the first time, need to understand that were doing everything we can to try to actually solve this problem, he said.

The coverage ends on April 1. Coverage will continue for the diabetes drug Ozempic.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
(Photo : Unsplash/Fasyah Halim)

Lockheed Martin plans to reduce 1% of its workforce yearly to save money and streamline operations.

Job Cuts in Business and Enterprise Operations

As mentioned in a statement to Reuters, the job cuts will affect roles across its business and enterprise operations to implement cost-cutting measures, including hiring freezes and voluntary separations. The Maryland-based company has 122,000 employees globally, and the cost cuts will help the company transform its operations digitally.

1LMX-Driven Efficiencies

Lockheed Martin's CFO Jay Malave mentioned in the company's post-earnings conference call on Tuesday that they are reducing costs by supply chain optimization, factory productivity, and "1LMX"-driven efficiencies, which is Lockheed's name for its transformation program.

READ ALSO: Delta Air Lines to Shut Down Comair: What This Means for Employees

Profit Fall Prediction for 2024

On Tuesday, Lockheed predicted a 2024 profit below Wall Street expectations, pointing to supply chain disruptions in its main aeronautics segment responsible for producing F-35 jets.

U.S. defense firms are seeing notable order increases amid escalating tensions between China-Philippines, Russia-Ukraine conflicts, and Middle East issues. However, labor and supply chain disruptions from the pandemic weigh most on the sector, where companies across different industries also cut jobs to save money, with tech firms topping the list.

Upgraded F-35 Joint Strike Fighters Slipping Behind Schedule

According to the company's statement on Tuesday, Lockheed Martin's latest upgraded F-35 Joint Strike Fighters production is slipping behind schedule. It will not likely resume in the third quarter of 2024. The delay in delivering the latest F-35s, designed with upgrades called Technology Refresh 3, resulted in a $400 million reduction in Lockheed's sales last year.

Lockheed CEO Jim Taiclet mentioned that the company is advancing with the jets equipped with TR-3 upgrades, which involve enhancements in both software and hardware, such as improved displays, computer memory, and processing power. But the system maturation process "is taking somewhat more time than we originally anticipated," he added.

In a statement to Defense News, the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) and industry partners mentioned prioritizing the delivery of capable fighters. However, delays in software maturity are putting those deliveries at risk. The JPO stated that it and Lockheed are developing a plan to enable the government to accept undelivered jets, even before the complete validation of TR-3 capabilities.

Taiclet informed investors in an earnings call that the company anticipates delivering 75 to 110 F-35s this year, less than the usual annual target of around 150.

The pause in deliveries caused Lockheed's F-35 net sales for the year to decrease by $400 million, partially offsetting growth in other sectors. Lockheed's classified Skunk Works unit experienced a $540 million increase in sales in 2023, and the increased production of F-16s contributed to a $230 million growth in sales for the year, according to the company. Even with the F-35's troubles, Lockheed's aeronautics sector experienced a 2% growth in sales in 2023, reaching almost $27.5 billion, slightly decreased by about 1% to $2.8 billion.

RELATED ARTICLE: SolarEdge Facing Sharp Revenue Drop, Cuts 16% of Workforce to Lower Operating Costs

 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The Plus Power Kapolei Energy Storage facility, located on eight acres of land in Kapolei on Oahu 20 miles west of Honolulu. The battery helped replace the islands coal-fired plant which closed in 2022. It was turned on just before Christmas of 2023 and fully operation in January 2024.

Americans dont have to imagine what its like to live someplace thats aggressively switching to 100% clean energy, where 1 in 3 people have rooftop solar, 15% of new cars are electric and giant batteries store energy for use when the sun goes down.

They just have to go to Hawaii.

Hawaii pledged to be Coal free by 23, and state law requires 100% clean energy in just 21 years. Attaining that goal came closer last month when an enormous 185-megawatt battery near Honolulu hummed into full operation.

If youve been to Hawaii, youve seen a renewable future  and its paradise, said Jeff Mikulina director of the Hawaii Climate Coalition and a board member of the Blue Planet Foundation.

The Kapolei Energy Storage facility is tucked away in 8 acres of industrial land about 20 miles west of Honolulu. More than anything it looks like 158 white storage sheds, each about the size of a shipping container, neatly lined up on concrete pads.

These lithium iron phosphate batteries can hold 185 megawatts of power, or 565 megawatt hours of energy, enough to supply electricity to 17% of the island of Oahu for three hours at peak load or six hours at half load, said Brandon Keefe, executive chairman of Plus Power, the Texas-based company that built the Kapolei battery.

These kinds of grid-scale energy storage systems are becoming increasingly common in the U.S. and are crucial to shifting to ever-higher percentages of wind and solar power. But Hawaii is in a class by itself.

This system is larger as a percentage of the electricity system than any other battery in the world, said Colton Ching, Hawaiian Electric's senior vice president of planning and technology. The utility provides electricity to 95% of the state's residents.

The Waikoloa Solar project on island of Hawaii on the Kona coast, which opened in April of 2023. It is the largest solar + storage facility on Hawaii Island, providing just over 7% of the island's energy needs at a wholesale price of 9 per kilowatt hour, far less than the retail rate of 44.

Hawaii is different when it comes to energy

Hawaii is blessed with an abundance of wind, sun and geothermal power but doesnt have a drop of fossil fuel. Instead, every 10 days or so an oil supertanker arrives at a refinery near the Honolulu port, producing almost 80% of the states energy, Mikulina said.

Almost all that oil comes from as much as 6,000 miles away, primarily from Libya and Argentina, which makes energy in Hawaii expensive and prone to weather and geopolitical disruption.

Were one supertanker away from becoming Amish, he said. We have a 25-day oil supply in storage.

Now, Hawaiis energy is coming home, which the state believes will provide stability, cheaper prices and a greener environment.

Each of Hawaiis six main islands has its own electrical grid, not connected to any other island. The state already gets 32% of its energy from renewables. Today 6.25% of Hawaiis electricity comes from its seven wind farms. On the Big Island of Hawaii, about 30% of energy comes from geothermal from a plant that gets heat from near the Kilauea volcano that erupted in September.

It also has a growing number of electric vehicles. Last year, 15% of new vehicle sales in Hawaii were electric.

It makes sense, Mikulina said. Gas is expensive and we dont have to drive very far, so the biggest hurdles of cost and range anxiety arent here.

But what makes the state stand out is solar power  especially where it comes from.

In 2022 Hawaii hit upon an innovative plan to make up for the shutdown of its last coal plant. State regulators created the Battery Bonus program, which subsidized households to add rooftop solar and battery storage.

In exchange, the household feeds electricity back into the grid for two hours sometime between 6 and 8:30 p.m., when the sun has gone down and Hawaii needs power.

By the end of 2023, the island of Oahu enrolled 40 megawatts of power and Maui had added 6.29 megawatts.

Theres some controversy over new rules created for 2024 which are more complex and less favorable to customers, and the islands solar industry has asked the state Public Utilities Commission to reconsider.

The state also has a number of utility-scale solar farms. The largest on the Big Island of Hawaii, the Waikoloa solar plus storage project, plugged in last year and now supplies more than 7% of the island's electricity. Its in the middle of a lava field, and already its lowering peoples bills by at least $5 a month," Mikulina said.

But the remarkable thing about Hawaii when it comes to sun is how many households have solar. A record 37% of Hawaiian homes have rooftop solar, which accounts for an impressive 44% of the state's renewable energy, according to Hawaiian Electric.

The only place in the world thats even remotely close to that is Australia, where 28% of that nation island's energy comes from solar panels on peoples roofs, according to research by Australian National University.

We talk to those guys a lot. They have very similar challenges to us, Ching said.

Hawaii is proud of the amount of renewable energy it has now. But to fulfill its state mandate, its going to need a lot more, quickly.

Thats where batteries come in.

Why you need a big battery

Three kinds of carbon-neutral power produce 24 hours a day  nuclear, hydroelectric and geothermal. But all are politically difficult to expand, which means wind and solar are the go-tos to meet the nations energy goals.

As detractors frequently point out, the wind doesnt always blow and the sun doesnt always shine. Grid-scale batteries help even things out. When theres more energy coming from wind and solar than can be used, the batteries are charged up, then they discharge when the wind slows or the sun goes down.

These batteries store so much energy they can bridge the gap between when energy from solar goes off the grid at sunset and when everyone finally turns out the lights to go to bed.

But Hawaii is in a class by itself. It has so much solar it cant always use all the energy those 200,000 or so homes with solar panels provide the grid. When that happens, grid operators have to shut off either utility scale wind or solar, called curtailment, to keep things even.

With the new Kapolei battery, the island of Oahu will be able to add 10% more solar power without having to worry it will overload the system.

Close-up of the Plus Power Kapolei Energy Storage, located on eight acres of land in Kapolei on the island of Oahu about 20 miles west of Honolulu. The 185-megawatt battery storage project is part of Hawaiian Electrics shift to 100% green energy, as mandated by state law by 2045.

Grid services help going renewable

The Kapolei Energy Storage facility doesnt just store lots of energy, it also does some complicated and crucial things that help with the states goal of going 100% renewable  things more batteries on the mainland will be doing in the coming years.

Think of an electric grid as a teeter-totter. On one end youve got energy coming in, on the other energy going out. If the in and out arent perfectly balanced, the system becomes unstable and can collapse.

When you flip on a light switch, a power plant somewhere is working a little harder, Keefe said.

For the past 120 or so years, electric power grids have relied on fossil fuel plants whose operators constantly monitor the need for energy, powering up or down to keep the frequency of the system in balance. That first line of defense is called frequency regulation.

If frequency imbalances grow, the second line of defense is either speeding or slowing the already-spinning turbines in the plants  a process called inertia  to generate more electricity and fill the frequency imbalance.

The Kapolei Energy Storage facility can do both, providing what's known as "synthetic inertia."

In 250 milliseconds, a little slower than a blink of an eye, we can race up and fill major gaps in the system, Keefe said.

These kinds of batteries will allow Hawaii to eventually get rid of all its fossil fuel plants, Ching said.

Eventually, the one Achilles' heel to the state's green dreams will be the amount of aviation fuel required to bring the visitors who fuel its economy. Changing that will require advances in sustainable aviation fuel.

The last state will be first into a green future

For tourists, nothing will change. The air will remain balmy, the ocean refreshing, the resorts enticing.

Hawaii will be a case study for the rest of the nation, Mikulina said: We can be a living laboratory for whats possible for clean energy.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How one state is quickly becoming America's clean energy paradise
After considering runs in New Jersey's last two gubernatorial elections, state Sen. Jon Bramnick has officially decided to throw his hat into the ring.

Bramnick announced Saturday afternoon at the Stress Factory comedy club in New Brunswick that he will run to be the 2025 Republican nominee.

Bramnick, 70, took to the stage and with great humility announced that he would seek the Republican nomination for many reasons  first and foremost to bring back balanced public policies to Trenton.

In order to have balance we need two political parties in Trenton. Right now we have one, Bramnick said, in a reference to Democrats' control of the governor's office and the state Legislature. When Im elected, Democrats will have to negotiate and compromise or I will take out my veto pen and politely return it to them for reconsideration.

But the senator, whose district stretches across parts of Middlesex, Morris, Somerset and Union counties, said that calling Gov. Phil Murphy and President Joe Biden names is not a path to victory for his party, nor is it a political strategy.

No excuses for Jan. 6 Capitol riot, he says

"Thoughtful voters, the voters that we need, are not crazy about Murphy and the Democratic Legislature, but they dont quite trust us, the Republicans," he said.

Bramnick acknowledged that the Republican Party should not be making excuses for Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol rioters or sowing doubts about the electoral process.

Instead, he said, the party should be returning to the ideals of smaller and more efficient government, law and order, and lower taxes. "Hateful rhetoric is a threat to our democracy and a terrible, terrible message to our children, said Bramnick, who has served in Trenton for more than 20 years.

Bramnick also sent a message to his possible competition in next Junes primary.

To those potential Republicans who are running against me, who promise our Republican voters that you will rule this state far to the political right: Not only cant you do it, but you will lose the election, and the only thing that will change is that the Democrats will become more extreme, he said.

Jan 27, 2024; New Brunswick, NJ, United States; The audience during an event for State Sen. Jon Bramnick, a Republican, to announce his run for NJ governor at The Stress Factory.

Endorsements from Bush, Boehner

Bramnicks announcement included video endorsements of his candidacy from former Speaker of the House John Boehner, who said he had known Bramnick for 20 years, and former Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush  son of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush  who said Bramnick would make New Jersey safer and more affordable. Bush also delivered words of support in Spanish.

Viewed by many as a moderate, Bramnick has not been shy about his Never Trump stance.

"We have to win the swing voters, the people in the middle," Bramnick said last fall. "And if you want to win them, they have to trust you. And if swing voters believe that the Republicans are not trustworthy because they won't stand up against ridiculous comments such as the election was fake, or Jan. 6 wasn't a serious situation, then the image of the Republican Party will be defined by Donald Trump in New Jersey, and we will stay in the minority."

Charlie Stile: What's the way forward for NJ's GOP? 'Dump Trump,' says this governor hopeful

Who is Jon Bramnick?

The senator, who lives in Westfield, is an attorney at Bramnick, Rodriguez, Grabas, Arnold and Mangan in Scotch Plains. He served on the City Council in Plainfield from 1984 to 1991.

He got his start in Trenton in 2003 as a member of the Assembly, where he served as Republican leader from 2012 until 2021, when he won the Senate seat he currently holds.

In addition to his public service, Bramnick is a comedian, playing gigs at venues throughout the state.

Deemed the funniest lawyer in New Jersey by the state bar association, Bramnick began his legal career as a trial attorney in New York before founding his own firm on this side of the river in 1984.

Jan 27, 2024; New Brunswick, NJ, United States; Patricia Bramnick talks about her husband State Sen. Jon Bramnick, a Republican, before his announcement that he is running for NJ governor during an event at The Stress Factory.

Law firm faced criticism

The firm has made headlines on its own over the last few years, most recently when partner Michael Noriega was named to the state Supreme Court. In 2018, the firm was criticized for a section on its website that offered to discredit the "accuser" in sexual assault cases; women's rights advocates said that encouraged victim blaming.

"We know, unfortunately, people accuse others of these types of crimes because of hurt feelings, or in anger over breaking up or even confusion over what actually happened," the webpage said. It continued: "We will investigate your case and seek to discredit your accuser."

Bramnick said at the time that he did not write the language on the website and said he does not practice criminal law, the area the page was advertising. He acknowledged that the page "may not be articulately written" but said it was meant to apply only to people who are lying, not meant to imply that all victims are making false claims.

Bramnick is serving his first four-year term as senator, meaning he can remain in the Senate even if he loses in the gubernatorial primary.

Katie Sobko covers the New Jersey Statehouse. Email: sobko@northjersey.com

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: State Sen. Jon Bramnick announces 2025 GOP run for NJ governor
KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Public health officials in Cabarrus County are urging the public to be extra vigilant amid a rise in gastrointestinal (GI) illness.

According to the Cabarrus Health Alliance, cases of GI illnesses and norovirus are on the rise in the region, and the organization is offering ways to prevent them from spreading.

Robitussin cough syrups recalled due to contamination

While most people recover quickly from stomach bugs, children, the elderly, and those who are immunocompromised could experience more serious problems, officials say. People should avoid visiting long-term care facilities if they are ill.

The symptoms of norovirus infection include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cramping and low-grade fever. Norovirus can spread easily from one person to another through tiny droplets of material in the air.

In 2023, we saw the highest level of GI illness and Norovirus during the month of March so we are asking our community to help us stay ahead of illness this year, shared Dr. Easterday, CHA medical director. Most people will not need medical care and will not be tested for Norovirus but we assume that is what most people have if they are vomiting, have diarrhea, or nausea at this time of year.

Here are recommendations for everyone:

Stay home if you or a person in your household are sick. If you or a member of your household are experiencing symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, or fever, it is important to stay home for 48 hours after symptoms subside.

Always connect with your medical provider if you are sick and symptoms are not improving.

State employees no longer covered for WeGovy, weight-loss medicines after board vote

For businesses:

Businesses with public spaces are strongly encouraged to enhance their disinfection protocols. Routine cleaning of high-touch surfaces can significantly reduce the risk of transmission of Norovirus and similar GI illnesses.

Managers should exclude employees from coming into the workspace when experiencing GI symptoms and they should not return until 48 after symptoms end.

Prevention and Treatment

There is no vaccine to prevent norovirus and no drug to treat it. Antibiotics will not help because they do not work on viruses. Drink plenty of liquids to replace fluid loss and prevent dehydration. If you or someone you are caring for is dehydrated, call your doctor.

How to prevent:

Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after using the toilet and changing diapers and before eating, preparing or handling food.

Wash fruits and vegetables and cook seafood thoroughly.

When you are sick, do not prepare food or care for others: You should not prepare food for others or provide healthcare while you are sick and for at least 2 to 3 days after you recover.

Get rid of possible germs in your home by cleaning with a mixture of bleach and water.

For more information, visit CDCs Norovirus website at https://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
AUSTIN (Nexstar)  Jeena is an acapella competition hosted by the Indian Students Association at the University of Texas. Since 2017, multiple university departments provided funding for the show.

This year, students say Senate Bill 17 posed new challenges for the group by banning diversity, equity and inclusion offices at public universities.

As of Jan. 1, university faculty are no longer offered inclusion training and cannot be asked to make diversity statements during the hiring process. For students, SB 17 means the loss of support programs dedicated to the engagement of students across different cultural backgrounds.

We rely on a lot of university funding for these sorts of things, said Keya Jain, president of the Indian Students Association. Recently, a lot of university grants or things that typically will fund student events, theyve changed their mission statements to exclude things like cultural events.

While SB 17 does not directly affect student organizations, clubs like the Indian Student Association are in the process of rewriting their mission statements to sound more academically oriented. The desire to embrace diversity isnt enough to receive university funding.

Weve had to completely re-argue our case and rephrase everything that represents our competition in our organization, Jain explained, because those organizations arent able to fund things that have the goal of spreading culture.

Additionally, UT has ended cultural graduations and the Monarch scholarship program for undocumented students. The schools Multicultural Engagement Center was disbanded, causing the six groups it supported to re-register as a fully student-led organization.

Despite the impact of these changes, SB 17 is not getting rid of diverse discussions.

I think that the law is really designed to protect students and protect free speech, but its also designed to help encourage more discussion, said UT student Megan Benton. So, Ive seen nothing but great discussions taking place in class with a lot of open-minded students.

Classroom instruction, research and creative works are not under the bills jurisdiction, and the university has created the Division for Campus and Community Engagement in an effort to support various student groups.

As college campuses across the state see changes due to SB 17, student organizations are adapting. For groups like UTs Indian Student Association, the show must go on, even if things become more difficult.

I think its a really great opportunity to have people experience a fusion of Western culture and Indian culture, said Jain. I like being able to host these events where my culture is featured, and like, people from all backgrounds can appreciate it and enjoy it.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Chinese yuan incorporated in Bangladesh's RTGS system

Xinhua) 14:57, January 27, 2024

DHAKA, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- The central Bank of Bangladesh has included the Chinese yuan in the country's credit transfer system Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS), a senior official said Friday.

The clearing and settlement of the Chinese yuan (CNY) will be incorporated in the RTGS system from Feb. 4, the official from the central bank requiring anonymity said, citing a document of the bank issued Thursday.

The decision came after a rapidly increased Bangladesh-China trade, fueled by Belt and Road Initiative investments from China, which is the biggest trading partner of Bangladesh now.

Apart from this, the official said yuan proved itself remarkably stable and resilient amid adverse and uncertain economic conditions, like the Asian financial crisis in 1997 and the global financial crisis in 2008.

"With China's growing centrality in international trade, commerce and investment, we've decided to include the Chinese yuan in the country's RTGS system," said the official.

Bangladesh in April last year announced to settle its pending payments to Russia in Chinese yuan instead of U.S. dollar.

The central bank of Bangladesh in September 2022 paved the way for banks in the country to maintain correspondent accounts in yuan to facilitate cross-border trade based on the Chinese currency.

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Wu Chaolan)
North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui has met with a visiting senior Chinese diplomat in Pyongyang, the regime's state media reported Saturday, as the North appears to be seeking to strengthen ties with Beijing amid its stepped-up cooperation with Russia.

On Friday, Choe met with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong, who is visiting North Korea this week, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in a brief dispatch.

Noting that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the North and China, the two sides agreed to "continue to strengthen tactical cooperation and keep pace with each other to defend their common core interests," the KCNA said.

The talks took place in "a comradely and friendly atmosphere," it added.

Their meeting came after Choe returned from her visit to Russia this week, during which she met with President Vladimir Putin and her Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, in a show of deepening bilateral ties.

The North is stepping up military cooperation with Russia, while ratcheting up tensions with South Korea, which it has branded as an "invariable primary foe."

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been seeking to strengthen solidarity with China and Russia vis-a-vis the strengthening of security cooperation among South Korea, the United States and Japan.

China is the North's traditional ally and key economic benefactor.

Sun's visit to Pyongyang is seen as a reciprocal trip after the North's Vice Foreign Minister Pak Myong-ho visited China last month.

Pak and Sun also held bilateral talks Thursday.

Present at Friday's meeting were Pak and Wang Yajun, Chinese ambassador to Pyongyang, the KCNA said. (Yonhap)
Suzy Lamplugh, who vanished in July 1986, is suspected of being a victim of John Cannan - Clara Molden

A woman who alleges she was raped as a schoolgirl by a notorious sex killer and key suspect in the disappearance of Suzy Lamplugh is racing against time to seek justice before his potential death in prison.

Melanie Gregory, 52, has informed the police that she was abducted by John Cannan in 1981 at the age of nine and subjected to an appalling sexual assault.

She did not tell anyone about her ordeal at the time and later emigrated to Australia in the hope of putting it behind her.

Not enough evidence

But now, more than 40 years later, the mother of two has waived her automatic right to anonymity and come forward in the hope of finally getting justice.

She provided West Midlands Police with details of the attack but was devastated to be told by the force there was not enough evidence to investigate further.

Cannan is serving three life sentences for the murder of Shirley Banks in Bristol in 1987, the attempted kidnapping of a woman on the previous night, the rape of his girlfriend in 1980 and a series of other abductions and sex offences.

John Cannan, who has been recognised by a woman as her attacker when she was nine - Avon and Somerset Police/PA

He is also the prime suspect in the unsolved disappearance of estate agent Lamplugh in July 1986. He denies any involvement in the Lamplugh case.

With Cannan, 69, reported to be terminally ill in prison, Mrs Gregory fears he could go to his grave without ever being held responsible for the attack.

Mrs Gregory grew up in the Erdington area of Birmingham, not far from Sutton Coldfield, where Cannan lived as a young man.

She recalled how one day she had been walking from the shop where her mother worked back home when a man approached, her claiming to know her older brother. He then grabbed her and forced her into a building where he subjected her to a sustained sex attack.

She told The Telegraph: I think he had been watching me previously. He came running up from behind and acted like I should know who he was.

He mentioned my brother and gave me the impression he was a friend of his.

He was wearing tight blue jeans, a burgundy leather jacket cut above the waist and that black shirt.

He had a brown and gold belt and shoes which clicked on the pavement as he walked.

I was utterly terrified

By now I was feeling very frightened and I was aware we were approaching an overgrown gully next to the church in Goosemoor Lane and a laundry called Old Stones.

The next thing I recall is being utterly terrified when he grabbed me and lifted me off my feet.

He had his arm around my neck in a chokehold and his hand over my mouth. I could hear myself screaming though.

He forced me into a room upstairs where there was already a mattress on the floor.

He had these items inside ready to go including rope to tie me up. It felt very planned and premeditated.

She said after the ordeal her attacker began coolly walking her back home but she ran ahead and banged on her front door, causing him to run off.

I was frozen with shock

She described how she was so terrified by what had happened she just ran up to her bedroom and curled up into a ball.

I was just frozen with shock and in the most immense pain, she explained.

When her father returned home later that evening, she was still so frightened about what had happened she decided not to mention the attack and kept it bottled up for years.

She moved to Australia in 2007 for a new start, but recently came across an online article about the 1978 abduction, rape and murder of Erdington schoolgirl Candace Williams by Patrick Hassett.

Wondering if the same man could have been responsible for her rape, she began to research the case, but did not recognise Hassett.

Melanie Gregory as child. She now says she was raped by John Cannan when she was nine

She did, however, see a reference in the story to Cannan, who was one of the early suspects in the case.

When she looked up a picture of Cannan from the time, she claims a shiver immediately went down her spine as she remembered his distinctive looks.

She later discovered a video Cannan had recorded for a dating website and when she heard his voice and watched his mannerisms she became further convinced he was the man responsible for her attack.

There are also similarities between her ordeal and other attacks carried out by Cannan in the same area, including the 1981 rape of a shop assistant in front of her mother, for which he received an eight-year prison sentence.

Three years ago, Mrs Gregory contacted the Metropolitan Police, who passed the case to the West Midlands force. But she was rocked when detectives informed her there was nothing they could do with the information.

Melanie Gregory waived her right to anonymity to reveal the crime inflicted on her as a child

A West Midlands Police spokesman said: A report was made to us last year and formally recorded.

We have carefully considered the information provided and unfortunately we do not have enough evidence to proceed any further with an investigation.

The complainant has been fully updated with our rationale.

We fully understand this is not the outcome she had wished for, but we have to consider if there would be a realistic prospect of a conviction, and sadly in this case there is not.

We do understand the complainants frustration at this decision and victims of rape and sexual abuse deserve the very best of our attention.

We take every report of sexual assault extremely seriously and our public protection unit is committed to improving our service to increase convictions.

But Mrs Gregory has said she is bitterly disappointed by the decision and has urged the police to reconsider.

She said: We constantly hear how it is never too late to come forward and report a historic sex crime and that the victim will be believed.

Well, clearly that is not true here. It has been a bitterly disappointing outcome and even when I appealed the decision and made a formal complaint about their conduct, none of it went anywhere.

News last year that Cannan was receiving palliative care in prison after suffering a stroke has fuelled her determination to see him held accountable for the attack.

Totally bewildering decision

Mike Brewer, a retired detective sergeant with another force who has supported Mrs Gregory throughout her case, said he was totally bewildered at the West Midlands decision.

He said: By their very nature, historical cases are difficult. Theres very often no forensic evidence and its difficult to identify other witnesses. This is why the interview with the victim is so important.

You need to glean every possible piece of information which can then be analysed to look for any possible corroboration and potential lines of inquiry. I was really surprised when I heard the outcome here.

The abduction and rape of a nine-year-old child is as serious an offence as it gets.

When it concerns such a high-profile offender, Im amazed that it was decided not to even interview the victim. If you dont look, you wont find.

Mrs Gregory said she had written to Cannan in prison to try to get him to own up to his crime.

She said: Not surprisingly, I didnt receive a reply. All these years he has revelled in his notoriety. I want people to know he is not just a rapist and a murderer but a child abuser too.

I have freely waived my anonymity because I want my story to be heard.

I want justice not just for me but for all the victims of sex abuse who are not listened to. We so rarely succeed in having our abusers held to account.

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.
After nearly two years of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Taiwan has emerged as the prime supplier of metalworking machine tools to Russia, according to a joint investigation by The Reporter from Taiwan and Russia's The Insider, published on Jan. 26.

With Germany, Japan, and Switzerland leaving the Russian market, and Chinese products falling short in quality, Taiwan's machining centers, lathes, and electrical welding machines have filled the supply gap essential for Russia's defense industry.

Read also: Eight Chinese fighter jets crossed Taiwan Straits median line

The journalists note that these machine tools are essential for producing detonators, high-precision weapons, and other military equipment. Despite sanctions imposed by Taiwan, these tools still reach Russia through intermediaries like Turkey, and certain machine types are not subject to export restrictions.

Metalworking equipment represents a significant segment of Taiwan's exports, with Russia as a key trading partner.

Read also: US plans to bundle aid to Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan in one bill  report

Data from Russian customs indicate that from March to September of 2023, Russia imported no fewer than 193 Taiwanese machining complexes worth almost $29 million.

Read also: Switzerland to provide Ukraine with $1.75 billion in aid

A closer look at the data concerning transit through Turkey reveals an even more worrying trend: nearly half of industrial machinery Russia imported from Turkey by September 2023 were of Taiwanese origin.

While most of the high-precision machinery for military technology is manufactured in the EU, Switzerland, Japan, and the United States, Taiwan also produces a range of high-quality alternatives, including precise welding machines and various grinding and lathing equipment.

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
During the 1830s, a steamboat captain by the name of Henry Miller Shreve oversaw a Herculean feat of riverine clearing. A section of the Red Riverwhich today forms much of the border between Oklahoma and Texas, and eventually empties into the Atchafalaya and the Gulf of Mexicoin northwest Louisiana had been clogged for roughly three quarters of a millennium by a tangle of logs, vegetation, and sediment known as the Great Raft. So Shreve took action: He won a contract with the Army Corps of Engineers, perfected the use of the snagboat, and after seven years finally rendered the river navigable. Today, Shreveport, Louisiana, is named in his honor, and the city has since given America many distinguished native sons, from Lead Belly to Terry Bradshaw (to Johnny Cochrane).

Its also the birthplace of Speaker of the House Mike Johnson.

Since winning the gavel last October, Johnson has faced the same pressures that led to his predecessors ousting: crafting a spending deal palatable to uncompromising members of his conference. He seems to be repeating Kevin McCarthys approach so far, cutting deals that satisfy most Democrats and Republicans before moving them to the House floor via suspension of the rulesa tool traditionally reserved for less important legislation. Thats how the House passed a continuing resolution in November, the National Defense Authorization Act in December, and another continuing resolution earlier this month. Johnson most recently made a deal with Democrats on full-year spending levels, and the corresponding spending bills will almost certainly pass using the same procedures.

But these are bipartisan deals with broad bipartisan supportand that means theyre total failures by the lights of the House Freedom Caucus, which has denounced every one of them for compromising on conservative values. Johnson, apparently guilty of the same sins as McCarthy, may soon find himself facing the same circular firing squad.

There are no obvious solutions to Johnsons problems, no Shrevian snagboats to clear the way for a bill that 217 House Republicans, 60 senators, and President Joe Biden all want signed into law. Physical obstacles may yield to ingenious devices, but political problems must be worked out through political means.

Mired as this Congress has been in seemingly endless budget negotiations, we might hope that Johnson can channel Shreves river-opening spirit. But if the speaker is searching for historical forebears to guide him, he would do well to look some 200 miles upriver, from Shreveport to the Denison Dam, located on the border between Oklahoma and Texas.

A different kind of speaker.

It was built in the early 1940s thanks largely to the political clout of Samuel Taliaferro Rayburn.

Originally from nearby Bonham, Texas, Rayburn was known as an unflaggingly loyal, straight-talking, good-to-his-word legislator. He rose through the ranks at the Texas legislature, becoming speaker there at age 29, and in 1912 he successfully ran for the House of Representatives as a Democrat. Rayburn spent five decades in Congress where, among other legislative achievements, he built a coalition for rural electrification that made the Denison Dam a reality. And for 17 years, he served as 43rd speaker of the House.

Rayburns unpretentious persona has much to offer to Johnson, who in accepting the speakership said he wants his office to be known for trust, and transparency, and accountability. That was certainly Rayburns way.

His meteoric rise in the Texas state legislature had much to do with his dogged unwillingness to abandon two scandal-embroiled leaders who came before him. Once he became speaker in Austin, a fellow legislator described him as quick to rule, accurate, honest and sincere. He is fair to every member and is universally popular. You always know where to find him. That reputation followed him to Washington. As Rayburns biographers D.B. Hardeman and Donald C. Bacon wrote of him (and his mentor, fellow Texan John Nance Garner): The credo of the southwestern frontier was their codetell the truth, let your word be your bond, love your country, stand by your friends.

Rayburn put in many long years as an effective backroom operator, including during Democrats decade in the minority, before becoming a powerful champion of New Deal legislation as the chairman of the House Commerce Committee. Having earned his colleagues trust, he was able to act as a broker between the many different factions in the House, even in times of narrow Democratic majorities. Bringing together bipartisan governing coalitions often required sanding off bills sharp edges, thereby disappointing crusading advocates. In handling a vicious fight over public utility holding companies in 1935, for example, Rayburn skillfully guided Congress toward a compromise that failed to deliver the deathblow to the corporate form that many (including he himself) had hoped for, but nevertheless secured strong regulation.

Rayburn also understood that politics is fundamentally about accommodation rather than running ones competitors off the field. After FDRs disastrous court-packing failure in 1937 empowered conservatives, then-House Majority Leader Rayburn convinced the White House to reduce its lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill. Instead, he would figure out how to work with his conservative colleagues rather than dominate them. I used to want to be a big, tall fellow, but I found I can dart in and out and between em and get things done before they see me, Rayburn declared. That didnt mean he was any sort of pushover, though. When Time magazine called him a great compromiser, he retorted, I am not a compromiser. Id rather be known as a persuader. I try to compromise by getting people to think my way.

Of course Mr. Sam, as he came to be known, was able to operate out of the public eye to a degree difficult to imagine in the age of social media. In his basement office, over brown liquor, members exchanged information and opinions with total candor and an expectation that everything said was strictly graveyard. With fewer staff and media around, the House in Rayburns day was based more on human relationships between members. One could rise to the top in that environment only through great longevity. Rayburn first took office in the House in 1913, at age 30; it took him 27 years, and a whole lot of informal institution-building with himself at the center, to climb the leadership ladder and finally become speaker.

Mike Johnsons legislative logjam.

Johnson, by contrast, must lead after less than seven years of House service and no time at all in top leadership. He has to somehow build relationships amid a nonstop media circus and as professional partisans portray him as an extreme ideologue. Members of the Republican conference seem to believe that he can implement a more open process, giving all members a greater chance to participate while simultaneously delivering solid partisan victories at every turn. That combination is likely impossible, which means Johnson has an unenviably difficult job.

But if he can make his House a bit more like Rayburns, one might begin to make out the shape of a successful speakership. For all of Rayburns stature, nobody ever expected him to be a dictator. Rather, he made it clear that everyone would get a fair shake in having their view considered, and that the bodys majority would work its will. He was known to help committee chairmen shepherd their bills to the floor, fending off last-minute attacks, even on bills he did not support himself.

There are some reasons to be hopefuland they have to do with Johnsons similarities to Rayburn. Kevin McCarthy portrayed himself as a genial dealmaker, ready to pal around with anyone and quick with a joke. For all those smiles, though, too many of the former speakers colleagues felt that he talked out of both sides of his mouth. Ultimately, he lacked the trust needed to act as a good faith broker between factions. Johnson, on the other hand, exudes earnestness and preaches straight-shooting, much as the young Rayburn did. Hes surely a committed ideologue, and yet Johnson has gained his colleagues esteem by presenting himself as a real coalition-builder, someone willing to humbly hear out anyone in search of the common good.

That self-presentation is more promise than solid record, but it creates an opportunity for Johnson. Rather than trying to be a Republican Nancy Pelosi, he could follow Rayburns example and prioritize coalition-building and legislating over the mere pursuit of partisan angles.

Take the supplemental spending bill Congress is currently debating. In a recent piece, Politico reporter Rachel Bade explored how a Johnson speakership could prioritize legislatingwhile also reminding readers, over and over, why most Capitol Hill veterans doubt that will be the case. Yes, Johnson has relied on bipartisan majorities and suspension of the rules, but hes done so solely for must-pass bills. The supplemental spending billwhich attempts to package Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan aid with more resources for securing the southern borderis different. It doesnt absolutely have to pass, and plenty of Republicans have expressly declared a desire to see it fail.

Johnson might choose to put whatever deal the Senate delivers up for a vote, again using suspension of the rules. That seems like the quickest way to passage, and it would please many Democrats who believe in the importance of passing the bill quickly. But it very well could reignite the intraparty conflagration that consumed McCarthy. Perhaps Johnson would survive it; Bade floats the possibility that his straight-dealing might earn Johnson some Democratic support that McCarthy never got. But its hard to overstate how angry many Republicans would be in this scenario. They would insist, and not unreasonably, that there should have been extended, substantive deliberation, rather than a quick vote that deprives opponents of all their parliamentary resources.

Speaker Johnson could alternatively try to make his colleagues shoulder the burden of shaping this compromise. There is a sense of urgency but no hard deadline. Bringing conservative Republicans into the debate, giving them a chance to air out their concerns, and ensuring that some of their most important demands are incorporated into a final bill, would go a long way toward creating the kind of broad coalition needed to make progress on border security or foreign aid. The speaker ought to say: Its not my job to figure everything out, but to help make sure that the House can do so.

In other words, Johnson needs to remind everyone, loudly and frequently, that he has no Shrevian snagboats capable of forcing GOP-only legislation through the impasse of divided government. What he can do is facilitate real deliberation, followed by a real chance for a (bipartisan) majority of the House to work its will.

Taking this approach will earn Johnson some harsh critics, especially among those who would rather see an intractable logjam than any governing decisions they dislike, so great is their desire to deprive Biden of any accomplishment this election year. Perhaps that would include former president Donald Trump.

Nevertheless, it would be the right course. As a defense, Speaker Johnson should take to heart a Rayburn aphorism: Any jackass can kick a barn down, but it takes a good carpenter to build one. Building coalitions is the essence of congressional politics; its the key to keeping legislative currents flowing. The politics of 2024, sure to be full of darker notes, could use someone who understands that.

Read more at The Dispatch

The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free.
CHARLOTTE, N.C.  After third grade math teacher Shelby Lattimore delivered the days announcements, the class banker distributed everyones wallets  clasped envelopes decorated with animals, stars, hearts and cars scribbled in marker and filled with the faux money theyd earned this year.

Lattimore asked the class if they knew what inflating a balloon meant. They answered in the affirmative.

I am inflating your rents, she responded, drawing a chorus of grunts, complaints and nos throughout the poster-covered classroom.

Lattimore has gone viral on TikTok and Instagram for her creative take on teaching financial literacy  using a classroom system that requires her students to pay rent for their classroom essentials, including their own desks.

Every week, viewers watch as her third grade math students collect Miss Lattimore Bucks for their classroom jobs.

We have a teacher assistant, line leader, door holder, recess basket, lunch basket. We have a cleanup crew, Lattimore said.

Third grade teacher Shelby Lattimore has gone viral on TikTok for teaching her students financial lessons by creating a classroom economy (NBC News)

All jobs do not get paid the same, she said, The jobs that are every day, like line leader and teacher assistant, like those jobs that you have to do something constantly, get paid more than jobs that are like every now and then or once in a while.

At the end of the week, students collect their pay and have a decision to make: spend it or save it.

The exercise gives them some practical life skills for the real world, Lattimore said.

Watching my students now become appreciative of possibly what their guardians are going through, of course in a safer environment, just kind of gives them that responsibility to then move forward as they become adults.

Financial literacy, meaning having the skills and knowledge to make smart budgeting, saving, investing and other money decisions, is deficient among U.S. adults, according to some studies.

On average, adults correctly answered only 48% of 28 questions in the 2023 TIAA Institute-GFLEC Personal Finance Index, a survey that measures financial knowledge. That number was even lower for Black and Hispanic respondents, 34% and 38% respectively.

As a Black educator in a Charlotte school with a majority Black and Hispanic population, Lattimore said she hopes her classroom economy can help bridge the financial learning gap for her students.

Charlotte is known for generational poverty, Lattimore said. A lot of my students of color, Hispanic, Black, whatever it may be, they see their parents, they see their guardian, they see their grandmothers, grandfathers, whatever, may be living check to check. They see the money management of not thinking long term necessarily and the consequences of it.

Teaching children personal finance in an interactive way as Lattimore does is highly effective, said Ted Tucker, the executive director of Foundation for Teaching Economics, an organization committed to providing resources to students and teachers about the economy and personal finance.

We believe that students need to do economics to better understand it. You know, instead of just listening to someone lecturing or talking about it, Tucker said, I think what games do or simulations do is they allow students to internalize the concepts that are being taught.

Third grade teacher Shelby Lattimore has gone viral on TikTok for teaching her students financial lessons by creating a classroom economy (NBC News)

I think even at a young age, just getting a fair understanding of cost benefits is super important in our decision-making, Tucker said.

In Lattimores class, students must "pay" $7 a week to rent their desk and chair.

Just like I have to pay bills, they have to pay bills, she said.

But they can also use the money theyve earned to buy rewards, like candy for $2 or a homework pass for $3. Lunch with a friend runs $5, while lunch with Miss Lattimore is $7. The highest ticketed  and most coveted  reward is being teacher for a day for $30.

They do have to budget for that one, but they love the responsibility of taking attendance, telling them when to get in line, when to get up, things of that sort, Lattimore said. As part of their learning, Lattimore never allows her students to spend more than they owe.

Brittany Sales said her daughter Marlii, who was in Lattimores class last year, never really discussed money before she started learning about it in class.

She just thought it grew on trees and she could spend it, Sales said. We literally learned so much from how she taught it and to how we could tie it into at home, Sales said.

Now Marlii saves the money she receives on her birthday and holidays, and budgets her spending for wish list items, including a new pair of Nikes.

It took me like three months to save up, Marlii said.

The success of her creative teaching has also provided something of a windfall for Lattimore, who has generated brand collaborations and monetized her videos through TikToks creator program.

Third grade teacher Shelby Lattimore has gone viral on TikTok for teaching her students financial lessons by creating a classroom economy (NBC News)

This past year I made six figures, which is insane, because my teacher salary is not even half of that, Lattimore said.

With over 25 million likes and 793,000 followers on TikTok, Lattimores fans often comment on the hilarious reactions from students complaining about having to spend their money responsibly and the heartwarming care Lattimore gives them. In videos, she can be seen handing out everything from hugs, to extra snacks, to toothbrushes to her students.

Fans have also sent school supplies, books, care packages and snacks to her classroom.

Lattimore said every day she gets excited to go to work for just one reason: Its going to sound so corny, but its them.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
APPLETON, Wis. (WFRV)  Lawrence Universitys wildly popular Great Midwest Trivia Contest has evolved quite a bit over the years.

Sarah Hestres, a longtime participant in the trivia contest, remembers the days when the only way to do well in the contest was by checking out tons of books.

Wed go to the library and get about 100 books per person because that was what was allowed to check out, she said.

Congressman Mike Gallagher sends letter to Postmaster General amid mail issues in Sturgeon Bay

Hestres said shes been playing trivia with a team called Hobgoblin of Little Minds since 1987. When all her teammates lived in the Fox Valley, they used to hunker down in a basement together for the weekend. Now that theyre older and some of them have moved away, each trivia contest becomes a reunion for the longtime friends.

Hobgoblin of Little Minds

Hobgoblin of Little Minds

Hobgoblin of Little Minds

Hobgoblin of Little Minds

The fun piece, theres some quirkiness, a lot of tradition that goes along with it and its just interesting, said Hestres when asked why she continues to play trivia after all these years.

Longtime trivia player John Cuff from Appleton also remembers raiding the library for books to play trivia before the advent of the internet.

He said something else sticks out from his earlier trivia days.

One of the biggest challenges was actually getting through to answer the questions because you had everybody calling into phones and there was a limited time to get through, said Cuff.

Inside his home in Appleton, his setup for trivia weekend still includes books laid out on the table next to his laptop. Each year, there is a portion of the contest when contestants are asked not to use the internet to look up questions, so the books still come in handy.

The internet of course was a total game changer because most of the questions we were answering at that time you could answer in 30 seconds with access to the internet, he said.

Cuff has been playing trivia as part of a team called the Jabberwockys since 1979. He said he participated in the contest with another team before that.

Green Bay Rockers donning Wisconsin staple, play in Supper Clubbers alternate on Fridays in 2024

Lawrence University super senior Madeline Guest is the headmaster for the contest this year. She said shes been playing trivia since her freshman year and it was an honor to get appointed headmaster this year.

Shes one of the people responsible for making the questions challenging despite all the modern technology that makes searching for information much easier.

AI can solve some of the questions, sometimes it goes in the complete wrong direction and thats really funny, she said.

Gone are the days when contestants had to call into a radio station to submit answers. Now organizers use Twitch and Discord to facilitate the contest. Inside Briggs Hall at Lawrence University, there is still a classroom where all the trivia masters monitor several dozen constantly-ringing landline phones which players can use to submit their answers to questions (they can also submit on Discord).

Its hard to explain the unique experience that is trivia, said Guest.

The contest runs for 50 hours straight ending on Sunday at midnight. Trivia masters trade off taking short naps throughout the weekend.

If I can have a contest that works and people enjoy it and the trivia masters have fun and the players have fun then Ill be happy, said Guest.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
Teenager dies from drive-by shooting in Chesterfield County: sheriff

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A teenager has died following a drive-by shooting in Pageland, according to the Chesterfield County Sheriffs Office.

Deputies say the shooting happened Friday night on Bennett Road.

Information on a possible suspect has not been released at this time.

This is an ongoing investigation with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), the Chesterfield County Coroners Office and the Chesterfield County Sheriffs Office. Anyone with information is urged to call the tip line at 843-287-0235.

This is a developing story; check back for updates

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Teens detained after reportedly pointing weapon in East El Paso

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  El Paso Police say they have detained a car of teens for allegedly pointing a gun in East El Paso.

The incident happened at about 4:45 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26 along the 1800 block of Zaragoza.

Police had responded to a call about teens in a vehicle pointing a gun.

Officers stopped the vehicle and the individuals were detained, police said.

Police did not say how many people were detained but initial reports from police said one.

There were no reports of any injuries and police say there is not a threat to the public.

The incident remains under investigation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
South Asian country celebrates 75th Republic Day

By Kim Hyun-bin

Reflecting on India's journey as a sovereign democratic republic, Indian Ambassador to Korea Amit Kumar emphasized the remarkable progress achieved over the past seven decades during the 75th Republic Day of India ceremony in Seoul, Friday.

"Today, we celebrate the 75th Republic Day of India, marking the day in 1950 when the Indian Constitution came into force, officially establishing us as a sovereign democratic republic," Kumar said. "Our journey, characterized by skepticism due to our sheer size, diverse development levels, and incredible diversity, has been a testament to the wisdom and foresight of our founding fathers."

He highlighted India's robust democracy, which has not only taken deep root but flourished over the decades, overcoming various challenges. Kumar noted several impressive milestones, including India's current status as the world's fifth-largest economy, with projections to become the third-largest within the next five years.

"India is changing at an unprecedented rate, and I encourage all of you to visit India to experience its energy and dynamism firsthand," he said, pointing to the exponential growth of the startup sector as evidence of the ongoing transformation.

The ambassador emphasized the deep-rooted friendship between India and Korea, rooted in ancient bonds of kinship and a shared heritage of Buddhism. He acknowledged India's significant humanitarian contribution during the Korean War, fostering a strong foundation for bilateral relations.

"Recent years have witnessed a significant expansion in our bilateral relations, marked by intensified interactions among governments, businesses and other stakeholders," Kumar said. He highlighted key events such as the G20 summit and the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties, expressing gratitude for Korea's active participation and support during India's G20 Presidency.

Looking ahead, he expressed optimism about the future of India-Korea relations, anticipating a full diplomatic calendar. In the face of global geopolitical and geo-economic shifts, Kumar underscored the potential for greater engagement between India and Korea, both democracies with shared values and interests.

He outlined opportunities for collaboration and partnership, including in advanced manufacturing, construction, logistics, green hydrogen, electric vehicles and emerging technologies. Kumar also praised the growing Indian diaspora in Korea, serving as a vital bridge between the two countries.

In conclusion, Ambassador Kumar expressed gratitude to those advocating for a stronger India-Korea partnership and encouraged continued support, advice and friendship as both nations chart new areas of cooperation.
German cities are expecting further large demonstrations against right-wing extremism over the weekend.

Some 30,000 marchers are expected at a demonstration against the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Dusseldorf at noon (1100 GMT) on Saturday. Larger events are also planned in Aachen, Mannheim and Marburg, as well as in other cities.

In Osnabruck, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius plans to join marchers in the streets, while in Wittenberg, Saxony-Anhalt Premier Reiner Haseloff also plans to be among demonstrators.

There are also demonstrations planned on Sunday in Hamburg and other locations.

On Friday, thousands of people once again took to the streets in several cities to protest against right-wing extremism. Protests took place in Frankfurt, Saarbrucken, Herne and Gutersloh.

According to the Federal Ministry of the Interior, more than 900,000 people took part in demonstrations against right-wing extremism last weekend.

This Saturday's demonstrations coincide with Holocaust Remembrance Day, when numerous organizers commemorate the victims of the Nazis.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed his support for the demonstrations, but called for further commitment to democracy.

"I am delighted and grateful that the democratic centre of society has woken up," Steinmeier told regional public broadcaster SWR. These people were proving that the vocal despisers of democracy were not in the majority, he said.

"This should make democrats self-confident and also a little proud."

However, these demonstrations could not replace political engagement, Steinmeier said when asked how the protests would continue. His plea to dissatisfied people was to get off the sofa and get actively involved in the community.

Democracy thrives on the commitment of its citizens, he said. However, Steinmeier warned that people who take on political responsibility, especially at local level, must be shown more respect again.

people hold flags during a protest against right-wing extremism. Daniel Bockwoldt/dpa
Mourners stand before the Wall of Death during a ceremony at the site of the former Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi concentration and extermination camp in Oswiecim, Poland, on Saturday, marking the 79th anniversary of its liberation. Photo by Jarek Praszkiewicz/EPA-EFE

Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Ceremonies were held across the world Saturday to mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day against the backdrop of continued anti-far right rallies in Germany and pro-Palestinian marches in Italy.

"Today, and every day, we mourn the six million Jews who were murdered during the Holocaust by the Nazis and their collaborators, as well as the Roma, Sinti, political opponents, persons with disabilities, LGBTQI+ individuals, and others persecuted and murdered by the Nazi regime," the U.S. State Department said in a statement issued Saturday.

"The United States stands with Holocaust victims, their families, and their descendants. We remember and we carry forward the legacy of survivors and their families when we apply the lessons of the Holocaust to combat antisemitism and other forms of intolerance."

U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday condemned the global rise of anti-Semitism in a statement issued to mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which coincides with the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in Nazi-occupied Poland.

Biden called the Holocaust "one of the darkest chapters in human history."

Ceremonies were held across the world Saturday to mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem pictured) against the backdrop of demonstrations in major European cities. File Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI

At the Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial site in Oswiecim, Poland, 20 Holocaust survivors laid wreaths and lit candles at the Wall of Death in the yard of Block 11, where German guards slaughtered thousands of Jewish prisoners during World War II.

In Potocari, Bosnia and Herzegovina, a joint Muslim-Jewish commemorative event was held to mark Holocaust Remembrance Day at the Srebrenica Memorial Center, attended by Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatovic.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Saturday publicly urged people to stand up to anti-Semitism and racism. File Photo courtesy of the United Nations

She called the occasion "a beacon of hope at a time when divisions often seem insurmountable," adding, "We must remember our duty to act decisively against hate speech, incitement to religious violence and discrimination."

Thousands of Holocaust Remembrance Day observers in Germany also attended scheduled events, while at the same time approximately 100,000 people in the western German city of Dusseldorf took to the streets to protest the country's far-right Alternative for Germany party.

Several smaller rallies were held in around 30 different nearby cities. Flags in Germany were at half-staff to mark the day.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Saturday publicly urged people to stand up to anti-Semitism and racism.

"'Never again' is every day," Scholz said during his weekly video address, in reference to the Holocaust.

In Italy, demonstrators defied police bans on marches during Remembrance Day, gathering in Rome, Milan and elsewhere in support of Palestinian civilians who have been killed in Gaza amid Israel's war on Hamas militants.

"We are not here to say we are against the Jews. We are here to say 'no' to genocide in Gaza," one activist outside Rome's Piazza Vittorio told the Italian ANSA agency Saturday.
Protesters take part in a rally against right-wing extremism and racism called by the organizations Black Voices Austria, Fridays for Future and the Platform for a Humane Asylum Policy, in front of the parliament in Vienna. Eva Manhart/APA/dpa

German cities are expecting further large demonstrations against right-wing extremism over the weekend.

Some 30,000 marchers are expected at a demonstration against the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Dusseldorf at noon (1100 GMT) on Saturday. Larger events are also planned in Aachen, Mannheim and Marburg, as well as in other cities.

In Osnabruck, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius plans to join marchers in the streets, while in Wittenberg, Saxony-Anhalt Premier Reiner Haseloff also plans to be among demonstrators.

There are also demonstrations planned on Sunday in Hamburg and other locations.

On Friday, thousands of people once again took to the streets in several cities to protest against right-wing extremism. Protests took place in Frankfurt, Saarbrucken, Herne and Gutersloh.

According to the Federal Ministry of the Interior, more than 900,000 people took part in demonstrations against right-wing extremism last weekend.

This Saturday's demonstrations coincide with Holocaust Remembrance Day, when numerous organizers commemorate the Jewish victims of the Nazis.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed his support for the demonstrations, but called for further commitment to democracy.

"I am delighted and grateful that the democratic centre of society has woken up," Steinmeier told regional public broadcaster SWR. These people were proving that the vocal despisers of democracy were not in the majority, he said.

"This should make democrats self-confident and also a little proud."

However, these demonstrations could not replace political engagement, Steinmeier said when asked how the protests would continue. His plea to dissatisfied people was to get off the sofa and get actively involved in the community.

Democracy thrives on the commitment of its citizens, he said. However, Steinmeier warned that people who take on political responsibility, especially at local level, must be shown more respect again.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also welcomed the numerous demonstrations against right-wing extremism in recent days and weeks.

"Our country is on its feet right now. Millions of citizens are taking to the streets," he said in his weekly video. It is the cohesion of democrats that makes democracy strong, he said.

"Our democracy is not God-given. It is man-made. It is strong when we support it. And it needs us when it is under attack."

The protests were triggered by revelations from the Correctiv group of investigative journalists about a meeting in Potsdam outside Berlin of radical right-wingers on November 25, which was attended by several AfD politicians as well as individual members of the mainstream conservative opposition party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), and the far-right WerteUnion.

The former head of the far-right, white supremacist Identitarian Movement in Austria, Martin Sellner, said he had spoken about "remigration" at the meeting.

When right-wing extremists use the term, they usually mean that a large number of people of foreign origin should leave the country - even under duress.

According to Correctiv, Sellner named three target groups: asylum seekers, foreigners with the right to stay and "non-assimilated citizens."

New state parliaments are due to be elected in the states of Brandenburg, Saxony and Thuringia in September. According to polls, the AfD could become the strongest party in all three states, even by a considerable margin.

In two nationwide surveys conducted by the Insa and Forsa institutes for the newspaper Bild and RTL/ntv broadcasting networks at the end of the week, the AfD lost popularity but remained the second strongest force after the CDU/CSU conservative bloc.

In Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, the AfD is categorized as confirmed right-wing extremist by the domestic intelligence services in those states; nationwide, it is classified as a suspected case of right-wing extremism.

Alexander Throm, spokesman on domestic affairs for the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, warned that the effect of the protests on potential voters should not be overestimated.

In his view, it is important to engage politically with the AfD and its ideas and not give extremist behaviour a chance, the CDU politician told the Rheinische Post newspaper.

"This can only succeed with a policy from the federal government that takes the concerns and needs of citizens seriously and does not continue to pour oil on the fire of frustration out of sheer ignorance."

people hold flags during a protest against right-wing extremism. Daniel Bockwoldt/dpa

Protesters take part in a rally against right-wing extremism and racism called by the organizations Black Voices Austria, Fridays for Future and the Platform for a Humane Asylum Policy, in front of the parliament in Vienna. Tobias Steinmaurer/APA/dpa
Three Springfield school board members who voted against extending the contract of Superintendent Grenita Lathan said they still believe she has the skills, knowledge and experience to do the job.

In explaining the vote, members Maryam Mohammadkhani, Kelly Byrne and Steve Makoski said they had questions about the longstanding practice of giving superintendents a rolling, three-year contract.

They also expressed interest in having more time to evaluate her progress before extending employment beyond the 2025-26 year.

Byrne and Makoski singled out ongoing concerns about student achievement and behavior as factors in their decision. Mohammadkhani has talked about those issues in board meetings but did not explicitly identify them Thursday as reasons for her vote.

"I'd like to see some more focus on that, the discipline and the academic achievement of our students because it is our job, it is what we are supposed to be doing," Makoski said Thursday, in an interview with the News-Leader.

"The tone that I use in this case is that I fully support Dr. Lathan at this point with the exception of not extending her contract for a year. That doesn't mean that that could not change on my behalf but I'd like to see us get a little bit more on track in those areas."

Lathan was offered and accepted a one-year contract extension after the 4-3 vote Tuesday. The personnel matter was decided behind closed doors, which is permitted under the Sunshine Law.

The vote, marking the end of the annual evaluation process, was made public Thursday.

By a one-vote margin, a majority of the board voted in favor of extending Lathan's contract through June 30, 2027. Those votes were cast by Danielle Kincaid, Scott Crise, Judy Brunner and Shurita Thomas-Tate.

Hired in mid-2021, Lathan was unanimously offered contract extensions in 2022 and 2023. Mohammadkhani, Byrne and Makoski have been part of one or more of those votes.

As president, Kincaid said despite the vote, the board "unanimously supported" the district leader who has worked in several other states.

"The 4-3 vote does not indicate a lack of confidence in her leadership," she said Thursday. "The 4-3 vote represents a disagreement between board members about a rolling, three-year superintendent contract and a desire by some board members to have some additional time to evaluate Dr. Lathan before extending her contract."

Asked what message a split vote sent, Kincaid said: "The overall message was the board supports her and her work and we continue to support her as leader of the district," she said. "She will be giving us her (annual) goals in the next couple weeks so we'll have an opportunity to weigh in on the goals."

Each year, as part of the evaluation, the board reviews how much progress is made toward past goals and reviews goals for the coming year.

"Over the past year, her leadership goals have focused specifically on preparing success-ready students and achieving organizational efficiency and effectiveness." Kincaid said. "We are encouraged by the progress.

This year, Lathan received high marks for community engagement, expanding outreach with district employees and implementing the mission, vision and goals of the district with honesty, integrity and ethic practices. The board also highlighted fiscal responsibility and accountability and the efforts to align curriculum and instructional strategies to support student learning.

I appreciate the continued support of the Board of Education and all of Team SPS, Lathan said Thursday, as part of a news release. Her annual salary is $335,234.

Springfield is my home and serving all SPS stakeholders as superintendent brings me great joy and a deep sense of purpose. We will continue to dream big while delivering on our promises in the best interests of the students, staff and community we serve.

"Creating a sense of urgency"

Mohammadkhani, Byrne and Makoski had similar reasons for voting against the contract extension.

Kelly Byrne

"Dr. Lathan has shown the skills necessary to continue to lead SPS forward as well as some positive results. I have always had an issue with the standard practice of this district and others in the state of annually extending the contract out three years. Two is reasonable. Three can be too far," Byrne said, in a written statement.

Byrne continued: "SPS still has some challenges including stagnant academic progress and persisting behavior and discipline issues. At this time, it's my obligation as a board member to express a sense of urgency with our one employee to press forward in a way that will produce measurable results and I'm confident that over the next 2-1/2 years, she will do just that."

Mohammadkhani said her "full belief in Dr. Lathan's abilities remains unchanged." She said she has and will continue to support Lathan's work advancing the mission and vision of the district, which is set by the board.

"Dr. Lathan has the knowledge, the skill set, and the experience necessary to lift us up and move us forward. I have faith in the district's strategic plan and I see the essential pieces moving into place, but I also recognize the urgency that surrounds the difficult work that goes into achieving our goals," she said, in a written statement.

Maryam Mohammadkhani

"Considering the progress and successes of the last 2-1/2 years, my position conveys the trust I place in Dr. Lathan's ability to right this ship in the next 2-1/2 years, while creating a sense of urgency by not voting to approve a third year extension at this early juncture as the board continues to monitor ongoing progress."

More: In 4-3 split, SPS board rejects request to back bill that weakens authority of state board

In an interview, Makoski said his vote does not mean Lathan is "not living up" to the board's expectations. He said to address student achievement and behavior concerns, he wants to see more changes.

"As an example, removing distractions from the classrooms. That would be technology, like cell phones," he said. "To me, if an educator has full autonomy within their classrooms, there are some educators that will decide maybe they want cell phones in their classroom, maybe they don't."

Steve Makoski

Makoski said he has been an advocate for Lathan and talked to her on air as part of a KWTO radio show he hosts, as a guest, at different times.

"I've had her on the radio and I have talked and helped out as much as I could to actually be her cheerleader. I think that is evident," he said.

Crise, Kincaid and Mohammadkhani are running for re-election. They are among a slate of seven candidates on the April 2 ballot along with Landon McCarter, Susan Provance, Chad Rollins and Kyler Sherman-Wilkins. The three with the most votes with be sworn in mid-April.

Three-year superintendent contracts

Under state law, contracts for school superintendents cannot exceed three years.

"It is extremely rare not to have a multi-year contract, two or three years, and the vast majority in larger districts are three-year contracts," said Doug Hayter, executive director of Missouri Association of School Administrators. "What Springfield is doing is not unusual, for a school district their size, to recruit and retain a quality school leader who is going to stay with their district."

Doug Hayter

Hayter said there has been significant turnover of district leaders in the past five years. Since 2019, there have been 454 superintendent vacancies and 306 of those were filled by first-time superintendents.

"We have a lot of openings, a lot of transition in a difficult job," Hayter said. "There are fewer and fewer candidates applying for positions."

Asked why the rolling three-year contract, with the possibility of one-year extensions, became standard, Hayter said it was to attract top candidates.

"For any organization, it takes several years to learn the district, figure it out. It is a difficult job. It can be highly politized," Hayter said. "It (offers) a level of stability for someone to say 'I'm going to sell my house, move my family, take on a totally new responsibility' but have some security of length of service."

Not specific to Springfield, Hayter was asked what a split vote on a superintendent contract typically signifies.

"Most superintendents would tell you a split vote would be concerning. It certainly depends on the context, why a vote occurred that way," he said. "But it is a team effort. The Board of Education has one employee technically and that is the superintendent of schools and certainly they can and should disagree on issues but hopefully ultimately come together as a team to work together."

Hayter said, in general, a fractured relationship between a board and superintendent can impact other areas.

"That trickles down not only to that relationship but through the entire district," he said.

Claudette Riley covers education for the News-Leader. Email tips and story ideas to criley@news-leader.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Three on SPS board explain vote not to extend superintendent contract
Lawmakers in Olympia closed out their third week of session Friday after moving forward a number of bills.

Only six weeks remain of the short 2024 session, and leading lawmakers told reporters Tuesday that the states supplemental budget, the only item they are constitutionally required to pass before adjourning, will likely be released near the end of February.

The last of six initiatives sponsored by Lets Go Washington was certified by the Secretary of State, but it is still unclear when or if lawmakers will propose any alternatives to the measures before the initiatives are placed on the November ballot.

The first cutoff day for legislation is Wednesday, Jan. 31, and lawmakers will need to pass bills from their committees of origin before 5 p.m. that day for the bills to move forward.

Here are some of the bills that were discussed last week.

House bills

HB 2001  Providing judicial discretion to modify sentences in the interests of justice.

Sponsored by Rep. Tarra Simmons, D-Bremerton, this bill would allow courts to review and potentially modify felony sentences for incarcerated individuals who meet certain criteria. As the law stands, only prosecutors are able to ask courts for a modification, regardless of whether the law the incarcerated person was sentenced under is still on the books. This proposal by Simmons would allow defense counsel to ask courts for a review.

The bill had a public hearing Tuesday, and is scheduled for executive session on Jan. 30. A companion bill is also being sponsored in the Senate.

HB 1044  Providing capital financial assistance to small school districts with demonstrated funding challenges.

First introduced and passed off the debate floor by House lawmakers last year, this legislation sponsored by Rep. Joel McEntire, R-Cathlamet, has returned again for 2024. The bill aims to help small schools receive state grant funding for projects that comprehensively modernize or replace older buildings that are in poor or unsatisfactory condition. The funding process is determined by need.

The House passed the bill unanimously on Thursday, Jan. 25.

HB 2196  Concerning blood alcohol concentration.

Introduced this session by Rep. Brandy Donaghy, D-Mill Creek, this legislation would lower the legal blood alcohol concentration from .08% to .05% for drivers operating a motor vehicle. Similar legislation was introduced by Sen. John Lovick, D-Mill Creek, last year but the bill did not pass off the Senate debate floor.

The latest version of the bill had a public hearing Thursday, and will go to executive session in the House Community Safety, Justice, and Reentry Committee on Tuesday, Jan. 30.

Senate bills

SB 6298  Concerning the duty of the clergy to report abuse or neglect.

Introduced by Sen. Noel Frame, D-Seattle, this legislation would add clergy to the list of mandated reporters, those who are legally required to report abuse or neglect in Washington state. The bill passed the Senate unanimously in 2023 but stalled after the House made changes that Senate lawmakers didnt agree with. Frame said Thursday during a public hearing that the new bill strikes a balance by carving out a narrow exemption for information received during confession.

The bill is now headed to executive session in the Senate Human Services Committee on Tuesday, Jan. 30.

SB 5966  Concerning restraint or isolation of students in public schools and educational programs.

Sponsored by Sen. Claire Wilson, D-Auburn, this bill would prohibit certain types of restraint such as chemical, mechanical, or physical restraint that restricts breathing, and would also prohibit types of isolation for students. The bill still allows for restraints or isolation in some defined instances, but adds to the list of procedures required after incidents.

The bill had a public hearing Monday, but is not yet scheduled for executive session.

SB 5010  Updating the endangerment-with-a-controlled-substance statute to include fentanyl or synthetic opioids.

First introduced by Sen. Lynda Wilson, R-Vancouver, in 2023, this bill is back on the docket this year. Under the bill, the crime of endangerment with a controlled substance would include fentanyl and synthetic opioids, and would prohibit the knowing or intentional exposure of such substances to children. If the bill is passed by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Jay Inslee, violations of the law would be a Class B felony.

The Senate passed the bill Wednesday with a 48-1 vote, and will now head to the House.

SB 5334  Providing a local government option for funding essential affordable housing programs.

Sponsored by Sen. Liz Lovelett, D-Anacortes, this bill would allow cities and counties to charge an excise tax of up to 10% on the sale of lodging of short-term rentals through a short-term rental platform. Revenue collected from the tax would go to fund affordable housing. An exemption is included for seniors and those on fixed incomes who own short-term rentals.

The bill was introduced last year but stalled in the House. The Senate passed the latest version 29-20 on Wednesday.
South Korea delivered a state military medal for the late U.S. Gen. Douglas MacArthur, who led U.N. troops against North Korea in the 1950-53 Korean War, 74 years after deciding to confer the decoration, the defense ministry said Saturday.

MacArthur, the first commander of the U.N. Command, had received a certificate for the First Class Order of Military Merit on Sept. 29, 1950, by then South Korean President Rhee Syng-man, after South Korean and U.S.-led U.N. troops recaptured Seoul from North Korean forces earlier that month.

At the time, South Korea promised to bestow the medal once it was produced but it was never delivered. The ministry said officials only recently discovered the mishap after being tipped off by a citizen interested in Korean War medals.

A ceremony to deliver the medal, now named the Taegeuk Order of Military Merit, to the MacArthur Memorial in Norfolk, Virginia, took place Friday (local time) at the memorial, attended by Norfolk Mayor Kenneth Alexander, according to the ministry.

MacArthur's son, Arthur MacArthur IV, sent a letter thanking South Korea, noting the award is a "testament" to his father's legacy and an honor that "forever binds him to the people of Korea," according to the ministry.

MacArthur and his wife, Jean MacArthur, are laid to rest at the memorial in Norfolk.

The U.S. general spearheaded the amphibious landing at Incheon, just west of the capital, in September 1950, which led to the recapture of Seoul. The 1950-53 Korean War ended in a cease-fire rather than a peace treaty, leaving the two Koreas technically at war. (Yonhap)
It was a moment for Donald Trump to be gracious, magnanimous, perhaps even presidential. Instead he lashed out at his opponents clothes. When I watched her in the fancy dress that probably wasnt so fancy, I said, Whats she doing? We won, he said of rival Nikki Haley in New Hampshire on Tuesday night.

Related: We must start urgently talking about the dangers of a second Trump presidency | Margaret Sullivan

Trump had just won the first primary election of 2024 and all but clinched the Republican nomination for US president. Party leaders and campaign surrogates are now eager to banish Haley to irrelevance, move on from the primary and unify against Democrats. They want Trump to pivot to an almost inevitable rematch with Democrat Joe Biden in November.

Yet the 77-year-old remains consumed with rage over Haleys unwillingness to quit the race. His petulance offers a reminder of the unhinged behaviour that turned off independent voters in New Hampshire and could prove to be a liability in a head-to-head contest with Biden. It is also at odds with what is an unusually professional and disciplined campaign operation.

Wendy Schiller, a political scientist at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, said: Donald Trump wants the race to be over and we see evidence of why thats important for the Trump campaign from his speech, which was essentially a train wreck and exhibited all the worst tendencies of Donald Trump. It was an undisciplined Trump and this is what turns off independent voters.

She added: This is the achilles heel for the Trump campaign and they know it. The sooner this gets wrapped up then he doesnt have any more of those impromptu late night speeches. Their worry is not that theyre not going to win the nomination; their worry is the damage that Trump having to respond to Haley will do in the general election with independent voters.

Trumps investment of emotion and energy in attacking Haley is wildly out of proportion for the minimal threat that Haley poses. He won the Iowa caucuses in a landslide  she was third  and beat her by double digits in New Hampshire. No other Republican candidate in history who won the first two contests has failed to clinch his partys nomination. His dominance looks set to render the next five months of primaries irrelevant.

Newt Gingrich, a former House of Representatives speaker and ex-presidential candidate, said: Trumps best strategy is to assume he is the nominee and go straight at Biden and ignore Haley, let her flounder around until she either runs out of money or realises that there is no future. Shell presently disappear.

Republicans have coalesced around the former president, putting pressure on Haley to step aside. She is not competing in next months Nevada caucuses. Trump has racked up endorsements from most of South Carolinas leading Republicans and opinion polls show him with a big lead in the state, which has a strong base of Christian evangelicals, ahead of the primary on 24 February.

Yet Haley, 52, a former South Carolina governor and US ambassador to the UN, is soldiering on. She tweeted on Thursday: Underestimate me, thats always fun. Next week she is scheduled for a fundraising tour that includes stops in New York, Florida, California, Texas and South Carolina. She is expected to continue to draw donor support as Never Trumpers within the party make a last stand and hope he could yet be derailed by the 91 criminal charges against him.

Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, said: I do know some of her donors and my guess is they want her staying in to put Trump through his paces. They dont put it on the record but they think theres a reasonable chance that something will happen to Trump, either health-wise or conviction to the extent that he can no longer be the nominee.

Haley describes herself as scrappy, continues to hold rallies and is becoming more aggressive in her denunciations of Trump. On Wednesday she launched a $4m advertising campaign in South Carolina describing the prospect of a Biden v Trump election as a rematch no one wants. Its narrator says: Biden  too old. Trump  too much chaos. Theres a better choice for a better America.

How long can she last? Michael Steele, a Trump critic and former chairman of the Republican National Committee, said: My bet is two weeks. You really want to go into that race in your home state and lose by 30 or 40 points? Where is the political viability after that? Weve seen candidates who run actual general election presidential campaigns and they lose their home state and we never heard from them again.

Haleys tenacity has enraged Trump. He has branded her birdbrain. He has threatened to blacklist anyone who donates to her campaign. He has railed against her frequently on social media, writing: Could somebody please explain to Nikki that she lost  and lost really badly. She also lost Iowa, BIG, last week. They were, as certain non-fake media say, CRUSHING DEFEATS.

The insults and outbursts are a reminder of why Trump alienated moderate voters in the past. While his win in New Hampshire was historic, it also exposed general election vulnerabilities, showing him to be highly popular with Republicans but highly unpopular with independents, who were allowed to take part in the Republican primary under the states rules.

There has never been such a wide gap between the Republican vote and the independent vote in a New Hampshire Republican primary. According to CNNs exit polls, Trump won Republican voters by 74% to 25%, but Haley won independents 58% to 39%.

Forty-two per cent of voters said they would not consider Trump to be fit for office if he were convicted of a crime. An analysis by Fox News found that 35% of voters in New Hampshire would be so dissatisfied with a Trump nomination that they would not vote for him in November.

There is a lot more weakness than strength coming out of the Republican party in the last couple of weeks Democratic strategist Simon Rosenberg

Steele, a host on the MSNBC cable news network, added: Theres 91 indictments hanging over this guy. Of course hes vulnerable but everyone wants to keep puffing him up like hes some tiger or some lion. Its just ridiculous.

I just wish people would get honest about whats in front of them. This guy is vulnerable as hell. Hes weak as hell. But in reality TV land, hes the guy that fires people: hes rough, hes tough, hes single-minded. No, hes a petulant little boy who shows that petulance when hes challenged.

Bidens campaign is working on the premise that Trump will be the nominee. He has delivered two major speeches about the threat that Trump poses to democracy and the dangerous rise of white supremacy. This week he held a joint event with his vice-president, Kamala Harris, in Virginia to promote reproductive freedom, highlighting Trumps role in the supreme courts Dobbs decision that overturned the constitutional right to abortion.

Simon Rosenberg, a Democratic strategist, said: The Dobbs decision basically became this before-and-after moment in American politics where there just became this sense that the Republican party had become too ugly, too extreme, too dangerous, and it has struggled mightily in election after election since the spring of 2022.

He added: Youre starting to see, even in the early going here, there is a lot more weakness than strength coming out of the Republican party in the last couple of weeks. Its because Maga [Make America great again] has become unattractive even to Republican voters. Fear and opposition to Maga is the most powerful force in American politics. Its why Republicans keep losing, and Republicans have chosen a candidate who is ultra-Maga to be their nominee in 2024.
As attacks continue to mount against Fani Willis ahead of the Georgia election interference trial, Donald Trumps latest attempt to discredit her comes in the form of a new motion to disqualify her from the case that cites racial animus the prosecutor has against the former president.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that two of Trumps attorneys submitted a new court filing declaring a glaring, flagrant, and calculated effort to foment racial bias into this case following some remarks that Willis made when she spoke to the congregation of the historic Black church Big Bethel AME in downtown Atlanta during a Martin Luther King Jr. Day service on Jan. 14.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis speaks during a press conference in Atlanta. (Photo: Facebook/ Fulton County District Attorneys office.) Former President Donald (Getty Images)

The Fulton County prosecutor is currently facing the fallout of some incendiary allegations purporting that she not only had an affair with a special prosecutor who is assigned to the election subversion case but financially benefited from it.

Willis has declined to comment directly on the claims since they surfaced, but her remarks at Big Bethel marked the first time shes addressed them.

She told congregation members that this most recent attack, like most of the attacks her opponents have launched at her over the RICO case, is racially motivated. She and the special prosecutor included in the allegation, Nathan Wade, are both Black. Willis stated that the other attorneys working on the case, who are white, havent been subjected to any harassment.

First thing they say, oh, she gonna to play the race card now, Willis said during her speech. But no, God, isnt it them whos playing the race card when they only question one?

She also defended hiring all three special prosecutors for the case, including Wade.

They only attack one, Willis said. I hired one white woman, a good personal friend and a great lawyer, a superstar, I tell you. I hired one white man  brilliant  my friend and a great lawyer. And I hired one Black man, another superstar.

Trumps attorneys allege that shes injecting racial bias into the obstruction case by publicly denouncing the defendants for somehow daring to question her decision to hire a Black man (without also mentioning that she is alleged to have had a workplace affair with the same man) to be a special prosecutor.

They say her comments violated Georgias rules of professional conduct and could unfairly prejudice a jury against the defendants.

They also signed on to the motion that first introduced the allegations of an improper relationship between Willis and Wade, which co-defendant Michael Romans attorneys filed. In that motion, Romans attorneys asked the judge overseeing the case to dismiss charges and remove Willis from the probe.

Even the Republican-controlled state Senate is slated to take up a resolution that would create a special panel to investigate the rumors about the Willis-Wade relationship. If that probe is given the green light, the panel could call witnesses, evidence, and testimony. Georgia GOP state Rep. Charlice Byrd also introduced a resolution on Friday to impeach Willis over the allegations.

Willis has already been granted a temporary stay after being subpoenaed by Wades estranged wife, Joycelyn, to testify in the couples divorce proceedings. This was after an attorney for Wades wife produced credit card records revealing that Wade purchased airline tickets for trips to San Francisco, Miami, and Aruba in 2022 and 2023 for himself and Willis.

Wade filed for divorce from his wife in 2021 and said theyd been living separately since August 2021, according to court records.

In response, Willis lawyers filed a motion alleging that [Joycelyn] Wade is using the legal process to harass and embarrass District Attorney Willis, and in doing so, is obstructing and interfering with an ongoing criminal prosecution.

Willis has until Feb. 2 to formally respond to the allegations in court before a hearing on Feb. 15 to address the claims. Willis and Wade could potentially testify if need be.

Trumps legal team has used allegations of racial animosity in the past to try to demonstrate that Willis is unfit to manage the cases prosecution and call the validity of the entire indictment into question.

Trump Attorneys Are Demanding That Fani Willis be Removed from His Georgia RICO Case Because She Has Racial Animosity Toward the Ex-President  Again
Former President Trump can delay paying E. Jean Carroll the $83.3 million a jury decided he owes her until after he exhausts all appeal options he has vowed to seek, The New York Times reports.

On Friday, a federal jury in New York ordered Trump to pay Carroll for defaming her in 2019 when he denied her accusation that he sexually assaulted her in the 1990s.

After the decision, he announced he would be appealing the absolutely ridiculous ruling.

The former president and business mogul can pay the millions of dollars to the court, which would hold the money while the appeal is pending, notes the Times.

The decision Friday adds to the previous sum of $5 million Trump was ordered to pay Carroll after a verdict found him liable for sexually abusing the columnist and defaming her over a separate comment. Trump appealed the decision last year and avoided paying Carroll the money right away at the time.

Trump also could attempt to secure a bond, which saves him from having to pay her the full amount up front, the Times report noted. He may have to pay a deposit and offer collateral that would come with interest and fees  but it also means he would have to find someone willing to lend him the significant sum of money.

Top Stories from The Hill

The former president, who is the front runner for the GOP primary, made a point of showing up to the trial although he was not required to attend. He often picked the courtroom over the campaign trail, except for one day when he attended his mother-in-laws funeral. Throughout the proceedings, Trump was once threatened by the judge to be kicked out of the courtroom, and then later stormed out during Carrolls closing arguments.

The trial had inevitably become intertwined with the primary race, as have the several other legal cases Trump is juggling as he campaigns for president for the third time.

The Times report said the former president has avoided spending his own money on his various legal battles, tapping into his political action committees funds to pay for the trials various fees. The newest sum, though, is much larger than the amount in his political accounts and will require him to reach into his own pocket, the outlet reported.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
By David A. Tizzard

Modern society and the online world present us with many success stories. Yet we generally only see the aftermath of this success. We see the tree reaching to the sky, but the roots that made the growth possible remain invisible. Let me start with a story of personal failure.

During my Masters in Asian Studies, I was fascinated with the traditional philosophies and religions of the region. And while the various Buddhist sects and Confucian debates were all interesting, it was Taoism that gripped me. I quite simply couldnt get enough of it. Reading everything I could, and then trying to apply concepts like wu-wei in my day-to-day life. When it came time to sit my comprehensive exams before writing my dissertation, I passed them all with ease and was left with only a 3-hour paper to write on Taoism. I needed 60 to pass, but failure never crossed my mind. Having finished the test, I had a sense that not only was the work likely to receive a phenomenal score, it should probably be published in a journal somewhere, such was my confidence. Imagine my surprise then when my Professor, Choi Chi-won, gave me a score of 59. I was angry. Adamant that corruption was at play. Determined to take this matter to the highest possible governing body. My progress was being delayed. I would have to spend another semester (6 months) just to take this one exam again.

I eventually calmed down, though it took a long time. Moreover, I did not make my anger or feelings public. I seethed internally until I was able to finally sit the exam again and pass it. It was only years later, doing my PhD, that I realized how important that failure was to me. How it made me try to be a better scholar, a humbler person, and make sure I was reading everything I could. My social media life was filled with successes and graduations, media appearances, and awards. Yet it was that one failure that shaped me more than anything. A failure that went largely unseen amidst the selfies. A year ago, Professor Choi said to me, David, sometimes the medicine that is most useful to us tastes the most bitter. Could he be any more Korean!

Antifragile

This idea that we are shaped by our failures, that they make us stronger, and play a pivotal role in our development was understood by me at a practical level. I didnt learn it from a book. It was a life lesson. Since then, Ive encouraged my students to fail. To embrace the possibility. To see it as a learning experience. And then I read about it in a book: Nassim Nicholas Talebs Antifragile. I came to realize that these ideas not only reflected my own journey but also some of Koreas.

To try and explain Talebs concept, imagine you are sending a vase or a plate to someone. You wrap it up, put it in a box, and then write fragile on the top. You do this because pressure or extreme situations will cause the thing to break. This is what makes it fragile. But what is the opposite of that? If you think it is merely something able to survive or withstand pressure, you have not grasped it yet. To be antifragile is to actually get better when faced with pressure and extreme situations. To thrive when experiencing stress. You put the sword into the fire to make it stronger. While some people talk of post-traumatic stress, a different perspective is to think of post-traumatic growth. Necessity becomes the mother of invention and poverty makes experiences.

Korea experienced great calamity during the 20th century. Colonization, a devastating civil war, military dictatorships, uprisings and rebellions, poverty, and much more. And today? While certainly not perfect it has achieved things that people in their wildest dreams could never have imagined. Its often my job to explain this success to people. Maybe I now need to consider that Korean people have thrived because they suffered so much. That the Korean people arguably do best when they are shaken. That is true antifragility. Maybe Korea didnt succeed despite its suffering and trauma, it succeeded because of its suffering and trauma.

Of course, this will not be applicable to every country and every experience. Not everyone is antifragile. Some people and things are clearly fragile. They crack under pressure. They run from the fight. Korea, however, possesses a degree of durability that is remarkable. The author and creator Mark Manson recently uploaded a new documentary on YouTube exploring modern Korean life and the effects of Capitalism and Confucianism. Its well worth a watch despite the title being rather clickbaity, (I Traveled to the Most Depressed Country in the World). Nevertheless, while highlighting the various weights under which Korean people suffer, Manson came to a similar conclusion: Its not the incredible economic growth or the new-found pop culture dominance, but rather theres a resilience here that is rare and special in the world. Koreans always find a way. Whether its surviving a century of occupation and war or willing themselves to economic and cultural excellence in the face of annihilation, they always find a way.

Inventing the Past

Geniuses invent their predecessors. For if the genius doesnt become important, people dont care about those who trained and raised them. When somebody or something shines bright, we trace their path backwards looking for influence and narrative. The same is true here. The Korean people could have been forgotten. Their history and culture relegated to a global backwater and ignored. Yet because of everything they have achieved, we now remember more fondly those that helped the country get here. Those that, despite the failures or hardships, endured. Because the tree grows so majestically, we discover the roots. Maybe this is the new narrative of Korea worth exploring. That it succeeded because of its hardships, not despite them?

And just think, I wrote all of this without mentioning the Le Sserrafim song onceah damn!

Dr. David A. Tizzard (datizzard@swu.ac.kr) has a Ph.D. in Korean Studies and lectures at Seoul Women's University and Hanyang University. He is a social-cultural commentator and musician who has lived in Korea for nearly two decades. He is also the host of the "Korea Deconstructed" podcast, which can be found online.
Former President Donald Trump once again railed against the bipartisan border deal that is being hammered out in the Senate, writing in a Saturday morning Truth Social post: CLOSE THE BORDER!

But President Joe Biden has already pledged to shut down the border if Congress would pass the border package, praising the deal in a statement meant to help salvage it late Friday.

The yet-to-be-finalized legislation would pair wartime aid to Ukraine and Israel with border and immigration reforms meant to address the record influx of migrants on the southern U.S. border. A bipartisan group of senators has been working to pull it together for months.

Trump appears intent on tanking it. This week, he called the compromise meaningless and a gift to the Radical Left Democrats, and has directly pressured GOP lawmakers to kill it.

Trump allies, including Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), have echoed the former presidents statements  prompting Democrats to accuse the Republicans of blatant hypocrisy, considering how long the GOP has spent calling for new border measures.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) this week told GOP senators that the politics on this have changed because of Trumps renewed push to make immigration his main 2024 campaign issue, according to Punchbowl News. McConnell reportedly said of Trump on Wednesday We dont want to do anything to undermine him.

Trump continued to bash the compromise on Truth Social, fearmongering about terrorists supposedly pouring in.

A BAD BORDER DEAL IS FAR WORSE THAN NO BORDER DEAL! he wrote.

While the text and precise details of the deal have not been publicly released, Biden said in his Friday night statement that it would give him new power to close the border.

Whats been negotiated would  if passed into law  be the toughest and fairest set of reforms to secure the border weve ever had in our country, Biden said in his statement.

It would give me, as President, a new emergency authority to shut down the border when it becomes overwhelmed. And if given that authority, I would use it the day I sign the bill into law, he said.

Terms of the deal would, according to The New York Times, require the president to shut down the border if the number of migrants attempting to cross surpasses 5,000 on any given day. In recent weeks, daily migrant apprehensions on the southern U.S. border have surpassed 10,000.

Related...
On a day when Donald Trump was told he had to pay $83.3 million to a woman for defaming her, the former president took time to endorse one of his former campaign officials for chair of the Arizona Republican Party.

He picked Gina Swoboda, a conservative election activist and former Trump campaign official who is a current officer in the state GOP.

The nod to Arizona politics as the federal jury award came down in New York shows both how important the state is to Trump's 2024 presidential hopes and how Trump felt he needed to quickly straighten out the mess caused by the Kari Lake-caused resignation of the former chair, Jeff DeWit.

DeWit resigned Wednesday after Lake, the Trump-endorsed candidate running for U.S. Senate in Arizona, released an audio recording she had made of DeWit telling her that "powerful people" wanted to give her a lucrative job in exchange for halting her Senate campaign. Though Lake secretly recorded the conversation in March, she released the recording days before the annual state Republican Party meeting on Saturday, creating a rush of candidates for the chair job.

Trump canceled his attendance at the state GOP's planned FreedomFest rally after DeWit's resignation, which led the party to cancel the rally. State party officials, including DeWit, had counted on the rally to help raise money.

Donald Trump endorsed Gina Swoboda, a conservative election activist and former Trump campaign official, to become the next chair of the Arizona Republican Party.

Trump's spokespeople said he had a court hearing on Friday and couldn't make the event. Trump attended closing arguments on Friday, though he walked out briefly as plaintiff E. Jean Carroll's lawyer was speaking. A jury ordered Trump to pay Carroll $83.3 million in damages for defaming her in 2019 after she accused him of rape.

Former president loses lawsuit: Trump hit with $83.3 million in damages for defaming E. Jean Carroll

Trump's campaign team said in a statement he spoke with Swoboda on Friday.

"Gina is a strong fighter for election integrity and will be relentless in her work to deliver Arizona for President Trump and Kari Lake in 2024," the statement said.

Lake and numerous GOP elected officials in Arizona including Congressman Andy Biggs and state Senate President Warren Petersen soon followed by also endorsing Swoboda.

Not filling the position immediately would mean a 45-day delay, because the party's bylaws require that amount of time to arrange a special election meeting. That's a long time in an election year when every month counts. Putting a poor fundraiser in the job could be an even worse move for the party.

'Betrayal': Arizona GOP Chair Jeff DeWit resigns after recording of 'offer' to Kari Lake

DeWit was elected last year as the state GOP faced a financial disaster some blamed on former party Chair Kelli Ward.

The unpaid job is primarily about raising as much money as possible for elections up and down the ballot, said Barrett Marson, a Republican political consultant.

"A problem with taking out Jeff DeWit is, who do you replace him with that can raise money and lead the party in an election year?" Marson said. "A Trump-endorsed chair could be good for fundraising. The Republican National Committee will likely funnel a lot of money to the Arizona GOP."

But Marson said he's not familiar with Swoboda's fundraising ability.

Swoboda does have experience in helping Trump find suspected election fraud. As executive director of the Voter Reference Foundation, a subsidiary of the nonprofit Restoration Action Inc., she pushes the idea that elections aren't secure and mailed ballots aren't to be trusted.

The company has been accused in articles by OpenSecret.org of disseminating false claims about voting discrepancies, but the company says on its website its goals are to increase voter participation and ensure elections are "transparent, accurate and fair."

Swoboda worked last year as the state Senate's adviser on election matters and also worked as "election integrity director" for Lake's failed 2022 gubernatorial campaign.

'Disgusting': Kari Lake assails former AZ GOP boss Jeff DeWit, doesn't say why she released 'bribe' recording

Reach the reporter at rstern@arizonarepublic.com or 480-276-3237. Follow him on X @raystern.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Donald Trump endorses ally Gina Swoboda to lead Arizona GOP
Republican presidential candidate former speaks Nikki Haley during a campaign rally on Friday, Jan. 19, 2024, in Manchester, N.H. Haley and former President Donald Trump have turned their full attention on each other. | Charles Krupa, Associated Press

An earlier version of this article was published in the On the Trail 2024 newsletter. Sign up to receive the newsletter in your inbox on Tuesday and Friday mornings here. To submit a question to next weeks Friday Mailbag, email onthetrail@deseretnews.com.

Good morning and welcome to On the Trail 2024, the Deseret News campaign newsletter. Im Samuel Benson, Deserets national political correspondent.

3 things to know

Donald Trump marched to victory in New Hampshire, winning the states GOP primary by 11 percentage points and declaring the race for the Republican nomination over. But Nikki Haley has vowed to keep campaigning through Super Tuesday. The next stop? Her home state, South Carolina, on Feb. 24. Read more here. Is 2024 the year of the independent? No Labels thinks so. The nonprofit is pushing to get a third-party ticket on ballots across the country, but not without opposition: No Labels filed a formal complaint with the Department of Justice accusing its critics of voter suppression. Read more here. Arizona will be a swing state this year, but the states Republican Party is in shambles. GOP Chair Jeff DeWit resigned Wednesday after far-right Senate candidate Kari Lake leaked audio of DeWitt pushing her to drop out of the race. Its the latest chapter in the ongoing battle between old-school mavericks, like the late Sen. John McCain, and the burgeoning America First movement. Read more here.

Former President Donald Trump raises his fist as he leaves his apartment building, Thursday, Jan 25, 2024, in New York. | Yuki Iwamura, Associated Press

The Big Idea

The great MAGA sifting

To Donald Trump, there is no greater sin than disloyalty. Its what makes his following so dynamic and his supporters so steadfast  he demands loyalty, and they reciprocate. Its what causes former critics, from Ted Cruz to Tim Scott, to throw their support behind him as soon as it became apparent Trump would likely be the partys nominee.

The primary is not over yet. After decisive victories in New Hampshire and Iowa, Trump has 32 delegates, and Haley has 17. Over 1,200 are needed to win. Trump has massive leads in polling across the country, but Haley has vowed to stick around until Super Tuesday, 40 days from now. She faces an uphill fight, but a fight still.

But a layer below the jockeying for delegates is a more consequential battle: whether the Republican Party fully transforms into the party of Trump, or whether there is space for his detractors and his enemies. After winning New Hampshire on Tuesday, Trump took the stage and berated Haley, calling her an imposter for not falling in line and endorsing him. He vowed retribution: I dont get too angry, he said. I get even.

That goes for Haley and her followers. On Wednesday, Trump took to social media to warn his followers that Haley is very bad for both the GOP and the country. He drew a line on the ground: MAGA to one side, traitors to the other. Anybody that makes a Contribution to Birdbrain, from this moment forth, will be permanently barred from the MAGA camp, Trump wrote. We dont want them, and will not accept them, because we Put America First, and ALWAYS WILL!

Haley quickly used the post as fuel. Within an hour, shed shared it on social media, writing, Well in that case  donate here, with a link to her online fundraising portal. The next morning, her campaign began selling T-shirts that read, BARRED. PERMANENTLY. The pro-Haley super PAC told Puck it raised more money Wednesday than any other single day this election cycle, adding to the $1.5 million the Haley campaign raked in since Ron DeSantis dropped out Sunday and another $24 million in 2023s final quarter.

Meanwhile, Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel called on Haley to drop out Wednesday, saying the party must unite around our eventual nominee  Trump. McDaniel, who oversees the Republican primary, maintained a neutral stance until Wednesday. And the RNC reviewed a now withdrawn draft resolution that would have declared Trump the presidential nominee before voters approved his nomination.

That leaves Haley and her followers in a conundrum: is it possible to reject Trump and remain in the partys good graces? Is the 2024 primary a choice between Trump and Haley, or between acceptance and exile?

Haley is not showing signs of retreat. This is not a coronation, she said during her election-night speech in New Hampshire. A campaign spokesperson offered a full-throated rebuke of the RNC draft resolution before it was withdrawn: Who cares what the RNC says? they wrote. Well let millions of Republican voters across the country decide who should be our partys nominee, not a bunch of Washington insiders.

It is a marked deviation for Haley, though. For much of her campaign, shes been hesitant to critique Trump. She vowed to support him if he is the partys nominee, even if he is convicted. She refused to condemn his alleged sexual abuse. When she offers criticism of him, it usually deals with his refusal to debate and his economic record.

Now, Haley is charting a different path  not the one-foot-in, one-foot-out posturing shes shown for much of the primary, but a full-on acceptance that shes no longer part of the MAGA majority. There must be a realization that trying to win over Trumps strong base is hopeless, and a hope that there are enough Trump-averse Republicans left. Perhaps the election would look different if shed taken on this stance before Iowa and New Hampshire.

If Haley makes it to Super Tuesday, it will be because she called Trumps bluff and it paid off.

Weekend reads

The GOP Hispanic vote hits a snag: The Republican Party rolled out a series of Hispanic Community Centers in 2022 to help shore up its support among Latinos. But most of them have closed, raising questions about Republicans ability to win the Hispanic vote in 2024. The RNC Shuttered Most of the Hispanic Community Centers It Touted as Critical to Winning Over Latino Voters (Adrian Carrasquillo, The Messenger)

The Never-Trumpers havent quit, even after Trumps wins in Iowa and New Hampshire. They are just retraining their focus on November: Those of us who oppose Trump may not be able to prevent his renomination, but we should be able to prevent him from winning a general. Not a good night for Donald Trump: Why never-Trumpers think hes really losing (Lisa Kashinsky, Politico)

Biden wasnt on the ballot, but he still managed to win the New Hampshire primary. Heres a smart look at the write-in campaign  and the $1.4 million ad campaign  that earned Biden an early (albeit symbolic) victory. How Joe Biden won a write-in campaign after skipping New Hampshires primary (Francesca Chambers and Karissa Waddick, USA Today)

One last thing  a reminder to follow our new On the Trail 2024 Instagram account.

Have a question for the next Friday mailbag? Drop me a line at onthetrail@deseretnews.com.

See you on the trail.

Editors Note: The Deseret News is committed to covering issues of substance in the 2024 presidential race from its unique perspective and editorial values. Our team of political reporters will bring you in-depth coverage of the most relevant news and information to help you make an informed decision. Find our complete coverage of the election here.
Iraq and the United States held a "first round" of talks Saturday on the future of American and other foreign troops in the country, with Baghdad expecting discussions to lead to a timeline for reducing their presence.

The office of Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani issued a photograph of the head of government with top-ranking officials both of the Iraqi armed forces and of the international coalition set up by Washington to fight the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group.

Sudani "is hosting the start of the first round of bilateral dialogue between Iraq and the U.S. to end the mission of the international coalition in Iraq," the office said in a statement.

"The talks and whatever progress made will determine the length of these negotiations," Sudani's foreign affairs adviser, Farhad Alaaldin, told AFP.

"Iraq is engaging the other countries taking part in the international coalition for bilateral agreements that serves the best interest of Iraq and these countries."

Washington had said Thursday that it had agreed with Baghdad on the launch of "expert working groups of military and defense professionals" as part of the Higher Military Commission set up in agreement with Iraq.

The working groups would examine "three key factors," Washington said: "the threat from ISIS, operational and environmental requirements and the Iraqi Security Forces' capability levels."

Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh acknowledged that the U.S.military footprint in Iraq "will certainly be part of the conversations as it goes forward," indicating that Baghdad's desire for a reduction in these forces is on the table.

For Iraq's foreign ministry, the aim would eventually lead to formulating "a specific and clear timeline... and to begin the gradual reduction of its (the coalition's) advisers on Iraqi soil."

The talks  which have been planned for months  come at a time of heightened tensions in Iraq and the region linked to the war between Israel and Hamas, which has sparked a surge in attacks on American and other coalition forces.

There have been more than 150 attacks targeting coalition troops since mid-October, many of them claimed by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a loose alliance of Iran-linked groups that oppose U.S.support for Israel in the Gaza conflict.

There are roughly 2,500 U.S. troops deployed in Iraq and about 900 in Syria as part of the anti-IS coalition formed in 2014  the year the jihadist group overran around a third of Iraq. (AFP)
Former President Donald Trump  the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination who still wields enormous influence over the party  on Friday waded into the controversy over who the chairman of the Michigan Republican Party currently is, saying former congressman and ambassador Pete Hoekstra has his backing.

"I look forward to working with Ambassador Pete Hoekstra as Chairman of The Republican Party of Michigan," Trump wrote on Truth Social, his social media platform. "He is a winner who was a GREAT Congressman from Michigan and, likewise, did a fantastic job as Ambassador to the Netherlands."

"Pete will make The Republican Party of Michigan GREAT AGAIN, and has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be its Chairman," the post continued.

The post never mentioned Kristina Karamo, who was elected chair last year and maintains she is still the GOP chairman after recent state committee elections she says were in violation of party rules. Trump endorsed Karamo, an election denier, in her unsuccessful race in 2022 for Michigan secretary of state but backed former state Attorney General nominee Matt DePerno for state party chair over Karamo in early 2023.

"Boom," political consultant John Yob posted on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, along with a photo of Trump's Truth Social post.

Trump's weighing in as to who should be the party chairman comes at a crucial time with both Karamo and Hoekstra, who was a key surrogate for Trump in the 2016 race in which he won Michigan, claiming to be chair. Hoekstra was voted in last weekend by a number of state central committee members following a vote Jan. 6 in which Karamo was removed.

Karamo has been under fire for what her critics say is a party that is in organizational and financial disarray headed into the 2024 campaign.

Karamo and her allies, however, have repeatedly insisted that the Jan. 6 meeting was called in violation of party rules and that the use of proxy votes at that meeting means the vote had no effect. Her chairmanship, she maintains, was also upheld by committee members voting at what she says was a properly called meeting Jan. 13.

But lawyers for the Republican National Committee this week sent a letter addressed to both Hoekstra and Karamo saying that while it wouldn't seat either of them  as is typically done for any state party chairman  as an RNC member at next week's winter meetings, that it appeared Karamo had been "properly removed."

That was an assertion that Karamo's allies virulently denied, saying the RNC letter had no legal force and that she remained the state party chair. On Friday, Jim Copas, executive director of the state party under Karamo, fired off a strongly worded letter to the RNC, saying "Your letter is not neutral and has caused damage by way of the innocent viewer as likely intended" and that he could "only conclude that the RNC intends to ignore the truth and the evidence and support Pete in his fake campaign" or is "mapping out an escape plan" in case the decision generates blowback.

Karamo also posted a video on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, calling the RNC letter an "overreach" and saying she is still the state party chair.

Michigan Republican Precinct Delegates & State Central Committee determine who the @MIGOP chair is, not the @RNC leadership colluding with a rogue faction to illicitly install one of their operatives to remove the grassroots movement from our party. #PopulistRising pic.twitter.com/40AaHr6zqS  Kristina Karamo (@KristinaKaramo) January 26, 2024

Reached Friday evening, Copas blasted Trump's decision to wade into the controversy on Hoekstra's behalf.

"It's none of Trump's business," he said. "Trump is also known for notoriously bad personnel picks. (Former Attorney General) Bill Barr, (former Vice President) Mike Pence, and, in Michigan, Matt DePerno (who Trump endorsed for state party chair last year.)"

"This is up to the delegates, not Trump, not Pete Hoekstra  it's that simple," Copas continued. "We'll see what the delegates think. He may have gone a long way toward losing Michigan and that's the truth."

The entrance of Trump into the question of who is party chair, however, could have enormous effects on the debate, even as Karamo and her allies fight in court with the Hoekstra faction to settle the question. Both Hoekstra and Karamo are allies of the former president, who, at this point, is widely expected to win Michigan's hybrid primary/convention nominating process to be held on Feb. 27 and March 2.

While the RNC has said it doesn't typically get involved in local leadership questions, Trump's support for Hoekstra could potentially weaken Karamo's standing with other state GOP members, given his influence over them and the grassroots activists who largely make up the party now.

Hoekstra told the Free Press that he believes it's only a question of time now before he is recognized as the state party's sole chairman, with the likely presidential nominee and former president supporting him and the RNC merely doing what he called "due diligence" to make sure the process removing her and electing him as proper.

"You would think in reasonable times that when the president has identified who he wants to lead the team in this state and the RNC has determined who is the person in that position legally, then the battle is over," he said.

"We very, very much appreciate it," Hoekstra said of the endorsement. "The job now is to go out and organize and win the state for the president. That's what we intend to do."

Contact Todd Spangler: tspangler@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter@tsspangler.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Trump weighs in on Michigan GOP chair fracas, backs Hoekstra
Israeli troops, weapons at the ready, check the exposed tunnel for any possible ambush from Hamas fighters - JULIAN SIMMONDS FOR THE TELEGRAPH

Less than a mile away from where we are standing, the constant rattle of gunfire is broken only by the occasional bone-shaking explosion. Here in an outer neighbourhood of Khan Younis, the Gazan city that has been gripped by the bloodiest street battles of this bloodiest of conflicts, the devastation of war is obvious.

The ground has been flattened, except for huge piles of rubble where grand villas, owned by the Palestinian elite, have been demolished. A combination of Israeli bulldozers and explosives has laid waste to Khan Youniss fanciest suburb.

This is the buffer zone that Israel is now creating to protect neighbouring communities from any future incursion.

But its under the ground thats the problem for Israels troops. Its no longer 180-degree fighting, says one of the soldiers with the 55th Paratroopers Brigade, part of the 98th airborne division.

The soldier motions in front of him, showing how a normal battle would be conducted with comrades behind and the enemy in front in a semi-circular arc. The war in Gaza, sparked by the Oct 7 massacre of civilians on Israeli kibbutzes and at a music festival, is different.

Its not even 360 degrees, says the paratrooper, referring to what might be expected in close combat urban fighting. This is 720 degrees.

The soldier looks down into the dirt. The Hamas terrorists are beneath his feet. Catching and killing them is not proving easy. Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader and mastermind of the October 7 attacks, remains at large. When we see him, we will kill him, says a senior commander.

Beneath us are, according to the Israeli colonel accompanying us, 160 miles of tunnels radiating out from Khan Younis. The scale is staggering. Gaza itself is only 25 miles long and barely seven miles wide.

On Friday morning, a Telegraph reporter and photographer were escorted into a suburb of Gazas southernmost city by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) largely to give a better understanding of how the war is being waged.

The tunnels explain Israels slow progress. Its been almost four months since the massacre in which 1,200 people were killed and more than 240 people taken hostage. By Israels standards, this is an already overlong war. Since the start of the conflict, more than 200 IDF soldiers have died, including 24 last week on the deadliest day of the campaign for the Israeli military.

Israeli soldiers survey the flattened terrain of Khan Younis, punctuated only by the rubble of once opulent villas - JULIAN SIMMONDS FOR THE TELEGRAPH

Lt Col Anshi (The Telegraph has agreed not to give his full name) stands over a tunnel he is showing us, terrifyingly close to the border fence with Israel. We are able to scramble down a 20ft drop, dug out by Israeli bulldozers, that exposes the tunnel that plummets steeply into the ground a further 80ft.

The tunnel, less than three feet wide, was used by Hamas to infiltrate Israel on Oct 7. Its entrance, hidden by the dirt at the surface, was less than 100 yards from the fencing that terrorists cut through before launching an attack on Kibbutz Ein Hashlosha, where four residents were murdered and multiple hostages taken.

From the tunnel, we can clearly see the breaches in the fence. Its a chilling reminder of what happened back in October.

The day before The Telegraph arrived, the IDF blew up the tunnel but there remained such nervousness that before we could inspect it, two soldiers slid down to its entrance with their guns ready and aimed into its black hole.

They shone torches in before waving us to inspect what was left. The tunnel is tiny, designed only to be used to attack Israel, its entrance close to the fence and able to fit through one fighter at a time. Its total length is unclear but it runs under agricultural fields for what must be a mile.

We have blown up hundreds of tunnel shafts, says Lt Col Anshi, a 46-year-old reservist who has had to temporarily abandon his IT job and his family, spending the past 50 days and counting in Gaza. He had a week off to recuperate only after being shot through the arm (I was lucky, he says. The bullet came in and came out.)

Soldiers on patrol in Khan Younis, where they are painstakingly tearing apart the tunnel structure used to attack Israel on Oct 7 - JULIAN SIMMONDS FOR THE TELEGRAPH

He likens the tunnels to the London Underground, many of them interconnected but also serving different purposes. I cannot go into details but today we feel we have a very good solution for the tunnels, he says.

Incrementally, the IDF has been able to map them out. Every second or third building has an entrance shaft. It can be in the courtyard or inside the building itself. The network is so extensive. Each tunnel is marked with an icon. They [the marks] are usually by the entrance shaft, says Lt Col Anshi.

In the street battles in Khan Younis, Hamas fighters can suddenly appear from nowhere. They jump out with an RPG [rocket-propelled grenade]. We are not fighting an organised conventional army but small squads of four to six fighters. Our main challenge is to shoot them in the few seconds when they are popping out of the hole, says Lt Col Anshi.

Its like the fairground game of whack-a-mole, but with dire consequences for the loser. There is no army vs army like in the old days. It is two terrorists coming out of a hole shooting and we are firing back.

As we stand discussing the progress of the war, the gunfire coming from the city intensifies. From time to time  every 10 minutes or maybe less  a huge explosion rings out and accompanying smoke, black or dark grey billows into the sky.

The areas we are being shown are safe - the IDF has controlled this territory for about a month - but the fighting feels very close by and certainly intense. Helicopters fire missiles from overhead at distant, unseen targets. The Hamas-controlled Gazan Health Ministry estimates at least 25,000 people have been killed and a horrifying number of them are women and children. How many of the dead are Hamas terrorists is unclear.

There is no Iwo Jima here

I ask Lt Col Ansi what winning looks like as we survey the rubble and the mayhem, the loud bangs and the gunfire making conversation not always easy. He pauses and looks at me. Thats a good question, he says. He pauses again.

It [winning] is accumulative. There is no Iwo Jima and a flag goes up, he explains, in reference to the famous photograph of American troops victorious on the Japanese island in the Second World War.

This infrastructure of tunnels has been built over the course of a decade. This, he says pointing at the tunnel below us, is one of thousands and thousands. Every 24 hours we uncover another 50, 60, 70 shafts and blow up two tunnels. You do the maths. It will take time but we have a solution. We go shaft by shaft, tunnel by tunnel.

A memorial at the festival site of the Supernova Sukkot gathering - JULIAN SIMMONDS FOR THE TELEGRAPH

The Khan Younis tunnels appear more extensive than elsewhere in Gaza. Its estimated the network stretches for 160 miles in and around the city.

The tunnels are often connected, but Israel has discovered that they have different purposes. Some, like the one we are staring at, are designed only to attack. Others are for smuggling goods into Gaza and some are described as VIP tunnels, available for the Hamas leadership to stay below ground, avoiding assassination attempts and linking grand villas to Hamas offices.

Those tunnels are, says Lt Col Ansi, offering a glimpse into how the Strip was run, lined with marble. Our main goal is to destroy the system. We are not going to get to every Hamas militant although we are trying. But we are dismantling Hamas as an organisation. That is the main goal, he said.

From the tunnel, we are taken in a soft-topped Hummer along a dirt road built by the IDF that runs into Khan Younis. The road weaves its way through a wasteland that was once home to the Strips wealthier residents. Their villas are destroyed.

An Israeli Merkava tank in front of a school the soldiers say had been used as a base by Hamas in Khan Younis - JULIAN SIMMONDS FOR THE TELEGRAPH

A quick calculation suggests maybe one in 20 has been left standing but its impossible to be precise. The vehicle travels swiftly along the bumpy road and its hard to know where a villa might once have stood. The homes that were destroyed contained tunnel shafts, many of them booby-trapped, which Israel says show a link to the Hamas terror network. They are claims that are impossible to verify.

We have controlled this neighbourhood for more than a month, explains Lt Col Ansi. The route is used to maintain logistics to back up IDF forces fighting in Khan Younis, but the colonel adds: The front line is everywhere. Active battles are about a mile from where we are. It is door-to-door. It is difficult.

Maj Sharon, another officer accompanying The Telegraph journalists, surveys the carnage of the flattened villas. He has little sympathy.

They had some really nice places. But thats from corruption. They get support [aid] money stolen by Hamas. The money goes to a select few people close to the leadership. Its UN money, its Qatari money.

Robert Mendick reporting from Khan Younis - JULIAN SIMMONDS FOR THE TELEGRAPH

Down the road from the tunnel, maybe half a mile, we reach a primary school that is still standing, about the only building in the neighbourhood that is, but has clearly seen a lot of action. It has become a base for the IDF, with two Merkava tanks stationed in front along with assorted armoured support vehicles.

The walls are pock-marked with bullet holes but incongruously cartoons of children that decorate the building have survived the fierce fighting. Balls of razor wire guard the entrance and metal boxes that contained Israeli ammunition litter the ground.

Lt Col Anshi suffered his injury in a firefight at another school closer to Khan Younis. This school was captured on December 5 and Israeli flags now hang from the building.

This is a school that unfortunately was used for terrorist purposes, says Lt Col Anshi. We had skirmishes here and another battle further down the road. He says a shaft to a tunnel was found in the schools courtyard.

As he talks, the gunfire appears to get closer followed by a huge explosion that makes me jump. The colonel doesnt flinch and nor do his men. They are used to it. It is the sound of the IDF blowing up another Gazan building. The thick grey smoke and ash come floating in our direction, making it briefly hard to see.

If we dont win, the world will suffer

Another commander, Maj Ishai, pulls me back as our Hummer is about to leave the area. We have been in Khan Younis for a couple of hours and the IDF is getting twitchy. But the major wants me to know of their determination to finish the fight that Hamas had started.

We need to find our brothers here, he says, a reference to the 130 or so hostages who remain unaccounted for. Many are almost certainly already dead. And we need to make sure it doesnt happen again. I cannot go home without my brothers and leave them to suffer.

The major also has a message for the rest of the watching world. We believe our fight is a fight for all the world. If we dont win here against the Islamists, then all the world will suffer.

I shake his hand and climb into the Hummer, leaving him to return to his comrades and the dust and the rubble and the gunfire and the explosions.

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 pair of identical twins who were separated and sold as babies have been reunited after one recognised the other in a TikTok video.

Amy and Ano were born in Georgia in 2002, but stolen from their mother and sold on an illegal child adoption market thought to be linked to organised crime. Their mother, Aza, was told that her children had died.

One of the twins, Amy Khvitia, recognised her sister aged 12 when she featured on an episode of Georgias Got Talent. The other, Ano Sartania, became suspicious seven years later when a friend sent her a TikTok video of Amy and she noticed they looked similar.

Amy and Ano recognised each other on social media years ater being separated and sold in a child trafficking ring - Facebook

The pair have since been united after a mutual friend connected them on Facebook, and they discovered they had been separated by an underground Georgian child trafficking ring, which sold babies into adoption from the early 1950s until 2005.

After they arranged to meet at an underground station in Tbilisi, Amy told the BBC: It was like looking in a mirror, the exact same face, exact same voice. I am her and she is me.

I dont like hugs, but I hugged her, Ano added.

Their adoptive parents said they had been unable to conceive and had been offered adoption by someone at the Kirtskhi maternity hospital in Western Georgia. They said they did not know the practice was illegal.

The twins used a Facebook page dedicated to reunited lost children who had been trafficked to track down their mother.

Twin sisters Amy Khvitia and Ano Sartania, who had been separated at birth in Georgia - Facebook

Their mother, Aza, met the twins in Leipzig and explained that she had fallen into a coma after giving birth, and was later told that they had both died.

Child adoption trafficking, which is believed to be linked to criminal gangs working with corrupt hospital officials, has died down since 2005, when Georgia changed the law on adoption and strengthened protections against the practice.

In 2022, the government launched an investigation into the scandal but told the BBC it had only spoken to 40 people who were affected because maternity records were very old and historic data has been lost.

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.
Ukraine will establish an All-Ukrainian Economic Platform called Made in Ukraine to represent businesses from all regions of the country, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his evening address on Telegram on Jan. 26.

The new platform will not be another brand, but rather a "big community of people who work at these enterprises," Zelenskyy said.

Read also: Ukrainian business surprises with its resiliency  higher than expected growth reported

"Today we are launching a fresh way for entrepreneurs to connect, reaching beyond the most visible ones.

The new initiative will be called the All-Ukrainian Economic Platform, a voice for small, medium, and large businesses across different regions of our state. It will also include investors and relocated businesses. These are our people who found businesses, who create job opportunities for others."

Read also: Zelenskyy announces industry leaders summit

The main goal of the platform is to "create effective communication between the state and businesses."

Ukraines National Security and Defense Council adopted a decision on Jan. 23 on economic security during martial law in response to the economic pressure on Ukrainian business.

Support of Entrepreneurship Council will be formed in Ukraine, which will include well-known representatives from various business sectors, said Zelenskyy.

Government officials held a meeting with Ukrainian business representatives, Zelenskyy said on Jan. 22. He asked to develop measures to "remove difficulties" between the government, business, and law enforcement, which intensified after the arrest of Ihor Mazepa and searches at his investment company Concorde Capital.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and Lithuania Dmytro Kuleba and Gabrielius Landsbergis

The Foreign Affairs Ministers of Ukraine and Lithuania, Dmytro Kuleba and Gabrielius Landsbergis, discussed joint arms production, including drones for the Ukrainian Armed Forces during a meeting in Kyiv, Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform reported on Jan. 27

"We devoted a big part of our conversation to defining joint steps to increase the production of drones for the needs of the Armed Forces, Kuleba said at a press conference after the meeting, reported Ukrinform.

Lithuania has the technology, and we have the potential to scale production. This was a key topic. There is a clear understanding of what, how, and when to do it so that Ukrainian-Lithuanian cooperation in drone production can yield the maximum result in the shortest possible time."



During the negotiations with his Lithuanian colleague, the "routine" agenda was also discussed, referring to Ukraine's accession to the EU and NATO, said Kuleba.

Read also: The Netherlands joins Ukraines IT Coalition with over $10 million contribution

"Here, we share common approaches, and Lithuania, as a member of both institutions, is providing us with as much assistance as possible on our path to membership in them," he said.

The ministers also discussed frozen Russian assets, sanctions, and "everything that requires decisive action" during the meeting, said Kuleba.

"We hold common, positive, expectations for the upcoming meeting of the European Council on Feb. 1, he said.



Progress is being made towards the opening of the European Peace Fund, which has been blocked for an extended period due to the position of certain EU member states. We are actively working to unblock it, and there are hopeful steps in this direction."

Landsbergis arrived in Kyiv on Jan. 25. He visited the Kharkiv Oblast on Jan. 26.

Read also: Lithuanian Foreign Minister arrives in Kyiv

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
There are currently no signs of preparations to attack Kharkiv, said Volodymyr Fitio, Armed Forces spokesman on Espresso TV on Jan. 27.

On Jan. 12 Synehubov also stated that Russian troops in Belgorod Oblast were not ready to repeat the offensive on the oblast center.

HUR has stated that disinformation campaigns are frequently carried out in order to sow discontent and destabilize the situation in Ukraine.

However, HUR spokesperson Andriy Yusov has said that Ukrainians should not panic. Commenting on these reports, the head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, Oleh Synehubov, said that there are no Russian troop concentrations nearby.

Read also: Ukraine holds firm even though Russias ambitions extend beyond Kharkiv  Ground Forces spokesperson

On Jan. 5, the British newspaper The Telegraph, citing a source "close to the Armed Forces," wrote that Russia could launch a major ground offensive in the Kharkiv oblast, calling Jan. 15 a likely date.

Fitio also noted that the northern border is being fortified, necessary forces and equipment are available, and the border is equipped with engineering equipment. Therefore, there is currently no threat to Kharkiv residents from the north.

According to Fitio, the number of Russian troops on the northern border is being monitored, so it is "almost impossible to conceal the movement of forces and equipment."



Read also: Insufficient Russian forces in Belgorod for renewed Kharkiv offensive, says governor Synehubov

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
TOKYO, Jan 27 (News On Japan) - Prince Akishino, his wife Princess Kiko, and their daughter Princess Kako attended the 'Kanto-Tokai Flower Exhibition' held in Tokyo's Ikebukuro area.

The exhibition, sponsored by 1 metropolitan and 11 prefectural governments and six flower-related organizations, welcomed the royal family members for the second consecutive year.

The family admired various displays, including an object representing Ibaraki Prefecture's 'Fukuroda Falls' using weeping willows and other elements. They also inspected a new variety of rose, with Princess Kako inquiring, "What is its name?" about a light purple rose designed for bridal occasions.

Additionally, they observed a 'flower arranging battle' where high school students paired up to arrange flowers improvisationally. Princess Kako asked about their practice routine, while Prince Akishino commented on the impressive balance of the arrangements, and Princess Kiko appreciated the remarkable teamwork.

Source: NEWS
Xinjiang ports register record high cargo throughput in 2023

Xinhua) 15:16, January 27, 2024

URUMQI, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The import and export cargo volume through land ports in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region reached a record high of 74.7 million tonnes in 2023, up 8.6 percent year on year, according to the regional bureau of commerce.

The bureau attributed the growth to the improved efficiency of customs clearance, with a priority on ensuring the smooth transportation of the China-Europe freight train service. The inspection time of each train through customs was reduced from 70 minutes to 35 minutes last year.

Meanwhile, the "green channel" for rapid customs clearance of agricultural products covers all eight highway ports bordering Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Li Xuan, deputy director of the regional bureau of commerce, said that in 2024, Xinjiang will continue to improve port functions to facilitate cargo trade efficiency, promote the "smart port" construction and deepen exchanges and cooperation on port affairs with neighboring countries.

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Wu Chaolan)
NEW YORK, Jan 27 (News On Japan) - This week, a fashion show themed around 'Japanese traditional materials' was held in New York, USA. Aimed at transforming kimono fabrics into avant-garde fashion, the show featured international models dressed in unique, vibrant designs made from Japanese silk textiles.

The silk materials are crafted by 'Yamada Ori,' a Niigata-based weaving company with over a century's history. The delicate textiles are produced using traditional methods passed down through generations.

Yamada Ori CEO Tsutomu Hosaka: "Overseas, the demand for kimonos might be limited, but as a 'fabric,' there's a very bright future."

However, the domestic demand for kimonos in Japan is decreasing. Moreover, the industry faces a 'succession crisis.'

Hosaka: "There's a serious problem with a lack of successors. From the manufacturing perspective, we can't continue the same way as in the past."

'Yamada Ori,' once the town's largest weaving company employing over 500 artisans, now operates with just nine, mainly elderly workers.

To prevent the extinction of this craft, they envisioned repurposing the textile not only for kimonos but as a part of global fashion.

For the New York fashion show, young designers from 10 countries were tasked with creating the outfits.

Amazed by their innovative use of silk fabrics, Hosaka said, "It was quite shocking, in a way. I was impressed by the potential versatility of the material."

Designers too found new inspiration in the traditional textiles:

Designer: "Incorporating traditional Japanese textiles was very enjoyable. It has become a new source of inspiration for us."

The material received high praise from international models:

Model: "It's very soft and comfortable to wear. I could wear this out to a club."

"I really like the texture. It feels great just walking in it."

As domestic demand declines and business succession becomes challenging, taking a completely different approach to target the global market may be the way for traditional industries to survive, as pointed out by the organizers.

Sakura Collection Representative Director Noriko Tabata: "By introducing previously untapped products overseas, we hope to contribute to Japan's economic development. It's also fascinating how people connect through these items."

Japan's traditional materials, with world-class quality, now globally embraced by the younger generation, seem to be the key to connecting the past with the future.

Source: NEWS
TOKYO, Jan 28 (News On Japan) - As many people missed out on the nightlife scene during the pandemic, there's now a growing trend among establishments to appeal to both seasoned night owls and those who are just starting to explore Japan's nocturnal playgrounds.

Article by Kurumi Tenjo

This approach is highlighted by three izakayas (Japanese-style pubs) that are creating a buzz for being perfect for social media snaps. With stylish drinks and ambiance, these spots guarantee an enchanting evening. They're so photogenic that you'll definitely want to share your experience on social media.

For beginners in the nightlife scene, why not start by looking for places that are 'Instagrammable'? Learn from the veterans of the night and discover the talk-of-the-town establishments through their social media posts.

Tips for the Perfect 'Insta-worthy' Experience

The minimum requirement for a photogenic spot is cute drinkware! As long as the container is cute, your photos are sure to look great. Check out social media in advance to spot the best ones.

Going in a group of 2 to 4 is ideal for the perfect table arrangement. Since these trendy spots are often on the smaller side, a large group can make the table look cluttered. Keeping it to at most four people is recommended.

Check!1: The Gotanda branch of Sonoda is a local izakaya with great cost performance! The flavors are bold, which makes the drinks even more enjoyable. Definitely worth a visit. Instagram: @sonoda_tokyo

Check!2: Sunflower is a popular spot in Shibuya that you'll want to return to! Try a strawberry liquor that is not only delicious but also visually stunning thanks to the adorable glass. The fact that it's open until morning is a bonus! Instagram: @taishu_sakaba_himawari

Check!3: Pathless Path is a hidden gem in Shibuya that's both visually appealing and offers great value for money. The fruit-based sours are especially tasty and easy to drink. Instagram: @michi_nakimichi

Source: MDPR
TOKYO, Jan 27 (News On Japan) - Following the Liberal Democratic Party's decision to prohibit factional involvement in personnel affairs, known as the dissolution of factions, there has been a surge in members leaving the Aso and Mogi factions, both of which have indicated their intention to continue.

Among these, former Defense Minister Iwaya (), a member of the Aso faction led by Deputy Prime Minister Aso, announced his intention to leave the faction during a meeting held in Tokyo on the 26th.

Former Defense Minister Iwaya: "I have stated that I will leave the Shikokai (Aso faction) if it continues to exist."

Additionally, Senator Sekiguchi, chairman of the LDP members of the Mogi faction, announced in a press conference that three senior Senate members of the faction, including himself, intend to leave. With this announcement, the Mogi faction, which already includes members like Kobuchi, the Election Strategy Committee Chairman, and Aoki, the Deputy Secretary-General who have expressed their intention to leave, now faces five departures. This development brings the faction to a critical juncture regarding its continued existence.

Source: BIZ
Blog Archive: Mar 2024 (90) Feb 2024 (145) Jan 2024 (156) Dec 2023 (155) Nov 2023 (150) Oct 2023 (155) Sep 2023 (150) Aug 2023 (155) Jul 2023 (155) Jun 2023 (150) May 2023 (155) Apr 2023 (150) Mar 2023 (155) Feb 2023 (140) Jan 2023 (155) Dec 2022 (156) Nov 2022 (150) Oct 2022 (155) Sep 2022 (150) Aug 2022 (155) Jul 2022 (154) Jun 2022 (150) May 2022 (155) Apr 2022 (150) Mar 2022 (155) Feb 2022 (140) Jan 2022 (156) Dec 2021 (156) Nov 2021 (150) Oct 2021 (155) Sep 2021 (150) Aug 2021 (155) Jul 2021 (155) Jun 2021 (150) May 2021 (155) Apr 2021 (150) Mar 2021 (155) Feb 2021 (140) Jan 2021 (155) Dec 2020 (155) Nov 2020 (150) Oct 2020 (158) Sep 2020 (150) Aug 2020 (130) Jul 2020 (124) Jun 2020 (120) May 2020 (124) Apr 2020 (120) Mar 2020 (124) Feb 2020 (116) Jan 2020 (125) Dec 2019 (126) Nov 2019 (120) Oct 2019 (124) Sep 2019 (120) Aug 2019 (125) Jul 2019 (124) Jun 2019 (120) May 2019 (123) Apr 2019 (121) Mar 2019 (124) Feb 2019 (112) Jan 2019 (125) Dec 2018 (126) Nov 2018 (120) Oct 2018 (124) Sep 2018 (121) Aug 2018 (124) Jul 2018 (125) Jun 2018 (120) May 2018 (124) Apr 2018 (121) Mar 2018 (124) Feb 2018 (112) Jan 2018 (123) Dec 2017 (124) Nov 2017 (124) Oct 2017 (141) Sep 2017 (135) Aug 2017 (138) Jul 2017 (137) Jun 2017 (134) May 2017 (138) Apr 2017 (135) Mar 2017 (139) Feb 2017 (129) Jan 2017 (143) Dec 2016 (135) Nov 2016 (138) Oct 2016 (142) Sep 2016 (128) Aug 2016 (133) Jul 2016 (136) Jun 2016 (138) May 2016 (164) Apr 2016 (311) Mar 2016 (348) Feb 2016 (320) Jan 2016 (348) Dec 2015 (314) Nov 2015 (338) Oct 2015 (363) Sep 2015 (358) Aug 2015 (399) Jul 2015 (374) Jun 2015 (331) May 2015 (337) Apr 2015 (319) Mar 2015 (320) Feb 2015 (271) Jan 2015 (286) Dec 2014 (254) Nov 2014 (238) Oct 2014 (287) Sep 2014 (267) Aug 2014 (259) Jul 2014 (260) Jun 2014 (238) May 2014 (241) Apr 2014 (228) Mar 2014 (240) Feb 2014 (217) Jan 2014 (263) Dec 2013 (226) Nov 2013 (254) Oct 2013 (256) Sep 2013 (252) Aug 2013 (263) Jul 2013 (261) Jun 2013 (251) May 2013 (250) Apr 2013 (221) Mar 2013 (193) Feb 2013 (164) Jan 2013 (157) Dec 2012 (155) Nov 2012 (240) Oct 2012 (526) Sep 2012 (411) Aug 2012 (394) Jul 2012 (284) Jun 2012 (229) May 2012 (213) Apr 2012 (213) Mar 2012 (253) Feb 2012 (269) Jan 2012 (298) Dec 2011 (273) Nov 2011 (219) Oct 2011 (204) Sep 2011 (201) Aug 2011 (236) Jul 2011 (217) Jun 2011 (211) May 2011 (206) Apr 2011 (215) Mar 2011 (215) Feb 2011 (186) Jan 2011 (215) Dec 2010 (107) Nov 2010 (98) Oct 2010 (55)
TOKYO, Jan 28 (News On Japan) - Yuki Kashiwagi held the final performance of her live tour "Yuki Kashiwagi 3rd Tour: Yuki-rin World in Dreams and Reality ~10th Anniversary of Solo Debut, Let's Get Lost in Passion~" today, January 27, at Zepp DiverCity (TOKYO) in Tokyo. The tour, commemorating the 10th anniversary of Kashiwagi's solo debut, featured a variety of numbers from her solo songs to AKB48 tracks and cover songs, accompanied by her band members, leading the audience into the enchanting "Yuki-rin World."

Kashiwagi, who will graduate from AKB48 this April after more than 17 years of membership, expressed her enthusiasm, "This will be my last solo concert before graduation, so I want to sing both my solo and AKB48 songs. Let's all enjoy it to the end!" She performed "Yuki Kashiwagi's version of GO TO THE BEDS-TRUE SONG," a collaboration with the WACK-affiliated group GO TO THE BEDS, showcasing a strong vocal presence against the hard band sound. Kashiwagi then seamlessly transitioned to singing her signature song "Kuchibiru ni Be My Baby" with sensual appeal.

After temporarily leaving the stage, the band members performed French Kiss's "Rainy day" with full emotion. Kashiwagi returned in a white dress, softly singing her solo debut song "Shortcake" from 2013. She followed with "Birthday wedding" and "Sokkenai Kimi," sharing her thoughts with the audience, "You might know, I've had a rather peculiar solo career, with 'Shortcake' at the start of 2013, 'Birthday wedding' in the latter half of 2013, and 'CAN YOU WALK WITH ME??' in 2021. Thanks to all of you, I'm celebrating my 10th anniversary, and I want to express my gratitude anew."

She then delivered solo ballads such as "Yokaze no Shiwaza," "Chinmoku," and "Kazanbai," showcasing the transparent beauty of her voice that has been praised since her solo debut announcement. Kashiwagi also performed cover songs, including Fujifabric's "Wakamono no Subete" and Sukima Switch's "Kanade," each selected specifically for the Tokyo performance.

During the encore, Kashiwagi sang her WACK-produced solo single "CAN YOU WALK WITH ME??" emotionally, with lyrics that resonate with her idol life. A large shortcake was brought on stage to celebrate her 10th solo debut anniversary, to which she joyfully exclaimed, "I want to continue working hard so we can celebrate the 15th, 20th, 30th anniversaries together with everyone in good spirits!"

As the concert came to a close, Kashiwagi shared her heartfelt thoughts, "Every time I stand on stage, singing and dancing in front of you all, I truly feel that this is what I live for. Although I will graduate from the idol group AKB48, I want to continue singing for as long as possible. Idol is a job you can claim by calling yourself one, but I can do this thanks to all of you, and I hope to deliver more songs to everyone in the future."

With the passionate "Yuki-rin call" beckoning her back, Kashiwagi returned to the stage for one last song, Team B's "Shonichi," singing and dancing vibrantly. "Thanks to everyone, I've had a wonderful 10th anniversary. Seeing your smiles is truly the source of my energy and happiness. I want to continue being someone who brings cheer and happiness whenever you see me," she said with a radiant smile, concluding her last solo performance before graduating from AKB48.

Source: Natalie
SIOUX CITY  Gov. Kim Reynolds says the bill amending Area Education Agencies in Iowa is about improving special education services and giving school districts local control over how they receive those services.

Reynolds, in an interview with the Sioux City Journal Friday, said the AEA system as it stands now is failing students with disabilities while making it so that school districts have no idea what they are paying for.

Were the only state in the entire country that takes that education money, the special education money, bypasses the school districts, gives it to the AEA and then tells the school districts theyre mandated to use the AEA services, she said. And if you ask school board after school board  they have no idea what theyre paying for the services.

Earlier this week, the Northwest AEA as well as local superintendents and the Sioux City School Board reacted to a proposed bill reforming the states nine regional Area Education Agencies, created in the 1970s to provide special-education support for school districts.

Reynolds said the bill was worked on while the Legislature was out of session.

I tried to put a bill together that was respective of rural Iowa, some of our larger school districts and to try to find a balance about how we move forward with this, she said. The AEA system as it is today  and over the last 20 years is failing our kids with disabilities.

Local school entities expressed concerns and questions about various aspects of the bill including who has oversight of the AEA, what services the AEA can provide, how the money is distributed and more.

Reynolds said the legislation is intended to address the states poor special education test results and review how the money given to the AEAs is being used.

$529 million going into a system that has no accountability or transparency with horrible results, she said. I have an obligation to the people and Iowa and to the taxpayers and to these kids, most importantly, to make sure that these dollars are being used in the right way.

The 2023 State of Iowa School Performance Profile shows 25.56 percent of students with disabilities were proficient in English language arts and 28.14 were proficient in mathematics.

The scores represent a 45.84 percent gap between students with disabilities and other students in English and a 41.36 gap in mathematics.

Reynolds also said the U.S. Department of Education had designated Iowa as needed assistance with compliance of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Its unconscionable that we continue to see the gaps that we are and not look at doing something differently, she said. By giving schools the ability to decide you start to bring in some accountability.

Like other departments in the state, Reynolds said there should be regular evaluations on how special education services are being delivered and whether or not theyre meeting the mark.

We have some good ones out there, she said. But we have some school districts that arent happy with the services that theyre getting. And so this would give them the option to do something different.

Giving schools more flexibility with funding

The bill will give school districts more options on how they receive special education services and how they use the funding currently given to the AEA.

Currently, all state and federal funding allocated for special education goes to the school districts but is immediately funneled to the AEA.

The bill would give districts the option to keep that funding and allocate it for special education services as they choose.

The money goes to the school districts. Theyre the customer, they need to know what these services cost and they should be in charge of it, to start to bring some accountability and some transparency to the system, Reynolds said.

She said she hears from school districts that they want local control.

If you control the money, you control the services, said Sioux City School Board Member Dan Greenwell. He said the bill gives the district the option to decide how the funding is used.

Sioux City School Board Member Lance Ehmcke agreed with Greenwell, saying it would be a good thing to have a voice in how the AEA money is spent.

Greenwell said he does not have an understanding of how much media services or professional development the district utilizes.

Reynolds said this is a common complaint. For example, she said the AEAs receive funding for media services from the state but then charge districts to use those services.

That doesnt sound very efficient and effective to me, because were paying for it twice, she said. And were discovering more and more and more of that as we look into the system.

Oversight by the Iowa Department of Education

Local administrators expressed concerns regarding shifting the oversight of the AEAs to the Department of Education.

I dont have a lot of faith that the Department of Education can take this on and oversee special education in all the school districts across the state, Earleywine said. I have a big concern with that and I think most of the superintendents in the state would mirror that.

Chad Janzen, superintendent of the Sergeant Bluff-Luton Community School District, said the AEA provides vital resources and training to the districts.

Our local AEA has been responsive to local needs. For example, area schools have asked for increased services in working with students who have English language needs, he said. A centralized system located in Des Moines will not respond to local needs as adeptly as a local system.

Reynolds said 25 years ago, the AEAs were overseen by the Iowa Department of Education and now, the AEAs need the checks and balances the department will provide. She said those people will be in the regions they oversee, not in Des Moines.

She said right now, 400 people in the AEA system provide compliance and oversight. After a review of those positions by the Department of Education, Reynolds said they can do that work with 139 full-time employees.

Comprehensive review

The Northwest AEA and Sioux City School Board Members asked why no comprehensive review took place before this bill was introduced; citing the most recent review was in 2010.

Reynolds said the true review of the system is the states test scores and the reviews done by the U.S. Department of Education and The Nations Report Card.

I actually did bring in some superintendents, sat down and walked through [the system,] Reynolds said. Theyre afraid of being penalized by the AEA so they were afraid to stand up and say anything publically.

She also said she received feedback on the AEAs during her travels through the state, speaking with education, parents, principals and superintendents.

What I was hearing is they werent happy with a lot of the services. There was no consistency, they werent showing up, she said.

She said the state has consistently underperformed and the students in the system deserve a corrected system.

No funding being taken away from special education services

Of the $529 million currently allocated to the AEAs, Reynolds said $294 million will go to local schools, $117 million would still go to the AEAs and $25 million will go to the Iowa Department of Education for supervision.

We are not taking any money out of special education, she said.

Her bill, as currently written, would eliminate property taxes that are collected to support AEA functions that are not related to special education.

Reynolds proposed an amended version that would allow the AEAs to continue providing general education services and media services. The agencies would continue to provide all the special education services they do now.

Reynolds said currently AEA chiefs receive approximately $410,000 in compensation, but many are making around $440,000. She said the savings from reducing overhead will stay in the education system and will be used to help teachers and students receive the services they need.

Increasing teacher salaries

A part of the bill that is not directly related to the AEA would increase the base pay for teachers. Sioux City School board members said they felt like it was a way to make the bill more appealing.

Reynolds is asking the Iowa Legislature to invest $96 million in new money to increase starting teacher pay by 50 percent, to $50,000, and to set a minimum salary of $62,000 for teachers with at least 12 years of experience.

"It smacks of that the AEA change is going to be so consequential in a negative way that the only way we can get the voting public in the legislature to go along with it is to offer something like increased teacher pay," Ehmcke said.

Board Vice President Treyla Lee said it appears the teacher salary was "a little carrot" in the bill as a reward for passing the AEA changes.

Reynolds said increasing teacher base salaries is directly related to improving services for Iowa students. She said the state wants the best and brightest going into education and by increasing the base salary that encourages more teachers to work in special education in the state.

Everybody tells me you cant get a special education teacher in rural Iowa. Were not competitive, she said. So it makes sense for me to put it in a bill that is not only trying to correct a system to provide teachers the support that they need, but to also encourage teachers to go into the teaching profession by increasing the beginning salary.

The Des Moines Bureau contributed to this story.

Photos: Missing children in Iowa Emily Joann Dudney Daquan Nelson Jade Colvin Fredrick Workman Benjamin Roseland Erin Pospisil Marc Allen Eugene Martin John Gosch Kimberly Doss Colleen Simpson
Severe storms with probable tornadoes tore through several central U.S. states, damaging homes and businesses and killing at least three people, with more bodies likely to be discovered, authorities said. As the sun rose Friday, officials scrambled to assess the extent of the destruction wit
We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription.
Dakar, the capital of Senegal, will host in February 2027 the International Congress on Marine Protected Areas (Impac6), for the first ever in the history of the continent.

The city has been chosen by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to host the event also known as IMPAC 6. The previous congress, Impac 5, was held in the Canadian city of Vancouver in 2023.

The event, held every four years, will be held in Africa for the first time. This choice is not insignificant insofar as the continent is the junction point of all the worlds seas and oceans, explains Mamadou Sidibe, Senegals Director of Community Marine Protected Areas (DAMCP).

Everything will be done to meet the challenge of participation, to bring together at least all the countries on the planet, with over 5,000 to 8,000 participants expected, Sidibe added.

Senegal has stood out on the continent as it currently boasts 17 marine protected areas (MPAs) established in recent years. Conversation during IMPAC 6 will touch on seaside tourism as well as cultural and social links. The delegations to travel to Dakar will be presenting their progress in the fight against overfishing and seabed mining (cobalt, copper), as well as their efforts to promote the blue economy as advocated by the 14th Sustainable Development Goal (SDG14).

The event, held every four years, already took place in Geelong, Australia (2005), Washington, D.C., United States of America (2009), Marseille, France (2013), and La Serena, Chile (2017), and Vancouver, Canada (2023).
A North Platte man is accused of setting a property he owned on fire with tenants inside, and allegedly trying to stop fire personnel from entering the duplex.

Rodney E. Perkins, 66, is charged with two counts of felony possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, first degree arson, possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person, burning to defraud an insurer and misdemeanor interfering with a firefighter on duty.

He is out on bail at 10% of $100,000 in county court on Tuesday.

Court records say North Platte police and firefighters responded to a duplex on the 500 block of East 11th Street after a tenant reported their landlord was attempting to light their home on fire.

The tenant told the North Platte 911 Dispatch that Perkins started a fire in the vacant section of the duplex, which was left unlocked for remodeling purposes.

When another roommate smelled smoke, the tenant entered the vacant section of the duplex and saw a plastic bucket with wood on fire, which he immediately threw outside. After extinguishing the fire, another roommate notified Perkins of the fire.

When firefighters arrived, they requested entry, but Perkins refused. He told them he put the fire out himself. He walked to his own residence on North Walnut before police arrived.

As firefighters awaited entrance into the duplex, police made contact with Perkins at his home. They told him he had one minute to retrieve the key to the duplex, a demand he complied with.

As he opened the door to the vacant section of the duplex, he entered ahead of the fire team. Firefighters told him he needed to leave as the level of smoke was dangerous. A deputy told him he needed to leave, as well. Perkins still refused, so law enforcement physically removed him.

Firefighters located the blaze in a closet, this time on a shelf that had caught fire, throwing it out of the window a second time.

Officers had obtained search warrants to Perkins home and the vacant section.

They located the melted plastic bucket and flammable liquid in the duplex.

Officers found a stolen .22 LR revolver, a 12-gague shotgun and 12 large knives, machetes and swords in his personal residence. Perkins is a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms or dangerous weapons.
Illustration: Zohar Lazar

Karyn Olson did not want to vote for Donald Trump. If you had asked her just a few days ago, she would have said she was done with him. A 57-year-old retired government worker from Bristol, New Hampshire, Olson did not want Trump to be the Republican nominee for president because she did not believe he could beat Joe Biden, or whomever the Democratic Establishment decided to install as its candidate for the 2024 election, and more than anything, she did not want another four years of Democratic control of the White House.

For a long time, Olson was willing to tolerate Trumps personality, which she did not like, if it meant the country would be shaped by his policies, which she did. But she thought he had frittered away the presidency through an ego trip of a reelection campaign, and his super-base of supporters, increasingly animated by a dark religious fervor that was freaking her out, had staged a riot on government property over the results, and even if Olson did believe the contest was rigged, she could not endorse violence, and what she saw that day made it much harder to abide the former presidents ugly quirks.

She had been planning to be in Washington, D.C., herself to rally against Nancy Pelosi in 2021, but in the days leading up to January 6, the tone and content of the posts she saw from Trump supporters gave her pause. Over time, I had joined different Trump groups, you know, Women for Trump, Bikers for Trump, all this stuff. I didnt like a lot of what was being said in the groups, she said. Someone posted a picture of a guy, shirtless, with an underage boy  it was creepy  and they said, This is Chief Justice John Roberts. And so I commented, like, That is not Chief Justice John Roberts  it just wasnt. It wasnt him. And I included a picture of the justice and then I got this pack of people responding, like, Youre a pedophile! Thats what they do. I was like, Yeah, I dont want to be a part of this. Im just going to not do that. I canceled my flight and hotel.

By last year, around the time Trump landed on a schoolyard taunt for the governor of Florida, who was until recently his main rival for the Republican nomination, Olson was halfway out the door.

I didnt want Trump to run at all, she told me. I felt like he should stay in the background. He could have been like the father of the party, an adviser to other candidates. She shook her head at the naivete. Trump, she knew, was unwilling to cede the spotlight and would never entertain the idea that anyone else might have a better shot at beating Biden in November. It was not his nature. His ego is just the worst thing Ive ever seen, she said. Its beyond.

DeSanctimonious  that bothered me a lot. Still does. I dont like the name-calling, she said. Youre not just saying that to him. Youre attaching that to his children. That can be lasting. Thats something that, in a few years, when theyre in school, other kids could tease them about their last name. Like, grow up, stop doing that. You can attack people without making fun of their name. She had been talking fast, and now she stopped to take a breath. Think of who has their name made fun of. She raised her eyebrows and burst out laughing. Her name is Karyn. Its very personal! Any time someone uses that trope against me, theyre off my Facebook page. Like, Bye!

She liked that DeSantis is a veteran, and she thought he seemed like a good executive. During the pandemic, her son was working at a restaurant in Florida, and when the shutdowns took effect and the unemployment system crashed and he didnt have any income for two weeks, she called the governors office. They resolved it for him in 24 hours, she said. That impressed her. Thats competence, she said. Even though he was polling so low, I was going to vote my conscience and throw away my vote to DeSantis. Which is not like me. Im a strategy person. Im not stupid. But I was going to do that.

Then DeSantis dropped out, leaving her with only Nikki Haley and Trump as options.

She hated Haley  whose adolescent girlboss posture struck her as both anti-feminist and too reminiscent of Hillary Clinton for comfort  more than she disapproved of the former president. (Incidentally, she found herself bartending at Haleys Primary Night party. Haley didnt mingle, she noted, and the evening was over much earlier than those working the event would have liked.) I wasnt happy, but it was like, This is what youre going to do, Olson said. She spoke in a deep, commanding voice and pounded on her chest for effect. She was going to suck it up. She was going to vote for Donald Trump.

At campaign events leading up to New Hampshires Primary Day, Trump and his campaign surrogates promised the new administration would prioritize historical revision and revenge. At the Saddle Up Saloon in Kingston, a woman cried out, When are we gonna learn the truth about January 6th? J. D. Vance, wearing a bright-red MAGA hat, said that investigating the truth about the insurrection would be one of the most important things on Trumps agenda once he was back in power. In Hollis on Monday afternoon, Donald Trump Jr. told me the indictments had backfired on Democrats by motivating people who were once politically agnostic to support his father in defiance of the extreme nature of the deep state. They get it, he said. They realize theyve been duped and lied to for far too long, so I do think its helpful.

Fortified by the snow, by the subzero temperatures, by the dawn of the New Year, with his improbably bronze visage and long black overcoat, Trump emerges, resurrected, not as the great hope of the Republican Party, because what even is the Republican Party now and who even cares about the Republican Party now, but as the great hope of a movement that is branded, as he prefers, with the Trump name.

As he declared victory, Trump divided his attention between the horse race, where he galloped past his rivals with glee, and his political persecution. He left New Hampshire for a court date in New York before returning on January 23, winning by 12 points. In Iowa, the result came down in his favor 30 minutes after the polls closed. In New Hampshire, the election was called as soon as the polls closed. He devoted the entirety of his speech to bitching about Haley, who, unlike Chris Christie, Doug Burgum, DeSantis, and Tim Scott, has so far refused to drop out and clear the path for his nomination.

I find in life, you cant let people get away with bullshit, Trump said. I dont get too angry. I get even.

You are at risk of developing the impression, standing in the forest of TV cameras and boom mics that sprout at the back of these kinds of gatherings, that this is what its all about. That the fans who arrive in team regalia, studded with rhinestones, speckled with sequins, cloaked in bastardized, Trumpified American flags, nervy and rude in the model of their savior, represent the electorate. But most of the Trump voters I spoke to in New Hampshire were more like Olson  ambivalent and disappointed with their options (politically agnostic to borrow Trump Jr.s term). In general, these were not people inclined to spend a weekday afternoon listening to a suspiciously energetic Matt Gaetz ramble on about the deep state. Like most Americans, they were not obsessed with the candidate they voted for.

If the projections for a general election less than 300 days away are to be believed, the result could depend on voters, like Olson, who are inclined to offer Trump redemption. In most head-to-head polls, Trump beats Biden by between one and eight percentage points. In polls that factor in Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other third-party candidates, Trump is ahead by something like ten points. The willingness of people like Olson to give Trump a second chance, then, is more bad news for Democrats, who will need to find a way to attract voters outside their base (if not Olson, people vaguely like her) if they want to secure a second term for the president.

I first met Olson in February 2020 when I happened to park my rented Jeep next to her Volkswagen a few blocks from the state capitol on Main Street in Concord. At the time, she worked for the New Hampshire Liquor Commission as the supervisor in the accounts-payable department, about a 30-minute commute from her home in rural Bristol, and in her spare time, she volunteered for President Trumps reelection effort. The back window of her car was covered by a big TRUMP-PENCE sign, which is how we got to talking. When I returned to the state in September, she invited me over, and for several hours at her kitchen counter, where she showed me the semiautomatic rifle she keeps in a drawer, she explained how a former precinct captain for Teddy Kennedys 1980 presidential campaign became the kind of woman who bulldozed through a crowd of protesters outside a MAGA rally with both middle fingers raised in the air.

The daughter of a butcher and a secretary in Massachusetts, Olson was once happy to swing across the party divide based on her independent assessment of individual candidates. She supported Bill Clinton. She had a soft spot for George W. Bush. She didnt vote for Barack Obama, but she respected him because he was the president and she was an American and respecting your president was just the patriotic thing to do. But she hated political correctness, which she first felt creeping into her life in the 1980s, when she worked in social services and all of a sudden the word retarded was considered a slur rather than a medical designation. I started to figure out that liberal thinking was about changing the names for things but not really changing things, she said.

More and more, she worried about illegal immigration. She was not xenophobic, she said, and she was not against helping people in need. She cooked dinner for a homeless man at her house and then sat with him all night while he had a schizophrenic break, convinced he was being followed. She was tough and adventurous. She rode four-wheelers over sand dunes. She traveled the world. She liked to meet people from different cultures. She bartends, so she maintains a certain conversational agility, ready and able to talk to anybody about anything. She is a mother and a grandmother. She is tattooed and she has guns and blonde hair and she loves America, but she rejects the idea that she is some kind of caricature of an America First voter. She just happens to believe in the rule of law, she said, and she couldnt understand why the government would allow undocumented migrants to cross the border in such high numbers to live and work when U.S. citizens cannot afford to get by here with dignity despite playing by all the rules.

She is almost certain that she will be supporting Trump in the general election. To consider voting for a third-party candidate, she would need to be persuaded that it would not be a waste  or, worse, functionally a vote in Bidens favor. It would have to be a wave where its just like the whole frickin country has just found this person that they love. She thinks Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a nice person, though she worries he is too liberal on the climate, but even if she were convinced of the wisdom of his policy ideas, Im not going to say, RFKs nice; Ill vote for him, if he cant beat Biden and Trump. She doesnt like Joe Manchin, who this week announced plans to visit Georgia and South Carolina as he continues to play chicken with a No Labels presidential campaign, because he has no balls. She does love Harold Ford (the token black guy on The Five) and would vote for him if he were running for president, but he is not. I would not throw my vote away in the general election, she said.

So the best decision Olson believes she can make with the information she trusts about the choices before her is the same one she made before. She isnt happy about it, she said, but she is resigned to it.

She let out a heavy sigh. I could even see myself going to work on the Trump campaign, she said. Not for Trump. Against Biden.
Jeterrio Booker of Lanett was taken into custody at 7:10 a.m. Thursday and charged with murder in Nov. 13 shooting that broke out in the 1100 block of South 12th Avenue. Law enforcement agencies that assisted with the arrest were the Lanett Police Department and the U.S. Marshal Service Gulf Coast Fugitive Task Force.
Over the last decade, Libya has struggled to get its oil industry back on track due to political disruptions and a lack of foreign investment in the sector. Years of political unrest drove foreign investors out of the market, leaving many oil operations to sit untouched for years and driving oil output down. Achieving high levels of oil output once again will require significant investment in exploration activities, drilling and infrastructure renovation and development, but there is significant potential for the country with Africas largest oil reserves.

Oil was first discovered in Libya in 1959, after which many foreign players entered the market to develop the countrys assets for export. Under the dictatorship of Colonel Ghaddafi, Libyas oil industry experienced highs and lows as relations between Libya and the West regularly shifted. In the early 2000s, when the UN and U.S. lifted sanctions that they had imposed on Libya, several major Western oil companies resumed operations in Libya, attracting more players to the region. Libyas oil output rose from 1.47 million bpd in 2000 to nearly 1.8 million bpd in 2010, a trend that was expected to continue.

Hopes of a stable, growing oil market were dashed when the Arab Spring took place in 2011, followed by years of political instability. And no government since has been able to return the industry to its former glory. Libyas political system is currently divided between the eastern-based Government of National Stability, led by Osama Hamada, and the UN-backed Government of National Unity, led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, based in Tripoli in the west. Despite ongoing political tension, the country is eager to get its energy industry back on track to respond to its energy and economic needs.

This month, Libyas Oil and Gas Minister Mohamed Oun, pledged to discover new oil and gas fields. He stated, We still have fields yet to be explored, including those in the Mediterranean and central regions, where new oil and gas fields will be discovered. Farhat Omar Bengdara, the chairman of the National Oil Corporation (NOC), emphasised the important role the state-owned oil company has played in boosting production and fostering partnerships with international partners in recent years.

While Oun acknowledged the significant challenges facing the countrys oil industry, he is optimistic about its potential. He explained, Governments, the private sector, and international bodies, including the Board of Directors of the National Oil Corporation, with the help of global think tanks, have developed an ambitious strategy built on relevant global trends in the energy field. He said that the strategy is aimed at helping Libya recover its former energy status, with the target of raising production to 2 million bpd. Libya currently produces more than 1.2 million bpd. With around 90 percent of Libyas revenues coming from oil, it is essential that Libya achieve this goal.

Despite the optimism, several challenges remain, with recent protests leading to a shutdown in production. Earlier this month, the NOC was forced to shut down operations at Libyas largest oil field after protestors demonstrated over fuel shortages. Around a week later, another set of protestors threatened to shut down two oil and gas facilities close to the capital of Tripoli to campaign against corruption. Protestors were requesting that the NOC chairman Farhat Bengdara be dismissed.

Libya has previously fallen short of its oil goals due to political disruption and the inability to attract the desired levels of foreign investment. In 2017, the North African country announced a 2.2 million bpd target for 2023 due to political issues and poor sectoral governance. However, Libya has significant potential as it holds the largest oil reserves in Africa, with around 48.36 billion barrels, much of which remains untapped. OPEC is supporting Libyas aim to develop its oil industry by excluding it from any quotas. But Libya will need substantially higher levels of foreign investment to get its oil industry back on track.

According to Oun, the NOC requires a budget of $17 billion to raise the countrys oil output to 2 million bpd within the next three to five years. This funding will go towards increasing production in NOCs oil fields, as well as maintaining key infrastructure, such as pipelines. Some of the countrys pipelines were installed in the 1960s and require significant work or replacement to ensure their longevity. The conflict seen in Libya in recent years also resulted in the destruction of around 70 percent of the countrys oil storage capacity, which will need rebuilding.

Libya is highly optimistic about the future of its oil industry, with huge potential to explore untapped reserves and increase output. However, several challenges are standing in its way. The country remains politically divided, which continues to deter foreign investors from committing to new projects. Further, its ageing infrastructure requires vast amounts of funding to bring it up to scratch. Nevertheless, Libya will likely continue to depend heavily on oil for its revenues meaning that it must seek greater stability in its oil sector to attract higher levels of investment to support the countrys economic security.

By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com

ADVERTISEMENT

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Data centers, especially those powering AI technologies, have seen such explosive growth that they are taxing utilities beyond what soaring power demand is calling for.

Some utilities in the eastern and southern parts of the U.S. are proposing build-outs of new natural gas-fired capacity alongside renewables to support the growth in electricity consumption coming from data centers. Others have planned to delay the timeline for retiring coal-fired capacity to ensure grid reliability.

Many tech companies want clean energy to power their new data centers, but utilities are struggling to keep up with this demand. These utilities cannot hook up new solar and wind power to the grid fast enough to allow a timely start to new data center operations.

There is concern that unless huge investments in transmission lines and grid upgrades are made soon, and every year, the U.S. economy of the future of data centers and EV and battery manufacturing growth would be forced to slow up.

"That's the ultimate concern everybody has: that we'll be short on power," Rob Gramlich, founder of consulting firm Grid Strategies, told Bloomberg. Related: Biden Administration Halts Approvals of New LNG Export Projects

The U.S. needs at least $20 billion in investments annually in long-distance transmission lines, according to Gramlich, who noted that the current spending is basically zero.

Grid Strategies published a report last month in which it analyzed data from utilities' regulatory findings. The analysis found that over the past year, grid planners nearly doubled the 5-year load growth forecast, the key drivers being investment in new manufacturing, industrial, and data center facilities.

"The U.S. electric grid is not prepared for significant load growth," Grid Strategies said in the report, noting that a recent "surge in data center and industrial development caused sudden, shockingly large increases in 5-year load growth expectations."

Dominion Energy  which serves Virginia's Eastern Loudoun County, dubbed Data Center Alley and the world's "largest data center market,"  has said that "The big drivers of current and future growth include: migration to the cloud as companies outsource information technology functions, smartphone technology and apps, 5G technology, digitization of data, and artificial intelligence."

In its 2023 integrated resource plan (IRP), Dominion Energy Virginia detailed last year a range of possible resource additions by 2048, including up to 9 gigawatts (GW) of new natural gas-fired capacity due to reliability concerns.

Further west of Virginia, Kansas City-based utility Evergy said in June 2023 that it would retire coal operations at its Lawrence Energy Center only in 2028, compared to earlier plans for end-2023 retirement. At that time, one unit is expected to fully retire, while the remaining unit will remain available for operations with natural gas to meet customer needs during times of high electricity use.

"Our service area is experiencing some of its most robust electricity demand growth in decades, including very large projects like the Panasonic electric vehicle battery manufacturing factory and the Meta datacenter, as well as broad-based economic development in both Kansas and Missouri," Evergy's president and CEO David Campbell said.

NextEra Energy Resources president and CEO Rebecca Kujawa said just this week on the Q4 earnings call that "Clearly, there's an enormous amount of demand being driven across the U.S. economy by the growth in data centers, driven by a lot of things, of course, but specifically generative AI."

"And that growth is pretty explosive at this point."

So explosive is the growth that Boston Consulting Group (BCG) says that data center electricity consumption accounted for 2.5% of the U.S. total (~130 TWh) in 2022 and is expected to triple to 7.5% (~390 TWh) by 2030.

"That's the equivalent of the electricity used by about 40 million U.S. houses  almost a third of the total homes in the U.S." said BCG.

ADVERTISEMENT

Globally, electricity consumption from data centers, AI, and the cryptocurrency sector could double by 2026, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in its Electricity 2024 report this week.

After consuming an estimated 460 terawatt-hours (TWh) globally in 2022, electricity consumption from data centers could reach more than 1,000 TWh in 2026roughly the same as Japan's total electricity consumption.

Depending on the pace of deployment and AI and crypto trends, the additional electricity consumption of data centers in 2026 compared to 2022 would be roughly equivalent to adding at least one Sweden or at most one Germany to demand, the IEA says.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Uzbekistan and China have set their sights on increasing their trade turnover to $20 billion in the near future, following high-level negotiations in Beijing on January 24 between Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

Bilateral trade in 2023 hit the $14 billion mark.

A statement on the Uzbek presidents website attributed this trajectory to the powerful breakthrough made in bilateral relations in recent years.

Mirziyoyev was fulsome in his gratitude to his host, expressing special thanks to Xi for his personal attention and support on cooperation issues, particularly in the fight against poverty. He and Xi then paid tribute to the planned launch in Tashkent of a Luban workshop, a Chinese-funded vocational school. An agreement on the school was signed in November.

A sustained push has been taking place to open up these vocational center across the region over the last year. Kazakhstan in December announced the opening of its own Luban workshop on the campus of Serikbayev East Kazakhstan Technical University.

According to Mirziyoyevs office, Chinese investment in Uzbekistan's economy has seen a fivefold increase in recent years.

Chinese companies are spying strong potential in the renewables sector.

Uzbekistans Energy Minister Zhurabek Mirzamakhmudov announced in May at an Uzbek-Chinese business forum in Xi'an, China, that agreements had been reached on construction of renewable energy facilities with a total capacity of 6 gigawatts.

These are projects involving foreign direct investment of about $5-6 billion dollars, Mirzamakhmudov said at the time.

Two photovoltaic stations, each with an installed capacity of 500 megawatts, have since the middle of last year been under development by China Gezhouba Group, the foreign investment division of China Energy Engineering Corporation, in the Bukhara and Kashkadarya region, respectively. Segments of both those projects reportedly came online in late 2023.

In a further signal that Beijing intends to sustain the tempo of investment, Mirziyoyev met this week with Wu Fulin, the head of the Export-Import Bank of China, or Eximbank, to talk, among other things, about the lenders plans to open a branch in Uzbekistan.

The bank plans to open a regional office in Tashkent and prepare new promising projects for the development of transport and social infrastructure, in industry and in the private sector, Mirziyoyevs office said in a statement on the meeting.

ADVERTISEMENT

In other China-related business this week, Samarkand regional government has agreed to buy 100 electric buses made by Chinese automaker Yutong. Buying the vehicles and building the necessary infrastructure to support them will entail an expenditure of $62 million over a three-year period. Out of that total, $49 million is coming in the form of a long-term loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

By Eurasianet.org

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
About 10 million barrels of Russian crude oil have been stranded off the coast of South Korea thanks to U.S. sanctions, traders and shipping data told Reuters on Friday.

The 10 million barrels, carried by 14 tankers, are of the Sokol variety from Sakhalin-1 and remain unsold due to Western sanctions. That amount represents about 45 days' worth of Sakhalin-1 production at its average rate of 220,000 barrels per day.

The vesselsincluding 3 VLCCscarrying the Russian crude oil have been stranded near the port of Yosu in South Korea for weeks after the United States sanctioned multiple vessels and companies that were transporting the Sokol grade.

Reuters sources and shipping data courtesy of Kpler and LSEG indicate that the VLCCs, carrying 3.2 million barrels, have been acting like floating storage.

At least some of the Sokol crude oil was destined for Indian Oil Corp. The delays in delivery caused by payment problems have caused Indian Oil Corp to search for crude from elsewheremainly from its own storage and the Middle East.

The United States initiated sanctions and a price cap on Russian crude oil transiting by water more than a year ago. The intent was not to disrupt the flow of oil, but to restrict revenues to Russia, who would otherwise use crude oil money to fund its military operations in Ukraine. The Biden Administration has insisted that its sanctions and G7 price cap have been effective, despite the accusations from some that they have been largely ineffectual.

The Kyiv School of Economics estimated in December that Moscow would bring in $178 billion from oil sales in 2023and predicted that this figure would rise in 2024. According to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, the import ban and price cap have cost Russia $37 billion in export revenue. The price cap has had an impact but has failed to live up to its potential CREA analysts said last December.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

ADVERTISEMENT

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Authored by Mark Jeftovic via DollarCollapse.com,

One of the things I frequently point at in the incessantly tiresome debate between the precious metals and cryptocurrency communities is that while each asset offers its own advantages, cryptos afford a level of optionality for capital mobility that simply doesnt exist for precious metals.

At least until fairly recently.

Gold is heavy  a one kilo bar is slightly smaller than an iPhone. When you see those scenes in heist movies where the crooks are lobbing gold bars around, you know theyre using spray painted styrofoam. A real gold brick would just drop straight to the floor, probably crushing the guys foot into mush.

I dont think so. (Plus youd need a forklift to move that box).

So no matter how superior one might think gold is as a store of value and a monetary metal  if you have anything beyond a small physical amount in your possession and you need to move locations in a hurry, you have a big problem.

Even traveling with coins or small bars can be an issue if you have to get out of a heavily militarized zone or an area where civil order has broken down. Its difficult to conceal, and a magnate for trouble if youre flashing any around to buy passage or refuge.

With cryptos, you can literally hide your wealth in your mind. Its called a brain wallet: you memorize the seed phrase for your private keys (12 or 24 words), and from there on out you can focus on the task at hand  getting yourself and your family out of whatever hot zone youre in.

Whether its a war torn fiefdom in the (so-called) Third World, or a near-future Peoples Republic of Canada after the Prime Minister seizes your bank account for running a natural gas furnace in the winter, with a brain wallet you just need to get out of dodge, and then you can reestablish yourself, and a chunk of your wealth, from a safe distance.

Online Vaulted Gold Is Not a Viable Defense From Capital Controls

One option that has come to the fore that gives people the ability to hold gold at a distance, is vaulted gold. These are non-bank custodial vaults  often contracting with the likes of Brinks or other companies  that hold precious metals on behalf of their clients. Bullionvault  domiciled in London, UK, is among the largest of these, with $4.1 billion USD under custody on behalf of over 100,000 clients.

Goldmoney is another one, founded by James Turk  later acquired by Bitgold and now publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX:XAU). The original Bitgold value-prop was to provide Bitcoin-to-gold convertability  where one could deposit BTC, covert into gold  and even redeem the precious metals. I did this a couple times in 2018 and it was a byzantine nightmare of delays  all regulatory. They eventually suspended the Bitcoin aspect of the operations and reverted to being a straight up gold and silver vaulting platform under the original Goldmoney brand. (In the interests of disclosure, I hold Goldmoney shares).

There is also the US based GoldSilverVault which offers fully segregated holdings  Ive had a few conversations with its founder and CEO Bob Coleman about the ins-and-outs of all this and he is beyond a doubt, one of the most knowledgeable in the industry.

For a good overview on vaulted gold options, you can check out TrustableGold, although its a more Euro-centric (they dont cover some of the US options like GoldSilverVault).

Vaulted gold provides a good way to store some of your wealth away in an offshore jurisdiction, and you have a decent level of liquidity. Once your account is set up, you can move from fiat to precious metals  and between precious metals and even between vaults (e.g Singapore, London, Toronto, etc) easily. Its frictionless, from a user perspective.

But there are limitations and caveats to having gold stored within these platforms. Here are the big weaknesses of vaulted gold platforms:

You cannot spend gold between accounts or users  this used to be a feature of the early Digital Gold Currencies like e-gold, pecunix and the original Goldmoney (before its current incarnation). Thats what actually sunk the former and the latter had to move away from being a transaction platform to a straight store-of-value platform  for regulatory reasons (theres that word again).

You can only cash out to the same bank account you funded through  as with any centralized exchange or financial platform, setting up your account involves undergoing KYC (Know Your Customer), uploading government issued photo ID, proof-of-residence and finally linking your bank account. Once youve done so, you can only fund through your linked accounts, you can only cash out through those accounts.If youre holding some of your wealth in an online vault like this, and in a crisis you find yourself as a refugee, in exile or otherwise nomadic  you cannot easily redeem your vaulted holdings out into some other bank account in another jurisdiction. Youre going to have to jump through a lot of hoops  and it will take time.

The vaulted gold platforms are centralized and require trust  you deposit your money, they hold your gold and you basically have to trust them to do that and to give you access to it when you want it, which is typically when you need it the most. As someone who over on the crypto side never leaves anything on the exchange, I had an unpleasant reminder of the not your keys = not your coins mantra when I recently logged into my Goldmoney accountI hadnt logged into my account in years and it got straightened out in short order  but the entire point of these vaults is theyre supposed to be a place where you can safely custody some previous metals and then forget about it . For years on end. But in this era of increasingly high demands on providers for regular KYC audits on their client base  you can almost guarantee that if youve simply left your deposits for any length of time, theyll probably be locked up the next time you want to access them.

Vaulted gold is still a viable solution for diversification  from both an asset and geographical standpoint, provided the system is operating and the rule of law has not been mangled by ever increasingly despotic governments.

Not good.

But in the event of nationalizations or catastrophic system collapse  your gold will likely either be stuck inside the vault for the duration of the crisis or you will be barred from accessing your holdings because the only financial egress point (the bank accounts linked to your profile) has been seized or frozen.

Gold-backed cryptocurrencies: The Best of Both Worlds

It is still early in the gold-backed crypto space. This sites founder, John Rubino covered these early initiatives in 2018, and there were a fair number of comments there pointing out still more options (one unique approach was a DAO  Decentralized Autonomous Organization  that owned a gold mine in Ethiopia, alas the project now seems defunct).

While we are not there yet  the projects and companies pioneering this space today are closer than ever. As noted in our new gold-backed crypto monitor section, the impediments to trustless store-of-value of precious metals and perfectly frictionless capital mobility are not technological, theyre regulatory.

ADVERTISEMENT

Were going to make it our business to follow the ones we feel have a shot at achieving escape velocity.

One of the front-runners in my mind is Lode.one. On a call with the Lode team earlier this month I was impressed at how their business continuity plans included provisions for their smart contracts to function independently of themselves, even if the Lode organization ceased to exist:

The smart contracts were running on a blockchain (in this case Avalanche  AVAX),  they are open source and published on their Github  and they would continue to collect custodial fees from the holdings and use those to pay their vaulting contracts  completely automated in the event that an asteroid hit them.

Holders of the AUG and AUX tokens could then redeem their holdings even after the business ceased to exist. It may sound very cyberpunk, but it is the state of the technology today.

Eventually I expect technological advancement to overcome the regulatory headwinds for several reasons:

My base scenario for todays polycrisis (what I came to call The Jackpot back in 2020 ), is a secular decline in centralized governance structures like nation states

Geopolitical jurisdictions desperate for capital inflows will begin to compete for citizens a la The Sovereign Individual thesis

World War Three will be more about populations vs governments than nations vs nations  so the ones that survive will be those who adapt themselves to the highly networked world ultra-mobile capital.

Via Zerohedge.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Yelps list of the Top 100 Places to Eat in the U.S. came out the other day. As you might expect, its heavy on areas with large populations.

But two Omaha eateries managed to sneak their way onto the end of the list, thanks to enthusiastic hometown reviewers.

Everetts, a bar and grill at 8807 Maple St., is No. 93, and Corner Kitchen, a Mexican restaurant at 4218 S. 50th St., is No. 98. Both are fairly new: Everetts has been open for a little over two years, and Corner Kitchen has been open for about a year.

The list features fairly detailed descriptions of restaurant cuisines and remarks from reviews.

Everetts, it said, has elevated pub fare in an atmosphere welcoming to all ages.

Both Yelp reviewers and locals on social media sites such as the Omaha Food Lovers page on Facebook say the house-brined wings, served with a variety of sauces such as Carolina BBQ and Thai peanut, are one of the main draws at Everetts.

I ordered a set of 10 wings with half the weekly special sauce (Thai sweet chili) and half cactus ranch. They were HUGE  meaty (and) cooked perfectly crisp and juicy. Probably the best wings Ive ever had, one reviewer said.

The Brussels sprouts appetizer  fried veggies with spicy honey glaze, bacon and lime crema  also get a lot of love.

Corner Kitchen is like eating Mexican food with a passport, the list says, with classic Mexican fare such as tacos, burritos and huevos rancheros, but youll also find a sprinkling of Asian inspiration.

Diners should try the kimchi Brussels sprouts with pea shoots and sweet chili mayo and the queso taco made with Korean carnitas and melted mozzarella, among other gusion dishes, they said.

From a reviewer: CK was a glorious eating adventure! We ordered the Birria taco, chicken chipotle ramen, Rangoon fried and elote. Everything was so full of flavor, fresh, hot and absolutely delicious!

Yelp.coms data scientists determined the top restaurants by analyzing user ratings, the number of reviews and the volume of submissions for restaurants across the country over the last year.

More than 30 percent of the top 100 came from three states in the Sun Belt: Arizona, Florida and Texas. California also had more than its share. Other trends included places with noodles, such as ramen shops and Japanese eateries, Korean restaurants and Latin places (see Kitchen, Corner above)

Omaha's Yoshitomo restaurant, Boiler Room chef are James Beard Award semifinalists The Omaha restaurant Yoshitomo and a chef from the Boiler Room are James Beard Award semifinalists.
A national media law center is urging the Omaha Public Schools board to reconsider its stance on legislation that would protect student press freedom in Nebraska.

The Student Press Law Center, headquartered in Washington, D.C., sent a letter to Spencer Head, board president, this week saying members misunderstood the language of Legislative Bill 1071, introduced by State Sen. George Dungan of Lincoln.

LB 1071 would guarantee student journalists the right to exercise their freedom of speech and of the press in school-sponsored media, as long as they follow certain legal and ethical standards. It also would protect teacher advisers from disciplinary action if they stick up for their students rights.

The board was going to oppose LB 1071 in its annual legislative review, but changed its position to monitor the bill during a Monday meeting following protests from students and a school journalism adviser. Jane Erdenberger, chair of the boards legislative committee, said the main reason OPS has opposed bills similar to LB 1071 in the past was because the legislation deemed all school-sponsored media as public forums.

The concept of a public forum becomes quite messy and uncontrollable. Not in respect to our students, necessarily, but once it becomes a public forum, then it is a forum for the public, Erdenberger said. It is possible for people who are not associated with our school district, are not students, to be able to take advantage of our media and to include some of their materials. Which may or may not be acceptable, and we dont want to take that risk.

Mike Hiestand, senior legal counsel for the Student Press Law Center, said in the letter that Erdenbergers reasoning was incorrect.

LB 1071 does not create a means for anyone to say what they want: This is not the legal definition of a public forum, Hiestand said.

Hiestand said there are actually two types of public forums: traditional and designated. A traditional public forum is government property, like a public sidewalk or park, while a designated public forum is created when the government intentionally opens the property for a particular class of speakers or for discussion on a specific topic.

LB 1071 would make student media a designated public forum, which can also be limited to a certain group of speakers, such as students in a high school journalism program, he said.

The student journalists would be the gatekeepers, Hiestand wrote. The student editors of a publication could decide if they wanted to open up their paper to submissions to those outside of their staff, but they are in no way required to do so.

Like professional newspapers, the public can send in content but editors can decide whether to publish it or not. Hiestand said the language of the bill also provides certain restrictions for students when publishing content, meaning they cant publish everything they want.

Under the bill, they cannot publish always-unprotected speech that interferes with the rights of others or speech that disrupts the educational process, Hiestand said. This has been the standard in the 17 other states with such legislation, some with similar laws on the books since the 1970s, and the standard has worked.

Kansas and Iowa are among the 17 states that have passed New Voices legislation to protect student press rights. Nebraska is among seven states that have bills like LB 1071 in this years legislative session.

Head said on Friday that the legislative committee hasnt reviewed the Student Press Law Centers letter yet but will during its next meeting. He said the biggest problem he personally has with the bill is the legal liability that comes with it.

It takes any decision-making out of the hands of the district. But the district is still the entity thats legally liable for anything that happens, Head said. If anything gets published that goes against the rules, the district gets sued. The taxpayers are legally liable for whatever the cost of that may be. Personally, Im not comfortable turning over that legal liability to high school students.

Head said he knows there are some Nebraska districts that are more restrictive and he understands why affected students would be upset. Last year, Grand Islands Northwest Public Schools eliminated their high school journalism program after the publication of an edition on LGBTQ topics.

OPS has had a great relationship with its own student media, Head said, and of his knowledge, has never rejected an information or interview request.

We work very well with our student journalists and we absolutely support them, Head said. We want them to be successful, but turning over the legal liability, and ultimately, the fiscal liability, to high school students and their immediate teachers who dont necessarily understand all of the legal complications of it, is just a bad idea.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of January 2024
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.
Foremost, an insurance subsidiary of Farmer's, will no longer insure condos in California starting in April. John King / The Chronicle

The Foremost Insurance Co. will end its California Condominium Homeowners program in April, becoming the latest insurer to pull back from a troubled market.

According to a company filing with the California Department of Insurance, the withdrawal is part of a countrywide strategy to end insurance for condos.

Foremost stopped writing new condominium business in May of 2022 in California and took the same step in other states beginning this year. Starting in April, it is non-renewing any remaining condo policies in California.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The change does not impact the other types of homeowners insurance Foremost offers, the company said.

Foremost is a subsidiary of Farmers Insurance, the second largest home insurance provider in California. Farmers Direct, another subsidiary of the same company, stopped writing new policies in California and started non-renewing customers in December as it withdrew from all home, auto and renters policies in the state.

Farmers policyholders outside of Foremost will not be impacted by the withdrawal, according to a Farmers spokesperson.

David Russell, a professor of insurance at California State University, Northridge, said that condos have about the same amount of risk exposure as a single-family home.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

If a condo building were to burn down in a fire, he said, the condo association would pay to build it back  but if your stuff burned up, the insurance policy of the type that Foremost is now withdrawing from would replace it.

Foremost has nearly 4,000 condo policies in California, according to its filing with the state.

From 2018 to 2022, the company reported a loss ratio  how claims compare to premiums  of 110% for its condo product.

The California Department of Insurance has attempted to address the withdrawal of insurance companies with the Sustainable Insurance Strategy, which will require insurers to write at least 85% of their market share in high wildfire risk areas.

Last year, another major company, Allstate, also stopped writing condominium policies in addition to homeowner and commercial insurance policies.
Gov. Jim Pillen announced awards of $234.4 million in North and South Omaha recovery grants in events with a festive air Friday  but two key senators behind the state appropriations weren't celebrating.

The grants will go to a wide assortment of nonprofit developers, community organizations, businesses and the City of Omaha.

Pillen announced the grant awards before crowds of more than 100 people at an event at Metropolitan Community College in North Omaha, and again at another at the Livestock Exchange Building in South Omaha.

"These awards represent historic, historic investments for our community," Pillen said.

The governor said the grants will "provide for small businesses with resources that are needed to grow. They're going to help create and revitalize places of our community. And help strengthen the nonprofit sector through strategic investments so that organizations can be more effective.

Pillen said the grants will support entrepreneurs, bread and butter of our communities' growth and the innovators that need capital.

Nebraska Department of Economic Development Director K.C. Belitz said his department calculated that the grants will generate at least 9,250 jobs.

One such entrepreneur is Carmen Tapio, president and CEO of North End Teleservices, the leading business in the Forever North development planned for 24th and Lake Streets. The planned development includes a four-story commercial building that will house the global headquarters of her business, plus 102 apartments and space for other uses, including day care and food service. She also hopes to build some single-family homes in the area, she said.

She estimated that the total cost of her project will be about $65 million. The $10 million economic recovery grant will "help us get there faster, and it's going to help us get there more completely," Tapio said. "We're not going to have to scale back or under-deliver, if you will. North Omaha needs significant development, and this $10 million is going to help our part of the significant developments take place."

In South Omaha, more than one-fourth of the money, a combined $64 million, will go to Canopy South, a nonprofit developer, for projects on the Q Street corridor and South 24th Street. Canopy South Executive Director Cesar Garcia said much of that money will go to projects involving other organizations, including the Simple Foundation, Latino Economic Development Council, Girls Inc., Lending Link, Latino Center of the Midlands, and One World. Garcia said Canopy South is working with the groups because it has more experience with development.

Simple Foundation's project involves expanding and renovating its community center at 30th and Q Streets. Canopy South will work with the Latino Economic Development Council on renovations of the Plaza de la Raza, including a stage and something that drew applause from the audience Friday at the Livestock Exchange Building  a parking garage. Garcia said some of the money also will go toward improvements to Q Street itself, to make the street more safe and attractive to business development.

The City of Omaha will receive $10 million to help build a new community center and sports complex in Levi Carter Park. Thats on top of $35 million in economic recovery money the governor previously announced for the complex.

Descriptions of most grantees' plans for the funds were not available Friday, the Governor's Office said. While most had applied for grants through a DED process more than a year ago, the process and some of the projects changed since then.

Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert joined the governor at the podium and praised the grants and the process. So did State Sens. Tony Vargas and Mike McDonnell, who helped lead the legislative effort to appropriate the money.

But State Sens. Justin Wayne and Terrell McKinney were notably not there.

Pillen said Wayne and McKinney were invited. Wayne said the Governor's Office did invite him and McKinney, "but did not coordinate with us." Wayne had to chair a legislative judiciary committee hearing considering two of his own bills Friday afternoon, and McKinney was attending a funeral.

McKinney and Wayne, who have also criticized the state's handling of a $90 million airport business park grant, issued a statement criticizing Friday's awards.

"Today's historic investment of over $234 million in North and South Omaha fell short of the transformative promise envisioned by the Legislature," they wrote. "Over 75% of the funds are being channeled into nonprofit projects with little to no economic development and are already supported by millionaires. Sadly, this will ultimately continue to perpetuate the community's reliance on nonprofits rather than helping to build an economically self-sustaining community."

Photos: Gov. Jim Pillen, officials, announce North and South Omaha Economic Recovery Grants
NEW YORK  U.S. health officials say 93 Americans have died after cosmetic surgery in the Dominican Republic since 2009, with many of the recent deaths involving a procedure known as a Brazilian butt lift.

The operation has grown in popularity recently and has led to deaths in other countries as well, including the U.S. A report issued Thursday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention could not say how common these deaths are or whether they are more common in the Dominican Republic.

The report suggests steps that medical tourists should consider before traveling to get work done.

Be informed about who is doing your surgery, the qualifications of the person doing your surgery, and whether or not the facility is capable of doing the surgery and whether it is capable of providing adequate post-operative care  which is crucial, said Dr. Matthew Hudson, the studys first author.

A Brazilian butt lift involves injecting fat. The report included details of about two dozen of the deaths, and most were the result of fat or blood clots getting into the lungs or bloodstream.

Complications from cosmetic surgery are not unique to the Dominican Republic. Reports of deaths after cosmetic surgeries have repeatedly surfaced in the United States, perhaps most often in Florida. The CDC on Thursday issued a separate report about 15 cases of bacterial infections in women who went to one Florida cosmetic surgery center in 2022.

Sporadic reports also have come out of Mexico, including last year when U.S. patients were stricken with fungal meningitis after undergoing cosmetic procedures in the border city of Matamoros. Two clinics were closed and a dozen deaths reported.

The Dominican Republic is known as a friendly island vacation spot, and some doctors there advertise in the U.S., offering breast implants, liposuction and other operations at lower prices. After an increase in U.S. deaths in 2019 and 2020, the U.S. Embassy contacted the CDC, which investigated along with the Dominican Republic Ministry of Health.

They tallied 93 cosmetic surgery-related deaths of U.S. citizens in the Dominican Republic from 2009 to 2022, or an average of about seven a year. All but one were women. More than half of the deaths occurred since 2019, coinciding with the increasing popularity of Brazilian butt lifts. In the U.S., nearly 29,000 of those procedures were done in 2022, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

The procedure commonly involves liposuction of fat from the hips, lower back, thighs or other areas. The fat is then injected in the buttocks to change the shape or size. Risks include fat being injected too deeply, making its way into the bloodstream and blocking key arteries or veins.

Autopsy records show that was the cause of death for 11 of 20 deaths, said Hudson, who is now at the State University of New York at Buffalo.

U.S. emergency departments see sharp increase in fitness-related injuries in January U.S. emergency departments see sharp increase in fitness-related injuries in January There is a clear dip in reported injuries in the last few months of each year and a rise in injuries each January How are people hurt?
LINCOLN  Two Lincoln correctional officers suffered concussions after inmates assaulted them last week, according to a Nebraska Department of Corrections press release.

Last Wednesday, a corrections officer went inside an inmate housing unit to escort an inmate to a holding cell at the Reception and Treatment Center, when the inmate began punching the staff member in the head. The officer was taken to a local hospital and was diagnosed with a concussion, the press release said.

A different staff member was assaulted Thursday at the Nebraska State Penitentiary. An inmate was suspected of having contraband and ignored orders from corrections officers. The inmate started punching and kneeing multiple officers. One staff member fell during the incident and sustained a concussion.

An investigation is ongoing into both incidents. Findings will be provided to the Lancaster County Attorney's Office for potential criminal prosecution.
LINCOLN  Subsidizing the cost of care for child care providers own children could be a game-changer for Nebraska employers struggling to fill jobs, a legislative committee was told Friday.

The idea, embodied in Legislative Bill 856, is to boost the number of child care workers, thus making care more available for other Nebraska parents and ultimately allowing more people to join the workforce.

State Sen. John Fredrickson of Omaha, who introduced the proposal and made it his priority for the year, said it could be a major piece of addressing the states worker shortage.

In my opinion, and in the opinion of business and economic development leaders throughout our state, we must move forward to address our child care workforce shortage in a significant way this session, because addressing it is central to fixing our overall workforce issues, he said. That will require making it a priority investment.

Fredrickson estimated that subsidizing care for child care providers could bring 2,175 people into the child care workforce. They could provide care for an estimated 16,000 more Nebraska children, based on research showing that every additional child care worker cares for eight children.

Under the bill, certified child care professionals could qualify for subsidized child care assistance regardless of their family income level. The program would be open to those who were self-employed, employed at a child care home or center, or working for Head Start or Early Head Start.

Bryan Slone, president of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told the Health and Human Services Committee that the multiplication effect of LB 856 could be a game-changer for the state.

He said Nebraskas workforce shortage is the states top issue and making child care and housing affordable and available is key to addressing that shortage. But a major roadblock to expanding child care is attracting and retaining workers to the field.

Gov. Jim Pillen has made the workforce shortage a priority for this session of the Legislature. He has not taken a position on LB 856. The Department of Health and Human Services took a neutral position on the measure.

The proposal drew strong support Friday, including from business groups, child care providers and child advocates. Among those who testified in person were representatives from First Five Nebraska, Lincoln Littles, Nebraska Farm Bureau and Voices for Children in Nebraska. Another 70 people or groups sent letters in support.

Kentucky launched a similar program for child care workers in 2022 and six other states, including Iowa, implemented pilot programs last year. The Kentucky program showed results quickly. By October last year, 3,200 child care providers were using the subsidy, including both new workers and those who were already working in the field.

Nicole Fox, representing the Platte Institute, said the shortage of workers and of child care were issues that came up in every community that the Platte Institute visited last year. She noted that child care costs are especially burdensome for those who work in the traditionally low-paid field of child care.

Fox suggested, however, that Nebraska undertake the proposed subsidies as a pilot program, given its potential cost.

The Legislative Fiscal Office estimated that LB 856 would cost about $20 million per year. The estimate was based on the Kentucky experience and assumed that about 2,175 Nebraska child care workers would claim the new subsidies for care of some 3,535 of their children.

Fredrickson countered that Nebraska families lose $489 million annually from missed work opportunities due to lack of child care access. Citing data from First Five Nebraska, he said that 34% of parents with children 5 and under reported refusing a work opportunity because of child care expenses.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of January 2024
The Biden administration on Thursday announced $21 million in funding to Nebraska for an Interstate 80 project between Kearney and Odessa.

The $21 million project was selected under a special grant program.

The project will reconstruct about 9 miles of Interstate 80, within its current footprint, along with shoulders and replace a rural bridge over I-80.

About 7,500 trucks per day carrying an estimated $336 million in freight use this segment of I-80 daily, and they will benefit from restored, smoother pavement and fewer maintenance related delays over time, the White House said.

Biden and U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said the Kearney-to-Odessa project was part of $4.9 billion in funding from the presidents Investing in America agenda that is funding 37 projects.

Funds came from two major grant programs, the National Infrastructure Project Assistance grant program and the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America grant program.

With this announcement, we are advancing projects so large, complex, and ambitious that they could not get funded under the infrastructure programs that existed prior to the Biden administration, Buttigieg said.

The Mega program, which was created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and provides $5 billion in funding through 2026, is focused on projects that are uniquely large, complex and difficult to fund under traditional grant programs.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of January 2024
Leader of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, has ruled out the possibility of crisis in the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the leadership of the 9th National Assembly.

Lawan made the remark in an interactive session with newsmen in Abuja.

He said the APC leadership must have learnt lessons from the mismanagement of the partys majority in the outgoing 8th Assembly, and would do things differently this time around.

APC will remain the majority party in the 9th Assembly, having secured 65 out of 109 senatorial seats so far, and 221 out of 360 in the House of Representatives, during the Feb. 23 general elections.

In June, 2015, Sen. Bukola Saraki of the then APC emerged President of the Senate against the will of the leadership of the party, which preferred Lawan.

To make matters worse for the ruling party, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu of the minority Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) emerged Deputy President of the Senate.

A similar scenario played out in the House of Representatives where Mr Yakubu Dogara defied the APCs wish (Mr Femi Gbajabiamila) to become Speaker.

Joined by 10 other senators-elect at the forum on Friday, Lawan said we are not in any way thinking that we will have crises; it is not what we are envisaging at all.

But let me say that our party, the APC, must have learnt its lessons, and therefore, the party leadership will do something differently this time.

I am sure our leaders will try to manage this huge success of the APC.

And I have no doubt the party will find us compliant and very supportive of its programmes and those of the administration under President Muhammadu Buhari, he said.

Lawan, who again, is seeking the Office of the President of the Senate, said as a loyal party man, he would respect the decision of the partys leadership even if it did not favour him.

The lawmaker, who represents Yobe North, said he was currently reaching out to other senators-elect to convince them that we are the right people to lead the Senate and the National Assembly.

To this end, he solicited the support of the media and our colleagues for our vision of a focused, robust and united 9th Assembly.
Amb. Ayodele Oke

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has declared a former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Amb. Ayodele Oke and his wife, Folasade, wanted for failing to appear in court to answer for the N13 billion money laundering charges against them.

Oke and his wife had reportedly travelled out of the country for medical treatment in late January shortly before they were to be arraigned in court.

Justice Chukwujeku Aneke of a Federal High Court Lagos, had on February 7, 2019, issued an arrest warrant against the couple following an oral application by EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo.

This was contained in a statement on Sunday by the acting EFCC spokesman, Tony Orilade.

Oke and his wife are wanted in connection with the $43 million, 27,800 and N23.8 m cash recovered by the commission from an apartment at Osborne Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, in April 2017.

Under the former DG, the NIA was said to have collected $289,202,382 in cash for special operations from the account of the National Petroleum Investment Management Services at the Central Bank of Nigeria in February 2015.

The agency had claimed that the funds were meant for covert intelligence operations, but the Federal Government insisted it was a case of looting.

The FG subsequently set up a three-man panel headed by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo which indicted Oke and recommended his dismissal. Criminal charges were subsequently filed against him and his wife in February this year over the cash found at the Ikoyi apartment.

One of the counts read, That you, Amb. Ayodele Oke and Mrs. Folasade Ayodele Oke between 25th day of August 2015 and 2nd day of September 2015 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this court directly converted $160,777,136.85 property of the Federal Government of Nigeria to your own use which sum you reasonably ought to have known formed part of proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: criminal breach of trust and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
The founder of iReign Christian Ministry, Feyi Daniels, was sentenced to life imprisonment on Friday by the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence court for the crime of raping a church member.

In the trial, Judge Rahman Oshodi declared the Lagos-based cleric, guilty of raping and sexually assaulting a female worshipper

Earlier reports conveyed that the Bishop, testifying in his defense, stated that he believed three out of the four women accusing him of sexual assault had conspired to turn against him.

During cross-examination, Babajide Boye, the lead counsel for the prosecution, aimed to establish that Bishop Daniels had a personal relationship with the four women

Boye asserted that the defendant counseled one woman, provided N100,000 for hospital treatment to another, covered school fees for a third, and interacted with a fourth as a leader in the campus fellowship affiliated with his ministry at Akungba-Akobo in Ondo State.

But the Bishop denied giving money to one of the women for treatment.

He said, I believe all three ladies turned against me, but not (name withheld) because she later apologized to me.

When asked about the sexual nature of the accusations from the women, the defendant stated he didnt know.

Boye, the prosecutor, also alleged that the defendant used his position as a pastor to manipulate individuals seeking counseling

You are a man of God. Are you not? A powerful man of God. You get trained to counsel, and you use wisdom and the leading of the spirit to manipulate, he asked.

However, Daniels denied this allegation, saying, I am not a powerful man; I am a pastor. I do not use power to counsel people; I am not a manipulator.

The prosecutor continued to question the defendant, stating, You visited your Akungba fellowship centre, and when she (one of the alleged victims) saw you, she hissed. Were you not surprised as a pastor?

No. She was disgruntled because I couldnt help her financially

The defendant denied allegations of tampering with the WhatsApp messages involving one of his accusers.

In the course of cross-examination, the prosecutor also attempted to introduce four statements, purportedly authored by the defendant during various periods of his police custody last year

There are contradictions between the defendants testimony and the contents of the documents. We seek to use them to impeach his testimony. We rely on section 232 of the Evidence Act, that evidence even though obtained improperly is still admissible and we urge the court to admit same, Boye said.

Adebayo Adegbite, the defense counsel, objected to the admissibility of the statements, contending that they were not made by the defendant and that the Bishop signed them under duress.

The statements are a mixture of confession and denial. We leave it to the court to determine whether they amount to a confession. Right from the start of this trial, the defendant has denied the charges, thats his plea. The documents werent made voluntarily. Even if there were contradictions, he wasnt the maker of the documents, they were written by the police, Adegbite stated

In his ruling, Justice Rahman Oshodi admitted the documents .The judge said, By section 9(3) and (4) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State (2021), the presence of a video testimony of the suspect is desirable but not compulsory. I will admit the documents and later consider the evidential value to place on them. The objection of the defence is hereby overruled.

Kanyi Daily recalls that the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) applauds the life imprisonment sentence handed to Ademola Oladimeji for sexually assaulting his three children.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has warned members of the public over a fraudulent online loan application circulating on social media platforms.

This disclosure is contained in a press statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity and official spokesperson to the Senate President, Hon Eseme Eyibo.

Eyibo in the statement said the advertisement for the loan did not emanate from the Office of the Senate President but the handiwork of fraudsters and unscrupulous elements who are out to exploit hapless Nigerians.

The fake offer, titled N200,000 Palliative Loan By the Senate, features a misleading image of Senator Akpabio alongside the coat of arms and the logo of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

This deceptive scheme, posted on Facebook under the account name Templeshort, falsely asked the public to apply and get instant loan approval.

Eyiboh said the Office of the Senate President has nothing to do with Templeshort or its facebook handle.

READ ALSO: Nigerian Armed Forces deserve respect, honour Akpabio

He added that Akpabio is not operating any loan programme or palliative arrangement or working in conjunction with the CBN or any other financial institution on any loan facility as palliative.

The statement strongly advised the public to exercise caution and vigilance in the face of these criminal elements who employ deceitful methods to target unsuspecting Nigerians.

Hon Eyiboh urged the public to disregard such scams and report any suspicious activities to the appropriate authorities.

The statement from the Senate Presidents Spokesperson reads, The attention of the Office of the President of the Senate has been drawn to a fake N200,000 Palliative Loan By the Senate bearing the picture of Senator Godswill Akpabio with the coat of Arms and Central Bank of Nigerias (CBN) logo on the Facebook handle of one Templeshort requesting unsuspecting members of the public to apply and Get instant Loan Approval.

READ ALSO: Akpabio honours fallen heroes, hails Nigerians resilience despite challenges

We wish members of the public to know that this advertisement did not emanate from the Office of the President of the Senate but it is the handiwork of fraudsters and unscrupulous elements who are out to exploit hapless Nigerians.

The general public should note that the Office of the President of the Senate has nothing to do with Templeshort and does not in any way have any connection with anyone operating a Facebook handle by the name Templeshort.

The President of the Senate does not and is not operating any loan programme or palliative arrangement; neither is Senator Godswill Akpabio working in conjunction with the CBN or any other financial institution on any loan facility as palliative.

We, therefore, advise members of the public to be wary of these criminal elements, who are experts in employing underhand methods to prey on unsuspecting Nigerians and disregard this advertisement and similar advertisements purportedly being sponsored online by the Senate for loans or palliative. No such loan or palliative exists in the office of the President of the Senate or in the name of Senator Godswill Akpabio.
Gunmen on Thursday abducted the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Mr. Philip Aivoji.

The PDP Publicity Secretary in the state, Alhaji Hakeem Amode, confirmed the development in a statement on Friday.

He urged security agencies and the state government to intervene promptly and secure the release of the partys chairman.

The spokesman said: Aivoji was abducted on Thursday, January 25 at about 6:00 p.m. on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway while returning from a stakeholders meeting in Oyo State convened by Governor Seyi Makinde and Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State.

It is disheartening that kidnapping has become a prevalent issue in our country, and the governments inability to address this menace is deeply concerning. The abduction of Aivoji underscores the pressing need for decisive actions from the government and stakeholders to eradicate this menace.

Aivojis abduction was a violent incident, and his current whereabouts or any communication from the abductors remain unknown.

We implore the governments of Oyo State, Ogun, and Lagos State alongside security agencies, to expedite efforts and secure his safe return to his family and well-wishers.

READ ALSO: Gunmen invade Plateau community, kill 30 persons

We call on the public to support initiatives aimed at ending this threat to innocent lives.

Similarly, the PDP governorship candidate in the state, Dr. Abdul-Azeez Adediran aka Jandor, who expressed shock over the abduction of the party chairman, demanded urgent action against insecurity.

In a statement issued by his spokesman, Mr. Gbenga Ogunleye, the PDP candidate recalled that Aivoji and some other members of the party were kidnapped while on their way from a party function in Ibadan on Thursday.

He described the incident as unfortunate and a disturbing dimension to the growing insecurity in the country, especially in the South-West part of the country.
The Berkeley Apple Store, a recent hot spot for retail heists, was hit twice in separate thefts in the past 24 hours, police said Friday. Google Street View

The Berkeley Apple Store, a recent hot spot for retail theft, was hit twice in separate robberies in the past 24 hours, officials said Friday.

The first of the two thefts occurred Thursday just before 6 p.m. at the store in the 1800 block of Fourth Street, according to Berkeley police Officer Jessica Perry.

Perry said a male suspect in his 20s grabbed nine phones on display and fled the scene in a vehicle.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Officers tracked down the vehicle in Oakland shortly after the incident and arrested a man they identified as Dwayne Butler, according to Perry.

All the stolen phones were located with the vehicle, Perry said.

Another burglary took place Friday morning at 11:19 a.m. when two male suspects between the ages of 18 and 20 stole seven computers from the Berkeley store and fled the scene on foot, Perry said.

Officers did not see a vehicle, and no one has been arrested, according to police.

The Berkeley Apple Store has become a popular target among thieves recently, according to the Berkeley Scanner, which first reported this weeks robberies. They follow three others in the last two months and at least five more since December 2022, the news outlet reported.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Other Bay Area Apple Store locations have faced similar crime problems in recent years.
The Rivers State House of Assembly has voted to override Governor Siminalayi Fubara and pass 4 new bills into law.

According to reports, this development occurred during plenary on Friday (today) at the House of Assembly Quarters after the Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule read 4 letters addressed to him by the governor wherein he declined his assent to the four new bills which had been sent to him for assent.

The House relying on Section 100 subsection 5 said the assent of the governor is not required for the passage into law of the said bills.

The section states that where the Governor withholds assent and the bill is again passed by two thirds majority, the bill shall become a law and the assent of the Governor shall not be required.

READ ALSO: Court remands Gov Fubaras loyalists over Rivers Assembly explosion

Amaewhule also accused Governor Fubara of having no plans to conduct local government elections in the state, saying by the reasons given by the Governor it means he doesnt plan to conduct local government elections in the state.

The Speaker further said, the key thing here is that this law removes the power of the Governor to appoint Caretaker Committee Chairmen for the Local Governments, the Governor is not happy that were removing his powers to appoint caretaker chairmen.

The 4 Laws passed are: The Rivers Local Government Amendment Law; The Rivers State Traditional Rulers Amendment Law; The Rivers State Advertisement and Use of State-Owned Property Prohibition repeal law and The Rivers State Funds Management and Financial Autonomy Law.

In a related development, a Federal High Court in Abuja had a few days ago nullified the N800 billion budget passed by the Edison Ehie led group of the Rivers State House of Assembly and signed into law by the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

The court also upheld the suit filed by the Assembly and Speaker Martin Amaewhule, against Fubara, which sought an order of injunction restraining the governor from frustrating the Assembly under his leadership as speaker, among others.

The presiding judge, James Omotosho, held that everything done by the 4 lawmakers was null and void.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has rejected the invitation of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, to him and other members of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to join the APC.

Governor Yusuf, speaking through his Media Adviser, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, was cited to have asserted: We heard that he is begging for the Governor to join the APC, what is surprising is Ganduje as a former governor and former Deputy Governor knows better than anyone the right channel to send a message to a sitting Governor.

His Excellency the Governor (Abba Kabir Yusuf) does not have plans to leave his party and will not leave the party.

Changing a political party is like changing a house, you just cannot wake up, pack your bags and say I have left my party. There are things to be done before you decide to change your house.
Justices A. Isiaka and A. A Bello of the Kaduna State High Court, sitting in Kaduna, have found Bilbert Sabo, Joy Righteous, Godwill Dikko, and Ransom Joash Destiny guilty of engaging in internet fraud and have subsequently pronounced convictions and sentences against them.

EFCC made this known in a statement on its X handle on Friday, January 26.

Part of the statement reads: Justices A. Isiaka and A.A Bello of the Kaduna State High Court sitting in Kaduna has convicted and sentenced the quartet of Bilbert Sabo, Joy Righteous, Godwill Dikko and Ransom Joash Destiny to various jail terms for internet fraud.

They were arrested and arraigned by the Kaduna Zonal Command of the EFCC on one-count separate charges bordering on internet fraud.

While Sabo and Righteous were arraigned before Justice Isiaka, Dikko and Destiny were arraigned before Justice Bello

The lone count against Sabo reads: That you Bilbert Sabo (a.k.a Amelia Karim) sometime in December 2023 in Kaduna within the Kaduna Judicial Division of the High Court with intent to defraud, impersonated one Amelia Karim (a United States of America citizen) using your Facebook account, a social media platform and in such assumed character attempted to cheat unsuspecting foreigners when you knew you were not, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 142(1) of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017 and punishable under the same law.

He pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to him, prompting prosecution counsel, E.K Garba to urge the court to convict and sentence him accordingly.

Justice Isiaka convicted and sentenced him to two years imprisonment or an option of fine of N150,000.00 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira). Apart from his prison term, he forfeited the tool of his crime, an iPhone 11 to the Federal government.
Amid the intensifying political crisis in Rivers State, the State House of Assembly on Friday enacted four bills aimed at curbing the governors authority to appoint caretaker chairmen for local government areas in the state.

The four bills passed by the lawmakers loyal to the former Governor Nyesom Wike, who is now the Minister of Federal Capital Territory Abuja, without the consent of Governor Sim Fubara are; the Rivers Local Government Amendment Law; The Rivers State Traditional Rulers Amendment Law, The Rivers State Advertisement and Use of State Owned Property Prohibition repeal law and The Rivers State Funds Management and Financial Autonomy Law.



The lawmakers relied on Section 100 subsection 5 to override the governors assent, insisting that the governor is not required for the passage into law of the said bills.

Speaking during the plenary on Friday, the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule read four letters addressed to him by the governor wherein he declined his assent to the four new bills which had been sent to him for assent.

He reminded his colleagues the provision of the law in section 100 sub-section 5 which stated that where the Governor withholds assent and the bill is again passed by two thirds majority, the bill shall become a law and the assent of the Governor shall not be required.

He accused the governor of not planning to conduct local government elections in the state, citing the reasons the governor gave for withholding his assent.

According to the Speaker, the key thing here is that this law removes the power of the Governor to appoint Caretaker Committee Chairmen for the Local Governments, the Governor is not happy that were removing his powers to appoint caretaker chairmen.

SaharaReporters reported that the political crisis ravaging Rivers State followed a prolonged disagreement between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, political godfather and now Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

Rivers State was plunged into political crisis between October 29 and 30, 2023, when the hallowed chamber of the House of Assembly was burnt, following alleged moves to impeach Fubara.

Central to the weeks-long fracas is Fubaras allegation that Wike embezzled N9billion from Rivers State coffers, vowing to reveal more cases of alleged corruption. In response, Wike had stated that he was ready for any confrontation.

That consequently led to the emergence of two factional speakers  Matins Amaehule, who is loyal to Wike; and Edison Ehie, a strong supporter of Fubara.

Ehie had since resigned his election and urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct fresh election in his constituency to elect his replacement.
The Lagos State Police Command has officially announced the apprehension of Olamilekan Odofin, who was declared wanted following an attack in the state on January 9, 2023.

Recall that Odofin and other miscreants masquerading as Yoruba Nation Agitators attacked and disrupted social and commercial activities in the Ojota area of the state.

At least one person was confirmed dead, while two police officers were shot during the bloody attack by the miscreants.

While four suspects were arrested immediately by a team of police officers comprising Alausa Division and the Rapid Response Squad, RRS, Olamilekan Odofin escaped and remained elusive for a year.

However, the Lagos State Police Commands Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed on Friday that the wanted suspect has been arrested.

In a post on his official X handle, the PPRO said the investigation into the incident is still ongoing.

He wrote: After over a year on the run, 34-year-old Olamilekan Odofin has been arrested by officers of Ayobo Division.

The suspect, on January 9, 2023, championed attacks on motorists and the police under the guise of Yoruba Nation agitation. Investigation is ongoing.
Samuel Ohiri, a former chairman of the council of traditional rulers in Imo State, has stated that his freedom from kidnappers was not secured by the police but rather by paying a ransom for his release.

The monarch, who was kidnapped from his residence on June 6, 2023, in the Orodo Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State, was released after 13 days in captivity.

Meanwhile, the Imo police command had claimed that it secured Ohiris freedom in collaboration with other security agencies.

But speaking with journalists on Friday, the monarch said he was released after ransom was paid to the kidnappers, TheCable reports.

He was quoted him as saying that Contrary to what the police said about my release, there is no hiding the fact that the state police never played any role.

I actually do not want to speak on this but I am doing it just to set the records straight.

I am not disputing the fact that the police may have made efforts towards my release but I am talking what I know.

It was my relationship with God and the help from my family people that made it possible. Although, that was after we paid ransom.

Ohiri, who recounted his experience, said that he saw hell in captivity.

He said, I came back home to celebrate Christmas and New Year with my people in Obi-Orodo. Then on the 6th of January, I decided to visit one of my old boys and senior students of Emmanuel College Secondary School in those days.

But when I was coming back after visiting my friend around 8:30pm; I met able-bodied men in front of my palace gate, who came in their vehicle.

They double-crossed me and forced me into their vehicle. My cousins brother smartly introduced himself as my driver and they set him free. They now blindfolded me and zoomed off to an unknown destination.

I was first kept in an uncompleted building before I was transferred to another location. Within the twelve days I spent in their den, I saw hell.

It looked so much as if they had some scores to settle with the traditional rulers and politicians, but luckily for me, their leader came out and ordered them not to torture me, that I am a decent man.

Negotiations began between my people and the kidnappers which eventually resulted in setting me free after we paid the first and second ransom.

They later took me and another victim to Eziama Obiato, a community in Mbaitoli LGA, along Owerri-Onitsha expressway, at night after I spent twelve days in their dungeon.

And from there I found my way back to Owerri at Asumpta Cathedral roundabout where my people came and conveyed me back to my palace.
The Akwa Ibom State Police have apprehended 79 suspects for various offenses since the beginning of the year on January 1st.

Commissioner of Police Olatoye Durosinmi disclosed this at a news conference at Police Headquarters on Friday in Uyo.

Durosinmi said the operatives of the command arrested the suspects for various crimes, including murder, kidnapping, robbery and cultism.

According to him, the greatest achievement within the month was the arrest of 10 kidnappers who were planning to unleash mayhem on residents of the state.

He added that the operatives of the Ibiono Ibom Division recovered four AK-47 rifles during the operation in which the kidnappers were arrested.



As we strive daily to keep the state safe, criminal elements too have continued to try to perpetrate their nefarious acts.

This January alone, 79 criminal elements have been arrested for various crimes. The greatest achievement within the month was the arrest of 10 confessed kidnappers who were planning to unleash mayhem on the state and the recovery of four AK-47 rifles.

On January 16, 2024, at about 3:45 pm, operatives of Ibiono Ibom Division, relying on credible intelligence, stormed Ibiaku Ikot Oku forest, where over 15 heavily armed suspects were camping, and engaged them in a gun duel.

Some of the suspects escaped with bullet wounds, while four of them were arrested and one AK-47 rifle recovered. A swift follow-up operation by the anti-robbery unit of the command led to the arrest of another six suspects and the recovery of three more AK-47 rifles, Durosinmi said.
From Mohammed Nasir Shuaibu BAUCHI

Bauchi State Governor, Dr Bala Mohammed has embarked on a courtesy visit to the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), in a bid to fortify the collaboration between the State Government and security agencies, to address crucial matters related to peace and security.

Speaking during the visit, Mohammed lauded the commendable efforts of the military in sustaining peace within Bauchi state and addressing broader national security challenges.

He, however, on behalf of the government and people of Bauchi state, extended congratulations to the Chief of Defense Staff on his well-deserved appointment and acknowledged the achievements under his leadership.

Mohammed emphasized Bauchis strategic position as a gateway to the North East, North West, and North Central regions, stressing the imperative of robust collaboration.

While advocating the integration of technology, kinetic, and non-kinetic measures to tackle security challenges effectively, Mohammed sought the support of the military in establishing a local vigilante agency.

The agency, according to Mohammed, created by the provisions of the law, aims to complement the efforts of federal government security agencies.

The governor underscored the necessity for professionalism, community ownership, and rigorous vetting, supervised by conventional security agencies, to prevent misuse.

Responding, the Chief of Defense Staff, General Christopher Musa OFR, commended Mohammed for his commitment to maintaining peace and security in Bauchi State.

Christopher Musa highlighted the pivotal role of good governance, justice, and inclusiveness in ensuring lasting peace, reiterating the significance of collaborative efforts between states and security agencies.

While acknowledging the establishment of vigilante groups, the CDS emphasized the need for adherence to legal and professional standards.

Related
By Chukwudum Ebele

Some aggrieved members of the Water tanker Supply Association Idemili Chapter in Anambra state have expressed their displeasure over the indiscriminate arrest and alleged extortion of fourty thousand (40000 )naira from four of their members by One Mr Joe Akuzu Okafor in collaboration with officers of the Nigerian Police force.

They made this known during a peaceful protest around Nkpor and Obosi in Idemili North LGA in Anambra state on Thursday.

The protesters numbering over 20 bearing placards with Insricptions such as Gov Soludo save us ,Gov Soludo we want to hear from you directly ,We are on under siege  among others ,called on the the state government and relevant authorities in the state to ascertain the authenticity of the levy being imposed on them.

Speaking on behalf of the protesters Mr Samuel Chigbo Chidi Nwokoye said Mr Joe Akuzu Okafor who claimed to be an IGR agent under the name of Happi Wandi concept for the state government served them a letter in December last year in which they were directed to make a weekly payment of 2500 as IGR ,but they told him that they were yet to receive any clear instruction to do so from the State government through any of its public communication channel and as such would seek further clarification before complying to the purported order.

Also speaking one of the members of the association who was allegedly abducted by the police Mr Chukwuma Ozumba said it took the intervention of their lawyer who put the DPO in Nteje on notice of the activities of his men to order their release after paying ten thousand naira each.

Yesterday after filling my tank with water at the borehole for the days work Mr Joe Akuzu came to arrest four of our members with police men who took them to Nteje Police station where they were made to part with 10 thousand naira each under duress .If not for the intervention of our members who reached out to our Lawyer ,only God knows what would have been our fate

Another member of the association Mr Ellias Onyama who decried the Ill treatment metted out on them noted that members of the association had never paid any form of IGR to the state coffers during the previous successive government in power and as such was in shock over the sudden purported directive considering the sacrifices the Association has made in terms of their efforts in combating fire oubreak in the state on numerous occassions.

We have never heard of such a development before ,we do not have support from government,yet we have contributed in rescue mission during fire outbreak,and instead of thanking us,we are being told to pay tax,so if its true that the state government has imposed this levy on us then its is disheartening and insensitive to our plight

Meanwhile when contacted on telephone Mr Joe Akuzu Okafor said he was only carrying out the instruction of the state government and promised to release evidence of the mandate to collect revenue from the water tanker union within 24 hours from filling this report .

Related
By Mohammed Suleiman, Dutse.

A police personnel attach to the Speaker Jigawa state House of Assembly has arrested one Abduljabbar Inuwa of 39 yrs and a resident of Zai Qrtrs in Dutse on charges of impersonation.

On interrogation after his arrest by the police detectives, he was found in possession of four forged complimentary cards bearing the name and insignia of the jigawa state Speaker, Rt. Hon. Haruna Aliyu Dangyatin.

On the receipt of the report, detectives attached to Dutse Division were swing into action in carrying out a thorough check in the suspect compound where they discovered twenty additional forged complimentary cards of the Speaker in Abduljabbars compound.

When he was interrogated, the suspect confessed , and that he had been approaching various local Government Chairmens seeking for one favour or something else mostly on request for financial assistance all in the name of the Speaker without the consent of the Speaker.

He further narrate to the police that he use to engage the services of a special printer who happens to be his friend in printing the fake complimentary cards in carrying out his nefarious characters.

Abduljabbar mentioned the artist one Ado Zakari who always assist him in printing the forged complimentary cards of the Speaker in duping Local government Chairmens from.one local government to another until their arrests.

Also arrested by the jigawa state police Command was a drug peddler. His name was Yusuf Musa make of 25 yrs and a resident of Kofar Yamma in Babura LGA in jigawa state.

On searched by the police in his residence at Kofar Yamma Babura police were able to recovered 777 Dizapam tablet and some quantity of Indian hemp. He was detained in the CIB units of the jigawa state police Command for further interogations.

Similarly the police detectives if the jigawa state police Command have raised ten specialized fraudsters who are in the habit if terrorising communities if Dutse Birnin Kudu and beyond.

The police announced the names of the three gangs amongst them as HussainiAhmed aged 25 years from Bauchi, Sadiq Ibrahim aged nineteen years from Minna in Niger state and one Mubarak Sanusi aged 23 years who hails from jahun in jigawa state.

According to the police a detailed search was conducted in their premises leading to the recovery of some vital documents and a stolen vehicle. Least among the recovered items were a Peugeot 406, some charms utilized by the fraudsters to decepts victims, counterfeit franc currency, US Dollars, pound Sterling, Iranian currency, Mercury, uncountable SIM Cards, two keypad handsets, two Android handsets, among other suphisticated items.

Speaking while parading the criminals at the jigawa Command if the Nigerian Police, the jigawa Compol AS Abdullahi, thanks all the gallant officers and men of the command who participated in apprehending these criminals assuring the command readiness to continue with its work in ensuring jigawa is a crime free state.

 The Command under my watch hereby calls on the entire people of jigawa state to continue partnering with the police in the fight against crimes.

Related
Rachel Swan is a breaking news and enterprise reporter. She joined the Chronicle in 2015 after stints at several alt weekly newspapers. Born in Berkeley, she graduated from Cal with a degree in rhetoric and is now raising two daughters in El Cerrito.

She can be reached at rswan@sfchronicle.com.
The President/Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote has reacted following fear of takeover of Dangote Cement by his friend and billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola.

In his reaction, Dangote expressed openness to a corporate takeover attempt of Dangote Cement by Otedola.

Dangote made this statement at the Dangote Cement customers appreciation event in Lagos on Friday.

While introducing dignitaries at the event, Dangote welcomed Otedola, stating, We must also welcome our newest shareholder, Femi Otedola. There are people who fear that he is going to do the same thing he did at Transcorp; I say hes welcome.

In a statement earlier in the week, Otedola confirmed his significant acquisition of shares in Dangote Cement, highlighting the strategic investments confidence in the companys potential to generate foreign exchange for Nigeria. He emphasized his dedication to supporting businesses contributing to Nigerias economic resilience.

Dangote Cement holds a unique position with two export terminals, offering substantial foreign exchange opportunities crucial for Nigerias economy.

Otedolas move follows his similar April 2023 acquisition of a 5.52% stake in Transcorp Plc which is linked with Tony Elumelu, making him the second-largest shareholder. However, his subsequent sale of the acquired shares sparked a change in the tone of the acquisition, with Otedola citing the rejection of his N250bn offer to buy Transcorp and expressing his belief in healthy competition and market dynamics.

In response to Otedolas strategic moves, Dangotes open welcome signals a recognition of potential collaboration and competition in the corporate landscape.
Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have intensified their battle with Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

The latest move in this regard was that they passed a bill that strips the Governor of the power to appoint caretaker committees for local government areas. The bill, known as the Rivers Local Government Amendment Law, was one of four passed to override the Governors earlier veto.

In response to the Governors veto, the assembly also passed the Rivers State Traditional Rulers Amendment Law, the Rivers State Advertisement and Use of State-Owned Property Prohibition Repeal Law, and the Rivers State Funds Management and Financial Autonomy Law.

This move by the assembly came on the same day that Governor Fubara swore in nine pro-Wike commissioners who had resigned during the crisis between the Governor and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.

Governor Fubara, referring to the circumstances surrounding the commissioners resignation, mentioned that they were caught in the crossfire. The Local Government Amendment Law also implies that the state must conduct local government elections within the next two months when the current officials three-year tenure expires.

Martins Wachukwu, Special Adviser on Media to Speaker Martin Amaewhule, explained that the House bypassed the Governors assent for the bills after receiving a letter justifying the veto. The Governor argued that such amendments could create confusion and breach constitutional provisions.

However, the Speaker invoked Section 100(5) of the 1999 amended Constitution, stating that the House had the power to override the Governors veto with a two-thirds majority.

Amaewhule highlighted the Governors dissatisfaction with the removal of his powers to appoint caretaker chairmen for local governments. He described the amendments as anticipatory and aimed at creating impracticable conditions for holding elections in the state.

The House vowed to strengthen democratic institutions and ethos in the state, ensuring copies of the laws are transmitted to relevant departments and agencies.
A coalition of concerned Nigerians has submitted a petition to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, raising serious allegations of crude oil theft, contract splitting, procurement fraud, and corruption practices against Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, the Chief of Naval Staff.

In a petition signed by notable Human Rights Activists and lawyers in the nation, Barrister Pelumi Olajengbesi, Esq, Comrade Deji Adeyanju, Comrade Mohammed Suleiman SK, Barrister Aisha Waliki, Esq and Comrade Ogunwoye Samson, the coalition calls for an immediate investigation into the conduct of Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, who is accused of engaging in large-scale corrupt practices.

The coalition, which submitted the petition to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through the Office of the Minister of State for Defense, Hon. Bello Matawalle, expressed deep concern over the alarming allegations. At a time when the country is grappling with significant revenue losses due to crude oil theft, it is distressing to discover that the Chief of Naval Staff, whose primary responsibility is to safeguard Nigerias waterways against oil theft and other forms of criminality, is allegedly involved in collusion with the perpetrators of these heinous crimes against the Nigerian state.

The coalition outlined three primary areas forming the basis of their petition against Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla: Oil theft collusion, Contract splitting & Procurement fraud, and corrupt practices.

Regarding oil theft collusion, the coalition alleges that Naval officers under the direct control of Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla have not only participated in the theft of the nations crude oil but have also provided security to the criminals. They cite specific incidents involving vessels engaged in crude oil theft, such as the MT PRAISEL vessel, where the Nigerian Navy allegedly allowed it to continue patrolling the Nigerian waterways under the protection of Navy officers headed by Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla. The coalition claims to possess evidence, including an authenticated video, showing the Nigerian Navy escorting the MT PRAISEL vessel during the night.

The coalition also highlights incidents involving the MT KALI and MT Tura vessels, where military gunboats purportedly belonging to the Nigerian Navy were seen protecting vessels engaged in crude oil theft. Furthermore, they mention the recent case of the MT VANNALARIS vessel allegedly loading crude oil illegally off Ondo State, with Nigerian Navy personnel preventing a private security firm from boarding or inspecting the vessel.

The coalition emphasizes that the Nigerian Navys involvement in these cases of crude oil theft is consistent and alarming. They assert that the crude oil theft persists because the Navy, led by Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, is allegedly in collusion with the criminals, and the corruption can be traced to the upper echelons of the Nigerian Navy. To effectively combat crude oil theft or reduce it to a minimum, the coalition insists that Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla must be relieved of his duties.

Regarding the allegation of contract splitting and procurement fraud, the coalition accuses Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla of not only engaging in oil theft but also dipping his fingers into procurement fraud and contract splitting, in violation of Nigerias procurement laws, particularly the Procurement Act. They provide specific details of 30 contracts awarded by the Nigerian Navy under Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogallas command to a single company, with each contract valued at $537,672.45, totaling over 8 billion Naira. Contract splitting, which involves dividing a single contract into smaller pieces to bypass procurement regulations, is expressly forbidden by Section 20(2) of the Procurement Act. The coalition emphasizes that engaging in contract splitting is a criminal offense punishable by a minimum term of five years imprisonment, according to Section 58(1) of the Act.

The coalition calls upon President Tinubu to take decisive action to prevent further economic losses and ensure a thorough investigation into the allegations of corruption by the Chief of Naval Staff.

Additionally, the coalition alleges that Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla has failed to reassign personnel within the Nigerian Navy who are engaged in fraudulent activities. They claim that the Chief of Naval Staff benefits directly from these fraudulent practices and that the oil theft, procurement fraud, and other criminal activities are carried out by Navy personnel under the command of a corrupt Chief of Naval Staff who seeks personal gain at the expense of the nations resources.

In conclusion, the coalition draws attention to the previous investigations and prosecutions of serving and retired military officers for economic crimes against the Nigerian state during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. They highlight the lingering reputational damage suffered by the military as a result. The coalition implores President Tinubu to address the issues raised in their petition urgently, to prevent further irreparable reputational and economic harm to the nation.

The coalition submitted a well-documented petition that included an ample evidence to support their claims. The evidence was carefully compiled and attached as an annex to the petition.

The coalition remains committed to the fight against corruption and the preservation of Nigerias resources for the benefit of all citizens.

Related
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Akintola, popularly known as KUSO, was kidnapped at his residence at Ajiboye area, Omi Apata, Ibadan

Some unknown gunmen abducted Alhaji Akeem Akintola, the Oyo State Chairman of Tipper, Lorry, and Quarry Park Management System (PMS) on Saturday.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Akintola, popularly known as KUSO, was kidnapped at his residence at Ajiboye area, Omi Apata, Ibadan.

A source, who did not want his name published, said the gunmen stormed Akintolas residence in the early hours of Saturday and abducted him to an unknown destination.

Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, in Oyo State, SP Adewale Osifeso, proved abortive.

Several calls put through to his number were not answered.
The Ogun State Community, Social Orientation, and Safety Corps, known as So-Safe Corps, have apprehended a 25-year-old individual named Ayomide Ibrahim for burglary and theft.

Ibrahim was said to have been arrested on Thursday, January 25, at the Baba Ode area of Iju in the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of the state during the routine patrol of the security agency.

He was alleged to have told the So-Safe Corps that he came from Abeokuta to join his accomplice in the area and that he was a member of a robbery gang that specialised in stealing from worship centres in the area.

Ibrahim equally allegedly revealed that whatever they stole is sold at one Arena Shopping Complex in Oshodi, Lagos State.

This was contained in a press statement issued on Saturday from the Office of the State Commander of the Corps, Commander Soji Ganzallo, through the Office of the Director of Information and Public Relations of the Corps, Assistant Commander Moruf Yusuf.

The statement partly reads, On 25 January 2024, the officers of the Corps at Baba Ode Division, Iju, in Ado Odo Ota Local Government, while on routine patrol apprehended Ayomide Ibrahim, a 25-year-old man while stealing aluminium fittings.

The suspect confessed to having relocated from Abeokuta to join his accomplice at Baba Ode, Iju.

He confessed during preliminary interrogation that the exhibits were stolen from an uncompleted building in Atan and that Biola Adebesin, who was previously arrested by the Corps on 18th January is their gang leader and they specialise in burgling and stealing from worship centres.

The suspect revealed that any church instruments stolen were sold at Arena Shopping Complex in Oshodi, Lagos.

Meanwhile, items recovered from the suspect as exhibits were said to have been transferred to the Nigeria Police Force, Onipanu Divisional Police Headquarters for further investigation and likely prosecution.
The Ogun State Police Command has revealed that a 37-year-old woman, Bilikisu Kazeem, lost her life during a gun battle between law enforcement operatives and kidnappers on Friday.

The incident occurred on the the LagosIbadan Expressway.

According to the Command, nine hostages were rescued from the kidnappers during the encounter.

Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, of the Command, Omolola Odutola, made this known in a statement she made available to journalists in Abeokuta on Saturday.

It will be recalled that kidnappers, on Friday, abducted some travellers on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, including Lagos State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Philip Aivoji.

According to Odutola, the intervention of the police led to the release of nine out of ten hostages, as only the PDP chairman remained in captivity.

Odutola said, A White Mazda Bus registered as LSR 288 XE was slightly damaged, while Eunice Afolake Osalusi f, Erinfolami Samuel m, Obafemi Da Altantra m and Adeyinka Mathew sustained non-life threatening bullet injuries in their escape attempts. They are recuperating and stable in hospital.

Sadly, one Bilikisu Kazeem f aged 37 years, gave up the ghost before getting to the hospital. Her remains was immediately collected by her relatives who were conveying her to the hospital, declining any autopsy examination from the police.

She further listed exhibits recovered from the scene to include one AK47 Magazine containing 28 live ammunition believed to belong to the hoodlums, handsets and a car key.

The police publicist noted that the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations has mobilised tactical commanders on joint operations with other security agencies to ensure that the PDP chairman is rescued unhurt.
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi said that President Bola Tinubu deserves the Guinness World Record for causing Nigerians the most hardship.

Tinubu had recently bragged that he deserved to be included in the Guinness World Records over his performances in Nigeria since he assumed leadership.

Reacting to the comment while speaking with Vanguard, Peter Obi agreed if Tinubus intention was to be recognized for causing Nigerians the most hardship.

He said, He may actually be correct when he claims that his name deserves to be in the Guinness World Records. Dont forget that peoples names dont always make it into the Guinness World Records for only altruistic reasons.

So, it depends on which angle he is coming from. If the idea is to put his name in the Guinness Book of Records for causing Nigerians the most hardship  untold hardship, of course he is spot on and I will totally agree with him because his reforms are not achieving what they are meant to achieve.

Reflecting on the 2023 general elections, Obi highlighted two lessons: the commitment of Nigerians, especially the youth, to good governance and the realization that many leaders in the elite class are not genuinely interested in good governance.

He said, Well, for me, the biggest lesson (from the 2023 general elections) is the fact that Nigerians are actually committed to good governance. They are not as complacent as people thought they were because they, especially the youths, were actually committed to doing the right thing. That is why they came out in their numbers to participate in the elections.

The second lesson is the realisation that the leaders, most people in the elite class are not actually interested in good governance because you can classify the electoral umpire as part of the elite class, the government, all of us are not prepared to do the right thing because if the elites are prepared to do the right thing, the result or the outcome of the election would have been different.

When asked about his assessment of the governments performance, Obi deferred to the general opinion of Nigerians, emphasizing the increased poverty levels and uncertainty about basic necessities.

The former Anambra governor emphasized the critical nature of the current situation and urged people to ask Nigerians on the streets for a more accurate perspective.

That is really a question for the generality of Nigerians to answer. Ask the average Nigerian how he is faring today. The truth is that we have many more Nigerians thrown into poverty, millions of Nigerians dont know where the next meal will come from. Nobody is sure what the price of a cup of rice, garri or a loaf of bread will be tomorrow. So, it is Nigerians that you should ask the question.

It is not a question for me to answer. It is not something I alone will tell you. Ask Nigerians, the masses out there on the streets of Nigeria and you will get a feel of what they are going through. But I know that the situation is critical, he said.

KanyiDaily recalls that Peter Obi recently slammed President Bola Tinubu for the approval of N3 billion for the verification of the National Register of the Poor.
A 37-year-old woman, Bilikisu Kazeem has died after she was shot during a gun duel between the police and kidnappers on LagosIbadan expressway.

Police Spokesman in Ogun State, Omolola Odutola, in a statement on January 27, said nine out of ten hostages were rescued from the suspected kidnappers during the encounter.

National Daily reports that kidnappers, on Friday, abducted some travelers on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, including Lagos State Chairman of the PDP, Philip Aivoji.

ALSO READ: Gunmen abduct Lagos PDP chairman

According to Odutola, the intervention of the police led to the release of nine out of ten hostages, as only the PDP chairman remained in captivity.

Speaking on casualties recorded, Odutola said Sadly, one Bilikisu Kazeem f aged 37years, gave up the ghost before getting to the hospital. Her remains was immediately collected by her relatives who were conveying her to the hospital, declining any autopsy examination from the police.
Unknown gunmen have abducted the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Abia State University, Uturu, Professor Godwin Emezue.

The Abia State Police Command in a statement on January 27, said the report of the Deputy Vice Chancellors abduction was received by the Command on Friday at about 9:30 pm.

According to the commands spokesperson, Maureen Chinaka, the information it received said that at about 7 pm of the same date, Emezue, while in the company of his wife in their vehicle, was abducted by hoodlums while purchasing fuel at a petrol station in Umuekwu Amachara, Umuahia South LGA of the State.

According to the report, the hoodlums confiscated his wifes ATM card, dragged the Deputy Vice-Chancellor into a Lexus SUV and drove away.

We urge Abians to remain calm and continue their legitimate activities while maintaining vigilance & being security conscious.
File photo

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on Friday said it has suspended indefinitely the Aviation Security Officer, Jennifer Luka, who was involved in an alleged $600 theft at the Yola International Airport.

FAANs General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, made this known on Friday in a statement in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a female staff member of FAAN, Luka, was arrested at the Yola airport for allegedly stealing 600 dollars belonging to a female pilgrim, Hafsat Mohammed.

Yakubu said the suspension would remain effective pending the completion of investigation into the case.

The authority has consequently handed over the erring officer to the appropriate security agency for further questioning and prosecution.

FAAN deeply regrets this unfortunate incident and the conduct of Jennifer, which does not reflect the values of the authority and its staff, she said.

Yakubu assured the general public that the airports remained safe and secure for travellers and other airport users.

She also said FAAN remained committed to its core values of safety, security and comfort of passengers and airport users.

The Adamawa Police Command spokesman, DSP Suleiman Yahaya, said Luka discovered pepper in the bag of Mohammed which she threatened to seize, if she was not given bribe.

Yahaya said the FAAN official was given 10 Saudi Riyal by the pilgrim to allow her to go with the pepper.

The spokesman said it was during the bribe negotiation that the lady took 600 dollars from the womans bag.

Yahaya said when the pilgrim later discovered that her money was missing, she raised the alarm and the money was found in possession of FAAN staff.
Jennifer Stahl in Aszure Bartons and Sam Shepherds Mere Mortals. Chris Hardy/San Francisco Ballet

No one alive today knows how big a riot really took place when The Rite of Spring premiered in 1913. We do know that the uproar ingeniously orchestrated by Ballets Russes impresario Serge Diaghilev was good for the future of ballet, placing dance at the nexus of risky new music, theater and visual art.

On Friday, Jan. 26, a packed War Memorial Opera House saw San Francisco Ballet Artistic Director Tamara Rojos attempt to be a Diaghilev of our time. It was Rojo who brought together British electronica composer Floating Points, Canadian choreographer Aszure Barton, and Barcelona-based designers Hamill Industries. It was Rojo who gave them the assignment: the Pandora myth as a meditation on artificial intelligence. Did Rojo aim for a succes de scandale? What she scored was sheer popular hit: A passionate standing ovation met the premiere of Mere Mortals.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Jennifer Stahl and Parker Garrison in Aszure Bartons and Sam Shepherds Mere Mortals. Chris Hardy/San Francisco Ballet

This was a stunning integration of movement, sound and visuals, and yet the greatest glory here belongs to Floating Points, whose given name is Sam Shepherd. The score, his first for ballet, is a thing of sonic wonder, combining the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra under music director Martin West with Shepherds use, from the pit, of electronic instruments such as a 1963 Buchla synthesizer. Shepherds music constantly arrests the ear with new textures and effects, but builds to them carefully, with a film composers ear for lyricism and a sculptors sense of form. Its an absolute aural roller coaster.

Bartons choreography met the intensity of the score with a mass of 40 dancers cloaked in costume designer Michelle Janks broad-shouldered coats and capes, the better to swirl, huddle and command the stage like hit-man goons while Prometheus, danced by Isaac Hernandez, stole fire from the heavens with a burst of video effects.

San Francisco Ballet cast members deliver a memorable performance in Aszure Bartons and Sam Shepherds Mere Mortals. Chris Hardy

The mass statements are certainly the lifeblood of the piece, whether the dancers are marching in militaristic lines or collapsing into an eerily inhuman heap that gives rise to the newly formed Pandora (Jennifer Stahl, entrancing), who slinks into the world in shiny latex. And yet, its the quieter passages I most wanted to watch again.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Wei Wang has a beautifully bird-like entrance as Hope, rising magically from a lake of stage fog, and an even lovelier final solo with avian arms to rival Anna Pavlovas. Stahl and Parker Garrison, as Epimetheus, share a tender duet in which he cups her buttocks and she repeatedly positions her crotch near his face with their hands linked through her legs, their connection somehow sweet and innocent as a daisy. Its a long, loosely structured pas de deux, and yet the audience held silent with attention. (Shepherds choice to combine a delicate harp solo with the eerie song of a Therevox analog synthesizer during this scene greatly contributed to the rapture.)

More Information Mere Mortals: Through Thursday, Feb. 1. $29-$495. War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave., S.F. 415-865-2000. www.sfballet.org

In the Ballets Russes era, artists such as Picasso painted sets. In the 2020s, design firms produce AI-aided video. Bartons brilliance was to cede the stage. When Pandora unleashes grievous cares for men (as Hesiods version of the myth put it circa 700 B.C.E.), Pandora stands stock-still in silhouette, video clouds rushing past in unnatural patterns and terrifying formations. The vision of Earths atmosphere gone haywire triggered for me a deep sadness  not about artificial intelligence, but instead about climate change.

San Francisco Ballet cast members perform in Aszure Bartons and Sam Shepherds Mere Mortals. Chris Hardy/San Francisco Ballet

And what to make of Mere Mortals as a rethinking of the Pandora myth? The audience does not need to identify or follow the characters to be absorbed  that is proof of the works undeniable sensory impact. But in her impresario role, Rojo was inspired by Natalie Haynes 2020 book, Pandoras Jar: Women in the Greek Myths, which points out that Pandora, like Eve, is ripe for feminist reclamation.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Barton depicts Pandora not as full of deceits and wheedling words, as Hesiod makes her, but innocent, almost puppyish. This is appealing, but not revelatory. More puzzling yet, the ending of the whole ballet is weirdly abrupt: Hope returns, and the ensemble shimmers with him in entrancing gold bodysuits. Perhaps its not utopia, but it does feel like frictionless redemption, all the better to slide right out into the lobby for a DJ music set and cocktails.

Jennifer Stahl and Parker Garrison in Aszure Bartons and Sam Shepherds Mere Mortals. Lindsey Rallo/San Francisco Ballet

The after-party, it has to be said, was a seamless and brilliant addition. (Every evening performance will be followed by such revels.) Overhearing partygoers exclaim This is my first time at a ballet! is a significant part of Mere Mortals success. Is it ungenerous, then, to yearn for more discomfort? To want a lingering shock prompting further rumination on humanitys dark proclivities in the afterglow of such spectacle?




Scene of the attack in South Africa

Several foreign shop owners in Jeppestown South Africa, are still counting the cost of the destruction left behind in the aftermath of their shops being shattered on Sunday night September 1.

Two car dealerships in Kaal and Jules streets were among those damaged, and over 50 cars were burnt at night.

The Sunday night violence reportedly escalated to Monday morning when more shops were ransacked by a mob of residents.

Nigerian car dealership owner Kennedy Orji estimated his losses as a result of burnt cars to over R3m.

I sell used cars and 30 cars that were my bread and hard-earned investment were burnt to ashes and I dont know why, said Orji.

Orji said he was woken up by friends and security who alerted him that his car dealership was going up in flames.

My heart broke as I helplessly watched everything perishing into flames. Im lost for words and aggrieved because my own black brothers and sisters did this cruel deed to me.

He said he had been in SA for many years and started the car-selling business from scratch.

Another shop owner, Micky Jacobs, said: All we want at this point is South Africa sanctioned, because until that is done these xenophobic and criminal attacks will proceed.

Jacobs said he was earning a living by running his own shop to support his family.

South Africans need to remember that during apartheid neighbouring countries fought with them, our fathers fought for them.

We are Africans who are being chased out of our own African country because of unnecessary hate and unproven allegations, he said.

Jacobs said it was becoming a norm to use Nigerians and Pakistanis as scapegoats for criminality.

See more photos below:
The Osun State Police Command on Friday said it had arrested 13 persons suspected to be involved in violent crimes on major highways and towns in the state.

Police Spokesperson in the state, SP Folashade Odoro, made this known in a statement and reassured residents of the safety of their lives and property.

She said that the arrest of the suspects resulted from raiding of criminal hideouts and black spots along major highways and environs, and the unrelenting effort of security personnel in the state.

Odoro said that the measures were being taken to put an end to all forms of violent crimes and criminal activities across the state.

The arrested suspects are presently undergoing an investigation to ascertain their level of involvement relating to violent crimes on major highways and towns within the state.

More so, in the interest of peace and tranquility, the command is using this medium to warn all rumour mongers against all acts of misinforming the public through social media platforms.

This is done through circulating false rumours, thus, creating the wrong impression of insecurity and crisis in the state.

The Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Ige, reiterates that the existing peace in the state, which is not negotiable, will be sustained as visibility policing is being intensified to forestall any break down of law and order, she said.

Odoro advised the people of the state to go about their lawful businesses without fear of any intimidation.

(NAN)

Share this:
Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms globally, with a user base of hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Users looking to become top influencers find IGs size and diversity highly appealing, and businesses see the app as an ideal way to build their brands and find prospective customers.

However, they also quickly learn that its almost impossible for newer accounts to gain traction on Instagram. While having engaging content and using relevant hashtags are effective steps for adding small numbers of followers, that wont make much of a dent. The IG algorithms award the largest audiences on the app to accounts that are already enormously popular and those that are rapidly adding followers.

Thats why buying Instagram followers becomes almost a necessity for users who want to become influential and important. Purchasing real followers (those with legitimate IG accounts, not fake followers created with bots) shows the algorithms that your account is growing and your content deserves more exposure. Your larger audiences can potentially trigger powerful organic growth and a large follower base.

Websites that sell fake followers dont contribute to growth and could tank your account. Its imperative that you only deal with reputable Instagram providers, like these best sites for buying Instagram followers in 2024.

Founded in 2012, Buzzoid has over a decade of experience helping Instagram users grow their profiles effectively. The key benefit of using this platform is they have the expertise needed to ensure all Instagram rules are followed and powerful growth results from the engagements they provide.

Buzzoid can quickly deliver anywhere from 100 to 20,000 Instagram followers at reasonable prices, and also offers premium followers that work even more effectively with the algorithms to power growth.

Other key benefits of buying IG followers from Buzzoid:

Fast delivery in a matter of a few minutes, anonymously.

24/7 customer support is exemplary, ensuring clients get the right assistance in their social media journey.

User experience is ideal, allowing fast checkout and payment.

Thousands of businesses, influencers, and celebrities use Buzzoid followers to boost their Instagram presence, largely because of the powerful audience and organic popularity boosts they say they receive.





Users purchasing Instagram followers need a service thats experienced, reputable, and known for delivering proven results. Twicsy has met and exceeded all of those criteria for more than a dozen years, supplying some of the highest-quality followers and results available anywhere. Some of the features that make Twicsy a standout service are:

Standard and premium packages available, ranging up to 20,000 purportedly real IG followers.

Prices are generally not higher than any other reputable Instagram service.

Secure ordering process and rapid delivery.

24/7 support team to answer questions, solve problems, and create custom packages.

Results that match Buzzoids effectiveness and power.





For potential Instagram influencers and businesses looking to build a strong presence online, Rushmax is an ideal choice. With a client base of over 100,000, the service ensures users get their desired results quickly by delivering nicely priced, purportedly real, standard or premium followers to their accounts.

Some of the key features that make this service stand out:

They promise users will be kept anonymous.

Delivers followers quickly after orders on their website.

Around-the-clock customer support is available from experienced reps.

Potentially strong organic growth from their engagements.





24/7 customer support ensures users are cared for before and after purchases.

Other Services You Should Consider

All of these providers will deliver real Instagram followers to your account, but they didnt qualify for full reviews and recommendations because of at least one quality that didnt match those of our top four choices.

Flexlike  A good option.

MegaFamous  Good prices.

SocialWick  A quality service.

Blastup  Excellent results and good service.

Social-Viral  A heritage service with a devoted following.

Media Mister  A decent provider.

QQTube  You can choose where your followers live.

RealSocialz  Another option.

Growthoid  A budget service.

Krootez  Good for comments.

VIP Likes  A monthly subscription service.

Viralyft  Their followers and service are great.

Famoid  A decent service.

Is it safe to buy Instagram followers?

Buying Instagram from reputable services will help ensure that a user does not violate the apps rules, with the goal of keeping their account safe. A business or individual user is bound to face issues when they use fake followers sold by scammy websites.

Choosing the best site to buy Instagram followers

Choosing a trustworthy site for IG followers involves looking into factors like whether they deliver 100% genuine IG followers with real accounts on the platform, checking their pricing, delivery speed, website security policies, and customer support services, and seeing if they have good reviews from previous users.

Its easy for scammy sites to fake much of that information, though. Your best defense is to use a reputable Instagram providers that deliver purportedly real IG followers with the goal of keeping your account safe.

Final thoughts on the best sites to buy Instagram followers

A powerful social media presence helps boost business growth and could propel ordinary users to influencer status. Thats why many businesses and individuals looking to become important on Instagram want to purchase real followers, giving them increased visibility on the system and generating strong organic account growth.

The most important decision any user faces when taking this route is choosing the right service provider. These reviews are designed to help readers make that crucial decision and start their successful Instagram journey.

The reader is responsible for complying with any applicable Terms of Use for Instagram and any other sites.

This provided content was produced by Lee Enterprises. The news and editorial departments had no role in its creation or display.
WILMINGTON  Authorities were evacuating homes Friday in northeastern Illinois after an ice jam break along the Kankakee River led to major flooding that was threatening about 200 homes.

A flash flood warning was in effect until mid-morning Saturday for Will and Grundy counties, specifically Wilmington, about 50 miles southwest of downtown Chicago.

An ice jam break caused the Kankakee River to rise about 3 feet, threatening areas between Wilmington and Phelan Acres, officials said.

Officials said about 12 miles of ice jammed up the river and as it melts, it not only is causing flooding along the river, but remaining chunks of ice could damage buildings and other structures as they float downstream.

Will County officials said Friday morning that the flooding occurred "suddenly" and alerts were sent to residents on their phones "advising them of the rising water levels and the need to evacuate."

The Will County Emergency Management Agency was working to evacuate the area, where officials said about 200 homes along the Kankakee River are at risk and two roads were closed until further notice.

Resident Daniel Beck was among 14 people who were evacuated from their homes to a temporary shelter and he told WBBM-TV that the flooding was "devastating all these homes."

Another resident, Julie Schmitke, said she had to be carried during her evacuation because she only has one leg.

"They had to carry me to a drier room, and I was just waiting there for the ambulance to come and transport me here," Schmitke said.

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
Private Legal Practitioner, Lawyer Martin Kpebu, is hopeful that the transfer of Madam Cecelia Dapaah, the former Sanitation Ministers case from the Office of the Special Prosecutor to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) will be an opportunity that has been bequeathed to the latter to prove skeptics wrong.



The learned Lawyer revealed that despite the skepticism among some Ghanaians that EOCO may not do justice to the case as expected, the transfer done by Mr. Kissi Agyebeng offers the anti-corruption agency, an opportunity to prove the sceptics wrong.



All government agencies, as long as they are funded by government, government has some influence. Even Martin Amidu said it. As special prosecutor, he said that President Akufo Addo is interfering too much.



So naturally, I will also join in that concern. And the concern is positive. Once people show they are apprehensive, then that is an incentive for the state institution, in this case EOCO, to prove us wrong. So, this should be an incentive for EOCO to prove us wrong. The lack of trust is positive, because the moment we all end up praise singing of a state institution, there is the incentive to be complacent. So, I see it as positive that people are vigilant and weary because of the context, and clearing agent issues.



The Lawyer made this commentary while granting an interview on TV3s Ghana Tonight with Alfred Ocansey.



Lawyer Martin Kpebus comment comes on the heels of the SP's formal announcement of his outfit handing over the case to EOCO because, the Office has determined that the crime borders largely on money laundering, which falls within the mandate of EOCO.



Mr. Kpebu argued that it is not every money laundering case that EOCO takes up.



"Recently, the Supreme Court has been very clear about this jurisdiction of money laundering. The Supreme Court said even the EOCO that the OSP has sent this case to, EOCO doesn't have 100% mandate in all money laundering cases. EOCO's mandate, in the recent Supreme Court ruling- Ex parte Ibrahim Malik, is that EOCO's mandate to do money laundering cases is limited to cases in which the money is government money.



If you hear money laundering, it means there is a predicate offence. And a predicate offence is which offence was committed to get that money which is now going to be laundered. And when we say laundered, meaning washing- you've stolen money, you've gotten money from cocaine, you've gotten money from defrauding by false pretenses, name the crime. So, you've got money from a certain crime and now you want the money to look legitimate. So, the person brings the money to do real estate business and other businesses government money. So far, Mr Agyebeng has not told us the predicate offence, he explained, he disclosed.



The Human Rights and Anti-Corruption lawyer, therefore suggested that based on the Supreme court decision, it is safer that EOCO involves the police so that if it turns out that the matter is not for EOCO, because the police are involved, they take over quickly. Rather than EOCO does it alone and sees that the money is private, it's not government money and it has to send it to the police.



In future, it means that OSP has to bring in the other agencies. So that at every stage they know what is going on. So that if they take over the case, they don't have to re-event the wheel," he suggested.

Source: Kobina Darlington/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 Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has been on a working visit with a Ghanaian delegation to Estonia this week, holding talks on their digitalization journey, framework and impact.



While Ghana has made remarkable strides in the past seven years in the area of digitalization, Estonia is a global giant as they are widely regarded as the most digitally advanced country in the world.



During one of the meetings with Dr. Bawumia in the Estonian capital, Tallinn, officials of e-Estonia Academy which is one of Estonia's national digitalization agencies, revealed how the decision to digitize the nation and public services has immensely contributed to their fight against corruption.



"We inherited a very corrupt public system and there was the urgent need for us to do something", a senior official of e-Estonia said.



The official continued; "Digitalization has really helped us to sanitize the system and weed out corruption. As one of our former leaders used to say, 'you cannot bribe a computer'."



Apart from removing human interface in public service delivery, digitizing Estonia has also helped the country to maintain an efficient revenue generation through a transparent tax system where people and businesses easily file their tax returns online from the comfort of their homes.



Corruption Fight In Line With Dr. Bawumia's Vision



Estonia's success story in fighting corruption through digitization is in line with Dr. Bawumia's quest to ensuring same in Ghana.



Dr. Bawumia maintains that by digitizing many public services such as application and renewal of drivers license, passports, NHIS registration, port clearance among many others in Ghana, human contacts have been reduced significantly and corruption will be dealt a fatal blow once all these services fully integrate their database with the Ghana Card database which would not require holders of Ghana Card to physically show up at other offices or agencies to access services.



Even at this growing stage of Ghana's digitalization process, Dr. Bawumia maintains verifiable data at the DVLA, passport office and the ports shows considerable leap in revenue generation under online services as against meagre revenues generated before digitalization.



In 2016, he cited, before the application of passports went online, the passport office processed a total of 16,232 applications with a revenue of GHC1.1m.



Following the introduction of online application, the same passport office, in 2021, received and processed 498,963 online passport applications with a total revenue of GHC56.7m.



Data at other service providers also show significant increase in revenue, which, hitherto, would have ended up in private pockets.



At one of his meetings with the Estonian authorities, Vice President Bawumia reiterated his commitment and confidence in using technology to fight corruption in Ghana.



"As you have rightly said, a computer cannot be bribed and that is where we are going. Digitalization is an effective tool to fight corruption. You put in place an effective system which automatically fights corruption . That is the goal and we are on track."



Dr. Bawumia's delegation includes Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Mohammed Amin Adam as well as representatives from Ghana Revenue Authority, Volta River Authority, National Information and Technology Agency and the private sector; IT and Fintech companies.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Archbishop Kwaku Frimpong Manso Semanshya of Reconciliation International Community Foundation together with some apostles and in collaboration with the Local Council of Churches in Wiamoase has donated a variety of items to the All Nation Charity Home at Wiamoase in the Ashanti Region.



The items included boxes of bottled water, assorted drinks, clothing, biscuits, boxes of chocolate and more.



The founder and President of the foundation, Archbishop Kwaku Frimpong Manso Semanshya (BEM), delivering a speech during the event said; one of my desires in life is to support the vulnerable and underprivileged in society, especially women and children.



The church is a charitable institution that should take care of the needy and the underprivileged in society, he added.





This gesture is also to strengthen the relationship between the church and the orphanage.



Archbishop Frimpong Manso Semanshya appealed to benevolent organizations and individuals to replicate their action.

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 Paramount Chief of Kade Traditional Area, Osabarima Agyare Tenadu II, has engaged various stakeholders ahead of the New Patriotic Partys parliamentary primaries slated for Saturday, January 27, 2023.



In his effort to rally for a peaceful, free, and fair election in the Kade Constituency, Osabarima Agyare Tenadu II engaged stakeholders, including the Electoral Commission, the Ghana Police Service, officials of the NPP, as well as aspirants.



In a meeting with the head of the Electoral Commission for the Kwaebiberem Municipal Assembly, Osabarima Agyare Tenadu emphasized the need to ensure a peaceful process.



We are all aware that the New Patriotic Party will hold elections tomorrow, and as chief of Kade with the responsibility of ensuring peace for my people, it is incumbent on me to ensure there is no trouble and find a solution if there is a threat of any, he stated.



The idea is that if Kade, which is under Kwaebiberem, Akwatia, and Asamankese, all witness a peaceful election, that is when we can claim a peaceful country, he added.



Briefing the Kadehene on preparations made by the Electoral Commission, Mr James Haywood-Daddie, the Municipal Electoral Director, stated that all necessary resources and arrangements have been made for the election.



The election will come off tomorrow from 7 am to 2 pm. We started our preparation about a week ago, and as we speak, all the materials, including the ballot papers, have arrived, he said.



In terms of security arrangements, Mr Haywood-Daddie said the EC is working hand in hand with the Ghana Police Service and is assured of security for the election.



The aspirants are also aware of all the arrangements. In fact, on Wednesday, in the office of the police commander at Asuom, all the stakeholders were called for a meeting, and I gave every answer I am supposed to give as the head of EC. We also have a one-on-one engagement with the aspirants, he said.



Welcoming the assurance of the EC, Osabarima Agyare Tenadu II charged the commission and all the stakeholders involved in the election process to commit to and ensure peace, fairness, and transparency in the election.



The NPP will be electing parliamentary candidates in constituencies where the party has sitting MPs on Saturday.



In the Kade Constituency, five candidates, namely Alexander Kwadwo Agyare, Eric Ntiri-Mensah, Patrick Asomaning Darkwa, Kofi Ntow Kwaning, and Gifty Asare Obeyaa, are contesting for the partys ticket for the 2024 general election.

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 managing editor of the Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr., has questioned the absence of the Ashanti Regional chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, ahead of the NPP's parliamentary primaries.



Kwesi Pratt, speaking on a panel discussion on Peace FM's Kokrokoo on January 26, 2024, took a mocking tone as he highlighted the absence of Wontumi with less than 24 hours to the January 27, 2024 election.



"Upon all that we are saying; in the Ashanti region, despite the crucial NPP primaries, their chairman is missing. My own friend Wontumi is missing.



"Yesterday, I saw a photo of him on a sick bed that he is seriously sick, and some are alleging it to be typhoid, others are claiming it is malaria.



"When you look at his condition on the sick bed, then his typhoid is very serious because looking at a crucial election like this the chairman is missing, he said.



Meanwhile, Wontumi will appear before the Kumasi Traditional Council on January 29, 2024, on the back of a summons issued earlier this week.



Chairman Wontumi is accused of making disrespectful comments directed at lowering the authority of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.



The NPP was summoned to produce him before the council on January 22 but its General Secretary reported that he was sick and unable to appear on the said date.



Wontumi's appearance before the Council became the subject of controversy after a website associated with his radio station reported that the Asantehene had ordered the summons to be stood down.



Other sources at Manhyia dismissed the report which was gaining currency, two days after the January 29 date was announced.



Opemsuo Radio, a channel affiliated with Manhyia Palace, seat of the Asantehene has, however, announced that Wontumi and others summoned by the Council will appear on the said date.



"Mr. Bernard Antwi Boasiako, known as Wontumi and co to appear before the Kumasi Traditional Council on Monday, 29th January 2024," their post on social media read.







Source: ghanaweb.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Embattled Ashanti regional chairman of the New Patriotic Party Mr. Bernard Antwi Boasiako popularly known as Chairman Wontumi was seen visiting some constituencies in the Ashanti region.



Mr. Bernard Antwi Bosiako was seen cheering to songs from some supporters of the NPP as he was ushered to the voting centre at one constituency in the region in a viral video.



The Ashanti regional chairman who is expected to appear before the Kumasi Traditional Council on Monday was seen to be on admission at hospital for an undisclosed illness in a post that has gone viral.



Video





Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ashanti Region, Bernard Antwi Boasiako also known as Chairman Wontumi has been ordered to appear before the Kumasi Traditional Council at the Manhyia Palace on Monday, January 29, 2024.This follows alleged derogatory remarks he made against the Asantehene about a fortnight ago.Chairman Wontumi is expected to make an appearance with Lawyer Maurice Ampaw who is also alleged to have made similar derogatory statements on radio.Management of the radio station on which the comments were passed was also summoned by the Kumasi Traditional Council.Chairman Wontumi was initially expected to make an appearance today, January 22, 2024, at the Manhyia Palace, however, he failed to for health reasons.On his behalf, NPP General Secretary Justin Kodua and Organiser, Henry Nana Boakye led a party delegation to the Manhyia Palace.The Bantamahene, Baffour Owusu Amankwatia (VI), in the absence of the Asantehene, sat in state.All factions of the Kumasi Traditional Council were represented at the Palace.Speaking on behalf of Wontumi, the NPP General Secretary pleaded that the accused had taken ill and requested two weeks for his recovery.

Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected]









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
China to step up training of highly skilled personnel

Xinhua) 15:20, January 27, 2024

BEIJING, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- China will step up the training of highly skilled personnel urgently needed in developing new industries and new growth drivers, an official with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security said Friday.

Focusing on areas related to major national strategies, the ministry will take innovative measures and launch projects to cultivate highly skilled personnel, said Wang Xiaojun, an official with the ministry.

In particular, efforts will be made to speed up the development of training programs for digital technology engineers, she said.

Last year, China provided government-subsidized vocational training to 18 million people, and supported the building of 115 training bases for highly skilled personnel, mainly covering areas including advanced manufacturing and modern services, according to the ministry.

Wang also stressed that migrant workers are an important part of China's industrial workforce, saying that large-scale vocational training will be provided to the group in various forms.

China aims to increase the proportion of skilled talent in its labor force to over 30 percent by 2025, with highly skilled personnel accounting for one-third of the total skilled talent, according to a guideline on skilled talent unveiled in 2022.

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Wu Chaolan)
From left, Pilar Svendsen, Shelbi Graifman and Alex Hughes hike in Yosemite National Park on the John Muir Trail, which leads to the Pacific Crest Trail on Feb. 17, 2021. Max Whittaker/Special to the Chronicle 2021

Optimization is sweeping the Western world, and the Bay Area may be its epicenter. In a tech-dominated culture, the frantic and relentless search for extreme efficiency, productivity and performance has become a sort of dogma that permeates not just work but personal life as well.

Even the most basic movement of human beings, walking, is not immune. Perhaps it should be.

In recent years, a phenomenon called Fastest Known Time, or FKT, has been rising in popularity in the hiking world. The objective is to walk (well, mostly run) a long-distance trail as fast as possible, hopefully setting a record thats then registered on the FKT website and affords bragging rights. While FKTs are logged around the world, its no surprise that the majority are recorded in the U.S., with a particularly high concentration on the West Coast.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Along the iconic 223-mile John Muir Trail, for example, the current FKT is 2 days, 19 hours and 26 minutes. Its the kind of breakneck pace that leaves little time for anything other than propelling ones body forward in a sleep-deprived haze. My hike of the John Muir Trail, by comparison, took 17 days and what I saw and experienced changed my life.

My wife, Martha, and I have spent much of our adult lives hiking through Americas national parks and along dozens of the worlds great long-distance trails. Moving at the human pace of 2 mph to 3 mph, we know what a profound experience these fast walkers are missing. Walking in the national parks has allowed us to experience them in the most intimate and authentic ways, using all our senses. Weve watched in awe as a grizzly bear ambled across the trail in front of us in Glacier National Park, heard the iconic call of the canyon wren as we hiked through the Grand Canyon, smelled the sweetness of ponderosa pine bark warming in the sun as we walked the high country in Yosemite, tasted the salt air as we walked the Ocean Path at Acadia National Park and felt the solid granite beneath our feet as we explored the trails of Isle Royale in Lake Superior.

A silver lining to the cloud of the pandemic these past few years is a growing embrace of the expansive health-related benefits of walking, especially in the outdoors. Shane OMaras recent book, In Praise of Walking, summarizes much of the recent research, concluding that, The evidence is extensive and  shows that walking enhances every aspect of our being, including physical and mental health, our social lives, and beyond.

It can also contribute to human intellect. Aristotle walked as he thought and taught in the Lyceum of ancient Athens, and the great philosophers of Romanticism walked for inspiration. William Wordsworth composed his poetry as he logged thousands of miles in the Lake District of England, Henry David Thoreau sauntered around Walden Pond as he developed his remarkable insights into nature and human nature, and conservationist and consummate walker John Muir walked a thousand miles to the Gulf of Mexico, discovering in the process what snakes  and nature more broadly  are good for: Theyre good for themselves, an original, biocentric idea that helped lay the foundation of the modern environmental movement.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

While Martha and I havent reached this level of cerebral distinction, our long walks  encircling Europes Mount Blanc Massif, tracing a transect across England on Alfred Wainwrights coast-to-coast route, marveling at the vast Arctic landscape on Swedens Kungsleden  have been opportunities to think and talk about foundationally meaningful topics: family, friends, relationships, the future.

But walking doesnt just help the self. It can also be a tool for social change and political expression. Marches, demonstrations and parades have advanced causes from civil rights to the environment. In 1930, Gandhi walked 240 miles on his Salt March across India to protest taxes imposed by the British and was joined by nearly 60,000 supporters along the way. Thirty-five years later, thousands walked the 54-mile journey with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. from Selma to Montgomery in Alabama to protest unfair voting laws, followed a year later by Cesar Chavez, who eventually was joined by over 10,000 people as he walked 340 miles on a March for Justice for migrant workers in California. Around the world, we continue to see the use of walking as a form of collective action persist to this day.

But perhaps the oldest collective use of this basic human movement is a search for the Divine. For centuries, pilgrims have intentionally walked to holy sites around the world for spiritual guidance, to be healed, as a form of penance or to fulfill religious obligations. Though Martha and I wouldnt describe ourselves as deeply religious, its hard to deny the spirituality of our pilgrimages along the Camino de Santiago across Spain, to Rome on the Via Francigena and through the hills of Japans Kii Peninsula to the ancient shires of the Kumano Kudo. (In what may be the ultimate irony, there are even FKTs for religious pilgrimages.)

Walking is an adventure all on its own; despite all the guidebooks and trail maps and apps, one never knows for sure whats around the next bend in the trail. Thoreau walked extensively around his native Concord, Mass., and his retreat at Walden Pond, but always found something new and interesting; even within the limits of a simple afternoon walk, he wrote, It will never become quite familiar to you.

No, Martha and I havent set any FKTs on our hikes; in fact, were comfortably ensconced on the other end of the spectrum. Maybe this is analogous to the contrast between fast and slow food. The former allows us to consume calories quickly while the latter allows us to taste more.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Writing metaphorically near the end of his life, Muir said it best, I only went out for a walk, and finally decided to stay out until sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in. There is deep meaning and joy to be found in walks  provided you go at a pace that allows you to find them.
Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.
The New Patriotic Parliamentary Primaries in Yendi witnessed a severe unrest during the sorting and counting of the ballot papers.



This was after some aggrieved party activists damaged electoral materials during the process of sorting out ballots.



The incumbent Member of Parliament for the Yendi constituency, Farouk Aliu Mahama, and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for MASLOC, Mrs. Abibata Shanni Zakariah Mahama, were battling it out to represent the NPP in the 2024 general elections



According to reports monitored by Peacefmonline.com, and filed by Kwabena Ntow, the commotion started after a supporter of Abibata Shanbi Mahama Zakaria, allegedly accused the official of the Electoral Commission of using indelible ink to mar the ballots of his preferred candidate.



During the confrontation, other supporters who had gathered around the area where the sorting was taking place joined in escalating the confusion which eventually brought the sorting and counting process to a halt.



All the ballots were apparently destroyed. Also, other properties at the venue were also destroyed by these irate supporters.



It is however unclear if the NPP will still continue with the primaries or slate it for another time.



Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service has arrested one suspect and is on a manhunt for others in the electoral-related offences.



According to a statement copied Peacefmonline, the Police, worked together with the Military, in line with our established protocols, to restore law, order and security in the area. No persons were injured during the disturbances, the statement added.







Source: Kobina Darlington/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
Energy Minister and sitting Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh has retained his seat.



He won the Manhyia South primary held on Saturday 27th January, 2024 by polling 486 votes representing 88.5% as against 63 votes polled by his contender, Helina Pinamang, representing 11.5%.



With this emphatic victory, this becomes Dr. Prempeh, affectionately called "NAPO", 5th term in Parliament having made his debut appearance on the constituencys political scene in 2008.



In a post on Facebook earlier in the day, the Energy Minister expressed optimism that the process was going to be smooth.



Manhyia South will once again, rise to the occasion, he said.



Dr. Prempeh also made the following remarks on his Facebook wall after filing his nomination:



In my remarks, I expressed my deepest appreciation to the rank and file of the NPP in the constituency for their unflinching support, since my debut unto the political scene of the constituency in 2008. Through their immense support, we have collectively achieved so much for our party and the constituency. However, I believe that, there is still more to do and so, have decided to avail myself, yet again, to the service of my people. Service, Sacrifice and Selflessness continue to remain my cardinal pillars as a politician.



I believe that, my performance as Member of Parliament, in all modesty, is a matter of public record and thus, will continue to work fervently to increase the fortunes of the party in the constituency, in support of the NPP Flagbearer, His Excellency, Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia next year.



I commit fully, to the democratic tenets of our party in this internal exercise and I have no doubt, that Manhyia South, my beloved constituency will, once again rise to the occasion to deepen the attractiveness of the NPP.









Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
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:

Groundwater is an essential but underappreciated resource worldwide. Credit: World Bank, CC BY-ND

If you stand at practically any point on Earth, there is water moving through the ground beneath your feet. Groundwater provides about half of the world's population with drinking water and nearly half of all water used to irrigate crops. It sustains rivers, lakes and wetlands during droughts.

Groundwater is a renewable resource, but it can take decades or even centuries for some aquifers to recover after they are depleted. Current understanding of this challenge is based mainly on where and how frequently people record measurements of water levels in wells.

In a newly published study, a team of data scientists, water specialists and policy experts compiled the first global-scale dataset of these levels. We analyzed millions of groundwater level measurements in 170,000 wells located in over 40 countries and mapped how groundwater levels have changed over time.

Our study has two main findings. First, we show that rapid groundwater depletion is widespread around the world and that rates of decline have accelerated in recent decades, with levels falling by 20 inches or more yearly in some locations. Second, however, our research also reveals many cases where deliberate actions halted groundwater depletion. These results show that societies are not inevitably doomed to drain their groundwater supplies, and that with timely interventions, this important resource can recover.

Portrait of a thirsty planet

Many factors determine groundwater levels, including geology, climate and land use. But groundwater levels that are dropping deeper and deeper in a particular location often signal that people are pumping it out faster than nature can replenish it.

Some of the 300 million measurements we compiled were recorded by automated measuring devices. Many others were made in the field by people around the globe. And these measurements paint a worrying picture.

They show that groundwater levels have declined since the year 2000 in far more places than they rose. In many locations, especially arid zones that are heavily farmed and irrigated, groundwater levels are falling by more than 20 inches (0.5 meters) per year. Examples include Afghanistan, Chile, China, Peninsular India, Iran, Mexico, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Spain and the U.S. Southwest.

Communities in Bangkok, Tucson and Albuquerque have found ways to replenish their groundwater sources.

Our second and more concerning finding is that in about one-third of the areas where we compiled measurements, the rate of groundwater decline is accelerating. Accelerated groundwater decline is common in dry climates where large swaths of land are used for agriculture. This suggests a potential link between groundwater-fed irrigation and intensifying groundwater depletion.

What happens when groundwater is overused?

Rapid and accelerating groundwater-level declines have many harmful effects.

Drinking-water supplies from wells and springs can run dry when groundwater levels decline. People and communities who rely on those wells can lose access to what may be their sole source of accessible fresh water for drinking.

For example, wells that supply fresh water to homes are running dry in California's San Joaquin Valley, where groundwater depletion has accelerated since the early 2000s. This problem is likely to continue and worsen unless action is taken to stabilize groundwater reserves.

Wells that run dry can also threaten crop production. Groundwater depletion has long been viewed as one of the greatest threats to global irrigated agriculture, because wells supply nearly half of the water used for irrigation globally.

In areas where groundwater typically drains to rivers, falling groundwater levels can reverse this flow and cause rivers to leak into the subsurface. This affects the river's ecology and reduces water supplies downstream. In the U.S., leaky streams are more common where groundwater withdrawal rates are high, highlighting how groundwater pumping can directly reduce the amount of water that flows underground into nearby rivers.

Groundwater declines can also cause land surfaces to sink. Land subsidence has increased flood risks in dozens of coastal cities worldwide, including Jakarta, Tokyo, Istanbul, Mumbai, Auckland and the Tampa Bay area of Florida.

In wet years, water managers in Fresno, Calif., pump water out of rivers and canals into recharge basins. There, the water can sink slowly into the ground and recharge groundwater supplies.

Farther from the coast, land subsidence can damage infrastructure. It poses a critical challenge in areas where groundwater levels have declined, including Tehran and Mexico City. In many cases, the main culprit is excessive groundwater pumping.

Finally, falling groundwater can cause seawater to move inland underground and contaminate coastal groundwater systemsa process known as seawater intrusion. When seawater intrudes, coastal aquifers can become too saline to use for drinking water without energy-intensive desalination.

How to replenish groundwater supplies

We also found places where groundwater levels are recovering. The strategies that communities used to replenish their groundwater sources included developing new alternative water supplies, such as local rivers; adopting policies to reduce demand for groundwater; and intentionally replenishing aquifers with surface water.

The town of El Dorado, Arkansas, saw its groundwater levels drop by roughly 200 feet (60 meters) from 1940 through 2000 as local industries pumped water from the aquifer. In 1999, a new policy established a pumping fee structure, giving businesses an incentive to find a new water supply. By 2005, a pipeline had been built to divert water from the Ouachita River to El Dorado. This new source reduced demand for groundwater, and groundwater levels have risen in the area since 2005.

In Bangkok, so many private wells were drilled for domestic, industrial or commercial purposes between 1980 and 2000 that groundwater pumping doubled and groundwater levels fell. Officials responded by quadrupling groundwater extraction fees between 2000 and 2006. Total groundwater pumping declined, and levels began to recover as users found other water sources.

In a valley near Tucson, Arizona, groundwater levels declined by 100 feet (30 meters) as withdrawals for irrigation increased after the 1940s. To help replenish the depleted groundwater, leaky ponds were constructed. These ponds are filled with water from the Colorado River that is moved hundreds of miles to the area via canals. As these ponds leak, they refill the depleted aquifer. Because of these leaky ponds, groundwater levels in the valley have risen by about 200 feet (60 meters) in places.

Our analysis shows how important it is to monitor groundwater levels in many locations. With groundwater levels declining in many places, communities and businesses that depend on it need accurate information about their water supplies so they can act in time to protect them.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

The approximately $2.7 billion in tourism losses from the 2018 Florida red tide bloom emphasizes the need to view harmful algae blooms as potential billion-dollar disasters. (Image by Antoine Hart, UCF). Credit: Antoine Hart, University of Central Florida

A new study from the University of Central Florida's Rosen College of Hospitality Management has found that the loss to tourism-related businesses due to the 2018 Florida red tide bloom is estimated at approximately $2.7 billion.

The research, performed in collaboration with the University of South Florida and Florida A&M University, was recently published in the Journal of Environmental Management. The work offers a profound understanding of the economic impacts of harmful algae blooms (HABs) on Florida's tourism sector.

One of the most striking conclusions of the study is the relationship between the severity of red tide blooms and their economic impact on tourism.

Contrary to expectations, the study reveals that low concentrations of red tide can have disproportionate economic impacts compared to more intense blooms.

This finding underscores the importance of how red tide information is communicated and perceived, influencing its economic fallout.

"The magnitude of losses from red tide show how important it is for the Federal and State governments to allocate appropriate resources for response and recovery to harmful algae blooms in our coastal communities," says Sergio Alvarez, the study's lead author and an assistant professor at Rosen College.

"In addition, coastal tourism businesses should consider harmful algae as a very real risk to the economic sustainability of their operations," he says. "It is essential that we find appropriate risk management tools for individuals, businesses, and communities that may suffer the economic impacts of harmful algae blooms."

About the study

The extensive research provides a comprehensive analysis of the economic consequences of marine HABs, particularly red tide, on coastal tourism.

With the 2018 Florida red tide bloom causing tourism losses of approximately $2.7 billion, it emphasizes the need to view HABs as potential billion-dollar disasters.

Substantial losses occurred in both Southwest and Southeast Florida, amounting to $1.27 billion and $1.35 billion, respectively.

This comprehensive study was based on a unique blend of data sources. It integrated detailed sales information from tourism-related businesses across Florida with state-of-the-art surveillance data on red tide occurrences.

The data was collected and analyzed from two key sources: the Florida Department of Revenue, which provided extensive sales tax collection records, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, through its red tide surveillance program.

The combination of these data sources has fortified the study's findings, making it a valuable resource for understanding the economic dynamics at play, Alvarez says.

He says the study provides vital data for policymakers, environmentalists, and tourism stakeholders while serving as a wake-up call to the general public on the significant economic implications of environmental phenomena like red tide.

More information: Sergio Alvarez et al, Non-linear impacts of harmful algae blooms on the coastal tourism economy, Journal of Environmental Management (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119811 Journal information: Journal of Environmental Management
Glens Falls Police have made an arrest related to the Jan. 24 shooting near the intersection of Pearl and Lawrence streets in the city that put one in surgery.

Paris J. Pettiford, 37, was arrested and is being charged on two criminal possessions of a firearm, 3rd degree, and one count of possession of a controlled substance 4th degree. He has not been charged with the shooting.

The above-mentioned defendant has not been charged with offenses pertaining to the original shooting incident, however he is believed to have been involved at this time as the incident remains under investigation, the police said in a statement. More charges are expected.

We are told that the man who was shot survived surgery and is in recovery.

On Jan. 25, according to a police press release, the Glens Falls Police Detective Division as well as several members from the Patrol Division executed a search warrant of a residence believed to be directly related to the shooting incident and found an illegally possessed firearm, a high-capacity ammunition feeding device, and a quantity of narcotics.

As a result, an arrest warrant for the above individual was issued and he then was taken into custody by Glens Falls Police Friday Jan. 26. He is being held without bail pending arraignment in Warren County Jail.

According to earlier reports, The Glens Falls Police Department said in a press release that they believe the attacker and the person struck knew one another and there was no further danger to the community.

I was contacted by the police chief last night, and we were assured that the neighborhood was safe. I have full confidence in the police, said Mayor Bill Collins in a quick interview on Thursday Jan. 25.

According to police, the attack happened at about 6 p.m. Wednesday Jan. 24. The arriving officer found the wounded person, bullet shell casings, and learned the identity of a person of interest. That person was later located and interviewed, the press release said.

The subject struck was transported to Glens Falls Hospital for medical treatment and further sent to Albany Medical Center for further medical treatment, the police press release says.

Lawrence Street Ridge Street and Cherry Street was closed to traffic for a period of time in the evening hours of Wednesday, according to police.

Anyone who was in the area who has any information related to the case is asked to contact the Glens Falls Police Department at 518-761-3840.
From Washington County Sheriffs Office: A Hudson Falls woman was arrested for allegedly selling narcotics and conspiracy in Fort Edward and Hudson Falls.

Atajah J. Prunty, 25 of Dix Avenue was charged with felony third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and felony third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance in the Village of Fort Edward and felony fourth-degree conspiracy in the Village of Fort Edward.

According to Sheriff Jeffrey J. Murphy, the Washington County Sheriffs Office arrested Prunty as part of an investigation into the sales of narcotics in the Village of Fort Edward. Prunty was also charged with conspiracy in the Town of Kingsbury Court.

Prunty is currently being held in the Warren County Jail as part of an investigation in Warren County. Prunty was arraigned in the Village of Fort Edward Court on the charges and was sent back to Warren County Jail pending future appearances in both the Village of Fort Edward and the Town of Kingsbury Courts.
From a press release: Warren County District Attorney Jason Carusone announced today that a Nebraska man has been sentenced to 15 years in New York State prison followed by 10 years of post-release supervision for attacking an elderly Warren County woman in her home in August 2021.

Samaan Adenti, 23, pleaded guilty to first-degree sexual abuse and second-degree burglary, both felonies, for crimes that occurred in the Town of Warrensburg on August 13, 2021. Adenti entered the womans home and forcibly subjected her to sexual contact before fleeing. He had no prior connection to the victim, and was identified as the perpetrator through DNA tests performed on evidence that he left at the scene.

Before beginning his New York State prison sentence, the defendant must first serve a sentence of 20-years-to-life in prison for the sexual assault and robbery of a woman that occurred in central Vermont days after the attack in Warren County. The victim in that case was a good Samaritan who tried to help him with a purported car problem.

The Warren County case was investigated by the Warren County Sheriffs Office. The Hon. Robert A. Smith, Warren County Judge, imposed sentence in the case.

District Attorney Carusone said, The combined efforts of the Warren County Sheriffs Office, the New York State Police Crime Lab, along with law enforcement in Vermont and New Hampshire were critical in the investigation, identification and prosecution of the defendant who now faces a combined sentence of 35 years to life for these heinous crimes. Should he ever be released, he will have to register as a sex offender and be supervised by parole. Our hearts go out to the victims and their families.
Pro-Palestinian messages line Clay Street outside the federal building in Oakland on Friday. Inside, a judge was hearing a case brought by Palestinian-rights groups accusing President Biden and top officials of aiding genocide in Gaza. Noah Berger/Special to the Chronicle Pro-Palestinian messages line Clay Street outside the federal building in Oakland on Friday. Inside, a judge was hearing a case brought by Palestinian-rights groups accusing President Biden and top officials of aiding genocide in Gaza. Noah Berger/Special to the Chronicle President Biden speaks during an event on the campus of George Mason University in Manassas, Va., on Tuesday. Susan Walsh/Associated Press

After hours of testimony Friday about the horrors being suffered by Palestinians in Gaza, a federal judge in Oakland said a ruling on whether to allow a suit against President Joe Biden, for allegedly enabling genocide by Israel, may be the most difficult judicial decision that Ive ever made.

What U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White must decide is whether, as lawyers for the Biden administration contend, the case involves a political issue that must be resolved by the executive branch of government and not the courts.

White seemed receptive to that argument at the outset of the four-hour hearing, observing that foreign policy is constitutionally committed to the political branches of our government.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

But after hearing from multiple witnesses about deaths of family members and destruction of neighborhoods in Gaza, he called the testimony gut-wrenching and said he would have to decide what are the limits of the courts powers within its constitutional framework. He promised to issue a timely ruling, which the losing side is likely to appeal.

The hearing took place hours after the United Nations International Court of Justice refused to dismiss a suit by South Africa against Israel and said it raised a plausible claim of genocide, defined by law as actions committed with the intent to destroy a national, ethnic, racial or religious group in whole or in part. While not ordering a cease-fire, the court told Israel to refrain from killing or wounding Palestinians in Gaza.

Pro-Palestinian messages line Clay St. outside the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building U.S. Courthouse on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. Inside, a judge was hearing a case brought by Palestinian-rights groups accusing President Joe Biden and top officials of aiding genocide in Gaza. Noah Berger Special to the Chronicle

The Bay Area suit was filed in November by Palestinian-rights advocates and individuals in the U.S. and Gaza whose family members have been killed in Israels counter-attack after the Oct. 7 assault by the Palestinian group Hamas. At least 26,000 Palestinians have died, a majority of them women and children, according to Gaza health officials.

The suit seeks court orders requiring Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to do everything they can to halt Israels bombing and siege of Gaza and withdraw their opposition to a cease-fire, which the U.S. has vetoed three times at the U.N. Security Council.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

One plaintiff, Laila El-Haddad, a journalist in Maryland whose parents are from Gaza, said she had lost nearly 90 members of her extended family to Israeli attacks, and described how one relative had bled to death in the arms of another family member.

As a taxpayer, my money is complicit in this ongoing genocide and destruction of Gaza, El-Haddad testified. President Biden could, with one phone call, put an end to this.

Ahmed Abofoul, born and raised in Gaza, is now a lawyer with the Palestinian-rights group Al Haq, another plaintiff in the case. He said he had lost more than 80 family members, including five children whose father encountered gunfire from Israeli soldiers every time he tried to retrieve their bodies.

The Gaza that we knew no longer exists, Abofoul said. Everything that we know has been destroyed, including the schools he attended and the neighborhood where he grew up.

The names of people killed in Gaza are read during a rally outside the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building U.S. Courthouse on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. Inside, a judge was hearing a case brought by Palestinian-rights groups accusing President Joe Biden and top officials of aiding genocide in Gaza. Noah Berger Special to the Chronicle

Another plaintiff, Dr. Omar Al-Najjar, said he had fled his home in Gaza and three other shelters since the bombing began. At the hospital in the southern Gaza city of Rafah where he now works, he said, more than 2,000 new patients a day need treatment for serious injuries and illnesses, there is little or no medication, and he spends all day in the hospital. There is no rest, said.Al-Najjar, testifying from Gaza.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The plaintiffs also provided testimony by Barry Trachtenberg, who heads the Department of Jewish Studies at Wake Forest University and has published a book on the Nazi Holocaust of Jews in World War II. As evidence of Israels intent, Trachtenberg cited statements by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu likening Hamas and its allies to Amalekites  a reference to the biblical passage in which a prophet says God has commanded Israel to kill all Amalekites, men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.

But Justice Department attorney Jean Lin told White that the evidence about Gaza was legally irrelevant. She cited the case of Rachel Corrie, a U.S. college student who was run over and killed by a U.S.-made bulldozer in 2003 while trying to protect a house in Gaza from being demolished by Israelis. Her family accused the bulldozer manufacturer, Caterpillar, of aiding Israel in war crimes, but the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the suit would interfere with U.S. foreign policy.

Policy regarding Israel must emanate from the political branches, Lin said. Allowing the current suit to proceed, she said, could cause international embarrassment and undermine foreign-policy decisions.
CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE  An attorney representing Wildwood Mayor Ernie Troiano Jr. against charges of official misconduct told the judge Friday hed been offered a job by the state Attorney Generals Office, the same office that is prosecuting his client.

Attorney Brian Pellonis news of the pending job offer took up much of Fridays status hearing in the case against Troiano, former Mayor Pete Byron and Commissioner Steve Mikulski.

Troiano told Superior Court Judge Brian DeLury that while he does not want to lose Pelloni, he also doesnt want to stand in the way of his lawyer getting his dream job. Troiano also questioned the states motives in offering the job to Pelloni now, when he had applied for it months back.

Pelloni said the position being offered was one prosecuting environmental crimes, a position he was interested in given his degrees in environmental science. Pelloni said he remains committed to defending Troiano and asked DeLury for a trial date as soon as possible.

DeLury gave the state a deadline of Feb. 9 to provide the court a memo regarding the ethics of the job offer.

Wildwood to discuss whom to name as administrator The Wildwood Board of Commissioners plans to hold a closed-door meeting Wednesday, to include a discussion of the city administrator.

A grand jury last year returned a 12-count indictment against Troiano, Byron and Mikulski, alleging they accepted health benefits as members of the Wildwood Board of Commissioners to which the state alleges they were not entitled.

They each face four counts: official misconduct, theft by unlawful taking, tampering with public records and falsifying or tampering with records.

All three have pleaded not guilty. Similar charges were dismissed last year, and the state brought them back before a grand jury, describing the dismissal as taking place on a technicality. DeLury declined to dismiss the charges, rejecting a motion from Troianos attorney seeking a dismissal in December.

Byron resigned as Wildwood mayor last year, under pressure after pleading guilty to unrelated federal tax charges. All three ran for office last year, with voters passing over Byron but backing Troiano and incumbent Mikulski, along with Krista Fitzsimons, who ran a separate campaign. In January, Troiano again became Wildwoods mayor.

The next hearing on the matter will be held at 11 a.m. Feb. 16 at the Cape May County courthouse.
ATLANTIC CITY  With city officials at an impasse over police staffing, Atlantic County Prosecutor William Reynolds has called for the commissioning of an independent study on the issue.

The city has 297 police officers, Reynolds said during the citys Clean and Safe meeting Friday morning, and 30 new officers on the way, which would increase that number to 327 once theyre sworn in.

In the last 19 months, there has been a constant, neverending dispute over appropriate staffing levels and the deployment of that unknown level of staffing for the community, according to a letter from Reynolds to Clean and Safe stakeholders that was sent out after the meeting Friday. The City of Atlantic City, the Chief of Police, the Police Union Representatives, and DCA have struggled to come to a resolution on either of these issues.

The call for the study comes as the city has seen five homicides since the start of the year.

Reynolds said none of the five incidents are related, and the general public was not at risk.

Police Chief James Sarkos said of those five cases, charges have been issued in three.

Its not like a person whos walking on Atlantic Avenue to go to The Walk, to go shopping is a person thats going to get attacked, stabbed or murdered. I dont think thats a reasonable belief, said Reynolds. But you also cant just make a general statement like, Everythings fine, right? Because you had five incidents that resulted in death.

Sarkos said the Police Department has needed more staffing and welcomed Reynolds proposal for a study.

Prosecutor calls for collaborative effort to address Atlantic City violence Atlantic County Prosecutor Will Reynolds said there needs to be a collaborative effort among city entities to address public safety issues in the wake of four killings that took place during the first week of the new year in the city.

Many others were in favor of Reynolds plan, including Council Vice President Kaleem Shabazz, who heads the bi-weekly Clean and Safe meetings.

Every elected person, every citizen in Atlantic City wants the place to be safe and clean. Thats not a dispute, thats not a question, said Shabazz. I agree with you, and Ill support you on that. We need to have an independent look at the staffing level. And I will introduce something to council saying that.

Jules Schwenger, president of the local police union, said discussions about staffing levels need to happen.

I think the prosecutor is reading my mind a little bit because I actually presented a staffing study proposal to the new monitor Tom Walsh yesterday. Its an independent one, and we have another proposal coming in, said Schwenger. However, you know, were open to anything. I think an independent person coming in and looking at it is great for all sides. And were looking forward to working together and moving forward.

Additionally, Schwenger said the city will have 287 officers next week due to retirements Feb. 1.

She said there needed to be work done to keep tabs on who was retiring and on backfilling officers, like the K-9 officer, sergeant, deputy chief and regular officer retiring next week.

But Fridays meeting was a good catalyst for organizations to share their thoughts on mitigating the staffing dilemma, she said.

I think now that weve improved some communication, and were looking for funding from different sources ... I think its reasonable to understand thats going to take a little time to figure out, Schwenger said.

Craig Callaway avoids subpoenas in Bailey's Atlantic City election lawsuit Political organizer Craig Callaway was not present on the first day of a trial in a case seeking to overturn the election results in Atlantic Citys 2nd Ward because he has evaded being served a subpoena, attorneys for Viana Bailey said Tuesday.

Reynolds said there needed to be an agreement to conduct the independent study by March 1. The study would then be done and disseminated to stakeholders by May 1.

A meeting after the partnered organizations got the report would be held by May 10, so the plan could be implemented by the Friday before Memorial Day.

I am once again calling upon this partnership to collectively work together, said Reynolds in his letter. We must adopt the following Action Plan to finally gain resolution to the matter at hand and prepare for the fast-approaching Summer of 2024.
ATLANTIC CITY  The Atlantic City Housing Authority voted to hire a consultant to help it apply to the federal government to demolish and replace Stanley Holmes Village on Thursday night and heard more complaints from tenants in various properties about the inability to get needed repairs done.

Diane Johnson of DNF Consulting Group will be paid up to $71,500 for federal Department of Housing and Urban Development compliance services, according to the resolution that was passed.

Johnson was previously the director of HUDs Newark field office.

The board also passed a resolution to give the elderly and disabled residents of Altman Terrace a 73% rent abatement for one month, to make up for a loss of hot water for about three-quarters of one month in the fall.

Tenants and building managers said they are being told the authority cannot purchase materials to complete projects at Housing Authority properties. Board members said there is enough money to buy materials but blamed HUD regulations for the slow purchasing process.

Angela Torres, head of the Altman Terrace tenants association, said the security booth at the building has needed repairs and improvements for years. It has no ceiling, which means it allows outside temperatures to come in, freezing security staff in winter and baking them in summer.

Torres and other residents work the booth.

Van Drew seeks meeting with HUD secretary at Stanley Holmes Village ATLANTIC CITY  After another winter outage of heat and hot water at Stanley Holmes Village,

We have no contact on weekends or at night, she said, because a microphone is not working properly. They have to get on that. Its my tenants safety, and I wont have it.

One reason it still is not done, I cant order supplies, building manager Brian Norwood said. You have got to ask your QPA (qualified purchasing agent Jerry Volpe) about it.

The managers have said Jerry (Volpe) is not giving them money to get supplies, said board member Charmaine Hall, one of two tenant board members.

The authority has been using a consultant as its qualified purchasing agent, Jerry Volpe of Governance & Fiscal Affairs LLC, which has been paid more than $500,000 for one years work even as trouble with procurement has continued.

Just to put this on record  these guys want to do the work but dont have materials to do it, board member Eli Gbayee said. He also is a resident of Stanley Holmes Village and has been living in a hotel for more than a month because of a lack of heat and hot water at his home, he said.

Torres also said water leaks are a constant problem.

Water comes through the walls, Torres said. Its all over. ... Something has got to be done.

Housing Authority Executive Director Tom Sahlin said he is working with the security director to take care of issues with the booth but that water intrusion issues will take longer.

In middle of cold snap, Stanley Holmes Village heat fails again Atlantic City was under Code Blue warnings for freezing temperatures in recent days, and the residents of the 420-unit public housing complex Stanley Holmes Village were again without heat or hot water.

Currently we have an RFP (request for proposals) out for an architectural and engineering firm, Sahlin said. Such a firm would have to handle the specifications for any facade improvements, he said. We have a very long list of projects.

Sahlin said HUD has told the authority it must use a slow procurement process, but Volpe is researching a resolution to speed things up while still meeting HUD regulations.

Landlord Lynda Hogan, of Mays Landing, came back to the board to again ask for help getting about $1,850 for one month back rent owed to her by the authoritys Section 8 housing voucher program.

I was here in October, when she was told her issue would be quickly fixed, Hogan told the board. But she said she only received a portion of the amount owed to her.

She said her tenant is a young mother of two children, one of whom has serious medical issues. Sahlin was told she had been paid in full, he said, but Hogan showed him documents proving otherwise.

Our finance department has to determine where did that money go, Sahlin said. At this point in time, I suspect there was a banking issue.

Sahlin promised to get it fixed quickly.

Judge orders 25% rent abatement to Stanley Holmes residents in lawsuit A judge on Tuesday ordered the Atlantic City Housing Authority to provide a 25% rent rebate to tenants in a lawsuit over lack of heat and hot water, gas leaks and other health violations at the 420-unit Stanley Holmes Village.

The board now has a vacancy, as state appointee Natalie Devonish declined to remain on it after her term was up, board President Stephanie Marshall said after the meeting.
WILDWOOD  The community is coming together to help several families after a fire destroyed a two-story building in the 300 block of East Juniper Avenue on Monday.

At 5:49 a.m., firefighters were dispatched to Juniper and Ocean avenues for reports of smoke coming from a two-story building that housed a total of 20 occupants. The fire remains under investigation.

But with the damage estimated at $475,000 and with families having nowhere to go, several places have begun accepting gift cards, food, clothing and other donations.

The American Red Cross also was helping the displaced families.

An expecting mother who was married to someone who works at Santucci's Original Square Pizza updated people that she and her family were OK.

"We started our life here together. It is gone but the memories will be forever in our little apartment. After the rain there is always a rainbow baby is perfectly healthy and kicking. Love you all," Brianna Armstrong said via Facebook.

Santucci's, at 402 E. 26th Ave. in North Wildwood, was accepting donations for the couple who lost everything due to the fire, including diapers and gifts from a baby shower the day before.

In addition, two GoFundMe pages were created. One was by Josslynn Cox for a victim and her two kids. The family was recovering from the death of their uncle less than a week before, according to the page.

Another page was created by Haley Brown for her two friends and co-workers, who were sisters, and one of their daughters.

One of the sisters sustained burns on over 30% of her body after she ran through flames to alert her sister and niece of the fire, according to the GoFundMe. She was airlifted to Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, where she was listed in stable condition, the Wildwood Fire Department said Wednesday.

Other places, like the J. Byrne Community Center at 401 W. Youngs Ave., were accepting a variety of items to be donated to the families.

And others, like Revolution Liquors at 101 E. Andrews Ave., were accepting Walmart gift cards for families.
The co-chair of Illinois' higher education committee said the state has "underfunded higher education for two decades."

Sen. Mike Halpin, D-Rock Island, wants to see a higher priority on funding higher education. He hopes to introduce a formula that would have resource costs built in so schools can use funds for those specific needs.

Rather than fund by crisis, Halpin said, the funds will be built in to ensure universities and colleges already have the resources.

The Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce hosted an Illinois Legislative Forum Friday, Jan. 26, in which state Democratic lawmakers Halpin and Rep. Gregg Johnson, along with state Republicans Sen. Neil Anderson and Rep. Dan Swanson, spoke on a wide range of topics. All four represent areas around the Quad-Cities.

Illinois' 2024 legislative session started last week.

Workforce

To address workforce development, lawmakers said that necessities, such as childcare and housing, must be affordable to allow further workforce growth.

Swanson said having more childcare options plays a key role in a stronger workforce.

Parents who work second or third shifts, he said, struggle to find childcare and can't work if they have no one to watch their children.

"We're looking at how do we help those second and third shift families maintain their jobs and provide housing and shelter for their children through daycare of some sorts," Swanson said.

Johnson said that along with workforce development comes the need to have affordable housing.

"If we're doing all the right things, we're training our workforce... creating business tax incentives, given developers incentives, we still have to make sure that we have housing for people when they come in here," Johnson said.

Halpin said that legislation has been filed for a workforce housing tax credit. The legislation would help provide housing for middle income households and allow them to transition out of older homes and into new housing.

Education

Co-chair of the Senate higher education committee, Halpin said it is important to make sure that Illinois has strong, educational institutions.

In an interview with the Dispatch-Argus/Quad-City Times December 2023, Halpin discussed looking at a new higher education funding formula. He also discussed the potential at the legislative forum.

The state legislature has created a commission to look at ways to create a new funding formula that would more equitably and sustainably distribute state funds to Illinois' public universities. It anticipates making recommendations to the legislature this year, meeting minutes say. Halpin and Swanson both serve on the commission.

The funding formula could improve investments at local universities, Halpin said, creating more research and job opportunities and ensuring schools can address student needs like counseling, career support and health care.

He is not sure legislators will be able to finish and pass a piece of legislation on it this spring, he said, but hopes conversations can begin.

Swanson serves on the appropriations committee for higher education and is the minority spokesperson for the higher education committee. He said that one of the things he asks colleges and universities is what their deferred maintenance dollars are.

"It is staggering the deferred maintenance we have in our universities and colleges and I mean millions and millions of dollars," he said.

The reason being, he said, is because they don't have that funding there for them. To help address the lack of maintenance funds, he hopes to look at grant dollars that could be used.

Halpin also told the Dispatch-Argus/Quad-City Times he would like to invest more the property tax relief grant program.

"(It's) a pool of money that schools can tap into in exchange for agreeing to lowering their property tax levy," Halpin said.

The state has consistently put millions into it since passing the evidence based funding model, Halpin said, but the problem is school districts apply for the money and it goes very quickly.

"I think some of our local schools that would love to be able to have that resource, are further down the list and aren't able to benefit from it," Halpin said at the December interview.

Halpin and Johnson also hope to continue investment in Smart Start Illinois. The program is an initiative Gov. JB Pritzker advocated for in the state's current budget. It is a multi-year program that aims to eliminate childcare and preschool deserts by 2027.

During the forum, Johnson said he is a little disappointed that funds from Smart Start did not get into the Illinois Quad-Cities but plans to have conversations with the governor to get funds directed to the region.

Immigration

Lawmakers also discussed migrants from Texas being bused or flown to Illinois by the order of Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott.

A majority of the migrants have been bused and flown to Chicago. Chicago's new arrivals dashboard shows as of 11 a.m. Friday more than 34,000 migrants have arrived in the city since Aug. 31, 2022.

Since 2017, Illinois has been a sanctuary state for undocumented immigrants. The legislation also prohibits local law enforcement from participating in immigration enforcement.

"We have to repeal the fact that we are a sanctuary state," Anderson said.

Anderson said the state needs to worry about funding things for its own citizens and that the influx of migrants is costing taxpayers.

Millions of dollars has been allocated for the influx of migrants.

Swanson said the federal government should be stepping up and offering financial support for the influx of migrants in Chicago.

It's more than just the state's issue to address, Swanson said, and that the federal government should step in to offer financial help.

Halpin shared similar sentiments as Swanson, saying that the "failure to have a policy in (Washington) DC is pitting states against each and it's causing budget issues."

Mental Health

An audience member asked the lawmakers about expanding mental health in higher education for students, staff and faculty.

Swanson said colleges did receive investment towards mental health and hopes they can continue to make investments.

The current state budget included $3.3 million for grants to public universities and funding for the state board of higher education to establish a mental technical assistance center.

In a December 2023 interview with the Dispatch-Argus, Johnson and Halpin advocated for further addressing mental health needs.

In early December, Johnson and other local elected officials visited Arrowhead Family Services in rural Coal Valley, which is a private nonprofit treatment facility for at-risk boys between the ages of 12 and 21. Whether at Arrowhead, local schools and universities, he said, mental health needs to be at the top of the list to address.

Halpin said the visit showed that there are strategies for success for individuals with behavioral health and/or mental issues but only so much can done with a limited amount of investment or financial resources.

"It's about building capacity here in western Illinois and making sure that we have enough providers and different types of providers," Halpin said. "We need to make sure we have a variety of providers ready to address it (mental health)."

Photos: Gov. Pritzker, officials, tout Smart Start Illinois in Rock Island visit
Three people were injured in a two-vehicle crash in Clinton County on Friday, the Iowa State Patrol said.

The crash occurred at U.S. 30 and 330th Avenue at 4:32 p.m.

According to the crash report filed by the Iowa State Patrol Trooper, a 2015 Ford Focus driven by Richard Thomas Reid, 71, of Camanche, was southbound on 330th Avenue.

Reid attempted to cross U.S. 30 when his car was struck by a 2013 Chevrolet Avalanche driven by Lisa Ann Seymour, 55, of Montour, Iowa. Seymour was westbound on U.S. 30 at the time of the crash.

Reid, Seymour and a juvenile passenger in the Avalanche, were taken to MercyOne Medical Center, Clinton, for treatment. Their conditions were not available late Friday.

The Clinton Fire Department, Clinton County Sheriffs Department, Genesis Ambulance and DeWitt Police assisted at the scene.

The crash remains under investigation by the Iowa State Patrol.
The St. Patrick Society has announced that the Grand Parade XXXVIII, the nation's only bi-state parade, will be held Saturday, March 16.

Parade organizers are seeking participants who express the spirit of St. Patrick and Irish Heritage and encourage family walking units and decorated floats.

Applicants of a purely commercial theme are not permitted.

The day will begin with a 10 a.m. Mass at St. Marys, 2204 4th Ave., Rock Island.

The Grand Parade honoring St. Patrick will start at 11:30 a.m. at the corner of 4th Avenue and 23rd Street in Rock Island. The parade will travel through downtown Rock Island, across the Mississippi River via the Stanley Talbot (Centennial) Memorial Bridge to West 3rd Street in Davenport and proceed east through downtown Davenport to the RiverCenter.

The post-parade bash will be held at the RiverCenter from 1 to 4 p.m.

For more parade information, email spsparade@me.com.

The Grand Marshal, Irish Mother of the Year and 2024 Scholarship recipient will be introduced at the Gathering of the Clan Luncheon on Friday, March 15, at the RiverCenter.

For luncheon reservations, contact vicquinn2016@gmail.com.

For full details of both events go to stpatsqc.com.

All nominations for the Irish Mother of the Year must be original letters of approximately 150 words.

A nominee should be involved in family, church and community; have a good sense of humor and demonstrate pride in her Irish ancestry.

The nominee also must be able to attend the St. Patrick Society Gathering of The Clan Luncheon on March 15 and the Grand Parade XXXVIII and Post Parade Bash on March 16.

Nominations must be received by Feb. 28. Mail nominations to the St. Patrick Society Attn. Irish Mother Nomination, P.O. Box 4487, Davenport, Iowa 52808.

The St. Patrick Society will award a $1,500 Scholarship at the Annual Gathering of The Clan Luncheon.

Applications are available from high school counselors or from Matt Wissing at wissingm@yahoo.com, or call 563-265-9353. Applications also are available at stpatsqc.com.

Eligible applicants must be related to a current member of the St. Patrick Society and be able to give evidence of the ability to pursue a college or university education, as substantiated by grade-point average, class standing, and SAT/ACT scores.

Involvement in extracurricular school and community activities also will be considered. Letters of recommendation from educators, counselors, employers and others are helpful.

Applicants are not judged on basis of need.

Applications must be received by Feb. 27. Mail to: St. Patrick Society Scholarship, P.O. Box 4487, Davenport, Iowa 52808.
Dirt and straw is in place, vendor stalls are set, and hundreds of animals are ready for their debut as the 2024 Black Hills Stock Show & Rodeo gets underway at the Monument this week.

Central States Fair President and Black Hills Stock Show Board of Directors member Jerry Cope spoke to those in attendance at the ribbon cutting Thursday, thanking all those involved for putting the event together and celebrating how big this years Stock Show is going to be.

The 2024 Black Hills Stock Show & Rodeo is expected to draw some 300,000 people from across the country this week.

From spectators to participants in the horse show, rodeo, vendors and entertainers, this year's event is expected to be the largest to date, officials said.

One of the former directors said that people are piling in like crazy, so that leads me to believe this is going to be great, Cope said. Traditionally we have about 400 vendors with a waiting list, where you can get everything from blue jeans, to bling for your wife, to even a guy from Mississippi up here that makes hand-made red cedar (drink) bars that hes selling.

Cope continued, This whole thing is exploding. Its becoming nationally known  its not just a regional show anymore.

Horse sales, a heifer show, an animal nursery, women of the western industry, trade shows, art galleries, the Special Rodeo for individuals with disabilities, team roping, door prizes, celebrity showmanship and live music will be just some of the events happening over the course of the week.

Rapid City Mayor Jason Salamun spoke to the crowd and complimented the Stock Show board and staff.

This takes a lot of hard work to make it happen, he said, adding what makes Rapid City special are the agricultural roots with family values, hard work and respect for the land.

Tourism is big here, but we also know agriculture plays a huge part in our economy, Salamun said. From my standpoint, Rapid City supports the agriculture community  the farmers and ranchers that keep things going.

Salamun encouraged everyone to get out and enjoy all the Black Hills Stock Show has to offer and to remember what makes it special  the people, he concluded with a Yee-haw!

General Manager of Central States Fair and the Black Hills Stock Show Ron Jeffries brought the energy to the podium, getting the crowed yelling in excitement.

Jeffries thanked the county commissioners, city council, law enforcement, staff and volunteers, and spoke about some of the events that will be taking place in the next week.

Theres great events coming up all week long, he told the Rapid City Journal after the ribbon cutting. Such great shopping opportunity like youve never experienced in the Midwest.

Jeffries continued by saying the Stock Show was founded on the cattle industry and how that is still the event's main focus to this day.

The first Black Hills Stock Show was held 66 years ago in 1958. At that time it was called the Winter Show and was held exclusively at the fairgrounds.

By 1966, the chamber handed the Winter Show to the Black Hills Exposition, which today is the Central States Fair, and the name of the event was changed to the Black Hills Stock Show.

While the ribbon cutting was underway, ranchers and farmers crowded the fairgrounds and The Monument as they prepped for the days ahead, brushing their horses and heifers, and prepping for their specific showcase events.

The smell of fresh hay, dirt, treated leather and manure filled the nostrils with a fine authentic sense of the Stock Show.

Mike Schwab and his daughter, Gracie, traveled to Rapid City from Englevale, North Dakota, in the southeastern part of the state, to compete in the heifer breeding class with their Simmental cows.

We do this every year, Schwab said.

Workers were still putting final touches Thursday on the fence railing, dirt and straw, and vendors finished setting up their booths and displays while some spectators perused The Monument of all the Stock Show will have to offer in the coming days.

The Cow Lot from Denver was working to put final touches on its vendor booth. Glenn Orms, owner and operator, delicately bent a cowboy hat to perfection as he spoke with the Rapid City Journal.

Orm's father was in the hat business, and now he carries on the tradition, relying on the Black Hills Stock Show for advertising and sales.

"We've been coming up here for seven or eight years," Orm said as he gently cleaned a cowboy hat with a small air compressor. "Last year was a record year for us. We did about $750,000 in business."

Saturday, Jan. 27, there will be live music featuring Potter County Line at the Cowboy Bar, located in The Monument, followed by rodeo autograph sessions, a youth Lego competition, daily door prizes and more live music.

Events continue through Friday, Feb. 2. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit BlackHillsStockShow.com or TheMonument.live/roundup.
Rapid Citys SPEAK Network is on a mission to prevent suicide. The organizations upcoming Positive Self-Discovery classes are designed to help people use their personal strengths to build resilience and cope with lifes challenges.

Our philosophy with the Positive Self-Discovery class is suicide prevention starts before the thoughts occur, said SPEAK Network founder Tamara Keefner, Ph.D. of Rapid City. Keefner is a registered nurse, researcher and educator for the University of South Dakota.

According to the South Dakota Suicide Surveillance Report published in 2022, South Dakota has the seventh highest suicide rate in the United States. In 2021, the most recent year for which data is available, South Dakota had 202 suicide deaths  22.6 deaths per 100,000 people  which is the highest rate ever recorded. From 2012 to 2021, suicide deaths increased 50% in South Dakota. Suicide ranks as the 10th leading cause of death in the state, and leading cause of death for people ages 10 to 29.

The Positive Self-Discovery classes are a four-week series that gives adults 18 and older the skills to build personal confidence and resiliency. The series is offered twice a year. The next series will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Feb. 1, Feb. 8, Feb. 15 and Feb. 22 at 1011 11th Street, room 107, in Rapid City. The cost is $49. Go to speaknetwork.org/positive-self-discovery-program to register and for more information.

The series teaches participants to recognize and cultivate their personal strengths, ways to improve self-regulation, and ways to resolve conflict in themselves and with other people. The classes use science-based, evidence based materials and positive psychology principles, Keefner said. Classes are taught by Mary Kurniawan, a licensed clinical social worker and counselor in Rapid City, with assistance from Keefner.

Our Positive Self-Discovery series is not just for people struggling with suicide. It identifies (a persons) strengths and how to use them appropriately  to make healthier choices and better choices, she said.

The principal behind it is to change your focus. You may make mistakes, you do have issues but heres some tools you can empower yourself with to get through those, Keefner said. Instead of looking more at whats wrong with a person, (positive psychology focuses) on whats good about them so we help  people to identify their strengths.

How can we prevent  suicide ideation or depression or feelings of inadequacy? (You learn about) the strengths you have to overcome those emotions and feelings, she said.

The Positive Self-Discovery series is not counseling nor is it intended to replace counseling, she said, but it can be a supplement to counseling.

We encourage participants, if they are currently seeing a counselor, they can take the tools we taught them and take it to their counselor. We encourage journaling, too, Keefner said.

Keefner founded the SPEAK Network, a nonprofit organization, to help fill the gap she sees in the care available for people who struggle with suicidal thoughts and behaviors. SPEAK stands for Suicide Prevention through personal Empowerment, community Action and Knowledge development. SPEAK Network provides evidence-based education and training, such as the Positive Self-Discovery series, that empower people to make positive differences in their own lives and learn the skills to intervene when someone else is in crisis.

While working in a behavioral health unit, Keefner said she witnessed many unnecessary hospitalizations for suicidal individuals.

I realized our community lacked support for individuals struggling with suicide attempts and thoughts. We would get people coming back frequently for suicidal ideations, she said. You find a lot of support groups for people who have lost someone to suicide, but not for people who are actively suicidal, so I started the SPEAK Network to help the community identify signs and symptoms of people (who are struggling with suicidal thoughts), Keefner said.

Providing evidence-based education classes is SPEAK Networks primary method of raising awareness and equipping people to fight back against the rising numbers of suicides.

With everything weve learned about suicide up to this point, were still seeing increases in suicide attempts, Keefner said. I think intervention and getting as many people in the community learning how to identify those people (who are struggling) and get them help is going to help the community decrease those suicide rates.

Another of SPEAK Networks classes are Question, Persuade and Refer, or QPR. The two-hour classes are free and offered twice a year. The next QPR class is March 13 and another will be held in September during Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month. The QPR class teaches fundamental skills necessary for basic suicide intervention and implementing a safety plan.

QPR is identifying somebody in a crisis and learning how to intervene and keep them safe until they can get to help, Keefner said. Its a skill you can use to try to keep them alive until help comes along.

Beyond whatever personal difficulties someone is facing, Keefner said the current state of the nation and world is taking a toll on people and contributing to the suicide rate.

With our political situation the way it is, with the division of communities, I think people are scared for the future. Theyre feeling the stress of the economy and trying to figure out how to survive this and get through this. Stress is a key factor there, Keefner said.

Feeling isolated and lacking supportive community also contributes to peoples struggles with confidence and self-esteem that may contribute to suicidal thoughts.

Feeling isolated and alone  I think social media has to do with that. Social media has its good points and bad points, because we tend to compare ourselves. (Other people) dont show you whats behind the scenes, Keefner said. Thats where were hoping our Positive Self-Discovery series will help people understand your life is good, too, and you cant compare yourselves to others. Thats not fair. You really dont know whats going on with them.

SPEAK Network and its courses offer a place to let people know theyre not alone in the challenges they face.

I think finding ways to help people connect with others who may be struggling with the same things is a good prevention effort, as well as to be able to talk about it and find out Im not all alone in thinking this or feeling this, Keefner said.

The SPEAK Network is still developing more resources for the community, Keefner said. Those will include educational videos on YouTube and a Facebook page for people whove completed SPEAK Network trainings.

For information about the SPEAK Network, go to speaknetwork.org. Keefner said the SPEAK Network is in need of more people to serve on its board. People in crisis and in need of immediate assistance should contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. The lifeline is available 24 hours a day in English and Spanish.
From the Board of Regents and legislative biennium meetings to school hallways and college classrooms, it seems like everyone is trying to predict how artificial intelligence will impact education in Montana and what to do about it. AI will be a fixture in the academic experience and professional future for every student in the state, and Montanas educators are trying to catch up.

We are hearing about it everywhere, said Todd Buchanan, vice chair of Montanas Board of Regents, the governing body for the states higher education institutions, at the January meeting in Helena. We understand that we need to get our arms around it. (We want) to be at the front edge of what we do and how we handle it.

Artificial intelligence  a rapidly growing form of technology that enables automated machines to think, learn and perform many of the same tasks as humans  became ubiquitous in what felt like a blink.

ChatGPT, a program that can answer questions or create images, texts or videos based on user prompts, was released in November 2022. Within two months, it had 100 million users, the fastest growing emerging technology in recent history, leapfrogging the likes of Facebook by a factor of years.

While the instinctual response of educators was to resist the infiltration of AI in the name of academic integrity, the tide has largely shifted. Words like inevitable, inflexion point and revolutionize were used by Montana policymakers to describe the technologys presence in just the last month.

Even creatures of academia, notorious skeptics of moving too fast or too soon, have started to recognize AI isnt some fleeting trend, but rather here to stay. Students of all ages are embracing it as a new normal, using tools like ChatGPT to solve math problems, write essays or conduct research.

Many experts say its best to assume nearly every student in a college classroom is using AI on assignments. One study concluded that 58% of high-school students surveyed had used the technology, with that number jumping to nearly 75% among students receiving special education, and 20% of teens have used it in schoolwork, according to PEW Research Center.

We have to get past the idea that theres something bad about AI, said Ron Yanosky, the Chief Information Officer of education consulting firm EAB during the University of Montanas AI Symposium on Jan. 16. We need to think about how we actually use it.

AI enthusiasts make a compelling case for the technologys potential as a tool for good.

K-12 teachers are experiencing record-high burnout, and schools are struggling with increasing vacancy rates and resignations. AI can ease the burden, according to Caitlin Byers from the Montana Digital Academy.

We think that AI can be an innovative solution for teachers, she told lawmakers during the joint Modernization & Risk Analysis and Education Interim Committee Meeting on Jan. 10. We want to keep good teachers in the classroom and support them.

With more students and fewer teachers, Byers said AI could make it easier to assess student proficiency, customize content for kids performing at different academic levels and connect with learners more efficiently outside the hours of direct instruction.

Laura Stanley, the director of the Human Interaction Lab at Montana State University, noted the technology can create more inclusive educational environments by identifying special learning needs and addressing them on an individual basis.

College campuses that incorporate AI into their curricula will set their students up for greater success in the workforce of the future, one thats highly digital.

As many as 2 million manufacturing workers will have their jobs replaced by AI, according to MIT and Boston University research. Another report from a global investment bank concluded that AI could eventually replace the equivalent of 300 million full-time jobs, but it could also raise global GDP by 7%.

Schools can start integrating AI literacy  how to understand the technologys capabilities, limitations and ethical considerations  into college coursework to create a skilled labor force in this new economy as well as a generation of responsible AI practitioners and informed citizens, Stanley said.

UM is funding a number of $10,000 grants to support faculty projects dedicated to better understanding and leveraging AI on campus. The Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education created an AI task force to discern how to use the technology effectively in higher education. Stanleys Human Interaction Lab at MSU is piloting technology to enhance the human experience such as remote health applications like wearable watches and virtual reality as a form of mental health therapy.

The hope is that investments from all education stakeholders in AI can help quell possible negative consequences of automation, and keep educators from falling too far behind.

Still, smart machines cant replace everything, some say, so educators should proceed with caution.

Somewhere along the way, you have to do the thing, said Rep. Llew Jones, R-Conrad, said during the January committee meeting. I couldnt have learned to write without having to write. I couldnt have learned to do math without having to do math.
St. John "Sinjin" Barned-Smith joined The San Francisco Chronicle in 2022 and covers City Hall. He previously worked at The Houston Chronicle, where he covered law enforcement.

Barned-Smith started his career at the Philadelphia Daily News, served in the Peace Corps, in Paraguay, and worked at the Montgomery Gazette, in Maryland, before joining Hearst Newspapers in 2014. His coverage of floods, mass shootings and police misconduct and other topics has been honored with several state and national awards.

Barned-Smith lives in San Francisco, with his newshound, Scoop.

He can be reached at stjohn.smith@sfchronicle.com.
The states Office of Emergency Medical Services owes $33 million to Virginias EMS providers, state health leaders said Friday, revealing the total cost of the offices financial crisis for the first time.

The office misused money for years, and it is unclear where it went. The Office of the State Inspector General and law enforcement agencies are reviewing suspected fraudulent activity, state health commissioner Dr. Karen Shelton told legislators on Friday. The Office of EMS pays for ambulances, equipment and the nonprofits that train and coordinate first responders.

After investigating for more than six months, the Virginia Department of Health believes it has reached the bottom of the problem, said R. Christopher Lindsay, chief operating officer of the VDH.

In the spring, during a routine audit, the health department discovered money was missing at the Office of EMS. The department conducted an audit and discovered financial irregularities for years. Money was moved from one account to another to cover shortfalls, services were provided without funding, contracts were overspent, and there was little to no oversight from the VDH, according to a health department document made public Friday.

The staff determined there was potential fraudulent activity, and the Office of the Inspector General and the Virginia State Police were notified. The U.S. Attorneys Office also investigated. On Friday, Lindsay declined to comment on the investigations.

Department leaders found a new problem seemingly every day, Lindsay said. But now they believe every stone has been turned  the office spent $33 million above available revenue, and it owes that money to Virginia localities, hospitals, EMS councils and others.

Every time Virginia residents register a vehicle, they pay about $6 to the Office of EMS. The program is still known as 4 for Life even though the amount of money allocated has increased.

That money is expected to total $56 million in revenue this fiscal year. When properly divvied up, about $8 million goes to localities to pay for EMS services, $10 million funds a grant program for ambulances and equipment, an additional $8 million goes to hospital trauma centers, and about $9 million pays the Office of EMS staff, the nonprofit councils and other business costs. Another batch is returned to the general fund.

Fixing the problem

To pay some of its debts, the health department diverted $8 million that it did not spend in fiscal 2023 that would have gone back to the general fund.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin also proposed diverting $13 million in fiscal 2024 and another $13 million in fiscal 2025. Legislators would still have to approve those decisions.

The office recently allocated $4 million to the nonprofit councils and $5 million to localities, but that does not cover every bill. The office still owes them about $300,000.

The health department plans to pay back the hospital trauma centers that are owed money, as a portion of their funds were misappropriated.

To save money, the VDH eliminated nonessential travel, sold a fleet of vehicles deemed unnecessary and canceled a statewide symposium. Other cuts will affect EMS agencies.

EMS agencies can apply for money to pay for ambulances and other equipment, but the state will not fund the current grant cycle. The Office of EMS still has to pay out old grants that were already awarded.

Leaders at two local volunteer rescue squads, Tuckahoe in Henrico County and Forest View in Chesterfield County, said they usually do not win those grants anyway and have to pay for ambulances and equipment through fundraising.

The state hopes to begin offering grant money again next year.

Nonprofits avoid closure

There are 11 nonprofit councils, employing about 55 full-time equivalent workers, that train and coordinate EMS agencies across the state.

Some of those organizations nearly had to close but were able to make payroll and stay open, said Tracey McLaurin, who leads the Lord Fairfax EMS Council in Winchester.

In December, the state owed Lord Fairfax $175,000 for nine months work. McLaurin received some money last month and was told she should get more next week.

McLaurin said she is cautiously optimistic the situation will get fixed, but that the system needs improvement.

To address longstanding problems, the health department formed a work group and hired a consulting firm, Fitch and Associates, which will earn about $360,000 for six months work. The firm is looking at where the offices money comes from, how it is spent and what the law requires.

Today in history: Jan. 26 1915: Rocky Mountain National Park 1992: Bill Clinton 1993: Vaclav Havel 1998: Bill Clinton 2005: Train Crash 2009: Nadya Suleman 2012: Penn State 2017: Donald Trump 2020: Kobe Bryant 2022: Amy Schneider 2022: Neil Young
A former white professor who alleges he was harassed based on his race (white) can proceed with his claim against his former employer, Pennsylvania State University, according to a decision earlier this month by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Plaintiff Zach De Piero sued his former employer, Penn State, after he claims that the university engaged in a series of race-based trainings, discussions and conversations that was so severe or pervasive that it created an abusive work environment. The University moved to dismiss the case alleging that the professor failed to state a claim. The court disagreed, holding that De Piero plausibly alleged that he was subjected to a race-based hostile work environment while at Penn State.

To prevail on his case, De Piero has to show, (1) he suffered intentional discrimination because of his protected status; (2) the discrimination was severe or pervasive; (3) it detrimentally affected him; and, (4) it would detrimentally affect a reasonable person in like circumstances.

De Piero alleged that his departments discussions of antiracism, white supremacy, white privilege and other concepts relating to discussions of race on campus, all of which repeatedly singl(ed) out and demean(ed) faculty members on the basis of race, subjected him to a hostile work environment.

De Piero alleged he was obligated to attend conferences or trainings that discussed racial issues in essentialist and deterministic terms  ascribing negative traits to white people or white teachers without exception and as flowing inevitably from their race throughout 2020 and 2021.

He alleges the Assistant Vice Provost for Educational Equity hosted the event around systemic racism whereby she led the faculty in a breathing exercise in which she instructed the white and non-Black people of color to hold it just a little longer  to feel the pain.

De Piero was compelled to repeatedly attend a variety of training, he alleges, whereby white people were condemned through a series of antiracism pedagogy. He claims he was instructed to implement a race-based grading of students. He alleges he received an email instructing Penn States white employees to feel terrible, and received a message that encouraged him to assure that all students see that white supremacy manifests itself in language and in writing pedagogy.

He alleges he received multiple emails urging him to watch a video titled White Teachers Are a Problem.

When he complained about these experiences, he was allegedly told, (t)here is a problem with the white race, that he didnt get it, and he should continue to attend more trainings until the message sunk in.

The court ruled these allegations demonstrate plausibly that the harassment was pervasive.

The court acknowledged that it does not contemplate that it is, or should be, the norm to maintain a workplace dogmatically committed to race-blindness at all costs, and that training based on white privilege and similar concepts can contribute positively to nuanced, important conversations about how to form a healthy and inclusive working environment and this is particularly true, the court held, in an educational institution. The court added, however, that the way these conversations are carried out in the workplace matters.

The court held, When employers talk about race  any race, with a constant drumbeat of essentialist, deterministic and negative language, they risk liability under federal law.

This decision is a cautionary tale to employers to evaluate their anti-racist and similar training to evaluate how those discussions are carried out. The court here acknowledged that educational institutions would be given greater latitude to have these conversations. A private or public institution not given the educational leeway will be held to a stricter standard.

Organizations should not be deterred from offering training and conversations around respect, civility, anti-harassment, anti-discrimination and inclusion. We need more civility in our workplaces. Diversity discussions can and should continue with an eye towards valuing and respecting the diversity of colleagues.

As the Court noted: our workplaces are not race-blind. We see color and all aspects of our diverse workplaces.

Organizations can and should focus on lifting people up, and this can be done without tearing other people down. Employers can do this by respectfully discussing the experience of marginalized groups in the workplace to assist others to be culturally competent and inclusive.

Employers also need to objectively address any complaints they receive for discrimination or harassment and investigate them in a manner that is fair and consistent.

The case against Penn State will now proceed to further litigation.
Buz Grossberg, owner of Buz and Neds Real Barbecue, says he is absolutely certain: mountain lions  also called cougars, or pumas  are alive and active in Virginia, prowling the wooded areas in and around Chesterfield County.

Officials with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources say no way.

Mountain lions once roamed the wildlands of Virginia, but humans drove them out in the late 19th century. The last known cougar in Virginia was killed in Washington County in 1882, according to Charles Handley and Clyde Pattons Wild Mammals of Virginia.

And while the Virginia DWR reports 121 mountain lion sightings across the state since 1970, those sightings are unconfirmed, meaning officials were not able to verify their veracity.

But Grossberg said Friday that he has had several encounters with what he believes to be a mountain lion in North Chesterfield over the past few years. He said he first heard the big cat wailing in the nearby woods a little over two years ago and has had multiple run-ins since.

A month ago, the animal darted in front of his vehicle as he drove on a dark, secluded roadway near his Cherokee Road home, Grossberg said  too big to be a house cat and too fast to be a dog.

Then, last week, he reported finding paw prints that were much too large to belong to bobcats, which are substantially smaller than cougars and are common in Virginia.

The next day, while walking his dog in the woods along the James River, he stumbled upon a full-grown, large deer laying in the thicket, in the water, with what looks like two hindquarters removed, he said.

It looked like something had been chewing on it, he added.

Grossberg is convinced: It has to be a mountain lion, he says. In addition to the wild cats remarkable size, he said, it has a long tail that clearly distinguishes it from a bobcat. And what else could have inflicted those injuries on an adult deer?

He is not the only believer. Grossberg reported that a friend of his in Varina has footage, captured by a trail camera, showing a cougar on the wooded Henrico County property.

But David Garst, a district wildlife biologist at the Virginia DWR, said there are perfectly reasonable explanations for the things Grossberg has witnessed.

A lot of people see what they want to see, said Garst, adding that the trail camera footage he has viewed has clearly depicted large house cats and not cougars.

Cougars are disruptive: They interfere with traffic, harass cattle and create problems, so, if they were in Virginia, their presence would be obvious, Garst explained.

There are so many trail cameras out in the woods right now, Garst said. If there was a big cat out there, we would know it.

What about the wailing? That could be raccoons fighting or foxes calling out, Garst said. The paw prints? The un-retracted claw marks in the photos Garst reviewed indicate that the prints were left by dogs, he said. And the dead deer? That was probably a pack of dogs or coyotes, he said.

But Grossberg doesnt buy it.

Theyre stonewalling the whole idea of mountain lions in Virginia, he said.

He suspects an announcement that mountain lions have returned to the commonwealth would incite panic, hurt local tourism and require the reallocation of resources so that wildlife officials could deal with the problem  reasons the Virginia DWR declined to send someone to his property to investigate his claims, he said.

But people keep their dogs and pets (outside), Grossberg said. Kids play in their yards. Joggers (and) walkers ... walk those paths all the time. Its time to admit that this is the reality of whats going on.

Garst said he understood the concern, but reassured the public that there are no cougars in Virginia.

Theres absolutely no question about it, he said.

9 incredible wildlife adventures to add to your bucket list Take a tiger safari in India As many Netflix-watchers discovered (ahem, Tiger King), there are under 4,000 tigers remaining in the wild, which is fewer than those held in captivity in the United States. For a chance to spot one of the stunning creatures in the wild, the best place to do so is the Madhya Pradesh state in central India. Kanha Tiger Reserve and Bandhavgarh National Park are both located here and offer a good chance of spotting tigers, in addition to animals such as leopards, sloth bears and wild boar. Although theyre much harder to spot, Sundarban National Park  the worlds largest mangrove forest, straddling the border of India and Bangladesh  also houses Bengal tigers. Ample safari tours with knowledgeable guides are available. Observe tortoises and sea lions in the Galapagos Islands Made famous from Charles Darwins On the Origin of Species, the Galapagos Islands are an archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Ecuador, thats well-known for its diverse and unique wildlife population. The 19 islands are home to a number of endemic species, meaning some animals are only found there; examples include the Galapagos giant tortoise, Galapagos penguin (the only penguin species found north of the equator), marine iguana, many types of finch and Galapagos fur seal. A staggering 97% of Galapagos land area is designated a national park, allowing for the protection of the various fauna and flora. Visitors can expect to see sea lions napping on sandy beaches or even benches, while snorkelers may also spot green sea turtles, octopuses, sea horses and reef sharks. A popular way of exploring the Galapagos is on a small expedition cruise. Witness East Africas Great Migration One of the most popular bucket-list trips is undoubtedly witnessing East Africas Great Migration. While there are tons of safari options throughout the world, this is an incredible opportunity to see almost two million wildebeest, along with zebras and gazelles, begin their journey north from the Serengeti in Tanzania to the Masai Mara in Kenya in search of water and better grazing grounds. The roughly 1,800-mile trek moves in a circular, clockwise route, and travelers can witness animals throughout the year, though the best chance of spotting wildebeest crossing a river is in August and September. The treacherous journey is also filled with predators such as crocodiles and lions, making for dramatic and emotional encounters. Hire a professional guide or book a tour group to ensure wildlife spotting, and we recommend investing in quality binoculars and camera gear. Go gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda If mountain gorillas are at the top of your must-see-wildlife list, the forests in Uganda and Rwanda provide a stunning setting to see the impressive animals. An endangered species, there are reportedly just over 1,000 mountain gorillas in the wild today, due to habitat loss, disease and poaching. These majestic mammals live at elevations of 8,000 to 13,000 feet, stand 4 to 5-and-a-half feet when standing and weigh up to 440 pounds. Gorilla trekking is a physically demanding activity that requires professional guides, and fewer than 100 tracking permits are granted per day. Typically, this allows visitors to observe a family of gorillas for one hour in silence  often described as a magical, unique and once-in-a-lifetime experience. Swim with whale sharks in Mexico Ocean-lovers will be pleased to know that the largest known living fish, whale sharks, are safe for humans to be around. These docile sharks are filter-feeding, meaning they primarily eat plankton and small fish; they measure between 18 and 33 feet, weigh about 20 tons (40,000 pounds) and on average live to be 70 years old. From May to September, the gentle giants can be seen in Mexicos Caribbean Sea, largely around Holbox Island and Isla Mujeres. Guided small-group tours from these tourist spots and Cancun are available, and there are typically snorkeling opportunities next to dolphins, manta rays and turtles. Spot bison and wolves in Yellowstone National Park One of the best places for viewing wildlife in the United States is Yellowstone National Park, which is located primarily in northwest Wyoming. A favorite adventure spot for travelers of all ages, Yellowstone offers tons more than just its stellar geologic features such as Old Faithful, as there are early 300 species of birds, six species of reptiles and 67 species of mammals, including black bears, Canada lynx, bobcats, grizzly bears, gray wolves, bison, moose and bighorn sheep. There are nearly 5,000 bison in the park, and visitors are nearly guaranteed to spot herds grazing in the grasslands or even walking alongside cars. The best spots for viewing wildlife in the park are Lamar Valley and Hayden Valley, and visitors can book tours with expert guides. Whale-watch in Alaska Alaska has a lot going for it: stunning glaciers, lush forests and ample wildlife both on and off land. Travelers looking to have an up close and personal look at whales cant do much better than Alaska, as its home to multiple whale species during the summer months. Humpback, gray, killer (orca) and beluga whales are all found in waters around Alaska, particularly by Juneau and Seward, and in the Inside Passage. Visitors can opt to see them on small whale-watching boat tours and on personal sea kayaks, and its likely that they can be spotted from cruise ship decks. No matter your vantage point, breaching humpback whales and swimming pods of killer whales are an extraordinary sight to behold. Dive with marine life in the Great Barrier Reef For scuba-divers, nothing can quite compare to Australias Great Barrier Reef, which is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Its home to more than 1,600 species of fish, about 600 types of hard and soft coral, 133 species of sharks and rays, 30 species of whales and dolphins, and six of the worlds seven species of threatened marine turtles. Keep a lookout for humphead Maori wrasse, giant clams, dugong and parrotfish. The 1,430-mile, colorful reef is the only living structure visible from space. Unfortunately, the reef has been extremely affected by coral bleaching, resulting in the loss of reportedly half of its coral. Still, the Great Barrier Reef remains stunning and mesmerizing, and eco-friendly tours are available. Peep polar bears in Svalbard The largest land carnivores in the world, polar bears are a striking symbol of wildlife in the Arctic. Theyre actually considered marine mammals, as they spend most of their time on sea ice, and seals make up most of their diet. To see them in the wild, head to Svalbard, Norway, a remote territory located between the mainland and the North Pole. The polar bear population here is about 3,000, which slightly outnumbers that of humans. Tours around the area usually run through June and July, when polar bears spend more time on land and theres a higher chance of spotting them. ___ At Oyster.com 2020 Oyster.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
A man accused in a debunked plot to shoot up Dogwood Dell on Independence Day two years ago has been sentenced to 16 months in prison on a gun charge.

Julio Alvarado Dubon, 53, is one of two men arrested by Richmond police in July 2022. During a news conference, then-Chief Gerald M. Smith said authorities were alerted to a planned mass shooting at a large event and determined the amphitheater in Byrd Park was the target. Mayor Levar Stoney repeated that claim.

There is no telling how many lives this hero citizen may have saved, said Smith, who also appeared on cable news discussing the arrests. The case happened days after seven people were killed in a shooting at an Independence Day parade in suburban Chicago.

In the months that followed, doubts began to emerge in that narrative. Smiths chief of staff told him officers had maybe prevented a mass shooting.

No evidence was found to support that, and no charges for such a plot were ever filed against Dubon and his roommate, Rolman Balcarcel-Bavagas.

Dubon was found to have a handgun and a rifle in his possession illegally. His 16-month sentence reflects that offense.

During his sentencing this week, District Judge Hannah Lauch said Dubons connection with a terrorist attack had been overplayed and took on a life of its own, according to reporting from WTVR-TV.

Dubon has already served 17 months incarcerated at the Richmond City Jail. It is believed that he will get credit for time served, although that has not been confirmed by his lawyer.

Dubons lawyer said he expects to face a deportation review once released. When Dubon was arrested, he had overstayed a work visa. He could be deported if he is unsuccessful in pursuing a claim as an asylum seeker.

Jose Aponte, Dubons lawyer, said his client was harassed and threatened while being detained.

While housed at the Richmond City Jail, and based on information put forth by the media about his terrorist plans, Mr. Alvarado was physically assaulted by inmates and was extorted for money to avoid harm to his family, Aponte wrote in court filings.

Aponte did not immediately return a request seeking comment on Friday afternoon. Legal filings show Aponte had asked the judge for a 10-month sentence.

Balcarcel-Bavagas was also sentenced to 5 months on immigration charges. A federal judge found he had entered the country illegally after being deported in 2013.

From the archives: 65 photos of Richmond in the 1930s
Henrico County Public Schools released a proposed $677 million budget for the upcoming year, and it prioritizes funding for school safety measures such as weapon scanners as well as planning to retain positions that were previously funded by COVID-19 relief funds.

School staff noted that teacher raises are currently absent from the proposed budget. Superintendent Amy Cashwell said teacher compensation will be discussed later in the budgeting process. The previous annual budget included an 8.2% teacher raise.

Have your say Henrico County Public Schools is using the following schedule for approval of the budget. Feb. 8: Public hearing for the recommended budget Feb. 22: Vote to approve the recommended budget April 18: Approve the adopted, final budget

School Board members raised questions about addressing bus driver shortages through the budget.

If we cant fill the vacancies, Id like the school to consider staggered start times, said Kristi Kinsella, Brookland District representative. I just know students in my district cant continue to have scheduled late arrivals every day.

Cashwell said nothing was off the table and that school administration was eying some kind of compensation increase later in the budgeting process.

The recommended general fund budget of $677 million is $27 million higher than the previous years. That general fund is the only portion of the overall budget that the School Board controls. The schools total recommended budget is actually $852 million, but about $175 million is earmarked for specific programs.

The school district highlighted that the additional $27 million in this budget is planned to cover increased health care premiums, 20 permanent English as a Second Language positions, and training and credentialing for staff, as well as support for community learning centers that deliver health and social services to underfunded areas of the county.

School staff also said 62 positions would become permanent that had been funded by federal pandemic relief dollars over the past four years. Those federal funds are set to expire in September.

This is the year that we hit that financial edge with (federal relief funds) that we were so careful to save for and plan for, as we did decide to spend some of those funds on very important recurring costs as opposed to one-time costs, said Marcie Shea, Tuckahoe District representative.

Recurring funding was added to the current budget for school safety. The Henrico district is proposing to cover costs for 75 school security officers to help implement the use of weapon scanners at schools. The district tested weapon scanners at six schools during the past school year. It then decided to roll the technology into every school across the division.

The school district is also proposing to hire 10 attendance officers to help address chronic absenteeism and add 12 maintenance workers.

John Wack, Henrico Schools chief financial officer, said the schools could consider adding positions for the Academy at Virginia Randolph, maintenance and facilities staff, and pre-kindergarten and gifted resource teachers.

The schools final bottom-line dollar amount is still up in the air as the state government mulls a final budget. Staff said the budget proposed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin would include $33.9 million more than the current years budget if approved.

Other new budget additions noted in the schools presentation:

Transitioning Highland Springs Elementary into an opportunity school, which provides support to recruit and retain fully licensed teachers in schools that struggle to maintain a complete staff. It would become Henricos 10th such school

alongside others like Varina High School, Elko Middle School and Glen Lea Elementary School.

Curriculum for the Virginia Literacy Act. The act passed last year requires reading intervention services to students in kindergarten through third grade who struggle to read.

10 positions for expanded Advanced Career Education Centers programming, which provides career and college prep classes.

Adding four positions for the Center for Innovation at John Rolfe Middle School  a center for business and STEM education serving six county middle schools.

Increased support services for Community Learning Centers, which provide engagement and support in academics, health and social services, and youth and community development for underserved communities.

Expanded Career Ladder cohorts. This would increase the number of educators supported for teaching credentials and training from 50 to 125.
On International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Saturday, Virginia Commonwealth University student Santiago Ocando came to the Virginia Holocaust Museum in Richmond to learn about one of humanitys darkest chapters.

It was traumatic what they went through, and I just cant imagine what led to that hate, he said. Its hard to hear, but its important to learn about it because you never want something like this to happen again.

Memorials and observances were held around the world on Saturday, including at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, the United Nations in New York City and the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in Poland. The day was designated by the U.N. in 2005 on Jan. 27, when Auschwitz was liberated in 1945.

In Richmond, the Holocaust Museum held a screening of Letters from Brno, a film about a womans research into her grandparents lives in Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia. Ramona Brand, director of youth education at Temple Beth-El Brown Religious School, helped organize the event.

I have students who spend a year learning Holocaust education and understanding where hate comes from and how to respond and speak out against discrimination, Brand said. Recently, theres been a rise in antisemitism and frankly its frightening. So many are not aware of their history.

Barbara Napier came to the museum from Ashland with six members of the Church of God congregation.

Its so important, especially right now with how things are, that we remember the Holocaust, and we wanted to pay our respects, she said. We wanted to show that we care and that we stand against this hate.

Also on Saturday, about 20 survivors from various camps set up by Nazi Germany around Europe laid wreaths and flowers and lit candles at the Death Wall in Auschwitz, where the Nazis executed thousands of inmates, mostly Polish resistance members and others.

Later, the group, along with state officials and other participants, gathered for a ceremony by a brick womens barrack at Birkenau that has recently undergone conservation. Next, the participants prayed and lit candles at the monument in Birkenau, near the crematoria ruins. They were memorializing around 1.1 million camp victims, mostly Jews. The memorial site and museum are near the city of Oswiecim.

The events come amid rising cases of antisemitism globally and continued tensions in Israel following the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas.

In Germany, where people laid flowers and lit candles at memorials for the victims of the Nazi terror, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said his country would continue to carry the responsibility for this crime against humanity.

He called on all citizens to defend Germanys democracy and fight antisemitism as the country marked the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

Never again is every day, Scholz said in his weekly video podcast. Jan. 27 calls out to us: Stay visible! Stay audible! Against antisemitism, against racism, against misanthropy  and for our democracy.

In Italy, Holocaust commemorations included a torchlit procession alongside official statements from top political leaders.

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni said her conservative nationalist government was committed to eradicating antisemitism that she said had been reinvigorated amid the Israel-Hamas war. Melonis critics have long accused her and her Brothers of Italy party, which has neofascist roots, of failing to sufficiently atone for its past.

Police were also on alert after pro-Palestinian activists indicated that they would ignore a police order and go ahead with a rally planned to coincide with the Holocaust commemorations. Italys Jewish community has complained that such protests have become occasions for the memory of the Holocaust to be co-opted by anti-Israel forces and used against Jews.

In a statement Friday about Remembrance Day, President Joe Biden said we join nations around the world and pause to mourn one of the darkest chapters in human history.

In the aftermath of Hamas vicious massacre, we have witnessed an alarming rise of despicable antisemitism at home and abroad that has surfaced painful scars from millennia of hate and genocide of Jewish people. It is unacceptable, he said. We cannot remember all that Jewish survivors of the Holocaust experienced and then stand silently by when Jews are attacked and targeted again today.

29 photos from the Times-Dispatch archives
As Virginia stands the least restrictive Southern state for abortion access, a century-old and long-dormant federal law is resurfacing around the country in attempts to restrict or ban abortions.

Dubbed the Comstock Act, the law prohibits the mailing of obscene or lewd materials such as pornography as well as contraception and every article or thing designed, adapted, or intended for producing abortion. Its colloquially named for New Yorker Anthony Comstock, whose activism influenced Congress to initially pass the law in 1873.

More than 150 years later, with abortion at center stage in the upcoming presidential and congressional elections, how significant a tool is the Comstock Act for abortion opponents and how much of a potential threat is it to abortion rights supporters?

Thats still to be determined, said Mary Ziegler, a legal historian at University of California, Davis, who has written extensively about abortion laws.

But three things would need to happen, she said, for the Comstock Act to be used in a bid to ban abortion.

First, a Republican would have to be elected president, she said.

Two, that Republican needs to want to use Comstock as a ban. And three, the Supreme Court would need to say that the president has the authority to do it, Ziegler said.

None of those are a given," she said. "But on the other hand, its not that far-fetched to believe that all three of those things could happen.

Key parts of law remain on books

Pieces of the Comstock Act have been chipped away over the years  such as removal of its contraception clauses  but it still contains the abortion components. The law was not enforced during the nearly 50 years that the Roe v. Wade decision protected abortion federally, but the act remains on the books.

Thats why some localities across the country have cited the federal act in ordinances intended to prevent the mailing of abortion medications or materials needed to establish abortion clinics. Last month, Southwest Virginias Grayson County voted down such an ordinance over concerns that it could set the community up for costly lawsuits.

New Mexicos Supreme Court recently took up a case challenging the act's use in local ordinances.

The nationwide efforts are largely spearheaded by Texas resident Mark Lee Dickson, the architect of the Sanctuary for the Unborn movement. He travels the country connecting with localities that are interested in passing ordinances based on the Comstock Act.

Dickson told the Richmond Times-Dispatch last summer that the ordinances are simply requiring compliance with these federal statutes, which we believe completely stops abortion in communities.

He and former Texas Solicitor General Jonathan Mitchell also offer representation in case of legal challenges. Dickson said the offer goes up to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, has a series of policy goals called Project 2025. In its proposals to restrict abortion, it cites the legal code from Comstock without naming it specifically.

Calling medication like mifepristone a gift to the abortion industry, the Heritage Foundation asserts that the Food and Drug Administration should stop promoting or approving mail-order abortions in violation of long-standing federal laws that prohibit the mailing and interstate carriage of abortion drugs.

That long-standing law is detailed as the legal code for the Comstock Act.

The act might appeal to some abortion opponents because it can be seen as an existing pathway to banning abortion nationwide without ever having to pass any kind of legislation about it, said legal historian Lauren MacIver Thompson of Kennesaw State University.

Abortion a key to 2024 elections

Last week in Virginia, President Joe Biden underscored that defending abortion rights is a pillar of his reelection campaign.

As long as I have the power of the presidency, hear this, if Congress passes a national abortion ban, I will veto it," Biden said.

In a Richmond stop the week before, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra said the administration would "pull every lever" to protect abortion access.

"It is fascinating that some would have to go back over 100 years to try to undo protections and rights of Americans," he said of the Comstock Act.

The Biden campaign is likely to note that former President Donald Trump's three Supreme Court picks helped overturn Roe v. Wade and return issues of abortion access and regulation to the states.

Larry Sabato, head of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, said Biden needs something to stir the troops to let them know that the stakes are higher.

While other key issues  such as the economy and foreign policy  will factor into this years presidential and congressional elections, Sabato said Biden's focus on abortion rights will benefit Democrats down the ballot.

Abortion is not a marquee issue in the Virginia General Assembly session. After Democrats gained control of the House of Delegates in the November elections and held the Senate, Gov. Glenn Youngkin did not mention the issue in his State of the Commonwealth address.

Though some anti-abortion legislation has been filed this session, the issue is largely a nonstarter in the assembly. Next year, Democrats plan to launch a multiyear process to enshrine abortion protections into Virginia's constitution.

But should opponents continue invoking Comstock around the country, a court case could make its way to the Supreme Court, legal experts said.

Its not impossible to believe that" a majority of the court "would side with Trump, given that the court is conservative, Ziegler said. I think if that happens, it would be a huge deal for the abortion rights side because it would mean that all of the victories thus far at the state level would essentially be less relevant because you would have a Trump (Department of Justice) potentially enforcing and interpreting the Comstock Act as a national ban.

Given that potentiality, Democratic members of Congress could look anew at making changes to the Comstock Act. When asked about interest in adjusting Comstock, Rep. Jennifer McClellan, D-4th, stressed her commitment to protecting reproductive health care choices and pointed to the work that Congress has done in this matter.

I am a proud member of the Pro-Choice Caucus and an original co-sponsor of the Womens Health Protection Act, she said.

That legislation, which would enshrine Roe in federal law, passed the House of Representatives in 2021 and 2022 when it was under Democratic control, but it has not received 60 votes in the Senate to get beyond a filibuster.

Meanwhile, the Reproductive Freedom For All Act has been introduced by Sens. Tim Kaine, D-Va.; Susan Collins, R-Maine; Lisa Murkowski, R-Ark.; and Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz.

Kaine, who is seeking re-lection this year, said his proposal "would restore the right to an abortion" nationally.

Ziegler said that while Democrats and pro-choice Republicans might disagree on how much access to abortion there should be, they might align on interpretation of the Comstock Act as a vehicle for an abortion ban as really extreme.

Yet, the filibuster rule in the Senate would also make it a challenge to undo the Comstock Act.

In an election year, all kinds of stuff can be introduced, said Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond.

He added that whether ideas pass or fail, you can say, we tried. 

Tobias said that if an interpretation of Comstock as a national ban were to make it to the Supreme Court in some form, it could fail for the reasons that the case to overturn Roe succeeded.

Justice Samuel Alito wrote in his majority opinion overturning Roe v. Wade that abortion access is for states to decide.

"They argued that they were sending it back to the states," Tobias said.

Sabato said this much is clear: Abortion will remain a hot topic in this year's elections.

"It's an emotional issue for people," he said.

Today in history: Jan. 26 1915: Rocky Mountain National Park 1992: Bill Clinton 1993: Vaclav Havel 1998: Bill Clinton 2005: Train Crash 2009: Nadya Suleman 2012: Penn State 2017: Donald Trump 2020: Kobe Bryant 2022: Amy Schneider 2022: Neil Young
The theater of politics demands a gimmick  something voters remember.

Republican George Allen clomps around in cowboy boots. Democrat Tim Kaine blasts out the blues with a harmonica. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, preens in a red fleece vest.

More than a half-century ago, another Virginia politician accomplished largely with his personality what the aforementioned do with their props.

Henry Howell Jr.  three times a candidate for governor and a colorful business-bashing populist who, unlike the current variety, played to peoples hopes rather than their fears  was unforgettable because he had a way with words. Howell was a character without peer. His public utterances amused and enraged.

A bespectacled Norfolk Democrat with a reedy voice, Howell was defeated for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in 1969 and lost to Republicans in the general elections of 1973 and 1977. A lawyer, former delegate and senator, he was lieutenant governor from late 1972 until early 1974, completing the term of the late Sarge Reynolds.

Thanks to Nancy Finch, a friend, a Democrat and former colleague mindful of Virginia politics far longer than Ive been in Richmond, I happened on a slim volume of Howell-isms published in 1971 by Helene Ward, then clerk of court in Williamsburg.

Its title is a play on that famous compendium of quotes attributed to the father of communist China, Mao Zedong.

And like Maos so-called Little Red Book, The Collected Sayings of Chairman Henry, has a red cover. That wasnt necessarily a commentary on Howells views, though some of the conservative oligarchs he repeatedly skewered considered Howell, who died in 1997 at age 76, a socialist menace.

Wards 16-page pamphlet draws from 1968 to 1971, when  after losing his first bid for governor  Howell, the phrase-maker, was just getting started. The run for lieutenant governor and the two do-overs for governor lay ahead. His campaigns were crusades, waged under a slogan Howell pinched from a West Coast pol: Keep the Big Boys Honest.

The remarks attributed to Howlin Henry, as he was known, were lifted by Ward from newspapers such as The Washington Post, Richmond Times-Dispatch, The Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk and the long-shuttered Washington Star, or from television appearances  including debates, interviews and commercials.

The anthology  published on yellow paper (no smug remarks about the print press, please!)  opens with a comment from Howell in response to criticism of his flamboyant style. According to the Aug. 12, 1969, edition of The Times-Dispatch, Howell said:

Im quite capable of having a lovely tea and making polite conversation. My wife, Betty, will have string ensembles and flowers in the Executive Mansion. As governor, I will be as genteel as a dancer of an 18th-century minuet.

Of his left-of-center orientation, from which he never strayed, Howell told law students at the College of William and Mary in 1969, Its my understanding that a liberal in Virginia is a person who believes in life after birth. And this gem on centrist politics: The middle of the road is a six-inch-wide yellow line where you get hit from both sides.

Howell wasnt squeamish about a topic that these days  given the emphasis on gender identity and LGBTQ rights  still makes conservatives uncomfortable: Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer talked about it behind a barn. ... Perhaps we should get sex education from behind the barn.

Howell, who often campaigned in a loud speaker-equipped RV christened the Howell Cannonball and from which often blared country music, was once caught riding in a vehicle synonymous with the corporate and professional class he reflexively attacked: a Chrysler Imperial sedan.

Im working undercover ... to check up on the big boys. A man has to have a big car to keep up with them, Howell said.

His favorite target was the antecedent to Dominion Energy  the Virginia Electric and Power Co., or VEPCO. To Howell, those five letters meant, Very Expensive Power Company. In the 1960s and 1970s, the company was routinely berated for skyrocketing rates, some of which were driven by the huge bill it faced switching to nuclear power.

Dominion, too, is criticized, labeled by consumer and environmental groups as more interested in profits than people, though often overlooked is that green interest groups pump more money into Virginia political campaigns than the states utilities.

What Howell said about VEPCO, with a bit of freshening, might apply to Dominion.

In the Post, on Oct. 18, 1971, Howell said, Tell the butcher, the baker  go down to Williamsburg and tell the candlestick maker  that something new is going on in the Old Dominion. If they keep raising utility rates, well all have to go back to making candles.

He was tough on insurance companies, too, declaring in a 1969 television commercial, Every year like clockwork, the big boys raise your auto insurance and every year like police work, I fight them tooth and nail.

Though Howell energetically practiced one-on-one, retail politics, stopping at barber shops, courthouses and factory gates, he fully appreciated that contemporary campaigns demanded mass communication; that there were perils in not investing heavily in television ads. He made that point in 1969, using a favorite botanical metaphor:

Its the old butter bean story again. If it takes a thousand butter beans to make the water flow over the bathtub, theres no use dropping in four. All you do is waste four perfectly good butter beans.

And, of course, Howell had no use for the conservative ancient regime that dominated Virginia politics for most of the 20th century, in large part, by locking out people of color and relying on gerrymandering to minimize the rising power of the suburbs.

During the 1969 primary, Howell declared  according to The Virginian-Pilot  The campaign is marked by the politics of participation versus the politics of desperation. The Times-Dispatch quoted him, The time has come for Virginia to make a clean break with the politics of anointment and appointment.

Never one to underestimate his adversaries, especially in a state like Virginia, where politics  long the prerogative of the few  could be suddenly recast with a wink or nod by the well-born or well-placed, Howell, in the Post in June 1969, offered this signature bauble:

Theres more going around in the dark than Santa Claus.

Its as true now as it was then.

From the Archives: The Virginia state Capitol building
IN THE NEWS

Va. man charged with running sex ring along East Coast

A standoff between a Charlottesville man and federal agents in the citys Martha Jefferson neighborhood was peacefully resolved Wednesday morning after nearly 16 hours.

The man, identified as 42-year-old Brian Lamont Turner, was taken into custody and charged with running a prostitution ring, preying on women with drug addictions and advertising their services in hundreds of advertisements in cities up and down the East Coast.

Turner has been officially charged with violating the Mann Act, previously the White-Slave Traffic Act of 1910, which criminalizes the transportation of women and girls for the purpose of prostitution. He transported his victims to and from hotels, waiting nearby while his victims met with their clients.

He advertised in cities in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland and Pennsylvania, the FBI reported.

BOND DENIED: An Amherst County man facing charges in connection with a December 2023 incident where seven students at Central Elementary School ingested gummies from a bag laced with fentanyl was denied bond Tuesday.

Clifford Ronnie Dugan Jr., 50, was arrested Dec. 13 and charged with possessing a firearm as a nonviolent felon and contributing to the delinquency of a minor and abuse of a child, the Amherst County Sheriffs Office has said.

Five of the seven students who ingested the fentanyl in the Dec. 12 incident were hospitalized, Amherst County Public Schools officials have said.

Dugans hearing is set for Feb. 28 in Amherst Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.

THEY SAID IT

He is a perpetual candidate in search of a race. I think the voters of the 5th District see him for who and what he is.

 Rep. Bob Good, R-5th, referring to state Sen. John McGuire, R-Goochland. Good was responding to critics who accused him of disloyalty to former President Donald Trump because of his endorsement of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who withdrew from the presidential race on Jan. 21.

"Let there be no mistake, the person responsible for taking this freedom away in America is Donald Trump."

 President Joe Biden, referring to the Supreme Court in June 2022 overturning the Roe v. Wade ruling that established a constitutional right to abortion across the nation. During his presidency, Trump nominated three justices that serve on the court. Biden made the comments during a campaign rally Tuesday in Manassas in front of a sign that proclaimed "RESTORE ROE."

BY THE NUMBERS

3

Judges on the State Corporation Commission after two years of vacancies. Sam Towell and Kelsey Bagot were elected unanimously by the House of Delegates and Senate to the commission, created as a constitutionally independent body in 1902 to regulate some of the biggest businesses in Virginia. It has been operating without a full panel of judges since early 2022.

ODDS AND ENDS

CAPITOL RIOT: A Richmond father and son on Monday pleaded guilty to felony charges in connection to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol in Washington, officials said. Farhad Azari, 63, and his son, Farbod Azari, 32, both of Richmond, each pleaded guilty to one count of assaulting, resisting or impeding officers with a deadly or dangerous weapon and one count of civil disorder, according to court records.

DMV CRASH: An elderly motorist plowed into the Charlottesville Department of Motor Vehicles office Monday morning, injuring a person inside and leaving a gaping hole in the side of the building that forced the DMV to close for the remainder of the day. The 82-year-old man behind the wheel has been charged with reckless driving, according to the police.

IN THE NEWS

Indian teen worked 16-hour days under threat of violence

A federal jury convicted a North Chesterfield County couple who officials said forced a teenager to work at their gas station convenience store for more than three years.

Harmanpreet Singh, 30, and Kulbir Kaur, 43, were convicted of conspiracy to commit forced labor, harboring for financial gain and document servitude in connection with a scheme in which they used coercive means to compel Singhs cousin to work extensive hours for minimal pay at the Lovely Market gas station and convenience store in Bon Air between February 2018 and May 2021.

The couple are scheduled for sentencing May 8 and face up to 20 years in prison, up to five years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000 and mandatory restitution for forced labor.

On several occasions, Singhs cousin  identified as B.S., of Punjab, India  confronted Singh and Kaur about their promise to help him attend college. Singh and Kaur responded to these confrontations by physically assaulting and threatening B.S., the complaint states. At one point, Singh threatened B.S. with a gun and said he would kill B.S. if he did not work and no one would find out, according to the complaint.

ARTS: Artists are lending their talents to unite Roanoke neighborhoods, ready to build door-to-door connections through music, meditation, paintings, parades and a smattering of other creative activities.

Arts Connect Neighbors - a combined effort of Roanokes Arts Commission, the cultural endowment, the neighborhood services office and about 50 local artists - launched last week in Roanoke and runs through 2024.

Groups of eight or more households can come together and schedule whatever activity they choose. The city is paying for all the programming, using $150,000 split equally between a federal grant and a city match, officials said.
Bolivarian Air Force shoot down Belize invader plane from Cozumel

Cozumel, Q.R.  A plane that landed on the island of Cozumel for a stopover from Belize was shot down by the Bolivian Air Force Thursday. The plane was shot down in the state of Zulia along the Colombia border.

Personnel from Fuerza Armada Nacional Bolivariana (FANB) who shot the plane down videoed it as it burned on a dirt jungle road. In a public statement, GJ. Domingo Hernandez Larez, Comandante Estrategico Operacional said FANB immobilizes and renders unusable on the ground an invading plane from Cozumel  Mexico in the Catatumbo municipality of Zulia state.

It is a white twin-engine Gulfstream aircraft, registration V3-GRS, which was detected by Venezuelan radars entering the national airspace with the transponder off and without permission from the Maiquetia FIR, so the defense plan was activated to destroy the hostile aircraft.

It is presumed that it was used by transnational groups to traffic drugs and weapons on the national border.

Collage: GJ. Domingo Hernandez Larez January 25, 2024.

FANB has all the necessary technology to make our homeland impregnable and react immediately to any unauthorized entry. Venezuela is a territory of peace and the scourge of drug trafficking, terrorism and organized crime is fought daily. For us, the country comes first!

Collage: GJ. Domingo Hernandez Larez January 25, 2024.

Since the incident, Cozumel Commander of Military Air Base No. 4 Roberto Gonzalez Piedras stated that, according to reports collected in the review carried out by the Mexican Army, the plane arrived on the island from Belize.

The plane, G1159 with registration number V3-GRS, is reportedly owned by Belizean company Belize Aviation Engineering Company LTD.

The aircraft first landed at the Cozumel airport on January 14 at 3:40 p.m. from Belize with an American pilot, Mexican co-pilot and no passengers.

The plane spent the night at the Cozumel airport and departed the next day at noon. According to the flight plan, the plane was destined for Granada. The plane returned to the Cozumel airport at 11:10 a.m. on January 24.

Gonzalez Piedras said both times the plane was inspected, but no irregularities were found. He also said that they had the necessary documentation and had no reason to deny takeoff.

He explained that landing aircraft are inspected by Customs, the National Immigration Institute (INM) and a detachment of the National Guard that reviews planes with the support of dogs to detect illicit cargo.

Gonzalez Piedras says he does not know how many people were on board the plane that was shot down Thursday several hours after departing the Cozumel International Airport.

Photo: Fuerza Armada Nacional Bolivariana (FANB) January 26, 2024.

The activities that the crew carry out once they leave Mexico are not our responsibility. It is not our responsibility to review what they do afterwards, he stated.
A water main failure in 2022 and a second flooding incident shortly after at 33 Tehama, a 35-story residential tower, displaced hundreds of residents. John King/The Chronicle

Its been 19 months since nearly 400 people were displaced from their homes inside a downtown San Francisco luxury high-rise due to severe flooding, but on Friday there was a positive update: Residents will be cleared to return this spring.

The 35-story tower at 33 Tehama St. is now safe for reoccupancy after owner Hines successfully completed its final inspection process with the city in December and was given clearance this month, the developer said in an email to residents on Friday, adding that the first units are expected to become available for re-occupancy on March 18.

Move-ins are slated to take place over the successive weeks based on each residents scheduling availability, according to Hines, which has been working to repair extensive water damage caused by two flooding incidents at the building in the summer of 2022. Hines has never publicly commented on the value of the repair work, though permits issued by the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection in the wake of the incidents indicate that the cost of repairs exceeded $7 million.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The buildings residents have been out of their homes since June 2022, when a flood caused by a water main failure first displaced them. Hines has estimated in the past that more than 20,000 gallons of water tore through the building.

They were initially told that they would be allowed to reoccupy the building that fall, but a second flood in August 2022 prolonged Hines timeline for a return. That timeline was ultimately pushed back to the second half of last year, and then again delayed in November due to the citys pending inspection.

It is unclear how many residents of the now fractured 33 Tehama community plan to return. A spokesperson for Hines said Friday that an accurate count is not available because residents will be given 30 days to notify their landlord of their desire to move back to the building. Those who choose to re-occupy will have 45 days to do so after their formal offer is made and their move-in date is confirmed.

The developer  which built San Franciscos tallest building, Salesforce Tower at 415 Mission St., and is behind other significant projects such as the ongoing redevelopment of the former Pacific Gas and Electric Co. headquarters block  has faced criticism for its communication during the crisis, and groups of residents filed two separate, ongoing lawsuits last year alleging that the companys actions before and after the initial floods amounted to negligence.

Shortly after 33 Tehama flooded for the second time, allegations of theft inside residents homes circulated on social media, including video footage of what appeared to be a contractor pocketing items from a unit that was undergoing repairs. Hines acknowledged the contractor theft last year, and responded by terminating the employee and ramping up security surveillance in the building.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad
Nichupte vehicular bridge of Cancun projected ready for this year

Cancun, Q.R.  Progress on the Nichupte vehicular bridge of Cancun is nearly 40 percent. This week, Governor Mara Lezama toured the citys latest mega-project reporting 39 percent completion in general work.

She says the lagoon bridge is one of the states major projects she promoted at the International Tourism Fair (FITUR) in Spain.

She says the projection is that the bridge will be ready this year.

During the tour, Lezama said the bridge over the Nichupte Lagoon will be free to use, exempt from tolls. The completed vehicular bridge will be 8.8 kilometers long and have two interchanges.

It is being built under the Top Down system with the most modern technology. Access is contemplated at the intersection of Colosio Avenue and Kabah, she said.

Photo: ICA

Lezama reported that the lagoon bridge project is coming in at a cost of more than 7 billion pesos and is a project being constructed hand-in-hand with the federal government headed by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

The bridge will add another connection of the mainland with the Cancun Hotel Zone. Photo: CGC January 26, 2024.

She said once in operation, the bridge will significantly reduce travel times for local city workers who commute to the Cancun Hotel Zone as well as for residents and tourists.
Thank you for reading!

Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading.
The woman had bought the pastry from BreadTalk's Plaza Singapura branch. (Photos: /Xiaohongshu)

SINGAPORE  A BreadTalk customer was caught by surprise whilst snacking on the pastry she had bought from the bakery chain. Instead of soft pastry layers, she bit into what she described as a steel pipe.

Sharing her ridiculous experience on Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu on 8 January, the customer wrote that her teeth nearly broke when she ate the pastry that she had bought from the Plaza Singapura outlet the night before.

The customer went on Xiaohongshu again on 12 January to share that she had contacted Breadtalk about the incident, and they replied to inform her that the foreign object in her pastry was a stainless steel mould.

A BreadTalk spokesperson told The Straits Times that it was an unfortunate oversight by our kitchen team during the baking process in-store and that the brand has removed the product from all their outlets.

She added, We are reviewing and updating all our internal procedures to prevent similar incidents in the future, including conducting a comprehensive retraining session for all staff members.

We deeply regret this incident and the discomfort experienced by the customer. Our customers well-being and food safety remains our top priority, and we remain committed to upholding rigorous standards.

She also shared that BreadTalk offered the customer items, including a gift hamper, a dining card and the cost of any dental work the customer required, but the customer rejected the offer.

Complaint filed with Singapore Food Agency

The customer wrote in her social media post that she had rejected the offer as she didnt want the brand to take the matter lightly. She has also filed a complaint with the Singapore Food Agency (SFA).

The SFA said that it is investigating this incident and that the agency takes a serious view towards food safety and will investigate all feedback alleging poor food safety practices.

Members of the public who have concerns about food safety practices can send their feedback at sfa.gov.sg/feedback.

Story continues

Do you have a story tip? Email: sgnews.tips@yahooinc.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. Also check out our Southeast Asia, Food, and Gaming channels on YouTube.
Fellow Northies, its time to get excited Ginos East Pizza, a famous pizza eatery from Chicago, has launched its very first pop-up in Singapore, bringing its delicious Chicago-style deep-dish pizzas to Northpoint City.

gino's east - pizzas

The pop-up is in collaboration with Singapores very own Tenderfresh brand youll be able to order pizzas from Ginos East while dining in at Tenderfresh Classic in Basement 1 of the mall.

Ginos East has been operating in Chicago since 1966, and has even been recognised on the Michelin Guide website.

gino's east - pizzas

Ginos East will be offering 4 types of deep-dish pizzas: Cheesy Legend (S$28), Crumbled Chicken Sausage (S$25), Spinach Margherita (S$28) and Meaty Legend, which has yet to be launched. Each pizza comes with a thick crust, built to hold the large amount of ingredients within. Plus, prices are all nett, making your deep-dish pizza experience all the more affordable.

gino's east - cheesy legend

Cheesy Legend is an ultra-cheesy pizza that is made with 4 kinds of cheese every bite of this indulgent creation is filled with stretchy, savoury cheese, and an addictive chunky tomato sauce to complement it. I was blown away by how rich and indulgent this creation was. Compared to regular flat pizzas, this was certainly a lot messier (and more satisfying) to consume!

gino's east - pizzas

Those who prefer their pizzas with more ingredients can opt for Crumbled Chicken Sausage, which is filled with a unique crumbled sausage that reminds me a bit of minced meat, or Spinach Margherita, which offers a slightly creamier take on the deep-dish pizzas.

The deep-dish pizzas from the Ginos East pop-up will be sold in limited quantities daily, so be sure to head down a little earlier to avoid disappointment.

gino's east - tenderfresh

As the Ginos East pop-up is located within Tenderfresh Classic, it means that you can also order any dish on the menu at Tenderfresh, so that you can enjoy a wide variety of different mains, sides and drinks to go with your pizza. Definitely get the signature fried chicken and unique mocktails to enjoy an unforgettable feast!

The post Famous Chicago pizza joint, Ginos East, launches pop-up in Northpoint City with cheesy deep-dish pizzas appeared first on SETHLUI.com.
Elvin William Rasmussen of Sioux City will celebrate his 90th birthday on Wednesday, Jan. 31.

"El" was born in Sioux City. He joined the National Guard at 15 in 1949 serving three years. He also served four years in the Air Force and seven years in the Army (spending six years in Germany).

He married Sandra Rasmussen on Jan. 1, 1992, at Little Chapel of the Flowers in Las Vegas, Nev.

El was a used car dealer for 20 years, a home builder/remodeler (working into his late 80s), a stock car driver, and a racetrack promoter at Moville and Alta in Iowa and Interstate Speedway and Wagner in South Dakota. El was a pilot, owning a 172 Cessna. El and his wife, Sandi, owned the Pit Stop bar in Jefferson, S.D.

He helped raise four beautiful and successful daughters and was stepfather to a deceased son.

El and his wife Sandi traveled to every state (except Alaska) including Canada, toured Europe to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Holland. They also took over 40 cruises on the Atlantic, Pacific, Mediterranean and Caribbean. They took many trips to Las Vegas (including spending three winters in Las Vegas).
MILFORD, Iowa  He survived a broken wing, snow storms, subzero temperatures and a lack of food.

It's not yet known if Dickinson the bald eagle will fly again, but don't be surprised if he returns to the sky someday. He's shown a toughness that got him through three or four weeks spent injured and on the ground during a nasty stretch of winter weather.

"He is a fighter," said Rodger Linn, one of the two hunters who helped engineer the bird's Jan. 14 rescue near the Horseshoe Bend Wildlife Area southwest of Milford in rural Dickinson County. "It's just such a joy to see one (a bald eagle). To see one down was not a joy."

Bald eagle on his way to recovery Dickinson the bald eagle was rescued Jan. 14 near Milford, Iowa. He'd been grounded for approximately a month with a broken wing, but is now a

Linn's hunting buddy Wade Waltman had seen Dickinson on the ground three weeks earlier, texting Linn that he hadn't had any success finding deer but got a great closeup photo of the eagle, who was perched on a log on the ground.

Waltman would see the eagle a few more times during the next three weeks. He was always on the ground, but in different spots, so Waltman didn't suspect anything was wrong.

But when he and Linn went to take down their hunting stands, they saw the eagle again, this time walking and dragging its left wing. They realized the eagle had been on the ground not by choice, but because of injury.

"It just bothered me," Linn said, and, after dropping Waltman off, went to the grocery store and bought some chicken and cubed steak, returning to the eagle and tossing the meat out for him to eat. Linn went home and got on the phone, searching for someone who could rescue the injured bird.

After numerous unsuccessful calls, he was referred to Amanda Hase, president of the board of Forever Wildlife Lodge & Clinic, a Woodbury County nonprofit wildlife rescue group. By that time it was 8 p.m. Wind chills were well below zero, but Hase said she'd make the two-hour drive from Sioux City even though road conditions were dicey after a week of snow and wind.

"I didn't want to risk waiting another day," Hase said.

By 10:30 that night, she was in Milford, heading out into the freezing dark with Linn and Waltman to the ditch where the eagle was last seen. While Hase approached the bird, Linn and Waltman shined flashlights to distract him, and she quickly grabbed him.

Linn noticed that after the initial struggle, the eagle calmed down and stopped flapping his wings.

"I think he knew in his heart he was gonna get help," Linn said.

Dickinson County bald eagle rescue Rodger Linn, left, Wade Waltman and Amanda Hase rescued Dickinson the bald eagle Jan. 14 near Milford, Iowa. Waltman had seen the eagle on the

Hase confirmed the eagle, who's at least 5 years old, had broken his wing and was severely thin. Once she got him back to Sioux City, the ravenous raptor ate 3 pounds of meat.

"He was starving," Hase said. "By how thin he was, he was down for at least a month."

He likely wouldn't have survived much longer on his own.

"I think we were cutting close to the end," Hase said.

The next morning, Hase observed the calcification on the the eagle's wing, a sign the break had healed. It's nearly impossible to tell how he'd gotten injured, perhaps he was struck by a passing vehicle or had flown into something.

After five days, Hase drove Dickinson, so named because eagles rescued in Iowa are named after the county in which they're found, to Saving Our Avian Resources, or SOAR, a Carroll County organization specializing in raptor rehabilitation.

Dickinson has settled in, SOAR Executive Director Kay Neumann said. He had broken the radius and ulna bones near the wrist joint, similar to a fractured forearm in a human. The break healed at an odd angle, but the wrist joint appears to be working, so time will tell if Dickinson will fly again.

He'll spend a few more weeks in intensive care to return his body weight to normal and finish antibiotics. A blood test revealed a low level of lead exposure, probably from eating an animal that had been shot with lead ammunition, but he's not showing any outward symptoms of lead poisoning.

"Right now he's doing as good as he should be," Neumann said. "We're just going to have to wait to see how he does in the flight pen."

Once transferred to a flight pen, Dickinson will figure out how to fly again at his own pace. If he can, he'll be given time to regain the strength needed to return to the wild. If he can't fly, he'll have to remain in captivity, perhaps being featured in educational programs.

Regardless if Dickinson never returns to the air, Linn said the late night spent out in the cold to rescue him was worth it.

"It was just something we needed to do," Linn said. "You could just see how frail he was. I'm just happy to hear he might fly again."

His return to the wild would definitely be a joyous occasion. That he endured so much, survived and will recover is reason enough to celebrate.
SIOUX CITY  A former nurse was sentenced Friday to nine months in prison for stealing fentanyl and other drugs from a Sioux City hospital.

Morgan Miralles, 32, of Sioux City, pleaded guilty in August in U.S. District Court in Sioux City to one count of acquiring a controlled substance by means of misrepresentation, fraud, deception and subterfuge and one count of false statements relating to health care matters.

The federal sentencing guideline formula suggested a sentencing range of six to 12 months, and Chief U.S. District Judge Leonard Strand, who said federal sentences don't punish drug theft by health care workers harsh enough, chose to sentence Miralles toward the higher end of the range because of the "extreme aggravation" of facts in the case.

For approximately eight years, Miralles, who worked at UnityPoint Health -- St. Luke's, stole fentanyl, morphine, hydromorphone and hydrocodone, which were supposed to be given to hospital patients. She took the drugs for her own personal use by falsifying documents, including the omission of information on required log entries tracking the disbursement of controlled substances. Hundreds of vials of fentanyl were stolen.

"It's stunning how long this went on," Strand said.

In August 2022, St. Luke's filed a complaint with the Iowa Board of Nursing alleging Miralles misappropriated medication. She was fired later that month.

The Nursing Board charged her in January 2023, and board documents showed that during a search of Miralles' home, more than 100 drug vials, syringes, boxes of medications and at least one patient ID bracelet were found. The board revoked Miralles' nursing license in June.

Miralles' lawyer said that since her arrest, she has undergone drug addiction treatment.

"There is nothing I can say that fixes the trust that I broke," Miralles said before she was sentenced. "I regret doing it. I'm ashamed of doing it."

Strand allowed Miralles to self-surrender to prison on a date to be determined. After completing her prison term, she will be on supervised release for two years.
Roland Li covers commercial real estate for the business desk, focusing on the Bay Area office and retail sectors.

He was previously a reporter at San Francisco Business Times, where he won one award from the California News Publishers Association and three from the National Association of Real Estate Editors.

He is the author of Good Luck Have Fun: The Rise of eSports," a 2016 book on the history of the competitive video game industry. Before moving to the Bay Area in 2015, he studied and worked in New York. He freelanced for the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and other local publications. His hobbies include swimming and urban photography.

He can be reached at roland.li@sfchronicle.com.
SIOUX CITY  Gov. Kim Reynolds says the bill amending Area Education Agencies in Iowa is about improving special education services and giving school districts local control over how they receive those services.

Reynolds, in an interview with the Sioux City Journal Friday, said the AEA system as it stands now is failing students with disabilities while making it so that school districts have no idea what they are paying for.

Were the only state in the entire country that takes that education money, the special education money, bypasses the school districts, gives it to the AEA and then tells the school districts theyre mandated to use the AEA services, she said. And if you ask school board after school board  they have no idea what theyre paying for the services.

Earlier this week the Northwest AEA as well as local superintendents and the Sioux City School Board, reacted to a proposed bill reforming the states nine regional Area Education Agencies, created in the 1970s to provide special-education support for school districts.

Reynolds said the bill was worked on while the legislature was out of session.

I tried to put a bill together that was respective of rural Iowa, some of our larger school districts and to try to find a balance about how we move forward with this, she said. The AEA system as it is today  and over the last 20 years is failing our kids with disabilities.

Local school entities expressed concerns and questions about various aspects of the bill including who has oversight of the AEA, what services the AEA can provide, how the money is distributed and more.

Reynolds said the legislation is intended to address the states poor special education test results and review how the money given to the AEAs is being used.

$529 million going into a system that has no accountability or transparency with horrible results, she said. I have an obligation to the people and Iowa and to the taxpayers and to these kids, most importantly, to make sure that these dollars are being used in the right way.

The 2023 State of Iowa School Performance Profile shows 25.56 percent of students with disabilities were proficient in English language arts and 28.14 were proficient in mathematics.

The scores represent a 45.84 percent gap between students with disabilities and other students in English and a 41.36 gap in mathematics.

Reynolds also said the U.S. Department of Education had designated Iowa as needed assistance with compliance of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Its unconscionable that we continue to see the gaps that we are and not look at doing something differently, she said. By giving schools the ability to decide you start to bring in some accountability.

Like other departments in the state, Reynolds said there should be regular evaluations on how special education services are being delivered and whether or not theyre meeting the mark.

We have some good ones out there, she said. But we have some school districts that arent happy with the services that theyre getting. And so this would give them the option to do something different.

Giving schools more flexibility with funding

The bill will give school districts more options on how they receive special education services and how they use the funding currently given to the AEA.

Currently, all state and federal funding allocated for special education goes to the school districts but is immediately funneled to the AEA.

The bill would give districts the option to keep that funding and allocate it for special education services as they choose.

The money goes to the school districts. Theyre the customer, they need to know what these services cost and they should be in charge of it, to start to bring some accountability and some transparency to the system, Reynolds said.

She said she hears from school districts that they want local control.

If you control the money, you control the services, said Sioux City School Board Member Dan Greenwell. He said the bill gives the district the option to decide how the funding is used.

Sioux City School Board Member Lance Ehmcke agreed with Greenwell, saying it would be a good thing to have a voice in how the AEA money is spent.

Greenwell said he does not have an understanding of how much media services or professional development the district utilizes.

Reynolds said this is a common complaint. For example, she said the AEAs receive funding for media services from the state but then charge districts to use those services.

That doesnt sound very efficient and effective to me, because were paying for it twice, she said. And were discovering more and more and more of that as we look into the system.

Oversight by the Iowa Department of Education

Local administrators expressed concerns regarding shifting the oversight of the AEAs to the Department of Education.

I dont have a lot of faith that the Department of Education can take this on and oversee special education in all the school districts across the state, Earleywine said. I have a big concern with that and I think most of the superintendents in the state would mirror that.

Chad Janzen, superintendent of the Sergeant Bluff-Luton Community School District, said the AEA provides vital resources and training to the districts.

Our local AEA has been responsive to local needs. For example, area schools have asked for increased services in working with students who have English language needs, he said. A centralized system located in Des Moines will not respond to local needs as adeptly as a local system.

Reynolds said 25 years ago, the AEAs were overseen by the Iowa Department of Education and now, the AEAs need the checks and balances the department will provide. She said those people will be in the regions they oversee, not in Des Moines.

She said right now, 400 people in the AEA system provide compliance and oversight. After a review of those positions by the Department of Education, Reynolds said they can do that work with 139 full-time employees.

Comprehensive review

The Northwest AEA and Sioux City School Board Members asked why no comprehensive review took place before this bill was introduced; citing the most recent review was in 2010.

Reynolds said the true review of the system is the states test scores and the reviews done by the U.S. Department of Education and The Nations Report Card.

I actually did bring in some superintendents, sat down and walked through [the system,] Reynolds said. Theyre afraid of being penalized by the AEA so they were afraid to stand up and say anything publically.

She also said she received feedback on the AEAs during her travels through the state, speaking with education, parents, principals and superintendents.

What I was hearing is they werent happy with a lot of the services. There was no consistency, they werent showing up, she said.

She said the state has consistently underperformed and the students in the system deserve a corrected system.

No funding being taken away from special education services

Of the $529 million currently allocated to the AEAs, Reynolds said $294 million will go to local schools, $117 million would still go to the AEAs and $25 million will go to the Iowa Department of Education for supervision.

We are not taking any money out of special education, she said.

Her bill, as currently written, would eliminate property taxes that are collected to support AEA functions that are not related to special education.

Reynolds proposed an amended version that would allow the AEAs to continue providing general education services and media services. The agencies would continue to provide all the special education services they do now.

Reynolds said currently AEA chiefs receive approximately $410,000 in compensation, but many are making around $440,000. She said the savings from reducing overhead will stay in the education system and will be used to help teachers and students receive the services they need.

Increasing teacher salaries

A part of the bill that is not directly related to the AEA would increase the base pay for teachers. Sioux City School board members said they felt like it was a way to make the bill more appealing.

Reynolds is asking the Iowa Legislature to invest $96 million in new money to increase starting teacher pay by 50 percent, to $50,000, and to set a minimum salary of $62,000 for teachers with at least 12 years of experience.

"It smacks of that the AEA change is going to be so consequential in a negative way that the only way we can get the voting public in the legislature to go along with it is to offer something like increased teacher pay," Ehmcke said.

Board Vice President Treyla Lee said it appears the teacher salary was "a little carrot" in the bill as a reward for passing the AEA changes.

Reynolds said increasing teacher base salaries is directly related to improving services for Iowa students. She said the state wants the best and brightest going into education and by increasing the base salary that encourages more teachers to work in special education in the state.

Everybody tells me you cant get a special education teacher in rural Iowa. Were not competitive, she said. So it makes sense for me to put it in a bill that is not only trying to correct a system to provide teachers the support that they need, but to also encourage teachers to go into the teaching profession by increasing the beginning salary.

The Journal Des Moines Bureau contributed to this story.
SIOUX CITY  Saturday morning, five Northwest Iowa legislators fielded questions from residents on an array of topics including hotly contested issues such as the possible overhaul of Area Education Agencies and the use of eminent domain to build a carbon-capture pipeline.

State Sen. Kevin Alons, R-Salix, and State Reps. J.D. Scholten, D-Sioux City, Bob Henderson, R-Sioux City, Ken Carlson, R-Onawa, and Jacob Bossman, R-Sioux City, attended the event which was hosted by the League of Women Voters Sioux City and Siouxland CARES at the Sioux City Public Museum. At the start of the forum, which brought out more than 50 people, LWV of Sioux City Board Member Carolyn Goodwin shared five principles the state lawmakers should abide by: Dont make false assumptions, Find common ground, Dont make blanket statements, Take a break from conversations going nowhere and Address the ideas, not the individual.

For nearly 90 minutes, the five politicians addressed plenty of ideas.

League of Women Voters legislative town hall Carolyn Goodwin speaks during a State Legislative Town Hall hosted by the League of Women Voters at the Sioux City Museum in Sioux City Saturday.

Area Education Agencies

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has proposed a major overhaul of the state's nine Area Education Agencies which work to support special education services. Reynolds has pushed for redesigning the funding structure of the 50-year-old agencies, streamlining the services they offer and creating new oversight in the Iowa Department of Education. Under the plan, money would go to K-12 public school districts, which would determine whether to use that funding for those AEA services or find similar services elsewhere, either at a different AEA or through a private company. At present, state and federal funding go to the AEAs to fund the services they provide.

"(I've) received over 800 emails on this, zero are in support of this bill," said Scholten, the Iowa House District 1 representative. "The governor should be talking to AEAs about what we should be doing to improve this. This is not Iowans asking for this, this is the governor working with her corporate consultant."

Alons, senator for District 7, acknowledged the proposal has had an "aggressive time frame" but said "I think the objective is good."

Henderson, a former school teacher and the District 2 representative, said he didn't think schools would make major changes in the first year after passage of such legislation and that the intent was to provide "better measurable support for our special needs students."

Bossman, District 14 representative, highlighted the funding aspect of the bill. "I think theres an intent to provide a little more oversight of the funds," he said.

Late in the proceedings, Northwest Area Education Agency Chief Administrator Dan Cox asked the forum guests: "What would be wrong with having a comprehensive review involving staff, teachers, parents, legislators, DE (Department of Education) and take six, seven months?"

Henderson and Bossman both said more information would be better and Alons called the process to date "deliberative."

"If you agree a comprehensive review is needed, you would not support the bill then?" Scholten asked his colleagues which yielded no direct response.

Carlson, the House District 13 representative, told the crowd, "Republicans are not a rubber stamp for the governor." A number of attendees then applauded.

League of Women Voters legislative town hall Iowa State Rep. Ken Carlson answers questions about policies and bills during a State Legislative Town Hall hosted by the League of Women Vote

Carbon-capture pipeline

Final arguments have concluded over Summit Carbon Solutions' pipeline permit and the Iowa Utilities Board is now working to decide whether to approve the project which has prompted criticism from members of the Democratic and Republican parties. Summit has maintained its five-state carbon-capture pipeline project would benefit Iowa's economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and that those theorized positives should justify the use of eminent domain.

"Its a part of our freedom to have property rights," said Carlson, a retired farmer and opponent of the use of eminent domain for the project.

In 2023, Carlson voted against legislation that would have required companies reach voluntary deals to buy 90% of the land on their route before pursuing the use of eminent domain. He explained his vote Saturday morning by saying there should be 100% protection from eminent domain or nothing at all.

Bossman expressed the belief that "I dont think this is a good use of eminent domain."

Scholten pushed back against the idea the project is necessary for the future success of the renewable fuels industry in Iowa and noted how heterogenous opposition to the plan is.

"This is one thing that doesnt have clear-cut lines," he said.

League of Women Voters legislative town hall Iowa State Rep. JD Scholten answers questions about policies and bills during a State Legislative Town Hall hosted by the League of Women Vote

Gender identity

A bill introduced by Iowa state lawmaker Jeff Shipley, a Republican from Fairfield, would remove gender identity from the Iowa Civil Rights Act, which prevents discrimination based on identifying characteristics like age, race, color, religion, national origin, or disability. The Act was amended in 2007 to add sexual orientation and gender identity.

Under Shipley's legislation, gender dysphoria, which the American Psychiatric Association defines as psychological distress that results when an individual has a gender identity that is different from their sex at birth, would be added to the acts covered disabilities. The bill came up in the House Judiciary Committee, which is chaired by Rep. Steve Holt, a Republican from Denison. Opponents have said the bill is insulting, because it conflates trans identity with mental illness, and would harm a lot of people.

Former Sioux City School Board Member Bernie Scolaro asked the panel for their opinion on the bill.

Alons said he believes that the idea there are more than two genders is "destructive to society" and said he found merit in the bill. The National Institutes of Health have said: "Sex is a multidimensional biological construct based on anatomy, physiology, genetics, and hormones," while "Gender can be broadly defined as a multidimensional construct that encompasses gender identity and expression, as well as social and cultural expectations about status, characteristics, and behavior as they are associated with certain sex traits."

"(I'm) disappointed in the amount of energy spent focusing on, especially when it comes to kids, their genitalia, especially when it comes to stuff like this where were taking away rights," Scholten said.

League of Women Voters legislative town hall Korey Cantrell speaks to the assembled Iowa state legislators during a State Legislative Town Hall hosted by the League of Women Voters at the

Bossman expressed hesitance about making changes to the Iowa Civil Rights Code.

"This is a touchy subject but I think its been working well for the past 17 years," Bossman said, referencing the year (2007) when gender identity was added to the Code.

Henderson told the audience he had read the bill and considered it fair because he said it transgender identity would still be protected. During the 2022 election cycle, ads for Henderson criticized former Sioux City Rep. Steve Hansen for supporting "biological males in women's sports."

Educational savings a ccounts

According to data published by the state of Iowa on Friday, two-thirds of the nearly 17,000 Iowa students who received taxpayer-funded financial assistance to attend a private K-12 school this year already were attending private school. In 2023, the Iowa legislature passed a private school financial assistance program which allows some K-12 students to receive a taxpayer-funded scholarship equal to the states per-pupil public education funding.

League of Women Voters legislative town hall Iowa state legislators from left, Sen. Kevin Alons, Rep. JD Scholten, Rep. Bob Henderson, Rep. Ken Carlson, Rep. Jacob Bossman take turns answ

Henderson said he'd talked with a school board member who told him they felt the law would have a positive impact on the school.

The question for the group used the word "vouchers" which Carlson took issue with.

"Weve got to get off of that word," he said.

Scholten lambasted the bill for being the "most fiscally irresponsible" to ever pass in Iowa.

Future forums

The event was the first of three legislative forums the League of Women Voters Sioux City will host in the coming months. Future Iowa State Local Legislators Town Halls will be on February 24 and March 23, 2024, also at 10 a.m. in the Sioux City Public Museum.

The Journal's Des Moines Bureau and Iowa Capital Dispatch contributed to this story.
According to the Iowa State Patrol, a 2013 Chevy Tahoe was traveling northbound on Highway 71, at the 188 mile marker, when it crossed the center line into the path of a Freightliner semi tractor-trailer. The 19-year-old Storm Lake resident driving the Tahoe was taken to Spencer Hospital for injuries while the 27-year-old truck driver from Pierre City, Missouri was transported to the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center.
ST. LOUIS  The nations rivers and streams remain stubbornly polluted with nutrients that contaminate drinking water and fuel a gigantic dead zone for aquatic life in the Gulf of Mexico, according to a new assessment from the Environmental Protection Agency.

Its a difficult problem that's concentrated in agricultural regions that drain into the Mississippi River. More than half of the basins miles of rivers and streams were in poor condition for nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizer that drains into waterways, the agency found. For decades, federal and state officials have struggled to control farm runoff, the biggest source of nutrient pollution that is not typically federally regulated.

Its a problem only expected to get harder to control as climate change produces more intense storms that dump rain on the Midwest and South. Those heavy rains flood farm fields, pick up commercial fertilizers and carry them into nearby rivers.

Its really worrying that we are clearly not meeting the goals that weve set for ourselves, said Olivia Dorothy, director of river restoration with the conservation group American Rivers.

The assessment is based on samples collected in 2018 and 2019 and it allows experts to compare river conditions from previous rounds of sampling, although different sampling sites were used. It takes years for the agency to compile the results and release the report, which is the most comprehensive assessment of the nations river and stream health. Phosphorus levels dipped slightly while nitrogen levels remained almost exactly the same.

About half of all river miles were found to be in poor condition for snails, worms, beetles and other bottom dwelling species that are an important indicator of biological health of a river. About a third were also rated as having poor conditions for fish based on species diversity.

Controlling pollution is a big job. It is hard work, said Tom Wall, director of watershed restoration, assessment and protection division at EPA.

Water pollution from factories and industry is typically federally regulated. The Biden administration recently proposed toughening regulations on meat and poultry processing plants to reduce pollution, Wall said.

When nutrient pollution flows into the Gulf of Mexico, it spurs growth of bacteria that consume oxygen. That creates a so-called dead zone, a vast area where its difficult or impossible for marine animals to survive, fluctuating from about the size of Rhode Island to the size of New Jersey, according to Nancy Rabalais, professor of oceanography and wetland studies at Louisiana State University.

That affects the productivity of commercial fisheries and marine life in general, but nutrient pollution is also damaging upstream. Too much nitrate in drinking water can affect how blood carries oxygen, causing human health problems like headaches, nausea and abdominal cramps. It can especially affect infants, sometimes inducing blue baby syndrome, which causes the skin to take on a bluish hue.

The EPA established the hypoxia task force in the late 1990s to reduce nutrient pollution and shrink the dead zone, but it relies on voluntary efforts to reduce farm runoff and hasn't significantly reduced the dead zone.

Anne Schechinger, Midwest director with the Environmental Working Group, said new regulations are needed, not voluntary efforts. She said the Biden administration has done a lot to improve drinking water, but not enough to reduce agricultural runoff.

Methods to prevent runoff include building buffers between farmland and waterways, creating new wetlands to filter pollutants and applying less fertilizer.

Its a politically fraught issue, especially in major Midwest farming states that significantly contribute to the problem. Many of those states cite their voluntary conservation programs as evidence theyre taking on the problem, yet the new EPA data shows little progress.

Minnesota is one of the few states that has a so-called buffer law that requires vegetation to be planted along rivers, streams and public drainage ditches. But because groundwater and surface water are closely connected in much of the Upper Midwest, nutrient pollution can end up leaching underground through farm fields and eventually bypass those buffers, ending up in streams anyway, said Gregory Klinger, who works for the Olmsted County, Minnesota soil and water conservation district.

There should also be a focus on preventing over-fertilizing  about 30% of farmers still use more than the recommended amounts of fertilizer on their fields, said Brad Carlson, an extension educator with the University of Minnesota who communicates with farmers about nutrient pollution issues.

Martin Larsen, a farmer and conservation technician in southeast Minnesota, said he and other farmers are interested in practices that reduce their nutrient pollution. Hes broken up his typical corn and soybean rotation with oats and medium red clover, the latter a kind of plant that can increase nitrogen levels in the soil naturally. He's been able to get by with about half as much fertilizer for a corn crop that follows a clover planting as compared to a corn-corn rotation.

Growing oats and red clover as cover crops improves soil, too. But Larsen said its difficult for many farmers to plant them when they often rely on an immediate payback for anything they grow. Cover crops are planted on just 5.1% of harvested farmland, according to 2017 data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Larsen said since regulations are so unpopular, more should be done to incentivize better practices. For example, he said that could include companies shifting the makeup of feed they use for animals, giving farmers an opening to plant some crops that use less fertilizer. Or government programs that do more to subsidize things like cover crops.

He said that many farmers in his community acknowledge the need to do things differently. But we also feel very trapped in the system, he said.

20 ways to reduce indoor air pollution in your home 20 ways to reduce indoor air pollution in your home Types of air pollution in your home How to reduce the effects of indoor air pollution Initial symptoms of indoor air contamination How air conditioning can affect your skin Health effects of indoor air pollution
WASHINGTON  Long before Donald Trump announced his campaign to retake the White House, he launched a quieter campaign to rack up Republican endorsements.

In early 2021, after Trump lost to Democrat Joe Biden and inspired a mob of supporters to attack the Capitol trying to overturn the 2020 election, the defeated president started laying the groundwork for the support in Congress he would need for a return.

With lavish three-hour dinners hosted at his private clubs, telephone town-hall fundraisers, rides on his private jet and endorsements of his own up and down the ballot, Trump schmoozed and strategized and wined-and-dined his way to GOP lawmakers' support.

By the time of the first 2024 caucus in Iowa this month, Trump had secured endorsements from 120 House Republicans and nearly half the Republicans in the Senate. On Wednesday, after Trump won the New Hampshire primary, the number of endorsements climbed even higher, with a solid majority of Republicans in both chambers of Congress.

It's past time for the Republican Party to unite around President Trump, said House Speaker Mike Johnson, setting the tone after Trump's New Hampshire victory.

It's a remarkable turnaround for Trump, whose campaign is being powered not only by loyal voters but also by elected Republicans in Congress. And those lawmakers appear unwilling or unable to stop his rise, almost ensuring Trump has no institutional roadblocks to the eventual party nomination and a potential return to power.

Trump himself marveled at those standing behind him on election night in New Hampshire, where he was trying to drive his remaining rival, Nikki Haley, out of the race with a show of endorsements from her home state of South Carolina. He singled out Sen. Tim Scott, suggesting he must really hate Haley, the states former governor.

The senator, once a Republican presidential candidate himself, stepped up to correct Trump, gushing: "I just love you."

The race for endorsements, years in the making, has been painstakingly orchestrated as a way to bring a certain official Washington legitimacy to Trump, who was twice impeached by the House, including for the insurrection at the Capitol. Trump now faces federal charges of defrauding voters in the run-up to the Capitol attack, among dozens of other charges in several different court cases.

Once facing pockets of resistance in Congress, Trump has essentially won over all segments of the Republican Party on Capitol Hill  the House GOP leadership team, including Whip Tom Emmer who had voted to certify Biden's election, and the chairman of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus, Rep. Bob Good of Virginia, who quickly switched sides last week when Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended his presidential campaign.

The Republicans in the Senate, who have provided a stable of Trump skeptics, some more vocal than others, are also falling in line, save for a few. Trump is even picking up backing from a New York lawmaker in a House district that Biden won last time, with more swing-district Republicans expected to join.

What becomes glaring now are the hold-outs, most notably Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, and a few top Republican senators, who appear deeply wary of Trump's return and have yet to give him the nod.

"I don't have any announcement to make on the presidential election, in fact, you all may recall I've stayed essentially out of it," said McConnell ahead of New Hampshire. He had issued a scathing indictment of Trump in 2021, blaming the defeated president for the Capitol attack, but voted to acquit him during the Senate impeachment trial.

While McConnell signaled he would support the eventual Republican nominee, the same comment the second-ranking Republican Sen. John Thune of South Dakota made recently to reporters at the Capitol was not good enough for Trump.

For Trump, a supportive nod is insufficient. He wants a full-throated endorsement.

The Big E, as some have said he calls it.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a key Trump ally, said its a moment of true change for the GOP. Any Republican who isnt willing to adapt to his policies, we are completely eradicating from the party.

Its true! she wrote later on social media, posting her interview remarks.

So far, Trump has received endorsements from 30 of the Republican senators and some 120 Republican members of the House.

Experts have warned that democracies that face threats like Trumps attempt to overturn the 2020 election have a better chance at survival when the political parties stand up for the results of free and fair elections  rather than fuel false conspiracy theories of fraud, as Trump and allies in Congress have done.

That's not happening, as Trump keeps collecting endorsements on his march to the GOP nomination.

People want to get behind the nominee, lamented Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, the only senator who voted to convict Trump on both impeachments, including on the charge of inciting the insurrection at the Capitol.

Just like four years ago and four years before that  people say pretty strong things," Romney said. And then when he becomes a nominee, they just kiss the ring, as Donald Trump has said.

And you?

Oh, Im not going to be doing that, Romney said.

Trump's team says winning over the holdouts has been easier than one might think, insisting there are no pressure campaigns, sticks to go with the carrots that Trump uses to court lawmakers over long dinners at his Mar-a-Lago and Bedminster clubs.

In fact, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz and Sen. Josh Hawley, who helped lead Trump's effort to overturn the 2020 election but had yet to endorse, faced Trump's warning on social media to be very careful of their own political campaigns. Hawley endorsed soon thereafter.

Cruz told AP that while he and Trump beat the living daylights out of each other in the 2016 race  when Trump savaged the senator's wife and family with verbal assaults  he made his way to Trump Tower afterward, becoming Trumps strongest Senate ally.

And if hes reelected in November, and I hope he is, I will again be Donald Trumps strongest ally in the Senate, Cruz said.

Take laughter, add tears: The secret recipe for the most-liked Super Bowl ads Take laughter, add tears: The secret recipe for the most-liked Super Bowl ads
WASHINGTON  Arrests for illegal border crossings from Mexico reached an all-time high in December since monthly numbers have been released, authorities said Friday, exposing a growing vulnerability for President Joe Biden in his campaign for a second term.

The Border Patrol tallied 249,785 arrests on the Mexican border in December, up 31% from 191,112 in November and up 13% from 222,018 in December 2022, the previous all-time high.

Arrests fell more than half during the first two weeks of January, consistent with historical trends and enhanced enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a statement. CBP previously said a crackdown by Mexican authorities contributed to the January decline.

Mexicans accounted for 56,236 arrests in December, while Venezuelans were second with 46,937, erasing much of the decline that followed the start of deportation flights to Venezuela in October. Arrests of Guatemalans surged, with Hondurans and Colombians rounding out the top five nationalities.

Tucson, Arizona, was again the busiest corridor for illegal crossings among nine sectors on the Mexican border, with 80,185 arrests. Del Rio, Texas, the focus of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's enforcement efforts, was second with 71,095 arrests. San Diego, where nearly 6,000 Chinese were arrested, was a distant third.

Del Rio, Texas, the focus of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's enforcement efforts, was second with 71,095 arrests. San Diego, where nearly 6,000 Chinese were arrested, was a distant third.

When including migrants who were allowed to enter the United States under new or expanded legal pathways, migrant encounters totaled 302,034, topping 300,000 for the first time and shattering the previous high of 269,735 in September.

U.S. authorities admitted 45,770 people at land crossings with Mexico in December through an online appointment system called CBP One, bringing the total to more than 413,000 since it was introduced a year ago.

The administrations broad use of parole authority to allow migrants in the country has been a major sticking point in Senate negotiations over border security.

Americas reeling as flow of migrants reaches historic levels
DES MOINES  Roughly two-thirds of the nearly 17,000 Iowa students who received taxpayer-funded financial assistance to attend a private K-12 school this year already were attending private school, according to data published Friday by the state.

The Iowa Department of Education on Friday published the certified K-12 enrollment figures for the 2023-2024 school year.

The numbers provide the first look at the impact of the states new private school financial assistance program, which allows some K-12 students to receive a taxpayer-funded scholarship equal to the states per-pupil public education funding  $7,598 in the programs first year  to put toward private school tuition and other costs.

According to the newly published 2023-2024 K-12 enrollment data from the state:

16,757 students used a Students First Education Savings Account at a private school as of the Oct. 1 certified enrollment date.

Of those scholarship recipients, 2,135 attended a public school last year and 3,513 were entering kindergarten. Of the remaining 11,109 students, a majority attended private school last year. An Iowa Department of Education spokeswoman was unable to confirm Friday exactly how many scholarship recipients attended an Iowa private school last year, saying there are other scenarios included in the overall figures.

Private school enrollment in Iowa increased 7.4%, from 33,692 the previous school year to 36,195 this year.

Public school enrollment in Iowa declined by 0.57%. The state education department in a news release said public school enrollment was on a downward trend prior to passage of the new private school financial assistance program and was projected to continue that trend at least through the 2026-2027 school year.

60% of Iowa public school districts had 10 or fewer private school scholarship recipients living within the districts boundaries, including 20% that had no scholarship recipients.

12% of Iowa public school districts had 100 or more private school scholarship recipients living within the districts boundaries.

With 16,757 scholarships being used, the program will cost the state $127.3 million in the first year. That exceeds initial projections; the states nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency had estimated the program would cost the state $107 million in the first year.

That LSA projection suggested the program, which gradually expands eligibility, will cost the state $345 million annually by FY 2027.

The new state program was proposed by Gov. Kim Reynolds and passed into law in 2023 with only Republican support in the Iowa Legislature.

Reynolds did not issue a statement Friday, and her spokesman did not respond to an email from The Gazette. When she signed the program into law last year, she said the program will fund students instead of a system.

Were rejecting the idea that the answer to improving education is simply throwing more money into the same system, Reynolds said last year.

Konfrst: Iowans are paying to flood the books of private schools

Statehouse Democrats on Friday said the new enrollment numbers show the scholarships are going mostly to Iowa families who had already decided they could afford private school costs.

So the people getting the benefit of tax dollars had already decided they were going to private school and already could afford it. And now taxpayers are footing the bill, said Iowa Rep. Jennifer Konfrst, the leader of the Iowa House Democrats from Windsor Heights. Taxpayers are literally paying to flood the books of private schools across the state.

Iowa Sen. Pam Jochum, leader of the Iowa Senate Democrats from Dubuque, called the program a terrible idea for Iowa.

Vouchers shortchange the vast majority of Iowa students, while committing public money to private schools without the accountability and transparency taxpayers deserve, Jochum said.

Under the program, K-12 students can apply for taxpayer-funded scholarships equal to the states per-pupil public education funding, which for the 2023-2024 school year was $7,598. The scholarship must be used to pay for private school tuition first; any remaining funds can be used to pay for certain approved private school expenses, including books, computers and tutoring.

Public school districts will receive roughly $1,200 in state funding for each scholarship recipient that lives in the district, as a means to help offset any loss of state funding from a student leaving the district. That is not new funding; it will be allocated from existing supplemental funding programs.

The private school scholarship program, which Reynolds administration calls the Iowa Students First Act, is being implemented in phases. The scholarships were immediately available to all public school students plus all incoming kindergarten students, public or private. Eligibility for existing private school students is being phased in over three years: for private school students whose household income is at or below 300% of the federal poverty level in the first year, and at or below 400% in the second year. Beginning with the third year, the 2025-2026 school year, all Iowa K-12 students will be eligible for the program.

In August, the state approved more than 18,600 scholarship applications for the first year. Some applications were withdrawn, and some eligible participants did not use their scholarship, the state said Friday.

Photos: Gov. Reynolds tours site of The Davenport collapse 060523-qct-nws-collapse-07.jpg 060523-qct-nws-collapse-09.jpg 060523-qct-nws-collapse-17.jpg 060523-qct-nws-collapse-11.jpg 060523-qct-nws-collapse-05.jpg 060523-qct-nws-collapse-02.jpg 060523-qct-nws-collapse-01.jpg 060523-qct-nws-collapse-16.jpg 060523-qct-nws-collapse-10.jpg 060523-qct-nws-collapse-13.jpg 060523-qct-nws-collapse-06.jpg 060523-qct-nws-collapse-04.jpg 060523-qct-nws-collapse-03.jpg
Last years E. Jean Carroll defamation trial settled several questions: that Trump did sexually abuse Carroll, and that he defamed her when he repeatedly denied it. This second trial, in which closing arguments concluded Friday, is not a chance to relitigate that decision, its just to determine how much money Trump is liable for.

So why did Trump take the stand to deny that the assault happenedpitching tantrums, as Dahlia Lithwick puts it, about issues that were not open to debate? She considers the bigger strategy behind Trumps pointless, brutish, and short testimony.

Plus:

 Mary Harris examines how Trump turned what could have been a campaign liability into his superpower.

 Shirin Ali has a rundown of the key players in the Carroll defamation trials.

Advertisement

 And the Political Gabfest discusses what they expect the coming Trump vs. Biden rematch will be like.

Texas governor channels the Confederacy 

Theres a new disturbing twist in the ongoing conflict at the border, after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott set the stage for an armed standoff between the state National Guard and the feds.

Now Abbott, joined by 25 other Republican governors, is invoking the same legal theory that slave states wielded to justify secession before the Civil War, Mark Joseph Stern writes. He takes a look at what might happen next.

Goodbye, Casey DeSantis 

Behold, a woman who wanted to be the presidents wife more than her husband wanted to be president. Heather Schwedel bids farewell to Americas premier wannabe first lady.

Advice Week draws to a close 

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

This Advice Week, we took a look back into the archives, pulled some choice questions from the past, and responded with new advice with more present-day sensibilities.

Our last time capsule includes such dilemmas as:

Advertisement

 Help! I Entrusted My Best Friend With My Most Cherished Recipe. It Was a Grave Mistake.

 Help! My Regular Plastic Surgeon Is Going to Notice My Mysterious Facelift.

 My Friend and I Made a Terrible Decision Last Night. Her Boyfriend Has No Idea.

You can read all of the stories here.

A new Harvard antisemitism controversy 

It is with a heavy heart that I come to you asking you to care about something happening at Harvard, Emily Tamkin writes. She explains how the latest controversy involving a Jewish studies professor embodies everything thats wrong with todays debates.

Anti-DEI takes flight 

Conservatives had to get weirdly racist even when it comes to the airplane freakout, huh? Alex Kirshner examines how this outrage cycle is different from the others.

Oh, Stanley! 

Advertisement

Advertisement

Heather Schwedel spent a week parading her Stanley cup around New York City to see if she could gain insight into its cultish followingand it did not go as planned. She takes us along for the ride.

Sundance at home 

Did you know that you can actually watch most of the movies on the Sundance Film Festivals lineup at home? Sam Adams presents the best of the bunchincluding zombies, hummingbirds, and a delightfully inappropriate performance from Kieran Culkinand how exactly you can stream them.

Today, Slate is   SCENE-STEALINGLY MEMORABLE

We hope you have a weekend thats every bit as memorable as Ryan Goslings Ken.

Thanks so much for reading, and well see you on Monday!
Unexpected issues can arise on business trips. If you or your employees regularly travel for meetings, special events, or other business-related tasks, travel insurance may be a worthwhile investment. Read on for a guide about what this type of insurance covers and how it benefits businesses.

What Exactly is Business Travel Insurance?

Business travel insurance is one of the most important types of business insurance for frequent travelers. There are numerous plan types available, so coverage varies. However, it generally covers unexpected issues that arise during trips.

How Does Travel Insurance for Businesses Work?

Corporate travelers often incur unexpected expenses like medical care, evacuation, or lost or damaged belongings. Travel insurance covers many of these costs to keep expenses predictable for businesses. Typically business travel insurance can be purchased when booking a trip or a few weeks before leaving. However, some providers offer annual policies for those who travel frequently.

Why Business Travelers Should Take Out Travel Insurance

Many business travelers incur unexpected costs during trips. Here are some ways travel business insurance benefits users:

Reduce financial losses: Even just one serious issue that arises during a trip may lead to major expenses for a business. Insurance may reduce the overall costs for a company by avoiding the need to cover things like medical evacuations or lost equipment.

Even just one serious issue that arises during a trip may lead to major expenses for a business. Insurance may reduce the overall costs for a company by avoiding the need to cover things like medical evacuations or lost equipment. Keep costs predictable: Though travel insurance for business does increase the cost of each trip, it is paid upfront and at a rate that is easy to budget for. This makes planning business expenses easier throughout the year, rather than waiting for unexpected travel issues to arise.

Though travel insurance for business does increase the cost of each trip, it is paid upfront and at a rate that is easy to budget for. This makes planning business expenses easier throughout the year, rather than waiting for unexpected travel issues to arise. Maintain flexibility: Many business travel insurance plans include cancellation coverage. This may allow your business to reschedule trips if something else comes up that is more beneficial.

Many business travel insurance plans include cancellation coverage. This may allow your business to reschedule trips if something else comes up that is more beneficial. Improve travel safety: Many plan details also cover medical care or evacuation. This can improve the health and safety of your team while traveling.

Many plan details also cover medical care or evacuation. This can improve the health and safety of your team while traveling. Provide peace of mind: Even if nothing serious does arise, knowing that you have coverage provided can reduce stress and make business travelers more comfortable.

What is Covered by Small Business Travel Insurance?

Insurance for business travelers can vary by plan and provider. However, there are several main categories that are often included.

Trip Cancellation

Trip cancellations that are made within the allotted time period and for a covered reason may be refunded with this type of coverage. For example, if the event you were traveling for gets canceled, you shouldnt have to worry about covering the fare.

Medical Care

Medical expenses can really add up, especially during travel. If you or a team member requires emergency medical care or emergency medical evacuation during a trip, this type of coverage should kick in, especially in areas that arent covered by traditional medical insurance.

Disruptions

Disruptions like flight cancellations or lost luggage can require extra hotel stays or purchases. Your insurance plan may cover these additional costs, as long as they result from uncontrollable issues like canceled flights.

Business Equipment

If youre traveling with expensive business equipment, loss or damage may be covered by business travelers insurance. For example, if the samples youre bringing to a trade show are lost by the airline, travel insurance may pay to replace them.

Evacuation

If business travelers need to be evacuated due to an extreme weather event, terror attack, or another uncontrollable issue, many plans cover getting to a safe location.

Read More: how much does business insurance cost

What is Not Covered by a Business Travel Insurance Plan?

Plans vary, but here are common expenses that are generally not included in business travelers insurance:

Pre-existing Medical conditions

If a traveler has a known medical condition before the trip, most insurance policies will not cover any complications or medical treatments arising from that condition while traveling.

Known Disasters or Pandemics

If theres a disaster or pandemic that was known or forecasted before booking the trip, the insurance might not provide coverage. For instance, if a hurricane or viral outbreak was predicted before making travel arrangements, the policy might exclude related cancellations or disruptions.

Missed Flights Due to Personal Errors

If you or your team member misses a flight because of personal mistakes like misreading the flight schedule or arriving late at the airport, the insurance typically will not cover the costs of rebooking or accommodations.

Flights Purchased with Loyalty Points

In most instances, if youve booked your travel using frequent flyer miles or loyalty points, the insurance might not reimburse the full monetary value of the ticket. They might, however, offer to reinstate the miles or points.

How Much Does Business Travel Insurance Cost?

The cost of business travel insurance plans varies based on the cost and location of each trip, but many fall around 5 percent of the total trip cost. Certain destinations where medical care or evacuation cost extra may come with added costs, and businesses traveling with expensive equipment may also pay more for policies.

actor Affecting Cost Description Base Cost Percentage Typically around 5% of the total trip cost. Trip Location Costs can vary based on destination. Certain locations where medical care or evacuation is expensive may increase the insurance cost. Medical Care & Evacuation Destinations with higher medical or evacuation costs might result in more expensive insurance premiums. Business Equipment Traveling with expensive equipment can increase the cost of insurance to cover potential loss or damage.

How to Choose the Best Business Trip Travel Insurance

The best business travel insurance varies based on your companys needs and budget. However, heres a guide to help you get the most relevant coverage.

Consider the type of travel: Domestic and international travel come with different concerns. For example, you may be more concerned about medical coverage for international trips if your medical insurance doesnt cover care overseas.

Domestic and international travel come with different concerns. For example, you may be more concerned about medical coverage for international trips if your medical insurance doesnt cover care overseas. Add up the number of business trips: If you take multiple trips each year, consider annual travel insurance to avoid paying separately for each trip.

If you take multiple trips each year, consider annual travel insurance to avoid paying separately for each trip. Weigh your biggest concerns: If youre on a tight budget, you may have to choose between coverage for flight delays or lost equipment. Consider whats most likely to occur or what would cost your company more.

If youre on a tight budget, you may have to choose between coverage for flight delays or lost equipment. Consider whats most likely to occur or what would cost your company more. Look at coverage limits: Policies have maximum limits on what theyll reimburse for each category. If you travel with expensive equipment, make sure your policy will actually pay the full amount if it is lost or damaged.

Policies have maximum limits on what theyll reimburse for each category. If you travel with expensive equipment, make sure your policy will actually pay the full amount if it is lost or damaged. Look for 24-hour assistance services: If your provider has an administrative office that is always available to answer questions, you may be more likely to get the coverage you need quickly.

How to Get Travel Insurance for Your Business

If youre ready to get insurance coverage for your next business trip, heres how:

Book your trip: Most travel insurance is booked for a specific trip. And the cost is calculated based on the arrangements. If youre looking for annual travel insurance, skip this step.

Most travel insurance is booked for a specific trip. And the cost is calculated based on the arrangements. If youre looking for annual travel insurance, skip this step. Find a provider: Your business insurer may offer travel insurance, so check with them first. Other major travel insurance providers include Allianz Travel Insurance products, Generali Global Assistance, Nationwide, and The Hartford.

Your business insurer may offer travel insurance, so check with them first. Other major travel insurance providers include Allianz Travel Insurance products, Generali Global Assistance, Nationwide, and The Hartford. Consider coverage options: These providers may offer different types of plans for various expenses like emergency evacuation or trip interruption, so consider your biggest concerns when selecting a plan.

These providers may offer different types of plans for various expenses like emergency evacuation or trip interruption, so consider your biggest concerns when selecting a plan. Compare quotes: You may also compare providers or plans based on your budget. Tools like TravelInsurance.com make it easy to compare rates.

The Benefits of Business Travel Insurance for Employee Morale

Boosting Employee Confidence : Business travel insurance can significantly enhance employee morale and confidence. Knowing they are covered in case of emergencies, employees are likely to be more at ease and focused during their business trips.

: Business travel insurance can significantly enhance employee morale and confidence. Knowing they are covered in case of emergencies, employees are likely to be more at ease and focused during their business trips. Supporting Employee Well-being : Travel insurance that covers medical emergencies, evacuations, or disruptions, shows employees that their well-being is a priority for the company. This can lead to increased loyalty and job satisfaction.

: Travel insurance that covers medical emergencies, evacuations, or disruptions, shows employees that their well-being is a priority for the company. This can lead to increased loyalty and job satisfaction. Encouraging Willingness to Travel : Employees who might be hesitant to travel, especially internationally, may feel more comfortable knowing they have comprehensive insurance coverage. This willingness can open more opportunities for business expansion and networking.

: Employees who might be hesitant to travel, especially internationally, may feel more comfortable knowing they have comprehensive insurance coverage. This willingness can open more opportunities for business expansion and networking. Stress Reduction: Travel, especially for business purposes, can be stressful. Insurance that covers unexpected situations like flight cancellations, lost luggage, or medical emergencies can significantly reduce this stress, allowing employees to focus on their work objectives.

Aligning Business Travel Insurance with Company Travel Policies

Integrating Insurance with Travel Policies : For maximum effectiveness, business travel insurance should be an integral part of the companys overall travel policy. This ensures uniformity in coverage for all employees and adherence to the companys risk management strategies.

: For maximum effectiveness, business travel insurance should be an integral part of the companys overall travel policy. This ensures uniformity in coverage for all employees and adherence to the companys risk management strategies. Customization Based on Travel Patterns : Businesses should customize their travel insurance based on the frequency, nature, and destination of employee travel. For instance, companies with frequent international travel may prioritize policies with extensive medical and evacuation coverage.

: Businesses should customize their travel insurance based on the frequency, nature, and destination of employee travel. For instance, companies with frequent international travel may prioritize policies with extensive medical and evacuation coverage. Policy Awareness and Training : Ensuring that employees are aware of the travel insurance policies and understand how to use them is crucial. Regular training sessions can be conducted to inform employees about the procedure to claim insurance and whom to contact in case of emergencies.

: Ensuring that employees are aware of the travel insurance policies and understand how to use them is crucial. Regular training sessions can be conducted to inform employees about the procedure to claim insurance and whom to contact in case of emergencies. Review and Update Policies Regularly: Travel risks and business needs can change over time. Regularly reviewing and updating the travel insurance policy to align with current risks and travel trends is essential for continued protection and relevance.

The Impact of Business Travel Insurance on Company Finances

Cost-Benefit Analysis : While business travel insurance comes with a cost, its important to conduct a thorough cost-benefit analysis. Compare the potential financial risks of uninsured travel incidents against the insurance premiums to determine if the investment is justified.

: While business travel insurance comes with a cost, its important to conduct a thorough cost-benefit analysis. Compare the potential financial risks of uninsured travel incidents against the insurance premiums to determine if the investment is justified. Financial Protection in Emergencies : Insurance can safeguard the companys finances against significant unexpected expenses during business travel, such as medical emergencies or legal issues.

: Insurance can safeguard the companys finances against significant unexpected expenses during business travel, such as medical emergencies or legal issues. Budget Planning and Forecasting : Including travel insurance in the annual budgeting process can aid in better financial forecasting and planning. It provides a clearer picture of the total cost of business travel over a year.

: Including travel insurance in the annual budgeting process can aid in better financial forecasting and planning. It provides a clearer picture of the total cost of business travel over a year. Long-term Financial Stability: Investing in comprehensive travel insurance can contribute to the long-term financial stability of the company by avoiding sudden financial setbacks due to travel-related incidents.

How Business Travel Insurance Enhances Corporate Responsibility

Demonstrating Duty of Care : Providing business travel insurance is a tangible demonstration of a companys duty of care towards its employees. It shows a commitment to safeguarding their well-being while they represent the company.

: Providing business travel insurance is a tangible demonstration of a companys duty of care towards its employees. It shows a commitment to safeguarding their well-being while they represent the company. Aligning with Corporate Ethics and Values : Companies that prioritize the safety and security of their traveling employees through comprehensive travel insurance align with high standards of corporate ethics and values.

: Companies that prioritize the safety and security of their traveling employees through comprehensive travel insurance align with high standards of corporate ethics and values. Building a Responsible Corporate Image : Companies known for taking good care of their employees, especially in situations like business travel, tend to have a positive corporate image. This can be beneficial for brand reputation and employee attraction and retention.

: Companies known for taking good care of their employees, especially in situations like business travel, tend to have a positive corporate image. This can be beneficial for brand reputation and employee attraction and retention. Fostering a Culture of Safety and Well-being: By integrating business travel insurance into the companys policies, businesses foster a culture that values safety and well-being. This culture can extend beyond travel to other aspects of the business, contributing to a healthier and more productive work environment.

Does Travel Insurance Cover Going out of Business?

If an airline, accommodation, or tour company goes out of business after youve booked with them, the cost may be covered by travel insurance. However, the business must be a covered supplier through your insurance company.

When Should you Buy Business Travel Insurance?

Purchase business travel insurance as soon as possible after booking a trip. This ensures that changes or cancellations are covered  you cannot get reimbursed if you purchase travel insurance after these changes are made. In most cases, buying insurance at least two weeks before a trip is sufficient.

Read More: best small business insurance companies
A long-awaited study known as the San Francisco Waterfront Flood Study reveals that, by 2040, the entire Embarcadero could be raised, with the Ferry Building boosted in height and all remaining piers rebuilt. Bronte Wittpenn/The Chronicle

From the notion of raising the Ferry Building to the $13.5 billion price tag, the draft plan to begin preparing San Franciscos bay shoreline for sea level rise is unprecedented.

It also must navigate perilous waters before construction crews arrive on the 7.5-mile stretch from Fishermans Wharf to Bayview.

Not only will Bay Area watchdogs and waterfront lovers scrutinize the plans details, but also the approach being pursued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will need to be approved by Congress  no sure thing in todays vindictive political atmosphere.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The formal release of the 252-page report on Friday accentuated the positive. Political dignitaries from Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis on down hailed the document as a huge step forward in terms of taking a proactive approach to the dangers posed by rising tides and harsher storms.

Our future depends on taking action now, Pelosi said as she stood alongside a ferry gate with the Bay Bridge in the background. Thats why this step today is so critical.

The step includes federal funding to improve the Embarcaderos seismic stability, a cost that consumes several billion dollars of the proposed budget.

Also on hand were uniformed higher-ups from the Army Corps  led by the commander of the Southern Pacific division, Col. James Handura, who was praised by name by Pelosi. They were joined by San Francisco Mayor London Breed and Elaine Forbes, executive director of the citys port.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

More Information To explore the U.S. Army Corps plan for the San Francisco bay waterfront, go to https://sfport.com/wrp

No wonder, since the Army Corps commitment is what gives the ambitious plan a chance of success, or at least implementation.

The Corps has determined that the costs of protecting the citys shoreline  $13.5 billion in the next 20 years, with more to follow in subsequent decades as the pace and scale of sea level rise becomes clearer  are outweighed by the economic benefits of keeping tides from routinely swirling down city streets, or flooding the BART tube below the bay. The Corps also maps out a process where design and construction together would take just 15 years.

But a draft plan isnt a funded project.

Locally, the next two months will be spent gathering public comments and reviews from city departments, all of which then go to the Army Corps. In June, the Corps will decide how to alter the plan in response to the comments, and the final report should be completed in early 2025. Then, if the top brass signs off, the Corps will ask Congress to authorize the project and allow federal funding.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Often, that step is formulaic. But if Republicans in 2026 control part or all of Congress, much less the White House, there could be a partisan appetite for undercutting a costly proposal involving the city routinely savaged by Fox News and other right-wing news sources as a drug- and crime-filled hellhole.

Asked if politics could derail the Corps best efforts, Handura carefully stepped above the fray.

We follow the science, and we follow the engineering needs, Handura said after the unveiling. Were going to focus on that.

Pelosi, who called the Army Corps expansive plan a very big deal, stressed afterward that San Francisco isnt the only coastal metropolis facing the unknown but ominous perils associated with climate change.

Ports are a vital aspect of these cities, Pelosi said. She also called the Corps initiative a small price to pay for investing in the future.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

But before all this plays out, the final plans details must be nailed down. That wont be easy, either.

Though the Corps and the city have collaborated closely throughout the planning, there are formidable issues still to be resolved. City officials want to control the design process in terms of how the remade Embarcadero and other shoreline stretches are stitched back into the city. They also want portions of the seawall in Fishermans Wharf and the southern Embarcadero raised 7 feet in the first phase, which would equal the changes proposed for the central Embarcadero, rather than hold off until after 2050 to monitor the extent and rapidity of rising tides.

The Municipal Transportation Agency is concerned that shoreline changes could disrupt service to downtown San Francisco from southern neighborhoods such as Bayview. There already are warnings that the plan has too many solid walls, and not enough semi-natural landscaping.

The list goes on.

The commitment to a wide-ranging, multi-decade response to sea level rise projections  rather than simply calling for additional studies  is indeed a milestone, as Pelosi and others stressed.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad
A business umbrella insurance policy adds more coverage to any existing liability policies you have. It covers liability claims that go above your coverage limits. Its additional liability protection.

What is Umbrella Insurance for Business?

Commercial umbrella insurance provides an added layer of protection for small businesses, similar to the way business liability insurance functions.

It becomes crucial when unexpected expenses arise, including legal fees, medical costs related to injuries, and other unforeseen liabilities.

Importantly, commercial umbrella insurance doesnt operate in isolation. Its designed to complement and extend other liability insurance policies, such as general liability insurance, by covering costs that exceed their limits.

Read More: Types of Business Insurance

Does My Business Need an Umbrella Policy?

Business needs an umbrella policy for additional coverage.

If the public goes on your commercial property.

If anyone you employ works on other peoples property.

If a government contract requires umbrella coverage, most do.

If your business might get sued. In other words, most can use this additional layer to cover the financial risk from lawsuits.

Why You Should Have Umbrella Insurance

Commercial umbrella insurance covers what other policies miss.

Here are five other reasons why you need this extra liability coverage.

Got lots of foot traffic? This covers liability risk.

Got lots of vehicles? An umbrella policy offers auto insurance.

Use dangerous equipment? Umbrella policies cover employees severe injury claims, it is great for construction businesses.

Need to land a big contract? Extra coverage through an umbrella insurance policy helps satisfy bigger clients.

Is a lawsuit escalating? An umbrella insurance policy steps in when you exceed your coverage limits.

What is Covered by Business Umbrella Insurance?

A commercial umbrella policy needs to be comprehensive. Look through these different types of business insurance for reference.

Read More: Business Insurance Benefits

A business should check to be sure it has the following:

Liability Coverage

When your business faces potential legal challenges, having commercial umbrella insurance can be a lifesaver. Whether its a claim related to property damage or personal injuries, these policies step in to address liabilities that could financially cripple a business.

By choosing an umbrella policy, businesses can increase the liability limits beyond those provided by their standard general liability coverage.

This enhancement ensures that businesses can tackle larger claims without straining their resources.

Global Coverage

In our digitally connected world, many small businesses operate beyond their physical borders, engaging with global audiences through online platforms.

Such expansive operations present unique risks, especially when dealing with customers from different countries and legal jurisdictions. There might be situations where a standard liability policy falls short of providing adequate protection.

Thats where commercial umbrella insurance shinesit fills in those coverage gaps, ensuring that businesses remain protected even when operating on a global scale.

If your current location or insurance provider doesnt offer this level of protection, its worth exploring options with other insurers. Thorough research can equip you with the best policy, preventing undesirable outcomes in case of unexpected global liabilities.

Property Damage

When it comes to safeguarding the tangible assets of your business, considering additional financial protection is a wise move. This could mean securing a policy that takes into account damages to essential business equipment or other valuable items your enterprise possesses.

Within the scope of umbrella insurance for property damage, the coverage typically extends to two primary categories: loss of use and bodily injury. Loss of use pertains to scenarios where your business assets become temporarily unusable due to damages, impacting your operations.

On the other hand, the bodily injury category kicks in when someone gets injured due to your business assets, necessitating compensation.

Medical Expenses

In the realm of business, unforeseen events like accidents resulting in injuries can lead to hefty medical bills. Extending your existing liability insurance to cover such medical expenses is a strategic decision.

With the added layer of a commercial umbrella insurance policy, your small business gains robust protection against bodily injury claims that could otherwise financially strain your operations.

As you delve into the world of commercial umbrella insurance, its essential to have a clear understanding of the various components it can cover.

Engaging in a detailed discussion with potential insurance providers will give you insights into the specific requirements and protections tailored to your businesss unique needs. Always remember to ask pointed questions to ensure youre adequately covered.

What is Not Covered by Umbrella Insurance for Business?

Commercial umbrella insurance supplies coverage to look after business operations when youre located on someone elses property. But any small business insurance policy wont cover everything. These professional services are no exception.

Heres a list of what a commercial umbrella policy doesnt have.

Claims Above Your Commercial Umbrella Insurance Limits

While commercial umbrella insurance provides an additional layer of financial protection, its crucial to remember that every policy has its maximum coverage limit. If claims arise that exceed these predetermined limits, the financial responsibility falls squarely on the business.

As a business owner, its essential to be aware of these limits and anticipate potential financial implications. Before finalizing a policy, make an informed decision by consulting with potential insurance providers to fully understand the coverage boundaries and any associated costs.

Errors and Omissions

In the course of business operations, inadvertent mistakes and oversights can occur. Typically, commercial umbrella insurance doesnt encompass such errors and omissions.

To safeguard your business from potential financial repercussions resulting from such unintentional lapses, its prudent to maintain a cash reserve.

This reserve acts as a buffer, complementing your umbrella insurance, ensuring that your business remains financially stable even in unexpected situations.

Crime

Commercial umbrella insurance has its constraints, especially when it comes to illegal activities. If any illicit actions are undertaken by the business owner or its employees, the umbrella policy wont provide any coverage.

Business owners should be cognizant of these limitations and instill a culture of compliance and integrity within their operations.

Property You Own

One common misconception is that commercial umbrella insurance encompasses property damage, especially regarding owned assets. However, this is not the case. For damages to assets that your business owns, youll need to turn to dedicated property insurance policies.

Its vital to differentiate between these types of coverage and ensure that your assets are adequately protected against potential damages.

Your Business, If You Dont Have Proper Underlying Policies

For commercial umbrella insurance to be effective, it cannot stand alone. A foundational general liability insurance policy is imperative, serving as the primary layer of defense against claims.

This base coverage is non-negotiable and acts as the groundwork upon which additional umbrella policies can be built. As a business owner, ensuring that you have this underlying coverage in place is not just advisable; its essential for the comprehensive protection of your enterprise.

Commercial Umbrella Insurance Cost

One of the bottom lines for a small business is the commercial umbrella insurance policies cost. Off the top, this kind of liability insurance with 1 million dollars in coverage costs just a couple hundred dollars a year.

Remember commercial umbrella insurance doesnt work by itself. It needs to piggyback on other liability insurance policies. For example, umbrella insurance cost depends on what you pay for other liability insurance.

According to HowMuch.net, there is a low-end and high-end involved. The high-end applies to the construction industry as well as doctors and lawyers. It will run you about $2500 a year and up. The low-end for this type of insurance costs as little as $200-$400 a year. That can include self-employed people who need low liability.

How to Choose the Right Umbrella Insurance for Small Business

For many businesses, it comes down to choosing the right indemnity company.

Here are five ways that you can choose a commercial umbrella policy thats right for your business.

Decide on Your Risk

The amount of commercial umbrella insurance youll need depends on your industry. Computer stores and gun shops as well as anything in the construction and mining industries qualifies as high risk.

The higher the risk the more commercial umbrella insurance youll need.

Check Your Net Worth

Generally, you should have commercial umbrella insurance that equals your net worth.

Ask About Bundles

Ask any insurance company you are considering about bundling these policies. Remember you need an underlying policy to start with.

Check Self-Insured Retention

Make sure to ask the insurance company about this. Its the amount you need to pay before the policy kicks in.

Make Sure Youre Getting An Umbrella Policy

Make sure to get what youre paying for from the insurance company that draws up these policies. Some call it an umbrella policy when its something else. Terms are different depending on the insurance company you use.

Risk Analysis for Determining Umbrella Insurance Needs

Assessing Business Risk : To decide if your business requires umbrella insurance, conduct a thorough risk assessment. Consider factors like the nature of your business operations, the extent of public interaction, and the types of risks involved.

: To decide if your business requires umbrella insurance, conduct a thorough risk assessment. Consider factors like the nature of your business operations, the extent of public interaction, and the types of risks involved. Industry-Specific Risks : Certain industries inherently carry higher risks, making umbrella insurance more crucial. For example, construction companies, businesses that deal with heavy machinery, or those that frequently host public events may find umbrella insurance particularly beneficial.

: Certain industries inherently carry higher risks, making umbrella insurance more crucial. For example, construction companies, businesses that deal with heavy machinery, or those that frequently host public events may find umbrella insurance particularly beneficial. Financial Exposure Analysis: Analyze your businesss financial exposure in the event of a lawsuit. Businesses with substantial assets or those at risk of significant legal claims might find umbrella insurance indispensable for financial protection.

Strategies for Integrating Umbrella Insurance with Existing Policies

Policy Coordination : Ensure that your umbrella insurance policy is properly aligned with your existing liability policies. Its essential that the umbrella policy effectively extends the coverage where your primary policies end.

: Ensure that your umbrella insurance policy is properly aligned with your existing liability policies. Its essential that the umbrella policy effectively extends the coverage where your primary policies end. Gap Identification : Regularly review your primary liability policies to identify any coverage gaps. Your umbrella insurance should effectively bridge these gaps, providing comprehensive protection.

: Regularly review your primary liability policies to identify any coverage gaps. Your umbrella insurance should effectively bridge these gaps, providing comprehensive protection. Customization and Review: Work with your insurance provider to tailor the umbrella policy to your specific business needs. Regularly review and update the policy to reflect changes in your business operations or risk profile.

How Umbrella Insurance Enhances Business Reputation and Trust

Building Trust with Clients : Demonstrating that your business is well-protected with umbrella insurance can build trust with clients and stakeholders, showcasing your commitment to risk management.

: Demonstrating that your business is well-protected with umbrella insurance can build trust with clients and stakeholders, showcasing your commitment to risk management. Enhancing Credibility in the Industry : Carrying umbrella insurance can enhance your businesss credibility, especially when dealing with large contracts or high-profile clients who may require such extended coverage.

: Carrying umbrella insurance can enhance your businesss credibility, especially when dealing with large contracts or high-profile clients who may require such extended coverage. Risk Management Reputation: A business that invests in comprehensive insurance coverage, including an umbrella policy, is often viewed as responsible and prudent, positively impacting its reputation in the industry.

Limitations and Exclusions of Umbrella Insurance

Exclusions Awareness : Its crucial to understand what is not covered under your umbrella policy. Typical exclusions might include intentional criminal acts, contractual liabilities, and certain types of legal liabilities.

: Its crucial to understand what is not covered under your umbrella policy. Typical exclusions might include intentional criminal acts, contractual liabilities, and certain types of legal liabilities. Limitations in Coverage : Be aware of the limits of your umbrella policy and ensure that they align with your risk assessment and business needs. Consider higher limits if your business operates in a high-risk environment or has significant assets to protect.

: Be aware of the limits of your umbrella policy and ensure that they align with your risk assessment and business needs. Consider higher limits if your business operates in a high-risk environment or has significant assets to protect. Regular Policy Audits: Conduct regular audits of your umbrella policy to ensure that it remains relevant and comprehensive. Stay informed about any changes in policy terms or exclusions.

The Cost-Benefit of Umbrella Insurance for Different Business Sizes

Small Business Considerations : For small businesses, the cost of umbrella insurance should be weighed against the potential financial risks. Small businesses with limited assets might prioritize essential liability coverage before considering an umbrella policy.

: For small businesses, the cost of umbrella insurance should be weighed against the potential financial risks. Small businesses with limited assets might prioritize essential liability coverage before considering an umbrella policy. Medium to Large Businesses : Larger businesses or those with significant public exposure may find the cost of umbrella insurance a worthwhile investment, given the higher risks and potential for large legal claims.

: Larger businesses or those with significant public exposure may find the cost of umbrella insurance a worthwhile investment, given the higher risks and potential for large legal claims. Industry-Specific Factors: Different industries carry varying levels of risk. Businesses in high-risk industries should consider the benefits of umbrella insurance more seriously, despite the costs.

Best Umbrella Insurance Providers for Small Businesses

Choosing the best insurance company is about more than just looking to save money. Heres a list of some of the best in the industry.

1. Travelers

Lots of different options. Like auto liability coverage for businesses with employees who drive on the clock. Good for SMBs having a hard time getting a business umbrella policy.

2. Allstate

Medical expenses from bodily injury claims are covered. This indemnity company advertises the cheapest rates. Coverage over existing auto insurance is available.

3. Liberty Mutual

Additional coverage is available for business use that expands existing auto insurance. Offers coverage from $1 million up to $100 million for an accident involving the policyholders own cars is covered.

5. USAA

Need to have one of their car insurance policies to get umbrella insurance. Aggregate limits are tied to the $5 million policy limits.

6. Geico

This is the best insurance company to deal with when youre looking to bundle policies. It takes just a few minutes to get started with them.

Is it worth having an umbrella policy?

Yes, because they widen your safety net as a business. Otherwise, something like an injured customer can incur huge medical expenses. Having a commercial auto insurance policy covers traveling sales teams. Restaurants get important coverage for product liability. This insurance adds a layer of protection. Remember you are covered even when your employees rent a space to work in.

How do commercial umbrella limits work?

These policies act like a backstop protecting businesses from claims above other policy limits. The qualifying financial loss is the benchmark for this insurance to kick in.

Most kick in when you reach these thresholds. This type of insurance supplies an extra layer of protection for your small business. Commercial umbrella insurance works by giving you peace of mind for the unexpected.

Does umbrella insurance cover sole proprietorship?

A policy like commercial auto insurance for sole proprietors becomes important as they grow. Adding to a general liability insurance policy is a good idea too. Dont forget to look into a bedrock, business owners policy.

Its always a good idea to have this type of insurance to cover your business. It doesnt matter whether you are a sole proprietor or a bigger enterprise. An umbrella policy can protect a sole proprietor from defamation and customer lawsuits. The right additions can replace damaged or lost business property, and even adds income replacement.

Sole proprietors should also include errors and omissions insurance as they grow. This can cover you for data breaches, missed deadlines, and incomplete work.

What is the difference between umbrella insurance and general liability insurance?

General liability insurance covers your business in a number of different scenarios. Your business is kept safe from claims for bodily and personal injury and others. Umbrella-type policies cover you from costly claims when youve reached the limits of the other ones.

Your situation will change when you start hiring employees. Then, you will be legally required to find workmans compensation insurance coverage. This can help your company pay for work-related injuries and illnesses like ongoing care and medical bills.

Overall a policy like this covers defense costs if you find yourself in a lawsuit.

Comparison Between General Liability Insurance and Umbrella Insurance

For businesses trying to navigate the insurance world, understanding the distinction between General Liability Insurance and Umbrella Insurance is crucial. Below is a comparison table that provides a snapshot of the two, emphasizing their primary differences.

Feature General Liability Insurance Umbrella Insurance Primary Purpose Provides basic coverage against claims for bodily and personal injury, property damage, etc. Provides additional coverage when other policy limits are exhausted. Coverage Usually has a specified limit and covers basic claims. Kicks in after primary policy is exhausted. Covers beyond the limit of primary policy. Requirement Often a fundamental requirement for businesses. Optional but recommended for added protection. Stand-alone Product Can be a stand-alone policy. Needs to piggyback on underlying policies. Cost Varies but often the primary expense. Typically less than primary policy, extends the coverage.
Small businesses dont just serve their customers; they can also be essential components of their communities. So grant programs often award funds to companies that have a positive community impact. Read about one such program from Citizens bank, along with several others, in the list below.

Citizens Small Business Community Champion Award

Citizens is currently running its annual Small Business Community Champion Award contest, which will award 30 grants of $10,000 to eligible companies. The contest is open to businesses across the 14 states where Citizens operates. Ten of the grants are reserved for women-owned businesses. Another ten will go to minority-owned companies. Five will go to veteran-owned companies. And the remaining five are open to all eligible businesses. Eligible businesses can apply online. The application includes questions about how businesses would use their award to strengthen both their business and their local community. Applications are available until February 1.

Buffalo Small Business Assistance Program

Buffalo, New York, is currently supporting small and minority-owned businesses through its Buffalo Small Business Assistance Program. The program is open to businesses with 50 or fewer full-time equivalent employees, offering both cash awards and technical assistance. Applicants whose 2021 or 2022 gross revenue was between $35,000-$150,000 can apply for grants of $7,500. Those with 2021 or 2022 gross revenue between $150,001 and $500,000 can apply for $12,500. Business applicants with a 2021 or 2022 gross revenue between $500,001 and $1,500,000 can apply for $25,000. Final funding amounts may vary based on need, project scope, COVID impact, and availability of funds. A total of $3,500,000 is available, which will be divided equally between the nine (9) Counsel districts.

Portland Microenterprise Grants

Portland, Maine, is still offering microenterprise grants to local businesses using the remainder of its federal COVID relief funds. The city originally allocated $400,000 to its latest round of microenterprise grants. And about $100,000 of that funding is still available. Eligible businesses and nonprofits can apply for reimbursement grants of $5,000 to cover various business expenses and professional services. To qualify, businesses must be located in Portland and have seven or fewer employees. Additionally, the owners household income must be within 80 percent of the local median income. Funding is being allocated on a first come, first served basis, but the city hopes to award all funds by the end of the year.

Indiana Technical Assistance Program

Small businesses across Indiana can apply for professional services grants of up to $15,000. The Indiana Small Business Development Center is currently accepting applications for its Indiana Technical Assistance Program. Eligible businesses across the state can apply for up to $15,000 to cover various growth and improvement projects. To qualify, applicants must have a physical presence in Indiana and be an Indiana SBDC client (or become one by March 1). Businesses must also have a project that they can complete by the end of the year, which should include a positive impact like job creation or new market expansion.

El Cajon Storefront Improvement Grants

El Cajon, California, recently approved a $500,000 grant program to help local businesses improve their storefronts. Eligible businesses can apply for grants of up to $20,000 to replace outdated or worn-down signage or grants of up to $15,000 to repaint their exterior using colors that the citys graffiti abatement contractor can match. There will also be funding available for businesses to replace broken windows. Funding for the program comes from the citys allocation of federal American Rescue Plan Act funds, all of which must be spent by then end of the fiscal year in September. The city expects to award about 30 grants through this program.

Denver Homeless Camp Grants

Denver is currently awarding grant funds to businesses that have been negatively impacted by homeless encampments throughout the city. Small businesses with encampments within two blocks of their property were eligible for grants of between $7,500 and $15,000. Businesses must also show evidence of slumping sales or safety issues. So far, the city has awarded grants to 69 affected businesses.
If you buy something through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more.

If your small business manufactures or warehouses items, hydraulic table carts are a must. From ergonomics to safety and efficiency, these carts provide many use cases to make your operations that much better.

Optimizing Workflow with a Hydraulic Table Cart

Hydraulic table carts have become indispensable tools for businesses across various industries. Whether youre operating a workshop, a warehouse, or even a retail store, the benefits of a hydraulic table cart go beyond the apparent mobility and adjustability.

Applications and Benefits

Versatility : These carts can serve multiple purposes. For instance, in a manufacturing unit, they can transport raw materials and, in a garage, they can lift a vehicle engine or other heavy parts.

: These carts can serve multiple purposes. For instance, in a manufacturing unit, they can transport raw materials and, in a garage, they can lift a vehicle engine or other heavy parts. Efficiency : Time is money in the business world. Instead of multiple workers manually lifting, shifting, and adjusting heavy items, a hydraulic table cart can expedite the process with less human intervention.

: Time is money in the business world. Instead of multiple workers manually lifting, shifting, and adjusting heavy items, a hydraulic table cart can expedite the process with less human intervention. Minimized Injury Risk : Manual handling of heavy objects can lead to musculoskeletal injuries. By using these carts, you can significantly reduce the risk of such injuries, ensuring a safer working environment.

: Manual handling of heavy objects can lead to musculoskeletal injuries. By using these carts, you can significantly reduce the risk of such injuries, ensuring a safer working environment. Cost-Efficiency: Think of the long-term benefits. Fewer injuries mean reduced medical bills and compensation costs. Moreover, the increase in productivity can lead to better revenues.

Choosing A Hydraulic Table Cart: Methodology

We used these criteria when curating our product list to ensure that we recommend hydraulic table carts that are efficient, safe, and cost-effective for small business owners.

Weight Capacity: Scale: 10/10

Its crucial to select a hydraulic table cart with a weight capacity that meets your businesss needs. Overloading a cart can lead to safety hazards and reduced lifespan of the equipment. Table Size and Adjustability: Scale: 8/10

The size of the table should accommodate the items you plan to move. Adjustable tables offer greater flexibility for different types of loads. Ease of Maneuverability: Scale: 9/10

Carts should have smooth-rolling, durable wheels suitable for your workspaces flooring. Swivel casters are a plus for tight spaces. Build Quality and Material: Scale: 9/10

The cart should be sturdy and made from high-quality materials to withstand frequent use. Steel hydraulic table carts are common for their durability. Safety Features: Scale: 10/10

Essential features might include locking wheels, safety bars to prevent accidental lowering, and overload protection. Ease of Hydraulic Operation: Scale: 7/10

A user-friendly hydraulic mechanism is important for efficiency and reducing physical strain on workers. Price and Warranty: Scale: 7/10

While budget is always a consideration, investing in a quality cart can save money long-term. Check warranty terms for added assurance. Maintenance and Serviceability: Scale: 6/10

Easy-to-maintain carts ensure less downtime. Availability of spare parts is also a factor.

The Best Hydraulic Table Carts for Your Business

If you are in the market for a hydraulic table cart and you want to find out more, the 10 units on this list cover a range of sizes, weight limits, and use cases.

Feature/Aspect APOLLOLIFT Double Scissor Hydraulic Lift Cart Vestil Steel Double Scissor Cart VisHomeYard Hydraulic Table Cart Load Capacity 1,760 pounds 1,500 pounds 330 pounds Minimum Height 18.7 19 12 Maximum Height 59 68 49 Special Features Hydraulic pedal, overload valve, finger release Steel double scissors, two-speed foot pump, hydraulic velocity fuse in each cylinder Leak-proof sealed pump, double scissors, security support bar, lifting foot pedal, quick-release handle Weight of Unit 379lbs 543lbs 113lbs

APOLLOLIFT Double Scissor Hydraulic Lift Table

The APOLLOLIFT hydraulic lift has a minimum height table of 18.7 and it can raise the table up to 59. It also includes a hydraulic pedal, an overload valve, and a convenient finger release to control the table. This lift weighs 379lbs.

The company provides free maintenance within 1 year of receipt.

APOLLOLIFT Double Scissor Hydraulic Lift Table

Buy on Amazon

Vestil CART Steel Double Scissor Cart

The Vestil double scissor cart can lift 1,500 pounds. However, this unit has a higher range when it comes to raising the table. It has a minimum height of 19 and it can be raised to an impressive 68. Other features include steel double scissors, a two-speed foot pump, and an internal hydraulic velocity fuse in each cylinder. It is also heavy, coming in at 543lbs.

Vestil CART-1500-D-TS Steel Double Scissor Cart

Buy on Amazon

VisHomeYard Hydraulic Table Cart

The VisHomeYard table is the ideal lift for businesses that dont require extremely heavy lifting. With a load capacity of 330lbs, it will work for many small businesses. It has a 12 minimum height and a maximum of 49. Features include a leak-proof sealed pump, double scissors, security support bar, lifting foot pedal, and quick-release handle. It weighs 113lbs.

VisHomeYard Hydraulic Table Cart

Buy on Amazon

Legines Double Scissor Hydraulic Lift Table

Like the VisHomeYard, the Legines also has a 330lbs capacity, 12 minimum height, and 49.6 maximum lift height. Some of the noteworthy features include a heavy metal bracket, hydraulic pump, rubberized handle, and a detachable pedal. It weighs 112.6lbs.

Legines Double Scissor Hydraulic Lift Table

Buy on Amazon

Pake Hydraulic Lift Cart

The 1000lbs capacity hydraulic table cart from Pake has some very strong parts, including  steel plate scissor lift legs. This unit has a minimum height of 11 and a maximum height of 34  along with lifetime lubricated bearings, foot-operated floor lock, anti-skid-pedal, and release handle. It weighs in at 163lbs.

Pake Hydraulic Lift Cart

Buy on Amazon

Vestil Stainless Steel Hydraulic Scissor Lift Cart

This other entry from Vestil is made from stainless steel and has an 800-lb capacity along with 15-1/2 to 50-3/4 minimum and maximum height. The platform, frame, handle, caster rigs, and hardware is made of stainless steel for strength and corrosion resistance. Addition corrosion resistance includes zinc-plated scissor legs, pump assembly, and hydraulic cylinders. It weighs in at 275lbs.

Vestil Stainless Steel Hydraulic Scissor Lift Cart

Buy on Amazon

Pake Handling Tools Double Scissor Lift Table

Providing up to 1000lbs of load, this Pake is a premium low-profile double  steel plate scissor lift table. The platform is 40.524 with a minimum height of 11.5 and a maximum height of 61. It is made of steel and has a single-speed hydraulic pump, and foot operation for pump and release. It weighs in at 316lbs.

Pake Handling Tools Double Scissor Lift Table

Buy on Amazon

JEGS Hydraulic Lift Cart

Made from alloy steel the JEGS hydraulic lift has an 1100lb capacity. It uses a foot-operated hydraulic lift with dual scissors for the lift mechanism. The 10.5 minimum height makes it one of the lowest platforms and the maximum height only goes up to 31. It weighs in at 125lbs.

JEGS Hydraulic Lift Cart

Buy on Amazon

BestEquip Hydraulic Scissor Lift Table

The BestEquip is somewhere in the middle when it comes to capacity. At 500lbs it can be used as a light and heavy-duty lift. It only has a maximum height of 28.5, but it goes pretty low at 9. It is made with premium alloy steel and has a pedal design for the hydraulic, which uses the Japanese NOK brand to prevent leaks. It weighs in at only 80lbs.

BestEquip Hydraulic Scissor Lift Table

Buy on Amazon

APOLLOLIFT Double Scissor Hydraulic Lift Table/Cart

This APOLLOLIFT can carry 770lbs and comes with the same premium materials as the 1760lb version. The only difference is the minimum and maximum lifts which are 13.8 and 51.2 respectively. Other than that it also includes a foot pump, manual push, an easy-release lever for lowering, and an overload valve. The unit weighs 225lbs.

APOLLOLIFT Double Scissor Hydraulic Lift Table/Cart 770lbs

Buy on Amazon

What is a Hydraulic Table Cart?

Simply put, a hydraulic table cart raises and lowers the platform mechanically. The mechanism can be manual or powered. The table carts allow users to move heavy objects around easily so they can be loaded into a vehicle or a warehouse. Shops also use them to work on engines, furniture, or other items at a comfortable height while being able to move them around.

Safety and Ergonomics

The biggest factors in getting a hydraulic table cart are ergonomics and safety. This is the ideal equipment to ensure your staff is positioned correctly and safely when they pick up or work on a heavy object. Adjusting the height and being able to move it without any load stress on the user is very beneficial.

What to Look for in a Hydraulic Table Cart

A hydraulic table cart is a very useful tool. Whether you are a manufacturer or a warehouse, the mobility and safety it offers are undeniable. But before you get one, here are some things you should you need to look out for:

Size: Choose the size of the table based on what you will be loading on it. Choose one that is slightly bigger than what you need.

Choose the size of the table based on what you will be loading on it. Choose one that is slightly bigger than what you need. Capacity: Again, choose a unit that is capable of hauling or holding more weight than your heaviest item. This will ensure safety in the long run.

Again, choose a unit that is capable of hauling or holding more weight than your heaviest item. This will ensure safety in the long run. Drive: There are different types of drive mechanisms. From electric, to mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, or manual, find the best one for your use case.

There are different types of drive mechanisms. From electric, to mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, or manual, find the best one for your use case. Structure Material: Look for materials designed to support the load you are going to place on the table. As you increase the weight, go for aluminum or steel.

Look for materials designed to support the load you are going to place on the table. As you increase the weight, go for aluminum or steel. Safety Features: Whether it is a manual or motorized table, look for stopping or locking mechanisms to protect your employees.

Whether it is a manual or motorized table, look for stopping or locking mechanisms to protect your employees. Table Surface: Depending on what you will be hauling, find a surface that will not get damaged and has enough friction to keep the items in place.

Depending on what you will be hauling, find a surface that will not get damaged and has enough friction to keep the items in place. Easy Maintenance: A unit with easy maintenance will save you a lot of headaches, time, and money.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

Qualify for discounts, special offers and more with a Business Prime account from Amazon. You can create a FREE account to get started today.
Children have the best chance for success if the teachers and parents support them together as a team.

Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share

It can be distressing to hear or suspect that your child is struggling academically, but when parents and the school are able to work together as a team, this gets to the root of the problem and can have a powerful impact on their well-being and long-term achievement.

We all want our children to do well

Teachers and parents have one thing in common  we all want our children to succeed. Children begin school expecting to learn and be successful, and as parents, this is what we want for our children. If a teacher or parent observes that a child is having difficulty in school, this might indicate that they learn differently and may have a learning difficulty. It is always easier to adapt family life to meet the needs of a child than to adapt a class full of many learners, so in a school where a child is part of a bigger group, it can be much easier to spot difficulties that a learner is experiencing. Teachers see the children in our care as they interact with their peers or as part of a wider group, and because of this, we are often quicker to spot potential learning difficulties.

At The British International School Bratislava, the belief that every child is an individual is at the heart of our school life, and we are fully aware that every child is unique. However, there are certain things that all children should be able to do if they are to succeed academically, and when they struggle, this means that they might be unable to succeed as they should.

It can be very difficult for a teacher to have to tell a parent that their child is struggling in school, especially if the parents havent noticed any issues. In the Learning Support Department at The British International School Bratislava, we know that parents want their children to do well in school and life, and learning that they may have a learning difficulty can be very difficult news. However, we also believe that early intervention and support are vital if our learners are to make maximum progress and to ensure that a child overcomes their difficulties as much as possible. Supporting the school and taking on board the reasoning of the teachers, if they think that your child has a learning issue, is of huge importance to your child.

You cant just ignore a problem in the hope that it will disappear

Choosing to ignore the possibility of learning difficulty is not helpful as they dont fade away and will likely just become more problematic. Additional difficulties can develop, and a child will start to show signs of sadness, frustration, or disappointment.

Behavioural problems and acting out might occur, or the learner can become more frustrated and lose confidence in everything they do because they repeatedly find tasks more difficult than those around them for no apparent reason or they dont make the progress that they feel that they should be making because they are not getting the help that they need. When this happens, it is common for them to stop trying because they work hard with no result. An undiagnosed or ignored learning difficulty can greatly impact self-esteem and confidence levels throughout a persons life.

The power of a diagnosis

However, an assessment and a diagnosis can change all of this. It may seem like a label, but labels can bring with them an understanding of the reason for the difficulties and even more importantly, adaptations for the classroom that will support a child and enable them to learn to their highest potential. With the right support and interventions, children and adults with learning difficulties can succeed in school and life. Recognition, acceptance, and understanding of the learning disability are the first steps to success. Understanding our difficulties means that we can make adaptations in lessons and support as necessary: extra time in examinations, use of technology, literacy and numeracy programmes, over-learning, metacognition, mindset programmes, memory activities, or whatever it is that a young person needs.

However, we also know that you know your children best, so it is vital that you are a significant part of the process of identifying SEN. Often, it is the parent who knows the child like no other who notices the emergence of difficulties. If you have noticed that your child is struggling or even having an unrelated difficulty, which could be the result of struggling academically, it is important to keep the lines of communication open with your childs school and ask for support if it hasnt been offered.

Teamwork is the dreamwork!

Children are happiest and have the best chance for success if the teachers and parents are all on board and support the child together as a team. It is also vital that your child is getting the same supportive messages at home and school. Your childs teacher can give you suggestions on how you can help your child at home, although this doesnt always mean just helping with homework.

Support at home can include having a set predictable routine, spending quality time together, discussing likes and interests or current events, watching TV or movies together, and playing games together. Of course, reading together with your child when they are young is vital, but its important to keep encouraging reading as they grow older.

Learning difficulties dont have to impact a persons chances of success. Many famous people did not allow having a learning difficulty to define them so people with special educational needs can be found in all professions. A diagnosis is not a label; rather, it is a way for everyone working with a child to best understand and meet their needs. A diagnosis allows us to best support them. When the school and the family work together, we see the best academic outcomes, and your child will feel supported and safe.

In a recent Nord Anglia INSIGHTS article, Jenny Anderson discusses the importance of valuing our children for who they are and not what they achieve.

By Pauline Mably, Head of Whole School Learning Support, and Kristi Lucna, Primary Learning Support Teacher at The British International School Bratislava.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240126/extremely-dangerous-texas-border-battle-portends-growing-us-dysfunction-civil-war-1116420922.html

'Extremely Dangerous': Texas Border Battle Portends Growing US Dysfunction, Civil War?

'Extremely Dangerous': Texas Border Battle Portends Growing US Dysfunction, Civil War?

Sputnik International

Activist Anthony Rogers-Wright joined Sputniks Political Misfits program Friday to discuss the escalating border standoff between Texas and the US federal government, a dispute that strikes at long standing controversies at the core of the countrys system of governance.

2024-01-26T23:08+0000

2024-01-26T23:08+0000

2024-01-26T23:15+0000

texas

us

joe biden

us supreme court

americas

illegal migration

border security

illegal migrants

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/1a/1116421473_0:319:3074:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_cf6864feda21c6c3d1191b0aac65456c.jpg

Activist Anthony Rogers-Wright joined Sputniks Political Misfits program Friday to discuss the escalating border standoff between Texas and the US federal government, a dispute that strikes at long standing controversies at the core of the countrys system of governance.Witte noted that Texas officials have apparently chosen to ignore Supreme Court orders governing the conduct of Texas National Guardsmen, employing highly emotional language claiming the state is defending against an invasion of migrants at the border.We already have a dysfunctional Supreme Court, said Rogers-Wright, a view shared by most Americans as voters approval of the institution sinks to just 41%. It seems like governmental trickle down dysfunction is working just fine here. The activist slammed Bidens response to the crisis, suggesting Republican candidate Donald Trump is more effectively demonstrating leadership through his unyielding stance on the issue.If one skirmish like that happens, oh my goodness, what would happen after that, like, nobody knows, said Rogers-Wright. Joe Biden's got to step up and get a handle on this immediately. It's not something that you can send Blinken to do your bidding. You got to step up now, get your butt on Air Force One, go down to Texas and handle this.Texas is often seen as among the most independent-minded states in the US, previously existing as a self-governing republic from 1836 until 1846. Texan politicians occasionally raise the prospect of seceding from the United States. Similar efforts are sometimes proposed in California, and the former husband of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin previously held membership in the local Alaskan Independence Party.Secession efforts in the US have never gained widespread support in modern times but the issue reverberates on a deep level as states often chafe at orders from the federal government.Political polarization remains at an all-time high in the United States, a reality perhaps best demonstrated by the controversy over riots at the US Capitol building on January 6, 2021. As controversy remains over the disputed role of federal and state authorities in Texas observers fear tensions could boil over into a violent event, particularly if federal and state troops are forced to interact.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240126/border-standoff-escalates-into-constitutional-crisis-after-biden-messes-with-texas-1116406788.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240126/texas-governor-says-prepared-for-conflict-with-us-government-over-border-barriers-1116418441.html

texas

americas

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2024

John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg

John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg

what's going on in texas, constitutional crisis, texas and us federal government, why are texas and washington in a standoff, texas, us civil war, civil war, border crisis, washington-texas war, border security
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240126/texas-governor-says-will-continue-to-defend-border-amid-dispute-with-biden-administration-1116421888.html

Texas Governor Says Will Continue to Defend Border Amid Dispute With Biden Administration

Texas Governor Says Will Continue to Defend Border Amid Dispute With Biden Administration

Sputnik International

The state of Texas will continue to defend its portion of the US border with Mexico amid a standoff with the Biden administration over the use of razor wire barriers, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said in a statement.

2024-01-26T23:34+0000

2024-01-26T23:34+0000

2024-01-26T23:34+0000

americas

us border patrol

us-mexico border

texas

border security

joe biden

us

americans

biden administration

greg abbott

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/1a/1116421726_0:29:3071:1756_1920x0_80_0_0_aedb5f531979a8ba55f796e3e5f6049c.jpg

"Texas will continue to exercise its constitutional right to protect and defend our southern border," Abbott said on Friday via social media platform X (formerly Twitter). "In President Bidens absence, we will hold the line to keep Texans - and Americans - safe." On Monday, the US Supreme Court issued a temporary order to allow Border Patrol agents to remove the barriers placed by Texas. The following day, Department of Homeland Security General Counsel Jonathan Meyer sent a letter to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton requesting that the state confirm federal access to border sites by Friday. However, Abbott maintains that Texas has a constitutional right to protect the border due to the Biden administrations failure to address the record flow of illegal immigrants into the United States from Mexico. Texas border security effort, dubbed Operation Lone Star, has led to nearly half a million illegal immigrant apprehensions and more than 38,700 criminal arrests, Abbotts office said in a statement on Friday. Operation Lone Star continues to fill gaps created by the Biden administrations refusal to secure the border, the statement said.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240126/extremely-dangerous-texas-border-battle-portends-growing-us-dysfunction-civil-war-1116420922.html

americas

texas

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2024

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

what's going on in texas, constitutional crisis, texas and us federal government, why are texas and washington in a standoff, texas, us civil war, civil war, border crisis, washington-texas war, border security
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240127/biden-administration-has-the-upper-hand-in-ongoing-border-dispute---attorney-1116421301.html

Biden Administration Has the 'Upper Hand' in Ongoing Border Dispute - Attorney

Biden Administration Has the 'Upper Hand' in Ongoing Border Dispute - Attorney

Sputnik International

In the ongoing border control debacle between Texas and the White House, the federal government has the upper hand, said Jonathan Turley, a George Washington University law professor.

2024-01-27T02:41+0000

2024-01-27T02:41+0000

2024-01-27T02:47+0000

americas

border patrol

us border patrol

joe biden

biden administration

texas governor greg abbott

border security

greg abbott

jonathan turley

us

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/1b/1116423733_0:0:3210:1807_1920x0_80_0_0_728af8df9ebe4bc86dd5ef1825551b4c.jpg

Turleys comments follow a decision made last month in which a federal appeals court issued a temporary order limiting the Biden administrations authority to remove barbed wire along the US-Mexico border. However, on Monday SCOTUS ruled against that decision.I don't think anyone can honestly look at the southern border and say that the federal government has fulfilled its pledge. This is an unprecedented crisis brought about, I believe, by President Biden's policies, said Turley, who spoke to an American conservative news channel on Friday.I think that many judges would be sympathetic to Texas, that they have a right to do something. They're being overwhelmed, he continued.  And so the idea of the federal government removing barriers, at this time is really otherworldly. But it's  you have to keep in mind on this fight, the federal government has the upper hand, legally. They tend to get a lot of deference along the border.Tension has continued to escalate between US President Joe Bidens administration and Texas Governor Greg Abbott. On Friday, the governor said he was prepared for a conflict with federal authorities over a legal dispute that was recently settled by the US Supreme Court (SCOTUS) on Monday; SCOTUS issued a temporary order allowing federal Border Patrol agents to remove border wire along the US-Mexico border.But Abbott is determined to pursue his argument that Texas has the constitutional authority to protect its borders, and that the federal government has failed to address the amount of illegal immigrants entering the US. He recently issued a Statement on Texas Constitutional Right to Self-Defense in which he emphasized the state's right to defend itself against an invasion of immigrants.At least 25 GOP governors across the US have also shown their support for Abbott over the issue. And on Friday, the National Border Patrol Union said that their federal agents would not arrest Texas National Guard members for following their orders.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240126/extremely-dangerous-texas-border-battle-portends-growing-us-dysfunction-civil-war-1116420922.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240103/us-house-speaker-border-situation-part-of-unmitigated-disaster-created-by-biden-1115966587.html

americas

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2024

Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg

Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg

us border patrol, us-mexico border, greg abbott, biden, biden administration, us border issue, immigration, texas, texas border, what's going on in texas, constitutional crisis, texas and us federal government, why are texas and washington in a standoff, texas, us civil war, civil war, border crisis, washington-texas war, border security
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240127/cargo-ship-blocks-bosphorus-strait-in-turkiye---source-1116440380.html

Cargo Ship Blocks Bosphorus Strait in Turkiye - Source

Cargo Ship Blocks Bosphorus Strait in Turkiye - Source

Sputnik International

A cargo ship sailing under the flag of Barbados blocked the Bosphorus Strait in Turkiye on Saturday night, a source in the Turkish coast guard told Sputnik.

2024-01-27T19:52+0000

2024-01-27T19:52+0000

2024-01-27T19:52+0000

bosphorus

turkiye

cargo ship

world

barbados

black sea

mediterranean sea

traffic jam

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/1b/1116440223_0:217:3078:1948_1920x0_80_0_0_352f8c79a849a6a952c358174079764d.jpg

"The 80-meter bulk carrier, SNP Pazar, had engine trouble while sailing through the Bosphorus near the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, causing a pause in transit through the strait in both directions," the source said. Ship trackers show that the vessel was en route to the Greek port of Kalymnos. The source said that coast guard boats were trying to tug SNP Pazar away to unblock the crucial waterway, which connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara and via the Dardanelles to the Mediterranean.

bosphorus

turkiye

barbados

black sea

mediterranean sea

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2024

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

cargo ship, bosphorus strait, barbados, black sea, sea of marmara, dardanelles, mediterranean, snp pazar, block waterway, unblock waterway, maritime traffic jam, sea traffic jam, traffic jam, transit pausem pause in transit, sea transit, maritime transit
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240127/end-in-sight-us-militarys-lengthy-presence-in-iraq-approaching-conclusion-1116422538.html

End in Sight: US Military's Lengthy Presence in Iraq Approaching Conclusion

End in Sight: US Military's Lengthy Presence in Iraq Approaching Conclusion

Sputnik International

On this episode of The Backstory, host Rachel Blevins covers various global topics, including the potential withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.

2024-01-27T04:00+0000

2024-01-27T04:00+0000

2024-01-27T10:27+0000

the backstory

boeing

fani willis

donald trump

international court of justice

gaza strip

israel

palestine

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/1b/1116422908_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_d8bd477085a6d361c88eab9ea3ef7698.png

End in Sight: U.S. Military's Lengthy Presence in Iraq Approaching Conclusion Sputnik International On this episode of The Backstory, host Rachel Blevins covers various global topics, including the potential withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.

Ajay Pallegar - Attorney and Political AnalystSam Husseini - Independent JournalistKyle Anzalone - Opinion Editor at Antiwar.comTed Rall - Cartoonist and Co-Host of The Final CountdownThe first hour features a conversation with attorney Ajay Pallegar, discussing the latest allegations against Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. Subsequently, journalist Sam Husseini shares insights on the International Court of Justice's ruling on the Israel genocide case.In the final hour, Antiwar.com's Kyle Anzalone provides insights into the potential U.S. withdrawal from Iraq, and cartoonist Ted Rall joins Rachel to discuss issues related to Boeing aircraft.The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comCatch us in the US at 105.5FM, 104.7FM, 102.9FM, 1390AM, 1140AM

gaza strip

israel

palestine

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2024

Rachel Blevins

Rachel Blevins

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Rachel Blevins

on this episode of the backstory, host rachel blevins covers various global topics, including the potential withdrawal of u.s. troops from iraq.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240127/gaza-strip-no-longer-has-healthcare-system---doctors-without-borders-1116430310.html

Gaza Strip No Longer Has Healthcare System - Doctors Without Borders

Gaza Strip No Longer Has Healthcare System - Doctors Without Borders

Sputnik International

Hospitals in the Gaza Strip have effectively ceased to provide medical services as a result of Israel's military operation, leaving the enclave without a healthcare system, organization Doctors Without Borders said.

2024-01-27T08:23+0000

2024-01-27T08:23+0000

2024-01-27T08:23+0000

world

israeli-palestinian conflict

israel-gaza conflict

palestine-israel conflict

hamas

gaza strip

gaza violence

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0c/15/1115722925_0:172:1656:1104_1920x0_80_0_0_e4d03627a3bd612b94f0eceb0b6d1388.jpg

Currently, there are between 300 and 350 patients with war-related injuries at Nasser Hospital, and their evacuation is impossible due to dangerous conditions and the absence of ambulances, according to provided information.Most of Nasser Hospital's staff, as well as thousands of displaced people who sought refuge there, fled in the days leading up to the Israeli forces order to evacuate surrounding areas, Doctors without Borders said in a statement. On Friday, the World Health Organization said that since 7 October, more than 676 attacks on medical facilities have been reported in Gaza and the West Bank, resulting in 623 deaths and 837 injuries. On October 7, the Gaza Strip-controlling Hamas movement launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel and breached the border, attacking both civilian neighborhoods and military bases. As a result, over 1,200 people in Israel were killed and some 240 others abducted. Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza, and started a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages. Almost 26,000 people have been killed so far in the Gaza Strip as a result of Israeli strikes, local authorities said. On November 24, Qatar mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas on a temporary truce and the exchange of some of the prisoners and hostages, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire was extended several times and expired on December 1. More than 100 hostages are still believed to be held by Hamas in Gaza.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240125/gaza-war-has-financial-reason-mainstream-media-wont-cover---ex-cia-analyst-1116373859.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240119/guilty-of-genocide-us-brushes-off-south-africas-accusation-due-to-fear-of-culpability--1116261381.html

gaza strip

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2024

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

israel-hamas crisis, israel crisis, gaza strip crisis, gaza killing, gaza healthcare
San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott acknowledged Friday that his department failed to monitor the accounting of a nonprofit contractor that a city audit found misspent grant money. Juliana Yamada/Special to the Chronicle

San Franciscos police chief acknowledged Friday that his department failed to monitor the accounting of a nonprofit contractor that the city found misspent grant money, and said the department has expanded its own audit, as calls intensified for a thorough explanation of what went wrong.

The focus on accountability followed revelations last week that SF SAFE, which provides crime-prevention services to the San Francisco Police Department, spent nearly $80,000 in grant money on ineligible or excessive expenses including a Lake Tahoe trip, luxury gift boxes and limo service.

SF SAFE fired its executive director, Kyra Worthy, after finding evidence she forged a check. But its problems deepened this past week as it came to light that Worthys previous nonprofit in Richmond faced allegations of falsifying invoices and not completing work as part of contracts with a school district.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

SFPD has said it knew about these issues and determined no criminal charges were filed, noting it was up to SF SAFEs board of directors to fire its director.

Worthy has not responded to attempts to reach her for comment.

Police Chief Bill Scott said in a statement Friday that the department did not adequately monitor SF SAFEs accounting practices by conducting on-site examinations of their financial records.

Since learning about the issues, Scott said the department has expanded its audit of invoices SF SAFE charged to our grant agreement and that he suspended all operations with SF SAFE. He added that the department is working with other city departments to make sure the services previously provided by SF SAFE are not interrupted.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

This is something that I take very seriously, Scott said. The misuse of public funds is unacceptable.

Kyra Worthy, former San Francisco SAFE executive director, speaks during a Lunar New Year public safety news conference in January 2023. SF Gov TV

Several members of the Board of Supervisors are supporting a formal inquiry into the Police Departments contract with SF SAFE, how its accounting department and administrative staff could have missed financial red flags, and how core functions of the organization like business and residential safety assessments will continue.



Supervisor Aaron Peskin is calling for a hearing, saying that both the board of directors and the Police Department abdicated responsibility to monitor (Worthys) contract and failed to do their due diligence  into their highly paid executive director.

It takes two to tango, Peskin said about SFPDs contention that the nonprofits board was ultimately the entity responsible for hiring and firing its director, not the Police Department.

For decades, the vast majority of SAFEs funding has come from the police department, he said While its true that the legal responsibility belongs to the board of directors, the police department was the source of their funding and the agency that oversaw their grant. This is the result of too cozy a relationship where you see no evil, hear no evil and dont look for any evil.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Supervisor Hillary Ronen told the Chronicle on Friday that its clear SFPD was asleep at the wheel and should not be allowed to deflect blame when other departments are held to high standards when it comes to their contracting practices, like the Department of Public Health, for example.

I want to understand what happened, I want (the police) to take responsibility, and I want them to tell us exactly whats going to change, Ronen said. (Worthy) couldnt have inappropriately spent this money for so long if anyone was seriously providing oversight to this huge contract, especially from a department thats constantly coming to the board asking for additional money.

Ronen added that she was deeply troubled that the Mission-based Latino Task Force is still owed $625,000 from SF SAFE, and raised questions about why that information was only disclosed after Worthys financial impropriety was revealed by the controller. She also wants to know if theres any money left in the contract that could be reallocated elsewhere.

Supervisor Connie Chan said in an interview she was deeply troubled by the scandal and personally outraged. She said she worked for SF SAFE in 2005 doing community organizing work helping to bridge the gap between monolingual immigrant communities and the Police Department.

People often ask me, Whats happening with our city? How come with a $14 billion budget were still not getting the types of services we want and need?   Chan said. SF SAFE is one of many examples we have seen in the last few years of wasteful spending and corruption in a city government that lacks checks and balances and accountability.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

As chair of the budget committee, Chan has been championing efforts to increase the boards oversight role in department contracts, calling for more scrutiny on whether some services can be consolidated to make government function more efficiently and save money amid a looming budget crisis.

She said the board must exercise its authority of inquiry to examine why the SF SAFE contract exists in the first place, find out what essential services it provides and gauge the nonprofits performance.

Supervisor Matt Dorsey agreed the board needs to ask tough questions of the Police Department and SF SAFEs board and its executive director. Dorsey said he has interacted with Worthy in the past when he worked for the Police Department, but that he was not aware of the impropriety revealed by the controllers office and the press. He said he was disappointed that the scandal could help to delegitimize the public sector further.

In terms of the use of public funds, thats sacrosanct and there should be consequences if public dollars were not well and wisely spent, Dorsey said, adding that he supports holding hearings. I hope this sends a message to any publicly-funded nonprofit that they had better be prudent and accountable on how theyre spending public funds.

SF SAFE has long enjoyed a close relationship with the SFPD. The nonprofit began as a program within the Police Department in 1976. Former director of SF SAFE Jim Dudley said often there are one or two current or former police officers on the organizations board of directors. Peskin said the strong ties between SF SAFE and the department may have led to improper oversight.



I think that has led to a coziness where they werent asking the kinds of questions youd normally ask because they viewed it differently, though not with any intentional malice, Peskin said. Not only was the accounting function at the department wanting, but it is a nonprofit corporate entity that has a board who appear to not have discharged their duties as directors.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240127/hezbollah-struck-9-israeli-army-positions-near-border-1116430106.html

Hezbollah Struck 9 Israeli Army Positions Near Border

Hezbollah Struck 9 Israeli Army Positions Near Border

Sputnik International

Lebanese movement Hezbollah said on Saturday it had conducted strikes against nine positions of the Israeli armed forces near the border on January 26.

2024-01-27T07:23+0000

2024-01-27T07:23+0000

2024-01-27T07:23+0000

world

israeli-palestinian conflict

israel-gaza conflict

palestine-israel conflict

hezbollah

israel defense forces (idf)

hamas

gaza strip

lebanon

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/08/1116055263_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_345296a454dc4298f3e60dbab960b681.jpg

Missiles and other weapons were used in the attack, the movement said in a statement. Earlier in the day, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that it had identified a series of launches from Lebanon, which resulted in no casualties, adding that its artillery fired in response. The situation in southern Lebanon deteriorated after the start of Israel's military operation in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli army and Hezbollah fighters regularly exchange fire in areas along the border. On October 7, the Gaza Strip-controlling Hamas movement launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel and breached the border, attacking both civilian neighborhoods and military bases. As a result, over 1,200 people in Israel were killed and some 240 others abducted. Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza, and started a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages. Almost 26,000 people have been killed so far in the Gaza Strip as a result of Israeli strikes, local authorities said.

gaza strip

lebanon

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2024

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

israel-hamas conflict, israel-gaza conflict, palestine, hamas, hezbollah, lebanese hezbollah
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240127/idf-conducts-new-raids-against-hamas-in-gazas-khan-yunis-eliminates-multiple-fighters-1116431700.html

IDF Conducts New Raids Against Hamas in Gaza's Khan Yunis, Eliminates Multiple Fighters

IDF Conducts New Raids Against Hamas in Gaza's Khan Yunis, Eliminates Multiple Fighters

Sputnik International

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Saturday that it had continued raids on Hamas targets in the city of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, eliminating many armed fighters.

2024-01-27T10:15+0000

2024-01-27T10:15+0000

2024-01-27T10:15+0000

world

israeli-palestinian conflict

palestine-israel conflict

gaza strip

israel defense forces (idf)

hamas

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/09/1116086112_0:320:3072:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_593994fd7f4b054d73dcaa49ea95e61a.jpg

The IDF also said its units killed several Hamas fighters armed with assault rifles and rocket launchers in the city. In November, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said that Hamas had been defeated in the northern part of the enclave and the Israeli military would now mover to the center and south of the Gaza Strip. The Israeli military claims that about 9,000 Hamas fighters were eliminated in the three months since the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip. Various estimates put the total number of Hamas troops between 30,000 and 40,000. On October 7, the Gaza Strip-controlling Hamas movement launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel and breached the border, attacking both civilian neighborhoods and military bases. As a result, over 1,200 people in Israel were killed and some 240 others abducted. Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza, and started a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages. Almost 26,000 people have been killed so far in the Gaza Strip as a result of Israeli strikes, local authorities said. On November 24, Qatar mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas on a temporary truce and the exchange of some of the prisoners and hostages, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire was extended several times and expired on December 1. More than 100 hostages are still believed to be held by Hamas in Gaza.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240127/gaza-strip-no-longer-has-healthcare-system---doctors-without-borders-1116430310.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240126/economic-political-repercussions-icj-ruling-may-entail-dire-consequences-for-israel-1116419415.html

gaza strip

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2024

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

israel-gaza conflict, israel-hamas conflict, israel-palestine conflict, gaza strip crisis, gaza war
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240127/insanity-on-steroids-ex-us-official-describes-israel-neocon-nexus-driving-foreign-policy-1116423242.html

Insanity on Steroids: Ex-US Official Describes Israel-Neocon Nexus Driving Foreign Policy

Insanity on Steroids: Ex-US Official Describes Israel-Neocon Nexus Driving Foreign Policy

Sputnik International

As reports emerged of US discussions to withdraw troops from Iraq, author and defense expert Michael Maloof joined Sputniks The Final Countdown program Friday to recount the United States controversial decision to intervene in the country in 2003.

2024-01-27T01:37+0000

2024-01-27T01:37+0000

2024-01-27T04:40+0000

analysis

us

iraq

cia

israel

syria

iraq war

us invasion

us hegemony

us interventions

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/13/1109655552_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_9c9af3cf62b21b7a780421ec0f769bc7.jpg

As reports emerged of US discussions to withdraw troops from Iraq, author and defense expert Michael Maloof joined Sputniks The Final Countdown program Friday to recount the United States controversial decision to intervene in the country in 2003.All of a sudden [the] CIA in October of 2002 comes out with this NIE, or National Intelligence Estimate, saying, 'Oh, they've got WMD,' recalled Maloof. Well, we all sort of pinched ourselves and said, 'No, they don't. We don't have that evidence.'Maloof said he was contacted by officials from Syria and Lebanon worried about the destabilizing effects regime change in Iraq would have on the greater region. The analyst worked to express his grave concerns to peers at the Defense Department, insisting the claims of weapons of mass destruction and Iraqi President Saddam Husseins support for terrorism were unfounded.But he eventually came to understand that high US officials had other reasons for supporting the invasion.We were looking at the Middle East completely through the prism of Israel, and we still do. And look where it's gotten us.Observers have long noted the overlap between ideological Zionists, who prioritize defense of Israel, and neoconservatives, who support a muscular and interventionist US foreign policy. Wolfowitz was a strong Zionist as was Bill Kristol, a prominent supporter of the Iraq War whos often considered the leader of the modern neoconservative movement in the United States.Current US Secretary of State Antony Blinken argued on behalf of Israel during his time as a student at Harvard University, and US President Joe Biden has repeatedly proclaimed he is a Zionist even though hes of non-Jewish heritage.Although some believed the invasion of Iraq would be in Israels interest, Maloof argued the destabilizing legacy of the intervention has imperiled the entire region.This was a disaster ready to happen and it's now occurred, added Maloof. And we're just digging a deeper, deeper hole, wondering why we can't get out of it. But, it's insanity on steroids. And so, and as a consequence of my actions, I got ostracized. And ultimately, I was forced to leave.Maloof said a similar mindset was responsible for US intervention in the Syrian Civil War, which has given rise to the CIAs $1 billion Timber Sycamore program, one of the most expensive covert efforts in the agencys history.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20221230/how-saddam-husseins-execution-scarred-iraq-and-changed-us-foreign-policy-forever-1105930776.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231121/ex-cia-analyst-us-responsible-for-gaza-genocide-by-empowering-netanyahu--1115100230.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230315/twelfth-anniversary-of-war-how-syria-upended-wests-plans-to-nix-statehood-and-isolate-damascus-1108434106.html

iraq

israel

syria

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2024

John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg

John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg

us interventions, us hegemony, us military operation, us-led terrorism, american terrorists, terrorist state, us hegemony, pro-american terrorists, us-iraq war, us-syria war, color revolutions, arab spring, proamerican terrorists, good terrorists, funding of terrorists, funding of terrorism, money for terrorists, american money for terrorists, american-backed terrorists, american-backed terrorism, us-backed terrorists, us-backed terrorism
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240127/like-a-walking-war-machine-china-blasts-nato-amid-massive-military-drill-1116424040.html

Like a Walking War Machine: China Blasts NATO Amid Massive Military Drill

Like a Walking War Machine: China Blasts NATO Amid Massive Military Drill

Sputnik International

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has increasingly criticized the Asian power in speeches in recent years.

2024-01-27T03:31+0000

2024-01-27T03:31+0000

2024-01-27T03:31+0000

military drill

us

nato

china

military exercise

military

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/03/17/1108730298_0:142:2400:1492_1920x0_80_0_0_ef8981a064704644b47964b3bec5ddff.jpg

A spokesman for Chinas defense ministry took the gloves off when asked a question about the North Atlantic Treaty Association (NATO) in Beijing Thursday.We urge NATO to stop making up lies and stop any dangerous move that may disrupt the Asia Pacific, and take an objective and rational view of the growth of China and the Chinese military, Wu added.The biting remark came in response to questions about the alliance during a regularly-scheduled press conference. NATO kicked off its Steadfast Defender 2024 exercise Wednesday, bringing together 90,000 groups from member nations to participate in drills over the next half year. The United States has claimed the exercise is the alliances largest since the Cold War period.As a regional military organization, NATO has launched and fought many wars around the world since its establishment, said Wu of the alliance, which played a key role in wars on Libya, Afghanistan, and the former Yugoslavia. NATO member countries have also backed intervention in Syrias ongoing civil war.In recent years, NATO has been inching closer to the Asia Pacific and using the non-existent 'China threat' as an excuse to advance bloc confrontation, which poses a threat to regional security, added Wu.Japan and South Korea have been attending annual NATO summits since the bloc extended an invitation to them in 2022. The move is seen as a broadening of NATOs influence to the Asia region, where member countries are anxious over the economic and military rise of China. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has increasingly spoken about the challenges we [NATO] see coming from China.A few months later, Stoltenberg threatened China against providing military aid to Russia, warning it would be a historic mistake with profound implications. Stoltenberg didnt elaborate on NATOs ability or legal authority to dictate Chinas policy. Hungarian foreign minister Peter Szijjarto insisted at the time that NATO should not become an anti-China bloc.Wu criticized Stoltenberg at his Thursday press conference, saying the NATO general secretary has made inappropriate comments about China. He also said China is highly concerned about NATOs massive military drill.China has been joined by Russia in expressing concern over the planned six-month exercise.These exercises are another element of the hybrid war unleashed by the West against Russia.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240121/scale-of-steadfast-defender-drills-marks-return-of-nato-to-cold-war-era-patterns---moscow-1116291509.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240117/invasion-rehearsals-north-korea-slams-joint-us-south-korea--japan-drills-as-tensions-escalate-1116223165.html

china

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2024

John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg

John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg

us forces, us troops, american forces, us troops, us army, military drills, military exercises, us forces, chinese threat, us-china relations, us-china talks
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240127/macron-signs-controversial-immigration-law-during-visit-to-india-1116432153.html

Macron Signs Controversial Immigration Law During Visit to India

Macron Signs Controversial Immigration Law During Visit to India

Sputnik International

French President Emmanuel Macron, during his visit to New Delhi earlier this week, signed the controversial law on immigration that tightens naturalization and deportation rules, the French government said in its Official Journal on Saturday.

2024-01-27T10:33+0000

2024-01-27T10:33+0000

2024-01-27T10:33+0000

world

france

emmanuel macron

gerald darmanin

french constitutional council

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/07/17/1112091092_0:0:3249:1827_1920x0_80_0_0_9b327f0c181f74777ec346779b0f6844.jpg

On Thursday, the French Constitutional Council rejected more than one-third of the original text of the law it found to be in breach of the constitution. "Having regard to the January 25, 2024 decision of the Constitutional Council ... the president of the Republic promulgates the law," the entry in the journal read. Macron signed the law while on a visit in New Delhi from Thursday to Friday, the statement read. The parts of the law scrapped by the constitutional watchdog included the article tightening the rules for entry on a family visa, the obligation for non-EU students to leave the country, as well as the introduction of "migration quotas." They also included criminal penalties for illegal stay in France, differences in access to social security depending on the type of professional employment and length of stay in the country, as well as changes in the right to French citizenship by birth in the country's territory, as inconsistent with current French legislation. French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, one of the key authors of the migration reform, said following the council's decision that Macron would still sign the abridged law. On Friday, the minister gathered all the prefects and ordered them to start enforcing the law after immediately after it is signed. The law, approved by both chambers of French parliament on December 19 after much deliberation, caused a massive outcry both among the public and French politicians. Then-Health Minister Aurelien Rousseau resigned on December 20, while several French regions governed by left-wing politicians said they would not implement the provisions of the new law. The law on asylum and migration includes many measures to tighten control over the deportation of undocumented migrants and revocation of residence permits from those committing crimes. The government described it as the "toughest" law ever on immigration.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240107/demonstrations-take-place-in-france-against-holding-2030-winter-olympics---reports-1116023281.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231214/at-least-75-of-french-support-referendum-on-migration-issues---poll-1115566741.html

france

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2024

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

emmanuel macron, france migration, migration law, macron migration
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240127/palestine-invites-other-countries-to-join-s-africas-icj-suit-against-israel-1116433822.html

Palestine Invites Other Countries to Join S. Africa's ICJ Suit Against Israel

Palestine Invites Other Countries to Join S. Africa's ICJ Suit Against Israel

Sputnik International

Countries in Europe and beyond are encouraged to align themselves with South Africa's suit against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Omar Awadallah, an assistant to the Palestinian foreign minister on UN affairs, has told Sputnik.

2024-01-27T12:05+0000

2024-01-27T12:05+0000

2024-01-27T12:05+0000

world

israeli-palestinian conflict

israel-gaza conflict

palestine-israel conflict

hamas

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/1b/1116431679_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_2f08bd9d4d6047c4e52a77bf1948af4b.jpg

South Africa filed the lawsuit accusing Israel of genocidal intent in Gaza on December 29, amid a rising civilian death toll in the besieged Palestinian enclave. The Palestinian diplomat counts on the UN court to "bring Israel to justice for crimes under international law." On Friday, the ICJ issued a provisional ruling ordering Israel to take "all measures within its power" to prevent genocide in Gaza, including refraining from killing or causing harm to Palestinian civilians, preventing and punishing incitement to genocide and taking immediate action to allow basic aid into the enclave. Algeria's Foreign Ministry said later that day that the Algerian mission to the UN would request a Security Council meeting in coming days to ensure that the ICJ ruling is implemented. Countries like Brazil, Iran, Malaysia, Turkiye and Venezuela have backed South Africa's suit. The US State Department, on the other hand, has told Sputnik that Washington considered the genocide accusations brought against Israel "unfounded."

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240126/south-african-suit-against-israel-could-open-the-floodgates-of-accountability-for-colonial-powers-1116395241.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240126/economic-political-repercussions-icj-ruling-may-entail-dire-consequences-for-israel-1116419415.html

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2024

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

gaza genocide, gaza strip violence, gaza war, israel kills, israel-hamas conflict, israel genocide suit, israel suit
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240127/reigniting-cold-war-flames-natos-steadfast-defender-2024-exercises-1116433099.html

Reigniting Cold War Flames: NATO's Steadfast Defender 2024 Exercises

Reigniting Cold War Flames: NATO's Steadfast Defender 2024 Exercises

Sputnik International

NATO launched its largest military exercise since the Cold War on Wednesday, with a US warship setting sail from the United States to European alliance territory. The Russian authorities had previously warned that NATO officials "provoke a game of nerves and further compress the spring of escalation."

2024-01-27T15:04+0000

2024-01-27T15:04+0000

2024-01-27T15:04+0000

military

alexander grushko

russia

north america

ukraine

nato

us hegemony

us

russia-nato showdown

military drills

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/1b/1116432558_0:0:1280:720_1920x0_80_0_0_05f9a0578bc74ea95fa33defa9525842.png

Steadfast Defender 2024 are months-long exercises involving 90,000 military personnel from 31 member countries of the NATO alliance and Sweden.Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko expressed concerns, stating that the scale of these exercises marks NATO's return to Cold War-era confrontational strategies against Russia.According to Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, NATO's Steadfast Defender drills near Russia's borders increase the risk of military incidents and may lead to tragic consequences.The maneuvers are overtly provocative: for several months, a 90,000-strong force from 31 NATO countries and Sweden will actively operate near Russian borders, stretching from Norway to Romania.The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry noted that NATO "does not hide the fact that during the exercises, they will be practicing tasks related to countering the 'Russian threat'.""The chairman of NATO's military committee, Admiral Rob Bauer, has stated that the alliance is preparing for a conflict with Russia. Similar comments have repeatedly come from the leadership of NATO member countries. Thus, the alliance is attempting to justify both its existence and its policy of containing Russia, as well as to justify the insane growth in military expenditures," Zakharova added.The simulation, spanning from North America to NATO's eastern flank near the Russian border, involves 50 naval vessels, 80 aircraft, and over 1,100 combat vehicles. This marks NATO's most significant exercises since the 1988 Reforger drill during the Cold War and follows the alliance's defense overhaul.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240127/like-a-walking-war-machine-china-blasts-nato-amid-massive-military-drill-1116424040.html

russia

north america

ukraine

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2024

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

nato exercise steadfast defender 2024, largest nato exercise, steadfast defender 2024 location, nato military exercise 2024, steadfast defender 2024 countries
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240127/russian-air-defenses-downed-seven-himars-and-vampire-mlrs-rockets-in-24-hours--defense-ministry-1116434469.html

Russian Air Defenses Downed Seven HIMARS and Vampire MLRS Rockets in 24 Hours  MoD

Russian Air Defenses Downed Seven HIMARS and Vampire MLRS Rockets in 24 Hours  MoD

Sputnik International

Moscow's forces have achieved significant success in repelling Ukrainian attacks across multiple fronts, inflicting substantial losses on the Kiev regime's troops.

2024-01-27T15:47+0000

2024-01-27T15:47+0000

2024-01-27T17:46+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

donetsk

kiev

zaporozhye

russian defense ministry

multiple-launch rocket systems (mlrs)

high mobility artillery rocket system (himars)

s-300

battlegroup

russian army

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/1b/1116436057_0:0:3284:1847_1920x0_80_0_0_98e11cacbbbdbf4a02a2af8f8527c7c9.jpg

The latest updates from the Russian Defense Ministry detail successful defenses in Donetsk, Zaporozhye, and other regions, coupled with precision strikes on Ukrainian air defenses and military installations. The intense clashes have seen Ukrainian forces suffer significant casualties, impacting both the Kievs regime troops and military equipment.In a recent development, Russian forces effectively thwarted two attacks launched by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Donetsk region. The Ukrainian side suffered substantial losses, including up to 250 soldiers, two armored vehicles, and an Akatsiya self-propelled howitzer, according to information from the Russian Ministry of Defense.Battlegroup Yug, operating in the Donetsk area, successfully repelled the attacks in the Shumy and Bogdanovka regions through precise artillery strikes. Additional Ukrainian personnel and military equipment were neutralized in various settlements of the Donetsk People's Republic, including Krasnoye, Klescheyevka, Andreyevka, Georgiyevka, and Novomikhailovka, as highlighted in the ministry's briefing.Success on Zaporozhye FrontThe Russian Ministry of Defense reported that the Kiev regime incurred losses of up to 20 soldiers, a combat armored vehicle, and two cars in the Zaporozhye region.The operation involved the use of artillery support, targeting Ukrainian troops and military equipment of the 63rd Mechanized Brigade in specific areas, including Rabotino and Nesteryanka in the Zaporozhye region.Notably, the self-propelled artillery units Akatsiya and Gvozdika were destroyed during counter-fire combat.Four Attacks Repelled in South DonetskIn the South Donetsk region, Russian forces successfully repelled four attacks launched by Ukrainian troops. The engagements resulted in significant losses for Ukraine, including up to 115 servicemen and two Akatsiya self-propelled howitzers. Units of the Battlegroup Vostok played a pivotal role in repelling the attacks near the settlement Priyutnoye in the Zaporozhye region and Makarovka of the Donetsk People's Republic.The Ukrainian losses, as reported by the Russian Ministry of Defense, included 115 soldiers, three cars, and two 2S3 Akatsiya self-propelled artillery units.In a separate incident, Russian air defenses successfully intercepted seven rockets launched from HIMARS and Vampire multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS). Additionally, 28 Ukrainian drones were destroyed across various areas in the Donetsk People's Republic, Lugansk People's Republic, and the Kherson region within a day.Ukraine Suffers in Kupyansk and Krasnoarmeysk AreasRussian forces successfully repelled a total of seven attacks on the Kupyansk and Krasnoarmeysk outskirts within a day, resulting in Ukrainian losses of up to 125 soldiers. The Battlegroup Zapad repelled five attacks in the Kupyansk area, while Battlegroup Tsentr successfully repelled two attacks in the Krasny Liman region.Ukrainian losses included 125 troops, two combat armored vehicles, three cars, and a D-20 howitzer.Russian Forces Hit S-300 Complex, Fuel Depots, and Aviation FacilitiesRussian aviation and artillery conducted targeted strikes on a Ukrainian S-300 SAM system in the Cherkasy region, as well as fuel depots and aviation facilities in Kirovograd and Dnepropetrovsk regions. The military briefing highlighted that troops and military equipment of the Kiev regime in 102 areas were affected during the operation.Russian Units Decimate Ukrainian Troops in KhersonIn addition, Russian units reported destroying up to 15 Ukrainian soldiers and four Gvozdika self-propelled howitzers in the Kherson region within a day.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240126/russian-forces-urge-ukrainians-to-surrender-1116401779.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240116/ukraine-bungled-counteroffensive-faces-loss-of-statehood-if-things-continue-in-this-vein-putin-1116203499.html

donetsk

kiev

zaporozhye

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2024

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

russian forces in ukraine, russia ukraine war, russia ukraine war news, russia destroys ukrainian artillery, russian vs ukrainian artillery, russian armed forces vs ukraine
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240127/some-100000-germans-protest-right-wing-extremism-in-duesseldorf-1116441181.html

Some 100,000 Germans Protest Right-Wing Extremism in Duesseldorf

Some 100,000 Germans Protest Right-Wing Extremism in Duesseldorf

Sputnik International

Around 100,000 demonstrators took to the street of Duesseldorf in western Germany on Saturday to protest against right-wing extremism, according to police estimates.

2024-01-27T21:32+0000

2024-01-27T21:32+0000

2024-01-27T21:32+0000

alternative for germany (afd)

germany

protests

world

alternative fuer deutschland (afd)

boris pistorius

right-wing parties

demonstrations

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/1b/1116441303_0:0:3155:1776_1920x0_80_0_0_676a4ea2b6235b545356100a0ba51e90.jpg

"At the height [of the event], the police estimated the number of people at around 100,000  There were sporadic violations of order, such as the use of firecrackers," police said in a statement. The organizers expected some 30,000 people to attend the rally, which aimed to put pressure on the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Police chief Thorsten Fleiss said it was largely peaceful, although traffic disruption was significant. Smaller rallies, numbering thousands of people, reportedly took place in other parts of the country, including in Aachen, Osnabrueck and Kiel. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, of the center-left Social Democratic Party, showed up in Osnabrueck to call for demonstrators to stand up for democracy. The demonstrations come amid calls to ban AfD nationwide over its anti-immigration rhetoric. The domestic intelligence agency has labeled three AfD chapters  in Thuringia, Saxony and lately in Saxony-Anhalt  as "extremist." Two of the states face elections in 2024. Despite the criticism, AfD continues to enjoy an ever-increasing popularity across the country, most prominently in the east. Polls put support for AfD at between 15% and 23%, making it the second most popular party after the conservative bloc.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240123/germany-deserves-to-have-dexit-option---afd-lawmakers--1116324887.html

germany

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2024

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

alternative for germany, afd party, mass protests, mass demonstrations, right-wing extremism, duesseldorf, right-wing party, anti-immigration rhetoric, anti-immigration policy, illegal immigration
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240127/specter-of-civil-war-bidens-border-policy-could-lead-to-huge-explosion--ex-pentagon-analyst-1116437378.html

Specter of Civil War: Biden's Border Policy Could Lead to 'Huge Explosion'  Ex-Pentagon Analyst

Specter of Civil War: Biden's Border Policy Could Lead to 'Huge Explosion'  Ex-Pentagon Analyst

Sputnik International

Texas' row with the federal government over the state's border policies has evoked a specter of the civil war, Michael Maloof, a former senior security policy analyst at the Office of the US Secretary of Defense, told Sputnik.

2024-01-27T18:39+0000

2024-01-27T18:39+0000

2024-01-27T18:39+0000

us

joe biden

michael maloof

migrant crisis

migrant

texas

texas governor greg abbott

donald trump

national guard

militia

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/102386/48/1023864824_0:41:4710:2690_1920x0_80_0_0_85da80539b46a1d2b5b45102ce3c5269.jpg

The migrant crisis has been increasingly haunting the US since President Joe Biden assumed office and revoked border restrictions implemented by his predecessor, Donald Trump. However, some red states rebelled against Biden's open border agenda, with Texas kicking off Operation Lone Star in March 2021, bringing together the Texas Department of Public Safety and the National Guard.Recently, the Texas National Guard "seized" a section of the US-Mexico border, blocking federal border patrol agents from accessing it and raising legal disputes. The US Supreme Court ruled that federal agents may cut the wire barriers placed by the Lone Star authorities to deter illegal migrants from entering the state. Nonetheless, 25 Republican governors signed a letter supporting Texas in the border control fight with the federal government over the "invasion" of migrants.'It's Like Our Old Civil War'Per Maloof, the situation is now boiling down to a potential confrontation between the state of Texas and 25 Republican states on the one side and the federal government on the other.Meanwhile, Democrats appear to be unwilling to back down: they are calling on Biden to "federalize" the Texas National Guard thus upending the state's Operation Lone Star.One also has to bear in mind that Texas has forces to protect itself even without federal government assistance, according to Sputnik's interlocutor."Texas' governor also has the Texas police and there are also other types of local police forces scattered around the country that are not subject to federal recall, that can, be utilized from these other 25 states. So, and it hasn't been mentioned yet, but, a number of these states have, militias  people who are quiet organizations that conceivably could offer their services to the state of Texas and be deputized by the state of Texas. They would not be subject to any recall by the federal government. But the question will be the issue of training, discipline. So that would be an additional factor which probably could be dealt with, if this came down to a very serious confrontation."Maloof drew attention to the fact that despite the US Supreme Court's recent ruling concerning the wire barriers at the border, the Border Patrol  which is a federal agency  has not moved to demolish the barriers so far. The crux of the matter is that the Border Patrol "does not want to have a confrontation with state officials, many of whom probably live next door to each other half the time and they work closely together any other time," the expert explained.Trump Calls on US States to Support TexasEx-President Donald Trump, the GOP front-runner in the 2024 race, called on "all willing states to deploy their guards to Texas to prevent the entry of Illegals, and to remove them back across the border" on his Truth Social account. He pledged that, if re-elected, he would "work hand in hand" with Abbott and other border states to "stop the invasion, seal the border, and rapidly begin the largest domestic deportation operation in history."Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also sided with Texas, tweeting: "A country without borders is not a country at all." RFK highlighted that the Lone Star was "right" to protect its borders.For his part, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, one of those 25 who signed a letter in support of Abbott's border measures, lambasted Team Biden for refusing "to secure the border" and hailed Texas' "constitutional right to defend itself."The border issue is currently high on the agenda as the Biden administration is trying to secure a multi-billion-dollar package for Ukraine and Israel in exchange for a bipartisan compromise migrant deal. However, after segments from the bipartisan agreements were leaked to the press, several Republican lawmakers concluded it would be "dead on arrival" in the House of Representatives meaning that Team Biden wouldn't get its Ukraine package any time soon.The GOP raised the issue of migrant reform because Biden is not acting on existing laws prohibiting illegal immigration, the expert stressed. He bemoaned the fact that many migrants who want to get into the US legally are now disenchanted by the mess at the border."Frankly, there's really no reason for additional legislation anywhere," he said. "Because existing legislation already allows for shutting down the border if you have illegals coming in or if you have 'an invasion', which we're now seeing every day. The Biden administration just refuses to act on it.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240127/texas-border-dispute-shows-entire-us-constitutional-system-collapsing-in-multiple-ways-1116422032.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231029/over-10-million-illegals-have-crossed-us-border-under-biden---report-claims-1114580808.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240126/how-trump-and-us-conservatives-deal-a-blow-to-ukraine-aid-package-1116417287.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240123/dc-think-tank-house-could-kill-ukraine-aid-bill-1116334491.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240126/extremely-dangerous-texas-border-battle-portends-growing-us-dysfunction-civil-war-1116420922.html

texas

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2024

Ekaterina Blinova

Ekaterina Blinova

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Ekaterina Blinova

texas, us border crisis, texas governor greg abbott, joe biden, us national guard, operation lone star, illegal migrants, biden's border policy, influx of illegal migrants in the us, civil war
January 27, 2024: Ukraine has developed and used a new EW (Electronic Warfare) technique called inflection. This works by transmitting an electronic signal that manipulates, but does not disrupt, the electronic guidance signals used by incoming UAVs and cruise missiles. Ballistic missiles can also be misled by an infliction signal.

This infliction of electronic guidance signals means all the incoming missiles and UAVs are diverted to a different altitude and location in unison and subsequently detonate in the air. The guidance systems of the inflected missiles and UAVs will still believe they have all hit their intended targets. So far in 2024 inflection has been used several times and the Russians are working on a countermeasure. Until they come up with one, their attacks fail whenever used against an area where Ukraine has deployed equipment which transmits inflection signals.

This electronic equipment is compact enough to be carried in the back of a pickup truck. That means these vehicles have become prime targets for Russian forces. Thats not as ominous as it sounds because the Russians have been trying to find and destroy the 39 HIMARS missile launching vehicles since 2022 and have failed. Then again, the inflection vehicles must halt and transmit their inflection signals while the HIMARS trucks were constantly on the move and transmitted no easily detectable electronic signal.

Ukraine has long been a major developer and manufacturer of weapons and military equipment. Before 1991, when Ukraine was a part of the Soviet Union, Ukraine was a Soviet center for high tech weapons development and production, and these innovation and manufacturing capabilities were recognized and encouraged. Since independence in 1991 Ukraine has continued to encourage its defense firms to continue their work. This has resulted in several new weapons and upgrades for existing systems. One new weapon is a long range, nearly 200 kilometers, high-speed missile with a guidance and targeting system that can get past Russian electronic jamming and air-defense missile systems. The new missile was revealed as the mystery weapon used to destroy a Russian S-400 SAM (surface-to air missile) battery. This was not the first new Ukrainian missile design to be used against Russia. The new missile, like many new Ukrainian weapons, doesnt have an official name or details of its specifications and capabilities. That is normal for a weapon developed during a war and not seeking export sales. That will happen once the war is over, and Ukraine offers its combat-tested new weapons to export customers.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240127/texas-border-dispute-shows-entire-us-constitutional-system-collapsing-in-multiple-ways-1116422032.html

Texas Border Dispute Shows Entire US Constitutional System Collapsing in Multiple Ways

Texas Border Dispute Shows Entire US Constitutional System Collapsing in Multiple Ways

Sputnik International

The escalating dispute between Texas and the Biden administration over Abbott's efforts to erect its own barriers to illegal immigration from Mexico show that the quarter of a millennium old federal US political system is collapsing along many different fault lines, constitutional and political experts told Sputnik.

2024-01-27T00:50+0000

2024-01-27T00:50+0000

2024-01-27T01:07+0000

analysis

border security

us

greg abbott

dan lazare

texas

us-mexico border

illegal migration

illegal immigrants

illegal crossing

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/1b/1116422668_0:320:3072:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_895600026ab6ed52eb9987e1e2cc7a61.jpg

Twenty-five state governors have come out in support of Texas Governor Greg Abbott's declaration that he will defy the Biden administration in Washington, DC and go ahead with building barbed wire barriers along his state's land border with Mexico. The Supreme Court ruled in a narrow 5-4 decision Monday authorizing federal Border Patrol agents to remove razor-wire fencing set up by Texas authorities on Abbotts instructions. However, on Friday, Abbott said he was prepared for a conflict with federal authorities over the issue. The crisis was real and serious, US constitutional historian and political commentator Dan Lazare warned on Friday. US System Fracturing"Sure, it's a crisis, a big one," Lazare said. "It's yet another sign of how the US constitutional system is fracturing along multiple fault lines." The crisis had been developing in full public view over the past quarter century, Lazare pointed out. In 2022, the conservative-dominated Supreme Court overturned the overwhelmingly popular Roe vs. Wade decision of nearly half a century before that had legalized abortion on demand throughout the United States. And now the process of disintegration and the discrediting of ancient national institutions was accelerating, he observed. The crisis goes far beyond a local dispute between Texas and the federal government: it threatens the very existence and survival of the United States, Lazare stated. Secession MeasureUniversity of Houston Professor of African American History Gerald Horne agreed that the crisis was alarming. The principle of secession is not unimaginable in Texas but, on the contrary, it is deeply rooted in the origins and history of the state, Horne explained. "Recall that Texas seceded from Mexico in 1836, formed an independent state - then joined the United States in 1845... then sought to secede again in 1861," he said. Abbott has actually been traveling the world already to assess what support he might be able to gather for any move to secede from the United States, Horne noted. "As we speak the governor is touring abroad - ostensibly on a commercial mission but likely seeking to gauge international support," he said. Texas is the second largest state in the Union in terms of both territory (after Alaska) and population (after California). Horne acknowledged that Abbott had not yet made any hard or irrevocable decision to break with Washington. "To be fair, he has not endorsed officially 'Texit' or Texas exiting the United States, [comparable to] the United Kingdom exiting the European Union (EU) or 'Brexit,'" he said. However, the possibility of a Texas secession followed by a wider disintegration of the United States remained very possible, Horne advised. "A question is this: does all this portend a breakup of the United States, especially if there is a controversy concerning the November presidential election: Stay tuned," he said. Not Serious ThreatNevertheless, the crisis still had plenty of time to be peacefully resolved and there has been similar false alarms throughout US history, George Mason University Professor of Law Francis Buckley advised. Abbott has issued a "Statement on Texas Constitutional Right to Self-Defense" in which he stressed the states right to defend itself against an "invasion" of illegal immigrants, and he also accused Biden of violating and refusing to enforce immigration laws.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240126/extremely-dangerous-texas-border-battle-portends-growing-us-dysfunction-civil-war-1116420922.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240126/border-standoff-escalates-into-constitutional-crisis-after-biden-messes-with-texas-1116406788.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20220620/texas-gop-convention-pushes-for-referendum-on-states-secession-in-2023--1096491234.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231208/it-is-broken-us-politics-use-border-policies-as-bait-in-spending-bill-battle---analysis-1115468989.html

texas

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2024

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

what's going on in texas, constitutional crisis, texas and us federal government, why are texas and washington in a standoff, texas, us civil war, civil war, border crisis, washington-texas war, border security
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240127/us-nsa-purchasing-web-browser-data-without-warrant---letter-1116419247.html

US NSA Purchasing Web Browser Data Without Warrant - Letter

US NSA Purchasing Web Browser Data Without Warrant - Letter

Sputnik International

The NSA is buying Americans internet browning information from commercial brokers without a warrant, according to a letter between US Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and the Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines.

2024-01-27T02:09+0000

2024-01-27T02:09+0000

2024-01-27T02:09+0000

americas

personal data

us government

us

data leak

surveillance

nsa surveillance

government surveillance

big brother

data privacy

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/0b/0a/1090609976_0:247:2867:1860_1920x0_80_0_0_e1b20c612ab3a6d63186099a7b90406a.jpg

The US National Security Agency is buying Americans internet browning information from commercial brokers without a warrant, according to a letter between US Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and the Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines.Wyden, who made the letter from Thursday public, called for US intelligence officials to cease purchasing Americans data unless it has been obtained in a lawful manner.Such location data is collected from Americans smartphones by app developers, sold to data brokers, resold to defense contractors, and then resold again to the government. In addition; the National Security Agency (NSA) is buying Americans' domestic internet metadata, he continues.He added that until recently, the data broker industry and the intelligence communitys (IC) purchase of data from these shady companies has existed in a legal gray area. And that app and advertising companies did not disclose their sale and sharing of personal data with brokers nor did they obtain informed consent.The senator then points out that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) brought an action against the data broker X-Mod Social earlier this month. Wyden says that lawyers for the company admitted that they were selling data collected from phones in the US to US military customers, via defense contractors.The FTC then emphasized that the sales of location data is dangerous as it can be used to track people to sensitive locations, including medical facilities, places of religious worship, places that may be used to infer an LGBTQ+ identification, domestic abuse shelters, and welfare and homeless shelters. They add that consumers should be made aware that their data is being sold to government contractors for national security purposes.Under Secretary of Defense Ronald S. Moultrie defended the methods of government data collecting in a separate letter released by Wyden.Army General Paul M. Nakasone, the director of the NSA, also justified the agencys actions by explaining that the NSA acquires commercially available information but that those acquisitions are limited. Adding that they dont include location data from phones known to be used in the US, and that the non-content data they do buy is located abroad and is critical for the US Defense Industrial base, according to a separate letter.In the end of his letter, Wyden wrote that the US government should not be funding and legitimizing shady industry whose flagrant violations of Americans privacy are not just unethical, but illegal. He then requested that Haines direct each IC element to take on a list of actions he outlined, including taking an inventory of the information they have already collected and to discard any information that does not meet consent laws.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20220929/us-government-buying-data-from-private-firms-to-spy-on-americans-reports-reveal-1101351760.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231117/mass-surveillance-in-hyperdrive-us-company-suspected-of-enabling-government-abuses---report-1115013265.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20220211/senators-uncover-secret-cia-programme-collecting-americans-data-without-any-oversight-1092937188.html

americas

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2024

Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg

Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg

personal data, data sales, data purchasing, us politics, nsa, us intelligence community, surveillance, government surveillance, nsa surveillance, big brother, big brother watching, violation of privacy, privacy violation
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240127/us-think-tanks-cost-of-bidens-attacks-on-houthis-may-exceed-that-of-red-sea-trade-disruption-1116435814.html

US Think Tanks: Cost of Biden's Attacks on Houthis May Exceed That of Red Sea Trade Disruption

US Think Tanks: Cost of Biden's Attacks on Houthis May Exceed That of Red Sea Trade Disruption

Sputnik International

President Joe Biden's claim that the US strikes against Yemen's Houthi militants is necessary to protect the continued flow of global trade doesn't hold water, as per the Quincy Institute of Responsible Statecraft and Cato scholars.

2024-01-27T15:52+0000

2024-01-27T15:52+0000

2024-01-27T15:52+0000

world

us

red sea crisis

joe biden

americans

red sea

yemen

houthis

pentagon

suez canal

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/0c/1116132755_0:120:2297:1412_1920x0_80_0_0_52b50e026f0ce01c956858991155ffcc.jpg

The US has so far conducted 10 rounds of airstrikes against Houthis in response to the Yemeni militant group's attacks on Israel, US, or UK-linked vessels in the Red Sea over Tel Aviv's brutal war in Gaza.Joe Biden's Department of Defense justifies the strikes by the threat allegedly posed by the Yemenis to global trade. Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder insisted on January 22 that the Houthis' attacks in the Red Sea, including "the unprecedented use of anti-ship ballistic missiles," have "significantly disrupted the free flow of commerce" in "one of the globe's most critical waterways."According to some estimates cited by the Quincy Institute of Responsible Statecraft (QI), the Red Sea crisis led to a 1.3% drop in global trade in December 2023. In the course of the crisis, the Houthis have hijacked one ship and launched at least 34 attacks in the region - making a whopping 90% of container ships divert from the Suez Canal to go around Africa.Nonetheless, the QI doubts the Biden administration's assumption that bombing of Houthis (which is fraught with a risk of a wider regional conflict, given the Shiite Yemeni group's longstanding ties with Iran) is an adequate response to the Red Sea crisis. The think tank's skepticism is shared by Eugene Gholz, a political science professor at Notre Dame University. In particular, Gholz wrote in his January 12 op-ed for the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, that "the cost of diverting shipping away from the Red Sea is not very significant in the grand scheme of the global economy."Commenting on the claim of "huge" increases in fuel and personnel costs caused by the necessity to send ships around Africa, Gholz explained that those costs are "actually quite small compared to the cost of the cargo on an average cargo ship." Even if the ship needs another two million dollars' worth of fuel to travel around Africa, this sum should be "amortized across a billion dollars of value of cargo." Eventually, "it's a very marginal change in the cost to consumers of getting their product delivered," per the political scientist.In contrast, the cost of Biden's military operation in the Red Sea is much greater than the cost of shippers' adaptation to the Houthis' disruption, according to Gholz. Referring to the Pentagon's claim that it had so far spent around $1.6 billion on the Red Sea mission, the scholar argues that the real price tag is bigger, given that the cost of weapons fired at Houthis weren't included in this sum.For their part, the Yemeni Houthis are firing relatively cheap projectiles, drones and missiles at vessels in the Red Sea. Most Houthi installations in Yemen, targeted by the US military, also use relatively inexpensive military equipment. Once destroyed, some of this equipment could be then quickly and easily replaced, per Gholz.To illustrate his point Gholz noted that an average Houthi radar destroyed by the Pentagon may cost no more than $2,000, whereas a US missile used to knock it out costs at least a million dollars. "This is a bad cost trade-off," the professor said.The QI is largely seen as left-leaning (it has primarily hired left-leaning senior staff, as per Influence Watch), while Cato is considered libertarian and right-of-center. Their overlapping views concerning the Red Sea crisis show an emerging consensus across ideological lines in the US about the necessity of halting "forever wars" which threaten to stretch the US thin and undermine its economic development.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240123/1116334660.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231221/dc-based-think-tank-red-sea-operation-to-cost-team-biden-highly-1115721736.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240127/us-centcom-says-conducted-strike-against-houthi-anti-ship-missile-aimed-into-red-sea-1116424202.html

red sea

yemen

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2024

Ekaterina Blinova

Ekaterina Blinova

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Ekaterina Blinova

red sea crisis, operation prosperity guardian, joe biden, us attacks on houthi rebels, israel's gaza war, israel-palestine conflict, middle east, suez canal
After Trot Insider learned of an injury Bob McClure suffered in an off-track incident last week, the O'Brien Award-winning driver has provided further details on his recovery.

McClure, who broke his femur in a freak accident, told Woodbine Mohawk Park's Jeff Bratt and Randy Waples that he had successful surgery earlier in the week and is home with his family recovering.

It wasnt a severe break, it was pretty clean, McClure explained before the card of harness racing on Friday, Jan. 26. I was fortunate to get surgery The other breaks Ive had, I didnt get surgery, which prolongs the healing. So it should speed everything up.

McClure, however, is looking at the positives despite his unfortunate incident. And those positives include spending more time with family.

I got home on Sunday from the hospital and my oldest son Ryder was sick on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, shared McClure. On those days, he was here hanging out and helping me, so that was really nice.

My two-year-old, hes been planning attacks to try and get me on that [injured] leg, but he hasnt got me yet," said McClure with a laugh.

When not relaxing, McClure will partake in physiotherapy treatments, leading to his return to the racetrack. His recovery process will also include sessions in a hyperbaric chamber.

When I broke my humerus, I was able to get in touch with Dr. Mike Venneri He owns some horses and he owns [a hyperbaric chamber] too, added McClure. Hes been really good to me and James [MacDonald] when weve been injured, so Im going to be able to go down there and utilize that. I dont know if it helps or it doesnt help, but a lot of people believe it does and it certainly doesnt hurt. Well give it a shot.

For now, McClure will relax at home where he will look to spend more time with his kids, but misses not being able to participate in a few more activities. In addition, he cant thank his wife, Jody, enough for being by his side.

I couldnt get through this without my family. My wife is pretty good at taking care of me, said McClure. My eight-year-old son has been a huge help, too.

I wish I could do a little more with them I used to be able to play mini-sticks with my son every night, but that league is on hold right now."

As for a timeline to his return to racing, McClure is optimistic he can be back by the spring.

When I broke my pelvis, it was a six-week recovery and I was back in four, recalled McClure. When I broke my arm, it was in November The humerus is a serious bone and it took about four months, but then again, I didnt get surgery.

If I didnt get surgery on this, itd be a four-month recovery, but with the surgery, I can hopefully dial it back in two months.

The full interview with McClure is available below.

Please join Standardbred Canada in wishing Bob McClure a full and speedy recovery.
For safety reasons, management at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows has decided to cancel racing for Friday, Jan. 26.

Live harness racing is scheduled to resume at The Meadows on Wednesday, Jan. 31 with a first post time of 12:45 p.m.

Northville's next card is slated for Saturday, Jan. 27 with a first post of 7 p.m.

(The Meadows / Northville Downs)
About 30 people were arrested Tuesday in a mass drug sting, ending a regionwide drug-trafficking investigation.

FBI Special Agent Eugene Kowel announced the arrests Tuesday morning at the Nebraska State Patrol Troop D office in North Platte.

Arrests were made in Lincoln, Kearney, Ogallala, McCook, Brule, Sutherland and several other communities, according to Kowel.

The arrests were part of a coordinated effort between multiple law enforcement agencies including the CODE Task Force, which covers a 22-county area in southwest-central Nebraska. Agencies from the Panhandle and eastern Nebraska were also involved.

Its the culmination of a two-year investigation by FBI Omaha, our North Platte resident agency and our CODE Task Force, Kowel said.

Acting U.S. Attorney Susan Lehr announced 19 federal indictments Tuesday in connection with the investigation, including one of a Lincoln man.

Wesley Kraft, 36, of Lincoln, was charged with felony distribution of 5 grams or more of meth during April 2023 and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Other indictments:

 Alejandro Ruiz, 41, of California; Guadalupe Ramirez, 38, of North Platte; Roberto Duran, 33, of Brule; Michael Shawn Harrell, 47, of Ogallala; Eduardo Gomez, 33, of North Platte, and Carl McKinney, 37, of Kentucky, were indicted by a grand jury with felony conspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine.

 Jamie Hopkins, 37, Michael Stroble, 30, Joey Romero, 36, and Luke Schwartz, 30, all of North Platte, were indicted by a grand jury with felony conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and distribution of meth.

Jessica Binegar, 37, of North Platte, John Hernandez, 35, of Lincoln, and Brad Leeper, 46, of North Platte were indicted by a grand jury with distribution of 5 grams or more of meth between March and June 2022. Leeper was also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.

 Timothy Huisman, 39, of North Platte, was charged with distribution of 5 grams or more of meth.

 Shane Ross, 46, of Ogallala, was charged with distribution of 5 grams or more of meth.

Richard Torres, 44, of Brule, was charged with conspiracy and distribution of more than 5 grams of meth.

 Timothy Maisner, 62, of North Platte, was charged with possession with intent to distribute of 50 grams of more of methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine.

 Eddie Houpt, 59, of North Platte, was charged with distribution of 5 grams or more of meth.

 Kowel said 10 others were arrested, facing state charges. Six in Lincoln County were arrested as part of the CODE Task Force effort.

Throughout the course of the two-year investigation, Kowel said, there were 55 arrests and 34 federal indictments, as well as seized illegal narcotics and firearms.

What I can emphasize is the vital importance partnerships play in protecting our community from drug trafficking, he said. Were here today because of the work of our state and local partners. More than 150 police officers, sheriffs deputies, state troopers and federal agents participated in the enforcement action today.

Kowel said drug trafficking is not a victimless crime, as many of those touched by it know.

Too often families and communities in Nebraska are affected by this. Too often children are affected by this, he said.
Novant Healths acquisition of two Iredell County hospitals has been put on hold after the Federal Trade Commission announced its plans to sue to block it from its purchase of Community Health Systems, Inc.

The deal was made last year for $320 million, but the FTC says that Novant Healths proposed deal to acquire Lake Norman Regional Medical Center and Davis Regional Medical Center will lead to increased prices for consumers and reduced incentives to invest in care that would benefit patients.

Hospital consolidations often lead to worse outcomes for nurses and doctors, result in higher prices, and can have life and death consequences for patients, Henry Li said. He is the director of the FTCs Bureau of Competition. There is overwhelming evidence that Novants deal with Community Health Systems will be detrimental to patients in the Eastern Lake Norman Area, including leading to higher out-of-pocket costs for critical health care services.

The deal Novant struck with CHS included the hospitals related businesses as well, which include outpatient services and physician clinic operations.

Samantha S. Williams, Novant Health director of public relations, called the FTCs positioned flawed and said it would defend itself in court.

As a nationally recognized leader in quality and patient safety, Novant Health is committed to delivering the highest-quality, patient-centered, physician-directed care to the communities served by Lake Norman and Davis Regional Medical Centers, Williams said. We will pursue available legal responses to the FTCs flawed position and vigorously defend our commitment in court. We remain confident that Novant Health can bring exceptional care, leading-edge innovation, and long-term stability to Lake Norman and Davis Regional Medical Centers for these reasons.

The FTC said in a statement that Novant operates Huntersville Medical Center and serves more patients than any other hospital in the Eastern Lake Norman area and is one of the largest hospital systems in the southeastern United States including in North Carolina.

The FTC also said that Novant is one of the most expensive hospital systems in North Carolina, according to the FTCs administrative complaint.

The commission voted 3-0 to seek a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction, which will be filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina to halt the transaction pending an administrative proceeding.

North Carolinas Attorney General Josh Steins office issued the following statement after the FTC indicated its plans to sue.

Our office appreciates the FTCs continued commitment to preserving competition in health care in North Carolina. We have been investigating alongside the FTC and are continuing to take a close look at this matter.

While Lake Norman continues to operate as a hospital, Davis ceased operating as a full-service hospital in 2022.

Plans were to convert Davis to a behavioral health inpatient hospital, with Lake Norman providing emergency room, obstetrics, surgical services, and all outpatient tests and procedures for the Iredell market.

Novant previously co-owned both hospitals for 18 months in the early 2000s.
Food allergies are a common issue for many Americans as 1 in 4 people are affected by them. Thats why doctors, health care providers, and other organizations came together in Mooresville to bring awareness to the subject and advocate more support for those who suffer from those allergies.

We came together because it affects the whole community. Even if you dont have food allergies, your friend has food allergies, your co-worker has food allergies, FOODiversitys Wendy Pake, one of the events co-hosts, said.

The conference was organized by AllergyStrong and FOODiversity to gather health care providers, health advocates, and other interested parties at the Charles Mack Citizen Center in Mooresville on Tuesday to find ways to make life easier for those who deal with these food allergies every day.

When it comes to food allergies, there is a lot of misperception about what the risk is, what level of avoidance, do we need treatment, Dr. Edwin Kim said. He is the division chief at UNC Pediatric Allergy & Immunology. Making sure were all talking about the same thing and understanding that its a real problem that has physical risks but also has quality life risks that need to be addressed.

Kim said its a misconception that food allergies are easy to avoid just by picking allergenic items out of someones food as the trace amounts can still lead to allergic reactions. He said that raised awareness has caused some to believe food allergies are over-diagnosed, but it would be a mistake to assume thats the simple answer.

Food allergy is real. We dont know why its increasing but there are far more folks out there with food allergies just making it clear we need to do something about it and we need to treat it, Kim said.

Pake said that she hopes that people become more aware of how exposure to food and the allergens in the environment play a role in whether allergies develop and that proper exposure can prevent those allergies from forming.

That kind of knowledge, that kind of collaboration, to prevent allergies from happening is important, Pake said. Early introduction, while not guaranteed, has a very, very strong probability that it will prevent it from developing so you dont have to deal with all the things were talking about today.

Advocating for their children and community

For some of those at the conference, they became advocates when their own families experienced food allergies. While support grows in schools and other spaces to help those who deal with food allergies, it is still something many overlook.

Its an invisible need, we know its there, Emily Brown, the founder and CEO of Attane Heath, said. A lot of the management for food allergies is unseen, at home, and those families are bearing that burden alone.

Despite a quarter of Americans dealing with it, there are challenges for those trying to find foods they can enjoy safely. Brown said that the costs for those foods can be hundreds of percent more than the foods that may trigger those allergies, which can be difficult for those who already have food insecurity concerns.

Brown said this conference was a start, but she is also looking forward to the changes made through the attendees advocacy as they go forward. She said that conferences like this can help the community as a whole to make changes to be more inclusive.

Sherrina Gibson, CEO of the Carter Foundation, LLC, spoke as a parent about the need to take a proactive approach to ensuring her child has options at school to take part in regular activities. She said while a wheat allergy makes Play-Doh an issue, preparing her childs teacher to procure modeling clay ahead of time made for a smooth experience for her child who didnt have to be left out of an activity.

Its a learning curve. They want to help the kids. Everyone cares, but they dont always know. They dont know the intricacies, Gibson said. Its not just what you sit down to eat at lunch. Its in the materials, its how you feel, its the social aspects around food. Being proactive to educate in a way thats not condescending, offering solutions in a way thats collaborative and not saying Dont do this, but Hey, could we try X?

Thats what I mean by being proactive. Keeping their lessons and their approach in mind, and integrating it so youre both doing whats best for the child.
NOTE: The recent release of the DOJs report on the monumental tragedy in Uvalde, Texas, in May of 2022, prompted me to share an essay I wrote at the time. The essay, much like our countrys attitudes and policies toward firearm deaths, is totally unchanged.

* * *

Unless youre of a certain age youve probably never heard of . Over a half-century ago, it was the brain-child, as well a book by Lawrence J. Peter, and Raymond Hull. Unlike the principles in specialized fields that are often dominated with jargon and esoteric concepts a bit foreign to the layperson, is universal across a variety of fields with most readers having little difficulty in understanding or recognizing it. The website mindtools.com provides this easy-to-understand definition:

The Peter Principle states that, if you perform well in your job, you will likely be promoted to the next level of your organizations hierarchy. You will continue to rise up the ladder until you reach the point where you can no longer perform well.

A more succinct, yet accurate definition states: many employees eventually rise to their level of incompetence. There are exceptions, of course, but it occurs with sufficient regularity to be self-sustaining, while offering reasonable face validity.

Interestingly, when Peter and Hull published their book in 1969, while based on Peters research, they intended the book as satire. Like most good satire, however, there was sufficient validity in their premise to strike a chord with people in a variety of fields. As one source described the Principle, it (made) a serious point about the short-comings of how people are promoted within hierarchical organizations. The book elicited considerable commentary and research. Having sold over a million copies, it was on the bestseller list in the U.S. for 33 weeks. As late as 2018, Forbes Magazine published an article titled, New Evidence  Is Real  And What To Do About It.

My son-in-law introduced me to a phrase I find myself using with increased frequency: This isnt my first rodeo. Most of those reading these thoughts, Im quite sure, are also experienced rodeo participants. As such, weve seen numerous examples of those who, having reached their level of incompetence, clearly demonstrate the conclusions of Messrs. Peter and Hull. Unfortunately, there are many such examples in modern-day America. At present, I will focus on only one  Uvalde.

Boone, N.C., is nearly 1,400 miles from Uvalde, Texas, but when the news broke on May 24, 2022, it might as well have been down the street, or a few miles across town. Im both ashamed and embarrassed to admit that as a smart-aleck teenager I used to ask Mom why she cried when she heard about the death of a child or children she didnt even know. For several days I wept as each update appeared about this most horrific of events. For several nights it was difficult to sleep as I imagined the unimaginable pain and heartache of the families and loved ones of so many innocent victims. With only minimal success, I avoided thinking about our three grandchildren who are in the same age-range as those young victims slaughtered in Uvalde. It was a visceral pain I did not want to imagine!

While details are still forthcoming, theres sufficient amount of information to declare that murderous afternoon in May to be the epitome of gross law enforcement incompetence. In a tragic irony of ironies, the man in charge that horrific day in Uvalde is named Peter Pedro, in Spanish.

Students of law enforcement may never study , but my guess, NO, my hope, is the Uvalde tragedy will be analyzed for years to come for what it was: the worst of the worst of police incompetence. I would imagine that most of Uvaldes citizens would say the police officers involved were, and are, good men (and women). But we should never forget the sensible and far-sighted words of statesman, and philosopher, Edmund Burke:

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.

The Uvalde score on that fateful day in May? Evil: 21  Good men/women: 0.*

*NOTE: In the interest of full disclosure, after nearly an hour and a half delay by local law enforcement, the gunman at Robb Elementary School was finally shot and killed by a U.S. Border Patrol tactical team.
January 27, 2024: Plans to reassemble the Soviet Union empire stumbled and died in Ukraine. Not only that, but the Russian effort to annex Ukraine failed because the Ukrainians were willing to fight while too many of the Russian invaders were not.

Russia plans on going after Belarus and the three Baltic States next. All of these were part of the Soviet Union until the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, with the loss of half its population and some of the most productive territories. None of these former Soviet territories have asked to rejoin the empire and many have joined NATO in an effort to keep the Russians out. Russia invaded Ukraine twice, in 2014 and early 2022, and the 2022 war turned into a disaster for Russia, which is reluctant to completely give back the Ukrainian terrain it still occupies. The Russian plan was to keep fighting in Ukraine for years until NATO tires of supporting Ukraine and leaves Ukraine on its own. That is not likely to happen because neighboring Poland and the Baltic states are NATO members and well aware that Russia intends to attack them unless the Ukraine stops Russia now.

Inside Russia there are different attitudes. Former communist era secret police officers, led by Vladimir Putin, are using imperial nostalgia and the more familiar, to these former KGB professionals, police state tactics to at least stay in power and, if possible, make Russia a vast empire once more. Putin, the Russian leader since 2000, as president or prime minister, is officially opposed to the return of the leader for life rule in Russia despite his exceptionally long and questionably legal rule. Russia, like China, is a market economy run by nationalist dictators. For historical analogy, think of Russia as the equivalent to World War II Japan while China is the wealthier and more powerful Nazi Germany.

Russias western neighbor is another revived empire; the EU/European Union. Many Europeans see the EU as an unintended effort to revive a European empire that never really existed, although Charlemagne came close for a short time in the 9th century and a thousand years before that the Romans were a contender. There isnt much nostalgia in Western Europe for these traditional empires, though many Europeans back a kinder and gentler empire that is based more on voluntary cooperation than coercion. The EU has run into problems because many Europeans see the EU developing into an unelected bureaucracy that can make all sorts of new rules and even foreign policy without any regard for what their constituents and, technically, employers, European voters, want. A growing number of Europeans think this EU Empire is a mistake and are demanding that their local politicians, who are still responsible to the voters, at least more so than the EU officials, fix this problem or get their country out of the EU. The imperial officials are not pleased with such ignorance and ingratitude by their subjects and are fighting back in a losing battle to keep their new empire together. So far, only Britain has withdrawn from the EU and did so in 2020. Since then, Britain has thrived, or just survived depending on who you ask. The success of an independent Britain forced EU bureaucrats to be more response to the voters EU members did have to pay attention to. Most EU members also belong to the NATO defensive military alliance. NATO was created in the 1950s to defend Europe from Russian aggression. The EU and its NATO military alliance cannot ignore EU and NATO member governments. This includes the United States, which belongs to NATO but not the EU.

The Americans have an economic and emotional attachment to Europe. Most Americans are descendants of Europeans. This is important for Europeans because the United States accounts for about 40 percent of worldwide defense spending while China, and Russia together only account for about 17 percent. The rest of the top ten are either allies of the Americans or friendly. Ukraine is, in terms of total defense spending, including recent donations from NATO countries, figuratively in the top five when it comes to defense expenditures. This is a dubious distinction for Ukraine, which is using it all to repel a Russian invasion. Poland, which borders Ukraine and Russia, has increased defense spending, and purchased nearly $15 billion worth of South Korea weapons and munitions. South Korea produces a lot more weapons and military equipment than North Korea and the South Korean weapons and munitions are top grade. One side effect is that once Poland receives all the South Korean tanks, mobile artillery, and rocket launchers on order from South Korea, they will have the most powerful army in NATO Europe. This is to discourage any Russian attacks on Poland or any other NATO nation in the area. The smaller Baltic states have made similar efforts to make Russian soldiers feel unwelcome.

Europe had been at peace since the end of World War II in 1945 and, until Russias second invasion of Ukraine in 2022, it was believed the 77 year-old peace would continue. Unlike in the 2014 attack, though, Ukraine was ready this time to oppose Russia effectively while NATO provided prompt and enormous quantities of military and economic aid.

The Russians were not expecting this. The Ukraine invasion was supposed to be the first step in rebuilding the Russian empire. That institution was run by monarchies for centuries until the early 1920s when the communist Soviets took over. The former components of the Soviet Union do not want to rejoin any Russian empire and that is why Ukraine fights so hard against the Russian invaders. There were other ways to resist the Russians and the most effective one was economic sanctions. Russia underestimated how dependent it was on key components of its weapons that came from EU nations and the United States. President Vladimir Putin sent his armed forces into Ukraine in early 2022 and by 2023 Ukraines armed forces, with NATO military and Western economic aid, had Russia on the defensive.

Since 2014 Russia has been making a lot of headlines but not much else. The economy is a mess, as in stagnant and shrinking. Russia has fewer friends or allies, and the future looks dim. Sending troops into Ukraine (2014), Syria (2015), Libya (2016) and invading Ukraine in 2022 has not helped solve any of the fundamental problems there but made for great propaganda. What went wrong? Russia entered the 21st century with a new elected government dominated by former secret police (KGB) officers who promised to restore economic and civil order. They did so but in the process turned Russia into a police state with less political and economic freedom. Many Russians opposed this, and the government responded by appealing to nationalism. Russia has turned into what Germany had become in the 1930s. This included police state ways and the traditional threatening attitude towards neighbors. Rather than being run by corrupt communist bureaucrats, the country is now dominated by corrupt businessmen, gangsters and self-serving government officials that characterized the last czarist government of a century ago. The semi-free economy is more productive than the centrally controlled communist one but that just provides more money to steal.

A rebellion against the new dictatorship has been derailed by astute propaganda depicting Russia as under siege by the West and NATO. Opinion polls show wide popular support for this paranoid fantasy, but some Russians continue to struggle for better government and beneficial reforms. For now, most Russians want economic and personal security and are willing to tolerate a police state to get it. The 2022 invasion of Ukraine and subsequent sanctions did more damage than the ruling politicians expected. That atmosphere, plus the anxiety generated by having troops fighting in Syria, Ukraine and Libya has scared away a lot of foreign investors and many Russian ones as well. Russia can downplay this in the state-controlled media, but Russia cannot grow without foreign and Russian capital. Since 2014 most Russians can see daily that they are worse off than before. Meanwhile China, the only real threat to Russia, quietly makes progress in the east. There China has claims on much of the Russian Far East and is openly replacing Russia as the primary economic, military, and political force in Central Asia.
A 12-year-old middle school student was injured Monday after being struck by a vehicle while crossing the street in a Kelso crosswalk.

Matthew Hoven, of Kelso, told The Daily News his daughter, Emery Hoven, 12, suffered multiple injuries after being struck by a vehicle as she attempted to cross North Kelso Avenue in the morning on her way to Huntington Middle School, located at 500 Redpath St.

According to a police report, the collision occurred at 7:26 a.m. in the 1200 block of North Kelso Avenue, when the driver, Su C. Harris, 79, of Longview was traveling northbound toward Interstate 5 in a silver Toyota RAV4 when she entered the marked crosswalk and struck the student.

Her father witnessed the scene.

I watched as the woman approached my child accelerating (her vehicle) ... (and) hit my daughter head on, sending her flying over her vehicle, said Matthew Hoven.

Harris was cited for failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk in a school zone, according to a police report. Harris wasnt arrested but must take a drivers license test and evaluation from the Washington Department of Licensing.

The Cowlitz County Prosecuting Attorneys Office declined to pursue criminal charges, the police report states, but on Friday Prosecuting Attorney Ryan Jurvakainen said it was his understanding the police department was still investigating. A Kelso police representative couldnt be reached by deadline.

Making school routes safer

The city was already updating the the road in front of the school to make walking nearby safer.

The city is adding street lights, electronic speed signs and flashing pedestrian beacon signs from just north of where Emery was hit to just north of Canaan Court, right before the I-5 on- and off-ramps.

Police report Emery was hit while in the crosswalk at North Kelso Avenue and Burcham Street. There are three other crosswalks located between where Emery was hit and I-5.

Kelso Community Development Director Mike Kardas told the Kelso City Council Tuesday sign delivery has been expedited because of the accident and should be installed in the first two weeks of February.

Kelso received $658,000 from a state Safe Routes to Schools grant near the school to add the features.

Harris told police she didnt know the middle schooler was in the crosswalk because she thought the school zone had ended and was speeding up after passing the school, the police report states.

A sign indicating the school zone speed limit of 20 mph is located several feet past the crosswalk where the accident occurred, when headed the same direction Harris was going.

A witness reported to police that Harris was driving over 25 mph  which is the speed limit in that area when its not a school zone  while Matthew Hoven estimated she was going faster.

The school zone is 7 a.m.-4 p.m. on school days. Closer to I-5, the speed limit changes to 35 mph.

The aftermath

After hitting the child, Harris continued driving northeast, later stopping and walking back to the scene, a police report states.

After police arrived, Emery was motionless, lying in the southbound lane with a group of people trying to communicate with her, the police report says.

Kelso Capt. Rich Fletcher said street lights were on and it was raining heavily at the time.

Matthew Hoven said one of the officers threatened to detain me for allegedly interfering with a police investigation but adds that he was hysterical at the time, thinking his daughter died in front of him.

According to Matthew Hoven, his daughter was transported by ambulance to PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center and then to OHSU Doernbecher Childrens Hospital.

The student suffered a broken femur, a cracked growth plate and a shifted kneecap, as well as mental trauma, said her father,.

During Emerys hospital stay, the school principal and Kelso School District superintendent visited the injured student, he added.

The police report found Harriss vehicle had incurred damage on the front drivers side. The driver-side mirror was broken, headlights shattered, and the drivers side panel dented. There was a piece of blue fabric stuck between the hood and the headlight, which matched the color of the jacket Emery was wearing at the time of the collision.

Editors note: The Daily News Reporter Brennen Kauffman contributed to this story.
Business owners and workers are calling on state and local officials to offer financial help after this months calamitous winter storms.

The Independent Restaurant Alliance of Oregon, a group of restaurant owners across the state, said its members reported losing an average of $28,000 in revenue as a result of the frigid cold and ice. Restaurant workers, they said, lost an average of $1,800 in wages.

In a letter to Gov. Tina Kotek, mayors and county officials in affected areas, the restaurant group asked for immediate financial support including a 90-day suspension of payroll and business taxes for restaurants with fewer than 100 employees.

The group also wants a 90-day moratorium on commercial evictions for restaurants, as well a statewide financial relief fund that would provide grants or low-interest loans to help small business owners recover from setbacks caused by extreme weather events and compensate workers for lost hours.

And the independent restaurant group also called for more spending to prepare for extreme weather events. The group wants the state and local governments to better maintain the roads during winter storms and to work with local utility companies to manage the tree canopy, which can help prevent falling trees from further damaging property and causing power outages.

Bricks Need Mortar, a Portland-based small business advocacy group, is also appealing to state and local officials to make financial assistance available for small businesses impacted by the storms.

We are advocating for immediate unemployment assistance to those small business employees who were impacted, said Sarah Shaoul, founder of Bricks Need Mortar. At this time, theres been no allocation of relief funds for those impacted or for the future.

Given that the governor declared a state of emergency, Shaoul said theres a chance support from the Small Business Administration and Federal Emergency Management Agency could come. If funds do come, Shaoul said her organization is advocating for flexibility in how those funds can be allocated and used by small businesses.

However, no one has an answer as to whether those funds will come through, she said.

Its unclear whether the state will consider these suggestions from the restaurant or small business groups. Gov. Koteks office declined to comment.

Aaron Baumhackl, a member of Independent Restaurant Alliance of Oregon and owner of Solstice Wood Fire Pizza in Hood River, said his business lost roughly $75,000 in sales last week alone while the restaurant was closed. And he estimates his workers missed $30,000 in pay over the same period.

He said that the weekend of Martin Luther King Jr. Day typically accounts for approximately 50% of his restaurants revenue for January.

For the storm to hit that weekend, it was tough, and then it was also prolonged, he said. As a business, we dig a hole every winter, but this season dug a hole even bigger than weve ever experienced before.  And for our hourly staff, its a huge hit.

Baumhackl said that the restaurant had had stocked up on supplies for what he thought would be a busy holiday weekend but ended up throwing all the food away. He said he called his insurance company to see if interruption coverage in his policy would cover the loss and was told it would not.

Baumhackl said many of his workers couldnt make the commute to work for nearly a week as Interstate 84 was either closed or too dangerous to travel. He said he still tried to open the restaurant for a few hours when possible so that some workers could put in a couple hours.

We need to have relief immediately, but history has shown that things take time, he said. So were taking things into our own hands and doing our best to provide immediate relief for our staff right now.

Baumhackl said the restaurant started a relief fund and is selling gift cards, where 20% of proceeds will go toward the fund.

Jason Brandt, president and CEO of the Oregon Restaurant and Lodging Association, said the group supports the Independent Restaurant Alliance of Oregons pitch to create a statewide natural disaster fund to help small businesses and their employees impacted in state emergencies. He said short-term relief can help keep small businesses stay afloat and pay employees.

A proactive plan can reduce business closures and as a result, sustain tax revenues for the state and local governments, Brandt said in an email. A reactionary posture will result in business closures that could have been avoided. Those times of transition mean less sustained revenue for state programs and services if we simply accept the status quo.

For Charlie Goman, owner of Second Profession Brewing Company in North Portland, the lost sales due to last weeks winter storms on top of the effects of Dry January, a month when people skip alcohol, make him wonder if his brewery will survive. He said sales were 75% lower this January compared to a year ago.

Things were already looking pretty grim before the storm, he said. With the storms hitting during an already slow month, Im now at the mercy with my landlord.

Goman said hed consider applying for financial aid if it becomes available, but would think twice whether to take on another loan given the conditions of the economy. He said he applied for pandemic-related assistance offered to businesses when COVID-19 hit, but hes less optimistic about the economy today.

We all thought things would get better once the pandemic was over, but it did not, Goman said. The last several months have been especially punishing, and if the city doesnt rebound in a good way, this could be the end of it.

Melissa Unger, executive director of Service Employees International Union Local 503  the states largest public employee union, said many hourly workers who couldnt make it to work due to hazardous roads had to tap into their paid leave hours if they couldnt afford days of being unpaid. She said some of the workers that the union represents, including custodians and nutrition service workers, make just over Portlands minimum wage and missing work wasnt an option for them.

As we continue to see more severe weather, whats our states resilience and are we taking a look at how it impacts people who rely on a paycheck once a month and cant work from home? she said. Natural disasters are becoming more common in our lifetime, I dont think our laws or systems or our safety net has caught up with what to do in those situations.
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:

The Microsoft logo is shown at the Mobile World Congress 2023 in Barcelona, Spain, on March 2, 2023. Microsoft Teams is experiencing an outage Friday, Jan. 26, 2024, that has blocked access and limited features for some users. Credit: AP Photo/Joan Mateu Parra, File

Microsoft Teams experienced an outage on Friday that blocked access for some and led to what Microsoft calls "multiple issues" for many users.

The issue began around 11 a.m. EST and grew rapidly in scope, according to outage tracker DownDetector. Users complained of an inability to access the service, delays in sending and receiving messages, and issues displaying graphics.

Microsoft said in messages on X, the social network formerly known as Twitter, that it identified "a networking issue impacting a portion of the Teams service" and had moved some services to backup systems. At roughly 1:30 p.m. EST, the company reported that the backup transition was complete for Europe, Africa and the Middle East and that its tracking systems were showing improvements.

The company said backup switchovers for North and South America were ongoing. Outage reports on DownDetector fell to almost half their peak level as of 3 p.m. EST but subsequently leveled off, indicating continued issues.

Teams is a messaging and videoconferencing app with over 320 million monthly average users as of September 2023.

X users based in the U.S. continued to complain about Teams service issues, with several sarcastically thanking Microsoft for fixing the problem quickly in regions where the workday is already over. In a subsequent tweet, Microsoft acknowledged that its backup switchover "did not provide immediate relief to all end users in North and South America regions" but said its other attempts at mitigation aimed to "reduce customer impact as quickly as possible."

Microsoft's public tweets on the subject have pointed to additional detail available in a document posted in an administrative dashboard for Microsoft 365 software. When asked about that document, a Microsoft spokesperson at the public relations firm WE Communications said the company's X posts were the only information it would share on the subject.

But Microsoft offered a somewhat bleaker outlook to its customers in that document, which was obtained by The Associated Press. The document detailed roughly a dozen different issues caused by the outage, including inability to log into the service, missing or delayed messages, and inability to access or view images, video, audio recordings and other media. In an update at 4:26 p.m. EST, the company said its efforts to route around problems had led to issues with backend parts of its system that effectively "throttled" data traffic.

At 5:02 p.m. EST, Microsoft also acknowledged that "many customers remain impacted by this issue" but said the company is seeing "a reduction in errors and an increase in (service) availability." The company has also said was working to address specific failures of Teams functions in parallel with its broader network efforts.

According to DownDetector, reported issues with Teams continued to decline and were close to normal levels as of 7:45 p.m. EST.

 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
At Thursdays College Station City Council meeting, council members unanimously approved a $925,000 contract with Martinez Architects, LP to design the seventh fire station in College Station.

The new fire station will be located south of the intersection of Dalton Drive and Greens Prairie Road and has an overall budget of $18 million. City officials say the project will be completed by 2026. The new site will be around 18,000 square feet and include an emergency generator, a fitness area for indoor and outdoor activities, a dining area, 12 dorm rooms and more.

Jennifer Cain, director of capital projects and facility management, gave a presentation at Thursdays meeting to go over the specifics of the new fire station and why they went with Martinez Architects for designing the station instead of reusing an old design plan.

There is certainly some design work that has to be done and cant just be replicated from the last [station], Cain said. We are having substantial savings by going with them and also time savings as well.

Mayor John Nichols asked College Station fire chief Richard Mann if the new station would be a good place to park emergency response vehicles.

Where we have our tankers now, station 5 or here, both of them being on the southern portion of town, makes it a great location, Mann said.

When councilor Bob Yancy asked about a previously reserved location for the fire station off Wellborn Road, Cain said the city still owned the land but it is up for sale, no longer being reserved for the fire station.

The capital gains would offset the purchase of the land in its totality, Yancy said. Thats a brilliant land move there, and I suppose the chief would say we got a better location for the station.

Following Cains presentation, Mayor John Nichols said he gained an understanding of why $925,000 has to go toward designing the new building and he anticipates great benefits for the community.

The things [Cain] outlined helped me understand that this is not just simply designing the building, he said. I look forward to having that fire station up and running around the time the fire truck arrives.
Following a bipartisan congressional trip to the Texas-Mexico border last weekend, U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, said politics needed to be put aside so the federal government could address the migrant crisis.

In May 2023, the U.S. House passed the Secure the Border Act of 2023 (HR 2) in an attempt to address border security concerns. The bill would have imposed limits on asylum eligibility and required asylum-seekers to wait in Mexico. Since then, the Senate has been working through a repeated series of negotiations on its own bipartisan solution that would tie border security to funding for Ukraine and Israel.

On Thursday, hopes for a Senate deal weakened after Utah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney told the press that former President Donald Trump wanted Republicans to stop negotiations so that he could continue to use the border crisis against President Biden on the campaign trail.

McCaul, who pushed for Trumps Remain in Mexico policy in HR 2, said Friday that the situation is only getting worse at the border and something needs to be done regardless of the politics on Capitol Hill.

You can either make it a campaign issue or you can try to fix it, McCaul said in a sit-down interview at The Eagles office in Bryan. When I went down and saw these migrants in the detention space, what I saw was a human tragedy.  I think there are a lot of lawmakers who see a very dire situation and want to fix it.

On Friday, House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a letter to congressional Republicans that if the rumors surrounding the possible content of a Senate border and overseas aid bill were true, it would be dead on arrival in the House.

McCaul, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said it makes sense to tie the border, Ukraine and Israel together but questioned whether the elusive Senate bill would have any chance in the House.

Initially, I tried to tie all the threats; it was Putins threat to Europe, Chairman Xis threat to the Pacific  being Taiwan and beyond  it was also the Ayatollahs threat to Israel and finally the last line of defense is the border, he said. I can see a lot of my colleagues not being happy necessarily with what will come out of the Senate, but to do nothing and allow this to continue, I think its irresponsible.

McCaul said he and President Biden agree that the border needs to be addressed, even if they disagree on how to solve the crisis. McCaul said migrants should have to remain in Mexico until their asylum trial.

Political asylum, when they are detained in the United States, they are removed from the United States pending their claim, he said. So, that basically does away with catch and release. So theyre not released into the United States.  That would fix the exploitation. I think the [Mexican] cartel would respond and they wouldnt be exploiting our law, but right now they are exploiting our laws.

In the past week, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Biden administration to allow federal border agents to cut barbed wire set up near Eagle Pass by Gov. Greg Abbott. Since the ruling, however, Abbott has continued to add additional barbed wire and refused federal border agents access to the area.

Given the current inability of Congress to pass any legislation regarding the border, McCaul said he believes Abbott is justified in his attempts to take matters into his own hands.

I think on the state law on detaining, giving authorities the right to detain, that will be played out in courts, he said. I think what he [Abbott] is trying to do is just draw attention to the seriousness and how destructive and chaotic it is. I think when he started to send busloads of migrants to New York for the first time, the majority of New York started talking about it.

While the border must be addressed as soon as possible, McCaul said the U.S. cannot forget about its other commitments, even if they seem distant to Texans.

I think the border has completely overshadowed [Ukraine] because I think my constituency sees the border as a more immediate threat than say Ukraine, he said. Ive been critical of the administrations handling of [it]. We didnt give them everything they needed to win, still have not. And they protracted this so that the will of the American people is eroding.

If we abandon our allies and surrender to Putin and Ukraine like we did in Afghanistan, thats not going to make the U.S. stronger. Its going to make us weaker. And how is that not in our best interest, right?

With the globe in turmoil, McCaul said the U.S. needs to step up as a leader.

The world is on fire right now.  When you project strength, you get peace. When you project weakness, you invite aggression and conflict, he said.
May I first cite some verses that might assist whosoever is handling issues of the parentless and widows.

Exodus 22: 22-24 reads: Do not take advantage of the widow or the fatherless. If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry. My anger will be aroused, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives will become widows and your children fatherless. The above verse is a stern warning.

You have been cordially warned today. In Psalms 68:5 and 146:9, the Psalmist describes God as the protector and upholder of widows. I am quoting this Isaiah 1:17 for Judge Majahenkhaba Dlamini-led Commission of Inquiry: Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widows cause.

This is in case the commission is not disbanded as pleaded by the Law Society of Swaziland. Exodus 22 verse 22 is also straight to the point: You all not mistreat any widow or fatherless child. There is a benefit for treating well widows and fatherless.

Portion

Deuteronomy 14:29 reads: And the Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance with you, and the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your towns, shall come and eat and be filled, that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands that you do. Then, let me talk. Even if one was accustomed to mistreating people, how on earth would you stoop too low to rob a widow and why do you rob or frustrate an orphan? Its morally unacceptable.

The office of the Master of the High Court is a very important office that represents Godly affairs. It is an office that is under the maximum supervision of God. Therefore, whosoever handles issues of orphans and widows must be careful of what he or she does with the estates. Never say I did not warn you. You have been warned.

The issues raised by the Law Society of Swaziland are very close to my heart. I have heard cases of estates that lost millions of Emalangeni under highly questionable circumstances. I was so depressed to see weeping orphans and widows being frustrated by public officers in gainful employment. I asked myself: Why do I have to steal from the dead?

Officers attached to the Master of the High Court are not the only ones who have access to the estates. There are attorneys who messed up with them as well.

Some judicial officers would have to account and be transparent to gain public trust.

In certain areas of the investigation, His Majesty the King, as an executive Head of State would have to intervene to prevent pockets of probable interference in the manner in which the investigation is being conducted.

However, there is an alternative way to investigate the activities of the Office of the Master of the High Court and associates. The Prime Minister, Russell Dlamini, must advise the acting National Commissioner of Police, Lydia Dlamini, to instruct, without failure and compromise, the Fraud and Theft Department of the Royal Eswatini Police Service to institute an investigation.

The prime minister is responsible for police affairs. In fact, he is the minister of police. Police can do a better job than any commission of inquiry.

Parliament and the judges who are presently collecting facts on the activities of the Master of the High Court cannot do a better job than the institution that was trained and equipped to investigate complex issues. I know that members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) are ready and determined to tell any implicated officer in the judicial service that their instituted investigation is lawful and that they also reserve the right to use other means to extract concealed information on the activities of the Office of the Master of the High Court.

During the time of Churchill Dlamini, as the Master of the High Court, there was a commission of inquiry after serious allegations were levelled against this office.

I pointed to the fact some time ago, that commissions of inquiry are a waste of funds in Eswatini. This is due to the fact that their reports are not implemented. They are gathering dust in the public offices. There is a general feeling that the judges who are presently investigating the issue are not doing any quality service to the taxpayer.

Section 189 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Swaziland (Eswatini) provides that the Royal Swaziland Police Service shall be responsible for peace, prevention and detection of crime and the apprehension of offenders.

If there is prima facie evidence or circumstantial evidence that there are certain offenders within the judiciary or elsewhere, I dont understand why the case has not been referred to the police.

If need be, police can enter a judges residence and arrest him. They have the power to arrest even the prime minister. The law enforcers can apprehend their own national commissioner.

It is stated in Section 189 (2) that the police service shall have and exercise other powers and functions as may be prescribed.

The people who are appearing before the Commission of Inquiry being chaired by Judge Majahenkhaba Dlamini should also approach the police for assistance. Where there is an element of crime, do not wait for a commissions intervention. Just go straight to the nearest Mbabane Police Station.

I call for integrity in the police service. As police are responsible for peace in terms of the Constitution, they have to act swiftly by advising people with circumstantial evidence to meet the desk officers.

exercise

If a police investigation can be instituted and be allowed to exercise its functions independently and transparently, the public, for sure, could be surprised at seeing prominent figures being ushered to the gaol by officers of His Majestys Correctional Services.

I am aware that Section 62 (1) of the Constitution states that the independence of the judiciary shall be guaranteed by the State.

The question is: how far does independence go in an administrative issue?

Would a judge say a police officer interferes with the independence of the judiciary if he arrests him for stealing the fines?

Section 62 (1) reads: the independence of the judiciary as enshrined in this Constitution or any other law shall be guaranteed by the State. It is the duty of all governmental and other institutions to respect and observe the independence of the judiciary.

From a laymans point of view, it looks like this constitutional independence has to do with adjudication of cases.

This is because subsection (2) reads: the judiciary shall decide matters before them impartially, on the basis of facts and in accordance with the law, without any restrictions, improper influences, inducements, pressures, threats or interferences, direct or indirect, from any quarter or for any reason.

Let us underline subsection (3) to critique the independence that the judiciary has, and I am analysing this constitutional provision from a laymans point of view as indicated above.

It reads: The Judiciary shall have jurisdiction over all issues of a judicial nature and shall have exclusive authority to decide whether an issue is within its competence as defined by law.

Underline judicial nature. Then, ask yourself this question: Is the commission of inquiry under the chairmanship of Judge Majahenkhaba Dlamini probing an issue of a judicial nature or issue of an administrative nature?

One would find that 99.9 per cent of their terms of references speak to an issue of an administrative nature.

Subsection (4) provides that there shall be no inappropriate or unwarranted interference with the judicial process, nor shall judicial decisions by the courts be subject to revision. That illustrates my point to a greater extent that the independence of the judiciary is about the adjudication of cases.

The executive exercises, to a limited extent, some authority over the judiciary. It is the executive that sets up the judiciary. The judicial officers are appointed by the executive.

budget

It is also the prerogative of the executive to prepare and pass the budget of the judiciary.

It is the executive that legitimises the recruitment of the persons selected for judicial office to ensure that they are individuals of integrity and ability with appropriate training and qualifications.

The executive reserves the right not to appoint individuals to judicial office.

I, therefore, urge the Chief Justice, Bheki Maphalala, as the Law Society of Swaziland has duly done, to disband the commission to preserve the integrity and purity of the judiciary.

Section 240 of the Constitution refers to conflict of interest. The section provides that a person who holds an office referred to Section 241 (2) shall not:

Assume a position where personal interest conflicts or is likely to conflict with the performance of functions of office;

Engage in conduct that is likely to compromise the honesty, impartiality and integrity of that officer;

likely to lead to corruption in public affairs;

or which is detrimental to the public good or welfare or good governance.

Section 241 (2) (k) of the Constitution applies to the Justice of the Supreme Court of Judicature and all judicial officers.

Based on this premise, it is a considered view that the impartiality of the judges in an administrative matter involving the office of the Master of the High Court has been compromised.

Through His Majesty the King, the executive must act promptly to address the matter. While they are considering escalating the issue to the highest office, I advise the police to do what they know better  apprehending offenders.
MBABANE  There are 365 teachers in the Mbabane corridor who are interested in teaching in Taiwan.

This was confirmed by the Municipal Council of Mbabane (MCM). According to go-overseas, an average salary for an English teacher in Taiwan is E32 400 (US$1 800) rising to E63 000 (US$3 500) per month. As a result of the MCMs bilateral exchange agreement with the Kaohsiung City of Taiwan, job opportunities were offered to emaSwati. However, it has been learnt that the Kaohsiung City has an opening for five teachers. It effectively means 360 teachers will not be considered for the vacant posts in Taiwan.

Migrate

This could also mean a number of teachers who were hoping to migrate for teaching jobs at the Republic of China (Taiwan) might have to cross their fingers really tight. The competition is too stiff, it has been observed. The posts are mainly for English teachers. Lucky Tsabedze, the MCM Information and Public Relations Officer, said they received an overwhelming response from Mbabane teachers up until the day of the deadline for submissions of applications.

The closing day of submissions was on January 16, 2024. Tsabedze did disclose in an interview with Eswatini News that the MCM received a total of 365 applications from teachers around Mbabane. Taiwan Embassy Secretary Nasiim Ke confirmed that there was an opening for only five teachers.Five candidates will be taken this year, for the years to come it will depend on the arrangement between the two cities, she said.

While it is true that for many emaSwati, their interest of going there is job opportunities, the city is also a good place for an escape for holiday makers.

Attracting

Known as Taiwans Maritime Capital, Kaohsiung is a tourist attracting city with its breath taking urban landscape beautification. It is also a city known for fishing. Ke said the successful teachers would also have to wait for some months as the countrys curriculum starts in September. There are two semesters in Taiwan, she explained, adding that the first one starts in September while second begins in February.

She said the selected five teachers were expected to start in September 2024. The secretary said the recruited teachers would be afforded welfare and job security, including housing. She said the teachers would be taken care of in line with their contracts of employment. She further explained that the contracts would ensure that all these factors would be taken care of, as agreed between the two parties.

Ke said the contracts stipulated what the employer would offer the employee. Through agreement, the two parties will know what is expected from the other, she said. If a teacher agrees to stay on provided houses, she said they would be taken as such or reimbursed on an agreed amount if ever a teacher would choose to stay at a different place.The schools will either provide accommodation or subsidy to teachers, Ke said.

Desperate

Weighing in on the matter, the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) Secretary General (SG), Lot Vilakati, said the number of applicants that applied for these jobs showed that emaSwati were desperate for jobs.

Vilakati said there was a migration of teachers for better offers overseas in countries like Taiwan.

He said this was happening because government had not provided employment. Vilakati said Eswatini could not afford a brain- drain because of its small economy. Even the teachers who are living, yes it is for betterment, are sell-outs, he said. The SG said the job offers in Taiwan had been pinned for E50 000 salaries at entry level.

He said this was a very good pay considering the salaries those teachers have been getting in the country.

Vilakati said there was no tangible evidence to that effect, as there was no teacher who has shown them their salary advice. If more teachers of one particular subject were to leave en masse, he said it could create a vacuum in the public sector. He maintained their call for the government to create 4 000 permanent jobs.
MBABANE  Where did you get the mandate to participate in the unrest?

This is one of the many questions which Mbongwa Dlamini, the president of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) was asked. Dlamini was a guest on People and Places, which is a programme on Channel YemaSwati. He was being interviewed by the programme host Qhawe Mamba. Mamba had asked Dlamini this question when the duo engaged in a debate about democracy.

During the debate, Dlamini had suggested that in a democratic situation, leaders consulted with the people. As the debate intensified, Mamba asked Dlamini where he had obtained the mandate to participate in the unrest. In 2021, Eswatini experienced an unrest which became countrywide after it started in June of the same year. During the unrest, several people, especially members of the security forces including mainly police officers and also warders, were killed.

At the time, two soldiers are also said to have been killed, though in the second incident, it was reported that the soldier may have been attacked during a dispute that was not related to the unrest. Dlamini initially laughed off the question but Mamba insisted on the answer. He said he was not participating in the unrest but the host insisted that he did.

Protests

Mamba told Dlamini that he saw him participating and while the programme was running, Channel YemaSwati also played some clips of Dlamini in some protests, including some where he wore camouflage attire. In his response, Dlamini stated that though he was a member of SNAT or teacher, he was also a liSwati. He said as a liSwati, he had a right to participate in activities such as one activity where residents in his constituency delivered a petition.

Dlamini stated that unfortunately, when members of his community were delivering a petition, he was not in the country at the time and so he missed that. He said he would have loved to deliver the petition, adding that whenever he got involved in such activities, he was a liSwati. After he made this statement, Mamba then said, soyicedzile nkhosi, sengivile, which could mean, you have answered the question.

Donated

Mamba also asked Dlamini why he supported people who were against the state to point that they donated to them.

In one instance, an example was given about a time when SNAT Burial Society pledged to donate a coffin to someone who was only referred to as Mlandvo in the programme. Dlamini stated that as far as the organisation was concerned, the organisation was donating because they were affiliated to people of different backgrounds.

He stated that the organisation did not have personal information about Mlandvo and that they are not aware of any terrorists in the country. He said according to his knowledge, only one person had been declared a terrorist. At the end of the programme, Mamba thanked Dlamini for remaining calm despite being asked tough questions. He said if only the country had 20 people like him, it could be good for nation building.
NGCULWINI  As it stands, the contractors refurbishing schools that were damaged by the recent hailstorm are doing the exercise from their coffers.

This is because government, in particular the Ministry of Education and Training has not given Microprojects a cent of the about E50 million which is required to refurbish the affected schools. The issue of the money was raised by Microproject Director Sibusiso Mbingo yesterday when the Minister of Education and Training, Owen Nxumalo and Acting Principal Secretary (PS) in the ministry Nanikie Mnisi toured some of the affected schools under Mafutseni Constituency, some of which could not open on Tuesday with the rest of the learning institutions in the country for the 2024 calendar year.

During the tour, Mbingo reminded the minister that the ongoing refurbishing of the school was a debt to government as it had not contributed any cent to pay the contractors. In response, the minister, who is also a Member of Parliament (MP) for Manzini South Constituency, said as government, they were aware of the matter. He added that it would be sorted soon as they have already discussed it even at Cabinet.

On another note, Mbingo highlighted to the minister that in order to fast track the process of refurbishing the affected schools, they have awarded tenders to up to 10 contractors per school. For example, he said at Mhubhe High School, there are 10 contractors who were refurbishing the institution, while at St Philomena Primary School they are eight.

Other schools which were visited by the minister yesterday included Mgebiseni Primary School, Joy Mission Primary School and Vulamehlo Primary School. Out of these schools, three of them have not opened for the 2024 calendar year because they were extensively affected by the hailstorm which hit Mafutseni Constituency, mainly Ngculwini and surrounding areas in December 2023.

Pupils

At St Philomena Primary School, the minister was informed that the institution would be ready to accommodate teachers and pupils for purposes of teaching and learning after two weeks. The closure of the school affects about 725 pupils and the minister wanted to know how the school plans to cover for the lost time. In response, the head teacher Musa Hleta, said their plan was to utilise Saturdays.

He added that as a school, they were ready to start teaching and learning immediately when the classrooms have been refurbished. He said this was because they have stationery and have received the free primary education (FPE) grant money. He said even though they have not received food, they have some that was left from last year.

On another note, the head teacher said most of the furniture they had was damaged by rain and he requested the ministry of assist them in that regard. Thereafter, the head teacher was advised to write a formal request to the ministry, through the office of the Manzini Regional Education Officer (REO). The head teacher also requested the ministry to assist them in extending the Home Economic department as their enrolment was increasing year after year. On the same note, the school committee asked for a proper kitchen and staff room.

Meanwhile, at Mhubhe High School, the minister was told that the refurbishing of the school would take about three weeks. However, the administration of the school said it was planning to recall Form III and V pupils on Thursday because they could not afford to lose more time as they would be writing external examinations. Therefore, the administration asked government to provide them with tents so that teaching and learning for these two grades could start on Thursday. It said it had discussed this with the teachers and they were ready to teach under the circumstances and in tents.

Again, the administrations said they would build a makeshift kitchen so that the Form IIIs and Vs could have food. It added that it had engaged the teachers about teaching on Saturdays to cover the lost time. However, he was quick to highlight that this was a challenge and it should be voluntary on the side of the teachers and in terms of the law, they might not be covered if they get injured at work on a Saturday.

However, the PS said during such situations, teachers were covered and the minister said it was such times when the passion of being a teacher should kick in among the educators. In that regard, the minister said they believe the teachers would be willing to teach on Saturdays.
MBABANE  Poor service is not a new thing at the Mbabane Government Hospital, but if you need better service, you have to bribe your way to get it.

In an exclusive investigation, this publication has uncovered a web of bribery that is said consists of security guards and hospital personnel who drain the patients of their savings. The investigation uncovered that patients are allegedly deliberately kept in long queues until they are frustrated and then lured into paying bribes so that they could be assisted quicker.

The investigation was done over a period of two weeks, speaking to over 10 patients. Normally, the hospital works on a numbers system whereby patients are allocated numbers as they arrive. However, this publication uncovered that despite arriving early, only a few are allocated numbers, while the others simple arrive and are already accorded a slot to jump the queue.

Noteworthy, the Mbabane Government Hospital is a key national medical facility, because it is a referral hospital. This means that it accommodates patients from around the country as it has most medical services that are not available in other regions.

Spending

These include more advanced dental care, skin treatments, more advanced antenatal care and many other medical emergencies. It is for this reason that patients from other regions travel to the hospital, with some spending between E150 and E200 per day on transport. As a result, some patients who were interviewed said in order to avoid a second trip to the hospital, they end up agreeing into bribing officials to get the much- needed health services, so that they do not return the following day, as it would be costly.

To establish the allegations, this publications journalist had posed as a patient who needed dental care. A security guard in one of the corridors around the hospital was approached for assistance and he assured that this reporter could be assisted, but at a fee. The security guard initially did not ask for the money directly but used the siSwati idiom, tandla tiyagezana, which is equivalent to saying, one hand washes another. However, the phrase is also sometimes used for one to ask for a payment providing assistance. The guard was then asked if E10 could shorten the queue to which he responded affirmatively.

Eswatini News had followed up on these allegations after concerns from some patients who said they were not able to get service because security guards were allegedly asking for bribes. Some patients alleged that they arrived as early as 5am, but that they ended up returning to their respective homes without being assisted because the security guards kept bringing more people in front of the queue, claiming that the person had an appointment.

Amounts

The patients who asked not to be mentioned said the guards were paid different amounts, depending on how much the patient could afford. They said some patients were paying as little as E10 while others paid E50, depending on the type of emergency. They also seem to charge you based on what you are wearing or should I say if you look poor or not, alleged one patient .

The Director of Health Services Dr Velephi Okello was called for comment on the matter, but her cellphone rang unanswered. She also did not respond to messages that were sent to her. She was first called regarding the incident on January 19, 2024. Follow-up calls and WhatsApp messages were made until January 26, prior to publication.

Further, the Minister of Health Mduduzi Matsebula was also called on his cellphone, but he did not respond. He also did not respond to questions sent via WhatsApp.

The last call was made to the minister yesterday at 5.54pm. A call and message was also sent to him on January 19, 2024 via WhatsApp when the investigation began. Later, the Principal Secretary Khanya Mabuza was also called but when he asked, he referred questions to the Director of Health Services, Dr Okello. Mabuza said he would request the director to call this reporter, but she had not called by the time of compiling this report. The director of Health Services is responsible for the smooth operation of the hospital.
New Delhi, Jan 27 (UNI) The Congress on Saturday urged the people to Donate For Nyay and be a part of Rahul Gandhis campaign against injustice through his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, that has taken over the country.

Addressing the media at the AICC headquarters here, Congress leader Ajay Maken said that last month a crowd funding initiative Donate For Desh was started by party president Mallikarjun Kharge and We are taking it forward and started Donate For Nyay.

He said that people can donate for Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra as per their capacity.

The Congress leader said that those who donate Rs 670 or more will get a T-shirt signed by Rahul Gandhi and those who donate Rs 67,000 or more will be given a Nyay Kit which will consist of a bag, T-shirt, a band, batch and stickers.

Those who donate anything as per their capacity will get a letter duly signed by Rahul Gandhi and a certificate of donation, he added.

Maken said that so far the Congress party has received Rs 20 crore as donation which only shows the dedication of the lakhs of party workers.

UNI RBE CS1454
Mumbai, Jan 27 (UNI) The Maharashtra government has accepted all the demands of the Maratha community, after which the community called off their protest on Saturday, Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange announced.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde met Jarange in Navi Mumbai, where the latter has been camping with thousands of protesters over the demand for reservations for his community.

Jarange-Patil and the government delegation held detailed discussions around midnight, which was successful, and later the government. Issued an official notification (a government resolution), a copy of which was handed over. to him around 5 a.m.

Thereafter, he consulted his team and decided to call off the agitation.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, along with cabinet minister Grish Mahajan and others, went to Navi Mumbai around 8 a.m. and offered a glass of fruit juice to Jarange-Patil, following which he ended his 3-day hunger strike.

On this occasion, Chief Minister Shinde addressed the gathering and said the state government has accepted all the demands of the community and ordered them to give reservations to the community that are legally valid.

Among those who were engaged in the night-long operation were Ministers Mangal Prabhat Lodha and Deepak Kesarkar, top officers like Social Justice Department Secretary Sumant Bhange, Aurangabad Divisional Commissioner Madhukar Arangal, and CM's Private Secretary Dr. Amol Shinde.

Lakhs of Marathas who had gathered in Navi Mumbai erupted into dawn celebrations, playing drums, dancing, and singing at the success of the 6-month-long campaign.

The Marathas leaders announced that they would not enter Mumbai as planned, and after that, the protestors who came here from all over the state started returning home.

UNI AAA SY AKS
Hargis House Womens Club

The Hargis House Womens Club met Dec. 12 for its monthly meeting.

The group celebrated with a Christmas potluck. Members also provided Christmas gifts (cleaning supplies, paper towels, etc.) for the house or made a donation for the purchase of new curtains for the first floor.

The Holiday Tour of Homes on Dec. 2 was also discussed. The Hargis House was on display as part of the tour and it was determined to be very successful. Plans are being made for next years tour.

The groups monthly meetings are the second Tuesday of each month. Januarys meeting was canceled because of bad weather. The next meeting is scheduled for Feb. 13.

Nancy Fairbanks, potter and sculptor at Fairbanks Pottery Studio, will be the guest speaker featured at 2 p.m.

She will share information about several pottery methods including Raku and horse hair pottery, along with the steps needed to create a final piece. Handmade pottery has been Fairbanks passion for over 40 years. Her pottery is whimsical, functional and playful. Popular products include leaf pieces, colorful functional pottery, animals, monsters, people and all kinds of sculpture, including bronze work.

Pottery started out as a functional item to carry water and food by early man but has evolved to include pieces of art and design. The public is invited and there is no cost to attend.

The Hargis House was built by Andrew M. Hargis, president and co-founder of Grand Island Business College in 1898, and is located at 1109 W. Second St. The home is now owned by the Hargis House Womans Club who is working to restore the mansion and share it with the community.

The groups next meeting is set for 1 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13.

Catholic Daughters,

Court Queen of Peace No. 2227

Regent Michelle McDonald opened the Jan. 18 meeting of Catholic Daughters, Court Queen of Peace No. 2227, at Blessed Sacrament.

Guest Alice Quick was introduced. Susan McWilliams sent a thank-you note for the shawl the court gave her at Christmas time. Pat Pickerel thanked members for their prayers while she was sick. She is doing much better now.

A letter was read from First Vice-regent Kim Meduna regarding a membership contest between courts. If the group gets 10 new members, the court will get $15 off of state dues.

Nominations for officers will be in March. Also, members are to think about the organizations they would like to make donations to with bake sale money.

Circle of Love reports are due by March 1. Marcia Reidy will take care of the Spiritual Adoption display at Resurrection Church.

The rules for the adult CDA Education Contest were sent out. The categories are Poetry, Art and Photography and need to be submitted by March 1.

Best Choice UPC labels are still being collected as are used U.S. postage stamps.

McDonald reminded members the 60th biannual National Convention is in August in New Orleans. Those interested in attending are to let her know.

The service project of cleaning the pews and baseboards in Blessed Sacrament will probably be done on a Saturday in Lent.

The next meeting will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15. Members are asked to bring an item for the food pantry.
A 28-year-old man was arrested after he allegedly stabbed an Uber driver and then attempted to rob a Family Dollar in North Omaha.

Police responded to the alleged incidents at the Family Dollar at 29th and Sprague Streets shortly after 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. According to a press release, the incident began when the man got an Uber ride to the store.

After arriving at the store, the man demanded the vehicles key fob from the driver, who was identified as 42-year-old Matthew Tipton. The man then allegedly stabbed Tipton in the neck and chest with a knife.

Tipton was taken to the Nebraska Medical Center in serious condition. His injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

After the man allegedly stabbed Tipton, police said, he got out of the vehicle and ran into the Family Dollar. He then allegedly held an employee against their will while other employees defended themselves with a metal pole.
The first time one of my closest friendslets call her LL visited my house in the small northwest Philadelphia neighborhood where I lived then with my family, she came in the door, gave me a hug, and said: Sorry Im an hour late, the Waze directions were bad, and I think maybe you should go out and repark my car for me. Wed only known each other a couple months at the time, but Id read her work and loved it for years, and I was just a little cowed by what I perceived to be her genius, and above that, I learned quickly, she is just good. A good person, a kind person, and a talent. So I demurred: Im sure its fine! I said, a little too confidently. Ours was an impossibly narrow and steep block, so tight you risked hitting the cars across the street with your drivers side fender when parking on the right-hand curb. I told her one more time it would be fine. We sat down and had a drink, and then another, and then my wife came home and said, Oh, my god, you should see this parking job someone did down the street. LL looked sheepish. I handed my wife my drink and went outside and halfway down our block was LLs car, at an eighty-degree angle to the curb. In front of a fire hydrant.

Which is all to say that this friend of mine was and is a genius, and while in her stories and novels characters might travel across lands near and far, swim below the waves with nearby fishes but avoiding nearby sharks, in the real world her spatial reasoning is not good. A lady who writes, and whom I admire very much, Flannery OConnor once told a group of students she was visiting, wrote me that she had learned from Flaubert that it takes at least three activated sensuous strokes to make an object real; and she believes that this is connected with our having five senses. If youre deprived of any of them, youre in a bad way, but if youre deprived of more than two at once, you almost arent present. Joseph Conrad in one of his famous prefaces is more specific still: My job as a writer of fiction is to make you see, to appeal as accurately as possible to the visible, and that is everything. I do not think he meant see metaphorically, given the way Conrad qualifies this claim in the rest of his preface. I think he literally means to privilege the visual in writing. But if we are going to appeal to any of the senses, we need to know what they are, and I find myself often in front of students saying that there are not five senses, as we learned as children, but more like six (and maybe even a seventh). The sixth of these senses is proprioception: our sense of where our physical body is in proximity to the spacial world around us. And just as blind old Milton or blind old Henry James or blind old Goethe or blind old Homer or James Joyce, blind from syphilis, could dictate their work and evoke images of all kinds long after their sight was gone, even the ostentatiously bad parallel parker employs that sense of proprioception in her work.

Proprioception, the sense of where we are in space, can do more than simply bring character into focusit also grants a kind of topicality when employed effectively. In the opening scene of Jesmyn Wards National Book Award-winning Salvage the Bones, though our main characters dont know yet the havoc it will wreak, Hurricane Katrina is bearing down on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, where they languidly prep for the storm. The novels 15-year-old narrator, Esch, watches as her brother Skeetah works to help his pit bull, China, whelp a litter of pups. Ward is an unparalleled sentence-level writer, and the turns of phrase in these opening pages tune up our senses: Esch sees her father through the window of the shed, his face shining like the flash of fish under water when the sun hit. Chinas whelping evokes in Esch the memory of her younger brother Juniors birth when he came out purple and blue as a hydrangea: Mamas last flower. The similes do immense work to bring memoryto bring the pastonto the page through visual imagery. But Ward is also masterful with her sense of place, and where Esch is in the world. This begins narrowly, as she tracks Eschs relation to China and her puppies. Skeetah shakes her quickly from her reverie about Juniors birth, saying, Get out the doorway.

By the next chapter well learn Esch is pregnant, and before we even know, were keenly attuned to the distance Esch is keeping from this dog as she litters. Paragraphs after seeing her in the doorway, we see that her other brother Randall is standing at the side of the open doorway. Esch is next to him, and she tells us she walked out of the back door to the shed, stood where I am standing now, to check on China and Skeetah. All this close attention to Eschs physical location in the action serves to bring across the dynamics with her large group of siblingsand to set us in scene, to bring a sense of place to the fore. Proprioception here has a lot broader work to do as well. We quickly learn that its summer, and when its summer, theres always a hurricane coming or leaving here. Its a neat little piece of dramatic irony Ward is playing with herethe reader knows upon opening the book that Katrina will hit soon enough, and while Esch cant know whats about to come, shes thinking about herself in relation to the dog, to her brothers, and to the storm. The longer you look at one object, Flannery OConnor writes, the more of the world you see in it; and its too well to remember that the serious fiction writer always writes about the whole world, no matter how limited his particular scene. For him, the bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima affects life on the Oconee River, and theres nothing he can do about it. The bomb Hurricane Katrina is about to drop on the Gulf Coast is not limitedit is about to be Eschs whole world, inside and out and beyond.

Ward is also a writer attuned to that potential seventh sense I mentioned above: enteroception, our sense of whats happening inside us, physically, in our guts. In the opening chapters of Salvage the Bonesa book whose very title casts our gaze to our insidesWard moves us slowly and deliberately into Eschs body with her. In her memory of her mother giving birth to her brother, Esch says, I can see her, chin to chest, straining to push Junior out, and Junior snagging on her insides, grabbing hold of what he caught on to try to stay inside her. This isnt yet enteroception properits Eschs move to a space of empathy for the way her now-dead mother felt. But a page later, she sees Manny, whom she loves, and were right inside with her: Seeing him, Esch says, broke the cocoon of my rib cage, and my heart unfurled to fly. When Eschs father feels the storm coming he says that it [m]akes [his] bones hurt. Later in the opening scene when Esch cuts her hand on a broken glass that literally enters her body, her brother Randall helps her stanch the bleeding. You got to push until it stops hurting, Esch remembers him saying, evoking the labors of China and her mother. My stomach tilted, she continues. In that last line were all the way to Eschs interior with her. From babies in bellies, to glass in hands, to Esch in a room with a whelping pit bull, to the oncoming catastrophe of the hurricane, Ward is at all times focused on her characters place in the worldtheir literal location in space as well as the space inside them.

That evocation of where a character or narrator is in spatial relationship to the world can account for a massive widening or narrowing of meaning as we move through a narrative. Since I mention Joyce, it strikes me that one of the most effective uses of a character in space comes in his long story The Dead. The storys setting sits in tight confines from its start: Gabriel Conroy has returned from his cosmopolitan life as a book critic in London to his aunts house in Dublin for Christmas. Over the course of nearly 60 pages, we see him arrive; dance; carve a turkey; and then return to a hotel room with his wife, Gretta, where she makes a deep confession from her youth that affects him greatly. Were near to Gabriels point of view throughout the story, the third-person narration focusing more and more tightly on his thoughts as the story progresses. While it is not Gabriel who thinks Lily, the caretakers daughter, was literally run off her feet in the opening linehe hasnt arrived at the party yet, and he of all character wouldnt say literally when what he meant was figurativelysoon after he arrives the point of view has shift into his head, and were hearing him think thoughts about thought-tormented music. The great effect of the snows outside Gabriels aunts home on that Christmas Eve comes in the careful way Joyce tracks the snow in physical relationship to his main character. When Gabriel first arrives at the party, we hear how the buttons of his overcoat slipped with a squeaking noise through the snow-stiffened frieze, a cold fragrant air from out of doors escaped from crevices and folds. Note how Joyce brings smell, sound, sight, and touch all at onceand how literally near to hand the snow is. Midway through the story, we note that Gabriels warm trembling fingers rapped the cold pane of the window. How cool it must be outside! How pleasant it would be to walk out alone. The snow would be lying on the branches of the trees and forming a bright cap on the top of the Wellington monument. Gabriels thoughts move him, and Joyces reader, away and out of the narrow confines of scene, and his sense of the nearby (windowpane) is granted depth and breadth by moving to thoughts of snow hundreds of yards distant.

By the storys famous ending, the sense of space grows far wider as Gabriel thinks: Yes, the newspapers were right: snow was general all over Ireland. It was falling on every part of the dark central plain, on the treeless hills, falling softly on the Bog of Allen and, farther west, falling into the dark mutinous Shannon waves. Joyce uses that sense of proprioception in Gabriel to gain access not only into the visual images of snow outside, but by giving us that sense of how from Dublin all the way west to the Aran Isles snow is falling. The metaphor of an Ireland united by language, as Molly Ivors would prefer, and by political inclination as Gabriel would prefer, is hammered home hard by the sixth sense Gabriel that experiences.

*

Deep into the third and longest section of his masterpiece The Emigrants, the German writer W.G. Sebald tackles the sense by which proprioception can push almost into a supernatural realm. The Emigrants is a novel comprised of four sections, loosely connected by the fact that all four are the stories of Europeans displaced from their homes by Nazi aggression in World War II, and all of which have a kind of ghostly element in their midst. In the Ambros Adelwarth section, we meet the narrators uncle, the sections eponymous main character, who worked as a kind of personal assistant to a wealthy New York scion named Cosmo Solomon. We follow the two characters across the globe at the onset of World War I, as each of their mental health begins to deteriorate, ending in the suicide of Cosmo Solomon.

Somewhere in the middle of Cosmos story, Ambros uses a broad sense of Cosmos place in the world to describe the depression that overcomes him. Cosmo is debilitated by depression back in New York as word of war arrives from Europe. In those days Cosmo would often be steeped in melancholy all day, he writes:

And then at night [he] would pace to and fro in the unheated summer villa, groaning softly. Wildly agitated, he would string out words that bore some relation to the fighting, and as he uttered those words of war he would apparently beat his forehead with his hand, as if he were vexed at his own incomprehension or were trying to learn what he said by heart. Frequently he would be so beside himself he no longer even recognized Ambros. And yet he claimed he could see clearly, in his own head, what was happening in Europe: the inferno, the dying, the rotting bodies lying in the sun in open fields. Once he eve took to cudgelling the rats he saw running through the trenches.

The ghostly appearance of Cosmos deteriorating mental health comes in the form of the very idea OConnor presents in thinking through the proximity of Hiroshima to the novelists world. In Sebalds storytelling, as in Jesmyn Wards, proprioception stretches our senses beyond the boundaries of our immediate surroundings. In the case of Wards Esch, the impending hurricane will eventually make landfall in the Pit. In the case of Sebalds Cosmo Solomon, the horrors of war will land almost as if they are quantum particles on his characters psyche, irradiating it from inside his own realm of perception.

Part of the genius of Sebalds project more broadly comes from his disturbing our notion of how narration itself functions, and in conflating how sense perception finds its way to the storyteller himself. In each section of The Emigrants we begin with a first-person narrator, a stand-in for Sebald himself. But in each section were a narratoror in the case of Ambros Adelwarth, three (!!!) narratorsdeep. By design, in Sebalds narration it grows hard to track who is even telling the story itself, moving at times into the second and the third person. This is an active playfulness with a kind of 19th century narrative Sebald wants to mess with. Its worth nothing that the very sense of proprioception, while it belongs to character as we move into modernism and beyond, often belonged to the implied narrator of 19th century novels. As the initial narrator of Sebalds novels does, Dostoyevsky might speak in the opening of any of his novels in a first-person narrationa first person who is understood to be the authorand then slide quickly and more or less permanently into the third. Take as an example the opening of Demons: In setting out to describe the recent and very strange events that took place in our town, he writes, I am forced, for want to skill to being somewhat far backnamely, with some biographical details concerning the talented and much esteemed Stepan Trofimovich Verkhovensky. By the middle of the next paragraph, we are fully in the third person.

Dickens speaks in his own voice of narration, and moving beyond it uses this mode to great effect in the opening of Bleak House:

Fog everywhere. Fog up the river, where it flows among green aits and meadows; fog down the river, where it rolls defiled among the tiers of shipping and the waterside pollutions of a great (and dirty) city. Fog on the Essex marshes, fog on the Kentish heights. Fog creeping into the cabooses of collier-brigs; fog lying out on the yards, and hovering in the rigging of great ships; fog drooping on the gunwales of barges and small boats. Fog in the eyes and throats of ancient Greenwich pensioners, wheezing by the firesides of their wards; fog in the stem and bowl of the afternoon pipe of the wrathful skipper, down in his close cabin; fog cruelly pinching the toes and fingers of his shivering little prentice boy on deck. Chance people on the bridges peeping over the parapets into a nether sky of fog, with fog all round them, as if they were up in a balloon, and hanging in the misty clouds.

We see this panoramic view of London, but its all triangulated by its distance from that I narrator, the stand-in for Dickens, at once expansive and tethered in space. In a novel that will be overwhelmed by the minutiae of hundreds of pages of courtroom sophistry and rhetorical flourish, we start by noting the way the visual is obscured by fog everywhere, but jumping from the rigging of great ships to people on the bridges and over four pages, all around London. Joan Didion claimed that her favorite novel was Conrads Victory, in which we learn of a scandal thats taken place on a distant island, but we learn of it as third-hand news. In some ways proprioception can be a matter of access, of how a story can be narrated at all. Think of the lengths Fitzgerald goes to figure out who will be in which car with whom on the way to and from the Plaza in Manhattan from West Egg, leading to Myrtles death. The proximity of that car to her body, the proximity of Daisys body to the steering wheel, sets in motion Gatsbys murder itself.

*

If theres a concomitant to the way in which proprioception functions for our characters, its that seventh sense Ward is so adept at evoking: enteroception, our sense of our internal organs, the insides of our bodies. One of the great innovations of Ulysses was that Joyce freed up all the writers after him to write frankly about sex, a freedom Ward adopts to great effect. But as the 1934 obscenity trial and a close read of Leopold Bloom shows us, one novels other great innovations was the attention Joyce lavished on not just his characters interior thoughts, but their literal insides. We know the sounds of Blooms farts, the way he thinks of his own gender fluidity as the new womanly man. (And lest we lose the proprioception as well, in Circe Stephen cant lift his ashplant and shatter the chandelier if he hasnt misjudged just how closely it hangs over his head.) Granted this freedom in Salvage the Bones, Esch is heart-breakingly candid about her sexual historythe only thing thats ever been easy for me to do, like swimming through water, was sex when I started having it, she says. I was twelve.

We feel this seventh sense of both inside and outside in the stories of George Saunders, where characters are keenly attuned to their bodies before, in many stories, their souls leave them. At the brutal ending of the story Escape from Spiderhead, we watch as our narrator, who we learn at storys end is named Jeff, is injected with mind- and mood-altering drugs so frequently that he eventually commits suicide. At the moment of his greatest despair, drama depends upon whats near to hand. Any weapons in the Spiderhead? Jeff asks. No. Just Abnestis birthday mug, a pair of running shoes, a roll of breathmints, his remote.

Saunders then thrusts us inside his narrator, who injects himself with a drug that casts him into the darkest imaginable depression. Then came the horror, Jeff says. Worse than Id ever imagined. Soon my arm was about a mile down the heat vent. Then I was staggering around the Spiderhead, looking for something, anything. In the end, heres how bad it got: I used a corner of the desk. In the quest for freedom, the narrator moves inward. In the quest for a weapon to end his own life, Jeff uses whats nearest to hand. But the innovator in Saunders isnt satisfied with that as an ending, and so we move on to a scene evocative of the opening of Bleak House, of all things. Whats death like? Jeff asks in a single sentence paragraph.

Youre briefly unlimited.

I sailed right out through the roof.

And hovered above it, looking down. Here was Rogan, checking his neck tattoo in the mirror. Here was Keith, squat-thrusting in his underwear. Here was Ned Riley, here was B. Troper, here was Gail Orley, Stefan DeWitt, killers all, all bad. I guess, although, in that instant, I saw it differently. At birth, theyd been charged by God with the responsibility of growing into total fuck-ups.

Its worth noting how much Saunders establishesand usesthat sense of both space and inward knowledge to pull off the near impossible here: killing off his main character and then sticking with him. In Chekhovs hands, in Gusev, we can follow our main character after his death down to the oceans floor, where even after hes long dead, hes eaten by a shark. Saunderss characters, on the other hand, remain conscious after their death, soaring into an afterlife which continues to track not just what they see, hear, and feel, but where they are in space.

Saunders is also about as good at placing characters in settings that hes invented than essentially as writer of his era. Part of his genius is that we come to understand that the Spiderhead of the storys title exists by staying very close to Jeffs point of view, to what he can see, feel, around him. Ive heard Saunders say many times that he begins his stories not by coming up with some larger premise, but by getting a voice down on the page, in language, and then once theres enough of it asking, What world, what situation might this character find herself in? A conversation has grown up in the past decade around world-building as a kind of craft skill the aspiring writer might acquire. Ive never been able to articulate quite why, but this concept has always made me a little itchy, and Im finding more and more that these sixth and seventh senses help explain why.

Proprioception is about something more like world-acceptance, world-recognition, world-conception even, than it is about world-building. Joyces Gabriel is confined by the small space of his aunts house, and while the outside world of Dublinand a larger Ireland and Europe beyondtaps at the windows with his snow, we recognize him as a character in seeing this human limitation. The London that Dickens presents on the page might feel like a kind of fantasy of fog and mud and filth, but in putting that world to the page in scope and sense he achieves his greatness. And Wards Esch lives in a Louisiana bound by flood and love, and while the storm rages outside, impending upon her and her brothers, its in our tracking her immediate surroundings that we come to feel her world inside and outcome to feel it for ourselves.

More often than not, after thoroughly convincing a group of students really anything about how a piece of fiction works, theyll ask the question that can strike dread in us as writers and teachers: That all sounds true, finebut how can it help my writing? Its my sense that taking overt stock of a character, a narrator, in space, can come to help in more ways than I even anticipated when I started thinking about it with students myself. Its a realm in which two specific craft aspectscharacter and settingare wed in a manner that by definition is complex.

For me the first and most useful way of thinking about this sixth sense comes in the pre-writing stage. The hardest part of getting going on a project is often just taking that time between when an idea or a character reveals itself to youand when you actually sit down to put pen to paper. Considering a character in space, conceiving of the room, or the house, or the region of the country or world in which theyll use that sense of proprioception is strangely accommodating of this need. If asking yourself what they feel like insideliterally considering their visceradoesnt bring them more alive to you as a character, Im not sure what will. The more I write, the more I find myself not taking notes in a notebook, or talking about a project, but just listening to music or taking a walk and just trying to picture that world my character will exist in. What it will smell like, what it looks like, what it sounds like. (Ill confess I likely dont think that much about how it tastes.) Their proximity to water, to the sky, to the characters theyll interact withthese are things we can think about ahead of time, and let detail and emotion and meaning accrue once we find the language.

In the midst of drafting, once language begins to find its way to the page, that sense of world-recognition in lieu of whatever world-building might signify makes scene, makes the immediacy of any moment in a story grow vibrant. A character aware of her surroundings is more likely to pick out detail, to pick up on the sounds and scents and sights around herproprioception ends up being a sense that on its own helps signal the other senses. And in revision, when a story or novel often finds its strongest footing for me, doing one draft with nothing but proprioception and enteroception in mind often opens scenes up to the dramaticthe hungrier my character, the hungrier we are to read through a scene. All of this with the caveat, of course, that none of this will make you one lick better at parallel parking in real life.

Samuel Joseph Brown, Jr. Self-Portrait. C. 1941, watercolor, charcoal, and graphite on paper. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada

Zip Code
Dylan Riley in Sidecar:

Du Boiss relationship to Marxism has become a focus of considerable debate in US sociology; the stakes are at once intellectual and crypto-political. Some want to enroll Du Bois into the ranks of intersectional theory, a notion which holds that everything has exactly three causes (race, class, and gender), somewhat analogous to the way certain Weberians are dogmatically attached to a fixed set of factors (ideological, economic, military, political). Others want to incorporate him into the tradition of Western Marxism and its signature problem of failed revolution. Broadly speaking, the first group tends to emphasize Du Boiss earlier writings, thereby downplaying the influence of Marxism, while the second focuses on his later work, with its critiques of capitalism and imperialism and its reflections on the Soviet experiment.

But Du Boiss masterwork, Black Reconstruction (1935), doesnt fit either of these interpretations. The concept of intersectionality appears nowhere, and there is no evidence that DuBois thought in these terms. Nor is Du Boiss proletariat, or at least its most politically important part, the industrial working class; it is rather the family farmer, both in the West and the South, both black and white. Accordingly, his political ideal was agrarian democracy. He sometimes refers to those supporting this programme rather misleadingly as peasant farmers or peasant proprietors, which might lead one to think that he is closer to Populism in the Russian sense than to Marxism. But that too would be a misreading, for in his understanding the social foundation of democracy does not consist in a pre-capitalist village structure with collective ownership of land, but in a stratum of independent small holders (one that failed fully to appear in the South after the Civil War because of ferocious resistance by the plantocracy, which produced the amphibious figure of the share-cropper).

More here.
MONCKS CORNER -- Santee Cooper recently appointed four new members to its management team, including Director of Inclusive Strategies Traci J. Grant.

Grant has been named to a new position at Santee Cooper, director of inclusive strategies, reporting to Chief Financial and Administration Officer Ken Lott. Grant, who will also continue in her role as corporate secretary, joined Santee Cooper 26 years ago as a financial analyst and has worked in the budget, customer billing, pricing and planning areas.

She was named Group Leader of Pricing in May 2004 and manager of budget and customer billing in February 2017. She moved to director of corporate services in March 2020.

Get The Times and Democrat app today Local news has never been this personal. Free to download. Subscribers enjoy unlimited access.

Grant has also served on Santee Coopers Corporate Engagement and Oversight Committee and is a recent graduate of the Diversity Leaders Initiative (DLI), an award-winning program of Furman Universitys Riley Institute.

She has a bachelor of science from South Carolina State University, where she studied agribusiness and economics.

Other appointments are Senior Director of Generation Carey Salisbury, General Auditor Jason McKinney and General Manager of Projects and Construction Scott Smith.

Salisbury has been named senior director of generation, effective Jan. 6. Salisbury has served as interim senior director of generation since August 2023 and will continue to report to Chief Operations Officer Mike Finissi.

Salisbury, a registered professional engineer, is a 2000 graduate of Clemson University, where he earned a bachelor of science in electrical engineering. He joined Santee Cooper in 2001.

McKinney was hired as general auditor in October and reports to Chief Audit and Risk Officer Monique Washington. Prior to joining Santee Cooper, McKinney served nearly six years as the director of internal audit for Lexington Medical Center in Columbia.7.

Smith joined Santee Cooper in September as the general manager of projects and construction and reports to Chief Operations Officer Mike Finissi.

Smith retired from American Electric Power as the senior vice president of AEP Transmission Field Service after more than 22 years with the utility.
Longtime Columbia lawyer and former Afghanistan War combat soldier James Smith is now the only candidate left in the race for a Richland County-based state judgeship.

Smiths rival, Justin Williams, notified the Judicial Merit Selection Commission on Tuesday, Jan. 23, that he is dropping out. Later Tuesday, the commission sent out emails confirming the withdrawal.

Smith, 56, will now be the lone candidate to go before the approximately 170 state lawmakers in a Feb. 7 joint confirmation election for his and other judges posts. In South Carolina, the Legislature elects state trial and appellate judges.

The reason Williams withdrew is that Smith gathered so many pledges of support that Williams knew he would lose the vote in the Legislature,said state Rep. Todd Rutherford, D-Richland, a Smith supporter.

Get The Times and Democrat app today Local news has never been this personal. Free to download. Subscribers enjoy unlimited access.

Its clear that James has solid commitments, Rutherford said. If the commitments werent solid, Justin would not have dropped out.

It is common practice in a state judges race for a candidate facing sure defeat to drop out rather than stay in the race and lose in a public contest.

Although Smith is now the only candidate left standing, that does not translate into a sure victory.

To win a judges seat, a candidate needs a majority of those present and voting, said Rutherford, a member of the Judicial Merit Selection Commission, a screening body which examines the qualifications of judicial candidates and forwards the names of those candidates the commission deems qualified to the Legislature for a vote..

And some Republicans are now trying to make sure that Smith does not get a majority on Feb. 7.

For example, Congressman U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, R-SC, posted Tuesday on X, formerly known as Twitter, that Smith is Pro abortion, Pro Biden agenda, Pro big government, Pro BLM!! and indicated Republicans should not vote for him.

Smith, a 22-year former House member, is a Democrat who ran for governor in 2018 against Gov. Henry McMaster and lost. The Legislature is majority Republican in both chambers.

Rutherford called Normans intervention as a Congressman into a state legislative race absurd but added that, Everyone is free to have their opinion.

State Sen. Darrell Jackson, D-Richland, said he supports Smith. Heres a guy who risked his life on the battlefield for this country. One of the reasons James has enjoyed such bipartisan support is that people know he is a great patriot and somebody who will do right as it relates to the issues that are important for this state.

The Smith-Williams contest had divided lawmakers along race and party lines. Although some Black lawmakers said they believed Smith was qualified, they also said that they were voting for Williams because it was important to get more Black judges on the states trial bench. Of 49 state judges, only a handful are Black.

Williams could not be reached for comment. Smith declined comment.
Orangeburg Department of Public Safety

A late night shooting on Jan. 18 damaged two large windows of the James S. Thomas Science Center, according to an incident report.

A city officer and two S.C. Law Enforcement Division agents were conducting a public safety operation at 11:48 p.m. when they heard shots fired near the intersection of Goff Avenue and Magnolia Street.

A Claflin University security officer also reported hearing the shots in front of the schools High Rise dormitory in the 700 block of Goff Avenue.

Bullets struck two large glass windowpanes at the James S. Thomas Science Building. The estimated cost to repair the damage is $4,000.

Officers told students to shelter in place until the investigation of the shooting incident was complete.

Students at nearby South Carolina State University were also told to shelter in place.

The shelter-in-place advisory was lifted at 1:15 a.m.

City-owned and Claflin University cameras recorded the shooting incident.

Surveillance footage allegedly shows someone parking a newer-model silver Toyota Rav 4 on Goff Avenue in front of the High Rise dorm, facing Magnolia Street.

Several men and women were seen standing and talking on the passengers side of the SUV.

A man walked around the SUV while holding a handgun in his right hand.

The armed man then got into the front passengers seat.

The SUV, which had a poorly installed paper tag, then moved toward Chestnut Street.

Officers and SLED agents attempted to chase two of the men who were seen running from the area of the shooting, but didnt catch them. Surveillance videos show that the two men were near the SUV when it was parked in front of the dorm.

No one was physically injured in the incident.

A large portion of the report was redacted by ODPS.

In other reports:

 A Door Dash driver reported someone shot up the back of his Honda Accord at 6:44 p.m. Jan. 19.

The shooting occurred on Glover Street, near Andrew Dibble Road.

The driver picked up an order for groceries at Walmart. When he turned onto Glover Street, he noticed a vehicle following him.

He heard several loud, rapid bangs when he was driving near the Orangeburg County convenience site.

He initially thought his car was backfiring, but soon realized his rear windshield was shattered.

The driver pulled to the shoulder of the road and the vehicle that was behind him sped away toward Cannon Bridge Road.

Officers discovered eight to nine bullet holes in the rear of the mans car.

They also collected eight shell casings from the road.

 Police claim they found two teen girls, a man and a dog in a Kia Rio stolen out of Columbia, according to an incident report.

The 2014 Kia was discovered crashed into bushes on Treadwell Street at 8:35 p.m. on Jan. 20.

When officers arrived, they found the girls  ages 15 and 16  along with the man and the dog in the car.

They appeared to be trapped inside of it.

Firefighters helped get them out.

One of the teens was allegedly in the drivers seat of the Kia. The other teen, man and dog were in the backseat.

Animal Control took possession of the dog.

The man told officers that he was picked up in Columbia by the teens in the vehicle. They were taking him to Orangeburg, he said.

Officers didnt charge the man with any crime.

The report claims the teens provided false information to officers, but became compliant when the officers told them they could face charges.

A father of one of the teens went to ODPS headquarters to pick them up, but it was determined he had an outstanding warrant from the Orangeburg County Sheriffs Office.

A deputy took the father into custody.

The teens were released to their mother.

Orangeburg County Sheriffs Office

Someone fired a gun into a home on Representative Circle in Orangeburg on Jan. 20.

The homeowner didnt realize that the loud noise she heard was a gunshot until she discovered a bullet hole in her front door the next day. She then called law enforcement.

The bullet traveled through the front door, wall and curtain. It stopped when it hit a second wall.

The woman and her 18-year-old daughter were in the home when someone shot into it. They werent physically injured.

In other reports:

 Someone stole 13 320-foot copper lines from the side of an AT&T internet/cellphone tower on Oakley Lane in Elloree.

The theft was reported on Jan. 19 after a worker checked the site because the generator wasnt working.

The worker said copper was also reported stolen from an AT&T site in Dorchester County the same morning. Its not clear if the two cases are related.

The value of the stolen copper is $37,000.

 A 2022 Kalyn Siebert In Woods chip van trailer was reported stolen on Jan. 22 from a worksite near Water Spring Road and Buglers Rest Court near Orangeburg.

The value of the trailer is $62,000.

 Someone stole a 1994 blue Chevrolet truck that was parked at Walmart at 2795 North Road.

The driver told deputies that he went inside of the business at 9 p.m. on Jan. 20.

When he returned to the parking lot, he discovered the truck was gone.

The man left the keys to the truck in its ignition, the incident report said.

The value of the truck is $5,000.
COLUMBIA  The Republican governor of South Carolina took a shot at unions in his State of the State address Wednesday, warning that recent economic growth will be undone if labor organizers make inroads in cornerstone industries across the region.

South Carolina State of the State South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster gives his State of the State address on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024, in Columbia.

The conservative state has the nation's lowest rate of union membership, despite the U.S. Labor Department recording a 40% uptick in South Carolina union counts last year. Gov. Henry McMaster's heightened attacks come two weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court punted its decision to hear a yearslong dispute between the State Ports Authority and the International Longshoremen's Association, or ILA.

The "pro-union policies" of President Joe Biden  whose singular support of laborbrought him to autoworkers' picket lines last year  won't "chip away" at his state's "sovereign interests," McMaster added.

"We will fight. All the way to the gates of hell. And we will win this battle," McMaster vowed in his annual speech to much applause.

The state has been locked in a fight with the dockworkers' union over who will operate cranes at a $1 billion container terminal in Charleston since its opening nearly three years ago. McMaster emphasized the state's belief that the ILA employed strong-arm tactics it's not allowed to use when it sued and boycotted shipping containers. A U.S. Court of Appeals recently ruled in the union's favor, but McMaster expressed confidence that the nation's highest court would take the case.

Get The Times and Democrat app today Local news has never been this personal. Free to download. Subscribers enjoy unlimited access.

Democrats responded that one-party rule has made government unaccountable. The state legislature's Republican majorities are so strong that elected officials now see "infighting" and "emphasis on highly inflammatory issues debated for purely political reasons," according to Democratic Rep. Roger Kirby, the assistant minority leader.

Kirby delivered the official response, which focused on inequality. He said lawmakers should be addressing the state's poor rankings in healthcare, education and crime through Democratic priorities including affordable childcare and expanded Medicaid coverage. The governor's recent decision to forego summer food benefits through a newly permanent federal program also came under fire.

"I implore all South Carolinians to stand against the politics of division and to demand that we return to a system which encourages debate, seeks compromise and emphasizes policies to address our critical needs, not to acquiesce to the outside interests far removed from South Carolina," said Kirby, who represents a rural area like those lost by his party in recent state elections.

The evening's pomp and circumstance featured an otherwise rosy forecast of the state's shape. McMaster extolled the second consecutive record budget surplus  $1.64 billion, boosted partly by pandemic-era federal aid. He celebrated the state's nation-leading population growth last year.

The governor also trumpeted more than $9 billion in capital investments.

In attendance was Scout Motors President Scott Keogh, who leads a Volkswagen-backed brand that is establishing a $2 billion plant for its electric trucks near the state capital. The announcement last year underscored McMaster's commitment to the electric vehicle and battery manufacturing industry, with major names such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo also setting up shop in the state.

But it was revamped labor organizing in the hospitality and tourism industries, not auto, that McMaster cited as "infiltration" threatening the union-restricting "right-to-work" state.

The governor largely used the bully pulpit to pressure the Republican-led state legislature into moving on his personal priorities. As he has frequently sought over the past year, McMaster pushed the General Assembly to send him a bill that imposes harsher criminal penalties for illegal gun possession. He also advocated for changing the state's fairly unique system of judicial selection by including the executive branch in the legislature-run process.

McMaster highlighted his recently released budget proposal. That includes $500 million to repair aging bridges and $250 million to boost starting teacher salaries. He also sought over half a million dollars to hire three state agents dedicated to animal fighting  a particular concern of his dating back to his time as the state's attorney general.

The coastal state's environmental heritage is another long-running concern for McMaster. As in previous years, the governor insisted that economic growth and preservation are not competing goals.

To that end, he proposed putting $33 million toward identifying significant properties, disaster recovery, flood mitigation and beach renourishment. Monuments, islands and waters need protection from development, mismanagement and storm damage, he said.

And, as he's been known to do, McMaster made that point with a song.

"Don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you've got till it's gone. They paved paradise and put up a parking lot," McMaster said, quoting what he called the "cautionary lyrics" from Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi."
A bumble bee found in South Carolina is declining so precipitously it is being considered for listing as an endangered species.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced this week that the Southern Plains bumble bee and eight other species across the country should be considered for protection under the Endangered Species Act.

Climate Pollinators Bees and other insects gather on a sunflower May 18, 2012, at the Agro Brasilia, an agricultural exhibition on the outskirts of Brasilia, Braz

The bee once was in 26 states but has disappeared from Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Dakota and Ohio so far. It is found in the Southeast and into the Midwest.

Scientists say it could go extinct within 80 to 90 years.

The problem is an almost overwhelming collection of challenges  loss of habitat, pesticide use, pathogens from managed pollinators, competition with non-native bees and climate change, the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation said. The Portland, Oregon, nonprofit is named for an extinct California butterfly, Xerces Blue.

The Fish and Wildlife Service described the Southern Plains bumble bee as a large black and yellow bumble bee identified by its short hair, short head and typically yellow coloring between the head and thorax, between the wings.

It stings when its nest is threatened but unlike honey bees it can sting more than once because its stinger does not stay in its victim. It is generally, though, a gentle bee that goes about its pollinating with gusto.

It doesnt produce honey but is important for its role in the pollination of crops, wildflowers and other plants.

Also taking the next steps toward being classified as endangered are the betta hendra, betta rutilans, Hickory Nut Gorge green salamander, pygmy rabbit, Railroad Valley toad, southwest spring firefly, white-margined penstemon, and yellow-spotted woodland salamander, the Fish and Wildlife Service said.

Most of those species are in western states, except the salamanders, one of which is found in hardwood and cove forests in Hickory Nut Gorge in western North Carolina and the other in the Appalachian Plateau in Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

The Fish and Wildlife Service turned down the petition to do further study on the eastern hellbender, an amphibian that lives under rocks in Pennsylvania and other Mid-Atlantic states.

You can help

Bumble Bee Watch is a community science project that asks people to upload photos of the bumble bees they see and have identifications verified by scientists.
The Tri-County Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuses new medical and education building will help it serve the community and state, officials say.

The building has 10 offices, two exam rooms, a lab, a room to perform drug testing and a large meeting room, TCCADA Executive Director Mike Dennis said.

Each office and the meeting room are equipped with equipment that enables us to provide telehealth services, as well as remote supervision for the psychiatry residency program as residents gain skills to become psychiatrists in rural community-based settings, he said.

The TCCADA officially opened its new 6,500-square-foot building on Jan. 11. It will house its psychiatry residency program and provide additional space for medication-assisted treatment and its growing occupational health services.

The commission broke ground on the $2.4 million expansion on Feb. 24, 2023. The addition is located behind the facility at 910 Cook Road.

The TCCADAs psychiatric residency training program provides holistic, community-based psychiatric care in Orangeburg and beyond. Dennis said the new building will have the space to provide a psychotherapy clinic.

The executive director said additional exam rooms and a lab were needed to accommodate the growth of the TCCADAs occupational services, which are provided to business and governmental entities.

In addition to the employment-related physical exams, drug testing and vaccination that we already provide, we anticipate audiometry testing and pulmonary function testing, Dennis said.

The TCCADA has also been providing medication-assisted treatment for many years to individuals with opioid and alcohol abuse problems, but space was inadequate until now, he said.

With this new space, it will allow our providers a better environment to provide those services. The building also has a nice meeting/training room that can accommodate up to 70 people and will allow us to provide education and training on issues related to behavioral health, Dennis said.

The building was paid for with funds from the S.C. Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, as well as the S.C. Department of Health and Human Services and state Legislature.

Dennis said the state directors of the Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services and the Department of Health and Human Services, along with the legislative delegation members from Orangeburg, Bamberg and Calhoun counties, understood the need for a psychiatry residency program.

They understand there is a significant deficit of psychiatrists in South Carolina and in particular rural areas. Sen. Brad Hutto and Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter were instrumental in securing funds from the legislature, he said.

SCDAODAS Director Sara Goldsby said the new facility was a significant investment in helping to meet the needs of South Carolinians with mental health and addiction services.

You will see upgraded laboratory facilities, state-of-the-art medical rooms. ... This is something to be very proud of not only here in Orangeburg, but beyond this county because the program here is going to serve so many with services that they currently just do not have, she said.

Dennis cited the 2023 South Carolina State Health Assessment (https://livehealthy.sc.gov/state-health-assessment) in touting the need for the psychiatry residency program, which is one of the few in the nation that is focused on rural, community-based care.

The report stated that more than 25% of the states 46 counties are lacking licensed general psychiatrists or psychologists, with rural counties seeing the largest gaps.

That deficit has major impact to include incarceration rates, overutilization of emergency rooms, increased involvement with social services and an increase in suicide, Dennis said.

Suicide was cited in the report as the third leading cause of death for 18- to 24-year-olds and 25- to 34-year-olds, while it was the fifth leading cause of death for 35- to 44-year-olds.

The report also states that rural counties have seen a 33% reduction in the number of licensed general psychiatrists from 2009 to 2019, with the reduction seen in rural counties being over three times higher than the rate seen among all licensed providers.

Dennis believes the medical and education building will improve access to mental and behavioral health services in the state.

While it is based in Orangeburg, the psychiatry residency program is working with MUSC Health-Orangeburg, the S.C. Department of Mental Health, the Dorn VA Medical Center, Bamberg Family Practice and DAODAS to have the residents receive training in areas all over South Carolina, he said.

He continued, We also anticipate partnering with DSS, DJJ, Department of Corrections, DHEC and Disabilities and Special Needs to help them meet the needs of those individuals with behavioral health issues that are involved in their systems.
Democratic presidential candidate Dean Phillips and Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison made appearances at an Orangeburg barbershop on Thursday ahead of the Democratic presidential primary on Feb. 3.

Phillips, a Minnesota congressman, came to Fair's Professional Style Shop on Broughton Street to discuss his platform ahead of the election. Harrison returned to Orangeburg, his hometown, to stump for President Joe Biden.

Phillips said hes sure Biden will receive 90 or 95% of the votes in the room, but wanted to make an appearance anyway because democracy dies without alternatives.

The Minnesota congressman said the Democratic Party is putting all its support behind a candidate who cant win the general election, citing Bidens low national approval ratings and Hillary Clintons 2016 loss to Donald Trump.

I love Joe Biden, Phillips said. The man has been in my house, hes spent time with my daughters, Ive campaigned for him, passed his legislation, worked with him. I respect the man immensely.

The data says something really simple and really dangerous. He's not going to win. And I ask you to look at it.

We can continue to do this, but we're going to have another 2016 and another four years of the most dangerous man in the history of the world.

Phillips received 19.6% of the vote in the New Hampshire primary on Jan. 23, second to Bidens 63.9% as a write-in candidate, according to the Associated Press.

As owner Archie Fair continued to work on customers, Phillips shared his story and platform with the crowd at the barbershop. He grew up poor and lost his father in the Vietnam War at 6 months old. His mother later married into a wealthy family.

He became a businessman before being elected to Congress in 2019.

Phillips said his life highlights the economic inequality in the country.

It shouldn't just take a stroke of luck or being born in the right zip code to achieve success in this country, he said.

Past Republican and Democratic presidents and economic booms have funneled profits toward the wealthy, he said.

They only reward people like me  the wealthy and well connected, he said.

A third of our entire wealth in this country is held by just 1% of the people, he said. So when the economy grows, it just goes to a handful. I want to be a different president.

Phillips wants to set up a $1,000 investment account for every American at birth that grows by $500 each year. Children will be taught to invest and will not be able to cash out the money until graduating from high school, allowing them to put payments on houses, cars or start a small business like this one.

He cited issues like student debt, lack of access to health care and homelessness as issues that need to be addressed. Phillips said his bipartisan record would help him make change in Washington, along with reframing issues to avoid language that offends half the country.

I'm here to tell you we can change, he said. There's a generation ready to do so, a generation ready to rise and do this differently. And you can't do that if you continue to focus on people of the past and policies of the past and promises of the past that are never pulled through.

Phillips and his team left before Harrison arrived.

Local officials including Orangeburg Mayor Michael Butler, Orangeburg County Council Chairman Johnnie Wright and county Democratic Party leaders were in attendance, supporting headliner Harrison.

Harrison was introduced by his childhood schoolteacher and Orangeburg County Council member Deloris Frazier.

Harrison said Fair was his first barber.

The Democratic National Committee chair spoke to the crowd about the importance of South Carolina hosting the first Democratic Party presidential primary in the nation for the first time.

Harrison said that will give more voice to Black voters.

Biden supporting the S.C. primary being moved up is more than just a political payment, he said.

This is not just some gift, that just because Joe Biden won here thats what hes going to give to Black folks in this country, Harrison said. Black folks deserve, have earned the right to be the first in the nation.

We are people that were at the back of the bus and now we are driving the bus. The progeny of those enslaved folks will now pick the most powerful person on the face of the planet and be the first people to do so.

I hope you understand the weight and the gravity of this moment and what it actually means.

The Feb. 3 primary will bring the national conversation to local issues like historically black colleges and universities, the Black infant mortality rate and the struggles of Black farmers that would go unnoticed if the national conversation were started, as it has been in the past, in states like Iowa and New Hampshire, he said.

Harrison recounted a conversation he had with his grandfather after voting together for the first time when Harrison turned 18.

He said In this state your grandma and I couldnt always vote, Harrison said. In this state, they didnt even think I was always a whole man. But let me tell you something  never let anybody tell you you don't matter.

For South Carolina, when Joe Biden decided to change this from Iowa, New Hampshire to South Carolina, he was telling you, I see you. You matter.

Harrison touted the Biden administrations track record since the 2020 election, including investments in infrastructure and manufacturing, student loan forgiveness, appointments of Black women to the U.S. Supreme Court and other federal courts and the capping of insulin prices at $35.

That happened because of you and your votes, he said.

They've delivered on a lot of those promises, but as the president says, there's still work to be done, Harrison said. Weve got to finish the job. And that's where you all come in.

Harrison contrasted Democratic Party policies with MAGA Republicans who are all bad apples.

It doesn't matter if it's Donald Trump or Nikki Haley, he said.

Harrison criticized Haley for letting the Bamberg hospital close during her time as governor.

She allowed her hometown hospital to close, where her mom and dad still are, he said. If you allow that to happen for your own family, then guess what youd do for anybody else's family?

Harrison said the Republican Party was unable to pass meaningful legislation in the last congressional term and runs campaigns based on fear.

We only have one choice and we have to do what weve always done, he said.

Harrison was received positively by the crowd. He took photos and sat for a haircut after the event.

Local party and elected officials encouraged voters to show up at the polls for the primary and vote early. Some elected officials explicitly endorsed Biden's campaign.

We all know that this Democratic Party and this administration, through Congressman Clyburn and President Biden, they have done a lot for all of these rural area people and Orangeburg County and the City of Orangeburg, Wright said.

Archie Fair, the owner of the barbershop, said he appreciated the candidates making his shop a stop on the campaign trail.

Fair encouraged those in attendance to participate in local elections and said many, namely young Black men, often tell him they dont think their vote is important.

The moment you say that, youre in trouble, Fair said.

Orangeburg Mayor Michael Butler said events like the one on Thursday remind voters of the stakes of the election and the Biden administrations track record.

I think the voters will listen and the voters will show up, Butler said. We spoke before and we will speak again.

He said he appreciated Phillips coming out and addressing a smaller, intimate group of people, but that Biden has just as much support in the community now as he did in 2020.

Lets not forget who came to us, who helped us, who took us to the dance and who were going home with, he said.
You have reached a premium content area of Transitions. To read this entire article please login if you are already a Transitions subscriber.



Not a subscriber?



Subscribe today for access to:

Full access to the website, including premium articles videos, country reports and searchable archives (containing over 25,000 articles).


Erica Ackerberg at the NYT:

For six months between 1965 and 1966, the German-born photographer Evelyn Hofer worked in Dublin, creating beautifully crafted portraits of the city and its people. Hofer took her time composing each shot, whether it captured a pair of housekeepers in brief repose or James Joyces death mask. The results were published in book form in 1967, to accompany an extended essay by V.S. Pritchett. Now, in DUBLIN (Steidl, $58), those images stand on their own to tell a thoughtful story of the city both in black-and-white and in quiet color.

Hofer, who died in Mexico City in 2009, was raised in Switzerland and Spain before settling in New York in 1946, where she contributed photo essays to Harpers Bazaar and Vogue. In 1959, she began crafting literary portraits of cities, collaborating with Pritchett as well as Mary McCarthy and Jan (then James) Morris.

more here.
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.
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.
Joelle M. Abi-Rached in Boston Review:

The face of the ongoing onslaught on Gaza has no doubt been Dr. Hammam Alloh, the thirty-six-year-old Palestinian nephrologist at northern Gazas Al-Shifa Hospital who refused to evacuate it when it was invaded by Israeli troops. And if I go, who treats my patients? he said in an October 31 interview. We are not animals. We have the right to receive proper healthcare, he added. Two weeks later, Alloh was killed by an Israeli airstrike, along with his father, brother-in-law, and father-in-law.

Allohs use of the word animals was certainly not lost on viewers. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant had used that same language on October 9 when he announced a complete siege on Gaza, labeling its residents as human animals. Hamass attacks on October 7 would predictably generate a violent military reaction from Israel. But this Israeli campaign in Gaza, a strip of land where more than 80 percent of its population lived in poverty even before October 7, has been of a different character entirely than any previous ones. This onslaught has featured direct attacks on hospitals and the intentional undermining of the entire health care system: shelling, the killing and arresting of health care personnel, the direct and indirect killing of hundreds of patients, underprovision or complete lack of proper medical care, and unwarranted suffering for thousands of patients due to shortages in basic medications, water, food, and fuel. The attacks have made clear that the repression of Palestinian rights now has a new feature: the systematic destruction of the very institutions that sustain life.

More here.
Native Americans in Pima County struggle with adequate healthcare access and are more likely to die prematurely than their non-Native neighbors, county and state data show.

The average life expectancy for county residents from 2018-20 was about 78.5 years. In that same span, Pima Countys American Indian/Alaska Native population lived to be about 69.7 years old, a difference of nearly nine years, according to the Pima Health Data Portal by the Pima County Health Department.

From 2017-19, while overall life expectancy was one year longer (79.5), Pimas Native American population had a life expectancy of about 72.3 years, according to the portal.

Life expectancy across all demographics in the Arizona was about 76 years from 2014-19, according to the states Health Status and Vital Statistics report of 2019. For Arizonas Native American population, the median age at death was 62 years, an average of 16 years shorter, according to the report.

Among American Indians, nearly eight out of ten deaths (77.8%) were premature, the report said.

About 88% of Pima County residents have some form of health insurance, according to the county For Native Americans it drops to 75%.

But the Arizona Indian Health System Primary Care Workforce Assessment in June 2021, the Arizona Advisory Council on Indian Health Care (AACIHC) says the state ranks 44th of all states in total active primary care physicians at 77.9 per 100,000 population. An additional 1,941 primary care physicians will be needed by 2030 to close this gap, the council says.

The University of Arizonas Center for Rural Healths 2023 physician workforce report found that Arizona meets about 39% of its primary care physician need, ranking 42nd in the nation in total active primary care physicians.

Being able to affordable health care also is an issue.

From 2017-21, Native Americans in Pima County had the lowest per capita income of any race at $16,703, nearly half the county-average of $33,016, according to the counts health data portal.

The official poverty rate in the U.S. in 2022 was 11.5%, with 37.9 million people in poverty, according to census data. That year, according to the Making Action Possible (MAP) dashboard created by the University of Arizonas Eller College of Management, nearly 32% of Tucsons Native American population lived in poverty. Thats nearly 10% higher than the national average for Native Americans and over double the average poverty rate for the county.
The Arizona Land Department violated the open meetings law in approving a pipeline to carry mine wastes across a section of ecologically sensitive state land, opponents of a large planned copper mine in the Santa Rita Mountains claim in a lawsuit.

The suit accuses the Land Department of failing to disclose in late 2022 that it was recommending approval of a tailings pipeline to its Board of Land Appeals as part of an application by Hudbay Minerals Inc. for a right-of-way.

The departments November 2022 recommendation was to allow two aboveground, 24-inch water pipelines across a small section of the state-owned Santa Rita Experimental Range. That state parcel abuts private land slated for Hudbays planned Copper World complex of multiple open-pit mines southeast of Tucson.

That recommendation was on the agenda for the land boards Dec. 8 meeting, at which it approved the right-of-way to serve Copper World.

In their lawsuit, the opponents allege that emails written by Land Department officials show the approval allows Hudbay to run the tailings pipeline and five other pipelines with various purposes across an 11-acre section of the 52,000-acre experimental range.

Filing the suit Jan. 19 were the conservation group Save the Scenic Santa Ritas and the Sahuarita-based pecan grower Farmers Investment Company, known as FICO. Theyve both fought Copper World and its predecessor the Rosemont Mine since the latter was first proposed in 2005.

Land Department spokeswoman Lynn Cordova told the Star in an email, Our department does not comment on pending litigation.

Hudbay emailed the Star, We will respond to the lawsuit in due course.

Document didnt mention tailings

Under the right-of-way agreement, Hudbay will pay the state close to $64,000 every 10 years, during the right-of-ways 30-year tenure that expires in December 2052. The pipeline would connect the Copper World complex with non-contiguous, Hudbay-owned land where tailings would be disposed.

After the state land board approved the right-of-way that December, department officials then secretly expanded the pipeline plan from two to six lines, including the tailings pipeline, the lawsuit says. The department gave a final signoff to the right-of-way at the end of January 2023, as shown in a Land Department approval document obtained by opponents through a public records request.

But that document also made no mention of the tailings pipeline. The document said the right-of-ways purpose was for a Non Exclusive Access and Service Road(s), Overhead Electric Transmission Lines(s), a 48-count fiber optic communication line for internal purposes only and six above-ground 24" transmission lines.".

These material revisions to the right-of-way constituted legal action taken by defendants outside of a public meeting, and entirely without notice, in violation of the Open Meetings Law, says the lawsuit.

The opponents base much of their case on emails between an official of Rosemont Copper, Hudbays Arizona subsidiary, and a Land Department official from late 2022 and early 2023.

The emails showed that the Rosemont Copper official, Robin Barnes, told the Land Department official, Michael Romero, that the company was proposing a tailings pipeline, prior to the Board of Land Appeals vote to approve the right-of-way.

Toxicity, spills potential debated

In the lawsuit and accompanying documents, the opponents said theyre concerned about a spill of tailings into the experimental range if the pipeline were to rupture.

The experimental range, run by the University of Arizona, describes itself as a world-class facility because of the long-term historical and biological databases maintained there on the restoration, protection, and management of semiarid grasslands in the arid Southwest.

The suit said mine tailings are finely ground toxic waste created during ore processing. Copper tailings in particular often contain arsenic, lead, cadmium and uranium, among other metals. Tailings pipelines sometimes rupture, leak or otherwise fail, causing environmental harm and hazards to human health.

To back up its concern about a possible pipeline failure, Save the Santa Ritas gave the Star a 2012 report on copper mine tailings spills and other incidents from the national environmental group Earthworks. It dealt with what it said is the track record of water quality impacts resulting from pipeline spills, tailings failures and water collection and treatment failures. It studied 14 copper mines in five Western states, including nine in Arizona.

Summarizing its findings, the report said, At 14 of the 14 mines, pipeline spills or other accidental releases occurred. The most frequent spills were reported at the Ray Mine in Arizona, where over fifty pipeline spills occurred from 1988 to 2012.

Examples of recent pipeline spills include a 2012 spill at the Ray Mine which washed tailings into the Gila River, and a 2008 pipeline spill at the Morenci Mine of 186,000 gallons of sulfuric acid along two miles of Chase Creek  a tributary of the San Francisco River.

Hudbays email to the Star disputed opponents characterization of copper tailings as toxic, saying, Tailings are not toxic under any normal understanding of the word.

Tailings are ground up rock after all of the recoverable metals have been separated out. They are transported through pipelines as a slurry, which is simply the ground up rock mixed with water.

As part of Hudbays application for an aquifer protection permit for Copper World from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, the company used modeling to describe the mine tailings chemical composition, Hudbay said.

In summary, the seepage from the tailings is expected to meet all (state) aquifer water quality standards and even EPAs primary drinking water standards, the company said.

Hudbay also noted the right-of-way it obtained for the pipeline includes a comprehensive environmental indemnity that would require Copper World to remedy any environmental issues arising from our use of the area and to protect State Land from any damages.

Further, the tailings pipelines at Copper World will either be double-lined or located within secondary containment systems to reduce the possibility of any environmental impacts in the unlikely event of a spill. The pipeline will be equipped with multiple redundant systems for leak detection, that would immediately shutdown the system if a leak developed, Hudbay said.

Opponents emphasize the experimental ranges ecologic importance and their suit asks the Land Department to void its approval of the pipeline.

The range is one of the most important state-owned land conservation research centers in the United States. The range is managed by the University of Arizona and is legally required to conduct ecological and rangeland research, said Dick Walden, Farmers Investment Co.s president and CEO.

The state should be doing everything in its power to protect the environmental integrity of the range rather than secretly working with a foreign mining company to allow mine tailings pipelines to cross the range with absolutely no environmental review, he said.

But Toronto-based Hudbay told the Star, The Santa Rita Experimental Range was notified about the right-of-way prior to its approval, and didnt object as it is not expected to have any impact on their research activities.

Waste disposal key to mine

The pipeline would be central to Hudbays ability to operate Copper World.

Hudbay has proposed mining 92,000 tons of copper annually during its first decade of operations, a pre-feasibility study it published on the mine last year said. Hudbay has said it would create 400 permanent, high-paying jobs at the mine, and has projected that income from those jobs and other factors would generate another 3,000 jobs.

It plans to build Copper World first on the west slope of the mountain range using four open pits. That project would be an alternative to its now-shelved Rosemont Mine proposal on the Santa Ritas east slope, which was stopped by unfavorable federal court rulings in 2019 and 2022. The company has said that over time, it will return to the east slope to build another pit, and that it will focus its operations on 5,500 acres of its private land on both sides of the mountain range.

It plans to operate the entire Copper World project over 44 years, with the first phase lasting 20 years.

But to operate the mine, Hudbay has to find a way to dispose of its waste rock and tailings. Its attempt to place them on U.S. Forest Service land near the original Rosemont site was rebuffed by a federal judge in Tucson in 2019.

U.S. District Court Judge James Soto ruled in favor of a suit by opponents who alleged the placement of Rosemont tailings on federal land would violate the 1872 Mining Law because those forest lands arent known to contain valuable minerals  a requirement for the filing of federal land mining claims.

Later, Hudbay planned to run a tailings pipeline on neighboring U.S. Bureau of Land Management land to take its tailings to disposal areas on its private land on the west slope. But it eventually opted to run a tailings pipeline through state land, where it would not have to face what could be a time-consuming federal review under the National Environmental Policy Act.

Hudbay made a strategic decision to work with state regulators to secure a right-of-way for the infrastructure that will connect two of Copper Worlds private properties, currently separated by BLM and state lands, the company told the Star.

Working with the Arizona State Land Department offered a more timely and predictable process for obtaining this authorization while also providing funding for Arizonas public school system. The Land Department puts money it receives from sale or lease of its land into public schools.

This is super huge for us

Mine opponents case against the Land Department rests on a series of emails and other documents they obtained from the department via public records requests. But while they filed such requests in April and June 2023, they said they didnt get a lot of the most important records they requested until December.

That came after they hired David Bodney, a longtime Phoenix lawyer with an extensive background in dealing with public records, and after Bodney notified the department of possible litigation, they said.

The only mention made of the tailings pipeline in any record they got from the state  other than in email correspondence between Land Department and Hudbay officials  was found in a Sept. 1, 2022 letter from an archeological compliance specialist for the department to Michael Romero, the departments Rights of Way Project Leader.

The letter said Hudbays Arizona subsidiary, Rosemont Copper Co., had filed a right-of-way application to gain use of 11.4 acres of state land for installation and maintenance of an access road, fresh water pipeline, tailings pipeline, process water return pipeline, electrical services and telecommunications... .

But on Nov. 28, 2022, Robin Barnes of Rosemont Copper emailed Romero that the description of the project in the Land Departments formal application form does not match the current projected uses of the right of way.

Our application provides for 3 above-ground pipelines and we expect to have 3 above-ground pipelines for tailings, sand, reclaimed water and other uses. Do these need to be included in the recommendations being described to the Board? asked Barnes, Rosemont Coppers land manager, referring to the Land Departments Board of Appeals that was scheduled to hear the companys application on Dec. 8, 2022.

Romero quickly emailed back, No, the Board only reviews the value. I can change the description in our system.

On Dec. 6, Romero wrote to Barnes, We will correct the water line numbers in our system. Since the number of water lines does not affect the value, were ok. The Boards purpose is to approve the valuation.

Two minutes later, Barnes replied, The current no. of pipelines is 6. I am not sure my prior email was clear. Thank you.

Romero replied, Noted.

The departments official agenda for that meeting again described Hudbays project as only including an access road, an electric transmission line, the fiber optic line and two 24-inch water transmission lines. This item, like two other right-of-way proposals, was placed on that meetings consent agenda. Consent agendas are typically reserved by most government bodies for routine, non-controversial items.

After the board approved the right of way on Dec. 8, Romero emailed Barnes, Congratulations.

Barnes emailed back, I cant thank you enough. This is super huge for us.

Asked by the Star about that comment, Hudbay replied, It was an important step in our development process and she was showing appreciation to Department staff who had worked on the project.

Not aware of the true purpose

In a declaration filed as part of the opponents lawsuit, Save the Santa Ritas President Thomas Nelson wrote that if the group had known in advance of the true purpose of Hudbays proposed right of way, it would have communicated its concerns to the Land Department. Nan Walden, vice president of FICO, echoed Nelsons statement in her declaration for the lawsuit.

Because the Board of Appeals agenda referred to the right-of-way as including water pipelines rather than a tailings pipeline, we were not aware of the true purpose and scope of the proposed use for the right-of-way. I only learned the true scope and purpose of the right-of-way via documents the Land Department provided in response to SSSRs public records requests as late as December 2023, Nelson wrote.

Board of Appeals Chairman Travis Bard and Vice Chairman Bruce Francis declined to tell the Star how they would have voted or otherwise responded if the Land Department agenda had mentioned that the right of way for Hudbay would be for a mine tailings pipeline.

On Friday, Francis responded by email, Whenever there is ongoing litigation we refer all inquiries to the Land Departments Public Information Officer, Lynn Cordova. I hope this is helpful.

On Thursday, Bard said in a telephone interview, Thats been 14 months ago. I dont remember specific details of that. I dont really have a comment. The details of that are a chapter past me. Last year was a different chapter.
A Tucson congregations 250-year-old Torah scroll was visited by a Jewish scribe this week for restoration.

Congregation Chaverim welcomed Rabbi Kevin Hale, of Boston, who was hired on to restore its Czech Holocaust Sefer Torah scroll during a series of events over the last week leading up to Saturday, International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

The congregation received Sefer Torah #531 from the Memorial Scrolls Trust of London, England, in 1976. It was one of more than 1,500 Torah scrolls saved by a museum in Prague ahead of Nazi invasion during World War II. These scrolls, and other valuable artifacts, were rescued from synagogues in Bohemia, Moravia and Czechoslovakia.

Based on its construction and the materials used, the scroll is believed to be about 250 years old, or about as old as the United States Declaration of Independence, said Ann ReVelle, a Congregation Chaverim board member who co-coordinated events this week and the restoration project.

After the war, those 1,560 scrolls were discovered in a warehouse, and when an art dealer brought them to the attention of the Westminster Synagogue, a deal was made to purchase them from then-Czechoslovakia, establishing the Memorial Scrolls Trust of London, according to ReVelle and Rabbi Hale.

For 47 years we have cared for, read from, and cherished this scroll. We have used this scroll during our dor vdor (from generation to generation) processions at bnai mitzvah ceremonies, on Mt. Lemmon on Rosh Hashanah, and at many Shabbats and other services, the congregation says on its website.

This Torah scroll was permanently loaned to the congregation and will remain there for as long as they are organized and practicing.

The Sefer Torah was slated by the Nazis to be part of the museum of the dead race, the Congregation wrote. We are not a dead race; this Sefer Torah was saved and has found a home in our Aron HaKodesh, our Holy Ark, for the past fifty years. But we must now restore it to its former beauty.

The scroll was used by the congregation until 2020, ReVelle said, when it was deemed no longer kosher. In synagogues, scrolls that cannot be restored to a state deemed kosher are no longer used, as a kosher status indicates the Torah scroll is restored to its highest quality possible.

I saw a Torah that was in relatively good condition for this collection. It needs cleaning, it needs patching, it needs sewing. There are many, many letters that are faded, or flaking, and Ill be rewriting them. But in a way, the bones, so to speak, are really good, Hale said. And it was written by one scribe, the same handwriting all the way through. (Its) beautiful, and has characteristics of that region, essentially Bavaria, Moravia, with here and there fascinating little mystical twists on some letters.

The Torah contains 304,805 letters, and the work needed to restore this is likened to museum conservation, Hale said.

Theyre grouped into words, and theres spaces in the texts, and theres some letter large and some small, Hale said. All of this is part of the scribal heritage. If you have a printed Bible, you have all the words, but theres something different about this, (because) its written by hand.

A grant from the Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona allowed for Hales work to be done. His visit to Tucson, and subsequent restoration efforts, were part the congregations events held ahead of International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

That marks the date when the Auschwitz concentration camp was liberated by the Soviet Union. While Rabbi Hales feeling on the exact date is a bit ambivalent, he believes it serves well for non-victims.

Its very important, but I kind of feel like, yeah but where were you before that date? Rabbi Hale asked. Honestly, I think its a day of remembrance, but I think its kind of a day of remorse, for the nations. It is the one remembrance of the Holocaust thats about, I mean essentially, the allies arrived too late. ... This is a day of remembrance that I think calls on non-victims to think about, how did we culpably let this happen, and would we act differently in a different time?

Throughout the week, Hale mended and restored the scroll while teaching its history, the history of the Holocaust and how to restore such an old piece, giving the opportunity to experience Torah at a physical, cultural and religious level at various events around Tucson, the congregation said.

The Torah scroll will travel back east with Rabbi Hale, where he will continue the restoration process. Its expected to be back in Congregation Chaverims hands by April, ReVelle said, and a celebration of that momentous day is expected once it has been returned.

Theres something about Torah that keeps on affirming life, it certainly keeps on affirming that Jewish people are living, Rabbi Hale said. I called a dear friend from college, who lives in Israel, a few days after (Oct. 7), to ask her whats needed. ... She said Kevin, theres three things: pray, give tzedakah (donations), and write Torah. At first, I took that to mean youve got to go on with your life. But I think its deeper. I think what were doing is following her on a communal level, and its very life-affirming, even in the most sad time.

We keep on being in this publishing partnership with God, and its intrinsically hopeful.
Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

At its Thursday meeting, the Oklahoma State Board of Education voted 4-0 without debate to refer seven former educators to a hearing officer as part of the certification revocation process.

A teaching certificate can be revoked following a willful violation of state or federal law, breach of a Board of Education or U.S. Department of Education rule, a conviction for certain crimes, or other misconduct or cause.

State education rules stipulate that if a certification revocation application is filed, the educator in question may be given the opportunity for a hearing before an officer. In turn, the hearing officer makes a recommendation to the Oklahoma State Board of Education about whether there is sufficient proof to justify revoking that teachers certification.

Among the seven people referred on Thursday are four with ties to the Tulsa area: former Edison Preparatory math teacher Christin Covel, former Perkins-Tryon teacher Kimberly Coates, former Muskogee Public Schools teacher Rhonda Carlile and Stacy Dimarco from Oilton.

Covel was sentenced in June by a Kansas judge to five years and eight months in prison after pleading no contest to three counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child and one count of unlawful sexual relations. Covel previously taught in Wichita before coming to Tulsa.

Coates was arrested in August for public intoxication while on the campus of Perkins-Tryon Intermediate School in Payne County.

According to documents on the Oklahoma State Courts Network, Dimarco was found guilty by a Creek County jury in December of violating a child custody order and obstructing a police officer. She has an appeal pending before the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals.

Carlile resigned from Muskogee Public Schools effective Dec. 1 and was previously employed by Broken Arrow Public Schools. Beyond confirming her position and dates of employment with the district, Muskogee Public Schools declined to provide any additional details about her departure. A spokesman for the Oklahoma State Department of Education declined to provide any information Friday about the rationale for Carliles revocation application and referral.

Other former teachers who were also referred for a hearing Thursday were Kristen Andrews, Devon Mitchell and Melissa Smith. Those dates have not been set.

An eighth former teacher, Ivy Reneau, was initially slated to be referred for a revocation hearing, but according to OSDE attorney Bryan Cleveland, she has voluntarily relinquished her teaching certificate.

On top of those seven, the board voted to suspend six additional teachers certificates and schedule a revocation hearing at its March 28 meeting for former Norman English teacher Summer Boismier. Boismier resigned in August 2022 after sharing a QR code linked to the Brooklyn Public Librarys website and covering up her classroom library since some of the titles could potentially violate House Bill 1775, a law that bans educators from teaching certain concepts related to race and gender.

An assistant attorney general for the state issued a recommendation in June that Boismier be allowed to keep her certification and that the Oklahoma State Department of Education had not sufficiently proven that she broke the law. Boismier has filed a federal lawsuit over the matter.

The board also voted 4-0 to revoke the certificate of Dallas Ewton, whose certificate was originally suspended in July 2021. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced in July that the former Morris teacher had been sentenced to more than 15 years in prison for two counts of sexual abuse of a minor in Indian Country and one count of abusive sexual contact in Indian Country.

The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today.
Anna Codutti Tulsa World Breaking News Editor Follow Anna Codutti 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

Flu cases are on the rise across Oklahoma, state health officials are pointing out, with RSV on a downward trend while COVID-19 has plateaued.

Oklahoma reports first pediatric flu death of this season Oklahoma is likely now entering our peak influenza season even though influenza activity is decreasing nationally," a state health official said Tuesday, noting a delayed start for the season here.

At 26.3% positivity, Tulsa County is 6 percentage points above the statewide average for influenza among respiratory illness patients. Tulsa County hospitals are consistently seeing the the most flu patients of seven regions across Oklahoma this season.

Of the 128 respiratory illness inpatients reported by Saint Francis Health System over the past week, nearly half tested positive for influenza A or B, a rise of 30%. The numbers of COVID-19 and RSV inpatients, however, were both down about 30% from the previous week at Saint Francis.

Those at highest risk for severe complications from respiratory illnesses are typically the youngest or oldest patients, an Oklahoma State Department of Health official said this week.

But individuals with underlying health conditions that theyre taking medication regularly for or pregnant women can also be at high risk from respiratory illnesses, Infectious Disease Prevention and Response Director Kendra Dougherty said.

In a video message from the State Health Department, Dougherty stressed the importance for symptomatic individuals in those high-risk categories to seek medical care or at least a physicians guidance.

Now that we have COVID co-circulating, or kind of muddying the waters on what is considered influenza or RSV, ... once you know what you have, (doctors) may recommend antiviral treatment, she said. Flu and COVID both have antivirals that can be administered and help (reduce) severity and duration.

In Tulsa County, 225 patients have been hospitalized with influenza so far this season, and three flu patients have died.

Prevention steps are pretty similar for most respiratory infections, Dougherty said. Hand hygiene is going to be top of the list. We dont realize how many times we touch our face, and you dont want to introduce those germs. But also covering your cough and staying home when youre sick and making sure that youre up to date on your vaccines.

The bodys immunity may not develop until about two weeks after receiving a vaccination, the Tulsa Health Department says, so vaccinations are recommended at the start of respiratory virus season in the fall. However, virus transmission can remain significant through spring, Dougherty said, so getting vaccinated can still be helpful.

The dropoff is typically sometime between March and May.  Sometimes we have flu season or other respiratory infections extend out all the way into May, she said.

For more detailed data, go to oklahoma.gov to view the Oklahoma State Department of Health dashboard, updated weekly.

The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today.
Randy Krehbiel Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Randy Krehbiel 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

Whodunit: The Oklahoma Legislatures education leadership said Friday that the Oklahoma State Department of Education is responsible for approving teacher bonuses for which the recipients didnt qualify, not the teachers themselves.

The chairs of the House Common Education Committee, the House Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee on Education and the Senate Education Committee all said the OSDE should take responsibility for the error and stop trying to claw back as much as $50,000 each from nine teachers who received the bonuses despite not qualifying for them.

If the State Department of Education made this mistake, they have to live with it, said Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, chairman of the Senate Education Committee.

As reported by Oklahoma Watch last week, the OSDE approved at least $290,000 in bonuses based on applications that should have been rejected out of hand. The bonuses were for teachers in specific areas or at specific schools who did not teach in Oklahoma last year.

In each case, Oklahoma Watch said, the applicants reported their employment histories accurately but misunderstood the conditions for receiving the bonuses.

One potential complication is that the bonuses were paid from federal COVID-19 funds. The OSDE and State Superintendent Ryan Walters have already had one adverse federal audit of COVID-19 education funds.

As a businessman, if I make a mistake, I have to own that, said Rep. Mark McBride, R-Moore, the House A&B subcommittee chairman for education. I cant go back to my customer and say you have to repay me because I made a mistake in our contract. The same should happen with the State Department of Education. If they made a mistake in approving an application, they shouldnt demand the teacher pay for it.

Whistling Dixie: Gov. Kevin Stitt sounded a little like a Southern secessionist while trying to explain Republican governors promise to send National Guard troops to support Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott.

First, Stitt suggested Guard members might mutiny if federalized by the Biden administration to keep them from interfering with the Border Patrol.

Then he said states can ignore U.S. Supreme Court decisions they dont like.

Foxs Steve Doocy raised the possibility of Oklahomas and other National Guard units dispatched to the border being nationalized.

President Dwight Eisenhower used such a maneuver in 1957, when Arkansas Gov. Orval Faubus ordered that states National Guard to prevent nine Black students from enrolling at Little Rock Central High School.

Stitt indicated that the Guard members might have trouble deciding whether their first loyalties are with their states or the nation.

The National Guard soldiers are Texans and theyre Oklahomans and theyre Tennessee folks, Stitt replied. Theyre just Americans. Youd be putting our soldiers in a tough, tough situation to protect their states.

This is a powder keg worth of tension, he said. I think (troops) would be in a difficult situation to protect their homeland or follow what Bidens saying. I think it would be very interesting.

A day later, CNNs Jake Tapper asked Stitt about the U.S. Supreme Court decision that Abbott does not have the authority to string razor wire along an international border.

Well, we all agree that the Constitution is the supreme law of the land, Stitt said. And if the Supreme Court gets something wrong  for example, if they try to ban and say that we didnt have a Second Amendment right to bear arms  I think the Constitution supersedes somebody in Washington, D.C. telling us, you know?

Housing fund: Stitt approved emergency rules for a new $215 million state housing loan program.

The Housing Stability Program is intended to spur construction of single- and multi-family homes for sale or rent. The Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency, which will administer the program, begins accepting applications Monday.

Campaigns and elections: Democratic House District 72 candidate Michelle McCane was endorsed by the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund.

Feb. 9 is the deadline to register to vote in the March 5 Oklahoma presidential primary.

Applications to be an Oklahoma delegate to this summers Democratic National Convention are being accepted through March 8. See okdemocrats.org for details and application forms.

Bottom lines: Oklahoma added about 2,300 jobs in December, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported.

 Randy Krehbiel, Tulsa World

The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today.
Twenty-five Vietnamese candidates have won prizes at the ASEAN Tourism Awards, held as part of the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2024, which kicked off in Laos early this week.

The awarding ceremony of ASEAN Tourism Awards took place on Saturday in Laotian capital city of Vientiane on Friday, according to the Vietnam News Agency.

These 25 Vietnamese businesses grasped their awards in various categories, including ASEAN Green Hotel Award, ASEAN Clean Tourism City Award, ASEAN MICE Awards (for Meeting Room, Exhibition Venue and Event Venue) and ASEAN Sustainable Tourism Award (for the Gastronomy Tourism).

The ASEAN Tourism Awards is an annual event to honor localities and units with high-quality tourism products and services, contributing to the sustainable development of tourism destinations in the ASEAN region.

The award recognition was based on 108 criteria in a number of main groups, such as the quality of tourism infrastructure and facilities, environmental management, waste management, and cleanliness, to name a few.

The event, which was launched within the framework of ATF 2024, is an opportunity for tourism businesses and local tourism organizations to effectively market their business activities and contribute to promoting the national tourism brands.

With the theme of Quality and Responsible Tourism: Sustaining ASEAN Future, the ATF 2024 commenced on Monday and ended on Saturday.

The annual ATF aims to demonstrate ASEAN's determination to improve the quality of tourism services, create more high-quality destinations, strengthen the tourism industrys responsibility for environment and nature protection, and promote sustainable tourism development.

At ATF 2024, a series of significant activities took place, including the 59th ASEAN National Tourism Organizations Meeting, the Travel Exchange (TRAVEX) Trade Fair, the 44th Meeting of the ASEAN Plus Three National Tourism Organizations, and the 27th Meeting of ASEAN Tourism Ministers, among others.

By enriching tourism product lines such as eco-tourism, religious tourism, and medical tourism, tourism businesses in the region in general and in Vietnam in particular not only create more job opportunities but also enhance the value of tourism products and provide travelers with plenty of destination choices.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Vietnam's Power Generation Corporation 2, or EVNGENCO2, and its Chinese business partner China Southern Power Grid Company (CSGI) proposed developing a 500MW pumped storage hydropower plant in Quang Tri Province, central Vietnam during their recent working session with the provincial administration.

Under their proposal, the plant would be built at an irrigation dam of the Quang Tri hydropower plant in Huong Hoa District over a course of some seven years and be put into operation after 2030.

The project would use water from the irrigation dam to generate electricity with a capacity of 500MW to be supplied to the national grid at peak hours, while pumping water from a lower reservoir to an upper one for storage at off-peak times, contributing to flattening the load curve.

Load curve flattening is a process wherein the load curve is flattened by reducing the peak load and transferring it to the low load section.

These companies said that the project would satisfy the growing need for electricity and highlighted the feasibility of the project in terms of economic benefits.

The project development and operation would provide employment for a large number of local residents and thereby would help improve their incomes.

Also, it would make contributions to the local budget, they elaborated.

Ha Sy Dong (R, 3rd), vice-chairman of the administration of Quang Tri Province, central Vietnam, hosts a reception for representatives of Power Generation Corporation 2 and China Southern Power Grid Company. Photo: Quang Ha / Tuoi Tre

Le Quoc Vu, vice general director at EVNGENCO2, asked its subordinate agencies to work with the province to add the project to the National Power Development Plan VIII.

Ha Sy Dong, vice-chairman of the provincial administration, said Quang Tri boasts potential for developing renewable energy, citing examples of some renewable power projects that had commenced operations in the province.

The vice-chairman endorsed the proposal to build a pumped storage hydropower plant in the province and asked CSGI to team up with the relevant units to facilitate further steps.

The province pledged support for the investors during the project implementation, the official added.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Nearing the end of their life, they sit quietly for long periods of time, barely noticeable, before suddenly puffing out a cloud of smoke.

A mysterious new type of star nicknamed "old smoker" has been discovered hiding in the heart of our Milky Way galaxy, astronomers revealed on Friday.

The "peculiar" puffing behavior of these stars has never been seen before in such red giants, astrophysicist Philip Lucas told AFP.

The international team of scientists behind the discovery had not been looking for such old stars during their 10-year survey, which took in hundreds of millions of stars across the sky.

Instead they were using the VISTA telescope in the Chilean Andes to search for newborn stars -- called proto-stars -- which are prone to frequent, exuberant eruptions.

They spotted 32 proto-stars, "the largest number anyone has ever found before in one batch", said Lucas, a professor at the UK's University of Hertfordshire and lead author of a new study.

But lingering in the background was a "nice surprise", he added.

'We don't fully understand'

The old smokers were puffing right in the center of the Milky Way, a densely packed and metal-rich region called the Nuclear Stellar Disc.

"What was surprising about this new discovery is that we're seeing stars that were just sitting doing nothing at all," Lucas said.

Then abruptly the stars would become between 40 to 100 times dimmer, sometimes so faint that the telescope's infrared vision could barely spot them.

A couple of years later, seemingly without warning, they would return to their former brightness.

"Everything we have been able to learn about them suggests that this is a case of stars throwing off puffs of smoke -- for reasons that we don't fully understand," Lucas said.

Those smoke puffs are thought to temporarily obscure the stars from our sight.

There are many more "heavy elements" -- anything heavier than hydrogen and helium -- in this region of the galaxy, which could create more dust in the star's atmosphere, Lucas said.

Exactly what puffs that dust out remains a mystery.

But if this theory is correct, then the amount of matter being thrown off by these stars could play a significant role in how heavy elements are spread throughout our galaxy -- and beyond, he said.

Lucas emphasised that these were just early best-guesses.

"We're just sort of scrabbling around trying to see what makes the most sense," he said.

The researchers spotted at least 21 old smokers but suspect there are many more out there.

The study was published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
Check out the latest news in Vietnam today:

Business

-- Hanoi plans to put the Nhon  Hanoi Station metro line, the second of its kind in the Vietnamese capital city, into commercial operation in June this year, a local official told a meeting on Friday.

-- Power Generation Corporation 2, or EVNGENCO2 and its Chinese business partner China Southern Power Grid Company proposed developing a 500MW pumped storage hydropower plant in Quang Tri Province, central Vietnam during their recent working session with the provincial administration.

-- Vietnam attracted more than $2.36 billion of foreign capital in the year to January 20, soaring 40.2 percent against the same period last year, according to data released by the Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

Society

-- The Vietnamese government has passed a development master plan for Thua Thien Hue Province until 2045, with a goal of transforming this central Vietnamese locality into a municipality by 2025 on the basis of preserving and promoting values of ancient capitals heritage and Hue cultural identities, the provincial administration announced on Friday.

-- Two local fishing boat captains in Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam have been fined VND175 million (US$7,118) each for fishing at Hon Mun Nature Reserve, located in the provincial city of Nha Trang, a local official confirmed on Friday.

-- Vietnams 25 tourism businesses were honored with awards in six categories at the ASEAN Tourism Awards ceremony held in Laos on Friday evening, as part of the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2024 taking place from January 22 to 27 in Vientiane.

-- The administration of Uong Bi City, Quang Ninh Province, northern Vietnam said on Friday that it has levied an administrative fine of VND7.5 million ($305) on Most Venerable Thich Truc Thai Minh, the abbot of the Ba Vang Pagoda, for his failure to inform local authorities of the pagodas highly-controversial display of a relic known as the Buddha hair sarira in late December last year.

World News

-- Yemen's Houthi rebels on Friday stepped up attacks on vessels transiting the Red Sea, including a hit that sparked a fire on a fuel tanker operated on behalf of trading firm Trafigura, Reuters reported.

-- Reuters cited U.S. President Joe Biden as saying on Friday that the border deal being negotiated in the U.S. Senate was the "toughest and fairest" set of reforms possible and vowed to shut down the border the day he signs the bill.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Farmers raising swines are facing the persistent threat of the African swine fever pandemic, which has been ravaging their herds throughout the final months of 2023 in southern Vietnam.

Alongside this challenge, an unfortunate increase in animal feed prices has compounded the difficulties faced by these farmers.

Sadly, Nguyen Thi Sang from Binh Giang Commune, Hon Dat District, Kien Giang province, with two decades of experience in pig farming, expressed the heart-wrenching scene of her herd being executed due to the African swine fever.

The economic impact intensified as feed prices for animals increased simultaneously, causing substantial losses for farmers.

As 2023 came to a close, Sang faced a challenging decision to cull her herd of pigs, each weighing between 80-100 kilograms, due to the persistent African swine fever.

Currently, the price for a live pig is between VND4.9-5 million (US$200), representing a decrease of over VND400,000 ($17.39) compared to the same period last year.

Nguyen Dinh Xuyen, deputy chief of the livestock and veterinary unit of Kien Giang Province, reported 12 outbreaks of African swine fever in five districts in 2023, necessitating the destruction of 168 pigs.

Despite the outbreaks, the disease has not reappeared after 21 days, and Xuyen made reassurances that the supply of pigs would not be significantly impacted.

The outbreaks in 2023 were not large but persisted throughout the year.

"Despite these challenges, the input cost and the sales price of pigs has remained relatively stable, ranging from VND4.8 - 5 million ($208.7 - 217.39) per pig. This has resulted in households raising pigs experiencing little to no benefit, or even losses.

"On the other hand, pig farms with lower costs can still turn a profit, explained Xuyen.

In a similar vein, the herd of pigs raised by Nguyen Thi Nga, a farmer in Long Phuong Commune, Long Ho District, Vinh Long Province, suffered from African swine fever.

With 63 pigs diagnosed with the disease, Nga had to make the difficult decision to cull the infected animals.

Despite local authorities implementing measures to contain the outbreak, Vinh Long has experienced seven outbreaks to date.

Small but persisted outbreaks

According to Nga, observing the herd of pigs refusing to eat, she administered medicine by needles, but the disease persisted.

After confirmation from local veterinarians that her herd of pigs had contracted African swine fever, Nga had to accept the difficult task of getting rid of them.

Lam Minh Hoa, head of Soc Trang Sub-Department of Livestock and Veterinary Medicine, reported eight outbreaks in 2023, a notable decrease from the previous year.

Due to the limited range of the outbreaks, local authorities were able to control them promptly.

In Dong Nai, the national hub for pig farming with nearly 2.3 million animals, some small outbreaks of African swine fever have been reported, especially in households and farms.

A representative from Dong Nai Sub-Department of Livestock and Veterinary Medicine, mentioned that, while the disease outbreaks previously occurred mainly in households, they are now also reported at the livestock farming level.

Fortunately, initiative-taking measures have prevented the disease from spreading.

Some farmers seem reluctant to use the vaccine due to concerns about its effects. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

Farmers still not interested in vaccines

In 2023, there were 714 outbreaks of African swine fever across 45 provinces and cities nationwide, resulting in approximately 34,500 pigs being culled, according to data compiled by the Department of Animal Health, a governmental agency of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The number of outbreaks and culled pigs decreased by half compared to the same period last year.

The department cited various reasons contributing to these outbreaks, including the small scale of households raising pigs, failure to meet standard biological safety requirements, and farmers not reporting their livestock farmings to local authorities.

In areas where authorities did not implement campaigns against the outbreaks as per guidelines from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and orders related to African swine fever from the prime minister, the risk of the disease reappearing and expanding remains high.

The department warned that, despite the ministry issuing an official document allowing the use of the African swine fever vaccine nationwide since July 2023, practical usage has been limited.

In some areas, farmers seem reluctant to use the vaccine due to concerns about its effects.

Ensuring adequate pork supply during Tet holiday Nguyen Trong Tuyen, an official from the Deaprtment of Animal Husbandry under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, explained that the recent decrease in live pig prices, equal to or lower than the cost of raising, resulted from falling consumer demand. However, there was an increase in the pork supply during the last three months of the previous year, spanning from September to November. This uptick was attributed to the efforts of numerous enterprises and farming households who managed to maintain a high level of production during that period. Tuyen made reassurances that current pig production rates are stable, and the supply is expected to meet the market demand for pork and pork-based foods during the upcoming Lunar New Year, or Tet, holiday.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Hanoi intends to put the elevated section of the Nhon-Hanoi Station metro line, the second of its kind in the capital city, into commercial operations in June this year, a local official told a meeting on Friday.

The overall progress of the Nhon-Hanoi Station route has reached 77.76 percent, with the construction progress of the elevated section at 99.65 percent and the underground section at 37.25 percent, according to the Hanoi Metropolitan Railway Management Board (MRB) - the investor of the project.

Quality and safety management have been enhanced, and no safety problems have occurred, MRB affirmed.

During the meeting, Nguyen Cao Minh, head of MRB, stated that the trial operation of the elevated section of the metro line will conclude by the end of April.

By the end of June, the system safety certification and inspection for this section will be completed by the investor and state management agencies, preparing for the handover to Hanoi Railway Company (Hanoi Metro) for commercial operation.

Duong Duc Tuan, deputy chairman of the Hanoi Peoples Committee, emphasized the need to meet the June target.

The Nhon-Hanoi Station metro line will run 12.5 kilometers from Nhon in Nam Tu Liem District to the Hanoi Railway Station in the downtown area, with 8.5 kilometers on elevated tracks, four kilometers underground, and one depot.

Work on the metro line began on September 25, 2010 and its completion was initially scheduled for 2016.

However, the project was delayed several times for various reasons, increasing its total investment from VND18 trillion (US$731.5 million) to VND34.5 trillion ($1.4 billion).

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
An intense cold front is expected to make landfall in northern Vietnam, which has been experiencing a big chill for six consecutive days, on Saturday afternoon and persist through this weekend, according to the national weather center.

North-central provinces like Thanh Hoa could also be hit by the bitterly cold weather, while frosts and sleet are forecast in mountainous areas, the National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting warned.

The extreme weather conditions have wreaked havoc on herds of cattle in multiple localities in the region.

Official data collected from northern provinces such as Dien Bien, Son La, Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Lang Son and the north-central province of Nghe An showed that 270 cattle had been killed due to the brutally cold weather as of Friday, with Lang Son and Cao Bang the hardest hit localities.

As the frigid weather may persist over the next few days, the death rate among livestock could rise further.

By 6:00 am on Saturday, the mercury dipped below 10 degrees Celsius at 23 monitoring stations across the northern region, down between 2 and 3 degrees Celsius against Friday morning.

Temperatures in some mountainous northern provinces including Lang Son, Cao Bang, Ha Giang ranged between 4 and 7 degrees Celsius.

Dwellers in north-central provinces saw temperatures fall to 11-13 degrees Celsius.

The impact of the intense cold front could result in stronger winds in the Gulf of Tonkin and the East Vietnam Sea from Saturday evening, accompanied by waves 1.5-5 meters high and rough seas.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Ho Chi Minh Citys water supplier Saigon Water Corporation (Sawaco) has announced a water outage for this weekend in different districts in the south of the city and a number of wards in Thu Duc City for pipeline connection in District 7.

Water supply will be temporarily halted to facilitate the pipeline connections as part of the Nguyen Van Linh-Nguyen Huu Tho Intersection tunnel project in District 7.

The shutdown will take place from 10:00 pm on Saturday to 4:00 am on Sunday.

Affected areas will include the entire District 7 except Tan Thuan Export Processing Zone, the entire Nha Be District and Can Gio District, Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9 in District 8, as well as An Phu, An Khanh, Thu Thiem, An Loi Dong, Phuoc Binh, Phuoc Long A, Phuoc Long B, and Tang Nhon Phu B Wards, and Hi-tech Industrial Park in Thu Duc City.

Areas with weakened water supply include Phong Phu Commune in Binh Chanh District and Ward 7 of District 8.

Following the six-hour disruption, hydraulic disturbances may occur, resulting in cloudy and weakened water.

Sawaco assures residents of its commitment to providing support during this time.

The company recommends people call the following phone numbers if they experience water problems after the scheduled time:

Thu Duc Wasuco JSC: 19001012

Ben Thanh Wasuco JSC: 1900068868

Gia Dinh Wasuco JSC: 19001024

Phu Hoa Tan Wasuco JSC: 028 39 552 650

Tan Hoa Wasuco JSC: 19006489

Cho Lon Wasuco JSC: 086585 1088

Trung An Wasuco JSC: 19001836

Nha Be Wasuco JSC: 19001210

Nong Thon Water Supply Enterprise: 028 37610 266

Can Gio Water Supply Enterprise: 0974247139

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Cat Tien National Park in southern Dong Nai Province has made it to the final stage of Green List Standard certification, a global standard of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) for protected and conserved areas.

The park hopes to be the second site in Vietnam to be named as an IUCN Green List site, providing it an opportunity to improve its forest management capacity, enhance biodiversity preservation, and focus on sustainable development.

Van Long Nature Reserve in northern Ninh Binh Province, which was added to the IUCN Green List in 2019, was the first site in Southeast Asia to be named to the list.

A greener future for Cat Tien

At a meeting organized by the International Organization for Conservation of Nature in Vietnam (WWF-Vietnam) and IUCN on January 18, representatives of Cat Tien National Park were told the site had passed an independent assessment by the national Expert Assessment Group for the Green List (EAGL) and an independent reviewer in 2023.

Formed in April 2017, Vietnam EAGL had 11 members in November last year with expertise in biodiversity, protected area management, social science, ethnic and gender equality.

A patrol force removes animal traps at Cat Tien National Park, Dong Nai Province. Photo: Tran Phuong / Tuoi Tre News

At EAGL meetings in April and September 2023, EAGL members unanimously approved the decision to nominate Cat Tien.

Cat Tiens dossier was then approved in December 2023 and submitted to the Green List Committee for final assessment.

Green Listing is expected later this year.

Currently, there are 10 protected areas in Vietnam that are in the candidate or application phase for the Green List program, including Cuc Phuong National Park, Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park, Vu Quang National Park, Bach Ma National Park, Dong Chau - Khe Nuoc Trong Nature Reserve, Song Thanh National Park, Bidoup - Nui Ba National Park, Cat Tien National Park, Pu Mat National Park, and Con Dao National Park.

Being named to the Green List will help improve the effective management capacity of Cat Tien National Park as it requires a much more comprehensive measure of management effectiveness and is also much less subjective.

Thus, the management of the park will become consistent with global standards required by institutional donors, such as the Global Environment Fund and Green Climate.

Inclusion on the IUCN Green List also provides international recognition and will help attract attention to Vietnam's commitment to biodiversity conservation.

It is also likely to open doors for international collaboration, knowledge exchange, and access to funding for conservation projects.

Moreover, Green List sites often experience increased tourism, contributing to local economies while ensuring sustainable development practices.

A measure of conservation

The IUCN Green List is a global initiative for successful nature conservation.

Central to this initiative is the Green List Sustainability Standard, which serves as a global benchmark for how to meet the protected and conserved area management challenges in the 21st century.

The primary goal of IUCN Green List is to acknowledge and increase the number of protected and conserved areas that yield enduring conservation outcomes for both people and nature.

Experts and participants at a stakeholder meeting at Cat Tien National Park, Dong Nai Province. Photo: Tran Phuong / Tuoi Tre News

It is jointly led by the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) and the IUCN Secretariat.

Unlike other designations, such as World Heritage Sites and Biosphere Reserves, the Green List focuses on fostering the performance of protected and conserved areas by recognizing, incentivising, and capacity building in order to achieve specific impacts in a full range of legal, cultural, social, geographical, and ecological conditions.

The IUCN Green List Standard comprises four key components: good governance, sound design and planning, effective management, and successful conservation outcomes, with a total of 17 criteria, encompassing 50 indicators.

Since its introduction at the 2016 IUCN World Conservation Congress, the IUCN Green List Standard has yielded notable global achievements, including recognizing 77 protected and conserved areas across 18 countries worldwide.

That includes 31 sites in 10 Asian countries, namely Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Pakistan, South Korea, and Vietnam.

More than 60 countries are actively engaged in the global IUCN Green List community.

"Measuring progress and conservation impact is vital to improving the overall performance of Vietnams national parks and nature reserves. The IUCN Green List initiative helps forest owners see where improvements are needed if their protected area is to reach an international management standard," Nick Cox, Chief of Party at the USAID Biodiversity Conservation Activity for the WWF, explained.

Cox highlighted that the challenges of conservation in Vietnam are due to significant pressure resulting from the community's heavy reliance on forests and the widespread consumption of various forest products. Therefore, conservation can only be sustainable with the participation of the community.

Pham Xuan Thinh, director of Cat Tien National Park, emphasized the site's dedication to comprehensive conservation.

While awaiting results from the international IUCN committee, we commit to consistently implementing comprehensive conservation measures and tirelessly striving to meet the rigorous criteria set forth by the Green List. Our goal is to become a model of international standards in sustainable management and biodiversity protection," he said.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
In this article, we list and discuss 22 countries where Americans can live long-term without requiring a visa. If you want to, you can directly jump to our list of 5 countries where Americans can live long-term without a visa.

For about 158 million adults around the world, moving to the United States is a dream. However, according to a study by the University of Kent, one-third (33.1%) of all US-born US nationals living in the States are now considering leaving the country to live abroad. Another survey shows that roughly three-quarters of Americans (76%) have visited at least one other country, including 26% who have been to five or more. According to researcher Dr Klekowski von Koppenfels, many factors are compelling Americans to travel and live abroad, but the primary reason is to experience and explore different countries and cultures.

Overall, there are many reasons why American citizens have been looking into options for relocation. Some want to live abroad to get a sense of adventure and live their life freely and safely (see: 20 Safest Countries for US Travelers in the World), while others want to do so to escape the burdensome tax system and economic turmoil or for better work opportunities. As of today, the federal minimum wage in the United States is $7.25 per hour, and according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 1 million workers have wages at or below the federal minimum wage in 2022. Low income and high cost of living are one of the driving factors for US citizens to move out of the US.

Moreover, many Americans are moving to EU countries for an affordable healthcare system and improved education as well. Healthcare in America is largely provided by the private sector, meaning it doesn't come cheap, even when companies like CVS Health Corp (NYSE: CVS), one of the largest healthcare companies in the United States continue to introduce relatively more affordable pricing plans. According to The Commonwealth Fund findings of 2021, there was an estimated debt of $88 billion on consumer credit records in America. In 2005, 3.6 million Americans migrated to Europe, and that number increased by 1.4 million in 2019.

ADVERTISEMENT

Relocating out of the US is also a trend among some US businesses that want to reduce their tax burden. The process is called Corporate Inversion, where companies move their headquarters to a country with a low rate of corporate tax and gain greater profits. Over the years, many large companies have moved their headquarters outside of the US for the same reason, and to cut down operational costs. Some notable names include Medtronic PLC (NYSE: MDT) and Seagate Technology PLC (NASDAQ: STX). Medtronic PLC (NYSE: MDT) moved to Ireland, hoping to benefit from the 12.5% corporate tax rate. However, after Medtronic PLC (NYSE: MDT)s move from America, it experienced a huge blow to its credit rating. Seagate Technology PLC (NASDAQ: STX) also moved to Ireland. Besides financial concerns, the company also hoped to benefit from the legal and regulatory environment of the country. In 2023, Seagate Technology PLC (NASDAQ: STX)s annual revenue was $7.384 billion.

Note that other companies, big and small, alongside US nationals, choose to move abroad for the same reasons as well. As of 2024, the American passport ranks number six in the world according to the Passport Index. American nationals can travel visa-free to 172 countries. However, despite the strength of the passport, relocating and settling in a foreign country is not easy. A lot of planning and work goes into it, such as finding job opportunities, accommodation, accustoming to the new culture and even learning the local language. Instead of packing life in the US and relocating to a foreign country, its better to first live in that country as a traveler for some time and see if it fits the needs. For business owners, the same applies. The problem that arises here is that acquiring a visa is a lengthy and time-consuming process. Although Americans can travel visa-free to almost any country they want, a visa is still required to live long-term.

Fortunately, visa laws vary from country to country. For example, in the US visa laws, citizens or nationals of the countries that are participating in The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) can stay in the US for up to 90 days without obtaining a visa. The rest of the travelers have to go through the strict visa processes. In general, for US nationals, most countries allow them to stay for up to 30 to 90 days, but not many countries have a policy for long-term stay without a visa.

Here, we have compiled a list of 22 countries where Americans can live long-term without a visa.

22 Countries Where Americans Live Long Term Without a Visa

22 Countries Where Americans Live Long Term Without a Visa

Our Methodology

For our list of 22 countries where Americans can live long-term without a visa, we analyzed the mobility of the US passport as listed by the Passport Index. We shortlisted countries that allowed for a stay of 180 days and more. To rank the list, we analyzed five metrics for each country: job opportunities, safety, economy, stability, and development. For every positive point, the country was given a point. The list is in ascending order, going from the lowest score (0) to the highest (5).

By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that uses a consensus approach to identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The website tracks the movement of corporate insiders and hedge funds. Our top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 stock index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). So, if you are looking for the best stock picks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders.

22 Countries Where Americans Can Live Long Term Without a Visa

22. Palestinian Territories

Insider Monkey Score: 0/5

Americans can stay in Palestine for an indefinite time without a visa. However, this country has an ongoing humanitarian conflict which makes it unsafe to visit or stay long-term.

21. Lesotho

Insider Monkey Score: 0.5/5

US citizens can stay in Lesotho for an indefinite time without a visa. However, Lesotho has a high unemployment rate of 17.80% and most job opportunities are in the agricultural sector. Safety-wise, Lesotho has a high crime rate and is considered one of the least developed countries in the world. Lesotho has a GDP of $5 billion and a very unstable economy. Overall, it is not a favorable country to relocate to.

20. Dominican Republic

Insider Monkey Score: 1/5

Americans can live in the Dominican Republic for an indefinite time. The country has many job opportunities in the service sector. However, it also has an alarmingly high crime rate, which makes it an unsuitable choice for long-term stays.

19. Belize

Insider Monkey Score: 1.2/5

Belize is a country in Central America that allows US passport holders to stay visa-free in the country for 180 days. However, it does not offer a lot of job opportunities for foreigners, has a troubled economy, and a high crime rate. Overall, it may not be a good idea to relocate to Belize.

18. Dominica

Insider Monkey Score: 1.5/5

Dominica is a Caribbean country known for its scenic rainforests and majestic mountains. If youre an American, you can enjoy these sights for 180 days without a visa. Dominica's leading industries are agriculture, tourism, and gold mining. Unfortunately, due to hurricanes, Dominica's agriculture sector faces many issues. The crime rate in Dominica is low, and it is relatively safer to visit and stay. All of these make it a perfect place to visit and relax. However, it may not be suitable for long-term stays as Dominica is considered a poor country with an unstable economy, limited (and often complicated) job opportunities, and high debt levels.

17. Jamaica

Insider Monkey Score: 1.8/5

Sticking to the Caribbean theme, next on the list is Jamaica, where Americans can live for 180 days without a visa. The country is full of lush beaches and amazing rainforests, and like most island countries, Jamaicas leading industries are agriculture and tourism.

The job market in Jamaica is very competitive, though, so work opportunities for foreigners may be harder to find. Crime is also a problem in Jamaica, with gang-related crimes being the most common ones. Jamaicas GDP at the end of 2023 was around $29 billion. The countrys economy is quite unstable due to debt, and its still a developing country.

16. Palau

Insider Monkey Score: 2/5

Next on the list is Palau, where Americans can live without a visa for 360 days. They have some job opportunities, especially for teachers. As for safety, Palau is generally a safe place for travelers to live long-term and short-term. It is considered a developing country with a slightly predictable economic condition.

15. St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Insider Monkey Score: 2.1/5

St. Vincent and the Grenadines is an upper-middle-income country that has a low crime rate and good job opportunities. It is located in the Caribbean and has a population of 104,332. US passport holders can stay in the country without a visa for 180 days. However, its important to note that St. Vincent and the Grenadines is at risk for environmental hazards like earthquakes and hurricanes.

14. Saint Kitts & Nevis

Insider Monkey Score: 2.2/5

Next, we have Saint Kitts & Nevis, another country located in the Caribbean that lets Americans stay visa-free for 180 days. Foreigners can find jobs in this country easily if they have a legal presence. In 2023, it had a GDP of 1.07 billion in 2023. Note that Saint Kitts & Nevis is moderately safe, and is considered a developing country.

13. Antigua and Barbuda

Insider Monkey Score: 2.5/5

Antigua and Barbuda has a thriving tourism industry, making up 50% of the countrys GDP. Not only is this a safe country, but it is also home to many beautiful beaches. Finding tourism and hospitality-based jobs in this country is easy in this Caribbean country if you have a work permit. Although it is a developing country, Antigua and Barbuda offers a high quality of life. The GDP of Antigua and Barbuda is expected to reach $1.25 billion by the end of 2024. As of today, it has an unstable economy and poor economic performance. Americans can live here without a visa for 180 days.

12. Costa Rica

Insider Monkey Score: 2.7/5

Costa Rica offers job opportunities in the tourism, agriculture, and technology sectors. The country has a moderately high crime rate, which has been increasing in the past 3 years. However, the economy is stable with a GDP of 64.28 billion USD as of 2021, driven by the services and tourism sectors. Costa Rica is also considered a moderately developed country. American passport holders can live here visa-free for 180 days.

11. Peru

Insider Monkey Score: 3/5

Peru is a country in South America, with a mixed economy and a GDP of $444 billion in PPP terms. Americans can live in Peru for 180 days without a visa. One thing to note is that Peru has some job opportunities available in the agricultural and manufacturing industries. There are also entrepreneurial opportunities in the country, as you dont need to be a citizen to start a business in Peru. However, according to the US Department of State, Peru has a high crime rate and is relatively unsafe.

10. Armenia

Insider Monkey Score: 3.2/5

Located between Asia and Europe, Armenia is a former Soviet nation where Americans can live for 180 days without a visa. Tourism is one of its leading sources of income in the country, and Armenia also has many beautiful historical sites worth visiting.

However, there has been an increasing threat of terrorism in Armenia in recent years. If we speak of development, Armenia's GDP was $47 billion in 2023 and it is still a developing country. Its economy is unstable but is still expected to grow around 5% in 2024. If you want to work in Armenia, you can find work opportunities in the IT, education, and tourism sectors with a work permit.

9. Mexico

Insider Monkey Score: 3.3/5

Americans can live in Mexico, a neighboring country of the US, for 180 days without a visa. It has rich cultural roots, delicious food, and many historical sites. Unfortunately, Mexico also has quite a high crime rate, with 3.5 million crimes committed in 2023.

One of the leading companies in Mexico is Cemex (NYSE: CX). In 2023, Cemex (NYSE: CX) reached $4.0 billion in sales. Cemex (NYSE: CX) is expected to see a growth in sales in 2024. While it is a developing country, its economy is slowly regaining stability.

8. Marshall Islands

Insider Monkey Score: 3.5/5

The Marshall Islands are located along the western Pacific Ocean and are known for their gorgeous white sand beaches and clear waters. Since it is a former US territory, Americans can live in the Marshall Islands indefinitely without a visa. Job opportunities are available for Americans in the Marshall Islands, especially for biomedical engineers, firefighters, and cyber security officers. It has a very low crime rate, making it a safe option for those looking to move there.

Marshall Islands is a small developing country with a GDP of 0.28 billion dollars; expected to grow 2.5% in 2024. However, because of its low economic performance, the Marshall Islands has experienced a 22% population decline.

7. Georgia

Insider Monkey Score: 3.7/5

Georgia is a safe, transcontinental country located at the intersection of Europe and Asia. The country is home to 11 million people and allows Americans to live in this country for 360 days without a visa. Foreigners can get a job in Georgia, but it may be slightly difficult since most jobs there require you to be able to speak Georgian. Moreover, Georgias GDP was around $66 billion in 2023. Today, it is still a developing country with a moderately free economy.

6. Albania

Insider Monkey Score: 3.8/5

Sixth on the list, we have Albania  a small South European country that allows Americans to live without a visa for up to a year (360 days). It is known for its archaeological sites and Balkanic culture. When it comes to job opportunities and skills in demand, there is a lot of scope for software engineers, machinery operators, teachers, and call center operators. While tourist work opportunities arent excessive, they have increased over the years. Albania has moderate crime levels, and visitors are advised to be cautious. Furthermore, Albania is a developing country with a middle-income economy. It has experienced a 4.8% GDP growth since 2022 and is expected to grow by another 3.3% in 2024. One thing that appeals to Americans the most about Albania is that it has a 46% lower cost of living than the US.

Click to continue reading and see 5 Countries Where Americans Can Live Long Term Without a Visa.

Suggested Articles:

Disclosure: None. 22 Countries Where Americans Can Live Long Term Without a Visa is originally published on Insider Monkey.
In her novel "Ru," Kim Thuy pulled from aspects of her own life to tell the story of a woman who was forced to leave her home in Saigon during the Vietnam War, ending up at a refugee camp in Malaysia and eventually arriving in Quebec.

Now with her story adapted into a film, Thuy had great trust in director Charles-Olivier Michaud and the team behind the film Ru (now in theatres).

"I knew that they know better," Thuy told Yahoo Canada. "I don't know how to make a movie. So I just never impose on someone who is a specialist, an expert, an artists in this craft. No, I wouldn't want to intervene at all."

For Michaud, a particularly "striking" moment for him in understanding the responsibility of taking on Thuy's story, but the freedom to do so as well, came with one specific thing the author said to him.

"Kim very humbly said, 'I don't need a movie. I don't need you to make a movie. I wrote a book. I'm cool. That's it.'" Michaud said. "She was like, 'You have to make it something really personal to you, ... to everyone involved. Bring a lot of you in the movie.'"

But there are personal touches to be found in Ru, including the casting. Actor Karine Vanasse (who recently hosted The Traitors Canada) plays the role of Lisette, who's among sponsors for the family of a young girl name Tihn, played by Chloe Djandji.

Vanasse and Thuy were actually friends before this movie and she gave Thuy a notebook to encourage her to write her story.

"Everyone on that film felt so honoured to be working on it," Vanasse said. "There's something in the small details."

"When you read [the book] it feels light, although it's so rich. I think the film is also that. There's so much happening, but when you receive it there's something soft."

Chloe Djandji in "Ru" (TIFF)

'She was an old soul'

An absolute highlight of Ru is Djandji's striking portrayal of Tihn. Even when saying very little, Djandji is able to say so much with just a look in her eyes that is absolutely captivating to watch.

Story continues

As Michaud stressed, after seeing hundreds are girls who just weren't right for the character, Djandji stood out.

"When Chloe came, she was an old soul and she was just staring through my eyes like crazy, and she was very mature," Michaud said. "She's very different in real life than she is in the film. She's very bubbly, TikTok, talks all the time."

"Very early on she said, 'There's two people that I listen to in life, ... it's my mom and you.' And she listened to me and I was directing her kind of live in the scenes. Kind of telling her, 'Look left. Look right. Look down.' ... She was listening and incorporating."

Thuy also highlighted that Djandji had just arrived from Vietnam when she was working on Ru, which informed her performance as well.

"The Vietnamese, we don't verbalize so much our emotions," Thuy said. "Since she was still very Vietnamese, ... she knew how to express things without speaking. It was still in her. ... It was the perfect moment."

Vanasse stressed, having been a child actor herself, it's "difficult" as a kid to be "present" on a set for the significant length of time required

"After three days she came to us, Chloe, and she said, 'It's nothing like Emily in Paris,'" Michaud shared. "Especially a film in the winter, in Quebec, ... the first week was all outside."

Actor Chloe Djandji, author Kim Thuy and director Charles-Olivier Michaud pose for a portrait at a media availability for the film Ru," during the Toronto International Film Festival, in Toronto on Wednesday, September 13, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov

'Precise' filmmaking with an impressive result

Michaud had a very interesting and particularly cinematic approach to Ru, crafted like a series of tableaus, with specifically crafted wider shots.

"Actors with no experience, one of the things that they fear a lot is that we'll do a wide shot, a medium, a close up, they'll have to repeat the performance exactly," Michaud explained. "Since we did not have any of that, they could just be themselves and make the performance more precise every take, because that's the only thing that would be in the scene."

Both Vanasse and Michaud also highlighted that those elements of the filmmaking, and the impact on the final result, are closely connected to Thuy's writing.

As Michaud explained, there was a literature professor in Quebec who described Thuy's writing as "writing of subtraction."

"The less words, the more precise," Michaud recalled. "That's when I realized, without knowing, that's what I was doing as well in the directing, because we did not have to have many shots ... to do a lot."

"There's no backup plan. There's nothing to fall on in case it doesn't work. ... We don't have what we need to fix it later."

Vanasse also stressed working that way was particularly "bold" for the filmmaker.

"[You had to be] very certain of your frame, very certain of [Michaud's] directions with us," she said. "When I saw the film, it's so cinematic because it's precise."

"But although it's precise, it's not rigid. It breaths so much within that precision. ... It's so bold."
Welcome Guest! You are here: Home  International

Childbirths in streets widespread, even animals cant survive in Gaza: US court told

The US district court at 1301 Clay Street in Oakland, California was hearing the preliminary injunction motion pertaining to a case filed by the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) on behalf of a group of Palestinians. Read More

Saturday January 27, 2024 3:57 PM , ummid.com with inputs from Agencies

[The U.S. Federal Court in California on Friday January 26, 2024 during the hearing on the CCR genocide lawsuit against Joe Biden and his team (Image shared by Dena Takruri on X via @Dena]



Oakland (California): Deposing before a Federal Court in California Friday January 26, 2024 the Palestinians testified that women are the worst sufferer in Gaza where childbirths in streets are widespread, adding that the condition today in the besieged enclave is such that even animals cannot survive.

The federal court was also told that US President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and other US officials are complicit in the Israels genocide of Palestinians in Gaza and they must be held accountable and stopped immediately.

Genocide case against Biden and his team

The US district court at 1301 Clay Street in Oakland, California was hearing the preliminary injunction motion pertaining to a case filed by the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) on behalf of a group of Palestinian Human Rights Organizations, residents of Gaza, and U.S. citizens with family members impacted by Israels relentless bombings and indiscriminate killing of civilians in Gaza.

The lawsuit filed on November 13, 2023 did not only accuse the Biden administration of failing to prevent an unfolding genocide but also accused it of being complicit in the Israeli war crimes by supplying to the Zionist regime weapons.

The case against Biden, Blinken, Austin and others filed on behalf of two Palestinian organizations and eight Palestinians in the U.S. and Palestine challenged the U.S. government's aiding and abetting of genocide and demand that it work to prevent genocide and comply with its legal obligations under international law.

In response to the CCR lawsuit, the federal government filed a motion to dismiss on December 8, 2023. The CCR in turn filed its opposition and preliminary injunction motion reply on December 22, 2023. Briefs of amici curiae were filed in support of plaintiffs on December 29, 2023. The U.S. government filed its motion to dismiss reply on January 12, 2024.

The CCR moved to the court again with a sur-reply on January 16, 2024 the hearing on which was held on Friday January 26, 2024.

'Heart-breaking testimonies'

During the hearing on the case Friday, the CCR urged the federal court to ask Biden administration to halt its financial and military support to Israel and uphold its obligations to prevent genocide.

Author and journalist Dena Takruri, who was present in the court during the hearing, reported heart-breaking testimonies from the Palestinian plaintiffs whose family members are in Gaza, many of them killed while some others are under the rubble, impossible to dig out.

According to the CCR, one plaintiff testified from Gaza, one from Ramallah, and five plaintiffs provided live testimony in court, of the death, displacement, and destruction their families and communities have faced since Israel began its campaign of retaliation for the October 7 Hamas attacks.

In just one example, approximately 60 members of Ahmed Abofouls extended family have been killed since the complaint was filed on November 13, 2023 underscoring the need for the court to issue an immediate injunction, the CCR said.

Animals cannot survive these kind of conditions", plaintiff Mohammad Monadel Herzallah told the court describing how his family and others are forced to live in Gaza.

Dr Omar Al-Najjar who testified before the court remotely from Rafah in Gaza Strip.

Cases of childbirth in the streets are widespread at this time", he said.

'Court must intervene now'

Ayman Nijim, a plaintiff in the case seeking the courts intervention said the images of their families and communities, Palestinian babies, children, women, and men from Gaza, are shaking them to their core.

These are times of genocide, and we desperately need a U.S. court to intervene. So much hangs in the balance. Today, Palestinians spoke out in court and made a powerful case for why a preliminary injunction is necessary: we are hopeful the judge will agree with us and issue an order soon, Ayman Nijim told the court.

The CCR on behalf of the Palestinians sought an emergency court order to halt the U.S. support for Israels assault, including by enjoining the transfer of more weapons and unconditional support to the Israeli government.

Our plaintiffs testimonies today demonstrate just how urgent it is for the Biden administration to finally do what they and the vast majority of the people of the world have demanded: stop sending weapons to enable Israels genocidal campaign against Palestinians in besieged Gaza and instead uphold its clear legal duty to end, not further, genocide, said Katherine Gallagher, a senior attorney at the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) who argued in court today. These are clear legal duties under U.S. and international law, and we call on the court to uphold its Constitutional role to hold President Biden, Secretary of State Blinken, and Secretary of Defense Austin to legal obligations and issue a preliminary injunction to stop the flow of weapons for Israels genocide, she said.

Notably, the California federal court hearing on the CCR lawsuit against Biden and his team came on the day when the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in a landmark ruling refused to dismiss the South Africas case accusing Israel of committing genocide and massacre of Palestinians in Gaza.

The ICJ further asked the Zionist regime in Israel to use all the power in its hand to prevent genocide of Palestinians, ensure aid in the besieged enclave and submit action taken report in a month.

The UN Security Council (UNSC) meanwhile has called an emergency meeting after the ICJ ruling on provisional measures to be immediately implemented by Israel.

Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic.
Welcome Guest! You are here: Home  International

Journalist sues ABC after being sacked over post highlighting Israeli crimes

In a suit filed against the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Antoinette Lattouf has sought a public apology, compensation and a return to her on-air role. Read More

Saturday January 27, 2024 9:25 PM , ummid.com with inputs from Agencies

Sydney: Antoinette Lattouf, a senior journalist and presenter, has sued Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) after the corporation fired her from her position as a host on a popular radio show for sharing a social media post highlighting the Israeli crimes committed against the Palestinians in Gaza.

In a suit filed against the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Antoinette Lattouf has sought a public apology, compensation and a return to her on-air role.

In her defence, Antoinette Lattouf also said the same post was shared by others working with ABC. However, she was singled out for action on the basis of her race.

The difference between them is they are white and I have an Arab background," she said while talking to BBC.

HRW Instagram post

The ABC decision to sack Antoinette Lattouf, who is of Lebanese lineage, has also led to a widespread outrage and questions are also being raised about the independence of Australia's public broadcaster.

The case has fed uneasiness about the broadcaster's independence. Advocates worry that politicised appointments to the ABC board, its government-dictated funding model, and increased - often frenzied - scrutiny is jeopardising its work", Peter Cronau, Investigative Journalist who was earlier working with the ABC, wrote on X, formerly Twitter. The saga also comes as the broader Australian media grapples with tension over the impartiality of its coverage of the Israel Gaza war", he added.

HRW expresses concerns

The Human Rights Watch (HRW) has also expressed concern to ABC Chair Ita Buttrose, calling Antoinette Lattouf's removal from her job troubling that their factual material was deemed controversial, potentially impacting Australian journalism.

The ABC meanwhile rejected her charges saying Lattouf was fired because she refused to comply with the directions not to post "controversial contents" on social media platforms and also denied being "influenced".

However, Al Jazeera in a report based on leaked WhatsApp messages claimed that there was a co-ordinated effort by a group called 'Lawyers for Israel' to get Antoinette Lattouf sacked from her post.

Greg Barns, Barrister, Adviser to Australian Assange campaign a columnist with Hobart Mercury has termed reports of lobbying by "Israeli lawyers" appalling.

"Those in the so called "Lawyers for Israel" who were lobbying to force a weak @abcnews to sack #AntoinetteLattouf have appalled many in this profession. Appalling conduct (sic)", he wrote on X.



Following the outrage, the ABC claimed it did not sack Antoinette Lattouf from her radio role and has just "asked to stop working".

The ABC later advised Lattoufs lawyer, Josh Bornstein, that it was now claiming it did not terminate her employment and she was not entitled to make an unlawful termination application, according to The Guardian.

In a related development, over $90,000 has been collected after crowdfunding appeal for Lattouf's legal fees.

Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic.
HA NOI For many years, the mobile telecommunications market has been at the saturation point and the trend of using OTT services has replaced traditional calling and texting services, which has caused the core revenue stream of the network to decline, with revenue growth rates and profits of many telecommunications businesses falling sharply.

The Kinh te Viet Nam (VnEconomy - Vietnam Economic Times) Magazine quoted the Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung as saying that the growth of network operators had been low in recent years, lower than the countrys GDP growth.

Viettel's domestic telecommunications increased by 2-5 per cent, VNPT from 2-3 per cent, MobiFone from 4-10 per cent each year.

A new generation telecommunications network with good growth must be around 10 per cent, and satisfactory growth must be above 5 per cent, said Hung.

Viet Nam's major mobile telecommunications enterprises have now all announced their business results for last year.

Military-owned telecommunications group Viettel reported consolidated revenue of VN172.5 trillion (US$7.2 billion) by the end of last year, a year-on-year increase of 5.4 per cent.

In addition to the above revenue figure, Viettel said that its telecommunications market share rose by 1.64 per cent last year and continued to maintain a sustainable leading position with 56.5 per cent.

As for Viet Nam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT), the group reported total revenue of VN54.86 trillion last year, equal to 102.14 per cent over the previous year.

The group's entire profit reached VN4.47 trillion, equal to 100.7 per cent over the previous year.

As for MobiFone, this corporation reported a total revenue of the parent company of MobiFone Corporation will reach VN25.44 trillion, profit before tax recorded VN1.64 trillion, and after-tax profit margin on equity reached 7.25 per cent.

The head of the information and communications industry said that network operators had not found new growth space, while the old space has run out or even declined.

For example, traditional phone and SMS messaging services, which once accounted for nearly 100 per cent of the network's mobile revenue, will basically decrease to less than 10 per cent.

If new space was not opened soon, there would be no future, he noted.

Developing digital applications for industries was product creation, which was also Make-in-Viet Nam, said the minister. Network carriers and digital technology businesses must consider this as a research and development activity.

MobiFone Chairman of the Board of Directors Nguyen Hong Hien said that the corporation would upgrade and expand Big Data systems this year, support reporting, processing and analysing data, and apply information technology to production and administration.

It will also develop and apply artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI technology to MobiFone's products, services and technology systems.

The corporation will also continue to promote 5G business deployment, aiming to broadcast at least 1,000 5G stations this year.

VNPT General Director Huynh Quang Liem said that the group would optimise resources, make comprehensive changes, be more creative, research and apply more new technologies to create new digital products to help the group enhance competitiveness. VNS
HA NOI  Although average prices of crude oil are forecast to decrease this year from 2023, business activities of Vietnamese upstream oil and gas enterprises are expected to continue to record positive results.

Many major global organisations, including the World Bank (WB), the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) and S&P Global, have lowered their crude price forecasts to around US$81-85 a barrel due to less positive macroeconomic data globally and rising crude supplies, especially from countries outside the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

This year's expected oil prices are much lower than the peak of $96.6 a barrel at the end of last September, but they are still at relatively stable support levels for the entire value chain of Viet Nam's oil and gas industry.

According to MB Securities (MBS), 2024 is expected to see many positive signs for the country's oil and gas upstream businesses.

In recent years, oil and gas exploration and exploitation activities in Viet Nam have been relatively subdued, even though oil prices remain higher than the breakeven points of $55 a barrel. Domestic oil production has consistently been lower than in previous years, while the gas shortage has become increasingly severe in the last two years.

The exploration and extraction activities in new oil and gas fields are deemed essential because the existing fields are late in the production phase, with high water flooding and a natural decline in production of approximately 15-25 per cent a year, said MBS.

In the latter half of 2024, we expect a revival in the exploration and extraction operations as several significant projects are forecasted to be implemented. This will present substantial employment opportunities for domestic oil and gas businesses, with potential in drilling operations, construction, installation, maintenance and other related services.

Among the upcoming upstream oil and gas projects, the Block B - O Mon gas-to-power project chain has the largest total investment and is receiving the most attention from the market.

Although the Final Investment Decision (FID) for this project was not approved in 2023 as expected and has been postponed to the first half of 2024, moves to award limited agreements to carry out parts of the work before getting the FID have shown some of the negotiation efforts of the parties involved.

Work related to a series of upstream projects is currently being actively implemented with the most recent information coming from the Lac a Vang field with FID (November 2023) and the EPCI#3 package of Block B - O Mon, promising to provide a source of work for businesses in the upstream oil and gas sector, especially PetroVietnam Technical Services Corporation (PVS).

Currently, the company has been awarded limited contracts for packages EPCI#1 ($1.1 billion) and EPCI#2 ($400 million), and the tasks within these two contracts will be implemented this year. Additionally, the sustained crude oil price at above $80 per barrel will ensure profitable operations for the company's FSO/FPSO floating storage and offloading rental business.

Meanwhile, PetroVietnam Drilling & Well Services Corporation (PV Drilling) plans to lease jack-up rigs abroad until the end of 2024, but it is expected to still benefit from the above projects by undertaking the workload related to oil and gas drilling services in the period after 2024.

In the domestic market, there are currently about 13 rig tenders but most of these drilling campaigns are relatively short.

In 2024, the drilling market is expected to become more active with larger-scale drilling campaigns as several major upstream projects are implemented, such as Lac a Vang, Su Tu Trang 2B, and Block B - O Mon.  VNS
HA NOI Vietnamese travellers have turned away from domestic tours during the Tet (Lunar New Year) holidays as airline tickets have become more expensive, said industry insiders and experts.

Tour companies said there has been a noticeable preference for international travel over domestic tours during the holidays in recent years.

Hanoi Tourism Company said that some international tours, particularly those involving visas, have formed groups, with bookings increasing by about 30 per cent compared to Tet last year, with demand for international travel appearing to be higher than domestic travel this year.

"The most popular destinations for international tours currently are South Korea and Japan, and high-end travellers are interested in Europe and Australia," Nguyen Thi Phuong Thuy, deputy general director of Hanoi Tourism Company, said.

Bui Thanh Tu, marketing director of BestPrice Travel Company, said: About 70 per cent of our customers have booked international tours and the remaining 30 per cent have booked domestic tours. For international tours, the focus is mainly on high-end destinations like South Korea and Japan, while domestic tours are concentrating on routes from the South to the North."

The trend of international travel was expected to continue rising during this year's Tet holiday and throughout 2024, with international destinations opening up post-COVID-19.

While most people traditionally spend the holiday with family or visit nearby places, this year has seen a shift. A woman from Ba inh District, Ha Noi, said she has plans to celebrate the holiday in Shanghai to experience how it is observed in China.

"We really want to go to Shanghai to celebrate Tet there, to see how they observe the holiday," she said.

Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao from Van Giang District, Hung Yen Province, said: "Our family prefers independent travel because going to China is simpler, not as far as other countries, and we like the freedom of travelling on our own."

Vu Thi Tam from Cau Giay District, Ha Noi, said her family has decided on a trip to Japan with four friends.

"The price is VN29.93 million (US$1,350). We plan to go to Japan at the beginning of the year, and if conditions permit, we will go to South Korea at the end of the year, followed by Europe next year," Tam said.

Outward trend

In 2023, approximately five million Vietnamese travelled internationally, just over 50 per cent compared to the pre-COVID-19 level. The most visited destinations were Thailand, with over 1 million Vietnamese tourists, followed by Japan, South Korea and Taiwan (China).

The trend of Vietnamese people travelling abroad has been increasing due to easier and more convenient travel between countries. International destinations also offer simpler visa policies and post-pandemic incentives, contributing to the surge. However, another significant reason for choosing international destinations this year has been the high prices of domestic flight tickets, making domestic tours sometimes even more expensive than international ones, especially in Southeast Asian countries.

The high prices of domestic flight tickets have not only occurred during the upcoming holiday, but have been happening for the past few months. If this continues, it may reduce the competitiveness of domestic destinations, especially when many countries are competing to boost tourism as a post-COVID-19 growth driver, said industry insiders.

To avoid purchasing fake or inflated flight tickets during the peak Tet travel period, Vietnamese airlines have advised customers to buy tickets through official channels. This includes official websites, mobile apps, authorised ticket offices and agents. Customers should request a proper invoice following regulations, as it is an essential document to protect passengers' rights.

Airlines said they have observed various methods of selling fake tickets, especially during peak travel times. The most common is the use of social media to advertise cheap Tet flight tickets, accompanied by convenient flight schedules to attract customers. To gain trust, those posting advertisements for cheap flight tickets even create fake images of successful transactions. However, when users transfer money, these entities block or delete their Facebook accounts and phone contacts, erasing all traces.

Last year, during the six-day break, the country served nine million domestic tourists, and international visitors surged, contributing to a total revenue of VN17.5 trillion. VNS
HA NOI  Shortage of qualified workforce and a proper regulatory framework for setting up renewable energy systems for use in semiconductor supply chains has been among the chief concerns of United States' companies wanting to invest in Viet Nam in this "industry of the future."

Jose Fernandez, United States Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, made the statement as he was on a visit to Viet Nam to advance the implementation of the joint statement on upgrading Viet Nam-US ties to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership signed by US President Joe Biden and the General Secretary of Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong in September 2023, with focuses on semiconductor, clean energy, and critical minerals.

With regards to semiconductor, the official highlighted the 2022 Act 'Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors and Science' (CHIPS Act) worth US$280 billion, "which provides not only for semiconductor manufacturing in the US but also provides for our ability to support countries as they try to create an international semiconductor value chain."

He stressed the need to diversify the supply chains, adding that Viet Nam is one of the seven countries around the world that has received the funding from the International Technology Security and Innovation (ITSI) Fund (established under CHIPS Act).

The US will help Viet Nam in developing semiconductor workforce, improving investment environment for the semiconductor industry, which are among the hardest, biggest constraints that companies face as they try and expand their semiconductor supply chains, according to Fernandez.

"The US will work with Viet Nam in supporting Vietnamese schools to have over 50,000 engineers in this field in the next few years. That's important for Viet Nam's development of a semiconductor industry."

"There are companies right now that are telling us that they want to invest in Viet Nam, but they're having trouble finding the qualified workforce, and this is not just limited to Viet Nam. In the US, we have the same issue. We have companies that have said we are ready to invest. We have the funding, but we can't find the qualified workforce. We will work with Viet Nam on the improvement of their workforce."

In the next 1-2 months, there will be recommendations from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) with regards to improving the semiconductor workforce in Viet Nam, according to the US official.

The under secretary stated that there are 15 semiconductor companies who have said they are prepared to invest as much as $8 billion in Viet Nam, however, he did not mention the specific names of the interested parties.

He also relayed the US businesses' concerns on renewable energies to Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh during their talks, with one of them being renewable energy.

"Many companies have made commitments to the shareholders and to their customers that they will use only renewable energy, so they are waiting for renewable energy regime and Viet Nam to expand. They're waiting for permits so that they can establish renewable power systems here in Viet Nam."

He remarked this was an opportunity to do two things at the same time, both of which would benefit the people of Viet Nam, which is spurring semiconductor development and turning climate change vulnerability into their favour.

Referring to the talks with Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung where the Vietnamese side asks for not only the US Government's support in semiconductor issues but also the backing of US companies, Fernandez noted that while the US Government could not "tell the companies what to do, where to go, but what we can do is to work with Viet Nam, with the Government, to improve its business environment, to improve its regulations on energy, to allow additional companies to come into Viet Nam to improve their energy security."

He believes Viet Nam has a lot of advantages  a young qualified workforce i.e. "demographic dividends", a large domestic market of 100 million people, and an exporting culture  all of which align with the US in its goal diversifying its supply chains.

"So Viet Nam could benefit from this. It's a good opportunity to take advantage of. We can't order companies to go anywhere, but we can also talk to them about the benefits. These are companies that have options, which is why one of my messages to my colleagues here in Viet Nam has been that 'Seize the moment, understand the urgency that there's a competition out there. We believe that Viet Nam and Vietnamese people could benefit from winning several of these competitions,'" the US Under Secretary of State stressed.

He also reaffirmed that the US was committed to supporting a strong, independent, resilient, and prosperous Viet Nam.

"Viet Nam is right now one of our largest trading partners, eighth largest. We are the largest export market for Viet Nam. Viet Nam is our ninth largest agricultural market. But it is not only about economics, it's also about people-to-people ties. And something that I was struck by is the fact that Viet Nam right now is the fifth largest country in terms of foreign students in the US."

He reiterated that trade with Viet Nam "has never been better", with bilateral trade reaching nearly $140 billion and annual growth for the last 20 years hitting nearly 24 per cent.  VNS
BA RIA-VUNG TAU  State President Vo Van Thuong visited the central drilling rig of the Cuu Long Joint Operating Company (Cuu Long JOC), offering New Year wishes to its officials and engineers representing the 60,000-strong staff in the entire oil and gas industry on Friday.

Since its establishment in 1998 in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, the Cuu Long JOC has so far pumped more than 415 million barrels of oil, generating a total revenue of more than US$30 billion. This outstanding performance has translated into a contribution of nearly $14 billion to the State budget, solidifying its standing as Viet Nam's second-largest oil contractor.

President Thuong said he is delighted to witness the company's remarkable growth. Beginning with a modest 31 personnel, the rig now boasts a team of 350 officials, engineers, and workers, with 94 per cent of them being Vietnamese.

Commending the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (Petrovietnam) for overfulfilling its financial and production targets ahead of schedule, Thuong said he highly valued their substantial revenue of nearly VN1 quadrillion ($41.6 billion) last year.

The success of collaborative endeavors like Cuu Long JOC serves as a beacon of international cooperation, delivering significant national benefits, fostering confidence among foreign partners and crucially contributing to the upskilling of the industry's workforce, he stressed.

The leader urged officials, Party members, and employees of Petrovietnam to deeply understand the intrinsic link between economic development and ensuring national defence and security.

As the Tet (Lunar New Year) draws near, he directed leaders of Cuu Long JOC and drilling rigs to prioritise the well-being of workers, ensuring a joyous and warm Tet holiday for all.

In the morning the same day, the President visited and delivered gifts to the PTSC port of the PetroVietnam Technical Services Corporation, a unit established in 1993 that specialises in providing essential services for the energy and oil and gas sectors.  VNS
HA NOI - Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and his counterpart from the Republic of Korea (RoK) Cho Tae Yul agreed to continue strengthening trust between the two countries through delegation exchanges at high and all levels, and promoting trade partnership, in their telephone talks on January 26.

The two sides concurred to work closely together to speed up the effective implementation of the action programme to boost the Viet Nam-RoK comprehensive strategic partnership.

The two FMs pledged to encourage Korean firms to expand investment in Viet Nam, build more research and development centres, and transfer core and source technologies to Viet Nam, while coordinating in making the full use of the RoK's Economic Development Co-operation Fund (EDCF) and the Economic Development Promotion Facility (EDPF).

The RoK will help Viet Nam develop cultural industries, expand exchanges among youngsters of the two countries, and provide more scholarships for Vietnamese students to study in the RoK.

The two FMs vowed to work for the strengthening of cooperation among localities of the two countries through practical activities such as the Meet Korea programme, while the RoK will continue supporting Viet Nam in high quality human resources training and increasing the receiving of Vietnamese workers in the future.

The two sides agreed to continue coordinating closely and supporting each other at regional and international forums.

FM Son suggested that the RoK continue to cooperate closely with Viet Nam within the ASEAN-RoK partnership while assisting Viet Nam in performing the role of the coordinator for the ASEAN-RoK relations in the 2021-2024 tenure and organising the Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Summit in 2025.

He also asked for the RoK's support and vision sharing on ensuring maritime and aviation security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflights in the East Sea, maintaining a peaceful and stable environment as well as a legal order, and settling disputes at sea through peaceful measures in line with international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982.

FM Son took the occasion to congratulate Cho for being appointed as the RoK's FM, affirming that he is ready to work with FM Cho and strengthen cooperation between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs to promote the Viet Nam-RoK comprehensive strategic partnership.

FM Cho expressed delight at the growth of the ties between the two countries, underlining that his country attaches great importance to relations with Viet Nam and considers it an important partner in the RoK's foreign policy in the region. VNA/VNS
HA NOI It was 7.30am when the outdoor temperature dropped to 8 degree Celsius.

At that time 12 workers from Ha Noi Sewerage and Drainage Company who dredged mud at Ba Mau Lake in ong a District realised they needed to warm up.

Protective clothes were donned and they warmed up their bodies with simple exercises.

After a cup of ginger tea, they entered the icy cold water at 8am.

Nguyen Xuan Ty, a drainage worker, said: On the cold days, what we dont like most is to start getting into the water.

Workers must dress warmly and warm up their bodies before each shift, he told Vietnam News Agency.

Nguyen Trong Phuong, director of the Sewerage and Drainage Unit No 4, said when the temperature stays low, the unit adjust their hours to ensure the work progress and health for the team. The staff start their work 30 minutes later than normal days to let the cold dew outside dissipate. In the afternoon, they work 30 minutes earlier to avoid the cold in the late evening.

The workers are given ginger tea, ginseng, oil and thermal patches to help them cope with the cold weather. Workers are allowed to light fires to warm up in suitable areas during working hours or break time, he said.

They also change shifts every 45 minutes to one hour to make sure no one stays too long in the water, he said.

The plan has been deployed for in recent days and the workers' health has remained stable. All of the tasks have been completed on schedule despite the unfavourable weather conditions, he said.

Not only the drainage workers, in spite of the declining temperatures, road sweepers in Ha Noi still have to work outdoors in the early morning and late at night to keep the city clean.

Nguyen Thi Linh, 45, has been working at the Ha Noi Urban Environment Company for 20 years. She wears thicker layers of clothes to cope with the cole on her late shift from 5pm to 2am the next day.

The working schedule of sanitation workers like me does not change, no matter the weather, she said.

The work is the most challenging on those winter nights when the temperature drops to the lowest. Our bodies get warmer when working but we feel cold right after we stop.

The cold has engulfed every inch of my body when I finish the shift at 2am.

Her company has equipped workers with oil, ginger tea, eye drops, and eye tonics to prevent colds.

Thanks to that, everyone can feel warmer inside and continue the task of keeping the city clean, she said.

When the temperature in Ha Noi drops sharply, animals in captivity at Ha Noi Zoo are also affected and the zoo staff have a harder time.

Le Sy Dung, chairman of Ha Noi Zoo Limited Liability Company, said to help keep over 700 wild animals warm, the company has started cold protection measures when the temperature drops below 17 degrees Celsius.

During extremely cold days, staff are required to be present around the clock at the zoo to ensure warmth and examine the animals more frequently, he said. VNS
HA NOI  The Festival of Peach Blossom, Kumquat, Ornamental Products and OCOP Products to welcome the Spring and Lunar New Year 2024 - the Year of the Dragon officially kicked off in the January 26 evening at Tay Ho Creative Space in Tay Ho District.

Co-organised by Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and Tay Ho District People's Committee, the event is held for the first time in the capital city.

Speaking at the opening of the festival, Director of Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Dai said "Hanoi is the political, economic, cultural, scientific... center of the country, to meet the needs of the whole country and the capital, in recent times, many craft villages have had to narrow their production areas to make room for industrial and urban development, including the craft villages that grow Nhat Tan peach blossoms and Tu Lien ornamental kumquats in Tay Ho District."

"Overcoming many difficulties of the urbanisation process, people in the villages still diligently maintain their traditional profession. This is not only the unique beauty of Tay Ho District but also the pride of Hanoi every Tet and spring," said Dai.

To preserve and develop the profession of growing peach blossoms and ornamental kumquats, Hanoi has paid attention to supporting the development of craft villages; connecting with cultural, historical, and spiritual tourism chains to welcome visitors and experiences. In 2024, for the first time, Hanoi organises the Festival of Peach Blossom, Kumquat, Ornamental Products and OCOP Products.

Director of Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Dai said "Preparing for the festival, we organised two cherry blossom and kumquat competitions in Hanoi to respect the beauty of the city and honour talented artisans and craftsmen...".

As a result, the organising committee selected 55 peach blossom works by 28 authors and 68 kumquat works by 31 authors to honour two first-prize works and four second-prize works, 10 third-prize works and 20 consolation-prize works.

Besides honouring artisans and traditional craft villages of peach blossoms and kumquat, Hanoi also has thousands of OCOP (One Commune One Product Program) products with the largest quantity in the country. With 100 booths promoting OCOP products and regional specialties, the festival is an opportunity for OCOP entities in Hanoi and localities to exchange experiences in producing and consuming products, and find potential customers. power; affirming the OCOP brand with capital consumers, and promoting the export of OCOP products.

Within the framework of the festival, there are also many activities to attract visitors such as: Displaying a unique collection of ornamental art; learning about ancestral worship customs, the art of arranging altar items, arranging five-fruit trays, and traditional Tet feasts of Vietnamese people; experiencing folk games, ornamental flowers and plants, traditional musical instruments, enjoying tea, and special art programmes "Celebrate the Party, Spring, and the country's Doi Moi (Renewal)".

The Festival of Peach Blossom, Kumquat, Ornamental Products and OCOP Products takes place in seven days, from January 26 to February 1, 2024.
CAN THO  Can Tho City is helping convicts who have served out their prison sentences make an honest living by obtaining loans to start a small business or get vocational training.

On January 25 the city police department and the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies signed an agreement to implement Decision No. 22/2023/Q-TTg of the Government.

It requires the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies to lend money to ex-convicts for setting up businesses and enrolling in training courses. Also eligible for the loans are businesses employing former convicts.

At the signing ceremony, Senior Colonel Ho Trung Lap, deputy director of the police department, commended the city for its rehabilitation of ex-convicts and helping them reintegrate into society.

Local authorities have co-operated closely with the police for the rehabilitation, he said.

But the task faces some difficulties, especially with getting them jobs and loans, he said.

Decision 22 is thus an important and timely policy to help them re-enter and contribute to society, he added.

The co-operation programme requires the two sides to work together to raise awareness of the credit policy so that people in need can access the loans.

Nguyen Thuc Hien, deputy chairman of the city People's Committee, called on the two sides to assess former convicts loan needs to ensure the money goes to the right individuals.

He also said relevant authorities need to support the beneficiaries and create favourable conditions for them to use their loans effectively.

Also at the event, Tet gifts were presented to disadvantaged former convicts. - VNS
Gabina VOA is designed to be an infotainment youth radio show broadcasting to Ethiopia and Eritrea in the Amharic language. The show brings varied perspectives on issues concerning young people in the Horn of Africa region. Gabina in the Amharic language is a front-row taxi ride.
Midway ISD trustees will vote Monday on whether to make the April 8 solar eclipse a district holiday.

Area emergency management officials are preparing for some 100,000 out-of-town visitors in the area for the eclipse, potentially bringing with them traffic jams and other disruptions affecting school bus service and parents getting their kids to and from school, Superintendent Chris Allen told trustees during a meeting Tuesday.

"We could see a traffic jam that begins around the time our school bus drivers and parents are trying to get students home and lasts four hours," Allen told trustees, referring to estimates compiled by local emergency management officials. "We should be prepared to refuel school buses that may run out of fuel while waiting in the traffic congestion."

He strongly recommended making April 8 a school holiday. The agenda for Tuesday's meeting called for discussion of the holiday change, not a vote, so the board moved the vote to a special called meeting at 1 p.m. Monday in the Midway Activity Center, 8200 Mars Drive.

Other area districts including Temple, Killeen, Robinson and McGregor ISDs have already made April 8 a day off for students.

The Waco ISD board discussed the possibility Thursday.

Waco ISD Superintendent Susan Kincannon said she is aware of potential disruptions to district operations but does not want to make the eclipse a day off of school.

Kincannon said she hates the loss of an instructional day and believes it would be better for students to experience the eclipse in a learning environment. Waco ISD has not made a final decision.

Robinson ISD Superintendent Michael Hope said the main factor in his district's decision to cancel classes April 8 was the expected traffic issues that could hinder students and staff in safely getting to school or returning home.

McGregor ISD Superintendent Travis Mutscher said information from Waco-McLennan County emergency management officials about an influx of traffic also influenced his district's decision to give students the day of the eclipse off.

"We also believe that with a once-in-a-lifetime experience like a total eclipse, our families would want to experience it with their children," Mutscher said. "We're also concerned about safety with so many out-of-town visitors."

China Spring ISD, which is farther afield from the area's main highways, will hold classes the day of the eclipse, Superintendent Marc Faulkner said.

"Most of the districts that changed their schedules also have to contend with I-35 for their routes," Faulkner said. "In China Spring ISD we do not have to worry about I-35. We also feel we are off the beaten path and feel traffic concerns will not be an issue."

The district has purchased eclipse-viewing glasses for everyone, and all classes will take part in viewing the eclipse, he said. Science teachers will prepare lessons and discussions for all grade levels.

"We are hopeful to make it very enjoyable and educational for our students," Faulkner said.

Astronomers from the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, have predicted Waco will offer some of the best eclipse viewing on April 8, based on the length of totality here and local accommodations. The eclipse will begin around 12:30 p.m., as the moon begins to cross the face of the sun and starts to obscure its light. The moon will completely transit the sun by 3 p.m. Totality, when the moon totally blocks the sun, should begin in Waco at 1:38 and end at 1:42.

The Lowell Observatory, Baylor University, the city of Waco and Discovery Inc. are partnering on an Eclipse over Texas: Live from Waco festival to be broadcast from McLane Stadium.
The Heart of Texas Homeless Coalitions biannual Project Homeless Connect event drew 130 people to the Waco Convention Center on Friday morning for music, food, clothing, assistance and other free services.

The event coinciding with the national Point-in-Time Count has been held since 2005, switching to twice a year in 2017. It typically draws about 150 people who can receive free goods and services, such as haircuts, clothes, food, employment assistance, medical screenings, vaccinations, pet care and even bike repairs, said Nicole Wiscombe, director of housing and homeless services with the Heart of Texas Behavioral Health Network.

Project Homeless Connect is a one-stop shop, Wiscombe said. It's a resource fair that brings all the resources to one place for people who are experiencing housing instability and homelessness.

Waco counted 242 homeless people last year, up from 195 in 2022 and the area's historical average of 180, Wiscombe said. The increase can be attributed to rising rent prices and as a national shortage in housing, she said.

Growth in Waco has led to an increase in rent prices and shortage of rental properties, she said.

It mostly boils down to the rapid rise in rent rates in our community, Wiscombe said. "I think it's our biggest factor in our communities, just how quickly rents have become unaffordable. Compared to rental properties that we've looked at in working with housing people, rents have sometimes doubled or tripled compared to what they were 10 years ago.

Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition Chair Shannon Eckley said Project Homeless Connect is important because it puts everything someone may need in one place. She said often, homeless people must travel all over town to get resources.

Veterans can get assistance here. People who are just plainly experiencing homelessness and have been in the community for a while but they don't know where to go, how to get connected, this puts everyone in the same place, Eckley said. We also serve a meal, we do haircuts and have all kinds of social services available. And then we have a medical room as well where people can get vaccinations and get screened.

Eckley said it is great to see people in the Waco community coming together to help people in need.

Coalition board member Ruth Smith said her church, Woodway United Methodist Church, has been involved in the event for about six years, giving away clothes and food donated by churchgoers. This year, the church was able to nearly triple its donations compared to last time, she said.

We're grateful that we can be helpful, that we can bless others with the things that we're bringing, Smith said. Its important because we are told to take care of the least of these, and certainly the people who are homeless fall into that category.

Stephanie Jeter said the best part of Project Homeless Connect are the assistance and programs to help with medical needs, and the compassion shown to attendees. She said she has been homeless on and off since moving back to Waco from Dallas.

Theyve been good to us. They treat us like human beings, Jeter said. Sometimes we're out and about sitting on a curb somewhere and people turn around and look at us like we're zebras. If anything, you're the animal. You're the ones staring and it's rude to stare.

Jeter said Project Homeless Connect is a great event that makes a big difference in peoples lives.

Nobody ever knows what the next person is going through, Jeter said. This could have just saved somebody's life, or maybe they could have been down and out and in a dark spot. Coming in here, the vibes, the energy, the people, all the above. It really makes a big difference for a lot of people.
Waco is starting 2024 with flowing streams, green winter grass and a lake that is full for the first January in three years.

But just beyond the county borders to the west and south, a two-year drought has proven stubbornly persistent.

Waco Regional Airport recorded 2.77 inches of rain this past week, bringing the January total to 4.4 inches.

Most of McLennan County last week moved out of the abnormally dry category on the U.S. Drought Monitor, which had showed significant drought here through most of 2022 and 2023.

Lake Waco, which fell a record 15 feet before a dramatic turnaround in late October, sat nearly 1.5 feet above its normal level of 462 feet above sea level on Friday. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was limiting releases from Waco and Lake Whitney, which was also nearly one foot over normal, to stem flooding far down the Brazos near Richmond, Corps district spokesperson Clay Church said.

But the blessings of rainfall over the last few months have not been equally distributed across Central Texas.

Most of Bell County remains in moderate drought despite January rainfall that totaled 3.8 inches at Fort Cavazos, mostly this past week. Belton Lake is 14.4 feet below normal, while nearby Stillhouse Hollow Lake is more than 17 feet down.

Coryell County this month is about half in moderate drought and half in abnormally dry status, a break from an unrelenting two-year period in which the entire county has mostly been in extreme or exceptional drought. Unofficial National Weather Service records show Gatesvilles airport received 2.7 inches this month, mostly in the past week.

It seems like everyone around us has been getting rain but its been missing us, Coryell County AgriLife Extension Agent Robert Ferguson said of the recent weather.

When you talk to people around the county, some people got two or three inches, some a tenth of an inch. There hasnt been a widespread rainfall event in the last year.

Coryell Countys rugged landscape mostly supports hay and cattle grazing, Ferguson said. Hay has been marginal for the last two years, and ranchers are struggling. Some have thinned their herds. Some have run out of water and had to truck it in.

He said recent rains have at least greened up some pastures and saturated the soil enough that a significant rain would produce some runoff.

I would say we need a good 5- to 6-inch widespread rain, he said. It needs to come in two ways: slow and steady to saturate the ground, and then a heavy rain to fill rivers and lakes.

Little River

Bell and Coryell counties are in the watershed of the Little River, which flows into the Brazos after receiving flows from the Lampasas, Leon and San Gabriel rivers.

The Little River watershed is home to Georgetown, Stillhouse, Belton and Proctor lakes, all of which have suffered low water levels as other parts of the Brazos River basin have recovered from drought, said Aaron Abel, water services manager for the Brazos River Authority.

What weve seen is that Little River system has been historically low compared to other periods, Abel said.

The Waco-based authority oversees surface water flows in the entire Brazos River basin and sells wholesale water out of 11 reservoirs, including Georgetown, Stillhouse, Belton and Proctor.

Abel said the Little River watershed has benefited from rains in recent weeks, and Belton Lake rose by about a foot. But much of the rainfall has been absorbed or run into agricultural ponds. Now the stage is set for more runoff if more rain comes, he said.

We saw this with Lake Waco last summer, Abel said. The ground was too dry to generate substantial stream flows. Its a process where you have to wet the soils.

In August, the Brazos River Authority declared Stage 2 drought restrictions for its wholesale customers purchasing water from Belton Lake and Stillhouse Hollow Lake. Those restrictions remain in effect for now even though Belton Lake has risen above the threshold that triggered the restrictions.

Customers of Belton Lake include Bluebonnet Water Supply Corp., which provides water to the city of McGregor.

Meanwhile, Proctor Lake, which is upstream on the Leon River from Belton Lake, is at 26% capacity and at emergency Stage 4 drought restrictions, meaning its customers must cut use by 30%. Abel said that lake, which serves small water customers and irrigators around rural Comanche County, has seen low levels repeatedly over the last two decades.

Abel said he sees reason to remain hopeful about the drought-stricken lakes. Overall, the Brazos River Authoritys reservoirs are 81% full, and he is looking forward to the April-to-June season, when most of this regions rain typically falls.

This years El Nino weather pattern favors normal to above-normal rainfall in the region, he said.

Belton Lake

In the meantime, Belton Lake is not close to running out of water, he said.

At the current level of 579.6 feet above sea level, the lake is about 59% full. It still has 276,205 acre-feet of drinking water storage, more than twice the amount Lake Waco has when full, according to the Texas Water Development Boards waterdatafortexas.org.

With Lake Possum Kingdom, Lake Granbury and Lake Whitney close to full or overfull, the Brazos River Authority has plenty of water to serve its giant customers far down the Brazos River, such as Dow Chemical Co. and BASF, Abel said.

Arthur Johnson, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers park ranger at Belton Lake for the last 17 years, said this is the lakes lowest level since it was expanded in 1972.

But he said the lake is unusually deep for this area, allowing marinas to stay open and boat recreation to continue. The rise this week allowed the Corps to reopen three boat ramps closed because of low water levels, he said.

Its steadily coming back up, Johnson said. It has always come back, and were optimistic it will again.

Kiley Moran, a McGregor-based spokesperson for the Texas A&M Forest Service, said the recent rains have lowered wildfire risks in Coryell and Bell counties, even in areas noted as being in drought.

The forest service worked with fire departments across the state to extinguish a series of large wildfires in the first half of 2022.

Last years fire season was less burdensome, due to less fuel on the ground and better prevention efforts, Moran said.

The public has become more aware of the problem and more receptive to cleaning up around their homes and making sure they have water sources nearby, he said. Since 2022, weve been trying to hammer into people to be ready for wildfire, and that has helped a lot.

The National Weather Service forecasts for Waco, Gatesville and Killeen call for mostly clear skies in the coming week. The Waco forecast calls for a Sunday night low of 38 and a Monday high of 66, with highs in the 60s and lows in the 40s for the rest of the week.
WATERLOO  Two persistent community members questioned the Board of Education about the proposed high school merger during the public comments portion of its meeting Monday.

Ted Ledermen of Waterloo approached the board to question Superintendent Jared Smiths claim that consolidating East, West and Expo high schools in a new $165 million building would help prevent around 700 students from leaving the Waterloo district through open enrollment. Ledermen said the board should focus on why students are leaving. He compared Waterloo West and East high schools with schools in surrounding communities.

In recent ratings of the 336 high schools in the state, Cedar Falls is ranked No. 28 or No. 48 depending on the service you use, Lederman said. Hudson is No. 24, Grundy (Center) rates No. 36. West Waterloo ranks 263 and East ranks 318. Clearly Waterloo Schools is not doing a good job. Administration, teachers, and students have to improve.

Lederman asked about the districts assertion the new high school construction can be funded without issuing bonds.

They are going to take 1% tax that is attributed to the city for education and find it through there. I wonder how this will be, because we have bonds that are already coming due. Id like to know what the school system is doing to improve the teaching of students before we build a new school? I also want to know how this is going to be funded without a school bond vote, Lederman asked.

After the meeting, Lederman walked into a roped-off area meant for board members only and approached Smith, but was advised the board would not be responding to any more questions.

Also during public comments, Waterloo resident Todd Obadal adamantly appealed for the board to allow citizens to vote on the proposal, claiming the board does not have the authority to proceed without a vote. He noted the financial obligations ultimately will fall on residents of the district. Obadal had approached the board previously demanding the board allow a vote on the plan.

I have no opinion if the new school gets built or not, I havent seen the plans and I also havent done much research on it. One thing that I continue to be surprised and shocked by is the fact that we are not going to allow the citizens to vote on this, Obadal said.

He said the school board does not have the kind of authority to put this community and school district in this kind of debt. Who in legal retention as an official legal opinion of the Waterloo School Board has told this body that an election to authorize bonds to build the school is not required? I want to know who that is under state law. Im standing up here saying that its not, and if you continue to go forward with this it will be these members that are responsible for the expenses that come about. You will be personally liable for it.

Obadal stated he wanted an answer either immediately or after the meeting in the hallway. He was advised by board president Astor Williams that all requests for information must be made via email per board policy.

If you have a concern and you want us to reply to you, can you please send out that information in a email and then we will get back to you? Williams asked.

Obadal replied, So the answer is that there is not a legal opinion? I ask for it tonight, and if you cannot deliver it then Ill just assume its not there.

Recent appointee Krystal Madlock thanked both guests for coming and reminded them a series of public forums is being held to discuss the pending merger for anyone with questions.

How to build a mocktail bar cart 1. Stock up on non-alcoholic spirits. 2. Grab some non-alcoholic beer. 3. Add some soft seltzers. 4. Satisfy your sweet tooth with simple syrups. 5. Mix it up.
WATERLOO  More than 100 area residents met at the Waterloo Career Center Thursday night to learn more about the purposed merger of East, West and Expo high schools into a single new building at the site of Central Middle School.

It was the second in a series of community meetings sponsored by the Waterloo Community School District to inform the public and answer questions about a proposed $165 million new high school.

Before the presentation many of the attendees were skeptical about the plan.

I think this (plan) is a way to avoid the taxpayers voice. Its a way to spend our money without giving us a real word in it. I believe they have their mind totally made up, and this (town hall) is just a dog and pony show, said Forest Dillavou, a longtime Waterloo resident.

Superintendent Jared Smith gave a 20 minute overview of the proposal and outlined the importance of co-locating the new school with the Waterloo Career Center, which is part of the Central campus.

Kids that have exposure to classes at the Career Center have a lot better chance at being highly successful in high school, Smith said. He said having to travel from East or West to the Career Center can be a hinderance for some students.

Travel time to and from the WCC as well as students not being in their home high school has led to some major barriers for students that want to have access to these programs, Smith said.

Attendees then split into small groups centering on particular aspects of the merger. Most met with Kate Payne and Brad Leeper of Invision Architecture about building possibilities.

Discussions in the small groups occasionally became heated. One person became agitated and slammed something down, demanding to be allowed to speak.

After 30 minutes Smith disbanded the small groups and he and staff members answered general questions for around 15 minutes before offering a tour of the Career Center.

Most attendees found the meeting to be helpful.

Ted Lederman, who had posed questions about the project at Mondays school board meeting was also at Thursdays town hall. He was in a small group that met with Jeff Sommerfeldt, Waterloo Schools chief financial officer. He said he was impressed with Thursdays presentation.

They had good answers to all of my questions. Everything was well done. Im more in favor of it now then what I was before, Lederman said.

Emily Redmond, a Waterloo mother whose three children would be part of the first graduation classes at the new high school, said she sees the benefits of a merged school.

I think it would bring more togetherness and better opportunities, Redmond said. We live right by Central, so I often see high schoolers carpooling and driving to go to the Career Center. It would be nice for them to have everything in one spot.

Waterloo Schools will hosting two more community meetings on the proposed high school merger: at 9 a.m. Saturday at Poyner Elementary and from 5 to 6 p.m. Thursday at Dr. Walter Cunningham School for Excellence.

Close Waterloo Schools 'Bridging Futures' Town Hall Meeting Waterloo area residents met with WCSD officials to discuss possible merger of East and West High Schools on Jan. 26th, 2024.
CEDAR FALLS  A proposal to add a second school resource officer for Cedar Falls schools is under discussion.

The idea was broached during separate public forums this week and last by City Councilmember Chris Latta and Board of Education President Lowell Stutzman.

It will ultimately be a budgetary decision falling to the City Council. The Public Safety Department hires and assigns the officer to the schools.

The city has had one school resource officer since the mid-1990s, according to Public Safety Director Craig Berte. The first was Ann Miller.

Berte proposed in December that a second armed officer be included in the fiscal year 2025 budget after discussions with Superintendent Andy Pattee. The budget must be approved by April 30.

Theyre talking about wanting another potential school resource officer when the new high school gets up there, Berte previously told the council in reference to the new building opening on West 27th Street in the fall.

Theyd like one for just the high school, he added, as the new building isnt as centrally located near other schools as the current one is on Division Street.

The December proposal came several weeks before the deadly Perry Middle School shooting Jan. 4 that ultimately led to three deaths: a student and the principal there, as well as the high school student who opened fire before killing himself.

A simple majority of council appears to initially support the proposition, based on communication with members The Courier contacted. There were no outright objections. Latta strongly supports the plan.

Id like to see that position a priority. I dont think thats even remotely acceptable coverage for a city of this size, said Latta in December. Waterloo has several resource officers in schools, according to Berte.

Latta pushed the idea again Jan. 15 following the shooting over 100 miles away to see if there was anything we can do to expedite that so that potentially we could have somebody up and ready to go by time at least next school year starts.

Berte said the officer could be ready to go by the fall if approved. The cost of an additional officer is approximately $120,000 for salary and benefits.

The district contributes about $24,000 to the cost for the position currently held by Liesel Reimers, according to Berte. If the second officer is approved, that contribution would likely change as part of new cost sharing agreement for two officers costing approximately $240,000.

A school resource officer is a 40-hour per week police position of which nine months is spent exclusively in the schools working and interacting with administrators, parents, students and teachers. Berte anticipates the officer being an internal hire.

At the Monday school board meeting, Stutzman inquired about what it might take financially to add another officer. Superintendent Andy Pattee acknowledged having had talks the last several years about expanding the program.

Duties extend well beyond being on call for an emergency, Jill White, executive director of student services, pointed out.

We keep her very busy. She goes and actually does teaching at all of our elementary schools to help build relationships with students and do some lessons on safety, said White.

Right now, the officer covers the high school, seven elementary schools, two middle schools and an alternative school.

She helps out at St. Patrick Catholic School and Valley Lutheran School, too.

Valley Lutheran leadership has approached the city about contributing to the cost and having an officer with a greater role at its school, said Berte.

I dont know of there to be any negatives to having another one, said Councilmember Daryl Kruse when reached by telephone. It will be a budget item of course. That officer is a deterrent to hopefully prevent something bad from happening if a bad actor knows we have that peace keeper.

He acknowledged that his analytical side will be open to hearing about everything having to be said on the subject, but confirmed he thinks itd be a really good investment.

Councilmember Aaron Hawbaker is on the other side of the fence.

After looking at the literature, and Ive only done a cursory review, Id have to dig deeper to see if theres actually a correlation to safety, said Hawbaker.

What are you getting for that additional officer? Maybe there are other measures we could take like at buildings, better controlling people who come in and out.

He also wants to hear more about any potential detrimental effects on education to having another officer present.

I need a further articulation of the problem too, Hawbaker added.

Weve unfortunately had school shootings for years.

The best sites to shop for used furniture online 1. Kaiyo 2. Etsy 3. Chairish 4. eBay 5. AptDeco
WATERLOO -- The Waterloo Center for the Arts invites vendors to register for the upcoming Jamaica Day celebration.

In partnership with the cities of Waterloo and Cedar Falls, the art center, 225 Commercial St., will hold the celebration from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Feb. 23.

Waterloo and its new sister city, Morant Bay of St. Thomas Parish, Jamaica, invites people to a day of discussion, vendors, Caribbean cuisine and live performances. Admission is free.

Schools, organizations and businesses that serve the Cedar Valley with cultural activities are invited to attend. Groups may have cultural displays or booths. Booth set-up takes place from 8 to 10 a.m. with the program starting at 9 a.m. and the vendor fair beginning at 10 a.m. Tables must be staffed from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

There is some funding support available for food samples and displays by request, sponsored by Friends of the Art Center. To register, contact Joanna Waggoner-Norquest at joanna.waggoner-norquest@waterloo-ia.org or (319) 291-4490.
Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation (20  26 January 2024)

In the period from 20 to 26 January, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation delivered 13 group strikes by long-range precision weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles at facilities of Ukrainian military industrial complex producing uncrewed surface vehicles, ammunition, missiles and its parts.

In addition, strikes were delivered at ammunition depots, military airfield infrastructure, POL bases, and temporary deployment areas of foreign mercenaries.

The goal of the strikes has been achieved. All the assigned targets have been engaged.

Over the week, in Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces liberated Krakhmalnoye (Kharkov region) and improved the tactical situation in several areas of the front line.

In cohesion with aviation and artillery 43 AFU attacks were repelled.

Strikes were delivered at manpower and hardware clusters of the AFU 68th Jaeger Brigade, 25th, 30th, 32nd, 43rd, 57th, 60th, 66th mechanised brigades, 25th Airborne Brigade, and 1st Ukrainian National Guard Brigade near Makeyevka (Lugansk Peoples Republic), Berestovoye, Sinkovka (Kharkov region), and Terni (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 740 Ukrainian troops, seven tanks, seven armoured fighting vehicles, 18 motor vehicles, and 14 field artillery pieces.

In Krasny Liman direction, as a result of actions of the Tsentr Group of Forces units, more advantageous lines and positions were taken. 17 AFU attacks were repelled.

The Groups aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems inflicted losses on AFU and Ukrainian National Guard units near Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk Peoples Republic), Yampolovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic), and Serebryansky forestry.

The AFU losses amounted to more than 1,570 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, seven tanks, 25 armoured fighting vehicles, 52 motor vehicles, and nine field artillery pieces.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces improved the tactical situation along the front lines and repelled 12 AFU attacks.

Strikes were delivered at manpower and hardware of the AFU 22nd, 24th, 28th, 42nd, 58th, 92nd, 93rd mechanised brigades, 81st Airmobile Brigade, and 5th Assault Brigade near Andreyevka, Belogorovka, Kleshcheyevka, Mayosk, and Chasov Yag (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 1,960 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, 19 tanks, including one Leopard tank, 22 armoured fighting vehicles, 56 motor vehicles, four multiple launch rocket systems combat vehicles, including one MLRS, one HIMARS, and two Grad, as well as 27 field artillery pieces.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces inflicted losses on units of the AFU 31st, 72nd mechanised brigades, 79th Air Assault Brigade, 105th, and 127th territorial defence brigades near Rovnopol, Paraskoviyevka, Novomikhailovka, Staromayorskoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic), and Priutnoye.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 745 Ukrainian troops, one tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, 23 motor vehicles, and 14 field artillery pieces.

In Zaporozhye direction, as a result of Russian troops active defensive actions and continuous strikes, losses were inflicted on units of the AFU 33rd, 65th, 117th, 118th mechanised brigades, 128th Mountain Assault Brigade, and 112th Territorial Defence Brigade near Rabotino, Verbovoye, Nesteryanka, and Pyatikhatki (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 450 Ukrainian troops, three tanks, four armoured fighting vehicles, 17 motor vehicles, and 11 field artillery pieces.

In Kherson direction, as a result of preventative strikes of Russian troops supported by aviation and artillery, losses were inflicted on units of the AFU 35th, 36th, 38th marines brigades, 121st, 123rd, and 126th territorial defence brigades near Zolotaya Balka, Mikhailovka, Tyaginka, Zmievka, and Stanislav (Kherson region).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 335 Ukrainian troops, 23 motor vehicles, two Grad MLRS, and eight field artillery pieces.

Over the week, 35 Ukrainian servicemen surrendered, 16 of whom were captured in Krasny Liman direction.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces wiped out four launchers of air defence systems, including two U.S.-made Patriot, one French-made SAMP-T, one German-made IRIS-T, and three electronic warfare stations, as well as one radar of the S-300 air defence system, and six AFU field ammunition depots.

Aviation and air defence units shot down one Ukrainian Air Forces Su-25 aircraft, six Storm Shadow cruise missiles, four Tochka-U tactical missiles, 28 HIMARS and Vampire MLRS projectiles, and 361 unmanned aerial vehicles.

In total, 568 airplanes and 265 helicopters, 11,255 unmanned aerial vehicles, 455 air defence missile systems, 14,800 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 1,210 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,871 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 17,891 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.

Tags:

WtR
When renovations at Hillview Health Care Center are complete, fewer residents will be in traditional nursing home beds.

The change fits with a national trend in elder care, said Wanda Plachecki executive director for La Crosse County long-term care and assisted living. She said residents like it that way.

People prefer to be in a home-like setting, Plachecki said. If you cant be at home, you want something like home.

Hillviews $19 million renovation project is expected to begin by late summer or early fall. When the project is completed late in 2025, the number of skilled nursing home beds at the county-owned facility will shrink from 70 to 35. They will be replaced by 35 community-based residential units and a four- or five-bed dementia stabilization unit.

The number of other units  55 independent living apartments and 30 residential care (assisted living) apartments  will remain unchanged.

Community-based facilities are places where five or more unrelated people live together in a community setting but still have private rooms. Plachecki said the new units are an important addition to the facility.

Housing demand flips

We knew we did not have all of the services for a full continuum of care, Plachecki said.

Despite the rapid increase in the elderly population, Hillview administrator Kelly Kramer said the demand for skilled nursing home beds continues to decline. Statewide, the ratio of skilled nursing home beds to various assisting living options has flipped. In 2003, there were 43,000 residents in skilled nursing homes and 30,000 in assisted living. In 2021, there were 64,000 in assisted living and 27,000 in skilled nursing care.

As recently as 1999, the facility was licensed for 226 skilled nursing home beds.

There are various types of assisted-living options that became options for people to get the care that they need  they didnt need to go to a nursing home, Kramer said. There was less and less need for 226 beds. We knew we were never going to sustain that capacity again.

Staff efficiency

Plachecki said the shift from skilled nursing home beds to more independent living arrangements allows for more efficient staffing. She said roughly half of skilled nursing home residents can be housed in a community-based facility.

With COVID and the public health emergency, we saw a decline in the number of people who want to work in long-term care, she said. We noticed our ability to care for the same number of people was going to be challenging into the future because of staffing challenges.

Plachecki said Hillview residents will continue to see the same staff through the transition.

Youll be cared for by the same staff youve always been cared for, she said.

Renovations will be funded by $11 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds with the county borrowing the remaining $8 million. Plachecki said no county taxpayer dollars will be used. She said borrowing costs and day-to-day operations of the facility are funded by a combination of Medicaid, Medicare, state-funded Family Care, private insurance and private pay. The independent living apartments charge market rates.

We have never been on the tax levy, Plachecki said. Hillview has always supported its own operations with its own revenues.

130 years

Hillviews operations date back to the late 19th century. It was run as the citys poor farm from the 1850s until it was turned over to the county in the 1890s as a facility for the elderly, poor and infirmed. In the early 1950s, the county board authorized construction of a new 167-bed nursing home facility.

Kramer said the renovations will honor the facilitys past.

The (county) board was excited to repurpose a building with so much history, Kramer said.

Hillview is one of two health care centers operated by the county. Lakeview Health Center and Assisted Living in West Salem cares for residents with more complex cognitive issues.

Plachecki acknowledged there were questions about whether the county should offer health care services that are also provided by the private sector. Waupaca and Iowa counties shut down their facilities in 2017 and 2022.

The La Crosse County Board rejected privatization. Plachecki said supervisors recognized that Hillview and Lakeview provide a critical safety net for some of the countys most vulnerable citizens. She said its unlikely a not-for-profit would assume ownership and operate them in the same manner.

We are expected to help fill the gaps in our community that other facilities are unwilling or unable to do, she said.

Kramer added, We care for those people that other nursing homes do not.

Hillview nursing home to get major renovation for the first time in 30 years.
A traves de coordinaciones entre @CancilleriaPeru y @MindefPeru, el Gobierno del Peru entrego a Colombia 200 kits de contenedores de agua y 3 equipos de llenado de contenedores de tierra, que ayudaran a combatir los incendios forestales en ese pais.

??? https://t.co/DQtbBHKJtp pic.twitter.com/MaTgTuAWH8
The end is not in sight for Winona Healths dialysis program.

After announcing publicly earlier this week that it would close, Winona Healths president/CEO Rachelle Schultz announced Friday that donors have reached out and will provide sufficient funds to save the program.

This is an amazing gift that clearly demonstrates our mission of inspiring, recognizing and empowering the caregiver in all of us. These donors, who wish to remain anonymous, are caregivers at heart and have the ability to support our caregivers in their own way, Schultz stated. This donation was made in the spirit of Ben and Rudy Miller families to maintain health care in our community. Ben and Rudy were key businessmen and philanthropists who were instrumental entrepreneurs focused on community development and health in Winona, and we are all beneficiaries of their efforts. And Winona Health aligns with that spirit as a community owned health system serving the needs of our community."

The program had been expected to close because of post-COVID-19 economic difficulties.

I am deeply grateful to all donors to Winona Health, whatever the amount. Those gifts are an intentional choice that people make to support this organization and the good work that is done in all areas. My heart is full this Friday afternoon that donors felt this a worthy cause and made the decision to support our program. On behalf of all of the caregivers at Winona Health, we say thank you from the bottom of our hearts, Schultz stated.

Schultz stated that in 2023, Winona Health subsidized the program with $1 million in support. The organization as of earlier this week had no way to fully mitigate the expenses of the program, she said.

Additionally, Winona Health has experienced reduced volume in its dialysis program in the past five years, Schultz said.

Thirty-two patients would have been impacted by this closure and would have been helped by Winona Health with the transition to other dialysis providers.

Employees in the program would have transitioned to new positions in the health organization but are expected to remain in their present roles.
State Sen. Lena Taylor has stepped down from her role in the Legislature after Democratic Gov. Tony Evers on Friday appointed her as a judge on the Milwaukee County Circuit Court.

Taylor, D-Milwaukee, will take on the new role Tuesday, filling the vacancy created when Judge Audrey Skwierawski resigned to become the director of state courts. Taylor resigned from the Senate on Friday and will complete the remainder of Skwierawskis term, which concludes July 31, 2025.

Evers in a statement described Taylor as a committed public servant who has dedicated her life to pursuing justice for her community and the people of Wisconsin.

I am confident that she will serve the people of Milwaukee County well as a circuit court judge, Evers continued.

Evers will call a special election this spring to fill Taylors seat, a district that has gone heavily Democratic in previous elections. The seat will be on the ballot again this November, meaning the winner of the special election will have to run again for a four-year term this fall.

Rep. LaKeshia Myers, D-Milwaukee, announced Friday she will run for Taylors seat to provide a continuum of service for the people of the 4th Senate District. Myers was elected to the state Assembly in 2018.

Taylor began her legal career in 1993 as a public defender in Milwaukee, where she represented indigent people in misdemeanor and felony cases. She opened a general practice in 1996 and worked in criminal, business, real estate and family law, as well as personal injury cases and bankruptcy law.

Taylor, 57, has served in the state Legislature for two decades, first as a state representative starting in 2003 after a special election victory. In 2005, Taylor was elected to the state Senate representing Milwaukees 4th District.

It is with great honor that I both thank the people of the 4th SD for the opportunity to serve them since 2005 and Governor Evers for the opportunity to take my life experiences, constant quest for the truth, and unwavering commitment to equity and justice for all to the Circuit Court of Milwaukee County, Taylor said in a statement.

She also ran for several other public offices, including an unsuccessful campaign for Milwaukee Municipal Court last year. She ran for Milwaukee mayor, Milwaukee County executive and lieutenant governor.

Taylor has chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee and served as co-chair of the Joint Committee on Finance, while also serving on Senate committees for judiciary and public safety, criminal penalties review, uniform law and the justice reinvestment oversight committee.

Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine described Taylor in a statement as a passionate advocate for Milwaukee and her beliefs.

Even when we werent able to reach an agreement, we were often able to reach understanding, Wanggaard said. I look forward to working with her in her new capacity as a member of the judiciary.

Taylor graduated from UW-Milwaukee and the Southern Illinois UniversityCarbondale School of Law. She was awarded the 2022 Regional Legislator of the Year Award by the National Black Caucus of State Legislators.

Today in history: Jan. 26 1915: Rocky Mountain National Park 1992: Bill Clinton 1993: Vaclav Havel 1998: Bill Clinton 2005: Train Crash 2009: Nadya Suleman 2012: Penn State 2017: Donald Trump 2020: Kobe Bryant 2022: Amy Schneider 2022: Neil Young 2023: West Bank raid
We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on!

Go to form
The 75th Republic Day of India served as a momentous occasion for advertisers to go beyond conventional campaigns and showcase their deep love for the country. As the nation celebrated this historic day, brands took the opportunity not only to contribute to society in meaningful ways but also to share their unique stories and initiatives. This article delves into how advertisers leveraged Republic Day to express their patriotism and make a positive impact.

On this monumental day, brands utilized their creative prowess to launch campaigns that not only resonated with the audience but also contributed to the overall sentiment of national pride. Whether it was through digital videos, heartfelt tributes, or collaborative initiatives, advertisers found innovative ways to connect with consumers on a deeper emotional level.

Lenskart's Patriot Collection Launch:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by LENSKART (@lenskart)

Lenskart, with a steadfast commitment to reinvention, unveiled its Patriot Collection. This collection seamlessly blended contemporary design with patriotic elements, embodying the essence of the nation's pride. The launch also saw Lenskart HQ becoming a vibrant hub for the National Integration Tour of children from Chushul, orchestrated by Uniform Force, symbolizing the confluence of patriotism and vision.

Apollo Tyres' Digital Tribute:

In collaboration with Resonance Digital, Apollo Tyres released a poignant digital video honoring the Armed Forces. This CG-powered film beautifully portrayed Apollo Tyres' role as a reliable companion to the defense forces across diverse terrains. Against the patriotic backdrop of "Vande Mataram," the video served as a testament to the enduring bond between the brand and the armed forces, illustrating their commitment and support.

Pepperfry's Celebration of 75 Years of Democratic India:

Pepperfry, the online marketplace for furniture and home decor, marked India's 75th Republic Day with a visit to the Sahawas Old Age Home in Maharashtra. Embracing the theme #75AndYoung, Pepperfry celebrated the enduring spirit of the older generation. The event featured vibrant celebrations, including party games and music sessions, highlighting the everlasting enthusiasm and incredible life experiences of the 'Evergreen Generation.'

Zupee's Inspirational Film - "India Paasa Palat Raha Hai":

Zupee, a leading online skill-based gaming platform, released an inspiring film titled India Paasa Palat Raha Hai to commemorate India's remarkable journey over the years. The impactful animated video showcased India's triumphs in various sectors, celebrating the nation's technological prowess, cultural heritage, and resilience as it emerged as a 'game changer' against all odds.

Steadfast Nutrition's #ThaknaNahiRuknaNahi Campaign:

Ahead of Republic Day, Steadfast Nutrition launched the pan-India campaign #ThaknaNahiRuknaNahi. The campaign aimed to motivate Indians to combat fatigue through energy-giving foods and supplements. The accompanying video showcased the improved performance and energy levels of individuals in various fields, emphasizing their contributions to the development of the country despite challenges.

Godrej Group's #HeereJaisaMazboot Campaign:

Godrej Group took pride in launching a digital campaign aligned with the official theme "#HeereJaisaMazboot" (Developed India). The campaign celebrated the journey of a transformed nation and highlighted the strength of ordinary citizens who played a crucial role in shaping India's extraordinary diamond jubilee.

Air India's "Together We Soar" Campaign:

Air India, in its campaign "Together We Soar," offers a breathtaking ode to the ever-rising nation with endless opportunities. The ad captures panoramic views of different regions, showcasing the diverse landscapes and states across the country. As the airline gracefully navigates through various locations during different seasons and times, the campaign symbolizes unity and progress. Individuals observing the sky and the plane in the closing scenes signify the campaign's theme  Together We Soar.

Bajaj Allianz Life's Plankathon 2024:

In celebration of India's 75th Republic Day, Bajaj Allianz Life introduces "Plankathon 2024," the fourth edition of its fitness initiative. #PlankForAces expresses gratitude towards the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for its monumental achievements, including the recent success with the Solar Mission, Aditya L1. Timed to coincide with Republic Day, the campaign encourages individuals to share their planking videos with #PlankForAces, creating a collective gesture of thanks for ISRO's contributions to space exploration.
Apple today announced changes to iOS, Safari, and the App Store impacting developers apps in the European Union (EU) to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The changes include more than 600 new APIs, expanded app analytics, functionality for alternative browser engines, and options for processing app payments and distributing iOS apps. Across every change, Apple is introducing new safeguards that reduce  but dont eliminate  new risks the DMA poses to EU users. With these steps, Apple will continue to deliver the best, most secure experience possible for EU users.

The new options for processing payments and downloading apps on iOS open new avenues for malware, fraud and scams, illicit and harmful content, and other privacy and security threats. Thats why Apple is introducing protections  including Notarisation for iOS apps, an authorisation for marketplace developers, and disclosures on alternative payments  to reduce risks and deliver the best, most secure experience possible for users in the EU. Even with these safeguards in place, many risks remain.

Developers can learn about these changes on the Apple Developer Support page and can begin testing new capabilities today in the iOS 17.4 beta. The new capabilities will become available to users in the 27 EU countries beginning in March 2024.

The changes were announcing today comply with the Digital Markets Acts requirements in the European Union, while helping to protect EU users from the unavoidable increased privacy and security threats this regulation brings. Our priority remains creating the best, most secure possible experience for our users in the EU and around the world, said Phil Schiller, Apple Fellow. Developers can now learn about the new tools and terms available for alternative app distribution and alternative payment processing, new capabilities for alternative browser engines and contactless payments, and more. Importantly, developers can choose to remain on the same business terms in place today if they prefer.

The changes for EU apps reflect the European Commissions designation of iOS, Safari, and the App Store as core platform services under the Digital Markets Act. In March, Apple will share new resources to help EU users understand the changes they can expect. That includes guidance to help EU users navigate complexities the DMAs changes bring  including a less intuitive user experience  and best practices for approaching new risks associated with downloading apps and processing payments outside of the App Store.

Available for developers apps around the world, Apple also announced new options for streaming games, along with more than 50 forthcoming reports in areas like engagement, commerce, app usage, and more.

Changes to iOS

In the EU, Apple is making a number of changes to iOS to comply with the DMA. For developers, those changes include new options for distributing apps. The coming changes to iOS in the EU include:

New options for distributing iOS apps from alternative app marketplaces  including new APIs and tools that enable developers to offer their iOS apps for download from alternative app marketplaces.

New framework and APIs for creating alternative app marketplaces  enabling marketplace developers to install apps and manage updates on behalf of other developers from their dedicated marketplace app.

New frameworks and APIs for alternative browser engines  enabling developers to use browser engines, other than WebKit, for browser apps and apps with in-app browsing experiences.

Interoperability request form  where developers can submit additional requests for interoperability with iPhone and iOS hardware and software features.

As announced by the European Commission, Apple is also sharing DMA-compliant changes impacting contactless payments. That includes new APIs enabling developers to use NFC technology in their banking and wallet apps throughout the European Economic Area. And in the EU, Apple is introducing new controls that allow users to select a third-party contactless payment app  or an alternative app marketplace  as their default.

Inevitably, the new options for developers EU apps create new risks to Apple users and their devices. Apple cant eliminate those risks, but within the DMAs constraints, the company will take steps to reduce them. These safeguards will be in place when users download iOS 17.4 or later, beginning in March, and include:

Notarisation for iOS apps  a baseline review that applies to all apps, regardless of their distribution channel, focused on platform integrity and protecting users. Notarisation involves a combination of automated checks and human review.

App installation sheets  that use information from the Notarisation process to provide at-a-glance descriptions of apps and their functionality before download, including the developer, screenshots, and other essential information.

Authorisation for marketplace developers  to ensure marketplace developers commit to ongoing requirements that help protect users and developers.

Additional malware protections  that prevent iOS apps from launching if theyre found to contain malware after being installed to a users device.

These protections  including Notarisation for iOS apps, and authorisation for marketplace developers  help reduce some of the privacy and security risks to iOS users in the EU. That includes threats like malware or malicious code, and risks of installing apps that misrepresent their functionality or the responsible developer.

However, Apple has less ability to address other risks  including apps that contain scams, fraud, and abuse, or that expose users to illicit, objectionable, or harmful content. In addition, apps that use alternative browser engines  other than Apples WebKit  may negatively affect the user experience, including impacts to system performance and battery life.

Within the DMAs constraints, Apple is committed to protecting the privacy, security, and quality of the iOS user experience in the EU as much as possible. For instance, App Tracking Transparency will continue to work with apps distributed outside of the App Store  asking a users permission before a developer tracks their data across apps or websites. However, the DMAs requirements mean that App Store features  including Family Purchase Sharing and Ask to Buy  will not be compatible with apps downloaded from outside of the App Store.

When these changes come into effect in March, Apple will share more detailed resources explaining the options available to users  including best practices for protecting their privacy and security.

Changes to Safari

Today, iOS users already have the ability to set a third-party web browser  other than Safari  as their default. Reflecting the DMAs requirements, Apple is also introducing a new choice screen that will surface when users first open Safari in iOS 17.4 or later. That screen will prompt EU users to choose a default browser from a list of options.

This change is a result of the DMAs requirements, and means that EU users will be confronted with a list of default browsers before they have the opportunity to understand the options available to them. The screen also interrupts EU users experience the first time they open Safari intending to navigate to a webpage.

Changes to the App Store

On the App Store, Apple is sharing a number of changes for developers with apps in the EU, affecting apps across Apples operating systems  including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS. The changes also include new disclosures informing EU users of the risks associated with using alternatives to the App Stores secure payment processing.

For developers, those changes include:

New options for using payment service providers (PSPs)  within a developers app to process payments for digital goods and services.

New options for processing payments via link-out  where users can complete a transaction for digital goods and services on the developers external website. Developers can also inform EU users of promotions, discounts, and other deals available outside of their apps.

Business planning tools  for developers to estimate fees and understand metrics associated with Apples new business terms for apps in the EU.

The changes also include new steps to protect and inform EU users, including:

App Store product page labels  that inform users when an app theyre downloading uses alternative payment processing.

In-app disclosure sheets  that let users know when they are no longer transacting with Apple, and when a developer is directing them to transact using an alternative payment processor.

New App Review processes  to verify that developers accurately communicate information about transactions that use alternative payment processors.

Expanded data portability on Apples Data & Privacy site  where EU users can retrieve new data about their usage of the App Store and export it to an authorised third party.

For apps that use alternative payment processing, Apple will not be able to issue refunds, and will have less ability to support customers encountering issues, scams, or fraud. Helpful App Store features  like Report a Problem, Family Sharing, and Ask to Buy  will also not reflect these transactions. Users may have to share their payment information with additional parties, creating more opportunities for bad actors to steal sensitive financial information. And on the App Store, users purchase history and subscription management will only reflect transactions made using the App Stores In-App Purchase system.

New Business Terms for Apps in the EU

Also today, Apple is sharing new business terms available for developers apps in the European Union. Developers can choose to adopt these new business terms, or stay on Apples existing terms. Developers must adopt the new business terms for EU apps to use the new capabilities for alternative distribution or alternative payment processing.

The new business terms for apps in the EU are necessary to support the DMAs requirements for alternative distribution and payment processing. That includes a fee structure that reflects the many ways Apple creates value for developers businesses  including distribution and discovery on the App Store, the App Stores secure payment processing, Apples trusted and secure mobile platform, and all the tools and technology to build and share innovative apps with users around the world.

Developers operating under either set of business terms can continue to use the App Stores secure payment processing and share their apps on the App Store in the EU. And both sets of business terms reflect Apples long-standing work to make the app ecosystem the best opportunity for all developers.

Developers operating under the new business terms will have the option to distribute their iOS apps from the App Store and/or alternative app marketplaces. These developers can also choose to use alternative payment processors in their EU apps on the App Store, across Apples operating systems.

The new business terms for iOS apps in the EU have three elements:

Reduced commission  iOS apps on the App Store will pay a reduced commission of either 10 percent (for the vast majority of developers, and subscriptions following their first year) or 17 percent on transactions for digital goods and services.

Payment processing fee  iOS apps on the App Store can use the App Stores payment processing for an additional 3 percent fee. Developers can use a payment service provider within their app or link users to their website to process payments for no additional fee to Apple.

Core Technology Fee  iOS apps distributed from the App Store and/or an alternative app marketplace will pay 0.50 for each first annual install per year over a 1 million threshold.
BOB Financial Solutions Limited (BFSL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of Baroda, has unveiled its new corporate identity  BOBCARD Limited. The rebranding effort is enhanced by the unveiling of a dynamic logo, aligned with the impactful positioning statement "Credit Reimagined."

Beyond a mere visual transformation, the rebranding of BOBCARD embodies a revitalized commitment to reimagine the countrys credit landscape with excellent credit solutions and customer-centric offerings. The new brand promise "Credit Reimagined" is a conviction of a customer-centric, solution-driven assistance that assures service through innovation. It is a creative showcase of products and services that have been reimagined to suit the ever-changing needs and preferences of everyone across the length and breadth of the country.

Excited about the new brand journey, Mr. Shailendra Singh, MD & CEO, BOBCARD Limited, states, "Today marks a pivotal moment in our journey as we unveil our refreshed brand identity. The strategic rebranding not only embodies adaptability but positions BOBCARD as a forward-thinking financial partner. At the heart of this transformation is our enduring commitment to elevate financial experiences and empower our community," Singh added.

As BOBCARD embraces the future, particularly appealing to the younger demographic, the symbol becomes a manifestation of fundamental valuesinspiring individuals to strive for financial excellence and capitalize on opportunities as they pursue prosperity. This emblem stands as a symbol of dependability in the financial panorama, a persistent commitment to reshaping possibilities.

This updated branding marks a pivotal stride for BOBCARD in aligning with modernity and ensuring relevance in the swiftly evolving financial terrain. The contemporary identity is designed to empower individuals from diverse demographics, offering them the tools to pursue their aspirations without the weight of financial worries.

About the New Logo:

A unique representation of a universal symbol, BOBCARD logo comprises dual B letterforms that hold the rays of the rising sun. It is called Baroda Sun.

Why the sun? Being the single most powerful source of light and energy, the suns far-reaching rays dispel darkness to illuminate everything they touch. Similarly, BOBCARD seek to be the source of light through which stakeholders realize their goals, customers discover a reliable financial partner, and employees find rewarding careers. This Baroda Sun has been adopted from its parent brand, Bank of Baroda (BoB), and is incorporated to reflect the legacy and ethos on which the brand stands. A fitting face for the new brand as a universal symbol of dynamism and optimism. BOBCARDs new corporate identity is a clear and strategically designed representation, which affirms that they are prepared for new business paradigms in a globalised world, while staying in touch with their heritage.

Logo is designed using single-colour vermillion palette that has been carefully selected to compliment with its distinct representation of hope and energy. Overall, the design strikes a balance between tradition and a progressive outlook, symbolizing the brand's dedication to both its rich legacy and contemporary approach.
As the nation celebrated the 75th Republic Day in 2024, the vibrant tapestry of festivities is not limited to parades and flag-hoisting. This great occasion has become a significant canvas for both online and offline brands to showcase their patriotic spirit while enticing consumers with captivating sales, offers, and creative marketing campaigns. Republic Day, beyond its historical significance, has transformed into a retail extravaganza where brands weave their narratives of celebration, unity, and customer delight.

In the digital realm, Republic Day has evolved into a major e-commerce event where online brands unfurl their digital banners with exciting sales and offers. E-commerce giants adorn their platforms with virtual tricolors, offering discounts and exclusive deals to commemorate the patriotic fervour. From fashion and electronics to home decor and appliances, online marketplaces compete to capture the attention of the vast online consumer base.

Chetan Siyal, CMO, Snitch

"Snitch is gearing up for a vibrant celebration in honour of Republic Day on the 26th of January. We are creating a memorable experience for our customers. From engaging social media content to potential in-store or online events, we aim to capture the patriotic spirit of the occasion. By aligning our activities with the values associated with Republic Day, Snitch seeks to strengthen its connection with customers and foster a sense of community.

We are set to make Republic Day special for our customers through a dynamic celebration. The highlight of this celebration is our generous 26% discount offered on our products to appreciate our customer base. In addition to the discount, we are planning to enhance our promotional efforts with visually appealing CGI ads. These ads will contribute to the overall patriotic atmosphere. By combining a substantial discount with creative advertising, we aim to provide a unique and enjoyable Republic Day experience for our customers."

Swati Rathi, Head of Marketing at Godrej Appliances

This Republic Day, we invite consumers to upgrade their homes with trusted and advanced Godrej Appliances. Consumers can benefit from the ongoing Republic Day offers available across channels, our authorized dealers, exclusive brand stores as well as through e-commerce websites. They can avail cashback offers, opt for easy EMI and zero down payments, get extended warranty applicable across our range of refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners, air coolers, microwave ovens, dishwashers and deep freezers.

Ayush Tainwala, CEO Bagzone Lifestyles Pvt Ltd

Offline sales during Republic Day are, not just a sale, but also a heartfelt gathering with our cherished customers. For us, it's not just about showcasing our products, but about creating a space where the brand and customer enjoy together in the rhythm of celebration. Beyond discounts, it's a tapestry of personal experiences, making each purchase a chapter in our journey together. It's a win-win, combining patriotism, shopping joy, and economic growth.

We believe in the magic of in-store experiences, and this Republic Day, we invite everyone to discover the joy of offline shopping at Lavie. Our store is not just a destination; it's a celebration of style and savings. Enjoy up to 60% OFF on the Entire Lavie Collection and an incredible 70% OFF on Lavie Sport, ensuring you elevate your fashion game without compromising your budget.

As a token of appreciation, our Limited-Edition Sale beckons you to shop for 5999/- and unwrap an extraordinary offera watch worth 5999/- at just 199/-. But the excitement doesn't end there. Avail an exclusive deal where any 1 product is yours at a fabulous 40% off, and when you indulge a bit more with any 2 products, enjoy an unbeatable 50% discount.

Mr. Varun Jairath, Founder of Purely Yours

"As part of our commitment to promoting exploration of Indian destinations, we are delighted to offer our Nalpamaradi Face Serum for free to travelers. Immerse yourself in the untouched charm of Lakshadweep's pristine beaches while ensuring your skin is shielded from harmful UV rays. Our 100% natural Nalpamaradi Face Serum has anti-tanning properties that not only provide protection but also enhances your skin's radiance. To avail this exclusive offer, present your return ticket from Lakshadweep and a hotel booking. Let Purely Yours accompany you on your journey, safeguarding your skin. The offer is valid till January 31, 2024."

Piyush Jalan, Co-founder and COO of GOVO

Our modern and contemporary audio systems have been meticulously crafted to enhance the spirit of patriotism that unites our diverse nation. Recognizing the profound impact of technology on this significant day, GOVO takes pride in offering advanced audio solutions known for their superior sound quality. Our commitment to excellence extends beyond the ordinary, aiming to elevate the Republic Day experience in both public and private domains. Whether resonating with the National Anthem or amplifying the essence of patriotic statements, our advanced audio systems play a pivotal role in enhancing these timeless rituals.

In alignment with our dedication to enhancing celebratory moments, I am pleased to announce a special Republic Day offer from GOVO. This exclusive promotion invites you to indulge in the power of superior audio while celebrating the sense of patriotism. Avail huge savings on our modern audio systems, and join us in commemorating this day where technology seamlessly converges with the spirit of togetherness and diversity.

Raj Patel, founder & CEO, SnapBuy India

"We operate in the coupons industry, and our profit margin is contingent upon the number of sales we generate for our affiliated merchant sites. Although we observe a noticeable surge in sales, particularly from platforms like Myntra and Mamaearth, the absolute numbers are not substantial due to our status as a startup. Nevertheless, we are in a phase of growth, having already facilitated over 700,000 lakh of Gross Merchandise Value (GMV), assisting brands in amplifying their sales and expanding their reach.

Looking ahead to 2024, our sales projections are promising. We are carving out a significant presence in the coupons industry through our distinctive campaigns, fostering awareness among the audience on smart shopping practices that enable them to save money. We have identified a growing interest in electronics and beauty brands among consumers, with a focus on brands like Boat and Noise."

Rajneesh Kumar, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Flipkart Group

"As we celebrate our Republic Day, we are thrilled to give our Flipkart Samarth partners a platform to promote their varied products and to present a gamut of India's rich historical culture to our 500 million plus customer base through this sale event. With the seventh edition, we remain resolute in our mission to continually fuel the growth and prosperity of local artisans, weavers, handicrafts, self-help groups, and communities of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). This Republic Day 'Crafted by Bharat' has been curated to showcase unique products with deep cultural stories and handwoven creations from different regions, offering a taste of Indias heritage. We further aim to provide many such opportunities to benefit our ecosystem of artisans, weavers, women entrepreneurs and MSMEs in the future.

Hong Ju Jeon, MD, LG India

We're absolutely thrilled to offer our consumers some very exciting offers ahead of Republic Day. This year, LG Electronics is also achieving the millstone of serving this beautiful country for 26 years. To mark this special year, we have introduced the '26 Years of Celebrating 26' campaign. It embodies our unwavering commitment to delivering innovative solutions to our valued customers. This celebration is a testament to the trust, loyalty, and the sheer delight we experience in introducing cutting-edge technology into Indian households. It's not just about the years that have passed; it's a celebration of the remarkable journey we've undertaken with our customers, and we are deeply grateful for their ongoing support.

Gaurav Pahwa, Director, Lotus Electronics

We are delighted to announce the Republic Day Festival sale, which is our way of thanking our customers for their continued support and loyalty. We have curated some of the best deals and offers on the latest and most popular electronics products, to make this Republic Day truly memorable for our customers. We invite everyone to visit our stores or our website and make the most of this festive opportunity.

In this rich amalgamation of online and offline endeavors, Republic Day 2024 becomes a dynamic stage where brands showcase their creativity, generosity, and commitment to being an integral part of the collective celebration. As consumers navigate the digital and physical realms in search of the best deals, Republic Day emerges not only as a historical milestone but also as a retail carnival that brings together the spirit of the nation and the joy of shopping.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has today started its Phase 1 investigation looking into Vodafone UKs joint venture agreement with Three UK.

The deal would combine the companies telecommunications operations under one single network provider.

Having now received the required pre-notification evidence and information from both Vodafone UK and Three UK, as well as early views from stakeholders, the CMA is starting its formal investigation.

The CMA now has up to 40 working days to assess the deal as part of a Phase 1 investigation. This review is designed to identify whether the deal may lead to a substantial lessening of competition and  if so  whether a more in-depth Phase 2 investigation is required.

Sarah Cardell, Chief Executive of the CMA, said:

This deal would bring together two of the major players in the UK telecommunications market, which is critical to millions of everyday customers, businesses and the wider economy. The CMA will assess how this tie-up between rival networks could impact competition before deciding next steps. We now have 40 working days to complete this formal Phase 1 investigation, before publishing our findings and any next steps.

The CMAs remit, by law, is to assess the potential impact of a merger on competition. It cannot consider other potential effects that a merger might have, for example, on access to personal data. National security concerns are a matter for the UK government, which may choose to intervene under the National Security and Investment Act if it finds concerns.

More information on the CMAs investigation can be found on the Vodafone / CK Hutchison JV case page.
Elon Musk's AI ambitions take a bold leap forward as his AI start-up xAI aims to raise a staggering $6 billion from global investors. This move positions xAI as a major contender in the burgeoning generative AI arena, with OpenAI, backed by Microsoft, as its key target.

The fundraising push spans continents, with xAI courting wealthy individuals and investors worldwide. Whispers of talks with family offices in Hong Kong, despite the territory's complex ties with Beijing, highlight the intensifying global AI race.

Musk's vision for xAI is ambitious. He seeks a $20 billion valuation, fueled by the $6 billion capital injection. This hefty sum reflects the colossal resources needed to develop cutting-edge generative AI models, demanding vast computing power, data, and specialized chips.

However, negotiations are in a flux, and Musk's target raise might shift. He's reportedly explored additional avenues, including sovereign wealth funds in the Middle East and potential investors in Japan and South Korea.

Meanwhile, xAI has already taken its first steps. In December, it launched Grok, a chatbot trained on social media data, touted to offer more current and comprehensive responses than rivals.

The pressure is on, as OpenAI boasts a sizable $13 billion war chest injected by Microsoft alone. Additionally, Anthropic and Cohere, fueled by tech giants like Google and Amazon, join the competition.

Musk's past connection to OpenAI adds an intriguing layer. He co-founded the company but later disagreed with its direction, particularly its perceived lack of safety measures and alleged censorship tendencies. This fueled his decision to launch xAI in July 2023.

Financial details of xAI's past funding remain murky. Public filings reveal a $1 billion fundraising goal through equity investors, with $135 million already secured. A reported $500 million raise in January further adds to the uncertainty.

Despite the complexities surrounding xAI's financial state, one thing is clear: Musk's AI ambitions are not to be underestimated. Whether xAI secures the coveted $6 billion and dethrones OpenAI remains to be seen, but one thing is certain - the battle for AI supremacy has just entered a new, high-stakes chapter.
According to recent media reports, Hemant Bakshi has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ola. Bakshi, who previously served as the chairperson of Unilever Indonesia, joined Ola earlier this year after relocating to India. The current CEO, Bhavish Aggarwal, is set to step down, as per the reports.

During his tenure at Unilever, Bakshi played a crucial role in overseeing sales growth in Indonesia.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. U.S. President Joe Biden's administration on Friday formally informed Congress of its intention to proceed with the $23 billion sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey, Reuters reports.

The State Department sent the notification to advance the sale of 40 Lockheed Martin F-16s and nearly 80 modernization kits to Turkey, a day after Ankara fully completed ratification of the NATO membership of Sweden, a move that became directly linked to the jet sales.

The Biden administration simultaneously advanced the sale of 20 Lockheed F-35 stealth fighter jets to fellow NATO ally Greece, an $8.6-billion deal that Washington advanced as it tries to strike a balance between two alliance members with a history of tense relations.

Turkey first made the request for the jets in October 2021, but Ankara's delay in approving the ratification of Sweden's NATO bid had been a major obstacle to winning congressional approval for the sale, according to Reuters.

Following 20 months of delay, the Turkish parliament earlier this week ratified Sweden's NATO bid, and subsequently U.S. President Joe Biden wrote a letter to key congressional committee leaders, urging them to approve the F-16 sale "without delay."

The State Department's Friday night notification came only a day after Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan gave his final sign-off on Sweden's ratification, and hours after the instrument of accession was delivered to Washington.

"My approval of Turkeys request to purchase F-16 aircrafts has been contingent on Turkish approval of Swedens NATO membership. But make no mistake: This was not a decision I came to lightly," said Democratic Senator Ben Cardin, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, one of four key committees that needs to approve arms transfers.

Turkey needs to urgently improve its human rights record, cooperate better on holding Russia accountable for its invasion in Ukraine and help lower the temperature in the Middle East, Cardin listed.

"My concerns have been strongly and consistently conveyed to the Biden administration as part of our ongoing engagement, and I am encouraged by the productive direction of their discussions with Turkish officials to address these issues," he said.

Leaders of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House of Representatives Foreign Affairs committees review every major foreign arms sale. They regularly ask questions or raise concerns over human rights or diplomatic issues that can delay or stop such deals.

Following the transfer of the formal notification by the State Department, the Congress has 15 days to object to the sale, after which it is considered final.

U.S. officials do not expect the Congress to block either sale, despite criticism of Turkey by some members.
Following his appointment as the Election Commission's national icon at a ceremony in October last year, Rajkummar Rao is set to participate in his first National Voters' Day event in Delhi on January 25.

The actor is scheduled to meet the President of India Droupadi Murmu, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and other election commissioners at the event, which is aimed at creating awareness, motivate voters and counter apathy among young voters who refrain from voting during elections.

Interestingly, Rao essayed the role of a government employee on election duty in the 2017 film Newton. Following the release of the film, the actor was appointed as brand ambassador for civic polls by the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram.
As one of the most successful film creators of a decade, Rishabh Shetty joins partnership with 100% swadeshi brand Ramraj Cotton, India's No.1 traditional & ethnic wear clothing's for men, women and kids. Kantara movie actor, Rishabh Shetty will be the new face and brand ambassador of Ramraj Dhotis, Shirts, and Kurtas. With this partnership, Ramraj Cotton hopes to expand the touch of swadeshi traditional wear across the country by paying homage to both the brands and Rishabhs swadeshi roots.

Renowned for his versatility and widespread appeal, Rishabh Shetty is set to bring his unique charm and relatability to the Ramraj Cotton brand. As the face of Ramraj, Shetty will play a pivotal role in enhancing the brand's visibility and resonance in urban as well as rural parts of India. This strategic move also aligns with Ramraj Cotton's commitment to fortify its presence in the Indian market.

Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Arun Eashwar, Managing Director, Ramraj Cotton said, "We are thrilled to welcome Rishabh Shetty to the Ramraj family as our brand ambassador. His widespread popularity and ability to connect with diverse audiences make him an ideal partner as we stay committed to strengthen our leadership in India. We look forward to extending the partnership to bring our brand story and high quality, sustainable traditional and ethnic wear to more and more people."

Actor Mr. Rishabh Shetty shared his enthusiasm, stating, "I am honoured to join hands with Ramraj Cotton, an iconic brand synonymous with tradition and quality. I am excited for this opportunity to represent the ethos of the brand and showcase their wide collection in markets across India.

Ramraj Cotton is gearing up for a ground-breaking high-octane 360-degree marketing campaign, which will prominently feature Rishabh Shetty. The campaign is poised to showcase the brand's commitment to quality, tradition, and style while leveraging Shetty's influence to captivate the audience across nook-and-corner of the country.
As one of the most successful film creators of a decade, Rishabh Shetty joins partnership with 100% swadeshi brand Ramraj Cotton, a leading name in traditional & ethnic wear for men, women and kids. Kantara movie actor Rishabh Shetty will be the new face and brand ambassador of Ramraj Dhotis, Shirts, and Kurtas. With this partnership, Ramraj Cotton hopes to expand the touch of swadeshi traditional wear across the country by paying homage to both the brands and Rishabhs swadeshi roots.

Renowned for his versatility and widespread appeal, Rishabh Shetty is set to bring his unique charm and relatability to the Ramraj Cotton brand. As the face of Ramraj, Shetty will play a pivotal role in enhancing the brands visibility and resonance in urban as well as rural parts of India. This strategic move also aligns with Ramraj Cottons commitment to fortify its presence in the Indian market.

Commenting on the occasion, Arun Eashwar, Managing Director, Ramraj Cotton, said, We are thrilled to welcome Rishabh Shetty to the Ramraj family as our brand ambassador. His widespread popularity and ability to connect with diverse audiences make him an ideal partner as we stay committed to strengthen our leadership in India. We look forward to extending the partnership to bring our brand story and high quality, sustainable traditional and ethnic wear to more and more people.

Rishabh Shetty shared his enthusiasm, stating, I am honoured to join hands with Ramraj Cotton, an iconic brand synonymous with tradition and quality. I am excited for this opportunity to represent the ethos of the brand and showcase their wide collection in markets across India.

Ramraj Cotton is gearing up for a ground-breaking high-octane 360-degree marketing campaign, which will prominently feature Rishabh Shetty. The campaign is poised to showcase the brands commitment to quality, tradition, and style while leveraging Shettys influence to captivate the audience across nook-and-corner of the country.
YCOM, a leading mobile accessories brand in the market since 2011, has launched its much-awaited brand campaign #ApniSuno for the Indian users. The campaign, featuring OTT famed actor Vijay Varma, marks the introduction of YCOM's innovative range of smart gadgets and mobile accessories, including neckbands, speakers, earpods, chargers and power banks.

Leading the charge of the video campaign is Vijay Varma, The star spoke to young artists and athletes, with the interaction highlighting a complete synergy between YCOM's cutting-edge gadgets and its young users.

The brand video campaign #ApniSuno has been conceptualized to resonate with the dynamic youth of India. Featuring Vijay Varma, the face of YCOM, whose emphatic performances in projects like Darlings, Gully Boy, Pink, Lust Stories 2, and many others, have made him Indias finest youth icon. The video campaign draws a narrative for todays GenZ and millennial audience who believe in balancing work & personal life, and encourages them to listen to their inner voice. At the heart of the campaign, the video captures the actor synergising with young artists and athletes, defining YCOMs brand identity of being a trendsetter in the smart gadgets and mobile accessories market. With this campaign, the brand emphasizes its allegiance to empower its consumer with attractive choices to premium and yet affordable smartphone gadgets and mobile accessories.

Commenting on the launch, actor Vijay Varma said, Growing up as an artist, I craved gadgets that could help me unlock my true potential with respect to how I perceived media, and I feel, YCOM does just that. The brand has taken significant strides when it comes to the smart gadgets landscape in India, and I am beyond thrilled to represent a brand that stands for youth power. Im honest when I say that it is more than just a brand. YCOM, through its affordable, high-quality, and intricately designed products, is truly empowering the younger generation to recognize their own power and worth.

The YCOM group brings along a diverse range of meticulously crafted audio products right from TWS, Neckbands, and Speakers. YCOMs charging solutions encompass chargers, charging cables, and power banks that are available across India in the offline market. YCOM is dedicated to providing reliable and affordable solutions to consumers.

Speaking on the campaign launch, Rithish Parthasarathy, Head of Marketing at YCOM said, "Vijay Varma has a strong resonance with Indian audience, driven by his versatile and hard hitting roles played across various OTT serieses and Indian movies. He embodies the essence of our brand vision and his versatility and ability to connect with the audience will significantly strengthen our relationship with consumers in the most organic way possible. We are excited to have him as the face of our latest brand campaign #ApniSuno and looking forward to a more fulfilling association.

The decade-old smart gadgets brand is geared up to expand its presence across major smartphone & gadgets markets across the country, including Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. The launch of its latest campaign #ApniSuno is at a strategic juncture to strengthen YCOMs image in the minds of its consumers, with the ambitious goal of becoming one of the top few mobile accessories brands in the country. The campaign will be launched on all digital and below-the-line (BTL) platforms on Republic Day.
Zee Media Corporation Limited proudly presents 'ZEE Bharat,' a ground-breaking fusion of news and culture officially unveiled on January 22, 2024, igniting news with the vibrancy of India's spirit. This channel revolutionizes news consumption by seamlessly blending impactful storytelling with a vibrant celebration of India's cultural richness and diversity.

Going beyond the conventional realms of news delivery, 'ZEE Bharat' stands out as a dynamic platform that offers a fresh, distinctly Indian perspective. More than just a news source, 'ZEE Bharat' is committed to amplifying the unheard voices of rural India, providing a platform for those who truly represent the diverse fabric of the nation. With an energetic line-up of anchors and a rejuvenated look, the channel embodies a dynamic approach to news delivery, investigative reporting and impactful stories that goes beyond information dissemination.

Interestingly, 'ZEE Bharat' unveils a striking visual identity marked by vibrant colors, sleek graphics, and contemporary set design. This carefully crafted atmosphere serves as a mirror reflecting India's cultural heritage, seamlessly merging with the nation's forward-thinking spirit. The channel's celebration of cultural richness is vividly showcased through a diverse colour palette resonating with the nation's energy. It doesn't just deliver news; it encapsulates the pulsating vibrancy and essence of India, setting unprecedented standards in news presentation.

Mr Abhay Ojha, CEO of Zee Media Corporation Limited, expresses his excitement about the launch, stating, "In the dynamic realm of media, Zee Media Corporation Limited stands resolute as a beacon of reliability and dynamism, driven by a belief in the transformative power of news. Our unwavering mission is to continually elevate the standards of journalism, offering our audience a trustworthy source amid the abundance of information. With 'ZEE Bharat,' we transcend the conventional boundaries of news. It's not merely a medium; it's a vibrant platform beckoning audiences to embark on a refreshing, distinctly Indian news journey. Brace yourselves for an exhilarating exploration where news intertwines seamlessly with the celebration of our nation's rich cultural tapestry and diversity."

Mona Jain, Chief Revenue Officer, Zee Media Corporation Limited, further highlighted, "ZEE Bharat transcends conventional news channels; it's an immersive experience that mirrors the cultural richness and pride of our country. Advertisers can now join us in this celebration, forging connections with audiences who seek more than just information  they seek an emotional connection with their heritage."

The unique Zee Bharatchannel can be accessed on various platforms with the following channel numbers: Dish TV (654), D2h (721), Tata Play (520), Airtel Digital TV (319), Sun Direct (587), Siti Cable (306), Siti Gujarati (403), Siti Bihar (181), Siti JHK WB (168), Den (311), Fastway (317), GTPL (246), Hathway (209), IN Digital Maharashtra (318), IN Digital Delhi (315), Radiant (312), NXT Digital (807), Digiana (316), dL GTPL (163), Take One Digital (173), Rajasthan Infotech (103), Signet Digital (561), Darsh Digital (514), UCN (105), Skynet (211), and more.

ZEE Bharat invites audiences to embark on this unique journey, where news becomes a celebration of the cultural pride that unites us as Indians.

Zee Media Corporation Ltd, one of India's leading media companies, has a strong presence in the news and regional genres, with 16 news channels in seven different languages, reaching more than 528+ million viewers through its linear and digital properties.
Police have so far arrested 19 persons in connection with a clash over a statue in Madhya Pradeshs Ujjain district, and the situation is peaceful in the area amid heavy presence of cops, an official said on Saturday. Members of two communities had clashed and pelted stones at each other after a statue of former deputy prime minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was pulled down by unidentified persons in Makdone tehsil on Thursday morning.

A total of 19 persons have been arrested so far in connection with the clash, said Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP-Rural) Nitesh Bhargava. They have been booked for rioting and using criminal force to deter a public servant from performing their duty.

He said markets are open in Makdone, and the situation is normal in the town.

There is peace between both groups, but the police are keeping an eye on the situation, he said, and added that the status quo remains intact at the disputed site.

No injuries were reported in Thursdays clash. However, it prompted authorities to deploy police personnel in large numbers in the Makdone area, located about 50 km from the district headquarters.

In a video of the incident, which went viral on social media, a group of people was seen pulling down the statue with a tractor. They wanted a statue of social reformer and the Constitutions chief architect Dr B R Ambedkar be installed at the site, instead of Patels, police sources had said.

The statue of Patel was installed at a site close to the Makdone bus stand on Wednesday night, they said. Bhargava said on Friday that they were still trying to find out when the statue was installed.








Web Toolbar by Wibiya

The Quebec Court of Appeal is currently reviewing a Notice of Motion against the Ville de Gatineau et al. after the Supreme Court of Canada deferred the matter on jurisdictional grounds. This is a pivotal case because it challenges the legality of language laws in Quebec given their impact on access to justice in Quebec's courtrooms and tribunals.

Raymond Carby-Samuels, whose critical research in constitutional law was inspired by Pierre Elliot Trudeau's championing of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, points out that Premier Francois Legaults government is pursuing an illegal direction. In his Notice to Quebec's Court of Appeal, Carby-Samuels shows that the Quebec court system's denial of access to court interpreter services is linked to the statutory legal framework codified by Bill-96, which says French is the "common language" of the province. He further argues that the ensuing legislation stands in complete violation of Canada's Charter as a means of denying equal access to justice and therefore must be aborted.

Carby-Samuels mounted the legal challenge in the wake of a Quebec Human Rights Tribunal hearing where Judge Catherine Pilon and a lawyer for DHC Avocats chose to speak to each other in court using only French, in complete awareness that Carby-Samuels would not be able to understand them. This behaviour was a violation of Supreme Court of Canada decisions that have sought to affirm the Canadian Charter; moreover, the choice is shocking as a clear oversight in law during a human rights tribunal.

Carby-Samuels has taken the position that Anglophones who seek to avail themselves of courts and tribunals in Quebec ought to be entitled to the same set of rights to a court interpreter as Francophones who enjoy such services outside of Quebec.

A Government of Ontario website stipulates that the province provides more than 150,000 hours of free court interpreter services as a result of the Supreme Court of Canada's decisions; these are the same decisions that Quebec and its court system scandalously ignore. Consideration is given to French speakers outside of Quebec, yet the province, which relies on substantive transfer payments from the other provinces, fails to offer the same courtesy to Quebec's non-Francophone populations.

The Independent Canadian Commission on Civil and Human Rights supported the previous Leave to Appeal in the Supreme Court of Canada. The Supreme Court made the unusual decision to re-direct the case to the Quebec Court of Appeal rather than quashing the matter, which is the norm after such applications for Leave to Appeal.

This new legal challenge is particularly striking because it is based upon a profound understanding of constitutional law, a factor lacking in the relatively superficial challenges against Bill 96 to-date. Additionally, this challenge is unrestrained by the culture of deference among the lawyers in Quebec, which leads them to appease the Quebec authority from which they receive their next paycheque. The challenge is furthermore based upon an intimate appreciation of the forces who seek to repress the rights of non-Francophones through draconian laws that make a mockery of the notion of Quebec as a democratic society.

Separatist-nationalist doctrine is at the root of Quebec's language laws, and the declaration by Quebec's provincial government that French is the "common language" has nothing substantively to do with actually protecting the survival of the French language; but it has everything to do with an apparent effort to divide, rule, and conquer through historically rooted mass-disinformation.

It was former Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau who stated that Canada is the true nation for the Francophone people. Notably, the very Canadian maple leaf has been a longstanding emblem for Francophones in their pursuit of cultural survival. This was documented in the introduction of Peter Tremblay's book entitled The Supreme Court Challenge Against Bill-96 and Quebec's Separatist Agenda: The Leave to Appeal for Access to Justice in Defence of Our Canadian Identity.

For the French settlers who arrived in the land that has been referred to as Canada since 1535, the maple leaf became a natural symbol of freedom in their newly adopted continent and demonstrated affinity with the indigenous communities whom they sought to emulate. In contrast, the fleur-de-lis conveyed the oppression of an Old World that French settlers left behind.

Pierre Elliot Trudeau understood this and championed the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to encapsulate and affirm the very values of the French settlers who began to refer to themselves as les Canadiens to distinguish themselves from les Francais. For les Canadiens, the maple leaf expressed the spirit of liberty, individual rights and freedom, and a multicultural bond with the peoples who were indigenous to the New World. These values were despised by the monarchical rulers of New France who rallied behind the fleur-de-lis as the emblem of the absolutist ruling Bourbon kings of France and the oppressive Roman Catholic authority that reinforced the monarchy.

The Quebec nationalists of today use the narrative of the preservation of the French language as a ploy for their true ambitions, which is to re-create New France, along with its Bourbon monarchy-inspired dictatorial values. They draw on the emblems and bigotry dismissed by Pierre Elliot Trudeau and other Francophones in Canada who regard themselves as non-conforming North Americans.

The current denial of rights for non-Francophones in Quebec is therefore rooted in fleur-de-lis revisionists who despise the "rebellious" North American value system of les Canadiens. Pierre Elliot Trudeau, on the other hand, championed les Canadiens and their ways of life, and it is this set of values that inspires Carby-Samuels in his pursuit to legally affirm a just society for all.

So-called "Quebec nationalism" and the "sovereignty-association" rhetoric of the current Legault government in Quebec are little more than efforts by Bourbon France revisionists to remove the values of les Canadiens entrenched in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The ancien regime of Bourbons, who haven't ruled Canada since the British victory over imperial France in the early 1760s, haven't been in power in France since the French Republic prevailed in the nineteenth century. However, the royal line lingered on and apparently lives through the impostors among Quebec's elites who seek to restore their control.

The prevailing rulers of Quebec, who seek to rally Quebec under the rubric of the fleur-de-lis, are, impostors. The Francophones of centuries past rallied under the symbol of the maple leaf. They would be shocked to learn that the very symbol of colonial repression by the monarchy of France is vaunted today as a symbol of liberation. The fleur-de-lis, the emblem of the kings of France, is no more of an actual symbol of liberation to Canadian Francophones than the Confederate flag is a symbol of liberation to black people.

Unlike the British monarchy, the Bourbon monarchy saw itself as having no relationship whatsoever to parliamentary democracy. They ruled with an iron fist, eventually causing France to descend into a brutal revolution under the weight of the self-righteous authoritarianism of its rulers. This is what inspires the present-day leaders of the National Assembly who hypocritically wrap themselves in Quebec's fleur-de-lis under an Orwellian deception that this is somehow a symbol of "anti-colonialism" while at the same time ignoring civil rights in Quebec.

In the rest of Canada, laws are to be respected, as are the decisions of the Supreme Court of Canada in particular. In Quebec, elites put on the guise of the Bourbons and govern with no regard for fundamental rights and freedoms or Supreme Court of Canada decisions. People across Canada see this inequity and have had enough.

The efforts of Quebec's apparent Neo-Bourbon aristocracy to now use the language of the Francophone masses to deny rights to non-Francophones in court systems and elsewhere in Quebec is immoral.

Bill-96 takes aim at Montreal because Francophones living there understand, more so than in any other part of Quebec, that they have nothing to fear from "the Anglos" or multiculturalism for that matter. Quebec's Neo-Bourbon aristocracy essentially aims to attack the "Canadianization" of Montreal as a cosmopolitan social milieu using a false narrative that French is in decline.

The typical Montrealer has come to realize, like the Francophones in Paris today and the Francophones who regarded themselves foremost as les Canadiens, that the ability to speak different languages, including English, does not pose a threat to their Francophone identity. Francophone culture in Quebec will survive and thrive through its own self-determination, just as Francophone identity has survived in other parts of Canada without the need to oppress others through language laws.

When the British took control of Canada, the oppressive ideology of the Bourbons lived on through French Roman Catholic Churches in what officially became Lower Canada. But the creation of the province of Quebec under the British North America Act, 1867, which led to the Confederation of Canada, gave the relics of imperial France a new opportunity to re-manifest their control in North America.

Neo-Bourbons linked to the power and influence of the French Roman Catholic Church used the establishment of Quebec to embed themselves at all levels of the government. This included taking control of the education system, the National Assembly, public and police services, and the court system, using this infrastructure to preach to Francophones that Canada is the enemy.

The Neo-Bourbons used their power to re-write the history taught to Francophones in the newly created province of Quebec, crafting a narrative designed to complement the "quasi-sleeper cells" of imperial France. Operatives characterized the very values of rights, freedom, and multiculturalism embraced by the Francophone settlers of the New World as threats to Francophones that must be eliminated.

For the Neo-Bourbons, the quasi-authoritarian approach to government epitomized by Bill-96 seeks to repress both non-Francophones and Francophones alike through a system of propaganda juxtaposed with an ethos of divide, rule, and conquer. All of this sabotages Quebec's development and the national unity of Canada.

Justin Trudeau has certainly not followed in his fathers footsteps regarding the need for vigilance against Quebec's disregard for the rule of constitutional law as vital to national unity. This disregard is having a fundamentally dysfunctional impact on Canadian society as Quebec takes billions of dollars from the national treasury as transfer payments while thumbing its nose at civil rights universally respected by Western democracies. Allowing Quebec to play against the rules affirmed in Supreme Court of Canada decisions has manifested as profound inequity and regional alienation.

Carby-Samuels's legal challenge recognizes the importance of language rights regarding access to justice, and how this denial in Quebec is part of an illegal system of language laws in Quebec that derogate from official bilingualism and multiculturalism.

During a Liberal convention in 1968, Pierre Elliot Trudeau spoke of an egalitarian ideal for Canada. It is this sentiment that the 1982 Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms encapsulates, and it is these words that inspired Carby-Samuels's legal challenge against Quebec's reactionary leaders who seek to destroy the Canadian Dream through their disingenuous narratives. In the words of Pierre Elliot Trudeau,

For me this rich, beautiful and energetic country of ours can become the model of a just society in which every citizen will enjoy his fundamental rights, in which two great linguistic communities, and peoples of many cultures will live in harmony. C'est ca le Canada.

It remains to be seen if the Court of Appeal will honour its role by agreeing to a process of judicial review in such a vital constitutional matter or show itself to be an extension of the corrupt and xenophobic provincial government of Premier Francois Legault, which turns its back against the rule of constitutional law.

The denial of access to justice in Quebec against non-Francophones under a veil of propaganda and deception, bolstered by the current Justin Trudeau governments outright refusal to intervene in defence of constitutional rights, connotes everything that is wrong about Canada today and puts it on the brink of dissolution.

There may still be hope for Canada to bring Pierre Elliot Trudeau's vision of a just society to fruition if we can overcome the sins of his son and the treachery of Quebec's elites. Carby-Samuels's litigation efforts seek to rejuvenate Francophone identity in Canada as part of a unified bilingual and multicultural society. For this to be achieved, courts across Canada need to ensure to all Canadians that our constitutional framework truly does guarantee access to justice and due process based upon mutual respect.

Legault and his fellow relics among Quebec's aristocracy regard the affirmation of Francophone identity through the oppression of others; we must put this way of thinking behind us as having no place in Canadian democracy.

The spirit of the Canadian maple leaf lives on today in the maple sugar shacks, or Cabanes-a-Sucre among Francophones, that welcome strangers of all nationalities to share a table and enjoy comfort foods of the maple syrup harvest. This coming together in the spirit of diversity and mutual respect seems to be beyond the realm of appreciation for Francois Legault and other so-called leaders of the National Assembly like Yves-Francois Blanchet. These politicians behaviour is akin to the fable of the "Emperors New Clothes" as their view of Quebec's relationship to Canada is based upon fictions.

A central goal of Carby-Samuels's litigation is to repeal Bill-96 and related language laws that derogate from access to justice. These policies must be declared as having "no force or effect" pursuant to Section 52 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The Independent Canadian Commission on Civil and Human Rights invites interested parties to contact them through their HumanRightsCommission.ca website to get involved as interveners in a collective effort to reaffirm rights and freedoms in Quebec. The Commission seeks to promote the French language and culture without subverting the integrity of the progressive values of our Charter.

For further information:

The Independent Canadian Commission on Civil and Human Rights

Tel: (514) 712-7516

E-mail: business@bellnet.ca

Website: HumanRightsCommission.ca
Alabama library directors will review 82 books flagged as potentially inappropriate for children.

The Alabama Public Library Service received dozens of submissions since publicizing a complaint form last month for parents concerned about the appropriateness of some resources available to children and teenagers in the states public libraries. The submissions cover a wide range of books  from Amish romance novels to Rush Limbaugh retellings of historical events. The list is intended to help librarians review books and will not necessarily prompt any local book bans.

APLS director Nancy Pack said an additional 43 submissions were removed from the list because the submitter didnt complete the form or because their address wasnt in Alabama.

This includes some that made statements about the list and did not provide any titles, Pack said. The list will be used as a tool for library directors. The list isnt publicly available on the services website but anyone can request a copy using Alabamas Open Records Act.

Pack said the library services executive board decided not to include the submitters names in the public record.

State staff will not confirm if the individual books are in Alabama public libraries. Pack said additional funds were spent on the lists creation but didnt provide an exact amount. In a previous interview with AL.com, Pack estimated the database would cost $70,000 to $80,000.

The list includes 24 books deemed inappropriate by Clean Up Alabama, an organization challenging books statewide. Sixteen of those books have LGBTQ characters or themes.

Notable inclusions are 15 Amish romance novels written by Linda Byler, five Left Behind books, five Rush Revere childrens books by Rush Limbaugh, and five books about divorce.

Submitters disagreed with specific sections of the books. Others disagreed with the entire premise of the book. These books include Rosiee Thors The Meaning of Pride, Being You: A First Conversation About Gender, Door By Door: How Sarah McBride Became the First Openly Transgender Senator, My Rainbow, and Red, A Crayons Story.

The complete list of book titles and authors is below.
A school resource officer in north Alabama was arrested Friday afternoon after authorities said he had sexual contact with a student.

Jairo Alexander Castillo, 32, of Collinsville, worked as an SRO through the DeKalb County Sheriffs Office, the agency said. The sheriffs office did not say which school Castillo worked at, but identified him as a former officer.

The sheriffs office and the DeKalb County Board of Education received complaints about Castillo and turned over the investigation to the State Bureau of Investigation, as is standard when a sheriffs office employee is being probed.

Following the investigation, Castilla was charged with two counts of having sexual contact with a student, the sheriffs office said.

He is being held in the DeKalb County Detention Center on $300,000 bond.

Its unfortunate that something like this has happened in our own community and it is definitely a black eye in many ways for us all. I believe in facing things whether good or bad head on and not sugar coating anything or being bias to anyone, said DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden in a statement.

I hoped and prayed these allegations were unfounded but according to the investigation, evidence proves otherwise and now its time to deal with it head on, the sheriff said. No one person is better than the other and we strive on fairness and that is exactly how this case with be handled, period.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. Armenian special operations forces and other military units participated in hybrid tactical exercises on January 26.

The exhibition drills held at a military training area were watched by Lt Gen Edward Asryan, the Chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces, and other military officials.

The purpose of the exercises was to introduce troops to the nature of disproportionate actions during modern warfare and to improve the strategic and tactical skills of the personnel, the Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

The drills involved various military units, including special operations forces, as well as indigenously produced armaments.

After the exercises the troops were awarded by Lt Gen Asryan at the order of Defense Minister Suren Papikyan on the occasion of Army Day.










English News Global artists pursue dreams in Jingdezhen, China's "porcelain capital"

Alwihda Info | Par pd - 27 Janvier 2024



The ceramic industry in Jingdezhen is flourishing, generating a revenue of 66 billion yuan (about $9.21 billion) in 2022. The local government has implemented favorable policies to support talented individuals who have chosen to settle in the city. These policies aim to preserve and develop the ceramics industry, fostering a community of skilled ceramic artisans and enthusiasts.

By Ye Zi As the night descended, Taoxichuan Ceramic Art Avenue, a cultural and creative block in Jingdezhen, east China's Jiangxi province, buzzed with a constant flow of people. Visitors were captivated by a dazzling collection of delicate ceramic handicrafts.



Wu Anran, a young designer, is no stranger to this scene. A decade ago, she started her business in Jingdezhen and had a stall in the area. Today, Wu owns her own studio, and her ceramic works have gained widespread popularity at home and abroad.



Jingdezhen, known as China's "porcelain capital," has become a magnet for young entrepreneurs like Wu.



In recent years, more than 60,000 people from all around the world have settled in this city, including over 5,000 foreigners at peak. Drawn by the allure of porcelain, these people have found a sense of belonging and fulfillment in Jingdezhen, where their dreams are realized.



Ceramics is a cultural treasure of China, playing a significant role in the country's history of international cultural exchange. Jingdezhen boasts more than 2,000 years of pottery history, over 1,000 years of official kiln history and over 600 years of imperial kiln history.



For more than 1,000 years, Jingdezhen ceramics have traveled along the Maritime Silk Road to the globe. Today, its rich ceramic culture continues to thrive, as different civilizations converge and blend in Jingdezhen.



"Anyone working with ceramics will want to come to Jingdezhen," said Stan from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.



Renowned for its high-quality clay used in porcelain manufacturing, Jingdezhen has a multitude of artisans and kilns gathered, attracting art lovers from across the globe who come here to learn, create, and exchange ideas.



Jingdezhen Ceramic University, located in the city, is the only multidisciplinary university in China named after ceramics.



In 2013, Stan came to the university to pursue a master's degree in traditional ceramic techniques. Today, he teaches at a school in his country and frequently visits Jingdezhen for learning and exchange.



"I'm captivated by the diverse range of porcelain here and the cultural atmosphere of Jingdezhen, which sparks my creativity," Stan expressed.



Jingdezhen Ceramic University has attracted over 3,000 international students from more than 60 countries and regions since the 1950s.



In 2021, South Korean artist Song Yeon-joo visited Jingdezhen for the first time and was fascinated by the abundance of ceramic workshops here. Previously focused on acrylic painting, Song expanded her artistic horizons when a friend suggested that she could combine painting with ceramics during her time in Jingdezhen.



The combination of traditional ceramic textures and modern abstract paintings is truly captivating.



"I absolutely adore the blue and white porcelain from Jingdezhen and I think it's a perfect fit for my ocean-themed ceramic paintings!" Song exclaimed excitedly.

"Here, no matter what kind of creativity you have, it will be embraced and can become a reality," she said.



Despite its small size, Jingdezhen serves as a global hub connecting people from all over the world.



Next to the site of an imperial kiln factory, there are art galleries, artists' studios, and other facilities. Regular events such as salons, lectures, and forums provide a platform for young people from various countries and cultural backgrounds to exchange and share ideas.



At a site of kilns that date back to the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911), domestic and foreign tourists paid a daily visit to learn pottery techniques from inheritors of intangible cultural heritage.



In an international ceramic art village in Jingdezhen, artists with diverse styles come together to exchange production techniques, igniting creativity and inspiration.



Jingdezhen has forged friendly relations with more than 180 cities in 72 countries. The renowned Taoxichuan International Art Center has become a hub for artists from over 50 countries, infusing the city with an international perspective and a dynamic creative ambiance.



These artists draw inspiration from the rich heritage of Jingdezhen, using their own artistic skills to propel the innovative growth of ceramic art and the wide promotion of ceramic culture.



The ceramic industry in Jingdezhen is flourishing, generating a revenue of 66 billion yuan (about $9.21 billion) in 2022. The local government has implemented favorable policies to support talented individuals who have chosen to settle in the city. These policies aim to preserve and develop the ceramics industry, fostering a community of skilled ceramic artisans and enthusiasts.



"Jingdezhen had numerous guilds during the Ming and Qing dynasties, and the city has always been renowned for its thriving and diverse communities. Its inclusive and openness constitute the city's cultural character, which is undoubtedly attractive to the younger generation," stated He Ding, an associate professor at the School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture.



With its complete ceramic production processes, well-established industrial infrastructure, rich cultural heritage, and distinctive urban spaces, Jingdezhen offers ample opportunities for cultural exchange and mutual learning of civilizations, providing people with more opportunities to pursue their dreams, He said.



Dans la meme rubrique : < > China's cruise economy embraces rapid development China still considered favorable investment destination by foreign companies China will remain staunch force for peace, stability, progress of world Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena)
Michael Shellenberger is a very talented environmentalist/journalist. For years his ideological outlook has been drifting right.

The bedrock of current day environmentalism is climate change -- the belief that increasing the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere due to burning fossil fuels will lead to an environmental and economic collapse. Climate change is the latest in a long string of pending catastrophes that last until everyone is bored and a new pending catastrophe must be wheeled in.

Shellenberger has written three books. His 2007 book, Break Through: Why We Cant Leave Saving the Planet to Environmentalists, was written with Ted Nordhaus. Ted Nordhaus is the nephew of the Yale economist William Nordhaus who also writes about climate change.

Break Through is critical of environmentalism's negative outlook. Shellenberger and Nordhaus advocate a more positive and optimistic approach. But the basic ideas of environmentalism and progressivism are not challenged. For example, this overwrought passage:

The challenge of climate change is so massive, so global, and so complex that it can be overcome only if we look beyond the issue categories of the past and embrace a grand new vision for the future.

Climate scientists rarely correct wild claims by environmentalists. Exaggeration by environmentalists helps promote the scientists importance without requiring them to commit scientific malpractice. Break Through repeats unscientific scare stories, for example increasing hurricanes, epidemics, and collapse of the Gulf Stream.

Shellenberger says that he wrote his 2020 book, Apocalypse Never: Why Environmental Alarmism Hurts Us All, to combat exaggeration and alarmism. It is to his credit that he repents for the exaggerations and alarmism that characterizes the environmental movement and his first book.

Apocalypse Never points out some of the grossest contradictions in the climate change movement. For example, if you believe that CO2 emissions are leading to a climate problem it is rational to adopt nuclear power because it doesnt emit CO2. But fanatical environmentalists oppose nuclear power and nuclear power stations are being closed in places like Germany. He also points out that the Lefts solution to reduce CO2 emissions, wind and solar, are not up to the job, although billions are being squandered on wind and solar.

Shellenberger clings to the idea that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is a reliable source of scientific estimations of the effect of CO2 on climate. The IPCC doesnt make predictions but projections. Projections are what the IPCC gets out of its computer models that typically use sketchy data as input to the models. The various models used by the IPCC disagree seriously with each other and with the Earths climate. Extremely important climate influencing agents are ignored or poorly handled by the models. Its highly irresponsible to promote this science as foretelling an approaching cataclysm. It is also highly rewarding for the many stakeholders in climate alarmism.

The IPCC is a creature of the United Nations. The UN is known for its Human Rights Council filled with member states that are notorious violators of human rights. The UN is a political body and generally hostile toward the United States. Why should we think that the IPCC is a reliable scientific body that takes the interests of humanity to heart? There is extensive literature exposing the corrupt nature of the IPCC.

Organizations established to help humanity like all bureaucracies tend to put their existence and budgets ahead of the ostensible mission. This can lead to self-promotion and exaggeration. Self-promotion and exaggeration is a strong trend in bureaucratic science, be it the IPCC, or various American scientific organizations concerned with the study of climate. For example, at one annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union, they ran a workshop on refuting critics of their climate policy. The object was to convert scientists into advocates spreading propaganda.

The Norwegian government gave the Nobel Peace Prize to climate catastrophe advocates Al Gore and the IPCC. Norway is a petro state with large offshore oil reserves showering money on the small population. Norways oil exports are responsible for vast emissions of CO2. But Norway gave the prize to opponents of burning oil. Neither Al Gore or the IPCC rejected the prize on the grounds that they shouldnt embrace CO2 polluters.

Shellenberger is a humanitarian. He points out the lack of compassion that leads governments to deny fossil fuel stoves to impoverished Africans, insisting that they continue to burn CO2-neutral dung and wood in smokey huts to cook their food. Meanwhile climate bureaucrats and virtue-signaling celebrities fly in private jets to climate conferences at five-star resorts.

Shellenbergers 2021 book, San Fransicko. Why Progressives Ruin Cities, is a frontal attack on progressivism as exemplified by the city of San Francisco. Chapter 16 is brutal. That chapter covers Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple cult. Jim Jones had close relations with the progressive power structure of San Francisco. The temple moved to Guyana where Jones forced the suicide of 907 members, including many children, by drinking cyanide.

In the same month of November 1978, Dan White, a former policeman and a former member of the San Francisco board of supervisors assassinated the mayor, George Moscone, and the gay supervisor Harvey Milk. Dianne Feinstein, chairman of the Board of Supervisors, made the announcement. In keeping with the lenient view of criminality of the times, the killer Dan White served only five years in prison.

Chapter 16 of San Fransicko denounces the moral corruption of progressivism in San Francisco but it may also be a plea for return to traditional religion. Abandoning traditional religion leaves a spiritual vacuum often filled by a cult.

At the University of Austin, Shellenberger revealed that he had returned to his Mennonite faith. His talk was a ruthless attack on progressivism. It was also a tribute to America. In his younger days, like many progressives, Shellenberger was hostile to his country. Now he endorses America and the American people.

San Fransicko is primarly about homelessness or colonies of drug addicts living on the streets of major cities. Shellenbergers solution is radically different from liberal ideology that often minimizes the effects of drug addiction and concentrates on providing housing. He favors the use of the police and courts to force the addicts into strict rehabilitation programs. He points out that this coercive approach has been successful in Europe.

Shellenberger gave an excellent presentation summarizing San Fransicko before the San Francisco Commonwealth Club.

When Elon Must took over Twitter he made Twitter censorship files available to a number of writers, including Shellenberger. The result was the Twitter Files, a series of reports showing how the government used Twitter to suppress information critical of the administration. That almost certainly caused Trump to lose the election in 2020 when the Hunter Biden laptop story was suppressed in establishment media.

After writing San Fransicko, Shellenberger changed his California voting registration from Democrat to Independent. He has even written an essay: Why I Am Not A Progressive. 

Why didnt he go all the way and switch to Republican? Plenty of Republicans believe in the IPCC too. Probably because he might lose his following. He ran for governor of California and received 4% of the vote -- a substantial fan base of mostly non-Republicans.

Ideological conversions from Left to Right or from atheist to believer are common. It appears that Shellenberger has taken both roads. He deserves our admiration for following his heart and risking his future.

Norman Rogers often writes on energy and climate change. He is the author of the book Dumb Energy about wind and solar.

Image: Michael Shellenberger
Its a .38 Special revolver. Up until one month ago, I had scant idea what such a gun looked like or could do. My husband eventually made the decision to get a gun, which surprised me a little as he is a very peaceable man. Yet, he is a lover of the U.S. Constitution: peaceable, but no fool. This week is our 30th anniversary. For our anniversary present, we bought the gun together.

We have talked about buying a gun over the past few years. We live in the South in a semi-rural area bordering the Gulf of Mexico. Traditionally, gun ownership is considered mostly normal here. It is by and large a quiet, working-class, family area, and nobody thinks of gun ownership as a threat to anyone but to those with evil intent.

However, the current reasons that many, many more are buying guns are not the pasts regular reasons; nor were our own reasons, this week, in any way regular. It was a scary decision, but we are not interested in being shot, molested, raped, or carted off from our home. We would rather take a stand for ourselves, for our lives. Our reluctance to submit to the growing tyranny in the United States has reached, if not our doorstep yet, a place in the core of our hearts. This is happening everywhere, to all sorts.

Isnt it interesting how much firepower the FBI commands, and how they regularly and with impunity break down the doors of the common people now? Isnt it curious how Joe Biden makes such a big noise about guns, but lives, travels, and sleeps in fortresses of one sort or another -- stationary or mobile?

Biden is not interested in everyday people who need to buy guns for personal protection-- not because they are terrorists (he is okay with that -- look at the border), criminals (ditto), or whacked out on prescribed psychiatric drugs. Rather, we everyday folks are small to Biden, and he just doesnt give a damn about us. I wont cite chapter and verse of his arrogance in the face of serial human tragedies on his watch, as President, because we have all seen and heard enough of that. Joe Biden is not afraid because he has been successfully involved in criminal enterprises throughout his adult life in politics and has not been touched, not by a feather, in reprimand or justice.

The rest of us have been, and are, affected daily by human tragedy; we are in fact living it. We are surrounded by the depressing vestiges of safety, liberty, and abundance enjoyed only a few years ago. We are not walking outside alone as much, getting out as much, or having much public communion. Bidens first term seems like forever, and it just gets worse day by day.

Almost every gun tragedy in the U.S. in recent memory has been the historical and current responsibility of liberal, Democratic policies. Almost every shooter has been accused of White supremacy by the lying media. Although that narrative has been debunked, time and time again, it is not loudly, ever, corrected in the media. The majority of deaths by gun occur in Black, subsidized neighborhoods, and most of those killings are Black on Black. The sequential fiascoes in Missouri, Virginia, Illinois, D.C., and New York (to name a few state venues) -- of laying shooting blame -- whether mass or individual--on gun rights and/or White supremacy, is an utter, factually proven sham. Communities across the country have been terminally wrecked by the long-term federal presence (read: takeover) subsequent to these shooting events. It is sometimes difficult to distinguish the real gun event from the choreographed.

Joe Biden and his leftist army have got nothing on guns, so they blame everything on race, or on U.S. citizens who have no interest in destroying their own country -- Bidens doing that job himself.

Guns have nothing to do with race. Even race, now, has nothing to do with race. We are a united, free people, and the Left hates that. They want it all for themselves; havent we noticed the common themes of greed, of control?

Americans -- Black, White, brown, whatever -- have taken note of the hellhole that the Left, led by Obama and Biden, has brought down on us. Patriotic American people are in this together and were drawing our own conclusions. Old and young, men and women. And, yes, we are buying more guns.

Image: PxHere
For the past 35 years, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has warned us that emissions from the burning of fossil fuels, predominantly carbon dioxide (CO2), are causing dangerous global warming. This myth is blindly accepted  even by many of my science colleagues who know virtually nothing about climate. As a scientist, my purpose here is to help expose this fairy tale.

The global warming story is not a benign fantasy. It is seriously damaging Western economies. In January 2021, the White House ridiculously declared that climate change is the most serious existential threat to humanity. From there, America went from energy independence back to energy dependence. Another consequence has been the appearance of numerous companies whose goal is to sequester CO2 as well as sequester carbon from our atmosphere. However, this so-called solution is scientifically impossible. Life on Earth is based on carbon! CO2 is plant food, not a pollutant!

Generations have been brainwashed for decades into believing this imaginary climate crisis, from kindergarten through college, and in mainstream media and social media. Indoctrinated young teachers feel comfortable teaching this misinformation to students. Dishonest climate scientists feel justified in spreading disinformation because they need governmental support for salaries and research.

The evidence contradicting the climate apocalypse is vast. Some comes from analysis of Greenland and Antarctica ice, in which air trapped at various depths reveals CO2 levels of past climate. Proxy records from marine sediment, dust (from erosion, wind-blown deposition of sediments), and ice cores provide a record of past sea levels, ice volume, seawater temperature, and global atmospheric temperatures.

From his seminal work while a prisoner of war during WWI, Serbian mathematician Milutin Milankovitch explained how climate is influenced by variations in the Earths asymmetric orbit, axial tilt, and rotational wobble  each going through cycles lasting as long as 120,000 years.

It is widely recognized that Glacial Periods of about 95,000 years, interspersed with Interglacial Periods of approximately 25,000 years, correspond with Milankovitch Cycles. Multiple incursions of glaciers occurred during the Pleistocene, an epoch lasting from about 2.6 million to 11,700 years ago, when Earths last Glacial Period ended. Around 24,000 years ago, present-day Lake Erie was covered with ice a mile thick.

Within each Interglacial Period, thereve been warming periods, or Mini-Summers. For example, within the current Holocene Interglacial, there have been warmer periods known as the Minoan (15001200 B.C.), Roman (250 B.C.A.D. 400), and Medieval (A.D. 9001300). Our Modern Warming Period began with the waning of the Little Ice Age (13001850). Todays Mini-Summer is colder so far than all previous Mini-Summers of the last 8,500 years.

How did CO2 get blamed for global warming? French physicist Joseph Fourier (1820s) proposed that energy from sunlight must be balanced by energy radiated back into space. Irish physicist John Tyndall (1850s) performed laboratory experiments on greenhouse gases (GHGs), including water vapor; he proposed that CO2 elicited an important effect on temperature. However, its impossible to do appropriate experiments  unless the roof of your laboratory is at least six miles high. Swedish chemist Svante Arrhenius (1896) proposed that warming is proportional to the logarithm of CO2 concentration. Columbia University geochemist Wallace Broecker (1975) and Columbia University adjunct professor James Hansen (1981) wrote oft-cited articles in Science magazine, both overstating the perils of CO2 causing dangerous global warming  without providing scientific proof.

Most of Earths energy comes from the sun. Absorption of sunlight causes molecules of objects or surfaces to vibrate faster, increasing their temperature. This energy is then re-radiated by land and oceans as longwave, infrared radiation (heat). Princeton University physicist Will Happer defines a GHG as that which absorbs negligible incoming sunlight but captures a substantial fraction of thermal radiation as it is re-radiated from Earths surface and atmospheric GHGs back into space.

The gases of nitrogen, oxygen and argon  constituting 78%, 21%, and 0.93%, respectively, of the atmosphere  show negligible absorption of thermal radiation and therefore are not GHGs. Important GHGs include water (as high as 7% in humid tropics and as little as 1% in frigid climates), CO2 (0.042%, or 420 parts per million [ppm] by volume), methane (0.00017%), and nitrous oxide (0.0000334%, or 334 ppm). Water vapor (clouds) has at least a hundred times greater warming effect on Earths temperature than all other GHGs combined.

As atmospheric CO2 increases, its GHG effect decreases: CO2s warming effect is 1.5C between zero and 20 ppm, 0.3C between 20 and 40 ppm, and 0.15C between 40 and 60 ppm. Every doubling of atmospheric CO2 from todays levels decreases radiation back into space by a mere 1%. For most of the past 800,000 years, Earths atmospheric CO2 has ranged between about 180 ppm and 320 ppm; below 150 ppm, Earths plants could not exist, and all life would be extinguished.

Todays global atmospheric CO2 levels are ~420 ppm. Even at these levels, plants are partially CO2-starved. In fact, standard procedures for commercial greenhouse growers include elevating CO2 to 8001200 ppm; this enhances growth and crop yield ~2050%. As shown by satellite since 1978, increased atmospheric CO2 has helped green the Earth by more than 15 percent, substantially enhancing crop production.

If global atmospheric CO2 was ~280 ppm in 1750, and its ~420 ppm today, whats the source of this 140-ppm increase? Scientists estimate that human-associated industrial emissions might have contributed 135 ppm  with natural causes accounting for the remaining 5 ppm.

In Earths history, the highest levels of atmospheric CO2 (6,0009,000 ppm) occurred about 550450 million years ago, which caused plant life to flourish. CO2 levels in older nuclear submarines routinely operated at 7,000 ppm, whereas newer subs keep CO2 in the 2,000- to 5,000-ppm range. Meanwhile, ice core data over the last 800,000 years show no correlation between global warming or cooling cycles and atmospheric CO2 levels.

CO2 in our lungs reaches 40,00050,000 ppm, which induces us to take our next breath. Each human exhales about 2.3 pounds of CO2 per day, which means Earths 8 billion people produce daily 18.4 billion pounds of CO2. But humans represent only 1/40 of all CO2-excreting life on Earth. Multiplying 18.4 billion pounds by 40 gives us 736 billion pounds of CO2 per day. This approximates the overall CO2 excreted by the total animal and fungal biomass on the planet.

Daily emissions from worldwide industry in 2020 were estimated to be 16 million metric tons of CO2 equivalents. If one metric ton is 2,200 pounds, then total industrial emissions amount to 35,200,000,000 (35.2 billion) pounds of CO2 per day. This means that the entire animal and fungal biomass (736 billion pounds) puts out more than 20 times as much CO2 as all industrial emissions (35.2 billion pounds)!

Can any clear-thinking person comprehend the facts above and still create a company with idiotic plans to sequester CO2 or sequester carbon? Scientifically, net zero and carbon footprint are meaningless terms. There is no climate crisis.

If you try to find these facts on the web, good luck! Out of every 10 hits on any climate topic, youll be lucky to find one or two sites with truthful scientific data.

The door of a nearby classroom displays a poster of Abraham Lincoln with the caption: Dont believe everything you read on the internet. It is advice that our 16th president surely would have offered  had he lived to see the rise of this global warming quasi-religion.

Daniel W. Nebert is professor emeritus in Gene-Environment Interactions at the University of Cincinnati. He thanks Professor Will Happer (one of the CO2 Coalition directors) for valuable discussions.

Image: Marco Verch Professional Photographer and Speaker via Flickr, CC BY 2.0.
Germanys Der Spiegel is a shameful example of European leftism. As early as February 2017, after Trump had just been inaugurated, the magazines editorial team published an infamous cover showing the Republican brandishing the severed head of the Statue of Liberty, dripping with blood, to make it clear that Trump was going to guillotine the US democracy, no less.

On January 20, 2024, the rag was at it again! Trump has not yet been re-elected, but the narrative of the transnational left is that the head of the MAGA movement is going to be a dictator. On the cover, theres a photograph of a martial, presidential Trump, who is respectfully saluting the troops (a magnificent Trump, actually). On the lower left, though, is this enormous wart for a title: DIKTATOR TRUMP! Ein Szenario (Dictator Trump! A Scenario).

When the daily Die Welt strongly criticized the cover, Rene Pfister, the weeklys editor-in-chief, retorted: Der Spiegel does not seek to shock anyone, but we want to show the real issues at stake. Democracy, freedom of the press, justice are all at stake. So many elements clearly threatened.

Note that each word describes the exact opposite of the truthat least, the truth when it comes to Trump. In fact, for the last three years, Bidens lawless statue apparatus has trampled underfoot all these supposedly threatened.

Image: Trumps image at a Dusseldorf parade. YouTube screen grab.

The irony is rich in other respects: First, is a German the right person to be giving lessons on dictatorship? Germans are the same people who saw nothing to fear at home in the 1930s and now see nothing to fear in what is happening today, right next to them, at the World Forum in Davos.

There, wannabe-Diktator Klaus Schwab (whose values can be paraphrased as you will own nothing, you will eat bugs and you will be happy) agrees with the words of European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, the perfect Kapo for the globalist clique. She describes the urgency of fighting against misinformation and disinformation and industrial-scale disinformation. The specific information she decries serves as an obstacle to the climate change and global health policies the enlightened elites desire, all for the good of the peasants.

In addition, what does Der Spiegel know about Trump and American realities apart from what the left-wing American media invent and repeat? Strictly nothing. Every TV production that comes from the Wests democracies just repeats the same lies.

Listening to von der Leyen or looking at Der Spiegels cover, one must ask, do these fake and evil elites feel weakened by the farmers uprisings in Europe? By a 2024 electoral agenda that promises to be stormy for globalist dictators? And above all by the enthusiasm of the people and the real elites for a return of Trump? Clearly so. Worried but still arrogant, the Davos caste had invited participants who were completely opposed to their agenda while secretly hoping that these invitations would be rejected. However, the most prominent of them, Argentine President Javier Milei, an anarchist libertarian, and outstanding conservative Kevin D. Roberts (Professor of History, then Director at Wyoming Catholic College before being asked to chair the Heritage Foundation), picked up the challenge to bring some pushback to the fake elites.

Milei spoke golden words condemning the neo-Marxist Davos elites because he knows first-hand the devastation to be expected from this ideology.

Roberts, who heads Project 2025, which is intended to help the future Republican president effectively and constitutionally fight the administrative state (the swamp of unelected bureaucrats who managed to succeed in bringing Trump down in 2020), bluntly warned that all the proposals put forward by the WEF (Davos) would be rejected wholesale by a conservative administration, that it was laughable that the WEF could claim to be both protector of liberal democracy and accuse Trump of being a future dictator, that it was the WEF that was a danger to global public security with its promotion of massive illegal immigration and its catastrophic climate policies, without omitting the folly of its embrace of China, the No. 1 adversary of America and all free peoples on the planet. And you give them a platform!

When the transnational left, running the whole gamut from the extremely wealthy elites with undue powers down to pathetic journalists in search of fame, regurgitates to us ad nauseam that Trump threatens democracy, as do all those who dare to have a skeptical opinion of the imposed narrative, we must understand that they are not speaking of true democracy, where the most diverse opinions can be expressed, but of their own democracy. That is to say, they fear the very opposite; namely, preserving their own interests through dictatorship. Its just that they lack the courage to name the goals for what they are while having the nerve to accuse their opponents of their sins.
When last we visited the Texas border, the Supreme Court had just issued a one-line order saying that the federal government did not have to stop its efforts to cut down concertina wire that Texas had used at Eagle Pass to slow the flood of illegal aliens entering the state. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a defiant announcement that he would not stop putting up concertina wire (and, notably, nothing in the Supreme Courts order says he must), and 25 other governors supported him. Since then:

Donald Trump spoke out to support Abbott and the other governors:

Carpe Donktum warned that the left would use Trumps announcement to again cry out insurrection:

Just wait, they will say that Trump's call for all governors to deploy their national guard to Texas is a "Second Insurrection" and they will try to charge him criminally, and bar him from office.



Count on it.  Carpe Donktum (@CarpeDonktum) January 25, 2024

He was prophetic. The leftist Twitterati promptly announced that Trumps statementwhich reaffirms Americas necessary sovereignty and notes Bidens illegal actionsamounted to an insurrection:

Trump calls for another insurrection



He ordered MAGA lawmakers to block legislation and refuse to compromise on a border deal, while he's simultaneously stoking fear and rage that the problem isn't being solved.https://t.co/FQIJpsTNfM  StrictlyChristo  (@StrictlyChristo) January 27, 2024

Trump appears to be inciting another insurrection pic.twitter.com/VFSbPo1LKP  Adam Parkhomenko (@AdamParkhomenko) January 25, 2024

Wrap your mind around the thinking here: Its now an insurrection to call for the government to follow explicit American law. As Inigo Montoya told Vizzini, You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

Still, George Orwell understood that the person with power controls language, which may explain why James Lindsay is very worried about where this leftist insurrection talk can lead in the coming election:

This and push to disqualify as many of those 26 states electorally as possible, all if Biden signs the act and they press. You have no idea how close this is. https://t.co/ETRxIp2bLv  James Lindsay, anti-Fascist (@ConceptualJames) January 26, 2024

Joe Biden, meanwhile, issued an ultimatum to Abbott: Back down or Ill sic the Border Patrol on you. However, that didnt work out quite as planned when the Border Patrol agents, speaking through their union, refused to be sicced. Instead, the union declared its members allegiance with the Texas National Guard:

Rank-and file BP agents are not going to start arresting TX NG members for following their LAWFUL orders. That's fake news.



TX NG and rank-and-file BP agents work together and respect each other's jobs. Period. If TX NG members have LAWFUL orders, then they have to carry out  Border Patrol Union - NBPC (@BPUnion) January 26, 2024

BREAKING: A Senior CBP Official tells FOX:



"the relationship between Border Patrol, Texas DPS, & TMD remains strong... Bottom line: Border Patrol has no plans to remove infrastructure (c-wire) placed by Texas along the border. Our posture remains the same." @FoxNews  Griff Jenkins (@GriffJenkins) January 26, 2024

This solidarity may explain why Gov. Abbott, during a telephone call with Tucker Carlson, said he is confident that he can hold his own against the Biden administration. He explained that hes received National Guard infusions from ten other states and that he has people in Texas who can replace the National Guard if Biden tries to federalize them. He knows that the rank and file are with him:

In an interview from India, Gov. Greg Abbott says ten other states have sent national guard to the Texas border, and others will follow. Abbott says he is prepared for a conflict with federal authorities. pic.twitter.com/F58MLoOsAZ  Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) January 26, 2024

And why are the rank and file with him? Well, theres the usual news about cities breaking under the strain of six million declared and who knows how many tens of millions of undeclared illegal aliens; about black communities up in arms that the Democrat party has abandoned them; about sex, drug, and child trafficking; and about murderous cartels having total control over our southern border.

However, recently, people are beginning to figure out that this really is an invasion. Geiger Capitals footage of hundreds of young, fit men flooding into America is unnerving, to say the least:

Bidens policy is open borders. Everything else is noise.pic.twitter.com/mwZM1rZHaV  David Sacks (@DavidSacks) January 26, 2024

Theres also the fact that its very likely that an illegal border crosser who told an interviewer, If you are smart enough, you will know who I am, but you are really not smart enough to know who I am. But soon you gonna know who I am. Very soon, is a convicted Islamist terrorist recently released from prison in Azerbaijan:

A migrant who illegally crossed into the United States threatened me, saying "You find out who I am very soon," simply because I asked him where he was from. These are the people @AliMayorkas @POTUS @DHSgov and @CBP are letting in. pic.twitter.com/iblMnNndpa  1strespondersmedia (@1strespondermed) January 21, 2024

Remember that guy who illegally entered our country and threatened that soon we will find out who he is?



This is reportedly him. He was released from prison last year after serving 12 years for arms trafficking and terrorism.



Hes now roaming our country.



This is https://t.co/9rxtm7BBNn pic.twitter.com/kCiWePWYmC  Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) January 24, 2024

And thats not just one interaction. Bill Ackman, who is reluctantly recognizing that the Democrat party is deliberately destroying America, brought to his 1.2 million X followers attention a letter that ten retired FBI employees (many of whom held high positions) wrote to House speaker Mike Johnson and various committee members responsible for intelligence and national security:

Please read the below letter. I find the @FBI agents message irrefutable and extremely concerning.



It is shocking that @POTUS is fighting Texas attempt to protect our southern border.



Why arent Federal agents protecting our border rather than fighting to keep the border https://t.co/y2flahOqA6  Bill Ackman (@BillAckman) January 26, 2024

In the letter, the former FBI employees bluntly state that

Military aged men from across the globe, many from countries or regions not friendly to the United States, are landing in waves on our soil by the thousands It would be difficult to overstate the danger represented by the presence inside our borders of what is comparatively a multi-division army of young single adult males from hostile nations and regions whose background, intent, or allegiance is completely unknown.

Biden, panicking, has introduced legislation that he promises will make the border more secure:

BREAKING: Biden has just issued a statement on immigration. Does anyone have any problem with this? If so why?



*****

For too long, we all know the borders been broken.



Its long past time to fix it.



Thats why two months ago, I instructed my team to begin negotiations with pic.twitter.com/cgBfMUmNvs  Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) January 27, 2024

Did you get the passive voice lie in the first sentence that the borders been broken? That ignores that it was Biden, on his very first day in office, who issued executive orders removing all forms of border control, a policy he followed right up through last week before the Supreme Court. As for the bill itself, its a secret, with Republican senators barred from seeing it. We know, though, that it still allows 5,000 illegal entries per day, as well as granting de facto amnesty. That gives a pass to what is still openly conceded to be illegal. It is fundamentally lawless.

Finally, a two-word warning to people who think that a proposed truckers convoy is the answer: January 6.

This is almost certainly a set-up. Yes, well-meaning people are involved, but its hopelessly naive to believe that FBI insiders arent working behind the scenes to encourage whats happening and, once the truckers reach the border, to foment violence. Indeed, Lara Logan, who knows people within the government, explicitly warns that this is a set-up:

Be aware - numerous sources indicate the federal govt is planning to try make this another fake insurrection and go after people in the convoy the same way they targeted people for exercising their constitutional rights on January 6th.. They are already tracing and tracking https://t.co/7TGQygFnns  Lara Logan (@laralogan) January 26, 2024

Currentlyand amazingly in a wonderful wayit looks as if the nations Republican governors, from Gov. Abbott on down, have things well in hand. We The People, need to give that process time to play out before leaping into another giant Deep State sting.

Image: X screen grab.
Axios has a scoop, but I call it a bombshell: According to a Biden administration official, when it comes to the Biden administrations approach to Israel, the most important thing is Biden winning his election. Little things like an allys fight against an openly genocidal enemy or stability within the always volatile Middle East? Meh. What matters is power.

Here are the main points from the Axios essay:

President Biden last week pressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to scale down the Israeli military operation in Gaza, stressing he is not in it for a year of war, two U.S. officials told Axios. Why it matters: Biden's comments during the two leaders' call last Friday reflect the growing U.S. concern about the continuation of the war and the president's desire to see it end long before the November elections. A Biden adviser told Axios the White House is very concerned about losing young voters, many of whom are opposed to the president's policy on the Gaza war.

A source close to the White House said Biden can't have the war and the growing death toll to continue dominating the news cycle as the elections get closer.

This is the same administration that has been comfortable for two years now funding Ukraine in its non-winnable war against Russiaand, indeed, Biden has promised to fund Ukraine for as long as it takes. The Ukraine war, of course, is not an existential war for Ukraine. It began because Russia wanted to achieve control over a border region that is almost entirely ethnically Russian and that has been the site of aggressive Ukrainian action against the people living there.

As Steven Kopits wrote here before that war ever began, the whole thing could have been resolved if Russia had simply purchased the disputed territory. Bidens administration, however, was always determined to go to war and had no interest in pursuing alternatives.

Things are a bit different in Israel. Since the moment the UN recognized her existence, the surrounding Muslim nations have been open about their desire to eradicate her presence from the face of the earth, including killing all her Jewish residents. To date, the Muslims have tried this in 1948, 1956, 1967, 1973, 1982, 2006, and October 7 (and that doesnt include the non-stop terrorism attacks and Intifadas within Israels borders since the 1970s). Additionally, Hamas, which Iran funds, has told its supporters to kill Jews wherever they find them, not just in Israel, something in line with Mohameds order to that effect.

As an old Jewish man is reported to have said when he walked out of Auschwitz, When someone says they want to kill you, believe them. And yet Joe Biden has told a long-standing American ally that its neighbors genocidal intentions are irrelevant. All that matters is that Biden gets reelected.

Stopping genocide? Well, its Jews, so who cares?

World security? Biden is leading from behind, so hes no longer interested.

Hearing Hail to the Chief when he walks into the room or satisfying Mrs. Joe Bidens desire for perpetual prestige? Yup, those are winners.

Another priority for his administration is making sure that the man on whose watch the world is exploding and imploding still manages to lead his party to another victory.

Ive never liked or respected Joe Biden. Indeed, I disliked him so thoroughly that I didnt think it was possible for me to feel even greater disdain for him. But with this revelation that Biden will abandon an ally fighting for its life as a nation and for the lives of every one of its citizens because hes got to make some screaming, neurotic, genocidally hate-filled young people vote for himwell, it turns out that there are scum-filled depths of moral depravity that Biden has yet to plumb.

The problem for Israel is that, while it has the weapons, Americathat is, Bidencontrols a great deal of the ammo for those weapons. Its to be hoped that Israel has some tricks up her sleeve to offset that problem because Biden has once again proven that having the U.S. as your ally, at least under a Democrat administration, is utterly meaningless.

Image: Biden and Netanyahu. YouTube screen grab.
It is difficult to believe ones own eyes and ears when watching todays news: high-standing Western politiciansfrom the UNs Antonio Guterres to the UKs Grant Shapps (its Secretary of State for Defense) to Americas President Bidenare deploying all possible efforts to stop Israels war against Hamas, something that can only benefit Hamas. In some ways, that was to be expected.

Whats worse is that 15 Jewish-American congressmen have pushed for the creation of a Palestinian state. They did this even though Hamas has made clear that this means Israels destruction and the annihilation of that nations Jews. Even in Israel, Jews rallied to require an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and a peace deal with Hamas.

I am unable to wrap my head around this, but here is an obviouseven if not perfectparallel: During the Holocaust, in the ghettos where Jews had been concentrated to be shipped to death camps, Germans organized the so-called Judenrate, or Jewish Councils, which were composed of influential members of Jewish communities. The Judenrate found themselves helping the Nazis to herd up the Jews, calm them down, and deceive them so that they would obediently march to gas chambers.

Image: Jewish Voices for Peace demanding a ceasefire. YouTube screen grab.

These Jewish councilors were acting in the vain hope that they could save lives. Most obviously, they hoped to save themselves, their relatives, and their friends. However, they hoped that by organizing the chaos of the ghettos and proving Jewish usefulness to the war effort, they could save other Jews as well. Of course, they were terribly mistaken: They would go the same way as their victims, simply a few months later. Warsaw ghetto Judenrate chairman Adam Czerniakow was never hanged nor sent to the camps; he killed himself rather than execute the Nazi order that he prepare the inhabitants of Janusz Korczaks Jewish orphan house to be deported. The Nazis executed Korczak and most of his orphans were gassed at Treblinka.

But of course, todays Judenrate arent quite like the Judenrate living under Nazi control. The latter tried to save Jewish lives. Todays Judenrate are pursuing policies that make millions of Jews vulnerable to genocide. They are Jewish Leftists who side ideologically and politically with modern Nazis. They are doing what they are doing because they believe in the righteousness of these horrors. Theyre much worse than the Judenrate members.

But of course, the horrors Israel experienced and against which she fights have implications beyond Jewish existence. Hamas is the same as ISIS. Look at the photos of their soldiers: big, strong, hefty young men, well equipped and well trained, who are after all of us, Jewish or not. Israel is for them but the small Satan; in fact, they aim at the great SatanUSAand they openly say so. They are modern barbarians trying to flood our civilized world. Have you seen videos of what they did in Beeri kibbutz?

And now, the big question: Why is all this happening right now? Its because of the Democrats in the White Housebecause of the third term of Obama, a man who has been open about his soft spot for Islam, whether he spoke of the Holy Koran, insisted that Islam has demonstrated through words and deeds the possibilities of religious tolerance and racial equality, or made billions of dollars available to Iran to help fund its nuclear program. Americas leftists are approaching an extremely dangerous turn: Another Democrat president means the end of our civilization. Only Trumps victory can now save us.

Igor Mel'cuk is a scientist, ex-Soviet ex-dissident, professor emeritus at the University of Montreal, and member of the Royal Society of Canada.
Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA), a famously left-wing and pro-abortion member of Congress with a 100% rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America, recently introduced a bill to outlaw glue traps designed to eliminate rodents ... because he considers them to be cruel and inhumane. The glue traps, that is.

Lieu took to social media to lobby for the criminalization of glue traps, the use of which he deems to be ruthless:

He tweeted:

Glue traps are among the cruelest ways to eliminate rodents. They're inhumane and can be dangerous to humans and their pets.



Pleased to introduce a bill today to place a national ban on glue traps. Learn more: https://t.co/UtfDpcL9DO  Rep. Ted Lieu (@RepTedLieu) January 17, 2024

Glue traps are among the cruelest ways to eliminate rodents. They're inhumane and can be dangerous to humans and their pets. Pleased to introduce a bill today to place a national ban on glue traps.

Last year, West Hollywood, not surprisingly a city in Lieus home state, became the first city in the country to ban glue traps, due to their purported cruelty to rats.

Speaking of rats, Rep. Adam Schiff, also a congressman from California, and who represents West Hollywood, is an original cosponsor of Lieus bill. (Takes one to know one, I guess. He probably feels a certain kinship.)

On his official House website, Lieu stated:

As a proud member of the Animal Protection Caucus, Im pleased to introduce this bill to stop the needless suffering of these animals.

But he disdains pro-life folks and the pro-life movement.

Go figure. (No word on if Lieu is simultaneously sponsoring a bill to legalize unfettered abortion up to the moment of birth.)

On the same House website, PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman was obviously deeply moved by the pro-rodent bill, stating:

PETA thanks Rep. Ted Lieu for his compassion and leadership in introducing the Glue Trap Prohibition Act of 2024.

Compassion!

Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund, was similarly thrilled with Lieus humanity for his rat constituents, saying in the same release:

Glue traps are cruel, inhumane, and outdated methods of removing rodents from homes and businesses.

But syringes, forceps, curettes, vacuums, and speculums -- used in abortions -- are somehow not cruel and inhumane ways of removing human babies from a mothers uterus?

Monstrous.

Glue traps are nowhere needed more than in Washington, D.C., which is overrun by ratssuch as Lieu and Schiff.

Tone-deaf doesnt begin to describe people who can advocate for unrestricted abortion on the one hand and a ban on glue traps for rodents on the other. This is mindboggling in its insanity. It is truly indicative of mental illness.

It is why I occasionally write a satire piece like P.E.T.A. Fundraiser for an Abortion Clinic or First Annual Fundraiser for Invasive Species Prevention and Illegal Immigration Advocacy, both of which were penned years ago.

Unfortunately, this kind of madness you can see coming.

Image: Pexels / Pexels License
YEREVAN, JANUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. The Gardman-Shirvan-Nakhijevan Pan-Armenian Union, an organization comprised of representatives of Armenians of the historical Gardman, Shirvan and Nakhijevan, has called on international organizations to thwart the growth of Azerbaijani fascism to prevent future tragedies.

The organization made the statement in response to Azerbaijans intentions to withdraw from the Council of Europe after its delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) was suspended.

The latest developments in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the suspension of the Azerbaijani delegation based on numerous violations and non-fulfillment of fundamental obligations stemming from its membership to the organization, as well as continual disregard towards the Council of Europe decisions, have caused deep discontent in Azerbaijan," Gardman-Shirvan-Nakhijevan Pan-Armenian Union said in a statement. "Unwilling to face the crimes of the Azeri regime, the Azeri pro-regime circles are interpreting this decision of PACE with false allegations of Islamophobia, Azerbaijanophobia and other similar hypocritical interpretations. Furthermore, as an alternative to solving the issue, instead of committing to a rightful elimination of the consequences of the perpetrated crimes, Azerbaijan is discussing its withdrawal not only from PACE, but also the Council of Europe. In addition, Azerbaijan could refuse to recognize the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights. Such conduct by Azerbaijan is nothing short of a systematic disregard and neglect for political relations, accepted and conventional norms of international relations that have developed over many decades. Not once has Azerbaijan announced on the high level that international law is a remnant of the past which only weak states can rely on. Withdrawing from international organizations and even refusing to recognize the jurisdiction of international courts confirms the ideology and policy which the Azerbaijani dictatorship is pursuing, which aims to avoid bearing the responsibility for the crimes against humanity which it has perpetrated, and also to secure the continuity of impunity for its future expansionist actions. It is noteworthy that such steps had been taken by the Nazi and fascist regimes in the past century, particularly, they would withdraw from the then-League of Nations in order to avoid even any formal factor restricting their criminal actions. Gardman-Shirvan-Nakhijevan Pan-Armenian Union is calling on international organizations to not allow the spread of Azerbaijani fascism and to prevent future tragedies by practically holding them to account, taking into consideration past experience, the union said.
The media and other Democrats have been attacking Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas for years because they do not like his conservative opinions.

Now they are demanding that Thomas recuse himself on whether Trump can stay on the ballot in Colorado because, heaven forbid, Thomas's wife had an opinion on the 2020 election.

According to the Daily Signal:

There will have to be a lot of recusals in the future if the standard becomes whether a spouse has an opinion on something.

Such reasoning is unfair, unsound, unwarranted and strikingly hypocritical.

By this logic, maybe leftist Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson should have to recuse herself on everything related to medicine since her husband is a doctor and he surely has an opinion on medical issues and she clearly benefits financially on things related to medicine.

She could never rule on Obamacare, abortion, Medicare, Medicaid, or malpractice.

She couldn't rule on anything related to COVID or drugs.

Democrats clearly only care about power. They threaten Supreme court justices if they rule on things they don't like.They threaten to stack the Supreme Court if they don't behave.

The media and other Democrats intentionally mislead the public that the Supreme Court created a constitutional right with Roe v. Wade.

The Supreme Court cannot create laws or Constitutional rights.

That is the job of legislators throughout the country.

If Democrats wanted Roe v. Wade to become the law, they had fifty years to propose it in Congress.

As recently as 2009 and 2010, the Democrats had the White House and huge majorities in the House and Senate, yet they didn't introduce a bill.

Why didn't President Obama, Joe Biden, Sen. Chuck Schumer, or House Speaker Nancy Pelosi introduce a bill if it was such a high priority?

They certainly know that Congress can change hands and high court rulings can be reversed.

Did they want the issue instead of doing the job?
Things are getting hotter than usual along the southern U.S. border, brought to a head by the U.S. Supreme Courts decision earlier this month that allows the federal government to remove razor wire the Texas government installed along a section of the Texas-Mexico border.

While this would not normally be a problem, things are anything but normal along the border right now because the Biden Administration not only doesnt want to do its constitutional duty to protect the country and enforce the laws of the land, it doesnt want anyone else doing it either.

That doesnt sit well with Texas governor Greg Abbott, whose state is receiving the brunt of record numbers of illegal aliens crossing the border and the problems that brings. In fiscal year 2023, federal agents had more than two million encounters with illegal migrants coming to the United States, not to mention how many made it over the border without being seen by the authorities.

In the wake of the decision, Texas has not only chosen to ignore the ruling because it denies the states constitutional right to self-defense, the state is apparently erecting even more razor wire along its border.

The federal government has broken the compact between the United States and the States. The Executive Branch of the United States has a constitutional duty to enforce federal laws protecting States, including immigration laws on the books right now, Abbott said. President Biden has ignored Texass demand that he perform his constitutional duties.

The Biden Administration now finds itself on a greased tightrope during an election year. If it cracks down on Texas for breaking the law by disobeying the Supreme Court, then what could very likely be a Republican administration next year could crack down on sanctuary cities and states that break the law. If the Biden administration lets the razor wire stay, then it will anger Democrats during an election year.

The thing is, not only are Republicans against the federal government on this issue, so are many Democrats in the big liberal cities who are seeing crime rise, services decrease, and schools being turned into migrant centers because of decisions being made by their own party.

Then theres the question of whether Texas is actually violating the law. Yes, the federal government has the authority to enforce immigration law. However, Abbott pointed out in his statement, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and the other visionaries who wrote the U.S. Constitution foresaw that States should not be left to the mercy of a lawless president who does nothing to stop external threats like cartels smuggling millions of illegal immigrants across the border.

He said the administration hasnt ensured its obligation found in Article IV,  4 of the Constitution to guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion.

This failure allows for Article I,  10, Clause 3 to go into effect. This says that a state, without consent of Congress can engage in War if it is actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay.

The invasion is underway, and the next Alamo for Texas might be Eagle Pass.

Michael A. Letts is the CEO and Founder of In-VestUSA, a national grassroots non-profit organization helping hundreds of communities provide thousands of bulletproof vests for their police forces through educational, public relations, sponsorship, and fundraising programs.

Image: Library of Congress
The current CEO of Google is Mr. Sundar Pichai however, but the company used to be led by a man named Eric Schmidt. After leaving the company in 2018, he decided to embark on other ventures. According to a new report, Eric Schmidt has been working on his own company to build AI-powered Kamikaze drones for Ukraine.

The company is called White Stork, and it shares its name with the Ukrainian national bird. Were not quite sure how old the company is, but its very much a startup. Also, its under a spree of shell companies, one of which is named Volya Robotics OU. Not much is known about these companies, but we know that they have one clear objective.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Eric Schmidt is developing his own company to build AI-powered Kamikaze drones

Right now, Russia and you Ukraine are gripped in a war and have been for over a year. The United States is in support of Ukraine, and Eric Schmidt has been working on ways to aid in this regard. Since leaving Google, he has since led the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence. So, building a company that supplies explosive-equipped Kamikaze drones seems to be a logical next Step.

This sounds like something out of an action sci-fi film, but its the truth. The company is developing drones armed with explosives to help Ukraine fight off Russian forces. According to the Wall Street Journal, a drone carrying a small amount of explosives would cost around $400. That seems like a reasonable price for such a device, seeing as many mid-range smartphones cost at least $100 more than that. So the impact on the Department of Defenses budget seems to be minuscule.

Also, it appears that Ukraine is in the market for drones from its allies. So, it seems rather auspicious for White Stork. Obviously, Eric Schmidt and everyone working at white Stork hope to sell a ton of drones. Hopefully, the need to buy explosive-carrying Kamikaze drones wont linger for too much longer.
EXCLUSIVE: UPDATE 9.30 am, 1/27 PT The producers of Daniel Espinosas Italy-set immigration drama Madame Luna have expressed dismay at a lawsuit lodged against them by filmmaker Binyam Berhane, who says they misappropriated an original story and material created by him for the film.

The lawsuit filed in L.A. County Superior Court last week is directed at David Herdies at Stockholm-based company Momento Film as well as Los Angeles-based Rhea Films and the Luxembourg-based Hercules Film Fund.

More from Deadline

It is with great dismay that we read Mr. Berhanes version of events, which differs drastically from ours. Since a lawsuit has been filed we cannot go into the details of our defenses at this time. It is with sadness that the universal message of Madame Luna is being unfairly tarnished by this unnecessary litigation, said Herdies in an emailed response.

Hercules Film Fund and Rhea Films issued a separate joint statement.

Hercules Film Fund and Rhea Films have a policy of not commenting on pending litigation, and, in any event, have not been served with this lawsuit. Although Hercules, a Luxembourg entity, provided partial distribution financing to Madame Luna, a European production, neither Hercules nor Rhea has any contractual relationship with the plaintiff, Mr. Berhane, it read.

Especially given the importance of the universal message of this film, we hope this matter will get resolved in a timely manner without further distraction from the creative efforts of the filmmakers.

ORIGINAL 11.28 am PT 1/26 Swedish-Eritrean filmmaker Binyam Berhane has filed a $2 million lawsuit against the producers of Daniel Espinosas Italy-set immigration drama Madame Luna ahead of its world premiere at the Rotterdam Film Festival this weekend.

Story continues

Berhane says the movie, inspired by a real-life Eritrean refugee who became a notorious human trafficker operating between Libya and Italy, is based on an original story and research he brought to lead producer David Herdies at his Stockholm-based company Momento Film in 2013.

Filed this week in L.A. County Superior Court, the theft-of-project lawsuit (read it here) also is directed at Luxembourg-based Hercules Film Fund and Los Angeles-based production company Rhea Films, which joined Momento Film in the production.

Berhanes lawyer Scott Humphrey told Deadline that Momento had entered into option agreements with Berhane to make the Madame Luna project but never exercised the options, instead proceeding to make the feature film with other partners.

I have no idea if it was intentional or not on their part to not have properly secured Mr. Berhanes rights in the film prior to the final production of the film, but it clearly violates Mr. Berhanes legal rights in the project, Humphrey said. Defendants are now distributing the film fully aware of Mr. Berhanes rights as the undisputed originator of the project. Hence, the lawsuit.

Humphrey is seeking damages on Berhanes behalf in excess of $2 million on five causes of action spanning theft of the project, breach of contract, using Berhanes name and likeness without his permission, copyright infringement and fraud.

As per the complaint lodged at the Santa Monica Courthouse: In addition to being the original sole creator of the project, Berhane developed significant substantive material for the project including but not limited to a treatment, and outline for the project as well as authoring/co-authoring early drafts of the screenplay on which the current film is based.

The complaint details how Momento initially entered into an option agreement effective November 12, 2013, under which Momento could acquire rights in a documentary.

During the documentary option period, Berhane re-envisioned the story as a narrative feature film, and he and Momento signed a subsequent option agreement for the narrative feature film on November 15, 2014, the suit says.

The complaint says Berhane had entered into the option agreements in the belief that they would develop the project on a collaborative basis.

The respective options expired on December 13, 2015, and February 28, 2017, without Momento exercising them.

It is uncontested that Momento never exercised the option to acquire the rights for either the documentary or narrative films or acquire the rights to the project, reads the suit.

As far as Berhane knew, the project was not moving forward, given that the period for the exercise of the options had both expired by March 2017.  Berhane was thus extremely surprised to receive a call from David Herdies of Momento on August 8, 2022 informing Berhane for the first time that the project had moved forward with Daniel Espinosa as director, and as Berhane would later come to learn that the producers had a screenplay written by Maurizio Braucci, reads the complaint.

The complaint says that Brauccis screenplay revised and replaced the derivative screenplay written by Berhane with Palestinian filmmaker and screenwriter Suha Arraf.

During the August 8, 2022 call, Mr Herdies demanded Berhane assign all his rights to the story and project. Among the terms on offer  was an invitation for Berhane to come to Italy to visit the set.

The suit continues that Berhane subsequently discovered on his own that the project was not in development, as Herdies had inferred in the August 8 call, but rather nearing completion.

The producer defendants had nearly completed the film  a project that should have been Berhanes first feature, it reads.

The complaint says the producer had continued to use the filmmakers name and image to support the production, citing a pitch at the MIA Coproduction market in 2017 and an article in 2022 announcing that Espinosa had boarded the project.

He also was named as the director of the project at a co-production event at the Trieste Film Festival in early 2017, one month before the narrative option expired.

Madame Luna by Binyam Berhane wins the TRL Espresso Award at @TriesteFilmFests #WEMW. Ready for #MIA2017 and @Film_London PFM in October! pic.twitter.com/ub346XqClV  MIA | Mercato Internazionale Audiovisivo (@MIAmarket_Rome) January 25, 2017

The exploitation of Berhanes name and likeness, given his direct Eritrean lineage, lent the project credibility it needed in the current environment, the suit reads.

It adds that the theft of Berhanes project and use of his name and likeness, was particularly ironic, considering the subject matter of the film is about the exploitation of individuals of African descent.

Following its Rotterdam world premiere in the Limelight section this weekend, Madame Luna heads onto the Goteborg Film Festival next week.

Best of Deadline

Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
(Caveat: what follows below the cut line is my brain dump , from 20km up, in lay terms, of what went wrong. I am not a convention runner and I haven't been following the Chengdu mess obsessively. If you want the inside baseball deets, read the File770 blog . If you want to see the rulebook, you can find it here (along with a bunch more stuff). I am on the outside of the fannish discourse and flame wars on this topic, and I may have misunderstood some of the details . I'm open to authoritative corrections and will update if necessary.)

The Guardian got bits of the background wrong, but what's undeniably true is that it's a huge mess. And the key point the press and most of the public miss is that they seem to think there's some sort of worldcon organization that can fix this.

You've probably seen news reports that the Hugo awards handed out last year at the world science fiction convention in Chengdu were rigged. For example: Science fiction awards held in China under fire for excluding authors .

SF conventions are generally fan-run (amateur) get-togethers, run on a non-profit/volunteer basis. There are some exceptions (the big Comiccons like SDCC, a couple of really large fan conventions that out-grew the scale volunteers can run them on so pay full-time staff) but generally they're very amateurish.

SF conventions arose organically out of SF fan clubs that began holding face to face meet-ups in the 1930s. Many of them are still run by local fan clubs and usually they stick to the same venue for decades: for example, the long-running Boskone series of conventions in Boston is run by NESFA, the New England SF Association; Novacon in the UK is run by the Birmingham SF Group. Both have been going for over 50 years now.

Others are less location-based. In the UK, there are the British Eastercons held over the easter (long) bank holiday weekend every year in a different city. It's a notionally national SF convention, although historically it's tended to be London-centric. They're loosely associated with the BSFA, which announces it's own SF awards (the BSFA awards) at the eastercon.

Because it's hard to run a convention when you live 500km from the venue, local SF societies or organizer teams talk to hotels and put together a bid for the privilege of working their butts off for a weekend. Then, a couple of years before the convention, there's a meeting and a vote at the preceding-but-one con in the series where the members vote on where to hold that year's convention.

Running a convention is not expense-free, so it's normal to charge for membership. (Nobody gets paid, but conventions host guests of honourSF writers, actors, and so onand they get their membership, hotel room, and travel expenses comped in the expectation that they'll stick around and give talks/sign books/shake hands with the members.)

What's less well-known outside the bubble is that it's also normal to offer "pre-supporting" memberships (to fund a bid) and "supporting" memberships (you can't make it to the convention that won the bidding war but you want to make a donation). Note that such partial memberships are upgradable later for the difference in cost if you decide to attend the event.

The world science fiction convention is the name of a long-running series of conventions (the 82nd one is in Glasgow this August) that are held annually. There is a rule book for running a worldcon. For starters, the venue is decided by a bidding war between sites (as above). For seconds, members of the convention are notionally buying membership, for one year, in the World Science Fiction Society (WSFS). The rule book for running a worldcon is the WSFS constitution, and it lays down the rules for:

Voting on where the next-but-one worldcon will be held ("site selection")

Holding a business meeting where motions to amend the WSFS constitution can be discussed and voted on (NB: to be carried a motion must be proposed and voted through at two consecutive worldcons)

Running the Hugo awards

The important thing to note is that the "worldcon" is *not a permanent organization. It's more like a virus that latches onto an SF convention, infects it with worldcon-itis, runs the Hugo awards and the WSFS business meeting, then selects a new convention to parasitize the year after next.

No worldcon binds the hands of the next worldcon, it just passes the baton over in the expectation that the next baton-holder will continue the process rather than, say, selling the baton off to be turned into matchsticks.

This process worked more or less fine for eighty years, until it ran into Chengdu.

Worldcons are volunteer, fan-organized, amateur conventions. They're pretty big: the largest hit roughly 14,000 members, and they average 4000-8000. (I know of folks who used "worked on a British eastercon committee" as their dissertation topic for degrees in Hospitality Management; you don't get to run a worldcon committee until you're way past that point.) But SF fandom is a growing community thing in China. And even a small regional SF convention in China is quite gigantic by most western (trivially, US/UK) standards.

My understanding is that a bunch of Chinese fans who ran a successful regional convention in Chengdu (population 21 million; slightly more than the New York metropolitan area, about 30% more than London and suburbs) heard about the worldcon and thought "wouldn't it be great if we could call ourselves the world science fiction convention?"

They put together a bid, then got a bunch of their regulars to cough up $50 each to buy a supporting membership in the 2021 worldcon and vote in site selection. It doesn't take that many people to "buy" a worldconI seem to recall it's on the order of 500-700 votesso they bought themselves the right to run the worldcon in 2023. And that's when the fun and games started.

See, Chinese fandom is relatively isolated from western fandom. And the convention committee didn't realize that there was this thing called the WSFS Constitution which set out rules for stuff they had to do. I gather they didn't even realize they were responsible for organizing the nomination and voting process for the Hugo awards, commissioning the award design, and organizing an awards ceremony, until about 12 months before the convention (which is short notice for two rounds of voting. commissioning a competition between artists to design the Hugo award base for that year, and so on). So everything ran months too late, and they had to delay the convention, and most of the students who'd pitched in to buy those bids could no longer attend because of bad timing, and worse ... they began picking up an international buzz, which in turn drew the attention of the local Communist Party, in the middle of the authoritarian clamp-down that's been intensifying for the past couple of years. (Remember, it takes a decade to organize a successful worldcon from initial team-building to running the event. And who imagined our existing world of 2023 back in 2013?)

The organizers appear to have panicked.

First they arbitrarily disqualified a couple of very popular works by authors who they thought might offend the Party if they won and turned up to give an acceptance speech (including "Babel", by R. F. Kuang, which won the Nebula and Locus awards in 2023 and was a favourite to win the Hugo as well).

Then they dragged their heels on releasing the vote countsthe WSFS Constitution requires the raw figures to be released after the awards are handed out.

Then there were discrepancies in the count of votes cast, such that the raw numbers didn't add up.

The haphazard way they released the data suggests that the 911 call is coming from inside the house: the convention committee freaked out when they realized the convention had become a political hot potato, rigged the vote badly, and are now farting smoke signals as if to say "a secret policeman hinted that it could be very unfortunate if we didn't anticipate the Party's wishes".

My take-away:

The world science fiction convention coevolved with fan-run volunteer conventions in societies where there's a general expectation of the rule of law and most people abide by social norms irrespective of enforcement. The WSFS constitution isn't enforceable except insofar as normally fans see no reason not to abide by the rules. So it works okay in the USA, the UK, Canada, the Netherlands, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and all the other western-style democracies it's been held in ... but broke badly when a group of enthusiasts living in an authoritarian state won the bid then realized too late that by doing so they'd come to the attention of Very Important People who didn't care about their society's rulebook.

Immediate consequences:

For the first fifty or so worldcons, worldcon was exclusively a North American phenomenon except for occasional sorties to the UK. Then it began to open up as cheap air travel became a thing. In the 21st century about 50% of worldcons are held outside North America, and until 2016 there was an expectation that it would become truly international.

But the Chengdu fubar has created shockwaves. There's no immediate way to fix this, any more than you'll be able to fix Donald Trump declaring himself dictator-for-life on the Ides of March in 2025 if he gets back into the White House with a majority in the House and Senate. It needs a WSFS constitutional amendment at least (so pay attention to the motions and voting in Glasgow, and then next year, in Seattle) just to stop it happening again. And nobody has ever tried to retroactively invalidate the Hugo awards. While there's a mechanism for running Hugo voting and handing out awards for a year in which there was no worldcon (the Retrospective Hugo awardsfor example, the 1945 Hugo Awards were voted on in 2020nobody considered the need to re-run the Hugos for a year in which the vote was rigged. So there's no mechanism.

The fallout from Chengdu has probably sunk several other future worldcon bidsand it's not as if there are a lot of teams competing for the privilege of working themselves to death: Glasgow and Seattle (2024 and 2025) both won their bidding by default because they had experienced, existing worldcon teams and nobody else could be bothered turning up. So the Ugandan worldcon bid has collapsed (and good riddance, many fans would vote NO WORLDCON in preference to a worldcon in a nation that recently passed a law making homosexuality a capital offense). The Saudi Arabian bid also withered on the vine, but took longer to finally die. They shifted their venue to Cairo in a desperate attempt to overcome Prince Bone-saw's negative PR optics, but it hit the buffers when the Egyptian authorities refused to give them the necessary permits. Then there's the Tel Aviv bid. Tel Aviv fans are lovely people, but I can't see an Israeli worldcon being possible in the foreseeable future (too many genocide cooties right now). Don't ask about Kiev (before February 2022 they were considering bidding for the Eurocon). And in the USA, the prognosis for successful Texas and Florida worldcon bids are poor (book banning does not go down well with SF fans).

Beyond Seattle in 2025, the sole bid standing for 2026 (now the Saudi bid has died) is Los Angeles. Tel Aviv is still bidding for 2027, but fat chance: Uganda is/was targeting 2028, and there was some talk of a Texas bid in 2029 (all these are speculative bids and highly unlikely to happen in my opinion). I am also aware of a bid for a second Dublin worldcon (they've got a shiny new conference centre), targeting 2029 or 2030. There may be another Glasgow or London bid in the mid-30s, too. But other than that? I'm too out of touch with current worldcon politics to say, other than, watch this space (but don't buy the popcorn from the concession stand, it's burned and bitter).

UPDATE

A commenter just drew my attention to this news item on China.org.cn, dated October 23rd, 2023, right after the worldcon. It begins:

Investment deals valued at approximately $1.09 billion were signed during the 81st World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon) held in Chengdu, Sichuan province, last week at its inaugural industrial development summit, marking significant progress in the advancement of sci-fi development in China. The deals included 21 sci-fi industry projects involving companies that produce films, parks, and immersive sci-fi experiences ..."

That's a metric fuckton of moolah in play, and it would totally account for the fan-run convention folks being discreetly elbowed out of the way and the entire event being stage-managed as a backdrop for a major industrial event to bootstrap creative industries (film, TV, and games) in Chengdu. Andlooking for the most charitable interpretation herethe hapless western WSFS people being carried along for the ride to provide a veneer of worldcon-ness to what was basically Chinese venture capital hijacking the event and then sanitizing it politically.

Follow the money.
Efforts to put out a fire on a British-linked oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden have continued throughout the night after the vessel was struck by Houthi rebels.

The UK and its allies reserve the right to respond appropriately following the latest attack claimed by the Iran-backed group, the Government has said.

The Marlin Luanda went up in flames on Friday after Houthi threats to shipping in the region persisted despite the latest round of joint US-UK strikes against rebel sites in Yemen.

The ship is operated on behalf of Trafigura, a multinational trading giant domiciled in Singapore, and sails under the flag of the Marshall Islands but is managed by Oceonix Services Ltd, a company registered in the UK.

(PA Graphics)

In a statement on Saturday, Trafigura said the safety of its crew remained the utmost priority as it battles to control the blaze.

No injuries or casualties have been reported in respect of the incident on board the Marlin Luanda, a spokesperson said.

The crew is continuing efforts to control the fire in one of the ships cargo tanks with support from military vessels. The safety of the crew remains our utmost priority.

It comes after another incident in the region on Friday in which two missiles were reported to have exploded in the water and vessel and crew are safe and no damage reported.

The Yemeni forces claimed on Friday they had targeted a British oil vessel following American-British aggression against our country.

The Houthis have repeatedly launched attacks on vessels around the Red Sea over Israels war on Hamas in Gaza, although they have frequently targeted ships with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, endangering shipping on a key global trade route.

A second series of UK and US airstrikes, carried out at the start of the week, appears to have done little to deter rebel action.

The British Government said in response to the latest attack: We are aware of reports that the M/V Marlin Luanda, a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker, has sustained damage from attack in the Gulf of Aden.

Current reports suggest no casualties and nearby coalition vessels are on the scene.

We have been clear that any attacks on commercial shipping are completely unacceptable and that the UK and our allies reserve the right to respond appropriately.

On Friday, a spokeswoman for the Prime Minister said: We continue to call on (the Houthis) to step back from such action. Were clear that this is illegal and unacceptable.

Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron this week embarked on a trip the Middle East in a diplomatic bid to reduce tensions as the Israeli bombardment of Gaza continues.
Greta Thunberg has marched alongside Extinction Rebellion activists to protest against an airports expansion plans.

Farnborough Airport Ltd has submitted a planning application to Rushmoor Borough Council to increase the number of flights from 50,000 to 70,000 a year.

The Swedish climate activist joined local residents, members of Extinction Rebellion and climate change campaigners on Saturday in a march from Farnborough town centre in Hampshire to Farnborough Airport.

The group set off pink smoke flares and waved banners during the march.

The protesters are calling for a total ban on private jets, which are up to 30 times more polluting than passenger airliners, the group said.

Miss Thunberg said: The fact that using private jets is both legally and socially allowed today in an escalating climate emergency is completely detached from reality.

There are few examples that show as clearly how the rich elite is sacrificing present and future living conditions on this planet so they can maintain their extreme and violent lifestyles.

The airport plans would also see an increase in non-weekday aircraft movements from 8,900 to 18,900 per year and allow heavier aircraft to use the airport if approved.

Extinction Rebellion campaigners in Farnborough (Extinction Rebellion/PA)

Farnborough Airport said its environmental footprint is a fraction that of a traditional commercial airport, yet it serves as one of the largest employment sites in the region.

Rushmoor Borough Council is set to consider the plans in March.

Todd Smith, former airline pilot and Extinction Rebellion spokesperson said: Flying is the fastest way to fry the planet and private jets are the most polluting way to fly.

Surely its a no-brainer to ban private jets and stop expanding these luxury airports in the midst of a climate crisis? Survey after survey, as well as several citizens assemblies, have shown this would be very popular and has widespread support from the general public.

For most people, life has become more difficult. The cost of heating our homes, buying food and paying our bills has increased massively. So imagine looking out our windows to see yet more private jets flying billionaires around.

Is this a fair society that we live in, or is there one set of rules for the majority, and another for the elites?

Extinction Rebellion activists and climate change campaigners demonstrate outside Farnborough Airport to protest against plans to increase private jet flights (Extinction Rebellion/PA)

Finlay Asher, aerospace engineer and member of the aviation workers group Safe Landing, added: As aviation workers, we understand theres a choice to be made about how we use our limited planetary resources.

If we expand private jet flights, then this will consume a large slice of the pie, and leave nothing for anybody else.

However, there is a positive way forward for society and for our industry: provide genuinely sustainable clean transport for the masses instead, rather than continuing to expand super-polluting private jet airports which cater only to a tiny minority of ultra-wealthy individuals.

Sarah Hart, 42, an office assistant from Farnborough, said: As a local resident and a mum of two I am utterly appalled at the airports plan to expand when we should be banning private flying completely.

We need to be taking drastic steps to ensure a liveable world for all our children, not increasing our use in fossil fuels.

A spokesperson for Farnborough Airport said: Farnborough Airport is an important gateway for business aviation connectivity with the majority of flights being operated for business and corporate travel purposes.

The airports environmental footprint is a fraction that of a traditional commercial airport, yet it serves as one of the largest employment sites in the region.

We recognise the importance of continually reducing our environmental impact and we are only one of a small number of UK airports to have achieved Level 4+ under the Airport Carbon Accreditation programme.
The chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust has said this years Holocaust Memorial Day will be really difficult against the backdrop of the Hamas-Israel conflict.

Karen Pollock said the huge increase in antisemitism since the October 7 attacks by Hamas on Israel means the Jewish community will mark the occasion with heavier hearts.

Its a difficult time, but that doesnt stop us from coming together and recognising what was a seismic event in history whose repercussions are still felt today, she added.

Holocaust survivor and Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel thought antisemitism had died in Auschwitz. He said But I was wrong. Its victims perished, antisemitism did not. As we mark #HolocaustMemorialDay2024, we do so with antisemitism once again on our streets and online. pic.twitter.com/mdqrc8kvLH  H.E.T. (@HolocaustUK) January 23, 2024

Ms Pollock said this years commemorations will be especially poignant because Holocaust Memorial Day on Saturday takes place against the backdrop of a massacre.

She told the PA news agency: Weve seen a huge increase in antisemitism ever since in this country, but also globally.

It couldnt be more blatant at the moment, whether its online but also on our streets.

I say all of this, with pain in my heart, with concern for concern for our Jewish community, mindful that actually we all want a society where we believe in community cohesion and tolerance and getting along.

There are additional security concerns this year because of a rise in the number of recorded antisemitic incidents, Ms Pollock added.

Holocaust Educational Trust chief executive Karen Pollock (Holocaust Educational Trust/PA)

The number of antisemitic hate crimes recorded by many of the UKs largest police forces jumped sharply in the weeks following the outbreak of the conflict.

Ms Pollock added: There are some events that are having to have more security.

Its a difficult time, but that doesnt stop us from coming together and recognising what was a seismic event in history whose repercussions are still felt today.

I think we enter this with a slightly heavier heart.

The raids by Hamas, which saw fighters break through Israels defences and rampage through several nearby communities, killed some 1,200 people, with around 250 taken hostage.

Israels offensive in response has killed more than 25,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in the territory.

Asked about pro-Palestine protests which have taken place in recent months, Ms Pollock said: I think that there are many people with good intent, who really want to see an end to the conflict and want to see peace in the region, as do I.

That said, there are, sadly, people who are there in bad faith. There are placards being held up at protests which equate Israel with the Nazis, there are chants for an intifada, there is inflammatory language about Jews and Israel  and as a result, these protests have become a real source of concern for the Jewish community.

But I really believe, and I think our survivors believe this, that the majority of people in this country are decent, good people who are horrified by the massacre committed by Hamas, who are horrified by what the Nazis did during the Holocaust.

The Holocaust was the systematic murder of European Jews by the Nazis and their collaborators from 1941 during the Second World War.

Holocaust Memorial Day remembers the six million Jews murdered, other groups who suffered and died under Nazi persecution including Roma and homosexuals, as well as victims of more recent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.

January 27 is the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp.

Join the nation at 7.30pm on 27 January to watch curated moments from the #HolocaustMemorialDay 2024 UK Ceremony before taking part in the #LightTheDarkness national moment. Here is a preview of some of the powerful testimony you will hear, along with music, poetry and speeches.  Holocaust Memorial Day Trust (@HMD_UK) January 23, 2024

The Holocaust Education Trust works to ensure the millions who were murdered are remembered and that those who survived are honoured and can continue to tell the world what they experienced.

Ms Pollock said the need to listen to Holocaust testimonies becomes more pertinent every year as the number of survivors reduces.

Our job is to listen to the survivors and to become their witnesses and share their testimony because theyre not going to be here forever, she said.

The survivors are dwindling in number and they will say this themselves. So the opportunity to meet or hear from a survivor is precious.

It really is going from living history to just history, it is even more incumbent upon us to understand these individual human stories of the Jewish people who were targeted because they were Jews.
A huge protest will be held on Saturday to mark the 40th anniversary of the controversial ban on trade unions at the GCHQ communications headquarters.

Thousands of trade unionists will march through Cheltenham and hear speeches by senior union officials, many of whom are currently embroiled in long-running disputes with the Government.

In 1984, Margaret Thatchers Conservative government banned trade unions at GCHQ, citing security concerns.

Most workers quit their unions, but 14 refused as a matter of principle and were sacked.

In 1997, the newly-elected Labour government lifted the ban and they were able to return to work.

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said the GCHQ dispute has a special place in labour movement history.

He told the PA news agency that there were parallels with the current row over the new law aimed at ensuring minimum levels of service during strikes, which unions have warned is unworkable.

It doesnt matter how much the Government tries to ban, bully and intimidate unions, we know that right is on our side.

The GCHQ workers had to wait 13 years for justice, but we expect Labour to live up to its commitment to repeal the Strikes Act within 100 days of winning the general election.

What really depresses me is that despite the big issues facing the country  the state of public services, wages, ongoing cost-of-living crisis  the Government found time to launch yet another attack on unions.

Forty years ago the Tory government attacked union rights at GCHQ. Members were told to resign their membership or be sacked. Film by @NigelCostley @TUCSouthWest (w brief shot of Rodney Bickerstaffe)From @TolpuddleFest Youtube: https://t.co/6sSqVj568i pic.twitter.com/9aIqG1fdPH  UNISON  UK's largest union (@unisontheunion) January 24, 2024

On Saturday, unions will march through Cheltenham to commemorate the GCHQ victory and to demonstrate continued defiance against minimum service level regulations and attacks on the right to strike.

Public and Commercial Services union general secretary Mark Serwotka said: Margaret Thatchers decision to ban trade unions at GCHQ was part of her attack on unions in general, but these workers werent prepared to accept it.

Their principled decision not to give up their trade union membership saw them pay a massive price.

Now, 40 years on, as we celebrate their courage and determination, a different Conservative government is attacking trade union rights  this time theyre introducing Minimum Service Levels in a naked attack on our right to strike.

Our message today is the same as it was in 1984  we shall fight this injustice for however long it takes.

Christina McAnea, general secretary of Unison, told the PA news agency that the Minimum Service Level law had echoes of the ban on union membership at GCHQ.

Linking union membership with being loyal to your country was an insult at GCHQ, and it is similarly insulting to assume that public sector workers such as those in the NHS would not put the public first if they go on strike.

The Tories have a blind spot when it comes to working people.

The surviving members of the original GCHQ campaign  Alan Rowland, Robin Smith, Brian Johnson and Gareth Morris  and their families will be attending Saturdays event as guests of honour.
The King has begun a second day in hospital after undergoing a procedure for an enlarged prostate.

Charles was spotted entering The London Clinic in central London on Friday morning with the Queen at his side  the same hospital where the Princess of Wales is being cared for following abdominal surgery.

Camilla arrived at a back entrance to the hospital in a black Audi car at noon on Saturday to visit the King, which was her second visit since they arrived.

The Queen appeared in good spirits when she first left the private hospital at 3.10pm on Friday, smiling at reporters before getting into a car.

She returned for a visit lasting around an hour-and-a-half and left just before 8pm.

She told people inside The London Clinic earlier on Friday that the King was doing well after the procedure.

Charles took time to visit his daughter-in-law Kate, who is on the 12th day of her hospital stay after undergoing a successful major operation last week.

Camilla visited the King for around an hour and a half before leaving the hospital (Lucy North/PA)

A Buckingham Palace spokesman previously said the King was admitted to a London hospital for scheduled treatment.

The spokesman added: His Majesty would like to thank all those who have sent their good wishes over the past week and is delighted to learn that his diagnosis is having a positive impact on public health awareness.

It is not known how long Charles will spend in hospital but reports suggest he could remain there over the weekend.

The King arrived back in London from Norfolk on Thursday afternoon, ready for the procedure after squeezing in a couple of behind-the-scenes official duties.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak wished Charles the very best for his treatment and a speedy recovery afterwards, a Downing Street spokeswoman said.

The monarch was diagnosed with the benign condition on January 17 while staying at Birkhall, Aberdeenshire, after going for a check-up because he was experiencing symptoms.

The King is understood to have wanted to share the news to encourage other men to get themselves checked.

Charles, who only acceded to throne 16 months ago, cancelled engagements and was urged to rest by his doctors ahead of the corrective procedure.

The exact nature of the 75-year-olds treatment is not known.

NHS England said the enlarged prostate page on the NHS website received one visit every five seconds on the day the Kings diagnosis was announced, with further huge boosts in visits in the days that followed.

The Princess of Wales underwent surgery at the same hospital (Aaron Chown/PA)

The Queen had previously said her husband is fine and looking forward to getting back to work.

News of his diagnosis came on the same day that Kensington Palace announced the princess was in hospital after undergoing abdominal surgery.

Kate, 42, is not expected to carry out official engagements until after Easter, with the Prince of Wales clearing his diary of official duties for the time being.
The chairman of the Post Office has stepped down amid ongoing tensions in the wake of the Horizon IT scandal.

Henry Staunton will depart from the role following a phone call with Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch on Saturday.

Ms Badenoch said she felt there was a need for new leadership as the company remains under heightened scrutiny over the wrongful prosecution of hundreds of subpostmasters.

An interim will be appointed shortly, the Department for Business and Trade said.

Mr Staunton only took up the post at the state-owned business in December 2022, following nine years as chairman of WH Smith.

Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch (Aaron Chown/PA)

He had been tasked with leading the board of directors as the business reels from the fallout of what has been described as the UKs biggest miscarriage of justice.

More than 700 branch managers were prosecuted by the Post Office between 1999 and 2015 after faulty Horizon accounting software made it look as though money was missing from their shops.

Hundreds of subpostmasters and subpostmistresses are still awaiting compensation despite the Government announcing that those who have had convictions quashed are eligible for 600,000 payouts.

Mr Stauntons departure follows frustration in Whitehall over the companys governance, including a row over the prospective appointment of a new senior independent director, Sky News reported.

Insiders told the outlet his exit was not directly related to the Horizon scandal itself, but that there had been differences of opinion between him and Government as to the best candidate for the job.

It comes at one of the most turbulent points in the companys history, with a statutory inquiry into the saga under way and renewed public anger following its dramatisation in ITVs Mr Bates Vs the Post Office earlier this month.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has also announced blanket legislation to exonerate those wrongly prosecuted after the TV series returned the scandal to the spotlight.

A Government spokesperson said: In a phone call earlier today, the Secretary of State for Business and Trade and Henry Staunton, chair of Post Office Limited (POL), agreed to part ways with mutual consent.

An interim will be appointed shortly and a recruitment process for a new chair will be launched in due course, in accordance with the Governance Code for Public Appointments.

The Post Office has been contacted for comment.
Aussie parents have become too soft and are "smothering" their kids, according to education specialist Dr Elise Waghorn, who says it's a "really big problem" that could have devastating consequences for our youngest citizens.

Long gone are the days when children "get dirty" or engage in "risky play". And this suffocating approach is "really starting to show", the early childhood development expert told Yahoo News Australia.

We see it most in playgrounds both at school and in our community with mums and dads now "fearful" of their kids "taking risks" while having fun. "Be careful", "that's not safe" and "don't do that" should be phrases we use infrequently, and only when necessary, according to Waghorn, but our kids are hearing these words far too often.

"Instead of saying, hop down, that's not safe or be careful, we should be changing the language we use with children and give them the space to think about and risk assess that situation themselves," Waghorn told Yahoo. "I think parents need to recognise it's important for them to be a safety net, so be there to step in when you need to, while still allowing your child to make those decisions on their own".

Kids should be engaging in 'risky play' says education expert Dr Elise Waghorn. Source: Getty

Risk vs hazard: Know the difference

While she isn't encouraging "extreme" behaviour, like sending young kids out on their own, we should be "allowing them to explore, make friends and challenge their own abilities"  under a watchful eye. There's also a difference between a risk and a hazard, said the RMIT expert, and identifying this could be the difference between raising confident, independent children and not.

A hazard is "something that can cause significant harm" and should be avoided  such as a child playing on burning hot metal. "A risk on the other hand is when there's potential for an accident to happen, but the element of fun, engagement and learning far outweighs the risk," Waghorn explained. In this scenario, we should tell our kids to "go for it".

Story continues

A new playground at Mofflin Park at Elizabeth Vale, Adelaide has been labelled 'dangerous' by many parents. Source: Facebook

"As a society, we have increasingly become hesitant about the freedom or autonomy we give children to partake in play that involves an element of risk," Waghorn, whose research focuses on exploring the everyday life of children in Australia, explained. "However, the advantages of children taking calculated risks during their play far surpasses the potential for harm".

Why do kids need risky play?

Risky play encompasses various activities, including scaling heights and engaging in fast-paced endeavours such as biking, running, and sliding. Even getting lost in games like hide and seek and balancing on unstable rocks without holding on are both beneficial for our little ones.

Last week, after the opening of a new $4.6m playground in Adelaide, many parents took to social media and warned of stairs that were "far too big" and a "dangerous" slide "not suitable" for kids. But it's activities like climbing, jumping and running that "contribute to the development of essential gross motor and core muscle skills". It also enhances their mental health and overall wellbeing.

Many parents took to social media and warned of stairs or the slide being too 'dangerous' for kids. Source: Facebook

"These movement skills make children less likely to injure themselves and  for young children  help them to sit still for longer periods by building muscular support," Waghorn said. Preventing them from engaging in risky play could mean "they won't trust in their own abilities" and kids will "constantly look to their parents or their teachers for the answers as opposed to being confident enough to make the decisions themselves".

Limiting risky behaviour can also have a significant impact later in life. "We want children to have confidence in their own abilities and not feel like they need us for everything, because then we become a society where children can't think for themselves, which obviously can be a real big problem in peer pressure," the expert explained.

Social media to blame for shift in parenting

Waghorn advises parents to "stay away from social media", blaming it for the shift in parental behaviour. Seeing "all the bad stuff" that happens in our community is what she believes contributes to "fear" around our children's safety. What's more, it "doesn't help" in a society full of parents "constantly second-guessing" themselves.

"We've got crime pages, we've got people posting about things, and parents have become fearful. We became fearful of allowing our children to play outside or go to the park or take those risks," she explained. "And so the more we engage with these platforms, the less that we allow our children to do  and it's showing in so many ways".

Waghorn said parents need to "trust your own children and trust your own gut". "Allow children to take the risk themselves. Don't rely on social media to tell you because we all know that things can get blown out of proportion," she said.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
New York Times bestselling author J.D. Barker is facing professional fallout and online backlash after several TikTok creators said they were encouraged to make sexually suggestive videos to promote his upcoming erotic thriller novel.

Sian Harper and Marissa Bologna  two creators who are an active part of the literary community on TikTok known as BookTok  told NBC News they received an email on Tuesday from a literary public relations firm Best of BookTok, which Barker confirmed is owned by him. The email, a copy of which was reviewed by NBC News, was sent on behalf of Barker. It included suggestions that the creators show something racy, use only the book to cover up your naughty bits and share the most taboo place youve ever had sex to promote Barkers Behind a Closed Door.

Its unclear how many people received the email  but Harper and Bologna were among several creators who shared it online.

BookTok has become a popular vessel for authors to promote their new releases. It is not uncommon for publishers or authors to pay creators to share their books. However, many found the promotional suggestions for Barkers upcoming novel to be unusual and demeaning. Some described them as creepy and a form of sexual harassment.

In an email statement to NBC News, Barker said he is horrified such a message was released.

This campaign was never approved, Barker wrote. The email wasnt meant to go out without a substantial rewrite, but through a chain of errors, it did. I take full responsibility for that.

He issued a similar statement on X.

In a follow-up email sent to influencers on Thursday, which NBC News reviewed, he wrote that the first email was sent by one of the many PR firms I hired to promote my latest title.

Dana Kaye, founder of Kaye Publicity, which was handling some publicity outreach for the new book, said her company did not do any influencer outreach or marketing.

We did not have any knowledge that this email was being sent out and as soon as we became aware, we severed ties with JD Barker, Kaye said in an email. Barker did not respond to a follow-up request for comment about the news.

Barkers latest release is described in the email as a sexually charged dark thriller featuring a couple that gets caught up in a twisted web of seduction and violence.

A spokesperson for Simon & Schuster, which is distributing the book, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday.

Barker said in his follow-up to creators that some influencers hes working with to promote the book have suggested racier posts to tie in with the theme of the book. In a statement to NBC News, he pointed out that the first email said, The content of the video is entirely up to you.

Harper, who is known as booksofaginger online, shared the email to her followers on Wednesday in a TikTok that received over 268,000 views. In an interview, Harper said that she was grossed out by the email and felt that it was asking women to use their bodies to sell his book.

If thats the kind of content that you want to make, I will support you for making your own choices, Harper said. The issue comes when its men viewing womens bodies as a commodity that they can buy and then sell.

She said that while people of different genders and ages received the email, the pitches seemed to be aimed at women. Harper said the email was inappropriate, especially because the relationship between creators and publishers is a professional one.

If you went to work and your boss was like, Take your top off and Ill pay you, that would be completely inappropriate, Harper said. It wouldnt fly.

Bologna, known as marissaisbooked online, echoed this sentiment. She said that people often forget that content creators are professionals and should be treated with the same level of respect as other workers.

They both took issue with the fact that the email said the posts would be personally reviewed by Barker before being approved for sharing. Harper said theres no security on where these videos end up, based on the information in the emails.

Bologna said it just feels really odd and, frankly, kind of creepy to me, given that the suggestions were sexualized suggestions.

Both creators said they did not feel that the follow-up email sent by Barker addressed the issues raised by people online. They felt he had shifted the blame onto others, as the email said the message was sent by an undisclosed PR firm and stated some influencers had previously suggested racier posts. They also noted that the only apology in the second email said, I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you.

What essentially equates to sexual harassment is just being like sort of pushed off as an inconvenience that he was not at fault for, Bologna said.

In his email statement to NBC News, Barker said, I deeply regret the hurt Ive caused to those who received it. I have nothing but respect for the writing community and the people who champion it and Ive let all of you down.

There is no excuse for the insensitivity demonstrated by my actions, he added. The weight created by those actions is inexcusable. I can and will do better. The written word is something I cherish. Words have a power. And sometimes they can hurt more than the most dangerous weapon. Knowing Ive wielded that weapon and injured is something that will weigh on me for the remainder of my days. If you were impacted by this, I am truly sorry.
Images from the French Navy showing firefighting efforts aboard the Marlin Luanda

A British-linked container ship caught fire in the Gulf of Aden after it was hit by a missile fired by Houthi rebels.

Photographs released by the Indian navy on Saturday showed smoke billowing from the Martin Luanda tanker as its crew battled to control a fire in a fuel compartment.

The Houthis said the attack was revenge for British and American strikes on their positions in Yemen in what was the terror groups latest attack on international shipping in the region.

Brig Gen Yahya Saree, a Houthi spokesman, said: In vindication of the oppressed Palestinian people, and in response to the American-British aggression against our country, Yemen naval forces targeted the British oil ship in the Gulf of Aden.

The Marlin Luanda container ship can be seen on fire

The Marlin Luanda was transporting naphtha, a highly flammable fuel used in cigarette lighters and the production of plastics, when it was struck 60 nautical miles south of the Yemeni coast late on Friday.

This is Marlin Luanda. We are hit by a missile. We are hit by a missile. We are on fire. We are on fire. Starboard-side deck is on fire, a crew member can be heard saying in an apparent recording of the vessels mayday distress signal.

Trafigura, the Singapore-based multinational trading firm that owns the ship, said the naphtha cargo originated from Russia but was bought in line with G7 sanctions.

Indian navy pictures show smoke billowing from the Martin Luanda tanker, hit by a Houthi missile

Firefighting equipment on board is being deployed to suppress and control the fire caused in one cargo tank on the starboard side, it said in a statement.

No injuries reported

The crew on board the ship, which is operated by British-registered Oceonix Services, suffered no injuries and initially boarded lifeboats as a precaution.

Trafigura said shortly after midday on Saturday that the fire in the vessels cargo tank had been fully extinguished and it is sailing towards a safe harbour.

It praised the exceptional dedication and bravery of the ships master and crew, who brought the fire under control in highly difficult circumstances.

Images from the French Navy showing firefighting efforts aboard the Marlin Luanda

The United States Central Command said it had launched a self-defence air strike on a Houthi missile launch site eight hours after the attack on the Marlin Luanda.

This action will protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for US Navy vessels and merchant vessels, it said in a statement.

U.S. Conducts Self-Defense Strike Against Houthi Anti-Ship Missile



On Jan. 27 at approximately 3:45 a.m. (Sanaa time), U.S. Central Command Forces conducted a strike against a Houthi anti-ship missile aimed into the Red Sea and which was prepared to launch. U.S. Forces pic.twitter.com/UcHqDiyT1I  U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) January 27, 2024

Al-Masira, a Yemeni Houthi-ran broadcaster, said two air strikes had targeted the port of Issa, which is Yemens largest oil export terminal.

The USS Carney, a French frigate and the Indian missile destroyer INS Visakhapatnam responded to the Marlin Luandas mayday signal.

The Indian Navy said 22 Indians and one Bangladeshi national were on board.

Attacks completely unacceptable

A British government spokesman said on Friday night: We are aware of reports that the motor vessel Marlin Luanda, a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker, has sustained damage from attack in the Gulf of Aden. Current reports suggest no casualties and nearby coalition vessels are on the scene.

We have been clear that any attacks on commercial shipping are completely unacceptable and that the UK and our allies reserve the right to respond appropriately.

Grant Shapps, the Defence Secretary, condemned the intolerable and illegal attack on innocent people and global trade.

It is our duty to protect freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and we remain as committed to that cause as ever, he said.

A close-up of the blaze on the Martin Luanda, which was later put out

The Houthis have repeatedly launched attacks on ships in the Red Sea since November in protest against Israels war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

They have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, endangering shipping on a key route for global trade.

Alongside numerous air strikes on key Houthi targets, the UK and US are also targeting key figures in the Iran-backed militant group with sanctions.

A second series of UK and US air strikes carried out at the start of the week, appears to have done little to deter Houthi action.

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.
CHICAGO (AP)  The Chicago Cubs and Hector Neris have agreed to a $9 million, one-year contract, giving manager Craig Counsell another late-inning arm for his bullpen, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press.

The contract includes a team option that converts to a player option if Neris appears in 60 games, according to the person who spoke to the AP on Saturday on condition of anonymity because the agreement is pending a physical.

The 34-year-old Neris went 6-3 with a 1.71 ERA in 71 games with Houston last season. The right-hander has made at least 60 appearances six times, including each of the last three years.

Neris likely will slot in as one of Chicago's primary setup men for Adbert Alzolay, who had 22 saves in 25 chances in 2023 in his first season as the closer. The Cubs also have Julian Merryweather and Mark Leiter Jr. at the back of their bullpen.

Chicago is looking for its first playoff appearance since it was eliminated by Miami in an NL Wild Card Series in 2020. The Cubs were in position for a wild card last year before stumbling in September, fading to an 83-79 record after finishing under .500 in the previous two seasons.

Counsell was hired in November, replacing David Ross in a surprising move. The Cubs also added to their rotation when they finalized a $53 million, four-year contract with Japanese left-hander Shota Imanaga on Jan. 11.

Michael Busch was acquired in a trade with the Dodgers to play first base, but Chicago still could use a big bat for its lineup. It is hoping to re-sign Cody Bellinger, who is a free agent after putting together a resurgent season with the Cubs.

Neris made his big league debut with Philadelphia in 2014 and spent his first eight seasons with the Phillies. He signed a $17 million, two-year contract with Houston in November 2021. He declined his part of an $8.5 million mutual option for 2024 with the Astros and became a free agent.

Neris is 33-36 with a 3.24 ERA and 89 saves in 546 career games. He also is 2-0 with a 4.40 ERA in 15 career postseason games, helping Houston win the World Series in 2022.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com
South Africa can count itself extremely fortunate that it has been provisionally accepted in the list of 32 African countries that will make up the extended African Growth & Opportunity Act (AGOA). The AGOA Summit held in Johannesburg last year was a critical inflection point for a continent in dire need of preferential trade agreements. It is vital that the trade program will be extended for another 10 yearsand there is every indication that it will be.

The primary objective of AGOA has always been to promote economic growth and trade in Africa by rewarding good governance with duty-free access to American markets. Its precisely for that reason that Uganda, Gabon, Niger, and the Central African Republic (CAR) were excluded from last years summit by U.S. President Joe Biden.

However, influential U.S. Senator Chris Coons, who introduced draft legislation to extend AGOA beyond the previous 10-year extension to 16 years, wanted to make South Africas membership subject to an out-of-cycle review and even possibly revoke it because of the countrys increasing courtship of administrations and regimes inimical to the U.S.

South Africa has been particularly steadfast in its unwavering support of Russias invasion of Ukraine and subsequent war to say nothing of a regime that openly sponsors terrorism, Iran. This stance has been directly at odds with the rest of the world, particularly in the U.S. axis of influence.

South Africas most recent position, outrightly hostile to Israel and very sympathetic to Hamas, culminating in dragging the State of Israel to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), could well have led to South Africa being punished and excluded from AGOAa prospect that still looms over U.S.-S.A. relations.

If this had happened, it would have been a profound sanction, because South Africa has been the biggest beneficiary of the trade agreement, to the tune of $3 billion last year alone.

AGOA significantly tilts the balance of trade in Africa's favor. In 2022, the U.S. exported $30 billion in trade to Africa, up from $6 billion when AGOA first came into effect in 2000, but it also imported $42 billion from the continent. It is a massive figure, which comes into even sharper focus when seen against the trading balance sheets of African countries with anyone else, including China (the biggest trading partner with Africa outside of the U.S.) and Russia (which has no trade balance worth the name, especially not with South Africa).

Africa has much to offer the world, but it is not a single country. There are 54 constituent countries that make up the continent and each one of them must operate with due diligence both toward the needs and aspirations of its own citizenry and a concomitant coherence in its foreign policy. It is not enough to merely proclaim to be non-aligned if the acts of a sovereign country fly in the face of its claims.

There is no doubt that African countries have battled for decades, first to rid themselves of the legacy of colonialism and then to fight new battles against neo-colonialism in the guise of asymmetric economic warfare, exploitative extractive trade, and emasculating aid in return. There can also be no doubt that Africa has much to offer the rest of the world. The continent is the primary home of the resources critical to the world's green industrial revolution, particularly the minerals that fuel electric vehicles (EVs). And the West is in critically short supply of lithium, tin, and tungsten, unlike China.

Both the continent and the global order have markedly evolved since the implementation of AGOA almost a quarter of a century ago. We saw this during the last BRICS+ summit, also held in Johannesburg last year. There was much talk about a brave new world of de-dollarization and the expansion of the bloc by a further six members in Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

I said at the time that Africa should be wary of being drawn into a battle of polaritiesthe binary of the West versus the rest. China has done much to increase its trade with Africa. Indeed, China's cumulative trade account of $270 billion eclipses the U.S.s $80 billion. But Africa would be foolish in the extreme to ignore the strides that President Bidens administration has made, reinvigorating the countrys Africa focus with more than 800 reciprocal deals across 47 countries. In December 2022, Bidens U.S. Africa summit witnessed the announcement of more than $15 billion in deals between more than 300 U.S. and African companies. In total, the U.S. has pledged $55 billion toward its shared priorities with the continent until 2025.

African countries would be foolish to put all of this at risk by overtly siding with one side, yet claiming neutrality, all while expecting the other side to continue to reach out. AGOA is a very serious passport to the U.S. market, building on an existing legacy of trade links with the U.S. It is certainly as important as Chinas Belt and Road Initiativeand worth immeasurably more than any trade opportunities past, present, or future with Russia and Iran.

The African Youth Survey, which takes the pulse of the continents next generation of leaders, is unequivocal: 37% of young Africans see President Biden as the world leader playing the greatest role in Africa, well ahead of President Xi Jinping (13%) and Vladimir Putin (whose stature was in the single digits even before he invaded Ukraine).

And yet, South Africa has been acting with an arrogant sense of impunity that is not just insensitive to global realities, but also oblivious to the needs of its citizens. African leaders need to put their own countries first, not their parties or even their own individual interests. Trade, not aid, is the way to unlock the still untapped potential of this continent and herald the much-vaunted African Century. President Bidens New Deal for Africa is a key pillar of this.

Being truly non-aligned means being able to benefit from relations across the globe and have the right to sit at any table as a trusted partner.

Trade deals shouldnt be handouts. They must result in mutual benefits for all parties and come with conditions for all sides. The original request in Senator Coonss draft bill that South Africa be subject to an out-of-cycle review of its membership in this agreement was neither unfair nor unreasonable. But it was also proof that the days of acting with impunity, with no thoughts of the consequences, are over.

South Africa should have the humility to recognize this and act accordingly. I can only hope for my country and my continents sake that the South African government can do this and be the African leader we all need it to be.

Ivor Ichikowitz is an industrialist and a philanthropist. He chairs the Ichikowitz Family Foundation, a leading African-based foundation supporting the development of the African continent and its people. He has been involved in a supportive role with the African Peace Initiative to Ukraine and Russia.

More must-read commentary published by Fortune:

The opinions expressed in Fortune.com commentary pieces are solely the views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of Fortune.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Decades after the Holocaust, stark memories of a German concentration camp creep back to 83-year-old Dirk van Leenan, who spent the week leading up to Saturday's International Holocaust Remembrance Day educating Arizona students on the atrocity.

"I have nightmares about it sometimes," van Leenen said about the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp where he and his family were sent when he was 5 in an interview with The Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY Network.

Saturday marked the 79th anniversary of the day Soviet troops liberated Auschwitz, the concentration camp complex where over 1 million people were murdered by Nazis between 1940 and 1945, the vast majority of them Jews. Altogether, Nazis killed 6 million European Jews during the Holocaust.

Since Jan. 27 was designated International Holocaust Remembrance Day in 2005 by the United Nations, the day has drawn survivors and their communities together across the U.S. to remember the lives lost and remind of the importance of combating antisemitism.

"It's important that when we say never forget, that we never forget, and part of that is showing up and listening to the voices of those who experienced the Holocaust and their families," said Massachusetts state Sen. Robyn Kennedy at an event commemorating the Warsaw ghetto uprising on Friday.

The 2024 remembrance events come over three months after about 1,200 Israeli civilians were killed, and over 200 taken hostage, by the militant group Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, widely regarded as the deadliest day for Jewish people since the Holocaust. The U.S. and nations around the world have recorded an uptick in reports of antisemitism since then. The war has also claimed the lives of over 26,000 Palestinians, Gaza officials have said.

Mary Jane Rein, executive director of Clark University's Strassler Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, said at a Friday event commemorating the 1943 Warsaw ghetto uprising in Worcester, Massachusetts, that "violence and murderous attacks against Jews were on the rise long before Oct. 7."

Latest in Israel-Hamas war: Order for Israel to avert genocide in Gaza isn't enforceable. What does it mean?

"On this somber International Holocaust Remembrance Day, we hold the Jewish community and the people of Israel close in our hearts," President Joe Biden said in a statement.

Arizona Holocaust survivor educates students to mark remembrance day

All week, van Leenen recounted surviving a Nazi concentration camp to a room full of Phoenix-area children in an effort to teach young people about the dangers of antisemitism.

Dirk van Leneen is one of approximately 38,400 living Holocaust survivors in the U.S., according to a study published Tuesday by the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany. Some 65 Holocaust survivors currently reside in metro Phoenix, including some older than 100, according to the Phoenix Holocaust Associations records.

Holocaust survivor Dirk van Leenen at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts on Jan. 25, 2024.

Van Leneen's father was part of the resistance in the Netherlands, which van Leenen says saved more than 1,000 Jews who were relocated to different parts of the country and placed in hiding. Van Leenen was 5 years old when he and his family were sent in 1945 to Bergen-Belsen  the same German concentration camp where a 16-year-old Anne Frank died of typhus earlier that same year. Two days after they arrived, the camp was liberated April 15, 1945, by the British army.

As Arizona attempts to improve the education of students about the Holocaust, van Leenen told students about the harshness of witnessing camp prisoners die from starvation, falling into heaps of dead bodies with their lifeless faces visible. Read more here.

People around the world decry antisemitism Saturday

At the site of the Auschwitz camp, a group of about 20 survivors of various death camps are set to gather Saturday, lay wreaths and say prayers to memorialize the lives lost.

According to the museum that now stands there, the theme of the 79th anniversary is the human being, "symbolically visualised by the faces of the people imprisoned at Auschwitz, immortalised in drawings made during the existence of the camp and after the war."

Holocaust survivor Rickie Taras sits in attendance after listening to fellow Holocaust survivor Henry Friedman speak to the audience during the International Holocaust Remembrance Day Commemoration at Civic Park in Palm Desert, Calif., Friday, Jan. 26, 2024.

World leaders in Germany, Ukraine, Italy and elsewhere gave speeches in remembrance. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that his country would continue to carry the responsibility for this crime against humanity.

"'Never again' is every day, Scholz said in his weekly video podcast. Jan. 27 calls out to us: Stay visible! Stay audible! Against antisemitism, against racism, against misanthropy  and for our democracy.

A memorial ceremony in Warsaw at the foot of the Monument to the Heroes of the Ghetto who fell fighting Nazis in 1943 was held Friday. Earlier in the week, the countries of the former Yugoslavia signed an agreement to renovate Block 117 in the Auschwitz camp and install a permanent exhibition there in memory of about 20,000 people who were deported from their territories and brought to the block.

In the U.S., libraries planned commemorative events with testimonies about local connections to the Holocaust. In Columbus, Ohio, Kehilat Sukkat Shalom and First Unitarian Community Church planned an evening of works including several by composers and writers who perished in or survived the Holocaust.

Family members of Holocaust survivors light candles, one for every million Jews killed in the Holocaust at the foot of the memorial at Civic Park in Palm Desert, Calif., Friday, Jan. 26, 2024.

Family members of Holocaust survivors lit candles, one for every million Jews killed in the Holocaust, at the foot of a memorial at Civic Park in Palm Desert, California, on Friday. Holocaust survivors Rickie Taras and Henry Friedman both attended. Friedman's family hid from Nazis in what was then Brody, Poland, in a barn for 18 months until the area was freed from Nazi control and they were freed.

Contributing: Veer Mudambi, the Worcester Telegram & Gazette; The Palm Springs Desert Sun; The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: International Holocaust Remembrance Day commemorated across nation
'The Love Boat' cast

The Love Boat was a fan favorite for nine seasons (it aired from 1977 to 1986), and it's not too hard to understand why: The cast of the beloved series made every episode fun, and tuning in each week was like checking on family members who were off on their latest adventure.

That feeling of family was real for the cast, too. Ted Lange, who played bartender Isaac Washington, told Breakfast Television in 2015, "I had done a television series where not everybody in the cast liked each other. So, the great thing about The Love Boat was we all loved each other. We all protected each other."

"We all thought each other was funny. So, we really had a wonderful time working together," he added.

Read on for a look at where the cast of The Love Boat is now.

Related: See the Cast of 'Frasier' Then and Now

Where is the cast of The Love Boat now?

Gavin MacLeod (Captain Merrill Stubing)

Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images

Photo by: Peter Kramer/NBC/NBC Newswire/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

MacLeod played the captain of the crew for the entire run of the series. Before joining the show, he starred on The Mary Tyler Moore Show for several years.

MacLeod stayed connected to the sea after The Love Boat ended, moving on to on become an ambassador for Princess Cruises. He was also the Honorary Mayor of Pacific Palisades, California.

He died in May 2021 at the age of 90.

Bernie Kopell (Adam "Doc" Bricker)

Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images

Photo by Paul Archuleta/Getty Images

Kopell was well known to audiences when he joined The Love Boat as the ship's doctor, having already enjoyed roles on That Girl and Get Smart. However, viewers quickly began to identify him as Doc, and the actor was best known for his time on the show.

Kopell continued to work in TV in the years after The Love Boat ended, enjoying guest spots on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Charmed and Grey's Anatomy. Now 90, he last appeared in an episode of The Lincoln Lawyer in 2022.

Fred Grandy (Burl "Gopher" Smith)

Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images

Photo by Michael Tran/FilmMagic

Grandy already had a few roles on shows like Maude and Welcome Back Kotter when he made his Love Boat debut. But after the latter show ended, his life went in a brand new direction: Grandy was elected to Congress as a member of the House of Representatives for his home state of Iowa, where he served from 1987 to 1995.

Grandy, now 75, has continued to act here and there, and has had roles on The Mindy Project and General Hospital.

Related: 'Family Ties' Cast: Where Are They Now?

Ted Lange (Isaac Washington)

Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images

Photo by Michael Tran/FilmMagic

Lange was a theater actor before he joined the team as the boat's bartender, making his Broadway debut in Hair.

Also an accomplished writer/director, Lange wrote the screenplay for 1977's Passing Through and also wrote six episodes of The Love Boat while starring on the show. In 1987, he directed 10 episodes of the series The New Gidget.

Lange, now 76, returned to The Love Boat in 2022 when he joined the cast of the reality series The Real Love Boat on CBS.

Lauren Tewes (Julie McCoy)

Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images

Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Princess Cruises

Tewes was famously cast only days before the pilot of the show was shot, and beat out at least 100 other actresses for the role of cruise director Julie McCoy. As many fans may remember, though, Tewes was replaced in the 7th season of the show while she battled addiction.

Tewes, now 70, took her ousting as an opportunity to recover and build. She went back to school to become a cheese specialist and currently works at a catering company.

Jill Whelan (Vicki Stubing)

Photo by: Nathan Congleton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images

Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images

Whelan, who broke out as a child star with the movie Airplane! (1980), played Captain Stubing's daughter on The Love Boat, joining the show in its third season at the age of 11. (She also joined forces with Nancy Reagan as a spokesperson for the First Lady's "Just Say No" drug campaign around the same time.)

The up-and-comer continued to act after The Love Boat ended, with small parts over the years in shows like Martin, The Young and the Restless and Criminal Minds, but her career took many turns away from the screen, most recently with her 2013 move to the improv and podcast worlds. She co-hosts The Brian and Jill Show, on which she and co-host Brian Phelps share their improvisational comedy.

Next, See the 'Cheers' Cast Then and Now
By Nandita Bose, Ted Hesson and Costas Pitas

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President Joe Biden said on Friday that the border deal being negotiated in the U.S. Senate was the "toughest and fairest" set of reforms possible and vowed to "shut down the border" the day he signs the bill.

The bipartisan talks have hit a critical point amid mounting Republican opposition. Some Republicans have set a deal on border security as a condition for further Ukraine aid.

Earlier in the day, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson said the deal is "dead on arrival" in its current form, according to a letter to Republican lawmakers in the House of Representatives reviewed by Reuters.

Biden, a Democrat seeking another term in the Nov. 5 elections, has grappled with record numbers of migrants caught illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border during his presidency. Republicans contend Biden should have kept the restrictive policies of Republican former President Donald Trump, the frontrunner for his party's nomination.

"What's been negotiated would  if passed into law  be the toughest and fairest set of reforms to secure the border we've ever had in our country," Biden said in a statement.

"It would give me, as President, a new emergency authority to shut down the border when it becomes overwhelmed. And if given that authority, I would use it the day I sign the bill into law," he said.

The White House has agreed to new limits on asylum at the border, including the creation of an expulsion power that would allow migrants who cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally to be rapidly returned to Mexico if migrant encounters surpassed 4,000 per day, three sources familiar with the matter said.

If encounters passed 5,000 per day, the use of the expulsion authority would become mandatory, according to the sources who requested anonymity to discuss details of the private negotiations.

In December, encounters averaged more than 9,500 per day, according to U.S. government statistics released on Friday.

The sweeping authority would be comparable to the COVID-era Title 42 policy put in place under Trump during the pandemic and which ended under Biden in May 2023.

Migrants trying to claim asylum would still be able to do so at legal border crossings if the expulsion power was in effect, one of the sources said.

The U.S. would be required to allow at least 1,400 migrants per day to approach legal crossings to claim asylum if the expulsions were in effect, the source added.

The bill aims to resolve asylum claims in six months without detaining migrants, the source said, faster than the current process, which can take years.

Trump, however, took to social media last week to warn against any deal that fails to deliver everything Republicans want to shut down border crossings.

Biden also urged Congress on Friday to provide the funding he asked for in October to secure the border.

"This includes an additional 1,300 border patrol agents, 375 immigration judges, 1,600 asylum officers, and over 100 cutting-edge inspection machines to help detect and stop fentanyl at our southwest border," the president said.

(Reporting by Nandita Bose, Ted Hesson, Costas Pitas and Ismail Shakil; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)
Nearly 40,000 migrants have arrived in Denver over the past year, making a city with a population of just over 710,000 the top destination per capita for newly arrived migrants crossing the U.S. southern border and traveling north in buses from Texas.

The influx is taking a toll on the citys public safety net. Starting Feb. 5, Denver will limit the number of days migrants can stay in shelters and send those who exceed their stay out onto the streets.

One Venezuelan family, a mother, father and their three daughters, told NBC News theyve been staying at a hotel paid for by the city, but theyve just received notice that theyll be evicted.

Just yesterday they started throwing away the toys, the bicycles in the common area, the mother said. We dont know where we will go next.

Dr. Kristi Rodrigues, a doctor in Pediatric Emergency Medicine at Denver Health, said they are working hard to keep up with patient demand but are in need of more funding to support migrant arrivals. (NBC News)

Denver Health, the citys safety net hospital, is asking for more money from both the state and federal government to help cover $10 million in unpaid medical bills from migrants.

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston estimates the city will need $100 million over 2024 to pay for housing, schooling, health care and other services as a result of the unexpected influx of migrants.

Dr. Steven Federico, a pediatrician and chief of government and community affairs at Denver Health, said the hospital has reached out to state and federal agencies for help.

I think its been an unheeded call so far in terms of whos going to be responsible for the health care of this population," Federico told NBC News. "In the meantime, it falls on safety net hospitals like Denver Health."

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that the agency will continue to work with the city in welcoming recently arrived migrants. "We continue to urge Congress to approve our supplemental request, provide us with the resources to manage the Southwest Border in a humane, safe, and orderly manner, and provide communities across the country with the financial support they need, the spokesperson added.

Another pediatrician getting ready to work the late shift in the emergency room, Dr. Kristi Rodrigues, said she worries about what care migrants will be able to access once they leave the ER. The hospital is required to cover anyone who comes in for emergency care, regardless of their immigration status or ability to pay, but Rodrigues worries that patients wont be able to have checkups or get medication for illnesses that are sometimes life-threatening.

The Bryant-Webster K-8 school in Denver, Colorado has received nearly 100 new migrant students since the start of the school year, the schools principal said. (NBC News)

I dont mind being busy. I can see a lot of patients, I can stay late, Rodrigues said. But I dont know if this person is going to get his medicine filled. I dont actually know if this person is ever going to get into a pediatrician to be seen and taken care of. For me, thats the part that pulls at my heartstrings.

Shes seen an uptick in varicella, also known as chicken pox, and even some parasitic problems caused by poor drinking water that migrants have consumed on their journeys to the United States.

In many ways, Denver has welcomed migrants in a way not seen in other cities. They have not had major protests like New York and Chicago. Instead, residents have joined with nonprofits to donate food and clothing and even organized carpools to get new migrant students to school.

Nearly 3,000 immigrant children, mainly from Venezuela, have joined the Denver Public School system since July, said Adrienne Endres, who oversees multilingual education for the school district.

Schools receive their allocated funding for the year based on their population in October, she explained, so its been hard to pay for the increasing numbers.

At Bryant-Webster Dual Language School, Principal Brian Clark says he is receiving five to 10 new immigrant children per week, the number of new students he used to receive over a year.

Endres says over 600 of the students come with little to no schooling, so they spend time in a specialized classroom to get accustomed.

Weve gotten a lot of new kids really quickly, with a lot of needs, Endres said. Its been getting creative in a lot of spaces. Its been bringing a lot of other departments in. And its been an adventure that were glad to be on.

Both hospital and school administrators in Denver say that theyve been able to handle the influx so far, but that the rate of growth is not sustainable without more outside funding.

The Biden administration has asked Congress for $1.4 billion in grants to local governments and nonprofits for temporary food, shelter and other services for recently arrived migrants. But so far Republicans have been unwilling to put more money toward helping cities cope with immigration until Democrats and the White House agree to a number of legislative changes to restrict immigration across the southern border.
One of Australia's popular campsites is pleading for more tourists after the number of visitors dropped by a whopping 90 per cent last year.

The Wugudaji-Adels Grove camping ground, about 10km from the Boodjamulla National Park in North West Queensland, reopened in July after extensive flooding forced the holiday destination to close its doors for six months during the peak season.

Floodwaters caused heavy damage to the accomodation area, leaving debris everywhere, but the team did a lot of work before the firsts guests were welcomed back.

The Wugudaji-Adels Grove campsite saw a 90 per cent drop in visitors last year. Source: The Wugudaji-Adels Grove camping ground/Facebook

However, despite frequent advertising on social media, manager Melissa Gerard told the ABCs North West Breakfast radio host Zara Margolis that Adels Grove only saw 10 per cent of the amount of people it recorded the year prior.

Its really not a lot, Melissa said on Thursday, adding the extreme dip in visitors was somewhat understandable because parts of the Boodjamulla National Park remain closed and Adels Grove is not located on a main road.

However, the lack of interest has taken a big toll on the business, which previously had a team of 26 but now only has seven staff members, she said.

Adels Grove reopened in July and is now urging tourists to come visit. Source: The Wugudaji-Adels Grove/Facebook

Camping park's plea for visitors

Melissa told the ABC she fears visitor numbers will remain low because of the restricted access to the national park. We hope that people will talk between themselves because we think that a lot of people enjoy the experience here, she said. So we hope to have a bit more people than last year.

This summer, Adels Grove had another close call when a bushfire surrounded the camping grounds, which the manager admitted was quite scary.

While the former restaurant area is still not usable, everything else at the facility has been cleaned, Melissa added. At the moment its raining and its getting greener and greener every day. Its beautiful.

Story continues

Adels Grove has seen a lot of rain and is getting 'greener by the day', manager Melissa said. Source: Facebook

Thousands of Queenslanders still without power

Queensland has yet to cop a break from the wild weather, with tens of thousands of homes still without power after Cyclone Kirrily tore a path of devastation through the state's north.

The cyclone wreaked havoc after it was downgraded from category three to category two on Thursday evening. It thrashed Ingham and Townsville, leaving more than 115,000 residents without power. While electricity has been restored for a number of homes, Queensland Police said there were still 48,500 homes and businesses in the dark.

Despite this, the Gold Coast airport is on track to record its busiest month ever this weekend with 80,000 expected passengers, the ABC reports. Authorities said the severe weather hasnt deterred visitors.

With AAP

Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories.
By Alexandra Valencia

QUITO (Reuters) - Ecuador's top court has blocked nine questions that President Daniel Noboa wanted to put to Ecuadoreans in a referendum on security issues, arguing they failed to meet constitutional requirements, it said on Friday.

Noboa declared a state of emergency with a nighttime curfew for 60 days at the beginning of January over spiraling violence in the Andean country, and designated 22 criminal bands as terrorist groups, declaring a military offensive against them at the same time.

Six other questions for the referendum were approved, while four more, including on the extradition of Ecuadoreans and the recognition of international arbitration, will be reexamined, the Constitutional Court said.

Noboa had said that he hopes to hold the referendum in March.

In its ruling, the Constitutional Court said it blocked the nine questions because they do not change current regulations, are imprecise, or address multiple topics.

Among questions the court denied were those on allowing security forces to carry out operations preempting organized crime, as well as on changes to sanctions and pardons regarding the use of force.

Noboa's press office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Ecuador has been engulfed in spiraling violence, including in prisons where hundreds of inmates have been killed in recent years, which officials attribute to gangs of drug traffickers.

(Reporting by Alexandra Valencia; Writing by Oliver Griffin; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
ATLANTA (AP)  A once-prominent Atlanta attorney who fatally shot his wife in 2016 as they rode in an SUV pleaded guilty Friday to a charge of involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to eight years in prison as part of a plea deal.

Claud Tex McIver, 81, had been convicted of felony murder and sentenced to life in prison in 2018 but that conviction was overturned in 2022 by Georgia's highest court, which ruled that the jury should have had the option of a misdemeanor involuntary manslaughter charge.

As part of Friday's deal, McIver also pleaded guilty to charges of reckless conduct and associated gun possession and was sentenced to seven years of probation, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. He will receive credit for the time hes already spent in custody. Amanda R. Clark Palmer and Donald F. Samuel, McIvers attorneys, told the newspaper that McIvers prison sentence ends in mid-2025, but that he could be released before then on parole.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney said he thought the plea deal was a healthier and cleaner way to resolve the case than a retrial, which could have resulted in a not guilty verdict.

He acknowledged that some of those who loved Diane McIver, 64, may be disappointed in how the case ended.

Mr. McIver shouldnt have had that loaded gun in his hand with his finger on the trigger, the judge said. For those who seek purely punishment through this process, youre going to be disappointed.

McIver apologized for his actions and acknowledged that theres nothing he can do to make up for what happened to his wife.

She died as a result of my actions, plain and simple, he said. Ive worn my wedding ring since the day we were married and I intend to wear it until the day I die. I hope were at a point where were not judging each other and we can all move on. Shes my angel and shes waiting for me in heaven.

McIver had been awaiting retrial on charges of felony murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and associated gun possession. The negotiated plea ends an appeal by the state of an order limiting its evidence in the retrial. McBurney had barred prosecutors from alleging at the retrial that McIver intended to kill his wife, as McIver was acquitted in his first trial of malice murder.

McIver has always maintained that he shot his wife by accident on the night of Sept. 25, 2016, as he rode in the backseat of an SUV that was being driven by a friend. After they exited an interstate and began driving through downtown Atlanta, McIver said he asked his wife to get his gun from the center console and hand it to him, saying they were in a really bad area.

A short while later, McIver fired the .38-caliber revolver once, striking his wife in the back. He claimed he had fallen asleep holding his gun in his lap and that it fired inadvertently. Prosecutors alleged he killed his wife because he coveted her money.

Rich, successful and politically connected, the McIvers were considered an Atlanta power couple.

McIver was a partner at a national labor and employment law firm. Georgias high court accepted the surrender of McIvers law license in April. He had been an attorney in Georgia since 1973.

Diane McIver had risen to the top of U.S. Enterprises Inc., after more than four decades with the real estate and advertising business founded by Billy Corey.

Corey was in court Friday to present a statement, which was read aloud on his behalf by an employee from the Fulton County District Attorneys Office. In his statement, Corey said Diane McIver was an integral part of his business and that her death left a large void. He said her death was no accident.

One man, one hand and one bullet ended her life and caused a lifetime of misery and loss for so many others, Corey said. There will never be another Diane McIver. Diane was full of life and she should never have been taken away from us in such a careless and malicious way. She is today missed as much as she was on that tragic day.
BEIRUT (Reuters) -Lebanon's parliament passed an amended budget for 2024 that experts said neglected to include crucial reforms that would help the country emerge from a financial meltdown that has gutted the public sector for nearly five years.

The draft was passed late on Friday after three days of drawn-out disputes, including several heated exchanges in parliament's chamber with caretaker premier Najib Mikati, highlighting the deep divisions that have paralysed Lebanese politics and prolonged a more than year-long vacuum at the presidency.

The budget, amended over the course of months from a version that had been submitted to parliament by Mikati, anticipated significantly higher state revenues earned through VAT and customs fees.

It also included measures that appeared to target those who had made illicit gains during Lebanon's financial crisis, by fining companies which unfairly benefited from the central bank's previous currency exchange platform and traders who used the central bank's subsidies on imports to generate profit.

Since Lebanon's economy began to unravel in 2019, its currency has lost around 95% of its value, banks have locked most depositors out of their savings and more than 80% of the population has sunk below the poverty line.

The crisis erupted after decades of profligate spending and corruption among the ruling elite, some of whom led banks that lent heavily to the state.

The government estimates losses in the financial system total more than $70 billion, the majority of which were accrued at the central bank.

Vested interests of the political and economic class have blocked key reforms required by the International Monetary Fund to unlock a $3 billion aid package for Lebanon, including legislation to resolve its banking crisis and unifying multiple exchange rates for the Lebanese pound.

The IMF had also urged Lebanon to consider increases in social spending "with the goal of protecting the most vulnerable". It said last year that Lebanon "will be mired in a never-ending crisis" unless it implemented rapid reforms.

But speaking to legislators at Friday's session, Mikati said the government "stopped the collapse that had been happening, and we began the recovery phase". Around 40 of parliament's 128 members requested to comment on the budget, with many objecting to his remarks.

The draft of the 2024 budget seen by Reuters used an exchange rate of 89,000 Lebanese pounds to the U.S. dollar for most calculations and a rate of 50,000 pounds for some others.

The central bank last year devalued the official currency rate from the longtime peg of 1,500 to a rate of 15,000 pounds to the U.S. dollar.

The passed budget had a calculated deficit of 0%, with expenditures exactly equal to revenues. Parliamentarians said the use of various exchange rates in the budget would give the impression the state was earning more than it really was.

"The spread is going to be in their favour - so the government could technically have a surplus in Lebanese pounds in 2024, but that doesn't mean they will have enough money to spend in actual dollars," parliamentarian Mark Daou told Reuters.

The Policy Initiative think tank said the draft budget "disproportionately burden middle and lower-income households compared to affluent ones" by lowering the threshold for businesses to pay VAT and offering tax exemptions for big businesses.

Sami Zoughaib, a Lebanese economics expert at The Policy Initiative, said the budget was an example of "Lebanese economic alchemy."

"It serves no economic purpose and serves no particular vision beyond repeating a cycle of entropic decay for the state, the economy, and society," he told Reuters.

(Reporting by Maya Gebeily; Editing by Diane Craft and Kim Coghill)
(Reuters) - Spotify said on Friday that Apple's new plan to comply with the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA) is "a complete and total farce."

From early March, developers will be able to offer alternative app stores on iPhones and opt out of using Apple's in-app payment system, which charges commissions of up to 30%, under the bloc's new rules.

However, developers will still be required to pay a "core technology fee" of 50 euro cents per user account per year under Apple's new EU regime.

"From the beginning, Apple has been clear that they didn't like the idea of abiding by the DMA. So they've formulated an undesirable alternative to the status quo," the music streaming-giant said on Friday.

Spotify said it would have to pay a 17% commission if it stays in the App Store and offers its own in-app payment under the new terms.

"Every developer can choose to stay on the same terms in place today. And under the new terms, more than 99% of developers would pay the same or less to Apple," Apple said in an emailed statement to Reuters.

Apple faces strong action if changes to its App Store do not meet incoming regulations, the bloc's industry chief exclusively told Reuters on Friday.

(Reporting by Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila)
The UNs top court ordered Israel to prevent genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, but stopped short of calling for Israel to suspend its military campaign in the war-torn enclave, as South Africa had requested.

In a hearing in The Hague, the Netherlands, on Friday, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) said Israel must take all measures to limit the death and destruction caused by its military campaign, prevent and punish incitement to genocide, and ensure access to humanitarian aid.

South Africa had accused Israel of violating international laws on genocide, written in the wake of the Holocaust, and wanted the court to order Israel to cease fire in Gaza.

While the ICJ did not order Israel to end its war, the ruling represents a blow to Israel, which had hoped the case would be dismissed outright.

Fridays decision related only to South Africas request for emergency measures, which act like a restraining order while the court considers the full merits of the genocide case, which could take years.

The catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is at serious risk of deteriorating further before the court renders its final judgment, Judge Joan Donoghue, the ICJs president, said Friday.

By an overwhelming majority, the courts 17-judge panel voted in favor of six emergency measures, ordering Israel to take all measures within its power to prevent acts which could fall foul of the 1948 Genocide Convention, and to ensure its military does not commit genocidal acts in Gaza.

It also ordered Israel to prevent and punish the direct and public incitement to commit genocide, and to guarantee the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance in the enclave.

Israel was also ordered to preserve evidence related to allegations of genocide and report back to the court on its compliance with these measures in a month.

Pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside Peace Palace in The Hague as the court handed down its ruling. - Piroschka van de Wouw/Reuters

The ICJs decisions are binding and cannot be appealed, but it has no way of enforcing them. In 2022 it ordered Russia to immediately suspend its invasion of Ukraine, but Moscows war rages on nearly two years later.

Israel had already indicated it would not accept the ICJs orders. Nobody will stop us  not The Hague, not the axis of evil and not anybody else, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office wrote on X.

The courts panel ordinarily comprises 15 judges, but was expanded in this case by additional judges from South Africa and Israel.

Israels judge Aharon Barak, an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor and former president of the countrys Supreme Court, voted in favor of two of the emergency measures, ordering Israel to curb incitements to genocide and to ensure aid can enter the enclave.

Both sides hail ruling

Apart from its call for a halt in fighting, the bulk of South Africas nine requests to the court were granted.

The Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister, Riyad al-Maliki, said the ICJ had ruled in favor of humanity and international law and thanked South Africa for bringing the case to the court.

South Africas President Cyril Ramaphosa called the ruling a victory for international law, for human rights, and above all for justice.

While South Africa said it was disappointed that the court did not order a ceasefire, its Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor said she believes Israel will have to observe one if it is to comply with the other measures ordered.

In exercising the order, there would have to be a ceasefire, she said after the hearing. Without it the order doesnt actually work.

Pro-Palestinian supporters react to the ICJ's decision at the headquarters of the Palestinian mission in Pretoria, South Africa. - Alet Pretorius/Reuters

Despite the courts ordering emergency measures, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the ruling as a rejection of discrimination against his country.

Like every country, Israel has an inherent right to defend itself, he said in a short video message. The vile attempt to deny Israel this fundamental right is blatant discrimination against the Jewish state, and it was justly rejected.

However, not all members of Netanyahus cabinet welcomed the ruling. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant criticized the courts decision to hear the case altogether, claiming the ICJ granted South Africas antisemitic request to discuss the claim of genocide in Gaza, and now refuses to reject the petition outright.

Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz said, Those truly needing to stand trial are those that murdered and kidnapped children, women and the elderly, referring to those killed and taken hostage by Hamas on October 7.

Palestinian militant group Hamas also welcomed the courts decision in a statement on Friday, saying it anticipates further court decisions convicting Israel of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

A very significant rebuke

Legal experts have said that, while the court did not grant the most explosive of South Africas requests, in finding that Israel is plausibly violating laws on genocide, its decision is damning.

Even though it is not a definitive verdict, it is a very significant rebuke for the armed forces of a democratic state that sometimes says it has the most moral army in the world, Janina Dill, co-director at Oxford Universitys Institute for Ethics, Law and Armed Conflict, told CNN.

The world court looked at (Israels) actions in Gaza and said it is not implausible that its violating the Genocide Convention. I dont see how that can possibly be a victory. In some sense its a rebuke, and it is also a rebuke to the governments of the world that support Israel in its actions in Gaza, she said.

In the initial hearing two weeks ago, South Africa alleged that Israels leadership was intent on destroying the Palestinians as a group in Gaza, and that its aerial and ground assaults aimed to bring about the destruction of Palestinians in the enclave.

South Africa and Israel are both parties to the Genocide Convention, meaning they are obliged not to commit genocide and to prevent and punish it.

Israel reacted furiously to the accusation and rejected what it called South Africas grossly distorted story, telling the court its war in Gaza was fought in self-defense, that it was targeting Hamas rather than Palestinian civilians, and that its leadership had not displayed genocidal intent.

It said the accusation of genocide was an attempt to pervert the meaning of the term and empty it of its unique force.

Israel claimed if genocidal acts had been committed, they were perpetrated against Israel on October 7, when Hamas fighters stormed into the country from Gaza, killing more than 1,200 people and taking 240 hostage, according to Israeli officials. Israels retaliatory offensive in Gaza has since killed more than 26,000 people, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in the enclave.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

CNNs Eve Brennan, Catherine Nicholls, Hamdi Alkhshali and Lauren Izso contributed reporting.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
By Vivian Sequera, Mayela Armas and Deisy Buitrago

CARACAS (Reuters) -Venezuela's Supreme Justice Tribunal on Friday upheld a ban which prevents presidential candidate Maria Corina Machado from holding office, upending the opposition's plans for elections planned later this year.

With its ruling, Venezuela's top court has barred Machado, a 56-year-old industrial engineer, from registering her candidacy for presidential elections scheduled for the second half of 2024.

The decision came hours after three of Machado's allies were detained on accusations of conspiracy, amid growing tensions between the government of President Nicolas Maduro and the political opposition.

The United States has conditioned a continuation of sanctions relief, granted in October on the back of an electoral deal signed in Barbados, on Maduro freeing political prisoners and "wrongfully detained" Americans and making progress toward removing bans on holding office imposed on a number of opposition politicians.

Venezuela in December released 24 of its own citizens and 10 Americans, including six classed as "wrongfully detained," in exchange for freedom for a Maduro official and the extradition of a Malaysian businessman wanted by the U.S.

But the upheld ban on Machado could set relations back between the two countries.

The court said it upheld findings that Machado supported U.S. sanctions, had been involved in corruption, and had lost money for Venezuela's foreign assets, including U.S.-based oil refiner Citgo and chemicals company Monomeros, which operates in Colombia.

"The regime decided to finish off the agreement in Barbados. What it didn't finish was our fight to see democracy win via free and fair elections," Machado said in a message via X.

Earlier, Attorney General Tarek Saab accused Guillermo Lopez, Luis Camacaro and Juan Freites of forming part of a group of at least 11 people who he said tried to rob a military weapons arsenal last year ahead of a planned assault on a pro-Maduro state governor.

Machado's Vente Venezuela party, to which the three belong, said on its X account that Camacaro and Freites had appeared in court in Caracas on Thursday without private legal representation and without any contact with their families permitted, calling it an "illegal and arbitrary" procedure. It did not mention Lopez.

Saab said on state television that the three were "criminals."

The U.S. State and Treasury departments did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

(Report by Vivian Sequera, Mayela Armas and Deisy Buitrago; Writing by Oliver Griffin and Isabel Woodford; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)
The government-controlled Venezuelan Supreme Court ruled on Friday that opposition leader Maria Corina Machado will not be allowed to run in the presidential elections set for later this year, dealing a significant blow to the democratic transition roadmap that leader Nicolas Maduro agreed to with the Biden administration in Barbados last year.

The ruling against Machado upholds a 15-year ban imposed on her from holding public office. The opposition leader won a primary election vote last year, and according to most polls would easily beat ruling Maduro in a presidential election.

Given her high popularity, most analysts believe that Machados candidacy posed the biggest challenge the Maduro regime has faced in recent years and that the ruler would do anything in his power to keep her name off the ballot, despite agreeing with the Biden administration that all opposition leaders would be allowed to run for public office.

It is not surprising that dictator Nicolas Maduro is not allowing Maria Corina Machado to run. He is afraid and knows he would lose in a free and fair election, said Eddy Acevedo, chief of staff at the Wilson Center in Washington and former senior foreign policy adviser to former Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.

From the beginning, the Barbados agreement was not worth the paper it was written on. Now the U.S. needs to respond with decisive action by snapping back all sanctions, including removal of the oil licenses, in accordance with [U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken] redline from October 2023, Acevedo said.

The ruling  which comes a day after a key regime official, Jorge Rodriguez, had warned that there was no way Machado would be allowed to run in the election  said that her disqualification stems from her alleged participation in a corruption scheme alongside opposition leader Juan Guaido that led to Venezuela losing access to about $4 billion in international funds.

The court also criticized Machado for supporting Washingtons adoption of sanctions against Caracas socialist regime.

The U.S. had been waiting for Maduro to comply with the commitments his governmment made in a series of negotiations held throughout last year with members of the Biden administration.

The talks culminated with the signing in Barbados of two separate accords with opposition leaders to hold presidential elections in the second half of this year. Prior to the signing, representatives of the Biden administration and Maduro held several meetings over the persistent political and economic crisis that has led millions of Venezuelans to seek refuge in neighboring countries and the U.S.

As part of its commitments, the regime agreed to lift bans blocking opposition leaders from running for office, implement deep reforms to the often criticized electoral system, allow international observers to monitor the election and free all political prisoners.

In exchange, the Biden administration, which had kept in place sanctions on Venezuelan oil, granted a six-month general license temporarily authorizing transactions involving the oil and gas sector in Venezuela, and a second general license authorizing the operations of state-run Minerven, a previously sanctioned gold-mining enterprise that had been trading on the black market.
Composite: Anadolu, Getty Images

It was a moment for Donald Trump to be gracious, magnanimous, perhaps even presidential. Instead he lashed out at his opponents clothes. When I watched her in the fancy dress that probably wasnt so fancy, I said, Whats she doing? We won, he said of rival Nikki Haley in New Hampshire on Tuesday night.

Related: We must start urgently talking about the dangers of a second Trump presidency | Margaret Sullivan

Trump had just won the first primary election of 2024 and all but clinched the Republican nomination for US president. Party leaders and campaign surrogates are now eager to banish Haley to irrelevance, move on from the primary and unify against Democrats. They want Trump to pivot to an almost inevitable rematch with Democrat Joe Biden in November.

Yet the 77-year-old remains consumed with rage over Haleys unwillingness to quit the race. His petulance offers a reminder of the unhinged behaviour that turned off independent voters in New Hampshire and could prove to be a liability in a head-to-head contest with Biden. It is also at odds with what is an unusually professional and disciplined campaign operation.

Wendy Schiller, a political scientist at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, said: Donald Trump wants the race to be over and we see evidence of why thats important for the Trump campaign from his speech, which was essentially a train wreck and exhibited all the worst tendencies of Donald Trump. It was an undisciplined Trump and this is what turns off independent voters.

She added: This is the achilles heel for the Trump campaign and they know it. The sooner this gets wrapped up then he doesnt have any more of those impromptu late night speeches. Their worry is not that theyre not going to win the nomination; their worry is the damage that Trump having to respond to Haley will do in the general election with independent voters.

Trumps investment of emotion and energy in attacking Haley is wildly out of proportion for the minimal threat that Haley poses. He won the Iowa caucuses in a landslide  she was third  and beat her by double digits in New Hampshire. No other Republican candidate in history who won the first two contests has failed to clinch his partys nomination. His dominance looks set to render the next five months of primaries irrelevant.

Newt Gingrich, a former House of Representatives speaker and ex-presidential candidate, said: Trumps best strategy is to assume he is the nominee and go straight at Biden and ignore Haley, let her flounder around until she either runs out of money or realises that there is no future. Shell presently disappear.

Republicans have coalesced around the former president, putting pressure on Haley to step aside. She is not competing in next months Nevada caucuses. Trump has racked up endorsements from most of South Carolinas leading Republicans and opinion polls show him with a big lead in the state, which has a strong base of Christian evangelicals, ahead of the primary on 24 February.

Yet Haley, 52, a former South Carolina governor and US ambassador to the UN, is soldiering on. She tweeted on Thursday: Underestimate me, thats always fun. Next week she is scheduled for a fundraising tour that includes stops in New York, Florida, California, Texas and South Carolina. She is expected to continue to draw donor support as Never Trumpers within the party make a last stand and hope he could yet be derailed by the 91 criminal charges against him.

Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, said: I do know some of her donors and my guess is they want her staying in to put Trump through his paces. They dont put it on the record but they think theres a reasonable chance that something will happen to Trump, either health-wise or conviction to the extent that he can no longer be the nominee.

Haley describes herself as scrappy, continues to hold rallies and is becoming more aggressive in her denunciations of Trump. On Wednesday she launched a $4m advertising campaign in South Carolina describing the prospect of a Biden v Trump election as a rematch no one wants. Its narrator says: Biden  too old. Trump  too much chaos. Theres a better choice for a better America.

How long can she last? Michael Steele, a Trump critic and former chairman of the Republican National Committee, said: My bet is two weeks. You really want to go into that race in your home state and lose by 30 or 40 points? Where is the political viability after that? Weve seen candidates who run actual general election presidential campaigns and they lose their home state and we never heard from them again.

Haleys tenacity has enraged Trump. He has branded her birdbrain. He has threatened to blacklist anyone who donates to her campaign. He has railed against her frequently on social media, writing: Could somebody please explain to Nikki that she lost  and lost really badly. She also lost Iowa, BIG, last week. They were, as certain non-fake media say, CRUSHING DEFEATS.

The insults and outbursts are a reminder of why Trump alienated moderate voters in the past. While his win in New Hampshire was historic, it also exposed general election vulnerabilities, showing him to be highly popular with Republicans but highly unpopular with independents, who were allowed to take part in the Republican primary under the states rules.

There has never been such a wide gap between the Republican vote and the independent vote in a New Hampshire Republican primary. According to CNNs exit polls, Trump won Republican voters by 74% to 25%, but Haley won independents 58% to 39%.

Forty-two per cent of voters said they would not consider Trump to be fit for office if he were convicted of a crime. An analysis by Fox News found that 35% of voters in New Hampshire would be so dissatisfied with a Trump nomination that they would not vote for him in November.

There is a lot more weakness than strength coming out of the Republican party in the last couple of weeks Democratic strategist Simon Rosenberg

Steele, a host on the MSNBC cable news network, added: Theres 91 indictments hanging over this guy. Of course hes vulnerable but everyone wants to keep puffing him up like hes some tiger or some lion. Its just ridiculous.

I just wish people would get honest about whats in front of them. This guy is vulnerable as hell. Hes weak as hell. But in reality TV land, hes the guy that fires people: hes rough, hes tough, hes single-minded. No, hes a petulant little boy who shows that petulance when hes challenged.

Bidens campaign is working on the premise that Trump will be the nominee. He has delivered two major speeches about the threat that Trump poses to democracy and the dangerous rise of white supremacy. This week he held a joint event with his vice-president, Kamala Harris, in Virginia to promote reproductive freedom, highlighting Trumps role in the supreme courts Dobbs decision that overturned the constitutional right to abortion.

Simon Rosenberg, a Democratic strategist, said: The Dobbs decision basically became this before-and-after moment in American politics where there just became this sense that the Republican party had become too ugly, too extreme, too dangerous, and it has struggled mightily in election after election since the spring of 2022.

He added: Youre starting to see, even in the early going here, there is a lot more weakness than strength coming out of the Republican party in the last couple of weeks. Its because Maga [Make America great again] has become unattractive even to Republican voters. Fear and opposition to Maga is the most powerful force in American politics. Its why Republicans keep losing, and Republicans have chosen a candidate who is ultra-Maga to be their nominee in 2024.
The U.S. State Department on Friday increased its advisory level for would-be travelers to the Bahamas, urging "increased caution," as the nation's capital has recorded 18 murders this year.

The elevation to Level 2 follows a security alert posted Wednesday by the U.S. Embassy in Nassau, which expressed concern that Americans might be victimized by gang violence in the capital.

"Murders have occurred at all hours including in broad daylight on the streets," the embassy said in its alert. "Retaliatory gang violence has been the primary motive in 2024 murders."

U.S. travelers were advised to be especially cautious in Nassau, use caution when out at night anywhere in the Bahamas, "keep a low profile," be aware of the surroundings, don't resist if confronted by robbers, and have and review security plans.

The State Department added that short-term vacation rentals have the added concern of often lacking the kind of private security present at hotels. It said Nassau's gang crime is not fenced out of areas frequented by tourists.

"Violent crime, such as burglaries, armed robberies, and sexual assaults, occur in both tourist and non-tourist areas," it said in its travel advisory.

Tourists at a beach in Nassau, Bahamas (Victor J. Blue / Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The State Department also warned that many recreational watercraft rentals, tours and trips are inconsistently regulated and thus come with an additional layer of risk.

"Watercraft may be poorly maintained, and some operators may not have safety certifications," it said. "Always review and heed local weather and marine alerts before engaging in water-based activities."

The department also warned Americans not to swim alone in the Bahamas, where there have been recent shark attacks.

Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis responded on Thursday to the embassy's alert, saying it's unlikely to affect the number of American tourists in his nation, according to Bahamian daily news platform the Tribune.

He added that the United States has a right to issue such alerts, and the Bahamas does the same, the publication said. The U.S. warnings came as Davis pushed for a crackdown on crime that would include modifying the parameters for constitutionally protected bail.

The Bahamas commissioner of police and a spokesperson for the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

On Tuesday, the U.S. State Department raised its advisory level for travel to Jamaica to Level 3  this urges Americans to reconsider going to a particular country  based on violent crime and inconsistent access to emergency medical services.
A tourists response to what was under his camper van has sparked a war of words as people weigh in on whether or not the man did the right thing.

In a video which has since gone viral, a dingo can be seen lying in the sand underneath the van, just metres away from the family's outdoor kitchen set up on K'gari in Queensland, as the man filming bends down to get closer to the wild dog.

"So we got a little friend gone under our camper," he says over the sound of loud music. "So this fella was running from another guy [a dingo] who was having a snap at him so I'm guessing he's hiding."

The dingo was spotted hiding from another underneath the family's camper van on K'gari in Queensland. Source: Facebook

Telling a nearby family member to not "do any slapping [away of flies]" and "just don't scare him", the man adds that "he'll be alright, he'll be fine, he'll just leave". When the second dingo appears, the man urges the other person to go inside, "just in case this gets out of hand".

Sharing the video on Facebook, the man from Brisbane explained the dingo under the camper "really didn't care" that the family was there.

"It obviously felt safe," he said. "We just carried on as normal but without making harsh moves such as swatting flies. It stayed about an hour, had a little sleep under the camper, then wandered off casually into the bush."

A second dingo was seen walking around the campsite looking for the dingo hiding under the camper. Source: Facebook

Facebook flare up

But not everyone was happy with the seemingly peaceful interaction that took place on January 9  a month after a little girl was attacked by a dingo on K'gari, formerly known as Fraser Island. Many Aussies accused the man of "adding to the problem".

"You shouldn't let them get that comfortable around humans, it's only asking for trouble and then the dingo gets destroyed, one person said.

Story continues

"They have no fear of humans anymore," another claimed. "You should have scared it and chased it away, building the fear. You never make a wild animal feel comfortable. Just because you're not feeding it, doesn't mean you're not doing anything wrong."

While a third added: "One of the reasons more people are getting bitten is because of actions like this."

But others were more sympathetic. "If you had tried to scare it off, it could have attacked you as it may have felt threatened in such a cramped area under your van," someone said. "You stayed calm, observed and didn't interact, perfect mate!" wrote another.

So who is right?

While dingoes have long been a controversial issue on Kgari, the rules aren't black and white.

According to a spokesperson for the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation, "it's not uncommon for dingoes to approach vehicles and campsites, which is why it is crucial for people to be Dingo-Safe! at all times". That means keeping kids and young teens within arm's length, always walking in groups while carrying a stick, and camping in fenced areas where possible.

Dingoes spotted by the side of a car on K'gari. Souce: Facebook

"K'gari's dingoes are protected native animals of massive conservation priority due to their important roles in the island's ecosystems and cultural significance to First Nations people," Evan Quartermain from the Humane Society International told Yahoo News Australia. "They're a big part of what makes K'gari so special."

He said the best thing to do if you spot dingoes in the wild is to not interfere. "Keep a safe distance before backing away slowly and calmly, as attempting to scare a dingo off could excite them and potentially make matters worse."

A dingo was recently put down after several incidents involving children. Source: Facebook

Debate comes after dingo put down

The video comes just days after a dingo was euthanised on Kgari after close interactions with humans. "So following advice to keep away from dingoes will not only protect tourists but also help save these precious animals," Quartermain said. "With so few left it's incredibly important."

The dingo euthanised had recently been involved in two separate attacks on young children in the Hook Point area, according to the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation. It was also responsible for bitting a man on the back of the leg earlier this month.

"Due to the escalation of the animal's behaviour, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service has made the difficult decision to euthanise the dingo," the Department said.

"Euthanising a dingo is a last resort as it can interrupt the island's natural ecological and cultural wellbeing and impacts our rangers and the Butchulla people, particularly if visitors have not complied with our Be Dingo-safe! advice."

More tips to keep dingo-safe:

Do not run from dingoes as it can trigger a negative interaction

Do not feed dingoes

Lock up food properly  never store food or food containers in tents

Secure all rubbish, fish and bait

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
peculations are rife that he is set to take oath as Chief Minister on Sunday afternoon following his resignation

Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is poised to switch sides once again, aligning with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Speculations are rife that he is set to take oath as Chief Minister on Sunday afternoon following his resignation. Ahead of the oath-taking ceremony, Kumar will reportedly convene a customary meeting of the legislature party at his residence, as per sources.

Amid the unfolding political situation, there are reports that the BJP has instructed its leaders to maintain silence regarding the ongoing political developments. Sources suggest that the BJP is opting to wait until Nitish Kumar officially announces his exit from the Mahagathbandhan coalition.

Amid the evolving political scenario, BJP Bihar in-charge Vinod Tawde, on Saturday, blamed the Congress for the rift between Nitish Kumar and the I.N.D.I.A. bloc. However, Tawde and other senior leaders refrained from disclosing their stance on supporting Nitish Kumar in forming the government in Bihar.

While BJP leaders in Patna maintained that the meeting was held to discuss Lok Sabha elections, senior JD(U) leader K.C. Tyagi attributed the rift within the I.N.D.I.A. bloc to the "irresponsible attitude of the Congress party."

The ongoing political developments in the state have prompted major political parties to hold meetings and strategise their future moves. Opposition parties are also working to save the Mahagathbandhan, initially formed to counter the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections.

As reports of a potential breakup surfaced, Tejashwi Yadav, leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), convened a meeting at his residence where legislators authorised RJD chief Lalu Yadav to make all decisions. Tejashwi Yadav rejected suggestions to withdraw support from the Mahagathbandhan government, emphasising that Nitish Kumar has been a "respectable leader" but the situation is not under his control.

Amid the political turmoil, HAM Chief Jitan Ram Manjhi called a meeting of his party leaders to discuss future strategies. The situation unfolded after RJD leader Lalu Yadav sought Manjhi's support to save the Mahagathbandhan government in Bihar, reportedly offering him a Chief Minister's post. Congress leadership also reportedly reached out to him, urging him to join the I.N.D.I.A. bloc.

BJP state president Samrat Chaudhary met Manjhi, urging him to remain with the NDA. HAM spokesperson Danish Rizwan released a statement after the meeting, confirming that "HAM would continue to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP." He added that the party is hopeful the new government will fulfil the demand of HAM workers for at least two ministerial berths in the NDA government.
Slams Opposition parties glorifying 'tainted' public representatives

Mumbai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed satisfaction at Parliament and state legislatures progressing towards the realisation of the 'one nation, one legislative platform' goal. He slammed the opposition parties for glorification of tainted'' public representatives. While addressing the 84th All India Presiding Officers Conference (AIPOC) via video conference, Modi said that when the charges of corruption were made against the public representative in the past, the people used to distance themselves from them, but the opposition parties are now supporting such people.

The annual conference of presiding officers from across India was held in Mumbai. The Prime Minister also appealed to the delegates of the AIPOC to revoke outdated and unrequired Acts which would make the lives of the citizens easy. Speakers from all the state legislatures Assemblies and Om Birla speaker of Lok Sabha, Harivansh Singh, deputy chairman of Rajya Sabha attended the AIPOC in Maharashtra State legislature.

Modi said that the presiding officers should take inspiration from the Constituent Assembly and work to leave a legacy for future generations during their tenure in the Houses. There is much to learn from our Constituent Assembly. Constituent Assembly members had the responsibility to form a consensus among various thoughts, subjects, and opinions, and they lived up to it.all those presiding officers, who are attending the conference, have an opportunity to draw inspiration from the ideals of the Constituent AssemblyIn your respective tenures, strive to leave a legacy that can serve as a heritage for future generations, he said.

The Prime Minister also spoke about the conduct of the members of legislative bodies and how to increase the productivity of the house. The way any public representative conducts himself in the House, the parliamentary system of his country is also seen in the same way. The concrete suggestions emanating from this conference will be very helpful for how the behaviour of the public representatives in the House and the environment of the House should remain continuously positive and how to increase the productivity of the House, Modi said.

Underlining the unruly behaviour by the public representatives, Modi lamented that once upon a time, any member in the House violated the decorum, the action would be taken against him as per the rules. Then the other seniors of the House used to explain to that member, so that he does not repeat the mistakes in future. But at present, we have seen that some political parties stand in support of such (unruly) members and start defending their mistakes. This situation, be it Parliament or Assembly, is not good for anyone. It is very important to discuss how to maintain the decorum of the House in this forum, he said.

Referring to the glorification of the convicted public representatives in the House, the Prime Minister said, In the past, allegations of corruption against a member of the house would lead to their ostracization from public life. But we now witness public glorification of convicted corrupt individuals, which is detrimental to the integrity of the executive, the judiciary and the constitution.

Modi asked the delegates of the AIPOC to stress on the importance of discussing the issue, provide concrete suggestions on it during the conference and give a road map for the same in the future. Hw also stressed on the need to streamline enactments and asked the Presiding Officers to pay attention to unnecessary and redundant enactments and their impact on citizens lives, stressing that their revocation would have a significant positive impact.

Highlighting the efforts of the Central government in repealing redundant laws, Modi said, In the last 10 years, the Central government has repealed over two thousand laws that were detrimental to our system. This simplification of the judicial system has eased the challenges faced by the common man and enhanced the ease of living.
In the presence of 80 Filipino bishops the solemn liturgy with the proclamation of the title granted by the Vatican. Here the Virgin is venerated as "Our Lady of Peace and Good Journey". It becomes the first international shrine in South-East Asia and the third in the entire continent.

Antipolo (AsiaNews)  The Catholic Church in the Philippines yesterday experienced a historic day with the solemn liturgy of the proclamation of the cathedral of Antipolo as an international sanctuary.

The church houses an ancient statue of the Virgin, which arrived here from Mexico in the 17th century and venerated with the title of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage. For this reason she is very dear to the devotion of Filipino migrants all over the world.

With the recognition granted by the Vatican - which accepted a request made by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines in 2021 - the Antipolo Cathedral has become the first international sanctuary in the Philippines and in all of Southeast Asia.

There are currently only 3 international sanctuaries in Asia and the Philippine one is the only one linked to Marian devotion: the other two are in fact the church of St. Thomas in Kerala and that of the Martyrs in Haemi, South Korea.

The proclamation of the title of international sanctuary took place yesterday during a solemn Eucharistic celebration presided over by the apostolic nuncio, Archbishop Charles John Brown, together with the bishop of Antipolo, Msgr. Ruperto Santos and 80 other bishops from all over the country. Among the many faithful present was also the First Lady of the Philippines, Louise Araneta-Marcos.

In his homily, the nuncio underlined the significance of this event as a testimony to the "internationality of the Philippine Catholic Church", underlining the role of the Virgin of Antipolo for migrants who pray for safety on their journeys.

You bring a gift to the world and Our Lady here in Antipolo is truly the mother of this gift, because that gift is Jesus, he said, linking the Filipino diaspora in evangelization.

We pray and hope to be a blessing for everyone, to be his channels of grace and instruments of God's goodness for others, Bishop Santos said for his part. "This will be our mandate and our mission from now on, so that this is a sanctuary of conversion, compassion and charity", he added, inviting the sanctuary to stand especially alongside the "vulnerable and voiceless".

The church was built in 1632 as a sanctuary for the Virgin of Antipolo, first brought by Governor General Juan Nino de Tabora from Acapulco, Mexico. Despite the damage caused by repeated earthquakes, the sanctuary became a place of pilgrimage during the Spanish period. Even the young Jose Rizal, the Philippine national hero, remembered in his diaries that he had gone there as a pilgrim together with his father in 1868.

The title of Our Lady of Peace associated with the sanctuary is linked to the painful events experienced during the Second World War, when in 1944 the Japanese occupation troops transformed it into an arsenal.

It was the sacristan Procopio Angeles who saved the image of the Virgin by hiding it in an empty petrol can buried underground. From there she would then arrive at the Quiapo church in Manila, thus escaping the American bombings.

Rebuilt after the war, the church was then proclaimed a national sanctuary in 1954, and then became the cathedral when the diocese of Antipolo was established in 1983.
Today's news: An archaeological report finds that the Varanasi mosque in India was allegedly built on the ashes of a Hindu temple; Chinese industrial profits fell by 2.3% in 2023; The director of the WHO described conditions in Gaza as 'hellish'; General strike in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan over rising wheat prices; Vladimir Putin visits the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad on Polish territory on 'Russian Students' Day' (Tatjanin Den). Malaysia increases water tariffs.

YEMEN

Yemen's Houthi rebels have stepped up attacks on ships transiting the Red Sea, including an attack that started a fire on a fuel tanker. Due to the intensification of attacks in the Gulf of Aden, the US military said it shot down an Iranian anti-ship ballistic missile fired by the Houthis. Yemen's rebel-controlled Al-Masira television said this morning the United States and the United Kingdom launched two airstrikes against the port of Ras Issa, Yemen's main oil export terminal.

INDIA

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has discovered that the mosque built in the 17th century in Varanasi, one of the holiest cities in Hinduism, stands on the ashes of a Hindu temple. The archaeological discovery was made public by a lawyer following a petition signed by several Hindus. The mosque's Muslim lawyers following the ongoing court case have disputed the statements of the Hindu plaintiffs' lawyer. The mosque in question, that of Gyanvapi, is located in the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, leader of the "Indian People's Party", proponent of a nationalist policy and defense of Hindu identity.

CHINA

Chinese corporate profits fell by 2.3% in 2023, the second consecutive annual decline after 2022, due to weak domestic and foreign demand, combined with the real estate crisis and deflationary risks. Last year's decline in profits was mainly due to sharply lower factory prices, driven by excess production capacity in some sectors, said economist Nie Wen of the Hwabao Trust in Shanghai.

RUSSIA

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad on Polish territory on the Day of Russian Students (Tatjanin Den), meeting with students of the Baltic Federal University for a free dialogue, and then with governor Anton Alikhanov, to discuss of the "economic and social development of the region", without any real intention of "sending messages to NATO", as the Kremlin assured.

PAKISTAN

A general strike was observed in Gilgit-Baltistan on Friday, with large protests and rallies against the increase in wheat prices. Traffic was blocked, while shops, markets, restaurants and shopping centers remained closed in various areas of Gilgit, Skardu, Diamer, Ghizer, Astore, Shighar, Ghanche, Kharmang, Hunza and Nagar. The call for strike was launched by the Awami Action Committee (Aac) with the associations representing traders, transporters and owners of hotels and clubs.

ISRAEL - PALESTINE

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has called for a ceasefire and a "real solution" to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, describing conditions in Gaza as "hellish". Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who lived through the war as a child and whose children were hiding in a bunker during the 1998-2000 bombings between Ethiopia and Eritrea, was moved when describing the conditions in the bombed Palestinian enclave of Gaza where more than 25,000 people have been killed in recent months.

MALAYSIA

In Malaysia, water tariffs are increasing to contain the high economic costs due to pipe leaks. Domestic users in Peninsular Malaysia and the federal territory of Labuan will pay an average of Rm0.22 (about .05) more per cubic meter of water from Thursday, February 1, the National Water Services Commission announced. Subsequently, 11 federal governments, except those of Sabah and Sarawak, announced several increases in their respective tariffs. According to experts, this is not enough, the entire aqueduct system should be rehabilitated and water safety improved.

ARMENIA - AZERBAIJAN

The head of the Land Registry Committee of Armenia, Suren Tovmasyan, informed the government that "official data on the sovereign territory will be released only after the delimitation and demarcation of the borders with Azerbaijan", the negotiations of which are still ongoing , and which will subsequently be given a "definitive legal evaluation".
by Stefano Caprio

Russian state media depict Lenin as "the inventor of Ukraine", therefore the real culprit of the ongoing conflict, as opposed to the enlightened leadership of Stalin. In reality, Putin is the inventor of a new mythological Russia, who rereads ancient and recent stories in his own way to impose a new empire.

The centenary of the death of Vladimir Uljanov, known as Lenin, is being remembered these days not only in Russia, but throughout the international press, as he was one of the figures who determined the course of events throughout the 20th century.

The century following his death is once again confronted with his legacy, in a context of repeated wars that reflect some of the motivations of the revolution and the civil war between Russia and Ukraine.

In them the leader of the Bolsheviks had to express the concept of nation and socialism, leading to the proclamation of the Soviet Union in 1922, shortly before being debilitated by a stroke which left him to the attentive care of Stalin, and finally to his death.

In the current rhetoric of Putin's war, the founder of the communist empire is remembered in very different ways from the myth of Soviet times, which canonized him in the mausoleum still present on Red Square, increasingly grotesque and cumbersome by now.

In the state media, in the comments of propagandists and in the statements of the leaders of today's Russia themselves, Lenin is represented as "the inventor of Ukraine", therefore the real culprit of the ongoing conflict, as opposed to the enlightened leadership of Stalin, who tried to remedy the errors of his predecessor.

It was Putin himself who used this argument on February 21, 2022, two days before crossing the Western borders with his entire army, stating that Ukraine was born "as a result of Bolshevik politics", and that the current Kiev state "is can rightfully call the Ukraine of Lenin, who was its author and architect, as documents show, and now his descendants are tearing down monuments to Lenin, for what they call de-communistization.

Starting from this judgment, the new myth of an artificial Ukraine without historical foundations arises, being in reality nothing more than a part of Russia occupied today by the Westerners, which therefore must be de-Nazified and reunited in the original sobornost.

The truth of the post-revolutionary events tells us rather that Lenin had to invent a new Russia, putting together the pieces of the tsarist empire that he himself had brought down, and that indeed he was forced to recognize a Ukraine that he had not imagined, and that he never wanted to.

In fact, in 1918 the Ukrainian People's Republic (UNR) was proclaimed in Kiev, which the Bolsheviks tried in vain to take under their control. To recover those territories, Lenin understood that he would have to recognize the independence of this state, and make many concessions to the specificity of the Ukrainian language and culture, putting an end to the centuries-old Russification that was imposed by the empire of the tsars, even with bloody repression.

Socialist Ukraine occupied most of the current territories, including Donbass, and Leninist Russia then waged a ruthless war against it, which also included the extermination of the population of the capital Kiev.

Thousands of Kievlians fell victims of the Bolsheviks, including many members of the Orthodox clergy, starting with Metropolitan Vladimir (Bogojavlenskij), killed during the assault of 7 February 1918 and whose remains are found in the Kiev Cave Lavra.

After this attack by the Russians, the leaders of the UNR managed to return to Kiev only two months later, with the support of the German and Austro-Hungarian armies, but already in April 1918 the democratic Tsentralnaya Rada was replaced with the authoritarian regime of the hetman Pavel Skoropadskij, with the blessing of the Austrians.

At the end of the year, with the exit of the Germanic troops, the People's Republic was restored and survived only until 1920, when it was disintegrated by enemies from all sides: the Bolsheviks, the counter-revolutionary White Armies, the armies of Poland and of Romania.

When Lenin finally "created" Ukraine in 1921, the country was divided into various parts and various identities, starting from the socialist one of the UNR and the dictatorial one of Skoropadsky, with which the Bolsheviks had had no relationship.

Lenin had declared war on the Rada since 1918, but at the time of the capitulation of Brest, on 3 March of that year, towards the European central powers, he was forced to de facto recognize the independence of Ukraine.

In 1921 the Russian Socialist Federal Soviet Republic (RSFSR) therefore had to recognize the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) in the context of the signing of the Riga Peace Treaty with Poland, also signed by the Ukrainians as an independent entity.

Only in 1922 was the Soviet Union finally proclaimed, which also included the already existing USSR, which was not invented by Lenin. It was not the Bolsheviks who established the territories and borders of Soviet Ukraine, but it was the Ukrainians who conquered and defended them, even agreeing to join the new State then collapsed in 1991, causing all claims among the Soviet republics themselves to fall, beyond biased historical reconstructions.

The UNR, which later became USSR, had been invaded by the Germans and Austrians with the consent of the Bolsheviks, but the Ukrainians at the time had not considered it an occupation, as it is defined today, because their presence effectively imposed the recognition of a Independent Ukraine.

It was the so-called materikovaja, "land" Ukraine, which to the west bordered Poland on the banks of the Zbruc river in Galicia, and included the eastern lands now invaded and "annexed" by Russia and even further, up to the city of Taganrog in Russia southern.

It was a large territory which did not include Crimea, which in turn in the turbulent years after the revolution had established itself as an independent republic, and other western parts that remained under the Austro-Hungarian empire, which in turn was dissolved in November 1918 , and reunited with Ukraine in the Treaty of Riga in 1921.

It was not Lenin at all who composed Ukraine, indeed before succumbing to illness and death, the revolutionary leader attempted to oppose the "Great Russian chauvinism" of the rest of the party, then supported by Stalin and today revived by Putin, who imposed different readings of history and territorial divisions.

If anything, it was Stalin himself who added territories to Ukraine when he invaded Poland in 1939 with Hitler's consent, taking back the parts of Galicia and Volynja that had been granted to Warsaw in the peace treaty.

The territorial fullness of Ukraine was therefore thanks to Lenin's successors, including the gift of Crimea which was decided by the Soviet secretary (of Ukrainian nationality) Nikita Khrushchev in 1954, with the aim of Russifying Ukraine itself a little more.

The Soviet policy of divide and rule actually extended to almost all the territories of the fifteen republics, which were divided and "shared" according to the purposes decided by the Politburo with the aim of controlling the various ethnic tensions, both in the Baltics and in the Caucasus and in 'Central Asia.

Not to mention the territories of European and Siberian Russia itself, where today the identities of many minor peoples and different historical-cultural traditions are reborn. The truth is that all the states made independent since the end of the USSR mutually recognized their borders on 31 December 1991 with the Belaveza agreement, despite the uncertainties and tensions still ongoing especially in the Caucasian and Asian areas, and the Russia recognized Ukraine.

Lenin was not the culprit, at least as far as Ukraine is concerned, but Putin is the inventor of a new mythological Russia, who rereads ancient and recent histories in his own way to impose a new empire, applying mental schemes of clearly Soviet derivation.

The memory of the revolutionary leader instead serves to distinguish the influences of "ideology" - communism invented by Westerners and reinterpreted by Lenin - from the "tradition of moral and spiritual values", existing from the origin of Rus' in the Baptism of Kiev to the end of first millennium, and preserved by all subsequent Russias, including the Soviet one.

The definition of Ukraine thus becomes a crucial element for the self-awareness of Russia, which has lost itself in the meanders of history, and needs to assert itself through opposition, no longer having its own reason to exist.

The war on Ukraine, a young and complex state, but proud of its identity and full of hope in its future, is the declaration of the end of Russia, which dissolves in the claim of Victory, when in reality it has left history.

RUSSIAN WORLD IS THE ASIANEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO RUSSIA. TO RECEIVE A WEEKLY UPDATE EVERY SATURDAY, CLICK HERE
A tourist who got stranded in Thailand after falling ill on holiday has died.

British man Dean Penson became unwell in November. The 41-year-old was rushed to hospital for blood and platelet transfusions. Medics feared he had leukaemia.

Tourist Dean Penson became unwell while on holiday in Thailand in November. Source: Jam Press

He is struggling to see, as he has had a bleed behind both eyes due to blood-thinning, his friend Ben Page, who organised a fundraiser to pay for his treatment abroad and to get him home, as he had no travel insurance, said at the time.

Ben had flown to Thailand because hospital staff had told him someone needed to escort Dean home. He is a good man, and if he could, he would do the same for all his friends, he said.

Mate helps man return home

Having raised a large chunk of his A$30,000 target, Ben managed to get Dean, 41, back to the UK after hed spent 10 days in a hospital in Phuket.

He was admitted to Southend Hospital in Essex, near where he lived, on November 30. Sadly, he died at Southend Hospital on January 19.

Sadly, Dean died in the UK on January 19. Source: Jam Press

Been at the hospital a couple of hours ago and Im afraid Deans not with us anymore, a devastated Ben said in an update. Its very sad news. Amazing person. Loved him loads. Best mate in the whole world.

He said there had been a few complications. A few things. He had a very rare blood disorder as well, he explained. He couldnt create platelets and bone marrow.

Were all going to miss him with all our hearts. He was the soul of the party.

Another friend commented, describing Dean's death as such sad and tragic news. Been thinking of him since he fell ill and hoping he would recover. RIP Dean, she said.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
During what was arguably the most exciting period of the American automotive industry, Ford helped take the American V8 to new performance heights.

Boss 351

Photo: Mecum

Boss 429

Photo: Mecum

DOHC

427 FE Medium Riser

Photo: Mecum

428 Cobra Jet and Super Cobra Jet

Photo: Mecum

SOHC 427 Cammer

Photo: Bonhams

Honorable mention: 289 HiPo (K-code)

Photo: Mecum

Last year (2023), Ford celebrated its 120th anniversary as well as two decades since it produced its 100th million V8 engine.Like all the big names in the automotive industry, Ford has been downsizing ICEs and welcoming electric power in recent years.Nevertheless, the corporation hasn't given up on the good old V8 engine, and so far, it seems determined to keep it alive.But while the Blue Oval still develops a series of high-performance V8s , some of its greatest hit the streets, drag strips, and tracks during the sixties and early seventies.The 1971 model year marked the beginning of the end for muscle cars. However, Ford wasn't quite done with high-performance models.Though the 302 and 429 Boss Mustangs were discontinued, the Blue Oval introduced one final golden-age Boss powered by a bespoke 351 engine.Based on the 335-series Cleveland V8 architecture, this high-performance 351-ci (5.8-liter) known as R-code received four-bolt mains, forged steel conrods, forged aluminum pistons, a more aggressive cam, revamped cylinder heads, and a 750-cfm four-barrel carburetor sitting on top of the specifically-developed alloy intake manifold.The upgrades amounted to 330 hp and 370 lb-ft (501 Nm) of torque, which meant the V8 was more potent than the discontinued Boss 302's highly-praised small block.The engine made the heavier 1971 Mustang Boss 351 one of the fastest high-performance versions of the first-generation 'Stang , as it could run the quarter mile in the mid-to-high 13-second range.Unfortunately, the car and its terrific V8 were discontinued after the 1971 model year, with only 1,806 examples leaving the factory.During the sixties and early seventies, Ford built several 429-ci (7.0-liter) V8s, but unquestionably, the most exotic was the Boss 429 Introduced in 1969, when the Mustang with the same name was released, the Big Boss was unleashed on public roads in an effort to gain homologation for NASCAR use.An evolution of the 385 "Lima" big-block V8 series, the legendary 429 used four-bolt mains, a forged steel crank, forged steel connecting rods, a pair of bespoke aluminum heads with semi-hemi combustion chambers, and a 735-cfm Holley four-barrel carm mounted on top of a high-flow aluminum intake manifold.Rated at 375 hp and 450 lb-ft (610 Nm) of torque, the Boss 429 was Ford's most powerful production V8 of the era - tied with the 1971 429 Super Cobra Jet.Even more impressive, it held this title until the year 2000, when it was dethroned by the SVT Mustang Cobra R's 385-hp 5.4-literModular.Though the Mustang chassis was chosen to homologate the engine due to its marketing success, the Boss 429 powered the Ford Torino and Mercury Cyclone in NASCAR.With this legendary engine under the hood, FoMoCo dominated the 1969 season by racking up 30 victories in 54 races.A list of Ford's greatest V8s from the golden age of muscle cars wouldn't be complete without the venerable 427 FE.Throughout its lifespan (1963-1968), the 427 FE - which actually displaced 425.98 cubic inches or 6.98 liters - was built using two distinct block versions (side- and top-oiler), as well as different intake manifold designs.The side-oiler 427 is best known for powering the GT40s to a 1-2-3 finish at Le Lans in 1966 but also spawned the most refined street-legal Dubbed Medium Riser after the height of its intake, this 427 was available in various Ford and Mercury models from 1965 to 1967.In terms of output, it could make either 410 hp and 476 lb-ft (645 Nm) of torque when equipped with a single four-barrel carb or 425 hp and 480 lb-ft (651 Nm) with a dual four-barrel Holleys.Though the rare, drag-oriented R-Code Hi-Riser was more powerful, the Mid-Riser was the more versatile, street-friendly 427 FE, which is why we chose it in favor of the R-Code.In the second part of the 1968 model year, Ford replaced the long-running 427 with a new FE-based performance V8 dubbed Cobra Jet Built on the same assembly line as other FE engines and featuring more cost-effiective components, it gave the corporation a more reliable, "streetable" and, most importantly, cheaper alternative to the 427.Available until the end of the 1969 model year on virtually all Ford and Mercury models with an engine bay large enough to accommodate it, the 428CJ used a variety of cylinder heads and could be had in two compression ratio configurations: 10.8:1 or 10.6:1.However, regardless of the compression ratio, the output rating of 335 hp and 440 lb-ft (600 Nm) of torque was the same for both configurations.Customers who ordered a 428CJ engine could also check the Drag Pack or Super Drag Pack boxes on the options list, which transformed the Cobra Jet into the Super Cobra Jet.While the output didn't change, the engine received a sturdier crankshaft, 427 Le Mans-spec connecting rods with capscrews instead of bolts, and an oil cooler - giving drag racers a better platform to modify the V8 into a fire-spitting monster.Though short-lived and less powerful in stock form than the '71 385-series-based 429 Cobra Jets, the 427CJ and SCJ became legendary on the drag strip, particularly in the Stock and Super Stock classes, where they were (and still are) highly successful.Affectionately known as "Cammer" among Ford enthusiasts, the 427-ci (7.0-liter) powerhouse was born in 1964 with the sole purpose of destroying Chrysler's 426 HEMI.Alegidly put together in 90 days, it was based on a slightly modified 427 FE side-oiler block.But while the block and internals were largely the same as the race-spec side oiler, the Cammer featured novel cylinder heads with hemispherical combustion chambers and single overhead cams driven by a six-foot-long (1.8 m) timing chain.This legendary engine was rated at 616 hp and 515 lb-ft (698 Nm) of torque when equipped with a single four-barrel carb. But Ford's engineering wizards also developed a dual four-barrel version that pushed output to 657 hp and 575 lb-ft (780 Nm) of torque.Dubbed "too European" by NASCAR boss Bill France and subsequently banned from the competition, the mighty engine never went head-to-head with the HEMI on the track, nor did it get to power a street-legal Ford.Nevertheless, around 500 units were offered to select buyers through Ford's dealership networks, and the engine eventually became a legend in non-stock drag racing classes.Although it's the smallest displacement engine on our list, the 289, informally known as the HiPo or K-code (after the letter found in the VIN of the cars it powered), remains a big part of Ford's high-performance V8 history.One of FoMoCo's first high-performance engines based on a small-block architecture, the HiPo debuted in the 1963 Fairlane.Based on the new 289-ci (4.7-liter) Challenger V8 introduced a few months earlier, it was engineered to maximize performance and rev freely in the high-RPM range.Compared to its standard sibling, it received many upgrades , including a hotter cam, beefier conrods, revised cylinder heads with smaller combustion chambers, cast spring cups, and screw-in rocker-arm studs.Moreover, it featured a larger Autolite 4100 series four-barrel carb, low-restriction exhaust manifolds, and, eventually, a dual-point ignition system.Rated at 271 hp and 312 lb-ft (423 Nm) of torque, the HiPo was available on the Fairlane and the Mustang but was built in limited quantities due to its high production cost.From 1965 to 1967, a modified version of the HiPo (pictured above) was also used on the Shelby GT350 . With new exhaust headers, an aluminum intake, and a 715-cfm Holley four-barrel carb, the initial Shelby version made 306 hp and 329 lb-ft (446 Nm).From 1966, Shelby offered an optional Paxton supercharger kit which enabled the already-upgraded 289 to make 390 hp.
In the final years of the 1950s, oil was struck in the south of present-day Algeria, in the blazing hell of the Sahara Desert. to begin exploting the oilfields, a fernch company built the biggest truck in the world at that time - the 50-tons Berliet T100, with a payload of 50 tons. Four trucks were assembled, and only one survives today.

Gross Vehicle Weight

In the wake of the Second World War, the reshaped geopolitics of the planet changed dramatically, more or less (actually more) shared between the new two superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union. Empires were falling apart; colonial powers were hammered by wars for independence fought by nations far and wide. Traditional imperialism was replaced by its newest form  the globalized economy. The race for resources was more intense than ever before.By the middle of the 20th century, it had become clear to everyone that oil was a critical natural resource, and vast efforts were spent to find new fields of the precious fossil. From the frozen tundra of the North to the rainforests of the Amazon, the Black Gold Rush was in full swing. In the mid-fifties, oil was struck in the Sahara Desert in Algeria.Back then, the vast territory was a French colony, and the European republic wasnt about to relinquish independence to the African nation just like that. France was more akin to being the exploiter, and the short years of German occupation during the Second World War didnt instill a sudden sense of righteousness in the pockets of the French politicians.Democracy aside, the Algerian oil was only as good as it could be extracted, refined, and sold, and that implied one crucial thing: getting to the oil field first. However, one particularity of the sandy desert of the Sahara is that it doesnt have a stable geography; the landscape constantly shifts, and the dunes behave like gigantic waves that make building permanent transport infrastructure nearly impossible.The vehicles of the period were catastrophically inept at braving the vastness of the Sahara and carrying the vital rigging equipment for digging wells. Building roads was expensive, impractical, and time-consuming. Oilmen retorted to camel caravans, but the animals werent the best solution for transporting heavy equipment. Something had to be done.Believe it or not, back in the fifties, one of the largest truck manufacturers in the world was a French company by the name of Berliet. The heavy equipment constructor proposed various vehicles for the oil business, but none proved adequate in the hell of internal combustion hell that geographers refer to as the Sahara.The constructor had to develop an entirely new platform , which they did in big style. Really big style: the Berliet T100 was the biggest truck in the world when it came out in 1958fifty tons of steel and rubber, with a payload equal to its own weight. At full capacity, the 100-ton behemoth was more than able to sail the dunes of the Northern African sands.The titanic truck measured 13.3 meters (40 feet) in length, five meters (15 feet) across, and 4.4 meters (13.4 feet) at its highest point. The all-wheel drive six-wheeler sat on a wheelbase of 5.7 meters between the front and middle axle (17.4 feet), while the distance between the second and rear axle was a more modest 2.5 meters (7.6 feet).At the time of its launch, it was the absolute ruler of the truck world  there was no other like it. It was so damn oversized that Berliet had trouble finding tires to fit the giant. Or, more accurately, went to ask Michelin to make bespoke rubbers, as nothing else was good enough.The tire-making company happily obliged and fitted the 50-ton mastodont with tubeless 37.5/33 XR special sand tires, 2.2 meters (7.2 feet) in diameter and almost one meter wide (three feet). Each one weighed over 2,100 lbs. (more than 950 kg). However, due to their enormity, they only exerted a ground pressure of under 1 kg/sq cm (14.22 PSI) at the trucks full-load 100-ton. The dinosaur-sized hunk of steel was more light-footed than a dromadere.The test revealed that the Berliet T100 (the vehicles codename) left tire tracks only 10 cm deep (four inches) in sands where a standing man would sink up to his knees. Thanks to its extraordinary sand buoyancy, the massive cargo carrier could attack sandy slopes up to 20% (11.3)To make absolutely sure the tires wouldnt blow in the middle of the French colonys arid and hostile nowhere, the fat rubbers were rated for 120 tons, a full 20% over their required maximum payload. Impressive as they may be, the tires paled in comparison to the T100s powertrain. The colossus was so heavy that there wasnt any vehicle engine in France capable of meeting the power, endurance, maintenance, and workload imposed by the monster. The French were once more bogged down  the monster truck was out of their league. Enter America (as usual).Truth be told, the French engineers had an ongoing development project for a twelve-cylinder powerplant, but progress was too slow. Berliet knocked on Cummins door, and the Americans didnt disappoint. A 24-liter (1,648 cubic inches) twin-turbocharged V12 diesel with 600 hp. By 1959  one year after the T100s launch into service  the engine was modified to raise the output further. The displacement grew to 28 liters (1,709 cubic inches), and the camshaft was modified, resulting in a power gain of 100 hp, for a maximum of 700 hp at 2,100 RPM.A gigantic diesel (the engine alone pulled over 2.5 tons!) means one foremost thing: torque overkill. And the Berliet had it in heaps2,609 Nm (1,924 lb-ft) at 1,500 RPM. Every bank of cylinders was force-fed by its dedicated compressor, and the fortress of steel could go at speeds up to 45 kph (25 mph) over solid ground.When the terrain allowed the truck to flex its road-gripping muscles fully, the Berliet was able to climb ramps up to 25% (14). The performance was mainly due to the drivetrain, which consisted of a four-speed gearbox mated to the engine via a torque converter. The engineers fitted the T100 with a shuttle transmission, so the oversized machine had four forward speeds and four in reverse. This solution was adopted after the original gearbox  an 8+2 system borrowed from a locomotive  was found too fragile to cope with the merciless torment imposed by the desert oil industry.The downside of this otherwise awe-inspiring performance was paid in fuel: the diesel-powered apocalypse burnt 90 liters for every 100 kilometers (2.6 mpg) on the tarmac and 240 liters when driving over sand. Thats 0.98 miles per gallon! No wonder it was fitted with two tanks, each with a capacity of 950 liters (251 gallons).The second shortcoming was, ironically, its cooling capacity. The air conditioning system was so performant that it could maintain a 25C / 77F temperature inside the cabin, while the outside air was a scorching 60C (140F). There was, however, one problem: the ventilation ports were mounted high up in the cabin, and the cold air was blown straight onto the occupants heads, so the AC was rarely used.The mighty Berliet had a secondary engine  a small 850 CC / 52 cubic-inch auxiliary that powered the hydraulics and the brakes and charged the battery. As for the driveline, it was as magnificently complicated and overengineered as the rest of the beast. Each wheel was driven by a triple-reduction assembly consisting of a spiro-conical cut coupling, a cylindrical coupling with helical teeth, and planetary gears placed inside the hub.The front axle differential  placed in the transfer case  and the second rear axle diff were both locking, and the eight-range transfer case housed a torque splitter, which balances the effort between the front axle and the two rear axles. This third differential was also equipped with a locking mechanism.Steering the humongous machine was achieved by a recirculating ball system backed by hydraulic pistons that pushed the massive wheels into a 14-meter (46-foot) turning radius. See the photos in the gallery for a more compelling visual description of the T100s internals. Each wheel had four Messier aeronautical waterproof disc brakes (24 total). The truck also utilized Messier hydraulic shocks for the front axle suspension and the flat leaf springs resting on ball-jointed bases. Torsion and stabilizer bars on the rear axles kept the Berliet ogre steady and surefooted.The bed of the Sahara conquering oil-thirsty machinery measured 5.8 x 4.7 m (19 x 15.4 feet, and sported a Garwood winch behind the cabin rated at 45 tons. A return pulley amplified that force to 60 tons through a 75-meter cable, one inch thick (25.4 mm.Four such trucks were constructed  two for the French oil industry in the south of Algeria, a dump truck that saw service in a uranium mine in France (see it in the gallery), and a cab-over. The former crossed the Atlantic in 1959 to attend a fair in America (see the second video for a short news bulletin excerpt from the period).When Algeria finally gained its independence in 1962, the T100 was left behind by the French company operating it, and it spent nearly two decades roasting under the blazing sun. Shortly before it became the property of the newly-founded state, the T100 served as a supply truck for the firefighting teams during an oil rig fire in 1961-62. In 1981, it was repatriated and restored and is now part of the Berliet Foundation Museum.
When looking at the images shared below, we know what you're probably thinking: no car can be called a donk unless it is a 1971-1976 Chevrolet Caprice or Impala with the rightful mods. And you'd be right to think that, yet they're not the only models to have received similar upgrades.

Photo: Instagram | 412donklife

kW

EV

We've seen a lot of different vehicles riding on oversized alloys over the last few years and featuring some often-questionable shiny bits and pieces. However, since we're children at heart, we like most of them. And we certainly dig the look of this particular Rolls-Royce Dawn Nevertheless, there's one thing we don't support when it comes to this discontinued open-top luxury cruiser, and that's the fact that it's not real. It came to virtual life at the hands of 412donklife, who used multiple mouse clicks to come up with this unique styling that certainly deserves its 15 minutes of fame.One thing that makes it stand out immediately is the new alloy set. The wheels probably measure around 28 inches in diameter or maybe more. Wrapped in rubber band tires, they have a gold look and a multi-spoke pattern and fill the arches just perfectly.More gold accents can be seen on other parts of the exterior, including the trim on the front fenders and the logos at both ends of the car. And if you must know, it is the fresh digital look of the Spirit of Ecstasy , too. For the lower parts of the body, the pixel manipulator chose a matte black look, whereas the upper parts feature a glossy black finish. The smoked front and rear lights and the occasional add-on round off the virtual makeover.A look under the hood would have been interesting, but it was not part of the CGI tune. As you likely know, the Rolls-Royce Dawn uses a V12 with twin turbocharging that has a 6.6-liter displacement and works with an eight-speed transmission from ZF and rear-wheel drive. The output is rated at 563 horsepower (571 ps/420), and it develops 605 pound-feet (820 Nm) of torque. Despite weighing over two and a half tons (5,600+ lbs), the Dawn is very agile, taking just under five seconds to 62 mph (100 kph) and topping out at 155 mph (250 kph).On a more realistic note, we will remind you that production of the Dawn and its fixed-roof sibling, the Wraith, ended in 2023. Rolls-Royce will not bring them back, but it has a successor in its portfolio, albeit with electric power. It is called the Spectre , and it is a two-doorthat doesn't cut back on the luxury gizmos, as it shares numerous nuts and bolts with the Phantom flagship sedan.
It's easy to forget that one of the most visually insane motorcycle families ever made, the Harley-Davidson V-Rod, has a trace of Porsche DNA in it. Yet, from time to time, a build comes along to remind us of that, and we're all left awestruck.

Back in the late 1990s the American bike maker was looking to enter the muscle bike segment, where the Japanese big boys roamed unchallenged. To do that, it of course needed a new motorcycle.And not just a new motorcycle, but one powered by a brand-new engine . The existing powerplant, the Twin Cam, was not suited for the task, while the Evolution was on its way out the door.To make sure it doesn't screw things up, but also in a bid to get a bit of notoriety (it's unclear why it needed that), Harley enlisted the help of Porsche Engineering to help with the design of the muscle bike's family powerplant.The tie-up between the two companies dates back to the 1970s, but it wasn't until the arrival of this new engine that it really took off. Called Revolution, the unit marked quite the departure from the usual Harley design, switching from the usual 45-degree configuration to 60 degrees.The powerplant was initially launched with a displacement of 69ci (1,131cc), but the offering was later increased to 76ci (1,245cc)  consequently, power levels jumped from 115 hp to 125 hp.That's because the thing was supposed to power a bike unlike any other Harley had made before. Christened V-twin racing street custom (VRSC), it became known as the V-Rod, and despite being pulled from production in 2017, 16 years after it was introduced, it still dominates the custom motorcycle landscape.Several of Europe's largest custom garages work on keeping the V-Rod torch lit, but the sad reality is few of them still remember, care, or try to honor the historic collab between America's favorite bike maker and the car brand all kids dream of owning when they grow up.So imagine our joy when we stumbled upon something called the Hulk. A V-Rod by trade, it was named so because of the obvious green paint that covers its body, but probably also on account of each body part, from the wheels to the fenders, being beefed up a bit.But despite its name, and the lack of connection between that and Porsche, the shop behind the build, Bundnerbike , still managed to remember the connection with the German brand. That's done with the help of discreet, but very effective references: the Porsche emblem on top of the fuel tank, the silhouette of a Porsche car right above the Harley-Davidson lettering on the sides of the fuel tank, and the revealed secret on the rear fender.Sadly, Bundnerbike gives absolutely zero details about what was done to the stock V-Rod, so aside from what you can see for yourself (custom wheels, bodywork, exhaust, paint job with undisclosed specs) there's not much else to go on.Yet that has never stopped us from enjoying custom Harleys, and it certainly won't do that when it comes to this priceless green beauty.
SUV

EV

AWD

While the Bavarian CUV produced in the United States sparked an entirely new automotive niche that is still alive and well, the premium Japanese brand had to backtrack quickly, and the first generation ZDX was retired in 2013. A decade later, though, Acura is trying to give it a fresh jolt  in more ways than one.Showcased during last year's scorching summer, the second-generation Acura ZDX is now a 'normal' mid-size crossoverin terms of styling but also the adopter of the novellifestyle, a first for the brand. Afraid of the high development costs, Honda partnered with GM for the production of the Honda Prologue and Acura ZDX, and as such, the premium CUV is now offered with the exact same 'goodies' as the Cadillac Lyriq, Buick Electra E4, and E5, or Chevrolet Blazer EV.Soon, it will have many more siblings  the Honda Prologue , but also cousins like the Chevrolet Equinox EV, the next Bolt EV, as well as the Cadillac Optiq or Celestiq, all made on the same GM BEV3 platform with Ultium hardware and Ultify software. None of these vehicles are up to a good start, if you ask around, as per numerous reports about software problems that plague every model released so far. Frankly, it's pretty easy to assume that Acura's ZDX won't escape them, either, so it already has negative hype surrounding it.In this climate of mistrust regarding GM's zero-emissions proceeds, the Japanese automaker recently announced that the first deliveries of the ZDX are slated for early spring, and the ZDX A-Spec with a single-motor (rear-wheel-drive) powertrain has an MSRP of $64,500. If you want, that's $68,500, and the ZDX Type S high-performance version with an estimated 500 hp on tap goes up to $73,500; thank you very much. Well, these prices aren't exactly impressive, frankly, especially if we put them into perspective against some direct competitors.First and foremost, the main disadvantage of the Acura ZDX is that Honda will sell the Prologue at a much lower starting MSRP. However, that's not the biggest issue. Instead, two major factors may work against the Acura ZDX escaping the first generation's self-inflicted bad luck. Back in the days of the original, it was the design that doomed it. Now, the styling is done correctly, but it may have missed the note on the escalating EV price wars. For example, even the Cadillac Lyriq starts from 'just' $58,590 if you have already decided that a Tesla Model Y is too mundane for you. smaller Lexus RZ goes from $55k out of the dealerships if you want to lower your costs even further (but also your expectations, of course). On the contrary, if you want to go big and splash your status, the Audi Q8 e-tron could be an even safer bet  for example, the SQ8 e-tron has 496 hp and 718 lb.-ft. (973 Nm) of torque in boost mode, complete with a $89,800 starting price. Another potential foe is the Genesis GV60 if you want something small and agile or the upcoming Kia EV9 if you want something ready for the entire family.However, there's no beating around the bush  the real problem with why everyone and their mother will think that Acura's ZDX is overpriced is simple. Out there, selling like hotcakes to the tune of becoming Europe's overall best-selling vehicle in 2023, is Tesla's Model Y. The mid-size battery-powered crossover has been around since 2020, and it's still going strong even though we should also prepare for a Tesla Model 3 Highland-like refresh sometime this year. Until then, the American automaker still holds command of the EV segment with the Model Y, which was also the fifth best-selling nameplate in the US last year.Right now, you can purchase three types of Model Ys, just like Acura ZDXs  with rear-wheel drive from just $44k, offering 260 miles of range, 135 mph top speed, and a zero to 60 mph sprint time of 6.6 seconds. Next up comes the dual-motor AWD versions  Long Range and Performance. The former has 310 miles of range and a sprint to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds for $49k, while the latter is quite bonkers indeed, with 285 miles of range and 3.5 seconds to 60 mph for $52,490. So, with that in mind, is there any reason to imagine that too many people will choose a $64,500 ZDX over the Model RWD or the ZDX Type S when there's a tried and tested Model Y Performance out there? Yep, I'm afraid that Acura's ZDX nameplate is doomed  again!
The Fisker Alaska will make it to Europe but under a different designation that will be more appropriate for the customers on the Old Continent.

EV

SUV

kWh

Photo: Fisker

startup Fisker will continue to build the electric pickup truck in the US and export it to Europe sometime during the first quarter of 2025. From that moment on, it will be marketed as the Fisker Kayak. It will be the brand's second model to be sold on the European market, following the Fisker OceanHowever, the company is planning on launching two more, the Fisker Ronin GT and Fisker Pear hatchback, in 2025.The brands representatives claim that this is a designation that the European customers resonate more with. When Fisker confirmed the decision to sell the model in Europe, Henrik Fisher said that it would not be in huge volumes. Racing against more established brands that have recently launched electric pickup trucks, such as Ford, Tesla, and Rivian, Fisker only delivered 4,700 vehicles.Export volumes and the numbers allocated to Europe have not been confirmed yet, and neither has pricing. In the United States, the Alaska starts at $45,400, which is the equivalent of 41,790 euros.Two battery packs will be available. The version equipped with the 75-battery can drive as far as 230 miles on a single charge, while the one with the 113-kWh battery, Hyper Range, can cover 340 miles before the vehicle needs to be plugged in again.The upcoming Kayak should get both front- and all-wheel drive variants, with a single- or dual-motor layout. Fisher does not indicate any output, but the range-topping Alaska will have 564 horsepower and 544 pound-feet of torque.Wheels of 21 and 22 inches in size will reportedly be available. Fisher mentioned an acceleration from 0 to 62 mph (0 to 100 kph) in 3.9 seconds for the top-of-the-line variant, while the entry-level version, powered by a single motor, will need 7.2 seconds for the same run.The Kayak will sit on an extended version of the Fisker's FT31 platform, the one that also underpins the Ocean . The pickup truck will be 5,304 millimeters (208.8 inches) long and will feature a cargo bed of 4.5 feet (1.4 meters), which is extendable to 9.2 feet (2.8 meters) thanks to its so-called Houdini partition, which connects the bed to the rear of the cabin. Fisher claims that it will be the world's lightest and most sustainable pickup truck.The Kayak will get wooden trim on the dashboard, treated to feel like fabric. Meanwhile, there is a cowboy hat holder at the rear, but also the world's largest cup holder. Just like the Ocean, the Kayak will feature the California Mode. At the press of a button, all windows, including the rear one, drop, and the panoramic roof open at the same time.
Tiny houses are pretty by default, given their compact size and the design tricks they have to employ to make the most of every inch of space. But even in such fine company, this one tiny house is able to stand out  and might actually put others to shame.

Photo: Adorable Abodes

Photo: Adorable Abodes

Photo: Adorable Abodes

Photo: Adorable Abodes

This is an Adorable Abodes tiny house, a unit that's exactly that: an absolutely adorable abode, thanks to the gingerbread-style design, twin exterior decks, and excellent craftsmanship. Adorable Abodes is a Canadian company founded by Ralph Villman in an attempt to offer more affordable and sustainable housing alternatives to retirees.Unlike most tiny house companies on the market, whether from the U.S., Canada, New Zealand, or Europe, Adorable Abodes takes a different approach to building these units , one that focuses on quality and artistry, as well as on creating the most comfortable space within the smallest layout. They're tiny works of art with clearly defined functionality.As such, these tiny homes are no longer trailer-based. Villman chooses a modular design, wherein he can add different modules to an existing space to offer a larger living footprint, if that's what the owner wants. This makes his units future-proof, where the owners can add modules later on in life, so the house "grows" with their family.Since Adorable Abodes are not trailer-based , they're not as mobile as standard tinies. Villman notes that they're still movable, though that requires more effort and time since you have to break the unit down to its basic modules, which can then be flat-packed and transported onto a trailer to the next location.An Adorable Abodes unit is now up for sale at a considerable discount compared to its original price.The unit was completed last year when Villman was still in talks with authorities to obtain the permits to start a retirement/tiny living community on his property in Brighton, Ontario. At that point, the initial plan for a larger but completely off-grid community had been shut down, so he was adjusting it to include a smaller number of units, all of them on the grid.This double-deck unit is an excellent example of Villman's vision for a sustainable future. It might very well be one of the most artistic and gorgeous tinies we've come across, and it's all thanks to the builder's promise not to sacrifice quality for a quicker buck.The home offers two bedrooms upstairs, where you get standing height and a gorgeous hardwood barrel ceiling that's bound to make every day feel like a vacation. In fact, the entire home has that rustic, log cabin feel, with ample woodwork throughout, hardwood floors, heavy furniture, and vintage styling.Described as an ideal home for a family with one or two smaller kids, the unit can actually fit a larger group with some modifications. It has a bathroom on the ground floor, currently unfinished to allow the owner to personalize it, a full kitchen (ditto), a dining area and a separate lounge. Either of these could be turned into an additional bedroom.The upstairs holds the main bedroom, which can fit a king-size bed, and a smaller bedroom with two bunks. Everything here, too, is done in wood, down to the cabinets and framing.The highlight of the home is the two exterior decks, one doubling as a patio and the other as a private terrace or exterior dining area when the weather allows it. The two decks also serve a purpose that is not immediately obvious, which Villman devised as a way to create more space inside: they connect the two levels of the home In other words, by putting the staircase outside of the home, you won't be tripping on ladders or bulky steps inside. With the original plan of making this a retirement home, Villman imagined the residents would take up the ground floor, while guests (presumably younger and still willing to climb up and down stairs even in the dark) would take up the second level.Offering 325 square feet (30.2 square meters) of living space, it's the smallest unit you can build while still retaining that home-like feel , according to Villman.The house is built of SIPS (structural insulated panels) and a total number of five modules and comes with a propane heater, on-the-grid wiring, and Italian-style metal roof shingles. It can be rendered off-grid if the owner wants to, but that will add to the final price. The unit is now listed at CAD120,000 (US$89,200), with the unfinished bathroom and kitchen. The same spec came with an original price of CAD140,000-160,000 (US$104,100-119,000).If you check out Villman's interview in the video below, you will find an explanation for the higher price tag, but, mind you, it won't come as a surprise. Spoiler alert: quality costs more.
27 January 2024 09:00 (UTC+04:00)

Nigar Hasanova Read more

In 2023, Azerbaijan experienced an increase in car production within its industrial zones, witnessing 2.1 times year-on-year, according to the announcement by Azerbaijani Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov. The positive momentum in the automobile sector reflects a growth trajectory, with the number of cars produced in industrial zones escalating from 712 in 2018 to 4,233 in 2023.

Amidst this change, Farid Mehralizade, an expert in the field, speaking to Azernews, provided valuable insights into the current state of Azerbaijan's automobile production and the strategic measures needed for its improvement.

Mehralizade acknowledged the regulatory role of institutions involved in the industry, emphasizing their potential to develop incentive mechanisms. He recalled a pivotal step taken in Azerbaijan last year when locally produced cars were granted a 10-year exemption from value-added tax. According to Mehralizade, such tax concessions, along with support in areas like customs, territorial technical assistance, and other tailored measures, can significantly bolster the activities of companies engaged in car production.

I remember that last year in Azerbaijan, a step was taken in this direction. Locally produced cars were exempted from value-added tax for 10 years. In this regard, the things they can do are these types of steps. Tax concessions, tax, customs, territorial technical support, providing certain support to the companies engaged in the production of those cars. These institutions can support the activities of companies by taking certain steps and implementing incentive mechanisms.



Expressing a critical view of the policies implemented thus far, Mehralizade pointed out current problems with Azerbaijan's automobile production strategy. While various attempts had been made, he pointed out that many of the involved companies, particularly from China and Iran, focused more on car assembly than true production. The issue, as he highlighted, lies in the limited added value to Azerbaijan's economy, given that most of the spare parts are imported and assembled within the country.

Frankly, I do not consider the policy implemented so far with Azerbaijan's automobile production to be successful. Because there have been many attempts so far, there have been certain automobile companies from China and Iran related to automobile production in Azerbaijan, but there is a problem here. The problem is that car production has not created much-added value to the economy of Azerbaijan. Because we have done more car assembly than car production. Spare parts are produced in foreign countries, and Azerbaijan only these are collected and sold, therefore, to bring more income to the economy of Azerbaijan, this car production should be produced in Azerbaijan itself. It should not be only the process of assembling these machines. On the other hand, most of the companies that have been on the Azerbaijani market until now have been unknown companies, so not so many sales could be made, the expert highlighted.

To solve the aforementioned problems expert stressed the need to shift from mere assembly to genuine car production within Azerbaijan. To achieve this, he proposed two main pathways. The first involves substantial self-investment, which, while potentially risky due to the presence of established companies, might be hindered by technological and personnel limitations. The more realistic approach, according to Mehralizade, is to encourage large corporations with the capability to produce cars in Azerbaijan.

I think that there are two ways to build a successful car manufacturing industry in our country, we have to invest a large amount ourselves, which is a bit dangerous because there are already established companies in the market, on the other hand, our technology and personnel potential may not allow it. In this regard, I think the most realistic is to encourage large corporations to produce cars in Azerbaijan. Of course, other factors are needed for this. I think that one of them is that it is necessary to eliminate the problems related to the rule of law, which hinder the improvement of the investment environment in Azerbaijan, the expert added.

For this approach to succeed, economist highlighted the importance of addressing challenges related to the rule of law, which currently hinder an optimal investment environment in Azerbaijan. Building trust in the judicial legal system, developing financial markets, and further liberalizing customs tax policies are crucial steps, according to Mehralizade. By creating conditions conducive to a freer and more competitive business environment, Azerbaijan can attract strong, competitive companies, fostering a vibrant and sustainable automobile manufacturing industry.

It is necessary to eliminate the problems related to the rule of law, which hinder the improvement of the investment environment in Azerbaijan. In these problems, by increasing trust in the judicial legal system, developing financial markets, and further liberalizing the customs tax policy, we can create conditions for large companies and famous competitive companies to engage in production in Azerbaijan. If not, unfortunately, companies with lower competitiveness are only interested in doing business in Azerbaijan. Therefore, it is important to create conditions for the business environment in the country to be freer and more competitive so that strong companies are also interested in operating in Azerbaijan, he suggested.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
27 January 2024 13:15 (UTC+04:00)

The terrorist attack that took place a year ago was a very big blow for Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov told reporters, Azernews reports.

"Such behaviors are considered unacceptable in international relations. This is bound to have an impact on Azerbaijani-Iranian relations. Following the incident, tensions escalated in the two countries' relations," the minister said.

Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov pointed out that the Azerbaijani Embassy in the Islamic Republic of Iran can restore its activity under two conditions.

"Firstly, a decision should be made regarding the committed terrorist attack. The second condition is that a guarantee of full security for the embassy must be given. We must be fully confident in this," the minister emphasized.

To recall that, as a result of the terrorist act committed against the Azerbaijani Embassy in Iran on January 27, 2023, the head of the embassy's security service, Orkhan Asgarov was killed, and two employees - Vasif Taghiyev and Mahir Imanov received severe gunshot wounds. Following the terrorist attack, as a security measure, Azerbaijan evacuated the employees of the Embassy in Tehran and suspended the activity of the Embassy.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
A woman has shared her heartbreak at being diagnosed with cancer just 11 months after losing her mother to the disease.

Jasmine Akram, a 26-year-old physiotherapist, was devastated to lose her mum Julie to ovarian cancer at the age of 63 in November 2022. While grieving, she was horrified to find a lump in her breast while in the shower.

Despite being always active and on the go with no health issues, a biopsy found that the lump was cancerous, and Jasmine was diagnosed with grade three invasive ductal carcinoma  a type of breast cancer  in September 2023.

Jasmine Akram, a 26-year-old physiotherapist, was devastated to lose her mum Julie to ovarian cancer in 2022. Source: Jam Press

I was absolutely devastated, Jasmine, who lives in Thornaby, UK, told NeedToKnow.co.uk. The hard thing was I had just been through it with my mum and I knew what was to come. People make remarks like at least youre young, but it doesnt make it any easier. Its emotional [and] so hard.

I get constant flashbacks of my mum going through it which is heartbreaking.

The day I was diagnosed I was making jokes, but I think that was my way of dealing with it [but] then the next morning it hit me and I was hysterically crying into my boyfriend Coreys arms.

Woman spots cancer on ultrasound

Jasmines experience with her mothers battle gave her a unique insight when it came to her own treatment  even prior to the official diagnosis.

While at the breast clinic having ultrasounds and biopsies done, she spotted that things didnt look right.

I knew from looking at the ultrasound on my breast it was cancer due to the shape of it, she said. Following this, I needed to come in for a mammogram which showed the mass had grown from 22mm to 31mm, and they then needed me to have an MRI.

Jasmine was diagnosed with breast cancer in September 2023. Source: Jam Press

A week later, she was officially diagnosed with cancer, and in November Jasmine underwent a single mastectomy, had three lymph nodes removed, and breast reconstructive surgery.

Throughout the Christmas period, she also underwent fertility preservation treatment with egg retrieval.

Last week, Jasmine will start chemotherapy for 18 weeks  after which time doctors plan to give her hormone medication so she goes into menopause. The latter is due to her cancer being estrogen-positive, meaning the hormone feeds the cancer.

Story continues

As a preventative measure, Jasmine has also decided to have a mastectomy on her right breast. She is currently fundraising online with a GoFundMe page to help her take time off work to focus on her treatment and recovery.

Jasmine said her experience with her mum's battle gave her a unique insight when it came to her own treatment. Source: Jam Press

Cancer doesn't compare to losing mum

Despite her hardships, she insists that none of it compares to the pain of losing her beloved mum.

Ive been through the hardest of losing my mum who was my absolute world, so this is nothing, Jasmine said. I think thats how Im managing to deal with what Im not going through. Throughout it all Ive said to myself Im not physically in control of this so if I can try and control my mind, it will help  which it has.

But not having my mum here by my side has been the worst part. She was my absolute world, we were literally joint at the hip, I adored her and she adored me. But I am grateful for the love she gave me and the amazing memories.

Jasmine said the worst part of her diagnosis is not having her mum by her side. Source: Jam Press

Raising awareness for breast cancer

Now, Jasmine is on a mission to raise awareness about the warning signs that something may be amiss, and says it is important to advocate for yourself if you know something is wrong.

When she was first getting checked after finding the lump in her breast, the 26-year-old said she didnt meet the criteria to be referred to a specialist  but insisted that they do so.

I cant stop thinking that if someone else not as firm as myself, they would have listened to them and then they wouldnt get referred, she said. I want to use my story to spread awareness of breast cancer and the importance of checking your breasts, and getting into the routine of doing these checks no matter what your age is.

Jasmine also plans to start sharing her journey on social media. To go through something like this at such a young age, I dont want anyone else who is going through this to feel alone, he said.

Jam Press

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
27 January 2024 14:55 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijan will hold presidential elections for the first time in territories liberated from invasion, Azernews reports, citing secki-2024.az.

"I would especially like to note that the extraordinary presidential elections scheduled for February 7, 2024 will be held throughout the country for the first time in the history of independent Azerbaijan. District election commissions have already been established in the territories liberated from invasion, which means that everything is ready for the voting process," the ambassador emphasized.

According to the diplomat, Azerbaijani citizens living in the country as well as abroad will express high activeness, and the right choice will be made for the benefit of prosperous and strong Azerbaijan.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
27 January 2024 16:30 (UTC+04:00)

An Azerbaijani delegation is attending the 55th Cairo International Book Fair in Egypt, which brings together 1200 publishing houses from 70 countries, Azernews reports.

Organized by Azerbaijans Ministry of Culture, with the support of Azerbaijani Embassy in Egypt Azerbaijan, the national stand displays books highlighting the countrys culture, history, geography and literature.

The Azerbaijani delegation, including the employees of the Ministry of Culture, as well as the poet and writer Agshin Yenisey participated in a number of events on the opening day of the exhibition.

The exhibition will run until February 6.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
27 January 2024 17:37 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS), Academician Isa Habibbayli has met with First Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan Akmal Saidov, Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Azerbaijan Bakhrom Ashrafkhanov and Director-General of the Cinematography Agency of Uzbekistan Firdavs Abdukhalikov, Azernews reports.

During the meeting, Academician Isa Habibbayli provided insights into the history of the Ismailiyya building, a significant historical and cultural monument housing the Presidium, and discussed the diverse scientific research endeavors pursued at ANAS.

Highlighting the friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, Isa Habibbayli noted that these ties, which are based on shared historical roots, language and culture, have entered a new stage in recent years thanks to the close friendship and brotherly relations between President Ilham Aliyev and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

Highlighting ANASs close cooperation with the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan (UzAS) and other higher educational institutions of Uzbekistan, Academician Isa Habibbayli underscored that the relations between the two countries have been constantly evolving in the realm of science in recent years.

The ANAS president also noted the extensive cooperation between the scientific institutions of the two countries in the field of linguistics and manuscripts.

Hailing the research conducted on Uzbek literature at ANAS, Academician Akmal Saidov noted that the 530th anniversary of the great Azerbaijani poet and thinker Muhammad Fuzuli would be also celebrated in Uzbekistan. Underlining the significance of mutual scientific collaboration, Akmal Saidov emphasized the importance of the signing of a cooperation agreement on epigraphy, as well as conducting joint researches by the Azerbaijani and Uzbek scientists in this regard.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
27 January 2024 18:10 (UTC+04:00)

We call on the Dutch side to put an end to such statements that hinder the future development and progress of the region based on respect for the norms and principles of international law, Azernews reports, citing the Spokesperson for Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry Aykhan Hajizada as he responded to the question of the local media regarding the views expressed in the Parliament by Hanke Bruins Slot, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, who stated that the recent public statements by Azerbaijan are worrying, and while threatening Azerbaijan with sanctions, voiced a number of negative opinions about the Azerbaijan-Armenia normalization process.

The views expressed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Hanke Bruins Slot, against our country are unacceptable.

Unfortunately, the Dutch official once again made an accusatory statement in response to the inquiry of the representatives of the Parliament and clearly distorted the statements of the Azerbaijani side. This is not the first time that such irresponsible views have been voiced by the officials of European countries. These statements, while being attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of Azerbaijan, are examples of a biased approach to post-conflict realities in our region.

Such statements, as well as threatening ideas about imposing sanctions against Azerbaijan, are a blow to bilateral relations and relations between Azerbaijan and the European Union.

Regarding the intention of the Foreign Minister of the Netherlands to visit our country, it is known that this visit has been postponed by Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani side has informed the opposite side that during the visit, Azerbaijan intends to discuss only bilateral relations, not the Azerbaijan-Armenia normalization process or internal issues of Azerbaijan, Hajizada added.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
27 January 2024 23:30 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijan has postponed visit of the Foreign Minister of the Netherlands Hanke Bruins Slot, Spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan Aykhan Hajizada said, Azernews reports.

He made the remark answering a question from local media about Slot's statements in the Dutch parliament.

"Unfortunately, the Dutch official once again made an accusatory statement in response to the inquiry of the representatives of the Parliament and clearly distorted the statements of the Azerbaijani side. This is not the first time that such irresponsible views have been voiced by the officials of European countries. These statements, while being attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of Azerbaijan, are examples of a biased approach to post-conflict realities in our region," said Hajizada.

He noted that such views are absolutely unacceptable.

"Regarding the intention of the Foreign Minister of the Netherlands to visit our country, it is known that this visit has been postponed by Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani side has informed the opposite side that during the visit, Azerbaijan intends to discuss only bilateral relations, not Azerbaijan-Armenia normalization process or internal issues of Azerbaijan," added the spokesperson.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
27 January 2024 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

Britain's King Charles III has been hospitalized for a scheduled medical procedure due to an enlarged prostate, the Buckingham Palace announced, Azernews reports, citing TASS.

"The King was this morning admitted to a London hospital for scheduled treatment. His Majesty would like to thank all those who have sent their good wishes over the past week and is delighted to learn that his diagnosis is having a positive impact on public health awareness," the 75-year-old monarch's office says.

The head of state had earlier returned to London from the Sandringham House, Norfolk, East England.

The fact that Charles III would require surgery was revealed last week. At the same time, it was reported that the neoplasm in His Majesty was benign, and the procedure itself would be corrective. The King's public duties have been postponed for the short period of time needed for his recovery.

The King has been admitted to a private hospital in the Westminster area, where the wife of the monarch's eldest son, William, Prince of Wales, the 42-year-old Princess of Wales Kate, is now recovering from surgery. On January 16, she underwent abdominal surgery and is expected to spend roughly two weeks in the hospital.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
27 January 2024 19:20 (UTC+04:00)

US Acting Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland is set to embark on a diplomatic mission to Turkiye on Jan. 28-29, according to diplomatic sources, Azernews reports, citing Anadolu Agency.

The visit comes as part of the Turkiye-US Strategic Mechanism, marking a significant step in bilateral relations between the two nations. Nuland's visit follows an invitation from Deputy Foreign Minister Burak Akcapar.

During her visit, Nuland is expected to engage in comprehensive consultations, delving into various aspects of the Turkiye-US bilateral relationship, regional and international matters.

On Oct. 31, 2021, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his US counterpart Joe Biden met in Rome and agreed to establish a strategic mechanism that promotes high-level dialogue and addresses issues on which Turkiye and the US do not fully agree, along with issues they are working on.

During the April 4 visit of Nuland to Ankara, the Turkiye-US Strategic Mechanism was launched.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
27 January 2024 21:30 (UTC+04:00)

Maia Omiadze, the Head of the Georgian National Tourism Administration, is holding meetings with international companies, including tourism platforms, airlines and media, on the sidelines of the International Tourism Fair - Fitur 2024 in Madrid, Azernews reports, citing Agenda.

The representatives of the GNTA also discussed prospects of cooperation with the officials of Eurowings, Lufthansa, National Geographic, Expedia Group, Road Travel, Klebergroup, TransPerfect, HotelBeds, Smartvel and others, in order to increase tourist flows in Georgia.

Within the framework of one of the largest tourism exhibitions in the world, Omiadze also met with the representative of the global booking platform Amadeus, the National Tourism Administration said on Saturday.

A presentation about Georgias tourism potential was held for the international media as part of the exhibition, which involves more than nine thousand companies from more than 130 countries.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
27 January 2024 21:59 (UTC+04:00)

Shota Rustaveli Theatre and Film Georgia State University celebrates its 100th anniversary with the unveiling of a commemorative post stamp, the Economy Ministry said on Saturday, Azernews reports, citing Agenda.

With a limited circulation of 10,000 units, the stamp was created by Georgian architect and collector Baadur Qoblianidze.

The University Rector Giorgi Shalutashvili, the Deputy Economy Minister Guram Guramishvili and Levan Chikvaidze, the General Director of Georgian Post attended the presentation of the post stamp.

In his address, Guramishvili highlighted the symbolic significance of the post stamp, noting that it served as an appreciation by the country towards its one of the oldest educational institutions for its contribution to the formation of Georgian film and theatre.

The General Director of Georgian Post presented the first copy of the commemorative stamp to the Shota Rustaveli University Rector, after which the sides signed a memorandum of cooperation, aiming to implement joint projects.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
27 January 2024 22:35 (UTC+04:00)

Gunmen in southeastern Iran near the Pakistan border killed nine foreign nationals Saturday, Iranian media reported, more than a week after the neighbors exchanged deadly cross-border fire, Azernews reports, citing Al Arabia.



According to witnesses, this morning unknown armed men killed nine non-Iranians in a house in the Sirkan neighborhood of Saravan city in Sistan-Baluchistan province, the Mehr news agency reported.



So far, no group or individuals had claimed responsibility, the agency added.

The deadly attack follows rare military action in the porous border region of Baluchistan - split between the two nations - that had stoked regional tensions already inflamed by the Israel-Hamas war.



Sistan-Baluchistan is one of the few mainly Sunni Muslim provinces in Shia-dominated Iran.



It has seen persistent unrest involving cross-border drug-smuggling gangs and extremists from the Baluchi ethnic minority, as well as extremists.



On January 18, Pakistan launched airstrikes on militant targets in Iran, two days after Iran had launched strikes on its territory.



Tehran said it had targeted Jaish al-Adl, an extremist group which has carried out a spate of deadly attacks in Iran in recent months.



Formed in 2012, the group is blacklisted by Iran as a terrorist organization.



The Iranian strikes, which Pakistan said killed at least two children, drew a sharp rebuke from Islamabad, which recalled its ambassador from Tehran and blocked Irans envoy from returning to Islamabad.



Tehran also summoned Islamabads charge daffaires over Pakistans strikes, which left at least nine people dead.



The two countries, however, announced last Monday that they had decided to de-escalate and resumed diplomatic missions with the two ambassadors returning to their posts.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Yearbooks from the Southern Cayuga Central School District are now available to the public, digitally, on the free New York Heritage Digital Collections website at nyheritage.org.

The yearbooks  131, dating back to 1915  were scanned and uploaded online last year by the South Central Regional Library Council. Southern Cayuga district librarian Carissa Smith worked with Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES library system coordinator Penny Sweeney to secure a grant for the project. The collection is hosted under the name "Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES School Library System."

The collection includes yearbooks from the formerly separate districts of Genoa, King Ferry and Sherwood, which merged in the 1960s. It covers the communities of Aurora, Sherwood, Scipio Center and more.

"These digitized yearbooks are an excellent resource for genealogists and local community members. Even some of the earliest yearbooks, such as The Echo of 1930 from Sherwood School and the 1924 King Ferry Tales, include photographs of students," the South Central Regional Library Council said in a news release.

"The yearbooks reflect what make the school district unique, like references in 1931 to donated candy by Isabel Howland (niece of Emily Howland and a notable Womens Suffrage activist herself), a class photograph of the 'Harvester Group' migrant children in the 1954 King Ferry yearbook, and year after year of proud local farming family names."

For more information, visit nyheritage.org or scrlc.org.
Under the cover of Covid, and now in the shadow of the infamous Election Irregularities of that fated 2020 presidential election, with current emerging alleged election fraud in Nevada and Pennsylvania inconveniently slipping into the public discourse, there is proved a colluded ongoing Election Interference in the nomination of the Republican candidate, the likes of which has never occurred in our Constitutional Republic's history, albeit, the question remains: Do you support the plain-sight Election Interference of the Democratic Socialist party, employing its minions in their Propagandistic Media, and their Two Tiered Justice System?

98.25% No, I do not support Election Interference; I am a patriot unto our Constitution.1.75% Yes, I do support Election Interference; the alternative, Donald Trump, to this mentally diminished president is far worse.0% "What, me worry" if elections are rigged?
This post appears here courtesy of the Carolina Journal . The author of this post is CJ Staff Plaintiffs in North Carolina's long-running Leandro education funding lawsuit have asked the state Supreme Court to reject the latest petition from state legislative leaders. Top lawmakers are asking the court to take another look at Leandro.State Attorney General Josh Stein's Justice Department also opposed lawmakers' actions. In its own court filing, the Justice Department cited the state Supreme Court'sto resolve outstanding Leandro issues.Lawyers for the Cumberland, Halifax, Hoke, Robeson, and Vance County school boards filed paperwork Wednesday with the state's highest court. These school boards, the official plaintiffs in the Leandro case, oppose lawmakers' petition to move the case's latest dispute out of the state Court of Appeals. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board filed a separate document opposing lawmakers' request.wrote Leandro plaintiffs' lawyers, led by Melanie Black Dubis.the court filing continued.That November decision, labeledby plaintiffs andby legislative leaders, called for a trial judge to determine how much more money the state should spend to cover unfunded items in a court-endorsed comprehensive remedial plan tied to Leandro.In April, Superior Court Judge James Ammons set that spending mandate at $677 million. Ammons' order did not indicate how the spending order would be enforced. A separate order from the state Court of Appeals has blocked Ammons or any other trial judge from forcing state executive branch officials to move money out of the state treasury without legislative approval.Since the state Supreme Court's last Leandro ruling, voters replaced two Democratic justices with Republicans. The 4-3 Democratic majority that issued the November ruling with a party-line vote has been replaced by a court with a 5-2 Republican majority.Now,of appealing Ammons' ruling, legislative leadersaccording to Leandro plaintiffs.the court filing argued.The state Justice Department filing targeted lawmakers' legal actions.wrote lawyers led by Senior Deputy Attorney General Amar Majmundar.the Justice Department lawyers argued.the Justice Department court filing indicated.state lawyers argued.according to the Justice Department brief.Lawmakers officially asked for a new state Supreme Court review of the Leandro case on Sept. 20.The state's highest court could address two issues in the case officially known as Hoke County Board of Education v. State. First, did Ammons make the correct decision in April to order $677 million in new state education spending tied to a court-endorsed Leandro comprehensive remedial plan? Second, does the judge have authority to force state executive branch officials to move money out of the state treasury without the legislature's consent?The $677 million funding order sits now at the state Court of Appeals. Lawyers for state legislative leaders signaled on Sept. 18 that they planned to ask the Supreme Court to bypass the intermediate appellate court. On the same day, the Appeals Court granted lawmakers an extension that would give the Supreme Court time to decide whether to take the case.wrote lawmakers' attorneys in the Supreme Court petition filed Wednesday.lawmakers' lawyers wrote.the petition continued.Ammons' 12-page order last April rejected proposed revisions from state legislative leaders. Those revisions would have reduced the outstanding Leandro spending obligation from $677 million to as little as $376 million.Two different judges overseeing the Leandro case before Ammons had calculated the state's outstanding education spending obligation as $1.75 billion in November 2021 and $785 million in April 2022. The smaller $677 million figure indicated that the last two signed state budgets addressed more than $1 billion in Leandro-related items from the original 2021 calculation.Ammons' order specifically set the Leandro spending obligation at $509,701,707 for the NC Department of Public Instruction, $133.9 million for the NC Department of Health and Human Services, and $34.2 million for the University of North Carolina System.Those numbers matched calculations first put forward by NC Justice Department lawyers last December, little more than one month after the state Supreme Court's directive. The Office of State Budget and Management, which works for Cooper, prepared the calculations.If the high court addresses Ammons' calculation of outstanding Leandro obligation, it might also decide whether a trial judge can bypass the General Assembly to address Leandro.The November 2021 order, from Judge David Lee, would have forced the state budget director, controller, and treasurer to move $1.75 billion out of the state treasury. The money would have covered two years of otherwise unfunded items in the Leandro comprehensive remedial plan.The controller objected to the forced money transfer and secured afrom the Court of Appeals. That writ blocked the forced transfer piece of Lee's order.By April 2022, after Judge Michael Robinson replaced Lee in presiding over the case, the forced money transfer was not included in a revised order. Robinson called for $785 million in Leandro spending, once again focusing on two years of the court-endorsed plan.The state Supreme Court's November 2022 ruling would have permitted the forced money transfer. But the new Supreme Court majority responded to the controller's ongoing objections by restoring the writ of prohibition in March. No judge can bypass the General Assembly for Leandro spending unless the Supreme Court issues a new ruling.Legislators' latest Supreme Court petition argued that the forced money transferlawmakers reminded Supreme Court justices.
Learning assistant Matt Downing works with Tara Hodgkinson, left, and Macy Haddock during a biology lab in the Science and Technology Building. (Photos by Rhett Butler)

In a lab in the Science and Technology Building at East Carolina University, packed with students, fragile supplies and mysteriously marked cabinets and doors, the principles of biology laboratory may appear intimidating at first glance. However, more than 45 students in the room are relaxed and inquisitive.Matt Downing, a fellow undergraduate peer and learning assistant, casually strolls around a dozen tables of students with beakers, syringes and Petri dishes containing wet spinach leaves, answering their questions and guiding them in procedures to learn about the process of photosynthesis.After some initial discussion of concepts, definitions of terms and basic lab instructions from Alexandria Warren, the graduate student teaching assistant in the lab, first-year biology major Ashton Brinson raises his hand. Downing makes his way to Brinson, and after a brief and quiet conversation, Brinson and his lab partners return to the task at hand as Downing moves along to another group of students.said Brinson.Aiden Siatkowski, a first-year computer science major, said,ECU's Learning Assistant Program, centered in the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences, is fueled by undergraduate students like Downing, who are dedicated to helping their peers successfully navigate challenging science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) coursework. They empower their fellow students and want to see them succeed.Through the program, learning assistants (LAs) enhance instruction in the classroom by engaging students in problem solving and discussions. Alongside a faculty member, LAs help students confidently participate in a variety of STEM classes and other coursework, including biology, chemistry, physics, economics, geological sciences and mathematics.said Dr. Joi Walker, associate professor of chemistry and one of the faculty members who established the LA program at ECU.According to Dr. Jean-Luc Scemama, Harriot College associate dean for academic programs, this unique connection between students and their near-peer assistants has resulted in greater gains in learning, decreased failing grades and withdrawal rates, and a stronger sense of belonging.To be considered for the learning assistant program, an undergraduate student applicant must first take and pass the course successfully. Once they are accepted, LAs collaborate with faculty and receive weekly guidance in a preparation course specifically for them.said Dr. Heather Vance-Chalcraft, assistant professor of biology and coordinator of the biology LAs.said Walker, who coordinates the LAs for chemistry.Walker said.Downing is a junior Honors College Centennial Fellow and biology major with a concentration in ecology and evolution. He is enthusiastically serving his third semester as a learning assistant. He said he enjoys helping students understand the concepts and processes they are learning.Downing said.he said.As a learning assistant, Downing likes that students are comfortable opening up and asking him questions. He also feels students talk more in the classes that include learning assistants.Downing said.Helping others is not limited to the classroom experience. Downing serves in numerous ways and hopes to continue to do so in the future. He is an ambassador for the Honors College, an active promoter of the biology department, and president of Rotaract @ ECU, a networking, leadership and service organization. This past summer, Downing traveled to Belize for a study abroad program focusing on connecting with nature to promote climate agency. In addition, he is a member of ECU's pre-dental honors society and wants to go to dental school after completing his undergraduate degree. He said ECU is his top pick, and he wants to work here in North Carolina.Joy Taboh, an Honors College student and Brinkley-Lane Scholar who is pursuing a biology major with a minor in psychology, serves as a learning assistant for Walker's general chemistry 2 course. Born in the United States, Taboh lived in Cameroon, in central Africa, for most of her early life, before moving back to North Carolina at the age of 14. She hopes to attend medical school in the future and wants to work in obstetrics and gynecology or trauma surgery, depending on where her interests lead. Either way, she said she wants to travel the world helping other people.Aiding other people is what Taboh is doing currently in Walker's chemistry course. This is the second semester she has served as a learning assistant. She said being an LA isand that shesaid Taboh, who was in a class of 150 students.A student in one of the classes that Taboh participates in as an LA once told her that she was unsure of herself when asking her professor questions, but when she talks with the LAs, she is relaxed and relates to them more because they are college students too.Taboh said.During her first semester as a learning assistant, Taboh said the teacher noticed a positive change in the average of lower grades, increasing from 65% to 72%.she said.she said.ECU's Learning Assistant Program, implemented in the fall of 2017, is built upon a model introduced in 2001 at the University of Colorado - Boulder and is used at more than 100 institutions internationally. Learn more about ECU's LA program and its goal of student success.
By Peyton Major

Christian Action League

January 26, 2024

A prominent North Carolina school board voted Jan. 18 not to comply with major components of a landmark new state law known as the Parents Bill of Rights and immediately faced pushback as well as warnings of potential legal action.

The Chapel Hill-Carrboro school board voted unanimously not to follow sections of the new law that prohibit instruction on gender identity, sexual activity, or sexuality in the curriculum for grades kindergarten through fourth grade and that prevent school officials from changing a students name or pronouns without first notifying the parents. The board agreed to comply with other sections of the law.

The legislation became law last summer over a veto by Gov. Roy Cooper.

The lengthy new law declares that parental involvement and empowerment is fundamental to the successful education of all students.

N.C. state Sen. Jim Perry, who voted for the new law, criticized the board.

Are teachers or principals free to pick and choose which school board policies they follow? How about parents? How about bus drivers? Perry asked, rhetorically. I have spoken to several lawmakers who believe law is a basic building block of civilization. Law is the foundation that provides order and allows us to coexist together as a society. Disregard for law leads to anarchy.

This was shortsighted, Perry added. There is a process our society has established to challenge or change laws.

Board Chair George Griffin, who opposes the new law, asserted that someone needs to stand up for whats right.

My sense is that we do need to stand up and show people that somebody has the courage to say this is just morally wrong, and were not going to do it this way, Griffin said, according to the News & Observer.

Catherine Truitt, the states superintendent for public instruction, also criticized the board.

No. Sorry. You may not break the laws you dont like  even in Chapel Hill, she said. I worked with the legislature to pass the Parents Bill of Rights to protect children and empower parents and its unacceptable for Chapel Hill or anyone else to ignore it.

The sections of the new law that deal with gender and sexuality formed the core of the board debate.

The new law says an employee of the State who encourages, coerces, or attempts to encourage or coerce a child to withhold information from his or her parent may be subject to disciplinary action. This specific language would prevent schools from encouraging students to withhold information from parents about issues of gender and sexuality.

Rev. Mark Creech, executive director of the Christian Action League, urged the board to reconsider its action.

It is our unwavering belief there is nothing morally wrong about a law that reinforces the rights of parents to be fully informed about their childs educational experiences, including any changes in their name or pronouns, Creech said. These matters are of profound importance in a childs development, and it is not only ethically sound but also morally imperative to ensure parents are not left in the dark.

Parents, Creech said, play the central role in their childrens upbringing, and it is their rightful prerogative to be fully informed and actively engaged in their childs education.

To assert that this particular law should be resisted for moralitys sake is a gross misinterpretation of the meaning of civil disobedience, Creech said. Civil disobedience has historically been employed to protest against an unjust or unethical law. In the case of North Carolinas Parents Bill of Rights, the law aligns with the long-established understanding that children belong to their parents, and not to educators. Parental rights are the great ethical concern here, something which some educators have been violating in the states public schools, necessitating the passage of such a law.

The school board, Creech said, may face legal challenges and likely would lose in court.

We commend those who have advocated for the rule of law, including State Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt, and U.S. Representative Dan Bishop running for states attorney general, he said. The Christian Action League and the thousands of churches we represent in North Carolina thank them for their steadfast commitment to legal standards.

In conclusion, Creech wrote, we respectfully call upon the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School Board to reconsider its stance and adhere to the laws of our beloved state. The next board meeting will provide them with an opportunity to rectify the situation and uphold the principles of parental rights, the rule of law, and the well-being of our children.
by John Steed

Whoever wins the primary, the State Senate representation of Craven, Beaufort, and Lenoir counties will move rightward in the next legislature. The retirement of moderate liberal Republican State Senator Jim Perry from the District 3 senate seat has led to two more conservative candidates seeking the nomination in the Republican primary. No Democrat has filed.

The race pits former four term State Representative Michael Speciale who filed early in the process and first term New Bern Alderman Bob Brinson who filed at the last minute. Both are long time military veterans, Speciale in the Marines and Brinson in the Army. Both are former chairmen of the Craven County Republican Party, Speciale having served two full years and Brinson serving three months before resigning to run for alderman.

Both candidates espouse conservative views, so the main factors deciding the race will be on experience and who is most likely to stand up and fight for conservative principles and for the interests of the district in Raleigh. This is where the backgrounds of the candidates differ.

Speciale has been a fighter for conservative principles long before he went to Raleigh. He was one of the organizers and an early chairman of the Coastal Carolina Taxpayers Association. Later, Speciale helped found and served as chairman of the God and Country Christian Alliance of Craven County. Both Brinson and Speciale have been very active in campaigning for other Republican candidates.

Most important is legislative experience and a demonstrated willingness to stand up for conservative principles. In the NC House of Representatives, Speciale was the founder and first chairman of the NC House Freedom Caucus, composed of individual conservative legislators banding together to jointly fight for conservative issues. Under Speciale's leadership, the Freedom Caucus scored some notable successes in forcing the more liberal House Speaker Tim Moore to the right. The Freedom Caucus is continuing that record under Speciale's successor as its chairman, Rep. Keith Kidwell (R-Beaufort). Speciale also served as chairman of the Military and Veterans Affairs Committee of the NC House.

As a first term New Bern Alderman, Brinson has not been in the same political crucible to demonstrate a leadership on conservative issues. Only time would tell how conservative or how effective he would be.

The more liberal Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger, who has shepherded some of liberal Governor Roy Cooper's key liberal agenda items through the legislature, seems to have taken note of the potential arrival in the Senate of a conservative fighter with a record of success in the House.

Berger is twisting arms of senators to contribute to Brinson, who he seems to regard as easier to control. Brinson, himself, says he would not be under Berger's thumb in Raleigh, although only time would tell for sure.

One other major difference is which candidate sticks to the offices with which they are entrusted. Speciale made a term limit pledge when he was first elected to the NC House to serve no more than four terms in that office. At the end of his fourth term, he honored that promise to the voters and retired from the House. Brinson pledged to spend a full two-year term as county GOP chairman, but resigned after three months to run for Alderman. Now in the middle of that term as alderman he is running for state senate which would cut short his term as alderman.

While the two primary candidates have generally similar positions on issues, there are other key differences that should decide the race. Either would be an improvement over the more liberal Perry.
Dayton (Ohio) Children's Hospital is aiming to begin construction this summer on a project to house 26 kinship families, The Dayton Business Journal reported Jan. 25.

Fourteen buildings will be constructed as part of the $12 million project: 13 duplex buildings and one community building.

Jessica Salem, executive director of the Center for Health Equity at Dayton Children's, told the news outlet the hospital aims to "provide safe and stable housing for families while also providing a community network for people who can care for each other. ''

Ms. Salem said most kinship caregivers are aging, so the homes will be ADA compliant and safe, according to the report. She said housing remains a top barrier for kinship families and isolation is a top issue facing caregivers. The community building will provide space for social gathering, support and classes.

The city of Dayton, Montgomery County and federal allocations will help pay for the project, according to the report. Construction is expected to take 12 to 15 months.
LAS VEGASThe winners of the 2024 'O' Awardsrecognizing outstanding achievements in the pleasure products industrywere announced on Friday night at a ceremony hosted by AVN Hall of Fame inductee Kim Airs at the AVN Show.

For the first time at the 'O' Awards, winners also were revealed for the Pleasure Products and Retail & Distribution categories from the 2024 AVN Awards.

The winners are:

2024 'O' Awards

Outstanding Accessory Product or Line

Mouth-full Dildo & Mask (Master Series)

Outstanding Anal Product

Ass-Sation Kit #1 (Nasstoys)

Outstanding App-Controlled Product

Lush 3 (Lovense)

Outstanding Eco-Friendly Product or Packaging

Totally For U Packaging (Bwell Media S.R.L.)

Outstanding FTM Product

1 Pack & Jack (Demon Kat)

Outstanding Lingerie Item or Collection

Radiance by CalExotics (CalExotics)

Outstanding Lubricant Product or Line

ID Free (Westridge Labs)

Outstanding New Product

Sexy Pot (OEJ/Our Erotic Journey)

Outstanding Non-Powered Product

Darth Invader (Icon Brands)

Outstanding Packaging

Blue Maximum Syn Trident (Aneros)

Outstanding Powered Product

Snail Vibe Curve (Snail Vibe)

Outstanding Remote-Controlled Product

Rustys Pro Tromboner (Motorbunny)

Outstanding Realistic Genital Representation

Jock Dual Density 10 Silicone Dildo (Curve)



Outstanding Stroker - Non-Powered

Signature Strokers: William Seed (Doc Johnson)

Outstanding Stroker - Powered

PowerBlow and Feel Victoria June by Kiiroo (Kiiroo)

2024 AVN Awards



PLEASURE PRODUCTS

Best Enhancement Manufacturer

Sensuva

Best Fetish Manufacturer

XR Brands

Best Lingerie or Apparel Line

Barely Bare

Best Lubricant Brand

Swiss Navy

Best Pleasure Product Manufacturer  Small

OEJ Novelty

Best Pleasure Product Manufacturer  Medium

Motorbunny

Best Pleasure Product Manufacturer  Large

XR Brands

RETAIL & DISTRIBUTION

Best Boutique

Museum of Sex

Best Retail Chain  Small

Cupids Closet

Best Retail Chain  Medium

Romeo & Juliets

Best Retail Chain  Large

Lions Den

Best Web Retail Store

PinkCherry.com
Mercy Iowa City (Iowa) has reached an agreement with EMR software company Altera Digital Health that will terminate an agreement that was previously established in March 2021.

The resolution, agreed upon by both parties, will put Altera into a new agreement with the University of Iowa, which is in the process of acquiring Mercy, enabling Mercy to maintain hospital operations using Altera's EHR, an Altera spokesperson confirmed to Becker's.

"We are pleased to have reached a settlement in Mercy Iowa City's bankruptcy," Marcus Perez, president of Altera Digital Health, told Becker's. "We are looking forward to working with the University of Iowa as we continue our mission to bring next-level healthcare within reach."

Mercy told Becker's the agreement will transfer Mercy's key IT systems over to University of Iowa Health Care after Jan. 31.

"Mercy expects the transaction with UIHC to close on Jan. 31, without interruption to access to our patients' records and continuity of care," the Mercy spokesperson said.

This comes after Mercy said it was either planning to terminate its agreement with Altera Digital Health or have Altera continue its services during the transition to the University of Iowa's ownership and extend support for an additional year until March 9, 2025, before officially ending the partnership.

Altera was dissatisfied with this arrangement and sought judicial intervention, asking a bankruptcy judge to force Mercy to either decide to terminate the existing contract, which lasts through March 2031, or hand it over to the University of Iowa.

The intervention led to the recent agreement.






Dallas-based Steward Health Care has seen a troubled start to 2024.

The system is $50 million behind on its rent and is looking to offload four of its nine Massachusetts hospitals amid financial difficulties. Additionally, Steward's Medical Center of Southeast Texas is closing its Beaumont campus Feb. 2. Massachusetts' congressional lawmakers are pressing the system to brief them on its financial position, the status of its Massachusetts facilities and its plans to ensure the communities they serve are not abandoned.

Here are 10 things to know about Steward:

1. Steward Health Care owns 33 hospitals in nine states with more than 33,000 employees.

2. Steward is the largest physician-owned private healthcare network in the U.S, according to its website.

3. Steward Health Care launched in November 2010 as an affiliate of private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management, following the acquisition of Caritas Christi Health Care, a financially distressed, six-hospital system based in Boston.

4. Steward is led by Ralph de la Torre, MD, who is the founder, board chairman and CEO.

5. Dr. de la Torre previously was the CEO of Caritas Christi, where he developed the business model for Steward.

6. In 2020, a management group of Steward physicians led by Dr. de la Torre acquired a controlling interest in the system from Cerberus.

7. Steward lost more than $800 million between 2017 and 2020, the last year for which financial data is available, according to The Wall Street Journal.

8. Steward is the largest tenant of Medical Properties Trust, the largest hospital landlord in the U.S.

9. Amid its challenges to pay rent, Steward worked with Medical Properties Trust to develop an action plan that calls for the health system to pursue the potential sale or re-tenanting of certain hospital operations and divestiture of noncore operations.

10. Steward reportedly is working with Weil Gotshal & Manges and AlixPartners, a turnaround consulting firm, to explore options for restructuring due to its financial issues.






The Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce has created an HSHS/Prevea Recovery Task Force after Springfield, Ill.-based Hospital Sisters Health System decided to close two hospitals and regional health centers it operates with Green Bay, Wis.-based Prevea Health, the Leader-Telegram reported Jan. 26.

The two hospitals, Eau Claire, Wis.-based Sacred Heart Hospital and Chippewa Falls, Wis.-based St. Joseph's Hospital, are expected to close on or before April 21. The Prevea Health clinics will close on or before June 30, according to a Jan. 22 joint HSHS and Prevea Health release shared with Becker's.

"All other HSHS operations, be it in Eastern Wisconsin or Illinois, will continue to remain open and available to deliver care in the communities where they are located. This includes Prevea in Eastern Wisconsin, the HSHS Medical Group in Illinois and all Prairie Cardiovascular clinics in Illinois," a spokesperson for HSHS said in a statement shared with Becker's.

The closures will affect around 1,082 HSHS and 325 Prevea colleagues and physicians.

The task force will comprise regional community leaders and elected officials, Dave Minor, director of the Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce, told the publication.

A website has been created for the public to submit questions they have regarding the closures, with identical portals to be featured for additional regional Chamber of Commerce organizations.

The next step will be to create around 10 to 12 subcommittees where appropriate committees can sort through and examine public questions submitted to the websites.

"Our region, our communities, are willing to step up. We know we will survive, we know we may prevail in this, we just don't know what it will look like when we're done," Mr. Minor told the Leader-Telegram.

Elected state and federal officials have been invited to attend the task force's next meeting.

"Together with HSHS, we are focused on ensuring continuity of care for patients as well as helping them transition their care to other area hospitals and providers," Ashok Rai, MD, president and CEO of Prevea, said in the release.

Becker's has reached out to the Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce for comment and will update this story as more information becomes available.
The San Benito Health Care District board, which oversees Hollister, Calif.-based Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital, voted Jan. 25 to name Mary Casillas CEO.

Ms. Casillas, who was originally hired as COO, has been serving as interim CEO since fall 2022.

Her appointment to the permanent role comes as the hospital awaits a ruling on bankruptcy eligibility. The San Benito Health Care District board voted in May 2023 to file for Chapter 9 bankruptcy, and a federal bankruptcy court is determining the validity of the financial emergency that hospital administrators cited as the rasoning behind the filing.

The California Nurses Association, which represents nurses at the hospital, has argued that the bankruptcy filing was a drastic and unnecessary step. In December, a trial was held after the union pushed back against the San Benito Health Care District board's argument that the hospital was financially insolvent. The union also opposes Ms. Casillas' appointment.

Hazel Hawkins nurse Kelly Staley, RN, said in a statement shared with Becker's that front-line staff have seen their benefits cut and patient care has suffered while executive compensation has gone up. She criticized Ms. Casillas' lack of experience and proposed new salary, which SanBenito.com reported as $450,000 annually.

"Hazel Hawkins should not be considering downgrading care to save money while proposing over a 30% increase to the interim CEO," Marcelle Norman, RN, said in the same emailed statement.

The hospital, which has three potential buyers, has rejected the union's argument related to the bankruptcy filing and stood behind Ms. Casillas.

"Mary's dedication and leadership during these extremely volatile times has been nothing short of extraordinary," Board President Jeri Hernandez said in a news release shared with Becker's. "It has become clear to the board that she is the right person for this job, and she is definitely the right person to lead us through this complex time in the hospital's history."

Ms. Casillas was brought on as COO of Hazel Hawkins and then agreed to serve as interim CEO position, Marcus Young, a hospital spokesperson, told Becker's.

However, "Her salary was never adjusted to a CEO pay scale," he said. "She is basically going from the COO job and pay to the CEO position and that will include the commiserate salary for that role."
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers is set to reject legislation that would allow advanced practice registered nurses to treat patients and write prescriptions without physician oversight, Wisconsin Public Radio reports.

The Wisconsin Assembly passed the Senate version of SB 145, called the APRN Modernization Act, Jan. 25. The bill would modernize the state's practice model to add licensing for APRNs in four practice roles, allowing them to practice without supervision by a physician or dentist and issue prescription orders.

To apply for an APRN license, registered nurses must complete an accredited graduate-level or postgraduate-level education program for four recognized roles and hold national certification, among other criteria specified in the bill. About 8,000 nurses would qualify for the new license in the practice roles of certified nurse-midwife, certified registered nurse anesthetist, clinical nurse specialist and nurse practitioner, according to the Wisconsin Nurses Association.

At least one lawmaker tied the legislation to recent hospital closures in the state, according to WPR. Two hospitals in Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls, Wis., are set to close in the first quarter along with 20 clinical and medical office locations. One Wisconsin representative said the APRN licenses would bolster the state's healthcare workforce by allowing registered nurses to practice at the top of their licenses.

Physicians groups in the state, such as the Wisconsin Medical Society, have opposed iterations of the legislation and the lifting of oversight agreements over concerns about the years of experience required for the new APRN licenses.

Lawmakers and nursing advocates have attempted to move this legislation forward in Wisconsin for years. The governor vetoed similar legislation "in its entirety" in April 2022, noting his objection to "altering current licensure standards for APRNs, allowing practices functionally equivalent to those of physicians or potentially omitting physicians from a patient's care altogether" despite differences in requirements for physician and APRN experience, training and education.
As retailers looked to move further into healthcare provision, their consumer experience stood as something of a threat to legacy healthcare providers. Lately, that competitive edge seems a little less sharp.

Woonsocket, R.I.-based CVS Health has built a healthcare strategy around the ideas of ubiquity and access. The availability of healthcare assets where existing customers turn is key. But as recent reporting from The Boston Globe can show, availability or access does not always generate high assurance.

As the largest pharmacy chain in the U.S. by number of locations, CVS has been affected by staffing challenges. In addition to longer lines and slower customer service, this has carried over to the perception of its brick-and-mortar stores and clinics, The Globe reported Jan. 25.

"Healthcare is about impressions," DeAnn Campbell, retail practice lead for AAG Consulting in Atlanta, told the outlet. "You need an environment that feels clean and safe. If they can't even clean a bathroom, how can they present themselves as a provider of healthcare services?"

(A CVS spokesperson told The Globe that while a subset of its stores require additional investment, "any suggestion that there are widespread staffing shortages that prevent us from providing superior service to our customers and patients or keeping our stores and pharmacies clean is not correct.")

Like other companies with one foot in retail and one in pharmacy, CVS has faced its fair share of challenges recently. The company is working toward $700 million to $800 million in cost savings in 2024 after it saw its profits fall by 16% to $3.9 billion for the first nine months of 2023 despite a 7% increase to revenues of $86 billion from the year prior.

Similarly, Walgreens is setting out to cut at least $1 billion in costs, and Rite Aid filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last fall.

Beyond the financial hardship, mismatch between retailers' healthcare aims and reality is tied to pharmacist supply, employment and access. CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid were affected this past fall by 'Pharmageddon,' the nicknamed walkout effort organized by pharmacists at U.S. drugstore chains in response to what they considered unreasonable performance demands, understaffing, patient situations escalating in violence, and limited resources. (Since pharmacists employed by the chains are not unionized, firm counts of participation or stores affected were difficult to confirm.)

But a significant obstacle retailers continue to face in healthcare delivery  and one that is often overlooked  comes down to dissonance in perception. Walgreens, for instance, has banked on a strategy in which consumers' visits for low-acuity healthcare are as convenient as an errand run. But convenience must coexist with credibility. The chain announced a $275,000 settlement with the state of Vermont this week to resolve allegations of untenable pharmacist working conditions, medication errors and "a trend of unexpected store closures without notice."

Beyond questions of safety and cleanliness, customers have shown mixed reactions to new care deliveries that could be seen as convenient or inferior, depending on who you ask. Dollar General set out to close a gap in rural healthcare delivery with mobile clinics in store parking lots, an offering that raised questions for some and elicited praise from others. As one customer said: healthcare and parking lots don't mix.

Legacy healthcare providers face no shortage of challenges, but they benefit from a relative absence of consumer dissonance, which may not have been as apparent when retailers began moving closer to healthcare about a decade ago.
Less than one month into 2024, Becker's has already reported on four healthcare data breaches that have affected orthopedic and spine patients.

Four practices experiencing data breaches:

1. Oklahoma City-based SSM Health and SSM Health Bone and Joint Hospital notified its patients that they may have been caught in a data breach impacting SSM's business partner Navvis.

2. Greensboro, N.C.-based Southeastern Orthopaedic Specialists experienced a data breach that exposed sensitive consumer information.

3. Wichita-based Kansas Joint and Spine Specialists reported a data breach to its patients that affected 83,869 people's records.

4. Des Moines (Iowa) Orthopaedic Surgeons was hit with a data security incident that affected certain protected health information.
As physician shortages continue to threaten every healthcare specialty, here is what five practices told Becker's they are doing to recruit new talent in 2024:

"Addressing workforce dynamics is crucial for the sustainable growth of our ASC. The difficulty in recruiting and retaining highly-skilled staff, especially in the face of less competitive salaries compared to larger hospitals, is a concern that needs immediate attention. We plan to implement strategies such as offering competitive compensation and providing continuous education and training opportunities. We aim to establish a positive work environment to both attract and retain top talent. By investing in our workforce, our goal is to guarantee the utmost level of patient care and operational excellence. Additionally, we are exploring technological solutions to streamline operational processes, thereby reducing the workload on our staff and improving overall efficiency."  Ali Ghalayini. ASC administrator at Munster (Ind.) Surgery Center.

"Ortho RI Surgery Center's growth in 2024 and beyond is focused on expanding service lines that are most impactful to our communities, including spine, pain and joint arthroplasty. To remain mission-focused on cost-effective and patient-centric care, we continue to recruit like-minded, skillfully trained physicians and surgical teams. Ortho RI's leadership in technology and innovation is a catalyst for perpetual growth, and thoughtful alignment between the patient, surgical team, anesthesia and surgeon will truly support effective medicine."  Kyle Anderson. Vice president of finance and ASC at Ortho Rhode Island (Wakefield).

"Continued recruitment of private practice physicians into ASCs. The bulk of these successful recruitments are being driven by the remnant private practice orthopedic and pain management specialists who have continued doing their procedures in hospitals and are now transitioning into established ASCs. The reasons for this transition by these physicians are often related to decreases in efficiency and availability of OR block times secondary to staff shortages at large hospital systems, as well as the potential to drive more revenue through ASC ownership."  Reuben Gobezie, MD. Founder and director at Gobezie Shoulder Institute and Regen Orthopedics (Beachwood, Ohio).

"Through our partnership with AdventHealth, we are able to collaboratively work to assess the needs in each sub-market and recruit accordingly. It is a dynamic time in our market with a rapidly growing population, and we are looking to position ourselves to meet that need."  Jon Schmidt. Vice President of Operations at Rothman Orthopaedic Institute (Orlando).

"An aggressive recruitment effort is currently underway at HSS, and we've made significant progress over the last six months. Our general philosophy is that providing an array of opportunities for advancement is the best way to recruit top talent. For example, we offer our own residency program for nurses, and we're constantly looking for new ways to create professional ladders for clinical staff across the organization."  Bryan Kelly, MD. President and CEO of the Hospital for Special Surgery (New York City).
NuVasive is laying off 157 employees at its San Diego headquarters, according to WARN notice data from the state of California.

The permanent layoffs go into effect March 3, according to WARN data from the state.

Globus Medical and NuVasive merged in September last year. The deal valued NuVasive at $3.1 billion.

NuVasive confirmed "organizational restructuring across the combined company" to Becker's in a Jan. 26 email.

Globus Medical didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. This article will be updated if they do.
As the Strand hosts an anniversary screening, the films producer, director and one of its stars speaks to Aine Toner about its legacy

Mickybo & Me, the story of friends (and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid fans) John Jonjo Wright and Michael Mickybo Boyle who live on different sides of the community in 1970, has captivated fans since its 2004 release.

The boys devise a plan to escape Belfast  and the surrounding conflict  and flee to Australia. Not everything goes to plan cue a series of misadventures including a fire and escape from a police car.

Praised for its portrayal of friendship and community, even two decades on, it remains in producer Mark Huffams top five, if not top three films.

Its the nearest Ive got to making a Western, says Mark, who produced the film alongside Michael McGeagh.

It is two kids who go to the cinema and get totally inspired by Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and decide theyre going to go on the run and theyre going to become outlaws and its just a great fun premise. We had a lot of fun making the film and were delighted by how it was received.

It was a Northern Irish, written, produced, directed film, and there werent that many of them around at the time. There were other people involved, of course, but it was a very homegrown film, the story was also very homegrown.

John Joe McNeill and Niall Wright

Mark was approached by Terry Loane who was aiming to adopt Owen McCaffertys play Mojo Mickybo  a pitch which Mark calls excellent.

Then he turned in a first draft that felt like it was a finished product. Youd have thought it had been a seventh or eighth draft of the script, and we just went to [film studio] Working Title and said, We want to do this, we want to do it Northern Ireland. Working Title came back and said yeah, well do it. It was one of the easiest projects Ive had to get off the ground.

For Terry, it was an important endeavour. This was his first feature film as director and 20 years on, he remembers every moment as amazing.

For a lot of directors your first film might be the tiniest budget and you might only have three or four weeks to make it, he says.

We got a solid budget and we had the backing of Working Title. And we had a great crew of people, says Terry, who completed his third feature as director, The Last Rifleman, in 2023.

But as a first-time director, I knew what we were getting on screen.

I think we did know that there was something kind of magical there and in the two boys, but its really only when you get to the editing, when you put it all together and you start to think oh my God, this actually works as a film, as something that we put out into the world.

From the beginning, the aim was not to make a film about the Troubles, though the situation could not be ignored.

If you were from here, you got it completely and if you werent, it didnt matter, because you just went along with the story, says Mark. It was very personal to Terry, very personal to me. Probably everybody on the crew whod worked on it had some connection to that storytelling.

One of the most common coming-of-age things is the theme of friendship and friendship from different sides of the track.

The seed of the adventure is Butch Cassidy which is a film we all grew up with and we all thought was fantastic.

Mickybo & Me producer, Mike McGeagh, director Terry Loane, and producer Mark Huffam pictured on set with Niall and John Joe

Having grown up here, we all know that any kind of good feeling or bad feeling, bigotry or compassion, theyre all learned traits, says Terry. Kids will find things in common until the world tells them to start looking for differences. And I think thats the joy of the friendship between Jonjo and Mickybo.

I guess theyre both kind of loners in their own worlds and whenever they connect, Butch needs a Sundance and Sundance needs a Butch.

We all had childhoods and we all had friends and we all had betrayal by friends.

All those things, I think are universally accessible, even if you didnt grow up in Belfast.

The casting had to be perfect and Terry and Mark both praise Niall Wright (Jonjo) and John Joe McNeill (Mickybo); its clear that the adults  including Ciaran Hinds, Adrian Dunbar, Gina McKee and Julie Walters  were in no way carrying scenes.

I was like a broken record. Id say to the two boys, Whats acting about? Theyd say, Reacting, Terry, says Terry.

I do remember though, the first day we filmed with Ciaran and with Niall and it was in Dromore where wed recreated the Fuscos ice cream parlour.

I was chatting to Ciaran beforehand and chatting to Niall and then we did a rehearsal. Then we did a quick take. It was like OK, and cut. Ciaran said, Terry can I have a word? I said, yeah, what is it? He says, hes a bit good, isnt he? I said, Oh, yes, absolutely. Because at that stage, Id realised that Niall and John Joe were very talented, but it was Ciarans first moment.

From Ciarans point of view and the other adults, they realised that the kids were inhabiting the characters. It meant that the adult actors had stuff to react to. Then it ping pongs back and forwards and it feels real.

Niall and John Joe as Jonjo and Mickybo

Niall, who Hope Street fans will recognise as Port Devines Callum McCarthy, was eight or nine when he shot an experimental workshop in Scotland before the full length Mickybo went in production around two years later. At that stage, Niall was initially considered too old for the role as Jonjo, leading to a casting process  which Mark calls exhaustive  involving over 1,000 young actors.

I was gutted but at the same time, [had] that naivety, says Niall.

Then Terry came back and they couldnt find anybody. Maybe their heart was still set on me.

I ended up doing different auditions and chemistries and getting the role. Ill never forget  I was 11, going on 12 and I still looked about six, he laughs.

I have to say it was the most wonderful experience and it completely gave me the platform and the bug for acting and the passion to continue it on.

At this stage, Ciaran Hinds was attached to the project.

God bless him, he attached himself to the script at the very early stage, says Terry who asked Ciarans sister to contact her brother on his behalf.

The next day Ciaran phones and I sent him a script and he said Yeah, definitely, which farther do you want me to play? And I said, Well, thats the one I think is right for you. And he said, Im on board.

So then that started people paying attention.

The fact that if youve got great actors like Ciaran saying yes to a first time director and unknown leads gave us a bit of confidence to keep going.

Even with Ciaran Hinds and eventually with Julie Walters and Adrian Dunbar, if Id had one of them on my first film, I would have been lucky and happy.

But to get them all in there was such a gift.

But they all knew that if it didnt find two great kids, then it would be a wasted exercise, so we had to be diligent.

Ciaran Hinds, who played Jonjo's dad

For all those involved, theres a sense of achievement and an affection for the film  and its great people are still talking about it, says Niall.

It was made on a smaller, kind of independent type budget that youd have nowadays. But a lot of these film nowadays have the power of social media, to reach out to such a wider audience and to bring people into the world.

Imagine if Mickybo was around in that period of social media, how it would have caught on and how the rest of the world would have related to these themes and the history. I think it says a lot about Ireland, and storytelling in Ireland and how every actor has a story to tell.

I think its a lovely, lovely story. I think its very well told and I suppose its against the backdrop, the undercurrent is the Troubles or whatever you want to call it.

Thats very much the backdrop but the story of friendship and family and heartbreak which are universal themes.

Honestly, the amount of people that come up to me in the street now. Last summer I was in Belfast filming and someone came up to me and said, Jesus, are you Jonjo? Im 31, 32 and still being pointed out, surely Ive changed a little bit since then? he laughs. But theres still a lovely care for and a lovely admiration for something from home.

At different stages, Mickybo & Me was selected for international festivals, places where Terry remembers kids from halfway around the world watching that story with their eyes and jaws open, something he still considers rewarding.

They didnt have to understand the Troubles, they just had to understand childhood and weve all been there.

Susan Lynch starred as Torchwoman

On February 8, the Strand Arts Centre will host a special Q&A with members of the films cast and crew. Glenn Patterson will be in conversation with Ciaran, Niall, John Joe McNeill, Terry and Mark.

This anniversary screening is one of several fundraising events to support the Strand Arts Centres transformational 6.5m redevelopment project, and follows on from the success of the venues sold-out Napoleon Q&A screening that took place last November.

That the conversation is happening 20 years since its release reflects its importance within the Northern Irish film industry.

There definitely is an affection, says Terry, who directed the 2018 Agatha and the Truth of Murder.

We wanted to make sure that it was an authentic story from here about what it was like to grow up here.

But of course the joys of being a child when you dont realise that people with guns and soldiers walking past you and thats your normality until you start to look back and go, that wasnt normal what weve been through.

I think it is lovely that whether its taxi drivers or everybody, it seems everybody in Northern Ireland has seen it at least once.

I do love whenever I hear people whove been sending the DVD all around the world, whether its Australia or America or Canada, to people who left here back in the 1970s or 1980s, expats, and they find this film and they can connect with it, he continues.

The great thing with film is that once you put it out into the world, it keeps going forever.

It has that kind of lifespan that people can keep revisiting it either as adults or if you want to teach your new younger children how to curse properly, they can watch this film!

The 20th anniversary screening and Q&A of Mickybo & Me takes place on February 8. Tickets are priced at 15 per person. To book tickets, or to find out more about how you can support the Strand, visit www.strandartscentre.com. Connect with the Strand Arts Centre on Facebook or Instagram @StrandArtsCentre
Did you know?

Mid Ulster came in second place in a study of the most and least anxious areas of the UK by Go Smoke Free. The average anxiety score there is 39.38% lower than the national average

Music to our ears

Credit Liam McBurney/Alamy

Belfast TradFest annual Winter Weekend returns for its third edition on February 23-25 with a jampacked schedule featuring internationally renowned talent in traditional Irish and Scottish music, song and dance. Members of the public will have the opportunity to get involved in a variety of workshops at the Ulster University building on York Street. The sessions will cover all instruments from bodhran to banjo and smallpipes, in addition to Sean Nos singing and set dancing. For the festival opening concert, Donegal artist Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh is bringing her renowned band Altan back to Belfast to play the Empire Music Hall. At The Songs of Shane MacGowan event, the music of the late artist will be celebrated by local performers including Dani Larkin, Duke Special and Jack Warnock. Another mustnt miss  Irelands top pipers will go head-to-head at the annual Highland Piping Solo Competition at The Deers Head on February 25.

www.belfasttraditionalmusic.com

Credit: Liam McBurney/Alamy

Local youth invited to audition

Young talent urged to audition

The Grand Opera House is searching for talented young performers, aged 16-21, to take part in this years Summer Youth Production of Sunset Boulevard. Over 70 performers will spend two weeks in intensive rehearsals before taking to the iconic Grand Opera House stage for four performances, supported by a professional theatre director, choreographer, technical team, musical director and 17-piece orchestra. The deadline to register for open auditions is February 14, with the first auditions scheduled for February 25. No previous acting or singing experience is necessary and there will also be opportunities with the backstage technical team.

www.belfasttraditionalmusic.com

Local cult classic returns

Cult Classic returns

The Strand Arts Centre is set to host a special anniversary screening of the iconic Northern Irish drama-comedy, Mickybo & Me on February 8. The showing will begin with a Q&A with members of the films cast and crew. Novelist Glenn Patterson will lead a Q&A panel featuring Academy-award nominated actor, Ciaran Hinds (Jonjos dad in the film), Niall Wright (Jonjo), John Joe McNeill (Mickybo), director, Terry Loane and producer, Mark Huffam. The film tells the heart-warming story of Jonjo and Mickybo, two boys who come from different sides of the community at the start of the Troubles in 1970. Amidst the conflict and devastation thats taking place around them, they strike up a friendship from a shared obsession with Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and come up with a plan to escape Belfast and move to Australia for a better life. This anniversary screening is one of several fundraising events to support the Strand Arts Centres redevelopment project. Tickets cost 15.

www.strandartscentre.com

A flash in time

A a flash in time. Credit Mervyn Smyth

Belfast Exposed will reopen for its spring schedule on February 1 for the first Late Night Art of 2024. Now & Then: 40 Years of Belfast Exposed is the centres retrospective opening exhibition, bringing together iconic images from its extensive archive covering four decades of documentary photography, while showcasing the work of artists from across Northern Ireland that incorporate photography into their practice. Doors open at 6pm on Thursday, and the showcase runs until the end of March.

www.belfastexposed.org

Credit: Mervyn Smyth

Brace yourself sisters

Brace yourself sisters Photo credit: Mark Senior

The West End touring production of the hit musical, Sister Act, arrives in Londonderry next month for a week-long run at the Millennium Forum. West End star Landi Oshinowo will lead the cast as Deloris Van Cartier. Based on the iconic movie, this joyful tribute to the universal power of friendship, sisterhood and music, tells the hilarious story of the disco diva whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a murder. Under protective custody she is hidden in the one place she wont be found  a convent. Sister Act runs from February 26 to March 2. Limited tickets are available, starting from 27.

www.millenniumforum.co.uk

Credit: Mark Senior

Race across Europe on Red Bull challenge

Red Bull's European challenge

Red Bull is back in 2024 with its Can You Make It? competition, which strips contestants of personal belongings, including cash, cards and mobile phones, challenging them to use only one currency to get to the finish line, Red Bull. Applications are open until March 28, and the final UK teams will be announced in April The selected teams, each of which will need three participants, will then power their way across Europe on the adventure of a lifetime.

www.redbull.com/ie-en/

One hundred and eighty reasons to go

One hundred and eighty reasons to go

Seven comedy powerhouses are set to take the stage for an evening of laughs, the unknown, and possibly poor darts, for the Comedian Darts show at Limelight 1 on March 9.

The line-up includes the quick-witted Colin Geddis, the hilariously insightful Andrew Ryan, the comedic dynamo Diona Doherty, the pun master Sean Hegarty, the irreverent Dave Elliott, the uproarious Conor Keys, the hilarious Aaron Butler, and referee on the night, James McKegney. A first of its kind event in Belfast, the evening combines the precision of throwing darts with the unpredictability of some of the best comedians in the country. Tickets cost from 22.50 and are available from Ticketmaster.

www.limelightbelfast.com

Clear out for a cause

Clear out for a cause

Asda has teamed up with The Salvation Army to turn unwanted clothes into much-needed funds for the retailers Tickled Pink breast cancer charity appeal, which raises funds and awareness for Breast Cancer Now and CoppaFeel! NI customers are encouraged to get involved by popping clean clothing into a bag and dropping it off into the pink Big Clothing Clear-Out collection trolley by the checkouts at Asda stores. People can also donate clothing through the George Take Back scheme by packing items up and dropping off at a drop-off location at Asda stores. Visit takeback.george.com/ to get a QR code to scan when dropping items off in store, and youll get a 20% discount voucher once items have been donated.

A musical mystery tour of the mind

A musical mystery tour of the mind

Comic, musical maestro and Strictly Come Dancing star, Bill Bailey comes to the SSE Arena on February 10. On the night, Bill will be pondering questions such as  are humans redundant when much of what we do can be done by machines? Tickets for Bill Bailey: Thoughtifier cost from 27.50.

www.ssearenabelfast.com
You wait for one travel show presented by a North American, then suddenly two come at once
William Stafford, the head distiller at Hinch Distillery, tells us about his weekend  from enjoying a dram to life with a four-legged addition to his household

The best time to get up at the weekend is?

Always early. My partner Julie and I recently rehomed a wee dog and regardless of what day it is, he refuses to walk himself despite how many times Ive tried convincing him. His name is Toby, a Cockapoo who loves getting up around 6am.

Do you treat yourself to a lie-in?

A lie-in has evaded me for some time now unless Im on holiday and my family are looking after the dog. Ive always been an early riser and Im a believer in getting out of bed when the alarm goes. It certainly makes me appreciate it more when it comes to bedtime that evening and Im normally sleeping before my head hits the pillow.

Breakfast or brunch?

Breakfast for sure. I walk the dog before work most mornings and eat breakfast before getting ready for work which is either a bowl of cereal or toasted wheaten with strawberry jam. My job can be quite demanding and fast-paced, so once Im in work there is little opportunity for relaxing brunches. I can hold out for a more relaxed brunch at the weekends when things slow down a little bit. Im a creature of habit and my ideal breakfast/brunch includes sausage, boxty and mushrooms with a glass of pineapple juice, everything else is a bonus.

What does an ideal Saturday look like?

Every day starts with walking Toby before anything else. He can be quite vocal about being second best, with no qualms about breaking all personal space boundaries until he gets walked. Rain, hail, or snow. I like to get chores around the house done before setting out for the day, so once Ive the shopping and a quick whip around the house done and then a day out with my partner Julie and Toby to the beach or rugby is the norm in our house. Come the evening time, we normally watch something on TV with a dram or two.

What would your perfect Sunday be like?

Open water swim, freshly brewed coffee and a roast dinner cooked for me is ideal, I just normally do the cooking. Sunday is my day to recharge the batteries and get ready for another busy week and Im happiest in my own comfort around the house, fire lit and roast beef in the oven. Normally in some very questionable slippers. The dog has a sense on a Sunday that there isnt much going on and he gets on board with that and snoozes most of it.

Do you prefer to be indoors or outdoors?

My job is mainly indoors, so every opportunity I get to be outside I grab it with both hands. I grew up in the country and as a child my mum struggled to keep me inside, and I normally only came home when I was hungry or had injured myself from doing something I shouldnt have been doing  climbing trees, galivanting or something with a hammer and a bag of nails. When I was hungry, I used to try and sneak into the house to fill my pockets with food and sneak out again without being noticed.

How have weekends changed as you have gotten older?

My weekends have changed a lot since I was a little younger, they mainly involved rugby and a beer or two every Saturday and feeling sorry for myself on Sundays. However, Ive always been very work orientated so have always put my career first and sacrificed playing rugby to learn and develop as best I could.

Being head distiller of one of the largest independently owned distilleries in the country with the growth trajectory that Irish whiskey is seeing currently consumes a lot of my time, so when I get a chance to spend time at home, I enjoy that as much as I can when its on offer.

Julie and I are real foodies, so we do like to get into Belfast from time to time, which involves a restaurant followed by a few drinks. The watering hole is dependent on the mood, so it could either be cocktails in Berts Jazz Bar or Bittles for a Guinness and a dram.

If you could eat out anywhere tonight in NI, where would you go and why?

Simply because Ive been talking about going for a few weeks now, it would be Ginza Kitchen, a Japanese restaurant on the Lisburn Road. Our friends brought us for the first time last year, and it is now up there with one of my favourite places to eat.

What would you have?

Starter: Hoi sin duck bao bun. Main: Chefs choice sushi roll and either ramen or pork gyoza.

At weekends youll always make time to

Enjoy a dram and unwind. I put myself on call every third weekend which means Im on call 24/7 from Friday afternoon until Monday morning. At certain stages of the year we have additional work to do which sometimes requires us to be in at the weekend and its normally filling extra casks of our new-make malt, disgorging whiskey for bottling, or transferring whiskey from one wood type to another.

Who would you most like to go for a drink with and why?

Iain McArthur from Islay in Scotland. Pretty much an industry legend having served Lagavulin distillery for 50+ years. Ive had the pleasure of meeting him on two separate occasions when visiting Islay and its his stories, knowledge, and mutual love for a Lagavulin 16-year-old.

Who do you normally eat Sunday dinner with and where?

Julie and Toby mainly  hes also a roast beef fan  and normally in the house or down home at one of our parents houses.

Too tired to cook  what are you ordering from the takeaway?

Always mood-dependant but either an Indian or pizza. My Indian selection wouldnt be anything to brag about as I dont love spicy foods but a selection of starters, korma, rice and peshwari naan is normally on the order. My favourite pizza has goats cheese, rocket, chilli oil and parmesan.

Heading for the cinema? What are you going to see?

Thriller or drama-related normally. I think Im scarred from my oldest sister making me watch horrors when I was younger, so I stay well clear of anything horror-related.

Staying in what TV/streaming/catch-up programmes are on the menu?

Murder mysteries, crime or something easily watched like Downton Abbey was a big hit for me.

Downton Abbey

What are you reading?

Normally about distilleries or something process-related, but I recently read all the Harry Potter books whilst lying beside the pool in Tenerife and Im not sure if it was the books I enjoyed or the fact I was lying in the sun with a beer. That being said, I had read them when I was younger and probably appreciated them better this time around.

Bedtime is?

I always aim for before 11pm as Im normally up around 5am or 5:30am to get the day started and be as productive as possible. A night cap on weekends for sure, but on school nights its normally a cup of tea.

Hinch Distillery is one of the largest independent distilleries in Ireland and has plans to increase the production capacity to meet the rising demand for Irish Whiskey. Customers can expect a few exciting releases for Hinch in 2024 with a limited release of Hinch Distillerys Single Malt. For tours, visit hinchdistillery.com.
Las Vegas  the name conjures visions of clinking coins, velvet rope lines, and neon so bright it makes your retinas hum.

Honestly, I wasnt sure what to expect when I landed at Harry Reid Airport days before Halloween for a trip for a birthday trip with friends.

Would I be swallowed whole by the glittering, gyrating maw of the Strip? Would the air reek of desperation and stale cigarettes?

Would I stumble out, 48 hours later, a shell of myself, clutching a half-eaten hot dog and a questionable tattoo of playing cards?

Mostly true, without the added tattoo, thankfully and it turns out, I had Vegas all wrong  if you dont fancy spending days (and nights) on end trapped in a casino, here is a rundown of some great experiences to check out while youre there.

My journey began with a hesitant shuffle, like a penguin on roller skates, onto the carpet of our hotel, the Disneyland-twin, Excalibur Hotel and Casino (Rooms beginning from as low as $100 a night). Its a basic, slightly dated hotel  but a great cheaper option delightfully twinned with the fantastic New York, New York hotel.

Check out the amazing buffet for a hotel meal that wont break the bank, beginning at $30 per person with every cuisine on offer.

Youll hear a lot of just somewhere to place your head when heading to Sin City, and its true, but given certain areas, youll want to ensure where you put your head, means it will still be there by morning  plus it is true what they say, once youve seen one casino, youve seen them all.

The exterior of the hotel is much like all of Vegas to first-time visitors. The sheer audacity of it all  the towering, impossible architecture, the pulsing music bleeding from every open doorway, the impossibly glamorous people strolling by in outfits straight out of a sci-fi film  its intoxicating.

One of our main attractions was a visit to, you guessed it, The Sphere (Tickets from $140) which is located next to The Venetian. As this newspapers technology columnist, I was thrilled to be invited to visit the location which had been dominating my social media feed ever since it opened just weeks before our visit.

The view of the Las Vegas Sphere from Papillion Helicopters

Upon arrival you are greeted with a technological marvel thats as much an amusement park ride as it is a concert hall. I walked in a sceptic but emerged a starry-eyed evangelist. However, just a word of warning for those prone to vertigo, you will feel dizzy, and slightly unsettled.

First off, the sheer scale is mind-blowing. Curved screens wrap around you like an immersive hug, the sound system vibrates your bones, and even the seats whisper high-tech secrets as they adjust to your movements.

Its enough to make you forget about the slightly-too-close neighbours (dancing to U2 or rumoured Harry Styles in that legroom? Not likely).

The Postcards from Earth film was a visual feast. Oceans roared, forests swayed, and astronauts pirouetted in space, all projected onto the curved canvas with such clarity you could practically touch the clouds. But honestly, once the initial wow faded, the story felt a bit like an excuse to showcase the tech.

Shortly after The Sphere we were treated to several amazing experiences, an unforgettable dinner at Fuhu part of the new Resorts World hotel  which wasnt just dinner, it was a culinary rollercoaster. Asian fusion with the volume cranked  think firecracker dim sum, truffle-kissed sushi, and cocktails named after mythical beasts.

Fuhu Restaurant in Resorts World

Be warned, its pricey, but portions were share-worthy, perfect for trying bite-sized adventures. Service was slick as the bars black marble with the staff and servers a delight to everyone, guiding us through the extensive menu with ease.

Also if youre looking for a great drinking spot, check out two we frequented. Flight Club Darts located in Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian Resort is great fun for a bigger group, while for something a little more upmarket, you couldnt do better than the Aft Cocktail Deck at The Wynn Las Vegas. .

While it was a little too chilly (Nevada is a desert, but it still picks up a cool wind) to sit outside on the gorgeous deck of the latter spot to enjoy the waterfall show, but inside still reeks of elegance and luxury.

If eating, drinking and Sphere-ing isnt for you, then a show will be. It can be hard to decide what to go see while in Sin City, youre often spoilt for choice but it will dent your wallet for the bigger marque names.

For something different, we were treated to Awakening (Tickets from around $100), a top choice amongst tourists. Presented by The Wynn Las Vegas, the circus-esque show is a marvel of puppets, comedy and drama.

Awakening

There is a moment in the show, which follows a cut-and-paste slightly predictable story involving a young chosen one hoping to capture everything she needs to ascend in her quest  where a life-size blue whale circles the venue. Its not a trick of light nor is it a projection, its an actual puppet that will take your breath away.

The perfect way to end an experience in Vegas? From above with Papillion Helicopters (From $119 pp for the nighttime strip ride). It may not be for everyone, but watching the famous Strip stretched out like a neon wonderland, Bellagio fountains doing water tricks and the Eiffel Tower playing high five with the clouds was incredible and at such a great price.

All my jitters vanished, replaced by pure wow once in the air with Papillion taking Vegas from chaotic mess to glittering masterpiece, all seen from way, way up.
A Londonderry GP who has been suspended over comments about Covid spent an afternoon in a cell after she refused to follow a judges direction in court.

Dr Anne McCloskey is charged with two counts of breaching pandemic regulations on March 20 2021.

The 66-year-old represented herself at Coleraine Magistrates Court when she appeared on Friday.

She interrupted the proceedings and began to introduce herself when Deputy District Judge Chris Holmes asked her to be quiet.

Dr McCloskey ignored him and continued to talk. When she again refused the judges request for her to be quiet, the judge ordered under article 160, take her to the cells.

Im protected under the Geneva convention, Dr McCloskey declared, but the judge said he would rise until she is in custody.

What followed while the court was risen was a half hour of discussion and debate between Dr McCloskey, her three co-accused, court security staff, prison staff and, when they walked into the court, three uniformed police officers.

Despite insisting that Im not going, the judge does not have the authority or the power to deprive me of my liberty, eventually Dr McCloskey hugged her friends and gathering her bag and files together, and was escorted to the cells at the courthouse where she was held for the next four hours.

Under article 160, a judge can impose a fine up to 2,500 or up to a month in jail for any person who either wilfully insults a resident magistrate or witness or court officer or any person who wilfully interrupts the proceedings of the court or otherwise misbehaves in court.

Dr McCloskey was suspended by a medical practitioners tribunal in 2021 following controversial comments she made about children taking Covid vaccines.

Earlier this month the doctor, from the Chapel Road in Londonderry, lost an appeal against that suspension.

Her three co-accused facing the same charges are Liam Henry Back (60) from Islandmagee Road in Whitehead; Alanna Lavery (43) from Battery Road in Cookstown and John William Stewart (62) from Ringsend Road in Limavady.

The case had been listed on Friday for the defendants to indicate whether they were accepting or denying the charges.

Prosecuting counsel Natasha Fitzsimmons said that having spoken to them, they do have questions and they want to speak to the judge before they give their attitude.

With Dr McCloskey still being held in the cells, Judge Holmes told the other three defendants that he was adjourning it until February 9.

The GP was brought back into court just after 4.30pm and the judge told her he had two options, either by imposing a fine which would result in her release or I can have you held in custody.

Assuring her that she will be given the time and opportunity to fight the charges and to present her case, the judge warned her that you will not be allowed to disrupt proceedingsyou will be allowed to make your points but you have to follow the rules like everybody else.

Having been assured that she was allowed to speak, Dr McCloskey ranted that it was not her intention to harass, pester, offend, coerce, blackmail or misbehave or cause anxiety or annoyance or distress.

I am here to seek due process, I tried to introduce myself in my case and I was subjected to four hours of incarceration and as I say, I did nothing wrong.

What happened here was unconscionable behaviour, declared the doctor, claiming that as a private citizen she is protected by affidavits and the Geneva Convention.

Decrying the proceedings as belligerence in a military court, she claimed she had been treated like a criminal.

Judge Holmes pointed out that there is no such thing as being protected by affidavits and emphasised that if you can trust anything, trust that you will be allowed to present your case, call witnesses and cross-examine witnesses, you will be given your rights.

But what you will not be allowed to do is to disrupt the court which is what you did, the judge told Dr McCloskey, adding that she had been the author of your own misfortune.

The GP said she wanted to see the order which empowered the judge to order her to be taken to the cells.

But bringing the issue to a head, Judge Holmes told her you are not going to force me to send you to prison - seven days in prison will cost us a fortune.

Im going to fine you 50 and allow you six weeks to pay and you can come back on the February 9 and deal with this in front of District Judge King.
The man has been taken to Musgrave Serious Crime Suite.

A 27-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the murder of Kevin Conway.

The man has been arrested in the west Belfast area and taken to Musgrave Serious Crime Suite where he remains in custody for questioning.

Mr Conway (26) died after being shot multiple times at his home in the Greenan area of west Belfast on January 9.

The victim had been on bail awaiting trial for the murder of Shane Whitla in Co Armagh last year.
Thousands of people have attended a rally in Belfast city centre calling for an immediate ceasefire in Palestine.

The rallies have taken place almost every weekend since Israel's bombardment of Gaza began.

The October 7 Hamas terror attack killed some 1,200 people.

Since then, the Hamas-led health ministry in Gaza has said Israels military offensive has killed over 25,000 Palestinians and injured at least 62,000 people, with the United Nations saying women and children are the main victims.

The Belfast rally fell on Holocaust Memorial Day and among the speakers was American Jewish activist, Jesse Reuben, and David Landy from Jews for Palestine.

David Landy from Jews for Palestine - Ireland gives a key note speech. Photo: Andrew McCarroll/ Pacemaker Press

The gathering comes after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Israel must take all measures to prevent genocidal acts in Gaza, but it stopped short of ordering an immediate ceasefire.

The ICJ refused to throw out the case but Israel has vehemently rejected an accusation of genocide.

The Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyadh Maliki welcomed the significant order.

According to the ICJ, Israel must prevent the displacement of Gaza residents from their homes, and is responsible for ensuring adequate, food, water, humanitarian assistance and medical supplies are able to reach the people there.

Israel has also been ordered to avoid the destruction of any evidence, such as military orders - which are pertinent to the allegations - and cannot prevent access to fact-finding international missions.

The ruling will come into force immediately, with all official UN bodies expected to comply.
The DUPs party executive is to meet on Monday evening for an update from leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson on negotiations with the UK Government.

It comes after an email was circulated on social media on Friday night, with sources confirming to the Belfast Telegraph the correspondence is legitimate.

Loyalist activist Jamie Bryson shared a screenshot appearing to show the email from the partys Chief Executive Timothy Johnston to Executive members calling a meeting of the members.

According to the email the meeting is set for Monday night at 7.00pm.

DUP update: Sir Jeffrey throws down the gauntlet

In the email, no location is given for the meeting, at which a detailed update will be provided to members.

"I apologise for the short notice of this meeting but due to circumstances beyond our control the Officers, exercising their powers under rule 10 (g), have determined to waive the normal notice period for calling a meeting, says Mr Johnston.

"Please indicate by return email if you plan to be present so we can determine whether the substitute delegate will be attending for each constituency.

"The Party Leader wishes to provide a detailed update on the current political situation and I would encourage you to make every effort to attend.

"The meeting will be held in a secure venue with car parking and you will receive further details of the location and directions to it on Monday.

"I would ask that this business is not discussed with those outside the party or with the press and media.

"In accordance with our updated procedures only Executive delegates or substitutes will be admitted. Please bring this letter by email or printed to ensure admission on Monday evening.

The DUP has been approached for comment.

It comes after former DUP leader Edwin Poots said the party was working extremely hard to resolve the deadlock over a deal to restore power-sharing at Stormont.

The NI Executive has been dormant since then-First Minister Paul Givan resigned in February 2022 over the UK Governments withdrawal agreement with the EU, then known as the NI Protocol, subsequently reformed to the Windsor Framework in 2023.

"The people who are running about suggesting the DUP are traitors - why would we have done what we have done for the last two years and then go back with nothing, just for idiots to say that?" Mr Poots told the BBC.

"There is a course of work that has been done thus far, and that's a course of work that's ongoing, and we are determined to bring that to a conclusion."

On Wednesday, a bill was passed through Westminster to extend the deadline for restoring devolution to February 8 after the previous deadline elapsed on January 19.

In an impassioned speech while the bill was debated in the House of Commons, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said some people were attempting to "orchestrate opposition to a deal that has not yet taken place".

Mr Donaldson told the Commons he had been threatened as a result of the partys negotiations with the Government.

A PSNI spokesperson confirmed an investigation was underway into the threats.

"Police have received a report and have launched an investigation, they said.
The UUPs deputy leader said Northern Irelands relationship with Westminster has never been worse as he confirmed he would stand in the General Election.

Robbie Butler will contest the Lagan Valley seat, currently held by DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson.

Mr Butler said that, if elected, he would seek to rebuild relations with other parties in London.

It is evident that Northern Irelands relationship with other parties sitting at Westminster has never been worse, placing us in a very isolated position, he said.

Failure to create and exploit a better understanding with them of the Northern Ireland public and its combined desire to make Northern Ireland work has regretfully been neglected at a cost to everyone who lives here.

If the electorate of Lagan Valley give me the honour of representing them in the House of Commons, one of my priorities will be to rebuild those relationships with those sitting on the Government and opposition benches.

To make Northern Ireland the place it could and should be within the United Kingdom. I will restore those connections of influence and I will work closely with colleagues from every constituency and political identity to make this happen.

A former firefighter, Mr Butler (51) has been an MLA for Lagan Valley since 2016.

He was appointed as UUP deputy leader in 2021.

He stood in both the 2017 and 2019 Westminster elections, where Sir Jeffrey retained the seat for the DUP.

In 2019, Alliance candidate Sorcha Eastwood polled strongly, with Sir Jeffreys majority cut from 19,229 to 6,599.

Mr Butler said he was honoured to run for Parliament again.

Since 2016 the people of Lagan Valley have consistently trusted me with their votes in ever increasing numbers, he added.

I know, both through the work of my busy office but also having spent these past years on the ground listening to my constituents, that many are disheartened by the continued failure of politics, both at home and abroad, to deliver the services and quality of life they would expect for themselves and their families.

"With 20 years of front-line service with the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service and Northern Ireland Prison service before I entered the political arena, my single ambition has always been to improve people's lives and opportunities.

I have transferred that ethos into politics to help build a better Northern Ireland for everyone who lives here.

Unfortunately, recent events have seen that vision frustratingly stalled due to short sightedness of some decision-makers who seem disconnected to the suffering of people and dismantling of public services.
MLAs decision leaves him liable for legal bills in not one, but two, defamation cases

Gerry Kelly has accepted a devastating judgment which leaves him liable for a huge legal bill over what a judge said was an attempt to intimidate a journalist.

Two weeks ago Belfast High Court threw out the Sinn Fein MLAs defamation action against Belfast Telegraph columnist Malachi ODoherty.

Master Evan Bell refused to allow the case to proceed to trial, saying that to do so would be a waste of court time because Mr Kelly had no hope of winning, and it would be an unfair strain on the journalist who was being pursued improperly.

Mr Kelly has implicitly accepted that by deciding not to appeal.

In the wake of the judgment, Mr ODoherty spoke of his intense relief at the outcome, saying that as a freelance journalist I would have been finished.

But now the legal action has rebounded on the veteran republican, who has to pay not only his own legal costs, but those of the man from whom he hoped to extract money and an apology.

Last night Mr ODoherty said: Now the whole stupid business really is over for me. There are others being sued by him on the same issue. Im sure this strengthens their hands and I wish them well.

Kelly was trying to force me into a corner I would have to buy my way out of.

Neither Mr Kelly nor his lawyers, O Muirigh Solicitors, responded to requests for comment.

The judge referred to a similar case which Mr Kelly is taking against another writer, Ruth Dudley-Edwards for making essentially the same statement.

Master Bell said in his judgment that it obviously has implications for Mr Kellys similar defamation proceedings against Miss Edwards, which will not be lost on his legal advisers and hers.

It is likely the Sinn Fein man will now face a second bill for that case.

The cases are part of a multitude of libel actions which in recent years have been taken by Sinn Fein members on both sides of the border. The party has insisted that there is no strategy to use the libel laws to silence criticism, but has been accused by the Taoiseach and free speech groups of engaging in behaviour which has a chilling effect on democracy.

Last year the Council of Europe accused Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald of intimidation of journalists over a defamation action against RTE.

Mr ODohertys case stemmed from a seemingly innocuous remark which he made on the radio in 2019, saying of Mr Kelly he shot a prison officer in the head during the 1983 Maze breakout by IRA prisoners.

TUV leader Jim Allister had said the same thing to Mr Kellys face in a TV studio a few years earlier and hed never even flinched  unsurprisingly because he was proud of his role in the escape and had admitted in his book to having a gun which he used to threaten a prison officer.

Malachi O'Doherty

In the submissions of Mr Kellys lawyers to the court, he didnt deny shooting the prison guard, but said that Mr ODoherty couldnt prove that he had done so.

Nevertheless, the politician claimed that Mr ODohertys words meant that his reputation had been gravely damaged.

In a criminal trial in 1988, Mr Kelly had been acquitted of shooting the prison officer.

Master Bell noted that the trial judge, Lord Lowry, had said: there was clearly a prima facie case of attempted murder and causing grievous bodily harm but there are a great many awkward questions about inconsistencies and discrepancies I cannot conscientiously be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that Kelly is the right man. He may well be, but that is not enough.

Master Bell said: The fact that a person is acquitted in criminal proceedings regarding a shooting of a victim does not nevertheless bring to an end all determinations as to his legal liability for the shooting one of the most significant differences between criminal and civil proceedings is the standard of proof.

The judge noted that Mr Kelly does not disassociate himself from the use of force for the purpose of escaping. Indeed, quite the opposite.

Master Bell said the case was completely untenable and described it as scandalous, frivolous and vexatious.

The judge added the case was a cynical attempt to target Mr ODoherty, as he is an outspoken critic of Sinn Fein, and that amounted to a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (Slapp), cases more commonly associated with the uber wealthy such as Russian oligarchs.

The judge went on to say the facts suggest that rather than being a genuine attempt to defend a reputation which has been damaged by an untruth, the proceedings are what has been referred to as a Slapp, namely an attempt to silence two bothersome journalists with the threat of legal costs.

The proceedings appear to be a strategic effort to intimidate them, to deprive them of time and resources, and ultimately to silence them the abuse of process in this case is so blatant that it would be utterly unjust if the court were to allow the proceedings to continue.

The judge rejected arguments that Mr Kellys bad reputation as an IRA man had been legally rehabilitated, saying that on the evidence before him a right-thinking person would therefore have to conclude that Mr Kellys convictions for these offences resulted in him having a bad reputation and that, despite his political service, his reputation was still bad.

The judge also said that if Mr Kelly hadnt published books in which hed boasted about his terrorism, he might have won the case, saying: Without the publication of Mr Kellys books, Dr ODohertys interviews would likely have been found to have been defamatory.
Gardai have searched Ian Baileys home in Co Cork as part of an investigation into the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier.

The body of Ms Toscan du Plantier, a 39-year-old French producer, was found badly beaten outside her holiday home in Schull, West Cork, in December 1996.

On Friday, gardai searched a home in Bantry, Co Cork, as part of their probe into Ms Toscan du Plantiers death.

In a statement, a garda spokesman said: As part of the ongoing investigation into the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier in 1996, gardai conducted a search under warrant of a residential property in Bantry, County Cork earlier today.

A funeral for Mr Bailey, the main suspect in the case, was held on Tuesday following his death on Sunday.

He had been convicted of her murder in his absence by a Paris court in May 2019, which imposed a 25-year sentence.

He had no legal representation, did not attend the court and described it as a farce at the time.

In October 2020, the High Court in Ireland rejected an attempt by French authorities to extradite Mr Bailey for the murder.

The court ruled that he would not be surrendered to France after a European Arrest Warrant was issued in 2019.

The death of Mr Bailey, was announced on Sunday. He had a severe heart condition and had been a candidate for surgery.

He had always vehemently denied any involvement in Ms Toscan du Plantiers death.

Her son Pierre-Louis Baudey-Vignaud said his family is continuing efforts for truth and justice.

Earlier this week, he said: An investigation is still under way in Ireland and we are confident that the discovery of new evidence, the hearing of new witnesses, and the revelation of possible complicity will enable Irish police to close the case, finally, 27 years after my mothers murder.
People during an anti-Ulez protest in Trafalgar Square (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Protesters have gathered in Trafalgar Square demanding an end to Londons ultra-low emission zone (Ulez).

Demonstrators wearing yellow high-vis jackets gathered along the road near Nelsons Column in central London and urged passing motorists to honk if you hate Ulez.

Drivers of passing vehicles including cars, motorbikes, black cabs and buses obliged by beeping their horns.

A woman blows a whistle during the protest in central London (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan extended the zone from within the North and South Circular roads to cover all London boroughs from August 29 last year.

Vehicles used in the Ulez area that do not meet minimum emissions standards are liable for a 12.50 daily fee.

Figures released by TfL in October showed around 60,000 vehicle owners a day were paying the charge.

Much of the protesters anger was directed towards Mr Khan.

Messages written on placards included stop the toxic air lie, Stop the khanage, and beware, youre on khandid camera.

(PA Graphics)

Net zero is a war on humanity, another sign read.

Protester Terry Burt, from Biggin Hill, claimed Ulez was the worst thing to happen to London since the Blitz.

The 69-year-old retiree was holding a placard featuring a picture of Mr Khan with liar written on his forehead.

Mr Burt told the PA news agency: Normal people who need a vehicle to go to work cant afford to buy one.

All my cars are compliant. Its me thats not compliant.

Protester Terry Burt (George Lithgow/PA)

I spoke to a lady just the other day she was in tears. She bought a car with her husband, a diesel.

It was non-compliant. Her son needed to go to hospital every day. She couldnt afford the 12.50. Thats the sort of people its affecting.

Mr Burt, who lives 500 metres from the edge of the zone, said he regularly stops new Ulez infrastructure from being installed in his area by holding a protest.

We just stand there and protest, and because were protesting, under health and safety rules they cant install the cameras, he said.

We resist it in every in every way.

Classic vehicles joined the protest (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Khan has basically lied through his teeth to say that the air quality is improved.

Maybe in inner London, I can understand that, but not outer London, there is beautiful countryside where I live.

Theyll charge everybody, so if you think youre compliant now, look out, theyll be coming to you in the future.

Also at the protest was Piers Corbyn  the brother of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn  who arrived in a blue 1995 Vauxhall Cavalier with Ulez, cant pay! Wont pay! written on it.

Reform UK London mayoral candidate Howard Cox, who is challenging Mr Khan in the May local elections, described the low-emission scheme as unnecessary.

Reform UK London mayoral candidate Howard Cox at the protest (George Lithgow/PA)

He told the PA news agency at the protest: Good, decent, honest, taxpaying, hardworking people are being impacted by Ulez.

Its such a sad thing because we do not need Ulez. Science proves we dont need it.

Stop picking on the motorists, theyre the commercial heartbeat of the economy.

Asked if the scheme had affected him personally, Mr Cox said: Ive got a compliant vehicle. So Im OK. But thats not the point.

Im bombarded by people like plumbers and sole traders, people like that who cant afford to change.

The 2,000 scrappage scheme doesnt touch the sides.

Electric vehicles are even more expensive. Theyre not necessary as green as people think from cradle-to-grave production.

Londoners with vehicles that fall foul of emission standards can claim up to 2,000 when their non-compliant vehicles are scrapped.
Palestinians look at the destruction after an Israeli strike in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip (Fatima Shbair/AP)

The UK will suspend support for the UNs relief agency in Gaza over claims made by Israel that UNRWA members were involved in Hamass October 7 attack.

The Foreign Office said it was temporarily pausing any future funding of (United Nations Relief and Works Agency) while it reviews concerning allegations about the agency.

It comes after the UNRWA said it had sacked a number of its staff in Gaza suspected of taking part in the October 7 attack by Hamas and other militants on southern Israel.

Palestinians try to extinguish a fire at a UNRWA vocational training centre which displaced people use as a shelter in Khan Younis (Ramez Habboub/AP)

The Foreign Office said in a statement: The UK is appalled by allegations that UNRWA staff were involved in the October 7 attack against Israel, a heinous act of terrorism that the UK Government has repeatedly condemned.

The UK is temporarily pausing any future funding of UNRWA whilst we review these concerning allegations.

We remain committed to getting humanitarian aid to the people in Gaza who desperately need it.

The relief agency has played a key role in providing aid for the enclaves population amid the humanitarian disaster caused by Israels offensive in the wake of the assault.

UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said it terminated contracts with several employees and ordered an investigation after Israel provided information alleging they played a role in the attack.

We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content

The UK follows the US  the agencys biggest donor  Australia, Italy and Canada in temporarily pausing funding.

The US state department said allegations had been made against 12 employees.

UNRWA has 13,000 staff in Gaza, almost all of them Palestinians, ranging from teachers in schools that the agency runs, to doctors, medical staff and aid workers.

Since the war began, Israel retaliation has killed more than 26,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and left more than 64,400 wounded, according to the territorys Hamas-run health ministry.

In its October 7 attack, Hamas broke through the security fence surrounding Gaza and stormed nearby Israeli communities, killing about 1,200 people and kidnapping some 250.
The front pages for Saturday cover various topics, with several papers leading with the Kings hospital stay.

The Daily Express, the Daily Mail and The Sun all lead with Charles undergoing a procedure for an enlarged prostate.

We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content

We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content

We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content

The i splashes with a story on British spycraft, with analysts struggling to keep up with the growing threat of Chinese espionage, according to one MI6 boss.

We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content

The Daily Telegraph looks to US-UK military relations for its lead, running a piece on the US relocating its nuclear arms to British RAF bases amid growing fears of a possible conflict with Russia.

We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content

The Times runs with a story on Emma Webber, mother of Valdo Calocanes victim Barnaby Webber, and her call for an inquiry into the Nottingham killings.

We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content

The Independent has called for the unmasking of those funding a plot to topple the Prime Minister.

We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content

Both the Financial Times and The Guardian cast focus abroad, with the International Court of Justice ordering Israel to take action to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza.

We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content

We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content

Moving to sport, the Daily Mirror and the Daily Star splash with Jurgen Klopps announcement he will leave Liverpool.

We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content
Palestinians look at the destruction after an Israeli air strike in Rafah (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

Two women and a man were killed early on Saturday in what witnesses said was an Israeli air strike on a home in the southernmost part of Gaza, as Israel pursued its military offensive against the Palestinian enclave.

The strike came less than a day after the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to do all it can to prevent death, destruction and any acts of genocide in Gaza. As part of its binding ruling, the top United Nations court asked Israel for a compliance report in a month, meaning the militarys conduct will be under increasing scrutiny.

The court stopped short of ordering a ceasefire, but the orders its judges issued were in part a stinging rebuke of the armys conduct so far in Israels nearly four-month-long war against Gazas Hamas rulers. Fridays decision came in a case brought by South Africa, which alleged Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian territorys people, a charge Israel vehemently denies.

The war has killed more than 26,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, destroyed vast swathes of Gaza and displaced nearly 85% of a population of 2.3 million people. It was triggered by an unprecedented Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7 in which militants killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took around 250 hostages.

The overall Palestinian death toll in the war rose to 26,257 as of Saturday, with 174 deaths over the past day, the Health Ministry in Gaza said. The ministry does not distinguish between combatants and civilians in its count, but has said about two-thirds are women and children. It said the total number of wounded surpassed 64,000.

Israel holds Hamas responsible for civilian casualties, saying the militants embed themselves in buildings used by civilians. Israel says its air and ground offensive in Gaza has killed more than 9,000 militants.

Bilal al-Siksik, who lost his wife, a son and a daughter in Saturdays strike in Rafah, a town on Gazas border with Egypt, said the decision by the world court meant little since it did not stop the war.

No one can speak in front of them (Israel). America with all its greatness and strength can do nothing, he said as he stood beside the pile of rubble and twisted metal that was once his home. What can people do, who have no power or anything? He said his family was asleep when their residence was struck.

Rafah and its surrounding areas are crammed with more than one million people after the Israeli military ordered civilians to seek refuge there from the fighting elsewhere in the territory. Despite those orders, the designated evacuation areas have repeatedly come under air strikes, with Israel saying it would go after militants as needed.

Some Gaza residents expressed dismay that the UN court based in The Hague, Netherlands, did not order an immediate end to the fighting as South Africa had requested.

The courts decisions were disappointing to us, Yahya Saadat, who was displaced from the northern city of Beit Hanoun and now lives in the central town of Deir al-Balah, said late on Friday.

We were waiting for the International Court of Justice to issue stricter decisions than that, such as a ceasefire, our return to our homes in the north, and stopping the bloodshed in the Gaza Strip.

Others saw Fridays rulings from a 17-judge panel as a significant, if symbolic, step.

The measures approved by the court are mostly in the interest of the Palestinian people regarding human suffering, violation of international law, and many other issues, said Mazen Muhaisen, who was also sheltering in Deir al-Balah.

The court ruled that Israel must refrain from harming or killing Palestinian civilians while doing all it can to prevent genocide, including punishing anyone who incites others to support the destruction of Gazas people. The judges also ordered Israel to urgently get basic aid to Gaza.

Palestinians look at their neighbours damaged house following an Israeli air strike in Rafah (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

The interim orders did not address the substance of the case  the genocide allegations  and a final ruling is expected to take years.

Although the provisional measures issued on Friday are legally binding, it is unclear if Israel will comply. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to move ahead with the war, saying the fact that the court did throw out the genocide charges was a mark of shame that will not be erased for generations.

The Israeli military said on Saturday it had conducted several targeted raids on terror targets in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, killing numerous terrorists. It did not mention Rafah.

The United States, Israels closest ally, has strongly supported the offensive but has increasingly called for restraint and for more humanitarian aid to be allowed into Gaza.

Almost four months after the Hamas attack in southern Israel, dozens of hostages remain captive in Gaza. More than 100 were released in a swap for Palestinian prisoners during a week-long ceasefire in November, and an unspecified number of the remaining 136 hostages are believed to have been killed.

US President Joe Biden spoke with his Egyptian and Qatari counterparts on Friday ahead of a trip by his CIA director that is intended to seek progress towards a deal to secure the release of more hostages in exchange for a pause in the fighting.

Hamas has said it will only release the hostages in exchange for an end to the war and the release of large numbers of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
A man put to death using nitrogen gas shook and convulsed for minutes on the gurney as Alabama carried out a first-of-its-kind execution.

Breathing through a nitrogen-filled face mask that deprived him of oxygen, 58-year-old convicted killer Kenneth Eugene Smith convulsed in seizure-like spasms for at least two minutes of the 22-minute execution by nitrogen hypoxia on Thursday.

The force of his movements at times caused the gurney to visibly shake. That was followed by several minutes of gasping breathing until his breath was no longer perceptible.

Smiths supporters expressed alarm at how the execution played out, saying it was the antithesis of the states promise of a quick and painless death. But Alabamas attorney general characterised the execution as textbook during a news conference.

Kenneth Eugene Smith was put to death with nitrogen gas (Alabama Department of Corrections via AP, File)

As of last night, nitrogen hypoxia as a means of execution is no longer an untested method. It is a proven one, Alabama attorney general Steve Marshall said, extending an offer of help for states considering adopting the method.

Asked about Smiths shaking and convulsing on the gurney, Alabama corrections commissioner John Q Hamm said they appeared to be involuntary movements.

That was all expected and was in the side effects that weve seen or researched on nitrogen hypoxia, Mr Hamm said. Nothing was out of the ordinary from what we were expecting.

Mr Marshall said he anticipated Alabama will definitely have more nitrogen hypoxia executions.

More than 40 death row inmates have selected nitrogen as their preferred execution method over lethal injection but did so at a time when the state had not developed nitrogen procedures.

Lawyers for those inmates have asked the court to order Alabama to turn over records and information about Smiths execution. Litigation will almost certainly focus on Smiths convulsions and movements during the execution.

Anti-death penalty signs placed by activists stand along the road heading to Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Alabama (AP Photo/Kim Chandler, File)

The state promised the world the most humane method of execution known to man. Instead, Mr Smith writhed and thrashed before he died. No further executions should take place by this method until the events of this evening are examined by an independent body, assistant federal defender John Palombi, who represents death row inmates who requested nitrogen, said in a statement.

Smiths spiritual adviser, Rev Jeff Hood, agreed that the execution did not match the state attorney generals prediction that Smith would lose consciousness in seconds followed by death within minutes.

We didnt see somebody go unconscious in 30 seconds. What we saw was minutes of someone struggling for their life, said Mr Hood, who attended the execution.

Dr Philip Nitschke, a euthanasia expert who designed a suicide pod using nitrogen gas and appeared as an expert witness for Smith, said the description of Smiths thrashing matches what he would expect to happen when nitrogen gas is used in a mask and someone holds their breath or takes the smallest possible breaths.

I think this outcome is inevitable if the nitrogen gas is to be used in execution where people do not want to die and will not co-operate, Dr Nitschke said.

Outside the country, the European Union and the UN Human Rights Office expressed regret on Friday over the execution. The 27-nation EU and the Geneva-based UN rights office say the death penalty violates the right to life and does not deter crime.

Smith, who was paid 1,000 dollars to kill an Alabama woman more than 30 years ago, said in a final statement: Tonight Alabama causes humanity to take a step backwards. Im leaving with love, peace and light.

He made the I love you sign with his hands towards family members who were witnesses. Thank you for supporting me. Love, love all of you, Smith said.

Alabama governor Kay Ivey said the execution was justice for the murder-for-hire killing of 45-year-old Elizabeth Sennett in 1988.

After more than 30 years and attempt after attempt to game the system, Mr Smith has answered for his horrendous crimes, Ms Ivey said in a statement. I pray that Elizabeth Sennetts family can receive closure after all these years dealing with that great loss.

Mike Sennett, the victims son, said on Thursday night that Smith had been incarcerated almost twice as long as I knew my mom.

Mike Sennett, son of Elizabeth Sennett, and other family members speak after Kenneth Eugene Smiths execution (AP Photo/Kim Chandler)

Nothing happened here today is going to bring mom back. Its kind of a bittersweet day. We are not going to be jumping around, whooping and holler, hooray and all that, he said. Ill end by saying Elizabeth Dorlene Sennett got her justice tonight.

Alabama had previously attempted to execute Smith in 2022, but the lethal injection was called off at the last minute because authorities could not connect an IV line.

The execution came after a last-minute legal battle in which his lawyers contended the state was making him the test subject for an experimental execution method that could violate the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment. Federal courts rejected Smiths bid to block it, with the final ruling coming on Thursday night from the US Supreme Court.

Liberal justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented.

Having failed to kill Smith on its first attempt, Alabama has selected him as its guinea pig to test a method of execution never attempted before. The world is watching, Ms Sotomayor wrote.

The White House also expressed concern over the execution method, with press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre saying during a media briefing on Friday that reports about Smith and his death were very troubling.

Ms Sennett was found dead in her home on March 18, 1988, with eight stab wounds in the chest and one on each side of her neck. Smith was one of two men convicted in the killing. The other, John Forrest Parker, was executed in 2010.

Prosecutors said they were each paid 1,000 dollars to kill Ms Sennett on behalf of her pastor husband, who was deeply in debt and wanted to collect on insurance. The husband, Charles Sennett Senior, killed himself when the investigation focused on him as a suspect, according to court documents.
Death camp survivors marked the 79th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

A group of survivors of Nazi death camps marked the 79th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp during the Second World War in a modest ceremony on Saturday in southern Poland.

About 20 survivors from various camps set up by Nazi Germany around Europe laid wreaths and flowers and lit candles at the Death Wall in Auschwitz, where the Nazis executed thousands of inmates, mostly Polish resistance members and others.

Later the group, along with state officials and other participants gathered for a ceremony by a brick womens barrack at Birkenau that has recently undergone conservation.

Next, they prayed and lit candles at the monument in Birkenau, near the crematoria ruins.

Holocaust survivors and relatives arrive at the Auschwitz Nazi death camp in Oswiecim, Poland (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

They were remembering about 1.1 million camp victims, mostly Jews. The memorial site and museum are located near the city of Oswiecim.

Observances were also held in many other countries Saturday.

Nearly six million European Jews were killed by the Nazis during the Holocaust  the mass murder of Jews and other groups before and during World War II.

Marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the survivors were accompanied by Polish senate speaker Malgorzata Kidawa-Blonska, culture minister Bartlomiej Sienkiewicz and Israeli ambassador Yacov Livne.

A Holocaust survivor holds a candle while waiting in line to place it next to the Death Wall at Auschwitz (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

The theme of the observances was the human being, symbolised in simple, hand-drawn portraits.

They were meant to stress that the horror of Auschwitz-Birkenau lies in the suffering of people held and killed there.

Holocaust victims were commemorated across Europe.

In Germany, where people put down flowers and lit candles at memorials for the victims of the Nazi terror, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that his country would continue to carry the responsibility for this crime against humanity.

Holocaust survivors and relatives light candles at the Death Wall in the Auschwitz Nazi death camp in Oswiecim, Poland (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

He called on all citizens to defend Germanys democracy and fight antisemitism, as the country marked the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

Never again is every day, Mr Scholz said in his weekly video podcast. January 27 calls out to us: Stay visible! Stay audible! Against antisemitism, against racism, against misanthropy  and for our democracy.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, whose country is fighting to repel Russias full-scale invasion, posted an image of a Jewish menorah on X, formerly known as Twitter, to mark the remembrance day.

Every new generation must learn the truth about the Holocaust. Human life must remain the highest value for all nations in the world, said Zelensky, who is Jewish and has lost relatives in the Holocaust.

Eternal memory to all Holocaust victims, Zelenskyy tweeted.

In Italy, Holocaust commemorations included a torchlit procession alongside official statements from top political leaders.

Italian premier Giorgia Meloni said that her conservative nationalist government was committed to eradicating antisemitism that she said had been reinvigorated amid the Israel-Hamas war.

Ms Melonis critics have long accused her and her Brothers of Italy party, which has neo-fascist roots, of failing to sufficiently atone for its past.

Later on Saturday, leftist movements planned a torchlit procession to remember all victims of the Holocaust  Jews but also Roma, homosexuals and political dissidents who were deported or exterminated in Nazi camps.

Police were also on alert after pro-Palestinian activists indicated that they would ignore a police order and go ahead with a rally planned to coincide with the Holocaust commemorations.

Italys Jewish community has complained that such protests have become occasions for the memory of the Holocaust to be co-opted by anti-Israel forces and used against Jews.

The Nazis, who occupied Poland from 1939-1945, at first used old Austrian military barracks at Auschwitz as a concentration and death camp for Polands resistance fighters.

In 1942, the wooden barracks, gas chambers and crematoria of Birkenau were added for the extermination of Europes Jews, Roma and other nationals, as well as Russian prisoners of war.

Soviet Red Army troops liberated Auschwitz-Birkenau and the surviving inmates on January 27 1945.

Since 1979, the Auschwitz-Birkenau site has been on the Unesco list for sites of World Heritage.
Syrian man fled to Northern Ireland after his country descended into a brutal civil war

Ali at his home in Northern Ireland (Photo by Kevin Scott)

Alis cat Rocky slinks along the windowsill. Behind him, the window looks out onto a quiet, residential street. Storm Jocelyns approach is just starting to move the bushes in the garden.

He hands me his phone to look at a photograph. A young couple. Three smiling children. The man in the picture is his son Zayan.

Ali (55) hasnt seen his son in almost 13 years, and that wait could become interminable soon.

Both names are pseudonyms, chosen to protect their safety; they are still fearful of reprisals in the Middle East.

Zayan (29) is facing deportation from Lebanon  where he and his family currently live  back to their native Syria after he was given 28 days notice to leave. He has less than three weeks left.

Thousands of miles away in Northern Ireland, his father is a world away from the horror that began to unfold in his home city of Homs in 2011.

Inspired by the so-called Arab Spring risings that swept across Middle East, Syrian youths in Daraa scrawled graffiti criticising Bashar al-Assads regime on the wall.

They were arrested, held and tortured, prompting a wave of protest that drew a military backlash and the country descended into civil war.

The country had begun its descent into lawlessness.

Civil war erupted in Syria after the Arab Spring of 2011

"Everything was normal until the revolution started, Ali told the Belfast Telegraph.

"It was like an earthquake. People got mad, got crazy. I always think that violence affected these people and turned them into monsters, or devils.

"There was an army checkpoint close to my home. There were clashes and bombing from evening until morning

"I moved my family to the town where my wifes family were, because around my home began to get very dangerous.

By 2012, opposition groups had formed rebel brigades to seize cities in the north.

Lebanons Hezbollah would openly deploy fighters in 2013 to supress the uprising, while Iran dispatched military advisors to prop up the al-Assad government.

As the situation worsened, Ali sent his family to Lebanon, promising he would follow soon, but he would not see his family for another four years.

Militias surrounded the town and laid siege to it, with only sporadic United Nations aid being allowed in.

"I never thought I would live the way we lived. Groups of armed people started to defend their families, said Ali.

"Every town, guys started to carry guns to defend themselves and their families because they knew that when the regime entered the town, they would rape, steal and kill.

"People would rather die than face the torturing. You saw pictures of people in prison without eyes, without nails.

Ali at his home in Northern Ireland (Photo by Kevin Scott)

Ali said the cries of hunger from sick, traumatised children continue to haunt him to this day.

"We had little food, no medicine. There were 120,000 people in the town. Every few months the UN was entering with some cars of food, but there wasnt enough, he said.

"I did not think I would survive the bombing at night. The shooting, the snipers. The planes. Barrel bombings.

"For four years, I always felt hungry. I will never forget the weeping of the children and the kids because of the fear and hunger. I still hear them now when I am alone. I can hear their voices and their weeping from the hunger.

"There are pictures stuck in my mind. A child of six or seven years old licking a photograph of a pizza on a wall.

"The restaurant was closed, but because of the hunger he was licking this picture. Children were knocking my door and saying they were hungry."

After four years, the siege was eventually lifted after negotiations between the UN, the al-Assad regime and representatives of the town.

Ali boarded a UN convoy bound for Idlib, close to the border with Turkey, which he crossed safely two days later.

Syrian president Bashar al-Assad

His thoughts turned immediately to his family, but it would be a further three years of agony until he laid eyes on them again.

Ali struggled to bring his family to Turkey with him, eventually finding some success through the UN and ultimately, the UK Government.

A third country resettlement was agreed; that country was Northern Ireland. Ali remembers the date clearly.

"We arrived here on February 7 2019. I left Turkey that morning and my wife and children came after me about two hours later, he said.

"I met them at the airport; it was like a dream. When I saw them, I realised then that the most beautiful moments in my life had been lost.

"I didnt see my children grow up. My wife was very sick and my other son (Zayan) could not come.

That moment is now five years ago.

Unaware of a new law preventing Syrians from working Lebanon, Zayan was working in a clothing shop, still trying to raise money to support his young family.

His papers were seized, leaving his future in limbo. The documents were later returned, but along with a 28-day notice to leave Lebanon.

Ali said the news was akin to a death sentence.

"I am sure that if the government send them back, the regime will kill them. Most of my family is in opposition [to Assad], he said.

"I cant explain how scared we are. My wife and I are always crying. When anyone from the family sends a message on WhatsApp and it is not received, it is a terrible feeling.

"We are always worried until he replies on the message. His daughter is seven years old now. When he goes out to buy food she hugs him tight and says: Please father, dont go anywhere, I am afraid.

Ali said he could not bring up his family in an environment with such violence

"Many times I have prayed to God to take me. I cant stand any more. I just want to see my son and his family in a safe place.

NI activist and ex-Army Reservist Colette Ansell has been helping with Alis efforts to reunite his family.

There are people out there who have the power to speed up the process of reuniting this incredible family and others just like them here in NI, she said.

"It makes me incredibly angry that the family would not have got the help they deserve if Id not met Ali and listened to his story.

"There are NI-based organisations who help refugee, asylum seeker and migrant families, but they are facing huge budget cuts if they can operate at all. I will continue to support the family for as long as Im needed.

"Zayan, his wife and children have been through so much and have never been safe where they are; if they have to return to a war-torn country their safety will never be guaranteed.

Activist Colette Ansell

Zayan has completed an initial resettlement interview with the UN, who are aware he has family in the UK.

Ali is praying he will be called for a second interview before time runs out on his time in Lebanon.

He wants nothing more than to see the family united in Northern Ireland, somewhere he now calls home.

"Here, no one calls my son a refugee. Here, they dont believe we are strangers or unwanted people at all. Here, my family dont sleep in parks because they havent money. Here, my family didnt go hungry, he said.

"Everything I wanted  to see my wife and children happy  is here. The only thing I need now is to see my son before I die, or before my wife dies.

"I havent seen him for 13 years. I have never met his wife or his children yet. I want to watch my grandchildren grow up in this community, to be safe here.

"We have found here everything we lost in our country before; safety, love, humanity. This country is my home.

"I feel safe and happy here; I feel human.
Thousands of people are marching in cities and towns across Kenya during protests over the recent killings of more than a dozen women.

The anti-femicide demonstration was the largest event ever held in the country against sexual and gender-based violence.

In the nations capital, Nairobi, protesters wore T-shirts printed with the names of women who became homicide victims this month. The crowd, made up mostly of women, brought traffic to a standstill.

Stop killing us! the demonstrators shouted as they waved signs with messages such as There is no justification to kill women.Women in Kenya march against the rising cases of femicide (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

The crowd in Nairobi was hostile to attempts by the parliamentary representative for women, Esther Passaris, to address them. Accusing Ms Passaris of remaining silent during the latest wave of killings, protesters shouted her down with chants of Where were you? and Go home!

A country is judged by not how well it treats its rich people but how well it takes care of the weak and vulnerable, Law Society of Kenya president Eric Theuri, who was among the demonstrators, said.

Kenyan media outlets have reported the killings of at least 14 women since the start of the year, according to Patricia Andago, a data journalist at media and research firm Odipo Dev who also took part in the march.

Odipo Dev reported this week that news accounts showed at least 500 women were killed in acts of femicide from January 2016 to December 2023. Many more cases go unreported, Ms Andago said.

Two cases that gripped Kenya this month involved two women who were killed at Airbnb accommodations. The second victim was a university student who was dismembered and decapitated after she was reportedly kidnapped for ransom.

A protester holds a Kenyan flag during a procession to protest against the rising cases of femicide in Nairobi (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

The Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology students head was found in a dam on Monday, a week after her dismembered body was found in a bin at the rented home. Two Nigerian men were arrested in connection with her death.

A week earlier, the body of another young woman was found in a flat with several stab wounds after she went there with a man she met online. Police are holding a suspect identified as John Matara. Several women have come forward to say they had previously told police about alleged acts of torture by Matara but he was never charged.

Mr Theuri said cases of gender-based violence take too long to be heard in court, which he thinks emboldens perpetrators to commit crimes against women.

As we speak right now, we have a shortage of about 100 judges. We have a shortage of 200 magistrates and adjudicators, and so that means that the wheel of justice grinds slowly as a result of inadequate provisions of resources, he said.
Former US president Donald Trump has been ordered to pay a columnist more than 80 million dollars (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

A jury has awarded an additional 83.3 million US dollars (65.5 million) to former columnist E Jean Carroll, who says former president Donald Trump damaged her reputation by calling her a liar after she accused him of sexual assault.

Fridays verdict was the second time in nine months that a jury addressed Ms Carrolls claim that Mr Trump assaulted her in a New York City department store in 1996.

Another jury last May found Mr Trump liable for sexual abuse and ordered him to pay 5.0 million dollars.

Ms Carroll smiled as the verdict was read. By then, Mr Trump had left the building in his motorcade.

A courtroom sketch shows the moment that Donald Trump walked out of court (Elizabeth Williams via AP)

Absolutely ridiculous! he said in a statement shortly after the verdict was announced. He vowed to appeal.

Our legal system is out of control, and being used as a political weapon, he said.

This defamation trial was over things Mr Trump said about Ms Carroll while he was president.

Mr Trump continues to insist he was falsely accused.

The verdict was delivered on Friday by a seven-man, two-woman jury in a trial regularly attended by Mr Trump, who abruptly left the courtroom on Friday during closing arguments by a Carroll lawyer before returning to hear his own lawyers closing and the full rebuttal argument by another Carroll attorney.

Alina Habba, one of ex-president Donald Trumps attorneys, arrives at Trump Tower ahead of his trial (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

He stayed in place to hear the judges instructions to the jury as well.

It was the second time in nine months that a jury returned a verdict related to Ms Carrolls claim that a flirtatious, chance encounter with Mr Trump in 1996 at a Bergdorf Goodman store ended violently. She said Mr Trump slammed her against a dressing room wall and forced himself on her.

In May, a different jury awarded Carroll 5.0 million US dollars (3.93 million). It found Mr Trump not liable for rape, but responsible for sexually abusing Ms Carroll and then defaming her by claiming she made it up. He is appealing that award.

Mr Trump skipped the first trial. He later expressed regret for not attending and insisted on testifying in the second trial, though the judge limited what he could say, ruling he had missed his chance to argue that he was innocent.

He spent only a few minutes on the witness stand on Thursday, during which he denied attacking Ms Carroll, then left court grumbling this is not America.

Donald Trump leaves his apartment building in New York before the trial (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

This new jury was only asked how much Mr Trump, 77, should pay Carroll, Ms 80, for two statements he made as president when he answered reporters questions after excerpts of Ms Carrolls memoir were published in a magazine  damages that could not be decided earlier because of legal appeals. Jurors were not asked to re-decide the issue of whether the sex attack actually happened.

Ms Carrolls attorneys had requested 24 million dollars (18.8million) in compensatory damages and an unusually high punitive award.

Her lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, urged jurors in her closing argument on Friday to punish Mr Trump enough that he would stop a steady stream of public statements smearing Ms Carroll as a liar and a whack job.

Trump shook his head vigorously as Ms Kaplan spoke, then suddenly stood and walked out, taking Secret Service agents with him. His exit came only minutes after the judge, without the jury present, threatened to send Mr Trumps attorney Alina Habba to jail for continuing to talk when he told her she was finished.

You are on the verge of spending some time in the lock-up. Now sit down, the judge told Ms Habba, who immediately complied.

A courtroom sketch shows E Jean Carrolls attorney Roberta Kaplan giving her summation to the jury (Elizabeth Williams via AP)

The trial reached its conclusion as Mr Trump marches toward winning the Republican presidential nomination a third consecutive time. He has sought to turn his various trials and legal vulnerabilities into an advantage, portraying them as evidence of a weaponised political system.

Though theres no evidence that President Joe Biden or anyone in the White House has influenced any of the legal cases against him, Mr Trumps line of argument has resonated with his most loyal supporters who view the proceedings with scepticism.

Ms Carroll testified early in the trial that Mr Trumps public statements had led to death threats.

He shattered my reputation, she said. I am here to get my reputation back and to stop him from telling lies about me.

She said she had had an electronic fence installed around the cabin in upstate New York where she lives, warned neighbours of the threats and bought bullets for a gun she keeps by her bed.

Previously, I was known as simply as a journalist and had a column, and now Im known as the liar, the fraud, and the whack job, Ms Carroll testified.

Trumps lawyer, Ms Habba, told jurors that Ms Carroll had been enriched by her accusations against Mr Trump and achieved fame she had craved. She said no damages were warranted.

When Trump finally testified, Judge Kaplan gave him little room to manoeuvre, because Mr Trump could not be permitted to try to revive issues settled in the first trial.

It is a very well-established legal principle in this country that prevents do-overs by disappointed litigants, Judge Kaplan said.

He lost it and he is bound. And the jury will be instructed that, regardless of what he says in court here today, he did it, as far as theyre concerned. That is the law, Judge Kaplan said shortly before Trump testified.

After he swore to tell the truth, Mr Trump was asked if he stood by a deposition in which he called Ms Carroll a liar and a whack job. He answered: 100 percent. Yes.

Asked if he denied the allegation because Ms Carroll made an accusation, he responded: Thats exactly right. She said something, I consider it a false accusation.

Asked if he ever instructed anyone to hurt Ms Carroll, he said: No. I just wanted to defend myself, my family, and frankly, the presidency.

The judge ordered the jury to disregard the false accusation comment and everything Mr Trump said after No to the last question.

Earlier in the trial, Mr Trump tested the judges tolerance. When he complained to his lawyers about a witch hunt and a con job within earshot of jurors, Judge Kaplan threatened to eject him from the courtroom if it happened again.

I would love it, Mr Trump said. Later that day, Mr Trump told a news conference that Judge Kaplan was a nasty judge.
Atten-shun! Your country needs you. General Sir Patrick Sanders, head of the British Army, has called this week for the general public to be placed on a war footing and ready to deploy in the event of Mr Putin setting his sights on further Western expansion.

The General, who has decried defence cuts, believes that, to keep Vlad in his box, the armed forces will need to be supplemented by a citizen army. He wants civilians to think more like troops. Hes talking about national mobilisation, otherwise known as conscription or national service. Needless to say, this outburst has put the cat among the pacifists.
Jeffrey Donaldsons in too deep to back away from deal  but hes acutely vulnerable

Those familiar with the DUPs Irish Sea border deal with the Government say it doesnt meet their tests  and Jeffrey Donaldsons refusal to let many colleagues study the deal has bred suspicion.

Jim Allister, Lord Dodds, Sammy Wilson and Jamie Bryson depicted watching on as Sir Jeffrey Donaldson walks towards Stormont and Chris Heaton-Harris Cartoon by Brian John Spencer

Sam McBride Sat 27 Jan 2024 at 08:00

A fortnight before Christmas, a senior unionist rang about the DUPs talks with the Government. At the end of the conversation, the individual said of the proposed deal on the Irish Sea border: I do think if this goes through that its the end.
Could Mary Lou McDonald's immigration choices derail Sinn Fein's general election in the Republic of Ireland?

Immigration has become a big issue in Irish politics in a short space of time, joining housing as the topic that dominates political discussions on doorsteps, at pub counters and in kitchens.

It has triggered divisions in all three of the Republic of Ireland's biggest parties, including Sinn Fein.

With the local and European elections looming, and a real possibility of an autumn general election, the stakes are as high as ever for the leading parties.

In this podcast episode, Tabitha Monahan is joined by the Irish Independent's Gabija Gataveckaite and John Downing to discuss where Mary Lou McDonald and her party stand on the issue of the moment. Might they be forced to move right?
A Co Down man is to go on trial on Valentines Day accused of breaching his brothers non-molestation order.

James Wightman was charged with causing criminal damage to clocking cards, which belonged to his brother Ronald, and with breaching the order on August 23 last year.

The 63-year-old, from Dunmore Road in Ballynahinch, appeared at Downpatrick Magistrates Court on Thursday.

The court was told Wightman, who runs a digger scrap yard from his home, will be contesting the charges and will require the alleged victim and a second man to testify at the contest.

District Judge Amanda Brady scheduled the hearing for February 14, with the case up for review the week before that.

Its not the first time James Wightman has been in Downpatrick courthouse facing charges.

In April 2015, he had to hand over more than 100,000 as a result of waste management offences at his scrap yard.

Fined 12,000 and ordered to hand over 96,563 by way of confiscation proceedings, Wightman had admitted two breaches of waste management legislation.

Those offences arose when investigators twice visited the yard in 2010 and 2012 and found substantial quantities of controlled waste in the form of end-of-life plant and machinery.
Dissident arrested over pub threats is a badger baiter with lifetime animal bans

New IRA accused (30) twice convicted of cruelty offences

Michael Conwell

Ciaran Barnes and Paul Higgins Sat 27 Jan 2024 at 15:37

A dissident republican charged in connection with a New IRA show of strength is a convicted badger baiter.
Nine school friends living in three different countries have succeeded in walking to Brussels to raise money for suicide awareness this month.

The aim at the turn of the year was to walk a minimum of 10,000 steps each, every day in the month of January.

With just four days to go, the group is well ahead of schedule and on course to raise more than 5,000 for the charities PIPS, Lighthouse and The Samaritans.

The nine men are all former Our Lady and St Patricks College, Knock students and have remained friends since leaving school almost 40 years ago.

Seven of the nine still live in Northern Ireland but one, Jonny Naylor, is in New Zealand and another, Michael Greene, lives in Brussels.

Nevertheless, the eager striders are united in taking on the elements as well as the challenge in a month that has witnessed an Arctic blast and two storms in the Northern Hemisphere and blazing sunshine Down Under.

Holywood-born translater Michael Greene freezing in Brussels

Suicide is a tragedy that has visited many families in Northern Ireland, and we wanted to do something to help, said organiser Barra O hEireamhoin, who lives in Ballinderry.

The nine of us have remained friends since leaving school in the 80s, we meet up regularly for social and other occasions, and we decided to take on a walking challenge to raise some money for suicide awareness and prevention.

We worked out that if we each walked 7,200 steps a day, every day, wherever we are, that would be the equivalent of walking from Belfast to Brussels, where Mickey is, and back.

We did set a target of 10,000 steps each and we managed to hit our target of 1,000 miles quite early on, such was the commitment of the group.

Jonny Naylor in the heat of Christchurch, NZ

Some of the guys have really excelled themselves, putting in 20,000-plus steps every day, sometimes hitting over 30,000 steps a day. Thats about 15 miles.

Barry (McCrory), who was always an athlete at school, is leading our posse by a distance and is hurtling towards half-a-million steps in the month on his own.

All the guys have responded in kind and really bought into the challenge, and people have been very generous in supporting the charities we are trying to raise money for.

Starting out, we thought we might be lucky to raise 2,000 but, thanks to all the kind donations we are heading towards the 5,000 mark with a few days still to go.

Organiser Barra O hEireamhoin walking the icy roads of Ballinderry

It hasnt been easy for everyone every day, and in our WhatsApp group we have been sharing tips on soothing aching muscles, stretching and what footwear to use.

It has been great for us because, although tiring, it blows the cobwebs away after Christmas and we are all sleeping like logs every night.

Donations to PIPS, The Samaritans and Lighthouse can be made via the groups GoFundMe page.
In this photo reviewed by U.S. military officials, the sun sets as seen from Camp Justice in Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where military commission proceedings are held for detainees charged with war crimes, Aug. 29, 2021.

UPDATED at 12:07 a.m. ET on 2024-01-27

A U.S. military judge ruled Friday that two Malaysians linked to the 2002 Bali bombings are to serve about five more years in prison in addition to the two decades they have been detained.

The announcement at the military court in Guantanamo Bay came shortly after a panel of military officers recommended 23-year sentences for the pair, who last week pleaded guilty to supporting roles in Indonesias worst-ever terror attack that left 202 people dead.

The lighter punishment reflects terms of a plea deal struck late last year, details of which were revealed in Judge Wesley Brauns announcement Friday.

The five-member panel deliberated for about two hours after hearing final statements, including from a prosecutor who spoke for relatives of victims, more than a dozen of whom were present.

They came here for justice. After all these years they still believe in justice, chief prosecutor Col. George C. Kraehe said.

On Friday night, it remained unclear whether Mohammed Farik Bin Amin and Mohammed Nazir Bin Lep would complete their sentences at the U.S. Navy base in Cuba or elsewhere. Kraehe did not immediately respond to a question about this from BenarNews.

The two defendants and the relatives of their victims showed no emotion as the panel issued its recommendation inside the nondescript building that houses the military court, or moments later when the judge handed down his ruling.

The two men have been incarcerated at Guantanamo since they were flown here 17 years ago from a CIA black site overseas, and it was only in August 2021 that they finally got their first day in court here.

Bin Lep and bin Amin made statements on Thursday that their hearts had changed during more than 20 years in custody  first in Thailand following their 2003 arrests, then at a CIA black site before arriving at the base in Cuba in 2006.

The two wore Islamic garb earlier in the week but appeared in court on Friday in blazers and button-down shirts. Their sentences take effect from last week, when Braun, a U.S. Air Force officer, accepted their guilty pleas.

People gather for prayers at a memorial for victims of the 2002 Bali bombings, during the 20th anniversary of the blasts that killed 202 people, in Kuta, Bali, Indonesia, Oct. 12, 2022. [Sonny Tumbelaka/AFP]





Delivering the prosecutions closing arguments Friday, Kraehe said he spoke for the victims families  those watching in the hearing room and thousands of others who could not attend.

Their hearts are forever broken, he said.

Addressing the defendants claims that they were tortured under the American governments Rendition, Detention and Interrogation (RDI) policy, Kraehe said that occurred years ago. They have been treated humanely at Guantanamo, he said, telling the panel members that they were not tasked with judging the RDI policy.

Our task is to give the victims justice, he said. The accused are not the victims here.

Kraehe told of how bin Amin and bin Lep had heeded Osama bin Ladens call in the 1990s. They headed to Afghanistan in 2000, trained to participate in violent jihad and swore an oath to bin Laden after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

This is what they wanted, what they trained for, Kraehe said.

During that time, the pair met Indonesian Encep Nurjaman (also known as Hambali), the suspected main planner of the 2002 Bali bombings. Their cases were separated in 2023, with Hambalis lawyer saying that his client did not expect to be given a similar plea deal.

Attorney Brian Bouffard (left), accompanied by U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Aaron Shephard and U.S. Air Force Maj. Jason Cordova, speaks with reporters after the second day of an arraignment hearing for his client, Mohammed bin Lep, in Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Aug. 31, 2021. [Alex Brandon/AP]

Last week, bin Amin and bin Lep pleaded guilty to murder, conspiracy and three other charges.

Christine Funk, the lead attorney for bin Amin, said the worst thing he ever did was take money in December 2002  two months after the Oct. 12 bombings  to hide conspirators. That conspiracy led to the pleas on murder and four other charges.

You become responsible for everyones actions, she said.

She acknowledged the victims suffering while pleading her case for bin Amin.

Because we believe the pain of the victims can co-exist with the rights of the defendant, she told the panel.

Funk, who wears a headscarf in court in deference to her Muslim client, discussed the torture he claims he was subjected to following his arrest in Thailand and during his time at the CIA black site. She used a few of his sketches presented in court on Thursday to show torture, including waterboarding.

She also released details from a report by expert Hawthorne Smith, who has worked with survivors of torture and human rights abuses for nearly three decades. He found bin Amin suffered from complex PTSD.

[H]e indicates that Mr. bin Amin has endured symptoms of re-experiencing, such as trauma-related nightmares, sometimes three to four times a week; insomnia and other sleep disturbances; and intrusive thoughts, Funk said.

A detainee is led by military police to be interrogated at Camp X-Ray, at the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Feb. 6, 2002. [Lynne Sladky/AP file photo]

She spoke about bin Amins effort to change and the possibility that he be rehabilitated.

Bin Lep attorney Brian Bouffard told the court that his client did provide support to bombing conspirators and has taken responsibility for his actions.

He is not here to call himself a victim, Bouffard said, adding bin Lep is not asking for mercy,

He said bin Lep offered prayers as he listened to the survivors testimony on Wednesday while adding that those efforts changed nothing in terms of the crime.

Bouffard also said that bin Lep had moved past the torture he suffered while in custody and has cooperated with investigators.

In this photo reviewed by U.S. military officials, flags fly at half-staff at Camp Justice in Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba, Aug. 29, 2021. [Alex Brandon/AP]

Brig. Gen. Jackie Thompson, chief counsel for the Military Commissions Defense Council, expressed hope that guilty pleas and subsequent sentencings of bin Amin and bin Lep would bring closure to the victims and their families.

Thompson, who watched the proceedings from the hearing room at the rear of the court, delivered a statement to BenarNews where he noted that the 20-year delay in bringing the men to justice was extremely distressing and frustrated the desire of everyone for accountability and justice.

Thompson, who is in charge of the militarys defense attorneys, noted that 30 prisoners remain detained at the Guantanamo Bay prison, including 16 who have been cleared for release or transfer.

The time for repatriating or transferring the cleared men is now, he said in the statement.

A country that respects the rule of law can and should do better than this.
Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

Light snow this morning will give way to snow showers this afternoon. Temps nearly steady in the upper 30s. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 60%..

Tonight

Variably cloudy with snow showers. Low 28F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 50%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.
BENNINGTON  Benningtons much-loved K-9 Officer Gracie is about to get a new furry sibling.

The Bennington Police Department kicked off a fundraiser Friday to raise $15,000 to purchase and train a brand-new four-legged officer. The new police dog  expected to be a Labrador Retriever  will partner with Gracie to serve the community during law enforcement, search and rescue operations, mental health crises, and community outreach.

We think this is the right timing for us, said Bennington Police Chief Paul Doucette. Weve had a lot of violent crime in Bennington in 2021 through 2022. We were able to push back against that and make Bennington a safer community in 2023. We hope to be able to continue doing that. Part of that involves another canine team.

Doucette emphasized that the new canine will be part of Benningtons already established K-9 program, not a replacement. Gracie, the 7-year-old German Shepherd, has been a Bennington K-9 officer since 2017. Gracie and her current handler, Officer Robert Murawski, will be staying on for at least the next year to two. A new handler will be assigned to the newest four-legged member from inside the department.

Doucette had special praise for Gracie and her job as a Bennington K-9 officer. However, he feels that the community can benefit from the temperament of a Labrador Retriever like Moose  the Manchester Police Departments K-9.

Gracies done some incredible work here in the town of Bennington and for other agencies, Doucette said. She will be missed when she retires within the next two years, but I try not to think about that as the police chief because  quite honestly  Gracie is part of our team here. And we would not be as successful as we have been without her.

"We are planning for a new German Shepherd puppy when that time does come, but our next dog will be a Lab. There are a lot of reasons for that. Although Gracie is very friendly and works well in a crowd, Labs can also be comfort dogs. When you put the collar or a particular leash on, they know it's time to go to work tracking or finding evidence. It's going to be a dual-purpose dog for us.

It's about tracking people, finding evidence, looking for missing people, and at the same time being able to go into a school setting or a nursing home, taking that collar off and just letting the dog work the room, Doucette said. I've seen Manchester Police Departments K-9 Moose in action. When he goes into a school with the kids, you take the collar off, and all they want to do is pet the dog. I've seen Moose lay on the floor and just let all the kids touch him and all four legs are up in the air, you know. But when the handler speaks to Moose, he snaps to it and will come and sit right next to the handler and do what he needs.

There are quite a few people in our community that have mental health issues that can sometimes wander off, Doucette said. Having a second canine to track off of a scent would help find those people. We occasionally have people walk off from the Vermont Veterans Home. Having a Labrador Retriever that can help will go a long way in creating a bond for the community and the Police Department.

According to Doucette, the fundraiser was recently green lighted by the Bennington Select Board in hopes the community can come together to bring the new dog into the fold by this spring. There are even plans for a naming contest with local schoolchildren.

We're hoping we can do something similar to what Manchester did, Doucette said. We have several elementary schools here, and we would like to bring the dog to the local elementary schools, just introduce the kids to the Lab, and have some type of contest where the community will name the dog. We want the community involved in this. One of the ways we can do that is by having the youth in the community help us pick a name.

Doucette says the goal is to raise $15,000 by April 1. The funds will be used to purchase the puppy and pay for the care, accommodation, and training needed to become a K-9 officer. Doucette says these dogs run anywhere from $900 to $3,000. They are looking anywhere from local breeders to a well-known breeder down in Alabama who has had much success with police dogs.

Also included in the costs is a reserve for veterinarian visits, obedience training to start, and funds for training the dog at the Vermont Police Academy. One of the police cruisers will have to be fit for the dog with a kennel, a bowl for water that won't tip over, special fans, and equipment that the K-9 handler will need.

We sat down and we made a list, Doucette said. We think that we can do it for right around $15,000. And that's our ask."

Doucette said several local businesses have already contacted him about the fundraiser, including the local chapter of the VFW, Post 1332, who have pledged $7,500 matching funds toward the new dog, half of the total needed.

We want to challenge the community to match our donation of $7,500, said Norm LeBlanc, Post Commander at the VFW. We want to support our community. We are very fortunate that this community supports us, and we just want to pay if forward. A dog like this can go into situations with little kids to calm things down. We need that. They also protect their handlers and the community. Its important for everyone in this community to give when you can, especially for something like this.

I think whether it's a local school, a nursing home, the hospital, it's just that connection you make with a dog, Doucette said. There's nothing like being able to pet a dog, having the dog lick your hand. It's a connection, a bond. Even though this new canine is going to belong to the Police Department, that dog is going to be able to create a bond and a connection between the community and the Police Department. It's something that we need here in Bennington and in law enforcement in general. This is a win for us.

Donations are being accepted in person and by mail via check or cash at the Bennington Police Department, 188 South St., Bennington, VT 05201. Donations are tax deductible.

Web-based donations are currently not available. Check the Bennington Police Departments Facebook page for updates on payment options and fundraising totals.
Former President George W. Bush speaks at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pa., on Sept. 11, 2021, on the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The Associated Press reported on stories circulating online incorrectly claiming a photo shows Bush meeting with Osama Bin Laden.
You have permission to edit this article.

Edit Close
Staff members welcome Chinese tourists at Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok, Thailand, Sept 25, 2023. (Photo: Xinhua)

Global Times--Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin recently announced that Thailand and China will sign a visa exemption agreement. Starting March 1, citizens of Thailand and China can travel between the two countries without a visa, with a maximum stay of 30 days. On Thursday, China and Singapore also signed a mutual visa exemption agreement, which will officially take effect on February 9. As a result, the three countries on the Southeast Asian golden tourist route - Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand - have all exempted Chinese citizens from visa requirements.

It was noticed that in recent months, China has actively promoted a wave of "visa exemptions." So far, China has concluded visa exemption agreements with 157 countries covering different types of passports, simplified visa procedures with 44 countries, and achieved comprehensive mutual visa exemption with 22 countries. In addition, more than 60 countries and regions provide visa-free or visa-on-arrival convenience to Chinese citizens. China's door to the outside world is opening wider and wider, and more and more countries are recognizing the huge opportunities brought by China's opening-up.

There was a time in Chinese society when it was believed that, compared with the passports of China's Hong Kong and Macao regions, and many developed Western countries, the Chinese passport had a notable gap in terms of convenience of travel and international recognition. This is the first layer of basic fact. China is still a developing country, and developed countries generally have stricter visa requirements for passports of developing countries. With the further development of China's economy and the improvement of people's living standards, more and more countries will exempt Chinese citizens from visas, the "value" of Chinese passports will continue to rise. This is the second layer of fact and the future trend.

In the past few months, China has implemented a unilateral visa-free policy for countries such as France, Germany and Italy, with the aim of further facilitating people-to-people exchanges and promoting business activities. Some argue that China will be at a "disadvantage," and certain foreign media have even speculated about potential "political motives," claiming that "China is loosening visa restrictions to signal which countries are its diplomatic VIPs" and "rebuilding goodwill" with these countries. It must be said that such notions are too narrow-minded. In its commitment to opening-up, China is not hesitant about being the first to demonstrate sincerity. By minimizing the difficulties and obstacles for people from these countries to come to China, it aims to showcase itself as open and inclusive, and this drive is unceasing.

The measures of China's convenient visa policy are, in fact, a "two-way travel" for many countries as well. As early as September last year, Thailand took the lead in unilaterally exempting Chinese tourists from visas. After China successively introduced visa facilitation policies for some countries, the French government announced that Chinese holders of master's degrees acquired in France can obtain a five-year visa; Switzerland will provide more visa convenience for Chinese citizens and Chinese companies investing in Switzerland; and Ireland expressed its willingness to actively consider providing more convenience for Chinese citizens visiting Ireland. The expansion of visa reciprocity policies will do much to promote exchanges between China and relevant countries.

It is worth mentioning that in the past, some foreign opinions often compared Chinese passports with those of certain developed countries or regions. In reality, the convenience of a passport is primarily associated with a country's economic development and per capita income level, rather than just the openness or international popularity of the country. It is a dynamic and phased issue. Now, it is clear that as China's comprehensive strength continues to rise, coupled with increasing global recognition of China's overall development, the continuous improvement in the "value" of the Chinese passport is a significant trend.

The convenience of visas is a very tangible benefit that ordinary people enjoy as a result of China's high-level opening-up. On the announcement of the visa exemption between China and Singapore, the real-time search popularity for Singapore surged on the Ctrip travel platform. At the same time, data shows that the search popularity for China-related keywords among Singaporean tourists has increased by over 20 percent compared to the previous month. With the upcoming Chinese New Year, the visa exemption policy is a New Year's gift given by China and Singapore to their people of both countries. Whether it's interconnection between nations or mutually beneficial cooperation, people are the most fundamental element. With people acting as the link, cooperation between China and relevant countries will be further enhanced.
Niall Nordoff, shown in a June 2021 post on his Facebook page, was killed early Wednesday when he was hit by a pickup truck traveling on Route 7. A funeral service will be held for him Sunday in Hillsdale, N.Y.
Lenox native James Brooke has traveled to about 100 countries reporting for The New York Times, Bloomberg and Voice of America. He reported from Russia for eight years and from Ukraine for six years.
Jem's Birding & Ringing Exploits in the Eastern Province and elsewhere in Saudi Arabia
A coalition of red states has rallied around Texas, after Governor Greg Abbott invoked the state's constitutional right to self-defense due to the migrant crisis, which he deemed an 'invasion.'

The Biden Administration has truly abdicated its responsibility to enforce the immigration laws on the books.



Texas has a constitutional right to defend and protect itself.



We will continue to hold the line. pic.twitter.com/LFrTq2MoVY  Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) January 25, 2024

As End Wokeness notes, a coalition of 25 Republican governors have signed a joint letter in support of the Texas resistance.

Here is the joint letter with 25 governors supporting the Texas Border Resistance against our rogue federal government.



Republican Governors Association link: https://t.co/CPfSLrzGEA pic.twitter.com/w2PDWYjpZd  End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) January 25, 2024

Wow  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 25, 2024

The support began on Wednesday, with Governor Kevin Stitt tweeting: "Oklahoma stands with Texas."

Oklahoma stands with Texas. https://t.co/67VzVEfEv1  Governor Kevin Stitt (@GovStitt) January 24, 2024

"TX is upholding the law while Biden is flouting it," said Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

If the Constitution really made states powerless to defend themselves against an invasion, it wouldnt have been ratified in the first place and Texas would have never joined the union when it did.



TX is upholding the law while Biden is flouting it.



FL will keep assisting https://t.co/qOJY2zT1hG  Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) January 24, 2024

BREAKING: Trump calls for all willing state governors to deploy their national guards to Texas and to remove the illegals back across the border pic.twitter.com/uM4RJ0z5Ug  Jack Poso  (@JackPosobiec) January 25, 2024

And of course, the optics couldn't be worse for the Biden administration - which is now faced with the prospect of going to war with Texas, during an election year, to keep the border open.

And Wall Street Silver pointed out on X, Texas is authorized to engage in war if being invaded according to Article 1, Section 10, Clause 3 of the Constitution.

Texas is authorized to engage in War.



Article 1, Section 10, Clause 3 ... which Texas Gov Greg Abbott cited in his statement today. pic.twitter.com/RAPvIEGPmw  Wall Street Silver (@WallStreetSilv) January 25, 2024

Though as X user blueapples points out, Abbott cited the dissenting (losing) position in Arizona v. United States which determined that federal law overrides state laws when it comes to regulating those who are unlawfully present in the US, except when it comes to a state's right to require officers to verify the citizenship or alien status of detained migrants.

Abbott might want to cite another SCOTUS case considering Arizona v. US set the precedent that states laws can't preempt federal laws when it comes to immigration.



I get he's citing the dissent but it's a dissent because the ruling didn't affirm that position.  blueapples (@ashesofacacia) January 24, 2024

Regardless, Abbott has drawn a line in the sand - and whatever litigation may play out in the courts is secondary to the fact that this is happening now.

As journalist Matt Walsh notes, "Abbott has Biden over a barrel here."

"What is Biden going to do? Send the military in to forcibly open the border? In an election year?"

Abbott has Biden over a barrel here. What is Biden going to do? Send the military in to forcibly open the border? In an election year? I'm sure he'd like to, and would if he could get away with it, but it would turn the vast majority of the country against him (those who aren't https://t.co/8gIFWzzEiE  Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) January 24, 2024

So is it the case that @TheDemocrats are truly ready to go to war with Texas?  Dr Jordan B Peterson (@jordanbpeterson) January 25, 2024

(h/t Geller Report)

Meanwhile in Washington, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) told fellow Republicans in a private meeting on Ukraine that time and the political will to pass a bipartisan immigration and border security compromise is running out, Punchbowl News reports.

According to the outlet:

McConnell told GOP senators that before border security talks began, immigration policy united Republicans and Ukraine aid divided them. Politics on this have changed, McConnell said of solving the crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border. Thats because former President Donald Trump wants to run his 2024 campaign focusing on immigration.

"We dont want to do anything to undermine him," McConnell said of Trump - effectively backing away from the 'border-security-for-Ukraine' construct that Republicans have been clinging to the last few months.
The Nebraska State Patrol had its hands full Wednesday after six people were arrested or cited following five separate foot and vehicle pursuits in a 24-hour period.

One of those pursuits occurred in Omaha, according to the a press release from the State Patrol, and another happened near Wahoo in Saunders County. The string of pursuits began about 2 p.m. Wednesday after troopers saw a Chevrolet Equinox traveling more than 100 mph along Highway 75 near downtown Omaha.

As troopers attempted to initiate a traffic stop, the Chevrolet fled and exited U.S. Highway 75 onto eastbound Storz Expressway. Troopers stopped pursuing the vehicle when it entered a residential area at a high rate of speed.

The driver, a 34-year-old Omaha woman, was taken into custody without incident minutes later after troopers found the vehicle near 24th Street and Redick Avenue. She was booked into the Douglas County Jail for flight to avoid arrest, a felony.

About 12:30 a.m. Thursday, troopers stopped a Mazda 6 for defective lighting near Wahoo on Nebraska Highway 92. According to the State Patrol, the driver picked up a handgun that was in the car but immediately complied when the trooper told him to put the gun down. The man then complied with the troopers orders until he was told to exit the vehicle, at which point he fled eastbound at more than 100 mph.

The driver, an 18-year-old man, lost control of the vehicle near the Platte River Bridge in Ashland and crashed before running. The gun was not found in the vehicle, and the State Patrol said it later learned the gun had been thrown from the car during the pursuit. The man was later found in a nearby detached garage and arrested on suspicion of flight to avoid arrest, obstructing a peace officer, criminal trespassing and unspecified weapons charges.
This is the shocking moment a boat full of undocumented migrants landed on a beach in San Diego before running into the wealthy La Jolla neighborhood.

More than 20 migrants were filmed storming the beach on Wednesday morning and disappearing into the southern California enclave, where homes go for a median price of $2.2million.

The exclusive footage was shot by NewsNation's National Correspondent Jorge Ventura. It shows the migrants arriving on the shore on some sort of boat, before they take off running into the neighborhood in San Diego, the largest city on the Mexican border.

More than 42,000 asylum seekers were released in San Diego from October through December, 2023 - an average of 637 a day, as reported by The San Diego Union-Tribute. That number does not include migrants who cross illegally, like those seen landing on the La Jolla beach.

The county has already spent $3million caring for the asylum seekers, and has allocated another $3million.

Migrants are often dropped off without knowing where they are. Many end up sleeping on the streets until they can find shelter.

Aid groups blame a mix of circumstances for the shelter crunch: reduced government funding; CBPs practice of sending migrants from Texas and Arizona to be processed in San Diego; and a surge in illegal crossings.

Before they are released in San Diego, some migrants being dropped off have been waiting between a double-layer border wall or camping under Border Patrol watch in remote mountains east of the city.
Another Gathering of the Ghouls is behind us, as the World Economic Forums (WEF) 2024 Davos confab has come to an end.

Heres what we learned about the plans our technocratic tyrant overlords have for us, along with a series of highlights (the good, the bad, and the notable) from the annual Swiss mountain retreat.

Rebuilding Trust was the theme of the conference, but nobody admitted to any wrongdoing

The 2024 program was one for the ages. Attendees watched Pfizers Albert Bourla talk about his companys embrace of Artificial Intelligence (AI). They saw depopulation advocate Bill Bugman Gates advancing the climate hoax. John Kerry appeared on four different stages to discuss the energy transition. We also saw Klaus Schwab sit down for a 1 on 1 with the second highest ranking Chinese government official.

The Art Wall that greets Davos attendees

In none of these panels did anyone show any bit of regret for their decisions. Unsurprisingly, none of the catastrophic errors made during the Covid hysteria era never came up. Some devised even more authoritarian solutions for the problems that humanity faces. Gates, for his part, said he was working on vaccine patches so that uptake for shoddy pharmaceuticals will be even higher next time around.

To the WEF crowd, Rebuilding Trust often meant doing a better job to silence people by filtering out what they deemed misinformation and disinformation. In short, the problem isnt them, its the people who are in the way. In order to rebuild trust, they want independent platforms like this one to be out of the way, through invasive surveillance and censorship measures.

There was no real debate

In order to get access to Club Davos, prospective participants are ideologically vetted for adherence to the big narratives advanced by Schwab and the gang. Davos isnt a forum for robust debate, but a chance for the global ruling class to rally together behind the same agenda items.

The Slava Slush Fund remains intact

Surprise surprise: the annual meeting began with a Volodomyr Zelensky appeal for more money. His speech received a standing ovation in Davos. Lots of powerful leaders dedicated their address to the Ukrainian effort, demanding a continuing flow to the seemingly never-ending Ukraine money spigot.

China takes center stage

Despite hating Putin with a fury, the WEF crowd LOVES its more powerful Chinese ally. From Klaus Schwab to the corporate media and multinational company CEOs in attendance, the Chinese premier was met with much fanfare.

Davos has become deeply unpopular in the United States

As evidenced by the razor thin U.S. congressional delegation (only 7 members this year, most of whom are Davos regulars) and a lack of Biden Admin heavyweights (John Kerry led the delegation) that made the trip to Switzerland, there is very little public support for the agenda items advanced by Klaus Schwab and his benefactors. Coupled with the fact that legislators wanted to be back home to pass government funding bills, 2024 marked a historic low for American government representatives in Davos.

Rebel News held the bad guys accountable from the outside.

Rebels Ezra Levant and Avi Yemeni were a two man wrecking crew. Although they were unsurprisingly not granted credentials to cover the closed-door, invite only conference, they did a brilliant job conducting street interviews that held the malthusian anti-humans accountable.

Javier Milei shined bright

Newly elected Argentinian President Javier Milei went into the belly of the beast armed with a Freedom MOAB.

His entire address was a masterclass of an in-person rebuke of the Davos agenda, and it immediately inspired voices for freedom around the world.

After wining the November election Milei declared that he didnt intend to guide lambs, but instead to awaken lions. And thats exactly what he did from his podium in Davos this week.

The Heritage Foundations Kevin Roberts made Americans proud

Roberts set the record straight on the supposed morality of the Davos agenda, pushing back on the idea that the WEF and its partners are pursuing anything but a nefarious agenda.

Davos 2024 was ultimately more of the same

Far from rebuilding trust, the WEF gang dedicated its 54th annual meeting in Davos to the same major agenda items of the past. The advancement of the climate hoax took front and center. So too did the ideological notion of Stakeholder Capitalism, which is a means to deliver corporate ideological subserviency to the state, similar to how enterprise is structured in China. The World Economic Forum (WEF), through its annual Davos conference, acts as the go-to policy and ideas shop for the ruling class. Like the previous Davos confabs, the 2024 event served to hammer home their authoritarian anti-human agenda items.
Video footage obtained by Billings police and school officials allegedly shows five teenagers violently attacking a student near West High and beating a man in the Heights earlier this month.

Documents filed against the two adult suspects in Yellowstone County District Court detail the assaults, during which the two victims were also allegedly robbed.

Cayden Michael Thornock, 18, now faces three felony charges, including assault with a weapon, robbery and robbery by accountability.

Zackary Raven Westeren, 19, is facing a felony robbery charge.

On Jan. 8 at around 1 p.m., the Billings Police Department was dispatched to an apartment on Lake Elmo Drive in the Heights. An officer spoke with a 29-year-old man, whose face was bruised and bleeding and his right eye was swollen shut, according to court documents.

The officer said the man's living room was destroyed and he noticed several broken items, including a TV. He called for medical care and the man was taken to the hospital.

The man told police that Westeren had been kicked out of the apartment. Shortly after, Western and a group of young men allegedly opened the door and started attacking him, punching him repeatedly, court documents said.

He told police one of the suspects smashed a chair over his back. The man said the attackers took his Xbox and tried to steal his phone. He identified a man he believed to be Western but told officers he didn't know the other suspects.

The next day, a school resource officer at the Billings Career Center got a call from an assistant principal at West High. The assistant principal reported a fight near the high school around noon on Jan. 8.

A 15-year-old boy and his father had contacted administrators and shared a video of the boy being assaulted in a field near the high school on St. Johns Avenue. The footage shows the boy on the ground being repeatedly punched, kicked and dragged, according to court documents.

One suspect allegedly took the boy's Air Jordan shoes off before stomping on his face. Throughout the video, the suspects continually call the boy a n***a, court documents said.

An officer who reviewed the footage said the boy appeared completely helpless and did not fight back. The boy's father told police he had to take his son to the hospital after the assault.

The boy identified suspects he believed to be Thornock and Westeren as well as two 15-year-olds and a 16-year-old as his attackers, according to court documents. He told officers he had pain in his ribs and head due to the beating.

On Jan. 10, another boys father called a school resource officer at West High to report that his son was receiving threatening messages and videos on Snapchat. The suspect was telling the boy if he didnt pay $300 the same things in the violent videos would happen to him.

Police looked at the three videos. Two showed the 15-year-old boy being attacked near the school and the third was of the assault of the man in the Heights apartment, court documents said.

After reviewing the videos, police and West High staff identified the teens in the videos, including another 18-year-old who was a bystander that did not participate in the beatings. When officers spoke to him on Jan. 10, he allegedly identified Thornock, Westeren, the three minor suspects and a 20-year-old woman who recorded the attacks.

He told police that Thornock stole the shoes and Western took the Xbox, according to court documents. He also told officers that it was all Westerens idea."

On Jan. 11, BPD officers found Thornock, Westeren and the 16-year-old suspect at a home on Clause Circle in the Heights. An officer noticed a phone near the teens was open to a Snapchat group called Fightclub, court documents said.

Officers questioned Westeren, who allegedly admitted to the assault at the apartment and to stealing the Xbox. He told a detective he would do it all over again if he could, according to court documents.

The 16-year-old suspect told police that Westeren allegedly said they all needed to go to the apartment because the man had hit his girlfriend. So, the boy said, they showed up ready to beat this dudes ass.

Officers then questioned Thornock, who allegedly said he only hit the man once. After police confronted him with the video that shows him smashing a chair into the victim, Thornock told officers he blacks out when he gets into fights, according to court records.

Officers also spoke with the 20-year-old woman at the home on Clause Circle. She confirmed she took video of the attacks, court records said.

BPD later found the two 15-year-old suspects, who were taken to City Hall and questioned with their parents present. According to court documents, one boy admitted to hitting the man at the apartment but said he wasnt hitting him hard. The other refused to answer questions.

The incidents are still under investigation. Once its complete, the Yellowstone County Attorneys Office will determine any further charges.
Billings Public Schools will host Dr. Lisa Strohman, a nationally renowned clinical psychologist and public policy activist, for two presentations next week, exploring the impact of social media on mental health.

Presentations will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 29, in the Lincoln Center Auditorium, at 415 N. 29th St., and from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 30, at the First Interstate Bank Great West Center, 1800 6th Ave. N. The presentations are free to community members. Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions directly or anonymously.

"Over the last few years, school district staff, administrators and counselors have witnessed an increase of student anxiety and mental health concerns. Therefore, Billings Public Schools is dedicated to working on prevention programs to improve student wellness, safety, and mental health, said Dr. Chris Olszewski, assistant superintendent and executive director of K-12 curriculum.

As a part of our community partnerships we are proud to help bring Dr. Lisa Strohman to provide information and support for our families and community to proactively address one of our top strategic goals of safety and improving mental health for our students and their families," he said.

Strohman has become widely known for her advocacy and education around mental wellness as it relates to students digital lives. According to her website, she has worked with thousands of parents, schools and children around the globe. Strohman's advice is to have balance between time spent in the real and digital worlds, and to use technology as a tool rather than a toy.

Strohman compared using social media in a pro-social manner to being able to drive safely, after taking driver's education.

"Unless our schools get on board, things are not going to get any better," Strohman said in an interview Friday. "We need to stop pretending that this isn't an issue, and embrace the role that we should have."

She is frequently featured in the media as an expert source for issues related to technology use and behavior, including a weekly feature on Dr. Drews radio show as well as an expert on Dr. Ozs ShareCare site. Shes been featured as an expert on the topic on various national news outlets, including CNN and FOX News.

Substance Abuse Connect and the Mental Health Center have sponsored the event. Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of Billings and Sodexo are donating light refreshments. Strohman is offering a free link to her book "Digital Distress" for those in attendance.

I think this is going to be a great opportunity for our staff and families to be able to ask a clinical psychologist with a wealth of knowledge, questions on mental health, said Melanie Willardson, BPS Director of Community Relations. "We want to do whatever we can do to benefit our families."
Cork-born Bambie Thug will represent Ireland at Eurovision this year with the song Doomsday Blue.

The artist, from Macroom in Co Cork, will now travel to Malmo, Sweden in May, where Ireland will compete in the 68th Eurovision Song Contest, bidding to qualify for the grand final on May 11th.

Advertisement

Speaking just after the show, Bambie Thug said: "I dont know how I feel  I feel incredible! My words are gone as a lyricist youd think Id have more to say but Im speechless  Im so excited and I promise Im going to do you so proud."

The performer has already amassed over 45,000 monthly listeners via their unique, self-styled Ouija Pop.

Known for incredible live performances, Bambie was most recently seen performing at the packed-out Download Festival Debut.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Bambie is also prolific songwriter with amassed streams of 60 million on music written for other artists of varying genres, (Cassyette, Kidbrunswick, Fabich, Fika and more), instrumentals in some of the UKs biggest nu-gen hits (Dear Goth, Petrichor, 4am) and inclusion on HBOs Sex And The City reboot Just Like That.

Bambie saw off competition from five other finalists on a special edition of the Late Late Show, all hoping to get Ireland to the Eurovision final for the first time in four years.

Bambie Thug won the vote to represent Ireland in the next Eurovision in Sweden.

Erica-Cody, AILSHA, JyellowL, Isabella Kearney, Bambie Thug and Next in Line courted the public on the Late Late Show on Friday night in the hope of heading to Malmo.

It was one of the most eclectic mix of song options, but it was Bambie that secured the public's vote.
The front pages for Saturday cover various topics, with several papers leading with the genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.

The Irish Times and the Irish Examiner report that pressure on Ireland to join South Africas genocide case against Israel has increased after the UNs highest court ordered Israel to immediately prevent its army from carrying out genocidal acts in Gaza.

Advertisement

The Irish Independent and Irish Daily Mail continue with their focus on RTE after the publication of a report into Toy Show The Musical.

Advertisement

The Irish Daily Mirror says outgoing Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has been invited to visit the Monaghan home of a young fan to personally explain his shock decision to quit.

The Irish Daily Star reports that gardai have searched Ian Baileys home in Co Cork as part of an investigation into the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Sinn Feins Gerry Kelly has accepted a devastating court judgment which now leaves him liable for a huge legal bill as a result, according to the Belfast Telegraph.

The British papers lead with King Charless hospital stay.

Advertisement

The Daily Express, the Daily Mail and The Sun all lead with Charles undergoing a procedure for an enlarged prostate.

On tomorrow's front page: Celebrity Big Brother makes most controversial signing ever  landing Kate Middletons uncle Gary Goldsmith https://t.co/J0KYMB4AKW pic.twitter.com/r9VROzrkBq  The Sun (@TheSun) January 26, 2024

The i splashes with a story on British spycraft, with analysts struggling to keep up with the growing threat of Chinese espionage, according to one MI6 boss.

I WEEKEND: UKs golden age with China harmed British intelligence, says former MI6 spy chief #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/Wo0cH2br7i  Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) January 26, 2024

The Daily Telegraph looks to US-UK military relations for its lead, running a piece on the US relocating its nuclear arms to British RAF bases amid growing fears of a possible conflict with Russia.

Advertisement

The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph:



'US to move nuclear weapons back to UK'#TomorrowsPapersToday



Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/x8AV4Oomry pic.twitter.com/9XZ9AkCJ4a  The Telegraph (@Telegraph) January 26, 2024

The Times runs with a story on Emma Webber, mother of Valdo Calocanes victim Barnaby Webber, and her call for an inquiry into the Nottingham killings.

TIMES: Nottingham mother calls for inquiry into killings #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/6fXDuGZgAW  Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) January 26, 2024

The Independent has called for the unmasking of those funding a plot to topple the British prime minister.

INDEPENDENT: Name the secret donors behind plot to topple Sunak #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/TIA8SogLIe  Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) January 26, 2024

Both the Financial Times and The Guardian cast focus abroad, with the International Court of Justice ordering Israel to take action to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza.

Just published: front page of the Financial Times, UK edition, Saturday 27 January https://t.co/NmtCmoENfd pic.twitter.com/VFHcBrMQeR  Financial Times (@FT) January 26, 2024

GUARDIAN: Israel ordered by court to prevent genocide in Gaza #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/HA8QGRZlGC  Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) January 26, 2024

Moving to sport, the Daily Mirror and the Daily Star splash with Jurgen Klopps announcement he will leave Liverpool.
A woman has been charged over an attack on a teenage boy, who was left permanently scarred after being "slashed" with a blade from his ear to the back of his neck on a double-decker bus in Dublin.

Sonia Connolly (37), who has accommodation in a hotel on Exchequer Street, Temple Bar, Dublin, is accused of violent disorder on May 18th, 2023.

Advertisement

She allegedly provided an eyebrow blade used by a second attacker to cut the 16-year-old boy.

The woman appeared before Judge David McHugh at Dublin District Court on Saturday after gardai received instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Detective Garda Keith Morrissey told the judge Mr Connolly "had nothing to say" when the charge was put to her.

The DPP has directed trial on indictment in the Circuit Court, which has wider sentencing powers.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Ms Connolly, who has yet to indicate a plea, did not address the court, which heard objections to her bail due to the seriousness of the case.

Detective Garda Morrissey alleged two males and two females, including the accused, boarded a number 16 bus on the day in question and went upstairs. The injured party got on later, in south Dublin.

The hearing was told that an argument broke out among Ms Connolly's group, and one of the men left them and "shouted back at the three remaining members".

The injured party, sitting near the front, "made eye contact" with the man, the court was told, and there was a brief verbal exchange before a "fight broke out".

Advertisement

A second male from the group joined the first man, and it was claimed the pair attacked the boy with punches.

'Slash'

It was alleged Ms Connolly made her way from the back of the bus to the two males and handed the first male an eyebrow blade, which he used to slash the back of the teen's neck from the left earlobe to the centre of the back of the neck.

The court heard the blade "broke in two pieces during the assault".

Advertisement

It was claimed the accused held the teen's head and got blood on her hand.

Advertisement

The male was left holding the blade handle when they got off the bus. However, the accused allegedly re-boarded, "went upstairs and retrieved the blade" and left again.

The injured party received 25 stitches following the incident, and the detective submitted photos of the boy's injuries to the court.

Cross-examined by defence solicitor John Quinn, the detective accepted the accused had health problems and had been in hospital recently. The court heard she suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and had recently obtained secure accommodation.

Mr Quinn said his client would abide by bail terms.

Judge McHugh said Ms Connolly was accused of a serious offence, but enjoyed the presumption of innocence and would get bail with strict conditions.

He ordered her to provide her phone number to gardai and remain contactable, sign on daily at a Garda station and reside at her current address.

The judge set her bond at 150 and ordered her to return to court on March 15th when she will be served with a book of evidence.

Legal aid was granted in the case.

Two other men are already before the courts on connected charges.
Two women and a man were killed early on Saturday in what witnesses said was an Israeli air strike on a home in the southernmost part of Gaza, as Israel pursued its military offensive against the Palestinian enclave.

The strike came less than a day after the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to do all it can to prevent death, destruction and any acts of genocide in Gaza. As part of its binding ruling, the top United Nations court asked Israel for a compliance report in a month, meaning the militarys conduct will be under increasing scrutiny.

Advertisement

The court stopped short of ordering a ceasefire, but the orders its judges issued were in part a stinging rebuke of the armys conduct so far in Israels nearly four-month-long war against Gazas Hamas rulers. Fridays decision came in a case brought by South Africa, which alleged Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian territorys people, a charge Israel vehemently denies.

Advertisement

The war has killed more than 26,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, destroyed vast swathes of Gaza and displaced nearly 85 per cent of a population of 2.3 million people. It was triggered by an unprecedented Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7th in which militants killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took around 250 hostages.

Advertisement

The overall Palestinian death toll in the war rose to 26,257 as of Saturday, with 174 deaths over the past day, the Health Ministry in Gaza said. The ministry does not distinguish between combatants and civilians in its count, but has said about two-thirds are women and children. It said the total number of wounded surpassed 64,000.

Israel holds Hamas responsible for civilian casualties, saying the militants embed themselves in buildings used by civilians. Israel says its air and ground offensive in Gaza has killed more than 9,000 militants.

Bilal al-Siksik, who lost his wife, a son and a daughter in Saturdays strike in Rafah, a town on Gazas border with Egypt, said the decision by the world court meant little since it did not stop the war.

Advertisement

No one can speak in front of them (Israel). America with all its greatness and strength can do nothing, he said as he stood beside the pile of rubble and twisted metal that was once his home. What can people do, who have no power or anything? He said his family was asleep when their residence was struck.

Advertisement

Rafah and its surrounding areas are crammed with more than one million people after the Israeli military ordered civilians to seek refuge there from the fighting elsewhere in the territory. Despite those orders, the designated evacuation areas have repeatedly come under air strikes, with Israel saying it would go after militants as needed.

Advertisement

Some Gaza residents expressed dismay that the UN court based in The Hague, Netherlands, did not order an immediate end to the fighting as South Africa had requested.

The courts decisions were disappointing to us, Yahya Saadat, who was displaced from the northern city of Beit Hanoun and now lives in the central town of Deir al-Balah, said late on Friday.

We were waiting for the International Court of Justice to issue stricter decisions than that, such as a ceasefire, our return to our homes in the north, and stopping the bloodshed in the Gaza Strip.

Advertisement

Others saw Fridays rulings from a 17-judge panel as a significant, if symbolic, step.

The measures approved by the court are mostly in the interest of the Palestinian people regarding human suffering, violation of international law, and many other issues, said Mazen Muhaisen, who was also sheltering in Deir al-Balah.

Advertisement

The court ruled that Israel must refrain from harming or killing Palestinian civilians while doing all it can to prevent genocide, including punishing anyone who incites others to support the destruction of Gazas people. The judges also ordered Israel to urgently get basic aid to Gaza.

Palestinians look at their neighbours damaged house following an Israeli air strike in Rafah (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

The interim orders did not address the substance of the case  the genocide allegations  and a final ruling is expected to take years.

Although the provisional measures issued on Friday are legally binding, it is unclear if Israel will comply. Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu vowed to move ahead with the war, saying the fact that the court did throw out the genocide charges was a mark of shame that will not be erased for generations.

The Israeli military said on Saturday it had conducted several targeted raids on terror targets in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, killing numerous terrorists. It did not mention Rafah.

The United States, Israels closest ally, has strongly supported the offensive but has increasingly called for restraint and for more humanitarian aid to be allowed into Gaza.

Almost four months after the Hamas attack in southern Israel, dozens of hostages remain captive in Gaza. More than 100 were released in a swap for Palestinian prisoners during a week-long ceasefire in November, and an unspecified number of the remaining 136 hostages are believed to have been killed.

Advertisement

US president Joe Biden spoke with his Egyptian and Qatari counterparts on Friday ahead of a trip by his CIA director that is intended to seek progress towards a deal to secure the release of more hostages in exchange for a pause in the fighting.

Hamas has said it will only release the hostages in exchange for an end to the war and the release of large numbers of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
Tanaiste Micheal Martin has said the State has no plans to suspend funding for the United Nations' refugee agency for Palestinians (UNRWA), following allegations its staff were involved in the October 7th Hamas attacks on Israel.

It comes as Britain, Italy and Finland on Saturday became the latest countries to pause funding for UNRWA.

Advertisement

Set up to help refugees of the 1948 war at Israel's founding, UNRWA provides education, health and aid services to Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. It helps about two thirds of Gaza's 2.3 million population and has played a pivotal aid role during the current war.

The United States, Australia and Canada had already paused funding to the aid agency after Israel said 12 UNRWA employees were involved in the cross-border attack. The agency has opened an investigation into several employees severed ties with them.

Advertisement

The Palestinian foreign ministry criticised what it described as an Israeli campaign against UNRWA, and the Hamas militant group condemned the termination of employee contracts "based on information derived from the Zionist enemy."

Full confidence in @UNLazzarini's decision to immediately suspend @UNRWA staff suspected of participation in the heinous attacks of October 7, to investigate thoroughly and show zero tolerance on terror.



 has no plans to suspend funding for UNRWAs vital Gaza work. (1/2) Advertisement  Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) January 27, 2024

In a statement posted on social media platorm X, Mr Martin said Ireland would be continuing its support for UNRWA in 2024.

Full confidence in @UNLazzarinis decision to immediately suspend @UNRWA staff suspected of participation in the heinous attacks of October 7, to investigate thoroughly and show zero tolerance on terror, he said.

UNRWAs 13,000 employees provide life saving assistance to 2.3m people and at incredible personal cost - with over 100 staff killed in last 4 months.

[Ireland] provided @UNRWA 18m in 2023 and will continue our support in 2024.

The UK Foreign Office said it was temporarily pausing funding for UNRWA while the accusations were reviewed and noted London had condemned the October 7th attacks as "heinous" terrorism.

"The Italian government has suspended financing of the UNRWA after the atrocious attack on Israel on October 7," foreign minister Antonio Tajani said on X.

Finland also said it suspended funding.

Hussein al-Sheikh, head of the Palestinians' umbrella political body the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), said cutting support brought major political and relief risks.

"We call on countries that announced the cessation of their support for UNRWA to immediately reverse their decision," he said on X.  Additional reporting: Reuters
The Palestinian ambassador to Ireland has called on the Government to join a genocide case against Israel following a ruling by the UNs top court.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ordered Israel to take measures to prevent and punish direct incitement of genocide in its war in Gaza but stopped short of calling for a ceasefire.

Advertisement

Tanaiste Micheal Martin has now asked his officials to urgently prepare legal advice around joining South Africas genocide case against Israel at the ICJ.

However, the Government has indicated that it will not make a final decision until after it has scrutinised the full details of the case due to be put forward by South Africa.

Officials and politicians are working in the background with other EU countries who may also join the case, at the same time as Ireland, to ensure the State is not isolated at a European level in taking action.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Palestinian ambassasdor to Ireland Dr Jilan Abdalmajid. Photo: PA

Speaking after the ruling, which ordered Israel to take immediate and effective measures to ensure basic services and humanitarian assistance are provided in Gaza, Palestinian ambassador to Ireland Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid said: From the beginning, Ireland was consistent in saying that they will intervene as soon as the ruling comes out.

I hope that Ireland will be joining the South Africans and Im finding a positive response from the Government.

More than 26,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel began its bombardment of the Palestinian enclave in the wake of the October 7th Hamas attacks.

Gaza officials said 183 people had been killed in the 24 hours before the ICJ ruling.

Advertisement

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu fully dismissed the ruling, claiming the genocide case is outrageous and that Israel will continue to do what is necessary to defend itself.

However, Mr Martin said the court orders are binding and they include a stipulation that Israel must report in one month to demonstrate compliance with its orders.

We expect Israel to implement all provisional measures that have been ordered by the court, in good faith and as a matter of urgency, he said.

As agreed by the Dail earlier this week, the Government will strongly consider intervention in the case, following detailed analysis of the courts decision.

Advertisement

I have therefore asked my officials to prepare legal advice for my consideration on an urgent basis.

The ICJ decision is only an interim one and it could take years for the full case to be brought by South Africa to be considered.

Trocaires chief executive Caoimhe de Barra said an immediate ceasefire was needed, but added: We welcome the provisional measures which we hope will serve to protect the people of Gaza.

Trocaire is now calling on the Irish Government to ensure that Israel complies with all of the provisional measures imposed by the ICJ and that Ireland engages with its partners in the EU and US, in particular, to achieve this.
A group of survivors of Nazi death camps marked the 79th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp during the Second World War in a modest ceremony on Saturday in southern Poland.

About 20 survivors from various camps set up by Nazi Germany around Europe laid wreaths and flowers and lit candles at the Death Wall in Auschwitz, where the Nazis executed thousands of inmates, mostly Polish resistance members and others.

Advertisement

Later the group, along with state officials and other participants gathered for a ceremony by a brick womens barrack at Birkenau that has recently undergone conservation.

Next, they prayed and lit candles at the monument in Birkenau, near the crematoria ruins.

Holocaust survivors and relatives arrive at the Auschwitz Nazi death camp in Oswiecim, Poland (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Advertisement

They were remembering about 1.1 million camp victims, mostly Jews. The memorial site and museum are located near the city of Oswiecim.

Advertisement

Observances were also held in many other countries Saturday.

Nearly six million European Jews were killed by the Nazis during the Holocaust  the mass murder of Jews and other groups before and during World War II.

Marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the survivors were accompanied by Polish senate speaker Malgorzata Kidawa-Blonska, culture minister Bartlomiej Sienkiewicz and Israeli ambassador Yacov Livne.

Advertisement

A Holocaust survivor holds a candle while waiting in line to place it next to the Death Wall at Auschwitz (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

The theme of the observances was the human being, symbolised in simple, hand-drawn portraits.

They were meant to stress that the horror of Auschwitz-Birkenau lies in the suffering of people held and killed there.

Advertisement

Holocaust victims were commemorated across Europe.

In Germany, where people put down flowers and lit candles at memorials for the victims of the Nazi terror, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that his country would continue to carry the responsibility for this crime against humanity.

Holocaust survivors and relatives light candles at the Death Wall in the Auschwitz Nazi death camp in Oswiecim, Poland (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Advertisement

He called on all citizens to defend Germanys democracy and fight antisemitism, as the country marked the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

Never again is every day, Mr Scholz said in his weekly video podcast. January 27 calls out to us: Stay visible! Stay audible! Against antisemitism, against racism, against misanthropy  and for our democracy.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, whose country is fighting to repel Russias full-scale invasion, posted an image of a Jewish menorah on X, formerly known as Twitter, to mark the remembrance day.

Advertisement

Every new generation must learn the truth about the Holocaust. Human life must remain the highest value for all nations in the world, said Zelensky, who is Jewish and has lost relatives in the Holocaust.

Eternal memory to all Holocaust victims, Zelenskyy tweeted.

In Italy, Holocaust commemorations included a torchlit procession alongside official statements from top political leaders.

Italian premier Giorgia Meloni said that her conservative nationalist government was committed to eradicating antisemitism that she said had been reinvigorated amid the Israel-Hamas war.

Ms Melonis critics have long accused her and her Brothers of Italy party, which has neo-fascist roots, of failing to sufficiently atone for its past.

Later on Saturday, leftist movements planned a torchlit procession to remember all victims of the Holocaust  Jews but also Roma, homosexuals and political dissidents who were deported or exterminated in Nazi camps.

Police were also on alert after pro-Palestinian activists indicated that they would ignore a police order and go ahead with a rally planned to coincide with the Holocaust commemorations.

Italys Jewish community has complained that such protests have become occasions for the memory of the Holocaust to be co-opted by anti-Israel forces and used against Jews.

The Nazis, who occupied Poland from 1939-1945, at first used old Austrian military barracks at Auschwitz as a concentration and death camp for Polands resistance fighters.

Advertisement

In 1942, the wooden barracks, gas chambers and crematoria of Birkenau were added for the extermination of Europes Jews, Roma and other nationals, as well as Russian prisoners of war.

Soviet Red Army troops liberated Auschwitz-Birkenau and the surviving inmates on January 27 1945.

Since 1979, the Auschwitz-Birkenau site has been on the Unesco list for sites of World Heritage.
A blaze on a British-linked oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden has been put out after firefighting efforts continued through the night following a strike by Houthi rebels.

The UK and its allies reserve the right to respond appropriately following the latest attack claimed by the Iran-backed group, the UK government has said.

Advertisement

The Marlin Luanda went up in flames on Friday after Houthi threats to shipping in the region persisted despite joint US-UK strikes against rebel sites in Yemen earlier this week.

The ship sails under the flag of the Marshall Islands but is managed by Oceonix Services Ltd, a company registered in the UK.

(PA Graphics)

Advertisement

It is operated on behalf of Trafigura, a multinational trading giant domiciled in Singapore.

UK defence secretary Grant Shapps said the UK remains as committed as ever to protecting freedom of navigation following the strike.

Advertisement

This intolerable and illegal attack on maritime shipping is the latest on innocent people and global trade, he said on Saturday.

It is our duty to protect freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and we remain as committed to that cause as ever.

Advertisement

Earlier, Trafigura said a fire in the ships cargo tank had been extinguished with the help of Indian, US and French Navy vessels and all crew were safe.

The vessel is now sailing towards a safe harbour. The crew continues to monitor the vessel and cargo closely, a spokesperson said.

We would like to recognise the exceptional dedication and bravery of the ships master and crew who managed to control the fire in highly difficult circumstances, as well as the essential assistance provided by Indian, United States and French Navy vessels to achieve this outcome.

It comes after another incident in the region on Friday, in which two missiles were reported to have exploded in the water and vessel and crew are safe and no damage reported.

Advertisement

The Yemeni forces claimed on Friday they had targeted a British oil vessel following American-British aggression against our country.

The Houthis have repeatedly launched attacks on vessels around the Red Sea over Israels war on Hamas in Gaza, although they have frequently targeted ships with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, endangering shipping on a key global trade route.

Advertisement

Advertisement

A second series of UK and US air strikes, carried out at the start of the week, appears to have done little to deter their action.

On Saturday, UK Maritime Trade Operations also reported a vessel 780 nautical miles east of Hafun, Somalia, was also approached by a small craft with four people.

Automatic rifles and a rocket propelled grenade were spotted, but the boat retreated after the onboard security team fired warning shots as it approached to within 300 metres, it said.

The UK government said in response to the Marlin Luanda attack: We are aware of reports that the M/V Marlin Luanda, a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker, has sustained damage from attack in the Gulf of Aden.

Current reports suggest no casualties and nearby coalition vessels are on the scene.

We have been clear that any attacks on commercial shipping are completely unacceptable and that the UK and our allies reserve the right to respond appropriately.

UK foreign secretary Lord David Cameron this week embarked on a trip the Middle East in a diplomatic bid to reduce tensions as the Israeli bombardment of Gaza continues.
Angry French farmers Saturday threatened to converge on Paris in the coming days as traffic barricades were only partially lifted on the countrys major roads.

The developments came a day after the French government announced a series of measures the farmers said do not fully address their demands.

Advertisement

The farmers movement, seeking better remuneration for their produce, less red tape and protection against cheap imports, has spread in recent days across the country, with protesters using their tractors to shut down long stretches of road and slow traffic.

They have also dumped stinky agricultural waste at the gates of government offices.

A road sign to the French city of Lamagistere was turned upside down by protesting farmers (AP Photo/Fred Scheiber)

Advertisement

While some of the barricades were gradually being lifted on Saturday, highway operator Vinci Autoroutes said the A7, a major highway heading through southern France, was still closed.

Advertisement

Some other roads were also partially closed, mostly in southern France.

Vinci Autoroutes noted that the blockades on two highways leading to Paris have been removed, as well as on the major route to Spain.

The highway from Lyon, in eastern France, to Bordeaux, in the southwest, also been reopened on Saturday, the company said in a statement.

Advertisement

People watch slurry, manure and tyres dumped by farmers at the entrance of the local state administration building, in Agen (AP Photo/Fred Scheiber)

Near south-western Agen, where the protests originated, the A62 highway was closed on Saturday, with farmers gathering around fires fed by wooden pallets.

One of the parked tractors was carrying a poster reading We wont die without saying a word.

Advertisement

In Agens city centre, a plaza close to the prefecture building still looked like an open-air dump, after protesters on Friday heaped tires, hay, manure and pieces of wood.

Some angry farmers were planning to give a new boost to the mobilisation next week, threatening to block traffic around Paris for several days, starting on Sunday evening.

Jose Perez, co-president of the Rural Coordination union in the Lot-et-Garonne region, told news broadcaster BFM that his group will head toward Paris on Monday.

Their aim is to block the Rungis International Market that supplies the capital and surrounding region with much of its fresh food, he said.

Advertisement

Advertisement

French president Emmanuel Macrons new prime minister, Gabriel Attal, announced a series of measures Friday during a visit to a cattle farm in southern France.

They include drastically simplifying certain technical procedures and the progressive end to diesel fuel taxes for farm vehicles, he said.

Mr Attal also confirmed that France would remain opposed to the European Union signing a free-trade deal with the Mercosur trade group, as French farmers denounce what they see as unfair competition from Latin American countries.

The agreement has been under negotiation for years.

In response to Mr Attals announcement, Frances two major farmers unions quickly announced their decision to continue the protests, saying the governments plan does not go far enough.

Several thousand people gathered on Saturday in the town of Pamiers in the Ariege region in the Pyrenees mountains to pay tribute to a 36-year-old female farmer and her 12-year-old daughter who were killed at a roadblock when a car rammed into a barricade of hay bales on Tuesday.
French farmers are maintaining traffic barricades on some of the countrys major roads after saying measures announced by the government do not fully address their demands.

The farmers movement, seeking better remuneration for their produce, less red tape and protection against cheap imports has spread in recent days across the country, with protesters using their tractors to shut down long stretches of road and slow traffic.

Advertisement

They have also dumped foul-smelling agricultural waste at the gates of government offices.

Farmers block a highway near Ableiges, north of Paris (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)

While some of the barricades were gradually being lifted on Saturday, highway operator Vinci Autoroutes said the A7, a major highway heading through southern France and into Spain, was still closed. Some other roads were also partially closed, mostly in southern France.

Advertisement

Vinci Autoroutes noted that the blockades on two highways leading to Paris have been removed. The highway from Lyon, in eastern France, to Bordeaux, in the south-west, also reopened on Saturday, the company said in a statement.

Advertisement

Some angry protesters were planning to give a new boost to the mobilisation next week, threatening to block traffic around Paris for several days, starting from Sunday evening.

French president Emmanuel Macrons new prime minister, Gabriel Attal, announced a series of measures on Friday during a visit to a cattle farm in southern France. They include drastically simplifying certain technical procedures and the progressive end to diesel fuel taxes for farm vehicles, he said.

Mr Attal also confirmed that France would remain opposed to the European Union signing a free-trade deal with the Mercosur trade group, as French farmers denounce what they see as unfair competition from Latin American countries. The agreement has been under under negotiation for years.

Advertisement

Protesting farmers shut down long stretches of some of Frances major motorways (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)

In response to Mr Attals announcement, Frances two major farmers unions quickly announced their decision to continue the protests, saying the governments plan does not go far enough.

The protests in France are also symptomatic of discontent in agricultural heartlands across the European Union. The influential and heavily subsidised sector is becoming a hot-button issue ahead of European Parliament elections in June, with populist and far-right parties hoping to benefit from rural disgruntlement against free trade agreements, burdensome costs worsened by Russias war in Ukraine and other complaints.

Advertisement

In recent weeks, farmers have staged protests in Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and Romania.
A Wyoming man who admitted to trafficking methamphetamine in the Miles City area was sentenced Friday to 12 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release.

Elmer Richard Petersen, 45, of Gillette, Wyoming, pleaded guilty in September to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and prohibited person in possession of a firearm, said U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.

In October 2021, law enforcement stopped Petersen in Miles City with information that he was trafficking drugs. He was released from the scene and his car was seized. Officers executed a state search warrant on the car and recovered a 9mm pistol, approximately three pounds of meth and $10,000 cash.

In December 2021, police received a tip that Petersen was back in Miles City. Officers located Petersen at a local hotel and attempted to arrest him on a warrant from Wyoming. Petersen fled but was arrested after a short foot chase. The arresting officer located a .380-caliber pistol in Petersens pocket. Petersen was prohibited from possessing firearms because of a prior felony conviction in Wyoming.

The U.S. Attorneys Office prosecuted the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Montana Highway Patrol and Miles City Police Department conducted the investigation.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make neighborhoods safer.
The King has begun a second day in hospital after undergoing a procedure for an enlarged prostate.

Charles was spotted entering The London Clinic in central London on Friday morning with his wife Camilla at his side  the same hospital where the Princess of Wales is being cared for following abdominal surgery.

Advertisement

Camilla appeared in good spirits when she first left the private hospital at 3.10pm, smiling at reporters before getting into a car.

Advertisement

She returned for a visit lasting around an hour-and-a-half and left just before 8pm.

She told people inside The London Clinic earlier on Friday that Charles was doing well after the procedure.

Charles took time to visit his daughter-in-law Kate, who is on the 12th day of her hospital stay after undergoing a successful major operation last week.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Camilla visited the King for around an hour and a half before leaving the hospital (Lucy North/PA)

A Buckingham Palace spokesman previously said Charles was admitted to a London hospital for scheduled treatment.

The spokesman added: His Majesty would like to thank all those who have sent their good wishes over the past week and is delighted to learn that his diagnosis is having a positive impact on public health awareness.

It is not known how long Charles will spend in hospital but reports suggest he could remain there over the weekend.

Advertisement

Charles arrived back in London from Norfolk on Thursday afternoon, ready for the procedure after squeezing in a couple of behind-the-scenes official duties.

British prime minister Rishi Sunak wished Charles the very best for his treatment and a speedy recovery afterwards, a Downing Street spokeswoman said.

The monarch was diagnosed with the benign condition on January 17th while staying at Birkhall, Aberdeenshire, after going for a check-up because he was experiencing symptoms.

He is understood to have wanted to share the news to encourage other men to get themselves checked.

Advertisement

Charles, who only acceded to throne 16 months ago, cancelled engagements and was urged to rest by his doctors ahead of the corrective procedure.

The exact nature of the 75-year-olds treatment is not known.

The Princess of Wales underwent surgery at the same hospital (Aaron Chown/PA)

Camilla had previously said her husband is fine and looking forward to getting back to work.

Advertisement

News of his diagnosis came on the same day that Kensington Palace announced the princess was in hospital after undergoing abdominal surgery.

Kate (42) is not expected to carry out official engagements until after Easter, with Prince William clearing his diary of official duties for the time being.
The chair of the UK's Post Office has stepped down amid ongoing tensions in the wake of the Horizon IT scandal.

Henry Staunton will depart from the role following a phone call with UK business secretary Kemi Badenoch on Saturday.

Advertisement

An interim will be appointed shortly, the UK's Department for Business and Trade said.

Mr Staunton only took up the post at the state-owned company in December 2022, following nine years as chair of WH Smith.

UK business secretary Kemi Badenoch (Aaron Chown/PA)

Advertisement

He had been tasked with leading the board of directors as the business reels from the fallout of what has been described as the UKs biggest miscarriage of justice.

More than 700 branch managers were prosecuted by the Post Office between 1999 and 2015 after faulty Horizon accounting software made it look as though money was missing from their shops.

Advertisement

Hundreds of subpostmasters and subpostmistresses are still awaiting compensation despite the UK government announcing that those who have had convictions quashed are eligible for 600,000 payouts.

Mr Stauntons departure follows frustration in Whitehall over the companys governance, including a row over the prospective appointment of a new senior independent director, Sky News reported.

Advertisement

Insiders told the outlet his exit was not directly related to the Horizon scandal itself, but that there had been differences of opinion between him and government as to the best candidate for the job.

It comes at one of the most turbulent points in the companys history, with a statutory inquiry into the saga under way and renewed public anger following its dramatisation in ITVs Mr Bates Vs the Post Office earlier this month.

UK prime minister Rishi Sunak has also announced blanket legislation to exonerate those wrongly prosecuted after the TV series returned the scandal to the spotlight.

A UK government spokesperson said: In a phone call earlier today, the Secretary of State for Business and Trade and Henry Staunton, chair of Post Office Limited (POL), agreed to part ways with mutual consent.

Advertisement

An interim will be appointed shortly and a recruitment process for a new chair will be launched in due course, in accordance with the Governance Code for Public Appointments.
A jury has awarded an additional $83.3 million (76 million) to former columnist E Jean Carroll, who says former president Donald Trump damaged her reputation by calling her a liar after she accused him of sexual assault.

Fridays verdict was the second time in nine months that a jury addressed Ms Carrolls claim that Mr Trump assaulted her in a New York City department store in 1996.

Advertisement

Another jury last May found Mr Trump liable for sexual abuse and ordered him to pay $5 million.

Ms Carroll smiled as the verdict was read. By then, Mr Trump had left the building in his motorcade.

A courtroom sketch shows the moment that Donald Trump walked out of court (Elizabeth Williams via AP)

Advertisement

Absolutely ridiculous! he said in a statement shortly after the verdict was announced. He vowed to appeal.

Our legal system is out of control, and being used as a political weapon, he said.

Advertisement

This defamation trial was over things Mr Trump said about Ms Carroll while he was president.

Mr Trump continues to insist he was falsely accused.

Advertisement

The verdict was delivered on Friday by a seven-man, two-woman jury in a trial regularly attended by Mr Trump, who abruptly left the courtroom on Friday during closing arguments by a Carroll lawyer before returning to hear his own lawyers closing and the full rebuttal argument by another Carroll attorney.

Alina Habba, one of ex-president Donald Trumps attorneys, arrives at Trump Tower ahead of his trial (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

He stayed in place to hear the judges instructions to the jury as well.

Advertisement

It was the second time in nine months that a jury returned a verdict related to Ms Carrolls claim that a flirtatious, chance encounter with Mr Trump in 1996 at a Bergdorf Goodman store ended violently. She said Mr Trump slammed her against a dressing room wall and forced himself on her.

In May, a different jury awarded Carroll $5 million. It found Mr Trump not liable for rape, but responsible for sexually abusing Ms Carroll and then defaming her by claiming she made it up. He is appealing that award.

Mr Trump skipped the first trial. He later expressed regret for not attending and insisted on testifying in the second trial, though the judge limited what he could say, ruling he had missed his chance to argue that he was innocent.

Advertisement

He spent only a few minutes on the witness stand on Thursday, during which he denied attacking Ms Carroll, then left court grumbling this is not America.

Advertisement

Donald Trump leaves his apartment building in New York before the trial (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

This new jury was only asked how much Mr Trump (77) should pay Ms Carroll (80) for two statements he made as president when he answered reporters questions after excerpts of Ms Carrolls memoir were published in a magazine  damages that could not be decided earlier because of legal appeals. Jurors were not asked to re-decide the issue of whether the sex attack actually happened.

Ms Carrolls attorneys had requested $24 million in compensatory damages and an unusually high punitive award.

Her lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, urged jurors in her closing argument on Friday to punish Mr Trump enough that he would stop a steady stream of public statements smearing Ms Carroll as a liar and a whack job.

Trump shook his head vigorously as Ms Kaplan spoke, then suddenly stood and walked out, taking Secret Service agents with him. His exit came only minutes after the judge, without the jury present, threatened to send Mr Trumps attorney Alina Habba to jail for continuing to talk when he told her she was finished.

You are on the verge of spending some time in the lock-up. Now sit down, the judge told Ms Habba, who immediately complied.

Advertisement

A courtroom sketch shows E Jean Carrolls attorney Roberta Kaplan giving her summation to the jury (Elizabeth Williams via AP)

The trial reached its conclusion as Mr Trump marches toward winning the Republican presidential nomination a third consecutive time. He has sought to turn his various trials and legal vulnerabilities into an advantage, portraying them as evidence of a weaponised political system.

Though theres no evidence that President Joe Biden or anyone in the White House has influenced any of the legal cases against him, Mr Trumps line of argument has resonated with his most loyal supporters who view the proceedings with scepticism.

Ms Carroll testified early in the trial that Mr Trumps public statements had led to death threats.

He shattered my reputation, she said. I am here to get my reputation back and to stop him from telling lies about me.

She said she had had an electronic fence installed around the cabin in upstate New York where she lives, warned neighbours of the threats and bought bullets for a gun she keeps by her bed.

Previously, I was known as simply as a journalist and had a column, and now Im known as the liar, the fraud, and the whack job, Ms Carroll testified.

Trumps lawyer, Ms Habba, told jurors that Ms Carroll had been enriched by her accusations against Mr Trump and achieved fame she had craved. She said no damages were warranted.

Advertisement

When Trump finally testified, Judge Kaplan gave him little room to manoeuvre, because Mr Trump could not be permitted to try to revive issues settled in the first trial.

It is a very well-established legal principle in this country that prevents do-overs by disappointed litigants, Judge Kaplan said.

He lost it and he is bound. And the jury will be instructed that, regardless of what he says in court here today, he did it, as far as theyre concerned. That is the law, Judge Kaplan said shortly before Trump testified.

After he swore to tell the truth, Mr Trump was asked if he stood by a deposition in which he called Ms Carroll a liar and a whack job. He answered: 100 percent. Yes.

Asked if he denied the allegation because Ms Carroll made an accusation, he responded: Thats exactly right. She said something, I consider it a false accusation.

Asked if he ever instructed anyone to hurt Ms Carroll, he said: No. I just wanted to defend myself, my family, and frankly, the presidency.

The judge ordered the jury to disregard the false accusation comment and everything Mr Trump said after No to the last question.

Earlier in the trial, Mr Trump tested the judges tolerance. When he complained to his lawyers about a witch hunt and a con job within earshot of jurors, Judge Kaplan threatened to eject him from the courtroom if it happened again.

I would love it, Mr Trump said. Later that day, Mr Trump told a news conference that Judge Kaplan was a nasty judge.
NDC GMWA Choir - "More Than A Conqueror (Live)" | The Bellamy Group

Wilmington, D.E. -- In 2016, The Northern Delaware Chapter, Inc. of the Gospel Music Workshop of America Recording Choir (NDC GMWA) released their debut album, GOD BE GLORIFIED, which earned them six Rhythm of Gospel Award nominations and two awards. Their powerful delivery and genuine praise have made way for them to sing for President Biden and recently at the celebration of life services for the late Wilmington District Councilman Ted Blount, the father of Delaware Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester.

In 2019, under the leadership of choirmaster Minister Wayne E. Carter, Sr. (The Maestro), the NDC GMWA Choir followed up with a hit radio single, "All Of My Help". NDC GMWA is starting the new year stronger than ever with a hot new single, "More Than A Conqueror (Live)," that is fresh for Gospel radio and refreshingly empowering for listeners.

NDC GMWA Musical Director Pastor AJ Collier states, "The spirit of defeat and discouragement is rampant today. So many people feel hopeless and helpless. This song reminds believers that they have victory through Jesus Christ in every situation. When you are in Christ, and He is in you, victory is your portion."

"More Than A Conqueror (Live)" features lead vocals by Kim Glass and A Jermaine Nixon. Nixon also served as producer for the song. The high-octane praise anthem is written by Brian Pittman.

"The sentiment of our new single gives to the believer that despite inconsistencies, struggles, and doubts, we have the assurance through Him that we can conquer anything," says Wayne E. Carter, Sr. "The lyrics admonish us that we are victorious and triumphant regardless of what we see. More Than A Conqueror lifts and inspires my soul so I will not be defeated."

"More Than A Conqueror (Live)" is taking off on Gospel radio and is now available on all digital music platforms. Their new single has already garnered the choir another six nominations for this year's Rhythm Of Gospel Awards. The 2024 Rhythm Of Gospel Awards will occur on June 23, 2024, in Mobile, AL.
Switch - "Symphony" | DREAM Label Group

Los Angeles, CA (January 26th, 2024)  Today, Switch celebrates the five-year anniversary of their hit single Symphony by releasing a beautiful acoustic version of the song. Symphony (Acoustic) (DREAM Records) is available on all digital retail and streaming service providers including in both standard definition, HD and Dolby Atmos everywhere. The track also comes with a music video on Apple Music as well as all other available video platforms. Written after hearing the stories of students struggling with anxiety and depression, Switch wrote Symphony to speak hope into their lives and give them prayers to sing.

This song is an honest response to the struggles many of us face and a declaration that, through it all, God is writing a beautiful story, a symphony out of our lives, said Cassidy Estevez with Switch. While we hoped this song would encourage people as they went through difficult moments, its been humbling to hear how its brought peace and healing to so many people around the world.

This single comes ahead of the release of a deluxe edition of their album Symphony on February 23. The 14-song album will come with a new version of their single Jump featuring Davide Mutendji of Elevation Rhythm as well as four bonus acoustic versions from the original album.

Listen or Buy Symphony (Acoustic) here

Connect with Switch:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
Australian investors should brace for more challenges in China as Beijing fails to identify a substantial policy fix for its economy, which has stalled to three-decade lows and led to the countrys sharemarket plunging more than 40 per cent in three years.

Thats the view of investment managers and economists, who say purported plans to pump 2 trillion yuan ($430 billion) into the countrys tanking sharemarket, and the central banks decision to the cut the amount of cash that banks must hold on reserve, will do little to reverse its ailing economy.

Experts say Beijings purported plans to pump 2 trillion yuan into the stock market, and the central banks decision to the cut the amount of cash that banks must hold on reserve, will do little to help its economy. Credit: AP

China is Australias largest trading partner, accounting for nearly a third of international trade, and the industries most exposed to Beijings economic woes are resources and commodities.

Omkar Joshi, chief investment officer at Opal Capital Management, said Australia was intimately linked to Chinas economy, and any downturn had the impact to affect local businesses.
The Melbourne-based seller, who manages a local gallery for her day job, says shes seriously considering her presence on Etsy. Im just really quite hesitant about my place on this platform. And Im really thinking about starting my own website instead of feeding this company. Chen is not alone. Etsys community forums are rife with sellers and buyers complaining about this issue. A post from a user named Babyweartreasures from September last year, for example, writes: I make hand-knitted baby items, which take a lot of time. I am being outsold by a shop on Etsy that started up six months ago, selling supposed handknitted baby cardigans for $15. You cant even buy the wool for that price. I suspect they are being imported. The seller has sold hundreds just in this short time. I have complained to Etsy many times to investigate and Ive heard nothing. Another commenter, writing in November last year, writes from the buyers perspective: Etsy was always my first choice for Christmas gifts but searching for genuine handmade items amongst a sea of resellers is depressing and difficult. I generally only come here to shop now if I am following a link from someone I follow on social media. An investigation conducted by UK consumer group Which? in April 2023 concluded that some Etsy sellers are ripping off online shoppers by charging up to seven times more than other websites for items falsely presented as handmade. Earlier this month, Crikey reported that AI is being used to create cheap imitations of Aboriginal art that is then sold on platforms that include Etsy. Etsy has made efforts to curb the number of counterfeit goods on its site. In its annual transparency report from last year, Etsy says it removed 1.9 million listings for violating its terms in 2022 and 468,000 listings for suspected counterfeit violations. Etsy did not respond to a request for comment.

Cara Weinstock, Sydney-based founder of Cara Mia Vintage, has been selling designer vintage on Etsy since 2012, and says the platform has changed drastically in the past decade. As an unknown in the world of vintage, Etsy was the perfect launchpad, with a built-in customer base hungry for vintage gems. Back then, Weinstock says Etsy was very seller focused, supporting her through its media centre and with marketing initiatives. Cara Weinstock, owner of online vintage designer store Cara Mia Vintage, in her Sydney-based showroom. Credit: Peter Rae Today, she says, its harder to cut through the noise. I think theyve tried to become a more mass market platform, whereas before they were very much about vintage and handmade. Now theyre more of an Amazon competitor almost. Today, Weinstock says most of her sales come from her own website, rather than Etsy. Weinstock says that some measures Etsy has introduced to weed out counterfeits have been ineffective. The platform uses artificial intelligence to sweep the platform for keywords (vintage Chanel, for example) that may be used to describe fake designer goods. In the process, however, shes had products deactivated despite being authentic. She says there have been no real avenues or customer service for her to reach out to in such instances. The Temu-ification of Etsy? A shifting retail landscape

The trajectory of Etsy follows broader shifts in the retail landscape. Today, marketplaces such as Shein and Temu, both Chinese-owned megastores that offer impossibly low prices on anything from tank tops to televisions, dominate the internet. And, as vendors Weinstock and Chen point out, its harder for independent sellers to stand out  something thats true not just on Etsy but on the internet as a whole. Earlier this month, a group of German researchers sought out to determine if Google search results really were decreasing in quality. In their report, they wrote, we can conclude that higher-ranked pages are on average more optimised, more monetised with affiliate marketing, and they show signs of lower text quality. Dr Jason Pallant, senior lecturer of marketing at RMIT, sees Etsys shift away from its handmade and local ethos as the almost inevitable result of its growth, which he says has left it vulnerable to scammers and made it difficult to regulate. Since going public in 2010, the company has continued to grow. Buoyed by a captive market of online shoppers during the pandemic, Etsys revenue skyrocketed from $1.17 billion in 2019 to $2.45 billion in 2020, during which it also doubled its active buyers. It gets more challenging, the bigger you are because the more producers you have, the more scammers you have, the more resources it takes to track all of them down, explains Pallant.

Dr Sonika Singh, senior lecturer at the UTS business school, says its also becoming harder for consumers to distinguish between high and low-quality products when shopping online  a key issue artisans face when trying to stand out from the crowd on Etsy. High-quality photography, artificial intelligence and paid or incentivised product reviews are factors that contribute to a more confusing shopping experience, she says. A lot of consumers also do not get that authentic experience when they are buying handmade products online because they cannot touch [the product] or know the story behind it, Singh adds. The risk of purchasing a handmade product online, as well as waning seller credibility, are also contributors. The future of handmade and vintage

So does this spell the end of Etsy? Not necessarily. I do think Etsy will be around for a while, says Pallant, but it will just evolve into a more traditional marketplace compared to that kind of bespoke creator. Australian marketplace Madeit caters to local artisans and craftspeople. As Etsy slides further in the direction of marketplaces such as Amazon and Temu, alternatives have sprung up in its place. Resale app Depop, which Etsy purchased in 2021, has remained largely immune to the problems plagued by its parent company. The introduction of retail to social media platforms such as Instagram also means many small businesses no longer need marketplaces like Etsy to promote their wares. Loading Madeit, an Australian marketplace for handmade arts and crafts, was founded just a year after Etsy. Leina Broughton, who took over as chief executive of the company last year, thinks there is still a demand for artisan products, although admits Madeit is never going to be a platform thats for everyone. She says the platform has a rigorous application process for prospective vendors to uphold their handmade standards.
Premier Chris Minns has indicated he is open to strengthening the states laws on extremist and hateful ideology after police were called to a Sydney train station on Friday to prevent a group of black-clad men from attending Australia Day events in the CBD.

A total of 61 infringement notices were handed out for intimidation on the New South Wales public transport network yesterday with another five people detained to verify their identity.

The men were released without charge and investigations and inquiries are continuing.

Police questioned men wearing black at North Sydney train station on Australia Day. Credit:

[These] idiots frankly tried to destroy [Australia Day] for millions of ordinary Australians, Minns said. Were prepared to strengthen laws when we see a gap as it relates to community harmony.
A service on Sunday honours the tragic, rarely told deaths of two Brisbane army reservists who died 50 years ago on an amphibious vehicle while evacuating flood-stricken Brisbane families.

This grainy black and white photograph from January 28, 1974 shows Captain Ian Kerr standing on the starboard bow holding a boat pole, while Corporal Neville Hourigan squats on the port bow of the armys light amphibious resupply cargo boat.

Minutes later they would both be dead.

On January 28, 1974, Captain Ian Kerr and Corporal Neville Hourigan - both seen on this army amphibious vehicle - died when electricity arced from high-tension cables to a boat hook held by Kerr. Credit: Roger Todd

The army call these army boats LARC (lighter, amphibious, resupply, cargo) vehicles and they are used throughout the world for shallow-water rescue, food supply and quick evacuations.
Australia will pause its $6 million humanitarian aid package to the United Nations agency for Palestinians in Gaza as the organisation investigates allegations that 12 of its staff may have been involved in the Hamas attacks on southern Israel on October 7.

Countries including the United States, Canada, Britain, Finland and Italy also temporarily halted funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency after the organisation fired several staffers suspected of taking part in the attacks that killed 1200 Israelis.

Palestinians try to extinguish a fire at a building of an UNRWA vocational training centre earlier this week. Credit: AP

The UNRWA has been the main agency providing urgent assistance including food, shelter and emergency healthcare in Gaza since Israel launched a retaliatory war that has created a humanitarian crisis in the strip and killed 26,000 Palestinians.

The agencys chief, Philippe Lazzarini, said the UNRWA had terminated contracts with several employees and ordered an investigation after Israel provided information alleging they played a role in the October 7 attack.
In an attempt to move elk off private property, Wyoming landowners have killed 166 antlerless elk with another 349 taken by hunters in the past year.

Brian Nesvik, director of Wyoming Game and Fish Department, provided the states Game and Fish Commission with the information during the groups Jan. 16 meeting in Cheyenne.

The agency estimates the states elk population at about 109,000. Over the last five years elk damage claims made by landowners have increased by 42%.

Elk populations continue to be a concern in some portions of the state where hunting access is limited and elk populations exceed our management objectives, said Rick King, Game and Fish chief of wildlife, in a press release.

To increase the elk harvest, WGFD can issue more licenses and work with landowners to pay for public hunter access. The agency may also extend seasons or issue late season cow-calf licenses.

Implementing liberal elk hunting seasons does not always work when there is limited public access, King said.

Last year, Wyomings Access Yes program paid to open access to more than 2.6 million acres of land for hunting.

In some cases, changes to season structure and implementation of Access Yes programs have been insufficient to reduce damage to private lands and manage over-objective elk populations, King said. In these cases, Game and Fish is utilizing Chapter 34, Auxiliary Management Licenses and Chapter 56, Lethal Take Permits to address damage concerns.

Under the Chapter 56 program, landowners can negotiate to shoot elk to reduce the damage they may cause as well as to lessen the risk to human health and safety they may pose. The hunts can also diminish the possibility of disease transmission as well as meet Game and Fish population objectives.

In the Iron Mountain area between Cheyenne and Laramie, WGFD issued 27 of the Chapter 56 permits to landowners. Each permittee was given 15 donation coupons to cover the possession and donation of the harvested elk. Landowners who had already killed 15 elk could apply for more. Nesvik said the total could be raised to 700 to 750 coupons.

Under Chapter 34, Auxiliary Management Hunting Seasons, WGFD authorized 12 hunts across the state for antlerless elk, selling 622 licenses. Some hunts allow the use of an unutilized general season tag.

In Casper theres been four permits issued (two in Area 7, one in 117/126 in the Black Hills and one in Area 3 along the Niobrara-Goshen county line). Although reporting is not complete, Nesvik said an estimated 120 antlerless elk were killed in the Black Hills, 80 in Converse County and about 40 in the northern portion of Hunt Area 7 (on the Wagonhound Ranch).

Cody has one permit in Area 41 where 17 elk have been killed. Lander has one permit in Area 28, where hunting just started. The area had a similar permit last January through March and 33 elk were killed. Laramie has had two permits in 2023  one in February and one in July to mid-August. Thirty-one hunters killed 39 elk out of 100 licenses offered during a 60 day winter hunt, whereas during the August hunt only one elk was shot. Near Green River two permits were issued with 40 hunters eligible. Pinedale had one permit with 16 hunters taking part and only one elk killed.

Wyomings program differs from Montana, which has initiated early and late season hunts to reduce elk where they are over population objectives. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks can also issue game damage permits when wildlife concentrations are a problem, but the landowner must have allowed reasonable public hunting access during the regular season to take part in the program.

Another option in Montana is a management hunt, involving more than one property owner. In both cases, hunters are recruited off a hunt roster with landowners allowed to choose one-quarter of the total.

The third option available to landowners is a supplemental game damage hunt for 12 animals or less. The department then issues licenses valid for a specific property and time. Landowners may designate some or all of the hunters.

In Wyoming, King said his departments efforts to reduce elk herds to established objectives would continue this year.

In Montana, a landowner group sued FWP in 2022 arguing the agency hasnt done enough to thin elk herds that are damaging private lands. The state has an estimated 143,300 elk with 21 hunting districts reporting populations over objectives.

The lawsuit requests the judge declare elk regulations void, and require FWP and the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission, within 90 days, to develop a plan to remove, harvest or eliminate thousands of elk as expediently as practicable, according to reporting by the Lee State Bureau. Regulations should be liberalized and free from special permits in over-objective districts, the lawsuit says.
Many people use the same username and password combinations across multiple online platforms... It only takes one of these to be breached for your details to be exposed. Maloney said hackers were having a field day given the sheer amount of Australian login information available for purchase. There are some 24.6 billion username and password combinations circulating on dark web marketplaces, according to recent research from software provider Digital Shadows. We would never use the same key to access every building we enter: home, office, garage, safe. The same thinking should apply to online passwords. Garrett OHara, Mimecast senior director The dark web and various hacking communities provide a marketplace for stolen login credentials obtained from data breaches; from here, cyber criminals can easily purchase or acquire these stolen credentials, and gain access to other accounts using these details, Maloney said. The compromise of a single set of credentials can have a cascading effect, jeopardising the security of numerous accounts and platforms linked to the affected user.

Nigel Phair, professor of cybersecurity at Monash University, said the rise in credential stuffing attacks was due to the sheer scale of breaches targeting high-profile companies, affecting millions of Australians. UNSW Canberra Cyber director Nigel Phair says scams can be tailored to high-value targets such as CEOs. Credit: Paul Jeffers Tens of millions of Australians have been caught up in recent breaches including customers of Optus, HWL Ebsworth, Latitude Financial, Medibank, DP World and Dymocks, in whats being dubbed a new normal of consistent attacks. This is a direct consequence of those cyberattacks. This is what happens with the data that is taken, Phair said. Once personal data, logins and passwords have been taken in a data breach, that information could be available for cybercriminals to access easily, instantly, and forever.

Garrett OHara, senior director at Mimecast, said attackers were looking for where they can easily make the most money. With the huge number of breaches that have happened in recent years  combined with many people who still use the same password for many accounts  attackers now have both a massive availability of username and password combos and huge computer power to automate credential stuffing many sites, he said. Compared to the effort involved in novel or sophisticated breaches, credential stuffing is technically very simple, making it available to more attackers, OHara said. Its preventable  we dont need to see these stories hit the news. We need a population that is better aware of the dangers of reusing passwords. For obvious reasons we would never use the same key to access every building we enter: home, office, garage, safe. The same thinking should apply to our online passwords.

OHara said consumers should use a password manager, turn on multifactor authentication and check websites such as haveibeenpwned.com to see if they have been caught up in previous data breaches. One person who claimed to have direct knowledge of The Iconic cyber incident said the people responsible did not execute the data breaches themselves, but instead had their own suppliers carry out the breaches who then on-sold the accounts. The person, speaking anonymously to protect their identity, said the hackers used scripts to automatically input the purchased logins into websites. The scripts then categorise whether the login was successful, and what data is linked to the account, including credit card information, for example. I can let you know right now that The Iconic isnt the only store that is being targeted, the person said.

There are heaps of others and unfortunately a majority of them dont bother letting their customers know that their information has been compromised. Home Affairs and Cyber Security Minister Clare ONeil. Credit: Oscar Colman What they did was not morally and legally right, they said of the hackers. Ted Dunstone is the CEO of biometric consulting firm Biometix. He said the credential stuffing attacks impacting The Iconic, Dan Murphys and others shows how much personal data is in circulation. The frequency and sophistication of credential stuffing assaults are certain to rise. This poses a serious danger not just to individual users, but also to businesses where the damage is not only financial but loss of customer confidence, he said.

The real advance will be the removal of the passwords completely. Loading Some of the worlds largest tech firms, including Apple and Google, have begun rolling out passkey technology that allows authentication via fingerprint ID, facial ID or a PIN entered via a smartphone. Its a development being viewed by many in the technology industry as the beginning of the end for passwords. The technology is still in its early stages, but can prevent hackers from stealing login information, given that the biometric information is never shared. The complete shift to a passwordless world will begin with consumers making it a natural part of their lives. Any viable solution must be safer, easier and faster than the passwords and legacy multifactor authentication methods used today, said Alex Simons, corporate vice-president of Microsofts Identity Program Management.
Israeli military and intelligence officials have concluded that a significant number of weapons used by Hamas in the October 7 attacks and in the war in the Gaza Strip came from an unlikely source: the Israeli military itself.

For years, analysts have pointed to underground smuggling routes to explain how Hamas stayed so heavily armed despite an Israeli military blockade of the Gaza Strip. But recent intelligence has shown the extent to which Hamas has been able to build many of its rockets and anti-tank weaponry out of the thousands of munitions that failed to detonate when Israel lobbed them into Gaza, according to weapons experts and Israeli and Western intelligence officials. Hamas is also arming its fighters with weapons stolen from Israeli military bases.

Israels Iron Dome missile defence system fires interceptors at rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon, southern Israel. Credit: AP

Intelligence gathered during months of fighting revealed that, just as Israeli authorities misjudged Hamas intentions before October 7, they also underestimated its ability to obtain arms.

What is clear now is that the very weapons that Israeli forces have used to enforce a blockade of Gaza over the past 17 years are now being used against them. Israeli and American military explosives have enabled Hamas to shower Israel with rockets and, for the first time, penetrate Israeli towns from Gaza.
UB ready to be the home for Gov. Hochuls proposed $400 million AI consortium

We are delighted that the governor is recognizing UBs longstanding national and international leadership in AI and data science with this momentous designation, which will make UB  as the home of Empire AI  a premier resource center for AI research and innovation. 

BUFFALO, N.Y.  With deep and decades-long leadership in artificial intelligence and data science, the University at Buffalo is ready to be the home for Empire AI, Gov. Kathy Hochuls proposed $400 million consortium that aims to put New York State at the forefront of the AI revolution.



Hochul announced UB as the statewide location for Empire AI while speaking about her 2024-25 budget proposal Friday at the Center for the Arts on UBs North Campus. As part of her announcement, Hochul shared plans to build and utilize a state-of-the-art artificial intelligence computing center that will be located at UB to facilitate innovation, responsible research and economic development.

The consortium, which would include SUNY, CUNY and private colleges and universities, as well as private foundations, will accelerate research and innovation in AI while creating sustained economic impact across the state, and serve as a reliable, trustworthy source of information as AI technologies evolve.



The center will be a global leader and usher in unlimited possibilities of the future of this area that it never could have foreseen, Hochul said.

She noted that promising UB students like Holliday Sims, a computer science major who intends to use AI for social good and whom Hochul gave a shout out to during her State of the State address earlier this month, will play a key role in Empire AI. We want to make sure that New York State is the capital of AI development and empower young people like Holliday to do this, Hochul said before announcing UB as the home for Empire AI.

On behalf of the entire University at Buffalo community, I would like to extend my deep appreciation and sincere gratitude to Governor Hochul for naming UB as the site of the Empire AI consortium, said UB President Satish K. Tripathi. We are delighted that the governor is recognizing UBs longstanding national and international leadership in AI and data science with this momentous designation, which will make UB  as the home of Empire AI  a premier resource center for AI research and innovation.

Governor Hochuls vision to position New York State at the forefront of responsible AI will spur game-changing research, attract significant federal funding and expand 21st century business and industry, cultivating sustained economic prosperity in Buffalo, Western New York and across the state, Tripathi added. The UB community is indebted to the governor for her bold vision, and we look forward to working with all Empire AI consortium partners to harness our collective expertise in service of social good.

This is an extraordinary moment for SUNY and New York! We are thrilled that SUNYs University at Buffalo will be the home for Empire AI and a leader in SUNYs multi-campus participation in this exciting initiative, SUNY Chancellor John B. King, Jr. said.

The Governors proposal to ramp up our states leadership in artificial intelligence research and economic development will place this technology in the hands of experts throughout higher education, building on SUNYs extraordinary leadership and deep experience. My congratulations to all who will benefit: students  like UBs Holliday Sims who told me how she has used AI on projects in child welfare  researchers across the state, and the entire community, King added.



Through Empire AI, UB and our partner institutions will develop new ways to improve student learning in the classroom, said UB Provost A. Scott Weber, and we will offer students new opportunities to participate in exciting research projects and pursue emerging career paths in industries important to the economic vitality of New York State.



A SUNY flagship, UB has the faculty expertise to leverage the vast possibilities of AI to solve problems facing the state and world  whether in medicine, education, finance, social justice or sustainable technologies. In addition, UB is No. 1 in the state among public and private research universities in securing cyberinfrastructure program funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

UB faculty currently are working on several research projects focused on using AI for the public good. For example:

Last year, UB was awarded a highly competitive, five-year, $20 million grant from the NSF to establish the National AI Institute for Exceptional Education. The institute is developing artificial intelligence systems to diagnose and treat young children with speech and language processing challenges.

Scientists conduct groundbreaking research at UBs Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science and its Center for Information Integrity, which has recently received nearly $6 million in grants from the National Science Foundation to help older adults and children spot online scams and disinformation.

Other current AI-related research projects at UB include using AI to treat brain aneurysms; spot Type 2 diabetes trends; help first responders during natural disasters; modernize manufacturing systems; predict disease progression during aging; and develop new materials for space applications, from satellite sensors to cosmic radiation shields.

The University at Buffalo has more than 200 researchers pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence and data science in cybersecurity, drug discovery and medicine, robotics, education, environmental science, transportation and other fields that are critical to the state and nations future, said Venu Govindaraju, UB vice president for research and economic development. Empire AI will marshal these resources with those of our partnerships to create a technological powerhouse in New York State.

The University at Buffalo has been a worldwide leader in artificial intelligence research and education for nearly 50 years. This includes pioneering work creating the worlds first autonomous handwriting recognition system, which the U.S. Postal Service and Royal Mail adopted to save billions of dollars. As New Yorks flagship university, that legacy of innovation continues today. UB researchers are committed to using AI for social good, including developing new technology that addresses the shortage of speech-language pathologists in K-12 education, deepfakes, the need for improved medical imaging and more.
The Kashmiri Pandits also pressed for a renewed employment package tailored for the community in the valley under the prime minister's package in 2010

The displaced Kashmiri Pandits on Friday urged the Centre to increase their monthly relief amount and allocate a new employment package featuring 5,000 jobs in the Kashmir Valley during the upcoming Budget session.

A Kashmiri Pandit family, lacking any government employee as its member, currently receives "meagre" Rs 13,000 per month for sustenance without any enhancement during the last one decade. The families with government employees, however, do not receive such relief.

"I request the central government to keep a separate amount for the Kashmiri Pandit community in the forthcoming Budget. I will press for implementation of two things and will urge the Finance Ministry and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha ji. There should be enhancement of relief amount to the community as early as possible in this Budget session," Head of Kashmiri Pandit Volunteers (KPV) Vikram Kaul told PTI.

Expressing optimism, he hoped that the BJP government, despite a perceived lack of significant initiatives for the community, would address their demands.

"We had high expectations from the BJP. We view Modi ji as our guide. However, tangible progress has yet to materialise. We remain hopeful for a substantial enhancement of relief, surpassing previous allocations," Kaul said.

The Kashmiri Pandits also pressed for a renewed employment package tailored for the community in the valley under the prime minister's package in 2010.





ALSO READ: Budget expectations: Income tax benefits, support to women entrepreneurs "The second demand is to provide a minimum of 5,000 youth jobs in Kashmir under a special package following the model of KP (Kashmiri Pandits employees working in the valley. Unemployment within our community is a significant concern here," he added.
Mark Suzman, CEO of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, said that India has become an incredible exception in economic growth and dynamic philanthropic market.

In an exclusive interview with ANI, CEO Suzman said, "We have a range of other partners in India as well, and India has become an incredibly dynamic philanthropic market. It's another area that's seen growth. I think the annual growth in philanthropic giving outpaces overall economic growth, which is great to see. We hope that can happen at an even greater scale, because we think it is an incredible model to the world, and it's been very encouraging."

He said that this time, the investment will be twofold. He said, "The focus is twofold. One is essentially announcing our new budget of $8.6 billion, but announcing it in the context of the big, growing global needs. India these days, unfortunately, is an exception in terms of the economic growth and dynamism that is underway and the significant improvements we've been seeing in healthcare and poverty reduction. In fact, many other parts of the world are getting poorer, and have not yet recovered their per capita income to their pre-COVID levels."

"A big part of my letter is a call to action to increase the spending and resources on interventions,health interventions, AI interventions, and agricultural interventions. It's specifically a call not juston governments, but also on philanthropists because one group of people that have done comparatively well over the last decade are the world's billionaires," Mark Suzman added.

According to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation website, it works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives, guided by the belief that every life has equal value.

In developing countries, it focuses on improving people's health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty.

Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Mark Suzman, under the direction of co-chairs Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates and the board of trustees.
Congress President M Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday said his party expects that those who have the desire to protect the country's Constitution and democracy, will definitely not take any hasty steps, amid indications that JD(U) was planning to revert to the BJP-led NDA.

He said the Congress will make all efforts to keep the INDIA bloc united, while maintaining that he has no clarity as to what is in the JD(U) leadership's mind.

Responding to a question on the possibility of JD(U) going out of the INDIA alliance, Kharge said, "Are they (JD(U)) going out? I have not got any information about it so far. I have written a letter to them (JD(U) leadership) and have tried to talk to them. I don't know clearly what is in their minds."



There are strong indications that JD(U) chief and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was planning to quit the ruling 'Mahagathbandhan' in the state and revert to the BJP-led NDA.

Some JD(U) leaders like K C Tyagi have claimed that the INDIA bloc is on the verge of collapse.

Speaking to reporters here, the Congress president said, "I'm going to Dehradun tomorrow and from there to Delhi. Once I go there, I will gather complete information about it and talk to you, otherwise it may lead to confusion.....Let's see what happens."



Asked about the possibility of the JD(U) joining hands with BJP to form a new government in Bihar, Kharge said, "We don't have that information. Whether they have gone to the Governor or whether they are going, they have not informed us. If the INDIA alliance had information about it, I could say authentically, or else it would add to speculations. Let's see what happens."



Stating that the Congress' effort is to the unity of the INDIA alliance should not break, he said, "It's my appeal, I have made this appeal. I have spoken to Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal CM and Trinamool Congress Chief), him (Bihar CM and JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar), Lalu Prasad Yadav (RJD chief), Sitaram Yechury (CPI(M) general secretary), and others."



"I have told them that we have to stay united, only then we can give a good fight, and the INDIA alliance can be successful in fulfilling the intentions with which it was formed. We expect that those who have the desire to protect this country's Constitution and democracy, will definitely not take any hasty steps. This is my feeling, we will make all efforts," he added.
Earlier, 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

The Indian Navy on Saturday said its guided missile destroyer INS Visakhapatnam has deployed a team to help fire-fighting efforts on board British oil tanker MV Marlin Luanda which has got 22 Indian and one Bangladeshi crew members.

According to foreign media reports, the tanker caught fire after a missile attack by Yemen's Houthi militants, the latest incident linked to the Iran-backed group in the key shipping route Gulf of Aden.

On a request from MV Marlin Luanda, INS Visakhapatnam has deployed its NBCD team along with fire-fighting equipment to render assistance to the crew towards augmenting fire-fighting efforts on board the distressed ship, a Navy spokesperson said.

"The Indian Navy remains steadfast and committed towards safeguarding MVs (merchant vessels) and ensuring safety of life at sea," the Indian Navy said.

The operator of the British oil tanker has said the vessel had been "struck by a missile in the Gulf of Aden after transiting the Red Sea", according to the reports.

The Indian Navy has significantly increased its surveillance apparatus in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden by deploying frontline destroyers and frigates in view of recent incidents of attacks on merchant vessels.

Earlier this month, the Indian Navy responded to a drone attack distress call from MV Genco Picardy in the Gulf of Aden on the night of January 17, and on January 5, it had thwarted an attempted hijacking of Liberian-flagged vessel MV Lila Norfolk in the North Arabian Sea and rescued all its crew members.

Earlier, 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 Indians.
India, France have agreed to intensify cooperation in the Southwest Indian Ocean, building on the joint surveillance missions carried out from the French island territory of La Reunion in 2020 and 2022.

The two countries also welcomed the extension of those interactions in India's maritime neighbourhood. These interactions may contribute positively to the securitization of strategic sea lanes of communication, according to the India-France Joint Statement following French President Emmanuel Macron's India visit for the Republic Day celebrations.

Prime Minister Modi and French President Macron reiterated their commitment to further deepen the long-standing partnership between the two countries, based on their common vision for the Indo-Pacific region.

The leaders emphasised the region's significance for their respective sovereign and strategic interests. They also acknowledged the crucial role of their partnership in the region for the advancement of a free, open, inclusive, secure and peaceful Indo-Pacific and beyond.

Referring to the Comprehensive Roadmap for the Indo-Pacific, which was finalised in July 2023, they expressed satisfaction at the expanding nature of their engagement in the region.

As per the joint statement, the defence and security partnership has been the cornerstone of the India-France partnership in the Indo-Pacific region, which includes a comprehensive range of bilateral, multinational, regional and institutional initiatives, especially in the Indian Ocean Region.

PM Modi, and French President Macron committed to revitalising the trilateral cooperation with Australia, deepening the one with UAE and exploring new ones in the region, the statement said.

Noting the importance of joint and multilateral initiatives, for supporting sustainable economic development, human welfare, environmental sustainability, resilient infrastructure, innovation and connectivity in the region, the two leaders asked their governments to identify concrete projects. Furthermore, the two leaders called for the early launching of the Indo-Pacific Triangular Development Cooperation Fund to facilitate the scaling up of green technologies being developed in the region, as per the joint statement.

They agreed to explore opportunities for coordinating economic projects and programmes in the Pacific. Both leaders acknowledged projects being carried out by the French Development Agency in India.

The two leaders recalled the launch of the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC) on the margins of the G20 Summit in Delhi in September 2023. President Macron congratulated Prime Minister Modi for his leadership in this historic initiative. The two leaders agreed that this project would be of great strategic importance and would significantly enhance the potential and resilience of the flow of commerce and energy between India, the Middle East and Europe.

Prime Minister Modi welcomed the appointment of President Macron's Special Envoy for the project. The two leaders further recalled their discussions in their July Summit in Paris on various other connectivity projects from Southeast Asia to the Middle East and Africa and agreed to explore specific projects.

PM Modi, Macron reiterated their call for reformed and effective multilateralism to sustain an equitable and peaceful international order, address pressing global challenges and prepare the world for emerging developments, including in the technological and economic domains.

The two leaders stressed, in particular, the urgent need for the reform of the United Nations Security Council and called for the early commencement of text-based negotiations at the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) in the UN.

France reiterated its firm support for India's permanent membership of the UNSC. The two leaders agreed to strengthen conversations on regulation of use of the veto in case of mass atrocities. The two leaders agreed that the G20 Summit in Delhi and the Paris Global Financing Summit had underlined the need for the reform of Multilateral Development Banks to make them better, bigger and more effective, to able to address the related issues of development and climate in developing and least developed countries.

They welcomed the report submitted by the Independent Expert Group constituted under the Indian G20 Presidency for providing concrete suggestions in this regard. They also acknowledged enhanced cooperation between the Paris Club and India in official debt restructuring cases, according to the joint statement.
India and France on Friday unveiled ambitious defence industrial roadmap to co-develop critical military hardware, firmed up a space situational awareness programme even as the Tata Group and Airbus announced to jointly build H125 helicopters following talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra, announcing the outcomes of Thursday's Modi-Macron talks in Jaipur, said a scheme for exchange of professionals in the age bracket of 18 to 35 years and activation of Schengen visas with a five-year validity for Indian postgraduate alumni alumni of French institutions were among other key decisions.

The two sides inked a total of nine agreements that would provide for cooperation in a large number of areas including defence-space partnership, satellite launches boosting engagement in the healthcare sector and scientific research.

The pacts inclucded the defence industrial roadmap and the Tata-Airbus deal. The two sides also announced operationalisation of India's Unified Payment Interface (UPI) at Eiffel Tower.

The French president began his two-day visit to India from Jaipur and was the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations in Delhi on Friday.

At a media briefing, Kwatra said both sides deliberated on various aspects to advance civil-nuclear energy cooperation and that there was a "very positive, forward leaning" ongoing conversation on small modular reactors (SMRs).

Modi and Macron also expressed "grave concern" at the possibility of further expansion of the conflict in the Middle-East, including in the Red Sea, which already has a significant "economic impact", a joint statement released late in the night said.

"They recalled the utmost importance of upholding freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and of respecting the international law of the sea. They had detailed conversation aimed at coordinating their efforts in that region in this regard," it said.

In the talks, Macron reiterated France's intention to create conditions to attract up to 30,000 Indian students annually to French institutions of higher learning.

The joint statement said both the leaders welcomed the decision of Airbus and the Tata Advanced System to begin the assembly of civilian helicopters in India as they will become the first private sector companies to produce helicopters in the country.

Under the deal, Airbus Helicopters will be partnering with the Tata Group to establish a Final Assembly Line (FAL) for H125 helicopters in India. The FAL will produce the helicopters from its civil range for India and export to some of the neighbouring countries.

Modi and Macron also expressed commitment to deepening the integration between defence industrial sectors of the two nations and to work together to identify opportunities for co-design, co-development, co-production with the objective of not only fulfilling the defence needs of the India, but also to provide a reliable source of defence supplies to other friendly countries, the statement said.

The two leaders welcomed the adoption of the ambitious defence industrial roadmap, it said.

"They welcomed the progress in the establishment of the MRO for LEAP engines in India by Safran and the plans to add MRO for Rafale engines, a comprehensive helicopter partnership with a joint venture for IMRH (Indian Multi Role Helicopter) engine between Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd and Safran, and the Scorpene submarines constructed in India, including indigenisation," the joint statement said.

There was no announcement on India's proposed procurement of 26 naval variants of Rafale jets and three Scorpene submarines from France as it is understood that price negotiations for the multi-billion dollar deals are still underway.

The pact on defence space partnership would facilitate joint work on a space situational awareness program, being billed as very significant for developing military satellites and sharing of crucial information on space traffic and debris.

Kwatra said the defence roadmap will provide for technology collaboration in the spheres of air, space, underwater domain awareness, land warfare, robotics, cyber defence, artificial intelligence as also autonomous vehicles and platforms.

The focus would be on defence manufacturing in a manner that can harness the compatibilities and competencies of the two economies in the defence sector, he said. It has been agreed that the year 2026 will be celebrated as India-France year of innovation, Kwatra said.

The pact between NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) and French space agency Arianespace , the two sides will aim to co-develop, manufacture and launch of satellites and payloads, besides carrying out research in new launch vehicle technologies.

Modi and Macron also touched upon ongoing cooperation between the two nations in the Indian Ocean Region as well as the Indo-Pacific.

On India-France civil-nuclear cooperation, Kwatra said there are several elements to it including localisation, financial viability, cost effectiveness and the two sides are continuing the discussions.

The foreign secretary described the area of small modular reactors (SMRs) as a relatively new domain space in terms of discussion between the two countries.

"Technology needs to come together, viability needs to come together and its positioning in the overall energy mix needs to come together. There was a very positive, forward leaning ongoing conversation between the two countries (on it)," he said.

According to the joint statement, both Modi and Macron strongly condemned the terrorist attack on Israel on October 7 and expressed solidarity with the people of Israel.

"Condemning the huge loss of civilian lives in the ongoing conflict, they emphasised the need to respect international humanitarian law and to create conditions, including through a humanitarian ceasefire, for aid to flow to the affected population in the Gaza region," it said.

Both leaders also called for an immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.

They also reaffirmed that a political process leading to a two-state solution for the Israeli and Palestinian people is required for lasting peace and stability in the region.

The two leaders also reaffirmed their unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross border terrorism, and shared their resolve to stand together in the common fight against the global menace.

Modi and Macron further agreed that no country should provide safe haven to those who finance, plan, support, or commit terrorist acts.

"The leaders also called for concerted action against all terrorist, including through designations or individuals affiliated with groups that are listed by the UN Security Council 1267 Sanctions Committee," the statement said.

"The two sides emphasised the importance of upholding international standards on anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism, consistent with Financial Action Task Force recommendations," it added.

Kwatra said the French side has always been forthcoming in supporting India's candidacy for the membership of the International Energy Agency.

He also said that following up on a decision taken during Modi's visit to Paris in July last year, the Indian consulate in the southern French city Marseille and the French bureau in Hyderabad are now fully ready to be operational.

Kwatra said India and France also decided to set up a solar academy in Senegal under the Star Sea programme of the International Solar Alliance that was launched in 2015.
A Bismarck man charged in a drug case allegedly involving a package containing an Elmo doll filled with suspected fentanyl pills pleaded not guilty Friday.

Dyron Marshall is charged with conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance and attempted possession of a controlled substance.

During the Friday hearing Metro Area Narcotics Task Force Officer Jeremy Seeklander described a scenario in which U.S. postal inspectors received information about a package being mailed from Detroit to an address in Bismarck.

Authorities in Michigan intercepted the package and under a federal search warrant opened it, allegedly discovering the Elmo doll which was found to contain roughly 120 grams of suspected fentanyl pills -- roughly 1,200 pills, according to Seeklander's testimony. Elmo is a "Sesame Street" character.

Authorities in Detroit removed the pills and forwarded the package to Fargo, then on to Bismarck, where a controlled delivery was initiated while under surveillance of law enforcement and a U.S. postal inspector. Seeklander, who was present at the delivery, said Marshall accepted the package. Officers then knocked on the door, and other officers said they observed the package being thrown out of a second-floor window.

After making entry into the apartment, officers discovered Marshall. They also discovered a semiautomatic handgun that turned out to be stolen from a Bismarck address, authorities allege.

Marshall admitted throwing the package through the window and owning the handgun that he said was purchased from another party via Facebook, Seeklander testified.

Marshall is in custody on a $25,000 cash bond. He faces an April trial. If convicted, he faces a potential sentence of 20 years in prison on each count.
The Singapore firm CapitaLand has commenced setting up its project and the Emirati-based multinational conglomerate LuLu International Group, too, started its project in Coimbatore, he said

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin embarked on an eight-day trip to Spain on Saturday to woo investors to the state.

During the overseas visit, he would engage some of the largest industrial companies, including ROCA and Gestamp, and the investment organisation Invest in Spain, in discussions and ensure investment into Tamil Nadu, he said.

"Through this trip, I hope to attract the attention of the European Union and bring a lot of investments from those countries as well," the Chief Minister told reporters at the airport here before leaving for Spain on a state visit to attract new industrial investments to Tamil Nadu.

His efforts are oriented towards making the state progress to become a one trillion dollar economy by 2030.

The Chief Minister would return to the city on February 7.

Recalling his past foreign trips, he said the visit to the United Arab Emirates led to the government signing MoUs for investments worth Rs 6,100 crore for creating over 15,000 jobs. Similarly, Singapore and Japan trips in May 2023, facilitated inking the pacts for investments worth Rs 1,342 crore for ensuring employment to more than 2,000 persons, thus totalling a commitment of Rs 7,442 crore through the trips.

Due to the speedy implementation, many companies including Omron and Mitsubishi from Japan, have started setting up their factories in Tamil Nadu. The foundation stone for Omron's factory was laid within two months of signing the MoU and civil work is apace, Stalin said.

Similarly, the Singapore firm CapitaLand has commenced setting up its project and the Emirati-based multinational conglomerate LuLu International Group, too, started its project in Coimbatore, he said.

"As has been done in Japan and Singapore, I will hold an investors' meet in Spain in which leading investors, business organisations and entrepreneurs from Spain are expected to attend," the Chief Minister said. He would highlight the favorable investment environment, infrastructure, and human resources of Tamil Nadu at the meet.
Meanwhile, at a party meeting, state BJP leaders stopped short of making a formal announcement of support to the JD(U) chief in the event of his pulling out of the Mahagathbandhan' | : PTI

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who heads the Mahagathbandhan' government, is likely to tender his resignation by Sunday morning, a source close to the CM said on Saturday.

Talking to PTI, the source, who requested anonymity, said though the possibility of resignation by late Saturday evening could not be ruled out, "it would definitely take place by Sunday morning".

He also said prior to putting in his papers, Kumar, the JD(U) president, will hold a customary meeting of the legislature party.

The source said government offices like the secretariat have been asked to remain open on Sunday "in view of hectic activity expected during the day", which may see a new government with the BJP's support.

Meanwhile, at a party meeting, state BJP leaders stopped short of making a formal announcement of support to the JD(U) chief in the event of his pulling out of the Mahagathbandhan'.

Requesting anonymity, BJP sources said instructions have been received from the top leadership to put on hold "any formal announcement" till Kumar, who had dumped the NDA less than three years ago, resigns.
The biggest obstacles to APAC adoption are caution around responsible AI, concerns about the impact on reputation, and employee readiness | Photo: Bloomberg

Asia Pacific businesses are sprucing up investments in generative AI (GenAI) and projected to nearly triple spends on this technology to $3.4 billion in 2024 across Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan, India, and Singapore, according to Infosys Research.

While the spending trails North America, Apac's adoption, effectiveness, and growth are among the highest globally, it said.

"Companies across Asia-Pacific are quickly ramping up investments in generative AI and entering a higher stage of maturity," the IT major's research arm, Infosys Knowledge Institute (IKI), said in the research.

While Apac companies currently lag behind their North American counterparts in GenAI spending, the research forecasts a bigger increase than in any other region, that is 140 per cent.

"This translates to an estimated $3.4 billion to be invested across Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan, India, and Singapore," it said.

Infosys' Generative AI Radar Apac report includes insights from interviews with business leaders and AI practitioners and a survey of 1,000 respondents from Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan, India, and Singapore.

Enterprises across Apac are investing heavily in GenAI. China leads the region, with investment expected to grow by more than 160 per cent to $2.1 billion, and Australia and New Zealand growth close behind.

"ANZ (Australia and New Zealand) investment is expected to grow by more than 150 per cent, from $60 million to $151 million in 2024," the research findings showed.

The biggest obstacles to Apac adoption are caution around responsible AI, concerns about the impact on reputation, and employee readiness.

Responsible AI (data privacy, data usability, ethics and bias) is a concern for Apac countries, though ANZ is less concerned about data usability.

"Apac is more cautious about GenAI's business impact than North America and Europe; almost 10 per cent expect a negative impact on reputation versus less than 5 per cent for North America and Europe, it said.
The IMF's next mission is critical for not only securing the last loan tranche but also for beginning negotiations for a new long-term programme | Photo: Pexels

Cash-strapped Pakistan has sought financial assistance of $2 billion from its close ally China for a year, according to a media report on Saturday.

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar, in a letter, has requested his Chinese Premier Li Qiang to roll over the debt as soon as the deposit time for the loan from China is completed on March 23.

In his letter, Kakar expressed gratitude to China for its financial assistance to Pakistan during its economic crisis as the cash-strapped country has secured a safe deposit of a total of $4 billion in loans from China, reducing the country's mounting pressure on external debt payments and stabilising its foreign exchange reserves, The Express Tribune newspaper reported.

Earlier this month, the UAE rolled over Pakistan's maturing loan of $2 billion.

Apart from the UAE, Saudi Arabia has deposited $5 billion with the State Bank of Pakistan.

Following the loan rollover by the UAE, the interim government requested the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to dispatch a new mission this month for talks for the last loan tranche of $1.2 billion.

The IMF's next mission is critical for not only securing the last loan tranche but also for beginning negotiations for a new long-term programme.

While speaking to a private TV news channel recently, former finance minister Ishaq Dar said in case his party the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) won the elections and formed the government, the decision about the new IMF programme would be made at the earliest.

Dar, the four-time finance minister of the country, added that in case his party decided not to enter the IMF programme, it would immediately start implementing the belt-tightening measures.

The IMF has made new adjustments in its fresh staff-level report about the available financing to Pakistan.

The Washington-based lender has increased the projection of budget support loans to $3 billion but cut the project financing to $3.7 billion for this fiscal year.

The overall external financing requirements have been reduced to a little under $25 billion with minor downward adjustments in the current account deficit projections, the report said.

The report suggested the global lender had made a minor adjustment of $575 million in its current account deficit projection in comparison with July's estimates.

The IMF has now projected the deficit at $5.7 billion or 1.6 per cent of the GDP an estimate that appeared on the higher end.

Pakistan is in economic ruin and awaiting a monumental financial default without long overdue structural reforms sought by global creditors such as the IMF and the World Bank, along with bilateral partners like China and the UAE.

The primary reason behind Pakistan's economic woes is its staggering debt levels, which, as of 2023, amount to nearly $125 billion owed to external creditors, with approximately one-third to China.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron expressed "grave concerns" at the possibility of further expansion of the conflict in the Middle-East, including in the Red Sea.

A joint statement issued late on Friday night said the two leaders called for upholding the freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and underlined the need for respecting the international law of the sea.

Modi and Macron held wide-ranging talks at a luxury palace on Thursday. The French President was the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations in Delhi.

The two leaders expressed "grave concern at the possibility of further expansion of the conflict in the region, including in the Red Sea", which already resulted a significant economic impact, the statement said.

The Houthi militants have been attacking merchant vessels in the Red Sea since November, apparently in response to Israel's military offensive in Gaza.

"They (Modi and Macron) recalled the utmost importance of upholding freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and of respecting the international law of the sea," the statement said.

"They had detailed conversation aimed at coordinating their efforts in that region in this regard," it added.

Modi and Macron also "strongly condemned" the terrorist attack on Israel on October 7 and expressed solidarity with the people of Israel, it said.

"Condemning the huge loss of civilian lives in the ongoing conflict, they emphasised the need to respect international humanitarian law and to create conditions, including through a humanitarian ceasefire, for aid to flow to the affected population in the Gaza region," it said.

"Both leaders also called for an immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. The two leaders reaffirmed that a political process leading to a two-state solution for the Israeli and Palestinian people is required for lasting peace and stability in the region."



Modi and Macron also expressed deep concern over the war in Ukraine and its tragic humanitarian consequences.

"They underscored the need for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine in accordance with international law, and consistent with the principles of the UN Charter," the statement said.

"They underscored the growing impact of this war on the global economic system and food security, with consequences predominantly affecting developing and least developed countries," it said.

The two leaders also reaffirmed their unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism, and shared their resolve to stand together in the common fight against the global menace.

Modi and Macron further agreed that no country should provide safe haven to those who finance, plan, support, or commit terrorist acts.

"The leaders also called for concerted action against all terrorists, including through designations or individuals affiliated with groups that are listed by the UN Security Council 1267 Sanctions Committee," the statement said.

"The two sides emphasised the importance of upholding international standards on anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism, consistent with Financial Action Task Force recommendations," it added.
By Augusta Saraiva and Courtney McBride



The United Nations fired several staffers at its Palestinian refugee agency over Israeli allegations that they took part in the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, news that prompted the US to suspend funding.

The United Nations fired several staffers at its Palestinian refugee agency over Israeli allegations that they took part in the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, news that prompted the US to suspend funding.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is horrified by the news that workers with the UN Relief and Works Agency, or UNRWA, may have been involved in the attack by Hamas militants on southern Israel, and urged the agencys chief to refer the accused for potential prosecution, his office said in a statement Friday. According to the statement, there will be an urgent and comprehensive independent review of the agency.





These shocking allegations come as more than 2 million people in Gaza depend on lifesaving assistance that the agency has been providing since the war began, UNRWA Director-General Philippe Lazzarini said in a statement Friday. Anyone who betrays the fundamental values of the United Nations also betrays those whom we serve in Gaza, across the region and elsewhere around the world. The claims come as a black eye for UNRWA, which provides humanitarian assistance and protection to Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the West Bank. It has long been regarded with suspicion by Israel and Republicans in the US, who argue that it only fuels the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and money going to food, education and health care frees up Hamas to fund hostilities against Israel.

While criticism over UNRWAs role in the Israel-Palestinian conflict became even more charged after Hamas launched its surprise attack on Israel, the group has also paid a heavy price in Israels bombardment of Gaza, with more than 150 of its staff killed in the violence.

A vast majority of UNRWAs 30,000 staff is Palestinian, with 13,000 of those in Gaza. The US State Department said in a statement Friday that 12 UNRWA staff had been accused of links to the attacks.

The US  UNRWAs main donor  also announced Friday it was suspending additional funding for the organization in the wake of the allegations. There must be complete accountability for anyone who participated in the heinous attacks of Oct. 7, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in the statement. The US contributed more than $296 million to the group in 2023.

The United States has reached out to the Government of Israel to seek more information about these allegations, and we have briefed members of Congress, Miller added.

Senator James Risch, an Idaho Republican who serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he had warned the Biden administration for years about funding the agency, which he said has a history of employing people connected to terrorist movements like Hamas.

Despite the recent allegations, the US signaled it continues to support the agency. UNRWA plays a critical role in providing lifesaving assistance to Palestinians, including essential food, medicine, shelter, and other vital humanitarian support, Miller said in the statement.

The European Union also expressed concern over the allegations, and said it expects UNRWA to provide full transparency on the allegations and to take immediate measures against staff involved.
License executed with GESSOL (Pty), a South Africa-based consortium including WBHO, one of the largest listed EPC companies in Southern Africa (JSE: WBO), iX Engineers and Sizana Solutions



Agreement includes multi-year license revenues and additional royalty revenue streams tied to project deployments in South Africa and the broader 16 member-state Southern African Development Community (SADC) region



License includes exclusive use of Energy Vaults leading gravity energy storage technology portfolio and VaultOS software platform, which will serve energy storage use cases within the public utility, mining, IPP/micro-grid and broader industrial sectors toward achieving the regions energy storage requirements coupled with its sustainability goals



Total addressable market regionally for energy storage expected to be 125GWh+ through 2035, yielding a market potential of multi-billion dollars in EPC projects and associated royalty streams to construct gravity energy storage systems throughout the 16 member-state SADC region



Energy Vault Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: NRGV) ("Energy Vault" or the Company), a leader in sustainable, grid-scale energy storage solutions, today announced that it has signed a new licensing and royalty agreement in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. The agreement was executed in Q4 2023 with Gravity Energy Storage Solutions (Pty) Ltd (GESSOL), a consortium company focused on energy storage deployments in Southern Africa, and includes one of the largest listed engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) companies in the region WBHO (JSE: WBO) who will support all engineering, procurement and construction activities, as well as pan-African project engineering group iX Engineers and commercial developer Sizana Solutions, which has been partnered with Energy Vault since 2019 in development of the South African market for energy storage solutions. While the scope of the license and royalty agreement includes Energy Vaults gravity energy storage systems (GESS) and its associated VaultOS energy management system (EMS), the consortium companies are also bidding Energy Vaults leading portfolio of short duration battery and ultra-long duration Green Hydrogen hybrid systems within the SADC territory to address energy shifting and micro-grid development to serve the utility, mining and industrial sectors.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240125678383/en/

License executed with GESSOL (Pty), a South Africa-based consortium including WBHO, one of the largest listed EPC companies in Southern Africa (JSE: WBO), iX Engineers and Sizana Solutions (Graphic: Business Wire)

The multi-year agreement is expected to facilitate multi-gigawatt hours (GWhs) of long duration Energy Vault GESS deployments to contribute to the SADC regions energy storage needs, estimated to reach over 125 GWh by 2035. In addition to the technology licensing revenue, Energy Vault will receive a project revenue royalty over the complete operating life of each project, including software and maintenance revenues.

Under the terms of the agreement, GESSOL will have exclusive rights to deploy Energy Vaults portfolio of gravity energy storage technology and VaultOS throughout the SADC region, a 16 member-state regional economic community with a mission to promote sustainable and equitable economic growth and socio-economic development. SADCs member states are comprised of: Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, United Republic Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

We conducted extensive due diligence to bring the most economical, efficient, flexible and sustainable long duration energy storage solution to the SADC region and Energy Vaults gravity storage technology is the clear choice, said Les Lange, Director, GESSOL. Southern Africa is a rapidly developing region with increasing energy demand, which historically has been met with coal-fired plants. Economic development in the SADC region is critical for improving quality of life, but we need to rapidly wean the region off of coal to simultaneously reduce carbon emissions and grow our economy. Energy storage is critical for the scale up of clean, baseload renewable energy in the SADC region and we are confident that with Energy Vaults GESS and energy management software, as well as its broader energy storage portfolio that can address both shorter and ultra-long duration, we can achieve this objective.

The Energy Vault-GESSOL agreement brings together a coalition of world-class EPC and Project Engineering firms who will partner on Energy Vault GESS project deployment, including WBHO, one of the largest civil construction EPC contractors in the SADC region, and iX Engineers, one of the largest pan-African engineering design and consulting firms in the SADC region.

Given the significant pan-African potential of Energy Vaults unique gravity storage systems, were excited to play a leading role in bringing the deployments covered by the Energy Vault-GESSOL agreement to life, said Russell Adams, Director, Projects Division, WBHO. With our license partners and our significant local skills base and supply chain, as an EPC contractor in Southern Africa, were very much looking forward to bringing our experience and expertise to bear so that deployment of Energy Vaults technology, which incorporates substantial local content, can contribute to the energy transition in the region as it works to quickly accelerate its decarbonization efforts.

According to the SADC, an electricity shortage has strained the region since 2007, where only 50% of residents have access to electricity and only 32% of rural areas in the region have access, while North Africa countries have reached 100% access to electricity. In addition, coal currently supplies 62% of power generation in Southern Africa. We believe that Energy Vaults gravity technology and portfolio of other electrochemical and green hydrogen micro-grid solutions can contribute to the acceleration of the regions clean energy transition timelines.

According to a 2023 report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development, South Africas power system has fallen into crisis, and the national electricity utility, Eskom, can no longer provide sufficient supply to balance with demand. In response, frequent scheduled power cuts (commonly known as load shedding) have become more prevalent and 2023 was the worst year on record for load shedding. The report notes that to address the electricity supply shortfall, grid storage can contribute to optimizing the use of existing power generation and maximizing the use of the existing grid.

Energy Vaults expansion into Southern Africa represents the companys strong global momentum with its gravity energy storage portfolio into another large and growing energy storage market. The company recently announced five additional EVx GESS deployments of 3.3GWh in China, the largest energy storage market in the world, where Energy Vault put in place similar license and royalty model announced in early 2022. The process for state grid interconnection commenced in September 2023 for the first EVx system which is under final commissioning in Rudong with all power infrastructure in place and with the state grid now powering the system directly. We expect the Rudong EVx system (25 MW, 100 MWh, +35 years technical life) to be the worlds first commercial, grid-scale gravity energy storage system to offer a more sustainable and flexible alternative to historical long technical life energy storage assets such as pumped hydro plants, which still represent over 90%+ of all energy storage globally. We also expect that the projects recently announced with China Tianying, Energy Vaults partner in China, will bring the total number of EVx deployments in that market to seven, totaling 3.3 GWh, or $1+ billion in project scope.

Excited to be working with GESSOL and its consortium partners to bring our unique gravity storage technology and broader energy storage portfolio to market in order to best address the regions renewable and decarbonization imperatives, said Robert Piconi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Energy Vault. South Africa is undergoing a significant energy transition and has one of the worlds highest per capita emissions given its current reliance on coal fired power plants. In the broader SADC region, only half of all residents have access to electricity, 62% of which is powered by coal. We believe that our licensing and royalty agreement with GESSOL enables the rapid scale-up of our Energy Vault gravity energy storage technology to increase renewable energy capacity, smooth out load shedding, optimize grid performance through our software applications and provide a necessary complement to intermittent renewable generation to firm grid resiliency. Additionally, we have made available to GESSOL our entire energy storage portfolio that can uniquely service multiple storage duration needs and customer use cases to accelerate deployments throughout the SADC region with a clear goal to play a significant role in reducing the regions emissions to meet climate goals while driving sustainable economic development.

About Energy Vault

Energy Vault develops and deploys utility-scale energy storage solutions designed to transform the world's approach to sustainable energy storage. The Company's comprehensive offerings include proprietary gravity-based storage, battery storage, and green hydrogen energy storage technologies. Each storage solution is supported by the Companys hardware technology-agnostic energy management system software and integration platform. Unique to the industry, Energy Vaults innovative technology portfolio delivers customized short-and-long-duration energy storage solutions to help utilities, independent power producers, and large industrial energy users significantly reduce levelized energy costs while maintaining power reliability. Utilizing eco-friendly materials with the ability to integrate waste materials for beneficial reuse, Energy Vaults EVx gravity-based energy storage technology is facilitating the shift to a circular economy while accelerating the global clean energy transition for its customers. Please visit www.energyvault.com for more information.

About WBHO

WBHO is one of the largest construction companies in Southern Africa and is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE: WBO). WBHO is committed to following a culture of safety, quality and reliability. The driving force behind WBHO is a core of dedicated, hands-on management professionals whose experience spans decades of major construction projects across Africa, Australia and the United Kingdom. WBHOs activities cover the full construction spectrum and are divided into three main operating divisions  Building Construction, Civil Engineering and Roads and Earthworks and a Projects division focused on infrastructure development and energy projects. Rated The Most Empowered Company on the JSE in 2019, WBHO prides itself on being a company that strives to empower as many stakeholders as possible throughout the construction value chain. For additional information, please visit: https://www.wbho.co.za/

About iX engineers

iX engineers is a proudly South African engineering design and consulting firm with operations across the African continent. iXs determination to carve out business-driven solutions that directly and positively impact humanity is its motivating factor. The foundation of iX operations relies on the principle of Ubuntu  an African proverb meaning I am because you are. iX engineers is committed to combing science and art to address complex infrastructure challenges, with a dedicated team of highly skilled professionals specializing in civil, structural, chemical, process, electrical, and mechanical engineering, as well as instrumentation and project management. iX team possess intricate knowledge of the African continents geopolitical and socio-economic terrain, using their diverse experiences to deliver ground-breaking and significant projects on the continent. iX executes projects with zero-harm tolerance to safety, health, and risk for human life, assets, and the environment. iX is celebrated for its purpose of developing sustainable infrastructure to creature a future of opportunities for Africa.

About Sizana Solutions

Sizana Solutions facilitates renewable energy deployment in Southern Africa with advanced energy storage and management solutions. They have partnered with Energy Vault since 2019. They optimise their customers energy requirements and assist them to procure combinations of energy sources which are optimally stored and dispatched by means of intelligent Energy Vault storage solutions.

About GESSOL

GESSOL is a special purpose vehicle company created to execute an exclusive license and royalty agreement for the SADC region with Energy Vault. It comprises a consortium of companies that can effectively execute a significant rollout of Energy Vault GESS systems in the region. The consortium comprises WBHO, iX engineers and Sizana Solutions. WBHO will perform the EPC function, iX engineers the EPCM function and Sizana Solutions the business development function. Sizana has been the appointed consultant for Energy Vault in the region since 2019 and has built up a considerable pipeline of potential GESS customers across the full spectrum of energy stakeholders.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements that reflect the Companys current views with respect to, among other things, the Companys operations and financial performance. Forward-looking statements include information concerning possible or assumed future results of operations, including descriptions of our business plan and strategies. These statements often include words such as anticipate, expect, suggest, plan, believe, intend, project, forecast, estimates, targets, projections, should, could, would, may, might, will and other similar expressions. We base these forward-looking statements or projections on our current expectations, plans and assumptions, which we have made in light of our experience in our industry, as well as our perceptions of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors we believe are appropriate under the circumstances at the time. These forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and expectations of future performance, taking into account the information currently available to us. These forward-looking statements are only predictions based upon our current expectations and projections about future events. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results, level of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including changes in our strategy, expansion plans, customer opportunities, future operations, future financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects and plans; the uncertainly of our bookings and backlogs equating to future revenue; the lack of assurance that non-binding letters of intent and other indication of interest can result in binding orders or sales; the possibility of our products to be or alleged to be defective or experience other failures; the implementation, market acceptance and success of our business model and growth strategy; our ability to develop and maintain our brand and reputation; developments and projections relating to our business, our competitors, and industry; the ability of our suppliers to deliver necessary components or raw materials for construction of our energy storage systems in a timely manner; the impact of health epidemics on our business and the actions we may take in response thereto; our expectations regarding our ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection and not infringe on the rights of others; expectations regarding the time during which we will be an emerging growth company under the JOBS Act; our future capital requirements and sources and uses of cash; our ability to obtain funding for our operations and future growth; our business, expansion plans and opportunities and other important factors discussed under the caption Risk Factors in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, as such factors may be updated from time to time in its other filings with the SEC, accessible on the SECs website at www.sec.gov. New risks emerge from time to time and it is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements we may make. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release speaks only as of the date of this press release and is expressly qualified in its entirety by the cautionary statements included in this press release. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by any applicable laws. You should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240125678383/en/
H.I.G. Capital (H.I.G. or the Firm), a leading global alternative investment firm with $60 billion of capital under management announces the opening of its Dubai office.

Based in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the new office* will host H.I.G.s Capital Formation professionals, working closely with H.I.G.s existing local and regional investors in the Middle East while developing new strategic partnerships. Oliver Slade, Managing Director, and Alexia Klat, Principal, will lead H.I.G.s efforts in the region. This local presence will enable H.I.G. to deepen relationships with its investors in the region, providing greater access to alternative investments across H.I.G.s global middle-market platform in the U.S., Europe, and Latin America.

Jordan Peer Griffin, Executive Managing Director and Global Head of Capital Formation, commented: We are excited to expand our footprint by establishing H.I.G.s first office in the Middle East. H.I.G. has been partnering with investors in the region for the past 30 years, and the Dubai office strengthens our commitment to the region and our investors to provide creative investment solutions for our clients in the attractive middle market alternatives landscape.

The opening of our office in this strategic region is pivotal to our ambition to be the partner of choice in the middle market for our Middle East investors, said Mr. Slade. Now more than ever, investors in the region are seeking differentiated access to the mid-market, across a variety of private asset classes.

Mr. Slade, a Managing Director in H.I.G.s Capital Formation Group, has over 17 years of experience in alternative investments. Prior to joining H.I.G., he was Head of Middle East and Africa at Partners Group, where he was responsible for the development and capital raising activities across private markets funds and solutions in the region. Ms. Klat, a Principal in H.I.G.s Capital Formation Group, has been with the Firm for 10 years. She was previously based in H.I.G.s London office and has worked closely with H.I.G. investors across the Firms platform.

About H.I.G. Capital

H.I.G. Capital is a leading global alternative investment firm with $60 billion of capital under management.* Based in Miami, and with offices in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco in the United States, as well as international affiliate offices in Hamburg, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Bogota, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and Dubai, H.I.G. specializes in providing both debt and equity capital to mid-sized companies, utilizing a flexible and operationally focused/ value-added approach:

H.I.G.s equity funds invest in management buyouts, recapitalizations, and corporate carve-outs of both profitable as well as underperforming manufacturing and service businesses.

H.I.G.s debt funds invest in senior, unitranche, and junior debt financing to companies across the size spectrum, both on a primary (direct origination) basis, as well as in the secondary markets. H.I.G. also manages a publicly traded BDC, WhiteHorse Finance.

H.I.G.s real estate funds invest in value-added properties, which can benefit from improved asset management practices.

H.I.G. Infrastructure focuses on making value-add and core plus investments in the infrastructure sector.

Since its founding in 1993, H.I.G. has invested in and managed more than 400 companies worldwide. The Firms current portfolio includes more than 100 companies with combined sales in excess of $53 billion. For more information, please refer to the H.I.G. website at www.hig.com.

*Regulated by the DFSA as a Representative Office.

**Based on total capital raised by H.I.G. Capital and affiliates.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240125804627/en/
State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada

Postal Code
A slew of public defender changes has delayed the criminal case of a Bismarck man who was shot by police last year.

Officials for a fifth time have assigned an attorney to represent Daedyn Lewellyn on charges of terrorizing and reckless endangerment. Two previous attorneys withdrew and two others were released from their assignment after citing undisclosed conflicts.

Matthew Arthurs, a private practice attorney providing indigent defense services under contract with the state, was the latest to withdraw. He cited an ethical conflict as the reason for discontinuing his representation. Arthurs did not elaborate to the Tribune, citing rules of professional conduct.

South Central District Judge James Hill granted Arthurs' motion during a Jan. 10 hearing, but not before making sure Lewellyn understood that replacing his attorney again would more than likely delay the case even further.

Lewellyn has been in custody since July on a $100,000 cash bond. He faces potential sentences of five years in prison on each felony charge if he's convicted. He told Hill he was displeased with the work of Arthurs and also Steve Balaban, another of his previous attorneys, but didn't offer specifics.

"I need representation," he told Hill.

On Jan. 16, Bismarck attorney Thomas Glass was assigned to represent Lewellyn, court documents show. The case originally scheduled for trial last August has now been continued until April.

Case background

Lewellyn's charges stem from a May incident outside the U-Haul storage center near Interstate Loop in north Bismarck. Lewellyn ignored commands given by Bismarck Officer Damien Girodat and instead of putting his hands in the air reached toward his waist, revealing a handgun, according to an affidavit. Girodat shot Lewellyn once in the abdomen. Lewellyn was hospitalized, and charged after his recovery.

Authorities had been searching for Lewellyn in connection with a separate incident in which he allegedly pointed a gun at another man. Girodat was cleared after a state Bureau of Criminal Investigation probe and returned to full duty status.

Lewellyn was originally represented by Balaban, who also is in private practice and like Arthurs represents people on a contract basis with the North Dakota Commission of Legal Counsel for Indigents.

Indigent defense services are provided to anyone charged with a crime who cannot afford to hire an attorney. Commission Executive Director Travis Finck said Arthurs, Balaban and Lewellyn's other previously assigned attorneys, Grant Walker and Kyle Weinberger, are four of 11 private attorneys in the South Central Judicial District providing criminal defense services under contract via the state agency. The commission also oversees local public defender offices. In Burleigh County, that office employs three attorneys. People wishing to have an attorney appointed to represent them must apply. If the application is approved, an attorney from the public defender office or a contract lawyer is appointed.

"Under our operating statute, 50% of cases per biennium go to private attorneys under contract," Finck said.

The law does not set a limit on requests for an attorney, but Hill expressed some concern about the number of attorneys assigned to Lewellyn's case so far.

"At some point this comes to an end," the judge said.

Case precedent

Balaban in his motion to withdraw told the court his relationship with Lewellyn had "deteriorated to the point where I can no longer represent the defendant in this case." He also said Lewellyn "expressed his dissatisfaction with my representation of him and requested I withdraw."

Court documents do not expressly outline reasons behind reassignments of Walker or Weinberger in Lewellyn's case.

Walker, responding to a Tribune request for comment, referred to North Dakota's rules of professional conduct. Those rules say an attorney should not represent a client if such representation would adversely affect the attorney's responsibilities to a third party, another client, or the attorney's own interests. Weinberger did not respond to a Tribune request for comment. Arthurs cited ethical conflicts.

"Ethical conflicts" is open to a number of interpretations, up to and including a defendant wishing his or her attorney delay what may be inevitable, such as a conviction and prison sentence, according to area attorneys. Conflicts like those mentioned by Walker and Weinberger might also be rooted in a contracted attorney having a previous relationship with a victim or a witness in a particular case, according to Finck.

At some point, repeated changes in attorneys might constitute a voluntary waiver of counsel -- a matter recently taken up by the North Dakota Supreme Court in the case State v. Benter.

While both the North Dakota and U.S. constitutions guarantee a person charged with a crime access to legal representation, in the Benter case, the Supreme Court determined "appointed counsel is a limited, rather than an absolute right."

Benter, of Jamestown, appealed a 2021 felony conviction in Barnes County, asserting he did not willingly, knowingly or voluntarily waive his right to have an attorney represent him.

Benter was facing six felonies, and requested and was assigned five different attorneys leading up to trial. Ultimately he represented himself after filing a complaint against the fifth attorney. The district court judge ruled Benter had knowingly and voluntarily waived his attorney privilege. Benter was convicted on all six charges and sentenced to prison.

The Supreme Court opinion released in 2022 upheld the district court's decision, with Justice Gerald VandeWalle writing "The district court does not have a duty to continually seek new counsel for a capricious and difficult defendant."

Finck said decisions related to whether a defendant's multiple attempts to get new representation constitute a waiver of counsel are left up to individual judges.

"If a court determines a person is eligible, they notify our office and we assign them an attorney," Finck said. "We don't get involved in that determination."

If a suspect's conduct frustrates the attorney-client relationship to the point it becomes apparent they won't be able to work with any attorney, Finck said at that point a judge can find a defendant has effectively waived his or her right to publicly funded legal representation.
Friday, January 26, 2024 at 9:54PM

Image: YouTube / George Carlin

George Carlin's estate has filed a lawsuit against the producers of a one-hour comedy special featuring an AI-generated version of the late comedian, according to NBC News. Carlin's estate, including daughter Kelly Carlin, alleges that the online media platform Dudesy violated the performer's right to publicity and infringed upon copyright.

The video is titled "George Carlin: I'm Glad I'm Dead," and features an hour of new "material" from the comedian who died in 2008. Despite its name and premise, the AI replication falls short of expectations. Limited to audio, the imitation lacks the distinct voice and comedic brilliance associated with Carlin. It essentially amounts to a subpar impersonation, featuring predictable punchlines and an absence of the comedian's trademark wordplay and righteous fury.

Kelly Carlin expressed her dissatisfaction in a statement, emphasizing that the AI rendition is a "poorly-executed facsimile" created by "unscrupulous individuals." Attorney Josh Schiller, representing the estate, cautioned against AI's misuse as a tool enabling bad-faith actors to exploit creative expression and profit at the expense of creators.

Dudesy, the channel responsible for the controversial video, is managed by comedian Will Sasso and author Chad Kultgen. Although they didn't write the material, they are implicated in the lawsuit. The AI utilized for the project was reportedly trained on extensive Carlin routines. Sasso and Kultgen argue that the AI-created Carlin should be viewed as akin to an impressionist impersonating a public figure.

Sasso, addressing the controversy in a recent podcast, insisted that the AI version is not a substitute for the genuine article. The lawsuit characterizes the video as "computer-generated click-bait" diminishing the value of Carlin's comedic legacy and tarnishing his reputation.

The legal complaint seeks unspecified damages and demands immediate removal of all copies of the hour-long special. This case adds to the ongoing tension between AI algorithms and human creators, echoing concerns raised during the Hollywood writers strike and recent incidents involving AI-generated celebrities.

As technology advances, these conflicts are likely to intensify, with potential ramifications extending to the political sphere, as illustrated by an AI replication of President Bidens voice used to manipulate public discourse in a recent election.

Source
Saturday, January 27, 2024 at 8:59AM

Photo: Fossil

Fossil Group has officially exited the smartwatch market, signalling a strategic shift towards focusing on its core strengths in traditional watches, jewelry, and leather goods. In an announcement, Fossil spokesperson Amanda Castelli explained the decision, citing the significant evolution of the smartwatch landscape in recent years.

The company, known for its prolific production of Wear OS smartwatches, has decided to channel its resources into areas that offer strong growth opportunities. Castelli stated, "Fossil Group is redirecting resources to support our core strength and the core segments of our business that continue to provide strong growth opportunities for us: designing and distributing exciting traditional watches, jewelry, and leather goods under our own as well as licensed brand names."

The latest smartwatch from Fossil, the Gen 6, launched in 2021, will mark the end of the company's venture into smartwatches. Castelli assured existing Wear OS watch users that the company will continue to provide updates for their devices for the next few years.

This move by Fossil comes as no surprise to those who have been following the company's recent developments. Rumours circulated on platforms like Reddit, with some users reporting discussions with Fossil retail employees about the company's withdrawal from the smartwatch market. Speculation also hinted at Fossil's anticipation of a new chipset. But the company's absence from CES and the lack of announcements, including the expected Gen 7 featuring the Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Plus platform in 2023, now make sense in light of this strategic decision.

Source
Former state Sen. Tom Campbell will run to replace U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong, R-N.D., as North Dakota's sole member of the House of Representatives, he announced Friday.

Campbell, a Republican who served two terms in the North Dakota Senate, had previously indicated that he planned to run to succeed Gov. Doug Burgum. However, Armstrong announced earlier this week that he would mount a gubernatorial bid, and his campaign held a kickoff rally in Fargo on Friday.

Campbell has instead entered a U.S. House race that has already seen two announced candidates in Democrat Trygve Hammer, a military veteran, and Bismarck Republican and former state Rep. Rick Becker. Hammer launched his campaign on Jan. 10 and Becker began his effort on Jan. 22.

Campbell, an alum of North Dakota State University, is a co-founder of Grafton-based Campbell Farms. He previously ran for Congress in 2018, at first challenging then-Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., for her incumbent seat but then shifting to run for the House when then-U.S. Rep. Kevin Cramer mounted a challenge against Heitkamp, opening up his seat.

Campbell's shift to the U.S. House primary in 2018 pitted him against Armstrong, a challenge he is now avoiding by pivoting from a gubernatorial bid. Armstrong went on to receive the party's endorsement in April 2018, and Campbell ended his campaign just days later.

In his Friday announcement, Campbell said it is essential for North Dakota to have a congressman who can "work with President Trump" and is "pro-oil, pro-farmer, pro-business, and pro-people."

Becker, a plastic surgeon and businessman, served from 2012-22 in the state House and is a founding member of the ultraconservative Bastiat Caucus, a group of lawmakers that align with former President Donald Trump and support gun rights. He's also leading a proposed 2024 ballot initiative that would eliminate local property taxes across the state, and has previously run for governor and U.S. Senate.

Hammer attempted to become a state representative in 2020 and a member of the state Public Service Commission in 2022. He attended the Naval Academy, served as a Marine helicopter pilot and was deployed to Iraq in 2003. His resume also includes stints working in the Bakken oilfields and as both a science teacher and a substitute teacher.

The North Dakota GOP is scheduled to hold its 2024 convention in Fargo on April 5 and 6, where it will endorse candidates for this year's June primary. Candidates aren't required to obtain a party endorsement to be on the June ballot.
North Dakota's Public Service Commission appears set to unanimously rule that the agency's decisions override local ordinances in pipeline siting applications after a work session Friday, though an official decision on the matter was not made.

The issue is tied to the siting application for Summit Carbon Solutions planned multistate 2,000-mile carbon dioxide pipeline that has prompted controversy across the state for over a year.

PSC Chair Randy Christmann introduced the motion Friday. It was brought up for a discussion and encountered no pushback from the other two decision-makers -- Public Service Commissioner Sheri Haugen-Hoffart and Administrative Law Judge Timothy Dawson. Dawson is sitting in for Public Service Commissioner Julie Fedorchak, who in late 2022 recused herself from the siting case because she and her husband own land in Oliver County and signed a contract with Summit to store CO2 there.

The three can still update the motion or bring new motions to the table when the matter gets brought to a vote. The decision on this issue will not touch on other matters related to Summit's siting application.

"I understand that this is not likely to be a popular decision in this circumstance," Christmann said.

Summits proposed Midwest Carbon Express pipeline would capture CO2 emissions from over 30 ethanol plants across five Midwestern states with an intended underground storage site in western North Dakota.

In September the PSC voted 2-1 to grant Summit a petition for reconsideration after the regulators in August had rejected the companys initial proposed 320-mile route through North Dakota. The PSC cited several reasons for the rejection including that Summit had not adequately addressed sensitive geological areas and landowner concerns.

Burleigh and Emmons counties last year placed restrictions on pipelines carrying hazardous materials within their borders, in response to Summits project. The company sought to have the PSC declare these ordinances preempted and superseded by state authority.

The PSC in its rejection of Summits initial application in August decided to declare the question of local ordinances moot, which left open the possibility for both sides to make arguments in the future.

Summit made the same request for local ordinances to be overridden in its petition for reconsideration.

Christmann said the law had been on the side of the counties until the state Legislature in 2019 passed Senate Bill 2038, in which the word "may" was removed from the language regarding the PSC's authority relative to localities in pipeline siting decisions.

"If the Legislature creates a law that guides us in one of our jurisdictional responsibilities, our flexibility becomes limited because we are required to follow the law," he said.

Haugen-Hoffart in August pushed for the question on ordinances to be declared moot instead of automatically superseded. She said Friday that she had agreed with Christmann's interpretation of the law from the get-go, but wanted to hear more arguments before making a decision.

"We had an opportunity ... to provide evidence that would change my mind on (the law) and nothing came forward," Haugen-Hoffart said.

Summit Carbon Solutions Executive Vice President Wade Boeshans said he had expected the PSC to agree with Summit's arguments.

"The commission has a longstanding history of following the law," he said.

The issue could go to court if the PSC ultimately approves the motion. Derrick Braaten, an attorney for Emmons County, said he "will be surprised if there is not an appeal."
The Joey James Law Firm, in collaboration with Jimmy Rogers of Summers, Rufolo, and Rogers firm, has filed a lawsuit against the Olin Corporation and others. In a more than 200-page complaint, the lawsuit alleges that the Olin Corporation knowingly exposed workers and family members of workers in Charleston to hazardous levels of mercury, posing severe health risks and brain damage.

Over 150 plaintiffs are currently filed with more to come. Lawyers for the plaintiffs anticipate over 200 plaintiffs in the case. The legal action stems from an investigation that revealed alleged "evidence of Olin Corporation's negligence in maintaining safe working conditions. Workers at the Charleston facility have been subjected to dangerous levels of mercury, a toxic substance known to have detrimental effects on the nervous system and can lead to severe health complications," said officials.

Joey James, lead attorney at Joey James Law Firm, expressed concern over the well-being of the affected workers and their families. "Our priority is to seek justice for those who have been exposed to unsafe working conditions. The health and safety of employees should be paramount, and we will pursue accountability for any company that fails to uphold adequate safety standards."

The lawsuit seeks compensation, appropriate medical treatment, medical expenses, and punitive damages for the affected workers and their families. It aims to bring attention to the issue of workplace safety and corporate accountability.
Most fighter pilots and some aircraft enthusiasts have heard of Pardos Push, but in honor of Air Force fighter pilot and Texas native Bob Pardo, who died last month, I invite you to read about this daring maneuver to save his wingmen.Kids, dont try this one at home!In 1967, then-Capt. Bob Pardo and his Weapon Systems Officer 1st Lt. Steve Wayne, and wingman Capt. Earl Aman and his WSO 1st Lt. Robert Houghton, were assigned to the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, 433rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand.On March 10, they and another two-ship of Phantoms were assigned to attack a steel mill just north of Hanoi.It was a clear day, which meant good visibility in the air but also good visibility of the fighters from the ground. Indeed, both of the F-4 Phantom IIs were hit by anti-aircraft fire. Pardo recounted, We took at least one hit, maybe two, right in the belly of the airplane. One of the rounds severed his wingmans fuel lines, and while an explosion was averted, Aman was losing fuel fast.There was no way Aman and WSO Houghton could get to the nearest KC-135 tanker aircraft for more JP 4 fuel, and they were certain they would have to bail out over enemy territory. Yet Pardo devised a daring strategy to ensure his wingmans aircraft would make it back over friendly territory so they would not be killed or taken as POWs after bailing out.According to Pardo: I knew if I didnt do anything, they would have to eject over North Vietnam into enemy territory, and that would have resulted in their capture for sure. At that time, if you were captured by civilians, you were probably going to be murdered on the spot.Pardo first tried to do something bold that had never been attempted before  push Amans tail drag chute compartment with his planes bulkhead nosecone  but the turbulence across the fuselage of Amans plane made that impossible.Pardo backed off to assess the situation and he radioed his wingman, Aman, drop your tailhook. Aman replied, What? Pardo: Your tailhook. Drop it. Fortunately, because the Phantom was originally designed for Navy and Marine Corps operations off of carrier decks, all the planes were equipped with heavy arresting tailhooks. As Aman shut his idle engines down to avoid fire, Pardo then moved in behind the disabled Phantom in order to find a way to engage the hook and push his wingman to safety.Flying at about 270 knots, Pardo used the forward steel frame of his canopy windscreen just forward of the cockpit to push Amans tailhook. It worked, but because of the swing alignment of Amans tailhook and the curvature of Pardos nosecone, the tailhook would slide off about every 30 seconds, requiring that Pardo reposition and reconnect. I had to fight to get it back in place, he recalled.Amans WSO Houghton, in disbelief, later observed, If [Pardo] so much as bumped the windshield, he would have had that tailhook in his face. Indeed, deep cracks had formed in Pardos inch-thick windscreen after a few taps from the tailhook.Not far from friendly territory, a fire in one of Pardos two J79 jet engines necessitated shutting that engine down. For the remaining 10 minutes required to get to safe airspace, he managed, with his starboard engine at full throttle, to slow the rate of descent for both of their aircraft from 3,000 feet per minute to 1,500 FPM. We continued to push and it got us where we needed to go, he said.With his own plane running out of fuel and having pushed Amans Phantom almost 90 miles into Laotian airspace at 6,000 feet, the planes separated and both pilots and WSOs safely ejected. The Laotian villages, thinking these were enemy aircraft, shot at the airmen, but after about two hours of evasion, an HH-53 helicopter arrived for the rescue.Pardos commanding officer, Lt. Gen. William Wallace Spike Momyer, reprimanded him for the daring effort, noting, This act should be punished because it was reckless and showed a lack of flight discipline. And that reprimand stood  untilBoth Pardo and Aman completed their Vietnam tours, Pardo with 132 combat missions, and they retired from the Air Force in 1974 as Lieutenant Colonels. Two decades after what would become famously known as Pardos Push, a military review board reexamined the incident, and both Pardo and his WSO Wayne were awarded Silver Stars for their actions that March day long ago. That was in addition to Pardos other earned awards, a Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, Air Medal with 12 Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Meritorious Service Medal.After retirement, Pardo says: I am frequently asked, How did you have the courage to make the decision, knowing that the windshield could break at any time? My dad taught me that when your friend needs help, you help. I couldnt have come home and told him I didnt even try anything because thats exactly what he would have asked me. He wouldve said, Did you try?Learning that his former wingman was suffering from Lou Gehrigs disease, Pardo raised funds to assist Aman with a voice synthesizer, a motorized wheelchair, and a van to accommodate his disability.Bob Pardo died on December 5, 2023. His son, John Pardo, says of his dad: He is a legend, but his legacy is the thing he did, and you can do things like that. It doesnt have to be pushing somebodys airplane. You can find opportunities every day to help somebody. His character was one of outstanding individuals, his principles were unparalleled, and his love for his country was utmost in his mind.Capt Bob Pardo and 1st Lt Steve Wayne, your example of valor  American Patriots defending your fellow warriors and Liberty for all above and beyond the call of duty, and in disregard for the peril to your own safety  is eternal. Greater love has no one than this, to lay down ones life for his friends. (John 15:13)(Join us in prayer for our nations Military Patriots, Veterans, First Responders, and their families. Please consider a designated gift to support the National Medal of Honor Sustaining Fund through Patriot Foundation Trust ( https://patriotfoundationtrus t.org ), or make a check payable to NMoH Sustaining Fund and mail to: Patriot Foundation Trust, PO Box 407, Chattanooga, TN 37401-0407. Visit the National Medal of Honor Heritage Center at Aquarium Plaza. ( https://www.MOHHC.org ))
A Chattanooga woman has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after being convicted of mail fraud involving a scheme to defraud COVID-19 unemployment programs in several states.

Dana Adkins, 45, appeared before Judge Charles E. Atchley, Jr.

Following her incarceration, she will be on three years of supervised release.

In addition, she was ordered to pay $150,804 in restitution, and to forfeit to the United States over $150,000 as part of a money judgment.

As part of the filed plea agreement with the court, Ms. Adkins pleaded guilty to an information charging her with mail fraud.

According to court documents, from June 2020 through January 2021, Ms. Adkins conspired with others to devise a scheme in which she defrauded the United States government and the governments of Tennessee, Alabama, Pennsylvania, and California to obtain money from the states COVID relief programs in the form of unemployment insurance proceeds funded by the United States government.

Specifically, she acquired personal information from others and used it to fraudulently make mass online applications for money earmarked by the states to provide unemployment insurance relief for those affected by the national pandemic.

She falsely claimed in the applications that the individuals whose personal information was reflected on the applications worked in those states. The states then mailed debit cards to addresses in the Eastern District of Tennessee, and Ms. Adkins would receive a percentage of the payout of the fraudulent claim.

The defendant was personally responsible for the fraudulent distribution of over $150,000 of unemployment protection insurance funds.

The scheme itself involved the fraudulent distribution of over $550,000 in unemployment protection insurance funds. Ms. Adkins is the fourth defendant to be convicted in the scheme.

We remain committed to working with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who callously undermine the United States governments efforts to help hard working Americans and small business owners with COVID unemployment relief funds, said United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton, III.

He said, Thieves and fraudsters who take these funds under false pretenses are not only stealing from American taxpayers, generally, but also specifically from their neighbors and members of the communities who have businesses that are struggling in the wake of massive losses due to the pandemic.

Ms. Adkins stole benefits intended to assist American workers who became unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was stated.
Presentation is free and open to the public on Feb. 7.
Things being written [1]

Hans Daiber [2]

Translated by xia23

Karl Kornemann was a freshly baked civil engineer, crisp on the outside, and he would still be, if he had not glanced into a shop window. He could not have known for sure, what lay there behind the pane of glass.

He came from the main station, had just arrived, wanted to take his first job, but would like to see the city a little before he checked in for the company. He dressed to the teeth, in order to make a good impression, whistled to himself, swung his suitcase back and forth, looked at the young girl and in the shop windows.

Suddenly in the display of a bookstore among different books he spotted a red dust jacket with the title Kornemann comes in the city. Over it there was a photo which showed him, with the suitcase, in the new jacket. The tie on the photo was crooked. Without thinking about it, Kornemann straightened his tie. Then he looked again at the photo. The tie of the young man on the photo was now ok. Kornemann thought he was dreaming, so pinched his leg. But the book in the display did not disappear.

He walked in the book store, let someone hand in the book, paid and left the store. The saleslady did not notice anything. Quickly the young man, wrapped book under his arm, looked for a park bench and found one quickly near a pleasant goldfish pond, sat down, unwrapped the book and read: Karl Kornemann was a freshly baked civil engineer, crisp on the outside, and he would still be, if he had not glanced into a certain shop window. He could not have known for sure

The reader stopped reading dumbfounded. He got goosebumps, and looked around. Everyday life in a big city was around him. No one paid any attention to him. He continued his reading hastily. Everything was there: the book purchase, the promenade-bench. And then he read, that he was reading. And that he looked up dumbfounded, but the surroundings were all normal. Horrified he jumped up, so the book fell down. The glossy dustcover shone in the sun. The guy on the photo stared at him with his eyes widely open in fear. Kornemann turned away from the book, picked his suitcase and went away. Hi, you have lost your book! A boy called after him and brought the book to him. Kornemann expressed his thank to him and opened the book once more. There was the scene, that he had just experienced.

He sat down again and tried to read into the future. But he only read that he tried to read into the future. He tried to read the end of the book, but the text at the end of the book continued, to where he had stopped: he tried to read the end of the book. He turned the page at random, read a sentence randomly and book said: he turned the page at random, read a sentence randomly. With a scream Kornemann threw the book in the pond.

Immediately he was seized by a desire, to find out if the reaction of the panic was also already in the book. At the same time he had difficulty to breathe as if he himself were lying under water. He rushed to the edge of the pond and was just about to pull the book out, when he was pulled back by a park attendant. The water there is too shallow, the rescuer said soothingly. Then he noticed that Kornemann had difficulty to breathe from a presumed suicide attempt. Kornemann grew pale, and clung to his rescuer and collapsed with rattling noises in his throat.

The park attendant loaded the unconscious man on a cart of the municipal park department, with the help from passers-by, and drove him to the nearest hospital. Under the oxygen mask he regained consciousness. The doctor diagnosed the circulatory disorder as the cause of the breathing difficulty and the fainting spell. The patient recovered quickly. After the examination he stepped in front of a bookshelf, threw the medical literature out and lay down on top of the shelf. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

[1]. Es steht geschrieben. p. 141, Der Weg zum Lessen. 3rd Ed. Harcourt Brace College Publishers, Fort WorthPhiladelphia....Tokyo, 1986.

[2]. Hans Daiber.

From wikipedia:

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Daiber_(Journalist)
If youve ever noticed an adorable cat with folded ears that looked like it just walked out of a storybook, you probably had the pleasure of seeing a Scottish Fold a breed as unique as it is charming.

Known for their distinctive folded ears, these feline friends have a look thats both quirky and endearing, making them a favorite among cat enthusiasts.

But theres much more to these cats than just their cute appearance. Lets dive into the history of Scottish Folds and discuss what makes them such delightful companions.

History & Origins Of The Scottish Fold

The Scottish Folds story actually began back in the 1960s in Scotland with a lovable barn cat named Susie.

Her unusual folded ears caught the attention of a local farmer, and before long, breeders took an interest.

The intriguing physical trait was discovered to be a natural mutation, and thus, the Scottish Fold breed was born. Then, these cats quickly gained popularity, not just for their unique look but for their wonderful temperament as well.

Physical Characteristics

Apart from the obvious folded ears, Scottish Folds have other distinctive features, too.

Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox.
A new study suggests that losing a sibling in either childhood or early adulthood might increase the likelihood of early-onset heart disease.

Conducted by researchers at Fudan University in Shanghai and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the study examined over two million individuals born in Denmark from 1978 to 2018.

The findings revealed that, on average, individuals were 11 years old when they suffered the loss of a sibling.

Over 17 years of follow-up data also indicated that such a loss in childhood or early adulthood correlated with a 17% higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

The analysis of this data was carried out from November 1, 2021, to January 10, 2022. The researchers also discovered that the risk was more pronounced in individuals who lost a twin or a younger sibling as opposed to those who lost an older sibling.

The findings highlight the need for extra attention and support to the bereaved siblings to reduce CVD [cardiovascular disease] risk later in life, the study authors noted.

According to David Schonfeld, the director of the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, past research focusing on the long-term effects of traumatic events in childhood has shown their influence on adult physical health.

Although the initial research on adverse childhood experiences did not look specifically at the impact of the death of a close family member, we know that the death of a parent or sibling is one of the most stressful experiences for children and can contribute to short and long-term effects on the psychological functioning, emotional adjustment, and developmental trajectory of children as well as their physical health, said Schonfeld, who was not involved in the study.

Cardiologist at Delray Medical Center, Jonathan Kahan, agreed and underscored the lasting impacts of loss.

Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox.
A church in a Texas college town, a chapter of the campus ministry Chi Alpha, and its sponsoring denomination, the Assemblies of God, are being sued by a father who alleges that the leaders he entrusted to disciple his teenage son instead got him naked in ministry settings and used their positions of authority to sexually abuse him.

The lawsuit, filed Thursday, follows a tumultuous several months for Chi Alpha. Since last spring, a serial predator has gone to jail for child sex abuse, chapter leaders across a half-dozen Texas universities have been dismissed, and the organizations national director resigned.

The majority of the departing leaders had ties to Daniel Savala, a registered sex offender who groomed and abused Chi Alpha students for decades at his home in Houston. He was indicted last year on child sexual abuse and trafficking charges.

Though Savala wasnt officially a part of Chi Alpha or the Assemblies of God, the list of leaders who have left reflect the reach of his informal network across Chi Alpha in Texas.

The recent lawsuit alleges that Savala molested a 13-year-old in 2021 and that four Chi Alpha students continued to sexually violate the youth group member through naked and inappropriate games in ministry settings.

The teenage victim attended Mountain Valley Fellowship in College Station. The Assemblies of God church had been led by Eli Stewart, a longtime Chi Alpha leader who launched the chapter at nearby Texas A&M University.

The victims father, Stephen Holt, is suing the church and the local Chi Alpha chapter as well as the General Council and North Texas District Council of the Assemblies of God for malice and gross negligence for failing to warn parents and protect children from abuse.

Last year, Stewart was fired by Mountain Valley Fellowship for sinful practices and neglecting his duty to protect his flock from a known predator. An investigation is ongoing.

Stewart first met Savala at his childhood church in Alaska. He maintained a relationship with him through a previous child sex abuse conviction and continued to endorse him as a spiritual leader until an online forum exposed Savala last year.

The lawsuit alleges that Stewart allowed Chi Alpha members at A&M to lead the youth group and take trips to Savalas home, even though Stewart was aware of his status as a sex offender.

According to the filing, the minor victim sat naked and engaged in inappropriate contact with Savala in his home sauna in October 2021, which resembles many other accounts of abuse by Savala. The following year, the boy went skinny dipping during a leadership trip out of state and played games involving touching genitals at a Chi Alpha event.

It blames the church for putting the college students in positions where they would have unsupervised control over minor children and which engendered trust creating an environment where they would have unsupervised control of minor children.

Holt told CT that a week before learning about his sons abuse, he had strange dreams. During prayer the next morning, he said he sensed the Lord telling him to prepare for something ahead, but he didnt know what.

We were overcome with so many emotions when we found out, Holt said. The Lord in his own awesome way prepared us for this, even before finding everything out  This situation could have easily driven us away from the Lord but it has actually brought us closer to him.

His family has left Mountain Valley Fellowship for another church.

Chi Alpha hasnt publicly responded to questions around Savala and the investigations other than to refer to an updated statement from the Assemblies of God.

The denomination reiterates that Savala was not officially a part of Chi Alpha and that the national office made relevant Chi Alpha leaders aware of his status and warned them to cease contact and not permit students or leaders to be around him after a 2018 report. But multiple chapters continued to visit him, including A&M.

CT reached out to the Assemblies of God by email for comment on the lawsuit on Friday evening and did not hear back by publication time.

Chi Alpha victims and advocates on the XA and the Lions Den forum have been calling for the organization to take responsibility and acknowledge a bigger problem that allowed Savala to continue to abuse and others to do likewise.

The entire system in certain parts of Chi Alpha must be reformed, and new leadership needs to be implemented, one post read. The Bible says in Galatians 5:9, A little leaven leavens the whole lump. So even a little bit of half-truths, a little bit of perverted teachings, a little bit of group masturbation in Bible studies is the leaven that can affect and destroy the entire organization.

Chris Hundl, who was mentored by Savala and had led the chapter at Baylor University, was also arrested last year for bringing boys to masturbate in Savalas sauna.

Other campus leaders who arranged for students to visit Savala for mission trips, for discipleship, or for counsel around sexuality have either stepped down or lost their jobs: Jason Bell at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville; Josh Bell at Rice University in Houston; Daniel Young at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley; and Johnny Hauck at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

A spokesman for the Assemblies of God confirmed to CT that they are not serving in Chi Alpha positions and that actions taken as a result of the investigations have already resulted in various actions including the dismissal of ministers.

Chi Alphas district director for New Mexico and Texas, Eli Gautreaux, was also suspended during an investigation, and the denomination confirmed he no longer holds the position. Chi Alphas national director, E. Scott Martin, resigned.

In 2022, Will Robinson at Texas A&M UniversityCorpus Christi was also arrested on separate child sex abuse charges.

The online forum posted Holts lawsuit on Friday with a message saying, XA Lions Den and our moderation team ask that you please pray for peace and courage for this young man and his family and encourage them with your comments during this time of their life. We ask that you pray for swift justice and complete accountability for all participating parties.
Home News Biden blasted as 'election denier' for claiming Terry McAuliffe is 'real governor of Virginia'

President Joe Biden is facing allegations of acting like an election denier after suggesting that the losing candidate in the 2021 Virginia gubernatorial election is the real governor of the state during a campaign speech.

During a speech about abortion in Manassas, Virginia, on Tuesday, Biden greeted the crowd by saying, Hello, Virginia, and giving a shout-out to the real governor, Terry McAuliffe. Although the audience erupted into laughter and applause at this declaration, Democrat Terry McAuliffe is not "the real governor of Virginia."

McAuliffe served as governor of the Commonwealth from 2014-2018 and unsuccessfully sought a comeback in the 2021 gubernatorial election. He lost to Republican Glenn Youngkin, the states current governor, capturing 48.6% of the vote to Youngkins 50.6%.

Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe

Youngkin noticed Bidens description of his former opponent as Virginias real governor, replying to a post on X of the remark accompanied by his quip, Mr. President, Im right here.

The transcript of the presidents remarks in Manassas, uploaded by the White House, indicates that the president identified himself as Jill Bidens husband and Kamalas running mate immediately after calling McAuliffe the real governor of Virginia. He then used the phrase kidding aside as he transitioned into the main subject of his address: reproductive freedom. Even if Biden wasn't serious in his comment about McAuliffe, his statement has invited allegations of hypocrisy from his political opponents.

The video clip shared by Youngkin was captured by RNC Research, which describes itself as a rapid-response account run by the Republican National Committee dedicated to exposing the lies, hypocrisy, and failed far-left policies of Joe Biden and the Democrat Party. The RNC Research post refers to Biden as an election denier, reflecting one of the most common refrains from the president as he seeks re-election in the 2024 presidential election.

The term election denier is used to chastise anyone who has raised questions about the result of the 2020 presidential election when Biden defeated former President Donald Trump. In addition to election denier, the term the Big Lie looms large in American politics as a phrase used to describe the belief that Trump actually won the 2020 election.

Rhetoric surrounding the 2020 election has emerged as an important aspect of Bidens re-election bid. In a Jan. 12 post on X, Biden declared: Those pushing the Big Lie dont have respect for the 81 million people who voted for my presidency. Thats not democracy. Thats not America.

Although Biden won more than 81 million votes in the national popular vote, the vote margins in the states that ultimately determined the outcome of the election were much closer. In four of the six states at the center of the effort to contest the results of the 2020 presidential election, Biden won by a smaller margin than Youngkin: Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Biden won the states by margins of 0.4%, 0.3%, 1.2% and 0.6%, respectively.

The four states had a combined 47 electoral votes in the Electoral College. Since Biden won 306 electoral votes in the Electoral College, which ultimately determines the presidency as opposed to the national popular vote, the reversal of the results in those states would have prevented Biden from achieving the 270 electoral vote threshold required to secure the presidency.

While Republicans raised concerns about voter fraud in the aftermath of the 2020 election, Democrats routinely dismissed them as unfounded. All efforts by the Trump campaign as well as other Republican elected officials and Republican-affiliated groups to contest the results of the election using the legal system failed and Biden took office as the 46th President on Jan. 20, 2021.

Unlike the 2020 presidential election, allegations of voter fraud or an illegitimate election did not materialize during the 2021 Virginia gubernatorial election. McAuliffe released a statement the morning after the election acknowledging that he came up short in the contest and congratulated Youngkin on his victory.

RNC Research put together a much longer video featuring nearly 24 minutes worth of footage showing Democrats calling into question the results of several state and national elections. Specifically, the video shows prominent figures in the Democrat Party suggesting that the results of the 2000 presidential election, 2004 presidential election, 2016 presidential election, 2018 Georgia gubernatorial election and 2018 Florida gubernatorial election, all won by Republicans, were illegitimate.

McAuliffe, who has been a fixture in Democrat Party politics for decades, was featured multiple times in the video, as was Biden. Biden had called into question the results of both the 2000 and 2016 elections, while McAuliffe raised doubts about the outcomes of the 2000 presidential election and the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial election. Some of the clips in the video showed McAuliffe questioning the results of the 2000 presidential election many years later.
Home News Kim Davis seeks to reverse verdict ordering her to pay $100K damages to gay couple

A former county clerk who received national attention for declining to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples because of her protected religious beliefs is appealing a court decision ordering her to pay emotional damages to a gay couple whom she refused to issue a marriage license.

The law firm Liberty Counsel filed a motion in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky on Thursday seeking to reverse a judgment against former Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis that ordered her to pay $100,000 to a same-sex couple who claimed her refusal to provide them with a marriage license caused them emotional distress.

While a jury awarded plaintiffs David Ermold and David Moore $50,000 each, U.S. District Court Judge David Bunning ordered Davis to pay the couple an additional $246,026.40 in attorneys' fees and $14,058.30 in other expenses. The jury verdict, along with Bunnings subsequent memorandum and order, put Davis on the hook for more than $360,000.

Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe

The motion contends that the emotional damages awarded to Ermold and Moore were unjustified: Plaintiffs presented the jury with nothing more than their own brief and conclusory testimony. Plaintiffs presented no witnesses, provided no experts, relied on no medical, mental health, or economic professionals, and squandered the opportunity to present any documentary evidence of damages.

Instead, what Plaintiffs presented to the jury was only their own brief testimony that their individual feelings were hurt, that they felt humiliated, anddespite admitting they had no idea how to calculate damagesthat $50,000 was the arbitrary number they came up with for damages, the document noted. The motion also cited testimony from Moore, who insisted, I dont know what the value is regarding the emotional damages.

According to Moore, Thats up to the jury to decide. Its up to other people to decide what the value is. I dont know. Maybe it has no value. I dont know.

A plaintiff bearing the burden of proof to demonstrate with competent evidence that he incurred damages, and to prove the amount of those damages, falls woefully short of that burden when his best answer is that his claimed emotional distress maybe it has no value, the motion stated. The case should not have been given to the jury.

The court document also highlighted how plaintiffs did not even seek the help of any mental health professional for their alleged emotional distress, let alone bring a medical witness to testify at trial. It stressed that court precedent has determined that plaintiffs seeking emotional damages must produce actual evidence of distress and injury, not merely conclusory statements about it.

There is no evidence to support the verdict, said Liberty Counsel founder and Chairman Mat Staver in a statement on Friday. Today, because of Kim Davis, every clerk in Kentucky now has the freedom to serve as an elected official without compromising their religious convictions and conscience. This case has the potential to extend the same religious freedom protections beyond Kentucky and overturn Obergefell v. Hodges, which was wrongly decided and should be overturned.

As Staver suggested, Davis received national media attention following her refusal to issue same-sex marriage licenses following the U.S. Supreme Courts Obergefell v. Hodgesdecision. The 2015 Obergefell ruling determined that the U.S. Constitution contains a right to same-sex marriage and overruled all existing bans on same-sex marriage at the state level, including in Kentucky.

Davis explained at the time that to issue a marriage license which conflicts with Gods definition of marriage, with my name affixed to the certificate, would violate my conscience. Davis ended up going to jail for nearly a week for declining to comply with a court order requiring her to issue same-sex marriage licenses.

Liberty Counsel argues that Davis should not be liable for any damages because she was entitled to a religious accommodation from issuing marriage licenses under her name and authority that conflicted with her religious beliefs, the law firm asserted. In April 2016, the [Kentucky] legislature unanimously granted religious and conscience accommodation to all clerks from issuing marriage licenses that conflict with their religious beliefs.

In addition to taking issue with the validity of Ermold and Moores claims of emotional distress, Liberty Counsel accused Bunning of engaging in unlawful behavior as he oversaw the case. Specifically, the law firm contended that Bunning improperly allowed questions concerning whether any potential juror had religious or moral objections to same-sex marriage.

The judge overruled Liberty Counsels objection, and that permitted the plaintiffs to exclude all jurors that have religious beliefs and those who had objections to same-sex marriage. That question essentially excluded jurors based on religion, which is unlawful under current legal precedent and federal law.
Home News Texas 'prepared' for clash with feds over border, Gov. Abbott says; 10 states sending National Guard troops Abbott: 'This is a fight for the future of America'

At least 10 states are sending National Guard troops or other personnel to Texas in support of the states defense of the U.S.-Mexico border, Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott announced Friday.

In an interview with Tucker Carlson, Abbott, who is in India on state business, said while 10 states have officially announced plans to support Texas border fight, he believes all 25 GOP governor-led states will eventually send some form of support.

There have been about 10 so far who have sent National Guard or other law enforcement, he said. They now are joined together with us. This is a fight for the future of America, and they all know it. And so I believe they will all be in on this effort.

Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe

In an interview from India, Gov. Greg Abbott says ten other states have sent national guard to the Texas border, and others will follow. Abbott says he is prepared for a conflict with federal authorities. pic.twitter.com/F58MLoOsAZ  Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) January 26, 2024

While Abbott said hed be shocked if the Biden administration federalized the Texas National Guard, the governor said his administration is prepared for any scenario by continuing to put up concertina wire or other anti-climb border barriers to defend the state.

We are prepared in the event that that unlikely event does occur to make sure that we will be able to continue exactly what we've been doing over the past month, he said. ... We will continue to do exactly what we're doing to expand our denial of illegal entry into the state of Texas.

Earlier Friday, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt announced he is in talks about sending the Oklahoma National Guard to support Texas, calling the border situation a powder keg worth of tension.

Right now, youve got the federal agents who are cutting the wire, then youve got the Texas National Guard on orders to put up the wire, Stitt told Newsmax Thursday. This is a powder keg worth of tension, so its a very weird situation.

The response follows a call from former President Donald Trump, who urged governors of all willing states to send Guard troops to the border.

In the face of this National Security, Public Safety, and Public Health Catastrophe, Texas has rightly invoked the Invasion Clause of the Constitution, and must be given full support to repel the Invasion, Trump said in a statement Thursday. We encourage all willing States to deploy their guards to Texas to prevent the entry of Illegals, and to remove them back across the Border.

Other states, such as Florida, have already signaled a willingness to support Texas border efforts, with Gov. Ron DeSantis warning of what he called an invasion across the border.

If the Constitution really made states powerless to defend themselves against an invasion, it wouldnt have been ratified in the first place and Texas would have never joined the union when it did, DeSantis wrote on X. [Texas] is upholding the law while Biden is flouting it.

A U.S. Customs and Border Patrol spokesman on Friday reportedly told Fox News the CBP has no plans to remove any border barriers and that ties between CBP and Texas agencies remains strong.

On Thursday, Republican governors from 25 states released a joint statement saying the Biden administration has failed to stem the tide of what they called unprecedented illegal immigration.

The statement read in part: President Biden and his Administration have left Americans and our country completely vulnerable to unprecedented illegal immigration pouring across the Southern border. Instead of upholding the rule of law and securing the border, the Biden Administration has attacked and sued Texas for stepping up to protect American citizens from historic levels of illegal immigrants, deadly drugs like fentanyl, and terrorists entering our country.

The standoff between Texas and the federal government began in earnest earlier this week after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the Biden administration could remove razor wire and other border barriers along the Rio Grande.

In its 5-4 ruling Monday, the Supreme Court issued a temporary stay on a ruling from a U.S. Circuit Court which prohibited the Biden administration from taking down any border barriers except in the event of a life-saving emergency.
Home News UNRWA terminates employees over alleged involvement in Hamas attacks after US pauses funding

UPDATE: 4 p.m. ET Jan. 29: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Sunday the U.N. Relief and Works Agency terminated nine of the 12 staffers accused of involvement in Hamas' Oct. 7 terror attack. One is dead, and the identities of two others need to be clarified. Additionally, at least nine countries have halted funding to UNRWA over the allegations.

Original article:

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency has terminated the contracts of several employees after a dozen were accused of alleged involvement in the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attacks in Israel and launched an investigation into their role.

Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe

Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, made the announcement after the U.S., Canada and Australia paused additional funding for UNRWA pending the investigations outcome.

In a statement Friday, Lazzarini emphasized that any UNRWA employee involved in acts of terror would face criminal prosecution. UNRWA reiterates its condemnation in the strongest possible terms of the abhorrent attacks of 7 October and calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all Israeli hostages and their safe return to their families, Lazzarini said.

UNRWA, established in 1949, operates in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. The U.S.-funded agencys services purportedly include education, health care, relief, social services and emergency assistance.

These shocking allegations come as more than 2 million people in Gaza depend on lifesaving assistance that the agency has been providing since the war began, Lazzarini said. Anyone who betrays the fundamental values of the United Nations also betrays those whom we serve in Gaza, across the region and elsewhere around the world.

Simultaneously, the U.S. State Department expressed deep concern over these allegations.

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and said the Biden administration supports a thorough investigation. In a statement, the State Department highlighted UNRWAs role in providing lifesaving assistance to Palestinians and stressed the need for accountability and appropriate corrective measures.

There must be complete accountability for anyone who participated in the heinous attacks of October 7, the State Department said.

In December, The Christian Post reported that an accusation had been levied against a UNRWA employee who was allegedly holding a Hamas hostage, according to a report by Israeli Channel 13s Almog Boker.

The claim, deemed unsubstantiated by UNRWA at the time, emerged amid a temporary truce between Israel and Hamas. Over 1,200 people, mostly civilians, including 31 Americans, were killed by Hamas terrorists. Some 240 others were taken captive. Boker noted that Hamas has a history of utilizing the civilian population to carry out its terrorist activities.

UNRWA requested more information from the journalist who reported the hostage claim, stressing the importance of credible information to support such serious allegations. UNRWA also addressed these claims on social media, highlighting the long-standing documentation of accusations against the agency.

The Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education reported at the time that 13 UNRWA staffers had celebrated the Oct. 7 attacks on social media. This report also mentioned antisemitic content in UNRWA school textbooks, a claim UNRWA Communications Director Juliette Touma labeled unsubstantiated.

UNRWA rejects claims linking its schools to the abhorrent 7 October attacks in Israel  attacks that UNRWA has condemned in the strongest terms, Touma said at the time. As in the past, these allegations are yet another attempt to sensationalize and extrapolate, based on flawed methodology and flimsy evidence.
Home News Muslim militants kill Sudanese Presbyterian Evangelical Church member, leave him in pool of blood

JUBA, South Sudan  Militants from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) killed one Christian on Jan. 20 and beat another unconscious on Jan. 22 in Omdurman, Sudan, sources said.

The RSF militants, which have been fighting the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) since April 15, shot dead Hidar Al Amin at his home in the Umbda area of Omdurman, across the Nile from Khartoum, a relative said.

The Muslim militants insulted Al Amin, 30, a member of the Sudanese Presbyterian Evangelical Church, for being a Christian, he said. They looted his property and left him in a pool of blood.

Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe

He was killed by the RSF after they stole all that he had, a relative said in a text message to Morning Star News.

On Monday, RSF militants beat unconscious Al Thahir Kafi, a Christian merchant, before looting his home and shop in Omdurman, an area source said. Kafi is a well-known trader in the area now under RSF control.

Kafis Christian faith is also well-known in the area, and the militants who attacked him were Muslim extremists, the source said.

At least five church buildings have been set ablaze in Sudan since fighting broke out between the RSF and the SAF. In Al Jazirah state, which has been under RSF control since December, militants on Jan. 15 set a Greek Orthodox Church building on fire in Wad Medani, the state capital, an area pastor said.

The Greek Orthodox building is located next to an Evangelical church building in the Hai Al Gism Al Aual area of the city, he said.

The series of churches being set ablaze is ongoing in Wad Medani, the pastor told Morning Star News.

Another Christian in Wad Medani, Karbino Bla, died on Jan. 5 from injuries sustained from an attack by RSF militants.

In Open Doors 2024 World Watch List of the countries where it's most difficult to be a Christian, Sudan was ranked No. 8, up from No. 10 the previous year, as attacks by non-state actors continued and religious freedom reforms at the national level were not enacted locally.

Sudan had dropped out of the top 10 for the first time in six years when it first ranked No. 13 in the 2021 World Watch List.

Fighting between the RSF and the SAF, which had shared military rule in Sudan following an October 2021 coup, has terrorized civilians in Khartoum and elsewhere, leaving more than 12,000 people dead and displacing an estimated 7.6 million others inside and outside the country.

Christian sites have been targeted since the conflict began.

The SAFs Gen. Abdelfattah al-Burhan and his then-vice president, RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, were in power when civilian parties in March agreed on a framework to re-establish a democratic transition in April, but disagreements over military structure torpedoed final approval.

Burhan sought to place the RSF  a paramilitary outfit with roots in the Janjaweed militias that had helped former strongman Omar al-Bashir put down rebels  under the regular armys control within two years, while Dagolo would accept integration within nothing fewer than 10 years. The conflict burst into military fighting on April 15.

Both military leaders have Islamist backgrounds while trying to portray themselves to the international community as pro-democracy advocates of religious freedom.

Following two years of advances in religious freedom in Sudan after the end of the Islamist dictatorship under Bashir in 2019, the specter of state-sponsored persecution returned with the military coup of Oct. 25, 2021.

After Bashir was ousted from 30 years of power in April 2019, the transitional civilian-military government had managed to undo some Sharia (Islamic law) provisions. It outlawed the labeling of any religious group as infidels and thus effectively rescinded apostasy laws that made leaving Islam punishable by death.

With the Oct. 25, 2021, coup, Christians in Sudan feared the return of the most repressive and harsh aspects of Islamic law. Abdalla Hamdok, who had led a transitional government as prime minister starting in September 2019, was detained under house arrest for nearly a month before he was released and reinstated in a tenuous power-sharing agreement in November 2021.

Hamdock had been faced with rooting out longstanding corruption and an Islamist deep state from Bashirs regime  the same deep state that is suspected of rooting out the transitional government in the Oct. 25, 2021, coup.

The U.S. State Department in 2019 removed Sudan from the list of Countries of Particular Concern (CPC) that engage in or tolerate systematic, ongoing and egregious violations of religious freedom and upgraded it to a watch list. Sudan had previously been designated as a CPC from 1999 to 2018.

In December 2020, the State Department removed Sudan from its Special Watch List.

The Christian population of Sudan is estimated at 2 million, or 4.5% of the population of more than 43 million.
Christian radio network drops Alistair Begg after advice on attending same-sex weddings

(CP) A conservative Christian radio ministry has dropped pastor Alistair Begg from its programming lineup after he suggested Christians could attend same-sex weddings to "build bridges" with the culture at large.

Begg, 71, serves as senior pastor at Parkside Church in Cleveland along with his radio ministry "Truth For Life," carried by nearly 1,800 radio stations nationwide.

The controversy stems from recently resurfaced comments Begg made in a podcast for "Truth For Life" in September, in which Begg discussed his new book, The Christian Manifesto.

As part of the podcast, Begg touched on a specific question he said a grandmother asked him about her grandson, who she said was "about to be married to a transgender person," and whether she should attend the wedding.

"We field questions all the time that go along the lines of, 'My grandson is about to be married to a transgender person, and I don't know what to do about this, and I'm calling to ask you to tell me what to do,' which is a huge responsibility," Begg said.

"And in a conversation like that just a few days ago  and people may not like this answer  but I asked the grandmother, 'Does your grandson understand your belief in Jesus?' 'Yes.' 'Does your grandson understand that your belief in Jesus makes it such that you can't countenance in any affirming way the choices that he has made in life?' 'Yes.'

"I said, 'Well then, OK. As long as he knows that, then I suggest that you do go to the ceremony. And I suggest that you buy them a gift.'"

Begg went on to explain that Christians not attending such a ceremony could reinforce "judgemental" stereotypes the culture holds about the Church.

"I said, 'Well, here's the thing: your love for them may catch them off guard, but your absence will simply reinforce the fact that they said, 'These people are what I always thought: judgmental, critical, unprepared to countenance anything.'

"And it is a fine line, isn't it? It really is. And people need to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling. But I think we're going to take that risk. We're going to have to take that risk a lot more if we want to build bridges into the hearts and lives of those who don't understand Jesus and don't understand that he is a King."

While the podcast first aired in September, Begg's comments recently resurfaced on social media and brought scrutiny on the longtime pastor and Scottish native.

Within days, American Family Radio (AFR), the radio ministry of the American Family Association, announced its decision to "no longer air" "Truth For Life" after more than a decade.

The statement read: "Recently, it came to our attention that Pastor Begg made statements that were unbiblical and fail to line up with the decades of faithful adherence to Scripture that listeners have come to expect from him. In essence, when the question was asked of him whether or not a family member should attend an unbiblical wedding ceremony between two homosexuals, Pastor Begg counseled Christians to attend and take a gift."

"At American Family Association, we believe it to be an act of unfaithfulness to God to attend a ceremony that celebrates any union outside of the biblical model of marriage as being between one man and one woman. Members of our leadership team held a call with Alistair Begg's team and were unsuccessful in convincing them of his error."

"As a result of this, we will no longer air Pastor Alistair Begg's 'Truth for Life' program."

Despite the announcement, AFR remained listed as a partner on the "Truth For Life" website as of Thursday.

AFR did not immediately respond to a request for comment by The Christian Post. This story will be updated if a response is received. A representative of Truth For Life said Begg has no response to AFR's decision.

In 2022, while teaching from the Apostle Paul's letter to the Romans, Begg tackled the question of same-sex marriage.

During his two-part sermon series on homosexuality entitled "God Gave Them Up," Begg argued against the notion of same-sex marriage as compatible with Scripture.

"It is not an alternative lifestyle," he said at the time. "It is an unnatural decision. It is an expression of rebellion against God."

 The Christian Post
The questions you should be asking

I first met Brian Kreeger, author of The Courageous Ask: A Proactive Approach to Prevent the Fall of Christian Non-profit Leaders, at the 2023 Christian Leadership Conference in Chicago in March. Along with another attendee, we shared an enjoyable day together after the conference as tourists, including a cruise on the Chicago River and joining the multitude at the spectacular sculpture Cloud Gate.

I was interested in Brian's book from the start, primarily from the current wave of more public falls, and also having attended a gathering during the conference hosted by Ministry Watch. This is an organisation that monitors and provides information and advice on Christian organisations.

Brian has written this book from his own experience of a fall, and is making his experience and wider research available now to help others.

It would have been helpful to have this book when starting out in various Christian and church contexts, especially the board context. I will come back to the board, but want to highlight that this book is very relevant for those who may not be in direct leadership themselves. If you are actively involved in a Christian or Church board or governing committee you will find the practical Christian reflections personally helpful. It is also instructive for attentive ordinary members who are prayerfully concerned about the wider witness of Christian leaders, whether they be well-known or locally centred.

While there is an obvious focus on the individual and their own responsibility for their actions, Brian thoughtfully shows the importance of the wider community, and in particular the role of board members pre-fall, during the fall, and the aftermath, including the context of restoration.

Some of the points that stood out for me.

Humility

The theme of humility is set throughout the book and helps to tie together chapters, providing continuity and a foundation that Christians know is central to our understanding of grace.

We can help or hinder Christian leaders in their roles, and placing them on pedestals, even higher than our Lord provides a foundation for pride and a context for a fall. May the Lord place around us loving members who can remind us that our gifts are not created by us and are to be used for the blessing of others.

The wider community

A helpful consideration by Brian is the important role the wider community can play in all these matters, particularly in the provision of appropriate support and restoration. Any organisation is not just a board; there are members, clients, and the immediate community where the organisation may be based, and the wider public. All of these parts can play a role in asking questions, helping to prevent a fall, and dealing with the consequences of a fall.

The Board

The Board is a key chapter and the role of board members is an area that organisations are becoming aware of in terms of the need for more and better training.

When you think about many of the quite public falls that Christian leaders have had over many now more public years the immediate focus is of course on the individual. Increasingly what has come out when considering many of these falls is an awareness of a common feature, namely an inadequate board. A board that failed to ask any questions. let alone the right questions.

From my long contact with the Christian Ministry Advancement (in Australia), I have become vitally aware of the importance of governance issues and the importance of a cohesive and functioning board and particularly the need for training. I am not talking about doing 'get to know each other activities', but understanding the ministry itself; not assuming that when a person is on the board they will read emails and papers for meetings. Good training will facilitate awareness and understanding of the dynamics and spiritual dimensions of a board and your role in the oversight of the ministry.

And a final focus:

Humility

Yes, I am doubling up. And it is necessary, and a key part of this book that illuminates the context for a fall. While reading I was regularly reminded of a simple and profound saying: "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16: 18).

Don't miss reading the 'acknowledgements' that are at the end. Most of us normally skim over these, but they are very relevant and link into the story. Perhaps read these first (along with the highlighted 'appendix').

There are a variety of resources associated with the book, and these are particularly helpful for a Board. Brian's website (briankreeger.com) has more information.

This is an honest and direct book tackling a subject that needs discernment, prayer, and wisdom. May God grant us courage.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Call the Cavalry: John Fords Cavalry Trilogy, plus one other Ford western, and three comedies by the team of David Zucker, Jim Abrahams and Jerry Zucker (also known as ZAZ) are coming to the Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque in February.

The Cavalry Trilogy consists of Fort Apache (1948), She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949), and Rio Grande (1950), movies that will show between Feb. 11 and 25.
Vince McMahon attends a press conference to announce that WWE Wrestlemania 29 will be held at MetLife Stadium in 2013 at MetLife Stadium on February 16, 2012 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Vince McMahon, executive chairman of the board of TKO Group Holdings and founder of wrestling giant WWE, has resigned his positions at both companies, according to a WWE memo obtained by CNBC and confirmed by the company.

"Vince McMahon has tendered his resignation from his positions as TKO Executive Chairman and on the TKO Board of Directors. He will no longer have a role with TKO Group Holdings or WWE," said Nick Khan, president of the WWE.

The announcement came in the wake of allegations made public Thursday, of sexual assault and sex trafficking, against McMahon.

McMahon has denied the allegations. But he said in a statement late Friday that, "out of respect for the WWE Universe, the extraordinary TKO business and its board members and shareholders, partners and constituents, and all of the employees and Superstars who helped make WWE into the global leader it is today, I have decided to resign from my executive chairmanship and the TKO board of directors, effective immediately."

The latest allegations against McMahon were in a lawsuit filed by Janel Grant  who alleges McMahon directed her to have sex with a WWE "superstar" and other men. Grant's suit seeks to void a nondisclosure agreement Grant said she reached with McMahon in early 2022.

Grant's suit in U.S. District Court in Connecticut says the billionaire McMahon agreed to pay her $3 million as part of that deal, but ended up only paying her $1 million in exchange for her silence about his conduct.

In addition to McMahon, 78, the complaint names as defendants WWE and John Laurinaitis, the company's former head of talent relations and general manager.

The complaint comes six months after federal law enforcement agents executed a search warrant on McMahon and served him with a grand jury subpoena as part of an investigation into McMahon's payment of millions of dollars to multiple women, among them Grant, after allegations of sexual misconduct.

McMahon, who resigned from WWE leadership posts in mid-2022 amid an internal company investigation, only to return as its leader in early 2023, last March paid WWE $17.4 million to cover costs of a probe of those payouts by a law firm retained by the company.
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with U.S. President Joe Biden at Filoli Estate in the U.S. state of California, Nov. 15, 2023.

Beijing sent dozens of military aircraft and naval ships toward Taiwan on Friday, the same day of a low-profile meeting between U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi aimed at stabilizing U.S.-China relations.

From 6 a.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday local time, China sent 33 military aircraft and six naval vessels toward Taiwan, according to Taiwan's Defense Ministry. Thirteen of the planes crossed over the Taiwan Strait.

The intensified military pressure comes as the U.S. and China are attempting to steer relations back on track after an icy couple of years. For example, at their meeting, Sullivan and Wang confirmed the plan to launch a collaborative U.S.-China "Counternarcotics Working Group" on Tuesday to address the fentanyl crisis.

"Mr. Sullivan underscored during the meeting that the United States and the PRC are in competition but the United States does not seek conflict or confrontation, and there are areas of cooperation in the relationship," a senior administration official said Saturday.

But China's military moves over the past 24 hours could complicate hopes for cooperation.

China's approach to Taiwan, which it considers its territory, is a sensitive sticking point in its precarious relationship with the U.S., which believes in Taiwan keeping its self-governing status. The contentious issue comes up at nearly every U.S.-China meeting, including the high-profile talks between President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping in November.
Goldman Sachs is getting bullish on tech ahead of key earnings. The firm named a host of stocks it said investors should buy before quarterly results. CNBC Pro combed through Goldman Sachs research to find the firm's favorite tech names as earnings season heats up. They include Apple , Fiverr, Microsoft and Broadcom. Microsoft Analyst Kash Rangan expects big results from Microsoft when the company issues its fiscal second-quarter report on Tuesday . The firm said it sees a whole bunch of upside ahead as the company ramps up its artificial intelligence efforts. "Particularly, we point to: Commercial M365's healthy growth profile excluding Gen-AI, Improving PC outlook and the dwindling impact of the optimization narrative that took hold in CY23," Rangan said. Microsoft 365 is the company's portfolio of software products. Further, Azure, Microsoft's cloud computing platform, has big AI potential, according to Rangan. Azure is on track to be a $200 billion business by 2029, he added. Rangan also sees a "healthier backdrop giving way to broader revenue re-acceleration and earnings revision, which could support Microsoft's current valuation." Shares of the company are up more than 7% this year. "We believe Microsoft is one of the most compelling investment opportunities in the technology industry and across sectors," Rangan said. Broadcom Goldman recently reinstated coverage of the semiconductor company with a buy rating ahead of its earnings report in February. The firm said there's no shortage of positive catalysts for Broadcom after its acquisition of VMware. "In short, we expect strong double-digit revenue growth in the company's AI-related businesses," analyst Toshiya Hari wrote. In addition, the VMware deal should "drive operating margin expansion and earnings growth well in excess of the industry average," he said. Broadcom is well positioned to capture synergies in the deal, driving "above average EPS growth," Hari added. The analyst is also bullish on Broadcom's non-AI semiconductors, which he said are poised for a "cyclical recovery." "We also envision the company's attractive capital return profile serving as a tailwind to the stock's relative performance," Hari said. Meanwhile, Broadcom shares are up about 8% this year, but the analyst said the stock has plenty more room to run. Apple Goldman analyst Michael Ng is standing by shares of the tech giant. The firm named Apple as a top pick in 2024 and a favorite idea heading into earnings on Feb. 1 . In particular, Ng thinks that Apple Services, which includes Apple TV+, App Store and Apple Music, have revenue growth upside even in the face of a tougher consumer-facing macro. Apple's track record of product innovation should also continue, according to Ng, as the iPhone cycle begins again, along with new devices like the Apple Vision Pro . The stock, which Ng calls a "high quality" compounder, sits on Goldman's prestigious conviction buy list. The analyst noted that Apple outperformed the market in 2023, with shares ending the year up about 48.2%. That compares to the S & P 500's 24.2% jump in the same period. Apple is flat in 2024, but Ng sees more upside ahead. "Apple should also benefit from a recovery in industry PC demand, as well as a track record of share gains," he said. Microsoft "Particularly, we point to: Commercial M365's healthy growth profile excluding Gen-AI, Improving PC outlook and the dwindling impact of the optimization narrative that took hold in CY23.  Further, we see a healthier backdrop giving way to broader revenue re-acceleration & earnings revision, which could support Microsoft's current valuation.  We believe MSFT is one of the most compelling investment opportunities in the technology industry & across sectors." Broadcom "In short, we expect strong double-digit revenue growth in the company's AI-related businesses, a cyclical recovery in Broadcom's classic Semiconductor business, and synergy capture following the acquisition of VMware, to drive operating margin expansion and earnings growth well in excess of the industry average.  We also envision the company's attractive capital return profile serving as a tailwind to the stock's relative performance." Apple "2023 was a stock picker's year within IT hardware and networking equipment with high levels of dispersion in the group.  AI & high quality compounders outperform.  Apple should also benefit from a recovery in industry PC demand, as well as a track record of share gains.  AAPL has outperformed the market YTD in 2023." Fiverr "Looking long term, we see FVRR building operating momentum as a two-sided marketplace business with ample runway for growth on a normalized basis against a few key themes: 1) mgmt. executing against a large & growing TAM as the future of work evolves; 2) continuing to scale both the freelancer & buyer side of the marketplace; 3) product innovation as a driver of adoption, retention & share of wallet; & 4) geographic expansion."
Guyana, a tiny South American nation home to more than 800,000 people, made big headlines in December.

The reason? Its neighboring country, Venezuela.

Venezuela's autocratic leader Nicolas Maduro called for a referendum in the first week of December 2023 to seek approval to annex Essequibo, which makes up two-thirds of Guyana's land. Venezuelans approved it despite the dispute already being resolved by an international tribunal in 1899.

"What has happened is that it's been exacerbated by the discovery of oil (in Guyana)," said Dr. Terrence Blackman, founder and CEO at Guyana Business Journal. "This discovery has made it seem more attractive to Venezuela to pursue this course of action."

The 2015 oil discovery made Guyana the world's fastest-growing economy, recording the world's highest real GDP growth rate in 2022 and 2023. The story is different across Guyana's border. Venezuela has the world's largest oil reserves, but that hasn't stopped its economy from collapsing since Maduro took power in 2013.

"Venezuela doesn't truly have sources of support in its ambitions to take over that territory of Guyana, whereas Guyana, it seems, has international public law on its side, as well as the alliance with the United States," said Valerie Marcel, director at New Producers Group. "So I think that at this stage, the fears that Guyana felt in the past are much less. It feels more confident against its big neighbor."

Guyana's sudden economic progress has also been on the watch list for oil experts. While Guyana's remarkable GDP growth appears impressive on paper, critics highlight that the country's weak democratic institutions and deeply divided politics along ethnic lines could cause the only English-speaking country in South America to suffer from the so-called resource curse.

"Guyana is at a crossroads in its history," said Gregory Brew, energy analyst at Eurasia Group. "It is about to become one of the most exciting and important oil-producing countries in the world."

Watch the video above to dive deep into Guyana's oil economy, its ongoing escalation with Venezuela, what the country's oil means for the U.S. and more.
An El Al Israel Airlines Boeing 737-800 landing at Frankfurt Rhein-Main international Airport. El Al Israel Airlines started flying in 1948 from Geneva to Tel Aviv. Its main place for taking off and landing is Ben Gurion Airport. It is known as one of the safest airlines in the world as it has systems to protect its planes from missiles. (Photo by Fabrizio Gandolfo/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

El Al Israel Airlines said on Friday it was suspending its route to Johannesburg at the end of March, citing a steep drop in demand after South Africa accused Israel of genocide at the World Court.

Israel's flag carrier flies up to twice weekly nonstop to Johannesburg.

"Israelis don't want to fly to South Africa," said an El Al spokesperson. "They are cancelling flights and planes are pretty empty... We understand it's the situation because it was different before.

"The fact that the Israelis don't want to go to South Africa but do want to go to other places helps us decide that we're pausing that route," she said. The company also cited the current security situation.

U.N. judges will rule on Friday on South Africa's request for emergency measures against Israel, including that it halt its military operations in Gaza, over which it faces allegations of state-led genocide at the World Court.

After the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Islamist group Hamas that killed 1,200 Israelis and abducted more than 240 others, Israel responded heavily in Hamas-ruled Gaza. More than 25,000 people have been killed, according to Gaza health authorities.

Israel has asked the court to reject the case outright. An Israeli government spokesperson on Thursday said they expected the U.N.'s top court to "throw out these spurious and specious charges."

South Africa argued two weeks ago that Israel's aerial and ground offensive was aimed at bringing about "the destruction of the population" of Gaza.

El Al said once it had stopped flying to Johannesburg it would shift the widebody aircraft it uses on the route to expand current destinations to North America and Bangkok and Tokyo in Asia while examining new routes.
Mark Ruffalo wasn't always a household name headlining Marvel movies and Oscar nominees alike.

Indeed, in a recent appearance on the "SmartLess" podcast the Academy Award-nominated actor said he spent the better part of a decade driving around Los Angeles on a dirt bike because buying a car was too expensive.

Ruffalo said that as a young man trying to make it in Hollywood, he had to find ways to stretch his income from bartending. He drove a 1974 Honda XR250 because it cost him only $250 and "I could personally work on [it] when it broke down."

"I couldn't afford a car," he told the hosts. "That was the only way I could get around LA."

On top of that, his living quarters weren't much more luxurious than his ride.

"I was living in a closet for $200 a month," he added. "My whole nut was about $300 a month."

The four-time Academy Award nominee said he spent so much time just barely scraping by before he finally got his big break that he can't explain why he didn't quit.

"It was a very slow progression," he said. "There's really no reason that I should have tried as long as I did, because that was from 18 to 28."

Ruffalo's career began to pick up as he neared 30, appearing in four films in 1996 and becoming a rom com staple in the early 2000s.

He has since been nominated for four Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor, most recently for his performance in Best Picture nominee "Poor Things".

Want to land your dream job in 2024? Take CNBC's new online course How to Ace Your Job Interview to learn what hiring managers are really looking for, body language techniques, what to say and not to say, and the best way to talk about pay. Get started today and save 50% with discount code EARLYBIRD.
Republican presidential candidate former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley delivers remarks at her primary night rally at the Grappone Conference Center on January 23, 2024 in Concord, New Hampshire.

Authorities responded to a fake emergency at the South Carolina home of Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley last month after a man claimed to have shot a woman and threatened to harm himself at her home, according to town records obtained by Reuters.

The previously unreported "swatting" incident is among a wave of violent threats, bomb scares and other acts of intimidation against government officials, members of the judiciary and election administrators since the 2020 election that have alarmed law enforcement ahead of this year's U.S. presidential contest.

Swatting cases have surged over the past two months, targeting both allies and rivals of former President Donald Trump as he campaigns to return to the White House. The targets include figures who have publicly opposed Trump, such as Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, a Democrat who barred him from her state's primary ballot. Judges and at least one prosecutor handling cases against Trump have been targeted. But Trump backers such as U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene have also faced swatting attempts.

The hoax against Haley, who is challenging frontrunner Trump for the Republican presidential nomination, occurred on Dec. 30 in the town of Kiawah Island, an affluent, gated community of around 2,000 people.

Haley's campaign declined to comment.

An unknown person called 911 and "claimed to have shot his girlfriend and threatened to harm himself while at the residence of Nikki Haley," Craig Harris, Kiawah Island director of public safety, told town officials on Dec. 30, according to an email Reuters obtained in a records request for threats to Haley's home. "It was determined to be a hoax ... Nikki Haley is not on the island and her son is with her."

Swatting is the filing of false reports to the police to set off a potentially dangerous response by officers. Law enforcement experts see it as a form of intimidation or harassment that is increasingly being used to target political figures and officials involved in the civil and criminal cases against Trump.

In the email, Harris said he was in contact with South Carolina's state police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the head of Haley's security team. "This incident is being investigated by all involved," he wrote. The email did not mention a suspect or potential motive. In a separate email obtained by Reuters, an FBI official in South Carolina told Harris and other law enforcement officials that federal agents were tracking the hoax call and intended to open a "threat assessment" into the matter.

Harris, the FBI and the state police had no immediate comment on the incident. Law enforcement agencies have not publicly identified a suspect in the Haley case or in other high-profile swatting cases.

Haley and her husband bought the $2.4 million Kiawah Island residence in October 2019, local property records indicate.

Trump, famed for his incendiary rhetoric, has expressed fury at Haley in recent weeks. She has lost the first two Republican nominating contests, in Iowa and New Hampshire, but has refused to drop out of the race. Haley has ramped up her criticism of Trump, suggesting he's too old to be president again and calling him "totally unhinged."

Reuters has documented at least 27 swatting incidents of politicians, prosecutors, election officials and judges since November 2023, ranging from Georgia Republican state officials to hoaxes this month against Democrat Joe Biden's residence at the White House.

Some of the calls bear striking similarities. In two cases in which Reuters reviewed 911 recordings of hoax calls, a person identifying himself as "Jamal" called police to say he had killed his wife.

One such incident targeted the Florida home of Republican U.S. Senator Rick Scott on Dec. 27, weeks after he endorsed Trump, according to records from the Naples Police Department. "I caught my wife sleeping with another dude so I took my AR-15, and I shot her in the head three times," the caller said, referring to a popular semi-automatic rifle. Officers checked Scott's home and concluded the call was a hoax. Scott wasn't home at the time of the call.

"Jamal's voice sounded as if it was computer generated/artificial," wrote a Naples Police Department official in the incident report.

A caller identifying himself as "Jamal" also targeted Georgia Republican state senator John Albers on Dec. 26, according to an incident report from the Roswell Police Department. In that case, the caller said he had shot his wife and demanded $10,000 or he would shoot himself, too. In both cases, the callers were male and spoke with a similar accent, according to a Reuters analysis of the audio recordings.

A Jan. 7 call targeting Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, a strong Trump supporter, also had some similarities. The caller told police he was phoning from the official's address in the state capital, said he had shot his wife and added "he was going to kill himself and hung up on the operator," according to an incident report by the Jefferson City Police Department. Ashcroft and his wife and children were home at the time, according to a statement from the Missouri Secretary of State.

Scott, Albers and Ashcroft did not respond to requests for comment.

Gabriel Sterling, a top official in the Georgia secretary of state's office, said when someone called 911 on Jan. 11 to falsely report a shooting at his Atlanta suburban home, 14 police cars, a fire truck and an ambulance raced to his house. "Now I bolt my doors every night," said Sterling, a Republican who faced a torrent of threats for denouncing Trump's false voter-fraud claims after the 2020 election. "That's the reality I'm living in now," he said in an interview.
In this article FUN

SIX Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT

Guests ride a rollercoaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain theme park in Valencia, California, US, on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. Eric Thayer | Bloomberg | Getty Images

The theme park business, like many others, is consolidating and changing along with consumer habits. In the wake of Covid-19, and as consumers more carefully choose where they're spending their money, smaller theme park operators have struggled to compete with the bigger players in the amusement industry like Disney and Comcast's Universal , which have seen huge gains from parks' divisions. Addressing those challenges was one of the drivers behind the proposed $8 billion merger between Cedar Fair and Six Flags , announced in November. The combined company would put over 40 attractions, from iconic Knotts' Berry Farm to Magic Mountain to Canada's Wonderland, all under one ownership, as well as intellectual property from Peanuts, Looney Tunes and DC Comics. Cedar Fair CEO Richard Zimmerman said at the time of the merger that the combination would be "driving increased levels of demand and in-park value and spending." Six Flags CEO Selim Bassoui said it would "unlock new potential for our parks." While the Department of Justice said this week it has launched a review of the merger  which comes at a time when big deals are facing higher levels of anti-trust scrutiny from regulators, investors and consumer interest groups  industry experts and park aficionados say this is sort of combination that the park operators need. Smaller parks have struggled In recent years, smaller parks have struggled to attract and retain guests, especially as the bigger players chart out massive plans. In October, Disney stated it plans to invest roughly $60 billion in its parks division over the next decade. Universal said in August it would be investing $17 billion in its Florida theme parks over the next 10 years and is set to open a new expansion of its Orlando Park featuring a Super Mario attraction. One sign of the difficulties: Cincinnati, Ohio's historic Coney Island, meant to mirror the New York icon of the same name, shuttered at the end of 2023 after serving park-goers since 1886. Coney's closing ended an era for Cincinnati-based theme park consultant Dennis Speigel. Speigel worked his first job at Coney Island and later found himself the assistant general manager of Kings Island, a park now in the Cedar Fair portfolio. After the success of that park, he was dispatched to Virginia, where he oversaw the opening of a sister park, Kings Dominion. Some of the excitement about the deal from long-time industry players can border on hyperbole. "When you have these two together, they can reshape the industry," said amusement park blogger Don Helbig, who holds the record for the number of rides on Kings Island's classic coaster, the Racer, having ridden it over 10,000 times. (He also worked in public relations at Cedar Fair-owned Kings Island for 16 years until last June.) Aside from Disney and Universal, they are the two biggest players, and Helbig said that should mean more buying power that allows them to get better pricing on everything from roller coaster track to hamburger buns, and that should flow-through to the guest experience. He also pointed to Six Flags' partnerships with several major tech firms (including Google, Dell and Snowflake) that can be leveraged throughout all the parks. And there's an underlying rationale for the deal related to what's occurred on the national theme park landscape in recent decades. "Larger companies buy up smaller ones, and now pretty much all of the old family small parks out there have gone since the 1990s and early 2000," Speigel said. The combining of Six Flags and Cedar Fair makes sense, he said, calling it a merger of equals from an operational standpoint, but from a front-office standpoint, Cedar Fair brings stability to the union. "Six Flags was not in a healthy state; it was a ship at sea without a captain for several years," Speigel said. Cedar Fair, by contrast, is "a nose to the grind-stone theme park operator," he said, featuring a more seasoned roster of executives at the corporate and park operating levels. Six Flags has cycled through seven park presidents in 20 months and three CEOS in seven years.

Loading chart...

Plans are for Zimmerman, current CEO and President of Cedar Fair, to retain the title at the new company, while Six Flags CEO Bassoul will become executive chairman of the combined board of directors. Cedar Fair shareholders will own a slight majority of new company. Six Flags and Cedar Fair both declined to comment. David Katz, a New York-based managing director at the investment bank Jeffries, agrees that Six Flags has lacked consistency lately, contributing to its sagging stock prices and underwhelming performance. "It's been an inconsistently managed company for a long time," Katz said. Six Flags went through bankruptcy during the Great Recession but emerged and then "had a good run for a while," Katz said. But around 2018 or 2019, he said the company needed more room to grow and started cycling through strategies, none of which stuck. "Salim and his team have not demonstrated a firm command of how to make the business run well, efficiently, and profitably in a way that expands value for shareholders," Katz said. In Six Flags' 2023 third quarter earnings reported in November, the company said had 17.9 million guests in first nine months of the year, representing 9% growth from the previous year. However, in the first nine months of 2019, the company saw 26.7 million guests visit its parks. Revenue for the first nine months of 2023 compared to 2019 is down 9.77%, even as guest spending per capita is up 40.6%.

watch now

A more consistent ride at Cedar Fair Comparatively, Cedar Fair has seen its attendance decline from 22.9 million visitors in the first nine months of 2019 to 20.9 million in 2023. The company reported its in-park capita spending was $61.73 in that 2023 period, up from $48.73 in 2019. Revenues in that 2023 period were $1.4 billion, up from $1.2 billion in 2019. Cedar Fair has, Katz said, been a consistently run company that has done a solid job of deploying capital and running a stable, mature business. He expects the focus to return to creating a stable portfolio of parks in North America. But Katz thinks the impact on the big players will be different. Disney occupies a distinct niche in the travel and leisure orbit. "If you called up Disney and referred to them as a theme park, they would probably be insulted," Katz said. Katz calls the larger parks a "destination experience." By comparison, theme parks are usually single-day trips. But Katz said they can be very stable investments and profit centers. The combined Six Flags and Cedar Fair entity will be able to drive loyalty and repeat business so that repeat visitors cycle in and out, he said. Six Flags has tried, with modest success, a loyalty program to drive revenue, and Katz expects the new company to build on that. "The biggest impact theme parks can have is driving scale benefits," Katz said

Guests wait in line to buy tickets to Knott's Berry Farm theme park, owned and operated by Cedar Fair Entertainment Co., in Buena Park, California, US, on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. Cedar Fair Entertainment Co. is acquiring rival Six Flags Entertainment Corp. for about $1.88 billion in a deal that will create one of the biggest theme-park operators in the Americas. Photographer: Eric Thayer/Bloomberg via Getty Images Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images

"Loyalty programs can be hugely effective," Katz said. And while company leaders have vowed to keep park names unchanged, Katz said they may have to find a way to tie the two brands together in one easily brandable name. Analysts at equity firm Stifel think that the combined company will more closely follow Cedar Fair operating strategy, which has been to focus on modestly growing attendance year and only slowly increasing prices. "SIX made a massive change in their approach about two years ago: the company decided to limit attendance growth by pushing price aggressively." Stifel wrote in an analysis. Six banked on fewer customers willing to pay more if the parks were less crowded and had nicer amenities but Stifel wrote "Our guess is the combined company would have a pricing/growth strategy that is more aligned with FUN than SIX's new philosophy." Carissa Baker is also no stranger to theme parks. She teaches about them at the University of Central Florida and can see SeaWorld from her front porch and Universal's Epic Universe from her office. Although the merger of Six Flags and Cedar Fair surprised her, she thinks it makes sense for the two companies. "There are certainly differences between the two companies, but their product is similar enough that it could prompt some exciting growth," Baker said. Baker points out that both companies have executed significant acquisitions and mergers in the past (Paramount Parks for Cedar Fair and Premier Parks for Six Flags), so they have experience integrating properties and products, which is already underway at the two companies as they wait for pending regulatory approval. Despite what will be a new industry giant in the theme park business, Baker thinks the impact on the larger rivals of Disney and Universal will be limited.

"I don't know that it will have a major impact on the two top U.S. players. The "average visitor" is more likely to go to their regional or local parks more frequently and then save up several years to visit the destination resorts," Baker said. Disney declined to comment. A Universal spokesperson could not be reached by press time. The deal may more clearly define the respective segment leaders across the domestic theme park market, with the consolidation leaving only a few independent ride parks scattered across the country, while Six Flags/Cedar Fair likely own the "'ride/thrill park" category, just as Disney, Universal, Seaworld and Legoland own their respective categories. "Disney and Universal have theme parks in several global markets and are considered destination resorts," Baker said. She said that Disney and Universal are bigger draws for international visitors and involve more extended stays, higher capital expenditure, and larger attendance despite having fewer theme parks. Disney and Universal properties, Baker said, are clustered in large population areas and have year-round operating calendars, where most of the Six Flags-Cedar Fair parks are seasonal. The merger, she said, will create a company with an expansive portfolio and more significant market share but probably little impact on the Disneys of the world. Dallas restauranteur Shannon Wynne's take on the merger is hopeful. In Texas, Six Flags reigns supreme. "We don't mind, especially if they improve the park," Wynne said. Wynne's father, Angus, launched the Six Flags brand, opening a theme park in 1961 outside Dallas. The original six flags were to celebrate the various chapters of Texas history. Wynne said the park was meant to be temporary, up for a few years and then torn down. The plan was for the park to generate cash flow for the family's fledgling industrial park, Wynne said. However, Six Flags took off in Texas and later opened parks in Greater Atlanta and St. Louis. It then began buying, branding, and transforming struggling amusements since starting new parks from scratch was so costly. But Six Flags innovations have spread throughout the industry. Wynne credits his father with creating the single-ticket concept, where park-goers pay one price for admission instead of paying to go on each ride. Wynne said he had never heard of Cedar Fair until the October announcement, and he guesses that 95% of Texans haven't either. But he wishes the merger success. "I hope the owners treat it with respect and make it better," Wynne said, adding that he and his family hadn't been involved in Six Flags in quite some time. His father passed away in 1979. "It's like blending families," said Elizabeth Ringas, president of the American Coaster Enthusiasts, who has ridden over 700 coasters in 140 theme parks and fairs over the past few decades. "There are some things each does well and some things they don't as well. If the new company builds on the best of both, it could be a phenomenal experience for the guests," she said. Ringas doesn't have a favorite between Six Flags and Cedar Fair, saying that the experiences vary greatly by park. But her favorite coaster is the Beast at Kings Island. The Beast is certified as the longest wooden coaster in the world, offering a 4-minute ride over soaring heights and through roaring tunnels. Helbig expects guests to see some of Cedar Fair's signature touches coming out on top in the combination. "The first thing Six Flags guests will notice is the disappearance of lids and straws to drinks," Helbig said, pointing to one of Cedar Fair's hallmarks  no straws or cup lids at their properties. But one thing that he doesn't expect to change is the experience. Of going to the amusement park. "It never gets old, it's always an escape, it's always fun," Helbig said. Disclosure: Comcast is the parent company of NBCUniversal, which owns CNBC. Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the view of Stifel's analyst team concerning management of a combined Six Flags-Cedar Fair. This story has also been updated to remove reference to a partnership between Six Flags and Marvel that no longer exists. A combined Six Flags-Cedar Fair would include attractions using intellectual property from Peanuts, Looney Tunes and DC Comics.
An oil tanker anchored in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen's contested western province of Hodeida on July 15, 2023.

Commodities trader Trafigura said on Saturday it was assessing the security risks of further Red Sea voyages after firefighters put out a blaze on a tanker attacked by Yemen's Houthi group a day earlier.

The U.S. military said a U.S. Navy ship and other vessels provided assistance after the Marlin Luanda was hit by a Houthi anti-ship missile.

"No further vessels operating on behalf of Trafigura are currently transiting the Gulf of Aden and we continue to assess carefully the risks involved in any voyage, including in respect of security and safety of the crew, together with shipowners and customers," a Trafigura statement said.

Some shipping companies have suspended transits through the Red Sea, which is accessed from the Gulf of Aden, and taken much longer, costlier journeys around Africa to avoid being attacked by Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi group, which began launching waves of exploding drones and missiles at vessels on Nov. 19 in response to Israel's military operations in Gaza.

The Houthi attacks have primarily targeted container vessels moving through the Red Sea. Many fuel tankers have kept using the route.

A notable exception is QatarEnergy, the world's second largest exporter of liquefied natural gas, which earlier this month stopped sending tankers via the Red Sea, citing security concerns.

Over several hours early on Saturday the Marlin Luanda's crew battled a blaze in one cargo tank on the vessel's starboard side, Trafigura's said in a statement.

By Saturday afternoon, the blaze was extinguished and all crew were safe, Trafigura said.

"The vessel is now sailing towards a safe harbour," Trafigura said, adding that the firefighting effort had been supported by Indian, U.S. and French navy vessels.

The Marshall Islands-flagged Marlin Luanda issued a distress call on Friday and reported damage, U.S. Central Command said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. The USS Carney and other coalition ships were providing assistance to the tanker, it said.

India's navy deployed INS Visakhapatnam, a guided missile destroyer, after receiving a distress call from the Marlin Luanda, which had 22 Indian and one Bangladeshi crew on board, an Indian Navy spokesman said.

The tanker was carrying Russian naphtha purchased below the price cap in line with G7 sanctions, a Trafigura spokesperson said on Friday.

U.S. and British warplanes, ships and submarines have responded to the Houthi attacks on shipping in recent weeks with dozens of retaliatory strikes across Yemen against Houthi forces.

About eight hours after the Marlin Luanda incident, the U.S. military destroyed a Houthi anti-ship missile that was aimed into the Red Sea and ready to launch, Central Command said.

The missile "presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and the U.S. Navy ships in the region", it said.

The Houthis' Al-Masira television said on Saturday that the United States and Britain launched two air strikes that targeted the port of Ras Issa, Yemen's main oil export terminal.

It was not clear if this was the strike referred to by Central Command, and the U.S. Fifth Fleet did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The British Defence Ministry declined to comment.
US President Joe Biden speaks at a meeting of the National Infrastructure Advisory Council, in the Indian Treaty Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on December 13, 2023.

The Biden administration is expected to award billions of dollars in subsidies to top semiconductor companies, including Intel and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co . (TSMC), in the coming weeks to help build new factories in the United States, The Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday.

The forthcoming announcements are aimed at kick-starting manufacturing of advanced semiconductors that power smartphones, artificial intelligence and weapons systems, the WSJ reported, citing industry executives familiar with the negotiations.

The executives expect some announcements to come before U.S. President Joe Biden's State of the Union address on March 7, the WSJ report added.

Among the likely recipients of the subsidies, Intel has projects underway in Arizona, Ohio, New Mexico and Oregon that will cost more than $43.5 billion, the Journal said.

TSMC has two plants under construction near Phoenix for a total investment of $40 billion. South Korea's Samsung Electronics, also a contender, has a $17.3 billion project in Texas.
A tanker operated on behalf of trading giant Trafigura Group that was carrying a cargo of Russian fuel was struck by a missile as it left the Red Sea, in the most significant attack yet by Yemens Houthi rebels on an oil-carrying vessel.

Firefighting equipment on board is being deployed to suppress and control the fire caused in one cargo tank on the starboard side, a Trafigura spokesperson said Friday in a statement. We remain in contact with the vessel and are monitoring the situation carefully. Military ships in the region are underway to provide assistance.

Yemens Houthi rebels claimed the strike on the Marlin Luanda. The vessel is carrying Russian-origin naphtha  a product used to make plastics and gasoline  purchased below the price cap imposed by the Group of Seven nations, the Trafigura spokesperson also said.

The attack will raise fresh questions about whether oil tankers will continue to transit the Red Sea. Since joint US and UK airstrikes on the Houthis earlier this month, tanker traffic in the region has declined but some oil exporters, including Saudi Arabia, continue to use the waterway.

That the targeted ship carried fuel from Russia will likely concern Moscow. Vast amounts of Russian petroleum now pass through the southern Red Sea to reach Asian buyers following Europes shunning of its cargoes due to the war in Ukraine. A Houthi spokesman previously told the Russian newspaper Izvestia that Russian and Chinese ships sailing through the Red Sea would be safe even as the group targets US and UK vessels.

The vessel collected its Russia-origin cargo via a so-called ship-to-ship transfer from a stretch of water in the Laconian Gulf in southern Greece, according to data from analytics firm Kpler. The area has been pivotal in helping Russia to get its petroleum to the global market and, as well as handling supplies under the price cap, has also facilitated more shadowy trades.

Trafigura, along with other commodity traders like Glencore Plc, Vitol Group and Gunvor Group, was one of the biggest lifters of oil from Russia before the countrys full-scale invasion of Ukraine and was a partner in a major oil project run by state producer Rosneft PJSC.

The company has since moved away from those flows following US, European and UK sanctions on Russias energy exports. While its CEO Jeremy Weir has said it continues to trade small amounts of refined oil products from Russia, that position was under review.

That the company picked up a cargo via ship-to-ship transfer off the coast of Greece sheds light on how one of the worlds biggest commodity trading houses is resorting to less-than-transparent means as it continues to facilitate the export of oil products from Russia, at a time when war in Ukraine is still raging.

The latest incident also suggests that the US and its allies still havent sufficiently degraded the Houthis military capabilities two weeks after launching the first of several airstrikes on the groups missiles, radars and other assets across Yemen. Last weekend, US Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer said military actions to deter the Houthis and other groups backed by Iran would take time.

Deterrence is not a light switch, Finer told ABC. We are taking out these stockpiles so they will not be able to conduct so many attacks over time. That will take time to play out.

In its update on the incident, the UK Navy said the vessel remained ablaze and that coalition warships were attending the scene. It advised ships to transit with caution.

The area in question and the southern Red Sea have been the center of multiple attacks on ships by Houthi militants in recent weeks. Since mid-November, the Houthis have launched near daily attacks on vessels transiting the waterway, in an act of solidarity with Palestinians amid the war between Israel and the militant group Hamas. The conflict has rerouted trade flows as some shippers avoid the key waterway.

Earlier Friday, missiles exploded near a Panama-flagged, India-affiliated ship carrying barrels from Russia, according to Ambrey.
Are you a current print subscriber to Columbia Gorge News? If so, you qualify for free access to all content on columbiagorgenews.com. Simply verify with your subscriber id to receive free access. Your subscriber id may be found on your bill or mailing label.
Smartphones have undoubtedly had a pivotal impact on shaping the last 10 years. The mobile phone industry has undergone changes from a single brands dominance to the rise of competing brands. Examining this transformation reveals not only changes in aesthetics and design, but also a change in user preferences and industry patterns.

A decade ago, a single brand held the title of the world's largest mobile phone manufacturer. The leading competitor had just reached its fourth generation, and other competitors had their own mobile operating systems. The market was a vibrant mix of diverse options. Fast forward to today, and the comparison here has transformed. Two brands now dominate the shelves of mobile phone stores.

This shift is not merely about brand names; it reflects changes in materials and design philosophies. Plastic, once a prevalent material in the industry, has faded from high-end devices that now employ glass and metal. While these changes align with the pursuit of higher prices and a premium appearance, they also underscore the industry's tendency to discard certain features. Plastic materials and small screens, once common, have become casualties in the race for high-end status. Manufacturers now opt for larger screens to accommodate new components like multiple cameras, vibration motors, and wireless charging rings.

The evolution of smartphones reflects a pursuit of integration, leading to sleeker designs and fewer gaps. Advancements like nonremovable batteries and the disappearance of physical buttons contribute to a more seamless and structurally sound device. The disappearance of the 3.5 mm headphone jack makes way for larger batteries and improved battery life. Integrated designs allow for increased battery capacity, and fast-charging technology addresses the need for efficient charging. While physical buttons vanish, larger screens with expansive views take center stage, emphasizing the evolving priorities in smartphone design.

When it comes to operating systems, the past decade has witnessed a convergence toward two systems. Previously, users had diverse options. However, the supremacy of the two systems became evident as manufacturers rallied under the umbrella of what is now one of the two leading platforms. The similarities between the two prevalent operating systems have grown, with converging design elements such as dark mode, frosted glass effects, and rounded cards. Beyond aesthetics, both systems integrate mobile and desktop application ecosystems, delve into emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and augmented reality, and compete in content platforms for music and film.

As the industry heads into the 5G era, smartphone manufacturers are expanding their businesses into multiple fields, like headphones and watches. Some predict a reduction in the significance of smartphones in the 5G era, envisioning a future where voice assistants on headsets and watches cater to most needs, eliminating the necessity of carrying a mobile phone.

While the rapid changes of the past decade are immense and tough to replicate, the mobile phone industry is poised for continued improvements to the already advanced smartphone. As smartphones continue to adapt, users can anticipate a future where these devices remain central but are complemented by a myriad of connected technologies. The next decade holds the promise of heightened innovation, cementing the influential role of smartphones for years to come.

Lee Enterprises newsroom and editorial were not involved in the creation of this content.
In some Reddit Saturday Night Live multiverse thread, users are imagining an alternate reality in which John Belushi performed alongside Kristen Wiig, a bit where Mike Myers invited Bill Hader to Waynes World or a sketch in which Joe Piscopos Sinatra joined Andy Samberg and Justin Timberlake on Dick in a Box. Sure, its fun to imagine the possibilities, but more of these what-if comedy team-ups happened than you might remember. Here are eight pairs of SNL cast members that dont seem like they should have ever shared a stage  but thats exactly what happened.

Click right here to get the best of Cracked sent to your inbox.

1 Gilbert Gottfried and Eddie Murphy Talk about a missed opportunity. In the first season after the original cast said adios, Gottfried and Murphy were both chosen to star in Season Six. Its difficult to even find a cast picture that shows both of them  Murphy didnt appear until December of that year  but heres proof during the goodbyes of the Charlene Tilton episode, with the cast reacting to Charles Rocket saying fuck on national TV. Broadway Video

2 Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Martin Short When Short, Billy Crystal and Christopher Guest joined the cast for Season 10, holdovers like Louis-Dreyfus were relegated to SNLs background. There had to have been a better team-up than casting JLD as the secretary who brings in Ed Grimley for his Wheel of Fortune audition. Broadway Video

3 Jon Lovitz and Robert Downey Jr. Its hard to remember that Downey ever spent a full season on SNL, much less that he paired with Lovitz in lame sketches like Hildys Christmas Presents. Play

4 Dana Carvey and Chris Farley Carveys contemporaries feel like Phil Hartman, Jan Hooks and Mike Myers, while Farley ran with the Adam Sandler and David Spade crowd. But during Season 17, both Carvey and Farley appeared in sketches like Il Cantore. They also lived in the same Upper East Side apartment building, which must have made for some nutty lobby interactions.

5 Phil Hartman and Chris Rock Like Carvey and Farley, Hartman and Rock seem like they belong in different comedy centuries. You can see where each cast member stood in Season 17, with Hartman headlining this BIll Clinton sketch and Rock relegated to Bland McDonalds Cashier. Play

6 Janeane Garofalo and Adam Sandler Garofalo had a miserable half-season on SNL, and Sandler was part of the reason. The only thing you could count on in my day, she says in SNL oral history Live From New York, was if it was a Sandler or Farley sketch, it was on. Her complaints didnt stop there: For whatever reason, that season seemed to be the year of f*g-bashing and using the words bitch and whore in a sketch. Just my luck. This Garofalo/Sandler sketch represents just what shes talking about. Play

7 Will Ferrell and David Spade Spade was still hanging on in the 1995-96 season as Ferrell made his debut, but his appearances were mostly snarky Hollywood Minute bits during Weekend Update. To find Ferrell and Spade sharing the screen, you have to scour cast goodbyes like this one with host Terry Hatcher. Broadway Video
A victim is found dead in a room, with the only door bolted from the inside. Someone shot him, but there is no sign of who. What happened here? Answer: He was stabbed with an icicle, while standing on a giant melting ice cube.

That answer may not sound like it makes any sense, but thats because riddles are weird. And if you're looking for some real-life riddles, just consider the case of

5 The Hotel Room Gunshot On June 3, 1995, staff at an Oslo hotel figured it was time to check on Jennifer Fairgate. The guest had arrived three days before but hadnt paid them anything yet. And now that a guard knocked on her door, a gunshot rang out from inside the room. The guard left the area for 15 minutes  perhaps to confirm with superiors exactly what to do when a gun goes off in a guests room. On return, he broke into the room, which had been locked from the inside. The guest was dead, with a gun in her hand. This was a case of suicide, of course. To suggest anything else would be pure madness. Still, this was a whodunnit because no one knew just who this guest was. Her name was evidently not really Jennifer Fairgate. She had no identification on her. Even the tags on her clothing were all gone, a move thats traditional from people hiding their identity (though normal people cant actually be tracked using clothing tags). Netflix These were cut by someone very paranoid  or very itchy. If she had specifically planned to die without being identified, a hotel room was a strange venue to pick. Hotels normally ask for I.D., as well as a credit card that they validate, and this hotels failure to do so had been a strange oversight. She had packed 25 spare rounds for the gun, an unusual choice for someone planning to shoot themselves in the head. That process rarely requires more than one bullet (and when it does, youre in no state to reload). Advertisement And now that investigators looked closely, she had shot herself in the head without getting any blood on her hands. Not only did this symbolically suggest she was guiltless, it forensically suggested the blood-spattered gun had not been in her hand when it fired. Her hand was on the gun when they found her, but her thumb was on the trigger, which is not the most common way to fire a gun. Netflix People also dont usually shoot themselves in the forehead. Many questions would be answered once police identified just who the guest was. They were bound to, sooner or later, if only because someone would report her missing and detectives would connect the dots. Well, its been almost 30 years, and weve had no luck identifying her whatsoever. Even exhuming the body in 2006 and taking a DNA sample revealed nothing, other than that she had European ancestry. Advertisement Heres the theory about Jennifer Fairgate: She was murdered because she was a spy. She checked in under a false name and was killed by someone skilled enough to slip out and make the door look like it had been locked from inside. As evidence that she was a spy, this happened in Oslo. Lets put it this way  how many people reading this are currently in Oslo? And how many in that last group are spies? All of you? Exactly.

4 The Spy in a Bag She was a spy is not necessarily a fanciful explanation. Some people really are spies. For example, Gareth Williams, who was an analyst for MI6 until August 2010. That was the month when, after days of no communication from him, police were dispatched to his flat to check in. They found his naked body dead in the bathtub. They found his naked body in a big duffle bag in the bathtub. The duffel bag had been padlocked shut  and the key to the lock was in the bag, beneath his body. Metropolitan Police Heres a recreation of the scene, possibly altered to look extra Saw-like. Advertisement Advertisement Mystery number one was how the key could be inside a suitcase that was locked via the key itself. We can solve this mystery easily enough: The padlock could snap shut without using the key, or the killer used a duplicate key. Maybe the killer left a key in the bag with the body just to troll us. The Metropolitan police, however, who investigated the case for three years, came up with a different answer. They concluded that the death offered no signs of foul play, and Williams had locked himself in the bag  by accident. To support their theory, police pointed to Williams search history, which showed bondage-themed pornography. Plus, a previous landlady testified about once having to free him from being tied to bedposts, something hed set up for sexual reasons. Also, the guy had a history of buying womens clothing, and that sort of person tends to have some odd predilections, noted the police. Nabokov/Wiki Commons Yes, after you die, the whole world will analyze your porn history and kinks. Advertisement Other people, however, dont buy that explanation at all. While getting locked in a bag is somewhat similar to getting cuffed, in that Houdini tried both, only the latter is something people do for sexual satisfaction. Cross-dressing has nothing to do with any of this, so there was no need to bring that up. And even if Williams wanted to climb into a bag for some reason, how could he possibly have padlocked it from inside the closed bag? Various people have tried reenacting the supposed stunt, to no success. Heres the other theory about Gareth Williams: He was murdered because he was a spy. This should be the obvious explanation, and the very fact that official explanation says otherwise should stand as proof that the Crown wants to cover up the truth. Plus, a Russian defector in 2015 claimed that Moscow assassinated Williams  but still, accident remains the official answer. Nicholas Razzell Case closed. Advertisement Advertisement

3 The Metro Phantom Paris has one of the worlds oldest metro systems. In 1937, their subway was already almost 40 years old, and it now got to hit a new milestone: its first murder. One passenger was found in a car, stabbed in the neck. Her name was Laetitia Toureaux, and her death was not a simple case of a Frenchman in a crowd lashing out. via Wiki Commons This wasnt your everyday normal subway stabbing. Toureaux boarded a first-class carriage as the only passenger, and she was stabbed between this stop and the next one. Other passengers then came on and spotted her with a dagger sticking out of her. The train took just 45 seconds to go from one station to the next. During this brief window, her attacker entered the car (presumably from a different car, though no one in adjacent cars saw anything), drove the nine-inch dagger into her and vanished (again, presumably to another car, but no one spotted them). Advertisement Heres the theory about Laetitia Toureaux: She was murdered because she was a spy. Police looked into her and found she used multiple aliases, and though she was posing as a factory worker, she was secretly reporting to the Italian embassy. Theyd employed her to spy on a terrorist group called The Cowl, which was planning that year to overthrow the French government. Six months after the metro murder, French police would arrest scores of group members, catching them with an arsenal of explosives and guns, including anti-aircraft guns. Gallica Digital Library They blew up two buildings that year, on September 11th. Advertisement Once you know Toureaux had been ratting on The Cowl, it seems obvious that someone from there had murdered her. The group murdered a bunch of people, and theyve been linked to another assassination that year carried out using a knife. That answer raises further questions, however. If Toureaux wasnt targeted randomly, why would anyone ever choose to kill her on a public train, during that tiny window? They couldnt have known for certain theyd have the car to themselves. They surely could have planned out various other opportunities with a far smaller chance of detection. Advertisement Just when the probe into Toureauxs death was really heating up, though, it was cut short  by World War II. Suddenly, France had so many deaths that they couldnt investigate any of them.

2 Lost in the Asylum Last year, Tom Holland starred in the miniseries The Crowded Room, playing a character loosely based on the 1970s criminal Billy Milligan. Milligan, after being diagnosed with several conditions, was treated in Ohios Athens State Hospital, a place otherwise known as Athens Lunatic Asylum. He was one of their more famous inmates. Apple TV Spoiler alert: The show isnt very good. Advertisement While he was there, they lost a patient. We dont mean a patient died  patients died all the time. We mean they mislaid her. Her name was Margaret Schilling, and on December 1, 1978, they discovered she was gone. We dont have any records of why exactly shed been confined to this institution, but for women, the three most common reasons were menstrual derangements, puerperal condition (that refers to the weeks following childbirth) and change of life. Advertisement For 42 days, no one had any idea where she was. All searches failed. Then someone on staff opened up a locked, abandoned ward. There she was, having died weeks earlier of heart failure. She was naked, and her clothes were neatly folded beside her. The official explanation is she took off her clothes to keep warm, because she must have thought shed better be able to absorb sunlight while naked. No one investigated the matter further. Advertisement There is now a permanent stain on the floor where her body lay. The way people tell it, she left this stain when she died. That does not appear to be true, or possible. Instead, the stain came from when the staff used acid-based cleaning fluid to clean the concrete floor after she died. The real explanation is less supernatural but is not really less spooky at all. Advertisement Heres the theory about Margaret Schilling: She was murdered because she was a spy. We have no evidence for this, but its more palatable than whatever really happened.
Ronny Chieng wanted to mix it up with late-night competition Seth Meyers last night and were here for it. After some opening niceties, Chieng decided to rub the hosts nose in The Daily Shows Emmy victory over Late Night with Seth Meyers. You know, I grew up in Malaysia, and Im such a fan of American institutions, just like yourself. And who knew? Chieng asked Meyers. Who knew that one day, I could come to America, come to New York City, do comedy, join The Daily Show, be in the same Emmy category as you, and defeat you!

Click right here to get the best of Cracked sent to your inbox.

Were the best show! Chieng crowed, holding up a picture of Trevor Noah and crew taking home the trophy. "This show. That proves it. We won. Were the champions. Love it or hate it, we won. Were the better show. Were objectively the better late-night show! When some audience members hissed back, Chieng egged them on: Boo! Boo all you want.

Meyers, a notorious nice guy, tried to give Chieng and The Daily Show their flowers and move on, but his guest wasnt done with the hate. No, we got to keep this going, Chieng protested. We got to start beef between the shows. Come on. Say some shit! (Im assuming shit was the operative swear here  NBC censors bleeped it like the chickenshits they are.)

Meyers ultimately surrendered  he doesnt want beef  but Chieng still had more fight left in him: This is how we save our networks. We got to talk shit (bleeped but you know) about each others show. Im trying to start a late-night war. Chieng argued that one reason he moved to America was for the late-night angst he grew up with. We have a strong history of late-night-talk-show drama in this country, he said, all the way from Carson to Letterman to Conan and Leno.

Advertisement

Hey, Chieng has a point. Late night is more interesting when its hosts are throwing grenades at each other behind the scenes. Johnny Carsons feud with Joan Rivers was downright nasty. Leno and Lettermans battle royale was so entertaining that they made a whole movie out of it. And Leno became a national villain after giving up his throne to Conan, then snatching it back in the dead of night.

These days, all the late-night pals team up for projects like the Strike Force Five podcast, a genial camaraderie that, while mentally healthy, leads to late-night sameness thats downright boring. Chieng is right to want to throw cherry bombs in the other shows mailboxes. But his actual attempts at malice dont exactly have sharp edges. Ill start the beef, okay? Im going to say some shit about this. Late Night with Seth Meyers  this show is on too late, Chieng joked. Okay? If youre watching this live, go to bed!

Well, its a start. Kimmel, Colbert and Oliver  were looking to you to crank this up another notch. You know you guys are dying to talk (bleep) about Jimmy Fallon.
The City of Tonawanda, the Town of Aurora and the Village of Gowanda have been awarded state grants totaling nearly $20 million to help the communities revitalize their downtowns by capitalizing on their waterfronts, natural assets and small-town charm.

The funds, through the state's Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward programs, are designed to accelerate transformations of municipalities with walkable urban cores that have the potential for change but need financial help to get there.

Created in 2016, the downtown initiative focuses on larger downtowns and neighborhoods, while New York Forward is targeted toward smaller and rural areas.

Sign up for the Buffalo Next free newsletter The News' Buffalo Next team covers the changing Buffalo Niagara economy. Get the news in your inbox 5 days a week.

Both programs were funded last year at $100 million each, and Gov. Kathy Hochul has proposed another $100 million each as part of her new budget. To date, the state has spent $1 billion on the two initiatives, including $700 million in the first six years, for 69 downtowns.

"This helps reinvigorate their downtowns," Gov. Kathy Hochul said Friday. "This is something that their communities devised. It's their vision, not ours. All of them have that common denominator of giving a facelift to their downtowns."

City of Tonawanda

The state said Tonawanda will get a $10 million DRI grant, as the Western New York winner of the program's seventh round. The city will now use $300,000 to develop and implement a strategic plan to make its downtown "more inviting and thriving" to attract residents, visitors and economic activity, based on its location and convergence of waterfronts - the Erie Canal, Niagara River and Ellicott Creek.

The plan will use a mix of public and private projects to redevelop vacant buildings and properties with new housing and commercial space, enhance waterfront development and access, improve streetscapes and trails, add event space and create tourist attractions.

Neighboring North Tonawanda  its "twin city"  received a similar award in 2021. Other prior Western New York recipients include Jamestown, Olean, Lockport, Niagara Falls, Buffalo and Dunkirk.

"That place is going to be on fire. There's going to be so much activity," Hochul said. "There already is on the Niagara County side. Now we're doing it on the Erie County side."

Town of Aurora

The state said the Town of Aurora will use its $4.5 million award to "create a more welcoming, walkable and green community for both residents and visitors" in the hamlet of West Falls, a primarily rural center along Cazenovia Creek.

The town will now develop a strategic investment plan to allocate its funding. Proposed projects include a renovated library and community center, a mixed-use housing complex, a general-store-and-blueberry-farm venue, an enhanced concert and art center, a restored train depot and multi-use rail-trail improvements.

Gowanda

Gowanda will get $4.5 million from NY Forward, which it proposes to use on projects such as restoring the historic Hollywood Theatre, developing a micro-brewery, improving the New York and Lake Erie Railroad excursions, and cleaning up and redeveloping a federal Superfund site into Gateway Park along Cattaraugus Creek. That would build on what the village did previously.

"Gowanda and West Falls, they think they just won the lottery," Hochul said. "They can use this money in ways they could never have imagined. And it doesn't just change the physical. It changes the psychological. When people in tse communities see change before their eyes, it really makes people proud of their downtowns."
Moog Inc. has reasons to feel confident.

The Elma-based motion-control equipment makers profits increased 4% in its fiscal first quarter from a year ago, and its sales rose 13%.

All four of the companys business segments reported higher sales, including a 47% increase in commercial aircraft sales.

Moogs 12-month backlog increased 6% to $2.5 billion, a positive indicator of future business activity for one of the regions largest manufacturers.

Weve started this year strongly, said Pat Roche, who took the reins as CEO a year ago. And continuing at this pace and given our guidance, were saying were going to have another exceptional year in fiscal 24.

Heres what drove Moogs growth:

Commercial aircraft. Air travel has rebounded from the pandemic, and Moog is benefiting.

Sales in the companys commercial aircraft business  $194 million in the quarter  were fueled by production of new aircraft, as well as aftermarket sales of replacement parts.

Its the ramp in production rate for the major wide-body aircraft and its the level of activity thats going on thats driving aftermarket, Roche said.

Aircraft manufacturer Boeing has faced scrutiny over safety issues with its 737 Max aircraft. As a narrow-body aircraft, the 737 represents a small percentage of Moogs business, Roche said.

Its distressing to see Boeing in the trouble theyre in and its not good for the industry that theres so many struggles going on, he said. But its not affecting in a material way our book of business, as we see it.

Space and defense. Moog saw the broadest pickup in activity in this business segment, with sales of $230 million in the quarter.

Geopolitical tensions are driving defense spending. Moog in the short term is filling orders to supply U.S. military forces and allies, but also working on long-term defense capabilities, Roche said.

Moog received an additional $80 million order for its turret system for military vehicles, building on prior orders of $270 million for that program.

In space, Moog provided actuators that guided the recent launch of a Vulcan rocket for the United Launch Alliance. ULA is involved in launching commercial satellites.

Back on Earth, Moog is outfitting facilities it acquired last year near its campus to produce space actuators, including for the Vulcan. The pickup in the level of launches is driving us to invest in infrastructure here in the local campus and jobs in the area, Roche said.

Colorado-based ULA recently honored Moog as its most innovative supplier for 2023, among 10 awards it gave to its suppliers.

Military aircraft. Moog is part of Bell Textrons team developing a new Army helicopter that will eventually replace the Black Hawk. The V-280 program expected to run to 2050, providing a valuable, reliable source of work.

Work on that program is ramping up; Moog expects to generate $60 million in revenues from it in the current fiscal year, Roche said. The company has assembled a team of about 120 engineers to work on the program.

Moog reported military aircraft quarterly sales of $186 million.

Industrial. Part of Moogs boost in industrial sales  which totaled $246 million for the quarter  was related to the pickup in air travel. Theres greater need for flight simulation training for pilots.

We are a market-leading simulation of flight simulating platforms that go into those training systems, Roche said.

Industrial automation applications were also a driving force in the quarter, he said.

Amid all the activity in its business segments, Roche said he feels Moog is in good shape meeting its employment needs.

I think our profile as an employer in the area is strengthening, and thats helping us, he said.

Moog was ranked No. 21 on Glassdoors recent list of the Best Places to Work, which Roche sees as a boon to recruiting.

For engineers and machinists who are evaluating companies to work for, that really helps us with our value proposition for attracting new talent, he said.

Moog in the first quarter reported profits of $47.8 million. The company has raised its full fiscal year guidance for sales and earnings. Moog now expects its sales to increase 5% and its earnings per share to increase 12%.
A limited number of Strategic Financial Solutions employees are being allowed to return to work, to help wrap up debt settlement agreements near the finish line.

Strategic Financial Solutions is being sued in federal court by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and seven state attorneys general. The companys operations were shut down Jan. 12 by a court-appointed receiver.

Based upon ongoing discussions with the receiver and the government, the receiver has allowed about 76 employees to return to work to service clients of the law firms who have already entered into settlement agreements, said Dennis Vacco, a partner with Lippes Mathias who is representing Strategic Financial Solutions.

The company also needed staff to return to manage the volume of correspondence, emails, and phone calls, and to provide limited service to the customer service operations, Vacco said.

Strategic Financial Solutions had 264 local employees at the time of the shutdown, along with 298 employees in New York City. Those operations were also shut down.

Strategic Financial Solutions, which has offices in Amherst, provides services to law firms with clients working on debt settlements. The company has been fighting to reopen, arguing that the shutdown puts at risk the debt settlement agreements of tens of thousands of people.

The CFPB and attorneys general  including New Yorks  have accused Strategic Financial Solutions of running an illegal debt relief enterprise. The company has denied those charges.
Are we the baddies? What if the Ukraine war is just as stupid and wrong as the Iraq war, but the state propaganda has been more successful and hardly anybody has realised yet?

Many people to this day still think the damaging and morally dubious Western attacks on Serbia and Libya were justified. Many still think the gory attempt to destroy Syria was a good thing. It took ages for opinion to swing on the Vietnam war, back in the 1960s. And, as one who opposed the Iraq war, I remember only too well just how many (who now think they were against it all the time) were fooled into backing Sir Anthony Blair and George W. Bush.

The issue is more pressing as generals and admirals warn we must live in a militarised society and prepare for what they think is an inevitable war against Russia. They could get their way. If you go on backing this policy, you could be condemning yourself, your children or grandchildren to a world of war, privation and perhaps conscription into some sort of military service.

Wars mean death and wounds. They mean shortages, rationing, electricity blackouts, travel restrictions, busybodies interfering in every bit of life, and with much more power. Not to mention danger  missiles have astonishing ranges these days. What exactly would this one be for?

Cost of war: The graves of Ukrainian troops in Kharkiv

This is what I have never been able to work out. We have a Defence Secretary, Grant Shapps, who has perfected the art of shouting loudly while carrying a very small stick  thunderous, belligerent declarations while our Armed Forces melt away thanks to neglect and badly targeted spending. Perhaps, if the long-feared Russian invasion of Western Europe takes place, we can fend it off by dispatching our troops on the pestilential e-scooters and e-bikes which are this former Transport Secretarys major contribution to the nation.

Certainly these vehicles are terrifying to those not riding them. They have nearly killed me more than once. And, piled up in heaps, they make formidable obstacles, as the people of London are finding.

What Mr Shapps does not seem to grasp is that Britain became great by staying out of continental conflicts, and letting others do the fighting. Even in the battle against Bonaparte, we paid our European allies to do most of the hard work.

Our greatness ceased when bombastic moralising took over, in 1914. We flung ourselves, supposedly nobly, into a Russo-German war. Within two years we were bankrupt, and bereft of the flower of our young manhood.

People still refuse to believe me when I say accurately that Britain has not paid off its huge 1914-18 war debts (now worth about 40 billion) to the USA. But I promise you it is true.

Four years of terrible loss left the Russo-German problem unsolved and we had to do it all again in 1939. After that we were even more bankrupt, and in 1946 had to ration bread, like some desperate Peoples Republic. But for many years afterwards we were largely governed by grown-ups who had fought in actual wars and been wounded, and had seen death very near them, or endured bombing and a war economy. And so we largely stayed out of major foreign trouble.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has perfected the art of shouting loudly while carrying a very small stick  thunderous, belligerent declarations while our Armed Forces melt away

But those grown-ups retired and died, and a new generation, a sort of childrens crusade, took over instead. Oddly, they were not warlike in the traditional way.

Bill Clinton famously did not serve in the Vietnam war. Sir Anthony Blair does not have a military muscle in his body. One of his Defence Secretaries was a former Communist from the invasion-prone Brezhnev era. Another was a candidate member of the International Marxist Group, a faction which used to go about shouting Victory to the IRA! So I suppose that is at least a bit military.

George W. Bush spent the Vietnam war era at home in the Air National Guard, courageously defending Texas against Oklahoma, or something.

That other great beater of war drums, future Vice-President Dick Cheney, said of the Vietnam period, when he could have served in the forces: I had other priorities in the 60s than military service.

Me too. I cannot resist here a small note about my late brother Christopher, who after 2001 became a vocal supporter of the USAs foreign wars. He made ingenious and successful efforts to escape from the marching, boot-polishing and general tedium of the Combined Cadet Force at a school we both attended. These involved a knee problem from which he later appeared to have completely recovered. I do not complain. I too managed to slither out of it, through the loophole he had created.

But since the Yugoslav wars, we have had the following pattern. A foreign ruler is denounced as a new Hitler, and generally as a fascist. This was said all the time about Saddam Hussein in Iraq, who in my view was just an ordinary third-world dictator with no political beliefs except that he should stay in power.

Slobodan Milosevic, the minor ex-Communist bully who came to run tiny Serbia, was likewise compared to the mighty German dictator. People who demonstrated in their hundreds of thousands against the Iraq war were sneered at by Blairites as trying to keep a fascist dictator in power.

And anyone who said that war might be mistaken was also accused of appeasement and equated with Neville Chamberlain, the man who gave into Hitler at Munich in 1938. I get this all the time when I oppose these wars, as I do. Im also accused of being like Lord Haw Haw, the Irish fascist William Joyce who broadcast pro-Hitler propaganda from Berlin during the Second World War.

Well, anyone who knows anything about Europe in 1938, or indeed about Europe now (as I do) also realises that these comparisons are pathetically misleading. But hardly anyone does know. Todays cheerleaders for war all sing the praises of Ukraine the valiant, the mighty, the free, the democratic, as we urge the continuation of war and dismiss any sort of peace as capitulation.

The war which bankrupt Britain spends so much effort on keeping going has killed, maimed and disfigured unknown tens of thousands of young Ukrainian men, devastated cities, and wrecked the Ukrainian economy.(Pictured, military graves in a cemetery in Kharkiv)

The war which (in my view) the USA provoked in this region has been a disaster for the Ukrainian people. (Pictured, a destroyed block of flats in Donetsk Oblast)

Ukraine is, in fact, a corrupt and ill-governed state, riven with incompetence and waste, with little political freedom, weak media and no real opposition. In this, it is very like Russia, except that Russia has oil and gas.

It has other faults I wont dwell on here. And the war which (in my view) the USA provoked in this region has been a disaster for the Ukrainian people. This is brought home in a dispatch this weekend in the Left-wing and pro-war New Statesman.

The distinguished Ukrainian novelist Andrey Kurkov has given a clearer and more truthful picture of the state of the country he plainly loves than I have seen from any Western reporter. Mr Kurkov is a Ukrainian patriot, loyal to his nation. And this causes him to be honest.

Among many other striking things, he notes around 700,000 Ukrainians liable for military service have crossed the border since the war began on February 24, 2022. This is more than the number of Ukrainian soldiers at the front. These male refugees are not coming home any time soon.

I hear lots of chirpy London media voices on radio and TV assuring me that Ukrainians are still committed to this war. So why then do they leave the country in such numbers, sometimes dying on the way as they cross the closed border, rather than fight in it?

The war which bankrupt Britain spends so much effort on keeping going has killed, maimed and disfigured unknown tens of thousands of young Ukrainian men (casualty figures are an official secret), devastated cities, and wrecked the Ukrainian economy.

I have never known what British interest this serves, and  perhaps even more important  I cannot see how Ukraine has benefited from it either.

Can nothing end this brainless march towards a new Great War?
Last week I travelled from Israel, a country where they want to eradicate every last Hamas terrorist, to Qatar, where they gave Hamas's political leaders a home.

In Turkey, I met up with President Erdogan. While he praised the South Africans for accusing Israel of genocide, I think their case is unjustified.

Despite this, I finished the week believing that, with the right steps, we could see an end to the fighting and even the start of a viable solution to the Israel/Palestine question.

Why? How?

Israel and the Palestinians seem as far apart as ever. After the horrors of October 7, even liberally minded Israelis find it hard to stomach the idea of a two-state solution. And, of course, many Palestinians have been further brutalised by what has happened during more than 100 days of fighting.

Yet, underneath, both sides can see that the past 30 years have been a colossal failure. For all the growth of Israel's economy, rising living standards and investment in military might and physical barriers, they don't have the one thing every country and every family yearns for: security. And for all the actions of the Palestinians  whether taking the peaceful path and campaigning for recognition, or the violent one and attacking Israel  they have not achieved the dignity of statehood.

And in the current conflict, both sides can see that it isn't leading where they want.

Israelis take cover from incoming rocket fire from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon, Oct. 11, 2023

Flames and smoke billow during Israeli strikes in Gaza on October 9 as Israel imposed its siege

For Israel, more than 130 hostages are stuck and their families are increasingly desperate. As for Hamas, they must know that just about the best thing they can look forward to is a grisly death in a cold, dark tunnel.

Lord Cameron speaks during an interview in Istanbul, Turkey January 26, 2024

So there is  just possibly  a narrow pathway ahead. It must start with an immediate pause in the fighting. This could allow vital aid to get in to Gaza, where people are starving and disease is spreading.

And it could see the negotiations to free the hostages succeed.

We should all abhor the idea of trading guilty prisoners to bring back these innocent people.

But impossible times make for unpleasant deals  and that's what needs to happen.

Next we need to turn a fragile truce into a sustainable, permanent ceasefire without a return to more fighting. More than that: can we at the same time kick-start a process that could lead to something much bigger  a lasting solution?

In fact, the two things  ceasefire and solution  are closely linked.

These are the vital steps.

We have to see the key Hamas leaders leave Gaza. Israel has permitted safe passage for terrorists in the past  and the people responsible for October 7 have to go.

We have to see the instruments of terrorism still in Gaza being dismantled. In the carnage of the past 100-plus days of conflict, it often goes unreported that Hamas rocket attacks against Israel have continued. And Hamas still wants to launch terrorist atrocities again. It must be put beyond doubt that this cannot happen.

These steps would give Israel some of the reassurance it needs to end its military campaign. But the Palestinian people need reassurance too.

A Palestinian man carries an injured a girl following an Israeli strike, in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on October 14, 2023

Israelis take cover as a siren sounds a warning of incoming rockets fired from the Gaza Strip in Rehovot, October 13, 2023

We must give the people of the West Bank and Gaza the political perspective of a credible route to a Palestinian state and a new future. And it needs to be irreversible. This is not entirely in our gift. But Britain and our partners can help by confirming our commitment to a sovereign, viable Palestinian state, and our vision for its composition. And, crucially, we must state our clear intention to grant it recognition, including at the United Nations.

The Palestinian leadership must help as well, by forming a new government which can immediately start to deliver.

There is now a younger generation of Palestinians. They share their leader President Abbas's dedication to realising a Palestinian state. But they know it is going to need a technocratic, modern administration that can win the confidence of people in Gaza, the West Bank and the wider Muslim and Arab world.

All these things are intricately linked because you can't get one without all the others.

Arab and other allies in the region won't help guarantee the end of Hamas terrorism or back a new Palestinian authority unless they see a clear pathway to a state called Palestine.

Israel won't forswear renewed hostilities unless Hamas are finished in Gaza.

And Palestinians won't believe life will really be different unless they are governed by other Palestinians and see a long-term future.

There will be many other elements to add to such a plan:

The promise of normalised relations between Israel and countries such as Saudi Arabia, whose influence is growing across the region and the world;

Genuine security guarantees for Israel and restrictions on what a future Palestinian state can do in terms of security and alliances;

A programme to end radicalised education programmes that teach children to hate those of a different faith;

A massive international effort to rebuild Gaza and make the most of its pivotal location and brilliant people.

A fire rages at sunrise in Khan Younis following an Israeli airstrike on targets in the southern Gaza strip

Israeli security forces evacuate an injured woman from a site hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon, southern Israel, Saturday, October 7, 2023

Naturally, there will be differences of opinion about the right order of these steps and to extent to which they must be completed and by when. That's why we are pressing for a Contact Group that brings together the US, UK, key EU states, Gulf and Arab countries and Turkey to be set up at once.

In all of this the aim must be clear. Let's use a pause in the fighting to build unstoppable momentum towards a lasting solution.

It's only when the prize on offer from peace is more attractive than the potential benefit of continued conflict that we will have the chance of a better future.

And the time to start is now.
Over the past year, it seems like 'quiet luxury' is popping up everywhere - but if there's one person who has been doing it from the start, it's Gossip Girl star Kelly Rutherford.

Known for her looks as the elegant and refined Lily van der Woodsen on the hit series, she's now taken her style to Instagram as a sort of diary, sharing an inside look at her favorite brands, style finds and lifestyle with followers and fans alike.

In an exclusive chat with FEMAIL, Rutherford, 55, is giving fans a peek behind the scenes as she not only revealed more about her viral mirror selfies and style, but her simple tips for maintaining her stunningly youthful and fresh-faced looks.

Her secret? A 'peaceful' lifestyle.

In an exclusive chat with FEMAIL, Gossip Girl star Kelly Rutherford revealed more about her style, viral mirror selfies and tips for looking ageless

In recent months, Rutherford has gained viral fame for her mirror selfies posted to her Instagram account, where she showcases her style

'Most of it is really just lifestyle, I think,' Rutherford told DailyMail.com. 'I mean obviously some of it is genetics with all of us, and I think a lot of it is lifestyle.'

'You know, I kind of keep most things in moderation,' she continued. 'I think a lot of it is just not putting ourselves under so much pressure in terms of aging.'

She credited 'eating right,' being at peace and 'appreciating' your body as the keys, admitting that when she was in her 20s and 30s, she went through times where she would compare herself to others.

But letting go of that, Rutherford said, makes all the difference.

'I think when you finally just kind of go, I'm going to eat the croissant and have the coffee, and I'm going to enjoy my life and I'm not going to worry about it so much, it helps a lot,' she admitted.

When it comes to the specific products that she uses, the 55-year-old is fan of French skincare brand Avene's XeraCalm body cream, something that she says she always travels with.

Rutherford is also fond of the products by brand Agent Nateur.

But at the end of the day, The Melrose Place star also explained that it's important to 'visualize' how you want to look and feel as you age.

Rutherford shared her tips for looking ageless with DailyMail.com, crediting much of it to leading a peaceful life

'I think when you finally just kind of go, I'm going to eat the croissant and have the coffee, and I'm going to enjoy my life and I'm not going to worry about it so much, it helps a lot,' she admitted

In addition to her outfit pics, Rutherford often posts inspirational and motivational quotes to her Instagram page

'I think the thing is just being at peace, and, you know, visualizing how you want to look and how you want to feel and how you want to project into the world,' she told DailyMail.com.

'Because a lot of it is just believing that we each have a light within us and encouraging that, encouraging that aspect of ourselves, that beauty in ourselves.'

And Rutherford's light is definitely shining bright these days, especially on Instagram.

Over the past few months, the mom-of-two's outfits have taken the internet by storm, catching the attention of fans, fashion enthusiasts, and even Vogue.

In the selfies, she showcases her OOTDs - or 'outfit of the days' - clad in cozy sweaters, chic outwear, smart shoes and often, a coat of bright red nail polish.

A lot of the time, she opts to wear smaller, handmade brands rather than the big names.

In some of her stunning selfies, which are often taken in an elevator, she's dressed more glamorously.

One posted in December shows her sporting a floor-length, fur-trimmed tan-colored coat from By Malene Birger, complete with a pair of glamorous, round-shaped black sunglasses.

Rutherford shares different looks in these mirror selfies, including this glamorous one where she wears a coat floor-length, fur-trimmed tan-colored coat from brand By Malene Birger

In other shots, Rutherford is dressed in more casual looks, like this patterned coat and furry boot combo

Rutherford once played Serena van der Woodsen's mom, Lily, on the hit show Gossip Girl from 2007 to 2012

That post alone reached over 330,000 likes.

In others, she's dressed in casual, on-the-go-looks, like an oversized white cable-knit sweater by handcrafted brand Mumshandmade, a pair of a blue jeans and taupe suede shoes by French brand Heschung.

The look was topped with a matching cable-knit hat.

'I mean, I think we're all finding our way in social media and it's been an evolution of that for me for sure,' Rutherford told DailyMail.com about her Instagram adventures.

'It really started just wanting to, you know, discover these sort of brands that are emerging brands or artisan brands and then just going to get my coffee in the morning,' she continued.

Rutherford revealed that she began taking them when she was visiting Los Angeles, in the mirror of the lobby.

'I was taking pictures there just because it was fun, and yeah, it was a way to highlight some of these brands that I love and share them,' she said.

The comments section on Instagram can be equally as fun for Rutherford, as many leave her hilarious yet endearing comments calling her 'mother' and an 'icon.'

'I mean, I think we're all finding our way in social media and it's been an evolution of that for me for sure,' Rutherford told DailyMail.com about her Instagram

While speaking to DailyMail.com, Rutherford described her style as 'Hermes Amish'

Over the past few months, the mom-of-two's outfits have taken the internet by storm, catching the attention of fans, fashion enthusiasts, and even Vogue

She called all the reactions to her Instagram posts 'beautiful.'

'It's so beautiful,' she told DailyMail.com. 'It's beautiful from, you know, the brand side and the response, and it's beautiful from sort of the engagement side of it where people are like oh that's fun.'

Rutherford told DailyMail.com that she doesn't have a team, which means that she makes all of her posts herself, engaging with both the brands and her followers along the way.

'I mean this all just started going to get my coffee,' she said. 'It's still sort of going and getting my coffee, you know?'

'So I just do my best to highlight the brands and have fun with it in a way that's really authentic for me and easy for my lifestyle. I've always loved fashion so it's just being creative, really.'

The Gossip Girl mom explained that she particularly enjoys finding smaller, handmade brands that are located in different parts of the world, like Uruguay or Poland, for example.

'Wearing that feels different than it feels just going out and purchasing a bag from one of the bigger brands, which I also love to do,' Rutherford admitted.

'It's just after a while, I think, and especially in the influencer world, we're seeing a lot of that, so I discover a lot through Instagram, or other brands or friends.'

Rutherford told DailyMail.com that she often finds unique fashion brands on Instagram and loves to support them

However, at the end of the day, Rutherford said that it's important to just have fun with your style and feel good in what you wear

In addition to Instagram, though, Rutherford still takes her inspiration from good old print magazines on occasion.

'I mean I've always bought stacks of magazines, not so much anymore, I still do, but there are avenues where I go digital,' she said.

She also draws influence from those classic icons like Catherine Deneuve, Bridget Bardot and Grace Kelly.

She joked that her fashion style has kind of become 'Hermes Amish.'

But in the end, she highlights that it's just important to have 'fun' with your style and to feel 'beautiful' in whatever you're wearing.

'I think we find our style, and I think the whole idea is to have fun with it and not take it too seriously and whatever makes us feel beautiful is what's important, and that changes for everyone and our lifestyle,' Rutherford told DailyMail.com.

'Depending on where you work or you know, but I think the fun thing is just to discover and support.'

And, if you're looking for more Rutherford, you can view her new series, Escort Boys, on Amazon Prime Video.

She tells DailyMail.com that she plays the American in the French debut season.
A former patient at the notorious hospital for the criminally insane, Broadmoor, has spoken out about her experience in the institution during her teenage years after baffling her family members, medical staff and the rest of the world when she and her sister became almost completely mute.

June Gibbons, who was committed to the institution with her twin Jennifer in 1981 after the pair had been caught committing a series of crimes, told a BBC podcast that she and her sister had been 'trapped in their twinship' and were 'anxious' children.

She also revealed another notorious pair of twins, the Krays, took an interest in herself and Jennifer while they were all incarcerated in Broadmoor - and she received Christmas cards from Ronnie.

Although June was eventually released from Broadmoor, Jennifer's story came to a tragic ending when she died in the institution at just 29 years old.

A visit from a journalist changed their lives forever and with insights from the twins' diaries, Marjorie Wallace began writing a book about the sisters called The Silent Twins (pictured in 1993)

The sisters, who grew up in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, became known as the 'Silent Twins' after they stopped communicating with anyone other than each other - much to the bewilderment of their parents, teachers and doctors.

They became the subject of many documentaries, films, books and musicals over the years. However June, who is now in her 60s, hopes her account of the story, to be told in eight-part series June: Voice of a Silent Twin, will be the final word on the story.

Speaking in the podcast, June said: 'I'm pleased people want to hear my voice and it'll be an ending to a story that's gone on for so long and this will be the finality of it.'

June and Jennifer Gibbons, who grew up in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, became known as the 'Silent Twins' after they refused to talk to anyone except each other, much to the bewilderment of their parents, teachers and the medical establishment

Ages just 19 the twins were detained indefinitely, the teenagers were locked up in the Psychiatric Hospital under maximum security

Born in 1963 to Windrush immigrants Aubrey and Gloria Gibbons, the twins moved around the UK during their childhood as RAF technician Aubrey was stationed in different parts of the country.

However often, the twins found themselves the only black students in their schools, which led to them becoming alienated from others.

The twins' Barbadian-born parents already had two small children  Greta and David  when the twins arrived, and went on to have another daughter, Rosie, four years later.

Speaking about her earliest memories June said: 'My mum used to cook us Caribbean dinners, we grew up knowing about the Caribbean. Happy memories, just before it all went wrong.'

The twins had been late to speak and had a speech impediment  a sort of lisp, which made it hard to understand what they were trying to say.

June said: 'They thought we were speaking a different language, we could understand what we were saying, I don't think the teachers in Yorkshire knew what we were saying at all.'

Things weren't much better at home, where Aubrey and Gloria also struggled to understand their daughters. The parents took their children to speech therapy, but this only appeared to frustrate the girls further.

Describing his daughters, Aubrey previously said: 'if you asked one a question they would look at the other', before trying to reply, as if seeking permission.

June revealed: 'We thought something was wrong with them, they would say 'can you say that again in English'? I think we got fed up with it so we just stopped talking.'

By the age of four, June and Jennifer had stopped speaking at all, except when they were alone in their room. During this time, they could be heard talking to each other in what appeared to be a private language that no one else understood.

The twins had been late to speak and had a speech impediment  a sort of lisp, which made it hard to understand what they were trying to say

They became the subject of many documentaries, films, books and musicals over the years (The Silent Twins film 2022)

By the age of 11, the family made their last move to an RAF base in West Wales, however the rural area meant there were no other black children at their school and they were soon being called 'freaks'.

Both pupils and teachers found their silence and their uncanny habit of moving in unison sinister.

June said: 'We would walk very slow, like robots in a syndicated way, the 'slow twins' they called us. We would go single file one behind the other, we would take it in turns to go one behind.'

Their refusal to engage in lessons meant it was impossible for teachers to assess their academic ability; meaning no one was ever sure if they could read or write.

Teachers and psychologists thought that the girls were shy and would 'grow out of it', but by the time they got to secondary school they were utterly withdrawn. They were teased mercilessly about their silence and taunted about their skin colour by their peers.

While attending school in the predominantly white town of Haverfordwest, the girls had to be dismissed five minutes before the end of the day so they could make their way home in peace, without being bothered by other pupils.

Speaking in the podcast the investigative journalist Marjorie (centre) said she wanted to 'redeem what happened to them'

After leaving school, the twins retreated into their own private world, locking themselves into their bedroom and playing with dolls.

They chatted away in their own secret language  which was later discovered to be English, but sped up.

June said: 'We were desperate, we were trapped in our twinship and trapped in that language, we tried everything to separate ourselves.

'We knew deep down that we were doing something not quite right, at 16 playing with dolls, when everyone else was going partying, having boyfriends and doing grown up stuff.

'We could have if we wanted to, talk and be normal but we didn't do it, we were anxious.'

In the summer of 1979 they started to record their thoughts in their diaries  feelings they felt unable to communicate to those around them.

June and Jennifer dreamt of becoming famous authors and wrote vividly imagined novels and even had some publishing success after sending them to publishers.

However by the end of the summer they feared they were wasting their youth and yearned for more teenage adventure.

They become obsessed with two American brothers that they knew from school and June recounted how she and her sister started to turn against each other as they competed for the brothers' affections.

'We got obsessed by them, the brothers, they were good looking and they swaggered down the road, we would start spying on them.

'We couldn't believe it when one turned up at school, we thought we were dreaming, he was a delinquent, but we loved him all the more then because he was an outcast himself.'

When the brothers left town suddenly, the twins were bereft and took revenge on the world, with disastrous consequences.

June explained: 'I think we had reached the point of no return, there was nothing going for us, the brothers were gone, the other local boys didn't like us, the only thing we could resort to was to turn on each other or turn on the town, so we turned on the town.

'The only thing that could fill our time was petty crime, it was the only thing to give us a meaning.'

After a five-week spree of vandalism and arson, in 1982 they became the youngest patients at Britain's high-security psychiatric hospital Broadmoor.

Aged just 19 the twins were detained indefinitely, the teenagers were locked up in the psychiatric hospital under maximum security alongside convicts such as Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe and gangsters Ronnie and Reggie Kray.

June said: 'As we pulled up to Broadmoor, when we got out of the minibus I was surprised to see about ten nurses in blue dresses that ushered us into the hospital.

'We thought it was going to be a nice place, nurses bring us glasses of lemonade and sandwiches, being nice to us, trying to make us better and talk to us, one to one therapy and stuff, helping us.

'In our heads we thought it was going to be a good place, going to discos at night, we had never been to a disco.

However life behind bars was unbearable  the twins mixed with murders and rapists and couldn't cope when they were separated and fought when they were together.

A visit from a journalist changed their lives forever and with insights from the twins' diaries, Marjorie Wallace began writing a book about the sisters called The Silent Twins.

Speaking in the podcast the investigative journalist said she wanted to 'redeem what happened to them'.

Marjorie said: 'I had to let the world know just how extraordinary they were as human beings, how talented they were, and the dangers of having a relationship that is so intertwined, so dependent, and is so powerful that it is in danger of ending in tragedy.'

June added: 'We thought the book would help to get us out of the hospital, if they read the book about us they would take pity on us and release us.

'We waited and waited for something to happen, but of course it didn't happen.'

June and Jennifer met notorious fellow patients Ronnie Kray, the Yorkshire Ripper and the now infamous sexual predator Jimmy Savile, who was a regular visitor to the hospital.

June said: 'We heard about the Kray twins, one of them was in there, he wanted to meet us both, we were twins, they were twins, they wanted to meet us, one of them came over to our table, and he bowed down took my hand and kissed it and he said 'hello June, I have been hearing about you'.'

'We got a Christmas card every year, 'Happy Christmas June, love from Ronnie, your friend Ronnie Kray'.

'And I saw the Yorkshire Ripper having a burger across the field, he looked at me and I looked away quickly.'

Marjorie recalled a day she visited the twins at the hospital and they had a strange encounter with Jimmy Savile.

She said: 'Dressed in this garish shell suit and sparkly trainers he leapt onto our table and he looked at the two girls and he pointed at June, 'I'll have you first', and then to Jennifer: 'I will have you second.'

'We all looked at each other in astonishment, almost bursting out laughing and June and Jennifer looked at me and said: 'We thought we were the mad ones'.'

During their confinement at Broadmoor the twins were given drugs which were meant to help them talk - but the medication had other undesired consequences.

For the first time, June revealed how she wrote to doctors begging for her medication to be reduced so she could 'be herself' once again.

June said: 'I wanted to read books, I wanted to do a bit of writing but the medication messed my head up, it made me tired and clumsy and lethargic. For the whole 11 years I was in that hospital I was trying to come off the medication.

'We were there since we were 19, we were now nearly 28, it was getting a bit late in the day, we had a life to live.'

June wrote letters to the Home Office once a week for two or three years to try and secure their release.

Finally, after 11 gruelling years, they were given the news they had prayed for  they were being transferred to a lower-security unit in their homeland Wales.

However, Jennifer tragically died before she could be released from the institution - and according to June, she predicted her own death just days earlier.

Jennifer penned a poem, which read: 'That too was our laughing, that too was our smiling, now I am dead, and that too is you crying'.

June recalled: 'She said 'I think I'm going to die here', and I said 'die? but you are leaving in a couple of days' and she just said 'I think I am going to die.'

'I just thought she is probably just joking. In the morning when we woke up we had breakfast, I was on my ward and she was on her ward and we were packing our boxes and moving luggage to the minibus, it was time to go.

'We couldn't believe it, at last we were leaving, I never forget those big gates opening, the next chapter and a new beginning, free at last.'

However, within hours of their release Jennifer had dropped dead of a sudden and lethal inflammation of the heart.
Her great-great-grandmother was Jessie Challis who was born in 1887 in NY

She shared a video of herself and the portrait which got eight million views

A woman has gone viral on TikTok - and kickstarted a whole new trend - after sharing her uncanny resemblance to a portrait of her great-great-grandmother.

Ellery Broga, from Fairfax, Virginia, couldn't believe her eyes when she spotted the picture while visiting her grandmother, immediately clocking how similar she looked to her ancestor.

The 24-year-old shared a video of herself and the portrait of her grandmother's grandmother, Jessie, on the video-sharing platform, where it quickly garnered eight million views - and followers said the resemblance gave them 'chills.'

The viral clip even prompted a new trend as people shared their own strange coincidences against a background song of O Superman by Laurie Anderson - with the lyrics: 'Well you don't know me, but I know you.'

Ellery Broga, from Fairfax, Virginia, couldn't believe her eyes when she spotted the picture while visiting her grandmother, immediately clocking how similar she looked to her ancestor

Ellery first spotted the portrait hanging over the guest bed at her grandmother's home during a recent visit.

'The first night that I was there, I spent a good deal of time staring at the portrait with a lot of curiosity.

'I think I felt a strong connection to it, but I did not have any idea who she was.

'The following morning, I asked grannie who the portrait was.

'She was delighted to tell me all about my great-great-grandmother, Jessie.

'That evening after learning her story, I sat down and pondered even more about the portrait.

'I stared at it and I couldn't help but think of O Superman by Laurie Anderson - the line she sings: "You don't know me, but I know you."

'I think I just felt bad that I didn't know her until that day. I wanted others to know her as well. I made the TikTok as a way to express a connection that transcends time.'

The 24-year-old shared a video of herself and the portrait of her grandmother's grandmother, Jessie, on the video-sharing platform, where it quickly garnered eight million views - and followers said the resemblance gave them 'chills'

Ellery first spotted the portrait hanging over the guest bed at her grandmother's home during a recent visit

Ellery asked her grandmother about Jessie Challis and she shared that she was born in 1887 in Holland, Erie County, New York.

According to her grandmother, Jessie married in 1909 and had three daughters, including Ellery's grandmother's mother.

Sadly, Jessie died in 1923 in childbirth.

The post racked up more than 850,000 likes and thousands of comments as one person said: 'Kind of incredible how you can see the resemblance!'

'Holy what - the CHILLS that I got from this is unexplainable. It's like you are looking at yourself bro,' said another viewer.

'This moved me,' another user commented.

'Omgggg twins,' said someone else.

One person commented: 'You have such a resemblance to her!'

Ellery asked her grandmother about Jessie Challis and she shared that she was born in 1887 in Holland, Erie County, New York

The post racked up more than 850,000 likes and thousands of comments as one person said: 'Kind of incredible how you can see the resemblance!'

'Your eyes are so similar,' another viewer agreed.

Someone else added: 'I think our ancestors is just a reincarnation of our self ngl.'

'There's a line of mothers dating back to the beginning of life and I think that's incredible,' added another viewer.

One person commented: 'Blows my brain in 100 years my great-grandchildren might see my photos and feel connected to me like this.'

'Omg you look like her so much!!!' said someone else.
An anonymous homeless man has been hailed as a hero after rescuing a litter of orphaned puppies and taking them to a shelter during a storm.

The Fayetteville Animal Protection Society, a no-kill shelter in North Carolina, opened up about the kind-hearted local who likely saved the rescue dogs' lives in a heartfelt Facebook post on January 15.

The non-profit organization shared a photo of the five adorable puppies, who are thought to be under two months old.

'In the wake of a recent storm that swept through our area, we experienced a moment that simultaneously broke and uplifted our hearts,' the shelter wrote.

An anonymous homeless man in North Carolina rescued a litter of orphaned puppies and took them to the Fayetteville Animal Protection Society during a storm

The man left a note that said the puppies' mother died after being hit by a car. He added that he was 'sorry for leaving them,' but he is homeless and 'cannot afford to care for them'

'This story is a testament to the kindness that still exists in the world, even in the most challenging times.'

The Fayetteville Animal Protection Society explained that the puppies were left at the shelter's doorstep with a 'note that tore at our heartstrings.'

'The note was from a kind soul, a homeless man who, despite his own hardships, took it upon himself to rescue these innocent lives after their mother, a local stray he cared for, tragically passed away,' the shelter said.

The post included pictures of the note left by the man, who apologized for being unable to care for the dogs himself.

'Please help!' he wrote. 'I found these puppies sadly after noticing a local stray dog that I would often feed when I could, dead by the road. She had been hit by a car.'

He said that he knew she had a litter of puppies and searched the area for them, so they wouldn't starve while waiting for their mother's return.

'I'm sorry for leaving them like this, but I myself am homeless and cannot afford to care for them,' he explained. 'My heart shatters for them and their mother. I just want them to be given the chance their mother, like myself, was never given.

'Please do not think poorly of me, but it felt wrong leaving them alone in the cold waiting on a mother that would not be coming home. Sincerely, nameless man,' he concluded.

The shelter said the puppies have been named Fortune, Kismet, Chance, Fate, and Serendipity in a nod to their fortuitous rescue. Applications to adopt the rescues will open on February 1

More than 250 people have commented on the shelter's post with the hopes of finding the homeless man and helping him the way he helped the five puppies

The shelter promised the 'compassionate individual' that his 'act of kindness has not gone unnoticed.'

'Your empathy in the face of adversity gives us hope and inspiration,' the organization wrote. We promise to honor your selfless gesture by providing these puppies with the love and care they deserve.

'If youre up for it, please swing by the shelter to visit the puppies and to get a proper thank you!'

The Fayetteville Animal Protection Society added that it is accepting donations and has a 'wish list' available for anyone who wants to assist in caring for the puppies.

More than 250 people have commented on the post with the hopes of finding the homeless man and helping him the way he helped the five puppies.

'What a heart he has. Unlike so many humans that could. He did all he could with what he had. That speaks volumes,' one person responded.

'This man is an angel!! A truly amazing human being!! I hope hell show back up and allow people to love on him like he loved on these puppies and their mother,' someone else agreed.

'There are so many comments about this man and the puppies he rescued but I will still add mine because, like some of the others, it brought tears to my eyes,' another added. 'I pray that somehow that wonderful man is found soon and something can be done to help him get that chance he needs and deserves.'

The Fayetteville Animal Protection Society shared in a follow-up post that the puppies have been named Fortune, Kismet, Chance, Fate, and Serendipity in a nod to their fortuitous rescue.

The shelter is not certain of the dogs' breed, but they are believed to be Labrador mixes that will grow to be between 25-45 pounds.

Applications to adopt the puppies will open on February 1.

The organization explained that it is only considering applicants who live in Cumberland County, North Carolina, because they are 'going home on a foster-to-adopt' basis until they are old enough to be spayed or neutered.

'Unfortunately, we still don't have any updates about the kind man who brought these puppies to us. While the puppies now have names, their rescuer remains unknown. We continue to hope he'll come forward,' the shelter added.

'Thank you for your continued support and love for these animals. Together, we're making a difference in their lives, one puppy at a time.'
UV lamps used for eyelash extensions in high street salons might pose a health risk, experts fear.

Beauticians sell the treatment for as little as 30, which involves shining a light on fake lashes after they have been hand-glued on, with the promise of making them waterproof and longer-lasting.

But the practice, described as 'worrying' by dermatologists, isn't backed by the beauty industry's trade body.

Experts warn the long-term health risks are a mystery, but concerns are rising that UV lights used for other beauty treatments could lead to melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.

Brits have told of the painful burns and swelling they've suffered from the treatment, as a result of the eyelash glue overheating. One was even left with chemically burnt lashes.

A second 'aesthetics specialist' based in Bolton, using the handle @_facesbyfrancesca on Instagram, advertised an hour-long infill UV lash set for 31 and an hour-and-a-half full set for 45

Unlike traditional glues used to attach lash extensions, which can take minutes to fully set, UV lash glue dries rapidly within seconds under a UV light.

Proponents say it reduces the chance of lashes sticking together.

Some eyelash technicians advise using silicone eye pads to protect the eyes while the UV lamp works.

MailOnline discovered one Liverpool-based lash artist, who goes by the handle @lashedbyjodie.x on Instagram, advertied 'UV/LED lashes' that cure 'within two seconds'.

LED lamps  which work in the same fashion  emit lower levels of UV rays.

EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: Could you have a secret food intolerance? Breathing into this pocket-sized device will tell you (if you're willing to justify paying 199...) It works by measuring the amount of both hydrogen and methane gas in the gut. When you breathe into the device the app, which is synced to your smartphone, it will give you a score on a scale between zero and ten. High is a ten and low is a zero Advertisement

The treatment, costing 45, is listed as taking two-and-a-half hours in total and promises the lash set will last for more than four weeks.

With normal eyelash extensions, gaps can appear within a fortnight.

'UV and LED curing also create a stronger bond, resulting in longer-lasting eyelash extensions,' she wrote on Instagram. 'Additionally, these technologies emit less heat, making the process more comfortable for client.'

A second 'aesthetics specialist' based in Bolton, using the handle @_facesbyfrancesca on Instagram, advertised an hour-long infill UV lash set for 31 and an hour-and-a-half full set for 45.

Promising to last for up to eight weeks, 80 per cent of people who are allergic to standard lash glue can undergo UV lash treatments without a reaction, she claimed.

The lamp also takes an average of 1.5 seconds to cure each lash, meaning just '20 minutes of exposure per set' she said.

'Did you know that LED UV light with the same working principle like this has been used in medicine and dentistry for two decades?', she added.

Another in Leeds, using the handle @courtneys_beauty_lounge and charging up to 70 for a 'hybrid set', claimed curing lashes with a UV LED beam would allow clients to visit the gym, pool or sauna immediately after the treatment.

Lash technicians are even offering crash courses teaching people how to DIY their own UV lash extensions for up to 150, MailOnline discovered.

But the British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology (BABTAC), which regulates beauty professionals, does not insure those offering the treatment due to a lack of research into the potential risks.

Lesley Blair, chair of BABTAC, told MailOnline: 'As new treatments emerge within the beauty industry, our role is to ensure beauty therapists and salons are appropriately insured, helping to maintain a high value of treatments offered in salons by professionals.

'When it comes to UV lash extensions, as there is still plenty of investigation and research to be done into any immediate or long-term health risks, we do not currently offer insurance for this treatment.'

Dr Leila Asfour, of the British Association of Dermatologists, told MailOnline: 'The skin on the eyelids is very thin, more sensitive, and more prone to allergic reactions.

'Eyelash glue is normally cyanoacrylate based, which is a well-recognised cause of contact allergy, and doesn't need UV to cure, though this may speed the process.'

Another in Leeds, using the handle @courtneys_beauty_lounge and charging up to 70 for a 'hybrid set', also claimed curing lashes with a UV LED beam would also allow clients to visit the gym, pool or sauna immediately after the treatment

Another in Leeds, using the handle @courtneys_beauty_lounge and charging up to 70 for a 'hybrid set', also claimed curing lashes with a UV LED beam would also allow clients to visit the gym, pool or sauna immediately after the treatment

'Did you know that LED UV light with the same working principle like this has been used in medicine and dentistry for two decades?', @_facesbyfrancesca added

She added: 'It is unclear if the LED lights used in eyelash extensions emit UV light, whereas we know that lamps used in gel manicure will.

'There is a rising concern whether gel manicures due to the use of UV light can contribute to the development of melanoma in the nails, hands, or feet.

'We would need more data on UV/LED lashes extensions to be collected over time to understand the true incidence.'

Melanoma, the deadliest type of skin cancer, strikes more than 15,000 Brits and almost 100,000 Americans each year, with the disease causing around 2,500 and 8,000 deaths, respectively.

Nearly nine in 10 cases of the cancer are caused by overexposure to UV radiation, usually from the sun or sunbeds, which damages the DNA in skin cells.

However, the UV radiation produced by lamps used to set gel nail polish produce artificial UV radiation, similar to tanning beds and the sun.

Scientists at the University of California found that just using a UV lamp for just 20 minutes to dry a gel manicure caused 20 to 30 per cent cell death.

Researchers warned that the devices are presented as safe but 'no one has actually studied' them and how they affect cells.

Customers have flooded social media with complaints about the side effects of UV eyelash treatments in recent months.

In a Reddit group with over 21,000 members, one user wrote: 'I had three fills done with this system and it was so hot on my eyelid, it woke me up from my nap.

'I asked my tech if it's supposed to burn and feel so hot like that and she said she doesn't know.

'So I decided to start with a different lash tech that didn't use it, and she said my lashes look like they had a chemical burn or something.'

In the same thread another complained of 'burned swollen red eyes' after the lamp 'burned so hot'.

They wrote: 'I had mine done with new led glue and new lamp and it burned so hot asked lash tech to stop and go back to old way with old glue no lamp.

'I have a burned swollen red eye. But only me as had a reaction so maybe I am ultra sensitive to this system.'

Unlike traditional glues used to attach lash extensions, which can take minutes to fully set, UV lash glue dries rapidly within seconds under a UV light

However, the UV radiation produced by lamps used to set gel nail polish produce artificial UV radiation, similar to tanning beds and the sun

In a separate thread with more than 19,000 members, another person complained their false lashes had started to fall out three days after the UV treatment.

Alarm bells were raised earlier this year over the incorrect use of UV lamps during gel manicures, which left people with life-changing allergies.

The chemicals in gel nail polishes, known as methacrylates, can cause an allergic reaction if they leak into the skin. This happens when the UV lamp is not on for long enough or the equipment is poorly maintained.

At-home gel manicures are the most likely culprit for triggering the painful reaction, but even salon nail treatments can pose a risk if the technician is poorly-trained.

Shweta Aggarwal, a consultant plastic surgeon, specialising in skin and breast cancer at Nuffield Health, told MailOnline that a similar lack of training and guidance for lash technicians could see long-term damage to the eyes.

The practice is 'worrying' and hasn't been regulated or tested, she said.

Ms Aggarwal said: 'This means we don't know which UV light is being used, how long it is being used and so on.

'It also means there are no guidelines around its safety. All new practices should be introduced via clinical trial, which would test the practice under standard conditions and monitored long term.

'There is no long-term data available on the safety of these practices when done that close to the eye.

'Where UV light is used elsewhere in medical settings, for example in dentistry, it is recommended to wear glasses to minimise any risk to the eyes.'

She added: 'Exposure to UV light is known to cause eye damage including cataracts, which can negatively affect your eyesight.

'Some people may be particularly sensitive to the UV light, based on their skin type or if they are on other medication which can heighten sensitivity.

'I would therefore advise against this, due to the lack of evidence that it is safe to use. If you have had this done and are concerned, seek advice from your GP or optician.'
Buffalo police arrest three men on weapons and drug charges

Buffalo police on Saturday announced the arrest of three men following a midweek call for shots fired on Donovan Drive in the Broadway-Fillmore neighborhood.

Cameron McCutcheon, an 18-year-old from Blasdell; Trent McBride, a 19-year-old from Nevada; and Andrew Gordon, a 21-year-old from Buffalo were arrested on identical charges of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, both Class C felonies, police said in a news release.

Officers responded to a shots fired call about 7 p.m. Wednesday, police said, and witnessed people trying to escape from an upstairs window. Police recovered a bag of suspected cocaine and a Glock .22 handgun loaded with 13 rounds, according to the release.

In a separate incident, Gordon was also charged with third-degree criminal possession of stolen property, a Class D felony. He is alleged to have stolen a vehicle in Orchard Park. It was recovered on the 200 block of Voorhees Avenue in Buffalos Central Park neighborhood, police said.

 Ben Tsujimoto
Photos and videos obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com show US government-funded researchers experimenting on animals at a controversial lab in Montana where risky virus research is carried out.

Images and video footage obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request and shared exclusively with this website show researchers sedating monkeys and pigs and giving them injections, as well as piglets housed in small and unsanitary cages.

While there is no suggestion any of the footage shows illegal activity, it gives an eerie glimpse into what goes on at the National Institutes of Health's Rocky Mountain Lab (RML), which has come under scrutiny in recent months.

Last year, this website revealed that RML in Montana had been experimenting with SARS-like viruses a year before the Covid pandemic, and while that research has stopped, current projects involving other deadly pathogens with the potential to spark a new pandemic are still being carried out at the lab.

These include injecting pigs with Ebola and infecting monkeys with Covid-19 and studying how they react to Hemorrhagic Fever, which involves vomiting blood, internal bleeding, bleeding in the brain and from the eyes, nose and mouth.

The documents reveal NIH scientists proposed infecting two- to three-week old piglets with reston virus (REBOV), a family of pathogens that could cause Ebola, for a project to take place between 2017 and 2020

The White Coat Waste project obtained photos of animal experiments on monkeys and pigs at the National Institutes of Health's Rocky Mountain Lab in Montana

The National Institutes of Health's Rocky Mountain Lab in Montana was previously found to have been experimenting with SARS-like viruses in 2018

Piglet experiments were to be carried in two parts, first infecting the pigs with REBOV via their noses - as seen in the photos above

The footage was obtained through a FOIA request by the White Coat Waste Project (WCW), which has campaigned against risky virus research and cruel animal experiments.

The RML was first revealed to be experimenting with deadly pathogens in WCW's first batch of documents provided to this website last year.

Previous documents from WCW revealed that in 2018, NIH researchers infected bats at the Rocky Mountain Lab with a 'SARS-like' virus as part of a collaboration with the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which is at the center of the Covid cover-up scandal.

They showed US taxpayer money was used to experiment with coronaviruses from the Chinese lab thought to be the source of the Covid pandemic more than a year before the global outbreak.

The NIH, under Dr Anthony Fauci's leadership, infected 12 Egyptian fruit bats with a 'SARS-like' virus called WIV1 at RML.

The WIV1-coronavirus was shipped from the Wuhan lab the FBI believes caused the Covid pandemic and was tested on bats acquired from a 'roadside' Maryland zoo.

Senators probe Fauci-run virus lab in Montana where US scientists were infecting bats with Covid-like viruses shipped in from WUHAN in 2018 - years before the pandemic Senators are demanding answers about a laboratory in Montana where US taxpayer money was used to manipulate coronaviruses before the pandemic. Advertisement

The research determined the novel virus could not cause a 'robust infection,' but is more evidence of ties between the US government and the Wuhan lab, as well as the funding of dangerous virus research across the globe.

Following the WCW's investigation and DailyMail.com's reporting, Republican Senators Joni Ernst, from Iowa, and Eric Schmitt, from Missouri, sent a letter to the NIH demanding 'to learn more about potentially risky research' carried out by scientists at RML.

Most recently, Sen Ernst wrote another letter, along with Rep Mike Gallagher, to the Pentagon demanding a review of the $50million in grants the US is sending to Chinese pandemic research institutions, including those based in Wuhan.

The senator said in a statement: 'Taxpayers deserve to know how much of their money is being shipped to China and why Washington continues collecting and creating deadly super viruses  both of which could pose threats to our national security.'

While the 'SARS-like' virus research has stopped, current projects involving other deadly pathogens with the potential to spark a new pandemic are still being carried out at the lab.

As part of WCW's current lawsuit, the NIH was compelled to send the group records of its experiments taking place at RML.

The documents reveal NIH scientists proposed infecting two- to three-week old piglets with reston virus (REBOV), a family of pathogens that could cause Ebola, a virus with a death rate of up to 90 percent, for a project to take place between 2017 and 2020.

The project, 'The role of Arterivirus co-infection in the pathogenesis of Reston Ebola Virus in swine', was to test how the co-infection of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) and REBOV increased the virus' transmissibility and severity.

The experiment was to be carried out in two parts, first infecting the pigs with REBOV via their noses - as seen in photos.

On day three and between days five and 10 after inoculation, four animals were to be euthanized so necropsies could be performed.

The remaining animals were to be euthanized on day 28. Then, researchers proposed inoculating pigs with PRRSV and REBOV several days later to observe their behavior and take vitals then euthanize them on day 28.

One study was to evaluate up to three species of nonhuman primates as potential animal models for Covid-19. For each species, one group of eight animals would be inoculated with a high dose of the virus via the eyes, nose or mouth

In documents obtained by WCW, scientists proposed experimenting on non-human primate that included infecting monkeys with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever and Covid-19

While experimental 'manipulations' were to take place while the pigs were under anesthesia, the researchers said, 'Since we are evaluating these animals as potential models of disease progression, we are unable to alleviate the signs of disease.'

Symptoms of these diseases include fever, breathing problems, weight loss, diarrhea, excessive or internal bleeding, coughing up or vomiting blood and neurological disorders that could be fatal.

Researchers said: 'The illness experienced by animals exposed to these viruses must not be treated with analgesics because treatment will interfere with studying the disease manifestation and ultimate outcomes of infection.'

In additional documents obtained by WCW, scientists proposed experiments between 2019 and 2022 on non-human primate that included infecting monkeys with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, a tick-borne virus that causes a life-threatening fever, muscle and joint pain, liver and kidney failure or pulmonary failure.

The proposal said: 'In previous studies animals were scored for... reduced movement in cage and edema that on rare instances was of severity sufficient to impair function of internal organs such as the lungs and intestines.

'Since the objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of DNA vaccine candidates against CCHFV and contains necessary irrelevant DNA control group it is expected that some or animals will develop clinical signs and may suffer pain and distress.

'The illness experienced by the animals exposed to CCHFV must not be treated with analgesics because treatment could interfere with the disease manifestation and the outcome of vaccination.'

Photos show piglets housed in small and unsanitary cages

Photos show piglets housed in small and unsanitary cages

A third proposal for experiments between 2020 and 2023 was titled 'Nonhuman primate model development for the novel coronavirus emerging in Wuhan, China.'

The aim was to evaluate up to three species of nonhuman primates as potential animal models for Covid-19. For each species, one group of eight animals would be inoculated with a high dose of the virus via the eyes, nose or mouth - as seen in photos.

The primates were to be evaluated and have their vitals taken and on day three, four would be euthanized. The remaining were to be monitored for disease progression.

The proposal read: 'Infection with 2019-nCoV may cause mild to severe disease in nonhuman primates. Signs of illness may include fever, malaise, fatigue cough and heavy breathing potentially resulting in acute respiratory distress; the infection may be fatal.

'However, in this study we are unable to alleviate the disease manifestations potentially associated with 2019-nCoV infection as treatment would interfere with the outcome of the study.'

Justin Goodman, the senior vice president of the White Coat Waste Project told DailyMail.com: 'Our successful lawsuit has pierced the veil of secrecy around the NIHs dangerous, wasteful, and cruel maximum pain animal experiments with deadly bioagents that have up to 100 percent kill rates in humans.

'Weve uncovered how NIH gain-of-function researchers linked to EcoHealth and the Wuhan lab import primates to the Rocky Mountain Lab from Faucis Monkey Island in South Carolina, infect them with viruses including Ebola and COVID, and then completely withhold pain relief while the animals suffer excruciating deaths.

'Taxpayers have a right to know how their money is being spent in barbaric NIH animal labs that can cause a devastating lab leak and pandemic right here in the US.'
Doctors have hit out at the medical regulator for dismissing concerns that 'cut-price' medics called physician associates (PAs) are putting patients in danger.

The Government said that over the next 15 years it would recruit 10,000 PAs  who are given two years' healthcare training so they can assist doctors and nurses.

However, the move is opposed by hundreds of doctors, as well as the British Medical Association, following cases where PAs have made mistakes leading to the death or serious injury of patients.

The General Medical Council (GMC) is soon expected to publish guidelines on how it will regulate PAs  currently they cannot be held responsible for their mistakes. But the MoS can reveal the GMC believes concerns over PAs will 'dissipate over time'.

The claim was made by a GMC employee during a meeting in May and became public following a Freedom of Information request.

The Government said that over the next 15 years it would recruit 10,000 PAs  who are given two years' healthcare training so they can assist doctors and nurses (Stock image)

An employee suggested the GMC reconsider its 'communication strategy' after the high-profile death of Emily Chesterton, 30, (pictured) who died when a PA dismissed her blood clot symptoms as anxiety

During the same meeting, an employee suggested the GMC reconsider its 'communication strategy' after the high-profile death of Emily Chesterton, 30, who died when a PA dismissed her blood clot symptoms as anxiety.

Doctors believe the remarks reveal the GMC does not take the risk seriously. 'PAs are a risk to patient safety, so it is alarming that the GMC believes doctors' worries will disappear,' says Dr Matt Kneale, co-chairman of Doctors' Association UK. 'Our concerns will not go away.'

A GMC spokesman said: 'PAs are an important part of the health system. Regulation of these roles will play a vital role in keeping patients safe.'
The influential public health scientist who advised former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon that it was possible to eliminate Covid now admits that she made 'a mistake'.

Professor Devi Sridhar was a vocal advocate of 'zero Covid', the controversial view that it was possible to eradicate the virus by adopting draconian measures such as quarantining people when crossing the Scottish border.

The Covid Inquiry heard last week that Prof Sridhar regularly sent the then First Minister messages on Twitter where she appeared to push for the strategy to be adopted. In one, sent in June 2020, she told Sturgeon that she had been working on a 'feasible plan for elimination [of the virus]'.

Sturgeon would later describe elimination as the 'only sensible strategy' to tackle the virus.

The revelation will likely cause further controversy after the inquiry heard last week that Sturgeon also told Prof Sridhar not to 'worry about protocol'.

BACKTRACK: In 2020, Prof Sridhar blamed the Westminster Government for not doing enough to stop the spread of Covid

The influential public health scientist who advised former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon that it was possible to eliminate Covid now admits that she made 'a mistake'

Prof Sridhar now claims she regrets using the phrase 'zero Covid' and that her aim was to limit the number of infections in Scotland until the vaccine rollout.

'This was a mistake I made using the word 'elimination',' she told the Covid Inquiry, adding that 'maximum suppression' would have been a more appropriate phrase.

Other experts who spoke at the inquiry said that the Scottish Government's refusal to accept that Covid was 'here to stay' led to a much slower release of social restrictions than was necessary. Throughout the pandemic, Scotland eased restrictions several weeks after England.

Professor Mark Woolhouse, an epidemiologist at the University of Edinburgh and a UK scientific adviser during the pandemic, said Scottish Ministers were preoccupied with appearing more cautious than their English counterparts. He added: 'This segued into this idea that... we could somehow end up in zero Covid. To me... this was not consistent with the evidence.'

In June 2020, when Scotland was recording fewer than five Covid cases every day, Prof Sridhar, originally from the US, published an article in The Guardian calling for a 'zero-coronavirus Britain'. That same month, she told New Scientist magazine that 'Scotland could eliminate coronavirus if it were not for England', arguing that Westminster was not doing enough to stop the spread of the virus.

However, in January 2022  17 months later  Scotland was recording roughly 8,000 daily cases and Nicola Sturgeon announced the nation would remove the majority of its Covid restrictions in an effort to live with the virus.

No country has been able to eliminate the virus.

Prof Sridhar now claims she regrets using the phrase 'zero Covid' and that her aim was to limit the number of infections in Scotland until the vaccine rollout

Speaking on Tuesday, Prof Sridhar claimed she never believed that zero Covid could be achieved and instead likened it to aspirational public health campaigns that sought to end malaria or tuberculosis. 'We use these campaigns to say we don't accept the spread of these diseases,' she said. '[In summer 2020] we had a chance to hold and wait for a vaccine in an optimal position.'

However, experts accused her of 'rewriting history'.

'Prof Sridhar now claims she never believed in zero Covid, but all you have to do is go back and read her articles to see that's not the case,' says Professor Robert Dingwall, sociologist at Nottingham Trent University and former Government scientific adviser.

'Then she argued that Covid could be eliminated if not for the wicked English. Every scientist who knew what they were talking about said zero Covid wasn't achievable.'

Prof Sridhar declined to comment last night.
The young Muslim father who answered the door of the big detached house in the heart of Birmingham's Sparkbrook district did not wish to give his name but was happy to speak about the measles outbreak in the city. The crucial question: did his son, who goes to the local primary school, get the MMR jab? 'Neither I nor my wife would allow him to have it on religious grounds,' he replied politely and without hesitation.

The measles jab contains traces of pork, he explained, which is unacceptable to some Muslims. The fact that there is a non-porcine, or halal, vaccine available is an option he did not wish to consider. 'The vaccine has been associated with pig matter and that is enough for us to have refused it,' he said.

His decision, mirrored by other Muslims in the city, is one of the reasons Birmingham is at the epicentre of the measles crisis that has been declared a 'national incident' because of the growing public health risk it poses.

The problem is encapsulated, in microcosm, here in this ordinary residential area near the Sparkbrook Community Health Centre.

The measles outbreak, the most serious since the 1990s, is spreading rapidly. Confirmed cases in the West Midlands have now risen from 216 to 276, with more than 100 further probable cases

We heard the same story at most of the addresses where someone was at home and willing to be interviewed. The occupant of the red-brick semi next door, for example, told us his niece had not been vaccinated for the same reason.

'We are Muslims and as such we will not allow it,' he said.

Ditto three other families in the area, including a school dinner lady whose three children, all under 12, have not been immunised.

'Basically, it's the ingredients of the vaccine,' she said. She was not aware of the alternative halal version and her husband was against vaccines in any case. 'We don't believe in any vaccines,' he said.

There were other explanations given for the vaccine mistrust in this corner of Britain's second city.

One mother in the same area, in her mid-30s, said: 'The Covid vaccinations were b******* and this one is too. I won't be inflicting it on my child.'

Financial economics graduate Adam Khan, the only resident who agreed to be named, said his wife, an NHS nurse, is pregnant with their second child. Neither will be vaccinated over fears of a link to autism, the legacy of a discredited 1998 study by disgraced doctor Andrew Wakefield.

'Until I have more information, it's just too big a risk as far as I am concerned', said Mr Khan. 'My wife agrees.'

Nine families within a 100-yard radius or so in Sparkbrook, home to more than 20,000 Muslims, said their children had not been given the measles jab, while six said they had.

This is not meant as a criticism, just a statement of fact, which reflects the scale of the predicament in Birmingham, where there are over 340,000 Muslims overall (the majority British Pakistani or of Pakistani heritage).

Professor Dame Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), admitted on BBC Radio 4's Today show after visiting Birmingham last week that a campaign was under way to make members of the Muslim community aware of the 'availability and effectiveness' of the non-porcine vaccine (Priorix) to boost take-up.

But is political correctness, to avoid offending cultural sensitivities, already diluting the message? There are a few reasons to be a little suspicious.

UKHSA issued a press release about 'a national incident' being declared last Friday, the very day Prof Harries was in Birmingham.

Professor Dame Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency, admitted on BBC Radio 4's Today show after visiting Birmingham last week that a campaign was under way to make members of the Muslim community aware of vaccines to boost take-up

'Dame Jenny,' it says in the first few paragraphs, 'has expressed concern that unless more urgent action is taken we are likely to see the measles virus spreading rapidly in other areas.'

But of the Muslim community, or the availability of the non-porcine vaccine, there is no mention.

The 'pockets of low immunisation' Prof Harries referred to (when pressed) on Radio 4 included Sparkbrook (and Small Heath, another densely-populated Muslim district), a health official, who asked not to be identified, confirmed.

But UKHSA will not say so officially. The agency has declined to name any of the neighbourhoods in question. Wouldn't families  apart from anyone else  with babies under one year old, who are too young to be vaccinated, benefit from that information?

There is one other thing to mention here. The escalating measles outbreak brought Health Secretary Victoria Atkins to Birmingham last Thursday when she visited a GP's surgery.

We learned about the trip the day before. But no one in the UK Health Security Agency, the Department of Health and Social Care, the NHS or Birmingham City Council could say which GP she would be meeting or in which neighbourhood.

Health Secretary Victoria Atkins visited Birmingham following the measles outbreak (Ms Atkins pictured in London)

'There is no press,' we were finally informed by someone in 'Comms' at the DHSC. There might be a very good reason for this, but many might think it odd that at a time when a campaign has been launched to boost take-up of the MMR vaccine  especially among Muslims  there was not a peep from the Health Secretary when she was in Birmingham.

As the health official we spoke to pointed out: 'It's a challenge for us. There is still fear among some in the Muslim community that the vaccine contains pig matter. Of course a non-porcine version of the MMR jab is available, but the message has not always got through effectively enough.'

No one should need reminding of the shortcomings involved in tiptoeing around the truth to avoid offending cultural sensitivities, if indeed that is what is happening.

The Rochdale and Rotherham grooming scandals  where fear of accusations of racism enabled Asian male gangs to operate with impunity  are still fresh in the memory, after all.

However, Muslims are not the only demographic in Birmingham causing concern for health officials, it should be stressed.

Arrivals from Eastern Europe  the city is home to more than 7,000 Romanians  with historic memories of state-enforced vaccinations are also understood to be part of the problem.

'It would be wrong and misleading to lump the problem onto any one specific community,' said Rob Pocock, the city council's cabinet member for health and social care, who is leading the fight against the outbreak.

'It's a multitude of different factors. That's why it's so hard to manage. This battle needs to be fought on a very broad front and it's vital we don't get stuck down any particular side alley.'

In Birmingham, the citywide vaccination rate for children aged five who have had both MMR doses is 74.5, which means that some neighbourhoods have fallen below 70 per cent, far below the 95 per cent recommended to gain herd immunity

The measles outbreak, the most serious since the 1990s, is spreading rapidly. Confirmed cases in the West Midlands have now risen from 216 to 276, with more than 100 further probable cases, and the vast majority (80 per cent) are from Birmingham, according to the latest figures obtained by the MoS.

The citywide vaccination rate for children aged five who have had both MMR doses is 74.5, which means that some neighbourhoods have fallen below 70 per cent, far below the 95 per cent recommended to gain herd immunity.

Failing to vaccinate your child has been compared to driving a car without a seat belt. Measles can sometimes lead to hospitalisation, deafness, meningitis, even death. It can spread rapidly through an unvaccinated community because it has an R (reproduction) number of between 12-18, meaning each person with measles will, on average, infect between 12 and 18 other people. The R number for Covid, by contrast, is 1-2.

Up to seven children with measles are now turning up at Birmingham Children's Hospital every day, compared to a 'trickle' not so long ago, doctors say. The most common complications are ear infections, pneumonia and severe diarrhoea, which may lead to dehydration.

'We are aware of the lower rates of uptake among the Muslim community due to concerns around vaccines made with gelatine from pork,' said GP Dr Ben Sinclair. 'Birmingham celebrates a diverse range of ethnic minority groups, for whom accessing NHS services may be more challenging. Communication of health messages may come via trusted friends in the community and so rumours and misinformation can abound.

'These groups often distrust mainstream media and Government announcements.'

Nevertheless, many will be wondering: why Birmingham? Why is the situation there so much worse than other towns and cities with large ethnic minorities?

There are believed to be a number of systemic reasons for the dramatic spike in measles in the city.

Health chiefs want to make families aware of the 'availability and effectiveness' of the non-porcine vaccine (Priorix)

'Part of the problem seems to be among the more recent immigrants, primarily from Somalia and Yemen,' explained a Muslim mother of two young children, whose grandparents moved to Britain from Pakistan.

'They've arrived in the last three or four years, so they don't have the older generations brought up here who can educate them on how serious measles is. As a result they don't necessarily understand the importance of immunisation against measles and their kids are not being vaccinated. Then they go to school and it spreads. It is a very worrying time for the community.'

In fact, there is a 10,000-strong Somali contingent in Sparkbrook and Small Heath.

Many of the children attend a primary school which, like other educational establishments, was warned about the measles outbreak in a newsletter over Christmas.

Worryingly, GPs serving such ethnic communities are particularly stretched. In parts of inner-city Birmingham, they are so thinly spread it is practically impossible to see a doctor, even if you want to get your child vaccinated. Health chiefs say the number of patients per fully qualified GP should never exceed 1,800. Yet NHS data shows the ratio is sometimes much higher at surgeries in Birmingham.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: Public health teams have been working tirelessly across the West Midlands to try and control the outbreak, but vaccination rates in some areas remain very low, so there is a risk it could continue to spread if more people do not take up the jab. We're also appealing to communities where there is low uptake to pass on the message to those who are not coming forward.'

History teacher Qasia Farooq, 23, lives in the area. 'We have two doctors in the family so we have complete trust in the jab and we understand why it is a duty to have our children immunised against measles,' he said.

'However, I realise there is a lack of trust in the vaccination in our community, possibly made worse since Covid, and that is a danger.'

His sentiments were shared by his neighbour Shiraz Ali, 45, a supervisor at a local security firm. He said his two-year-old son Zayyan was vaccinated six months ago but acknowledged: 'Many people have fears over this vaccination, which suggests the message about the halal version is not getting through to people yet.

'It needs more publicity to make everyone aware there is a non-porcine jab available. I've never even heard mention of it at my mosque. Perhaps the imams could be doing more to spread the word.

'Schools are sending parents emails, but people don't seem to be responding. Maybe they don't yet realise the importance. This needs to be taken more seriously.'

Which surely means, at the very least, not 'tiptoeing' around when there are difficult issues that need to be addressed.

Additional reporting: Tim Stewart and Mark Branagan
Dressing at this time of year can be challenging. With none of us exactly brimming with enthusiasm on these cold and dark winter mornings, it can be tempting to throw on the first thing we see hanging in our wardrobe.

While Id bet my Jimmy Choos it was during one grey January that the expression They look like they got dressed in the dark was first used, the good news is weve almost made it through the bleakest month, so give yourself a pat on your well-layered back.

Whats more, it is now time to look forward to brighter days and, if todays travel issue has got you thinking about holidays, hatch some exciting wardrobe plans. To help you, heres an insiders peek into whats going to be popular for spring, and what you might want to consider packing for your next trip. Even better, youll have some of it in your wardrobe already

Jacket, Massimo Dutti, sequin top, Zara and trousers, Cos

The white dress

Not exactly groundbreaking news but welcome all the same. On holiday I love nothing more than a simple white number. Its chic and easy to accessorise. From sheer to embroidered, designers have shifted beyond springs usual euphoric shots of colour and frothy pastels with a bevy of swan-white versions. Last summers white crochet dresses will also return this year.

The polo shirt

Think Jackie O  chic collars and big sunnies. Because those country-club vibes are back and the polo and rugby shirt are heavy hitters this spring. Team with linen maxiskirts and high-waisted trousers, or layer over your favourite dress.

Sequins, lame and metallics

These festive favourites have gained new traction for spring as Paris looks ahead to hosting the 2024 Olympics. Get set for silver and gold dresses worn with a poolside tan and, in the meantime, like me, enjoy some extra wear out of Christmas tops by teaming them with cosy velvet.

Roses and 90s minimalist dressing

For romantics, the sweet rose motif on dresses and skirts will be hugely popular. Meanwhile the 90s influence will remain strong, with discreet and logo-less attire here to stay. Seek out wide-legged trousers, waistcoats as tops, camel pencil skirts, grey tailoring and white shirts  and rejoice that February and some new and old fashion horizons are just around the corner.

Ski-whizz

Hitting the slopes this season? Check out ice-cool Snow Finel. This British brand sells breathable merino-wool knitwear thats designed by skiers and made in the UK. Perfect on  and off  the snowy peaks.

Sneaker peek

I recently went to Totemes new flagship store on Londons Mount Street, which is worth a visit for its stunning decor alone. Of course, Im a big fan of its pared-back fashion too  especially its trainers.

A star is reborn

I love nothing more than watching a celebrity transform into a fashionista overnight. Enter actress Jennifer Lawrence whose style has been slowly shifting thanks, in part, to her friendship with Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. She now frequently wears their brand The Row. Perhaps she can have a word in their ear about the labels recent ludicrous prices.
Television presenter Emma Willis, 47, wife of Busted star Matt Willis and mother to Isabelle, 14, Ace, 12, and Trixie, seven, talks about eyebrows, bad camera angles and her butt.

I hate my hair

I lost so much hair after having my babies, I chopped it off and restarted. I thought being blonde would be easier with the grey coming through, but its not.

Oribe Hair Alchemy Resilience Shampoo, 47, spacenk.com

With brown hair you just do the roots. My hair is hard to control, so I need the right products. I like Oribe Hair Alchemy Resilience Shampoo [right]. I also brush through a Philip Kingsley mask (try the Elasticizer Deep-Conditioning Treatment), and let it dry by itself.

Botox?

Nah! Whatever makes you happy, but you can see theres nothing in my forehead  it moves and has lines. I dont want to put things in my face. I take Absolute Collagen sachets, Heights Omega 3 supplements and a probiotic. But we cant stop getting older. I love Cindy Crawfords quote: Ageing is what happens if were lucky.

My desert island skin product

Sunscreen. Ive been wearing it since I was 30. Before that I was like, Lets get tanned! My body goes brown but my face doesnt, so Id skip using SPF.After I had my son, I had post-natal pigmentation the shape of Australia on my forehead. Now I wear a hat and use Dermaceutic Sun Ceutic SPF 50+. I also fake-tan my face to match my body. I get heat rashes, and find that Institut Esthederm products really work for me.

Without mascara my eyes dont exist

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes, 26, charlottetilbury.com

I love Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes and Sweed Lash Lift Mascara. Ive started using brown instead of black as its more flattering. For my face I like a light base, such as Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint and Chanel Les Beiges Bronzing Cream. In my Mary Poppins-style bag I have a travel-size Malin+Goetz deodorant, Nutri Advanced Vitamin D3 Liquid Drops and a fork  just in case Im having to eat on the run.

Top beauty hack?

Microblading my eyebrows has changed my life. I have very little hair there and its blonde  but now I have brows! I go to Nez Hasan (nezhasan.com). She also does 3D areola tattoos for cancer patients after breast surgery.

Hello Sunday The One For Your Lips Lip Balm SPF 50, 7, boots.com

My best budget buys

Hello Sunday Lipbalm SPF 50 [7]  I get cold sores in the sun, so its a game changer. Also Nivea Rich Nourishing Body Lotion [from 2].

The truth about my bum lift

Ive never had one! However, I once told a facialist Id had BBL and she thought I meant a Brazilian bum lift. But BBL is also a laser treatment that helps with pigmentation. It turns the patches darker  like bits of pepper  then they flake off.

Biggest disasters?

I once got highlights and a perm to be like Kylie on that first album cover. I also used to wear brown eyeshadow right up to my brows.

What am I conscious of?

My neck, since entering my late 40s. If my camera isnt at the right angle for Zoom my god! I like Absolute Collagen Deep Lift Neck & Dec cream and I want to try Morpheus 8 [a microneedling and radio-frequency treatment]. I hear its amazing.

My keep-fit go-tos

I do functional training. I lift light weights and work with a personal trainer  hes Matts mate  two or three times a week. I also try to do reformer pilates twice a week. Its hard, but worth it.

Emma Willis is an Absolute Collagen ambassador.
Is she, though?

Is she what?

The new Queen of Denmark.

Er, yes. Her husband Frederiks mother  83-year-old Queen Margrethe  stepped down two weeks ago then he was crowned King, which makes her Queen. Seems conclusive.

King Frederik and Queen Mary after his proclamation on 14 January

So, the 51-year-old is not the new Mary Queen of Scots.

Why would she be that?

Her ancestor was a pauper who lived in a fishermans cottage in Scotland.

Every tourist on Edinburghs Royal Mile can dredge up a dead Scottish relative if the occasion demands it.

And her surname is Donaldson. Well, it was until she married Frederik, anyway.

What is it now?

Of Denmark.

Thats not a surname.

In situations where people might get muddled, she can use her dynastic name.

Which is?

Member of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glucksburg.

Probably not one youre going to bring out for the autograph hunters.

But would the Scottish rellies even want her to be Mary Queen of Scotland 2.0?

She isnt the Queen of Scotland!

Her ancestor was a pauper who lived in a fisherman's cottage

Of. From. Lets not split hairs. Is the clan happy about it?

I imagine so.

You say that but at Marys wedding to Frederik, her father is reported to have embarked on a lengthy description of how his people liberated the Hebrides from the Norse.

Father-of-the-bride speeches are always tricky.

In front of the assembled members of the House of Schleswig-Hols

I get the picture.

he allegedly said: In the 12th century, after much savage fighting, the marauding Vikings were driven out of Scotland.

If were getting into who else has a claim on the Queen of Denmark then why not the Australians? After all, she was working there as a marketing executive when she met Frederik.

Indeed, which is why over at the Sydney pub where the couple met 24 years ago, reports The Guardian, you can order a Theres Something About Mary cocktail. Hungry punters might prefer the El Frederiko Hot Dog.

A reference, I believe, to popular Danish cuisine.

Or to the fact hes a difficult dog to keep on the porch.

Is that entirely appropriate?

Dont be so prudish. Very un-Danish of you. Everyones saying that he had a date with the (improbably named) Mexican socialite Genoveva Casanova last year.

She denies it.

According to Spanish tabloids, they went to a Picasso exhibition in Madrid before going back to her apartment to change.

And a source close to Casanova claims she stood in when a mutual friend dropped out because she happens to be a Picasso expert. The king simply appreciates art and music.

Thatll be it.

Its true! In 2014, says the Evening Standard, he was seen at the Burning Man festival in a flower-embroidered kilt... and motorcycle goggles while demanding to be called Hamlet.

Do the Danes love him for that wacky sense of humour?

They love Mary more. A recent poll gave him an approval rating of 82 per cent while hers was 86. Meanwhile, TikTok posts marked Queen Mary Denmark have 531.3 million views.

So maybe the Danes could agree to share her with the Australians and the Scots.

But where does that leave the Tasmanians?

Whats it got to do with them?

Mary was born there. In fact, the island state has launched an advertising campaign designed to capitalise on the popularity of its royal daughter.

What does the ad for Tasmania say?

Becoming Queen. The only decent excuse for leaving.
The actor and writer, 57, tells Scarlett Dargan about mistaking red wine for Ribena, drinks with a screen legend and why shes a purist when it comes to water.

Even as a kid I hated fizzy drinks.

I didnt even like milk. I loved water and would add some Ribena, which felt really exotic to me. I love the blackcurrant taste of it, and I still love the colour. When I was ill my mum used to give me hot Ribena, so it has always felt comforting.

Tracy-Ann loves an eastern standard cocktail in Soho house Barcelona;

The first time I drank alcohol was at home, by accident, when I was five or six.

I went to the fridge and took a great big slug of what I thought was Ribena, but it actually was a jug of red wine. It tasted horrible.

I dont see the point of fizzy water  its like the devil has made it.

Why would you take something as beautiful and pure as water and carbonate it? It has never made any sense to me at all. Its everything thats wrong with the world! When Im at home I always drink unfiltered water.

The most memorable place Ive had a drink was a bar in Tampere, Finland, while holidaying there.

Theres a revolving rooftop restaurant in the Nasinneula Tower thats 124 metres up in the sky. As the doors open, youre in what looks like a kind of villains lair. The decor is like something out of a 1970s dream: James Bond meets Studio 54. The view over the harbour of Tampere is amazing.

They also have a great nonalcoholic drink in Finland made from lingonberries.

But if I was picking a drink for Dry January, Id have to choose elderflower.

Alcohol is not my go-to; I know how to do it in moderation.

I tend to drink only when I go out for meals or events. On my first date with my partner Rob [Cowan, the music producer she married in 2004] I had a glass of white wine and he had a beer. My favourite is a nice crisp Pinot.

I always feel fashionable when Im drinking an eastern standard cocktail at Soho House.

Its a mix of vodka or gin, lime juice, syrup, cucumber and mint. Its so fresh that it almost feels like its good for you. As they have houses all over the world, every time I drink it I have memories of all the places where Ive enjoyed one: Barcelona, Tel Aviv, Berlin, Los Angeles. It makes me feel like a seasoned traveller.

The most famous person Ive shared a drink with is Roger Moore.

We were at a very small, private Unicef dinner, and he was regaling me with stories of going to Bette Daviss house and meeting Joan Crawford. I write plays about the golden age of Hollywood, so I was completely captivated. We sat next to each other drinking all night, and he definitely got the joke about being James Bond. He was even drinking martinis.

If I could have a drink with anyone, it would be William Shakespeare.

Id like to know if hes one person or an amalgam of lots. I feel the same about Banksy. Id like Shakespeare to come and see my version of The Merchant of Venice [at the RSC, Stratford-Upon-Avon until 10 February and Londons Criterion Theatre from 15 February until 23 March]; Id ask him if he believes its an antisemitic play, and what he thinks about me playing the first female Shylock. Id treat him to a drink afterwards.

The best advice Ive ever had over a drink came from my grandma, about when you know youve had enough.

You take a drink, but when the drink takes you, its time to stop.

For tickets visit themerchantofvenice1936.co.uk
A remote cove with a mysterious past near Veronica Henry s North Devon home inspired her to explore  and write her latest novel.

Nearly 20 years ago, on an April day in 2004, I was searching for seals with my three boys when we first found the secret beach. We had just moved to North Devon from landlocked Worcestershire and were discovering the joys of this wild and windswept coast. We were in awe of the scenery. Gone were the bright lights, busy roads and city life we were used to. Now we had peace and quiet and a sea view. Heaven for my sons, who were 13, seven and two.

Stairway to Devon: the Rockham Beach steps in 2011  they were washed away by a storm in 2014

We started the seal search in a village called Mortehoe. As we wound our way along the vertiginous cliff path  trying not to feel giddy as we peered down to the rocks below  we hoped for a glimpse of the animals we were promised had this as their playground. I grabbed the hand of my smallest as the wind buffeted us. Although we were a long way from the edge, we all felt that dreadful pull and fear that we might fall. It was thrilling. Even more so when we spotted first one black blob, then two. Then a third! We watched as the seals bobbed and dived, sleek and sinuous, far below us.

Eventually we moved on, walking to a nearby lighthouse at Bull Point, through pastures of sheep and wildflowers. For centuries, Mortehoe  it means Death Point  has been the scene of many shipwrecks. The rocks are deadly and the currents treacherous. We looked out to sea, shivering slightly at the swell of the ominous waves.

This stretch of coast was given the grisly name "The Sailors' Grave"

And then, on our left, there it was. A perfect cove cut from the craggy rocks. Our map, procured from Mortehoe Museum, told us this was Rockham Beach. The boys hurtled towards a set of steps that led down to shingle, then pale gold sand. I followed in their wake, urging caution as only an anxious mother can, my pleas unheeded: this was irresistible for a trio of young adventurers.

As the tide drifted from high to low, more excitement was revealed: in 1914, the SS Collier ran aground on the rocks. Its crew were rescued, along with the ships dog and cat, but its propeller, boiler and donkey engine remain embedded in the sand for all to see.

Thus began a love affair with what, from that day on, we always referred to as the secret beach. As it was two kilometres from the nearest road, only the intrepid and those in the know would find it, so the shore was never crowded. On a fair day, we would set off with Marmite sandwiches, flapjacks and pouches of Capri-Sun. We would find the perfect spot and make camp, surrounded by buckets and spades and fishing nets. The boys would poke about in the rockpools, finding anemones and tiny crabs, or splash in the waves with their snorkels and flippers.

I would bring a notebook and a novel, flipping between scribbling ideas and reading the latest blockbuster. There was the occasional scraped knee, the inevitable sunburn and one day a piercing scream when the youngest stepped on a weever fish. The native cure is to pee into a wetsuit boot and plunge the offending foot in, but we only had flip-flops. Someone kindly proffered a flask of hot water to bathe it in, and extricated the offending spine.

Veronica at the coast, late summer 2023

Then, in February 2014, disaster struck. A violent storm washed away the steps to the secret beach, abetted by coastal erosion. Our sanctuary was no longer accessible, tantalisingly out of reach  the steps were left dangling in mid-air. Of course the boys were much older by then so trips had become less frequent, but still we mourned its loss. A collaboration between the National Trust, Devon County Council and the South West Coast Path saw the rebuilding of the steps, at a cost of more than 100,000, only for them to be again destroyed by a storm in 2020. There are no plans to reinstate them.

You cant fight nature.

Now the beach is out of bounds, for it is far too slippery and dangerous to climb down between the rocks. Perhaps if you were audacious, you could come in by boat or kayak, or maybe even paddleboard  I do have one, but Im not sure my sea skills are up to it. So I will remain on the clifftop, looking down longingly and remembering days gone by. My sons have all left home now, but heading to Rockham is still my favourite walk. I gaze at the empty beach, the red words on the sign proclaiming path closed, and if I half-shut my eyes I can still see the boys striped towelling robes and skinny brown legs.

The beach inspired the title of my latest novel, set in a small harbour town. Its heroine, Nikki, has just bought a coastguard cottage overlooking the tiny cove that has meant so much to her throughout her life. I was telling my editor about Rockham, and how the boys and I called it our secret beach. Thats your title! she said. The Secret Beach.

There may be more stories to be told. This stretch of Devon coast was given the grisly nickname the sailors grave by local mariners. The nearby churchyard is filled with nameless headstones. Drowning was said to be preferable to coming ashore in Mortehoe; on land there were ruthless wreckers, who plundered the ships for bounty.

Im fascinated by the story of Elizabeth Berry, born in 1798 and an infamous wrecker. She would lure ships to this treacherous shoreline by tying a lamp to the tail of her horse, then hold the survivors underwater with a pitchfork until they met their fate. Who was she and how did she come to have such cold blood? Was she plain wicked or under duress? Perhaps I will write her story one day.

I shall head to the clifftop at Rockham today, watching the wild tips of the white horses as they gallop towards the shore, leaning into the wind, listening for the voices of the past, waiting for the summer sun to shine a glitter-path on to the sea. My secret beach.

The Secret Beach by Veronica Henry will be published on 29 February by Orion, 16.99. To pre-order a copy for 14.44 until 11 February, go to mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937. Free UK delivery on orders over 25.
Shes loved the country since she was a child  yet in the wake of last years earthquake Flora Gill almost halted her wedding plans there. Here she explains why shes so happy she went ahead.

My fiance Adam and I had finally settled on a wedding plan. Wed toyed with a cool casual party in London or an elopement to Vegas, but I think we both knew deep down that it would be a destination wedding.

The Atlas peaks beyond Marrakech

Although it took me almost a year to admit I loved Adam, Id loved Morocco from the moment we met. As a child I was taken on holiday to Marrakech by my father each summer. It was the first place I visited outside Europe  a seven-year-old both excited and scared by its bustle, smells, sights, flavours, even colours I swore Id never seen before.

Last summer Adam and I spent a month working from home in Essaouira, a port city on the Atlantic coast. It was under the influence of this magical place that I looked at the man Id been dating for almost 12 years, and decided I wanted to marry him. Thats the power and romance of Morocco.

Flora and Adam check out their chosen venue, Domaine AlbaIcin

Having made our decision, we visited Marrakech for the weekend in September last year with Martha, my maid of honour, to scout potential wedding spots. Wed been back less than a week when Morocco was hit by a catastrophic earthquake  the worst in more than 60 years. The epicentre (in the High Atlas Mountains, about 44 miles south of Marrakech) was shallow, which increased its destructive power.

As the death toll began to rise (eventually reaching around 3,000), businesses across the country threw their efforts into relief work; among them Maev, my wedding planners. Where once its Instagram had displayed petal-scattered aisles, it now showed volunteers working amid ruins. In videos from its warehouse, party supplies could be seen pushed against the walls to make way for donations of blankets and food.

Our first impulse was to cancel the wedding. The idea of planning or hosting a party when the country we loved was in mourning felt inappropriate. Our save-the-dates showing the Marrakech minaret, now in danger of collapse, looked tasteless. Moroccans would be deeply offended, right?

Wrong. Their view is that, while charity may be necessary and appreciated for a short period of time, since the earthquake has passed and the villages are slowly being rebuilt, the tourist industry is needed more than ever before.

The biggest fear from our local guides and partners is that tourism will slow down, says Zina Bencheikh of Intrepid Travel. Millions of Moroccans rely on tourism, from restaurant and shop workers in the cities to guides in the mountains and deserts.

Like many other countries reliant on visitors from abroad, for Morocco Covid was a blow. But in the first quarter of 2023, tourist numbers were nearly three million, up 28 per cent from2019. However, after the earthquake the US geological survey estimated that the effects of the disaster could cost the country up to eight per cent of its gross domestic product (the equivalent of 8.4 billion).

Rachid, a tour guide in the Atlas Mountains, said: Its crucial that visitors keep coming to Morocco, to the mountainous parts, as the economy there is based on tourism income. Holiday-makers need to know that its safe to visit Morocco and the High Atlas Mountains.

While many cancelled their holidays, some knew their visit would help. Casa Abracadabra, a popular wedding destination just outside Marrakech, hosted 200 people just days after the earthquake. Rather than being seen as tasteless, the event was considered supportive, according to the casas founder, Bruno Oliver Bulto. The couple decided to continue with the plan in order to support the Moroccan population. That was gorgeous. They even brought plenty of clothes, socks and food.

There is hope for Morocco. After the Japanese earthquake of March 2011, international tourism dropped by 28 per cent, but bounced back to previous levels the following year, then tripled over the next decade. In Thailand following the 2004 tsunami, visitor figures fell by 40 per cent, with around 100,000 tourism jobs lost. Yet by 2019, the sector had quadrupled in size.

Both success stories required international support. Morocco has gone through a natural disaster, but it is a resilient country. Cancelling your holiday is not what Moroccans needs this year. When I was eight, I remember returning to school with bright red hair Id hennaed in Morocco.

I forced peers to listen to my stories of souks and medinas, of stalls piled with sheep heads, of camels in deserts and piles of spices taller than I was. Now I cant wait to host my guests in May  many of whom have never been to Morocco before  in a country that has always been so hospitable to me.

People are fixing broken homes, mending roads and piecing fractured communities back together. But if you visit you are unlikely to see any of that. What you will notice is a vibrant country in which your tourist pounds will be helping far more than any well wishes ever could.

My 5 top MOROCCO must-sees.

From shopping to surfing, theres a holiday for everyone.

Fez

Steeped in history, the ancient city has a fabulous medina. Make time to visit one of the worlds oldest tanneries, which operates just as it did in medieval times  visitors are given fragrant mint leaves to hold under their noses to mask the smell. The sweet of tooth should try crunchy-chewy chebakia pastries.

Chefchaouen

The monochromatically blue city high in the Rif Mountains is an Insta-feed dream. There is a handful of cute restaurants and hotels but its really all about the photos, so go clad in something yellow to clash nicely  and get snapping.

Essaouira

Game Of Thrones superfans may recognise this laid-back coastal town from some of the epic scenes. Its calmer than Marrakech  meander through the medina and youll find far less hustle and bustle. With its Atlantic setting it is ideal for windsurfing  and devouring the freshest fish for lunch.

Atlas Mountains

This part of Morocco is a magical region of waterfalls and valleys made for stunning hikes. At a scattering of serene retreats you can unwind with a traditional and relaxing hammam steam bath.

Marrakech

Moroccos must-see city always has something new to offer. Right now its the industrial zone, Sidi Ghanem, where carefully crafted goods sell in showrooms that come with a haggle-free guarantee. Beyond town serene spots include my favourite, the newly opened hotel Farasha Farmhouse.
China has made positive contributions to regional and global security and stability through its counterterrorism efforts, said experts when commenting on a new white paper on the topic.

The white paper titled "China's Legal Framework and Measures for Counterterrorism" was released by the State Council Information Office on Tuesday.

The document sums up the principles underlying China's fight against terrorism and the experience gained, demonstrates the effectiveness of the country's law-based counterterrorism efforts, and helps the international community understand the relevant legal framework and measures, according to the experts.

"Compared with previous editions, the latest white paper provides a more comprehensive introduction to China's counterterrorism legal system, such as how power is exercised and human rights safeguarded during the fight," said Li Changlin, a professor at the Human Rights Institute of Southwest University of Political Science and Law.

LAW-BASED COUNTERTERRORISM

"By focusing on the legal framework and measures, the white paper underscores the fact that China's counterterrorism efforts consistently operate under the rule of law and are integrated into the country's daily governance," said Yang Haitao, an associate professor at the Criminal Investigation Police University of China.

Thanks to more than four decades of experience, a counterterrorism legal framework based on the Constitution has been gradually formed in China, said the white paper.

In the legal framework, the Counterterrorism Law is the centerpiece, the criminal laws and National Security Law play major roles and other laws serve as supplements, according to the document.

It also covers administrative regulations, judicial interpretations, local regulations, and departmental and local government rules, the document added.

Such a legal framework has yielded a set of experiences in terms of law-based counterterrorism and explored special approaches such as preventive counterterrorism, said Huang Bin, director of the regional counterterrorism research center at Fujian Police College.

As a model that can be used for reference, the legal framework provides a nomological foundation for further international cooperation in counterterrorism, added Huang.

HUMAN RIGHTS

"China respects and protects human rights as an underlying principle in improving its legal framework and practices in the field of counterterrorism," the white paper said.

To effectively prevent and combat terrorist activities is an important aspect of safeguarding human rights, said Yang.

"China's counterterrorism efforts have always adhered to a people-centered approach, placing lives above all else," said Zheng Ruohan, an associate professor at the Human Rights Institute of Southwest University of Political Science and Law.

The country emphasizes safeguarding human rights through combating terrorism and also focuses on ensuring human rights in specific counterterrorism work, according to Zheng.

"Upholding the vision of a global community of shared future, China is willing to work closely with other countries to push forward counterterrorism cause as part of global governance," said the white paper.

"On the basis of equality and respect, China will engage in extensive exchanges, cooperation, and mutual learning to facilitate the global effort to counter terrorism," said the document. Enditem


A Buffalo man with four previous felony convictions is going back to prison for 10 years, U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced.

Ivan Morales, 48, received the mandatory minimum sentence from U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra Jr. following his guilty plea in September to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and being a felon in possession of firearms.

Ross noted that Morales was convicted of felonies in state and federal courts in 1998, 2004, 2006 and 2020 and is forbidden to have guns.

Prosecutors said that police found suspected marijuana, a digital scale and about $2,546 in cash when they executed a search warrant Oct. 13, 2022, at Morales' home on Ideal Street.

That was followed by a search of an apartment on Shanley Street associated with Morales, where officers seized about 1 kilograms of cocaine, 12 bags containing cocaine, suspected MDMA pills, eight guns, numerous magazines and ammunition, and 250 $100 bills.

- Dale Anderson
The competition regulator has launched a probe into the planned merger of Vodafone and Three.

The tie-up would create Britain's largest mobile network.

But the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said yesterday it had opened a 'phase 1' investigation to examine whether the deal would lead to a 'substantial lessening of competition'.

The announcement came after a PR representative for Vodafone and Three mistakenly released statements from the UK bosses of both companies earlier this week responding to the inquiry  before it was even announced.

They argued the merger would 'significantly enhance' competition and investment in the British mobile market.

Probe: The tie-up between Vodafone and Three would create Britain's largest mobile network

Vodafone and Three announced plans in June to create a 15billion joint venture that would become the UK's largest mobile operator.

The entity would be 51 per cent-owned by Vodafone and 49 per cent by Three owner, Hong Kong's CK Hutchison.

The CMA has 40 days to complete this probe and decide on next steps, which could mean a deeper probe.

But the CMA announcement came a day after Vodafone was told by the Government that its relationship with largest shareholder, UAE-controlled group Emirates Telecommunications, posed a risk to national security.
She started up with funding from friends, family and colleagues

Online furniture aggregator has partnered with the likes of M&S and John Lewis

Deirdre McGettrick spent most of her childhood cutting out pictures from the Argos catalogue and creating mood boards of her own interior designs.

After a few years spent in the corporate haze of the City, her childhood dream finally became her full-time job.

McGettrick launched Ufurnish.com with her co-founder and husband Ray Wright in 2019, and the online furniture aggregator now boasts over 100 of the biggest retailers.

She tells This Is Money how she launched the business, which she claims is the 'Rightmove of furniture'.

Deirdre McGettrick launched online furniture aggregator Ufurnish in 2019

'Ufurnish is the Rightmove of furniture'

You could say that furniture and design are in McGettrick's blood.

Her father owned a drapery shop in her village on the west coast of Ireland, which meant she spent a lot of her childhood 'gawking at everybody's houses' while helping her father install curtains and blinds.

Despite the 'obsession' with interiors, McGettrick moved to London after university having landed a graduate job in debt solutions for a major bank in the City.

Her interest in interiors piqued again after buying her first apartment and getting the opportunity to decorate her own home for the first time, but she found it a challenging process.

'I had all this inspiration from magazines, social media, friends' houses I'd know what I'd want but I couldn't find the products.

'So if I wanted a blue velvet sofa I'd then have to begin my search. Right John Lewis tab 1, DFS, Habitat, Wayfair Then I'm scratching my head thinking, "Who are the other retailers?" but they'd all have a limited selection.

I asked myself, 'Why isn't there one place you can search all of the retailers, not just the big brands, and all of their products?'

'The question I was asking myself was, why isn't there one place you can search all of the retailers, not just the big brands, and all of their products.'

After speaking with friends and family, McGettrick realised there was a gap in the market for an online furniture aggregator, and so came the idea for Ufurnish.com.

'It's very similar to the solution Rightmove provided. When I was looking for an apartment, I could go to Foxtons but I didn't know the one man band estate agents. You want to see all of the houses, not necessarily which estate agent is selling it.'

Friends and family invest 1.8million

Despite McGettrick's experience in the corporate world, the ins and outs of setting up and running a business were entirely novel to her.

'I'd researched the market but I had zero idea of where a website came from,' she says.

'I realised I had a skillset that was adaptable, so I went and looked for a co-founder [which] ended up being my then-boyfriend, now husband. He'd come from a startup so he'd been on that journey and brought the skillset that I didn't have.'

Once McGettrick and Wright had honed their concept, they started to build a demo website - which she says was 'not very sophisticated,' to explain the vision that was in McGettrick's head.

At this point, McGettrick had already quit her job to focus on her new venture, partly to show prospective investors she was serious but also because it would have been unmanageable alongside her corporate job.

Ufurnish aggregates furniture across 100+ retailers making it easier to shop online

To get the ball rolling, McGettrick called on her former colleagues, as well as friends and family, to invest in Ufurnish through the Government's enterprise investment scheme (EIS).

The EIS helps small companies raise funds and grow, giving investors significant tax breaks.

'I suppose coming from a background in banking, I was fortunate because a lot of my colleagues were on decent money so could invest,' she says.

And that they did. McGettrick managed to raise 1.8million from friends, family and colleagues in 2020 and spent the next year building an operational version of Ufurnish.com.

Now the company boasts over 100 retail partners, including big names like M&S and John Lewis; but it didn't happen overnight.

'We did it little by little. We had to get retailers to launch our initial site because you can't have an aggregator without having any furniture to search.

Some retailers did agree to be featured on the site at the demo stage, but others took a bit more persuading.

'A lot of retailers won't sell on third-party sites, but they're not actually selling on our site. We're showing the products, and if the consumer likes the product they click out to their website.'

If the customer completes the purchase after being directed, Ufurnish takes a percentage of the price.

Passion: McGettrick's 'obsession' with interiors began in childhood, helping with her father's drapery shop

'Brands aren't as important anymore'

When McGettrick and Wright started out, they were surprised to find there was nothing similar out there, particularly in the e-commerce space which is ripe for aggregation.

It suggests brand loyalty has become less important, although in furniture there has been little need to rely on this anyway.

'Brands aren't as important,' says McGettrick. 'When a furniture product is in your home, its not like there's a brand on it, it's not the same as owning a Chanel handbag'.

'What you're looking for is an aesthetic - people will think, "I want a sofa that will look good in my home and is in my price range"'.

'Price is a factor but not a driver, the driver is usually the aesthetic.'

However, she admits that there has been a big drive towards value and the perception of value. 'People are definitely more constrained [and] probably looking at where they can get the best value, adding to their favourites on the website and waiting for them to go on sale.'

Therefore, the introduction of a comparison feature was the next logical step.

McGettrick and team have tentatively moved into curation, where they group products by theme and tailor what customers see based on their tastes, although remain a step behind the retailers themselves.

She notes that people are using the site to browse more generally, going through pages of coffee tables to get a feel for what they want.

'If you're browsing more generally and you know you just want a coffee table but you're not sure what type, we do see people searching the entire catalogue because they can't describe what they're looking for.

'Lots of people don't know how to describe what's in their head, so they're looking for more inspiration.'

Leading retailers like Ikea, not currently partnered with Ufurnish, have capitalised on this.

They drive trends through curated feeds, solidifying themselves as taste-makers and ensuring customers buy through their channels.

Ufurnish is yet to implement this fully, instead focusing on making the user experience as easy as possible which McGettrick thinks will help to build authority in the space and give it longevity.
Theyve long had a special royal relationship.

Born just two years apart before their mother was Queen, King Charles and Princess Anne have a special understanding of the monarchy.

As young adults, they went on foreign tours together to represent the Queen.

Today, Princess Anne is thought of as Charless right-hand woman  someone who, without a word being spoken, understands what is required.

Princess Anne and Prince Charles laughing together in the grounds at Balmoral Castle

Prince Charles and Princess Anne pictured together in 1970. They often worked together in their early years of front-line duty

King Charles regards his sister, Princess Anne, as his right-hand woman. They are pictured here at the St George's Chapel committal service for their mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in February 2022

Yet there was a period when things were less easy between them, notably in the 1980s when Diana Spencer entered the family.

According to Battle of Brothers by Robert Lacey, Annes notorious frostiness seemed to grow a couple of degrees chillier whether the subject of Diana came up.

Anne appears to have been unreceptive when told that Diana had given birth to Prince William in June 1982.

The princess had been touring Indian reservations in New Mexico for Save the Children when a reporter asked for her reaction to the good news.

I didnt know she had one, the princess snapped.

Another reporter tried with:

Do you think everyone is making too much fuss of the baby?

Yes, came the curt response.

Why the froideur?

At the time, says Lacey, Anne was undertaking more than 200 engagements a year compared with Dianas 50 and only 90-plus for Charles.

According to Lacey, a Palace insider explained as follows:

Anne works very hard and sees her sister-in-law picking up the glory. Shes sick to the back teeth with it all.

Diana with Princess Anne at a polo match near London on the weekend before Diana's wedding

Apparently frosty times on the balcony for Trooping the Colour in 1983

Princess Diana and Princess Anne at the Cenotaph for Remembrance Sunday, 1983

Princess Anne attends a private reception given by the governor of New Mexico at The Palace of the Governors in 1982. When asked about the birth of Prince William, first child to Charles and Diana, she seemed irritated

Prince William arrived on the 6th June 1982 much to the delight of the nation and world's press camped outside the Lindo Wing. Princess Anne did not seem so delighted at the time

Press photographers wait outside the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital following the birth of Prince William in 1982

Prince Charles and Princess Diana leave St Mary's with their baby son

The Prince and Princess of Wales left The Lindo Wing in the back of a car with Prince Charles and the new baby

Diana, Princes of Wales, surrounded by family and friends, holds baby son Prince William as she sits with Queen Elizabeth ll and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother in August 1982. Princess Anne sits on the arm of the sofa directly behind her mother

A group portrait to mark the Christening of Peter Phillips in December 1977. Prince Charles, who was asked to be Godfather, stands second from the left

A photograph marking the Christening of Prince Harry at Windsor Castle on December 21, 1984. The royal relatives seem amused at the antics of young Prince William. Princess Anne was not among the guests. She was away in Gloucestershire shooting rabbits

The depth of the ill-feeling was exposed soon afterward when, although Anne had asked Charles to be a Godparent to her first child, Peter Phillips, the compliment was not reciprocated.

Anne was not invited to be Williams Godmother and was not on the list when it came to Prince Harrys turn to be baptised in 1984.

The Princess made her feelings clear, says Lacey. As Harry was carried to the font at St Georges chapel, Windsor, Anne was out with her husband in the Gloucestershire countryside - shooting rabbits.
To Adolf Hitler, she was the most dangerous woman in Europe thanks to her brains and steely will to win.

Royal photographer Cecil Beaton had a more colourful turn of phrase, describing Elizabeth, Queen Consort to George VI, as a marshmallow made on a welding machine.

As author Tina Brown explains in her best-selling book The Palace Papers, however cuddly and indulgent a grandmother she might have been towards Prince Charles, the Queen Mother (as she later styled herself) was an implacable enforcer of royal infallibility.

Form took precedence over feeling, writes Brown.

Although loved by the public for her 'cuddly' image and famous for having indulged her grandson, King Charles, the Queen Mother was formidable

The late Queen Mother with Princess Margaret and Group Captain Peter Townsend pictured on tour in South Africa in 1947. The Queen Mother was strongly opposed to the engagement of Margaret and Townsend

Princess Margaret and Group Captain Peter Townsend photographed at Harrismith in the Free State province, formerly known as the Orange Free State, during the Royal tour of South Africa in 1947

Group Captain Townsend was an equerry first to King George VI and then to his daughter, Queen Elizabeth II

Princess Margaret's 1955 announcement that she had decided not to marry Group Captain Tow

Princess Margaret returns to Clarence House October 17, 1955 after a weekend in the country where Group Captain Peter Townsend was also a guest. The decision not to marry Townsend was announced October 31

Group Captain Peter Townsend, whose name is linked with that of Princess Margaret, is pictured as he talks to reporters outside the house in Lowndes Square where he is staying in London

She was strongly opposed to the young Princess Margarets engagement to Group Captain Peter Townsend and made her feelings known.

On the night Margaret finally decided to renounce the older man, a flying ace and suave equerry to both George VI and Elizabeth II, the Queen Mother went out for the evening.

As historian and biographer Hugo Vickers put it, she must have been unaware or unconcerned that her daughter would be having dinner alone on a tray.

The Queen Mother raised the same implacable opposition to her grandson Charless relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles.

Once it was public that Camilla was the Prince of Waless mistress, she refused to receive her with or without him.

Prince Charles as a small boy with his grandmotherm, The Queen Mother, and a small dog called Pippin

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales greets the Queen Mother with a kiss during their holiday at the Castle of Mey, her home on the Scottish coast

Prince Charles would see his grandmother whenever the two were in London, sometimes on daily basis, and would greet her with elaborate kisses on the arm

Charles and his grandmother take a good look at the Epsom Racecourse on Derby day 1986. Diana in polka dots looks on

Charles's mother, Queen Elizabeth II, is said to have believed that the Queen Mother, in indulging Charles, increased the tensions between Prince Philip and his son. The two are pictured here at the Epsom Derby

There was rarely a day when Charles and his grandmother were at their London residences that the Prince did not drop in on her either in the morning or for a drink.

The Queen felt the old mischief-maker exacerbated tensions between Philip and Charles and that her high-living example encouraged him in financial excess.
Prison officer Lisa Brown had been dealing with two-time killer Vester Fernando long enough to pick up a few warning signs he might be having dark thoughts again.

Fernando, who was serving life for the 1994 kidnap, rape and murder of nurse Sandra Hoare at Walgett in northern NSW, 'just seemed a little bit off', Brown remembered.

That first appalling crime had been committed in the company of Fernando's cousin Brendan, who has the same surname and was also sentenced to life in prison.

Five years later, Vester stabbed Brendan to death with a scissor blade in Lithgow jail because, in his own words, he was 'p***ed off' with his cousin.

Now Fernando was at Mid North Coast Correctional Centre (MNCCC) where he was housed in C Pod and employed in the upholstery workshop with other maximum security offenders.

Lisa Brown was a custodial officer at Mid North Coast Correctional Centre when two-time killer Vester Fernando tried to murder another inmate. She is sitting in the pod where the attack took place in April 2020

On April 8, 2020, three days after Fernando turned 50, he erupted again.

That afternoon, Brown was called to C Pod in the aftermath of Fernando launching another frenzied stabbing attack as he tried to take a third victim's life.

Brown, who was the senior officer in the jail's textiles workshop, knew Fernando because the inmates she oversaw were housed with those from upholstery.

'While I didn't spend a lot of time with him, I had interactions with him on a daily basis,' the 39-year-old mother told Daily Mail Australia during a tour of the prison.

'You generally feel a vibe in the the air and especially working with the same cohort of inmates every day, you get to know their personalities and sort of little warning signs as well.'

Fernando had been giving off some of those signs but his behaviour was not so unusual that Brown had cause to believe he was ready to kill again.

'With Vester, he was always a bit of a loner and he would do his own thing anyway,' she said.

'He sort of just seemed a little bit off. Nothing that was serious enough to report. And then the incident unfolded in C Pod.'

Vester Fernando (pictured) kidnapped, raped and murdered nurse Sandra Hoare at Walgett in NSW's north west with his cousin Brendan Fernando in 1994. Five years later, Vester stabbed Brendan to death in jail

Fernando, dubbed 'Uncle Vester', had been causing trouble since he arrived at MNCC, a maximum-, medium- and minimum-security facility at Aldavilla, 455km north of Sydney and 14km west of Kempsey.

He had a particular dislike for Pacific Islanders, spent a large part of his time in segregation and was considered a heavy in C Pod where he incited other Aboriginal inmates.

Based on unwritten prison rules, Fernando's third attempt at murder might have been deliberately timed to take place shortly before inmates are locked up for the evening.

Old hands consider it poor form to stage an assault any earlier in the day because innocent inmates who share a pod or wing are likely to be sent back to their cells.

Jail custom also suggests if an assault occurs in a common area rather than a cell the attacker wants it to be stopped before he goes too far, but last long enough to get his message across.

The fact Fernando did not want to be stopped was obvious from CCTV footage which showed him leaving a cell with 26-year-old inmate Jack Wiffen.

Fernando, sometimes known as 'Uncle Vester', had been causing trouble since he arrived at MNCCC, a maximum-, medium- and minimum-security jail at Aldavilla, 455km north of Sydney and 14km west of Kempsey. C Pod where he was housed is pictured above

When two men were under a stairway Fernando suddenly began stabbing Wiffen in the neck, chest and back with a jail-made shiv.

As Wiffen writhed in a pool of blood, Fernando calmly walked off and threw away his weapon. He prostrated himself on the floor, put his hands behind his head and surrendered.

More than a dozen officers swarmed the pod as other inmates walked by the crime scene, some barely pausing to look at the wounded man who by now had stopped moving.

Brown was one of the staff members called to respond, along with the immediate action team (IAT).

'When we got there, the first thing you could see was just blood,' she said.

'And Vester had walked through it so it was just spread everywhere. There was just blood from one end to the other.'

When the IAT team reached Fernando he put up no resistance and was taken away in handcuffs.

Brown, who was left to preserve the crime scene, was told Fernando had been surprised when he learnt he was being charged with attempted murder: he thought he'd killed Wiffen.

CCTV footage captured Fernando stabbing inmate Jake Wiffen in the neck, chest and back after luring him out of his cell

The vision showed Fernando walking away from the stabbed prisoner as he writhed on the ground. Fernando then slid a shiv across the floor towards approaching officers

'With the the rap sheet that he has, with a couple of murders on his hands, he probably just thought, "Well, I'm doing life,"' Brown said.

'I think what was probably a bit eerie about it was how calm he was after it. He wasn't frantic or emotionally heightened. He was just so calm and collected.'

Fernando might have been calm but prison staff did not know how other inmates would react and they were all escorted out to a yard behind C Pod.

Vester Allan Fernando (pictured) is one of the state's most notorious and difficult inmates

'The inmates were quite worked up and quite elevated about it, didn't know what had unfolded,' Brown said.

'There wasn't too much resistance getting them into the back yard but they wanted to sticky-beak and sort of be part of it.'

Wiffen was airlifted to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle in a critical condition.

Fernando was charged with attempted murder and transferred to Goulburn's High Risk Management Correctional Centre - Supermax, Australia's most secure prison.

He subsequently pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent to murder and was jailed for a further 17 years.

Fernando is still in Supermax, where he continues to be problematic, and will likely die in there.

Another inmate, 28-year-old Atin Munro who held the cell door open for Fernando, was charged with aid and abet attempted murder but was found not guilty.

'From what I have been told from other inmates they were kind of saying [Munro] got roped into it,' Brown said.

Sandra Hoare was abducted and killed by Vester and Brendan Fernando in December 1994. Brendan Fernando (right) was killed in prison by Vester in September 1999

'He said to Vester, "Oh yeah, I'll do it," but he didn't understand the seriousness of it and he didn't understand what he was getting himself into.

'He was sort of just helping out one of the boys and then when it all unfolded he was shocked with what had happened. I don't think Vester had declared to him exactly what was going to happen.'

Wiffen, who had no significant criminal record and was newly arrived in C pod, recovered from his injuries but Fernando's motive for attacking him remained unclear.

Stories came out of nearby A Pod that Wiffen had been seeing a young woman on the outside and Fernando had disapproved of the relationship.

'I don't think at the end of the day that was even true,' Brown said. 'It was all sort of fuelled by rumours and I think Vester was on the cusp anyway.

Fernando had a particular dislike for Pacific Islanders and was considered a heavy in C Pod where he incited other Aboriginal inmates. A pod in C Pod is pictured

'Whether it had been that young guy because of that reason, or something else, it might have happened in the next couple of days. I think Vester had it in his mind that he wanted to offend.

'I think that's where his head was at that time, so whether it had been [Wiffen] or someone else, someone had it coming.'

As for Brown, the stabbing had no real effect upon her until well after the event.

'It is the aftermath,' she said. 'You realise the victim that could potentially have died is someone's son and it's that message that we have to deliver to the family.

'I personally feel like I've become a little bit desensitised over the time working in custody. Seeing blood and and things like that doesn't really have a huge effect on me personally.'

Brown, who has never suffered post-traumatic syndrome, was more affected by the impact of the stabbing on the victim's fellow prisoners.

'I had a young Indigenous boy come to me a couple of days later and he just said, "I cannot sleep, I'm having nightmares about what happened", because they watched it all unfold,' she said.

Fernando stabbed Wiffen under the stairway below the letter 'C' in this picture of C Pod

'They were just going about their business and this happened in front of them. So yeah, I think it does have its effect and I think it changed my career path, that particular incident.'

Brown, who has been recognised for her dedicated service as part of National Corrections Day, swapped her custodial uniform to work on the prison's services and programs team.

'I really had to sit back and sort of think to myself, "Is there something more I could be doing to assist the people in our care"?' she said.

Brown does not know if she can help everyone she encounters but wants to assist inmates understand the consequences of their actions and make better decisions.

She has also become even more aware of looking out for prisoners' warning signs and triggers.

'That's my advice to anyone new coming into the job because we get complacent,' Brown said.

'I really think it's important every now and then that you just stop and remember where you work and who you work with, because at any moment it can go to s***.'
She was a queen who lived just a few hundred yards from Buckingham Palace, yet was not a welcome guest.

Once, she'd worn tiaras and mixed freely with the crowned heads of Europe - but now, not even a Christmas card!

So what was it about Queen Maria of Yugoslavia  a cousin of both Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip  that earned her the royal cold-shoulder?

Was it her overbearing manner  Lilibet's uncle described her as 'That bitch'?

Queen Maria of Yugoslavia, consort of King Alexander of Yugoslavia in a 1922 portrait

Alexander of Yugoslavia, and Princess Maria, who was soon to become his bride

Queen Maria of Yugoslavia attends the unveiling of a sculpture on Armistice Day in Belgrade, created as a tribute to France by sculptor Ivan Rostrovitsch

Was it that she was a schemer and manipulator, intent on usurping the reign of her son, the young King Peter?

Was the reason that, in public, Maria cut such an unprepossessing figure she could easily be mistaken for a cleaning lady?

Or was it  in an age when such things really mattered among the royal families of the world  that she was a lesbian living openly with her lover?

History will probably decide that it was a combination of all these things. But topping the list, without question, was her sex life.

Maria was born the daughter of a king and the great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria. Her brother was a king, her sister a queen, and she married King Alexander I of Yugoslavia.

Her credentials could not be more impeccable.

But it was a schoolgirl crush at the famed Heathfield School  whose more recent pupils have included Princess Alexandra and Prince William's former nanny Tiggy Legge-Bourke  which marked out her preferred course in life.

Maria, daughter of King Ferdinand I of Romania, arrived at the school in the summer term of 1919.

She'd spent her teenage years nursing the wounded in her home country of Yugoslavia during World War 1. By the time she arrived at Heathfield - described by her parents as a 'finishing school' but actually a secondary school for the upper classes - she was, unusually, 19 years old - but as one of the best-connected royals in Europe the doors were opened wide to receive her.

The plump but pretty Maria  known as 'Mignon' - was placed in Form Va, where she was seated next to Rosemary Cresswell, illegitimate daughter of a rich Guards officer, Addison Baker-Cresswell.

Crucially Rosemary was four years younger than Maria.

The princess's mother had hoped that a dose of English public-school education would 'help her get thin and keep her in touch with royal potential'  in other words, future husband prospects. But she had eyes only for Rosemary.

Returning for the autumn term, Maria - now approaching her 20th birthday - was placed in the sixth form, while Rosemary, just 16, remained in the fifth. In the spring term of 1920 they continued their studies - but suddenly, and without explanation, both girls left the school at the same time.

If there was a scandal, it was hushed up. The historian Ricardo Sainz de Medrano describes their relationship as 'lesbian' - but whatever the nature of their relationship while at Heathfield, in Form Va they'd forged a lifelong liaison.

When they left, Maria was ordered to return to the Balkans to pursue her royal destiny. Soon she agreed to marry King Alexander of Yugoslavia  a piece of dynastic matchmaking which suited all parties except Maria.

None the less, she bore the king three sons  Peter, Tomislav and Andrew - before His Majesty was assassinated by a Macedonian gunman in 1934.

Two years later, freed from marital shackles, Maria quit the country for ever to live in London with Rosemary, who during their time apart had tried married life with an English soldier, Archie Probart Jones, but found it didn't suit her.

The couple made their home in a flat near Chelsea's Sloane Square, and though now forced to live modestly the queen never forgot her status, insisting that Rosemary should be known as her 'Lady-in-Waiting'.

It helped explain the couple's closeness.

A mile away, Maria was viewed with displeasure by the royals at Buckingham Palace, who found her both interfering and a nuisance. Her son may have become Yugoslavia's king at the age of 11 but Maria disliked him, favouring instead her other two sons. She deliberately cut Peter adrift and at the war's end the boy king was deposed in a communist takeover.

Queen Elizabeth, later the Queen Mother, meets Queen Maria of Yugoslavia, widow of King Alexander I of Yugoslavia

King George VI entertains members of the Royal families and the heads of the Allied Governments now in London at Buckingham Palace

Queen Maria, mother of King Peter of Yugoslavia, at her English country home with her two younger sons, Prince Andrej (left) and Prince Tomislav

King George VI, Peter's godfather, had deplored Maria's determination to meddle in her son's reign. His brother the Duke of Kent dubbed her 'The Fat One' adding for good measure, 'she really is a bitch.'

Befriended by the romantic novelist Barbara Cartland, Marie and Rosemary had moved during the war to a house near Cambridge, where Rosemary effectively became the two boys' mother while the Queen lolled in bed and chain-smoked cigarettes. The queen grew in size and untidiness.

King Peter and his mother were never to re-establish contact. She died in 1961 and was  despite those lack of invitations from Buckingham Palace  accorded a place in the royal burial ground at Frogmore, Windsor, before being re-interred in Serbia in 2013.

As for Rosemary, there was no such grand farewell . She died anonymously in 1983, taking the many secrets of her unique 37-year relationship with a queen to the grave.
Public confidence in the Metropolitan Police has collapsed since Sadiq Khan entered City Hall, new figures released by the London Assembly have shown.

When Mayor Khan was elected in April 2016, the Metropolitan Police could be relied upon by 76 per cent of the population, while 75 per cent considered Scotland Yard treated everyone fairly.

According to newly released figures, some 58 per cent of people say the police can be relied upon, while 63 suggest they deal with everyone fairly.

During Mayor Khan's term in office, the Metropolitan Police have faced ongoing criticism and have been placed into special measures by HM Inspector of Constabulary.

From the ongoing fall out relating to the terrible murder of Stephen Lawrence to Scotland Yard's Covid enforcement and treatment of Sarah Everard protests, Scotland Yard has had repeated negative headlines.

The Metropolitan Police is the biggest police force in the country.

Your browser does not support iframes.

Confidence in the Metropolitan Police has declined dramatically over the past eight years, new figures have shown

Scotland Yard has faced significant criticism over its failures in dealing with former PC Wayne Couzens, who was convicted of the murder of Sarah Everard, pictured

In February 2022, the then Commissioner of the Met Police - Britain's most powerful officer - Cressida Dick was forced to resign following a row with Mayor Khan.

Dame Cressida's resignation letter admitted that Mayor Khan 'no longer has sufficient confidence in my leadership to continue'.

The murder of Ms Everard by serving officer Wayne Couzens was followed shortly by revelations that officers in Charing Cross were exchanging racist, misogynist and homophobic messages on WhatsApp.

There was also the long-term scandal over the Special Demonstration Squad which was created in 1968 to infiltrate protest groups. It was eventually disbanded in 2008, but new allegations about the unit's activity, especially members of the squad embarking on sexual relationships with targets while under cover. The highly damaging allegations, despite their historic nature, are being investigated by the Undercover Policing Inquiry.

Further hearings are expected to take place in July.

A review into the culture inside the Metropolitan Police prompted by the murder of Sarah Everard chaired by Baroness Casey.

Wayne Couzens, pictured, was handed a whole life order following the brutal murder. However, it subsequently emerged several police forces had failed to stop Couzen's offending

Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman were murdered by Danyal Hussein in June 2020

Police officers Jamie Lewis, left, and Denz Jaffer, right, were tasked with protecting the crime scene. They later shared images of both victims on WhatsApp, describing them as 'a pair of dead birds'

In her forward to the 362 page report she contrasted the bravery of PC Keith Palmer who was murdered protecting parliament in 2017 with some significant failures into the police.

She spoke to Reverend Mina Smallman whose two daughters Biba Henry and Nicole Smallman were murdered in Fryant Park, north west London in June 2020. PC Jamie Lewis and PC Deniz Jaffer were later jailed for 33 months having taken photographs of the victims and shared them over WhatsApp.

Late last month, the Met Police announced plans to train officers and staff to identify and call out sexism and misogyny as part of its efforts to tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG).

The forces 10-point plan outlines a series of commitments aimed at building trust and confidence, continuing to pursue perpetrators and creating safer spaces for the public.

Among these are a promise to 'treat VAWG as a "whole Met response", not just for those in dedicated roles', and improving victim care through a new multi-agency victim hub.

A new training programme to transform the Mets culture will also be implemented with specific focus on sexism and misogyny, while all new and current officers and staff in the force will be trained to identify and call out such behaviours.

Londons police service has been rocked by several high-profile scandals involving women in recent years, including the murder of Sarah Everard by serving Met officer Wayne Couzens and the unmasking of former constable David Carrick as a serial abuser and rapist.

A review by Baroness Casey published in March 2023 also found the Met to be institutionally racist, misogynist and homophobic.

Former Met Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick was forced to resign after Mayor Khan lost confidence in her leadership

Speaking at a media briefing, Met Deputy Assistant Commissioner Helen Millichap said a comprehensive internal analysis in the new year would lead to 'a really clear training design' on sexist and misogynistic guidelines.

Asked how some of the concerns raised in Baroness Caseys review would be addressed, she said the plan highlighted the caseloads of officers in the Community Safety Unit (CSU)  those dealing primarily with domestic abuse  as an issue that would be resolved with greater investment.

Ms Millichap added that the plan also identifies threatened violence and abuse towards women and girls online as an area that should be 'really prioritised'.

A progress update on the plan will be published by the Met after six months, and Ms Millichap stressed this would serve as the key point in determining the plans impact.

She said: 'Whereas I think previously the danger has sometimes been that more work is seen as the domain of public protection teams and the investigators, this is taking a much broader, holistic whole system look at it.

Baroness Louise Casey, pictured, conducted a review into the Met Police's standards of behaviour and internal culture following the murder of Sara Everard

'The metrics and the ways that well report success are actually quite complex and some of it might be improved charge rate, some of it will be the existence of an external scrutiny panel, those sorts of things.

'But were being really careful to make sure that we can show where we started from and what difference weve made in each of the commitments.'

A spokesperson for the Mayor of London, said: 'The Mayor has been clear that the Met needs to earn back the trust and confidence of Londoners after a series of scandals. He is committed to supporting the Commissioner on a path of far-reaching reform as the service continues its work to root out those unfit to serve, improve performance, raise standards and reform its culture.

'The Baroness Casey Review, which Sadiq called for, identified a number of areas which clearly needed urgent and immediate attention and these recommendations have rightly been picked up and integrated into Sir Marks New Met for London plan and he is acting on these recommendations with urgency.

'Whilst public confidence in the Met has stabilised since the Commissioner was appointed in September 2022, the Mayor is clear that theres still work to be done and he will continue to work closely with the Met to ensure that Londoners have full trust and confidence in their police service as we work together to build a better, safer, London for everyone.'

Data from the ONS Crime Survey for England and Wales showed confidence in the Met Police was higher at 51 per cent, than Greater Manchester on 40 per cent; West Yorkshire on 44 per cent and West Midlands on 47 per cent.

His Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary, Matt Parr placed the Met Police in 'special measures' in 2022.

New Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, pictured, is trying to reform the Met Police's culture

In a damning report, he wrote: 'For a considerable time, I have had growing concerns about several aspects of the Mets performance. Our previous inspections explained some of these, such as our March 2022 inspection of the forces counter-corruption arrangements, which described a range of systemic failures.

'The Met operates under scrutiny other forces do not face. This week alone, it managed superbly one of the biggest policing operations in history when Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was laid to rest, just days after contending with the appalling assault on two officers in Leicester Square.

'Our latest report describes many successes and some examples of innovation. However, it also raises serious concerns about how the force responds to the public and the level of understanding the force has about its demand and its workforce.

'The Met must get better at how it responds to the public  currently, its call handling teams are unable to answer calls quickly enough. In addition, it isnt correctly documenting the decisions of victims to withdraw from an investigation or to accept an out-of-court disposal. Recording victims wishes is vital to support the criminal justice process and to understand what is stopping victims from being able to complete the investigation process. The Met must improve in this area.

'I also want to see the force support its officers and staff more robustly. Investigations are not always reviewed or overseen properly. Theres an unfair allocation of work, which puts undue pressure on some staff. The force needs to properly understand demand to ensure it is allocating its staff and resources effectively.

'We did find some positives in our inspection. The Met is good at preventing crime and anti-social behaviour, and has developed innovative techniques to improve how it collects evidence and identifies offenders, such as its new forensic technique for detecting the presence of blood on dark clothing and its new rapid testing kit for drink spiking.

'Given our findings, we are now monitoring the Met under our Engage process, which provides additional scrutiny and support, and I will continue to closely monitor the forces progress.'
Advertisement

With Ukraine's much anticipated counteroffensive stalling and Western military support waning, there are now real fears that Vladimir Putin could be victorious and destroy the nation.

Any move to halt or reduce aid packages to Ukraine - as we've already seen with US Republicans blocking 50billion of funding - would play into Putin's hands by kneecapping Ukrainian soldiers on the battlefield against advancing Russian troops.

A victory for Russia wouldn't just mean the 'destruction' of Ukraine and its people - it would be 'catastrophic' to the West and turn global world order on its head, warns Oleksandr Danylyuk, an associate fellow at the defence and security think tank RUSI.

Indeed, a win for Russia against Ukraine would 'undoubtedly' result in the fall of NATO, 'economic carnage' for the West as well as the rise of foes including China, Iran and North Korea, retired US General Ben Hodges tells MailOnline.

At the crux of this is the fact that Russia and the Global South would see a Ukrainian defeat as a military loss for the West - it would show the world that NATO, led by the US, is capable of sacrificing a European nation in order to avoid a nuclear conflict.

And once autocrats realise that the US and the West are beatable, a nuclear war would be 'inevitable' and the world would be consumed in bloodshed, Danylyuk says in a terrifying prediction.

Indeed, Danylyuk says the world will have been watching as Ukraine, which gave up the world's third-largest arsenal of nuclear weapons in 1993, was defeated by Russia's military amid daily threats of Moscow incinerating the country with nukes.

And that would send a strong message: The only way for non-nuclear states to protect themselves against an attack by countries with nukes - like China and Russia - would be to have weapons of mass destruction of their own.

Yet with the number of nations possessing nuclear arsenals increasing, it would be 'only a matter of time' before a state - or terrorist organisation - uses them, Danylyuk says.

Mortar platoon soldiers with an 82mm mortar perform a combat mission as Ukrainian soldiers hold their positions in the snow-covered Serebryan Forest in temperatures of -15C in Kreminna, Ukraine

Ukrainian soldiers on the frontline take part in a medical training in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on January 14

Russian T-72B3 tanks fire at Ukrainian fortified positions in Ukraine in undated footage

A Russian Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile launch from Russia in 2022

Indeed, a win for Russia against Ukraine would 'undoubtedly' result in the fall of NATO , 'economic carnage' for the West as well as the rise of foes including China , Iran and North Korea , retired US General Ben Hodges (pictured) tells MailOnline

'Breaking the taboo on the use of nuclear weapons would create a new reality, the tragic characteristics of which are hard to imagine,' Danylyuk says in the RUSI report.

Ultimately, a victory would see a 'catastrophic' change to world order that would have devastating consequences for civilians living across Europe and the US.

It would destroy the perception of the US as the world's military power and encourage countries such as China, Iran and North Korea to continue their military expansion, Danylyuk says.

'A Russian victory would also force the countries of the Global South to seek special relationships with these countries, displacing the US as an international security broker,' Danylyuk, who is an expert in multidimensional warfare, says.

Gen. Hodges, the former Commanding General of US Army Europe, agrees and says a Russian victory would see the rise of the Kremlin's allies.

He says Iran and North Korea will most likely manage to develop effective nuclear weapons in the next few years, which will pose a direct threat to the West and could lead to a nuclear war that would see tens of thousands killed.

'That's why it's so important now to have a nuclear deterrent,' Gen. Hodges says. 'If we allow Iran and North Korea to develop nuclear capabilities then we are going to be regretting that forever.'

He said a Russian victory would also mean that nuclear states - Pakistan, India, North Korea, Iran - would become unstable and could result in terrorists getting their hands on nuclear weapons and launching terror attacks on the streets of Europe.

'Lots of these countries would become more unsettled and fragile,' Gen. Hodges says.

And as the West descends into years of instability while Russia casts its iron grip over Ukraine, Gen. Hodges says Putin will set his sights on launching an attack on NATO soil.

He says a Trump presidency would open the door even further for Putin to launch his attack on Europe because of the Republican's lack of support for NATO.

Gen. Hodges says if Donald Trump is elected in November, it would weaken NATO and could leave Europe as 'sitting ducks' for Putin and his forces without any protection.

Gen. Hodges says if Putin believes that NATO is becoming 'disunified' due to a Trump presidency, the Russian warmonger would think 'we can attack now'.

Indeed, he believes that if Trump was president, the likelihood of Putin launching an invasion and sparking WW3 would massively increase.

And without the protection of US troops - especially the US nuclear umbrella - European countries 'will not be able to defend themselves in the event of a full-scale war' with a nuclear state such as Russia, Danylyuk says.

Gen. Hodges says it would be 'foolish' to assume that Putin could not invade a Baltic country - like Lithuania, Poland or Estonia - and wreak havoc on civilians across Europe.

In one scenario, Gen. Hodges says Moscow could first attack the narrow strip of land known as Suwalki Gap, sandwiched between Poland, Lithuania and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.

Even a small attack on this weak point - the only land border between mainland Europe and the Baltic States - could cause huge problems for NATO.

Gen. Hodges said if Putin was successful in blocking the Suwalki gap, Russian forces would use that strip of land and Belarus as a launchpad for the second phase of their offensive.

And that second phase would involve sending thousands of Russian soldiers, tanks and special forces, to attack one of the Baltic states on NATO's eastern flank - most likely either Lithuania, Poland or Estonia.

NATO is planning to mobilise 90,000 troops in its largest military manoeuvre since the Cold War in a bid to deter Vladimir Putin

Danish soldiers from the eFP battlegroup take part in maneuvers during NATO exercise Hedgehog on the Estonian-Latvian border in 2022

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks to students of the Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University in Kaliningrad, Russia, on Thursday

A Ukrainian anti-aircraft vehicle fires a target at the Bakhmut frontline, in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on January 13

Ukrainian soldiers fire with the Archer Artillery System on Russian position on January 3, 2024 in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine

William Freer, a research fellow at the think tank Geostrategy, says Russia could likely launch a 'mass hypersonic attack early in the conflict' to 'sow chaos and open vulnerabilities'.

Gen. Hodges says how NATO responded to an attack on an allied soil will determine the future of Western civilisation and could 'destroy' the alliance.

'If we hesitated, that failure to live up to our obligations under Article 5 to protect member states, it would break the alliance,' Gen. Hodges tells MailOnline from his home in Frankfurt, Germany.

Indeed, Gen. Hodges said if it just came down to military capabilities, NATO forces - with their better soldiers and equipment - would defeat Russia in an all-out war.

But, he said: 'The way we would lose is if we failed to respond, if we failed to stick together, if we moved too slowly to protect our NATO members.'

Gen. Hodges said it 'worries him a lot' that NATO forces 'cannot move very quickly across Europe' due to the terrain and how built up much of the area is.

'The way we would fail would be if we didn't react quick enough or hesitated,' Gen Hodges says.

'If the Russians were able to accomplish some penetration of a NATO state of the eastern flank - like Estonia or Lithuania - and then Moscow dared us to do something about it, that would be the real test.'

The retired US General says that if NATO did hesitate, Putin would not stop there. He would deploy his Russian Navy for a vital mission: taking control of the northern Arctic route and reaping in the economic benefits while leaving the West out cold.

Gen Hodges warns that a win for Russia against a NATO state would mean further 'economic carnage' for the West, the rise of foes including China and the end of the international rules-based order as we know it.

'If Russia was successful and won the war, from an economic standpoint, it would be carnage,' Gen. Hodges tells MailOnline.

'The international-rules based order from which the US and the UK have benefited for the last 80 years would be turned upside down,' Hodges says in an ominous prediction.

'Financial markets, control of energy resources, all of this would be in a completely precarious and different state,' Gen. Hodges says. 'A big part of a successful economy is confidence - and Russia breaking NATO would shift that.

'That would be a major problem for the economy and the various international organisations - like the UN - which make up the rules-based order,' Hodges says, referring to the international liberal order established by the victorious allies after the Second World War.

'It would all be turned on its head and there would be chaos and we'd have to try to find another way back to stability,' Hodges says.

He said Putin would focus his efforts on taking control of the northern Arctic route. With the polar ice cap melting due to climate change, new shipping routes are becoming all the more accessible.

'Russia will want to dominate that northern route, it would make it much quicker for them to sail over the top of the world and benefit Moscow economically,' Gen. Hodges said.

'With their long-range weapons, they would be able to dominate what goes in and out of the North Atlantic from the Arctic,' he added, saying this would be economically catastrophic for the West.

The distance from a northwestern European port to the Far East along the Northeast Sea Route is almost 40% shorter than the traditional route via the Suez Canal. Other sea routes are becoming more accessible for more of the year

Russia warns the West by releasing chilling new footage showing the launch of an 'unstoppable' Zircon [Tsirkon] nuclear-capable Mach 9 hypersonic missile from the Admiral Gorshkov frigate

China's President Xi Jinping believes Taiwan is a renegade province that must be brought under Beijing's control

Chinese troops from the People's Liberation Army are seen patrolling with the Chinese flag on an exercise

A Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile is launched during what North Korea says is a drill at an unknown location December 18, 2023

And as West descends into economic turmoil and Russia continues to cast its iron grip over eastern Europe and the Arctic, Gen. Hodges says China will be watching eagerly from the side-lines.

He said Beijing could launch an attack of its own on Taiwan if it saw that the US and its allies had been unsuccessful in defending Baltic states from a Russian invasion.

'If China saw that the United States and its allies were unsuccessful against a Russian invasion, that we lost - and the losses that we would have sustained would have been enormous - then I think Beijing will not feel restrained to do what they want,' Gen. Hodges says.

'If China saw that Russia could create carnage, China would take advantage of this and could launch their own attack on Taiwan for instance,' Gen. Hodges adds.

Analysts believe Putin intends to destroy Ukraine - which is relying heavily on support from its allies, particularly the US - before setting his sights beyond Ukraine's western borders, with the Baltic states in particular under threat.

With his invasion in Ukraine at a stalemate, Putin has also switched his economy onto a war footing, meaning weapons factories are producing arms around the clock.

What's more, Putin's allies in Iran and North Korea are also propping his forces up with arms, meaning Russia can build up its defences faster than previously thought.

A series of military officials from across NATO and Europe have warned that this means that Putin could be ready to wage a war against the West in the next two or three years.

Meanwhile Admiral Rob Bauer, the chairman of NATO's Military Committee, warned last week that the alliance must brace itself for an all-out war with Russia in the next two decades. This came as secret plans were leaked revealing that Germany is preparing for Putin's forces to attack NATO as early as 2025.

Gen. Hodges said for NATO to be able to respond effectively, the military alliance needs to move more troops to the eastern flank along with equipment and arsenal.

If the alliance does this now, in 2024, it could stop Putin from ever invading one of the countries on NATO's eastern flank as the despot will know he couldn't take the West by surprise, Gen. Hodges says.

Norway's defence minister Eirik Kristoffersen said last week that Europe has a matter of years - maybe as little as three - to prepare for a war against Russia.

Kristoffersen pointed out that Moscow has built up its military stockpiles far quicker than expected.

'Russia has increased production significantly,' Kristoffersen told NTB.

'They have also collaborated with countries such as Iran and North Korea, which means that we can get a faster build-up of the Russian defence than what we envisioned just last year,' he added.

'So we must use the time well now to strengthen our own defence.'

Norway also shares a border with Russia at Europe's most northern point and is thus vital to the continent's defence strategy against Putin's forces.

Relative peace in Europe was shattered in February 2022 with Putin's invasion of Ukraine and kicked European nations into action.

Germany, for example, dramatically ramped up its defence spending, while Finland swiftly joined NATO. Sweden is set to follow once its application is approved.

However, Kristoffersen warns that much of Europe's military supply is being sunk into Ukraine to support Kyiv's forces in their fight against the invading Russians.

He points out that the same can be said of Russia, which has sunk vast supplies of military hardware - as well as soldiers - into its war, with limited success.

With Russia having found ways to quickly replenish and expand its supply of weapons, Kristoffersen says it is vital for NATO to continue to support Ukraine - currently Europe's the first line of defence - 'for as long as it takes'.

'This is a calculated risk,' he says. 'If the danger was imminent of an attack by Norway right now, then we could not have given so many weapons. But that is not the case.'

Gen. Hodges echoes this sentiment, and says if we want to 'avoid this terrible scenario' of Putin invading a NATO county, 'we need to help Ukraine win'.

'We need to help Ukraine push Russia into the abyss and defeat them,' Gen. Hodges says, adding that if the West does not increase its spending and supplies to Ukraine, a country on NATO's eastern flank will be next on Putin's list.

Ahead of last week's NATO meeting in Brussels, NATO Military Committee Admiral Rob Bauer urged countries to ensure they are prepared conflict.

'We need public and private actors to change their mindset for an era in which everything was plannable, foreseeable, controllable and focused on efficiency to an era in which anything can happen at any time. An era in which we need to expect the unexpected,' he said as he opened the meeting.

'In order to be fully effective, also in the future, we need a warfighting transformation of NATO,' Bauer added.

Kristoffersen echoed this comments when asked what this means for Norway and other NATO countries.

'Concretely, this means that we must fill NATO's plans with content and provide the necessary capacities,' he told the Norwegian press agency. 'The challenge for NATO now is that there are some gaps here.'

Ukrainian soldiers load tank ammunition to their tank moments before going to the frontline in the direction of Bakhmut, where clashes between Russia and Ukraine continue to take place, in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on January 23

Ukrainian servicemen dressed in Russian uniforms attend anti-sabotage mock drills at the border with Belarus, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Chernihiv region

A Ukrainian serviceman attends an anti-sabotage mock drills at the border with Belarus, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Chernihiv region, Ukraine

A Leopard 2 tank is seen in action during a visit of German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius at the Bundeswehr tank battalion 203 at the Field Marshal Rommel Barracks in Augustdorf, Germany

Specifically, he warned that air defence and long-range weapons are lacking.

'More investment must be made in air defence,' he said. 'It also means that we have to have more in stock, both when it comes to ammunition and spare parts.'

He also agreed with his Swedish counterpart, Commander-in-Chief Mikael Byden, who recently called on all Swedes to prepare for war.

'What the Norwegian population should think about is their own preparedness, which was actually what Byden was also talking about. We recommend everyone to have three days (worth of supplies at home) to manage themselves.

'And we also recommend increasing it if you are very vulnerable,' he added.

That urgency for governments and civilians to prepare for war has since crossed over the Channel to Britain.

On Wednesday, General Sir Patrick Sanders, the head of the UK's army, said Britain should 'train and equip' a 'citizen army' to ready the country for a potential land war.

But Sanders, the outgoing Chief of the General Staff (CGS), said even that would be 'not enough' as he pointed to allies in eastern and northern Europe 'laying the foundations for national mobilisation'.

The military top brass said increasing Army numbers in preparation for a potential conflict would need to be a 'whole-of-nation undertaking', meaning that men and women across the UK should be ready for a call-up to the armed forces.

It comes after Defence Secretary Grant Shapps in a speech last week said the world is 'moving from a post-war to pre-war world' and the UK must ensure its 'entire defence ecosystem is ready' to defend its homeland.

But Downing Street ruled out any move towards a conscription model, saying that Army service would remain voluntary.

Sir Patrick said on Wednesday Britain could not rely on its navy and air power, arguing 'we must be able to credibly fight and win wars on land'.

He said: 'We need an Army designed to expand rapidly to enable the first echelon, resource the second echelon and train and equip the citizen army that must follow.

'Within the next three years, it must be credible to talk of a British Army of 120,000, folding in our reserve and strategic reserve. But this is not enough.

'Our friends in eastern and northern Europe, who feel the proximity of the Russian threat more acutely, are already acting prudently, laying the foundations for national mobilisation.

'As the chairman of the NATO military committee warned just last week, and as the Swedish government has done, preparing Sweden for entry to NATO, taking preparatory steps to enable placing our societies on a war footing when needed are now not merely desirable but essential.

'We will not be immune and as the pre-war generation we must similarly prepare - and that is a whole-of-nation undertaking.

'Ukraine brutally illustrates that regular armies start wars; citizen armies win them.'

He also made a pitch for more backing for the Army, saying those serving 'rightly want the equipment that enables them to deliver lethal capability'.

Last week, a former chief of the general staff of the British Army said the UK risks a repeat of the 1930s unless more is invested in its armed forces.

General Lord Dannatt hit out at the shrinking size of the army, which he said has fallen from 102,000 in 2006 to 74,000 today and is still 'falling fast'.

He drew parallels with the 1930s when the 'woeful' state of the UK's armed forces failed to deter Adolf Hitler, saying there is 'a serious danger of history repeating itself'.

It comes as NATO this week mobilised 90,000 troops in its largest military manoeuvre since the Cold War, with the war games aimed at deterring Putin from targeting a member country.

The alliance announced the exercise would begin this week, with the months of drills aimed at showing the alliance can defend all of its territory up to its border with Russia.

The exercises - dubbed 'Steadfast Defender' - will run until late May and involve units from all 31 NATO member countries plus candidate-member Sweden, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, US General Christopher Cavoli, said.

The exercises will involve 90,000 troops rehearsing how U.S. soldiers could reinforce European allies in countries bordering Russia and on the alliance's eastern flank if a conflict were to flare up with a 'near-peer' adversary.

The wargames are meant as a fresh show of strength from NATO and its commitment to defend all allied nations from attack.

'The Alliance will demonstrate its ability to reinforce the Euro-Atlantic area by a transatlantic movement of forces from North America,' Cavoli told reporters in Brussels after a two-day meeting of national chiefs of defence last week.

The UK is sending 20,000 troops with the Royal Navy's two new aircraft carriers, eight warships, as well as the RAF's F-35 lightning attack aircraft, which will practice flying in imitated conflict scenarios.

In response, Russia said the NATO exercises mark an 'irrevocable return' of the alliance to Cold War Schemes.

'These exercises are another element of the hybrid war unleashed by the West against Russia,' Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushk said on Sunday.

'An exercise of this scale... marks the final and irrevocable return of NATO to the Cold War schemes, when the military planning process, resources and infrastructure are being prepared for confrontation with Russia.'
It comes amid concern Brits could be conscripted if Russia goes to war with Nato

The British public must get used to the idea of putting soldiers back in 'harm's way' or face the 'nightmare scenario' of conscription to fight future large-scale wars, a top defence chief has warned.

Major General Charlie Herbert said urgent efforts were needed to enlist thousands of new troops to tackle a military recruitment crisis, which if left to fester would make Britain a 'laughing stock' with its allies.

The veteran British officer was speaking out just days after the head of the British Army warned Brits could be called up to fight for king and country in the event of war with Russia - because the military is 'too small'.

General Sir Patrick Sanders, Chief of the General Staff, warned ministers Britain was facing its '1937 moment', a reference to the two years before the Second World War, and stressed for the need to 'mobilise the nation' in the event of a wider clash.

The senior soldier's warning echoed a chilling claim by a top NATO official who last week said governments and civilians should brace themselves for terrifying prospect of all-out war with Russia in the next 20 years.

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, retired Maj Gen Herbert, the former Commander of British Forces in Helmand, said if such a cataclysmic conflict was to erupt Britain would be woefully unprepared - and the nation could turn to conscription.

'The British public and politicians don't have any appetite to put soldiers in harm's way,' warned Maj Gen Herbert. 'Afghanistan seemed to destroy any political interest of putting boots on the ground and in harm's way. That will have to change in the future. We may have to be prepared to put soldiers in harm's way again.'

Britain must be braced to be sucked into a future full-scale war, military chiefs have warned. Pictured is a soldier from the UK's new elite Ranger Regiment

Major General Charlie Herbert (pictured in Afghanistan) said urgent efforts were needed to enlist thousands of new troops to tackle a military recruitment crisis

Maj Gen Herbert's warning comes amid rising tensions between Vladimir Putin and Nato member countries

Young men called up for National Service. Mandatory National Service continued after the Second World War until 1960

Asked if the West was prepared for a full-scale war, the likes of which is being carried out in Ukraine, Maj Gen Herbert said: 'No, absolutely not. We are absolutely unprepared for a war of this scale.

'I don't want to over-egg this but worry about what will happen in the next four years. It does feel a bit like the 1930s and the interwar years.'

His comments come as figures showed the British Army is set to shrink to its smallest size in more than 200 years - while all three wings of the armed forces continue to battle with a recruitment crisis.

New analysis revealed the army will have less than 70,000 soldiers within two years - with American and European generals questioning whether the UK is still a top-level fighting force.

If the army keeps seeing a decline in troops at its current rate, the number of regular soldiers will drop to 67,741 by 2026, according to figures revealed last week. This is a smaller number than the United States' special operations forces alone.

Meanwhile, fresh figures revealed that almost 30,000 troops from across the armed forces were medically unfit for combat, due to injury or mental health woes.

The problem is greatest in the Army, where only 53,000 out of around 75,000 troops were front-line fit, reports the Telegraph.

Speaking of the plummeting numbers, Maj Gen Herbert said: 'We could field a division in 2003 in Iraq War but we struggled even then. We definitely couldn't do that now and sustain it for any length of time.

'We could just about put a brigade in the field. That would make us a laughingstock with the Americans. If we want to be taken seriously by the Americans, we need to be able to field a division.'

Gen Sir Patrick  who has been openly critical of staff shortages in the military  believes there should be a 'shift' in the mindset of the public who should be willing to defend the UK against foreign adversaries.

Military chiefs fear that Britain does not have enough troops should the unthinkable happen and the nation is dragged into a war with Russia (pictured is a machine gun platoon from the 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles)

General Sir Patrick Sanders is the outgoing Chief of the General Staff  the head of the British Army - and warned conscription could be needed if Britain went to war with Russia

Junior soldiers from the Army Foundation College in Harrogate conduct an exercise in Northumberland. Conscription, were it to happen, could see more Brits trained to fight

But while the Army head  who is standing down in six months after allegedly falling out with Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, the overall chief of the armed forces  is not thought to be in favour of conscription, Nato bosses have warned allied nations to be prepared to take any and all actions necessary to fight Vladimir Putin's forces.

However, speaking at the International Armoured Vehicles conference in Twickenham on Wednesday, Sir Patrick said: 'Ukraine brutally illustrates that regular armies start wars, citizen armies win them.

Major General Charlie Herbert pictured in 2010 at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan

'Within the next three years, it must be credible to talk of a British Army of 120,000, folding in our reserve and strategic reserve. But that's not enough.'

Earlier this month, Admiral Rob Bauer revealed Nato was bracing for the prospect of all-out war with Russia in the next 20 years, in one of the starkest warnings to date.

The Dutch military chief, who is chairman of Nato's military committee, urged both civilians and governments across the alliance to prepare for cataclysmic conflicts and the chilling prospect of being conscripted.

'We have to realise it's not a given that we are in peace. And that's why we [NATO forces] have the plans, that's why we are preparing for a conflict with Russia,' Bauer told reporters after a meeting of Nato defence chiefs in Brussels.

Reacting to the alarming comments, Maj Gen Herbert said the frightening prospect was something that could happen.

Urging the UK to boost military spending and re-arm, the veteran officer added: 'I hope we never have to get to that stage. The best way to avoid that nightmare scenario is to invest now in deterrence.

Admiral Rob Bauer, the chair of the Nato Military Committee, urged both civilians and governments to prepare for conflict and potential conscription

Britain must be braced to be sucked into a future full-scale war, military chiefs have warned. Pictured is a soldier from the UK's new elite Ranger Regiment

A top defence chief has revealed that Nato forces are bracing for an all-out war with Russia in the next two decades

'Buy now, spend now, invest now, enlarge now. If we strip too far and are hollowed too much, then absolutely that nightmare scenario becomes more possible.'

During the UK's 20-year campaign in Afghanistan, Britain lost 453 military personnel.

The bloodiest year on record was on 2009, where fatalities peaked at 108.

Britain's war in Iraq saw 173 troops killed. While the UK's 74-day conflict with Argentina to free the Falklands in 1982 saw 255 killed.

By contrast, the conflict in Northern Ireland - which is the longest continuous deployment of Armed Forces personnel in British military history - saw 1,441 troops lose their lives between August 1969 and July 2007.

However, Maj Gen Herbert warned these loses could pale into insignificance if Britain became embroiled in a bloody war with Russia.

He added: 'The army is mainly sitting in the UK doing relatively benign things right now. We may have to be prepared to put soldiers in harm's way again.

'When we started taking casualties in Afghanistan in 2006 I remember there was this public outcry that we were losing two or three soldiers a week.

'The army board was straining and questioning whether this was sustainable. It took an old and bald from the 1970s to speak out and say it seemed perfectly normal to be losing so many during Northern Ireland.

'Everybody ought to be prepared for that.'
The grandfather fought off bears, blizzards and frostbite to build a successful hunting business

At 88-years-old, cowboy Gaspari 'Gap' Pucci's saddle is not the only thing starting to show a little wear and tear.

But despite riding more than 40,000 miles across six decades, the Wyoming senior is showing no signs of hanging up his hat anytime soon.

Pucci has survived bear fights, blizzards and frostbite to become one of the most respected big game hunters in the area, Cowboy State Daily reports.

Today, when not in his 1930s 'Little House on the Prairie' style Jackson cabin, he's still outdoors bucking hay or chopping holes in ice for his stock - all while shunning even basic modern technological advances.

The elderly rancher attributes his steely work ethic to being raised by his Italian immigrant parents during the Great Depression.

But it's clear that Pucci is a different breed of mountain men entirely, the likes of which we may never see again.

Gaspari 'Gap' Pucci is an 88-year-old Wyoming cowboy who still gets up every day to work on his ranch

He has been based near Jackson, Wyoming, since 1965 and still lives in a 1930s 'Little House on the Prairie' style cabin

Upbringing

Pucci's family originated in Sciacca, Sicily, and moved to the US in the early 1900s.

Like his father before him, he started out with a job breaking rocks at a quarry, enjoying bodybuilding and competitive weightlifting as a hobby.

He went on to take a farrier course at Penn State University, working at harness racing tracks and area veterinarians - experience which would prove to be invaluable later in life.

'Italians don't leave their families,' Pucci explained to Cowboy State Daily.

But this was to change after he was stationed at Point Barrow, Alaska, during the Cold War.

Pucci spent 1958-59 hunkered on the frigid mountain outpost.

'My hands were frostbitten all the time. I went snow blind. It was tough,' Pucci remembered. 'We often slept with the wolves howling outside.'

But the raw beauty of his surroundings cast a spell on the rancher which made returning to his life back east impossible.

Like his father before him, Pucci started out with a job breaking rocks at a quarry, enjoying bodybuilding and competitive weightlifting as a hobby.

His love for the outdoors began in 1958 during an army posting at Point Barrow, Alaska, during the Cold War

Into the wild

Pucci eventually moved to Utah where he obtained a job as a shepherd high in the Uinta Mountains.

He met his wife Peggy while working at a ranch in Bondurant and they were married in 1965.

The couple holed up in a drafty log cabin in Granite Creek, with no running water or electricity.

But for them it was newly wedded bliss and they thought nothing of hauling five gallon water cans from the creek or driving 25 miles to Jackson if they needed groceries.

'It was a matter of rugged endurance just to make a living. You couldn't have any quit in you,' Pucci said. 'Of course, I loved my work. To me, it was an adventure, not an ordeal.'

The couple managed the hot springs for the Forest Service, charging customers $1 a dip.

Pucci wrote about his experiences in a 2011 memoir entitled, 'We married Adventure'.

But when they eventually decided to move on things ended on a somewhat sour note.

The octogenarian first moved out to Utah and obtained work as a shepherd in the Uinta Mountains

Pucci met his wife Peggy while working at a ranch in Bondurant, the two married in 1965

The couple moved into a threadbare cabin and operated the hot springs for the Forest Service, charging customers $1 a dip

In 1975, Pucci acquired a hunting business and a basecamp in Granite Creek along with several others in the Gros Ventre Wilderness

'I owned that cabin for 25 years, with a special use permit from the Forest Service. I was the first to keep the hot springs open in the winter,' Pucci explained.

But when it came time to sell up, the Forest Service wouldn't give them a dime.

'Even 500 bucks. Give me something for the damn thing,' Pucci said. 'They said no, so I took that place down log by log, board by board. I wasn't going to let them have it for nothing.'

A dream realized

Pucci had always dreamt of operating his own outfitting business and in 1975 after a few years building up his experience, he finally achieved his goal.

He acquired Red Buescher's hunting business and a basecamp in Granite Creek along with several others in the Gros Ventre Wilderness.

The home the Puccis moved into is where they remain in today - although during his working life the octogenarian would often spend up to eight months of the year away it.

Pucci was away from home during the birth of his first daughter Catherine and had to be notified by a note dropped from a bush plane.

'Gap, you are the proud papa of a baby girl, 7#, born on Friday, 10-13-78. Mother and daughter are doing fine,' the note read.

Another girl, Theresa, followed to complete the Pucci family, with all living the rough and tumble life on a ranch.

Pucci was away from home during the birth of his first daughter Catherine and had to be notified by a note dropped from a bush plane

The couple raised their two daughters Catherine and Theresa in the remote cabin

Pucci would often be away from home for long stretches, sometimes eight months at a time

'They would play Outfitter Barbie, attaching dolls to toy horses with rubber bands and head them off into the forest for an elk hunt,' Pucci said.

'They grew up with the unspoiled Wyoming wilderness for a backyard. They would pull themselves up on the backs of our more patient Morgan horses when they were three-years-old and ride around the property.'

With no human companions, the girls found friendship in their German shepherd Nino and other animals - including a wild coyote and a bighorn ram named Amigo.

By the time they were seven, the girls were used to attending their father's hunting camps for days at a time, carrying out chores alongside his other employees.

Wild encounters

The family's life in nature was not always harmonious, however, and Pucci experienced a number of narrow brushes with death.

One particularly frightening anecdote involved an altercation with a bear nicknamed Scarface.

For years, Pucci had pursued the behemoth, watching with consternation as he grew bigger each year.

Eventually in the spring of 1983, Pucci set out alone to fell Scarface once and for all.

Life alongside nature was not always harmonious however and Pucci has several terrifying stories involving encounters with wild animals such as wolves and bears

On one occasion, Pucci came face to face with a bear nicknamed 'Scarface', only narrowly escaping with his life

It was nearing dusk when he encountered the bear, letting off a shot from his pre-1964 .308-caliber Winchester, which landed with a thud in its side.

But rather than go down easily, the bear disappeared over the ridge, leaving Pucci no option to try and finish the job .

He tracked the bear for two hours in the pitch black until 'all hell broke loose'.

'There was a loud growl and teeth-chomping splitting the night air,' he recalled. 'It happened so quick I could hardly comprehend what was going on.

'I felt something reach out and hit me hard in the calf of my left leg, just above my high snowpack boots.

'The blow knocked me flying into the air. I still remember my hat and flashlight flying off into the night. I rolled over at least twice, trying to regain my footing.

'Getting to my knees, I instinctively pointed the barrel in the direction of the now-moving bear at about 10 feet away. I cocked the hammer and fired. A loud explosion rocked my arm. Two feet of fire came out of the barrel, lighting up the dark night.'

Survival

Despite more than one brush with death, Pucci's resilience has seen him through all these years.

He explains how on nights when he couldn't make it back to his ranch he carried an arsenal of equipment that could make even the chilliest mountain top feel like home.

Pucci credits his survival to always being well prepared. He would never leave without rawhide and something to light a fire

'I've got some rawhide in there in case you need to fix a bridle or something, you'll need that. You always want to carry fire. I packed a little Sterno can for heat. And I never travel without a lighter. Fire will keep you alive,' Pucci said.

But don't expect to find a Stanley Cup in Pucci's possession any time soon.

'I never carried a water bottle in my entire life. It's crazy how everyone hydrates today. You don't need to drink every 15 to 20 minutes and neither do your horses,' Pucci said. 'I would carry a little water cup and I knew where all the springs were.'

Retirement

Pucci formally retired in 2008, though you wouldn't know it from his day to day schedule, which remains packed with daily chores.

There is some evidence he is winding down, however, with his band of horses is down to just one stallion, a mare and a gelding.

His goats and chickens are also gone and he has decided not to replace the German Shepherd who died last Spring.

Pucci formally retired in 2008 but has remained active on the ranch, getting up daily to attend to his chores

Despite physical ailments, the rancher has no regrets and would chose the same life over

Gap Pucci poses with some of his hunting trophies from over the years

In later life Pucci has developed a reverence for animals which means he can no longer face raising a gun to them.

The approach means he has had to escort an overly friendly badger named Tuffy out of the house on more than one occasion.

Pucci's body is also bearing the physical signs of his career. A lifetime shunning gloves means that his cowboy's mitts are now gnarled and agonizing.

'They hurt all the time,' Pucci says. 'But everything hurts now.'

A brush with Covid-19 and persistent pain in his hips from a life in the saddle means he is no longer as able as he once was. But he has no regrets.

'I've lived a good life. Wish I could do it all over again,' Pucci said. 'I will, in Heaven, with all the good horses I ever rode.'
U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand says her office has spent years trying to talk supermarket chains into locating on Buffalos East Side and other low-income communities in New York State, to no avail.

Now she wants to offer them financial incentives to do it.

Some grocery store chains only want to be in wealthy communities because they want people to spend a lot of money in their stores, Gillibrand told a gathering at Buffalos Delavan Grider Community Center on Friday. They dont think its economical to locate in lower-income areas, so we need to give them money to get them to come here.

Gillibrand wants money for that purpose to come from legislation called the Healthy Food Financing Initiative, which provided funding in the 2014 and 2018 Farm Bills to bring more healthy food access to underserved communities across the country.

The legislation expired last year, and Gillibrand has proposed a reauthorization act that would revive it and increase its funding from $25 million to $50 million a year, she said.

The initiative provides loan and grant financing to attract grocery stores and other fresh food retailers to underserved areas, as well as to renovate and expand existing stores so they can provide the healthy foods communities want and need, Gillibrand said.

Besides offering grants to attract large supermarkets to locate in marginalized communities, the Healthy Food Financing Initiative could also provide money to add refrigerated cases for corner stores to sell more fresh produce, Gillibrand said.

Buffalo has one of the highest rates of food insecurity in the nation, Gillibrand said. Its East Side became a national example of a food desert  what some community leaders prefer to call food apartheid  after the May 14, 2022, mass shooting of 10 Black residents by a white supremacist at the Jefferson Avenue Tops, which remains the only large supermarket serving the predominantly Black and lower income area.

The poignancy of the murders just exacerbated a problem that was already affecting this community, Gillibrand said. So we are just continuing to fight. This bill first got done in 2014, so its been in place but the money in the program keeps running out, and thats why Im advocating to double it and make it mandatory so we dont have to get it into the bill every year.

Gillibrand was joined at the Delavan Grider center by several local legislators and advocates, including the Rev. Mark Blue, Buffalo NAACP president; Buffalo Common Council Member Zeneta Everhart; Erie County Legislator Howard Johnson; and Tara A. Ellis, president and CEO of FeedMore WNY.

Ellis said FeedMore has 28 hunger relief partner agencies on the East Side, some within a mile of the Tops store, and all of them are seeing higher demand.

In 2022, FeedMore helped close to 200,000 people in the five WNY counties it served, more than at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Ellis said.

We continue to see this need for food assistance rise in the City of Buffalo, she said. The number of people served by FeedMore increased by 36% and it was worse for the children  58% more of our children in this community needed our help this year.

Johnson, who grew up on the East Side, said too many residents lack transportation to drive to outlying areas and have to rely on corner stores, dollar stores and fast-food restaurants for food. That results in people living on processed food items that result in health conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure.

The closest grocery store to here is probably the Tops on Jefferson, and thats a problem, Johnson said at the Delavan Grider center, which is close to 3 miles away from that market. Access to fresh food is a basic human right.

Gillibrand said she hopes to persuade Congress to pass the Healthy Food Financing Initiative Reauthorization Act this session and fund it so that money would be available to incentivize food stores to locate within the city of Buffalo next year.

She said she is also pushing to increase access to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for more people, including college students, who will be able to use those funds to buy healthy food at those stores.

Gillibrand said she will also be reaching out to grocery store chains that have shown a willingness to locate in underserved areas, and specifically mentioned Aldi as one such prospect.

Theyve been very receptive to moving into low-income communities, and they offer lower prices so the food theyre selling is more affordable, she said. So maybe we can cultivate them.

The problem is, these companies are large corporations that have boards that make their decisions based on whats best for their bottom line, she added. Its not their job to meet the needs of the lowest income people, its my job. Its our governments job. So to be able to say, Heres an incentive, here is some money, hopefully we will be able to get them to want to do it.
Five children from Florida, who were kidnapped by a family member and taken to Gaza before October 7, have finally been reunited with their mom in the US.

Hana Elnagar experienced a heartwarming reunion with her five kids at Tampa International Airport on Tuesday after they endured five terrifying months in the warzone.

Eleven-year-old Meara, nine-year-old Abdelrahman, eight-year-old Mara, six-year-old Yasir and four-year-old Ameir, hadn't spoken to their mom since October 10, as Israel launched its bombing campaign.

The successful reunion was made possible by Project Dynamo, a veteran's non-profit group from Tampa that has rescued more than 6,075 Americans held hostage in hostile countries abroad.

The mother turned to Project Dynamo after facing challenges seeking help from the US government, including the FBI and State Department.

Hana Elnagar experienced a heartwarming reunion with her five kids at Tampa International Airport after they endured five terrifying months surviving bombing campaigns in Gaza

Hana Elnagar with her kids on the flight back from Egypt

Smoke billows over buildings is Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip during Israeli bombardment on January 25

'The mother tried and tried and called everyone from the FBI to the State Department no one seemed to want to help,' said the founder and CEO of Project Dynamo and veteran, Bryan Stern, who led the rescue mission.

Stern spent twenty-eight hours traveling back to the US with the visibly distressed children, taking a flight from Cairo to Tampa.

He said the children appeared malnourished, dirty and most likely in need of mental health care.

The children, all aged under 11, had been visiting their grandparents in Gaza in October before the war broke out. They left in August.

Following the outbreak of the war in Gaza, a family member, without legal custody, moved the children to Egypt, cutting off communication and showing no intent to return them to their mother.

It wasn't until January that Project Dynamo learned about the children being moved to Egypt, triggering Operation BOOMERANG.

'About a week ago a bunch of stars aligned,' said Stern, who at first said he didn't see a path forward with this mission.

Stern outlined the complex steps involved in the risky mission in an exclusive interview with Dailymail.com, detailing the tactics necessary to bring the children home safely.

First Stern and his team had to confirm 'proof of life,' find evidence that the children were unharmed and alive.

Then they established a 'place of access,' in order to get the kidnapper to a place where the team can see and preferably hear him.

Next, Stern 'imposed control,' or created a trap where they put the 'bad guy' in a room where they think they are safe but in fact, are not.

Finally, the team separated the kids in a way safety is ensured - and then created conditions to successfully leave the country.

'We created a scenario where he willingly brought the kids to a place where we knew, and and we took the kids by surprise,' Stern said. 'He did not understand we led him to believe certain things that were true.'

Conducting a kidnapping investigation alone is one thing but in a war zone adds to the problem, Stern said.

CEO of Project Dynamo and veteran Bryan Stern speaks to reporters after the kids were reunited with mom

Mom kisses one of her daughters

'We heard about the case in late August,' he said. 'We started tracking it but we didn't know where they were. Then October 7 happened and it went from a bad situation to a crisis.'

Stern said to separate the family member from the children, they had to trick him.

Once they had the children in safe hands, they planned on bringing them to the American embassy but the consulate refused to allow them.

Team Dynamo was unsure whether the children would have their passports with them, which would mean there would be no safe haven to keep them before leaving the country.

'I would call it a policy failure,' Stern said. 'Five kidnapped kids should be able to see a safe haven.'

Thankfully, the children had their passports on hand.

Despite facing challenges, including the American embassy's refusal to assist, the rescue mission was a success - and the children are now in the process or returning to their normal lives in Tampa.

'If I have to create rouse, manipulation or deception to get the kids safely home - so be it,' said Stern.

'The man walked into a room with children, passports and leverage - and he walked away with nothing,' he added.

Despite surviving bombing campaigns in Gaza, the children are safe and back home.

Project Dynamo, entirely donor funded, has successfully brought home more hostages than every SEAL team combined, and it has only been around for two years.

The group also works on a 'shoe-string budget.'

Stern said he doesn't believe the group is more capable than the government, they just choose to take action.

'We are choosing,' he said. 'It's a policy and personnel thing - both could change.'

Stern highlighted the group's proactive approach, emphasizing the importance of caring for American hostages worldwide - many who seem to have been forgotten by the American people.

'We are in the middle of the largest hostage crisis in forty years,' Stern stressed. 'There are more American people held hostage since 1979.'

The Project Dynamo with the kids at the airport after they were rescued from Gaza

Stern is with the kids after being saving them from Gaza

The kids after they were finally reunited with their mom

But back then, Stern said the country cared deeply about it's citizens being held at the hands of kidnappers.

'The country was very divided but every single day there was something about hostages,' he recalled.

'ABC used to have a kicker everyday with their names, there were yellow ribbons everywhere,' he added. 'Now, no one seems to notice.'

'Four hostages are from right here in New York,' he said.

Stern expressed concern over the lack of attention to the current hostage crisis, noting the need for collective awareness and advocacy for the safety of citizens abroad.

'I's a mistake,' Stern emphasized. 'When a country doesn't care about its people it gives a real clue about the country.

'We should take care of our people, we should be screaming "we want our people back, where are the hostages."

'The idea that everyone is so angry about one thing and not the other, is an indicator that people are disconnected and uninformed. At the end of the day we as a country we have forgotten all about them.'

Elnagar, relieved and grateful, confirmed to news outlets that her five children are now safe after enduring the traumatic experience in Gaza.

She said the last time she heard from her kids was on October 10, just three days after the Israel-Hamas war broke out following the deadly attack on Israel.

Stern and the Project Dynamo team looking after the kids

Stern poses with the kids and their mom after their rescue

'Now my kids are back home, safe,' said Elnagar to Fox13. 'After they saw a lot of people die in front of them.'

The mother and her five rescued children arrived at Tampa International Airport Tuesday morning.

'I don't know nothing about my kids after they bombing the area they supposed to be stay[ing] in,' Elnagar said to ABC in late October.

She said that what started as a trip to visit their grandparents in Gaza has turned into a 'nightmare of worry and confusing reports on their whereabouts.'

The US believes there are at least six American hostages remaining captive in the hands of Hamas terrorists.

Stern emphasized that more people need to care and advocate for American hostages.

'It's not an Israeli thing or Palestinian thing - those are Americans,' he said.

'Those are American citizens locked in a closet and nobody seems to care.'

'The message that sends to the world is we don't care about our people and when a country doesn't care about its people, it's vulnerable,' he added. 'It's a self fulfilling prophecy.'

'If you want the bombing to stop, the bombing can stop tomorrow, if Hamas releases the hostages,' he said.
An American man challenged to try food at different British restaurant chains filmed his first experience of a visit to Nando's.

Uploading a video to his account on TikTok, @kalanighosthunter tucked into a list of dishes at the popular peri peri chicken joint .

After making his own DIY chicken sandwich at the recommendation of a viewer, Kalani said it 'buries' a top fast food chain that is popular around the world.

Having ordered a butterfly chicken with garlic bread, chips and halloumi, the vlogger constructs his own sandwich, placing the chicken and halloumi between the pieces of garlic bread.

After making his own DIY chicken sandwich at the recommendation of a viewer, Kalani said it 'buries' a top fast food chain that is popular around the world

Adding extra sauce to the sandwich after his bite, Kalani nods in satisfaction before revealing that he thinks it 'buries KFC', adding that it was 'not even in the same ballpark'.

Summarising his review, Kalani gave his experience at Nando's an 'eight out of ten'.

He was highly complimentary of the chicken, which he described as 'juicy and nicely seasoned, adding that the brand's signature peri peri sauce was a 'nice touch'.

Moving on to the chips, he said they were 'a good level of crispy' but scored them slightly less favourably than the chicken, giving the fries 'six and a half' out of ten.

While other users were keen to point Kalani in the direction of other traditional British foods, one noted the lack of a trademark Nando's sauce on his meal, commenting: 'That needs a layer of perinaise on both garlic breads'.

A second urged him to try the Cockney classic of pie and mash, posting: 'A traditional pie and mash shop is a must.

'You have to get liquor not gravy and plenty of vinegar and pepper.'

Another wrote: 'While you are here you need to try our full English breakfast'.

A fourth added: 'Try Percy Pig sweets and a Colin the Caterpillar cake from Marks & Spencer.'
Anxious FBI chiefs are trawling through 'numerous' top-level investigations spanning 22 years for fear they were compromised by convicted bureau spook Charles McGonigal, DailyMail.com can reveal.

The forensic clean-up operation ranges over the entire time the philandering former head of counterintelligence in New York worked for the agency.

McGonigal, 55, has already been sentenced to four years and two months in prison for taking money and conspiring with a sanctioned Russian oligarch who is a crony of despot President Vladimir Putin.

But the full possible repercussions of his treachery are outlined in a sentencing memorandum by the US government for another case in Washington DC, where he will be sentenced on February 16.

Prosecutors are demanding he gets another 30 months jail time and a $95,000 fine for hiding $225,000 in cash he received from an Albanian intelligence official.

And they reveal in the January 5 filing  obtained by DailyMail.com  that the FBI is so worried about McGonigal's deceit that 'sensitive' cases dating back to when he became a special agent are being minutely scrutinized.

Charles McGonigal, 55, was sentenced last month to four years in prison for doing work for sanctioned Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska

DailyMail.com obtained a sentencing memorandum that claims the FBI is so worried about McGonigal's deceit that his old cases are being scrutinized

The memorandum says: 'Given the defendant's senior and sensitive role in the organization, the FBI has been forced to undertake substantial reviews of numerous other investigations to insure that none were compromised during the defendant's tenure as an FBI special agent and supervisory special agent.

'The defendant worked on some of the most sensitive and significant matters handled by the FBI.'

The filing further warns: 'His lack of credibility, as revealed by his conduct underlying his offense of conviction, could jeopardize them all.

'The resulting internal review has been a large undertaking, requiring an unnecessary expenditure of substantial governmental resources.'

Married McGonigal joined the FBI in 1996 and started his career working on the investigation into the TWA flight 800 disaster, in which 230 died when a Boeing 747 exploded and crashed into the Atlantic near East Moriches, New York.

He was assigned to the New York field office during the September 11, 2001 attacks on America and joined a special response squad focusing on international terrorist threats post 9/11.

The rising star progressed to become supervisory special agent in the counter-espionage section at FBI headquarters in Washington in 2002.

Four years later he became field supervisor of a counter-espionage squad at the Washington field office, where he was assigned to help smash a network of Russian sleeper agents.

Prosecutors are demanding McGonigal gets another 30 months in jail and a $95,000 fine for hiding $225,000 in cash he received from an Albanian intelligence official. He's pictured with his wife Pamela outside court last year

McGonigal led the FBI's WikiLeaks task force resulting in the 2013 conviction of former soldier Chelsea Manning

McGonigal later led the FBI's WikiLeaks Task Force investigating the release of more than 200,000 classified documents.

This led to the 2013 conviction of soldier Chelsea Manning on espionage and related charges. She was sentenced to 35 years, but had the term commuted to seven years by then President Barack Obama.

By 2016 McGonigal was running the bureau's cyber counter-intelligence coordination section, which analyzed Russian and Chinese hacking.

But in October that year he achieved the pinnacle of his career with his appointment by then FBI director James Comey as chief of the New York office's counter-intelligence division.

This put him at the epicenter of some of the bureau's most sensitive work, particularly in relation to Russian intelligence activities and US attempts to recruit Moscow's agents. He retired in September 2018.

His 50-month sentence handed down at Manhattan federal court in December 2023 came after he admitted taking money for digging dirt for notorious oligarch Oleg Deripaska, sanctioned over his country's occupation of Crimea.

The treachery was even more damning because he was tasked with investigating the notorious industrialist.

For the DC case, he has admitted concealing a $225,000 bribe from an unnamed former Albanian spy while he was working for the FBI.

McGonigal has admitted concealing a $225,000 bribe from an unnamed former Albanian spy while he was working for the FBI. Emails from March 2018 were obtained by DailyMail.com

DailyMail.com can reveal an email McGonigal sent on June 25, 2018, sealing the deal for a $225,000 bribe. The recipient's name is redacted, while the subject line is 'Bosnia'. There is a mysterious message in the chain from a redacted sender saying: 'Some Albanian wants me to meet this guy. Can you check and let me know what I should do..'

The bribe was to arrange meetings for a Bosnian pharmaceutical tycoon with a senior US representative to the United Nations, preferably the then US ambassador to the organization and now GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley

The money was to fix meetings for a Bosnian pharmaceutical tycoon with a senior US representative to the United Nations, preferably then-US ambassador to the organization, now GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley.

DailyMail.com can reveal an email McGonigal sent on June 25, 2018, sealing the deal for the money. The recipient's name is redacted, while the subject line is 'Bosnia'. It is from what appears to be his private yahoo.com account.

McGonigal worked to secure a meeting with then US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley

The message, contained as an exhibit in the government's sentencing memo, reads: 'In support of your efforts to work with (redacted) I would propose the following structure:

'In furtherance of identifying, securing and scheduling a meeting with a representative from the U.S. United Nations, a referral fee of $250,000 will be due as soon as the meeting is confirmed and scheduled.

'Once the meeting occurs, whatever the outcome, whether a second meeting is secured or no future meetings are secured or scheduled, an additional $250,000 will be due in 2 increments of $125,000 over a 6 month period from the date of the meeting.

'Terms of this specific agreement with (redacted) are confidential and not to be disclosed to any third parties at any point during future meetings.'

Within the chain in which the email is sent, there is a mysterious message sent on February 14, 2018 from a redacted sender saying: 'Some Albanian wants me to meet this guy. Can you check and let me know what I should do..'

Although the email mentions payments of $250,000, the Department of Justice says the charge relates to $225,000.

In a damning verdict on the treachery with the Albanian, the government writes in the sentencing memo: 'Defendant Charles McGonigal supervised national security operations for the Federal Bureau of Investigation in New York without disclosing to the FBI that he had taken hundreds of thousands of dollars from a businessman with ties to the Albanian government.

'Not only did he take the money  in cash  without disclosing it as required by law, but he also advanced the business interests of his benefactor and lied to the FBI about their joint activities.

'The defendant's concealment prevented the detection of the actual and apparent conflicts of interest between his official duties and his private financial interests. This is, at its core, corruption that undermines transparency and trust in the integrity of the Executive Branch of government.'

And it added in a final blow: 'The defendant was sworn to investigate and prevent crimes against the United States, not perpetrate them.'

McGonigal was charged with money laundering and violating US sanctions by trying to get billionaire aluminum mogul Oleg Deripaska off the banned list. Deripaska is a crony of Russian President Vladimir Putin

The former spy chief made at least $200,000 a year in the FBI and $850,000 annually after he left and worked as head of global security for an international company.

But according to prosecutors, the Albanian former intelligence operative  who now lives in New Jersey as a naturalized US citizen  said McGonigal told him he needed money because of financial pressures due to his upcoming retirement and college-age children.

McGonigal must report to prison on February 26 for the Russian oligarch case. DailyMail.com previously revealed a six-page letter from his wife Pamela to New York Judge Jennifer Rearden, in a doomed plea for mercy.

She wrote that 'trying to explain to you how Charlie's actions and his subsequent convictions have impacted our family is very difficult.

'It brings tears to my eyes as I write this letter to you as the pain, anguish, mental and physical trauma this has caused is indescribable.

'This was not our life plan or how life was supposed to play out for us.

'After retiring from the FBI, Charlie was ambitious and was looking to provide a good life for us as a family, and I believe that led him astray and cause him to lose focus on the reality of his decision making and actions.'

She added at the end: 'I ask you for leniency when considering punishment for Charlie as he truly is one of a kind and someone who our family relies on as a figure of strength and inspiration.'

McGonigal filed a plea for leniency to the court on January 9, begging for no more prison time. His attorney Seth DuCharme wrote: 'To the heart of the matter, Your Honor, just punishment has already been imposed on Mr McGonigal.'

DuCharme asked for a sentence of between one to seven months, to run at the same time as the 50-month term.

However the other woman once in his life, ex-mistress Allison Guerriero, wants him to receive another five years on top, telling DailyMail.com exclusively: 'What the government is asking for is not nearly sufficient for the American people to receive justice.'

Guerriero, a former vice president of US operations for Israeli security firm Mifram, previously told DailyMail.com after the New York sentencing: 'I cannot wipe the smile off my face knowing that he is going to be incarcerated.'

The 50-year-old former mistress, who was with McGonigal for 18 months before ending their relationship in December 2018, may have sparked the investigation into the former FBI chief.

She discovered a bag containing $80,000 in rolled up bills at the apartment they were sharing in Brooklyn  and alerted authorities some months after the split.

At the time they were together, McGonigal's wife Pamela was living with their children at the family home in exclusive Chevy Chase, Maryland, just outside Washington DC. The spook went back to his wife after his affair ended.

In another exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, Guerriero revealed how McGonigal's lust for 'spectacular' sex was so insatiable he demanded it up to five times a day  every day.

She said he was so obsessed that he gave the sessions quirky names and was addicted to encounters where they might be caught.

Charles McGonigal's mistress Allison Guerriero, 49, revealed to DailyMail.com how McGonigal's lust for 'spectacular' sex was so insatiable he demanded it up to five times a day  every day

McGonigal even talked about sex the first time the couple met for what should have been a purely business lunch, complaining his wife was refusing to make love with him and he was 'frustrated'.

'Charlie was spectacular at sex he was very driven in that way and needed it three, four and even five times a day,' Guerriero said at her home in Delray Beach, Florida. 'We ended up living together for nearly 16 months and it would be every single day. So that was a lot of sex.

'We started naming it. So once the chilly weather set in, he would go out and get my coffee in the morning and come home and say, it's peppermint latte sex time or pumpkin latte sex time, or whatever the flavor.'

Guerriero, who met McGonigal through his FBI boss, continued: 'One time it was his daughter, Sarah's 18th birthday and he said, Sarah's 18th birthday sex. And I was just like, okay, that's a little weird.

'Everything became a sex name it's time for good morning sex. goodnight sex, shower sex, Christmas sex, Thanksgiving sex, I-signed-a-contract sex, I-made-a-sale sex - anything you, you name it. If there was flag day, it was flag day sex.

Guerrerio has also revealed an insight into how she claims her former lover draws people into his web saying: 'Charlie is the devil and the devil never comes to you with red horns and a cape.

'He comes to you with everything you've ever wanted. And all of us wanted what Charlie was giving us. Which was attention, money, laughter, inclusion, praised  and it was all phony.'

The former mistress has also previously blasted Pamela McGonigal for flaunting her designer bling on Instagram while her husband was facing charges.

Photos included posing in a leopard print bikini in billionaires' playground Palm Beach while sipping wine by a pool.

After other shots at ritzy celebrity spots in the Florida city, she posted a photo of a Chanel bag and two cocktails at the Hotel Chelsea in Manhattan.

'He brought her Chanel bag to court,' said Guerriero. 'She is just rubbing the blood money in everybody's faces. And then she wants us to feel sorry for her?'
An 83-year-old man who never knew his real name after being orphaned in the Holocaust has finally learned his identity and reunited with his family through genealogy mapping.

Shalom Koray was just two-years-old when he was left abandoned on the streets of Warsaw, Poland, after his family were killed by the Nazis in 1943.

Koray was taken in by Lena Kuchler-Silberman, who gave him the gentile name Piotr Korczak, and hid him from the horrors of the Holocaust.

He grew up unaware that he had living relatives - and didn't even know his real age.

'You can't start searching for something you know nothing about,' Koray said. 'I didn't even have the tip of a thread.'

But that all changed in August, when he submitted his DNA to genealogy site MyHeritage, and Koray learned that he had a bunch of family in the United States.

One of those relatives was Ann Hellman, 77, from Charleston, South Carolina.

Hellman discovered she was a second cousin. She shared the thrill with DailyMail.com calling it 'a surprise and a gift.'

While Koray was equally smitten and said with a big smile, 'such an experience.'

'I didn't know anything,' he explained. 'If not for the DNA test, there's nothing.'

Shalom Koray, 83, family was murdered during the Holocaust. His entire life he never knew his birth name or his real age. Five months ago, he earned that he has family he never knew about in the United States

Shalom Koray (pictured) was born in Warsaw, Poland in 1941. He was left abandoned on the street when his parents were killed by the Nazi's. A woman named Lena Kuchler-Silberman, a Jewish teacher and psychologist found him. She gave him the name Piotr Korczak, a gentile name, Koray said that was given to him when they were hiding from the Nazi's

Shalom Karoy, 83, sees his second cousin, Ann Hellman, 77, for the first time during a Facetime What's App call. Hellman was floored by the family resemblance in his face with her brother and other relatives

Lena Kuchler-Silberman, a Jewish teacher and psychologist, and hailed a Holocaust Hero, by Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center. When the war ended, she took Shalom Koray (pictured to the left of Kuchler-Silberman) and 100 other Jewish orphans to her orphanage in Zakopane, Poland

Saturday, November 27 marks International Holocaust Remembrance Day, a day chosen to commemorate the date when the Auschwitz concentration camp was liberated by the Red Army in 1945.

The day remembers the killing of six million Jews, two-thirds of Europe's Jewish population, and millions of others by the Nazi regime and its collaborators

Koray was only a toddler when Hitler and the Nazi regime invaded Poland.

One of his earliest memories included an uprising taking place, burning buildings, and he was left alone to wander the streets.

'Imagine a two-year-old left by himself on the sidewalk during the winter, wearing shorts and doesn't nowhere to go,' he said.

Lena Kuchler-Silberman, a Jewish teacher and psychologist found the abandoned child.

The courageous teacher smuggled Koray with four other toddlers out of the ghetto and placed them in an orphanage in Poland.

'I remember her coming and we sat there and I had no idea what we were doing,' he recalled. 'She stood at the door and started throwing candies into the hall.'

Kuchler-Silberman was later hailed a Holocaust Hero by Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center.

When the war ended, she took Koray and 100 other Jewish orphans to her orphanage in Zakopane, Poland.

In 1949, Koray immigrated to Israel and changed his name from Piotr Korczak to Shalom Koray. He eventually settled at a kibbutz in the Jordan Valley and found a job working on a semi-trailer truck which he did for the next 35 years.

Though he never knew about his familial roots, he eventually made his own story and married, and had a family of his own - three children and eight grandchildren.

Despite the hardships he endured, he did not seem bitter by the cards he was dealt.

'When someone is born blind, he's never seen anything and he doesn't know what he is missing,' he said.

'I was born into this reality and never knew anything else. I didn't even know the concept of parents. I didn't know there was such a thing.'

Last summer, Koray's life changed dramatically when he met Magdalena Smoczynska, a professor emeritus at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland.

MyHeritage showed the results of the DNA match that connects Koray to his second cousin Ann Meddin Hellman

The family resemblance was striking (pictured R-L) Shalom Koray, 83; Hellman's younger brother Stuart Meddin, who lives in Atlanta who has a striking resemblance to Koray, and Koray's son, Alon Koray

Hellman has been doing genealogy for the last two decades and was absolutely floored when she learned that she had a second cousin who is living in Israel

Smoczynska was working on a research project to find the 100 children saved by Kuchler-Silverman. She gave Shalom a DNA test by MyHeritage, as part of her research and that is when they found a match.

The match was 77-year-old Ann Hellman of Charleston, South Carolina, Koray's second cousin from her father's side.

Hellman said she has been doing ancestry research for the last twenty years.

Over the years, she found many cousins in Europe - many family from her father's side, she explained came over in the 1800s, but said Koray did not fit any of those cousins.

'He didn't fit anywhere,' she told DailyMail.com.

When Koray's DNA was put online and saw that they were a match she said she reached out to Magdelena to ask if any of her relatives were part of Koray's family tree.

She said: 'He has no names in his family tree.'

An exasperated Hellman said: 'I thought he was crazy. How do you not have any family names in your family tree?'

It was then when Hellman learned that Koray did not have any documentation, no birth certificate, nothing.

The match and the research that followed discovered that Hellman's great-uncle, Yadidia Mednitsky was Koray's grandfather.

Yadidia's brother was Hellman's paternal grandfather, Abrahm Louis Mednitzky Meddin, who came to the United States in 1893 with his family.

Hellman said based on what she knew about her family history, Yedidia and his entire family were murdered in the Holocaust, and no one survived.

'We heard they were all annihilated in the Holocaust and that was the end of our family line until Shalom,' Hellman said.

The news she said 'was a shock.'

And, the first time she saw a photo of Koray was an even a bigger shock.

She was floored by his appearance and said the family resemblance was striking.

When Hellman saw the photo of brother Stuart (pictured left) next to Koray, she was stunned and said, 'That's my brother'

Shalom Koray never knew his birth name or his real age after his parents were killed in the Holocaust

Shalom Koray working with a researcher from MyHeritage

'He looks just like my brother,' she quipped. 'Everyone who sees that picture says, 'it's my brother.'

Other photos she viewed online were some of his childhood photos, and pictures when he was a teenager and described him as a 'hunk' by his good looks.

Soon after, Hellman was sending him emails and letters.

'I bombarded him with family photos. I told him, "This is part of your family."'

In mid-September when Hellman was in the middle of DisneyWorld on a family trip with her son, grandson and daughter-in-law, Koray called her.

It would be their first time ever speaking and seeing each other.

She said that the pair set up a call the next morning on WhatsApp and the rest is history.

Earlier this month, she and her family planned to go to Israel but after the war broke out they cancelled their trip. Instead Koray will make the trip Stateside.

A list of the Israeli passenger's that features Shalom Koray's name on the document when he was a boy of eight-years-old

Shalom Koray pictured as a teenager in this undated photo

In July, he will be traveling to Charleston where he will be meeting Hellman in person and all her other family members.

'It's very exciting,' she said as she plans to have a big celebration with dozens of relatives.

'He is going to meet so many family members resembling him,' she said. 'The fact that I can give him a family. It is an awesome wonderful feeling,' she said.

The pair often speak on WhatsApp.

The last time they spoke, Hellman told Koray that she has getting goosebumps when she thinks about the future meeting.

'You know what I want to do when I see you, Shalom?,' she asked. 'I want to give you the biggest hug.'

As soon as Koray heard that, he blushed, his eyes sparkled, and he started blowing kisses to her through the screen.

Daniel Horowitz, a geneologist and researcher at MyHeritage who found all the records and missing information to validate the DNA test, told DailyMail.com that in his 30 plus years in the field, Koray's case was unique.

'This is actually my first case of an orphan we were unable to get any information from his side,' he said.

'He had no clue whatsoever about his ancestors. He doesn't remember anything before five years old. So all the research had to be concentrated from one side and proving this close connection.'
Ivor Perl feels very strongly that he was kept alive by the 'X factor': something intangible that went beyond luck.

And, given that he survived an encounter with Auschwitz's 'angel of death', a typhus infection and several other brushes with the end, it seems that he might be right.

The victim of Nazi terror, 92, who spoke to MailOnline to mark Holocaust Memorial Day today, came face to face with twisted doctor Josef Mengele after being taken to Auschwitz in Nazi-occupied Poland with his mother and eight of his siblings in 1944.

Then aged just 12, Ivor was destined for death along with nearly all other Jewish children who were sent to the camp with their families during the Holocaust.

Heartrendingly, his mother forced Ivor, who was big for his years, to stand in the line of able-bodied men, minutes before she and seven of his siblings were sent to the gas chambers. 'That saved my life,' he says.

Ivor remembers how, on coming face to face with Mengele - who would determine the fate of arrivals with a point of his finger - he said he was 16. Had he given the mass murderer his real age, he would not be here.

The great-grandfather speaks now from his home in north London, just a stone's throw away from where his 'girlfriend' Miriam - a fellow Holocaust survivor - lives.

The pair met after both being widowed in their 80s and are now 'like two peas in a pod' - made close by their shared experience of one of the 20th century's greatest evils.

Holocaust survivor Ivor Perl told MailOnline how he found love again with fellow victim Miriam Freedman. Above: The pair together

Ivor Perl feels very strongly that he was kept alive by the ' X factor ': something intangible that went beyond luck. And, given that he survived an encounter with Auschwitz's 'angel of death', a typhus infection and several other brushes with the end, it seems that he might be right. Above: Ivor at 14

Today, all around Britain and elsewhere across the world, commemorations are taking place to remember the six million Jewish men, women and children who were murdered by the Nazis and their collaborator in the Holocaust.

At Auschwitz, at least 1.1million people - most of them Jews - were exterminated or died from disease and starvation.

Ivor's path to the death camp was one shared by many of his fellow Jews.

Born Yitzchak Perlmutter in Mako, Hungary, in 1932, Ivor and five brothers and four sister had loving parents. All had to cope with anti-Semitism being ever present.

'It was very difficult because the one thing our parents did not have was the luxury of giving you a kiss and a cuddle every time you went out and saying, "don't worry things will be all right",' he says.

'If I came home from school or whatever it was, without having some sort of stone thrown at me or calling me a dirty Jew, it was an exception.'

Jews in Hungary, which was an ally of the Nazis and was occupied by Hitler's troops in March 1944, were initially forced into ghettoes before being sent to camps - either to work as slave labourers or to die.

Ivor's father and his eldest brother were taken away for forced labour. He would never see either of them again.

After spending time in two ghettoes, Ivor and his mother and other siblings, including his older brother Alec, were forced onto a train that was bound for Auschwitz.

After four days crammed into dirty carriages made for cattle and with people dying around them, Ivor and his family arrived at Auschwitz-Birkenau.

'My first escape came when we heard people saying in Yiddish that if you are asked your age you must say you are at least 16 years old,' he remembers.

After getting off the train, the terrified cohort were divided up between those who were deemed able to work, such as men, teenagers and some women, and those who could not.

'We started marching and I went over to my mother. She said, "What are you doing here darling? Go back. Go back to your brother."

Miriam with her sister Gerti (left) and friend Zusi around the time they were forced into hiding

'I said, "No, Mama, please let me come with you." She said, "no, go back to your brother." I realise how that saved my life.'

Now queuing up with Alec, Ivor then encountered an SS officer with 'white gloves', who he later discovered was Mengele.

The war criminal was one of the team of doctors who selected victims to be murdered in the gas chambers.

He carried out horrifying experiments on inmates but escaped justice after fleeing to Argentina in 1949.

Mengele asked Ivor in German how old he was. 'Having remembered what I was told, I said I was 16,' he says.

'For a millisecond, I'm sure it was a millisecond, he probably thought, "if you tell me a lie, you won't last long anyway", so he pointed me to the right.

'But if I ever said I was 12 years old, then no way would I have been alive.'

Like all the other inmates, Ivor was given a number - 112021 - which is burned on his memory forever.

However, it was not tattooed on his arm as standard because the camp officials had run out of ink.

Ivor was initially put into a barrack in Auschwitz I, which served as a holding camp for prisoners who were set to begin forced labour.

Ivor owes a lot to his brother. 'He saved me from the gas chamber three times,' he says, his voice cracking.

'When he passed away about 10 or 12 years ago. I never cried. My son asked me, "why don't you cry?".

'I didn't want to give the Nazis the satisfaction of crying. But when I was shovelling the soil on his grave, that's when I felt I had lost my whole family.'

On one occasion, Alec forced Ivor to leave a children's barrack, where he had been hiding after an air raid siren sounded.

Initially, he resisted leaving but his brother insisted that he did. That night, all the other children in the barrack were taken to the gas chambers.

SS officer Josef Mengele was one of the doctors at Auschwitz. He carried out horrifying experiments on dozens of inmates

Ivor (left) with his wife Rhoda and brother Alec, who he says saved his life more than once

'If he had not forced me to come away from there, I would not be here,' he says.

In January 1945, with the Russian army nearing closer amid the Nazis' impending defeat, Ivor and his brother were sent by train to Allach, a sub-camp of Dachau concentration camp in Germany.

The horrific experiments of the Nazi 'angel of death' Dressed in his pristine SS uniform, it was Josef Mengele who greeted doomed arrivals at the Nazi death camp, Auschwitz, in occupied Poland. With a flick of his gloved hands, the supreme arbiter of life and death would consign terrified prisoners either to work or to death in the gas chambers. But many were condemned to an altogether more diabolical fate; they became guinea pigs upon his operating table as he pursued his berserk quest to clone blue-eyed Aryan supermen. Most of his victims died in terrible pain without anaesthetic. Captivated by oddities, victims of Mengele's medical experiments were chosen based on different eye colors, growth anomalies such as a clubfoot or a hunchback, giantism or dwarfism, twins and gypsies. A choice 'specimen' he sent to his lab for study was the head of a 12-year-old boy he was going to dissect. Twins held a particular fascination for him and it's estimated that he examined around 3,000 - but only 100 pairs survived. Mengele once impregnated one twin with the sperm from a different twin to see if she would produce twins. When there was only one baby, one survivor claimed he tore the baby out of the mother's uterus and threw the child into an oven and walked away. Mengele had a doctorate in medicine from Frankfurt University, but used his knowledge in a sickening manner at the Auschwitz concentration camp, where he performed experiments as an SS physician from 1943 to 1945. Although prisoners transferred to his wing to be studied escaped the gas chambers and were well fed, they often ultimately met an even more painful death. Mengele regularly performed surgery without anaesthetic and would obtain bodies to work on simply by injecting chloroform into inmates' hearts while they slept, which would kill them in seconds. He was most interested in heredity and once tried to change the colour of childrens eyes by injecting chemicals directly into them. Pregnant women were also singled out. He was known to have performed vivisections on them before consigning them to the death chambers. Prisoners suffering from schizophrenia and depression were subjected to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). The goal was to treat incapacitated prisoners so that they could return to the work force. Most of the experiments were unsuccessful and led to the death of the prisoners. The so-called Angel of Death was on the Allied commanders' most-wanted list from 1944, but he escaped to South America and was never found, despite the best efforts of private investigators and the Israeli secret service, Mossad. He died in 1979 after suffering a stroke while swimming and thirteen years later, DNA tests proved his identity beyond doubt. Advertisement

There, his brother again saved Ivor's life after he contracted typhus and ended up in the camp's hospital.

Doctors visited twice a day to check if the inmates were strong enough to work. Those who were to ill were sent to die.

Alec came and forced him to leave. 'I said, "I can't, if they find me I'll get punished."

'He said no, you must come out from there. Needless to say, had I stayed there I would have been taken to the gas chamber.'

After a few months at Allach, the prisoners were again moved on. This time they were forced to march for seven days to Dachau.

Because the camp was so overcrowded, there were orders for the inmates to be taken to the Tyrol Mountains and killed.

Remarkably, the general in charge - who knew Allied forces were approaching - refused to obey the order because of fears of the consequences.

Ivor and his brother, along with many other prisoners, managed to escape by running through a hole in the fence.

Soon afterwards, the Americans arrived and liberated the camp. Ivor and his brother later found out via the Red Cross that none of their family had survived.

Asked how he coped with the loss of nearly everyone he loved, he says: 'I keep thinking to myself I was lucky that I was young because I don't think I could have been able to bear all that pain as an adult.

'I think it would have been very hard to start life again. As a youngster I was more concerned with getting up, dusting myself down and getting on with life.'

He adds: 'I am convinced that if anybody tells you they survived because of their own skills I would be very very doubtful.

'We all survived because of luck. But not everyone who had luck survived.'

In November 1945, Ivor and his brother were given permission to come to England. 'We were very, very lucky,' Ivor says.

One of his first tasks was to anglicize his name, which he says 'sounded very foreign.'

When he was 18, Ivor met his future wife, Rhoda. In 1953, after Ivor had set up his own business manufacturing clothes, the couple married.

They would go on to have four children and, Ivor adds with a smile, four dogs. Ivor now has six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

After Rhoda's death from dementia in 2016, Ivor had expected to spend the rest of his days without a partner.

But, seven years ago, he met fellow survivor Miriam Freedman at a gathering of Holocaust victims.

The couple went on a date and immediately hit it off.

'I lost my wife, she lost her husband, all I can say is that we are two peas in a pod.

'Both of us lost loved ones, and we can bear each other. At our age, we don't see each other through rose-tinted glasses and fortunately we get on very well.'

He adds: 'We were discussing the subject about who survived, we came to the conclusion that nobody survived without luck.

'But not everyone with luck survived. The other factor was the X factor and we don't know what it is. Both of us are fortunate that we know each other.'

Ivor believes that he and Miriam would have still met even if they had not both been victims of the Nazis.

'I come from a very religious background and Miriam is a guru, she is into eastern philosophy. We are going on the same journey, different route,' he says.

'I see her very often. I think both of us need each other very much.'

Miriam, who was born in what was then Czechoslovakia in 1934, was the youngest of six children.

She went into hiding with her mother, sister, two aunts and uncles and a cousin in late 1943 or early 1944.

Ivor (left) with fellow Holocaust survivors Joan Salter, Steven Frank and John Hajdu on Holocaust Memorial Day last year

Ivor pictured with the then Prince Charles at a reception at St James' Palace in 2017

The family were crammed into a tiny bedsit in the city of Nitra, terrified to speak to each other for fear of being discovered.

After the Allied victory, Miriam learned that her father and siblings had been murdered. Another sister survived incarceration in concentration camps.

Miriam moved to Jerusalem in 1946 and went on to represent Israel in Hebrew education and tourism in Northern Ireland.

It was there that she met her husband Lennie, who died in 2012.

Both she and Ivor have been busy in the past week attending commemoration events ahead of today.

And they have also written their own separate memoirs. Ivor's, which is titled 'Chicken Soup Under the Tree: A Journey to Hell and Back', was published last year.

Miriam's story, 'Love Is Always the Answer: My Survival Through the Holocaust and Spiritual Journey with Mrs. Irina Tweedie', initially came out in 2014 and was re-released last October.

Ivor adds: 'I don't speak from choice. It's not like performing a play, telling the same story over and over again. It is living.

'Telling about the Holocaust, the pain gets easier, but it is still there.'

MailOnline was put in touch with Ivor via the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, the government-funded charity that exists to educate people about the Holocaust.

Ivor memoir, Chicken Soup Under the Tree, is published by Lemon Soul.
He's the bespectacled hipster preacher who serves as the 'spiritual advisor' to twisted Death Row killers before they're executed.

Sporting a bushy beard, oval glasses and sometimes carrying a huge wooden cross, Reverend Dr Jeff Hood is often the last friendly face some of the most heinous criminals in America get to see before their lives are snuffed out.

Among those aided by the sandal-wearing religious man was Kenneth Eugene Smith, who was put to death on Thursday during a nightmarish, botched execution at a correctional facility in Alabama.

The 58-year-old murderer became the first person in the world to be executed with nitrogen gas. But what was meant to be a quick death turned into a shocking 22-minute ordeal as he slowly suffocated.

Liberal Rev Dr Hood - who supports gay and trans rights and once staged a Black Lives Matters rally which ended in five police officers in Dallas being shot and killed in 2016 - was in the room as Smith thrashed on the gurney while the gas took hold.

Reverend Dr Jeff Hood is often the last friendly face some of the most heinous criminals in America get to see before their lives are snuffed out

The bespectacled hipster preacher who serves as the 'spiritual advisor' to twisted Death Row killers before they're executed.

Liberal Rev Dr Hood - who supports gay and trans rights - was at the botched execution of American murderer Kenneth Eugene Smith

Kenneth Eugene Smith became the first man to be executed using nitrogen gas. But the Death Row inmate's death was marred by controversy over how long it took him to die, with witnesses claiming he was writhing in agony during the 20-minute ordeal

The moment was the 'worst thing' the spiritual guider said he had ever seen. After praying with the killer and telling him that he 'loved him and he wasn't alone', Hood broke down as he recounted the 'horror show' of Smith's final moments.

'When they turned the nitrogen on, he began to convulse, he popped up on the gurney over and over again, he shook the whole gurney,' he said.

Rev Dr Hood has previously joined black rights rallies carrying a large wooden cross

'I could see the corrections officers, I think they were very surprised that this didn't go smoothly - one of the state officials in the room was so nervous she was tap dancing,' he continued.

'(Smith) kept breathing for what could possibly be up to nine minutes, 10 minutes, unbelievable evil was unleashed tonight in Alabama.'

Hood's claims of Smith's execution being a 'horror show' directly oppose the narrative put out by Alabama officials, who praised it as a step forward for safe death row justice as an 'effective and humane method of execution.'

'When I agreed to be Kenny Smiths spiritual advisor, I did so because I didnt want him to be alone in the darkest hour of his life,' he added.

It's not the first time married father-of-five Rev Dr Hood has courted controversy.

In 2016. the pastor was caught up in the mayhem of a gun battle during a Black Lives Matter protest he helped stage in Dallas, Texas.

What started off as a peaceful demonstration ended in carnage, with five police officers being shot and killed, with seven other people injured.

In 2016. the pastor was once caught up in the mayhem of a gun battle during a Black Lives Matter protest he helped stage in Dallas, Texas

What started off as a peaceful demonstration ended in carnage, with five police officers being shot and killed (he is pictured being interview after the rally)

Rev Dr Hood, a staunch anti-police-brutality activist had held a gathering earlier in the evening to protest the police shooting of Alton Sterling in Louisiana and Philando Castile in Minnesota.

As gunfire erupted on the streets of Dallas, the white Baptist pastor shepherded people to safety a large, wooden cross as a beacon.

Speaking after the bloodshed, Hood said: 'Never in our wildest dreams would we have imagined that five police officers would be dead this morning.'

But critics were quick to slam the reverend, accusing him of giving a very different message shortly before the shooting started, potentially inflaming racial tensions.

Filmed speaking on a megaphone, Rev Dr Hood yelled: 'God damn white America.

'White America is 'f***ing lie. I'm sick of the bodies and black and brown people being slaughtered in our streets.'

And in the media firestorm that followed, Rev Dr Hood found himself facing death threats online.

'You should feel so proud. Because of you and your rally five people are dead. And now youre on TV for your 5 minutes of fame. Crawl back in your hole scumbag,' wrote one person.

Another added: 'I can only hope and pray that you are killed soon...'

Rev Dr Hood, a staunch anti-police-brutality activist, was filmed before the shootings shouting God damn white America. White America is 'f***ing lie'

The married father of five grew up in Georgia and is a 'spiritual adviser' to Death Row inmates

While a third said: 'Just wait till you get dragged through the street. Racist loser.'

In the aftermath that followed, the pastor was forced to shelter from the world, fearing he would be gunned down, with police patrolling his home.

Hood grew up Georgia - part of America's Bible Belt famed for its staunch religious views - in a Christian fundamentalist family.

But he became a racial-justice advocate, describing his home state as the 'cradle of the civil rights movement'.

As a child of six or seven, he remembers his teacher in first grade assigning him the task of reciting the 'I Have Dream Speech' by famed civil rights activist, Dr Martin Luther King Jr.

'From very early on I realized these struggles were complicated, but the complication didnt keep me from going in my desire to be a part of the change,' he told GQ.

Not afraid of speaking his mind, Hood fiercely opposes the death penalty and fights for LGBT rights.

In a biography online, he proudly boasts of having been arrested three times and having written more than 70 books.

'With three arrests, various assaults endured and thousands of miles marched, Dr. Hood is not afraid to step into the shoes of Jesus and give his body for justice,' the biography reads.

Hood became a racial-justice advocate, describing his home state of Georgia as the 'cradle of the civil rights movement'. He is pictured on a Black Lives Matter march

Not afraid of speaking his mind, Hood fiercely opposes the death penalty and fights for LGBT rights

In a biography online, he proudly boasts of having been arrested three times and having written more than 70 books

While in the death chamber with Smith, Rev Dr Hood took the time to pray with the convicted killer, touching Smith's feet with a bible before the gas was administered.

Smith was convicted in the 1988 murder-for-hire killing of Elizabeth Sennett.

Prosecutors said he was one of two men who were each paid $1,000 to kill Ms Sennett on behalf of her pastor husband, who was deeply in debt and wanted to collect on insurance.

She was found with eight stab wounds to the chest and one in each side of her neck.

In a final statement, Smith said: 'Tonight Alabama causes humanity to take a step backwards... I'm leaving with love, peace and light.'

He made the 'I love you sign' toward his wife and other family members who were witnesses. 'Thank you for supporting me. Love, love all of you,' Smith said.

Smith started violently shaking, writhing, and thrashing up and down on the gurney for two whole minutes after the nitrogen gas started filling up his mask.

This was followed by five to seven minutes of heavy breathing and slight gasping.

In total, Smith, 58, was visibly conscious and struggling in apparent pain for nearly 10 minutes before his breathing seemed to slowly stop at 8.08pm.

The viewing curtains closed at 8.15pm and he was pronounced dead at 8.25pm.

Rev Dr Hood is opposed to executing prisoners and campaigns against it

Jeff Hood, spiritual advisor to Smith, stands for a portrait before the scheduled execution by asphyxiation using pure nitrogen of the Death Row inmate

Prior to the fiasco, Rev Dr Hood hit out at the State of Alabama for refusing to 'share even the simplest of evidence of safety precautions that they have in place for the first nitrogen hypoxia execution'.

In a blistering personal blog ahead of the botched execution of the Death Row inmate, Rev Dr Hood accused state officials of 'secrecy' over the new killing method.

'We have put out several safety demandsto which the State of Alabama has not responded,' Rev Dr Hood wrote.

'They are not willing to engage the simplest safety measures. The State of Alabama has not responded to the truth that experts have shared over and over. I guess this should make sense since they are so comfortable taking the life of a human being in this mannersuffocation.

'If they are prepared to kill someone in such a waywhat would it mean to kill someone else? It seems that it would mean very little.

'The tyranny of uncertainty that the State of Alabama has created has given tremendous stress to people that I deeply love. Once again, they should be ashamed.

'But of course, they wont be. Those who are this comfortable being murderers have no shame.'
U.S. senators are split on whether the Biden administration's military actions firing rounds of missiles into Yemen targeting Houthi militants can be defined as a war.

Over the past week, American and British military forces have launched multiple rounds of airstrikes into Yemen in response to Houthi attacks on civilian and military vessels traveling through the Red Sea.

But the U.S. Constitution requires congressional approval for a full-out war, muddying the waters on how to define the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

The U.S. is 'probably not' at war 'at this stage' Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley told DailyMail.com.

'If there's a military objective here, I'd love to hear what it is. But so far, we've heard nothing,' he added. 'I can't tell what Joe Biden's position is or what his policy is, I have no idea.'

'If the goal is just to deter any further aggression, well, that clearly hasn't worked,' the Republican continued. 'Now, [Biden] says the goal is to degrade their military capability and keep the sea lanes open.'

'We ought to be going to our Gulf partners and European allies and saying, 'you guys need to keep the sea lanes open.''

Houthi rebels in Yemen have gathered for rallies and parades since the conflict began

Sen. Richard Blumenthal said that the U.S. is not at war with Houthis in Yemen

One of his Republican colleagues, however, believes the U.S. is currently at war.

'Yea I would say that it's escalated to war between us and Yemen,' Sen. Tommy Tuberville told DailyMail.com.

'You'd got to call it some type of war. It's not a conflict, it is a survival contest for our ships going up and down the Red Sea,' Tuberville continued.

Other senators did not characterize the ongoing conflict as an all-out war.

'We're defending our interests,' Sen. Alex Padilla said.

Though, the Californian added, he is looking forward to being briefed on Biden's rationale for taking unilateral action.

'Our strikes on the Houthis to defend vessels, our own and other commercial ships, are self defense within the President's constitutional prerogative,' Sen. Richard Blumenthal told DailyMail.com.

'I don't see a need for a declaration of war under Congress' constitutional authority.'

Calling the conflict a war is 'semantics,' Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman said, adding that he fully supports the strikes.

'Blow them up,' he told DailyMail.com. 'They cannot be allowed to attack our assets.'

Another Democrat, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, expressed hesitation over Biden's decision to bomb the Middle Eastern country.

'I've expressed concern under Obama, under Trump and under Biden about the role of Congress when it comes to the strikes we've seen over the 10 years that I've been here,' he said.

'I have concerns about congressional authority, and Congress' role, as we are continuing to often justify strikes, using authorizations for military force from long time ago,' he told DailyMail.com.

'That said, Iran and their proxies in that region have been doing things that have undermined the international order and peace and security, and are a real threat of that has to be addressed,' Booker said.

Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, a combat veteran, clearly stated the U.S. is not at war.

U.S. Naval forces have shot down numerous anti-ship ballistic missiles since November

The Houthi rebels fired a missile at the USS Carney in the Gulf of Aden on Friday

Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville, however, did say that the U.S. is at war in the Middle East

'It's all defensive thus far,' she told DailyMail.com. 'So now we have to keep an eye on Iran. They are the ones that are backing the Houthis and they need to stop striking at our American troops and out bases. Its got to stop.'

But when asked what the endpoint of the military engagement will be she admitted: 'I don't know.'

The Houthis have continuously targeted ships in the area since November, saying they were avenging Israel's war in Gaza against Hamas. However, the rebels have frequently targeted ships with unclear links to Israel, in turn jeopardizing a crucial global trade route.

On Friday, Houthi rebels fired an anti-ship ballistic missile at the USS Carney, a U.S. naval destroyer in the Gulf of Aden that has been in the area since November, according to U.S. Central Command.
The Black Sea stretches out into the distance. It is April 2022, in the Ukrainian city of Odesa, just over a month after Russias all-out invasion.

The port is closed as the Russian navy has laid mines all around it. But until very recently, out near the horizon, there was a hulking, metallic grey warship; a dark smudge on a seaside postcard. My Ukrainian friend Hanna turns to me and smiles: Goodbye, Russian warship.

Just weeks earlier, two Ukrainian R-360 Neptune cruise missiles had sunk the Moskva, the flagship of the Russian Navys Black Sea fleet. The Moskva was more than 610ft and weighed just under 11,500 tonnes when fully loaded.

It was the largest Russian warship sunk in wartime since the end of World War II and the first Russian flagship sunk since Knyaz Suvorov in 1905. It was also the largest warship sunk anywhere since the 1982 Falklands conflict.

For retired U.S. Navy Admiral and former NATO supreme allied commander James Stavridis, it was a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities of surface ships  including aircraft carriers  to relatively low-cost, numerous and technologically advanced cruise missiles.

Anchored in Portsmouth: Aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales

An RAF Typhoon jet takes off from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus to help launch airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen

I was reminded of the vulnerability of large ships this week, when it emerged that the UK was refusing to deploy either of its two brand-new aircraft carriers to help launch airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen who are disrupting world trade by attacking international cargo ships in the Red Sea.

Both HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales remained anchored in Portsmouth so RAF Typhoons had to fly 3,000 miles from their air base in Cyprus to drop eight guided missiles near the Yemeni capital Sanaa before heading back again on a journey so long they had to refuel in mid-air on both legs.

Aircraft carriers are flagships, the floating air bases which allow nations to project power abroad and operate close to the combat zone. The decision not to use these two titanic vessels shocked senior officers. I find it absolutely extraordinary we have not sent a carrier, exclaimed former First Sea Lord, Admiral Lord West.

With either HMS Queen Elizabeth or HMS Prince of Wales in situ we would be able to make a much more significant contribution...Why did we bother building the carriers in the first place?

Its a good question.

Between them the carriers cost 7.6 billion, some 15 per cent of the annual defence budget. They took just under a decade to build and each is longer than the Houses of Parliament.

They are designed to carry F35s  unquestionably impressive planes that can fly at a speed of Mach 1.6, carry four weapons internally and engage both airborne and ground-based targets.

A well-equipped carrier enables fighter planes to conduct attacks against enemies on land or sea for months at a time. With the radar equipment of the F-35s, our carriers can detect threats from hundreds of miles away. Extensive onboard defences (in addition to the other vessels surrounding it) means they are  in theory at least  well-defended.

Yet both of Britains sit idle  floating mausoleums to political vanity.

Engineers prepare a Typhoon aircraft at the base in Cyprus earlier this month

The ships do not sail because we simply cannot afford the aircraft, escorts and support craft that help them to deploy, protect them and give them striking power.

The loss of an aircraft carrier has always been considered catastrophic in military terms. The last one that Britain lost was the 8,000-tonne HMS Dasher in 1943 during WWII.

Then there is the problem of the planes  simply put: we dont have enough to make the carriers worthwhile.

According to a September 2023 House of Commons Committee Report, the UK is set to take delivery of 48 F-35s by the end of 2025, with a later, second tranche to take the number up to 74 (including a replacement for the plane that plunged from the deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth into the Eastern Mediterranean in November 2021).

Between them, the two carriers can carry 72 F-35s  in theory we can place our entire fleet on them. But in reality some would inevitably need maintenance, and if we put them all on the carriers then the RAF wouldnt have any.

On top of this, the Queen Elizabeth does not even have catapults to help planes take off in the limited distance of its deck, which means that the F35 with its vertical thrust is the only plane capable of operating on it.

When HMS Elizabeth left harbour in September 2023 to conduct exercises in the North Sea and North Atlantic, it only had eight F-35s onboard (out of a capacity of 36), only two Crowsnest radar helicopters and no store ship to accompany it, since our only one, Fort Victoria, was under maintenance.

It was simply in no fit state to deploy. It was decided that to free up funds for the relevant escort craft, the carriers would be modified to support amphibious landings; we promptly decommissioned existing ships such as HMS Ocean that already had this capability.

It then emerged that we do not have the requisite 60 million to modify the aircraft carriers. The proposal was dropped; and now our amphibious landing capabilities are diminished as well.

Then there is the Navys recruitment crisis. Last year, the MoD announced that between March 2022 and March 2023, intake for the Navy and Royal Marines dropped 22.1 per cent. Earlier this month, the Navy had to use LinkedIn to advertise for a Rear-Admiral after it was determined no serving officers were suitable.

An RAF Typhoon takes off in Cyprus to carry out strikes against the Houthis

It is true that in 2025, the Queen Elizabeth will be deployed to the Indo-Pacific as part of a broader pact covering economic, defence, security and technology collaboration with Japan.

It will include a naval escort and F-35 combat jets, but our own jets will be bolstered by a squadron of US F-35s.

The naval escort will be supplemented by vessels from other allied navies, but precise details of how many and from which countries are not yet clear.

What is clear, however, is that we do not have enough resources of our own to enable Queen Elizabeth to function as a British-funded and operated vessel.

And this at a time when UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps recently observed that we are moving from a post-war to a pre-war world, while Army chief General Sir Patrick Sanders recently spoke of the need for a 500,000-strong citizen army in Britain.

In my view, it is time to subordinate national pride to pragmatism. Lets sell these steel whales to the incomparably richer Americans who could at least fully resource their operation. Not least, because there is also the question of whether our aircraft carriers are actually suitable for modern warfare given the revolution that is taking place.

There is no doubt that they are wonders of British engineering. But I fear they are also an anachronism, and, in a world of growing violence, a dangerous one.

The reason aircraft carriers need so many support vessels is that slow-moving ships are intensely susceptible to attack  as the sinking of the cruiser Moskva showed.

China, for example, now has a vast arsenal of land, sea, and air ship-targeting cruise and ballistic weapons. Experts argue that U.S. carriers would not last in the face of an attack by them.

Indeed, in a war game in a remote part of China, the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army sunk a U.S. aircraft carrier using its Dong Feng DF-21D Carrier Killer missile.

The HMS Queen Elizabeth pictured sailing out of Tokyo Bay in 2021

Beijing has long sought to neuter the effect of aircraft carriers. It unveiled the DF-21D missile  the first long-range precision missile developed specifically to target aircraft carriers  as far back as 2010.

In 2020 it followed this up with the longer-range DF-26B. According to Ashley Townshend, a research fellow at the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney, these missiles potentially encroach on U.S. capability to deploy military power close to Chinese shores. It significantly raises the risks and costs.

Iran and Russia have similar missiles. In July 2022, Russias media reported that the country had developed a ballistic missile with a hypersonic warhead known as Zmeevik that allegedly resembles the Chinese DF-26B.

In March 2023, Iran boasted of successfully developing a ballistic missile that is able to strike aircraft carriers from more than 900 miles away.

If our enemies are developing the high-level technology to take out an aircraft carrier there is a further problem. A decade of covering Ukraine taught me many things, but most of all that so many of the ideas of war I had grown up with were either out of date, imprecise or just wrong.

During the year-long battle of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine that began in the summer of 2022, one of the most vicious battles in modern history, I embedded with Ukrainian special forces using drones against the enemy. But these were not drones developed by the state at a cost of millions, they were $3,000 ones you could buy online.

The Ukrainians would then 3D-print a projectile for $30, place an explosive charge in it, attach it to the drone and use it to destroy Russian T90 tanks costing $1.6 million each.

The lesson was stark: the weaponisation of everyday objects could defeat military tech costing millions.

At sea, the Ukrainians have followed the same principles. That they have managed to protect their port at Odesa and keep the Russian fleet at bay goes against much of traditional military logic  not least since Ukraine possesses pretty much no warships.

When Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, it also stole 75 per cent of Ukraines naval fleet, the majority of its helicopters and the majority of its ship-repair capacity.

An engineer inspects rockets on a Typhoon at RAF Akrotiri before it flies towards Yemen

This meant the Ukrainians have had to become creative, using, as well as anti-ship missiles like the one which hit the Moskva, explosive-laden uncrewed surface vessels (USV)  essentially speedboats which crash into large ships  plus remote and naval mines. USVs strike at the waterline, which means they can carry a larger payload than an airborne vehicle, and seriously damage critical parts of the ship.

They are also cheap and can be used in large numbers to overwhelm defences, leading some to liken them to sea drones. Some might argue that USVs work less well in open oceans. But most naval battles in history have been fought in relatively confined coastal waters.

More than this, if you look at the likely locations for future naval battles, notably the Taiwan Strait separating democratic Taiwan from Communist China, then USVs would do the job; there is simply little need for vast and vulnerable aircraft carriers.

At a conference in November 2023, Australias Chief of the Defence Force, General Angus Campbell, said that the future of sea power lies not only in crewed surface and subsurface vessels, but also in uncrewed and autonomous systems.

The Ukrainians have spent almost a decade fighting a much larger, richer and more technologically advanced neighbour. Even with all these advantages, Vladimir Putin could not take Kyiv. And this is a historical pattern.

From the French and Americans in Vietnam, to the USSR in Afghanistan, to Israel in Lebanon, to coalition forces in Afghanistan (again) and Iraq, technology-advanced armies have been repeatedly defeated or repelled by those possessing nowhere near the same tech. Our enemies realise this. In January 2023 reports emerged that Iran had converted two merchant container ships into drone carriers.

For now, it seems that drones are not sophisticated enough to overcome protective vessels, ultrasonic sensors and kinetic interceptors, but this is likely to change, especially if drones are used in swarms of thousands.

I repeat, it is not that (if they can ever be deployed properly) the aircraft carriers have no value. It is that the cost does not justify the benefit. Every pound spent on them is one less spent elsewhere. And they are simply not suited for the wars we are going to fight in the future.

Indeed, the same goes for the F35 fighter jet.

In his excellent book Goliath: Why The West Doesnt Win Wars And What We Need To Do About It, Sean McFate, a former officer in the U.S. Armys 82nd Airborne Division, points out that the F-35 fighter is an awesome piece of tech.

But what is the point of it when there has not been a sky battle that helped decide a conflict since the Korean War?

This is why we should sell the carriers to the Americans. Washington can, first, afford them, and, second, deploy them effectively.

Take the billions we receive from this sale and invest it elsewhere. There are so many better ways to spend the money.

What is effective are, for example, Special Forces, which is why they are overstretched everywhere they go. But instead of investing more in them we are seduced by enormous shiny toys. Impressive, no doubt, but simply not what we need most.

Our aircraft carriers are monoliths to our pathological belief that technology is the solution to all our problems.

History teaches us that it is not. We must internalise its lessons.

It is time to properly prepare for an increasingly dangerous future, because it is getting closer by the day.
The wedding was a festival of lavish excess: the bride in an Armani dress of ivory duchesse silk that revealed her impressive swimmers shoulders and the portly groom in a medal-festooned ceremonial jacket.

A guest list of royalty and celebrity, plus a breathtaking backdrop of Monte Carlo glamour  from the rose-tinted palace rising above the Mediterranean and fireworks in the harbour to Californian supergroup The Eagles as the wedding band  added to the fairytale atmosphere.

But what made this marriage even more remarkable was that it was taking place at all. Just two days before the ceremony, rumours abounded that Prince Albert of Monacos wife-to-be, Charlene Wittstock, a former Olympic swimmer 20 years his junior, had booked a one-way ticket home to her native South Africa.

The stories of the runaway bride, as the media nicknamed her, remain online to this day on multiple French outlets.

But while the marriage of Their Serene Highnesses Prince Albert and Princess Charlene has survived  they mark their 13th wedding anniversary in July and have twins Gabriella and Jacques, now nine  the rumours refuse to go away.

Prince Albert II of Monaco pictured with his wife Princess Charlene at an event in Leeds in 2011

Prince Albert reportedly instructed his accountant Claude Palmero to rent him an apartment, just a few streets from the Pink Palace

This week extraordinary claims of Alberts spending  on his wife, on his former mistresses and on the children he had out of wedlock  have emerged.

The allegations, revealed by a disgruntled ex-employee who kept meticulous notes of the Grimaldi family payroll, may have far-reaching political and fiscal consequences for the Principality, which has always ferociously guarded its secrets.

Now, in the latest tranche of drip-fed revelations made to French newspaper Le Monde, comes an eye-popping detail. Within six months of that hedonistic, three-day wedding extravaganza, Albert had apparently instructed his accountant-cum-factotum Claude Palmero to find him a flat. Discretion, Palmero was told, was the order of the day.

Quite why the man who rules the worlds favourite tax haven needed such a bolthole a few streets from the fabulous Pink Palace, is gripping super-rich denizens fearful their own sources of wealth may be revealed in this unprecedented expose.

Palmero was a powerful figure at the heart of the Monaco royal family for more than 20 years until last summer, when he was unceremoniously sacked by Albert following claims of financial impropriety linked to the palace.

Now he is getting his revenge. For he took with him five bulging notebooks in which Albert, 65, emerges as a feeble monarch pushed around by the women in his life, including his sisters Princess Caroline, 67, and 58-year-old Princess Stephanie whom, Palmero says, use the crown jewels as personal fashion accessories.

The astonishing allegations of pay-offs and hush money have exposed a seedy underbelly of this manicured corner of the Riviera where Albert seems to have used his vast fortune to make problems go away. But the revelations also shine a light on his marriage.

According to Le Monde, in February 2012, Palmero went on the hunt for a property for his master. In the journals he noted: Apartment in town for His Serene Highness. I saw two but they werent discreet enough.

Palmero reports back to the prince, who is adamant the search goes on: His Serene Highness wants me to continue, he notes.

Prince Albert and Princess Charlene on the balcony of their palace in Monte Carlo last November with their children Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella

The Prince and his wife share the palace of Monaco which was originally built in 1191 as a fortress

He does so and finds a rare gem. It is in the incongruously named Beverly Palace, a 12-floor modern block of flats which boasts panoramic sea views, a concierge service and what it calls top tier convenience.

Palmero claims he arranged to pay the 3,800 a month rent through a company he created in his own name  Etoile de Mer (Starfish in English)  so as not to expose the prince to scrutiny.

On March 16 that year Albert is said to have visited the flat and approved its acquisition. Le Monde asks of the possession: Should we see a cause and effect relationship? perhaps implying the Prince planned to use the flat for secret liaisons.

Not long afterwards, Palmero tells the paper he was charged with another even more delicate and confidential task: recovering compromising photos of the prince.

Writing on July 17, 2012, Palmero notes: Mission K (photo and negatives). Details are sketchy but he says of initial contact with the third party: She was able to play a game, keep(ing) the other negatives. But all ends well. Recovered, the photos will be burned, he writes. Serene Highness pleased with the conclusion.

Alberts lawyers, it should be said, have contested these claims. His legal team told Le Monde that Palmero had never been asked anything of the sort by the prince, that he did not approve of such steps and, moreover, has never been aware of having been the subject of requests for money in such circumstances.

Even by the shadowy standards of Monaco, which has long been a magnet for money of dubious origins, the allegations are startling.

The newspaper reports Palmero claims the sum to recover the photographs was 100,000 euros, or 85,000. The money came from a slush fund set up with the enigmatic acronym DS, for destination speciale.

According to the paper, the DS allowed Palmero to pay money in complete discretion without Monacos citizens or its governing council being aware.

Le Monde says it could find no trace of the special destination fund in the budget published each year by the Principality. Usually around 150,000 euros (128,000) were allocated to this fund but some years, Palmero said, it was as much as 600,000 euros (512,000). His explanation? My role was limited to scrupulously executing the princes decisions and implementing his requests in very varied, and sometimes personal, areas.

The royal couple dressed in all white on their wedding day at the palace

Princess Charlene in veil and holding bouquet on the big day in 2011

One of these areas, he said, were payments to police officers. Asked why he needed to do such a thing with its implication of bribery, the former aide responded: Collecting information about someone is not illegal.

Because of the princes way of life, he said, Albert aroused envy. The prince is constantly solicited, sometimes even by blackmailers, he is reported as saying.

The accountants dossier says the DS fund was partly used to contribute to the eye-watering sums paid to the nannies and teachers of Albert and Charlenes twins. In July 2020, Palmero recorded: Budget for nannies and tutors: 450,000 euros (380,000) which will be exceeded. After conferring with the prince, he adds the DS will meet the difference.

And then there is the cost of that oh-so extravagant wedding in July 2011, where guests included Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, the Aga Khan, the then French president Nicolas Sarkozy and models Naomi Campbell and Karolina Kurkova.

Palmero said he feared the final bill would far exceed the 10 million euros (8.5 million) the government had set aside. In the end the nuptials cost around 14 million and the aide noted: The deficit will be taken from DS.

Such profligacy has long been a feature of money-no-object Monaco. With a fortune of over $1 billion, Prince Albert is said to be the worlds tenth-richest monarch, much wealthier than King Charles.

But the riches have not brought happiness. Indeed most modern Grimaldi marriages have ended badly and sometimes tragically.

Alberts mother, the Hollywood star Grace Kelly, was killed in a car crash in 1982 and his inconsolable father Prince Rainier never remarried.

Alberts elder sister Princess Caroline has been married three times. She was divorced from her first husband, playboy Philippe Junot, widowed when her second husband Stefano Casiraghi was killed in a powerboat accident, and is currently estranged from her third husband, Prince Ernst of Hanover.

Alberts younger sister Stephanie, perhaps traumatised from the car crash that killed her mother and the rumour that she (Stephanie) had been driving, went from wild child and animal activist to sharing a caravan for two years with a circus elephant trainer. Her two marriages  one to her former palace bodyguard  ended in divorce.

As for Albert, he was for a time the target of rumours about his sexuality because of the absence of girlfriends. But he made up for lost time and was linked to some of the worlds most beautiful women, including actresses Brooke Shields and Bo Derek.

In 2000 he met Charlene when she took part in a swimming contest in Monaco and they began seeing each other from 2005.

The princes domestic life, however, was already complicated. He had a love child, Jazmin, now 31, with American estate agent Tamara Rotolo and another, Alexandre, born in 2003, by former air hostess Nicole Coste. Palmeros notebooks have revealed how much money has been lavished on them.

Jazmin reportedly receives 73,000 every quarter and was given a 2.6 million New York flat. Alexandre, meanwhile, is said to have kidnap and ransom insurance paid for by Albert, while his mother received money for her fashion business, said, in 2015, to be on course [to cost] one million [euros] a year. Her store in Knightsbridge has since closed.

Against such a backdrop any marriage might face challenges, but Albert and Charlenes has been beset by claims of estrangement. Her absence from numerous landmark social events in Monaco  and her disappearance to her native South Africa for much of 2021 after contracting a serious sinus infection  added to the swirl of rumours.

Some are bound, foolishly, to talk of a family curse but others will say the stories of secret payoffs and slush funds, which have been revealed this week, provide a more compelling view of life in gilded Monaco.
Are you sure you want to do this?' the anaesthetist at Charing Cross Hospital asked as I lay on the trolley ready for theatre, giving me one last chance to back out.

I was a middle-aged man with a wife and three children but I was convinced I was some kind of woman, and I needed the operation in order to live authentically as one.

'Yes,' I said, knowing that what was about to happen would change me for ever and be irreversible. 'Go for it!'

And with that, he put me under.

Four hours later I came to, my gender reassignment surgery over. It's a major and far from risk-free operation for an otherwise healthy person to put themselves through, the details of which are not for the squeamish.

The surgeon had sliced open my male genitals and repurposed them to create an aesthetic and functional facsimile of female genitalia.

Skin from the scrotum became the labia. The newly constructed cavity that became the neo-vagina was then lined with skin from my penis before being packed with cotton wool. The urethra was shortened and repositioned. Everything was then stitched up before a compression dressing fitted to hold it all together.

I had been warned beforehand that much could go wrong. If the stitches gave way, the neo-vagina might prolapse and be wrecked. There might be complications in my waterworks including renal and urinary infections, while swellings could lead to blockages. Incontinence could be permanent.

Nerves failed to connect in many cases, making sexual function impossible. Permanent numbness is not uncommon. At the very least it would be some weeks before I could sit comfortably again or pee normally without a catheter.

Afterwards I slept for hours and, dosed with morphine, did not move from that hospital bed for four days.

Soulmates: Debbie (formerly David) and Stephanie's wedding in 1993

Remarkably, I could still feel my old male anatomy. My brain had not yet registered that familiar signals were now coming from new locations.

For the next five days, the new cavity was packed and sealed. Then the cotton wool was removed and dilation began.

I was presented with two vaginal dilators, both 20cm long, one 25mm in diameter, the other 30mm. The cavity needed to be stretched three times a day in the weeks after surgery. It was not without considerable pain. Eight years on, that is still a weekly activity.

It's a tough procedure. What's more, cobbling something together from spare parts can never fully replicate the genuine article.

Even so, patients queue up for it and the NHS pays for it, at a rough cost, for male-to-female surgery, of 11,000 per operation. Received wisdom is that it is a necessary treatment for gender dysphoria.

But having put myself through this ordeal, I now question whether it was the right thing to do. I fear that today's fashion for encouraging and facilitating trans people like me to make fundamental changes to their bodies has got completely out of hand.

Ironically, my doubts  based on personal experience  have made me an outcast in the all-powerful trans lobby.

I am a heretic in their eyes because I refuse to agree with the mad fiction they are trying to force on society that a trans woman is every bit a woman and should be treated like one when it comes to public amenities, prisons, sport and so on. It's a fallacy, and a dangerous one.

The basic biological fact  and I speak as a science teacher  is that we cannot change the sex we were born with.

Even the extreme form of physical transition I went through  not to mention years of wearing women's clothes, changing my name from David to Debbie and presenting myself to the outside world as a woman  did not make me an actual woman, because in all other respects I remain a man.

I have come to this conclusion the hard way, after many years of confusion and unhappiness, of trying to understand who and what I am.

I was a boy, but some of my earliest childhood memories are of wanting to wear girls' clothes. I used to retrieve my mother's laddered tights from the bin and put them on in private. No one could know. I was ashamed.

Mutual support: Stephanie and Debbie today

I thought these feelings would pass as I got older but they didn't. Increasingly I wanted to be a girl, but I smothered these desires. I was like someone trying to hold down a beach ball underwater, only for it to force its way to the surface. At 14 I began secretly buying my own women's clothes to wear.

At university I met Stephanie, a fellow scientist, and was blown away by her beauty and her brains. We had many shared interests, including both being dedicated Christians. We married, both trained as teachers and went on to have a daughter and two sons.

I told her early on I'd had 'a thing about women's clothes' but it was now behind me. However, I kept from her the real truth  that it wasn't women's clothes that captivated me: what I wanted was a female body. And that craving wouldn't go away.

In 2008 I reached my 40th birthday and congratulated myself on completing the first half of my life without caving in to my inner demons.

I was happy with family, work, friends. But I had also, through that new source of information the internet, read enough about gender issues to know that people like me transitioned. I grieved for what I had not been able to do.

In my fifth decade, everything changed. Fast broadband turned me from a consumer of information posted by others into someone who could participate while remaining deliciously anonymous.

Searching the internet about transgender issues was like stepping out into the Wild West. Forums for transitioners were one click away from highly sexualised websites that peddled transvestite porn. I immersed myself in this community and soaked up the group-think. No longer did I yearn to be the opposite sex; I thought I really was the opposite sex (though 'gender' was the preferred word).

According to this orthodoxy that I now embraced, I had suffered the misfortune of being born in the wrong body with the wrong genitals. In reality, I was a woman, like other women.

I lapped all this up. As a scientist I should have challenged those claims, but it was the message I wanted to hear.

'I believe I am really a woman,' I would declare to close friends in the real world, craving the same affirmation that I received online. If they challenged what I was saying, I would thrash around for coherent explanations, then dismiss their arguments.

Not surprisingly, I became more and more mentally unwell. Not that I saw it that way. As far as I was concerned there was nothing wrong with me; the problem was everyone else.

DEBBIE HAYTON: I fear that today's fashion for encouraging and facilitating trans people like me to make fundamental changes to their bodies has got completely out of hand (stock image)

I was transfixed by transition stories on the internet. People like me  engineers, medics, teachers  were becoming their true selves, or so they assured me. Yes, there were problems, but they could be managed. Before-and-after photos showed the magic of gender transition, and if they could do it, then so could I. Transition became my imperative.

This was reinforced by dark stories about others who had not transitioned and become increasingly dysfunctional, or worse. The message was clear: transition or go mad and die. In the end, I transitioned to protect my sanity.

I began with social transitioning, coming out to my senior colleagues at school, growing my hair long, paying for a course of facial-hair removal, talking it all through with a specialist psychiatrist.

Then, at the end of the Christmas term in 2012 I went home from school as 'Sir' and went back in January as 'Miss'  in a skirt, my hair below my shoulders, wearing jewellery.

After a nervous couple of days, everything settled down and I simply got on with my job as before, my confidence growing, as did my competence with clothes and make-up. My goal was to pass as a woman, and not be clocked as trans. In the main, nobody seemed to notice or care.

Of course, my own children did. At home I was still 'Dad' to them, at their request. When I'd told them I was transitioning, they were shocked, hurt and upset. For them there were no benefits, just complications, difficulties and a sense of loss. I, however, felt a sense of liberation  and I was eager for the next step and my appointment with the surgeon and his scalpel in Charing Cross Hospital.

I was lucky. After surgery, my problems were transitory. The carpentry held up, the plumbing worked and sexual sensation returned after about six months. Then it was back to school and on with my life, happy with my reincarnated self, certain I had done the right thing.

On top of my school work, I was a trade union activist  on the national executive of the teachers' union, the NASUWT, and also on the LGBT+ committee of the TUC.

In that capacity, shortly after my operation, I was at a meeting on transgender rights when a member of the audience challenged the orthodoxy, highlighting the 'very serious implications for women and women's safety' if anyone could claim to be a different sex on the basis of self-declaration.

Hearing this made me stop and think, and I became increasingly concerned that self-declaration was a really bad idea after all.

DEBBIE HAYTON: I was transfixed by transition stories on the internet. People like me  engineers, medics, teachers  were becoming their true selves, or so they assured me (stock image)

Yet the influence of the trans militants was so great that there were moves afoot in government to update the Gender Recognition Act and enshrine the principle of gender self-declaration in place of the present medicalised, quasi-judicial process involving doctors and lawyers.

This would be an unmitigated disaster. I began to see that allowing anyone to simply choose their gender  and, in effect, their legal sex  rendered women's boundaries meaningless. If anyone could be female simply by saying so, women would be unable to maintain their sex-based rights.

They would also be put in danger. Sending self-declared 'transgender women' to women's prisons presented a massive safeguarding loophole, and one that would surely be noticed by every abusive man who was on the lookout for such weaknesses.

Furthermore, the inevitable fallout from this would be to damage the trust and confidence that transsexuals like me relied on to get on with our lives without being harassed or picked on.

I also found myself asking some very basic questions for the first time. Like, what is gender identity and how is it different from sex? I'm a scientist by training and instinct and I believe in objective facts. But on this fundamental point I searched my head for an answer and found nothing.

Gender identity couldn't be objectively defined because it was based on 'each person's deeply felt internal and individual experience'. It was a circular argument rather than a scientific one and was based on sexist stereotypes. Realisation was dawning that I had transitioned without really knowing why. The certainty I'd had that I was some kind of woman now eluded me, as did my belief that I could be a woman simply because of feelings inside my head.

Pretty soon after, I abandoned my faith in gender identity. I also concluded that the minds of those organisations that promoted it  such as Stonewall, the gay and lesbian charity that had recently become 'trans-inclusive'  had (in the words of a fellow activist) become 'so open, your brains have fallen out'.

Watching the debate play out, I sense a process of triple-think among MPs and policy-makers who set themselves up as eager trans allies. They seem to hold, simultaneously, three mutually incompatible ideas on the matter:

1. That we should be allowed to self-identify our gender.

2. That law and policy should follow gender identity rather than biological sex

3. That any adverse consequences would be insignificant.

The first two in isolation might form a coherent viewpoint  but not all three together because the potential for abuse stares us in the face. If abusive men will train for the priesthood to access their victims, why would they not tick a box to register a change of gender in order to circumvent women's boundaries?

DEBBIE HAYTON: At home I was still 'Dad' to my children, at their request. When I'd told them I was transitioning, they were shocked, hurt and upset (stock image)

Reason and logic changed my way of thinking. The evidence was overwhelming. I was a male human being  a man, therefore  who preferred to be perceived as a woman. That's all. Nothing more.

Where does this leave me, eight years after I walked into Charing Cross Hospital, to an operating theatre where my body was changed irrevocably? I no longer think I am a woman; women are female while I am male.

I have also discovered something deep-seated about myself  that what prompted me to transition was not, in fact, the desire to be a woman but that I was sexually aroused by the thought of myself as a woman.

This is an unusual and little understood sexual condition known as autogynephilia.

I was a heterosexual male and, therefore, evolved to tune in to signals given off by females. But somewhere wires were crossed, my sex drive was short-circuited and in effect I was sex-signalling to myself. That was what was compelling me to turn my body into a woman.

All of which leaves a tantalising question in my mind. If I had known in 2012 what I know now, would I have transitioned? The answer is no.

If back then I'd properly understood those inner drivers that had gripped me since early childhood, the pressing need for transition might have abated. Life would probably have carried on much as it had done for the previous four decades. The last ten years would have been simpler  certainly for Stephanie and our children.

I turned my life, and my family's lives, upside down because I thought I was some kind of woman. My mental health had deteriorated alarmingly, and I saw transition as the only possible escape.

At the same time, however, if I hadn't transitioned I would probably never have wrestled with the issues, and self-awareness and self-acceptance would likely still have eluded me.

But I have no plans to detransition. For a start, it is impossible to reverse the physical changes to my body. But even if it were, I still prefer my body as it is now. Only since that surgery have I really been comfortable inside my own skin. It would make no sense to change it to something that I am less happy with.

Maybe I could socially detransition. But I prefer women's clothes, and when I dress up for special occasions it's in a dress rather than a suit. The length of my hair is more typical of women than men  particularly at my stage in life  but I wear it long because I like it that way.

What really matters, however, is not the way I present myself but how others perceive me.

DEBBIE HAYTON: I turned my life, and my family's lives, upside down because I thought I was some kind of woman. My mental health had deteriorated alarmingly (stock image)

Transition was more than a change of clothes and a lesson in make-up. Those trappings were always a means to one end: being perceived to be the opposite sex.

Detransition would reverse that process, and in real life, where sexed bodies matter, I have no wish to do so. I fear a return of the mental health catastrophe that drove me to transition in the first place.

So, I tread an uneasy path: I know I am not a woman, but I recognise that I need to perceive myself as a woman. And for others to perceive me as such.

The truth is that I never gained what I expected  womanhood. But I did gain self-awareness and self-understanding. Had I not transitioned, I might still be that fearful man who had no conception of what made him tick. My energy might still be focused on keeping that beach ball below the surface  a task that would have become ever more difficult as transgender issues became so prominent.

One place where I can detransition is the internet. There I can be she or he, Debbie or David. But why make life more difficult and store up issues when the online world crosses over into real life?

Picture the scene: a stranger is trying to find me in a crowded room. Without knowing who I am, they ask for directions from a mutual friend. 'I'm looking for Debbie Hayton.'

'Ah, Debbie!' comes the reply. 'He is the tall man with the grey hair by the bookcase.'

My friend's response might have been scientifically accurate, but it would probably not have been much use.

Of course, they could have been told: 'You see the person over by the bookcase with the grey hair who could be taken for a woman? That's Debbie.' But how realistic is that every time I'm pointed out in a crowd?

The simplest reply is, of course, what generally happens: 'She's the tall woman with the grey hair'

Integrity matters  I am just one person and the same person in all contexts, a male transsexual.

Transsexual Apostate, by Debbie Hayton, to be published by Swift Press on February 8 at 16.99.  Debbie Hayton 2024. To order a copy for 15.29 (offer valid to February 17, 2024; UK P&P free on orders over 25), go to: mailshop.co.uk/ books or call 020 3176 2937.

THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST ME BY THE TRANS LOBBY WAS UNBELIEVABLY NASTY

As my thinking developed, the trans people I knew became more and more distant, particularly after I began to put my thoughts in print through pieces of journalism.

In articles, I queried the rush to update the Gender Recognition Act to give the green light to self-declaration. At stake, I wrote, was the legal distinction between men and women, a fundamental issue that needed to be discussed and debated. Instead, those who expressed reservations were dismissed as TERFs.

Standing for 'trans-exclusionary radical feminist', this derogatory term labels anyone who questions trans orthodoxy as 'anti-trans' and full of bigotry and hate.

It's a means of silencing debate, and that's precisely what it was doing. No one was allowed to challenge the idea that gender identity alone was the key, not even me, who had gone through the whole physical transformation.

I argued we must not forget the rights of women. I asked: should female facilities be open to anyone who declares themselves to be a woman, or should limits be set? What about women-only shortlists? Should those positions be open to anyone who identifies as a woman irrespective of who they actually are?

Counterpoint: Debbie in her 'Trans women are men. Get over it!' T-shirt

I thought I would be listened to. After all, who better to write these things than a member of the TUC LGBT+ committee who was also trans?

I spoke about casual discrimination against trans people in the workplace  something close to my heart as a trade unionist . That was what I wanted to see tackled, not self-ID, which I described as 'a battle that is totally unnecessary'.

The reaction was hysterical. Rapidly, I became persona non grata among the trans tribe. I was charged with heresy for opposing the ideology and denying the central tenet of the faith  trans women are women. My Facebook friends list shrank before my eyes. Online trans discussion groups excluded me and blocked me without explanation.

The campaign against me was unbelievably nasty and dishonest. My school would get tweets such as: 'Why are you employing a transphobic teacher?' The school's Twitter account received accusations that I was an online bully, a danger to children and an apologist for paedophilia.

One activist tweeted: 'DH is a danger to all children,' adding that by still employing me, it had to be presumed the school didn't care about children either.

I had even chaired sessions of the TUC LGBT+ conference, but on one of the most fundamental pillars of human society  the distinction between men and women  the trade union movement had been captured by gender identity ideology. I was hounded off the committee, branded as a bigot and anti-trans. I had become an apostate to the true faith.

Gender identity ideology treats its defectors like some religious cults treat theirs. We are deserters, heretics, even traitors; we are seen to be bad people who need to be removed from positions of influence and silenced.

The trans fanatics have a slogan: 'Trans women are women. Get over it!'

I countered this with a T-shirt that read: 'Trans women are men. Get over it!' Which is what, in all conscience and after considerable thought, I believe. This  and many other of my arguments  were ludicrously denounced as hate speech.

And so now we have an impasse in our society over that most basic of questions: 'What is a woman?' The result is a polarised dispute that gets more toxic, with no winners in sight.

Firmly dug into one set of trenches, the proponents of gender identity ideology argue that 'man' and 'woman' are identities to be claimed. A woman is anyone who utters those magic words: 'I identify as a woman!'

It sounds progressive and liberating to allow anyone to find their own place in society, and it doesn't stop there. So new categories are created for those who feel they don't fit either of the existing ones. 'Non-binary', 'agender', 'neutrois', 'androgyne', 'gender fluid', 'genderqueer'  the list goes on. The BBC once explained to children that there were 'over 100 genders'.

Facing them across no man's land (or should that be 'no person's land'?) are the defenders of biological reality, like me, who think the idea that trans women are women is preposterous. We are not women. We behave quite differently from women. There are differences between the sexes that are clear and unmistakable.

It's not just that male-born bodies are on average taller, stronger and more hairy than female bodies. Male and female psychologies also tend to follow different patterns. Studies show that, when it comes to decision-making, men tend to be thinking-preference while women have a tendency to be feeling-preference.

The fact is that even throughout the time I imagined I was some kind of woman, the evidence for my sex was indisputable. I was born with testes and male genitalia. Three children were born after I supplied the sperm. Two of those children were boys and there was only one person from whom they could inherit their own Y chromosome  me. Biologically, I am a man, an adult human male.

But as humans, nobody needs a degree in genetics to tell the difference between men and women: we have had that skill since before the dawn of humanity.

We share it with other species. My female cat knows a tom cat when she sees one and reacts appropriately. Indeed, a species where the individuals cannot perceive the opposite sex is unlikely to contribute much further to evolutionary history.
The pit will soon give way to the steel.

Task force aims to make sure minority firms get their fair share of Bills stadium work Patrick Freeman was appointed chair of the New Stadium Community Inclusion Task Force  one of the first of its kind to oversee the expanding of access and opportunities for disadvantaged small businesses that are interested in participating in the construction and operation of a new stadium.

The part of the new Buffalo Bills stadium construction project that will make it look like an actual stadium is taking shape will soon get underway.

Structural steel is close to being ready to go up nine months after work first began on the $1.7 billion project in Orchard Park.

A ceremony next week will mark the hanging of a 22-foot, 1,225-pound steel beam signed by local and state officials and workers on the job, who were honored Friday during a stop by Gov. Kathy Hochul.

That will mark a new phase of the stadium construction work, one that will cause steel beams to soon rise above the surface of what now looks like a big hole in the ground on Abbott Road, across the street from the current facility.

The concrete that sets the stage to build the steel frame has been poured, allowing hundreds of workers to soon start on the skeleton of the stadium.

That new phase will take at least a year to complete, officials said. The canopy for the stadium is expected to go on around this time next year, said Jerry Hatt, a member of Operating Engineers  Local 17, which is manning the giant cranes in the air on the site.

Its an exciting time, said Hatt, whos been on the job for three weeks gearing up for whats ahead. As the weather breaks, Im sure there is going to be even more workers out here, bringing even more energy.

About 24,000 tons of steel will be needed to build the stadium.

Some of that steel is beginning to arrive at the site, and as more gets there, it will be hung by workers, said Jason Peterson, who has been working on the project since September. Hell be working on the stadium until it is completed.

Im excited to see it go up in all of its transitions and all of its phases, said Peterson, owner of Bethlehem Land Surveying.

The project is on schedule despite the recent shot of winter weather that included two heavy snowfalls over a one-week period, according to Bills great Thurman Thomas, who runs construction company 34 Group, one of the general contractors on the project, along with Gilbane Building Co. and Turner Construction Co.

The stadium is expected to be completed before the start of the 2026 season.

Weve been able to come out and still be able to work, but when you have storms like that, the one thing you want to mention is the safety, Thomas said. Safety will always be the number one priority.

There have been no reportable incidents so far on the project, officials said.

Thomas is excited to be a part of what he called a once in a lifetime opportunity. Right now, he said many of the larger companies and contractors involved on the project are at the forefront, but added that the opportunity will be life changing for many of the Buffalo-area companies involved.

This is a sizeable project, and it really took some time and effort from our team and everyone from the 34Group to really buckle down on it, he said. Even though Im not a part of the team anymore, I still have an opportunity to leave my mark.

During the site excavation, workers removed over 500,000 cubic yards of stone, which is being stored on the south side of the SUNY Erie Community College South campus. It took 18,000 truckloads to remove all of it. That material will be used to fill the hole thats created when the current stadium is demolished, slated for after the 2026-27 season.

A sheet piling wall, with precast concrete panels slipped in, was built up around the hole to take the pressure off the steel framing.

It took over 2,000 trucks placing 18,000 yards of concrete to complete the foundation.

After the steel goes up, the building will be clad, electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems will be installed and sections, suites and food and beverage areas will be built out.

This is a big deal and one that future generations of Bills fans will celebrate for many, many years to come, said Deputy Erie County Executive Lisa Chimera. In the coming weeks, something brand new will rise at the corner of Southwestern and Abbott.  The results of our hard work and laser focus on the new stadium are taking shape before our eyes and will soon be more evident than ever.

Hochul said more than 800 workers have been involved in the project so far, with about 300 working at the site daily. But state officials expect that will balloon to about 1,500 a day as some of the more detailed work gets underway.

Once that steel comes up, I think people will really see the stadium take shape, Steve Ranalli, president of the Erie County Stadium Corp., the state entity overseeing the compliance and oversight of the project, said in December.

Because the new stadium is one of the biggest projects ever in Western New York, its also been heavily scrutinized. Reaching the goals to involve the local community, including women, minority and service-disabled veteran contractors, was an early issue. State officials said more than 95% of the laborers on the project so far have been local.

But Peterson said hes noticed an effort by Gilbane/Turner to create bid packages that allow for smaller companies to be a part of this project. Peterson, who considers his company to be a smaller outfit, said some of the work does not take a great deal of manpower, and hes seen smaller groups of even five to 10 people contributing on the site.

Thomas said he believes the local representation on the project has been good and he hopes that trend will continue, but theres still a long way to go.

There is going to be even more people out here as the project goes along, Thomas said.
NSW Premier Chris Minns has condemned a balaclava-clad neo-Nazi group who were kicked off a train in shocking Australia Day, scenes saying their actions do not represent how Australia Day should be celebrated.

More than 70 members of extremist group the Nationalist Socialist Network were pulled off a train at North Sydney station after the hooded men got on at Artarmon station on Friday around 11.30am.

The group, led by Melbourne-based white supremacist leader Thomas Sewell, were seen wearing balaclavas and black sunglasses while others were seen brandishing Australian flags and one carried a riot shield.

They swarmed the platform as horrified passengers and families watched on before they boarded the last carriage of the train.

The train driver stopped the train at North Sydney station, four stops down the T1 North Sydney line just before midday when more than 20 police officers intercepted the train.

SW Premier Chris Minns has condemned a balaclava-clad Neo Nazi group (pictrured) who were pulled from a Sydney train station on Australia Day

All passengers were safely evacuated before officers detained the group of men on the train for three hours.

Six members of the group were arrested while 55 others were handed infringement notices for offensive behaviour on public transport.

Mr Minns slammed the group's actions and said it is not the way Australia Day is celebrated.

'Normal people don't celebrate Australia Day with a balaclava on,' he told The Daily Telegraph.'

'There is absolutely no tolerance for this behaviour.'

The group were understood to be attempting to stage a pro-white rally as thousands gathered across the CBD to take part in 'Invasion Day' protests.

The group were later involved in a tense standoff with armed officers from the Public Order and Riot Squad after the group dressed in all-black clothing were led to St Peters Park near North Sydney station just before 3pm.

The group of more than 70 men (pictured) were seen brandishing Australian flags and even a riot shield

Police detained the men on board the train (pictured) for around three hours after all the passengers were evacuated safely

Police read out a move-on order to the group before Sewell, a convicted criminal, went on a bizarre racist rant after he addressed the heavily armed officers about what the extremist group stood for.

'What we represent is white Australians that will not be brow beaten by homosexuals, and communists, and Jews...' he said.

'We stand tall as white Australians and celebrate our national day.'

Sewell, who was imprisoned for attacking a group of hikers in Victoria in 2021, told the newspaper that his white supremacist group should not have been arrested.

He said they were planning to stage a protest as they believed Australia Day was 'being destroyed' by 'anti-white communists'.

Sewell then went onto to insult police during his rant by telling them to go and get a 'trade' instead of being part of an oppressive state that he claimed was designed to 'serve anti-white [and] anti-Australian terrorists'.

Sewell (pictured) said the group were planning to stage a pro-white rally in the city

The group were later led away by police to St Peters Park (pictured) near North Sydney station where officers read out a move-on order to the group

Investigations into yesterday's incident are ongoing and charges are expected to be laid.

Police will continue to have a strong presence over the long weekend as thousands braved close to 40 degree temperatures on Friday to mark the public holiday.

Millions of people across the nation celebrated, commemorated or protested on January 26, a day that marks the First Fleet arrival and raising of the Union Jack flag at Sydney Cove by Captain Arthur Phillip in 1788.

Others were seen cooling off at the beach in Sydney while some spent the day with friends and family on the harbour.
Brits must prepare to be called up for war within the next six years if Vladimir Putin is not defeated, an expert has warned, adding that he believes there is a 'snowball's chance in hell' of the Russian despot backing down on Ukraine.

Professor Anthony Glees, a security and intelligence expert at the University of Buckingham, agrees with calls made earlier this week to prepare citizens for the outbreak of all-out war with Russia - including the potential for conscription.

Outgoing head of the British Army General Sir Patrick Sanders said on Wednesday that the 'pre-war generation' of UK citizens must be prepared to answer the call to fight for King and country in the form of a 'citizen army'.

Nato top brass fear that a ground conflict fought between Western allies and Putin's forces could happen in the next 20 years amid simmering tensions over Ukraine; but Prof Glees fears it could happen sooner.

In a new interview, the emeritus professor has suggested the military begins recruiting volunteers for a civilian force over the next three years  and be ready for a mandatory call up within six.

Professor Anthony Glees, emeritus professor at the University of Buckingham, has warned Brits to prepare for conscription to see off Putin

Conscription hasn't been seen for over 60 years following the end of national service (pictured: recruits in 1947)

General Sir Patrick Sanders (left) made the call for a 'citizen army' to be created amid the ongoing push by Vladimir Putin (right) into Ukraine

A fire rages following a missile strike in Kyiv, Ukraine earlier this month as Russia stepped up its aerial bombardment of the country

'The UK Government should plan to sign up volunteers now and over the next three years and "the whole of the nation" should prepare for conscription within six years unless Putin were defeated,' he told the Mirror.

He compared the situation now to that of 1937, two years before the outbreak of the Second World War, when conscription was also a distant notion.

It is a comparison also made by Gen Sir Patrick almost two years ago in June 2022, when he said Britain was having a '1937 moment' as the West came to terms with Putin's invasion of Ukraine months before.

Prof Glees continued: 'I would see a 'limited conscription', a call-up of incentivised volunteers, as being very much on the cards if Putin is now thrown out of Ukraine. Obviously, if there were a wider European or world war conscription would follow at once.

'Putin has repeatedly said he wants the post-1997 NATO states to be disarmed and brought back into the Russian orbit, re-creating the system of satellites that was the strategic policy of the USSR. There's not a snowball's chance in hell of Putin just going away.'

He is not the first voice to echo General Sir Patrick's view that Britain should be on a war footing in case tensions with Ukraine boil over into all-out warfare.

On Thursday, former Nato deputy commander and British Army veteran General Sir Richard Shirreff called on the military to begin 'thinking the unthinkable' and consider bringing back mandatory conscription for the first time in 60 years.

Full-time Army numbers are heading for new lows of 73,000 by next year  which could prove catastrophic in the event of a new multinational conflict, he said.

'If you look at the Army, Army numbers are in freefall,' Gen Sir Richard told Sky News.

'That is not an army that is ready and capable of producing a warfighting division, which I would argue is the currency of high intensity conflict.

'(It would be) great if we were to get the volunteers. I think General Sanders is absolutely right to be talking about a citizen volunteer army.

'I think though that now, against all the odds, is the time to start thinking the unthinkable and really having to think quite carefully about conscription if we're to deliver the numbers needed.'

Michael Clarke (pictured), the former director-general of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), told MailOnline that the army must be better at driving recruitment and at least 'get over the 100,000 mark'

Junior soldiers from the Army Foundation College in Harrogate conduct an exercise in Northumberland. Conscription, were it to happen, could see more Brits trained to fight

And on Friday Michael Clarke, ex-director-general of the Royal United Services Institute military think tank, told MailOnline the army must get 'over the 100,000 mark' to stand a chance against the million-strong might of the Russian Army.

'During the Cold War it was 180,000,' he said of the British Army's strength during the dying days of the Soviet Union.

'We are moving back to another Cold War. My own guess is something over 150,000 would give you the ability that you need.

'You have to get over the 100,000 mark. You have to have a drive in recruitment.

'We have got a very good history and people are very warm and trusting of our armed forces. We have to use that.'

Earlier today, No 10 defended the UK Government's spending on defence after a senior US military figure also urged Britain to 'reassess' the size of its armed forces.

Carlos Del Toro, the United States navy secretary, said it was 'absolutely necessary' for Western democracies to continue investing in defence due to a host of emerging threats across the globe.

According to several reports, Mr Del Toro told reporters after a speech at the RUSI in London: 'I think it is important for the United Kingdom to reassess where they are today given the threats that exist today.'

He is also said to have told those at the think tank briefing that 'sacrifices' had been made in the British Army.

But the Prime Minister's representatives have pushed back on the notion of reintroducing conscription; mandatory national service was scrapped post-war in 1960, with the last recruits being demobbed three years later.

A spokesperson for Rishi Sunak said earlier this week of conscription: 'The Government has no intention to follow through with that.

'The British military has a proud tradition of being a voluntary force. There are no plans to change that.'
She allegedly ran over five people in four separate hit-and-runs and stabbed two other victims in a chaotic rampage

The woman arrested over a chaotic crime spree where she allegedly hit five people in four separate hit-and-runs and stabbed two others has been pictured.

Tanay Stallings-Brown, 31, was charged Friday with attempted murder after police say she launched into the terrifying 'random' 90-minute attack.

The horror began Thursday at around 5pm, when a pedestrian suffered minor injuries when she was hit by a car in the town of Capitol Heights, just ten miles from Washington DC.

Ten minutes later, police were called to a separate scene in nearby Landover where a man and a 15-year-old were struck by a car.

Witnesses said the woman then got out of her car and stabbed the teen, leaving them with critical injuries. The man suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

As a manhunt was launched, officials compared the fear caused by Stallings-Brown's alleged crime spree with that of the hunt for the DC sniper in 2002.

Tanay Stallings-Brown, 31, was charged Friday with attempted murder after police say she launched into the terrifying 'random' 90-minute attack

Investigators quickly ascertained that the suspect was a woman driving a dark-colored sedan

Following those first two attacks, police say Stallings-Brown returned to Capitol Heights as she struck another man with a car at 5:30pm, leaving him with non-life-threatening injuries.

The man told cops that after he was initially struck by the car, the driver turned around and struck him again.

Within minutes, another man was hit by the same black Chevrolet Malibu that cops say they used to trace and arrest Stallings-Brown.

An hour later, the spree escalated as a man was stabbed at a gas station in Lanham, after the suspect hailed a taxi and attacked the driver shortly after getting in the car, police said.

The taxi driver's injuries were described as critical by authorities. Local media showed the car being towed away from the scene.

After that stabbing, police released a description of the suspect and the car, as investigators quickly ascertained that the suspect was a woman driving a dark-colored sedan.

According to a press release from the Prince George's County Police Department, the vehicle was next seen at 10:50pm, when deputies say they pulled over Stallings-Brown after watching her enter the car.

Officers on the scene observed the car had 'significant front-end damage and a smashed windshield', per the release.

Despite the crazed nature of the crimes, officials did not establish any motive for Stallings-Brown's alleged rampage.

Following the arrest, Baltimore Police Department Chief Malik Aziz said he was 'proud' of the quick work officers made in containing the suspect, with the manhunt lasting approximately six hours.

Police say the suspect hailed a taxi cab and then proceeded to stab the driver, the car is shown being town away

Deputy Chief James McCreary said that he's been with the force since 2004 and that he hasn't seen panic since the carnage inflicted on the region by the Washington DC sniper

'The crimes Stallings-Brown committed occurred across three different police divisions in span of an hour-and-a half,' Aziz said in a statement.

'Commanders and investigators in each of these divisions worked aggressively to interview victims and witnesses and attempt to locate any video or images of the suspect.

'Investigators were able to determine the crimes were all linked and committed by one female suspect.

'Within six hours of her first crime, PGPD detectives identified, located and arrested her in Baltimore.

'I am proud of each of these officers. They worked with a determination to arrest the suspect who would so brazenly come into our community and cause harm to six victims. We wish each of these victims well in their recoveries.'

One official described the search for the stabbing suspect as being reminiscent of the search for the DC snipers, John Muhammad, left. and Lee Boyd Malvo, right

Deputy Chief James McCreary of the Prince George's County Police told media that he's been with the force since 2004 and hasn't seen panic like it since the carnage inflicted on the region by the Washington DC sniper.

'This is very concerning, very frightening, which is why we wanted to alert the public immediately,' he said, according WUSA9.

'The closest thing I can think of in recent memory was the D.C. sniper when I was coming up. It's shocking,' he added.

Shortly after 11pm on Thursday evening, police confirmed that the person of interest had been located and was in custody. Details on their arrest are expected later today.

Lee Boyd Malvo was 17 when he and John Allen Muhammad shot and killed 10 people and wounded three others over a three-week span in October 2002.

Multiple other victims were shot and killed across the country in the prior months as the duo made their way to the nations capital region from Washington state.

Malvo was convicted of capital murder in Virginia and sentenced to life in prison without parole. But a series of Supreme Court rulings and a change in Virginia law gave Malvo the opportunity to seek parole after serving nearly 20 years in custody.

Malvos accomplice, John Allen Muhammad, was executed in Virginia in 2009.
Sky News has apologised after one of its presenters made a comparison between an Israeli politician's comments about the war in Gaza with the way Jewish people were treated in the Holocaust.

The channel broadcasted an apology after presenter Belle Donati interviewed Danny Danon, a member of Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party.

Ms Donati had referred to the 'voluntary relocation of many Jewish people during the Holocaust'.

Her guest described the words as 'shameful' and said her remarks had been 'pure anti-Semitism'.

Mr Danon was appearing on the programme after Israel was told by the UN's top court to do it all it can to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza. But it did not tell Israel to stop the war.

Belle Donati (left) had referred to the 'voluntary relocation of many Jewish people during the Holocaust'. Her guest, Danny Danon (right), a member of Benjamin Netanyahu 's Likud party, described the words as 'shameful' and said her remarks had been 'pure anti-Semitism'

A heated exchange began when the presenter said that her guest had 'called for a voluntary migration of Palestinians from Gaza'.

She also claimed he had suggested the 'ethnic cleansing' of some of Gaza's population to Western countries, in an article he had co-authored.

Mr Danon said he had not spoken about 'ethnic cleansing' but about 'voluntary immigration' and said that anyone in the world who voluntarily wanted to move country should be eligible to do that.

The Sky News presenter then made reference to the 'voluntary relocation of many Jewish people during the Holocaust, I imagine'.

The Israeli politician said 'shame on' you for the comparison and accused her of 'antisemitism' saying she should apologise for what she had said, asking 'how can you even compare that'.

The broadcaster then later issued an on air apology.

It said: 'In an interview earlier today with Israeli politician Danny Danon, a Sky News presenter made a comparison between Mr Danon's comments on Israel's war with Hamas and the treatment of Jewish people in the Holocaust.

'Sky News recognised the complete inappropriateness of this comparison and the offensive nature of those comments.

'Sky News would like to apologise unreservedly for the comparison and to Mr Danon personally for making the comparison.'
The Pastor and his wife raised eight children together- six biological and two who were adopted

An Ohio pastor has died alongside his two sons in a tragic house fire after he saved his wife and two other children from the blaze.

Mark Robinette, 55, jumped back into the burning house after he realized that his two sons Gideon, 17, and Liam, 10, were still trapped inside.

The three never made it out and were discovered 'holding onto each other,' the Pastor's cousin Haley McGuire wrote in a Facebook post.

Fire departments were dispatched to the family's home in Pickaway County, about 19 miles from Columbus, on Tuesday around 12.22 am.

The cause of the fire is still unknown but investigators said that there is 'no indication of foul play,' according to a press release.

'Three remarkable people and there is a hole in the world without them,' Mark's brother-in-law Geoffery Trapini told WBNS-TV.

Mark Robinette died alongside his two sons Liam and Gideon in a house fire early Tuesday morning in Pickaway County, Ohio. Pictured: Mark, 55 and his son Liam, 10

The father and Pastor ran back into the blaze after he managed to save his wife and two of their children. Pictured: Mark and his son Gideon, 17

Fire departments were dispatched to the family's home in Pickaway County, about 19 miles from Columbus, on Tuesday around 12.22 am. The cause of the blaze is under investigation

Trapini revealed that Mark managed to save the rest of his family by pushing them out of a window before he ran back into the home.

The rest of the family is currently staying in a hotel and a memorial has been arranged outside the charred home, WBNS-TV reported.

'His wife and six other kids are now without anything. They lost it all in the fire, including phones,' McGuire said in her post.

Mark and his wife Andrea raised eight children together- six biological and two who were adopted.

Liam has been remembered as a sweet boy who 'everyone loved', while Gideon was preparing to go to college and had dreams of working in ministry like his father.

Gideon also enjoyed reading the bible, learning Spanish, working in the sound booth at his church, and poetry.

'He was a passionate truth seeker with a contagious grin that lit up any room he entered,' his obituary said.

Liam loved animals, playing checkers, drawing, and sending letters to his grandmother.

Mark shared a total of eight children with is wife Andrea (middle). Two of the eight were adopted

Multiple GoFundMe pages have been created to raise money for the family as Mark's wife and six other children plan to rebuild their home. Pictured: Mark with his wife Andrea

'His family was so thankful for the gift of our little bub,' Liam's obituary said.

Mark was a pastor at Foundation Church in Mt.Sterling which he founded in 2020. He was also the director and CEO at Mission to the Americas, a fundraising platform for 'solid Christian ministries' that need help.

According to his Facebook page, he was also the director and CEO at Mission To Myanmar, and previously worked as a reporter at The Daily Record and Portsmouth Daily Times.

During his time in the ministries, Mark would frequently travel on missions where he help those in need and grew close to the many children and families that he aided.

'He was involved in a lot of things. If he saw a need he was involved in it. If he saw people in need he was involved in it,' Trapani said.

His family also joined him on his mission trips where they would help people who were homeless, mentally ill, and involved in human trafficking groups, according to Trapani.

Liam has been remembered as a sweet boy who 'everyone loved'

The three never made it out and were discovered 'holding onto each other,' the pastor's cousin Haley McGuire wrote in a Facebook post

Gideon was preparing to go to college and had dreams of working in ministry like his father

Nainy Thang, the Vice President of Myanmar Evangelical Christian Alliance posted a heartfelt tribute to Mark online along with pictures of his kids embracing the Pastor.

'My children miss you so much my big brother. We know you're now in heavenly glory,' Thang said.

A vigil for the father and is two sons was held on Tuesday night and money has been raised through two GoFundMe pages to help the family rebuild their home and their lives.

'Their house and all of their belongings were completely destroyed, and it is the dead of winter. They are left with the night clothes they were wearing and their vehicle and that is all,' Shonna Nitzel, who started the donation page for the family said.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Division of State Fire Marshal's Fire and and Explosion Investigation Bureau, Pickaway County Sheriff's Office and the Coroner's Office.
Australia Day celebrations turned ugly in Perth when dozens of people became involved in a violent brawl that was captured on video.

A large group of revellers had gathered at Swan River to 'raft up' by anchoring their boats together when an argument broke out among a group of young men.

More than 20 boats were parked at a sandbank at Rocky Bay near Mosman Park to enjoy the warm temperatures on Friday when the fight erupted.

An Australia Day raft-up on the Swan River in WA turned violent. Picture: 9 News

A large group of men appear to be shoving and kicking each other in footage of the fight. Picture: 9 News

A video shared to social media shows a man being pushed down into the water as the partygoers scramble towards each other.

The shocking footage shows a large group of shirtless men kicking, punching, shoving and hitting each other during the violent melee.

Some of the participants even appear to stomp on others as they're submerged in the water.

The video has amassed thousands of views on social media, but commenters appear to have taken a lighthearted view of the fight.

Several social media users took the opportunity to poke fun at the brawlers, blaming alcohol and celebrations for the bad behaviour.

'Can't handle a couple of beers,' one social media user said.

'It ain't Australia Day without a bit of a bust up,' another said.

'Where are the bull sharks when you need 'em,' a third user wrote.

Western Australia Police have been contacted for comment.

Wild teenage fight in Sydney

It comes as a chaotic incident involving as many as fifty teenagers at Manly Wharf in Sydney ended with multiple arrests on Australia Day.

A large group of teenagers, many of them clad in bikinis, were involved in an intense argument on Friday afternoon.

The incident began about 4pm, with footage showing police chasing after the teens.

Pepper spray was reportedly deployed by officers as they tried to contain the situation at one of Australia's most iconic beaches.

The Perth incident occurred after an incident in Sydney involving as many as 50 teenagers at Manly Wharf ended with multiple arrests

Nine reporter Madison Scott described it as an 'intense, chaotic afternoon'.

'There was a lot of pushing and shoving between authorities and some of those individuals in that group,' she said.

'Eventually two young teens were arrested, one of them pinned down on the concrete before being taken away by police.'

Ms Scott added there were also several more arrests and police were alert for more trouble.

A video of the brawl was posted on the @creaturesofManly social media page with the caption 'Ratbags take Manly', sparking a lot of reaction online.

One person wrote: 'They need to shut Manly down for anyone under the age of 18 for [Australia Day] excluding babies/toddlers or kids accompanied by their parents. This is disgusting, poor cops.'

The Manly incident began about 4pm, with footage showing police chasing after the teens

Another argued it was 'reason to change the date.'

'This s*** has been happening for years!'.

A third person compared it to the Cronulla riots, a major incident involving thousands of people in 2005.

The riots began as a dispute between a group of Middle Eastern youths and lifeguards at Cronulla beach, before spreading to southwest Sydney.

A spokesperson for NSW Police said they attended the forecourt area of Manly Wharf in response to reports of a brawl.

Police arrested three male teenagers who were taken to Manly Police station and are assisting with inquiries.
A Brooklyn man accused by his wife of killing a drug dealing child molester told family he is innocent and wasnt even around when the victim was chopped up and tossed in his freezer, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal.

Nicholas McGee, a suspect in the killing and dismembering of 40-year-old Kawsheen Gelzer, has been locked in Chesapeake, Virginia since September on an unrelated check fraud case.

Gelzers head and other body parts were discovered Monday in several plastic bags, after cops received a tip.

Heather Stines, a 45-year-old drug addict who lived with her husband in the apartment in Flatbush, was charged Thursday with concealment of a human corpse and remains a person of interest in the homicide, which police say apparently stemmed from a dispute over drugs.

But Stines is blaming her husband, saying he killed the man before his arrest in Virginia, police sources have told DailyMail.com.

Nicholas McGee (left) was accused by his wife Heather Stines (right), 45, of killing drug dealing sex offender Kawsheen Gelzer in a dispute over drugs. Stines was detained on Monday night after cops received a tip about Gelzer's body parts in her freezer in Brooklyn

The victim, 40-year-old Kawsheen Gelzer, according to records, has been on the New York sex offender registry since 2005 after he was convicted of molesting a 12-year-old boy and has served prison time for sexual abuse among several other arrests

The body parts were found in apartment 4C in a Brooklyn apartment building on Nostrand Avenue at around 7:10pm on Monday evening

A relative of McGee told DailyMail.com that she spoke with him by phone late Wednesday, read him a DailyMail.com article on the case, and asked him whether he had anything to do with it.

Speaking to her from behind bars, McGee denied having anything to do with the killing, chopping or concealment, and claimed he had idea who Gelzer was.

I said to him, Do you want me to read the article to you? Because this is saying that she is implicating you, and theres now a picture of you out there. When I read the (victims) name, he said he didnt know who that was. I read it to him completely and he was still saying, No, that didnt happen.

He didnt admit anything to us, the relative added. He said hes been in jail and that it didnt happen before when he was out.

McGee told her that he was due to be released on Feb. 4, and that the NYPD had yet to contact him as of their phone call.

I told him that if the NYPD comes and they want to detain you, they can because she is implicating you, she told DailyMail.com.

His wife Stines, after being interrogated by detectives, was taken to Brookdale Hospital for a psychiatric evaluation.

Neighbors told DailyMail.com that Stines (pictured) would never let anyone in her kitchen over fears of what was inside. Following her arrest and interrogation, she was taken to Brookdale Hospital for a psychiatric evaluation

Stines told police her husband killed Gelzer in September, then chopped him up and put the pieces in the freezer.

'She has said that, and we believe it to be true,' a source said, adding that the case was being investigated as a suspected drug-related homicide.

'She's saying it was her husband, but he's in jail and she's there with a dead body,' another police source said.

Asked if they believed McGee killed Gelzer the second source said: 'Could be. I don't think she would have been able to chop up the body by herself.

'Maybe they were together... we don't know how long this guy has been in the fridge.'

Gelzer was convicted of first-degree sexual abuse, contact by forcible compulsion, that he committed on August 8, 2004, criminal records show.

NYPD confirmed that they were called to the apartment on Nostrand Avenue in Brooklyn at 7.10 p.m. Monday.

Once there, sources said officers saw a suspiciously taped up refrigerator that Stines was adamant they didn't open it as they tried to inspect it.

Stines was arrested when she tried to stop the officers from looking inside.

The old building with 'Flatbush Court' engraved above the always-unlocked door was poorly maintained with graffiti on the walls and chips all through the lobby's plaster. Most of the shops nearby are boarded up and piles of trash bags line both sides of the door

A cop stands guard in the apartment building Tuesday

Stines, 45, (pictured) told investigators her husband killed Gelzer, with a source confirming to DailyMail.com: 'She has said that, and we believe it to be true'

Officers found the body parts inside black plastic bags inside both the fridge and freezer and removed them from the apartment for DNA testing.

Gelzer was identified from his distinctive gang tattoos that matched arrest records.

The medical examiner was still working to determine a cause of death, which has been delayed because they 'have to wait for [parts of] the body to thaw out, a source said.

Stines's elderly aunt, Amy Stines, expressed her shock and horror at the news when reached on Tuesday.

'Oh God, I just can't fathom this,' the 79-year-old from Kentucky told DailyMail.com.

She said her niece has had longstanding drug problems and moved from Kentucky six years ago hoping to escape her problems.

Relatives of McGee said he is also a drug addict with a criminal history, who was locked up most recently in September after he was accused of trying to cash a fraudulent check in a bank.
Gleeful Celebrity Big Brother (CBB) bosses are reported to have recruited the Princess of Wales' uncle Gary Goldsmith as a contestant on the next series of the reality show.

The outspoken businessman, 58, is reported to have inked a meaty deal with bosses for the return of the celebrity edition of the series after a six year absence.

Mr Goldsmith, brother of Kate Middleton's mother Carole, is reported to have signed the contract for his appearance this week after allegedly trying to get onto I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! in 2023.

Show insiders say producers are delighted to have secured him as a contestant because of his links to the royal family  and because of his penchant for saying what he thinks, particularly about Kate's brother-in-law, Prince Harry.

CBB, which is expected to air in March, is also reportedly lining up contestants such as Dragons' Den entrepreneur Levi Roots and music manager Louis Walsh.

Kate Middleton's uncle Gary Goldsmith has been recruited for the return of Celebrity Big Brother on ITV, according to reports

Mr Goldsmith is the brother of the Princess of Wales' mother Carole  and is known for his candid remarks

Celebrity Big Brother is set to return this year after a six-year absence from our screens

ITV has taken the reins of Big Brother following a stint at Channel 5, which axed the programme in 2018 after taking it off of Channel 4, which itself had binned the format in 2010.

Sources at the programme told The Sun of Mr Goldsmith: 'Gary is champing at the bit to get on Celebrity Big Brother. He finalised the terms of his deal today and cant wait to enter the house.'

ITV bosses have reportedly been keeping tabs on Mr Goldsmith  who, writing for the Mail a year ago, slammed Harry's autobiography Spare as 'petulant, self-serving...fluff'  since his I'm A Celeb audition.

That ended in failure, allegedly because bosses were worried about his potential to embarrass the royal family, but CBB chiefs believe his brusque, shoot-from-the-hip style of straight-talking will fit the format of TV's most infamous house.

The source added: 'The CBB team love him because of his link to Kate and the fact that hes confident and loud and wont hold back.

'Hes made it clear he will talk about everything and anything, and hes pretty outspoken when it comes to Harry and Meghan. He could be TV gold and ITV knows it. The deal he signed is for good money.'

Mr Goldsmith was a guest at William and Kate's wedding in 2011; he made his living building an IT recruitment business, but has been caught up in scandals including being pictured with drugs in Ibiza.

Since then he has attacked what he sees as insults to his family, including his niece and William, including episodes of The Crown, royal biographer Omid Scobie's book Endgame and Harry's memoir Spare.

At the end of 2023, he hit out at Endgame, which made a claim in its Dutch edition that the Princess of Wales was one of the 'royal racists' allegedly concerned about the skin colour of Harry and Meghan's son Archie.

Writing for the Mail, he said in December of Scobie: 'His book made me feel nauseous. I had to put it down many times because the content made me so angry and I haven't even been able to finish it.

'And now we're even being told that Kate has been "accidentally" named as the supposed royal racist, along with her father-in-law, King Charles.

'It's utterly ridiculous to consider that Kate is a racist.'

A CBB spokesperson told the Sun: 'All names are purely speculation at this stage.'
An Australian airline passenger has been banned from flying with Qantas for seven years after a woman seated beside him claimed he inappropriately touched her.

The 64-year-old man, who has not been named, was blacklisted by the airline after the alleged incident on a flight between London and Singapore on November 3 last year, which he said was done before he was able to give his version of events.

It is understood police in Singapore, where the plane touched down, were contacted by the flight crew and conducted inquiries regarding an 'outrage of modesty' offence. The ban was issued before police had completed their inquiries.

The 64-year-old is not allowed to fly with any airline in the Qantas Group or Jetstar Group, on any code-share flights operated by partner airlines, as well as from buying any flight on a Qantas-issued ticket or entering the Qantas lounge.

'No information (regarding the allegations) was given to me at all,' he told The Sydney Morning Herald.

'I was in tears for the first few days. I'm beside myself even still.'

The male passenger has been banned from flying with the airline or any flights operated in partnership with the airline until 2030

In a letter appealing the ban, the man claimed he was never warned the woman felt uncomfortable and only suspected there was an issue when she left and did not return to her seat.

He claimed he asked a flight attendant if there was a problem and was told loudly: 'You encroached on the lady's space and what you did was wrong'.

The man said in the letter there was some small-talk between himself and the woman as the plane was leaving London airport about topics such as what movies where showing on the plane and the recent referendum.

She was in a centre seat, with her husband in the same seat the row behind her, and the man was in the window seat.

He said she did not ask him to switch seats with her husband and that he fell asleep about an hour into the flight and woke up to find the woman gone.

Another woman on the aisle seat in their row moved seats shortly after and two flight attendants occupied the seats until the plane landed in Singapore where they escorted him off the plane.

Singapore Police were contacted and investigated the alleged incident, interviewing the man at the airport and holding his passport.

After five days police told him their investigations were completed and he was given a warning along with a letter clearing him to leave the country and return to Australia.

Once back, the man appealed the ban in writing to Qantas claiming the airline 'humiliated' him and that airline staff did not apply 'due diligence' by asking him for his side of the events.

It is understood an internal panel of Qantas staff assess such appeals using statements from witnesses including flight crew and other passengers.

The alleged incident happened on a November 7 flight from London's Heathrow (pictured) to Singapore's Changi airport

Qantas on Thursday dismissed the appeal.

The airline said the allegations against the man included that he touched the woman on the inner thigh and also between her arm and breast as the plane took off.

Once she moved seats, he is then alleged to have shifted to the centre seat, made 'unwarranted conversation' with the woman in the aisle seat and then ordered drinks on her behalf even though she told him she wanted to go to sleep.

The man denies he switched seats and said he only touched the first woman on the knee to get her attention and ask her to wake him when meals arrived.

A representative authorised to speak for the man alleged that: 'Officials in Singapore told us women have been claiming ''unwanted sexual contact'' to get upgraded on long haul flights.'

It is understood no-fly bans are extremely rare and most airlines reserve the right to refuse service at their discretion.

The airline said in a statement: 'The safety of our customers and crew is our number one priority and we do not tolerate any kind of inappropriate or abusive behaviour.'

The ban will be lifted in November 2030.
A furious passenger has slammed Virgin Australia over the way the airline treated her pet dog after the animal was left inside a cage wrapped in plastic on an airport tarmac in sweltering conditions.

Kelsey Partridge was waiting to board her flight to Victoria from Perth airport on January 8 when she noticed her Japanese Spitz, Navi, waiting helplessly inside the crate.

The horrified passenger watched on as the six-year-old dog was left waiting on a metal trailer along with three other animals that were to be shipped as temperatures soared above 30 degrees.

Shocking footage showed Ms Partridge's dog sealed tightly inside the cage with plastic wrapped tightly around the outside to cover the air holes.

Navi was forced to wait in the hot sun for over half-an-hour forcing an infuriated Ms Partridge to plead with ground staff to have the dog moved out of the sun.

A furious passenger has slammed Virgin Australia after her pet dog was left on an airport tarmac in sweltering conditions in a container wrapped tightly in plastic (pictured)

Fearing for her dog's welfare, Ms Partridge got into a tense stand-off with staff from the airline and refused to board the flight until her pet was removed from the tarmac.

'It turned into one of the most stressful and traumatic experiences of my life,' Ms Partridge told 7 News.

She said the experience left Navi dehydrated and distressed, and had endangered the dog's life.

'I'd really would love to know what moron thought that was an efficient and safe way to restrain the animals.'

The dog was eventually removed from the tarmac by ground staff and flown safely on the four-hour flight to Victoria.

A Virgin Australia spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia the airline's staff could have done better to ensure the animals were kept from potential harm.

Ms Partridge (pictured) said her pet dog's life was endangered when the animal was left inside the crate on a metal trailer as the temperature soared past 30C

The spokesperson said the employees and ground crew have received training to prevent such incidents from happening again.

'Following this incident our cargo and ramp team have undergone an internal review of processes,' the spokesperson said.

'The health, safety and wellbeing of all Virgin Australia guests, including pets travelling with us, is our top priority.'

RSPCA guidelines states that some pet animals are more susceptible to heat stress than others when they are being flown on an aircraft.

The containers that pets are kept in during transport on an aircraft must have enough room for animals to stand and lie down.

They must also have enough ventilation and provide shade from the weather and comply with the regulations set out by the International Air Transport Association.

Passengers are urged to fly with their pets when the weather is cooler to avoid heat stress.
The U.S. Postal Service is rescheduling a public meeting that had been set for Jan. 31 to discuss controversial proposed changes to the Buffalo Processing and Distribution Center on William Street.

Postal union officials and Buffalo-area politicians have strongly objected to the Postal Services proposal to move some operations from William Street to a similar building in Rochester.

U.S. Rep. Brian Higgins rallied against the proposal alongside other elected officials and postal union leaders and members Friday outside the William Street facility.

The relocation of operations from Buffalo to Rochester will result in delayed mail and diminished services," Higgins recently wrote to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. The USPS uses language like modernization which doesnt tell the full story of how services will be impacted and ultimately when changes are made its too late. If you live in Cheektowaga and send a card to your grandchild in Lackawanna, that mail would go to Rochester first, adding transportation costs and slowing delivery. Thats inefficient and the people of Western New York need to stand up and demand better from the USPS.

In a news release Friday evening, the Postal Service said it was postponing the Jan. 31 meeting because it needed more time to finalize any specific improvements we may undertake at the Buffalo P&DC.

The release also said the Postal Services modernization evaluation of the facility on William Street will not result in its closure or career employee layoffs at the facility.

The public input meeting will be rescheduled within the next several weeks, the release said.

The Postal Service said it was reviewing proposed changes to the Buffalo facility as part of a $40 billion investment strategy to upgrade and improve its processing, transportation and delivery networks.

The review will inform the best allocation of resources and strategies to improve customer service and to achieve significant cost savings through operational precision and efficiency, the release said. Business mail entry, Post Office, station, and branch retail services are not expected to change, and delivery services will be unaffected throughout this review. The modernization evaluation is a first step in the Postal Service review and investment process in this facility.

Members of the community may comment on the review at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/mpfr-buffalo-ny.
Voice note Mia Janin, 14, sent to friend before her death revealed by her family

'Tomorrow's going to be a rough day. Stand by me.'

These were among the last words 14-year-old schoolgirl Mia Janin said to her friend in a WhatsApp voice note in the early hours of March 12, 2021.

Mia never saw tomorrow.

Her parents found her dead at 6.50 that morning at their family home in Barnet.

Mia, a year 10 pupil at the Jewish Free School (JFS) in Kenton, north west London, took her own life after months of relentless bullying by male pupils, a coroner ruled yesterday.

Mia Janin, who took her life at 14 after relentless bullying, pictured with her beloved dog Lola

'Tomorrow's going to be a rough day:' These were among the last words Mia told her friend in a WhatsApp voice note in the early hours of March 12, 2021

Mia's parents found her hanged at 6.50am on March 12 2021 at their family home in Barnet

Her heartbroken family has revealed the harrowing voice message she sent to friend the night before she was due to return to school.

'Tomorrow's going to be a rough day,' said Mia through tears in the message, which was shared with BBC London.

'Stand by me. I'm taking deep breaths. In and out.

'I'm currently mentally preparing myself to get bullied tomorrow.'

Mia's grieving father Mariano Janin said at the conclusion of the inquest yesterday that she was 'failed' by the 'people who were meant to keep her safe'.

An inquest this week heard she was subjected to a vicious campaign of bullying by male pupils at school and online, which saw her targeted in a degrading boys-only Snapchat group.

North London area coroner Tony Murphy, sitting at Barnet Coroner's Court, concluded yesterday Mia 'took her life while still a child and while still in the process of maturing into adulthood'.

Mr Murphy said Mia was last seen alive at about 10pm on March 11 2021, when she said goodnight to her parents in their family home.

She was found hanged by her parents at about 6.50am on March 12 2021. Two undated letters in Mia's handwriting were found on her bed addressed to 'her loving family and friends', which 'explained that Mia decided to end her life'.

Mr Murphy added before his conclusion that Mia had 'close friends including at her secondary school, but she also experienced bullying from some male students'.

He added that neither Mia's family or teachers were aware of that before her death.

Tragically, Mia's mother, Marisa Janin, died just months after her daughter following an aneurysm.

Speaking after the inquest, Mr Janin told reporters: 'Nothing will bring back my wife and my daughter Mia'

Mia as a child with her farther Mariano and mother Marisa

Speaking after the inquest, Mr Janin told reporters: 'Nothing will bring back my wife and my daughter Mia. For almost three years, we have sought answers for the loss of Mia.

'Today, we find some of the answers on the failure of the people who trust and were meant to keep her safe.

'My daughter experienced prolonged and sustained bullying in various ways in person and online. In a way, it's a relief this has now been recognised.

'However, there needs to be accountability. Another family cannot live what I have lived.

'I'm representing my wife and my daughter, who always held kindness towards others, and I will carry on.'

He paid tribute to his 'fantastic' daughter, adding: 'She was a very bubbly, and had a good sense of humour. She was beautiful. She was very kind, very creative.'

Mia, born in 2006, loved art, cheerleading and her dog Lola.

She enjoyed hanging out with a small group of close friends.

Her good friend Yamin Bliss, who met Mia aged 10 and used to cheerlead with her said told the BBC she was like a 'being like no-one else I know. She lit up every room.'

Mr Janin, an interior designer originally from Argentina, called for changes in online laws 'to protect our kids'.

He said limits should be put on children's internet access and clearer ways for authorities to collect social media data in the event of other tragedies like Mia's death.

He added: 'The school has to be more vigilant. They need to involve more young people who understand all this social media and all this technology better than us.'

The father also called for schools to be 'clear' on values and how they transmit those to students so people can 'respect one another'. He said: 'It's very simple. It's nothing to do with me. Unfortunately, I'm a victim of this failing system.'

Mia, born in 2006, loved art, cheerleading and her dog Lola. She enjoyed hanging out with a small group of close friends

Pictured: The Jewish Free School in Kenton, north west London where Mia was a year 10 pupil

Mr Janin welcomed the changes Mia's former school had made since her death, and said Dr David Moody, the headteacher, seemed to be 'doing a good job' and that he was 'glad' to hear the school has put changes in place.

He also said he would not support smart phone bans in schools, but referred to the Online Safety Bill, saying that is 'something that is right'.

He added: 'We need to learn from our mistakes in order to avoid this happening again.'

Statements given by friends of Mia to the Metropolitan Police after her death were read out to the inquest, in which they said Mia was bullied by other pupils at the school, and that their friendship group was nicknamed the 'suicide squad' in the months leading up to her death.

They said that one of Mia's TikToks was shared to a Snapchat group chat run by male pupils at JFS, where they made fun of her.

One child said the boys used the group chat to share nude photos of girls.

Rabbi Howard Cohen, former deputy headteacher at JFS, told the inquest that after Mia's death there was 'some talk around the school' of what he described as 'boys-only bravado groups' sharing images of girls, and he was made aware of a boys' WhatsApp group in which members were rating the 'attractiveness' of female pupils.

But there was no reason to believe the groups related to Mia, Rabbi Cohen said.

He told the inquest he held a meeting with members of one of the group chats, who then agreed to disband it.

JFS told the inquest it did not know Mia was being bullied or of the existence of the Snapchat group before her death.

North London area coroner Tony Murphy said Mia had 'experienced bullying behaviour from some male students'

The inquest heard how a group of boys bullied Mia and other students 'on buses, class and at home'

Mr Murphy also said: 'After Mia's death a number of students reported that she had been bullied by some male students from her secondary school and elsewhere,'the coroner said.

'On 10 March 2013 Mia had posted a video on social media asking two of those male students not to mock her and criticising their music and fashion.

'This video received a large number of hostile responses which Mia found stressful.

'On the evening of 11 March 2021 Mia said to her parents that she had a difficult week and asked to be moved to a different secondary school, which they agreed to explore.'

Mr Janin told the inquest that his daughter asked if she could move school, after coming home on March 11.

The inquest heard that his wife Marisa, who has since died, told Mia she could be home-schooled for the rest of the school year, and that they would look into moving her to a new school after.

Mia then went to bed. Hours later, she was dead.

The area coroner previously said that there was no evidence that any images or videos involving Mia had been shared in the group chat, except for the TikTok.

For confidential support, call Samaritans free on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org
In a proud but unsung period of Britain's history, the Royal Navy's West Africa Squadron freed more than 150,000 slaves, righting a wrong that lasted almost two centuries.

Now a striking design for a 'long-overdue' memorial to its long, hard, dangerous contribution to ending the trade in human misery has been revealed.

Historians say a monument to sailors who freed men, women and children taken from Africa for servitude in the Americas between 1807 and 1867 would counter distortions of our past.

An appeal to raise 70,000 for a bronze sculpture was championed in the Mail by Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt, while Tory peer and military historian Lord Ashcroft gave 25,000. Next week Ms Mordaunt will unveil sculptor Vincent Gray's design at the Commons, with the finished memorial planned for her Portsmouth constituency, where the squadron was based.

The one-sixth scale model shows an officer of the squadron flanked by a chained woman and a slave with broken shackles

An appeal to raise 70,000 for a bronze sculpture was championed in the Mail by Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt, while Tory peer and military historian Lord Ashcroft gave 25,000

The one-sixth scale model shows an officer of the squadron flanked by a chained woman and a slave with broken shackles.

At its peak, 4,000 men on 36 ships were using up half of the Royal Navy's budget to try to supress the slave trade  up to 50billion today. Hundreds died.

Travel writer John Gimlette, great-great-grandson of Dr Hart Gimlette, a surgeon aboard the squadron's flagship, HMS Arrogant, from 1859 to 1862, said: 'While recognising our responsibility for building this inhuman industry, we should also recognise the work of those servicemen who helped dismantle it.'

It comes as schools and universities remove the names of slave traders from their premises and after the National Trust drew up a list of 93 properties with links to slavery and empire.

Writing in the Mail, Ms Mordaunt said: 'Yes, Britain had a role in the slave trade. Yes, people made money out of it. But let's be clear  we ended it.'

The campaign has raised almost 42,000. If you would like to contribute, click here.
The piece made its way to Florida, Utah and back to New Jersey where it was delivered to Leroy's son, Dr. Francis Wood on January 11

A 'priceless' 18th-century British painting that was stolen by mobsters in New Jersey was found in Utah by the FBI and returned to a family after 54 years.

The painting, titled 'The School Mistress' was created by John Opie, an English historical and portrait painter in 1784.

It was purchased in the 1930s by Dr. Earl Leroy Wood for $7,500, but was later stolen from his home in Newark, New Jersey in July 1969 by three convicted mobsters.

In 1989, it resurfaced in a home in Hallendale, Florida, after an unidentified homeowner bought it with his new house. After he died in 2020, it was appraised and discovered as stolen.

Special Agent Gary France then worked with the FBI in Salt Lake City and Newark to return the painting to Dr. Earl Leroy's 96-year-old son Dr. Francis Wood on January 11.

A stolen 18th-century British painting from 1784 was returned to its rightful owner after 54 years

Dr. Earl Leroy Wood's son Dr. Francis Wood received the painting that was stolen in 1969 on January 11 by the FBI. Pictured: Francis and his children with the painting

Francis is seen grinning as he looks at the piece of art that was stolen from his father's home in July 1969 by three mobsters

'It definitely ranks in, you know, the top 5 cases I've ever worked in my career,' France told KSL News Radio.

'A very novel and unusual experience,' France said as he revealed that this was the first art crime case he'd worked in 21 years.

The piece of art, displayed on a 40 by 50inch canvas, depicts a group of young boys being instructed in a Cornish classroom, along with more children in the back with a dog.

The oil painting became 'highly admired' and 'launched Opie's London career,' as he used family members as models for the piece, according to Tate.

In the summer of 1969, three notorious mobsters, Gerald Festa, Gerald Donnerstag and Austin Castiglione first broke into Earl Leroy Wood's house in search of his coin collection, but didn't succeed after they were thrown off by a burglar alarm and ran away.

Police and State Senator Anthony Imperiale then responded to the attempted robbery and were told about the valuable painting by the housekeeper, ABC4 reported.

Just three weeks later, the same mobsters burglarized the New Jersey home again and escaped with the paining, according to FBI Salt Lake City spokeswoman Sandra Yi Barker.

During a trial for Donnerstag, his accomplice Festa testified and confessed to taking the artwork and revealed that he did so 'under the direction of Senator Imperiale.'

The accusations were never proven, and Imperiale never faced charges, but France believes that the painting was transported by the mafia to another mobster and stayed in their hands through the 1980s.

The piece then resurfaced 20 years later after an unidentified man bought a home in Hallendale, Florida from Joseph Covello Sr., an organized crime member who was indicted and convicted of RICO charges, France said.

Once the priceless piece was handed over to the FBI, France personally delivered it to Francis at his home in Newark. Pictured: Francis and France

Gerald Festa, Gerald Donnerstag and Austin Castiglione first broke into Earl Leroy Wood's house (pictured) in search of his coin collection, but failed to steal it. Three weeks later they took the painting

A copy of a stolen poster that was created at the time of the robbery in 1969

The stolen piece came with the sale of the home but the buyer said he was unaware of its long history or worth. It remained with him as he moved to his new home in St. George, Utah.

The man then died in 2020, and the piece of art was then found a year later by a Utah-based accounting firm that the he hired to liquidate his residence.

Once it was appraised, it became clear that it stolen and was handed over to the FBI.

A Utah judge then confirmed the piece's proper ownership and France made his way to Dr. Francis Wood's Newark home to give his father's stolen painting back to him.

Upon France's arrival, Wood was surrounded by his children who posed in pictures with him around the recovered piece of art.

'It was fascinating to talk to the Wood family and see the pictures that they had captured in 1968 of this painting on the wall as they gathered for their family holidays,' France said.

Tom Wood, Francis's son told ABC News that their family was stunned to hear that the painting had been found and said that they didn't have 'much hope we would ever see it again.'
Homeless vagrants in South Florida have taken to living in derelict boats off the coast as the latest solution to their lack of shelter.

Florida cops have taken to calling the development a 'squatter phenomenon', with dozens of boats commandeered by the homeless in only a year since officials became aware of the issue.

While South Florida has dealt with rampant homelessness for years, the new tactic appears to be fueled by soaring cost of living in the Sunshine State, causing more and more residents to give up maintaining their boats.

Officials in Martin County have launched a crackdown on the vacant vessels in response, as they described those taking over the boats as 'vagrants' - people who are often drug addicted, mentally ill and live in squalor.

It comes months after cops in Daytona Beach - around 160 miles north of Martin County - were forced to dismantle a bizarre 'boobytrapped meth island' that had also become overran with addict squatters.

The sheriff's office said it has found at least 50 abandoned boats in recent months, which cause a huge drain on resources as removing and destroying the vessels can cost up to $40,000

Dozens of derelict boats have been commandeered by homeless vagrants off the coast of South Florida, which officials are dubbing a 'squatter phenomenon'

Martin County Chief Deputy John Budensiek said the crisis is threatening to destroy the area's fishing and vacation communities, as the vagrant 'ruin the quality of life for people that are working hard and paying taxes'

Martin County Chief Deputy John Budensiek said the issue is an unorthodox one for cops to now be dealing with, but it also does not come as a great surprise.

'We have had homeless, vagrant population here in Martin County for quite some time. Not a large one, but we have had people that are transient moving through. And we've had the derelict vessel issue. These were two separate problems,' he told Fox News.

'But as our marine deputy started citing, tagging and removing these vessels, they learned last year that a lot of these vessels were inhabited by vagrants.

'This is a 2023 epiphany,' he added.

Derelict boats are defined as those with at least two violations, left dumped in the water without a motor or leaking fuel, for example.

Those caught ditching derelict boats face significant fines or jail time, but locating and tagging abandoned vessels is time-consuming for local cops due to the huge number of boats in the fishing and vacation hotspot.

'It's hard to differentiate. There's a lot of vessels that are functional that people are living on, that you and I may not stay on, but they are inhabitable,' he said, noting the difficulties finding vagrant-housed boats.

Budensiek said the issue of derelict boats polluting the coastal region is nothing new, but their latest occupants are exacerbating their efforts. Removing and destroying the derelict boats is also a huge drain on police resources, reportedly costing between $7,000 and $40,000 per vessel.

More and more boats are becoming abandoned due to skyrocketing cost of living, which offered a new solution for vagrants to find shelter. Officials said they only became aware of the issue recently

'One of the byproducts of having a lot of vessels in our area, is some of these vessels tend to get rundown hard and become inoperable,' he said.

'And because they become an operable, some of these owners will abandon them or they'll sell them to someone who doesn't re-register the vessel.

'Those people in turn, stay on these boats or run these vessels until they are completely unusable.

'And they sink, or they leak fuel, if they have the capacity to carry fuel, or they leak human waste and they become a real danger to us environmentally.'

At the end of 2023, he told Fox News that at least 50 ramshackle boats had been tagged off their coastline.

Notably, the deputy said the individuals taking the boats are hardly productive members of their fishing and vacation communities, and are not actively seeking work or homes to get them off the streets.

He described them as 'vagrants' - as they continually pollute the natural waterways, are typically addicted to drugs, suffer from mental illness, and generally make no effort to not live in squalor.

Officials said the main concern with the boats is the waste and pollution they cause for the waterways, with Martin County's economy built on tourism and fishing

'The vagrant population as a whole seems to be transient,' he continued.

'Unfortunately with South Florida, vagrants come from the northern communities where it's cold this time of year down here.

'We get an influx of them, and we do our best, but they have rights... to do certain things. So, we want them to succeed, but we don't want them to come and ruin the quality of life for people that are working hard and paying taxes and trying to keep, especially in this case, our waterways safe and clean.'

Since becoming aware of the crisis only recently, Martin County officials have launched a crackdown, and are working with the US Coast Guard to test a huge number of boats on their coastline.

He added: 'We're going around and testing these boats that are anchored to just outside of our channels... Really what's of concern us environmentally is most of them don't have functional bathrooms.

'So what we find happening here in our county, we have these vagrants that are squatting on the boats, and using the facilities. And the facilities within the boat are just draining right into our estuaries, right into our ocean and our rivers here.'
A trans charity has been accused of urging parents to send 'bullying' letters to schools if they question a pupil's gender identity.

Bosses at Mermaids have drafted a template that can be posted to teachers and senior management if parents are 'concerned about a decision that your child's school is planning to make or has made'.

Running to three pages, the letter is said to have been drawn up for the charity by solicitors.

In one section, the template appears to try to undermine draft transgender guidance published by the Department for Education last month.

The trans youth support group is already facing a serious 'statutory inquiry' from the Charity Commission

Campaigners march behind a Mermaids UK banner at the London Trans+ Pride march from the Wellington Arch to Soho, London in July 2022

This advice indicates that neither parents nor pupils should be 'compelled' to use any child's adopted pronoun.

It also indicates that schools should protect single-sex spaces and keep boys out of girls' sport.

But there are loopholes in the guidance, including a stipulation that children use the toilets and changing rooms for their biological sex 'unless it will cause them distress to do so'.

In relation to school decisions based on the guidance, the Mermaids letter reads: '[I am/we are] concerned that in coming to the above decision, [name of school] has prematurely relied on the draft, non-statutory Department for Education guidance regarding 'Gender Questioning Children'.

'Please note that the Draft Guidance is currently out for consultation and is not a finalised version.

'It is difficult to see how the school can therefore currently rely on it in any capacity. However, [name of school] needs to be mindful that any guidance, (statutory or non-statutory) in this area does not override its obligations it owes to [name of child] as a matter of law.'

The letter has been criticised by women's rights groups who warned schools needed support to prevent 'harassment from lobby groups'.

Maya Forstater of Sex Matters, a human rights group, said: 'Mermaids' latest campaign is a glimpse of exactly the kind of bullying that schools across the country will be subjected to unless the Department for Education brings out a model policy as part of its new guidance.

'The onus should not be on individual schools to decide on a particular day whether it is safe and fair for a particular boy to be allowed to play on the girls' team or use the girls' changing rooms.

'Schools need to have clear rules that protect all children and make expectations clear.

This advice indicates that neither parents nor pupils should be 'compelled' to use any child's adopted pronoun. Pictured is a stock photo of schoolchildren sitting in classroom and listening to female teacher as she holds a rainbow flag

In one section, the template appears to try to undermine draft transgender guidance published by the Department for Education last month (Stock photo)

'The schools guidance is helpful in many areas but it suggests that schools have discretion to treat some girls as boys and some boys as girls.

'This leaves schools open to pressure to negotiate with children and intimidation from transactivist lobby groups.'

Heather Binning of the Women's Rights Network said many parents and teachers welcomed the long-awaited trans guidelines, adding: 'We are astonished that Mermaids is trying to undermine it by drafting this letter and encouraging parents to send it to headteachers.'

Mermaids was contacted for comment. The Charity Commission opened a statutory inquiry into the charity in November 2022 amid concerns over its governance and management.
Jeremy Hunt was under renewed pressure to scrap the tourist tax yesterday as it emerged spending by foreign visitors to Britain plummeted 10 per cent last summer.

A report by VisitBritain found their outlay between July and September 2023 was 10.1billion  10 per cent lower in real terms than during the same period pre-pandemic.

The study also found that spending by Chinese tourists, typically the biggest users of VAT-free shopping before it was scrapped in 2021, fell by 41 per cent compared with 2019.

Critics called on the Chancellor to restore VAT-free shopping in the Spring Budget (Pictured, Jeremy Hunt)

Critics last night said the study was proof that failure to restore VAT-free shopping was damaging the economy and tourists were deserting Britain for other countries, such as France and Italy, where VAT-free shopping exists.

They called on the Chancellor to restore it in the Spring Budget on March 6. Joss Croft, of tourism body UKinbound, said: 'Tax-free shopping in the UK was a huge pull for long-haul international travellers, such as those from China, prior to its removal.

'We need to win back those international visitors who are now opting to shop in Europe instead.'

Hundreds of MPs, peers and leading figures from across the retail, hospitality and tourism sectors have backed the Daily Mail's campaign to Scrap the Tourist Tax (stock photo)

Tory MP Henry Smith said: 'Unfortunately, this is yet more tangible evidence that removing VAT rebates for overseas visitors to the UK has not only negatively impacted retail sales but the wider economy, such as hospitality.'

He added: 'This is a policy we could and should reverse.'

Hundreds of MPs, peers and leading figures from across the retail, hospitality and tourism sectors have backed the Daily Mail's campaign to Scrap the Tourist Tax.

A Treasury spokesman said: 'We keep all taxes under review and recognise the value that retailers bring to Britain. That is why we announced a 4.3billion business rates package at Autumn Statement [in November] to support businesses and the high street.'
The body of an elderly priest accused of paying male migrants for sex was discovered naked in bed in his Spanish apartment.

Alfonso Lopez Benito, 80, a former canon of Valencia Cathedral, was found deceased on Tuesday by a friend and janitor who had gone to pay him a visit.

A postmortem found he had died by suffocation and had likely been dead for several days.

A 40-year-old South American man has been arrested on suspicion of murder. Described as a Peruvian immigrant, he was said to have tried to use the priest's bank card in a local bar.

Police have theorised that Fr Benito's death could have been the result of a violent argument between lovers.

Alfonso Lopez Benito, 80, a former canon of Valencia Cathedral, was found deceased on Tuesday by a friend and janitor who had gone to pay him a visit

Fr Benito had allegedly been asked by the Archbishop's office in Valencia to stop bringing lovers to his home, which was owned by the Catholic church.

Neighbours are said to have complained about the noise from the late priest's encounters.

According to local media reports, there were no signs of a break-in and no obvious signs of injury on the body, leading them to suspect the killer was not a stranger.

However, someone had been using Fr Benito's phone to send messages to his friends and associates in the period after his death, raising investigators' suspicions.

Initial messages claimed he was going to leave Valencia for several days on a personal errand.

A later message was reportedly sent to the janitor after the body had been recovered.
A disturbing propaganda video released by Hamas features two teenage hostages whose plight was first told by the Mail.

In the horrifying clip, Daniela Gilboa and Karina Ariev, both 19, are filmed begging to be rescued and returned to their families in Israel.

It is the first time the girls have been seen alive since they were violently kidnapped by terrorists on October 7.

Pictures of their bloodied and bruised faces, published in the Daily Mail earlier this month, have become a symbol of the campaign demanding the release of all remaining hostages.

Under the haunting headline 'Don't Forget Them' the article showed devastating images of Gilboa, Ariev, Agam Berger, 19, and Liri Albag, 18, taken hours after they were captured by Hamas.

Palestinian terror group Hamas has released a chilling new video showing three young Israeli women who have been held hostage in Gaza since the October 7 attack. The three women have been identified as 19-year-old Daniela Gilboa, 19-year-old Karina Ariev (pictured), and 30-year-old Doron Steinbrecher

Karina and Daniela (pictured) were last seen in videos on October 7 itself along with two other teenagers, their faces bloodied and terrified

Doron Steinbrecher (pictured) was one of more than 240 people who were dragged into Gaza by Hamas gunmen during the group's October 7 terror attack on southern Israel

Karina Ariev, left, and Daniela Gilboa with Doron Steinbrecher, 30. In the video Hamas warns that time is running out. In the five-minute clip, allegedly filmed on January 21, the women are forced to blame Israel for the war

The video of Daniela and Karina came hours after the International Court of Justice affirmed Israel's right to continue its war against Hamas. Its judges were responding to a claim by South Africa that Israel was committing genocide in Gaza.

The court, which is the primary judicial body of the United Nations, called for the 'immediate' release of hostages held by Hamas  but also for Israel to take steps toward preventing genocidal acts and widespread destruction.

However, it did not order the country to cease military action in Gaza entirely.

Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to the ruling by vowing Israel would 'defend ourselves and our citizens while adhering to international law'.

In the video of the two teenagers, which also features a third hostage, veterinary nurse Doron Steinbrecher, 30, Hamas warns that time is running out.

Smoke billows after an Israeli strike in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Friday

The Mails story about the girls was shown to the United Nations by Israeli politician Gilad Erdan

The battered and bloody image of Karina Ariev, 19, is seen in a separate video released by Hamas. She was seen with three other teenagers in images that went around the world

Daniela Gilboa, 19, was also seen in a Hamas video released earlier this month

Britain's Foreign Secretary David Cameron and Rishi Sunak met the families of Gaza captives this week

In the five-minute clip, allegedly filmed on January 21, the women are forced to blame Israel for the war. Speaking to the camera, Daniela states: 'I have spent 107 days in Hamas captivity and I don't know if and when I can go back home.

'I am subjected to bombing and fire 24 hours a day. I am afraid for my life. To my dear family I am asking you to do all you can to get me home alive.'

Last week Daniela's parents met Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary David Cameron. After handing Lord Cameron a copy of the Mail's story, they urged the UK Government to double its efforts to save the girls in case they were being raped or were pregnant. Lord Cameron vowed to do 'everything' he could to ensure Daniela's safe return.

On Thursday, he flew to Qatar and urged regional leaders to secure the release of hostages. The Mail's article captured the world's attention. It was brandished by Gilad Erdan, the permanent representative of Israel to the United Nations, at a meeting of the body.

There are still 136 hostages being held in Gaza  including 19 female hostages and two British-Israeli hostages. At least 25 have already been executed in captivity.
Josef Fritzl has claimed he is a 'good dad' in an apology letter for his evil crimes as he fights for freedom from jail.

This comes after he was granted conditional release from a prison for the mentally ill by an Austrian court on Thursday shortly after the 88-year-old monster was pictured outside jail for the first time in 15 years.

Fritzl, who was locked up in 2009 after he admitted to repeatedly raping his daughter Elisabeth and fathering seven children with her while keeping her imprisoned in his cellar for 24 years, has written a letter saying sorry to his victims.

'I regret all of my actions deeply. Kind regards, Fritzl,' the incestious rapist wrote.

'I was actually a good father,' he claimed, saying that he saved money for the 'children's education', that he visited them often, helped them with chores and even got them to learn instruments 'and so forth'.

Josef Fritzl was on Thursday granted conditional release from a prison for the mentally ill by an Austrian court, shortly after being pictured outside of prison for the first time in 15 years

Fritzl - who changed his name to Mayrhoff in an alleged attempt to evade physical attacks by other inmates - was locked up in 2009 after he admitted to raping his daughter Elisabeth (pictured) and fathering seven children with her

Fritzl is escorted to the fourth day of his trial in the provincial courthouse in St. Poelten, Austria on March 19, 2009

'I know with one of my daughters I made a mistake, and I regret that,' The Sun reported that Fritzl said in his apology letter. 'But apart from that, I believe that I was actually a good father.'

Fritzl said he was no longer dangerous and was in fact 'the opposite', stating that he does not have any 'sexual desires for women'.

He said he feels freer inside prison than he did in the 'outside world' - where he 'led a double life for ten years' as he kept his daughter Elisabeth locked and repeatedly raped her.

The beast said that as he had now given up his double life, he could give up that 'pressure' as he did not have to 'carry the weight' of hiding the 'secret' that he was repeatedly raping his daughter.

After getting out of prison for good, which could be as soon as in one year, Fritzl reportedly says he plans to 'live in nature' and buy a goat.

Fritzl - who reports say changed his name to Mayrhoff in an alleged attempt to evade physical attacks by other inmates - moaned that prison was a 'huge shock'.

He said that before being locked up he had been a successful businessman but then 'suddenly I had to live like a real, classic criminal'. He said he was 'bullied' by other inmates, which he found unpleasant.

This comes after it was reported that Fritzl was 'close to tears' today after being granted conditional release from prison this week.

A panel of judges in Krems ruled on Thursday that he would be transferred from the prison for the 'mentally abnormal' to a normal cell, paving the way for his permanent release.

Fritzl brought children's clothing and lingerie with him on his trip to Thailand

Elisabeth lived in this dingy, cramped basement for 24 years with her children

The convict was allegedly already spotted outside of jail - where he is serving a life sentence - enjoying coffee in several local cafes this week.

Images of Fritzl - captured through a window of a police van as he was bundled through the back of the Landesgericht District Court at 7.20am on Thursday - also emerged, in what were the first pictures of him on the outside in years.

Fritzl has been in prison since his conviction in 2009 for incest, rape, enslavement, coercion and the murder, by neglect, of his newborn son.

But he is suffering from advancing dementia that causes absent moments but he was able to follow the proceedings, his attorney Astrid Wagner said.

The hearing followed a psychiatric assessment that he no longer posed a threat of re-offending, Austrian media reported.

Wagner said after the hearing today: 'We were successful. It was a long hearing. He told again how he regrets what he did.

'He was actually close to tears,' she added. 'In summary, the court came to the conclusion that my client is actually no longer dangerous.'

'He is now to be transferred to a regular prison, but must undergo regular psychiatric examinations,' she said.

A court spokesman confirmed the verdict, which can still be appealed by prosecutors.

The street on which Elisabeth was held in a basement for more than 20 years

Fritzl pleaded guilty to rape, false imprisonment, manslaughter by negligence and incest

The court heard the case of Fritzl - one of Europe's most notorious criminals - behind closed doors, with a throng of media gathered outside the court. He was brought to the court in a police van that entered a garage at the back of the court and led inside the courtroom without being visible to the public or media representatives.

The sightings came as a bid to free Fritzl from the secure psychiatric wing came to a head. After 15 years behind bars, the perverted pensioner will become eligible for parole in March of this year under Austria's lenient sentencing laws.

Inmates judged ready for parole can be freed depending on their conduct, mental and physical condition.

Fritzl has repeatedly asked to be released. As well as suffering from Alzheimer's disease he is also said to be so frail he needs a walking frame to get around.

Adelheid Kastner, one of Austria's most renowned psychiatrists, said Fritzl was no longer a threat to society and would be incapable of carrying out any crimes.
E. Jean Carroll has said her $83.3 million defamation lawsuit victory over Donald Trump is a 'huge defeat for every bully who has tried to keep a woman down.'

A civil court jury last year found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll in a Manhattan department store, with his comments after the decision leading to a defamation trial that concluded Friday.

Carroll was initially only seeking $10 million in damages, but her attorneys upped the ante on Friday as they told the jury that 'the only thing (Trump) cares about is money.'

After celebrating her win, Carroll also said it was a 'great victory for every woman who stands up when she's been knocked down.'

E. Jean Carroll is seen on Friday leaving the court in Manhattan having won $83.3 million from Donald Trump

Trump is seen leaving Trump Tower on Friday to travel to the Manhattan courtroom

Carroll made the comments in a statement through her attorneys two hours after the decision was handed down.

Her attorney Robbie Kaplan added that the verdict 'proves that the law applies to everyone in our country, even the rich, even the famous, even former presidents.'

'There is a way to stand up to someone like Donald Trump who cares more about wealth, fame, and power than respecting the law,' he continued.

'Standing up to a bully takes courage and bravery; it takes someone like E. Jean Carroll. We thank the jury for standing up for E. Jean and the rule of law.'

Trump was ordered to pay the sum as he accused Carroll of lying when she accused him of sexually assaulting her in the department store bathroom in the 1990s, and has consistently insisted that he never even met her.

The huge damages handed down on Friday came as a surprise even to Carroll, who broke down in tears and embraced her legal team as she won tens of millions more than expected.

Carroll, and her lawyers Roberta Kaplan and Shawn Crowley, glanced excitedly at each other as the judge queried what the 'm' on the jury's verdict form signified.

'Million,' the foreman replied.

Carroll became teary after the jury foreman read out the decision.

She and her legal team then composed themselves as the judge wrapped up the proceedings - while Trump's legal team looked stunned and stoney-faced.

Trump was already en route to the airport when the ruling came in, as he is set to jet to Nevada for his next campaign event in the Republican primaries - while continuing to paint the legal cases against him, including Carrolls, as politically motivated.

The former president has already vowed to appeal the verdict and called the case a 'Biden Directed Witch Hunt.'

The author broke down in tears and hugged her attorneys as the ruling was handed down (seen in a court artist's depiction on Friday)

E. Jean Carroll, in white, is seen with her friends and legal team leaving the court in Manhattan on Friday evening

Donald Trump's defense attorney Alina Habba said she was 'proud' to defend the former president as tore into the justice system following the $83.3million E. Jean Carroll verdict

Outside the courthouse, Trump's attorney Alina Habba issued a scathing rebuke of the trial, tearing into the justice system that she sees as being 'weaponized.'

The lawyer, who Judge Lewis Kaplan threatened to 'lock up' for her outbursts during closing arguments on Friday, said her client is being targeted because he is leading in the polls.

Habba, who has defended Trump in multiple New York cases, told the media she wasn't allowed to bring in evidence and claimed one of her witnesses was paid by the law firm of Carroll's attorney.

'I'm not having any second thoughts representing President Trump', Habba told journalists in an impassioned speech as she walked out of Manhattan Federal Court, moments after the damages were read out in court.

'It is the proudest thing I could ever do,' she added.

'I have sat on trial after trial for months in this state... and now we see what you get in New York.

'I am so proud to stand with President President Trump. But I am not proud to stand with what I saw in that courtroom.

'Before I walked into court, that judge decided that every single defense President Trump had, we were not allowed to raise in front of the jury.

'It is in writing and I encourage the journalists, the real journalists to take a minute to look at his orders.'

Trump is seen walking out of the courtroom (alongside Habba in the blue) at the start of closing arguments on Friday

Trump, pictured heading to court on Friday morning, has already said he will appeal and called the verdict 'absolutely ridiculous'

Trump blasted the verdict minutes after the jury hit him with an $83.3 million damage award

While his attorney lambasted the proceedings from outside the courthouse, Trump took to Truth Social to offer his own take on the verdict - declaring there was 'no longer Justice in America.'

He derided the ruling as 'absolutely ridiculous', adding: 'Our Judicial System is Broken and Unfair!'

'I fully disagree with both verdicts, and will be appealing this whole Biden Directed Witch Hunt focused on me and the Republican Party,' he continued.

'Our Legal System is out of control, and being used as a Political Weapon. They have taken away all First Amendment Rights. THIS IS NOT AMERICA!' He did not provide evidence that President Biden directed Carroll's decision to seek monetary damages after Trump called her a liar and a 'whack job.'

He followed up with another furious post later Friday evening. 'There is no longer Justice in America. Our Judicial System is Broken and Unfair!' he posted.
The English climate was what got them down the most. The bomber boys of the U.S. Eighth Army Air Force who arrived here to join the war against Germany could never stomach the rain, the fog, the cold  and, most of all, the unpredictability.

In their letters home, they cursed England for its lousy weather. For men trained for combat in the clear blue skies of Texas and Kansas, it made the flying harder, the dying more likely.

A U.S. government guide book issued to the tens of thousands of American airmen sent to England from 1942 onwards slid over this little local difficulty: it promised that the English climate was no different from Boston's or Seattle's and that newcomers would get used to it 'eventually'.

Great swathes of eastern England became Little Americas as the U.S. fed its military might into a total war against the Nazi Third Reich. Pictured, Masters of the Air Callum Turner, left, and Austin Butler

Kai Alexander portraying Sgt. William Quinn in 'Masters of the Air'

Like its predecessors, it singles out a small unit of fighting men and follows their war, through hell and high water, death and survival. Austin Butler and Callum Turner in 'Masters of the Air,'

But many never did. Warm beer they could, and did, learn to live with  and even what they saw as the lack of personal hygiene of unwashed English girls, in a land where soap was rationed. But not the cold, wet, cloudy, horrible weather.

Sergeant Eddie Picardo, tail gunner in a B-24 Liberator bomber, recalled waking up to a brilliant sunrise at his airfield  one of scores of U.S. bases covering 40,000 acres of East Anglia  only for the clouds to roll in an hour later.

'Every imaginable weather system could blow in and out of that island in a 24-hour period,' he complained.

Captain Billy Southworth, a pilot, scribbled despairingly in his diary: 'It has rained every day since we've been here. Mud a foot deep in places. Cold, wet and black nights, wind stinging your face while your feet just have that dead cold feeling.'

It was just over 80 years ago that the Yanks arrived in Britain, America's youth flooding across the Atlantic in their hundreds of thousands.

Great swathes of eastern England became Little Americas as the U.S. fed its military might into a total war against the Nazi Third Reich.

They brought with them their fleets of B-17 Flying Fortresses and Liberators, all with pet names like Jolly Roger, Honey Bucket and 'GI Jane' painted garishly on their sides alongside cartoon figures (often nude women) and insignia.

It was just over 80 years ago that the Yanks arrived in Britain, America's youth flooding across the Atlantic in their hundreds of thousands. Austin Butler in Masters of the Air

Their courage and their comradeship, as well as their contribution to the ending of the war, are recognised in a spectacular new nine-part television drama, Masters Of The Air. Pictured, Anthony Boyle

The staid British gawped. Who were these brash, bright incomers, flashing their smiles, their dollar bills, their crazy music, their jitterbug dances?

At first they derided the gum-chewing Yanks as 'overpaid, over-sexed and over here', but then welcomed them as brothers in arms.

Their courage and their comradeship, as well as their contribution to the ending of the war, are recognised in a spectacular new nine-part television drama, Masters Of The Air, which launched on the Apple TV+ streaming service yesterday.

Created by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, it comes from the same stable as their memorable Emmy Award-winning epics, Band Of Brothers (2001) and The Pacific (2010).

Like its predecessors, it singles out a small unit of fighting men and follows their war, through hell and high water, death and survival.

In this case, it is the crews of the 100th Bomb Group, who flew from the airfield at Thorpe Abbotts, four miles from the town of Diss in Norfolk, and were nicknamed The Bloody Hundredth because of the high number of casualties they took on their bombing raids.

Based on a book of the same name by American history professor, Donald L. Miller, Masters Of The Air is a riveting re-enactment of what those brave boys  which is what many of them still were, some barely out of their teens  were.

It captures vividly the experience of being inside the primitive, rattling, shaking tin can that was a World War II bomber  a far cry from the remotely controlled drones and lasers that make up much of air warfare today.

In stunning battle scenes, we see and feel the claustrophobia, the fear, the desperation and the raw courage of flying through a sky full of bursting flak (anti-aircraft fire) as far as the eye can see and then trying to ward off Messerschmitt 109 fighter planes, all guns blazing, in head-on attacks.

Based on a book of the same name by American history professor, Donald L. Miller, Masters Of The Air is a riveting re-enactment of what those brave boys  which is what many of them still were, some barely out of their teens  were. Pictured, Rafferty Law and Samual Jordan

Austin Butler as Major. Gale 'Buck' Cleven and Callum Turner portraying Major. John 'Bucky' Egan

The horror of seeing one of your squadron, with your friends on board, bursting into flame and nose-diving to the ground, and the dread that you are next. Then, if you survive, having to find the steel inside you to do it again and again.

It is horrific and uplifting at the same time. It is also, to my mind, an authentic account of the bomber war, a subject I am well grounded in, as co-author of Tail-End Charlies, a history of the Allied bomber onslaught on Germany in the final two years of the war.

From which vantage point I have one niggle with Masters Of The Air. A voiceover at the start claims they had come 'to bring the war to Hitler's doorstep'.

Not quite true. The RAF  the boys in blue as opposed to the boys in brown of the USAAF  had been battering away at Adolf's backyard for more than two years before the Yanks turned up.

Masters Of The Air is a U.S.-made film series by Americans, about Americans, and from what I've seen so far the RAF gets barely a look-in, except as the occasional butt of derision and a punch on the nose.

Yet, night after night, beginning in August 1940 with a raid on Berlin, British bomber crews in Blenheims and Lancasters had taken the battle to Germany.

They did so on prime minister Winston Churchill's instructions  after every other country had given up.

Tens of thousands of RAF airmen lost their lives letting the world know that Britain had not hunkered down behind its sea defences and giving hope that one day the Nazis would be defeated. When the Americans arrived in the spring of 1942 that holding strategy could be turned into a winning one.

The two air forces had different tactics. The RAF bombed at night, under cover of darkness, its commanders believing that attacking Germany in the daylight was suicidal.

The RAF  the boys in blue as opposed to the boys in brown of the USAAF  had been battering away at Adolf's backyard for more than two years before the Yanks turned up. Pictured, Austin Butler and Callum Turner

Masters Of The Air is a U.S.-made film series by Americans, about Americans, and from what I've seen so far the RAF gets barely a look-in, except as the occasional butt of derision and a punch on the nose. Pictured, Rafferty Law

The RAF's Bomber Command sent 125,000 men into battle over Germany; 55,000 of them never came home, the worst attrition rate of any single Allied unit. Pictured, Callum Turner in 'Masters of the Air'

The Americans preferred daylight missions, grouping their bombers into vast fleets which, by sticking together in close formation, could hold enemy fighters at bay with their superior fire power, like circled wagons in the old West.

Both methods had merits  and flaws. Bombing in the dark gave you cover but made hitting your target much harder, leading to accusations that the attacks were indiscriminate.

Bombing in daylight made targeting easier but left you a sitting duck. Shootouts in the air, eyeball-to-eyeball confrontations between gunners from the Bronx and fighter pilots from Berlin, were the norm.

Either way, both air forces took staggering numbers of casualties, huge cohorts of young men with everything to live for dying in terrible ways  shot, burned, drowned, blown to pieces in the sky.

The RAF's Bomber Command sent 125,000 men into battle over Germany; 55,000 of them never came home, the worst attrition rate of any single Allied unit.

Meanwhile, 25,000 American young men were killed. What makes their sacrifice even more remarkable is that they died not defending their homeland, as the British were.

The shores of the U.S. had not been in danger of invasion; their land had not been blitzed by the Luftwaffe.

They had come to a strange country far away from home and from their loved ones to fight an enemy who threatened freedom. They died in that cause. They deserve to be honoured.

Survival was a lottery, as 20-year-old Jim O'Connor knew only too well. Not so long ago he had been in high school in Chicago sweating for his English Lit exams.

Now he was sweating in the co-pilot's seat of a Flying Fortress over Berlin as part of a 1,000-bomber assault on oil refineries and factories.

He felt like a medieval knight heading into battle, 'knowing that the ultimate gamble was at hand, the throw of the dice that would determine life or death'. That day it was an aircraft close to his in the formation that lost the bet.

From his cockpit, he watched it explode as its oxygen tanks were hit by the same flak that put a handful of harmless holes in his aircraft.

He and his men made it home. The other crew went on the list of 250 men missing that one day. They knew the odds were stacked against them.

Tail gunner Eddie Picardo recalled arriving at a base just outside Norwich and being approached by an old hand who pointed at a bullet-ridden plane on the runway and said: 'It got a direct hit in the tail.

They're sucking out what's left of the tail gunner.' He told himself that wasn't going to happen to him but on more than one occasion he muttered 'Good night, sweetheart' to himself as the flak exploded around him.'

Getting back to base was 'like being granted a reprieve from a death sentence'. It never lasted, though. 'It was never long before you had to return to face death.'

In the meantime he would let his hair down, telling any English girls he met  and there were plenty  that he came from Hollywood. It did the trick with one girl over a drink and a game of darts in a pub in London  'a real tomato, with a great figure!'

He was even ready to risk being late back to his base in Norfolk for her. He might be punished, 'but what could they do to me anyway?

There wasn't anything worse than being in the tail of a B-24 and flying over Germany!'

For thousands of airmen, there was a fate that seemed to worry them almost as much as dying  being shot down and falling into enemy hands.

Nearing the target, an oil refinery deep in the far east of Germany, bombardier Dean Whitaker was lying in the nose cone of a B-17 named 'Knockout' as it flew into a huge black cloud  the flak from hundreds of anti-aircraft guns.

Ahead of him, B-17s were spiralling out of that cloud, some on fire, others missing a wing.

'It was our turn to run the gauntlet. What chance did we have?' As they slowed for the bomb run, they were hit.

'I smelt burning metal. A shell exploding directly in front of us sent bits of steel through the nose.'

They managed to drop their bombs, then wheeled away into clear blue sky, but the relief was momentary: 'bandits'  enemy fighters  swooped in.

The tail was shot off. The rear gunner was dead. The aircraft nosedived and all they could do was jump.

More than half the crew parachuted straight into the hands of German troops. They at least were safe. Four others were not.

They drifted down near a small village, whose police chief enlisted the help of other Nazi thugs to slaughter them on the spot.

On that day 50 American airmen held up their hands in surrender and went into captivity, Whitaker among them. He saw out the war, as did thousands of his fellows, in a prisoner-of-war camp.

In the end, the Americans did their bit to break Hitler's hold on Europe, their contribution recognised by the head of Britain's Bomber Command, Arthur Harris.

'The Americans,' he wrote in his memoirs, 'gave us the best they had, and everything we needed. We could have had no better brothers in arms.'

Austin Butler, Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks at the world premiere of 'Masters Of The Air'

Sawyer Spielberg, Callum Turner, Steven Spielberg, Austin Butler, Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman attend the world premiere

At the end of the war, though, the experiences of the two air forces diverged sharply. The men of the Eighth Army Air Force went home truly as masters of the air, to a nation that heralded them as heroes. It was not so for the British airmen.

The relentless area bombing of Germany and the huge loss of civilian lives in firestorms at Hamburg and Dresden laid a pall not only over those cities but over the men who flew the aircraft that attacked them.

Unfairly, the job they did was denounced as shameful, unnecessary, criminal even. They were made to feel shame, treated as pariahs, their great achievements and conspicuous bravery lost in clouds of controversy.

Yet they were every bit as heroic as the bomber boys from across the pond. But is there a home-grown Tom Hanks or Steven Spielberg out there to mark the fact?
An Uber driver will spend six years behind bars for fraudulently obtaining $200,000 as part of an elaborate Telstra phone scam which a judge described as being motivated by 'pure greed'.

Hassan Zia Rana set up the scam targeting Telstra customers between April and May 2020 which resulted in more than one hundred iPhones being ordered and delivered to addresses in Mawson Lakes, in Adelaide's north.

The 25-year-old man created the elaborate scheme targeting Telstra customers with his brother in Pakistan.

It worked by customers first receiving a call from a woman telling them she worked for the telco.

She would then tell people that the company was offering a discount before they were asked for a pin number sent to their phone.

The woman would then ask the customer to read the pin number out aloud from the text message that had been sent to them.

Hassan Zia Rana (pictured) will be jailed for setting up an elaborate phone scam targeting Telstra customers, obtaining Apple iPhones worth $200,000

At the time customers could access their Telstra online account using a one-time pin code which would be sent through a text to the customer.

The pin would then be used to access a customer's online Telstra account, allowing Rana to place orders for brand new Apple iPhones.

The phones were then delivered to various addresses in Mawson Lakes and collected by courier drivers hired by Rana who would deliver the devices to him.

During Rana's sentencing, the District Court was told phones worth $200,000 were ordered between April and May 2020.

Around $83,000 worth of phones have not been recovered.

The court also heard evidence from an undercover police officer who was offered $25 by Rana for delivering the phone in a parcel with a $1,000 bonus offered if he managed to deliver 150 packages.

The District court heard the 25-year-old was part of the scheme along with his brother who lives in Pakistan, hiring courier drivers to deliver iPhones to him ordered through the accounts of unsuspecting Telstra customers

South Australia Police raided Rana's home (pictured) and found thousands of dollars in cash

Officers from South Australia police raided Rana's property on May 25, 2020 and seized $65,000 in cash.

Rana, a former student who completed a Bachelor of Aviation in 2021, was charged with 20 counts of money laundering after he had previously denied he was a part of the intricate scheme.

'You gave various explanations, most of which were nonsense and almost all of which were lies,' Judge Heath Barklay told Rana in court, as reported by he Advertiser.

'You were motivated purely by greed.'

Judge Barklay found that Rana was working with his brother to send money from the phones to Pakistan with Rana also understood to receive a significant amount of from the proceeds.

'You were part of a sophisticated, organised group that were actively targeting Telstra and stealing large amounts of mobile phones from them,' Judge Barklay said.

Rana admitted during proceedings he had been involved in the scheme for six years.

Rana was sentenced to six years in prison with a non-parole period of three years and six months, after which he faces the prospect of being deported back to Pakistan.
A pair of Las Vegas parents who pleaded guilty to starving and killing their five-month-old baby have been sentenced to 10-25 years in prison.

Loreana Martinez, 30, and Anthony Oceja, 35, pleaded guilty for second-degree murder and child abuse resulting in substantial bodily or mental harm of their five-month-old baby, Hannibal Oceja, in February 2018.

On January 25, Loreana and Anthony were sentenced to 10 to 25 years in prison with credit for time served. Anthony also pleaded guilty to animal cruelty.

While the deranged mother agreed to a plea deal, the father asked for a trial. After being found guilty by a jury, he agreed to the same deal as his wife.

Loreana Martinez, 30, (pictured) and Anthony Oceja, 35, pleaded guilty for second-degree murder and child abuse resulting in substantial bodily or mental harm of their five-month-old baby, Hannibal Oceja in February 2018

While the deranged mother agreed to a plea deal, the 'son-loving' father asked for a trial. After being found guilty by a jury, he agreed to the same deal as his wife

The young infant died after going into a cardiac arrest at the family home.

At the time of his death, doctors discovered that Hannibal weighed less than when he was born, only six pounds, seven ounces.

A healthy baby his age is expected to weigh between 18 and 20 pounds.

Paramedics were shocked to see that the baby was so thin that his 'bones could easily be seen, his spinal cord appeared as if it was about to poke out of his skin and his rib cage could easily be seen,' according to the arrest report.

When pictures of the infant's ribs and arms were shown at Anthony's trial, one juror exclaimed, 'Oh my God.'

A doctor told the jury that Hannibal was dehydrated to the extent that they were unable put an IV in his vein. They were forced to inject the needle to his bones instead of his muscles.

Paramedics were shocked to see that the baby was so thin that his 'bones could easily be seen, his spinal cord appeared as if it was about to poke out of his skin and his rib cage could easily be seen,' according to the arrest report

When pictures of the infant's ribs and arms were shown at Anthony's trial, one juror exclaimed, 'Oh my God'

The jury was also shown pictures of their food-filled fridge and kitchen as well images of their messy home.

According to records, the couple also have a daughter and a son.

A pediatrician previously noted the daughter as emaciated and diagnosed her with failure to thrive. The son was also found malnourished and dehydrated.

Police also said they found four dogs in their home in poor health from not being fed enough.

It has not be determined why the children and animals were malnourished. Doctors have not clarified if Hannibal was suffering from any illnesses or disabilities.

The jury was also shown pictures of their food-filled fridge and kitchen

Cooked food was also seen by officials on the kitchen stove

Images of their messy home were presented to the jury during the trial

According to records, the couple also have a daughter and a son. A pediatrician previously noted the daughter as emaciated and diagnosed her with failure to thrive. The son was also found malnourished and dehydrated.

Police also said they found four dogs in their home in poor health from not being fed enough

At yesterday's sentencing, Anthony told Clark County District Court Judge Tierra Jones and the court: 'I went to trial to prove innocence. You know, I love my kids. I miss my son every day. I mourn his death. I celebrate his birthday. No matter what they say. I love my son.'

Apart from the prison sentence, Anthony has been ordered to pay restitution to Clark County animal control of more than $1,000.

Diana Jackson, Anthony's sister, also told the court yesterday that she had adopted the other two children.

'The children today are happy and full of life from love and they would like to see him one day just as much as the rest of us in a world where we could heal together as a whole. We have suffered enough and we just want to be able to heal with him one day outside of jailhouse walls,' she said.

Diana requested that Anthony to be sentenced the same as Loreana.

Diana Jackson, Anthony's sister, also told the court yesterday that she had adopted the other two children

Apart from the prison sentence, Anthony has been ordered to pay restitution to Clark County animal control of more than $1,000

Loreana insisted that she breastfed her son multiple times a day, for at least 45 minutes

Records show that Hannibal's pediatrician, Shazia Kirmani, reportedly told Loreana during a check up that her son was failing to thrive and that she needed to supplement her breast milk

Records show that Hannibal's pediatrician, Shazia Kirmani, reportedly told Loreana during a check up that her son was failing to thrive and that she needed to supplement her breast milk.

She was asked to monitor her son's weight and return within three weeks, according to the police report.

But Loreana was 'belligerent' and failed to return to any of her schedules appointments, according to the report.

Loreana later denied that Kirmani had advised her to supplement her breastfeeding or had scheduled any follow ups, and claimed the doctor had told her Hannibal 'was doing great'.

She insisted that she breastfed her son multiple times a day, for at least 45 minutes.

Officials noted that the pediatrician had not alerted Child Protective Services for suspected child abuse, which is a legal requirement for doctors across the country.

The parents will remain at the Clark County Detention Center as of now and will eventually be transferred to the Nevada Department of Corrections.
Alabama's Attorney General has vowed to keep using nitrogen gas to execute inmates despite harrowing reports from witnesses to Kenneth Eugene Smith's execution.

Steve Marshall even offered to assist other states in procuring the previously-untested method, brushing off claims the killer writhed and shook in agony as he was slowly suffocated to death in a 22-minute ordeal on Thursday night.

'What occurred last night was textbook,' Marshall said Friday, contrasting allegations from many, including Smith's spiritual advisor who said it was 'torture' and the 'worst thing' he had ever seen.

'When they turned the nitrogen on, he began to convulse, he popped up on the gurney over and over again, he shook the whole gurney,' spiritual advisor Jeff Hood, who was in the chamber, said immediately after the execution.

Kenneth Eugene Smith was sentenced to death in 1996 after admitting the murder-for-hire killing of a pastor's wife who was beaten and stabbed in 1988. On Thursday evening, he became the first person in US history to be executed with nitrogen gas

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall (pictured) vowed to continue using nitrogen hypoxia for the state's executions, noting that 43 Alabama death row prisoners have opted to be executed via nitrogen hypoxia over lethal injection

In the face of the controversy, nitrogen hypoxia has opened a new avenue for US prisons to continue the practice of executions, with some states going years without amid a nationwide shortage of lethal injection drugs.

Marshall cited this in his remarks Friday, praising how nitrogen gas executions are 'no longer an untested method - it is a proven one.'

Officials insisted for months leading up to the execution that it would be humane and painless for Smith, who had a previous execution in 2022 called off after prison staff tried and failed to insert an IV line for several painful hours.

Following the failed execution in 2022, Smith sought his subsequent execution to be carried out via nitrogen hypoxia - in an apparent gamble that officials wouldn't follow through with the untested method.

However, Marshall said of the 165 inmates on Alabama's death row, 43 prisoners have opted to be executed via nitrogen hypoxia over lethal injection when their time comes.

'We'll definitely have more nitrogen hypoxia executions in Alabama,' he concluded.

In filings before the execution, the state argued that 'the experts agree that nitrogen hypoxia is painless because it causes unconsciousness in seconds.'

Marshall reportedly conceded that this was not exactly how it unfolded Thursday night as it took longer than anticipated, but said it was difficult to discern the timing due to difficulty knowing when the nitrogen began to flow.

Witness to the execution Lee Hedgepeth - who detailed the harrowing episode for DailyMail.com - said what he saw in the chamber directly opposes Marshall's remarks the day after.

'It's interesting to see the attorney general say that everything went consistent with plans that they laid out,' Hedgepeth told MSNBC.

'We saw him begin violently shaking, thrashing against the straps that held him down.

'This was the fifth execution that I've witnessed in Alabama, and I've never seen such a violent execution or a violent reaction to the means of execution.'

Hedgepeth, one of five journalists to see Smith put to death, sat next to Smith's wife Deanna in the viewing gallery feet away from where her husband was strapped to a gurney.

He told the BBC: 'The execution starts at about 7.53. The nitrogen begins flowing into the gas mask and Kenny begins to violently shake against the straps that are holding him.

'That violent shaking lasts for about four or five minutes. I've witnessed five executions in Alabama. Four of them lethal injection. One with nitrogen and this was the most violent execution I have ever seen.

'Sitting beside me was Deanna Smith, the wife of Kenny. Once Kenny began to violently shake against those straps she began to sob.

'There were other media witnesses in the room, folks who had seen other executions, and I think there was a shock in the room at how violent the execution was'.

Smith's wife Deanna cried out for her killer husband as he thrashed against his restraints, before breaking down at a press conference following the controversial execution (pictured)

Elizabeth Sennett, 45, was murdered by Smith and another man in 1989, after her husband paid them each $1,000 to kill her so he could collect on her insurance

Smith was 22-years-old (seen in his original 1989 mugshot) when he was first arrested for the 1988 murder of Elizabeth Sennett. His conviction was overturned before he was sentenced to death for the same murder at a separate trial in 1996

Before the execution got underway, Smith's pastor John Ewell told DailyMail.com that the killer was 'really struggling' with the reality of his imminent death, and officials said he barely touched his final meal of a T-bone steak, hashbrowns and eggs from Waffle House.

As he 'struggled' to accept his fate, the Alabama Department of Corrections said Smith's final day began with him refusing a breakfast of eggs, biscuits, grape jelly, apple sauce and orange juice.

He then received a tray for lunch but again refused it, although he did drink Mountain Dew, Pepsi and coffee.

Smith was ordered to have only clear liquids from 4pm, after barely touching his final meal, which came from Waffle House slathered in A1 steak sauce.

His last phone call was with his wife, Deanna Smith, who cried out from the witness box in desperation - after previously witnessing her husband's botched execution two years prior.

The execution method split opinions for weeks heading to the final date, with some feeling Smith's crime in 1988 was worthy of his place on death row.

Aged 22, Smith was one of two men convicted in the murder-for-hire slaying of Elizabeth Sennett, 45, the wife of preacher Charles Sennet Sr. who hired the men kill his wife in an insurance plot.

His initial 1989 conviction was overturned on appeal, but he was retried and convicted again in 1996, where he was sentenced to death.

Prosecutors said he and John Forrest Parker were each paid $1,000 for the hit, with Sennett's husband hoping to collect on her insurance as he was deeply in debt.

Alabama's lethal injection chamber at Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Ala., is pictured in this Oct. 7, 2002 file photo, where Smith was executed Thursday evening

John Forrest Parker, the other man convicted in the slaying, was executed in 2010

She was found dead March 18, 1988, in her home in Colbert County with eight stab wounds in the chest and one on each side of her neck.

After finding out that he was suspected of being involved in the plot, Charles Sennett Sr. killed himself. He is now buried next to his wife.

The controversial execution was praised by Alabama Governor Kay Ivey following news of Smith's death, feeling it was justice served for Sennett's murder.

Ivey said in a statement: 'After more than 30 years and attempt after attempt to game the system, Mr. Smith has answered for his horrendous crimes.

'I pray that Elizabeth Sennett's family can receive closure after all these years dealing with that great loss.'
Notorious fraudster Melissa Caddick's custom-made diamond engagement ring has surfaced at a small antiques store with a staggering $70,000 price tag.

The solitaire diamond ring, custom made by Sydney-based jeweller Stefano Canturi for her engagement to hairdresser and DJ Anthony Koletti, is among stock held by Jewellery Library in the village of Blackheath in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney.

Caddick, 49, vanished on November 12, 2020 after she fleeced $30million from investors, including family and friends, while working as a financial advisor.

Caddick's extensive collection of designer jewellery, artworks and dresses were auctioned in 2022 as part of efforts to repay her victims, with the items raking in more than $800,000.

The engagement ring, worth $39,200 new, was expected to fetch between $7,000 to $10,000 at the auction but was sold at the lowest end of that estimate, fetching a modest $7,000.

The piece features a large rare 1.83 carat white diamond surrounded by side diamonds weighing a combined 1.2 carats and two brilliant cut black sapphires weighing 0.04 carats.

The ring featuring a 1.83 carat rare white diamond has surfaced at an antiques shop in the Blue Mountains village of Blackheath with a jaw-dropping price tag

Conwoman Melissa Caddick wearing an iconic Oscar De La Renta ball gown and Canturi necklace at a social event with her husband Anthony Koletti

Jewellery Library has listed the item with an eye-watering $70,200 valuation but has said they would be willing to negotiate down to as much as half of that price with an interested buyer.

The business, located in the Victory Theatre building, is undergoing a rebranding to Investment Jewellery after it was recently bought out, though it is understood any unsold stock, including the ring, will remain in the store for sale.

Johnathon James who runs Jewellery Library told Daily Mail Australia on Saturday the ring 'certainly draws the attention of everyone who visits'.

'It was bought by a Sydney barrister who is good friends with the Packer family and who bought a lot of her items that went up for auction.

'His wife didn't want it and he gave the ring to us to help him sell.

'The price is expensive but with her notoriety and the provenance we wanted to capitalise on that, though we would be willing to negotiate and significantly lower the price if there was a genuine buyer.'

The ring was given to the Jewellery Library antiques store in Blackheath (pictured) by a Sydney barrister who wanted help selling it after his wife said she didn't want it

Caddick's case captured the attention of the Australian public, fascinated by the mystery around what happened to her. She has not been seen since her November 2020 disappearance.

Police believe she took her own life by jumping from cliffs near her Dover Heights mansion in Sydney shortly after Australian Securities and Investments Commission agents raided her home.

After a foot belonging to Caddick washed up on the NSW South Coast, police declared the case shut.

But other theories persist including that she had her foot amputated and had money stashed away to run off to rural NSW or overseas.

When ASIC investigators raided Caddick's property they found an astonishing collection of diamond and sapphire rings (above). The engagement ring is not pictured

Caddick's Dover Heights home (pictured) sold at auction for an unknown price, but was expected to fetch more than $10million

An LV Flame Twist MM Bag owned by Caddick that sold for $4,909 at auction

'A lot of people who visit the store make comments about why she wasn't wearing the ring when she vanished,' Mr James said.

'The whole saga is controversial but, in my opinion, if she did indeed run off and disappear and did not met her demise, then wouldn't she have taken the ring?

'It's very valuable and has sentimental value on top of that. I would assume it would be one of the few things she would take with her.'
A two-year old girl was found unresponsive at the home of a longtime Massachusetts cop who was arrested last month for allegedly raping a child under the age of 12.

Winthrop Police lieutenant James Feeley, 56, is currently being held on $200,000 bail on charges including aggravated rape of a child and two counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under the age of 14, and was therefore not at the home when the toddler was found.

A 911 call was received at 10:20am on Friday morning. When emergency services arrived on the scene, the youngster was rushed to the hospital where the girl died, reports Boston25.

The child was rushed to hospital in the fire chief's own car as they were first to arrive. Two EMT's performed CPR on the toddler.

'They made the decision to transport this child to Massachusetts General Hospital in the back of the fire chief's vehicle,' Winthrop Police Chief Terence Delehanty said.

Winthrop Police lieutenant James Feeley (pictured) was charged with aggravated rape of a child and two counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under the age of 14 last month

A two-year-old girl was found to be non-responsive at the home where Freeley used to live

'The fire department did a heroic job today and made decisive decisions under emergency conditions to get this child the medical treatment necessary as soon as possible,' said Chief Delehanty.

An initial investigation 'indicates no signs of foul play or physical trauma. 'We are awaiting an autopsy to determine cause of death,' a spokesperson for Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden said in a statement.

Feeley had served as a sergeant in the department for three years before his promotion the lieutenant. He was a reserve officer for eight years prior

The child's death comes only one month after Feeley is alleged to have confessed to a series of sex crimes while standing at the foot of his parent's gravestones, in a local cemetery at Christmas.

The criminal complaint alleges how Feeley, who had served with his force for 21 years and was promoted in 2020, had 'sexual intercourse or unnatural sexual intercourse' with the victim, though it is not currently known exactly when or where the alleged attacks took place.

The alleged victim was taken to Boston Children's Hospital in December, and claimed the sexual assaults began one year earlier.

Feeley, who was a foster parent although it is not clear if the victim in the case was a child was being fostered by him.

'DCF is investigating these disturbing allegations against a foster parent. There are no foster children currently residing in the foster home,' a DCF spokesperson said last month.

The former Winthrop Police Lieutenant faces child rape charges and is being held on $200,000 bail

Freeley is seen being taken into custody last month following sex abuse allegations

Feeley had served as a sergeant in the department for three years before his promotion the lieutenant. He was a reserve officer for eight years prior.

Feeley was actively involved in teaching young children in the area when it came to police community outreach.

Pictures on social media show him spending time with a local Brownies and Girl Guides group as recently as 2022.

Feeley's brother called Winthrop Sergeant Sean Delehanty, telling him Feeley 'was in a really bad way.'

Delehanty then passed the warning on to his brother who was also with the poice, Winthrop Police Chief Terence Delehanty, and asked that he meet the lieutenant at the cemetery, while also travelling there himself.

Upon arrival, the sergeant told him, 'whatever is happening the answer is not on his hip,' referring to the gun Feeley had on him.

Feeley allegedly replied: 'Wait until I tell you what I've done.'

The chief later arrived, and Feeley reportedly confessed to both police officer brothers.

Believing he was suicidal, the chief took Feeley's gun away from him and had him taken to Massachusetts General Hospital to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.

Defense Attorney Nitin Dalal told the judge at a court hearing that Feeley had a place to stay in another community with one of his brothers and that Feeley had owned up bringing what happened to light.

Feeley, second from left, had served with his force for 21 years and was promoted in 2020

'He is feeling guilt, remorse, embarrassment, humiliation,' Dalal said, adding that Feeley is in need of mental health treatment.

Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden said: 'This victim and the victim's family will receive all the help and support they need as this case moves forward.'

The Massachusetts' Department of Children and Families said they are 'investigating these disturbing allegations.'

Feeley has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Hs next hearing is scheduled for Monday.

Chief Terence Delehanty said in a statement: 'James Feeley has been placed on administrative leave from the Winthrop Police Department pending the outcome of a criminal investigation headed by State Police Detectives assigned to the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office.'
Two Aussie heritage number plates have been sold for a massive combined price of $17million at an historic auction, as it was revealed one set of the rare plates had been owned by a celebrity hairdresser.

Queensland's first-ever issued number plate, Q1, was sold to a keen collector at an auction on Saturday for an astounding $5.655million.

The previous owner of the plates was Gold Coast hairdressing icon and businessman Stefan Ackerie who bought the plate in 1985.

The plate was sold alongside the first ever issued number plate in Australia, NSW 1 which fetched a massive $11.505million.

Mr Ackerie who purchased the Q1 plate at the Great Plate auction 44 years ago for $100,000 said he had been approached by buyers in recent years who wanted the historic item.

Queensland 's first ever issued number plate, Q1 (pictured) was sold at an auction on Saturday with the item fetching $5.655million

The previous owner of the heritage plate, hairdressing icon and businessman Stefan Ackerie (pictured), bought the item in 1985 for $100,000

After he found out that the NSW 1 plate was going to be sold off. Mr Ackerie decided he would hand over his prized possession for a combined sale of the collectible items.

'There's been a lot of interest from the start. It's never been without interest,' Mr Ackerie told The Courier Mail.

'I've had it for 40 years. It's time for another custodian for another 40 years,' he said.

Mr Ackerie, who founded the renowned Stefan salons, said the Q1 plate is 'very synonymous' and was on his car for a long time.

The Q1 plate attracted plenty of interest from online and phone buyers until the bidding came down to the wire between two bidders.

The item was sold in just over an hour and 15 minutes with the price the highest ever paid for a two-digit number plate.

Lloyd's Auctions located in NSW sold both the Q1 and NSW 1 plates, the two items smashing the previous record set for a publicly sold Australian number plate - which was the 'NSW 4' plate that fetched $2.45million in 2017.

Mr Ackerie had the plate on his car (pictured) after he purchased the item more than 40 years ago

The Q1 plate was also sold alongside the first ever issued Australian number plate, NSW 1 (pictured) which sold for a massive $11.505million

The NSW 1 plate has became one of the world's most valuable number plates following the sale of Dubai's 'P7' number plate which sold for a whopping $22.8million last year.

Lloyd's Auctions chief operating officer Lee Hames said it was very rare to have two rare heritage number plates sold together in one auction.

The Q1 plate was first issued in 1921 and was bought by James Thomas McGuire, founder of the McGurie's hotel chains in Queensland, before Mr Ackerie went on to buy the plates 64 years later.

NSW 1 is believed to be the first set of registration plates put on a vehicle in Australia after it was issued to the NSW police commissioner, Inspector General Garvin Thomas, in 1910.

The plate was bought in the 1930s by businessman and politician Sir Frederik Stewart who put it on his Oldsmobile.

The plate was understood to have been kept within the family, who chose to sell it through Lloyd's last year.
Donald Trump poisoned the jury against him with his petulant, arrogant and 'disrespectful' behavior in court, two top lawyers have said - resulting in the jury demanding he pay an astonishing $83.3 million in damages.

Trump stormed out of court on Friday before the jury announced their decision to award writer E. Jean Carroll $60 million more in damages than she sought.

Carroll convinced the jury last year that Trump had sexually assaulted her in the late 1990s in a changing room at the department store Bergdorf Goodman, and won $5 million in damages and for defamation after he said she was a liar.

When he repeated his insults after the first trial, she sued again for defamation, and on Friday, after an ill-tempered two-week trial the jury took less than three hours to decide the sum awarded. The guilty verdict had been decided in 2023.

Donald Trump is seen ranting outside the court in Manhattan - one of many times he railed against the judge and the justice system. Analysts said it turned the jury against him

E. Jean Carroll is seen on Friday leaving the court in Manhattan having won $83.3 million from Donald Trump

Judge Lewis Kaplan was unimpressed by the outbursts from Trump and his team

Donald Trump is seen leaving the court on Friday before the verdict was announced

Chris Mattei, a defamation lawyer who won a $1.5 billion jury verdict in the Alex Jones defamation trial, said that jurors often respond badly to defendants who seem arrogant and rude.

'These are regular people who play by the rules,' he told Business Insider.

'And then they see some guy come into court who basically throws up his middle finger at the law? No, average people don't want that.'

Mattei said the sum awarded was an indication that the jury felt no one should be above the law.

'You can't have somebody who just flaunts the law basically be given a pass,' Mattei said. 'That's not how our system works.'

Chris Mattei is seen in court in September 2022, representing the Sandy Hook families in their defamation trial against Alex Jones. Mattei said that Trump's behavior in court worked against him

Trump is seen leaving Trump Tower on Friday to travel to the Manhattan courtroom

John Jones, a former federal judge in Pennsylvania who is now the president of Dickinson College, agreed - and said Trump's legal team also came across as self-important and obnoxious.

'When lawyers and litigants run roughshod over a judge or disregard his admonitions, juries don't like that,' said Jones,.

He said Trump storming out the courtroom on Friday afternoon, during closing arguments, also likely left a bad taste in the juror's mouth.

'That's a really disrespectful thing to do,' Jones added. 'It looks arrogant and unseemly.'

Elie Honig, a former New Jersey and federal prosecutor, agreed, telling CNN: 'To stand up and storm out in the middle of that? You are asking for a verdict like that.'

Trump declared after the verdict was announced that there is 'no longer Justice in America'.

The former president, 77, vowed to appeal appeal and called the case a 'Biden Directed Witch Hunt'.

He wrote on Truth Social: 'Our Judicial System is Broken and Unfair!'

As the verdict was read out, he derided it as 'absolutely ridiculous'.

E. Jean Carroll, in white, is seen with her friends and legal team leaving the court in Manhattan on Friday evening

Donald Trump's defense attorney Alina Habba said she was 'proud' to defend the former president as tore into the justice system following the $83.3million E. Jean Carroll verdict

'I have sat on trial after trial for months in this state... and now we see what you get in New York,' Habba told reporters as she left the court

'I'm not having any second thoughts representing President Trump', she told a journalist as she walked out of Manhattan Federal Court, moments after the damages were read out in court

Alina Habba, Trump's pugnacious lawyer, declared outside court she was 'seeing a violation of our justice system.'

Habba - who was rebuked multiple times by Judge Lewis Kaplan - claimed Trump was not allowed to defend himself.

He was not allowed to re-litigate the case, but was allowed to speak in his defense.

Habba, however, said he had been denied his rights.

She continued: 'Ladies and gentlemen you are not allowed to be stripped of every defense you have.

'Guess what my client did, he took the stand and abided by the corrupt system that I have seen.

'We will immediately appeal. We will set aside that ridiculous jury.'

Trump can now either pay the $83.3 million to the court, which will hold the money while the appeal is pending - as he did with the $5.5 million awarded to Carroll last year.

Or he can try and secure a bond, which would likely see him having to pay a deposit and offer collateral, and agree to pay interest and fees.

Trump is well known for resenting spending any money, with a multitude of suppliers claiming that he would wrangle with them over an already-agreed price.

He may also find it complicated to find banks willing to loan him the money, given the legal jeopardy he is in.

Trump has vowed to appeal, but will ultimately have to pay Carroll, legal experts believe

The New York-born businessman has used donations to his political action committee to pay for his legal fees, but the accounts do not have $83.3 million in them.

He has boasted of his wealth, and owns substantial property - meaning that ultimately Carroll is likely to receive her money.

He sold his Washington DC hotel in May 2022 for $375 million, and told a court he had $400 million in cash.

Bruce Green, director of the Louis Stein Center for Law and Ethics at Fordham University, told The New York Times: 'He's the rare defendant with an $83 million verdict against him who actually has the money.

'Wherever this lands, she should be able to collect.'

The $83.3 million is not the only payout he is likely to have to make, however.

The New York attorney general is seeking a $370 million penalty from the former president and his family business as part of a civil fraud trial that wrapped up this month, and the judge is expected to decide the amount in the coming weeks.
Wyoming ranchers suspect a horse thief is loose in the state after a stallion and a mare - each worth thousands of dollars - mysteriously disappeared, before one turned up dead.

On January 11, a blue roan stallion named Shadow Hawke went missing from his barn at the Flying V Quarter Horses ranch in Wyoming.

Despite a $5000 reward for information about the stallion, officials were not able to find him.

But on January 25, the 1200 pound horse worth $25,000 was discovered near the outdoor arena of the property.

According to the stallion's ranch owners, their beloved Shadow Hawke had suffered a broken shoulder and internal injuries.

In a Facebook post, they wrote: 'Shadow Hawke has been found. His body was dumped in the outdoor arena sometime on the night of the 24th or early morning of the 25th.

'An examination by the Vet indicated he had a broken shoulder and internal injuries.

'The estimated time of death was three to five days ago - around a week after he was taken. Needless to say, the search is off, but the mystery continues.'

On January 11, a blue roan stallion named Shadow Hawke went missing from his barn at the Flying V Quarter Horses ranch in Wyoming

On January 25, Shadow Hawke who is worth $25,000 was found dead with a broken shoulder and internal injuries

But before Shadow Hawke vanished, a blue roan mare, named, Pepper, went missing on December 9 in the state.

Her owner, Vicki Kissack, said that she was pregnant, and believes that their beloved horse was stolen.

Vicki said her husband, Clark, had flown over their pasture and surrounding lands near Rozet last month but wasn't able to spot Pepper.

The pair noted that four strands of their pasture's barbed-wire fence were pushed down but none of their horses had any wounds - further indicating that the $14,000 worth mare had been stolen.

Vicki described Pepper as the couple's friendliest horse and the easiest to steal.

'Updated to STOLEN! Clark and Elgin flew for over an hour over the Rozet WY area today (Dec 10th) and never found her! Stolen Blue Roan Draft Mare from Adon Road Rozet WY Area.

'No brand but Pepper has a droopy lower lip and has a rasp when she breaths from being sick when she was younger. She is bred to our blue roan stud, if someone has a new mare with a roan colt next June please let us know!,' the couple wrote on Facebook.

On December 9, Pepper, who is pregnant and worth $14,000 went missing

Her owners believe she was stolen after they found their pasture's barbed-wire fence pushed down

Vicki also said: 'Blue roan Percherons are not super rare, but they are harder to come by. The blue roans are really hot on the market for now and have been for a few years.

'People don't think about that when they steal other people's things. I think people who are stealing are thinking what it's going to bring into their life, not what it's taking from other people's lives.'

Quentin Reynolds, Campbell County Undersheriff said that while he did not know if there was a connection between Pepper's disappearance and the temporary disappearance and death of Shadow Hawke, there could be a connection.

Officials are investigating Pepper's disappearance as a theft and aware of another incident involving a blue roan.

Mary Trostle from the Missing Equine Search & Awareness group told Cowboy State Daily there was possibility of an organized theft operation.

'Clearly they're all three blue roans, and all breeding', the expert said.
A woman has penned a letter to a money advice columnist asking whether her 69-year-old husband is right to worry that $3.7million is not enough to retire on.

The New Zealand Herald reader told financial expert Mary Holm her husband was starting to experience a few health issues and she 'wants him to retire'.

But her husband is reluctant to give up work altogether because he fears 'we can't afford it and that I'll be penniless and living in my car if he dies'.

She explained that, after selling their second property, the baby boomer couple would be left with 'a mortgage-free home' and about NZ$4million (AU$3.7million) in the bank - which she feels is 'enough' for a comfortable retirement.

Her husband disagrees, however.

Ms Holm was stunned by the woman's letter - admitting it was the latest in a string of correspondence from older readers worried about their finances when in fact they have nothing to worry about.

A woman has penned a letter to a money advice columnist asking whether her 69-year-old husband is right to worry that $3.7million is not enough to retire on (stock image)

She said the husband's concerns perhaps came from being raised by 'parents who went through hard times in the Great Depression' or because of hardship early in life.

'But clearly that no longer applies,' Ms Holm said.

She told the reader her husband was being 'way too cautious' - as shown by a simple calculation to determine whether one can retire comfortably.

'For every $100,000 you have saved [by 65], you can spend $100 a week. For example, if you've saved $300,000, you can spend $300 a week, and your savings should last as long as you do,' Ms Holm explained, noting that is 'top of NZ Super'.

Per this conservative calculation, the worried boomer couple have 40 lots of $100,000, giving them an eye-watering retirement budget of $4,000 per week.
His father said that he wanted to become a commercial pilot one day

James was cleared to practice a flight maneuver but decided to fly away in the allegedly stolen plane

A pilot's last words were recorded before he crashed and died in a plane from a Texas flight school.

Logan Timothy James, 23, from Stokesdale, North Carolina, stole a Cessna 172 Skyhawk from the ATP Flight School located at Addison Airport around 7pm Wednesday.

The Texas Department of Public Safety said that James was allowed to use the aircraft for a practice flight maneuver, but once he was in the sky he informed the air traffic controller that was 'actually going to depart to the east.'

'I'm climbing up through a few clouds and then just gonna head outside of everything,' James said, according to audio recording posted by VasAviation.

'And about right now you'll probably realize that I'm not gonna listen to ya'll's instructions and I'm just heading to East Texas.'

Logan Timothy James, 23, crashed a Cessna 172 Skyhawk into a field near Telephone, Texas on Wednesday and died at the scene

Authorities said that he then went on to fly east before he headed north toward the border of Texas and Oklahoma and crashed into a field near Telephone, Texas and was pronounced dead at the scene.

James was the only person on board, but it is unclear if he declared an emergency before he crashed.

It is also unclear if the plane was stolen or not, and why exactly he decided to fly away.

Before he went radio silent, James also said that he was going to 'pull the Comm 1 circut breaker and the Comm 2 circuit breaker,' before he microphone cut off.

The traffic controller then responded: 'Say again,' as they kept trying to get in communication with James for about 10 minutes.

The Federal Aviation Administration database showed that James was issued a private pilot certification on December 24, according to Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

James' father told CBS News that his son grew up in North Carolina and that he graduate from The University of Texas at Dallas.

His father described him as 'a wonderful son, with a gentle and loving spirit' and said that he dreamt of becoming a commercial pilot

The plane is seen just before it crashed near the Texas- Oklahoma border

His father also said that James recently started training at the flight school in June and had dreams of becoming a commercial pilot.

His father went on to describe him as 'a wonderful son, with a gentle and loving spirit.'

ATP Flight School told KTVT that the crash 'occurred in a remote area, and there were no injuries to anyone on the ground.'

'Our thought and prayers are with the pilot's family, loved ones, friends and colleagues,' the school's statement said.

The flight school said that they are cooperating with both local and federal authorities as the Federal Aviation Administration, National Transportation Safety Board and Addison Police Department are currently investigating the incident.

A Cessna 172 Skyhawk is four-seat, single-engine plane that was first flown in 1955 and is 'ideally designed for instructors, students and observers alike,' according to Textron Aviation.
Yemen's Houthi rebels have launched a missile at a US warship patrolling the Gulf of Aden, forcing them to shoot it down and instead striking a commercial vessel yesterday.

The attack was made on the USS Carney and marked a further escalation in the biggest naval confrontation the US has seen in the Middle East in decades.

The rebel's single anti-ship ballistic instead set the commercial vessel ablaze during the attack.

According to the US military's Central Command, their forces conducted a retaliation strike against a Houthi anti-ship missile that was aimed into the Red Sea early Saturday morning local time.

The Houthis' Al-Masirah satellite news channel said the strikes happened near the port city of Hodeida but offered no assessment of their damage.

Yemen's Houthi rebels launched a missile at the USS Carney on Friday but instead set a commercial vessel ablaze

Houthi rebels claim to have struck the Marlin Luanda oil tanker, which they labelled a 'British oil ship' (file picture)

This is the first time the Houthis directly targeted a US warship since the rebels began their assaults on shipping in October, an anonymous source told Associated Press.

Houthi military spokesperson Brigadier general Yahya Saree did not acknowledge the Carney attack identified the commercial vessel as the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker Marlin Luanda.

The attack on Marlin Luanda was also confirmed by Central Command.

The Carney and other coalition ships responded and were rendering assistance toward the stricken ship. Central Command said no injuries were reported.

Despite the Carney being directly targeted, Central Command said the Houthis fired 'towards' the Carney. The Carney shot down the anti-ship ballistic missile, the Central Command said.

Brad Bowman, a senior director at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies said: 'The're now finally calling a spade a spade, and saying that, yeah, theyre trying to attack our forces, they're trying to kill us.'

The Houthis' now direct attacks on U.S. warships are the most aggressive escalation of its campaign in the Red Sea since the Israel-Hamas war broke out.

UK Maritime Trade Operations, a Royal Navy initiative monitoring maritime traffic in the Middle East, says the incident happened in the Gulf of Aden

The Houthis have claimed the Marlin Luanda is 'British', in this statement shared on X, formerly Twitter, despite records showing the boat is flying under a foreign flag

Sare'e, the official spokesperson for the Yemeni armed forces, said it had targeted Marlin Luanda, which it labelled a 'British oil ship', with a 'number of appropriate naval missiles'. It was carrying Russian fuel.

But shipping records show the vessel flies under the flag of the Marshall Islands, a group of Pacific islands north-east of Papua New Guinea. MailOnline understands that the ship is also owned by a Bermuda-based firm.

Authorities in the area are responding to the incident. Trafigura, the commodities supply firm that chartered the ship, says it is in contact with the crew. Trafigura itself is based in Singapore but has a 'regional hub' in London.

A spokesperson told MailOnline that fire-fighting equipment was being used to control the blaze, which was caused in one cargo tank on the starboard side of the vessel.

A Trafigura spokesperson said: 'Earlier on 26 January, the Marlin Luanda, a petroleum products tanker vessel operated on behalf of Trafigura, was struck by a missile as it transited the Red Sea.

'Firefighting equipment on board is being deployed to suppress and control the fire caused in one cargo tank on the starboard side. The safety of the crew is our foremost priority.

'We remain in contact with the vessel and are monitoring the situation carefully. Military ships in the region are underway to provide assistance.'

MailOnline understands the Marlin Luanda is leased by Singapore firm Trafigura from its owners, a group of investors who own the vessel through a company registered in the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda.

The attacks were the latest assaults by the rebels in their campaign against ships traveling through the Red Sea and surrounding waters, which has disrupted global trade amid Israels war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
An Olympic triathlete who has always dreamed of being a mum has revealed why she decided to freeze her eggs at the age of 28.

Emma Jeffcoat made the life-changing decision to visit an IVF clinic last year after a serious ankle injury left her unable to train.

The athlete first visited an IVF clinic at the age of 22 and was told her egg count was high and that she should come back in five years.

However, when she returned to the clinic last year the diagnosis wasn't as positive.

'The number and quality of my eggs had drastically reduced,' she told 7Life.

'The best thing I could do was just act then and there.'

Emma Jeffcoat, (pictured) 29, decided to freeze her eggs after an injury left her unable to train

The athlete was told on a visit to an IVF clinic in 2023 her egg count had 'drastically reduced'

Ms Jeffcoat underwent two egg-collecting procedures and began injecting herself with hormones that she quickly realised had some unpleasant side effects.

'I was anxious, upset and it was confronting,' she said of the experience.

'I'm an elite athlete so I rely on my body to perform. I put weight on and my hormones were all over the place.'

Happily, both egg-harvesting procedures were a success.

The triathlete - who represented Australia at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 - wasn't always so sure she would be able to have kids.

At just three-years-old her appendix ruptured and she was rushed to hospital.

The following year, Ms Jeffcoat was hospitalised with septicemia - which has a death rate of up to 50 per cent - as well as a bowel obstruction.

She spent a year in hospital recovering and left with severe scar tissues on her ovaries and damage to her fallopian tubes.

Ms Jeffcoat said she wasn't surprised that as a teenager she started her menstrual cycle before it disappeared for 10 years.

At the ripe age of 22, she became curious about her reproductive system and made the life-changing decision to visit an IVF clinic.

Emma Jeffcoat made the life-changing decision to visit an IVF clinic last year after a serious ankle injury left her unable to train (pictured)

With her eggs safely in a freezer, the triathlete has encouraged other woman not to simply assume they will naturally conceive.

She has encouraged women to take their reproduction options into their own hands and not to assume they can naturally conceive.

'Females are now able to focus on career (but) the truth is we do have a body clock,' she said.

'While we are chasing career goals and career ambitions, we can investigate our own fertility and have the power to act when we need to.'

Ms Jeffcoat is currently focusing on selection for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Two Malaysian terrorists who plotted with fanatics who went on to carry out the Bali bombings which killed 30 Britons are set to be freed in just five years after a plea deal accepted that they did not know about the attacks.

A military panel at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, has recommended Mohammed Farik Bin Amin, 48, and Mohammed Nazir Bin Lep, 47, serve 23 years in detention.

However, under a previously secret provision of the plea agreement disclosed after the panel's recommendation this morning, and a separate sentence reduction by the presiding judge, both men may face a sentence of just five years.

The men have been detained in Guantanamo Bay awaiting trial for 17 years since the horrific October 2002 bombings - which killed 202 people from 21 different countries in a tourist resort.

They are accused of being members of the Jemaah Islamiyah - an extremist Islam group based in Southeast Asian - which was responsible for the simultaneous bombings at nightspots.

Mohammed Nazir Bin Lep, 47, may served just six years in detention for his connection to the Bali bombings

Mohammed Nazir Bin Lep, 47, has been detained in Guantanamo Bay for two decades

The wreckage of the Sari night club and surrounding buildings on October 15 after the attacks

The two defendants denied any role or advance knowledge of the attacks but under the plea bargains admitted they had over the years conspired with the network of militants responsible.

The sentence recommendation still requires approval by the senior military authority over Guantanamo.

As part of their plea bargains, the two Malaysian men have agreed to provide testimony against a third Guantanamo detainee, an Indonesian man known as Hambali, in the Bali bombings.

Under military court rules, Bin Amin and Bin Lep normally would receive no credit for the roughly two decades they have already spent in detention. The pre-trial agreement disclosed Friday would spare them from serving the much longer recommended sentence on top of their years awaiting trial, the defence lawyers for the two men said.

Relatives of some of those killed in the Bali bombings testified Wednesday in a hearing in advance of sentencing, with the two accused in the courtroom and listening attentively.

'The reach of this atrocity knew no bounds, and has affected very many people,' testified Matthew Arnold of Birmingham, England, who lost his brother in the attacks.

A panel of five military officers delivered the recommendation after listening to the sentencing testimony.

The US and Malaysia may agree to transferring the two to their home country, said Brian Bouffard, the attorney for Bin Lep.

The two are among a total of 780 detainees brought to military detention at Guantanamo under the George W. Bush administration's 'war on terror' following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the U.S.

The scale of the destruction wrought by the terrorists

The devastation on Jalan Legian, the main street at Kuta Beach, after the bombings

The mass destruction on Kuta's main street in Bali after the bombs were detonated

There have been only a handful of convictions over the years - eight, according to one advocacy group, Reprieve.

Defendants in some of the biggest attacks, including 9/11, remain in pretrial hearings.

Prosecutors are seeking negotiated agreements to close that case and some others.

The prosecutions at Guantanamo have been plagued by logistical difficulties, frequent turnover of judges and others, and legal questions surrounding the torture of detainees during CIA custody in the first years of their detention.

The military's head of defence for the Guantanamo prosecutions on Friday blamed the Bush administration's early handling of the detainees - which included holding at secret 'black sites' and torture in CIA custody - for the more than 20-year delay in the trial.

The slow pace 'was extremely distressing and frustrated the desire of everyone for accountability and justice,' Brig. Gen. Jackie Thompson said in a statement.

Thirty detainees remain at Guantanamo. Sixteen of them have been cleared and are eligible for transfer - if a stable country agrees to take them.

'The time for repatriating or transferring the cleared men is now,' Thompson said. He said the same for three others held at Guantanamo but never charged.
The former deputy head of MI6 has warned that the British intelligence service is not equipped to handle covert threats from China.

Nigel Inkster said his concerns stem from the basis that MI6 'clearly does have difficulties, in terms of language expertise and collective general historical and cultural awareness' when it comes to China.

He told the i: 'In 2015, the British government was talking about a 'golden era' of UK-China relations... Given that situation, it's perhaps unsurprising that the security service isn't where it might be.'

During his time as prime minister, Lord David Cameron presided over the so-called 'golden era' of relations between Britain and China.

He forged close economic ties with the Asian superpower and even hosted a state visit for President Xi Jinping in 2015.

A former MI6 boss has warned that the British intelligence service has difficulties in language expertise and cultural awareness in relation to China

Nick Inkster, who spent 31 years at MI6, said that the UK lacked the skills to manage threats from China, while Beijing was stepping up its human intelligence collection operations under 'no political restraints'

Rishi Sunak, however, said in November that Lord Cameron's political comeback as Foreign Secretary late last year will not mean the return of his 'golden era' approach to China.

Mr Inkster, who worked at the Secret Intelligence Service for 31 years, said the UK's blind spot extends to 'all the UK intelligence community', which includes MI5 and GCHQ.

As well as Britain lacking the skills to manage intelligence threats abroad, Mr Inkster said that Beijing already has a well-established network of 'industrial-scale cyber espionage operations directed against advanced Western countries'.

On top of that, he said more spies from China are hitting the ground to engage in in-person, classic espionage.

Mr Inkster said: 'We're seeing a significant increase in human intelligence collection operations, with the Chinese services essentially seeming to be operating under no political constraints - incentivised to take risks and to do whatever it takes to get the intelligence that is required.'

Despite Mr Inkster's fears about Beijing's intelligence capacities, the current head of MI6 Sir Richard Moore told Politico in July that MI6 now has more resources devoted to China than any other mission, which 'reflects China's importance in the world and the crucial need to understand both the intent and capability of the Chinese government'.

However, Mr Inkster fears Britain's recent increase in focus may not be enough to withstand Beijing's capabilities.

During his tenure as prime minister, Lord David Cameron (pictured here with president Xi Jinping in 2015) presided over the so-called 'golden era' of Anglo-Sino relations

'I know that there is a big effort underway to remedy those deficiencies,' he said.

'A lot of resources are now being put into getting the UK intelligence community in a better state... but it does take a certain amount of time.'

He also welcomed the new National Security Act, which became law in July after Parliament passed it and got Royal Assent.

He said the revised Act would aid the prosecution of Chinese spies, replacing 'an Official Secrets Act that was derived from the First World War'.

Changes to the Act were described as the most significant overhaul of security legislation for a generation and are expected to provide the security services with greater powers to tackle threats from spies and state-backed sabotage and reform existing espionage laws, like the Official Secrets Act, to better tackle threats faced by hostile states like Russia and China.
An empty dock is what most people remember about the trial which saw Englishman Ian Bailey convicted of bludgeoning French film maker Sophie Toscan du Plantier to death.

The Manchester-born ex-journalist was sentenced to 25 years at the Paris Assizes Court in his absence five years ago, despite claiming he had never met his victim.

Ms Toscan du Plantier was 39 when  just before Christmas 1996  she was murdered outside her isolated holiday home near Schull, on Ireland's rugged south-west coast.

Bailey was the prime suspect from early on, but it was not until May 2019 that the process in the French capital saw him found guilty.

Without even bothering to speak to court officials by phone, or appoint a French barrister, he stayed at home in Ireland, where his freedom was guaranteed.

Sophie Toscan du Plantier (pictured) was murdered outside her isolated holiday home near Schull, on Ireland's rugged south-west coast, in 1996

Ian Bailey (pictured) was the prime suspect from early on, but it was not until May 2019 that the process in the French capital saw him found guilty

Ms Toscan du Plantier was alone in Ireland and preparing to return to Paris to see her then 15-year-old son, Pierre-Louis Baudey-Vignaud, who was 15 when she died

This made the one-week trial something of a token event, but Ms Toscan du Plantier's surviving family members still embraced when the verdict was read out.

Her only son, Pierre-Louis Baudey-Vignaud, said at the time: 'It is a victory for justice, it is victory for the truth, and now Ireland will have to extradite Ian Bailey.'

The country's legal authorities never did, however, and last Sunday it appeared that the truth about Ms Du Plantier's death would never be known.

Mr Bailey collapsed and died from a suspected heart attack in Bantry, West Cork, at the age of 67, ending any hope of him finally confessing.

READ MORE: British journalist Ian Bailey who was found guilty by a French court of murdering filmmaker Sophie Toscan Du Plantier dies aged 66 after suffering a suspected heart attack on street in Cork Advertisement

Now, however, there are some in France who believe that the demise of the 6ft 4ins former rugby player might actually be a chance to reopen the cold case in Ireland.

Mail Online has spoken to legal officials who said that fear and intimidation had led to potential witnesses offering 'unusual statements', or 'saying nothing at all'.

'That might change now that Mr Bailey is no longer around, and there is no-one to anger,' said a senior prosecuting source who was involved in the 2019 trial.

'One of the key aspects of this entire case from day one is that people were very scared about crossing Mr Bailey.'

Such words were echoed by Ms Toscan du Plantier's uncle, Jean-Pierre Gazeau, who said:

'We urgently appeal to the Irish police to reopen their investigations with a particularly focus on DNA evidence, and potential collaborations.

'That is to say that some people around Mr Bailey did not tell the truth. Shortcomings with the Irish justice system must be addressed.'

Mr Gazeau said it was now up to people 'who know something to contact gardai'  the Irish police  so that 'the truth can be known'.

In turn, Ms Toscan Du Plantier's brother, Bertrand Bouniol, said: 'Mr Bailey was found guilty by French justice but never went to prison because of the Irish justice system.

'For us this is a mistake. It is also the fault of Europe, the EU, which was unable to harmonise its justice system.

'But it is mainly the fault of Ireland, which never came to the end of this criminal case, despite a large number of investigations, and a lack of will and courage on the part of Irish justice.

Ms Toscan Du Plantier's brother, Bertrand Bouniol, said: 'Mr Bailey was found guilty by French justice but never went to prison because of the Irish justice system'

Mr Bailey collapsed and died from a suspected heart attack in Bantry, West Cork, at the age of 67, ending any hope of him finally confessing

'My sister was brutally murdered, and her murderer was able to continue a normal life.'

Three French judges handed down a guilty verdict when Mr Bailey was convicted of the 'barbaric and atrocious' murder.

Frederique Aline, president of the bench, said there was 'sufficient evidence to convict' Bailey, taking into account the 'accused's history, his personality, and his obsession with sex'.

Ms Toscan du Plantier was a successful producer from Paris who was married to the late Gaumont cinema executive, Daniel Toscan du Plantier.

Despite Bailey claiming he had never met Ms Toscan du Plantier, evidence pointed to a romanticinterest in her  one that deteriorated into violence two days before Christmas.

Ms Toscan du Plantier was alone in Ireland and preparing to return to Paris to see her then 15-year-old son, and husband.

But she was confronted by an intruder in the early hours of December 23, and was then chased across a field and down a lane.

Her clothing is thought to have got caught on barbed wire, allowing her killer to catch up with her.

Bailey, who lived nearby, had cuts on his face and hands afterwards  his attempt to blame the injuries on cutting Christmas trees and preparing turkeys was described as 'absolutely pathetic,' by one of the French court officials.

The official added: 'Turkeys are not killed just two days before Christmas, and nobody is cutting down Christmas trees at that time of year either.'

Prosecutors also pointed to Bailey's ferocious record of domestic violence against his then partner, Jules Thomas.

Bailey changed his alibi frequently, but admitted that he had indeed left his cottage on the night of the murder.

However, there was no forensic evidence linking Bailey to the scene, let alone any kind of CCTV in an era when traffic or security cameras were barely heard of in rural Ireland.

It was 24 hours before a state pathologist arrived at the scene, which meant the time of death could not be established.

What is certain, however, it that there were plenty of anecdotal evidence against Bailey, including allegations that he admitted to the murder in a local pub in Schull. Less than two weeks after the murder a woman called Marie Farrell called the local Garda station claiming she saw Bailey close to a nearby bridge at about 3am on the night of the crime.

But, by 2005, Ms Farrell was alleging that police coerced her into trying to incriminate Bailey. In February 1997, local schoolboy Malachi Reid claimed Bailey had told him that he killed Ms Toscan du Plantier.

Bailey was soon arrested but then released without charge, as was his partner, Jules Thomas.

Northern Irish man James McKenna also told gardai he was with his wife in the Galley Inn in Schull in April 1997, when Bailey admitted the killing in a 'deliberate voice', saying 'that was me'.

'I could see he was smirking, and I could see he was content that he was able to brag,' Mr McKenna told detectives.

According to French law, Paris can claim criminal law jurisdiction anywhere in the world that a French citizen is attacked.

If the French had been able to successfully execute an arrest and extradition warrant then Mr Bailey would have faced another full trial in Paris  but in person, and with his own defence barrister.

When none turned up for the 2019 trial, prosecutor Jean Pierre Bonthoux portrayed Mr Bailey as a murderous coward who had committed the 'barbaric and atrocious crime' but failed to face up to the consequences.

Referring to Ms Toscan du Plantier Mr Bonthoux said : 'We must not reduce her name to just a court case. I ask you to do justice to her memory.'

There was no sign of her alleged killer when he had a chance to explain himself in her home city, but Ian Bailey's death might indeed be a chance to finally establish his overwhelming guilt once and for all.
Vape flavours could be limited to just four as ministers continue discussions on how to stop children from getting addicted to e-cigarettes.

A smoking bill due in the Commons will be used to set out restrictions on vapes, such as limiting their displays in shops, banning flavours and stripping packaging of its vibrant colour.

New laws will allow the government to decide which flavours are allowed in shops.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is thought to have been persuaded that flavours such as candyfloss are attracting children and hooking them onto vapes.

Campaigners have warned for months that they are being targeted by eye-catching adverts for vapes, which cost as little as 3, on social media and being lured in by their flavours, such as strawberry, banana and mango.

Ministers are yet to decide which flavours will be banned and will put off a decision until later in the year.

New laws will allow the government to decide which flavours are allowed in shops

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is thought to have been persuaded that flavours such as candyfloss are attracting children and hooking them onto vapes (stock image)

Under these rules, shops that sell vapes will likely have to store them behind the counter, rather than by the tills and behind plastic screens

Shock data revealed a record 11.6 per cent of 11 to 17-year-olds in Britain have now tried vaping. This is up on 7.7 per cent last year and twice as high as rates seen a decade ago, before the UK's kid vaping epidemic blew up

In the meantime, they will propose a ban on disposable vapes under existing environmental legislation and details are expected to come to light on Monday.

The nicotine-filled gadgets have seen a surge in popularity among youngsters, with one in five secondary school children now have tried vaping, according to data from the School Health Research Network, released in September.

The government may just restrict vapes to flavours such as tobacco, mint, menthol and fruit - however ministers fear that this may put adults off switching to the e-cigarettes, The Times reported.

The NHS recommends vapes to help people quit smoking, which is one of the biggest causes of illness and death in the UK.

Shops that sell vapes will likely have to store them behind the counter, rather than by the tills and behind plastic screens.

They will also be fined more rapidly if they are found to be selling the nicotine-filled product to youngsters.

Mr Sunak himself admitted that he was scared that his two daughters, Krishna, 12, and Anoushka, 10, would get hooked on e-cigarettes.

Kids as young as eight have picked up the habit , according to Trading Standards.

Freedom of Information requests revealed that 24 children in England were hospitalised due to vaping since the start of 2022.

These could include lung damage or a worsening of asthma symptoms.

He spoke on This Morning last May and said: 'I have two young girls. Im also worried about that.

'It looks like they are targeted at kids, which is ridiculous. I don't want my kids to be seduced by any of these things.'

Ministers will also likely control packaging and are said to be deliberating over whether vapes should have plain, cigarette-style packaging, or more restrictive rules surrounding the use of cartoons and other imagery that would attract children.
A 10-year-old boy is fighting for life after a four-wheel drive rolled over on a major highway in South Australia.

Four passengers, including a 35-year-old male driver and three children under 10, were travelling on the Tod Highway on the Eyre Peninsula, near Murdinga, when the vehicle rolled at about 5pm on Friday.

The 10-year-old boy was airlifted to Adelaide's Women's and Children's Hospital after sustaining critical injuries.

An eight-year-old boy and six-year-old girl were also flown to an Adelaide hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The driver, a man from Port Lincoln, sustained minor injuries in the crash.

A 10-year-old boy is fighting for life in hospital after a horror rollover on the Tod Highway

An eight-year-old boy and six-year-old girl were also airlifted to hospital following the crash

The highway remained closed in both directions for several hours, before it was reopened just after 9pm last night.

In the first 24 days of 2024, there have been 37 crashes on South Australian roads which have led to 42 serious injuries.

State records show there have been three fatal crashes already this year.

In 2023 the state recorded 117 deaths out of 109 fatal crashes and 856 serious injuries from 739 incidents.

Police have urged anyone to witness the incident to contact Crime Stoppers.
Car had stopped the bus from pulling into curb safely

A group of bodybuilders have been praised as 'absolute legends' after they lifted a disabled bus passenger in an electronic wheelchair off a bus.

The Good Samaritans leapt into action after realising an illegally-parked Jeep was blocking a bus stop near Parsley Bay in Sydney's eastern suburbs on Friday.

The bus driver was unable to pull into the stop to allow the passenger in the wheelchair to dismount safely onto the pavement.

Three men in a nearby car were quick to lend a hand, working together to lift the wheelchair off the bus and onto the nearby footpath.

A witness applauded the group on a local Facebook page.

'To the three bodybuilders who saw what was happening and [got] out of their car to lift the electric wheelchair and the person from the bus, you guys are absolutely legends,' their post read.

'You showcased the absolute best of people.'

The bus was unable to pull into the bus stop safely due to an illegally-parked Jeep (pictured)

READ MORE: Hero neighbour helps three residents escape a fire that left them homeless before Christmas Advertisement

Others chimed in to express their admiration for the men.

'Too often we forget those that lend a hand and do good deeds so thank you for sharing,' one person wrote.

'I love your description of these extremely kind deeds! I hope these wonderful people read what you've written,' another said.

The Jeep that had prevented the bus pulling into the stop had been booked, as well as other cars, the poster said.

It is illegal to park within 20 metres in front and 10 metres behind a bus stop in NSW, unless a sign gives permission.

The act is punishable with a $275 fine.

Others agreed that selfish motorists disregarded parking rules all too often.

'Unfortunately there are entitled people who don't give a hoot parking wise,' one person commented.

'Glad they got fined. But they are some wonderful people who helped, bless them.'

Three bodybuilders picked up an electric wheelchair to help the user off the bus (stock image)

It was not the only act of kindness witnessed at the scene on Friday.

A man in a nearby Lamborghini 'offered and let a young boy sit and get his photograph taken in the driver's seat'.

'You are a legend. That young boy will remember your kindness for years to come,' the Facebook user wrote.
A woman has been left traumatised after her dog was mauled by a pack of seven hounds during their daily walk.

Kirstie Snowdon let her Jackawawa, Toby Carvery, off the leash in South Moor Park, County Durham, when a male dog approached them.

She thought he was going to play with Toby but was horrified when he began to attack the eight-year-old Jack Russell-Chihuahua crossbreed.

Then six other dogs, who were also being walked by the same woman, joined in.

'Toby started running and then this Labrador cross had a hold of him by the back legs. He was swinging his whole body from side-to-side like a rag doll,' Ms Snowdon said.

'I ran up and got in amongst it because my first reaction was to save my baby.

Kirstie Snowdon let her Jackawawa, Toby Carvery, off the leash in South Moor, County Durham, when a male dog approached them

She thought the male dog was going to play with Toby but was horrified when he began to attack the eight-year-old Jack Russell-Chihuahua crossbreed

'I literally pulled him from the other dog's mouth. He was bleeding and squealing like you wouldn't believe. It was horrible.

'I cannot get the picture out of my head. It was traumatising.'

She claimed that the woman refused to give her name or contact details so she issued a plea on Facebook and was passed them by a concerned member of the public.

Ms Snowdon then took her beloved pup to the PDSA in Gateshead where they treated his wounds and gave him painkillers and antibiotics.

She said the attack has had a lasting impact on Toby.

She said: 'My son got a toy out for him to play with but he just came over to cuddle up with me. He is not the same dog.'

Ms Snowdon contacted the police and an officer from Durham Constabulary came out to see her on Friday morning.

'They have said all that they can do is log it and give a warning because it was 'dog on dog,' she added.

'I understand there are laws in place but I don't think it is very fair because it was seven dogs on one tiny dog.

Ms Snowdon and her dog Toby were walking in South Moor Park (pictured) when he was attacked

'The next time it could be a kid or an even smaller dog. I just hope the owner has learned something from it.'

A spokesperson for Durham Constabulary said: 'Police were called just after 9.10pm on January 26 by a woman reporting her dog had been attacked by a group of dogs at around 3.30pm that afternoon.

'The incident happened in South Moor Park, near Stanley.

'Officers have agreed to speak to the suspect regarding the incident.'
Veteran broadcaster Walter Love has died aged 88, after a career spanning 77 years.

The BBC Northern Ireland radio personality, who presented shows including the popular Love in the Afternoon and Radio Ulster's Day By Day, passed away on Friday morning, his family said.

His final show, Jazz Club with Walter Love, aired for the last time in 2023.

Mr Love's relatives described him as 'dearly loved' after confirming he had died at a nursing home following a short illness, the BBC reported.

Mr Love started his long career in the 1950s as a BBC radio freelance contributor.

Veteran BBC broadcaster Walter Love died aged 88 on Friday morning, his family confirmed

Mr Love presented shows including Love in the Afternoon and Day By Day for BBC Northern Ireland over his 77-year career

Pictured: Mr Love at BBC Belfast. The long-serving broadcaster was awarded an MBE for services to journalism

He then took a job as a studio manager in London, before becoming a TV news anchor in Belfast.

He joined Radio Ulster in 1978, where he also presented Sunday show Love Forty, and received an MBE in 1997 for services to journalism.

BBC Northern Ireland director Adam Smyth described Mr Love as having a 'hint of mischief' while being 'genial, kind and cheerful.

He also paid tribute to the long-serving broadcaster's 'incredible' performance on air, as well as his 'melodious voice' and 'encyclopaedic' musical knowledge.
Trafalgar Square was filled with furious ULEZ protesters today as an eccentric crowd rallied in fury against Sadiq Khan's much-hated fines they claim is costing the capital 1billion.

Wearing high-vis jackets, protestors with signs that urged passing motorists to 'honk if you hate Ulez' caused appreciative cars, motorbikes, black cabs and buses to lean on their horns as they drove through.

Others in the 350-strong crowd say they have been forced to crush their vans despite them being Ulez compliant while still more came out in support of neighbours and friends hit hard by the green tax.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan extended the zone from within the North and South Circular roads to cover all London boroughs from August 29 last year where vehicles used within the Ulez area that do not meet minimum emissions standards are liable for a 12.50 daily fee.

Figures released by TfL in October showed around 60,000 vehicle owners a day were paying the charge.

Victor from Hornchurch in Essex said he has had a running battle with Transport for London over one of his vans, which he has had to scrap, despite having evidence that it was Ulez Compliant.

Furious ULEZ protesters filled Trafalgar Square as the eccentric crowd rallied in fury against the fines

Wearing high-vis jackets, protestors with signs that urged passing motorists to 'honk if you hate Ulez' caused appreciative cars, motorbikes, black cabs and buses to lean on their horns as they drove through

Protester Terry Burt, from Biggin Hill, (pictured) claimed Ulez was the 'worst thing to happen to London since the Blitz'

Others in the 350-strong crowd say they have been forced to crush their vans despite them being Ulez compliant

One man in a Guy Fawkes mask - calling himself Del Boy - said Sadiq Khan is adding to the cost of living crisis by charging ordinary people

Still more activists came out in support of neighbours and friends hit hard by the green tax

'It has cost me my business. I do scrap metal. I had to update all of my vehicles. It has cost me 26,000.

EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: How I won my battle against Sadiq Khan's ULEZ enforcers Advertisement

'I had one Ford Transit from August 2016 that Ford said was Ulez compliant. TfL said it wasn't.

'I sent them the documentation and they still knocked it back. When I took the vehicle to the scrapyard, they refused to crush it.

'I said put it in the crusher. They wouldn't give me the certificate [of destruction]. I brought it to another yard and they sent it straight into the crusher.

'The vehicles are going abroad as they are. It was a 16 plate vehicle. If I could have sold it without the Ulez I would have got 10,000 or 12,000. I had to pay 24,000 for a pick up truck which is just two years newer.

'It is absolutely ruining. The man is delirious. He has to go.'

Londoners with vehicles that fall foul of emission standards can claim up to 2,000 when their non-compliant vehicles are scrapped.

It comes as a freedom of information request shows 52,924 fines issued since August 29 last year had been overturned - around 67.5 per cent of the 78,357 total appeals up to December 22 2023.

Drivers who are handed a charge for not complying with Sadiq Khan's expanded Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) have 28 days to make an application for an appeal, while those who pay up within a fortnight are let off 50 per cent of the fine.

Cindy from Dartford was among them with her husky Ash. 'There's no Ulez on sleds,' she quipped. 'Though there's not enough snow for them either!'

An antique fire engine joins the charge as it is decked out in signs and a coffin labelled with the word 'democracy'

Figures released by TfL in October showed around 60,000 vehicle owners a day were paying the charge

Howard Cox, founder of Fair Fuel UK and the Reform Party's candidate for Mayor of London said ULEZ was neither required nor needed

Also at the protest was Piers Corbyn - the brother of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn - who arrived in a blue 1995 Vauxhall Cavalier with 'Ulez, can't pay! Won't pay!' written on it

Londoners with vehicles that fall foul of emission standards can claim up to 2,000 when their non-compliant vehicles are scrapped

READ MORE: Road to nowhere for Sadiq Khan's despised ULEZ scheme as TfL reveals over 65 per cent of appeals against fines have been successful Advertisement

TfL said that some fines could still be overturned even if they were issued correctly, with certain mitigating circumstances taken into account, MyLondon reported.

A total of 4,468 penalty notices were given to incompliant drivers spotted by the mobile cameras mounted on vans between September 26 and December 22.

This means that nearly one in 11 fines issued since ULEZ was expanded to cover all London boroughs have been reversed.

Protester Terry Burt, from Biggin Hill, claimed Ulez was the 'worst thing to happen to London since the Blitz'.

The 69-year-old retiree was holding a placard featuring a picture of Mr Khan with 'liar' written on his forehead.

Mr Burt said: 'Normal people who need a vehicle to go to work can't afford to buy one.

'All my cars are compliant. It's me that's not compliant.

'I spoke to a lady just the other day she was in tears. She bought a car with her husband, a diesel.

A total of 4,468 penalty notices were given to incompliant drivers spotted by the mobile cameras mounted on vans between September 26 and December 22

Londoners with vehicles that fall foul of emission standards can claim up to 2,000 when their non-compliant vehicles are scrapped

Susan Hall, the Conservative London Mayoral Candidate, speaking to protesters during an anti-Ulez protest in Trafalgar Square

Nearly one in 11 fines issued since ULEZ was expanded to cover all London boroughs have been reversed

Howard Cox claims Sadiq Khan has delivered ULEZ when two thirds of people did not want it

'It was non-compliant. Her son needed to go to hospital every day. She couldn't afford the 12.50. That's the sort of people it's affecting.'

Mr Burt, who lives 500 metres from the edge of the zone, said he regularly stops new Ulez infrastructure from being installed in his area by holding a protest.

'We just stand there and protest, and because we're protesting, under health and safety rules they can't install the cameras,' he said.

'We resist it in every in every way.

'Khan has basically lied through his teeth to say that the air quality is improved.

'Maybe in inner London, I can understand that, but not outer London, there is beautiful countryside where I live.

'They'll charge everybody, so if you think you're compliant now, look out, they'll be coming to you in the future.'

Bemused travellers bumping into the protest in the tourist hub looked in at the crowd as whistles were blown and drums were banged.

TfL said that some fines could still be overturned even if they were issued correctly, with certain mitigating circumstances taken into account, MyLondon reported

Two protestors stand defiant and wave their banners at the base of the iconic Nelson's column

A man wears a 'Just Use Oil' t-shirt in protest against climate protesters as he joins the ULEZ activists

Chants of 'Run Sadiq, run Sadiq, run run run. You can stick your Ulez up your' rang out through the square as the peaceful group rallied against the controversial mayor

Chants of 'Run Sadiq, run Sadiq, run run run. You can stick your Ulez up your' rang out through the square as the peaceful group rallied against the controversial mayor.

A few members of the Metropolitan Police stood joking with the crowd as they patrolled the eccentric mob.

Howard Cox, founder of Fair Fuel UK and the Reform Party's candidate for Mayor of London said: 'You couldn't invent this. What's happened is we have a ULEZ charge which is not required and is not needed.

'The administration of it is falling apart. It's a complete farce. What we are seeing with these Ulez charges is that people are rebelling.

'I'm the only candidate to do this, but ULEZ has cost the GDP of London 1billion. That's from independent economic research that I have commissioned.

'What we've got here is a cash-grabbing dishonest mayor who is trying to find his way out of his black hole of a debt.

'I'm going to fight bloody hard to get rid of him.

'I really do not understand where he is going with this. He has been found out. He has put out money to an incredibly expensive process. It is not improving the air quality whatsoever. It is a complete and utter farce. It's a scam.

'He has delivered this when people did not want it. Two out of three people do not want this.

'London is the 12th cleanest city in the world. Why is he doing this? It is a cash grab.

A man stands triumphant in a t-shirt where a tube sign is mocked up with 'Get Khan Out' where the station name should be

A group of organised anti-ULEZ protestors show off their sign at the base of the monument

Protesters in high vis rally in the square as they show off the slogans written on their backs

Signs criticising the road tax and Sadiq Khan line the streets as members of the public watch on

'The hardest this is hitting is the low income families, the small business people. Plumbers and carpenters. He's destroying London. He's got to go.'

Also at the protest was Piers Corbyn - the brother of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn - who arrived in a blue 1995 Vauxhall Cavalier with 'Ulez, can't pay! Won't pay!' written on it.

One man in a Guy Fawkes mask - calling himself Del Boy - said Sadiq Khan is adding to the cost of living crisis by charging ordinary people.

He said: 'I can't ride my motorbike anywhere. My car isn't a problem.

'But there are people who haven't got a compliant car and have to go to work. Paying 12.50 every day to go to work is ridiculous.

'He said there are 4,000 people who have died. There has been one person and they had asthma.

'We are living in a cost of living crisis and he doesn't give a I nearly swore there.'

'He doesn't care about the ordinary run of the mill working person. He's adding to the cost of living crisis.'

Cindy from Dartford was among them with her husky Ash. 'There's no Ulez on sleds,' she quipped. 'Though there's not enough snow for them either.

'Ulez doesn't affect me directly. My cars are compliant and I live outside the zone. But I have friends who have been hit.

'We were once told to buy certain cars because of the environment. I have friends who have had to scrap perfectly good diesel cars. Ones that they planned to outlive them. They followed the government's rules. And then the rules changed.

'My vet, my mechanic, much of my life is inside the zone. This is affecting ordinary people. I am here today for them.'

A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: 'The Mayor supports the democratic right for anyone to protest.

'Sadiq has always been clear that the decision to expand the ULEZ was a difficult one, but he was not prepared to stand by while around 4,000 Londoners were dying prematurely each year due to air pollution.

'The early evidence is clear that ULEZ is working, reducing the proportion and number of older, more polluting vehicles on London's roads.

'The latest data shows that 95 per cent of vehicles seen driving in London on an average day are now compliant and don't have to pay the charge.

'For the remaining Londoners still driving non-compliant vehicles, scrappage scheme support is still available.'
A man has been arrested amid a police investigation into a terrifying robbery where the perpetrator wore a disturbing clown mask.

Chilling CCTV footage captured a man wearing the garish disguise robbing a service station in Holland Park in south Brisbane on December 29.

As the man enters the Cavendish Rd service station at 7.30pm, he can be seen brandishing what appears to be a gun at an employee.

The footage captures him leaning over the counter and grabbing the entire cash till before running off into the night.

Police have arrested a 39-year-old man following investigations into an armed robbery at a service station in south Brisbane on December 29 (pictured is footage of the incident)

The masked robber was captured on CCTV running towards the servo at about 7.30pm

On Saturday, Queensland Police revealed a 39-year-old man had been charged with armed robbery over the incident.

'Following investigations, including information provided by members of the public, detectives yesterday attended a Mount Gravatt East address where they arrested a 39-year-old man,' police said in a statement.

'He has been charged with one count of armed robbery and is due to appear at Brisbane Magistrates Court today.'

The employee was not harmed during the incident.

The masked man had been described as having a slim build with long dark hair.
Shocking video footage showed the moment a pensioner had his trousers pulled down before being fatally pushed to the ground.

Jerald Netto, 62, died in hospital from a cardiac arrest after he was attacked outside the doorway of a west London cafe.

A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named, has been locked up for just 12 months after being convicted of manslaughter.

CCTV footage released by Metropolitan Police showed Mr Netto walking towards a group of teenagers after sitting outside a pub in Ealing at 12.43am on March 15 2023.

He was then seen being tussled to the ground after he fell victim to a prank when one of the boys pulled his trousers, before appearing to walk off.

Jerald Netto, 62, died in hospital after being pushed to the ground by a teenager in west London

Shocking footage captured the moment Mr Netto was fatally pushed to the ground by a teenager

The teenager (indicated by the blue arrow) hurled Mr Netto, who fell face-first onto the pavement

After deliberately throwing the 62-year-old to the ground, the teenager is seen on the footage skipping over the pensioner's body before running off

Mr Netto was attacked by the gang of teenagers by a cafe on the corner of Boston Road and Uxbridge Road in Ealing, west London

But after getting himself on his feet and while leaning on the doorway of the cafe, Mr Netto was hurled forward by the teenager, who had crept up behind him, and fell face first onto the pavement.

The teenager was then seen stepping over the pensioner, and walking off along Boston Road.

Mr Netto was then found motionless by members of the public. Despite being rushed to hospital, he was later pronounced dead as a result of a hypoxic brain injury due to a prolonged cardiac arrest.

The horrifying footage was made public by police at the request of Mr Netto's family.

In a statement, his relatives said he was humiliated and attacked by a 'sadistic criminal'.

'Jerald Netto was a loving son, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, cousin, friend and neighbour.

'We are left scarred for life. We will never come to terms with what happened to him on that terrible night. In his last moments he was humiliated, taken advantage of, attacked and killed by a sadistic criminal.

'Our lives will never be the same, we miss him every day and will continue to as each day passes without him in our world.'

Pictured: Mr Netto was sat outside a pub before he walked towards the group of yobs

Mr Netto's body was later found motionless by members of the public. The teenager was arrested in the area and sentenced this week to 12 months in prison

The 16-year-old teenager, who is now 17, was arrested near to the scene and charged within 24 hours.

On Friday, he was sentenced to 12 months in custody, and a further 12 months supervision in the community, as part of a 24 month detention and training order, at the Old Bailey. The maximum sentence for manslaughter is life imprisonment.

Detective Chief Inspector Brian Howie, who led the investigation, said: 'Our investigation showed that this tragic event began with a juvenile prank by the defendant and culminated with a deliberate assault which resulted in the death of Mr Netto.

"There is no excuse for this type of violence, the defendant was not acting in lawful self-defence and our enquiries soon established that his actions that evening were deliberate and disgraceful.

My thoughts remain with Mr Nettos family as they continue to come to terms with his death in such appalling circumstances. I know that this has been an incredibly difficult time for them and I hope that now legal proceedings have concluded, they can begin to find some peace.'
'Real Time' host Bill Maher hit out at the Democrats for their election strategy, warning that the party can't take on Donald Trump by simply saying 'how can they like this guy?'

'I don't think it's a great strategy to run a Democratic campaign based on "how can they like this guy?"' Maher told the panelists on his show last night.

'Some people just do, maybe its better to look at why he is winning' with certain demographics, he explained to Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff and actor Seth MacFarlane.

'Maybe there's a fly in the ointment there,' the comedian added.

Maher also said the Republican primaries have left him feeling 'gypped' after Trump, 77, swept to victory in Iowa and then New Hampshire earlier this week.

'Real Time' host Bill Maher hit out at the Democrats for their Trump-focused election strategy

Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff was on Maher's Friday panel

'I've covered many primary seasons, and I feel like I'm being gypped this time because it's not happening this time, its over already,' Maher said.

'We don't even get the audition phase of our reality show that we call an election.

'I feel I've been snubbed as a citizen,' he added.

'Trump is winning two blocks that he never won before, Hispanics and people under 35.'

'Democrats are losing Hispanics to the party of razor wire,' Maher cautioned, referring to Texas Governor Greg Abbott placing razor wire on the southern border.

Maher's comments come after the latest polling shows Trump gaining a six-point lead over Biden.

Trump's lead over the incumbent comes after he has edged Biden in a series of surveys, with both men holding low approval ratings and voters voicing displeasure with both likely nominees.

Trump leads Biden by 40 to 34 percentage points in the new Reuters/Ipsos poll of 1,250 adults.

Former President Donald Trump holds a six-point lead over President Joe Biden in a new Reuters-Ipsos poll

Maher's comments come after the latest polling shows Trump gaining a 6 point lead over Biden

Trump's poll lead comes on a day he was heading to court for his second E. Jean Carroll defamation trial on Thursday

A sizable remainder is either unsure or plans to vote for someone else, introducing a potential wild card in the race. But Trump's lead holds even when third party candidates are included.

It comes after Biden hammered Trump over abortion rights during a speech in Virginia this week, and Trump kept blasting Biden as 'crooked' even while spending much of his New Hampshire victory speech ripping Republican rival Nikki Haley.

As Trump handily beat his sole remaining primary challenger, Haley in New Hampshire on Tuesday, some 67 per cent of respondents polled Monday through Wednesday said they were 'tired of seeing the same candidates in presidential elections and want someone new.' Still, just 18 per cent said they would not vote if Biden and Trump were their choice.

Trump was yesterday ordered to pay E. Jean Carroll a colossal $83.3 million for defamation after he publicly denied sexually abusing her in a department store dressing room in 1996.

The staggering amount was three times what even Carroll's own lawyers had asked for and was immediately lambasted by Trump as 'absolutely ridiculous'. He vowed to appeal.

Trump had already left and was on his plane when the stunning verdict was returned, sparking an audible gasp in the Manhattan courtroom.

Carroll did not stop for interview but smiled and offered a wave as she climbed into a black SUV and left after being awarded $83.3 million in damages

Carroll and her attorneys stepped out of the courtroom arm-in-arm with big smiles on their faces

Jurors had deliberated for less than three hours following a two-week civil trial in which the former president testified for just three minutes.

The case centered on comments Trump made about Carroll in 2019 after she accused him of attacking her in a dressing room at the Bergdorf Goodman store in New York nearly three decades ago.

Trump insists he has never met Carroll, 80, an Elle magazine advice columnist.

He has consistently said she wasn't his 'type' and has described the court case as a 'witch hunt' and 'election interference'.

However, the jury of seven men and two women ordered him to hand over $7.3 million for 'emotional harm' to Carroll and $11 million for 'reputational damages'.

Trump was also ordered to pay a massive $65 million in 'punitive damages.'

The jury concluded that Trump had acted out of 'hatred, ill will, or spite' when making public statements denying Carroll's allegations, including calling them 'fiction'. He made those comments in 2019 when he was president.
The father of a schoolgirl who took her own life after being tormented at school has said that none of her bullies have apologised to him.

Mia Janin, 14, was found dead by her parents at 6.50am on March 12, 2021 at their home in Barnet.

An inquest into the year 10 pupil's death heard she was subjected to a vicious campaign of bullying by male pupils at the Jewish Free School (JFS) in Kenton, north west London.

She was bullied both at school and online, which saw the student targeted in a degrading boys-only Snapchat group.

She killed herself after sending a WhatsApp voice note to a friend saying: 'Tomorrow's going to be a rough day. Stand by me.

'I'm currently mentally preparing myself to get bullied tomorrow.'

Mia Janin, 14, was found dead by her parents at 6.50am on March 12, 2021 at their home in Barnet

She was bullied both at school and online, which saw the student targeted in a degrading boys-only Snapchat group

Mia's father Mariano Janin said that none of her bullies have apologised to him

Her father, Mariano Janin, said that only friends of his daughter have contacted him since her death, according to The Times.

North London area coroner Tony Murphy, sitting at Barnet Coroner's Court, concluded Mia 'took her life while still a child and while still in the process of maturing into adulthood'.

Mr Murphy added before his conclusion that Mia had 'close friends including at her secondary school, but she also experienced bullying from some male students'.

He said that neither Mia's family nor teachers were aware of that before her death.

Mr Murphy did not say that bullying led to her death.

Speaking after the inquest, Mr Janin told reporters: 'Nothing will bring back my wife and my daughter Mia. For almost three years, we have sought answers for the loss of Mia.

'Today, we find some of the answers on the failure of the people who trust and were meant to keep her safe.

'My daughter experienced prolonged and sustained bullying in various ways in person and online. In a way, it's a relief this has now been recognised.

'However, there needs to be accountability. Another family cannot live what I have lived.

'I'm representing my wife and my daughter, who always held kindness towards others, and I will carry on.'

He paid tribute to his 'fantastic' daughter, adding: 'She was very bubbly, and had a good sense of humour. She was beautiful. She was very kind, very creative.'

Pictured: The Jewish Free School in Kenton, north west London where Mia was a year 10 pupil

She killed herself after sending a WhatsApp voice note to a friend saying: 'Tomorrow's going to be a rough day. Stand by me'

When Mia passed away in 2021, she was the third child at the Jewish Free School in five years to have died by suicide

Mr Janin said that only friends of his daughter have contacted him since her death

Tragically, Mia's mother, Marisa Janin, died just months after her daughter following an aneurysm.

Statements given by friends of Mia to the Metropolitan Police after her death were read out to the inquest, in which they said Mia was bullied by other pupils at the school, and that their friendship group was nicknamed the 'suicide squad' in the months leading up to her death.

They said that one of Mia's TikToks was shared to a Snapchat group chat run by male pupils at JFS, where they made fun of her.

One child said the boys used the group chat to share nude photos of girls.

Rabbi Howard Cohen, former deputy headteacher at JFS, told the inquest that after Mia's death there was 'some talk around the school' of what he described as 'boys-only bravado groups' sharing images of girls, and he was made aware of a boys' WhatsApp group in which members were rating the 'attractiveness' of female pupils.

But there was no reason to believe the groups related to Mia, Rabbi Cohen said.

He told the inquest he held a meeting with members of one of the group chats, who then agreed to disband it.

JFS told the inquest it did not know Mia was being bullied or of the existence of the Snapchat group before her death.

When Mia passed away in 2021, she was the third child at the Jewish Free School in five years to have died by suicide.

Tragically, Mia's mother, Marisa Janin, died just months after her daughter following an aneurysm

Mia's friends said that one of her TikToks was shared to a Snapchat group chat run by male pupils at JFS, where they made fun of her

Mr Murphy also said: 'After Mia's death a number of students reported that she had been bullied by some male students from her secondary school and elsewhere,'the coroner said.

'On 10 March 2013 Mia had posted a video on social media asking two of those male students not to mock her and criticising their music and fashion.

'This video received a large number of hostile responses which Mia found stressful.

'On the evening of 11 March 2021 Mia said to her parents that she had a difficult week and asked to be moved to a different secondary school, which they agreed to explore.'

Mr Janin told the inquest that his daughter asked if she could move school, after coming home on March 11.

The inquest heard that his wife Marisa, who has since died, told Mia she could be home-schooled for the rest of the school year, and that they would look into moving her to a new school after.

Mia then went to bed. Hours later, she was dead.

The area coroner previously said that there was no evidence that any images or videos involving Mia had been shared in the group chat, except for the TikTok.

Mr Janin, an interior designer originally from Argentina, called for changes in online laws 'to protect our kids'.

He said limits should be put on children's internet access and clearer ways for authorities to collect social media data in the event of other tragedies like Mia's death.

Mr Janin said his daughter was 'very bubbly and had a good sense of humour'

Mia, born in 2006, loved art, cheerleading and her dog Lola. She enjoyed hanging out with a small group of close friends

He added: 'The school has to be more vigilant. They need to involve more young people who understand all this social media and all this technology better than us.'

The father also called for schools to be 'clear' on values and how they transmit those to students so people can 'respect one another'. He said: 'It's very simple. It's nothing to do with me. Unfortunately, I'm a victim of this failing system.'

Mr Janin welcomed the changes Mia's former school had made since her death, and said Dr David Moody, the headteacher, seemed to be 'doing a good job' and that he was 'glad' to hear the school has put changes in place.

He also said he would not support smart phone bans in schools, but referred to the Online Safety Bill, saying that is 'something that is right'.

He added: 'We need to learn from our mistakes in order to avoid this happening again.'

Mia, born in 2006, loved art, cheerleading and her dog Lola. She enjoyed hanging out with a small group of close friends.

Her good friend Yamin Bliss, who used to go to cheerleading with Mia and met her age 10, told the BBC she was like a 'being like no-one else I know. She lit up every room.
A tanker with links to the UK was set on fire in the Gulf of Aden after being hit by a missile launched by Houthi rebels.

The Marlin Luanda was set ablaze for several hours after targeted by the Yemen-based movement on Friday.

The ship, which is managed by UK-registered firm Oceonix Services Ltd and sails with the flag of the Marshall Islands, is the latest commercial vessel to be attacked in the Red Sea.

The UK and its allies 'reserve the right to respond appropriately' following the latest attack by the Iran-backed group, the Government has said.

Trafigura, the multinational trading company domiciled in Singapore on behalf of which the ship is operated, said that no crew were injured following the blaze in the cargo tank.

A tanker with links to Britain was targeted by the Houthis in the Gulf of Aden on Friday

Pictures showed the vessel on fire after a missile strike started a blaze in the ship's cargo hold

The incident is the latest attack on a commercial vessel by the Yemen-based rebels

It said the ship was sailing towards a safe port, after it received assistance from French, US and Indian vessels.

A spokesperson for the Houthis said the ship was targeted in response to 'American-British aggression'.

In a statement on Saturday, Trafigura said a fire in the ship's cargo tank had been extinguished with the help of Indian, US and French Navy vessels and all crew were safe.

'The vessel is now sailing towards a safe harbour. The crew continues to monitor the vessel and cargo closely,' a spokesperson said.

READ MORE: Yemen Houthi rebels fire a missile at a US warship, escalating worst Mideast sea conflict in decades Advertisement

'We would like to recognise the exceptional dedication and bravery of the ship's master and crew who managed to control the fire in highly difficult circumstances, as well as the essential assistance provided by Indian, United States and French Navy vessels to achieve this outcome.'

It comes after another incident in the region on Friday in which two missiles were reported to have exploded in the water and 'vessel and crew are safe and no damage reported'.

The Yemeni forces claimed on Friday they had targeted a 'British oil' vessel following 'American-British aggression against our country'.

The Houthis have repeatedly launched attacks on vessels around the Red Sea over Israel's war on Hamas in Gaza, although they have frequently targeted ships with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, endangering shipping on a key global trade route.

A second series of UK and US air strikes, carried out at the start of the week, appears to have done little to deter rebel action.

On Saturday, UK Maritime Trade Operations also reported a vessel 780 nautical miles east of Hafun, Somalia, was also approached by a small craft with four people.

Automatic rifles and a rocket propelled grenade were spotted, but the boat retreated after the onboard security team fired warning shots as it approached to within 300 metres, it said.

Pictured: The Marlin Luanda was provided assistance by several vessels including this Indian navy guided missile destroyer

The Marlin Luanda is operated by British firm Oceonix Ltd and sails under the Marshall Islands flag

The British Government said in response to the Marlin Luanda attack: 'We are aware of reports that the M/V Marlin Luanda, a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker, has sustained damage from attack in the Gulf of Aden.

'Current reports suggest no casualties and nearby coalition vessels are on the scene.

'We have been clear that any attacks on commercial shipping are completely unacceptable and that the UK and our allies reserve the right to respond appropriately.'

On Friday, a spokeswoman for the Prime Minister said: 'We continue to call on (the Houthis) to step back from such action. We're clear that this is illegal and unacceptable.'

Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron this week embarked on a trip the Middle East in a diplomatic bid to reduce tensions as the Israeli bombardment of Gaza continues.
WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT

Horrifying video has emerged of two teenage girls viciously attacking a disabled woman at a busy train station.

The teenagers are seen punching and kicking the woman with Down Syndrome at Melbourne's Southern Cross Station in footage posted to social media.

In the video, a teenage girl is seen delivering a brutal blow to the woman's face.

The same teen delivers a flurry of blows before another girl runs up and punches the woman from behind, knocking her heavily to the ground.

Sickening video has emerged of teenage thugs attacking a disabled woman (pictured)

Lying helpless on the ground, the woman is delivered a merciless kick to the head.

'That was (the) aim, you got what you deserve b****,' one of the woman's attackers is heard saying.

The attack was cut short after an elderly man bravely intervened by standing between the woman and her attackers.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Victoria Police for comment.

Youth crime experts say incidents are often staged with the intention of posting the videos on social media to gain 'likes' and attention.

On Friday, video emerged of a teenage boy being brutally beaten by a gang of eshays.

The sickening incident appeared to be part of a feud between warring 'postcode gangs' in Brisbane suburbs.

The victim, who is covered in blood, is told by his assailants that he is 'f***ing guilty'.

'I don't know who you are,' the boy replied.

The brazen attack was cut short after an elderly man bravely intervened (pictured)

'You f***** up,' his merciless attackers reply.

The video shows the boy being grabbed by the hair and whipped with what appears to be an electrical cord.

Accompanying comments indicate the violence was spurred by a rivalry between two gangs, identified as 'Cabra' and '27'.

Last year NSW police were forced to issue a warning about so-called 'fight club' videos in a small country town, after teenagers began to stage punch-ups to film and post on social media.

Primary school-aged children and even parents were caught taking part in the bizarre phenomenon in Casino, in the Northern Rivers region in NSW.

Video of a brutal attack on a teenage boy by young thugs in Brisbane emerged on Friday

NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Gavin Wood slammed the disgusting behaviour and called out the parents who were caught watching the fights.

'In terms of social media platforms being utilised, these trends go beyond stupidity and recklessness, these acts are crimes,' he told The Daily Telegraph.

'Filming yourself committing a crime and posting the video online is a sure-fire way to get yourself arrested.'

Assistant Commissioner Gavin Wood explained the fights did not appear to be solely a police issue but also a community one.

'Everyone has to take responsibility and be in line with the old adage,"It takes a village to raise a child"  that's what I am talking about,' he said.
Hawaii wildfire's death toll reaches 100 as officials identified the last known victim of the horrifying blaze that tore through Lahaina as a 70-year-old woman who lost eight other family members in the inferno.

Lydia Coloma was identified Friday as the last of the 100 known victims of the wildfire that destroyed Maui's historic town of Lahaina in August, as she also lost her husband, sister, brother-in-law and other family members.

Maui police said they identified her based on the context of where the remains were found, rather than through DNA or other positive identification methods as her remains were severely damaged.

'She is a mother, a wife, a well-respected community member,' Maui Police officer Steven Landsiedel said in an interview with CNN.

Lydia Coloma was identified Friday as the last of the 100 known victims of the wildfire that destroyed Maui's historic town of Lahaina in August, as she also lost eight family members in the inferno

Tina Acosta, Coloma's sister-in-law, said the family was from the Ilocos Sur province in the Philippines

Hawaii wildfires death toll reaches 100 as officials identified the last known victim of the horrifying blaze that tore through Lahaina

Coloma worked at Foodland Lahaina, a local grocery store and her husband, Salvador, worked at PWC Hawaii, a janitorial services company.

Tina Acosta, Coloma's sister-in-law, said the family was from the Ilocos Sur province in the Philippines.

'We were waiting,' she said, adding that she didn't know why the final identification took so long.

Identifying those who perished in the deadliest wildfire in the U.S. in more than a century has been a long, arduous process.

Forensic experts and more than 40 cadaver dogs have had to sift through ash searching for bodies that were possibly cremated, and authorities collected DNA samples from victims family members.

The DNA testing allowed officials in September to revise the death toll downward, from 115 to at least 97. The toll rose slightly over the next month as some victims succumbed to their injuries or as police found additional remains.

Identifying those who perished in the deadliest wildfire in the U.S. in more than a century has been a long, arduous process

Forensic experts and more than 40 cadaver dogs have had to sift through ash searching for bodies that were possibly cremated, and authorities collected DNA samples from victims family members

The DNA testing allowed officials in September to revise the death toll downward, from 115 to at least 97. The toll rose slightly over the next month as some victims succumbed to their injuries or as police found additional remains

The number of those who remain unaccounted for has also fallen - to just a few from a previous high of nearly 400, according to the Maui Police Department.

Coloma has been removed from the list of missing people tracked by Maui police, after her official identification as a victim.

Now, three people remain on the list including Paul Kasprzycki, 76; Robert Owens, 65; and Elmer Lee Stevens, 73, according to MPD's credible list of missing individuals.

Authorities began reopening the burn zone last fall to residents and property owners who lost homes while urging returning residents not to sift through the ashes for fear of raising toxic dust.

This month, crews started clearing debris from residential lots. The waste is being wrapped in thick industrial plastic before the Army Corps of Engineers takes it to a temporary storage site south of Lahaina.

The disaster devastated Maui and Hawaii more broadly. Caught in a hellscape, some residents died in their cars, while others jumped into the ocean or tried to run for safety.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. It may have been sparked by downed power lines that ignited dry, invasive grasses.

An aerial view of Lahaina after wildfires burned through the town on the Hawaiian island of Maui, on August 10

An aerial view shows the historic banyan tree along with destroyed homes, boats, and buildings burned to the ground in the historic Lahaina town in the aftermath of wildfires in western Maui, Hawaii, on August 10

An AP investigation found it could be caused by an overgrown gully beneath Hawaiian Electric Co. power lines and something that harbored smoldering embers from an initial fire that burned in the morning and then rekindled in high winds that afternoon.

Some scientists introduced laboratory models showing the wildfire was actually fueled by the same meteorological phenomenon responsible for California's most damaging wildfires - a downslope windstorm.

Atmospheric researchers simulated the weather and fire trends in western Maui on August 8 to grasp a better understanding on what made the Lahaina Fire so destructive.

Cliff Mass, an atmospheric sciences professor at the University of Washington who simulated the Maui event, said the combination of flammable fuels, strong winds and an ignition source is a recurring recipe for destructive fires.

'There's a real story for Californians here because what happened in Maui, what happened in the Marshall Fire, what happened at Paradise  they're all the same thing,' Mass said to the San Fransisco Chronicle.

The blaze destroyed more than 2,000 buildings, most of them homes, and is estimated to have caused $5.5 billion in damage.

Nearly six months after the blaze, about 5,000 displaced residents were still living in hotels or other short-term accommodations around Maui.

Economists have warned that without zoning and other changes, housing costs in already expensive Lahaina could be prohibitively costly for many after rebuilding.
The girlfriend of one of three Kansas City Chiefs fans who were mysteriously found dead in a friend's backyard has shutdown rumors he was a drug addict.

Lorie Kruse said her partner David Harrington was 'a very good guy' and stated he was 'in the wrong place at the wrong time'.

Harrington, 37, was found dead along with Ricky Johnson, 38, and Clayton McGeeney, 36, in the backyard of Jordan Willis' home in Kansas City, Missouri on January 9.

Police have released few details about the circumstances, but stated it is not being treated as a homicide, leading to speculation drugs or alcohol may have been involved.

'David wasn't a drug addict like they're talking about,' Lorie Kruse told NewsNation. 'He was a good guy. Very good guy.'

Lorie Kruse, girlfriend of David Harrington who was among three Kansas City Chiefs fans found dead in their friends yard, denied he was a drug addict

David Harrington (second left), Clayton McGeeney (second right) and Ricky Johnson (right) are shown with two unidentified fellow Chiefs fans, neither of whom is believed to be involved in the mystery. Harrington, McGeeney and Johnson were found dead on January 9 in the backyard of another man's house

Willis told police the men had frozen to death in his backyard. Their loved ones have raised questions over the lack of reporting of their bodies, and the snow that they say was not deep enough to submerge them

She acknowledged that there has been a lot of misinformation about the case proliferated on social media, with vile trolls even mocking the deaths on TikTok.

'People are laughing about it  because they don't know these people, and my kids see that,' Kruse said. 'I've been open with them and we're dealing with it and we're learning from it.

'We have six children that don't have a dad, we have families, we have friends, and we're all hurting and I don't want to hear what everybody has to say, but I do.

'David was a good guy. He was at the wrong place at the wrong time.'

Harrington's mother told the outlet Willis may have more information than thought.

'I believe Jordan does know,' she said. 'And I'm asking Jordan to please come forward and tell the truth because he does know what happened that night.  He's the only one that can give all of our families some peace.'

David Harrington was found dead on his friend's property on January 9

Clayton McGeeney, 36, (left) and Ricky Johnson (right) were also found dead in the backyard

However, Harrington's father, Jon acknowledged the men could have taken 'questionable' substances.

'I'm aware that they may have done some substances that were questionable  but the idea was to get high, not dead. If they were supposed to be friends, why didn't [Willis] come find them,' the grieving father told Fox News.

'I'm sure they have a hundred different answers to that, but that's my question.'

But Willis' father said he would 'never in a million years do anything,' amid wild speculation from the men's relatives over how they ended up dead.

Officials are still awaiting the results of a toxicology reports.

The men were discovered dead on Willis' property by the fiancee of one of the men who broke into the home on January 9 and found him on the back porch.

Family of the deceased described how they tried to contact them in the two days they were missing, while a fifth man also tried to reach Willis to no avail.

One of the bodies was found on the back porch of the property by the fiancee of one of the men, who broke in after receiving no answer from Willis

The other two bodies were found in the backyard. Police initially said there was no foul play, but are yet to confirm the cause of death for the three men

Talge said his client then received a text from McGeeney's fiancee and Johnson's mother two days later asking where they were.

Picerno told NewsNation phone records can prove Willis never sent any text messages during the time frame, indicating he hadn't checked his phone for incoming messages.

Willis denied any wrongdoing and has not faced charges. He told police the men froze to death in his backyard while he slept inside with music and a fan on which prevented him from hearing their cries for help.
A British Holocaust survivor who also lived through Hamas' attack on Israel has revealed why the Palestinian terror group's ambush was worse than the Nazi regime's.

Mirjam Beit Talmi Szpiro, born in 1935, was three-years-old when her home in Germany was attacked during the Kristallnacht, which saw Nazi leaders unleash a series of slaughters against the Jewish population.

Her parents were taken to concentration camps - her father to Auschwitz and her mother to the Lodz Ghettowhere - where they would both die.

Mirjam immigrated to Israel 10 years after the war having spent years in England, with the land becoming a safe space for her after years of fear and grief.

'A decade after the war, I immigrated to Israel, a land that welcomed me and became my home. A place of relative calm. A place, for me, of safety,' she wrote for CNN.

Pedestrians glance at the broken windows of a Jewish owned shop in Berlin after the attacks of Kristallnacht in November 1938

Three onlookers at a smashed Jewish shop window in Berlin following riots of the night in November 1938

Roses lay in the water of the Schwedtsee lake, at Ravensbrueck memorial on the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, in Fuerstenberg, Germany

This is one reason why Hamas' attack on her community of Kibbutz Zikim in October felt even worse than the terrors Mirjam endured as a child, as the place she called home was once again destroyed.

'The tranquility of my kibbutz turned into a fierce battleground as gunfire broke the air, shattering both glass and my sense of refuge I had found there,' said Mirjam.

'In the face of the terror, I told myself, ''I'm not afraid. I don't know what fear is. I'm accustomed to this.'' '

Israeli officials say around 240 people were taken hostage during the Hamas attacks which killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians.

Mirjam said she hid in her safe room for 12 hours after hearing gunmen outside her home.

'I couldn't help but feel that history was repeating itself,' she said.

'Thanks to the bravery of the military unit in Zikim, I and the rest of the kibbutz members survived. But again, so many others didn't.'

The funeral procession of German diplomat Ernst vom Rath (1909 - 1938) passes through the streets of Dusseldorf on November 17, 1938

Mirjam was yet again forced to leave her home and has been living out of a suitcase in a hotel room for nearly four months.

'I left my home, packing in just half an hour with a silent sense of deja vu,' she said.

'I refuse to lose hope.'

Mirjam on Wednesday received an award alongside fellow survivors of the Kindertransport, which recognised the struggle and resilience of the children who suffered during the Holocaust.

With today marking Holocaust Memorial Day, Mirjam said this year will not be like previous years, explaining: 'For me, this Holocaust Memorial Day is different. It does not just represent the past, but also the present. The flames of Kristallnacht may have gone out, but other fires, lit on October 7, have again burned homes and lives and dreams,' she said.
Anti-Semitic incidents have soared by 104 per cent across the UK, new data published on Holocaust Memorial Day has revealed.

Figures published on Saturday - the 78th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp from the Nazis - also showed that Holocaust-related antisemitism had doubled in the last year.

The Community Security Trust (CST), a charity that protects British Jews, said it had received 955 reports of Holocaust-related abuse, which includes incidents with reference to Hitler, the Nazis and swastikas, over double the previous year's figure.

In another worrying statistic, it said that there had been a 130 per cent increase in incidents glorifying or calling for another Holocaust.

It added that over half of last year's total had been reported since the October 7 attacks, in which 1,200 Israelis were killed by Hamas, and a further 200 taken hostage, Sky News reported.

Pita restaurant in Golders Green, north London, was smashed up in October

Anti-Semitic graffiti calling Jews 'evil' was sprayed on skate ramps used by children in a park in Notting Hill, west London, in December

Holocaust Memorial Day is held annually on January 27 to commemorate the victims of the Nazi genocide

Instances of Holocaust denial have also risen, the charity confirmed.

Holocaust Memorial Day, which is held annually on January 27 commemorates the victims of the Nazi genocide, as well as those in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur.

Britons are urged to light a candle in memory of the six million Jews who were killed by the Nazis.

Meanwhile several London landmarks, including the London Eye, will be lit in purple for the occasion.

One Holocaust survivor, Lady Milena Grenfell-Baines, one of hundreds of Jewish children rescued from Czechoslovakia by Sir Nicholas Winton told Sky News that a lot of antisemitism was based on 'ignorance'.

A total of 679 antisemitic offences were recorded by the Met Police from October 7 to November 7 2023 inclusive, compared with 50 in the equivalent period the previous year and 81 in 2021

Referring to the latest CST data, she said she couldn't believe 'this is England'.

It comes as figures revealed that the number of anti-Semitic hate crimes recorded by the Metropolitan Police in the wake of the October 7 attack were over 13 times the number recorded in the same period in 2022.

The force recorded a total of 679 anti-Semitic offences from October 7 to November 7 2023 inclusive, compared with 50 in the equivalent period the previous year and 81 in 2021.

The CST's policy director, Dr Dave Rich, said that the wave of anti-Semitic hate had come with a rise in 'offensive and shocking' Holocaust references.

He added that it was important to educate people about the 'true horrors' committed by the Nazis and in a bid to reduce such hate incidents.
Hundreds of pro-Palestine demonstrators have descended on Barclays' branches across the UK to protest its alleged funding of Israel's attacks.

Demonstrators have organised a 'day of action' where they will protest outside 54 branches of the bank, demanding an end to what they claim is Barclays 'bankrolling' Israel's attacks on Palestine.

Hundreds of campaigners were seen chanting and waving flags as they marched past a branch on Northumberland Street in Newcastle.

Protestors have also gathered outside a branch on Kensington High Street in London holding banners urging a ceasefire and calling on the bank to 'stop investing in Israel's crime against humanity'.

Branches in other major cities across the UK including Leeds, Leicester, Nottingham, Brighton, Derby, and Ipswich have also been put on high alert, with security said to have been stepped up at some locations.

NEWCASTLE: Hundreds of campaigners were seen chanting and waving flags as they marched past a Barclays branch on Northumberland Street in Newcastle on Saturday

LONDON: A woman outside a Barclays branch on Kensington High Street in London holds a banner reading 'Barclays Blood Money' with the bank's logo appearing to be dripping in blood

LONDON: Other banners outside the Kensington branch called for a stop to 'Israel's Gaza genocide' and urged the bank to 'stop investing in Israel's crime against humanity'

Europe's largest Palestinian rights organisation, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), has called on people to boycott Barclays.

Its research states: 'Barclays Bank holds over 1 billion in shares, and provides over 3 billion in loans and underwriting to nine companies whose weapons, components, and military technology are being used by Israel in its attacks on Palestinians.

'This includes General Dynamics, which produces the gun systems that arm the fighter jets used by Israel to bombard Gaza, and Elbit Systems, which produces armoured drones, munitions and artillery weapons used by the Israeli military.

'As Israel's genocidal assault on Palestinians continues, take action on Saturday, 27 January 2024 to demand Britain stop arming Israel.

'Join an action at a Barclays branch demanding the bank stops bankrolling Israel's attacks on Palestinians, and spread the word about our call to boycott Barclays.'

The action this weekend is described on its website as: 'As Israel's genocidal assault on Palestinians continues, take action on Saturday, 27 January 2024 to demand Britain stop arming Israel!

'Barclays Bank holds substantial financial ties with arms companies supplying weapons and military technology to Israel, used in its attacks on Palestinians.

LONDON: A banner outside the Barclays Kensington branch urges for a 'ceasefire now' on January 27

LONDON: A man stood outside a Barclays branch in London holds a banner that reads: 'Genocide: Proudly sponsored by Barclays' on January 27

LONDON: Three people hold a banner outside the Barclays Kensington branch calling for a ceasefire on January 27

LONDON: Protestors have placed carboard coffins outside the Barclays Kensington branch on January 27

'Join an action at a Barclays branch demanding the bank stops bankrolling Israel's attacks on Palestinians, and spread the word about our call to boycott Barclays.

'Barclays must #StopBankingOnGenocide and #StopBankingOnApartheid.'

A Barclays spokesperson said it is committed to respecting human rights and that it carries out enhanced due diligence in the defence and security sector.

Ugly scenes at previous protests have seen customers of other high-street names be shouted at and verbally abused for entering businesses claimed as pro-Israel.

In October pro-Palestine activists in Birmingham emptied a box full of mice into a McDonald's before walking off and shouting 'f*** Israel' - after the company offered free meals to IDF soldiers.

M&S has also faced protests after traditional paper hats from crackers were burned in an open fire which activists claimed were the colours of the Palestinian flag and insulting to its people.

Previous weekends have seen police arrest some for terror offences and holding horrific pro-Nazi and anti-semitic signs and slogans while on marches across London.

Barclays branches have been the scene of previous protest action when Just Stop Oil activists super glued 50 'doors shut' and placed posters on them in November.

NEWCASTLE: Protestors chant and wave flags as they march past the Barclays' flagship branch on Northumberland Street on January 27

NEWCASTLE: Police officers were seen standing in the entrance to the Northumberland Street branch as demonstrators gathered outside on January 27

NEWCASTLE: Pro-Palestine demonstrators descend on Barclays Bank to stage a protest in Newcastle city centre on January 27

LONDON: Protestors hold banners outside the Kensington branch called for a stop to 'Israel's Gaza genocide' and urged the bank to 'stop investing in Israel's crime against humanity'

LONDON: A woman holds shouts into a megaphone during a pro-Palestinian protest outside a Barclays branch in Kensington on January 27

LONDON: A cardboard coffin outside a Barclays branch in London reads: 'Bombed and buried alive under rubble by the occupying IDF' on January 27

One source said ahead of today's action: 'There's a real fear this will cause chaos. Barclays are likely to be upping security as a result and the police will be aware.

'They [Barclays] are braced for action. There's fear they will copy Just Stop Oil and superglue the doors. Or just sit outside and make life difficult.'

A Barclays spokesperson said: 'Barclays is committed to respecting human rights as defined by the International Bill of Human Rights and takes account of other internationally accepted human rights standards and frameworks.

'We have a published statement on defence and security which sets out our policy positions and governs any business activities in the sector, including setting restrictions on certain financing activities and requiring enhanced due diligence as appropriate on clients in the sector.'

'As a universal bank, Barclays provides a range of client services in relation to the shares of publicly listed companies, including those in the defence and security sector.

'Such client-driven activities may result in Barclays holding shares in those companies, for example, through hedging positions, market making, custody and underwriting activity.

'Barclays does not itself intend to make any direct strategic equity investments in the defence and security sector.'

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign has called on a boycott of Barclays Bank

Pro-Palestinian activists protest in front of Barclays headquarters in Paris, France on January 15, 2024

Extinction Rebellion activists 'glued shut' around 50 Barclays banks in November

A woman holds a doll representing a dead child as demonstrators pause outside Barclays bank in central Newcastle during a pro-Palestine march on January 20

Displaced Palestinians, who fled their homes due to Israeli strikes, shelter in a tent camp in Rafah, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas on January 3

Smoke rises over the Gaza Strip as the war continues into its fourth month

Protests against Israel's heavy bombing campaign have been common across the UK in recent months as the country faces increasing criticism for the numbers of civilians killed and wounded in the fighting.

The unprecedented death and destruction has led South Africa to accuse Israel of genocide in a case filed with the International Court of Justice, allegations Israel has strongly denied and vowed to contest.

South Africa brought the case to call for an immediate suspension of the invasion of Gaza earlier this month with claims some 25,000 have been killed.

Israel responded by presenting footage of the Hamas terror attack on October 7 to argue it was itself the victim of an attempted genocide and has a right to defend itself.

But international observers question the scale of the response in Gaza that has seen over 80 per cent of the population displaced, towns reduced to rubble, and a humanitarian catastrophe unfold.
Israel vowed on Saturday to ban the UN aid agency from operating in Gaza after the war ends.

It came as bosses begged the West to restore funding following the sacking of staff accused of involvement in the October 7 attack.

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said on Friday it had fired several employees over Israel's accusations, promising a thorough investigation into the claims, which were not specified.

The UK's Foreign Office announced on Saturday it would halt future funding of UNRWA pending a review of the 'concerning allegations'.

A statement from the Foreign Office said it was 'appalled' by the allegations but remained 'committed' to getting humanitarian aid into Gaza.

An aerial view of destroyed buildings as a result of the Israeli attack on Nuseirat refugee camp, in Deir al-Balah, Gaza, on January 26

An aerial view of the tents where Palestinians are trying to survive in difficult conditions after fleeing their homes for safety in Deir al-Balah, Gaza, on January 27

Internally displaced Palestinians move past Israeli tanks after the Israeli army told residents of Khan Yunis camp to leave their homes and head towards Rafah camps near the Egyptian border, in the southern Gaza Strip, on January 27

The US Department of State said it was 'extremely troubled' by the claims and called for 'complete accountability' for those involved in the October 7 attacks.

Donors including Germany, Britain, Italy, Australia and Finland have also followed the lead of the United States, which said on Friday it had 'temporarily paused additional funding' to the agency while it reviewed the claims as well as the UN's plan to address concerns.

'In Gaza's rebuilding, UNRWA must be replaced with agencies dedicated to genuine peace and development,' Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said in a statement, urging more donors to suspend funding.

On Saturday, Hamas slammed Israeli 'threats' against UNRWA, urging the United Nations and other international organisations not to 'cave in to the threats and blackmail'.

Relations between Israel and UNRWA, which have been strained for years, deteriorated further in recent days, with the UN agency condemning tank shelling it said had hit a shelter for displaced people in Gaza's main southern city of Khan Yunis.

Damage to their homes caused by Israeli air strikes, in Rafah, Gaza, on January 27

People walk on a damaged road filled with rainwater amid Israeli attacks on Gaza, on January 27

Displaced Palestinians walk past Israeli tanks after the IDF asked residents of Khan Yunis camp to leave their homes and go to Rafah camps near the Egyptian border, south of the Gaza Strip, on January 26

Palestinians fleeing Khan Younis move towards Rafah amid the ongoing conflict, on January 27

The agency said tens of thousands of displaced people had been registered at the shelter and Wednesday's tank shelling killed 13 people.

Asked about the incident, the Israeli army said 'a thorough review of the operations of the forces in the vicinity is underway', adding that it was examining the possibility that the strike was a 'result of Hamas fire'.

UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini slammed Wednesday's bombardment as a 'blatant disregard of basic rules of war', with the compound clearly marked as a UN facility and its coordinates shared with Israeli authorities.

The Israeli army is the only force known to have tanks operating in the Gaza Strip.

The Israel-Hamas war has killed more than 26,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, destroyed vast swathes of Gaza and displaced nearly 85 per cent of the territory's 2.3 million people.

The Hamas attack in southern Israel killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and about 250 hostages were taken.

Before fighting broke out, UNRWA struggled to meet funding requirements.

The agency's chronic budget shortfalls worsened dramatically in 2018 when former US president Donald Trump cut support to the agency.

But US President Joe Biden's administration has fully restored support, providing $340 million (268 million) in 2022, making it the agency's largest bilateral donor.

Several key donor countries said on Saturday that they would halt their funding, prompting Lazzarini to say it was 'shocking to see a suspension of funds to the agency in reaction to allegations against a small group of staff'.

Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell praised the agency on Friday for 'playing a vital role over many years supporting vulnerable Palestinian refugees'.

But he said the bloc expected 'full transparency on the allegations' as well as 'immediate measures against staff involved'.

Internally displaced Palestinians move past Israeli tanks after the Israeli army told residents of Khan Yunis camp to leave their homes and head towards Rafah camps near the Egyptian border, in the southern Gaza Strip, on January 27

Palestinian people holding empty bowls try to reach out for food distributed by volunteers at donation point as Israeli attacks continue in Rafah, Gaza, on January 26

A displaced Palestinian child holds up an empty pot as she waits with others to receive food aid provided by a Palestinian youth group in the Rafah refugee camp, in the southern Gaza Strip, on January 25

The Palestinian Authority, based in the West Bank, urged donors to reverse their suspension, calling on Saturday for 'maximum support for this international organisation and not stopping support and assistance to it'.

Johann Soufi, a lawyer and former director of UNRWA's legal office in Gaza, said the agency had 'always had a zero-tolerance policy for violence and incitement to hatred'.

'Sanctioning UNRWA, which is barely keeping the entire population of Gaza alive, for the alleged responsibility of a few employees, is tantamount to collectively punishing the Gazan population, which is living in catastrophic humanitarian conditions,' he said.

The accusations against UNRWA staff came hours after the UN's top court ordered Israel to do everything it can to prevent any acts of genocide in Gaza.

The International Court of Justice on Friday handed down its first judgement in a landmark case brought by South Africa.

Soufi said the timing of the allegations against UNRWA 'raises questions'.
Conservative attorney George Conway went on a wild rant about Donald Trump saying he's 'sick, bad and sadistic' hours after the former president was ordered to pay an astonishing $83.3 million in damages to E Jean Carroll.

Conway, a renowned critic of Trump, slammed the former president as he appeared on CNN's The Source on Friday evening, hours after a jury announced their decision to award writer Carroll nearly $60 million more in damages than she sought.

The prominent lawyer said of Trump: 'He cant control himself because hes a deeply disturbed, a deeply morally bereft human being who has no conscience, has no morality, has no empathy, has no remorse, and is sadistic.'

The spirited remarks came after host Kaitlan Collins asked whether the verdict would prompt Trump to be more cautious when discussing Carroll and the case.

Republican attorney George Conway went on a wild rant about Donald Trump saying he's 'sick, bad and sadistic' hours after the former president was ordered to pay an astonishing $83.3 million in damages to E Jean Carroll

A jury announced their decision to award writer E. Jean Carroll (pictured) nearly $60 million more in damages than she sought

The prominent lawyer said of Trump: 'He cant control himself because hes a deeply disturbed, a deeply morally bereft human being who has no conscience, has no morality, has no empathy, has no remorse, and is sadistic'

Collins asked, 'Do you think it will stop him from talking about her?' to which Conway responded, 'Maybe for a few hours. Maybe for a few days.'

Carroll convinced the jury last year that Trump had sexually assaulted her in the late 1990s in a changing room at the department store Bergdorf Goodman, and won $5 million in damages and for defamation after he said she was a liar.

When Trump repeated his insults after the first trial, she sued again for defamation, and on Friday, after an ill-tempered two-week trial, the jury took less than three hours to decide the sum awarded. Their verdict had been decided in 2023.

Conway, the soon-to-be ex-husband of former Trump's advisor Kellyanne Conway, said he convinced Carroll in 2019 at a cocktail party that she had a solid case against Trump and introduced lawyers to her.

The lawyer said on Friday that the astonishing $83.3 million verdict would not stop Trump from attacking Carroll and doing 'insane things'.

He said: 'Weve seen it before. Weve seen him say and do outrageous things. Early on in his presidency, wed see him say the most insane things.

'And then all of a sudden, hed tamp it down for a few hours and read from a teleprompter and theyd say, "Oh, this is the new Donald Trump." Well, there is no new Donald Trump.'

The lawyer said on Friday that the astonishing $83.3million verdict would not stop Trump from attacking Carroll and doing 'insane things'

Conway, one of Trump's most prominent critics, didn't stop there; he continued to label Trump as 'sadistic' and asserted that he has 'psychological disorders

Conway, one of Trump's most prominent critics, didn't stop there; he continued to label Trump as 'sadistic' and asserted that he has 'psychological disorders. '[Trump] is sadistic as we saw during the trial and the jurors saw in the trial, right in front of their very eyes  that he had nothing but contempt for the woman that he raped and libeled and defamed so many times,' Conway said.

Two legal experts said that Trump's disrespectful behavior in court and his lawyers' belligerence likely turned the jury against him, resulting in them demanding him to pay an astonishing $83.3 million in damages.

Chris Mattei, a defamation lawyer who won a $1.5 billion jury verdict in the Alex Jones defamation trial, said that jurors often respond badly to defendants who seem arrogant and rude.

'These are regular people who play by the rules,' he told Business Insider. 'And then they see some guy come into court who basically throws up his middle finger at the law? No, average people don't want that.'

Mattei said the sum awarded was an indication that the jury felt no one should be above the law.

'You can't have somebody who just flaunts the law basically be given a pass,' Mattei said. 'That's not how our system works.'

Conway referred to the former president as a 'sick man, a bad man,' emphasizing that Trump's allies with the Republican party are well-aware of these qualities.

'They know who he is. They know he is an evil man. They know he is a sick man. They talk about his mental deficiencies, his psychological disorders. They talk about what a pathological liar he is.

Conway accused certain figures within the GOP of lying and covering up for a sexual predator, including Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, who said on Tuesday about the case: 'This one I havent looked at, but look, if hes found guilty, then he needs to pay the price.'

'When somebody asked him to go on the record to talk about it, Oh, no comment. I didnt see the tweet,"' Conway said.

'They say, like a presidential candidate recently did, I havent been following the case, or something like that. And theyre all lying. Lying to protect a pathological liar,' he added.

'Its better for them, in the long run, to start telling the truth and admit that theyve been covering up for a sexual predator, a criminal, a thief, a man who does not deserve to hold any office.'

Conway has been one of Donald Trump's biggest critics, and publicly mocked the president on Twitter while he employed his wife Kellyanne(pictured left), who filed for divorce last year

Conway accused certain figures within the GOP of lying and covering up for a sexual predator, including Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, who said on Tuesday about the case: 'This one I havent looked at, but look, if hes found guilty, then he needs to pay the price'

Conway has been one of Trump's biggest critics, and publicly mocked the president on Twitter while he employed his wife Kellyanne, who filed for divorce last year.

Trump sent a mocking message after the couple announced the divorce last year: 'Congratulations to Kellyanne Conway on her DIVORCE from her wacko husband, Mr. Kellyanne Conway.'

Conway responded at the time by saying: 'Looking forward to seeing you in New York at E. Jean's trial next month! Hugs and kisses.'

Kellyanne, 56, became a Trump advisor in 2016, serving as his campaign manager. While she endlessly worked for the president, her husband - who co-founded the Lincoln Project - blasted the president on social media.

Their political rift was brought up in Kellyanne's 2022 memoir Here's The Deal, where she revealed she thought of his criticism as a betrayal of their marriage.

She considered his tweets 'cheating,' and it was revealed Trump's daughter Ivanka had suggested the pair seek therapy.

The divorce hasn't slowed his criticism down any, as he has been active on X, formerly Twitter, lambasting the former leader, including retweeting a post where the president's sanity was questioned.

Trump himself had called Conway a 'stone cold LOSER & husband from hell' at one point.
Patients at a hospital in Liverpool were forced to run for cover after a 17-year-old boy attacked them with a homemade flamethrower.

Merseyside Police were called to the hospital just after 1.50pm on Monday, January 22, to reports a 17-year-old boy was behaving erratically.

It was reported the boy had used an aerosol can and lighter as a makeshift 'flamethrower' to direct flames towards two men in the A&E Department.

A video, widely shared on social media, shows the teen terrifying patients in the hospital waiting room as he directed the flames towards them in a shocking attack.

Police said the teenager was swiftly restrained by family members and later detained by security staff during the attack, in which no one was seriously injury.

A 17-year-old boy was seen attacking one man at a hospital in Liverpool using a a homemade flamethrower

The man ducked and ran for cover from the flames, removing his jacket in the process

The video showed the boy walking towards a man on his phone in the waiting room and directing flames towards him.

The man ducked and ran for cover from the flames, removing his jacket in the process.

The boy then appeared to walk towards another man, using an aerosol can and lighter to ignite the flames for a second time.

The flames were pointed towards the second man's face as he tried to duck to avoid them.

Police said the teenager was swiftly restrained by family members and no serious injury was caused.

The boy then appeared to walk towards another man, using an aerosol can and lighter to ignite the flames for a second time

Police said the teenager was swiftly restrained by family members and no serious injury was caused

He was detained by security staff and assessed by mental health nurses before receiving further treatment.

The men affected declined to make a formal complaint regarding the incident, police said.

A spokesperson for Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: 'We don't condone acts of violence or aggression and the safety of our patients and colleagues is our priority.

'We have provided support to the patients involved in the incident and the matter has been referred to Merseyside Police.'
A man in Las Vegas lunged at a suspect, who was charged with kidnapping and sexually assaulting a teenager, outside of a courtroom.

Yousuf Azami, 59, stands accused a teenage girl in his home in September and was in Las Vegas Justice Court for a preliminary hearing over kidnapping, lewdness and sex assault charges on Tuesday.

Surveillance footage, obtained by 8 News Now, caught the moment a man, who was connected with the alleged victim, walked up to Azami and punched him to the ground.

It shows several people rushing towards the two men fighting and trying to break it up. Glenn Cromwell Jr. was identified as the man who attacked Azami and he was arrested and charged with battery.

The incident occurred in the same court where a felon jumped a table and viciously attacked a judge earlier in January.

A man in Las Vegas lunged at a suspect, who was charged with kidnapping and sexually assaulting a teenager, outside of a courtroom

Yousuf Azami, 59, (pictured) allegedly raped a teenage girl in his home in September and was in court for a preliminary hearing over kidnapping, lewdness and sex assault charges on Tuesday

Glenn Cromwell Jr. (pictured) was identified as the man who attacked Azami and he was arrested and charged with battery

Video from the incident shows Azami standing up and walking along the corridor of the courtroom before Cromwell gets up and follows him.

Cromwell, dressed in a grey tracksuit, briefly stops alongside the suspect before punching Azami in the face.

He then repeatedly punches the suspect who has fallen to the floor before others, including a police officer, rush to break it up.

The pair were then separated and Cromwell was arrested and charged with battery.

Azami, an actor born in Afghanistan, is accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl who told police she got into his car before he drove her to his home and raped her.

The young girl, who was 14 or 15 at the time of the alleged attack, told police she was searching to 'get something to smoke and eat' when she saw Azami in a marijuana dispensary parking lot.

He then drove her back to his apartment, according to police.

Video from the incident shows Azami standing up and walking along the corridor of the courtroom before Cromwell gets up and follows him

Cromwell, dressed in a grey tracksuit, briefly stops alongside the suspect before punching Azami in the face

He then repeatedly punches the suspect who has fallen to the floor before others, including a police officer, rush to break it up

'Azami was on the couch for a while on his phone and then came to lay with her on the bed,' police said.

'[The teenager] had just started to fall asleep when Azami lay behind her. She stated she felt his pelvis "grinding" against her and he was not wearing any clothes.'

She had asked him to stop, according to police, and took a shower before putting on a piece of Azami's clothing and ran out of his apartment.

The young girl then went to the Mirage Hotel where 'she met a man who was picking up his wife'.

She told him 'she had been kidnapped and raped and needed police'.

It comes after Deobra Redden, 30, attacked Clark County District Judge Mary Kay Holthus in the same court on January 3

Deobra Redden, 30, who launched himself at Clark County District Judge Mary Kay Holthus, appeared again in court wearing a spit covering

Azami has denied the allegations and said he did know how old the teenager was.

The suspect is set to return to court on February 20 and is out of custody on a $5,000 bail. He was released by a judge on his recognizance.

It comes after Deobra Redden, 30, attacked Clark County District Judge Mary Kay Holthus in the same court on January 3.

He said 'nah f*** that b**ch' as he launched himself at her after she rejected his pleas for more probation. He also attacked the court marshal - who needed 25 stitches as a result.

Redden later appeared in court to resume his sentencing, wearing shackles, a spit mask on his face and orange mitts on his hands, where he was sentenced to 19 to 48 months for a battery felony charge.

He was then charged with attempted murder for launching himself at Holthus. The charge was enhanced due to the victim's age, as Holthus is over 60-years-old.

DailyMail.com has contacted the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for comment.
This is the heartbreaking picture of five-year-old Lennyn Lilic who was taken off life support after her family's car was hit by alleged drunk-driver.

Semir Lilic, 32, was traveling with his two children, Lennyn and his six-year-old son, when his Volkswagen was hit by another vehicle police said was travelling at 77 mph in a 35 mph zone on South Westsam's Boulevard in Kearns last Sunday.

Emergency crews rushed the single father and his son to a hospital, while a medical helicopter flew Lennyn to a different hospital.

Lennyn suffered severe head wounds, including skull fractures, a broken spine, broken neck and traumatic brain bleeds and despite doctors' best efforts, her life support was removed days later.

The other driver, Charmayne Huerta-Guzman, 25, has now been charged with second-degree felony manslaughter and other charges according to court documents filed Thursday.

This is the heartbreaking picture of five-year-old Lennyn Lilic who was taken off life support after her family's car was hit by a drunk-driver

Lennyn suffered severe head wounds, including skull fractures, a broken spine, broken neck and traumatic brain bleeds

The crash happened around 1 pm when Huerta-Guzman passed another vehicle on a blind corner and slammed head-on into the Lilic's car, police said.

Emel Lilic, 6, suffered a broken nose, busted lips and sprained hip while Semir had a dislocated shoulder and a broken leg.

'If it was two seconds, maybe I could have done something different,' the heartbroken father told ABC4 on Monday.

'But [Huerta-Guzman] came so fast, I couldn't do nothing for my children and me.'

'Maybe if I did something different that day' he said through tears.

'Tied my son's shoe two seconds more or my car 10 seconds or something.

'But nothing went different. Just end up being in the wrong spot at the wrong time,' Lilic said.

Witnesses told the responding officers that a man in Huerta-Guzman's car removed bottles of alcohol from the wrecked vehicle after the crash and hid them in the bushes of a nearby church.

The crash happened around 1 pm when Huerta-Guzman passed another vehicle on a blind corner and slammed head-on into the Lilic's car

Despite doctors' best efforts, Lennyn's life support was removed days later

Semir Lilic, 32, was traveling with his two children, ages five and six, when his Volkswagen was hit by another vehicle

Emel Lilic, 6, suffered a broken nose, busted lips and sprained hip

Semir had a dislocated shoulder and a broken leg

Emergency crews rushed the single father and his 6-year-old son to a hospital, while a medical helicopter flew Lennyn to a different hospital

The crash happened around 1pm when Huerta-Guzman passed another vehicle on a blind corner and slammed head-on into the Lilac's car

When officers asked what Huerta-Guzman had been doing before the crash, Huerta-Guzman said 'we were drinking and heading home,' the charging documents state.

At the hospital, a preliminary blood test showed her blood alcohol content was 0.24.

Huerta-Guzman is being held without bail and will appear in court on February 6.

A fundraiser organized by Lennyn's cousin Amel Kulovac has raised almost $75,000 toward the little girl's funeral costs and other care costs incurred by the family.

'This is a very tragic and serious impact on the whole family. Your donation, no matter the amount, will make a significant impact on the Lilic Family!' Kulovac wrote on the page.

Adding: 'Please everyone, if you plan on drinking alcohol. Spend the $30 and get a uber ride home instead of causing a tragic, heartbreaking incident to someone's family.'
Just last week, the head of the Army Sir Patrick Sanders said we may need to train a citizen army for conflict with Russia. Former NATO deputy commander Gen. Sir Richard Shirreff suggested conscription.

Can our Generals really be talking about mass armies in the age of high-tech warfare? Is a new global conflict inevitable, and with the poison of woke political correctness flowing through our society, are we in any state to defend ourselves?

What is undoubtably true is that our world is unstable and dangerous.

There are two conflicts, in Ukraine and the Middle East, which could escalate quickly. Putin is telling Russians they are already at war with NATO, whilst his henchmen warn of nuclear strikes to scare us.

Iran has 22 proxies in the Middle East, and through them it is attacking Israel, rocketing US bases in Iraq (with UK soldiers in them too) and trying to close the Red Sea, through which 12 percent of global trade travels.

Bob Seely MP has questioned whether the UK is in any state to defend itself if Russia attacks Pictured: Two fully armed British soldiers on a training mission in forest.

Vladimir Putin has told the Russian people they are already at war with NATO

Admiral Rob Bauer, the chair of the Nato Military Committee, urged both civilians and governments to prepare for conflict and potential conscription

The mad mullahs of Tehran may be months from developong a nuclear weapon. In the Far East, Chinas President Xi is preparing military options to invade Taiwan whilst his country tries to illegally extend its borders hundreds of miles out to sea.

A period of global struggle is underway. The international order, which has given much of the world decades of peace and which was shaped by the UK and US after World War II, is being shaken.

Former soldier Bob Seely has served as the Member of Parliament for the Isle of Wight since June 2017

We must do more to defend it. Deterrence is the way to avoid conflict. Out deterrence failed in World War I and World War II. Despite our eventual victories in both, they came at a terrible price. Deterrence costs, but it is always vastly cheaper, in blood and treasure, than war.

I dont believe conventional war is inevitable, but history tells us it becomes more likely if our enemies think we are weak and lack the determination to defend ourselves.

Sir Patrick calls for a citizen army. We have one. Its called the Reserves, but its never been taken seriously by the MoD. Other nations rely far more on reservist, for bulk as well as expertise. Lets look at the numbers.

The UK reserves account for just 17.8 percent of total Armed Forces manpower. By contrast, in the US reserves forces count for 43.2 percent of military personnel. In Ukraine, its an astonishing 82 percent.

Close allies such as Sweden and Norway both have part-time forces much larger than their full-time equivalents. Finland trains 21,000 conscripts a year to become part of its war-time reserve of 280,000 soldiers.

Now that is a citizen army, and we could easily do the same.

A soldier from the Ranger Regiment poses with the new Alternative Individual Weapons (AIW) system at Lulworth Training area

Nowadays, tech-savvy or specialised reservists in intelligence, cyber, culture and languages or medicine are more important than ever. Ukraines regiments of drone operators started out as geeky clubs of civilian amateurs who saved their nation in its hour of need  and paved the way for the era of mass drone warfare.

I served as a Reservist in UK forces. I am glad I did.

What spurred me on was watching the crisis in Iraq on TV from the safety of my home. I felt I was in the wrong place. It sounds odd to say, but I felt protective of our Army. By 2007, I had been mobilised.

I remember arriving on an RAF flight into the Iraqi city of Basra late at night. The distant flames from gas flaring gave the night sky an apocalyptic orange glow. The next morning a rocket attack hit the base.

As the sirens blared, I looked around, startled, watching colleagues hitting the floor with a weary immediacy before I did the same. I wondered what on earth I had let myself in for.

Despite a couple of dozen more rocket attacks - and the lies peddled by Labour - I have no regrets. I went on every operation I could, helping to negotiate with village elders in the settlements in the southern Basra marshes.

I stayed on full time reserve service and went on to work on three more campaigns until elected as the Isle of Wights MP in 2017.

What makes me most fulfilled about those years was the privilege of serving alongside people who exemplified the best of our nation.

Junior soldiers from the Army Foundation College in Harrogate conduct an exercise in Northumberland. Conscription, were it to happen, could see more Brits trained to fight

The Army, Navy and Air Force are institutions that in almost all cases bring out the best in people and provide timeless lessons in life; perseverance, keeping a sense of humour, and sticking together when times are tough (would that more of my Parliamentary colleagues remember that!).

But are we ready to fight? Does modern Britain have the strength and cohesion to come together?

Just like the 1930s, we have groups within our society who hate us and believe our society not worth defending. Then it was Marxism. Now it is the Lefts obsession with race and assaulting our history and values. It goes by a series of names; woke, critical theory, cultural war but is generally known as political correctness.

I dont believe that the minority that peddle this garbage - it is neither a critical' nor a credible theory' - speak for the majority, nor the majority of young people. But its pernicious influence - in academia, the BBC, the law - is damaging freedom of speech.

Some of these confused beliefs state that white majority societies are ipso facto racist and that even to question this is an act of racism. This is not only unscientific and highly racist but is also an intimidating attempt to close minds and indoctrinate.

It is a new form of ugly determinism, a modern totalitarianism which is leaving Britons fearful of speaking their minds because diversity of opinion is no longer tolerated.

When I listen to Labour politicians arguing that we need to teach about white privilege, it reminds me of the foolishness of the Guardian-reading intellectuals in the 1930s.

The great writer George Orwell summed up their beliefs as smelly little orthodoxies. Woke, critical theory and political correctness are the smelly little orthodoxies of our own era; illiberal and intolerant.

Our society isnt perfect. No human society is, but despite our internal critics, it remains is one of the most humane and enlightened in human history. We should be more proud of it, and willing to defend it. In many ways it remains an example to others.

The good news is that if history has taught us anything, it is to have faith in ourselves and our society.

The coming years will test us. I wish our politicians had been more alive to the threats a decade ago, but it will focus our minds now on what we have and what we could lose.

Bob Seely MP appears on ITV's Good Morning Britain on January 29, 2019

British soldiers take part in the Swift Response 22 military exercise at the Krivolak Military Training Center in Negotino, in the centre of North Macedonia, on May 12, 2022

This century will see a struggle between two futures for humanity, between open societies such as ours, and closed societies such as Russia, Iran and, increasingly, China.

They will use Artificial Intelligence and Big Data to control humans as never before, perfecting Orwells big brother world. Freedom anywhere is a threat to one-party authoritarian states everywhere.

We are already in a global struggle. We need to support our allies and defend ourselves and our values, whilst avoiding a disastrous global war. It will not be easy.

We should learn the lessons of history. Deterrence costs, but it is always cheaper than war. Lets not sacrifice the lives of another generation because we will again fail to defend ourselves in this one.

Bob Seely is the MP for the Isle of Wight. He served as a soldier and officer in UK Armed Forces from 2007 to 2017 and sits on the Foreign Affairs Committee in Parliament.
Their lavish displays of wealth and affection have seen them become TikTok's latest obsession.

Lifestyle influencer Campbell Hunt Puckett along with her husband Jett have been dominating For You Pages.

But while their run down of date night fits and glamorous getaways might be pulling in viewers, it's Campbell's nickname that is all anyone can talk about.

Better known as 'Pookie', the moniker has divided the internet.

And the controversy around the couple has become so great that even big names like Southwest Airlines have weighed in on the trend.

Lifestyle influencer Campbell Hunt Puckett along with her husband Jett have become TikTok's latest obsession

Jett will often refer to his wife as Pookie, which has divided viewers over whether its cute or cringe

The couple's videos feature run downs of their outfits which include designer goods such as Campbell's $11,000 Hermes Kelly bag

But while her comment section is full of viewers squabbling over whether the couple or cute and cringe, their profile only grows.

A typical video will see Campbell glammed up alongside a beaming Jett as she runs through her outfit choices.

The clothes include a selection of designer pieces alongside the odd Amazon find, with Jett also offering the lowdown of his outfits.

However, the main talking point has become Jett's now much-memed commentary on his wife's extravagant get ups.

'Pookie is looking absolutely fire tonight,' he states in one video, as Campbell shows off her outfit.

In another, she dons a pink dress from Helsa on Revolve, black La Femme heels and her trademark $11,000 Hermes Kelly bag.

'It's date night and Pookie looks particularly amazing tonight. I would call this a happy dress,' Jett says, prompting giggles from his wife.

The video's comments are filled with adoring fans offering their opinion on the outfit and the couple.

Opulent displays of the couples wealth feature heavily throughout their videos

The couple began producing content in 2020 but has seen their popularity sky rocket recently

'Pookie. Our queen. Youre stunning in this shade of pink,' one says.

'You guys are iconic. I love it,' another adds.

Another video shows the couple on their private balcony during a trip to Puglia.

Jett tells his wife she is giving off 'Princess Jasmine vibes' in her dress, which at under $200 is considered a bargain by the wealthy couple.

The couple seem to favor Italy, with one TikTok detailing their trip aboard a privately rented boat in Capri complete where they pack on the PDA with a makeout session aboard the craft.

Other clips show Campbell getting manicures sporting a giant diamond ring or receiving a bespoke floral arrangement which spells out the word 'Pookie' after returning home from a work trip.

Brands including Southwest Airlines have signaled their approval for the couple, hopping on the trend to produce a TikTok which shows one of their jets with the caption: 'Pookie is looking absolutely fire tonight'.

Dunkin' Donuts also used the trend to advertise their goods.

Many viewers praise the couple's consistent displays of love and affection

But some complain their PDA-packed videos leave them feeling 'sick to the stomach'

@campbellhuntpuckett I'll never be over this day we rented a private boat for the day starting in Capri. Itinerary: Do a lap around the island of Capri and stop at the blue grotto, green grotto and Faraglioni- they say kissing under the arch brings you everlasting love a Boat to Positano, enjoy beautiful views of the coast, and stop to swim in a grotto along the way. Go into town for 1-2 hours and shop, grab a drink. We got rose and lemon sorbet (must!!) to take away at La Zagara. Boat to Nerano and have a late lunch at @concadelsogno. Get the spaghetti alla nerano and fresh lobster. Boat company we used: @seawavecharter #amalficoast #capri #travelguide #italy #italytrip #couple #vacation  MONACO - Bad Bunny

Campbell currently has almost 200,000 TikTok followers and has gained more than six million likes.

The Atlanta-based couple met at a wine bar in Philadelphia after Jett approached her. They dated for ten months before getting engaged.

Campbell was a former flight attendant and currently works for the blog You Should Wear That.

Wharton-educated Jett works in mergers an acquisitions in the dental industry.

They have been building their brand since 2020, but have recently taken off in part thanks to the discussion around Campbell's nickname.

Fans have been going wild for the couple's relationship, with many praising how much Jett seems to appreciate his wife dressing up and surprising him.

While they have thousands of loyal supporters, a few people have taken issue with the couple.

'I cant believe this crap is real,' one viewer wrote in response to a TikTok of the couple showing off their outfits for a day in Paris.

Fans have been going wild for the couple's relationship, with many praising how much Jett seems to appreciate his wife dressing up and surprising him

Campbell's videos have garnered over six million likes on TikTok where she has almost 200,000 followers

'Y'all actually make me sick to my stomach,' another added.

'Cant convince me theres not an A&E movie with these. Neighbors that you find out are murderers,' one person joked.

However, the tide could be turning for the couple with many confessing they just can't look away.

'I used to be a hater but now Im a stan. Every time he says Pookie I laugh but in the best way lol,' one viewer wrote.

Cute or cringe, one thing is certain: Pookie is looking absolutely fire.
Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner's attempt to have a key witness excluded from his forthcoming multiple sex attack trial has failed, MailOnline can exclusively reveal.

Convicted rapist Brueckner, 45, is due to go on trial next month accused of raping and sexually assaulting several women and a young girl.

The attacks are all said to have taken place in a 17-year period between 2000 and 2017 when he lived on Portugal's Algarve coast - the area where Madeleine was snatched in May 2007 when she was aged just three.

In November, MailOnline exclusively revealed how Brueckner's lawyer Friedrich Fulscher had filed a claim at Brunswick court in Germany asking for key witness Helge Busching to be struck out of the trial.

Mr Fulscher claimed Busching - who also lived in Portugal at the same time and knew Brueckner - was 'a fantasist' and a 'perjurer' after pointing out supposed inconsistencies in his statement to German police.

But after a two-month investigation, officials in Germany threw out the case and his trial will begin on February 16 with Busching still giving evidence.

Madeleine McCann was snatched from the apartment she was staying in while on holiday to Portugal

Convicted rapist Brueckner, 45, is due to go on trial next month accused of raping and sexually assaulting several women and a young girl

Brueckner's lawyer Friedrich Fulscher had filed a claim at Brunswick court in Germany asking for key witness Helge Busching to be struck out of the trial

The Madeleine McCann story gripped the nation when it first emerged she was abducted

Busching's evidence in 2019 helped jail Brueckner for two rapes - including that of a 72-year-old American woman who was attacked in her home at Praia da Luz in 2006.

READ MORE: Portuguese police apologise to Madeleine McCann's parents over their treatment as detectives say paedophile Christian Brueckner is their prime suspect and missing toddler died in Portugal Advertisement

Her horrific ordeal happened a year before Madeleine was snatched from a holiday apartment in the same town while she was there with her parents Kate and Gerry and siblings.

Busching told the trial he and another man called Manfred Seyferth, had found a video camera in Brueckner's house showing him raping and sexually assaulting two women and this was used to jail him for seven years.

Busching also told investigators in Brunswick, Germany, the year after Madeleine disappeared, he had a conversation with Brueckner, in which he said it was 'odd that she didn't scream' when they discussed her disappearance.

Busching gave Brueckner's name to Scotland Yard's Operation Grange team police in 2017, around the 10th anniversary of Madeleine's disappearance.

Busching claims Brueckner told him at a Spanish kite festival in 2008 that he was involved in Madeleine's abduction from Praia da Luz a year earlier.

When asked in 2020 what he thought of Brueckner, Busching said: 'One word. Guilty.'

Busching gave Brueckner's name to Scotland Yard's Operation Grange team police in 2017, around the 10th anniversary of Madeleine's disappearance

Madeleine, from Rothley, Leicestershire went missing in May 2007 just a few days short of her fourth birthday

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Busching said: 'At last the world can see that I am not a liar. I was speaking the truth.

'I know what I saw and heard and if I can be of help to this case and the McCann one then I am happy to help.

'Everyone can hear what I have to say when I give my evidence at his trial later this year. I am not telling lies despite what Herr Fulscher says.'

Hans-Christian Wolters from the Brunswick prosecutor's office confirmed to MailOnline the complaint had been dismissed and said:'Mr Busching will give evidence at the trial next month.'

Mr Fulscher declined to comment.

Madeleine, from Rothley, Leicestershire went missing in May 2007 just a few days short of her fourth birthday while on holiday with her siblings and parents Kate and Gerry and nothing has been seen or heard of her since.

Brueckner is currently serving his seven years in a German prison and his trial heard he planned the attack having broken into the victim's house with a rope to tie her up. She was blindfolded and gagged before being raped and robbed.

His new trial next month is expected to last four months.
The devastated father of a baby boy, who tragically burned to death in his crib by a sudden radiator steam explosion in a Brooklyn apartment, is demanding someone be held accountable for the tragedy.

Eleven-month-old Binyomin Kuravsky was killed last Friday after suffering critical burns due to a faulty radiator that was releasing steam in his bedroom as he slept.

Binyomin was rushed to Maimonides Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

Alexander Kuravsky, father of baby boy Binyomin, told The New York Post that someone needs to be held accountable to ensure this never occurs again.

'Buildings, new and old, require careful, consistent, honest inspection  And the only way for that to happen is for there to be accountability,' he told The Post.

Eleven-month-old Benjamin Kuravsky was killed last Friday after suffering critical burns due to a faulty radiator that was releasing steam in his bedroom as he slept

Kuravsky and his wife, Bessie, 27, are also parents to 1-month-old twin daughters  Ruchami and Hadassah. They won't be returning to their Midwood apartment

Alexander Kuravsky, father of baby boy Binyomin, told The New York Post that someone needs to be held accountable to ensure this never occurs again

Kuravsky, 36, is not sure who is responsible but he said, 'absolutely people need to be held accountable because there are millions of people that are living with steam radiators  and many of whom also have children and babies inside of their homes.'

'I want people to understand that Binyomin Zachariah Kuravsky was a boy that did everything out of happiness. [He made me] a parent for the very first time, my wife a mother for the very first time, and he made parenting easy  so so easy,' he added.

Kuravsky and his wife, Bessie, 27, are parents to 1-month-old twin daughters  Ruchami and Hadassah. They won't be returning to their Midwood apartment.

Describing his son, Kuravsky told The Post, 'He wasn't colicky, he never complained, he was a happy-golucky, energetic, young boy with an incredible sense of humor.'

'I don't think he was a regular baby. Most of us die at 80, 90, 100  we're lucky. But for some reason, God wanted him earlier, and if God wanted him earlier, I do not believe that he was a regular child  a regular baby. There was something unique [about him], something that I can't fathom yet.

'It feels like the whole world is crying for him,' Kuravsky said.

New York Police Department officers responded to a 911 call made from 890 East 14th St at 6am.

At the scene they found the baby in a bedroom suffering critical burns from the burning radiator that was leaking steam.

Video shows officer cars parked around the building and cops investigating the exterior the building, particularly the back side.

According to records, officials filed a request with New York City's Buildings Department for an inspection 'due to a faulty radiator causing steam to fill the bedroom.'

The twins' mother was feeding the boy's other sibling when the child went into the bedroom and was hit by the steam, according to the New York Times.

Kuravsky and his wife, Bessie, 27, are parents to 1-month-old twin daughters  Ruchami and Hadassah. They won't be returning to their Midwood apartment

Approved Oil, the Brooklyn company that performed the radiator inspection in February 2023, claims that the building's boiler was found with 'no defects' at the time

At the scene they found the baby in a bedroom suffering critical burns from the burning radiator that was leaking steam

Binyomin burned to death due to a malfunctioning radiator in an apartment from 890 East 14th St

The 11-month-old boy was rushed to Maimonides Medical Center where he was pronounced dead

Approved Oil, the Brooklyn company that performed the radiator inspection in February 2023, claims that the building's boiler was found with 'no defects' at the time.

A 36-year-old resident who has lived in the building since he was teenager named Victor Buzin told the Times he did not know the victim's family and pointed out that that the building had a high tenant turnover.

He said that he had never had trouble with his radiator but that the building was old.

'It's terrible. How could this happen?' said Buzin.

Police are still investigating into the leak.

Steam burns are a type of thermal burn caused by boiling hot water vapor or hot liquid.

According to Healthline, many times steam burns are underestimated because a burn from steam might not look as damaging as other types of burns.

Such burns can penetrate the outer layer of the skin and cause severe burns on lower layers.

The twins' mother was feeding the boy's other sibling when the child went into the bedroom and was hit by the steam

Police are still investigating into the leak. DailyMail.com has reached out to the NYPD for more information

While the outer layer does not appear to be severely damaged, the lower levels can be.

The medical website recommends running cold water on the injury for 20 minutes to begin the healing process.

'We have footage of him taking his first steps a day before this horrible tragedy happened,' the boy's aunt Natalie Akselrod told The Post on Saturday.

'They're shattered  we're all shattered,' she said of the parents, her brother, Alexander Kuravsky and his wife, Bessie. 'I don't understand how we are going to recuperate  not I, not Alex, not his wife, not her parents, not the children. We can't. It doesn't make sense.'

Kuravsky encouraged all parents to treasure the time they have with their children.

'Even if they're already sleeping in bed, and you're afraid to wake them up, and no matter how tired you are  just take one look at them. Don't pass that moment up,' he told The Post.

So far, a GoFundMe started for the family has already raised nearly $60,000.
One of Britains leading scientists last night claimed Nicola Sturgeon snubbed his offer of expert help during the Covid pandemic because of his pro-UK views.

Professor Hugh Pennington, a bacteriologist and a specialist in combating viruses, says he watched in dismay as the SNP governments chosen experts got it wrong again and again.

He said he wrote to the former First Minister to offer his advice as thousands died from Covid in Scotland  and is still waiting for a reply.

Professor Pennington, who worked alongside the 1960s team which discovered the original human coronavirus, told The Scottish Mail on Sunday: I can only come to the conclusion that Ms Sturgeon and her Government didnt want my advice because of my pro-UK views. What other reason could there be?

He was also highly critical of the medical advisers Ms Sturgeon chose  her team was fronted by gynaecologist Catherine Calderwood, GP Gregor Smith and Jason Leitch, a dentist  and said he watched with growing dismay their high-profile input, which he believed erred on key points, during daily Covid briefings.

Leading scientist professor Hugh Pennington

The academic, who has five decades of expertise, also pointed to her relationship with adviser Devi Sridhar, a public health academic who, the UK Covid-19 Inquiry heard, discussed becoming personal trainer to Ms Sturgeon.

The inquirys lead counsel Jamie Dawson, KC, last week noted there had been commentary over the fact Ms Sturgeons team were experts in neither public health nor infectious diseases.

It was also disclosed Ms Sturgeon and her then chief of staff Liz Lloyd discussed their strategy for dealing with the pandemic, with Ms Lloyd saying she wanted a rammy with the UK Government so she could think about something other than sick people.

Ms Sturgeon will be grilled at the inquiry this week.

Professor Pennington said the evidence so far supported his belief she should quit as an MSP over her handling of the pandemic response.

The scientific expert previously chaired both the probe into the worlds worst E.coli outbreak, which claimed 20 lives in Scotland in 1996, and a public inquiry into a 2005 E.coli outbreak in Wales.

In doing so, he became the only non-judicial figure ever to chair a public inquiry in the UK.

Yet, as Covid hit Scotland in 2020, he was snubbed by the SNP Government, despite the fact he would have been more than happy to lend it his expertise.

Mr Pennington, emeritus professor at Aberdeen University, said: I said to myself, not again, as I watched her experts get it wrong and then get it wrong again.

But what was I to do? Id already offered my help and advice to Ms Sturgeon and her Government. I wrote to her. Im still waiting for a reply.

Gregor Smith, left, Nicola Sturgeon and Jason Leitch during a daily covid briefing

Nicola Sturgeon taking questions from ministers at FMQs in 2021

He criticised the choice of expert advisers, and Ms Sridhars role in particular, stating: A relationship such as this gets away from the science and puts it on a personal level, which is inappropriate.

He said he felt like jumping up and down in frustration when the advisers stated at their press conferences they were focusing on people with symptoms.

He said: If you focus on symptomatic people, clearly you will miss those non-symptomatic.

This could, and did, include people such as care workers, or visitors, or new residents moving into care homes.

You will be taking the virus into care homes, and we know once it gets into an environment such as that, it spreads alarmingly.

I pointed this out explicitly to Ms Sturgeon but with no reply.

Sir Gregor, Scotlands chief medical officer, told the inquiry last week he rejected claims there were questions around the credibility of the expertise of senior clinical advisers.

He said he didnt recognise it as an issue raised at all, and polling suggested public confidence in messaging from authentic clinical leaders was very high.

Scottish Tory chairman Craig Hoy said: Professor Penningtons suspicion his expertise was shunned because of his pro-UK stance is hardly without foundation.

Just last week at the inquiry we learned Sturgeons top adviser was exploiting Covid to create a rammy with the UK Government, while the SNP Government discussed rebooting the independence push at the height of the pandemic.

Shamefully, their push to break up the UK remained the SNPs top priority, even as thousands died.

The Scottish Government said: We are committed to responding to the UK and Scottish Covid-19 inquiries, as learning lessons is vital to prepare for the future.
As I sat down each day to watch Nicola Sturgeons Covid briefings to the nation I experienced growing feelings of horror, dismay and frustration.

I shifted in my seat, and said to myself, not again, as I watched her experts get it wrong and then get it wrong again.

But what was I to do? Id already offered my help and advice to Ms Sturgeon and her Government.

I wrote to her after going to my local MSP for advice. Im still waiting for a reply.

I knew I had the experience to help her. I spent 24 years as chair of bacteriology at the University of Aberdeen.

Prior to this, I spent ten years at the Institute of Virology in Glasgow, and when doing a PhD on virus variants was mentored by June Almeida when she was discovering human coronaviruses.

Eminent British scientist Professor Hugh Pennington

I thought I was well placed to help  especially as I was watching her chosen experts getting it wildly wrong on a daily basis.

In fact, I was one of a number of experts I could name who I believe should have been approached for advice. It was so frustrating.

I was watching disaster unfold before my eyes, with so-called experts and politicians winging it on a daily basis, having been given bad advice.

Nicola Sturgeon and her advisers, including sympathetic academic Devi Sridhar, seemed to me to be going their own way and not taking full advantage of people here in Scotland knowledgeable in virology.

Politicians need scientific experts to advise them when microbes attack in ways that have political effects, like big, lethal outbreaks and pandemics.

The key Scottish Government advisers at the beginning of the pandemic werent specialists in these fields. Chief medical officer Catherine Calderwood was in obstetrics and gynaecology while Jason Leitchs speciality was dentistry.

Ms Calderwood resigned in April 2020 after breaking her own pandemic control rules, and she was then succeeded by Gregor Smith, whose background was in general practice.

In addition, Ms Sridhar appeared to be friends with Ms Sturgeon, and we have heard evidence last week at the Covid inquiry that she communicated with Ms Sturgeon regarding a role as her personal trainer.

If you are a friend then clearly it might be that your advice could win the day, especially over that of someone who isnt onside politically.

A personal relationship such as this puts it on a different level.

It gets away from the science and puts it on a personal level, which is inappropriate.

I can only come to the conclusion that Ms Sturgeon and her Government didnt want my expert views because of my pro-UK views.

What other reason could there be?

Ms Sturgeon even criticised me by name at one of her many press conferences.

I thought I should not let this go and sought advice from Lewis Macdonald MSP who suggested I write to Ms Sturgeon, and that she would reply.

I pointed out to her that she had criticised me in regard to care homes and had disregarded my observations in regard to how the virus could spread in such locations.

She also criticised me when I said I didnt think a second wave would be as serious as the first wave.

At the end of the day, what I said proved to be correct. That is perhaps neither here nor there now.

While I didnt require a reply, I thought one would be forthcoming as a courtesy as much as anything, given she had singled me out by name.

I didnt get one, which I found surprising.

Looking back now, and having listened to the evidence led at the public inquiry, it is my view that Nicola Sturgeon should apologise to the people of Scotland for her mismanagement of the pandemic.

Frankly, she should be forced to step down from her position as an MSP or finally take responsibility herself for letting the people of Scotland down.
First Minister Humza Yousaf could face a parliamentary misconduct investigation amid accusations that he misled the public by denying he deleted key pandemic WhatsApp messages.

In another dramatic escalation of the scandal engulfing the SNP, the Tories have urged Mr Yousaf to refer himself to Holyroods standards watchdog over fears he was flagrantly deceitful about whether or not he retained crucial correspondence.

In October last year it was revealed that the SNP leader  as well as his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon  was among 70 Scottish Government figures whose communications had not been kept.

The day after the reports, Mr Yousaf defiantly claimed it was certainly not true that he had removed WhatsApp messages.

Now Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross has written to the First Minister demanding that he refer himself to the independent adviser on the ministerial code.

Then Health Secretary Humza Yousaf and Jason Leitch during a visit to ICU and the infectious diseases unit at Monklands Hospital in 2021

In his letter, Mr Ross said: If you want to restore any shred of integrity you have left, you should make such a referral as a matter of urgency.

It is important that there is an independent investigation into whether you knowingly misled the public, the inquiry, or both.

As you will know, the ministerial code requires that Ministers in public office are truthful.

The same code also allows you to refer a matter to the independent adviser on the ministerial code to seek their view on any action required in respect of ministerial conduct.

Mr Ross added: Due to your flagrantly deceitful statement made to the Press in late October, which we now know to be false following the inquirys hearing, I am urging you to refer this matter to the independent adviser on the ministerial code to investigate whether your statement contradicted that code.

Mr Yousaf told MSPs in June that any material that is asked for  WhatsApp messages, emails, Signal messages, Telegram messages or whatever  will absolutely be handed over to the Covid inquiries and handed over to them in full.

Yet on October 13 last year Mr Yousaf provided a statement to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry that he deleted all messages after a month due to the Scottish Governments mobile messaging usage policy.

Just over two weeks later, a newspaper reported this same information  that Mr Yousaf was among a number of Scottish Government officials who had not retained all their messages.

However, the following day, the First Minister told TV and radio reporters: I dont know why theres been Press reports suggesting that Ive deleted my WhatsApp messages  that is not true.

Mr Ross has now demanded a full-scale investigation into what Mr Yousaf deleted, how he recovered any messages, and when.

He wrote: It stands to reason that the Press reports would have come from the statement you provided to the inquiry that you had not retained WhatsApp messages, which you confirmed at the inquiry hearing itself.

It appears it was only after the discovery of your old mobile device that you were able to provide WhatsApp messages.

It is also not clear on what date you made this discovery and whether you had actually deleted these messages and somehow subsequently recovered them, or you could not retrieve them at the time and used the mobile messaging policy as an excuse for not handing them over.

He added: This was a blatant attempt to mislead the public, given that you had originally informed the public inquiry that you deleted WhatsApp messages.

Last week we revealed that bereaved families were set to report Ms Sturgeon to the police over her deleted WhatsApp messages.

The Scottish Covid Bereaved group took the action after evidence at the UK Covid-19 Inquiry indicated that Ms Sturgeon, then Deputy First Minister John Swinney and national clinical director Jason Leitch had all erased messages.

The Scottish Government said: It would be inappropriate to comment on the detail of evidence being considered by the UK Covid Inquiry while hearings are ongoing.
A Nationalist MP has split from his wife and rekindled a relationship with his childhood sweetheart amid a new SNP sleaze scandal.

The politician was spotted embracing his old flame, whom he first met at school, on the House of Commons terrace during Westminsters Hogmanay festivities  much to the surprise of onlookers.

In the build-up to the midnight fireworks he introduced the woman to MPs and guests as his new girlfriend.

Last week he was also spotted walking hand-in-hand with her in the streets around Westminster. It is understood the MP has left the marital home in Scotland.

It is believed his wife still lives there while her husband is house-hunting in London. It is also believed the spurned wife is aware of her husbands new relationship. It is not known if divorce proceedings have started.

The unnamed SNP politician took his new girlfriend to the Commons terrace to enjoy the Hogmanay fireworks over the Houses of Parliament

As the Great Clock on Big Ben struck midnight on December 31 and fireworks banged, popped and crackled over the River Thames, witnesses claim the new couple were more than happy to share the news of their refound closeness.

One told The Mail on Sunday: He certainly wasnt hiding her away.

They added: He was seen chatting to a number of people and I heard him introduce her as his new partner.

They both seemed very happy, and were having a good time.

The pair are said to have first met at school in Scotland and soon found themselves in each others thrall.

But as life moved on  and as the MPs campaigning for Scottish independence ramped up  their lives continued on different trajectories.

Recently, though, they were drawn back together and the MP, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and his girlfriend have now been spotted walking around Westminster without a care in the world, according to MoS sources.

One said: They were walking around quite openly and looked as though they didnt have a care in the world. It certainly didnt look as if they were trying to keep their relationship a secret in any way.

Serena Cowdy, far right, dumped Angus MacNeil for Stewart Hosie,left

The MP is believed to be looking for a property to buy in London, which will likely allow him to spend more time with his new love.

Last night, the Nationalist MP in question declined to comment on the relationship.

He is not the first politician to fall victim to the Westminster curse, which can see long days in the Chamber followed by late night drinks and dinners with friends, confidantes and strategists destabilise once rock-solid relationships, if not result in outright infidelity.

Western Isles MP Angus MacNeil saw his marriage to his parliamentary secretary Jane break down after he was caught in a hotel room with two teenagers after a dance  an incident he dismissed as post-ceilidh foolishness.

Mr MacNeil, from the Isle of Barra, worked as a journalist and a teacher before entering politics. He was later caught in a tangled love triangle with a woman who was also seeing another married Nationalist MP.

His mistress was journalist Serena Cowdy, who also began a relationship with former SNP deputy leader Stewart Hosie at the same time.

However, Mr MacNeil was dumped by Ms Cowdy after she admitted to being in love with Mr Hosie. She even bragged to friends about their nights of passion and described Nationalist MPs as the sexy Mujahideen of British politics.

Meanwhile, at the end of last year it was revealed two SNP politicians were caught having a torrid affair during lockdown after intimate text messages were uncovered on a mobile phone.

The couples secret relationship is said to have carried on during the pandemic in 2020, when the SNP forced the rest of the country to stay at home under tough lockdown restrictions.

One devastated spouse said the clandestine trysts had wrecked his marriage.
A noose belonging to the man dubbed Britains last hangman is expected to spark huge interest from collectors of the macabre at auction.

The short section of Harry Allens rope with a small loop at one end is part of an archive relating to the late state executioner  six decades after the last judicial execution in Britain.

The lot is included in McTears Cabinet of Curiosities sale, which will take place on February 6 in Glasgow.

McTears specialist James Bruce said: The various curios often tell fascinating tales of important periods or events in history, and nowhere is that better illustrated than this lot in our sale.

The range of objects contained in the Harry Allen and [fellow hangman] Syd Dernley archive paint an incredibly detailed, if macabre, picture of the period leading to the abolition of capital punishment in the UK in the 1960s.

A section of rope belonging to Britain's last hangman Harry Allen

There has always been a fascination among bidders for curios associated with this period and, despite the grim nature of the subject matter, I have no doubt that there will be considerable interest in the archive.

As well as the section of rope, some of Allens clothing, photographs, books, interview cassettes and handwritten letters from his wife Doris will go under the hammer as part of the lot, which is expected to fetch up to 200.

Allen was chief executioner at 41 executions and assistant at 53 others from 1941 to 1964, before the death penalty was abolished.

Among them were the last three executions to take place in Scotland, including that on July 11, 1958, of serial killer Peter Manuel.

Manuel was convicted at the High Court in Glasgow of murdering seven people between 1956 and 1958, and was suspected of more killings.

The 31-year-old so-called Beast of Birkenshaws last words to Allen as he was led to his death at HMP Barlinnie were turn the radio up and I will go quietly.

Allen also performed the last execution at Barlinnie on December 22, 1960, when Anthony Miller went to the gallows for the murder of John Cremin in Glasgow.

The 19-year-old apprentice cabinet maker was also the last teenager to be executed in the UK.

Henry Burnett, 21, was the last man to hang in Scotland, after he shot dead a love rival in Aberdeen.

Again, it was Allen who operated the lever that opened the trapdoor on August 15, 1963, this time at Craiginches Prison in Aberdeen.

Allen was also assistant executioner in the case of Derek Bentley, 19, hanged after a policeman was shot dead during an attempted burglary in London in 1953.

Executioner Harry Allen officiated execussions between 1941 and 1964

Serial killer Peter Manuel who was executed following a killing spree

Although Bentley did not pull the trigger, he was present at the scene.

Bentley is said to have called out Let him have it to his 16-year-old accomplice Christopher Craig, who was too young to face the noose.

The ambiguous phrase became the title of a 1991 film starring Christopher Eccleston as Bentley, whose conviction was overturned in 1998.

Allen also took charge of one of the two last judicial executions in Britain, when he hanged Gwynne Owen Evans for murder, at Manchesters Strangeways Prison on August 13, 1964.

Allen, who was paid 15 for each execution, would meet every condemned prisoner and record their age, weight and height to calculate the length of the rope that he would need.

The Murder (Abolition of Death Penalty) Act 1965, suspended capital punishment in Britain and it was finally abolished in 1969.

The death penalty remained for the crime of treason, but no further executions took place.

The last working gallows, at Londons Wandsworth Prison, were dismantled when capital punishment for treason was abolished in 1998.

Allen, who died in 1992, once said: I never felt a moments remorse and always slept peacefully on the nights before and after a hanging.

The archive, which also relates to another hangman, Syd Dernley, is among 116 unusual lots to be auctioned.

They include rare fossils and shells, taxidermy, maps, and objects from ancient Rome and Egypt.
The widow of reggae legend Bob Marley praised Prince Harry's rebellious spirit and described him as 'fearless' after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex waded into a political firestorm by cosying up to Jamaica's anti-royalist prime minister at the premiere of a new biopic about her husband.

MailOnline can reveal the Duke made a beeline for Rita Marley, 77, who is in poor health and in a wheelchair, and gallantly kissed her hand shortly before the 'One Love' film began.

Her daughter Stephanie, 49, said: 'She (my mother) is fond of Harry and loves his spirit as well as his rebellion against the status quo.

'She likes that he seems fearless and stands up for what he believes is right.'

The Sussexes were criticized for posing on the red carpet alongside PM Andrew Holness who was accused of 'ambushing' Prince William and wife Kate during a state visit in 2022 when he told them his country would be 'moving on' from the British monarchy.

Prince Harry meeting Rita Marley at the premiere of Bob Marley: One Love at the Carib 5 Theatre on Tuesday in Kingston, Jamaica

Harry and Meghan at One Love premiere in Kingston, Jamaica with Marlene Malahoo Forte, Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs of Jamaica

Bob Marley and wife Rita Marley at The Daisy In Beverly Hills, California, on July 26, 1978

The former British colony gained independence in 1962 but retained the King as head of state, something Mr Holness has vowed to end by 2025.

Mrs. Marley first met Harry during his visit to Jamaica for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2012 and the pair have stayed in regular touch with the duke sending her 'personal gifts'.

It's understood only a handful of high-ranking Jamaican officials were aware of the trip which was paid for by film studio Paramount Pictures.

The night before last Tuesday's premiere, sources on the island said the Sussexes spent the night at the five-star Half Moon resort in Montego Bay, where four-bedroom villas are $4,300-a-night.

The Mail has been told Harry and Meghan stayed in the upscale 'Eclipse' section of the property which has its own private beach, swimming cove and security, making it exclusive even within the opulent resort.

Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle made a surprise appearance at the world premiere of Bob Marley: One Love on Tuesday in Kingston, Jamaica

Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle made a surprise appearance at the world premiere of Bob Marley: One Love on Tuesday in Kingston, Jamaica

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attend the Premiere of Bob Marley: One Love at the Carib 5 Theatre in Kingston, Jamaica

Previous guests have included the Kennedy family and royals including King Charles and the late Queen.

From there the group moved to Kingston where, on Tuesday daytime, they enjoyed a private tour of the Bob Marley museum.

Bob Marley Group lawyer Lecia-Gaye Taylor said the group spent an hour inside the exhibition.

'It was not Harry's first time here and they definitely enjoyed it,' she said.

The tour was conducted by one of the longest-serving guides at the museum, Ricky Chaplin, who has a role in the movie playing Marley's spiritual guide, Mortimer Planno.

After Tuesday's premiere, Harry and Meghan joined 60 revellers at an 'after party' at the five-star Terra Nova hotel in Kingston.

Sources say the Sussexes were in 'high spirits' and appeared relaxed as they enjoyed cocktails at the bar which was closed to other guests.

The Sussexes had flown nearly 2,500 miles from their home in Montecito to Montego Bay last Sunday aboard a private Gulfstream IV jet chartered by the film company last weekend.

Paramount CEO Brian Robbins and his fashion designer wife Tracy are friends of the couple and own a $17 million weekend home in Montecito a stone's throw from the Sussexes' 16-bathroom mansion.

Mr Robbins, a former child star, also owns a $25 million home in Beverly Hills and is considered one of Hollywood's most powerful men.

A source said: 'Brian bought his first house in Montecito from Ellen DeGeneres who is close to Harry and Meghan. Montecito is a small town and everyone knows each other. Tracy is a doll, a wonderful woman who is down-to-earth despite having so much wealth and privilege. She's incredibly discreet.'

Ironically, Paramount owns the Comedy Central channel which aired the brutal South Park episode which mocked Harry and Meghan for their 'worldwide privacy tour.'

A clip showing the Duke and Duchess of Sussex taking their seats at the premiere of the Bob Marley: One Love biopic surfaced. The clip appears to show Harry, 39, looking slightly downcast as he makes his way to his seat, following his wife

On Wednesday they flew home to California aboard a Bombardier BD-700 private jet belonging to Paramount.

The couple's 'closeness' to Paramount head Mr Robbins coupled with Harry's appearance at last week's 'Living Legends of Aviation' awards alongside Amazon boss Jeff Bezos has prompted speculation they may be seeking other outlets for when their $100 deal with Netflix runs out next year.

A source said: 'It's no coincidence that Prince Harry has been with two of Hollywood's major power brokers within the past two weeks.

'Everyone knows the Netflix deal is coming to an end and Harry and Meghan have big bills to pay.

'They knew this trip to Jamaica would play well with the audience they are trying to appeal to which is young and diverse.

'I don't think they give a damn what the Brits think.

'This is all about building their brand.'

A high-ranking Democratic Party source in the US said the optics of this week's visit would be good for Meghan who is known to have political ambitions.

'It's election year and Meghan will be actively involved in the anti-Trump campaign.

'This week made her look cool and relevant.'

The Sussexes have warm ties to Jamaica in stark contrast to the Prince and Princess of Wales who were accused of looking 'colonial' during their state visit in 2022 when they drove past locals in an open-topped Land Rover and shook hands with well-wishers through a metal fence.

When asked why he chose to attend Tuesday's premiere, Harry replied: 'I had to be here.'

Ex-Suits actress Meghan enjoyed childhood holidays in Jamaica and wed first husband Trevor Engelson on the island in 2011.

Prince Harry and Bob Marley's son Ziggy Marley at the premiere of Bob Marley: One Love

Her estranged father Thomas told the MoS how he proudly walked her down the aisle at the beach wedding but was later shocked when guests were given burlap bags filled with marijuana as party favours.

While this week's visit caused consternation in the UK - renewing calls for the Sussexes to be stripped of their royal titles - in Jamaica it served to focus attention on next year's referendum which will include a vote on a demand for reparations for Britain's involvement in the slave trade.

A spokeswoman for PM Mr. Holness said: 'Jamaica is in the midst of a constitutional reform process. We will allow that to take its course.'

Dr. Rosalea Hamilton, an activist who organised protests during William and Kate's 2022 visit, said Harry and Meghan were a sideshow from the deeper issues.

She said: 'For me their presence and being part of this conversation is a distraction to the core issues we're confronting such as what exactly will these reforms look like. That's the focus.'

Olivia Grange, Jamaica's Culture Minister, said it 'spoke volumes' about Harry and Meghan's love for the country that they came such a long way to attend the 'One Love' premiere.

Asked why they got a warmer reception than William and Kate, Ms Grange said that the answer was simple: 'Jamaicans love them.'
The deputy prime minister of The Bahamas has praised 2023 as a 'banner year for tourism' after the US embassy advised Americans visiting the country to be cautious.

Chester Cooper spoke at an event in Tallahassee, Florida organized by the Florida Federation of Alpha Chapters in which he promoted The Bahamas to the fraternity group.

'The year 2023 was a banner year in tourism that brought us an unprecedented 8 million plus in visitor arrivals,' he proudly stated on Thursday.

It came just a day after the US Embassy in Nassau issued a security and advisory warning to tourists about the rising levels of gang violence and homicides.

There have been 18 murders reported in the country in January alone, with retaliatory gang violence being the primary motive.

He spoke at an event in Tallahassee, Florida organized by the Florida Federation of Alpha Chapters in which he promoted The Bahamas to the fraternity group

The deputy prime minister of The Bahamas Chester Cooper has praised 2023 as a 'banner year for tourism' after the US embassy advised Americans visiting the country to be cautious

Deputy prime minister Cooper addressed the fraternity group at the Florida Historic Capitol Museum.

He was promoting The Bahamas as a destination for business meetings and conferences which he said makes up 40 percent of all tourism to the country.

It enjoyed a 25 percent rise in this type of tourism compared to pre-pandemic levels and is aiming to become the leading destination in the Caribbean.

But the US embassy issued a warning to American travelers about the risks in visiting The Bahamas.

A spike in violent crime, including burglaries, armed robberies and sexual assaults has been recorded in both tourist and non-tourist areas since the beginning of 2024.

Americans have been advised to exercise extreme caution and remain vigilant when staying at short-term vacation rental properties.

'Murders have occurred at all hours including in broad daylight on the streets,' the embassy wrote in a release.

But the US embassy issued a warning to American travelers about the risks in visiting The Bahamas

Officials have also asked tourists to not physically resist any robbery attempt and to not answer the front door at any hotel/residence for unknown people.

The State Department has placed the Bahamas on its 'Exercise Increased Caution' warning list and even asked people to stay from water tours and sports.

'Activities involving commercial recreational watercraft, including water tours, are not consistently regulated.

'Watercraft may be poorly maintained, and some operators may not have safety certifications. Always review and heed local weather and marine alerts before engaging in water-based activities.

'Never swim alone, regardless of your age or level of swimming skills. Keep within your fitness and swimming capabilities.

A spike in violent crime, including burglaries, armed robberies and sexual assaults has been recorded in both tourist and non-tourist areas since the beginning of 2024

'Be mindful of sharks when swimming and engaging in water activities, as there have been recent fatal and non-fatal incidents involving sharks.'

Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis commented on the advisory: 'We will not violate anyone's civil liberties, but you are likely to be impacted by more roadblocks and unannounced police action.

'This may make you late for your appointments, or delay plans you have, but this is a small price to pay for the collective benefit of having our streets made safer, and our lives less blighted by murder and other violent crimes.'

According to local news, Davis has already introduced a crime plan to the public in response to the soaring murder rate this month.


Greta Thunberg joined Extinction Rebellion this weekend to protest against plans to expand a British airport known amongst the stars for its hosting of private jets.

The climate activist marched on Saturday against the plans submitted by Farnborough Airport Ltd to Rushmoor Borough Council to increase the number of flights from 50,000 to 70,000 a year.

The protestors walked from Farnborough town centre in Hampshire to Farnborough Airport - setting off pink smoke flares and waving banners - while calling for a total ban on private jets, which they argue are up to 30 times more polluting than passenger airliners.

It came after last October the 20-year-old was arrested at a rally outside the InterContinental Hotel in Park Lane, London which was hosting a major meeting of oil executives, along with 26 others.

Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg takes part in a demonstration by the Extinction Rebellion (XR) climate change group, as they protest against plans to expand Farnborough Airport

Last October the 20-year-old was arrested at a rally outside the InterContinental Hotel in Park Lane, London

Miss Thunberg marches alongside protestors against the expansion of Farnborough Airport, as they demand a ban on private jets,

The protesters marched from Farnborough town centre in Hampshire to Farnborough Airport

Miss Thunberg said: 'The fact that using private jets is both legally and socially allowed today in an escalating climate emergency is completely detached from reality.

READ MORE: Grinning Greta Thunberg is forced to make a run for it as she is mobbed outside court after denying public order offence Advertisement

'There are few examples that show as clearly how the rich elite is sacrificing present and future living conditions on this planet so they can maintain their extreme and violent lifestyles.'

The airport plans would also see an increase in non-weekday aircraft movements from 8,900 to 18,900 per year and allow heavier aircraft to use the airport if approved.

Farnborough Airport said its environmental footprint is 'a fraction that of a traditional commercial airport', yet it serves as one of the largest employment sites in the region.

Rushmoor Borough Council is set to consider the plans in March.

Todd Smith, former airline pilot and Extinction Rebellion spokesperson said: 'Flying is the fastest way to fry the planet and private jets are the most polluting way to fly.

'Surely it's a no-brainer to ban private jets and stop expanding these luxury airports in the midst of a climate crisis? Survey after survey, as well as several citizens' assemblies, have shown this would be very popular and has widespread support from the general public.

'For most people, life has become more difficult. The cost of heating our homes, buying food and paying our bills has increased massively. So imagine looking out our windows to see yet more private jets flying billionaires around.

'Is this a fair society that we live in, or is there one set of rules for the majority, and another for the elites?'

The airport plans would also see an increase in non-weekday aircraft movements from 8,900 to 18,900 per year

Rushmoor Borough Council will consider the planning application in March

Extinction Rebellion's Red Rebels perform during a protest against plans to increase private jet flights

Members of Extinction Rebellion Red Rebel Brigade pose during a protest against the extension of the Farnborough Airport

Miss Thunberg said: 'The fact that using private jets is both legally and socially allowed today in an escalating climate emergency is completely detached from reality'

Finlay Asher, aerospace engineer and member of the aviation workers group Safe Landing, added: 'As aviation workers, we understand there's a choice to be made about how we use our limited planetary resources.

'If we expand private jet flights, then this will consume a large slice of the pie, and leave nothing for anybody else.

'However, there is a positive way forward for society and for our industry: provide genuinely sustainable clean transport for the masses instead, rather than continuing to expand super-polluting private jet airports which cater only to a tiny minority of ultra-wealthy individuals.'

Sarah Hart, 42, an office assistant from Farnborough, said: 'As a local resident and a mum of two I am utterly appalled at the airport's plan to expand when we should be banning private flying completely.

'We need to be taking drastic steps to ensure a liveable world for all our children, not increasing our use in fossil fuels.'

Miss Thunberg said: 'There are few examples that show as clearly how the rich elite is sacrificing present and future living conditions on this planet so they can maintain their extreme and violent lifestyles'

Local residents, Extinction Rebellion activists and climate change campaigners demonstrate outside Farnborough Airport to protest against plans to increase private jet flights

Todd Smith, former airline pilot and Extinction Rebellion spokesperson said: 'Flying is the fastest way to fry the planet and private jets are the most polluting way to fly'

A protestor. Farnborough Airport is one of the largest employment sites in the region

A spokesperson for Farnborough Airport said: 'Farnborough Airport is an important gateway for business aviation connectivity with the majority of flights being operated for business and corporate travel purposes.

'The airport's environmental footprint is a fraction that of a traditional commercial airport, yet it serves as one of the largest employment sites in the region.

'We recognise the importance of continually reducing our environmental impact and we are only one of a small number of UK airports to have achieved Level 4+ under the Airport Carbon Accreditation programme.'
The man suspected of opening checking accounts in Menomonie using a fake driver's license and cashing fake checks was arrested Thursday in Black River Falls, according to the Wisconsin Department of Justice.

Authorities say 31-year-old Michael James Anderson used a fake Georgia driver's license to open checking accounts at Dairy State Bank and Citizen's Bank on Jan. 9 in Menomonie. Three days later, he cashed fake checks at Citizens State Bank branches in Hudson, Roberts, Woodville and Elmwood totaling over $11,000. He also cashed fake checks at Dairy State banks located in Menomonie and Downsville totaling over $4,000.

On Thursday, Anderson again attempted to cash a fake check, this time at a bank in Black River Falls. He was taken into custody by the Black River Falls Police Department.
A hoax caller claimed to have shot his girlfriend and threatened to harm himself at the home of presidential hopeful Nikki Haley in a terrifying 'swatting' incident.

Authorities descended on the the former UN ambassador's South Carolina home last month, before realizing the emergency was fake.

The hoax against Haley, who is challenging frontrunner Trump for the Republican presidential nomination, occurred on December 30 in the town of Kiawah Island, an affluent, gated community of around 2,000 people.

An unknown person called 911 and 'claimed to have shot his girlfriend and threatened to harm himself while at the residence of Nikki Haley,' Craig Harris, Kiawah Island director of public safety, told town officials.

'It was determined to be a hoax. Nikki Haley is not on the island and her son is with her.'

A hoax caller claimed to have shot his girlfriend and threatened to harm himself at the home of presidential hopeful Nikki Haley in a terrifying swatting incident

The caller claimed to be at Haley's South Carolina home in Kiawah Island when he dialed 911

Emergency services descended on the $2.4 million residence before realizing it was a hoax

Haley's campaign declined to comment. She and her husband bought the $2.4 million Kiawah Island residence in October 2019, local property records indicate.

The previously unreported 'swatting' incident is among a wave of violent threats, bomb scares and other acts of intimidation against government officials, members of the judiciary and election administrators since the 2020 election that have alarmed law enforcement ahead of this years U.S. presidential contest.

Swatting cases have surged over the past two months, targeting both allies and rivals of former President Donald Trump as he campaigns to return to the White House.

The targets include figures who have publicly opposed Trump, such as Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, a Democrat who barred him from her states primary ballot.

Judges and at least one prosecutor handling cases against Trump have been targeted. But Trump backers such as U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene have also faced swatting attempts.

Swatting is the filing of false reports to the police to set off a potentially dangerous response by officers.

Law enforcement experts see it as a form of intimidation or harassment that is increasingly being used to target political figures and officials involved in the civil and criminal cases against Trump.

In the email, Harris said he was in contact with South Carolinas state police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the head of Haleys security team. 'This incident is being investigated by all involved,' he wrote.

The former UN ambassador was not home at the time and neither was her son, officials said

Nikki Haley, left, hugs her son Nalin Haley at a New Hampshire primary night rally, in Concord, N.H., Tuesday January 23, 2024

The email did not mention a suspect or potential motive. In a separate email obtained by Reuters, an FBI official in South Carolina told Harris and other law enforcement officials that federal agents were tracking the hoax call and intended to open a 'threat assessment' into the matter.

Harris, the FBI and the state police had no immediate comment on the incident. Law enforcement agencies have not publicly identified a suspect in the Haley case or in other high-profile swatting cases.

Trump, famed for his incendiary rhetoric, has expressed fury at Haley in recent weeks. She has lost the first two Republican nominating contests, in Iowa and New Hampshire, but has refused to drop out of the race.

Haley has ramped up her criticism of Trump, suggesting hes too old to be president again and calling him 'totally unhinged.'

At least 27 swatting incidents have been documented against politicians, prosecutors, election officials and judges since November 2023, ranging from Georgia Republican state officials to hoaxes this month against Democrat Joe Bidens residence at the White House.

Some of the calls bear striking similarities. In two cases, a person identifying himself as 'Jamal' called police to say he had killed his wife.

One such incident targeted the Florida home of Republican U.S. Senator Rick Scott on December 27, weeks after he endorsed Trump, according to records from the Naples Police Department.

'I caught my wife sleeping with another dude so I took my AR-15, and I shot her in the head three times,' the caller said, referring to a popular semi-automatic rifle. Officers checked Scotts home and concluded the call was a hoax. Scott wasnt home at the time of the call.

Craig Harris, Kiawah Island director of public safety, told town officials the man did not identify himself

'Jamals voice sounded as if it was computer generated/artificial,' wrote a Naples Police Department official in the incident report.

A caller identifying himself as 'Jamal' also targeted Georgia Republican state senator John Albers on December 26, according to an incident report from the Roswell Police Department. In that case, the caller said he had shot his wife and demanded $10,000 or he would shoot himself, too.

In both cases, the callers were male and spoke with a similar accent, according to a Reuters analysis of the audio recordings.

A Jan. 7 call targeting Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, a strong Trump supporter, also had some similarities.

The caller told police he was phoning from the officials address in the state capital, said he had shot his wife and added 'he was going to kill himself and hung up on the operator,' according to an incident report by the Jefferson City Police Department.

Ashcroft and his wife and children were home at the time, according to a statement from the Missouri Secretary of State.

Scott, Albers and Ashcroft did not respond to requests for comment.

Gabriel Sterling, a top official in the Georgia secretary of states office, said when someone called 911 on Jan. 11 to falsely report a shooting at his Atlanta suburban home, 14 police cars, a fire truck and an ambulance raced to his house.

Marjorie Taylor Greene was among 27 swatting incidences documented against politicians, prosecutors, election officials and judges since November 2023

Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) was targeted in a swatting incident shortly after endorsing Donald Trump

'Now I bolt my doors every night,' said Sterling, a Republican who faced a torrent of threats for denouncing Trumps false voter-fraud claims after the 2020 election. 'Thats the reality Im living in now,' he said in an interview.

Similar scare tactics have been directed in recent weeks at judges and prosecutors involved in cases against Trump.

In the early morning hours of Jan. 11, police in Nassau County, New York, received a report of a bomb at the home of Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron, who is presiding over the civil fraud trial of Trump and his family real estate business.

Police officers, including a bomb squad, were dispatched to the judges home in the upscale suburb of Great Neck, Long Island, at 5:30 a.m., according to the Nassau County Police Department.

But no explosive device was found and the call was determined to be a false report. A spokesman for the New York court system declined to comment on the incident.

Just days earlier, police in Washington, D.C., responded to a false report of a shooting at the home of U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is hearing the criminal case charging Trump with attempting to overturn his 2020 election defeat.

Late in the evening on Jan. 7, police were dispatched to the home, where an unidentified woman advised them that she was uninjured and no one else was in the home, according to an incident report reviewed by Reuters.

Police cleared the home and found no explosive device. The U.S. Marshals Service, which protects federal judges and prosecutors, did respond to a request for comment on the incident. Other security scares have involved hoax bomb attacks.

Police also received a threat of a bomb at the home of Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron who presided over the Trump Organization civil fraud trial in New York

The swatting wave coincides with the most sustained spate of political violence in the United States since the 1970s. There have been at least 232 politically motivated acts of violence since Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021

Over two days in early January, bomb threats were sent to state capitals and courthouses in multiple states, according to news reports and state officials, including Minnesota, Arkansas, Maine, Hawaii, Montana and New Hampshire.

In Minnesota, state courts received bomb threats by email, but the threats were deemed false and did not block court proceedings, court officials told Reuters. The FBI said it was investigating the threats.

In a statement issued previously on the surge in swatting incidents, the FBI said people making the false calls were using tactics such as caller-ID spoofing technology 'to make it appear that the emergency call is coming from the victims phone.'

The calls 'are dangerous to first responders and to the victims,' often involving fake reports that hostages have been taken or bombs are about to go off, the FBI said.

'The community is placed in danger as responders rush to the scene, taking them away from real emergencies, and the officers are placed in danger as unsuspecting residents may try to defend themselves.'

The recent swatting incidents follow a surge of violent threats against U.S. election workers after the 2020 election, inspired by Trumps false stolen-election claims.

Reuters documented more than 1,000 intimidating messages between the 2020 election through 2021 in a series of stories that chronicled the campaign of fear against election administrators in more than a dozen battleground states.

A report published on Thursday by New York University's Brennan Center for Justice said the intimidation continued well into last year. In its survey of state legislators completed in October 2023, 43 percent reported being threatened over the past three years.

Selena Gomez (pictured), Tom Cruise, Miley Cyrus, and Ashton Kutcher are among the celebrity victims of swatting

The swatting wave coincides with the most sustained spate of political violence in the United States since the 1970s. That report documented at least 232 politically motivated acts of violence since Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.

The events ranged from riots to brawls at political demonstrations to beatings and murders.

But it is not just elected officials, Selena Gomez, Tom Cruise, Miley Cyrus, Ashton Kutcher, and other celebrities have been targeted in swatting hits that stretch back to the start of the 2010s.
The armed terror wing of Hamas has warned Israel's prime minister that he will be responsible for the deaths of captives taken hostage on October 7 if the country continues to bomb Gaza.

A chilling image posted on the Telegram feed of the Al-Qassam Brigades  as the armed wing of Hamas is officially known  showed a mocked-up image of people looking at a TV screen learning that hostages had been killed in airstrikes.

The mock-up TV screen, styled like a breaking news alert, bears the message: 'Al-Qassam Brigades: "We announce the killing of all the prisoners we had after they were bombed by Zionist warplanes".'

The image, written in Arabic and Hebrew, was captioned: 'If Netanyahu continues the war, be prepared for this news.'

Hamas is believed to still hold more than 100 captives after releasing 105 during the short-lived ceasefire last year in exchange for Palestinian prisoners; but yet more of those in its captivity are believed to have been killed.

The message as posted to the Telegram of the Al-Qassam Brigades, the official name for the armed terror wing of Hamas

Hamas claims that Israel's ongoing bombing campaign will lead to the deaths of the Israeli captives taken hostage on October 7

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has resisted calls to scale down the country's bombardment of Gaza in its war against Hamas

A fireball erupts from a missile strike in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza, earlier this month. Israel's bombardment of Gaza is believed to have killed over 26,000 people

The UK will temporarily halt funding to the UN relief agency after several of its employees were accused of being involved in the October 7 attacks on Israel

Pictured: Palestinians fleeing Khan Younis move towards Rafah amid the ongoing conflict

Pictured: Palestinians move past Israeli tanks after residents of Khan Younis were told to leave their homes

Hamas has blamed Israel for some of the killings, including the recent deaths of Yossi Sharabi and Itay Svirsky. News of their fate was announced in a video narrated by another Israeli hostage, Noa Argamani, earlier this month.

Israel denies responsibility for their deaths, but has admitted that it was carrying out strikes on a building close to where they were being held.

The threat to hostages comes after the Foreign Office announced it would halt future funding of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

The aid agency is a critical source of support for people in Gaza, but has faced accusations from Israel that some of its staff were involved in the October 7 attacks.

Israel has claimed that some of the aid agency's employees actively took part in Hamas' incursion into Israel three months ago, which killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and saw militants take around 250 people hostage.

The UK has joined the US, Australia and Canada in pausing funding; the UNRWA says it was investigating and had already terminated the employment of several people.

Announcing the investigation, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said on Friday that he had decided to terminate the contracts of some staff members to protect the agency's ability to deliver humanitarian assistance.

Lazzarini did not disclose the number of employees allegedly involved in the attacks, nor the nature of their alleged involvement.

He said, however, that 'any UNRWA employee who was involved in acts of terror' would be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution.

A statement from the Foreign Office said it was 'appalled' by the allegations but remained 'committed' to getting humanitarian aid into Gaza.

UNRWA has denied past claims by Israel; UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq told reporters earlier: 'We are not responding to rhetoric.'

But the US Department of State said it was 'extremely troubled' by the claims and called for 'complete accountability' for those involved in the attacks.

Speaking to the BBC, the organisation's former chief spokesperson Christopher Gunness said that the suspension of aid to UNRWA was 'disproportionate'.

He warned that it would only lead to further suffering in Gaza, and that the UNWRA had demonstrated its commitment to peace by sacking those at the centre of the allegations.

Mr Gunness said: 'One million displaced people are currently taking refuge in and around UNRWA buildings. They are the ones who will suffer as a result of this decision'

'The curtailing of UNRWA services will also destabilise the region at a time when Western governments are trying to contain a regional conflagration.'

UNRWA commissioner-general Philippe Lazzarini (pictured) said a number of employees had been let go following an investigation into claims they were involved in terrorist acts

The UNRWA is believed to support around two thirds of Gaza's 2.3million population (workers seen here preparing to send aid to Gaza in October)

Palestinians survey the damage to a building in Rafah, in the southern Gaza strip, on January 24

A 13-year-old boy named Qasim sells roses to locals and journalists in a refugee camp set up in Rafah

Israelis gather to plant trees in memory of some of the victims of the October 7 attacks who died at the Nova music festival

UNRWA was set up to help refugees of the 1948 war at Israel's founding and provides education, health and aid services to Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon.

It helps about two thirds of Gaza's 2.3million population and has played a pivotal aid role during the war that Israel launched to eliminate Hamas after the Oct. 7 attacks.

It has repeatedly warned that its ability to provide relief to the people of Gaza is collapsing.

Mr Netanyahu has resisted repeated calls to scale back Israel's bombardment of Gaza, which Palestinian health authorities say has killed over 26,000 people, two thirds of which are thought to be women and children.

His commitment to continuing the war against Hamas was unbroken even following a ruling by the International Court of Justice that called on Israel to do more to minimise civilian casualties.

The ICJ ruling came following an appeal by South Africa to deem the country's bombardment of Gaza an act of genocide and for it to order a ceasefire. Israel denies that it is committing genocide.

In a response to the ICJ ruling on Friday, Mr Netanyahu said: 'Israel's commitment to international law is unwavering. Equally unwavering is our sacred commitment to continue to defend our country and defend our people.

'Like every country, Israel has an inherent right to defend itself. The vile attempt to deny Israel this fundamental right is blatant discrimination against the Jewish state.'

There is growing dissent towards Netanyahu from both the families of some of the hostages held by Hamas, who believe the prime minister has not done enough to secure their release, and the Israeli public.

Thousands gathered in Tel Aviv earlier this month to call for him to resign.

An opinion poll carried out by the Israel Democracy Institute found the majority of Israelis still support military action, but just 15 per cent want Netanyahu to stay in office after the war in Gaza ends.
Kate Middleton's 'black sheep' uncle Gary Goldsmith could 'embarrass' the royal family with his views on Harry and Meghan after signing up for Celebrity Big Brother, experts have warned.

The outspoken businessman, 58, brother of Kate's mother Carole, is reported to have inked a meaty deal with bosses for the return of the celebrity edition of the series after a six-year absence.

It comes at a challenging time for the royals, as Kate continues to recover from her abdominal surgery at The London Clinic and King Charles remains in the same hospital for a second day after undergoing a procedure for an enlarged prostate.

Mr Goldsmith attempted to gain a spot on I'm A Celebrity last year, but was turned down over concerns it could embarrass William and Kate.

He previously spoke out against Harry and Meghan after the release of Spare and is known for his 'outspoken' opinions on the couple.

Gary Goldsmith. The outspoken businessman, 58, is reported to have inked a meaty deal with bosses for the return of the celebrity edition of the series after a six-year absence (File Photo)

It comes at a challenging time for the royals, as Kate continues to recover from her abdominal surgery at The London Clinic and King Charles remains in the same hospital for a second day after undergoing a procedure for an enlarged prostate (File Photo)

Royal experts have now criticised the decision to welcome him into the Celebrity Big Brother house  calling the move 'embarrassing' and possibly 'dangerous' to the royal family during a testing period.

Kate, 42, is not expected to carry out official engagements until after Easter, with the Prince of Wales clearing his diary of official duties for the time being.

Angela Levin told The Sun: 'I think it's cringe-making, very embarrassing, the trouble is he doesn't like Harry and Meghan at all, some of this comments will fall onto Catherine and she's had a lot against her, she's not well, she's in hospital.

'I think when you come out of an operation you're quite vulnerable and this could upset her enormously. In principle people who don't like her could say she encouraged him to do it, but she would have done nothing of the kind.

'It's very embarrassing. It's very hard being a royal, and I don't know if this is a good idea.'

Show insiders say producers are delighted to have secured Mr Goldsmith as a contestant because of his links to the royal family  and because of his penchant for saying what he thinks, particularly about Kate's brother-in-law, Prince Harry.

Mr Goldsmith attempted to gain a spot on I'm A Celebrity last year, but was turned down over concerns it could embarrass William and Kate (File Photo)

CBB, which is expected to air in March, is also reportedly lining up contestants such as Dragons' Den entrepreneur Levi Roots and music manager Louis Walsh.

ITV has taken the reins of Big Brother following a stint at Channel 5, which axed the programme in 2018 after taking it from Channel 4, which itself had binned the format in 2010.

Royal biographer Richard Fitzwilliams agreed that the news would be the 'last thing' Kate needs while she is in hospital and noted that he doesn't think the Middletons will be 'particularly delighted'.

Mr Fitzwilliams believes Mr Goldsmith would not be popular on the show, and adds that he will probably be a 'big yawn'.

ITV bosses have reportedly been keeping tabs on Mr Goldsmith  who, writing for the Mail a year ago, slammed Harry's autobiography Spare as 'petulant, self-serving...fluff'.

His I'm A Celeb audition ended in failure, allegedly because bosses were worried about his potential to embarrass the royal family, but CBB chiefs believe his brusque, shoot-from-the-hip style of straight-talking will fit the format of TV's most infamous house.

Kate, 42, is not expected to carry out official engagements until after Easter, with the Prince of Wales clearing his diary of official duties for the time being (File Photo)

A source told The Sun: 'The CBB team love him because of his link to Kate and the fact that hes confident and loud and wont hold back.

'He's made it clear he will talk about everything and anything, and hes pretty outspoken when it comes to Harry and Meghan. He could be TV gold and ITV knows it. The deal he signed is for good money.'

Mr Goldsmith was a guest at William and Kate's wedding in 2011. He made his living building an IT recruitment business, but has been caught up in scandals including being pictured with drugs in Ibiza.

Since then he has attacked what he sees as insults to his family, including his niece and William, including episodes of The Crown, royal biographer Omid Scobie's book Endgame and Harry's memoir Spare.

Buckingham Palace has been contacted for comment.
A migrant family with two young children have camped in the freezing cold outside the New York City offices of billionaire George Soros, 93, who poured at least $47 million into backing loose immigration policies and open borders.

Shocking footage captures the woman and two young children sitting on the busy sidewalk outside the headquarters of the Open Society Foundation, a nonprofit organization established by far-left billionaire Soros in Midtown Manhattan.

Consultant Jason Curtis Anderson, who shared the video on X, formerly Twitter, stated that the mother, an Asian migrant, has been there with her two babies for more than a week.

Anderson, who works nearby, wrote alongside the video: 'An Asian immigrant and her two small children currently live on the sidewalk in front of the NYC headquarters of Open Society Foundation.'

The family's presence on the streets of Manhattan came as city officials have struggled to accommodate migrants surging from the U.S.-Mexico border, with thousands sleeping in tents outside the city's largest migrant shelter.

A migrant family with two young children has camped in the freezing cold outside the New York City offices of billionaire George Soros, 93, who poured at least $47 million into backing loose immigration policies and open borders

Shocking footage captures the mother and two young children sitting on the busy sidewalk outside the headquarters of the Open Society Foundation, a nonprofit organization established by far-left billionaire Soros in Midtown Manhattan

Soros has also thrown millions of dollars behind liberal district attorneys - either with outright donations or funneled through political action committees - effectively buying elections

In the video, the mother clutches her young baby, seated on layers of blankets amid scattered toys and candy wrappers.

An older girl hovers over the woman and the baby. The trio remain at a standstill, without lifting their eyes, as Anderson and other people pass by

Anderson told the New York Post that it is 'sickening' to see the organization not offering any help, even though the family has camped for a week in the biting winter cold.

He said: 'Soros has enough money to take care of our entire homeless budget. But instead of spending money on housing and doing the things [they] need, he's only spending money on the advocacy work - but not on housing and services.'

He added: 'They pride themselves on taking care of the homeless and immigrants' rights, but they're letting people literally die on the sidewalk 20 feet from the front door.'

Tom Fitton, a conservative activist and the president of Judicial Watch, said: 'It's not surprising to me that the left doesn't want to deal with the consequences of their policies in a direct way,' he said.

He added: 'It's frankly up to the people who are closer to the street, the regular citizens of New York, who have to deal with the mess has made.'

An Asian immigrant and her two small children currently live on the sidewalk in front of the NYC headquarters of Open Society Foundation, an NGO that has spent billions advocating for the rights of immigrants and open borders. pic.twitter.com/9avpIrgVls  Jason Curtis Anderson (@JCAndersonNYC) January 24, 2024

Records show that Open Society has invested at least $47 million into groups to push loose border policies and immigration reform

In July last year, Open Society Foundations laid off at least 40 percent of its 800-person workforce as its new chairman, Soros' son Alex(left), plans to advocate for more woke causes and support far-left candidates

Records indicate that Open Society has invested at least $47 million in groups advocating for loose border policies and immigration reform.

The group currently controls the majority of assets maintained by the Soros family, but, Bloomberg reports, much of that money has gone to compensation for its employees.

In July last year, Open Society Foundations laid off at least 40 percent of its 800-person workforce as its new chairman, Soros' son Alex, plans to advocate for more woke causes and support far-left candidates.

Soros has also thrown millions of dollars behind liberal district attorneys - either with outright donations or funneled through political action committees - effectively buying elections.

The 92-year-old spent at least $40 million to install as many as 75 prosecutors who support his leftist agenda.

The billionaire's DAs have stripped away bail laws and opted to forgo prosecuting crimes like theft and reckless driving, effectively giving criminals a free pass and leading to the breakdown of law and order across the United States.

As a direct result, crime has skyrocketed in major cities overseen by Soros's DAs. In 2021 under Kim Foxx's reign, Chicago had the most murders it's seen since 1994.

And in Philadelphia, drug use and violent crime has seen a surge since Larry Krasner took office.
Sir Keir Starmer urges voters to 'put their trust in a changed Labour Party'. Plainly, he is trying to claim that the party of Jeremy Corbyn, whose Shadow Cabinet he joined, has ceased to exist and that he leads something very different.

But is it true? Is it trustworthy? Is he trustworthy? Has Sir Keir changed fundamentally since he sat at Jeremy Corbyn's top table? Or has he just learned to look moderate and responsible, as so many Left-wing Labour politicians have done before?

Few questions could matter more, as so many are now considering voting Labour  not because they approve of it, but on the rebound from the Tories. This is always a bad reason to vote for anybody.

Most of us will have about a dozen chances in our lives to influence a General Election's outcome with our votes. We should in all cases take a lot of trouble to know who and what we are voting for  or against.

So let us look at the astonishing behaviour of Edmonton's Labour MP, Kate Osamor. Like many other politicians, Ms Osamor took the chance to help commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD), which fell yesterday. The MP was photographed on Friday signing the Holocaust Educational Trust's (HET) commemoration book in Westminster. Quite proper, you might think.

Shadow Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, Sir Keir Starmer KCB QC, and then-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn (R) at the EU Commission headquarters on March 21, 2019

She followed this with a mail-out to her constituency party members in which she said there was an 'international duty to remember the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust'. Once again, so far, so good. But then, listing the 'more recent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia' to be remembered on HMD, Ms Osamor wrote in the newsletter 'and now Gaza'.

Kate Osamor at the Labour Party Annual Conference

Could she have been surprised at the subsequent fury? Many people criticise and condemn Israel's bombardment of Gaza, including some in Israel itself. But not because it resembles Nazi extermination. It does not. The charge is plainly insulting to a country founded as a refuge from actual genocide.

Karen Pollock, chief executive of the HET, called the words 'a malicious distortion of the truth'. One Jewish member of Ms Osamor's Labour Party went further, saying: 'There is nothing more offensive than equating the murder of six million Jews with the current conflict in Gaza.'

This is wholly understandable. The systematic industrial massacre of Jews by Nazi Germany remains a unique crime. It is the main reason why Jews  and many non-Jews too  came to support a Jewish state. To accuse Jews of such actions is especially nasty and provocative. It is also a display of wilful ignorance of history. Those who say such things need to ask themselves if they think that doing so discourages or encourages anti-Semitism. The answer is pretty obvious.

The modern hard Left's spite against Israel is a very strange thing, given the strong support of socialists for the foundation of the Jewish state in 1948, and the role of the traditional Left in opposing racial bigotry of all kinds. But it is an undoubted fact, as shown by Jeremy Corbyn's foolish past dalliances with Hamas and Hezbollah.

It is very deep in the 21st Century Labour movement, and is a symptom of the state of that movement, which long ago ceased to be the political arm of the British working class and transformed itself into a worryingly radical metropolitan faction packed with crankish zealots.

Kate Osamor's outburst, and her feeble non-apology when challenged ('I apologise for any offence caused') suggest strongly that Labour has not really changed at all.
A couple from Birmingham who were struck down with severe gastric illness while on holiday are taking legal action against their hotel.

Sylvia Jagger and David Hurlston both fell ill during a holiday at the four-star Houda Yasmine Marina resort in Hammamet, Tunisia.

The pair, aged 64 and 63, had booked the holiday via tour operator Love Holidays.

The retired couple from Northfield, Birmingham stayed at the resort between December 8 and 22 last year, as part of celebrations for their first wedding anniversary.

By December 17, both had been struck down with stomach flu.

Sylvia Jagger, 64, and David Hurlston, 63, from Birmingham, became ill while on holiday in Tunisia

The couple suffered gastric illness while staying at the four-star Houda Yasmine Marina resort in Hammamet, Tunisia, last December

Ms Jagger suffers from heart disease in addition to other medical conditions. The couple became concerned as she couldn't keep her medication down because of the symptoms.

On returning to the UK, both Ms Jagger and Mr Hurlston had blood tests with their GP and are awaiting the results.

The couple have now instructed lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate their illness.

The law firm has already been contacted by a further seven clients who fell ill at the same hotel during the same period, although Sylvia and David believe there were scores of other guests who fell ill with gastric symptoms during their stay.

Jatinder Paul, the specialist international serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing the couple, said: 'The first-hand account we have received from Sylvia and David about their illnesses while abroad is very worrying.

'However, what's even more concerning is that other guests at the resort have also contacted us reporting they fell ill during their holiday. All state that they know they were not alone in being ill.

'Sylvia and David and the others we represent have many questions concerning how they fell ill. If during the course of our investigations any issues are identified, it's vital that lessons are learned to prevent others from falling ill in the future.

A person uses a thermometer to assess the temperature of a batch of noodles at the hotel. In the UK, standard practice is for buffet food to be 63C and kept for two hours

Another temperature reading is taken of meat products at the hotel. In the UK, standard practice is for buffet food to be 63C and kept for two hours

'We would be interested in speaking to anyone who may have been impacted by illness at this hotel who would be able to assist with our investigations.'

Ms Jagger and Mr Hurlston say they fell ill with sickness, stomach cramps and diarrhoea, 3 days into their stay.

Retired nurse Ms Jagger says she was able to take steps to look after herself and her husband. They self-medicated with electrolyte powder drinks to put water and salts back into her body. As their illness continued, the couple approached hotel management and then became aware that others had reported falling ill with similar symptoms.

Ms Jagger said: 'This holiday was meant to be a special treat for David and I to mark our anniversary, so we went a bit further than usual and booked a four star hotel, which we thought would secure certain standards. We couldn't have been more wrong.

'The hotel was not in great condition. When we complained about cold or undercooked food, we were directed towards an old rusty microwave that was absolutely filthy and no one was too keen on using that.

'There were ants, flies and cockroaches everywhere and the same utensils were used to cook and hand out food.

'We had two meetings with the hotel and a translator in the foyer. Initially there were around 20 guests there, but the numbers had grown by the second meeting to what looked like 40-odd people. They kept saying it was a virus.

'Another guest who was a chef, bought a thermometer and was testing the temperature of the food.

'We think the least we and others who fell ill at this hotel deserve is answers.

'I've never seen so many people complaining at a hotel at once. I've never felt so ill that's why we feel it's important to get answers.'

Love Holidays has been approached for comment.
Donald Trump's supporters didn't even wait for security to get involved with protesters at his Las Vegas rally on Saturday as they took matters into their own hands and shoved the rowdy attendees from the venue.

The day after the former president was ordered to pay $83.8 million to E. Jean Carroll for defamation, he flew to Nevada for a rally just 8 miles from his golden hotel on the Las Vegas strip.

As a group of rally-goers became rowdy  and seemingly anti-Trump  a group of supporters pushed the American Flag-donning attendees out of the venue and shouted at them as the former president said: 'No, they're actually friends  enthusiastic friends.'

Trump's rally in Nevada came off back-to-back victories in Iowa's caucuses on January 15 and New Hampshire's primary election on January 23.

Donald Trump urged his supporters to skip the primary election in Nevada and just participate in the caucus because 'your primary vote doesn't mean anything'

Supporters of the former president helped push-out protesters from the venue outside of Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday afternoon

Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff played Democratic counter programming in Las Vegas the same day as Trump's visit to the early primary contest state.

Nevada's presidential primary contest is next, but nearly no candidates were campaigning in the state  even before all but three dropped out of the race  as confusion swirls over the dueling primary and caucus contests.

'The message from the voters of our party is clear  It's time to finish this primary and get going at defeating [Biden],' Trump said as he went into explaining there are two different primary contests happening this year.

'And remember this, we all call it a primary, but I like calling it a caucus because it is,' he said, insisting: 'Your primary vote doesn't mean anything  it's your caucus vote.'

'In your state you have both the primary and you have a caucus. Don't worry about the primary, just do the caucus thing,' Trump instructed his voters. 'And we're going to go on to defeat Crooked Joe Biden.'

Nevada is historically the third primary state  but usually only holds caucuses, like Iowa. This year, however, the state decided to run a primary election, while Nevada's Republican Party said it will hold caucuses and that all delegates will be allocated through that contest.

The primary is on Tuesday, February 6 and the caucuses are on Thursday, February 8.

The ex-president railed against Nikki Haley  the last-standing serious contender against Trump in the presidential primary

A sea of red hats as rally goers listen to Donald Trump speak at his rally in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, January 27, 2024

The shake-up has led to a lot of confusion and anger from Republicans.

One Trump supporter from Arizona who moved to a Vegas suburb recently told DailyMail.com at Saturday's rally that the dueling primaries 'makes everything so confusing.'

Las Vegas-native Billy, 62, said that he didn't even know there were two contests before showing up for the rally and says he doubts any of his friends and family are tuned into what is going on this year.

Trump is filed for the caucuses  and is a shoe-in to win all the delegates as his only competition is longshot candidate and Texas-based pastor and entrepreneur Ryan Binkley.

Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley filed for the primary only in Nevada, meaning she cannot pick up any delegates in the state.

After her second place finish in New Hampshire, Haley made it clear her focus is now on her home state of South Carolina, which holds the fourth primary contest on February 24.

'She's still campaigning?' Trump said of Nikki Haley at his rally. 'She was just endorsed by Liz Cheney, can you believe it? If Liz Cheney ever endorsed me, I'd be like: 'No, I don't want it.'

Disgraced former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney urged Haley to stay in the race.

Trump, Haley and Binkley are the three Republicans still running in the 2024 Republican presidential primary.

As Trump was en route to his Nevada rally, E Jean Carroll, 80, broke down in tears and hugged her lawyers in court on Friday as she was awarded $83.3 million in her defamation trial against him.

The 80-year-old sued Trump for his defamatory statements disparaging her, and denying her rape allegations.

Trump left court around 4:00 p.m. on Friday to head to Las Vegas despite the imminent decision.
One of the most senior members of the Royal Household has been allegedly 'overlooked' for a gong by King Charles  after he forgot to proclaim 'God Save the King' at the end of Queen Elizabeth's funeral.

David Vines White, the Garter Principal King of Arms, was the second most senior person involved in the organisation of the late Queen's funeral and King Charles's Coronation.

But he fluffed his lines in the closing moments of the Queen's funeral service at St George's Chapel, Windsor by failing to read out 'God Save the King' for the congregation to repeat.

Other senior heralds involved in the Royal funeral and Coronation went on to receive honours, including his Scottish counterpart for 'services upon the demise of the Queen'.

David Vines White, (pictured) the Garter Principal King of Arms, was the second most senior person involved in the organisation of the late Queen's funeral and King Charles's Coronation

Scotland's Lord Lyon King of Arms Joseph Morrow carries the the Crown of Scotland

So too did dozens of more junior members of the Royal Household. Mr White had been expected to receive the CVO  Commander of the Royal Victorian Order  like both his predecessors.

His omission from the honours' lists has caused consternation at the College of Arms.

One source told The Mail on Sunday that they believed it was a deliberate snub: 'It was written in capital letters in the order of service for the funeral.

'As a herald it is literally his job to say "God Save the King" at the right moment.

'No wonder he was missed off the honours list. Charles minds about that kind of thing.'

Mr White was second only to the Duke of Norfolk in the chain of command for organising the funeral and Coronation.

The Duke was granted a 'quickie knighthood' by Charles days after the Queen's death so he could officially execute his duties. Mr White was not given any honour.

He missed out again in the so-called 'funeral honours list', handed out by the King last March for 'services upon the demise of the Queen' and was also left off the New Year's honours list last month.

Meanwhile, dozens of others, from a chauffeur to the Archbishop of Canterbury, were honoured for their involvement in the funeral and Coronation.

A source said: 'No wonder he was missed off the honours list. Charles minds about that kind of thing'

Mr White has worked for the heraldry for nearly 20 years and has been Garter Principal King of Arms since 2021.

He has another two years left to serve before his position comes up for renewal. Garters usually receive a CVO after a year of service, followed by a knighthood at the end of their term.

Mr White's predecessor Thomas Woodcock  who proclaimed at Prince Philip's funeral  was made a CVO in the 2011 Birthday Honours, a year after he took up the role as Garter. He was knighted upon his retirement in 2021.

Asked about whether he was expecting a gong, Mr White told The Mail on Sunday: 'That is a question no one ever discusses.'

Buckingham Palace declined to comment.
A pilot whose aircraft crashed out of the sky and slammed into trees in New Hampshire is lucky to be alive.

The small cargo plane took a nosedive in Londonderry on Friday morning and smashed into the ground shortly after taking off from Manchester-Boston regional airport.

Surveillance footage captured the moment the aircraft fell through the trees and ignited some sparks before smashing into a resident's backyard.

The pilot was left with serious injuries and taken to hospital for treatment but officials say it is a miracle the plane did not catch fire as it had around 250 gallons of fuel on board.

A pilot whose aircraft crashed out of the sky and slammed into trees in New Hampshire is lucky to be alive

The small cargo plane took a nosedive in Londonderry on Friday morning and smashed into the ground shortly after taking off from Manchester-Boston regional airport

The pilot was left with serious injuries and taken to hospital for treatment but officials say it is a miracle the plane did not catch fire as it had around 250 gallons of fuel on board

It is not clear what caused the crash but the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident.

Video of the crash shows sparks flying as the plane smashes through the trees on the way to the ground and loud bangs can be heard.

Neighbors ran outside and rushed to the pilot's aid after hearing the loud crash.

'He was pinned up against the dash so he was trying to get his belt off. He was a little, seemed like he mightve been a little altered,' Brian Croteau told NBC Boston.

'He was a little, seemed like he mightve been a little altered, couldnt really make out what he was saying, he was mumbling, looks like he hurt his face pretty substantially.'

Emergency services rushed to the scene within minutes of receiving a report of the incident and the pilot was rushed to hospital

'He was pinned up against the dash so he was trying to get his belt off. He was a little, seemed like he mightve been a little altered,' Brian Croteau said

Emergency services rushed to the scene within minutes of receiving a report of the incident and the pilot was rushed to hospital.

'They actually had to pry the plane open just kind of like a car crash to try and get him out,' Eddie Saktanaset said.

Fire officials said the pilot was conscious during the ordeal and even called 911 himself following the crash.

'He ought to play the lottery for sure. A lot of things could have gone wrong further than the aircraft crashing,' fire chief Bo Butler said.

Photos from the scene show the wreckage of the cargo aircraft still scattered across the ground.
Foreign Secretary David Cameron today appeals for the formation of a new Contact Group of countries to broker an end to the fighting in Gaza.

Writing in The Mail on Sunday, Lord Cameron argues that a group comprising the US, UK, key EU states, Gulf and Arab countries and Turkey should be set up at once to 'use a pause in the fighting to build unstoppable momentum towards a lasting solution'.

Lord Cameron, who met Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on a tour of the region last week, also made the controversial suggestion of swapping hostages for terrorists, saying: 'Impossible times make for unpleasant deals  and that's what needs to happen.'

Writing in The Mail on Sunday, Lord Cameron argues that a group comprising the US, UK, key EU states, Gulf and Arab countries and Turkey should be set up

People inspect damage to their homes caused by Israeli air strikes, on January 27

He also said a key to a settlement was giving 'the people of the West Bank and Gaza the political perspective of a credible route to a Palestinian state and a new future.'

His appeal follows Britain pausing funding for the UN agency for Palestinians, UNRWA, after it sacked several staff over allegations they were involved in the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.

In the article, Lord Cameron also describes as 'unjustified' the international legal case brought by South Africa which accuses Israel of genocide in Gaza.

His appeal follows Britain pausing funding for the UN agency for Palestinians, UNRWA, after it sacked several staff over allegations they were involved in the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. Pictured, Palestinians displaced by the Israeli air and ground offensive on the Gaza Strip ride on a cart in Rafah

He argues that the Contact Group's plan should include security guarantees for Israel and restrictions on what a Palestinian state can do over security and alliances. Pictured, Internally displaced Palestinians move past Israeli tanks

He writes: 'After the horrors of October 7, even liberally-minded Israelis find it hard to stomach the idea of a two-state solution.

'And many Palestinians have been further brutalised by what has happened in more than 100 days of fighting.

'Yet, underneath, both sides can see that the last 30 years have been a colossal failure.'

He argues that the Contact Group's plan should include security guarantees for Israel and restrictions on what a Palestinian state can do over security and alliances.
Experts applaud China's effective counterterrorism efforts

Xinhua) 09:38, January 27, 2024

BEIJING, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- China has made positive contributions to regional and global security and stability through its counterterrorism efforts, said experts when commenting on a new white paper on the topic.

The white paper titled "China's Legal Framework and Measures for Counterterrorism" was released by the State Council Information Office on Tuesday.

The document sums up the principles underlying China's fight against terrorism and the experience gained, demonstrates the effectiveness of the country's law-based counterterrorism efforts, and helps the international community understand the relevant legal framework and measures, according to the experts.

"Compared with previous editions, the latest white paper provides a more comprehensive introduction to China's counterterrorism legal system, such as how power is exercised and human rights safeguarded during the fight," said Li Changlin, a professor at the Human Rights Institute of Southwest University of Political Science and Law.

LAW-BASED COUNTERTERRORISM

"By focusing on the legal framework and measures, the white paper underscores the fact that China's counterterrorism efforts consistently operate under the rule of law and are integrated into the country's daily governance," said Yang Haitao, an associate professor at the Criminal Investigation Police University of China.

Thanks to more than four decades of experience, a counterterrorism legal framework based on the Constitution has been gradually formed in China, said the white paper.

In the legal framework, the Counterterrorism Law is the centerpiece, the criminal laws and National Security Law play major roles and other laws serve as supplements, according to the document.

It also covers administrative regulations, judicial interpretations, local regulations, and departmental and local government rules, the document added.

Such a legal framework has yielded a set of experiences in terms of law-based counterterrorism and explored special approaches such as preventive counterterrorism, said Huang Bin, director of the regional counterterrorism research center at Fujian Police College.

As a model that can be used for reference, the legal framework provides a nomological foundation for further international cooperation in counterterrorism, added Huang.

HUMAN RIGHTS

"China respects and protects human rights as an underlying principle in improving its legal framework and practices in the field of counterterrorism," the white paper said.

To effectively prevent and combat terrorist activities is an important aspect of safeguarding human rights, said Yang.

"China's counterterrorism efforts have always adhered to a people-centered approach, placing lives above all else," said Zheng Ruohan, an associate professor at the Human Rights Institute of Southwest University of Political Science and Law.

The country emphasizes safeguarding human rights through combating terrorism and also focuses on ensuring human rights in specific counterterrorism work, according to Zheng.

"Upholding the vision of a global community of shared future, China is willing to work closely with other countries to push forward counterterrorism cause as part of global governance," said the white paper.

"On the basis of equality and respect, China will engage in extensive exchanges, cooperation, and mutual learning to facilitate the global effort to counter terrorism," said the document.

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Wu Chaolan)
"As we are celebrating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Norway and China this year, we look forward to enhancing the bilateral economic relations, facilitating business cooperation, and strengthening cultural links between our two countries," pinpointed Tone Helene Aarvik, Counsellor and Head of Economic Team, the Norwegian Embassy in Beijing.

Emphasizing China as Norway's main trading partner in Asia, Aarvik in an exclusive interview with China Economic Net noted increased activity between both nations in core industries, including maritime and shipping, green transition, consumer goods, and seafood in the post-pandemic era.

Aarvik observed a surge in Norwegian businesses venturing into China, with a record number participating in major events such as the China International Import Expo (CIIE), MarineTec, and China Fisheries & Seafood Expo in 2023. "Last year a business survey conducted among Norwegian companies operating in China shows that they hold a positive outlook for further growth in the Chinese market," she added.

"Seafood has become the largest export commodity from Norway to China in 2023. Salmon is perhaps the most popular imported fish in the Chinese market," Aarvik told the reporter.

According to data from the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC), in 2023, Norwegian seafood exports to China reached 158,909 tonnes, with the export value hitting 8.54 billion NOK, an 18% increase from the previous year. In terms of export value, the Chinese market ranks eighth in Norway's global seafood export markets and continues to be the largest market in Asia. This reflects the steadily growing demand for Norwegian seafood among Chinese consumers.

On top of seafood, Aarvik underscored the growing interest in collaboration related to green transition, shipping, tourism, and so on, foreseeing significant opportunities for Norwegian businesses.

Sharing insights into the enduring relationship between Norway and China as both nations celebrate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2024, Aarvik expressed confidence in international expos, such as the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) and CIIE, continuing to serve as vital platforms for Norwegian businesses to connect with potential partners and gain insights into the dynamic Chinese market.

The upcoming Chinese Spring Festival holiday - to commence on February 10 - is likely to spark travel and consumption frenzy in both China and foreign countries. As it is becoming increasingly popular to visit Norway for the Nordic Lights, winter and snowy landscape during the winter, "we are very pleased to see Chinese tourists coming to Norway," Aarvik highlighted.


A Louisa County mobile home park is under a boil-water advisory after reported drops in the local water pressure and full water outages in some areas.

Low pressure can increase the risk of exposing water supplies to E. coli and other harmful bacteria.

The Virginia Department of Health and Blue Ridge Health District in conjunction with the Six-O-Five Village Waterworks are advising residents in the Six-O-Five Village in Mineral, Louisa County VA., to use boiled tap water or bottled water for drinking and cooking purposes as a safety precaution until further notice, according to a joint statement issued by the health agencies on Friday.

Low water pressure can cause backflow, which can expose water supplies to contaminants, notably E. coli.

E. coli is a type of bacteria whose presence indicates that water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Human pathogens in these wastes can cause short-term effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea and headaches, among other symptoms. They may pose a greater health risk for infants, young children, the elderly and people with severely compromised immune systems.

Six-O-Five Village residents will be informed when the advisory has been lifted, officials said.

For more information, residents can contact Scott A. Dunn, the waterworks operator assigned to Six-O-Five Village, at (434) 282-3789 or sdunnreeofva@yahoo.com.

For those residents of Six-O-Five Village that are unable to boil tap water, officials suggest:

 Using liquid household bleach to disinfect water. The bleach product should be recently purchased, free of additives and scents, and should contain a hypochlorite solution of at least 5.25%. Public health officials recommend adding eight drops of bleach, about a quarter of a teaspoon, to each gallon of water. The water should be stirred and allowed to stand for at least 30 minutes before use.

 Using water purification tablets.

Drinking water may be available at other locations outside your community or neighborhood, the health authorities said in their Friday statement. If you seek water for human consumption at other locations, you must be certain that it is safe for use.

The boil-water advisory in Louisa County follows a similar advisory issued in northern Albemarle County on Thursday after a water main break near the Camelot subdivision. Although repairs have been made, that advisory was still in effect as of Saturday evening as Albemarle authorities worked to guarantee the water supply had not been contaminated. Restaurants in the area have had to slow operations in order to boil cooking water, and the nearby Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport has had to close its bathrooms to the public. Albemarle officials say it could be days before the advisory there is lifted.
Danny Masterson's estranged wife Bijou Phillips was seem partying in LA just weeks after quitting scientology and days after her husband's bail request was denied, 'because he has no wife to go home to'.

Phillips, 43, sported a skimpy black skirt and crop top as she danced the night away at the Fleur Room lounge in West Hollywood.

She was notably free of her wedding ring once again in video taken during the night out.

Philips completed her look with a pair of black heeled ankle boots and was seen tossing her hair as she stood near the entrance to the club, where she appeared to try and beckon a male friend to come back inside.

The actress filed from divorce from her That 70s Show star husband in September after Masterson, 47, was sentenced to 30 years in jail for rape.

Danny Masterson 's estranged wife Bijou Phillips partied in LA without her wedding ring on

Philips partied at Fleur Room lounge in West Hollywood days after her estranged husband's bail request was denied

She donned a black leather skirt and crop top for the night out, where she was seen trying to beckon a male friend back inside

The actress, who once struggled with drugs and alcohol before finding sobriety, also quietly stepped away from Scientology after the controversial church's decision to expel Masterson in the wake of his prison sentence.

Masterson now faces a 30-year to life sentence in jail without bail and is eligible for parole after 20 years.

Hi request for bail was recently denied by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo, who oversaw his trial and deemed him a flight risk.

The rejection was given partly because his ex-wife of 12 years had filed for divorce following his guilty verdict last year.

The order said: 'In light of the fact that defendant has no wife to go home to, defendant now has every incentive to flee and little reason to return to state prison to serve out the remainder of his lengthy sentence should his appeal be unsuccessful.'

It comes after Masterson's attorneys Clifford Gardner and Eric Multhaup wrote in a motion on January 17 asking for the court to grant the disgraced actor bail.

A jury found the actor guilty in May for two rapes committed in 2003 and was hung on a third rape charge, which prosecutors have said that they will not push further for a conviction.

Phillips quietly quit the Church of Scientology after Masterson was expelled following his conviction

A judge denied Masterson's bail request in part because he 'does not have a wife to go to' and is considered a flight risk

Danny Masterson is currently faces a 30-year to life sentence in jail without bail and is eligible for parole after 20 years

At the sentencing trial, Jane Doe 1 called Masterson a 'true coward and heartless monster,' adding that to this day she suffer from an extreme fear of the dark and frequently wakes up crying.

Sometimes, she said, she hides in a closet or screams out the window: 'I'm not okay.'

'I think life is an appropriate sentence,' she said.

Philips' divorce filings came as a surprise to many considering she had stood by him throughout his trial.

However, sources close to the couple said that they had discussed the marriage ending.

But others told DailyMail.com that friends and family had been pushing her to consider divorce to show her daughter that 'people need to be held accountable for what they do, even if it's someone they love.'
A woman has been shot dead at a unit in Morayfield in Brisbane's north in the early hours of Sunday morning, with a teenage boy questioned by detectives.

Police swooped on the home at The Bungalows apartment block on Grant Road shortly after midnight when neighbours reported the sound of gunfire.

Emergency services found a 29-year-old woman with gunshot wounds and tried to save her but she died at the scene.

Neighbours reported the police searched the bins of the nearby Morayfield West child day care centre across the road during their investigations at the scene.

A woman has been shot dead at a unit on Grant Road in Morayfield in Brisbane's north (pictured)

Police told Daily Mail Australia an investigation has been launched to determine the circumstances surrounding the woman's death.

'Emergency services were called to the Grant Road property just after midnight, following reports a woman had been shot,' Queensland police said.

'Emergency services attempted to assist the woman, but she died at the scene.

'Investigations are ongoing. There is no further information available at this time.'

Police have declared the property and a related vehicle crime scenes, as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the woman's death.

An 18-year-old Morayfield man is currently assisting police with enquiries.

Anyone with information that could assist investigations is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 .
Oakland residents are seeking to oust the mayor over 'deplorable' levels of crime after the city's only In-N-Out Burger joint was forced to close due to rampant theft.

The In-N-Out, located near a main route to and from the Oakland International Airport, announced it will close its doors in March.

'Despite taking repeated steps to create safer conditions, our customers and associates are regularly victimized by car break-ins, property damage, theft and armed robberies,' COO Denny Warnick said in a statement.

However, some residents are placing the blame on Mayor Sheng Thao.

A group working to recall the mayor released a statement, saying, 'After missing the deadline to apply for a retail theft grant worth millions of dollars to assist Oakland in battling crime, she has now failed once again to respond to voters as to why she should not be recalled.'

The In-N-Out sits in a square mile with several gas stations that cops say are the targets of around a dozen violent crimes every day

Some residents are placing the blame on Mayor Sheng Thao

In July 2023, months after Thao took office, the Oakland Police Department was forced to issue a public safety advisory citing an uptick in home invasion robberies'

'Mayor Thao must realize that there is no defense for the indefensible. The current state of Oakland is deplorable, and she is directly at fault,' Seneca Scott, spokesperson for Oakland United to Recall Sheng Thao, said on X.

'Mayor Thao's evasive behavior regarding her recall is reminiscent of a middle schooler. After missing the deadline to apply for a retail theft grant worth millions of dollars to assist Oakland in battling crime, she has now failed once again to respond to voters as to why she should not be recalled.'

'Every hour this mayor remains in office, Oakland is less safe,' Scott added.

In a statement to The Los Angeles Times, Thao responded saying, 'As mayor, I have prioritized this critical gateway to Oakland and surged police presence and employed technology to deter and respond to criminal behavior.'

She claimed the public safety resources implemented are reducing property crimes along the Hegenberger corridor, but admitted that more change is necessary.

'I will be working with regional and state leaders to protect this tourist gateway into Oakland,' she said to the outlet.

A group working to recall the mayor released a statement, saying, 'After missing the deadline to apply for a retail theft grant worth millions of dollars to assist Oakland in battling crime, she has now failed once again to respond to voters as to why she should not be recalled'

Oakland's Democrat mayor, Sheng Thao, (pictured), who has been in the role since January 2023, denied that her policies were the sole cause of the rising crime rates

Official crime stats for Oakland which reveal car theft has risen nearly 50 percent across the past year

The In-N-Out sits near Oakland Airport, and has become a perfect target for thieves in the area

Cars near the In-N-Out are often the target of robberies

How In-N-Out COO blames rising crime for shuttering Oakland store Denny Warnick, chief operating officer of In-N-Out, said: 'We have made the decision to close our In-N-Out Burger location in Oakland, California, due to ongoing issues with crime. Despite taking repeated steps to create safer conditions, our Customers and Associates are regularly victimized by car break-ins, property damage, theft, and armed robberies. Our last day of business in Oakland will be Sunday, March 24, 2024. 'We are grateful for the local community, which has supported us for over 18 years, and we recognize that this closure negatively impacts our Associates and their families. 'Additionally, this location remains a busy and profitable one for the company, but our top priority must be the safety and wellbeing of our Customers and Associates - we cannot ask them to visit or work in an unsafe environment. 'All affected Associates will have the opportunity to transfer to a nearby In-N-Out location or, alternatively, receive a severance package. In-N-Out Burger has a history of supporting the Oakland community through charitable giving that predates the opening of our location there. Although we will no longer do business there, we will continue to support local charitable organizations in Oakland through our In-N-Out Burger Foundation and Slave 2 Nothing Foundation.' Advertisement

Oakland's only In-N-Out Burger restaurant is set to close after 18 years, despite still turning a healthy profit, as customers and staff are 'unsafe' due to soaring crime rates, the business said.

The Oakland, California, branch of the 75-year-old company will close its doors in March, because of the crime that has endangered the lives of patrons and staff, the company's chief operations officer, Denny Warnick, said.

Data from Oakland's police force earlier this month revealed that robberies had increased by a massive 38 percent from 2022 to 2023, the period when Thao has been in charge.

Warnock wrote in a statement: 'Despite taking repeated steps to create safer conditions, our Customers and Associates are regularly victimized by car break-ins, property damage, theft, and armed robberies.'

Workers at the store have the choice of being transferred to another location, or accepting a severance package.

Motor vehicle theft in particular saw a major rise, with the force reporting 44 percent more in 2023 compared with 2022.

Burglaries also jumped 23 percent from the previous year.

The In-N-Out sits in a square mile with several gas stations that cops say are the targets of around a dozen violent crimes every day.

Less than a mile away from the Chevron, a Shell gas station on Hegenberger Road is also plagued by thefts. Around five hundred yards from the Shell, another Chevron is another hotspot. And next to that, the parking lot of the In-N-Out Burger is hit daily.

Police say the criminals, who operate in well-organized groups, follow the same playbook: a spotter keeps watch for targets, usually rentals headed to or from the airport, as they pull up at the gas stations.

They then alert accomplices, who pull up in a vehicle when the targets start to pump fuel. Often, they smash a rear window or pop the trunk of unlocked vehicles before making off with luggage and valuables. The thefts take just seconds.

Motor vehicle theft in particular saw a major rise, with the force reporting 44% more in 2023 compared with 2022

The four stores near Oakland International Airport are major targets for thieves

The spike has earned the Shell the nickname 'America's most dangerous gas station.' The two Chevron sites are also top contenders for the unwanted title.

Online reviews for these gas stations and the In-N-Out are flooded with dozens of complaints from customers who were hit by the crooks.

One shocking video from the In-N-Out parking lot shows a thief smash into a black SUV in broad daylight. The crook leans, feet off the ground, through the vehicle's rear window and snatches up several items before escaping into a waiting getaway car as more than a dozen onlookers watch.

Another clip from outside the Shell shows a thief deploy exactly the same method to steal a backpack from the trunk. Feet of the ground, he leans into a smashed rear window to scoop up loot before making an escape.
A lecturer who was compared by a university boss to a 'racist uncle' for her gender critical views has warned it will take 'a generation' to undo the damage done to academic freedom by Stonewall.

Jo Phoenix, a criminology professor, this week won her unfair dismissal claim against her former employer the Open University (OU).

A tribunal found that she had suffered victimisation, harassment and direct discrimination while working for the OU as a result of her public questioning of transgender ideology.

Prof Phoenix has previously spoken out at feminist events against men who identify as women being placed in female prisons due to the dangers this poses to biological women prisoners.

She also joined other lecturers in signing two open letters raising concerns about trans activists curtailing academic freedoms.

Professor Jo Phoenix, a criminology professor at the Open University, has won an unfair dismissal claim against the Open University

An employment tribunal ruled that the university had 'failed' to protect the academic because it did not want to be seen to support gender critical views

It was because of these views that Prof Phoenix said she was subjected to bitter criticism from her own colleagues, as well as an 'onslaught' of online abuse and even death threats.

The 59-year-old academic said the OU made little effort to protect her from these attacks and, instead, she was compared to a 'racist uncle at the Christmas table' by her deputy head of department when called to a meeting to discuss the controversy.

Last night Prof Phoenix revealed how she now believes that it is Stonewall who was at the heart of her ordeal.

READ MORE: Professor Jo Phoenix breaks her silence after winning harassment case against the Open University - and likens tribunal to surviving rape when she was 15 Advertisement

She described the 'stunning success' of the LGBT charity in getting universities to accept its message that males who identify as women are exactly the same as biological females and anyone who questions this idea is bigoted.

'When I look back on the mob madness and I think who is to blame, the answer is plain and simple - Stonewall, Stonewall, Stonewall,' Prof Phoenix told the Mail on Sunday.

'The beginning, middle and end to all of this is the absolute stunning success Stonewall had to sending their message out to universities.

'They've made it such that to question Stonewall is to be transphobic.'

Prof Phoenix argues that Stonewall's mantra that 'trans women are women' and that there is no room for debate on this had a 'devastating impact' on academic freedom and free speech.

'Stonewall and academics acting as activists have shut down spaces for discussion,' she said.

'People thought by agreeing with Stonewall they were on the side of the angels, but in my mind those angels quickly turned into devils.

'Everyone loves a baddie and they saw me as a baddie for questioning things.'

In the wake of her employment tribunal win, Prof Phoenix says she hopes this will be a pivotal moment which will lead to the reinstatement of academic freedoms.

However, she fears that the strong influence Stonewall has come to exert on universities will mean it will still be many years before there will be meaningful change.

'I hope my judgment will embolden all those people who feel they haven't been able to speak out to speak out,' she added.

'But there is a part of me that thinks it will take a generation to undo this damage to academic freedom.'

Professor Phoenix set up a gender critical research group whilst at the Open University, and says the backlash led to her leaving

While still working at the OU, Prof Phoenix set up the Gender Critical Research Network - a group of academics who shared the view that biological sex was real and immutable.

But the 'punishing' backlash against this new organisation, as well as the opposition to her research on the issue of male-bodied trans prisoners being placed in women's jails, led her to leave the university in December 2021.

'There were constant accusations of transphobia and threats of violence and those messages were being retweeted by my peers across the entire nation,' she recalled.

The disturbing episode left her 'heartbroken' - as working at the OU had been her 'dream job'- and resulted in her suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Prof Phoenix said.

So harrowing was the 'pile-on' she experienced, combined with the lack of support from her OU bosses, it led her to relive some of the deep trauma she experienced when she was raped as a teenager, she says.

'Every rape victim knows that to get believed is the hardest thing there is,' she explained.

'So for me I was being this punch bag and asking the university to do something about the awful abuse I was suffering, then not being believed or taken seriously, was heartbreaking.'

In a tribunal judgment published on Monday, employment Judge Jennifer Young agreed that: '[The OU] failed to protect [her] because they did not want to be seen to give any kind of support to academics with gender-critical beliefs.'

The court upheld almost 20 of Professor Phoenix's claims.

It also ruled that the abuse Phoenix endured was harassment and the university's failure to protect her from it made it complicit in this treatment.

Professor Tim Blackman, Vice-Chancellor at the Open University, released this statement: 'This judgment made for difficult reading for all of us. In several areas we fell very short. We apologise unreservedly to Professor Phoenix for the hurt and distress this has caused. This is not The Open University we want to be.

'The University has supported and continues to support the work of the Gender Critical Research Network (GCRN) as part of the many important research activities that take place at the OU. But our understanding of academic freedom and freedom of speech at the time meant we did not intervene about the open letter, statements and social media posts that followed the GCRNs launch. The tribunal ruling makes it clear that we should have acted differently to address the impact of this reaction on Professor Phoenix and the working environment that she experienced.

'We are sorry that this has been a painful episode for many colleagues. Research and academic debate are the life blood of universities. They are not at odds with inclusion, and we will find a path that encourages diversity of thought and views in the inclusive environment we all want to see at the OU. We have learned from the judgment and there is now more we need to do. The experience and outcome of this case will guide us with this important and essential work.

'We will be initiating a major independent review of our internal working environment. This will include addressing the challenge we and the sector face balancing the complexities of upholding academic freedom, freedom of speech, and equality and employment rights. It will help us to work together to ensure those with differing views are safe and free to express their opinions within the law.

'Achieving our mission to be open to people, places, methods, and ideas depends on us all at the OU committing to take forward this learning and to treat each other with civility and respect however profoundly we may disagree.'
JK Rowling made more than 8million from stage show Harry Potter and the Cursed Child last year, new figures show.

The play, written by Jack Thorne based on a story concocted by the author, has been a spellbinding success since it launched at the Palace Theatre in London's West End in 2016, and has since been staged across the world.

Accounts published by HPTP Holdings Ltd, a company created by the author and her literary agent Neil Blair to manage her theatrical production business, show Rowling continues to enjoy success thanks to the boy wizard money-spinner.

The accounts, published on Companies House, show she was paid a dividend of 8.25million for the year to March 2023 after the company reported a net profit of 5million, up from 1.3million for the year to March 2022.

Statements included with the financial records apportion the success to a post-Covid boom, with audience figures returning to pre-lockdown levels.

JK Rowling was paid a dividend of 8.25million by the company managing her global empire of theatrical productions of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

The show has been performed at London's Palace Theatre since 2016 and is now being staged across the world

The show is also performed at New York's Lyric Theatre on Broadway (pictured above)

A run at Melbourne's Princess Theatre came to an end in summer last year, as did a year-long run in Toronto, Canada

The 2022-23 year saw The Cursed Child  which is set 19 years after the end of the last Harry Potter book, The Deathly Hallows  open in Tokyo, and a run in San Francisco also came to an end.

Elsewhere, the play continues to be performed in Hamburg and on New York's Broadway. Productions in Melbourne and Toronto closed in July 2023, the Canadian run ending after just over a year.

Around 5.2million of the firm's 14m income came from shows in Europe, with 4.6m and 4.1m coming from the USA and the rest of the world, respectively. It paid approximately 949,900 in corporation tax to HMRC.

EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: JK Rowling hits back over giant leylandii row as she says work to trim hedge outside Edinburgh home takes place every year Advertisement

However, the statements also reveal plans to expand The Cursed Child across the US and UK with licensing of a schools' edition, while a North America tour is also planned for the end of 2024 onwards.

Ms Rowling is named as a 'person with significant control' on company records while Mr Blair is HPTP Holdings' sole director. He also holds positions with Wizarding World Digital, formerly Pottermore, and chairs Ms Rowling's children's charity, Lumos.

'All theatrical shows and licenses are expected to continue performing strongly and remain profitable,' a statement included with the financial results reads.

'The director (Mr Blair) remains focused planning for future launches and exploring opportunities for future licensed territories.'

Figures released by other companies connected to the holding firm reveal that nearly half a million tickets were sold for the London run of the show in the 2022-23 period - 496,214 in all, up from 195,683 the previous year.

The Cursed Child follows Harry's son Albus as he begins his own journey to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry while contending with his father's fame.

It has notched up a number of awards, including Oliviers and Tonys, and has been well-received by critics.

Less well-received, however, has been Rowling's effort to cut back her giant leylandii hedge outside her home in Edinburgh.

The effort to trim the giant hedge has angered parents on school runs, who questioned why the roadworks, temporary traffic lights and long queues past her home in Scotland could not have waited for a mid-term break.

A spokesperson for the author told MailOnline this week: ''The intention is always to carry out the work with least disruption and the timing requires co-ordination and agreement with Edinburgh City Council.

'The work would ideally be scheduled in July, during the summer holidays, but due to other maintenance work in the area, it was agreed to take place this week instead.'

Rowling's Harry Potter series has sold over 500 million books worldwide, turning her into one of a select few billionaire authors.

She has faced a backlash from transgender activists in recent years due to what she says are concerns over single-sex spaces; some stars of the Harry Potter films and their follow-ups have subsequently distanced themselves from her comments.
A Tory MP has called for surrogacy to be outlawed and controversially compared the practice to taking a puppy from its mother.

In a series of outspoken comments, Miriam Cates, MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, branded surrogacy 'just ethically not acceptable', declaring: 'You don't have a right to become a parent.'

'You can't take a puppy off its mother in this country before it's weaned. You're not allowed to,' she added.

The 41-year-old  a devout Christian described as a 'darling' of the Tory party  is the co-chairman of the New Conservatives, an influential group of backbenchers.

Miriam Cates, MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, is a a devout Christian described as a 'darling' of the Tory party

Ms Cates branded surrogacy as 'just ethically not acceptable', declaring: 'You don't have a right to become a parent.' Pictured, Miriam Cates with her husband Dave

Speaking to The House magazine, Mrs Cates also described the Government's introduction of no-fault divorce in 2022 as 'the wrong decision' and warned that IVF fertility treatment 'cannot solve' the UK's falling birth rate.

Surrogacy is when a woman carries and gives birth to a child for someone else.

The intended parents can be heterosexual couples unable to have children, same-sex couples or single parents.

The UK is still one of the few countries where surrogacy is legal.

The number of parents having a baby using a surrogate in England and Wales has almost quadrupled in the past decade.

Parental orders, which transfer legal parentage from the surrogate, rose from 117 in 2011 to 449 in 2022.

Voicing her opposition to the practice, Mrs Cates, a mother of three and former biology teacher, said: 'You have to look at it from the baby's point of view.

'Of course adults have a strong desire to be parents, both men or women. Of course it's a sadness if that's unfulfilled for whatever reason  they can't conceive, don't have a partner, whatever it is.

'But to deliberately bring a child into the world in order to separate it from its mother at birth I think is just ethically not acceptable.'

Asked whether she believed surrogacy should be outlawed, she replied 'Yes, I do', but added: 'Given the [low] numbers that are conceived here, I don't think it will ever be a huge issue for Parliament to tighten the law, but I hope we can resist decriminalising.'

Last night Alan White, chairman of the support group Surrogacy UK, voiced his dismay at her comments.

Mr White and his husband Nic have a 15-month-old son Jago who was born to a surrogate.

Last night Alan White (pictured), chairman of the support group Surrogacy UK, voiced his dismay at her comments

'We are always sad and disappointed to hear views like this which generally come from people who have not spoken to surrogates, to intended parents, to people born through surrogacy,' he said. 'Any comparison between women and children and dogs is unfortunate.

'Surrogates don't see themselves as mothers, they see themselves as extreme baby-sitters or looking after someone's baby and doing that wonderful thing of doing the part of having children women or gay men can't do for themselves.'

Student Hannah Veness, 21, who was born to a surrogate mother because her parents were unable to have children, said Mrs Cates's comments were 'wrong' and 'slightly insulting'.

'She [the surrogate] knew that she was doing something for someone else,' Ms Veness said. 'She never thought she was the mother. She is just an amazing person who has given one of her eggs to create a baby for someone else.

'I still text her on a regular basis. My parents text her. We all have a really good relationship with her.

'My parents are very grateful  21 years later  that she has done this for them. It is a really good thing.'

Mrs Cates also warned that the UK's low birth rate will lead to population collapse but does not believe that IVF is the answer: 'We have to be real: it's not very successful, in terms of how likely you are to conceive on each round, sadly, and the older you get the less successful you get.'

'They're incredible people who go under the radar'

A student born to one of Britain's most prolific surrogate mothers last night branded Miriam Cates's comments 'insensitive' and 'wrong'.

Pictured: Euan Walsh as a baby

Euan Walsh, 22, and his brother Callum, 21, were among ten babies carried by Jill Hawkins during her 20-year career as a surrogate.

His father Andrew and mother Gaynor were unable to conceive after Gaynor was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She died in 2007 when Euan was six.

Euan, who is in his final year at Bournemouth University, met Jill, who lives in County Durham, for the first time since his birth last November. He said: 'To compare surrogates to dogs is insensitive and shows lack of education around surrogacy. They are incredible people who almost go under the radar and should be given more credit than they are actually given.

'I met my surrogate for the first time in November, which was incredible. I have met a few other surrogates as well  someone who is on their second surrogacy and someone who is on their first  and they are so mentally switched on and aware of the situation and what they are getting themselves into.'

Ms Hawkins retired as a surrogate in 2012 at 47 after suffering serious complications during her last pregnancy.

How law prevents profiteering

Surrogacy laws in the UK are far stricter than elsewhere in the world.

Unlike in the US, where commercial surrogacy is permitted and women can make lucrative sums of up to $90,000 (70,000) for renting out their wombs to would-be parents, the UK system effectively prohibits profiting from the practice.

It means women can be paid only 'reasonable expenses', in line with fertility laws which also permit sperm and egg donors to pocket only expenses. For surrogacy, these can range from around 12,000 to 25,000 depending on the situation, according to family lawyers. While the specifics are agreed between each surrogate and the couple paying her bills, what counts as reasonable must be scrutinised and rubber-stamped by the courts after the baby is born.

It is also illegal for an intermediary to profit from arranging surrogacy in the UK.

Couples using a surrogate must, after the baby is born, obtain a parental order from the Family Court to become the child's legal parents. Until the order is granted  which can take months  the surrogate remains the child's legal mother.

This has led to high-profile disputes, including cases where surrogates have kept the child and refused to consent to a parental order waiving their rights from being granted.
A Labour MP has provoked fury after marking Holocaust Memorial Day by calling for the Israeli military action in Gaza to be remembered as 'genocide'.

Kate Osamor sent a message to party members in her Edmonton constituency in North London after she was photographed signing the Holocaust Educational Trust's commemoration book in Westminster in which she said that 'Gaza' should be added to a list of 'recent genocides' to be remembered alongside the murder of six million Jews.

Ms Osamor, who was a front-bencher during Jeremy Corbyn's leadership, said that there was an 'international duty' to remember the victims of the Holocaust as well as 'more recent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and now Gaza'.

Kate Osamor (pictured) said that 'Gaza' should be added to a list of 'recent genocides' to be remembered alongside the murder of six million Jews

Karen Pollock, the chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, told Jewish News that the 'disgusting post', sent on Friday, was 'a malicious distortion of the truth, a painful insult to survivors of the Holocaust and particularly distressing to see on the eve of Holocaust Memorial Day'.

A Jewish Labour Movement spokesperson added: 'This is wholly inappropriate. This week we have been commemorating the murder of six million Jews in the Holocaust  and those who perished in subsequent genocides, as listed by the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust.

'Unilaterally co-opting the war in Gaza, despite the horrific suffering there, on to that list is wrong and offensive.'

Mr Corbyn has addressed the series of pro-Palestine marches that have taken place in London since the attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas on Israel triggered the regional conflict last year.

Ms Osamor invited Mr Corbyn to address students at a 'political summer school' last year, after which she said: 'Without exception the students remain inspired and excited by Jeremy and the politics of hope he represents.'

After an uproar over her remarks on Gaza, she posted a message on X (formerly Twitter) saying: 'I apologise for any offence caused by my reference to the ongoing humanitarian disaster in Gaza.'

She has been dogged by controversy. In 2019 it was revealed that she had used Commons notepaper to write to a judge pleading with him not to jail her son.

Ishmael Osamor, then 29, resigned as a Labour councillor after admitting to having 2,500 worth of drugs, including cocaine and ecstasy, at the Bestival festival in 2017.

Holocaust Memorial Day is held annually on January 27 to commemorate the victims of the Nazi genocide (Pictured: the entry to the concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland)

He was ordered to do 200 hours of community work. When confronted by a reporter from The Times about the issue, she threw a bucket of water, and shouted: 'I should have come down here with a... bat and smashed your face open.'

The Standards Commissioner found her guilty of two breaches of parliamentary rules, but she later claimed she had been the target of a 'witch-hunt'.

One Labour member in her constituency said: 'There is nothing more offensive than equating the murder of six million Jews with the current conflict in Gaza.

'This is not the first problem we have had with Kate Osamor. It's time the party took action and removed the whip. She really is a disgrace.'
The country mansion which Paul Burrell claims is haunted by the ghost of Princess Diana was previously owned by a close friend of the Queen, MailOnline has learned.

The former royal butler sparked astonishment this week with claims that his Cheshire home is apparently haunted by the former Princess of Wales - even though she never visited the property and he himself didn't move into it until 20 years after her death.

The mock Tudor mansion is actually owned by Burrell's partner, retired litigation lawyer Graham Cooper, 64, who appears with the butler in a forthcoming episode of the show Celebrity Help! My House is Haunted on Discovery Plus.

Mr Burrell, 65, and his husband called in paranormal 'experts' after reportedly claiming they were being kept up at night by shadowy figures, wafts of cigarette smoke and unexplained bumps.

Now MailOnline can reveal that, like Mr Burrell, the mansion itself has links to the royal family.

Paul Burrell sparked astonishment this week with claims that his Cheshire home is apparently haunted by the former Princess of Wales - even though she never visited the property and he himself didn't move into it until 20 years after her death (File Photo)

Diana's ex-butler has previously described himself as the late Princess's 'best friend' and has alleged she referred to him as 'the only man she ever trusted'

The grand home near Chester is on land that was once part of an estate centred around Peckforton Castle

The previous owner, from whom Mr Cooper purchased the house, was Timothy John Edward Tollemache, the 5th Baron Tollemache, a close friend of the Queen.

The grand home near Chester is on land that was once part of an estate centred around Peckforton Castle.

Land Registry documents reveal that the aristocrat struck a deal with Mr Cooper and another man in November 1998, and that then in 2008 Mr Cooper became the sole owner of the property.

Eton-educated Baron Tollemache, lives in Helmingham Hall, Suffolk, and was Lord Lieutenant of that county for 11 years until 2014.

Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh were both close friends of Baron Tollemache for decades and made 27 consecutive annual visits to stay with his family at Helmingham.

After the Queen's death Baron Tollemache said: 'It was there where they could kick off their shoes and relax in front of the fire, particularly in bad times such as the one she described...as her "annus horribilis" following, among other things, the fire at Windsor Castle earlier that very week.'

Paul Burrell, pictured here with Diana in 1994, started working in the Princess's royal household in 1987 and was her personal butler until her death in 1997

Mr Burrell and his husband, litigation lawyer Graham Cooper, 64, right, called in the paranormal experts after being kept up at night by shadowy figures, wafts of cigarette smoke and unexplained bumps

Princess Diana (pictured with Burrell) promoting the Landmine Survivors Network in Bosnia in Aug 1997

Ian Lawman, Paul Burrell, Jayne Harris and Barri Ghai outside the mock Tudor mansion

Mr Burrell said that he has only kept one photo of him with Diana but he has hundreds of pictures of the Princess

The Cheshire home is packed with his commemorative royal mugs, antiques, art and crystal glasses he described as 'expensive clutter'

Historically the Tollemache family were the greatest landowners in Cheshire in the 19th century - and the family built Peckforton Castle as a Victorian stately home in the style of a medieval castle.

The mock tudor house is believed to date back to the 19th century when wealthy landowner Tollemache built around 50 homes on the 35,000 acre estate.

Many of the properties, built in the 1860s and 70s, comprised up to 3 acres of land to encourage labourers taking the leases to farm their own plots to supplement their income.

The castle was sold to a hotel group in 1998 while the house now occupied by Mr Burrell and Mr Burrell - as well, supposedly, as the ghost of the Princess of Wales - was on a separate parcel of land which was also sold at the same time.

It's not clear how much Mr Cooper and his associate paid for it. But in the current market it's thought the house would be worth around 2 million.

The property has also previously featured in an episode of the celebrity property show Through the Keyhole in which Mr Burrell discussed it.

Mr Burrell previously lived in a more modest house in the county with his wife Maria Cosgrove before they split.

In the programme the ghost hunting team deploy a device which they claim allows them to 'hear beyond the human ear for any nearby spirit contact'.

The machine reported back with the words 'sorry' and 'France' and Mr Burrell believes that the latter might be a reference to the Princess's death in a car crash while being driven through the Pont de L'Alma tunnel in Paris.

The Mirror reports that the former royal butler said: 'I don't understand why it would say "France" other than the fact that the Princess died in France and the fact I went to France to bring her home.

Paul tried to make contact with the late Princess in a spirit triggers session, where the team capture and project spirit voices

The moment Burrell believes that he has communicated with Princess Diana's ghost

'I had been introduced to this world before by the Princess - she was heavily involved in spirituality.'

Diana's ex-butler has previously described himself as the late Princess's 'best friend' and has alleged she referred to him as 'the only man she ever trusted'.

And Mr Burrell is convinced that Diana is still reaching out to him more than 26 years after her death.

'When you have loved someone in life - and I did love her - and they pass very quickly, a little piece of them remains behind and you carry them with you for the rest of your days,' he said.

Mr Burrell added that he dreams about Diana regularly, usually at around 3am, but that he is not obsessed with her as he only has one photo of the two together although he has hundreds of pictures of the Princess.

The former royal servant also said that Queen Elizabeth II believed in ghosts and would only stay in Allt-na-giubhsaich, the cottage in Balmoral, if her corgis were with her as they would sense a supernatural presence before she could.

This comes after Mr Burrell applauded King Charles for being so open about his prostate condition on Monday.

Mr Burrell got the 'all clear' from doctors last year after a long battle with prostate cancer.

Speaking on ITV's Lorraine, he said: 'His issues and his condition is very different to mine but similar in other ways, it will be uncomfortable for him but his message is clear, he wants people to know about it and he wants people to come forward.

'This is also what I am saying but he has a bigger platform than me, people are following him and going to the GP, people are going in droves.'
A beluga whale who defected from Russia's Naval Army in 2019 may have found a new home in Norway.

The 2,700-pound whale, nicknamed Hvaldimir, was believed to have been conducting military operations for Putin after locals found it wearing a harness that read 'Equipment St. Petersburg' while it slowly trailed boats.

Hvaldimir surfaced off the coast of Sweden last May and marine biologists are now trying to integrate him into the wild.

The team at OneWhale hopes to introduce Hvaldimir to a pod of 500 to 600 beluga whales living in the Arctic waters that will be his forever home.

Russian spy whale, Hvaldimir, escaped from St. Petersburg, Russia before traversing the ocean to Norway, then Sweden and now has found a new home

OneWhale has tried to work with the Norwegian government to integrate Hvaldimir into a nearby pod, and has just received the support needed to move forward

Russia has a long history of training dolphins for its war efforts, but marine biologists believe it has added whales to its arsenal.

Inge Wegge, Norwegian advisor to OneWhale, told Dailymail.com: It started to become clearer how Russia was using these animals and that Hvaldimir had escaped just in time.

Russia has never issued a formal response to Hvaldimir's escape or accusations that its military is using beluga whales for its war efforts.

However, Russian reserve colonel Viktor Baranets said in a 2019 broadcast: 'If we were using this animal for spying, do you really think we'd attach a mobile phone number with the message 'Please call this number?'

When Hvaldimir first appeared in Norway's Arctic in 2019, locals were warned t steer clear of the alleged marine spy.

Marine biologists from the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries rushed to the scene and removed the attached man-made harness on the whale.

In an apparent giveaway, the harness clips read 'Equipment St. Petersburg,' adding to a theory that he was trained by the Russian navy

Hvaldimir was spotted off the coast of Norway in 2019. The whale would follow close to boats

Marine biologists believed Hvaldimir didn't encounter a single other beluga whale during his travels

The harness had a mount suited for an action camera and the words 'Equipment St. Petersburg' printed on the plastic clasps.

Directorate officials said Hvaldimir may have escaped an enclosure and had been trained by the Russian navy as it appeared to be accustomed to humans.

The whale then spent more than three years slowly moving down the top half of the Norwegian coastline, before suddenly speeding up in recent months to cover the second half and on to Sweden.

Hvaldimir baffled scientists when he surfaced in Sweden, saying they didn't believe the beluga had encountered another beluga whale since it escaped from Russia.

Researchers said it was plausible that the whale could have been looking for a mate.

The team at OneWhale hopes to introduce Hvaldimir to a pod of 500 to 600 wild beluga whales living in the Arctic waters

Hvaldimir is estimated to be between 12 and 20 years old and weighs 2,700 pounds

Regina Crosby Haug, who founded the nonprofit OneWhale, said that Hvaldimir's escape into the wild could have been a death sentence, but she and her team stayed with him to ensure he survived.

'After years of efforts they [the Norwegian government] showed up for Hvaldimir,' she said.

'They came to the table, and ever since then, we have been working on a real, sustainable solution.

'Norway showed us and the world they want Hvaldimir to live a long, natural life in the wild.'

Marine biologists believe the whale is somewhere between 12 and 20 years old, but it is so difficult to determine a beluga's precise age because of their diverse aging patterns and varied growth and development.

The whales there are known for living in close-knit family pods and sharing and teaching each other languages.

The pod also exhibits highly social behavior which should give Hvaldimir 'a very high chance of integrating and living a life with his species,' Victoria told Dailymail.com.
Optical illusions can tell a lot about your personality and how you perceive the world.

A new brain teaser was designed to tell people about their love language and the type of person they seek for a partner.

A colorful image invites viewers to consider what they see first - there are two options in the illusion.

One of the choices suggests you see emotional and psychological aspects of a person's character more important.

While the other symbolizes creativity and a unique personality -so what do you see?

Do you see an upsidedown guitar or a girl's face? The answer reveals what you want out of a relationship

You saw either a woman or upside down guitar, according to a TikTok account, PicPsy, which shared the image.

If you see a girl with black hair and red lips, it means you have a protective desire to care for the one you love. 'you might emotional and psychological aspects.'

That means you strive to protect and care for your partner.

And the TikTok video also noted that you value emotional understand and a connection above all when it comes to a partner.

You value emotional connections and understanding the most and are 'seeking deep spiritual communications, not just superficial interactions,' the video shared.

Finally, you're thoughtful when it comes to love and do not make decisions lightly but when decide, you are resolute.

Seeing an upside-down guitar reveals that when it comes to relationships, you want to 'experience unique and novel experiences with your partner, seeking a love story that stands out from the rest,' shared the video.

The TikTok clip also added that you want to 'strive for harmony, not friction' and believe it's important for both parties to put effort into the relationship from both parties, rather than just rely on love at first sight.

While this optical illusion can perhaps explain the inner workings of the heart, the question remains why does one person see a guitar while the other sees a woman?

The answer is simply that optical illusions take advantage of a shortcut the brain uses when it processes images.

Have you ever done a brain teaser where all the letters were mixed together except the first and the last, but you could still read the sentence?

This is because the brain doesn't actually read the word in its entirety, but instead takes shortcuts, skipping over some letters so you can process the information faster.

Similarly, when you look at an optical illusion, your brain is cutting corners, looking for the most basic information to identify what you're looking at, and guessing what the full image is if it isn't complete.

But what you'll notice is the longer you look at the image, the more possibilities you might see.

In 2011, researchers from the University of Glasgow, found that when something is unclear to the eye, the mind will predict what it's going to see and fill in the blanks.

'Effectively, our brains construct an incredibly complex jigsaw puzzle using any pieces it can get access to,' explained researcher Fraser Smith.

'These are provided by the context in which we see them, our memories, and our other senses.'

'Sometimes the brain's guess can be so convincing that we see visual illusions,' Smith's co-author, Lars Muckli, from the University's Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, added.

'The brain's main function is to minimize surprise  that is what it has evolved to do.'
Its perhaps not surprising after a year that saw charitable giving and volunteer hours decline that The Daily Progress annual Santa Fund for Schoolkids came up short.

The 130-year-old charitable campaign, one of the longest running newspaper-sponsored charities in the country, fell more than $50,000 short of its $250,000 goal this year and $14,000 short of what was raised last year. But while its not a quarter of a million dollars, the $199,135.05 that was raised will still make a considerable difference in the lives of the Central Virginia schoolchildren its meant to support, according to organizers.

We have fallen short, as so many other campaigns have fallen short in the past few years as giving and volunteering continue to decline. But $200,000 is not pocket change, said Daily Progress editor Reynolds Hutchins. Our many donors this year can know that their money will still be changing the lives of schoolchildren, providing them shoes, clothes, school supplies and other essentials.

The United Way of Greater Charlottesville, The Daily Progress longtime partner in the drive, said the $250,000 goal was always meant to be a lofty aspiration.

Thats less of a focus because we always make an aspirational goal, local United Way President Ravi Respeto told The Daily Progress. We just want to always encourage people to give back and prioritize children in low-income families.

One such family recently moved to Charlottesville from another country. The family, whose identifying details are withheld to protect their privacy, has a third- and fourth-grader attending a city elementary school, and another baby is on the way. They were gifted a $100 voucher with the Santa Fund donations that will allow the parents to purchase new school clothes for their children.

The father saw how much of a difference the new clothing meant for his two young children and wrote a note to the school counselor thanking them for the assistance and letting them know how much of an impact even a small gesture can mean.

A $100 voucher may not seem like much, Charlottesville City Schools mental wellness coordinator Jodie Murphy told The Daily Progress. I dont think people realize it can really shift how kids and families feel about coming to school.

Santa Fund vouchers can be used at participating stores, including Kid-to-Kid, Marshalls, Roses, Shoe Show and TJ Maxx. Parents use the vouchers to purchase items they need and then the store sends the receipt to United Way for reimbursement. At no point in the process do the children ever know, or need to know, they were a beneficiary of the fund.

Local schools have already distributed more than 200 vouchers to families. Last year, the fund raised $213,524 that went toward helping more than 1,790 children, according to Respeto. The nonprofit organization recently added Orange County to its service area, so Respeto said they might reach closer to 1,900 people in spite of the decline in donations.

Giving has been down across the board in the U.S.

Other local charitable organizations, including the Salvation Army and the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA, also reported a decline in giving during 2023. The Salvation Armys annual Red Kettle campaign fell $17,000 short of its $110,000 goal, and the animal shelter did not come close to fulfilling its 50k in 5 days campaign at the end of last year.

Though the Santa Fund campaign is officially over, individuals can still donate through the month of January.

Donations can be made in a persons name, in honor of a loved one or in memory of a deceased friend or family member.

Several of the Santa Fund contributions made over the holidays last year included donations made in honor of grandparents, grandchildren and pets, including a $525 one in fond memory of our CASPCA adoptees Tucker, Nipper and Penny.

The elf gave $300, while a donation of $262.50 was made from the Division of Pediatric Surgery thanking the nurses and providers of 7 West, 7 Central, 7 North, PICU, NICU, SAS, PACU, VOPSC, Pediatric ED, OR desk and fifth-floor Battle clinic desk.

Other organizations who gave to the fund include the Charlottesville Fire Company, Alexandra Summers Fund, Heiner Family Fund and Sons of the American Squadron 74. A donation of $210 was made in honor of all those who must work on the holidays and another for USPS letter carriers.

On Jan. 2, an anonymous donation of $75,000 was made. It was not the first time that unnamed donor has made such a sizable donation, Respeto said.

The fact that that generous donor continues to donate at that level just goes to show the great work were doing, she said.

That work continues even outside of the holiday season, and Santa Fund donations make a difference year-round, organizers said.

Denise Johnson, supervisor of equity and inclusion for Charlottesville City Schools, said the school system decided to hold an internal school supply distribution this August to ensure students had all the necessary supplies going into the year. The United Way gave $20,000 from last years Santa Fund to sponsor more than 1,000 backpacks filled with more than 20 items from the school supply lists.

Without the United Ways support, we wouldnt have been able to do what we did for our students, Johnson told The Daily Progress. "They work so hard, without needing any credit for it. They just see a need and fill it.
As a warning to others, a raft of solo travelers have spoken out about the most dangerous cities they have visited, where muggings, shootings and prostitution are commonplace and going out after dark isn't advised.

In a TikTok, traveler Conner McBee highlights that Tijuana in Mexico is widely considered one of the most dangerous cities in the world and in 2023, it was reported that 105 homicides were committed for every 100,000 residents.

He interviews a woman working at a local pharmacy, and she warns him that criminals can 'beat you up' and 'take your things.' She continues: '[They will] take everything from you until you're barefoot.'

Another local Conner interviews in the street paints a similar picture of the place. He says: 'They'll take your s***, yeah. They'll take it and then take everything you've got.'

As he walks through the city himself, Conner tells viewers: 'There's all these hookers walking towards me, like keeping eyes on me. Yeah, I definitely do not feel safe.'

In a TikTok, traveler Conner McBee highlights that Tijuana in Mexico is widely considered one of the most dangerous cities in the world

As he walks through the city himself, Conner tells viewers: 'There's all these hookers walking towards me, like keeping eyes on me. Yeah, I definitely do not feel safe'

In another TikTok, Courtney Leopard, who has been to more than 59 countries, reveals the cities she felt most unsafe in. First up, she elects Havana in Cuba

One viewer agreed with Conner's summary of Tijuana, and he said that 'all that happened to me there.'

Another commenter said that the city is 'one place I will never step ground on' due to its bad reputation.

In another TikTok, Courtney Leopard, who has been to more than 59 countries, reveals the cities she felt most unsafe in.

She highlights to viewers that 'this is just a personal experience as a solo traveler' and in no particular order.

First up, she elects Havana in Cuba as she said she 'didn't particularly feel that comfortable walking around alone' and she witnessed a mugging in the street.

Recalling the incident, she said: 'I was walking with this older American woman walking behind me and literally this guy tried to mug her and grab her bag when she was about 20ft behind me. So that really kind of put me off.'

Cebu City in the Philippines is another city where Courtney said she felt unsafe.

The traveler notes that she didn't stay in Manilla, so she 'doesn't have anything to compare it to,' but while she was in Cebu she said she was walking to the ferry port just as it was getting dark and she was getting catcalled.

'It was just... not very comfortable for me,' she explains.

YouTuber @littleshamelessviking also went about sharing his insights into Belize City, which he says is where 'most violence' happens in Belize

In a bid to help her followers, Jessica Ufuoma reveals in a TikTok the cities she felt unsafe while traveling alone as a black woman

She said she felt people in Turkey were 'unfriendly and cold' towards her and this was felt even more in Istanbul, while Rio is another place she wouldn't return to alone

Lastly, Courtney's other nomination is Thessaloniki on mainland Greece.

She tells viewers: 'I feel like I can't give a fair representation because I didn't spend that much time there but I'm just going off based off what happened to me and that was that I got followed by a man from the bus stop to my hostel.

'It made me so genuinely uncomfortable that I had to go into a shop and like explain to the woman that this guy was following me and she basically said that she knew him and that he dealt with substance abuse so I should avoid him.

'It just wasn't a great introduction to Thessaloniki.'

In a bid to help her followers, Jessica Ufuoma reveals in a TikTok the cities she felt unsafe while traveling alone as a black woman.

She says she felt people in Turkey were 'unfriendly and cold' towards her and this was felt even more in Istanbul.

Recalling what happened while she was there she states: 'People hardly helped me and they were giving me such nasty stares.

'Turkey's beautiful but please don't go there by yourself.'

Other cities where Courtney said she didn't feel comfortable included Rome and Venice.

The globetrotter adds: 'Honestly, I love Italy but not just by myself. I went to Rome and Venice and and got such unsolicited attention from men asking to take me home for the night. [It was] very disrespectful and not cool at all.'

Finally, Courtney said Rio is another place she wouldn't return to alone.

In one of her TikToks, Daniela Marie highlights some of the cities and towns in America which she found to be most dangerous as a solo traveler

She explains: 'I wanted to feel safe in Rio so bad but sadly I didn't.

'Rio is great vibes though but I couldn't help but feel unsafe there. [I] constantly had to watch over my shoulders and it just wasn't the best experience.'

YouTuber @littleshamelessviking also went about sharing his insights into Belize City, which he says is where 'most violence' happens in Belize.

In his video, he explores the southern part of the city, which locals tell him to avoid.

While walking around the streets he meets a local man called Gatwick, who warns him he shouldn't be wandering around the neighborhood alone.

When they get to a restaurant, Gatwick explains that he never leaves his home after 6pm as there are ten gangs in the area with murders a regular occurrence.

He estimates that there are five to six killings a day.

Summing up his trip around Belize City, @littleshamelessviking says: 'I got a nice tour of the city... got to see some more rough areas also some nicer parts. I learned a lot about the city.'

In one of her TikToks, Daniela Marie highlights some of the cities and towns in America which she found to be most dangerous as a solo traveler.

Her nominations include Moriarty in New Mexico where people treated her 'like an alien,' Lubbock in Texas where she 'got followed by a group of guys in the grocery parking lot,' and Memphis in Tennessee where she almost got her car broken into and she got followed by a creepy guy on Beale Street.'
Visit one of these countries if the gesture is one that taints your holiday

Tipping can be an etiquette minefield while travelling abroad

Tipping can be an etiquette minefield

Tipping is a sign of decency, an indication you appreciate the effort your server, taxi driver, or porter has put into looking after you.

It can, however, be an etiquette minefield while travelling abroad, not to mention a costly gesture.

For those who hate the mental gymnastics that come with adding 15 per cent onto a bill at the end of a wine-soaked meal or tire of working out when and where to tip, you might consider a getaway to one of these countries.

That's because they're nations where it's considered poor form to leave a tip - and in some, tipping is downright insulting.

Australia

You can leave a little something when you pick up your flat white without causing offence in Australia. However, no one will be upset if you don't. Pictured is a barista making coffee in Perth

Down under, tipping isn't expected, though neither is it sniffed at. In bigger cities a 10 per cent service charge is often included in the bill, and you won't raise any eyebrows leaving a tip when you order a flat white.

Switzerland

It's not customary to tip in Switzerland, where service charges are included in prices in most places under federal law. That said, if you're pleased with your service a gratuity would be welcome.

It's not customary to tip in Switzerland, where service charges are included in prices in most places under federal law. Pictured is the famously cosmopolitan Swiss city of Geneva

But don't fret about ensuring the waiters are adequately compensated: the country has one of the highest minimum wages in the world.

Argentina

A curious one. Under a 2004 labour law it is illegal to tip people working in hotels or restaurants. That doesn't mean it doesn't happen, nor that it isn't welcome.

The law isn't regularly enforced, though - tipping accounts for approximately 40 per cent of the average Argentine waiter's income, so it's a kindness to leave a little something.

Belgium

Wages are handsome in Belgium, so tipping isn't expected. You won't be chased out of the restaurant for offering 10 per cent, however.

French Polynesia

No one expects a tip in French Polynesia - indeed, if you're bowled over by great service and offer a gratuity, the recipient may decline it. Some restaurants attach notes to a bill to advise whether or not tips are welcome, to avoid tripping clientele up.

Singapore

Tipping is somewhat controversial in Singapore. A small offering won't cause offence when dining or taking a taxi. But it's officially discouraged: indeed, the government website states 'tipping is not a way of life' on the island.

COUNTRIES WHERE TIPPING IS AN INSULT

Japan

It's a slap in the face to offer a tip in Japan, where the cultural norm is to take great pride in your work. Employees hold themselves to a very high standard when supplying a service: no gratuity is needed to be feel appreciated.

Indeed, offering a tip suggests you don't think their employer recognises their value, so doesn't pay them enough.

China

Leaving a tip in China is all but forbidden. Pictured - a waiter in Shanghai

Here, it's all but forbidden. Leaving a gratuity used to be prohibited in China - for decades, leaving a tip was considered a bribe. To this day, in much of the country it's considered a personal affront to restaurant staff or hoteliers if you leave them a gratuity.

The exception are tour guides or tour bus drivers - you can hand them some cash for their troubles without causing offence.

South Korea

Like Japan and China, tipping is considered outright rude in South Korea. An attempt to leave a gratuity may well be turned down.
A couple was left stunned after they discovered that they were the only guests staying at a luxury five-star resort in Mexico.

Cameron Jensen headed to Los Cabos earlier this month with his wife for their babymoon, booking a room at the brand new Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos, where rooms start at a whopping $1,150 a night.

But soon after arriving, the pair noticed that they didn't see any other people around the property - and while having the entire place to themselves came with some perks, they admitted that it was also a little 'creepy.'

Cameron documented the stay on his TikTok account and the videos quickly went viral, leaving the internet divided over whether or not they'd enjoy being the only ones at a sprawling resort.

A couple was left stunned after they discovered that they were the only guests staying at a luxury five-star resort in Mexico

Cameron Jensen headed to Los Cabos with his wife for their babymoon, booking a room at the brand new Grand Velas, where rooms start at a whopping $1,150 a night

Soon after arriving, the pair noticed that they didn't see any other people around the property - and they admitted that having the entire place to themselves was a little 'creepy'

Cameron documented the stay on his TikTok account and the videos quickly went viral, leaving the internet divided over whether or not they'd enjoy being the only ones at a sprawling resort

'This was kinda creepy, we had this whole entire resort to ourselves,' Cameron began in one video, as a montage of clips that showcased eerily empty restaurants, pools, beaches, cabanas, and lounges flashed across the screen.

Cameron showcased eerily empty restaurants, pools, beaches, cabanas, and lounges

'At first, it started as a joke, we were joking, looks like we have the whole place to ourselves.

'I started recording on our first day when I didn't see anybody but employees. But as the days progressed, it started to freak us out. It felt like an episode of Black Mirror.'

Cameron told his followers that he would get 'excited' any time he saw someone around the property, only to realize they were actually employees or contractors working on the resort.

He said he searched every area looking for fellow vacationers, and revealed that they ended up seeing an 'elderly couple' one night at the restaurant and another younger pair once during breakfast - but other than that, they didn't come across any other guests during their stay.

'It was kinda cool until it wasn't. I would find myself at night looking over the whole place trying to find someone,' he admitted.

'Things started to get a little creepier when we went to the activities and were also by ourselves.'

Cameron added that the hotel was 'very nice' and the food was 'top notch,' and wondered, 'Why isn't this place jam-packed?'

Cameron said that at first, he and his wife laughed about it, but then it started to 'feel like an episode of Black Mirror'

'It was kinda cool until it wasn't. I would find myself at night looking over the whole place trying to find someone,' Cameron admitted

Cameron added that the hotel was 'very nice' and the food was 'top notch,' and wondered, 'Why isn't this place jam-packed?'

Cameron told his followers that he would get 'excited' any time he saw someone around the property, only to realize they were actually employees or contractors working on the resort

'I have asked employees why it's so empty and every time I get a different answer.

He said he searched every area looking for fellow vacationers, and revealed that they ended up seeing one 'elderly couple' one night at the restaurant and another younger pair once during breakfast - but other than that, they didn't come across any other guests during their entire stay

'The answers have ranged from, "What are you talking about, it is full?" to "construction" to "it's slow season." The one thing they all have in common is getting uncomfortable when I ask.'

After Cameron's video went viral - the initial TikTok received a whopping 6.7 million views - people understandably had a lot of questions.

Some even accused him of faking it being empty for views, so he replied by sharing a walk-through tour of the hotel to prove that they were really alone.

He trailed through the desolate hallways before visiting the vacant gym and various eateries. He then showed off a vast white lobby with no signs of life.

He also insisted that they were 'not sponsored,' it 'wasn't staged,' and that they 'had paid full price for the trip.'

When it came time to check out, Cameron shared a clip that showed the entire staff lined up to bid him and his wife farewell.

Some people on TikTok accused him of pretending the resort was empty for views, so he replied by sharing a walk-through tour of the hotel to prove they were really alone

He trailed through the desolate hallways before visiting the vacant gym and various eateries

When it came time to check out, Cameron shared a clip that showed the entire staff lined up to bid him and his wife farewell

The hotel even had a band playing for them as they left, and a few staff members held up a sign that said 'You're not alone.'

They even had a band playing for them as they left, and a few staff members held up a sign that said 'You're not alone'

'They must have saw my viral video,' Cameron theorized.

In the end, despite feeling 'panicked' about being there alone at first, he and his wife said they had a great time and appreciated the 'amazing' staff who made them feel 'special and loved.'

They added that being the only guests came with some positives - like getting a private dinner on the beach one night.

As for why there was no one there, Cameron explained in a final video that he found out after returning home that the hotel had only opened a few weeks prior to them visiting.

'We didn't know that going into it,' his wife insisted.

The Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos opened in December 2023 and is described as an 'unparalleled coastal hideaway' and 'the epitome of luxury' on its website.

In the end, despite feeling 'panicked' about being there alone at first, he and his wife said they had a great time and appreciated the 'amazing' staff who made them feel 'special and loved'

They added that being the only guests came with some positives - like getting a private dinner on the beach one night

As for why there was no one there, Cameron explained in one final video that he found out after returning home that the hotel had only opened a few weeks prior to them visiting it

'Nestled by the Sea of Cortez in Mexico's prestigious coastal haven, Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos is a luxurious and intimate retreat, offering 79 opulent suites and a private beach,' the description reads.

'This all-inclusive, adults-only boutique hotel in Cabo San Lucas offers a romantic escape with access to our sister property, Grand Velas Los Cabos.

'Indulge in five-star culinary artistry. Lounge by the infinity pool. Renew at the wellness center, and feel the luxury of personalized service.'

In a statement to DailyMail.com, a rep for the resort said, 'While we cannot comment specifically on if a guest is staying at any of our resorts... Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos opened on January 8 and in its soft opening phase.

'We are limiting the number of suites available for booking until we are confident that all aspects of the resort from accommodations and restaurants to design and service will surpass travelers' expectations.'

'At all of the collection's properties, Velas Resorts operate at 100 per cent regardless of the number of actual guests staying on property.

'That is a staff to guest ratio of three to one, versus many other resorts that are the opposite (three guests to every one staff).

'Velas Resorts prides itself on offering the very best, not just when it comes to service, but food, accommodations, design, [and] experiences.

'Comparatively higher than others in the destination, our nightly rates reflect the value that one receives when visiting Velas Resorts. We don't lower our rates to pack people in.'
It has been more than two years since Taylor Sheridan directed a feature film, but the Yellowstone co-creator is ready to return to the big screen.

Sheridan, 53, has optioned the non-fiction book Empire Of The Summer Moon: Quanah Parker And The Rise And Fall Of The Comanches, The Most Powerful Indian Tribe In American History, Deadline reported this week.

The book traces the history of the Comanche Nation through the mid-19th century and into the 20th century as Quanah Parker, often described as the Last Chief of the Comanche, went to battle against colonizing settlers from the East.

Sheridan secured the rights to adapt the book, which was written by S. C. Gwynne, through a tense bidding war, though Bosque Ranch is said to have aggressively bid to secure the property.

The Yellowstone mastermind, who already has five spin-offs to that series ongoing or in the works, will reportedly be writing and directed the epic film.

Yellowstone co-creator Taylor Sheridan has optioned the non-fiction book Empire Of The Summer Moon as his next film to write, direct and produce, according to Deadline; seen in 2021 in Las Vegas

The book traces the Comanche Nation in the mid-to-late 19th century and follows its 'final' chief Quanah, who pushed back French and Spanish colonizers before ultimately surrendering to US troops

He'll also be producing for Bosque Ranch with Jenny Wood.

The adaptation was originally set to be handled at Warner Bros., and Sheridan was reportedly interested in helming the project back then, though it doesn't appear to have any current connection to the film giant.

'I cant think of anyone better qualified to bring Empire Of The Summer Moon to the screen than Taylor Sheridan,' Gwynne said. 'He has a deep and nuanced understanding of both the myth and reality of the Old West. I am thrilled that he is undertaking this project.'

The historian's book became a bestseller and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize after it was published in 2010.

Empire Of The Summer moon traces the Comanche toward the end of the 19th as Quanah Parker led the tribe.

His mother, Cynthia Ann Parker, a European American woman, was abducted by the Comanche during an attack on a US fort when she was around nine years old.

Unlike other abductees, who were returned to their families, she was adopted by a Comanche family and became completely assimilated into the tribe due to her young age.

She married a chief, Peta Nocona, and had three children with him, including Quanah, the last of the tribe's chiefs before the Comanche Nation was forced to move onto a reservation in Oklahoma.

Cynthia Parker was later captured by Texas Rangers when she was 33, and they forced her to separate from Quanah and her other children, though she desperately tried to reunite with her Comanche family, as she had little memory of her time with her Anglo-American family. Her story was a major inspiration for the Natalie Wood character in John Ford's classic John Waynestarring Western, The Searchers (1956).

Quanah and the Comanches were successful early on in fending off Spanish and French colonizers, and they later went to battle against US forces, but he eventually put down his weapons as settlers continued to decimate American bison herds.

The US government later appointed him the principal chief of the Comanche Nation, though the position was later replace by the tribe with a chairman position.

The new film will be Sheridan's first since 2021's Those Who Wish Me Dead. He has lately been consumed with drama on his series Yellowstone (pictured), which has five spinoffs ongoing or in the works

Sheridan has long been fascinated by Quanah, who features in 1883 and 1923. Quanah allegedly selected the location of the Four Sixes ranch in Texas, which Sheridan later bought, and it include artifacts belonging to the chief

According to Deadline, Sheridan has had a years-long fascination with Quanah, and the massive Four Sixes ranch that he bought  with an investor group  had a lance that once belonged to the chief, though it has since been moved to a museum for safe keeping.

Burk Burnett, who founded the ranch in 1870, had been friends with Quanah, and the Comanche chief reportedly selected the prime location for him in Texas.

He allegedly even killed a deer to mark the occasion, and its antler still hang above the enormous stone fireplace decoration the living room of the ranch's main house.

Sheridan has previously featured or referenced Quanah in both his Yellowstone spinoffs 1883 and 1923.
A Hollywood silver fox has just joined the cast of Ransom Canyon, the upcoming Yellowstone-style western show from Netflix.

Based on a book series by romance novelist Jodi Thomas, the show will star Josh Duhamel as a Texas ranch owner.

As he protects his Double K Ranch, a beautiful woman played by Minka Kelly, sweeps back home and into his life from New York.

Now three new actors have been added to the cast - including one heartthrob who has built an illustrious showbiz family.

So who is this newly-minted member of the Ransom Canyon world?

A Hollywood silver fox has just joined the cast of Ransom Canyon, the upcoming Yellowstone-style western show from Netflix - can you guess who he is?

Based on a book series by romance novelist Jodi Thomas, the show will star Josh Duhamel (pictured) as a Texas ranch owner

As he protects his Double K Ranch, a beautiful woman played by Minka Kelly (pictured), sweeps back home and into his life from New York.

James Brolin, 83, is one of three actors who have joined the cast of the upcoming historical romance, a report in Variety confirmed this week.

So has Lizzy Greene, the 20-year-old actress who shot to fame on the successful ABC drama series A Million Little Things.

The sizzling Irish actor Eoin Macken, best known in America for his role on the NBC series La Brea, has also been cast on the series.

James Brolin is perhaps most famous for his television roles, particularly Marcus Welby, MD in the 1960s and 1970s and Hotel in the 1980s.

Alongside his career, he has also built a formidable Hollywood family - his son is Oscar-nominated hunk Josh Brolin and his wife is showbiz legend Barbra Streisand.

In 2021, he became the narrator of the Netflix fantasy series Sweet Tooth - and he has now added another job at the streamer to his filmography with Ransom Canyon.

Duhamel leads the cast of Ransom Canyon as family patriarch Sterling Kirkland, while Kelly plays Quinn, who previously moved to New York to become a concert pianist but is now home in Texas.

It's James Brolin! He is perhaps most famous for his television roles, particularly Marcus Welby, MD in the 1960s and 1970s and Hotel in the 1980s; pictured for Hotel with Connie Sellecca

Alongside his career, he has also built a formidable Hollywood family - his son is Josh Brolin and his wife is Barbra Streisand; the three of them are pictured with Josh's wife Kathryn Boyd

Yellowstone similarly followed the drama that unfolds on a Middle American ranch, headed up by a patriarch played by The Bodyguard dreamboat Kevin Costner.

News broke in December that the series had been commissioned by Netflix with a 10-episode first season in the works.

Yellowstone similarly followed the drama that unfolds on a Middle American ranch, headed up by a patriarch played by The Bodyguard dreamboat Kevin Costner.

Other cast members include Cole Hauser in a fan favorite turn as the rough-hewn Rip Wheeler, plus Luke Grimes, Kelly Reilly and Wes Bentley.

Created by Sicario writer Taylor Sheridan, the show became a thunderous smash hit across America, spawning two spin-off prequel series.
Zac Efron hires John Cena to be his fake best friend in a rollicking trailer for Ricky Stanicky, the new film by Peter Farrelly of the Farrelly brothers.

Ricky Stanicky is a fictional character made up by three best friends played by Zac and comedians Andrew Santino and Jermaine Fowler.

Whenever the three of them need an excuse to go away together or get out of an obligation, they invoke their fake friend Ricky and say he needs them.

However the house of cards threatens to come crashing down when the trio go on vacation together, using Ricky as a pretext, and Andrew misses his son's birth.

In order to prevent their loved ones from discovering their secret, they enlist the help of an 'X-rated rock 'n' roll impersonator' called 'Rock-Hard Rod' to play Ricky.

Zac Efron hires John Cena to be his fake best friend in a rollicking trailer for Ricky Stanicky, the new film by Peter Farrelly of the Farrelly brothers

Ricky Stanicky is a fictional character made up by three best friends played by Zac and comedians Andrew Santino and Jermaine Fowler

Whenever the three of them need an excuse to go away together or get out of an obligation, they invoke their fake friend Ricky and say he needs them

However the house of cards threatens to come crashing down when the trio go on vacation together, using Ricky as a pretext, and Andrew misses his son's birth

In order to prevent their loved ones from discovering their secret, they enlist the help of an 'X-rated rock 'n' roll impersonator' called 'Rock-Hard Rod' to play Ricky

At the start of the trailer, the three men tell the women in their lives that their friend Ricky Stanicky has cancer - all as a gambit to go on a party trip together.

Andrew's character has a wife who is nearing the end of her pregnancy, but as she is not due for another six weeks, they feel safe in leaving for a few days.

Their best-laid plans go astray when they are pummeled with texts revealing that the wife has gone into labor without them.

Once Andrew gets to the hospital, cradling his baby, it emerges that his family have been searching for Ricky Stanicky and have discovered no record of him.

The three men gather together at a diner and bewail their situation over coffee, with Andrew pointing out: 'If the truth does come out, my marriage is over.'

At that point, Zac has a brainwave - find an actor who can play Ricky for them and introduce him to their loved ones in order to throw them off the scent.

They wander into a seedy nightclub and meet up with the John Cena character, 'Rock-Hard Rod,' a dirty tribute act who impersonates a variety of rock stars.

Not long after they have hired Rod, who greets his audiences onstage by cooing: 'Horny to meet you,' they begin to have misgivings.

At the start of the trailer, the three men tell the women in their lives that their friend Ricky Stanicky has cancer - all as a gambit to go on a party trip together

Andrew's character has a wife who is nearing the end of her pregnancy, but as she is not due for another six weeks, they feel safe in leaving for a few days

Their best-laid plans go astray when they are pummeled with texts revealing that the wife has gone into labor without them

Once Andrew gets to the hospital, cradling his baby, it emerges that his family have been searching for Ricky Stanicky and have discovered no record of him

The three men gather together at a diner and bewail their situation over coffee, with Andrew pointing out: 'If the truth does come out, my marriage is over'

At that point, Zac has a brainwave - find an actor who can play Ricky for them and introduce him to their loved ones in order to throw them off the scent

They wander into a seedy nightclub and meet up with the John Cena character, 'Rock-Hard Rod,' a dirty tribute act who impersonates a variety of rock stars

Not long after they have hired Rod, who greets his audiences onstage by cooing: 'Horny to meet you,' they begin to have misgivings

When they go to the airport to pick him up as he arrives in their city, they are confronted with the sight of him vomiting into a trash can.

'I've been cold-turkey-ing the booze! Ricky Stanicky's in the program, remember?' says a pallid, red-eyed Rod, whose jeans are sodden with urine.

When, however, the time comes for his big reveal, the showman in Rod asserts himself and he plays Ricky Stanicky to perfection.

He thunders into Andrew's baby's bris, wearing a well-fitted daytime suit and throwing his arms wide as he crows: 'Mishpocha!' the Yiddish word for 'family.'

Ricky Stanicky manages to integrate himself so fully into the proceedings that he ends up acting as the mohel - the man who performs the circumcision.

At the same party, he walks up to Zac and Andrew's boss Ted (William H. Macy) and immediately brings up his hair plugs, mortifying him.

Zac and Andrew retreat to the kitchen in horror, certain they are about to be fired, only to later discover that to the contrary, 'Ricky' has been hired at their company.

'I was really taken with your friend Stanicky,' Ted explains in his spacious office. 'He's got brass balls on him, that guy! That's why I hired him.'

When they go to the airport to pick him up as he arrives in their city, they are confronted with the sight of him vomiting into a trash can

'I've been cold-turkey-ing the booze! Ricky Stanicky's in the program, remember?' says a pallid, red-eyed Rod, whose jeans are sodden with urine

When, however, the time comes for his big reveal, the showman in Rod asserts himself and he plays Ricky Stanicky to perfection

He thunders into Andrew's baby's bris, wearing a well-fitted daytime suit and throwing his arms wide as he crows: 'Mishpocha!' the Yiddish word for 'family'

Ricky Stanicky manages to integrate himself so fully into the proceedings that he ends up acting as the mohel - the man who performs the circumcision

At the same party, he walks up to Zac and Andrew's boss Ted (William H. Macy) and immediately brings up his hair plugs, mortifying him

Zac and Andrew retreat to the kitchen in horror, certain they are about to be fired, only to later discover that to the contrary, 'Ricky' has been hired at their company

'I was really taken with your friend Stanicky,' Ted explains in his spacious office: 'He's got brass balls on him, that guy! That's why I hired him'

Ricky Stanicky's unfiltered attitude extends even to the point of criticizing the way Ted gives presentation - and Ted, stunningly, laps up the feedback

Noting Ted's hand gestures, Ricky notes to his colleagues: 'Every time he tries to make a point, it's like he's smoking invisible dongs'

'Dear God, it's true!' moans Ted, as footage of one of his presentations plays on a laptop in front of him: 'Now it looks like I'm cupping the balls!'

The three original friends become worried about how inextricably Rod has entangled himself into their lives, and start trying to 'get rid of him'

Rod, however, has no interest in relinquishing his shiny new life: 'My job sucked, I had no friends - but now I have all those things!'

The movie was directed and co-written by Peter Farrelly, who with his brother Bobby was behind such movies as Dumb And Dumber and There's Something About Mary

His new directorial venture, Ricky Stanicky, will not receive a theatrical release but will be available to stream on Amazon Prime from March 7

Ricky Stanicky's unfiltered attitude extends even to the point of criticizing the way Ted gives presentation - and Ted, stunningly, laps up the feedback.

Noting Ted's hand gestures, Ricky notes to his colleagues: 'Every time he tries to make a point, it's like he's smoking invisible dongs.'

'Dear God, it's true!' moans Ted, as footage of one of his presentations plays on a laptop in front of him. 'Now it looks like I'm cupping the balls!'

The three original friends become worried about how inextricably Rod has entangled himself into their lives, and start trying to 'get rid of him.'

Rod, however, has no interest in relinquishing his shiny new life: 'My job sucked, I had no friends - but now I have all those things!'

The movie was directed and co-written by Peter Farrelly, who with his brother Bobby was behind such movies as Dumb And Dumber and There's Something About Mary.

Peter's solo career has included the dramedy Green Book, which stunned Oscar audiences by winning best picture in 2019.

His new directorial venture, Ricky Stanicky, will not receive a theatrical release but will be available to stream on Amazon Prime from March 7.
Molly Ringwald put on a glammed-up display while arriving at Good Morning America's studio in New York City on Friday.

The actress, 55, was photographed making her way towards the program's production area, and she was later greeted by several of her fans after finishing up her appearance.

The star of The Breakfast Club  who recently attended the premiere of Feud: Capote vs. The Swans  was first seen wearing a fuzzy white coat as she braved the rainy weather.

Ringwald later removed her outerwear, revealing a floral-printed black jacket that was worn on top of a cream-colored blouse.

The Pretty In Pink star tucked her top into a lengthy denim maxi skirt, which she paired with thigh-high dark green boots.

Molly Ringwald put on a glammed-up display while arriving at Good Morning America's studio in New York City on Friday

She accessorized with a chic cherry red purse, as well as wide-framed sunglasses and various articles of jewelry.

Her beautiful red hair remained free-flowing and cascaded onto her back and shoulders.

Ringwald's appearance on Good Morning America took place after she revealed that her daughter Mathilda threw a 'rager' for her 16th birthday during Thursday's episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

The Riverdale actress began by stating that her eldest child's event turned out to be much larger than expected.

The performer stated via NBC: 'she told us that the party was starting at I think 8 or 9 o'clock...it started at 5 and by the time we got there it was like 200 people at our house. I'm not kidding.'

Ringwald then remarked that the event was akin to any of the party scenes from her movies multiplied by 'three or ten.'

She also added that, although law enforcement arrived at the event, Mathilda knew how to deal with the situation.

'The police arrived and my daughter who evidently has seen too many Law & Orders told the police that they couldn't come in without a warrant,' she stated.

The actress, 55, was photographed making her way towards the program's production area, and she was later greeted by several of her fans after finishing up her appearance

The star of The Breakfast Club  who recently attended the premiere of Feud: Capote vs. The Swans  was first seen wearing a fuzzy white coat which she later removed to reveal a vibrant floral blouse

Ringwald's GMA appearance comes after she revealed that her daughter Mathilda threw a 'rager' for her 16th birthday; she is seen with her daughter in 2023

She also added that, although law enforcement arrived at the event, Mathilda knew how to deal with the situation; she is seen with her daughter in 2023

Ringwald then remarked that the police ultimately told the partygoers to go home.

The performer shares Mathilda, 20, as well as her twins Adele and Roman, with her husband, Panio Gianopoulos, whom she married in 2007.

The actress and the writer started their family with the arrival of their eldest child in October of 2003.

The happy couple went on to welcome their fraternal twins, 14, in July of 2009.
Kim Kardashian admitted that she regrets letting her daughter, North West, wear red lipstick in the past when she was only five-years-old.

The SKIMS founder, 43, opened up about the parenting mistake while promoting her SKKN by Kim launch with Bustle.

The reality star  who dropped the makeup line on Friday  was asked about her thoughts on the Sephora tween drama, where young girls are making a mess of the aisles inside the beauty retailer.

Although Kim revealed that she hasn't, 'seen all this Sephora drama,' she discussed whether her own daughters, North, 10, and Chicago, six, are on that road when it comes to makeup.

'My littlest one's too little and I don't let her,' the TV personality stated. 'I look back and there's times when I remember I let my daughter wear a red lip once for Christmas.'

'Would I do that now? Probably not,' the businesswoman told the outlet.

Kim Kardashian, 43, admitted that she regrets letting her daughter, North West, wear red lipstick in the past when she was only five-years-old; seen on Thursday in Paris

The SKIMS founder's eldest daughter, North, had worn the bold red lipstick during the family's annual Christmas party back in 2018 (seen above)

'Would I do that now? Probably not,' the businesswoman told the outlet

The Kardashians star was referencing to the family's annual Christmas party that took place back in 2018.

At the time, the beauty had uploaded photos from the lavish bash that she attended with her now ex-husband, Kanye West, and three of their children: North, Saint, eight, and Chicago. Their youngest son, Psalm, four, had yet to be born.

She received backlash for letting a five-year-old North wear the colorful lipstick, and announced shortly afterwards that the shade called 'Classic Red Lip' would be launching for consumers.

Kim further defended her decision to allow her daughter to wear the lipstick, and penned on X, formerly known as Twitter, 'She picked it though! It's a special occasion!'

The following year, North once again wore a vibrant red tint on her lips while dressing up for Halloween.

However, Kim had informed E! News in 2019 that the Flashing Lights rapper had banned his eldest daughter from wearing makeup.

'North is trying to get in on the makeup, but she's being blocked heavily because her dad has stopped all makeup for her until she is a teenage.'

She further explained that, 'It's a big discussion, a big fight in the household right now but it is what's best.'

'My littlest one's too little and I don't let her,' the TV personality stated. 'I look back and there's times when I remember I let my daughter wear a red lip once for Christmas'

She received backlash for letting a 5-year-old North wear the colorful lipstick, and announced shortly afterwards that the shade called 'Classic Red Lip' would be launching for consumers

Kim further defended her decision to allow her daughter to wear the lipstick, and penned on X, formerly known as Twitter, 'She picked it though! It's a special occasion!'

'I think as a parent you just learn and figure it out as you go and we realized we didn't really want her to wear makeup at a young age but she sees her mom putting on lipstick and lip gloss.'

While recently talking to Bustle, Kim gave an update on North's love for makeup and explained, 'At least with my oldest daughter, she just likes to dress her friends up and do makeup looks, whether it's like Pikachu or the Grinch.'

'I don't think she's there yet to where she is going into Sephora and trying on stuff,' the mother-of-four added.

'We were at Saks in the makeup department the other night and she tested something but put a heart on her face with it. I'm like, I don't think that's really why you use eyeliner.'

Elsewhere in the interview, Kim expressed that when it comes to makeup, her daughters feel that it is simply a 'fun game to them.'

'It's art for them to try to do makeup, which is so fun for me to watch. It's like they want to play with their friends and do it, and then they want to just wash it right off.'

'I'm down for the artistry. I think it's fun when they're trying it all and expressing themselves,' the TV personality explained.

However, Kim had informed E! News in 2019 that the Flashing Lights rapper had banned his eldest daughter from wearing makeup; former couple seen in 2019 in NYC

Elsewhere in the interview, Kim expressed that when it comes to makeup, her daughters fell that it is a simply a 'fun game for them'

On Friday, her SKKN by Kim line officially launched lip liners that come in 15 nude colors, 10 soft matte lipsticks and also a classic matte eyeshadow palette.

The new makeup launch comes nearly three years after the businesswoman ended her KKW Beauty Line.

'I feel like my vision is finally getting realized,' Kim told Bustle. 'When I launched with the name SKKN BY KIM, I think people thought like, "Oh, it's just skin care."'

'But I always knew we were working on all of the products so that it could be everything, just all the essentials you need to enhance your best skin, your best self.'

When asked if she would ever pass down the company to her daughters, the reality star replied, 'I think that they will have their own ideas of what they want to do.'

'And if one of 'em wants to take it over, they gladly can. I would love them to be involved, but I also want them to do whatever makes them happy. And that could be totally not in the beauty business and that would be okay with me.'

While North might only be having fun with makeup at the moment, the 10-year-old also enjoys getting pampered and recently took to TikTok as she got a luxurious facial at a spa.

Along with the new launch, Kim has been keeping busy and turned heads on Thursday during Paris Fashion Week.

While North might only be having fun with makeup at the moment, the 10-year-old also enjoys getting pampered and recently took to TikTok as she got a luxurious facial at a spa

Along with the new launch, Kim has been keeping busy and turned heads on Thursday during Paris Fashion Week

She stunned wearing a fitted, black dress that clung to her frame and contained cutouts throughout the fabric.

The beauty wore the ensemble as she attended the Maison Margiela runway show with her sister Kylie Jenner and mother Kris Jenner.

Earlier this week, the SKIMS founder also jumped onto her social media as she brought her fans along a quick tour of her $400,000 Balenciaga handbag closet.

The post came shortly after Kim was named a brand ambassador for the Balenciaga - a little over one year after the label was engulfed in a so-called pedophilia scandal following an ad campaign that featured photos of children with bondage gear.

A separate campaign included court papers as background decorations that eagle-eyed critics pointed out were from child sexual abuse cases.

At the time, the SKIMS founder also released a statement condemning the campaign, but refused to cut ties with Balenciaga.

Earlier this week, the SKIMS founder also jumped onto her social media as she brought her fans along a quick tour of her $400,000 Balenciaga handbag closet

The post came shortly after Kim was named a brand ambassador for the Balenciaga - a little over one year after the label was engulfed in a so-called pedophilia scandal following an ad campaign that featured photos of children with bondage gear

Later on Friday, Kim's daughter North took to their joint TikTok account to try out the new makeup products from the SKKN by Kim line

The 10-year-old decided to begin by taking a look at the eye shadow palette that offers consumers a total of 12 different shades

She opted to choose the dark gray color which she applied with a thin brush onto her eyelids

The eldest daughter of Kim and Kanye West also tested out the other colors from the palette on her left arm

After having fun by applying the dark shadow to her eyelids, North then grabbed the lipliners to also try out

She decided to put on a darker, nude-colored lipliner as well as a matte lipstick that was in a lighter shade

On her Instagram stories, the mother-of-four reposted an announcement from Balenciaga that read: 'Today, Balenciaga names Kim Kardashian as a new brand ambassador.'

She included a quote from herself: 'For several years now, Balenciaga's designs have been a part of my many looks - and some of my most iconic fashion moments.'

'This historic fashion house embraces modernity, craftsmanship and takes an innovative approach to design under Demna.'

'For me, this long-standing relationship is built on mutual trust and a commitment to doing what's right. I'm excited about this next chapter for the brand and to become their ambassador,' she added.
Lorraine Kelly has told how her husband of 32 years Steve Smith regularly checks her breasts for lumps.

The TV presenter, 64, who married cameraman Steve in 1992, joked that he is a 'selfless' man because of the act.

Lorraine admitted that she is 'fastidious about mammograms' and admitted that she knows all 'boobies are different', but when it comes to thorough checking, she enlists the help of her husband.

The Scottish star, who runs the 'Change and Check' campaign, which has helped women get an early breast cancer diagnosis - potentially saving their lives said: 'Steve regularly checks mine... selfless, he is. Selfless!'

She added: 'But that's great. He probably knows them better than I do. It's the same with women and men checking for testicular cancer.'

Lorraine Kelly has told how her husband of 32 years Steve Smith regularly checks her breasts for lumps.

The TV presenter, 64, who married cameraman Steve in 1992, said that when it comes to thorough checking for lumps, she enlists the help of her husband who 'probably knows them better' than she does

The Change and Check campaign, which launched in 2019 to show women how to check themselves for signs of breast cancer, was championed by Lorraine's friend and producer Helen Addis who was diagnosed aged 39.

Posters and stickers which show what signs to look out for, are put in hundreds of changing rooms nationwide.

Writing for MailOnline at the time of the launch, Lorraine said: 'The stickers show a range of images that highlight the red flags for breast cancer.

'It could be lumps in the breast or under the armpit, or other signs such as a discharge or bleeding from the nipple, swelling or a change in breast or nipple shape, puckering or dimpling of the skin, unusual pain, or a rash on the breast.'

She added: 'Of course, our boobs are all different. What is normal for you might not be normal for me.'

Having previously said their sex life is 'ticking along nicely', and with Valentines Day coming up, Lorraine revealed what a good evening in would be.

She told Weight Watchers: 'There is nothing like a relaxing evening with the one you love.'

She went on to say: 'Valentines Day dinner is special and a little more indulgent. Something classic, like a steak with red wine is a gorgeous thing to eat on Valentines Day and obviously Steve is thrilled with a choice like that!

Lorraine added that 'remembering things the other person likes' is always a nice gesture in showing how much you care.

Lorraine heads up The Change and Check campaign, which launched in 2019 to show women how to check themselves for signs of breast cancer

Lorraine who has been married to Steve for 32 years explained that 'remembering things the other person likes' is always a nice gesture in showing how much you care

She also admitted she will be enjoying an early relaxing night with Steve as she 'loves getting in bed and having a full eight hours of sleep'.

The daytime TV star added: 'The little things count  be thoughtful. Remembering things the other person likes.

'Writing wee notes on birthdays and Valentines Day is a small way to remind them you love them.

'Im not into big gestures, but I love when Steve cooks for me and we can have a quiet night in together.

'Indulge in little treats, together. With my job, one of the most indulgent things for me is sleep.

'Getting to end my relaxing night with Steve by going to bed early is a real treat. Sleep is super important to me, its so vital to general good health.

'I love getting in bed with clean sheets and getting a full 8 hours of sleep, what a luxury!'
Tyler Christopher's cause of death has been revealed three months after he passed away.

The General Hospital star died at age 50 in October 2023 due to 'positional asphyxia' due to acute alcohol intoxication.

A report by the Medical Examiner Office obtained by TMZ revealed his tragic death was accidental and happened because of how he was positioned.

Essentially, the report said that he suffocated to death and he also had coronary artery atherosclerosis, which is plaque build-up in his arteries.

According to the Mayo Clinic, complications of atherosclerosis can cause coronary arteries to narrow, limiting blood flow to the heart.

Tyler Christopher's cause of death has been revealed three months after he passed away . The General Hospital star died at age 50 in October 2023 due to 'positional asphyxia' due to acute alcohol intoxication

In the morning of October 31, his friend discovered the actor in the bedroom of his San Diego apartment.

A day later, police sources told TMZ that officers visited the home around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday after the friend contacted 911 after finding the actor.

He told authorities that 'it appeared he had been dead for some time.'

Christopher's friend had not been able to reach the actor, and had went to his home to check on him, sources told the outlet.

The home had been locked but the friend was able to enter with a key the actor had past provided, sources said.

Christopher's death was publicly announced Tuesday by his friend and former costar Maurice Benard on Instagram Tuesday: 'It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Tyler Christopher.

'Tyler passed away this morning following a cardiac event in his San Diego apartment.'

Previously, Christopher was married to Desperate Housewives alum Eva Longoria from 2002 to 2004.

In the morning of October 31, his friend discovered the actor in the bedroom of his San Diego apartment

The actor played the role of Nikolas Cassadine on 1,153 episodes of General Hospital from 1996 to 2016

'Tyler was a truly talented individual that lit up the screen in every scene he performed and relished bringing joy to his loyal fans through his acting,' Benard said on the social media site.

'Tyler was a sweet soul and wonderful friend to all of those who knew him.'

Benard said that his late colleague 'was an advocate for better mental health and substance use treatment who openly spoke about his struggles with bipolar depression and alcohol,' adding, 'We are beyond devastated by the loss of our dear friend and pray for his children and his father.'

Christophers representative Chi Muoi Lo also confirmed the actor's death in a statement to CNN.

'This news was incredibly shocking, and I am devastated by his loss,' the actor's rep said. 'He was a very gifted actor, and more importantly, an amazing friend. My heart goes out to his friends and family who loved him so much.'

The actor played the role of Nikolas Cassadine on 1,153 episodes of General Hospital from 1996 to 2016. For his work on the series, he earned four daytime Emmy nominations and in 2016, he won the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.

In the years following, he portrayed Stefan DiMera on 159 episodes of another stalwart soap in Days of Our Lives, from 2018 to 2019.

In his personal life, Christopher was twice married: to Longoria, and to one-time ESPN personality Brienne Pedigo from 2008 thru 2021. He and Pedigo welcomed two children - a son Greysun James, 10, and a 4-year-old daughter, Boheme.

Christopher was pictured in 2018 in Pasadena, California at an event for the NBCUniversal Winter Press Tour

Christopher and ex-wife Eva Longoria were pictured at the 29th annual Daytime Emmy Awards in NYC in May of 2022

The actor had been plagued by legal problems involving alcohol in recent years: He was arrested six months ago after passing out drunk at an LA airport, which marked his second public intoxication arrest in three years.

Christopher was found on the floor fast asleep at Burbank Airport in Los Angeles this past May 26, when police were alerted to the snoozing soap star and woke him, according to TMZ.

Christopher told the authorities he had missed his flight before he was handcuffed and booked for public intoxication.

Authorities said Christopher displayed clear signs of being intoxicated and that he was 'unable to care for himself,' according to the news outlet. He was released shortly after his arrest and given a court date, the news outlet reported.

In November 2019, Christopher was arrested for public intoxication in his hometown of Martinsville, Indiana, TMZ reported.

In an incident on November 11, 2019, an Uber driver had alerted officers to Christopher's behavior after he allegedly passed out and urinated on himself after he'd been dropped off at his home. He had 2 fifths of bourbon on her person at the time, according to the outlet.

Authorities said in legal docs reviews by the outlet that police had taken nine reports in connection with Christopher's drunken behavior in the two-month span beginning September 14.

In one incident November 8, 2019 at a Walgreens, a person reported that Christopher had been trying to get inside of their vehicle. Police who detained the actor said that he had sported possible head injuries as he had been bleeding from his nose and urinated in his pants.

The show's Maurice Benard announced the tragic news on Instagram Tuesday

The former couple was pictured at the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood, California in 2002

Christopher and Longoria were pictured at an event in 2003, a year before their split

Authorities transported Christopher to a nearby emergency room for an examination and a breathalyzer test, which his BAC showed as .267, more than three times the legal limit to drive.

In 2022, Christopher appeared on the mental health podcast State of Mind, with host and former General Hospital castmate Maurice Bernard's, aka Sonny, as per Soaps.

During the episode, he spoke openly about his alcohol addiction and having his first drink at age nine.

'At some point, you cannot survive it,' he said. 'At some point, it will kill you - and it has. Three times, I have flatlined. And nobody knows that.'

He continued: 'Three times I have flatlined, and they brought me back. Twice from [alcohol] poisoning, once from withdrawal.'

Christopher in July spoke with Bloomberg about a family issue he was dealing with, after he had been placed in the guardianship of his sister Susan Asmo Baker in 2019 after he was injured in an alcohol-related incident.

Christopher told the outlet that he 'never thought in a million years that I would be taken advantage of by a family member' after he sued his sibling claiming she had spent $40,000 of his toward her own expenses.

She had denied any wrongdoing to the court and the outlet, telling Bloomberg in an email, 'If I hadnt been his Guardian hed be DEAD!'

Tyler Christopher earned four Daytime Emmy nominations and in 2016 won the award for 'Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series,' after playing the role of Nikolas Cassadine for nearly two decades. Pictured in LA in 2016

Christopher in a 2010 scene with actress Rebecca Herbst (Elizabeth) during their days together on the long-running soap General Hospital

Christopher spoke with Maurice Bernard, host of the podcast 'State of Mind,' and his fellow castmate on General Hospital, about his struggles with alcohol addiction in a 2022 episode and how had his first drink at age 9

Tyler in a 2010 scene on General Hospital. He also played the role of Stefan DiMera on the popular daytime show Days of Our Lives

Some of Christopher's other television and film roles included Days of Our Lives, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and the Paul Winfield dramedy Catfish in Black Bean Sauce, earlier in his career.

He also appeared in the crime drama No Turning Back, Face the Music, and The Twilight Zone, as well as the 2014 romantic drama Beyond the Lights.

In recent years, he had been seen in TV films such as 2023's Ice Storm, and the 2022 films 20.0 Megaquake and Super Volcano.

Amid news of Christopher's death, a number of his contemporaries and fans took to social media to pay memorial to the late actor.

Alyssa Milano, who Christopher appeared alongside on a 2000 episode of the series Charmed, posted a memorial Tuesday that read, 'It feels like the world is caving in. Tyler Christopher has passed away.

'He was a wonderful actor and so good in the Charmed episode Pardon My Past. I remember him as being a sweet, sweet, soul. May he rest in peace. My condolences to his friends and family.'

Actor Bryan Craig said, 'Wow so sad,' while actor Doug Davidson said, 'Oh my God. He was such a beautiful person and an amazing actor. I am in total shock. May God bless his soul.'

Actor Sean Kanan said, 'Stunned to hear that Tyler Christopher passed away. I have no words. RIP my friend.'

Amid news of Christopher's death, a number of his contemporaries and fans took to social media to pay memorial to the late actor on the post from Benard announcing his passing

Colleagues and fans of the late entertainer took to Twitter with memorials amid news of his death

Alyssa Milano, who Christopher appeared alongside on a 2000 episode of the series Charmed, posted a memorial Tuesday with an image of them working together

General Hospital executive producer Frank Valentini said he was 'heartbroken over the news' and remembered Christopher as 'an incredible actor and a dear friend,' adding, 'Our heartfelt sympathies go out to his loved ones during this difficult time.'

A fan of the actor said, 'Im stunnedso many people are just leaving this world too soon. RIP Tyler Christopher, wow!! Weve lost another talented individual, thinking of his loved ones.'

Another fan said that 'Christopher's eternal talent and charm filled us all with joy,' adding, 'I, like many others, was always rooting for him. I hope he felt that.'

One fan noted a spate of recent untimely celebrity deaths, saying, 'Billy Miller, Matthew Perry and now Tyler Christopher is gone too?!? My heart hurts.'

Another fan said they were 'stunned and absolutely devastated' about Christopher's death, adding that 'losing him and Billy Miller within a month of each other is a double gut punch,' and 'May their souls rest in peace.'
Democrats have begun crafting legislation to create a legal market for selling cannabis in Virginia.

The state legalized marijuana consumption in 2021 but did not authorize the buying or selling, and a black market has emerged in the void. A legal market would put safer products into the hands of consumers and create tax revenue, proponents said.

A special Senate panel advanced one of two competing bills on Thursday and spent nearly three hours discussing the finer points of cannabis, including equity issues, licenses, regulations and enforcement.

But its work might be for naught. Gov. Glenn Youngkin has expressed opposition to signing such legislation.

With two bills to choose from, the committee backed legislation from Sen. Aaron Rouse, D-Virginia Beach. Rouses Senate Bill 448 would green-light cannabis sales on Jan. 1, 2025, and allow all new businesses to begin at the same time. Rouse said no group would be given preferential treatment over another.

The subcommittee chose Rouses bill over legislation written by Sen. Adam Ebbin, D-Alexandria, which would have created an incubator program in which medical marijuana companies would nurture small entrepreneurs. Opponents said Ebbins bill would give large pharmaceutical companies a head start.

What this is about is giving the small guys, the little guys, the chance to fulfill a dream of owning a business, Rouse said.

Equity

The bill allows business owners from low-income backgrounds to identify themselves as such. But the bill would not guarantee that low-income entrepreneurs get an advantage. Many who support cannabis legislation believe Black entrepreneurs should get a head start, because Black residents for years were disproportionately arrested and incarcerated for marijuana crimes.

Chelsea Higgs Wise, executive director of Marijuana Justice, said the bill leaves out the very people who are supposed to benefit from equity programs. She suggested adding a special impact license for people who have been hurt by old anti-drug laws.

Rouses bill continues to leave out directly impacted people and access to capital, which are the foundations of cannabis equity programs, Wise said.

Licenses would have tiered structure

The legislation would create a three-tiered structure for business licenses. A cannabis business could become a manufacturer, a transporter or a retail seller. One business could be all three.

There would be a fourth category, too, for testing. A business that receives a license to test marijuana for safety and purity would not be allowed to hold a license in the other three categories. The number of licenses issued by the state would be limited, and a board would be created to oversee the industry.

Products would have to be certified

Testing, packing and labeling would be tightly controlled under the law. Products would have to be certified that they do not contain toxins, mold or other substances. The packages would need to display warning language in a particular font size. Ingredients and the level of tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive component known as THC, would have to be clearly stated.

Sales would be limited to adults 21 and up, but the bill would increase the number of ounces a person can legally carry from 1 to 2.5. Packages would not be designed in a way that they are appealing to children, as health leaders have said youngsters are getting their hands on marijuana candies, sometimes by accident.

The whole point is to get untested products off the street and products away from kids, said Greg Habeeb, a lawyer and former state delegate who now represents the Virginia Cannabis Association.

The bill would allow for a product to hold as much as 10 milligrams of THC, a subject debated in Thursdays meeting. The bill does not limit THC in terms of a ratio, which was written into a 2023 law to regulate hemp. Last year, lawmakers passed a bill that limits hemp products to no more than 0.3% THC and a 25-to-1 ratio of cannabidiol (CBD) to THC.

Rouse likened cannabis to Tylenol. If you take too much Tylenol, you can get sick, but people are still able to buy an entire bottle and use it safely, he said.

Bill faces a strong headwind

Under the legislation, a business owner would not receive a license if he or she has committed a felony in recent years, not including marijuana felonies. The legislators debated the number of years appropriate.

They discussed whether a police officer should be able to obtain a license, and they removed from the bill language that would have prevented members of the General Assembly from obtaining a license, saying the clause created a worrisome precedent. Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, opened a shop in 2021 that sells hemp and CBD products.

All this work faces a strong headwind. Though Democrats control the House and the Senate, Youngkin can veto legislation that reaches his desk, and he has indicated he would veto marijuana bills.

I just dont have a lot of interest in pressing forward with marijuana legislation, he told reporters earlier this month.

Asked for comment on Thursday, a spokesperson for Youngkin pointed back to the governors recent comments.

Opponents to marijuana commercialization warned that an increase in marijuana addiction follows legalization, and a representative of the Virginia Catholic Conference said it would also increase crime. The Catholic group opposes the bill, and the two Republicans on the committee voted against it.

If the bill becomes law, it would allow localities to hold a referendum in which their voters could choose to opt out of the commercial market.
Morgan Wallen is taking a cue from pop superstar Taylor Swift by re-recording a song from his old catalog as a form of protest to derail the plans of some former colleagues.

On Thursday, the country music star took to his Instagram page to give his side of the story as to why he decided to interrupt a hunting trip to re-record Spin You Around, which is from his debut Extended Play (EP) Stand Alone (2015).

Before hitting the big time in the music industry, Wallen signed a music deal without legal representation, something he deeply regrets in hindsight that resulted in 13 new songs, five of which made it on to the debut EP.

Now, after nearly 10 years since splitting from his original team, some of his former colleagues are releasing a 10th Anniversary edition of Stand Alone, which goes against his wishes.

Realizing his old collaborators were set to drop that special edition, Wallen and his current team decided to fight back by hastily arranging a recording session in Nashville in order to have the new version of Spin You Around 1/24 be released at the same time Friday night.

Morgan Wallen, 30, decided to re-record his song Spin You Around after learning his old team are set to release a 10th Anniversary edition of his debut EP Stand Alone without his consent

The Sneedville, Tennessee native let it be known he has nothing to do with the re-release of Stand Alone, which basically amounts to the unveiling of eight previously unreleased songs.

The problem is Wallen didn't feel those eight songs were good enough to make on the original record, and that nothing has changed in the decade that has since past.

'We made 13 songs. Some were ok, most were terrible as I was just learning how to write in general & figuring it all out,' he explained in the caption of his Instagram post.

'I was not the only collaborator, so many of these songs were not my idea nor to my standards. We deemed 5 worthy-enough to make the Stand Alone EP which includes a fan-favorite, Spin You Around.'

The country music star singled out how his former managers are assisting in this project that goes against his wishes.

'For months I've been exploring every avenue possible to acquire the rights to this old music & keep the quality of my catalog consistent with songs I choose to release & believe in, he continued. 'It's gross, greedy & an example of how the dark side of the music business can suck the soul out of artists.'

It's obvious he and his current collaborators looked at how Taylor Swift faced a similar situation.

Swift decided to re-record her first six albums after she found out Scooter Braun bought her former label Big Machine Records and then sold it and its original Swift masters to the Disney family's Shamrock Holdings for $405 million under the condition that he keeps profiting from the masters.

Outraged that she allegedly never got the chance to make a bid to buy back her masters, Swift has since re-recorded four of those records: Fearless (Taylor's Version), Red (Taylor's Version), Speak Now (Taylor's Version) and 1989 (Taylor's Version).

Swift now has just two of those old albums left to re-record: her debut self-titled album and Reputation, before completely owning all of her music once again.

By wanting the new version of Spin You Around to coincide with the release of the 10th Anniversary edition of Stand Alone, Waller even went as far as to make the cover image for the single himself while out in the woods duck hunting.

The country crooner went on to call his business situation with his old team an example of 'how the dark side of the music business can suck the soul out of artists.'

Wallen confessed to signing a music deal without legal representation, resulting in him not owning 13 songs by himself; five songs made it on to Stand Alone (2015), while the other eight have remained unreleased until now

The Last Night star renamed his first hit single for this protest release, now calling it Spin You Around 1/24, as a way to avoid any legal action

Wallen maintains eight from the original 13 songs did not live up to his standards, which was part of his motivation to try to fight its release

Swift's plan to own all of her own music entails re-recording her first six albums, in order to give fans an option to own the record and not buy the originals that were sold out f4rom under her few years ago by her old label; she has finished four of those albums to date

Backing up his complaints, Waller is also pledging $100,000 from his foundation to the Volunteer Lawyers and Professionals for the Arts (VLPA) program, in an effort to see that this sort of thing doesn't keep happening to other young artists.

Part of his motivation to take on his old colleagues was to let fans know that he's not interested in releasing those old songs and that he's more focused on offering up new music to his fans.

'I want you to know this is NOT my new music & I don't want to see this happen to anyone else,' he explained, adding, 'I cringe when I listen to these songs & I'm concerned my fans may mistakenly believe this is a new release by me.'

Waller goes on to reveal that he begins to record new music for his next project at the end of February , and that he's 'feeling inspired creatively & super excited to make more music Im proud of.'

'I hope young aspiring musicians read this story and know they should never have to give up their creative freedoms for an opportunity in this business,' the More Than My Hometown star said.
Lily Gladstone commanded attention on Friday as she led arrivals at a Killers of the Flower Moon event in Washington, DC.

The 37-year-old Oscar-nominated actress looked stunning in a form-fitting black turtleneck and a pleated black skirt.

The skirt, which cropped at her calves, featured a large colorful embroidered emblem across the front.

It matched her statement-making earrings, which fell down to her chest. Both pieces appeared to be an homage to her Native American heritage.

She finished the striking look with a pair of sheer black pantyhose and pointed black heels.

Lily Gladstone commanded attention on Friday as she led arrivals at a Killers of the Flower Moon event in Washington, DC

The 37-year-old Oscar-nominated actress looked stunning in a form-fitting black turtleneck and a pleated black skirt

L-R Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear (Osage Nation), Martin Scorsese, Lily, and Jake Tapper

The Montana-raised actress looked captivating with her silky dark locks arranged in a center part as they flowed over her chest.

She flashed her megawatt smile as she displayed a flawless face of makeup that included rosy cheeks and a glossed lip.

Director Martin Scorsese, 81, was also present for the celebratory gathering, which was held at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian.

He looked dapped in a subtly patterned blue suit teamed with a white shirt and a lighter blue tie.

Also in attendance was journalist and writer Jake Tapper, who demonstrated impeccable style in a gray suit.

Actor and comedian Tatanka Means, 38, looked handsome in a light brown suit and button-up white shirt.

The monumental film, which also stars Leonardo DiCaprio, is based on the book of the same name by David Grann.

This week Gladstone revealed that DiCaprio was one of the first people to congratulate her on her Oscars nomination.

The trio stood together for a photo while arriving at the event

Tatanka Means looked handsome in a light brown suit and button-up white shirt

She made history when she received a nod for Best Actress for her performance in the hit film, becoming the first Native American to be nominated in the category.

And her on-screen husband, 49, who plays World War I veteran Ernest Burkhart, promptly reached out with a text her to offer his congratulations.

While speaking with Extra, the actress revealed the encouraging comment he sent her after her nomination was announced.

'He was just so proud, and then I told him that I was watching with my parents and "we're celebrating me, but we're also, like, collectively very pissed off for you,"' she said, noting his missing nomination for his role in the production.

'He did such an incredible job in this, and, like, just, he made an impossible character just so vivid, and it made my job so much easier, so I really want to share this moment with him,' the actress, who is of Piegan Blackfeet (Siksikaitsitapi), Nez Perce (Nimiipuu) and European heritage, explained.

L-R Janae Collins, Osage Nation Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear, Scorsese, Gladstone and Means

The renowned director posed with journalist Jake Tapper

The great-great granddaughter of Kainai Nation chief Red Crow added, 'You know, he told me right before the [Golden Globes], "No matter the outcome, I think you're amazing and I'm proud of you."'

In response, Gladstone called DiCaprio 'the greatest actor.'

The Revenant Oscar winner also made a point to acknowledge Gladstone's achievement on social media.

'Congratulations to my dear friend @LilyGladstone for making Oscars history, as the first Native American woman to be nominated for Best Actress in Killers Of The Flower Moon, and the fourth Indigenous actress to ever earn a nomination in the category,' he gushed on Instagram.
Grant Denyer has claimed his near-death moment on last year's The Amazing Race Australia was much worse than what went to air.

The Logie winner, 46, suffered a frightening medical emergency, collapsing from heatstroke after competing in a dance challenge with wife Chezzi in the humid Indian weather.

Speaking to Yahoo Australia, the TV presenter said: 'Most of the time in television we tend to turn the drama up and this time we turned it down a little bit in the telecast because it was pretty confronting.'

'I didn't realise how hardcore and potentially fatal [heatstroke] is...when you're dropping in and out of consciousness and you're convulsing on the floor, it's not easy on everyone that's around you at that time,' he added.

Grant went on to say that it took him seven weeks to fully recover from the ordeal.

Grant Denyer (pictured) has claimed his near-death moment on last year's The Amazing Race Australia was much worse than what went to air

In dramatic scenes which aired, Grant can be seen on the ground as paramedics struggle to give him urgent medical attention while wife Chezzi watches on.

'Can we get the medic? He's shaking, he's shivering,' a voice can be heard saying.

'We were cooking from the inside,' Chezzi explained to cameras after completing their latest challenge.

Things then took a sudden turn for the worst when it was apparent Grant was very unwell.

'You need to sit down. Grant? You're not OK, are you? You're looking like you're going to faint,' Chezzi yelled.

Speaking to Yahoo Australia, the TV presenter said: 'Most of the time in television we tend to turn the drama up and this time we turned it down a little bit in the telecast because it was pretty confronting.' Pictured with wife Chezzi Denyer

Medics soon brought him inside to an airconditioned room, however his face worryingly pale.

'He's not looking good  he's shivering on the floor,' Survivor star George Mladenov said as he watched on from outside.

'He was really pale and dropping in and out of consciousness, and I thought, "This is really serious. I don't think he realises how serious this is,"' said Chezzi.

Grant eventually recovered to the point that he was able to sit up and walk around - but it was too much for them to continue the race and the couple were eliminated from the show.
Kylie Jenner was effortlessly glamorous as she stepped out in Paris on Friday to take part in a photo shoot following the end of Paris Fashion Week.

The beauty mogul, 26 - who recently showcased her toned frame while enjoying dinner in the French capital - was seen climbing out of a sleek vehicle ahead of her busy day.

The TV personality put on a leggy display wearing a dark brown, faux fur coat that contained a hem that stopped a few inches above her knees.

She opted to slip into a pair of sheer, black tights as well as a closed-toed, red pumps that added a pop of color to the look.

Her dark locks were pulled back and styled into a simple bun, preventing any loose strands from falling onto her face.

Kylie Jenner, 26, was effortlessly glamorous as she stepped out in Paris on Friday to take part in a photo shoot following the end of Paris Fashion Week

The TV personality put on a leggy display wearing a dark brown, faux fur coat that contained a hem that stopped a few inches above her knees

The Kylie Cosmetics founder easily carried a large, brown purse over her right shoulder to hold a few items she needed.

Jenner chose to not add any flashy pieces of jewelry to the ensemble, but wore a pair of black-rimmed glasses.

She was seen strolling on a quiet sidewalk and tightly wrapped the coat around her to stay warm in the cooler temperatures.

The media personality - who is currently dating actor Timothee Chalamet - opted for a little to no makeup look as she headed to the photo shoot.

Kylie recently took Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week by storm, such as donning a head-turning ensemble at the star-studded Maison Margiela runway show on Thursday.

The reality star exuded confidence in a fitted, gray sequin dress that contained a scooped neckline at the front and fell down towards her ankles.

She slipped into a pair of closed-toed, white heels that offered a bit of color contrast to the look, and also wore sheer, gray gloves for a finishing touch.

Her long hair was styled into a wet look and flowed down past her shoulders in light waves, easily revealing a pair of dainty earrings that offered a flashy touch.

She opted to slip into a pair of sheer, black tights as well as a closed-toed, red pumps that added a pop of color to the look

Her dark locks were pulled back and styled into a simple bun, preventing any loose strands from falling onto her face

The Kylie Cosmetics founder easily carried a large, brown purse over her right shoulder to hold a few items she needed

The mother-of-two was joined by her sister, Kim Kardashian, and mother Kris Jenner at the fashion event.

She also put on a classy display earlier in the week as she stopped by the Jean Paul Gaultier show in a strapless, cream-colored ensemble that was made of a sheer fabric that draped down towards her ankles.

The businesswoman donned a pair of open-toed, platform heels that added a dramatic touch to the outfit.

The Kardashians star also made an appearance at the Valentino fashion show and was later accompanied by her daughter, Stormi, to an after party for the luxurious brand.

The mother daughter duo made a statement while color-coordinating in stylish black ensembles.

Kylie has also been taking to Instagram to give her 399 million fans a closer glimpse at her looks for PFW.

While recently talking to Interview Magazine with Jennifer Lawrence last year in November, Jenner opened about working in both the beauty and fashion industry.

'I've always loved both, and I think they go hand in hand,' the star - who recently launched her clothing brand called Khy - stated.

Kylie recently took Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week by storm, such as donning a head-turning ensemble at the star-studded Maison Margiela runway show on Thursday

The Kardashians star also made an appearance at the Valentino fashion show and was later accompanied by her daughter, Stormi, to an after party for the luxurious brand

While recently talking to Interview Magazine with Jennifer Lawrence last year in November, Kylie opened about working in both the beauty and fashion industry

'Especially when I'm doing red carpets or picking major events and outfits, I think that the makeup and the hair can make or break your look or just give it different energy or take it to another level.'

One year earlier during Paris Fashion Week, Kylie notably crossed paths with her now-boyfriend, Timothee Chalamet.

After sparking relationship rumors in April, the pair continued to spend time together as their romance blossomed.

Later in September, the two stars made their first public appearance as a couple and shared a kiss while at a Beyonce concert at SoFi Stadium.

Most recently, the lovebirds attended the Golden Globe Awards earlier this month. Afterwards, a source told Us Weekly, 'Timothee mingled for a little bit but was otherwise right next to Kylie the whole time.'

'They were having a very intimate conversation and shared a few kisses. It was obvious they have amazing chemistry.' Sources added that the two are 'madly in love.'

'Especially when I'm doing red carpets or picking major events and outfits, I think that the makeup and the hair can make or break your look or just give it different energy or take it to another level,' she stated

One year earlier during Paris Fashion Week, Kylie notably crossed paths with her now-boyfriend, Timothee Chalamet; seen earlier this month in Beverly Hills

Despite filtering through a busy schedule, Kylie's main focus is her two children, Stormi and Aire - whom she shares with ex Travis Scott.

She also works hard for both her Kylie Cosmetics makeup brand as well as a her new clothing line, Khy, which officially launched late last year in November.

While talking to Elle around the time the first collection dropped, Jenner opened up about what had inspired to start her own clothing brand.

'I felt like it was the perfect time [in my life]. I was having kids, and it's always been a dream of mine to have a fashion line, especially one like this.'

While talking to Elle around the time the first collection dropped, Jenner opened up about what had inspired to start her own clothing brand

She also talked about how she tries to find balance in her life, and expressed to the outlet, 'I'm a pretty good multitasker, but I do have my moments of feeling burnt out, and I have to silence my phone.'

'Sometimes I can't respond and I have to take the weekend [off] and just be with my kids. You work full-time and come home and you have to be a mom, so finding that me time is really important for me.'

Kylie explained that, 'Just silencing my phone, getting into my pajamas, and binge-watching a show all weekend is a good reset.'

'I like to take on too much. I'm the creative director for Khy's marketing, there's not an Instagram post that's gone out that I haven't posted myself, I edit all the videos. But it's been amazing, and I'm blessed to be here.'
Noel Gallagher joined Matt Smith to watch Manchester City take on Tottenham Hotspur on Friday.

The Oasis star, 56, put on an animated display as he saw his team enjoy a 1-0 victory in the fourth-round FA Cup clash.

Noel wrapped up warm in a Stone Island coat with a grey hoodie layered underneath as he sat beside his pal Matt.

The Doctor Who star, 41, opted for a black waterproof and tucked in a striped scarf to keep out the cold.

The pair have been firm friends for many years with Matt once starring in Noel's music video.

Noel Gallagher, 56, joined Matt Smith, 41, to watch Manchester City take on Tottenham Hotspur on Friday

The Oasis star put on an animated display as he saw his team enjoy a 1-0 victory in the fourth-round FA Cup clash

Noel previously admitted he still doesn't like the idea of videos for his songs, saying he 'f*****g hates' them 'with a passion'.

But, luckily, it seems he became a bit of an expert at enlisting the help of his celebrity pals meaning he only has to appear for a few minutes.

In 2021, The High Flying Birds frontman explained how The Crown and Doctor Who star Matt came to be in his We're On Our Way Now video.

Noel told Gary Kemp and Guy Pratts Rockonteurs podcast: 'I f*****g hate videos. I hate them with a passion.

'I hate the fact they f*****g cost money. And I have to p**s around all day about in the rain with some director.'

He then explained that instead of having to do the whole video himself, he'll tell his pals Scully and Dan: 'I say "This is all I can afford, go and do what you can and I'll be in it for 10 seconds." If I can, I'll blag another famous person to be in it for me.'

On his good pal Matt's appearance, he added: 'One night he was round our house and as he was leaving at four in the morning I said "Ey mate you dont fancy being in a video do you?" He said "yeah no problem". And I sort of held him to it.'

Admitting he doesn't really know what's happening in the video, Noel added: 'The second video follows on from this one, so he's [Matt] in the next one too'.

Noel wrapped up warm in a Stone Island coat with a grey hoodie layered underneath as he sat beside his pal Matt

The Doctor Who star, 41, opted for a black waterproof and tucked in a striped scarf to keep out the cold

Nathan Ake scored the winning goal for Manchester City after an almighty clash in the box against Tottenham Hotspur

The outing comes after Noel finally broke his silence on his divorce from ex-wife Sara McDonald, a year after the pair split (Noel and Sara pictured in 2019)

The outing comes after Noel finally broke his silence on his divorce from ex-wife Sara McDonald, a year after the pair split.

The musician, 56, who reportedly paid the mother of his kids 20million plus their 8million mansion in the settlement, said that he wanted to cycle past the pricey property and shout: 'You didn't take this [bike] from me!'.

Noel confirmed the end of his 12-year marriage to publicist Sara with whom he shares sons Donovan, 16, and Sonny, 14, in January 2023, blaming the pandemic and COVID lockdowns for putting an strain on their relationship.

Now speaking on Matt Morgan's Patreon Podcast he quipped about his new life as a single man in London: 'I can get on the bike and go up to King's Cross, and go down to the canal at Longfield Road,'

'And get on the canal outside my wonderful ex-wife's house and give her a little wave, and go, "You didn't take this from me!".

Before adding: 'But the pace of London is f**king great at the minute, I'm loving it'.

Noel also lifted the lid on living a year in a 2,500-a-night suite at swanky hotel Claridge's following the marriage breakdown, after sources claimed he was 'parting through the pain'.

He told pal Matt: 'I had some proper f**king good times there  it was a proper good time. I lived there for most of last year, I was there three or four nights a week'.

Noel, who has a reported net worth of 57million, stayed in the lap of luxury while waiting for his new flat in nearby Maida Vale to be renovated, which he confirmed he had now moved into.
Jackie 'O' Henderson's business partner Gemma O'Neill has denied the pair lost money on their event hosted by Gwyneth Paltrow in October.

The speaking engagement, the first organised by the duo's business venture Besties, saw the A-list actress fly to Sydney for a one-night appearance.

Despite having a Hollywood drawcard, the event, which was held at the ICC theatre, was only half-full - but O'Neill insists that was deliberate.

'Look, we're not professional events people and we are very new to this game, but we are really proud of the fact we wanted to do it and are having a crack,' O'Neill told The Daily Telegraph.

'The ICC is the only venue that offered more than 2000 capacity. You can book it for full capacity or half-full,' she added.

Jackie 'O' Henderson's (left) business partner Gemma O'Neill (right) has denied the pair lost money on their event hosted by Gwyneth Paltrow (centre) in October

'We booked for half capacity and sold just under half 4000 seats.'

Paltrow's fee was estimated at between $150,000 and $500,000, and tickets for the event started from $100 and went up to $2,500 for VIP access.

O'Neill denied that a four-day Kokomo Island trip in December hosted by Besties had a poor response, or that a second trip to Fiji slated for September this year was cancelled for lack for interest.

A three-day Southern Highlands getaway scheduled for March has sold out, she claimed.

Paltrow sat down with Jackie for what was described as a candid conversation for a paying crowd in October.

The speaking engagement, hosted by the pair's Besties business venture, saw the Hollywood actress arrive in Sydney for a one-night appearance. Despite having a Hollywood drawcard, the event, held at the ICC theatre, was only half-full - but O'Neill insists that was deliberate

The Goop founder touched on Hollywood, love, heartbreak, style, running a global business and more.

Jackie had earlier revealed how much fans could expect to pay to hear the Shakespeare In Love star speak live.

'We want to start [ticket prices] at $100,' said Jackie.

She then revealed that those who wanted to get up close and personal with the Oscar winner could expect to pay $2,500 for a 'VIP' experience.

'For $2,500 you'll get a photo with her and you'll be at the cocktail party with us,' Henderson explained.

Jackie is launched her event-based business with close friend Gemma last year, and said it 'celebrates the most important relationship in your life - your best friend'. The pair also launched a line of Besties branded clothing in October

Jackie is launched her business with close friend Gemma last year, and said it 'celebrates the most important relationship in your life - your best friend'.

Besties appears is event-based business which sells experiences for 'best friends' to create memories together.

The pair also launched a line of Besties branded clothing in October.

The website said: 'Besties is a space that gives you and your BFF the perfect opportunity to spend more time with each other and create additional memories together.'

'Besties will bring you closer to extraordinary people at engaging events where we will welcome some of the most talked about and high-profile guest speakers to the stage, take you to the most breathtaking and exclusive destinations on group holiday adventures, plus spoil you with ranges of luxe products specifically and personally curated by us for you.'
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.
She's most often seen on the raunchy website OnlyFans these days, but next month Lottie Moss can be spotted in a far more august environment  the Oxford Union debating society.

The half-sister of Kate Moss has been invited to the prestigious 200-year-old institution to argue the case that 'women have to sacrifice too much for love', I can reveal.

And she certainly has a chequered dating history to draw upon, having been linked to the likes of Brooklyn Beckham, Leonardo DiCaprio, DJ Roman Kemp, Made In Chelsea's Sam Prince and Alex Mytton, and Love Island's Adam Collard, who she recently slated as having 'a cold shell of a soul'.

In addressing university students at the union, the 26-year-old follows in the footsteps of such heavyweight figures as Albert Einstein, Ronald Reagan, Winston Churchill and the late Queen.

ARGUING THE CASE: Lottie will speak on love and sacrife

She's most often seen on the raunchy website OnlyFans these days, but next month Lottie Moss can be spotted in a far more august environment  the Oxford Union debating society

Her post-Valentine's Day appearance on February 15 comes after she made a candid and tearful video about her mental health and struggles with substance abuse. In it, she told fans that she got a face tattoo and joined OnlyFans to rebel against the modelling world, but said she was still confused about her identity, lamenting: 'I don't even like or know who I am.'

However, she seems excited about her debating debut as she posted a video to TikTok of her happily singing along to Murder On The Dancefloor  a track that features in the climactic scene of the hit Oxford-set film Saltburn. She captioned the clip: 'Me when I speak at Oxford next month.'

Lottie will have to make her case at the union against some formidable opponents. High-flying lawyers Mahnaz Malik and Dana Denis-Smith are opposing the motion proposed by Lottie and British-Nigerian author Chidera Eggerue.

The blurb for the debate says: 'Women are seen to give up autonomy, careers and goals for the sake of love', suggesting that men are not expected to make the same sacrifices.

Lottie, who has the same father as Kate, never attended university as she became a successful model while still a teenager.
Jeremy Clarkson has finally broken his silence after quitting Prime Video's The Grand Tour after five series.

The 63-year-old signed a big money deal with the streaming service in 2015 to continue his motoring adventures with former Top Gear co-hosts Richard Hammond and James May.

But now the trio's 20-year-long partnership will draw to a close after Jeremy revealed there was nothing else for them to do.

Telling The Times: 'I've driven cars higher than anyone else and further north than anyone else. We've done everything you can do with a car. When we had meetings about what to do next, people just threw their arms in the air'.

He also branded himself 'unfit, fat and old' as another reason that it was time for the 'immensely physical' show to end, following the hosts camping on beaches and racing speed boats in pervious series.

Jeremy Clarkson, 63, has finally broken his silence after quitting Prime Video's The Grand Tour after five series

Jeremy (C) signed a big money deal with the streaming service in 2015 to continue his motoring adventures with former Top Gear co-hosts Richard Hammond (R) and James May (L)

He also brushed of any suggestions of a feud with his co-hosts saying: 'We've spent more time in each other's company than our families' over the last 25 years,

'So I don't think it would have lasted as long as it did if we'd hated each other as much as James likes to think,'.

Before revealing that there options were 'being explored for a new incarnation' of show, which could offer the trio a possibility to reunite on screen.

An insider told the Sun last year that the 'surprising' decision 'very much marks the end of an era for the three presenters', who have worked together since 2003.

They added that although the show is one of the streaming platform's most watched shows 'the guys have made no bones about the fact theyre all advancing in years and they have lots of other projects to pursue.'

The source told the publication that the broadcasters 'felt like the time was right and wanted to go out on a high when the show remained popular'.

Jeremy, Richard and James shot to superstardom after taking over BBC's Top Gear, turning it from a niche car programme into one of the corporation's hottest properties and selling spin-offs around the world.

Their time on the show wasn't without controversy.

But now the trio's 20-year-long partnership will draw to a close after Jeremy revealed there was nothing else for them to do

Saying: 'I've driven cars higher than anyone else and further north than anyone else. We've done everything you can do with a car. When we had meetings about what to do next, people just threw their arms in the air'

He also branded himself 'unfit, fat and old' as another reason that it was time for the 'immensely physical' show to end, following the hosts camping on beaches and racing speed boats in pervious series

Richard was nearly killed when he was involved in a 320mph crash while filming a stunt for the show, with the impact leaving him in a coma for two weeks and 'Hamster' himself admitting he fears getting early onset dementia as a result.

The trio also became the focus of a number of racism rows, with the ambassador for Mexico complaining when his people were branded 'lazy', 'feckless' and 'flatulent' on the show, sparking an apology from the BBC.

They were also hounded out of Argentina by an angry mob after a row over a number plate used while filming the series. Officials claimed that H982 FKL on a Porche - which was registered in May 1991 - was a reference to the 1982 Falklands War.

That same year, Ofcom ruled that there had been a breach of the broadcasting code by including an offensive racial term during the programme's Burma Special.

They dramatically left the programme in 2015 after Clarkson was sacked by the channel following a bust-up with producers, before returning on The Grand Tour in 2016.

Jeremy, Richard and James shot to superstardom after taking over BBC's Top Gear , turning it from a niche car programme into one of the corporation's hottest properties and selling spin-offs around the world (pictured)

Jeremy was dropped from Top Gear in 2015 over what the BBC called an 'unprovoked physical and verbal attack' on producer Oisin Tymon (who he is pictured with)

Since then they have hosted 44 episodes of the series, which has taken them around the world on specials to Cambodia and Vietnam, Reunion and Madagascar, Scandinavia, and eastern Europe.

Late last year their former bosses at the BBC announced Top Gear, which turned the trio into superstars, was being axed in the aftermath of a horrific crash involving presenter Andrew Flintoff.

The show's production has been halted since host Flintoff, 45, was taken to hospital in December 2022 after being badly hurt in an accident at the Top Gear test track at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey.

Following the crash, the BBC announced that it would pause production on the show, co-presented by Take Me Out host Paddy McGuinness and automotive journalist Chris Harris, as it was felt it would be 'inappropriate', adding there would be a health and safety review.

McGuinness later thanked fans 'for the love' in a 'goodbye' message.

And after the BBC's announcement to 'rest' the show for the foreseeable future, Paddy posted a gallery of images on Instagram starting with a picture of the trio in white Top Gear outfits.

He wrote the caption: 'We were always going to be b*****s but we were your b******s.

'Thanks for all the love over the years folks, it was very much appreciated.'
Myleene Klass looked nothing short of sensational in a chic floral print dress as she arrived at Smooth Radio studios on Saturday afternoon.

The radio presenter, 45, turned heads in the floral number which she teamed with a bold red maxi coat.

Putting on a daring leggy display, the beauty boosted he rframe with a pair of knee-high white leather boots.

She further accessorised the bold ensemble with a pair of chunky white sunglasses and some large gold hoop earrings.

Styling her brunette tresses up in a slick ponytail, Myleene donned a gold heart-shaped necklace and a layer of bracelets.

Myleene Klass looked nothing short of sensational in a chic floral print dress as she arrived at Smooth Radio studios on Saturday afternoon

She seemed in high spirits as she arrived at work ahead of her Smooth FM radio show.

The outing comes after Myleene recently gave a glimpse into her idyllic trip to the Maldives, having enjoyed a festive break with her family.

The radio presenter took to Instagram to share a montage of clips from her holiday with fiance Simon Motson, their four-year-old son Apollo and her daughters Ava, 16, and Hero, 12, who she shares with ex Graham Quinn.

Their stunning trip was complete with boat rides, kids' activities and a wealth of delicious food.

Myleene also shared her latest slew of sexy swimsuit snaps to plug her swimwear collection with Next.

The family looked to have the time of their lives, as they embarked on a boat trip before zipping around their island on bikes.

She also shared a look at their arrival at the resort, as they took a seaplane to their dwelling and later went diving with sharks.

Myleene added a touching caption on her snap reading: 'My family, my everything. I am so lucky to have you all. Thank you for the memories.'

During her boat trip, she posed in a sexy zebra print one-piece with stacks of jewellery adding further glam to the racy look.

Simon then lavished his stunning bride-to-be with kisses, as she flaunted her glowing make-up-free complexion during the jaunt.

The radio presenter, 45, turned heads in the floral number which she teamed with a bold red maxi coat

Putting on a daring leggy display, the beauty further elevated her height with a pair of knee-high white leather boots

She also opted for further accessorising the bold ensemble with a pair of chunky white sunglasses and some large gold hoop earrings

Styling her brunette tresses up in a slick ponytail, Myleene donned a gold heart-shaped necklace and a layer of bracelets
Kerrville, TX (78028)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High 63F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy. Low 44F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.
Holly Willoughby is reportedly being eyed-up for presenting roles in the US after making her way back on to UK screens.

The TV host, 42, quit her regular job on This Morning last year amid a plot to kidnap and murder her but she returned to the airwaves this month on Dancing On Ice.

It is now claimed she could head over to America for work, with the star hopeful it will also boost her lifestyle brand.

An insider told The Sun: 'Hollys a free agent and for the first time in years shes free to be courted by these huge streaming platforms.

'A number of US networks and production companies have been interested in her for a while and shes caught the attention of some major brands.

Holly Willoughby is reportedly being eyed-up for presenting roles in the US after making her way back on to UK screens (pictured on Dancing On Ice last week)

The TV host, 42, quit her regular job on This Morning last year amid a plot to kidnap and murder her but she returned to the airwaves this month on Dancing On Ice (pictured with Dancing On Ice co-host Stephen Mulhern this month)

'She has true star pulling power and as well as being glamorous she is a polished professional in front of the camera. Its an exciting time in her career.'

It is claimed Holly is hoping to use any boost of exposure in the United States to push her lifestyle brand Wylde Moon, which has been compared to Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop.

The source added: 'Holly has made it no secret that she is following the Gwyneth Paltrow brand model. Launching herself Stateside could make those dreams a reality.'

MailOnline has contacted a representative for Holly for comment.

It comes after it was reported Holly is in the running to host a new jungle-based show with Bear Grylls for Netflix.

It is claimed Holly has been approached about fronting the series which will see celebrity contestants pitted against survival expert Bear.

A source told The Sun: 'A group of celebrities will be put into a jungle where they will have to tackle a series of challenges.

'If they lose, they'll have to pit their wits against Bear, who will be hunting them down.

It comes after it was reported Holly is in the running to host a new jungle-based show with Bear Grylls (pictured) for Netflix

'It's a really exciting concept and Bear is totally on board. Now they have Holly in their sights to host it.'

The insider added that Holly is open to offers but will be 'carefully cherry-picking' her next projects after stepping down from This Morning in October last year and returning to Dancing On Ice earlier this month.

Meanwhile, This Morning staff are reportedly 'livid' that a regular presenting team has not been put in place since Holly and her former co-host Phillip Schofield's departure last year.

Phillip, 61, left his TV hosting jobs in May last year after confirming he'd had an affair with a younger This Morning colleague.

Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary, and Josie Gibson and Craig Doyle have regularly fronted the show, while Cat Deeley and Sian Welby have also appeared.

A source told the Mirror: 'All anyone can talk about behind the scenes is who the next team on the sofa will be.

'Its not just the talent either  theres widespread frustration at the lack of a decision, and some are really livid.

'Many of the stylists and make-up artists work for one particular person, so theyre keen to know when theyll be working. Those people are also in limbo.'

MailOnline has contacted ITV for comment.

This Morning bosses think they have finally found their star to take the reins of the ITV daytime programme - former weather presenter and Holly Willoughby lookalike, Sian Welby

One source told the Mail: 'Sian has done a fantastic job and everyone totally loves her'

This Morning bosses think they have finally found their star to take the reins of the ITV daytime programme - former weather presenter and Holly lookalike, Sian.

Editor Martin Frizell and his boss, head of daytime Emma Gormley are said to 'adore' the host following her four day trial this week and is now lining her up as a permanent star on the show.

Sources at the channel say that they think they might have just found their star after she presented with Dermot O'Leary.

One told the Mail: 'Sian has done a fantastic job and everyone totally loves her.

'She is a massive breath of fresh air, she has come along and just wowed everyone. She has been a joy to watch for the viewers but also Martin and other executives on the show and they think she has the ability to grow and grow on the show and become the next Holly. It mustn't be forgotten that Holly was like her once and look what happened to her, she was the host for 14 years.

'Martin and Emma are both agreed that she has got what it takes to be a star, it is really exciting and she is very much in a pole position for the job now. Sian is seen to be by far better than some of the presenters who have hosted the show in recent months.'

Nottingham-born Ms Welby, 37, had previously appeared on This Morning as their showbusiness reporter and very much saw her as a 'rising star.'

And then Frizell and Ms Gormley decided to give her a chance at co-hosting but she wasn't expected to have the huge impact that she did.

Her appearance comes as some senior executives at ITV are still hoping to pull out the stops to hire Cat Deeley to replace Ms Willoughby, who quit last October following an alleged plot to kidnap and murder her by former security guard Gavin Plumb.

Ms Welby also hosts Capital Breakfast alongside Roman Kemp (left). [Pictured at Capital FM's Summertime Ball Arrivals at Wembley Stadium in June 2022 with Sonny Jay, right]

Ms Welby is also understood to have told bosses that she wanted to be paired with Rylan Clark rather than Ben Shephard (pictured) who ITV were hoping to move from Good Morning Britain into the role previously held by Phillip Schofield

Christine Lampard was also said to not be keen on doing the job permanently

The former CD:UK presenter hosted the programme for four days in November but then went to America where she hosts So You Think You Can Dance and is committed to be until later in the year. If ITV signed her, they may face having to let her return to the US to host the talent series in December if she was to sign up again.

She is also understood to have told the network's bosses that she wanted to be paired with Rylan Clark rather than Ben Shephard who ITV were hoping to move from Good Morning Britain into the role previously held by Phillip Schofield. Clark is said to be 'disinterested' in taking the job full time.

A source said: 'There are some at ITV who are still determined to make it work with Cat but it is going to be much more difficult to accommodate her as she has so many more needs.'

Ms Welby hosts Capital Breakfast alongside Roman Kemp and is also a regular reporter for This Morning. She made her name as the Channel 5 News weather presenter after being spotted while working in high street fashion chain, New Look.

She later hosted a show on Heart Radio between 2017 and 2020 and last August she got engaged to her radio producer fiance Jake Beckett.

Chiefs also had their eye on The Voice presenter Emma Willis to replace Ms Willoughby but she is understood to have turned down the job as she can't commit to the four day week that ITV want their full time presenter to do.

Christine Lampard was also said to not be keen on doing the job permanently.

I'm A Celeb star Josie Gibson has been hosting the show for most of January after returning home from the jungle.
Chloe Sims stunned during a night out with best friend Vas J Morgan and cousin Joey Essex in Los Angeles on Friday night, amid rumours she has fallen out with her sisters.

The reality star, 42, caught the eye in huge gold statement hoops and a black jumper with a cut-out on one shoulder as the group headed to The Roosevelt.

Chloe, who rose to fame on TOWIE, teamed the look with acid wash low-rise blue jeans and a pair of black suede heels and a black Dolce & Gabbana bag.

Joey, 33, rocked a black T-shirt and stylish black sunglasses, while Vas opted for an Icon Motosports jacket and silver, glittering supreme trousers.

Joey has touched down in Los Angeles ahead of his fight against YouTuber, turned rapper, turned semi-professional boxer KSI.

Chloe Sims stunned during a night out with best friend Vas J Morgan and cousin Joey Essex in Los Angeles on Friday night amid rumours she has fallen out with her sisters

The reality star, 42, stunned in huge gold statement hoops and a black jumper with a cut-out on one shoulder as the group headed to The Roosevelt

Chloe appeared in high spirits as she brushed off reports that she is no longer on speaking terms with her sisters Demi and Frankie.

The three women reportedly had a heated row following the younger two's decision to star in an OnlyFans-produced reality show.

However, a heated row reportedly broke out while filming, which resulted in Demi and Frankie jetting back to the UK.

A source told The Sun: 'Chloe's fallen out with her sisters big time.

'They've gone their separate ways after a huge fight broke out in LA, where they'd been filming the show.

'Chloe's decided to stay out there while Frankie and Demi have left her and headed back home to Essex to pursue their own careers.'

Demi and Frankie have erased all traces of Chloe from their social media pages, a move she appears to have reciprocated.

MailOnline has contacted Chloe, Frankie and Demi's representatives for comment.

Chloe, who rose to fame on The Only Way Is Essex in 2011, finished her look with a stunning black Dolce & Gabbana bag

Chloe appeared in high spirits as she brushed off reports that she is no longer on speaking terms with her sisters Demi (right) and Frankie (left)

Joey, 33, rocked a black T-shirt and stylish black sunglasses . Joey has touched down in Los Angeles ahead of his fight against YouTuber turned semi-professional boxer KSI

He also wore black trousers and trainers, a heavy-looking silver chain, and an expensive-looking silver watch

Vas rocked an Icon Motosports jacket and silver, glittering supreme trousers, funky steel-toe black shoes, designer sunglasses, and a black crop top

Chloe Frankie, 28, Demi, 27, and Charlie 31, signed a deal last year worth 1million to become the new Kardashians on OnlyFans' growing new TV venture.

And after great success, the Sims sisters started filming the ins and outs of their lives for season two.

The star of the family, Chloe, has hinted at wanting the show to be 'bigger and better' in the upcoming season with promises to give an even closer look at the stars since they've been rubbing shoulders with LA A-listers.

Speaking about filming for the second season, Chloe said: 'You have been on our journey from Essex to LA, you have seen us rise and support each other as a family, but this season will expose who is cut from the same cloth!

'Stay tuned, as we unravel a huge season 2 as the Sims family's biggest challenge isn't to keep the Hollywood dream alive, but to keep the family together!'

As well as the TOWIE sisters, the show sees their brother Charlie Sims, who co-creates and produces, alongside his fiancee Georgia Shults.

Charlie said: 'We had no idea how successful and well-received House Of Sims would be, but it was amazing to bring our fans on the journey with us from Essex to our new lives in LA through the show.

'I think we all thought it would be an easy transition, but we've all worked really hard and grown so much in the process.

'I can't wait for everyone to see what we've been up to during filming for season two, it's going to be bigger and better than any of us ever expected.'
The Baloch crisis has recently gained global attention due to cross-border military strikes between Pakistan and Iran. The Baloch peoples identity is rooted in the Baloch tribe, with a history of resistance. Amid geopolitical complexities, the Baloch peoples desire for justice remains a significant challenge in the region

The Baloch crisis once again came to the limelight this month. It all happened because of cross-border military strikes by Pakistan and Iran in each others territories. However, the military intervention in their neighbours boundaries is largely termed as simply targeting Baloch terror targets. What surprises the international community is that, with a bloody war between the state of Israel and Hamas entering more than three months since October 7 last year, the emerging conflicts between Iran and Pakistan might trigger a new zone of tension in Asia.

Iran launched a missile attack on Syria, Iraq, and Pakistan on January 16. Iran attacked the alleged strongholds of the militant group called Jaish al-Adl (Army of Justice) in Baluchistan. Precisely, a wider war in West Asia does not guarantee security to Iran. However, it may happen that Tehran gets some temporary outlets to flex its military muscles and warn its counterparts at the same time. The day before the strikes on Pakistan, Iran also launched ballistic missiles at Syria and Iraq. Sources confirmed that Iran was only targeting anti-Iran groups and active spy bases for Israeli forces in these countries.

Meanwhile, Washington is trying to prevent Iran-backed Houthi attacks on ships passing through the Red Sea. This occurred shortly after the Israel-Hamas war started, with the aim of stopping ships heading towards the ports in Israel. The Houthi rebels, who now control more than half of Yemen and the capital city of Sanaa, are a Shia Muslim group fighting against the Saudi-UAE sponsored Hadi Government in exile since 2011, at the onset of the historic Arab Spring. Their conflict with the Saudi-backed Yemeni Government has brought them closer to Iran. However, it is not entirely accurate to say that the Houthis are direct proxies of Iran, as they are largely dominated and guided by locally defined interests. The Houthis are attacking ships in the Red Sea as retaliation against Israels ongoing war against the Palestinians.

Pakistans retaliatory military strike inside Iranian territory has heightened regional tension in West and Central Asia. Pakistan states that it conducted military strikes in Sistan and Baluchistan provinces of Iran solely to target the bases of two Baloch terror groups and their camps. The separatist groups that the Pakistan Army focused on were the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) based in these areas. According to reports from Iranian media houses, the Pakistani operation resulted in the deaths of nine people, including women and children. However, Islamabad claims that it targeted and killed a few Baloch terrorists.

The Pakistani Foreign Ministry officials have asserted that they have already informed Iran about the presence of Baloch separatists and their activities in the country, but no actions have been taken against the rebels so far. Consequently, Pakistan justifies its military actions in Sistan and Baluchistan provinces of Iran.

What do these separatists want? The main aim of the Baloch separatist groups is to break their province away from Pakistan. This separatist insurgency has been ongoing for more than 75 years since 1948. To them, the central government based in Islamabad exploits their resources, and in return, the Baloch people are not adequately rewarded. Initially, BLF cadres targeted gas projects, infrastructural projects, and central security agencies, but now they have expanded their operations beyond Baluchistan. They also attack Chinese projects and their workers in the province, despite the security guarantee offered to China by the Pakistan military.

Baluchistan has a long history of resistance and is not aligned with what Islamabad and Rawalpindi do. It is the largest province of Pakistan located in the western part, possessing significant resources both in reserve and in use. Unfortunately, it is the least developed area of the country, comprising almost 44 per cent of the total landmass of Pakistan. However, the reality is that most of its lands are arid and largely uninhabited. It has a distinct cultural and historical identity within and outside Pakistan. Its people are spread across three sovereign nations today  Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran. Thus, the problem lies in the coordination and realisation of these three nations about the future of the Baloch people and their continued struggle to maintain their distinct regional identity.

The very identity of Baluchistan stems from the Baloch tribe, which has inhabited the area for centuries. Nearly 10 million Baloch people reside in the region, encompassing lands in Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan. The majority of them live in Baluchistan, with some residing in the Sindh province of Pakistan. Although clear data is not readily available, historically, areas traditionally claimed as indigenous lands by the Balochs were either occupied or under the control of the Persians and the British Empire.

The real tragedy is that the southeastern part of Iran and the western areas of Pakistan, where the Baloch people inhabit, are the most impoverished parts of both countries. Another potential threat on both sides of the border is that they live in a porous and dangerous territorial tract, which automatically facilitates unhindered movements of the ordinary Baloch people and especially their separatist groups. Of course, strict surveillance systems are installed by Iran and Pakistan in these borderlands.

The crucial question is whether the Baloch people will receive justice. A high-handed military, known as the Deep State of Pakistan and often referred to as a state within a state, is well aware of the intricacies of the issue. Politicians in that country will likely play a minimal role in resolving the Baloch crisis. For decades, it has been the all-powerful Rawalpindi that has dominated the Baloch dialogue.

The relationship between the Baloch people and the ruling military and political elite of Pakistan has been fraught for a long time. For over two decades, Pakistan has been engaged in fighting Baloch insurgents. Islamabad frequently blames Indian intelligence agencies for funding and monitoring terror groups and their activities in Baluchistan. The Government of Pakistan has even presented documents to the UN regarding Indias alleged support for Baloch separatists in Pakistan. However, Delhi vehemently denies any involvement in Baluchistan.

Clearly, Baluchistan and its peoples desire for a homeland are misunderstood by successive regimes in Islamabad. For the Pakistani military and the majority of its elites, Baluchistan is seen as a dark war zone. Mere Chinese investments in the province, under the banner of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as part of Xi Jinpings vast Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), will not be sufficient to quell the separatist tendencies among the Baloch insurgents.

Since 2022, the Baloch people living in Irans Sistan-Balochistan province have faced particular issues from Iranian authorities and security services. The main reason behind this is that many of its residents participated in a nationwide protest against the death of a young woman in police custody named Mahsa Amini. She became a victim of Irans religious police for not wearing the veil in public places. While the protest gained international attention, authorities cracked down heavily on the protesters and selectively targeted groups like the Baloch in Iran. According to Amnesty Internationals report, security forces killed about 80 people on September 30, 2022, in the city of Zahedan in Sistan-Balochistan Province. This incident gained global recognition as Black Friday.

Currently, the Israel-Hamas war is taking a troubling turn. The reality is that Iran and its proxies must be stopped without any delay. Simultaneously, Israel must facilitate immediate dialogue to prevent further hostilities in Palestinian territories. As of now, more than 24,000 Palestinians have lost their lives since the offensive against Hamas began in October. It is time for Washington to convince Tel Aviv to draw a thin red line and come to the negotiating table. Otherwise, considering the ongoing unrest in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen involving major world powers, West Asia should not be pushed further into a wider war. Despite fears of the Iran-Pakistan conflict escalating into a new war zone and spreading to South Asia, both countries are currently maintaining a calibrated response.

Now, Iran has its hands full on many fronts  fighting ISIS at home, backing Hamas and the Houthis in two foreign lands, and, above all, sponsoring its proxies across West Asia to counter the US and its allies. On the other hand, Pakistan is in a dire economic situation. It is facing a significant threat from its homegrown Islamic jihadist factory and engaging in constant frontier battles with once-friendly Taliban forces. The ruling mullahs in Afghanistan are literally shaking its caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar until the new election results are out.

Hopefully, both nations will understand their limits and control their military might for now to avoid a larger regional catastrophe. In the midst of this, the genuine concerns of the Baloch people, spread across three neighbouring countries, should not be sidelined.

(The writer is a Senior Faculty at the Department of Political Science in the School of Liberal Education, Galgotias University, Greater Noida.)
As Nitish Kumar's JD(U) prepares to leave the INDIA bloc and rejoin the BJP-led NDA, the Samajwadi Party announced on Saturday that it has offered 11 Lok Sabha seats to the Congress in Uttar Pradesh. Akhilesh asserted that their alliance is "off to a good start". Yadav said in a post in Hindi on X, "Our cordial alliance with the Congress is off to a good start with 11 strong seats. This trend will move forward with the winning equation. The INDIA team and PDA (Picchda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) strategy will change history."

However, UP Congress president Ajay Rai mentioned that the decision on the matter will be taken by his party's national leadership.

Elaborating on the developments, the chief spokesperson of the Samajwadi Party, Rajendra Chaudhary, said, "We (Samajwadi Party) have offered 11 seats to them (the Congress) so that there is a respectable mutual coordination among us, and together we can defeat the BJP."

Chaudhary also mentioned that the party's top leadership is in continuous contact with the Congress. He clarified that the number of seats offered, currently standing at 11, is not expected to increase in the future.

"We have allocated 11 seats to the Congress in Uttar Pradesh and seven seats to the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), making it a total of 18 seats. The Samajwadi Party plans to contest 62 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha election," said the chief spokesperson of the SP.

In the current Lok Sabha, the Samajwadi Party holds three seats, while the Bahujan Samaj Party has 10 MPs. Sonia Gandhi is the lone Congress MP from the state, representing the Rae Bareli constituency. The Apna Dal (Sonelal) has two MPs, and the BJP has 64 MPs from the state.

Among the seats that the Congress is set to contest include Amethi and Rae Bareli, which were once considered Congress bastions, along with Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddh Nagar, and Bareilly.

Rajpal Kashyap, another senior Samajwadi Party leader, declined to disclose the names of the 11 seats offered by the SP to the Congress, saying, "The names of the seats cannot be revealed at this time."

Meanwhile, in response to Akhilesh Yadav's post on X, Rai said, "The decision regarding Akhilesh Yadav's tweet (post on X) will be made by our national leadership (the committee formed under the leadership of Mukul Wasnik). Talks are progressing in a very positive and favorable environment, and we anticipate a robust outcome soon."

When asked about Yadav's remarks, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh mentioned at a press conference in Delhi that senior leader Ashok Gehlot is engaged in discussions with the SP chief regarding seat-sharing. He emphasised that the discussions are taking place in a positive and constructive atmosphere. "We will inform you once a formula is finalised," he added.

Ramesh further noted that the agreement reached in Uttar Pradesh will be advantageous for the Congress, the SP, and the INDIA bloc.

Taking a dig at the Opposition, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya posted on X, said, "By the time the unprecedented ('abhootpoorv') Congress leader Shri Rahul Gandhi completes the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, it will mark 'the end' of the INDIA Alliance! Modi government for the third time."

In the current Lok Sabha, the Samajwadi Party holds three seats, the Bahujan Samaj Party has 10 seats, and Sonia Gandhi is the lone Congress MP from the state, representing the Rae Bareli constituency. The Apna Dal (Sonelal) holds two seats, while the BJP has 64 MPs from the state.

On January 19, the Samajwadi Party and RLD announced their alliance for the Lok Sabha polls, with the latter stating that the former will leave seven seats in western Uttar Pradesh for its nominees.

This Saturday's development occurs amid strong indications that Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar may make yet another volte-face and return to the BJP-led NDA, dealing a blow to the INDIA opposition bloc."
On a day marked by the escalating political turmoil in Bihar, which gained momentum towards a change leading to the cancellation of all scheduled events for Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday, Chirag Paswan, the president of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ramvilas), a major player in Bihar politics, met with Amit Shah and BJP president JP Nadda. The purpose of the meeting was to seek assurance that Chirag Paswan's presence in the BJP-led NDA in Bihar would not be diminished in light of the return of Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar.

Shah's scheduled visit to Telangana on Sunday and his late-evening arrival in Kolkata for a two-day political tour of West Bengal has been cancelled, according to government sources. Union Tourism Minister and BJP State president G Kishan Reddy said that Shahs tour was cancelled due to emergency work. During his visit, Shah was supposed to hold meetings with party leaders and functionaries in Karimnagar, Mahbubnagar, and Hyderabad.

We have now been informed from New Delhi that the Home Minister will not be able to visit Bengal this time, said a member of the West Bengal BJP State committee. The committee member added that Shah was originally scheduled to arrive in Kolkata on Sunday, with a packed itinerary for two days.

He was scheduled to have an organisational meeting at Barasat in North 24 Parganas district to discuss the organisation affairs in the four Lok Sabha constituencies in the district.

In Kolkata, he was scheduled to hold an organisation meeting with the top State BJP leadership to take stock of the preparations of forthcoming Lok Sabha polls.

During the tour he also was scheduled to hold a public rally at Mecheda in East Midnapore, which is the native district of Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari. Lok Janshakti Party, before the split between Paswan and his uncle Pashupati Nath Paras had fought on six seats in 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Paswan insists that his faction should be given six seats, including Hajipur that his father had held eight times, and where Paras is the incumbent MP. Kumars return has put Paswan in a corner, since his politics has been centred around confrontation with the Bihar Chief Minister in the past four years.

He had walked out of the NDA in 2020 Bihar Assembly election and his party fielded several candidates against JD(U).

Speaking to reporters after the meetings with top BJP leaders, Paswan said that his party will take a final stand only after Nitish Kumar makes the formal announcement.

We have shared our concerns, which have become more serious, in view of the events in Patna over the last few days. Both Nadda and Shah have assured that all the issues we have flagged will be dealt with. So far, the situation is positive in the NDA. Our final stand will be clear in the coming days, he said.

Paswan told media he would first wait to see whether the JDU president joins the BJP-led alliance or not before finalising his party's stand on the matter. Son of the late Ram Vilas Paswan however did not reveal what Shah and Nadda told him about political developments in the state.

Paswan and Upendra Kushwaha who had merged with JDU and again walked out last year, have been politically antagonistic to Nitish Kumar. Sources said BJP has reached out to them in the last few days.

Paswan was a key reason for the JD (U)'s poor show in the 2020 assembly polls and the souring of its relations with the BJP before Kumar snapped ties and allied with the RJD in 2022. BJP allies have the apprehension that Nitsih Kumar's presence in the NDA may reduce their share of seats in the polls while sources said BJPs strategists suggested that BJP will be able to good riding only on the shoulders of Nitish Kumar.
The internal rift within the INDIA Bloc is deepening, with a DMK Minister in Tamil Nadu launching a fresh attack on ally Congress. The Minister alleged that the Congress is more concerned about securing seats for itself in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, neglecting the collective interests of the coalition.

Acknowledging that the Congress is a "big and old party", DMK Minister Raja Kannappan said it has "lost its strength".

"As far as the Congress is concerned, they run the party only to get seats. What is the use of that? They don't run the party thinking they should work hard or do good for the people. But when elections come closer, they will come. This doesn't work amongst the people," he has said at an event to pay tribute to the martyrs of the language struggle in Puducherry.

"That is why the BJP is trying to do too much. The BJP can't do that with us. We don't get scared. We will chase them away. We will take care of the BJP," he said.

The DMK and the Congress, who are partners in the Tamil Nadu government, are set to hold the first round of formal seat-sharing talks for the 2024 Lok Sabha election in Chennai on Sunday.

Kanappan said, "As far as the INDIA bloc is concerned, our leader spoke about it even a day back. Congress is a big and old party. I'm not denying that. But they have lost their strength."

In Saturday development, DMK leaders stressed on the need to defeat the ruling BJP in the coming Lok Sabha polls.

DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin in his address, he said INDIA bloc leaders have to realise that when the BJP was rattled at the prospect of a win for the opposition alliance even at the level of a mayor poll in Chandigarh, unity among constituents will dislodge the saffron party from power at the Centre.

Citing the postponement of Chandigarh mayor polls and the tie-up between the AAP and Congress there, he said the BJP-led Central government "cancelled" even a mayor-level election as the scenario was ripe for victory. The media billed the later deferred civic election as the 'to-be first victory' of the INDIA alliance.

"When they cancel even a mayor level poll, the INDIA alliance leaders must realise the fear of the BJP. We have to use this. We have to seize the opportunity that we have now. If we remain united, the BJP will be defeated. Democracy will win and time will say that. Thirumavalavan will also win and time will say that too," he said.
The entire State of Kerala, except for hardcore Marxists, was in for a shock as alleged goons, claimed to be activists of the CPI(M), attempted to physically assault Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Saturday. The Governor was travelling in his car from Thiruvananthapuram to Kollam when CPI(M) activists intercepted his car and began hitting the windshield and bonnet. When the Governor exited the car, the assailants escaped to safety. The initially silent police eventually persuaded the Governor to return to the car, but he requested a chair from a roadside vendor, sat on the pavement, and contacted the office of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Addressing reporters at the scene, Arif Mohammed Khan said that the series of attacks carried out on him by CPI(M) activists over the last few months were allegedly orchestrated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. "I don't have a problem with them waving black flags at me and raising slogans against me. However, when they attack the official car in which I travel, the situation becomes dangerously serious," said the Governor.

K Ramkumar, the octogenarian lawyer and human rights leader, described the attack on the Governor as improper and illegal. "The Governor is the Head of the State as well as the First Citizen of the State. If the Government fails to provide foolproof security to its own head, what should we understand about the intention of the council of ministers? This Government has failed in its Constitutional responsibilities, and it is an unconscionable failure," Ramkumar told The Pioneer.

Within hours of the attack on the Governor, the home ministry upgraded his security cover to that of Z Plus, and the commandos of the CRPF took over the responsibility from the lethargic wing of the State Police.

Continued on Page 2

CPI(M) goons attack

Kerala Governor

Interestingly, earlier this week, Union Minister of State V Muraleedharan had said that the life of Governor Arif Mohammed Khan was in danger and that his security needed to be increased.

The attack on the Governor on Saturday is being viewed as a consequence of the speech he delivered during the Republic Day Parade in Thiruvananthapuram, where he called for a cessation of political and external interferences in institutions of higher learning to maintain their autonomy. A disgruntled Vijayan, popularly known as Karana Bhoothan, was observed walking away once the function concluded. Later in the day, Education Minister V Sivankutty and the party's State secretary MV Govindan were deployed by Karana Bhoothan to confront the Governor, which they did with finesse. The duo urged the Centre to abolish the post of Governor, deeming it an inconsequential position.

Student wing leader of the CPI(M) PM Arsho blamed the Governor for Saturday's incident. "Arif Mohammed Khan does not possess the qualities to be the Governor of this State. On Saturday, the Governor attempted to intimidate the poor students who were peacefully agitating for their rights. Arif Mohammed Khan exited the car, threatened the police and the students by shouting at them. He even humiliated the students by referring to them as monkeys, criminals, and idiots. There was no need for the police to register a case against us under Section 124 of the IPC because we were employing only democratic means of protest against the Governor," said Arsho, himself an accused in nearly twenty criminal cases.

All CPI(M) ministers condemned the Governor for Saturday's attack and labelled it as a protest by students who were allegedly humiliated and insulted by the Governor.
The crew aboard a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker hit by a missile launched by Yemen's Houthi rebels extinguished an hours long fire onboard the stricken vessel Saturday sparked by the strike, authorities said.

The attack on the Marlin Luanda further complicated the Red Sea crisis caused by the Iranian-backed rebels' attacks over Israel's war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The tanker carried Russian-produced naphtha, a flammable oil, drawing Moscow further into a conflict that so far it had blamed on the U.S.

The Marlin Luanda burned for hours until being extinguished on Saturday, said Trafigura, a Singapore-based trading firm. Its crew of 25 Indian nationals and two Sri Lankans were still trying to battle the blaze sparked by the missile strike, it said. No one was injured by the blast, it added.

The Indian Navy is assisting in firefighting efforts. The Navy said that its guided missile destroyer, INS Visakhapatnam, was deployed in the Gulf of Aden in response to a distress call from the oil tanker on the night of January 26.

"The firefighting efforts onboard the distressed Merchant Vessel are being augmented by the NBCD team along with firefighting equipment, deployed by INS Visakhapatnam to assist the crew onboard the MV," the Navy said in a statement.

Early Saturday, US Forces conducted a strike against a Houthi anti-ship missile that was aimed at the Red Sea and prepared to launch, the US Military's Central Command said. That attack came after the USS Carney, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, had to shoot down a Houthi missile targeting it.

"We are pleased to confirm that all crew on board the Marlin Luanda are safe and the fire in the cargo tank has been fully extinguished," Trafigura said. "The vessel is now sailing towards a safe harbor."

The ship, managed by a British firm, is carrying the Russian naphtha bound for Singapore, the company said. It described the flammable oil as being purchased below the price caps set by G7 sanctions placed on Russia over its ongoing war on Ukraine. It wasn't clear what environmental impact the attack had caused.

Houthi military spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree claimed the attack on the Marlin Luanda in a prerecorded statement late Friday, describing it as a "British oil ship." He insisted such attacks would continue.
Paradise is elusive in this world. Sometimes, even lost. But Lakshadweep is a paradise that not only exists but also retains its idyllic innocence. CHANDAN MITRA spent five heavenly days on the archipelago to discover its rare coral treasures. Photographs by SHOBORI GANGULI

Tilla couple of years ago when asked where I planned to spend the New Year, I would promptly reply Somewhere the mobile doesnt work. It has become increasingly difficult to locate such a place, although I did manage to herald 2006 at a resort near Ranaqpur in Rajasthan where the mobile, somewhat unexpectedly, did not catch the signal.

I thought it would be the same when I planned a trip to Lakshadweep this year. As it transpired, connectivity is no longer an issue even in these far-flung islands that lie between 300 and 500 kms west of the Kerala coast. I had been told that BSNL provides a cellular service to Agatti, the island that has the archipelagos only airfield.

What is instantly striking about Lakshadweep is its pristine serenity, untouched by civilisation. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, globally celebrated for creating the worlds most famous fictional detective, Sherlock Holmes, also wrote a gripping novel, The Lost World  an imagined account of a plateau in the wilds that survived the ravages of man and time to remain home to prehistoric species that were lost to the rest of the world. Purely fictional, it chronicles Sir Doyless vivid imagination that can be traced to modern-day science fiction films like Steven Spielbergs Jurassic Park.

A snorkeling or scuba diving expedition in the marine wilds of Lakshadweep would have definitely spurred the authors powers of imagination. If the phrase out of this world could truly be applied to a place very much a part of our Earth, it must be the bountiful marine life throbbing with vitality and variety all along the coral reefs of Lakshadweeps myriad islands. The sheer remoteness of this group of 62 islands, only 10 of which are inhabited, has allowed pristine marine life to prosper in splendid isolation. The sheer tranquility of the tiny islands encircled by emerald blue lagoons and peopled more by swaying coconut palms than humans, makes for a therapeutic holiday for metro rat-racers.

A place of exquisite natural beauty, spellbinding tranquility, rich in an astonishing array of marine life, Lakshadweep is now face-to-face with a crucial decision about its future. Which way should it go? Should it emulate the example of its southern cousin, Maldives, which has become one of the worlds most sought after destinations with tourism emerging as the backbone of its economy? Or, should Lakshadweep resist the temptation of mindless prosperity, choosing instead to retain its millennial lifestyle quaint but comfortable? Its a tough call.

Lakshadweep is not too easily reached. There is only a 15-seater Dornier turbo-prop aircraft of Indian Airlines that aerially connects the island to Kochi on the Kerala coast. The plane commutes between Kochi and Agatti six days a week and is the lifeline of the Union Territory Administration and its officials. There is also the option of taking the ferry, a daily service that connects different islands to the mainland, covering the 404-km distance between the UTs headquarters at Kavaratti and Kochi.

Adventurous travellers sometimes hire private boats for inter-island travel: We were told on Kadmat island that some people left for Bangaram at 2 am, intending to make it to the tourist resort by 7 in the morning. Journeys by such motorised boats are exciting; we were ferried to Bangaram from Agatti this way, but it could prove a trifle dangerous if the seas are choppy. One should not forget that Lakshadweep lies directly on the route of the monsoon as it advances towards the Indian Peninsula from the centre of the Indian Ocean.

Having spent four magnificent days in these quaint islands, my understanding of marine life and empathy for ecology has multiplied manifold. I cannot ever forget that momentary glimpse of a turtle, which I suddenly found staring at me questioningly as it bobbed up from below while I was swimming in the lagoon at Bangaram. It seemed to ask what right I had to invade its privacy without so much as by your leave!

It was the same feeling I got diving deep in the lagoon off Kavaratti as thousands of enchantingly multi-hued fish swarmed around me. I put out my palm at some of them; innocently, they came towards me assuming I was offering food and darted away furiously upon realising there was no meal on offer. Being first-timers, we did not risk diving or snorkelling in the deep seas beyond the coral reef, although diving instructors everywhere assured us that even those (like my wife Shobori) who could not swim had nothing to worry once a life jacket was worn. Apparently, the walls of coral that constitute the reef offer fantastic glimpses of marine life. After a couple of days familiarising with the idiom of deep-sea diving, its worth stepping into the open sea beyond the reef.

At Bangaram, we snorkelled close to the reef on which a ship had run aground 70 years ago. The sights we saw were reminiscent of underwater documentaries you watch on Discovery or National Geographic. Apart from thousands of small, colourful fish, many giant-sized fish have also made the wrecked hull of the ship their home, elegantly sashaying in and out of the protection it offers. A visit to the shipwreck at Bangaram is highly recommended as the water is shallow and one can always stand up in case of any difficulty.

It is indeed a lost world waiting to be discovered in the warm, tropical waters of Lakshadweep. Living corals are rarely seen anywhere in the world today, but the waters off these islands are brimming with them. Islanders, however, mournfully point out that the El Nino of 1997 that brought swirling currents of warm water caused widespread death and destruction of corals. Its only now that the corals are regenerating once again. But it will take decades, provided there is no other ecological disaster, for corals here to regain their earlier vitality, a diving instructor said at Kadmat.

Interestingly, it could be dangerous at times to provoke live coral. Clamp-corals, for instance, close their apparently inert mouths tight if you happen to put your finger into them. Unless uprooted (which means killed), it isnt possible to make them let go. Moral of the story: Let sleeping corals lie. Similarly, the multifinned Lionfish can release sufficient poison if touched, to disable a human arm for around three hours.

A good diving instructor is one who points to all these facts of underwater life even as he expertly guides you through the depths. We had to learn sign language to communicate underwater even for snorkelling. Making an O by joining your thumb and forefinger is an exclamation of joy, putting your palm out and shaking it as if indicating so-so actually conveys you are not okay, while the thumbs up sign means you arent comfortable and wish to go up to the surface.

Although scuba diving requires some detailed instructions to be carefully followed and carrying a lot of equipment like air cylinders on your back, it is actually quite simple once you get the hang of it. Personally, I found it easier than snorkelling, which entails pulling air from the surface through a nozzle into your lungs while floating close to the surface. While diving, on the other hand, once you are in water, buoyancy ensures you dont feel the weight of the air cylinders; in fact, a belt studded with metal weights has to be worn so that you can reach the sea floor to get the best view of fish, corals, turtles and even octopuses. The Government-run Dolphin Dive Centre at Kavaratti boasts some of the best trainers, with Sikandar, Taha and Shaukat making us feel comfortable in no time. For the less adventurous, there is the option of travelling into the sea in glass-bottomed boats. I had done that in Maldives and Mauritius, but having experienced the real thing now, that seems rather amateurish.

Our first halt in Lakshadweep was at Bangaram, reached by a 90-minute flight to Agatti from Kochi and thereafter another 90 minutes by boat. The day we arrived, the Pawan Hans chopper, the lifeline between the islands, got grounded due to a technical snag. Hence the boat-ride, which in fact, we quite enjoyed. Bangaram is Lakshadweeps most frequented destination, mainly because of a much-publicised resort comprising 29 thatched cottages. Running for 17 years it now provides a model for similar development of other uninhabited islands. The Government facility, the Dak Bungalow with four independent cottages, shares the beach with this resort.
Amid speculations about the return of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United) to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Saturday said the BJP central leadership is "monitoring the political situation in Bihar".

Talking to PTI on Saturday, Singh said "Our Central leaders will take decision accordingly".

"Nitish Kumar is currently the Chief Minister of Bihar. Lalu Prasad's led RJD and Congress are the alliance partners of the Mahagathbandhan government in Bihar. Our Central leadership is monitoring the situationOur Central leaders will take decisions accordingly", the Union Rural Development minister said.

Senior BJP leader and former Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi on Friday said "politics is about probabilities".

"In politics, doors can never be closed", he had said in response to journalists' queries about JD(U)'s return to the NDA.

"Whatever the central leadership decides, we will abide by it", he had said.

Echoing a similar view, BJP MLC (Member of Legislative Council), Dilip Jaiswal, told PTI, "Our top leadership is monitoring the situationand they will take a decision accordingly. I think everyone should wait right now. Our legislature party meeting is scheduled to take place at 4 pm todayWe will again meet at 9 am on Sunday".
Actor Dev Patel is set to unleash his desi-John Wick in "Monkey Man", the upcoming action thriller set to release in theatres worldwide on April 5.

Hollywood studio Universal Pictures unveiled the official trailer, featuring well-choreographed and spectacular fight and chase sequences, of the film, which also marks Patel's directorial debut, on Friday night.

Inspired by the legend of Lord Hanuman, "Monkey Man" is set in Mumbai and features the "Lion" star as a man on a quest for vengeance against the corrupt leaders who murdered his mother and continue to systemically victimise the poor and powerless.

The actor plays Kid, an anonymous young man who ekes out a meagre living in an underground fight club where, night after night, wearing a gorilla mask, he is beaten bloody by more popular fighters for cash.

"After years of suppressed rage, Kid discovers a way to infiltrate the enclave of the city's sinister elite. As his childhood trauma boils over, his mysteriously scarred hands unleash an explosive campaign of retribution to settle the score with the men who took everything from him," the official logline read.

The film also stars popular Indian actors Sobhita Dhulipala, Vipin Sharma, Ashwini Kalsekar, Adithi Kalkunte, Sikandar Kher, Pitobash and Makarand Deshpande, along with Sharlto Copley.

The trailer sees Patel fighting in a ring, engaging in hand-to-hand combat with Kher and also taking on multiple criminals in a style reminiscent of Keanu Reeves' retired assassin from four "John Wick" movies.

Incidentally, Thunder Road Films, one of the producers of "John Wick" franchise, is also backing "Monkey Man".

The film is produced by Patel, Jomon Thomas, Oscar-winning filmmaker Jordan Peele, Win Rosenfeld, Ian Cooper, Basil Iwanyk, Erica Lee, Christine Haebler, and Anjay Nagpal.

Patel has developed the movie from his original story. He wrote the screenplay along with Paul Angunawela and John Collee.
A Lebanon woman serving time for a probation violation died at the Linn County Jail.

Paula Skyles-Lutzi, 51, was found unresponsive at around 8:16 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, after jail staff was notified that she was having medical issues, according to a news release from the Linn County Sheriffs Office.

Podcasts 'A Place to Sleep' podcast: Catch all the episodes here Our podcast, A Place to Sleep, explores how Oregon cities are responding to a new law that is meant to provide homeless individuals a place to rest.

A public records search indicated she is from Lebanon.

Deputies immediately began CPR and called for paramedics, according to the news release. Albany Fire Department members were called to the scene and continued life-saving measures but were unsuccessful.

Per standard protocol, Sheriff Michelle Duncan requested that the Benton County Sheriffs Office conduct an investigation into the death in conjunction with the Linn County Medical Examiners Office.

Skyles-Lutzi had been in the custody of the Linn County Jail since Monday, Jan. 22. Her probation stemmed from a September conviction for felony charges of identity theft and first-degree failure to appear, to which she pleaded no contest.
The first court session of the person who committed a terrorist attack at the Azerbaijani Embassy in Iran will be held today, Azernews reports, citing the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.

It was brought to attention that as a result of the terrorist attack, one employee of the embassy was killed, and two other employees were seriously injured. Taking into account the serious risk to people's lives and safety after the attack, the embassy staff and family members were evacuated.

Regular interactions between authorities and important structures of the two nations continued throughout the year to maintain the embassy's complete security, and the Azerbaijani side's expectations were relayed to the other side.

"The Iranian side regularly informed the Azerbaijani side about the ongoing investigative measures, and after a long process, the first court session on the case of the person who committed the terrorist act was scheduled for January 27, 2024," the Foreign Ministry said.
Detailed information is coming to light in a murder case that shocked the Front Range just before the holidays and remains a curiosity. Little information has been released in the ongoing investigation, which has an international twist.

Kimberlee Singler, 35, is awaiting extradition from the United Kingdom, arrested and accused of killing two of her children and injuring a third.

She and her ex-husband were experiencing a contentious divorce and custody battle after their April 2018 split. Singler had missed a date to drop off the children at a police department for their father's scheduled visitation on Dec. 16 and was facing several motions to comply with the order.

In divorce documents obtained by The Gazette, the Colorado Springs mother described her injuries in a motion filed two days after the attack.

In the Dec. 20 court document, Singler explained why she could not make a scheduled in-person court hearing in Larimer County.

In the motion, she said that she needed time to grieve and therefore was unable to make it to the hearing.

Two days earlier, on the day of the alleged attack, a clerk with the Larimer County Court left Singler a voicemail telling her that she and her children were ordered to appear in court Dec. 20 if she was unable to exchange the children with her ex-husband, Kevin Wentz, before then.

In the document she wrote asking for a continuance, Singler claimed to have also been injured in the alleged fatal break-in. I am unable to attend in person/ virtually/ or otherwise, because I have lacerations on my neck and wrists, she wrote.

Singler told the courts that she was writing from a library computer because her home was locked down and she had no access to a phone or laptop.

In the official request for a continuation, she informed the courts that she needed to delay the hearing because she was weak and grieving the loss of her two children.

Featured Local Savings

Someone broke into my residence at 11 am and attacked the children and myself, she explained. Singler said that she was weak and would be unable to attend a hearing for at least another 10 days.

It is the first inkling of her possible defense in the troubling case since the murders occurred.

In the document, she explained that a burglar entered her home before noon on Dec. 18, killed two of her children and left her and a third child to die. "But we survived," she said. Singler explained that she was not able to call 911 until the morning of Dec. 19, just after midnight.

Three days later, police said, was the last time Singler was seen in the United States. On Dec. 26, investigators issued a warrant for her arrest and on Dec. 30, she was taken into custody in London.

Another court document contends that Singler actually told police that her ex-husband was a suspect in the break-in and murders of their own children.

In a Jan. 2, 2024, court request made by Wentz, the childrens' father indicated that Singler tagged him as the intruder in their home that morning, but, according to the document, investigators determined that Wentz was not involved in the childrens murder.

The document was a request by Wentz to release a Child and Family Investigative report.

Details that would normally be found in a police affidavit, such as how police determined it was not a burglary, are not available because the document was immediately sealed when it was signed, Colorado Springs police spokesman Ira Cronin said.

Singler is in custody in the United Kingdom and is scheduled for a court date Monday. The 4th Judicial District is requesting that she be extradited to Colorado on 10 charges including two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder in relation to the couple's three children.

Legal experts said not to expect for Singler to be extradited for months because the process is a long one. "This is just red tape," said University of Denver associate law professor Ian Farrell. "I imagine there are Is to be dotted and Ts to be crossed. They have to make sure everything is in order before they hand someone over."
In response to the evolving threat posed by enemy cruise missiles, the US Army is actively developing a cutting-edge interceptor system as part of its comprehensive strategy to bolster air defense capabilities. This strategic enhancement specifically targets supersonic cruise missiles and large-caliber rockets. The primary objective of the new interceptor is to augment the Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC) Increment 2 weapons system by expanding its defensive capacities.

Get alerts:

IFPC Increment 2 system

The IFPC Increment 2 is a mobile, ground-based weapon system designed to protect fixed and semi-fixed sites from a variety of threats, including cruise missiles, drones, rockets, artillery, and mortars. The first interceptor in this system is the AIM-9X Sidewinder missile. The AIM-9X Sidewinder is a proven and effective weapons system. The systems architecture includes a launcher, an all-up-round magazine for the interceptor, a weapons interface controller, and engagement calculator software. The US Armys Sentinel radar acts as the sensor, and the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System serves as the fire control component for this advanced weapons system.

Seeking a second interceptor

The Army is now looking to procure a second interceptor system to complement the AIM-9X in the IFPC system. This new interceptor is expected to target subsonic and supersonic cruise missiles. The requirements include an open system architecture to facilitate future growth and adaptability without significant redesign. The Army aims for a competitive award for this second interceptor around fiscal 2025, with technology demonstrations planned for the 2026-2027 timeframe. These demonstrations may include digital simulation, hardware-in-the-loop, and live-fire tests designed to put the new missile through its paces.

Key considerations

One of the primary considerations in selecting a second interceptor will be the weapons systems magazine capacity. The IFPC system can currently hold 18 AIM-9X missiles, but if a larger missile like the AIM-120D (with a range of over 180 kilometers) were used, the magazine capacity would decrease to six. The Army is seeking a balance between capability and capacity, aiming for a missile with AIM-120D-type capability in an AIM-9X package.

Other essential features designed for the new interceptor should include the ability to reach certain altitudes and ranges, a rocket motor that decreases flight time to target, and resilience against electronic warfare countermeasures. Enhanced seeker performance is also a priority.

Industry Engagement

The Army has reached out to defense industry subcontractors for ideas and proposals. Companies like Raytheon Technologies and Lockheed Martin have previously submitted proposals. International firms, including Israeli companies like Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and their Tamir 2 interceptor, are potential contenders. An industry day is scheduled in Huntsville, Alabama, to further engage with potential suppliers and partners.

The US Armys pursuit of a new interceptor for the IFPC Increment 2 system demonstrates a proactive approach to evolving air defense challenges. By seeking a missile that combines high capability with adequate magazine capacity, the Army aims to ensure robust defense against a wide range of aerial threats, particularly in the context of increasing tensions and technological advancements by potential adversaries.
Ad Crypto 101 Media

Like Tiny Crypto Retirement Funds

The crypto bull market is about to blast off. Bitcoin and Ethereum are surging. But so are tiny altcoins that could be so profitable They're like tiny crypto retirement funds.

Click here and see how to get a copy.
The following companies are subsidiares of Sonoco Products: 2103393 Ontario Inc., APEI UK Limited, APEI Unlimited IOM, Allied Packaging, Associated Packaging Technologies Inc., Ball Metalpack Holding LLC, Beteiligungen Sonoco Deutschland Vermogensverwaltungsgesellschaft mbh, CP Acquisition LLC, Can Packaging, Cap Liners Limited, Capseals Limited, Capseals Liners Limited, Cascades Sonoco Inc., Clear Lam Flexible Films (Nanjing) Co. Ltd., Clear Lam Packaging Inc., Clear Pack Co., Clear Pack Company, Colombiana P.M. LLC, Conitex Sonoco (BVI) Ltd., Conitex Sonoco (Mexico) S. de R.L. de C.V., Conitex Sonoco Hellas S.A., Conitex Sonoco Holding B.V., Conitex Sonoco Inc., Conitex Sonoco India Pvt. Ltd., Conitex Sonoco N.V., Conitex Sonoco Shanghai Ltd., Conitex Sonoco Suzhou Co. Ltd., Conitex Sonoco Taiwan Ltd., Conitex Sonoco USA Inc., Convex Mold Inc., Corenso Holdings America Inc., Corenso North America, Corenso Richmond LLC, Corepak Limited, CorrFlex Graphics LLC, Demolli Industria Cartaria S.p.A., Engraph Inc., Engraph Puerto Rico Inc., Fair Lawn Packaging Services LLC, Friarsgate Studio Limited, Graffo Paranaense De Embalagens S.A., Graffo Paranaense de Embalagens S/A, Grove Mill Paper Company Limited, Gunther of America Inc., Hartsville Corrugating LLC, Hayes Manufacturing Group, Highland Packaging Solutions, Highland Packaging Solutions LLC, Industrial Machine Co. Inc., Inversiones Sonoco Limitada, Italtubetti SpA, Laminar Medica, Laminar Medica (CE) s.r.o., Laminar Medica Limited, Manufacturas Sonoco S.A. de C.V., Matrix Packaging Inc., OOO Sonoco Alcore, PT Conitex Sonoco, PT Papcor Asia Pacific, PT Papertech Indonesia, PT Sonoco Indonesia, Packaging Holdings Inc., Papcor (Dezhou) Packaging Material Co. Ltd., Papertech Dezhou Co. Ltd., Papertech SL, PenPack LLC, Peninsula Packaging Company, Peninsula Packaging LLC, Penpack S. de R.L. de C.V., Phoenix Packaging Corp., Plastique Holdings LTD, SMB GmbH, SPC Capital Management Inc., SPC Liquidation LLC, SPC Management LLC, SPC Resources Inc., SR Holdings of the Carolinas LLC, Sebro Plastics Inc., Sonoco (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Sonoco (Taicang) Packaging Co. Ltd, Sonoco (Weifang) Packaging Company Ltd., Sonoco Absorbent Technologies LLC, Sonoco Absorbent Technologies Limited, Sonoco Alcore - Demolli S.r.l., Sonoco Alcore AB, Sonoco Alcore GmbH, Sonoco Alcore N.V., Sonoco Alcore Nederland B.V., Sonoco Ambalaj Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Sonoco Asia Holding S.a.r.l., Sonoco Asia L.L.C., Sonoco Asia Management Company L.L.C., Sonoco Australia Pty Ltd, Sonoco Board Mills Limited, Sonoco Bonmati S.A.U., Sonoco Canada Corporation, Sonoco Capseals Liners Limited, Sonoco Comercial S. de R.L. de C.V., Sonoco Consumer Products Dordrecht B.V., Sonoco Consumer Products Europe GmbH, Sonoco Consumer Products Hellas S.A., Sonoco Consumer Products Limited, Sonoco Consumer Products Mechelen BVBA, Sonoco Consumer Products Montanay SAS, Sonoco Consumer Products Poland Sp. Z.O.O., Sonoco Consumer Products SAS, Sonoco Consumer Products South Africa (PTY) Ltd., Sonoco Consumer Products Zwenkau GmbH, Sonoco Cores and Paper Limited, Sonoco Deutschland GmbH, Sonoco Deutschland Holdings GmbH, Sonoco Development Inc., Sonoco Elk Grove Inc., Sonoco Embalagens Ltda., Sonoco Flexible Packaging Canada Corporation, Sonoco Flexible Packaging Co. Inc., Sonoco Graphics India Private Limited, Sonoco Hickory Inc., Sonoco Holdings Inc., Sonoco Holdings UK Limited, Sonoco Hutchinson LLC, Sonoco IPD France SAS, Sonoco Iberia S.L.U., Sonoco International Holdings GmbH, Sonoco JV GmbH & Co. KG, Sonoco Kaiping Packaging Co. Ltd., Sonoco Limited, Sonoco Luxembourg Holding S.a.r.l., Sonoco Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Sonoco Milnrow, Sonoco Netherlands Holding II BV, Sonoco Netherlands Holding III BV, Sonoco New Zealand Limited, Sonoco Operadora S. de R.L. de C.V., Sonoco Packaging Limited, Sonoco Packaging Tapes Limited, Sonoco Paper Mill & IPD Hellas SA, Sonoco Paperboard Group LLC, Sonoco Partitions Inc., Sonoco Phoenix LLC, Sonoco Pina S.A.U., Sonoco Plastics B.V., Sonoco Plastics Canada ULC, Sonoco Plastics Germany GmbH, Sonoco Plastics Inc., Sonoco Poland Holdings B.V., Sonoco Polysack A/S Inc., Sonoco Polysack Limited, Sonoco Products Company UK, Sonoco Products Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Sonoco Protective Solutions Inc., Sonoco Recycling - International Trade Group LLC, Sonoco Recycling LLC, Sonoco Reels Limited, Sonoco Retail Packaging S. de R.L. de C.V., Sonoco S.A. de C.V., Sonoco SAS, Sonoco Saudi Limited Company, Sonoco Services LLC, Sonoco Singapore Pte. Ltd., Sonoco TEQ Holdings Ltd, Sonoco TEQ LLC, Sonoco TEQ Ltd, Sonoco TEQ Sp. Z.o.o, Sonoco Taiwan Ltd, Sonoco Thailand Ltd, Sonoco UK Leasing Limited, Sonoco Venezolana C.A., Sonoco Venture International Holdings GmbH, Sonoco Ventures UK Limited, Sonoco Wisconsin Rapids Core Plant LLC, Sonoco Wisconsin Rapids Inc., Sonoco Wisconsin Rapids Paper Mill LLC, Sonoco Yatai Pinghu Packaging Co Ltd, Sonoco de Colombia Ltda, Sonoco do Brasil Participacoes Ltda, Sonoco do Brazil Ltda, Sonoco of Puerto RicoInc., Sonoco-Alcore AS, Sonoco-Alcore Oy, Sonoco-Alcore S.a.r.l., Sonoco-Alcore Sp. Z.O.O., Sonoco-Engraph Puerto Rico Inc., TPT Limited, Tegrant Alloyd Brands Inc., Tegrant Corporation, Tegrant International Inc., Tegrant Property Holdings LLC, Tegrant de Mexico S.A. de C.V., ThermoSafe Brands Asia PTE LTD., ThermoSafe Brands Europe Ltd., Thermoform Engineered Quality LLC, Trident Graphics Canada Corporation, Trident Graphics NA LLC, Tubo-Tec Nordeste Industria, TuboTec, U.S. Paper Mills Corp., Weidenhammer Chile Ltda., Weidenhammer Packaging Group, Weidenhammer UK Ltd., and Wisenberg U.S. Inc..

Read More
The East Derry Ulster Unionist Party Association Chairman, Mr Robert Carmichael, has said the Stormont Executive is urgently needed to do all in its power to assist the constituencys construction industry through the current cost of living crisis.

Speaking on behalf of the UUP Association, Mr Carmichael said that should a new Executive be formed in the near future, he wanted to seek assurances from the Executives Minister for Finance in person.

Concerned that employment in East Derry's construction sector was being one of the hardest hit by the economic downturn sweeping through Northern Ireland, Mr Carmichael said: It is vital that any new Minister of Finance gives guarantees on which capital building and infrastructural programmes they must fast track to help support employment in the construction sector.

The construction industry makes an important contribution to the economy of Northern Ireland, and East Derry in particular. It must also be noted that while there is construction work within the constituency, workers from East Derry also travel to other parts of the Province to find work.

Of particular concern has been the downturn in the housing sector and its impact in recent months on many individuals.

While real difficulties are being experienced by the private housing market, investment by the public sector, which continues to increase, is significantly benefiting the industry and will continue to do so over the remaining years of the Investment Strategy. I want to see this support continue.

In a past Assembly, the finance minister said it was expected that Government capital investment would be in the order of 1.5 billion, compared with 676 million several years ago. I sincerely hope that a recognisable part of the current Stormont deal investment will be directed towards supporting the construction industry in East Derry.

Any dramatic increase in expenditure has only been achievable by the devolved administration recognising the importance of capital investment in infrastructure and working with the construction industry to deliver.

And Mr Carmichael has also called on the councils comprising the constituency to adopt a united front on building regulations.

Mr Carmichael said he would be demanding a guarantee from any future Stormont Minister for Finance that there must be consistency across all councils in Northern Ireland.

He added: The East Derry UUP Association officers will be seeking a face to face meeting with any future Minister to ask what measures will be put in place to ensure that there is uniformity of practice between councils in matters of building regulation."
An Irish-language film based on rap trio Kneecap has won an audience award at the prestigious Sundance film festival.

The movie held its world premiere last week and has since signed a major international distribution deal with Sony Pictures Classics at the festival in Utah.

Based on the origin story of the raucous Irish-language rap trio Kneecap, the film stars the bands Mo Chara, Moglai Bap and DJ Provai in their acting debuts alongside Michael Fassbender.

Promoters say the film, set in west Belfast in 2019, chronicles how fate brings the trio together and how they then go on to change the sound of Irish music forever.

 The Audience Award: NEXT presented by @Adobe goes to KNEECAP, directed by Rich Peppiatt (@richpeppiatt). #Sundance pic.twitter.com/1lARXkdyFa  Sundance Film Festival (@sundancefest) January 26, 2024

Kneecap, the film, was awarded the Next audience award during the festival.

Writer and director Rich Peppiatt said: Theres a saying in Irish  Ni mhaireann solas na maidine don la  which means no morning sun lasts all day.

Well, the amazing week weve had here at Sundance since premiering our movie has certainly tested that wisdom  and were basking in every moment.

In a statement, the band said: We are delighted to have such an award bestowed upon the first Irish-language film at Sundance.

Hopefully, it will give people in Ireland the confidence to pursue the arts through their native tongue.

Kneecap was produced by Jack Tarling and Trevor Birney for Fine Point Films and Mother Tongues Films, with Patrick ONeill at Wildcard acting as co-producer.

Funding for the film was provided by Northern Ireland Screen, the Irish Language Broadcast Fund, Screen Ireland, the BFI awarding National Lottery funding, Coimisiun na Mean and TG4, with backing from Great Point Media.

It will be released in cinemas later this year.
Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) recently hosted their inaugural RiVeR Project community of practice event on campus.

The RiVeR Project is a national initiative based in DkIT which has been initiated to support and facilitate frontline services who respond to the impacts of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence through research, education and training. This project is a multi-agency approach to a national problem.

The RiVeR Project is funded under Higher Education Authority Performance Funding. The project, in partnership with key stakeholders, aims to incorporate systematic continuous research and evaluation to build a community of practice at national level.

The initiative aims to develop educational resources for higher education institutions to raise awareness and build further capacity in this field. Through research and education this project will broaden the national availability and opportunities for training for those most in need of further support and education in Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (DSGBV).

This recent sold-out community of practice event offered attendees keynote addresses from Professor John Devaney, Centenary Professor of Social Work and Dean of the School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh.

Professor Devaney Said Im delighted to have the opportunity to talk at this extremely important initiative. The RiVeR Project is now an additional frame of reference to empower first line workers functioning in this area. Professor Devaneys discourse was followed by an address by Mary McDermott, CEO of Safe Ireland.

Mary McDermott stated at the event, This project is an enormous opportunity for education in this area and it has the potential to help build an intellectual infrastructure for the work that needs to be done.

The event was attended by over 100 participants from a wide range of organisations from across Ireland with the aim of maximising support and building a community of practice for those who currently work in this area.

The keynote addresses were followed by an interactive workshop to ascertain stakeholder education and training needs in the area of sexual and gender-based violence. The event also facilitated opportunities for attendees to network with colleagues in the field.

Dr Kathleen Nallen, RiVeR Project Lead added, We were thrilled to host our inaugural community of practice event and were delighted that an event of this ilk was in such high demand. We look forward to growing and evolving our community of practice which will support those working in this area. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Prof John Devaney and Mary McDermott for their incredible and insightful keynote addresses. We felt privileged to have two such distinguished and knowledgeable guests speak so eloquently about the field of DSGBV.

The RiVeR Project team also took this opportunity to officially launch their new website and were joined virtually by Minister for Justice Helen McEntee via a recorded video message which was shown on the day to all attendees.
Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content.

Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist.

If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter .

Support our mission and join our community now.
DALEVILLE  The entrepreneurial landscape in Daleville is set for a transformative uplift. In an unprecedented collaboration, the Small Business Development Center at Troy University and the Daleville Area Chamber of Commerce are hosting a comprehensive Entrepreneurship Bootcamp, funded through a joint effort by Troy University and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Besides Daleville, the bootcamp, modeled after a successful program at Notre Dame University, will be available in Troy and Phenix City. This initiative marks the largest of its kind, making it a pivotal moment for aspiring entrepreneurs in the region.

The program is being spearheaded by key figures in the community. Juliana Bolivar, Director of the SBDC, and Michelle Powell, Director of the Daleville Area Chamber of Commerce, have been instrumental in conceptualizing and bringing this project to life. They are joined by Greg Gainey, owner of the Southeast Community Training Center (SECTC) in Daleville, which will serve as one of the key venues for the Bootcamp sessions.

We are excited to offer such a comprehensive program that not only educates but also builds a supportive community for entrepreneurs, said Juliana Bolivar.

The six-week bootcamp promises an immersive experience, covering various aspects of business development from ideation to strategic planning. Participants will benefit from valuable networking opportunities, mentorship, and practical insights from successful business leaders.

The program culminates with a Networking Event at Troy University, providing a unique platform for participants to connect with peers and industry leaders from different regions.

Understanding the diverse needs of participants, the bootcamp organizers have arranged for on-site childcare facilities. Additionally, each session will start with coffee and pastries at 7:30 a.m., provided by local businesses, and will conclude with a lunch session.

The inclusion of childcare facilities and the provision of meals are part of our commitment to make the Bootcamp accessible and convenient for all participants, said Powell.

Registration and Investment the bootcamp, valued at $500, is accessible at a nominal fee of $25, thanks to the substantial scholarships available. Gainey, encouraged potential participants to take advantage of this opportunity. This is more than just learning about business; its about building a future, he said.

Prospective participants are encouraged to register soon, as spots are limited. For more information and to register, please visit https://forms.office.com/r/NF5faq8BPf
Ireland's Last Leprechaun Whisperer Kevin Woods introduces the world today to childlike leprechauns, known affectionately in Carlingford as Carlichauns.

He invites you today to join team Carlichauns- Hazel, Riley, Dara, Zara and Big Green as they embark on their funny & magical adventures travelling via secret portals located in an underground cavern in Carlingford ,granting special wishes to children in all parts of the world.

Through a series of twenty-six eleven-minute animated adventures, the first to New York, the Carlichauns fulfil the special wishes of children everywhere.

This new pre-school brand is being made into a CG animation series and is a reimagining of a 30 + year old brand, 'The Last Leprechauns of Ireland', which was originally created by Kevin, a native of Carlingford.

Kevin is also the owner of the Carlingford Leprechaun and Fairy Cavern and Folklore Park which attracts 4000 + visitors a year who come and listen to his stories about Irish folklore.

The reimagining of The Last Leprechauns of Ireland and the creation of the Carlichauns was the inspiration of Tim Patterson, ex BBC, Disney & Nickelodeon, & kids TV veteran.

Tim commented:

When Kevin invited me to help modernise an element of Irish folklore, I jumped at the chance. Carlichauns is full of hope, magic & mild peril and laughs, it is set in a kingdom which is an eco-friendly fully sustainable subterranean world of myths, mystery, and magic.

A world of mystical beasts and magical folk. A secret world, hidden below Irelands Carlingford Lough between the Cooley and Mourne mountains.

Kevin Woods  Founder Carlichauns & Last Leprechaun Whisperer of Ireland, spoke of the process:

I have loved every moment of this journey. My ambition has always been to truly market Carlingford and the Cooley Peninsula as a place of myth and legend to a worldwide audience.

We are well on the way, having appeared on TV twenty-nine times, in Europe, Australia, USA and even Russia. The story has been the subject on several social media sites including You Tube, one has reached more than 4 million views,  I survived the place where leprechauns live.

We have a super creative, financial and managerial team in place to make this happen. Our recent acceptance by Enterprise Ireland as a new startup company leaves us supremely confident of success.

In parallel, on and around St. Patricks Day 2024, in several locations in Dublin, Wicklow, Dun Laoghaire and Carlingford, we are launching a free immersive gaming app where kids and families can go on a Carlichauns Hunt.

Players must find the Carlichauns and send them back home to Carlingford where they can continue to embark on their missions to grant those special wishes from kids from all corners of the world  from New York to Tokyo, Turkey to Melbourne.

Carlichauns brand modernises elements of Irish folklore. Built on a centuries old brand, born out of Carlingfords Last Leprechauns of Ireland, they are telling the story of Carlingfords very own leprechauns known affectionately as the Carlichauns.

In late-stage development the team behind the Carlichauns animation series are in the process of investigating and securing investment and partnership opportunities.

You can get a small taste of what is to come or contact the team through on www.carlichauns.com.

-
Six students from DkITs Masters in Entrepreneurship and Marketing course and their Lecturer recently undertook a one-week Residential to Austria. The Residential is part of an established collaboration between the School of Business and Humanities and the Heilbronn University of Applied Sciences in Germany.

According to the college a key component of collaboration is the Business Strategy module on this course which is co-delivered by a project team from both DkIT and Heilbronn University Graduate School who have significant educational and industrial experience.

The module is delivered as a week-long intensive international residential module, worth 10 ECTS. The Residential is a high-level, intensive, interactive collaborative component, focused on teaching students to diagnose international strategic business issues and develop effective strategies to deal with them in a globally competitive environment.

The venue for the residential this year was Sollerhaus in the Austrian Alps, a self-contained residential venue facilitating complete immersion in the module. The initiative was supported this year by the EU ERASMUS+ programme which contributed to students costs.

During the week-long residential, students integrated in small teams of mixed nationalities, sharing valuable and complimentary educational, industry and cultural experiences. Sophisticated cloud-based business simulation software, Topsims Mastering Global Expansion was used, challenging the students to practice analytical and evaluation techniques.

Through this International Residential with Heilbronn UAS, DkITs MBS in Entrepreneurship and Marketing programme has achieved a phenomenal 4 awards, one for Best Academic Partnership and three for Best International Collaboration Project at the Irish Education Awards (2018, 2019 and 2023).

According to DkIT Head of Department of Business Studies, Dr. Brian Boyd:

Our MBS students have a world-class opportunity on this Residential to work with Heilbronn University of Applied Science graduate School, putting Business Strategy into practice in a dynamic and intercultural learning environment.

Dr. Maeve McArdle, Business Strategy module Coordinator noted:

The Residential Module is a truly unique learning experience, where our students are fully immersed in the module for an entire week. They learn to live, study and work together as a team, making memories and forging life-long friendships.
The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SVP) is reaching out to the community in the Dundalk area for support.

Volunteers have always been the backbone of SVP, and now, more than ever, it needs your help to continue its mission of positively impacting the lives of those in need. Your invaluable contributions can help achieve that goal.

SVP is holding an online information event on Tuesday, February 6th, at 7.30 pm. To register, email Kathryn.corrigan@svp.ie or call Freephone at 1800 677 777 (press 2 for members).

The SVP Dundalk Area president Helen Grant, speaking at the start of a three-week National campaign for new Volunteers, explained that Since Covid, we have had a dramatic fall in the number of volunteers.

"However, the support through donations for our Christmas Appeal has been tremendous and allowed us to help over one thousand families in the Dundalk Area.

The Dundalk Area is split into eleven different areas called conferences, starting with the large Cooley Peninsula bringing in Carlingford and Omeath as one, Ravensdale, Dundalk Town has six different conferences, Blackrock, Domiskin, Kilkerley HBX area, and Faughart bringing in North West Dundalk. All of these areas need new volunteers.

Volunteers only need empathy, an open mind, and an open heart. Training will be given for everything else.

She says that there are several different areas in which volunteers are needed:

IT / Finance /Accounting Roles

If you're tech-savvy and looking to lend your expertise, consider joining one of the eleven conferences in the area. Volunteers are needed to assist in IT management, ensuring seamless data management and financial oversight.

This role, requiring just two to three hours per week, provides an opportunity to make a significant difference with all the necessary training provided.

Touch Lives through Visitation

For those who value personal connections and have a heart for assisting needy families, the SVP visitation teams call for compassionate members.

With detailed training, you'll work alongside experienced conference members, providing advice and assessing the unique needs of families seeking assistance. This role, suited for individuals with life experience, is crucial in offering support and guidance.

Volunteer in vibrant Vincent Shops

The three bustling Vincent shops in Dundalk  Clanbrasill Street, Castletown Road, and Jocelyn Street, including the Bridal Suite  needs enthusiastic volunteers aged 18 and above.

Whether you can spare a few hours or a day or two each week, joining a vibrant team offers a chance to work in a friendly atmosphere, meet wonderful people, and truly make a difference in your community. No experience required

How to Get Involved

If you are interested in volunteering with SVP and want to embark on a fulfilling journey, you can apply by dropping a sealed envelope at any of the three Vincent shops in Dundalk.

The envelope should contain your name, address, telephone number, and preferred volunteering area. Please address the envelope to the Dundalk Area President.

SVP is holding an online information event on Tuesday, February 6th, at 7.30 pm. To register, email Kathryn.corrigan@svp.ie or call Freephone at 1800 677 777 (press 2 for members).
Shoppers at the grand opening of Uniqlo Hoan Kiem in Hanoi, Nov. 10, 2023. Photo courtesy of Uniqlo Vietnam

Among Southeast Asian countries, 56.7% of Japanese companies target Vietnam for business expansion in the next 1-2 years, ranking behind Laos in regional growth interest.

Vietnam had previously topped the ranking for two consecutive years.

According to a survey on the status of Japanese firms investing abroad in the fiscal year 2023, announced Friday by the Japan Trade Promotion Organization (JETRO) in Vietnam, the rate of 56.7% was 3.3 percentage points lower than the results of the same 2022 survey.

Among all Asia-Pacific markets that JETRO surveyed in 2023, the rate of Japanese companies planning to expand business in Vietnam was also behind India and Bangladesh.

Regarding sectors, 47.1% of surveyed Japanese manufacturing firms wanted to expand operations in Vietnam, and the respective rates for non-manufacturing companies and retailers were 65.5% and 100%.

"More Japanese businesses are investing to expand and dominate the Vietnamese market. Information technology businesses are tending to invest more," said Nobuyuki Matsumoto, chief representative of JETRO in Ho Chi Minh City.

Japanese businesses evaluate the attractiveness of Vietnam as a growing and potential market in the future. Its other strength is the stable socio-political situation and cheap labor costs.

However, there are complicated administrative procedures, increased labor costs and an incomplete legal system that lack transparency, he said.

The rate of Japanese firms expecting profit from their business in Vietnam in 2023 was 54.3%, some 6.6 percentage points lower than the Southeast Asian average.

The cause was a decline in domestic and foreign demand, increased labor and input costs, and fiercer competition.

Half of surveyed Japanese companies said profits would improve in 2024.

"Although exports had a difficult year, they are expected to recover in the coming time," Matsumoto said.

Last year the localization rate of Japanese companies in Vietnam surged to 41.9%. JETRO said the companies still have high motivation to strengthen on-site purchasing, and at the same time expect the further development of the supporting industry.

"In the coming time, high-quality personnel such as specialized engineers will be an issue that needs attention," Matsumoto said.

According to the General Statistics Office, Japanese investors poured US$6.57 billion into Vietnam, accounting for 17.9% of total FDI in 2023, an increase of 37.3% against 2022, ranking second among countries and territories investing in the country.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks with U.S. Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Jose Fernandez on Jan. 25, 2024. Photo by Nhat Bac

Fifteen U.S. companies, including semiconductors firms, have expressed interest in investing $8 billion in Vietnam in clean energy infrastructure, contingent on the country's progress on renewable energy rules, a senior U.S. official said.

Vietnam is seeking to attract chipmakers and wants to boost its renewable energy sector but it has so far struggled to adopt rules that would allow the expansion of its solar and onshore wind industry and the development of offshore wind farms of which it has none now.

"They are prepared to invest as much as $8 billion," U.S. undersecretary for economic growth and the environment Jose Fernandez told a press briefing in Hanoi Friday, when asked if U.S. companies wanted to invest in Vietnam.

In a later remark he noted the investment would focus on clean energy infrastructure, according to what companies told him.

He declined to name the companies. Fernandez underlined that those firms had obligations to shareholders so the investment would be conditional on regulatory progress on renewable energy in Vietnam.

"They made commitments to shareholders and customers they will use only renewable energy," he said, adding companies were also waiting for permits before they can go ahead with their investment plans.

Vietnam is considering to adopt a regulatory regime that would allow factories to negotiate electricity prices directly with producers rather than buy it from the country's state-owned power network operator.

It is also working to pass rules for offshore wind, including a designation of marine space use, but regulatory delays have for long hampered progress.

A renewable boom in Vietnam in recent years driven by widespread installation of solar panels and onshore wind turbines has been partly undone by problems for connecting the projects to the grid, which also needs significant upgrades to handle renewable energy.

Fernandez's trip to Vietnam is part of U.S. plans to implement the agreements reached in September when the two countries officially upgraded their ties to "comprehensive strategic partnership", Vietnam's top tier of its diplomatic ranking.

In meetings with senior Vietnamese officials during the trip, including with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Fernandez discussed mostly chips, critical minerals and clean energy, he told reporters.
A woman covers the door of her rented place outside Hanoi to shield it from the cold, Jan. 23, 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Thanh Nga

The Ministry of Finance is tasked with studying and proposing authorities to reallocate the remaining funds of the Covid-19 vaccine fund to rebuild houses for the poor, as directed by the prime minister.

Chairing a government meeting on Thursday, PM Pham Minh Chinh emphasized the need for state agencies to prepare thoroughly to start a campaign to remove shabby houses and rebuild new ones for poor families right after the Lunar New Year holiday next month.

The campaign will build 130,000 social housing units and remove 35,000 shabby houses across the nation this year.

Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung told the meeting that the goal of constructing one million social housing units by 2030 and removing degraded houses for poor families in 74 poor districts by 2025 was achievable.

The Covid-19 Vaccine Fund is an off-budget financial fund established in May 2021 by the government decision during the Covid-19 outbreak.

It is managed by the Ministry of Finance.

The fund receives, manages, and utilizes donations from various sources, including from outside Vietnam, to purchase Covid-19 vaccines or support domestic vaccine production.

In November 2023, the government reported to the National Assembly that the fund operated effectively and mobilized significant resources in a short time after its establishment.

The fund raised over VND7.96 trillion (US$321 million) in the first month of operation.
Majella Galvin, director of West Cork based DNG Galvin Estate Agents scooped the national award for excellence in the property industry at the SCSI Surveying Excellence Awards 2023.

This award is in recognition of her exceptional professionalism and leadership skills within the property industry.

Ms Galvins distinction as a Chartered Member of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) signifies the highest level of expertise, cementing her as a leading figure in the field.

Her roots in the family estate agency business, established more than 40 years ago by her late father Michael, have deeply influenced her career.

As chair of the SCSI Southern Region and chair of SCSI Public and Membership Affairs, Ms Galvin has excelled in property sales, valuations, and lettings, consistently delivering innovative service and exceptional results for clients.

Her dedication extends to simplifying property transactions through the upcoming launch of the DNG Property Advice Clinic in Spring 2024, aiming to empower individuals involved in property transactions.

She received her award at the SCSI National Property Conference which was held at the iconic Croke Park in Dublin in December 2023. Accepting the award Ms Galvin said: Working in this industry has been an incredible journey for me. This award means so much to me.
Serious concerns have been voiced about the impact a lack of available community beds is having on Cork hospitals.

Colm Porter, assistant director of industrial relations at the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, has warned that the lack of community beds in the county is adding to pressures being experienced at hospitals.

We have particular issues in Cork with a lack of community beds, he said, outlining that Cork University Hospital had one of the highest levels of delayed transfer of care in the country, whereby people are ready to be discharged, but there are no suitable beds for them.

HSE figures

HSE figures on delayed discharges show that there were 38 people in CUH ready to be discharged yesterday morning, but with nowhere to go.

There were 13 people ready to be discharged in the Mercy University Hospital, six in Bantry General Hospital, and another two in the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital.

Tadhg Daly, chief executive at Nursing Homes Ireland, has also previously raised concerns about the impact of the lack of community beds.

A report published earlier this month by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ERSI) showed that a large number of nursing home beds have closed in Cork since the beginning of the covid pandemic.

The Long-Term Residential Care in Ireland: Developments Since the Onset of the Covid-19 Pandemic Report showed that Cork witnessed the largest reduction in beds within public long-term residential care (LRTC) facilities out of any county, with 156 public beds lost.

The report also looked at additional planned LTRC beds that had been or are due to come on stream in 2023 and 2024, and showed that Cork will get the second-largest number of new beds, behind Dublin.

It says 326 beds will become available in Cork in 2023/34, 165 of which will be public and 171 of which will be private.

Despite these new beds leading to an increase in voluntary/private beds in Cork, huge losses of public facilities meant that Cork still ended up with the third-highest loss of beds when public and private were combined, losing 57 beds overall, just behind just Galway and Roscommon.

Ageing Cork population

Tadhg Daly told The Echo: There is an ageing population in Cork, and with the reduced provision of nursing home beds, there is now extreme pressure on CUH.

There will be no new bed capacity provided once the small number that are already under construction and prefunded are completed.

In response to a query from The Echo, Cork Kerry Community Healthcare said that a major building and refurbishment campaign is under way across its 24 Community Nursing Facilities in Cork and Kerry.

This campaign includes extensions to existing units (including new beds), refurbishments to improve existing facilities and the construction of some new facilities.

Many of the community nursing hospitals and units located in older buildings, the spokesperson pointed out, are very much of their time and are no longer suitable for modern requirements.

Older buildings

Refurbishment works at these older units in particular will ultimately lead to a better standard of life for our residents, said the spokesperson.

They will allow us to move away from multi-occupancy wards, as well as supporting residents privacy and dignity and supporting physical distancing of residents in order to reduce the risk of transmission of infection.

The investment and building programme will also enable us to comply with legal requirements on the space and facilities offered to residents.

Across Cork, around 60 beds have been closed at different points in order to allow the works to go ahead. Locations where beds have reopened or more beds have been provided or will be provided this year include Clonakilty, Kinsale, Macroom, Millstreet, Kanturk, and Fermoy.

In addition, some of the 60 new beds at Heather House in Gurranbraher are now in use, with others opening on a phased basis, the spokesperson stated.

Work also continues on new community nursing units at St Finbarrs Health Campus in Cork city (105 beds), and in Midleton (50)  these will replace existing beds in buildings which are no longer suitable.
University College Cork is to deliver an interim feasibility study in the next month to identify if there is a need for a supervised drug-injection centre for addicts in Cork.

A similar facility, the first of its kind in the country, is to open in Dublin later this year. It will be operated by Merchants Quay.

Colm Kelleher, a Cork City South-West councillor, said: Im looking forward to the forthcoming report, carried out in relation to the need for a safe, supervised injection facility in Cork.

Mr Kelleher told The Echo: The HSE have issued red warnings, and people have lost their lives due to synthetic opioid overdoses  I know of two in Ballincollig, people that have lost their lives  theyre sons, daughters, theyre our citizens, and theyre sick and need our help.

He and four other city council delegates travelled to Lisbon with Professor Eamon Keenan, national clinical lead on addiction services; Joe Kirby, social inclusion manager with the HSE; and delegates from An Garda Siochana, last year, for a learning site visit. The Fianna Fail councillor said: We visited mobile injection facilities and fixed ones, and it was very insightful. We went over to see what we could take from the visit to formalise a bespoke strategy for facilities here.

I, for one, believe they are needed, and I would be very keen to visit the facility in Merchants Quay, when it is operational.

One thing they faced a lot of resistance to in Dublin was the location, and rightly so: The average citizen is concerned, wondering: Are we going to have this on our own doorstep?

Something I didnt like in Lisbon was that there was a fixed unit in a residential area. I believe that can have somewhat of a negative effect on a community, so it wasnt all perfect in Portugal, but we aim to take the good things and apply them here.

Mr Kelleher said that a facility in Cork should be on a medical campus, a mobile unit, which would be cost-effective, and in the event of an overdose, someone would be right next to a hospital.

There would be clinicians and medical experts working there, but it wouldnt be fixed to any one medical facility, it could go to a different hospital every day.
Tanaiste Micheal Martin has said that the Government and the HSE are doing everything possible to tackle hospital overcrowding.

When asked if more could be done to alleviate the pressures on hospitals, Mr Martin told reporters in Cork on Friday that all appropriate measures are being pursued.

I think the Government is doing everything it possibly can, the HSE is doing everything it possibly can, to reduce trolley numbers, he said.

Trolley numbers have come down 22% on last year this year.

There are some hospitals where there have been challenges. The HSE have been down to Cork, the HSE chief executive officer has been in Cork.

There were concerns about the patient flow within Cork University Hospital and the set-up and in terms of discharge policy. There will be continued investment.

I was just out in Ballincollig last week in terms of the primary and community multidisciplinary centre, that is the future, in my view, in terms of having both strong services in the hospital but also stronger primary care and stronger community-based care so that we can have different pathways for patients, particularly with chronic illnesses, many of whom end up in emergency departments but who shouldnt in the first instance.

The approach now is not just the winter initiative approach, its a much more whole-year-round approach in terms of numbers.

Theres no doubt theres pressures on the hospitals because of increased population, but everything has been done that can be done to alleviate the pressures.

Mr Martins comments come as earlier this week Cork University Hospital appealed for patients not to attend the emergency department unless for a major health emergency.

On Tuesday, it had nearly 300 attendances, the highest number ever.

A CUH spokesperson reported that demands are unprecedented and attendances in January are up 35% on the same period last year, while admissions are up 37%.

For those over age 75, attendances are up 43%, and admissions are up 57%.

Speaking to The Echo earlier this week, assistant director of industrial relations at the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), Colm Porter, said that the issue is not confined to the emergency department.

Theres patients on trolleys inappropriately placed on wards and throughout the hospital, he said.

According to the INMO, 530 admitted patients were waiting for beds in hospitals across the country on Friday morning.

CUH had the second-highest number of patients on trolleys in the country, with 75 patients awaiting a bed.

Elsewhere in Cork, at the Mercy University Hospital, 17 patients were on trolleys yesterday morning.
It was a case of fourth time lucky for 20-year-old UCC pharmacy student and tin-whistle maestro from Rockchapel in north Cork, who was named the winner of the 2024 Sean O Riada Bonn Oir/Gold Medal traditional music competition after the final on Friday night.

It wasnt the first time Eimhear Flannery had contested the final as she had previously reached the deciding bout of the prestigious competition in 2015, when, at 11, she was the youngest ever finalist. She also featured in the final in 2017 and 2021. On those occasions she was playing the concertina.

Each year the competition is aimed at exponents of different instruments, this year it was for tin whistle and flute/feadog mhor players, last year it was the fiddle and next year it will be confined to harpists and uileann pipers.

Adjudicators Conal O Grada, Mary Bergin and the Reverend Gary Hastings named Eimhear as the winner following a concert staged at Corks Rochestown Park Hotel and broadcast live on RTE Raidio na Gaeltachta.

As well as a specially designed Bonn Oir trophy, Eimhear was presented with a cheque for 2,500.

There were three other contestants from Cork in the final, which is customarily limited to 15. These were Eabha Ni Mhurchu from Ovens, Ellen de Burca from Cill na Martra and Gormfhlaith Ni Shiochain Ni Bheolain from Fermoy.

The UCC student joins the ranks of previous winners of the competition, which is organised yearly by Peadar O Riada, the presenter of Cuireadh Chun Ceoil, RTE RnaGs flagship traditional music show produced in the Cork Gaeltacht village of Cuil Aodha, alongside Aoife Ni Bhriain (fiddle), Cormac O Beaglaoich (concertina) and Oisin Morrison (harp).

The contest is aimed at supporting the best of Irish traditional music, said Mr O Riada.

It attracts musicians from all over the world to enter  in the first year we had a finalist from Australia, last year we had four from the USA, including the winner, and this year we had a finalist from Boston.

The winners have built on their reputations following their success at the Bonn Oir and its a title that is respected among musicians.
A member of An Garda Siochana had a sleeve of his uniform jacket torn off by a man he was arresting for drunken behaviour in Douglas.

Christopher Cross, formerly of Ballincurrig Court, Douglas, appeared at Cork District Court where he pleaded guilty to obstructing gardai, engaging in threatening behaviour and being drunk and a source of danger to himself or others.

Inspector Martin Canny said the incident occurred on March 8, 2023 at Douglas Woollen Mills in Douglas West, Cork.

Christopher Cross walked out in front of an unmarked patrol car. He was in an intoxicated condition. He approached the garda vehicle and was abusive to gardai.

He asked them, What the f*** are you looking at? As gardai exited the vehicle, Mr Cross walked into Dinos chipper. They asked him to come out. He was asked for his name and address. He was reluctant to provide details. He was informed he was being arrested for Sections 4 and 6 (the sections of the Public Order Act relating to being drunk and a danger and being threatening).

He lashed out at the guards and attempted to evade arrest. During this, a uniform sleeve was torn off a garda jacket. He was brought to Togher garda station, Inspector Canny said.

Ultimately, the defendant was also charged with the third count under the Public Order Act of obstructing a garda.

The defendants previous convictions included one for obstruction and others for causing criminal damage and assault causing harm.

Defence solicitor, Eddie Burke, said that on the evening in March last year the 35-year-old was intoxicated.

He was walking home minding his own business. He did not realise they were guards and when something was said to him he did ask, what is your problem? In the chip shop he became aware they were guards but the red mist had descended at that stage and in the course of the struggle the jacket was ripped.

He is now in supported lodgings and he is doing very well with the probation service, Mr Burke said.

Judge Marian OLeary said she would adjourn sentencing at Cork District Court until April 25 to allow time for preparation of a pre-sanction probation report.
A Kanturk man has been announced as one of the newest members of TG4s weather and continuity team.

Darragh O Caoimh said he's hoping for a heatwave this summer as he doesn't "want to be the bearer of too much bad news".

First learning Irish at school, the Cork man said his grandmother Maureen Conran and the history of his own area sparked an interest in the language from an early age, and he later attended summer Gaeltacht courses in Corca Dhuibhne and Co Mayo.

He graduated from UCC with a degree in Law and Irish in 2022 and was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to teach Irish at the University of Montana for the 2022/2023 academic year.

Following his return from the Rocky Mountains, he began a Masters in Modern Irish at UCD.

A keen student of Irish literature, Darragh also writes poetry.

His work has won various prizes and has featured in Comhar and Aneas, as well as on RTE Raidio na Gaeltachta and BBC Radio Ulster.

In 2022, Darragh was co-presenter of the Junior Eurovision Eire song competition on TG4 together with Louise Cantillon.

Commenting on his new appointment Darragh said: TG4 is one of Irelands most important broadcasting and cultural institutions, and to join it at this exciting time in its history is a real honour and a brilliant opportunity.

"I hope I can add to the wonderful service TG4 already provides, and am looking forward to working with everyone in Baile na hAbhann, all of whom have been so welcoming and friendly to me since Ive started.

"Heres hoping for a heatwave this summer; I dont want to be the bearer of too much bad news!

Also joining the team is Caitriona Nic an tSaoir from Antrim.

Aimsir TG4 provides the Irish weather service through Irish.

Three linear bulletins are broadcast each day and there are more on the stations website TG4.ie/aimsir as well as its own social media on X @AimsirTG4.

The presenters also do the continuity for the station.

Previous TG4 weather presenters include Daithi O Se, Sile Seoige, Paidi O Lionaird, Aoife Ni Thuairisg and Ailbhe O Monachain.
Cork nurses and others working in hospitals and clinics joined up to a 1,000 marchers during a protest in the city on Saturday afternoon, declaring that health workers should not be a target in the ongoing onslaught by Israeli forces on hospitals and other civilian targets in Gaza.

The march came a day after the International Court of Justice in the Hague ruled that there was a plausible case that Israel was committing genocide in Gaza and as the latest count of medical staff who had lost their lives in the embattled enclave was put at at least 403.

Health workers in Cork told of their devastation about what they described as the hellish conditions that patients and their medical colleagues in Gaza were being subjected to following a number of attacks by Israeli forces which left hospitals destroyed. They also expressed their opposition to the blocking by Israel of the supply of medicine, food and other materials.

Health workers lead chants as 1,000 people march for Palestine in Cork for 16th Saturday in a row.

Anne OFlynn, a Cork based mental health nurse, said health workers had fought against covid and would now fight for Palestine.

The head of the World Health Organisation cried yesterday - he just said he had no words for the situation, said Ms O'Flynn.

Im marching today to call on the Irish Government to listen to healthcare workers and take action.

Cork doctor, Katie Boyle, said that she was marching for an immediate ceasefire.

Healthcare workers are not a target, said Dr Boyle. At least 403 healthcare workers have been killed so far and likely more.

Cora OFlynn, a community healthcare nurse, called on the Irish Government to up its game against what she described as Israels horrific actions.

Health infrastructure has been deliberately targeted for destruction, said Ms O'Flynn.

Ambulances, hospitals, patients and medics are all under attack. Im appealing to the Irish Government, and to Leo Varadkar, a medic himself, to start taking much more concrete action to stand against Israel and its allies like the United States".

Supporting South Africas ICJ case, passing the Occupied Territories Bill and cancelling St Patricks Day visits to Washington would be good first steps to take.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said that consideration was being given at present to joining the South African case against Israel at the ICJ.

A section of the crowd that took part in Saturday's march through Cork city.

In Fridays ruling, Israel has a month within which to respond to a demand from the court on the measures its forces are taking to prevent genocide, and to avoid the targeting of civilians and medical staff.

A further march to highlight the risks faced by healthcare workers in Gaza is to be held at the gates of Cork University Hospital on February 9.
Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading.

Obituaries Newsletter Sign up to get the most recent local obituaries delivered to your inbox. Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy
Cocaine and cannabis as well as a cannabis plant were recovered by gardai following a raid on a property near Bantry a recent sitting of Bantry District Court has heard.

Giving evidence, Det Garda Colin OMahony told the court that a warrant was obtained to search the property of Samuel Field, aged 42, at Millbeg, Coomhola, Bantry, Co Cork.

The search was carried out under Section 26 of the Misuse of Drugs Act at 2pm on November 3, 2022.

Det OMahony said that there was nobody at home when gardai from the drugs unit arrived to carry out the search.

During the search an amount of cocaine was discovered wrapped in plastic and hidden in a tub secreted behind plasterboard in the living room of the premises.

An amount of cannabis was also discovered hidden in a dresser and a cannabis plant was found growing in a barbecue unit.

In total, 12 grams of cocaine was discovered worth about 840, 3.5 grams of cannabis worth about 70, and a cannabis plant worth about 800.

The items were seized and sent for analysis to Forensic Science Ireland.

ARREST

Det OMahony said that Samuel Field was arrested in Bandon on April 2, 2023 and interviewed under caution at Bandon Garda Station.

During the interview Samuel Field admitted possession of the drugs for personal use and also of possession for the purpose of sale or supply.

Mr Field said that following a serious car accident in 2017 in which his back was broken in two places he had used cannabis for pain relief.

He admitted that the cocaine was also his and said that it was the remainder of 18 grams that he had purchased with a number of friends to have a bit of fun at a party in August.

He said that the group of up to six friends were keeping it for use at another party.

Det OMahony said that Mr Field accepted that though he did not plan to sell the cocaine, the fact he was sharing among friends constituted supply.

Defence solicitor Flor Murphy said that Mr Field had admitted everything and that his client understood that you do not have to be selling drugs to be found guilty under Section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Mr Field did not appear in court due to some confusion over the date of the hearing.

Judge James McNulty said that the court was satisfied that the case was proven and deferred conviction and penalty until February 8.
FROM January 1, 024, a number of changes have been introduced in relation to claiming your State Pension (Contributory).

One of these changes is that you can defer claiming your pension.

Q. What is deferring the State Pension (Contributory)?

A. The State Pension (Contributory) is paid to people from the age of 66 who have enough (PRSI) contributions.

From January, 2024, you can choose to start claiming your State Pension (Contributory) any time between the ages of 66 and 70. Choosing a later start date is called deferring your pension. You can defer your start date up until you turn 70.

Q. Why would I defer the start date for my State Pension (Contributory)?

A. During deferral, you can continue to work and make PRSI contributions to increase your personal rate of payment or meet the qualifying condition of 520 (10 years) contributions for State Pension (Contributory).

This means that deferring your State Pension (Contributory) can help you to:

Qualify for State Pension (Contributory) if you didnt qualify at age 66

Get a higher rate of State Pension (Contributory) than what you would have got at age 66

Q. Who can defer their State Pension (Contributory)?

A. If you were born on or after 1958, you can choose to claim the State Pension (Contributory) any time between the ages of 66 and 70.

Once you start claiming your State Pension (Contributory), you can no longer choose to defer your pension claim, even if you keep working. This is because you dont pay PRSI once you start getting your pension.

Q. What are the current rates of deferred State Pension (Contributory)?

A. If you choose to start claiming your pension between age 67 and 70, you may be entitled to a higher rate of State Pension (Contributory).

Your pension rate depends on the age you are when you start getting your pension. If you dont qualify for the maximum rate, you may get a reduced rate.

The fixgures below include maximum rates based on January, 2024, rates of State Pension (Contributory).

Age 66. Maximum rate, 277.30

Age 67. Maximum rate, 290.30

Age 68. Maximum rate, 304.80

Age 69. Maximum rate, 320.30

Age 70. Maximum rate, 337.20

There will be proportionate rates for qualified adults and children.

Q. How many PRSI contributions can I make during deferral?

During deferral, you can continue to make PRSI contributions to increase your personal rate of payment or meet the qualifying condition of 520 (10 years) contributions for State Pension (Contributory).

However, you will not be able to increase your contributions past the current maximum of 2080 (40 years).

It is important to know how many contributions you have before you are going to drawdown your pension.

Q. How do I estimate the rate of my State Pension (Contributory)?

To estimate your State Pension (Contributory) rate, you can ask for a copy of your Contribution Statement on MyWelfare.ie. This statement includes all your PRSI contributions, including paid PRSI contributions and Long-Term Carers Contributions.

You need a verified MyGovID account to use this service. You can find information on how to estimate your State Pension (Contributory) rates on gov.ie.

You can also contact your local Citizens Information Centre when you get your social insurance record and they will assist you to work out your entitlement.

Q. How do I apply?

You should apply for the State Pension (Contributory) no more than six months before your claim start date. If you apply late, your pension start date can be backdated six months only.

The Department of Social Protection will publish a new application form for State Pension (Contributory) soon. It will ask for the date you want to start getting your pension. This can be at age 66, like it is now, or any date between 66 and 70.

If you use the current SPC1 application form and you turn 66 in 2024, the Department will write to you asking what date you want to start claiming your State Pension (Contributory).

South Munster Citizens Information telephone lines in Cork City are monitored from 10am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday.

In addition, the Cork City Centre CIC in Cornmarket Street is open to the public Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, from 9.45am to 1pm and Wednesdays from 2pm to 4.30pm. The Blackpool CIC is open to the public each morning from 10am to 4pm, Tuesday and Thursday. Full details for all Citizens Information Centres and their opening times are available on our website.
"As we are celebrating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Norway and China this year, we look forward to enhancing the bilateral economic relations, facilitating business cooperation, and strengthening cultural links between our two countries," pinpointed Tone Helene Aarvik, Counsellor and Head of Economic Team, the Norwegian Embassy in Beijing.

Emphasizing China as Norway's main trading partner in Asia, Aarvik in an exclusive interview with China Economic Net noted increased activity between both nations in core industries, including maritime and shipping, green transition, consumer goods, and seafood in the post-pandemic era.

Aarvik observed a surge in Norwegian businesses venturing into China, with a record number participating in major events such as the China International Import Expo (CIIE), MarineTec, and China Fisheries & Seafood Expo in 2023. "Last year a business survey conducted among Norwegian companies operating in China shows that they hold a positive outlook for further growth in the Chinese market," she added.

"Seafood has become the largest export commodity from Norway to China in 2023. Salmon is perhaps the most popular imported fish in the Chinese market," Aarvik told the reporter.

According to data from the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC), in 2023, Norwegian seafood exports to China reached 158,909 tonnes, with the export value hitting 8.54 billion NOK, an 18% increase from the previous year. In terms of export value, the Chinese market ranks eighth in Norway's global seafood export markets and continues to be the largest market in Asia. This reflects the steadily growing demand for Norwegian seafood among Chinese consumers.

On top of seafood, Aarvik underscored the growing interest in collaboration related to green transition, shipping, tourism, and so on, foreseeing significant opportunities for Norwegian businesses.

Sharing insights into the enduring relationship between Norway and China as both nations celebrate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2024, Aarvik expressed confidence in international expos, such as the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) and CIIE, continuing to serve as vital platforms for Norwegian businesses to connect with potential partners and gain insights into the dynamic Chinese market.

The upcoming Chinese Spring Festival holiday - to commence on February 10 - is likely to spark travel and consumption frenzy in both China and foreign countries. As it is becoming increasingly popular to visit Norway for the Nordic Lights, winter and snowy landscape during the winter, "we are very pleased to see Chinese tourists coming to Norway," Aarvik highlighted.
ElevenLabs, an AI startup that offers voice cloning services with its tools, has banned the user that created an audio deepfake of Joe Biden used in an attempt to disrupt the elections, according to Bloomberg. The audio impersonating the president was used in a robocall that went out to some voters in New Hampshire last week, telling them not to vote in their state's primary. It initially wasn't clear what technology was used to copy Biden's voice, but a thorough analysis by security company Pindrop showed that the perpetrators used ElevenLabs' tools.

The security firm removed the background noise and cleaned the robocall's audio before comparing it to samples from more than 120 voice synthesis technologies used to generate deepfakes. Pindrop CEO Vijay Balasubramaniyan told Wired that it "came back well north of 99 percent that it was ElevenLabs." Bloomberg says the company was notified of Pindrop's findings and is still investigating, but it has already identified and suspended the account that made the fake audio. ElevenLabs told the news organization that it can't comment on the issue itself, but that it's "dedicated to preventing the misuse of audio AI tools and [that it takes] any incidents of misuse extremely seriously."

The deepfaked Biden robocall shows how technologies that can mimic somebody else's likeness and voice could be used to manipulate votes this upcoming presidential election in the US. "This is kind of just the tip of the iceberg in what could be done with respect to voter suppression or attacks on election workers," Kathleen Carley, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University, told The Hill. "It was almost a harbinger of what all kinds of things we should be expecting over the next few months."

It only took the internet a few days after ElevenLabs launched the beta version of its platform to start using it to create audio clips that sound like celebrities reading or saying something questionable. The startup allows customers to use its technology to clone voices for "artistic and political speech contributing to public debates." Its safety page does warn users that they "cannot clone a voice for abusive purposes such as fraud, discrimination, hate speech or for any form of online abuse without infringing the law." But clearly, it needs to put more safeguards in place to prevent bad actors from using its tools to influence voters and manipulate elections around the world.

This article contains affiliate links; if you click such a link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission.
Annapurna is delaying the release of its upcoming narrative adventure game, Open Roads, by a few weeks so the team can do a little more refining. Its now scheduled for release on March 28 instead of the originally planned date of February 22. The decision was made to ensure the most polished experience for players, a spokesperson for Annapurna told Engadget.

Open Roads, which we had a chance to preview earlier this month , is a nostalgia-heavy experience that follows 16-year-old Tess Devine (voiced by Kaitlyn Dever) and her mother, Opal (Keri Russel), on a road trip to explore their familys past. It features hand-drawn animations and, of course, carries the promise of deep, dark family secrets to unearth. Itll be available for Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch and PC.
With a healthy dose of heart and whimsy, the Sundance documentary Seeking Mavis Beacon follows two young Black women who are devoted to finding the original model for Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing. If you touched a computer during the '80s or '90s, there's a good chance that Mavis helped you get comfortable with a keyboard. Or at the very least, you might remember her from the program's original 1987 cover: a smiling, elegant Black woman dressed in a cream-colored outfit. She embodied style and professional poise  it was as if you could be just as capable as her if you bought that program.

It's no spoiler to say that "Mavis Beacon" didn't really exist  she was a marketing idea crafted by a group of white dudes from Silicon Valley. But the program's cover star was real: Her name was Renee L'Esperance, a Haitian model who was discovered while working at Saks Fifth Avenue in Los Angeles. After her image helped make Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing a success, she retreated from the spotlight, reportedly heading back to retire in the Caribbean.

Seeking Mavis Beacon

The documentary's director and writer, Jazmin Jones, as well as her collaborator, Olivia McKayla Ross, start with those basic details and set out to find L'Esperance like a pair of digital detectives. From a home base in a rundown Bay Area office  surrounded by tech ephemera, a variety of art pieces and images of influential black women  they lay out L'Esperance's reported timeline, follow leads and even host a spiritual ceremony to try and connect with the model.

I won't say if the pair actually end up finding L'Esperance because it's the journey that makes Seeking Mavis Beacon such a joy to watch. Jones and Ross both grew up with the typing program and felt a kinship toward the character of Mavis Beacon. It was the first program to prominently feature a Black woman on the cover (a move that reportedly caused some suppliers to cut their orders), so it made the technology world seem like somewhere young Black women could actually fit in. Beacon's digital hands also appear on-screen, as if she's gently guiding your fingers to the correct letters and positioning.

To help uncover more details about the whereabouts of Mavis Beacon, Jones and Ross set up a hotline and website for anyone to submit clues. Some of those calls are featured in the film, and they make it clear that her digital presence inspired many people. The film opens with references to Beacon throughout culture, including one of my favorite bits from Abbott Elementary, where Quinta Brunson's over-achieving teacher is far too excited to spot the typing icon in a school crowd. I was reminded of my own childhood experience with Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing, spending free periods at school and idle time at home trying to get my typing speed up. By middle school, typing felt as natural as breathing. And yes, I would also have freaked out if I saw the real Beacon in person.

While the documentary doesn't seem out of place at Sundance, which is known for innovative projects, it also sometimes feels like a piece of experimental media meant for YouTube or an art show filled with impossibly cool twenty-somethings. (At one point, Ross attends a farewell ceremony for one of her friends' dead laptops, which was hosted in an art space filled with people dressed in white. That's the sort of hip weirdness that will either turn you off of this film, or endear you to it more.)

Jones shows us screen recordings of her own desktop, where she may be watching a TikTok alongside her notes. Instead of a full-screen video chat with another person, sometimes we just see a FaceTime window (and occasionally that reflects Jones' own image looking at the screen). Finding Mavis Beacon tells its story in a way that digital natives will find natural, without locking itself exclusively into screens like the film Searching.

As is true for many first features, the film could use some narrative tightening. Jones and Ross's investigation stalls at several points, and we're often just left adrift as they ponder their next steps. The pair also occasionally appear too close to the story, or at least, that's how it seems when we see Jones tearing up while pleading to meet with L'Esperance.

But I'd argue that's also part of the charm of Seeking Mavis Beacon. Jones and Ross aren't some true crime podcast hosts looking to create content out of controversy. They're young women who found comfort in one of the few faces in tech that looked like them. With this film, Jones and Ross could be similarly inspirational for a new generation of underrepresented techies.
Overseas Vietnamese in the eastern region of China attend the event. (Photo: VNA)

Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Consul General in Shanghai Nguyen The Tung briefed the participants about the countrys situation in 2023.

He emphasized that in spite of experiencing profound fluctuations that negatively affected countries around the world, with the sound leadership of the Party and Government and joint efforts of the entire country, Vietnam gained many important achievements in all fields, adding that peoples living conditions were improved while the country's foreign relations and position in the international arena were enhanced.

The Ambassador said that the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Vietnam and China in 2023 achieved many important results, creating a momentum for the bilateral relations to develop in the coming time.

Affirming that Vietnamese communities abroad and Vietnamese people in China in particular are an inseparable part of the Vietnamese nation, he hoped that the Vietnamese community in the eastern region of China will continue to promote the patriotic tradition, the spirit of solidarity, mutual love, and join hands to build a closely-knit community.

The diplomat also urged them to employ practical activities to help popularize the image of Vietnam and its people and promote the friendly neighbourliness and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and China.

The participation enjoyed a warm atmosphere with tradition Vietnamese cultural activities on Tet such as wrapping Chung cake, art performance, ao dai performance and traditional Vietnamese dishes on Tet./.
Support Us

Your Support will ensure EPWs financial viability and sustainability.

The EPW produces independent and public-spirited scholarship and analyses of contemporary affairs every week. EPW is one of the few publications that keep alive the spirit of intellectual inquiry in the Indian media.

Often described as a publication with a social conscience, EPW has never shied away from taking strong editorial positions. Our publication is free from political pressure, or commercial interests. Our editorial independence is our pride.

We rely on your support to continue the endeavour of highlighting the challenges faced by the disadvantaged, writings from the margins, and scholarship on the most pertinent issues that concern contemporary Indian society.

Every contribution is valuable for our future.
Quick Take: In the first half of 2023, the UK remained the top nationality for Spanish property purchases, despite a slight decrease in numbers and a weaker Pound against the Euro. Americans, benefiting from a strong dollar, continued to show significant growth in Spanish property acquisitions. Overall, foreign buyers represented 21.4% of all Spanish property purchases, with UK, Germany, and Morocco leading. The US has seen a notable increase in purchases, doubling since 2021. Buyers are increasingly younger, often digital nomads, shifting from the traditional older demographic seeking holiday or retirement homes.

The UK continued to account for the highest proportion of Spanish property buyers in the first half of 2023 with just under 10% of the total.

The actual number of buyers did, however, decline slightly from the previous year while the Americans continued to advance up the league table with another strong annual increase in purchases.

The pound was relatively weak against the Euro during the period which may have had an impact in curbing UK buyers.

According to data for the first half of 2023, from the Spanish General Council of Notaries, foreign buyers accounted for 21.4% of all purchases in Spain, the highest proportion on record.

For the first six months of 2024, 67,983 properties were sold to foreigners, the third-highest figure in the series.

During that period, the British accounted for the largest proportion of purchases with 9.6% of total transactions followed by Germany at 8.1% and Morocco at 7.3%.

Although UK nationals still accounted for the largest number of properties, there was a 17.1% annual decline in the number of purchases and there was an even sharper decline in German purchases.

These declines were offset by strong growth by Russian and Ukrainian purchasers with significant growth for Chinese and US purchasers.

ADVERTISEMENT

A consistently strong dollar against the Euro is likely to have been an important factor driving increased US sales over the past few years.

Looking at purchase prices, the Swedes, Danes and Americans bought the most expensive houses. while

Moroccans, Romanians and Ecuadorians bought the cheapest properties with the UK in the middle of the pack.

Most foreign buyers (68%) purchased a first residence, followed by a second home (21%) and to a lesser extent (11%) as a rental investment.

There has been a clear shift in demographic over the past few years.

The traditional buyer profile has tended to be people in the 50-60 age bracket who were married with children and looked to buy the property as a holiday or retirement home.

More recently, buyers have tended to be younger and looking to take advantage of the strong increase in remote working.

According to an analysis by Union de Creditos Inmobiliarios (UCI), buyers from the UK, Germany, France and Belgium have been the principal buyers in this category, although there has also been a growing US presence.

It noted; Now, on the other hand, younger buyers who are digital nomads are making headway.

If you're looking to buy a property in Spain, lock in the best exchange rate possible on your euros transfer requirement with TorFX. Find out more here.
Saturday, January 27, 2024

Have you ever witnessed the removal of a loved ones body? Ive had three experiences with funeral home teams navigating this sensitive time. In this article I wrote for the latest issue of Funeral Business Solutions, learn some helpful tips to improve the experience. See the full issue online here. Get a PDF of the story here: January 2024 FBS Death Care Removal Tips.

Death Care Removal Tips by Gail Rubin

Over the past two years, I have been the hospice contact for an old boyfriend, my husband, and my father. I was there when the funeral home removal team came for their bodies. From these three experiences, I offer my insights on how the removal experience can be improved.

My Friends Story

Gary Mayhew was my boyfriend for a few years in the 1990s. While he didnt want to get married, we remained good friends, even after I married David Bleicher in 2000. The three of us went out to dinner every other Tuesday, and Gary always picked up the check.

Having been a smoker, Gary developed COPD. For the last five years of his life, he was tethered to an oxygen tank or concentrator. When Gary went on home hospice care in July 2021, I was his contact with the hospice. Ten years earlier, he preplanned and prepaid for a direct cremation.

Independence was important to Gary. He wanted to stay in his home and see a small circle of his friends. He declined hospices offers of spiritual care. He didnt want any assistance with bathing, but he did want help from someone who could prepare meals and clean up the house. The hospice helped arrange for a part-time aide who came in a few hours twice a week.

During Garys three months on hospice, Dave and I brought dinner to Garys house every Tuesday night. Wed find him sitting in his usual chair in the living/dining room, where we would eat carry-out food and play the trivia game Stupid Deaths. Dave would wash the dishes that had built up in the sink.

This particular Tuesday, I called Gary at 11:00 a.m. to discuss dinner options. Green chile cheeseburgers, a New Mexico favorite, would be that evenings fare. I called back at 4:00 p.m. to ask what kind of cheese he wanted. No answer.

When Dave and I arrived at 6:30, the door was not unlocked for us as usual. I used my key to get in. All the lights were out. Gary wasnt sitting in his chair in the dining area. I followed the oxygen tubing into the bedroom. Gary wasnt there. The tube snaked into the bathroom.

There was Gary, curled up naked on the white tile floor, his white underwear around his knees. No pulse. Room temperature. The life sustaining oxygen cannula was several feet from his body.

I covered him with a towel and a blanket, then called the hospice to report Garys death. The male nurse came about an hour later. He pulled on pink protective gloves, checked for a pulse, and made the pronouncement at 7:48 p.m. He called the funeral home where Gary had pre-planned. He did not offer to help move Garys body from the bathroom or suggest laying him out prior to removal.

It was a long time before the removal team arrived at 10:00 p.m. A tall older man in a suit and a more casually dressed younger man wheeled the mortuary cot into the house. I showed them Garys body in the bathroom. They pulled on their black protective gloves.

I shared my background as The Doyenne of Death with them. That may not have been the best thing to do as a bereaved friend. It may have encouraged storytelling of other removals they had done.

The older man, who worked at OMI for eight years, said, One time, we had to remove a guy who looked like Santa Claus, naked, wedged next to the toilet. You cant unsee something like that.

Rigor mortis had set in. They used the blanket to help move Garys curled-up body. The older man deftly moved Garys underwear up into place. I got a glimpse of the side of Garys face that had been resting on the floor  it was purple with pooled blood. His eyes were wide open.

They wrapped him in a sheet and positioned him as best they could on a body board. They strapped him onto the gurney and finished with a burgundy plush covering. Someone with the funeral home will be in touch to finalize the arrangements, said the younger man, as I signed the papers releasing Garys body into their care.

They wheeled Gary out to their unmarked white van. It was nine weeks before he was cremated.

Takeaway Tips:

Be aware that everything you do and say will be vividly remembered by witnesses.

Dont talk about other removals youve done. A better approach might be to ask questions about the deceased.

Restoring modesty to the deceased prior to removal is a kindness that will make a positive impression.

My Husbands Story

David Bleicher and I were married for 22 years, four months and one day before he died at age 71 on April 28, 2023. On April 4, he had TURP surgery to address an enlarged prostate. This led to a host of medical complications: a heart attack, sepsis, kidney failure, coding, blood loss, sustained low blood pressure, and heart failure. On April 21, he was admitted to in-patient hospice care.

During the week he was in the hospice, I was with him around the clock to advocate for him. I took a few hours in the afternoon to run home, take a shower and feed the cats while a family member or friend stayed with him. He waited until I left the room to make a phone call to die.

Nurse Amber found me in the family room and said, Youd better come back to the room, his breathing has changed. He had already exhaled his last breath when I came in the room. She said, Take as much time as you need.

I caressed his face and said to say hello to other loved ones who had died before. I slipped the wedding band off his finger, thinking the words, until death do us part. I called a few close relatives. Then I let Nurse Amber know I was ready for what comes next.

She and an aide removed the catheter and IV drip medication ports. They wiped down his body one last time and arranged the sheet neatly over his chest. Nurse Amber took the last viable flowers left from a get-well bouquet and laid them on his chest. I placed a toy bat under his left arm. It was Daves personal symbol, a spiritual companion to accompany his body on his journey to the next world.

Nurse Amber took care of contacting the funeral home. Dave and I had pre-arranged and pre-paid for our funerals the year before.

The pick-up team consisted of a young man and young woman. They wore suits and performed their work calmly and respectfully. They came in quietly with the gurney. It was obvious to me that they had been trained in respectful removals.

The young man asked, Was he a veteran? If he had been, they would have used a U.S. flag cot cover. Is there any jewelry that needs to be removed? I had already slipped the wedding band off and had it in my pocket. Is it all right if we cover his face? That struck me as odd, but I could see how it might upset some family members. I said it was fine.

They wrapped the sheet around his body and used it to move him onto the gurney. They secured the body with straps and finished with a gray fleece cot cover. Nurse Amber accompanied me as we followed the gurney and removal team out of the hospice wing at the hospital. We parted ways as the team took Daves body down a hallway to the left, toward the removal vehicle at the back of the hospital. Nurse Amber walked with me to the right, through the Emergency Room, and out to the parking lot. At my car, she gave me a hug and said, Drive carefully.

Takeaway Tips:

The removal is a familys very important first impression of your funeral homes services. Training can make a big difference from the start.

Ask questions about the deceased and the familys wishes.

If you honor veterans with a flag cover, remember a veteran can be female.

My Fathers Story

While Dave was going through his medical complications in April, my 92-year-old father in Florida had heart trouble that put him in the hospital. He was discharged home with heart failure and a concentrator to provide supplemental oxygen. Two days after his 93rd birthday in August, he deteriorated quickly. On the phone with him while waiting for the EMTs to come take him to the hospital, Dad told me, I want what Dave had. He meant hospice.

After a night in the hospital, Dad was discharged on Thursday to a lovely in-patient hospice facility in Boca Raton, Florida. By the time my older brother Mitch and I got there on Saturday, his consciousness was slipping away. But he recognized we were there and said, It all went so fast. Love you to pieces.

I spent Sunday and Monday nights in the hospice with Dad, helping to address his restlessness in the night. He loved musicals and I sang show tunes to him, including Old Man River from Showboat and Dulcinea from Man of La Mancha.

Dad slipped away early Tuesday morning while Mitch and I slept in the room with him. Two nurses burst in at about 4:20 a.m. and said, Your daddy is gone. How they knew that without monitoring equipment is still a mystery to me. They briskly removed the catheter, wiped him down, and arranged a sheet over his chest.

My parents burial plots are in the Washington, D.C. area, where their parents (my grandparents) are buried. I worked with my parents to pre-pay for their funeral arrangements ten years earlier. I had already given the funeral home in the D.C. area a heads-up to be prepared.

One man came to pick up my dads body by himself. He wore a lavender button-down shirt and black slacks. He neatly tied up the sheeting around the body and moved a body board underneath to make the transfer to the gurney. He used a burgundy fleece cot cover.

He was a chatty pickup person. He talked about another transport he did of a military officer. My brother and I didnt know why he was telling us about this, and it seemed inappropriate.

We gathered up our personal items in the room and followed as he wheeled Dads body through the hallways to the rear entrance of the hospice. We watched him move the gurney into a black Chrysler Pacifica. The vehicle sported a window decal identifying it as a medical transporter. After he drove off, we went to my brothers home to take the next steps for the funeral.

Takeaway Tips:

Contract removal services are common in the funeral business. Make sure their services meet with your funeral homes standards for respectful removals.

Consider the difference of a hospice death with a pre-arranged funeral home pick-up to an unexpected death. Police, fire, EMTs, and the medical investigator flood the home, and the loved one is removed in a body bag. Almost all deaths are unexpected, even with hospice. Try to make all removals a calm and comforting experience for those left behind.

About the Author

Gail Rubin, Certified Thanatologist and The Doyenne of Death, is a pioneering death educator. She is the author of four books on end-of-life issues, was one of the first people to hold a Death Cafe in the United States and she has coordinated six Before I Die New Mexico Festivals. Learn more at www.AGoodGoodbye.com.

Related
(The Center Square)  A non-profit organization that advocates for American energy workers supports governors who are urging President Joe Biden to remove his federal electric vehicle mandate

These governors are telling the truth Joe Biden doesnt want to hear, EVs are expensive, unwanted, and shouldnt be forced upon unwilling consumers, said Daniel Turner, founder and executive director for Power the Future. I applaud these governors for standing up for working families and urge more leaders to join them.

In a letter to the White House Jan. 22, 16 governors told Biden to remove the mandate.

Writing on behalf of American consumers, the governors said the mandate requiring two out of every three vehicles to be battery-powered by 2032 is unrealistic for the countrys domestic marketplace and harmful to American customers.

While we are not opposed to the electric vehicle marketplace, we do have concerns with federal government mandates that penalize retailers and do not reflect the will of the consumer, the governors said in the letter. Even with deep price cuts, manufacturers incentives, and generous government funding, federal mandates on electric vehicles are unrealistic. The American customer should be able to decide what technology makes most sense for them, not the federal government.

Thousands of auto dealers across the country also told the Biden administration that consumers are not choosing electric vehicles and should not be denied another option. A clear majority  59%  of U.S. adults oppose phasing out the production of new gasoline vehicles by 2035, according to a 2023 report from Pew Research Center.

Consumer demand aside, the governors' letter argued the U.S. currently lacks the grid capacity, charging stations, and domestic production necessary to support battery operated vehicles on a large scale. China controls 70% of electric vehicle battery production, according to a 2022 Congressional Research Service report cited in the letter.

Even if consumers determine over time that battery electric vehicles are appealing, the reality is that the lack of a strong, domestic marketplace makes electric vehicles prohibitively expensive for the American consumer, the letter said. While battery electric vehicles are a promising technology, we believe it will take time to develop the marketplace, to address consumer access and concerns, and to build out the necessary infrastructure.

American consumers, rather than the federal government, should determine the growth of the electric vehicle industry, the letter said.
With Montana ranking third per capita in craft breweries and second in beer consumption, the states inaugural beer awards were a long-time coming. This year, the Montana Brewers Association will finally recognize the states best brews.

Montanans love our local beer and were so passionate about our local craft beer scene, Loy Maierhauser, current chief operating office at MAP Brewing, said. We make a lot of great beers in this state so, I think that being able to recognize people that are making high quality beer is a great way to celebrate the strong community that we have.

A long-time volunteer event coordinator for the state breweries association, Maierhauser suggested the idea for a statewide competition several years ago as similar events popped up in states across the country.

To keep the competition fair, Maierhauser said the local Montana judges will not be allowed to judge in any of the categories their brewery is entered in or any they have been previously associated with or might be able to recognize. The beers will also be devoid of packaging.

Maierhauser said she is also very excited about the fact that they are bringing in a handful of out-of-state and very experienced Grand Masters  certified by the international Beer Judge program  to taste Montana beers.

Maierhauser hopes constructive feedback from the judges might inspire confidence in our local breweries to enter bigger competitions and rake in some national awards and recognitions.

One awards hopeful, the Bozeman Brewing Company, locally known as the Bozone, already has some experience in such competitions.

Bozone has won several national awards  including taking gold and silver medals at the World Beer Cup for their Plum St. Porter and Vieux Bois Lambic Inspired Ale with Cranberry and Raspberry in 2022 and 2023 respectively.

Ryan Beal, brewer, cellarman and head barrel wrangler for the company, said the Montana-specific competition will be something different for them but they are really excited Montana finally has its own competition, giving them the chance to compete against peers.

There are a lot of smaller Montana breweries that produce amazing beer and then dont take the extra step to enter the bigger competitions, Beal said. So, its great actually seeing for those other groups, a smaller, more local, more focused competition to give them a chance to really shine and show off.

Beal said Bozone is looking at submitting a range from classics like the Hopzone IPA to some of their newer brews like fruity sours to the competition.

While he thinks Bozone has a good chance at winning an award, anything beyond that he said he cant be confident in because the competition is so stacked.

Beyond judging and awarding individual beers, the MBA will choose a small, medium and large Brewery of the Year based on their performances as well as bestow an Impact Award to a brewery working to improve their surrounding community.

It sounds kind of stereotypical but rising tides raise all ships and I just think theres a lot of truth to that, Maierhauser said. When we connect with each other and give each other feedback and celebrate each other, just think it elevates the entire beer community in the state of Montana.

As of Jan. 24, a little less than half of the breweries across the state have entered the competition, but Maierhauser anticipates getting at least 50% of the states breweries to enter by the time registration closes Jan. 31.

Judging of entries in 19 categories will take place in Helena Feb. 22-24, with an awards ceremony, live music and celebration open to the public at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 24 at the Lewis and Clark Brewing Company, 1517 Dodge Ave, Helena. More information about the 2024 Montana Beer Awards and the live event can be found online at montanabrewers.org/upcoming_events/2024-montana-beer-awards.
Lidl has announced it will invest over 70m into fresh produce growers through new long-term contracts as many struggle with adverse weather.

The new contracts of up to three years will be offered to growers supplying winter staples, including carrots, parsnips, and swedes, amid variable weather conditions.

Representing a substantial investment, the retailer said the long-term contracts would offer "added certainty and security, encouraging suppliers to invest for the future".

Lidl, which is one of the UK's largest discounters, said the move would underscore its commitment to 'backing British'.

It comes as Morrisons and Aldi have announced 'buy British' sections on their websites following industry campaigning for retailers to back British farmers more.

While Lidl is yet to announce a similar move, Paul Gibson, buying director at the discounter, said putting suppliers on longer contracts "underscores our commitment to supporting local producers".

"Not only is it an investment in the quality and consistency of our supply chain, but its also testament of our dedication to the British food industry.

The investment in long-term contracts is part of Lidls broader 17 billion injection into the British food Industry by 2025.

It follows a series of similar initiatives, including a new approach to boost British egg production by offering financial incentives to producers.

Earlier this year, the government pledged to review supply chain fairness in the egg sector in light of the impact of numerous challenges.
Chris Young has been cleared of all charges following his Nashville bar arrest.

Chris Young cleared of all charges in Nashville bar arrest

The 38-year-old country music star had been arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, assaulting an officer, and resisting arrest following an alleged altercation at the DawgHouse Saloon earlier this week.

Young had been released on bonds of $250 for disorderly conduct, $1,000 resisting arrest and $1,250 for the assault charge.

However, Nashville District Attorney Glenn Funk has revealed that no charges will be filed.

He said in a statement: "Regarding the Chris Young incident  After a review of all the evidence in this case, the Office of the District Attorney has determined that these charges will be dismissed."

After the arrest, Chris' attorney, Bill Ramsey, told PEOPLE in a statement, "What happened to my client Chris Young at a bar in Nashville on Monday night was wrong, and he never should have been arrested and charged in the first place. In light of the video evidence, Tennessee ABC needs to drop the charges and apologise for the physical, emotional, and professional harm done towards my client."

After the charges were dropped, Ramsey said: "Mr. Young and I are gratified with the DA's decision clearing him of the charges and any wrong-doing."

According to the arrest affidavit, it was initially claimed that Young and his friends followed Alcoholic Beverage Commission agents from Tin Roof bar to DawgHouse.

After the agents did a compliance check at DawgHouse, Young was alleged to have reached out and "struck" one of them on the shoulder, before he "began yelling and screaming".

However, video evidence, obtained by PEOPLE, contradicted some of the information.

The video showed Young reaching out to the TABC agent, who shoved him, causing him to lose his footing and fall backward over a table and chair.

Young could then be seen standing up, putting his hands up, and backing away.
Rachel Leviss urged Tom Sandoval to be honest about their affair before it became public knowledge.

Rachel Leviss wanted Tom Sandoval to be honest about their affair

The 29-year-old beauty has claimed that she encouraged Tom, 40, to come clean about their romance before Ariana Madix, his ex-girlfriend, found out.

She said on the 'Rachel Goes Rogue' podcast: "I was like, We need to tell Ariana before the reunion. We cant go into the reunion with her not knowing. Because I [felt] like that just really really wouldnt be fair [to] her.

"The one thing that we got hung up on, he did not want her to know when it first started and I dont see the point in lying about those things because isnt it much better to just be upfront and honest and tell the truth?"

Rachel almost confessed to Ariana herself. However, she ultimately thought that it was Tom's responsibility to reveal the truth.

She shared: "I told Tom, Maybe I should tell Ariana, and he was like, No no no no no. Youre not going to tell Ariana. OK, then youre going to tell Ariana. I was waiting on him to tell her.

"It was my duty to tell her, yes, I know that. But I felt like it was his responsibility with him being in that relationship with him to tell her and break up with her."

Rachel actually apologised to Ariana after news of the affair broke.

The former 'Vanderpump Rules' star wrote on Instagram: "I want to apologize for my actions and my choices foremost to Ariana, and to my friends and the fans so invested in our relationships. There is no excuse, I am not a victim and I must own my actions and I deeply regret hurting Ariana. (sic)"

Rachel also promised to reflect on her mistakes.

She said: "I am reflecting on my choices, speaking to a counselor and I am learning things about myself such as my patterns of codependency and addiction to being and feeling loved. I have sought emotional validation through intimate connections that are not healthy without regard for my own well-being, sometimes negatively affecting others and often prioritizing the intimate connection over my friendships. I am taking steps to understand my behavior and make healthier choices. (sic)"
Shota Rustaveli Theatre and Film Georgia State University celebrates its 100th anniversary with the unveiling of a commemorative post stamp, the Economy Ministry said on Saturday, Azernews reports, citing Agenda.

With a limited circulation of 10,000 units, the stamp was created by Georgian architect and collector Baadur Qoblianidze.

The University Rector Giorgi Shalutashvili, the Deputy Economy Minister Guram Guramishvili and Levan Chikvaidze, the General Director of Georgian Post attended the presentation of the post stamp.

In his address, Guramishvili highlighted the symbolic significance of the post stamp, noting that it served as an appreciation by the country towards its one of the oldest educational institutions for its contribution to the formation of Georgian film and theatre.

The General Director of Georgian Post presented the first copy of the commemorative stamp to the Shota Rustaveli University Rector, after which the sides signed a memorandum of cooperation, aiming to implement joint projects.




A panel discussion at Meet Da Nang 2024 on January 26 (Photo: VNA)

The programme, the first event of external affairs in Da Nang this year, saw the presence of Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Hang and over 300 guests from Vietnamese ministries and sectors, international organisations, other countries agencies of international cooperation in Vietnam, non-governmental organisations, along with foreign invested businesses and those invested by overseas Vietnamese.



It looked to connect the city with domestic and international partners, diplomatic agencies and investors, introduce its integration orientations and development priorities, and provide an occasion for guests to share their viewpoints and expectations for the city.



Following the opening plenary session, delegates attended two discussions about how to facilitate resources of international cooperation to promote socio-economic development, and about Da Nangs readiness to welcome new waves.



They talked about investment cooperation chances and strengths of the city, its policies and commitments towards domestic and international partners and investors, solution and policy recommendations, and the preparations for welcoming new investment inflows, especially into the chip, semiconductor, and artificial intelligence industries.



Chairman of the municipal Peoples Committee Le Trung Chinh said the Prime Minister had approved the Master Plan of Da Nang for the 2021 - 2030 period, with a vision to 2050, opening up numerous development opportunities. In the coming time, the city will call for investment to the fields it is strong at such as high technology, seaport, aviation, smart city building, innovation, and digital transformation.



Da Nang has geared up land reserves, abundant human resources, and outstanding support mechanisms for investors. In particular, with strong political resolve, it will provide maximum assistance and an open, favourable, equal, and transparent investment environment for investors, he stated.



At the event, the municipal Peoples Committee and agencies signed memoranda of understanding with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the US Agency for International Development (USAID), and such large businesses as Synopsys International Limited and Intel.



Da Nang also handed over a certificate of investment policy approval for KP Aero Industries Co., Ltd of the Republic of Korea, which will invest in an aircraft component factory project worth 20 million USD./.
Former 'General Hospital' star Tyler Christopher's cause of death has been confirmed.

Tyler Christopher's cause of death confirmed

The US soap star - who was best known for playing Nikolas Cassadine on the long-running ABC daytime TV soap opera - died at his San Diego home in October.

While 'General Hospital' star Maurice Beard previously shared that Tyler died following a "cardiac event", it has now been revealed that he suffered "positional asphyxia due to acute alcohol intoxication", according to a report from the Medical Examiner's Office obtained by TMZ.

Coronary artery atherosclerosis, a condition where plaque can build up in the arteries, was also included as a contributing factor.

According to the Medican Examiner's report, Tylier suffocated due to the position he was in while he was intoxicated and his death was ruled accidental.

The TV star battled alcohol abuse, and in 2019, he was arrested and charged with public intoxication, to which he pled guilty.

Tyler was on 'GH' from 1996 to 2016. He also earned a Daytime Emmy for his portrayal of Stefan DiMera on 'Days of Our Lives'.

Tyler was married to 'Desperate Housewives' star Eva Longoria, 48, from 2002 to 2004.

He was previously engaged to his 'General Hospital' co-star Vanessa Marcil and dated Natalia Livingston.

Tyler is survived by his two children.

Following the actor's death, Beard wrote in an Instagram tribute to his friend: It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Tyler Christopher. Tyler passed away this morning following a cardiac event in his San Diego apartment. Tyler was a truly talented individual that lit up the screen in every scene he performed and relished bringing joy to his loyal fans through his acting. Tyler was a sweet soul and wonderful friend to all of those who knew him. Tyler was an advocate for better mental health and substance use treatment who openly spoke about his struggles with bipolar depression and alcohol. We are beyond devastated by the loss of our dear friend and pray for his children and his father.

The show's executive producer, Frank Valentini, told Deadline: I am heartbroken over the news of Tyler Christophers passing. He was kind, an incredible actor, and dear friend, who was beloved by our GH family and fans of Nikolas Cassadine. On behalf of everyone at General Hospital, our heartfelt sympathies go out to his loved ones during this difficult time.
Ocean freight shipping rates are poised to rise significantly in early February, amidst the ongoing crisis in the Red Sea, according to the data released by Xeneta, a leading ocean freight rate benchmarking platform.

The data suggests that the market average short-term rates for shipping from the Far East to the Mediterranean are expected to see an 11 per cent increase by February 2, reaching $6,507 per forty-foot equivalent unit (FEU). This marks a staggering 243 per cent rise since the Red Sea crisis intensified in mid-December, as per Xeneta.

Global ocean freight shipping rates are set to rise significantly in early February due to the Red Sea crisis, according to Xeneta. Rates from the Far East to the Mediterranean, North Europe, and the US East Coast are expected to increase by 11 per cent, 8 per cent, and 17 per cent, respectively. This marks significant rises since mid-December.

Similarly, shipping rates from the Far East to North Europe are anticipated to climb by 8 per cent by February 2, with a market average of $5,106 per FEU. This represents a 235 per cent increase since mid-December.

However, the most significant surge in rates is observed in the Far East to US East Coast trade route. According to Xeneta's data, rates on this route are expected to jump by 17 per cent by February 2, bringing the average short-term rate to $6,119 per FEU. This is a considerable increase of 146 per cent since mid-December.

Carriers are trying to readjust services to make up for the additional sailing time around the Cape of Good Hope. For example, they are cutting journeys short, missing port calls and increasing sailing speed. However, despite this, the early data from Xeneta suggests rates will continue to rise as we head into February, said Peter Sand, Xeneta chief analyst.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DP)
Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) recently agreed to accelerate negotiations for a proposed bilateral comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) and conclude it soon.

UAE minister of state for foreign trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi visited Hanoi on January 24 and met Vietnams industry and trade minister Nguyen Hong Dien.

Vietnam and the UAE have agreed to accelerate talks for a proposed bilateral comprehensive economic partnership agreement. Vietnam's industry and trade minister Nguyen Hong Dien urged the UAE to facilitate business delegation exchanges and coordinate trade promotion activities. He called on UAE businesses to invest in Vietnam in areas of mutual interest.

Dien urged the UAE government to facilitate business delegation exchanges and coordinate trade promotion activities. He also called on UAE businesses to invest in Vietnam in areas of mutual interest, according to a news agency report.

The UAE is the largest export market and the second-largest trade partner of Vietnam in West Asia now after Kuwait.

Vietnam's exports to the UAE reached over $4 billion last year and its imports from there hit over $676 million, marking a year-on-year increase of 4.3 per cent and 16 per cent respectively.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
After a refreshing break spent celebrating the new year with family and friends in Mumbai, actor Akansha Ranjan Kapoor has returned to the sets of CV Kumar's much-anticipated South debut, MaayaOne. The film features Akansha alongside Tollywood star Sundeep Kishan and has been generating significant buzz since its announcement.

The actor, who has been filming in Hyderabad since last year, temporarily halted the shoot to partake in the New Year festivities. Now, fully recharged and rejuvenated, Akansha is back in Hyderabad to resume shooting for the upcoming movie.

MaayaOne, helmed by the acclaimed filmmaker CV Kumar, promises to be a gripping tale, with the pairing of Akansha Ranjan Kapoor and Sundeep Kishan adding an extra layer of excitement for fans. The chemistry between the two actors is highly anticipated, marking Akansha's noteworthy debut in the South Indian film industry.

Expressing her enthusiasm for returning to the shoot, Akansha said, "I'm thrilled to be back on the sets of MaayaOne in Hyderabad. It is an exhilarating homecoming after a delightful New Year break with my dear ones in Mumbai. I genuinely missed the vibrant energy of the set and couldn't be more thrilled to be back. The warm welcome from the incredible director, CV Kumar, and the entire crew, including my talented co-actor Sundeep Kishan, has been heartwarming. Their enthusiasm and support have made my return even more special, and I'm eager to dive back into the magic we're creating together on this extraordinary journey."

Akansha further emphasised the collaborative aspect of filmmaking, expressing her admiration for the entire team: "The energy and passion that CV Kumar Sir brings to the sets are truly contagious. Beyond CV Kumar Sir, the entire team is a powerhouse of talent. From the crew behind the camera to my co-star Sundeep Kishan and everyone involved, there's a collective dedication to delivering something special to the audience. Being a part of such a talented and passionate team is truly a rewarding experience, and I can't wait for viewers to witness the magic we are creating with Maaya One."

MaayaOne, directed by CV Kumar, serves as the direct sequel and remake of the 2017 Tamil sci-fi thriller "Maayavan."
Bigg Boss Kannada 10 finale voting results: Ladies and gentlemen, get ready for a blockbuster grand finale as Kiccha Sudeep has promised a roller coaster ride for two nights on Colors Kannada. After entertaining the audience for close to four months, Bigg Boss Kannada season 10 is ready to bid adieu.

BIGG BOSS KANNADA 10 GRAND FINALE- SPECIAL TWIST, BBK 10 ELIMINATION

A source close to the show exclusively told Filmibeat, "The makers have left no stone unturned to make the BBK 10 grand affair a successful affair. It will be the biggest event on Kannada television in 2024. They are projecting the event as the biggest extravaganza as they are confident that the show will culminate on a grand note. From special performances to mind-boggling twists, the channel and the production house have ensured that they end things on a right note."

Former contestants including Bhagyahsree, Namratha Gowda, Snehith Gowda, Eshani, Tanisha, Avinash Shetty, Snake Shyam will attend the finale. The top two finalists will be revealed in tomorrow's episode while three evictions are expected to take place in tonight's episode.

MUST READ: Bigg Boss Kannada 10 (BBK 10) Winner Prediction SPOILER: Sangeetha, Drone, Varthur, Karthik- Who Will Win Show?



It will be a double bonanza as Bigg Boss Kannada 10 will air its grand finale at 7:30pm on Saturday (January 27) and Sunday (January 28).

BIGG BOSS KANNADA (BBK 10) FINALE VOTING: SANGEETHA GETS LESS VOTES THAN...

If the recent tweet by BBK 10 updates is to be believed, Sangeetha Sringeri and Karthik Mahesh are nowhere in the Bigg Boss Kannada 10 top 2 race. Yes, you read that right! The Twitter handle stated that these two celebrities are placed at the number three and four positions respectively in the vote counting till 10:45am.

Sangeetha and Karthik, who were engaged in a rivalry, are considered as probable winners of the show. However, despite their popularity, they have received less votes than Drone Prathap and Varthur Santhosh.

Bigg Boss Kannada 10 Winner Prize Money: What Will BBK 10 Winner Get At Finale?

BIGG BOSS KANNADA 10 FINALE VOTING TREND: VARTHUR SANTHOSH BEATS SANGEETHA-KARTHIK

Guess what? Varthur Santhosh has received an amazing response from the audience. His on-ground support from the rural belts in Karnataka is something that has been mentioned in the polls and discussions. He has already gained over 1 crore votes from his fans till date. The voting lines have been closed on JioCinema and now, the actual vote count will start.

Drone Prathap has also received 1 crore votes from the audience. BBK 10 Updates tweeted, "As Per Source at 10.45 am, the voting trend for #BBK10 is as follows:

1. #Varthursanthosh

2. #DronePrathap

3. #Sangeethasringeri

4. #KarthikMahesh

5. #VinayGowda

6. #Thukalisanthosh

Varthur Santhosh and Drone Prathap Crossed 1cr Votes. Note: This is only the voting order and not the FINAL DECISION order by the channels (sic)."

The tweet went viral on the internet, making fans wonder if Varthur Santhosh will beat Sangeetha and Karthik Mahesh to win Bigg Boss Kannada 10.

Keep watching this space for more updates related to BBK 10.
HOUSTON, TX / ACCESSWIRE / January 27, 2024 / In the world of cosmeceuticals, a visionary leader emerges: Audrey Ajakaye, the youngest-ever Ivy League-educated CEO in the industry, introduces Audaja, a groundbreaking skincare line. This innovative brand, boasting nine exceptional products, is crafted in an FDA-regulated lab, epitomizing the fusion of science and skincare excellence.

Audaja's inception was more than just a business endeavor; it was a personal crusade for Ajakaye, who has battled with eczema since childhood. This journey, marked by challenges and resilience, fueled her ambition to create a skincare line that addresses a multitude of skin concerns, from eczema to aging signs, with gentle yet potent formulations.

Ajakaye's accomplishments extend beyond Audaja. At 16, she developed an AI-driven solution for skin disease detection, integral to the globally used "LoveMySkin" app, symbolizing a revolution in personalized skincare. Her role in the Penn Wharton Investment Fund and as a GivingTuesday ambassador further illustrates her multifaceted impact on health innovations and societal change.

Each product in Audaja's lineup is a testament to the brand's core values: innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability. Audaja is not just about addressing diverse skin needs; it's about reshaping societal perceptions and championing ethical production. The brand's commitment to these principles is evident in its approach to product development, customer feedback, and its advocacy for skin health and positivity.

Audaja's journey, however, was not without its hurdles. Formulating products that met stringent FDA regulations while ensuring efficacy and sustainability was a formidable challenge. Overcoming these obstacles, Ajakaye has positioned Audaja as a beacon of excellence and innovation in the saturated skincare market.

Ajakaye's advice to budding entrepreneurs is anchored in passion, market research, and a robust business plan. Her approach underlines the importance of aligning one's passion with business objectives, understanding the market landscape, and having a clear, strategic vision.

For Ajakaye, success transcends financial gains. It encompasses personal fulfillment, societal impact, and continuous growth. Her vision of success is deeply interwoven with Audaja's mission: to deliver effective, inclusive, and sustainable skincare solutions that resonate with consumers worldwide.

As for the future, Ajakaye teases upcoming projects, promising that, like Audaja's initial range, they will be innovative, science-backed, and aligned with the brand's ethos. The biggest obstacle she's overcome - formulating products that meet the highest standards of effectiveness and ethical responsibility - stands as a testament to her commitment to excellence.

Differentiating itself from competitors, Audaja's focus on innovation, inclusivity, sustainability, and ethical production sets new benchmarks in the cosmeceutical industry. Ajakaye's journey with Audaja is a compelling narrative of breaking barriers, redefining beauty norms, and championing a global impact through transformative skincare initiatives.

For more information about Audaja and its revolutionary products, visit www.audaja.com or follow the brand on Instagram @audajaskin .

Media Contact

Organization: Audaja

Contact Person: Audrey Ajakaye

Website: http://www.audaja.com

Email: contact@audaja.com

City: Houston

State: Texas

Country: United States

SOURCE: Audaja

View the original press release on accesswire.com
OTTAWA, ON, Jan. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In launching the latest issue in its ongoing Commemorating Black History fine silver coin series, the Royal Canadian Mint is honouring the community of Amber Valley, Alberta, founded in 1910 by African American families from Oklahoma, Texas and other surrounding states. Seeking a life away from segregationist laws, racial hostility and violence, they journeyed to Northern Alberta in response to the government of Canada's offer of free land in the Canadian west. By 1910, approximately 300 men, women and children endured and overcame new hardships as they tamed the Alberta wilderness to carve out a new life in a thriving community that was renamed Amber Valley in 1931. Their inspiring tale of spirit and determination is forever preserved on a beautiful 99.99% pure silver collector coin.

Released in conjunction with the annual observance of Black History Month, the 2024 $20 Fine Silver Coin - Commemorating Black History: Amber Valley celebrates the legacy of an exceptional group men and women who built one of Western Canada's earliest Black settlements. It is available as of today.

"I appreciate the recognition this coin represents," said Myrna Wisdom, Historian and Co-Founder of The Black Settlers of Alberta and Saskatchewan Historical Society. "The Black Settlers of Amber Valley are indeed deserving of this recognition, which includes both my paternal and maternal grandparents, as well as my parents."

"The Royal Canadian Mint is proud to contribute to the national celebration of Canada's Black History Month through a continuing series of silver collector coins that captures important stories that define our shared heritage," said Marie Lemay, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. "We are delighted to share the inspiring story of Amber Valley and the pioneering Black settlers who succeeded in building a new life in a new land, as yet another example of the spirit and resilience of Black communities across Canada."

The reverse design of this 99.99% pure silver coin, by artist Valentine De Landro, is centered on an imagined scene of a homesteader family arriving in Pine Creek, Alberta in 1909 and peering over the land that would become the thriving community of Amber Valley. The design includes a map outline of the province of Alberta, enhanced by a bough of maple leaves. The lower portion of the reverse depicts a wagon train of settlers completing their long journey from the southern United States. The scene is framed by log cabins, which were the first houses built by the intrepid Black pioneers who were determined to make a new home in Northern Alberta.

"For the composition, I needed to find a balance between what I thought were two prevailing characteristics: the journey and the community," said artist Valentine De Landro. "The pioneering imagery was essential to communicating the spirit of Amber Valley, crossing through harsh terrain to reach a virtually unknown destination and to begin a legacy centred on the goal of a better life for their family."

The obverse of the coin features the Susanna Blunt-designed transitional effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, which includes a special marking consisting of a vertical inscription of the dates "1952" and "2022", separated by four pearls to symbolize the four effigies that have graced Canadian coins throughout the reign.

Limited to a mintage of 5,500, the 2024 $20 Fine Silver Coin - Commemorating Black History: Amber Valley retails for $104.95. This new collectible may be ordered as of today by contacting the Mint at 1-800-267-1871 in Canada, 1-800-268-6468 in the US, or at www.mint.ca. It will also be available at the Royal Canadian Mint's boutiques in Ottawa and Winnipeg, at participating Canada Post outlets, and through the Mint's global network of dealers and distributors.

Images of this coin are available here.

About the Royal Canadian Mint

The Royal Canadian Mint is the Crown corporation responsible for the minting and distribution of Canada's circulation coins. The Mint is one of the largest and most versatile mints in the world, producing award-winning collector coins, market-leading bullion products, as well as Canada's prestigious military and civilian honours. As an established London and COMEX Good Delivery refiner, the Mint also offers a full spectrum of best-in-class gold and silver refining services. As an organization that strives to take better care of the environment, to cultivate safe and inclusive workplaces and to make a positive impact on the communities where it operates, the Mint integrates environmental, social and governance practices in every aspect of its operations.

For more information on the Mint, its products and services, visit www.mint.ca. Follow the Mint on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

Media are asked to contact: Alex Reeves, Senior Manager, Public Affairs, Telephone: 613-884-6370, reeves@mint.ca

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2326067/Royal_Canadian_Mint_ROYAL_CANADIAN_MINT_COMMEMORATES_BLACK_HISTO.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/royal-canadian-mint-commemorates-black-history-with-silver-coin-recognizing-the-settlers-of-amber-valley-alberta-302043693.html
Ananya Panday and Aditya Roy Kapur reportedly kicked off New Year together in London with their friends, pictures of which went viral on social media

Ananya Panday and Aditya Roy Kapur are rumoured to be dating each other for quite some time now. From being clicked together at various events to going on vacations, the two have made multiple appearances together, thus featuring in headlines quite often. Notably, rumours of their dating gained more traction after a few images of them vacationing together went viral on social media last year. While the actors refrained from addressing any of the rumours, Ananya Panday recently addressed the same and said, As actors, we have signed up for it.

Advertisement

In her latest interaction with News18, the Kho Gaye Hum Kahan actress also added that such things dont bother her, further adding that more things will happen and people will get more curious.

Ananya Panday on vacation pics with Aditya Roy Kapur

I cant say it bothers me. As actors, we signed up for it. Its going to happen and people are going to be curious, she said further speaking about the need to draw boundaries.

Its up to us to draw the line to protect whats important as much as we can and thats what I try to do. I cant get upset about it because its a part of my profession. I can only control whatever is in my power, she added.

For those who dont know, Ananya Panday and Aditya Roy Kapur reportedly kicked off their New Years together in London. Several pictures of the actor duo enjoying the New Years celebrations with a group of friends had taken the internet by storm. While the trending picture showed along with a group of friends, they were later also spotted together at the Mumbai airport.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Apart from that, the rumoured couple was also said to have taken a vacation to Portugal last year. While many fans spotted them together, some also clicked pictures with the couple, which soon enough started circulating widely on the internet.

Whats on the work front for Ananya Panday?

Last seen in Arjun Varain Singhs Kho Gaye Hum Kahan , Ananya Panday received quite a lot of praise from the audience for her performance in the Netflix film. She featured alongside actors Siddhant Chaturvedi and Adarsh Gourav.

Advertisement

She presently has The Untold Story of C Sankaran Nair and Control in the pipeline followed by her debut web series Call Me Bae.
Renowned for her role in the popular TV series Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai, actress Saumya Tandon recently took a walk down memory lane, recalling her time co-hosting the reality show Zor Ka Jhatka: Total Wipeout with Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan. While calling the show the biggest flop of her career, Saumya was seen cherishing the opportunity that she got to work alongside King Khan. Further expressing gratitude over the invaluable experience that she had while working with the Dunki actor, Saumya also described SRK as the most romantic person for her.

Advertisement

Saumya Tandon recalls working with Shah Rukh Khan

In a recent conversation with Digital Commentary, the television actress began by reflecting on her collaboration with Shah Rukh Khan, mentioning that she felt about reaching a milestone in her career. Recounting the days from her Zor Ka Jhatka: Total Wipeout hosting days, the actress said, It did not turn out as expected. It became the biggest flop of my career. Despite that, I had a fantastic time meeting and working with Shah Rukh. He is extremely sharp and clever. Besides being a brilliant actor, he exhibits wit and intelligence. Earlier, I was not an SRK fan but my perception completely changed after meeting him.

Further heaping more words of praise on SRKs work ethic and humility towards other co-stars, Saumya Tandon recalled an incident while she was co-hosting the shows launch event.

I remember I had to co-host the show with him. When I came, he stood up. He doesnt have to. He is such a big star. All the CEOs and other important personalities were waiting to meet him but he said This is my time with her. So everybody was standing till the time he finished his rehearsal with me. We rehearsed for close to an hour. When he was with me, he was just with me, looking into my eyes, making me feel important, and giving me respect, time, and space. He didnt make me feel like I was a new person. He asked me 2-3 times if I wanted to rehearse, she said further adding that she received unadulterated attention from the actor which makes him the most romantic person.

Advertisement

BJGPH fame Saumya Tandon talking about Shah Rukh Khan 's hospitality pic.twitter.com/jymppHWSBN   2.0 (@SRCxmbatant) January 23, 2024

Advertisement

Notably, this is not the first time an actor has praised SRK for his humble nature and polite behaviour. Many of his co-stars have time and again shared their pleasant experiences when working with the superstar.

SRK ruled 2023

Basking in the success of three back-to-back blockbusters last year with Pathaan, Jawan, and Dunk i, it seems the Bollywood Badshah is back in the game. His films turned out to be the biggest hits last year, earning thousands of crores at the box office.
Starting sometime this year, Amazon and Hyundai are launching a new pilot programme, which would let shoppers not only browse cars on the e-commerce site but pay for them, too

This is the year you can finally buy a car on Amazon. Well, one kind. Eventually.

On 16 November 2023, at the Los Angeles Auto Show, Amazon and Hyundai made a big announcement : Starting sometime in 2024 , a new pilot programme would let shoppers not only browse Hyundai cars on Amazon.com but pay for them, too.

Advertisement

As a professor of marketing , I followed this story closely. Customers will be able to buy new vehicles directly on Amazon, an executive for the online retail giant said during the announcement, drawing cheers from the audience.

But that framing maybe just a tiny bit too simplistic, I feel. The real story is more complex  and more interesting.

Visiting digital showroom

Its still not yet possible for a regular person to buy a car on Amazon  I know, because Ive tried. Amazon and Hyundai have not publicly announced the date the pilot will start, and they havent responded to my inquiries.

But in the meantime, you can still go some way towards getting your new hybrid via the online store.

Advertisement

Since 2018, Hyundai has operated an electronic showroom on Amazon, which lets shoppers browse cars  and almost, but not quite, buy them.

Right now, if you open Amazon.com and search Hyundai, youll see Hyundais webpage on Amazon.com as the first search result. You may click on this webpage, enter your ZIP code, and see new Hyundais that are for sale at nearby participating dealers.

Advertisement

The current system lets you select model, trim and colour, choose between financing and leasing, and estimate a monthly payment.

But as of this date  26 January 2024  you cant actually check out with a car in your cart. Instead, once youve chosen the car you want, Amazon will direct you to a local dealer so you can choose financing/leasing and pay for the car at the dealership.

Advertisement

Whats more, Amazon says that pricing details on the site are for illustration, and that final pricing details are determined at Hyundai dealership. In other words, Amazon provides car buyers with information, but it doesnt let them actually buy a car.

As I explain below, adding the ability to check out would be a big deal. And thats what Amazon has said its about to do.

Advertisement

Amazons plan to sell cars

In the U.S., states generally require legacy automakers to sell their cars through franchised dealers. Some states have allowed makers of electric vehicles, such as Tesla, to sell directly to consumers.

To comply with the franchise dealership laws, Amazon cant list vehicles for sale the way it lists, say, books or socks. Instead, it needs to partner with dealers.

Advertisement

So, Amazons plan is to expand its digital Hyundai showroom to include 18 Hyundai dealers in five states . That will allow nearby buyers to not only browse their current inventory but also pay for a new vehicle.

That is, while a buyer will pay for a vehicle and choose financing or leasing options at Amazon, a local dealer will be the seller of record, with Amazon serving as a sales channel .

Advertisement

By honoring franchise laws while spreading awareness of dealers inventory and providing shoppers a convenient way to buy new vehicles, Amazon has been remarkably clever.

And while this pilot will start with Hyundai, it likely wont stop there. Amazon has said that at some pointit hasnt announced whenit plans to expand the programme to include other auto brands.

Advertisement

2024 might change the way we buy cars

So, if reports are to be believed, at some point in 2024, Amazon will let customers check out a Hyundai just like they check out a bottle of shampoo.

This could make a lot of people happy. It would tap into a growing segment of buyers who trust Amazon, prefer to complete paperwork online and dont want to haggle with a dealer. It could also draw more buyers to participating dealers, boosting their sales.

Advertisement

But Im skeptical that this prime opportunity will transform things, at least at first.

To start, Amazon will sell only new Hyundais. Buyers who want to compare a Hyundai with a rival model will be out of luck. Amazon also wont sell used vehicles or allow trade-ins. That means a lot of consumer demand would be left unmet.

Advertisement

Auto dealers might also hesitate to work with Amazon. For one thing, they would miss the chance to form relationships with buyers and the opportunity to upsell them.

But either way, it may not be long before you can add toiletries, kitchen supplies, and a new Hyundai to your Amazon cart.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article .
A wallaby under care at the Hoang Lien centre for wildlife rescue, conservation and development (Source: Australian Embassy in Vietnam)

The first wallaby was discovered in nature and caught by residents in Duc Long commune of Thach An district in the northern mountainous province of Cao Bang, on November 8, 2023. Two more were found by local police and people the next day, and another on November 11.



The animals later were sent to the Hoang Lien centre for wildlife rescue, conservation and development of the Hoang Lien National Park for care in a semi-natural habitat.



However, two of the wallabies died due to the stress caused by the long distance between Cao Bang and Lao Cai, the cold in winter, and illness. The two remainders are adapting well to the new environment, said veterinarian Tran Thu Nga, who is caring for the macropods.



The Australian Embassy said on January 26 that visiting the centre, it's representatives presented 80 million VND (over 3,200 USD) in financial aid to help the centre continue caring for the wallabies.



At the meeting, Director of the Hoang Lien centre La Van Toi said Vietnam is a hot spot of wildlife trafficking, and that the wallabies are the first and only foreign-origin animals at the centre.



He expressed his hope that the embassy will help the centre connect with animal rescue organisations, experts, and volunteers to better care for the plants and animals here, including the wallabies.



Local authorities noted there are no wallabies in nature in Vietnam, so the animals could have been abandoned when smugglers were uncovered by forest rangers.



Wild animals endemic to Australia can only be exported for non-commercial purposes like exhibiting at zoos. Any individual and organisation accused of committing illegal wildlife trade will be investigated and fined or imprisoned if found guilty, according to the Wildlife Trade Office of Australias Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment./.
In South Korea, beginning around 1980 and lasting up to around 2010 or so, many more boys were born than girls. When these boys reach adulthood and start looking for South Korean girls to marry, many will be unsuccessful

South Koreas bachelor time bomb is about to really go off.

Following a historic 30-year-long imbalance in the male-to-female sex ratio at birth, young men far outnumber young women in the country. As a result, some 700,000 to 800,000 extra South Korean boys born since the mid-1980s may not be able to find South Korean girls to marry.

Advertisement

As a demographer who over the past four decades has conducted extensive research on East Asian populations, I know that this increased number of South Korean boys will have huge impacts throughout South Korean society.

Coincidentally, similar trends are playing out in China , Taiwan and India.

The gender imbalance

In most countries, more boys are born than girls  around 105 to 107 boys per 100 girls.

That sex ratio at birth (SRB) is a near constant.

Advertisement

The gender imbalance is likely an evolutionary adaptation to the biological fact that females live longer than males. At every year of life, men have higher death rates than women. Hence an SRB of between 105 and 107 boys allows for there to be roughly equal numbers of men and women when the groups reach childbearing ages.

The SRB in the United States in 1950 was 105 and was still 105 in 2021; in fact, it has been stable in the US for as long as SRB data has been gathered. In contrast, in South Korea, the SRB was in the normal range from 1950 to around 1980, but increased to 110 in 1985 and to 115 in 1990.

Advertisement

After fluctuating a bit at elevated levels through the 1990s and early 2000s, it returned to the biologically normal range by 2010. In 2022, South Koreas SRB was 105  well within the normal level. But by then, the seeds for todays imbalance of marriage-age South Koreans was set.

Fertility decline, wanting boys and more

Advertisement

There are several reasons why South Koreas SRB was out of balance for 30 years.

South Korea experienced a rapid fertility decline in a 20- to 30-year period beginning in the 1960s. From six children per woman in 1960, fertility fell to four children in 1972, then to two children in 1984. By 2022, South Koreas fertility rate had dropped to 0.82  the lowest fertility rate in the world and far below the rate of 2.1 needed to replace the population.

Advertisement

Yet, South Koreas long-held cultural preference for sons did not shift as quickly as childbearing declined. Having at least one son was a strong desire influencing fertility preferences in South Korea, especially up through the early years of the 21st Century.

And the declining fertility rate posed a problem.

Advertisement

When women have many children, the probability that at least one will be a boy is high. With only two children, the probability that neither will be a son is around 25 per cent, and when women have only one child, it is less than 50 per cent.

In order to ensure that families would continue to have boys, many South Koreans turned to readily available techniques to identify the gender of the foetus, such as screening in the early stages of pregnancy. Abortion, which is legal and socially acceptable in South Korea, was then often used to allow families to select the sex of their child.

Advertisement

In South Korea, beginning around 1980 and lasting up to around 2010 or so, many more boys were born than girls. When these extra boys reach adulthood and start looking for South Korean girls to marry, many will be unsuccessful.

The extra boys born in the 1980s and 1990s are now of marriage age, and many will be looking to marry and start a family. Many more will be reaching marriage age in the next two decades.

Advertisement

I have calculated that owing to the unbalanced SRBs in South Korea between 1980 and 2010, approximately 700,000 to 800,000 extra boys were born.

Already this is having an effect in a society where over the centuries virtually everyone was expected to marry, and where marriage was nearly universal. Recent research by Statistics Korea showed that in 2023, over 36 per cent of South Koreans between the ages of 19 and 34 intended to get married; this is a decline from over 56 per cent in 2012.

Advertisement

The immigration brides

The immigration of foreign-born women might help address the imbalance.

Research by demographers Guy Abel and Nayoung Heo has shown that financial assistance from the South Korean government is already supporting the immigration to South Korea of Korean women from northeastern China and of foreign women from some less wealthy countries, such as Vietnam, the Philippines and some Eastern European countries.

Advertisement

If the extra bachelors do not marry immigrant brides, they will have no alternative but to develop their own lives and livelihoods. Some might settle in bachelor ghettos in Seoul and in South Koreas other big cities of Busan and Daegu, where commercial sex outlets are more prevalent. Such ghettos have already been observed in other Asian cities where men outnumber women, such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou in China.

Advertisement

The consequences for South Korean society of the higher than biologically normal SRBs is a problem of the countrys own making. South Koreas high fertility of the mid-20th Century was holding the country back economically. Its program to bring down a fertility rate of nearly six children per woman was hugely successful.

But its very success has been problematic.

The speed of South Koreas fertility transition meant that the evolution to a more modern familial normative structure  that is, with about two children per family and with less preference given to boys  lagged behind.

Today, the SRB imbalances appear to be a thing of the past .

Women in South Korea have greater access to education and employment, and there is less pressure for men to be sole wage earners. Together with the South Korean governments efforts to reduce sex selection beginning in the late 1980s, the premium for boys over girls has dropped.

Yet despite the relaxed desire for sons, long-term social issues related to gender imbalance, especially regarding the marriage market, will remain in South Korea for decades to come.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article .
Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar is reportedly switching sides once again and is likely to return to the NDA. We explain whats going on in the state, the trouble brewing in the INDIA bloc, and more in our weekly roundup

It has been an eventful week for India. Monday started on a spiritual note for Hindus in the country and the world over with the consecration of the Ram mandir in Ayodhya.

Millions tuned in to get the first glimpse of the Ram Lalla idol, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed rituals. With the temple now open to the public (weve all seen images of the crowd), Ayodhya is bracing for a big change. The city is now a brand in itself and there are many takers.

Advertisement

The mandir will bring economic benefits to Ayodhya and the rest of Uttar Pradesh. For the Bharatiya Janata Party, it is a big brownie point ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

However, alls not well with the INDIA bloc. Mamata Banerjee and Bhagwant Mann have decided to go it alone in the upcoming elections. And there is talk that Nitish Kumar might quit the alliance. How will the opposition parties take on the BJP?

Meanwhile, PM Modi has his eyes set on the goal. After the opening of the mandir, he kicked off the 2024 poll rally from Uttar Pradesh. Then came the roadshows and talks with Frances Emmanuel Macron, Indias chief guest for the Republic Day. This was followed by the parade and celebrations on 26 January, the countrys 75th R-Day. Weve been tracking all these developments closely.

Advertisement

In our roundup of explainers, we take a look back at the week that was.

1. The Ram mandir is good for business. Ayodhya is the new destination for investment. From real estate developers to hotel owners, from airlines to travel companies, all eyes are set on the town in eastern Uttar Pradesh. It means more jobs for locals and more money for the state. In this story, we explain how the temple will change the fortunes of Ayodhya and the neighbouring cities.

Advertisement

2. The Ram temple and its opening have been a sensitive issue. The foundations of the dispute were laid in 1528, when Mir Baqi, a deputy of the Mughal emperor Babur, built the Babri Masjid over what was believed to be the ruins of a Hindu temple. Then in 1949, Ram Lallas idols were placed inside the mosque, opening the floodgates of suits. Court cases were fought, laws were fought, and a lot more before the big Supreme Court verdict. We take a look at the past and how Ayodhya got its mandir back after 500 years .

Advertisement

3. The temple opening was celebrated across India with great fervour. People lit up their homes and burst firecrackers. However, there were sporadic tensions, especially in Maharashtra. Mira Road, a suburb on the outskirts of Mumbai, saw violence. In Pune, a clash broke out between members of Hindutva outfits and students of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII). Heres what happened .

Advertisement

4. The second big event on the week was the Republic Day, Indias 75th. For the momentous occasion, French president Emmanuel Macron was the chief guest. On Day 1 of his visit , he toured the Amer fort, participated in a roadshow with the PM, and held talks.

Macrons trip came after Modi visited France for Bastille Day celebrations. The two countries have had good ties for decades, celebrating 25 years of strategic partnership last year. We take a look at the New Delhi-Paris friendship and what makes it special.

Advertisement

5. Indias 75th Republic Day celebrations left everyone wowed. The highlight of 26 January was the military parade, which featured several contingents from the Indian Army, Air Force, Navy, and other para-military forces. It was an impressive display of tanks, missiles, fighter jets and more.

The parade has now become an R-Day tradition. Thousands beat the cold and gathered at Kartayva Path to witness the spectacle and lakhs and lakhs more tuned in to their television sets or watched it online.

Advertisement

But why does India display its military prowess on this day? How did this march come into existence? We take a look back at the history of such parades and their significance .

6. The INDIA alliance is in trouble. First Mamata Banerjee and Bhagwant Mann decided to go it alone in West Bengal and Punjab in the Lok Sabha polls. And now the mess in the Mahaghatbandhan government in Bihar is unfolding. There are reports that Nitish Kumar will switch sides and take oath on Sunday as Bihar chief minister for the ninth time with the support of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Why is Nitish in paltu ram mode again? And what could this mean for politics in Bihar ? We explain.

Advertisement

7. This week gave Indians several reasons to cheer. One of them was a personal benefit. On 25 January, general and health insurance companies rolled out the Cashless Everywhere initiative. Now policyholders have the freedom to choose any hospital for treatment. Heres how it will work .

Thats all for now. Happy weekend! If you like the way we explain and help you understand the news, watch this space for more .

Advertisement

PS: Its a long weekend and if you have opted for Dry January, this could interest you. Can the liver heal itself if you give up alcohol? Find out here .
Earlier, South Africa told the UN court that Israels actions in Gaza were in violation of the 1948 Genocide Convention. During a hearing on Friday, the world court ordered Israel to take all measures within its power to prevent acts of genocide, but it fell short of calling for a full ceasefire

The argument over whether Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in the midst of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which was brought up by South Africa, was heard earlier this month by a panel of 17 judges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the highest court of the United Nations.

Advertisement

On Friday (26 January), the world court instructed Israel to take all measures within its power to prevent acts of genocide, however, stopped short of calling for a full ceasefire.

Rejecting Israels argument that the court lacked jurisdiction to order interim measures, it reiterated the binding nature of its rulings.

Notably, the rulings come at a time when international calls for a ceasefire have been growing, putting pressure on Israel and its American backers in recent weeks.

Lets take a closer look at the case.

What was South Africas case against Israel?

South Africa told the world court during a two-day hearing on 11 and 12 January, that Israels actions in the Gaza Strip were in violation of the 1948 Genocide Convention, to which Israel is a party, according to TIME magazine.

Advertisement

Israeli leaders, according to government lawyers in South Africa, intended to create conditions of death for Palestinians living in Gaza.

Video and public statements by Israeli officials were presented in court, among them Defence Minister Yoav Gallants October statement that Israel would impose a complete siege to the region since it was engaged in combat with human animals.

Advertisement

The accusation of genocide has been flatly refuted by Israeli lawyers, who claim that the countrys military gave civilians enough notice to evacuate before the invasion in late October. They added that Israel had opened up aid distribution after it had been shut down at the beginning of the conflict.

To demonstrate its attempts to prevent injury to civilians, Israel released over 30 secret orders issued by military and government officials as part of its defence.

Advertisement

The court had to decide if Israels alleged acts were under the Genocide Convention and whether the proposed restrictions were actually necessary to protect the rights of Palestinians in Gaza before deciding whether to apply all or any of the emergency measures that South Africa had requested.

What did the ICJ say?

Advertisement

In a ruling that will keep Israel under the legal lens for years to come, the court offered little other comfort to Israeli leaders in a genocide case brought by South Africa that goes to the core of one of the worlds most intractable conflicts, according to The Associated Press. The courts half-dozen orders will be difficult to achieve without some sort of cease-fire or pause in the fighting.

Advertisement

The court is acutely aware of the extent of the human tragedy that is unfolding in the region and is deeply concerned about the continuing loss of life and human suffering, court President Joan E. Donoghue said before acknowledging that both parties have clearly opposite views on the matter.

The ruling amounted to an overwhelming rebuke of Israels wartime conduct and added to mounting international pressure to halt the nearly 4-month-old offensive that has killed more than 26,000 Palestinians, decimated vast swaths of Gaza and driven nearly 85 per cent of its 2.3 million people from their homes.

Advertisement

In the courts view, however, at least some of the acts and omissions alleged by South Africa to have been committed by Israel in Gaza appear to be capable of falling within the provisions of the (Genocide) Convention, Justice Donoghue said.

Although the court failed to order Israel to stop its bombardment, it asked that the Israeli military abide by the Genocide Convention by stopping and punishing incitement to genocide and by providing Gaza basic aid.

Advertisement

According to Al Jazeera, the international court has ordered that Israel prevent destruction of evidence of war crimes committed in Gaza and allow access to fact-finding missions.

The court further ordered that Hamas release the hostages who are still detained.

The panel told Israel to submit a report on steps taken within a month. South Africa will have the chance to respond to this report, as per the report.

Advertisement

As per AP, Fridays decision was an interim ruling. It could take years for the court to consider all aspects of South Africas genocide allegations. The UN Security Council scheduled a meeting for Wednesday to follow up on the ruling.

The South African government said the ruling determined that Israels actions in Gaza are plausibly genocidal.

Advertisement

There is no credible basis for Israel to continue to claim that its military actions are in full compliance with international law, the government said in a statement.

Is the interim ruling binding?

South Africa and Israel cannot appeal a court decision because they are both United Nations members and are therefore bound by its rulings. Nevertheless, the ICJ lacks any means of enforcing its orders.

Advertisement

Another option is for South Africa or other countries to write to the UN Security Council (UNSC), whose members would be urged to cast votes requiring Israel to follow the ICJs emergency measures.

Since the onset of the Gaza War, the US has already used its veto power to stop resolutions that demanded a ceasefire and responsibility from its close ally, Israel.

However, according to another report by Al Jazeera, experts warn that US President Joe Bidens demands for others, even rivals like China and Russia, to preserve the global rules-based order might be damaged and undermined by the US veto of an ICJ-approved ruling.

The UNSC could punish Israel if it adopts a resolution mandating that Israel follow the rulings of the world court. Travel restrictions, arms embargoes, and trade or economic penalties are a few instances of this from the past.

The UN charter also gives the Council the authority to intervene forcefully. A prime example of this was the 1991 formation of the US-led military coalition in opposition to Saddam Husseins invasion of Kuwait.

The US is unlikely to permit the Security Council to adopt any action of this sort against Israel, experts told the news channel.

Will Israel follow the directives?

Israels administration, which was formed as a Jewish state after the Nazi slaughter of six million Jews during World War II, suffered greatly from allowing the accusations to remain unanswered.

Such provisional measures issued by the world court are legally binding, but it is not clear if Israel will comply with them.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the fact that the court was willing to discuss the genocide charges was a mark of shame that will not be erased for generations. He vowed to press ahead with the war.

We will continue to do what is necessary to defend our country and defend our people, said Netanyahu, who pushed back against the ruling in two languages. In a message aimed at his domestic audience, the tone was more defiant in Hebrew, and he stopped short of overtly criticising the court in English.

The power of the ruling was magnified by its timing, coming on the eve of International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Those truly needing to stand trial are those that murdered and kidnapped children, women and the elderly, former Israeli defense minister Benny Gantz said, referring to Hamas militants who stormed through Israeli communities on Oct. 7 in the attack that set off the war. The assault killed some 1,200 people and resulted in another 250 being kidnapped.

In Israel, commentators said the decision not to order a cease-fire was received with some relief since it helped Israel avoid a collision with a top UN body.

There will be pressure on Israels international supporters even if it decides to ignore the ICJs directives.

Israeli politicians have already said that theyre going to ignore the ICJ order. It is much harder for, particularly, the US and European states including the UK, to ignore the order because they have a much stronger record of holding or supporting the International Court of Justice, Mark Lattimer, the executive director of Ceasefire Centre for Civilian Rights, told Al Jazeera.

It would undermine the credibility of the rules-based international order that the US claims to uphold, Lattimer said, adding that it would also entrench a growing divide between the US and Western countries versus states in the Global South which view those claims of upholding global order with skepticism.

Later Friday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed that the top courts rulings are legally binding and trusts that Israel will comply with its orders, including to take all measures within its power to prevent acts that would bring about the destruction of the Palestinian people.

Israel often boycotts international tribunals and UN investigations, saying they are unfair and biased. But this time, it took the rare step of sending a high-level legal team  a sign of how seriously it regards the case, as per AP.

What happens if Israel doesnt comply?

According to Zaha Hassan, a Middle East Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told TIME, Having the world court say to the state of Israel that it is plausible that Israel is committing genocide will be heard by the rest of the international community, even if Netanyahu doesnt want to hear it.

Not only will it embolden international civil society in their calls for a ceasefire, it will also put pressure on the US and its President Joe Biden to support a ceasefire or suspend military aid to Israel. 

Zinaida Miller, a professor of law at Northeastern University, told the magazine that if countries are sending weapons to Israel, or are in any way facilitating the mass atrocities in Gaza, they will have to consider their commitment under the 1948 Genocide Convention to prevent the crime from happening and to avoid complicity in it.

There are more reasons why the ICJ case and yesterdays ruling are important.

Its a moment when Palestinians have had a public airing of the structural violence and oppression they have long faced and it holds the prospect of accountability for victims, something that has always eluded Palestinians, said Hassan.

With inputs from agencies
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the interim budget for 2024-25 on 1 February. An interim budget is a short-term financial plan covering government expenditures until a new government takes over after the elections

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present her sixth budget on 1 February.

However, instead of a full budget, she will present an interim budget as the Lok Sabha elections are due to take place in a few months.

The interim budget will be presented in a joint sitting of Parliament, while the full budget will be presented after a new government takes over following general elections that are due in April-May this year, according to NDTV.

Advertisement

Lets take a closer look.

Meaning of interim budget

An interim budget is a short-term financial plan that covers government expenses until a new government takes charge after elections, the news channel explained.

The regular budget process may be interrupted during election years by the shifting of power. To guarantee that government operations and key services run smoothly until the next administration assumes control, the departing government prepares an interim budget, as per another report by NDTV Profit.

According to Hindustan Times, as part of it, the Parliament passes a vote-on-account to pay for necessary expenses, such as funding ongoing government initiatives and paying salaries of central government employees. Normally, a vote-on-account is good for two months, although it can be extended if necessary.

The present governments ability to spend money is limited to the Union Budgets validity through 31 March. The current government needs approval from Parliament to cover charges for any expenses incurred between 1 March and the establishment of a new government.

Advertisement

A vote-on-account, as defined by Article 116 of the Constitution, represents an advance payment to the government from the Consolidated Fund of India, which is set aside specifically for meeting immediate expenditure requirements. All of the money collected by the central governmenttaxes, loan interest, and other revenuesis placed in the Consolidated Fund of India.

Advertisement

The last interim budget was presented in 2019 by Piyush Goyal, holding additional charge of the ministry of finance after Arun Jaitley fell ill.

After the BJP government secured a second consecutive term, Sitharaman was appointed as the finance minister, and she presented the full budget on 5 July 2019.

On 1 February, she will present an interim budget for 202425 in Parliament, which will be effective from 1 April 2024.

Advertisement

Key aspects of an interim budget

Under an interim budget, funds are usually allocated for ongoing programmes, pressing needs, and necessary government activities. There are no new policies or programmes introduced that could have a big financial impact.

To prevent undue influence on voters, the Election Commission of India has put some constraints on interim budgets. The government cannot propose significant tax increases or policy changes in the budget to influence voters in favour of the current regime, according to Business Today.

Advertisement

Parliament does not examine and discuss the interim budget in the same way as usual. It requires a vote-on-account to seek approval for funds.

Difference between interim and Union budget

The interim budget will outline the governments anticipated revenues and expenses until the new government is formed.

A comprehensive budget, on the other hand, covers every aspect of government finances, including revenues, expenditures, allocations, and policy statements.

Advertisement

The Union budget, which highlights the governments commitment to numerous initiatives and changes, frequently affects investor mood. It has the power to influence market expectations and economic activity.

A full-year budget, which maps out the countrys economic course for a full fiscal year, is a strategic tool, whereas the interim budget offers financial information for the temporal period.

Advertisement

Governments also refrain from presenting the traditional pre-budget Economic Survey, which is often done the day before the formal budget presentation, before the vote-on-account. This report, which summarises the major events and economic situation, is usually delivered in Parliament in July together with the entire budget.

A full budget will be presented by the new government in July this year, in anticipation of the Lok Sabha elections in April or May 2024.

Advertisement

No major announcements

In December last year, Sitharaman ruled out any spectacular announcement for her budget for the upcoming Thursday. She said saying it would simply be a vote on account before the general elections.

I am not going to play a spoilsport but it is a matter of truth that the 1 February budget will just be a vote on account. We are in an election mode, and the elections happens during the coming summer. So, the budget that the government presents will just be able to, or will just be a Budget to meet the expenditure of the government till a new government comes into play, the minister said in response to a question about a supercharged budget during her address at the CII Global Economic Policy Forum, according to an NDTV report.

Advertisement

The budget, following British tradition, is called a vote on account. So, no spectacular announcements come in that time. So you will have to wait till after the new government comes in and presents the next full budget in July 2024, she added.

With inputs from agencies
Based on the request from the MV Merlin Luanda, INS Visakhapatnam has deployed the Ships NBCD team along with firefighting equipment to provide assistance to the crew towards augmenting firefighting efforts onboard the distressed MV Merlin Luanda, according to the Indian Navy.

Indian Navys guided missile destroyer INS Visakhapatnam deployed in the Gulf of Aden responded to a distress call from MV Merlin Luanda on Friday night and brought fire under control.

The MV has 22 Indian and 01 Bangladeshi crew onboard, according to the Indian Navy.

Fire onboard MV #MarlinLuanda brought under control



Based on request from Master of the MV, the fire fighting team from #INSVisakhapatnam comprising 10 Indian Naval personnel with specialist fire fighting equipment embarked the vessel in early hours of #27Jan 24.

After six https://t.co/d5yxgWI42Y pic.twitter.com/RsLPKOpXTU  SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) January 27, 2024

Advertisement

Based on the request from the MV Merlin Luanda, INS Visakhapatnam has deployed the Ships NBCD team along with firefighting equipment to provide assistance to the crew towards augmenting firefighting efforts onboard the distressed MV Merlin Luanda, according to the Indian Navy.

The Indian Navy remains steadfast and committed towards safeguarding MVs and ensuring safety of life at sea, according to the statement earlier released by Indian Navy spokesperson on X.

In a post on X, the Indian Navy spokesperson stated, IndianNavys Guided missile destroyer, #INSVisakhapatnam, deployed in the #GulfofAden responded to a distress call from MV #MarlinLuanda on the night of #26Jan 24. The fire fighting efforts onboard the distressed Merchant Vessel is being augmented by the NBCD team along with firefighting equipment, deployed by #INSVisakhapatnam to assist the crew onboard the MV. The MV has 22 #Indian & 01 Bangladeshi crew onboard. #IndianNavy remains steadfast & committed towards safeguarding MVs & ensuring safety of life at sea.

Advertisement

#IndianNavy's Guided missile destroyer, #INSVisakhapatnam, deployed in the #GulfofAden responded to a distress call from MV #MarlinLuanda on the night of #26Jan 24.

The fire fighting efforts onboard the distressed Merchant Vessel is being augmented by the NBCD team along with pic.twitter.com/meocASF2Lo  SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) January 27, 2024

Advertisement

Meanwhile, the US Central Command stated that Houthi terrorists fired one anti-ship ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and hit the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker M/V Marlin Luanda

Advertisement

In a post on X, US Central Command stated, Houthis Strike M/V Marlin Luanda Operating in the Gulf of Aden. On Jan. 26, at approximately 7:45 p.m. (Sanaa time), Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists fired one anti-ship ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and struck the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker M/V Marlin Luanda.

Advertisement

The ship issued a distress call and reported damage. USS Carney (DDG 64) and other coalition ships have responded and are rendering assistance. No injuries have been reported at this time, it added.

Earlier this month, the Indian Navys mission-deployed guided missile destroyer, INS Visakhapatnam, addressed a distress call from the Marshall Island-flagged MV Genco Picardy following a drone attack on the night of January 17. INS Visakhapatnam, currently on an anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden, promptly acknowledged the distress call. The destroyer intercepted the vessels at midnight on January 18, 2024, to provide immediate assistance.
For decades a tiny but influential minority of historians have tried to paper over the grim truth of the oddly named Gyanvapi masjid, denying evidence in Maasir-i-Alamgiri, written by Saqi Mustaid Khan, of Aurangzeb ordering the destruction of the Vishwanath temple

A stray remark by my young Bihari driver in Kolkata added a new dimension the issue of the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi, for me. Only, he was talking about Ayodhya, not Kashi. Voicing his intention to visit Ayodhya with some of his friends as soon as the rush wanes a bit, he was surprised to learn from me that there used to be a Mughal-era masjid on the spot where the new grand Ram Mandir now beckons a wide range of devout Indians.

Advertisement

What followed, obviously, was a potted history of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, which he listened to with a mixture of concern and amazement. Why was a mosque built where Sri Ramji was born, he asked, clearly unaware of the tumultuous events of the early 16th century, much less the last decade of the 20th century. Born in the 1990s, he was also bemused by the fact that there could be any resistance to a Ram temple being built there again.

But at least hehis friends motivations and emotions are unknowndoes not seem to harbour any animus towards those who had thwarted the rebuilding of a temple, through the courts and otherwise. That is probably because the medieval era mosque at that site did not retain any architectural remnantsspoliaof any older preceding structure, so there was no immediate recall or incontrovertible proof of what had been there. What will he make of Gyanvapi?

Advertisement

For decades a tiny but influential minority of historians have tried to paper over the grim truth of the oddly named Gyanvapi masjid, denying evidence in Maasir-i-Alamgiri, written by Saqi Mustaid Khan, of Aurangzeb ordering the destruction of the Vishwanath temple and the building of the extant mosque. These historians even cancelled the brilliant Sir Jadunath Sarkar for highlighting Aurangzebs zealotry, calling the Bengali historian communal instead!

Advertisement

Had the temple been entirely destroyed (like the one in Ayodhya) the fiction that Gyanvapi was not an act of communal vandalism could have been maintained. But Aurangzebs decision to retain an entire wall of Kashis most prominent temple in the design of a new mosque that would sit on the plinth of the razed Hindu place of worship, however, reveals that he wanted the Hindus to feel the pain of that demolition for centuries and generations to come.

Advertisement

The temple was the target of earlier Muslim rulers too, with the first demolition ordered by the Ghurid conqueror Qutubuddin Aibak in the 12th century. It was rebuilt a few decades later, away from the original site, only to be destroyed again in the late 15th century in Sikandar Lodis reign. Akbars Rajput generals, Raja Man Singh and Raja Todar Mal rebuilt it yet again in the late 16th century only for Aurangzeb to zealously decree its final humiliation in 1669.

Advertisement

When the Marathas gained control of Kashi in the 18th century, the holy citys remaining temples got another lease on life, the ghats were refurbished and an abode for Lord Vishwanath was built anew by Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar on an adjacent site as the Nawab of Awadh thwarted any reversion of the Gyanvapi mosque. But, poignantly, the statue of the faithful Nandi bull looks steadfastly in the direction of the destroyed temple. In anticipation.

Advertisement

Now the report of the Archaeological Survey of India has revealed the extent of what happened to the templewhether of Vishweshwar or Avimukteswar or any other Hindu deitywhere Gyanvapi mosque stands today. Not only was the entire Hindu structure demolished except for the western wall, its spolia (debris) were reused in the mosque. That is not surprising, as the first mosque built in India, in Mehrauli, also used temple spoliaand declared it.

Advertisement

The ASI report says its recent survey of the Gyanvapi premises revealed 34 inscriptions on spolia used in the mosque commissioned by Aurangzeb, in Devanagari, Grantha, Telugu and Kannada, and that they mention deities such as Rudra, Umesvara and Janardhana. It also claims that sculptures of Hindu deities and carved architectural members were found buried under the soil in a cellar inside the compound. The implications are quite apparent.

Advertisement

It is clear that there was a Hindu temple on that spot before the mosque, even if some people refuse to acknowledge the one intact wallcomplete with Hindu imagery and motifsas evidence of its existence. It is also clear that the temple was demolished (barring that wall) to make way for a mosque, which was built on the existing plinth. And it is clear that the rest of the rubble left from the demolition was used in various parts of that mosque as well.

Advertisement

The discovery of spolia with south Indian epigraphs including in a script specially developed to write SanskritGranthaalso belies current assertions that the southern part of the subcontinent had little or no ties with the north. Though the inscriptions are yet to be translated, they perhaps note donations to the temple that stood there by pilgrims and notables from the south. Thus, it was an important temple; so the retention of one wall was doubly significant.

Advertisement

Keeping that wall intact served as a reminder to the majority community about its position in an empire ruled by the minority: beaten and subjugated. And this incongruity was made possible by the inability of the majority community to realise its common plight, divided as it was by caste and regional loyalties, which were assiduously played up and perpetuated by different vested interests for centuries. It was also a warning to stay down and be quiet.

Advertisement

Aurangzebs act was both supremely arrogant and very foolish. He evidently did not feel the need to hide his iron hand in a velvet glove unlike many of his forebears. He wanted to rub the Hindus noses in the dirteven though they made up roughly 85 percent of his subjectssecure in the belief that they would never go anything about it. That the Gyanvapi mosque with its temple wall still stands 350 years later, is a resounding vindication of his belief.

But Aurangzeb was also foolishto think that the tide would never turn. Brazenly leaving evidence in Varanasi has made it tough for his defenders today to deny his true bigoted motivation, as excavations at Kashi and many other places reveal the extent of destruction. Incidentally, the Rudra Mahalaya temple at Patan also has a mosque built amid the visible remnants of a temple. Only, the whole site is ASI protected and hence there is no tussle about worship.

Even if the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 pushed through by the Congress government freezes their status as they existed on August 15, 1947, prohibiting the reversionsome call it liberationof the temple at Kashi (and other places), the mountain of evidence pointing to deliberate destruction of temples to erect mosques needs discussion not denial. Only then can inter-community relationshipsnot just places of worshipbe rebuilt.

Meanwhile, a new generation of Indians visiting the grand, new Ram Mandir at Ayodhyalike my driverwill inevitably learn about what preceded its construction. And also, what the current situation is at Kashi and Mathura, even if thousands of similar desecrations of the past centuries remain sequestered from public consciousness. The role of the courts in deciding such emotive issues will be contested, as has happened with the Ayodhya judgement. But the feelings of the majority can no longer be ignored, derided or derailed.

The author is a freelance writer. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost_s views._

Read all the Latest News , Trending News , Cricket News , Bollywood News , India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .
Through history warfare, Communist China will try to prove that it has always occupied the Tibetan plateau and that the border areas (whether Tibet or Xinjiang) have always been under Chinese possession

Recently, news circulated that after the Galwan incident, which claimed the lives of 20 Indian soldiers and some 40 Chinese soldiers in June 2020, new clashes would have taken place between India and China on the Line of Actual Control (LAC). This probably explains why External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar often mentions that relations between the two Asian giants are not normal.

Advertisement

Clashes would have taken place at least twice on the LAC during the past three years, and China would have attempted to violently attack some Indian Army checkpoints (probably not in Ladakh) between September 2021 and November 2022.

General Manoj Pande, the Chief of Army Staff, himself stated that the situation on the border with China was stable, yet sensitive.

While these incidents need to be taken seriously (and they are, by the Indian Army), they show the limits of the Chinese ability to militarily create mischief on the northern border.

Opening new fronts

In this context, there is no doubt that Xi Jinpings regime will try to open new fronts, perhaps not so visible, but which could lead to serious consequences if India is caught napping.

Advertisement

One of these is what could be called history warfare, through which Communist China will try to prove that it has always occupied the Tibetan plateau and that the border areas (whether Tibet or Xinjiang) have always been under Chinese possession.

Earlier this month, The Global Times, the mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party, asserted: Half-decade-long frontier archaeology yields major discoveries, reveals diverse yet united Chinese civilization.

Advertisement

The article says that in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, nearly 80 archaeological projects were taken up between 2019 and 2023.

Why is Chinese control suddenly projected far from the historical frontiers of the Middle Kingdom (represented by the Great Wall of China)? The answer is clearthis is to project that all these areas are part of China since immemorial times: Archaeological projects in Xinjiang, along with other discoveries made in north Chinas Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, southwest Chinas Yunnan Province, and other parts of the country, have contributed greatly to the enrichment of the current research landscape of Chinas frontier archaeology.

Advertisement

A new term has come into being; it is called frontier archaeology; in fact, a China Frontier Archaeology Symposium was recently held in Beijing; its declared objective was to facilitate discussions about future topics in Chinese archaeology."

Ethnic and cultural diversity

The symposium looked into questions such as ethnic cultural diversity or ancient Silk Road cultural exchanges. A frontier archaeologist, Chen Hurong, told The Global Times that this reflects the unique value of frontier archaeologyCompared with many inland archaeological projects, frontier histories can often vividly depict ancient Chinas exchanges with other cultures.

Advertisement

Another Chinese expert affirmed that, apart from Xinjiang and Xizang autonomous regions, northern China is also the birthplace of many frontier sites. Note that Xizang is the new name for Tibet, a century-old nation that no longer has a name of its own.

According to the Partys mouthpiece, Extending the Chinese frontier archaeological landscape to southwest Chinas Xizang [Tibet> Autonomous Region, more than 10 research sites have been investigated in the last five years, including the Nwya Devu and Sang Kar Gang sites.

Advertisement

The Nwya Devu (Nyadeu in Tibetan) is an archaeological site located in the eastern Changthang region of Nagchu Prefecture, at an altitude of 4,600 m (15,092 ft) above sea level. It is the highest known archaeological site from the Palaeolithic area; it is supposed to offer evidence for one of the earliest known human presences at high altitude, around 40,00030,000 BP (before the present era).

Advertisement

The conclusion of the research will undoubtedly be that Tibetans have been Chinese since 30,000 or more years, and the 1950 invasion was simply a forced return to the motherland.

Another site has witnessed extensive excavations by the Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research (ITP); called Sang Kar Gang, it is located near Lhasa, the Tibetan capital. Over 1,000 stone artifacts were unearthed, providing crucial materials for the understanding of the earliest human migration into the central Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, their routes and survival strategies.

Advertisement

This highly political research explores the process of early human adaptation to the plateau is also crucial to gaining a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the formation and evolution of modern populations in Xizang. Adaptation from where? The answer is obviously from China.

Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia are also being excavated to show the extent of Chinese influence millennia ago.

Advertisement

To link it with contemporary China, The Global Times is not shy to admit: Many cross-cultural frontier archaeological projects conducive to the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) have been launched.

The situation on the Indian side

On the Indian side, not much has been done to confront the history-warfare onslaught.

However, The Times of India recently reported a study claiming that natives of Ladakh clearly share their genetic heritage with India and Tibet, not China: The research asserts that the three lakh natives of the region are a genetic mix of 60 per cent from India and western Eurasia and 40 per cent from Tibet. The conclusions of the research were published in the international magazine Research Reports in the US. This is good news.

Advertisement

The research team comprised DNA sequencing experts from Banaras Hindu Universitys zoology department, led by Prof Gyaneshwar Chaubey, an expert in archaeology, as well as some Ladakhi scholars, including Padma Shri Dr Tsering Norbu (a retired Ladakhi surgeon) and Sonam Splanzin (the first woman Ladakhi archaeologist).

The team studied 122 samples (98 females and 24 males), all belonging to the Bot tribe, from two places in Central Ladakh.

Advertisement

Prof Chaubey explained: Ladakh is the highest inhabited region of India and has unique biodiversity. With a population of nearly 3 lakh people, Ladakh is an example of long-term human occupation going back at least to the Palaeolithic period.

It was earlier unknown whether genetic and archaeological diversity in the mountainous region had developed indigenously or resulted from gene flow from distinct geographic regions.

The interesting conclusion of the research is that the genetic component of the samples is completely different from the ancestry of China.

Trans-Himalayan archeology

Another attempt to explore the past has been conducted by archaeologist Vinod Nautiyal and his team; according to them, The Trans-Himalayan region, which runs parallel to the main Himalayan Range and south of the Tibetan Plateau, has not been explored extensively because of its rough terrain. Early work reported human burials from Leh in Jammu and Kashmir, but the most significant evidence comes from Malari in Uttarakhand, where a cave burial culture dated c. 200100 BC has been identified.

They admit that, in contrast, across the Himalayas in Mustang, western Nepal, a large number of multi-storey caves used both for burial and habitation between c. 1200 BC and AD 1500 have been excavated.

They quoted the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, which boasts only two sites that can provide information on human burial; these burials have been dated speculatively to c. 2500200 BC: Neither of these sites, nor the human remains, have been subject to any archaeological or further scientific investigation, they admit.

It is a fact that not much has so far been written about migration and trans-Himalayan relations.

Similarly, the Franco-Indian Archaeological Mission in Ladakh (Mission Archeologique Franco-Indienne au Ladakh, or MAFIL) was created in 2012. It was founded as a joint venture with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Their objective is to show, in an irrefutable manner, that Buddhism was present in Ladakh in the last quarter of the first millennium AD and maybe as early as the middle of the first millennium. The only material evidence comes from rare rock inscriptions.

This is important, but it lacks the trans-Himalayan aspect.

More importantly, studies need to be conducted on the ancient kingdom of Zhangzhung; they could document the intense activities and contacts between northern India, the Tibetan plateau, and Central Asia, while these remained minimal with China.

A friend who has done extensive archaeology in Spiti recently wrote to me: I am looking at mineral resource data for the western Tibetan Plateau as of the 2nd Millennium BCE. I have managed to convince myself that the Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC) used Ladakh, Zanskar, and Spiti, as well as Ngari, as sources for minerals and other raw resources in the Bronze Age. Gold, silver, copper, iron, lead, and precious stones (e.g., sapphires, turquoise, crystals, agate, and steatite) would have been traded, as would have wool, animal skins, and timber products. The IVC could have exchanged these items with finished metal objects.

This is worth digging into further to counter China in this new form of warfare.

The writer is Distinguished Fellow, Centre of Excellence for Himalayan Studies, Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence (Delhi). Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the writer. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost_s views._

Read all the Latest News , Trending News , Cricket News , Bollywood News , India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .
The names of Bachchu Lal and Inder Singh Garhwali are written in golden words in the history of the Indian independence movement. These heroes deserve reorganisation in their home state Uttarakhand

The Ooty robbery case created panic in British rule and injected new energy in the Indian independence movement in the 1930s. The act was daring as Hazara Singh and three associates conducted a robbery at Travancore National Bank at Ooty (Tamil Nadu) in broad daylight to manage funds for buying arms and ammunition to support the freedom movement.

Advertisement

Bachchu Lal from Nainital played a key role in the Ooty robbery case. Another revolutionary leader Inder Singh Garhwali from Tehri, who escaped from jail with Hazara Singh, too remains unsung in Uttarakhand. Both these freedom fighters remain unidentified and forgotten. Not many know about their heroism in Uttarakhand. They were described as Punjab terrorists in many police documents, even this created confusion about the native place of the freedom fighters.

Both Bachchu Lal and Inder Singh served life imprisonment and were deported to Andaman cellular jail. They were possibly the only two freedom fighters from Uttarakhand to serve life imprisonment in Andaman cellular jail.

Tragic case of Bachchu Lal

Bachchu Lal/Ram, son of Lachai, from Nainital was 27 when he joined Hazara Singh and others in the Travancore National Bank robbery at Ootacamund. Posing as policemen and wearing Khaki dress, four youths entered the bank on 26 April 1933. The bank staff had just begun the after lunch work and there was no customer inside. Taking advantage of the situation the youths pointed a gun at the cashier and disappeared with the cash box containing Rs 3211.

Advertisement

The youths had hired a car (number 1015) and immediately headed for the railway station. Among the four, Kushi Ram and Niyanand were arrested a few hours after the robbery. But Hazara and Bachchu managed to escape with most of the cash. Bachchu was arrested at Linghi Chetty Street in Chennai on 4 May 1933. The cops recorded the identification of Bachchu with a tattoo of Hanuman on the right hand and Ram, Ram written on the left hand on the arrest document.

Advertisement

Hazara Singh, Bachchu Lal, Nityanand Vats and Govind Ram Behl were arrested for the famous Ooty bank raid case. Only Rs 350 was recovered from the youths. The four arrested refused to eat food separately in the jail and launched a hunger strike. This forced the Superintendent of Police to arrange for their demand of eating food together and also provide them heavy woolen blankets.

Advertisement

At the Andaman Cellular Jail, the inhuman condition of the prison life made Bachchu mentally unstable. He was sent to Pune Mental Asylum in 1937. No information or document is available on Bachchu Lal after he reached Pune. Even after independence efforts were made by the Uttar Pradesh government to track information, but it failed. When arrested the address of Bachchu was mentioned in Amritsar (Punjab). One English language newspaper reporting the trial of Ooty bank robbery case mentions Bachhue as Maratha, Hindu, from Nainital.

Advertisement

According to the Cellular Jail Museum (Port Blair) records, information about 500 prisoners is available with them. The names of the freedom fighters who served jail terms at Andaman are inscribed in stone on the campus. The name of Bachchu Lal and 11 others are mentioned as freedom fighters from United Province incarnated during 1922-31. Hazara Singh is mentioned as a native of Punjab.

Advertisement

Rajpal Singh Negi, Head of the Department (History) at Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University, says, I recently did a project in which we collected details about 500 freedom fighters from Uttarakhand. The compiled information about the revolutionary leaders is available on Armit Mahotsav portal. We failed to find the name of any freedom fighter from Garhwal and Kumaon who served life imprisonment in Andaman cellular jail.

Advertisement

A dedicated person committed to the freedom movement, Bachchu Lal possibly died at Poona.

Unsung Inder Singh Garhwali

Known by many names - Prem Prakash alas Rudra Singh alas Devanab - Inder Singh Garhwali was a dynamic person. He came into limelight in the Madras city bomb case. The news of two youths connected with the Ooty bank robbery case created unrest among Shambhunath, Roshanlal and Inder Singh. They decided to teach the British a lesson and do something big. They made a bomb and when they were testing it exploded. They were booked under the arms and explosive substance act.

Advertisement

Inder Singh was sentenced to life imprisonment and before deporting to Andaman he was kept at Bellary central jail in Karnataka. Inder Singh met Hazara Singh in the jail and they developed friendship. The one month long friendship bore fruits when the duo managed to escape from jail on 4 October 1933, by scaling the wall. The news of the jail break rattled British rule. Both were arrested within 24 hours but the act shattered the confidence of the foreign rulers.

Advertisement

In the Andaman Cellular Jail records, Inder Singh Garhwali is recorded as prisoner number 171. His fathers name is mentioned as Madho Singh and native place as Tehri. The name of the village, Largu, creates confusion as there is no village with such name in Tehri and Uttarkashi. Only Lagrasu village in Dhanaulti Tehsil of Tehri resembles the name mentioned in jail documents and published records. Lagrasu village Pradhan, Narendra Rawat says, Never heard about any freedom fighter from our village.

Advertisement

The names of Bachchu Lal and Inder Singh Garhwali are written in golden words in the history of the Indian independence movement. These heroes deserve reorganisation in their home state Uttarakhand.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost_s views._

Read all the Latest News , Trending News , Cricket News , Bollywood News , India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .
France needs to encourage its companies to transfer technology to Indian operations and open more R&D-based value chains to make India a manufacturing and services hub, enabling New Delhi to become a potent partner in the Indo-Pacific

The participation of French President Emmanuel Macron as the chief guest at Indias 75th Republic Day was symbolically and substantively an appreciation of the steady and growing partnership.

In the last year, Modi and Macron have met several times. This included a special gesture by inviting Modi as the chief guest at the Bastille Day Parade in July 2023. After the G20 Summit in Delhi, they met again at the COP28 in Abu Dhabi.

Advertisement

It was the sixth time that a French dignitary was the chief guest at Republic Day, a record for any country.

India and France have a strategic partnership of 25 years. Under Horizon 2047, a diversifying partnership is envisaged. France is Indias best friend in Europe, a steady partner among the Permanent Five (P5) of the UN Security Council, and the most important defence partner after Russia.

In Indias strategic autonomy, France plays an important role in a multipolar world that India prefers. Indian diversification from dependence on Russia for defence equipment makes France a leading alternative. It is also the strategic pole that gives India heft in the Indo-Pacific without being called upon to participate in big-power rivalry and criticise Russia or China.

Advertisement

Macrons visit was gracious in the sense that the French knew that Indias first choice of guest was US President Biden. That visit was to be the cornerstone of a Quad summit in India. Due to domestic compulsions, Biden desisted, thus delaying the Quad summit and opening up the Republic Day chief guest issue.

Advertisement

Already for two years during the pandemic, there was no chief guest. At short notice, Macron accepted to be the chief guest, despite his own domestic preoccupations. Credit has to be given to the French for standing by India on such occasions.

The major strength of the partnership is defence engagement, particularly the purchase of 36 Rafales, which is likely to be followed by further orders. Indias preference is for French companies to have more production in India and make India a part of the defence production supply chains. This should include the Rafales, the helicopter project, particularly the development of an engine with Safran, and submarine production and repair facilities.

Advertisement

France should play a more active role with Airbus, with whom India has 500+ civilian aircraft orders, to open an MRO and aeropark where companies could invest in manufacturing, parts, services, and R&D for the aviation industry. India should not be treated only as among the largest markets for civilian and military aircraft.

Advertisement

The other area where rapid growth is feasible is in space. In this sector, France has for many years been an important partner for India. This remains an area where both sides seem to agree to progress. Similarly, in the domain of civilian nuclear power, such cooperation is possible.

The third important area of cooperation is the common view of the Indo-Pacific. France plus Quad are part of Indias Indo-Pacific policy, and France is associated with the maritime security aspect of the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative.

Advertisement

Frances Indo-Pacific policy is to protect its island territories from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, expand engagement, particularly in the economic arena, with ASEAN and other countries in the region, and have partnerships in the Indo-Pacific that are not necessarily dependent on the US. India is at the forefront of this strategy.

Advertisement

India and France work together around Mozambique, where both have investments in the gas sector and have dealt with insurgency in Cabo Delgado in coordination.

France provides India access through existing agreements to its bases in Djibouti, Mayotte, and Reunion. India backed France for membership in IORA, while France backed India to be associated with the Indian Ocean Commission.

Advertisement

Now, India, France, and Australia, as well as India, France, and the UAE, have set up trilateral partnerships to collaborate across the Indo-Pacific. The two Rafales from the French Air and Space Force that participated in the Republic Day flypast actually came from French deployments in the UAE.

The Indo-Pacific Trilateral Development Cooperation Fund can bring sustainable development to the region, backed by Indian experience in development cooperation and French development funding, mostly through the Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD). The AFDs footprint in India is expanding along with that of the European Investment Bank.

Advertisement

Unfulfilled expectations

Despite the large hype surrounding the Indo-French partnership, there are some unfulfilled expectations.

The first is that agreements that are reached take too long to fructify. The Indo-Pacific trilateral fund is one such example. India has trilateral funds with the UK and Germany already in operation in Africa.

With France, the discussions are long and often mired in how French processes will be adhered to. This challenges the notion that Indian bureaucratic processes are a drag on cooperation.

Advertisement

The unending delay in getting ahead with the Jaitapur nuclear plant is a lost opportunity. Putting speed into the implementation of what has been agreed upon, particularly in the Horizon 2047 document, is critical.

Secondly, France lags behind other partners in its economic engagement with India. Compared to Germany and the UK, which are part of Indias European project, France is the most strategic partner but the least economically engaged.

Advertisement

It is 9th in the list of 2023 FDI contributors to India, and this may rise if some of its larger investments in renewable energy fructify, but it is behind the UK at third and Germany at 8th in the RBI list. Similarly, among ODA partners, while Japan and Germany are among the leading ones, the role of France is much smaller.

In trade, too, France has a smaller imprint than Germany or the UK. There is an impression that France loves India at present because of the large orders for aircraft, which sustain its defence and aircraft industry. When it comes to financing the Sustainable Development Goals, new manufacturing chains, or even climate-related funding, it is not among the leading partners.

Without a much higher economic profile in engaging India, France cannot attain the enhanced stature it would like or fulfil Indian expectations.

French businesses lament the lack of an India-EU Free Trade Agreement but have not found ways around it like the Germans and Nordics have to some extent. There are no signs that Paris can influence Brussels on the FTA, but at least Paris must play a much more important role in the Trade and Technology Council, on which strategic intent is now focused.

To build on the wide horizon envisaged for the next 25 years, France needs to implement its stated intentions faster, encourage its companies to transfer technology to Indian operations, and open more R&D-based value chains to make India a manufacturing and services hub and a potent partner across the Indo-Pacific.

The writer is a former ambassador to Germany, Indonesia, Ethiopia, ASEAN and the African Union. He tweets @AmbGurjitSingh. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost_s views._

Read all the Latest News , Trending News , Cricket News , Bollywood News , India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .
American law-makers, present and prospective, can turn to India for a few lessons on electoral laws, practices, judicial powers, and pronouncements, all of which respect the Constitution and democratic processes and also ensure that public morality has legal cover and support

Even without his age, 77, the US media has been calling former President Donald Trump names of every description as if to indicate that he is off-balance on most issues, on most occasions.

Bob Woodward, who is among the best-known American journalist-author from Richard Nixons Watergate era, listed out episodic events of greater international events in his book, Fear: Trump in the White House.

Advertisement

The book, published in the middle of Trumps presidency in 2018 was about presidential gaffes of every kind. In Oval Office discussions, he would tell his team to take a right turn on specific policy matters but show his left hand and crash straight ahead in his official missives to counterparts in South Korea or elsewhere. So much so, his personal staff on the presidential team were equipped and trained to draft a different letter and get it through him with the official seal and signature, and the President would not know that it was not the letter that he had dictated.

In near-similar circumstances, another leader, whether in the US or elsewhere, would have a leader in Trumps place would have learnt his lessons. He would have become less assertive and/or arrogant, learning his lessons from past failures and mistakes, starting with the re-election bid once earlier. But not Trump. He believes more than any time in the past four years that he was cheated out of a second term and he needs to reclaim that position, if only to teach his domestic adversaries a lesson that they  and the nation even more  would not forget. Then there are the international partners, many of them across the Atlantic but not all of them there, and also adversaries, who comprise China and Russia, North Korea and Iran  and not in that order. They too need to be taken to task  and will be taken to task. Or, that is the prediction and preparation. If it is Biden again, then, fine, the waiting game will end with the polls. If not, the agony would continue at least up to January 2025, and even more, given Trumps uncertainty, hence unpredictability.

Advertisement

Translated, whatever has changed in bilateral relations in the successor Biden presidency, they may have to change again. Call it a U-turn or Yo-Yo Presidency, Americas allies and adversaries (as they are known today) may know what to do with and during this interregnum in particular, between now and the presidential election in November and Inauguration two months later, on 20 January.

Advertisement

Suddenly, America, which is considered to have the most stable of foreign and security policies independent of whoever is the tenant of the White House for four or even eight long years, is seen as being unsure  hence undependable by allies inherited from the Second World War, to which new ones like India were added en route.

Advertisement

Less harmful but

What alternative does the nation, the self-styled global policeman, have? Incumbent Joe Biden will be 82 by election-time. His critics in the US media, more than political adversaries, had pointed to this fact and the possibility of its impact on his health and that of the presidency, even before he was elected President. Like now, America and Americans had little or no choice in the matter. They knew Biden was ageing. They also know incumbent Trump was erratic.

Advertisement

They were replacing one dangerous with one less harmful. It was also because if the incumbent faced health-failure, one he would still be less harmful than an hyper-active President. The Constitution provides for the Vice-President to take control where the incumbent becomes incapable of discharging his duties. There is no such provision to check a President who has gone haywire. Trump already was proving to be one  and urban America saw it unfolding before their eyes, day in and day out.

Advertisement

But Americas problem through the interregnum, and possibly later, too, is about Bidens health, particularly mental alertness, as often reported in the national media out there. By protocol and otherwise, very few people in the Presidents vicinity can tell the worlds most powerful man that he was failing  even as he himself can see for himself, how he was falling on more than one occasion in the public eye. Already, there are catalogued instances of Biden going off tangent while delivering public speeches and sounding less attentive in official discussions, maybe at times with foreign delegations.

Advertisement

There is then the famous episode in which his media director cut his response to a media question half-way through and declared that the news conference was over when she found, rather concluded, that the President was blabbering.

In Kims North Korea, she would have been shot. Chinas Xi would have caused her disappearance, leaving the world to continue to guess if she was alive or dead. In Putins Russia, she would have been sent to Siberia for re-education. If it was Trump, who knows, he would have slapped her, or at least sacked her on the spot, for the whole world to see. But not Biden, who is at times seen as deep but docile. And both represent/represented America, and in ways Americans do not want to see their President  and more so do not want the world to see their President.

Advertisement

Two Indian women

What does it all mean? And where from here for the US of A, which all Americans love and all Americans want the world to love, respect or fear? From a purely Indian perspective, it is but a coincidence that in the respective second place to the front-runners in from Bidens Democrats and Trumps Republicans are from the country and women.

Advertisement

As Vice-President, Kamala Harris (59) is a stand-in President, but cannot assume that the candidacy would have been hers if Biden had decided not to seek a second term. Nikki Haley (62) has lost the two early primaries to Trump, in Iowa and New Hampshire, but has not given up. Yes, there is a long way to go for Trump, who is a victor in both as he is not the incumbent and he has to sweat it out like any other GoP candidate in the primaries.

Advertisement

A third Indian, Vivek Ramaswamy, at 38, the third Indian who wanted to be reckoned with possibly knew that he had a long, long way to go. First and foremost, running the worlds greatest government is not like owning a business  which Trump showed in his first term.

Yet, Ramaswamy could take heart that he could learn from Trump, how to run a campaign and how not to run an administration. He wanted his name registered in the American voter and institutional memories to register his name for future recall and to consider his candidacy at the time sympathetically, if not favourably.

Advertisement

Yet, he lacks political experience, which he can obtain only as a member of a State House or Senate, or the federal House or Senate  or, as Governor. The system does not like raw hands to act smart and hijack traditions and processes. Hence, possibly reports that Ramaswamy has quit the race early only with the hope of making it to Trumps White House.

If true, and even if it happens  that is, Trump becoming President and Ramaswamy being given a White House assignment  that would still be a back-door entry into the presidential primaries whenever he chooses to contest, and would still be frowned upon. For now, it will be interesting to see how far he goes to work with Republican-Indians for the Trump ticket, for him to prove his usefulness for the campaign.

Mood of the nation

If Haley still makes it, it could well owe also to the prospects of Trump getting penalised in more criminal cases than already. Of greater interest should be the pending case for his inciting unprecedented violence on the Capitol after he lost.

The way he has won the two primaries thus far show that the Republicans at least have no shame, no concern. Do they reflect the mood of the nation, which got etched first with Trumps election eight years back? Laws are laws, and the great American nation does not have a single law that bars felons from contesting the presidential polls.

Until Americas stagnant poll laws that belonged to a different generation and century are revised and a federal law is passed in their place, in some States, the name of Trump cannot be on the ballot if he becomes a court-declared felon, and not so in other States.

There will then be many more questions on his eligibility to be sworn in President if elected by the popular vote and/or the Electoral College: Will he be President for all of the US of A or only for States where his name was placed on the ballot paper? Of course, it could well be a theoretical question as if Trumps name is to be missing from the ballot in a few States under local laws, then the Electoral College from those States would go to his Democratic competitor, that is incumbent Biden, even without the latter working for them. Biden then would be starting at X-Plus whereas Trump would be starting with zero on the Electoral College tally.

It will be an uneven match, which all of America should frown upon, yes. More importantly, the nation should be ashamed for the laws that are their legacy that could permit a felon to contest for the presidency. Conveniently, the all-American media, academics and political class would then be divided in the middle, with some throwing the Book of Morality at Trump and others the venerable American Constitution at the other, to respectively argue why he should or should not be accepted as the candidate. It is anybodys guess if the federal Supreme Court would consider a fit case for them to adjudicate, either between now and the elections or between the elections and the Inauguration, that latter if Trump wins.

In between, American law-makers, present and prospective, can turn to India for a few lessons on electoral laws, practices, judicial powers and pronouncements, all of which respect the Constitution and democratic processes and also ensure that public morality has a legal cover and support. The US is said to be the greatest democracy and India, the largest democracy. While India learnt from the US while drafting the Constitution, especially the Fundamental Rights Part and readily incorporated them, the US is stuck in the past and stuck up in attitude. They refuse to learn in time, and are good at fire-fighting as in foreign and security matters, and do not provide for the day-after even there.

The writer is a Chennai-based Policy Analyst and Political Commentator. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost_s views._

Read all the Latest News , Trending News , Cricket News , Bollywood News , India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .
The SAV delegation, led by Deputy Auditor General Bui Quoc Dung (third from left), at the 22nd meeting of the INTOSAI Working Group on Environmental Auditing. (Source: VNA)

The event saw the presence of 120 delegates from 43 countries, representatives of over 40 supreme audit institutions and many international organisations, along with audit and environmental experts.



The WGEA aims to improve the environmental auditing capacity and enhance environmental management via high-quality contributions and visions of members and non-members of the WGEA.



The working group currently consists of 86 countries, among which the SAV became a member in November 2023. This was the first time the SAV had attended an annual WGEA meeting as an official member.



The SAV delegation, led by Deputy Auditor General Bui Quoc Dung, took part in the sessions on indigenous knowledge, green fiscal policy tools, and economic - environmental accounting systems, among others. They actively gave opinions and shared auditing experience of Vietnam.



The meeting adopted an action plan on the recommendations submitted during the event.



It also presented the third INTOSAI WGEA Award - Inspiration in Environmental Auditing to the audit institutions of Canada, Chile and Costa Rica, and the European Court of Auditors./.
The researchers from Pennsylvania State University, US, identified potential propaganda messages and their characteristics and developed an image classifier to find the most frequent categories of images attached to tweets about ISIS.

Researchers have developed a predictive model using tweets from 2009 to 2021 that can detect extremist users and content related to the militant group Islamic State (ISIS). They believe their work could assist social media companies in identifying and ultimately restricting such accounts more promptly, reducing their impact on online communities.

Advertisement

The researchers from Pennsylvania State University, US, identified potential propaganda messages and their characteristics and developed an image classifier to find the most frequent categories of images attached to tweets about ISIS.

The Islamic State group and its affiliates, sympathisers and followers continue to manipulate online communities to spread extremist propaganda, said Younes Karimi, a graduate student at the university pursuing a doctorate in informatics and the first author of the paper published in the journal Social Media Analysis and Mining.

Apart from the ISIS-linked tweets they used for analysis, the researchers further collected a dataset of tweets from potential ISIS supporters to investigate their recent activities. According to Karimi, the Islamic State group is increasingly relying on social media to spread propaganda, undermine its rivals and recruit sympathisers, despite countermeasures by websites like X (formerly Twitter) to restrict its online activities.

Advertisement

For the study, the researchers used artificial intelligence (AI) techniques - machine learning and natural language processing - to differentiate the users sharing ISIS-related content. While machine learning makes predictions based on the past data, natural language processing involves manipulating textual data.

ISIS accounts identified before 2015 served as the labelled data for the studys ISIS users, while for identifying potential ISIS supporters, the researchers built a user classifier using the old dataset.

Advertisement

The users in the dataset included known members of the Islamic State group and those who retweeted, quoted or mentioned ISIS, said Karimi.

We believe that users who retweet or quote Islamic State group content are more likely to be affiliates or sympathisers, while those who just mention the content are less likely to be supporters. However, tweets posted by mentioners are still very likely related to ISIS and contain topics similar to ISIS tweets, which make mentioners suitable to be considered as our non-ISIS users and non-trivial counterparts to ISIS users, said Karimi.

Advertisement

The researchers then analysed the tweets to identify what they referred to as candidate propaganda. They compared topics used by known Islamic State group accounts prior to 2015 in the old dataset to the content posted after 2015 by potential affiliates and supporters in their recent dataset.

The team found that firstly, the identified content was pervasive and continuous in the way its shared. Secondly, the team examined ideology-based words and images, which they said are often designed to elicit an emotional response and influence a large audience. Thirdly, studying content involving hashtags, Karimi said, Supporters and affiliates of the Islamic State group recruited people to retweet hashtags to create trending ideas, such as strong religious references, and curate group messaging to improve the groups branding and ensure message longevity. The team found that the most used hashtags from ISIS included

Advertisement

The Islamic State, Caliphate News, Urgent, The State of the Caliphate and ISIS. Karimi said that the longitudinal perspective of the dataset was important because it included data from before and after 2015, when a major crackdown by Twitter removed user accounts and content involving the Islamic State group.

In response, the extremists had to change their online strategy and move to other platforms, and little is known about their online whereabouts since that crackdown, said Karimi. The team said that their approach focussing on users and user content could be employed on other social media platforms as well.
Shortly after Turkey deposited its instrument of ratification for Swedens NATO accession with Washington, the alliance document repository, and after a number of influential members of Congress withdrew their objections, the action was taken

Following the Turkish governments approval of Swedens NATO membership this week, the Biden administration has given its approval for the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey. The action is a major step toward the alliances growth, which has become even more crucial in the wake of Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Advertisement

Late on Friday, the State Department informed Congress that it had approved the $23 billion sale of F-16s to Turkey and the $8.6 billion sale of F-35 fighter jets to Greece.

Shortly after Turkey deposited its instrument of ratification for Swedens NATO accession with Washington, the alliance document repository, and after a number of influential members of Congress withdrew their objections, the action was taken.

The sale to Turkey includes 40 new F-16s and equipment to modernize 79 of its existing F-16 fleet. The sale to Greece includes 40 F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters and related equipment.

NATO ally Turkey has long sought to upgrade its F-16 fleet and had made its ratification of Swedens membership contingent on the approval of the sale of the new planes. The Biden administration had supported the sale, but several lawmakers had expressed objections due to human rights concerns.

Advertisement

Those objections, including from the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sens. Ben Cardin, D-Md., and Jim Risch, R-Idaho, have now been overcome, officials said.

Cardin said in statement Friday that he had still had concerns about Turkeys rights record, but had agreed to the sale based on commitments Turkey has made to improve it. I look forward to beginning this new chapter in our relationship with Turkey, expanding the NATO alliance, and working with our global allies in standing up to ongoing Russian aggression against its peaceful neighbors, he said.

Advertisement

Turkey had delayed its approval of Swedens NATO membership for more than a year, ostensibly because it believed Sweden did not take Turkeys national security concerns seriously enough, including its fight against Kurdish militants and other groups that Ankara considers to be security threats.

The delays had frustrated the U.S, and other NATO allies, almost all of whom had been swift to accept both Sweden and Finland into the alliance after the Nordic states dropped their longstanding military neutrality following Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Advertisement

Swedens formal accession to NATO now depends on Hungary, which is the last remaining NATO ally not to have approved its membership. US and NATO officials have said they expect Hungary to act quickly, especially after Turkeys decision.

(With inputs from The Associated Press)
It would grant me additional emergency powers as President to close the border in the event of a crisis. He declared, And the day I sign the bill into law, I would use that authority if I were granted it

Declaring that the border compromise being worked out in the U.S. Senate represents the toughest and fairest set of reforms imaginable, President Joe Biden promised on Friday to close the border the day he signs the legislation.

Whats been negotiated would  if passed into law  be the toughest and fairest set of reforms to secure the border weve ever had in our country, Biden stated in a statement.

Advertisement

It would grant me additional emergency powers as President to close the border in the event of a crisis. He declared, And the day I sign the bill into law, I would use that authority if I were granted it.

Bidens comments come after bipartisan U.S. Senate talks on a border security deal that some have set as a condition for further Ukraine aid hit a critical point, lawmakers said on Thursday.

A small group of senators have spent months trying to iron out an agreement to address the flow of migrants across the U.S.-Mexico border.

In these talks, the White House has agreed to the creation of a new migrant expulsion power that would allow migrants who cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally to be rapidly returned to Mexico if daily apprehensions surpassed 4,000 per day, two sources familiar with the matter said.

Advertisement

If apprehensions passed 5,000 per day, the use of the expulsion authority would become mandatory, they said.

In December, apprehensions averaged more than 8,000 per day, according to U.S. government statistics released on Friday.

The sweeping authority would be comparable to the COVID-era Title 42 policy put in place under former President Donald Trump during the pandemic and ended under Biden in May 2023.

Advertisement

But the negotiations have recently encountered growing opposition among Republicans aligned with Donald Trump, the frontrunner for their partys presidential nomination.

Earlier in the day, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson said the Senate border deal is dead on arrival in its current form, CNN reported, citing a letter to Republican lawmakers in the House of Representatives.

Advertisement

Republicans aligned with Trump have become more voluble in their skepticism since the former president took to social media to warn against any deal that fails to deliver everything Republicans want to shut down border crossings.

Republicans in the U.S. Congress are blocking emergency funding for Ukraine as lawmakers try to negotiate a deal to tighten security along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Advertisement

Biden also urged Congress on Friday to provide the funding he asked for in October to secure the border.

" This includes an additional 1,300 border patrol agents, 375 immigration judges, 1,600 asylum officers, and over 100 cutting-edge inspection machines to help detect and stop fentanyl at our southwest border, the president said.

Advertisement

(with inputs from Reuters)
Fresh accusations were exchanged between Moscow and Kiev regarding the plane that Russia claims was shot down by Ukrainian forces close to their border, killing 65 Ukrainian POWs

After days of uncertainty over the future of prisoner exchanges due to the crash of a Russian military transport plane, Ukraine said on Friday that Russia had returned the bodies of 77 soldiers.

Fresh accusations were exchanged between Moscow and Kiev regarding the plane that Russia claims was shot down by Ukrainian forces close to their border, killing 65 Ukrainian POWs.

Advertisement

Although Kyiv hasnt refuted the allegations categorically, officials seem to be unsure if its POWs were on board.

The most recent body repatriation seemed to have nothing to do with the planes downing. On Wednesday, the aircraft crashed in a fireball in the western Belgorod region of Russia.

Preparations for the repatriation had been underway for a long time, Ukraines Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said in a statement.

Hundreds of captured prisoners have been freed in dozens of exchanges throughout the nearly two-year war.

But Russias claims that Ukraine shot down a plane ferrying Ukrainian detainees has thrown doubts on the future of such exchanges.

- Disputed evidence -

On Friday, Ukraine was still disputing Russias account of how the Ilyushin 76 military transporter crashed.

Advertisement

The Kremlin dismissed the idea of releasing evidence proving that dozens of Ukrainian soldiers had been killed.

Investigators are working, I have nothing to add on this topic, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters when asked if Russia planned to publish evidence on how Ukraine shot down the plane, and who was on board.

Advertisement

On Thursday, Russias Investigative Committee published video footage of what it said was the crash site, showing a small chunk of plane debris and blurred close-ups of a body.

A second video published Friday showed more of the debris, a forensics team sealing up a body bag and photos of three identification documents it said were from dead victims.

Advertisement

It then published a blurry video purporting to show vehicles transporting the prisoners to the plane before it took off, but the quality was too poor to immediately verify this.

Ukraines human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets dismissed the material released so far by Moscow as elements of an information propaganda campaign against Ukraine.

Advertisement

Kyiv and Moscow have opened criminal investigations, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for an international investigation.

On Wednesday, Zelensky accused Moscow of playing with the lives of Ukrainian soldiers and their families.

Kyiv has not confirmed nor denied its involvement in the crash, or said whether it was carrying captured Ukrainian soldiers.

Advertisement

It confirmed that a prisoner exchange was due to take place on Wednesday, but that Moscow had not informed Kyiv that the soldiers would be transferred by plane, as it had done in the past.

(with inputs from AFP)
Four more referendum questions, including those on the recognition of international arbitration and the extradition of Ecuadorians, will be reexamined, the Constitutional Court said, while six other questions were approved

President Daniel Noboa wanted to put nine security-related referendum questions to Ecuadoreans, but the countrys highest court blocked them on Friday, citing constitutional violations.

In response to the escalating violence in the Andean nation, Noboa proclaimed a state of emergency and instituted a 60-day curfew at night. At the same time, the country designated 22 criminal bands as terrorist organizations and launched a military offensive against them.

Advertisement

Four more referendum questions, including those on the recognition of international arbitration and the extradition of Ecuadorians, will be reexamined, the Constitutional Court said, while six other questions were approved.

Noboa had said that he hopes to hold the referendum in March.

In its ruling, the Constitutional Court said it blocked the nine questions because they do not change current regulations, are imprecise, or address multiple topics.

Among questions the court denied were those on allowing security forces to carry out operations preempting organized crime, as well as on changes to sanctions and pardons regarding the use of force.

Noboas press office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Ecuador has been engulfed in spiraling violence, including in prisons where hundreds of inmates have been killed in recent years, which officials attribute to gangs of drug traffickers.

Advertisement

(With inputs from Reuters)
This meeting was built on a pledge by the leaders of the worlds two largest economies to deepen dialogue. The topics between the countries include maintain regular contact to provide strategic guidance for bilateral relations  and make good use of the current strategic communication channels.

With an aim to further hold continuous dialogue by the leaders, Chinas foreign ministry said on Saturday that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had candid, substantive and fruitful strategic communication with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.

This meeting was built on a pledge by the leaders of the worlds two largest economies to deepen dialogue. The topics between the countries include maintain regular contact to provide strategic guidance for bilateral relations  and make good use of the current strategic communication channels.

Advertisement

The two officials during the Bangkok meeting Friday and Saturday agreed to properly handle important and sensitive issues in US-China relations, the ministry said, and for Presidents Xi Jinping and Joe Biden to maintain regular contact to provide strategic guidance for bilateral relations  and make good use of the current strategic communication channels.

Sullivan, who reports directly to Biden, met with Thailands Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and Deputy Prime Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Ankara on Friday, according to a statement from the Thai foreign ministry. Both sides discussed cooperation on security, clean energy, trade, and the crisis in Myanmar during the meeting.

With inputs from Reuters.
The farmers movement, seeking better remuneration for their produce, less red tape and protection against cheap imports has spread in recent days across the country, with protesters using their tractors to shut down long stretches of road and slow traffic.

French farmers vowed Saturday to continue their protests, maintaining traffic blockades on several major roads despite the governments recent announcement of measures that they believe do not fully address their demands. The farmers are advocating for improved remuneration for their produce, reduced bureaucratic obstacles, and safeguards against cheap imports. The protest movement has gained momentum in recent days, with demonstrators utilizing their tractors to block long sections of roads and disrupt traffic flow.

Advertisement

Theyve also dumped stinky agricultural waste at the gates of government offices.

While some of the barricades were gradually being lifted on Saturday, highway operator Vinci Autoroutes said the A7, a major highway heading through southern France and into Spain, was still closed. Some other roads were also partially closed, mostly in southern France.

Vinci Autoroutes noted that the blockades on two highways leading to Paris have been removed. The highway from Lyon, in eastern France, to Bordeaux, in the southwest, also been reopened on Saturday, the company said in a statement.

Some angry protesters were planning to give a new boost to the mobilization next week, threatening to block traffic around Paris for several days, starting from Sunday evening.

Advertisement

President Emmanuel Macrons new prime minister, Gabriel Attal, announced a series of measures Friday during a visit to a cattle farm in southern France. They include drastically simplifying certain technical procedures and the progressive end to diesel fuel taxes for farm vehicles, he said.

Attal also confirmed that France would remain opposed to the European Union signing a free-trade deal with the Mercosur trade group, as French farmers denounce what they see as unfair competition from Latin American countries. The agreement has been under negotiation for years.

Advertisement

In response to Attals announcement, Frances two major farmers unions quickly announced their decision to continue the protests, saying the governments plan doesnt go far enough.

The protests in France are also symptomatic of discontent in agricultural heartlands across the European Union. The influential and heavily subsidized sector is becoming a hot-button issue ahead of European Parliament elections in June, with populist and far-right parties hoping to benefit from rural disgruntlement against free trade agreements, burdensome costs worsened by Russias war in Ukraine and other complaints.

Advertisement

With inputs from AP.
The deadly attack follows rare military action in the porous border region of Baluchistan  split between the two nations  that had stoked regional tensions already inflamed by the Israel-Hamas war.

Unidentified gunmen killed nine Pakistani workers in a restive southeastern border area of Iran on Saturday, as confirmed by Pakistans ambassador and a rights group. This incident happened amidst ongoing efforts by the two countries to reconcile their relations following tit-for-tat attacks.

According to witnesses, this morning unknown armed men killed nine non-Iranians in a house in the Sirkan neighbourhood of Saravan city in Sistan-Baluchistan province, the Mehr news agency reported.

Advertisement

So far, no group or individuals had claimed responsibility, the agency added.

The deadly attack follows rare military action in the porous border region of Baluchistan  split between the two nations  that had stoked regional tensions already inflamed by the Israel-Hamas war.

Sistan-Baluchistan is one of the few mainly Sunni Muslim provinces in Shiite-dominated Iran.

It has seen persistent unrest involving cross-border drug-smuggling gangs and rebels from the Baluchi ethnic minority, as well as jihadists.

The Baluch rights group Haalvash said on its website that the victims were Pakistani labourers who lived at an auto repair shop where they worked. Three others were wounded, it said. Irans state media identified the dead only as foreign nationals and said no individuals or groups had claimed responsibility for the shootings in Saravan in restless Sistan-Baluchestan province.

Advertisement

It is a horrifying and despicable incident and we condemn it unequivocally, Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said. We are in touch with Iranian authorities and have underscored the need to immediately investigate the incident and hold to account those involved.

On January 18, Pakistan launched air strikes on militant targets in Iran, two days after Iran had launched strikes on its territory.

Advertisement

Tehran said it had targeted Jaish al-Adl, a jihadist group which has carried out a spate of deadly attacks in Iran in recent months.

Formed in 2012, the group is blacklisted by Iran as a terrorist organisation.

The Iranian strikes, which Pakistan said killed at least two children, drew a sharp rebuke from Islamabad, which recalled its ambassador from Tehran and blocked Irans envoy from returning to Islamabad.

Advertisement

Tehran also summoned Islamabads charge daffaires over Pakistans strikes, which left at least nine people dead.

Listen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.com The two countries, however, announced last Monday that they had decided to de-escalate and resumed diplomatic missions with the two ambassadors returning to their posts.
Trafigura spokesperson assured that military ships are en route to assist, emphasizing the top priority of crew safety. The oil tanker, flagged with the Marshall Islands, has become a target for Houthi naval missiles

An oil tanker, the Marlin Luanda, is on fire in the Gulf of Aden following a missile strike by the Houthi rebels, according to its operator Trafigura.

The attack, occurring on Friday evening, caused a fire in one of the ships cargo tanks, prompting efforts to contain it using firefighting equipment. US officials confirm that an anti-ship ballistic missile hit the tanker, with a naval ship responding to its distress signal.

Advertisement

No injuries have been reported, and all crew members are reported safe. The incident, the latest in a series of Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea region, took place 60 nautical miles south-east of Aden, as reported by the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

Warships are on the scene, supporting the vessel and cautioning other ships to transit carefully.

Trafigura spokesperson assured that military ships are en route to assist, emphasizing the top priority of crew safety. The oil tanker, flagged with the Marshall Islands, has become a target for Houthi naval missiles.

Houthi military spokesman Yaha Sarea claimed responsibility, stating that the group used appropriate naval missiles, describing the strike as direct.

Advertisement

This event follows a previous incident on Friday near Aden, where the UKMTO reported two missiles in the water near a vessel. The Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, starting in November, are linked to their solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza amid the conflict with Israel.

In response to these attacks, the US and UK have conducted air strikes on the Houthis, who, in turn, have warned of increased attacks on shipping. Both nations are also imposing sanctions on the Iran-backed militant group to cut off its financial resources.

Advertisement

The situation is being closely monitored as efforts continue to manage the aftermath of the missile strike on the oil tanker.

(with inputs from Agencies)
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees on Friday sacked several employees for their alleged involvement in Hamass unprecedented October 7 attack against Israel that triggered the Gaza war.

Italy, Canada, and Australia joined the United States in withdrawing their financial support for the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees. The decision follows allegations that some UNRWA workers were involved in the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel carried out by Palestinian terrorist group Hamas.

The Italian government has suspended financing of the UNRWA after the atrocious attack on Israel on October 7, Tajani posted on social media platform X, adding that some of Italys allies had already taken the same decision.

Advertisement

Il Governo italiano ha sospeso finanziamenti @UNRWA dopo latroce attacco di Hamas contro Israele del 7 ottobre. Paesi Alleati hanno recentemente preso stessa decisione. Siamo impegnati nellassistenza umanitaria alla popolazione palestinese, tutelando la sicurezza di Israele.  Antonio Tajani (@Antonio_Tajani) January 27, 2024

Penny Wong, Australias foreign minister, made a similar statement on pausing Canberras financial support, adding that she had welcomed the U.N. agencys decision to investigation the allegations.

Advertisement

I am deeply troubled by the allegations relating to some UNRWA employees,Ahmed Hussen, Canadas minister for international development, said in a statement on social media. Canada unequivocally condemns the October 7th attack on Israel.

Allegations UNRWA staff were involved in the abhorrent October 7 terror attacks are deeply concerning.



Australia welcomes UNRWAs swift response and will engage closely on investigations.



We are speaking with partners and will temporarily pause disbursement of recent funding. pic.twitter.com/Havwserjh3  Senator Penny Wong (@SenatorWong) January 27, 2024

Advertisement

However, Hussein al-Sheikh, secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) said on Saturday that the decision by some countries to cease support for the UN relief agency for Palestinians (UNRWA) entails great political and relief risks.

Advertisement

We call on the countries that announced the cessation of their support for #UNRWA to immediately reverse their decision, which entails great political and humanitarian relief risks, as at this particular time and in light of the continuing aggression against the Palestinian https://t.co/mxIam0zmZs    Hussein AlSheikh (@HusseinSheikhpl) January 27, 2024

Advertisement

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees on Friday sacked several employees for their alleged involvement in Hamass unprecedented October 7 attack against Israel that triggered the Gaza war.

Advertisement

UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said he took the decision to protect the Agencys ability to deliver humanitarian assistance and launched an investigation after Israeli authorities provided information about the staff members alleged involvement.

Following the development, the Biden administration temporarily suspended assistance to the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees following allegations that some of its employees took part in the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.

Advertisement

The State Department said Friday it was extremely troubled by the allegations and had paused additional aid to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency pending a review of the claims and any action the UN takes to address them.

UNRWA, established in 1949 following the first Arab-Israeli war, provides services including schooling, primary healthcare and humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.

Advertisement

Israels blistering ground and air offensive has decimated vast swaths of Gaza during the nearly 4-month-old war. The conflict broke out on Oct. 7 when Hamas terrorists stormed southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting some 250.

UNRWA has provided aid and used its facilities to shelter people fleeing bombardment and a ground offensive launched by Israel in Gaza following the Oct. 7 attacks, in which Israel says 1,200 people were killed and 253 people taken hostage.

Israels offensive has laid waste to much of the densely populated Gaza Strip and killed more than 25,000 Palestinians.

UNRWA, whose biggest donors in 2022 were the United States, Germany, the European Union and Sweden, has repeatedly said its capacity to render humanitarian assistance to people in Gaza is on the verge of collapse.

Advertisement

With inputs from agencies.
Russian occupation forces attacked Ukraine on Saturday night with four shahed-type drones and an Iskander-M missile, there were no casualties, according to the AFU Air Force.

"All four [UAVs] were destroyed in Kirovohrad region," the Telegram channel says.

It is noted that on the night of January 27, the enemy attacked with four shock UAVs of the Shahed-136/131 type from the south-eastern direction (Primorsko-Akhtarsk  RF).

The occupiers also hit Donetsk region with an Iskander-M missile from Rostov region. According to previous estimates, there were no casualties.
The decision labeling the deployment illegal casts doubt on the future of a multinational force that Haitis government has long sought and begged for in order to combat violence that has claimed almost 5,000 lives

Kenyas government announced Friday to appeal a court decision that disapproved of its move to dispatch a police contingent to lead a law and order operation supported by the UN in the Caribbean country beset by gang violence.

The decision labeling the deployment illegal casts doubt on the future of a multinational force that Haitis government has long sought and begged for in order to combat violence that has claimed almost 5,000 lives.

Advertisement

Early in October, the UN Security Council gave its approval for the mission. However, Nairobis involvement raised concerns in Kenya, which led to a legal challenge.

On Friday, judge Enock Chacha Mwita ruled that any decision by any state organ or state officer to deploy police officers to Haiti contravenes the constitution and the law and is therefore unconstitutional, illegal and invalid.

An order is hereby issued prohibiting deployment of police forces to Haiti or any other country, he said at Nairobi High Court.

Hours later, the authorities responded, with spokesman Isaac Mwaura saying: While the government respects the rule of law, we have however made the decision to challenge the high courts verdict forthwith.

Advertisement

The government reiterates its commitment in honouring its international obligations, he said.

Ekuru Aukot, the opposition politician who challenged the deployment, said he was prepared for a long fight.

We will still be waiting for them at the court of appeal, and we will go all the way to the Supreme Court. They should be thanking me for saving the government this embarrassment, he told AFP.

Advertisement

The government had previously said it was ready to provide up to 1,000 personnel, an offer welcomed by the United States and other nations that had ruled out putting their own forces on the ground.

Kenyas ambassador to the United Nations, Martin Kimani, on Thursday said that significant progress had been made in preparations towards the mission, which had parliamentary approval.

Advertisement

In the face of criticism, President William Ruto had described the Kenyan undertaking as a mission for humanity and one in step with its long record of contributing to peacekeeping missions abroad.

- War zone -

Haitis foreign minister on Thursday pleaded for the deployment to be speeded up, telling the UN Security Council that gang violence in the country was as barbaric as the horrors experienced in war zones.

Advertisement

The Haitian people cannot take any more. I hope this time is the last time I will speak before the deployment of a multinational force to support our security forces, Jean Victor Geneus told the council.

Gangs now run rampant in large swathes of the country and homicides in Haiti more than doubled last year to nearly 4,800 murders, according to a UN report released Tuesday.

Advertisement

The multinational mission  initially approved for one year  had envisioned Kenyan police on the offensive with their Haitian counterparts, who are outnumbered and outgunned by gang members.

Haiti, the Western hemispheres poorest nation, has been in turmoil for years, with armed gangs taking over parts of the country and unleashing brutal violence, and the economy and public health system in tatters.

Advertisement

The 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise plunged the country further into chaos. No elections have taken place since 2016 and the presidency remains vacant.

(with inputs from AFP)
Western nations and regional and international organisations have denounced the agreement, claiming it compromises Somalias territorial integrity and inflames tensions that could jeopardize regional stability in the Horn of Africa

Somalilands president has declared that his government will move forward with an agreement signed earlier this month with Ethiopia, a landlocked country, to grant Ethiopia access to the sea via Somalilands coastline.

Western nations and regional and international organisations have denounced the agreement, claiming it compromises Somalias territorial integrity and inflames tensions that could jeopardize regional stability in the Horn of Africa.

Advertisement

Additionally, Somalia has objected to the agreement, citing Somalilanda strategically placed area along the Gulf of Adenas a threat to its sovereignty. In 1991, warlord-led conflict tore Somalia apart. There is no international recognition for Somaliland.

Somalilands President Muse Bihi Abdi gave more details about the memorandum of understanding he signed on Jan. 1 with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in an interview with Somaliland National Television on Wednesday.

Ethiopia, Abdi said, is seeking to lease a segment of the coastline for a naval base  and not for commercial activities as previously thought. In exchange for leasing a 20 kilometer- (12.4 mile-) stretch of Somalilands coastline, Ethiopia would recognize Somaliland as an independent state.

Ethiopia will still be able to conduct its import and export activities through the port of Berbera, the largest in Somaliland. Berbera is not part of the coastline stretch planned for the lease.

Advertisement

With a population of more than 120 million, Ethiopia is the most populous landlocked country in the world. It lost its access to the sea when Eritrea seceded in 1993. Since then, Ethiopia has been using the port in neighboring Djibouti for most of its imports and exports.

Somalia has protested vehemently against the agreement that would grant Ethiopia access to the strategically important Gulf of Aden and beyond that, to the Red Sea.

Advertisement

Somalilands citizens are divided over the deal, with some seeing potential economic benefits while others fear compromising their sovereignty. The breakaway regions defense minister, Abdiqani Mohamud Ateye, resigned over the deal.

Earlier this month, a meeting of officials from the African Union, European Union and United States reaffirmed their support for Somalias sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, including the breakaway region of Somaliland.

Advertisement

Michael Hammer, U.S. special envoy for the Horn of Africa, said during that meeting that the U.S. is particularly concerned that tensions over the deal could undermine international-backed efforts to combat al-Qaida-linked militants in Somalia.

Matt Bryden, a strategic consultant at Sahan Research, a think tank based in Kenya, said several diverse actors in the region could unite against the agreement  including Egypt, Eritrea and even the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab militants  and oppose a more powerful role of Ethiopia.

Advertisement

Eritrea is likely to be deeply concerned, given its deteriorating relationship with Ethiopia and its long Red Sea coastline," Bryden said.

Egypt, embroiled in a dispute with Ethiopia over Addis Ababas construction of the Grand Renaissance Dam that Cairo says could hamper its share of the Nile River water, could also oppose the project, he added.

Advertisement

(With inputs from The Associated Press)
The final polling scheme was announced by the election body, weeks after twice failing to comply with the legal deadline to announce the plan at least 30 days ahead of the election, the Dawn newspaper reported.

Pakistans election commission has revealed the final polling scheme for the February 8 polls, outlining the establishment of 90,675 polling stations to accommodate the 128 million voters, according to a media report on Saturday.

The announcement of the final polling scheme comes after the election body twice missed the legal deadline to disclose the plan at least 30 days before the election, as reported by the Dawn newspaper.

Advertisement

Section 59 (6) of the Elections Act 2017 requires the publication of the final list of polling stations of each constituency, at least 30 days before polling day, in the official gazette as well as the website of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

The plan unveiled by the ECP on Friday outlines the distribution of polling stations across all four provinces and the federal capital, categorising them as normal, sensitive, or highly sensitive based on the security situation and electoral violence history.

A total of 90,675 polling stations with 276,402 polling booths will be set up across Pakistan under the polling scheme for a total of 128 million voters, said the report.

Had the law been followed, the number of polling stations would have been over 107,000, with each having four polling booths, the report said.

Advertisement

In other words, over 150,000 fewer polling booths are being established than required under the law, making it almost impossible at various places for all present to vote, even if polling time is extended in case of a high turnout, the report said.

In Punjab, 50,944 polling stations will be established for the general elections, followed by 19,006 in Sindh,15,697 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and 5,028 in Balochistan, said the report. Meanwhile, the ECP is faced with a challenging situation, with the superior judiciary continuing to allow candidates to contest elections or ordering change of poll symbols to them.

Advertisement

Sources in the commission said printing of ballot papers for some of the constituencies these candidates are to contest has already been completed. It has been learnt that the schedule for ballot paper printing was already tight, and re-printing would be possible at the end, highlighting that ensuring their timely transportation to the constituencies across the country was also a daunting task.

Advertisement

Currently, the sources said, some 260 m ballot papers were being printed for the 128 m voters in the country.

With inputs from PTI.
As Sun met with Pak Myong Ho, his counterpart from North Korea, in Pyongyang on Friday, China said that the two nations decided to reinforce strategic communications at all levels and reiterate their unswerving stance on strengthening ties

Reporting on the meeting between Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong and North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, the Norths official KCNA news agency said on Saturday that the two countries had decided to fortify their tactical cooperation and protect shared interests.

As Sun met with Pak Myong Ho, his counterpart from North Korea, in Pyongyang on Friday, China said that the two nations decided to reinforce strategic communications at all levels and reiterate their unswerving stance on strengthening ties.

Advertisement

On Thursday, Sun crossed the border between the two countries at Sinuiju and arrived in Pyongyang. It was North Koreas most recent communication with China and Russia as it escalates hostilities with South Korea and the United States.

North Korea has dramatically upgraded its ties with the two U.N. Security Council permanent members and traditional allies, which have come around to stand with Pyongyang as it speeds up the development of an array of tactical and strategic weapons.

Beijing and Moscow, which previously voted against Pyongyang at the U.N. for its ballistic missile and nuclear programmes, have since 2017 refused to join in imposing more sanctions, backing the Norths position it is exercising its right to self defense.
Police investigators who interviewed the middle-schooler suspect in the presence of his parents sent him to a hospital early Friday where they plan to continue investigating him

A 14-year-old boy who repeatedly struck a South Korean lawmaker with a rock when she attempted to resist was taken to a mental health facility on Friday, according to Seoul police, who are still looking into the attack.

Only a few weeks had passed since a man stabbed opposition leader Lee Jae-myung in the neck, and the attack on Bae Hyunjin, a member of the conservative ruling party, raised more questions about the poisonous dialogue surrounding the fiercely divisive politics of the nation.

Advertisement

Bae received wound care. According to doctors, she escaped serious harm.

Police investigators who interviewed the middle-schooler suspect in the presence of his parents sent him to a hospital early Friday where they plan to continue investigating him, said Cheon Young-gil, an official at Seouls Gangnam district police station.

South Koreas laws allow for emergency admissions in which a person suspected of mental illness can be hospitalized for a maximum three days, based on consent of doctors and police, if there is concern the person could inflict harm on other people or themselves.

Cheon refused to discuss the health details of the suspect, who was detained at the scene following the attack Thursday afternoon at a building in southern Seoul. South Korean media, citing anonymous acquaintances of the boy, reported that he had been receiving treatment for depression.

The emergency admission was based on consideration of the suspects age and his health condition, Cheon said, without elaborating. He said the police could seek to extend the boys admission at the hospital after the initial three days if his parents agree.

Advertisement

Police also interviewed Bae Friday at the Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital where she continued to receive treatment. Baes office released photos of her blood-splattered coat and sweater, which were reportedly presented to the police as evidence.

The motive of the attack wasnt immediately clear.

Bae was elected in 2020 and is seen as a close confidante of President Yoon Suk Yeol, whose office pledged a thorough investigation of the attack. Politicians from both Yoons People Power Party and the liberal opposition have denounced the attack as an assault on the countrys democracy.

Advertisement

Our politics have lost their way. We have all talked about the need to end the politics of hate, but the language we throw at our opponents remains sharp, and old-fashioned politics that cater only to the most extreme, hard-core supporters continue to thrive, People Power Party spokesperson Jung Kwang-jae said.

Advertisement

South Korean politics is deeply divided along ideological and generational lines and regional loyalties, and the bickering between political parties has intensified ahead of the parliamentary elections in April.

The elections are widely seen as a referendum on Yoon, who has already been struggling with low approval ratings and an opposition-controlled National Assembly that has limited the implementation of his agenda.

Advertisement

Security camera footage showed the attacker, wearing a gray skullcap and a mask, approached Bae inside a building hallway and seemed to start talking to her before striking her with what appeared to be a small rock.

He continued to hack at Bae, even after she fell. She resisted alone, waving her arms and grabbing the attacker wrist, before another person appeared out of a door and attempted to intervene.

Advertisement

The opposition leader Lee, who was treated in a hospital for eight days after his attack, released a statement about the attack on Bae, saying that his scar is aching again after this unbelievable incident and that he prayed for her swift recovery.

Lee narrowly lost the 2022 presidential election to Yoon, and the suspect in his attack allegedly told investigators he wanted to kill Lee to prevent him from becoming a future president.

Advertisement

South Korea has had other recent attacks on political figures.

In 2022, Song Young-gil, then the leader of Lees Democratic Party, was assaulted by a man wielding a hammer during a rally in support of Lees presidential campaign. Song needed stitches but avoided serious injury.

In 2006, a man used a box cutter against Park Geun-hye, then a conservative opposition leader, during an election rally. Park, who was later elected president in 2012, was given 60 stitches to close an 11-centimeter (4-inch) gash on her face.
A rare appearance by the Thai PM at a National Day event is a reflection of Thailands keen interest in further intensifying engagement with India and taking this relationship to a higher trajectory.

The Embassy of India in Bangkok hosted a reception to celebrate the 75th Republic Day on 26 January 2024. Prime Minister of Thailand Srettha Thavisin graced the occasion. This is a special gesture given that it is extremely rare for the Thai Prime Minister to attend such events.

India and Thailand are civilizational neighbours with shared interests in strengthening bilateral ties in all dimensions. A rare appearance by the Thai PM at a National Day event is a reflection of Thailands keen interest in further intensifying engagement with India and taking this relationship to a higher trajectory.

Advertisement

#75thRepublicDay Reception was hosted by the Emb of India, Bangkok. Amb @Nageshsinghifs received H.E. PM @thavisin who graced the occasion. A special & magnanimous gesture on part of H.E. PM underscoring the special civilizational relationship between India & Thailand. pic.twitter.com/8V49LwvxQ3  India in Thailand (@IndiainThailand) January 27, 2024

The event was attended by over 1000 guests from the Royal Thai Government, businesses, media, academia, the diplomatic corps, and members of the Indian community in Thailand. Mr Sermsak Pongpanit, Minister of Culture of Thailand was the Chief Guest. In his remarks, he greeted the Government and the people of India on this important occasion and spoke about the strong linguistic, religious and cultural connection between India and Thailand which forms the foundation for deeper bilateral ties in contemporary times.

Advertisement

Addressing the gathering, Ambassador Nagesh Singh underlined the deep connection between Buddhism and democracy in ancient India and Indias phenomenal progress as a democracy navigating multiple challenges.

He highlighted the opportunities and the imperatives to intensify bilateral ties between India and Thailand in areas including political exchanges, economy and trade, defence and security, education and culture, for the benefit of the peoples of both countries.

Advertisement

Another highlight of the evening was a mesmerizing performance of Ramayana, known as Ramakien in Thailand, in a fusion between Bharatnatyam and Khon style from Thailand. This dance recital was presented by

Mr. Ekkalak Nu-ngoen along with a group of students from the Faculty of Music and Drama, Bunditpatanasilpa Institute in Bangkok. The retelling of the timeless epic depicting the glory of Lord Ram in seamless harmony blending traditional dance forms of both countries received wide appreciation.

Advertisement

The timeless epic of Ramayana holds a very special place both in India and Thailand. It has been adapted as Ramakien in Thailand. It is the story of Lord Rama, the Prince of Ayodhya or Ayutthaya. In the Thai adaptation, Lord Rama becomes Phra Ram. Both versions, however, extol the same virtues of sacrifice, duty, devotion, and triumph of good over evil.

Advertisement

This epic is an exemplar of the shared cultural consciousness of India and Thailand as similar values are cherished in both cultures.

Bangkok is known for its gastronomic diversity and richness. Befitting the event, Ms. Garima Arora, a Michelin Star Indian chef in Bangkok presented an innovative and contemporary selection of Indian cuisine to the guests. Ms Arora became the first Indian woman to win a Michelin star in 2018 and she got her second star in 2023.
Zelenskyy earlier this week announced the creation of the Council for the Support of Entrepreneurship, stating that its goals were to improve the economy and provide clarity on matters concerning law enforcement

Following the outcry from a number of business owners over the arrest of a well-known banker, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Friday the establishment of a second body to support companies during times of war.

During his weekly video speech, Zelenskyy stated that the All-Ukraine Economic Platform would assist companies in overcoming the obstacles caused by Russias nearly two-year-old invasion.

Advertisement

Zelenskyy earlier this week announced the creation of the Council for the Support of Entrepreneurship, stating that its goals were to improve the economy and provide clarity on matters concerning law enforcement.

Decrees creating both bodies were published on Friday.

In his latest remarks, Zelenskyy said the platform would be a new communication mechanism with entrepreneurs and would encompass the entire business community.

He said he was grateful to all entrepreneurs who stay in the country and maintain their businesses and jobs.

The creation of the two entities followed a meeting with business leaders after the arrest last week of banker Ihor Mazepa, which Zelenskyy acknowledged had been difficult.

The council was formed on the basis of a decision of the

Advertisement

National Security and Defence Council, which sets defence policy. The council also pledged to alter provisions of the criminal code on the arrest and prosecution of business figures.

Business owners objected to Mazepas detention on allegations he engaged in an illegal acquisition of land north of Kyiv to proceed with construction of luxury housing. Mazepa has since been released from pre-trial detention after posting reduced bail.

Advertisement

Mazepa has pledged to appeal the court ruling ordering his detention and said the case against him was being pursued because of his criticism of law enforcement bodies.

His company, Concorde Capital, has operated in Ukraine for some 20 years. His brother and company officials were also detained.
The meetings, which spanned more than 12 hours over two days and wrapped on Saturday, are intended to deliver on Biden and Xis agreement at a California summit in November to restore ruptured diplomatic talks on a range of global security and economic issues like defense and counter-narcotics.

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan urged Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to use Chinas influence with Iran to help alleviate tensions in the Middle East. During talks in Thailand, Sullivan pressed Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to use his countrys diplomatic influence to convince Iran to curtail support for Houthis attacking Red Sea merchant vessels, according to a senior Biden administration official.

Advertisement

The meetings, which spanned more than 12 hours over two days and wrapped on Saturday, are intended to deliver on Biden and Xis agreement at a California summit in November to restore ruptured diplomatic talks on a range of global security and economic issues like defence and counter-narcotics despite significant disagreements.

The meetings Friday and Saturday in Bangkok, which followed up on the presidents discussions in November in California, took place after a ruling-party candidate opposed by Beijing won Taiwans recent presidential election and U.S. and Chinese military officials resumed a once-frozen dialogue. They played out as attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen continue to threaten global shipping in the Red Sea.

Advertisement

A senior U.S. official said Sullivan cited Chinas extensive economic leverage over Iran and emphasised the destabilizing effect of the Houthi attacks on international commerce. The official noted that China has publicly called for lower tensions, but said it was too soon to tell whether Beijing was using its diplomatic muscle to press Tehran on the matter. The official was not authorized to publicly discuss the private conversations between Sullivan and Wang and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Advertisement

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said Wang said Washington should stand by a commitment not to support independence for Taiwan. Wang said Taiwans election, won by Lai Ching-te, the current vice president, did not alter the Chinese position that the island is part of China and that the biggest challenge in U.S.-China relations is the issue of Taiwan independence," according to a statement from the ministry.

Advertisement

Biden has said he does not support independence, but U.S. law requires a credible defence for Taiwan and for the U.S. to treat all threats to the island as matters of grave concern.

The U.S. official said it was not clear when the next Biden-Xi conversation would happen, but that the officials hoped it would take place in the coming months.

Advertisement

Wang and Sullivan previously met on the Mediterranean island nation of Malta and in Vienna last year before the Biden-Xi meeting in California.

In November, both sides showcased modest agreements to combat illegal fentanyl and reestablish military communications, keeping the relationship from growing any worse. The U.S.-China Counternarcotics Working Group is set to hold its first meeting on Tuesday. American officials say fentanyl and its precursors are largely manufactured in China.

Advertisement

China claims self-ruled Taiwan as its own territory and in recent years has shown its displeasure at political activities in Taiwan by sending military planes and ships. Earlier Saturday, Taiwans defence ministry said China had sent more than 30 warplanes and a group of navy ships toward the island during a 24-hour period, including 13 warplanes that crossed the midline of the Taiwan Strait  an unofficial boundary thats considered a buffer between its territory and the mainland.

Advertisement

Wang also said China and the U.S. should use the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries this year as an opportunity to reflect on past experiences and treat each other as equals, rather than adopting a condescending attitude.

The countries should be committed to mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation, building a correct way for China and the U.S. to interact, the statement quoted Wang as saying.

Advertisement

Taiwan has said six Chinese balloons either flew over the island or through airspace just north of it, days after the self-governing island held its election. Lais Democratic Progressive Party largely campaigned on self-determination, social justice and a rejection of Chinas threats.

Apart from cross-strait issues, Sullivan and Wang also discussed Russias war against Ukraine, the Middle East, North Korea, the South China Sea, and Myanmar, the White House said. Sullivan and Wang talked about progress toward holding a dialogue this spring between U.S. and Chinese officials on artificial intelligence.

Advertisement

Sullivan highlighted that although Washington and Beijing compete, both sides have to prevent it from veering into conflict or confrontation, according to a White House summary of the meeting.
A U.S. military official confirmed the vessel was struck by a single anti-ship ballistic missile fired from Houthi-controlled Yemen. The Carney was sailing toward the stricken ship to provide assistance but had not reached it as of Friday evening

The Houthi terrorists in Yemen continued their aggressive attacks on maritime traffic on Friday, firing a missile at a US warship cruising the Gulf of Aden and forcing it to shoot down the missile. They also hit a British vessel.

Houthi missile fire on Friday night ignited another commercial vessel, signaling a further uptick in the largest naval conflict the U.S. Navy has witnessed in the Middle East in decades. The attack targeted the U.S. warship, the destroyer USS Carney.

Advertisement

Since the terrorists started attacking ships in October, the Carney attack marks the first time the Houthis have specifically targeted a U.S. warship, a U.S. official said on condition of anonymity because no permission had been granted to talk about the incident.

Later Friday, the British militarys United Kingdom Maritime Operations, which oversees Mideast waterways, acknowledged a vessel had been struck by a missile and was on fire in the Gulf of Aden.

Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree did not acknowledge the Carney attack, but claimed the missile attack on the commercial vessel that set it ablaze. He identified the vessel as the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker Marlin Luanda.

A U.S. military official confirmed the vessel was struck by a single anti-ship ballistic missile fired from Houthi-controlled Yemen. The Carney was sailing toward the stricken ship to provide assistance but had not reached it as of Friday evening.

Advertisement

The Houthis now direct attacks on U.S. warships are the most aggressive escalation of its campaign in the Red Sea since the Israel-Hamas war broke out. The U.S. has tried to temper its descriptions of the Houthis strikes, and said it is difficult to determine what exactly the Houthis are trying to hit in part try to prevent the conflict from becoming a wider regional war.

Advertisement

The U.S. and allies had also held off for weeks on striking Houthi weapons sites in Yemen, but they are now taking regular action, often destroying launch sites that are armed but have not fired, and are deemed an imminent threat.

Despite the Carney being directly targeted, a statement by the U.S. militarys Central Command Friday said the Houthis fired toward the Carney.

Advertisement

Acknowledging Fridays assault as a direct attack on a U.S. warship is important, said Brad Bowman, a senior director at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies.

Theyre now finally calling a spade a spade, and saying that, yeah, theyre trying to attack our forces, theyre trying to kill us, he said.

Advertisement

Tempering the language and response, while aimed at preventing a wider war, has had the opposite effect of further emboldening the Houthis, Bowman said.

In Fridays attack, an anti-ship ballistic missile came near the USS Carney, an Arleigh-Burke class destroyer thats been involved in American operations to try to stop the Houthi campaign since November, Central Command said.

Advertisement

The missile was successfully shot down by USS Carney, it said. There were no injuries or damage reported.

The attacks were the latest assaults by the terrorists in their campaign against ships traveling through the Red Sea and surrounding waters, which has disrupted global trade amid Israels war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Advertisement

The U.S. and Britain have launched multiple rounds of airstrikes since the Houthi attacks began targeting Houthi missile depots and launcher sites in Yemen, a country thats been wracked by conflict since the terrorists seized the capital, Sanaa, in 2014.

Since November, the terrorists have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea, saying they were avenging Israels offensive in Gaza against Hamas. But they have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, imperiling shipping in a key route for global trade between Asia, the Mideast and Europe.

Advertisement

Since the airstrike campaign began, the terrorists now say theyll target American and British ships as well. On Wednesday, two American-flagged ships carrying cargo for the U.S. Defense and State departments came under attack by the Houthis, forcing an escorting U.S. Navy warship to shoot some of the projectiles down.

The U.S. Navys top Mideast commander told the AP on Monday that the Houthi attacks were the worst since the so-called Tanker War of the 1980s. It culminated in a one-day naval battle between Washington and Tehran, and also saw the U.S. Navy accidentally shoot down an Iranian passenger jet, killing 290 people in 1988.

Advertisement

(with inputs from The Associated Press)
A Russian sabotage and reconnaissance group (DRG) shot dead a brother and sister from the village of Andriyivka in Sumy region on Saturday morning, the Regional Military Administration has reported.

"Sumy. This morning, an enemy reconnaissance and sabotage group brutally and cynically shot a brother and sister from Khotyn community. Their house is located in the village of Andriyivka in a 5-kilometer border zone," the Regional Administration's Telegram channel reports.

"Once again, I appeal to the residents of the 5-kilometer zone with a request for evacuation. This process has been going on for months, and assistance is provided at every stage. Russian terrorists continue to kill civilians. By evacuating from dangerous territories, you will save your life," said Volodymyr Artiukh, head of Sumy Regional Military Administration.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba stated "encouraging expectations" from the upcoming extraordinary summit of the European Council on February 1.

"Together, we have encouraging expectations from the next meeting of the European Council on February 1. There is progress regarding the opening of the European Peace Facility, on which the situation has been blocked for a long time due to the position of individual members of the European Union. But we are working on unblocking and there are encouraging steps in this direction," Kuleba said at a joint press conference with Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis in Kyiv.

Kuleba noted that he and his Lithuanian counterpart also talked about the "classic agenda"  the European Union, NATO.

"We have common approaches here, and Lithuania, as a member of both institutions, helps us as much as possible on the way to membership in them. We discussed the issues of frozen assets, sanctions and everything that needs effective solutions," the minister added.

In addition, he thanked the Lithuanian diplomats in Washington, who are also working with both parties in Congress to help make the necessary decisions on assistance to Ukraine.

As reported, the European Council summit will be held on February 1. Ukraine expects that a positive decision will be made there on the allocation of financial support to Ukraine in the amount of EUR 50 billion under the Ukraine Facility program.
Russia continues its offensive across multiple axes, in line with its strategic objective to capture Donbas, the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom reports with reference to intelligence data.

The assessed main priority for Russian forces is the city of Avdiivka. The Russians are mounting a three-pronged attack to encircle the city from the south and north, and also fighting on the outskirts of the eastern quarter of Avdiyivka city itself. Russian forces have suffered heavy personnel and armoured vehicle losses, frequently caused by Ukrainian uncrewed aerial vehicle munitions, the message posted on Twitter reads.

It is reported that Russian forces are reportedly attempting to bypass Ukrainian fortifications by entering the city edges via service tunnels; this is a method of infiltration they have been attempting since October 2023.

Ukrainian counter-attacks are holding Russian forces from progressing further within the city. As the main supply route remains intact, and Ukrainian forces make local counter-attacks, Avdiivka is likely to remain in Ukrainian control over the coming weeks, the message reads.
Kuleba: Theres clear understanding of steps necessary for speedy and efficient Ukrainian-Lithuanian cooperation in production of drones

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba and his Lithuanian counterpart Gabrielius Landsbergis discussed joint steps to increase the production of drones for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

"The President of Ukraine has recently visited Lithuania, so today Gabrielus and I focused on the implementation of the agreements reached by the President. And we devoted most of our conversation to identifying joint steps to increase the production of drones for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine," Kuleba said at a joint press conference with Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis in Kyiv.

Kuleba stressed that Lithuania has the necessary technologies for the production of drones, and "we have the opportunity to scale production, and this was a key topic."

"There is a clear understanding of what, how and when we will do to ensure that the Ukrainian-Lithuanian cooperation in the production of drones gives maximum results in the shortest possible time. And I thank Gabrielius for a meaningful conversation and agreements on this issue," the Foreign Minister said.

As reported, Ukraine and Lithuania plan to work on the creation of joint military production of ammunition and drones.
The Main Intelligence Agency (GUR) of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine conducted a successful cyberattack, as a result of which the entire IT infrastructure of the IPL Consulting company specializing in the implementation of information systems in the Russian industry was destroyed.

"This company presented itself as one of the most modern Russian enterprises that assisted in the implementation of information systems in institutions engaged in the design, manufacture of automotive and aviation components, heavy machinery, production of equipment and devices, in particular in the interests of the Russian military-industrial complex," the Ministry of Defense said on the Telegram channel.

The attack against IPL Consulting was carried out by GUR specialists, who penetrated the company's internal network and destroyed its entire IT infrastructure with a size of more than 60 terabytes, dozens of servers and databases.

"The cost of the digital data array lost by Russia is being calculated. In the context of the ongoing sanctions pressure against Russia, the damage to the enemy has been extremely painful. In addition, dozens of Russian companies working for the defense industry of the aggressor state will suffer," the GUR stressed.
Defense Minister of Ukraine Rustem Umarov met with Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis during his visit to Kyiv, the parties discussed the situation at the front, the press service reports.

"During the meeting, the Minister of Defense of Ukraine expressed gratitude to the Government and the people of Lithuania for the unwavering support of Ukraine, in particular for leadership in the mine action coalition. Umerov informed the minister about the current situation at the front, and also proposed to hold a joint forum of the defense industries of Ukraine and the Baltic states," reads a message published on the Telegram channel of the Ministry of Defense on Saturday.

Umerov noted that "representatives of governments, the military industry, as well as investors will be invited to participate in the forum, who must be convinced that these are successful investments that will have a high level of capitalization."

For his part, the head of the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry said that Lithuania is interested in studying Ukraine's military experience in the fight against the Russian aggressor, as well as in deepening cooperation in the field of advanced military technologies.

"We really appreciate that being in a state of war, you find opportunities to share your experience with us and offer your help to Lithuania. We will continue to train your soldiers, but we, in turn, need to train our generals," Landsbergis stressed.
Left: 626 on Rood, Pickle & Jalapeno Margarita. (Kirk Wilkinson/Special to The Daily Sentinel)

Right: Send the Sun alcohol-free cocktail at Melrose Spirit Co. (Christine Gallager, Special to the Sentinel)
Saturday Night

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to occasional showers later during the night. Low 43F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Democrat Adam Frisch continued to outperform  in dramatic fashion  all others in the race for the 3rd Congressional District, including pull
Scott Crabtree/The Daily Sentinel

In this photo from September 2022, House District 57 candidate Perry Will participates in a debate with Democrat Elizabeth Velasco at Colorado Mesa University. Will had been appointed to the seat before losing in the general election to Velasco. Will, who was appointed to Senate District 5 to replace Bob Rankin in 2022, decided Friday to not seek election to the seat and instead run for Garfield County commissioner.
The first partial agreement secures new drones to the Arc-tic and North Atlantic region

Danish Ministry of Defence

New long endurance drones will secure surveillance and assertion of sovereignty in the Arctic and North Atlantic. This has been decided by the parties in the first partial agreement under the Defence Agreement in coordination with the Faroe Islands and Greenland.

January 18, 2024

With the aim of strengthening surveillance in the Arctic and the North Atlantic, additional funding will be allocated to the acquisition of long endurance drones as part of the first partial agreement under the new Defence Agreement.

In addition to the Government, the Green Left, the Denmark Democrats, the Liberal Alliance, the Conservative Party, the Social Liberal Party and the Danish People's Party are part of the agreement. The agreement has been negotiated in coordination with the Government of the Faroe Island and the Government of Greenland.

"We have an obligation in relation to the entire Kingdom of Denmark, and we will take a greater responsibility for the security in the region. I am very satisfied with the agreement to secure additional funding for long endurance drones in the first partial agreement, which will deliver on one of the key decisions from the Arctic Capability agreement," says Minister of Defence Troels Lund Poulsen, referring to the agreement announced in 2021.

With advanced radar, sensors and signal acquisition technology the drones will enhance surveillance capabilities and thus ensure better situational awareness of the increasing activities in the Arctic and North Atlantic region for both civilian and military use. The decision to acquire the drones is a part of the Arctic Capability agreement from 2021. Due to increasing costs, it has been necessary to secure additional funding for the acquisition. It is a priority for the parties behind the partial agreement and the Greenlandic Government that the acquisition is finalised as soon as possible.

The partial agreement is also prioritizing the instalment of an air surveillance radar in the Faroe Islands in coordination with Faroese authorities. The air surveillance radar will significantly strengthen NATO surveillance capabilities in the North Atlantic region. The decision behind the acquisition is rooted in the Arctic Capability agreement and a separate agreement with the Faroese Government.

Furthermore, the parties agree to support a newly established Arctic basic military and emergency management training course in Greenland, including if possible and relevant increased admissions to the course, and examine development potentials for the scheme known as 'the Greenlandic Guardians'.

The partial agreement also contains investment in other military capabilities such as very short-range air defence systems for the Army Brigade and weapons for the Navy as well as initiatives to strengthen the recruitment and retention of employees.

The initiatives shall contribute to ensure that the Danish Ministry of Defence has the prerequisites to build-up the Danish Defence and to realise the ambition of strengthening the Danish defence and security, which will allow Denmark to meet some of our NATO capability targets to a greater extent.

Greenlandic Government:

"In addition to fulfilling the existing political agreement on the long-range drones, the first partial agreement ensures that we can continue to support the very positive application process for the Arctic Basic Training program that has taken place in Greenland. It is crucial for me that the task of strengthening the defence of and security in Greenland also benefits the Greenlandic population. Through Naalakkersuisut's involvement in the first partial agreement, the framework for cooperation with the Government of Denmark on the upcoming partial agreements has been set. I very much look forward to the discussions ahead. Both with the Minister of Defence, but also with the Greenlandic parties of Inatsisartut."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Broad majority agrees to spend approximately DKK 16 billion on more military equipment and personnel in the first partial agreement under the Defence Agreement

Danish Ministry of Defence

The Government and a broad majority of the Danish Parliament have agreed on a first partial agreement under the Defence Agreement from June 2023. The partial agreement invests approx. DKK 16 billion in more military equipment and strengthened recruitment and retention of employees.

January 18, 2024

Investment in air defence systems for the Army Brigade, missiles and drones, new opportunities for military enlisted personnel and non-commissioned officers and compensation for employees' geographical flexibility.

These are some of the initiatives in the first partial agreement under the Defence Agreement between the Government, the Green Left, the Denmark Democrats, the Liberal Alliance, the Conservative Party, the Social Liberal Party and the Danish People's Party.

"I am proud to present the first partial agreement under the Defence Agreement, which we agreed on this summer. With the Defence Agreement, we laid the framework for strengthening the Danish Defence. Now, we are taking the first step towards achieving our ambitions for a historic build-up of the Danish Defence. The initiatives in the first partial agreement, together with the implementation plan for the restoration of the foundation of the Danish Defence as well as an urgency package in the property area, will ensure that we are off to a solid start," says Danish Minister of Defence Troels Lund Poulsen.



Air defence for the Army, drones for the Air Force and weapons for the Navy

With the partial agreement, approximately DKK 9.7 billion is invested in military capabilities for the Army, the Air Force and the Navy in the form of:

Very short-range air defence systems for the Army Brigade to increase protection against air threats.

Long endurance drones for surveillance and intelligence gathering in the Arctic and North Atlantic.

Close air defence missiles for Navy frigates.

Torpedoes used for Navy frigates and Air Force Sea Hawk helicopters.

Increased logistical capacity in support of deployments in and outside Denmark's neighbouring area.

"With these initiatives, we have begun strengthening our combat capabilities. These steps are important in preparing the Danish Defence for the future. It will also help Denmark meet some of our NATO capability targets to a greater extent, which is a central priority in the new Defence Agreement," says Danish Minister of Defence Troels Lund Poulsen.

More personnel for the Danish Defence

The first partial agreement is also aimed at strengthening recruitment, retention and training of employees for approx. DKK 3.5 billion with a number of specific initiatives:

Military apprenticeships with pay for enlisted and non-commissioned personnel.

A new manning system with more dedicated management of personnel resources.

Mobility enhancing measures in the form of compensation for geographical flexibility among employees.

Reducing administration and transport, etc. for Home Guard volunteers to maximize operational time.

"It has been a natural step to address how we can better our recruitment, retention and education of employees. Without them, it is impossible to realise the historical build-up of the Danish Defence, and the lack of colleagues is already taking its toll on the employees. Therefore, it is crucial that we ensure good conditions for our employees so that we are able to handle the important tasks that lie ahead for the Danish Defence," says Danish Minister of Defence Troels Lund Poulsen.

The strengthening of the Danish Defence requires that the Ministry of Defence be equipped to carry out the tasks that follow from the Defence Agreement. With the partial agreement, more employees can be recruited into the Danish Ministry of Defence's agencies to help with tasks such as furthering recruitment efforts as well as procurement of equipment.

Restoration plan, grants and financial framework

The parties behind the partial agreement have discussed the implementation plan for the restoration of the foundation of the Danish Defence and have agreed to continue the work on the restoration plan in 2024 and beyond in order to ensure a solid foundation for the development of the Danish Defence in 2024-2033. As part of the restoration plan, the Danish Conscription Council's focus points regarding the accommodation of conscripts will be prioritised, and the parties have also agreed on an urgency package in the property area.

In addition to more military equipment and personnel, the parties have also agreed to continue a number of existing grants and initiatives that expired at the end of 2023. These include grants for information and research activities and initiatives in the veteran area.

The parties have also agreed to increase the financial framework of the Defence Agreement by DKK 2.9 billion in 2028 and DKK 2.0 billion in 2029, bringing the total financial framework to approximately DKK 155 billion in the agreement period.

In total, approx. DKK 16 billion is allocated to the first partial agreement.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Army announces Project Convergence Capstone 4

By AFC Communication Directorate January 24, 2024

AUSTIN, Texas -- The U. S. Army will host Project Convergence Capstone 4 (PC-C4), a joint and multination, two-phase, "in-the-dirt" experiment from Feb. 23 - March 20, 2024.

PC-C4 phases will occur between two primary locations, Camp Pendleton, Calif., and at the U.S. Army's National Training Center in Fort Irwin, Calif.

During this year's capstone event, media are invited to participate in and observe activities, on March 5, at Camp Pendelton.

PC-C4 participants include the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Space Force, and militaries from partner and allied countries including the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, France, and Japan.

The PC-C4 Media Day, at Camp Pendleton, will showcase experimentation technologies from phase one, a round-robin discussion with subject matter experts on topics to include Joint Experimentation, Fires, Command and Control, Contested Logistics, and Multinational Integration, and a media round table discussion with Senior Army and Joint Service leaders.

PC-C4 is a culmination of numerous preceding exercises, experimentations, and events; it provides a critical venue to identify and refine recommendations necessary to transform the Army and ensure future war-winning readiness.

For more information or to schedule a visit during Project Convergence Capstone 4, please email usarmy.jble.afc-fcc.mbx.fcc-pao-media@army.mil.



NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Mazad, a local portfolio company of Bahrain's sovereign wealth fund Mumtalakat, has announced that its upcoming auction will feature a diverse range of 12 unique properties that are owned by Mumtalakat's real estate arm, Edamah (Bahrain Real Estate Investment Company).

This is in line with Mumtalakats commitment to enhance collaborative opportunities between its portfolio companies.

Located in prime areas across the kingdom such as Al Naim, Arad, Hamala, Souq Al Muharraq, Salmaniya and Samaheej, these properties comprise buildings, shops, villas, farmland, and land plots, said a statement from Mazad.

Of these, the most prominent are a 3,716 sq m agricultural plot located in Hamala - with a minimum starting bid of BD60,000 ($158,218) that can go upto BD480,000 ($1.26 million) - and also a nursery in Hamad Town, it stated.

"By collaborating with Edamah, we can promote some of Bahrains real estate properties, across the region, contributing to the national economy. Mazad is designed to attract qualified buyers and speed up the transaction process by providing a trusted and transparent space in which bidders may engage in equitable competition," remarked its CEO Talal Al Araifi.

"We encourage the general public and corporates to participate in the upcoming auction as we reveal some attractive opportunities on real estate in Bahrain," noted Al Araifi.

In line with Bahrains overarching strategic objective of promoting sustainability, the collaboration between Mazad and Edamah will furnish individuals, developers, and investors with the opportunity to expand their real estate portfolios via Mazad's online auction system.

This will enable potential buyers from across the region to participate in a fair and competitive bidding environment, he added.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. Josep Borrell's speech implies that the West is currently openly carrying out Azerbaijan-related commands, the Advisor of the Academy of Public Administration under the President of Azerbaijan, chairman of Baku Political Scientists Club Zaur Mammadov told Trend.

Mammadov noted that this is an order of a group of certain Western countries, which has included Armenia among its friends in connection with the processes in the South Caucasus.

"We are witnessing that Sorosists and certain groups in the European Union, the Council of Europe, the Assembly of the Council of Europe, the European Parliament, and some groups in the United States through countries like France and Germany are making biased accusations and acting against our country," Mammadov said.

According to Mammadov, due to such actions by France, the European Union is currently not accepted by Azerbaijan as a moderator.

"If you're going to talk about the status of Armenians in Karabakh, why not include the mined territories? If you wish to establish peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia, submit ideas and send a delegation to discuss these issues then" Mammadov noted.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Germany Federal Foreign Office

25.01.2024 - Press release

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock issued the following statement today (25 January) on the situation in Gaza:

I am extremely concerned about the desperate situation of the people in Khan Younis. Notwithstanding the right to self-defence, there are rules, and international humanitarian law also applies in the fight against terrorists. Israel needs to respect these rules just like all other states in the world - even in a difficult environment in which Hamas is breaking them all and using people as human shields. Israel urgently needs to allow more humanitarian assistance into Gaza and adjust how it is conducting its operation. At Israel's instruction, many hundreds of thousands of people have sought refuge in southern Gaza - in UN facilities and elsewhere.

These people cannot simply vanish into thin air. That is why a call to leave these places is not enough. What we need is a humanitarian pause - also so that all hostages can finally be released.
MCTSSA Designated Corps' First STRL, Accelerating Force Modernization

US Marine Corps News

25 Jan 2024 | Johannes Schmidt, MCSC Office of Public Affairs and Communication Marine Corps Systems Command

Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Cali. -- Marking a significant advancement towards Force Design's ambitious modernization goals, Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity, or MCTSSA, has been designated as the first Science and Technology Reinvention Laboratory, or STRL, within the Marine Corps.

Created by the Department of Defense to streamline existing federal acquisition processes, STRLs are historically designated through the National Defense Authorization Act or by the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering.

Federal entities that receive such a designation are empowered with legislative authorities, including personnel flexibility, minor military construction capabilities, and discretionary funding control for their directors.

Although the Pentagon has granted 20 such designations since 2021, MCTSSA's designation as the first for the Corps represents a monumental stride, signaling the Corps' leadership in troubleshooting, innovating, and creating solutions to some of the most challenging problems faced by the warfighter.

According to Col. Craig Clarkson, commanding officer at MCTSSA, the designation represents a significant step forward in achieving the Corps' ambitious Force Design modernization goals.

"MCTSSA's acceptance to the Naval Research and Development Enterprise with STRL designation occurred at the perfect time given the USMC's current Force Design efforts," he noted. "We are now optimally positioned to support Service Combined Joint All Domain Command & Control initiatives and the development of other future capabilities."

Furthermore, the STRL designation advances the Corps' Talent Management strategy, positioning the Corps' acquisition community to effectively compete with industry for top talentensuring a robust pipeline of highly skilled professionals adept at addressing the dynamic challenges of the modern battlefield.

"STRL designation enables MCTSSA to operate more like a Marine Corps Expeditionary Warfare Center, with the personnel and acquisition authorities to develop and scale a highly-skilled, technical workforce focused on delivering integrated Naval capabilities," said Mr. Timothy Gramp, USMC chief engineer, deputy to the Commander for Systems Engineering and Acquisition Logistics, and executive director for the new STRL.

As the Corps continues its strategic shift to the Indo-Pacific, the new STRL designation stands to mitigate perceived limitations in the Pentagon's existing acquisition architecture. By enabling MCTSSA to more effectivelyand rapidlyadapt and integrate emerging technologies into the warfighter's arsenal of capabilities, the Corps stands better equipped to face the evolving threats of the future battlefield.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






First Generation Legacy: 3rd MAW Marine Forges His Own Path

US Marine Corps News

25 Jan 2024 | Cpl. Daniel Childs 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Johnson Truong is an air support operations operator with Marine Air Support Squadron 3, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, and a Harrisburg, Pennsylvania native. It is fitting that Truong hails from a city with as much historical significance to the U.S. as Harrisburg. His family legacy was shaped by sacrifice and commitment to a stable life in the United States.

Truong's grandfather, Thanh Truong, is a veteran of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, a branch of the South Vietnamese military which was trained and advised by the U.S. military until the fall of Saigon in 1975, marking the end of the Vietnam War. Thanh Truong endured nearly a decade of captivity as a prisoner of war, held by the Viet Cong.

"If the United States had not given my grandpa the opportunity to come here, my parents wouldn't have met and I wouldn't even be where I am today," Truong said. "That's why I felt like I had to give back in some type of way, and for me, military service was the way to do it."

Truong's parents moved to Harrisburg from Vietnam after the Vietnam War, looking for a fresh start. Truong is a first generation American and the first Marine in his family.

"I was able to join the military right out of high school," Truong said. "My parents had to work day-in and out to provide me that opportunity."

Truong is training in preparation to deploy as part of Marine Rotational ForceDarwin, a Marine Air-Ground Task Force forward postured in Darwin, Australia. His role as an air support operations operator involves coordinating fire support missions and communicating with ground units to ensure airspace safety.

In December 2023, Truong participated in exercise Steel Knight 23.2, coordinating fire support missions for joint aircraft from the multifunctional air operations center.

"My dedication to coordinating missions aligns seamlessly with my passion for attention to detail," Truong said. "In this high-stakes environment, every aspect requires careful coordination, just like working on cars back home. It's about ensuring every component fits perfectly, whether it's a mechanical system or a complex mission plan."

As Truong embraces his role in the Marine Corps, he says he finds a sense of purpose by remembering his family's sacrifices and in helping others.

"There are a lot of days when I just want to hang it up, but like every service member says, 'when it gets tough, always remember the why,' and one of my 'whys' is my family, and the sweat and tears they faced coming here," Truong said. "I know when I put on the uniform every morning, I'm doing something for myself, my family and for the ones that came before me."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






USS Antietam Departs Yokosuka After Nearly 11 Years of Forward-Deployed Service

US Navy

25 January 2024

From Petty Officer 2nd Class Askia Collins

YOKOSUKA, Japan -- The Ticonderoga-class guided missile-cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54) departed Yokosuka, Japan, Jan. 26 to transit to its new homeport of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, as part of a planned rotation of forces in the Pacific.

Antietam arrived on station at Yokosuka Naval Base in February 2013 to support operations within the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations.

Before the cruiser departed for the final time, officers from its sister ship, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force guided-missile destroyer JS Kirishima (DDG 174), provided the crew of USS Antietam a plaque commemorating its time in Japan.

Antietam Sailors ceremonially manned the rails in service dress blue uniforms as the ship left Japanese waters.

"For more than a decade, USS Antietam enjoyed being part of the Yokosuka community," said Capt. Victor Garza, commanding officer of USS Antietam. "Antietam was at the forefront of our nation's efforts to protect peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific. On behalf of the crew, I want to express my appreciation for our Japanese hosts, who have become our colleagues, friends and family. We're proud of the relationships we built with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and with like-minded nations and navies throughout the region."

During its time serving as part of U.S. 7th Fleet, Antietam completed numerous missions and patrols, including a 260-day deployment in 2020.

In 2023, the cruiser's last full year as part of America's Forward Deployed Naval Forces-Japan (FDNF-J), Antietam sailed nearly 34,000 miles, participated in the largest-ever Exercise Talisman Sabre alongside the Royal Australian Navy, and visited ports in Vietnam, South Korea, the Philippines and Palau.

Antietam is assigned to Commander, Task Force (CTF) 70, the theater strike warfare commander and theater air and missile defense commander. CTF 70 is forward-deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Statement by Minister Hussen on allegations against staff of United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East

Global Affairs Canada

Statement

January 26, 2024 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, today issued the following statement:

"Today, I spoke directly with Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East [UNRWA] to express Canada's alarm about allegations of his agency's staff being involved in Hamas's brutal terrorist attacks against Israel on October 7, 2023. Canada is taking these reports extremely seriously and is engaging closely with UNRWA and other donors on this issue.

"Canada welcomes United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's direction that UNRWA swiftly investigate these extremely serious allegations. Canada has temporarily paused any additional funding to UNRWA while it undertakes a thorough investigation into these allegations. Should the allegations prove to be accurate, Canada expects UNRWA to immediately act against those determined to have been involved in Hamas's terrorist attacks.

"As UNRWA undertakes this investigation, Canada will not reduce its support to the people of Gaza. Canada will continue to work with other partners to provide life-saving assistance to civilians in Gaza.

"Canada remains deeply concerned by the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and continues to call for the rapid, sustained and unimpeded passage of essential relief so that it can reach those in need. We urge all parties to uphold international humanitarian law."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Statement by Minister Joly on the International Court of Justice's decision on South Africa's request for provisional measures in its case against Israel

Global Affairs Canada

Statement

January 26, 2024 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Melanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs today issued the following statement:

"Today, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) delivered its response to South Africa's request for provisional measures in their case against Israel.

"Canada supports the ICJ's critical role in the peaceful settlement of disputes and its work in upholding the international rules-based order.

"Our support for the ICJ does not mean that we accept the premise of the case brought by South Africa. It is for the ICJ to make a final decision on the case, which it has not done today. We continue to follow the case very closely.

"Canada will continue to support Israel's right to exist and defend itself, in accordance with international law. Nothing can justify Hamas' brutal attacks on October 7, including the appalling loss of life, and the heinous acts of violence perpetrated in those attacks, including sexual violence.

"Canada remains deeply concerned about the scale of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the ongoing and serious impacts on Palestinian civilians. Canada continues to support urgent international efforts towards a sustainable ceasefire. This cannot be one-sided. Hamas must release all hostages, stop using Palestinian civilians as human shields, and lay down its arms.

"Parties to any conflict must protect civilians and respect international law. They are obligated to allow and facilitate the rapid and unimpeded access of essential humanitarian relief for civilians. Humanitarian access must urgently be increased and sustained in Gaza."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Houthis Fire Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile Toward USS Carney (DDG 64)

U.S. Central Command

USCENTCOM

Jan. 26, 2024

Release Number 20240126-01

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TAMPA, Fla. -- On Jan. 26, at approximately 1:30 p.m. (Sanaa time), Iranian-backed Houthi militants fired one anti-ship ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward Arleigh-Burke class destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) in the Gulf of Aden. The missile was successfully shot down by USS Carney. There were no injuries or damage reported.



NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






January 26, 2024

Release

Readout of Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen H. Hicks' Meeting With the Defense Innovation Board

Pentagon Spokesman Eric Pahon provided the following readout:

Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks hosted the Defense Innovation Board's winter meeting at the Pentagon today in a closed, classified session.

During this session, the Defense Innovation Board members provided an update on their work, and briefed findings and recommendations from two publicly-released studies.

Board members highlighted the need for a unified, scalable data access approach to accelerate adoption of data, analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities for the warfighter. They recommended modernizing security processes, standardizing contract bidding practices, implementing dual-use technology and cross-functional teams, and centralizing enterprise licensing.

Board members also emphasized the importance of senior leadership in fostering a culture of innovation and risk-taking and holding all leaders accountable for innovation outcomes.

Deputy Secretary Hicks provided an update on the Department's innovation efforts and discussed scaling new technology and innovation initiatives.

She also highlighted the urgency of adopting emerging capabilities that are redefining warfighting and working better with our allies and partners on technology and innovation.

Deputy Secretary Hicks thanked the members of the Defense Innovation Board for their passion and commitment to driving change in support of the national defense mission.

Additional information about the Defense Innovation Board can be found on its website.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3658344/

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






January 26, 2024

By Joseph Clark , DOD News

Defense Innovation Official Says Replicator Initiative Remains On Track

The Defense Department remains on track in its initiative to field thousands of autonomous systems across multiple warfighting domains as part of the recently announced Replicator initiative, a senior Pentagon innovation official said this week.

Aditi Kumar, the Defense Innovation Unit's deputy director of strategy, policy, and national security partnerships, said the initiative serves as a tangible example of DOD's focus on meeting critical warfighter needs at speed and scale.

"The Replicator initiative is squarely grounded in operational need," Kumar said during a discussion on the role of technology in solving operational challenges hosted by the Hudson Institute, a Washington think tank.

"We need capabilities to address the operational challenges laid out in the National Defense Strategy," she said. "The future force has to be agile. We have to have the necessary capabilities to deter conflict and, if deterrence fails, to fight and win the war."

Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks unveiled the Replicator Initiative in August as one approach DOD is taking to meet the challenges laid out in the National Defense Strategy, which identifies China as the United States' pacing challenge.

The first iteration of the initiative is focused on fielding thousands of autonomous systems across multiple domains within the next 18 to 24 months, as part of the Pentagon's strategy to counter China's rapid armed forces buildup.

Hicks said the Replicator Initiative will prioritize the fielding of "attritable" capabilities  platforms that are unmanned and built affordably, allowing commanders to tolerate a higher degree of risk in employing them.

Kumar said DOD is on track to meet the goals laid out by Hicks within the timeline.

"The deputy [secretary] selected the first tranche of capabilities for Replicator right before Christmas," she said. "For those capabilities, we're currently working to identify all of the barriers to acceleration that we need to overcome to make sure that they are fielded, in the hands of the warfighter, in that February-to-August 2025 timeline."

DIU, the department's organization for accelerating the adoption of commercial technology throughout the military, has played a central role in making the initiative a reality.

Hicks has recently established the Deputy's Innovation Steering Group to bring together leaders from across the department to break down systemic barriers that impede innovation.

Defense Innovation Unit Director Doug Beck chairs the Defense Innovation Working Group aligned with the steering group and is charged with driving the process to accelerate technology and make the process repeatable.

Kumar said meeting the critical needs of the warfighter will require input and coordination across the department.

"That is why forums like the DISG are really important," she said. "Because you have to have everybody around the table focused on problem solving and thinking about how you get a capability from where it is today all the way into the field with all of the associated considerations around training and sustainment, etc."

She said DOD has also been working closely with Congress on appropriate funding strategies to field the capabilities within the desired timeline.

Kumar echoed other defense officials in emphasizing that the Replicator Initiative is a process for removing barriers to innovation, rather than a single endeavor to field specific technology.

She said in applying Replicator as a process for quickly fielding autonomous systems, DOD stakeholders are gathering key lessons to be applied in future iterations.

"We've already learned lessons about how we can move faster," she said. "And the idea is now to apply that to other capabilities and portfolios so that we can do this again and again and really show that the department has the ability to move as quickly as the threat is moving."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






ICJ: Joint Statement by the High Representative and the European Commission

European External Action Service (EEAS)

26.01.2024

EEAS Press Team

We take note of today's order of the International Court of Justice on South Africa's request for the indication of provisional measures.

The EU reaffirms its continuing support to the International Court of Justice, the principal judicial organ of the United Nations.

Orders of the International Court of Justice are binding on the Parties and they must comply with them. The European Union expects their full, immediate and effective implementation.

The right of each Party to submit arguments in respect of jurisdiction, admissibility or the merits remains unaffected by today's decision on South Africa's request for the indication of provisional measures.



NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. Moscow continues to be the venue for peace talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Russia Polad Bulbuloglu told TASS in an interview, Trend reports.

"We are grateful to Russia at present for intermediary efforts to normalize relations between Baku and Yerevan, and Moscow continues to be the platform for peace talks," the Ambassador said.

The Ambassador recalled the last trilateral meeting held in July 2023 on the initiative of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and the activity of the working group on unblocking of economic ties and transport lines in the region as an example.
Israel/Gaza: Statement by the Commission and High Representative Borrell on allegations of UNRWA staff involvement in the 7th October attacks

European External Action Service (EEAS)

26.01.2024

EEAS Press Team

We are extremely concerned by allegations of UNRWA staff involvement in the 7th October terrorist attacks in Israel.

The EU reiterates its strongest condemnation of the attacks by the Hamas terrorists against Israel, which have no justification.

UNRWA has been playing a vital role over many years supporting vulnerable Palestinian refugees in accessing vital services such as education and health, and is a crucial partner of the international community, including the EU.

We are in contact with UNRWA, expect it to provide full transparency on the allegations and to take immediate measures against staff involved. The Commission will assess further steps and draw lessons based on the result of the full and comprehensive investigation.



NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Statement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs on the International Court of Justice's Order

Government of Iceland

January 26, 2024

Ministry for Foreign Affairs

The Icelandic government has repeatedly called for a humanitarian ceasefire in order to ease the suffering of the people of Gaza. Today's Order of the International Court of Justice on provisional measures is a testament to the dire situation in Gaza and the obligations of the parties to the conflict to protect civilians. The Icelandic government respects the Court's Order and calls for its full and effective implementation.

Most urgently, a lasting political solution to the conflict must be established. Civilians in Gaza must be protected, sufficient humanitarian aid must be provided and all hostages must be released.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






ICJ delivers ruling on emergency measures requested by South Africa

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jan 26, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has delivered its ruling on the emergency measures requested by South Africa in its genocide case against the Zionist regime over its war on the Gaza Strip.

During its Friday session, the ICJ expressed concern about the continued loss of lives of the people of Gaza, Al-Jezeera reported.

The president of this international court emphasized that the court cannot accept the Israeli regime's request to dismiss South Africa's complaint, it added.

"The court said, among others, that Israel must take steps to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza but stopped short of ordering a ceasefire," it noted.

"The judges have not ruled on the merits of the genocide allegations, which may take years to decide."

The military operation in the Gaza Strip led to the death of a large number of people and the forced migration of a number of others, ICJ said.

The Israeli attack resulted in the death of approximately 25,000 Palestinians and the injury of 60,000 others, it added.

More than 93% of the people of Gaza do not have access to food, ICJ said.

The Palestinian people are protected by the Convention on the Prevention of Genocide, the court stressed.

The Palestinian people have the right to be free from the crime of genocide, it added.

9376**9417

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Near 3,000 Zionists injured since Al-Aqsa Storm operation

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jan 26, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Since the beginning of the Al Aqsa Storm operation on October 7, 2023, about 2,748 Zionist forces and officers were wounded.

During the past 24 hours, 38 more Zionist military forces have been injured, the Lebanese Al Ahed news website reported from the Zionist sources on Friday.

According to the Israeli regime's army, 396 Zionist military forces are still in hospitals, 38 of them are in critical condition.

The Palestinian resistance groups started Al-Aqsa Storm from the Gaza Strip against the Zionist regime in response to decades of occupation and aggression.

To retaliate, the regime closed the Gaza crossings and started bombarding that area.

After 45 days of conflict, a truce was established between the two sides, but the Zionist regime resumed attacks on Gaza after that.

Over 26,000 Palestinians including thousands of women and children have been killed by the Zionist regime in Gaza.

1483**9417

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






South Africa Ambassador: We hope other countries join us against Israel in ICJ

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Fri / 26 January 2024 / 00:22

South Africa ambassador to Tehran said "we hope other countries will join on the side of South Africa to prove the genocide case against Israel in ICJ."

Tehran- ISNA- On Friday, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will announce its decision on emergency or provisional measures against Israel in an interim verdict after South Africa filed a case against Israel accusing it of committing genocide in Gaza.

On December 29, South Africa filed an 84-page legal case at the ICJ accusing Israel of violating the 1984 Genocide Convention during its near-four-month bombardment of Gaza.

On January 11 and 12, the ICJ conducted hearings during which South Africa presented its case and, then, Israel defended itself.

In this regard South Africa ambassador to Tehran "Francis Molloy" told ISNA in an exclusive interview that "South Africa wants the Court to order Israel to offer assurances and guarantees that Israel will not repeat its gross violations of the Genocide Convention."

Molly in response to question about "South Africa goals" about the measure against Israel said "From South Africa's point of view, what Israel has done and continues to do in Gaza since 7 October 2023 amounts to acts of genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza. Genocide is a crime under international law and the Genocide Convention which both South Africa and Israel (and 151 other states) have signed puts an obligation on states to prevent and punish the crime of genocide."

"South Africa has filed the case against Israel in the ICJ requesting the Court, among other measures, to declare that Israel has breached and continues to breach its obligations under the Genocide Convention and that Israel should cease forthwith the genocidal acts against the Palestinians, which include, the killing and displacement of Palestinians; and starving the Palestinians in Gaza of food, medicines, water, and electricity." Mr. ambassador added.

He asserted that "South Africa wants to see all those who are guilty of the genocidal acts and statements which have been perpetrated and continue to be perpetrated against the Palestinians in Gaza be brought to justice and full accountability. That is why South Africa has also requested the ICJ to order that Israel preserve the evidence implicating all those who have been engaged in or are engaging or have incited and are continuing to incite genocide so that they can be prosecuted and punished. South Africa also wants the Court to order Israel to offer assurances and guarantees that Israel will not repeat its gross violations of the Genocide Convention; specifically, that it will stop the killing of Palestinians and the destruction of Palestinian life and civilian infrastructure."

South Africa ambassador to Tehran in response to question about "expectations from Arab and Islamic countries in following up on this case And how can countries like Iran assist the South African government in advancing the case?" said: "South Africa has received tremendous support from many countries, including the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The case against Israel at this preliminary stage is aimed only at requesting the ICJ to indicate provisional measures as an interim order to stop Israel from continuing its genocidal assault on the people of Palestine in Gaza."

He also said "The case is still going to proceed on the merits, where South Africa will seek to prove that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza and that justice be done for the people of Palestine. When the case proceeds on the merits, the indication is that many countries would then join the proceedings, either on the side of South Africa or on the side of Israel."

"It may also be possible that other countries might join as "friends of the court." It is at that stage when we hope other countries will join on the side of South Africa to prove the case against Israel. Obviously, countries are free to decide on their own how they can continue to play a role in support of this course of action against Israel." Molloy added.

Regarding "court proceeding", Mr. Molloy added: "At this preliminary stage, South Africa has brought the case to Court requesting the ICJ to indicate, as a matter or extreme urgency, provisional measures to stop Israel from committing acts of genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza. So, I expect the Court to decide on our application in as short a time as possible; maybe two weeks? From South Africa's side, we think we have presented compelling evidence which would persuade the Court to decide in our favour. Specifically, we expect the Court to find that the acts that Israel has committed and is continuing to commit against the Palestinians in Gaza could plausibly fall within those defined in the Genocide Convention as constituting genocide."

"And when the Court so decides, we hope that Israel will comply with the Court order and that all other states which are signatories to the Genocide Convention will comply with their own obligations under this Convention; specifically, that all countries will be required to take appropriate measures to prevent Israel's genocide from continuing in Gaza and bring those who are guilty to justice." He asserted.

End Item

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






China: NATO a 'walking war machine'

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Fri / 26 January 2024 / 00:05

The US-led military bloc is sowing chaos everywhere, Beijing's Defense Ministry has warned.

Tehran-ISNA- NATO is a "walking war machine" that has been spreading chaos across Asia since its formation, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian told reporters on Thursday, accusing the bloc of using the specter of a dominant Beijing to foment regional conflict.

Wu appeared to be referencing comments made by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg during the World Economic Forum last week, in which the bloc's leader attempted to frame its buildout in Asia as a response to purported Chinese aggression.

"It should be said that NATO is a walking 'war machine,' and wherever it appears, it brings disorder everywhere," Wu said, referencing "inappropriate statements by the NATO Secretary General regarding China."

"This is not about NATO moving into Asia, but instead about the fact that China is coming close to us," Stoltenberg told attendees at the exclusive Davos gathering, insisting the US-led alliance remains "regional" in its focus.

Wu cautioned NATO against deliberate provocations, urging the bloc to treat China and its military development "objectively and rationally, and do something beneficial to world peace," according to Xinhua.

Despite its moniker seemingly limiting its sphere of influence to the North Atlantic Ocean, NATO has openly courted Asian allies in an effort to counter China's growing power. Its members already include countries thousands of kilometers from the Atlantic, such as Turkiye and Bulgaria, although Article 6 of its charter specifies that the mutual defense agreement at its core only applies to territories in Europe and North America, plus islands north of the Tropic of Cancer.

In August, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan explicitly denied Washington was seeking to create a "NATO for the Pacific" with the establishment of a trilateral defense partnership with Japan and South Korea, even as President Joe Biden heralded a "new era" of collaboration with Washington's regional allies. Last July, NATO indefinitely postponed the controversial planned opening of a liaison office in Tokyo.

End Item

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict visits MARSOC

US Marine Corps News

26 Jan 2024 | Cpl. Henry Rodriguez II Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command

CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, UNITED STATES -- Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict, Christopher Maier recently visited Marine Forces Special Operations Command at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Jan. 17, 2024.

Maier, who provides civilian oversight of the special operations forces enterprise, took time to meet with MARSOC's senior leaders and Marine Raiders throughout the command.

The goal of Maier's visit was to learn more about MARSOC's organization, current efforts, modernization, and command programs. He also had the opportunity to meet and speak with members of a recently deployed Marine Special Operations Team.

"We are grateful for our opportunity to host the Honorable Mr. Maier," said Maj. Gen. Matthew Trollinger, commander, Marine Forces Special Operations Command. "We discussed our command's evolution from a counterterrorism focused force to one now more appropriately aligned and centered on supporting integrated deterrence, particularly in the littorals, while maintaining strong ties to the Marine Corps and our Raider Legacy."

MARSOC's mission is to recruit, train, sustain, and deploy scalable, expeditionary forces worldwide to accomplish special operations missions assigned by U.S. Special Operations Command. To accomplish that, MARSOC equips and trains Marines to succeed in austere conditions against a wide range of adversaries in competition through conflict. Marine Raiders execute complex, distributed operations globally in uncertain environments, achieving silent success and strategic impact.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Secretary General hails Montenegro's commitments to NATO, key role in Western Balkans, support to Ukraine

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

26 Jan. 2024

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Prime Minister of Montenegro Milojko Spajic to NATO Headquarters on Friday (26 January 2024). They discussed preparations for the upcoming Washington Summit and continued efforts to bolster the Alliance's deterrence and defence.

The Secretary General outlined Montenegro's contributions to Allied security, including deploying troops to multinational battlegroups in Bulgaria and Latvia. Montenegro also contributes to "building more effective and inclusive security forces" as a part of NATO's training mission in Iraq, he added.

Mr Stoltenberg stressed Montenegro's critical role in securing stability in the Western Balkans. He welcomed the Prime Minister's strong commitments to reform, as well as Montenegro's path to Euro-Atlantic integration. Condemning last year's outbreaks of violence in Kosovo, the Secretary General highlighted NATO's swift response, "deploying 1,000 additional troops and heavy armour." He underscored that NATO is "committed to ensuring that KFOR continues to fulfil its UN mandate."

The Secretary General also noted that NATO ambassadors will visit Sarajevo next week, calling this "a demonstration of strong support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia-Herzegovina."

On support for Ukraine, Mr Stoltenberg thanked Montenegro for its contributions through NATO's Comprehensive Assistance Package (CAP) and urged Allies to continue stepping up support for Ukraine at this critical time.

Looking ahead to the upcoming Washington Summit, the Secretary General said "Sweden's entry into NATO will make the whole Alliance stronger." He thanked President Erdogan for swiftly signing the recent ratification of Sweden's NATO membership by the Turkish Grand National Assembly, "and I look forward to Hungary's ratification as soon as the parliament reconvenes," he said.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Pakistan Welcomes the Provisional Measures Ordered by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in Gaza

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Pakistan welcomes the provisional measures ordered today by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), whereby the Court has concluded that, prima facie, it has the jurisdiction to entertain the case against Israel and that South Africa's claims of genocide are "plausible".

The ICJ has ordered Israel to urgently undertake a series of measures in relation to Palestinians in Gaza to prevent the commission of acts prohibited by the Genocide Convention including: killing members of the group; causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; and imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group. The Court has also ordered Israel to take immediate and effective measures to enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance to address the adverse conditions of life faced by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

The implementation of these provisional measures requires an immediate and unconditional ceasefire to bring about an end to the suffering faced by the people of Gaza.

Since 7 October 2023, Israel has engaged in military aggression and criminal actions against the Palestinian people. We consider the ICJ's ruling timely and a significant milestone in the pursuit of justice for the Palestinian people and international accountability of Israel.

Pakistan calls for the full and effective implementation of the ICJ's decision so that basic human rights, dignity and identity of Palestinian people as a distinct group are upheld and protected, as stipulated by the UN Charter, relevant UN resolutions, and international law.

Pakistan reaffirms its unwavering support to the Palestinian people in their just and legitimate struggle for the realization of their inalienable right to self-determination. With a similar spirit, Pakistan has supported the application filed by South Africa before the ICJ against Israel under the 1948 Genocide Convention, in follow up to which the Court today announced the provisional measures.

29/2024

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






South Africa hails ICJ's Gaza ruling as 'decisive victory' as reactions pour in

Iran Press TV

Friday, 26 January 2024 2:47 PM

South Africa has hailed as a "decisive victory" the International Court of Justice's ruling that Israel must do everything it can to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza.

"Today marks a decisive victory for the international rule of law and a significant milestone in the search for justice for the Palestinian people," South Africa's Foreign Ministry said in a Friday statement.

"South Africa sincerely hopes that Israel will not act to frustrate the application of this Order, as it has publicly threatened to do, but that it will instead act to comply with it fully, as it is bound to do."

It said South Africa would continue to act within the institutions of global governance to protect the rights of Palestinians in Gaza.

"Third States are now on notice of the existence of a serious risk of genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza," Pretoria said.

"This necessarily imposes an obligation on all States to cease funding and facilitating Israel's military actions, which are plausibly genocidal."

The Spanish government also welcomed the UN court's Gaza ruling.

"We welcome the decision of the International Court of Justice and ask the parties to apply the provisional measures it has decreed," Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wrote on social network X, the former Twitter.

Ankara welcomes ICJ ruling

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he hoped the UN court ruling would halt "inhumane" attacks against civilians.

"I find the interim injunction decision taken by the International Court of Justice regarding the inhumane attacks in Gaza valuable and welcome it," Erdogan said in a social media statement.

"We hope that Israel's attacks against women, children and the elderly will come to an end," he said, adding that Turkey would continue trying to "establish a ceasefire and ensure the path to permanent peace."

'Israel must be forced to comply with ruling'

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki said in a televised speech on Friday they welcome the provisional measures ordered by the ICJ.

"The ICJ judges assessed the facts and the law, they ruled in favor of humanity and international law," he said.

Al-Maliki added that Palestine calls on all states to ensure the measures ordered by the court are implemented "including by Israel, the occupying power."

Palestinian resistance group Hamas also hailed the "important" ruling, saying it "contributes to isolating Israel".

"The (International) Court of Justice's decision is an important development which contributes to isolating Israel and exposing its crimes in Gaza," the group said in a statement.

The movement has called for Israel to be forced to implement the court's decisions.

Scotland calls for 'immediate ceasefire'

Scotland's Prime Minister Humza Yousaf also reacted to the court's interim ruling, saying the killing and destruction in Gaza must stop.

"Urgent humanitarian assistance must be provided to prevent more suffering. Hostages must be released immediately," he wrote on X.

"With such death and destruction, we will continue to call for an immediate ceasefire."

The European Union said it wanted "immediate" implementation of a United Nations court ruling that Israel must prevent genocidal acts in Gaza.

"Orders of the International Court of Justice are binding on the parties and they must comply with them. The European Union expects their full, immediate and effective implementation," Brussels said in a statement.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. On 27 January 2024, one year has passed since the terror attack against the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan said in a statement, Trend reports.

"As a result of the terror attack, one embassy employee lost his life, while two others suffered numerous injuries. Following the incident, Embassy staff members and their families were evacuated due to the grave risk posed to their lives and safety.

Against the backdrop of the terror attack in the Embassy, Iranian side as the host State, failing to protect the Embassy building against any forms of intrusion and to guarantee the safety of its staff, did not fulfill its obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

Following the terror act, many countries and international organizations issued statements strongly condemning the terror act and stating that the attack on diplomatic missions in international relations is unacceptable.

In order to overcome the situation between Azerbaijan and Iran emerged in connection with the terror attack, to punish those involved in the preparation and execution of the aforementioned terror act in the harshest way, and provide full guarantee of the Embassys security, regular contacts between officials and relevant bodies of the two countries have been continued, expectations of Azerbaijan have been communicated over the past year. Iranian side have regularly updated Azerbaijan regarding the actions taken during the investigation, and following a protracted investigation, the first court hearing of the terrorist was set for 27 January 2024.

As we commemorate the first anniversary of the terror attack against the Embassy, we offer our sincere condolences to the relatives of our Martyr, once again strongly condemn this attack, and expect that Iran will immediately take result-oriented steps to prevent such kind of actions from happening in future," the statement reads.
Iran hails ICJ ruling against Israel genocide case in Gaza, urges urgent trial of regime officials

Iran Press TV

Friday, 26 January 2024 2:37 PM

Iran has hailed an interim ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the emergency measures requested by South Africa in its genocide case against Israel over the regime's war on the Gaza Strip.

In a post on his X account on Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian extended his congratulations to the South African government and nation, particularly his counterpart Naledi Pandor, as well as the Palestinian people over the African country's success at the United Nations' top court.

He once again reiterated Iran's support for South Africa's initiative and called on his counterparts across the world to also throw their weight behind the African country's move at the ICJ.

"Today, the officials of the fake Israeli regime are the most hated people in the world's public opinion. They must be urgently brought to justice for committing genocide and unprecedented war crimes against the Palestinians," the top Iranian diplomat emphasized.

Amir-Abdollahian said the world public opinion would never forget the White House's full support for the Zionists' crimes against the Palestinians and would always heed the regime's criminal acts.

In its interim ruling, the ICJ ordered Israel to take all measures within its power to prevent genocide in Gaza, saying the regime must ensure its forces do not commit genocide and also ensure the preservation of evidence of alleged genocide.

It also urged the regime to report back in one month.

The court obliged Israel to take more measures to protect Palestinians but did not order it to end military operations in the Strip.

South Africa filed the lawsuit against Israel at the end of December, noting that Israel's actions are "genocidal in character because they are intended to bring about the destruction of a substantial part of the Palestinian national, racial and ethnical group."

The application also said Israeli attacks breach the UN's Genocide Convention, and urged the court to "order Israel to cease killing and causing serious mental and bodily harm to Palestinian people in Gaza."

In a telephone conversation with his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday, Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi said South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the ICJ has drawn the admiration of all freedom seekers worldwide.

Israel launched hostilities in Gaza following a historic operation by the Gaza-based Hamas resistance group against the occupying entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

More than 100 days into the campaign, the regime has achieved no objectives despite killing at least 26,083 people in Gaza, around 70 percent of them women and children.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






ICJ orders Israel to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza

Iran Press TV

Friday, 26 January 2024 12:51 PM

The United Nations' top court has ordered the Israeli regime to take all measures within its power to prevent genocide in Gaza, but stopped short of ordering a ceasefire.

The order by the International Court of Justice was part of its interim ruling on the emergency measures requested by South Africa in its genocide case against Israel over its war on the Gaza Strip.

The court demanded Israel try to contain death and damage in the Gaza Strip and warned it to "take all measures in its power to prevent" acts that could fall under the UN Genocide Convention set up in 1948.

The court also ordered Israel to take measures to prevent and punish direct incitement of genocide in the Gaza Strip.

Israel must take "immediate and effective measures to enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance to address the adverse conditions of life faced by Palestinians," the court said.

It ordered the regime to report back in one month on the measures it has been asked to carry out.

Palestinians appear to be a protected group under the genocide convention, the court said, noting that it has jurisdiction to rule in the case.

Friday's ruling at the ICJ did not deal with the core accusation of the case - whether genocide occurred - but focused on the urgent intervention sought by South Africa.

The case was brought by South Africa, which has accused Israel of breaching the UN Genocide Convention.

Over two days of hearings earlier this month in the gilded hall of the Peace Palace, where the ICJ sits, lawyers from both sides battled it over the interpretation of this Convention.

South Africa said Israel had carried out "genocidal" acts that were intended to cause the "destruction of a substantial part of the Palestinian national, racial and ethnical group."

It urged the court to order Israel to "immediately suspend" its military operations in Gaza and allow humanitarian aid to reach the civilians there.

The question now is whether the court's rulings will be obeyed. Although its rulings are legally binding, the ICJ has no mechanism to enforce them and they are sometimes completely ignored.

South Africa has been one of the outspoken critics of Israel's ongoing onslaught against Palestinians and has led some initiatives to hold Israel accountable for its actions in Gaza. The African country, which has experienced long years of an apartheid regime, has been praised by activists as the vanguard of the global conscience and voice of the oppressed.

At least 26,083 Palestinians, around 70 percent of them women, young children, and adolescents, have been killed in the Gaza Strip in Israeli bombardments and ground offensive since October 7.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Iran lauds South Africa for taking Israel to court over Gaza genocide

Iran Press TV

Friday, 26 January 2024 11:14 AM

Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi says South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has drawn the admiration of all freedom seekers worldwide, hours before the court announces its interim ruling.

During a telephone conversation with his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday night, Raeisi lauded the "courageous" initiative, stressing that the move was taken by a country that has experienced the menace of racism and genocide for years.

"The measure is praised not only by the Muslim world but also by all freedom seekers across the globe," the Iranian president said, according to his press service.

Raeisi added that the Tel Aviv regime and its sponsors will surely seek to obstruct legal proceedings, noting that "All world nations expect the ICJ to mete out justice and pronounce a verdict in condemnation of the criminal Zionist regime."

He stated that South Africa's genocide case against Israel over Gaza war comes amid the apathy and inaction of international organizations to stop the conflict.

The case will once again record in history the names of South African leaders as anti-apartheid and justice-seeking, Raeisi said.

Elsewhere, the Iranian president went on to say that Tehran is determined to tap existing potentials, and further develop relations with Pretoria in various spheres of politics, trade, science and technology.

For his part, Ramaphosa described Iran as a trusted ally that has always stood by his country in difficult times.

The South African president said he was delighted that influential and pacifist countries like the Islamic Republic of Iran have been supporting the Palestinian nation and demanding the restoration of their rights.

He pointed out that the opposition of certain allies of Israel to the ICJ case will not dissuade Pretoria from fighting against the Tel Aviv regime's genocide and criminal acts.

"Such countries have long been pursuing a hypocritical and deceitful approach in international relations. However, the unfolding calamities in Gaza have exposed their true nature, and world nations have now realized that they do not care about human lives at all," Ramaphosa said.

South Africa filed the lawsuit against Israel at the end of December, noting that Israel's actions are "genocidal in character because they are intended to bring about the destruction of a substantial part of the Palestinian national, racial and ethnical group."

The application also said Israeli attacks breach the UN's Genocide Convention, and urged the court to "order Israel to cease killing and causing serious mental and bodily harm to Palestinian people in Gaza."

South Africa has been one of the outspoken critics of Israel's ongoing onslaught against Palestinians and has led some initiatives to hold Israel accountable for its actions in Gaza.

Israel launched hostilities in Gaza following a historic operation by the Gaza-based Hamas resistance group against the occupying entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people. More than 100 days into the campaign, the regime has achieved no objectives despite killing at least 26,083 people in Gaza, around 70 percent of them women and children.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






WHO chief breaks down in tears describing 'hellish' Gaza conditions

Iran Press TV

Friday, 26 January 2024 9:33 AM

The director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO) has broken down in tears while demanding a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip amid relentless Israeli ground and aerial offensives against Palestinians in the war-torn coastal sliver.

Addressing the WHO Executive Board in the Swiss city of Geneva on Thursday during a discussion about the Gaza health emergency, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus became emotional, describing conditions in Gaza as "hellish."

"I'm a true believer because of my own experience that war doesn't bring solution, except more war, more hatred, more agony, more destruction. So let's choose peace and resolve this issue politically," said Tedros, who lived through war as a child and whose own children hid in a bunker during bombardments in Ethiopia's 1998-2000 border war with Eritrea.

"I think all of you have said the two-state solution and so on, and hope this war will end and move into a true solution," he said, before breaking down.

The WHO chief said he was "struggling to speak" as he looked down and took a long pause before adding that it was because the situation in Gaza was "beyond words."

"Seventy percent of the dead (in Gaza) are children and women. That alone is enough for a ceasefire," Tedros said.

In the same address, the WHO chief warned that more people in Gaza would die of starvation and disease.

"If you add all that, I think it's not easy to understand how hellish the situation is," he said.

The speech comes as heavy fighting is underway in the vicinity of al-Aqsa, Nasser, al-Amal and al-Kheir hospitals in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis with the Israeli military continuing its intense ground operations and aerial bombardment.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has posted a video, showing a doctor holding a 1-kilogram piece of shrapnel removed from a 60-year-old patient's shoulder at the al-Amal Hospital.

"The operation was crowned with success despite the scarcity of available medical capabilities and the occupation's continued siege and targeting of the hospital's surroundings," PRCS wrote on X.

Earlier in the week, three people were reported killed in an attack on the entrance to the Palestine Red Crescent Society's ambulance center and one was killed in an attack on al-Amal Hospital.

The Israeli strikes have killed at least 200 people and caused injuries to 370 others in 24 hours between Wednesday and Thursday afternoon, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza.

Israel launched hostilities in Gaza following a historic operation by the Gaza-based Hamas resistance group against the occupying entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

More than 100 days into the campaign, the regime has achieved no objectives despite killing at least 26,083 people in Gaza, around 70 percent of them women and children.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Maduro warns of potential collapse of deal with opposition over 'conspiracies'

Iran Press TV

Friday, 26 January 2024 9:05 AM

Venezuela's leader Nicolas Maduro has expressed concern over the potential collapse of an agreement with the political opposition regarding the upcoming elections this year, attributing the risk to alleged "conspiracies" aimed at undermining his position.

"Today the Barbados agreements are mortally wounded, they're in intensive care, they were stabbed, kicked," Maduro said in a televised state broadcast.

"Hopefully we can save the Barbados agreements and, through dialogue, reach real overarching agreements through national consensus," he added.

Last year, the government of President Maduro reached a deal with the political opposition over talks in Barbados to hold elections sometime during the second half of this year.

The negotiations took place in Barbados, and as a result, both parties had agreed to conduct elections at some point in the latter half of this year.

Because of the deal, the US had to temporarily waive off economically debilitating oil sanctions against the country, which owns the largest oil reserves in the world.

Venezuela has yet to lift a ban on Maria Corina Machado, the opposition's presidential candidate.

This week, Maduro said "conspiracies" against him and high-ranking government officials were dismantled last year, with nearly three dozen civilians and military personnel detained.

The Venezuelan president accused the US-backed opposition and the CIA of planning "terrorist attacks" in order to destabilize the country ahead of the presidential election this year.

"Venezuela is entering a period of presidential elections, but the mercenary extreme right and the parasitic opposition will not brook the election process. They will trigger a war to harm the people; they will wage a war and terrorist attacks. they are getting ready," Maduro said.

"The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the United States, as well as the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), from its headquarters in Colombia, are preparing violent, coup-like and anti-constitutional actions against Venezuela," he added.

Maduro ordered civilians, the army and the police across the country to activate the Furia Bolivariana or Bolivarian Fury Plan, under which everyone has the duty to fight against "any terrorist attempt" and "defend the right to peace".

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






US-occupied Ain al-Asad base targeted in fresh drone attack: Report

Iran Press TV

Friday, 26 January 2024 8:30 AM

The Ain al-Asad air base housing US troops in Iraq has reportedly come under a fresh drone attack amid reports that suggest Washington is mulling troops' withdrawal from Iraq.

The base located in the western province of Anbar came under a drone strike on Friday morning, Sabereen News reported.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, and no casualties or damage have been reported.

The attack comes a day after Iraq's foreign ministry said Baghdad and Washington have agreed to set up a committee to start talks to set a timetable for a phased withdrawal of American forces from the Arab country.

The two countries agreed to form working groups that would eventually lead to formulating "a specific and clear timeline... and to begin the gradual reduction of its (the coalition's) advisers on Iraqi soil," the statement read.

Iraqi officials, including Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani, have repeatedly urged for US troops' withdrawal from their country.

"There is a need to reorganize this [Iraq-US] relationship so that it is not a target or justification for any party, internal or foreign, to tamper with stability in Iraq and the region," Sudani told Reuters in an interview in Baghdad on January 9.

Sudani said the exit should be negotiated under "a process of understanding and dialogue."

"Let's agree on a time frame (for the coalition's exit) that is, honestly, quick, so that they don't remain long and the attacks keep happening," he said.

Attacks on US bases

This is the latest in a series of attacks against US bases in Iraq and Syria that is fueled by its support for Israeli atrocities. Many such attacks against the US forces have been claimed by groups operating under the banner of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq.

Last week, Iraqi resistance groups fired multiple ballistic missiles and rockets at Ain al-Asad, reportedly causing traumatic brain injury to the personnel in the base.

The US Central Command confirmed the attack Saturday evening and said in a statement that "a number" of US personnel are being evaluated for traumatic brain injuries.

The US army has several times attacked Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces over the past weeks, killing several Iraqi forces.

The United States, Israel's biggest ally, has provided the regime with large quantities of arms and ammunition since the beginning of the Gaza war.

Washington has also vetoed United Nations Security Council resolutions demanding the occupying regime to cease its aggression.

Iraqi resistance groups have vowed to continue retaliatory attacks against US forces in the region while Israel continues to kill Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

Furthermore, the groups also have been pressing for an end to the presence of foreign forces in Iraq more than a decade after a US-led coalition invaded the Arab country in blatant violation of international law based on false claims of Iraq having weapons of mass destruction.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






UN Court Orders Israel To Take Measures To Avoid Acts Of Genocide In Gaza, No Cease-Fire

By RFE/RL January 26, 2024

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel take immediate measures to ensure it is not committing genocide in the Gaza Strip and aid an increase humanitarian assistance for Palestinians trapped there, but did not grant a request by South Africa to order a cease-fire on the ground.

Israel must take "immediate and effective measures to enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance to address the adverse conditions of life faced by Palestinians," ICJ President Joan Donoghue said as she read out the court's preliminary ruling on January 26.

"The court is acutely aware of the extent of the human tragedy that is unfolding in the region and is deeply concerned about the continuing loss of life and human suffering," she added.

South Africa had asked the court for provisional measures, including a cease-fire, saying it was "a matter of extreme urgency."

Israel had denied the accusation it is committing genocide in Gaza, at one point during the evidentiary hearings saying that drawing similarities with Russia's war in Ukraine was "absurd."

The court ordered Israel to report within one month on the measures it has taken to uphold the ruling.

It also said it was "gravely concerned" about the fate of the hostages taken by Hamas back into Gaza after its attack, and called on the extremists and other armed groups to immediately release those being held without conditions.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the accusation that his country was committing genocide, calling it "outrageous."

"Israel's commitment to international law is unwavering. Equally unwavering is our sacred commitment to continue to defend our country and defend our people," Netanyahu said in a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, after the ruling.

As part of its case seeking the court to order a provisional halt to the hostilities, touched off by a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 that killed some 1,200 civilians in Israel, South Africa had pointed to a March 2022 ruling it made calling on Russia to halt its military operations against Ukraine.

The court did not address that point in its ruling, which addressed only the request for emergency measures. A decision on the broader allegations of genocide, legal experts say, could take years.

International legal expert Gurgen Petrossian said the ruling allows Israel to continue its military operation in Gaza, and that the comparison to Russia and Ukraine appears to have failed to gain traction with the court.

"If we make the comparison with [the] Ukraine against Russia order on the genocide convention, where we have two states and one country which started the war against another state, under these circumstances we can consider a cease-fire as a legitimate form of a preliminary measure.," he told RFE/RL in an interview.

"In the case of Israel, which is actually conducting or fighting a nonstate actor, Hamas, in this particular case...it still may continue its operations...in order to rescue the hostages."

South Africa, which accused Israel of committing "systematic" acts of genocide in the conflict, asked the court to hand down an emergency ruling to protect Palestinians in Gaza from further harm by Israel's war against Hamas. The Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza says more than 26,000 Palestinians have been killed in the campaign, the majority of whom were women and children.

"Today marks a decisive victory for the international rule of law and a significant milestone in the search for justice for the Palestinian people," South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation said in a statement.

"South Africa sincerely hopes that Israel will not act to frustrate the application of this Order, as it has publicly threatened to do, but that it will instead act to comply with it fully, as it is bound to do."

Oona Hathaway, a law professor at Yale University, said that, while the ruling fell short of imposing a cease-fire, the court "got as close to doing so as it was ever reasonable to expect it would."

"This is pretty much everything South Africa could have hoped for," she added.

Ryan Goodman and Siven Watt of Just Security said that the ruling on January 26 was easier for South Africa to achieve than a final ruling in the case of whether Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.

"Friday's [January 26] opinion was a far easier hurdle for South Africa to clear - based on a very low standard of proof - compared to the standard of proof that will be required were the Court to reach the merits phase. This is true of any ICJ case. It is especially true of a case about genocide, for which the Court has imposed the highest standard of proof at the final merits stage," they wrote in reaction to the decision.

South Africa's heading up of the case has put a spotlight on its long-standing support of Palestinian rights, with even Nelson Mandela once saying that his country's freedom would be "incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians."

Decisions by the ICJ cannot be appealed, but the court itself has no means to enforce its rulings.

Analysts have previously noted that the ICJ's order for Russia to halt its military operations had no effect.

With reporting by RFE/RL Europe Editor Rikard Jozwiak

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/icj-emergency-ruling-israel- genocide-south-africa/32792783.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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Houthi Naval Forces Strike British Oil Ship in Gulf of Aden - Military Spokesman

Sputnik News

20240126

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Naval forces of the Houthi movement in Yemen attacked a British oil ship in the Gulf of Aden on Friday, and the vessel caught fire after it was hit by a missile, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said.

"Yemeni naval forces carried out a targeting operation on the British oil ship (MARLIN LUANDA) In the Gulf of Aden, using a number of appropriate naval missiles, the strike was direct, and resulted the burning of the vessel," the spokesman wrote on his Telegram channel.

The tanker Marlin Luanda operated by the freight company Trafigura from Denmark has deployed firefighting equipment to suppress a fire reportedly caused by a Houthi missile when the ship was crossing the Gulf of Aden, the company said in a statement to Sputnik.

"Earlier on 26th January, the Marlin Luanda, a petroleum products tanker vessel operated on behalf of Trafigura, was struck by a missile in the Gulf of Aden after transiting the Red Sea. Firefighting equipment on board is being deployed to suppress and control the fire caused in one cargo tank on the starboard side," the statement said on Friday.

No injuries have been reported as a result of the missile strike, the statement also said.

Military ships are currently heading to the Marlin Luanda to provide necessary assistance, the statement added.

Yemen's Ansar Allah movement, also known as the Houthis, vowed in November 2023 to attack any ships associated with Israel until that country halts all military actions in the Gaza Strip. The move prompted the United States to announce the creation of a multinational operation to secure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.

The United States and the United Kingdom later launched missile strikes against Houthi positions in Yemen in a bid to degrade the rebels' ability to target commercial vessels.

 Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Statement on UNRWA Allegations

US Department of State

Press Statement

Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson

January 26, 2024

The United States is extremely troubled by the allegations that twelve UNRWA employees may have been involved in the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel. The Department of State has temporarily paused additional funding for UNRWA while we review these allegations and the steps the United Nations is taking to address them.

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres on January 25 to emphasize the necessity of a thorough and swift investigation of this matter. We welcome the decision to conduct such an investigation and Secretary General Guterres' pledge to take decisive action to respond, should the allegations prove accurate. We also welcome the UN's announcement of a "comprehensive and independent" review of UNRWA. There must be complete accountability for anyone who participated in the heinous attacks of October 7.

UNRWA plays a critical role in providing lifesaving assistance to Palestinians, including essential food, medicine, shelter, and other vital humanitarian support. Their work has saved lives, and it is important that UNRWA address these allegations and take any appropriate corrective measures, including reviewing its existing policies and procedures.

The United States has reached out to the Government of Israel to seek more information about these allegations, and we have briefed Members of Congress. We will remain in close contact with the United Nations and Government of Israel regarding this matter.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

Department of Public Information . News and Media Division . New York

26 January 2024

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's noon briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

All right, I am not even going to apologize for the lateness of the hour. It is the new normal.

** International Court of Justice

I will start off with the statement on the decision issued by the Court, by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague. The Secretary-General takes note of the Order of the International Court of Justice, indicating provisional measures in the case of South Africa against Israel on the application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip.

In that regard, the Secretary-General notes that the Court's decision to order Israel, among other things, in accordance with its obligations under the Genocide Convention, "to take all measures within its power" in relation to Palestinians in Gaza to prevent the commission of acts within the scope of Article II of the Convention, including killing, causing serious bodily or mental harm, deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about the group's destruction and imposing measures intended to prevent births. He also notes that the Court's instruction to Israel to ensure with immediate effect that its military does not commit any of these acts.

Further, the Secretary-General takes special note of the Court's order to Israel to ensure the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance to address the adverse conditions of life faced by Palestinians in Gaza.

He also notes the emphasis of the Court that "all parties to the conflict in the Gaza Strip are bound by international humanitarian law" and that it calls for the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages abducted during the attacks on Israel on 7 October and held since then by Hamas and other armed groups.

The Secretary-General recalls that, pursuant to the Charter and to the Statute of the Court, decisions of the Court are binding and trusts that all parties will duly comply with the Order from the Court.

In accordance with the Statute of the International Court of Justice, the Secretary-General will promptly transmit the notice of the provisional measures ordered by the Court to the Security Council.

And that lengthy statement has been shared with you by email.

** UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees

Also, this morning, regarding UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees), as I said in a statement issued earlier this morning, the Secretary-General has been briefed by the Commissioner-General of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, regarding extremely serious allegations which implicate several UNRWA staff members in the terror attacks of 7 October in Israel.

The Secretary-General is horrified by this news and has asked Mr. Lazzarini to investigate this matter swiftly and to ensure that any UNRWA employee shown to have participated or abetted in what transpired on 7 October, or in any other criminal activity, be terminated immediately and referred for potential criminal prosecution.

An urgent and comprehensive independent review of UNRWA will be conducted as it has been announced by Philippe Lazzarini, the Commissioner-General of UNRWA, back on 17 January.

To protect the Agency's ability to deliver humanitarian assistance, Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, has taken the decision to immediately terminate the contracts of all these staff members and launch an investigation in order to establish the truth without delay. Any employee of UNRWA who was involved in acts of terror will be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution.

And I can tell you that our colleagues at OIOS, the Office of Internal Oversight [Services], have been seized of the matter and will be conducting the investigations that UNRWA requests.

** Gaza

Turning to the situation in Gaza, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) tells us that heavy fighting was reported yesterday in Khan Younis near the Al Aqsa, Nasser, Al Amal and Al Kheir hospitals.

There have also been reports of Palestinians trying to flee to the southern town of Rafah, which is already overcrowded, despite the lack of safe passage.

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros [Adhanom Ghebreyesus], said yesterday that WHO and UNRWA helped evacuate 45 patients from the Khan Younis Training Centre but was unable to evacuate all of the injured due to the fighting. One patient reportedly died en route. Dr. Tedros called for the protection of all civilians, humanitarians and health workers, while reiterating his appeal for an immediate ceasefire.

WHO also says there are 14 partially functional hospitals out of 36 in Gaza  seven in the north and seven in the south.

** Lebanon

In Lebanon, the Humanitarian Coordinator in Lebanon for the United Nations, Imran Riza, said today that the escalation in the south of the country is taking a growing toll on civilians.

Mr. Riza's statement came after he recently visited the southern parts of Lebanon and met with people who have lost their homes and are now displaced because of the current round of hostilities.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates that more than 86,000 people have been displaced in southern Lebanon, while some 60,000 are remaining in border villages. Significant damage was inflicted upon health centres, essential civilian infrastructure and agricultural land. We reiterate our call on all the parties to take constant care to spare civilians and civilian infrastructure, and to facilitate access to civilians in need, in line with international humanitarian law.

** Holocaust Remembrance

Back here, this morning, you will hear that the Secretary-General spoke at the annual ceremony in remembrance of the victims and survivors of the Holocaust, and particularly recognized their courage. He said that beacons of bravery shone from the hell of Auschwitz itself, and from across the world ravaged by Nazi ideology and hate.

The Secretary-General warned that the antisemitism that fuelled the Holocaust did not start with the Nazis, nor did it end with their defeat. Today, he said, we are witnessing hate spreading at alarming speed. Online, it has moved from the margins to the mainstream.

Mr. [Antonio] Guterres said that it is up to all of us to defend the truth and to defend our common humanity. Working together, he said, we must combat online lies and hate. Every one of us must resolve to stand up against the forces of hate, discrimination, and division.

** Deputy Secretary-General's Travels

A couple of travel notes to share with you. Our Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, at the invitation of the Prime Minister of Italy, will head [this weekend] to Rome to participate in the Italy-Africa Summit hosted by the Government of the Republic of Italy as part its G7 Presidency's focus. The Deputy Secretary-General will also engage in bilateral meetings with senior government officials, UN officials and other stakeholders.

The Deputy Secretary-General will be back in New York on 29th of this month.

** Cyprus

In Cyprus, the newly named Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General on Cyprus, Maria Angela Holguin Cuellar, will travel to Cyprus over the weekend for her first visit to the island since taking up her mandate earlier this month. On 30 January, she will meet with the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders, Mr. Nikos Christodoulides and Mr. Ersin Tatar, respectively. During her stay, Ms. Holguin will also engage with a broad range of interlocutors from local actors to civil society, including women and youth groups.

** Ukraine

Turning to Ukraine, our Humanitarian Coordinator there, Denise Brown, today condemned in a statement a new attack on humanitarian workers in Chasiv Yar, in the Donetsk Region. That is in the east of the country.

This morning, a vehicle belonging to a Ukrainian humanitarian organization, called the Mission Proliska, was hit while its team was just a few metres away distributing supplies.

With civilians in Chasiv Yar having exhausted their scarce resources, Ms. Brown stressed the importance of the work carried out by volunteers, humanitarian organizations and local authorities. She emphasized that the work of humanitarian organizations must be protected.

And the High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, wrapped up a week-long visit to Ukraine late last night. He warned of dramatic humanitarian suffering throughout Ukraine and worsening conditions as war-affected civilians suffer in the depths of winter.

Mr. Grandi appealed in the strongest terms for much more international humanitarian support to the country, including to those displaced by the horrific violence and those who are subjected to the harsh winter.

In the past two years, the office of the High Commissioner for Refugees and its partners have reached more than 4.3 million people in 2022 and 2.6 million in 2023 with assistance and support.

If funding is available, UNHCR (United Nations Refugee Agency) plans to deliver almost $600 million worth of assistance to reach 2.7 [million] Ukrainians in 2024.

** Security Council

Also on Ukraine, as you know, yesterday the Security Council held a meeting on Threats to International Peace and Security.

Briefing Council members was Rosemary DiCarlo, the Head of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. She said that the UN is not in a position to verify the reports or the circumstances of the crash of a Russian IL-76 military transport plane in the Belgorod region of the Russian Federation, near the border of Ukraine.

Her remarks were shared with you.

** Democratic Republic of the Congo

Turning to the Democratic Republic of Congo, our peacekeeping colleagues there (MONUSCO) report that peacekeepers have deployed to the Mweso area in North Kivu to protect civilians who are caught in ongoing clashes between the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) and the 23 March Movement, also called M23.

The Mission has received reports of several civilians killed and wounded.

Peacekeepers are actively protecting a corridor, which has allowed more than 1,000 internally displaced people to move to safer ground. The peacekeeping mission is monitoring the situation closely and remains committed to implementing its protection of civilians' mandate in support to the Congolese defence and security forces.

** Mali

Turning to Mali: Our humanitarian colleagues tell us that the 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan was launched yesterday in Bamako, that is the capital of Mali.

We, along with our humanitarian partners, will need over $700 million to assist more than 4.1 million people across the country in 2024. These efforts will complement response activities implemented by national authorities.

Last year, aid agencies received only about 30 per cent of what was needed, and we asked $750 million last year. With these funds, they assisted more than 1.8 million people across the country.

While funding is urgently needed, aid agencies are also clear that humanitarian aid is not the solution to the challenges facing Mali. We continue to emphasize the need to maintain development assistance, as well as social cohesion programmes, to help communities keep moving forward and to avoid further increases in humanitarian needs in the future.

** Clean Energy

Today is the first International Day of Clean Energy.

In his message, the Secretary-General says that "fossil fuel phase out is not only necessary, it is inevitable".

He adds that we need Governments to accelerate the transition, and the biggest emitters should point out the way.

** Senior Personnel Appointment

I am almost done. Senior personnel appointment. Today, the Secretary-General is appointing our friend Raisedon Zenenga of Zimbabwe as his new Deputy Special Representative for the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM). He will succeed Anita Kiki Gbeho of Ghana, to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for her dedicated service in Somalia.

Mr. Zenenga currently serves as Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Libya, where he also worked as the Assistant Secretary-General and Mission Coordinator of the Support Mission since 2020.

Mr. Zenenga brings extensive experience in supporting political processes and mediation, managing complex peace operations, and working with Governments and other key stakeholders in conflict and post-conflict settings.

** Honour Roll

Lastly, Honour Roll. We thank our friends in Algiers, Baku, Bratislava and in Funafuti. Where is Funafuti? Tuvalu. [...]

Yes, so we thank our friends in Algeria, Azerbaijan, Slovakia and Tuvalu for making it to the Honour Roll.

** Questions and Answers

Spokesman : Edie, you came as close as anyone else.

Question : Thank you, Steph. A couple of questions. First, on the Secretary- General's statement in reaction to the International Court of Justice ruling, he either takes note or takes special note, but a lot of the decisions of the court are things that the Secretary-General himself has called for and been calling for. So why is the language so weak?

Spokesman : The language isn't weak. It's legal. The bottom line for the Secretary-General, as we've said, believes that the court is... I mean, it's not that he believes  it is a pillar of the UN system. It's a major organ. He strongly believes that its decisions should be respected, as they are binding by the Charter and the Statute of the Court. And he believes in the independence of the Court. So, he's not a court commentator. I mean, you are correct that he has been calling for a humanitarian ceasefire. He's been calling for the respect of international law. He's been calling for the release of hostages. That was his position yesterday. It's his position today and will continue to be his position.

Question : Okay. And my second question is on the UNRWA announcement. It talks about several UNRWA employees. Why can't we get an exact number? Several usually deals with, like, under five. So, are we talking about under five employees? Are we talking about more? And why not give us specific number?

Spokesman : That is the information I have from UNRWA right now. As there is more information we can share, we will share that with you.

Question : And is the OIOS planning to send investigators to the region?

Spokesman : I mean, OIOS will do what it needs to do. I mean, they literally received the assignment very early this morning. They will do a thorough job, as they always do. Madame?

Question : Hi, Steph. I have several questions as well. Just a follow-up on the number. The US State Department said 12. So, do you confirm or not?

Spokesman : The US State Department said what it said. I said what I said. I have no more information to share with you at this point.

Question : Okay. And the State Department at the same time announced that they are suspending funding to UNRWA because of these allegations until the UN is doing what it needs to do to solve the issue. So, what is your reaction to the suspension of the funding with UNRWA being already so underfunded?

Spokesman : I know the US authorities are in touch directly with UNRWA. UNRWA launched an appeal, if you'll recall, not too long ago, for Gaza for about $481 million. That was at the end of December. They've received about $280 million so far, and I think plus an additional $90 million was received for urgent needs. There are hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza who rely on UNRWA's humanitarian work, who rely on humanitarian assistance, even more now than they did before. The work that UNRWA does remains critical today, and we very much hope that while a number of things have to happen at the same time, UNRWA has to ask OIOS to do this investigation, the Commissioner General, I think, has taken very swift and strong measures right away. At the same time, our humanitarian work needs to continue. Lives depend on it.

Correspondent : Sorry, I have more.

Spokesman : Oh, yes.

Question : At the Holocaust ceremony this morning, the Israeli Ambassador was very, very strong against the UN after this UNRWA issue, saying that the UN is not only weaponized to delegitimize the existence of Israel, but also to physically exterminate us. So, any comment regarding this?

Spokesman : I was there at the ceremony. It was an extremely solemn ceremony honouring the memory of millions of Jews, of Sinti and Roma, and LGBT people and other minorities who were targeted just because of who they were. I think the Secretary-General delivered a very strong and solemn speech and I'm not going to decortiquer the remarks of others.

Correspondent : Last one, if I may.

Spokesman : Yeah.

Question : On a different topic, another court issue. The High Court in Nairobi blocked the deployment of the mission to Haiti, saying it's unconstitutional. Even if the Kenyan Government is going to appeal the decision, it could take, I guess, a long time now. So, is the mission dead? Is the Secretary-General going to try to find another country to lead the mission to replace Kenya?

Spokesman : It was not the Secretary-General that designated Kenya. It was the Kenyan authorities that stepped forward, as you well pointed out, and we thank them for doing so when so many countries are not stepping forward. As you said, they will appeal. The need for this multinational force authorized by the [Security] Council remains extremely high. We need urgent action, we need urgent funding, and we hope that Member States will continue to do their part and then some. Gabriel, then Dezhi.

Question : Thanks, Steph. Several questions, some have already been asked, so I'll try to skip ahead here. On UNRWA, there's some reporting that the Secretary-General had a phone conversation with Antony Blinken yesterday about the UNRWA situation. Is that true?

Spokesman : That is correct.

Question : Okay. And to be abundantly clear, is the UN investigating these allegations or has the UN found evidence that the allegations could be true?

Spokesman : We have UNRWA, and I would refer you back to their statement. The Commissioner-General has received enough information to have taken a decision on separating, firing a number of staff members. I'm not going to go more into it at this point.

Question : Okay. That's a little vague but okay. Fair enough. I'll move on. Sorry, one more on UNRWA. There's one more report that the Shin Bet and Israeli Military Intelligence gave evidence that UNRWA vehicles and facilities were used during the 7 October attack. Does the UN have any evidence of that?

Spokesman : I'm not able to answer that question at this point.

Question : Okay, last one, and I move on. About the ICJ, is the Secretary- General disappointed that the ICJ did not call for a ceasefire?

Spokesman : You know, as I said to Edie, the Secretary-General is not here to do colour commentating on decisions of the independent court of the UN. His position has been what it is. It's been very clear. We've taken note and special note of everything that the court has decided.

Question : The Foreign Minister of South Africa said that she does not think  I'm paraphrasing  she does not think that the injunctions laid out by the ICJ can be carried out without a ceasefire. It's like trying to put a square peg through a round hole. Does the Secretary-General think that the provisions can be carried out without a ceasefire?

Spokesman : What the Secretary-General thinks and what he would like to see is an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. Dezhi?

Correspondent : Some of my questions have been asked by my colleagues, so I'll just try to get some answered.

Spokesman : And answered!

Question : Yes, you answered, but not clearly. So, let me try it one more time. UNRWA, you just skipped the number of people. In your statement, you said some of the alleged UNRWA staff were in the 7 October attack. What does that mean? Are they participating? Were they planning for that? What does that mean?

Spokesman : I understand your position in trying to get more detail. I think the UNRWA statement, as issued, is as clear as they can be at this time.

Question : So, there would be a more detailed report?

Spokesman : They are as clear as they can be at this time.

Question : So, how much damage to the UN of the reputation, as well as financially speaking, does this event would do to the people?

Spokesman : That's not for me to...

Question : Let me change the question. [cross talk]

Spokesman : That's not for me to assess. But I will paraphrase what Mr. Lazzarini said in his statement, which is, I think those staff members who betray the values and the ideals enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations betray not only their colleagues, but all of the people we serve around the world.

Question : My next question on the ICJ ruling today, Gabriel just asked about the ceasefire. I'm just wondering, will the Secretary-General walk back from the ceasefire urges or appealing? He will still ask for immediate humanitarian ceasefire?

Spokesman : I don't think the Secretary-General at this... No, I mean, I was trying to say something a little pithy and witty. [cross talk]

Question : So, his position would still be consistent?

Spokesman : The Secretary-General's strong and clear position is to call for, is for a humanitarian ceasefire. For obvious reasons, from our part. Sinan?

Question : [inaudible]

Spokesman : Okay. Dulcie, and then Stefano. Yeah.

Question : Okay, thanks. So, when did the Israelis make these allegations known to the UN?

Spokesman : Let me just put it this way. The further questions should be addressed to UNRWA. I've shared with you whatever I can share at this point.

Question : You can't tell me when they actually emailed or... [cross talk]

Spokesman : I can tell you that the Secretary-General was briefed earlier this week by Philippe Lazzarini. But for other details, you should reach out to UNRWA.

Question : So, it might have been earlier this week?

Spokesman : I can't tell you what I don't know. I can't speculate on what I don't know.

Question : Okay, so Sigrid Kaag, there's no dedicated website to her work so far, right?

Spokesman : No. I can be her website and tell you that she's currently in Amman. She is working, continuing her contacts, and that she will be in New York at the end of January, I think to be there 30 January to brief the Security Council.

Question : Okay, so that's when she's filing her report  on 30 January?

Spokesman : That's when she has to report back to the Council. And she will do that on 30 January.

Question : And she'll be here physically?

Spokesman : Yes, ma'am, that's the plan. You, please?

Question : Thank you, Steph. Sorry, so I have a follow-up question about UNRWA. So, UN has already terminated their contract or not yet? Because if UN terminated their contract, it means UN confirmed something?

Spokesman : I don't want to go further than what UNRWA said. But obviously, if decisions were taken by UNRWA, it was based on information they have. Yeah.

Question : On Wednesday, the Russian Parliament, Duma passed in the first reading a bill on confiscation of property, in particular for spreading fakes about the Russian Army and calling for activities against the security of the State. In other words, if a person in the Russian Federation publicly reads the UN General Assembly resolutions on Russian's occupation of Ukraine or the Secretary-General's statements on this issue, he or she will be imprisoned and have their property confiscated. Do you have any concerns about that?

Spokesman : I haven't seen that report, but I can tell you that we traditionally do not comment on bills that are being debated within a parliament that are not yet adopted. Mr. Vaccara, did you have a question? I don't want to prompt one, but if you have one, I'm happy to take one.

Question : No, I do, actually. Thank you. Many have been asked, but as one of my colleagues said, I'm not completely satisfied with your answer. So, we will try it again. About exactly... Okay, if I understood, UNRWA tells Guterres, the Secretary-General, of what's going on, what they discovered. The Israeli intelligence gave the information to UNRWA or gave it to Guterres?

Spokesman : You're speculating on information that I don't have.

Correspondent : Okay, then the question is important about when it happened. I mean, when UNRWA talks to Guterres, because we found out, I mean, this is your press release. Everything is happening today. Today is an important date because it's also the day that in The Hague, we had the big news about Gaza. So, it's like in journalists, when there are two big news, then you don't know which one to put in first.

Spokesman : Stefano, I'm not your editor.

Question : So, I will like to know the date. No, no. Well, but we want to know the date of when Guterres knows this and when. So, if he's just, you know, yesterday, I understand he came today. But if it was a week ago, why we find out today?

Spokesman : It was not a week ago, it was this week. Obviously, when these sorts of things happen, a number of Member States and key donors also have to be briefed. That takes a little bit of time. We don't want people, those people who are supporting UNRWA, and who will continue to support UNRWA, we don't want them to be surprised by reading your articles and finding out what happened. So, we want to tell them ahead of time.

Correspondent : Okay, a better answer. And then another thing, trying to... already you answered, but I tried in this way. I think what's the best piece of art that there is in this building was given by United States and is by Norman Rockwell. And we all see that.

Spokesman : Yes, yes, beautiful.

Correspondent : Very beautiful. And that has a phrase, a biblical phrase on it.

Spokesman : You don't need to show it to me, Dezhi. I know it well. Thank you.

Correspondent : And I translate. Maybe it's not the perfect translation, but I always think in Italian. Exactly. "Do unto others..."

Spokesman : Yes. It's the golden rule. [cross talk]

Correspondent : Golden rule. Okay. Don't do. In Italian we say, "Fai agli altri quello che vorresti fosse fatto a te."

Spokesman : And I knew the golden rule before I came here as well. Yeah.

Question : Okay. Does the Secretary-General think that what the international court just said is basically could be inspired by this? Because today we are remembering. We're remembering genocide.

Spokesman : Okay, let's step back for a second. First of all, as you know, there are different time frames and calendars for different bodies in this organization. The calendar of the International Court of Justice is their calendar. They follow their own calendar. We have no insight into it. Obviously, it has to start with when people put a case in front of it and then they make their decision. They spoke today on a specific case. It is not for me to interpret the ruling of this case today as it applies to other cases. The court has ruled on other cases, whether, I mean, recently, just off my head, on Myanmar, on Ukraine. So, the court does its thing, we do our thing.

Question : No, but I'm sorry, maybe I wasn't clear. The question about the date was more the question that I asked before. This is about if the Secretary-General think that what was decided today can apply to that golden rule.

Spokesman : What was decided today was decided on the facts that were presented to it by both Israel and South Africa. Ms. Lederer, and then Gabriel, and then we're all going to go home.

Question : Okay. On numbers, we all know that UNRWA had 13,000 people in Gaza. Do we know how many are still there and how many of them have still been working?

Spokesman : I think safe, perhaps, for a few who were evacuated for medical reasons. The Palestinian staff in Gaza of UNRWA has stayed in Gaza, and it's 13,000. One hundred fifty-three of them have perished during this conflict. They're all working to the best of their ability to deliver humanitarian aid. Gabriel?

Question : Thanks for coming back to me, Steph. A question not about the ICJ or UNRWA. On January 9th, thereabouts, so about two and a half weeks ago, Antony Blinken announced a deal was reached to launch a UN-led assessment mission to the north of Gaza. Do you have an update on that if that's happened? And I have a follow-up.

Spokesman : It has not happened.

Question : Why not?

Spokesman : There's a conflict going on, and we haven't been. All the things that need for this to happen have not happened.

Question : Okay. A follow-up to that is Axios is reporting that [United States] President Joe Biden spoke to [Israeli] Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday. And in that call, reportedly President Biden asked Netanyahu to allow a UN-led mission to the north of Gaza, and Netanyahu allegedly agreed. Do you know anything about this?

Spokesman : We don't monitor the conversations between the Prime Minister and the President.

Correspondent : Fair enough.

Spokesman : So, we hope that the outcome of that conversation will be greater humanitarian access and that the mission will go forward.

Question : Do you know if this was part of that from January 9th, though? Don't know?

Spokesman : Okay. Got to talk to somebody with an eagle seal instead of a UN seal in front of the podium. All right. Go ahead, Dulcie.

Question : This is on Afghanistan on the envoy's conference, I think it was mid-December. Is that a UN conference... UN-led conference?

Spokesman : It's a follow-up meeting of all the Afghan envoys from Member States and regional organizations. I mean, it's people coming together. We obviously have an important role in organizing it. And it'll be in Doha, 18th to 19th February.

Question : So, are any women, Afghan women involved?

Spokesman : Well, as part of the event, there will be collective meetings with the Special Envoys, including with Afghan women representatives, civil society representatives. But as we get closer to the date, I will share more details.

Question : Can I just ask one question about the 145 Palestinians who have been killed by Israeli Defence Forces?

Spokesman : 153 UNRWA members. Yeah.

Question : 153. Okay. Sorry. Does the UN approach Israel and ask for reparations?

Spokesman : I think once this conflict is over, as it's been in cases in different, there will be boards of inquiry and the like. Okay, thank you. Happy Friday.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. To alleviate tensions between Azerbaijan and Iran in relation to the terrorist incident, continuous talks between officials and key bodies of the two countries continued throughout the year to severely punish those engaged in arranging and carrying out the abovementioned terrorist crime, Trend reports, referring to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.

Regular interactions between authorities and important structures of the two nations continued throughout the year to maintain the embassy's complete security, and the Azerbaijani side's expectations were relayed to the other side.

"The Iranian side regularly informed the Azerbaijani side about the ongoing investigative measures, and after a long process, the first court session on the case of the person who committed the terrorist act was scheduled for January 27, 2024," the Foreign Ministry says in a statement.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
UN world court calls for prevention of genocidal acts in Gaza

26 January 2024 - The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Friday declared that Palestinians had a right to be protected from acts of genocide, calling on Israel to "take all measures within its power" to prevent such actions and allow the entry of desperately needed humanitarian aid into the war-shattered enclave.

Reading out the order at the Peace Palace in The Hague - in response to allegations of genocide against Israel by South Africa, which Israel denies - ICJ President Joan Donoghue also called for the release of all remaining hostages taken from Israel during the Hamas-led attacks on Israeli communities in which some 1,200 people were massacred on 7 October.

There was no explicit call for an immediate halt to Israel's full-scale military operation in the Strip, which is believed to have left more than 26,000 dead, according to Gaza health authorities.

Highlighting that the ICJ was "acutely aware of the extent of the human tragedy unfolding in the region" since war erupted in Gaza, Judge Donoghue said that the court remained "deeply concerned about the continuing loss of life and human suffering".

Call for compliance: UN chief

The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres noted in a statement the measures pertaining to the Israeli military laid out in the provisional ruling and stressed that "decisions of the Court are binding" and trusts that all parties will duly comply with the order from the Court.



"In accordance with the Statute of the Court, the Secretary-General will promptly transmit the notice of the provisional measures ordered by the court to the Security Council," UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.

South Africa's case

In its case, which began earlier this month in The Hague, South Africa asked the court - a principal organ of the UN - to indicate provisional measures in order to "protect against further severe and irreparable harm to the rights of the Palestinian people under the Genocide Convention".

Among the measures South Africa asked for was the immediate suspension of military operations by Israel in the Strip and that its forces take "all reasonable measures" to prevent genocide.

South Africa also asked the world court to order Israel to prevent forced displacement, allow adequate food and water to reach civilians and ensure that evidence of any potential genocide is preserved.

Provisional measures are a type of temporary injunction ahead of a final decision on the dispute. It is likely to take years before a judgement is reached.

The measures are considered "mandatory for implementation", but the Court has no means of enforcing them.

Israel argued in presenting its case that the war on Hamas was one purely of defence and "not against the Palestinian people".

Lawyers for Israel said that provisional measures, if granted, would amount to "an attempt to deny Israel its ability to meet its obligations to the defence of its citizens, to the hostages and to over 110,000 displaced Israelis".

Court order

Detailing the provisional measures that Israel should implement, the ICJ judge noted that both South Africa and Israel were States parties to Genocide Convention and therefore had agreed "to prevent and to punish the crime of genocide".

Quoting article 2 of the key international treaty signed in the aftermath of the Second World War, Judge Donoghue explained that genocide was defined as "acts committed with an intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group".

The two-million-strong Palestinian population did indeed constitute a distinct group in the court's view, she said.

Turning to the article 3 of the Genocide Convention, which prohibits "conspiracy to commit genocide" and public incitement to commit genocide, the judge said that the ICJ had taken note of a number of statements made by senior Israeli officials.

These included comments by Yoav Galant, Defense Minister of Israel, who reportedly told troops on the border with the enclave that they were fighting "human animals" who were the "ISIS of Gaza".

Influence of top UN officials

With Israel's and South Africa's legal teams looking on, Judge Donoghue noted the international community's longstanding concerns about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza which had formed part of its deliberations.

This included the UN Secretary-General's written warning to the Security Council on 6 December 2023 in which he said that "nowhere is safe in Gaza amid constant bombarding by the Israeli Defense Forces" and that the situation was "fast-deteriorating into a catastrophe with potentially irreversible implications for Palestinians as a whole and for peace and security in the region".

Summaries on the dire situation in Gaza from UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths, reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) and UN Palestine relief agency chief Philippe Lazzarini were also quoted directly in the court's decision.

Next steps

In addition to the provisional measures delivered on Friday, the UN's top court also asked Israel to submit a report within a month "on all measures taken to give effect to this order".

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Gaza: UN rights office condemns 'chaotic' Israeli mass evacuation orders

26 January 2024 - Mass evacuation orders issued by the Israeli military to the people of Gaza continue to push them "into ever smaller areas" amid "ever-intensifying violence" in likely violation of international humanitarian law, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, said on Friday.

The OHCHR warning came nearly four months into the war, which has seen widespread Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip in response to Hamas-led attacks on Israeli communities beginning 7 October when some 1,200 people were massacred and more than 250 taken hostage.

"Attacks on hospitals, schools and other places of refuge have repeatedly displaced Palestinians into ever smaller areas, with ever-decreasing access to the essentials needed to sustain life," said Ajith Sunghay, Head of the UN Human Rights Office for the Occupied Palestinian Territory. "Such a failure violates Israel's obligations under international law."

No 'safe' space

Mr. Sunghay told journalists in Geneva that Israeli Defense Forces shelling had continued in areas "unilaterally designated" as "safe", including Al Mawasi in western Khan Younis.

"Even after explosions were reported in Al Mawasi on 22 and 23 January, the IDF continued to order residents of western Khan Younis to move there," he maintained.

That order was reissued "repeatedly" on 23, 24 and 25 January and reportedly impacted more than half a million people as well as three hospitals that have been under heavy attacks and siege - Nasser Hospital, Al-Amal Hospital and the Jordanian Field Hospital - Mr. Sunghay continued.

"I have very grave concerns that these chaotic and mass evacuation orders are ineffective in ensuring the safety of Palestinian civilians, instead placing them in increasingly vulnerable, dangerous, situations."

Health under attack

Amid Israeli airstrikes and street-to-street fighting between IDF soldiers and Palestinian armed groups, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) reiterated serious concerns for healthcare workers and patients caught up in the violence.

Since war erupted in Gaza there have been 318 attacks on healthcare in the enclave causing 615 fatalities and 778 injuries, the latest WHO data indicates. The violence has impacted 95 healthcare facilities, and only 14 hospitals out of 36 still function - seven in the south and seven in the north.

The latest data from Gaza health authorities cited by WHO reports that more than 26,000 people have been killed, a full 75 per cent children and women. There have been at least 60,000 registered injuries, but over 8,000 people are missing presumed dead under the rubble, said WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier.

"The few functioning hospitals in Gaza are in absolutely dire circumstances," he added, noting that the hostilities had prevented access for patients and supplies many times.

Dread of not knowing

"(It's) like in Nasser hospital right now. People shelter in the area outside under attack, the hospital is basically under siege, nobody can go in, nobody can go out, people not knowing what the next minutes will bring, fearing for their lives," the WHO spokesperson said.

"As they are in a hospital, it should be a refuge for those seeking help, for those injured, for those wounded, for those with diseases."

In parallel with the violence affecting healthcare in Gaza, the WHO spokesperson noted spiking attacks on health facilities in the West Bank, where there have been 358 attacks resulting in seven fatalities and 59 injuries - more than in Gaza. "The attacks have affected 44 health facilities, including 15 mobile clinics and 245 ambulances," WHO said in a situation update.

Desperation in Khan Younis, Rafah

Meanwhile, in the southern Gazan city of Khan Younis, OHCHR officer Mr. Sunghay described scenes of desperation that risked spilling over.

"I met with people who were frustrated, angry and understandably wary," he said. "Their schools have been destroyed, as have their universities, destroying their hopes for the future."

Speaking from Amman, Jordan, he noted that "near-continuous attacks" in recent days have not spared medical facilities and schools in Khan Younis nor UN facilities and residential areas.

OHCHR and partners also remain seriously concerned about the situation in Rafah, in the far south of the Strip.

"I saw displaced people who had been ordered by Israeli authorities to leave their homes, with no provision for their accommodation, literally living on the street with sewage running in the streets and conditions of desperation conducive to a complete breakdown in order," Mr. Sunghay said.

"The people I spoke to fear the extreme violence is spilling into Rafah, which will have catastrophic implications for the more than 1.3 million people already crowded there."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






"Escalation of Hostilities in South Lebanon: Growing Toll on Civilians Deepens their Struggles" Statement by the Humanitarian Coordinator in Lebanon Mr. Imran Riza

UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

I recently visited southern areas of Lebanon to meet with persons affected by the ongoing hostilities. I spoke to both people who had left their homes and are now displaced and those who, despite the risks, are staying. It is clear that all are facing immense challenges.

Many spoke of the last three months being a time of loss, fear, and extreme uncertainty about the future. The ability to buffer shocks is very different today than it was the last time such displacement happened in the south, during the 2006 war.

The severe economic crisis over the past few years has also exacerbated the plight of the affected population, leaving them without savings and food stocks, and making them entirely dependent on securing some means of livelihood.

The ongoing destruction of agricultural land, coupled with insecurity and the inability to move safely due to the daily attacks, intensifies the despair among the communities.

Aisha, a 65-year-old displaced woman from Kfar Shouba, told me that she experienced displacement four times in her life. She's tired and drained. Mohammed, a 60-year-old, who decided to stay in his border village, Hebbarieh, said that he cannot afford the costs of displacement, and despite relying on the limited aid, it's not enough.

The economic, personal, and psychological toll on the affected communities is heavy, further deepening the challenges they face.

Since the escalation of hostilities, over 86,000 persons have been displaced, with some 60,000 persons remaining in border villages highly affected by exchanges of fire. At least 25 civilians have been killed and there has been significant damage inflicted upon health centers, essential civilian infrastructure, residential houses, and agricultural lands.

I strongly renew my call to uphold international humanitarian law and safeguard civilians, medical personnel, residences, schools, and healthcare centers. Constant care must be taken to spare them.

All concerned parties must also facilitate access by humanitarians to civilians in need.

I reaffirm the United Nations' and our partners' steadfast commitment to stay and deliver emergency relief and protection to civilians in need wherever they are.

What is needed most, however, is a de-escalation of tensions and an end to hostilities.

-ends-

For more information, please contact the office of United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon:

Ms. Helena Mazzaro, OIC. Head of Office - OCHA. E-mail: mazarro@un.org

Ms. Kawsar Fahs, Senior Communications Officer - OCHA. E-mail: Kawsar.fahs@un.org

26 January 2024

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Senegalese armed forces concludes aeromedical evacuation training

Published Jan. 26, 2024

By Mr. Dreshawn Murray

USAFE-AFAFRICA Public Affairs

OUAKAM AIR BASE, Senegal (AFNS) -- Senegalese armed forces personnel successfully concluded the final phase of the Aeromedical Evacuation Teams training at Ouakam Air Base Jan. 26.

The accomplishment caps a five-year journey for the Senegalese air force, which has been actively involved in aerial patient movement since 2019 in collaboration with the U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa Surgeon General Office and Defense Institute for Military Operations.

The commitment exhibited by SENAF throughout the AMET program underscores their dedication to enhancing aeromedical capabilities and contributing to global peacekeeping efforts.

"Completing the fifth and final phase of the AMET program represents a significant milestone for the Senegalese Armed Forces," said Col. Steven Lehr, USAFE-AFAFRICA command surgeon. "This demonstrates their ability to not only learn a critical function but the ability to sustain it through development of their own cadre that can teach and evaluate their ability to perform this mission."

Lehr also added, "Aeromedical evacuation is a critical capability on a continent as vast as Africa. The SENAF are now poised to support United Nations and African Union missions that ultimately serve greater regional stability."

The Phase V training, executed under the guidance of Defense Institute of Medical Operations, unfolded as a five-day exercise, challenging the team with diverse tactical and medical scenarios. Culminating in a final capstone event, the phase encapsulated the collective knowledge required through all five phases, offering invaluable hands-on experience in a real-world setting, priming SENAF for upcoming medical evacuation scenarios.

"In the privilege of teaching and witnessing these remarkable individuals excel in our program lies the promise of a brighter future," said Col. James Webb, Defense Institute of Military Operations instructor and master clinician. "The Senegalese military's commitment to excellence assures that they will stand as stalwarts in UN peacekeeping operations for years to come."

The AMET program, a vital component supporting United Nations Peacekeeping Operations, has undergone multiple phases, with Phase I initiated in 2019 under the former aerial patient movement program.

As the program evolved, SENAF completed Phase II in April 2023, Phase III in July 2023, and Phase IV in September 2023.

The culmination of these efforts leading up to Phase V marks a significant milestone for Senegal's military capabilities and their commitment to achieving UN validation.

Tech. Sgt. Larry Russian, an international health specialist and AMET program manager assigned to the USAFE-AFAFRICA Surgeon General Office, applauded SENAF dedication, commitment and perseverance during their journey.

"These qualities cannot be more evident in our partner nation of Senegal," he said. "From Phase 0 to Phase V, Senegal's armed forces have demonstrated ownership and sustainability of their Aeromedical Evacuation Teams program in preparation to pursue UN validation in support of peace keeping operations."

Russian went on to say the capacity the Senegalese have developed will help support their own civilian population and military forces aerial patient movement needs.

The completion of Phase V underscores Senegal's commitment to maintain peace and stability in the region and positions Senegal as a valuable contributor in future UN missions.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






CNO Franchetti Speaks at 2024 Paris Naval Conference

US Navy - Press Briefing

26 January 2024

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti spoke during a panel while at the Paris Naval Conference in Paris, France on Jan. 24, 2024. The panel was "Future Challenges and Perspectives for Navies." Speakers included: Chief of the French Navy Adm. Nicolas Vaujour; Royal Navy First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff of the United Kingdom Adm. Sir Ben Key; Adm. Enrico Credendino, Chief of the Italian Navy; and Vice-Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command, Indian Navy.

THOMAS GOMART: So I invite now the G-7 navies to join their seats, in they want, to start our first session. But before that, I let the floor Admiral Vaujour for the introduction. Please have a seat.

ADMIRAL NICHOLAS VAUJOUR: (Through interpreter.) Thank you. Thank you, everybody. Of course, I'm delighted to be talking to you at the beginning of this year, for this second edition of the conference of Paris. It's excellent. I don't know whether I said exactly what we were going to improve further on last year, but I'm sure that we will. I would not like my predecessor to take umbrage with that. And I thank him for having initiated this format, which to my mind is extremely important to be able to exchange at every level.

I think that we have had an excellent introduction. So Joint Staff is - specialists at the Joint Staff who have helped him to write his speech, I'm delighted about that. I have no doubt that he has been assisted. So, of course, what we've heard, the debate has really been set out extremely well. So I'll move to English shortly, but I would like to thank the director, the president of IFRI, the Director of IFRI Thomas Gomart, and Mr. de Montbrial for welcoming us all here, in this beautiful venue, to carry out to these debates and exchanges.

(Continues in English.) Now I will try to speak in English in order to be more easy for all my colleagues here. And, first of all, I would like to acknowledge the presence of my esteemed colleagues. Of course, Lisa Franchetti, the Chief of Naval Operations of the United States. And also Admiral Ben Key, the First Sea Lord. Admiral Enrico Credendino, of course, my Italian counterpart, chief of the Italian Navy.

And the Vice Admiral Pendharkar will represent the Chief of the Indian Navy. Unfortunately, he is not there. He is nationally - in your country. So we can - we can see that. But despite our busy schedules, we manage to see each other quite regularly. It's an honor to have you today and to have taken the time to be to be here. And I am certain that your presence will elevate the quality of the discussion and will make this Conference Navale de Paris an exciting event. So really, thank you for coming.

As General Burkhard just mentioned, the current strategic situation is profoundly affected by imbalance and uncertainty. We are witnessing a proliferation of crises, and an increase in the level of violence. As a result, we must prepare for more brutal, more complex and more enforcing engagements. Moreover, the simultaneity of crisis is challenging our ability to be deployed in several conflicts at the same time.

We will have no choice but to fight as part of a coalition. The challenge is therefore to improve our interoperability, starting from today. Being interoperable is not that easy. It means getting to know each other, knowing how to work together, and trusting each other to be more effective collectively, at sea in operation. Interoperability cannot be decreed. It must be developed passionately. And that's precisely what we are doing today.

The second objective is to build a common strategic culture. It is a constantly renewed pattern, particularly given the complexity of the current context. To remove some of the fog of war, we have today a wide range of people involved - chief, as well as technicians, military, as well as civilians. We can rely in this room by on - by videoconference - on a rich and impressive panel of experts and skills. And I would like also to salute all the guys which are connected via YouTube - political and military authorities, diplomats, researchers and journalists. So thank you for coming here. I am convinced that this wonderful diversity will emerge concrete ideas that will help us to better understand the world of tomorrow.

This year, I have chosen to devote the Conference Navale de Paris to the topic of carrier strike group, which is the group which includes, of course, an aircraft carrier with all the destroyer around and, of course, sometimes a nuclear submarine. Mastering the development of a carrier strike group in operation is a strategic capability for each of our navies. An aircraft carrier is an extremely complex technical assets, requiring very precise industrial know-now, which few nations have. In this respect, the aircraft carrier reflects our national mission - enabling us to operate far and wide.

Deploying a carrier strike group in operation requires the development and maintenance of cutting-edge know-how, which erodes rapidly and can be only maintained at sea. Anyone who has ever seen a strike launched at night from the deck of an aircraft carrier will understand what I mean. You cannot improvise that. It's unique and precise skills that take a long time to build.

While the capacity offered by a carrier strike group is staggering, the possibilities offered are not set in stone. Using an aircraft carrier is anything but dogmatic. Naval history story shows it. The U.S. Navy or Royal Navy aircraft carrier mission during the World War II are fundamentally different from the power projection operation conducted in the Balkans, Afghanistan, or Libya in the 2000s. The sea has now become a more contested environment. This means that we need to think about naval combat from seabed to space. And therefore, we must keep on adapting the way we are employing the carrier strike group.

That sets a high level of ambition for this day. And I would like to leave here this evening with new ideas which will help us to build more effective cooperation. So I wish you all a very good day, and then I will go back to my seat. Thank you. (Applause.)

MR. GOMART: So let's start with the first plenary session, which is dedicated to future challenges, new priorities, and prospects for the respective navies around the - around this table. So the session will be divided into three parts. The very first one will be a common question to each of you to give you some time to develop, you know, you to elaborate on your vision of the carrier strike groups. The second part will be a discussion among you - among you. I will try to moderate it carefully. And at the end, we will save time to take some questions from the room. So please let me know. There will be some microphones, you know, in the room, for the last part of this session.

So let me start with the common question, which is very simple but not so easy to respond. And this is, what are, according to you, the main operational challenges that the carrier strike groups face in the 21st century, considering the changing landscape of threats and technologies? And I would say that the key word, in my opinion, is "and." I think that's - the combination between the threats and technology should maybe drive our discussion at this stage. So I mean, Admiral Vaujour, would you like to start? And I will turn after that to Admiral Franchetti.

ADM. VAUJOUR: OK, thank you. Thank you, Thomas, for this question. I think it's a fundamental question. How can we prepare tomorrow with the knowledge we have today? And I believe it is at the heart of the daily work of our staff and the ambition of each of our navies. For decades, we have been optimizing our feedback circuits - I mean, lessons learned circuits - and the idea was to analyze past events in order to improve our response in the future, assuming that conditions will remain broadly the same.

But today, as the pace of change accelerates, the challenge is now to think ahead. In the face of uncertainty and complexity, we need to be more creative to imagine tomorrow's threats. And so that's the big question we have. So we have a tool which is able to do some mission, and the question is to invent the future. And so, first of all, the carrier strike group is something which is accurate right now, which will still be accurate in the future when you are looking at some very - some very fundamental characteristics.

The first one is carrier strike group is the level where all the military effects come together. It is the level where all the capabilities are integrated - anti-submarine, anti-aircraft, anti-surface, but also strike capabilities, intelligence, influence. All the missions are integrated inside the carrier strike group. And so it's a kind of multiplier effect in all the domain. And so I think that this particular characteristic will continue in the future, and must be a cornerstone of the way we are seeing the carrier strike group in the future.

And this integration give access to a lot of type of missions. Of course, strike off land, strike on land, combat at sea, intelligence, at forefront, of course, nuclear deterrence, and because we have the ability to conduct a nuclear strike from the aircraft carrier. But the other characteristic which will stay in the future is the mobility. The mobility of an aircraft carrier is key to be able - when you have the multiplicity of crises - to be able to shift from an area to another one, to be able to push your effort in a dedicated way. Mobility is really a big advantage. And it is right now. It will be the same in the future.

But one of the key element which will probably lead the future is the ability to understand what's going on. The CHOD were speaking about the ability to integrate everything, to see where it's going on in the area, a kind of hyper-superiority bubble around the carrier strike group. And definitely, I think that when you're putting a carrier strike group in an area, you switch on the light. I mean, you are giving light of what's going on on the sea, down below the - (inaudible) - and, of course, in the space, and everywhere in the information domain. And so, for that it will stand like this.

What is going to change? I think the CHODs said something about that. The contestation of maritime airspace, which is key. And we saw that in the Red Sea. We saw that in the Black Sea. And, unfortunately, we probably saw that everywhere in the world where crises will emerge in the future. And so how can we build all together the supremacy - the superiority in the future, in the 10 years to come, with our carrier strike group? And for sure, this is the way we have to implement, day after day, new ideas, new technologies, new gamechangers onboard the carrier strike group, in order to maintain the ability to have the superiority inside the bubble of the carrier strike group. And if you have the superiority, you will probably effect strike against other competitors, and so on.

All that new technology will change definitely the way we are going to think. And I especially think about artificial intelligence. The way we will implement that inside our ship will totally change the way we will operate our carrier strike group. The way we can integrate all the essentials, all the effectors of a carrier strike group, integrated with an ability to enhance your decision ability inside the carrier strike group will give you an advantage. I have always said, we must understand before the enemy - we must understand what's going on before the enemy in order to decide in the right time.

And so, new technology will give us the opportunity to do that. And carrier strike group will propose the integration of all the sensors, all the information, which will allow us to decide at the right moment to win at sea and to win when we are a projection power ashore. The CHODs say also, I think, that all that for the future will be a problem of human resource. And as I am on the way to build a new aircraft carrier, I have to recruit the guys. And I'm recruiting right now the first for the new aircraft carrier. I have to develop the skills.

And I have to see where will be the new job onboard an aircraft carrier in terms of artificial intelligence. Do I have to buy some data scientist on board? Do I have to - what will be the new job in 10 years to go? So that's one of my biggest question. But at the end of the day, there will be sailors, there will be seasick, and - (laughs) - and so they will have to fight against - like we are fighting together today. So thank you. That's my first answer.

MR. GOMART: Thank you, Admiral. I have pointed out two key words. You know, "together," the fact that we have all the capabilities in the same place, in a sense. Plus this notion of mobility, which is also very, very important.

I turn now to Admiral Franchetti for your time to elaborate on this very large question.

ADMIRAL LISA FRANCHETTI: OK, thank you. Thank you, Thomas, very much. And I really appreciate IFRI, and the opportunity to be here with everybody today, and everybody watching remotely. And to my counterpart here, thank you very much. This is our second iteration of the Paris Naval Conference. It's really an honor to be here. And I really like this topic. And I'm really glad that we have all the carrier strike group-operating navies here to talk about carrier strike groups, talk about some of our lessons learned, and some of the shared experiences and challenges that we all face together.

You know, this - we just celebrated our 100th anniversary of the aircraft carrier airwing, with the commissioning of USS Langley. And I think if you look past those 100 years, the one thing that you really see from carrier aviation, carrier strike groups, is their adaptability and their flexibility. And I'm sure 100 years ago people that were operating the technology back then could not imagine where we are today. And the people that are going to be here in 100 years could not imagine that this is how we used to do business.

And, you know, I think the aircraft carrier, again, it's - someone told me once, and from a diplomatic state, it's 100,000 tons of American diplomacy. What else do I need? And, you know, it can send an incredibly strong deterrent message. In fact, when you integrate our carriers together, it really sends a message of partnership, of allyship, of opportunity that we can, as you always say, plug and fight. But also that we can plug and deter any adversary, anywhere, any time.

I think aircraft carriers can respond to crisis. They can preserve the peace through deterrence. They can also deliver lethality and decisive combat power, again, whenever and wherever it's needed. And I think the inherent flexibility gives our political leaders a lot of options. And I think as we look to the future, our aircraft carrier strike groups are going to continue to be able to do that.

You talked a little bit about maneuverability. And I think as you look at the challenges of new technologies that come online, hypersonic weapons, anti-area access denial capabilities that some adversaries may be interested in trying to develop, you know, the mobility of the carrier strike group is critical. The flexibility that it gives you to move, shoot, move, communicate -these things are all really important.

So, you know, an aircraft - a U.S. aircraft carrier can move about 5,000 miles in a week. So, to your point, it can be somewhere different, wherever it needs to be. About 2,900 square miles of uncertainty in an hour. So, again, we need to preserve this mobility, this flexibility, because, again, it gives us these options that we have. The carrier strike group comes from the power of the airwing, with the cruiser and also the destroyers that are there. And so as each one of these platforms develops and integrates its own new technologies, this is going to only amplify the force that we have available.

I think you talked a little bit about new technologies, and I don't want to get ahead of too many questions, but I think if you think about the advent of some unmanned technologies that we will have available to us, I like to think about them as both challenges and opportunities. In thinking about them more as opportunities and challenges, to integrate them into what we do every day.

So we're working on bringing onboard the Stingray, which is going to be our unmanned refueling aircraft. So this will extend the range of our fighters. It will free up our fighters so we can have more capability, so they're not spending time doing refueling. The challenge is how do we integrate and trust that technology? How do we bring that on board and become used to having that technology around, for all of our sailors and the skills that we developed for them?

The other question that you raised is maritime domain awareness. Also, are there potential opportunities with other unmanned platforms, whether they're airborne unmanned platforms, whether they're on the surface unmanned platforms, to help provide that picture and extend the range of what the carrier can see around it, and the carrier strike group can be aware of? These are some more challenges, but also opportunities, I think, that we have to take advantage of going forward.

So I foresee, if you look back 100 years how much we progressed, if we look forward 100 years, there's going to be - there's going to be things we can't even imagine right now. But I know that the carrier strike group, and the power to convene and bring other nations to work together as part of that big team, is going to be really important going forward. Thanks.

MR. GOMART: Thank you, Admiral. Before turning to Sir Ben, I will list the two key words in my opinion - adaptability and flexibility. That's certainly the notion on which we'll be back.

Admiral, the floor is yours. And welcome back to IFRI, by the way.

ADMIRAL SIR BEN KEY: It's very good to be back. I was slightly relieved to be reinvited, actually, after last year. I was -

MR. GOMART: It was a long discussion. (Laughter.)

ADM. KEY: I wouldn't have the - I wouldn't have the temerity to do anything other than agree with what both of my colleagues - and I'm sure if Enrico had gone ahead of me, he would have said the same thing. Because, you know, not surprisingly, we are all enthusiasts for the role of the carrier strike group. So perhaps I can just look at it and take on a couple of the arguments that are offered by those who are less fanatical about these incredible capabilities. Where part of the argument we often see is that the carrier had its moment, but actually that moment is in decline. And the reason it's in decline is because of the number of threats and the vulnerabilities that the carrier strike group now appears to be threatened by. And you use the word, you know, the threats and technologies ranged against us, as well as the ones that we can exploit.

But I think what's just been laid out in that kind of multidomain integration challenge we have, in dealing with the innovations that are available to us, understanding the complexity of the operating environment in which we find ourselves in order to create the sort of superiority bubbles that General Theirry talked about, to give us that ability to exploit advantage, those same problems exist for our adversaries because the battlespace has become more complicated. And it's not a zero-sum game, in the sense that because that's been developed this now is neutered. I don't subscribe to that argument at all.

And whilst it is also true that the apparent carrier killer capabilities being developed by China at the moment - you know, the argument is, well, why are they also building aircraft carriers if they think that it's so obsolete? And I haven't yet heard an answer that's sensible to that question, other than the benefits of the carrier strike group in the contemporary battle space, particularly in the early shaping operations that are so necessary to creating advantage, has huge political and operational choice that we, as naval chiefs and as naval commanders, are obligated to offer up to the ultimate decision makers.

So the truth is, that it's just getting more difficult for everybody. It is becoming more complex. It is a becoming an area where the number of variables you are having to process actually demand us adopt new technologies, new innovations, and understand the threat space with a kind of intellectual agility which is available in the young men and women that are around us. And one of our roles is to be able to envisage that new future. Now, I was really intrigued by, you know, Admiral Lisa observing that, you know, it's 100 years since the commissioning of the first U.S. aircraft carrier. Now I'm not going to for one minute claimed that the Royal Navy invented them - (laughter) - but in 1909 - no, and I haven't, even though - no, no.

But in 1909, the Admiralty invested some money in airships. They had no idea what it was that these airships might do, but HMS Firefly, which was the first one, it wasn't a great success. But it was an understanding that here was a new technology that needed to be understood. And it needed to be invested in. And a group of admirals who had grown up in the day of sail and the bit of coal, but not very much oil, sort of unleashed an opportunity.

And one of the things that we have got to do, I think, as senior leaders, is unleash the -unleash the creative potential of the young men and women that are coming into the service. And recognize that they may not talk like us. You know, they may not see the world as we do. But it is in their lenses that the utility the carrier strike group into the future will truly be unlocked in the way in which we operate.

You know, we've got to get used to the idea that some members - some of the crew of a carrier strike group might not actually leave home. They might not even be living in a naval community. But their contribution to what is going on from that carrier strike group, because of the way that they're able to interface and to come in some of the cyberspace, or space, or the seabed warfare analysis that we need for what we need to do, they're an integral part. So it's not just the superiority bubble, but it's the breadth that the carrier strike group will be drawing upon.

And because we are all co-located in a small space, actually, a lot of the walls that you find elsewhere don't exist for that quick movement of information, innovation, risk taking, trials, experimentation, learning fast, and moving forward. And I think one of the challenges we've got is not actually that the utility of these instruments - these fantastic national and coalition instruments - is being diminished, but we will hold ourselves back from really exploiting what they can achieve if we apply some of the kind of 20th century analog ways of thinking that are beginning - are the actual obsolete part of a 21st century digital maritime force. And that is a challenge for us, is actually to create an environment and then stand back and, frankly, get out of the way.

MR. GOMART: Thank you, Admiral. Two things. First one, I think that French historians will be very happy to decide who created the first carrier strike group between the U.S. Navy and the Royal Navy. Let us work on that. Now, more seriously, I quite like your idea that the battlespace now is much more complicated than previously. And I think it's absolutely critical in our thinking.

I turn now to Admiral Credendino. I suppose that you are fanatical also to these subjects, but it's your turn now.

ADMIRAL ENRICO CREDENDINO: Thank you very much. And thank you so much, Nicolas, for inviting me. I think this kind of conversations are important. We should do more. We were together in Rhode Island some months ago, now we are here. We will be in Venice in October. (Coughs.) Sorry. It's very important that we are together to share ideas.

So everything has already been said. It's easy to talk among the last. So I just want to say that the carrier strike group is an expression of the rank of a nation. It makes a difference, who has the carrier, who has not the carrier. And integrate all four instruments of national power - diplomatic, information, military, economic. So it really makes a difference. It provides to the - to our political masters a wide range of options for intervention. It's a means to reassure alliance. It's a means to deter the enemy. It's a system of systems. So it's maybe the most technologically advanced system of system we have in the armed forces.

So we're writing the operational requirements of the next generation aircraft that will enter in the Navy in 2040. We are thinking to a multidomain platform which we will fly airplane, but will also have to use unmanned aerial surface and subsurface vehicles. Information - we need to master information. We have such a big amount of data today that we can - but we're not able to manage this kind - this amount of data, information. And who is able to master all the information we have wins, because can understand before the others the environment where we are living. So artificial intelligence, we have to - the new computers, quantum computers, we will have to integrate quantum computers onboard our multidomain platform.

So technology is a real challenge. But also sustainability is a challenge. And this is the other challenge we cannot imagine to work alone. But even the U.S. Navy can imagine to work alone. We need to work together. Sustainability is paramount, so multinational cooperation is paramount. We can think to multinational carrier strike group of the future. Today is too early, but in Europe we have this initiative which is the European carrier strike interoperability initiative, which could lead to maybe one day a multinational carrier strike group. We're going to deploy our carrier strike group in the Indo-Pacific Ocean in the next month. And this will be, in a way, a multinational carrier strike group, because we'll have naval assets from many partners, either integrated or just in company.

So, yes. I mean, we need to work together. This is my main message. We need to work together to understand each other and to be able, one day, to be together with a multinational carrier strike group.

MR. GOMART: Thank you very much, Enrico. I think, yes, the key word is this notion of multinational carrier strike group you have just mentioned, and the perspective of operation you have also announced.

Admiral, please, could you elaborate on some this very broad question?

VICE ADMIRAL RAJESH PENDHARKAR: Thank you very much, firstly, for the opportunity, for bringing me here. I represent my chief, who couldn't be here because of other commitments, given the Republic Day coming up. But I'm also honored to be amongst eminent panelists here today. It's a great privilege and rare occasion for me. So thank you for this opportunity.

Plenty has been said already about the relevance of the carrier groups. And I don't think that question should really be up for debate. We all understand here setting the importance and the relevance of the carrier groups, irrespective of the operating environment that will play out. And here is where I would like to bring in a couple of perspectives with regard to the carrier groups, the first being the operating environment itself.

As we've all seen, particularly in recent times, the operating environment is changing, is evolving. Gray zone and asymmetric warfare seem to be emerging as the strategies of choice, at least in the initial days of conflict. And that seems to be the go-to strategy for lesser powers, so to speak. And if that be the case, then we need to introspect and see how the carrier groups are going to evolve themselves for meeting these challenges, particularly in the - of course, they're very well equipped for escalation and meeting the challenges that emerge out of escalation. But certainly in the initial stages of conflict, are the carrier groups today, as we see them and as they're equipped, are they suitable enough? Do we need to do more?

And of course, the answer to that is there's no doubt that we need to do much more, given the kind of capabilities that the enemy is acquiring in terms of gray zone and asymmetry. We have - coming to the capabilities perspective - I mean, we have a range of vectors that challenge the carrier group today, right? From the addition of ballistic missiles, to cyber warfare, to hypersonic weapons, to drones, swarm technologies, quantum technologies. And I think all these technologies do, on one hand, bring up considerable challenges.

But I also feel that there is plenty of opportunity in these technologies that we need to harness to strengthen the capability of the carrier groups themselves. And when I talk about the carrier groups, I don't mean just the carrier itself but also the escort groups, escort units, whether it is destroyers, frigates, but even the submarines that occasionally form part of the carrier group. And this is what we need, to assign the capabilities. I think it's also important that we look at the human aspect of the people that man these carrier groups, and how they're going to be able to deal with the emerging situations, particularly in this gray zone and asymmetric warfare situations that we now increasingly find ourselves to be in.

Psychological resilience, I think, is an important aspect, because of the prolonged nature of conflict that we are going to be seeing. And our men and women that that man our ships certainly need to be geared up for meeting these kind of challenges. Aside this also, there are certain skill sets that we will need to acquire if not already there, whether it is with relation to technology, in terms of operating, in terms of maintenance of increasingly technologically advanced systems. Manned-unmanned teaming, which is also increasingly getting integrated into carrier groups will require a different set of skill sets.

And therefore, there are plenty more such which will be required to do. And I think that is - that is the way ahead that we need to embark on, to meet the challenges that are emerging for the groups right now. Thank you.

MR. GOMART: Thank you very much, Admiral.

I start now the second part of our discussion with more specific questions. The first one is about the key technological developments you do expect for the coming decades. And I would like maybe to be more specific for discussion. Maybe we can start this debate with Admiral Franchetti and Admiral Key. For the next decade, what are - according to you - on which particular topic will you focus your efforts in terms of technological development for the next decades? Would you like to start, Admiral?

ADM. FRANCHETTI: Yeah, I'll try to be more specific on a few capabilities. I talked a little bit about, you know, unmanned aviation. I think, you know, if I could probably put it into three areas to focus. You know, one is the broad category of unmanned technology, whether it's carrier-based aviation, whether it's shore-based aviation, that can be unmanned and do ISR. Whether it's unmanned surface vessels that can also do maritime domain awareness, and also can be lethal. You know, more broadly than carrier strike groups, focusing on, you know, the integration of unmanned technology, learning how to use and, as you said, integrate the unmanned-manned teaming. And then figuring out what's the right balance between.

We know, we need conventionally manned platforms. And we know that the unmanned technologies then will expand those - the reach and the opportunities with those platforms. But, again, I think thinking through in the next 10 years, as you said, you know, it's going to look different in 10 years based on, you know, what we're already experimenting with. You know, I think that really goes to the partnership with industry, with academia, with the innovation base, looking at what are all the problems we're trying to solve, where can you apply an unmanned-type of solution, and then how do we experiment with that, get the best of breed, get that out in the hands of the warfighters, and try that? I think that's one focus area.

I think another one - it's already been talked a little bit about - but it's AI or data. All of the skill sets that we need - to have data scientists, to have people that can think in terms of using data to make our problems more solvable. I'll just - a small one. You can think about, say, conditions-based maintenance on all those great platforms that are in the strike group. We have the carrier, we have all the airplanes, we have all the destroyers. You know, we spend a lot of resources, and time, and man hours doing maintenance that we might not need to do.

So if we can have an AI help us out with some of that condition-based maintenance, that tells us when to do the maintenance, then we're going to have a lot more stuff flying. It's going to be more ready when we need it. And our people have more time to think about and do other things. So I know it may not really sound like a warfighting thing, but it's a big enabler of warfighting. So that would be another one.

And then I think the other technology is, you know, additive manufacturing. And, again, you know, we want our strike groups to be as resilient as possible. So can they print their own parts? How do we work with industry to get the rights, you know, to be able to have the data available so we can make those parts? And then we can make ourselves as sustainable as possible because, again, the logistics that we sometimes have to deal with, and we think about what our strike groups need to get a replenishment hit, how often? The longer you can stretch that out by making them more resilient, again, they're going to be able to provide way more options to all of our decision makers and our alliances around the world. So those would just be three things that I think will be different in 10 years than they are right now.

MR. GOMART: Thank you very much. Admiral Key.

ADM. KEY: One of the - one of the benefits of being asked to go second is you get thinking time. (Laughter.) The disadvantage is you can hear your first three points being articulated by your colleague. So I'm only - so I agree, and actually in almost exactly the same order. The only one that I would add - and I'm sure Admiral Lisa would have got to it if she had said I've got four points - is understanding the impact of climate change, and reduced carbon, and net-zero carbon technologies, as well, into ships and aircraft, where the societal demand to demonstrate that we are committed to those sorts of things also need(s) to be embraced.

It's useful if you are operating nuclear powered aircraft carriers, because you're putting less carbon up the funnel and then we are. But it's not just contained to that. It's in a whole number of areas. And it's both to demonstrate kind of broader global social responsibility, but also because I think the young men and women that are going to join and crew our systems in the future will expect us to be demonstrating a commitment to look after the planet in which we're operating. And also, to understand how we're going to have to change our operating patterns in order to embrace and reflect the very realities of what those demands are.

So that would be the fourth. But otherwise, I'm completely aligned - well, I am completely aligned with Admiral Lisa.

MR. GOMART: Thank you. Admiral Vaujour, if you're also to jump in?

ADM. VAUJOUR: Yeah, I think I have the five one, which is the skills and the human resource. I mean, carrier strike group is a very complex tool. The time we are spending to educate, to train, to qualify, to train together, we were individually, then the small team, then inside the ship, then with all the ships in the carrier strike group, is a very long-term perspective each time. And so all the things which could help me to simplify and to go more quickly in terms of skill acquisition, I mean, know-how. For example, automatic landing system. For example, more easy decision-making process inside the engineers complex, and so on. Will help me in the future to develop more easy and more resilient human resource on board the ship.

I just say that because I am building a new crew for the next-generation aircraft carrier. And I think if the 10 years to come I am able to simplify the way we are qualifying all our guys, from the pilot up to the guys inside the engine room, it will be really helpful to be more resilient, to be more quick to go to the end.

MR. GOMART: Thank you. Would you like to add something on this point - on this particular point, Admiral Credendino, if you want?

ADM. CREDENDINO: On human resources. So, as I said, carrier strike group are system of system, so the most technologically advanced tool we have. But at the end of the day, the people remains the core asset. So we need to be able, even today, to motivate our people. And it is quite difficult. We need so not only to have skilled personnel, but motivated personnel. We have a problem in recruitment and retaining personnel. And we need to find new ways to deal with these problem, which is a huge problem today. So I don't know the answer to this. So we are thinking through new ways of recruiting people and retaining people. But motivation, we need to find a new way to motivate personnel.

MR. GOMART: Thank you very much. I would like to address my second question to -first to Admiral Credendino and Admiral Pendharkar. And after that we ask the others to react. It's about drones. In fact, how do carrier strike groups integrate drones and autonomous technologies to enhance their operation and power projection capabilities? I would add another question, which is also in offensive but also in defensive terms. Could you elaborate on drones at this stage, Admiral?

ADM. CREDENDINO: Unmanned vehicles are fundamental today. And tomorrow will be even more, because they expanded the possibility of the carrier strike group to cooperate, to understand the environment. Not only ariel unmanned, but also some are unmanned in surface, but submarine, to me, is really the future. So, as I said, we are designing this new multidomain platform that will be able to use unmanned and manned vehicles in all the domain.

They will have to be cyber-resilient, by design. We're not talking too often about cyber, but cyber also is now fundamental. Not only in the defensive way, but also we need to be able to perform cyber offensive operation. And drones are very important to perform cyber offensive operations. So to increase the critical mass, we need drones. And since carrier are big enough to embark unmanned and manned vehicles, yes, this is really the future.

MR. GOMART: Thank you. Admiral.

VICE ADM. PENDHARKAR: I think drones and autonomous, as well as unmanned systems, offer significant opportunities for integration with the - with the carrier groups. And I would amplify this in two perspectives. First is, of course, the defensive and passive employment of drones, and integration of drones with the carrier groups. And they have significant opportunities to utilize them, whether it is in ISR - (inaudible) - MDA; whether it is logistics, search and rescue, refueling. U.S. CNO spoke about refuelers that they're looking at. And I think these are technologies which, in unmanned systems, that can be easily integrated in the carrier strike groups with the defense.

But even for the - in the offensive role, they have significant opportunities. Because, A, they reduce the risk factor significantly for the crews. And therefore, from that perspective itself, the unmanned combat systems, whether it is ariel systems, or surface systems, or even underwater systems, in all three dimensions offer us significant opportunities for integration with the carrier groups. Also, electronic warfare. I think jamming communications, (GIS ?) systems, et cetera, is a way to go ahead as an integral part of the warfare strategies and plans. And drones could be widespread, could find widespread use in this particular field, when you need to do - carry out these kind of operations. So I think that there is significant opportunity here for us to integrate drones.

MR. GOMART: Maybe an additional insight on draws from you, Admiral?

ADM. VAUJOUR: I think some insight has been - has been done. One of the complexity of the aircraft carrier is that you have to manage all the element at the same time, with manned and unmanned system. And so one of the key question for us will be to integrate everything at the same level, I mean, on board the aircraft carrier. For sure, we are open. We do not have yet - but we are open to have onboard unmanned vehicles. Lots of missions are able to be done there. But the question for me is to be able to fly together, and so to have at the same times in the bubble of the aircraft carrier unmanned system and manned system at the same time. So that's a key - that's a key issue, coordination, C2 controls of manned and unmanned vehicle in a very short bubble. I mean, not that big.

And so it's a problem of safety, of course. It's a problem of efficiency. But when you're dealing with unmanned system, of course, it's not only air domain, it's surface domain. And so all you can give with unmanned sensors, unmanned effectors everywhere, is something which is good. And, as I told the carrier strike group, it's for me the place where we are integrating everything. So we have to be able to integrate unmanned vehicles, submarine, so forth, or aerial vehicle. But at the time, it remains a big challenge.

MR. GOMART: Thank you very much. Admiral, would you like to add to add something on drones?

ADM. FRANCHETTI: I know I said a few things on that already. I think I wanted to tie two things together that that you said, which is about the integration of the drones, the unmanned-manned teaming. I think it has to be built into our training pipelines. It also has to be built into the people that we're bringing in. Young people who are joining us today have a lot different perspective. And they may be a lot more comfortable operating in that type of space.

So how do we take advantage of that? And how do we have the building blocks, through all the training pipelines where they have their unit-level training, where they build their personal skills, but then when they start building their team skills, when you build the skills of the entire airwing, then integrate that with the destroyer squadron, the cruisers, with any unmanned platform that's going to be supporting them? I think they really all need to be part of that training process.

And how can you do that in a live, virtual, constructive, integrated way, so you can take advantage of all the simulation that we have available? And, again, how can you get the repetitions and the sets - or the reps and sets with all the teams, so they can continue to practice and hone their skills. I think you brought up how perishable the skills are. So if we can set that right training environment up, and continually be training, and that we're not using up all the live resources all the time.

So, again, we can practice in a simulated environment. We can put everyone together. And they can get out and fly. So I think that's also part of the future that we're definitely going to see when you talk about drones of all types - offensive, defensive - and being able to be comfortable working with them.

MR. GOMART: Anymore on that, or should we move? OK, so let's move to the over key idea of this discussion. You are reflecting, you know, around this table, your ability to interact, to operate together. So in that way, what collective role do carrier strike groups play in maintaining maritime security? And on that also, if you can be more specific by being in the future what sort of joint operation? In which location also do you anticipate that maritime security should be improved?

Shall I start with you, Admiral, because you did not respond to the question on drones. (Laughs.) So you have to respond to this one.

ADM. KEY: Think what I'll do is just pull together a couple of the threads that have been offered up earlier, but through the lens of the question. So one of the things that is an intrinsic part of any carrier strike group is its international dimensions. I'm speaking to an audience largely people who intuitively have grown up with this, but in case there's someone not, or online, because of the nature of life at sea and the fact that the high seas are open to all, it is very easy for multinational groups of warships to come together and operate with policy freedoms and political freedoms that are relatively easy to grant, because you're not impinging upon anyone's particular territory.

And therefore, we have grown up being very comfortable with plugging and playing in a way that our sister services don't, by virtue of the environment they're in. It's not a criticism. It's just a difference. And therefore, the carrier strike group can be, as others have mentioned, a symbol of international commitment and unity to a common cause or a set operational task. But it's also got variability that can be exercised very, very easily because of the speed at which you can either commit or pull back.

And that requires of us actually not only to be rehearsing and practicing amongst ourselves so that we are intuitive about this, and you can disperse and reaggregate those groups very easily and in different shapes and formats, but also for us to be exercising and rehearsing this so that our political leadership is also very comfortable with these concepts. Because their understanding and willingness to commit or to sort of graduate their response set is a skill set that needs to be understood at all levels of government. So, not just by us, the practitioners, but the policymakers who will be looking at the range of options that can be applied and providing those sorts of advice. And then clearly, into the political leadership.

And we regularly talk ourselves, but I know it's a hot topic for think tanks, about deterrence. And most people immediately, you know, certainly in U.K., France, America, you know, leapt to the nuclear deterrence conversation. But conventional deterrence is as sophisticated an art as it is a set of military options and a science. And how we cleave that together in the utility of what the carrier strike groups offer in an international sense, I think is an area which is going to require more work because of the complexity of the space in which we're going to be putting it through.

But it's a great challenge to have. I'm not shying away from it at all. I think it offers huge utility because what that helps to do is - and it was a phrase that Admiral Franchetti used - you know, part of deterrence is a situation of doubt in the minds of the people you're seeking to influence. And we have a great ability to create those kinds of dilemmas. So more for us to do, but actually it's very easy for us to create the stage in which we demonstrate what that can be. It's how we draw in all the lines of a kind of across government and international response to understand the real opportunities we represent as carrier operating navies being together.

And, as Admiral Credendino remarked, through the European Carrier Cooperation Group we're seeing also those who do not own carrier groups wanting to be part of these multinational groups, because that is a way of aligning themselves to some of those opportunities.

MR. GOMART: You have made a key point, in my opinion, you know, about this articulation between what you call conventional deterrence and nuclear deterrence. We are working very - harder - (inaudible) - on that. We have - (inaudible) - in Europe and the U.S., obviously.

Admiral Credendino, would you like to respond on this notion of maritime security in the world, which can be played by carrier strike group in this way?

ADM. CREDENDINO: Well, I think that has been said. I mean, I want to come again to the concept of the multinational carrier strike group, because this gives really a strategic message, not only to our political - from our political master to the rest of the world, but also to our allies, to our enemies. That we want - we are serious about what we are doing. There is a will to work together. There's a will to provide influence on other countries, that have the competences and the capabilities to act. So I think this is the way forward, to act together and to put together our capabilities, not only the ones of the carrier strike group, but also who wants to take part to the carrier strike group as escort.

MR. GOMART: Before turning to the room for the follow up question, I would like, yes, precisely, to give you the chance to also -

ADM. FRANCHETTI: Just one, you asked specifically about where. You know, I think we've done a great job - just watching from my time just being Sixth Fleet commander starting in 2018, you know, we were able to bring in and practice integrating a U.S. carrier in NATO. And then after Russia's horrific invasion of Ukraine, you know, we were actually able to integrate U.S. carrier power into the NATO team here.

And so I think we have a great advantage, just like you said. Navies can pick up and work together, because we operate in the sea all the time. And especially ones that are in NATO, because we have all the same practices, the same procedures. We know how to do that. We grow up doing that. I think, where - if I had one place where we could operate, a new place, it would be in the in the Indian Ocean and the Indo Pacific, because we don't have necessarily all of those defined tactics, techniques, procedures to just even connect.

So it's not quite as easy all the time to plug and play. And so I think the more we can work together to bring and integrate different navies and different aircraft carriers into the operations in the Indo-Pacific, I think is a really good - a good thing. I know everyone up here is working to do that here in the next two years. And I'm really looking forward to taking advantage of that, and continuing to build on that - on that knowledge. I think it's very exciting.

ADM. VAUJOUR: Yeah, just to add something about interoperability, because we spoke about that. Interoperability is three things for me. The first thing is connectivity. And we have connectivity. Our engineers is able to make connectivity with NATO standards, for example, on something like this. Procedures. And exercising together is something which is more tricky. And so we have to exercise day after day in each area, which are always different in each area.

But the third thing, which is more important, is trust between partners. And so the trust between partners is something which we have to build in the long term perspective, because we are exercising not only one time, but exercise day after day, years after years. We build trust all together and operating the carrier strike groups need to have partners which are trusting you. And so we are doing that today. And that's very good.

MR. GOMART: If you are - Admiral, please, on that.

VICE ADM. PENDHARKAR: I think it's very good points that have been - some good points that have been raised here with regard to developing interoperability between carrier groups. And I would like to embark - or, I would like to highlight some of the experience that we've - you know, we've seen with having combined carrier operations during excises. Malabar, Varuna, two prime examples. And we are also looking forward to the future with enthusiasm.

We know that we have the U.K. - (inaudible) - which is going to be transiting through. We look for opportunities there. We have the Charles de Gaulle, which is going to be deployed in the Indian Ocean in '24, as well as the Italian carrier. So there are significant opportunities. And I think this is a great step to move on, that we continue interacting with each other in terms of carrier groups, develop interoperability, build trust, and understand each other's perspectives in the bargain. I think it's a great philosophy. Thank you.

MR. GOMART: Thank you very much. So let's start the last part of our session with your questions. Please let me know if you want to intervene. Please introduce yourself. And please do remember that actually at IFRI we prefer questions to statements. So please go. And there is a microphone with Raphael (sp). And on the other side - (inaudible).

Q: Thank you very much. Aliso Verrano (ph) at King's College London. And thank you kindly for what was a very insightful panel discussion.

And I wanted to go back to a point that you raised, Ma'am. As an academic, when someone starts saying, like, 100 years ago people were looking at this this way, it came to me, will in 100 years' time people looking back think about today as a defining turning point? Carriers in the interwar period became the ultimate manifestation of a national endeavor. We had treaties that define the shape and size of ships, which in turn define the status and ranking of a nation. But what you talked about today is completely different. You're talking about a multinational endeavor, redefining a sovereign capability. So the question for the panel, in 100 years' time, more than looking at technology, will people look back and say that this point in time was critical for the redefinition of the carrier strike group as a way to define a sovereign capability as part of an international endeavor? Thank you.

MR. GOMART: Except if there is a very quick answer to this question, I would suggest to gather some questions in order for - to let you pick up after that, to respect the schedule. So, Josef (sp), there is a second question there.

Q: Hello. Matt Scully (sp), Australian Embassy.

A question on degraded operations. As all your navies are tending towards higher technology in your boats, what would be the role of analog technologies in degraded operations, communications, and the like in the future?

MR. GOMART: Thank you. Elie, please.

Q: Hello, Elie Tenenbaum from IFRI's Security Studies Center.

One point that we cannot really avoid when talking about carrier strike groups are the threats and be the emergence of new threats against them, both the aircraft carriers and the groups themselves. And I would like to have your views, especially about threats in terms of detection and tracking of the groups. How do we mitigate in the future, this new transparency, the multiplication of sensors, of course, in space, but also in the sea and under the sea, that will make our carrier strike groups more transparent to the enemy? I am looking into, of course, electronic warfare, dispersal, new forms of maneuver. I'd love to have your views on this.

MR. GOMART: And then directly on your on your left.

Q: Thank you. Admiral Chauhan, director general of the National Maritime Foundation in New Delhi.

I have a question that actually builds on what the U.S. CNO said, and also, what the first sea lord said. You know, as we are moving forward, finding abilities to match capacity by way of hardware with capability, by way of human skilling, is going to become extremely expensive, both in terms of finances as well as in terms of time. And so expecting that we will be able to utilize opportunities that come across, because platforms are either, you know, proceeding across each other's spaces, or that we're going to have multiple exercises of the orders that have been mentioned by Admiral Pendharkar, is, to my mind, a desirable but difficult to achieve endeavor.

Wouldn't you say, therefore, that the ability to utilize technology right now to skills - to build skill sets which don't require the exercise, don't require the actual platform to exist, and especially in terms of dealing with the Navy, such as the Indian Navy, which is a carrier operating Navy but not part of NATO, et cetera. But, by virtue of having dedicated training exercises that utilized not just simulation, but simulation over virtual domains. That means, build the skill sets before you enjoy - before you bring the platforms into play. And if that was to be the case, when do you think they should happen, and how?

MR. GOMART: Thank you. I will take a fifth question for this first - the first row.

Q: Hi. Kelly Grieco from the Stimson Center in Washington, D.C.

And I wanted to ask, we have two examples now of a state and a quasi-state, without traditional navies, contesting sea control. And I'm wondering what, if any, lessons you've taken away as leaders of your services about what that might mean for the future.

MR. GOMART: Thank you very much. So you have five questions, easy ones. You can pick up what you want, avoid the one that are uncomfortable. So, Nicholas.

ADM. VAUJOUR: OK, thank you. Thank you all. I will not answer all the questions. I will pick up some. The first one about the sovereignty of carrier strike group, I think that's a big question and, of course, a very political one. But if you look at - the carrier strike group, in fact, is a political tool in the hands of your political leaders. So it means that if you're - if you have a carrier strike group, you can lead a kind of coalition where or the nation can jump in because they are aligned or they agree with the political objective where you are. So there is a real sovereignty in the tool.

But it not means that we are not open to welcome other partners with that. The question is only to align the end-state, and to listen to your partner, and to verify that we are enough in a good coordination to have the same goals at the end - at the end of the mission. So, yes, definitely, a carrier strike group is a sovereignty tool in the hands of your political leaders. And I think it will stay like this. I am not sure that we are able - you say that we are not yet ready to do that. And I agree with you. You are not yet ready to go to a multinational aircraft carrier strike group.

The second thing is degraded operation. What we do in the French Navy is that we have always in each deployment of the carrier strike group two or three days back to the '80s. Back to the '80s means that you do not have satellite communication. You do not have anything like this. And so are we able to operate, again, in the '80s with our carrier strike group? And so training like this is quite challenging, I have to say. And years after years it is more challenging. But it is really interesting to see that we are still able to operate, even if we - if you lose the satellite communication. OK, you will have less PowerPoint sharing between ships. And finally, that's not so bad. (Laughter.) That's not so bad. And so only keywords are enough to operate. (Laughter.)

And the last question I pick up is new threats, and the way to control it. At the time, of course, we are speaking about velocity of the missiles. We are speaking about ballistic missiles, and so on. And what we saw with the new way we can operate our sensors is that we are able to give - to be really better with the same sensors if you are looking at the data you are providing to the ship. And so get the data off the sensors, put some artificial intelligence to see where - the small detection you do not have seen with only one sensor, but you can fuse with another one, and so on, and so on. And then you will have a picture which is much more accurate than the one you have with your old system.

So I mean that, yes, for sure the threat is increasing. But we have still a lot of - to do to improve the way we are dealing with all the data we have inside the carrier strike group. And when you are doing some fusion with the radar from our destroyer, the radar from the Hawkeye in the air, and the radar from the aircraft carrier, you will have a picture which is amazing, really. But you have to fuse that. And so we have to work on that.

MR. GOMART: Admiral Credendino, your take on these five questions.

ADM. CREDENDINO: Yeah, on multinational carrier, of course, every country is taking part of this multinational carrier can raise the red flag whenever they want. So it's just a matter to share a political vision, maybe for one specific objective. Then everybody will have his own red flag. And we lack - we lack, of course, common rules of engagement. But at any stage, anyone can raise the red flag to say, no, I cannot do that. But going on, being part of this - of this - but that's the future maybe. We don't know yet.

Anyway, but the European Union Interoperability Carrier Initiative is an example of what we can do together. I think it's a really good example. And the way we are going to deal with the Indo-Pacific, the three of us, is a good example - although this is not a multinational carrier cycle, because we operate independently. But we link our deployment. We give a strong strategic message to our partner and to our enemies, let's say.

On training, I think that - so we are developing virtual training, distributed training, so that all personnel on the Italian navy can operate together even if they are not at sea. So when the ship is under maintenance, or when they are deployed for, let's say, anti-piracy operation, where they say six months at sea just patrolling. So we're developing this tool, which will be very important. It's, like, you know, the Air Force, there's simulator of mission, not only navigation. So we want to simulate the mission using virtual data then and distributed training. And this could be also offered to partners international, to nations that want to take part in this kind of exercise.

MR. GOMART: Admiral.

VICE ADM. PENDHARKAR: I would like to answer a couple of questions relating to, first, battlefield transparency and the one related to degraded operations. And I think, in a manner, these are interrelated at some level. In terms of degraded operations, I think one must expect that your capabilities will be attacked, will be degraded during operations, in the beginning of operations. And therefore, that is only to be expected. And therefore you need to be working towards prevention, towards resilience, your systems to be more resilient to attacks on your - particularly your communications, et cetera, because that's going to be the backbone of the operations that you carry out.

But how does it relate to transparency? Because on the one hand, we know that the battlefield is getting increasingly transparent, given the surveillance sensors that are there with the enemy. And the knowledge of, the location of the carrier groups, of course, is - can be expected to be given. And yet, you need to be discreet. You need to prevent yourselves from being so transparent to the enemy. And therefore, there will be certain restrictions that you will put on yourselves in the carrier groups in terms of emission control And how, in terms of emission control, would the carrier group remain as effective, as efficient, in carrying out its operations? I think these are the true challenges that we'll continue to need focused attention to make sure that we are one up on the enemy.

MR. GOMART: Thank you. Admiral Franchetti, your answers.

ADM. FRANCHETTI: OK. Thank you. I want to just pick up on the - I think the degraded operations and the emergence of new threats are also, you know, very much tied together. And I think - I like the back to the '80s. I think I might steal that - (laughter) - because we do do that training. but I like the - I like the idea of it. I think, you know, one time someone talked about doing training, like, a day without GPS. And, you know, I think the harder you - we are on ourselves, that will make us that much more resilient and more successful if we ever have to go to war. And we know exactly what capabilities we won't have. And we'll know how to fight through that. So I think it's really important in all the training that we do, in all the exercises that we do, that we really embed that into the training.

I think it is about going back to history a little bit. And, you know, as far as emergence of new threats, you know, we used to be really good at deception. I think we used to be really good at, you know, creating confusion in the eyes of adversaries. And I think that's a skill that we need to go back to and make sure that we're thinking about that all the time. I think we got a little bit lazy sometimes. In MCON we definitely got lazy, in operational security. And what do we need to do? We used to be good at that. And that needs to be from day one, when someone you know, joins the Navy, this has to be part of what they think about every day.

I think, you know, everyone's on the social media, they're posting a picture of, you know, where they, or where they're going. And, you know, these are things that - you know, we want to attract and bring in the world's most amazing future warfighters, but at the same time they have to recognize that, you know, our operational security has to come first. And having that as part of the conversation, OPSEC, deception, you know, all of those things that we used to be good at, I think we need to really, really emphasize that across our forces.

I think, just the last one because no one talked about it yet, is the - you know, the current operations, especially in the - in the Red Sea. But I think - you know, my big takeaway is that the rule of law is under threat. It's under challenge everywhere we look. And it's only going to through strong like-minded nations working together to preserve that rule of law and say that this kind of behavior can't stand, and it can't win. So we need to do that together. And that's my big takeaway, because I think without that the rules-based international order, that has supported our security and prosperity since the end of World War II, is really going to be attacked. And we have to take a stake. And we need to stand strong.

MR. GOMART: Thank you. Admiral Key, take it away to conclude this session.

ADM. KEY: I've got two takeaways. Firstly, I'm just looking at my watch, the time zone delay to America. But the N-7's going to be woken up quite soon with - back in the Pentagon - with, the CNO's just directed a back to the '80s training program. (Laughter.) Hey, there's a - there's a really interesting - you know, I'm going to surface my - the little I know about Mahan, Julian Corbett, and all the rest of it, which is how sea control has remained constant, but the means in which you have to exercise it has changed over time, as threats, and opportunity, and capabilities have shifted.

You know, the fleet carriers that were used by the Royal Navy in the Second World War were about sea control in the battle against the U-boat. The strike carriers that were developed by the U.S. Navy in many ways, at the same time, were developing a very different concept of activity out in the Pacific, in those wars. And then for years, we have assumed sea control. And so we could invest everything pretty much into local superiority and strike as the principal aim. And now what we've got to get back into is thinking more deeply about how do we do sea control.

And there's a number of interesting ideas. And whilst I always tread back from advertising, one of your competitor - sorry, colleague - think tanks back in London has just put out a paper in the last couple of weeks looking at how amphibious forces now actually also shift from just strike into sea control as part of that activity. So when you're looking at the non-state or state actors, and how we need to contest in a different way, the truth is that sea control remains an absolute requirement for all the reasons around the rules-based international order and freedom of maneuver. How we contest that and how you do that, either with the carrier strike groups or more broadly, just requires us to adapt the doctrine and tactics to the reality the moment we find ourselves in.

MR. GOMART: I would like to thank you warmly, all of you, for this very substantive discussion. I think it was a really good starter for this conference. So now it's time to open the door and - (speaks in French). (Continues in English.) So you can relax and be back in the room at 2:00 p.m. precisely for the second session. Thank you very much, all of you. (Applause.)

(END)

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa and Allied Joint Forces Command Naples Visits Finland

US Navy - Press Release

26 January 2024

HELSINKI -- Adm. Stuart B. Munsch, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) and Allied Joint Forces Command (JFC) Naples, visited Helsinki, Jan. 24-26, 2024.

The visit was hosted by Lt. Gen. Vesa Virtanen, Chief of Defense Command Finland, to discuss Finland's military integration into NATO and the role they play in meeting today's dynamic security environment.

"Finland joining NATO advances the Alliance's ability to meet today's global security concerns and promotes stability throughout Europe," said Munsch. "Together, alongside NATO, we are committed to collective defense that supports peace and security in the region. Our strength lies in our unity, which has never been greater than it is today."

Finland integration into the collective defense strategy follows Finland officially becoming the 31st member of NATO in April 2023, marking a major shift in the security landscape in northeastern Europe and on NATO's eastern flank by nearly doubling its existing border.

"The Alliance's 360-degree approach enables meeting and preparing for a multitude of threats," said Virtanen. "Adm. Munsch's assessment of the security situation further confirmed for us the importance of cooperation and information-sharing in advancing and maintaining security and stability."

The visit also included an opportunity to meet with the Finnish Navy's coastal brigade to showcase their capabilities in Arctic conditions.

"This time of year offers us an excellent opportunity to showcase the versatile capabilities of the Finnish Navy in Arctic conditions for our American visitors," said Rear Adm. Toumas Tiilikainen, Finnish Commander of the Naval Forces.

Additionally, Munsch met with Esa Pulkkinen, Finnish Ministry of Defense Permanent Secretary and Gen. Timo Kivinen, Finnish Chief of Defense, to discuss Finland's interoperability amongst partner nations in the Baltic Sea

Furthering their integration with partner nations, Finland is scheduled to participate in BALTOPS 24 later this year after recently completing Exercise Freezing Winds in November 2023, marking the first major naval exercise with Finland as part of NATO.

As a NATO operational headquarters for Southern Europe, JFC Naples leads multinational battlegroups in Romania and Bulgaria, missions in Iraq with the NATO Mission Iraq, and in Kosovo with the Kosovo Force.

For more than 80 years, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) has forged strategic relationships with our Allies and partners, leveraging a foundation of shared values to preserve security and stability.

Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command areas of responsibility. U.S. 6th Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






CNO and MCPON Travel to Italy and France for Strategic Engagements

US Navy - Press Release

26 January 2024

PARIS -- Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Lisa Franchetti and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) James Honea traveled to Italy and France ahead of the Paris Naval Conference, 22-25 Jan.

PARIS - Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Lisa Franchetti and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) James Honea traveled to Italy and France ahead of the Paris Naval Conference, 22-25 Jan.

The international trip began in Naples, Italy, where CNO and MCPON toured Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Africa, met with leadership, held an all hands call, and recognized Sailors and civilians for the work they do every day to sustain Allied and partner security relationships.

"Let me just start by saying thank you for what you do, and please pass along my thanks to your families for what they do to support our Navy," said Franchetti. "I am incredibly proud of our Navy team. Over the past year this incredible team of Sailors - active and reserve - and civilians has made a difference in our combined efforts through support of Ukraine, in enhancing interoperability in NATO, and by supporting our national security interests in the Eastern Mediterranean and the broader Middle East."

While in Naples, MCPON also spoke with Enlisted Leadership Development Class Sailors.

"We need every Sailor to be stronger, smarter and better-valued warfighters," said Honea "I want Sailors to continue to develop the technical skills and pursue higher learning that will make us better people and leaders that contribute to a creditable combat team."

CNO and MCPON then travelled to Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella, Italy, where they spoke to representatives from the United Kingdom, Canada, Norway, and Germany, during the first-ever P-8A Joint Exploration and Discussion Initiative (JEDI) Symposium. This symposium facilitates constructive discussions between partner nations using P-8As, to increase tactical awareness, share lessons learned, discuss initiatives and foster interoperability between allied nations.

"This is an incredible forum that allows us to work together, with our Allies and partners, to assess our progress and refine our shared vision toward increasingly lethal, agile, and interchangeable joint forces," said Franchetti.

While at NAS Sigonella, CNO and MCPON met with leadership and held an all hands call to hear from Sailors and share the CNO's priorities.

"I've been thinking a lot about what our Navy team needs for the future, and I believe it is a focus on warfighting, warfighters, and the foundation that supports them," said Franchetti. "We must deliver decisive combat power, strengthen the Navy team, and build trust, align resources, and be ready."

MCPON echoed Franchetti's sentiments on ensuring that each Sailor does their part to apply a warfighting lens to everything they do.

The next stop on their trip was France, where CNO met with her French counterpart, French Navy Adm. Nicolas Vaujour, in advance of the Paris Naval Conference. During the discussion, the two heads of navies discussed current operations, CNO's priorities, future deployment opportunities, and increasing interoperability between the navies.

Afterwards, CNO met with her Italian counterpart, Chief of Italian Navy Adm. Enrico Credendino, for a discussion on future integration opportunities for the U.S. and Italian navies, Italian aircraft carrier ITS Cavour's (CVH 550) upcoming deployment, and ways they will drive interoperability to deliver combined lethality.

Prior to the Paris Naval Conference, CNO, together with Vaujour, Credendino and Royal Navy Adm. Sir Ben Key, First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff of the United Kingdom, conducted a tabletop exercise to discuss opportunities for better collaboration. They discussed expanding partnerships with other like-minded maritime forces, and synchronization of operations and activities during their respective upcoming carrier strike group deployments.

The Paris Naval Conference, jointly hosted by the French Navy and the French Institute of International Relations, was themed "The Evolving Role of the Carrier Strike Group," and featured CNO, Vaujour, Key, Credendino, and Vice-Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command, Indian Navy.

"Our Carrier Strike Groups, which include the carriers, carrier air wings, and associated destroyer squadrons, have projected power, sustained sea control, bolstered deterrence, and maintained our enduring commitments worldwide," said Franchetti. "Carrier Strike Groups are the most capable, adaptable, and flexible platforms in our navies. Their ability to relocate combat power more than 5,000 miles in less than a week, and be ready to execute their mission provides a range of options to our nation's leaders."

CNO participated in a panel with her counterparts titled "future challenges and perspectives for Navies," and emphasized the value of planning, exercising and operating together to enhance interoperability between the navies. She further expressed how the strong network of Allies and partners around the world, facilitates the preservation of the rules-based international order.

"Our navies are on the front line of strategic competition, where decisive, combat-credible naval power, like our carrier strike groups, is essential to maintain security and the rules-based international order," said Franchetti. "I think the more we can work together to bring and integrate different navies and different aircraft carriers into regular operations and exercises is a really good thing. I know everyone here is working to do that, and I am looking forward to continuing to build on that."

She also highlighted the role of technology in rethinking potential conflict at sea including the advancements in unmanned systems, including air, surface, and subsurface, artificial intelligence, and additive manufacturing. She specifically highlighted the U.S. Navy's development of the MQ-25 Stingray being essential to extending the range and lethality of the carrier strike group.

Following the panel, CNO met with Pendharkar, to discuss increased navy cooperation, current Red Sea operations, upcoming exercises and future engagement opportunities.

Then, CNO, Vaujour, and Key participated in a trilateral engagement where the leaders discussed maritime security, deterrence, interoperability, and technological innovation.

"The rule of law is under threat," said Franchetti. "It's under challenge everywhere we look, so we must stand strong with like-minded nations working together to preserve that rule of law, and say that this kind of behavior can't stand, and it can't win. We need to do that together."

Finally, CNO, Vaujour, Key, and Pendharkar held a press conference, where the naval leaders focused on increasing engagement with like-minded countries through enhanced information sharing, regional security cooperation, defense trade, and cooperation in new domains.

"I could not be more proud of our navies, who are operating at the point of friendship with Allies and partners around the world to preserve the peace and provide options to our nation's decision makers," said Franchetti. "I appreciate IFRI and the opportunity to be here with everyone to talk about Carrier Strike Groups, lessons learned, and the some of the shared experiences and challenges we all face."

This was CNO and MCPON's second international trip.

###

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Tanker Ship Reports Missile Fire in Red Sea Near Yemen

By VOA News January 26, 2024

A commercial vessel operating in the Red Sea Friday reported that two missiles exploded in the water near its position as it sailed near Yemen, but caused no damage or injuries.

Safety organization United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations - UKMTO - said it received a report from the vessel that an explosion was heard and a missile was sighted about seven kilometers from the ship's position, 111 kilometers from the Yemeni city of Aden.

The ship reported a second explosion and missile sighting shortly after, this time less than one kilometer away. No damage or injuries were reported from either missile and the vessel continued to its next port of call.

UKMTO said "coalition forces" were "responding" but offered no details.

Reuters news agency, citing the British maritime security firm Ambrey, reports the ship is a Panama-flagged, India-affiliated oil products tanker.

The attacks come after a week in which Britain and the United States launched a new round of strikes targeting Iran-backed Houthi rebel sites in Yemen. The U.S. military said the attacks hit radar installations, missile launch sites, and most significantly, an underground weapons storage facility.

The strikes came in response to Houthi attacks on commercial and military vessels operating in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

Thursday, Britain and the United States announced sanctions on four senior Houthi officials, freezing and or blocking any or all of their financial assets under the control of U.S. citizens.

In a statement, the U.S. State Department said the Houthi attacks on merchant vessels "have disrupted international supply chains and infringed on navigational rights and freedoms."

The Houthis have said they are conducting the attacks in support of Palestinians involved in the ongoing conflict with Israel. A Houthi spokesman said this week, in response to the British and U.S. attacks, that they will take all necessary military procedures "within the legitimate right of defense of our country, our people, and our nation, by targeting all hostile American and British targets in the Red and Arab seas."

Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






90,000 NATO Troops Participate in Biggest Exercise Since Cold War

By Henry Ridgwell January 26, 2024

NATO began its biggest military exercises since the Cold War this week, with tens of thousands of troops set to move across Europe in a show of force meant as a warning to Russia, following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Operation Steadfast Defender 24 will see some 90,000 NATO military personnel take part in a range of drills across Europe in coming months. Fifty naval vessels, 80 aircraft and over 1,000 combat vehicles are involved.

The exercises "will show that NATO can conduct and sustain complex multi-domain operations over several months, across thousands of kilometers, from the high north to central and eastern Europe, and in any condition," the 31-nation alliance said.

Logistics

"We do all of this to show we have the readiness, preparedness and the forces in place to remove any room for miscalculation or misunderstanding in Moscow about our readiness to protect every inch of NATO territory. And as long as we do that there will be no attack against NATO territory," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters in Brussels Tuesday.

The logistical challenge of moving soldiers and equipment is a vital part of the exercise, said Liana Fix, fellow for Europe at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington.

"How do they get there? And how do they get there quick? Because the war in Ukraine has shown that being too slow means that a part of your territory can be occupied and has to be re-conquered, rather than defending that territory the moment the attack happens," Fix told VOA.

Sweden, which hopes to join NATO in coming months, will also take part in the operation, the biggest NATO drill since the Reforger exercises of the 1980s. Hungary is the only NATO member yet to ratify Sweden's application.

Ukraine

The exercises come ahead of the two-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, on February 24. The conflict has descended into a war of attrition, with neither side seemingly able to make significant territorial gains.

While NATO flexes its muscles in Europe, Kyiv is running low on ammunition, as military aid packages in both the United States and the European Union remain blocked by political infighting.

"The narrative from Ukraine is that Ukraine is defending NATO. And that is a valid narrative if one follows the logic that Ukraine is actually diminishing Russia's army, has diminished Russia's army, and has diminished the military threat that Russia poses to the NATO alliance. So from Ukraine's perspective, it must be a lonely moment to watch this NATO exercise," analyst Liana Fix told VOA.

Artillery

NATO this week signed a $1.2 billion contract to buy some 220,000 rounds of artillery ammunition. The alliance says it will pass on the shells to Ukraine, which has complained of ammunition shortages, or to member states that want to replenish stockpiles that have been depleted through supplying Ukrainian forces.

"This is important to defend our own territory, to build up our own stocks, but also to continue to support Ukraine," said NATO chief Stoltenberg.

"We will support Ukraine with the systems and the weapons and ammunitions they need to prevail as a sovereign independent country, because we cannot allow (Russian) President (Vladimir) Putin to win in Ukraine. That would be a tragedy for the Ukrainians and dangerous for all of us," he added.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






UN Court Tells Israel To Prevent Genocide in Gaza, Stops Short of Ordering Cease-Fire

By VOA News January 26, 2024

The U.N.'s International Court of Justice has ordered Israel to "take all measures in its power" to prevent genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip but stopped short of ordering a cease-fire in the embattled territory.

The preliminary ruling delivered Friday by the 17-judge ICJ ordered Israel to enable the provision of basic services and humanitarian assistance in Gaza, where most of the territory's 2.3 million people are struggling to find adequate food and shelter after three months of fighting between Israel and militant group Hamas.

The case was brought to the court by South Africa, which argued that Israel is violating the 1948 United Nations Genocide Convention, established in the aftermath of World War II and the Holocaust.

In presenting the ruling, Presiding Judge Joan Donoghue said preventing genocide, in accordance with the genocide convention, would include "preventing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group and deliberately inflicting conditions calculated to bring about the group's physical destruction."

Donoghue said as part of the ruling Israel must take immediate measures to "enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance to address the adverse conditions of life."

Israel has dismissed the allegations by South Africa as hypocritical and reflecting "a world turned upside down." Israeli leaders defend their air and ground offensive in Gaza as a legitimate response to Hamas' October 7 attack, when militants stormed through Israeli communities, killing some 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostages.

Following the ruling, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the genocide claims as "outrageous" and vowed to press ahead with the war.

Palestinian officials largely hailed the decision. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry said it was a welcome reminder that "no state is above the law." Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior Hamas official, told Reuters the decision would contribute to "isolating the occupation and exposing its crimes in Gaza."

The advocacy group Human Rights Watch applauded the ruling. In a statement, the group's associate international justice director, Balkees Jarrah, said the ruling "puts Israel and its allies on notice that immediate action is needed to prevent genocide and further atrocities against Palestinians in Gaza."

Jarrah said the "speedy" ruling is recognition of the dire situation in Gaza.

U.S. and U.N. reaction

U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters at the White House Friday the United States has not seen anything that validates a claim of genocidal intent or action by Israel.

"We have no indication that that's going on  no indication that they are deliberately trying to exterminate the people of Gaza," Kirby said.

In a response to a question from Voice of America, Kirby said the ICJ ruling is unlikely to change the U.S. policy or messaging around the war.

"We'll have to watch how the process plays out. But it's difficult to see that it alone is going to change the approach. As I said, the president believes the approach we have been taking has been getting results, and we're going to keep at that," he said.

A U.S. State Department spokesperson said Friday the U.S. continues to believe the genocide allegations to be "unfounded" and underscored the court "did not make a finding about genocide." The spokesperson added that the U.S. has "consistently made clear that Israel must take all possible steps to minimize civilian harm."

Spokesperson for the secretary-general of the United Nations Stephane Dujarric also responded to the ruling Friday, telling reporters the secretary-general "takes special note of the court's order to Israel to ensure the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance."

Provisional measures ordered by the world court are legally binding, but it is not clear if Israel will comply with them. The court, meanwhile, is expected to take years to rule on the full case alleging genocide brought by South Africa.

Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. The decision of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) regarding Azerbaijan has brought the country's relations with the European Union to the brink of rupture, political expert Turab Rzayev told Trend.

Rzayev noted that the decision taken against Azerbaijan is not so pleasant.

"Nevertheless, PACE decisions have no special importance. This body's rulings are primarily advisory and recommendatory in nature. PACE is not an executive or legislative body of the European Union. PACE is reminiscent of a Western-exclusive society where former statesmen and others frequently congregate to discuss a topic. However, when we view the events of recent years in a broader context, this is a significant stride. The relationship between Azerbaijan and the European Union is on the edge of implosion," he added.

According to the expert, the Council of Europe issued a statement alleging that Azerbaijan aims to take Armenia's territory.

"It is reasonable to conclude that the EU initiated this process as a mechanism of general pressure on Azerbaijan. The primary worry is that France is pressuring other European countries to join the proposed sanctions against our country. Everything that has happened in recent days appears to be a direct result of Western pressure on Azerbaijan.

Why is the EU putting pressure on our country? There are two nuances. First, Europe is lobbying for an early peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia. They want a peace deal signed soon, and Azerbaijan wants to compromise on several agreements so that they can establish a foothold in the South Caucasus. The second nuance is that the West wants Azerbaijan to distance itself from Russia, cut ties with Iran, and become more aligned with the West," he emphasized.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
White House Optimistic About Breakthrough on Hostage Release by Hamas

By VOA News January 26, 2024

The White House expressed hope Friday that there was progress in talks about the release of the remaining hostages Hamas holds in Gaza, as President Joe Biden's Middle East envoy was returning to Washington from the region.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Biden spoke with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi on Friday. The U.S. president also spoke with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in efforts to free the hostages, Kirby said.

Meanwhile, the head of the CIA, William Burns, will be meeting with his counterparts from Israel and Egypt, as well as Qatar's emir, on the release of the remaining hostages, and in an attempt to broker a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, U.S. media reported.

Biden's Middle East envoy, Brett McGurk, was engaged in "active" discussions on ensuring the release of hostages, according to the White House.

Qatar has played a central role in the negotiations since November, when the first group of hostages was released from Gaza.

The interlocutors are trying to negotiate a new cease-fire to allow the release of more hostages and the release of jailed Palestinians held by Israel. About 100 hostages held by Hamas and 240 Palestinians jailed by Israel were freed in the late November weeklong cease-fire.

But no new cease-fire agreement has been reached.

In a majority ruling of at least 15 out of 17 judges Friday, the International Court of Justice, or ICJ, ordered Israel to prevent acts of genocide against the Palestinians and do more to help civilians, but it stopped short of ordering a cease-fire as requested by the plaintiff, South Africa.

South Africa brought a case against Israel to the court this month, accusing it of carrying out a state-led genocide in its offensive against Hamas.

South Africa's legal premise for the case is that genocide is such a grave crime that all countries are duty-bound to prevent it.

While the ruling dashed Palestinian hopes of a binding order for cease-fire in Gaza, it also reflected a legal setback for Israel, which had hoped that the court would throw out a case brought under the genocide convention established after the Holocaust.

The court said the war was causing grievous humanitarian harm. It also said it was "gravely concerned" about the fate of hostages held in Gaza and called on Hamas and other armed groups to immediately release them without conditions. The hostages were captured in the October 7 attacks on Israel that triggered the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry said the decision was a welcome reminder that "no state is above the law." Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters the ruling would contribute to "isolating the occupation and exposing [Israel's] crimes in Gaza."

For his part, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the ICJ's decision not to order a cease-fire but rejected the claim of genocide as "outrageous" and said that Israel would continue to defend itself.

Israel is required to submit a report to the court on the steps it has taken to comply with the orders within one month of the ruling. The court will examine in detail the merits of the case, a process that could take years.

While the ICJ's decisions are final and without appeal, the court has no way of enforcing them.

Israel says it makes the utmost efforts to avoid civilian casualties.

Gaza's Health Ministry said Friday that the territory's death toll had climbed to more than 26,000 people, with more than 64,400 wounded, in more than three months of war.

The ministry said early Friday that in the past 24 hours, 183 Palestinians had been killed in Israeli strikes and 377 had been injured.

The Israeli military said it was investigating an attack on Thursday that killed at least 20 people and wounded another 150 at a traffic circle in Gaza City. The attack occurred as Palestinians waited for humanitarian aid, Hamas health officials said.

Also in central Gaza, Palestinian health officials said a nighttime Israeli airstrike on a house in Al-Nusseirat refugee camp had killed six people.

The fighting has severely disrupted the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, and the international charity ActionAid said Thursday that hunger there had reached catastrophic levels, prompting people to grind animal feed to use as flour.

"Famine is looming across the territory," ActionAid said in a statement, "while pockets of famine are strongly suspected in the north, where it is extremely challenging for aid to reach."

The fighting is part of Israel's efforts to end Hamas' control of the Gaza Strip since the October 7 terror attack, when Hamas militants invaded southern Israel, killed about 1,200 people and took about 240 people hostage.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Ramaphosa Says South Africa 'Vindicated' in Israel Genocide Case

By Kate Bartlett January 26, 2024

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday praised the International Court of Justice for essentially ruling that its case against Israel had merit.

South Africa is disappointed the ICJ did not order an immediate cease-fire, but the court did order Israel to take measures to avoid more deaths in Gaza and allow humanitarian access.

A significant majority of the 17 ICJ judges in The Hague ruled South Africa has a plausible case against Israel under the international Genocide Convention.

However, the ruling by the top U.N. court involves provisional measures only, with a full verdict on the genocide allegation expected to take years.

The ICJ essentially ordered Israel to make every effort to avoid killing Palestinians and prevent acts of genocide, as well as to allow aid into Gaza.

Since the advent of democracy in 1994 and the presidency of the late Nelson Mandela, South Africa has been a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause.

The governing African National Congress (ANC) party, which waged an armed struggle against South Africa's former white apartheid government, has always said it sees parallels in the situation of the Palestinians.

In a televised address to the nation after the court ruling Friday, Ramaphosa said that is why South Africa took Israel to the ICJ earlier this month.

"Some have told us that we should mind our own business and not get involved in the affairs of other countries," Ramaphosa said. "Others have said it was not our place. And yet it is very much our place as the people who know too well the pain of dispossession, discrimination, state-sponsored violence  we are also a people who were the victims of the crime of apartheid."

Israel has slammed South Africa's case as "antisemitic" and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed the country would "continue to defend ourselves and our citizens while adhering to international law." He said the war would continue until "absolute victory."

But Ramaphosa said Israel must respect the ruling.

"This order is binding on Israel and must be respected by all states that are party to the convention on the prevention and punishment of the crime of genocide," he said.

The United States, also a party to the convention, is one of Israel's main supporters.

After the ruling, a U.S. State Department spokesperson said, "We continue to believe that allegations of genocide are unfounded and note the court did not make a finding about genocide or call for a cease-fire in its ruling."

Mia Swart, a visiting international law professor at South Africa's University of the Witwatersrand, said the ruling might prove to be merely symbolic.

"The provisional measures ordered by the ICJ today certainly represent a victory of sorts for the South African Department of International Relations," she said. "It also is a morale-boosting judgment for South Africa. ... However, one feels very skeptical about the possibility of implementation. It looks very unlikely that Israel will implement the judgment."

While the order is legally binding, there is no enforcement mechanism. An ICJ ruling against Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 was never adhered to.

The war between Israel and Hamas broke out after fighters for the Palestinian militant group attacked Israel on October 7. Some 1,200 people were killed and 250 kidnapped. Since Israel started bombarding the Gaza strip, some 26,000 Palestinians have been killed according to the Gaza health authority.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






UN Official Warns Growing Hostility Could Break Down Civil Order in Gaza

By Lisa Schlein January 26, 2024

A senior United Nations official has warned that civil order could break down in Gaza if escalating hostilities force more and more Palestinians to flee to Rafah, an area crammed with 1.3 million people which prior to Hamas' brutal assault in Israel on October 7 accommodated fewer than 300,000.

"It is packed. There is no space. People are angry. There is no food. There can be a civil disorder, a breakdown of civil order," said Ajith Sunghay, head of the U.N. Human Rights Office for the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Sunghay, who returned from a mission to Gaza to his post in Amman, Jordan, this week, told journalists by videolink Friday that he met people in Khan Younis who have been under intense Israeli bombardment and heavy fighting. He said they "were frustrated, angry, and understandably wary."

"The current situation is catastrophic," he said. "If what is happening in Khan Younis continues the way it is, at the intensity that we are seeing, hundreds of thousands of already displaced people would likely feel they have no other choice but to move again."

People would have only a few places to flee, he added.

"On the one side you have the Mediterranean Sea, on the other, you have the Egyptian border," he said. "If you have people moving there in large numbers from Khan Younis and other places, it is going to be a massive catastrophe."

In Rafah, he said he saw "displaced people who had been ordered by Israeli authorities to leave their homes, with no provision for their accommodation."

He described people living on the street, amid sewage, and in conditions of desperation.

"The people I spoke to fear the extreme violence is spilling into Rafah, which will have catastrophic implications for the more than 1.3 million people already crowded there," he said.

According to Gaza's Hamas-run Ministry of Health, more than 26,000 Palestinians have been killed and 64,400 Palestinians injured since Israel mounted its offensive in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led terror attacks in Israel that killed some 1,200 people and resulted in 240 others taken hostage.

Hospitals and health care facilities have taken a major hit from heavy bombardment by Israel Defense Forces over the past three months. The World Health Organization reports only 14 of the 36 health facilities and hospitals in Gaza are partially functioning.

WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier said, "The few functioning hospitals in Gaza are absolutely in dire circumstances with hostilities often preventing the access of patients and supplies."

He said that Nasser hospital in Khan Younis was "now basically besieged ... and has no way in and out."

Israel blames the high civilian toll in Gaza on Hamas, which it says uses civilians as human shields and positions fighters, rocket launchers and tunnels in hospitals and dense residential areas.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said Israel will continue the war until Hamas is destroyed.

Human rights official Sunghay said attacks on hospitals, schools, and other places of refuge have repeatedly displaced Palestinians into ever-smaller areas, with ever-decreasing access to the essentials needed to sustain life.

"I am very, very worried. I fear that many more civilians will die. The continued attacks on specially protected facilities, such as hospitals, will kill civilians and there will be a further, massive impact on access to health care, safety, and security in general of Palestinians," he said, adding that the apparent disregard for international law needs to end.

U.N. human rights spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said her office shines a spotlight on the situation in Gaza but that "much more could be done on the international level. The high commissioner has repeatedly called on all states with influence to exercise that influence to bring this horror to an end."

She said that the U.N. rights office has sent letters and reports to Israeli authorities before they are published for their comments.

"So, our concerns are expressed to them directly ... but the Office has had no formal response from them," she said.

Sunghay said he was particularly concerned about the potential movement of hundreds of thousands of people into Rafah. He warned a rush of people into Egypt would create a terrible situation.

"It is something that we are dreading and hoping does not happen. But this is exactly my fear." He warned that "all the indications that we have at this point in time is if Rafah is attacked, then we are in uncharted territory."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Several UN Agency Staff Fired for Alleged Ties to October 7 Attack on Israel

By Margaret Besheer January 26, 2024

The United Nations agency that assists Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said Friday that it fired several of its employees after Israeli authorities provided the agency with information alleging their participation in the October 7 Hamas terror attack inside Israel.

"To protect the agency's ability to deliver humanitarian assistance, I have taken the decision to immediately terminate the contracts of these staff members and launch an investigation in order to establish the truth without delay," UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini said in a statement.

"Any UNRWA employee who was involved in acts of terror will be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution," he said.

The U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees has about 13,000 Palestinian staffers in the Gaza Strip. More than 150 have been killed since the war started in October following Hamas' terror attack inside Israel that killed 1,200 people.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' spokesperson said Lazzarini had briefed him on the "extremely serious allegations."

"The secretary-general is horrified by this news and has asked Mr. Lazzarini to investigate this matter swiftly and to ensure that any UNRWA employee shown to have participated or abetted in what transpired on 7 October, or in any other criminal activity, be terminated immediately and referred for potential criminal prosecution," spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

He said an "urgent and comprehensive independent review" of UNRWA would be conducted but did not give more details on who would carry it out.

Israel has criticized UNRWA for years, alleging that the schools the agency operates have been used by Hamas for terrorist activities and that they promote an anti-Israel curriculum. Since the October 7 attacks, Israeli officials have accused some staffers of celebrating the attacks on social media.

"How symbolic is it that on International Holocaust Remembrance Day it was exposed that UNRWA employees took part in the massacre?" Israel's U.N. Ambassador Gilad Erdan told a Holocaust Remembrance Day event at the United Nations. "The U.N. is not only weaponized to delegitimize our existence, but also to physically exterminate us."

During the deadly October 7 attack, Hamas also took 240 people hostage. The United States, Britain and the European Union have designated Hamas as a terrorist group.

"UNRWA reiterates its condemnation in the strongest possible terms of the abhorrent attacks of 7 October and calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all Israeli hostages and their safe return to their families," Lazzarini said Friday.

U.N. chief Guterres also reiterated that appeal at the Holocaust event.

UNRWA has been on the front lines in Gaza, bringing what relief assistance it can to the more than 2 million Palestinians in the territory. The Hamas-run Gaza Health ministry says more than 26,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel began its offensive into the strip to eliminate the threat from Hamas.

U.S. pauses funding

While the U.N. would say only that "several" UNRWA staff had been implicated and fired, the U.S. State Department said 12 staff members were involved.

The United States, which is the single largest funder of UNRWA, said it is temporarily pausing additional funding while it reviews the allegations and steps the United Nations is taking to address them. Before the war started, Washington had contributed nearly $300 million to UNRWA in 2023.

The State Department said Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Guterres on Thursday "to emphasize the necessity of a thorough and swift investigation of this matter."

"There must be complete accountability for anyone who participated in the heinous attacks of October 7," spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement.

Miller said Washington has reached out to the Israeli government to seek more information about the allegations and has briefed members of Congress.

Representative Chris Smith, a Republican from New Jersey and chair of the global human rights and international organizations subcommittee, criticized the suspension of new funding for UNRWA as "totally insufficient."

"What we need is a comprehensive, fact-based approach to UNRWA that stops all funding and conditions future funding on a complete head-to-toe reform and restructuring of UNRWA," he said.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Kenyan High Court Rules Country Cannot Deploy Police to Haiti

By Mariama Diallo January 26, 2024

The Nairobi High Court rejected a planned deployment of Kenyan police officers to Haiti.

The ruling on Friday by Judge Enock Chacha Mwita said Kenya could only deploy officers abroad if it had a "reciprocal arrangement" with the host government. It also ruled that only defense forces could be deployed, not security services.

Last year, the Nairobi court suspended the government's plan to send 1,000 police officers to Haiti.

Three petitioners, including opposition politician and constitutional lawyer Ekuru Aukot, brought the case, telling VOA at the time the proposed deployment was unconstitutional, an argument accepted by the court.

In October, the U.N. Security Council had approved a Kenya-led multinational security force aimed at helping to combat violent gangs in the troubled Caribbean nation.

Other African countries, including Chad, Senegal, Burundi, also have said they will add troops to the multinational force.

While many in Kenya have questioned their country's lead role in this mission, some had been supportive of President William Ruto, who had said, "It's a mission for humanity and ... is of special significance and critical urgency" for Kenyans."

Violence escalated in Haiti on Wednesday as a heavily armed gang surrounded a hospital in the capital of Port-au-Prince. Police later rescued the patients.

On Thursday, the head of the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime warned of a "vicious cycle" of arms trafficking to increasingly powerful Haitian gangs, fueling an internal conflict and worsening violence across the Caribbean.

Also Thursday, Haitian Foreign Affairs Minister Jean Victor Geneus told the U.N. Security Council that gang violence in his country was as barbaric as the horrors experienced in war zones, and once again asked for an international force to intervene.

Gangs across Haiti have continued to grow more powerful since the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise, and the number of kidnappings and killings keeps rising.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Nigerian Security Forces Respond to Surge in Attacks

By Timothy Obiezu January 26, 2024

Nigerian authorities say reinforcements have been sent to a local Mangu district in central Plateau state where at least 30 people were killed in attacks this week.

Authorities say some suspects also have been arrested and that operatives are responding to a surge in violence in the region known for clashes between farmers and herders.

Nigerian defense authorities in Abuja told journalists during a media briefing Thursday that the killing of a local man by herders and an attempted cattle rustling triggered the latest violence.

The attackers invaded villages along the borders of the Mangu and Barkin Ladi districts, shooting indiscriminately and setting fire to houses and property.

Women and children were among the casualties.

Nigerian defense spokesperson Major General Edward Buba told reporters that security forces had been deployed and that some suspects had been arrested.

"As we speak, arrests are still being made," he said. "It is a developing situation, it's an ongoing situation; more troops have been deployed to the location. The situation is not above us to handle. We're handling it."

The latest violence came weeks after deadly attacks in the same area on Christmas Eve. About 140 people were killed, and many others were injured. Residents blamed the attack on Fulani militias.

Communal clashes between farmers and herders are common in Nigeria's Plateau state, resulting in thousands of casualties in the last few years.

Nigerian authorities have struggled to address the insecurity problems spreading across the country.

On Tuesday, Plateau state authorities imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew as tensions over the attacks heightened.

But Mangu resident Joseph Bot said it was all talk with little action.

"They'll always tell you they're on top of the matter, but even among the security, we have bad eggs that connive with those attackers," he told VOA by phone Friday. "Sometimes killings will be taking place ... the security will not go and when you confront them, they'll tell you they're waiting for [an] order."

Nigerian defense authorities denied the allegations, stating that the military responds according to its rules of engagement.

This week, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during his four-nation Africa trip, discussed the security situation with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu in Abuja.

Blinken voiced the United States' support for Nigeria. "The United States is determined to be and remain a strong security partner for Nigeria," he said. "I want to extend the condolences of the American people to all Nigerians who were affected by the horrific attacks over the Christmas weekend, and all killed in recent attacks."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Uncertainties Remain With Renegotiated Chinese Mining Deal in DRC

By Emmet Livingstone January 26, 2024

Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi has promised to use $7 billion from a renegotiated Chinese mining deal to build roads and infrastructure but his critics say the new agreement lacks transparency and is unfavorable towards Congo.

In a surprise announcement last weekend, Tshisekedi said that talks between his government and a consortium of Chinese investors over rebalancing the so-called Sicomines mining agreement would bring in $7 billion to the Congolese treasury.

The sum represents a huge and possibly transformative opportunity in the impoverished central African country of about 100 million people, where the national budget this year is set to reach $16 billion.

The deal was first made public last Saturday, when Tshisekedi referenced the Sicomines deal during his inauguration speech for a second term in office in front of tens of thousands of people.

"There is the thorny issue of the opening up of our regions, for which a solution in terms of financing has just been made possible," he said.

Negotiations over Sicomines had been underway since last year after Tshisekedi  as well as numerous analysts  described the original 2008 deal as deeply unfair to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Under the original accord, a group of Chinese investors, including state-owned Chinese firms such as Sinohydro and China Railway Engineering Corporation, entered a $6.2-billion joint venture with Congo's state mining company to run the Sicomines copper and cobalt mine, in Kolwezi in southeastern DRC.

In return, the Chinese investors were supposed to build $3 billion worth of infrastructure across the country, using the proceeds from the mine.

This innovative minerals-for-infrastructure deal was a response to Congo's pressing development needs. The country is roughly the size of continental western Europe, but has a grossly inadequate road system due to endemic poverty, corruption and conflict.

According to many observers, the Chinese consortium failed to uphold its end of the bargain. A lack of transparency over spending also plagued the project and raised suspicions of corruption.

The U.S.-based NGO Carter Center found in a 2017 report, for example, that Sicomines consortium was unable to account for $685 million out of about $1.16 billion that had been allocated for infrastructure spending by that time.

In February 2023, Congo's state auditor, the Inspectorate General of Finances (IGF), also released a report raising numerous problems with the Sicomines deal.

It said that the mine had likely been undervalued, for example, and demanded that the consortium raise its infrastructure investments to $20 billion to reflect the mine's worth.

The IGF also found that only $822 million had been invested in infrastructure since 2008  a sum it called "glaringly low."

'Unprecedented' renegotiation

Tshisekedi made renegotiating the deal one of his priorities towards the end of his first presidential term, even visiting Beijing in May in an attempt to get better terms.

The push for rebalancing mining deals also targeted another Chinese company, CMOC, which in July last year agreed to pay the Congolese government $2 billion to settle a dispute over declared mineral reserves at its Tenke Fungurume copper-cobalt mine.

At present, no details about the renegotiated Sicomines deal have been released to the public beyond what the president announced recently.

China's embassy in Congo's capital Kinshasa refused to comment. A spokesman for the Congolese presidency said he was unable to comment for the time being.

The Congolese government is nevertheless keen to stress that the renegotiated deal is a boon for its people. Interviewed on French radio on Tuesday, government spokesman Patrick Muyaya hailed the new Sicomines deal as "unprecedented."

'In China's favor'

However, mining sector analysts in the DRC say that a host of questions surround the new $7-billion deal, the details of which remain murky.

Emmanuel Umpula, the executive director of the DRC-based NGO African Natural Resources Watch, said the whole renegotiation took place in secret.

"We asked that this happen in a transparent way, we should know the terms of reference of the renegotiation," he said, explaining that Tshisekedi's announcement had come as a surprise.

Umpula said there were many questions left to answer, such as, critically, how the negotiating parties arrived at the figure of $7 billion.

He also expressed concern that this money would come in the form of interest-bearing loans to the Congolese government, which would ultimately cause headaches for the treasury.

Sicomines has also continued operating and generating profits despite a lack of infrastructure spending, Umpula said, adding that "a simple way" of resolving the issue would have been to halt the mine's operations until the Chinese investors started construction.

Another expert who was briefed on the negotiations between the Congolese government and Chinese investors, said that the final deal was "largely in China's favor."

The expert, who declined to be named so he could speak freely with VOA, explained that few of the original problems had been resolved.

There has been no new study of the mine's reserves, he said, meaning that it was difficult to independently assess the value of the mine. It is also unclear where the money Sicomines had earmarked for investments ended up.

"Where did they go, what did they finance?" he said, referring to Sicomines. "It's on this basis that we should negotiate an agreement."

The expert said his understanding was that the $7 billion would be paid out over 10 to 15 years, in a deal he said appeared highly unfavorable.

"We're losing out on the Sicomines project," he said. "For the Congo, this is catastrophic."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Readout of President Biden's Call with President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi of Egypt

January 26, 2024

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi of Egypt. The two leaders discussed the ongoing war in Gaza and their efforts to secure the release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas. The President thanked President Al-Sisi for Egypt's important role in this process, and they affirmed that all efforts must now be made to conclude a deal that would result in the release of all hostages together with a prolonged humanitarian pause in the fighting. They also discussed intensifying efforts to further increase the delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance into and throughout Gaza. They agreed to continue their close coordination to increase humanitarian assistance to Gaza and set the conditions for a durable and sustainable peace in the Middle East, to include the establishment of a Palestinian state and equal measures of dignity and security for Palestinians and Israelis alike.

###

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Yemen reports 'direct hit' against UK tanker in support of Gaza

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 27 January 2024 2:05 AM

Yemen's Armed Forces report striking a British oil tanker heading towards the occupied territories, in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, who are enduring a genocidal US and UK-backed Israeli war.

The forces "carried out an operation targeting a British oil tanker 'Marlin Luanda' in the Gulf of Aden, using a number of appropriate naval missiles," spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree said in a video statement on Friday.

"The hit was direct, leading to its burning," he added.

Over the past month, the forces and Yemen's Ansarullah popular resistance movement have been staging many such strikes against Israeli vessels or those bound for the occupied Palestinian territories' ports.

The operations have been described as a response to the October 7, 2023-present war and siege that the Israeli regime has been waging against Gaza following an operation carried out by the Palestinian territory's resistance movements.

More than 26,000 Palestinians, some 70 percent of whom are women, children, and adolescents, have been killed in the brutal onslaught so far, while upwards of 64,100 others have been injured.

Saree said the forces would continue their operations "until the aggression is stopped and food and medicine are allowed [to flow towards] the besieged Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip."

The United States and the UK have also conducted several missile attacks against Yemeni targets in response to the Yemeni strikes.

The spokesman said, "The Yemeni Armed Forces affirm their adoption of all military measures within the right to defend beloved Yemen and to emphasize the ongoing practical solidarity with the Palestinian people."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Operation Iron Swords - Day 112 - 26 January 2024

Tomorrow, 27 January 2024. is Holocaust Memorial Day , the day for everyone to remember the millions of people murdered in the Holocaust, under Nazi Persecution, Jews Roma and Sinti people, disabled people, gay people, political opponents and others, and in the genocides which followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur.

On the 112th day of the war, the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to take all measures in its power to prevent genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, in a preliminary ruling that was generally consistent with the advice in reent weeks from the Biden Administration. The preliminary ruling delivered by the 17-judge ICJ ordered Israel to enable the provision of basic services and humanitarian assistance in Gaza, but stopped short of ordering a cease-fire in the embattled territory,

The full measures in the final ICJ order, are:

Israel shall, "in accordance with its obligations under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, in relation to Palestinians in Gaza, take all measures within its power to prevent the commission of all acts within the scope of Article II of this Convention, in particular: (a) killing members of the group; (b) causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; (c) deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; and (d) imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group. Israel shall ensure with immediate effect that its military does not commit any acts described in point 1 above: Israel shall take all measures within its power to prevent and punish the direct and public incitement to commit genocide in relation to members of the Palestinian group in the Gaza Strip: Israel shall take immediate and effective measures to enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance to address the adverse conditions of life faced by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip: Israel shall take effective measures to prevent the destruction and ensure the preservation of evidence related to allegations of acts within the scope of Article II and Article III of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide against members of the Palestinian group in the Gaza Strip: Israel shall submit a report to the Court on all measures taken to give effect to this order within one month as from the date of this Order.

Of the 17 judges on the panel, one ad hoc Israeli judge and another permanent ICJ judge voted mostly against the six emergency measures. Ugandan judge Julia Sebutinde voted against all the provisional measures South Africa sought against Israel. She is the first African woman on the ICJ. Sebutinde is a British-trained Ugandan judge who had been a member of the court since 2012. From 2005 to 2011, Sebutinde was a Judge of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, reportedly handling several high-profile war crime and corruption trials.

South African foreign minister Naledi Pandor at the Hague said she would have wanted the #ICJ to explicitly call for a ceasefire, but says the only way Israel can meet the order of the court is for their to be a ceasefire. I believe that in exercising the order there would have to be a ceasefire, without it the order doesn't actually work."

The Islamic Human Rights Commission stated "Todays decision by the International Court of Justice that Israel has a right to wage war in Gaza but that it should take care to ensure it does not commit genocidal acts falls far short of what is required to rein in the apartheid regime. While the decision acknowledges that Israel has a case to answer for genocide, the remedy fails to take account of the endemically violent nature of the Israeli beast. The court is effectively putting the fox in charge of a hen house it has mercilessly ravaged for over three months.... The failure to protect the beleaguered Palestinians highlights just how deeply the instruments of justice have been colonised by the West and are exploited to expand and preserve their global power."

The ICJ stated "At the present stage of the proceedings, the Court is not required to ascertain whether any violations of Israels obligations under the Genocide Convention have occurred. Such a finding could be made by the Court only at the stage of the examination of the merits of the present case.... In the Courts view, at least some of the acts and omissions alleged by South Africa to have been committed by Israel in Gaza appear to be capable of falling within the provisions of the Convention."

The Biden administration claimed it had asked Israel to protect civilian life but that has not shielded it from heavy criticism, including internally, for failing to convince Israel to hold higher regard for innocent lives in Gaza. This administration is concerned with the growing number of members of Congress, particularly moderate Democrats in the Senate who are raising red flags about the misuse of US weapons and the potential for US complicity if they continue to send unconditional supplies to Israel. The ICJ ruling could add steam to the push for a ceasefire in Gaza and for the US to insist on a higher level of accountability when it comes to Israeli military action.

South Africa submits that the evidence before the Court shows incontrovertibly a pattern of conduct and related intention that justifies a plausible claim of genocidal acts. It alleges, in particular, the commission of the following acts with genocidal intent: killing, causing serious bodily and mental harm, inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part, and imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group. According to South Africa, genocidal intent is evident from the way in which Israels military attack is being conducted, from the clear pattern of conduct of Israel in Gaza and from the statements made by Israeli officials in relation to the military operation in the Gaza Strip. The Applicant also contends that [t]he intentional failure of the Government of Israel to condemn, prevent and punish such genocidal incitement constitutes in itself a grave violation of the Genocide Convention.

Israel submits that the appropriate legal framework for the conflict in Gaza is that of international humanitarian law and not the Genocide Convention. It argues that, in situations of urban warfare, civilian casualties may be an unintended consequence of lawful use of force against military objects, and do not constitute genocidal acts.

The Court recalled that, in order for acts to fall within the scope of Article II of the Convention, the intent must be to destroy at least a substantial part of the particular group. That is demanded by the very nature of the crime of genocide: since the object and purpose of the Convention as a whole is to prevent the intentional destruction of groups, the part targeted must be significant enough to have an impact on the group as a whole.

The court deemed it necessary to emphasize that all parties to the conflict in the Gaza Strip are bound by international humanitarian law. "It is gravely concerned about the fate of the hostages abducted during the attack in Israel on 7 October 2023 and held since then. By Hamas and other armed groups and calls for their immediate and unconditional release,

The ICJ in its provisional measures did not order Israel to stop its military campaign in Gaza. South Africa had requested such a cease-and-desist directive in its request for provisional measures, citing the prospect of genocide in Gaza. The court had ordered Russia to halt its war in Ukraine in March 2022, a month after it had launched an invasion of Ukraine, though Moscow has ignored that ruling.

Israel is required, under the ICJs ruling, to submit a report within a month showing that it is complying with the provisional measures. South Africa will have the chance to pick holes in Israels claims.

When South Africa filed its case at the ICJ in late December 2023, Israeli officials dismissed it as lies and accused the South Africans of hypocrisy. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel would not be swayed by any ruling.

The Oman Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated "While the Sultanate of Oman welcomes the courts decisions and stresses adherence to them, it stresses the necessity of immediately stopping all forms of Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip and the rest of the occupied Palestinian territories and lifting the siege imposed on them in a way that ensures safe entry for all types of humanitarian needs. The Sultanate of Oman also calls on the international community to oblige Israel, the occupying state, to stop military operations and acts of genocide against the Palestinian people, expressing its deep appreciation to the Republic of South Africa for its honorable position in standing by human rights and justice."

Israel argued that the acts complained of by South Africa are not capable of falling within the provisions of the Genocide Convention because the necessary specific intent to destroy, in whole or in part, the Palestinian people as such has not been proved, even on a prima facie basis. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that [t]he accusation of genocide against Israel is not only wholly unfounded as a matter of fact and law, it is morally repugnant. Israel also stated that [t]he accusation of genocide . . . is not just legally and factually incoherent, it is obscene

Israeli politicians have already said that theyre going to ignore the ICJ order, Mark Lattimer, the executive director of Ceasefire Centre for Civilian Rights, told Al Jazeera. It is much harder for, particularly, the US and European states including the UK, to ignore the order because they have a much stronger record of holding or supporting the International Court of Justice.

Legal experts expect Israels allies in the West, including the US, to respect the ICJs ruling. To fail to do so would have serious repercussions. It would undermine the credibility of the rules-based international order that the US claims to uphold, Lattimer said. He added that it would also entrench a growing divide between the US and Western countries versus states in the Global South which view those claims of upholding global order with scepticism.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry said it was a welcome reminder that "no state is above the law. Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior Hamas official, told Reuters the decision would contribute to "isolating the occupation and exposing its crimes in Gaza." The advocacy group Human Rights Watch applauded the ruling. While the court itself does not have the power to enforce the interim ruling, or indeed the final verdict it delivers in the case, its directives could influence the war in Gaza, said analysts. Pressure has been mounting on Israel and its American backers in recent weeks, as global calls for a ceasefire continue to pick up steam.

The ruling does not determine whether Israel is committing genocide, as South Africa has alleged. But Judge Joan Donahue, the current president of the ICJ, said while announcing the provisional measures that the court had concluded that the catastrophic situation in Gaza could get much worse by the time it delivers its final verdict, necessitating provisional measures.

The ruling sends a strong message to Israel that the court views the situation as very serious and that Israel should do what it can to perform restraint in carrying out its military campaign, said Michael Becker, an assistant professor of international human rights law at Trinity College in Dublin who also served as an associate legal officer at the International Court of Justice in The Hague from 2010 to 2014.

Though the International Court of Justice did not directly issue an order for a ceasefire in Gaza, the University of Londons Nimer Sultany tells Al Jazeera that the measures it did order require Israel to dramatically reduce its military operations. Courts will be reluctant to order any kind of measures that will not be enforced, because this shows the weakness of the court, he said, explaining why the ICJ chose not to issue a direct ceasefire order. Instead, he said, They indirectly and effectively call for a drastic scaling down of the Israeli military campaign.

Using the example of the courts order for Israel to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza, Sultany said that there is no way Israel can comply if it continues to prosecute the war in its current form. If Israel dismisses this ruling by the ICJ in the same way it dismissed the opening of an investigation by the [International Criminal Court] a coupe of years ago, and the same way it dismissed the Human Rights Watch and Amnesty [international] reports on apartheid, it will reaffirm its position as a rogue state, Sultany said.

While the ruling itself does not call for a ceasefire, it could make it harder for Israels allies to continue to stonewall global efforts to bring the war to a halt. The ICJ ruling puts a lot more pressure on the US and other Western allies to move on a ceasefire resolution, Zaha Hassan, a human rights lawyer and a fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told Al Jazeera. It makes it a lot harder for the US, along with Israel, to make the case to Western governments that are still very much concerned with international legitimacy, to maintain the idea that Israel is acting within the constraints of international law in Gaza and that its acting in self-defence.

Amnesty International stressed in a statement that Israel must comply with the ruling of the International Court of Justice by doing everything in its power to prevent genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The organization added that an immediate ceasefire by all parties is a necessary condition for implementing temporary measures and ending the suffering of civilians, as it put it.

Operational Update

Armed clashes broke out between Palestinian resistance fighters and the Israeli occupation forces during their storming of the city of Tubas in the northern West Bank , as a continuation of the incursions carried out by the occupation in conjunction with its war on the Gaza Strip . The occupation forces surrounded several sites in Tubas, and deployed snipers in some buildings. The Israeli occupation forces stormed the Shuafat refugee camp, north of the occupied city of Jerusalem, coinciding with the closure of the military checkpoint at the entrance to the camp. Earlier, the Israeli occupation forces stormed Manger Square in the center of Bethlehem and attacked Palestinian police officers present at the place. Manger Square is considered one of the main landmarks under the security and civil control of the Palestinian Authority in the occupied West Bank.

Abu Ubaida, spokesman for the Al-Qassam Brigades, had announced the killing of 53 Israeli soldiers from scratch and the sniping of 9 others in operations carried out against the occupation forces in the Gaza Strip during the past week. Abu Ubaida said - in a statement published on the official account of the Al-Qassam Brigades on Telegram - that during the past week, Al-Qassam fighters destroyed 68 military vehicles, completely or partially, in the Gaza Strip. He added that they killed and wounded dozens of Israeli soldiers in 57 different military missions during the same period.

Since the first days of the war in the Gaza Strip , the Israeli army and its supporters began talking about the situation of the Strip after the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) within a strategy aimed at strengthening the psychological warfare efforts accompanying the military operations, targeting the residents of the Strip and various countries that may sympathize with the Palestinians and their resistance.

Most of the scenarios that are put forward are based on the assumption that the state of war will stop in the near term, which is doubtful if it will happen due to the divergence of the political positions of the two main parties to the conflict, and the confrontation between them approaching an existential conflict.

The post-war scenarios that the occupation and its supporters talked about can be summarized as follows:

The return of the Palestinian Authority alone after its revitalization, according to the American vision stated by US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on December 15.

The deployment of Arab or international forces in the Gaza Strip after the end of the war, a scenario to which Israel announced its approval, according to the Israeli Broadcasting Authority on November 16, 2023.

Long-term Israeli security control, which places it in a state of occupation even if there is a civilian authority subordinate to it, a position that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on January 22, 2024.

Displacing the population of the Gaza Strip outside Palestine, whether to Egypt or to distant countries across the sea. These are positions stated by the Israeli Ministers of Finance and National Security on December 4, 2023.

On the other hand, the Palestinians discussed other scenarios

A consensus had been reached between Hamas and the Palestinian National Liberation Movement ( Fatah ), or the Authority, regarding the management of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, as understood from the statements of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on December 13, 2023.

The previous formula remains, which is Hamas control, while the legal description of the Strip remains as part of the Palestinian Authority.

A local civil administration that is not necessarily affiliated with the Palestinian Authority, with the Gaza Strip being considered a liberated land in which there is a de facto authority that takes upon itself the management of civil affairs until the liberation is completed. This reflects an appreciation that the West Bank is still under occupation.

In parallel, attempts by the extreme right appeared to exploit the war to impose facts in the West Bank that would pave the way for the displacement of Palestinians from there to Jordan, and to undermine what remained of the political character of the Palestinian Authority, and to confine it to an exclusively security and service role.

As for the re-occupation of the Gaza Strip, it is clear that the occupying state does not have the desire or ability to do so in its clear and crude form, but it seeks, as usual, for a low-cost occupation by establishing a civil administration subject to the occupation, funded by the international community and some Arab countries, while maintaining security control. She has the right to enter whenever she wants and act however she wants, as appeared in the statements of Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant.

This solution will not be accepted by the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, especially after they have lived outside the occupations direct control since the Israeli withdrawal from the Strip in 2005, which portends a prolonged conflict if the occupation and its allies try to impose any similar scenario. For Hamas and the rest of the resistance factions, resistance work constitutes the justification for their existence, whether by practicing military resistance action, or by preparing for it by manufacturing weapons, building tunnels, and training.

Indeed, Operation Al-Aqsa Flood indicates the absolute priority of military resistance action by the Hamas movement to the extent that maintaining authority in the Gaza Strip is not considered an important matter in its awareness except to the extent that it is linked to its impact on resistance action, whether positive or negative.

On the other hand, the Israeli existential obsession at the present time is the obsession with security, which prompts the occupation government to resist many internal and external pressures to continue its efforts to undermine the greatest possible amount of the military and civilian power of the Hamas movement.

Therefore, there is an almost zero-sum game for both parties, although its severity is less for other parties, such as the American administration and Western countries, as the scenarios for the return of authority to the Gaza Strip adopted by Washington include an implicit acceptance of Hamas remaining in the Strip, but it seeks to be the movement then. Deterred by the effects of war and the presence of Palestinian or international security forces, which is a low probability of being achieved.

The United States insists on limiting talk about solutions to the confrontation within the framework of the political settlement process and the two-state solution project, as US President Joe Biden stated, While we strive for peace, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank must be reunited under one governance structure, and ultimately under... A renewed Palestinian Authority, as we all work toward a two-state solution.

Through this position, the American administration aims to preserve the structure and form of this process, despite the extremely small possibility of achieving this solution, which indicates that the goal of its position is to preserve the role of conflict management without resolving it, which can be described as a cook of gravel that does not produce a solution, but rather an illusion. It calms the people and hinders their involvement in resisting the occupation more broadly.

American positions emerged stressing the need for the Palestinian Authority to assume responsibility for the Gaza Strip and equip it to play this role, as stated in Bidens statements mentioned above. However, the reality of the authority shows that it is incapable of assuming this role. In the first place, it does not have the political legitimacy that would cover any security role it is supposed to play, especially with the level of Israeli extremism and stubbornness that cannot give it the margin to appear national, which means that it will It has been in conflict with the residents of the Gaza Strip since day one, unless its arrival was in agreement with the resistance movements in particular.

In contrast to the proposals of the occupation and the United States, the ceiling of Palestinian resistance remains high, despite the comprehensive destruction and the heavy humanitarian bill, while it has issued signals that it may accept interim arrangements that will reduce the severity of this round of confrontation.

This position indicates two things, the first of which is the resistances confidence that it cannot be bypassed and any arrangements imposed without it. The second is its awareness that the regional and international balance of power does not provide it with the opportunity to impose the best arrangements for it at the present time, such as declaring the Gaza Strip a liberated land and a starting point for completing the work to liberate the rest of Palestine, and the presence of a de facto authority there whose legitimacy is established by some countries recognition of it. This matter is linked to the ability to break the blockade by land or sea, a matter for which the conditions have not yet matured.

Such a position seeks to avoid the crystallization of a regional and international political position towards post-war political options without the presence of the movement, which makes confronting these options more costly compared to early engagement in the ongoing dialogues in this regard, especially with parties with which it has relations such as Qatar, Turkey and Egypt, in addition. To the Fatah movement. This also comes in recognition that it will be difficult for the resistance to bear the burdens of managing and rebuilding the sector on its own, especially in light of the hardening of Western positions towards it following the Al-Aqsa Flood operation.

However, the possibility of achieving consensus with the Fatah movement regarding the management of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank is small due to the wide gap between what the United States wants from this authority and what the Palestinians in general and the resistance factions in particular want, in addition to the impact of the escalation of resistance activities in the West Bank, which continues the conflict between the popular forces and the authority over the nature of Its relationship with the occupation.

Excluding the scenarios with low probability of being realized, if neither the Authority nor the occupation nor the regional guarantors are able to impose authority on the Gaza Strip contrary to the will of its people and their resistance, the scenario remains the return of the previous state of war, or the formation of a civil administration that expresses the people of the Gaza Strip and is not imposed by external parties. So that it carries out humanitarian relief and reconstruction missions.

The condition for the success of such authority is that an administration be able to come to terms with the resistance and not be hostile to it. This is something that can be achieved by consensus in the Gaza Strip. Otherwise, the attempt to impose any arrangements based on making the occupations hand the upper hand means the continuation of this war indefinitely, even if its forms and levels are multiple.

Israeli estimates dealt with the Israeli armys plan to establish a buffer zone along the security fence with the Gaza Strip under the pretext of providing security and allowing the settlers of the enclave to return. The Israeli army destroyed 1,072 buildings out of 2,824 buildings that were one kilometer or less from the border, which constitutes 40% of the buildings in Border areas.

Since the start of the ground attack launched by the Israeli occupation on the Gaza Strip, a number of Israeli officials have reiterated the intention of the occupying army to establish a buffer zone inside the Strip, in an attempt to besiege the Palestinian resistance and limit the impact of its operations across the separation fence.

Energy and Infrastructure Minister Eli Cohen explicitly declared that Gaza's territory would "shrink," while Defense Minister Yoav Galant called for the creation of an indefinite buffer zone inside the Strip in a way that would push the Palestinian resistance away from the "borders," which is A position that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu largely supports.

The statements of the Israeli army decided the matter, as it was the first public confirmation that the strategy was under implementation, according to a report by the Washington Post. Israeli occupation army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus said earlier this month, "It is one of the additional efforts that are being implemented after October 7."

The idea of the "buffer zone" that the Israeli state intends to create in the Gaza Strip belongs to a previous traditional strategy in Israeli security theory called "strategic depth." This strategy aims to control foreign lands indefinitely in order to enhance security from external threats. Israel sought to implement it during its operation against the Gaza Strip in the summer of 2014, but failed to achieve it. It is an attempt to circumvent the idea of reoccupying the Gaza Strip, which receives great opposition.

The sudden Al-Aqsa flood operation on October 7 led to a perception among the Israeli occupation that strategies to contain the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) and create deterrence equations with it are unable to guarantee Israel's security. This forces the IDF to take new approaches to dealing with the sector.

The experiences of the Israeli forces in Gaza and southern Lebanon indicate the failure of the strategic depth strategy to provide security. Former Director of the Strategic Planning Department in the Israeli army, Shlomo Brom, says that Israel sought to protect our borders around Gaza by providing Hamas with more suitable targets: soldiers and settlers in the Gaza Strip, referring to the phase of the Israeli military presence in the Strip before 2005.

Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak says, "We were protecting our front line in southern Lebanon as if it were the walls of Jerusalem. We brought in heavier weapons and more troops without even noticing that we were not defending anything strategic." These quotes highlight the shortcomings of re-establishing the strategic depth in the Gaza Strip today, whether at the level of reoccupying it or creating a buffer zone within it.

The buffer zone may temporarily push the fighting away from the Gaza border, but Israel's experiences inside Gaza and Lebanon make clear that each occupation has only served to provide the resistance with political legitimacy for its actions and easy targets for its attacks. Therefore, it is unlikely that the buffer zone will limit the effectiveness of resistance actions, especially the ongoing missile effort launched from deep in Gaza.

On the Palestinian level, any reduction in the area of ??the Gaza Strip will represent aggression, as the reduction constitutes an intensification of the siege and pressure on the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, and will deprive Gazans of agricultural spaces, and will deepen the population crisis in light of Israels demolition of more than 70% of the buildings in the northern Gaza Strip and the possibility of this being repeated in the middle. And south of the sector.

The population of the Gaza Strip suffers from overcrowding, as it is one of the most densely populated areas in the world, which will cause great population pressure within the cities and camps of the Strip, which raises questions about the relationship between the establishment of a buffer zone that consumes about 20% of the area of Gaza and the forced and voluntary displacement projects adopted by ministers in the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu government.

The Palestinian resistance is likely to deal with any attempt to keep Israeli army forces in the Gaza Strip as legitimate targets, which will represent a challenge and exhaustion to the occupation forces that the Palestinian resistance will use to its advantage. A number of experts and former security personnel in Israel have previously warned against such an option.

Israeli estimates also suggest that the problems caused by the buffer zone in the Gaza Strip may outweigh the benefit of its establishment, as it is reminiscent of the buffer zone in southern Lebanon and the state of fighting that Israel experienced for many years until it withdrew, a scenario that may be repeated with the Strip.

The idea of a buffer zone has received Palestinian, Arab and international rejection. Despite the constant skepticism about the American position, the administration of President Joe Biden has repeatedly expressed its rejection of any reduction in the area of the Strip. Egypt and Jordan also reject the idea explicitly and directly, and the Wall Street Journal said that the project is meeting with increasing frustration among American officials, who say that they expressed their opposition to plans to establish buffer zones in the Gaza Strip, and then watched Israel move forward with what it wants, considering that establishing the buffer zone It is a reduction of Gaza's territory and a violation of international law.

The Wall Street Journal confirmed that the US administration is facing difficulties by pressuring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stop the buffer zone project, saying that it may accept the establishment of a "temporary buffer zone." The US administration also warned that Israel's establishment of a buffer zone may make it difficult to persuade Arab countries to help in the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip after the end of the war, according to its words.

The state of confusion that is plaguing the Israeli occupation state regarding the goals of the aggression against Gaza and the possibility of achieving them has become apparent, and it appears that there is fluctuation and instability in the declared goals of the aggression between eliminating Hamas, security control of the Gaza Strip and displacing its Palestinian population to Egypt, and then moving on to talk about eliminating Hamas's military capabilities and preventing its management of the Strip, while the idea of a buffer zone has recently emerged.

The Lebanese "Hezbollah" announced that its fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers on Friday evening on Cobra Hill and the Zarit barracks with Burkan missiles, causing direct casualties. The party said in a statement: In support of our steadfast Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and in support of their valiant and honorable resistance, the Mujahideen of the Islamic Resistance, at 11:05 pm on Friday 01/26/2024, targeted the positioning and deployment of Zionist enemy soldiers near Metulla. With missile weapons, they achieved direct hits on them.

He stated in another statement: In support of our steadfast Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and in support of their brave and honorable resistance, the Mujahideen of the Islamic Resistance, at 10:00 pm on Friday 01/26/2024, targeted a gathering of Israeli enemy soldiers on Cobra Hill. "With two Burkan missiles, he was hit directly."

Deputy Secretary General of the Lebanese Hezbollah, Sheikh Naim Qassem, said that unless the war in Gaza stops, it cannot stop in Lebanon. He stressed in a speech during the launch ceremony of the book The Supreme Commandments by Imam Khamenei, If Israel expands its targeting of Lebanon, we will respond with expansion with the fourth range and effective force, and the Israeli entity understands what we are saying.

Sheikh Naeem Qassem stressed that "any political discussion related to the southern front is postponed until after the war in Gaza." He added: "There is no connection between political entitlements, whether the issue of the presidency of the republic or anything else, with what is happening in the south, and there is no trade-off between what is happening in the south and any political entitlement." He stated that Hezbollah will continue to confront Israel and work inside Lebanon to help the people and prepare at every moment to elect a president of the republic if an agreement is reached.

Four Iranian and diplomatic sources told Reuters news agency that Chinese officials asked their Iranian counterparts to help restrain the attacks launched by the Ansar Allah group ( Houthis ) on ships in the Red Sea , otherwise damage could be caused to trade relations with Beijing. The agency quoted these Iranian sources as saying that discussions regarding the attacks and trade between China and Iran took place during several meetings held recently in Beijing and Tehran. The sources declined to give any other details about when the meetings were held, or who participated in them.

Essentially, China is saying, "If our interests are harmed in any way, it will affect our business with Tehran. So ask the Houthis to exercise restraint," said an Iranian official familiar with the deliberations, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity. According to Reuters, the four sources indicated that Chinese officials did not make any specific comments or threats regarding how trade relations between Beijing and Tehran could be affected if their interests were harmed as a result of the Houthi attacks.

The Iranian sources said that Beijing made clear that it would feel very disappointed towards Tehran if any ships linked to China were attacked, or the country's interests were affected in any way. An informed Iranian source pointed out that although China is important to Iran, Tehran has agents in Gaza , Lebanon, Syria and Iraq, in addition to the Houthis in Yemen, and that its regional alliances and priorities play a major role in its decision-making.

The attacks - which the Houthis say are aimed at supporting the Palestinians in Gaza in the face of the raging Israeli war on the Strip - have led to an increase in the cost of shipping and insurance as a result of the disruption they caused to a major trade route between Asia and Europe that is widely used by ships sailing from China.

Yesterday, the leader of the Ansar Allah group, Abdul Malik Al Houthi, said that operations in the Red Sea will continue until food and medicine reach the entire Gaza Strip. Al-Houthi added - in a televised speech - that the Red Sea battle "is linked to what is happening in Gaza, and is not separate as the Americans portray it, and it will stop with the cessation of Zionist crime." Al-Houthi confirmed that his forces "have so far used more than 200 drones and more than 50 ballistic and winged missiles in this battle, which aims to support the Palestinian people, and has no other goals," he said.

Maps

All maps are lies. Not only is it easy to lie with maps, it is essential, wrote cartographer Mark Monmoneir in his book How to Lie with Maps. He showed that condensing complex, three-dimensional spaces onto a two-dimensional sheet of paper is bound to be reductive. But it is impossible to comprehend the war in Gaza without reference to maps, otherwise the entire conflict is reduced to an endless series of meaningless acts of random violence and the suffering of civilians. The first characteristic of guerrilla warfare is the loss of a front line. Evidently, different mappers have different ideas of how to depict the war in Gaza, notably those that seek to depict Israeli progress in the ground campaign. Part of the problem is latency. The news that forms the basis of the maps takes time to filter out to mappers, and the cartographers take time in crafting their maps, and it takes time to curate them. These processes are uneven among mappers, so their maps may differ in detail. Probably there is some ideological bias, or at least thematic apperception, which is understandable in wartime. It may come as no surprise that al-Jazeera maps depict rather less Israeli territorial progress than other sources. Finally, there remains the epistemological question of just exactly what are the colored in areas depicting. Naively, this might be understood as areas of Israeli control, that are no longer contested by the HAMAS. Or possibly these are areas of Israeli presence, in many of which the possibility of an RPG-wielding HAMAS militant popping out of a tunnel unexpectedly remains a live possibility. With the "zero-range" combat characterized by small unit tactics on both sides, maps may be prey to a fallacy of misplaced concreteness. Indeed, by late January 2024 mappers were rather less exuberant in their depictions of IDF advances. While by the end of 2023 maps suggested that it was "mission accomplished" in North Gaza which was depicted as entirely pacified, by late January 2024 enclaves of IDF elements were depicted at the margins of Gaza City, much of North Gaza was now depticted as either HAMAS-controlled, or "contested". Another noteworthy cartographic ambiguity is found to the south of Khan Yunis in the stretch of Salah Al-Deen avenue running north from Al-Nasr through al-Fukhari to the vicinity of Tawhid Mosque in the environs of Khan Yunis proper. By the end of 2023 some cartographers indicated that a large swath of territory centered on this avenue had been liberated by the IDF, while other cartographers professed no knowlege of an IDF presence in that part of the Strip. By late January 2024 there are suggestions that while the avenue itself is an IDF permissive corridor for nearly the full length of the Strip, much of adjacent territory is not.

Bystanders

The spokesman for the United Nations Secretary-General, Stephane Dujarric, said that the Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, will immediately transmit the notification of the interim measures of the International Court of Justice to the UN Security Council. Dujarric added in a press conference that Guterres affirms that the decisions of the International Court of Justice are binding and he is confident that all parties will abide by them in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the system under which the court was established.

World Health Organisation chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus slammed comments from Israeli authorities accusing the WHO of colluding with Hamas. WHO refutes Israels accusation at the Executive Board meeting yesterday that WHO is in collusion with Hamas and is turning a blind eye to the suffering of hostages being held in Gaza, Ghebreyesus said in a social media post. Such false claims are harmful and can endanger our staff who are risking their lives to serve the vulnerable. As a United Nations agency, WHO is impartial and is working for the health and well-being of all people.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society says that for the fifth day in a row, Israeli forces are targeting the vicinity of its headquarters in al-Amal Hospital in Khan Younis with intense shelling and gunfire. The PRCS also said that for the past three days, Israeli forces have imposed a complete curfew in the hospital vicinity, preventing the movement of ambulance teams to and from the hospital. The Palestine Red Crescent expresses deep concern for the safety of its teams besieged in Al-Amal Hospital and calls on the international community to urgently act to protect its personnel working there, the organisation said.

Othman Muqbil, CEO of Action for Humanity - the largest non-profit organization in Britain - drew attention to the methods used by Israel to end all aspects of life in Gaza , and called for a response in innovative ways to support the Palestinians who are subjected to unprecedented levels of suffering. As a Palestinian by origin who has lived all his life through the atrocities committed against his people, Muqbel believes that the current war is worse than any previous war, as the people of Gaza are now bearing acts the likes of which modern history has never witnessed in terms of the ability of humans to inflict death and destruction on others. He added that we are witnessing a catastrophic famine in which people deliberately Israel is starving the people of Gaza by depriving them of the basic necessities that humans need to survive.

Moqbel believes, in an article published by the British website Middle East Eye, that these inhumane acts must be confronted with measures similar to what France and Jordan did when they airdropped several tons of medical aid to hospitals unable to deal with the influx of injured people. He added that if the world's cries to ensure humanitarian aid reaches the people of Gaza across the land borders are ignored, then the world bears responsibility for transporting aid by any other means, "and if they do not allow us to help by land or sea, then we must try by air."

Mokbel cited airdrops of supplies in previous humanitarian crises, as happened recently to save lives in besieged areas in Syria, and earlier Bosnian residents under siege in Mostar, and South Sudanese communities cut off from aid due to the conflict. The CEO of Action for Humanity denounced the argument that flour, water bottles or food items - designed for malnourished people or tents - could be used as a weapon against Israelis.

The international press continued to highlight developments in the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip , and the latest developments about the possibility of a new exchange deal between Israel and the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ). The American Wall Street Journal said that Israel's moving forward with its plans to build a buffer zone in Gaza threatens a new rift in relations with the United States. It added that American officials are feeling increasingly frustrated about the project, warning that it reinforces Palestinian fears of Israel's occupation of their lands, and makes the task of convincing Arab governments to help rebuild the destroyed Strip difficult.

An article in the British newspaper The Guardian concluded that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus insistence on rejecting the two-state solution, which US President Joe Biden constantly talks about, reflects a feeling on the part of Netanyahu that he can escape punishment, a feeling that was strengthened with Netanyahus realization that the flow of American aid Continuous as well as diplomatic support.

In turn, an article in the Israeli newspaper "Haaretz" considered that Netanyahu's description of the Qatari mediation role as problematic took his wartime behavior to a new low, strongly criticizing what he called Netanyahu's attempt to hold Qatar responsible for what he should bear. The article added, "It is clear that Netanyahu, through his leaks, wanted to disrupt a possible deal," revealing that "Netanyahu this time went too far with his lies and is thus creating enemies to wage an endless war in the Middle East."

As for the French newspaper Le Monde, it said that the adherence of political leaders in Israel to denying the right of the Palestinian people to exist and the overwhelming desire to continue the disastrous war on the Gaza Strip may prompt the International Court of Justice to acknowledge the plausibility of the genocide case and take temporary measures based on recent judicial rulings related to it in Myanmar and Ukraine.

For its part, the American newspaper "Washington Post" raised the issue of Israel preventing foreign journalists from covering the war in Gaza, and noted that an Israeli journalist answered when asked about the reason that the entry of Western reporters into Gaza "will cause a headache for Israel and affect its propaganda." The article pointed out that the world was nevertheless able to follow the horrific events in Gaza thanks to the brave Gazan journalists who did everything in their power to document the events, but the price for this was high.

Axis of Resistance

The representatives of Iran, Russia, and Turkey, acting as guarantor countries in the Astana Format, released a joint statement outlining the outcomes of the 21st International Meeting on Syria held in Astana on January 24-25, 2024. The comprehensive joint statement addresses various aspects related to the Syrian crisis, underlining the commitment of the three nations to finding lasting solutions.

The representatives began by examining the latest international and regional developments, emphasizing the vital role of the Astana Process in promoting a lasting settlement to the Syrian crisis. They acknowledged the negative impact of the developments in Palestine on the situation in Syria, expressing deep concern over the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip. The statement called for an end to Israeli aggression and the implementation of UNGA Resolution A/ES/-10/L.27 (2023) for an immediate ceasefire.

Reaffirming their commitment to Syria's sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity, the representatives highlighted the importance of restoring Turkey-Syria relations. They emphasized the need for combating terrorism, facilitating the safe return of Syrians, revitalizing the political process, and ensuring humanitarian aid flow, all within the framework of the Astana format. Examined the latest international and regional developments and emphasized the leading role of the Astana Process in promoting the lasting settlement of the Syrian crisis.

Moscow called on the UN Security Council to take steps to cease fire in the Gaza Strip. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, commenting on the initial decision of the United Nations court regarding the Gaza Strip, said on Friday, The court recognized in principle that the dimensions of the suffering of the civilian population in Gaza make it justifiable to raise the issue of genocide. She continued: "This confirms once again the justice of the Russian position regarding the need to stop violence immediately, and it is based on both recognized norms of international law and general human morals." She added that Moscow is counting on "appropriate steps by the UN Security Council and a return to diplomatic efforts in accordance with the general international legal rule for the settlement in the Middle East."

The Iranian president lauded South Africas courageous move to lodge a genocide case against the Zionist regime at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). In a telephone conversation with his South African counterpart on Thursday night, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi hailed the African governments initiative and courageous move to file a complaint at the ICJ against the Israeli regime for its crimes in Gaza. This measure, taken by a country that has experienced the bitterness of racism and genocide for years, has been hailed and applauded not only by the Islamic world, but the whole free and freedom-seeking nations, the Iranian president said.

The Zionist regime and its cohorts will definitely seek to deflect the judicial processes in the ICJ case, he noted, adding, The humanitarian community and all nations expect the court (ICJ) to exercise justice and indict the criminal Zionist regime. Reaffirming Irans support for South Africas brave action, President Raisi said while the international organizations have remained passive and idle regarding the Israeli atrocities in Gaza, the name of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will go down in history, along with Nelson Mandela, as a figure combating racism and advocating justice in the world.

The military spokesman for Ansar Allah Houthis, Yahya Saree, announced today, Friday, that a British oil ship in the Gulf of Aden was targeted with a number of missiles, while a US Department of Defense ( Pentagon ) official confirmed to Al Jazeera that an oil tanker was damaged and hit by an anti-ship ballistic missile launched by the Houthis in Yemen. Saree added that the hit was direct and led to the burning of the oil ship.

For his part, a Pentagon official told Al Jazeera that an oil tanker was attacked in the Gulf of Aden, and a ship of the Guardian of Prosperity coalition was on its way to provide assistance.

In a related development, the British maritime security company Ambrey reported that a fire broke out on board a commercial ship after it was hit by a missile southeast of Aden, and confirmed that the ships crew were fine. It explained that the accident occurred about a nautical mile southeast of Aden and led to a fire. This came after British sources announced earlier today that two missiles exploded at sea near a ship off the port of Aden without causing any damage.

For his part, the leader of the Ansar Allah Houthi group, Abdul Malik Al Houthi, confirmed the continuation of operations in the Red Sea until food and medicine reach the entire Gaza Strip, which has been subjected to Israeli aggression since the Al-Aqsa flood. The Houthi attacks are impeding navigation in the Red Sea, through which 12% of global trade passes, and have caused the cost of transportation to double as a result of shipping companies diverting their ships to the Cape of Good Hope in the far south of Africa, which prolongs the journey between Asia and Europe for about a week.

Allied for Democracy

In repeated scenes broadcast by Israeli occupation soldiers as they systematically destroy dozens of Palestinian buildings and homes in the eastern and northern regions of the Gaza Strip, the true intentions of the Israeli occupation state to create a new reality for the demographic and urban map of the Gaza Strip appear. The recent raid operation , which led to the killing of 21 IDF soldiers, raised controversy about the nature of the war effort undertaken by the occupation forces in the eastern areas bordering the security fence, which indicates practical steps imposed by the Israeli occupation to create a buffer zone within the Strip.

US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby announced that the United States sees no evidence of Israel committing genocide in the Gaza Strip. Kirby said during a press conference on Friday, commenting on the International Court of Justices decision regarding Israel: We have not seen any evidence to substantiate the allegations about intent to commit genocide or any such acts on the part of the Israeli army.

He continued: "We have no evidence that this is happening. We do not have evidence that they are deliberately trying to exterminate the people in Gaza." Kirby pointed out that the court did not reach the conclusion that genocide was committed in Gaza. At the same time, Kirby criticized statements by some Israeli politicians about the "collective responsibility" of Palestinians in Gaza for Hamas attacks. He said, "Such statements are unconstructive, without a doubt."

Hussein Mouanes, the head of the Rights Movement party and member of the Iraqi Parliament, emphasized the necessity of the United States withdrawing its forces from Iraq so that the country could be liberated from Washington's hegemony. Mouanes has been at the forefront of voices demanding that all foreign armies withdraw from Iraq, on top of which are the US personnel. The Iraqi legislator had been recently placed under US Treasury sanctions. In an exclusive interview for Al Mayadeen, Mouanes said the sanctions are a source of "pride and honor." He also pointed out that the US resorting to imposing sanctions reflects "American arrogance and disregard for Iraq and a violation of its sovereignty."

On US forces leaving the country, Mouanes pointed out that there may not necessarily be a consensus on the withdrawal of US forces, but a majority is required. This majority was achieved through a resolution passed by the Iraqi Parliament on January 5, 2020, which directed the government to demand their withdrawal. "There will be no sovereignty in the country as long as there is power with authority higher than that of the government." He also confirmed that through the Iraqi-American bilateral committee and elsewhere, the US forces must be withdrawn from Iraqi territory one way or another.

Mouanes pointed out that the United States nurtured and developed terrorist threats and groups such as ISIS, while they were investors in this terrorism. They used the group as a pretext to bring their forces into Iraq so they could safeguard their interests and the security of "Israel", he continued.

Regarding the US Embassy in Iraq, he reiterated that it has turned into a military barracks, describing it as the largest embassy and the largest diplomatic mission in the world. Mouanes pointed out that the embassy, while housing the diplomatic mission, functions as a military barracks and hosts spying and espionage devices.

Butcher's Bill / Oasis of Martyrs

On 7 October 2023, Hamas and other armed groups present in the Gaza Strip carried out an attack in Israel, killing more than 1,200 persons, injuring thousands and abducting some 240 people, many of whom continue to be held hostage. It was the second largest loss inflicted on the Israeli forces after the 1973 war. Palestinian armed groups launched thousands of missiles at Israel Following this attack, Israel launched a large-scale military operation in Gaza, by land, air and sea.

The 1,200 Israelis killed on the first day would be the equivalent of 36,000 Americans killed in an attack, as a proportion to Israels population of 9.3 million people (compared to 332 million in the USA). Israeli President Isaac Herzog stated: Not since the Holocaust have so many Jews been killed in one day". PM Netanyahu stated "On October 7th, Hamas murdered 1,400 Israelis. Maybe more. This is in a country of fewer than 10 million people. This would be equivalent to over 50,000 Americans murdered in a single day. Thats twenty 9/11s. That is why October 7th is another day that will live in infamy."

The HAMAS Ministry of Health in the besieged sector announced that the number of victims of the Israeli operation its beginning had risen to 26,083 martyrs, and the killing of nearly 10,000 Palestinian children and 6,600 women killed. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

The number wounded was 64,487. The Palestinian Government Media Office in Gaza had said much earlier that the number of missing people had risen to more than 8,000, including including 4,700 children and women, amid expectations that the toll will be double thi figures.

The IDF intensified its military operations in the West Bank, and increased the pace of incursions and raids into cities, towns, and camps, resulting in the martyrdom of 342 Palestinians, the injury of about 3,950, and the arrest of 5,780, according to official HAMAS sources. As of 17 January 2023, the Israeli escalation in the West Bank led to the death of 360 Palestinians, the injury of nearly 2,200, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, and the arrest of about 6,000, according to the Palestinian Prisoners Club.

More than 130 Hezbollah fighters were killed in Lebanon during exchanges of bombing operations with Israel.

Israel revised down the death toll from the October Hamas attacks in southern Israel from 1,400 to 1,200. IDF had said previously it was holding 1,500 bodies of terrorists, a total that now would increas to about 1,700.

With the Israeli army announcing the killing of 24 soldiers, the total number of occupation deaths has risen to 559 since the start of the war on October 7, including 229 killed since the ground invasion as a result of the ongoing clashes with the Palestinian resistance [other sources report the total number of deaths of the army had risen to 222 since the start of the ground invasion]. Among them were at least 56 with the rank of platoon commander, 43 with the rank of company commander, 9 with the rank of battalion commander, and 5 with the rank of brigade commander. These officers constitute 23% of the total deaths of the Israeli army in the war on Gaza.

Israeli media reported that 27% of the Israeli military casualties in the war were officers. In detail, the media highlighted that three brigade commanders, four battalion commanders, and other senior officers have been killed in the war so far.

The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported that 29 of the army's deaths were caused by "friendly fire" and operational incidents since the start of the ground war in Gaza, late last October. The Israeli authority explained that "18 army soldiers were killed by friendly fire, two were killed as a result of gunfire (without explanation), and 9 Israeli soldiers were killed in ammunition, weapons, or run-over accidents." The Jerusalem Post newspaper revealed that 15 soldiers were killed in the Strip without their bodies being found.

According to some reports statistics indicate that 20% of the Israeli losses were due to friendly fire. Because the nature of the battle has become completely different from what was expected, and it lacks a front line.

According to the latest data published by the army, the number of wounded soldiers and officers had risen to 1,152 since the start of its ground attack on Gaza on October 27, including 228 seriously wounded, while the total number has reached 2,602 wounded since the outbreak of the war on the 7th of October.

The Israeli army reported that 2,710 officers and soldiers were injured, including 407 who are still receiving treatment for their injuries in the Gaza battles, and the condition of 48 of them is serious, while 405 were seriously injured, 692 were moderately injured, and 1,562 were described as having minor injuries since the start of the war. The Israeli army also said 26 January 2024 that since the beginning of the ground attack on Gaza, 258 soldiers have been seriously injured. There are 423 moderate injuries, compared to 577 minor injuries.

At least 13,599 Israelis were injured, according to i24 TV.

Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper had reported that 5,000 soldiers had been wounded since the beginning of the war on October 7, and that the Ministry of Defense had recognized 2,000 soldiers as disabled so far.

An estimate by the Israeli Ministry of Defense expected that the number of soldiers with disabilities in the war taking place in the Gaza Strip since October 7 of last year would reach 12,500 soldiers. The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth said that the Soldiers' Rehabilitation Department of the Ministry of Defense has dealt with 3,400 soldiers who were classified as disabled in the army since last October 7.

The Israeli army revealed that about 9,000 of its soldiers have received psychological assistance since the beginning of the war on the Gaza Strip on October 7, and about a quarter of them have not returned to combat. This came according to a new statement revealed by the Army Medical Corps, according to Channel 12 and the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth. According to the statement, nearly 9,000 soldiers have applied for psychological assistance since the beginning of the war, and approximately a quarter of them have not returned to combat.

The statement continued, "In total, about 13,000 regular and reserve soldiers required accompaniment or medical treatment at some level during the fighting, and thousands of them were injured in the battles."

Al Jazeera military and strategic expert Major General Fayez Al-Duwairi expressed his conviction that the numbers of dead and wounded announced by Israel cannot represent the truth, due to a discrepancy between the Israeli armys data and the Walla website, which is close to the army itself.

In an interview with RT, Military strategist retired Tunisian Brigadier General Tawfiq Didi said that the number of Israeli army deaths in the Gaza battles is much greater than what Israel announces. Didi explained in an interview with the Best Saying program on RT channel, The number of people killed in battles can be easily known, as the equation in wars is that for every 3 wounded there is a dead person, and the numbers now in Israel hover around 12,500 wounded and disabled people, and when we divide by Three, we find that the death toll exceeds 4,000, especially after eliminating more than a thousand tanks and armored vehicles, and I know what happens when Kornet missiles hit a tank. Its ammunition explodes and no one is left alive.

He added, "The Israelis announce their dead only of those of Jewish origin and of the first race, meaning all Arabs, Falash, and those who are among them. They are not counted because they are of the second category. So I am sure that the number exceeds 4 thousand dead, and this is a very easy military calculation." He pointed out, "The Palestinian resistance documented everything it did, unlike the Israelis. The resistance documented shooting at tanks and armored vehicles and destroying the houses in which the Israeli soldiers were holed up, and we saw them being killed... We saw the Kornet hitting the tanks, we saw Al-Yassin 105, so the difference is clear."

Hostages

At a time when the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) confirms its refusal to discuss any deal with Israel without stopping the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists on continuing the war until Hamas is eliminated, news continues about political movements and leaks indicating the possibility of reaching... Agreement between the two sides.

Al Jazeera's correspondent reported that the Ministers in the War Council, Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot, confirmed that the return of detainees in the Gaza Strip is a top priority, during a meeting with the families of the prisoners. The statements of the two ministers who joined the Netanyahu government after the aggression on Gaza come at a time when mediation efforts are increasing to conclude a deal between the Hamas movement and the Netanyahu government.

The Israeli newspaper Haaretz quoted an informed source as saying that Hamas and Israel had reached understandings on most of the terms of the prisoner exchange agreement, and the outstanding issue is whether or not there will be a ceasefire at the end of the truce, as it will last for 35 days and will include the release of all Israeli prisoners.

Israeli Channel 12 reported Hamas conditions for a new prisoner exchange deal:

100 Palestinian prisoners for every Israeli prisoner.

Complete withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Gaza Strip.

A lull of 10-14 days before releasing any Israeli prisoner.

A two-month cooling-off period between each stage of the deal.

CIA Director William Burns, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, Mossad chief David Barnea, and Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel are scheduled to meet in Europe in the coming days to discuss efforts to obtain an agreement to release the kidnapped people. It is expected that Burns' discussions in Europe will depend on his phone conversations with his counterparts, in addition to the work of the White House's chief official in the Middle East, Brett McGurk, who this week held related meetings in the Qatari capital, Doha, and Cairo.

The American newspaper The Washington Post revealed that Burns was being sent to Europe to help reach an ambitious agreement that includes the release of Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip and a ceasefire for the longest period since the start of the war. According to the newspaper, the talks will address the longest period of cessation of the conflict in Gaza, and the release of all prisoners, while the newspaper did not address the duration of the expected cessation of the conflict.

Burns being sent by US President Joe Biden to help reach an agreement, according to what was reported by the Israeli Kan channel, indicates American pressure to complete a deal for the prisoners and a ceasefire in Gaza, specifically linked to what is happening on the Lebanese border. According to the channel, The American administration believes that only a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip can lead to a diplomatic solution in the north. The United States declares that there will be no war with the Lebanese Hezbollah , especially since the party has always said that the tension in southern Lebanon and northern Israel is due to the Israeli aggression against Gaza.

Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed have been held as hostages in Gaza since 2014 and 2015, respectively. Unlike the roughly 240 people kidnapped in the Hamas October 7 terrorist attacks, the campaign for the release of Mengistu and al-Sayed has received little publicity. Mengistu is known to suffer from what HRW deemed "serious" mental health issues. "Avera crossed one of the safest borders in the world, under the eyes of the security services," recalled Gil Elias, a relative. "We're talking about a mentally ill person who got lost." The calls for the release of Mengistu and al-Sayed have been barely audible during the many years they have been held captive in Gaza.

Israel had previously estimated there were 116 living hostages in Palestinian custody. Israel declared 20 out of 136 people in Gaza captivity dead in absentia, after announcing its forces had recovered the bodies of two hostages. By another count, 132 of them are still being held in Gaza, and 25 of them have been confirmed dead. Israel considers those still held by Hamas to be hostages regardless of whether they are dead or alive.

Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy earlier had told reporters that Hamas still held 137 captives. The resistance released 10 Israeli detainees, 4 Thais and 2 Russian women, who were released outside the agreement. Over the course of 6 days, Israel has received 102 detainees, women and children, including 78 Israelis, in exchange for the release of 234 Palestinian prisoners, women and children.

Eylon Levy, the Israeli government spokesperson, told reporters 01 December 2023:

Hamas still held 137 hostages from the October attacks, in addition to four others who went missing before the war

The hostages include two children aged four and 10 months, who, Hamas now claims, are dead

117 male hostages are still kept in Gaza, including the two children, as well as 20 females

126 hostages are Israelis, and 11 others are foreign nationals

Foreign nationals are eight Thais, one Nepalese, one Tanzanian and one French Mexican citizen

Ten of the remaining hostages are 75 and older.

There are seven missing people since the October 7 attack

Hamas had released 110 hostages so far  86 Israelis and 24 foreign nationals.

Some of the rest are soldiers, seized when Hamas raided military bases in Israel. They may end up being held the longest. The Israeli military had not specified how many soldiers were captured, nor their ranks.

According to some estimates, Hamas was initially holding nearly 210 of the 240 hostages, while Palestinian Islamic Jihad was holding the remaining 30. About 40 Israelis remained missing. More than 40 hostages taken from Israel into Gaza on October 7th are not currently in the custody of Hamas, the group responsible for the attack, according to a CNN report based on a diplomatic source briefed on the negotiations, CNN's prior reports had indicated that an estimated 40 to 50 hostages were held by Palestinian Islamic Jihad or other unidentified groups or individuals.

Abu Ubaida, the spokesperson for the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, said on Hamas telegram account that 23 bodies of the 60 missing Israel hostages were trapped under the rubble. It seems that we will never be able to reach them due to the continued brutal aggression of the occupation against Gaza, he said.

The Palestinian Prisoners' Club revealed that about 11,000 arrests were carried out by the Israeli army during the year 2023 in the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, in addition to arrests from the Gaza Strip before the seventh of last October. The number of people arrested by the occupation in the West Bank since that date has exceeded 6,000. The total number of prisoners in Israeli prisons is 8,800, as documented by the club until the end of December 2023. Palestinian prisoner institutions said more than 3,290 administrative detainees, which is the highest percentage since the years of the 1987 Intifada, and 661 who were classified as unlawful combatants from Gaza, and this is the number available only as a clear given. The Prisoners' Club stated that cases of arrest among women amounted to (300), and this toll includes women from the occupied interior detained after October 7, while the number of cases of children reached 1,085. The arrest campaigns affected all groups, including women and children, as the number of women who were arrested reached about 200, while the number of arrests among children until the end of last December exceeded 355 children.

Israel said on 14 January 2024 that, since the beginning of the war, approximately 2,700 wanted persons have been arrested throughout the Judea and Samaria Division and the Bekaa and Valleys Division, approximately 1,300 of whom are affiliated with Hamas. On 08 January 2024 it was reported that more than 1,350 wanted persons had been arrested throughout the Judea and Samaria Division and the Bekaa and Valleys Division, more than 870 of whom are associated with the terrorist organization Hamas.

The institutions added in the statement that the occupation arrested 210 women during the aforementioned period, and this statistic includes women who were arrested from the territories in 1948, and more than 355 children, pointing out that the outcome of the arrest campaigns includes all those who were arrested from homes, and through military checkpoints, Those who were forced to surrender themselves under pressure, and those who were detained. It explained that "the number of arrests among journalists reached 50, of whom 35 remain in detention, and 20 of them were transferred to administrative detention."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. President Ilham Aliyev has turned Azerbaijan into the leader of the region, creating a new reality, Polish political scientist and candidate of political sciences Jakub Korejba told Trend.

"President Ilham Aliyev managed to devise and implement his strategy over the previous two decades of Azerbaijan's history. The most serious difficulties facing modern countries, especially EU members, are the absence of leaders and the lack of politicians who want to accept responsibility," Korejba said.

He noted that Azerbaijan has a leader who fulfills his promises.

"We can discuss not just economic but also political, geopolitical, and military achievements over the last two decades. This is all supported by statistics and facts. In my opinion, the most important thing is how people's lives and Azerbaijan's realities have changed. The purpose of the state and its institutions is to improve people's lives. Over the years, Azerbaijan has made significant progress, and it is now an entirely new country with a distinct standard of living. Over the last 20 years, Azerbaijan has undertaken an ambitious political, economic, and strategic agenda. It is a country that keeps up the pace, sets new objectives, and is committed to achieving them. This could not be accomplished without a strong and motivated leader. Azerbaijan stands apart from other countries today due to its excellent level of leadership. This is something that is absent in both the post-Soviet space and Europe," Korejba said.

The politologist noted that one of the main achievements of Azerbaijan over the past 20 years has been the restoration of territorial integrity.

"Several post-Soviet countries failed to strengthen, consolidate, and defend their sovereignty. Azerbaijan was able to recover its geographical integrity, demonstrating its viability as an independent, sovereign nation. Azerbaijan has firmly established itself in the world scene and international relations system over the last two decades. No one denies that Azerbaijan is a powerful, modern, and independent country with complete authority over its territory. Furthermore, Azerbaijan has not become an instrument of battle between powers or different interest groups, which is a significant achievement of President Ilham Aliyev," he said.

Korejba emphasized that President Ilham Aliyev not only succeeded in restoring the country's territorial integrity but did it masterfully from strategic and diplomatic points of view, avoiding conflict with major powers and preserving good relations with all main international partners.

"It required gigantic strategic endurance to choose the right moment for the right actions, as well as understanding the logic of the workings of modern international relations. Today, Azerbaijan is a country that builds up constructive relations with all its international partners. Azerbaijan has created a new reality in the region, where Armenia has no choice other than constructive cooperation with Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan builds its international relations in a way that demonstrates to each of its partners its readiness to implement a positive agenda. Exactly the positive agenda. Baku does not accentuate conflicts, contradictions, or possible disputes. Baku focuses on positive potential. This is a very unique quality in the modern world. Azerbaijan is always open to its partners, always offers initiatives beneficial to each party, and minimizes contradictions. This is a very valuable quality. Especially for a country that is located in such a strategically important region of the world," Korejba said.

The Polish political analyst noted that Azerbaijan behaves as a leading country, a country that can be relied on.

"Even towards Armenia, which has caused a lot of misfortune to the Azerbaijani people and committed crimes, Azerbaijan behaves as constructively as possible. Honestly, if Azerbaijan had thought differently and focused on a different scenario, Armenia could have ceased to exist. Even in this regard, concerning such a problematic partner as Armenia, we see Azerbaijan's constructive, forward-looking proposal to solve problems and become regional partners. This is a unique position in the modern world that distinguishes Azerbaijan from other countries," Korejba said.

According to him, Azerbaijan is a key partner of the main players in the international arena: the United States, the European Union, Russia, and China.

"It is countries like Azerbaijan, which have proved they have an independent sovereign agenda that they will defend and have a responsible, constructive approach to partners, that become leaders of their regions. The EU, China, Russia, and the US alike look to Azerbaijan as the leader of the South Caucasus. Of course, several countries, including EU countries, demonstrate a biased approach towards Azerbaijan. The explanation for this is the collision of interests. Some countries are trying to do some things to earn money or to realize something at the expense of other countries. Among them, there are countries in the European Union. There are attempts to compel Azerbaijan to do something, to talk to Azerbaijan in ultimatum language, but they are doomed to failure. The Azerbaijani state, its institutions, and its army implement the will of its people. Azerbaijan is always ready to cooperate with countries that respect its sovereignty and independence. Because the sovereignty of Azerbaijan is an issue that is not subject to any negotiations or discussions," the Polish political scientist said.

Korejba stressed that a sovereign, independent, strong Azerbaijan, which realizes its agenda, is a guarantee of peace, stability, development, and well-being not only of the South Caucasus but also of neighboring regions, as well as the preservation of peace in Eurasia as a whole.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Russo-Ukraine War - 26 January 2024 - Day 701

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 on 25 January 2024, a Russian court sentenced former military blogger and former Federal Security Service officer Igor Girkin to four years in prison for "public incitement of extremist activity" for his criticism of the war in Ukraine.

Girkin fought for the separatist forces in Donetsk in 2014 and was briefly Defence Minister in the Donetsk People's Republic. In 2022 he blogged in support of the invasion of Ukraine but later launched strong criticism of the Russian leadership and its management of the 'special military operation'.

Girkin was arrested in July 2023 in the wake of the Prigozhin mutiny and in November 2023 he declared his intention to run in the 2024 Russian Presidential election. Following the mutiny it is highly likely that the Kremlin became more sensitive to criticism of its conduct of the 'special military operation' from hard-line nationalists as they are one of the few credible alternatives to Putin's leadership. Girkin's sentencing is part of a broader crackdown on those critical of the Kremlin and the war in Ukraine, reflecting the more authoritarian nature of life in Putin's Russia.



The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of January 26, there were 94x combat engagements. Russian forces launched 8x missile (with S-300 anti-aircraft guided missiles targeting the infrastructure of Myrnohrad, Novohradivka (Donetsk oblast)) and 38x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have killed and wounded civilians. Apartment blocks and private houses, schools, kindergartens, a shopping center, and other civilian infrastructure were destroyed or damaged.

Volyn and Polissya axes: no significant changes. No signs of formation of an offensive group. Certain units of the armed forces of Belarus continue their missions in the areas bordering Ukraine.

Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russia maintains its military presence in the areas of russia bordering Ukraine. Russia continues its sabotage and reconnaissance activities, shelling Ukrainian settlements from the territory of Russia and increases the density of minefields along the state border of Ukraine. More than 35x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Yeline, Halahanivka, Leonivka (Chernihiv oblast), Popivka, Volfyne, Veselivka (Sumy oblast), Veterynarne, Nesterne, and Komisarove (Kharkiv oblast).

Kupyansk axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 12x attacks near Tabaivka (Kharkiv oblast) and Stelmakhivka (Luhansk oblast). Russian forces attempted to break through the defense of Ukrainian troops in that area. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Dvorichna, Synkivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, and Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).

Lyman axis: the Ukrainian troops repelled 7x attacks in the vicinities of Terny and Torske (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces made attempted to break through the defense of Ukrainian troops in that area. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Nevske, Bilohorivka, Serebryanske forestry (Luhansk oblast), Torske, Serebryanka, and Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast).

Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 10x attacks near Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, and Andriivka (Donetsk oblast). The Russian occupiers made unsuccessful attempts to improve their tactical position in that area. More than 10x settlements, including Vasyukivka, Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka, and New York (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.

Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 19x attacks in the vicinities of Novobakhmutivka, Stepove, Avdiivka, and 9x more attacks near Opytne, Vodyane, Pervomaiske, and Nevelske (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces made unsuccessful attempts to break through the defense of Ukrainian troops in that area. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Oleksandropil, Novobakhmutivka, Ocheretyne, Avdiivka, Pervomaiske, and Netailove (Donetsk oblast).

Marinka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back Russian forces near Heorhiivka, Pobjeda, and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). The Russian occupiers made 14x unsuccessful attempts to improve their tactical position in that area. Krasnohorivka, Marinka, Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka, Katerynivka, and Yelyzavetivka were under artillery and mortar fire.

Shakhtarske axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 1x Russian attack near Zolota Nyva (Donetsk oblast). More than10x settlements, including Vodyane, Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, Blahodatne, and Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.

Zaporizhzhia axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 5x Russian attacks north of Pryyutne, south of Chervone, and west of Verbove (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 15x settlements, including Charivne, Mali Shcherbaky, Stepove, Lobkove, Pyatykhatky, Stepnohirsk, and Plavni (Zaporizhzhia oblast).

Odesa operational-strategic group, Kherson axis: Kherson, Mykolaivka, Tyahynka, Novotyahynka, Antonivka (Kherson oblast), and Solonchaky (Mykolaiv oblast) came under Russian artillery fire. Russian forces also fired MLRS at the vicinities of settlements of Ivanivka, Tokarivka, and Tomyna Balka (Kherson oblast).

Russia does not abandon its intention to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their bridgehead on the left bank of the Dnipro River. For instance, during the day of January 26, Russian forces attempted 4x unsuccessful assaults at the positions of the Ukrainian troops.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in the period from 20 to 26 January, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation delivered 13 group strikes by long-range precision weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles at facilities of Ukrainian military industrial complex producing uncrewed surface vehicles, ammunition, missiles and its parts.

In addition, strikes were delivered at ammunition depots, military airfield infrastructure, POL bases, and temporary deployment areas of foreign mercenaries.

The goal of the strikes has been achieved. All the assigned targets have been engaged.

Over the week, in Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces liberated Krakhmalnoye (Kharkov region) and improved the tactical situation in several areas of the front line.

In cohesion with aviation and artillery 43 AFU attacks were repelled.

Strikes were delivered at manpower and hardware clusters of the AFU 68th Jaeger Brigade, 25th, 30th, 32nd, 43rd, 57th, 60th, 66th mechanised brigades, 25th Airborne Brigade, and 1st Ukrainian National Guard Brigade near Makeyevka (Lugansk People's Republic), Berestovoye, Sinkovka (Kharkov region), and Terni (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 740 Ukrainian troops, seven tanks, seven armoured fighting vehicles, 18 motor vehicles, and 14 field artillery pieces.

In Krasny Liman direction, as a result of actions of the Tsentr Group of Forces' units, more advantageous lines and positions were taken. 17 AFU attacks were repelled.

The Group's aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems inflicted losses on AFU and Ukrainian National Guard units near Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic), Yampolovka (Donetsk People's Republic), and Serebryansky forestry.

The AFU losses amounted to more than 1,570 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, seven tanks, 25 armoured fighting vehicles, 52 motor vehicles, and nine field artillery pieces.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces improved the tactical situation along the front lines and repelled 12 AFU attacks.

Strikes were delivered at manpower and hardware of the AFU 22nd, 24th, 28th, 42nd, 58th, 92nd, 93rd mechanised brigades, 81st Airmobile Brigade, and 5th Assault Brigade near Andreyevka, Belogorovka, Kleshcheyevka, Mayosk, and Chasov Yag (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 1,960 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, 19 tanks, including one Leopard tank, 22 armoured fighting vehicles, 56 motor vehicles, four multiple launch rocket systems combat vehicles, including one MLRS, one HIMARS, and two Grad, as well as 27 field artillery pieces.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces inflicted losses on units of the AFU 31st, 72nd mechanised brigades, 79th Air Assault Brigade, 105th, and 127th territorial defence brigades near Rovnopol, Paraskoviyevka, Novomikhailovka, Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic), and Priutnoye.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 745 Ukrainian troops, one tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, 23 motor vehicles, and 14 field artillery pieces.

In Zaporozhye direction, as a result of Russian troops active defensive actions and continuous strikes, losses were inflicted on units of the AFU 33rd, 65th, 117th, 118th mechanised brigades, 128th Mountain Assault Brigade, and 112th Territorial Defence Brigade near Rabotino, Verbovoye, Nesteryanka, and Pyatikhatki (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 450 Ukrainian troops, three tanks, four armoured fighting vehicles, 17 motor vehicles, and 11 field artillery pieces.

In Kherson direction, as a result of preventative strikes of Russian troops supported by aviation and artillery, losses were inflicted on units of the AFU 35th, 36th, 38th marines brigades, 121st, 123rd, and 126th territorial defence brigades near Zolotaya Balka, Mikhailovka, Tyaginka, Zmievka, and Stanislav (Kherson region).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 335 Ukrainian troops, 23 motor vehicles, two Grad MLRS, and eight field artillery pieces.

Over the week, 35 Ukrainian servicemen surrendered, 16 of whom were captured in Krasny Liman direction.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces wiped out four launchers of air defence systems, including two U.S.-made Patriot, one French-made SAMP-T, one German-made IRIS-T, and three electronic warfare stations, as well as one radar of the S-300 air defence system, and six AFU field ammunition depots.

Aviation and air defence units shot down one Ukrainian Air Forces Su-25 aircraft, six Storm Shadow cruise missiles, four Tochka-U tactical missiles, 28 HIMARS and Vampire MLRS projectiles, and 361 unmanned aerial vehicles.

In total, 568 airplanes and 265 helicopters, 11,255 unmanned aerial vehicles, 455 air defence missile systems, 14,800 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 1,210 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,871 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 17,891 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.





NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Dark Web Vendor Pleads Guilty to Distributing Narcotics and Forfeits $150M

Friday, January 26, 2024

For Immediate Release

Office of Public Affairs

An Indian national pleaded guilty today to selling controlled substances on dark web marketplaces and agreed to forfeit $150 million.

According to court documents, Banmeet Singh, 40, of Haldwani, India, created vendor marketing sites on dark web marketplaces, such as Silk Road, Alpha Bay, Hansa, and others, to sell controlled substances, including fentanyl, LSD, ecstasy, Xanax, Ketamine, and Tramadol. Customers ordered controlled substances from Singh using the vendor sites and by paying with cryptocurrency. Singh then personally shipped or arranged the shipment of controlled substances from Europe to the United States through U.S. mail or other shipping services.

"Banmeet Singh and traffickers like him think they can operate anonymously on the dark web and evade prosecution," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. "Today's guilty plea, which includes forfeiture of approximately $150 million in cryptocurrency, demonstrates that the Justice Department will hold criminals who violate U.S. law accountable no matter how they conceal their activity. Together with our international partners, we will continue to find criminals lurking in the darkness and bring their crimes to light."

"In the Singh organization's drug orders, the members frequently used the vendor name 'Liston' and signed off with the signature phrase, 'I'm still dancing'," said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio. "Today, with Banmeet Singh's plea of guilty, the dance is over."

From at least mid-2012 through July 2017, Singh controlled at least eight distribution cells within the United States including cells located in Ohio, Florida, North Carolina, Maryland, New York, North Dakota, and Washington, among other locations. Individuals in those distribution cells received drug shipments from overseas and then re-packaged and re-shipped the drugs to locations in all 50 states, Canada, England, Ireland, Jamaica, Scotland, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

"Banmeet Singh operated a global dark web enterprise to send fentanyl and other deadly and dangerous drugs to communities across America a in all 50 states a as well as Canada, Europe, and the Caribbean," said Administrator Anne Milgram of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). "DEA is proud to have worked with its law enforcement partners in the United States and the United Kingdom to dismantle this enterprise, protect the American people, and bring Singh to justice."

"The guilty plea serves as a reminder that IRS:CI special agents will uncover illegal activity here and abroad, pierce the perceived veil of anonymity provided by cryptocurrencies, and bring those responsible for laundering drug proceeds to justice," said Special Agent in Charge Bryant Jackson of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS:CI) Cincinnati Field Office. "IRS will continue to push the agency to the forefront of complex cyber and money laundering investigations and work collaboratively with our law enforcement partners to protect the American public."

Over the course of the conspiracy, the Singh drug organization moved hundreds of kilograms of controlled substances throughout the United States and established a multimillion-dollar drug enterprise which laundered millions of dollars of drug proceeds into cryptocurrency accounts, which ultimately became worth approximately $150 million.

In April 2019, Singh was arrested in London, and the United States secured his extradition in 2023.

"Dismantling online marketplaces that seek to poison our communities is a top priority for Homeland Security Investigations," said Acting Special Agent in Charge Shawn Gibson of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit. "Capitalizing on our international footprint and our law enforcement partnerships, we will do everything we can to safeguard Ohio communities against drug traffickers. Today's guilty plea is the culmination of years of hard work across multiple jurisdictions both here in the United States and internationally."

"The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is committed to keeping employees and customers of the U.S. Postal Service safe from dangerous substances in the mail," said Postal Inspector in Charge Lesley Allison of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). "Furthermore, we will continue to take all necessary actions to combat and remove dangerous and illicit drugs from the mail stream and the dark web. The charges against this individual proves the resolve of postal inspectors and our law enforcement partners to pursue these organizations with every resource at our disposal, and to ultimately see that justice is served."

Singh pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to commit money laundering. He faces an agreed upon sentence of eight years in prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

DEA, IRS:CI, HSI, USPIS, and Upper Arlington and Colombus, Ohio Police Departments are investigating the case. The United Kingdom's National Crime Agency (NCA), Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), and U.K. Central Authority (UKCA) provided significant assistance.

The Justice Department's Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of Singh from the United Kingdom.

Trial Attorney Emily Cohen of the Criminal Division's Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Hunter for the Southern District of Ohio are prosecuting the case.

Topics: Cybercrime

Drug Trafficking

Components: Criminal Division

Criminal - Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section

Criminal - Office of International Affairs

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

USAO - Ohio, Southern

Press Release Number: 24-98

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Russian Developer Of Trickbot Malware Sentenced To Five Years In U.S.

By RFE/RL January 26, 2024

A Russian national has been sentenced to five years and four months in prison for his involvement in malicious software known as Trickbot used in ransomware attacks on U.S. hospitals, schools, and businesses, the U.S. Justice Department said on January 25.

The department said the sentence was handed down on January 24 to Vladimir Dunayev, 40, who has been in U.S. custody since 2021 after being extradited from South Korea. Dunayev pleaded guilty in November to conspiracy to commit computer fraud, identity theft, and other charges.

Trickbot acted as an initial "intrusion vector" into victim computer systems and was then used to support various ransomware variants, the Justice Department said in a news release.

"Hospitals, schools, and businesses were among the millions of Trickbot victims who suffered tens of millions of dollars in losses," the department said.

The Trickbot group, which was active from November 2015 through August 2020, operated in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and Suriname, according to the Justice Department.

During Dunayev's participation, 10 victims in the U.S. state of Ohio were defrauded of more than $3.4 million after Trickbot enabled the deployment of ransomware, the Justice Department said.

U.S. Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio said Dunayev and his co-defendants caused "immeasurable disruption and financial damage, maliciously infecting millions of computers worldwide."

One of Dunaev's co-defendants, Alla Witte, a Latvian national, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit computer fraud and was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison. She was arrested in February 2021 in Florida and charged with several cybercrimes.

The original indictment alleged that Dunayev and six other people "stole money, confidential information, and damaged computer systems from unsuspecting victims, including individuals, financial institutions, school districts, utility companies, government entities, and private businesses."

It alleged that Dunayev performed a variety of developer functions in support of the Trickbot malware, "including managing the malware's execution, developing popular browser modifications, and helping to conceal the malware from detection by security software."

The malware is typically spread through e-mail campaigns that entice an individual to open a malicious file attachment or click on a link that leads to a malicious file.

Dunayev, originally from the Amur region in Russia's Far East, is one of dozens of ethnic Russians extradited from third countries to the United States since 2011 to face hacking charges. Russia does not turn over its own citizens to foreign law enforcement.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russian-development-trickbot- malware-sentenced-us/32792620.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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






US stirs up 'China space threat' to expand space military power, maintain military hegemony: FM spokesperson

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Jan 26, 2024 04:54 PM

The US has long been stirring up the "China space threat" theory, smearing and defaming China, but it is only for the purpose of expanding its own space military power and making excuses for maintaining its military hegemony, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a press conference on Friday.

Wang's remarks came after the US Space Force released an assessment report, claiming that Russia and China are designing and testing counter-space weapons to "deny, disrupt or destroy satellites and space services."

The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that it is the US that openly defines outer space as a battlefield, vigorously develops space military capabilities, and provokes great power confrontation. The US is the biggest driver of the militarization of outer space to turn it into a battle field, and the biggest threat to space security.

Wang said the US abuses space technology, maliciously track and dangerously approach other countries' spacecraft, increasing the risk of collisions with space objects, which is a seriously irresponsible behavior.

China adheres to the peaceful use of outer space, opposes the arms race in outer space, and is committed to promoting negotiations within the international community to reach legal instruments for space arms control, in order to safeguard peace and security in outer space through legal means, said Wang.

"We once again urge the US to stop spreading false statements, stop its militarization and preparation for war in outer space, and truly assume its due responsibilities," said Wang.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Iran's Soraya satellite launch: E3 joint statement

The UK, France and Germany have issued a joint statement in response to Iran's satellite launch using the Ghaem-100 space launch vehicle on 20 January 2024.

26 January 2024

E3 statement on Iranian Soraya satellite launch announcement:

"On 20 January Iran announced the launch of the Soraya satellite using the Ghaem-100 Space Launch Vehicle (SLV). We condemn this launch, as this SLV uses technology essential for the development of a long-range ballistic missile system. Iran continues to develop its missile programme despite repeated international calls to halt it, and after years of disregarding UN restrictions.

"Launches such as these allow Iran to test technology that could be used to further develop its ballistic missile programme, which poses a significant threat to regional and international security. We have longstanding concerns over Iran's activity related to ballistic missile technologies that are capable of delivering nuclear weapons. These concerns are reinforced by Iran's continued nuclear escalation beyond all credible civilian justification.

"The governments of France, Germany and the United Kingdom remain committed to taking every diplomatic step to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons and to hold Iran to account for its destabilising activity in the region and internationally."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with Prime Minister of Latvia Evika SiliAa

Prime Minister of Canada - Justin Trudeau

January 26, 2024

Ottawa, Ontario

Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with the Prime Minister of Latvia, Evika SiliAa.

Prime Minister Trudeau congratulated Prime Minister SiliAa on her appointment in September, and looked forward to continuing to deepen the strong bilateral relations between Canada and Latvia.

The two leaders condemned Russia's ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine and affirmed their shared commitment to support Ukraine for as long as it takes. They also discussed the regional and global implications of Russia's actions.

Prime Minister SiliAa expressed appreciation for Canada's continued leadership as Framework Nation for NATO's enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) in Latvia. In addition, Prime Minister Trudeau reiterated Canada's commitment to work with Allies to scale the combat-capable battle group to brigade size.

The prime ministers also discussed cooperation in addressing other international challenges, including developments in the Middle East.

Prime Minister Trudeau and Prime Minister SiliAa agreed to maintain close collaboration in support of shared priorities, and agreed to remain in regular contact.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Wang-Sullivan Bangkok meeting to continue high-level contact momentum

Global Times

Third venue creates more pragmatic, solution-oriented environment to discuss thorny issues

By Wang Qi Published: Jan 26, 2024 10:47 PM

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will hold talks with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in Bangkok during their visit in Thailand, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Friday, as the two countries continue their momentum of engagement and communication despite multiple issues on which they are at odds.

The high-level contact between Wang and Sullivan, scheduled for January 26-27, according to the White House, is one of the most authoritative communication mechanisms between China and the US. Issues of urgent mutual concern, such as the Ukraine crisis, Red Sea tensions, the Taiwan question and the South China Sea disputes, are expected to be discussed.

Chinese experts believe that a meeting in Thailand would help create a calm and pragmatic atmosphere for dialogue, as it is consistent with the two sides' choice of a third venue, such as Vienna and Malta in 2023. The meeting of senior diplomats is also likely to set the stage for possible interactions between the two countries' heads of state in the future.

They noted that the continuation of high-level interactions between the two sides will, to some extent, offset the negative impact of the US 2024 presidential election on bilateral relations, which are expected to remain stable and moderate, but in general, the Biden administration's sincerity is still limited, and it has yet to abandon its approach of defining China-US relations through competition, which means the risk of conflict remains.

Hotspot issues

According to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin, Wang Yi, also Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, will visit Thailand from January 26 to 29, at the invitation of Thailand's deputy prime minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara.

Maintaining strategic communication between Wang Yi and Sullivan is an important consensus reached by the heads of state of China and the US. During the new round of meetings, Wang Yi will state China's position on China-US relations and the Taiwan question, and exchange views with the US side on international and regional issues of common interest, Wang Wenbin said at a press briefing on Friday afternoon.

Citing US officials, the Wall Street Journal said Sullivan is expected to discuss Houthi attacks in the Red Sea along with a range of other issues. The Biden administration, according to media reports, wants China to halt Iran's military and financial backing of the Houthi militants, which are attacking ships in the Red Sea linked to Israel.

The US hopes that China will cooperate with the US on the Red Sea crisis and exert pressure through the media, but we know that the China-US relationship goes far beyond that, LA Xiang, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Friday.

China is not involved in escalating tensions in the Red Sea, but an unimpeded Red Sea serves the interests of the whole world. China will strive to seek peace in the Red Sea within its capacity, which has nothing to do with the US, said LA.

According to Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, the issues to be discussed at the Wang-Sullivan meeting will be multifaceted.

The communication pipeline between Wang and Sullivan is one of the most authoritative, straightforward and credible mechanisms between the Chinese and US governments, and deals with topics that are without doubt of the most urgent and core concerns to each other, Li said.

The US is concerned over Red Sea tensions, the Ukraine crisis, Artificial Intelligence and supply chains, while the Taiwan question and the South China Sea issue remain China's top priorities.

Liu Jianchao, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, led a delegation to visit the US before the Taiwan regional election was held on January 13, and raised the Taiwan question during talks with US officials. On Wednesday, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) tracked and monitored a US destroyer as it made a transit through the Taiwan Straits.

The Chinese side will explain its views and positions on issues of common concern to the US side and most importantly, urge the US to not play with fire on the Taiwan question and send the wrong signal to Taiwan secessionists, Li said.

Momentum continues

The Wang-Sullivan meeting will be their first such contact since US President Joe Biden met Chinese President Xi Jinping in San Francisco in November, according to the Financial Times, citing sources.

"This meeting continues the commitment by both sides at the November 2023 Woodside Summit between President Biden and President Xi to maintain strategic communication and responsibly manage the relationship," read a White House statement.

The two senior diplomats held meetings twice in 2023, with one ten-hour meeting in Vienna in May and a dialogue in Malta lasting for 12 hours in September.

According to Li, meetings between high-level officials of China and the US in a third venue seem to have become institutionalized.

Meeting in a third venue can create a calmer, more pragmatic and solution-oriented environment for the two sides to discuss thorny issues, and reduce the negative impact of extreme and unhealthy domestic politics in the US on the exchanges, Li said.

The interaction between high-level officials also means paving the way for the next stage of communication between the leaders, Li noted. At a critical point like the upcoming Chinese New Year, we can't rule out the possibility that the two leaders may interact with each other over phone or other means.

On the eve of Spring Festival in February 2021, President Xi held a phone call with President Biden to exchange Lunar New Year greetings. The two leaders also exchanged New Year greetings messages on the first day of the year 2024.

The US and China are expected to hold more top-level meetings this year. According to the Financial Times, Janet Yellen will travel to China following her first visit to Beijing as Treasury Secretary last year. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has also been discussing a possible trip to China.

Although China and the US have restored contacts at various levels, this resumption does not appear to have been accompanied by sincerity from Washington that is sufficient to satisfy Beijing, said LA, as the US has yet to abandon the approach of competition being the main theme defining China-US relations, which could lead to conflict.

The 2024 US presidential election means that there will be increased uncertainty in American politics and policies, which have been described as "frequently turning over a baking cake," so China must be well prepared for that, LA remarked.

"China still hopes that the White House will make a proper statement on China-US relations before the 2024 election," LA said, "Regardless of whether this statement can play a substantial role or not, a kind statement is always better than a vicious one."

Despite the Biden administration's inconsistency and duplicity in its China policy, Washington and Beijing have agreed to manage their relationship with guardrails, which makes a detente and stabilization of US-China relations in 2024 a high probability, said Li, "This will produce an offsetting and mitigating function for the dramatic US domestic political turmoil, namely the upcoming US presidential election."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin's Regular Press Conference on January 26, 2024

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

2024-01-26 21:33

At the invitation of Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, President of the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly Dennis Francis will visit China from January 27 to 31.

China Daily: As we celebrate the first International Day of Clean Energy today, we noted that the International Energy Agency (IEA) recently published a report saying that China is on track to meet the 2030 wind and solar target this year, six years ahead of schedule. By 2028, nearly 60 percent of the world's electricity from renewable energy will be generated in China. What's your comment?

Wang Wenbin: Energy transition is an intrinsic path toward realizing the Paris Agreement targets and achieving a green and sustainable future. China is a doer in global clean energy transition. China has turned from a "follower" to a "forerunner" and to a "pacesetter" in a short time span, making positive contribution to the global transition to clean energy and low-carbon economic growth.

In recent years, China has made notable progress in developing clean energy, including solar power, wind power, NEVs and nuclear energy. By the end of 2023, China's installed capacity of renewable energy accounted for over half of the total installed power capacity. In 2023, NEV production and sales in China reached 9.587 million and 9.495 million respectively, up by 35.8 percent and 37.9 percent year on year respectively. China's NEV production and sales account for over 60 percent of the global total, ranking the first in the world for nine consecutive years. The IEA's report Renewables 2023 pointed out that China's installed solar PV capacity last year is equal to the global total of 2022 and China's installed wind power capacity soared by 66 percent year on year, registering remarkable growth rate. That said, to achieve global goals, global joint efforts are required. In particular, favorable conditions need to be created for extensive international cooperation, and protectionism, unilateralism and politicization must be abandoned.

While pursuing its own clean and low-carbon development, China has made active contribution to global energy transition and response to climate change. A large number of clean energy projects, including the Al Dhafra PV2 Solar Power Plant in the UAE, the Noor III solar-thermal power plant in Morocco, the De Aar Wind Power Project in South Africa, and the Karot Hydropower Project in Pakistan, are typical examples of China's extensive cooperation with other countries on clean and renewable energy. During COP28 to the UNFCCC concluded last month, parties attending the conference spoke highly of China's vision of transition to low-carbon energy and achievements in the development of clean energy. They noted that China's solutions have pointed to the direction for global energy transition, as they are important, practical and feasible solutions for countries, especially developing ones, to advance energy transition, accelerate economic growth and improve the ecological environment. This is of great significance to global energy transition and climate governance.

Green is a defining feature of Chinese modernization. China will continue to uphold the vision of seeking harmony between humanity and nature, take solid steps to advance the energy transition, and make greater contribution to the global response to climate change.

Reuters: Taiwanese officials have said that the Chinese mainland seeks to seize Taiwan's "diplomatic relations." In fact, it does not rule out the possibility that the Chinese mainland will use the Tuvalu elections to maliciously manipulate issues and influence specific candidates. What does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have to say about this?

Wang Wenbin: The resumption of China-Nauru diplomatic ties shows to the world again that the one-China principle is where global opinion trends and the arc of history bends. The big family of nations committed to the one-China principle will continue to expand, which is a fact that will not change no matter how "Taiwan independence" and their supporters think otherwise or what the DPP authorities say. We urge a handful of countries who still keep so-called "diplomatic ties" with Taiwan to keep up with the trend of the times and join the family of nations that endorse the one-China principle as soon as possible.

TASS: I have two questions. First, on January 24, Ukrainian air defenses shot down a Russian Il-76 transport aircraft at the Russia-Ukraine border, which crashed in Russia's Belgorod region after being hit by several missiles. The aircraft was carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war. What is the comment of the Foreign Ministry? The other question is, the UK-based Financial Times reported that the US has asked China to urge Tehran to exert influence on the Houthi forces attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea, but has seen no sign of help from the Chinese government. What is the Foreign Ministry's comment on this?

Wang Wenbin: On your first question, we noted the reports. On the Ukraine crisis, China's position is consistent and clear. We always believe that dialogue and negotiations are the only viable way out of the Ukraine crisis. We hope all parties will be committed to a political settlement of the crisis, stop the fighting as soon as possible and work together to alleviate the situation.

We answered your second question the day before yesterday, which you may refer to.

Global Times: It's reported that the US Space Force in its assessment report "Competing in Space" said that China and Russia are testing and developing anti-satellite weapons to deny, disrupt or destroy satellites and space services. The two countries often mask or conceal these activities to avoid international condemnation. To counter these threats, the US Space Force launched new early warning satellites to track Chinese or Russian spacecraft. What's China's comment?

Wang Wenbin: The US has long been repeatedly hyping up China as a "threat in outer space" to smear and attack China, which is only an excuse for the US to expand its forces in outer space and maintain military hegemony.

In fact, the US openly characterized outer space as a "battlefield," made great effort to develop outer space military and provoke major-power rivalry, making itself the biggest factor in militarizing outer space and turning it into a battlefield, and the biggest threat to outer space security. The US has long been abusing space technology and maliciously tracking and approaching other countries' spacecraft in a dangerous manner, which increases the collision risk in space and is seriously irresponsible.

China sticks to the peaceful use of outer space and opposes the arms race there. We strive for legal instruments on space arms control through negotiations in the international community and protection of the peace and security of the outer space by legal means. China once again urges the US to stop spreading disinformation, expanding military build-up and stepping up war preparation in outer space, and to genuinely shoulder its due responsibility.a

AFP: China's Vice Foreign Minister is in Pyongyang today for a meeting with his North Korean counterpart. Do you have any details on this meeting and if the visit will pave the way for senior visit, maybe the North Korean leader visit to China?

Wang Wenbin: At the invitation of the DPRK, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Sun Weidong arrived in the DPRK on January 25 for a visit. We will release relevant information in due course. Please check back for updates.a

Financial Times: Yesterday there was a Wall Street Journal article about Ian Stones, a British businessman who was detained in China over breaches of China's national security laws. Could you provide any more information about the caseawhy he was detained, when he was tried, what he was convicted on, and what evidence there was against Ian Stones?

Wang Wenbin: British defendant Ian J. Stones was accused of buying and unlawfully supplying intelligence for an organization or individual outside China. On August 23, 2022, Beijing No.2 Intermediate People's Court publicly announced in accordance with the law the sentencing for the first instance of the case and ruled that Ian J. Stones was guilty of that crime and sentenced him to five years' imprisonment. After the sentencing, he appealed against the ruling. The Beijing High People's Court heard the case in accordance with the law and announced publicly in the second instance on September 8 last year that the appeal was dismissed and the original ruling was upheld. The Chinese courts heard the trial strictly in accordance with the law, guaranteed Ian J. Stones' various procedural rights, and allowed the UK to visit him and sit in on the sentencing.

China is a law-based country. Its judiciary handles cases strictly in accordance with the law and protects the lawful rights of Chinese and foreign parties.aa

AFP: Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi will visit Thailand today and will meet with the US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. Do you have any details to offer on his visit?

Wang Wenbin: To maintain strategic communication between Director Wang Yi and Advisor Jake Sullivan is an important common understanding between the two presidents of China and the US. During the new round of meetings, Director Wang Yi will state China's position on issues such as China-US relations and the Taiwan question and exchange views with the US on international and regional issues of mutual interest.

Associated Press of Pakistan: A senior Pakistani official yesterday said that Indian agents were involved in killing of Pakistani citizens on Pakistan soil. Earlier this week, Global Times also reported that there were solid evidences proving that India supports terrorist forces in some Pakistani areas such as Balochistan Province, providing them with money, weapons and training. As a major country in the region, what is China's response?

Wang Wenbin: I have no information on the first matter you mentioned.

On the second matter, we stated our position on similar issues before. Terrorism is a common enemy of humanity. China firmly opposes double standards on counterterrorism. Such practice will only backfire. China stands ready to step up cooperation with other countries and jointly combat all forms of terrorism.

Reuters: Reuters reported that China has asked Iran to help rein in attacks in the Red Sea and said if not, it would harm China-Iran relations. Can you confirm that?

Wang Wenbin: Our position on the situation in the Red Sea is clear. We are deeply concerned about the recent escalating situation in the Red Sea. The Red Sea is an important international trade route for goods and energy. From day one, China has actively deescalated the situation, called for an end to the disturbance to civilian ships, and urged relevant parties to avoid fueling the tensions in the Red Sea and jointly protect the safety of international sea lanes in accordance with law. What must be underlined is that the tensions in the Red Sea is a spillover of the Gaza conflict, which should end as soon as possible to prevent it from escalating or spiraling out of control. The UN Security Council has never authorized the use of force by any country against Yemen. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of Yemen and other coastal countries along the Red Sea need to be earnestly respected. China stands ready to work with all parties for the deescalation of the situation and security and stability of the Red Sea.a

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






US national security advisor to meet Chinese foreign minister in Bangkok

The meeting stresses Thailand's strategic position as the middleman for the super powers, says expert.

By Pimuk Rakkanam and Kunnawut Boonreak for RFA 2024.01.26 -- U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi are set to meet in Bangkok Friday and Saturday to build on a pledge to deepen their dialogue, despite the two superpowers' differences on Taiwan.

This meeting will be the first high-level talk between the two nations since the U.S. President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping met in the United States in November.

"During the new round of meetings, (Wang) will state China's position on China-U.S. relations, including the Taiwan issue, and exchange views with the U.S. side on international and regional issues of common interest," Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wengbin told reporters at a regular press conference on Friday.

Upon his arrival in Thailand's capital Friday, Sullivan first met with Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-nukara and discussed ties between the two nations as well as regional and global issues, including efforts to address the worsening crisis in Myanmar.

During the meeting, Sullivan emphasized "U.S. commitment to expanding collaboration on trade and investment, accelerating the transition to a clean energy future, deepening the two nations' people-to-people ties, and broadening our security cooperation as we promote a free and open Indo-Pacific," according to a White House statement.

Thailand, one of the U.S.'s major non-NATO allies and geographically important to the region, however, reaffirmed its non-interference approach.

On the China-Taiwan issue, for instance, the Thai side reiterated before the meeting its "vision on Thai-Chinese relations, based on Thailand's One China policy as well as common interests and international principles that the two countries adhere to, towards the building of a Thailand-China community with a shared future for enhanced stability, prosperity and sustainability."

Regarding planned talks between Sullivan and Wang, Thai Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Kanchana Patarachoke said: "The meeting is actually arranged bilaterally between the two sides. We did not have any role in organizing for the meeting or anything but we are pleased that Thailand is the venue for such a meeting."

"And we are confident that the dialogue between the two sides will contribute to peace and security and development of the countries in the regions also at the global stage as well."

Dr. Isa Gharti, a public policy researcher at Chiang Mai University, believes the meeting between Sullivan and Wang stresses Thailand's strategic position as the middleman for the super powers.

"The country has a long history of balancing its relationship with China and the U.S., which is appropriate for it to be the host," Gharti told Radio Free Asia.

"The role as a facilitator to solve high-level conflict is a positive thing for the Srettha administration," he added, referring to the current prime minister's government.

Thailand and China will celebrate 50 years of diplomatic ties in 2025.

Edited by Taejun Kang and Mike Firn.

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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Clean energy leads charge in China's 2023 economic growth

Analysis shows the sector solely drove the country's investment growth.

By Subel Rai Bhandari for RFA 2024.01.26 -- China's clean energy sector saw an unprecedented surge in 2023, injecting a staggering 11.4 trillion yuan (US$1.6 trillion), almost a third more than the previous year, into the nation's economy, new analysis by a nonprofit think tank has shown.

This green energy boom accounted for the entire investment growth and eclipsed all other sectors in driving the country's economic expansion, according to the sector analysis by the Helsinki-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).

It was first published Thursday on Carbon Brief, a website that posts news and policy analysis on climate and energy.

"In 2023, China's GDP was reported at 126 trillion yuan ($17.8 trillion), so the clean energy sectors contributed 9% of the total," Lauri Myllyvirta, CREA's lead analyst and the author of the analysis, told Radio Free Asia.

China's GDP saw a 5.2% increase last year, surpassing the government's target. However, without the boost from clean-energy sectors, growth would have been approximately 3%, he said.

"This would have missed government growth targets at a time of increasing concerns over the nation's economic prospects amid the ongoing real-estate crisis and declining population," CREA said in its analysis.

The investment surge was in what the Chinese officials and state media call the "new three" industries: solar power, electric vehicles and batteries, the focus of Beijing's clean-energy investments in 2023.

China, the world's largest emitter, dominates the global market in these key green technologies, with over 80% of solar exports, half of lithium-ion battery production, and above 20% of electric vehicle manufacturing.

Clean energy investment rise eclipses real estate drop

The clean energy sector as a whole was "the largest driver of China's economic growth overall, accounting for 40% of the expansion of GDP in 2023," CREA said.

Investment in the sector soared by two-fifths in a year to 6.3 trillion yuan ($887 billion) in 2023, matching the total global investment in fossil fuels and equating to the GDP of Switzerland or Turkey.

Solar led most of it, with its value soaring 63% to 2.5 trillion yuan. Electric vehicle production reached 9.6 million units, a third of all vehicles produced in the country, according to CREA.

"China's total investment in fixed assets was reported by the National Bureau of Statistics at 50 trillion yuan ($7.1 trillion) in 2023. Investment in clean energy industries made up 13% of the total," Myllyvirta told RFA.

In 2023, total investment rose by 3% despite a consecutive annual decline in real estate investment, which dropped by 9.4% from January to November.

"The net increase came entirely from investment in clean energy industries, so in that sense, clean energy made up for the fall in real estate," he said.

Experts say the shift elevates the clean-energy sector to a crucial role in China's energy and climate initiatives and broader economic and industrial strategies.

Despite the boom in clean energy, experts say integrating all the new renewables into the existing power system and managing the electric grid more efficiently pose a severe challenge in China.

Another key challenge is "rationalizing and consolidating those manufacturing sectors where overcapacity is starting to build up because of the major wave of investment," Myllyvirta told RFA.

Coal is still king and the biggest problem

According to the International Energy Agency, global coal use in 2023 hit a record high, surpassing 8.5 billion tons for the first time.

As the dirtiest and most significant greenhouse gas emitters, tackling coal is crucial for significantly reducing global carbon emissions and combating climate change.

In China, coal still provides 65% of electricity and more than half of the world's coal-fired generation occurs in China.

As the country's electricity demand increased amid the heat wave and post-COVID rebound, thermal power generation came to the rescue since hydropower struggled due to drought.

"China's energy strategy at the moment is definitely 'all of the above,' with a lot of investment in coal mining, coal-fired power, domestic oil, and gas production, as well as clean energy," Myllyvirta said.

"However, in terms of investment volumes, clean energy trumps fossil fuels."

He added that the total investment in coal-fired power plants in 2023 was 90 billion yuan ($13 billion), while investment in clean power generation was more than eight times larger.

Myllyvirta said the country has to go from investing in new coal power plants to dismantling existing ones to meet climate goals.

"The reason for my optimism is that maintaining the current level of investment in clean energy will ensure that the use of coal and other fossil fuels begins to fall," he said.

Edited by Mike Firn 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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. People of Azerbaijan experience a special elation after fully ensuring the country's territorial integrity. Chairman of the German-Azerbaijani Society, honorary member of the Union of Writers and the Union of Journalists of Azerbaijan, Doctor of Cultural Studies Chingiz Abdullayev, told the "Election 2024 Independent Media Center, Trend reports.

He noted that one of the fundamental principles of democracy is election.

Election is a means of expressing the will of citizens. It's extremely important for the citizens of Azerbaijan to take an active part in the election. I urge the citizens of Azerbaijan to be active in the presidential election and wish our people peace and prosperity, Abdullayev added.

"Election 2024 Independent Media Center was launched by the Central Election Commission (CEC) of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

On December 7, 2023, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree calling for an extraordinary presidential election in the country on February 7, 2024.



On December 19, the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Azerbaijan approved the candidacy of Ilham Aliyev, nominated by the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (YAP), for participation in the extraordinary presidential election.



Azerbaijan has registered seven candidates to run in the extraordinary presidential election.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
China's Economy, Politics Roil Hong Kong Market, Say Economists

By Iris Tong, Adrianna Zhang, Chuang Chih-wei January 26, 2024

The Hong Kong Stock Exchange's benchmark Hang Seng index is having a rocky start to the new year, trading around the same level it was at when the British handed the city to Beijing 27 years ago and losing its place as the fourth-largest capital market in Asia to India. Last year it was the worst-performing major market in the world.

The Hang Seng has been trading below 16,000 points, declining in value for about 90% of the trading days so far this year.

On January 22 alone, the Hang Seng dipped sharply to 14,961 points, below the psychologically sensitive 15,000 mark and hitting a 15-month low.

Alicia Garcia-Herrero, chief economist for Asia Pacific at French investment bank Natixis based, said the index reflects investors' disappointment in the Chinese economy. Based in Hong Kong, Garcia-Herrero told VOA "the years of high growth for the Chinese economy are over, and investors are fully aware."

China's economy has been struggling to recover from strict COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns and restrictions that wreaked havoc on trade, sparked rare public protests against the government, and ended only in late 2022. A collapsed property market and shrinking population have added to the woes.

Chinese equities have fallen by more than U.S. $6 trillion in value from a 2021 high while Hong Kong's market is getting fewer newly listed companies through initial public offerings.

Chung Kim-wah, a retired assistant professor in the Department of Applied Social Sciences at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, described the city as the ruins of an international financial center.

Almost all economic indices in Hong Kong are performing poorly, he said, with high office vacancy rates, falling building prices, and the withdrawal of foreign funds. He also cited reductions in the number of international institutions maintaining their headquarters in Hong Kong and personnel of foreign institutions stationed in the city.

Chung said the only bright spot is Hong Kong's unemployment rate, which is holding steady at less than 3%

"But now because some people emigrated, [the jobs] they left behind can be filled immediately, which is why the unemployment rate has not risen significantly with the outflow of funds," he said. "So, in fact [Hong Kong] is already in ruins. But now we have to wait and see when it will reach the bottom."

Analysts say Beijing's strengthening grip on dissent is also fueling the city's decline.

The Beijing-installed Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu aims to complete controversial security legislation this year that will allow more prosecutions for treason and theft of state secrets.

"National security risks are real," he said during a question-and-answer session in the Legislative Council on January 25, emphasizing that the law should be completed "as soon as possible."

Once national security risks are eliminated, he said, Hong Kong can focus on boosting the economy, expanding markets, exploring business opportunities, and improving people's livelihoods.

However, Lew Mon-hung, a former member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, a political advisory body in the Chinese government, said China's long-arm control of the city will cause more capital flight as investors become increasingly pessimistic about Hong Kong's long-term economic development.

"Hong Kong's stock market is built on the cornerstones of freedom and the rule of law," he told VOA. "If you go to destroy Hong Kong's freedom and rule of law, then you will drain the foundation of its stock market."

Li Chen-yu, chief economist of Taishin Financial Holding Co. in Taipei, said, "China should first go through economic and then political affairs. It should stabilize China's economy as a whole and then discuss so-called political stability. When the economy is unstable, forcefully promoting so-called political stability could be counterproductive."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






North Korea cracks down on theft of electricity meant for industry

Three months hard labor for tapping into wires that supply electricity to factories or hospitals.

By Ahn Chang Gyu for RFA Korean 2024.01.26 -- North Korea is cracking down on electricity theft, punishing not only residents who tap into factory supply wires, but also the corrupt officials that sell them access, residents in the country told Radio Free Asia.

Electricity is not supplied to residential areas all day and all night in North Korea.

Instead, rolling blackouts are common everywhere, with some rural parts of the country only getting one hour of power each day so that they can prepare dinner.

But factories, hospitals and other important government facilities receive a steady supply. Shrewd employees at those facilities make extra cash by charging residents to run wires from their houses to connect with the industrial wires.

"The social security department is patrolling each neighborhood of the town at night, cracking down on houses that secretly use industrial electricity," a resident in Kyongwon county in the northeastern province of North Hamgyong told RFA Korean on condition of anonymity for personal safety.

"They regularly go to factories and institutions to check to make sure there are no electric wires connected to homes," he said. "Two days ago, a house was caught using electricity at night by tapping into an industrial wire. Six houses have been cracked down on by the county, just this month alone."

Location, location, location

The amount of electricity the government supplies to your home depends greatly on where you live, he explained.

"Kyongwon is a typical agricultural county with a few small local industrial plants and coal mines," he said. "Electricity was well supplied until the fall threshing season, but now it is only available for about an hour a day."

Though the capital Pyongyang is given priority, even residents there usually go without power for some of the day. Areas close to the border with China also receive more electricity because the government wants to give a good impression to the outside world.

Kyongwon county borders China, but the populated areas are some 5 kilometers (3 miles) away, so they have not been deemed important enough for constant supply.

"On January 1st, the New Year's special electricity supply lasted less than six hours that day," the resident said.

Least wonderful time of the year

Most of the electricity in the border areas is generated by hydroelectric power, and output is lower in the cold winter months, another resident from North Hamgyong told RFA on condition of anonymity to speak freely.

"As winter approaches and electricity is not readily available, there are many cases of people being caught secretly using industrial electricity," he said. "Around January 10, a house in Kilju town that had been secretly using the military hospital's electricity for over three months was caught."

The resident said that the wires had been installed in such a way that detecting them was not easy.

"Also they dug into the ground about 30 meters (98 feet) away from the hospital and buried the electric cables all the way to their house," he said. "The next-door neighbor never noticed the house was using industrial electricity."

The police investigated the situation and discovered that a hospital employee who oversees its electrical equipment connected the cables in exchange for 100,000 won (US$12) per month," he said.

"The hospital employee and the male head of the house were punished with three months in a disciplinary labor center," the second resident said.

Using industrial electricity in the home is common practice for government officials and rich residents, he explained.

The rich and powerful can usually bribe or bully their way out of punishment in North Korea.

"It is only the powerless residents who are caught and punished," he said.

Translated by Claire S. Lee. Edited by Eugene Whong and Malcolm Foster.

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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Analysts: China's Repatriation of North Korean Defectors Supports Pyongyang's Authoritarian Rule

By Christy Lee January 26, 2024

Human rights experts are dismissing Beijing's latest claim, made again this week, that North Koreans fleeing into China are not political refugees but only illegal migrants seeking economic opportunities.

Several experts said they see the claim as simply a way of supporting Pyongyang's authoritarian system, which is similar to China's own.

"There [are] no so-called DPRK defectors in China. People who illegally entered into China for economic reasons are not refugees," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Wednesday at a press briefing.

His remarks came after South Korea called on Beijing to protect North Korean defectors in China during a Tuesday U.N. meeting examining China's rights records.

The meeting in Geneva was the fourth review by the U.N. Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group since February 2009. The council held previous reviews in October 2013 and November 2018.

South Korea's ambassador to the U.N. office in Geneva, Yun Seong-deok, said Beijing should stop repatriating North Koreans. He also said Beijing should consider making its refugee law comply with the 1951 Refugee Convention.

This was the first time South Korea addressed China at the UPR for its treatment of North Korean defectors. They face harsh treatment, including torture and death sentences, when they are forcibly repatriated, according to Human Rights Watch and the advocacy group Liberty in North Korea.

China is a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol. This means Beijing is obligated to comply with the principle of nonrefoulement. This "asserts that a refugee should not be returned to a country where they face serious threats to their life or freedom," according to the convention.

China's constitution says it "may grant asylum to foreigners who request it on political grounds."

William Nee, a research and advocacy coordinator at Chinese Human Rights Defenders, said, "China has consistently refused to set up a screening system" in coordination with the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees "to determine whether North Koreans who have fled to China qualify as refugees."

He continued, "Unfortunately, since the Chinese and DPRK government share the same Leninist system, it is highly unlikely that China would admit that there are political defectors in North Korea because this could indirectly cast doubt on the CCP's own system."

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been China's ruling party since the People's Republic of China was established in 1949.

China and North Korea rooted their government systems in communist ideology espoused by the former Soviet Union's first leader, Vladimir Lenin, who ruled the country with dictatorship and severe control of its population.

Robert King, who served as the U.S. special envoy for North Korea's human rights in the Obama administration, said Beijing refers to North Korean defectors as "economic migrants" because in its view, North Koreans want to take advantage of its economy.

But, King said, China is "not willing to admit that North Koreans may want to leave North Korea and go to South Korea or elsewhere" because that would suggest there is a problem in North Korea's political system and pose "concern for communism."

He said this is a way to protect China's own authoritarian government and support its restrictions on freedom, human rights and information so that it can "maintain control" of people and power.

Wang, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said during the Wednesday press briefing that Beijing "advocated the protection and promotion of human rights through security," following its own "development path" based on "the socialist nature of China's human rights cause."

Roberta Cohen, former deputy assistant secretary of state for human rights in the Carter administration, said, "China fears being held complicit in North Korea's crimes against humanity, against North Koreans who escape the country."

She continued, "China's denial of the situation is an effort to ward off international criminal charges that could well be leveled one day."

A 2014 U.N. Commission of Inquiry report on North Korea's human rights conditions concluded the regime's acts, including murder, torture and enslavement, are tantamount to crimes against humanity.

Greg Scarlatoiu, executive director for the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, said that for China to consider North Korean defectors as refugees, it would have to honor its obligation under the 1951 Convention "instead of engaging in blatant breaches of these international human rights instruments it ratified."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Transcript of Special Briefing by Foreign Secretary on the visit of President of France to India (January 26, 2024)

India - Ministry of External Affairs

January 26, 2024

Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Happy Republic Day to all of you, and a very warm welcome to this Special Press Briefing by Foreign Secretary on the State visit of President Macron. We are also joined by our Ambassador to France, Shri Jawed Ashraf. First, I will invite Foreign Secretary to make some opening remarks, and thereafter we can take questions from all of you. Sir, the floor is yours.

Shri Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary: Thank you, Randhir, Ambassador Jawed Ashraf, our friends from the media, very good afternoon. Bharat ke is Gantantra diwas pe aap sabko hardik shubhkamnayain (Greetings on the Republic Day of India to all of you). As you all know, French President, His Excellency Mr. Emmanuel Macron is currently on a State visit to India, and he's also the Chief Guest for India's Republic Day, today. President Macron landed in Jaipur yesterday afternoon, and in a rare gesture, Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji traveled to Jaipur to welcome him there. In Jaipur, President Macron experienced rich and vibrant cultural tapestry of Rajasthan. He also visited, during his short but very busy trip to Jaipur, to Amber Fort, Jantar Mantar, and Hawa Mahal. Honorable Prime Minister accompanied him to the last two legs of his visit in Jaipur, that is Jantar Mantar and Hawa Mahal. Thereafter in Jaipur itself, Prime Minister and President held restricted talks over the dinner. The topics of discussion between the two leaders included areas of priority and focus in our bilateral partnership, as also issues of interest and significance, regionally and globally.

Today, President Macron witnessed the Republic Day Parade in New Delhi. All of us also saw the 2nd Infantry Regiment of the French Foreign Legion marching past the Kartavya Path earlier this morning, alongside France's two Rafale aircraft and one Phenix multirole transport tanker, which flew in the skies above. This evening, in fact later this afternoon, President Macron would attend the at-home reception hosted by Honorable Rashtrapati ji. And in a departure from a normal convention, Honorable Rashtrapati ji will also host a state banquet in honor of President Macron later in the evening today.

French President is accompanied by a 40-member strong delegation. The delegation includes three Ministers; Ministers' of Foreign Affairs, Defence and Culture. In fact, as we speak, External Affairs Minister is meeting his French counterpart, the newly appointed Foreign Minister of France, Mr. StAphane SAjournA. President Macron's visit comes after the historic visit of Prime Minister Modi to Paris in July last year, where Prime Minister Modi was the Guest of Honor on the occasion of the French National Day, which also commemorated the 25th anniversary of the India-France strategic partnership. You would recall that last year at the Bastille Day Parade, Punjab Regiment and Rajputana Rifle troops had marched on the Champs-AlysAes Avenue of Paris. It is not very often, as evidence would show, that the leaders of two countries are Guests of Honor in each other's successive National Day celebrations. Also, this is the sixth time that a French leader has come for India's Republic Day, maximum for any country. Also this is President Macron's third visit to India, after his first State visit in his previous tenure in March 2018, and second for the G20 Leaders' Summit in September last year.

The two leaders have had extensive exchanges over the last year, having met six times alone in 2023, and four times in the last six months alone, a clear reflection of the importance attached by both the leaders to this partnership, as also the intensity of high-level supervision and direction to the relationship. The salience of India-France partnership has only grown in today's complex geopolitical environment and in pursuit, of course, of our national priorities and interests. You would recall that in July last year, the two sides had adopted the Horizon-2047 Roadmap and Indo-Pacific Roadmap, thus laying out a clear long-term vision of partnership, both in bilateral space as also what would be shared priorities globally. The partnership over the years has shown all-round progress across all the domains, including of defence, security, nuclear energy, space, increasingly in areas such as clean energy, blue economy, biodiversity, science and technology, digital domain, and in the field of commerce and economic cooperation. Our international cooperation has expanded from multilateral institutions to security in the Indo-Pacific and has also included now addressing, working together to address global challenges.

If I could just briefly list out the key outcomes and general announcements related to the visit, following the discussions between the two leaders, you would get the details of this in a joint statement once that's finalized, the delegations are working on it. First is the roadmap...these are the documents which have been agreed upon; roadmap on the India-France defence, industrial roadmap actually. Two, an agreement on defence-space partnership; three, an MoU between New Space India Limited (NSIL) and Arianespace with regard to satellite launches; partnership, industrial partnership between Tata and Airbus helicopters for production of H125 helicopters with a significant indigenous and localization component; agreement between Department of Science and Technology, two agreements actually, and the counterpart French institutions with regard to joint research in clean energy, mainly de-carbonized hydrogen, applied mathematics, digital technologies, and precision agriculture. Also, an agreement between two Ministries of health on healthcare cooperation, education, training and research. This would include the space of digital health and use of artificial intelligence in the healthcare sector. Also, an agreement on cooperation in the fields of public administration and reforms and sustainable urban developments.

Besides, in terms of announcement, it's been agreed that the year 2026 will be celebrated as India-France year of innovation. And following up on the decision which was taken during the Prime Minister's visit to France last year, the Indian Consulate in southern city of France in Marseille, and the French Bureau in Hyderabad, are now fully ready to be operational. Three, announcement on Young Professional Scheme to essentially promote exchanges of professionals between 18 and 35 years of age under the overall framework of India-France migration and mobility partnership agreement. Also, activation of five-year validity Schengen visa for Indian Masters alumni, the Indian students who pursue their Master's degree from the French tertiary institutions. Announcement also by both the countries to set up a solar academy in Senegal under the STAR-C program of the International Solar Alliance, which as you know, India and France had launched in 2015, and other announcement with regard to French support, which has always been very strong and forthcoming, for India's candidacy to the International Energy Agency, as also India's support to the third UN Ocean Conference to be co-hosted by France and Costa Rica in Nice in 2025. These are, as you can see from the agreements that have been arrived at and the announcements that the two sides will make, it has been a visit which has been very heavy in terms of its substantive outcome, as also the richness of discussions between the two leaders. I would stop here and take questions. Thank you.

Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: We'll now open the floor for questions. Please do take your name and your organization before you ask the questions, so that we have our transcript in order.

Sidhant: Hi, Sir. Sidhant from WION. My question is, you talked about the defence aspect. If you can elaborate on that bit, especially, were there any conversation on the Rafale M and the Scorpions Submarine, which is something part of conversation between the two sides?

Manish Chand: Manish Chand, India Writes Network. Sir, building on the talks in July, what new measures were discussed to enhance collaboration in the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific? And talking of Indo-Pacific, was there a discussion about subversive activities by any other power, you know, external power? Thank you.

John: Yes, thank you. John Reed, the Financial Times. Thank you for the briefing and Happy Republic Day to all of you. I had a question about the French freelance journalist Vanessa Dougnac, who's on the verge of losing her right to reside in India. She's a long-term resident of India and foreign correspondent. I guess I had two questions. Did this figure come up at all, even briefly, in the talks between the two leaders or the two sides? And in some of the remarks we've seen quoted from Indian MEA officials, there was a suggestion that her visa status was being tied to what she had written in India. And I'm curious about whether MEA or the Indian government has an opinion about her journalism. And if so, what is that? Thank you.

Sudhi: Sir, Sudhi Ranjan from the Bloomberg. If you could give us a little bit more on the Space MoU that has happened. And also, Sir, if you could clarify whether there were talks between India and France on Safran engines for the fighter jet, the twin-engine fighter jet that India is building, Sir.

Yeshi: This is Yeshi Seli from The New Indian Express. You spoke about migration and mobility and talked about a five-year Schengen visa for students applying for their Masters. Was the talk also about Indians working in France and vice versa during the conversation you had on the subject?

Huma: Sir, I'm Huma Siddiqui from the Financial Express. Sir, I have two questions. One, was the India-EU FTA discussed during the talks? And also, in the Space sector, you were talking that there is a partnership agreement on launching satellites. So would the satellites be launched here from India or France?

Shri Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary: Thank you very much. Sidhant, with regard to the question on the defence cooperation between India and France, as I mentioned to you, the two countries have agreed to adopt a defence production roadmap. Now, the name itself is very clear that the focus and the priority of defence cooperation through this roadmap is to actually identify opportunities for partnership in the defence industrial sector that prioritize co-designing, co-development, co-production, and also building the defence supply chains between the two countries, so that they can not only fulfill the defence needs of India and France, but also can be a useful contributor to the security partnership with other countries who might be in use of similar products.

In terms of the range of domains, including the technology space that the industrial roadmap will aim to achieve, it would include both air and space technologies, maritime technology; including the underwater domain awareness, it's a new space which is coming up; naturally, the equipment and the systems related to the land warfare, and also robotics and artificial intelligence as also autonomous vehicles and platforms, and cyber defence. So the focus of conversation, and this flows from what the two countries agreed in the 2047 Horizon Vision document, is to focus on defence production and manufacturing in a manner that you can harness the compatibilities and competencies which the two economies have, and the two engineering systems have, and then use it to further strengthen your defence cooperation.

Manish, with regard to the Indian Ocean and the Indo-Pacific, now that is a space which has been one of the key pillars of our cooperation in previous decades also. It's an ongoing conversation. As you know very well, India and France are both resident powers in this part of the world, and the challenges and the opportunities which both countries face in Indian Ocean region and also the Indo-Pacific, and what are the new areas in which India and France can cooperate actually to; one, mitigate the challenges; two, harvest the opportunities which exist both in the Indian Ocean countries and also the hinterland countries. That has always been a very important priority of discussion between the leaders and discussions this time were no exception.

With regard to the issue relating to the French person you mentioned, Mrs. Vanessa Dougnac, I think if I pronounced the name correctly, we are aware of the matter. This matter is being dealt by the relevant department in the Government of India. And I think the key element in this to focus is the frame of reference in which we look at it. The frame of reference to look at is, the compliance with the rules and regulations of the country. I don't think this has got anything else to do with the other aspects of journalism, etc. People are free to do what they are accredited to do in a given space. But here, I think the principal issue is whether the person is compliant with the rules and regulations of the state, under which they come.

Sudhi, with regard to the Space, if I could just highlight this. You know very well, that Space has been one of the key anchors of India-France strategic partnership. The letter of intent that two countries have agreed this time would essentially focus on areas such as space situational awareness, which is very important to build an understanding of the kind of traffic which is up there in the Space. Collision avoidance, again, because of traffic; naturally, Earth monitoring from the space; Remote sensing, communications, and broadcasting; and also, equally importantly, industrial cooperation between the two countries to further expand and deepen our cooperation in this space. There was also a related understanding which was arrived at between the NewSpace India Limited and the Arianespace. This is essentially, if I was to capture the crux of it, is on the optimization of the satellite launches between the two countries. France has some very strong satellite launching capability, so does India. And the idea is how do these two institutions come together to optimize these capacities, including through the best and the maximum use of the satellite launch windows that might be available.

Indians working in France. Again, this is not really a new thing. This has been going on for some years. And France was among the first countries with whom India signed the mobility partnership agreement. There is a fairly strong Indian student community and also the professional community in France. The arrangements that I talked about in my remarks this time; one, relating to the youth exchanges between the ages 18 and 35; and also the activation of five-year Schengen visa for those students who pursue their Master's program in French tertiary institution; essentially complements the mobility partnership agreement; and expands the professionals on both sides, the contribution they can make to the two respective economies. To my knowledge, there were no discussions on India-EU FTA. But the two leaders did meet alone also, one on one. So I would not rule it out entirely. But to my understanding, it was not there. But if the two leaders discussed, we can double check and get back to you on that one. Thank you.

Speaker: (inaudible)...it is for the fighter jet program.

Shri Jawed Ashraf, Ambassador of India to France: This is a subject of ongoing discussions between DRDO's ADA, GTRE, and Safran. Now, the issue is really about arriving at a set of specifications that comply with our future fighter jet requirements. So, this always features in the conversation between the President and the Prime Minister, because what we are looking for is not just manufacturing, transfer of technology, which essentially keeps you going with the same crutches that you have been going on for the last six decades, but to work in the actual design phase, metallurgical aspects, etc. So, Safran is fully willing to do it with 100% transfer of technology, 100% transfer of technology in design, development, certification, production, and so on and so forth. But it's obviously a very complex subject. And it has to fit in with the overall future requirements. So, these discussions will continue to take place. And that's also part of the defence industrial roadmap.

Ayushi: Sir, this is Ayushi Agarwal from ANI. I just wanted to know how much were the ongoing conflicts, like Israel-Gaza, Russia-Ukraine, or the situation in the Red Sea discussed between the two leaders.

Sridhar: Sir, Sridhar from the Asian Age and Deccan Chronicle. Sir, you mentioned about the defence industrial roadmap, co-design, co-development, co-production. But I wanted to know the specific status of the plan to acquire the 26 naval variant of the Rafales. What is the stage? Is it still under discussion? Or is it finalized? What's going on in that? And also, the plan to build three submarines. There was a reference to it in the Joint Communique, last year, briefly, it was then pulled down. So just on these two aspects, and on the civil nuclear also, is there any forward movement? Thank you.

Smita: Hi, Smita Sharma. I work independently. Just two quick related questions. One, the issue of Vanessa Dougnac, the journalist. Has it been raised by the French authorities, either during the talks or in the lead up to the talks? And because we've seen the Desert Knight operations between the Air Force personnel of UAE, India and France in the Arabian Sea region. Are we looking at, perhaps, broader military cooperation towards maritime security in the Red Sea region?

Suhasini: I'll just build on Smita's question. This is Suhasini Haider from The Hindu. India and France, were there discussions on the two countries working in third regions, in a sense, not just Indo-Pacific, but also in the Middle-East, and what specifically they are? I also just had a request, which is that if the Joint Statement could be brought out before the Press Conference, it's easier for us to actually know what we're asking about. Because otherwise, it comes in reverse. Another question, just to follow up on the civil nuclear deal. It's 15 years since the MoU, three years since the techno commercial offer came from France for the Jaitapur project. There are discussions now on SMRs, I understand. But should we assume that the Jaitapur project, for 9900 megawatts or so, is on pause, is not moving forward, and is it essentially about the issues they have over the legal issues, or is it about costing?

Akhilesh: Sir, I'm Akhilesh Suman, I'm freelancing now. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Macron at a time when Gaza and Israel are fighting. So, was there any idea, was there any convergence on the issue that how to create peace in that region, because it is also affecting Indian interests in many parts of the world?

Milan: Sir, Milan from India today. Just want to understand, and if you could elaborate on the Indo-Pacific Triangular Development Cooperation Fund if that was discussed. And also on a lighter note, because the French President was immersed in Indian culture, and he was also handed over a replica of the Ram Mandir temple, what was the kind of conversation between Prime Minister Modi as well as French President? The last time he visited, he spoke about how moving his visit to Banaras was. So anything on that?

Shri Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary: Thank you very much. Let me start with the question surrounding this entire set of issues relating to the developments in the region, Russia-Ukraine conflict, what's happening in the Red Sea, Akhilesh ji, you talked about what's happening in Gaza. As I mentioned to you in my opening remarks, that the two leaders, when they met, they discussed not just areas of priority and focus in our bilateral partnership, but also focused quite a lot on what's happening in different parts of the world. Naturally, the ongoing conflict in Gaza and its various dimensions, the terror dimension, the humanitarian dimension, the civil disruption dimension, all those things came up for discussion, and both leaders shared their perspective. With regard to developments in the Red Sea, naturally, the disruptions, the potential disruption and the actual things happening in the maritime domain there, which is causing disruption to the commercial shipping, indeed is a matter of serious concern, and both leaders focused on it.

With regard to a related point, which was raised as to whether they agreed to work together on these points. I think we have always been...India has always been in very strong partnerships with different stakeholders in this maritime space on a range of areas which are there, commercial shipping, right from the days of piracy and even going before that, before 2008, we have always had very strong partnerships with different players. It is important because those partnerships help you build an information matrix in which you can then respond to protect your commercial shipping interest, and also other maritime security interests. So yes, we have been working with other partners, coordinating with them in terms of information, etc, in terms of the maritime security in particular.

With regard to the economic dimension of partnership in third countries, that was another point which was brought out; yes, that has been, for quite some time, a very strong area of focus when we talk what we can do in other countries. And in this regard, the countries of the Indo-Pacific, countries of the Indian Ocean region, some of the countries in Africa, I talked about one of the announcements of a project under International Solar Alliance, and the point relating to the Indo-Pacific Fund that you talked about, essentially comes in that, and this is not the first country with which India has set up such funds. We have done similar partnerships with Germany, we have done similar partnerships with UK, and France adds to this list of growing partnerships that India has, to see how the capacities and complementarities of the two countries, two systems, come together to pursue our shared interests and objectives in the third countries.

With regard to the nuclear space that you asked...it would not be really fair for me to comment on really your assumptions, whether it's on pause or not, those are your assumptions. But what I would say is that, there are several elements of the civil nuclear energy partnership that needs to be kept in mind. There is of course the whole lot of technical and engineering elements. You mentioned about the techno-commercial arrangement that the two countries had agreed on, on this close to 10,000 megawatt project. There are elements relating to putting in place a financing mechanism that begins to address such things. There are issues relating to the localization, which both the EDF and the NPCIL are working together. So, the two entities on both sides, the NPCIL on the Indian side and the EDF on the French side, have essentially been trying to move forward on these issues and whole lot of progress has been made in order to ensure that what we put on the ground is; one, financially viable, cost effective, has a localization component. But we are doing so under a very strong strategic commitment to the partnership on civil nuclear energy space. So from our side, the perspective on the principles in which we view this partnership, the specifics, the way we take it forward, is absolutely clear. SMR is a relatively new space in terms of discussions between the two countries, smaller size, but the issues pertaining to engineering elements of it and you would know that India has its own reasonably strong SMR programme. So technology needs to come together, the viability needs to come together and its positioning in the overall energy mix needs to come together. So those are very positive, forward-leaning, ongoing conversations between the two countries and that's the frame in which we would put it.

With regard to the journalist that you mentioned, I have already mentioned to you the frame of reference we look it at. This has been brought to our attention by the French side, both prior to the visit and during the visit, and we have shared with them and they appreciate this understanding that the frame of reference in which we are looking at is the compliance of the rules and the relevant departments are seized of the matter and looking at it from all the angles that there are to look at it.

Look, those are, you know, on the marine part of the Rafale aircraft, those came up during the 2047 Global Vision document also and you would remember the Presser that we did afterwards. The visits are not focused on individual transactions. I have mentioned this several times that the India-France strategic partnership, when that strategic partnership looks at defence cooperation, security cooperation, it looks at it from a very holistic perspective, one; it looks at it a perspective that how it strengthens the sovereignty and the strategic security space between the two countries. It doesn't look at it from the perspective of a set of transactions or the trade-related transactions. That is why, as I mentioned to you, the defence industrial production roadmap, I have just given you kind of, you know, a very top line essence of it. If you go into the depth of it, you will find the substance of partnership is far extensive, far deeper compared to just one or two transactions that one would focus on. Thank you.

Speaker: (Inaudible)

Shri Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary: As I mentioned to you, visits are not about individual transactions or specifics. Thank you.

Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: With that, we come to the end of this Special Press Briefing. Thank you very much for your participation and do stay tuned for all the updates from our side. The visit is still on. Thank you.

Shri Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary: Thank you very much.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Iran FM highlights beginning of new chapter in Tehran-Ankara ties after president's visit

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jan 26, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian has said that the relations between Tehran and Ankara have entered "a new chapter".

A new chapter began with the visit of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to Turkiye, Amirabdollahian wrote on his X page, IRNA reported on Friday.

Official meeting between the Iranian president and his Turkish counterpart was the start of a new phase in the two countries' regional and bilateral relations, Amirabdollahian noted.

Mutual agreements are within the framework of the neighborhood policy and the variety of cooperation in all areas including trade, investment, industry and tourism, according to the foreign minister.

The Iranian president headed a political and economic delegation to the northwestern neighboring country on Wednesday (January 24) to participate in the 8th meeting of the Iran-Turkiye Supreme Council of Economic Cooperation.

1483**9417

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Iran Denies Report Of U.S. Tip-Off Ahead of Deadly Islamic State Attack

By RFE/RL January 26, 2024

Iran has denied a media report that the United States alerted the Islamic republic to a plot by the extremist Islamic State (IS) group that killed more than 90 people.

The official state news agency IRNA on January 26 cited "an informed diplomatic source" rejecting a report by The Wall Street Journal on January 25 about U.S. intelligence alerting Iran to the attack.

It also quoted an unnamed "security source" as saying that "even if" true, Washington only would have shared its intelligence to "protect itself against Iran's response."

Two explosions on January 3 at a memorial for Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) General Qassem Soleimani in the southeastern city of Kerman were claimed by Islamic State (IS). The group said two of its members detonated their suicide vests, causing the explosions, which injured more than 280 people.

Iran accused Israel and the U.S. of involvement in the attack without providing evidence. Tehran has long alleged, while never presenting any evidence, that the United States has ties to IS.

A U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity confirmed the Wall Street Journal report about "privately" tipping Iran off in an email to RFE/RL's Radio Farda.

"We provide these warnings in part because we do not want to see innocent lives lost in terror attacks," the U.S. official said in an e-mail.

The Wall Street Journal quoted unnamed U.S. officials as saying that the information passed to Iran was "specific enough about the location and sufficiently timely" that it could have helped Tehran to thwart the attack, or at least mitigate the death toll.

Radio Farda has learned that the warning came more than a week before the attack.

The incident intensified fears of widening conflict in the Middle East as Israel continues its war against the U.S.- and EU-designated terrorist organization Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Yemen-based Huthi rebels allied with Iran continue their attacks on Red Sea commercial shipping. Hamas is also linked with Tehran.

Soleimani was killed in what the United States called a "defensive" drone strike while he was traveling in a two-car convoy near Baghdad's international airport on January 3, 2020. He was considered to be one of the most powerful men in Iran and the architect of Tehran's foreign policy in the region at the time.

With reporting by The Wall Street Journal, AFP, and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-kerman-attack-us-warning- islamic-state/32793424.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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Iraq, U.S. form commission to discuss ending U.S.-led coalition's presence

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 11:25, January 26, 2024

BAGHDAD, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- Iraq said on Thursday that it agreed with the United States to form the Higher Military Commission (HMC) to discuss the end of the U.S.-led international coalition's mission in Iraq.

The Iraqi Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the ongoing negotiations between the two sides, which began in August 2023, ended with launching the HMC at the level of working groups.

The commission will assess the threat posed by the Islamic State (IS) and evaluate the capabilities of Iraqi security forces, in order to formulate a clear timetable for the gradual reduction of international coalition advisors in Iraq and the end of the coalition's military mission, according to the statement.

After the coalition's end, Iraq will move to comprehensive bilateral relations with the coalition countries at the political, economic, cultural, security and military levels, the statement said.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Condemning the Attacks Damaging Civilian Infrastructure in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region

US Department of State

Press Statement

Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson

January 26, 2024

The United States condemns yesterday's attack by Iran-aligned militia groups in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region (IKR), which damaged civilian infrastructure and has jeopardized access to power throughout the IKR. Once again, we stand with our partners in Iraq, including the IKR, against these outrageous and senseless actions, and we urge Iraqi authorities to investigate and bring to justice those who are responsible. The United States will continue to work with the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government in support of Iraqi sovereignty and security.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Myanmar junta arrests 1,000 Chinese nationals in Shan state

They are believed to have been involved in illegal scamming operations.

By RFA Burmese 2024.01.26 -- Myanmar junta authorities arrested more than 1,000 Chinese citizens in Namhsan, in southern Shan state, who had possibly fled from online scam crackdowns in the north, the ruling military council and area residents said.

Of the 1,038 Chinese nationals who illegally entered Namhsan, capital of the Pa Laung Self-Administered Zone, on Jan. 23, some 1,002 were men and three dozen others were women, the junta announced on Friday. They were arrested in three different areas of the town.

More than 200 of those arrested are being temporarily detained in an indoor stadium, said a local resident who declined to be named for fear of his safety, adding that he didn't know the whereabouts of the others.

The Chinese nationals may have been involved in online scamming gangs and fled to Namhsan on account of armed conflict between junta forces and ethnic armies and resistance fighters, and a crackdown on Chinese cybercrime rings in Laukkaing, Tachileik and Mongla a other towns in Shan state a residents said.

A hub for crystal methamphetamine trafficking, Shan state is rife with other illegal activities in enclaves along the Chinese border, as criminals take advantage of ongoing civil unrest and armed conflict under the junta which seized power in a 2021 coup.

Northern Shan state has become a focal point for Chinese scammers who target their own citizens.

In August 2023, Chinese authorities initiated a crackdown on online scam operations on the border between China and northern Shan state. Chinese nationals involved in the illegal activities in the Wa region and Mongla were arrested for the first time.

Fighting in Shan state intensified following a offensive on Oct. 27, 2023, by three allied rebel ethnic armies on junta outposts in different locations, including the strategic towns of Laukkaing, Namhkan, Kutkai and Lashio.

The ethnic armies, known as the Three Brotherhood Alliance, said they launched the armed assaults to exert greater control over the self-administered regions within their territories, reduce the junta's air and artillery strike capabilities, and crack down on criminal activities - including online scam operations a along the country's northeastern border with China.

Since Dec. 10, China's Ministry of Public Security has issued arrest warrants for 10 people, including Bai Suocheng, the Kokang Self-Administered Zone's former leader and a former member of parliament from the pro-military Union Solidarity and Development Party, for their involvement in online scams.

This prompted thousands of Chinese nationals who worked in online scamming operations to flee to the interior of southern and northern Shan state, people who used to work at the illegal businesses told Radio Free Asia.

China's state-owned CCTV reported on Jan. 5 that more than 40,000 suspects from scamming gangs in Myanmar were handed over to Chinese authorities in 2023.

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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Thousands flee capital of Myanmar's Rakhine state as battle looms

Arakan Army has steadily seized junta-controlled camps and land, putting the military on its heels.

By RFA Burmese 2024.01.26 -- Thousands of residents have fled the capital of western Myanmar's Rakhine state in anticipation of a looming battle between the rebel ethnic Arakan Army and junta soldiers, local residents told Radio Free Asia.

Fighting in the fortified administrative and military hub of Sittwe is expected to be intense, and would come after close to three months of heightened conflict between the military and the Arakan Army, or AA.

In recent weeks, the AA has seized several junta military camps in the townships that encircle Sittwe, including Mrauk-U, Minbya, Kyauktaw and Rathedaung.

The military junta has blocked highways and waterways throughout Rakhine since November, making it hard for people to leave the state capital.

Those who have decided to stay are digging bunkers at their homes, placing sandbags nearby and otherwise searching for safe places or moving to nearby rural areas, local residents said.

"In Sittwe, you cannot use roads or waterways," a resident of the state capital told RFA. "So, some leave for Yangon out of fear - and they have to go there by air."

There are four flights a day with about 50 people on each flight, according to the resident, who did not want to be named for security reasons. Several local residents told RFA that plane tickets from Sittwe to Yangon are fully booked until the end of March, and some people are chartering planes to get out.

Sittwe's population is over 120,000, including students from several universities, according to 2019 statistics from the general administration department. Some local residents estimated that as many as 30 percent of residents have already left.

Gaining ground

The AA and two other rebel groups make up the Three Brotherhood Alliance, which launched a campaign in October on junta forces in the northern and western parts of the country.

Last week, nearly 300 junta troops surrendered to the AA after it took control of two major military junta encampments in Kyauktaw. And on Wednesday, the Three Brotherhood Alliance said in a statement that the AA had won full control of Pauktaw, a port city just 16 miles (25 kilometers) east of Sittwe.

Landline and internet connections have been shut down in northern Rakhine's townships, including Sittwe, residents said. In some areas, only the Mytel telecom network has been available.Residents said they have had to wait one or two days to withdraw cash from banks in Sittwe and are also having difficulty buying basic commodities such as food and oil as prices rise.

Plane tickets to Yangon cost between 350,000 kyats (US$166) and 500,000 kyats (US$238), the Sittwe resident said.

"Impoverished individuals and people who can't afford to buy airline tickets can't run anywhere," he said. "They can't afford to live in Yangon. So there are many people who have to stay here."

RFA couldn't immediately reach Rakhine state's junta spokesperson Hla Thein to ask about the steady stream of residents leaving Sittwe.

At a Jan. 20 meeting with state level departmental officials, junta-appointed Rakhine chief minister Htein Lin said security has become the administration's top focus in the state.

The Sittwe resident who spoke to RFA about flights to Yangon said he and his family are also trying to travel to Myanmar's biggest city.

"I'm worried about being unable to flee home if something happens. I have a family and children," he said. "Battles can affect children emotionally. I don't want to force them to live with such hardships."

Translated by Htin Aung Kyaw. Edited by Matt Reed 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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. Azerbaijan's embassy in the Islamic Republic of Iran may restore its activity, taking into account two points, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov told reporters, Trend reports.

"The first moment is the completion of the investigation into the terrorist attack and making a decision. The second is that the security of our embassy must be fully guaranteed, and we must be sure of it," the minister said.

To note, today marks one year since the terrorist attack on the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Islamic Republic of Iran. As a result of the terrorist attack on January 27, 2023, Orkhan Askerov, head of the Embassy security service, was killed, and two employees, Vasif Tagiyev and Mahir Imanov were seriously wounded with gunshot wounds.

Considering the serious threat to life and safety after the attack, the Embassy staff and their families were evacuated.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Iran, Pakistan ambassadors resume duties after tensions over missile strikes

Iran Press TV

Friday, 26 January 2024 6:48 PM

The Iranian and Pakistani ambassadors have returned to their posts, a senior Iranian Foreign Ministry official has said.

Rasoul Mousavi, director general of the South Asian affairs department at Iran's Foreign Ministry, said on Friday that Pakistani Ambassador to Iran Muhammad Mudassir Tipu and Iran's Ambassador to Islamabad Reza Amiri Moqaddam returned to their respective posts earlier in the day.

He added that and the people and officials of both countries are happy with the restoration of good relations.

The official highlighted the "very heavy" responsibility of the two countries' mass media to strengthen friendly and fraternal relations.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Pakistani counterpart, Jalil Abbas Jilani, issued a joint statement on Monday following an earlier phone conversation.

At the invitation of the Pakistani foreign minister, Amir-Abdollahian "will travel to Pakistan on January 29, 2024," the statement said.

It added that the top Iranian and Pakistani diplomats also agreed that ambassadors of both countries would return to their posts by January 26.

Pakistan's caretaker Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar announced on January 19 a complete restoration of diplomatic relations with Iran.

Kakar said that it was in the interest of both Iran and Pakistan to take steps to restore their relationship to the levels before the recent tensions.

The announcement was made on Friday after caretaker Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar of Pakistan held an emergency security meeting with the military and intelligence chiefs to discuss the recent turbulences.

The two neighboring countries witnessed an escalation of cross-border tensions over Iran's counter-terrorism operations.

On January 16, Iran launched simultaneous drone and missile attacks on two bases of Jaish ul-Adl, a terror outfit that was formed in 2012 and has conducted several attacks on Iranian soil in recent years.

The group claimed responsibility for an attack in December 2023 on a police station in the southeastern city of Rask that killed at least 11 Iranian police officers. On January 10, another attack by the group on a police station in the city killed one officer.

Pakistan carried out strikes on Thursday against what it called bases of the separatist Baloch Liberation Front and Baloch Liberation Army in regions close to Iran's border.

Tehran condemned the attack as unacceptable and unbalanced.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Meeting with Kaliningrad Region Governor Anton Alikhanov

The President had a working meeting with Kaliningrad Region Governor Anton Alikhanov.

January 25, 2024

20:30

Kaliningrad

The Governor began his report with social issues. According to him, as many as 260,000 families currently live in the Kaliningrad Region; 180,000 of them are families with children. The region is implementing a special programme to increase the birth rate - about 420 million rubles were allocated for this purpose last year. Families where the parents are either currently university students, or within three years of graduating, are entitled to a regional maternity capital benefit of 345,000 rubles after the birth of their first child. A proposal is being considered to extend the payments to all children born in the region in order to encourage births at any age. A unified social service for reproductive health has been established. Life expectancy in the region is also growing - it is now almost 74 years, which is slightly higher than the national average, as the region is investing heavily in medicine. The region is introducing the Baltic Longevity programme, which is aimed at ensuring that people not just live long, but live an active and interesting life.

The Governor and the President also talked about education. A university campus is being built in Kaliningrad, and another campus is planned for secondary vocational education programmes. The ongoing school construction programme will end this year, with four schools already built, and eight more projects currently under construction.

Alikhanov asked the President to consider the possibility of extending the programme, not only in the Kaliningrad Region, but also in other regions where the number of children is also growing.

Vladimir Putin agreed that it was an important and much-needed programme, implemented effectively throughout the country. Therefore, its extension will be considered.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Mean Streets: Despite Wagner Mutiny, Russia Still Honoring Convict-Mercenaries Killed In Ukraine

By RFE/RL's Caucasus.Realities January 26, 2024

The mayor's office in the southern Russian city of Volgograd announced on January 17 that a stretch of road in the city will be named after Aleksei Nagin, a former convict who joined the notorious Wagner mercenary group and was killed outside the Donetsk region city of Bakhmut in September 2022.

Despite the June 2023 Wagner mutiny against Russia's senior military leadership and the mysterious death in a plane crash two months later of the company's outspoken leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, municipalities across the country continue naming public spaces after mercenaries who were killed in Ukraine.

However, it appears the authorities are choosing their heroes more selectively than in the past and are increasingly ignoring their Wagner connections. The goal, analysts say, is to boost the ideological motivation for new volunteers and to reassure current mercenaries that they will not be forgotten.

"The glorification of mercenaries, whether from Wagner or other groups, is certainly supported by the authorities and [pro-Kremlin] propaganda," said political analyst Ivan Preobrazhensky. "This is because the Russian Army has become essentially a mercenary formation, whether through contracts [with the Defense Ministry] or the various 'volunteer' formations. They are all essentially mercenaries."

'Proper Life Values'

A few months after Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, Wagner began recruiting convicts in Russian prisons to fight, promising them pardons after they served six-month stints. Ultimately, tens of thousands of prisoners, many of them serving long sentences for horrific crimes, were recruited, with thousands being killed and thousands of others being sent back to Russia as free men.

Many Russian towns have been outraged by official honors bestowed on slain men that locals remember fearfully as hooligans, troublemakers, and criminals. The return of pardoned convicts after their relatively brief service in Ukraine has also exacerbated social tensions in many cases.

Nagin, by contrast, had a less colorful civilian past and more solid military credentials. In 2014, he was given a suspended seven-year sentence for theft after he stole a car and forced the owner to sign a fictional sales agreement on threat of violence. According to court records, the judge showed leniency because Nagin had already served military stints in Chechnya, Georgia, Syria, and Libya, and had been awarded five military medals.

In Ukraine, he was commander of a Wagner unit. Before the full-scale invasion, Nagin served in the Moscow-stoked separatist conflicts in parts of eastern Ukraine, training fighters from those areas at a base in the Russia-occupied Ukrainian region of Crimea.

He was seriously wounded in May 2022, but returned to the front after he recovered. He was reportedly killed on September 21, 2022, at the age of 41. He was awarded the Hero of Russia order, as well as the highest military honor of the Russia-installed administrations of the occupied parts of Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and the platinum star of the Wagner Group.

The funeral of the Volgograd native was a major event in the region, with the service being held in the panorama museum of the Battle of Stalingrad under the iconic Motherland Calls statue. Prigozhin and Volgograd region Governor Andrei Bocharov attended the event, at which it was announced that President Vladimir Putin had posthumously awarded him the Hero of Russia honor.

He has already had a classroom in one local school named after him and a memorial plaque installed at the school he attended. Volgograd Duma Deputy Andrei Gimbatov has pushed to have that school officially named for him, offering to pay for the new sign himself.

"Without doubt, this will help cultivate in the younger generation, using Aleksei's example, a love for the motherland and inculcate in them proper life values," Gimbatov wrote in his letter to the municipal government.

'Grassroots Diplomacy'

In the city's announcement about naming the street after Nagin, Mayor Vladimir Marchenko stressed that the idea came from "an initiative group of Volgograd citizens." Denis Eliseyev, a former official in the Volgograd city administration who left Russia shortly after the full-scale assault on Ukraine, told RFE/RL that this assertion may well be true.

"It is possible that some smart Volgograd people decided to [rename] their street, in the hopes of getting lighting, sidewalks, and proper paving," he said. "After all, they can't leave a lot of unplowed snow or uncollected garbage on a street named after a Hero of Russia."

"I expect that within months other active locals who live on unpaved and unimproved streets will also ask to have them named for Heroes of Russia," he added. "Let's call it 'grassroots diplomacy.'"

Maria Khudoyarova, an activist with the Dozor anti-war movement, said the practice of naming public spaces after fallen mercenaries is part of the normalization and legitimization of the invasion of Ukraine and an important aspect of the government's "overall propaganda algorithm."

"Judging from the posts on pro-government Telegram channels...the authorities prefer to ignore the fact that he committed theft," she said. "Some of them piously claim that he 'washed away his sin with service to the motherland.'"

She noted that local court records have already expunged Nagin's name from its files.

"I think it is important to constantly remind people that these Putinist 'heroes' have committed crimes, many of them quite serious ones," Khudoyarova said, adding that future citizens of a democratic Russia will have no compunctions about renaming such spaces yet again.

Retired army Colonel Vitaly Votanovsky, who runs a Telegram channel focused on Krasnodar and keeps track of the number of slain Wagner mercenaries and Russian military personnel buried in the city, agreed with Khudoyarova.

He noted that official attitudes toward Wagner had changed after the group's fighters, led by Prigozhin, carried out a short-lived mutiny in the city of Rostov-on-Don in June 2023.

"I guess this will continue as long as Putin is alive," he told RFE/RL. "Then it will all be undone and no one will complain. Earlier, there were banners featuring killed convict-volunteers in Krasnodar, but they were all removed after the mutiny.

"In the first year of the war, before Prigozhin got into politics, the authorities didn't distinguish between contract soldiers with the Defense Ministry and the mercenaries," he continued. "But when his company acted against the government, they practically forgot all about them."

'Fight For An Idea'

In the fall of 2023, a memorial plaque in the Stavropol region honoring a Wagner mercenary who was killed in Ukraine was removed after local police retirees complained that he had been convicted of the "heinous murder" of a police officer.

Political analyst Sergei Zhavoronkov said the authorities have yet to form a coherent policy regarding the Wagner fighters.

"The authorities overall are trying to pursue a dualistic approach, like the attitude of the Chinese authorities to [communist dictator Mao Zedong] -- that he was 'two-thirds correct and one-third mistaken,'" he said. "The most scandalous murderers and rapists who have been pardoned by Putin are not going to be honored, but among the present-day 'heroes' there are still people with criminal pasts."

Analyst Preobrazhensky said the Volgograd authorities have selected Nagin because they wanted a patriotic example whose criminal past was not so off-putting. A key objective is to motivate future volunteers.

"Volunteers go to fight for an idea rather than for money," he said.

Written by RFE/RL's Robert Coalson based on reporting by RFE/RL's Caucasus.Realities

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-wagner-mercenaries-honors- despite-mutiny-ukraine-prigozhin/32793282.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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






The Week In Russia: A Crash Near The Border

By Steve Gutterman January 26, 2024

10 Years, Two Crashes

When a passenger jet carrying 298 people blew to pieces in the air over eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014, there was a flood of disinformation and competing claims about the case, but the facts ultimately came to light.

MH17 was shot down by a missile from a Russian launcher that was brought into territory held by Moscow-backed anti-Kyiv forces three months into the Donbas war and spirited back into Russia shortly afterward.

It's unclear how much the world will ever know for sure about a plane crash on the other side of the border on January 24, when a Russian military transport jet slammed into the ground in the Belgorod region.

Russia said that there were 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war on board, along with six crew members and three guards. It said there were no survivors, something that footage of the fiery crash strongly supported.

But the veracity of some of Russia's other assertions about the plane - such as the claim that it was carrying POWs and the claim that it was shot down by Ukraine -- may never be established.

Why not?

For one thing, unlike MH17, the Il-76 crashed in Russia. There is zero chance that Moscow will heed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's call for an international investigation -- with the possible exception of a scenario in which the Kremlin would agree to such a probe for the purpose of imagery but set about to thwart it in various ways.

Claims And Blame

If any of Russia's main claims about the crash is shown to be false, the whole narrative - the assertion that Ukraine killed its own citizens in a reckless attack on Russia -- would fall apart.

The Russian narrative would be severely undermined if Kyiv's claim that Moscow had not given Ukraine proper notification of the flight in advance, as it said has been done for previous prisoner swaps, proves to be accurate. That would suggest that Russia - deliberately or negligently - put the plane and everybody on board at risk of a Ukrainian attack.

Regardless of the cause, there are obviously many differences between the Il-76 crash and the downing of MH17, which killed all 298 passengers and crew on board the commercial flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur - men, women, and children from the Netherlands and nine other countries.

One difference is that while a single, coherent Russian narrative took shape very soon after the crash this week, Russia presented an array of sometimes conflicting claims and insinuations after MH17 crashed in an area held by Russia-backed forces.

Eventually, they all fell apart. In terms of efforts to bring people involved in the shoot-down to justice, the main results so far are the murder convictions and life sentences handed down in absentia to two Russians and one pro-Moscow Ukrainian separatist by a Dutch court in November 2022.

That ruling came nine months after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine - which, in turn, followed almost eight years of war fomented by Moscow in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine. The downing of MH17 drew the world's attention to the Donbas war, which had started three months earlier.

Given the enormity of the war in Ukraine since the full-scale invasion -- the biggest in Europe since 1945 -- the events of 2014 can seem distant and are sometimes forgotten, despite their direct link to the current phase of the conflict.

'Cowardly Mediocrity'

But a key figure in Russia's seizure of Crimea and the start of the Donbas war was in the news again this week: Igor Girkin, who is one of the two Russians convicted of murder by the Dutch court for the downing of MH17.

Girkin, who was better known at the time by his made-up name, Strelkov, was convicted by a Russian court on January 25 - not in absentia this time, as he has taken refuge from international justice in Russia - and sentenced to four years in prison.

But not for MH17.

Girkin -- a Russian nationalist who supports Russia's war on Ukraine but has criticized the way Putin has waged it, calling him a "nonentity" and a person of "cowardly mediocrity" -- was convicted of making public calls for extremist activities.

The conviction was a signal to other nationalist hawks whose criticism of the Kremlin comes from the opposite side as that of the much-persecuted liberal opposition. It suggested that Putin felt it could be dangerous to leave Girkin without punishment.

But the relatively moderate statute and sentence may indicate that the Kremlin does not want to come down on Russians who are in favor of aggression against Ukraine.

The Clampdown

By contrast, critics who oppose the war have received longer sentences - in some cases much longer.

Vladimir Kara-Murza, an opposition politician who accused what he called the "dictatorial regime in the Kremlin" of committing "war crimes" in Ukraine shortly after the full-scale invasion, was convicted of treason and sentenced 25 years in prison last April.

The trials of Kara-Murza and other critics of the war are part of a clampdown that has intensified in the last decade and has been ramped up still further by the state since February 2022.

The state has targeted opposition activists, civil society, independent media, and all forms of dissent - and in some cases, Western journalists.

Alsu Kurmasheva, an RFE/RL journalist and dual U.S.-Russian citizen who was prevented from leaving Russia last June and was arrested in October, spent her 100th day behind bars on January 25.

Kurmasheva has been charged with failing to ask the Russian government to register her as a "foreign agent" and of spreading falsehoods about the Russian military. She and RFE/RL deny the charges - which carry maximum prison terms of five and 10 years, respectively -- and say Moscow is punishing her for her journalistic work.

One day later, a Moscow court denied a request for U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal correspondent held in pretrial detention since March 2023 on an espionage charge that he, the newspaper, and the U.S. government reject, to be released to house arrest. He could be sentenced to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/week-in-russia-gutterman- belgorod-crash-il76-girkin-putin/32793420.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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's telephone conversation with Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan

26 January 2024 18:05

116-26-01-2024

On January 26, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke by telephone with Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The ministers discussed current issues of further strengthening versatile bilateral cooperation. They confirmed Moscow and Abu Dhabi's mutual desire to build up cooperation in all areas, including humanitarian areas.

The ministers also exchanged views on key international and regional issues with an emphasis on the developments in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the Red Sea zone.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Article by Director of Foreign Ministry's Foreign Policy Planning Department Alexey Drobinin, January 26, 2024

26 January 2024 11:22

113-26-01-2024

Neocolonialism and our efforts to fight it



Ever since the collapse of the Soviet Union and the socialist commonwealth, the reconfigured global economic system has been marred by extremely uneven development between countries and regions. One of the main reasons for this situation is that the collective West has sought to - and has been able to - redistribute the resources of the rest of the world in its own favour, using a variety of political, economic and military tools to achieve this.

At the present stage, the Western minority is led by the United States, where government policy combines protectionism with free cross-border movement of Western capital, goods and services, which they impose on emerging economies. At the same time, the Americans always have tools such as sanctions, provocations and proxy wars to thwart competition. The Obama administration actually made the sanctions "cudgel" a favourite lever of American foreign policy. Joe Biden went even further to wage a Western-led war against Russia, using the Ukrainians to do the fighting for him.

The United Kingdom has always believed it enjoys impunity and has a licence to do whatever it pleases, its former colonial practices almost a matter of national pride. Continental Europeans, including France, have been using sophisticated techniques to interfere in the affairs of former colonies; this is meeting with growing resistance, as we can see in West and Central Africa.

In short, the Anglo-Saxons and other Western nations continue their well-worn practices such as plundering other countries. Only today, they wrap it up in slogans hailing freedom, democracy and progress. This is modern neocolonialism.

The tangible consequences of their policies include dangerous distortions in the global economy and imbalances in the global distribution of labour and income. Attempts are being made to resolve the problems caused by their neocolonial practices by manipulating energy, food, financial and other markets. Here are a few examples from different areas.

Healthcare. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the distribution of vaccines through the COVAX Facility caused shortages in underdeveloped countries. At the same time, under pressure from the United States and the European Union, the WHO artificially delayed the certification of the Russian vaccine, Sputnik.

Food security. According to the UN, , only 3 percent of the roughly 33 million tonnes of cargo actually reached the African countries suffering the greatest need - Djibouti, Somalia, Libya, and Ethiopia. In addition, Africans were denied almost any access to Russian fertiliser.

In the financial and economic area, neocolonialist practices boil down to the freezing of public and private assets in Western jurisdictions for geopolitical reasons. In all probability, next, new neocolonialists will confiscate these funds and transfer them to a third party.

The US-controlled IMF agencies do not even hesitate to violate the rules of their own Charter just to avoid giving Russia and Belarus dollars in exchange for special drawing rights. Against this background, the almost boundless allocations to the Kiev regime look surreal. They exceed all the country limits and Kiev is hardly likely to pay them back.

The rich Western countries are avoiding their commitments (for instance, on granting $100 billion to the needy countries every year to help them adapt to climate change) but easily find much bigger sums to fund the Vladimir Zelensky regime.

Crimes against whole nations are a historical tradition for the Euro-Atlantic military-political elites. According to the most modest estimates, the United States alone has tried to influence the domestic policy of at least in 150 countries since the 19th century. Out of the current 193 UN member-countries, only 22 states have never been subjected to armed attack by Britain.

The patterns of behaviour propagated by the collective West are an inalienable part of neocolonialism. Deviant sexual orientations, denying human nature and other tricks are used to destroy traditional spiritual and moral values.

The imposition of destructive ideas is carried out with tenacity and resourcefulness worthy of better use. For example, when signing the partnership agreement (a trade document for the most part) in November 2023, the EU demanded that its partners from the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States should follow in its wake and legalise abortions and the LGBT agenda, introduce universal sexual education and adopt other ideological concepts of modern Europe. The attempt by several Jamaica-led Caribbean countries to at least postpone the signing of this document threatened that country with a loss of vital external funding for its socio-economic programmes.

The United States and the European Union sign any trade and economic agreements only on their own, exclusive terms. Incidentally, such terms underlay the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. The Yanukovych Government's delay in signing it triggered the state coup in Kiev in 2014.

These examples of neocolonialist practices are not exhaustive but they are sufficient to conclude that the collective West does not have the moral right to lecture anyone.

The international-political discussion on the problems of inequality in the international community has been going on for a long time. At one time, it was the Soviet Union that set the tune on this, making a decisive contribution to restoring justice. Thanks to the efforts of the USSR, in 1960, the UN adopted the landmark Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, which had a tremendous impact - over 80 former colonies with a total population of 750 million gained independence.

However, the world's balance and equality were not restored in full measure. Having given up the forceful draining away of resources from colonies, their former parent states went over to non-violent exploitation of the formally independent countries, thereby preserving global inequality.

One of the most striking examples of the unequal distribution of income is the coffee market. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni pointed out during the second Russia-Africa Summit in 2023 that, with the global coffee market valued at $460 billion, Africa's revenues are less than $2.5 billion, even though it is the largest producer of coffee. At the same time, Germany alone, which buys raw coffee beans around the world, makes $6.8 billion per year from its processing and marketing.

In the financial and economic area, neocolonialist practices boil down to the freezing of public and private assets in Western jurisdictions for geopolitical reasons. In all probability, next, new neocolonialists will confiscate these funds and transfer them to a third party.

The US-controlled IMF agencies do not even hesitate to violate the rules of their own Charter just to avoid giving Russia and Belarus dollars in exchange for special drawing rights. Against this background, the almost boundless allocations to the Kiev regime look surreal. They exceed all the country limits and Kiev is hardly likely to pay them back.

The rich Western countries are avoiding their commitments (for instance, on granting $100 billion to the needy countries every year to help them adapt to climate change) but easily find much bigger sums to fund the Vladimir Zelensky regime.

Crimes against whole nations are a historical tradition for the Euro-Atlantic military-political elites. According to the most modest estimates, the United States alone has tried to influence the domestic policy of at least in 150 countries since the 19th century. Out of the current 193 UN member-countries, only 22 states have never been subjected to armed attack by Britain.

The patterns of behaviour propagated by the collective West are an inalienable part of neocolonialism. Deviant sexual orientations, denying human nature and other tricks are used to destroy traditional spiritual and moral values.

The imposition of destructive ideas is carried out with tenacity and resourcefulness worthy of better use. For example, when signing the partnership agreement (a trade document for the most part) in November 2023, the EU demanded that its partners from the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States should follow in its wake and legalise abortions and the LGBT agenda, introduce universal sexual education and adopt other ideological concepts of modern Europe. The attempt by several Jamaica-led Caribbean countries to at least postpone the signing of this document threatened that country with a loss of vital external funding for its socio-economic programmes.

The United States and the European Union sign any trade and economic agreements only on their own, exclusive terms. Incidentally, such terms underlay the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. The Yanukovych Government's delay in signing it triggered the state coup in Kiev in 2014.

These examples of neocolonialist practices are not exhaustive but they are sufficient to conclude that the collective West does not have the moral right to lecture anyone.

The international-political discussion on the problems of inequality in the international community has been going on for a long time. At one time, it was the Soviet Union that set the tune on this, making a decisive contribution to restoring justice. Thanks to the efforts of the USSR, in 1960, the UN adopted the landmark Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, which had a tremendous impact - over 80 former colonies with a total population of 750 million gained independence.

However, the world's balance and equality were not restored in full measure. Having given up the forceful draining away of resources from colonies, their former parent states went over to non-violent exploitation of the formally independent countries, thereby preserving global inequality.

Today, more and more states are openly opposing the unfair policy of Washington, its satellites and Western-controlled international organisations. There are more and more examples of successful interstate cooperation outside Western-centric organisations and entities. BRICS and the SCO are becoming stronger, the Non-Aligned Movement has received a new lease of life, and the Group of Friends in Defence of the Charter of the United Nations has been established at the UN.

Much remains to be done before the neo-colonial fetters are cast off. It is necessary to work out a common approach towards defining neocolonialism. Countries have their own ideas about how to combat neocolonialism, depending on historical experience and contemporary realities. The West is trying to discredit the processes of sovereignisation as archaic and revisionist.

The Forum for the Freedom of Nations to be held in Moscow, involving advocates of the fight against new manifestations of colonialism, is meant to play an important role in launching an international discussion on all aspects of this topical issue. The Forum's constitutive meeting is set for February of this year.

In conclusion, I would like to quote from the remarks by President of Russia Vladimir Putin at the World Russian People's Council: "We are now fighting not just for Russia's freedom but for the freedom of the whole world." Efforts to debunk and bring down neocolonialism are becoming Russia's contribution to the struggle for justice, alongside the special military operation.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Day of Acceptance of Military Products held in Russian Defence Ministry under leadership of Head of military department

26.01.2024

Today, Day of Acceptance of Military Products has been held in Russian Defence Ministry under leadership of Head of military department, during which the results of deliveries of weapons and military hardware to the troops in 2023, as well as the construction of infrastructure facilities were summarised.

'Thanks to the efficient work of the Russian Defence Ministry and defence industry organisations, the production of the main weaponry and ammunition in demand has increased many times over,' Sergei Shoigu stressed.

In particular, the expansion and modernisation of production facilities, as well as increased labour productivity, contributed to this.

Many enterprises have commissioned new workshops, lines, and sections equipped with high-tech equipment.

'The increase in the intensity of production required the involvement of a significant number of qualified personnel specialists for the entire range of production facilities and for the entire range of weapons and military equipment produced, in some cases switching to a round-the-clock work schedule. All this has the most favourable effect on raising the prestige of working professions,' Russian Defence Minister said.

'Hardware and weaponry arrive in a timely manner in the special military operation zone increasing the combat capabilities of combined groups of troops,' he added.

A well-established system of operational repair and maintenance of weapons and hardware in the field has significantly reduced the time required to restore them, thereby increasing their readiness for its intended use.

'The main task at the moment remains to provide each unit and each fighter with everything necessary for the successful fulfilment of combat missions,' Sergei Shoigu stressed.

Russian Defence Minister noted, that as for the military construction complex, in 2023, facilities for the special military operation, military and special purposes were handed over in a short time while maintaining the high quality of work performed.

'The main efforts were focused on building infrastructure to accommodate nuclear deterrent forces, improving the airfield network, the Navy basing system, and the development of new constituent entities of the country. A total of 2,772 buildings and structures have been constructed. The planned activities have been fully implemented,' he concluded.

Department for Media Affairs and Information

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Pacific Fleet's detachment repels mock enemy air attack in East China Sea

26.01.2024

The Pacific Fleet's destroyer detachment comprising the flagship of the Pacific Fleet and the Guards Order of Nakhimov Varyag missile cruiser and the Marshal Shaposhnikov frigate conducted a training exercise to repel air attacks of the mock enemy in the waters of the East China Sea.

During the exercise, the crews detected several air targets flying on a course towards the ships. On the missile cruiser and frigate, electronic warfare equipment was activated with active and passive jamming. The ships performed target acquisition and took them on escort.

When mock enemy aircraft entered the target zone, the Guards Order of Nakhimov Varyag missile cruiser and the Marshal Shaposhnikov frigate destroyed air targets with anti-aircraft missile systems.

The aviation of the mock enemy during the exercise was simulated electronically. There was no actual firing of the anti-aircraft missile system.

The exercise was conducted in accordance with the plan of activities ot the Pacific Fleet's destroyer detachment in the Asia-Pacific region.

Press Service of the Eastern Military District

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Russia's MoD Main Tasks Outlined: Infrastructure Development, Support for Spec Op Participants

Sputnik News

20240126

In an overview of the ministry's endeavors, Russian Defense Minister unveiled the major achievements and strategic priorities that shaped the nation's military landscape in 2023 a from rapid infrastructure development for nuclear deterrence to ensuring the well-equipped readiness of the participants in the special military operation zone.

The primary focus in the military-industrial complex in 2023 was directed towards the development of infrastructure for nuclear deterrence forces and means, as well as the enhancement of the naval base system.

That was stated by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, addressing a meeting of senior military officers to evaluate the results of military production.

All planned activities in this direction for 2023 were fully implemented, the minister reported.

"In 2023, within tight deadlines and maintaining high-quality work, facilities for special operations and military purposes were delivered. The main efforts were concentrated on creating infrastructure for the deployment of nuclear deterrence forces, improving the aerodrome network, naval base systems, and developing new regions of the country. In total, 2,772 buildings and structures were constructed," Shoigu said.

Shoigu also emphasized that Russian forces in the special operation zone promptly receive all necessary technology and means of destruction.

"Technology and weapons are delivered promptly to the area of special military operations, enhancing the combat capabilities of the combined troop groupings," declared the Russian minister.

He noted that the established system of weapons and equipment repair and maintenance on-site has significantly reduced the time for their maintenance, increasing readiness for deployment.

Shoigu concluded that one of the current main tasks for the Russian Ministry of Defense is to ensure that every participant in the special military operation is adequately equipped.

"At the current moment, the main task remains ensuring that every unit and every soldier has everything necessary for the successful execution of combat missions," Shoigu pointed out.

A Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Russian Armed Forces to Receive 36,000 Pieces of Equipment, 16.5 Million Weapons in 2024 - MoD

Sputnik News

20240126

The Russian Armed Forces have been receiving a significant number of new weapons and equipment in recent years as part of a modernization program aimed at enhancing the country's military capabilities.

The Russian Armed Forces will receive more than 36,000 pieces of military equipment and 16.5 million weapons this year, Deputy Defense Minister Alexey Krivoruchko said. This is many times more than in the previous two years, the official added.

"It is planned to supply more than 36,000 basic pieces of military equipment, more than 16.5 million weapons, more than one million units of portable weapons, personal armor protection equipment, and communications equipment in 2024, which is many times more than in 2022 and 2023. Contracts for these items have been signed, and the necessary budget funding has been allocated," Krivoruchko said.

He noted that production processes are under careful control:

"In the Russian Ministry of Defense, there is 24-hour control over all stages of production and timely delivery of priority pieces of military equipment to the area of the special military operation. Video surveillance systems have been installed in the assembly shops involved in the production of final products and in the main component suppliers, which allow 24-hour monitoring of the work being performed and the number of production personnel involved," Krivoruchko explained.

A Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. Yerevan is ready to cooperate with Azerbaijan in clarifying the fate of persons reported missing, the statement of Armenia's Interdepartmental Commission on Captives, Hostages and Missing Persons reads, Trend reports.

"Armenia has repeatedly stated, including on high and highest levels, that it is ready to cooperate with Azerbaijan to clarify the fate of persons reported missing," the statement reads.

To note, the State Commission for Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Citizens of Azerbaijan registered 3,890 persons as missing in action in the First Karabakh War. Among them, 3,171 are military, 719 are civilians (71 are minors, and 267 are women).

10 mass graves were discovered in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan. 15 remains found in mass graves were identified.

Earlier, Azerbaijan stated its readiness to create a joint mechanism with the Armenian side to search for missing persons.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Joint Statement by Representatives of Iran, Russia and TArkiye on Outcomes of the 21st International Meeting on Syria in the Astana Format, 24-25 January 2024

25 January 2024 13:11

107-25-01-2024

The representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Russian Federation and the Republic of TArkiye as guarantor countries of the Astana Format:

1. Examined the latest international and regional developments and emphasized the leading role of the Astana Process in promoting the lasting settlement of the Syrian crisis.

2. Acknowledged the negative impact of the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the situation in the Syrian Arab Republic. Underlined the importance of preventing the armed confrontation area from expanding and other states of the region from being dragged into the confrontation.

Expressed deep concern over the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and stressed the need to end Israeli brutal onslaught against the Palestinians and send humanitarian aid to Gaza. Called for the implementation of the UN General Assembly Resolution A/ES/-10/L.27 (2023) demanding an immediate ceasefire and compliance by all parties with their obligations under international law.

3. Reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic as well as to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and highlighted that these principles should be universally respected and complied with.

4. Emphasized the importance of continuation of efforts for the restoration of relations between TArkiye and Syria on the basis of mutual respect, goodwill and good-neighborly relations in order to combat terrorism, create proper conditions for the safe, voluntary and dignified return of Syrians with the involvement of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), revitalize the political process and ensure the unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid to all Syrians. Welcomed the efforts of the Astana format guarantors to this end within the framework of quadrilateral format.

5. Expressed their determination to continue working together to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and stand against separatist agendas aimed at undermining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria and threatening the national security of the neighboring countries, including through cross-border attacks and infiltrations. Condemned activities of terrorist groups and their affiliates operating under different names in various parts of Syria, including attacks targeting civilian facilities that cause civilian casualties. Highlighted the need to fully implement all arrangements related to the north of Syria.

6. Reviewed in detail the situation in the Idlib de-escalation area and underscored the necessity to maintain calm on the ground by fully implementing all agreements on Idlib. Expressed their serious concern over the presence and activities of terrorist groups that pose threat to civilians inside and outside the Idlib de-escalation area. Agreed to make further efforts to ensure sustainable normalization of the situation in and around the Idlib de-escalation area, including the humanitarian situation.

7. Discussed the situation in the north-east of the Syrian Arab Republic and agreed that constant security and stability in this region can only be achieved on the basis of preserving the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country. Rejected all attempts to create new realities on the ground, including illegitimate self-rule initiatives under the pretext of combating terrorism. Reaffirmed their determination to confront separatist agendas that aim to undermine the unity of Syria and threaten the national security of neighboring countries, including through cross-border attacks and infiltration also from the west of the Euphrates.

Reiterated their opposition to the continued illegal seizure and transfer of oil resources that should belong to Syria. Denounced all unilateral sanctions that violate international law, international humanitarian law and UN Charter, including all selective measures and exemptions with the respect to specific areas in Syria that could lead the country to collapse by facilitating the separatist agenda.

Condemned the actions of countries supporting terrorism that undermines the unity of the Syrian state, including illegitimate self-rule initiatives in the north-east of Syria.

Expressed grave concern with all forms of oppression by the separatist groups against civilians in east of Euphrates which recently led to clashes with Arab tribes in the region, including forced conscription, suppression of peaceful demonstrations, and discriminatory practices in the field of education as well as restrictions placed on political activities, journalists, right to assembly and freedom of movement.

8. Condemned any efforts by any country to fuel terrorist and separatist aspirations of individual ethnic and faith groups of population, as well as provide them with weapons.

9. Condemned all Israeli military attacks in Syria. Considered these actions as a violation of international law, international humanitarian law, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria, and recognized them as destabilizing and exacerbating tensions in the region and called for the ceasing of these attacks.

Reaffirmed the need to abide by universally recognized international legal decisions, including the provisions of the relevant UN resolutions rejecting the occupation of the Syrian Golan, first and foremost UN Security Council Resolutions 242 and 497, especially that these Israeli decisions and actions in this regard are deemed null and void and of no legal effect.

10. Expressed their conviction that there could be no military solution in Syria and reaffirmed their commitment to advance a viable and lasting Syrian-led and Syrian-owned, UN-facilitated political process in line with the UN Security Council Resolution 2254.

11. Underlined the important role of the Syrian Constitutional Committee, established with the decisive contribution of the guarantor countries of the Astana Format for the implementation of the decisions of the Syrian National Dialogue Congress in Sochi, in promoting the political settlement in the Syrian Arab Republic. Called for an early resumption of its work and holding the 9th round of its Drafting Commission while ensuring the constructive approach by the Syrian parties. In this regard, reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the Committee's work through continued engagement with the Syrian parties to the Committee and the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Syria Geir O. Pedersen as facilitator to ensure its sustainable and effective work.

Stressed the need for the Constitutional Committee to pursue its activities without any bureaucratic and logistical barriers. Urged to immediately ensure all the necessary conditions for the unimpeded work of the Committee.

Expressed their conviction that in its work the Constitutional Committee should abide by the Terms of Reference and the Core Rules of Procedure to enable it to carry out its mandate of preparing and drafting a constitutional reform.

12. Expressed serious concern over the humanitarian situation in Syria further aggravated by the consequences of the devastating earthquake on 6 February 2023.

13. Emphasized the importance of continuing and increasing humanitarian assistance to Syria in line with international law and UN General Assembly Resolution 46/182. Called for providing adequate donor funding for humanitarian assistance to all Syrians taking into account the increased risk of food insecurity stemming from the reduction in the assistance programs implemented by the WFP due to the budgetary restraints.

Took note of the decision by the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic to extend the authorization for UN humanitarian agencies to use border crossing point Bab al-Hawa with TArkiye from 13 January to 13 July 2024 to carry out cross-border operations to deliver aid to the civilian population in the north-western areas of the Syrian Arab Republic, as well as two border crossing points with TArkiye - Bab al-Salam and Al-Rai until 13 February 2024, in order to provide assistance to the areas affected by the earthquake of 6 February 2023; highlighted the importance of continuing uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian assistance to all Syrians through all UN approved modalities including UN cross-border and cross-line aid to northwest of Syria.

Emphasized the need to remove barriers and increase humanitarian assistance to all Syrians throughout the country without discrimination, politicization, or preconditions.

14. In order to help improve the humanitarian situation in Syria and achieve progress in political settlement, called on the international community, the United Nations and its humanitarian agencies to increase their assistance to all Syrians through the implementation of the early recovery and resilience projects, including through the restoration of basic infrastructure assets - water and electricity supply facilities, sanitation, health, education, schools and hospitals as well as the humanitarian demining projects in line with international humanitarian law.

15. Stressed the need to facilitate the safe, dignified and voluntary return of refugees and IDPs to their places of residence in Syria, and to ensure their right of return and right to be supported. Called on the international community to provide the necessary support to the Syrian refugees and IDPs and reaffirmed their readiness to continue engaging with all relevant parties, including the Office of the UNHCR and other specialized international agencies. Noted the importance for continuation of work to create necessary conditions in Syria for voluntary and dignified return of Syrians.

16. Reiterated their determination to continue operations on the mutual release of detainees/abductees within the framework of the Working Group on the Release of Detainees/Abductees, the Handover of the Bodies and Identification of Missing Persons, which is a unique mechanism that has proved both necessary and effective in building confidence between the Syrian parties. Decided to intensify joint efforts to ensure the release of detainees/abductees. Agreed on the need to expand the activities of the Working Group by including the issues of the handover of bodies and establishment of identity of missing persons. Welcomed the aspiration to step up the activities within the Group.

17. Welcomed the participation of the delegations of Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon as observers of the Astana Format as well as representatives of the United Nations and the ICRC.

18. Expressed their sincere gratitude to the Kazakhstan authorities for holding the 21st International Meeting on Syria in Astana.

Emphasized the special role played by the Kazakhstan side as a country hosting the International Meetings on Syria, which had been an initiator of the Astana process and had always provided venue and hospitality to ensure the smooth functioning of this unique multilateral mechanism.

19. Noted the agreement to hold the next Summit in the Russian Federation as enshrined in the Joint Statement of the Tripartite Summit of 19 July 2022.

20. Agreed to convene the 22nd International Meeting on Syria in the second half of 2024 in Astana.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Update 208 - IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine

International Atomic Energy Agency

7/2024

Vienna, Austria

26 Jan 2024

The nuclear safety and security situation at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) remains extremely fragile with "very real" potential dangers of a major accident, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) told the United Nations Security Council ahead of his fourth mission to the site early next month.

Addressing the Security Council on Thursday for the sixth time since the war began almost two years ago, he warned against complacency and made clear the IAEA would stay focused on helping to prevent a potentially catastrophic nuclear accident, at the ZNPP or any of the country's other nuclear facilities.

"A nuclear accident has not yet happened. This is true. But complacency could still lead us to tragedy. That should not happen. We must do everything in our power to minimize the risk that it does," he said.

Briefing the 15-member Security Council on developments since the establishment last May of the five concrete principles for the protection of Europe's largest nuclear power plant, he emphasised the importance of his experts stationed at the site obtaining the access they need to monitor adherence to these principles.

Director General Grossi announced he would cross the frontline to travel to the ZNPP "within the next two weeks", enabling him to assess the situation there first-hand some eight months after his previous mission to the plant.

The last time he went to the site in southern Ukraine was in June 2023, soon after the destruction of the downstream Kakhovka dam, which supplied water for reactor cooling and other essential nuclear safety and security functions at the ZNPP.

In his address to the Security Council at U.N. Headquarters in New York, the Director General underlined potential threats to nuclear safety and security at the site, as well as other challenges.

"Although the plant has not been shelled for a considerable time, significant military activities continue in the region and sometimes in the vicinity of the facility, with our staff reporting rockets flying overhead close to the plant, thereby putting at risk the physical integrity of the plant," he said.

In addition, the plant's off-site power supplies remain "highly precarious", as it is currently relying on just two external power lines, compared with 10 before the conflict.

"There have now been eight occasions when the site lost all off-site power and had to rely on emergency diesel generators, the last line of defence against a nuclear accident, to provide essential cooling of the reactor and spent fuel," Director General Grossi said.

He also highlighted challenges related to the significantly reduced number of staff - who are "under unprecedented psychological pressure" - as well as the equipment maintenance situation.

"The reduced number of qualified and trained operating personnel and the challenging supply chain has had a negative impact on the maintenance of equipment which is essential for maintaining the safety of the plant," he said.

The Director General stressed that the IAEA experts should have sufficient access to monitor the situation regarding the seven pillars for ensuring nuclear safety and security during an armed conflict, as well as the more recent five protection principles for the ZNPP.

"There are occasions when the team has not had timely access to some areas of the plant - sometimes for many months," he said.

There "have been no indications that the five concrete principles are not being observed," he said, but added: "Nevertheless, in line with the evolving situation, the Agency needs to have timely access to all areas of the ZNPP of significance for nuclear safety and security, to monitor that all five concrete principles are being observed at all times."

On the ground at the ZNPP this week, the IAEA experts at the plant were informed that one of the plant's back-up power electrical transformers that failed last week was under maintenance and that there were no indications of structural damage.

The failure showed the continuing vulnerability in the availability of external power, which the plant needs to cool its six reactors and for other essential nuclear safety and security functions.

The ZNPP said it had investigated and identified the preliminary cause of the failure, and the IAEA experts are expecting to be informed of the outcome in the near future.

Also this week, the IAEA experts performed a walkdown of the cooling pond area and met with plant staff handling the site's water management to discuss how the cold winter weather may affect the cooling pond, which supplies water for some of the site's needs not related to safety, and how the ZNPP deals with any impact of ice.

Prior to the conflict, the water in the cooling pond was kept warm due to the operation of the reactor units. With all six units now in extended shutdown, the IAEA team observed small amounts of ice in a few locations of the cooling pond.

But earlier this winter, when it was colder, most of the cooling pond surface was covered by a two-centimetre layer of ice, the site informed the IAEA team.

Despite the winter cold, the team was also informed that there are a lot of fish in the cooling pond. Several non-tropical fish species have survived the cold temperatures and continue to clean the cooling pond water.

The height of the cooling pond currently is at 15.61 metres, around one metre below the level before the Kakhovka dam was destroyed with little change in the height over recent months.

The cooling water for the six shutdown reactors continues to be supplied by the 11 groundwater wells near the sprinkler ponds.

The IAEA experts were not permitted to visit the ZNPP cooling pond isolation gate during the walkdown.

During other walkdowns in the past week, the IAEA experts visited the reactor hall of unit 3, as well as the safety systems rooms of units 3 and 5. A single small boric acid deposit was observed in one of the safety systems rooms of unit 3.

Regarding the boric acid deposits in unit 6, the Russian Federation regulatory body issued a "special order" on 20 January for the repair of the leak in the unit's storage tank. The ZNPP informed the IAEA experts of its intention to fix the microcracks in the tank, which will require its draining. Borated water is used in the primary coolant to help maintain nuclear safety functions.

The IAEA team also conducted a walkdown of the 750 kilovolt (kV) open switchyard where it confirmed that only one such power line was connected to the electricity grid - down from four before the conflict. The switchyard components that were damaged in 2022 had been dismantled, but spare parts were available.

Elsewhere in Ukraine, the IAEA experts present at the Khmelnitsky, Rivne and South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) as well as at the Chornobyl site have reported that nuclear safety and security is being maintained despite the challenging war-time circumstances, including the frequent sound of air raid alarms at some of the facilities. On 23 January, a new team of experts arrived at the Chornobyl site, replacing their colleagues there.

In his address to the Security Council, Director General Grossi noted that these NPPs were operating, with most of their reactor units at full capacity.

"Although our teams continue to report that nuclear safety and security is maintained, they are also confirming the looming threat of military conflict and at some plants having to take shelter on several occasions. I wish to remind the Council that the availability of off-site power is essential to ensure their safe operation," he said.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Kyiv, Moscow Exchange Soldiers' Remains In Move Unrelated To Disputed Downing Of Russian Transport Plane

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service January 26, 2024

KYIV -- Kyiv and Moscow have conducted an exchange of the remains of soldiers killed, a development that appears unrelated to the disputed downing of a Russian military transport plane, which the Kremlin said was carrying 65 Ukrainian POWs, killing them and nine others on board.

"Another repatriation event took place, as a result of which fallen servicemen were returned to Ukraine: the remains of 77 defenders of Ukraine were returned to [Ukrainian] territory," Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said in a statement on January 26, while also thanking the International Committee of the Red Cross for its assistance.

The statement added that "work on preparations for the repatriation measure had been under way for a long time."

Separately, Russia's Interfax news agency said on January 26 that the Ukrainian side had transferred the bodies of 55 Russian soldiers to Russia.

"Fifty-five bodies of soldiers have been returned to Russia from Ukraine," said Shamsail Saraliyev, a State Duma deputy who is a member of the parliamentary coordination group on war-related issues.

Several previous repatriations of soldiers' remains have been carried out by both sides in the past as Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine nears the two-year mark on February 24.

The latest action comes as Ukraine and Russia have contradicted each other over whether there had been proper notification to secure the airspace around an area where an Ilyushin Il-76 Russian military transport plane crashed, with Moscow saying dozens of Ukrainian POWs were among the dead.

Neither statement on January 26 mentioned the crash, which occurred two days earlier.

Russian lawmaker Andrei Kartapolov -- without providing evidence -- told deputies in Moscow on January 25 that Ukrainian military intelligence had been given a 15-minute warning before the plane entered the Belgorod region in Russia, near the border with Ukraine, and that Russia had received confirmation the message was received.

Ukrainian military intelligence spokesman Andriy Yusov reiterated in comments to RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service that it had not received either a written or verbal request to secure the airspace where the plane went down.

There has been no direct confirmation from Kyiv on Russian claims that the plane had Ukrainian POWs on board or that the aircraft was downed by a Ukrainian antiaircraft missile.

Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed on January 26 that Kyiv was aware that the plane had been carrying POWs. He said a report would be issued on the matter in two to three days.

"The main intelligence department of the Ukrainian Army knew we were taking 65 servicemen there. "I don't know whether they did it on purpose or by mistake, out of thoughtlessness -- but they did it," Putin said.

Meanwhile, Putin repeated remarks made last month that more than 600,000 Russian troops are engaged in the Ukraine war, which the Kremlin refers to as a "special military operation."

"Perhaps there are some questions that require additional attention and decisions. Something always has to be readjusted, because the battle zone is large, nearly 2,000 kilometers, and there are 617,000 people deployed across the combat zone," Putin told a meeting with university students, according to Russia's Interfax news agency.

Moscow generally has provided few details of Russian troop deployments to Ukraine.

At least 42,284 Russian military personnel have been killed since the start of the country's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to research by journalists from Mediazona and the BBC Russian Service, who have established the deceased soldiers' identities. Analysts estimate the real number of dead could be several times higher.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said his nation's ground forces also number about 600,000.

With reporting by AFP and PBS

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-priosner- exchange-il-76-plane-crash-pows/32793572.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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Putin: Fragments From Il-76 Plane Crash Show Missile System of Western Origin

Sputnik News

20240126

On January 24, 2024, the Ukrainian Armed Forces shot down a Russian Il-76 military transport plane carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners for exchange over the Belgorod region. All the prisoners on board, as well as six crew members and three escorts, were killed a a total of 74 people.

Ordnance found at the Il-76 crash site shows an air defense system of French or US origin was used to shoot it down, Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The origin of the missiles will be clear in a matter of days, Putin told a meeting with students participating in the special military operation in St. Petersburg.

"The weapons seized at the [crash] site indicate that this is an air defense missile. This means either they were poorly taught, or they do not learn well on their own, or they are not able to properly manage such systems. Most likely, these are US-made Patriot systems, or European air defense systems a most likely French ones. There will be an answer to this in a few days," Putin stressed.

He said it was obvious that the missiles that shot down the Russian Il-76 aircraft in the Belgorod region were launched from Kiev-controlled territories.

"I do not know if they did it on purpose or by mistake, thoughtlessly, but it is obvious that they did it... because two missile launches were recorded from territories controlled by the Kiev regime," Putin said.

The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine knew that their prisoners of war on board the Russian Il-76 aircraft, the president noted.

"The whole Kiev regime today is based on crimes that are committed on a daily basis. Including in relation to their own citizens... Our Il-76 plane was shot down with their own military personnel... The [Ukrainian] Main Intelligence Directorate knew that we were transporting military personnel there, 65 people, with planned 190 in total, as far as I remember. And knowing this, they struck the plane," Putin said.

Commenting on the ongoing investigation of the IL-76 aircraft crash in Russia's Belgorod Region, he stated that its results will be made public "to the maximum" so that Ukrainians could find out what happened.

"There are black boxes there, everything will be collected and shown. I will ask the Investigative Committee to make all the circumstances of this crime public. So the people in Ukraine can also find out what really happened," Putin pointed out.

On Wednesday, the Il-76 transport aircraft with 65 Ukrainian PoWs being transported for exchange crashed in Russia's Belgorod Region, the Russian Ministry of Defense said. All the PoWs, along with six crew members and three accompanying persons on board died. Russian Ministry accused the Ukrainian forces of downing the plane.

A Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Ukraine Loses Over 1,960 Soldiers, 19 Tanks Near Donetsk - MoD

Sputnik News

20240126

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Ukrainian military has lost 1,960 soldiers killed and injured near Donetsk in the past week, the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) said on Friday.

Russia repelled 12 Ukraine attacks in the Donetsk region near the settlements of Andreevka, Belogorovka, Gregorievka, Kleshcheevka, Kurdyumovka, Mayorsk, Chasov Yar.

"The enemy lost more than 1,960 servicepeople killed and injured, 19 tanks, including one Leopard tank, 22 armored combat vehicles, 56 vehicles, four multiple rocket launcher combat vehicles, including MLRS, HIMARS and two Grad, as well as 27 field artillery guns," the MoD said.

Russia repelled 43 attacks and Kiev lost over 740 soldiers in the Kupyansk area in the past week, the ministry added.

"The enemy lost over 740 soldiers, seven tanks, seven armored combat vehicles, 18 vehicles and 14 field artillery pieces," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian military lost over 450 soldiers in the Zaporozhye region and 745 soldiers in South Donetsk in the past week, the ministry said.

Russian forces repelled 17 attacks and Ukraine lost 1,570 servicemen in the Krasny Liman area, the ministry said, adding that the Ukranian armed forces suffered 335 casualties in Kherson.

A Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Putin Says 600,000 Russian Soldiers Currently in Special Op Zone

Sputnik News

20240126

S. PETERSBURG (Sputnik) - Currently there are a total of 600,000 Russian soldiers in the special operation zone, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday.

"Probably, there are issues that require additional attention, solutions, something always needs to be adjusted, because the combat zone is long, almost 2,000 kilometers [1,200 miles] and there are over 600,000 people in the combat zone," Putin said during a meeting with students participating in the special military operation.

The Russian Armed Forces have been receiving a significant number of new weapons and equipment in recent years as part of a modernization program aimed at enhancing the country's military capabilities.

The Russian Armed Forces will receive more than 36,000 pieces of military equipment and 16.5 million weapons this year, Deputy Defense Minister Alexey Krivoruchko said. This is many times more than in the previous two years, the official added.

A Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Russian Forces Urge Ukrainians to Surrender

Sputnik News

20240126

The ZS-88 radio station used by Russian forces on the contact line during the special military operation is based on the BTR-80, armed with machine guns, including a large-caliber one, as well as the Kolokola (Bells) turntable sound broadcasting system with a transmission range of up to six kilometers.

Servicemen of Battlegroup Tsentr are using a broadcasting system to call on the enemy to surrender in the Krasny Liman area, the Russian Defense Ministry told reporters.

"The servicemen of Battlegroup Tsentr continue their planned combat work to call on Ukrainian servicemen to lay down their arms and surrender voluntarily, thereby saving their own lives. For this purpose, the crews of the ZS-88 audio transmission systems based on BTR-80 armored personnel carriers are deployed on the contact line," the Russian Defense Ministry told reporters.

The ministry added that the crews of the sound broadcasting stations, risking their lives, inform enemy troops about the basic aspects of international humanitarian law, reminding them that the criminal regime in Kiev intends to fight to the last soldier.

The command of Battlegroup Tsentr emphasized that the audio broadcast is an effective part of the information effort, allowing them to influence the morale of the Ukrainian fighters, who have been deceived by their commanders and used as human shields at the front.

Recently, the special "Volga" 149.200 frequency was established by Russian forces for Ukrainian troops wanting to surrender. According to a reliable source, there has been a significant increase recently in the number of Ukrainian troops using the special radio frequency to communicate their desire to disarm.

A Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Kremlin Denies Reports Claiming Russia Ready to Agree to Ukraine's Non-Neutral Status

Sputnik News

20240126

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Media reports that Russia is allegedly ready to agree to Kiev's non-neutral status and change its position on Ukraine joining NATO are not true, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday.

"It is completely not true," Peskov told reporters.

On Thursday, Bloomberg reported that Russia was allegedly signaling to the United States via indirect channels that it was open to talks on the future settlement of the Ukraine conflict, including possible security arrangements for Kiev, and was testing the waters to see if Washington was interested in engaging.

Russian President Vladimir Putin was reportedly willing to back down from his condition of neutral status for Ukraine and even eventually abandon opposition to its future NATO membership if Kiev agreed to recognize Crimea as well as the four breakaway republics as Russian territory.

There is no decisive condemnation of the downing of the Russian Il-76 military plane transporting Ukrainian prisoners of war for an exchange from Western countries, but the situation requires a proper assessment from the world community, Peskov said.

"There is still no decisive condemnation from Western countries of this horrific terrorist act, the horrific destruction of the plane that was transporting our people, first of all, after all, there were our pilots and our accompanying people, that is, the Russians died, but also a lot of people died. A large number of Ukrainian prisoners of war died. We have not heard a word of condemnation ... Therefore, of course, what happened requires a proper assessment by the world community," Peskov told reporters.

When asked if Russia plans to provide evidence of Kiev's guilt in the incident, the official said that decisions will be made as all information is received.

Moscow will carefully examine Germany's intentions to develop a defense plan to contain Russia, Kremlin spokesman said.

"We need to see what kind of plan it will be. It is no secret that Germany has embarked on a path of decisive confrontation with Russia. In this regard, there is no novelty here. But, of course, taking into account this well-known attitude of Berlin, we will need to carefully familiarize ourselves with such plans," Peskov told reporters.

Earlier this week, media reported that Germany is developing a new comprehensive defense plan implying the "containment" of Russia.

A Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Russia to Remain Open to Talks on Settlement in Ukraine - Kremlin

Sputnik News

20240126

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia was, is and will always be open to negotiations on the settlement in Ukraine, but intends to continue its special military operation until its goals are achieved, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.

Earlier in the day, Bloomberg reported that Russia was allegedly signaling to the United States via indirect channels that it was open to talks on the future settlement of the Ukraine conflict, including possible security arrangements for Kiev, and was testing the waters to see if Washington was interested in engaging.

"President Putin has stated numerous times that Russia was, is and will continue to be open for negotiations on Ukraine... We are determined to reach our goals. And would prefer to complete it by diplomatic means. If not, the military operation will be continued till we reach our goals," Peskov told Bloomberg when asked to comment on the report.

US officials, on the other hand, deny having received any signals from Moscow.

"We are unaware of the shifts in Russia's position described," US National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said.

Similar speculations have also reportedly been circulating in the European Union, but EU officials deny it as well.

"I heard these rumors and I don't know what to make out of them," Swedish National Security Advisor Henrik Landerholm told Bloomberg.

Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Russian and Ukrainian delegations have engaged in several rounds of peace talks since then, but the negotiations have ultimately reached an impasse. In October 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree stating that Kiev could not hold peace talks as long as Vladimir Putin was president of Russia.

In November 2022, Zelensky unveiled his 10-point peace initiative dubbed "peace formula." It included an all-for-all prisoner swap with Russia, security guarantees for Ukraine and a return to the pre-2014 borders. Moscow has continuously said it was open to peace negotiations as long as Kiev recognizes the territorial gains Russian forces have made since the launch of the special military operation.

A Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Russia's wanton destruction against Ukraine must be stopped: UK statement to the OSCE

Ambassador Neil Holland condemns Russia's air attacks this week on Kyiv and Kharkiv, as well as the spate of attacks on Ukraine over the past month.

26 January 2024

Thank you, Madam Chair. It is regrettable - and sadly predictable - that we must gather today to condemn Russia's latest wave of aerial attacks against the Ukrainian people.

The UK condemns Russia's attacks this week unequivocally. According to reports, Russian missiles on Kyiv and Kharkiv killed at least 18 people and injured over one hundred. The devastation was felt most acutely in Kharkiv, where an apartment block was hit, killing two people, and injuring 35 residents.

Unfortunately, the attacks on Tuesday morning were just the latest of a series of acts of wanton destruction by Russia in Ukraine since we last gathered for a Permanent Council in December. Over the Christmas period, Russia launched hundreds of missile and drone strikes across cities in Ukraine including Kyiv, Odesa, Kharkiv, Dnipro and Lviv. This culminated on 29 December, when Russian unleashed its largest aerial assault against Ukraine since the war began. It killed at least 41 civilians, including a 15-year-old boy, wounded hundreds, and caused significant damage to civilian infrastructure, including a maternity hospital. This pattern continued into January.

I offer my condolences and that of the UK to all Ukrainians for the lives lost due to these barbaric airstrikes. These took place far away from the front lines of Russia's war, in civilian populated areas. The intensity, regularity and indiscriminate nature of Russia's attacks may violate international humanitarian law, is extremely concerning and must stop.

The level of destruction and suffering that Ukraine continues to face is hard to comprehend. According to the UN, there have been 29,000 civilian casualties: with over 10,000 of those having been killed. On average six civilians are estimated to have been killed each day since the start of the invasion and 86% have been in government-controlled territory. This includes a significant proportion killed in areas away from the frontline, due to use of long-range weapons.

Russia chose to start this war, Russia can choose to end this war. Ukraine did not start it and has the right to defend itself. We will not let Russia win. We will continue to work with Ukraine and our international partners for a just and sustainable peace.

Madame Chair, as we approach the third year since Russia's full-scale invasion, the UK's support will not falter. During his visit to Kyiv earlier this month, my Prime Minister announced a package of support and reaffirmed the close UK-Ukraine partnership. This included A2.5 billion in military support and a historic long-term security agreement. This brings the United Kingdom's total package of support to Ukraine to approximately A12 billion. A clear signal of our unwavering support. We remain deeply humbled by the bravery and the resilience of the Ukrainian people and their determination to win.

Madame Chair, last but not least I also wanted to highlight today the UK's continued concern for our three OSCE colleagues of the Special Monitoring Mission detained by Russia. The UK again calls for their immediate release.

The United Kingdom will stand with Ukraine today, tomorrow and for as long as it takes. Thank you, Madame Chair.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. Armenia has been playing games on minefield maps since 2020, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov told reporters, Trend reports.

"Maps of minefields are a very sensitive topic. Armenia has been playing games on this topic since 2020. Armenia had previously disputed the existence of such cards. Later it provided useless scraps of paper. It is ludicrous to suppose that Armenia, which itself placed mines, now claims that it does not know where they are," the minister said.

Azerbaijan is systematically promoting the issue of mine maps on various platforms, continuing to expose Armenia, he noted.

As a result, Armenia, in order to get away with it, is engaged in various manipulations before handing over the minefield maps, Bayramov added.

Following the liberation of its lands from Armenian occupation in the second Karabakh war, Azerbaijan from Nov. 2020 started carrying out operations on clearing its lands from mines, booby traps, and various weapons left behind by the Armenian troops.

Armenia's indiscriminate placement of landmines in Azerbaijan remains a peril for innocent civilians. The toll of mine victims has reached 342 since 2020.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Today, we are initiating a new tool to communicate with entrepreneurs - the Ukrainian Economic Platform - address by the President of Ukraine

President of Ukraine

26 January 2024 - 21:00

I wish you good health, dear Ukrainians!

Today, I held a Supreme Commander-in-Chief's Staff meeting. The main focus was on the frontline situation. The reports were detailed, covering every direction, our defensive operations and active actions in general. Everyone in Ukraine knows where the intensity is currently the highest - Avdiivka, Maryinka, Kupyansk direction, southern directions - the highest attention to each.

We also analyzed all issues related to ammunition at the meeting - closing gaps, supplying the troops, agreements with partners, and domestic production. It's crucial to note that Ukrainian arms and ammunition production shows upward trends. I am grateful to everyone involved, to each and every one working for our own capabilities in Ukraine.

Separately, we discussed the defense of our state against Russian air terror today - both at border cities and our frontline positions. We are working to increase the number of air defense systems, providing appropriate ammunition for protection against Russian aircraft and missile strikes. Control in the sky is, in many ways, a response to control on the ground.

The second for today. I held a meeting regarding our collaboration with partners in the European Union and relations with neighboring countries. Rationality in relationships is a priority, and we are preparing our corresponding steps.

The third was a meeting on the financial situation, the work of the tax authorities, and tax receipts. A report for the past year and priorities for this year were discussed. The main goal for the state and our entire society is to ensure that every Ukrainian entrepreneur has opportunities for more active economic work. This, in turn, allows Ukrainian budgets to better rely on the strength of our economy. The state, government institutions, and every official are obligated to do everything possible to support legal business.

I am grateful to all our entrepreneurs, everyone in Ukraine who stays in the country, preserves their businesses, and jobs. Decent jobs in Ukraine, the work of every business that remains in the legal field, are one of the key foundations of Ukrainian strength.

So, today we are initiating a new tool to communicate with entrepreneurs. And not only with those who are most visible. We are founding the Ukrainian Economic Platform, which will represent small-, medium-, and large-sized businesses, as well as various regions of our state. Investors and relocated enterprises will also be included. "Made in Ukraine" is not just a brand; it is a large community of people, millions of Ukrainians working in businesses. These are our people who establish enterprises, create job opportunities for others. The entire business community will be represented on this new platform.

The government, together with the Office, regional state administrations, and experts will organize the platform's functioning. The main task is for it to be an effective communication tool. The communication should always be supported by operational decisions - what state institutions are doing or changing, and what will create a new, normal story of relations, especially between law enforcement bodies and entrepreneurs.

We need more confidence for businesses and a larger legal, "white" economy for Ukraine. We need more Ukrainian production facilities, more Ukrainian products from various industries. I have just signed decrees that will enable the creation of this communication tool - the Entrepreneurship Council, as defined in recent decisions of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC), and the Ukrainian platform to vitalize entrepreneurship and our Ukrainian products.

I thank everyone who is fighting and working for Ukraine, all our people, our society in all its diversity. I'm grateful to each and every one who understands that only the continuous strengthening of Ukraine brings us closer to the end of this war, the fair end with our Ukrainian victory. Glory to our people!

Glory to Ukraine!

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Andriy Yermak had a phone call with Jake Sullivan

President of Ukraine

26 January 2024 - 09:04

As part of the ongoing dialogue with allies, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak had a phone call with National Security Advisor to the President of the United States Jake Sullivan.

Andriy Yermak emphasized the importance of the meetings between the Ukrainian and American sides that took place on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

The interlocutors discussed the situation on the battlefield and Russia's recent missile attacks on the territory of Ukraine.

The Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine and the Advisor to the President of the United States paid special attention to the issue of adopting decisions by the U.S. Congress regarding the aid package necessary for our country.

Andriy Yermak and Jake Sullivan also focused on the results of the fourth meeting of national security and political advisors on the implementation of the Ukrainian Peace Formula, which took place in Davos, and discussed preparations for the Global Peace Summit.

The Head of the President's Office thanked the U.S. President, his administration, both chambers of the U.S. Congress and American society for their steadfast support of Ukraine in the fight against the Russian aggressor.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






In Ukraine, UNHCR's Grandi urgently appeals for renewed support as the war rages on

UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

26 January 2024

KYIV -- The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, has warned of dramatic humanitarian suffering throughout Ukraine and worsening conditions as war-affected civilians suffer in the depths of winter.

Grandi wrapped up his week-long visit to the country late yesterday, his fourth since the full-scale Russian invasion two years ago, reaching some of the most destroyed and damaged parts of Ukraine, including areas affected by an increase in aerial attacks that have recently killed and wounded civilians and damaged homes and civilian infrastructure.

He appealed in the strongest terms for much more international humanitarian support to the country, including to those displaced by the horrific violence and who are subjected to the harsh winter.

"The fighting has escalated and the humanitarian situation in the country is dramatic and urgent. Millions have been forced to flee the war and Russian attacks, and they are in desperate need of humanitarian assistance," said Grandi. "Under the strong leadership of the Government, the United Nations and partners - especially Ukrainian organisations - have been doing all that they can to help, but without much more international support and funding, Ukrainian civilians will continue to suffer."

Throughout his visit, including to Odesa, Kryvyi Rih, Dnipro, Kharkiv, and Kyiv, Grandi was humbled by the efforts of ordinary Ukrainians who, despite the war and the hardship, refuse to give up and are returning to their homes, rebuilding and recovering in the midst of this awful war.

UNHCR continues to support those who are displaced within the country and is stepping up its help to those choosing to return to their areas of origin, including by launching a 'Ukraine is Home' platform, with important up-to-date information for refugees and internally displaced people.

"Ukrainian resilience remains strong and inspiring," Grandi said while surveying the neighbourhood of Irpin, which is being rebuilt with UNHCR support. "But their fortitude cannot be taken for granted and the international community must step up and help with both humanitarian and recovery support - and must do so now!"

Grandi also paid tribute to the Government's leadership and coordination of aid, adding, "The cooperation with the Government continues to go from strength to strength. UNHCR has been in the country for 30 years and we will stay with Ukraine and the people as long as it takes."

In the past two years, UNHCR and its partners, almost all of which are Ukrainian organizations, have reached millions of people - more than 4.3 million in 2022 and 2.6 million in 2023 - with assistance and support.

More than 27,500 homes across the country have been rebuilt or repaired, and more than 270,000 Ukrainians have received emergency shelter kits allowing them to fix light damage to their homes. More than $470 million has been distributed directly to people as cash assistance, while last year alone more than 178,000 people received legal support to help them obtain civil documents damaged or lost due to the war; often a precursor to being able to access services and other forms of assistance.

If funding is available, UNHCR plans to deliver almost $600 million worth of assistance to reach 2.7 million Ukrainians in 2024.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Those supporting Ukrainians whose lives have been torn apart by Russia's invasion must be protected

UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR FOR UKRAINE DENISE BROWN CONDEMNS AN ATTACK THAT INJURED A HUMANITARIAN WORKER IN CHASIV YAR TODAY

I am outraged to know that a clearly marked vehicle of a Ukrainian humanitarian organization Mission Proliska was hit this morning in war-torn Chasiv Yar, in the Donetsk Region. The attack happened a few metres from where Proliska's team was distributing much-needed relief supplies to civilians in the town. Regrettably, an aid worker was injured.

I was in Chasiv Yar just a few weeks ago, also delivering aid to civilians in this town completely devasted by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. I know first-hand that civilians there have exhausted their scarce resources to face this devastation and I saw how the work carried out by volunteers, humanitarian organizations and local authorities is truly contributing to their dignity.

The work of humanitarian organizations must be protected. Yet, at least seven attacks have directly impacted facilities and assets in Ukraine since the beginning of the year. In the Kherson Region, where I was today, five humanitarian warehouses were damaged and burned to the ground in December alone. In 2023, there were, on average, four incidents harming humanitarian operations in Ukraine every week.

Those supporting Ukrainians whose lives have been torn apart by Russia's invasion must be protected. International humanitarian law must be respected.

Mykolaiv, 26 January 2024

For further information, please contact:

Saviano Abreu, OCHA: +380 504 223 943, deabreuisidoro@un.org

OCHA press releases are available at www.unocha.org or www.reliefweb.int.

26 January 2024

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Ukraine Doubts Authenticity of Video Purportedly Showing Ukrainian POWs Boarding Russian Plane That Crashed

By VOA News January 26, 2024

The head of Ukraine's military intelligence service said Friday that Kyiv did not have credible or comprehensive information about the passengers aboard the Russian airplane that was downed on Russian soil allegedly carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war flying to Ukraine in exchange for Russian POWs.

Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Intelligence Directorate, made the comments after Russia's Investigative Committee posted online a video of what it described as Ukrainian prisoners of war boarding the plane, which later crashed in the south of the country.

The video on the committee's Telegram channel shows vehicles approaching an Ilyushin-76 aircraft on a snowy airfield. Individuals are seen getting out of the vehicles in preparation for boarding.

The video has no sound and is accompanied only by a single line of explanation that it depicts Ukrainian servicemen boarding the military transport. It gives no location.

Ukrainian Radio NV wrote in a comment: "Because of the poor quality of the video, it is difficult to understand exactly what is happening."

Moscow and Kyiv continue to exchange accusations over the downing of the Ilyushin IL-76 plane in Russia's Belgorod region. All 74 passengers died in the crash.

On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin made his first remarks on the crash in a televised speech.

"I don't know if they did it on purpose or by mistake, but it is obvious that they did it," Putin said. "In any case, what happened is a crime. Either through negligence or on purpose, but in any case, it is a crime."

Putin said the plane could not have been brought down by Russian "friendly fire" because Russia's air defense systems have safeguards to prevent them attacking their own planes.

"There are 'friend or foe' systems there, and no matter how much the operator presses the button, our air defense systems would not work," he said.

Putin claimed the missiles fired were most likely American or French, and he said this would be established with certainty in two to three days.

Russia's state investigative committee said Friday it had recovered Ukrainian identity documents and tattooed body parts from the crash site of the Russian military plane for genetic testing.

It said the evidence collected also included "documents of Ukrainian servicemen who died in the disaster, confirming their identities, as well as accompanying documents from the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia."

Russia has sole access to the crash site. Reuters could not independently verify its account of what happened and what evidence had been recovered. On Thursday the investigative committee said preliminary findings showed the plane was struck by a surface-to-air missile fired from Ukraine.

Russia has not presented any proof to support its accusations.

Ukraine disputes Russia's assertion that it had been warned that a plane carrying Ukrainian prisoners of war would be flying over Russia's southwestern Belgorod region at that time.

It has also said there were discrepancies in a list published by Russian media of the 65 Ukrainians alleged to have been on the aircraft.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday that his government was insisting on an international investigation to establish the facts.

At the U.N. Security Council, a Ukrainian envoy repeated her government's call for an international investigation, saying the Russian military did not allow emergency workers access to the crash site.

"According to our military intelligence, only five bodies were sent to the local morgue in Belgorod, and no human remains are visible on videos from the crash site," Deputy U.N. Ambassador Khrystyna Hayovyshyn said.

Russia's deputy envoy, Dmitry Polyanskiy, disputed that, calling it "paranoid nonsense."

Ukraine peace summit

Ukraine has invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to participate in a planned "peace summit" of world leaders in Switzerland on Ukraine's defensive war against Russia, senior diplomatic presidential adviser Ihor Zhovkva said.

"We are definitely inviting China to participate in the summit, at the highest level, at the level of the president of the People's Republic of China," Zhovkva, told Reuters this week.

Zhovkva stressed the significance of China's participation in the summit.

China, a Russian ally, has said the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries must be respected and has offered to help mediate in the conflict, but it has avoided criticizing Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

Since the beginning of the war almost two years ago, China has dramatically increased its energy imports from Russia.

Neutral Switzerland agreed to host the Ukraine peace summit at Zelenskyy's behest, but no date or venue has been set as teams are still ironing out the details, Zhovkva said.

US-Russia

Meanwhile, the Kremlin denied a Bloomberg news report Friday that Putin was "putting out feelers" to the United States for possible talks on ending the war in Ukraine and might consider dropping key demands on Ukraine's security status.

The Bloomberg report said Putin was "testing the waters" on whether Washington was ready to engage in talks and had reached out to the United States via indirect channels.

It cited two people close to the Kremlin as saying Putin "may be willing to consider dropping an insistence on neutral status for Ukraine and even ultimately abandon opposition to eventual NATO membership a the threat of which has been a central Russian justification for the invasion."

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov was asked by reporters about the story, and specifically whether Moscow was ready to give up its demands on neutrality and NATO.

"No, this is a wrong report. It absolutely does not correspond to reality," Peskov said.

Hungary-Ukraine

Relations between Budapest and Kyiv have been strained because of Hungary's opposition to EU's financial aid for Ukraine as well as to Ukraine's bid for accession into NATO and the EU, a senior EU official said Friday on the condition of anonymity, according to Reuters.

"The negotiation is getting a bit more complicated ... the position of Hungary has not really been flexible on this," the EU official said.

The official added there was an increasing level of frustration with Hungary among the other EU member states, which want to give more aid to Ukraine.

VOA U.N. Correspondent Margaret Besheer contributed to this report. Some material came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






British Defense Ministry: Russia Cracks Down on Criticism About Ukraine

By VOA News January 26, 2024

The four-year sentence Russia handed down Thursday to Igor Girkin, a former Federal Security Service officer and military blogger, is part of a broader crackdown on critics of the Kremlin and its invasion of Ukraine, according to the British Defense Ministry's daily intelligence report on Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The crackdown also reflects "the more authoritarian nature of life" in President Vladimir Putin's Russia, the British ministry said on Friday.

The report said that Girkin had fought for the separatist forces in Donetsk in 2014, served as the defense minister in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic for a brief period and blogged in support of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

In 2022, Girkin became highly critical of Russian leadership and its management for what he saw as its failure to pursue the "special military operation" in Ukraine effectively enough.

He was arrested in 2023 after the brief mutiny of Yevgeny Prigozhin, co-founder of the mercenary Wagner Group. In November, Girkin said he would run in the 2024 Russian presidential election.

After the Prigozhin mutiny, the British report said, it is highly likely that the Kremlin became sensitive to any criticism about Ukraine "from hard-line nationalists" because they are one of the "credible alternatives" to Putin's leadership.

Security Council meets

On Thursday the U.N. Security Council met at Russia request in an emergency meeting, following the crash Wednesday of a Russian military transport plane near the Russia-Ukraine border. Both sides are calling for an investigation.

U.N. political chief Rosemary DiCarlo said the organization is not in a position to verify the circumstances of the crash.

"What is clear is that the incident took place in the context of Russia's invasion of

Ukraine and ongoing war," she said. "To avoid further escalation, we urge all concerned to refrain from actions, rhetoric or allegations that could further fuel the already dangerous conflict."

Moscow has accused Kyiv of shooting down the plane that crashed Wednesday in the Belgorod region. Russia said the plane was carrying 74 people, including 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war who were to be part of a prisoner swap.

"The Ukrainian prisoners of war were transported to the Belgorod region in order to conduct yet another swap that was agreed between Moscow and Kyiv," Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Wednesday in New York where he was attending U.N. meetings.

"Instead of this, the Ukrainian side launched an air defense missile from the Kharkiv region. It targeted the airplane and was a fatal strike."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his government is insisting on an international investigation to establish the facts.

At the Security Council, a Ukrainian envoy repeated her government's call for an international investigation, saying since the plane went down in Russian territory, they did not have access to it.

"Following the plane crash, the Federal Security Service and the Russian military did not allow emergency workers to inspect the crash site as per protocol," Deputy U.N. Ambassador Khrystyna Hayovyshyn said. "According to our military intelligence, only five bodies were sent to the local morgue in Belgorod, and no human remains are visible on videos from the crash site."

Russia's deputy envoy, Dmitry Polyanskiy, disputed that, calling it "paranoid nonsense."

Several council members warned against speculation and accusations without critical facts yet established.

Video of Wednesday's plane crash posted on social media showed a plane falling from the sky on its side before exploding into a massive fireball as it hit the ground in Russia's snowy, rural, western Belgorod region.

Kharkiv borders Belgorod, which is Russian territory. The two sides have carried out numerous prisoner swaps since Russia invaded Ukraine nearly two years ago.

Nuclear concerns

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency briefed the council earlier Thursday on the situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine.

Rafael Grossi told reporters after the private meeting that he would be returning to Ukraine in the next 10 days and would then travel to Moscow.

The nuclear plant, which is in occupied Russian territory, recently lost external power for an eighth time. It has also frequently been in the crosshairs of fighting, leading to fears of a nuclear accident.

Asked by a reporter how dangerous the situation at Zaporizhzhia is on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most dangerous, the IAEA chief said it varies.

"I think that there are days where you are near 10, and there are days that nothing seems to happen," Grossi said. "The problem is this a the complete uncertainty, because this is a war."

VOA U.N. correspondent Margaret Besheer contributed to this report. Some material for this report was provided by The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






TORONTO, Jan. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sulliden Mining Capital Inc. (Sulliden or the Company) (TSX: SMC) is pleased to announce the appointments of Peter Michel as the chief financial officer of the Company and Peter Hooper as the chair of the board, each effective immediately. The appointments of Messrs. Michel and Hooper follow the resignations of Ryan Ptolemy and long-time board member William Clarke, respectively.



Peter Michel is a CPA, CA and obtained a Bachelor of Accounting and Financial Management from the University of Waterloo. Mr. Michel formerly served in leadership roles in both public and private companies with most recent focus in healthcare. Additionally, he worked as a Senior Manager at BDO Canada LLP where he worked in its audit and assurance practice. He has expertise in strategic planning, financial reporting, budgeting, acquisitions, cash management and audit.

Management and the board of directors of the Company would like to thank Messrs. Ptolemy and Clarke for their services and extensive contributions and wish them well in their future endeavours.

About Sulliden

Sulliden is a mining company focused on acquiring and advancing brownfield, development-stage and early production-stage mining projects in the Americas, Australia, and Africa.

Sulliden Mining Capital Inc.

For more information:

Rennie Morkel

Chief Executive Officer

rmorkel@fmresources.ca

+1 (416) 861-2267

THE TSX HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OF THIS NEWS RELEASE.
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hagens Berman urges GrafTech International Ltd. (NYSE: EAF) investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now.

Class Period: Feb. 8, 2019  Aug. 3, 2023

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Mar. 25, 2024

Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/EAF

Contact An Attorney Now: EAF@hbsslaw.com

844-916-0895

GrafTech International Ltd. (NYSE: EAF) Securities Fraud Class Action:

The litigation focuses on GrafTechs representations about one of its highest-capacity and lowest-cost facilities, located in Monterrey, Mexico (Monterrey facility), where the company manufactured all its pin stock inventory  a critical component of its electric arc furnace steel manufacturing process.

The complaint alleges GrafTech misrepresented and concealed that its Monterrey facility was not in compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations. Instead, the Monterrey facility had for decades chronically contaminated neighboring communities with harmful carcinogenic gasses and particulate matter.

The complaint also alleges that Defendants omitted to disclose that GrafTech had signed agreements with local authorities committing to improving the environmental performance of the Monterrey facility, but repeatedly failed to honor its commitments.

As the result of the above, GrafTech was acutely exposed to undisclosed material risks that the Monterrey facility would be severely disrupted by government action or enforcement and its supplies of pin stock and electrodes would be materially diminished.

Investors began to learn the truth on Sept. 16, 2022, when GrafTech unexpectedly revealed that government regulators shut down the Monterrey facility. Mexican news outlets reported that the shutdown order was made in response to GrafTechs excessive pollution of carcinogenic gasses and particulate into neighboring communities.

Then, on Feb. 3, 2023, GrafTech announced disappointing Q4 and FY 2022 financial results and slashed its year-over-year sales outlook for the first half of 2023 by 50% (blaming the Monterrey facility closure) and revealed a significant depletion in its on-hand pin stock inventory.

Further, on Apr. 28, 2023, GrafTech announced another disappointing quarter, the company again blamed the closure.

Finally, on Aug. 4, 2023, GrafTech reported that it suffered an $8 million net loss during Q2 2023 versus $115 million in net income in Q2 2022. The company again blamed its disastrous results on the closure.

If you invested in GrafTech 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 GrafTech case and our investigation, read more 

Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding GrafTech 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 EAF@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.


SINGAPORE, Jan. 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OKX, a leading Web3 technology company, today announced an upgrade to the way funding rates are calculated on perpetual swap contracts on the OKX trading platform.



The new funding rate calculation mechanism utilizes a combination of historical funding rates and current premium indexes to provide improved stability during periods of market volatility. The optimized formula aims to offer a balanced, sustainable funding rate environment for traders.

The recalibrated funding rate calculation applies to all new perpetual swap contracts opened on OKX. Existing perpetual swaps will not be affected. OKX will continue monitoring funding rate performance to ensure optimal alignment with market conditions.

To learn more about the calculations, visit OKX.

For further information, please contact:

Media@okx.com

About OKX



A leading global technology company driving the future of Web3, OKX provides a comprehensive suite of products to meet the needs of beginners and experts alike, including:

OKX Wallet: The world's most powerful, secure and versatile crypto wallet which gives users access to over 80 blockchains while allowing them to take custody of their own funds. The wallet includes MPC technology which allows users to easily recover access to their wallet independently, removing the need for traditional, 'written down' seed phrases. In addition, OKX Wallets account abstraction-powered Smart Account enables users to pay for transactions on multiple blockchains using USDC or USDT, and interact with multiple contracts via a single transaction.

DEX: A multi-chain, cross-chain decentralized exchange aggregator of 300+ other DEXs and approximately 15 bridges, with 200,000+ coins and more than 20 blockchains supported.

NFT Marketplace: A multi-chain, zero-fee NFT marketplace that gives users access to NFT listings across seven top-tier marketplaces including OpenSea, MagicEden, LooksRare and Blur.

Web3 DeFi: A powerful DeFi platform that supports earning and staking on about 70 protocols across more than 10 chains.

OKX partners with a number of the world's top brands and athletes, including English Premier League champions Manchester City F.C., McLaren Formula 1, The Tribeca Festival, Olympian Scotty James, and F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo.

As a leader building innovative technology products, OKX believes in challenging the status quo. The company recently launched a global brand campaign entitled, The System Needs a Rewrite, which advocates for a new paradigm led by Web3 self-managed technology.

To learn more about OKX, download our app or visit: okx.com


Dubai developer Omniyat has announced the expansion of its ultra-luxury portfolio within the luxury waterfront development Marasi Bay with the launch of Vela Viento, Dorchester Collection, Dubai, a premium project featuring 92 premium residences.

Unveiling the project, Omniyat said Vela Viento will become another manifestation of its dedication to reimagining ultra-luxury living where architectural brilliance will meet the flair of French interior design, owing to collaborations with the prestigious Foster + Partners and the renowned Parisian design duo, Gilles & Boissier.

A hallmark of Omniyat's commitment to ultra-luxury living, Dorchester Collection will elevate the living experience through its standout servicing and management of the residences, it stated.

Once complete, its new property will contribute significantly to the elevation of the Marasi Bay area into a unique ultra-luxury enclave along with its sister property, Vela, Dorchester Collection, Dubai - launched in June 2023 - which will soon be joined by the Dorchester Collections first Middle East hotel - The Lana and The Lana Residences next month, said the developer.

These properties collectively represent Omniyats projected plans along the waterfront, following its acquisition of Marasi Bay Marina last year, it added.

On the new launch, Founder and Chairman Mahdi Amjad said: "Dubai continues to exceed global and local expectations with its architectural concepts and elevated living spaces. Vela Viento therefore isn't just a residence; it's a symbol of a new standard in timeless and elegant placemaking, and Omniyat will continue to craft the unconventional by curating living canvasses that fulfill the needs and aspirations of the worlds most discerning and selective people."

Vela Vientos architecture will enable seamless indoor-outdoor living, providing each residence with its own landscaped terrace, and floor-to-ceiling windows that invite expansive views of the Marasi waterfront, Dubai Canal, Burj Khalifa, and Downtown Dubai. Bespoke units will also feature private pools and double-height living spaces.

"In addition, Vela Viento will be crowned by two four-bedroom penthouses as well as three signature duplex apartments, which will each feature a hanging dining room - a concept unique to this property, in which the spaces and bridges between the propertys two towers meet to create a space that offers a distinctive in the sky residential experience, stated Amjad.

According to him, the residents of Vela Viento will enjoy a number of luxurious amenities at 100-m high, featuring a infinity edge swimming pool, double-height gym, yoga studio, sun deck, and lounges.

"Additional amenities will be located on the podium level, including an indoor lap pool, childrens pool, a wellness spa and state-of-the-art meeting rooms. Beyond the property itself, residents will enjoy the added privilege of accessing amenities provided by neighboring properties VELA and The Lana Hotel, as well as the Beach Club at One at Palm Jumeirah by Omniyat," he added.

Christopher Cowdray, President at Dorchester Collection, said: "Vela Viento will embody the pinnacle of luxury living, seamlessly merging Dorchester Collections ethos with Omniyats legacy of creating iconic masterpieces. Together, were not just offering bespoke services, but curating lifestyles."

"Our ongoing collaboration with Omniyat establishes a global paradigm for excellence in hospitality, setting a benchmark that reaches beyond Dubai," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 26. Relations between France and Azerbaijan are at their lowest level, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov told reporters, Trend reports.

"The reason for this is not Azerbaijan. Unfortunately, it is France that has demonstrated such unacceptable behavior. On the part of France, frank statements were sometimes made, and sometimes threatening statements were made against our country," the minister stressed.

"I can say with full responsibility that the main country behind the systematic work against our country on various platforms is France. Azerbaijan will respond to this adequately. We are not the kind of country to leave such steps against us unanswered. France was the first to take steps against us. When France realizes its mistake and takes alternative steps, we'll also respond accordingly," he added.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
QUEBEC, Jan. 26, 2024 -- Stelmine Canada ( Stelmine ) (STH-TSXV) today announced the results of the annual meeting of its shareholders on this date (the "Meeting"). During the Meeting, the candidates recommended by management, being Andre Proulx, Isabelle Proulx, Emmanuel Goulet, Michel Boily, Normand Goulet and Vaughn David Bricknell, were elected as directors of the Company. Brunet Roy Dube, CPA S.E.N.C.R.L, were appointed as the Company's independent auditors, and the Corporation's Stock Option Plan ("Stock Option Plan") was re-approved by the Company's shareholders.



Stelmine is proud to welcome Mr. Bricknell to its board of directors and is convinced he will play an active role in the direction of Stelmine. Mr Vaughn David Bricknell is a project/fund manager, with 28 years of experience in Financial Services, since 1995 a managing member of Madewell Investments CC of South Africa, where his responsibilities include portfolio analysis and management through to post -retirement mutual funds, commission reconciliation, structuring and Buy and Sell Agreements. Since 2016 he is also Chief Financial Officer for Fortune Fuels Limited of South Africa, where he oversees fuel import, sales distribution and retail enterprise as well as raising capital for mining, aviation, and storage facilities. He has also served as Fund Manager for Listco Capital Limited (Hong Kong) for fourteen years, where he raised capital for mining, construction, and property deals on three continents. Mr. Bricknell has a B.Sc. in Quantity Surveying, which deals with management of all aspects of the contractual and financial side of construction projects.

At the same time, the Company announces the departure of Mrs. Julie Lemieux from the board of directors. However, she will continue to accompany the Company as a management consultant. Management would like to thank her for her involvement on the Board, her dedication to fundraising and the visibility she brought to Stelmine. We wish her all the best in her future professional endeavors.

Corrections / Clarifications - Private Placement

Stelmine wishes to make certain corrections to its press release dated December 30, 2023 relating to its $700,300 private placement (the "Offering"). Under the final tranche, completed on December 29, 2023, a total of 236,470 flow-through units (and not 117,647) were issued. In addition, an amount of $40,030 in cash (not $40,005) was paid as finder's fees in connection with the Offering. Finally, Stelmine has waived the benefit of the acceleration clause, described in the press release of December 12, 2023, relating to the warrants. Accordingly, all warrants issued under the Offering will be subject to the same terms and conditions, without any acceleration clause. The Subscribers will be notified accordingly and new warrant certificates will be distributed.

Issuance of Common Shares - AGORACOM

In connection with its marketing program with AGORACOM (see news release dated December 14, 2023), Stelmine has issued to AGORACOM, on December 22, 2023, 376,667 common shares at a deemed price of $0.075 per share, in payment of fees in the amount of $25,000 plus applicable taxes.

About Stelmine

Stelmine is a junior mining company engaged in the development of the new Caniapiscau gold district (east of James Bay), in the under-explored eastern part of the Opinaca metasedimentary basin where the geological context features similarities with the Eleonore mine, which is located very close to the contact with the same basin. Stelmine owns 100% of the 1,784 claims or 917 km in this part of northern Quebec, highlighted by the Mercator and Courcy projects.

Forward-looking statements

Some information in this press release may contain forward-looking statements, such as statements regarding the anticipated use of the proceeds from the Offering, acquisition and expansion plans, availability of quality acquisition opportunities, and growth of the Company. This information is based on current expectations and assumptions (including assumptions in connection with obtaining all necessary approvals for an Offering and general economic and market conditions) that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. Risks that could cause results to differ from those stated in the forward-looking statements in this release include those relating to the ability to complete an Offering on the terms described above. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements unless and until required by securities laws applicable to the Company. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in the Company's filings with the Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at SEDAR+.

Cautionary statement

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For further information, contact:

Isabelle Proulx President and CEO

418-626-6333

iproulx@stelmine.com





Follow us on: Website: Twitter: LinkedIn: Facebook:
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. The next meeting of the delimitation and demarcation commissions between Armenia and Azerbaijan is expected to take place in the coming days, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov told reporters, Trend reports.

The minister emphasized that one of the important components related to the post-conflict relations between the two countries is the issue of determining the state border between them.

Back at the end of last year, a meeting of delegations led by the deputy prime ministers of the two countries took place at the border. Bayramov noted that it's planned to hold such a meeting again in the coming days.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Several bills now head to the governor for signing including a bill that bans individuals convicted of official misconduct from being rehired in the government of Guam.

Senators passed several bills on Friday which now head to Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero for signing, but also failed to pass bills related to the location of a new public hospital.

Another bill that failed to pass was Bill 116-37, which would establish tighter regulations on quarrying on island.

Speaker Therese Terlaje, who introduced the bill, said she was disappointed that the bill didnt get enough votes to pass.

The bill was a response to mounting concerns about mining operations on Guam, particularly those operating under permits for clearing and grading yet are doing illegal quarrying or mining.

The speaker recognized the heightened value of coral aggregate, crucial for both military and local developments and the heightened pressure on agencies to issue permits, given the surge in development projects, including those for the Department of Defense.

She said the bill closes loopholes in Guam law to better regulate operations where projects permitted for clearing and grading were unmistakably operating as quarries.

She cited examples that GovGuam agencies reported in recent years, including those from the Guam Environmental Protection Agency, which in late 2021, started flagging applications for clearing and grading permits.

As of their report, there have been at least 60 notices of violation between 2018 and 2021 for clearing and grading, including one company for performing clearing, grading, grubbing, embankment, filling, excavation and other earthmoving activities across an area of just over 29 acres, with a grading permit, the speaker said.

She cited DPWs denial of renewal for at least one permit, including activities at the Guam Raceway Park because of extensive removal of minerals far beyond any plan that was submitted to them and far beyond any approval.

She said many companies are compliant with federal and local laws, but there are some who have not complied because they got a permit under clearing and grading.

For example, the Raceway was able to remove around 4 million cubic yards of material from Chamorro Land Trust property, Terlaje said.

She said if you break it down into 365 days a year over 15 years that amounts to 85 truckloads a day.

The Guam Racing Federation was evicted from the property last year and among the concerns was the clearing and grading of the Yigo land.

Terlaje said she would make a motion to reconsider the bill at the next session.

Official misconduct

Sen. Joanne Browns Bill 30-37, which would prohibit GovGuam re-employment for those convicted of official misconduct, is a long time coming, considering that it died in committee during the prior Legislature, the senator said.

Brown in session this week said the discretion given to department or agency heads has been abused in this government.

She cited a disturbing example in which a Department of Public Works bus driver repeatedly molested children from 9 to 17 years old whom he was entrusted to drive to and from school.

Another example was the rehiring of a public school teacher who was having sexual intercourse with an underage student.

Junk vehicles

Sen. Sabina Perezs Bill 104-37 would remove bureaucratic red tape thats derailed progress in removing and disposing of abandoned and junk vehicles around Guam.

The bill would streamline the process of removing abandoned and junk vehicles, which pose safety, health and environmental hazards.

Perezs bill seeks to allow for an abandoned vehicle to be removed by the Department of Public Works or any peace officer if the vehicle has been parked for more than 24 hours on public or private property without the expressed consent of the landowner.

Thats just the start of a revamped process to deal with what Perez described as the epidemic of abandoned and junk vehicles.

Other bills passed by the Legislature include:
Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect Gary Gumataotao's survivors.

Longtime local attorney Gary Wayne Francis Frank Gumataotao died Friday morning, Attorney General Douglas Moylan confirmed. He was 69.

Gumataotao was the deputy attorney general under Moylan.

Frank was a beloved husband to Mrs. Atsuko Gumataotao, and father to his children, Joshua, Hannah and Aya. He was not just a well-respected professional, but a dear friend to many, wrote Moylan in a release from the AGs office.

Gumataotao also had a daughter Angelica and two grandchildren, Lucas and Yohann.

Gumataotao had been an active member of the Guam Bar Association since 1988, according to the Bars directory of its members.

Gumataotao was born on Sept. 9, 1954 in Virginia. His father was the late Piti Mayor Vicente D. Gumataotao.

Frank received his Juris Doctor Degree in Law from Washington & Lee University in Virginia, and his Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing and Management from Old Dominion University, the AG added.

Frank served our community as a well-respected businessman and attorney, previously serving as a deputy attorney general under the first elected AGs office, and again most recently under this 6th elected attorney general. His private law practice included not only the general practice of law, but provided services especially in bankruptcy and probate cases, Moylan said.

Gumataotao handled many types of law while in private practice, and he also served as legal counsel to the Guam Education Board.

True to his name, Frank was not one to mince words. He was opinionated and unapologetic, never afraid to speak truth and justice. However, his prowess in practice belied his good heart. He is known by his colleagues to be a generous man, always going above and beyond his duties and ready to lend a helping hand. Frank was simply a good man, and a good friend to many, Moylan added.

Gumataotao was also thrust into the public spotlight when he was former governor and gubernatorial candidate Carl T.C. Gutierrezs running mate in the 2014 general election. They lost to eventual winners, former Gov. Eddie Calvo and Lt. Gov Ray Tenorio. Gumataotao also ran for the attorney generals office in 2018.

Gutierrez, in a message, said Gumataotao helped save the Democratic Party of Guam.
Details added: first version posted on 13:55

BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. The Environmental Protection First (EPF) coalition has issued an appeal to Armenian authorities, urging them to facilitate the participation of ecological and healthcare NGOs from Azerbaijan and other foreign countries in monitoring activities at the Amuldag (Amulsar) deposit, Trend reports.

The coalition underscored Armenia's responsibility to acknowledge the consequences of its actions, advocating for transparency in the mining industry by allowing environmental monitoring access and calling for an immediate halt to operations at the Amuldag deposit, and highlighted the alarming disregard for environmental standards in the ongoing exploitation.

Furthermore, the coalition echoed the concerns raised by over 100 civil society organizations and environmental activists within Armenia, emphasizing the significant threat that exploitation at Amuldag poses to biodiversity and water resources.

NGOs in Azerbaijan have also expressed gratitude to environmental organizations and activists in Armenia for supporting the EPF coalition's appeal.

"The Environmental Protection First coalition supports the statement of Armenian civil society organizations calling for the cessation of operations at the Amulsar gold deposit, which is causing environmental damage. We thank our colleagues from Armenia for supporting our voice. As a result of this solidarity, recent activities planned to commence in Arazdayan have been halted. As highlighted by over 100 civil society organizations and environmental activists in Armenia, the Amulsar Gold Deposit project poses a threat to biodiversity and water resources.

The Armenian government and Lydian Armenia company have ignored results of the deposit's environmental impact assessment. Waste generated from the exploitation of the Amuldag gold deposit, the development of which was also repeatedly protested by international organizations and relevant decisions were made, is discharged into the Bargushad (Vorotan) River and, via the Hakari River, contaminates the Araz River. Such exploitation of the Amuldag gold deposit poses a serious threat to the region and its population.

Amuldag deposit is located 13 kilometers away from the city of Istisu which is a natural mineral water. The deposit is also located in the area between Arpachay and Bazarchay. Both rivers pass through the territory of Azerbaijan and flow into the Araz river. The use of toxic substances, which have been banned for a long time in the exploitation of the Amuldag field, which pose a high threat to the environment, destroys nature, causes acidification of river waters and water poisoning. In addition to gold mining polluting the waters of this river, it also has a negative impact on the ecosystem of Lake Goycha, which is the largest freshwater lake in Armenia, located near the area.

At the same time, this industry poses a serious threat to the Caspian Sea basin. Arpachay and Bazarchay, which flow from the territory of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan, flow into the Araz River and from there into the Caspian Sea. Thus, it seriously damages the ecology of not only Azerbaijan, but also Iran, as well as other Caspian countries.

The gold deposit is exploited by Lydian Armenia, an affiliate of UK Lydian International company, major shareholders of which are the Orion Mine Finance (US), Resource Capital Funds (US), Merk Investments and Tocqueville Asset Management LP.

We, the EPF coalition, call on the government of Armenia and the companies involved in gold mining at this deposit to immediately cease work on this deposit, which is being operated without taking into account any environmental standards.

We are ready, together with civil society organizations working in the fields of ecology and health in Armenia and other countries, and international organizations, to begin monitoring at this field.

The Armenian authorities must realize responsibility for their actions and open the doors of mining enterprises for environmental monitoring, the coalition's appeal reads.

The statement was signed by:

Amin Mammadov (Specialists in the Field of Water Use Public Union)

Parvana Valiyeva (Service for sake of Health Public Union)

Sabit Baghirov (Foundation for Promotion of Entrepreneurship and Development of Market Economy)

Gamza Yusubova (Environmental Education and Monitoring Public Union)

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel




Haiti - FLASH : The Kenyan Government appeals the High Court verdict





Isaac Mwaura, Spokesperson for the Kenyan Government, said that the Government had taken note of the verdict of the High Court of Justice prohibiting the deployment in Haiti of 1,000 security agents planned as part of the Multinational Security Support Mission ( MSS) in support of the Haitian National Police in its fight against gangs and for the restoration of public order. "Although the Government respects the rule of law, we have nevertheless decided to immediately challenge the High Court verdict," Mwaura told the media, adding "The Government reiterates its commitment to honor its international obligations as a member of the community and committee of nations [...] Kenya has an exceptional record of contributing to peacekeeping missions at the international level in countries such as : South Sudan, Namibia, Croatia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, among others..."



Let's recall that in a judgment delivered on Friday January 26, 2024, Justice Chacha Mwita declared that the National Security Council did not have the mandate to deploy police officers in another country "[...] any decision taken by a State organ or an agent of the State to deploy police officers in Haiti [...] contravenes the Constitution and the law and is therefore unconstitutional, illegal and invalid. An order is hereby issued prohibiting the deployment of police forces in Haiti or any other country." https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41519-haiti-flash-the-high-court-of-nairobi-blocks-the-deployment-of-the-mission-in-haiti.html



In October last year, Kenya's National Security Council had requested Parliament's approval for the deployment of Kenyan police officers as part of the UN-backed security mission. The National Assembly has since approved this deployment. 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



However, at the same time the Nairobi Kenya High Court after hearing the arguments of Government representatives and opponent Ekuru Aukot, former defeated presidential candidate and Leader of the Third Way Alliance party, at the origin of the complaint against the deployment of the MMSS in October 2023 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 , had decided to extend the orders blocking the deployment of police officers in Haiti.



The Kenyan Government intends to exhaust all legal remedies at its disposal to win its case. In the event of failure at the Court of Appeal, only the Supreme Court will remain to decide definitively on the deployment or not of this Mission.



New delays which benefit gangs in Haiti and prolong the suffering of the Haitian population...



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41519-haiti-flash-the-high-court-of-nairobi-blocks-the-deployment-of-the-mission-in-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41365-haiti-kenya-news-about-the-multinational-security-support-mission.html

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 - Security : Canada trains soldiers in Belize for the Mission in Haiti





As part of the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) in support of the Haitian National Police (PNH) in its fight against gangs, 50 soldiers from the Belize Defense Forces (BDF) which includes approximately 1,000 men, are in training for possible deployment to Haiti https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41527-haiti-flash-the-kenyan-government-appeals-the-high-court-verdict.html



Oscar Mira Minister of State at the Department of National Defence, informed that a group of soldiers from the Canadian Armed Forces were in Belize preparing these soldiers "To ensure that our soldiers are ready to be deployed we are doing training in Belize. We have Canadian forces here in the country providing this training."



"We have a list of fifty soldiers that we will further train in order to have a pool of DF officers who can be deployed to Haiti. [...] there has not yet been a decision on the deployment to Haiti [...] We want to ensure that our soldiers who will be deployed are well prepared and have everything they need when the decision is made."



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41527-haiti-flash-the-kenyan-government-appeals-the-high-court-verdict.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-40681-haiti-flash-belize-will-send-troops-to-haiti.html



S/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Politic : France's intervention on Haiti at the Security Council





Thursday January 25, 2024, Nathalie Broadhurst, Deputy Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations, during her intervention at the Security Council on the multifaceted crisis that Haiti is going through declared :



"[...] France remains concerned by the situation in Haiti. The Secretary-Generals latest report is damning. It confirms the serious nature of the crisis, which calls for a global response.



Firstly, in terms of security, I would like to reiterate Frances support for the deployment of a multinational security support mission for the Haitian national police, which must be deployed as quickly as possible ( https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41519-haiti-flash-the-high-court-of-nairobi-blocks-the-deployment-of-the-mission-in-haiti.html ) [...]



To that end, France gave a contribution of 3 million to the dedicated trust fund, as well as 850,000 for French- and Creole-language training for police officers on the multinational mission via the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, in addition to our direct support to the Haitian police.



The establishment of a Council sanctions regime on Haiti must also contribute to containing the actions of those destabilizing the country. France hopes that these sanctions will cover all those who contribute to the worsening of the security situation, particularly those who cooperate with gangs or are involved in illegal trafficking.



At the political level, France supports the governments efforts to reach a political agreement towards the organization of of free and fair elections, and to restore the countrys institutions. An inclusive political dialogue is the only option to provide a lasting response to the challenges that Haiti is facing. We welcome the role of CARICOM and BINUH in facilitating this inter-Haitian political dialogue. This political response must bear in mind the need to protect human rights and the fight against impunity.



Finally, on the humanitarian front, France is alarmed by the worsening living conditions of the Haitian population. This is why France has granted 13.5 million euros in humanitarian aid for 2023, including 11 million euros in food aid.



In all of these areas, I would like to pay tribute to the support provided by all actors: civil society, United Nations teams - I would like to pay tribute to the work of BINUH on this occasion - and the countries of the region, which are sparing no effort despite extremely difficult conditions. France will continue to support them.



Thank you very much."



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41523-haiti-un-statement-to-the-security-council-by-maria-isabel-salvador-head-of-binuh.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41521-haiti-politic-haiti-s-intervention-at-the-un-security-council.html



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Insecurity : More than 310,000 people displaced by gang violence





The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has released its latest assessment of internal displacement in Haiti, reflecting the severity of the current crisis.



As of December 2023, more than 310,000 people were internally displaced. More than half of the people currently displaced in the country were displaced in 2023, illustrating the constant worsening of the security and humanitarian situation, particularly in Port-au-Prince.



The study used the IOM Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) and represents a joint effort with the Haitian Directorate General of Civil Protection (DGPC). The exercise covered 7 departments (Artibonite, Center, Grand'Anse, Nippes, West, South and South East, i.e. three additional departments compared to November 2022, the objective being to cover all ten departments by the end of 2024.



The extreme brutality faced by Haitians compounds deep inequalities, high levels of deprivation of basic needs and a fragmented security environment. 94% of displaced people in Haiti come from the West department.



The IOM assessment shows that women, children and men have been forced to leave their homes in search of shelter away from violence and destruction. More than half of them, 172,300, are children, a particularly vulnerable group. Faced with emergency situations, the first responders are generally local communities; data shows that outside the capital, host families accommodate displaced people.



Figures for the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince paint a different picture, with only 45% of displaced people sheltered by host communities, a downward trend which demonstrates the deterioration of the situation for the entire population, including host families and their ability to cope.



The trend of forced displacement highlights a steady deterioration in the security and humanitarian situation.



Despite the deteriorating security situation in the capital, IOM and its partners, local authorities and leaders, continue to provide assistance where it is most needed, helping to ensure the protection of the most vulnerable people on the move, such as young women, children, the elderly and people with disabilities.



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





Grand'Anse : A minor raped every 2.6 days

Friday January 26, 2024, Gerald Guillaume, human rights defender of the Departemental Initiative against Child Trafficking and Trafficking (IDETTE) revealed on a radio in the capital that 155 rapes had been recorded in the department of Grande Anse during the year 2023, including 139 on minors.



J-C Moise announces 6 days of demonstrations

Jean Charles Moise "leader" of the radical opposition political party "Pitit Desalin" announces the launch of a major anti-government mobilization from Monday January 29, 2024. He plans demonstrations in Port-au-Prince on the 1st, 2nd , February 3, 4 and 5.



4 passengers of a minibus killed

Armed gangs operating in the Artibonite department continue their abuses against the population. Bandits from the "Kokorat San Ras" gang murdered 4 passengers in a public transport minibus this week in Barye Batan on RN#1.



PNH : 3 members of the "Gran grif" gang killed

Stevenson Marius, Eliezer Estimable and Cadet Odene, three alleged members of Savien's "Gran grif" gang, were killed on the night of January 25 to 26 by members of the population in Mirebalais as they tried to flee in Dominican Republic via the Central Plateau



Taiwan : Donation of more than 8,000 tonnes of rice

Friday January 26 Taiwan (Republic of China) donated more than 8 thousand tons of rice to the international NGO Food for the Poor via a Memorandum of Understanding signed that same day, in order to combat food insecurity in Haiti.



Catastrophic situation in Haiti

Thursday January 25, 2024, during the meeting of the UN Security Council on Haiti, the majority of countries including China, the USA, Japan, Switzerland, Guyana... pleaded in favor of the deployment of the Multinational Mission of Security Support (MMSS) in Haiti. The US representative described the situation in Haiti as catastrophic where gangs reign supreme. The representative of Japan, for his part, announces a contribution of 14 million dollars for the MMSS and the National Police of Haiti (PNH) See also: https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41527-haiti-flash-the-kenyan-government-appeals-the-high-court-verdict.html



HL/ HaitiLibre


















BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on amending the decree of the President of Azerbaijan dated September 17, 2018 No. 487 On additional measures related to the development of the Alat Free Economic Zone, Trend reports.

According to the decree, the following changes have been made to the document:

1. The composition of the working group, established in accordance with part one, is to be formulated as follows:

Head of the Working Group

Minister of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Members of the Working Group:

Chairman of the Board of the authorized body of the Alat Free Economic Zone

Chairman of the State Agency for Water Resources of Azerbaijan

Deputy Minister of Finance of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Deputy Minister of Digital Development and Transportation of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Deputy Chairman of the State Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan for Urban Planning and Architecture

Deputy Chairman of the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Deputy Chief of the State Border Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Head of the State Property Service under the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Head of the Executive Authority of the Garadagh District

Head of the Executive Authority of the Salyan District

Chairman of the State Agency for Azerbaijan Automobile Roads

President of the "Azerenergy" Open Joint-Stock Company

Chairman of the "Azerbaijan Railways" Closed Joint-Stock Company

General Director of the "Baku International Sea Trade Port" Closed Joint-Stock Company

First Vice President of the "Azerbaijan Airlines" Closed Joint-Stock Company

First Vice President of the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Regarding part two:

2.1. exclude the words "with the involvement of reputable international consulting companies in the relevant field" from the first paragraph;

2.2. exclude the words "and a detailed plan for its implementation" from item 2.1;

2.3. exclude the words "territory boundaries, within these boundaries" and "boundaries of the Free Zone" from item 2.2;

2.4. Regarding item 2.4:

2.4.1. exclude the words "at the initial stage" from the first paragraph;

2.4.2. sub-item 2.4.2 is formulated as follows:

2.4.2. plan for ensuring the main systems and lines of transport and engineering and communication support, other services;

2.4.3. add content to sub-items 2.4.32.4.5 as follows:

2.4.3. materials reflecting the results of engineering and survey works, including the results of engineering-geological surveys;

2.4.4. data on the current state of the environment;

2.4.5. cost forecasting for the implementation of the following measures:

2.4.5.1. relocation of existing structures and engineering and communication structures and lines;

2.4.5.2. implementation of the development concept mentioned in item 2.1 of this decree;

2.4.5.3. implementation of the works specified in sub-item 2.4.2 of this decree.;

2.5. cancel item 2.5.

3. cancel part three.
Jussi Halla-aho , once the leader of the Basic Finns Party, currently holds the position of Speaker of the Finnish Parliament. Born on 27 April, 1971 in Tampere, Halla-aho is renowned for his tough stance and language on immigration and foreign policy, which have cultivated a significant following within the right-wing factions of Finland.

His unique appeal in the presidential race stems from his pragmatic, realistic, and unbiased approach, setting him apart from other candidates. Halla-aho openly critiques the perceived gullibility and idealism of his rivals, positioning himself as a candidate with a more grounded perspective.

Early Life

Before entering politics, Halla-aho worked as a waiter, a visa officer at the Embassy of Finland in Kyiv, and as a researcher and teacher of Old Church Slavonic at the University of Helsinki. The origins of his anti-leftist convictions can be traced to his trip to the Soviet Union in the 1980s. His adolescence also saw involvement in a speed metal band called Blashemia, where he not only played but also composed and wrote songs. In the early 1990s, Halla-aho fulfilled his civil service by working as an evening guide at a youth center, a decision he later expressed regret for, labelling it a "stupid political protest."

A linguist and a doctor of philosophy by education, Jussi Halla-aho gained prominence through his blog, Scripta, where he shared his unconventional and contentious opinion on Finland's immigration policy, multiculturalism, tolerance, freedom of expression, and political correctness since 2003.

Political journey

Halla-aho's entry into political activism can be traced back to 2000, when he joined the discussion and literature circle of the nationalist Suomen Sisu association. Halla-aho entered politics in 2008 as a Helsinki City Council member. In the 2011 parliamentary elections, he was elected MP for the Helsinki electoral district and became the chairman of the administrative committee dealing with immigration-related bills.

Halla-aho joined the Basic Finns party in 2010 and later represented it in the 2011 parliamentary elections. In 2014, he extended his political influence to the European Parliament, emerging as the second most popular candidate in the election. In 2017, Halla-aho entered the Basic Finns Party leadership election, ultimately winning the chairmanship and causing a political stir as other coalition leaders expressed reluctance to cooperate under his leadership. The party focused on criticizing immigration policy, European integration, and the common currency.

Heading into the 2019 parliamentary election, Halla-aho led the Basic Finns Party to gain one new seat, maintaining his personal popularity as he collected the most votes in the entire country, setting a new record in the Helsinki electoral district. As the leader of the opposition, Halla-aho has sought to expand the Finns party's political agenda, focusing on immigration issues and criticizing the climate policies of the government. Despite his announcement in June 2021 that he wouldn't seek re-election as party chairman, he continued to serve in parliament and municipal roles.

Halla-aho also served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from 2014 to 2019. He belonged to the Group of European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) and focused extensively on immigration issues during his tenure.

Presidential elections

In his critique of the current European situation, Jussi Halla-aho attributes much of the blame to the long-standing negative developments in Russia, which he claims were either intentionally overlooked or not taken seriously by other decision-makers.

Regarding Halla-aho's presidential candidacy, Basic Finns partys Riikka Purra asserted his suitability for the role, emphasizing that Finland requires a president willing "to challenge the mainstream when necessary." During his campaign, he championed a forthright and pragmatic approach to foreign policy, advocating for unbiased politics regarding Russian visas and expressing concerns about the alleged allowance of ISIS supporters into Finland. He also criticizes other candidates for their supposedly naive attitudes toward energy cooperation with Russia. Despite fluctuations in his party's historical stance on Russian energy, Halla-aho emphasizes the need to update thinking, especially in the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, calling for a shift away from oil, coal, and gas.

However, he believes that maintaining an open channel for discussion with Russia, given that it should not signal that Finland is prepared to normalize relations unless there is a significant change in Russia's own actions.

Halla-aho has also criticized Western countries for not providing Ukraine with the necessary military support. He argued that fears about the risk of escalation have prevented the West from offering Ukraine the weapons it needs to effectively counter the Russian aggression. Halla-aho questioned the Western definition of escalation, asking whether it means Russia bombing Ukrainian cities or infrastructure beyond the war zone or attempting to target Western deliveries.

Jussi Halla-aho agrees with the transport of NATOs nuclear weapons on Finnish soil, as he believes that NATO's strategic deterrence relies fundamentally on U.S. nuclear weapons. He has also highlighted that it would seem counterintuitive for Finland to disengage from this deterrent framework, given its advantages. However, he sees the prospect of Finland being offered nuclear weapons by any party as unlikely.

Halla-aho supports extending the native-born requirement to cabinet ministers and members of parliament, in addition to the president. Responding to YLE's question about upholding the requirement for the president to be a native-born Finnish citizen, Halla-aho supported having leaders deeply rooted in Finnish soil and suggested extending the requirement to other key political roles.

He has consistently voiced concerns about the immigration scenario in Finland, asserting that the nation does not benefit from immigrants who struggle to integrate, strain public finances, engage in criminal behavior, and contribute to the segregation observed in residential areas and schools.

The Speaker of Parliament also views that development aid is not a fundamental activity of the Finnish state and can be subject to cuts. He emphasizes the need to prioritize essential services for Finnish citizens over foreign aid.

Politics and persona

Throughout his political journey, Halla-aho's communication style, rooted in a conservative and anti-establishment ideology, has shaped his public image and the direction of Basic Finns.

In his high school days, Jussi Halla-aho wrote impactful audience section essays for Aamulehti, a major coalition-affiliated publication. These pieces, characterized by a patriotic tone, passionately highlighted the valour of war veterans and vehemently criticized the Soviet Union's dictatorship. Halla-aho's writing expressed intolerance towards Finnish politicians who displayed subservience to the Soviet Union, particularly during the occupation of the Baltic countries.

Although Halla-aho does not call himself a religious person, he contended that the church is preoccupied with considerations of real or perceived minorities, asserting that Christianity's purpose should be to fulfill the mission command.

Jussi Halla-aho has expressed his view on the political debate climate in Finland, stating that there are undemocratic and totalitarian tendencies in Finnish society. Halla-aho argued that there is a desire to limit what issues citizens and lawmakers can comment on. He mentioned a "single-truth culture" being imported from left-wing academics in the United States.

Halla-aho addressed concerns about Finland's political landscape, particularly the perceived polarization and escalating opinions. He acknowledged that Finland has traditionally maintained a fairly traditional and cooperative political culture, with well-mannered parliamentary debates. However, he pointed out a shift toward increased polarization and tribalization in Finnish politics, with people adopting a more confrontational mindset.

Jussi Halla-aho has been vocal about cutting Yle's funding and claims that Yle is ideologically inclined to the left, producing left-wing propaganda. His critique has put other candidates on the defensive, prompting them to defend Yle and its funding.

On the Middle East conflict, Halla-aho had earlier predicted Israel's continued presence in the West Bank via military control and settlements. He dismissed the likelihood of a viable Palestinian state, citing the two-state model of negotiation as stagnant over 25 years. Halla-aho argued that Israel, strategically deeming it necessary against hostile neighbours, will not withdraw from the West Bank and East Jerusalem. He opposed evacuating Jewish settlements, fearing it could spark a civil war.

Challenges

In 2012, the Supreme Court of Finland ruled that Jussi Halla-aho, the chairperson of the Finns Party, must pay a 50-day fine, due to his controversial blog post published in 2008. The Supreme Court determined that Halla-aho's posts, which had a derogatory tone and inflammatory remarks about Islam and Somalis, constituted incitement to hatred against an ethnic group.

Jussi Halla-aho, admitted that some of his old blog entries from the past decade-and-a-half, contained "stupid and ill-advised" passages. He expressed regret for expressing principled views in a needlessly brutal way in the past and clarified that his aim today is to be clear and unambiguous. Although he did not maintain the same stance for the aforementioned blog post.

Halla-aho, was suspended for two weeks by his parliamentary group due to inappropriate Facebook comments in 2011. In the comments, he advocated for a military junta in Greece and tanks on the streets to crush protesters.

In 2017, he faced a 50-euro fine for driving under the influence of alcohol in Helsinki. Acknowledging the consumption of four beers before getting behind the wheel, he issued an apology.

In the lead-up to Finland's general election in 2019, the Finns Party faced controversy after releasing a campaign video depicting a monster threatening a politician, which some argued was not an incitement to violence. The video, which also featured Jussi Halla-aho, preceded an attempted attack on the former Foreign Minister Timo Soini during a campaign event. Halla-aho defended the video, stating it did not incite violence and would not be withdrawn.

In 2020, Halla-aho said the Basic Finns Party think tank, Suomen Perustas book titled "The Truth Provokes" was a mistake after facing criticism for its views on women. The book, described as a "philosophical study of the information and truth crisis of the left-wing populist mainstream media," sparked controversy for its content on women's sexual independence, equality, and immigration. Halla-aho defended his party, stating that the book solely represented the authors view and not that of the party.

Halla-aho was also under fire for rejecting the opposition's demand to reconvene Parliament during the summer recess over Finance Minister Riikka Purra's past racist remarks. The Speaker defended his decision, citing a lack of urgency and external pressure. The opposition parties argued that resuming the session is crucial to prevent damage to the country's international reputation amid controversies over Purra's remarks from 15 years ago.

Interesting quotes

Russia is bombing Ukraine with missiles and deliberately choosing to target civilians. Meanwhile were unwilling to give Ukraine weapons with the range required to hit targets on Russian soil, he wrote.

If Israel were to formally annex the West Bank and grant citizenship to all its inhabitants, the Arabs would soon become the majority in Israel due to their high birth rate, and Israel would cease to exist in a democratic order.

Finland does not need immigrants who do not integrate but burden the public finances, commit crimes and cause segregation in residential areas and schools.

During the Cold War, Criticizing the Soviet Union was socially frowned upon and could lead to political exclusion. In today's Finland and in Western countries more broadly, immigration, Islam, sexual minorities, the European Union and some other issues have become the new Soviet Union.

Joining the Ottawa agreement was a manifestation of gullibility, ideological blindness and disregard for the security of one's own people. Finnish mines were not a threat to civilians. The war in Ukraine has shown that they are a very effective weapon in containing the enemy's advance.

We have found ourselves in this current situation in Europe largely because the negative development that has been going on in Russia for a long time has either not been wanted to be seen or has not been taken seriously enough.

If it were possible to handle the eastern border situation only with common sense, Finland would state that in the current situation it is not justified to accept asylum applications from the people that Russia pushes to the border. We are stuck in an interpretation of international agreements that no longer corresponds to the realities and needs of today.

HT
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. Armenia has been playing games on minefield maps since 2020, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov told reporters, Trend reports.

"Maps of minefields are a very sensitive topic. Armenia has been playing games on this topic since 2020. Armenia had previously disputed the existence of such cards. Later it provided useless scraps of paper. It is ludicrous to suppose that Armenia, which itself placed mines, now claims that it does not know where they are," the minister said.

The Azerbaijani state is systematically promoting the issue of mine maps on various platforms, continuing to expose Armenia, he noted.

As a result, Armenia, in order to get away with it, is engaged in various manipulations before handing over the minefield maps, Bayramov added.

Following the liberation of its lands from Armenian occupation in the second Karabakh war, Azerbaijan from Nov. 2020 started carrying out operations on clearing its lands from mines, booby traps, and various weapons left behind by the Armenian troops.

Armenia's indiscriminate placement of landmines in Azerbaijan remains a peril for innocent civilians. The toll of mine victims has reached 342 since 2020.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel


Friday January 26, 2024

Critics of deal argue that it undermines Somalia's territorial integrity, could provoke instability in Horn of Africa





Muse Bihi Abdi speaks to the media after casting his vote in the presidential election in Hargeisa, in the semi-autonomous region of Somaliland, in Somalia, Nov. 13, 2017.

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP)  The president of Somalia's breakaway region of Somaliland has said his government will press ahead with an agreement signed earlier this month with landlocked Ethiopia to give it access to the sea by way of Somalilands coastline.



The deal has been condemned by regional and international groups, as well as Western countries, which say it interferes with Somalias territorial integrity and is causing tensions that could threaten stability in the Horn of Africa region.



Somalia has also protested the deal as a threat to its sovereignty by Somaliland, a region strategically located along the Gulf of Aden that broke away from Somalia in 1991 as the country collapsed into warlord-led conflict. Somaliland has not been internationally recognized.





advertisements

Ethiopia, Abdi said, is seeking to lease a segment of the coastline for a naval base  and not for commercial activities as previously thought. In exchange for leasing a 20 kilometer- (12.4 mile-) stretch of Somaliland's coastline, Ethiopia would recognize Somaliland as an independent state.Ethiopia will still be able to conduct its import and export activities through the port of Berbera, the largest in Somaliland. Berbera is not part of the coastline stretch planned for the lease.With a population of more than 120 million, Ethiopia is the most populous landlocked country in the world. It lost its access to the sea when Eritrea seceded in 1993. Since then, Ethiopia has been using the port in neighboring Djibouti for most of its imports and exports.Somalia has protested vehemently against the agreement that would grant Ethiopia access to the strategically important Gulf of Aden and beyond that, to the Red Sea.Somaliland's citizens are divided over the deal, with some seeing potential economic benefits while others fear compromising their sovereignty. The breakaway region's defense minister, Abdiqani Mohamud Ateye, resigned over the deal.Earlier this month, a meeting of officials from the African Union, European Union and United States reaffirmed their support for Somalia's sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, including the breakaway region of Somaliland.Michael Hammer, U.S. special envoy for the Horn of Africa, said during that meeting that the U.S. is particularly concerned that tensions over the deal could undermine international-backed efforts to combat al-Qaida-linked militants in Somalia.Matt Bryden, a strategic consultant at Sahan Research, a think tank based in Kenya, said several diverse actors in the region could unite against the agreement  including Egypt, Eritrea and even the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab militants  and oppose a more powerful role of Ethiopia."Eritrea is likely to be deeply concerned, given its deteriorating relationship with Ethiopia and its long Red Sea coastline," Bryden said.Egypt, embroiled in a dispute with Ethiopia over Addis Ababa's construction of the Grand Renaissance Dam that Cairo says could hamper its share of the Nile River water, could also oppose the project, he added.


Beatrice Farhat

Saturday January 27, 2024



A pro-Palestinian activist waves Palestinian and South African flags as she demonstrates following the International Court of Justice ruling of the case against Israel brought by South Africa in The Hague at the US Consulate in Johannesburg on Jan. 26, 2024. - DAVIDE LONGARI/AFP via Getty Images



The International Court of Justice in The Hague delivered its ruling on Friday on the emergency measures requested by South Africa in its genocide case filed against Israel over its war on the Gaza Strip.



The court ordered Israel to take all measures within its power to prevent genocide in Gaza. It also demanded that Israel prevent and punish direct and public incitement to commit genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Under the ruling, Israel must also ensure the provision of urgently needed humanitarian assistance to Gaza.





advertisements

South Africa also asked the ICJ to order provisional measures until it issues a final ruling on the case, which could take years.Among those measures were that Israel immediately halt its offensive on Gaza, which the ICJ stopped short of demanding on Friday.South Africas government hailed Fridays ruling as a decisive victory for the international rule of law.The interim measures issued by the ICJ are legally binding and without possibility of appeal, but the court has no authority to enforce them.Israel has rejected the allegations brought against it as grossly distorted, arguing that it has acted in self-defense following Hamas cross-border assault on Oct. 7 during which some 1,200 people were killed and over 240 others taken hostage.In his first comments on the ruling, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the courts vile attempt to deny Israel its right to self-defense, vowing to continue fighting Hamas.The war in Gaza has killed more than 26,083 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured over 64,487 others, according to the latest data from the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza.The relentless Israeli bombardment and stifling blockade have also led to a devastating humanitarian crisis. Gazans have no access to the most basic needs, including food, water and medication. Hospitals, places of worship and shelters have been repeatedly bombed. More than 1.7 million people have been forced into displacement, according to the United Nations.The Palestinian Authority welcomed the provisional measures ordered by the ICJ on Friday and expressed its gratitude to South Africa for filing its case against Israel.Speaking at a press conference in The Hague shortly after the court issued its ruling, PA Minister of Foreign Affairs Riyad al-Malki said the order is a reminder that no state is above the law and that it should serve as a wake-up call for Israel and actors who enabled its entrenched impunity.States now have clear legal obligations to stop Israels genocidal war on the Palestinian people in Gaza and to make sure that they are not complicit, he added.Hamas also praised the ICJs decision. In a statement to Reuters, senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said the ruling is a major development that contributes to isolating the occupation and exposing its crimes in Gaza.We call for compelling the occupation to implement the courts decisions, he added.Iran, which has backed Hamas Oct. 7 operation against Israel, congratulated South Africa on its diplomatic success at the ICJ.Today, the officials of the fake Israeli regime are the most hated people in the world's public opinion, who must be brought to justice immediately for committing genocide and unprecedented war crimes against the Palestinians, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said in a post on X on Friday.He also lashed out at the United States, saying that the public is fully aware of its support for what he described as the crimes of Israel against the Palestinian people.Egypts Foreign Ministry issued a statement Friday, welcoming the courts ruling. The ministry said that Egypt hoped the ICJ would have demanded an immediate cease-fire in Gaza, as the main guarantee for the implementation of the courts provisional measures to protect Palestinian civilians.Egypt was the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israel in 1979. But the Gaza war has strained the already fragile relations between both countries, as Cairo accuses Israel of a plan to relocate Gazans to the Sinai Peninsula.Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has positioned himself as a champion of the Palestinian cause throughout his more than 20 years in power, also welcomed the ruling.We hope that the ruling, which is binding for states that ratified the Genocide Convention, will bring an end to Israeli attacks that indiscriminately target women, children and elderly, he said in a post on the X platform.We will continue to closely follow the process in a bid to ensure that war crimes committed against innocent Palestinian civilians will not go unpunished, he added.Separately, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Turkey expects the ruling to be implemented fully and immediately.We believe the measures announced by the court present a very important opportunity to end the bloodshed in Palestine, the statement added.Oman also joined the chorus of support for the ICJ ruling. In a statement, the Omani Foreign Ministry welcomed the courts decisions while calling for the immediate end of the Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip and the rest of the Palestinian territories.Oman further called on the international community to force Israel to stop military operations and acts of genocide against the Palestinian people.


By Larry Madowo and Nimi Princewill, CNN

Saturday January 27, 2024



Gang violence rose by more than 100% in Haiti last year.

Richard Pierrin/AFP/Getty Images



Nairobi, Kenya CNN  A judge in Kenya has barred the East African nation from deploying 1,000 police officers to Haiti to lead a UN-backed multinational force to restore security in the Caribbean nation.



High Court judge Chacha Mwita ruled on Friday that President William Ruto and his National Security Council do not have the authority to send police officers to Haiti or any other country under Kenyan law.

advertisements

In October, the State Department pledged $100 million to support a multinational force in Haiti after the UN Security Council voted to approve it to quell gang violence in the island nation. Kenya volunteered to lead it and got necessary approvals from its cabinet and parliament.But Kenyan politician Ekuru Aukot led a legal challenge to the planned in deployment in court, terming it unconstitutional. The high court ruling agreed with him.Theres no reciprocal arrangement between Kenya and Haiti and there can be no legitimate deployment of police officers to Haiti, Judge Mwita said when he read his ruling in Nairobi.The ruling poses a potential setback for Kenyas peacekeeping mission to the Caribbean nation having previously supported similar initiatives by the UN and the African Union.It is not immediately clear whether the Kenyan government would appeal the ruling or the extent to which the domestic legal battle could complicate the deployment of the multinational force to Haiti, which it spearheads alongside Haitis neighbors  Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, and Jamaica.Kenyas UN representative Martin Kimani told the Security Council Thursday that his country has made substantial progress  including taking legal, administrative steps in its preparation for the Haiti mission and was awaiting the outomce of todays ruling. Kimani has yet to react to the verdict.Gang violence rose by more than 100% in Haiti last year with over 8000 victims documented, according to UN data.The Haitian people have had enough of the armed gangs savagery, Haitis foreign minister Jean Victor Geneus told the UN council while urging a speedy deployment of the multinational force.Every passing day that this long-awaited support has not yet arrived is one day too many, he added.
Every few months, the constitutional courts deliver judgements pertaining to abortion and the legal framework surrounding it. Just earlier this week, the Delhi high court recalled its order allowing a woman to terminate her pregnancy of 29 weeks as she was suffering from trauma and depression after her husbands death. The court relied on the opinion of the Medical Board that since the foetus does not show any abnormality, feticide in this case is neither justified nor ethical. What is the existing law on abortion and why do various courts' decisions differ widely?(Shutterstock)

Similarly, in October 2023, Justice Kohli and Justice Nagarathna delivered a split verdict in the case of X Vs. Union of India, confronting reproductive rights and the autonomy of a woman to make decisions against the ethical question of the possibility of survival of the foetus. Later, a larger three-judge bench of the Supreme Court headed by the Chief Justice of India, did not permit the termination of pregnancy beyond 24 weeks since there was no substantial foetus abnormality diagnosed by the medical board that examined the woman.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

So, what is the existing law, and why do various courts' decisions differ widely?

Law, currently

In 2021, the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Amendment Act (MTPA) was passed to broaden the scope of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act and liberalise abortion rights in India. The MTPA also established state-level medical boards authorised to make decisions with respect to the termination of pregnancies in certain cases.

The MTPA raised the time limit for abortions from 12 weeks  as prescribed in the previous version of the law  to 20 weeks of pregnancy, with the approval of one registered medical practitioner (RMP). The upper limit was also revised to 24 weeks of pregnancy with the approval of two RMPs which was only allowed for specific categories of women including survivors of rape and incest; minors; women experiencing a change of marital status (widowhood or divorce); women with disabilities; women with foetal anomaly; and those living through an emergency, disaster, or humanitarian crisis.

In case of significant foetal anomalies, MTPA removed the time limit and established a procedure to seek permission from the state medical board.

This means that the termination of pregnancy beyond 20 weeks  or five months permitted to all women as long as a medical practitioner gives them the go-ahead  depends on whether the pregnancy would pose a risk to the life of the pregnant woman or cause grave injury to her physical and mental health; or whether there is foetus abnormality.

Yet, despite the MTPAs attempt to broaden the scope of the legal framework for abortion, it still doesnt provide liberal conditions for persons seeking abortion.

Reading womens rights into the law

In September 2022, the Supreme Court of India clarified many positions with respect to MTPA in its landmark judgement in X v. The Principal Secretary, Health & Family Welfare Department, Govt. of NCT of Delhi. The apex court held that unmarried womens right to abortion was the same as that of married women and said, Rights of reproductive autonomy, dignity, and privacy under Article 21 give an unmarried woman the right of choice on whether or not to bear a child, on a similar footing of a married woman

It also stated that the decision to abort the pregnancy lies solely with the pregnant person.

The Court deliberated on the issue of marital rape  not an offence in India and clarified that rape as grounds for abortion, included marital rape. The Court noted that rape should include marital rape for the purpose of MTPA. If not interpreted as such, it would force a woman to give birth to and raise a child with a partner who inflicts mental and physical harm upon her. The court further held that every pregnant woman in India has a right to reproductive decisional autonomy.

Lacunas in the framework

First, by permitting abortions after 24 weeks only in cases of significant foetal anomalies, the MTPA furthers the prejudice that persons with disabilities are unwanted or undesirable. If the woman indeed has a right to reproductive decisional autonomy as stated by the Supreme Court, then a woman should have agency over her own body and have the right to safe access to abortion irrespective of gestational period and the condition of the foetus. In fact, such a provision is an attempt to adjudicate for the rights of an unborn foetus, which itself is a contentious issue not just in India, but around the world.

Second, the Supreme Court referred to KS Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017) to state the importance of the dignity of an individual. However, by using the word woman, the judgement did not consider the rights of everyone across the gender diversity and sexual orientation spectrum, who are also entitled to reproductive health, including the right to access methods of family planning, reproductive healthcare and sex education  all integral to individual dignity.

Third, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act mandates reporting sexual encounters, including consensual sex, involving adolescents. Even if an adolescent approaches an RMP to terminate a pregnancy which is the result of consensual sex, the RMP is required by Section 19 of the POCSO Act to report such activity, thereby introducing a chilling effect on the ability of an adolescent to seek safe and legal abortion services.

Fourth, by granting the right to access abortion conditional to the approval by an RMP, the law does not centre the bodily autonomy of pregnant persons.

Whats more, although the Supreme Court in its 2022 judgement emphasised on the reproductive rights and decisional autonomy of women, whereas recent judgements by the Supreme Court and the Delhi HC  such as those mentioned at the start of the piece  have diverged from these principles.

A long way

No doubt, society and law have come a long way in the position on abortion. Before 1964, it was considered a criminal offence under the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Criminal Procedure Code. Both the pregnant woman and the medical practitioner who aborted the pregnancy were liable to be punished unless it was proved that the termination was done to save the womans life. It was against the backdrop of a rise in maternal mortality rate that the government of India in 1964 appointed the Shah Committee led by Dr Shantilal Shah, a medical practitioner, to carry out a comprehensive review of socio-cultural, legal and medical aspects of abortion. The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act (MTP Act) of 1971 came into existence based on recommendations of the committee.

The act legalised abortion by an RMP and medical centre deemed to be qualified to conduct abortions. Whats more, termination was permitted on certain grounds: (i) pregnancy, if continued, posed a risk to the life of the pregnant woman or would result in grave injury to the physical and mental health of the pregnant woman; or (ii) the child, if born, would suffer serious physical/mental abnormality.

Apart from these, pregnancy caused due to rape or due to failure of a device/method of contraception between a married couple were also considered as events that could cause grave injury to the physical and mental health of a pregnant woman.

If any of the above conditions were met, pregnancy could be terminated at any time up to 12 weeks if one RMP agreed. But for pregnancy between 12 and 20 weeks, an opinion of at least two RMPs was required. Beyond 20 weeks of gestation, abortion was permitted only if the continuation of pregnancy posed a risk to the life of the pregnant woman.

The amended law and the Supreme Court's judgement in 2022 liberalised abortion laws to a great extent. However, the practices remain State-sanctioned and service provider-centric instead of providing complete bodily agency to a pregnant person. The above-mentioned lacunas are the crux of why different courts adjudicate on this matter differently.

Legal Speaking is an explainer of the finer legal points of a case that's making news this week. Prashant Bhaware is a lawyer and researcher based in Bengaluru. The views expressed are personal
Capricorn  (22nd December to 19th January) Weekly Horoscope Prediction says, Do not deviate from goals Take the initiative to settle love-related disputes. Handle professional challenges with care. Settle finance-related issues & have great health. Weekly Horoscope Capricorn, January 28- Feb 3, 2024: Both money and health are good this week.

Single Capricorns will find new love while those who are in a relationship need to take steps to stay happy in the existing one. At the office, your professionalism will bring in good results. Both money and health are good this week.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Capricorn Love Horoscope This Week

Some love relationships will see minor frictions this week. Ensure you consider the opinions of your partner and do not hurt the emotions of the lover. Be sensitive to the demands of the lover. Talk openly whenever a crisis arises and also have control over anger. Singe Capricorns will be successful in finding a new partner in the second part of the week. You need to avoid extramarital affairs as the spouse will find it out and the marital life will be in danger.

Capricorn Career Horoscope This Week

Businessmen will be lucky this week to find new options to expand the trade to new territories. You may go ahead with new partnerships. The second part of the week is good for experimenting with new ideas in trade. Professionals must be careful while interacting with foreign clients. IT professionals, architects, designers, and civil engineers will visit the client's office while bankers and accountants will see new job opportunities. Females holding senior positions at the office may need to be extra vigilant as some employees under you can try emotionally influencing you for personal interests.

Capricorn Money Horoscope This Week

No major financial issue will trouble you. You will receive good returns from previous investments and utilize this wealth to further invest in different sources. This is a good time to invest, especially in land, stock, and trade. Capricorns who are into trade will succeed in clearing all pending dues and will also raise funds for further business activities.

Capricorn Health Horoscope This Week

No major health issues will be there. But it is good to be careful about diabetes and cholesterol-related issues. Make exercise a part of life and avoid junk food. Devote more time for the family and this will give more mental peace.

Capricorn Sign Attributes

Strength: Intelligent, Practical, Trustworthy, Generous, Optimistic

Intelligent, Practical, Trustworthy, Generous, Optimistic Weakness: Persistent, Stubborn, Suspicious

Persistent, Stubborn, Suspicious Symbol: Goat

Goat Element: Earth

Earth Body Part: Bones & Skin

Bones & Skin Sign Ruler: Saturn

Saturn Lucky Day: Saturday

Saturday Lucky Color : Grey

: Grey Lucky Number : 4

: 4 Lucky Stone: Amethyst

Capricorn Sign Compatibility Chart

Natural affinity: Taurus, Virgo, Scorpio, Pisces

Good compatibility: Cancer, Capricorn

Fair compatibility: Gemini, Leo, Sagittarius, Aquarius

Less compatibility: Aries, Libra

By: Dr. J. N. Paney

Vedic Astrology & Vastu Expert

Website: https://www.cyberastro.com

E-mail: caresponse@cyberastro.com

Phone: 9717199568, 9958780857
In 1987, industry bigwigs and civil servants noted that American semiconductor manufacturing was struggling. Japan was stealing market share and jobs, threatening national security and economic growth. In partnership with industry, the government pledged $100m ($250m in todays money) in annual subsidies to form an R&D consortium called Sematech, to boost production.

The plan, in large part, did not work. Research by Douglas Irwin of Dartmouth College and Peter Klenow of Stanford University, published in 1994, cannot find any evidence that Sematech changed investment plans in the semiconductor industry. But it holds lessons for politicians today. Once again they are keen on chips, with governments across the rich world offering subsidies worth $400bn in the coming years to boost capacity. The EU wants 20% of global chip manufacturing by 2030. Governments also want to incentivise the production of rare earths, batteries and solar panels. These ambitious plans will soon collide with reality. It is hard for governments to create viable industries, and the economic costs of industrial policy tend to be high.

The history of industrial policy, a sometimes poorly defined concept that encompasses everything from tax breaks to training, gives some hope to the boosters. DARPA, a government organisation which engaged in groundbreaking research after the Second World War, was a clear success. Or consider the case of Kia, a South Korean car firm which, with a lot of government help, opened a car plant near Atlanta in 2009. The gleaming factory has workers from all walks of life, from young black women to grizzled Trump voters. Areas near the factory still have their rough parts, but it is the sort of place where you see young men pushing buggies, and a variety of good, cheap Korean food is available.

Let it flow

On the whole, however, industrial-policy successes are few and far between. There is no other way to interpret a paper published by the Peterson Institute, a think-tank, in which Gary Hufbauer and Euijin Jung review American industrial policy between 1970 and 2020. Its record outside America is similarly spotty. Attempts to create competitive advantage through government direction and support were generally unsuccessful, Geoffrey Owen of the London School of Economics argues in a review of post-war European industrial policy. It is no coincidence that during the 1950s, when Britain embraced that approach most enthusiastically, it fell a long way behind the rest of Europe.

Boosters say that industrial policies can work if appropriately designed. They point to South Korea. In a new paper, Nathan Lane of Oxford University studies the impact of South Koreas seminal industrial pushthe Heavy Chemical and Industry (HCI) drive of 1973-79, in which the government introduced policies including cheap credit to boost production and exports. Mr Lane compares industries which received help with those that did not, and concludes that intentional industrial policies likely played a critical role in creating the modern South Korean economy. In the 20 years after 1973 South Korean real GDP per head rose by 349%.

The study is well crafted, signalling the start of a new and more sophisticated chapter in the analysis of industrial policy. Yet it is not the final word on the subject. It is possible that for the initial stages of industrialisation government efforts had a significant role, according to a review published in 2003 by Marcus Noland of the Peterson Institute and Howard Pack of the University of Pennsylvania. But old-fashioned, solid macro policy, including limited deficits and stable exchange rates, also takes much credit.

Other pundits point to a more recent example of supposedly successful industrial policy: China. Since 2015, under Xi Jinping and his Made in China project, the Chinese state has played an even more activist role in directing economic activity. Government subsidies as a share of the profits of Chinese-listed companies rose from 3% in 2012 to 5% in 2020. The number of tax measures supporting high-tech industries has jumped, according to a paper published in 2021 by Goldman Sachs, a bank. Has this helped the Chinese economy? Kind of. The country now has a global monopoly in many industries. Subsidies have allowed firms to slash prices, putting foreign competitors out of business.

It is less clear whether China as a whole has benefited from industrial policy. A recent paper by Lee Branstetter and Guangwei Li, two economists, looks at Made in China 2025. Examining listed firms, they find little statistical evidence of productivity improvement or increases in R&D expenditure, patenting and profitability in firms which received help. Another paper using Chinese data, by Jun Du of Aston University, suggests that helping one firm with subsidies tends to harm others.

This could be because subsidies allow the survival of inefficient firms, making the industries they are in less competitive. Firms may focus on securing subsidies, which removes resources from productive use. As a result, the overall economic effect of subsidies on productivity is uncertain and possibly negative. Total factor productivity (the amount of output per unit of labour and capital) across China has probably fallen under Mr Xi.

Can todays wave of industrial policies avoid the pitfalls of the past? Governments believe so and are quick to point out perceived successes. Barely a day goes by without a hard-hatted politician opening a new manufacturing facility. In a recent blog post, economists at Americas Treasury boast about the countrys surge in factory construction. These are, on the face of it, encouraging trends. Yet there are plenty of concerning developments, too.

Take, for instance, Indias production-linked incentives (pli) scheme, which pays manufacturers a sum for every unit produced (say mobile phones). Supporters boast that, following the introduction of the scheme, exports of mobile phones soared. Indeed they did. But in a recent paper Rahul Chauhan, Rohit Lamba and Raghuram Rajan, three economists, point out that mobile phone imports also jumped. Perhaps producers were simply re-exporting phones via India in order to get the subsidy.

This year Lightyear, a Dutch solar-car company backed by the government and the European Commission, hit the financial buffers and stopped production (though it has since restarted and says it is continuing its mission of clean mobility for everyone). Britishvolt, an electric battery company that the British government loudly pledged to support, has also collapsed.

Promises of money today create expectations of more money tomorrow

As in the 1990s, government attempts to boost their chip industries are running into trouble. Morris Chang, the founder of TSMC, a big Taiwanese producer, told Nancy Pelosi, a senior Democrat, that American efforts to rebuild chip manufacturing at home were doomed. The firm says that production at its first plant in Arizona will be delayed until 2025 due to a shortage of specialist workers.

Economic costs are emerging from another direction: as a result of retaliation. Some of the most aggressive measures have come from China. It recently imposed export controls on gallium and germanium. China produces 98% of the worlds raw gallium, a key ingredient in advanced military technology. In February China placed Lockheed Martin and a unit of Raytheon, two American arms makers, on an unreliable-entities list after shipping weapons to Taiwan (which China regards as part of its territory). The companies were blocked from making new investments in China and from trade activity, among other restrictions.

Governments are also finding that their promises of money today create expectations of more money tomorrow. In May Stellantis, a carmaker, paused construction at an electric-vehicle battery plant in Canada amid talks with the federal government about its support for the factory. (Stellantiss largest shareholder, Exor, part-owns The Economists parent company.) Intel is probably going to get higher subsidies for a project in Germany after complaining about rising energy and construction costs. In private, chipmakers are pretty clear that they will need subsidies for the long haul if they are to make their new Western factories work.

Flatlining

It is, of course, early days, but in the data, it is hard to see much payoff from homeland economics. You might think that lots of global equivalents to Made in America would boost manufacturing output. No such luck; across the rich world it is flat (see chart). Nor is there much sign of an innovation boom. Global investment in intellectual-property products, which includes R&D spending, is below its pre-pandemic trend. The Economist has estimated global productivity growth in real-time by using data on purchasing managers indices. In recent months it has been well below the pre-pandemic norm (see chart).

There are already questions about value for money. Mr Chauhan and his co-authors, discussing India, cannot reject the possibility that [the pli scheme] is an enormous and possibly misdirected transfer of public resources to large domestic and foreign firms. A report by Britains National Audit Office, a watchdog, noted that governance and delivery mechanisms behind 4.2bn ($5.2bn) of net-zero funding need to be improved, and that there is a risk that the government will not achieve its carbon and economic objectives, or secure value for money. With an average budget deficit of 4% of GDP across the rich world, can anyone afford such mistakes?

Perhaps, as Jake Sullivan argues, growth is less important. In April Joe Bidens national security adviser disagreed that all growth was good growth, focusing on its distribution. If governments can reduce inequality and boost the fortunes of blue-collar workers, then perhaps it does not matter if real GDP increases less quickly. Yet the progressive potential of homeland economics remains overstated.

 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
NewsVoir HT Image

Faridabad (Haryana) [India], January 27: Dr. O P Bhalla Foundation and Manav Rachna Educational Institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Workverse, founded by Samyak Chakraborty in the presence of program advisor Navya Nanda, co-founder of Nimaya. This collaboration is aimed to support The Smart Fellowship, a career accelerator program for women from restrictive backgrounds that helps them build an inspirational career. A batch of 60 underprivileged students will be a part of this programme. The Smart Fellowship is powered by Escorts Kubota Limited, an initiative by Workverse and Nimaya as the Program advisor.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The MoU was signed by Dr NC Wadhwa, Vice Chairman, Dr OP Bhalla Foundation and Samyak Chakraborty, Founder, Workverse; in the presence of Dr Prashant Bhalla, President, MREI; and Navya Naveli Nanda, Founder, Nimaya Foundation and other senior members from Dr. OP Bhalla Foundation, Nimaya Foundation, Workverse and EKL.

The main objective of this proposed project is to enable girls with socio-economic barriers to build aspirational careers by developing them and endowing them with 21st-century skills like problem-solving, critical thinking, entrepreneurial mindset, and emotional intelligence, among others, spread over five weeks in 70 hours. The project will be delivered through self-paced content, live case studies, in-person activities, and projects like workplace simulation, placement training, and workshops that enhance soft skills.

The Smart Fellowship course structure will provide each participant with 5 weeks of soft skills training program that includes components such as Animated Modules on Workplace intelligence skills, Masterclasses with trainers, CEOs, Founders and experts, and a Simulated workplace environment to learn and test proficiency in a 21st Century Skills.

A certification and a "workplace intelligence profile" assess their performance on the 10 modules. The program will provide material to engage and excite the students about this program with regular talk series for the benefit of students.

Dr. O.P. Bhalla Foundation and Balaji College of Education, Ballabgarh, Faridabad have committed female students from the latter to join the program, and the college will ensure a minimum of 85% individual attendance to ensure course completion.

An orientation programme was held today for the beneficiaries of the programmes wherein girl students were informed about the The Smart Fellowship course structure and its benefits.

Dr. Prashant Bhalla said, "The Smart Fellowship offers a comprehensive program that surpasses conventional frameworks. By facilitating mentorship of promising talent by industry titans,The Smart Fellowship bridges the gap created by restrictive circumstances". He added, "This endeavor aligns perfectly with our ongoing work in adopting villages and schools in Faridabad, specifically through our focus on upskilling residents and fostering equal opportunity platforms."

Dr. NC Wadhwa said, "This collaboration aligns with the vision of our Visionary Founder late Dr. O.P. Bhalla Ji. Dr. O.P. Bhalla Foundation has adopted a multi-disciplinary approach in areas such as education, skill development, gender equality, and healthcare. Thousands of girls benefit from these initiatives every year. This collaboration will help us empowering them to lead healthier, more informed lives, and unlocking avenues for personal and professional growth."

Navya Naveli Nanda and Samyak Chakrabarty, mentors have shared their vision, "49% of India's population is women, and enabling them to become front-seat drivers of India's economic engine can have a positive domino effect right from a national level to that of her own individual domestic community. However, with the changing nature of work, the meaning of upskilling also has to transform. Rote skills are no longer sufficient in ensuring sustained career trajectories, let alone growth. Automation-led professional redundancy is real and needs to be tackled, especially for women."

This collaboration holds the promise of creating a positive impact on the lives of underprivileged students. The joint effort aspires to break socio-economic barriers and empower these young students with essential skills, enabling them to pursue aspirational careers that will add depth to the learning experience, fostering a holistic development approach. The collaborative spirit reflects a shared vision of creating a more inclusive and empowered workforce, contributing to the overall progress of society.

(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)
Republic Day celebrations in Karnataka capital Bengaluru turned awry when a man approached Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during the parade at the Field Marshal Manekshaw Parade Ground on Friday to allegedly express discontentment with the governance of the state, alarming security officials. A security breach incident was reported on Republic Day in Bengaluru when a man tried to approach CM Siddaramaiah. (ANI)

ALSO READ | Parliament security breach: Delhi court rejects bail plea of accused Neelam Azad

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Authorities jumped into action at the apparent security breach and held the individual in question, who was walking towards the CM's gallery with placards and sheets in his hand. He approached the CM in hopes to meet him and express dissatisfaction at the way the government is working, and threw the placards and posters on the ground.

ALSO READ | PM Modi security breach: Mann gives clean chit to states former chief secy

In a video shared by news agency ANI, the individual, identified as Purushottam, is seen being escorted by officials outside the premises. Cops reportedly detained him and held him for questioning.

ALSO READ | Man runs to PM's convoy in Karnataka, cops deny security breach. Watch

No other untoward incident was reported and no harm has been caused to any attendees at the event. Further probe is underway and more details are awaited, which will be updated shortly.

(With inputs from ANI)
Police on Saturday said they have busted a cross-border module at Karnah in Kupwara district and arrested five persons. Police seized huge quantity of arms and ammunition from the accused. The SSP said the consignments dispatched from across the border were delivered to other terror associates who were in contact with Zahoor Ahmad Bhat and the handlers (iStock)

Police said the five arrested persons were terror associates working on the behest of two Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK)-based handlers who hail from Karnah and had crossed the Line of Control (LoC).

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Kupwara senior superintendent of police (SSP) Yogul Manhas said in a statement that acting on credible information which was corroborated by sister agencies, Kupwara police and armys nine Para field regiment busted a module involved in smuggling of arms and ammunition sent by POK-based Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist handlers Manzoor Ahmad Sheikh alias Shakoor of Gabra in Karnah and Qazi Mohammad Khushal of Dhanni in Karnahm, currently operating from across the border.

The security forces arrested Zahoor Ahmad Bhat of Rear Sudhpora in Karnah and seized an AK series rifle, one magazine, 20 rounds and two pistols, he said, adding that preliminary investigations revealed that in the recent past, the two handlers were in touch with Zahoor, who hails from a village which is in proximity of the LoC.

The SSP said the consignments dispatched from across the border were delivered to other terror associates who were in contact with Zahoor Ahmad Bhat and the handlers.

Based on the further leads, four more terror associates, Khursheed Ahmad Rather, Mudassir Shafiq, Ghulam Sarwar Rather and Qazi Fazal Illahi, all residents of Gabra were arrested and arms and ammunition were seized.

He said that five AK series rifles, five magazines and 16 AK rounds were confiscated from the possession of arrested persons.

The case is being investigated expeditiously to further unearth the conspiracy regarding the smuggling of arms and ammunition and proscribed material and contraband, the official added.
Tiruchirappalli (TN), Jan 27 (PTI) Amid rumblings in the opposition INDIA bloc, its leaders stressed on the need to defeat the ruling BJP in the coming Lok Sabha polls, with DMK chanting the unity mantra to achieve the goal. HT Image

Top leaders of some of INDIA bloc constituents--Congress, DMK, the Left parties and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi attended a "Democracy will win" conference organised by the VCK here on Friday.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

VCK, headed by Lok Sabha MP Thol Thirumavalavan, is a key ally of the DMK in Tamil Nadu.

DMK President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, leaders of the CPI (M) and the CPI, Sitaram Yechury and D Raja, respectively and many others spoke at the well-attended conference which came amidst the ruling Mahagathbandhan in Bihar appearing to be on tenterhooks with strong indications that JD(U) president and that state CM Nitish Kumar may do yet another volte-face and return to the BJP-led NDA. JD(U), Lalu Prasad Yadav-led RJD, Congress and Left parties are the constituents of the ruling coalition in Bihar.

Recently, two other constituents of the INDIA grouping-- Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had announced they would not join hands with the Congress in West Bengal and Punjab, respectively, for the coming Lok Sabha elections.

In his address, Stalin said INDIA bloc leaders have to realise that when the BJP was rattled at the prospect of a win for the opposition alliance even at the level of a mayor poll in Chandigarh, unity among constituents will dislodge the saffron party from power at the Centre.

Citing the postponement of Chandigarh mayor polls and the tie-up between the AAP and Congress there, he said the BJP-led Central government 'cancelled' even a mayor-level election as the scenario was ripe for victory. The media billed the later deferred civic election as the 'to-be first victory' of the INDIA alliance.

"When they cancel even a mayor level poll, the INDIA alliance leaders must realise the fear of the BJP. We have to use this. We have to clasp the opportunity that we have now got. If we remain united, the BJP will be defeated. Democracy will win and time will say that. Thirumavalavan will also win and time will say that too."

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge underlined Dr Ambedkar's warning against 'the cult of personality' and appealed for a political culture based on 'reason and dialogue.'

Kharge's address to the conference was read out by his party's Lok Sabha MP Su Thirunavukkarasar after the VCK announced the Congress chief could not take part in the meet.

Kharge was quoted as saying that Ambedkar foresaw the dangers of blind devotion; be it in politics or religion. The architect of the Constitution warned against the cult of personality and emphasised on the need for "rational thinking and a commitment to justice in our political discourse."

"Today, as we navigate a nation, where personality often overshades principles, let us follow Ambedkar's words and strive for a political culture based on reason, dialogue and inclusivity."

Kharge made these remarks after slamming the BJP regime on various counts, wherein he outlined the challenges and the strain on federal structure.

Even funds provided for natural disasters are given on the basis of which political party is in power in the specific state. Recently, funds for ration shops in West Bengal were 'held up' as outlets did not have pictures of the 'supreme leader,' Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said.

Yechury said the India Bloc was committed to safeguarding the character of our republic and Tamil Nadu was leading the country in putting up a united fight against the BJP.

He claimed federalism was under great threat under the BJP rule and accused the ruling dispensation at the Centre of converting the secular democratic republic into a "fascist Hindutva rashtra."

To carry its agenda, the BJP required a unitary state and not a federal structure and it was towards that unitary state the government was taking the country to, he said and called for concerted efforts by the opposition parties, the INDIA Bloc, to put up a strong fight and defeat the saffron party at the hustings.

"The only slogan we have to give today is to save India in order to change India for the better," Yechury said.

He reminded the opposition parties that they should gear up for the "big political battle" against the forces that are controlling all institutions of our secular democratic republic. The latest was how the election commission appointment will be decided entirely by the government, he added.

CPI general secretary D Raja recalled the efforts of Ambedkar in drafting the Constitution and said the former did not want India to become a Hindutva rashtra.

Earlier, Thirumavalavan, in a resolution, said that in the LS polls, all EVMs, '100 per cent' must be linked to Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) system and electors should deposit the VVPAT slips in separate boxes. Results must be declared by election authorities only based on the count of VVPAT slips. His resolution was passed in the party conference.

In total, 33 resolutions, proposed by Thirumavalavan were adopted in the meet. The VCK also demanded implementation of Proportional Representation system for elections.
The Capitals air quality plunged sharply into the deep red zone on Friday  the third time this month  and clocked a 24-hour air quality index of 409 (severe) at 4pm, according to the Central Pollution Control Bureaus (CPCB) national bulletin. Two street vendors heading out on a cold morning near K G Marg in New Delhi, India. (Hindustan Times)

The drop was by 77 points compared to the very poor reading of 332 on Thursday. Despite the deterioration, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) refrained from invoking Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (Grap) arguing that forecasts showed relief from bad air over the weekend.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The deterioration belied predictions by the early warning air quality forecasting system, which on Thursday said the air quality was unlikely to dip into the severe zone for the rest of the month.

The two other days when AQI was severe this month were January 24 (409) and January 14 (447). It has been very poor  between 300 and 400 for 22 days this month  and poor  between 200 and 300 on one day.

CAQM said the deterioration was down to a combination of factors, including low temperature and fog.

Read Here: IMD forecasts dense fog, cold day for Delhi on Republic Day

As per the assessment of the IMD and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), the dispersion of air pollutants has been low because of the dip in temperature, foggy conditions and local sources, due to which a spurt in the average AQI of Delhi has been witnessed. The CAQM sub-committee, however, while comprehensively reviewing the air quality scenario and relevant aspects, noted that as per the air quality forecasts by IMD and IITM, Delhis average AQI is likely to improve from Friday itself and is expected to be in the very poor category in the coming days, said CAQM in a statement, explaining its decision to not invoke Stage 3 of Grap.

Stage 3 involves a ban on non-essential construction activities and the use of BS III petrol and BS IV diesel four-wheelers in Delhi-NCR, along with a complete ban on diesel generators. The use of coal and firewood in certain industries is also prohibited.

Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 4.7 degrees Celsius (C) on Friday, which was four degrees below normal. It was 4.8C a day earlier. This was Delhis lowest minimum on Republic Day in the last three years and the second lowest in the last decade, behind 2021, when it was 2.1C, India Meteorological Department (IMD) data showed.

The IMD has forecast the minimum to hover around 5C on Saturday, before rising to 6C on Sunday and to 8C by Monday, as a western disturbance approaches northern India. We will gradually see a rise in temperature in the next few days. Shallow to moderate fog is expected in the early hours of the day, with the fog intensity to gradually reduce, said an IMD official.

Read Here: Centre holds off stricter curbs for now even as Delhi AQI turns severe

Parts of the city recorded dense fog on Friday, but the impact was limited to a few areas. Dense fog prevailed for around three hours  between 5.30 am and 8.30am when visibility was down to 100 metres at Palam. It was moderate at Safdarjung, and the lowest visibility was recorded at 300 metres during this period.

IMD said that moderate fog was recorded at 9am, which improved to shallow by 10am at most places, with sunlight breaking through.

The fog delayed around 25 flights at Delhis Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport and at least 34 trains were delayed by over an hour.

The citys maximum stood at 20.6C, which was a degree below normal. It was 20.5C on Thursday. The maximum is forecast to rise further and will likely hover between 21C to 22C over the next three days, the Met department added.

The maximum temperature at Gurugram and Noida was also recorded at 20.6C. However, the minimum at Gurugram was 3.5C while at Noida it was 5.6C.
New Delhi [India], January 27 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended warm birthday wishes to Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, praising his "transformative changes" for the state during his tenure. HT Image

"Birthday wishes to Meghalaya CM Shri @SangmaConrad Ji. During his time in office, he has brought in numerous transformative changes for the people of Meghalaya. Praying for his long and healthy life," Prime Minister Modi posted on X.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed gratitude to world leaders for their Republic Day wishes to India.

Thanking Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal for his Republic Day wishes to India, PM Modi on Friday said India cherishes the longstanding friendship with Nepal.

"Thank you @PM_nepal_ for your Republic Day wishes. India cherishes the longstanding friendship with Nepal," PM Modi wrote on 'X'.

The Nepal PM had said: "On the occasion of the 75th Republic Day of India, I extend my best wishes to PM Shri @narendramodi ji, the government and friendly people of India for good health, peace and prosperity. I am confident that the ties of friendship between our countries will continue to grow further."

In reply to Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth's wishes, PM Modi said he looks forward to the continued strengthening of the India-Mauritius bilateral partnership.

"Thank you Prime Minister @KumarJugnauth for your warm wishes. Looking forward to the continued strengthening of our robust bilateral partnership, this year and always," PM Modi said.

The Mauritian PM had said: "Warmest congratulations to Prime Minister Shri Modi Ji @narendramodi and our Indian sisters and brothers on the glorious occasion of the 75th Republic Day of India."

The PM also thanked French President Emmanuel Macron for joining India's Republic Day celebrations.

"Thank you to the President @EmmanuelMacron for joining our Republic Day celebrations. Your presence will add great impetus to Indo-French relations," the PM said.

The French President had said: "My dear friend @NarendraModi, Indian people, My warmest wishes on your Republic Day. Happy and proud to be with you. Let's celebrate!"

PM Modi earlier said: "Thank you President @EmmanuelMacron for being a part of our Republic Day celebrations. Your presence will add great momentum to India-France ties." (ANI)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. Statements by the Foreign Minister of the Netherlands Hanke Bruins Slot regarding Azerbaijan are unacceptable, Spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan Aykhan Hajizada said, Trend reports.

He made the remark answering a question from local media about Slot's statements in the Netherlands parliament.

"The views expressed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Hanke Bruins Slot, against our country are unacceptable.

Unfortunately, the Dutch official once again made an accusatory statement in response to the inquiry of the representatives of the Parliament and clearly distorted the statements of the Azerbaijani side. This is not the first time that such irresponsible views have been voiced by the officials of European countries. These statements, while being attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of Azerbaijan, are examples of a biased approach to post-conflict realities in our region.

Such statements, as well as threatening ideas about the imposing sanctions against Azerbaijan, are a blow to bilateral relations and relations between Azerbaijan and the European Union.

Regarding the intention of the Foreign Minister of the Netherlands to visit our country, it is known that this visit has been postponed by Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani side has informed the opposite side that during the visit, Azerbaijan intends to discuss only bilateral relations, not Azerbaijan-Armenia normalization process or internal issues of Azerbaijan.

We call on the Dutch side to put an end to such statements that hinder the future development and progress of the region based on respect for the norms and principles of international law," the statement reads.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
UP Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) claimed to have busted an international fake currency racket after arrest of two Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) suppliers from Varanasi on Saturday morning, said senior police officials here in Lucknow. UP ATS arrests two FICN suppliers from Varanasi (Pic for representation)

In a press note shared with media, the ATS officials confirmed the two accused were identified as Deepak Kumar and Chandan Sainik, both residents of Pratapgarh. They said the duo had a past record of smuggling narcotics and drugs. They had been arrested for the first time for smuggling FICN from Bangladesh border into Uttar Pradesh, police said.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

They said the total amount of FICN to the face value of 97.500 lakh, all in 500 denominations, was recovered from their possession. Police said the recovered FICN was printed at undisclosed location in Bangladesh and smuggled across the border. They said the two accused arrested had brought it from the Bangladesh border to Varanasi via West Bengal through train and it was meant to be circulated in the open market in different districts of Uttar Pradesh.
Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday met Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil in Navi Mumbai after accepting his demands. Jarange Patil called off his protest as the Maharashtra government responded to the demands with a draft ordinance regarding reservation in education and jobs under the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) category. Shinde offered the activist juice to end his indefinite hunger strike. Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde with Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil.

Jarange Patil, who had earlier threatened to march towards Mumbai if his demands were not met by Saturday morning, halted his protest and camped in Navi Mumbai with thousands of supporters. Chief minister Shinde, after holding meetings with officials to discuss Jarange's demands, sent a delegation late Friday night with a draft ordinance addressing the concerns raised by the activist.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The delegation included social justice department secretary Sumant Bhange, Aurangabad divisional commissioner Madhukar Arangal, chief minister's personal secretary Amol Shinde and others.

Expressing his satisfaction with the government's response, Jarange Patil said, chief minister Eknath Shinde has done a good job. Our protest is now over. Our request has been accepted. We will accept the letter from him. I will drink juice by the hands of the chief minister tomorrow (Saturday).

Maratha quota activists celebrate

The Maratha community, seeking reservation in education and jobs under the OBC category, has been a focal point of discussions between the community leaders and the state government. Patil, who began a fresh hunger strike in Vashi, Navi Mumbai on Friday, had outlined specific demands, including Kunbi certificates for all Marathas, free education from kindergarten to postgraduate level, and reservation of seats for Marathas in government job recruitments.

Deputy CM Ajit Pawar expressed his support for reservation for the Maratha community and stressed that CM Shinde was actively engaged in resolving the issue through dialogue.

Despite calling off the protest, Patil clarified, We have not shunned our plans to march to Azad Maidan (in Mumbai).

We will go there to celebrate if the government issues all orders pertaining to our demands. If not, we will hold an indefinite hunger strike from tomorrow.

The Maharashtra government's draft ordinance addresses several key demands of the Maratha community, signalling a potential resolution to the long-standing issue of reservation for the community in the state.
Manoj Jarange-Patil, the prominent leader behind the Maratha quota protests, expressed gratitude to Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde for acknowledging and accepting their demands. Addressed a gathering of supporters in Navi Mumbai, Jarange-Patil, who had been leading the struggle for over four months, called on the government to start issuing Kunbi certificates immediately. Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde with Maratha quota quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil in Navi Mumbai. (Bachchan Kumar / HT Photo)

He informed the crowd that the chief minister had ordered the withdrawal of cases registered against community members during the agitations.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The activist emphasised the unity of the Maratha community throughout the protest and pledged not to create differences between Marathas and Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

We will hold a meeting at Antarwali Sarathi village in Jalna to decide our next step, Jarange-Patil said.

He warned that if anything goes wrong with the government's order, he would return to Azad Maidan, stressing that the government must ensure the order passes legal scrutiny.

Eknath Shinde congratulates protesters

Shinde, who met the activist at the protest site in Navi Mumbai, congratulated Jarange-Patil for his perseverance and dedication to the cause.

"The agitation held peacefully, for which I congratulate all of you. I am also a son of a farmer. I know their problems and sufferings, and thus took an oath of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj." said Shinde. I do what I say.

He affirmed that the government's decisions are made in the interest of the people, not for political gain.

Our government is a government of common people. We take decisions in the interest of the people and not eyeing their votes. Maratha community made many big leaders, but they did not stand by the community when it was needed, Shinde said, in an apparent jab at NCP veteran Sharad Pawar, a Maratha strongman.

Notification on demands

The Maharashtra government issued a notification on Saturday recognising all blood relatives of Maratha community members, whose Kunbi caste records have been found, as Kunbis. The notification outlines the draft rules, titled the Maharashtra Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, De-Notified Tribes, Nomadic Tribes, Other Backward Classes and Special Backward Category (Regulation of Issuance and Verification of) Caste Certificate (Amendment) Rules, 2024.

According to the notification, Kunbi caste certificates will be issued upon submission of an affidavit establishing relations with blood relatives  uncle, nephew and other members of his family as well as "patriarchal" relatives, who have found Kunbi records being the applicants' "sage soyare" (blood relatives). After conducting a field inquiry and verification, the certificates will be issued immediately.

The word 'sage soyare' includes relatives of the applicant's father, grandfather, great grandfather and in earlier generations forming out of marriages within the same castes. The rules define "sage soyare" as relatives of Maratha community members whose records of being Kunbi have been found, ensuring they receive Kunbi caste certificates.

"All the 'sage soyare' being in relation of the persons belonging to the Maratha community, whose record of being Kunbi has been found shall be given certificates on the basis of the Kunbi records of such persons belonging to Maratha community," the notification said.

Opposition from within

However, an opposition is brewing within the government itself. NCP minister and OBC leader Chhagan Bhujbal, aligned with the Ajit faction, has voiced strong reservations against the decision, expressing doubt about its legal standing.

"This decision will not stand legal scrutiny," Bhujbal said. "This is an eyewash. Marathas are being misled and injustice is being meted out to OBCs."

"This is a draft ordinance. Suggestions and objections are sought by February 16, after which the government will decide. Then we will decide whether to challenge in the court," added Bhujbal.
Political suspense in Bihar continued for a third day on Saturday, when the two main constituents of the ruling alliance, chief minister Nitish Kumars JD-U and Lalu Prasads RJD, traded salvos and a top aide of the CM said the alliance was on the brink of collapse, while the opposition BJP maintained a studied silence over its next move, saying it was waiting and watching. Outside Tejashwi Yadavs residence in Patna on Saturday. (Santosh Kumar/HT)

The INDIA bloc is on the verge of collapse. The alliance is almost over in Punjab, West Bengal and Bihar, JD-U spokesperson K C Tyagi told reporters in Delhi, adding that he could not see as to how the INDIA bloc parties could fight the all-powerful BJP. Kumar never hankered after a position in the alliance (INDIA), but a section of the Congress leadership repeatedly insulted him, he said.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

There was no word from CM Kumar, who had snapped ties with BJP in August 2022 and joined hands with the RJD-led alliance in the state for form his next government.

Kumar began the day by flagging off a number of new fire brigade engines at Patnas veterinary college ground, where he had addressed a big party rally earlier this week, and followed it up with a visit to Buxar for inauguration of a beautification project of a renowned temple, a project of the tourism department that is held by his deputy Tejashwi Yadav, who skipped the event.

The attendees included senior BJP leader and Union minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey, who is the local MP and a known critic of Nitish Kumar.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said his party chief Mallikarjun Kharge has been trying to speak to Nitish Kumar and his office has responded. But the two are unable to connect due to their preoccupations, he said.

RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal), meanwhile, held a two-hour meeting of its legislators on Saturday at the residence of former chief minister Rabri Devi in Patna and authorised Lalu Prasad to take all decisions regarding the partys future course of action.

There were discussions on the current political situation in the state and the country. All MLAs have authorised the RJD chief to take any decision in the context of the evolving political situation in the state, RJDs national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha member Manoj Jha told the waiting reporters after the meeting.

Jha, however, made it clear that his party would not pull the plug on the Nitish Kumar government. Chief minister Nitish Kumar, RJD chief Lalu Prasad and deputy CM Tejashwi Prasad Yadav have nursed this government. We have given so much of employment and worked in health and all other sectors. Why should we bring down our own government? We have immense respect for CM Kumar, he said.

The BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) also held a meeting of its leaders in Bihar, which was chaired by partys state in-charge Vinod Tawde.

We have come here to deliberate on the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The current situation in Bihar will also be taken up for discussion, state BJP president Samrat Choudhary told reporters as he arrived at the party office, the venue of the meeting.

Senior party leaders said another meeting of legislators would take place on Sunday morning.

JD-U has also called a meeting of its legislators on Sunday. MLC and spokesperson Neeraj Kumar, who has so far been defending the RJD over land-for-job case, attacked the party. RJD leadership is restless, and the reason for the restlessness is clear. Those who took land for giving jobs are restless as they could not have any say in appointment and posting of over 2.5 lakh teachers, said Neeraj Kumar, a close aide of the chief minister.

For its part, the Congress , a constituent of the alliance government with 19 MLAs, remained busy in Purnea, preparing for the Bharat Jodo Yatra of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who will reach the bordering district of Kishanganj on January 29 from Siliguri in West Bengal. His rally is scheduled in Purnea for January 30.

Bihar Congress president Akhilesh Prasad Singh, who is camping in Purnea , shot down speculation of some party MLAs switching over to JD-U.

He said a meeting for reviewing the preparations for Gandhis programme in Purnea will be attended by party MLAs on Sunday. Some MLAs have already come and the rest are on the way, he said.

Smaller players like former CM Jitan Ram Manjhis HAM(S), which has four members in the 243-member Bihar assembly, and Chirag Paswans LJP (Ram Vilas), which has none, were also seen busy doing their calculations.

Manjhi, who has been boasting over the likely change in the government, went into a huddle with his party MLAs amid reports that they have been approached by RJD.

After meeting his MLAs, Manjhi made it clear they were with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Paswan, who met union minister Amit Shah and BJP president J P Nadda in New Delhi, said, It was important to know what is happening in Bihar today. On this issue, I met Amit Shah and JP Nadda today and expressed my concerns before them over Bihar. They have given me assurance on various issues. In the coming days, the situation will become more clear, and after that, our party will take a stand. We are a part of NDA today.

In the Bihar assembly, RJD is the largest party with 79 members, followed by BJP (78) and JD-U (45).

There was no comment by the Left parties, which together have 16 members in the House.

Bihar has 40 Lok Sabha seats. In the 2019 parliamentary polls, BJP and JD-U had fought as allies and won 17 and 16, respectively. The undivided LJP had won six seats as part of the same alliance.

Congress had won one (Kishanganj) while RJD drew a blank.
The political turmoil in Bihar continued on Saturday with all major political parties of the state-- the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)-- continuing parleys with their legislators all along the day. Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar. (File)

Leaders of the BJP in Bihar gathered to discuss the political situation in the state, amid indications that former ally, chief minister Nitish Kumar, was planning yet another volte face. The meeting was chaired by the partys state in-charge Vinod Tawde.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Though it is being called a routine meeting to discuss Lok Sabha polls, the party leaders were also briefed about the current political developments.

We have come here to deliberate upon the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The current situation in Bihar will also be taken up for discussion, state BJP president Samrat Choudhary told reporters.

Nitish Kumar has not resigned and nobody has withdrawn support, if something happens, then only we will have any information...BJP wants to know the situation of Bihar and then only we will take a decision..., he added.

Senior party leaders said that another meeting of legislators would take place on Sunday morning. There will be two party deputy CMs, said a party leader.

The BJP has the largest number of 17 MPs in Bihar, where the total number of Lok Sabha members is 40. The JD(U), headed by Kumar, has 16 while another NDA ally Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), now split up between the uncle-nephew duo of Pashupati Kumar Paras and Chirag Paswan, has six.

Earlier, the partys state in-charge Vinod Tawde had slammed the Congress for driving Kumar, the JD(U) president, towards a break up with the INDIA coalition of which he was widely regarded as the architect. Party leaders have so far refrained from making categorical statements about extending support to Kumar, who is expected to resign as the chief minister before returning to the NDA.

The JD (U), which has called a meeting of its legislators on Sunday, held an informal meeting with legislators over tea on Saturday evening. Its a formality now. The meeting will endorse the proposal of going with BJP. The new government will come either on Sunday or Monday, said a JD (U) office-bearer. We are with Nitish Kumar, said a JD (U) MLA.

JD (U) MLC and spokesperson Neeraj Kumar, who has so far been defending the RJD on the land for job scam, attacked the party. RJD leadership is restless, the reason for the restlessness is clear. Those who were involved in land for job are restless as they could not have any say in appointment and posting of over 2.5 lakh teachers, said Kumar.

CM Kumar, meanwhile, performed puja at the Brahmeshwarnath Temple and inaugurated the first phase of development work for the temple in the presence of Union Minister Ashwini Choubey, He also laid the foundation for the second phase of development work.

HAM-S extends support to BJP

BJPs other alliance partners, the LJP (Ram Vilas) amd HAM-S, however, seem jittery over the developments. HAM-S leader Jitan Ram Manjhi, who has been boasting over the likely change in government, too, went into a huddle with his party MLAs amid reports that the party has been approached by the RJD. Manjhi later made it clear after the meeting that they were with the PM.

Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president Chirag Paswan, who met Union home minister Amit Shah and BJP president J P Nadda in New Delhi, said, It was important to know what is happening in Bihar today. On this issue, I held a meeting with Amit Shah and JP Nadda ji today. I have kept my concerns before them over Bihar. They have given assurance on various issues. The situation is very positive regarding the alliance. In the coming days, the situation will become more clear, and after that, our party will take a stand. We are a part of the NDA today.
A medical college student from Mumbai drowned in a Pavana dam water at Thakursai on Friday, while the authorities were able to rescue another student, officials said. The deceased has been identified as Manish Shankar Sharma (20), a resident of Mumbai who was a second-year student of Balasaheb Vikhe Patil Medical College, Loni Pravara. Locals, with the help of authorities, rescued Aditya Sachin Bundele (20). Locals, with the help of authorities, rescued Aditya Sachin Bundele (20). (REPRESENTATIVE PHOTO)

According to the Lonavla Rural police, a group of 15-17 students from the medical college visited Lonavla over the weekend. On Friday evening, a few students ventured into the dam water, however, after a while- two of them felt uneasy and called for help.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Kishor Dhumal, senior police inspector (SPI) at Lonavla rural police station said, A group of students from a medical college visited Lonavla over the long weekend. Two of them drowned and we have rescued one of them, while one body was recovered.

The body was sent for post-mortem procedures and was later handed over to relatives.
The Pimpri-Chinchwad police arrested six individuals for murder and abduction of a 38-year-old worker in Wakad on Friday. According to police, on January 26 they received a call from a private hospital in Theragon, reporting the death of an injured man, identified as Bhuwal alias Manoj Jagdish Maurya. Further Investigation revealed that two unknown persons admitted Maurya to the hospital on Friday. A case has been registered at Wakad police station under IPC sections 364, 302, 201, 143, 145, 148, and 149 and the court granted the accused seven days of police custody for further investigation. (REPRESENTATIVE PHOTO)

As per the complaint filed by Lalmuni Maurya, the wife of the deceased, police lodged a complaint and initiated various teams for further probe.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

During the investigation, police found that accused Shubham Vhalekar, Sagar Jadhav, Kunal Bharam, Saurabh Waghmare, Akshay Patil, and Dinesh Mhaske were involved in the murder of Maurya.

Police informed Maurya had taken 50,000 advance from Vhalekar for painting services. However, Maurya neither completed his work nor was ready to return the money. Hence Shubham along with others abducted Maurya by tying his hands and leg and brought him to a shed in Vhalekarwadi, where the accused assaulted Maurya by using PVC pipes.

After being attacked, Maurya fell unconscious and Dinesh Mhaske, Akshay Patil and two others took him to a hospital and fled away. During the treatment, Maurya died due to severe injuries.

During CCTV footage analysis, police found an auto rickshaw from which Maurya was brought to the hospital. During the interrogation of the auto driver, he confessed to the crime and consequently police arrested other accused in this case.

A case has been registered at Wakad police station under IPC sections 364, 302, 201, 143, 145, 148, and 149 and the court granted the accused seven days of police custody for further investigation.
Ranbir Kapoor made sure an airport security official had a lovely day at work on Saturday. The actor was spotted at the Kalina airport in Mumbai by the paparazzi when he decided to include the security guard in the photo op too! Ranbir Kapoor made a security personnel's day.

Dressed in an all-white outfit, Ranbir got out of his car to pose for the paparazzi. The photographers screamed his name and a security guard looked at the actor in awe. Ranbir called him over to pose with him and he happily obliged. The guard smiled and posed for the camerapersons with Ranbir.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Ranbir was likely headed to Ahmedabad for the Filmfare awards on Sunday.

Fans of the actor loved his sweet gesture. Hyee cutie pie, wrote one. All time favourite, commented another.

Ranbir was last spotted with wife Alia Bhatt at the Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha ceremony in Ayodhya. The couple was invited by the temple authorities as part of the Bollywood contingent. Others in the contingent included Katrina Kaif, Vicky Kaushal, Rohit Shetty, Rajkumar Hirani and Kangana Ranaut. Ranbir wore a dhoti and kurta to the ceremony while Alia wore a blue saree that was inspired by the Ramayana.

Recently, Ranbir's Animal released on Netflix after earning more than 900 crore in its theatrical run. Ranbir Kapoor said he is looking forward to the digital premiere of his film on Netflix.

"We are absolutely overjoyed by the response 'Animal' received in theatres and now I am glad that audiences worldwide will get a chance to watch it in the comfort of their homes. The opportunity to showcase our work globally is truly special," the actor said in a statement.

In addition to Hindi, Animal will also be available in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada on Netflix India.

As per a few reports, Ranbir will be seen next as Lord Ram in Nitesh Tiwari's adaptation of the Ramayana epic. Sai Pallavi is said to have been finalised as Sita and Yash as Ravana.
Get ready for a blast from the past, K-drama fans! After 11 long years, the iconic duo of Park Hyung Sik and Park Shin Hye are reuniting on screen for the Netflix K-drama Doctor Slump. " Directed by Oh Hyun Jung, their upcoming K-drama, will feature both actors in lead roles for the first time. This romantic-comedy medical drama, centered around two doctors, is speculated to be the next standout addition to the world of medical K-dramas. The K-drama community eagerly anticipates the on-screen chemistry between these two veterans. Doctor Slump release date on Netflix(Netflix)

Also read: Korean-American film Past Lives scores major Oscars 2024 nods - Where to watch on OTT

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Doctor Slump release date

Doctor Slump will be released on January 27, 2024. The Strong Girl Do Bong Soon and The Pinocchio actors will share the screen for the first time after Heirs was released in 2013.

Doctor Slump airing slot and episodes

The show will air every Saturday and Sunday, replacing the time slot of JTBCs recently concluded Welcome to Samdalri featuring Ji Chang Wook. The upcoming K-drama starring Park Hyung Sik and Park Shin Hye will have 16 episodes in total each with a duration of forty-five minutes.

Also read: Squid Game 2 gets a 2024 Netflix release window, arriving sooner than expected

Where to watch Doctor Slump

The show will air on JTBC for domestic audiences and on Netflix for global fans of K-drama and the actors.

Who are among the cast and makers

Apart from the lead actors, renowned director Oh Hyun-jong, whose past triumphs include The One and Only and Find Me in Your Memory, brings his expertise to Doctor Slump. Joining him is the equally talented screenwriter Baek Sun Woo, known for captivating audiences with shows like What's Wrong With Secretary Kim and My Roommate is a Gumiho.

Doctor Slump's character details

Park Hyung Sik will play Yeo Jeong Woo in the upcoming series. Yeo Jeong Woo is a renowned plastic surgeon who is in great demand in the nation. Simultaneously, Park Shin Hye will play an anesthesiologist Nam Ha Neul in Doctor Slump, portraying a person who has committed her life to rigorous work.

The plot of JTBCs next medical K-drama

While medical K-dramas are quite popular, Doctor Slump promises a unique blend of the genre with romantic comedy elements. Nam Ha Neul and Yeo Jeong Woo, for different reasons, leave their jobs and end up living together in a rooftop room, bringing back their old rivalry. As they spend more time together, they go from being enemies to falling in love. This classic storyline is sure to capture the audience's interest, especially with the expected great chemistry between Park Hyung Sik and Park Shin Hye.

Is there any trailer for Doctor Slump

Yes. For fans of The Heirs, Doctor Slump offers a delightful dose of nostalgia. Seeing the actors reprise their roles in a different setting and with a different dynamic is sure to evoke memories of the beloved drama.
Spice fans, rejoice! The desert winds hint at Zendaya coming back to Arrakis reprising her her role of Chani. However, her loyalty lies with director Denis Villeneuve's vision. She's eager, yes, but Dune Messiah is a beast of its own, and Zendaya knows waiting for Villeneuve's masterful touch will make the return all the more epic. Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya, Javier Bardem and Timothee Chalamet in the 2021 film Dune. Part 2 is due out in November. (Chia Bella James)

Prior to the premiere of Dune: Part Two, Zendaya stated in a recent interview with Fandango that returning for a potential Dune Messiah film is a decision that seems easy to make. With confidence, the Euphoria actress declared that she would definitely play Chani in a future installment of the franchise.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Also read: White House sounds alarm over explicit AI-generated Taylor Swift photos, Congress should take..

Villeneuve + Zendaya: The dream team bringing Dune 3 to life?

Would we be down? I mean of course, Zendaya answered quickly when asked about her appearance in next Dune movie. So whats holding her back? As per Variety the actress is just wasting for a call. Whenever Denis Villeneuve decides its time to roll out a third Dune movie, she is up for it, however the installment is yet to get a nod.

In the interview she said, Any time Denis calls its a yes from me. Im excited to see what happens. I started Messiah and I was like, Woah, Im only shooting the first movie. Let me just go back to the first one. Its so much to take in, but theres no better hands with better care and love for it than Denis.

Also read: No Ken without Barbie: Ryan Gosling strongly reacts to Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig's Oscars snub

Is Dune 3 in works?

Earlier, Villeneuve declared his intention to take the franchise to the third level and even mentioned that the script for the upcoming installment was nearly completed by December of last year. Regarding the future of the film series, Zendaya mentioned that she is simply looking forward to it with excitement. It's all about the anticipation for her.

Dune 2 release date

The film Dune: Part Two, which also stars Florence Pugh, Josh Brolin, Rebecca Ferguson, Austin Butler, and Timothee Chalamet, is scheduled to open in theaters on March 1.

About Dune 2, Villeneuve in a press conference held in South Korea, said, Part Two is a much better movie than original. He continued, Theres a relationship to the characters. I was trying to reach for an intensity and a quality of emotions that I didnt reach with Part One and that I did reach with Part Two. Im not saying the film is perfect, but Im much more happy with Part Two than I was with Part One. I cannot wait to share it with the fans and the moviegoers per Variety.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. Azerbaijan has postponed visit of the Foreign Minister of the Netherlands Hanke Bruins Slot, Spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan Aykhan Hajizada said, Trend reports.

He made the remark answering a question from local media about Slot's statements in the Dutch parliament.

"Unfortunately, the Dutch official once again made an accusatory statement in response to the inquiry of the representatives of the Parliament and clearly distorted the statements of the Azerbaijani side. This is not the first time that such irresponsible views have been voiced by the officials of European countries. These statements, while being attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of Azerbaijan, are examples of a biased approach to post-conflict realities in our region," said Hajizada.

He noted that such views are absolutely unacceptable.

"Regarding the intention of the Foreign Minister of the Netherlands to visit our country, it is known that this visit has been postponed by Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani side has informed the opposite side that during the visit, Azerbaijan intends to discuss only bilateral relations, not Azerbaijan-Armenia normalization process or internal issues of Azerbaijan," added the spokesperson.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Administrative conflicts, displaced identities and refugee crisis collectively form an open wound in the new feature, In the Land of Brothers, which premiered at the World Cinema Dramatic Competition at Sundance Film Festival this year. These are mature, interconnected stories of countless Afghani families who start their lives in Iran as refugees. But is there such a space called home at all? In their debut feature, Iranian writer/directors Alireza Ghasemi and Raha Amirfazli capture the struggles of migrants through their perspective, in three separate chapters spanning decades. (Also read: Never Look Away review: An indelible portrait of journalist Margaret Moth) A still from In the Land of Brothers.

The first chapter begins in 2001, in the snowclad winters of the Iraninan city of Bojnold. Mohammad (sensitively played by Mohammad Hosseini) is a shy and handsome teenager whose life alters one fine day while he is returning from school. He has a soft corner for the girl Leila (Hamideh Jafari), with whom he studies English at the end of the day. Mohammad's life is altered forever when he is picked up by the police force one fine day after school. Hosseini's performance is so moving and believable here and that his absence hangs around like a ghost in the succeeding chapters.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The narrative picks Leila in the second chapter ten years later. Her situations have changed too. Now, she works as a housekeeper for a wealthy Iranian family with her husband and son in the Bandar Anzali. An unexpected secret about her husband makes her recoil in utter desperation and panic, lest they face deportation. She must hide and simultaneously, erase any signs of the truth as fast as possible. The strongest of the three chapters in terms of its screenplay and structure, this one lands with necessary intrigue and awareness. Even if you root for Leila, you know not what to expect of her. I was reminded of Kore-eda Hirokazu's Shoplifters in one specific scene that rings true for its quiet, emotional truth.

In the last chapter, the story ultimately opens in Tehran in 2021, where Leila's brother Ghasem (Bashir Nikzad) comes to know that his son was martyred during the war. Here too, the burden of the secret looms large, as he dare not tell the truth to his deaf wife and two children. This last chapter is perhaps the weakest of the lot, not because of its subject, but for its rather dry and predictable design. The release, when it does arrive, feels too carefully constructed to hit the mark.

This is a striking and melancholic film, unfolding within gentle interiors and ravaged corners. What gives the ambitious, decades-long journey its texture is the subdued camerawork by Farshad Mohammadi and the moving sound design by Frederic Alvarez. Even as Raha Amirfazli and Alireza Ghasemi's film slightly suffers due to its recurring structures, it carries a necessary alliance in hope. By chronicling three separate stories embedded through refugee perspectives, In The Land of Brothers recognises the struggles and specific journeys that are trapped in a land that these living, breathing entities cannot call home. There are no easy answers, no easy resolutions.

Santanu Das is covering the Sundance Film Festival 2024 as part of the accredited press.

Entertainment! Entertainment! Entertainment!  Click to follow our Whatsapp Channel  Your daily dose of gossip, films, shows, celebrities updates all in one place
Silchar: The Assam police on Saturday arrested six members of the local youth-based political group Veer Lachit Sena for allegedly creating a ruckus at the premises of Guwahatis Kamakhya temple and assaulting the guards over parking issues. (Representative Photo)

Police said the incident took place on Friday evening. The temple authorities lodged a first information report (FIR) at Guwahatis Jalukbari police station, following which a case was registered and all accused were arrested.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The arrested include Senas Kamrup district committee chief secretary Bikash Axom, vice president Tapan Sarma, and members Matiur Rahman, Rabi Dihingia, Manoj Deka and Bikrant Kalita, police said.

The temple committee said that the guards were doing their duty when members of Veer Lachit Sena threatened and assaulted them. They also used derogatory remarks against their linguistic identity.

Veer Lachit Sena in a statement said they intervened to rescue a local who was being beaten by some people from the Bihari community.

We had to intervene to rescue the Assamese boy they were torturing. This is our duty. We will stand for the protection of the indigenous people of Assam in future as well, they said.

Police said the accused have been charged under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and they all would be produced before the court after interrogation.

There have been previous complaints against the Veer Lachit Sena over similar acts. During the Durga Puja festival last year, they allegedly removed banners from one of the oldest Puja Pandals in Assams Biswanath district.

They also allegedly threatened a close aide of Assam minister Pijush Hazarika.

Criticising their acts, Assam chief minister Himanata Biswa Sarma had said that they roam around in Guwahati city and other parts of the state extorting money from people.
New Delhi: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday alleged the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is attempting to topple the Delhi government by trying to poach Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs. He claimed that the BJP contacted its MLAs and offered Rs.25 crore to each of them. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal (File Photo)

Kejriwal also claimed that the BJP told his MLAs that they were going to arrest him soon.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

We will arrest Kejriwal after a few days and then break the MLAs. Talks have been held with 21 MLAs, and we are talking to others as well. After that, we will topple the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi. You should also come. Will give Rs.25 crore and field you as BJP candidate in the election, Kejriwal wrote on X on Saturday morning, according to the alleged conversation held between his MLAs and the BJP.

Although they claim that they have contacted 21 MLAs, as per our information, they contacted only seven AAP MLAs, and all of them declined the offer, Kejriwal said.

Also Read: Delhi CM invokes Ram Rajya, hails AAPs governance record

The AAP chief allegations appeared on X soon after the Delhi cabinet minister Atishi levelled similar allegations at a press conference held at AAP headquarters in New Delhi.

The BJP leader told seven AAP MLAs that Arvind Kejriwal is going to be arrested. Atishi said, adding that the BJP has launched Operation Lotus 2.0.

Asked on what basis the allegations were made, the Delhi minister said they have an audio recording of a BJP leader (unknown) talking to an AAP MLA informing him about the likely arrest of Kejriwal and the MLAs poaching plans, and the audio recording will be made public in a few days. In the recording, the BJP leader is heard saying that Kejriwal is going to be arrested and they will topple the AAP government after his arrest, Atishi claimed.

HT could not independently verify the claims of the AAP minister.

Meanwhile, rubbishing the claims, Delhi BJP secretary Harish Khurana said the allegations made by Kejriwal and his minster were baseless. In 2022, Atishi made similar claims but the AAP did not share any evidence or name any BJP leader. The AAP often levels baseless allegations but has been unable to present evidence. At least they should name the MLAs who have been contacted. The ED (Enforcement Directorate) is working as per law, and Kejriwal does not have answers to ED questions thus the AAP is trying to divert attention from the issue, Khurana said.

AAP has 62 MLAs in the 70-member Delhi assembly whereas the BJP has only eight.

The ED wants to question the Delhi chief minister in connection with an alleged money laundering probe linked to ongoing investigations into the excise policy case. Kejriwal has skipped four ED summons, calling them illegal and politically motivated.

Kejriwal further stated in his X post that the development makes it clear that he would not be arrested in connection with the alleged excise policy case but a conspiracy is being hatched to topple the AAP government in Delhi.

Also Read: Atishi orders probe against 12 Delhi University colleges

I am not being arrested to be investigated for any liquor scam but they (BJP) are conspiring to topple the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi. In the last nine years, they hatched many conspiracies to topple our government but could not succeed. God and the people have always supported us. All our MLAs are also united strongly. This time also they will fail in their nefarious intentions, the AAP chief stated.

He added, They know how much work our government has done for the people of Delhi. Despite all the obstacles created by them, we have accomplished so much. The people of Delhi love AAP immensely. They are not capable of defeating AAP in the elections so they want to topple the government by arresting (me) on the pretext of a fake liquor scam.

To be sure, this is not the first time that the AAP has claimed that Kejriwal is going to be arrested. On January 3, night a day before the ED expected Kejriwal to appear before it for questioning in connection with the excise case, AAP leaders claimed that the ED was going to make the arrest.

On multiple occasions since 2013 after the AAP won 28 assembly seats in Delhi, the party has alleged that the BJP has contacted AAP MLAs to poach them.

Atishi in the latest said the toppling of opposition governments was not new for the BJP.

BJP is not doing Operation Lotus for the first time. The BJP uses the CBI [Central Bureau of Investigation], and ED and runs Operation Lotus to topple opposition governments in various states such as Maharashtra, Goa, and Madhya Pradesh. In Delhi, the BJP has attempted this twice. In 2013, the BJP tried to poach AAP MLAs, and in 2022 again, they offered Rs.20 crore each to AAP MLAs but could not succeed, claimed Atishi.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday said that his party's alliance with the Congress is off to a good start with an agreement over 11 "strong" Lok Sabha seats in the state for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. SP president Akhilesh Yadav with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.(File)

"Our cordial alliance with Congress is off to a good start with 11 strong seats. This trend will move forward with the winning equation. 'INDIA' team and the 'PDA' (Backward, Dalit, Minority) strategy will change history," Akhilesh Yadav posted on X.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

He, however, did not elaborate on which seats the two parties have agreed upon.

A senior UP Congress leader said that this marks the start of the seat-sharing process between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh for the coming Lok Sabha elections.

More discussions will happen between the two parties, and more seats will be shared with the Congress, the Congress leader said.

UP Congress committee president Ajay Rai said that talks are being held with the Samjwadi Party in a positive and cordial environment. He added that the decision regarding the seat sharing is being taken by a committee led by Congress leader Mukul Wasnik.

Earlier this month, Akhilesh Yadav held a meeting in Lucknow with party leaders that included former MPs, former MLAs, and former MLCs. He said winnability is a key criterion for deciding on seats.

The Samajwadi Party has already announced an alliance with the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) for the Lok Sabha polls. The Akhilesh Yadav-led party has agreed to leave seven seats for its ally the RLD in Uttar Pradesh.

"We and RLD's Jayant Choudhary had a good conversation. We discussed seven seats. We are also in conversation with Congress. Several meetings have taken place in Delhi. Very soon, more meetings will be held, and a way will be found. The INDIA alliance should be strong; the question is not of (number of) seats but of winning. Based on winnability, we all will take a decision together," he said, according to ANI.

The seat-sharing talks in Uttar Pradesh are crucial for INDIA alliance parties in their goal to take on the BJP collectively in the Lok Sabha. The state also holds importance for both the INDIA bloc and the BJP as it has the largest number of 80 Lok Sabha seats.
Amid Male's diplomatic row with New Delhi, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu on Friday wished India on the occasion of its 75th Republic Day, stressing that the two nations nurtured by centuries of friendship, mutual respect, and a deep sense of kinship". Maldives President Mohammed Muizzu. (AFP)

Mohamed Muizzu's greeting "from the Government and the people of the Maldives" to "the Government and the people of India," came in the backdrop of a diplomatic tussle between the two countries over several issues that unfolded after China-leaning Maldives president took the oath of office in November last year.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Foreign minister Moosa Zameer and two former presidents Mohamed Nasheed and Ibrahim Mohamed Solih also wished India on the Republic Day on their social media platforms.

In the statement from Muizzus office, the president sent greetings and good wishes to the President and Prime Minister of India on the occasion of the 75th Republic Day of India.

"In separate messages to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Muizzu conveyed greetings and extended his heartfelt felicitations on commemorating the 75th Republic Day of India, the Maldives President's office said in the statement.

President Muizzu conveyed good wishes from the Government and the people of the Maldives to the Government and the people of India. He underscored the Maldives-India bond nurtured by centuries of friendship, mutual respect, and a deep sense of kinship. The President expressed hope for continued peace, progress, and prosperity for the Government and people of India for years to come, the statement added.

Minister of foreign affairs Zameer congratulated his counterpart S Jaishankar and the people of India with warmest greetings and sincere good wishes and said. In a post on X (formally Twitter), Zameer said, I am confident that the close bonds of friendship and cooperation between Maldives and India will continue to flourish in the years ahead.

In a post on X, Nasheed said, A very happy Republic Day to the Prime Minister and people of India! Maldives-Indian friendship is eternal, and we are very grateful to India, its people and personnel, for all the assistance provided to us over the years.

Solih said may the unbreakable bonds of friendship that have long existed between Maldives and India go from strength to strength.

India-Maldives diplomatic row

The India-Maldives diplomatic row began with Muizzu demanding India to repatriate its troops from the island nation within 24 hours of his swearing-in, followed by his decision to make China the first port of call breaking the tradition of visiting India first.

The tension further escalated after unruly comments by three Maldivian ministers on social media against India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he visited Lakshadweep.

In the latest row, the Maldives agreed earlier this week to allow a Chinese research vessel to dock at Male port against Indias apprehension about the Chinese navy's growing forays in the Indian Ocean.

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 Region gives it significant strategic importance.

(With inputs from PTI)
Agra (Uttar Pradesh) [India], January 26 (ANI): Dr RS Pareek, who has been conferred with Padma Shri for his services in the field of homoeopathy, said it was an honour and recognition of the medical practice that he represents. HT Image

Speaking to ANI, Dr Pareek said, "Apart from being a prestigious national award, the Padma Shri is an honour and recognition of the practice of homoeopathy."

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

"When I studied homoeopathy, no one knew or recognised the practice, and it wasn't seen as a respected field of study. There was a time when I went to England and Germany to study, and now doctors from England, Germany, and America come to me to study," he added.

There are 132 names on the list of Padma Awardees this year, including two duo cases (in a duo case, the award is counted as one), as per the list below. The list comprises five Padma Vibhushan, 17 Padma Bhushan, and 110 Padma Shri Awards.

Thirty of the awardees are women, and the list also includes eight persons from the categories of foreign non-resident Indian (NRI), person of Indian origin (PIO), overseas citizenship of India (OCI), and nine posthumous awardees.

The Padma Awards, which were instituted in 1954, are one of the highest civilian honours of India and are announced annually on the eve of Republic Day.

The awards are given in three categories: Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service), Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of higher order), and Padma Shri (distinguished service).

The award seeks to recognise achievements in all fields of activities or disciplines where an element of public service is involved.

The Padma Awards are conferred on recommendations by the Padma Awards Committee, which is constituted by the Prime Minister every year.

The Awards Committee is headed by the Cabinet Secretary and includes the Home Secretary, Secretary to the President and four to six eminent persons as members. The recommendations of the committee are submitted to the Prime Minister and the President of India for approval.

Last year, the government announced 106 Padma Awards, including three duo cases. The list then comprised six Padma Vibhushans, nine Padma Bhushans, and 91 Padma Shri Awards.Nineteen of the awardees were women, and the list also included two persons from the category of foreigners: NRI, PIO, OCI, and seven posthumous awardees. (ANI)
The rift within the family of former chief minister of combined Andhra Pradesh late YS Rajasekhar Reddy has reached a feverish pitch, with both brother  YSR Congress party president and present chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and his sister and state Congress president YS Sharmila indulging in a war of words.

On Friday, addressing the party workers at the Pradesh Congress Committee headquarters in Vijayawada, Sharmila claimed that she was the true successor of her late father. I am a tigress born to a tiger. I have YSRs blood in my veins. Whether anyone agrees or not, I am YS Sharmila Reddy, she said.

She said she had never sought any help or financial assistance from Jagan. So far, I have not gotten any favours from Jagan. My mother Vijayalakshmi can vouch for my sincerity, Sharmila said.

On Thursday, too, Sharmila had made strong comments against Jagan. She was reacting to the comments made by the chief minister at a media conclave in Tirupati the previous day accusing the Congress high command of engineering a split in the family by provoking his sister against him.

The Congress has been playing dirty politics right from the beginning. It is known for divide-and-rule politics. It had divided the united Andhra Pradesh for its petty political gains. Now, it is doing the same with my family, Jagan said.

He pointed out that in the past, the Congress had divided the YSR family by luring his uncle late YS Vivekananda Reddy and making him contest elections against his mother Vijayamma. Now the Congress is pitching my sister against me. The god is there to teach such elements a fitting lesson, he said.

In response, Sharmila said it was Jagan who was responsible for the split in the family, not the Congress. If the family of YSR has been split like this, it is Jagan who is responsible for it. Jagan has ruined the state and his family with his own hands. It is the god who is a witness to it. My mother is a witness to it. My entire family is a witness to it, she said.

Sharmila recalled that when Jagan Mohan Reddys party was in crisis in its early days of inception, as many as 18 MLAs had quit the Congress and stood by him. He promised that he would make all of them ministers once he becomes the CM. How many of them have become ministers in his regime? she said.

She said when the MLAs had quit their posts, she and Vijayamma had toured their constituencies and campaigned for them. We struggled for their victory. When the YSRCP was in trouble, I took up the padayatra. I left my family and children at home and went round the state in adverse weather conditions. I even toured the state for united Andhra, she recalled.

Whenever Jagan wanted my services, I stood by him selflessly, without questioning, without expecting anything. Even in the last elections, I took part in the party campaign, she said.

She alleged that after Jagan became the CM, he had completely changed as a person. Though he did a lot of injustice to me, I did not say anything but expected that he would do good for the state. However, it has not happened, she said and alleged that Jagan cannot claim to be a true successor of YSR, as he has not implemented any of his welfare schemes in the state.

Sharmila has been making remarks against her brother ever since she took over as the APCC chief on January 21. She alleged that the Jagan government had pushed the state into bankruptcy, despite taking massive debts that crossed 10 lakh crore in the last five years.

Forget the construction of three capitals, there is no money even for taking up road repairs. The state government employees have not been getting salaries on time. On the other hand, the atrocities on the Dalits have been on the rise. The state has gone into the hands of the mining and sand mafia, she said.

She said Jagan, who raised a hue and cry over the special category status to AP, has not bothered to take up any movement against the Centre for denying the same. Sharmila said even after 10 years of the state bifurcation, Andhra Pradesh doesnt have a capital city. While Naidu failed to complete Amaravati, Jagan ignored it but could not take up the construction of three capitals. Both the governments have failed to complete the Polavaram project even after 10 years, she said.

Within hours of Sharmila launching a tirade against him, Jagan launched a counter-attack against her. Addressing a rally at Uravakonda in Anantapur district, he said some star campaigners from the neighbouring state were coming to Andhra Pradesh to help Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N Chandrababu Naidu.

There is a group of star campaigners, belonging to other parties, which is trying to prop up Naidu. They stay in the neighbouring state and come to AP to campaign for the TDP. Now, one more person who took over the reins of the Congress party that had divided united Andhra Pradesh illogically and had done injustice to the state, has joined this bandwagon to benefit Chandrababu Naidu, Jagan said.
The future of the Grand Alliance hung by a thread on Saturday as a change of guard appeared imminent in Bihar, with hectic parleys continuing through the day in Patna as well as the national capital, people aware of the developments said. Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar. (HT File)

Legislators emerging from an informal meeting of chief minister Nitish Kumars Janata Dal (United) indicated that a return to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) could happen as early as Sunday, when the proposal is set to be tabled at a crucial meeting.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

People familiar with the consultations between the JD(U) and the BJP said the latter proposed the names of Renu Devi and Tarkishore Prasad for the posts of deputy chief minister, but it is likely that Prasad may be replaced by Sushil Modi who is preferred by Kumar.

There is a chance that both BJP and JD(U) MLAs may come together at the CMs house on Sunday, where a final announcement will be made if Nitish gives the go-ahead, one of the people cited above said.

READ | As Nitish Kumar keeps everyone guessing, what is RJD, Congress's game plan for Bihar?

If Kumar makes the switch, it will be his fourth such move in the past decade and the second this term.

Speaking to reporters in Delhi, JD(U) spokesperson KC Tyagi said, The INDIA bloc is on the verge of collapse. The alliance is almost over in Punjab, West Bengal and Bihar, and added that he could not see how the INDIA bloc parties could fight the all-powerful BJP. Kumar never hankered after a position in the alliance (INDIA), but a section of the Congress leadership repeatedly insulted him, he said.

The developments came as other constituents of the Mahagathbandhan appeared to display a united front, with the Rashtriya Janata Party remaining tight-lipped on the evolving situation, and the Congress hailing Kumar as the architect of the larger INDIA bloc.

But, HT has learned that Kumar did not take calls from either RJD chief Lalu Prasad or Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.

The RJD has decided to adopt a wait and watch policy till there is more clarity on Kumars next move, and authorised former CM Lalu Prasad to decide on the future course of action.

Following a two-hour meeting, the partys Rajya Sabha MP and national spokesperson Manoj Jha said, There were discussions on the present political situation in the state and the country. The MLAs have authorised the RJD chief [Lalu Prasad] to take any decision in the context of the evolving political situation in the state.

There is no question of the RJD withdrawing support from the six-party coalition, Jha added.

READ | Would rather die than go to NDA: Old Nitish Kumar video goes viral

Chief minister Nitish Kumar, RJD chief Lalu Prasad and deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav have nursed this government Why should we shake our own government? We have immense respect for CM Kumar, he told reporters.

The RJD is the single-largest party with 79 lawmakers in the 243-member Bihar assembly. A party or a grouping needs 122 lawmakers to form the government. The JD(U) has 45 members while the NDA has 82. The RJD, Congress, and Left parties together have 114 lawmakers.

The timing of these moves is crucial. On Monday, Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra enters Bihar and the Congress had planned a show of strength with all members of the ruling alliance. But people familiar with the matter said that Kumar lost interest when it became clear that he would not be the face of the 28-party Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA).

On Saturday, Congress communications chief Jairam Ramesh said that Kharge honestly tried to talk to the Bihar CM but could not reach him.

Kharge, who refused to comment further till he received full information, told reporters in Kalaburagi, I wrote a letter and tried to talk with them... What they have in mind is not clear.

He said the Congress will make all efforts to keep the INDIA bloc united, adding, We expect that those who have the desire to protect this countrys Constitution and democracy will definitely not take any hasty steps.

While the party appointed former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel as the state observer, it underlined Kumars role in the formation of the alliance at the national level.

Ramesh pointed out that it was Kumar who chaired the first meeting on June 23 last year of the opposition parties  then 18  in Patna. The Bihar CM made significant contributions in the meetings in Patna, Bengaluru and Mumbai, he said.

The party has also tasked Baghel with talking to its MLAs in the state amid fears of poaching.

The Congresss Bihar unit chief Akhilesh Prasad Singh rubbished rumours of MLAs switching sides as false and baseless.

We are all united, Singh told reporters in Purnea, where party functionaries are preparing for Gandhis yatra.

CM Kumar, meanwhile, offered prayers at the Brahmeshwarnath temple and inaugurated beautification work at the temple alongside Union minister Ashwini Choubey.

It [alliance with BJP] is a formality now. The meeting on Sunday will endorse the proposal of going with the BJP. The new government will come either on Sunday or Monday, said a JD(U) office-bearer.

We are with Nitish Kumar, said a JD(U) MLA, requesting anonymity, after the informal meeting of JD(U) legislators on Saturday evening.

JD(U) MLC and spokesperson Neeraj Kumar, who was so far seen defending the RJD on the land-for-job scam, assumed a more aggressive stance.

The RJD leadership is restless, the reason for the restlessness is clear. Those who were involved in the land-for-job scam are restless as they could not have any say in appointment and posting of over 2.5 lakh teachers, he said.

The BJP refrained from making any categorical statements, maintaining that the meeting chaired by the partys state in-charge Vinod Tawde earlier in the day was a routine step ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

Nitish Kumar has not resigned and nobody has withdrawn support. If something happens, only then will we have any information... BJP wants to know the situation of Bihar and only then take a decision, Samrat Chaudhary, BJP state president, said.

Senior party leaders, however, indicated that there was more clarity on the formation of a new government, and a final decision was likely at another meeting on Sunday morning. There will be two deputy CMs from the party, said a party leader wishing not to be named.

The appointment of the two deputy CMs and the assembly speaker is likely to be finalised keeping in mind the caste composition of the state, with the Lok Sabha polls due in the summer.

Of the two names proposed by the BJP, Renu Devi is from the Noniya community  an Economically Backward Classes (EBC) group. The Speaker, the people cited earlier indicated, could be from an upper caste.

The state sends 40 representatives to the Lok Sabha. Currently, the BJP has the highest representation from Bihar with 17 MPs. The JD(U) has 16, while the Lok Janashakti Party, now split between the uncle-nephew duo of Pashupati Kumar Paras and Chirag Paswan, has six.

As the developments in Bihar continued to unravel, LJP (Ram Vilas) and HAM-S  both members of the NDA  also appeared jittery.

LJP(RV) leader Chirag Paswan met Union home minister Amit Shah and BJP president JP Nadda.

Paswan, who led the charge against Kumar ahead of the 2020 state polls, is learnt to have conveyed that the number of seats his party holds in the alliance should not be curtailed.

A person aware of the details said that Paswan has said he will continue to be part of the NDA and work under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but if his demand of being allocated six seats in the Lok Sabha polls is not met, he would consider fielding candidates against the JD(U).

Addressing the media after the meeting, Paswan said the situation is very positive regarding the alliance.

It is important to know what is happening in Bihar today... I have kept my concerns before them (Shah and Nadda) over Bihar. They have given an assurance on various issues. In the coming days, the situation will become clearer and after that, our party will take a stand. We are a part of the NDA today, he said.

In the 2019 polls, the LJP contested six of the 40 seats in the state, and won all.

HAM-S leader Jitan Ram Manjhi, meanwhile, has said that his party will continue to support the BJP.
Jan 27, 2024 10:56 AM IST

Congress leader Tariq Anwar has taken a jibe at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over speculations about his party JDU forging ties with BJP.

"The political instability that is arising in Bihar is being created by BJP itself because they are very worried about the INDIA bloc. I still feel that Nitish Kumar will not take any such step which will tarnish the image of him and his party. He has already changed sides twice and if he does so for the third time then his image in the eyes of the people of Bihar will be destroyed," he said.

Weighing in on loss to the INDIA alliance if Nitish Kumar leaves the bloc, Anwar said: "There will be a loss, no one can deny it, but there are other parties in the alliance. If this happens then everyone will face it together."
Amritsar (Punjab) [India], January 27 (ANI): The Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police in a joint operation recovered a Pakistani drone with one packet of heroin weighing 519 grams from a farming field in Mode village in Punjab's Amritsar, an official statement by the BSF said. HT Image

The recovery was made by the BSF and Punjab police in an operation on January 26.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

"On January 26, during the afternoon hours, following intelligence input, BSF Punjab Frontier troops and Amritsar Rural Police (Punjab Police India) conducted a joint search operation and recovered a Pakistani drone quadcopter model - DJI Mavic 3 Pro , made in China) and 519 grams of heroin," the BSF said in an official statement.

The narcotics were wrapped with yellow adhesive tape, and a metal ring was attached to the packet. This recovery took place in the farming field adjacent to Mode village in Amritsar District, it added.

"Once again, the vigilant BSF troops thwarted the illicit intentions of smugglers," the BSF said in the statement.

In a similar incident, the Border Security Force (BSF) on Friday recovered a China-made drone from a farming field in the Roranwala Khurd village in Punjab's Amritsar, an official statement by the BSF said.

According to the official statement, the recovery of the drone took place during the patrol by the BSF troops.

"On January 26, 2024, during the morning hours, while carrying out area domination patrolling ahead of the border fence, BSF troops observed a suspicious item at about 09:00 hrs," read the official statement.

"On reaching nearby, the suspicious item revealed itself to be a small drone. BSF troops successfully recovered it," it added.

The recovered drone is a quadcopter made in China, according to the official statement. (ANI)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. 50,616 voters are registered and 50 polling stations have been created in the Saatly constituency of Azerbaijan. Due to the ongoing refinement of voter lists, their number may increase, Chairman of the District Election Commission Arif Aliyev told the website secki-2024.az.

He noted that the process of preparation for the election continues in full compliance with the law.

"Web cameras are installed at seven polling stations. In addition, ramps for voters with disabilities have been installed at 12 polling stations. There are 639 observers registered in the region. Representatives of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) also got acquainted with the preparations for the election in the constituency," Aliyev added.

The chairman of the district commission also noted that training sessions were held for members of election commissions and work was carried out to inform about the electoral process.

Early presidential election in Azerbaijan will be held on February 7.
Two days after the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) survey report on the Gyanvapi mosque complex was made public, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Saturday demanded that the structure be declared as a Hindu temple and urged the Muslim side to hand it over. The Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi.(File)

On Thursday, Vishnu Shankar Jain, who represents the Hindu side in the Gyanvapi-Kashi Vishwanath case, said that the ASI survey suggests the mosque was built on the remains of a pre-existing temple.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

He said the mosque was built in the 17th century after Aurangzeb demolished a grand Hindu temple. Citing the report, Jain also claimed the debris of the statues of Hindu gods was found in two basements during the survey.

The Muslim petitioners in the decades-old case, however, said that the survey report by the ASI is not a final verdict.

On Saturday, the VHP demanded that Hindus be permitted to offer "sewa puja" to the 'Shivlinga' found in the "so-called Wazukhana area" at the disputed site.

"The evidence collected and the conclusions provided by the ASI do prove that the religious character of this place of worship existed on the 15th day of August, 1947, and as at present is of a Hindu Temple," VHP working president Alok Kumar said in a statement. "Thus, even as per Section 4 of the Places of Worship Act, 1991, the structure should be declared as a Hindu temple."

The VHP also called upon the Intezamia Committee, the caretaker of the mosque to agree to "respectfully shift" the Gyanvapi mosque to another appropriate place and to hand over the original site of Kashi Vishvanatha to the Hindu society.

"The VHP believes that this righteous action shall be an important step towards creating amicable relations between the two prominent communities of Bharat," Kumar said. Hand over the Gyanvapi structure to Hindus.

The Gyanvapi dispute dates back decades but in August 2021, five women filed a petition in a local court demanding the right of unhindered worship at the Maa Shringar Gauri Sthal, located inside the complex that houses idols of Hindu gods.

In April 2022, the local court ordered a controversial survey of the complex, which quickly ran into protests. The survey was finally completed in May of that year, but not before the Hindu side claimed that the Shivling was found in the final hours of the exercise even as the Muslim side disputed this. The court clamped security on the entire complex and ordered to seal the wazukhana area inside the mosque complex, even as the Muslim side argued that the structure found was a ceremonial ablution fountain.

Then, last year, the Varanasi district court ordered an extensive survey of the mosque by ASI to ascertain whether it was built over a pre-existing temple, while holding that a scientific probe was necessary for the truth to come out. The judge, however, excluded the section over which a dispute had arisen, which remains sealed.

ASI report on Gyanvapi mosque complex



The report by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has said that a large Hindu temple existed before the construction of the Gyanvapi Masjid in Varanasi.

Based on scientific studies/survey carried out, study of architectural remains, exposed features and artefacts, inscriptions, art and sculptures, it can be said that there existed a Hindu temple prior to the construction of the existing structure, the report said.

The report further suggested that the temple was destroyed during the reign of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. The Arabic-Persian inscription found inside a room mentions that the mosque was built in the 20th regnal year of Aurangzeb hence, the pre-existing structure appears to have been destroyed in the 17th century, during the reign of Aurangzeb, and part of it was modified and reused in the existing structure, the report said.

It further said that pillars decorated with bells, niches for keeping lamps, and inscriptions of the temple were reused to build the mosque.

Based on art and architecture, this pre-existing structure can be identified as a Hindu temple, the ASI report said.
The residents of Delhi once again woke to a foggy morning and bone-chilling cold on Saturday that also affected several rail operations. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a partly cloudy sky and moderate fog in the morning, with the minimum temperature to hover around 5 degrees Celsius on Saturday, before rising to 6 degrees Celsius on Sunday and to 8 degrees Celsius by Monday, as a western disturbance approaches the northern plains. The fog is forecast to become shallow after 10am(HT_PRINT)

According to news agency ANI, several trains, including Gorakhdham Superfast and New Delhi-Varanasi Vande Bharat Express, were running late, leaving passengers stranded at the New Delhi Railway Station.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

"We are going to Agra with family... The trains are running late for 3-4 hours. We are facing problems due to it. An alert or a message for train delay was also not received...," a passenger shared his ordeal with the news agency.

On Friday, the national capital was engulfed by dense fog in the morning, recording a minimum temperature of 4.7 degrees Celsius, four degrees below normal. It was 4.8 degrees Celsius a day earlier. This was Delhis lowest minimum on Republic Day in the last three years and the second lowest in the last decade, behind 2021, when it was 2.1 degrees Celsius.

On Friday, the fog delayed around 25 flights at Delhis Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport and at least 34 trains were delayed by over an hour.

Delhi's air quality

The city's air quality plunged sharply into the deep red zone again on Saturday with with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 450 in Anand Vihar area as per Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) at 7am. On Friday, a 24-hour air quality index was clocked at 409 (severe) at 4pm, according to CPCB national bulletin.

The two other days when AQI was severe this month were January 24 (409) and January 14 (447). It has been very poor  between 300 and 400 for 22 days this month  and poor  between 200 and 300 on one day.

Snowfall in Himachal Pradesh

Meanwhile, higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh received light snowfall on Friday, ending the prolonged dry spell in some areas. According to the regional meteorological department, light snowfall was received at the north portal of Atal Tunnel in Kullu district, Bharmour and Pangi in Chamba district.

Cold wave warning for Odisha

The weather agency has also issued a cold wave warning in parts of Odisha for the next two days on Friday.

With a cold and dry wind blowing into the state from north-west direction, a few districts in north interior Odisha are likely to experience cold wave conditions during the next two days, PTI quoted Regional Meteorological Centre's senior weather scientist Uma Shakhar Dash as saying.

The IMD issued a 'yellow' warning for the districts of Sundergarh, Jharsuguda, Deogarh, Keonjhar and Angul districts, he said.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday wrote a letter to West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee to issue directions to appropriate authorities to ensure a safe passage to the 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' which is passing through the state. Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge.(ANI)

In his letter, Kharge claimed that he has been aware that "some miscreants may foment trouble" for the Yatra in the coming days. He said this might be done with the intention to show the West Bengal administration in a bad light or disrupt the yatra.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

While the first Bharat Jodo Yatra went across the country without any untoward incidents and culminated in a rally in Kashmir. However, you would be aware that some miscreants targeted the current Bharat Jodo Yatra in your neighbouring states. This has been done on political instigation but our cadre faced it bravely, Kharge wrote.

Now the yatra is passing through Bengal over the next few days. I have been made aware that again some miscreants may foment trouble for the yatra. I am not sure if intention maybe to state administration in a bad light or disrupt the yatra, he added.

Kharge was referring to the faceoff between the Rahul Gandhi-led Yatra and the Himanta Biswa Sarma's government in Assam.

A massive row erupted as hundreds of Congress workers clashed with the police and broke through barricades after they were stopped outside Assam's Guwahati during the yatra. A case was also filed against top leaders of the Congress, including Rahul Gandhi. The clash also set off a bitter war of words between Sarma and Gandhi.

Earlier, West Bengal Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury claimed that the Trinamool government was not permitting public meetings linked to his party's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. The accusation was, however, denied by the Trinamool Congress.

In Friday's letter, Kharge requested Banerjee to issue appropriate directions to ensure the smooth passage of the Yatra through West Bengal and ensure the safety of those participating, including Rahul Gandhi.

"I'm aware that the Gandhi family and you share very cordial relations and you would ensure that all security concerns would be addressed adequately," he said. However, I thought it would be best if I possibly write to you requesting for the same.
The Congress on Saturday launched its 'Donate for Nyay' crowdfunding campaign as part of the ongoing Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. Congress Rahul Gandhi during a public meeting amid party's 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' in Assam's Nagaon.(ANI)

Under the campaign, people will get a Rahul Gandhi-signed letter or merchandise in return for their donation.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

While launching the campaign at the AICC headquarters in New Delhi along with Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh, Congress treasurer Ajay Maken said that under the campaign, any person who donates 670 or more will get a T-shirt signed by Rahul Gandhi as a gift.

"Those who donate 67,000 or more will get a 'Nyay Kit' which will contain a T-shirt, bag, band, badge and sticker," he said. For anything that one donates, he or she will get a letter signed by Rahul ji and a certificate of donation."

Maken also said the idea behind the campaign and the earlier wider crowdfunding campaign of the party, 'Donate for Desh', was not to get money but to motivate workers.

He said that under the party's 'Donate for Desh' crowdfunding campaign, which was launched on December 18 last year, a total 20 crore has been collected so far.

Within two hours of launching the 'Donate for Nyay' campaign, 2 crore were collected, the Congress treasurer said.

On being asked about funds being lower than expectations, Maken said, "We can't contest elections by raising money through our workers. If someone thinks we will get all our funding for the elections through this crowdfunding, he is wrong and this is something we did not intend."

It is much more than the crowdfunding by any other political party as both the AAP and the BJP had started it but they could not reach even 1 crore, he added.

The Rahul Gandhi-led yatra is on a two-day break from January 26 to 27 and will restart from West Bengal's Jalpaiguri on Sunday. It is expected to enter Bihar on January 29 and return to West Bengal again on January 31 via Malda.

Gandhi is undertaking the over 6,700-km Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra from Manipur to Mumbai. The yatra aims to revive the party's electoral prospects in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, following a poor showing in the last round of assembly elections.
In a significant statement amid the political turmoil in Bihar, Janata Dal (United)'s political adviser and spokesperson KC Tyagi on Saturday accused the Congress of repeatedly "insulting" state chief minister Nitish Kumar. Janata Dal (United)'s political adviser and spokesperson KC Tyagi.(PTI)

Tyagi claimed that the INDIA bloc is on the verge of collapse and added that Kumar could not see how the INDIA bloc parties could fight the "all-powerful" BJP. Follow LIVE updates of the political turmoil in Bihar.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

"The INDIA bloc is on the verge of collapse. The alliance of INDIA bloc parties is almost over in Punjab, West Bengal and Bihar," Tyagi was quoted as saying by PTI. Kumar never hankered after a position in the alliance but a section of the Congress leadership repeatedly insulted him.

Tyagi said that the goal and intentions with which Kumar, the JD(U) president, succeeded in bringing non-Congress parties with the Congress have come unstuck. He also added that Kumar was "misunderstood".

Further criticising the INDIA alliance, Tyagi added that Kumar succeeded in bringing together several parties in Patna but the entire process became so limp that the INDIA bloc has had no joint meetings on leadership and agenda even as the Lok Sabha elections neared, according to PTI.

The statement from the senior JD(U) leaders comes amid strong indications that Kumar is planning to quit the ruling 'Mahagathbandhan' in Bihar and revert to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.

If Kumar makes the switch, as rumoured, it will be the fourth such move in the past decade and the second this term.

Earlier, the signs of straining ties in the ruling alliance were apparent after deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav skipped the Republic Day celebrations at Raj Bhavan, where Kumar was present.

The two did not exchange a word in the parade held in Patna soon after. Ask those who were not present why they skipped the function, Kumar told reporters later. At the Raj Bhavan, the CM was seen chatting with the leader of the Opposition Vijay Kumar Sinha, and JD(U) minister Ashok Choudhary was sitting on the chair allotted for the deputy CM.

The JD(U) has 45 members in the 243-member Bihar assembly while the NDA has 82. A party or a grouping needs 122 lawmakers to form the government. The RJD, Congress, and Left parties have 114 lawmakers. The RJD is the single-largest party with 79 lawmakers.
Expressing "grave concern" over the situation in Manipur, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and said the "continuing silence and inaction" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is an injustice to the people of the northeastern state. A supporter of the Congress party holds up a banner during Rahul Gandhi's "Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra" in Manipur's Thoubal district on January 14.(REUTERS)

In his letter, Kharge urged Shah to take urgent action to ensure that democracy and the rule of law prevails once more in Manipur.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

"I write to you on a matter of very grave concern. It has been almost nine months since Manipur erupted in violence, and the situation has only turned from bad to worse," he claimed.

Kharge detailed recent developments in the state, noting that on January 24 a meeting was convened of ministers/MPs/MLAs in the historical Kangla Fort in Imphal that is heavily guarded by central and state security forces.

Many members present in the meeting were compelled and coerced to attend this meeting by an armed group, he claimed.

"Not only that, the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee President and MLA from Wangkhem, Keisham Meghachandra was brutally assaulted and tortured during this meeting," Kharge said.

Also Read | Violence beyond ethnic strife as militants fish in Manipurs troubled waters

This shocking incident has happened despite the heavy presence of central and security forces, and intelligence personnel, he said.

Kharge said till date, there has been no action from Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh and the home ministry on this very disturbing subversion of democratic processes by a non-state actor.

"It is shameful that the prime minister's eloquent silence when it comes to Manipur seems to be the prevailing strategy from all important stakeholders in both the state and the Centre," he alleged.

Kharge pointed out that he himself had visited Manipur on January 14 for the inaugural rally of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.

"My experience was similar to what Rahul Gandhi noted in his previous visit to Manipur on 29th and 30th June, 2023 and recently again during the yatra that the Manipuri society remains bitterly divided and no concrete steps have been taken towards peace, relief and justice for those still suffering from the aftermath of the violence in the state since May 3 2023," he said.

Also Read | What conflict-hit Manipur showcased at Republic Day parade

All these events point to a "complete collapse" of the administration in Manipur, the Congress chief argued.

"The continuing silence and inaction of the prime minister is an injustice to the people of Manipur," he said.

Governments come and go, but it is the responsibility of constitutional functionaries to ensure that democratic structures, institutions and processes are protected and preserved, Kharge said in his letter to Shah.

"Our nation has just celebrated the 75th Republic Day. Manipur is an integral part of our Republic and I urge you to take urgent action to ensure that democracy and the rule of law prevails once more in a very important and valued part of our wonderfully diverse country," he said.

The violence, which claimed over 180 lives, erupted on May 3 last year after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley, while tribals, which include Nagas and Kukis, constitute 40 per cent and reside mainly in the hill districts.
A Delhi court on Saturday summoned former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi, her two daughters Hema Yadav and Misa Bharti, along with other accused in a case registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding the land for job scam, while taking cognizance of a chargesheet filed by the agency. RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav with his wife Rabri Devi and daughter Misa Bharti (behind Lalu) in Patna. (File Photo)

The complaint prima facie disclosed the deriving or obtaining of multiple properties both at undervalued rates in lieu of government employment ..... The court finds sufficient material to take cognizance of the complaint and finds cogent grounds to issue summons, said special judge Vishal Gogne.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The court has issued summons to all the accused and directed them to appear on February 9.

The federal probe agency had named Rabri Devi, her two daughters along with a former railway employee Hridayanand Chaudhary and Amit Katyal as accused. They had also named two companies, A. K. Infosystem and A. B. Exports, as accused in the chargesheet filed on January 9.

The charge sheet, filed by the agency, did not name either Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo and Rabri Devis husband Lalu Prasad Yadav or their son and Bihars deputy chief minister Tejaswi Yadav. Both have been named as accused in the predicate offence case filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and have been released on bail in that case as they were charge sheeted without arrest.

ED had initiated a probe based on the case registered by CBI alleging that Lalu Prasad Yadav, the then rail minister, had sought land as bribes for jobs in Indian Railways during the period 2004 - 2009.

The agency has in its chargesheet alleged that A. K. Infosystems and A. B. Exports, the two companies named as accused in the land for jobs scam case, were formed to benefit Bihars former chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family.

The purpose of forming these companies was to keep the ill-gotten money of Lalu Prasad Yadav and family, and Amit Katyal was the front man, submitted special public prosecutor (SPP) Manish Jain on January 18, while taking the court through the chargesheet.

The agency alleged that the company, A. K. Infosystems, bought 11 land parcels and even though the book value of the assets was 1.89 crores, the entire company was transferred to the family members of Lalu Prasad Yadav for 1 lakh.

It claimed that the land parcels were bought in exchange for providing jobs in Group D categories in the Indian Railways and that they were acquired at strategic locations, adjacent to land that was already owned by the family members.

Referring to A. B. Exports, the agency alleged that the company was incorporated in 1996 and that in 2007,  5 crore were generated through sham transactions. It further alleged that the company was purchased by Tejaswi Yadav with the money that he received from Katyal.

The agency said that out of seven land parcels, which are being investigated in the predicate offence, three were owned by Devi, two by Hema Yadav, and one by Bharti.

It also pointed out that the proceeds of crime, which were generated by selling three land parcels of Devi and two of Hema Yadav to a company, 1 crore, was given to Tejaswi Yadav which was infused by him in A. B. Exports.

The federal agency arrested Katyal on November 11, 2023, in connection to the case and he is currently under judicial custody. His bail application is currently pending before the court.
France's President Emmanuel Macron was on a two-day state visit to India to attend the 75th Republic Day celebrations as the chief guest. During Macron's visit, India and France signed deals for various sectors, including defence, space exploration, civil aviation, science and technology, health, public administration and urban development. The two nations have also made announcements of cooperation in several areas including UPI, renewable energy, visa issues, etc. French President Emmanuel Macron and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (PTI)

According to the ministry of external affairs, a letter of intent has been signed with France on defence space partnership. The documents concluded include an agreement between TATA Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Airbus to set up an assembly line for H125 helicopters in India.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

ALSO READ| Forced to enrol on DigiYatra at airports? Scindia clarifies in letter to TMC MP

Here is a list of outcomes:

Roadmap for India-France defence industrial partnership (in defence)

Letter of intent between the ministry of defence, government of India and the ministry for the armed forces of France on defence space partnership (in defence)

Memorandum of understanding between NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) and Arianespace SAS, France (in space)

Memorandum of agreement between TATA Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Airbus to set up an assembly line for H125 helicopters in India (in civil aviation)

Framework cooperation arrangement between department of science and technology (DST), government of India and institut national de recherche pour LAgriculture, LAlimentation Et LEnvironnement (INRAE), France (in science and technology)

Framework arrangement on cooperation concerning funding of research projects between department of science and technology (DST), government of India and Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR), France (in science and technology)

Declaration of intent between the ministry of health and family welfare, government of India and the ministry of labour, health and solidarity of France on cooperation in the field of health and medicine.

Letter of intent between the ministry of personnel, public grievances and pensions, government of India and the ministry of public sector transformation and the civil service, France on public administration and administrative reforms.

Renewal of agreement between the ministry of housing and urban affairs, government of India and the ministry of ecological transition and territorial cohesion of France on cooperation in the field of sustainable urban development.

Key announcements made after discussions between India and France

Declaring 2026 as India-France Year of Innovation

Operationalisation of Unified Payment Interface (UPI) at Eiffel Tower

Setting up of a Solar Academy in Senegal under the STAR-C programme of International Solar Alliance

Establishment of Indias Consulate in Marseille and French Bureau de France in Hyderabad

Operationalisation of Young Professional Scheme under the Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement

Operationalisation of 5-year validity Schengen Visa for Indian Masters alumni of French institutions

Support to France for United Nations Ocean Conference to be organized in Nice in 2025

In India, Macron and PM Modi held a roadshow in Jaipur. In the pink city, the French President visited various monuments like the Amber Fort, the Jantar Mantar and the Hawa Mahal. In Delhi, he visited the Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia Dargah.
Captain Avinash Rawat, the master of MV Marlin Luanda, on Saturday thanked the Indian Navy for its help in extinguishing the fire on his ship following a missile strike by the Houthis in the Gulf of Eden. Captain Avinash Rawat, commanding officer of the merchant vessel struck by a missile in the Gulf of Aden.

Rawat said, Half of the world knows that yesterday we were struck by a missile in the Gulf of Aden. Due to the attack, our vessel was on massive fire. I would really like to thank Indian warship INS Visakhapatnam,

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

"We had lost hope, but these (Indian Navy) guys have done a tremendous (firefighting) job. They really went out of the way to help us out, he added.

The crew of the merchant vessel comprised of 22 Indians and one person from Bangladesh.

Indian Navy spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said, After six hours of battling the fire along with the crew of MV Marlin Luanda, the Indian Naval fire fighting team has successfully brought the fire under control. Madhwal stated that the team is overseeing the situation to eliminate potential for re-ignition.

Indian missile destroyer INS Visakhapatnam on Saturday answered a distress signal from MV Marlin Luanda, an oil tanker operated by the UK-based Oceonix Services, that had come under a missile attack from the Iranian-backed Houthis in the Gulf of Aden on Friday.

This incident is the latest in a string of attacks on commercial vessels in the broader region, encompassing the Red Sea and portions of the Arabian Sea.

Based on a request from MV Marlin Luanda, INS Visakhapatnam has deployed its NBCD (nuclear biological chemical defence and damage control) team along with firefighting equipment to render assistance to the crew towards augmenting firefighting efforts on board the distressed MV, the Indian Navy said in a statement on Saturday.

In the previous week, INS Visakhapatnam intercepted a cargo vessel carrying 22 crew members, including nine Indians, shortly after the Marshall Island-flagged ship faced a drone strike in the Gulf of Aden.

On January 5, the Navy successfully prevented the hijacking of the Liberian-flagged vessel MV Lila Norfolk in the North Arabian Sea, rescuing all crew members.

(With agencies' inputs)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said he was happy that Parliament and state legislatures were working towards realisation of the goal of one nation, one legislative platform. Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually addresses the All India Presiding Officers Conference in New Delhi on Saturday.(ANI)

Addressing the 84th All India Presiding Officers' Conference (AIPOC) here virtually, he also rued that some political parties defend their members even if they violate the rules of the House, and warned that it did not augur well for Parliament and state legislatures.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

"In 2021, during discussions with you, I spoke about `one nation, one legislative platform.' I am happy that our Parliament and state legislatures are now working towards this goal through E-Vidhan and Digital Sansad platforms," the prime minister said.

Notably, the `one nation, one legislative platform' project aims at making available the proceedings of all legislatures on a single digital platform.

The image of a legislature depends on the conduct of its members, the prime minister stressed.

"There was a time when, if any member in the House broke the rules and action was taken against that member, senior members of the House would talk to him so that in future he did not repeat the mistake and break the rules of the House. "But these days, some political parties stand in support of such members and defend their mistakes. The situation is not good for Parliament or state legislature," Modi said.

Reflecting on the changing norms in public life, he said in the past, allegations of corruption against a member of the House would lead to his or her ostracisation from public life.

"But now we witness public glorification of convicted corrupt individuals. This is an insult to the executive, the judiciary and the constitution," Modi said.

Referring to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (legislation on women's quota in legislatures), Modi said discussions on suggestions aimed at enhancing women's participation and representation should be encouraged in legislatures.

Underling the pivotal role of state governments and legislative assemblies in shaping India's progress, Modi said the country's progress hinges on the advancement of the states. The progress of the states, in turn, depends on the determination of their legislative and executive bodies to define their development goals collectively, he added.

On the significance of legislative committees, Modi said, "The empowerment of committees is crucial for the economic progress of your state. The more actively these committees work towards achieving set goals, the more the state will advance."

In the last ten years, 2,000 redundant laws have been scrapped by his government, the prime minister noted. He also called upon presiding officers of legislatures to pay attention to unnecessary laws and their impact on the people's lives, stressing that their removal would have a significant positive impact.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. The trial of Yasin Huseynzadeh, who carried out an attack on the Azerbaijani embassy, took place today in Tehran, Trend reports.

Several diplomats from the Azerbaijani Embassy also took part in the court hearing.

At the beginning, the prosecutor's representative read out the indictment. According to the indictment, the person who attacked the Azerbaijani embassy in Tehran is accused of deliberately killing one of the Azerbaijani citizens in the embassy building using firearms, injuring two embassy diplomats, illegally possessing a Kalashnikov assault rifle and a pistol, and disturbing public order

After the indictment was announced, the defendant and his lawyer made a defense speech.

As a result, the judge announced that the criminal proceedings had been completed, and the chairman of the court stated that the decision would be made within the time limits established by law.

On January 27, 2023, a terrorist attack was carried out against the Azerbaijani embassy in Tehran. As a result of the terrorist attack, one embassy employee was killed and two were injured.
The Indian Navy on Saturday said that it has deployed its guided missile destroyer INS Visakhapatnam in the Gulf of Aden in response to a distress call from MV Marlin Luanda on the night of January 26. The distress call from MV Marlin Luanda came on the night of January 26.(X/IndianNavy)

The British oil tanker Marlin Luanda has 22 Indian and one Bangladeshi crew members onboard.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The fire-fighting efforts onboard the distressed Merchant Vessel is being augmented by the NBCD team along with firefighting equipment, deployed by INS Visakhapatnam to assist the crew onboard the MV. The MV has 22 #Indian & 01 Bangladeshi crew onboard, the Indian Navy wrote on X, previously Twitter.

It added that the Indian Navy remains steadfast and committed to safeguarding Merchant Vessels and ensuring the safety of life at sea.

Yemens Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for the attack. According to The Guardian, they have claimed that their naval forces carried out an operation targeting what they described as the British oil tanker Marlin Luanda in the Gulf of Aden.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea in a statement said that the group used appropriate naval missiles" and that the "strike was direct.

The United States has also confirmed the Houthis strike on MV Marlin Luanda.

On January 26, at approximately 7:45 pm (Sanaa time), Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists fired one anti-ship ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and struck the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker M/V Marlin Luanda, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) wrote on X. The ship issued a distress call and reported damage. USS Carney (DDG 64) and other coalition ships have responded and are rendering assistance. No injuries have been reported at this time.

The incident is the latest in a series of drone and pirate attacks on merchant vessels in the region, including the Red Sea and parts of the Arabian Sea.

The Indian navy has stepped up surveillance in the troubled region substantially and deployed task groups consisting of around 10 warships in the face of the recent attacks on India-bound merchant vessels.

Houthi militia has been targeting commercial shipping in the Red Sea with missiles and drones after the Israel-Hamas conflict began on October 7. The Iran-backed Houthi rebels declared their support for Hamas. Several shipping companies have suspended their operations in the Red Sea following the attacks, which have forced mariners to change course and take longer routes around the southern tip of Africa.
Indias guided missile destroyer INS Visakhapatnam on Saturday responded to a distress call made by a merchant vessel that caught fire after a missile attack by the Iranian-backed Houthis in the Gulf of Aden, with the incident putting the spotlight on the worsening security situation in one of the worlds busiest shipping routes, officials aware of the matter said. MV Marlin Luanda. (Photo shared by the Indian Navy)

The Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker MV Marlin Luanda was struck by the Houthi rebels on Friday, the latest in a series of attacks on commercial shipping in the region including the Red Sea and parts of the Arabian Sea, the officials said. It is operated by UK-based Oceonix Services.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Based on a request from MV Marlin Luanda, INS Visakhapatnam has deployed its NBCD (nuclear biological chemical defence and damage control) team along with firefighting equipment to render assistance to the crew towards augmenting firefighting efforts on board the distressed MV, the Indian Navy said in a statement on Saturday.

The vessels crew includes 22 Indians and one Bangladeshi.

The Mayday call was sent out by the vessel on Friday night, the navy said.

READ | Had lost hopes but: Captain of merchant vessel thanks Navy for swift response to distress call

Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists on Friday fired an anti-ship ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and struck the oil tanker Marlin Luanda, the US Central Command said in a statement.

The ship issued a distress call and reported damage. USS Carney (DDG 64) and other coalition ships have responded and are rendering assistance. No injuries have been reported at this time, the US statement added.

The US Central Command later said its forces conducted a strike against a Houthi anti-ship missile aimed at the Red Sea and which was prepared to launch.

US Forces identified the missile in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, and determined it presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and the US Navy ships in the region. US Forces subsequently struck and destroyed the missile in self-defense. This action will protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for US Navy vessels and merchant vessels, the US Central Command said in another statement.

Another Marshall Islands-flagged merchant vessel, which was recently attacked by a drone in the Gulf of Aden, docked at the Tuticorin port in Tamil Nadu on Friday after the Indian Navys explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) specialists undertook a thorough examination of the ship and declared it safe for port entry.

INS Visakhapatnam had on January 18 responded to a distress call made by MV Genco Picardy after it was attacked. It was carrying a crew of 22, including nine Indians.

The navy has stepped up surveillance in the troubled region substantially and deployed task groups consisting of around 10 warships in the face of the recent attacks on India-bound merchant vessels including MV Chem Pluto and MV Saibaba in December.

The drone attack on MV Chem Pluto took place around 220 nautical miles south-west of Porbandar, while the other vessel was targeted in the southern Red Sea.

The Houthi rebels have been targeting commercial shipping in the Red Sea with missiles and drones after the Israel-Hamas conflict began on October 7. Several shipping companies have suspended their operations in the Red Sea following the Houthi attacks, which have forced mariners to change course and take longer routes around the southern tip of Africa.

The attacks on commercial shipping in and around Red Sea were the focus of discussions between external affairs minister S Jaishankar and his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Tehran on January 15, with the Indian minister flagging concerns about the increase in threats to maritime traffic in the region including attacks in the vicinity of the Indian coast.

The growing threats to commercial shipping in the region were also discussed during talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron, who was in India for the Republic Day celebrations.

They also expressed grave concern at the possibility of further expansion of the conflict in the region, including in the Red Sea, which already has a significant economic impact in the world. They recalled the utmost importance of upholding freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and of respecting the international law of the sea, the two sides said in a joint statement on Friday.

The potential disruptions and the actual things happening in the maritime domain there (Red Sea), which is causing disruption to the commercial shipping is indeed a matter of serious concern and both leaders focused on it, foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra said on Friday.
An IndiGo flight was delayed at Mumbai airport on Friday after a man claimed that a bomb was planted under his seat. The incident took place on a Lucknow-bound flight 6E 5264 during the later hours of January 26 when the security forces were on high alert on the occasion of Republic Day. FILE PHOTO: An IndiGo airlines passenger aircraft taxis on the tarmac at Chhatrapati Shivaji International airport in Mumbai (REUTERS)

According to the Mumbai police, authorities halted the flight to conduct a thorough check of the aircraft after the man claimed that a bomb was under his seat. A team of Mumbai police and airport agencies also reached the spot immediately to investigate the claims.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

However, they did not find any suspicious objects inside the aircraft during the investigation.

The police have detained the 27-year-old passenger and registered a case against him under sections 506(2) and 505(1)(B) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The police are investigating why he did this, the Mumbai police said, reported ANI.

In a similar incident, the security forces at the Delhi airport mounted a massive search operation on Wednesday after SpiceJet received a call claiming a bomb had been placed on a Darbhanga-bound flight. According to SpiceJet, the call was received by the company's reservation office on Wednesday evening.

"On 24th January, a call was received at the SpiceJet reservation office about a bomb in the aircraft operating flight SG 8496 from Darbhanga to Delhi. The flight landed safely at Delhi airport at 6 pm and the aircraft was moved to an isolated bay," SpiceJet said in a statement.

Passengers have been deplaned safely and the aircraft is undergoing a thorough search by security agencies, it added.

Hours after a thorough probe by the security agencies, the threat was found to be a hoax.

(With inputs from agencies)
Mumbai: After deliberations that continued overnight, Maratha activist Manoj Jarange-Patil declared to withdraw his agitation on Saturday morning, stating that the state government has not only accepted his demands but also issued relevant orders for implementation. He added that he would not go to Mumbai now. CM Eknath Shinde met activist Manoj Jarange-Patil and handed over a copy of draft notification (Twitter/@mieknathshinde)

Patil, who is seeking reservation in education and jobs for the community under the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) category, had been fasting since Friday morning to press for a government resolution on the Maratha quota issue.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Shinde, who reached Vashi in Navi Mumbai on Saturday morning, met Patil after accepting his demands and handed over a copy of draft notification (on extending benefits of quota to blood relatives). The chief minister offered a glass of juice, which Patil accepted and broke his fast. Shinde later handed over the orders to the Maratha activist in a rally at Shivaji Chowk, where they also together garlanded the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Our demand was to issue Kunbi certificates to the blood relatives to Maratha individuals having Kunbi antecedents. An order to this effect has been issued, the Maratha activist said, showing the copy of a notification issued by the social justice department in a presser held early Saturday morning.

The notification will turn into formal order after the government receives suggestions and objections by February 16 and then issues a final notification.

The primary demand was the issuance of Kunbi certificates to approximately 5.4 million individuals, which has now been met by the state.

Patil praised CM Shinde for his efforts and announced to hold a grand rally to celebrate the victory, for which a date and place will be announced soon.

Expressing his satisfaction with the governments response, he said, Chief minister Eknath Shinde has done a good job. Our protest is now over. Our request has been accepted. We will accept the letter from him.

Patil had threatened to march towards Mumbai if the chief minister Eknath Shinde-led government did not issue orders to meet the demands by Saturday morning.

I have said that will go to Mumbai, but for us, this is also Mumbai. We have to hold a huge victory rally, bigger than the one held Antarwali Sarathi Jalna last year, for which a place and date will be declared soon, he said, clarifying that he has scrapped his plan to come to Mumbai.

He, however, said that he would march to Mumbai if the government failed to get the notification pass the legal scrutiny. This is our victory. However, if anything happens to this notification then this time I will definitely come to Azad Maidan (to hold a hunger strike). It is governments duty to make it pass legal scrutiny, he said in a rally held after breaking a fast at Shivaji Chowk, Vashi.

CM Shinde also congratulated Patil and the protestors for holding the march peacefully. I am also a son of a farmer. I know their problems and sufferings. Thus took an oath of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to give reservation to Marathas that has been fulfilled today. I do what I say, the chief minister said while addressing the gathering.

Terming it as a historic moment, CM Shinde said, We take decisions in the interest of the people and not eyeing on their votes. Shinde, who also comes from the Maratha community, chose to take a jibe at other Maratha leaders saying, Maratha community made many big leaders but they did not stand by the community when it needed the most.

On late Friday night, deliberations between senior government officials were held between the protesters. Shinde, after holding meetings with officials to discuss demands had sent a delegation with a draft ordinance addressing the concerns raised by the Patil. The draft of the notification was studied by senior lawyers from the Maratha community.

Jarange-Patil started his march to Mumbai on January 20 demanding reservation for the Maratha community. He was expected to reach Mumbai on January 26 but after assurances by the government, he chose to stay at Vashi in Navi Mumbai, giving 24 hours to the Shinde-led government to issue relevant orders over his demands.
The Supreme Court stayed all proceedings before the two benches in the Calcutta high court that saw a rare conflict between a single judge and a division bench over a CBI probe into an alleged fake caste certificate scam. The two benches reproached each other in back-to-back orders on January 24 and 25. A five-judge constitution bench comprising CJI DY Chandrachud and justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, Surya Kant and Aniruddha Bose heard the matter in a special hearing and kept for hearing on January 29. Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay (right).

On Friday, the Supreme Court took suo moto cognisance of an order passed by a single bench of the Calcutta high court that termed as "illegal and ignored" an order of the division bench in a case of alleged irregularities in the admission of MBBS candidates in state-run medical colleges and hospitals in West Bengal.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The division bench of the high court had stayed the single bench's order for a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the matter.

What is justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay vs justice Soumen Sen issue?

Initially, the single bench of justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay had directed a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the alleged irregularities in the admission of MBBS candidates in medical colleges and hospitals in West Bengal saying it had no faith in the state police on a plea filed by MBBS candidate Itisha Soren.

Later, the West Bengal government moved the division bench of the Calcutta high court. The division bench of justices Soumen Sen and Uday Kumar then stayed the single bench's order for the CBI probe into the matter.

On Thursday, a single-judge bench of justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay held that the order passed by the division bench as wholly illegal and had to be ignored.

Justice Gangopadhyay also took the matter and asked the advocate general how without the impugned order an order of stay could be passed by a division bench and how an order could be passed when there was no memo of appeal.

Justice Gangopadhyay, in his order, has accused justice Sen, who is heading the division bench, of acting for a political party in the state, and therefore, the orders passed by the bench led by justice Sen are required to be relooked if the Supreme Court thinks so.

"I have no other option but to ignore the order of the said Division Bench as the order has been passed in continuation of the illegal appeal void ab initio. I have ignored the said illegal order passed by the said Division Bench for the reasons as has been stated above including the ground of 'interested person' Hon'ble Justice Soumen Sen "Thus, Justice Sen is acting clearly for some political party in this State and, therefore, the orders passed in the matters involving State, are required to be relooked if the Hon'ble Supreme Court thinks so," justice Gangopadhyay said.

(With inputs from agencies)
Shivamogga (Karnataka) [India], January 27 (ANI): In a major embarrassment to Karnataka Congress, its senior leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa urged Shivamogga LS constituency public to re-elect BJP MP BY Raghavendra, son of former chief minister BS Yediyurappa. HT Image

MLA Shivashankarappa asked people to re-elect Raghavendra at the Guru Basavashri Award Pradhan and Spirituality Conference organised at Bekkina Kalmata in Shivmogga, where he received the Guru Basavashri award.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

"I noticed that the development works are in Shivmogga district. You have chosen a good MP. The public must elect him further. Shimoga district needs to develop more. You are blessed to have Lok Sabha members like BY Raghavendra. All the work to be done in the district has been completed and has progressed. Development work for the people should be the first priority," said Shivashankarappa at the conference.

"Lok Sabha members who have worked as per the will of the people should win in the upcoming elections as well. Veerashaiva Lingayats have many sub-sects. All of them should be removed, and everyone should feel that they are the same; only then will there be unity," he added.

This is the second instance in the chain of surprising events for Congress in the state of Karnataka, as earlier on Thursday, former Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, who had joined the Congress ahead of the 2023 legislative elections last year, returned to the BJP.

Shettar rejoined the BJP in the national capital in the presence of former Karnakata chief minister BS Yediyurappa, Union Minister Bhupender Singh Yadav, Karnataka BJP president Vijayendra Yediyurappa, and Union Minister of State Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

"Bharatiya Janata Party is my home. I came back to my home," Shettar said speaking to reporters on Thursday.

Shettar said he had a meeting with the party's national leadership, Amit Shah and JP Nadda, on Thursday, as well as state leaders BY Vijayendra and BS Yediyurappa, and joined the BJP following their guidance.

"Today I joined the Bharatiya Janata Party. Today morning, I met our national leaders, Amit Shah and JP Nadda. They heartily welcomed me. In Karnataka, I met the state party president, BY Vijayendra, BS Yediyurappa, and other leaders. They also welcomed me. I joined them according to their guidance," he said.

Responding to a question asked by a reporter on contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, the former Chief Minister said, "Whatever the high command directs, I will do."

Senior BJP leader BS Yediyurappa welcomed Jagdish Shettar to the party and said that the latter was thinking of rejoining the party for the last few days.

"He (Jagadish Shettar) was thinking of coming back to BJP and today we welcomed him back to the party...Today he met Amit Shah and discussed many things and without any condition he has joined our party. We welcome Jagdish Shettar to our party," Yediyurappa said speaking to reporters.

Responding to a question by a reporter whether former BJP leader Laxman Savadi, who had also quit the party ahead of the Assembly elections will rejoin the party, Yediyurappa said, "I could not contact him. Today I will contact him."

Shettar rejoined the BJP in the national capital in the presence of former Karnakata chief minister BS Yediyurappa, Union Minister Bhupender Singh Yadav, Karnataka BJP president Vijayendra Yediyurappa, Union Minister of State Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

There had been ongoing rumours about Shettar's return to the BJP for the past few days, to which the Congress leaders in Karnataka had responded by saying that the BJP's leadership crisis in the state prompted the party to head towards Shettar.

Shettar had quit BJP and joined Congress in April 2023, ahead of the Karnataka assembly elections. (ANI)
Amid a rift with Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, state chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his council of ministers boycotted the 'At Home' reception hosted by the former on the occasion of 75th Republic Day on Friday. Vijayan, cabinet ministers and MLAs were invited to the event held from 6.30pm to 7.30pm, but none of them showed up, sources told news agency PTI. Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan (PTI Photo)

The only official who attended the event on behalf of the government was the principal secretary of the general administration department, KR Jyothilal. Chief secretary and state director general of police (DGP) also stayed away from the programme, PTI reported.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Earlier on Friday, Vijayan and Khan attended the Republic Day celebrations at Central Stadium, but the duo did not greet each other.

Addressing the Republic Day programme, the governor said higher education institutions should be free from outside interference. "We should not allow group rivalries or internal struggles for power to affect the governance," Khan said.

He added that cooperative federalism requires support from all stakeholders, including the states of the union.

The development comes after Khan took his ongoing feud with the state government on Thursday by cutting short his budget session speech in the Kerala assembly. He read out only the last paragraph of his speech, prepared by the government, and completed the address in just a couple of minutes.

Upon arrival, Khan was welcomed by the chief minister but he did not shake hands or exchange pleasantries. Later, he addressed the assembly and said, Honourable speaker, chief minister, ministers, leader of opposition and members, it is my honour and privilege to address this august body of representatives of the people of Kerala, marking the beginning of the 10th session of the 15th Kerala Legislative Assembly.

Then Khan flipped to the last page of the 61-page policy address and read out the last paragraph. Let us remember that our greatest legacy lies not in buildings or monuments, but in the respect and regard we show to the priceless legacy of the Constitution of India and the timeless values of democracy, secularism, federalism and social justice. The essence of cooperative federalism is what has kept our country united and strong all these years. It is our bounden duty to ensure that this essence is not diluted. Together as part of this varied and beautiful nation, we will weave the tapestry of inclusive growth and responsible resilience, overcoming all the challenges that are thrown our way," he said and walked out of the assembly.

The governor and the Left government have been at loggerheads over several issues, including the functioning of the higher educational institutes in the state and his non-signing of certain bills passed by the assembly. It also resulted in his facing widespread protests across the state from the CPI(M), its youth wing -- Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) -- and its student outfit -- Students Federation of India (SFI).

(With inputs from agencies)
Kerala governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Saturday sat on a dharna at a wayside shop demanding the arrest of Students Federation of India (SFI) activists who protested against him in Nilamel in Kollam district. Kerala governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Saturday sat on a dharna at a wayside shop demanding the arrest of SFI activists. (ANI)

Arif Mohammed Khan got out of his vehicle and took a chair from the shop on the busy MC Road in Nilamel and sat demanding action against the protesters. Dramatic visuals aired on TV channels showed a visibly angry Khan talking tough to the police personnel. Besides police officials, Khan's officials and local people gathered in large numbers at the spot.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Several activists of the ruling CPI(M)'s students' wing SFI staged a black flag protest against the Governor when he was on his way to nearby Kottarakkara for a function, news agency PTI reported.

The Kerala governor and the Left government have been at loggerheads over several issues, primarily about the functioning of universities in the state and his non-signing of certain bills passed by the assembly.

Amid the face-off, on Thursday, Khan had finished his customary policy address to the Kerala assembly within two minutes, reading out only the last paragraph.

On Friday, neither chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his cabinet colleagues nor LDF MLAs turned up for the 'at home' event hosted at the Raj Bhavan. PTI reported that the CM, ministers and MLAs were invited to the event held from 6.30pm to 7.30pm, but none of them came. The Kerala government was represented by the general administration department, additional chief secretary KR Jyothilal.

During the Republic Day celebrations at the Central Stadium in the state capital, Khan and Vijayan were seen ignoring each other, even though they were sitting side-by-side.

(With inputs from agencies)
French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday thanked India for its warm welcome during his visit as the chief guest for Republic Day celebrations. He also invited the people of India to visit France for a host of major events this year, including the Summer Olympics starting July 26. French President Emmanuel Macron with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Thank you, India, for your warm welcome in Jaipur and Delhi, Macron said in a social media post.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

France will welcome the whole world this year with the commemoration of the Second World war, the Olympic and Paralympic games in Paris and the Francophonie summit. You are welcome, our friends! he added.

On Friday evening, Macron along with external affairs minister S Jaishankar visited Delhi's Dargah Nizamuddin Aulia, the mausoleum of the Sufi saint Khwaja Nizamuddin Aulia. He reached the centuries-old shrine, the nerve centre of Sufi culture in India, at 9.45 pm and remained there for more than half an hour, reported PTI quoting officials.

Videos of his visit to the Dargah were widely shared on social media.

Macron was the chief guest at the 75th Republic Day celebrations at Delhi's Kartavya Path.

Earlier, President Droupadi Murmu received her French counterpart Macron at the Rashtrapati Bhavan and hosted a banquet in his honour.

Welcoming President Macron, she said the leaders of the two countries being guests of honour in each other's successive National Day parade and celebrations, is a historic moment, and "a symbol of the depth of our friendship and the strength of our partnership".

During his visit to Jaipur, Macron and Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed bilateral ties and pressing global issues wherein they expressed "grave concerns" at the possibility of further expansion of the conflict in the Middle East, including in the Red Sea.

A joint statement issued late on Friday night said the two leaders called for upholding the freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and underlined the need for respecting the international law of the sea.

"They (Modi and Macron) recalled the utmost importance of upholding freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and of respecting the international law of the sea," the statement said.

"They had detailed conversation aimed at coordinating their efforts in that region in this regard," it added.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday said he didn't have any information that Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and his Janata Dal (United) were breaking away from the INDIA bloc of the Opposition. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar. (ANI file)

In what could be seen as the first reaction to political uncertainty in Bihar, Mallikarjun Kharge, who is in Karnataka's Kalaburagi, said, I don't have any information on the JD-U moving out of the INDIA bloc. What they have in mind is not clear. I am travelling to Dehradun tomorrow, and then to Delhi. I will get the full information and then I will brief you.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Kharge told reporters that the grand alliance's effort is to unite everyone. "I have spoken with Mamata Banerjee, Lalu Prasad Yadav, and Sitaram Yechury. If we unite, we will give a good fight, and the INDIA bloc will be a success. Those who are interested in saving democracy will not change their minds and will stay with us," the Congress chief said. Follow Live Updates on Bihar crisis

Kharge's response comes amid strong indications that Nitish Kumar was planning to quit the ruling 'Mahagathbandhan' and return to the BJP-led NDA, his old ally.

Kharge called Nitish Kumar but he is busy: Jairam Ramesh

Meanwhile, addressing a press conference, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said Kharge was trying to speak with Nitish Kumar, but he was unable to connect.

"...I can formally say that Kharge tried to talk to Nitish Kumar not just once, but several times. However, the Bihar CM is busy...," Ramesh said.

Ramesh said he was hopeful that Mamata Banerjee and Nitish Kumar, being co-architects of the INDIA bloc, will continue to be part of alliance.

"We may have problems at the state level, but this alliance (INDIA) has been put together. One of the architects of this alliance is the Bihar chief minister. One of the co-architects of this alliance is the West Bengal chief minister. So they know that this is a national alliance. This is not an alliance in which local issues will take precedence over national issues. National issues will get priority. Our national objective will get priority," the Congress MP said.

Meetings of JD(U), RJD and BJP leaders

In Patna, top leaders of the JD(U) on Saturday rushed to the residence of Nitish Kumar for a meeting. Leaders like former national president Rajiv Ranjan Singh, 'Lalan', minister and national general secretary Sanjay Kumar Jha and state legislative council chairman Devesh Chandra Thakur reached 1, Anney Marg, the CMs official residence here, around the same time when a meeting of legislators of the RJD, the JD(U)s current ally, was underway.

The meeting of RJD legislators was going on at party president Lalu Prasads residence.

A meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party legislators and Parliamentarians in the state is also scheduled at the party office later in the day though leaders have so far maintained that it has been called to discuss upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Nitish Kumar has so far maintained a deafening silence over the political turmoil. There are strong rumours that he may resign and form a new government, armed with the BJPs support.

On Saturday, Nitish Kumar visited Buxar district, bordering Uttar Pradesh, to attend a function where senior BJP leader and Union minister Ashwani Kumar Choubey was also present.

Notably, the project was undertaken by the state tourism department, a portfolio held by deputy chief minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, who skipped the function.

No other RJD leaders were present there on the occasion. Tejashwi Yadav did not attend the high tea ceremony at the Raj Bhavan in Patna on Friday on the occasion of Republic Day.

(With inputs from agencies)
Airport International Group - the Jordanian company responsible for managing the rehabilitation, expansion and operation of Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) - has appointed Nicolas Deviller as its new CEO, succeeding Nicolas Claude.

Leveraging over 20 years of experience in the airport industry, Deviller previously served as the Director of International Development Infrastructures Projects for nearly 12 years at the Vinci Airports headquarters.

Subsequently, Deviller ascended to the role of CEO of Vinci Airports in Cambodia, a position he held for three years.

During this tenure, he oversaw the construction and management of major projects, including Phnom International Penh Airport, Siem Reap Airport and Sihanoukville International Airport.

While at Vinci Airports, he was also the Director of Road Operations of International Activities.

In 2016, Deviller joined Groupe ADP, where he served as the Deputy CEO of Ravinala Airports, said the statement from Airport International Group.

In this role, he managed operations at the two main airports in Madagascar for three years. Since 2019, Deviller has been actively contributing as a Member of the Board and several executive committees of key subsidiaries within Groupe ADPs portfolio.

These include TAV Airports (comprising 15 airports), Liege Airport and Stewart Airport (New York).

Lauding Claude for his outstanding leadership, Deviller said: "Personally, I am honoured to join the team at Airport International Group, and I look forward to contributing to the ongoing advancement of QAIA, solidifying its position as a regionally competitive, climate-friendly airport."

"Our steadfast focus will remain on delivering exceptional services to passengers while shaping a hospitable airport experience that feels like home," he stated.

"With numerous ambitious plans on the horizon and milestones to achieve, I am confident that, together with our grantor, the Government of Jordan, as well as our highly committed employees, partners and shareholders, we will reinforce QAIAs standing as Jordans prime gateway to the world," added Deviller.-TradeArabia News Service
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. A graduation ceremony was held at the Separate Combined Armed Forces Army on the occasion of the successful completion of the regular training courses for warrant officers and superannuation soldiers, Trend reports, referring to the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry.

After the ceremony honored the memory of National Leader Heydar Aliyev and martyrs, the national anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan was performed.

Colonel Mahmud Amirov talked about the classes held during the course and congratulated the graduates on their successful completion.

Congratulating the graduates, Deputy Commander of the Separate Combined Arms Army, Major General Muhammad Hasanov noted that the Azerbaijani army, which occupies a place among the strongest armies in the world, under the leadership of President, victorious Supreme Commander Ilham Aliyev, completed the last year with great success.

To note, the priorities in 2024 included continuing to build the army in the country using more modern methods, developing the material and technical base, and bringing combat training to a level that meets the most modern requirements.

After the speeches, the graduates were awarded certificates and gifts.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel

     WhatsApp,      !
Students at the Osmania University PG College in Secunderabad staged a protest on Saturday, expressing their concerns and frustration over a reported security breach at the women's hostel the previous night. Two unknown persons allegedly broke into the women's hotel bathroom and one of them was caught by the students, according to a local media report. The accused caught by students and security guards at the women's hostel at Osmania University in Hyderabad.(Screengrab / X)

The incident led to increased tensions on the campus, prompting a police investigation. Students were seen raising slogans of "We want justice" as they sat in front of their hostel while police personnel were seen persuading them to leave the spot.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

"We are just asking for VC to come. Why is he not coming?" shouted out one of the students while another said, "We are just trying to pressurize the VC to come."

Rohini Priyadarshini, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) for the North Zone in Hyderabad, said that an unidentified person scaled the campus wall and barged into the girls' hostel at OU Sub-Campus PG Girls Hostel.

"We received information about an unidentified person scaling the campus wall and entering the girls' hostel at OU Sub-Campus PG Girls Hostel. Upon reaching the spot, we found that the accused had already been apprehended by the students and security personnel. We took custody of the individual and placed him in a patrol vehicle," said DCP Priyadarshini.

However, the students gathered and obstructed the vehicle, refusing to allow it to leave the premises. The students demanded immediate action to address the security concerns and voiced their dissatisfaction with the existing safety measures, she said.

The DCP in turn inspected the campus and found out some security lapses in the hostel which was conveyed to the Registrar.

"Based on that we asked what are their demands...I spoke to them, went to the campus, and noticed the security lapses. We have told the Registrar to do a few things like placing lighting system and security system at the back side and some other repair works which have to be done," Priyadarshini said.

"Other than that, there are some administrative issues which have to be addressed at the VC and Registrar level. We told them to give it in writing. I think the VC will address those issues. We have ensured that patrolling will be there outside the campus because there is a metro station in which there will be floating of people regularly," she added.

When asked about the number of miscreants involved in the incident, the DCP said, "We are yet to investigate."

"We have to register a case. But no one has come forward with a petition," she added.

The students are reportedly demanding the resignation of the vice chancellor over the breach.

The police are conducting an investigation into the security breach, aiming to identify any potential lapses in the existing security infrastructure.
Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil, who is seeking reservation in education and jobs for the community under the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) category, threatened to march towards Mumbai if the Eknath Shinde-led government did not issue orders to meet the demands by Saturday morning. Maratha activist Manoj Jarange Patil and his supporters during their march for reservation, in Navi Mumbai (PTI)

The quota activist, who began a fresh hunger strike at Vashi in Navi Mumbai on Friday, announced his plan even as deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar said he supports reservation for the Maratha community in government jobs and education and that chief minister Eknath Shinde is trying to resolve the issue through talks.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The Maratha community is seeking reservation in education and jobs under the OBC category. Patil and his supporters are seeking Kunbi certificates for all Marathas, as Kunbis enjoy reservation benefits under the OBC category, free kindergarten to post graduate education for community members and reservation of seats for Marathas during recruitment for government jobs. Besides, they are also seeking withdrawal of all criminal cases registered against them during the quota protests.

We have not shunned our plans to march to Azad Maidan (in Mumbai). We will go there to celebrate if the government issues all orders pertaining to our demands. If not, we will hold an indefinite hunger strike from tomorrow, Patil said in Vashi.

I respect the law and since its Republic Day, I am not going to Azad Maidan today. We have come here to seek justice and not to create trouble. If we do not get a copy of the ordinance by 11am tomorrow (Saturday), then we will go to Azad Maidan, he added.

According to a statement from the chief ministers office later in the day, Shinde held meetings with officials to discuss the demands, and sent a delegation with a draft ordinance to meet the quota activist.

Earlier in the day, state education minister Deepak Kesarkar told reporters that Jaranges demands had been accepted, and would be fulfilled as per government procedure.
The Maharashtra government on Saturday accepted the demand of Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange-Patil to extend OBC quota benefits to the community, a decision that was aimed at mollifying an agitation that was on the brink of bringing hundreds of thousands of protesters to the heart of Indias financial capital. Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil with Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde in Navi Mumbai on Saturday. (Bachchan Kumar/HT Photo)

Jarange-Patil called off his strike after parleys and deliberations between the two sides stretched overnight, which yielded into the Eknath Shinde-led administration announcing that people from the Maratha community will be eligible for reservation in jobs and education admissions if they produce certificates showing they belong to the agrarian Kunbi community and their blood relatives.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The state government issued a draft of the notification that will formalise the reservation arrangement, but it immediately faced pressure from within, with alliance partner Nationalist Congress Party (NCP of the Ajit Pawar faction) questioning the backdoor entry of Marathas into the quota pie kept for Other Backward Classes (OBC) and its legal sturdiness.

READ | Jarange-Patil refuses to budge, insists on leading Maratha quota march to Mumbai

Jarange-Patil, who led his agitation to Vashi, Navi Mumbai on the outskirts of the state capital, described the announcements as a victory but said that he will return if the government did not ensure the decision stood legal scrutiny.

Our demand was to issue Kunbi certificates to the blood relatives to Maratha individuals having Kunbi antecedents. An ordinance (draft notification) to this effect has been issued, Jarange-Patil said, holding up a copy of the draft notification to amend a 2012 state rules on caste certificates. Chief minister Shinde was present at the gathering when the Maratha leader broke his indefinite fast.

I have said that I will go to Mumbai but for us this is also Mumbai. We have to hold a huge victory rally, bigger than the one held in Jalna last year, for which a place and date will be declared soon, Jarange-Patil said, clarifying that he had scrapped his plan to come to Mumbai, where he initially planned to continue his indefinite hunger strike at the Azad Maidan.

The CM invoked his farmers lineage during his address to the protesters. I am also a son of a farmer. I know their problems and sufferings. This is the reason I took an oath in the name of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to give reservation to Marathas and that was fulfilled today. I do what I say, he said and thanked the activist and the Marathas for holding a peaceful march at Mumbais doorstep.

READ | Who is Manoj Jarange-Patil, man at forefront of Maratha quota agitation

Kunbi, an agrarian community, falls in the OBC category, and Jarange-Patil, who is spearheading the agitation for reservation for the Marathas since last August, has been demanding Kunbi certificates for all Marathas  which the government accepted.

The decisions include handing those certificates to the estimated 5.7 million Maratha people, allowing their blood relatives and relatives formed out of marriages in the same caste, to seek the same benefits by presenting an affidavit, and for the state government to withdraw cases registered during instances of violence during the agitation.

The Maharashtra government had earlier passed a law to provide quota to them in jobs and education, but it was struck down by the Supreme Court in May 2021, stating that there were no grounds to justify breach of the 50% cap on overall reservation.

Shortly after Jarange-Patils announcement, celebrations broke out among thousands of supporters, who were part of the activists entourage from Antarwali Sarathi and had been camping in Vashi for the last 36 hours.

However, the sticky political questions of caste equations became evident when NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) leaders stayed away from the event when the stir was called off. NCP minister and OBC leader Chhagan Bhujbal said the decision to give reservation based on an affidavit would not stand legal scrutiny.

The provision to issue Kunbi certificates to the blood relatives having Kunbi antecedents will not stand in the court of law. How come caste certificates be issued based on affidavits? It is against the law, if this law applies to all the communities then what will happen, Bhujbal said, opening a front against his own government.

OBC outfits have called a meeting on Sunday to decide their next course of action.

At the same time, deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who holds the home portfolio, clarified that cases of serious offences resulting from the stir cannot be withdrawn.

Jarange-Patil first held a major agitation last year, when he ended a 17-day hunger strike on September 14 in the presence of Shinde after an assurance that the government would take a call on the matter in 30 days.

He then resumed his hunger strike in October after his 40-day deadline to the state passed even as the administration requested the activist to call off the agitation.

On January 20, he began a march from Antarwali Sarathi in Jalna with an entourage of tens of thousands, with the eventual objective of reaching Azad Maidan in Mumbai on January 26. However, after reaching Vashi on the night of January 25, he gave the state government a day to consider his demands and issue an order.

Overnight on January 26, lawyers from the Maratha community and state government officials hammered into shape the agreement which led to Saturdays calling off of the agitation.

The notification was issued to make changes to the Maharashtra Scheduled Castes, De-notified Tribes (Vimukta Jatis), Nomadic Tribes, Other Backward Classes and Special Backward Category (Regulation of Issuance and Verification of) Caste Certificate Rules, 2012. The social justice department has sought suggestions and objections from the people on the changes till February 16 and after studying them a final notification will be issued to amend the rules.
The Bihar secretariat will remain open tomorrow despite it being a Sunday as a lot of activity is expected with Nitish Kumar possibly resigning and then extending support to the BJP to become the chief minister of a BJP-JD(U) government in Bihar. The move -- months before the Lok Sabha election -- would strengthen the BJP and deliver a blow to the opposition alliance INDIA. Till late Saturday evening, hectic parleys went on in JD(U) -- which blamed the Congress for insulting Nitish Kumar, in the BJP -- on how to receive Nitish Kumar once again, in RJD, the largest party in the Assembly -- on how not to yield any ground in any situation that arises in Bihar on Sunday. The Congress, RJD moved to action as Nitish Kumar is all set to resign for the CM post to become the CM again with the support of the BJP.

Congress sent Bhupesh Baghel, former Chhattisgarh chief minister to Patna as a senior observer. Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra will also enter Bihar soon.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Nobody said anything yet: RJD's Misa Bharti on buzz over Nitish switching sides

Reaching out: What is Congress doing

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday denied any knowledge about Nitish Kumar and JD(U) leaving the INDIA bloc. "Are they (JD(U)) going out? I have not got any information about it so far. I have written a letter to them (JD(U) leadership) and have tried to talk to them. I don't know clearly what is in their minds." Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said Mallikarjjun Kharge tried to reach out to Nitish Kumar several times but made no success as both are busy. Without blaming Nitish Kumar, Jairam Ramesh said when Nitish Kumar called back, Kharge was busy, Unless Kharge and Nitish Kumar speak, he won't be able to commit anything about Bihar, he said. Jairam Ramesh said the situation is under control and INDIA bloc is not imploding.

The ambitions of Rashtriya Janata Dals chief Lalu Prasad Yadav  and his family members

Don't go incommunicado: RJD's order to MLAs

The RJD held a meeting on Saturday in which the party authorised Lalu Prasad Yadav to take any decision based on what turn Bihar's politics takes. All RJD MLAs have been told to stay put in Patna and be in touch with the leadership. RJD wants to challenge Nitish Kumar for a floor test if he joins hands with the BJP. At the meeting, Tejashwi hinted to the party workers that some unexpected development might take place. 'Bihar mein abhi khel hona baki hain," Tejashwi said to his party MLAs.

Some RJD leaders are in favour of staking claim to form the government but without JD(U), Mahagathbandhan will fall eight MLAs short and hence the idea did not impress Tejashwi.

What Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) said

Chirag Paswan met Amit Shah in New Delhi and 'expressed his concerns over Bihar'. "It was important to know what is happening in Bihar today. On this issue, I held a meeting with Amit Shah and JP Nadda ji today. I have kept my concerns before them over Bihar. They have given assurance on various issues. The situation is very positive regarding the alliance. In the coming days, the situation will become more clear, and after that, our party will take a stand. We are a part of NDA today," he said. On Nitish Kumar, he indicated that his party will take a stand only after Nitish Kumar makes a move.

What happened at the BJP meeting?

Key BJP meetings were held in Patna though the leaders said they were to discuss PM Modi's upcoming Bihar visit. Reports said BJP and JD(U) have finalised Lok Sabha seat sharing and all BJP MLAs have given their letter of support to Nitish Kumar. For the state, the BJP and the JD(U) have agreed to their earlier arrangement and RJD ministers will be sacked, reports said.

(With ANI, PTI inputs)
Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the fourth National Chilika Birds Festival at an event coordinated by the department of tourism, department of forest, and Chilika Development Authority on Saturday. According to a government release, the festival commenced with a captivating Photo Exhibition grand opening. During the event's launch, Patnaik commended the three departments' collective efforts, saying, which promises to add another feather in Odishas hat  a soaring birding hub as mentioned in a government release. Mangalajodi, located in the northeastern part of Chilika, Asia's largest brackish water lake, is renowned as the Birds Paradise of Asia. (File)

In his remarks, Patnaik characterised the festival as a pilgrimage for over a million-winged visitors of varied species, which undertake flights to the mighty but calm Chilika Lake  Asias largest brackish water lake. The three-day program which will continue up to January 29 witnessed the participation of 52 selected birders from different parts of India.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The release further said that attendees and representatives will embark on birding excursions to Mangalajodi  Nalabana over the following two days. Mangalajodi, located in the northeastern part of Chilika, Asia's largest brackish water lake, is renowned as the Birds Paradise of Asia. Hundreds of thousands of Winged Guests worldwide flock to the bird sanctuary during the winter.

Providing an overview of the government's focused conservation efforts, state tourism minister Aswini Kumar Patra said, While the elusive wildlife deep within our forests evades our sights, Odisha can proudly claim to be a birding hub  thanks to pioneering efforts in wetland and bird conservation and special initiatives like the National Chilika Birds Festival. This years census has revealed a total count of 11.37 lakh birds across over 187 species. I wish all the participants, birders, photographers, and delegates to have a great time in Mangalajodi and Nalabana.

Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) Chairman Dr. Lenin Mohanty said, Mangalajodi in Chilika is a trailblazing example of community-led conservation, establishing itself as an unmatched birding destination. From initiatives like removing encroachments to recent extensive census activities and promotional campaigns like the National Chilika Bird Festival, our collective goal is positioning Odisha as the most sought-after birding hub in the Asia-Pacific region.

Complementing the joint vision, Director Nandankanan & Chief Executive Chilika Development Authority Dr. Manoj Nair said in his vote of thanks, It will not be an exaggeration to say that the soul of Odisha Tourism resides in Chilika. Our conservation efforts will continue synergising with our tourism development efforts.

The State of Indias Birds poster and video were unveiled during the opening ceremony. The video, titled State of India's Birds, encapsulates a scientific report assessing India's bird species. This periodic evaluation delves into the geographic distribution, abundance trends, and conservation status of most bird species commonly found in the country. The report is a collaborative effort, with contributions from 13,000 bird watchers.

The discussions led by Director Nandankanan & Chief Executive Chilika Development Authority Manoj Nair, Scientist from the Wildlife Institute of India Suresh Kumar, Birder and Author Panchami Manoo Ukil, and Renowned Photographer Dhritiman Mukherjee played a significant role in advancing the festival's objective of fostering awareness and appreciation for the diverse avian life around Chilika Lake. Their combined expertise covered scientific research, birding experiences, and visual storytelling, creating a comprehensive and engaging program for all participants.
Students residing in the Osmania University Post Graduate Girls Hostel staged a protest in the college premises on Saturday to protest against a security breach. The protesting students said that they apprehended one of the three intruders who had broken into their hostel. Police, however, are yet to confirm the number of intruders. Students at Hyderabad's Osmania University PG Girls Hostel stage protest over security breach.(ANI)

The students were seen raising slogans of "We want justice" as they sat in front of their hostel while police personnel were seen persuading them to leave the spot.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

"We are just asking for VC to come. Why is he not coming?" shouted out one of the students while another said, "We are just trying to pressurize the VC to come."

Students recount horror

The protest, sparked by a series of unsettling incidents following their return from the Sankranti Holidays, drew attention to the urgent need to ensure the safety of the hostel residents.

According to one of the student protesters who spoke to ANI, concerns had been brewing among the hostel occupants since their return from the holidays.

"After we came back from the Sankranti Holidays, we were hearing strange sounds in different rooms. But we thought it might be our mistake," a student said.

The situation escalated when one of the hostelites reportedly witnessed hands protruding from the ventilator of the washroom on both the ground floor and the first floor.

Recounting the harrowing ordeal, the student protester revealed, "Yesterday, the incident happened on two of the floors, the ground floor as well as the first floor at the same time. We have ventilators in our washrooms. The washrooms have little space. She (one of the students) locked herself in the washroom. But she saw hands coming out of the ventilator. She panicked and ran."

The students immediately sought assistance from their seniors to confront the intruders.

"We approached our seniors. We were searching for them. We saw three of them, only one was caught by us. We are demanding the rest who were there to be nabbed," the protester asserted.

Demanding the Vice-Chancellor (VC) to come to the spot and address their issues, she said, "We have been sitting here since 12:30..We want the VC to come and address our problem and we want a solution for all our issues. Security is important. We want proper security where we are staying."

(With ANI inputs)
The world is watching how Indias women are projecting Nari Shakti and proving their mettle in every field, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday, a day after women stole the limelight at the 75th Republic Day parade, with ample representation in every element of Indias biggest ceremonial event: in the flypast, in mechanised columns, in marching contingents, in bands and in the cultural show. Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the NCC rally at Cariappa Ground in New Delhi on Saturday. (PTI)

The 75th Republic Day parade on Kartavya Path was dedicated to Nari Shakti. We have opened up opportunities for daughters in sectors where their entry was previously restricted or limited, the PM said addressing the customary National Cadet Corps (NCC) rally at the Cariappa parade ground in Delhi Cantt.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

He highlighted the contribution of women to different fields including the armed forces, the countrys space programme, start-ups, banking and insurance. The PM said the government has removed obstacles to the entry of women in different areas, while speaking about the opening of frontline roles to women in the military, including command roles, combat positions and permanent commission.

Be it Agniveers or fighter pilots, the participation of women is only increasing in the armed forces, he said.

An all-women tri-service contingent consisting of Agniveers (recruited for short-term in the personnel below officer rank cadre under the Agnipath scheme), led by women officers, took part in the Republic Day parade for the first time. Also, 15 women pilots, including six fighter pilots, were a part of the spectacular flypast. They flew Rafales, Sukhoi-30s and helicopters.

Women in uniform are no longer on the fringes but are being assigned central roles on a par with their male counterparts.

Women were in the drivers seat at the parade and 80% of all activities involved them, including the heralding of the parade by 112 women artistes playing a variety of Indian musical instruments from across the country and the Vande Bharatam cultural extravaganza involving 1,500 women. The national flag was also unfurled on the arrival of President Droupadi Murmu by a woman officer, Major Saumya Shukla, amid the roar of a 21-gun salute.

The number of women in Central Armed Police Forces has more than doubled during the last 10 years and states are being encouraged to recruit more women in the police force, the PM said. More than 400 sarpanchs of vibrant villages and around 100 women belonging to various self-help groups from different parts of the country attended the NCC rally as special guests.

The governments vibrant village programme is aimed at the comprehensive development of select villages along the countrys northern border with China, and covers areas of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Ladakh.

When the country gives equal opportunity to the talent of sons and daughters, its talent pool becomes enormous, Modi said.

He encouraged the youth to leverage the opportunities presented by Digital India.

In the past 10 years, Indias digital economy has become a new source of strength for our youth... Significant efforts have also been made in every sector towards skill development, employment, and entrepreneurship on a large scale.

Outlining his vision for Indias youth and their role in shaping the countrys future over the next 25 years, he said, This transformative era, the next 25 years, will not only witness the creation of a developed India but will primarily benefit the youth. The biggest beneficiaries of this era will be young individuals like you. It will be imperative for all of you to consistently strive for excellence.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh, minister of state for defence Ajay Bhatt, chief of defence staff General Anil Chauhan, army chief General Manoj Pande, Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar, defence secretary Giridhar Aramane and NCC director general Lieutenant General Gurbirpal Singh were among those present.
The BJP on Saturday hit out at Indian Overseas Congress chairman Sam Pitroda for a post on social media that he later deleted. It was a link to an article written by Sudheendra Kulkarni which said Nehru contributed more to the Constitution and its preamble, not Ambedkar. Like Sam Pitroda, political activist Sudheendra Kulkarni too came under fire for his opinion but he refused to apologise. Sam Pitroda deleted his post on X after it drew flak from the BJP.(PTI file photo)

"I have great respect for Dr Ambedkar because he fought for justice and equality in Hindu society. He pioneered many social reforms. Based on facts, I wrote an article that Nehru's contribution was more than Ambedkar's. Anyone who has read history will accept this because Congress started the process of writing the Constitution. In 1930, on January 26, the Congress passed the resolution of 'purna swaraj'. Since then, Nehru ji worked towards the Constitution," Kulkarni said. "I am not in any political party now. I was with the BJP once. My words should not be used or misused politically," he said adding that Ambedkar himself said that it was not his Constitution.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Slamming Sam Pitroda for endorsing Kulkarni's opinion, BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala said Congress has an Ambedkar-virodhi, anti-Dalit DNA. "Rahul Gandhi's uncle Sam (Sam Pitroda) tweeted questioning Ambedkar's contribution to the Constitution. These words may be of Sam Pitroda, but the emotion behind it is given by Sonia and Rahul Gandhi. Congress is anti-Ambedkar and anti-SC, and it is being proven time and again. This is the same Congress that, during Nehru's reign, made Ambedkar lose elections twice. This is the same Congress that delayed Ambedkar's Bharat Ratna," Poonawala said.

Sam Pitroda, meanwhile, deleted his post.

"How can one be spared if he targets Babasaheb Ambedkar, an ideal for the marginalised communities of India? I cannot understand what has happened to Congress. On one hand, they became Hindus when it came to elections, while on the other, they refused to visit the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Congress leadership should apologise to the nation and clarify whether Sam Pitroda's stand is personal or on behalf of the Congress," BSP MP Malook Nagar told ANI.
Telangana governor Tamilisai Soundararajan on Friday launched an attack on the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS)-led government, accusing it of ruining the Constitutional bodies, systems and values in the last 10 years. Telangana governor Tamilisai Soundararajan accuses previous BRS-led government of ruining constitutional bodies during its regime. (ANI)

The governor further claimed that the newly-elected peoples government was reviving Constitutional merits, systems and practices.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Addressing a public gathering after inspecting the ceremonial parade at the Republic Day celebrations at Secunderabad parade grounds, Tamilisai said, in a democracy, the people have enough powers to remove the rulers who run governments against the spirit of the Constitution in the elections.

The Constitution also provided the people with the opportunity to terminate the governments ruling against the constitutional spirit. The people of Telangana have put an end to the 10-year-old dictatorial government that was running against the constitutional spirit, she said.

She said the peoples mandate declared that arrogance and autocracy have no place in the state. The fruits of democracy, welfare, and development will reach out to people only when the government runs the administration in tune with the spirit of the constitution. Unilateral decisions and dictatorial approaches are against the principles of democracy, she said.

The governor said the newly-elected peoples government started functioning with full consciousness. The government initiated an action plan to fulfil the assurances given to people from the first minute of assuming charge. Two of the six guarantees have already been implemented, she said.

The previous government has completely neglected employment and livelihoods for youth for the last 10 years. The erstwhile state government was indifferent towards youngsters, who played a key role during the Telangana movement. The present government is paying special attention to providing jobs to the youngsters. The process of reforming the Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) is in progress. Job recruitment will be taken up by the government soon after the completion of the process, the governor said.

Tamilisai further alleged that the previous government was inaccessible to the common man. People were in chaos to submit their grievances. We all witnessed that there was no government mechanism that existed to wipe out the tears of poor people. The present government is democratic and the ministers are available to hear public grievances at the Praja Vani programme every Tuesday and Friday at Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Praja Bhavan in Hyderabad, she said.

BRS accuses governor of bias

Meanwhile, BRS working president KT Rama Rao on Friday accused the governor of displaying double standards in nominating Telangana Jana Samithi president Prof M Kodandaram as a member of state legislative council (MLC) under the governors quota.

Speaking after unfurling the national flag at Telangana Bhavan, KTR accused Tamilisai of being biassed in handling key decisions. He pointed out that the governor had previously rejected the recommendation of the BRS government for nominating leaders like Dasoju Sravan and K Satyanarayana for MLC posts under governors quota on the ground that they had political connections.

But the same governor has overlooked Prof Kodandarams affiliations despite him leading a political party TJS. The governor should give an explanation to the people. Raj Bhavan is run with public money and the governor is ultimately answerable to the people of Telangana and not the chief minister, he said.

KTR wondered if the instant approval by the governor of the Revanth Reddy governments recommendation of MLC nominees had any link to the growing alliance between the Congress and BJP in the state.

Another BRS legislator and former minister T Harish Rao also took to X to allege that the appointment of MLCs under the governors quota indicated a clear understanding between the Congress and BJP.

The governor was acting much in tune with the agenda of the BJP to benefit the Congress government and party in the state, he said.
A five-judge bench of the Supreme Court stayed all proceedings pending before two benches in the Calcutta high court that witnessed an unprecedented face-off between two judges there, observing that the turn of events warranted the courts intervention. The Supreme Court of India. (File)

The apex court also put in abeyance the direction issued by the single judge for an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into an alleged fake caste certificate scam despite the division bench annulling the probe order.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

We have taken charge now...this order will suffice the interest of justice for the time being, said the bench, headed by Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, as it took up the proceedings drawn on its own motion in a special Saturday hearing.

The bench, which also comprised the four most senior judges  justices Sanjiv Khanna, Bhushan R Gavai, Surya Kant and Aniruddha Bose, issued notices to the West Bengal government and the CBI, seeking their replies by January 29 when the court will hear the matter again.

Pending further orders of this court, there shall be a stay of all proceedings in the writ petition pending before the single judge and the appeal pending before the division bench in the Calcutta high court. The implementation of the direction by single judge on January 24 and 25 shall also remain stayed, said the bench in its order.

It also issued notice to the writ petitioner before the high court on whose plea the single judge had on January 24 directed the CBI to investigate into the alleged scam. This order, however, sparked an unparallel judicial drama that did not only leave the state government and the CBI in a tizzy over contradictory orders but also saw the single judge hurling allegations of political influence at the judge leading the division bench.

During the brief proceedings on Saturday, the state government, represented by senior counsel Kapil Sibal told the bench that the state has also filed an appeal against the order of the CBI probe by the single judge and that it should be taken up along with the suo motu proceedings on January 29. Senior counsel Huzefa Ahmadi and Sunil Fernandes also appeared for the state in the matter.

While the bench agreed to list the states appeal, the Union government, represented through attorney general R Venkataramani and solicitor general (S-G) Tushar Mehta, urged the court to also examine the judicial propriety of the order passed by the division bench on January 24. The law officers pointed out that the division bench opted to suspend the order of the single judge without there being any appeal formally filed by the state government. According to Mehta, a 1985 judgment by the Supreme Court clearly spelled out that a larger bench cannot interfere with an order when there was no formal appeal memo before it.

Responding, the bench said: We will reserve everything for later. We dont want to even make a prima facie determination at this stage. Sometimes, there are exceptional circumstances, but we dont want to say anything right now. The court permitted the S-G to submit a note on the procedural aspect.

At one point of the hearing, senior counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi told the court that he was appearing for TMC member of Parliament (MP) Abhishek Banerjee, who had filed an application bringing to the courts notice some contentious remarks passed by the single judge in question. Singhvi said his client would be filing a fresh writ petition in this regard.

On Wednesday and Thursday, the two benches of the high court passed contradictory orders on a petition alleging corruption in admission of students at medical colleges using fake caste certificates, with the larger bench on Thursday finally declaring the single judges orders void ab initio (legally void from the start) and quashing an FIR that CBI had lodged as per the single judges directive.

Later, on Thursday, the single judge bench of justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay directly targeted the judge heading the division bench, justice Soumen Sen, recording in his order that the latter was acting at the behest of a political party. Justice Sen is acting clearly for some political party in the state and, therefore, the orders passed in the matters involving the state, are required to be relooked if the Honble Supreme Court thinks so, justice Gangopadhyay said.

The chain of events before the high court started rolling on Wednesday when the single bench of justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay ordered CBI to probe allegations levelled by a writ petitioner, Itisha Soren, alleging issuance of certificates of reserved caste candidates and use of those for admission in medical colleges.

Although Soren did not ask for a CBI probe, justice Gangopadhyay said that when a scam is peeping its head, it is the duty of the court to pass appropriate order for a thorough investigation in the matter, irrespective of whether the writ petitioner has prayed for a CBI inquiry or not.

The judge further said that the special investigation team (SIT), constituted by virtue of another order of his court to investigate an alleged scam relating to recruitment of teachers in the state, will probe the present case, and that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) may also come in if there is evidence of money trail.

While directing that the documents adduced before his bench by the states advocate general Kishore Datta be handed over to CBI, justice Gangopadhyay also criticised the state police for not being able to arrest the accused involved in an attack on ED officials at Sandeshkhali when officials went to search the premises of Trinamool Congress leader Shajahan Sheikh in connection with an alleged ration distribution scam case in the states North 24 Parganas district.

Justice Gangopadhyay called a CBI officer to his court at 2.30pm on Wednesday to receive a copy of the documents relating to the case.

Aggrieved by the CBI probe order, the state government immediately moved the division bench of justices Soumen Sen and Uday Kumar on Wednesday afternoon. The states advocate general Datta argued that the state was not allowed by the single bench to place documents relating to the alleged corruption and show that the government has taken steps to investigate the issuance of fake caste certificates.

Acting on the states appeal, the division bench ordered a stay on the CBI probe for two weeks and said the case will be heard again on Thursday morning. This bench also directed the registrar general of the high court to inform CBI that the agencys presence at 2.30pm on Wednesday was not necessary.

However, a CBI official appeared before the single judge bench on Wednesday at 2.30pm and justice Gangopadhyay handed over all the papers to the agency official despite an order of stay passed by the division bench a short while ago. Justice Gangopadhyays order noted that although the petitioner had submitted that the matter was mentioned before the appeal court on behalf of the state, his bench had no such information from the state counsel.

Going ahead, CBI on Thursday registered an FIR as per the single judges order, but the division bench disapproved of it.

On Thursday morning, the division bench was informed by the advocate general that despite a stay order, CBI was given all the documents to start an investigation. This time, the larger bench took an exception to CBI going ahead with the probe in the case.

In view of the fact that we have stayed the order passed during the first half of 24th January, 2024, the subsequent order passed by the learned single judge during the second half of the day is void ab initio, said the division bench order passed on Thursday afternoon.

The order further directed CBI to immediately return all the documents received a day ago to the state counsel, adding the agency shall not proceed with the matter any further. The FIR, if any registered, shall, accordingly, stand quashed, said the division bench, extending its Wednesday order of stay by another four weeks. The division bench also sought an explanation from the high court registrar general why CBI was not informed its official did not have to receive the documents from the single judge because the order of the agency probe had been stayed.

Later in the day, justice Gangopadhyay again took up the matter for hearing and questioned the legality of the stay granted by the division bench since no appeal had been filed in writing. In the said order (granting stay) I have not found any recording of any urgency in the matter. What was so urgent? justice Gangopadhyay said in his order.

The judge further stated, I have no other option but to ignore the order of the said division bench as the order has been passed in continuation of the illegal appeal void ab initio. I have ignored the said illegal order passed by the division bench for the reasons as has been stated above, including the ground of interested person Honble Justice Soumen Sen.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. More than 100 NGOs in the fields of ecology and healthcare operating in Armenia have recently appealed to the country's leadership regarding the exploitation of the Amuldag (Amulsar) gold deposit, a member of the "Environmental Protection First" (EPF) coalition, the Executive Director of the Service for the Sake of Health Public Union (Azerbaijan) Parvana Valiyeva told Trend.

She said that the appeal condemned the resumption of the deposit's operation, despite its significant environmental pollution.

"One of the protesters' claims was that Armenia, by exploiting the Amuldag gold deposit, violates both domestic legislation and fails to fulfill its international obligations. The exploitation of the Amuldag gold deposit poses a threat to biodiversity and water resources," the union's representative explained. "As a result of the deposit's operation, the environment is contaminated with radioactive substances, and at the same time, a technology prohibited by many countries is used during exploitation. These radioactive substances seep into groundwater, causing damage to the natural mineral springs of the Istisu resort area, located near Amulsar."

She noted that the Lydian Armenia company is primarily responsible for the exploitation of the deposit.

"According to the results of monitoring carried out in connection with environmental impact assessment, the exploitation of this deposit was required to be halted. However, neither Armenia nor the company fulfilled these promises. Exploitation of the deposit has resumed. We, the Environmental Protection First coalition, share the concerns of NGOs operating in Armenia and invite them to collaborate," Valiyeva also said.

"We have repeatedly raised these issues, sent official letters to companies operating in Amulsar, expressed our willingness to meet with them. The exploitation of the deposit is carried out without considering the results of environmental monitoring," she pointed out. "Even international organizations have emphasized that the exploitation of the Amulsar gold deposit has a negative impact on the environment, being a source of serious illnesses for people."

"The authorities of Armenia and the companies exploiting the deposit should allow international experts, environmental organizations, including our coalition and relevant NGOs operating in Azerbaijan, to inspect this facility, conduct monitoring, and provide their conclusions," the EPF member added.

Amuldag deposit is located 13 kilometers away from the city of Istisu (Jermuk) which is a natural mineral water. The deposit is also located in the area between Arpachay and Bazarchay. Both rivers pass through the territory of Azerbaijan and flow into the Araz river. The use of toxic substances, which have been banned for a long time in the exploitation of the Amuldag field, which pose a high threat to the environment, destroys nature, causes acidification of river waters and water poisoning. In addition to gold mining polluting the waters of this river, it also has a negative impact on the ecosystem of Lake Goycha (Sevan), which is the largest freshwater lake in Armenia, located near the area.

At the same time, this industry poses a serious threat to the Caspian Sea basin. Arpachay and Bazarchay, which flow from the territory of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of the Republic of Azerbaijan, flow into the Araz River and from there into the Caspian Sea. Thus, it seriously damages the ecology of not only Azerbaijan, but also Iran, as well as other Caspian countries.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
On July 25, 1997, a wet-eyed homemaker from a humble village background went to the Raj Bhawan wearing slippers. Within hours, she was sworn in as Bihars chief minister, even as her husband, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) party chief, faced imminent arrest in the infamous fodder scam case. As Rabri Devi took over the reins of the government, Lalu Prasad Yadav was accused of unabashedly promoting family rule. RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and his wife Rabri Devi with their family.(HT FILE PHOTO.)

The RJD has come a long way since then. It lost power in Bihar in 2005 and formed the government with the support of the Janata Dal (United) in 2015 and again, in 2022. Now, as the JD(U) readies to break ties with the RJD once again, and return to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance, its chief Nitish Kumars politics of opportunism is matched only by 76-year-old Lalus bid to remain in power.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Lalu has faced criticism for promoting his family  three of his nine children are in the government  but it has not deterred him. His oldest daughter Misa Bharti is a sitting Rajya Sabha MP  she lost the Pataliputra parliamentary polls twice; younger son, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav is deputy CM; and elder son Tej Pratap Yadav is a minister.

Lalus second daughter, Rohini Acharya, who donated her kidney to her father in December 2022, is likely to contest the parliamentary elections this year, although no official announcement about this has been made. If she contests, Archarya, an MBBS degree holder, may do so from Karakat and Saran, both strongholds of the RJD.

At the moment, however, all eyes are on whom the RJD chief is expected to name as his heir apparent to head the party, party insiders said.

Tejashwi Prasad, widely considered to be the man to take up the mantle, is likely to be named party president. This proposition was made back in November 2022, before the partys national executive took place in New Delhi. However, at the time, party veterans were not in favour of a change of guard, as many feared that it would adversely affect the balance between the young and old members of the party.

All three siblings are said to be claimants for the post.

Tej Pratap, the older of the two, has shown his displeasure over the organisational decisions Tejashwi has taken. A year ago, he had a bitter spat with state president and veteran Jagdanand Singh over the party's top post. The Yadav scion was reportedly displeased because he did not have enough clout in the party to appoint supporters to key posts. Tej Pratap was also reportedly upset over Singh's proximity with Tejashwi and his younger brothers growing clout in the party. In the past year, Tejashwi has become a de facto number two and is said to be calling the shots in all key decisions. There are speculations that Tej Pratap is keen to contest the Lok Sabha polls this year, though the 35-year-old has not made any official statement so far in this connection. Misa Bharti is also said to be eyeing the Pataliputra parliamentary seat.

There is bound to be sibling rivalry in every political family as stakes are high. Of course, Tejashwi has firmed up his position in the party and might be given more responsibilities in coming days, a senior RJD leader, seeking anonymity, said.

Rohini Acharya, who is in her forties, and lives in Singapore with her family, visited her in-laws place in Aurangabad district in December 2023 and participated in various social programmes. When asked about her keenness to join politics, she said, Lets see what lies in the future. I do not know. Archarya has been active on X (formerly Twitter) and posted a few days ago obliquely critiquing Nitish over his comments against dynastic politics. This triggered a war of words between the RJD and JD(U) causing unrest in the Grand Alliance government.

Lalus other children  five daughters  are not in politics. Indeed, many RJD leaders said on condition of anonymity that it wont surprise them if they too enter politics in the coming days.
Women stole the limelight at the 75th Republic Day parade, with ample representation in every element of Indias biggest ceremonial event: in the flypast, in mechanised columns, in marching contingents, in bands, and in the cultural extravaganza. Tens of thousands of spectators braved the cold and congregated around Kartavya Path to be a part of the celebrations centered around the theme of Nari Shakti, or woman power. IAF fighter jets Jaguars flypast during the Republic Day Parade 2024 at the Kartavya Path, in New Delhi, (PTI)

The national flag was unfurled on the arrival of President Droupadi Murmu by a woman officer, Major Saumya Shukla, amid the roar of a 21-gun salute presented the ceremonial battery of the armys 871 Field Regiment. French President Emmanuel Macron was the chief guest.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

India on Friday celebrated the 75th Republic Day.

Escorted by the Presidents Bodyguard (PBG), Murmu and Macron reached the venue in a horse-drawn buggy that returned to spotlight after decades.

The 75th Republic Day Parade showcased the nations extraordinary Nari Shakti as impressive march-pasts by women received standing ovation by the invitees. President Droupadi Murmu and the French President Emmanuel Macron arrived at the Kartavya Path in the traditional buggy which made a comeback after 40 years, the Rashtrapati Bhavan posted on X.

The proceedings began with Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading the nation in paying tribute to Indias fallen heroes at the National War Memorial. The memorial is a monument dedicated to soldiers who fell in post-Independence wars and operations, and was inaugurated in 2019 to fill a key gap  until then, India did not have a memorial for its fallen heroes.

Paid tributes at the Rashtriya Samar Smarak. We remember and honour those who selflessly defended our nation. Their courage and sacrifice will never be forgotten. We bow to them in solemn respect and gratitude, vowing to uphold the ideals they stood for, Modi wrote on X.

Setting the tone for the celebrations, four Mi-17 helicopters of the Indian Air Forces 105 Helicopter Unit, flew over Kartavya Path in a spearhead formation and showered petals on the cheering crowds. One of the eight helicopter pilots was a woman, Squadron Leader Poornima.

For the first time in Republic Day history, instead of the traditional military bands, the parade was heralded by 112 women artistes playing a variety of Indian musical instruments from across the country, including folk and tribal percussion instruments.

A 95-member French military contingent and a 33-member band from that country took part in the parade. And two Rafale fighters and an Airbus A330 MRTT (multi-role tanker transport) of the French air force featured in the flypast.

A great honour for France. Thank you, India, Macron posted on X along with images of the French contingent. Foreign soldiers took part in the parade for the first time in 2016 when a French army contingent of 130 soldiers marched down Rajpath (now Kartavya Path). Then French President Francois Hollande was the chief guest that year. This was followed by a United Arab Emirates contingent in 2017, a Bangladesh army contingent in 2021 and an Egyptian marching squad in 2023.

This years parade was led by Lieutenant General Bhavnish Kumar, General Officer Commanding, Headquarters Delhi Area, with Major General Sumit Mehta as his deputy.

The Republic Day line-up featured a variety of fighter jets, transport aircraft, attack helicopters, T-90 tanks, BMP-II infantry combat vehicles, missile and rocket systems, drone jammers, a raft of fighting vehicles, soldiers on horseback, several marching contingents, band squads, the much-loved BSF camel contingent and several tableaux.

The indigenous light combat aircraft Tejas took part in the flypast in a formation for the first time. The C-295 transport aircraft also made its debut.

Women were in the drivers seat at the parade and 80% of all activities involved them. Fifteen women pilots, including six fighter pilots, took part in the flypast. They flew Rafales and Sukhoi-30s. An all-women tri-service contingent consisting of Agniveers (the armys new short-service recruits) also participated for the first time. A women-only marching squad from the Armed Forces Medical Services also made its debut. Two of the 10 women officers commissioned into the Regiment of Artillery for the first time last year were a part of the parade too.

Around 1,500 women dancers also performed at Kartavya Path and showcased 30 folk dance styles as part of the Vande Bharatam cultural extravaganza.The theme was Cultural expression of women power  Accomplishment through resolve. And 265 women bikers from the Central Armed Police Forces performed a variety of stunts in a scintillating display of skills.

The Border Security Force marching contingent consisted of 144 women and was led by Assistant Commandant Monika Lakra. The BSF band was also led by a woman, Sub Inspector Shweta Singh.

Around 77,000 spectators witnessed the parade, including 13,000 special guests. These guests included patent holders, those representing successful start-ups, best performers in various fields and those who made best use of around 30 government schemes including Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and PM Ujjwala Yojana.
The Uttarakhand government has convened a session of the legislative assembly from February 5 to discuss the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state, people familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity. Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami waves to the people during the 75th Republic Day function at the Parade Ground in Dehradun on Friday (ANI)

The state government issued a statement Friday that confirmed that the house has been summoned on Monday, 5 February but did not provide any other details.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The five-member committee headed by justice (retired) Ranjana Prakash Desai, formed to present a report on UCC, is expected to submit this on February 2. The committees term ended on January 26 but HT learns that it has been given an extension of two weeks.

UCC refers to a common set of laws that will subsume customary laws across faiths and tribes and govern issues such as marriage, divorce, inheritance and maintenance. In the run-up to the state assembly elections in February 2022 , chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had announced that implementation of UCC would be the first decision of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government if voted to power.

The UCC has, for years, been a constant in the manifesto of the BJP, along with the construction of a Ram Temple in Ayodhya, and the abrogation of Article 370, both of which have happened. In January 2023, the Supreme Court ruled that states have the power to constitute committees to draft and implement UCC.

Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, in his message on the eve of Republic Day, said that a session of the state assembly would be called to implement Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state. Dhami said, Five-member committee formed for the Uniform Civil Code has completed the draft. As soon as the draft is received, a session of the Assembly will be called and the Uniform Civil Code law will be implemented in the entire Uttarakhand.

After BJP came to power, Uttarakhand government in May 2022 formed the five-member draft committee headed by Justice (retd) Desai to prepare a draft for implementation of UCC in the state.

Dhami, sharing the reasons for implementing UCC in the state had said earlier that it is being done to provide uniformity (in law) to all religious communities and to preserve the culture of Devbhoomi, the land of Gods.. as had been promised in our Sankalp Patra (manifesto) at the time of elections.

Uttarakhand has 13.9% Muslim population according to 2011 census, mostly in the Terai area.

Speaking to media persons after unfurling the Tricolour at his residence on Friday, CM Dhami said the tenure of the UCC committee has been extended by 15 days to complete some formalities. UCC committee has almost completed the draft. Some more time is needed to compile it and complete some other formalities. So we have extended the tenure of the UCC committee by 15 days, he said
New Delhi: Union tribal affairs minister Arjun Munda on Friday interacted with tribal students from across India who were invited as special guests at the Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi. The students were invited to the Union ministers residence after the Republic Day parade (Twitter/@MundaArjun)

A total of 663 tribal students and teachers, representing 31 states and Union Territories, participated as special guests. The students were invited to the ministers residence after the Republic Day parade to share their experiences.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Mohammed Adil, a Kashmiri student, said witnessing the grandeur of the tableaus and the valour of the defence forces has been a life-changing experience for him. He said he now has a newfound belief in aspiring to such heights where people who ignore us right now will be the ones clapping for us.

Anwar Rafique from Ladakh said that the most exciting thing for him was to visit iconic landmarks like the Humayuns Tomb, previously only accessible through textbooks. He said that this experience marked his first venture beyond his district, let alone his state, opening his eyes to a world beyond his immediate surroundings and giving him hope to do more.

V Karthika from Telangana said that she drew inspiration from witnessing Droupadi Murmu as the President of India, fueling her ambition to become a doctor despite the scarcity of healthcare professionals in her district. She said, Seeing a tribal woman as the president has given me a lot of hope, now I can dare to dream big.

BV Lakshmi from Karnataka said he enjoyed watching the Republic Day parade in the winter as it was the first time he had witnessed such cold temperatures.

Union minister Munda took the opportunity to motivate these students, emphasizing their pivotal role in realising the vision of a developed India.

The Human Development Index of India is not good but only when you (students) move forward will the society move forward and in turn, we will truly become Viksit Bharat, he said.

Today at my residence in New Delhi, I had the pleasure of interacting with over 550 tribal students from different parts of the country who are beneficiaries of the Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme. These students are currently studying in classes IX and X, and they were invited to participate in the Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi, the Union minister wrote on X.

Of the total 663, 258 girl students and 331 boys participated as special guests along with 74 teachers. These individuals are also beneficiaries of the Pre-Matric Scholarship under the auspices of the tribal affairs ministry.
The Delhi high court has refused to suspend the sentence of Jaideep Singh Sengar, brother of expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar, who was convicted in 2020 in a case pertaining to the death of the father of the Unnao rape victim. The court also said that the convict cannot seek parity with his co-accused, who were granted bail in the same case. (Shutterstock)

Taking note of a report by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, a bench of justice Swarana Kanta Sharma on January 24 observed that the medical condition of the convict is not of a nature that he cannot serve the sentence awarded to him in the jail.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The court also said that the convict cannot seek parity with his co-accused, who were granted bail in the same case, since he has been in custody only for three years, which was much lower than the total 10-year prison term awarded to him.
A 29-year-old man was killed and three others were injured in Manipurs Kangpokpi district during a gunfight between Kuki and Meitei groups that lasted for at least six hours on Saturday, the first new fatality the strife-torn state in nine days. Officials aware of the matter identified the deceased as Timlun Khongsai, a Kuki village defence volunteer who died of bullet injuries (HT Photo)

Security forces rushed to the spot in the afternoon as reports of the gunfight emerged, prompting some unidentified gunmen to enter an abandoned Kuki village and burn down houses.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

On Saturday evening, Kuki civil society groups shared videos showing gunmen in military fatigues at the abandoned villages  HT could not independently verify the authenticity of the videos or the location.

Kangpokpi is a Kuki-dominated hill district that shares a boundary with the Imphal valley, where the Meiteis are in a majority  the two communities have been locked in a deadly confrontation since May last year, leading to the deaths of at least 200 people and forcing tens of thousands of families to flee their homes.

READ | Violence beyond ethnic strife as militants fish in Manipurs troubled waters

Officials aware of the matter identified the deceased as Timlun Khongsai, a Kuki village defence volunteer who died of bullet injuries. The three injured, a security official said asking not to be named, were from the Meitei community and were admitted to a hospital in Imphal.

Family members of Khongsai who spoke to HT over the phone said that he had joined village defence volunteers group in October 2023 and was guarding the abandoned Kuki villages in the Satang hill range of Kangpokpi. The hill range shares its border with Meitei villages in Imphal West.

We lived in Imphal until the clashes broke out. Our house was burnt by mobs in May last year when ethnic clashes broke out after which our family shifted to NG Phainom village in Kangpokpi district. We are living at our uncles house, said Khongsais elder brother, Thangmin, who worked as a teacher at a government school in Imphal.

READ | Fresh violence in Manipur, commando shot dead in Moreh gunfight

According to Thangmin, his younger brother left home in October and joined the village guards. The tension in Manipur has led to creation of community-based armed village volunteers on both sides.

Along with other young men, he was guarding the abandoned houses in Satang area because the place is a buffer zone and shares boundary with Meitei village. I got a call at around 6.30am on Saturday that the village was attacked by dozens of militants. My brother sustained bullet injuries and died on the spot, the man said, adding that their father, a former headmaster, was killed by militants in 2003.

In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Manipur police said: One individual was killed in a firing incident between armed miscreants at Satang hill range of Kangpokpi.

The force did not share any other details but an officer aware of the probe details said, The firing started around 5.30am on Saturday. There was intermittent firing during the day. The situation is under control.

Kuki civil society groups such as the Committee on Tribal Unity (Kangpokpi based) and Kuki Inpi Tengnoupal accused a particular Assam Rifles officer of leading the attack at the Satang Hill Range. There was no response from Assam Rifles on the allegations.

The community is also baffled how Meitei militia and secessionist UNLF-MP could trespass into Kuki-Zo dominated areas in spite of the presence of central security forces, COTU said in a statement.

In a separate development, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge wrote to Union home minister Amit Shah about a radical Meitei group that assaulted Congress MLA Keisham Meghachandra on January 24. Arambai Tenggol, which has been accused by Kuki groups of leading the violent attack, had called Meitei legislators to the capitals Kangla fort for a meeting to take oath on protecting Manipurs integrity. At least 36 MLAs and two MPs attended the meeting. While no legislator has filed a complaint, several have said that Arambai Tenggol leaders assaulted at least one Congress MLA and three BJP MLAs.

It has been almost nine months since Manipur erupted in violence and the situation has only turned from bad to worse, Kharge wrote in his letter before mentioning how the Congress MLA was brutally assaulted and tortured.

Governments come and go but it is the responsibility of constitutional functionaries to ensure that democratic structures, institutions and processes are protected and preserved. Our nation has just celebrated the 75th Republic Day. Manipur is an integral part of our Republic and I urge you to take urgent action to ensure that democracy and rule of law prevails once more in a very important and valued part of our wonderfully diverse county, Kharge said in his letter.
Thats the question Divya Ravindranath, a researcher and faculty member with the Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS) in Bengaluru, posed on X in 2022.

In a year, she had gathered enough responses to build a rudimentary database; it has since grown from those original 100 titles to 400, and is now the ongoing crowdsourced platform Cities in Fiction (citiesinfiction.com), co-founded in September by Ravindranath, 39, and Apoorva Saini, 30, a fellow with the IIHS Urban Fellows Programme.

When we started, the list was meant to focus on Indian cities, but before we knew it, people were entering mentions of cities in Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Ravindranath says, so it is now a subcontinental repository.

Eventually, the plan is to use the repository as a reference point for lovers of literature and of India; as a record of how cities have been transformed (more on that in a bit); but also as a teaching tool.

For instance, the short story They Eat Meat, from The Adivasi Will Not Dance by Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar, is an excellent device for talking about housing and migration, Ravindranath says.

They Eat Meat is about a Santhal family that moves to Vadodara from the outskirts of Ranchi. Their new landlord tells them that people believe in purity in this city, and suggests that they give up their non-vegetarian food and not reveal their tribal identity. The tribal family does so, and is quietly lauded for adapting to their new surroundings. But this glorification shifts gradually into humiliation, as they are pushed to shed more and more of their true identity.

The story can be a good starting point for conversations about how migration and marginalised identities are viewed by dominant groups, and how this informs our very definitions of discrimination, prejudice and segregation. One can use data to explore such themes, and one must, Ravindranath says, but fiction brings affect and can have an incredible impact on young students.

Similarly, themes such as poverty, corruption, marginalisation and life in a slum can be explored with children, through some of the childrens books listed, such as Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line by Deepa Anappara; Jwala Kumar and the Gift of Fire: Adventures in Champakbagh by Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar; and Samira Surfs, about a Rohingya girls journey from isolation to friendship, written by the Persian-Indian-Chinese-American Rukhsanna Guidroz.

The larger idea is to encourage learners and educators to see fiction as method. For example, can a chemistry teacher think of teaching her students about the chemical properties of elements, through a story? There is a section in Anita Nairs novel, Ladies Coupe, where the characters are described, according to their nature or behaviour, as elements from the periodic table. It would make for excellent secondary reading. This mode of learning can be used by any discipline, Saini says. Researchers could eventually look to build such titles into curricula.

Aside from the larger missions, one of the joys of running Cities in Fiction, the women say, has been encountering places they once loved, that are long-gone.

Saini was surprised to discover an entry on Amaravathi Kathalu (1979), a collection of short stories by Telugu writer Satyam Sankaramanchi. His stories merge elements from folk tales with events occurring in this erstwhile town on the banks of Krishna river, in Andhra Pradesh.

Amaravati is a large city now, and the capital of Andhra Pradesh. It is currently in the process of being reimagined yet again. In the listing, Saini was able to revisit a place she had first encountered as a child. In school, I used to watch the serial Amaravati ki Kathayein, by Shyam Benegal (1995; Doordarshan) and the stories left such an impression on me that my dollhouse was always in Amaravati, next to an imaginary river, she says.

Ravindranath and Saini have added their favourite titles to the repository too. These include Rohinton Mistrys A Fine Balance (1995), the story of four people who meet, live and work in an overcrowded metropolis (believed to be based on Bombay / Mumbai), in the 1970s and 80s, in a rapidly changing India. For Ravindranath, this is a particularly evocative work since she grew up in the city he describes, and now lives away from it, in Bengaluru.

Sainis favourites include a short story by visual artist Bhupen Khakhar titled Wadki (Gujarati for Bowl), which doesnt explicitly mention a city but draws vivid pictures of life in a residential building in Gujarat. Its a quiet tale, of the kind currently playing out in numerous such cities in India, and the kind she knows so well from her childhood in Alwar, and her current life in Bhopal. In a lot of its details, it is very hyperlocal, and yet it is universal, she says.
Can we build for a world in which climate crises are the norm?

That is the question that translational engineers Nanma Gireesh and Ben K George set out to answer, in 2019. What they have emerged with is a working template for a floating home, and a contract to help build two such houses, in association with the Kerala state government.

Kerala, with its extensive coast and backwaters, floods regularly, with more frequent and extreme weather events expected as we move past 1.5 degrees of global warming. The 2018 floods, in which 11 of the states 14 districts were hit following spells of extreme rain, proved to Nanma and Ben just how urgent the need was for new ways of living.

At the time, they were studying amphibious buildings as part of a Masters degree in translational engineering, in Thiruvananthapuram. They didnt want to settle into routine jobs, building structures that could no longer do the job that habitation was meant to do, says Nanma, now 30.

So they set up NestAbide, with a single-focus mission: to build standalone homes that could rest on dry ground, and float during a flood.

In September 2021, they unveiled their first prototype, built with their own savings.

Amphi Nest is a 100-sq-ft concrete room constructed at a cost of 3 lakh. It has a 9-tonne buoyant concrete foundation tethered to four guidance posts. The foundation is essentially a hollow box made of reinforced steel, embedded in concrete. The guidance posts are 20 cm in diameter, filled with concrete and reinforced-steel too.

The prototype sits on a wet dock that can be inundated to simulate a flood. When water reaches levels of 2 ft to 5 ft (depending on how the foundation is built) within the narrow moat-like space around the home, it rises, tethered to its posts. In this type of structure, the concrete of the structure, and the four embedded posts, hold it in place, in turbulent waters as well, Nanma says.

The narrow moat-like space on which the Amphi Nest prototype sits. When water reaches levels of 2 ft to 5 ft within the moat, the house rises, tethered to its posts.

Amphi Nest is not just a prototype but a tangible answer. It serves as an immersive experience, allowing people to feel its stability during rest conditions and during flotation, illustrating how amphibious structures can revolutionise living near water bodies, she adds.

Around the world, amphibious housing is in use in countries ranging from Canada and the UK to Bangladesh, Vietnam and the Philippines.

The technology is proven, but widespread adaptation is a challenge, partly because of a lack of local expertise outside the Global North, says Ben, 29.

It was to the Global North in fact, that Nanma and Ben travelled, to study the concept further. They completed a two-month internship at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, in 2018. This included time spent at Maasbommel, the worlds largest settlement of floating homes, made up of 32 amphibious and 14 floating houses, inhabited since 2011.

In late-2019, they found a mentor who would prove pivotal to the mission, Elizabeth C English, founder of the non-profit Buoyant Foundation Project, at a global conference on amphibious architecture held in Warsaw. The young innovators spent six months working with her in Canada, where she is also a professor of engineering at the School of Architecture at the University of Waterloo.

They then returned to India and built the prototype, which has attracted the attention of the state government. Two amphibious homes are currently under construction, one in the Munroe islands in Kollam district and the other in Kainakary, Alappuzha.

I feel that as a woman working in this field, I faced a gamut of challenges and scrutiny. But our efforts finally got us funding and support from the Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council (KDISC) in collaboration with the Government of Kerala, Nanma says.

The two co-founders of NestAbide are now pursuing PhDs at Delft, as a next step towards addressing some of the challenges that this sector faces.

A key one is scale. Floating and amphibious homes around the world tend to be standalone structures, one to three storeys high. Scaling vertically involves incrementally high costs. It would also require building standards, regulations, and policy guidelines to be put in place, Nanma points out.

And yet, vertical scale is vital, if the concept is to be viable in densely populated regions. This is why building projects at scale is the subject of Bens PhD.

Simple things like the lack of insurance for such homes can hinder the development of such alternatives, which is why regulatory frameworks are the focus of my PhD, Nanma says.
As Paris Couture Week drew to a close, Fendi offered a hypnotic blend of minimalist futurism and homage to the legendary Karl Lagerfeld. Zendaya and Reese Witherspoon were among luminaries who caused snaking traffic and hyperbolic tussles to witness artistic director Kim Jones deliver what was a memorable collection with frothing, organic fringing inside the gilded venue of the Palais Brongniart. It not only revered the past but embraced a forward-thinking ethos. Models present creations by Fendi during the Women's Haute-Couture Spring/Summer 2024 show as part of the Paris Fashion Week at the Palais Brongniart in Paris, on January 25, 2024. (Emmanuel Dunand / AFP)

Here are some highlights of Thursdays fall couture displays:

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

KIM JONES GEOMETRIC ODE, SANS FUR

I was thinking about Karl Lagerfelds futurism, Jones said, setting the tone for a collection where lightness, structure, and emotion intertwined seamlessly.

Yet, eschewing his indulgent predecessor's era for exotic furs and feathers, which are rapidly going out of fashion, Jones instead focused on the human form. It made for a somewhat minimalist and thoughtful display that ensured that each garment accentuated rather than overshadowed the wearer.

Designer Kim Jones accepts applause after the Fendi Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2024 collection presented in Paris, Thursday.(AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

A new box-like silhouette opened the spectacle, with precise geometric patterns in silk gazars. Gowns with severe, minimalist hemlines were adorned with intricate beading, a sophisticated evolution from the brands fur-heavy past. A feather-like, all-over fringe appeared as a new kind of pelt  likely to curry favor with a more ethically-minded couture consumer. Joness vision of Fendis future, he seemed to be saying, is rooted in delicate humanism  not animal pelts.

The craftsmanship of Fendis ateliers shone through in every piece, showcasing a mastery of embroidery, tailoring, and fabric manipulation. The integration of crystal fringing in tulle sleeves became a feat of fashion genius when it seamlessly merged with clutch bags in a trompe loeil effect. It was the collections zenith  as if crystals, human skin and fabric had merged as one in some futuristic fantasy world.

One fashion insider humorously likened the collection to a place that Kardashians might like to call heaven. The creations, while echoing the grandeur of couture, were decidedly contemporary in their execution. Jones was respecting the Rome-based houses codes while boldly stepping into a less opulent, more refined future.

MARGIELAS THEATRICAL ANDROGYNY AND BURLESQUE DRAMA

Maison Margielas spring couture, under the masterful direction of John Galliano, transformed the runway into a realm where burlesque met androgyny in a dramatic fusion of past and future. The avant-garde show redefined the boundaries of haute couture with its blend of theatrical Zorro masks, severe historic corsetry, and a daring play on gender norms.

The collection opened with a male model donning an exaggeratedly cinched corset over a bare torso. Exaggerated proportions continued with hyperbolic hourglass figures crafted into sheer garments, complete with abstract, windswept hair and almost scaffolding structures, creating a silhouette that was both otherworldly and deeply rooted in historical fashion.

A model presents a creation for Maison Sara Chraibi during the Women's Haute-Couture Spring/Summer 2024 Fashion Week in Paris.(AFP)

Gallianos penchant for blending the old with the new was evident in a menswear jacket that echoed a 1930s street urchin vibe. Similarly, another ensemble featuring checkered pants, a textured brown jacket, and a Dickensian collar and hat evoked Oliver Twist's Artful Dodger, especially paired with the models dramatic scowl.

A textured golden coat gown and an enveloping hat captured the delightful drama of a Nancy-like character straight out of the Victorian novel, such theatricality a recurring motif. It blurred the lines between fashion, performance, and art.

The show took a provocative turn with a female model in an invisible corseted structure, boldly displaying nudity with visible nipples and pubic hair. This striking look not only pushed the envelope in terms of fashion design but also made a bold statement about the human form and its representation in the modern fashion narrative.

THE ART OF THE INVITATION

In the fast-paced digital age, the fashion industrys extravagant show invitations seem defiantly anachronistic. Each season, fleets of couriers zigzag across Paris, hand-delivering invitations to guests at their homes or hotel rooms that are artistic, often painstakingly made marvels. This ritual holds a tinge of irony, as many of the shows these invites tout have ecological themes.

Fashion houses vie to outdo each other with invitations that are not just access to their shows but are vignettes of the runway themes themselves. Consider Maison Margielas approach: A sophisticated white card encasing a diminutive Paris metro ticket, elegantly detailed with the specifics of the collection. Then theres Valentinos whimsical nod to Willy Wonka  a glistening golden ticket  while Fendi sent out a giant box with pieces for a DIY Fendi-branded rose to assemble inside. Instructions were included.

Chanel presented a charming cinema ticket, simply inscribed with BUTTON, a prelude to the button-inspired fashion spectacle reserved for their VIP audience.

ASHI STUDIOS SPECTACLE OF SCULPTURE

Mohammed Ashi, the trailblazing founder of Ashi Studio, known for dressing the likes of Beyonce, Cardi B and Zendaya, has once again hit the Paris runway. Ashi, the first Saudi Arabian designer on the official Couture Week calendar, is solidifying his brands reputation for creating red carpet-ready looks.

A model presents a creation by Ashi Studio during the Women's Haute-Couture Spring/Summer 2024 Fashion Week in Paris.(Photo by EMMANUEL DUNAND / AFP)

This seasons couture, rendered in a palette of black, white and gold, opened with a gleaming black pantsuit that sparkled like a starlit sky. Each piece was a study in contrasts: black feathers spiked on organically shaped forms, evoking images of black amethyst formations undulating around the torso.

The collection was a blend of sculptural and organic forms, defining a brief but impactful display. It was marked by moments of sensuality, with nipples daringly exposed through sheer silk, and a stunning sheer ruched skirt, its chic sculptural, scalloped hem exemplifying Ashis play with form. Founded in 2007, Ashi Studio has rapidly become celebrated by VIPs for its intricate craftsmanship and bold, architectural designs.

JULIE DE LIBRAN SUSTAINABILITY MEETS PARISIAN CHIC

In the heart of Paris, Julie de Librans spring mixed sustainable luxury and effortless elegance. In an intimate setting, de Libran, who honed her craft at iconic houses like Sonia Rykiel and Louis Vuitton, showcased a line that whispered a simple confidence.

French fashion designer Julie de Libran poses for a photocall at the 21st Fashion Dinner against AIDS ("Dinner de la Mode" in French) charity event for the French anti-AIDS association Sidaction, held at the Palais de Tokyo, on the sidelines of Paris Fashion Week, in Paris.(Photo by Geoffroy VAN DER HASSELT / AFP)

De Librans design philosophy often involves reworking classic styles with contemporary elements, and she has been recognized for sourcing many of her fabrics from vintage markets or from sustainable platforms like LVMHs deadstock platform, Nona Source. Taking center stage was a slinky, floor-sweeping gown cut on the bias, adorned with a cape  a drape effect that has become a signature.

Ostrich feather fringing graced hems throughout the collection, adding a diaphanous lift to pieces like a draped coffee shawl-jacket and simple, loosely tailored suits.

De Librans journey in fashion is marked by a seamless blend of high-end experience and a down-to-earth approach to design. Running her own boutique in Saint-Germain-des-Pres, she embodies the role of both designer and curator, offering a hands-on experience that reflects an understanding of sustainable fashion.
K.M Cariappa Jayanti 2024: The birth anniversary of Field Marshal Kodandera M. Cariappa, the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army, is celebrated on January 28. A national hero with many firsts to his credit, he was instrumental in the transition of the Indian military from colonial to independent India and his legacy is still honoured today. Under his leadership, the Indian armed forces proved their mettle during a critical period of transition and a competent and capable military establishment was formed. Kodandera's election was a major turning point in the growth of India's independent defence sector. His legacy will continue to inspire future generations of military personnel by highlighting the importance of discipline, leadership and dedication in serving the nation. Scroll down to learn more about K.M Cariappa. On January 28, 1899, Field Marshal Kodandera M. Cariappa was born, marking a significant day in history. (Wikipedia )

Who was KM Cariappa?

On 28 January 1899, Cariappa was born into a family of farmers from the Kodava clan at Shanivarsanthe in Coorg province (now Kodagu district). His father, Madappa, was employed in the revenue department. In a family of two daughters and four sons, Cariappa was the second child. His family called him 'Chimma'. After graduating from Central High School in Madikeri in 1917, he completed his studies at Presidency College in Chennai. It was at the college that he learnt that Indians were being recruited and trained for the army. He applied for training because he wanted to be a soldier. Out of 70 applicants, Cariappa was one of 42 to be admitted to the Daly Cadet College in Indore. He did well in all aspects of his training and graduated seventh in his class.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Military career

Cariappa had a distinguished military career spanning nearly three decades. Joining the British Indian Army after World War I, he was commissioned as a temporary first lieutenant into the 2/88 Carnatic Infantry. Cariappa became the first Indian officer to attend the Staff College, Quetta, and later commanded the 1/7 Rajputs, making him the first Indian to lead a battalion. He served in various staff roles and commands, eventually becoming the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army. During World War II, Cariappa served in the Middle East and Burma, earning accolades for his leadership. His historic achievements include being the first Indian to command a battalion in the Indian Army.

Post-Independence, Cariappa assumed the role of deputy chief of the general staff. He orchestrated three successive attack operationsKipper, Easy, and Bisonwith the aim of reclaiming strategic areas like Naushera, Jhangar, Poonch, Zoji La, Dras, and Kargil. However, plans to expel Pakistani forces from Kashmir were thwarted by the United States' intervention. On July 6, 1948, the Army HQ imposed strict restrictions on conducting major operations without its authorization. Cariappa opposed this policy, warning that it endangered Leh, Kargil, and ultimately the Kashmir Valley, jeopardizing the nation's security.

How did Field Marshal Cariappa died?

Cariappa's distinguished career with the Indian Army spanned three decades, encompassing roles in staff and command. Following his retirement in 1953, he served as the Indian high commissioner to Australia and New Zealand until 1956. Notable for his dedication to ex-servicemen's welfare, Cariappa founded the Indian Ex-Servicemen's League (IESL) in 1964 and played a key role in establishing the Directorate of Resettlement. On April 28, 1986, Cariappa received the rank of field marshal from the Government of India in appreciation of the outstanding service he provided to the country. He passed away on May 15, 1993, and was cremated in Madikeri, attended by dignitaries including the three service chiefs and Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw.
Subscription to paid content

Gain access to all that Trend has to offer, as well as to premium, licensed content via subscription or direct purchase through a credit card.
A new study led by UCL researchers found that menopausal women who swim in cold water on a daily basis experience considerable improvements in both physical and mental symptoms. Cold water swimming improves menopause symptoms: Research(Unsplash)

The research, published in Post Reproductive Health, surveyed 1114 women, 785 of which were going through the menopause, to examine the effects of cold water swimming on their health and wellbeing.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The findings showed that menopausal women experienced a significant improvement in anxiety (as reported by 46.9% of the women), mood swings (34.5%), low mood (31.1%) and hot flushes (30.3%) as a result of cold water swimming.

ALSO READ: Obese women get severe menopausal symptoms, benefit less from hormone therapy: Study

We're now on WhatsApp. Click to join

In addition, a majority of women (63.3%) swam specifically to relieve their symptoms.

Some of the women quoted in the study said that they found the cold water to be "an immediate stress/ anxiety reliever" and described the activity as "healing".

One 57-year-old woman stated: "Cold water is phenomenal. It has saved my life. In the water, I can do anything. All symptoms (physical and mental) disappear and I feel like me at my best."

Senior author, Professor Joyce Harper (UCL EGA Institute for Women's Health), said: "Cold water has previously been found to improve mood and reduce stress in outdoor swimmers, and ice baths have long been used to aid athletes' muscle repair and recovery.

"Our study supports these claims, meanwhile the anecdotal evidence also highlights how the activity can be used by women to alleviate physical symptoms, such as hot flushes, aches and pains.

"More research still needs to be done into the frequency, duration, temperature and exposure needed to elicit a reduction in symptoms. However, we hope our findings may provide an alternative solution for women struggling with the menopause and encourage more women to take part in sports."

Most of the women involved in the study were likely to swim in both summer and winter and wear swimming costumes, rather than wet suits.

Alongside aiding menopausal symptoms, the women said their main motivations for cold water swimming were being outside, improving mental health and exercising.

Professor Harper said: "The majority of women swim to relieve symptoms such as anxiety, mood swings and hot flushes. They felt that their symptoms were helped by the physical and mental effects of the cold water, which was more pronounced when it was colder.

"How often they swam, how long for and what they wore were also important. Those that swam for longer had more pronounced effects. The great thing about cold water swimming is it gets people exercising in nature, and often with friends, which can build a great community."

The researchers also wanted to investigate whether cold water swimming improved women's menstrual symptoms.

Of the 711 women who experienced menstrual symptoms, nearly half said that cold water swimming improved their anxiety (46.7%), and over a third said that it helped their mood swings (37.7%) and irritability (37.6%).

Yet despite the benefits of cold water swimming, the researchers were also keen to highlight that the sport comes with certain risks.

Professor Harper explained: "Caution must be taken when cold water swimming, as participants could put themselves at risk of hypothermia, cold water shock, cardiac rhythm disturbances or even drowning.

Depending on where they are swimming, water quality standards may also vary. Raw sewage pollution is an increasingly common concern in UK rivers and seas. And, sadly, this can increase the likelihood of gastroenteritis and other infections.
The Indian Space Research Organisation has successfully achieved all its experiments to be performed on its orbital platform launched recently by PSLV-C58 mission. The space agency is now preparing for a controlled re-entry into Earth's atmosphere within the next 75 days, ensuring the mission leaves no space debris behind. Representative Image:( (PTI Photo/R Senthil Kumar))

"ISROs innovative space platform, POEM-3, successfully achieves all payload objectives. With the likely re-entry of POEM-3 in the next 75 days, the PSLV-C58 XPoSat mission will be leaving zero debris in space," ISRO said in an X post on Saturday.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

After placing X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite into an orbit of 650km with 6-degree inclination, ISRO lowered the launch vehicles fourth spent stage. It was used as a platform for onboard experiments.

Also read: ISRO lowers PSLV-C58 spent stage. Why its vital for Indian space station dream?

Which experiments were performed on POEM-3?

1. Bellatrix Aerospace, based in Bengaluru, tested Rudra 0.3 HPGP, a green monopropellant thruster, and ARKA-200, a heater-less hollow cathode for Hall thrusters.

2. InspeCity Space Labs, located in Mumbai and incubated by IIT Bombay, tested the Green Impulse TrAnsmitter (GITA), a green bipropellant CubeSat propulsion unit.

3. TakeMe2Space from Hyderabad tested its Radiation Shielding Experimental Module (RSEM) designed to evaluate the effectiveness of Tantalum coating, enhancing CubeSat lifespan.

4. Thiruvananthapuram-based LBS Institute of Technology for Women contributed to the Women Engineered Satellite (WESAT), measuring solar irradiance and UV Index.

5. KJ Somaiya Institute of Technology in Mumbai featured BeliefSat-0, an amateur radio satellite, onboard POEM.

6. ISRO's Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) had two payloads, the Fuel Cell Power System (FCPS) and Silicon-based High Energy Cell, onboard POEM.

ALSO READ- ISRO generates power from hydrogen, oxygen in space  a leap for human missions

7. The Ahmedabad-based Physical Research Laboratory has sent the Dust Experiment (DEX) on POEM, designed to measure interplanetary dust count.

The space agency confirmed the successful completion of all payload objectives. After achieving all objectives, more experiments with POEM-3 are planned for generating data for future missions including upcoming POEM configurations, it added.

Across POEM-1 to POEM-3 missions, ISRO has incorporated a total of 21 payloads from diverse institutes and industries.

ALSO READ- How does Ram Mandir look from space? ISRO satellite captures image

ISRO committed to leave no space debris

During the PSLV-C58 mission, the vehicle was intentionally lowered to a 350 km circular orbit to expedite orbit decay after the experiment's completion.

On the 25th day in orbit, POEM-3 accomplished 400 orbits, currently residing in an orbit measuring approximately 322 km by 352 km. It is anticipated that POEM-3 will remain in orbit for about 73 more days before re-entering the Earths atmosphere.

ALSO READ- Watch: International Space Station lowers orbit to avoid space debris collision

With POEM we leave no debris and with a mission planned for tethered debris capture ISRO will solve the debris problem once and for all, said Manish Purohit, a former ISRO scientist and founder of NIMBUS Education.

Not only that, ISRO's ambitious future in-orbit services initiative is developing technologies for Satellite Refuelling, ISRO Satellite re-Servicer module (ISM), in Orbit rendezvous, capture, docking and maintenance, he added.
The Indian Space Research Organisation announced on Saturday that its meteorological satellite, INSAT-3DS, has been sent to Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR in Sriharikota for its upcoming launch aboard GSLV F14. Representative Image: (PTI)

Follow- ISRO'S INSAT-3DS mission launch LIVE Updates

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

INSAT-3DS, is an exclusive meteorological satellite realised by ISRO with the primary objective of providing continuity of services to the existing in-orbit INSAT-3D and 3DR satellites and significantly enhancing the capabilities of INSAT system is flagged off to SDSC-SHAR launch port on January 25, ISRO said in a statement.

ALSO READ- ISRO adds another feather to its cap with POEM-3 success

The space agency didn't disclose the launch date, however, it is expected around first week of February.

What is INSAT-3DS, ISRO's next launch?

 INSAT-3DS is specifically designed to provide advanced meteorological observations, enabling improved weather forecasting capabilities.

 The satellite is equipped with cutting-edge payloads, including a 6-channel Imager and 19-channel Sounder for meteorological observations, ensuring high-quality data collection.

 INSAT-3DS features essential communication payloads, such as the Data Relay Transponder (DRT). This instrument receives data from automatic Data Collection Platforms and Automatic Weather Stations, enhancing weather forecasting capabilities.

ALSO READ- All about Sukrayaan 1: ISRO's mission to Venus

 The SAS&R transponder is a crucial component incorporated into the satellite. It plays a vital role in relaying distress signals and alert detections from beacon transmitters, contributing to global search and rescue services.

 With its advanced payloads and communication features, INSAT-3DS is well-equipped to monitor land and ocean surfaces, providing valuable data for disaster warning systems and contributing to early-warning capabilities.

Earlier in the month, ISRO chairperson S Somanath set forth an ambitious agenda for 2024, aiming for a minimum of 12 launches. The space agency kicked off the new year by successfully launching the polarimetry mission, X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat), on January 1.

ALSO READ- PSLV-C58 XPoSat: India successfully launches satellite to study black holes from Sriharikota

Further adding to its achievements, on January 6, ISRO placed the Aditya-L1 satellite, India's first space-based solar observatory launched on September 2 the previous year, into its designated orbit at Earth-Sun's Lagrange point 1.
Southwest Airlines took to Instagram to share a post about a 102-year-old WWII veteran. The airline shared how they organised a special surprise for her to celebrate her birthday. In the post, they further gave a glimpse of her life while in the military and also thanked her for her service. This throwback image is of a WWII veteran who recently turned 102 and got a sweet surprise from Southwest Airlines. (Instagram/@southwestair)

Meet 102-year-old WWII Veteran, Helen Marie Horvath. Helen Marie's son works at Southwest, so he reached out to his Cohearts (the Southwest word for coworkers) and asked for their help to make his mom's 102nd birthday arrival extra special, the airline wrote.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

They shared that when Helen Marie arrived in Saint Louis, she was given a surprise and welcomed with American flags, a crown, bubbles, happy birthday signs and cheering. Overjoyed, the woman also shared stories from her military life with the staff. She shared how she started her military career when she was just 21 years old and talked about getting Honorable Discharge afterwards.

The airline wrapped up the post with a series of images. One of the pictures shows Helen Marie sitting in a wheelchair wearing a crown and a robe. A few people are seen standing around her holding balloons and other party props. Two of them are also seen holding the number 102.

While the second photo captures people cheering for her, the third one is a throwback photograph from her younger days.

Take a look at this beautiful post here:

The post was shared nearly 14 hours ago. Since then, the share has gathered more than 3,500 likes. It has also accumulated several comments from people. Many reacted to the post using heart emoticons.

How did Instagram users react to this surprise?

Happy birthday to this amazing woman! shared an Instagram user. Ahh, such a great story! Go Helen! added another. Great story!! Happy Birthday, joined a third. What a beautiful story, wrote a fourth.
China sent more than 30 warplanes and a group of navy ships toward Taiwan, the islands defense ministry said Saturday. Chinese President Xi Jinping(REUTERS)

The military pressure comes on the heels of an announcement that senior American and Chinese representatives were expected to meet in the Thai capital as the two countries seek to cool tensions.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The Chinese Peoples Liberation Army sent 33 aircraft, including SU-30 fighters, and six navy vessels around Taiwan, between 6 a.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday. Of these, 13 warplanes crossed the midline of the Taiwan Strait  an unofficial boundary that's considered a buffer between the island and mainland. Taiwan has monitored the situation and employed its own forces in response to the activities.

ALSO READ| World's largest cruise ship embarks on first voyage. What is cost of a trip?

China claims self-ruled Taiwan as its own territory and in recent years has shown is displeasure at political activities in Taiwan by sending military planes and ships. Taiwan said six Chinese balloons either flew over the island or through airspace just north of it days after the self-governing island elected Lai Ching-te as the new president. Lais Democratic Progressive Party largely campaigned on self-determination, social justice and a rejection of Chinas threats.

United States National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi were both in Bangkok for talks, though it wasn't clear when the meeting would take place or if it already had.

U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on the sidelines of a summit in November in an effort to patch up frayed relations due to quarrels over a range of economic and geopolitical issues. U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said the planned meeting in Bangkok continues the commitment Biden and Xi made "to maintain strategic communication and responsibly manage the relationship.

During talks, Foreign Minister Wang would make clear Chinas position on Taiwan and on U.S.-China relations, and discuss international and regional concerns, ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Friday.

An immediate international concern to both countries is tensions in the Red Sea that have upended global trade by forcing many shippers to avoid the Suez Canal. Beijing said it has been making positive efforts to de-escalate the situation in which Iran-backed Houthi rebels have fired missiles at international ships.
As she retired on Friday, Canadas National Security and Intelligence Advisor (NSIA) Jody Thomas indicated that Ottawa is receiving greater cooperation from India with regard to the investigation of pro-Khalistan figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18 and the relationship is getting healthier. A banner with the image of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar is seen at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara temple, site of his June 2023 killing, in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada September 20, 2023. (REUTERS)

Thomas made these remarks in interviews to Canadian media on Friday. I wouldnt describe them as not co-operating. I think weve made advancements in that relationship, she told the network CTV, echoing what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had said in December about sensing a tonal shift in terms of how New Delhi was approaching the credible allegations of a potential link between Indian agents and Nijjars murder in Surrey, British Columbia.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

When Trudeau originally made that statement on September 18 in the House of Commons, India had described it as absurd and motivated. Both countries expelled a senior diplomat each in the immediate aftermath.

I think were back towards a healthier relationship, Thomas said in an interview with the outlet CTV News. As for the investigation being conducted by the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT), she said it was being careful to ensure that every T is crossed and I dotted to have a successful charge package and prosecution.

India is working with usfar more closely to resolve this, she told CTV.

Thomas told CTV, My discussions with my counterpart in India have been fruitful, and I think theyve moved things forward.

Indias High Commission in Ottawa did not respond to requests for a response to the NSIAs comments, but in an interview in December, High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma said that Indias approach towards resolving this issue has always been collaborative.

Canada will get a new NSIA on Saturday when Nathalie G Drouin, currently Associate Secretary to the Cabinet, assumes charge of the critical position. Thomas had visited India in August to discuss the Nijjar murder with Indian officials. She described Indias reaction to the PMs statement as unfortunate and a bit of a surprise.

Prior to Trudeaus statement, Canada had also paused negotiations with India towards an Early Progress Trade Agreement (EPTA) in late August.

India had suspended visas issuance to Canadians right after Trudeaus statement but that was normalised in November. It also sought parity in diplomatic presence, leading to 41 Canadian diplomats leaving India in October.

According to a report in the outlet Globe and Mail last month Canadian law enforcement has two suspects linked to Nijjars murder under surveillance and their arrest could be imminent.
An Indian-origin man was sentenced to 10 months in jail after he pleaded guilty of using criminal force to outrage the modesty of a woman and voluntarily causing hurt to another person with a dangerous weapon. Singaram Palianeapan, 61, followed a domestic worker into a lift where he molested the woman(Rep image)

Singaram Palianeapan, 61, followed a domestic worker into a lift where he molested the woman, keeping her trapped for nearly 90 seconds, according to a news report.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Around a month later, while he was out on bail, Singaram punched a man at a bicycle shop three times with a metal chain wrapped around his fist. Four other similar charges were taken into consideration during sentencing by the court.

Court documents showed that on September 28, 2022, the domestic worker was buying food when Singaram offered her money to buy herself a drink. She initially refused the offer but later accepted the money when he insisted.

After getting her food, she proceeded to head back to her employer's residence as Singaram followed her. The two reached the lift of the housing block and Singaram pressed the button for level 17 but when the woman tried to press the button for level five, he stopped her.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Jordy Kay said that once the lift started to move, Singaram began to molest the worker. The lift arrived at level 17 and Singaram stood by the lift doors asking the victim to follow him.

When she refused, he went back into the lift and selected the seventh floor. As the lift moved, he continued to molest the domestic help. Singaram was in the lift with the victim for about a minute and 28 seconds, and all of his actions were captured on the lift's CCTV camera, Kay said.

Singaram was arrested on September 28 and released on bail the next day.

About a month later, on October 28, Yeoh Su Kai was at his friend Hu Jianpeng's bicycle shop when Singaram confronted the shop owner about the problems he was facing with the personal mobility device that he bought.

A dispute broke out between the two following which Singaram took out a metal chain from his personal mobility device, wrapped it around his right fist and punched Yeoh thrice.

Seeking a jail term of between nine and 11 months for Singaram, Kay argued that even though the degree of sexual exploitation was low, there was still an attempt to touch the domestic worker's chest area.

DPP Kay also addressed the assault on Mr Yeoh, highlighting that the metal chain used was serious given that the injuries were to the victim's head.
Unidentified gunmen killed nine Pakistani workers in a restive southeastern border area of Iran on Saturday, Pakistan's ambassador and Iranian state media said, amid efforts by the two countries to mend ties after tit-for-tat attacks. Illustration of Iranian and Pakistani flags (REUTERS)

"Deeply shocked by horrifying killing of 9 Pakistanis in Saravan. Embassy will extend full support to bereaved families," the Pakistani ambassador to Tehran, Muhammad Mudassir Tipu, said on the X platform. "We called upon Iran to extend full cooperation in the matter."

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Iranian state media said police were looking for the three gunmen who escaped after the shooting.

The Baluch rights group Haalvash said on its website that the victims were Pakistani labourers who lived at an auto repair shop where they worked. Three others were wounded, it said.

READ | Undercurrents of the Pakistan, Iran strikes

State media said no individuals or groups had claimed responsibility for the shootings in Saravan in Sistan-Baluchestan province.

"It is a horrifying and despicable incident and we condemn it unequivocally," Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said. "We are in touch with Iranian authorities and have underscored the need to immediately investigate the incident and hold to account those involved."

The shooting occurred ahead of a planned visit on Monday to Pakistan by Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian.

State media said the Pakistani and Iranian ambassadors were returning to their postings after being recalled when the neighbouring countries exchanged missile strikes last week aimed at what each said were militant targets.

"The Iran-Pakistan border creates an opportunity for economic exchanges... and must be protected against any insecurity," Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi told Mudassir Tipu as he received the ambassador's credentials on Saturday, state media reported.

The impoverished Sistan-Baluchestan region has long been the scene of sporadic clashes between security forces and separatist militants and smugglers carrying opium from Afghanistan, the world's top producer of the drug.

Iran has some of the lowest fuel prices in the world and this has also led to increasing fuel-smuggling to Pakistan and Afghanistan despite a crackdown by Iranian border guards.
Israel will seek to stop the UN agency for Palestinian refugees from operating in Gaza after the war, a minister said Saturday, after Israel accused several UNRWA staff of involvement in Hamas's October 7 attack. Israel-Hamas war: A view of the rubble of buildings hit by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City (AP)

Israel was aiming to ensure "UNRWA will not be a part of the day after", Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on X, formerly Twitter, adding that he would try to gather support from the US, EU and other major donors to the agency.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Palestinian militant group Hamas on Saturday slammed Israeli "threats" against UNRWA, urging the UN and other international organisations not to "cave in to the threats and blackmail".

UNRWA said Friday it had sacked several employees accused by Israel of involvement in Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack, prompting the United States to suspend critical funding.

The head of the agency, Philippe Lazzarini, vowed to hold "accountable, including through criminal prosecution" any UNRWA employee found to have taken part in acts of terror.

In response to the firings, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres pledged to conduct an "urgent and comprehensive independent review of UNRWA", his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

The US State Department said it had "temporarily paused additional funding" to the agency while it reviewed the claims as well as the UN's plan to address concerns.

Twelve employees "may have been involved", it added.

Australia and Canada also said they had suspended their funding to the agency.

Israel's relentless bombardment and siege of Gaza began soon after Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attacks that resulted in about 1,140 deaths in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official Israeli figures.

Militants also seized about 250 hostages and Israel says around 132 of them remain in Gaza, including the bodies of at least 28 dead captives.

Israel has vowed to crush Hamas and Gaza's health ministry says the Israeli military offensive has killed at least 26,083 people, about 70 percent of them women and children.
The deal has been condemned by regional and international groups, as well as Western countries, which say it interferes with Somalia's territorial integrity and is causing tensions that could threaten stability in the Horn of Africa region. HT Image

Somalia has also protested the deal as a threat to its sovereignty by Somaliland, a region strategically located along the Gulf of Aden that broke away from Somalia in 1991 as the country collapsed into warlord-led conflict. Somaliland has not been internationally recognized.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Somaliland's President Muse Bihi Abdi gave more details about the memorandum of understanding he signed on Jan. 1 with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in an interview with Somaliland National Television on Wednesday.

Ethiopia, Abdi said, is seeking to lease a segment of the coastline for a naval base  and not for commercial activities as previously thought. In exchange for leasing a 20 kilometer- (12.4 mile-) stretch of Somaliland's coastline, Ethiopia would recognize Somaliland as an independent state.

Ethiopia will still be able to conduct its import and export activities through the port of Berbera, the largest in Somaliland. Berbera is not part of the coastline stretch planned for the lease.

With a population of more than 120 million, Ethiopia is the most populous landlocked country in the world. It lost its access to the sea when Eritrea seceded in 1993. Since then, Ethiopia has been using the port in neighboring Djibouti for most of its imports and exports.

Somalia has protested vehemently against the agreement that would grant Ethiopia access to the strategically important Gulf of Aden and beyond that, to the Red Sea.

Somaliland's citizens are divided over the deal, with some seeing potential economic benefits while others fear compromising their sovereignty. The breakaway region's defense minister, Abdiqani Mohamud Ateye, resigned over the deal.

Earlier this month, a meeting of officials from the African Union, European Union and United States reaffirmed their support for Somalia's sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, including the breakaway region of Somaliland.

Michael Hammer, U.S. special envoy for the Horn of Africa, said during that meeting that the U.S. is particularly concerned that tensions over the deal could undermine international-backed efforts to combat al-Qaida-linked militants in Somalia.

Matt Bryden, a strategic consultant at Sahan Research, a think tank based in Kenya, said several diverse actors in the region could unite against the agreement  including Egypt, Eritrea and even the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab militants  and oppose a more powerful role of Ethiopia.

Eritrea is likely to be deeply concerned, given its deteriorating relationship with Ethiopia and its long Red Sea coastline," Bryden said.

Egypt, embroiled in a dispute with Ethiopia over Addis Ababa's construction of the Grand Renaissance Dam that Cairo says could hamper its share of the Nile River water, could also oppose the project, he added. (AP)

AMS
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. Fuad Najafli, the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of Azerbaijan in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, met with representatives from Ihlas Holding, Ozgun Construction (Turkiye), and Chinese Energy China, Trend reports.

Najafli emphasized ANR's significant potential in the development of RES and stated that measures to build wind and solar energy capacity with the participation of foreign investors, including the aforementioned Turkish and Chinese enterprises, will soon commence.

According to Najafli, the implementation of projects in the 11 priority directions of the "State Program of Socio-Economic Development of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic for 2023-2027," including "green energy," has already begun.

To note, the NAR has been declared a "green energy zone" by the Azerbaijani government. The potential of renewable energy sources in the ANR is estimated at 5 GW (or 5,000 MW), and the Ministry of Energy of Azerbaijan attracts foreign investors to create these capacities. For instance, TotalEnergies and Nobel Energy will build in the coming years ANR, a power plant with a total capacity of 650 MW, and Notus, a 70 MW power plant. Masdar also has a large project: a 150 MW power plant.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Amid a housing affordability crisis, the Canadian province of Ontario is instituting several measures to protest the integrity of its post-secondary education system. Ontarios Minister of Colleges and Universities Jill Dunlop

These measures were announced by the provinces , Minister of Colleges and Universities Jill Dunlop on Friday. They include placing a moratorium on new partnerships between public and private colleges. Under these arrangements, private colleges can use the public institutions credentials to issue certificates and diplomas and this system has been accused of being misused.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

In a statement, Dunlop said, The challenges stemming from the recent spike in students coming to Canada, including predatory practices by bad-actor recruiters, misinformation regarding citizenship and permanent residency, false promises of guaranteed employment, and inadequate housing for students, require immediate attention and collaborative action.

Of the 1,028,850 international students with study permits in Canada at the end of 2023, over half, 526,015, were in Ontario, far outstripping the next province in the regard, British Columbia, which accounted for 202,565.

The moratorium was announced to protect the integrity of postsecondary education and promote employment in critical sectors like health care and the skilled trades, a Ministry release stated. It will also undertake further work to strengthen oversight mechanisms and ensure the quality of existing partnerships.

The provincial government will also require all colleges and universities to have a guarantee that housing options are available for incoming international students.

It will also institute a review of programs offered by postsecondary institutions with a sizeable amount of international students to ensure that program quality protects Ontarios reputation as a world leader in education and meets Ontarios labour market demands.

The release added the Ontario government will also work with sector partners and the federal government to explore ways to further crack down on bad-actor recruiters who take advantage of international students and make dubious claims of employment and citizenship.

We must find more ways to work together to combat gross recruitment practices while protecting our ability to attract the worlds best and brightest to study here in Ontario, Dunlop said.

The intake of international students has become a significant political issue in Canada of late due to pressure on shelter availability and cost.

Earlier this month, the Federal Government announced it will implement an intake cap on the number of applications accepted for study permits for international students. which is expected to result in a reduction in 35 per cent in those numbers this year as compared to 2023. For 2024, the cap is expected to result in approximately 360,000 approved study permits, a decrease of 35% from 2023, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced in a release at the time.

Its unacceptable that some private institutions have taken advantage of international students by operating under-resourced campuses, lacking supports for students and charging high tuition fees all the while significantly increasing their intake of international students, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Marc Miller said in Montreal.

IRCC said, Some institutions have significantly increased their intakes to drive revenues, and more students have been arriving in Canada without the proper supports they need to succeed. Rapid increases in the number of international students arriving in Canada also puts pressure on housing, health care and other services.

Students from India comprise the larger national cohort among those with these study permits. Till November 2023, they accounted for 215190 out of the 579075 permits issued or 37%, while in 2022, they made for 225835 out of 548785, or 41%. The numbers have escalated sharply over the past five years when the number of Indians getting study permits was at less than half the current figure, at 107070 in 2018.
Washington DC [US], January 27 (ANI): President and CEO of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), Mukesh Aghi, highlighted that outgoing Indian Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, has been one of the leading architects of India-US relationship. HT Image

He stressed that the most important strategic partnership of the 21st century, between Washington and New Delhi, requires the art of deft diplomacy and sagacious statecraft.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

USISPF President Aghi bid adieu to envoy Sandhu who has ended his four-year tenure in Washington.

"It is with a heavy heart that we must bid adieu to one of New Delhi's finest diplomatic stalwarts. Ambassador Sandhu ends his four-year tenure in Washington and brings down the curtain on a decorated 35-year diplomatic career," Aghi said in a statement.

"Ambassador Sandhu has been one of the leading architects of this relationship, which stands at its apex from the deep synergy in clean energy, education partnership, space collaboration, defence, and technology ties," he said.

Reiterating Sandhu's statement, "once said retirement and taxes are two things that must never be put off," Aghi said that New Delhi has always sent its brightest minds to Washington, but few have come more experienced in understanding the contours of US-India relations than Ambassador Sandhu, who is finishing his fourth stint in the US.

"The most important strategic partnership of the 21st century, one between Washington and New Delhi, requires the art of deft diplomacy and sagacious statecraft," he added.

He further emphasised that when Sandhu took charge in Washington in February 2020, ominous times, he was about to upend our economies and suspend our daily lives, adding that his resume of achievements remains long and impressive.

Highlighting the period of COVID-19, he praised Sandhu and said that he steered through COVID-19, helping Indian students return home.

"A cataclysmic pandemic meant new challenges even for a veteran diplomat. Ambassador Sandhu steered through COVID-19, helping Indian students return home, working through visa backlogs for the diaspora, and strengthening vaccine diplomacy between our two countries," Aghi added.

"A post-Covid-era saw the onset of Ambassador Sandhu helping lead the first in-principal Quad Summit in Washington, the restart of the Trade Policy Forum, and then the onset of the I2U2, IPEF, consolidating bilateral ties in multilateral settings," he stated.

Further bringing the Indo-Pacific, Aghi said that the Indo-Pacific is a priority as envoy Sandhu has overseen new defence partnerships.

"Today, the Indo-Pacific is a priority, as Ambassador Sandhu has overseen new defence partnerships, from iCET to INDUS-X, to drone transfers to jet engine manufacturing deals, from semiconductors to supply chains, ushering in a new chapter in critical technology," he said.

He further stated that the highlights would be the historic state visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden's first visit to India as Commander-in-chief for a momentous G20 summit, and also organizing former President Donald Trump's maiden visit to India.

Further, he noted that the India-US relationship was not always smooth.

"However, while we celebrate the successes today, we must remember that the relationship wasn't always smooth sailing," he said.

Ambassador Sandhu's perspicacity was evinced early on, during his first Washington stint as the First Secretary (Political) as he formed crucial relations on Capitol Hill, with both Democrat and Republican lawmakers, during a time of sanctions from the Clinton Administration.

"Today, the relationship is truly bipartisan, and the India Caucus and the Samosa Caucus, are in deep admiration of Ambassador Sandhu's diplomatic efforts to steer the relationship from choppy waters then to the pristine seas now," Aghi said, adding that his second stint in Washington was as second in command to EAM Jaishankar, as then DCM Sandhu and Ambassador Jaishankar, wrote the beginning chapters of PM Modi's engagement with the US.

Highlighting the bond between Sandhu and the Indian diaspora in the US, he further said, "But more important than the dossiers, visits, and agreements, have been the intangible bonds of friendship that Ambassador Sandhu has forged with the diaspora."

From young students to veteran business leaders, from entrepreneurs to titans, from cultural communities and caucuses, the diaspora across the US has at least one Ambassador Sandhu story, he stressed.

Ambassador Sandhu is a veteran envoy, but a lifelong learner, and has been a mentor to many in India's Foreign Service, some of whom will walk in his shoes one day.

Retirement is a time of reflection, and history will put Ambassador Sandhu in the highest echelons of India's finest emissaries to Washington.

"Historians will note that he changed the nature of the relationship, forged new connections, strengthened the strategic partnership, and above all remained affable and humble in challenging and celebratory times," Aghi said, concluding, "Fare thee well!!" (ANI)
The United Nations fired several staffers at its Palestinian refugee agency over Israeli allegations that they took part in the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, news that prompted the US and other countries to suspend funding. Israeli soldiers inspect a road for evidence and remains relating to the deadly October 7 attack by gunmen from Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, near Israel's border with Gaza in southern Israel (REUTERS)

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is horrified by the news that workers with the UN Relief and Works Agency, or UNRWA, may have been involved in the attack by Hamas militants on southern Israel, and urged the agencys chief to refer the accused for potential prosecution, his office said in a statement Friday. According to the statement, there will be an urgent and comprehensive independent review of the agency.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The claims come as a black eye for UNRWA, which provides humanitarian assistance and protection to Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the West Bank. It has long been regarded with suspicion by Israel and Republicans in the US, who argue that it only fuels the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and money going to food, education and health care frees up Hamas to fund hostilities against Israel.

ALSO READ| China sends 33 aircrafts around Taiwan to build military pressure

These shocking allegations come as more than 2 million people in Gaza depend on lifesaving assistance that the agency has been providing since the war began, UNRWA Director-General Philippe Lazzarini said in a statement Friday. Anyone who betrays the fundamental values of the United Nations also betrays those whom we serve in Gaza, across the region and elsewhere around the world.

Israel said it will seek US and European Union support to halt UNRWA operations in Gaza. Foreign Minister Israel Katz wrote in a post on X that his ministry wants to ensure the agency will not be part of the day after.

He urged the UN to take immediate personal actions against the UNRWA leadership.

While criticism over UNRWAs role in the Israel-Palestinian conflict became even more charged after Hamas launched its surprise attack on Israel, the group has also paid a heavy price in Israels bombardment of Gaza, with more than 150 of its staff killed in the violence.

A vast majority of UNRWAs 30,000 staff is Palestinian, with 13,000 of those in Gaza. The US State Department said in a statement Friday that 12 UNRWA staff had been accused of links to the attacks.

The US  UNRWAs main donor  also announced Friday it was suspending additional funding for the organization in the wake of the allegations. There must be complete accountability for anyone who participated in the heinous attacks of Oct. 7, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in the statement. The US contributed more than $296 million to the group in 2023.

Australia, Canada and Italy also said they are pausing additional funding to UNRWA.

Senator James Risch, an Idaho Republican who serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he had warned the Biden administration for years about funding the agency, which he said has a history of employing people connected to terrorist movements like Hamas.

Despite the recent allegations, the US signaled it continues to support the agency. UNRWA plays a critical role in providing lifesaving assistance to Palestinians, including essential food, medicine, shelter, and other vital humanitarian support, Miller said in the statement.

The EU also expressed concern over the allegations, and said it expects UNRWA to provide full transparency on the allegations and to take immediate measures against staff involved.
Alabama's attorney general, Steve Marshall, described the nitrogen hypoxia execution of convicted murderer Kenneth Eugene Smith as "textbook". Kenneth Eugene Smith, who was put to death with nitrogen gas. (AP)

Despite testimony from witnesses claiming the prisoner writhed on the gurney for at least two minutes, Alabama officials have pledged to carry out nitrogen gas executions, a contentious and unproven approach that has drawn global criticism, NY Times reported.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The Thursday night execution was the first to use nitrogen hypoxia, a technique that involves forcing a victim to breathe either pure nitrogen or extremely high amounts of it through a gas mask in order to create asphyxiation.

"What occurred last night was textbook," Marshall stated on Friday. "As of last night, nitrogen hypoxia as a means of execution is no longer an untested method. It is a proven one."

He added that other states could emulate the proven method.

"Alabama has done it, and now so can you. And we stand ready to assist you in implementing this method in your states," he stressed, adding that 43 other inmates sentenced to death in Alabama have urged execution by nitrogen hypoxia.

I think we will definitely have more nitrogen hypoxia executions in Alabama, Marshall said.

Before the execution, several legal objections were brought against the use of nitrogen hypoxia. The execution was carried out on Thursday, a day after the Supreme Court decided that Alabama had the constitutional right to carry out the punishment. Smith's lawyers contended that he was being used as a "test subject," and human rights organisations also denounced the novel and untested technique.

Also Read: Alabama: Dead convict Kenneth Smith's execution witness says killer shook the whole gruney,' 'Evil was unleashed'

What were Smith's last words before execution?

Tonight Alabama caused humanity to take a step backward. I'm leaving with love, peace and light. Thank you for supporting me. Love all of you, Smith said before the execution as per the pool media report.

Smith even made an "I love you" sign with sign language, reporters said as per CBS News.

Kenneth Eugene Smith, 58, was found guilty of killing a preacher's wife in 1988 as a murder for hire. Elizabeth Sennett's husband, who was heavily in debt and wanted to collect payment on insurance, paid Smith and the other man $1,000 each to kill her.

Meanwhile, UN human rights chief Volker Turk Friday said the execution by nitrogen gas suffocation could amount to torture.

"I deeply regret the execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith in Alabama despite serious concerns this novel and untested method of suffocation by nitrogen gas may amount to torture, or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment," Turk said in a brief statement.
After a three-week hiatus due to a mid-air door plug blowout incident, Alaska Airlines restarted its Boeing 737 Max 9 flights on Friday. Alaska Airlines Max 9 Fleet takes flight after intensive checks following the FAA guidelines. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo(REUTERS)

The airline conducted rigorous inspections on its fleet of 65 Max 9 planes, following the Federal Aviation Administrations (FAA) instructions.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The first Max 9 flight since the grounding, Alaska Flight 1146, left Seattle-Tacoma International Airport for San Diego on Friday afternoon. Two more flights were scheduled to depart later that day from Las Vegas to Portland, Oregon, and from Seattle to Ontario, Canada.

The airline said in a statement on Wednesday that it planned to resume some of its Max 9 operations on Friday, after ensuring the safety and airworthiness of each plane.

ALSO READ| Alaska Airlines temporarily grounds Boeing 737 Max 9 planes after mid-air window tragedy

Each of our 737-9 MAX will return to service only after the rigorous inspections are completed and each plane is deemed airworthy according to FAA requirements, the statement read.

The individual inspections are expected to take up to 12 hours per aircraft.

What is FAA's Corrective Action Review Board?

The FAA issued its final directives to airlines on Wednesday, after reviewing data from 40 inspections of grounded planes. The administration also formed a Corrective Action Review Board of safety experts to evaluate and approve the inspection and maintenance process.

The process involved checking specific bolts, guide tracks and fittings, visually inspecting left and right mid-cabin exit door plugs and related components, retorquing fasteners and fixing any damage or issues.

The FAA grounded about 171 Max 9s around the world after a door plug detached from an Alaska plane shortly after it took off from Portland International Airport on Jan. 5. The passengers recorded a video of the hole left by the missing plug. The plane landed safely without any serious injuries.

The National Transportation Safety Board is still investigating the cause of the incident. The FAA also increased its oversight of Boeing and started an audit of its production and manufacturing practices.

ALSO READ| Alaska Airlines's passengers recall mid-air horror, after window mishap a child was almost sucked out

Boeing said in a statement on Wednesday that it would fully cooperate with the FAA and follow its guidance to improve its safety and quality standards.

We will also work closely with our airline customers as they complete the required inspection procedures to safely return their 737-9 airplanes to service, the statement added.

Uniteds COO Toby Enqvist told the employees in a note that the company planned to fly the Max 9 again on Sunday. Alaskas CEO Ben Minicucci said during an earnings call on Thursday that the airline expected to have its entire Max 9 fleet back in service by the first week of February.
E Jean Carroll, a writer and journalist who accused Donald Trump of raping her in the mid-1990s, has won a major victory in her legal battle against the former US president. On Friday, a New York jury awarded her $83.3m in damages for defamation, after finding that Trump lied when he denied her allegations and called her a political operative. Columnist E Jean Carroll (L). Ex-US President Donald Trump.(AFP)

This is the second time that Carroll has prevailed in court against Trump, who is facing multiple lawsuits from women who claim he sexually assaulted or harassed them. In June 2023, another jury awarded her $5m in a separate case for assault and battery, based on the same incident that she described in her 2019 book, What Do We Need Men For? A Modest Proposal.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Carrolls book, which was excerpted in New York magazine, detailed how Trump allegedly attacked her in a dressing room of a luxury department store in Manhattan, around early 1996. She said she fought him off and escaped, but never reported the incident to the police. Trump responded by saying he had never met her, despite a photo showing them together, and that she was lying to sell her book and help the Democrats.

ALSO READ| Who is E Jean Carroll? Why did she sue Donald Trump?

Carroll sued him for defamation in 2019, but the case was delayed by Trumps attempts to invoke presidential immunity and move it to federal court. In 2022, a new law in New York allowed survivors of sexual abuse to sue their perpetrators, regardless of the statute of limitations.

Here are five key moments from the defamation trial:
The parents of an 18-year-old Indian-American student, who was found dead outside the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) last week, have filed a complaint against the school's police for negligence. Akul B. Dhawan, found dead outside Illinois University(Akul B Dhawan/LinkedIn)

After failing to get in touch with Akul B. Dhawan, an acquaintance reported him missing on Saturday at 1:30 am. Authorities recovered his body on the porch of a building close to the UIUC campus following nine hours of search.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The autopsy's initial findings indicated that Akul had hypothermia at the time of his death, according to the Champaign County Coroner. The Midwestern city has been experiencing below-freezing weather for the past few weeks.

Also Read: Who is Preesha Chakraborty? Meet India-American who is among worlds brightests students'

Preliminary report says no foul play found

According to the coroner's office, the preliminary report showed no evidence of significant trauma. "There was no foul play involved and the death is initially believed to be accidental."

Dhawan's parents have filed a complaint against the university's police department, accusing them of negligence in the way the search was conducted, reported The News-Gazette newspaper.

Based on location-tracking information from their son's phone, Ish and Ritu said on Wednesday that Akul was located barely 400 feet from the place where he was reported missing.

This is bizarre that a kid is never found who was just less than a block, like one minute away, sitting there, dead, frozen to death, Dhawan's father told the publication. Imagine as a dad and mom whats going through in our mind. I visualize his every minute that my son froze to death on a university campus.

Also Read: Indian student beaten, held captive at US home for months; inhumane, cops say

Akul Dhawan's parents seek answers

We really need answers. What is the proof that they totally searched in this area, around the area theyre talking (about), this half-block? My kid would have been found," Ritu stated.

After Akul reported missing, school police "searched the area where the student was last seen, the student's residence hall and the likely path between the two locations, including the main Quad and streets." Police also looked into nearby hospitals and made phone calls to the student.

Dhawans parents, who live in California, said they met with top university officials while in town this week.

His uncle, Rishab Mehandru stated that in order to prevent others from going through the same pain, they would like to know more about the UI's search policy and whether there are any problems with its procedures.

Dhawan took admission in the University of Illinois' Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering to study robotics despite his parent's resentment, who wished him to study closer to home in California.
Slamming the $83.3 million verdict in Donald Trumps defamation trial, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani offered mangled defence of the former US president. Rudy Giuliani, the former personal lawyer for ex-US President Donald Trump(Getty Images via AFP)

A federal jury awarded E. Jean Carroll, a writer and journalist who accused Trump of raping her in the mid-1990s, huge amount on Friday. Last year, the former president was found guilty by a jury of assaulting her sexually in the middle of the 1990s, but not of rape. Carroll received a $5 million award in that case. She filed a lawsuit after Trump publicly attacked her on social media and accused her of lying numerous times.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

A jury on Friday determined that Trump had to provide Carroll $7.3 million in compensatory damages for emotional distress, $11 million in "reputational repair," and $65 million in punitive damages for those conduct.

After the judgement, Giuliani said on Newsmax: The judge is a disgrace to the greatest court in America. He's telling a lawyer what questions to ask. Thats totally ridiculous. "He wont let him [Trump] defend himself," Giuliani stated, referring to Judge Lewis Kaplan.

Trumps former lawyer then recalled last years sexual assault trial.

First of all, he was found not guilty or not liable for rape, he said. It was sexual assault, not rape. And second, you can be you can be guilty of rape, and still, a person can be a whacko. That was a defamation. Youre still allowed to defend yourself against defamation.

Also Read: E Jean Carroll wins $83 million in defamation case against Donald Trump

Guillani found liable for defamation

Last year in December, Giuliani himself was found liable for defamation.

He was found guilty of defaming a mother-daughter poll worker duo after he made unfounded accusations that they were involved in the Georgia election rigging. He was liable for damages totaling $148 million.

Also Read: E Jean Carroll vs Donald Trump: 5 key takeaways from the defamation trial

Carroll scores another win against Donald Trump

This is the second time that Carroll has prevailed in court against Trump, who is being sued by numerous women who allege he harassed or sexually abused them. Another jury awarded her $5m in assault and battery case, based on the same incident that she described in her 2019 book, What Do We Need Men For? A Modest Proposal.

Carrolls book, which was excerpted in New York magazine, described how Trump allegedly attacked her in a changing room of a high-end Manhattan department store, around early 1996.

After the Friday verdict, Trump condemned it as absolutely ridiculous and vowed to appeal.

I fully disagree with both verdicts, and will be appealing this whole Biden Directed Witch Hunt focused on me and the Republican Party, Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.

Our Legal System is out of control, and being used as a Political Weapon. They have taken away all First Amendment Rights. THIS IS NOT AMERICA!
On Friday, President Joe Biden made a strong appeal to lawmakers to advance a controversial plan to deal with the unprecedented surge of illegal border crossings amid the US-Texas govt. standoff under his administration. He said it was the toughest and fairest set of reforms to secure the border weve ever had in our country. Joe Biden urges lawmakers to back his $61.4 billion border plan. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo(REUTERS)

The proposal, which links $61.4 billion in aid to Ukraine with enhanced border security measures, faces strong opposition from several congressional Republicans and has little chance of passing the Senate  even after months of talks between the White House and a bipartisan group of senators.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Biden, 81, admitted in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the border situation was dire. Its long past time to fix it, he said.

He claimed that the agreement, which has not been made public yet, would be the most effective and equitable way to secure the border if it became law.

ALSO READ| #StandWithTexas trends as Texas-US govt standoff escalates, here's all you need to know about the border crisis

Democracy dies in darkness: Sen. Mike Lee

It would give me, as President, a new emergency authority to shut down the border when it becomes overwhelmed. And if given that authority, I would use it the day I sign the bill into law, he said.

He also urged Congress to approve the funding he asked for in October to bolster the border.

This includes an additional 1,300 border patrol agents, 375 immigration judges, 1,600 asylum officers, and over 100 cutting-edge inspection machines to help detect and stop fentanyl at our southwest border. He called the legislation a win for America.

He challenged those who wanted stricter border control to support the bill. This is the way to do it, he said. If youre serious about the border crisis, pass a bipartisan bill and I will sign it.

Some Senate Republicans quickly criticized Bidens statement.

Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) questioned the transparency of the deal on X. Democracy dies in darkness, he wrote.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) blamed Biden for the border crisis on Twitter.

He opened the border. He can close it, he tweeted. Or Biden could stop pretending this is anyones fault but his own and ENFORCE THE LAW.

ALSO READ| Donald Trump crushes Nikki Haley in first South Carolina poll by 27%

The New York Post reported that the bill also has other provisions, such as allowing migrants who arrive by air to get humanitarian parole at certain airports, but limiting it at the border and US ports of entry; providing legal counsel to unaccompanied migrant children under 13 and migrants who are mentally incompetent; and raising the number of immigrant visas to 50,000 per year.
Donald Trump's attorney Alina Habba maintains the proud stance of representing the ex-US president against E Jean Carroll's sexual assualt allegations. On Friday, January 26, the federal court took a bigger step forward in the proceedings, demanding Donald Trump to pay a massive amount in damages to the "Ask E. Jean" columnist. Habba urged the real journalists to look at Judge Kaplan's orders for turning down all of Trump's defenses in front of the jury. Donald Trump's attorney Alina Habba addresses the media on January 26, 2024, after the jury ordered him to pay $83.3 million in damages to E Jean Carroll.(AP)

We will immediately appeal, addressing the media outside the federal court after the hearing, she spoke up about her experts being denied entrance. Read more of her statements about the violation of the justice system below.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Also read: E Jean Carroll vs Donald Trump: 5 key takeaways from the defamation trial

Donald Trump lawyer Alina Habba's response to media

Habba was met with an uproarious response from the media as she stepped out of the court following the E Jean Carroll defamation case verdict. One of the journalists at the gathering quickly shot the question if she was having second thoughts about representing the former US President. Habba retorted with a fiery answer to the question, claiming that she was not. It is the proudest thing I could ever do, she continued.

Watch Alina Habba address the media after the verdict:

On the contrary, she raised her voice against the verdict ruled by the court. Don't get it twisted. We are seeing a violation of our justice system. You are not allowed to be stripped of every defense that you have. She even went on to address the former president as the possible future president as well, dragging in the political connotations associated with the case.

In her closing remarks in court on Friday too, she reiterated that Trump maintains his innocence against the sexual assault allegations because it was the truth. In her attempts to back Trump, she further defamed Carroll's stand, leading her to meet with Judge Kaplan's objections and warning. Habba made it abundantly clear that the former president does not live in fear.

Origins of the E Jean Carroll vs Donald Trump trial

The ex-Elle columnist had originally accused Trump of having raped her in the dressing room of a Manhattan department store in the mid 90s in her book What Do We Need Men For? A Modest Proposal. It was published in 2019. Upon Trump's denials and further crude defamations, Carroll sued him in 2019 for slandering her and ruining her career.

In June 2022, the trial headed by Judge Lewis Kaplan went ahead and found Trump guilty. Despite the establishment as per Kaplan's ruling that Trump couldn't challenge Carroll's claims, the former president continued defaming her. In addition to not showing up for the first trial, he disrupted the proceedings of the second trial.

On January 26, 2024, the court finally decided that Trump would have to pay a whopping amount of $83.3 million to E Jean Carroll in damages - $18.3 million as compensatory charges and $65m as punitive damages. Since 2019, Trump and his legal team continue to cause Carroll emotional distress. The Republican is also up in the running for the 2024 presidential nomination against Democratic Joe Biden.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, January 27. KazMunayGas (KMG, Kazakhstan's national oil and gas company) and Croatian Jadranski Naftovod d.d. (JANAF) have signed a memorandum of understanding, Trend reports.

The document was signed by Deputy Chairman of KMG Bulat Zakirov and Chairman of the Board of JANAF Stepan Adanic.

Thus, the document involves a joint study of the possibilities of business cooperation in the field of transportation and storage of oil and petroleum products.

In addition, it reflects the parties' interest in continuously improving sustainable management and the intention to exchange experiences in responding to global energy challenges.

Zakirov noted that the memorandum lays the foundation for further mutually beneficial cooperation with the Croatian side in the energy sector.

In turn, Adanic pointed out that the signing of the document will contribute to the development of cooperation in the field of the transportation of Kazakh oil to European markets.

Meanwhile, in the context of reformatting logistics connections and energy supply routes, the Adria oil pipeline system (crude oil pipeline in Croatia, Serbia, and Hungary with branch lines to Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina) plays a key role in transporting oil and petroleum products to the countries of South-Eastern Europe. Over the 11 months of 2023, over $303 million worth of Kazakh oil was transported along this route.
Former US President Donald Trump reached out to ex-Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy Jr about the possibility of serving as his vice president, The New York Post reported. Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. speaks during a campaign event at Independence Mall.(AP)

People close to Trump told The Post that the Republican front-runner operatives earlier expressed interest in Kennedy Jr, adding it was all premature. The insider further said that it was "right out of the box" when Kennedy Jr announced his presidential bid last year in April.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Anythings possible. I wouldnt write it off by any means, the source added.

Kennedy Jr, 70, who was once a Democrat but is now an independent, dismissed rumors that he would ever accept a position as Trump's deputy and showed no interest in the position.

"I've heard the concept," Timothy Mellon, who has given Kennedy Jr's SuperPAC at least $5 million, told The Post that it is not surprising.

Also Read: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sparks outrage with COVID-19 'ethnically targeted' to spare Jews claim

Can Kennedy Jr bring more people to the polls?

Another donor stated that the effort to select Kennedy Jr for the VP is still alive in Trump circles. Bobby (nickname of Kennedy) can bring new people to the polls."

Kennedy Jr is the son of former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, who was killed during his presidential campaign in Los Angeles in 1968.

Following Trump's stunning victories in the Iowa and New Hampshire Republican primaries, there has been much conjecture about who he could choose as vice president.

Some of the names that have surfaced as potential running mate of Trump include New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, Sen. Tim Scott (South Carolina) and Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio).

Also Read: 'Never Nikki': Rand Paul goes all-out against Haley's 2024 presidential bid, but will he endorse Trump?

Who is Robert F Kennedy Jr?

Last year in October, anti-vaccine activist Kennedy Jr dropped his Democratic primary bid to announce that he will run for president as an independent.

Both Biden and Trump allies have questioned whether Kennedy may be a spoiler for their candidate.

Kennedy's anti-vaccine organisation, Children's Health Defence, is currently suing a number of news organisations, including The Associated Press, alleging antitrust violations by taking action to identify misinformation about COVID-19.
The White House has issued new guidelines for cabinet notifications after President Joe Biden was kept in dark about Pentagon Chief Lloyd Austin's secret hospitalisation. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (REUTERS)

This move has been taken to ensure the president is informed whenever the power of a Cabinet leader is transferred to a subordinate.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The Secretary of Defense, Austin, is expected to return to Pentagon on Monday for the first time since his recent hospitalisation, according to a defense official, reported CBS News.

After a follow check-up on Friday, Austin's doctors at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center said in a statement issued by the Pentagon that Austin is recovering well .

"Secretary Austin's prostate cancer was treated early and effectively, and his prognosis is excellent," the medical officials said in the statement.

Also Read: Lloyd Austin heads to home after furor over secret hospitalisation

All you need to know about the White House's new guidelines

The new policies include six directives that Cabinet agencies must abide by in cases of "delegation of authority," which occurs when secretaries temporarily transfer their authority to a deputy due to illness, travel, or other circumstances, according to a report published by the news agency Associated Press early on Saturday, January 27.

In a memo to the Cabinet, White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients said, "Through your submissions, you demonstrated your commitment to notifying the White House in the event of a delegation  and upon assumption of a delegation, establishing contact with the White House."

Zients noted that a variety of laws, rules, and executive orders caused some agencies to follow different guidelines at the time. However, the memo stated that through this procedure, we are guaranteed that every agency has a set of standard protocols that they have to adhere to in the event of an authority transfer.

According to the report, the new guidelines require Cabinet agencies to notify Zients' office and the White House Office of Cabinet Affairs when they anticipate and actually execute a delegation of authority.

It further stated that the interim leader would need to get in touch with their principal counterpart at the White House as soon as they took over, and the agency would need to comply with any additional legal notice obligations.

The memo further stressed that agencies should make sure that authority is transferred when a Cabinet official is travelling to areas with limited or no access to communication, undergoing hospitalization or a medical procedure requiring general anaesthesia, or otherwise in a circumstance when he or she may be unreachable.

Austin blasted over his secret hospitalisation

Austin was discharged from Walter Reed Medical Center after 15 days of hospitalisation due to complications related to prostate cancer surgery.

Earlier this month, the Pentagon's internal watchdog said it will review the secrecy surrounding Austins hospitalisation and why the Defence Department waited days to inform the White House that he had transferred authority to his deputy.

His failure to disclose his hospitalisation was sharply criticised by members of both political parties and even led to some calls for his resignation.

Austin (70) was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on December 22, 2023, and underwent surgery to treat the cancer, which was detected earlier in the month during a routine screening.
Planning a tropical getaway to the Caribbean this winter? You need to think twice about it. The US State Department on Friday warned Americans against travelling to the Bahamas, citing the 18 murders that have occurred in the island nation this year, NBC News reported. The Bahamas has been placed under "Exercise Increased Caution" by the State Department(Pixabay)

This comes after the US Embassy in Nassau issued a security notice on Wednesday, expressing worry that Americans could become victims of gang violence in the nation's capital. This alert prompted the escalation to Level 2.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

"Murders have occurred at all hours including in broad daylight on the streets," the embassy stated. "Retaliatory gang violence has been the primary motive in 2024 murders."

Also Read: Bitten in Bahamas: Shark tank experience goes awry, 10-year-old attacked

Keep your profile low: State Dept cautions Americans

In the eastern part of New Providence Island, the embassy advised Americans visiting the Bahamas to "exercise extreme caution" and to maintain a low profile.

Additionally, the US officials advised visitors to refrain from using physical force in the event of robbery.

The State Department further mentioned another concern that short-term vacation rentals frequently don't offer the same level of private security that hotels do. It claimed that tourist-heavy regions are not immune to Nassau's gang activity.

Violent crime, such as burglaries, armed robberies, and sexual assaults, occur in both tourist and non-tourist areas. Be vigilant when staying at short-term vacation rental properties where private security companies do not have a presence," the warning added.

In light of recent shark attacks in the Bahamas, the State Department also advised Americans against swimming alone.

"Watercraft may be poorly maintained, and some operators may not have safety certifications," it said. "Always review and heed local weather and marine alerts before engaging in water-based activities."

Bahamas PM react to US travel advisory

According to the Tribune, a daily news platform in The Bahamas, Prime Minister Philip "Brave" Davis responded to the embassy's alert on Thursday, stating that it is unlikely to have an impact on American visitors entering the island nation.

Earlier this week, the State Department also issued a level three of four reconsider travel alert for neighboring Jamaica.

Violent crimes, such as home invasions, armed robberies, sexual assaults, and homicides, are common, the department warns.

Sexual assaults occur frequently, including at all-inclusive resorts.
During his final term as Indonesias president, Joko Widodo has played the global statesman. He hosted leaders from across the region at the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Jakarta from September 5th to 7th. In August he bagged economic deals during a tour of Africa. He will attend the G20 leaders summit in Delhi on September 9th, having hosted last years event, and plans to visit Saudi Arabia soon, too.

At home, his soft-spoken, folksy style has made Jokowi, as he is known, one of the best-liked leaders in the world. His approval rating hovers around 80% (see chart). Only Narendra Modi, Indias prime minister, comes close among leaders of big countries. But even as Jokowi basks in his popularity, speculation is building about what his legacy will be and who will succeed him after he steps down next year.

Follow our more on the Indonesian election, see our poll tracker

When Jokowi became president in 2014, he was like no leader the country had ever seen: a furniture maker who was raised in a riverside shack, he had no connection to the army or any prominent family. He is most at home inquiring about the price of onions at a market or handing out T-shirts to the crowds that throng to catch a glimpse of him wherever he goes. He has revolutionised Indonesian politics by yoking a savvy social-media operation to a relentless focus on economic growth. Yet three big uncertainties hang over his legacy: whether Indonesias economy will continue to grow; whether his successor will preserve his policies; and whether the country can maintain a balancing act in a divided world.

Jokowis record on economic growth is decent. Indonesia has been the fifth-fastest-growing of the worlds 30 biggest economies since he won office in 2014. GDP has expanded by a cumulative 43% since then. IMF projections suggest this pace could continue. The fund reckons the country will be the second-fastest growing of the group over the next five years, making it the worlds 13th-largest economy by 2028, up from 18th back in 2014.

Much of this has been thanks to an enormous push for infrastructure. The worlds fourth-most-populous country is made up of more than 13,000 islands, many of which lack basic amenities. Often pictured in a hard hat, Jokowi has built airports, ports, power plants, and dams and has laid thousands of kilometres of roads and railways. He has used his popularity to cajole the countrys political parties, state-owned enterprises and powerful tycoons.

His signature project, the construction from scratch of an entirely new capital city in the jungles of Borneo, exemplifies this strategyand highlights the uncertainty of sustaining its success. Jokowi argues that this city, known as Nusantara, is essential because one-quarter of Jakarta, the current capital, could be submerged by 2050. Critics say the $34bn project, due to be completed in 2045, is unrealistic. The government says it will cover 20% of the projected costs, with the rest funded by domestic and foreign investors. Yet more than four years after the project was announced, not a single foreign backer has signed a binding contract to fund the city.

Jokowi has had more luck with getting foreigners to back other projects. Foreign direct investment soared to $45bn in 2022, up 44% from the year before. Much of this investment has come from China and flowed into the mining and processing of nickel. Indonesia has the worlds biggest reserves of the metal, which is essential for producing batteries for electric vehicles. In 2014 Indonesia banned the export of unprocessed nickel. With little choice to go elsewhere, foreign mining companies, many of them Chinese, built large processing facilities in Indonesia. This spurred growth and new jobs, albeit at the expense of the environment. Indonesia exported more than $30bn-worth of nickel products last year, 10% of total exports and ten times more than in 2013.

The future of this strategy is uncertain. The government wants to stimulate an expansion from onshore nickel processing to manufacturing battery precursors and even electric vehicles, a far more difficult and complex task that will fall to Jokowis successor, should he choose to pursue it. It does not help that Jokowis government has shifted towards a more interventionist and less market-oriented style, says Tom Lembong, the trade and investment minister in the early years of Jokowis administration.

Jokowis focus on infrastructure has also complicated Indonesias geopolitical position. It has drawn the country, which has traditionally pursued a non-aligned foreign policy, closer to China. Chinese investment was over $8bn in 2022, four times more than that by America, according to Indonesias Investment Co-ordinating Board. The share of the countrys exports going to China and Hong Kong has risen from 12% in 2014 to 22% in 2022. Jokowi has copied Chinas reliance on infrastructure, debt financing and state-owned enterprises, says Mr Lembong.

Economic reliance on China has limited Indonesias room for geopolitical manoeuvre. Despite being the worlds largest Muslim-majority country, Indonesia has remained silent about the persecution of the Uyghurs, a predominantly Muslim ethnic group native to Chinas Xinjiang region, for fear of economic repercussions.

Jokowi has sought to hedge by strengthening security and economic links with America and its allies. On security, it has avoided Sino-dependence. The largest suppliers of military equipment to Indonesia are South Korea, America and France, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, a think-thank.

Yet building economic links with America has proved harder. Indonesia badly wants a trade deal with America that includes metals to make it cheaper to sell Indonesian nickel in America and be less dependent on China. But the American government is concerned about Chinas dominance in Indonesias nickel industry, so a deal remains elusive.

Despite these concerns, Jokowis focus has proved popular. The vast majority of Indonesian elites admire China, says Mr Lembong. They think Western democracies are decadent, in decline, messy, slow. By contrast, most Indonesians think of their president as a man who gets things done. As a city mayor, Jokowi became famous for his blusukan, a Javanese word for impromptu neighbourhood visits that allow him to connect with voters and learn about their problems firsthand. He continued these visits after becoming president.

A democratup to a point

But as he approaches his last year in office, Jokowis democratic credentials are eroding. He has rolled back liberal laws and weakened the anti-corruption commission, which is bad news for fixing Indonesias persistent cronyism. And he may be laying groundwork for his own dynasty, much like some politicians before him. In his autobiography, published in 2019, Jokowi declared that becoming president does not mean channelling power to my children. Yet just after he won re-election in 2019, his eldest son Gibran Rakabuming became mayor of Solo, Jokowis former post. His son-in-law, Bobby Nasution, is the mayor of Medan, Indonesias fifth-largest city. Kaesang Pangarep, his youngest son, also wants to enter politics.

Indonesias constitutional court (whose chief justice is Jokowis brother-in-law) may lower the age of vice-presidential candidates from 40 to 35; Mr Gibran will be 36 when nominations are due. With a presidential election planned for February, Mr Gibran may be viewed as a potential running mate, one who comes with his fathers approval. Yet that will be no guarantee of continuity. The defence minister, Prabowo Subianto, an authoritarian military officer, is neck and neck in the polls with Ganjar Pranowo, the governor of Central Java and a member of Jokowis party.

Mr Prabowo, who has lost to Jokowi twice before, looks like a return to the bad old days. He has been accused of allowing human rights abuses in Timor-Leste in the 1980s, which he strongly denies. He emphasises his nationalism, advocating food autarky, and has criticised Indonesias practice of direct elections. Mr Ganjar has just appointed the head of Indonesias Chamber of Commerce, a well-respected businessman, as his campaign chair, suggesting he may be more serious than Mr Prabowo about economic reform.

A third possible candidate is Anies Baswedan, the former governor of Jakarta and a former education minister in Jokowis cabinet, who is polling far behind Messrs Ganjar and Prabowo. Seen as an underdog, Mr Anies lost the first round of the Jakarta governors race in 2017 before an upset win in the second round, supported by conservative Islamic voters. He recently won the support of the countrys largest Muslim civil society organisation, an important voting bloc, which opens the possibility of a three-way race.

Both frontrunners, keen to curry favour with Jokowi, say they will keep his policies, including the export ban on raw materials and building the new capital. Yet Indonesian elections are more about personalities than policies, argues Ben Bland, Jokowis biographer. That means that no candidate will win on proposals on how to boost economic growth and provide better services. An endorsement from Jokowi would help any candidate. But it will be no guarantee that the winner will preserve his legacy.

Correction (September 11th): A previous version of this article said that only Narendra Modi, Indias prime minister, comes close to Jokowis popularity. But there are leaders in smaller countries, such as El Salvadors president, Nayib Bukele, who have achieved consistently higher approval ratings. We have changed the text to reflect that.

Correction (September 21st): A previous version of chart 1 mistakenly connected the final approval-rating data point for each of the first two US presidents to the first data point of their successor. Sorry.

 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
Panama City [Panama], January 27 (ANI): The Indian embassy in Panama, on Saturday extended its gratitude to the Foreign Affairs Minister of Panama, Janaina Tewaney as she wished Indians on its 75th Republic Day in Hindi. HT Image

"Thank you Honorable Foreign Minister @JanainaGob for your Republic Day wishes, that too in Hindi," the Indian embassy in Panama, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica posted on X.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

https://x.com/IndiainPanama/status/1751052626580422693?s=20

Foreign Affairs Minister Tewaney highlighted that on behalf of Panama President Laurentino Cortizo and its government Panama was extending it wished to the world's oldest and largest democracy.

"On behalf of Panama President Laurentino Cortizo and its government, I extend my best wishes because today, we are celebrating the 75th republic day of the world's oldest and largest democracy," she said in a video shared by the Indian embassy in Panama, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.

Moreover, Tewaney took to her social media 'X', expressing her heartfelt congratulations to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and the people of India on Republic Day.

She further hoped that the shared values of diversity, democracy and republicanism that unite Panama and India endure.

"My most heartfelt congratulations to @DrSJaishankar and all the wonderful people of India on the occasion of the 75th Anniversary of Republic Day. May the shared values of diversity, democracy and republicanism that unite Panama and India endure!," she stated.

https://x.com/JanainaGob/status/1750966658175320340?s=20

Notably, India-Panama relations are the oldest in the Central American region, dating back to the middle of the 19th century when groups of Indians came to Panama to work on the construction of Panama Railways and later the Panama Canal, in the early 20th century.

Earlier on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed gratitude to world leaders for their Republic Day wishes to India.

Meanwhile, EAM Jaishankar also expressed his gratitude to world leaders for their Republic Day wishes.

President Droupadi Murmu commenced the celebrations on Friday by unfurling the national flag at Kartavya Path.

President Murmu and her French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, who is the chief guest at this year's Republic Day celebrations arrived at Kartavya Path in the 'Traditional Buggy', a practice which made a comeback after a gap of 40 years.

The cultural extravaganza at Kartavya Path highlighted the diversity and vibrancy of India's cultural tapestry, captivating the audience with a fusion of artistic expressions from across the country. (ANI)
On Friday, the U.S. military reported that Houthi rebels in Yemen fired a missile at a U.S. warship patrolling the Gulf of Aden.

The ship was forced to respond by intercepting and neutralizing the incoming projectile. As reported by The Associated Press, the strike on the USS Carney destroyer signifies the first direct targeting of a U.S. warship by the Houthis since the rebels initiated assaults on shipping in October.

The information disclosed by a U.S. official spoke on condition of anonymity due to the lack of authorization to publicly discuss the incident. The strike marked a further escalation in the biggest sea confrontation the U.S. Navy has seen in the Middle East in decades. A Houthi missile fire also set another commercial vessel ablaze Friday night.

"They're Trying To Kill Us"

According to the AP, that contradicted a statement by the U.S. military's Central Command, which said the Houthis fired "toward" the Carney. As it has in previous strikes, the Pentagon said it was difficult to pinpoint what the Houthis were trying to hit.

Brad Bowman, a senior director at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, said, "They're now finally calling a spade a spade and saying that, yeah, they're trying to attack our forces, they're trying to kill us."

Softening the language to prevent a larger war has backfired, making the situation worse by giving more power to the Houthis, he stated.

The most recent assault signifies the rebels' ongoing campaign against vessels navigating the Red Sea and nearby waters, causing disruptions in global trade amid Israel's conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The United Kingdom Maritime Operations overseeing the Middle East waterways confirmed a vessel was hit by a missile and caught on fire in the Gulf of Aden.

Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree did not acknowledge the Carney attack. He claimed responsibility for a missile strike on a commercial vessel, identifying it as the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker Marlin Luanda, which was engulfed in flames.

The extent of injuries, if any, remains unclear.

Additionaly, it was reported
It is being reported by the Associated Press that three Palestinians were reportedly killed in an airstrike on Saturday, with Israel's military claiming it targeted a Hamas commander in southern Gaza.

This incident occurred shortly after the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to take all necessary measures to prevent further casualties, destruction, and any potential acts of genocide in the besieged region.

In response to the court's ruling, Israel's military will face increased scrutiny, as the United Nations court also demanded a compliance report within a month. Although the court did not mandate a ceasefire as part of its binding decision, its directives served as a condemnation of Israel's actions during the nearly four-month conflict with Gaza's Hamas leadership.

Additionally, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, which plays a crucial role in providing aid amid the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, witnessed a suspension of funding from several countries. This move, as the AP disclosed, came after allegations surfaced that some Gaza staff members were involved in the Hamas attack on October 7, which triggered the conflict. Britain, Italy, and Finland joined the United States, Australia, and Canada in halting aid to the agency.

What Has The Human Cost Been?

It was further reported by Yahoo News that the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict has been characterized by a staggering toll on human life and infrastructure in the Gaza Strip. According to reports from local health authorities, the conflict has claimed the lives of over 26,000 Palestinians, devastated extensive areas of Gaza, and forced approximately 85% of its 2.3 million inhabitants to flee their homes.

Tragically, the conflict has not been one-sided. A Hamas attack, as revealed by Yahoo News, in southern Israel resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 individuals, predominantly civilians, while approximately 250 hostages were taken during the course of hostilities.

Recent statistics from the Gaza Health Ministry paint a grim picture of the conflict's impact on civilian populations. In the past day alone, at least 174 Palestinians lost their lives, with the majority of casualties being women and children. The total number of wounded individuals has surpassed a staggering 64,000, underscoring the severity of the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. The Working Group and General Meeting of the International Association Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (MA TITR) held in Ankara (Turkiye), Trend reports, via Kazakhstan Railways JSC (Kazakhstan's national company).

At the meeting of the General Assembly by unanimous decision of 25 participants (by the largest international and regional organizations in the field of transport and logistics from different countries), the head of KTZh was re-elected Chairman of the Board of MA TITR for three years.

To note, the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR, or Middle Corridor) corridor links the container rail freight transportation networks of China and the European Union countries via Central Asia, the Caucasus, Turkiye, and Eastern Europe.

A multilateral multimodal transport infrastructure links ferry terminals on the Caspian and Black Seas with the rail systems of China, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkiye, Ukraine, and Poland.

The middle corridor facilitates cargo traffic from China to Turkiye, as well as to European countries and in the opposite direction.

A route train along this corridor delivers cargo from China to Europe in an average of 20-25 days, and this is one of the main advantages of this transport corridor.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, January 27. Turkiye's Ankara hosted meetings of the Working Group and the General Meeting of the International Association "Trans-Caspian International Transport Route," Trend reports.

Plans and tariffs for 2024 were adopted during the meetings, and future initiatives to strengthen activity and expand routes were considered.

Thus, more than 2.7 million tons of goods were transported along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR, or Middle Corridor) in 2023, representing an 86 percent increase over 2022.

The projected total for 2024 is approximately 4 million tons.

The Middle Corridor is a transportation and commerce route that links Asia and Europe, traveling through various nations along the way. It is an alternative to the conventional Northern and Southern Corridors.

The route starts in China and crosses Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. It then passes through the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkiye before reaching Europe.

The Middle Corridor offers a land route that connects the eastern parts of Asia, including China, with Europe, bypassing the longer maritime routes.
Chicago, IL (60637)

Today

Some flurries this morning. Then cloudy skies through the afternoon. High 39F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 29F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph.
Hudson, NY (12534)

Today

Mainly cloudy. A few peeks of sunshine possible. High 46F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. A few flurries are possible. Low 32F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Eversource: Don't Let Scammers Ruin the New Year

SPRINGFIELD, Mass.  As the colder weather arrives in New England, scammers are heating up their efforts.

Among their constantly evolving methods, clever imposters are taking advantage of the winter months by posing as Eversource representatives and threatening to disconnect customers' power unless they make immediate payment on the spot. The energy company is reminding residents and businesses to be on the lookout for the signs of a scam whether it's in person, over the phone, or online.

"These scammers will use deceitful tactics to scare people into giving up their money or personal information," said Eversource Senior Vice President for Customer Operations and Digital Strategy Jared Lawrence "We want customers to remember that we never demand instant payment over the phone, ask for gift cards or other non-standard methods of payment, or request personal information in an unsolicited call, text message, or email. If you ever doubt who you're talking to is legitimate, hang up and give us a call at 877-659-6326 in Western Massachusetts."

Scammers may ask for bank account or credit card information or insist on a gift card. According to BBB, there's been a 50 percent increase in the number of reports of scams using gift cards as the payment method. Another common tactic is the overpayment scam. That's when someone will call claiming that a customer overpaid their utility bill and request personal information to give a refund.

Police departments around the commonwealth routinely receive reports of imposter scams. In some cases, the victims say the caller ID made it seem like the call was legitimate, but the information transmitted to a phone display when it rings can be falsified.

"Scammers are creative, regularly coming up with new methods and fear tactics to convince people to provide sensitive information in response to something that may seem legitimate," said West Springfield Police Chief Paul Connor. "These scammers take advantage of unsuspecting victims far too often, and we encourage everyone to take a moment and question any request or demand they receive from someone claiming to represent a utility. If you suspect anyone of trying to scam you, please do not hesitate to call your local police department for assistance."

Eversource and West Springfield Police offer these additional tips to help avoid becoming a victim:
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, January 27. Vice Minister of Transport of Kazakhstan Talgat Lastayev has met with UN Resident Coordinator in Kazakhstan Michaela Friberg-Storey, Trend reports.

The parties discussed a number of issues regarding cooperation with an international organization in the transport industry and shared plans to participate in the Global Gateway investment forum, which will be held on January 2930 this year in Brussels.

Talgat Lastayev noted that Kazakhstan is actively working within the working group on transport, transit, and connectivity of the UN Special Program for Central Asia. In addition, Kazakhstan actively participates in the annual meetings of landlocked countries (LLDCs).

Following the meeting, the parties agreed to continue active cooperation in the fields of transport, infrastructure, logistics, etc.
The Community Preservation Committee on Wednesday advanced a $75,000 request to help revamp the town's skate park on Stetson Road.

Williamstown Community Preservation Committee Advances Funding Requests

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  The Community Preservation Committee on Wednesday caught some breaks, cut some deals and found a way to fully or partially fund all of the applications the town received for Community Preservation Act funds for fiscal 2025.

Going into Wednesday, it looked like there was no way the committee would be able to satisfy all of its applicants. And, while one entity walked away with a little less than 60 percent of its original ask and another got 78 percent, the remaining three parties have a chance to receive exactly what they asked for when the committee forwards its funding recommendations to May's annual town meeting.

The first break the CPC got on Wednesday was when its total number of applicants dropped from six to five.

Going into this year's deliberations, the town had six applications totaling just more than $385,000 in total funding requests. And the committee was anticipating having $232,532 available for FY25 based on CPA revenue from a local property tax surcharge, state matching funds and carryover from prior years  a $132,000 deficit.

The committee historically has not distributed all of the funds it has available in any given fiscal year. And Chair Philip McKnight asked his colleagues at the outset of Wednesday's meeting to keep a reserve of around $20,000 in case the state match comes in lower than expected, as it did in the current fiscal year that ends on June 30.

That meant, based on the anticipated receipts for FY25, the committee really was about $150,000 short of funds to cover all of the applications.

But on Wednesday, Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation withdrew its application for $14,000 in CPA funds after the non-profit failed to secure a matching grant from another source, McKnight said.

And, even more significantly, McKnight said the $232,532 FY25 figure could be augmented by recapturing CPA money allocated by town meeting in years past but not used by the applicants.

Notably, there was a $50,000 allocation in 2020 to fund a study of the town's recreational facilities and nearly $30,000 previously allocated to the now defunct Affordable Housing Committee.

Each could require new votes by town meeting to release them from their prior commitment since neither of the original warrant articles included a "sunset clause" to return the money to the town's available CPA funds if unused.

But assuming that money is returned, it would bring the available funds for FY25 to around $312,500  closer to the $371,000 in applications still on the table.



The Williamstown Meetinghouse Preservation Fund is seeking $50,000 for stormwater drainage project to preserve First Congegrational. Before getting to the point of dividing the pot, the CPC members heard presentations from each of the five remaining applicants and determined whether each met the statutory requirements of the CPA and satisfied at least one of its three purposes: community housing, historic preservation and open space and recreation.

Andrew Hogeland, the chair of the town's Affordable Housing Trust, spoke for that body, which has been almost entirely funded by CPA funds since its inception in 2012.

In that time, the AHT has purchased two residential lots. One, at the corner of Cole Avenue and Maple, has one owner-occupied home and another nearing completion through the efforts of partner Northern Berkshire Habitat for Humanity; and the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity has plans to build at least four on a separate parcel on Summer Street. The Trustees also created a first-time homeowner mortgage assistance program that has helped 22 families purchase homes in town and supported the development of the Highland Woods senior apartments off Southworth Street, among other projects.

Hogeland told the CPC that when the Trust receives the $120,000 in CPA funds it was allocated for FY24, it will have a little more than $500,000 in the bank, but it also is expecting a formal request from Northern Berkshire Habitat to help build a road that will serve the development the non-profit plans on Summer Street.

"We're finally in a position with our balance to do something big again," Hogeland said. "I think we are headed to the point where we now have enough money to actually buy more property. Property is expensive, but if you actually tell a developer that you already have the land and there's town support for that kind of thing, it's a major head start."

The Trustees asked for another $120,000 in CPA funds for FY25.

The next applicant on the agenda was the Williamstown Meetinghouse Preservation Fund, which was seeking $50,000 toward a stormwater drainage project to preserve the historic Main Street structure.

A recipient of CPA funds in the past, the WMPF is a separate non-profit entity apart from First Congregational Church, which currently owns and occupies the high-profile building near the intersection of Main Street (Route 2) and Spring Street.

Representing the WMPF, Carolyn Greene told the committee about the numerous community groups that use the meetinghouse and noted that both the town's recently completed Comprehensive Plan and Community Assessment and Research (CARES) study identified the need for more community gathering space.

Town Manager Robert Menicocci, who recently decided to step down as a voting member of the CPC, opening another seat for a member of the community, presented the town's request for $115,000 in CPA funds toward a $215,000 project to install an outdoor "fitness court" near the Mohican Trail. Menicocci stressed that the local funding from CPA money was critical to gain access to $70,000 in grant funding from Blue Cross Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Municipal Insurance Association.

Menicocci said the fitness court would complement the recently completed trail and dovetail with another applicant before the CPC on Wednesday, the New England Mountain Bike Association, which was seeking $75,000 in CPA funds toward a $750,00 rebuild of the town's existing skate park.

"The town is heavily involved in making investments in this area to help expand the offerings we're able to offer to the community," Menicocci said. "I also think it's an important equity issue that the town needs to address to the extent we have publicly available resources for folks to recreate with and to the extent that we may have neglected those. Our options are a little rundown.

"This is an important catchup for us, in the sense of revisiting the equity of making things publicly available, recreation opportunities."

NEMBA's Purple Valley Chapter President Bill MacEwan made its case to the CPC for his group's $75,000 application. He highlighted some of the same points he made two nights earlier before the town's Select Board.

"There's an opportunity to take what is today an asset that is a bit of an eyesore, is not functioning for the community and, truth be told, dangerous and elevate that to a destination for families and a gathering place for teenagers," MacEwan said on Wednesday.

The fifth applicant, Sand Springs Recreation Center, like the Affordable Housing Trust and Williamstown Meetinghouse Preservation Fund, was a successful applicant to the CPC in the past. This time around, Sand Springs was looking for $11,100 to remove a tree that is in danger of falling on a public space, cover the main cistern of the spring that feeds the pool and install signage that talks about the history of the pool.

Henry Smith, the current executive director at Sand Springs, stressed that history, saying the pool, which has been a non-profit since 2013, has been in operation since 1907. And he noted that it is the only known thermal spring-fed pool in the region.

Smith explained that there is a reason why Sand Springs is hoping for CPA funds to address maintenance issues like a tree removal

"The pool has always operated on a pretty thin margin," Smith said, referring to its latest non-profit incarnation. "This is intentional.  One of the primary aims of the space is to minimize costs to visitors and the community as best we can.

"We have earmarked these projects on the basis of safety. This is about preserving the recreational spaces of the pool."

The CPC found all five applicants to be eligible under the act without debate.

That led to the discussion on whether to fund each and at what amount.

In order to recommend funding for all five, the committee ended up asking the applicants with the two biggest requests to take a little less.

Joe Finnegan, the at-large community member on the panel (the other six spots are filled by representatives of various town boards and committees) suggested a funding plan that ultimately won the favor of the other six members.

The committee could hold on to about $16,000 for a carryover to FY26  a little less than McKnight called for but a number he could live with.

The two smaller requests  $11,100 from Sand Springs and $50,000 from the Meetinghouse  would be funded from FY25 CPA revenue if approved by town meeting in May.

The Affordable Housing Trust would receive $70,000 of its $120,000 request  $40,000 from FY25 funds plus $30,000 recovered from the previous commitment to the Affordable Housing Committee.

The New England Mountain Bike Association would receive the $75,000 it sought, with $50,000 coming from the 2020 facilities study allotment if town meeting votes to reallocate.

And Town Hall would get $90,000 of the $115,000 it sought. Menicocci indicated that the $25,000 shortfall could be manageable and might not derail the project.

"We'd have to look and see where our spending is at this year," Menicocci said, alluding to the potential use of free cash from the FY24 budget. "If we're under on engineering [for the fitness court], we could pick up some cost on that side that we would put toward that.

"It's looking at spend rates this year and seeing if we have any wiggle room. Pray that there's no more snow this year so we don't have to plow, things like that."

Hogeland of the Affordable Housing Trust meanwhile, said it was unknowable on Wednesday night how the lack of another $50,000 could impact the body's efforts to support low- to moderate-income housing in town.

"It's not clear what it means in the near term," Hogeland said. "We do have funds available for a while, if we do a big project.  The application is based on our ability to do things as they come. At some point, the loss of $50,000 may be important, but it's unknowable in the beginning."

Steven Dew, who fills the Housing Authority's seat on the CPC, spoke in support of allocating a little less to the Trust in order to make the math work for other applicants.

"This committee fully funded the housing trust last year," Dew said. "As much as I'm passionate about affordable housing, I think [Jane Patton] and others have spoken on the lack of recreational opportunities in town and make an excellent point. In fairness, it's important to prioritize some of those projects this year."

McKnight said he will ask Menicocci to confirm with town counsel a plan for releasing the $80,000 in CPA funds committed in prior years. The CPC will reconvene later this winter to approve warrant articles for town meeting including any needed to repurpose funds allocated by meetings in years past.
A bird's-eye view illustration by Berkshire Design of proposed improvements at Pontoosuc Lake Park. Construction is hoped to begin this summer.

With Funding Acquired, Residents Updated on Pontoosuc Lake Park Revisioning

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  A fifth public hearing was held over Zoom on Thursday on the revitalization proposal for Pontoosuc Lake Park.



The project is closer to breaking ground thanks to a $500,000 boost from the state Executive Office of Energy Environmental Affairs that will be matched by city funds. Construction is expected to begin in the summer after more than 20 years of discussion of the park's future.

"What's going to be happening this summer, this is a long time coming for many of us and it's very exciting to see it come through," Ward 7 Councilor Rhonda Serre said.



Plans include retaining wall and shoreline improvements, recreational facilities, and improved accessibility to make the parcel the "gem" it has been known as for many years.



"We fully hope after tonight to really speed into the permitting and construction documents," Park, Open Space, and Natural Resource Program Manager James McGrath said on Thursday.

"We want to be ready in July to have this project under construction so there's a lot of work ahead of us."



Pontoosuc Lake Park was acquired by the city in 1913 and has not received substantial improvements since the 1960s. Historic pictures of the park show beach facilities, ferry boats, and large slides.

It is part of a long-range open space and recreation plan for the city that was developed in the early 2000s.



"The park has been a part of our open space system where families have been making memories for many, many years but we haven't seen real substantial and substantive improvements in the park since the 1960s," McGrath said.



"The park admittedly does suffer from deferred maintenance and other issues and lack of handicap accessibility and these are things that our long-range plan, which is our open space and recreation plan, has enunciated as issues with this park."



Landscape designer Doug Serrill detailed the park's promising future. The north side includes retaining wall improvements, a sandy swimming area, a floating boardwalk, and changing facilities and the south side includes new access stairs, a lake promenade and pier, wetland and shore restoration, picnic areas, and accessible paths and parking.



The plan also improves the connection between the two sides.



Serrill explained that wetlands evolved in the places where the park historically had facilities and that it is of "great interest" to restore, enhance, maintain, and protect them.



Links to the audio and presentation are available here.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, January 27. Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Alikhan Smailov has held a meeting with the heads of Harmony Capital Strategy AMC, Citius Capital AG, Torkam Holding and Marsel Group, Trend reports.

During the meeting, the parties discussed issues of implementing projects in the field of construction of housing and medical institutions, development of renewable energy sources, improvement of transport infrastructure, etc.

Alikhan Smailov noted that Kazakhstan's government pays great attention to improving business climate in the country and is open to new investment initiatives.

"We welcome your intentions and initiatives in implementing projects in Kazakhstan," said the Prime Minister.

In turn, head of the delegation, founder of Harmony Capital Strategy AMC and CEO of Citius Capital AG, Kaspar Vonlich pointed out that Some preparatory work has already been carried out on the planned projects.

"We had working meetings, we traveled to the regions several times, and we believe that there is very great potential for financing infrastructure projects in Kazakhstan," he said.

Following the meeting, the Prime Minister instructed government agencies to study and work through all the issues raised for the further development of cooperation with investors.
If TS Eliot measured out his life in coffee spoons then I, like so many people, have punctuated my existence, thus far, with square-eyed, slack-jawed moments in front of the gogglebox. Zoe Slater yelling, You aint my mother! at her sister Kat, only for Kat to yell back, Yes I am!. Ronaldinho lobbing David Seaman, or Mo Farah streaking home in Stratford. A leaping Arya Stark dispatching the Night King, or Elizabeth IIs funeral procession weaving through the streets of London. These are the moments that serve as the markers of a lifetime, and they share one quality: they all unfolded as appointment TV.

And, after a decade where content providers  from Netflix and Disney+ to BBC iPlayer and whatever Channel 4 is calling its streaming platform this week  have tried to supply audiences with, in the words of comedian Bo Burnham, everything, all of the time, live (or linear, as its sometimes called) TV is starting to reassert itself. It is a process that has privileged quantity over quality, to the detriment of television as a creative medium. But, whether its terrestrial game shows, prestigious international productions, or domestic dramas, likely starring Julie Hesmoldhalgh, live TV is coming back in a big way. Even the streamers, who set out to kill this model, are increasingly returning their programming to a drip-feed, rather like an arsonist smearing himself with ash and telling you youve got a lovely home. But why is 2024 the year that TV went live (again)?

Live television has long been the backbone of its industry, providing viewers with two comforting things: curation and community. Twenty years ago, most households only had a smattering of channels. A couple of BBCs, ITV and Channel 4, maybe Channel 5 if you were lucky. It meant that what you watched was dictated by what was on, and commissioners, for all their flaws, knew how to fill primetime slots with exciting, suspenseful programming. Think about the 30 million people who tuned in, back in 1986, to watch Dirty Den Watts serve his wife, Angie, with divorce papers in EastEnders. The population of the UK at that time was just 57 million; you were more likely to be watching than not. It rendered the question of whether EastEnders was good or not largely irrelevant. Watching became a way of understanding the national psyche.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

India and France have agreed to work together on the joint production of helicopters, submarines, and other defence equipment for the Indian Army following Narendra Modi and Emmaneul Macrons meeting in New Delhi on Friday.

Both nations also agreed on defence production for friendly countries.

Indias top conglomerate Tata Group and Europes Airbus have inked an agreement to jointly manufacture civilian helicopters.

Indias foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra said: Industrial partnership (signed) between Tata and (France-based) Airbus Helicopters for production of H125 helicopters with a significant indigenous and localisation component.

Airbus also announced the final assembly line (FAL) for helicopters and said the machines will be exported indirectly to India, using its neighbouring nations.

The FAL will take 24 months to set up, and deliveries are expected to commence in 2026, Airbus said.

The French president visited India as a guest of honour for New Delhis Republic Day celebrations in a grand spectacle hosted on Friday. He also attended a state banquet hosted by president Draupadi Murmu where the deal on new defence productions was reached, the government said in a statement on Friday evening.

The two leaders also agreed to expand the continuing bilateral ties in defence production sector, nuclear energy, space research and the use of artificial intelligence for public services like climate change, health and agriculture, the statement added.

The value of any of the deals, including the joint production of the helicopters and submarines, has not been immediately confirmed.

France is Indias decades-old ally with mutual diplomatic associations with the Western powers like the US and the UK. France is also Indias second-largest arms supplier after Russia.

The bilateral summit during Mr Macrons latest India visit spanning 40 hours was his fifth meeting with the Indian prime minister since May last year.

India and France agreed to intensify cooperation in the southwest Indian Ocean, building on joint surveillance missions carried out from the French island territory of La Reunion in 2020 and 2022, the government statement said.

Mr Macron also said France would create conditions to attract up to 30,000 Indian students a year for higher education.
Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Kim Kardashian has just launched her new makeup collection Sknn by Kim, but her oldest daughter might not be using any of it.

In honour of the collections launch on Friday 26 January the mogul spoke to Bustle about her own journey with makeup and her opinions on the current Sephora tweens trend. Kardashian also touched on raising her four kids  Psalm, four, Chicago, six, Saint, eight, and North, 10  and how she would do some things differently now.

Although shes diving back into the makeup world and North has been known to wear some makeup herself, Kardashian doesnt plan on doing that with Chicago. My littlest ones too little [to wear makeup] and I dont let her, she told the outlet.

I look back and theres times when I remember I let my daughter wear a red lip once for Christmas. Would I do that now? Probably not, she said.

The Skims founder was referring to Christmas 2018, when a then-five-year-old North rocked bright red lipstick at her familys annual Christmas Eve bash.

She picked it though! Its a special occasion! Kardashian wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, at the time following some backlash from fans who thought North was too young for lipstick.

When Kardashian was still married to her ex-husband, Kanye West, he had ended up prohibiting North from wearing any makeup at all.

I think he had it, he changed all the rules, she said in a 2019 interview with E! News. Id let her wear, you know, she has a little red for Christmas, Id let her wear a red lip, or Id let her do one pop of something. Id let her, if shes wearing a black dress, a black lip. I kind of got in trouble for that, so its now no more makeup.

At least with my oldest daughter, she just likes to dress her friends up and do makeup looks, whether its like Pikachu or the Grinch, she revealed in her Bustle interview. I dont think shes there yet to where she is going into Sephora and trying on stuff.

We were at Saks in the makeup department the other night and she tested something but put a heart on her face with it. Im like, I dont think thats really why you use eyeliner, she laughed.

But she is all for the concept of her girls trying out makeup at home to give them a chance to express themselves. They are always trying to use everything that I have in my drawers. I think its a fun game for them. Its art for them to try to do makeup, which is so fun for me to watch, Kardashian told Bustle.

Its like they want to play with their friends and do it, and then they want to just wash it right off. Im down for the artistry. I think its fun when theyre trying it all and expressing themselves.

In her interview, the reality star also touched on whether or not her children would ever take over the brand.

If one of em wants to take it over, they gladly can, she said, explaining that she thinks theyll have their own ideas on what they want to do.

I would love them to be involved, but I also want them to do whatever makes them happy. And that could be totally not in the beauty business and that would be okay with me.
Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Those looking for love this Valentines Day are being warned about rom-cons in which romance scammers target people on dating apps.

Across the whole of 2023, the average value of a romance scam was approaching 30,000, according to latest figures.

Fraudsters can spend weeks  or even months  grooming their victim before asking for money.

Once the fraudster believes their victim has developed an emotional attachment, this can be a trigger point for requests for money to be made, according to HSBC UK, which saw romance scams worth nearly 6 million attempted across last year.

The cases the bank dealt with remained consistent throughout the year, with between one and two dozen romance scams uncovered each month.

Often, victims lose much more than money, as they believe they are in a committed relationship with the person they are talking to.

In some cases, fraudsters may also persuade people to send explicit images, which they could then use to blackmail the person they have been talking to into handing over money.

Key warning signs to look out for Here are some red flag reminders from HSBC UK for warning signs to look out for when dating online: 1. Rapid emotional attachment While some scammers may take their time, others may try to progress relationships very quickly online. 2. Avoiding meeting face-to-face Scammers often avoid in-person interactions. Be cautious if your online date consistently makes excuses to meet or delays face-to-face encounters. 3. Asking for money Scammers may fabricate emergencies or hardships to manipulate your emotions. Do not send money to someone youve only met online. 4. Being encouraged to lie to your bank A scammer will often ask you to lie to your bank to give them a better chance of the payment not causing suspicion. Scammers will often coach their victim in how to respond to questions that may be asked. But telling the truth gives the bank the best chance of protecting your money  and you receiving money back if you do end up being the victim of a scam. 5. Inconsistencies in what you are told Pay attention to the information shared. Scammers may use different personas across different victims, with conflicting details. 6. Refusal to video chat If your online connection consistently avoids video interactions, it could be a red flag. 7. High-pressure tactics Scammers often use urgency or emotional manipulation to pressure victims into quick decisions. Take your time and remain sceptical of requests that seem overly urgent. 8. Unrealistic photos Be cautious if the persons online photos appear overly-polished or seem too good to be true. Scammers often use stolen images from other profiles. 9. Being asked for a lot of personal information Its natural for people starting a relationship to want to get to know each other better  but scammers will be after your information in addition to your money. Avoid sharing sensitive information, such as your address or financial details, with someone youve only met online. 10. Feeling caught up in the romance Stay vigilant, trust your instincts and verify information to protect yourself from falling victim to romance scams. You could also sound out friends and family members to get a second opinion from people you trust. Criminals committing romance fraud are experts at emotional manipulation, so here are some key warning signs to look out for.

Criminals will use fake profiles, with images stolen from elsewhere  so it could be worth doing a reverse image search to check whether a photo actually originates from someone else.

Scammers may even try to misuse celebrities profiles to lure people in.

Last October, Nottinghamshire Police warned that it had received reports of romance fraud involving people impersonating celebrities to catfish others into handing over money.

Romance scammers may also make promises that big sums of cash await.

They may claim they need money up-front in order to release funds, or suggest an investment opportunity that their victim should pay into.

David Callington, HSBC UKs head of fraud says: Romance scams do not just happen around Valentines Day, we see cases of innocent people who are looking for love being scammed all-year round.

It often takes many months before a scammer shows their true colours, asking for money to pay for what can be quite outlandish reasons.

There are common factors that should raise serious red flags  requesting money in the first place, being asked to lie to your bank and any payment request is made with absolute urgency and dire consequences if it isnt made.

These scammers are experts in emotional manipulation, tapping into the kind nature of their victims with no concern about the financial or emotional impact of their actions.

People can visit www.fca.org.uk/scamsmart on the Financial Conduct Authoritys website to help avoid pension and investment scams.

Criminals committing romance fraud are experts at emotional manipulation, so here are some key warning signs to look out for.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Two teenage boys who were fatally shot Friday by masked suspects as they and other students were leaving a Chicago high school have been identified by authorities.

The Cook County Medical Examiners Office identified the victims as 17-year-old Monterio Williams and 16-year-old Robert Boston. Both died at a hospital, police said.

They were among a group of students walking out of Innovations High School on Friday afternoon when multiple masked suspects jumped out of two cars in front of the school and opened fire on the group, police said.

Both teens were struck in the chest by gunfire and Williams was also shot in the hip, police said.

No arrests had been announced by police in their killings as of Saturday afternoon.

Chicago Police Deputy Chief Jon Hein called the shooting a senseless act of violence and noted that the jacket of a woman who was walking in the area was grazed by a bullet.

Community activist Andrew Holmes told the Chicago Sun-Times the families of both students are devastated and want to know who is responsible for killing them.

Whoever is responsible has no respect for human life, he said.

With 443 students, Innovations High School is the largest of 17 privately run, publicly funded schools operated by the organization Youth Connection Charter School. Its an alternative school that aims to re-enroll and re-engage children who may have dropped out or faced trouble in traditional schools.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

The mother of one of the students stabbed to death in Nottingham has described the moment she found out her son had been killed as she called for an inquiry into any failings that led to the attacks.

Emma Webber, whose 19-year-old son Barnaby was among three killed in the knife rampage in June last year, was on a video call with work colleagues when she heard the news that a major incident had been declared in Nottingham, where her son was a university student.

It took just minutes for her to realise her beloved son was among the victims, after she traced his unanswered mobile phone to the same street where the attack had taken police. After rushing to Nottingham with her husband Dave, she received a call from the police confirming her worst fears.

I got out of the car, fell to my knees on the gravel and screamed, Ms Webber said.

After that, everything went still and cold. I was almost devoid of feeling. I didnt even know how to breathe.

School caretaker Ian Coates and students Barnaby Webber and Grace OMalley-Kumar were fatally stabbed in Nottingham (PA)

Valdo Calocane stabbed Barnaby, his close friend Grace OMalley-Kumar, also 19, and school caretaker Ian Coates, 65, to death with a dagger in Nottingham in the early hours of 13 June last year. This week, Calocane, 32, a paranoid schizophrenic, was handed an indefinite hospital order after he pleaded guilty to manslaughter by diminished responsibility.

The families of the three people he killed reacted angrily to the sentencing, accusing prosecutors of a fait accompli in accepting a manslaughter charge rather than pursuing a murder verdict.

Speaking after the hearing, Ms Webber, from Somerset said: Questions must be asked, answers must be given and, where appropriate, lessons must be learnt.

My body just went cold. We were ringing and ringing but still no one was answering Emma Webber

She has now said her family fully support the calls for a public inquiry after Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, a former head of the Crown Prosecution Service, called the deaths absolutely awful and backed demands for an inquiry into the case.

Ms Webber accused police of having blood on their hands after it emerged they had failed to arrest Calocane weeks before the knife attack when he assaulted two warehouse workers. At the time he was on the run after allegedly assaulting a police officer in September 2021.

He had been detained by mental health services four times and had been consistently unwilling to take antipsychotic medication, leaving him free to roam the streets untreated and unsupervised.

The attorney general is assessing Calocanes sentencing after Mr Justice Turned ruled he should be detained in a secure hospital rather than face prison  a hybrid order would have meant that Calocane would be sent to prison in the event his mental health improved.

The current sentence could allow him to appeal for release every three years, although the court heard how his mental health condition is considered untreatable.

We cant change what happened, but we can make sure Barneys memory lives on, she told The Daily Mail.

A screengrab issued by Nottinghamshire Police shows Grace OMalley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber walking home along Ilkeston Road, minutes before they were attacked by Valdo Calocane (PA)

We have to try, for Barneys sake, to change what is going wrong in this country with our mental health care and in our policing and judicial system. It wont bring Barney back, so the sadness and grief will remain, but he will have justice.

Describing her thought process as she heard the news, Ms Webber said: It said a man and a woman had been killed. I didnt think of my son as a man. Hes 19. Hes my boy.

I said to my work colleagues, Sorry, Im a bit distracted. Theres something going on in Nottingham. Im sure its all fine. I just want to make sure Barneys OK.

Ms Webber spoke of reaching her lowest point following the funerals (PA)

She tried calling his phone before texting her sons friends, who confirmed he was not in his room.

Almost at that exact moment, it came up on the news that the incident had taken place in Ilkeston Road, Ms Webber continued. Dave said, Barneys phone is in Ilkeston Road.

My body just went cold.

Calocane was not given a prison sentence on account of his paranoid schizophrenia (PA)

The pair then saw that his phone had moved, having been taken to the police station. Officers called the couple to deliver the heartbreaking news.

They then had to break the news to their son, Charlie, who was 16 at the time. It was the most awful thing in the world to watch his face. He couldnt  wouldnt  believe it for ages, she said.

The grief was so overwhelming I couldnt see beyond Barneys loss.

Donations can be made to the Barnaby Webber Foundation at: gofundme.com/f/in-everlasting-memory-of-barnaby-webber
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

A Russian lorry driver has been jailed after being caught smuggling migrants, one as young as 5, from Britain to France.

Nikolai Kuznetsov, 39, and his HGV were stopped attempting to cross the Channel by Border Force officers guarding the Dover Docks on 17 August last year.

As border guards scoured his trailer 22 migrants, including a five-year-old girl and her parents, were found hiding inside.

The migrants, all of North African origin, were attempting to avoid French border immigration/visa controls as they tried to leave Great Britain.

Kuznetsov was arrested by officers from the National Crime Agency on suspicion of facilitating illegal entry to an EU state.

He pleaded guilty at the first opportunity at Canterbury Magistrates Court and was sentenced to four years and four months in prison.

John Turner, Operations Manager at the National Crime Agency said: Kuznetsov was complicit with the people smugglers whose only concern was making money, rather than the wellbeing of those individuals found in his trailer.

Thankfully they were found and safeguarded, but we know organised crime groups will continue in their attempts to use migrants to make money.

He added: This sentencing sends a clear message to anyone concerned in facilitating illegal migration, to or from the UK, that they will be caught and will receive a custodial sentence.

Caolan Gormley has been jailed for seven years (Essex Police/PA) (PA Media)

It came after the final member of a people-smuggling gang linked to the deaths of 39 men, women and children in Essex was jailed for seven years.

Haulage boss Caolan Gormley, 26, from Co Tyrone, was driven by greed when he plotted to bring migrants into the UK from mainland Europe three times in October 2019, the Old Bailey heard.

One of the trips was scuppered by French border officials, with some migrants from that trip believed to have died days later in a fatal run overnight on October 22-23 2019.

Gormley had denied being involved, claiming he thought he was helping bring alcohol into the UK illegally.

His conviction brings the total number of people to be convicted over the plot to 11, five of whom were also convicted of the manslaughters.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, January 27. Kyrgyzstan exported 872,540 tons of brown coal from January through November 2023, which is an 18.5-percent increase compared to the same period in 2022 (736,185 tons), Trend reports.

According to Kyrgyzstans State Statistical Committee, the value of the brown coal exports totaled $31.046 million, rising by 42.6 percent compared to the corresponding months in 2022 ($21.771 million).

The breakdown of brown coal exports during this period is as follows:

Country Volume Value Uzbekistan 845,044 tons $29.974 million China 26,836 tons $1.044 million Kazakhstan 637 tons $24,500 Poland 22 tons $3,000

Additionally, Kyrgyzstan exported 1.181 million tons of black coal from January through November 2023, which is a 71.6-percent increase compared to the same period in 2022 (688,522 tons). The value of black coal exported reached $47.691 million, which is a 71-percent growth compared to the corresponding months in 2022 ($27.752 million).

Kyrgyzstan's foreign trade turnover reached $13.9 billion from January through November 2023, which is a 29 percent increase compared to the same period in 2022 ($10.7 billion).

Kyrgyzstan's exports totaled $2.8 billion, which is a 36.7 percent growth compared to the corresponding period in 2022 ($2.05 billion). The country's imports amounted to $11.1 billion, increasing by 27.2 percent compared to the same period in 2022 ($8.7 billion).
Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Habibullah* was full of pride when, aged 18, he was recruited to serve in Commando Force 333 (CF333), an elite Afghan fighter unit set up, trained and funded by the British. He went on to join high-level missions with British troops in the fight against the Taliban, serving until the fall of Kabul in August 2021.

Unable to board a UK evacuation flight during the Wests chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, and quickly realising that the Taliban knew his address, Habibullah was left with little option but to pay smugglers to help him flee the country  and eventually seek refuge in the UK.

Three years on from his dramatic escape, he is a shell of his former self. For the last year and a half he has been languishing in a dingy shared hotel room in Worcester, living on 9 a week, as he waits for a decision on his UK asylum claim. He crossed the English Channel in a small boat in August 2022, hoping he could build a new life in the UK. What hurts me most is that despite working closely with British forces, there is no attention given to me, he says.

The 26-year-old is one of hundreds of Afghan former commandos who served with CF333 and its sister unit Afghan Territorial Force 444 (ATF444)  known collectively as the Triples  who have been denied relocation to the UK, despite being paid by the British and living and working side by side with UK troops. In collaboration with investigative newsroom Lighthouse Reports, The Independent has documented dozens of cases where former members of the Triples have been beaten, tortured or killed by the Taliban after the UK failed to relocate them.

Now, we can reveal that the abandonment of these Afghan commandos has driven a number of them to travel to the UK via dangerous and irregular routes  journeys the prime minister has vowed to bring an end to with his pledge to stop the boats  as they see this as their only option of finding safety.

Habibullah (left), pictured with Afghan special forces, went on to join high-level missions with British troops in the fight against the Taliban (Supplied)

Habibullah, whose name has been changed to protect his family in Afghanistan, arrived in Britain following a year-long tumultuous journey from Iran through Europe which culminated in the crossing in a dinghy from France.

As part of a unit that had been fighting the Taliban right up until the fall of Kabul, the trained sniper knew he was the number one enemy for the Taliban. He had already decided to flee Afghanistan when he got the heartbreaking news that a close friend who also worked in the CF333 unit had been murdered.

He said: When I heard the news, I was somewhere between Afghanistan and Iran. I was in contact with my friend about my decision to flee. He was trying to convince me to wait for the flights from Kabul because back then there were still some flights evacuating people from Kabul. We thought that our British colleagues would be aware of the risks we were facing and would arrange flights from Kabul airport.

He was saying I should wait for these flights, but I thought I shouldnt stay at risk any longer. He was at the house of his brother-in-law when the Taliban killed him. The Taliban must have been following him very closely.

Habibullah in the background, with his friend and colleague in the foreground  who was later killed by the Taliban (Supplied)

The 29-year-old was shot dead outside the house by a gunman on a motorcycle. Habibullah described the moment he heard his friend had been killed, saying: Everyone who worked in these units would expect news about one of us being killed by the Taliban. We were all fearing that reality. Yet when I heard the news I was shocked and I couldnt believe it. I left so many messages for him hoping that he would get back to me.

I was waiting for hours hoping he would get back to me. Eventually I accepted it when I saw the pictures of his dead body.

In the last picture he has of them together, the pair are on a break from a run they had been on. The Afghan government had just collapsed and they knew their lives in the Afghan army would soon change irreparably. We were remembering those days as good days, said Habibullah. We had the sense that this would be our last time together like this. But I had no idea this would be the last time Id see him.

After he was killed I realised that we were really under the Taliban surveillance wherever we went.

Habibullah, who served in an elite Afghan fighter unit set up, trained and funded by the British, is now living on 9 a week as he waits for a decision on his UK asylum claim (Supplied )

On fleeing Afghanistan, he had initially hoped to stay in Iran, but left after discovering that the country was deporting Afghans.

He then crossed the border to Turkey, during which he said he was attacked by armed robbers and had to use the skills he learned while serving in CF333 to escape. While there, he found a months work in a factory processing recycled materials, which he said he did to get shelter.

But in Turkey, he also saw the authorities trying to round up undocumented Afghans to return them to Afghanistan, so he decided to flee into Europe.

When I reached Germany and provided my documents to the German authorities, they told me that maybe Id have a better chance if I went to the UK, because I worked for the Brits. In France, the police also told me that I should go to Britain because I worked for them, said Habibullah.

He said it wasnt easy to reach the UK from France: We were using a small boat with 25 capacity, but there were 65-70 people. Halfway to Britain the fuel ran out, the weather was so bad, the boat was struggling. The French Border Force came and rescued us and took us back to France. The second time, we went with the same boat and got to the coast of Britain.

On arrival in the UK, Habibullah said he was hopeful that having worked with the British forces he would be swiftly granted protection. I was very honest when working with them. I participated in so many operations with them across the country, he said.

Hundreds of Afghan former commandos who served with CF333 and its sister unit Afghan Territorial Force 444 (ATF444)  known collectively as the Triples  have been denied relocation to the UK (Supplied)

But the Afghan national is still waiting for a decision on his asylum claim almost a year and a half after applying. In 2022 he also sent in an application to the Ministry of Defences Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap) scheme, for Afghans who worked alongside UK forces, but has not heard anything back.

Describing his life in the hotel, Habibullah said: Im in a small room shared with another person. Theres a bathroom, three meals per day. They give us 9 for one week. I dont have a work permit, so Im not able to work, open a bank account, [and I] cant go to the gym to fight back my anxiety.

I stay in this room. It has been so long. I dont know whats going to happen. The money they give us for one week is not even enough for an hours journey. I am stuck here.

He said he was worried about the possibility of being deported to Rwanda under the governments plan to send asylum seekers there: Everyone who is in the hotel waiting for their documents is worried about this possibility. Sometimes I think Im full of worries. I have got used to worrying.

Habibullah said he received two kinds of money from the British while serving in CF333  one was a monthly stipend, dependent on rank, for which he as a soldier earned around $100 per month  then a $5 stipend for every mission he attended, of which he did around 25 to 30 per month.

I never let down the British forces, I risked my life to help them. Weve been for so many operations together, I was always there for them, but they let me down when I came to their country, he said.

Politicians in all the main parties, as well as current and former military personnel, have been campaigning for the Ministry of Defence to help personnel from the two units.

Luke Pollard MP, Labours shadow armed forces minister, said: Since before the fall of Kabul to today, the governments treatment of Afghans has been a shameful saga of failure. They failed to deal with the ballooning backlog of Arap applications and have left Afghans in limbo.

Ministers mismanagement of Afghan resettlement continues to be one of the most comprehensive failures of ministerial leadership and competence in recent times. Britains moral duty to assist these Afghans is felt most fiercely by the UK forces they served alongside. Enough is enough.

Tim Willasey-Wilsey, a former diplomat in the Foreign Office who worked with CF333 from 2002 to 2008, said: Its been an uphill struggle getting anyone to focus on Habibullahs case because he came to the UK illegally. But how else was he supposed to come? He had been left on the tarmac at Kabul airport after assisting with the evacuation.

He had seen a close colleague murdered and he did not have time then to lodge a formal Arap request. Some of these requests have not had replies from London for months and many have been rejected for unknown reasons. The fact that Habibullah still remains loyal to the UK is a source of both great pride and intense shame.

A government spokesperson said: We are honouring our commitment to those brave Afghans who supported the UK mission in Afghanistan, and have been granted settled status.

So far, we have brought around 24,600 people to safety from Afghanistan, including over 15,200 people from the Arap scheme, which is one of the most generous of any country, and thousands of Afghans eligible for our resettlement schemes. There is no need for Afghans to risk their lives by taking dangerous and illegal journeys."

*Habibullah is not his real name
Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

BBC managers have been unable to make progress on replacing Huw Edwards as chief news presenter because he is reportedly still unfit to take part in talks about his future.

Mr Edwards has been off air for six months after being suspended in July over allegations that he received inappropriate messages from a teenager and gave them money. Speculation remains about his future at the BBC as it prepares for a general election this year.

Vicky Flind, Mr Edwardss wife, who named him as the presenter at the centre of the scandal after the allegations were first reported in The Sun, said he would be in hospital for the foreseeable future after he suffered a serious episode.

Mr Edwards, who has a history of mental ill health and has previously been treated for severe depression, is not yet thought to have recovered. It is unclear if he remains in hospital, The Times reports.

Resolving Mr Edwardss future is coming into sharper focus as the BBC prepares for a busy news year, with multiple elections taking place across the world, as well as in the UK, and wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

Journalist Huw Edwards has previously been at the helm of significant political and royal events for the BBC (Chris Jackson/PA) (PA Archive)

One longstanding colleague of Mr Edwards said that the corporation would like to resolve the situation soon. They told The Times: The BBC would like to get this whole unhappy situation wrapped up as quickly as possible. Things have been dragging on for six months now and they still havent been able to make any progress.

Welsh journalist Edwards had been for years at the helm of significant political and royal events for the BBC.

He announced the late Queens death on the BBC last September, covered her funeral and anchored the BBCs broadcast of the coronation of the King in May.

The former Westminster correspondent presented the Queens Diamond Jubilee in 2012 and Platinum Jubilee in 2022, the wedding of the then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2011, the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in 2018, and the funeral of the then Duke of Edinburgh in 2021.

The BBC News at Ten presenter was also the broadcasters voice at Trooping the Colour and the Festival of Remembrance and had taken over election coverage from the long-serving David Dimbleby in 2019.

The Metropolitan Police said in July that no criminal offence had taken place.
Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

A homeless man whose tent was set on fire while he was inside is overwhelmed and very grateful after locals banded together to fundraise for a replacement.

The 35-year-old, named locally as Chris, was taken to hospital with burns after police were called to the scene in the Llanishen and Thornhill Green Belt in north Cardiff at 2:20am on Tuesday.

Catherine Gorwill, a local mental health worker, set up the fundraising page after she was left absolutely disgusted by the incident. She reported that Chris had pitched his tent by a brook in a field during freezing conditions.

Its awful, she told The Independent. Theres absolute uproar about it. Our community isnt like that. Its a nice well-to-do community.

Ms Gorwill said the new tent was being set up on Saturday night and extra money raised will go towards helping Chris purchase a bike or new accommodation.

The Green Belt in Llanishen and Thornhill in Cardiff where the incident happened (Catherine Gorwill )

Hes moving around now because hes absolutely petrified its going to happen again, she said. Hes burned all his hands, and his face is burned.

Ms Gorwill set a GoFundMe target of just 100 to raise money to replace Chriss tent but has been left overjoyed after the target surpassed 1,800.

I set up the fundraiser initially to replace his tent and I never imagined it would raise so much. As Ive had experience in working with vulnerable adults I was appalled that anyone could viciously attack a vulnerable person.

Im absolutely thrilled and thankful to everyone who has donated.

The funds have already purchased a more sturdy tent and the remaining funds will be used to help pay for anything that he needs when his Outreach Team gets in contact, hopefully with news of suitable accommodation. 

Chriss tent can be seen through the bushes (Catherine Gorwill)

Chris, who has been homeless since his 20s, has been left overwhelmed and grateful according to Ms Gorwill.

Hes a very quiet man, very proud. He doesnt want the media attention, she said. He was really overwhelmed with the positive response hes had. He just kept saying Really? Really?

The donations are flooding in for him now, which is wonderful.

The new tent is expected to arrive this evening and locals are assisting Chris in pitching it (Catherine Gorwill )

Police in Cardiff released the following statement in response to the attack: South Wales Police is investigating a fire at a tent in Llanishen, Cardiff, which was reported to police at 2.22am on Tuesday, January 23.

A 35-year-old man was treated in hospital for burns and has since been discharged.

Enquiries are on-going to establish the cause and circumstances of the fire, and whether it was accidental or intentional.

Witnesses or anyone with information is asked to please contact police by one of the following means quoting 2400025463.

The GoFundMe page can be found here.
Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

David Cameron faces growing pressure over his attitude to China after the former deputy head of MI6 warned that British intelligence is unable to deal with escalating threats from Beijing.

Nigel Inkster said MI6 clearly (has).. difficulties, while China has industrial-scale cyber espionage operations directed against advanced Western countries.

And he pointed to the Cameron governments attempts to develop friendlier relations with China.

In 2015, the British government was talking about a golden era of UK-China relations. Given that situation, its perhaps unsurprising that the security service isnt where it might be, he told the i newspaper.

In a bid to develop close economic ties with the Asian superpower, Lord Cameron even hosted a state visit for President Xi Jinping in 2015.

The Sunak government has been clear it is taking a tougher stance with China. In November the prime minister said Lord Camerons return as foreign secretary did not mean the return of his golden era approach.

Mr Inkster said the UKs blind spot extends to all the UK intelligence community, which includes MI5 and GCHQ.

MI6 clearly does have difficulties, in terms of language expertise and collective general historical and cultural awareness when it comes to China, he said.

He added: Were seeing a significant increase in human intelligence collection operations, with the Chinese services essentially seeming to be operating under no political constraints  incentivised to take risks and to do whatever it takes to get the intelligence that is required.

Sir Richard Moore, the head of MI6, told Politico in July that the intelligence agency now has more resources devoted to China than any other mission.

This reflects  the crucial need to understand both the intent and capability of the Chinese government, he said.

David Cameron shakes hands with Li Keqiang, the former Chinese premier, in 2013 (PA)

Mr Inkster warned that may not be enough to counter Beijings capabilities, however.

I know that there is a big effort underway to remedy those deficiencies, he said. A lot of resources are now being put into getting the UK intelligence community in a better state but it does take a certain amount of time.

But he welcomed the new National Security Act, which he said would make it easier to prosecute Chinese spies, replacing an Official Secrets Act that was derived from the First World War.
Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

The UK has suspended funding for the UN agency providing aid to Palestinian refugees after allegations that staff members were involved in Hamass deadly 7 October attack on Israel.

Another four countries  the US, Australia, Italy and Canada  have also paused donations.

More than 1,200 people were killed when Hamas stormed Israeli communities.

The bloodshed sparked the current war in Gaza, in which more than 25,000 Palestinians have been killed, after Israel vowed to destroy Hamas.

The Foreign Office said in a statement the UK was appalled by allegations that UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency) staff were involved in the 7 October attack a heinous act of terrorism that the UK government has repeatedly condemned.

The UK is temporarily pausing any future funding of UNRWA whilst we review these concerning allegations, the statement said.

We remain committed to getting humanitarian aid to the people in Gaza who desperately need it.

Employees of UNRWA (AFP via Getty)

The relief agency has played a key role in providing aid to the population of the besieged enclave amid a mounting humanitarian disaster.

Earlier this week the foreign secretary, Lord Cameron, called for more provisions to be allowed to enter Gaza during a visit to the region.

Sarah Champion, chair of the Commons International Development select committee, described the development as very concerning, saying that in many ways, UNWRA effectively acts as the local authority, so the impact on civilians will be immense.

But former immigration minister Robert Jenrick said he was pleased Britain had agreed to pause support for UNRWA, adding that the UK has been too blase about who we have funded and for what purpose. That needs to end now.

The current crisis erupted on Friday when UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said it had terminated contracts with several employees and ordered an investigation after Israel provided information alleging they played a role in the assault.

The US, the agencys biggest donor, said allegations had been made against 12 employees.

Palestinian employees of UNWRA protest at job cuts in 2018 (AFP via Getty)

UNRWA has around 13,000 staff in Gaza, almost all of them Palestinians. They range from teachers, in schools run by the agency, to doctors and other medical staff.

Israeli officials have frequently accused UNRWA of allowing anti-Israeli incitement. The Trump administration suspended funding to the agency in 2018, but it was restored by President Biden.

In its 7 October attack, Hamas broke through the security fence surrounding Gaza and stormed nearby Israeli communities, kidnapping some 250 people.

While some of the hostages have been released as part of transfer swaps with Israel, around 100 are still being held.
Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

The US destroyed a Houthi anti-ship missile in Yemen, hours after an attack that left a fire raging on a British-linked oil tanker.

Defence secretary Grant Shapps condemned the assault on the vessel as intolerable, while a government spokesperson said Britain and its allies, which include the US, reserved the right to respond appropriately.

Announcing the latest strike, the US said the missile had been aimed towards the Red Sea and was ready to launch.

It presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and American navy ships, US central command said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter, adding that it had acted in self-defence.

Earlier this week, Rishi Sunak said the UK would not hesitate to launch further airstrikes against the Houthi rebels if attacks on ships in the Red Sea continued.

His warning came hours after RAF jets took part in a second wave of joint US-UK action on Monday night.

After the first set of strikes by Britain and the US, the foreign secretary, Lord Cameron, said that the decisive action had also sent a very clear message to Iran.

The Houthis claim their attacks have been prompted by the war in Gaza. But the UK has rejected the suggestion, pointing out that the group have hit ships with no links to Israel.

Houthi fighters during a rally against the US government designating Houthis as a terror group and against the US-UK air strikes (AP)

Despite the strikes, the Houthis have vowed bloody revenge and have continued to attack vessels in the Red Sea and beyond.

After the oil tanker attack, Mr Shapps described it as an intolerable and illegal assault on maritime shipping and on innocent people and global trade. It is our duty to protect freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and we remain as committed to that cause as ever, he added.

Overnight a UK government spokesperson said it was aware of reports that the M/V Marlin Luanda had sustained damage from an attack.

They added: We have been clear that any attacks on commercial shipping are completely unacceptable and that the UK and our allies reserve the right to respond appropriately.

The Ministry of Defence said the UK was not involved in the latest US strike.

Efforts to put out the fire on the British-linked oil tanker continued through the night on Thursday.

The ship, operated on behalf of trading giant Trafigura, sails under the flag of the Marshall Islands but is managed by Oceonix Services Ltd, a company registered in the UK.

In a statement released on Saturday, Trafigura said the safety of its crew remained the utmost priority.
Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

The US is preparing to station nuclear weapons in the UK for the first time in more than a decade amid a growing threat from Russia.

Under the proposals, warheads three times as strong as the bomb which devastated Hiroshima would be based at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, according to Pentagon documents seen by The Daily Telegraph.

They set out plans for a nuclear mission to take place imminently at the base.

It comes amid increasing warnings about the prospect of a war with Russia, itself a nuclear power, from British and American military officials.

US nuclear missiles have been kept at RAF Lakenheath in the past but were removed in 2008 at a time when it was considered that the Cold War threat from Moscow had faded.

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: It remains a long-standing UK and Nato policy to neither confirm nor deny the presence of nuclear weapons at a given location.

The documents also reveal procurement contracts for a new facility at the airbase.

The move is thought to be part of a programme across Nato countries to develop and upgrade nuclear sites in response to Russias invasion of Ukraine almost two years ago.

It comes as senior figures on both sides of the Atlantic warn of a potential war between Nato forces and Russia.

Earlier this week, General Sir Patrick Sanders, the outgoing head of the British army, floated the idea of a citizen army to combat the threat. He warned the 74,000 army personnel the UK currently has would need to be bolstered by at least 45,000 reservists and citizens to prepare for possible conflict.

RAF Lakenheath, home of the US Air Forces 48th Fighter Wing, near Cambridge (AFP via Getty Images)

In response, the government ruled out any move towards conscription, saying that the armed forces would remain voluntary.

Carlos Del Toro, the US navy secretary, has also urged the UK to reassess the size of its armed forces given the threats that exist today.

Downing Street defended the governments spending on defence as it pointed out that Britain has been Washingtons partner of choice in its strikes against Houthi rebels in the Red Sea due to its "military strength".
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Britain and its allies reserve the right to respond appropriately after a missile strike claimed by Houthi rebels on an oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden, the government has said.

The Marlin Luanda was sent up in flames after an attack off the coast of Yemen on Friday, days after the latest round of US-UK military action against the Iran-backed group. No casualties have yet been reported.

Military ships were en route to assist on Friday as multinational firm Trafigura said the safety of crew on the vessel, which is operated on its behalf, is its foremost priority.

A government spokesperson said: We have been clear that any attacks on commercial shipping are completely unacceptable and that the UK and our allies reserve the right to respond appropriately.

It comes after an earlier incident in which two missiles were reported to have exploded in the water and vessel and crew are safe and no damage reported.

Yemens Houthis claimed their naval forces carried out an operation in the Gulf of Aden targeting a vessel, which it described as a British oil tanker. They used a number of appropriate naval missiles, the strike was direct, the Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said in a statement.

However, shipping data shows the Marlin Luanda sails under the flag of the Marshall Islands.

We have been clear that any attacks on commercial shipping are completely unacceptable and that the UK and our allies reserve the right to respond appropriately UK Government spokesperson

The Houthis have repeatedly launched attacks on vessels in the Red Sea since November over Israels war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, though they have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, endangering shipping on a key route for global trade.

Alongside numerous airstrikes on Houthi targets, the UK and US are also issuing sanctions against key figures in the militant group.

A second series of UK and US airstrikes, carried out at the start of the week, appears to have done little to deter Houthi action.

A Trafigura spokesperson said in a statement: Earlier on 26 January, the Marlin Luanda, a petroleum products tanker vessel operated on behalf of Trafigura, was struck by a missile as it transited the Red Sea.

Firefighting equipment on board is being deployed to suppress and control the fire caused in one cargo tank on the starboard side. The safety of the crew is our foremost priority.

We remain in contact with the vessel and are monitoring the situation carefully. Military ships in the region are under way to provide assistance.

Earlier on Friday, a spokeswoman for the prime minister said: We continue to call on (the Houthis) to step back from such action. Were clear that this is illegal and unacceptable.

Foreign secretary Lord Cameron is currently finishing a trip to the middle-east in a diplomatic bid to reduce tensions as the Israeli bombardment of Gaza continues.
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

A man who was orphaned in the Holocaust and smuggled out of Nazi-occupied Warsaw has been reunited with his long-lost family at the age of 83.

In 1941, Shalom Koray was discovered as an abandoned baby in the Warsaw ghetto by a Jewish teacher and psychologist, Lena Kuchler-Silberman, who gave him the name Piotr Korczak and bravely smuggled him out with four other toddlers.

Ms Kuchler-Silberman arranged for the children to be homed in orphanages at cloisters in Poland. After the Second World War, she arranged for them to live in her orphanage in Zakopane.

Mr Koray emmigrated to Israel in March 1949 and changed his name from Piotr Korczak to Shalom Koray, which means peace.

A father of three and a grandfather of eight, he spent most of his life living at a kibbutz in the Jordan Valley, working as a truck driver but with no knowledge of his past.

Shalom was discovered as an abandoned baby in Nazi-occupied Warsaw and smuggled out (MyHeritage/MyHeritage DNA )

He said: You cant start searching for something you know nothing about.

I didnt even have the tip of a thread. Even my birth name is unknown.

I didnt know anything. If not for a DNA test, theres nothing. I dont know my real name, no one knows.

When someone is born blind, he has never seen anything. He doesnt know what he is missing. I was born into this reality and never knew anything else. I didnt even know the concept of parents. I didnt know there was such a thing.

In the summer of 2023, a professor at Jagiellonian University in Warsaw gave Mr Koray a MyHeritage DNA test as part of her research on the 100 children saved by Ms Kuchler-Silberman.

In September 2023, on the other side of the world, Ann Hellman, who lives in Charleston, South Carolina, received a match with a second cousin but had no idea who he was.

Ann Hellman, who lives in the US state of South Carolina, matched with Shalom from the other side of the world (MyHeritage/ MyHeritage DNA)

As an enthusiastic family historian, 77-year-old Ms Hellman started to delve deeper and asked her cousin, Jeanmarie Fields Hostein, to upload her DNA to the MyHeritage site.

His DNA matched Ms Fields Hosteins, confirming Mr Koray was part of her fathers side of the family.

Ms Hellman said: We have all thought that this branch of the family was wiped out. Finding Shalom is a miracle.

Research after the discovery showed Anns great-uncle, Yadidia Mednitsky, was Mr Korays grandfather. Yadidias brother was Anns paternal grandfather, Abrahm Louis Mednitzky Meddin, who moved to the US in 1893 with his family.

The whole family in the US was certain that Yadidia and his entire family were murdered in the Holocaust, and no one survived.

For Mr Koray, this is the first information he has ever got about his family and identity. Through the DNA match, he now has a very large extended family in the US.

Shalom with a MyHeritage researcher  a professor at Jagiellonian University in Warsaw gave Mr Koray a MyHeritage DNA test as part of her research (My Heritage/MyHeritageDNA)

The family connection became crystal clear when Ms Hellman received Mr Korays photo, who she says looked the spitting image of her younger brother Stuart, who lives in Atlanta.

Ms Hellman believes Shalom bears a close resemblance to her younger brother Stuart (left) (MyHeritage/MyHeritageDNA)

The pair have had several telephone conversations and video chats and plan to have a big celebration in July to honour Mr Koray joining the family.

Ms Hellman said: He is going to meet so many family members resembling him.

I gave a Holocaust survivor a family, and for months I get goosebumps when I think about it. I cant wait to put my arm around Mr Koray and hug him close to my heart.
 Close United Nations Says Alabama Execution With Nitrogen Could Be Torture

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Alabama death row inmate Kenneth Eugene Smith has been executed by nitrogen gas  making him the first person in US history to be put to death through the controversial method.

Smith, 58, was pronounced dead at 8.25pm CT on Thursday at the William C Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Alabama, almost three decades after he was convicted in the 1988 murder-for-hire plot of Elizabeth Sennett.

His religious adviser Reverend Jeff Hood, who witnessed the execution, told reporters what he saw was a man struggling for their life for a staggering 22 minutes.

The White House condemned the execution on Friday. It is very troubling to us as an administration. It is very troubling to us here at the White House, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.

Alabama authorities insist the execution went to plan, despite predicting the untested method would lead to unconsciousness within seconds and death in minutes.

But, witnesses said Smith appeared conscious for several minutes, shaking and writhing on the gurney.

We didnt see somebody go unconscious in 30 seconds, said Rev Hood. What we saw was minutes of someone struggling for their life.

Smiths death came after the US Supreme Court denied a final, 11th-hour bid to stay of execution. The ruling received dissent from Justice Sonia Sotomayor who wrote that the state had selected Smith as a guinea pig by using the untested method.

Speaking at a news conference on Friday, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said that 43 more death row inmates have elected to die by nitrogen hypoxia. People incarcerated on death row are able to chose their preferred method from electrocution, lethal injection or nitrogen hypoxia.

What occurred last night was textbook, AG Marshall said. As of last night, nitrogen hypoxia as a means of execution is no longer an untested method. It is a proven one.
With a commitment to back sustainable eating habits, Atmosphere Kanifushi, the idyllic resort on the Lhaviyani Atoll of the Maldives, invites guests to savour vegan cuisine at its signature restaurant, Just Veg.

With the popularity of Veganuary (an annual challenge run by a UK nonprofit organisation that promotes veganism by encouraging people to follow a vegan lifestyle for the month of January), on the rise, Atmosphere Kanifushi, emerges as a haven for those seeking a tropical getaway while adhering to a plant-based lifestyle.

Just Veg, the Maldives' first a la carte vegetarian restaurant, has consistently topped TripAdvisor's rankings since its inception in 2013. This culinary gem offers gourmet vegetarian cuisine inspired by Arabic, Indian, and Mediterranean regions.

Perched over the turquoise ocean waters, guests can enjoy lunch or dinner on a deck with breathtaking views of the lagoon below, inhabited by baby reef sharks, creating a truly exotic dining experience.

"Atmosphere Kanifushi has been a trailblazer in promoting a genuine culture around plant-based gastronomy in the Maldives. Just Veg, our purely vegetarian restaurant, continues to redefine contemporary culinary vegetarian cuisine, offering a 100 per cent meat-free menu inspired by rich flavours from all over the world," said Raman Gomathi, Director of F&B at Atmosphere Kanifushi Maldives.

The menu boasts a diverse array of dishes under salads, soups, and special items which includes kofta quinoa, crispy quesadillas, pasta, tacos, noodles, and the all-important curries and lentils. A special highlight is the Maldivian vegetable curry with local kopi leaves, capturing the essence of the region's culinary delights.

For guests seeking an all-encompassing experience, Atmosphere Kanifushi offers an all-inclusive package, ensuring that every visitor can indulge in a variety of culinary options.

The resort, reachable by a scenic 35-minute seaplane ride from Velana International Airport in Male, welcomes guests with a captivating view of a 2-kilometre-long beach, swaying palm trees, and the pristine waters of Lhaviyani Atoll.  TradeArabia News Service
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Dr Omar Al-Najjar called into a federal courtroom in Oakland, California from an administrative building at a hospital in Rafah, the only room where he could get an internet connection.

Sitting on the floor in his scrubs, the doctor testified by video, explaining how his family in Gaza was repeatedly violently displaced under Israeli bombardments, enduring random bursts of gunfire and rockets.

At the hospital in Rafah, thousands of patients arriving daily lack adequate care, he said on Friday. There is severe dehydration and hunger. Patients with chronic diseases dont have the medication they need.

His dreams and plans are lost, he said. I have nothing left but my grief  They weakened us for years and continued to unleash bullets and missiles on our lifeless bodies.

Dr Al-Najjar was the first among several Palestinians testifying in an unprecedented case against President Joe Biden, who is being sued by a group of American Palestinians and aid groups accusing him of failing to prevent genocide in Gaza under obligations to international and federal law.

They are asking a judge for an injunction that would halt any additional military aid or diplomatic support to Israel in its ongoing siege of Gaza, where more than 25,000 Palestinians, including more than 10,000 children, have been killed within the last 126 days, according to Gazas health ministry.

The judge is expected to issue a decision in the coming days.

The case is monumental in that it marks the first time Palestinians have testified in federal court to the impact of US support for Israels campaign, according to Defence for Children International - Palestine advocacy officer Miranda Cleland, whose organisation is the lead plaintiff in the case.

So many of these atrocities are broadcast live on social media, and everyday people around the world can see for themselves what is happening, she told The Independent. Courts move slower than the people, of course, and the people have made it clear to Biden and his administration that most Americans do not support this.

Hours before the hearing, a ruling from the International Court of Justice at The Hague urged Israel to prevent acts of genocide and to allow aid into the beleaguered strip, marking an initial step in a case brought by South Africa that laid out its accusations of Palestinian genocide, and heightened pressure against Israel by world powers to end its retaliatory devastation.

White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters at the White House on Friday that its hard to see the Biden administration changing its approach to its support for Israel following the World Courts ruling.

This is obviously just a provisional order by the court. Well have to watch how the process plays out. But its difficult to see that it alone is going to change the approach, Mr Kirby said. The president believes the approach we have been taking has been getting results and were going to keep at that.

Palestinians arrive in Rafah after fleeing an Israeli ground and air offensive in the nearby city of Khan Younis on 26 January. (AP)

The federal lawsuit against Mr Biden, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken was filed in November by the Center for Constitutional Rights on behalf of Dr Al-Najjar with aid groups Defence for Children International  Palestine and Al-Haq, as well as plaintiffs with families in Gaza, all of whom have lost loved ones from Israels attacks or are among the tens of thousands who have been violently displaced.

Ive never seen anything like this. We would never have imagined something like this, said plaintiff Ahmed Abofoul, who was born and raised in Gaza and works as a legal researcher for Palestinian civil rights group Al-Haq.

We heard stories about the Nakba  I never imagined we would live it and witness it ourselves, he told the court on Friday. The Gaza that we know no longer exists. Everything has been destroyed.  Every place I have memories with has been destroyed.

His neighbourhood and the walls where families wrote messages over the years, the churches where he celebrated friends weddings, and the city archives preserving Gazas history have all been destroyed, he said.

Israeli forces have killed several members of the family of Leila El-Haddad, a mother of four in Maryland who writes about Gazas culinary heritage.

I felt it was my duty as an American whose taxes and government have been directly responsible for the deaths of my family to do what I can to put an end to this genocide, she told the court on Friday.

News of the devastation, attempts to contact her remaining family in Gaza, and her pleas to end the violence have consumed every aspect of my life, she said.

I spend my days just it all revolves around this, she said.

Mohammed Monadel Herzallah of Fairfield, California, has lost at least seven members of his family, one of whom was a four-year-old girl.

I feel horrible. I feel dehumanised  and the world is numb about it, he said in his testimony.

Im asking this court to raise the voice of our people in Gaza, hold people who are responsible and who have the authority and duty to hold them responsible, the ability to stop this madness, to stop this genocide, he said.

Smoke billows after an Israeli strike in Rafah in southern Gaza on 26 January. (AFP via Getty Images)

US District Judge Jeffrey S White, in laying out the facts of the case before him on Friday, described Israels brutal campaign that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians, displaced more than 2 million people, destroyed critical civilian infrastructure, levelled hospitals, schools, and safe havens, while people are living in fear without food, medical care, clean water or sufficient aid.

The United States has provided substantial support to Israel and continued to reinforce its support for Israel in the wake of Hamas attacks that killed more than 1,200 people on October 7, he said.

But the questions before the judge involve the limitations of the courts reach, and whether the courts are constitutionally restricted against political questions of White House foreign policy.

The plaintiffs, however, argue that the case has nothing to do with political questions, but whether the courts can intervene if US officials have violated international and federal law.

Here the United States is choosing to avoid its binding legal obligations, according to Center for Constitutional Rights attorney Katherine Gallagher.

The court must have legal discretion to act against genocide, under both the terms of the Genocide Convention and US law adhering to it, she told the court on Friday.

Jean Lin, an attorney for the US Department of Justice, argued the court has no jurisdiction whatsoever.

We submit that the court has no jurisdiction  even though we concede Genocide Convention is the law of the land, she told the judge. But  that elevated status does not mean that it may be enforced by the courts.

Judge White asked what mechanisms, then, would anyone have to ensure the government adhered to international law.

Ms Lin argued that governments could be held accountable through the United Nations and political accountability through elected members of Congress, but she conceded that the plaintiffs in this case wouldnt be able to join the proceedings at The Hague, for example.

Plaintiffs attorneys also noted that the US wields veto power at the United Nations Security Council, effectively being able to void any charges against it.

Dr Barry Trachtenberg, a Jewish history professor and genocide scholar at Wake Forest University in North Carolina, explained to the court how US and world governments, in the wake of the Holocaust, now have a framework under international law to combat genocide.

As weve seen in nearly every genocidal effort since, the legal actions always seem to come afterwards, they come late  and then theres an attempt to bring justice against the victims, he said. What makes this situation so unique is were watching the genocide unfold as we speak.  The reason why Im weighing in is were seeing it happen before our eyes.

History shows us there are moments of intervention, he added, and its only afterwards that we have to have this reckoning.
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

A jury has determined that Donald Trump must pay E Jean Carroll more than $83m (65m) in damages for his defamatory statements about the former Elle magazine writer, marking the years first federal court verdict against the former president as he campaigns for his return to the White House.

The nine-member jury awarded Ms Carroll $65m in punitive damages in addition to more than $18m in compensatory damages after he was previously found liable for sexual abuse and then smeared her sexual assault allegations as a lie, which fuelled abusive messages and death threats against her.

A verdict was delivered on Friday after roughly three hours of deliberation following a contentious two-week civil trial in a federal courtroom in Manhattan, where Mr Trumps attorneys aggressively argued against Ms Carrolls case while the former president repeatedly attacked and potentially defamed her in press conferences and dozens of posts on his Truth Social.

US district judge Lewis Kaplan barred Mr Trump and his attorneys from disputing the facts of the case: that he sexually abused her in a Manhattan department store in the 1990s and defamed her in statements denying he assaulted her.

Those facts stem from a trial last year when a jury found him liable for sexual abuse and defamation in a verdict that awarded Ms Carroll $5m.

But even in the moments after that verdict was delivered, Mr Trump has not stopped repeating potentially defamatory statements against her.

E Jean Carroll and her legal team leave court after a jury awarded her $83m in defamation damages in the case she brought against Donald Trump (Ariana Baio)

As the verdict was being read on Friday, Ms Carroll held the hand of her attorney Shawn Crowley. When the damages were being read aloud, Ms Carroll turned her head toward the jury and smiled.

The unanimous decision by the jury left Ms Carroll and her legal team emotional. After Judge Kaplan dismissed the court, Ms Carroll, Ms Crowley and attorney Roberta Kaplan hugged each other and cried.

Mr Trump, however, wasnt there. He left the courthouse moments earlier.

His attorney, Alina Habba, thanked the court staff and swiftly walked out of the courtroom with the rest of Mr Trumps legal team. Outside the courtroom, she called the jury ridiculous, a term also used by Mr Trump to refer to the jury after the verdict.

He [Mr Trump] took the stand, he abided by the rules of this corrupt system that Ive seen. We will immediately appeal, we will set aside that ridiculous jury and I just want to remind you all of one thing, I will continue to fight with president Trump for everybodys first amendment right to speak, everybodys right to be able to defend themselves when theyre wrongly accused and to be able to say that I didnt do it, she told the press gathered outside.

Donald Trump is pictured leaving a federal courthouse in Manhattan during a trial to determine damages owed to E Jean Carroll for his defamatary statements. (Reuters)

Earlier in the day, Mr Trump abruptly stormed out of the courtroom in the middle of Ms Kaplans closing arguments. She noted to jurors that the first verdict against the former president was not enough to stop him from repeating potentially defamatory statements.

No, not at all, she said. Not even for 24 hours.

Ms Kaplan reiterated statements that her team made during opening arguments. She asked the jury to consider not only the appropriate amount Mr Trump owes for his defamation, but also how much it would take to make him stop.

The frontrunner for the Republican nomination for president has continued to smear Ms Carroll as a liar and a whack job who fabricated her claims and insists that he has never even met her. Even as he was arriving at the courthouse last week for the defamation trial, he unleashed dozens of potentially defamatory statements against her on Truth Social.

Mr Trump, who uses his court appearances as a stage for his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination, has cast himself as the victim of a baseless conspiracy theory that the justice system is being weaponised against him.

I have no idea who she is, where shes come from, he said in a video to his Truth Social page on Thursday night, hours before he would be ordered to pay millions of dollars for similar statements against her.

This is another scam and a political witch hunt, and somehow were going to have to fight this stuff, he said. We cannot let our country go into this abyss. This is disgraceful.

During the two-week-long trial, Mr Trump and Ms Habba were repeatedly scolded by the judge for their attempts to speak out in court or improperly introduce evidence.

On Thursday, Mr Trump himself appeared on the witness stand for roughly three minutes. He said stood by statements in a previous deposition 100 per cent.

A courtroom sketch depicts Donald Trumps attorney Alina Habba delivering her closing arguments to the jury on 26 January in a defamation trial targeting the former president, left, for damages for his defamatory statements about E Jean Carroll. (AP)

Ms Habba was ultimately unsuccessful in her attempt to convince jurors that Ms Carroll had failed to show she is entitled to any damages at all because she actively sought the comments and the attention Mr Trump levelled against her.

Absolutely ridiculous! Mr Trump wrote on his Truth Social moments after Fridays verdict was announced.

They have taken away all First Amendment Rights. THIS IS NOT AMERICA!

Mr Trump is expected to appeal.

The verdict adds to Mr Trumps growing list of legal liabilities, including 91 criminal charges stemming from four separate federal and state-level charges and a potentially devastating lawsuit that could imperil his New York-based family business and his vast real estate empire.

Following 11 weeks of witness testimony in a civil trial against his Trump Organization, a New York judge is expected to deliver a judgment this month that could see $370m in fines against him, his adult sons and chief associates stemming from a blockbuster lawsuit alleging more than a decade of fraud.

Ariana Baio contributed reporting from the Daniel Patrick Moynihan federal courthouse
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

After the verdict was read in the defamation trial between writer E Jean Carroll and former president Donald Trump, the judge overseeing the trial suggested the jurors never reveal their identities.

At the end of the two-week trial, the jurors, who were purposefully made anonymous due to the high-profile nature of the case, are now free to identify themselves by name if they wish.

My advice to you is that you never disclose that you were on this jury, Judge Lewis Kaplan advised them in the courtroom.

Judge Kaplan did not explicitly explain why he was offering the advice, however, previous legal actions against the ex-president have led to threats of violence against both jurors and judges from Trump supporters.

The jury of nine spent the last two weeks hearing arguments in the second trial between Ms Carroll and Mr Trump. After approximately three hours of deliberations, the jury ordered Mr Trump to pay $83.3m in damages to Ms Carroll after he repeatedly rejected her claim that he sexually assaulted her in a department store dressing room in the mid-1990s.

The trial comes after a similar one last year where a jury found Mr Trump liable for sexually abusing Ms Carroll and defaming her. This trial was only to decide on the amount of damages Mr Trump owed Ms Carroll.

E Jean Carroll and her attorney Roberta Kaplan (Ariana Baio)

The jury was composed of two women and seven men, who reached a unanimous verdict on Friday afternoon, awarding Ms Carroll $18.3m in compensatory damages as well as $65m in punitive damages.

These damages are in addition to the previous jurys decision to award Ms Carroll $5m in compensatory and punitive damages.

Lashing out on Truth Social, Mr Trump said the proceedings were Absolutely ridiculous!

E Jean Carroll and her legal team leave court after a jury awarded her $83m in defamation damages in the case she brought against Donald Trump (Ariana Baio)

I fully disagree with both verdicts and will be appealing this whole Biden Directed Witch Hunt focused on me and the Republican Party. Our Legal System is out of control, and being used as a Political Weapon. They have taken away all First Amendment Rights. THIS IS NOT AMERICA! he claimed, despite there being no evidence that President Joe Biden has directed the Department of Justice to target Mr Trump.

The trial lasted two weeks in a Manhattan federal court, during which Mr Trumps attorneys aggressively litigated the case while the former president went after Ms Carroll during press conferences and on Truth Social, potentially defaming her further.

Attorneys for Ms Carroll asked the jury to award the former Elle writer an unusually high amount of damages when taking into consideration Mr Trumps intent in defaming Ms Carroll, his continuation in defaming her and his net worth.
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

A Missouri state senator proposed reinstating a practice used by Americas founding fathers to settle disputes as tensions flare in the statehouse: duels.

If a senators honor is impugned by another senator to the point that it is beyond repair and in order for the offended senator to gain satisfaction, such senator may rectify the perceived insult to the senators honor by challenging the offending senator to a duel, states the proposal which was written by state Sen Nick Schroer.

The trusted representative, known as the second, of the offended senator shall send a written challenge to the offending senator. The two senators shall agree to the terms of the duel, including choice of weapons, which shall be witnessed and enforced by their respective seconds, it continues.

The duel shall take place in the well of the senate at the hour of high noon on the date agreed to by the parties to the duel.

Missouri Senate Democrats underscored the ongoing bitterness on the other side of the aisle, posting the proposal on X with the caption: The Missouri Republican Civil War continues to escalate as a member of the Freedom Caucus faction has filed a proposed rule change to allow Senators to challenge an offending senator to a duel.

Mr Schroers chief of staff, Jamey Murphy, told Newsweek that the state senator is deeply committed to restoring a sense of honor in the Missouri Senate.

He emphasised, While the idea of a duel may have been suggested in a metaphorical sense, the core message is about fostering respect and reminding members that the words used in a debate may have real consequences.

Missouri state Senate Leader Caleb Rowden removed several members of the Missouri Freedom Caucus from their committee chairs this week after excessive party infighting.

Mr Rowden explained his decision on X: A chamber designed to be occupied with civil, principled statesmen and women has been overtaken by a small group of swamp creatures who, all too often, remind me more of my children than my colleagues.
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

New York City council member Yusef Salaam, a member of the exonerated Central Park Five, says he was unjustly pulled over by police while driving with his family in Harlem on Friday night.

Mr Salaam said in a statement that the NYPD officer refused to explain why he had been pulled over, and that he was backing out of a planned ride along with police and Mayor Eric Adams on Saturday night in protest.

Last night, while driving with my wife and children and listening in to a call with my Council colleagues on speakerphone, I was pulled over by an NYPD officer in my beloved Village of Harlem within the 28th Precinct, Mr Salaam said in a statement on Saturday 27 January.

I introduced myself as Councilman Yusef Salaam, and subsequently asked the officer why I was pulled over. Instead of answering my question, the officer stated, Were done here, and proceeded to walk away.

The NYPD released a statement saying the officer had pulled over Mr Salaams blue sedan at about 6.20pm for driving with dark tint beyond legal limits, which is a violation of New York state law.

The officer said he was informed that Mr Salaam was on official council business, and used his discretion to let the lawmaker off, the statement said.

New York City Council candidate Yusef Salaam said an NYPD officer refused to explain why he was pulled over (Associated Press)

The officer was polite, professional and respectful throughout the encounter, the NYPD said.

It released body-worn footage of the encounter, which it said supported the officers account.

Mr Salaam spent nearly seven years in prison after being falsely convicted along with four other teenagers of the 1989 rape of a female jogger in Central Park, in a notorious miscarriage of justice depicted in the 2019 Netflix drama When They See Us.

He was elected to the city council in November and appointed chair of the Committee on Public Safety which oversees the NYPD earlier this month.

Mr Salaam has been outspoken in his criticism of Mr Adams for vetoing the How Many Stops Act, which would require NYPD officers to publicly report on all investigative stops, including low-level encounters with civilians.

He said his encounter with police illustrated why greater transparency around how the NYPD conducts police stops was needed.

The fact that the officer did not provide a rationale for the stop calls into question how the NYPD justifies its stops of New Yorkers and highlights the need for greater transparency to ensure they are constitutional, Mr Salaam said.

This experience only amplified the importance of transparency for all police investigative stops, because the lack of transparency allows racial profiling and unconstitutional stops of all types to occur and often go unreported.

Mr Salaam was one of several council members who had agreed to to attend a ride along with NYPD officers in Harlem on Saturday night to see how officers interacted with the public.

He said the police encounter, coupled with the lack of logistical details provided by Mr Adams office about the ride along caused him to back out.

Salaam at his swearing in ceremony in December (John McCarten/NYC Council Media Unit)

He said he planned to organically develop constructive relationships with the police precincts in his Harlem district.

Many of us in the Council know what its like to feel vulnerable and powerless when stopped by an officer, because we have personally experienced triggering interactions like I had last night, the lawmaker added.

It is our duty as public servants to collect the data necessary to determine the pervasiveness of these stops, and solutions to build the trust necessary to make our neighborhoods safer.

In a statement, Mr Adams said: We appreciate Councilmember Salaam, the new Public Safety chair of the City Council, for bringing this stop to our attention.

We also appreciate and commend the NYPD for following all proper police procedures and being respectful during last nights interaction, as the video and vehicle stop report show. The village of Harlem deserves nothing less, and we are remain excited to work with Councilmember Salaam.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Australian news broadcaster ABC fired a journalist allegedly for sharing a social media post on Israels war against Hamas in Gaza on her personal Instagram account.

Antoinette Lattouf, 40, who worked as a short-term host of the Sydney radio show, said she will fight her unlawful termination for as long as it takes.

Lattouf shared a video on Instagram by the Human Rights Watch non-profit, accusing the Israeli government of using starvation of civilians as a weapon of war in Gaza.

The journalist reposted the video and commented: HRW reporting starvation as a tool of war.

ABC said Lattoufs case was fundamentally and entirely misconceived. In a news report on its website that detailed the broadcasters response, ABC said Lattoufs casual employment was terminated because she failed or refused to comply with directions that she not post on social media about matters of controversy.

ABC said Lattouf was warned by her manager on a phone call about certain complaints from the public, about a perception the applicant was biased in relation to the current conflict in Gaza.

The manager asked Lattouf to not post anything on social media about matters of controversy during her tenure with the public broadcaster.

She has now filed a claim for unlawful dismissal against the ABC for terminating her five-day assignment two days early last month.

In her Fair Work Commission submission claims, Lattouf said that ABC told her she breached the organisations social media policy for posting content from Human Rights Watch about the war in Gaza on her personal Instagram account.

She has also accused the company of discrimination based on race. Lattouf is of Lebanese heritage.

"She was sacked for expressing a political opinion and because of her race. Since 7 October and the ensuing conflict in the middle east, it has become notorious in the media industry that Arab and Muslim journalists are being intimidated, censored and sacked, said Josh Bornstein, workplace employment lawyer representing Lattouf, shortly after she was terminated from her role.

The Applicants race and national extraction/social origin were entirely irrelevant to (and played no part in) the decision not to continue her casual engagement, the broadcaster said.

In December, Lattouf had confirmed her dismissal from the radio role, and said: I am very disappointed by the ABCs decision today. I believe I was terminated unlawfully. This is not a win for journalism or critical, fair thinking.
 Close Moment Russian plane carrying Ukrainian prisoners of war appears to crash

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

At least seven people, including three children, have been killed overnight after a Russian drone hit a petrol station in the north-eastern city of Kharkiv.

The strike caused a massive fire that burned down 15 private houses, while 50 people were evacuated as emergency workers tackled the blaze.

It comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sacked army chief Valeriy Zaluzhny and replaced him with Oleksandr Syrsky.

It follows days of speculation that Zelensky was considering dismissing Zaluzhny, who is seen by many Ukrainians as a national hero for overseeing the war effort since February 2022.

We discussed what renewal the Armed Forces of Ukraine need. We also discussed who could be in the renewed leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The time for this renewal is now, Zelenskys statement said on Telegram.

In other developments, Ukrainian troops have shot down a Russian attack helicopter in eastern Ukraine near the city of Avdiivka as soldiers step up street fighting, Kyiv claimed.

Meanwhile, Russian forces launched the second largest combined drone and missile strike on Ukraine this year with around 64 munitions hitting the country, according to a US think tank.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Tensions in the Middle East have risen after Iranian-backed Houthi rebels began striking at ships passing through the Red Sea in November.

Crews extinguished a fire on board a Marshall Islands-flagged vessel on Saturday after it was struck by a Houthi anti-ship missile in the Gulf of Aden, according to commodities trader Trafigura. It is the latest of more than 30 Houthi attacks in the past three months.

The Islamist group claims it is striking the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which is a narrow strip of sea between Yemen and east Africa that is a key international trade route, in a bid to end Israels air and ground offensive against Hamas.

In retaliation, Britain and the US have launched air strikes across Yemen against Houthi forces.

President Joe Biden, speaking after the first round of strikes, said they were a direct response to an onslaught of attacks on Red Sea ships which jeopardised trade, and threatened freedom of navigation.

Mr Sunak said the action was necessary and proportionate.

About eight hours after the incident involving the Marlin Luanda, the US military destroyed a Houthi anti-ship missile that was aimed into the Red Sea and ready to launch, according to US Central Command.

The missile presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and the US Navy ships in the region, it said.

The Houthis' Al-Masira television also said on Saturday that the United States and Britain launched two airstrikes that targeted the port of Ras Issa, Yemen's main oil export terminal.

But who are Yemens Houthi rebels? How are they linked to the conflict between Israel and Palestine, and why are they attacking western ships now?

Click here for live updates from the latest on the conflict.

The guided-missile destroyer USS Carney intervened to protect commercial ships under attack by Houthi drones (AP)

Its clearly linked to a broader strategy of Iran, which is the main backer of the Houthis, militant jihadist expert Dr Elisabeth Kendall told The Independent.

It is designed to ramp up pressure on Israel, America and other allies to stop the war in Gaza. The Houthis are armed, sponsored and trained by Iran as part of the so-called axis of resistance, Dr Kendall said.

The Houthis, formed in the late 1990s, developed as political-religious Shia movement and launched a series of guerrilla wars against Yemens national army.

The group seized the countrys capital of Sanaa when the Yemen civil war started in 2014, which caused neighbouring Sunni Islam Saudi Arabia to intervene at the head of a western-backed coalition over fears of growing Shia influence on its border. Since then, the civil war is estimated to have killed almost 400,000 people.

The takeover of the capital prompted Saudi Arabia to intervene in a bid to restore the internationally recognised government, which has a Sunni majority. A Saudi and UAE bombing campaign against Houthi targets was launched in 2015 and drew criticism over civilian deaths, leading to calls for the UK to cease arms exports to Saudi Arabia.

The Houthis have developed an arsenal including ballistic missiles and armed drones capable of hitting Israel more than 1,000 miles from Sanaa. The rebels have fired these missiles at Saudi Arabia dozens of times during the Yemen war. In September, the Houthis displayed anti-aircraft Barq-2 missiles, naval missiles, a Mig-29 fighter jet and helicopters for the first time.

Houthi supporters rally to show support for Palestine in Sanaa, Yemen, on 7 October (REUTERS)

Saudi Arabia and the US have accused Iran of fully enabling the rebel group to attack Israel and Western ships in the Red Sea. Iran denies the allegations, and says the Houthis are autonomous.

But experts say the Houthis, along with Gazas Hamas and Lebanons Hezbollah, form part of Irans axis of resistance - a military alliance built over four decades to oppose Israeli and American power in the Middle East.

Baraa Shiban, a Yemeni human rights activist who previously negotaited with the Houthis during failed peace talks in 2014, said it was clear in the decade since those talks that Iran has been supplying the militants with weapons.

You have a situation where the Houthis have had a constant flow of weapons over the course of 10 years, he told The Independent.

Citing a Houthi military parade last September as evidence of this, he said they showcased a wide range of military capabilities.

If you know anything about how the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) operates, he added, referring to the Iranian military, you can see that those missiles and drones are basically mimics of Iranian weapons.

The axis of resistance comprises a group of violent proxies across Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon and Palestine, coordinated by Irans Quds Force, the foreign arm of the IRGC.

The Quds Forces aim is to export Irans 1979 Islamic revolution abroad. The US assassinated the former head of the Quds Force, Qassem Solemaini, in January 2020.

Lebanons Hezbollah, the most powerful group in the axis, boasts 100,000 fighters, has exchanged fire with Israeli forces since Hamas went to war with Israel and more than 70 of its fighters have been killed.

The US also says its troops in Syria and Iraq have been attacked at least 55 times by Iran-backed proxies since Hamass assault on Israel on 7 October.

The war has been viewed as a proxy in a wider conflict between Iran and Saudi Arabia as they both seek greater influence across the Middle East.
Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

IndyTech email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Apple will make some of the most fundamental changes to the way the iPhone and its apps work since it was launched, it has announced.

The company will allow users to download apps from other sources for the first time, it said, as well as letting developers offer new ways to pay for goods inside those apps. It represents a profound change in the control that Apple exerts over iOS, the operating system that powers the iPhone.

The new changes mean, for example, that another company can offer their own rival market for apps. Those apps might include content that Apple would otherwise ban, such as pornography.

In effect, the changes mean that iPhone users can download a rival app marketplace that gives them access to otherwise unavailable apps, and pay for services inside them using payment systems not controlled by Apple, for the first ever time.

iPhone users will also be able to download game streaming services such as Xbox Cloud Gaming, which were previously banned. While most of the new rules apply only to those in the European Union, the changes to games will take effect everywhere.

Apple has been forced to make the changes in response to the EUs Digital Markets Act. It has long lobbied against those new rules, and as it announced the changes said that they subjected people in the EU to many risks.

The company has always said that only allowing apps from the App Store keeps iPhones safe, since it means that malware and other threats cannot install themselves on users phones. It has made much the same argument about its payment offerings: at the moment, apps can only use Apples platform, which it says ensures users stay safe from fraud.

Forcing Apple to add new options for payments and downloading apps open new avenues for malware, fraud and scams, illicit and harmful content, and other privacy and security threats, it said in its announcement. It said that it had taken measures to act against those threats, but that even with them in place, many risks remain.

Supporters of the new legislation have argued that the rules only give them more choice  and that customers can stay with the existing App Store and other technologies if they are convinced by Apples arguments about security. But Apple has said that customers could be forced to use other marketplaces to get to apps they need.

In that case, those users dont have a choice to get that software from a distribution mechanism that they trust, Ivan Krstic, Apples head of security engineering and architecture, told The Independent late last year. And so, in fact, it is simply not the case that users will retain the choice they have today to get all of their software from the App Store.

Developers can start using the new tools now, with the release of the iOS 17.4 beta and supporting software and documents. The changes will come to users in the 27 EU countries  but not the UK  when iOS 17.4 is released fully in March.

The EUs Digital Markets Act went into force last year, though companies have until 6 March to comply. It is intended as a way of limiting the power of large technology companies, with politicians arguing it will help promote competition on the continent.

It focuses on the largest companies  Alphabet, Amazon, ByteDance, Meta and Microsoft as well as Apple  and 22 of their products that are defined as core platform services. That includes iOS, the Safari browser and the App Store.

For Apple, the designation requires it not to prefer its own services and to highlight those of others. It must therefore allow customers to download apps outside of its own App Store, give them an offer to use other browsers, and offer alternative payment plans, for instance.

For developers, the changes also come with a host of new business terms, which change the commission that Apple takes from the sale of apps. It said that more than 99 per cent of developers would pay the same fees or less under the new plan.

While most of the new changes are limited to the European Union, Apple also announced some global changes to the way that games can be distributed. Apple will now allow streaming games  so that developers can offer one app that allows players to stream all games in their catalogue.

Apple had previously banned services such as Microsofts Xbox Cloud Gaming app, which lets gamers play titles streamed over the internet, arguing that it was unsafe because it could not check every game that was available through it. The changes have been made to reflect feedback from Apples developer community, Apple said.
Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Post-Brexit rules mean Britons travelling to Europe could face waits of 14 hours or more at border control, MPs have heard.

Parliaments European Scrutiny Committee heard that the Port of Dover and the surrounding area could be hit by major disruption when the EU Entry-Exit System launches unless measures are introduced to prevent delays.

The committee was told by Ashford Borough Council that 14-hour queues were a reasonable worst case scenario if the scheme were to be implemented as planned in October

The new controls will mean people entering the EU will have to register their fingerprints and a photograph alongside their passport.

The Port of Dover and surrounding roads have seen multiple episodes of gridlocked traffic over the past few years, with post-Brexit checks adding to waiting times.

Tourist organisation Visit Kent voiced concerns that delays caused by the new system could have a knock-on effect on local businesses, which has been the case during previous periods of disruption.

Ashford Council warned that 14-hour delays at the port will likely see queues along the A20 and M20, which could block access to staff and tourist traffic at Eurotunnel in Folkestone.

Eurostar said that without upgrades, terminals could see queues of more than an hour at peak times.

High Speed 1, which runs UK high-speed rail services, said that the decision not to enable online pre-registration would put enormous pressure on infrastructure at St Pancras International.

Downing Street downplayed the likelihood of such lengthy delays.

Im not aware of that being something that will happen, the Prime Ministers official spokesman said.

Chairman of the European Scrutiny Committee, Sir Bill Cash, said: Queues of more than 14 hours, vehicles backed up along major roads, businesses starved of footfall: this evidence paints an alarming picture of the possible risks surrounding the Entry-Exit Systems implementation.

Clearly, this policy could have a very serious impact, not only for tourists and travel operators but also for local businesses. I implore decision makers on both sides of the Channel to take note of this evidence.

The scheme is due to be implemented in October this year; the clock is ticking, and these issues must be urgently addressed.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, January 28. President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov instructed to expand the production of competitive import-substituting products in the country, Trend reports.

According to an official source, he gave this instruction to Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Nurmuhammed Amannepesov during a government meeting.

During the meeting, the Deputy Chairman presented a report on the proposals of the intersectoral commission on ensuring the effectiveness of scientific research.

In particular, they discussed the development of technologies to expand the production of import-substituting products and the development of national industry.

After hearing the report, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov stressed the importance of widespread introduction of modern technologies, in particular, the digital system in the main sectors of the national economy and conducting relevant research in this direction.

Stay up to date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
A man has been arrested after stealing a pickup truck and nearly causing several crashings while driving up to 100mph in Volusia County, Florida, on 25 January.

Body camera video released by the Volusia County Sheriffs Office shows the moments deputies attempt to stop Eblair Sylvain, 18, with stop sticks, which are tyre deflation devices.

Footage shows an officer throwing the stop sticks towards a speeding Sylvain, which hit the truck

Sylvain was taken into custody after bailing from the truck and running into some woods, where he was chased and arrested.
The Indian navy helped to extinguish a fire on an oil tanker after a missile attack by Houthi fighters.

The ship's owner, Trafigura, said the Marlin Luanda "was struck by a missile as it transited the Red Sea" on Friday, 26 January.

India's navy deployed a guided missile destroyer after receiving a distress call from the ship, which had 22 Indian and one Bangladeshi crew on board.

The incident happened 60 nautical miles southeast of Aden in Yemen, according to UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

A US and UK coalition have responded to the attacks by Houthi rebels on shipping routes with dozens of retaliatory strikes across Yemen in recent weeks.
A military plane flew just above traffic on a busy motorway in the province of Kayseri, Turkey as it made an emergency landing during a training exercise on 25 January.

The plane was forced into an emergency descent after it suffered a technical error, and was slightly damaged as a result.

Footage shows the plane skimming over the motorway, where the left-side propeller begins to fail and slow down.

While the plane suffered minor damage, the crew and pilots were not injured in the incident, Turkeys defence ministry said.

It comes a few days after footage of a Russian military plane that was originally believed to be carrying Ukrainian prisoners of war crashed near Belgorod, Russia.
Crowds protesting Londons ultra-low emissions zone (Ulez) gathered in Trafalgar Square on Saturday, 27 January, to protest the plan.

Demonstrators wearing yellow high-vis jackets gathered along the road near Nelsons Column in central London and urged passing motorists to honk if you hate Ulez.

Passing drivers obliged by beeping their horns to the demonstrators.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan extended the zone from within the North and South Circular roads to cover all London boroughs from 29 August 2023.

Vehicles in Ulez that do not meet the emissions standards are liable to pay a 12.50 daily fee, and recent figures showed around 60,000 vehicle owners were paying the daily charge.
Unsecured creditors will take a hit of 90pc  but the company which has 35 employees will survive

Scrumdiddlys opened its first shop in 2011 in Donabate

Ice-cream chain Scrumdiddlys has emerged from the Small Company Administrative Rescue Process (Scarp), after two investors put in 250,000 to help clear its debts.

A creditors meeting was held on Wednesday, and a rescue plan drawn up by David OConnor, a partner in BDOs corporate recovery department, was unanimously approved.

There is now a three-week cooling off period in which creditors have an opportunity to object.

The investment in Scrumdiddlys has been jointly made by Colin Dunne, a director of IWT, a transport and logistics company, and Eamon Keller, a director of several IT solutions firms.

The main debt was to Revenue, as the ice-cream chain had used the tax warehousing facility

They will take a 76pc stake in the ice-cream maker, reducing the original owners to a 24pc holding.

Scrumdiddlys has five outlets, one in Kilkenny and the rest in Dublin, including the first shop it opened in Donabate in 2011 and its best-known store in Dun Laoghaire.

The company, whose directors are Jennifer Kane and Darren McCormack, has 35 employees.

According to its most recent accounts, for the financial year ending August 2022, Scrumdiddly Ice Cream Ltd had 597,230 debts falling due within one year and net liabilities of 220,375. A bank loan of 139,616 was outstanding.

Mr OConnor was appointed as process adviser on December 6, and had 49 days to work out a rescue plan, which involved a write-down of debts owed to Scrumdiddlys creditors, who got a vote on the draft agreement.

The main debt was with Revenue, after the ice-cream chain used the tax warehousing facility during the Covid lockdowns.

Scrumdiddlys opened its first shop in 2011 in Donabate

Revenue opted into the Scarp rescue process and voted in favour of the rescue plan.

The dividend being proposed for unsecured creditors is 10pc, which means they will take a hit of 90pc on what they are owed.

An AIB bank debt was a government-sponsored Covid loan, which means it was among the unsecured creditors.

It is expected that the new investors will strengthen the firms management team, provide working capital for the months ahead, and fund its future growth.

The original directors of Scrumdiddlys, who live in north Dublin, have said they launched the business to give Ms Kane a new focus as she recovered from breast cancer.

She had been diagnosed at the age of 31, at a time when she and Mr McCormack had three children under the age of six.

Ms Kane had been a personal assistant to a surgeon in Beaumont Hospital, while her husband had run a kitchen-making business.

The dividend for unsecured creditors is 10pc, which means they will take a hit of 90pc

Scarp was introduced three years ago by the Department of Enterprise in order to help small firms struggling after the lockdowns. It is a cheaper and quicker version of examinership, with little involvement by the courts.

The scheme is open to firms with no more than 50 employees, with a turnover not exceeding 12m, and a balance sheet not exceeding 6m.

About 50 Scarps have been completed so far, saving an estimated 560 jobs.

The process is still somewhat flawed but it has definitely saved this business, Mr OConnor told the Irish Independent.

It can be cumbersome, and a number of insolvency practitioners would feel there needs to be a bit more done to streamline the process.

Scarp does work for companies that were impacted by Covid. Those that had a good business beforehand and were just affected by Covid are able easily to come out of it.

Mr OConnor pointed out that Scarp rescues are becoming more sophisticated, as they tend to involve somewhat larger companies.

The first few didnt need external investment. Now the debt levels are bigger, larger companies are going into it  and you do need external funding.

In the first few, people were able to use their own resources and able to keep control of the business.
The miracles of St Brigid, from turning bathwater into beer to an extra day off

Two 7th century accounts of the mysterious saint tell how she was nothing if not practical, helping with road schemes, solving paternity cases and dealing with a crisis pregnancy

Legendary material: St Brigids Well in Co Clare. Unlike St Patrick, Brigid was born in Ireland. Photo: John Greim

Salvador Ryan Sat 27 Jan 2024 at 03:30







Brigid of Kildare was in the news a lot last year as 2023 marked the inaugural public holiday in her honour. One of Irelands three national saints, Brigid differs from the more renowned St Patrick in having actually been born in the country. More crucially, she also differs from Patrick in having left us no writings that might tell us about her background and mission. As a result, we know almost nothing about the historical figure herself.
TD Denis Naughten says the matter should be subject of an external inquiry

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said University Hospital Galway had no plans to publish the review

A report which described as minor the severity of head injuries suffered by newborn babies during their delivery at a hospital will not be published, the Health Minister has said.

Stephen Donnelly said University Hospital Galway (UHG) had no plans to publish the review, despite concerns being expressed in the Dail about the finding.

The review report, seen by the Irish Independent, examined nine cases where an injury known as subgaleal haemorrhage was suffered by newborns while being delivered at the hospital in 2022. In two cases, the babies suffered fractures.

The report concluded that each of the nine cases was mild or minor and that none of the children developed jaundice requiring phototherapy as a result of the injury.

But the finding was contradicted in at least one instance by an internal hospital report, which found a baby did, in fact, require phototherapy for jaundice.

The inconsistency is significant as jaundice is common in moderate or severe cases, suggesting the review was incorrect in its classification of all nine cases as mild or minor.

The contradiction has prompted former cabinet minister Denis Naughten to press for the publication of the review and an inquiry by someone external to the HSE.

He told the Dail last week: This situation shows our health service isnt being open and honest as it should be, especially after the passage last year of the law on open disclosure mandating such transparency.

However, in response to parliamentary questions from the Independent TD, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said: At present, UHG and the Saolta hospital group have no plans to publish the review because it has been shared with all the relevant families.

The minister did not answer a question as to whether his attention had been drawn to the contradiction.

Mr Naughten said he was awaiting a further response from the minister.

Subgaleal haemorrhage, an accumulation of blood between a babys skull and the skin on their scalp, is an injury usually associated with difficult deliveries involving a vacuum cup, known as a ventouse. The injury has been linked with seizures, brain damage, cerebral palsy and developmental disabilities when not recognised or treated properly.

Saolta commissioned a review, which was conducted by a team from the HSEs National Women and Infants Health Programme. It was commissioned after a larger-than-normal number of cases of the injury had been seen in 2022.

When the contradiction was raised with the hospital group, it said it interpreted the review finding that no infant developed jaundice requiring phototherapy as referring to severe neonatal jaundice.

A small number of newborns developed a degree of neonatal jaundice as is common in newborns. In these cases, the neonatal jaundice was not severe and resolved with a short period of phototherapy, it said.

The explanation has not been accepted by Mr Naughten, who said the hospitals decision not to publish the review was disappointing.

There is one very blatant discrepancy between the internal and external report which has not been adequately explained by the hospital, he said.

I believe the review report needs to be published plus, insofar as is possible, a synopsis of the internal report, which is contradicting in at least one point the external report.
I was one of the lucky ones: TD reveals shock diagnosis with skin cancer during pandemic

If you see any change on your skin, have it checked out immediately

Aontu TD Peadar Toibin had to get patches of skin removed from his head during skin cancer treatment. Photo: Seamus Farrelly

Eilish O'Regan Sat 27 Jan 2024 at 03:30

Skin cancer is the most common form of the disease diagnosed in Ireland  and this week, Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson drew a global spotlight on the risks of sun exposure when she revealed she was treated for malignant melanoma.
Ireland has no plans to suspend funding for the UNs relief agency in Gaza amid Israeli claims that some employees participated in the Hamas attacks of October 7, Tanaiste Micheal Martin has said.

Mr Martin said he backed the decision by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to take action against those staff suspected of involvement in what he described as the heinous attacks by Hamas.

However, he made clear Ireland did not intend to follow the likes of the US and UK in suspending funding to the agency.

UNRWA is playing a central role in providing aid for Gazans amid the ongoing Israeli offensive in the enclave.

People marched in Dublin city centre during a pro-Palestinian march to the Oireachtas parliament (Brian Lawless/PA).

The agencys chief Philippe Lazzarini said it had terminated contracts with several employees and ordered an investigation after Israel provided information alleging they played a role in the Hamas assault.

The US state department has said the allegations relate to 12 employees.

As well as the UK and US, Australia, Italy and Canada have also temporarily paused funding for UNRWA.

Mr Martin expressed support for the agencys response to the allegations, saying it had shown zero tolerance on terror.

In a post on X, the Tanaiste said Ireland had no plans to suspend funding for UNRWAs vital Gaza work.

He highlighted that Ireland had provided 18 million euros (15 million) to the agency last year as he stressed that support would continue in 2024.

We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content

UNRWAs 13,000 employees provide life saving assistance to 2.3 million people and at incredible personal cost  with over 100 staff killed in last 4 months, he posted.

His statement came as another major pro-Palestinian march and protest took place in Dublin on Saturday.

Thousands of demonstrators walked from Parnell Square in the north inner city to the gates of the Oireachtas.

The rally heard calls for the Government to impose sanctions on Israel and also to join South Africas case against the Israeli state in the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

On Friday, Mr Martin said the Government would strongly consider an intervention in South Africas genocide case in the UNs top court.

The protest in Dublin heard calls for Ireland to join South Africas genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (Brian Lawless/PA)

He said it will carry out a detailed analysis of Fridays ruling by the ICJ, which ordered Israel to prevent genocidal acts in Gaza but stopped short of ordering a ceasefire.

Saturdays protest in Dublin was organised by the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign.

IPSC chairperson Zoe Lawlor said the ICJ ruling was a historic defeat for Israel and its backers.

Israel must now be forced by the international community into ending its genocidal war on the Palestinian people of Gaza  and all states and private entities rendering aid, granting political cover to, or otherwise enabling, this assault must cease such support immediately, she said.

In particular, the Irish government must now act to meet its obligations to prevent genocide under the Genocide Convention by imposing lawful sanctions on Israel and complicit corporate entities, including ending the bilateral arms trade and implementing the Occupied Territories Bill and Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill (Bills proposed by opposition politicians in the Oireachtas that would legislate for sanctions on Israel).

Furthermore, Ireland must now intervene at the ICJ on the side of South Africa, of Palestine, and of justice.
Tributes have been paid to a former TD who died in a car crash in Co Roscommon on Saturday afternoon.

John Connor (79) died in a single-vehicle crash near Frenchpark on Saturday afternoon.

The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon in the Frenchpark area of Co Roscommon shortly before 2pm on Saturday, with emergency services rushing to the scene.

Mr Connor was taken to University Hospital Sligo, where he was later pronounced dead. Mr Connor is understood to have been the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle when the single-vehicle collision occurred on a local road.

Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar paid tribute to the former TD.

"I am deeply shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of former Fine Gael TD and Senator John Connor, Mr Varadkar said.

He added: John had an unwavering commitment to the people of his area and brought a considerable expertise to politics at local and national level. He had a keen intellect and was well versed in international affairs, but always had his finger on the pulse of local matters. He was very popular among his colleagues in Fine Gael and I know provided good counsel to a number of younger public representatives, who were grateful for his advice and time.

I extend my deepest sympathies to Johns family, as well as the many friends he made throughout his life.

Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis.

In a post on social media, local Fine Gael TD Frank Feighan said he was sad to hear of the passing of his party colleague, who was a native of Frenchpark.

John was a man of huge integrity, a great orator, political wisdom, good company and a great friend, said Mr Feighan.

Independent TD Denis Naughten said he was very saddened to hear of Mr Connors passing and described him as a font of knowledge.

Mr Connor was first elected as a Fine Gael TD to Dail Eireann in the 1981 General Election for the Roscommon East Galway constituency. He lost his seat a year later, but went on to become a long serving senator. In the 1989 General Election he won back his seat and topping the poll in Roscommon/East Galway.

He retained his Dail seat in 1992 in the newly created Longford-Roscommon constituency. He served until 1997 when he was unsuccessful in that years election, but was again elected to the Seanad.

Mr Connor also served as a county councillor. In 1999 he was elected to Roscommon County Council, retaining his council seat at the 2004 Local Elections.

Paying tribute, one local resident wrote online: So sorry to hear that news. John was a lovely gentleman. Such a pleasure to have known him and listened to him talking about his life and travels.

Another wrote: Rest in peace, John. We had many a chat on that Cloonshanville Road  the last one was last week. A true gentleman, one of the best. My thoughts and prayers for you and your family.

In a statement, gardai said: Gardai in Roscommon are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the collision to come forward. Additionally, road users who were travelling on this road at the time and have camera footage, including dash-cam footage, are requested to make it available to investigators."
The TV Licence fee evasion rate is likely to be 19pc for 2023, according to Media Minister Catherine Martin.

Ms Martin said it looks as if one in five householders are refusing to pay it after the recent spate of RTE financial scandals.

She said: The total number of licence fees issued in 2023 amounted to 1,346,068, comprising 824,278 from direct sales from An Post and 521,790 free licences provided under the Household Benefits Package.

As the final licensable dwellings figure for 2023 is not yet available, it is not possible to confirm the overall evasion rate.

However it is likely to be 19pc. At this time I am unable to provide an estimate as to when the final CSO figure for dwellings will be available.

The number of dwellings required to have a TV licence is based on regular Central Statistics Office data which is modified to take account of homes which are believed to be without a liable device using data from TAM Nielsen regarding household TV penetration.

The Minister was responding to a parliamentary question from the Louth Sinn Fein TD Imelda Munster who is a member of both the Oireachtas Media and Public Accounts Committee.

Deputy Munster said people were voting with their feet by not paying the licence and trust with RTE had been broken.

She fears things will get worse before they get better and warned: The forthcoming report into payoffs and voluntary redundancies at RTE will be severely damaging.

The report is due within the next few weeks. A lot of stuff about Toy Show the Musical we already knew.

But I expect the details about the pay offs and the voluntary redundancies to be much worse.
Scheme is repeatedly referenced on RTEs Room To Improve, but figures vary nationwide

Revealed: The counties which have the highest and lowest levels of vacant home grant drawdowns

Just 127 vacant property refurbishment grants have been drawn down by homeowners since the scheme came into effect, new figures from local authorities show.

Thats about one in 50 of the 6,300 applications that have been made so far, with just over half (3,274) actually approved since the scheme was launched in July 2022.

Five local authorities have yet to pay out any grants, while others have only released a handful of payments. Just over 6.2m has been paid to applicants so far.

But there has been an increase in the number of drawdowns in the last few months. By last November, only 21 grants had been paid countrywide.

Despite receiving 546 applications and approving 348, Cork County Council has only paid one grant so far. A spokesperson said 34 drawdown requests have been received to date and a further six payments are expected to be released in the coming weeks.

The Cabinet is doubling the number of homes theyre targeting for assistance by the scheme

The vacant property grant has been in the spotlight in recent weeks after the Sunday Independent revealed how celebrity architect Dermot Bannon received a private briefing from Housing Minister Darragh OBrien about the scheme.

The grant has been repeatedly referenced on some episodes of RTEs Room to Improve.

Mr OBrien and the Department of Housing used their social media pages to highlight how the grant was used by homeowners on the show to revamp a 200-year-old family farmhouse in Co Kilkenny.

Applicants have 13 months to carry out the refurbishment works after grant approval is received, which has been a contributing factor in the low number of drawdowns, according to local authorities.

Homeowners previously had 18 months to finish the works, but this changed to 13 months in May 2023.

Celebrity architect Dermot Bannon. Photo: Mark Condren

When the vacant homes refurbishment scheme first launched in July 2022, it was to help turn vacant and derelict properties in towns and villages into a permanent home. This was later expanded to include eligible properties in cities and rural parts of the country.

Data provided by councils shows there is somewhat of an urban-rural divide when it comes to applications for the grant.

For example, in Co Meath, 83 applications were for rural properties, while 36 were for urban houses. Of the 119 applications, 51 have been approved so far. There have been two drawdowns.

In Kerry, the split is 68pc (258) rural and 31pc (121) urban.

Longford County Council said all 106 applications made to it were for rural parts of the county.

In Co Kilkenny, just 11 of the 121 applications were for properties in the city. The rest were for rural areas in the county. To date there have been 58 approvals. However, just three grants have been paid out.

The scheme allows access to up to 50,000 to renovate a vacant property, and up to 70,000 to restore a derelict house. However, the work must first be completed before the grant can be received.

Kildare County Council has processed the most grant payments out of any local authority. It has received 150 applications, approved 115 and paid out 25 grants.

The council is currently processing a further 16 grants for payment, a spokesperson said.

The total value of the 25 approved grants paid to date is 1.35m. Limerick City and County Council has paid out 14 grants. It received 281 applications and approved 172. There have been 73 approvals in urban areas and 99 grants approved in rural districts.

In Dublin, the four local authorities have received hundreds of applications, but the number of drawdowns has been mixed.

Dublin City Council has received 307 applications, of which 140 have been approved so far. A spokesperson said it is due to make grant payments to eight applicants in the coming days.

Fingal County Council has received 86 applications, approved 51 and paid out three grants. South Dublin County Council has approved 36 of 60 applications. However, there have been no drawdowns made to date.

Of the 119 applications made to Dun Laoghaire Rathdown, just five were for vacant buildings in rural areas. The council said 91 have been approved in principle, 16 have been fully approved and nine grants have been paid.

The Department of Housing says refurbishment works are being completed within 12 months on average

In some counties, there has been a similar number of applications made for both rural and urban areas.

In Clare, 57pc of the 284 applications were for rural parts while the rest were for properties in towns and villages. There have been 136 approvals and three grants paid out.

Wexford County Council has approved 100 of 240 applications, paying out 15 grants. The applications were 50/50 for urban and rural houses, a spokesperson said.

In Sligo, 232 applications have been received to date, 136 were approved and one grant was drawn down. Ninety-five of the applications were for urban areas, 60 were for rural properties and the rest were within the borough of Sligo.

Galway County Council has paid out one grant, while Galway City Council has paid out none.

Cork City Council has received 181 applications, approving 112. No drawdowns have yet been made.

Eight applicants have reverted to advice they have fully completed approved works or requested second inspections, the last step ahead of drawdown, a spokesperson said.

The grant process involves the local authority receiving, reviewing and validating applications before arranging for a qualified person to visit the property to check that it is possible to do the work and to assess the proposed cost.

Following confirmation of a successful application and the works being completed, the local authority will conduct a final property visit to review that the work has been completed in-line with grant application. Once the local authority is satisfied, it will then pay the grant.

The Department of Housing says refurbishment works are being completed within 12 months on average, based on current data.

In keeping with the 12-month timeframe, grants are now starting to be paid out by local authorities, a spokesperson said.

Due to the success of the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant to date, and the number of applications received, the Cabinet agreed to double the number of homes assisted under the scheme  raising the target to 4,000 homes to be delivered by 2025.
10 of the best solo-parent family hotel breaks in Ireland

It can be challenging to organise a short break as a solo parent, not to mind track down the best value. But it can be done. A mum of twins shares her tips...

Yvonne Reddin and her twins

Yvonne Reddin Sat 27 Jan 2024 at 03:30

Solo travel is accepted now as something of a social media trend, particularly after the pandemic; we learned to like our own company again. But what about travelling as a solo parent with your children?
Celebrating St Brigid  From a Make Your Own Vulva workshop to a parade through the capital

A wealth of events have been organised across the country to mark the 1,500th anniversary of the death of St Brigid. Heres how you can celebrate our formidable patron saint...

The Brid Festival Sligo is one of the many events lined up this year to mark St Brigid's Day

Aoife Barry Sat 27 Jan 2024 at 03:30

As Irelands only female patron saint, St Brigid is a figure steeped in legend and history. Today, she has become a figure representing independence, feminism and pushing back against tradition  and the celebration of St Brigids Day on February 1 emphasises her links to the Celtic goddess Brigid and Imbolc, the folk tradition of the beginning of spring.
Poland is preparing to liberalise its almost total ban on abortion in another attempted reversal of many of the previous hard-right governments policies. Just like in Ireland, and many other jurisdictions across the globe, this is a most emotive and divisive issue.

But it may turn out to be one of the more manageable issues for newly re-elected Polish prime minister Donald Tusk, best remembered in these parts for his steadfast support for Ireland on Brexit during his term as head of the European Council before he returned to domestic politics in 2019.
Storm Emma lashes the coast of Co Down at Donaghadee in March 2018. Photo: Bernie Brown

For years weve known that climate change is happening. We can now see the role were playing in it. The first real assessment of it here shows the extremes in temperatures, while heavy rains endured in recent decades are linked in part to what we are doing.

The Environmental Protection Agencys (EPA) Climate Change Assessment Report contains contributions from leading climate experts.

It tells us that 16 of the top 20 warmest years since 1900 have occurred since 1990, with 2022 being the warmest year to date. It also shows median annual rainfall here was 7pc higher between 1991 and 2020, compared to the 30-year period from 1961-1990.

It also notes that from the late 20th century, sea-level rise in Cork and Dublin has been higher than the global average. On a practical level such changes will transform lives. As the report says, the heat and drought experienced in the summer of 2018  not long after Storm Emma  exposed key vulnerabilities.

Agriculture, forestry, and our water and transport systems were all adversely affected by extreme events.

Nor is there any easy escape. Flash floods and wind-storms have destroyed homes and businesses.

There are also serious implications for how we manage transport, electricity and healthcare. Climate change clearly does not differentiate; unchecked, it will seriously undermine all our lives.

American geochemist Wallace Smith Broecker has said: Climate is an angry beast and we are poking at it with sticks. This EPA study endorses such a view. We must be prepared to adapt to the new and abandon bad environmental behaviours for good. The challenge is global and demands national and international solidarity. Former US president Barack Obama rightly described the frighteningly new climate global phenomenon as the man-made natural disaster.

As the report outlines, the more we delay our responses and postpone meeting the targets that have been set to limit emissions, or resist more sustainable ways of living, the more difficult it will be to protect ourselves. The study must be a spur to aggressively strive towards net zero carbon dioxide emissions by around 2050.

The harm already done suggests that no matter how successful we are in this regard, some elements of the climate system, such as rising ocean levels, may need thousands of years before they are stabilised.

But the stark truth is that without radical reductions in emissions, our climate could change unrecognisably. It could become uncomfortably hotter, with cooler days being a rarity.

The negative impacts on biodiversity, species distribution, livestock and damage to ecosystems could be profound. And there may be huge consequences regarding quality of life, health and wellbeing.

Our creativity over years has shown we can add to that which nature has given.

But our failure to respect these gifts also tragically proves we have a terrible capacity to destroy. Our future depends on waking up to this, before its too late.
I would like to thank Ellen Coyne (Why the womans place referendum is starting to look like a regressive proposal, Irish Independent, Weekend magazine, January 20) for her comprehensive article on the proposed referendum on care.

I cannot understand how it has taken so long to recognise that so many so-called progressive reforms are economically unviable.

Because of the push to enhance the economy no one is supported to remain in the home to: firstly, look after a baby, so creches are needed; secondly, facilitate earlier discharges from hospital  beds are unavailable for those requiring medical care; and, thirdly, care for those of advanced age who are left with no alternative but to be sent to a nursing home.

All of this has resulted in a shocking waste of government spending. Common sense has long disappeared from the agenda.

Ms Coyne referred to a group that has been left almost invisible and stay-at-home mothers must be the loneliest group of women in Ireland when it comes to feminist advocacy.

They are certainly not supported by the Womens Council of Ireland, which receives generous donations from the Government as well as from NGOs. It would be interesting to find out what organisations this council actually does support.

Feminism is supposed to be about choices, but seemingly this only applies to choices approved by certain campaign groups.

Bunreacht na hEireann must be for specific rights, not feelgood notions.

Mary Stewart, Donegal town

Referendum on carers conveniently lets the State off the hook for helping us

I write to express my disappointment with Family Carers Ireland (FCI) for endorsing a Yes vote on the proposed referendum 42B, despite acknowledging its language deficiencies.

In her opinion piece (Its time to finally give family carers the support they need, Irish Independent, January 24), Catherine Cox, the head of policy at FCI, highlighted a crucial distinction in the shift from obliging the State to the State merely striving to support care.

Ms Cox observed that the original recommendation from the Citizens Assembly obliged the State to take reasonable measures to support care within the home and wider community. However, the revised wording now says the State would strive to support the provision of care. The contrast is significant.

The term obliges implies a mandatory commitment, suggesting a legal duty on the State. On the other hand, strive indicates a less binding commitment.

The recurring theme is that, once again, caregivers find themselves settling for second best, merely receiving the scraps from the table.

What adds to this disappointment is that FCIs policy was not subjected to member consideration before publication.

In a newsletter received during Christmas week, members were informed that FCI, as the national charity representing family carers, was eager to support a Yes vote in the referendum and was reaching out to members for their thoughts. Essentially, their decision had already been made before seeking member input.

As a caregiver myself, I find this shift from obligation to aspiration to be a pivotal factor influencing my decision not to support the proposed insertion of Article 42B into the Constitution.

Michael ODowd, Drogheda, Co Louth

Climate change is a crisis that is linked to conflicts, famine and pandemics

I agree with your editorial (New influx of storms proves we need more climate change action, Irish Independent, January 23) that we do not need to be scientists to see climate change banging on our doors. Humanity is on the cusp of a disaster.

What is missing in the debate is the intertwined nature of climate change with wars, pandemics and conflicts. These also precipitate further deaths from famine, food insecurity, diseases, migration as well as political strife.

We can use this calamity to our own advantage if we handle these challenges with patience, empathy and collective wisdom.

Dr Munjed Farid Al Qutob, London

Israeli leader Netanyahu should be indicted for crimes against humanity

What is happening to the Palestinian people is horrendous  and Benjamin Netanyahu should be indicted for crimes against humanity.

The sight of terrified children being treated for appalling injuries is horrifying and inhuman.

Britain and America have a duty to intervene. Only the creation of a viable, independent Palestinian state with a seat at the United Nations, sovereign embassies and ambassadors abroad will end this wicked state of affairs.

Dominic Shelmerdine, London.

Balanced coverage of Trump would struggle to find anything positive

J Anthony Gaughan (Letters, January 24) says there is a lack of balance on the coverage of Donald Trump and that only his flaws are covered.

I did notice that there were no examples offered as to his good character.

Maybe these are hard to find.

Alan Fairbrother, Knocklyon, Dublin 16

Biden should look at Eisenhowers success to win a vital second term

Unfortunately a Biden-Trump rematch looks increasingly likely. This also reveals how dysfunctional the Republicans have become.

A second Trump term would see Donald Trump becoming the first non-consecutive two-term US president since Grover Cleveland, who served between 1885 and 1889 and then 1893 to 1897.

The 2024 Presidential Election will be the first rematch since 1956 when Dwight Eisenhower beat Adlai Stevenson; Mr Eisenhower had previously beaten Mr Stevenson in 1952. Hopefully Mr Biden will be able to repeat Mr Eisenhowers electoral successes of the 1950s.

Kieran ORegan, Dublin 9

Migration concerns can be tackled by if we address war and inequality first

Technology, modern transport and global conflict make migration inevitable.

Keeping the have-nots away from the haves is less easy than it once was.

Ending war, and addressing inequality, are the first steps in addressing migration.

Ed Toal, New York
The fire was brought under control and no injuries were reported.

Three fire engines, turntable ladder and emergency tender were sent to the scene.

Firefighters from Phibsborough, Tara Street and Dolphins Barn fire stations attended the scene on North Brunswick Street.

Dublin Fire Brigade tackled a city centre fire in the early hours of the morning at a derelict building.

Firefighters from Phibsborough, Tara Street and Dolphins Barn fire stations attended the scene on North Brunswick Street shortly after 3am this morning.

Three fire engines, turntable ladder and emergency tender were sent to the scene.

The fire was brought under control and no injuries were reported.

Three fire engines, turntable ladder and emergency tender were sent to the scene.

The fire was brought under control and no injuries were reported.

Dublin Fire Brigade tweeted: Shortly after 3am this morning firefighters from Phibsborough,

Tara Street and Dolphins Barn fire stations were called to a fire in a vacant building on North Brunswick Street.

Three fire engines along with a turntable ladder and emergency tender were sent to the scene and the fire was brought under control by 0350.

No injuries were reported.

Dublin City Council has been contacted by the Irish Independent for comment.
The Traveller community in Galway has welcomed Supreme Court Judge and Chair of the independent Electoral Commission Ms Justice Marie Baker at an event organised ahead of the two referenda that will take place in March.

On March 8, people will be called to vote to change two articles of the Irish constitution and An Coimisiun Toghchain, Irelands independent electoral commission, has this week kick-started a campaign to explain the issues to be voted on in six weeks, while encouraging people to get out and vote.

Follow Independent Galway on Facebook

An event was organised with the Galway Traveller Movement on Friday, January 26, at Ballybane Community Resource Centre, in Galway city, and attracted several people from the community, who engaged with the judge with a number of questions about the referenda and beyond.

Ms Justice Marie Baker also reminded the gathering of the importance of voting, and her words were welcomed with enthusiasm by the community as people of all ages attended the event.

Lee Anna Ward, a young activist and member of the traveller community, said: Its amazing having a space like this, where we actually have a conversation about the referendum, what is a referendum, what are the two upcoming referendums, what are we going to vote on.

The judge did an amazing job in communicating that today to my community.

I think if there were more spaces like this held and not just for the Traveller community, but for all the communities, we could see a better understanding and an improvement of the uptake of people registering to vote and also using their vote.

Nora Mongan, Galway Traveller Movements community development worker, added: What the [Traveller] community needs to be aware of is that their vote is very, very powerful.

She concluded: Were getting impartial information that we will share with the community, were not going to advocate for anybody to vote in a certain way, well share the information that we learnt today and everyone can make their own mind.
Ambassador Mrs. Kairi Kunka signs the distinguished visitors' book in the presence of Cathaoirleach Gerard Mullaney.

Sligo County Council Chief Executive Martin Lydon and Cathaoirleach Gerard Mullaney welcome the Estonian Ambassador Mrs. Kairi Kunka to County Hall.

Sligos literary links with Estonia were stressed when Cathaoirleach, Councillor Gerard Mullaney, welcomed the Estonian Ambassador to Ireland, Mrs. Kairi Kunka, to County Hall last Tuesday.

Also in attendance were Chief Executive Martin Lydon, Councillor Michael Clarke, and Director of Services Jim Molloy and John Moran.

The Cathaoirleach said it was an honour to welcome the ambassador.

Cllr Mullaney said literature served as a powerful bridge between Sligo and Estonia. Sligo is synonymous with the renowned Irish poet William Butler Yeats, who found inspiration in its landscapes and legends.

Yeats, a towering figure in Irish literature, developed a correspondence and friendship with the Estonian poet Marie Under.

Their shared passion for poetry and their mutual admiration for each others work created a literary link between Sligo and Estonia, reminding us that art knows no borders.

Only a few decades ago, Ireland could have been considered a relatively insular society with only modest engagement with other countries.

Ireland is now a proudly multicultural community, one that embraces inclusion and celebrates diversity.

We have formalised our international friendships by signing twinning charters with three towns, Kempten in Germany, Crozon in France and Tallahassee in Florida.

Our Twinning Associations, and the formal and informal contacts developed under the umbrella of the twinning programme, has been the backdrop to important cultural, educational and sporting links.

In this context we are pleased to welcome the Ambassador as our special guest today.

Engagements such as this can be the catalyst for a range of projects and initiatives, and it will also encourage us to explore Estonian history, tradition and culture.

As we welcome Ambassador Kunka to Sligo, we also embrace the opportunity to showcase the beauty, talent, and warm hospitality that define Sligo.

This occasion marks a significant milestone in our bilateral relations with Estonia, a nation known for its rich cultural heritage, technological advancements, and steadfast commitment to democratic values.

Estonia and Ireland share a common commitment to fostering innovation, promoting sustainable development, and ensuring the well-being of our citizens.

Both of our nations value education, technology, and entrepreneurship as drivers of progress and prosperity.

It is through such shared values and aspirations that we can forge meaningful partnerships and create a better future for our societies.

As we look to the future, there is no doubt that the relationship between Ireland and Estonia will continue to grow from strength to strength.

We must seize the opportunities that lie before us and explore untapped potential in various sectors.

By nurturing our mutual understanding and deepening our engagement, we can unlock new avenues for collaboration and create a better future for our peoples, said the Cathaoirleach.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. The Israeli military successfully intercepted a suspicious air object flying from Lebanon and carried out new attacks on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, The press service of the Israeli army says, Trend reports.

According to information, Israeli air defense forces successfully intercepted a suspicious air target on Lebanese territory. It is assumed that this target was heading towards Israeli territory.

The press service also noted that earlier today Israel Defense Forces fighters carried out attacks on several targets associated with Hezbollah in Lebanon. The attacks reportedly included strikes on a military post and a compound used by Hezbollah members in the Blida and Marwahina areas. Strikes were also carried out against terrorist infrastructure in the Ait al-Shaab area.
An international exhibition of sound and ceramics will be officially opened in the Wexford Arts Centre on Saturday, February 17 and will be available for the public to view until March 22. Edges is a group exhibition featuring work by Kay Aplin, Juss Heinsalu, Pille Kaleviste, Linda OKeeffe, Patrick Tubin McGinley, Suzanne Walsh, Katharine West, and Joseph Young.

Produced by artist-curators Kay Aplin and Joseph Young of The Ceramic House in partnership with Irish curator and sound artist Richard Carr, Edges explores ceramics and sound art practice through the work of artists from Ireland, the UK and Estonia. The works were developed as part of artist residencies and international exchanges, creating collaborative encounters across the two disciplines.

Edges explores what it means to work at the edge of something and how we understand the outsider. Edges also expands on the idea of artistic practice as a so-called cutting edge, through the investigation of geographical boundaries and coastlines of the host nations.

The exhibition at Wexford Arts Centre is the result of three separate artist residencies and one new commission. All of the artworks exhibited can be seen as works-in-progress or experimental iterations, made under tight time constraints and in response to place and site.

This is Wexford Newsletter Enter your email address below and click 'Sign Up' to receive the This is Wexford newsletter direct to your inbox. Please check your inbox to verify your details

The first residency took place in April 2022 at The Ceramic House (supported by European funding) pairing two sound artists from Ireland, Linda OKeeffe and Suzanne Walsh, with Estonian ceramicists Juss Heinsalu and Pille Kaleviste. Over a period of four weeks, they worked together in pairs and the resulting exhibition Peripheries was shown as part of the Brighton Artists Open Houses festival.#

The second residency at Interface in the Inagh Valley, Connemara in June 2023, saw Kay Aplin and Joseph Young exploring the Connemara landscape, accompanied by curator Richard Carr, in a series of walks and wanderings, gathering binaural sound recordings and plant, fossil, lichen specimens as they went.

The third residency took place at Watts Gallery and Artist Village, Surrey (Oct-Dec 2023), the former home of celebrated artist couple, George Frederic and Mary Watts. Here Aplin and Young explored a more personal take on encounters through partnership, both through the lens of their own relationship and the creation of The Ceramic House, their artist home, which was conceived and developed by Kay.

Finally, ceramic artist Katharine West (IE) and sound artist Patrick Tubin McGinley have selected pre-existing works to be displayed alongside each other, creating a dialogue in the gallery space and uncovering new ways of listening and viewing the material (clay) and the ephemeral (sound).

The exhibition will run in the lower and upper gallery of Wexford Arts Centre from Tuesday, February 20 to Saturday, March 22.
Although she had no involvement with spirits that we know of, St Brigid was known to have turned bathwater into beer and is one of the patron saints of brewers. With that in mind, the Powerscourt Distillery is set to honour Ireland's patroness of brewing, healing, poetry, and fire with an immersive St Brigid's Day event on Sunday, February 4, their third annual celebration of the feast.

The event will host an array of poets delivering readings and wellness specialists offering insights into healing foods and practices. To represent the fire that Brigid commands, the distillery has invited ignitors  trailblazers from the realms of business and community who embody the fervour and vision of those who light the way forward. Also on the day, a trader's market will showcase the best local food, drink, and craft, offering a taste and tribute to the local community's rich artisanal talents.

Taking place in the distillery visitor experience, it will encompass the spirit of Brigid herself and the day will be ablaze with cultural enrichment, from poetry readings to sessions with wellness experts and the spark of innovation from leading business and community figures.

Attendees will be treated to craft and food demonstrations, engaging tastings, enlightening talks, and hands-on masterclasses and workshops. Accompanied by live music, guests will also dip into the Irish language during the 'Cupla Focal agus Fercullen' session, craft St. Brigid's crosses, and witness weaving demonstrations. A series of tastings featuring Fercullen whiskey, mead, wine, and beer, along with expert led whiskey masterclasses, will ensure that the spirit of conviviality flows as freely as the spirit of Brigid on the day.

Santina Kennedy, Advocacy, Food and Beverage expert at The Powerscourt Distillery, said: "St Brigid's Day is a celebration deeply rooted in our heritage. Were bringing that essence into the experience with a menu that pays homage to the saint's connection with dairying, brewing, and bountiful hospitality. Expect a day where tradition meets taste, and every flavour tells a story.

"We've woven together an event that's not just about enjoyment, but also enlightenment  reflecting the legacy of St Brigid, who was renowned for her hospitality and generosity. It's a day to savour the good things in life and ignite the passion within us all."

The event is free but you need to register at: powerscourtdistillery.com/stbrigid/

Meanwhile, the Powerscourt Distillery has created an exclusive dinner event on Friday February 2, in partnership with The K Club, in the resorts acclaimed Barton Restaurant for an intimate event, hosting just 70 people.

Marking 1,500 years since the passing of our saint, the evening will begin with a drinks reception at 6.30pm serving up a dedicated Fercullen cocktail called St. Brigids Cloak.

Guests will then sit down to a three-course feast inspired by our patron saint. Adding to the roster of fascinating women, The K Clubs world-class sommelier Lisa ODoherty will introduce the carefully selected wine pairings, whilst Santina Kennedy will introduce the connection with St Brigids life and legacy, while the Powerscourts Head of Brand, John Cashman, will delve further into the links of Irish mythology and whiskey throughout the Fercullen whiskey tasting.

The Powerscourt Distillerys fine portfolio of whiskies will prove the ultimate digestif with the penultimate cheese course and moreish petit fours and canneles to finish. Places at St Brigids Feast cost 105 per person. Stay overnight for 200 per person including breakfast and St Brigids dinner. Visit kclub.ie/bookings.
Some 69 schools in County Wicklow have applied for funding under the first phase of the 50m school solar panel scheme, which was rolled out in November 2023.

The funding will help schools reduce their energy bills and carbon emissions with the installation of up to 16 roof-mounted solar panels per school, which equates to six kilowatts worth of power.

Currently just 5pc of primary and 10pc of post-primary schools in Ireland have photovoltaic panels installed. The Department Of Education said the amount of money that a school could save would depend on a number of factors but it said, typically a school could expect to save in the region of 1,200 to 1,600 per annum on their bill. Schools will also be funded to connect to the grid so that unused solar energy can be utilised when schools are closed.

Wickow Green TD Steven Matthews has welcomed the strong demand for the free school solar panel scheme in the county, with 69 out of 108 (64pc) schools applying for the funding under the first phase of the scheme, with many more expected to sign up in the coming months.

I am delighted to see that so many schools across Wicklow have applied for funding to install free solar PV panels. Just under two-thirds of eligible schools in Wicklow have already applied. I strongly advocated for Wicklows inclusion in the first phase of the scheme, and it is very rewarding to see that there is a very high level of interest in its rollout," he said.

The scheme will provide all schools with 6 kilowatts of roof-mounted solar PV, which equates to approximately 16 solar panels. The full cost of installing the solar panels will be paid for entirely by the states Climate Action Fund with no additional costs incurred by participating schools.

The provision of free solar panels for schools is a very practical measure that the Green Party introduced in Budget 2023 to assist schools with rising energy costs. The rapid installation of solar panels on schools and other buildings is also crucial to achieving our climate objectives.

I am in regular contact with school principals across Wicklow and in any case where there have been questions in how to apply, we were able to work through them and complete the application process. If there are any schools that have yet to apply, I would be more than happy to assist with any concerns, Deputy Matthews concluded.
Kyiv invites Chinas President Xi Jinping to attend peace summit of world leaders in Switzerland

China has close ties to Russia and has never criticised invasion. However, it has previously offered to mediate

Ukrainian servicemen prepare a L119 howitzer to fire towards Russian troops at a position near Bakhmut. Photo: Reuters

Olena Harmash Sat 27 Jan 2024 at 03:30







Ukraine has invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to participate in a planned peace summit of world leaders in Switzerland, a top diplomatic adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky said, as Russias invasion approaches its second anniversary.
The Republican National Committee has pulled a resolution to consider declaring Donald Trump the partys presumptive 2024 nominee before he formally clinches the requisite number of delegates, a person familiar with the decision said.

News of the withdrawal came shortly after Mr Trump posted on his Truth Social site that, while he greatly appreciated the notion, he felt, for the sake of PARTY UNITY, that they should NOT go forward with this plan, but that I should do it the Old Fashioned way, and finish the process off AT THE BALLOT BOX.
The sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey has been approved by the US government (Staff Sgt. Heather Ley/U.S. Air Force via AP)

The US government has approved the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey after the Turkish governments ratification this week of Swedens Nato membership.

The move is a significant development in the expansion of the alliance, which has taken on additional importance since Russias invasion of Ukraine.
Last Sunday evening, I sat down to watch the new Netflix documentary American Nightmare. The three-part series examines a case dubbed the real-life Gone Girl, in which a womans abduction and subsequent rape allegation were dismissed as a hoax by local police.

I stayed firmly on my sofa as each episode rolled into the next, reaching the part where the victim, Denise Huskins, in an emotional interview with the filmmakers, says: Here I am, literally taken in the middle of the night, my body stolen and violated... I dont know what needs to happen to me, what needs to happen to any woman, for them to be believed.
Palestinians say International Court of Justice ruling is a victory, despite falling short of calling for ceasefire

Tanaiste Micheal Martin said the Government will strongly consider an intervention in South Africas genocide case

A pro-Palestine protester demonstrates outside the International Court of Justice in the Hague, Netherlands. Photo: Piroschka Van De Wouw

Ali Sawafta, Nidal al-Mughrabi and Emily Rose Sat 27 Jan 2024 at 03:30







Palestinians said the World Court let them down by failing to order a halt to the Israeli military offensive in Gaza, but they also described the proceedings as a victory which had inspired hope of accountability.
Image Credit: ISRO

Bengaluru: INSAT-3DS, Indian Space Research Organisations latest meteorological satellite, has been sent off to the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR in Sriharikota for its upcoming launch via the Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F14).

This satellite, commissioned by the Ministry of Earth Science (MoES), was developed at the U R Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru.

INSAT-3DS, is an exclusive meteorological satellite realized by ISRO with the primary objective to provide continuity of services to the existing in-orbit INSAT-3D and 3DR satellites and significantly enhancing the capabilities of INSAT system, ISRO said.

The Satellite had successfully completed Satellite Assembly, Integration & Testing activities at U R Rao Satellite Centre, Bengaluru.

Pre-Shipment Review (PSR) was held with the participation of members from the user community on January 25, 2024.

The satellite is a user funded project with Ministry of Earth Science (MoES), configured around ISRO's well proven I-2k bus platform with a Lift-Off Mass of 2275 kg.

Indian Industries have significantly contributed in the making of the Satellite.

The satellite is designed for enhanced meteorological observations and monitoring of land and ocean surfaces for weather forecasting and disaster warning, with state-of-the-art payloads6 channel Imager & 19 channel Sounder meteorology payloads, communication payloadsThe Data Relay Transponder (DRT) and Satellite aided Search and Rescue (SAS&R) transponder.

The Data relay transponder (DRT) instrument, receives meteorological, hydrological and oceanographic data from automatic Data Collection Platforms / Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) and augments the weather forecasting capabilities.

Satellite aided Search and Rescue (SAS&R) transponder is incorporated in the satellite to relay a distress signal / alert detection from the beacon transmitters for search and rescue services with global receive coverage.

The INSAT-3DS mission is a joint effort between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the India Meteorological Department.

This is an integral part of a series of climate observatory satellites designed to augment climate services.

The series includes three specialised Earth observation satellites, with INSAT-3D and INSAT-3DR already positioned in orbit.

According to senior ISRO, the GSLV-F14 is set to launch in the initial week of February.
Image credit: Kolkata Literary Meet/Facebook

Kolkata/IBNS: The 12th Tata Steel Kolkata Literary Meet drew to a close on January 27 with a soulful classical musical performance by Shubha Mudgal at the main Steps of Victoria Memorial Hall.

The concluding day was also marked by several interesting talks and other programmes.

Raghuram Rajan, Ex-Governor of RBI stressed the importance of human capital for an economy to move forward and engaged with the young audience at the literary meet to apprise them of the challenges and hopes that lie ahead of them.

Image credit: Kolkata Literary Meet/Facebook

Sri Lankan best-selling author, Ashok Ferrey, talked about his latest novel The Unmarriageable Man, which fetched him Sri Lankas premier literary award, the Gratiaen Prize.

The festival paid tribute to well-known sculptor (late) Meera Mukherjee on her birth centenary year where Adip Dutta (a close associate of Mukherjee) and historian Tapati Guha Thakurta discussed the rich legacy that Mukherjee has left behind.

Image credit: Kolkata Literary Meet/Facebook

Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay, author of the timeless novel Goynar Baksho, spoke to Arunava Sinha on the translation of his classic novel and why the novel refuses to grow old.

Noted crafts expert and social activist, Laila Tyabji and social entrepreneur, Nandita Palchoudhuri, discussed with Bappaditya Biswas how artisans are forging a path ahead amid diverse challenges.

Gopalkrishna Gandhi, former Governor of West Bengal, launched Mukund Padmanabhans first book The Great Flap of 1942, which is a narrative history of a neglected and scarcely known period between December 1941 and mid-1942, when India was caught in a state of panic.

Image credit: Kolkata Literary Meet/Facebook

Gopalkrishna Gandhi also launched the new edition of Mahatma Gandhis I Am An Ordinary Man: Indias Struggle For Freedom (1914-1948) and spoke about the Mahatma in the years leading to Independence.

Deborah Baker and Stephen Alter spoke on the magical charisma of Mt. Everest and also observed the centenary of George Mallorys expedition.

Image credit: Kolkata Literary Meet/Facebook

Appupen, noted comics creator, artist and musician who tells stories from the mythical world Halahala, discussed his new graphic novel on Artificial Intelligence.

Srijato and Maharghya Chakraborty discussed the latest novel Prothom Mudran, Bhalobasha / A House of Rain and Snow with Somak Ghosh.

Chandril Bhattacharya spoke about the non-sports gems of Moti Nandys body of work.

Image credit: Kolkata Literary Meet/Facebook

Radhika Iyengar's debut non-fiction novel titled Fire on the Ganges: Life Among the Dead in Banaras on the lives of the Doms (undertakers) of Varanasi, was featured too.

The organisers also announced the dates for the next edition of the Tata Steel Kolkata Literary Meet, which will be held from January 21 to 26, 2025.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. Chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ben Cardin approved the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkiye after Ankara's decision to ratify Sweden's accession to NATO, Trend reports.

Today, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Ben Cardin welcomed Turkiyes ratification of Swedens accession to NATO and announced that he will now allow the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkiye, the committees decision states.
Photo courtesy: Facebook/Lalu Yadav

Patna/UNI: With Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar inching towards the BJP to form NDA government, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav said he will not let Kumar take oath easily in alliance with NDA.

Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Prasad Yadav and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav said they will not let Nitish Kumar take oath so easily.

Talking to news persons here on Saturday, Tejaswi Yadav claimed to enjoy adequate strength, and being the largest party it should be given the opportunity to form the government.

He said in case the opportunity was not given, RJD will stage dharna before Raj Bhavan.

Claiming to have the majority figure with him, Lalu Yadav said he would open his cards once Nitish Kumar resigns.

RJD has convened a crucial meeting this afternoon at Tejashwi Yadav's official residence in Patna to decide its future course of action.

Meanwhile, JDU spokesperson Neeraj Kumar alleged that confusion prevailed in the RJD camp and there was no confusion in the JDU.

Retorting sharply at the statement of Lalu-Tejaswi for not letting Kumar take oath easily, the JDU leader said that the people are supreme in democracy.

Kumar further said the arrow (party symbol) was with JDU and no one can target it. He said Nitish Kumar would hit the target at an appropriate time.

JDU MP Sunil Kumar Pintu also stated that Nitish Kumar was not comfortable with RJD and it had become difficult for him to function smoothly.
Photo courtesy: UNI

Mumbai/UNI: The Maharashtra government has accepted all the demands of the Maratha community, after which the community called off their protest on Saturday, Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange announced.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde met Maratha quota leader Jarange Patil in Navi Mumbai, where the latter has been camping with thousands of protesters over the demand for reservations for his community.

Jarange Patil and the government delegation held detailed discussions around midnight, which was successful, and later the government. Issued an official notification (a government resolution), a copy of which was handed over. to him around 5 a.m.

Thereafter, he consulted his team and decided to call off the agitation.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, along with cabinet minister Grish Mahajan and others, went to Navi Mumbai around 8 a.m. and offered a glass of fruit juice to Jarange Patil, following which he ended his 3-day hunger strike.

On this occasion, Chief Minister Shinde addressed the gathering and said the state government has accepted all the demands of the community and ordered them to give reservations to the community that are legally valid.

Among those who were engaged in the night-long operation were Ministers Mangal Prabhat Lodha and Deepak Kesarkar, top officers like Social Justice Department Secretary Sumant Bhange, Aurangabad Divisional Commissioner Madhukar Arangal, and CM's Private Secretary Dr. Amol Shinde.

Lakhs of Marathas who had gathered in Navi Mumbai erupted into dawn celebrations, playing drums, dancing, and singing at the success of the 6-month-long campaign.

The Marathas leaders announced that they would not enter Mumbai as planned, and after that, the protestors who came here from all over the state started returning home.
Singaporean top leaders greet India on Republic Day. Photo Courtesy: PIB

President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong greeted Indian leaders as the country celebrated Republic Day on Friday and wished to further strengthen ties between the two nations.

In a letter sent to Indian President Droupadi Murmu, Tharman Shanmugaratnam said: "On behalf of the people of Singapore, I extend my warmest congratulations to Your Excellency and the people of the Republic of India on the auspicious occasion of Indias 75th Republic Day."

"Singapore and India share a long and warm partnership, underpinned by close people-to-people ties and strong cooperation in a multitude of fields," the letter read.

The Singaporean President congratulated India for the successful conclusion of Indias G20 Presidency.

"As Country Coordinator for ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations, Singapore also co-hosted the inaugural ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise with India in May 2023. This reflected the deeper engagement both sides have enjoyed under the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership which was upgraded in 2022," the letter said.

"I look forward to continuing to work with you to further strengthen ties between our two countries," the President said.

In his letter, Tharman Shanmugaratnam 'fondly' recalled his visit to India in 2022 and 2023.

In his letter addressed to PM Narendra Modi,Lee Hsien Loong said: "You will be pleased to know that the PayNow-Unified Payments Interface linkage that we jointly launched in February 2023 has seen a steady uptake of users. This has made cross-border transactions safer and faster for businesses and individuals on both sides."

He said he is looking forward to working with Modi to further deepen and strengthen Singapore-India relations.

On February 21, last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong launched the real-time payments system linkage between India and Singapore.

What is Republic Day?

India celebrates Republic Day to mark the adoption of the country's constitution and the transition to a republic.
Photo Courtesy; Indian Army x page video screengrab

India and Saudi Arabia will undertake a joint military exercise in Rajasthan from Monday.

According to the Defence Ministry, the exercise has been named 'SADA TANSEEQ' and will be held from January 29 to February 10.

"The inaugural edition of Joint Military Exercise SADA TANSEEQ between India and Saudi Arabia will be held from 29 Jan to 10 Feb 2024 in #Rajasthan," the Indian Army said in an X post.

JOINT MILITARY EXERCISE BETWEEN INDIA & SAUDI ARABIA



Exercise #SadaTanseeq



The inaugural edition of Joint Military Exercise SADA TANSEEQ between India and Saudi Arabia will be held from 29 Jan to 10 Feb 2024 in #Rajasthan.



The exercise aims to enhance synergy, pic.twitter.com/nynqPlGOFk  ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) January 27, 2024

"The exercise aims to enhance synergy, interoperability and jointmanship by learning & sharing best practices between the Armies of both nations," the army said.
Image Credit and Caption: UNI

New Delhi: A British oil tanker named Marlin Luanda, with 22 Indian nationals, was hit by a missile by Houthis, media reports said, adding that the Indian Navy is helping in dousing the flames.

Responding to a distress call from the oil tanker, the Navy deployed its guided missile destroyer, INS Visakhapatnam, in the Gulf of Aden on the night of January 26.

The firefighting efforts onboard the distressed Merchant Vessel is being augmented by the NBCD team along with firefighting equipment, deployed by INS Visakhapatnam to assist the crew onboard the MV, the Navy said in a statement.

The Navy has confirmed that the targeted ship, attacked by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis, carries 22 Indians and one Bangladeshi crew.

The fuel tanker, operated on behalf of trading firm Trafigura, was struck by a missile in the Red Sea, as confirmed by the company.

In addition to the British oil tanker, the Houthi group also attacked a US warship, the destroyer USS Carney. This incident marks a significant and perhaps the most substantial confrontation at sea between Western forces and the Middle East in decades.

This is not the first time the Houthi group has targeted an oil tanker with Indian nationals on board. On December 24, 2023, an oil tanker, carrying 25 Indians, was hit by a drone fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels in the Red Sea.

The Houthi group has been conducting attacks on oil tankers since November, citing Israel's military actions in Palestine as their motivation.

Following the Gulf of Aden attack, the UK government stated that Britain and its allies "reserve the right to respond appropriately" to such incidents.

We are aware of reports that the M/V Marlin Luanda, a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker, has sustained damage from attack in the Gulf of Aden. Current reports suggest no casualties and nearby coalition vessels are on the scene. We have been clear that any attacks on commercial shipping are completely unacceptable and that the UK and our allies reserve the right to respond appropriately," a UK government official said.

A spokesperson for the Houthi military has acknowledged their naval forces' operation on the oil tanker, specifically identifying the vessel as 'British.'

Notably, the Houthi group has not officially claimed responsibility or acknowledged the attack on the USS Carney, the US warship.
Calcutta High Court (Photo Courtesy: wikipedia.org)

Kolkata/New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Saturday halted all proceedings before a single judge and a division bench of the Calcutta High Court due to an unusual conflict, media reports said.

This disagreement arose over the investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into an alleged fake caste certificate scam.

During a special hearing, Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud led a five-judge bench, taking note of the accusations of 'misconduct' made by Calcutta High Court Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay against fellow judge Soumen Sen, according to media reports.

The Supreme Court will take up the matter again on January 29 (Monday), media reports said.

Justice Gangopadhyay alleged that Justice Sen was "acting clearly for some political party in this state" and exerting pressure on another judge to favour a political leader in West Bengal.

In the course of the hearing, the Supreme Court issued a notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and sought a response from the West Bengal government regarding the issue.

The court also served a notice to the petitioner over his plea before the Calcutta High Court in connection with the purported fake caste certificates scam.

The fake certificate scam

On January 24, a petition was submitted to the Calcutta High Court, expressing concerns about the large number of counterfeit caste certificates issued in West Bengal. The petitioner claimed that numerous individuals had obtained these fraudulent certificates to secure admission to state-run medical colleges.

The dispute

At first, the case was presented before Justice Gangopadhyay on the morning of January 24. The judge not only criticized both the West Bengal Police and the state government but also issued an order for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the matter.

Unhappy with the ruling, the Trinamool Congress-led West Bengal government moved the division bench of Justice Sen, and managed to obtain an interim stay on the single bench order.

However, the single bench of Justice Gangopadhyay directed that the CBI investigation would continue, notwithstanding the order from the division bench.

Justice Gangopadhyay instructed the registrar general of the High Court to immediately send a copy of this order to both the Chief Justice of India and the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court.

He accused Justice Sen of acting in his personal interest, attempting to shield "some political party in power" in West Bengal.
Photo Courtesy: JD(U) X handle

Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is likely to ditch his alliance with Rashtriya Janata Dal and join hands with BJP-led NDA to form a new government in Bihar in the next 20 hours.

The JD(U) chief is vexed with RJDs behaviour and has made up his mind to desert the Grand Alliance.

Nitish Kumar had hoped to be chosen as the leader of the opposition alliance. However, the allies opted for Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge for the role after Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal proposed his name.

The JD(U) leader was also unhappy with the Congress for assuming a "big brother" role in the alliance and causing delays in the discussions about seat-sharing.

Kumar, who is upset with Congress's indifference towards his role in the formation of the opposition INDIA bloc, lost his cool when he was targeted by RJD on Thursday.

While addressing a party event on Wednesday to mark the birth centenary of former Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur, he obliquely slammed RJD Chief Lalu Prasad for promoting his sons in politics.

Following his remarks, Lalu Prasads daughter Rohini Acharya attacked Kumar on X, where she dubbed him a leader of no principle. She also indirectly targeted Kumars son saying he was not suitable for a career in public life.

Perceiving the situation, the BJP sent a signal to accept him in the NDA. However, Bihar BJP leaders opposed Kumars entry into the NDA but changed their stand after Central leadership prevailed on them to welcome him into the NDA.

Hindustani Awami Morcha (HAM) patron Jeetan Ram Manjhi, Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) leader Chirag Paswan, and Rashtriya Lok Janata Dal (RLJD) leader Upendra Kushwaha were also approached by BJP to pacify them to ensure Kumars smooth return to NDA-fold.

BJP and HAM legislature parties convened their meetings separately and discussed how to proceed further for the formation of the NDA government headed by Nitish.

Both the parties will formally hand over support letters to Kumar after he resigns and stakes claim to form a new government on Sunday.

With 45 JD (U) MLAs, 78 MLAs of BJP and 4 MLAs of HAM, Kumar will be easily in the position to form a government, as the total figure will be sufficient to cross the magic number 122 needed to helm the state.

BJP leader and former Union Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy said that his party would hold another meeting on Sunday morning.

Meanwhile, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad has been authorized to make decisions in the prevailing political scenario. Lalu has asked all party MLAs to remain in Patna for the next few days.

JD(U) General Secretary K C Tyagi claimed that the opposition bloc INDIA was on the verge of collapse due to Congresss irresponsible behaviour.

He blamed Congress for creating a similar situation in West Bengal and Punjab which virtually disintegrated the INDIA bloc in both states.

BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal are getting closer in Punjab, he pointed out.

He alleged that the Congresss demand for President's rule in West Bengal angered Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. As a result, she refused to permit to "Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra" in her state, he added.

(With UNI inputs)
Photo courtesy: PR Team

In the world of glitz and glamour, actress Giorgia Andriani has once again proven that she knows how to turn heads and make a splash.

Giorgia recently shared a scintillating video of herself from her recent getaway, showcasing her sizzling red bikini look.

Giorgia Andriani took to her social media and treated fans with her alluring video which has left fans breathless.

The bikini featured stylish side ties and a halter neck bra, adding a touch of elegance to her beach ensemble.

The actress effortlessly exuded confidence and glamour as the video even showcased the breathtaking view of Burj Khalifa, Giorgia effortlessly flaunted her body, sending major sultry vibes to her audience.

Giorgia Andriani's radiant charm and undeniable beauty were on full display in the video.

To complete her stunning beach look, Giorgia added a white cover-up long shirt, offering a chic touch to her ensemble.

The actress also sported sunglasses, topping it off with a beach hat.

Sharing the mesmerising video on her Instagram, Giorgia captioned it with a touch of humor, saying, "This morning I took a chill pill so far no side effects ."

Her playful caption added a delightful touch to the stunning visuals, showcasing her fun and carefree spirit.

Fans went gaga over Giorgia's sultry video, to which one fan wrote, "Red hotness, another wrote, "Bringin the heat in this Delhi cold fav " apart from that her entire comment section was filled up with Fire, Heart emoticons.
UN Photo/Mark Garten

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has asked the head of the UN agency assisting Palestine refugees, UNRWA, to swiftly investigate extremely serious allegations that several agency staffers were involved in the 7 October terror attacks in southern Israel.

Guterres has also asked UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini to swiftly investigate and any employees found to have taken part in or abetted what transpired in the brutal attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian militants that day to be fired and referred for potential criminal prosecution.

The Secretary-General is horrified by this news, Guterres spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, said in a statement issued on Friday morning in New York, noting in the regular Noon Briefing in New York that the UN chief had been told about the allegations by the UNRWA Commissioner-General earlier this week.

Urgent independent review

An urgent and comprehensive independent review of UNRWA will be conducted, the statement added, a move announced on 17 January.

The UNRWA chief said information had been provided by Israeli authorities of the alleged involvement of some agency staff members.

To protect the agencys ability to deliver humanitarian assistance, I have taken the decision to immediately terminate the contracts of these staff members and launch an investigation in order to establish the truth without delay, Lazzarini said.

Any UNRWA employee who was involved in acts of terror will be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution, he added.

He reiterated UNRWAs condemnation of the terror attacks in the strongest possible terms and called again for the immediate and unconditional release of all Israeli hostages.

Betrayal of fundamental values

These shocking allegations come as more than two million people in Gaza depend on lifesaving assistance that the agency has been providing since the war began, Lazzarini said.

Anyone who betrays the fundamental values of the United Nations also betrays those whom we serve in Gaza, across the region and elsewhere around the world.

US halts new funding

The United States State Department said in response that it would temporarily pause new funding for UNRWA subject to the investigation into the allegations against staffers.

In a statement, spokesperson Matthew Miller said that there must be complete accountability for anyone who participated in the heinous attacks.

Josep Borrell, European Commission Vice President and High Representative for Foreign Affairs, also voiced serious concerns over the allegations of UNRWA staff involvement. In a statement, he called for full transparency on the allegations and to take immediate measures against staff involved.
Photo Courtesy: Unsplash

At least two teens were shot dead during a shooting incident in Chicago's Loop area on Friday (January 26, 2024).

According to the Chicago Fire Department, the incident took place at 16 N. Wabash in downtown Chicago, reports NBC Chicago.

At a press conference Friday afternoon, police were quoted as saying by the news channel that as students were leaving Innovation High School, two vehicles pulled up and several individuals exited before firing multiple shots.

The identities of the teens are not known.

They were pronounced dead when taken to a local hospital.

Witnesses told CBS 2 that they heard two or three shots.

Other witnesses told CBS 2 they saw a car with two people inside drive up, and one of them fired shots out of the window.

The gunman then got out of the vehicle as one of the teens tried to run and shot him three times, the witnesses said.

Each boy was shot in the chest, and the older boy was also shot in the hip. They were rushed to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in critical condition, and were pronounced dead a short time later, Chicago Fire Department spokesperson Larry Langford was quoted as saying by Xinhua.

Police are investigating the case.

Teenagers have been killed or wounded in shootings in Chicago's downtown area in recent years.

According to local media, two teen boys, also 16 and 17, were shot in the downtown area in April 2023. A year earlier, a 16-year-old boy was shot and killed near the "Bean" sculpture in Millennium Park, Xinhua reported.
Ukrainian actress Nadiia Marinka, who starred in the 6th season of the TV series The Dog, is from Chuhuiv, Kharkiv region. With the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, she had to leave and evacuate her 11 children to Portugal. It is there that she plans to spread Ukrainian art, not forgetting one of her favorite Ukrainian artists who was stolen by Russia, Ilya Ripin (Repin).

ADVERTISIMENT

In an exclusive interview with OBOZ.UA, she revealed some interesting facts about his life. It turned out that Ilya Ripyn and Nadiia Marinka are from the same city, so this became another reason for the actress to organize a project dedicated to this Ukrainian artist.

"I really want to realize one project that I thought about before the war, dedicated to the artist Ilya Ripyn, who, like me, was born in Chuhuiv and was appropriated by Russia. By the way, many sources have now changed the information that Ripyn is a Ukrainian artist," Marinka told us about her plans.

She was also surprised by the indifference of cultural workers who did not defend Repin's affiliation with Ukraine, because he created incredible works of art, starting with "Cossacks Write a Letter to the Turkish Sultan" and ending with "Burlaks on the Volga."

ADVERTISIMENT

"I started writing about him and I think: why didn't Ukraine defend him? After all, he wrote a lot about Ukraine, painted a portrait of Taras Shevchenko, praised the way Ukrainian women dress," the actress told some interesting facts about Repin.

In particular, there is often a public perception that the eastern part of Ukraine does not have a sufficient number of good writers, although this is not the case, as Marinka pointed out.

"It is often said that in the west of Ukraine there is Ukraine, and the eastern part is Russianized. And I want to shout that we, in Slobozhanshchyna, have a piece of culture that Repin wrote about! I hope that one day I will have the opportunity to present what I am recording now. And yes, I want to do something here in Portugal. I want to show that I didn't just come here for nothing. I don't want to be a refugee. I want to be a Ukrainian, no matter what country I am in," Nadiia Marinka said emotionally.

ADVERTISIMENT

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
An activist holds anti-death penalty signs outside the US Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C.Photo Courtesy: Unsplash/Maria

The UN human rights chief has expressed deep regret over the execution of a prisoner in the United States on Thursday night through the countrys first-ever use of nitrogen asphyxiation as a method of implementing the death penalty.

I deeply regret the execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith in Alabama despite serious concerns that this novel and untested method of suffocation may amount to torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, said Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, OHCHR.

Convicted of murder in 1988, Smith, 58, had been sentenced to death in the state of Alabama. An attempt to carry out the execution in 2022, failed.

Last week, the Human Rights Council had called for Alabama to halt Smiths execution and to refrain from taking steps towards any other executions using nitrogen asphyxiation.

On Thursday evening, nitrogen hypoxia gas was administered to Smith.

It took 22 minutes before he was formally declared dead, media reports said.

According to media and other witnesses in the execution chamber, the prisoner shook violently, writhing and convulsing on the gurney.

Prior to the execution, authorities in Alabama reportedly described the use of pure nitrogen gas as perhaps the most humane method of execution ever devised.

The death penalty is inconsistent with the fundamental right to life, said OHCHR Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on Friday morning in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

We urge all States to put in place a moratorium on its use as a step towards universal abolition.

Alabama execution

The US state of Alabama has executed Kenneth Eugene Smith, a convicted murderer, with nitrogen gas, an episode marking the first time use of the method globally.

Smith, 58, lost two final appeals to the Supreme Court and one to a federal appeals court, arguing the execution was a cruel and unusual punishment, reported BBC.

Alabama tried and failed to execute the convict by lethal injection in 2022.

He was sentenced to death for his role in a 1988 murder for hire.

Smith was left with PTSD

According to Death Penalty Information Center website, Smiths case is unusual in several respects.

First, he has already survived one execution attempt, which left him with post-traumatic stress disorder, according to a clinical psychologist and trauma expert who examined him. On November 17, 2022, the state tried and failed to execute Mr. Smith using lethal injection but abandoned its efforts after four hours when staff were unable to access a vein, the website said.

A journalist who witnessed the execution described to the BBC how he thrashed violently on the gurney, and said the process took around 25 minutes in total.

One of the five members of the media transported to Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore to witness the execution told the BBC it was unlike any other hed witnessed in Alabama.

Ive been to four previous executions and Ive never seen a condemned inmate thrash in the way that Kenneth Smith reacted to the nitrogen gas, Lee Hedgepeth told the BBC.

Kenny just began to gasp for air repeatedly and the execution took about 25 minutes total.

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall reacted to the development and said in a statement: Justice has been served. Tonight, Kenneth Smith was put to death for the heinous act he committed over 35 years ago: the murder-for-hire slaying of Elizabeth Sennett, an innocent woman who was by all accounts a godly wife, a loving mother and grandmother, and a beloved pillar of her community.
Where is Griselda Blanco now? The show's ending doesn't make show her ultimate fate. For the unversed, she is no more. Who killed Griselda Blanco? Why didn't the Netflix web series show her ultimate death? Here's all you need to know about Griselda and its ending.

Now that you have watched Netflix's interpretation of her story, you can read Griselda Blanco's true story here.



Who killed Griselda, The Godmother Of Cocaine?

Twitter

In the last episode, Griselda is feeling guilty for the first time. From a struggling mother to becoming the most feared drug lord, her journey has been quite daring, but this time she is questioning everything she has done so far. She accidentally killed a two-year-old boy while intending to kill his father, an ex-employee who she thought betrayed her. Her grief doesn't end here. She has been tapping into her supply of drugs and the DEA is also after her life.

In the series finale, she ultimately gets caught and is imprisoned in the United States. So, where is Griselda Blanco now?

But what happened to Griselda Blanco in jail? Who murdered her?

The makers of the show didn't show that in the series finale. They chose not to depict her intimate death.

Who killed Griselda Blanco?

Twitter

In Griselda episode 6, the show takes a seven-year jump but doesn't show her release from jail. In reality, the drug lord was sentenced to 15 years in prison for smuggling and distributing cocaine. At the same time, she also pleaded guilty to three counts of second-degree murder, thus leading to three concurrent 20-year sentences.

However, her health worsened in prison. She was a lifelong smoker. After she suffered a heart attack in 2002, she was released in 2004 and was sent back to Medellin, her hometown, as her health was getting worse.

While she was leading a simple life and trying to devote it to improving Medellin's condition, her rivals were still alive and haunting her. In 2012, when she was 69 years old, she was shot twice and murdered as she left a butchery along with her pregnant daughter-in-law. The assistants were on motorbike. The incident took place in 2012.



Why did the Netflix series didn't show Griselda Blanco's murder?

According to Doug Miro, the producer, "Emotional truth (was more important). When I say the truth, what we want is the essence of who the characters are emotionally, what their experience was, and what it's like to put on their shoes. To do that, you need to go past what's written, past what's published."

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
The audio launch ceremony for Aishwarya Rajinikanth's much-anticipated third directorial project, "Lal Salaam," was organised on Friday, January 26, in Chennai.

At the event, Aishwarya, the daughter of the legendary actor Rajnikanth, took a moment to address the recent criticism her father faced on social media.

Expressing her emotions, she revealed her initial anger upon seeing her father being labelled a 'Sanghi.'

Unfamiliar with the term, she sought its meaning, only to learn that it referred to people supporting a specific political party.

Hearing this, Rajinikanth welled up with tears, and his fans went into a frenzy upon listening to her speech.

About 'Lal Salaam'

Aishwarya disclosed during the Friday event that, when initiating this film project, she faced numerous challenges due to several producers being hesitant to support it.

She noted that upon her father learning about the script, he expressed interest in portraying the role of Moideen Bhai. Aishwarya admitted that initially she was hesitant.

The Movie 'Lal Salaam'

The movie stars Vikranth and Vishnu Vishal in prominent lead roles, while the iconic Rajinikanth makes a significant extended cameo appearance as 'Moideen Bhai.'

The film's musical score is being crafted by AR Rahman, and Lyca Productions is overseeing the production.

The movie's scheduled theatrical release is set for February 9, 2024.



Poster Shared By Aishwarya

Aishwarya, on January 26, also shared the poster of the movie on Twitter, which was captioned, "Thankful..grateful..blessed!"

Aishwarya shared the poster of the movie on Twitter/@ash_rajinikanth

On January 23, she announced the grand audio launch event date with a video on Twitter.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
In a thrilling update for fans of Tamil actor Vijay Sethupathi, reports over the last week indicate that the star has been enlisted for Nitesh Tiwari's forthcoming venture, 'Ramayana.'

Vijay Sethupathi To Be Part Of 'Ramayana'?/Twitter

While there is no official confirmation, reports hint that Sethupathi might be cast in the role of 'Vibhishana.'

Who Was Vibhishana?

For those unaware, Vibhishana was a member of the demon clan and was Ravana's younger brother.

Scene From Ramayana/Twitter

Owing to discord with Ravana and his opposition to the abduction of Sita, Vibhishana left Lanka.

Under the guidance of his mother, he opted to join forces with Rama, who, at that time, was assembling an army to confront Ravana and liberate his kidnapped wife.

What Is The Hint?

As per circulating reports, a recent interaction between director Nitesh Tiwari and Sethupathi included the narration of a script.It is speculated that the actor has shown keen interest in the project, hinting at a possible collaboration with the filmmaker for the movie.

Which Movie Did Vijay Star In Recently?

Vijay was recently seen in the film 'Merry Christmas,' where he shared the screen with Katrina Kaif.

Vijay Sethupathi With Katrina Kaif/Trailer Screen Grab

What Do We Know So Far About 'Ramayana'?

The film stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash is anticipated to play Ravana. There are also reports indicating Sunny Deol as a possible Hanuman and Lara Dutta in the role of Kaikeyi.

AI-Generated Picture Of Ranbir As Lord Ram/@AlanJoh43547747

Fans are excitedly waiting for Nitesh Tiwari's three-part Ramayana, which he assures will appeal to both younger and older audiences. With initial enthusiasm about the cast, they are now eagerly anticipating the official confirmation of Vijay Sethupathi's role in 'Ramayana.'

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.






Malayalam movie Malaikottai Vaaliban is winning praise not just from the critics but even the audiences. Directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery, the period drama also features Sonalee Kulkarni, Danish Sait, Hareesh Peradi, Manoj Moses as well as Katha Nandi in pivotal roles. The story of the film revolves around an undefeated warrior who faces new challenges after meeting a beautiful dancer.

While the Mohanalal-starrer movie is already running in theatres, here's everything you need to know about Malaikottai Vaaliban's OTT release.



Twitter

Where to watch Malaikottai Vaaliban on OTT?

As per reports, the film's rights have been sold to Disney Plus.



When to watch Malaikottai Vaaliban on OTT?

The release of the film on OTT has not been decided as of yet. However, the movie will likely be streamed two months after its theatrical release.

Twitter

Malaikottai Vaaliban is produced by John and Mary Creative, Max Labs, Century Films and Saregama.



Talking about the film, Lijo Jose Pellissery said, "For me, the process of finalising a theme doesnt originate from the pressure to create the next big hit; its a natural progression. The basic idea of Malaikottai Vaaliban began germinating within me a couple of years ago and then metamorphosed into a comprehensive plot. A writer like Rafeeq expanded that world, and it was only then that we realised Lalettan (Mohanlal) was the perfect fit for that role."



Siddharth Anand Kumar, Sr. Vice President -of Films and Events at Saregama India Ltd, said, "Lijo Jose Pellissery has not only created a vast canvas but assembled a sterling ensemble cast headlined by the legendary Mohanlal. This is one of our most significant ventures in Malayalam cinema as its theme, grandeur and emotional resonance have undeniable universality. This is why the film will be dubbed and released simultaneously in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Hindi."



Are you also waiting for Malaikottai Vaaliban's OTT release? Now, you know where you can watch it.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.


An Indian border village that has been uninhabited for more than half a century is all set for a revival. Jadung village in Uttarakhand near the Tibetan border was abandoned in 1962 after its residents were evacuated following the India-China war.

What happened to Jadung Village

Jadung village in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand had around 56 families living there at the time and they were rehabilitated in Harshil Valley.

Instagram

The scenic village, located at an altitude of 3,800 metres above sea level has since remained a ghost hamlet, except for the Indian Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) camps there.

Jadung Village set to welcome tourists

This is all set to change and Jadung is all set to welcome its original residents back, and some tourists.

The Uttarakhand government has cleared a proposal to redevelop Jadung under the Vibrant Village Programme.

FACEBOOK

The Uttarakhand government led by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has decided to resettle the villagers, who still own the land in Jadung.

Homestays in Jadung Village

Apart from this, Jadung, also known as Leh and Ladakh of Uttarakhand will also be developed as a tourist destination. Currently, there are just six dilapidated houses left in Jadung and they will be redeveloped as homestays.

These homestays will be developed by the Tourism Department and operated by the original inhabitants.

FACEBOOK

According to Tourism Secretary Sachin Kurve, the houses will be refurbished based on local architectural styles using locally sourced materials.

The Tourism Department will also support the locals by training them to manage the homestays and promote Jadung among tourists.

Jadung Village as tourist destination

In April 2023, the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board had announced a plan to develop Jadung as a tourism destination.

Attractions in Jadung Village

Jadung offers visitors an opportunity to immerse themselves in the beauty of the Himalayas and the traditional culture of Uttarakhand.

FACEBOOK

In addition to its natural beauty, Jadung is also a hub for special interest tourism.

For adventure lovers, Jadung and its surroundings offer an array of activities such as trekking, hiking, bird watching and nature camps.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
In a demonstration of the competitive job market, a widely circulated video depicts over 3,000 engineers queuing up patiently for a walk-in job interview in Pune.

The video, extensively shared on social media, brings attention to the high demand for employment in engineering.

The large gathering emphasizes job seekers' difficulties in a fiercely competitive job market, highlighting the importance of securing opportunities in a rapidly changing economy.

As the video initiates conversations about trends in employment and the scarcity of jobs, it encourages a more in-depth examination of the factors contributing to such extensive job-seeking situations in specific regions.

What Happened In Pune?

The video shows 3,000 engineers queueing up for an interview in Pune | Image: X

A trending video captures the scene of over 3,000 engineers lining up outside a Pune-based company during a recent walk-in drive aimed at filling junior developer positions commonly pursued by fresh graduates.



The event generated significant attention, with an impressive submission of over 2,900 resumes. Hinjawadi, renowned for drawing IT talent, witnessed extensive queues, with each aspiring engineer clutching their resume.

The widely shared video on social media has initiated conversations regarding the dynamic nature of the IT job market and the hurdles young professionals encounter as they navigate their careers.



While Pune boasts a thriving IT sector, the staggering response of over 3,000 applicants for approximately 100 positions has raised concerns about the adequacy of skills training, the impact of automation, and the imperative for diversifying the job market in India.

The video shows 3,000 engineers queueing up for an interview in Pune | Image: X

This incident underscores the pervasive competition affecting not only recent graduates but also experienced professionals, shedding light on the challenges posed by the evolving landscape of employment in the region.



The overwhelming interest in a limited number of positions emphasizes the pressing need to address skill gaps, adapt to technological changes, and explore broader employment opportunities to ensure a more sustainable and inclusive job market.



Where Can You Watch The Viral Video?

You can watch the viral video on X shared by Ravi Handa.

How bad is the job market!



3000 people lined up outside an IT company in Hinjewadi, Pune for a walk-in drive to hire a junior developer. pic.twitter.com/A3MzHYj41r  Ravi Handa (@ravihanda) January 25, 2024

How Did The Internet React?

After the video went viral across various platforms, a vibrant discussion erupted in the comment section, drawing in numerous social media users eager to express their perspectives.

The widespread dissemination of the video sparked an active exchange of ideas and opinions among users, reflecting the collective interest and concern surrounding the sight of over 3,000 engineers vying for a limited number of job positions in Pune.

Internet reacts over a video shows 3,000 engineers queueing up for an interview in Pune | Image: X

What do you think about it? Do let us know in the comments.



For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram.
From paid birthday leaves to vacation homes, companies nowadays have come a long way in ensuring a healthy work-life balance for their employees. Not just that, they are going out of their way to make the workplace more entertaining and inclusive, trying their best to keep their employees happy.



But, these come under luxury because when we talk about India, there are very few corporations that offer these benefits. Many of the small/mid-sized companies in India still take advantage of their employees through many ways like unpaid probation, no provident fund, a pay cycle based on only working days, CTC vs in-hand salary, notice periods, fixed contract jobs and many more.

Multiple companies mention all these details in their contracts and policy documents. Still, small and mid-sized companies in India dont mention these things upfront in the contract, and as a newbie, you don't ask it because either you have no knowledge about it or you are too scared to lose the job because of the stupid question. But, when it comes to your employment, these questions are not stupid.

Mr Varun K Dixit, Assistant General Manager - Human Resources at UNIVO Education, clarifies this and says, This is a myth, if any selected candidate is asking any question about their employment, in-hand salary, etc then generally it is never a problem. But, sometimes this is also based on the ideology and mood of the concerned person and they might react adversely but most often it doesnt happen. It is the HRs responsibility to address all these queries in a proper manner. Also, there are company policy documents where most of the details are mentioned. So, it should be provided to the candidate too or you can ask for it.

Now, let's discuss the things that you should ask an HR before joining any company. We will discuss them in detail and will see whether it is a green flag or a red flag in terms of joining a company.

Decoding Job Offers In India

jobhunt

Unpaid Probation Leaves

The probation period refers to the trial period for freshly recruited candidates. The period can vary from company to company. Generally, companies fix the notice period and might increase or decrease it based on the performance of the employee. It can be 15 days, a month, three months, six months or even a year. It depends on how much you have to learn new things in the new company.

But, it can easily happen that as a human being, you might want to take leaves during your probation period, right?

So, as a person who is about to join a job, ask HR or your immediate contact person (before accepting the offer) whether probation period leaves are paid or not. If they are paid, you are on the right track. But, if the company deducts money for your leaves taken during the probation period, then it's a red flag.

An employee-friendly company usually allows for paid probation leaves. But, a company (small/mid-sized) might not allow the same.

How can it affect you as an employee? So, if you want a leave during the probation period, then your per day salary will be deducted for each day that you miss your work. For example, if your salary is Rs. 30,000 and you miss two days during a particular month, then you will get paid Rs. 28,000.

Here, you are being deprived of your rights as an employee, and the company is just exploiting you. So, it is a red flag.

Also Read: From CTC To Gratuity-Understanding The Common Terms Used In Salary Structure

No Employees Provident Fund

istock

An Employees Provident Fund (EPF) is a retirement benefits scheme that ensures you have enough money to last after retirement. The provident fund is a joint payment from you and your employer that is withdrawn from your paycheck each month and saved in a PF account, where it builds into a substantial sum that you may access after retirement. Currently, all corporations with 20 or more workers are required to enrol in the Employees Provident Fund.



The government has established several standards to determine how much money would be distributed to each employee's PF account. The provident fund of each employee in a firm consists of two contributions: the employee's personal contribution and the employer's contribution. We will not discuss the procedures for computing the EPF contribution amount in this article.

But, despite having 20+ employees, some companies don't offer EPF, and it's a big red flag. So, reconsider your offer if there's no EPF. Now, one might argue that if EPF is not being deducted, then we will get the whole salary credited into our accounts, and nothing will be deducted. This can be good for the short term as a fresher. But you must know that when you switch jobs, there is a high chance your new employer will start your PF account. So, you cant escape it. Plus, it is a form of investment, and any investment starting at an early age is better.

30-Day Payment Cycle Vs Working Days Payment Cycle

indiatimes

This one is a bit tricky.



So, when you draw a salary from your workplace, then you get your monthly salary either towards the end of the working month or towards the first week of next month. Now, generally, companies follow a 30-day payment cycle, which means if you're earning Rs. 30,000 a month, then as per this, your per day salary is Rs. 1,000, meaning that you are even getting paid for Saturdays and Sundays (the days where you have weekly off).

However, some companies follow a cycle of payment where they pay only for working days. For example, a company gives weekly off on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays and all Sundays, which means that they are working 24 days a month. Hence, they would pay as per a 24-day pay cycle or the payment cycle based on the number of working days.

Applying the same example here, a person who is earning Rs. 30,000 per day earns Rs. 1,250 per day (as per a 24-day payment cycle). Now, you might think that this is a good thing as my per day amount is higher. But heres the trick.

Imagine if you've taken three unpaid leaves in a month. Now, unpaid leaves simply mean that your per days salary will be deducted for every leave you take. So, if you're being paid under a 30-day payment cycle (salary being Rs. 30,000), then your unpaid leave amount deduction will be Rs. 3,000. But, in the event that your company offers only a working day's payment cycle and you have missed three days of work (unpaid) with a Rs. 30,000 salary based on 24 working days. Then, Rs. 3,750 will be deducted from your salary for the three days you've missed.

Hence, a 30-day payment cycle is the best deal here. Before accepting an offer, clarify this with HR, or you can't really do anything about it later on.

Dixit explains that this is an illegal and unfair practice. He says, This happens mostly with small scale companies. But, as per the Labour Law, a company cannot stop an employees pay on any kind of weekly/weekend off or holidays. So, any kind of weekly/weekend off or holidays should be paid with the salary as per the pay policies and regulations. Interestingly, any company with more than three employees cant follow this and if theyre doing it, then it is illegal and you can sue them too and they have to pay you the money with penalty.

Now, most of the bigger players don't do this. But, some small and mid-sized companies do have this payment mechanism to pay only for working days. So, if you're to join a job and you come to know that it is a working day payment cycle, then this is a red flag. You can reconsider your offer.

CTC vs in-hand salary

salary/shutterstock

The phrase "cost to company" (CTC) refers to the entire employee remuneration package. It represents the entire amount of money a firm (organisation) spends on one employee in one year.



In contrast, in-hand salary is the amount of money an employee receives after all deductions have been made.

There are a lot of companies that will show a very high CTC. As a fresher or early career professional, you will be happy to get a higher package only to disappoint yourself when your first months salary gets credited.

So, make it a habit to ask HR about the deductions from the CTC. Also, ask them what your in-hand salary figure is going to look like if it is not clearly mentioned in the appointment letter or if you cant decode it.

Notice Period

Simply put, the notice period is the time between when an employee resigns or is fired and their last day of work. This can vary from company to company and depends on the industry that youre working in. For case, some IT companies have a six-month notice period because people work as software engineers who handle whole projects, too. So, before the end of your notice period, you are generally asked to complete what youve started and help hand over your duties to the person who is going to replace you.

For this, read the terms and conditions of the Notice Period carefully before signing the contract because sometimes it might surprise you.

I remember I was working with a company and wanted to leave the job for another job; as a media professional, I assumed that since almost all media organisations have one month's notice period, it would be the same with this company too and never bothered to read the terms and conditions. Later on, it was brought to my notice that theres a 2-month notice period. This caused me embarrassment in front of my new employer, whom I had already said that I had to serve a months notice period. Later on, I had to correct my mistake, and since the company wasnt in a hurry to hire, they considered my request.

So, please read every document carefully and save yourself from falling into a similar situation. Oh, and also, you can even negotiate your notice period if the new company wants you to join early. It is a possibility, but only sometimes.

Fixed Contract Jobs

Fixed contract jobs are those where companies hire employees for a fixed term. It can be any number of months or years. Here, an employee gives their consent to work for the company for this fixed term only. But, some companies take advantage of this and fix a contract of 3-5 years, and if you try to break the contract, you will have to pay some percentage of your salary to the company as compensation for breaking the contract, or it can have legal repercussions, too.

So, while joining a job, always ask whether the job is a fixed contract job or not. If they say no, then you are sorted, but if they say yes, ask them these three questions:

What is the span of the contract?

Does the company allow employees to leave the job in between the contract?

What is the provision to renew the contract?

If the answer to the second question is yes, you have nothing to worry about. But, if they say no, you must think multiple times before joining as you will have to dedicate yourself here until the end of the contract because paying money to end the contract would be just a loss-making deal.

Under the third question, the answer can have three possibilities.

First, it will not renew, and your employment will end with the end of the contract. Second, the renewal will be based on your performance, the companys requirements and if your manager wants to keep you. Third, it is based on the agreement of both the employer and the employee.

This is a subjective situation, and everyone has different aims and goals. So, based on the answer from HR and your situation, analyse and make your decision.

Apart from these intricacies, there are other things that you must know before joining a job, like potential legal proceedings that can be conducted against you by the company if any terms and conditions are not met.

For everything, the answer is the contract paper that you sign. Following are the usual contents of an employment agreement:

Name of the parties involved; Starting date of employment; Title and description of the job; Location of work; Hours of work; Probationary period; Salary; Restrictive terms; Holidays and Other information like deductions, permissible expenses, notice period etc.

You must read and understand these carefully, and if something is bothering you or is beyond your understanding or isnt mentioned in the agreement, bring it up with HR, and they will answer without any problems.

When we start a job as a fresher, then out of desperation, we accept any package and dont even care to look at the terms and conditions of probation or notice period, payment cycle details, and to be very frank, we gradually learn this when we land in trouble. But, if youre a fresher or an early career professional, follow the above checklist before saying yes to a job.

Remember, you have every right to ask all the questions.

For the latest and more interesting financial news, keep reading Indiatimes Worth. Click here
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Friday, expressed disappointment over the current infrastructural facilities at the Abuja University of Technology, Abaji, under construction.

While speaking during a stakeholders town hall meeting in Abaji, Wike referred to the institution as a glorified secondary school, deeming it unworthy of the nations capital city.

Reacting to an appeal for the Universitys completion by Abubakar Abdullahi, Chairman of Abaji Area Council, Wike acknowledged that the existing structures did not meet the required standards.

As he expressed the impossibility of opening the project in September this year, citing the need for a thorough review of the master plan, the Minister assured residents of Bwari and the FCT of his commitment to completing the University.

READ ALSO: Dont Exploit FCT Insecurity For Political Gains  Wike Warns

I am not going to promise you here that it will be September; I wont do that. Anything worth doing is worth doing well. I cannot be a minister of the FCT and come to where we want to open a university as if it is a glorified secondary school; I will not do that, Wike said.

The Minister emphasized the importance of ensuring basic facilities before the University commences operations.

Wike however vowed to summon the Mandate Secretary of Education Secretariat to provide the master plan for a comprehensive review.

If I go back, I am going to summon the mandate secretary education to bring me the master plan of this university. You will see how serious we will be to making sure the basic facilities are put in place and then the university can start up well. I dont want to stand here now in order to make you happy to say September, I wont do that. That is political talk, am not here to do political talk, I am here to talk and do, he added.

Information Nigeria understands that construction work on the University, owned by the Federal Capital Territory, began in 2011, yet academic activities are yet to commence.
Abba Kabir Yusuf, the Governor of Kano State has reacted to the invitation of Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), calling on him and others to join the party.

Yusuf of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), who spoke through Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, his spokesman, said Ganduje did not follow the right channel.

Recall that after a stakeholders meeting of the APC in Kano on Thursday, Ganduje asked Yusuf to abandon the NNPP for the Party.

We are appealing to those who want join APC to come. In particular, we are inviting the Governor of Kano and his NNPP to join APC, he had said.

READ ALSO: Dump NNPP And Join APC  Ganduje Woos Kano Gov

However, in reaction on Friday, Tofa said, We heard that he is begging for the Governor to join the APC, what is surprising is Ganduje as a former governor and former Deputy Governor knows better than anyone the right channel to send a message to a sitting Governor.

His Excellency the Governor (Abba Kabir Yusuf) does not have plans to leave his party and will not leave the party.

Changing a political party is like changing a house, you just cannot wake up, pack your bags and say I have left my party. There are things to be done before you decide to change your house.
The Russian government has written a letter to its Indonesian counterparts demanding that pro-Ukrainian comedian Maxim Galkin, an emigrant with a pro-Ukrainian stance, be banned from entering the country. He revealed that this is not the first time the Kremlin has made efforts to prevent his tour because of anti-Russian jokes.

ADVERTISIMENT

In particular, last year, at the behest of the Russians, the star did not perform in Kazakhstan, and then in Thailand. In the UAE, the organizers of his concert were fined. Galkin wrote about this on his Instagram page.

Russian media spread a fake that the emigrant was not allowed to enter Indonesia because of the country's pro-Russian views. However, the comedian denied the news, assuring that he had been treated very politely, had been granted a visa, and had signed all the necessary contracts.

Problems arose during the passport control check, where the Russian was told and later repeated that the Russian government had urged him not to enter Bali.

ADVERTISIMENT

"The reason was given almost immediately and repeated several times by different border guards: a letter from the Russian government asking me not to enter Bali. I was shown the letter, but, of course, I was politely refused a copy. All the services, both transport and border guards, expressed their benevolent surprise at how I deserved such an honor and such personal attention from the Russian authorities," the comedian explained.

The artist called the propagandists' claims about "blacklists" and the "government's position" on him "ridiculous."

"In Thailand, the Russian authorities worked according to a different scheme: they put pressure on the owners of the halls, who have strong ties with the Russian consulate and Russian tourism. It's funny that the Russian state is wasting the time and efforts of many people who could find a more worthy use for their homeland than maniacal persecution of dissenting artists abroad," the impersonator wrote.

ADVERTISIMENT

He also said that he perceives the troubles as "working moments in the present time" and shamed Russian bloggers and media who deceive people for trying to make money through his name.

Only verified information on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), on Friday, expressed regret and tendered its apology over the bombing of innocent civilians in Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

The Force, in an accidental air strike, bombed residents of Rukubi community in Doma, last year, January.

Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, however appealed to the State government and the families of victims for forgiveness over the unfortunate incident.

Abubakar voiced the forces contrition during a condolence visit to Governor Abdullahi Sule at Government House, Lafia, the state capital on Friday.

He explained that the airstrike was not deliberate, adding that the force was trying to neutralise some suspected terrorist when the tragic incident happened.

According to him, they had received intelligence that some terrorists were sighted on motorcycles in a location around Rukubi community.

His words, I Air Marshal Abubakar and my team are in the State to sympathize and condole the Government and people of the state over the killing of some herders in Rukubi community of Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, in a military airstrike in January of 2023.

READ ALSO: At Least 40 Dead As Explosion Rocks Nasarawa

It is not news that the general area (Rukubi) at that time had been well known for its insecurity occasioned by kidnapping and terrorism. Within the period, you would recall that six primary school pupils were also kidnapped in Doma LGA.

This, necessitated the surveillance by the Nigerian Air Force within the period of time. Unfortunately, the airstrike killed some civilians at the location. The unfortunate incident of January 2023 was in no way deliberate as no military the world over, will intentionally kill those it is mandated to protect.

Therefore, our visit to you (Governor Sule) is to solicit your kind intervention in interfacing with the representatives of the victims of the accidental air strike at Rukubi. Our interest in initiating ways and means in reaching out to the victims, their families or their representatives on the need to calm nerves and bring a close to the matter.

Abubakar, who lamented the prevailing security situation in the state, assured of the Nigerian Air Force determination to end the menace of kidnapping, terrorism, banditry and cattle rustling in Nasarawa State and Nigeria as a whole.

The governor, who was emotional while speaking on the matter, recalled how an eighty years old man lost his nine children and over 80 cows to the incident.

Sule said, When the incident happened, I did not know how to handle it. I had to invite the Miyetti Allah leadership to come in and help me calm them.

One of them who is about 80 years old made me shed tears because he said he had lost his nine children and about 80 cows to the airstrike. They all perished. He looked at me and said, I have nothing anymore here (on earth). I do not have children or cows. What do you want me to do Mr. Governor?, I looked at him and encouraged him to be patient, reminding him that he came to this world alone without any of those things and he will go back to the Almighty Allah one day without any those things. That was how he stopped crying and became calm on the matter.

So, your coming at this time is perfect and I welcome you to Nasarawa State. We will continue to support you so that at the end of the day, you can continue to provide the services of protecting the lives of the people.
Philip Aivoji, the Lagos State chairman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has been abducted.

It was gathered that Hon. Aivoji was kidnapped on Thursday along side some Party chieftains, at Ogere area of Ogun State, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The Party Chairman was reportedly coming from the PDP South-West zonal meeting held in Ibadan, Oyo State when the incident took place

It was learnt that another member of the Lagos State PDP Executive Committee, who was said to have escaped from the kidnappers, is presently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

Reacting to the abduction on Friday, the Lagos State chapter of the PDP called on security agencies and governments of Lagos, Ogun and Oyo States to urgently intervene and secure the release of Aivoji.

The Party stated that it was disheartening that kidnapping has become a prevalent issue in the country, saying the governments inability to address the menace was of deep concern.

According to a statement signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Hakeem Amode, the abduction of Aivoji underscored the pressing need for decisive actions from the government and stakeholders to eradicate the menace of kidnapping.

Aivojis abduction was a violent incident, and his current whereabouts or any communication from the abductors remain unknown.

READ ALSO: Gunmen Kill Anambra Couple, Dump Corpses In Vehicle Boot

We implore the governments of Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos States, alongside security agencies, to expedite efforts and secure his safe return to his family and well-wishers.

We firmly believe that, with increased efforts from security agencies, Aivoji can be rescued from these criminals, and we call on the public to support initiatives aimed at ending this threat to innocent lives, the statement read in part.

An anonymous party member told Punch that the abductors are demanding N200 million for the release of the party members.

Soji Orioye, the States PDP scribe, said the abduction was witnessed by Wole Adedapo, the State Treasurer of the party who was lucky to escape from been abducted.

Hon. Philip Olabode Aivoji is an elderly man of age and frail, to this end, we are using this opportunity to solicit for your prayers and intervention in anyway to facilitate his safe release from his abductors for a healthy reunion with his family.

As one of the important political leaders in Lagos state, we believe the abduction of Hon. Phillip Aivoji should not be treated with levity, Orioye said.

Meanwhile, spokesperson of the Ogun State Police Command, SP Omolola Odutola, in a chat with Vanguard said she was not aware of the kidnap incident.

Odutola said: For now, I dont have any information about the person who was kidnapped.
A spread of food at the new Dizengoff, including pita; pickles and olives; Turkish hummus with brown butter, crispy garlic, urfa pepper; roasted squash with Bulgarian feta, dates, radicchio, and pepitas; fries with tehina ketchup; hummus Yerushalmi with beef, baharat, pine nuts, and parsley; and hummus with green tehina. Read more

Mike Solomonov and Steve Cook are bringing back their Rittenhouse restaurant, Dizengoff on Monday, five months after closing to expand into the adjacent space occupied by Abe Fisher at 1625 Sansom St.

Now with 95 seats and at four times the size, Dizengoff has gone full service with a 12-seat bar set aside for walk-ins. Unlike the moodily lit Abe Fisher, whose menu captured the foods of the Jewish diaspora, Dizengoff has bright colors, a modern vibe, and a very Tel Aviv look that piggybacks off of the original Dizengoff design, Cook said.

We really want to feel like youre eating in Tel Aviv, he said. Its a world capital in the heart of the Middle East  very modern and stylish, but youre also sitting in one of the most ancient places on earth.

Boxwood Architects used tiles and wallpaper made from Israeli street posters to evoke the boulevard for which the restaurant is named.

There are two semiprivate spaces (seating up to eight and 12), plus an extended sidewalk patio for the warmer months.

Advertisement

The menu at Dizengoff  say it DEEZ-en-goff  remains focused on hummus varieties and house-baked pita. Solomonov said it would be more casual [than before] but still would have some of the robust and hardy flavors that were really associated with.

At the opening, the restaurant will open daily at 5 p.m. for dinner.

Solomonov said he was particularly excited about the zaatar roast chicken ($30) with crispy garlic, arugula, and sumac onions, as well as the smoked cabbage ($21) with tomato broth and labneh. The menu also includes falafel fried fish ($36) with pickled cabbage, amba, and tehina; slow-roasted lamb neck, chicken schnitzel ($22) with Yemenite pickles, tehina, and schug; and a vegan entree: chickpea and leek aruk ($22) with chard, potato, tomato, and amba. Among sides are pkaila, a Tunisian sabbath stew with greens and white beans; rice pilaf with turmeric and dill; and crispy fries with tehina ketchup. For dessert, theres a new, vegan tehina-date ice cream sandwich.

Lunch, starting soon, will be a best-of from Merkaz, the CookNSolo Washington Square West restaurant that closed over the summer (replaced by a location of Goldie), including pita sandwiches and hummus.

Three CookNSolo veterans are in charge: chef Joseph Howard (formerly executive sous chef at Zahav), general manager Wolf Williams (who had that role at Abe Fisher), and bar manager Sean Byrne (who also had that role at Abe Fisher).

Cocktails are twists on classics, such as the Clueless Soundtrack, whose floral aromatics are reminiscent of a Pegu Club; All the Way In, an espresso martini with rum and Baharat spice; and the zero proof Zaatar Girlfriend, with zaatar-grapefruit cordial and lime. Byrne is also focusing on natural wines made with grapes indigenous to the eastern Mediterranean, particularly those made utilizing ancient techniques. Frozen lemonnana will be offered, too.

Reservations for dinner are available through Resy; there will be room for walk-ins each night.
Amy Cohen, a Montgomery County physician, was arrested on Dec. 1 for arson and attempted murder. Read more

A state medical board temporarily suspended the medical license of a Narberth-based physician who they said is an immediate danger to public health and safety, Pennsylvania Department of State records show.

Amy Cohen, 35, was arrested last December after she allegedly attempted to set fire to a Lower Merion home. The house belonged to the grandmother of a woman dating Cohens ex-boyfriend. Police say Cohen threatened other family members of her ex-boyfriends new girlfriend.

She faces multiple charges, including attempted murder, arson, stalking, and ethnic intimidation, court records show.

Cohen is a doctor of osteopathic medicine, a type of physician that is licensed to practice medicine. She most recently worked as an infectious disease physician at Bryn Mawr Medical Specialist Association and saw patients Bryn Mawr Hospital, according to an archived staff bio on the practices website. Cohen is no longer listed as an employee.

Advertisement

A spokesperson for Main Line Health, which owns Bryn Mawr Hospital, said Cohen was an affiliated physician, but not employed by the system.

The disciplinary process against physicians can take years, but the state boards can issue immediate temporary suspensions of licenses when a person is an immediate and clear danger to the public health and safety.

The State Board of Osteopathic Medicine suspended Cohens license for 180 days on Jan. 5. She has the right to present her case against the suspension in a hearing. Attorneys from the state department will ask the board revoke her license or suspend it long-term.

The Inquirer made multiple unsuccessful attempts to reach Cohens lawyer before publication.

Break up leads to threats

Police say that early in the morning of Nov. 30 someone sprayed lighter fluid on the front of a 99-year-old womans Lower Merion home and set it on fire. The woman was inside asleep at the time, and the fire was extinguished with minor damage to the front of the home.

The incident was captured on a Ring security camera. The boyfriend of one of the womans granddaughters identified Cohen. He said they had recently broken up and he did not think she was handling it well, according to law enforcement records.

Police say Cohen was also responsible for antisemitic threats the family received in the week before the arson incident.

Days earlier, the 99-year-old grandmother found a threatening letter taped to her house. It had photos of her two adult granddaughters with Xs over their eyes, according to the affidavit of probable cause. The letter threatened that her granddaughters will both get hurt if they dont move out of Pennsylvania.

The sisters father received a similar letter in the mail that accused the women of promoting Islamophobia. The letter repeated the threat. If they do not leave Pennsylvania, they will BOTH get HURT. Dont test US!

One of the sisters had recently shared pro-Israel posts on social media, the sister told police.

 READ MORE: Doctor charged with attempted murder and arson after allegedly setting fire at Montgomery County home

Local police officers and FBI found lighter fluid, a note with the elderly womans home address, and more letters about the sisters when they searched Cohen, her house, and car with a search warrant.

Cohen was arrested Dec. 1 and is being held in the Montgomery County Prison since, court records show. Her bail is currently set at $99,000.
Madeline Daulerio (left), 6, prefers sleep-unders to sleepovers. Also pictured are her sister, Josie, 3, and her mother, Rachel, 38. Read more

Madeline Daulerio, all of 6, has made an important lifestyle decision: She wont do sleepovers, but shes always up for a sleep-under.

I like to bake cookies, do arts and crafts, watch movies and participate in the usual sleepover activities, the South Philadelphia youngster said. But sleeping in someone elses house feels scary. Im used to sleeping in my own bed.

The sleep-under is becoming popular with young children and their parents who, for one reason or another, arent into the full-night commitment of what for decades has been a treasured kids tradition. At these events, children do everything they would do at a standard sleepover, but return home with their parents later in the evening.

For many parents, sleep-unders are a practical alternative to the sleepover. They provide children with an exciting night with friends, without producing the whiny fatigue of the sleepovers dreaded morning after.

Advertisement

For some moms and dads, sleep-unders ease fears of possible sexual assault and abuse in someone elses house, or worries about the presence of guns in others homes, or of simply not knowing the parents hosting overnights, child psychologists say.

Rachel Daulerio, Madelines mom, sees the sleep-under as the best way to deal with her childs concern about staying all night in a strange house.

Id worry that shed be sleeping at a friends and Id get a 2 a.m. call that shes nervous and uncomfortable, said Daulerio, 38, a first- and second-grade teacher at the Philadelphia School, and co-owner of Beehive at Bok, an indoor play space in South Philadelphia.

Kids can get excited about the idea of a sleepover beforehand, but it can become scary to them once its happening.

Daulerio has hosted a few sleep-unders that have garnered her high marks among neighborhood kids. Typically, her daughters friends arrive in their pajamas, do each others nails, decorate and bake cookies, then move on to pizza and Harry Potter movies.

And by 9 or 9:30, Daulerio said, everyone goes home and we all get a good nights sleep.

Andrea Eckert, 46, of Chestnut Hill, said sleep-unders are nothing new.

We didnt call them sleep-unders years ago, said Eckert, who does development work for a nonprofit, but we gave the kids the novelty of staying up later than normal. And we made things more convenient for their parents by having them pick the kids up before we all went to bed.

Nowadays, Eckerts 12-year-old son, who enjoyed sleep-unders around five years ago, tells her that he wants to reprise them with friends at a buddys house.

Yeah, hes calling it a sleep-under, Eckert said, but what hes really asking is for a later curfew, till midnight.

Joannie Yeh, 41, a professor of pediatrics at the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, said she absolutely prefers sleep-unders: Im not a fan of sleepovers for my children. Her three kids  ages 4, 8, and 11  arent allowed to attend any.

Look, Yeh explained, abuse of children is something I see as a pediatrician, and it worries me for my own children. And always telling them no sleepovers is one less decision I have to make.

She added that she has zero judgment of parents whose kids have sleepovers. But, Yeh said, when patients parents ask me about sleep-unders, I say its a really great alternative. Parents can feel more comfortable, and kids can still socialize.

The opportunity to gather with friends is important for development whether kids are sleeping under or over, noted Leah Orchinik, pediatric psychologist at Nemours Childrens Health, Delaware Valley, in Wilmington.

She added that she doesnt want to make parents think that sleepovers themselves are problematic.

Many successful adults have had sleepovers, she said. And, if the kids are ready for it, theres value in waking up in someone elses home  to see how others live, to have a breakfast that might be different than the one youre used to, to learn how to adapt.

Orchinik said that its smart for parents to be cautious about where their kids sleep, within reason: Lets not discount real safety concerns, but lets not be overprotective and shield kids from safe and reasonable situations.

Some parents are more comfortable with hybrid sleeping parties.

Julia MacMullan, 39, of Ambler, the director of marketing for Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, said she and her friends have participated in sleepovers in which the parents stay with their kids.

At a Chestnut Hill backyard campout sleepover not long ago, MacMullan and her daughter, Ellie, 6, slept in the same tent.

It was hilarious, MacMullan said. And even though my daughter wound up crawling into my sleeping bag at 2 a.m. and squashing me, all the parents admitted it was a great time.

The main thing is the kids had fun.
Police investigate the scene at Mascher and Cambria Streets where a Philadelphia police officer was shot around 8:45 p.m. Friday. Read more

A police officer was shot Friday night in the Fairhill section of North Philadelphia and the suspected shooter was killed by the officers partner during a confrontation inside a neighborhood store, police said.

The shooting happened around 8:45 p.m. inside the store at the intersection of North Mascher and West Cambria Streets.

Shots fired! Shots fired! an officer told police dispatchers, then reported that an officer was down.

The injured police officer, who was not identified, was transported to Temple University Hospital, where he was reported in stable condition with two gunshots to the right thigh, Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel said at a news briefing around 11 p.m. outside the hospital.

The suspected shooter also was transported to Temple and was pronounced dead, Bethel said.

Advertisement

Police were searching for another man who they said picked up the suspects dropped gun at the store and fled the scene.

Bethel said the two 24th District officers were investigating a man possibly armed with a gun and a scuffle erupted inside the store.

When the man shot one of the officers, Bethel said, the officers partner then fired at the gunman. Both officers have been on the force for about six years, the commissioner said.

Thank God the officer is going to survive this terrible incident, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker said outside the hospital, addressing the media for the first time after the shooting of a city police officer since she took office earlier this month.

Parker said it was important that the city shows the police that we have their backs.

Ive said it over and over again, that the sense of lawlessness must stop in the city of Philadelphia, Parker said.

Said a visibly angry Bethel: Ive been here too many times. It is unacceptable.

Roosevelt Poplar, the new president of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5, said he was thankful that were not planning a funeral for the officer.

No further details about the incident were released.
A Philadelphia man who was convicted in 2009 of fatally shooting an off-duty police officer  then released after 18 years behind bars when prosecutors said they discovered that a key trial witness said she was coerced into giving a false statement  has sued the city, the district attorneys office, and police detectives, alleging malicious prosecution and that his constitutional rights were violated.

William Johnson, who was released from prison last year after a Common Pleas judge agreed to dismiss all charges against him, alleges in the complaint that he was wrongfully arrested, prosecuted, convicted, and incarcerated for the 2005 killing of off-duty Philadelphia Police Officer Terence V. Flomo, blaming the district attorneys office at the time for intentionally suppressing exculpatory information.

Johnsons lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania earlier this month, names the city, the district attorneys office, and several current and former Philadelphia police detectives.

Charges against Johnson were dismissed in June, after prosecutors said they became aware of letters the trial witness sent to top staffers, including then-District Attorney Lynne M. Abraham, before the woman went on to testify against Johnson in two trials. The second trial ended in a third-degree murder conviction for the shooting death of Flomo, and a sentence of at least 30 years behind bars.

Advertisement

In her letter, the woman, Brenda Bowens, said she was forced by detectives into implicating Johnson.   they told me what to say! she wrote, according to the lawsuit. In motioning to drop the case, prosecutors said those letters were withheld from Johnsons lawyers, and went undisclosed for years as Johnson appealed his case.

They were found after Bowens recanted in 2020 while speaking to Johnsons lawyers, and they and prosecutors found the notes to Abraham and former Assistant District Attorney Carlos Vega in Johnsons case file from 2006  before the case ever went to trial  saying that her statement had been coerced.

 READ MORE: Suspect in murder of off-duty cop walks free after former top prosecutors committed egregious misconduct, officials say

Attempts to reach Abraham on Friday were unsuccessful, but she previously said prosecutors supporting dismissal of charges against Johnson provided the court with false information, and questioned why she was never called as a witness in the years Johnsons appeals moved through the courts.

In an interview Friday, Vega  a longtime city prosecutor who was fired along with 30 others when District Attorney Larry Krasner took office in 2018, then ran against him in 2021  questioned the process by which charges against Johnson were dropped, saying he was told he could only review the decade-old case file if he agreed to be videotaped, and was denied the ability to testify in court.

The citys law department declined to comment on the lawsuit, citing the ongoing litigation. A spokesperson for the district attorneys office stressed that it was Krasners office that had supported Johnsons petition to have his conviction vacated, and declined to comment further.

The complaint points to several other overturned convictions due to so-called Brady violations in Philadelphia in recent years, alleging that Johnsons case was the product of the citys acquiescence to improper police practices and customs; and the unconstitutional policies, practices, and customs of former District Attorneys.

You have kind of a confluence of issues in this case that are pretty remarkable, said Johnsons attorney, David Rudovsky.

The lawsuit seeks a jury trial, calling for unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.

A jury in 2009 convicted Johnson in the killing of Flomo, an undercover narcotics officer, husband, and father who was fatally shot while off duty in North Philadelphia on Aug. 26, 2005. During the trial, prosecutors said Flomo drove to 20th Street and Cecil B. Moore about 2 a.m., speaking with two women who were sex workers on the street. Prosecutors at the time said that Johnson and another man, Mumin Slaughter, then fired into Flomos car, killing him.

Statements from the two women, including Bowens, were key evidence against Johnson and Slaughter during trial. Both women, the lawsuit asserts, were vulnerable to police pressure as they struggled with drug addiction and engaged in sex work.

A jury in 2007 convicted Slaughter of charges including third-degree murder, but failed to reach a unanimous verdict for Johnson. Slaughter then provided a statement incriminating his codefendant, but when prosecutors retried Johnson two years later, Slaughter repudiated the statement and refused to testify. A judge allowed prosecutors to present the statement nonetheless, and the jury convicted Johnson of crimes including third-degree murder.

When charges were dismissed last year, prosecutors said they no longer had confidence in the evidence against Johnson but did not fully support his claim of innocence.

This article has been updated to correct a reference to a previous statement by former District Attorney Lynne M. Abraham about William Johnsons case.
On Friday, January 26, Virgin Galactic made its sixth commercial space flight. Ukrainian Lina Borozdina flew to sub-orbital space along with three other tourists, who bought her ticket back in 2005.

ADVERTISIMENT

The footage of the spacecraft landing was posted on Virgin Galactic's X page. "Welcome back to Earth, Galactic06! Our pilots, crew and spacecraft have landed safely at the Spaceport America, New Mexico," the post reads.

Borozdina became the first Ukrainian woman to make such a flight. Virgin Galactic's website stated that she is a "private astronaut from Ukraine and California, USA."

The VMS Eve launch vehicle lifted off from the launch pad around noon EDT, carrying the four-seat VSS Unity spacecraft. Eve dropped the Unity at an altitude of about 13,700 meters, after which the spacecraft ignited its rocket engine and headed for suborbital space.

The passengers spent several minutes in zero gravity and were able to see their home planet against the blackness of space. The vehicle descended to Earth about 90 minutes after launch. It should be noted that Virgin Galactic did not broadcast the mission live.

ADVERTISIMENT

Borozdina was joined in space by tourists from Texas and California, as well as Austria. Virgin Galactic's crew included VSS Unity commander CJ Sturckow and pilot Nicola Pesile, as well as VMS Eve commander and pilot Dan Alix.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Leipzig, Germany, January 26, 2024  Honor introduces the Honor Magic V2, the worlds thinnest inward-folding smartphone, available in Europe this February. Honor also unveiled a more premium version of their class-leading Magic V2, the Porsche Design Honor Magic V2 RSR.

Media professionals gathered at the prestigious Porsche Experience Centre in Leipzig for an extravagant event unveiling Honor's latest innovations. Amidst the sleek surroundings of the Centre, attendees had the exclusive opportunity to experience the brand-new smartphones firsthand. Regarding functionality, the Magic V2 and Porsche Design Magic V2 RSR offer identical features. The Magic V2 RSR includes all components of the former, such as dual LTPO OLED and 120 Hz displays, four high-resolution cameras, and a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset.

Slimness and power

Honor Magic V2 unfolded. Picture: Honor.

The Honor Magic V2, weighing only 231g and measuring 9.9mm when folded, boasts over 210 technological breakthroughs. These specifications make this one of the most desirable phones today. For context, an iPhone 15 Pro Max weighs 240g, while the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 weighs 253g.

Honor Magic V2 folded, measuring 9.9mm. Picture: Honor.

The weight, slim profile, and large front display make the Magic V2 more practical and usable in folded mode, marking a significant breakthrough for foldable phone technology.

One of the key reasons the Magic V2 is so thin is thanks to Honors new battery chemistry. It features a new generation of silicon-carbon-dual-battery with an average thickness of just 2.72mm per battery, ensuring no compromise on flagship 5,000mAh battery power.

The Honor Magic V2 features the world's first 3D-printed hinge. Picture: Honor.

Honor also highlighted their use of aviation materials in designing the new hinge mechanism, which uses a titanium alloy crafted through 3D printing technology  a first for foldable devices.

The firm said Its durability isnt limited to titanium; it also holds an SGS certification, ensuring the phone can surpass 400,000 folds or 100 folds a day for 10 years, promising reliability for a decade of everyday use.

Cameras and display

The Honor Magic V2 has three rear and two front-facing cameras. Picture: Honor.

The Magic V2 features a triple rear camera setup, including a 50MP main camera, a 50MP ultra-wide camera, and a 20MP telephoto camera. The front-facing dual camera setup has two 16MP cameras. The device supports industry-leading 3,840Hz PWM dimming technology for minimal eye strain.

Multitasking

The Magic V2 introduces cutting-edge Hover capabilities for intuitive interactions, making video conferencing, music playback, and photography more efficient. Dual Tasking Efficiency, enabled by a vertical split-screen, transforms multitasking, allowing users to balance work and leisure seamlessly.

Luxury design

Porsche Design Magic V2 RSR. Picture: Honor.

The company said the Porsche Design Honor Magic V2 RSR combines Honors human-centric approach with Porsche design aesthetics. The fly line of the rear of the foldable smartphone is intricately reminiscent of the hood of a Porsche 911. They went on to say the improved grip provides a sportscar experience in the users palm. The Porsche Design Honor Magic V2 RSR comes in the iconic Porsche car colour, Agate Grey.

The device, weighing slightly more than the standard Magic V2 at 234g is still only 9.9mm thick. It features an Anti-scratch NanoCrystal Shield for enhanced display durability, providing superior protection against scratches.

Irish pricing and availability

The Honor Magic V2 will be available in black vegan leather for 1,999 RRP through Three Ireland starting February 6, 2024. Harvey Norman is also offering The Magic V2 on February 6.

Honor said details on the Porsche Design Honor Magic V2 RSR release and pricing will be disclosed soon.
I just picked some enchanting little primroses in the garden; my tummy literally skipped when I saw them peeping out from behind a timber seed tray under a beech tree in the vegetable garden. Im bringing them into the kitchen to crystallise and decorate my Saint Brigids Day cake.

Its officially the start of spring that weve been so longing for after that long, cold, wet stormy winter. At last, after years of campaigning, the Celtic goddess, Saint Brigid, has been elevated to her rightful place and has equal billing alongside Saint Patrick on the Irish calendar.

In January 2023, an official national holiday was declared to celebrate our female patron saint but ever since 2018, Irish embassies and consulates around the world have been marking the day by celebrating the remarkable creativity and achievements of women in a broad programme of events worldwide. Here in Ireland this year, well celebrate the 1,500th anniversary of Saint Brigids passing with a special festival of events nationwide.

So, have you got anything planned with your friends or in your parish?

Im going to bake a cake and decorate it with the little crystallised primroses I mentioned earlier and some little wood sorrel leaves that resemble the shape of a shamrock in a nod to Saint Patrick. You may already know the recipe, but this is a keeper and I do riffs on it for Saint Patricks Day and for Easter Sunday as well so its a really good master recipe to have in your repertoire. Saint Brigids Day, or La Feile Bride also coincides with the start of the ancient Celtic festival of Imbolc, one of the four major fire festivals of the year.

Imbolc (in the belly) comes halfway between the winter solstice in the spring equinox when the days begin to lengthen, nature wakes up and seed sowing begins. At the Ballymaloe Cookery School, we will mark the occasion by showing our students how to weave a little Saint Brigids Cross which they can take back to their homes all over the world.

But we will hang ours over the dairy door to invoke Brigids blessing on our little herd of Jersey cows, who produce such beautiful rich milk and cream to make butter, cheese and yoghurt and milk kefir throughout the year. Maria Walsh, our dairy and fermentation queen and in-house herbalist will teach a Wellness Course to celebrate Saint Brigids Day on February 1 here at the cookery school.

Just as the shamrock is associated with Saint Patrick, the little woven reed or rush cross, is traditionally associated with Saint Brigid. Typically, it has four arms with a woven square in the centre, but three armed crosses are traditional in some counties. This was explained and demonstrated to me by Patricia OFlaherty of Naomh Padraig Hand Crafts, a well-known Saint Brigids day cross maker at an event in the Irish Embassy in London a number of years ago. The Saint Brigids cross, originally chosen by RTE as its logo in 1961, was dropped in 1995 in favour of a clean striking piece of modern design. I personally would love to see it proudly reinstated.

Who exactly was Saint Brigid? Well, in reality, its difficult to differentiate between fact and myth, depending on whose research you decide to follow. She was certainly a remarkable woman, a force to be reckoned with and one busy saint  dairymaids, cattle farmers, beekeepers and midwives all claim her as their patron saint as do blacksmiths, sailors, fugitives, poets, poultry keepers, scholars and travellers too.

For me, Brigid was the original feminist, a trailblazer, a strong womans voice in a male dominated world, a feminine role model, a force to be reckoned with. Her legacy has stood the test of time, she is still widely venerated, and many lovely traditions still endure around the country, so check them out, another opportunity to get together and celebrate Mna na hEireann. There are many events taking place around the country to celebrate Saint Brigids Day including The Mother Earth Food Symposium which takes place in Kildare today with an exciting group of Irish women.

Happy Saint Brigids Day!

Saint Brigids Day Cake with Crystallised Primroses and Wood Sorrell recipe by:Darina Allen We love this super delicious cake which we organically created especially for Saint Brigids Day, green white and gold  how naff is that... Cooking times refer to the main cake, see recipe for details on primrose preparation. Servings 10 Preparation Time  30 mins Cooking Time  40 mins Total Time  1 hours 10 mins Course  Dessert Ingredients 175g soft butter

150g caster sugar

3 eggs, preferably free range

175g self-raising flour

To Decorate

Lemon Glace Icing (see below)

Crystallised Primroses (see recipe)

8 pieces of wood sorrel leaves

Lemon Glace Icing (to ice top and sides of cake)

225g icing sugar

finely grated rind of 1 lemon

2-4 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice

Sieve the icing sugar into a bowl. Add the lemon rind and enough lemon juice to make a softish icing. Method Take a 20.5cm sandwich tin, buttered and floured. Line the base of the tin with parchment paper. Preheat the oven to 180C/Gas Mark 4. Put the soft butter, caster sugar, eggs and self-raising flour into the bowl of a food processor. Whizz for a few seconds to amalgamate and turn into the prepared tin  make a dip in the centre so it rises evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes approx. or until golden brown and well risen. Cool in the tin for a few minutes, remove and cool on a wire rack. Meanwhile make the icing, once the cake is cool, pour the icing over the cake and spread gently over the sides with a palette knife. Decorate with the crystallised primroses and wood sorrel leaves. Serve on a pretty plate. Crystallised Flowers: Flowers and leaves crystallized with sugar will keep for months, although they may lose their initial vibrant colour. This is what we call a high-stool job  definitely a labour of love and not something suited to an impatient, Type A personality. The end result is both beautiful and rewarding and many family and staff wedding cakes have been embellished with crystallized flowers over the years. Flowers and leaves must be edible and are all worth doing. Smaller flowers are more attractive when crystallized e.g., primroses, violets, apple blossom, violas, rose petals. We crystallize lots of leaves as well as flowers so one can make attractive arrangements. Use fairly strong textured leaves - e.g., mint, lemon balm, sweet cicely, wild strawberry, salad burnet or marguerite daisy leaves. The caster sugar must be absolutely dry, one could dry it in a low oven for about 30 minutes approx. Break up the egg white slightly in a little bowl with a fork. Using a child's paintbrush, paint the egg white very carefully over each petal and into every crevice. Pour the caster sugar over the flower with a teaspoon. Arrange the crystallized flowers carefully on silicone paper so that they retain a good shape. Leave to dry overnight in a warm, dry place such as close to an Aga, over a radiator or in an airing cupboard. When properly crystallized, these flowers will last for months, even years, provided they are kept dry. We store them in a pottery jar or a tin box with an airtight lid.

Saint Brigids Day Champ recipe by:Darina Allen A bowl of mashed potatoes flecked with green scallions or the first of the new seasons wild garlic greens with a blob of butter melting into the centre as you serve. Servings 6 Preparation Time  25 mins Cooking Time  4 mins Total Time  29 mins Course  Main Ingredients 1.5kg unpeeled 'old' potatoes e.g., Golden Wonders or Kerrs Pinks

110g chopped spring onions or wild garlic greens (allium triquetrum  see Seasonal Journal)

350ml milk

50-110g butter

salt and freshly ground pepper Method Scrub the potatoes and boil them in their jackets in salted water. Chop finely the spring onions or scallions. Cover with cold milk and bring slowly to the boil. Simmer for about 3-4 minutes, turn off the heat and leave to infuse. Peel and mash the freshly boiled potatoes and while hot, mix with the boiling milk and onions, beat in the butter. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground pepper. Serve in 1 large or 6 individual bowls with a knob of butter melting in the centre. Scallion mash may be put aside and reheated later in a moderate oven, 180C/Gas Mark 4. At this stage the texture needs to be a little softer than you would like because it will absorb the extra milk as it keeps warm and reheats. Cover with parchment paper or a lid while it reheats so that it doesnt get a skin and add the lump of butter just before serving. Champ Cakes Shape leftovers into potato cakes, cook until golden on both sides in clarified butter or butter and oil. Serve piping hot.

Homemade Jersey Butter recipe by:Darina Allen Unsalted butter should be eaten within a few days, but the addition of salt will preserve it for two to three weeks. You can make butter with any quantity of cream (even a punnet). Make extra and share with friends, theyll be mightily impressed. Course  Side Ingredients 2 tsp pure dairy salt (optional)

pair of butter bats or hands

2.4 litres unpasteurised or pasteurised rich double cream at room temperature (we use our own Jersey cream) Method Makes about 1kg butter and 1 litre buttermilk. Soak the wooden butter bats or hands in iced water for about 30 minutes so they do not stick to the butter. Pour the double cream into a cold, sterilized mixing bowl. If its homogenised, it will still whip, but not as well. If youre using raw cream and want a more traditional taste, leave it to ripen in a cool place, where the temperature is about 8C (46F), for up to 48 hours. Whisk the cream at a medium speed in a food mixer until it is thick. First it will be softly whipped, then stiffly whipped. Continue until the whipped cream collapses and separates into butterfat globules. The buttermilk will separate from the butter and slosh around the bottom of the bowl. Turn the mixture into a cold, spotlessly clean sieve and drain well. The butter remains in the sieve while the buttermilk drains into the bowl. (The buttermilk can be used to make soda bread or as a thirst-quenching drink - it will not taste sour). Put the butter back into the clean mixer bowl and beat with the whisk for a further 30 seconds to 1 minute to expel more buttermilk. Remove and drain as before. Fill the bowl containing the butter with very cold water. Use the butter bats or your clean hands to knead the butter to force out as much buttermilk as possible. This is important, as any buttermilk left in the butter will sour and the butter will deteriorate quickly. Note: If you handle the butter too much with warm hands, it will liquefy. Drain off the water, cover and wash twice more, until the water is totally clear. Drain and divide the butter into 110g, 225g or 450g slabs. Pat into shape with the wet butter hands or bats. N.B. Make sure the butter hands or bats have been soaked in ice-cold water for at least 30 minutes before using to stop the butter sticking to the ridges. Wrap in greaseproof or waxed paper and keep chilled in a fridge. The butter also freezes well. Weigh the butter and calculate 2% of the total weight of pure salt. Spread it out in a thin layer, sprinkle evenly with the dairy salt and mix well. Mix thoroughly using the butter pats, then weigh into slabs as before. For unsalted butter, omit the salt, cover well. Use the unsalted butter ASAP because it deteriorates faster  salt is a preservative. Darinas Top Tips: Remember, sunlight taints butter (and milk) in a short time, so if you are serving butter outdoors, keep it covered. Always keep butter covered in the fridge, otherwise it will become tainted by other flavours (rarely a bonus). This recipe may be halved for a small quantity. We use 2% salt.

Seasonal Journal

Thank You to the Hospitality Industry

A special shout out and thank you to all the cooks, chefs, restaurant and hotel staff who worked throughout the Christmas period so you and I and all our friends could enjoy ourselves, you guys are heroes and greatly appreciated.

Now, lets show our appreciation by supporting them

Business of Food Courses

This Business of Food Course with leading catering consultant Blathnaid Bergin will equip you with the knowledge to set up and run your own food service business.

Up to 40% funding available via National Organic Skillnet.

The course begins on February 6th in Abbeyleix, Co. Laois.

Blathnaid also offers other courses including Menu Planning on March 6th and Menu Design on March 7th.

Wild Food of the Week  Wild Garlic

So love that moment when I suddenly realise that winter is over. One can practically hear the tingle of excitement underneath the ground. Rhubarb and chives are pushing their way up through the soil, everything is stirring.

Weve already found some wild garlic to add to champ, salads and flavoured butters  so how about a bit of foraging in the open air this weekend?

There are two varieties allium ursinum or ramps, a broad-leaved bulbous plant which grows in moist woodland, and allium triquetrum with a triangular stem also known as three-cornered leeks often grows along roadside verges.

The latter has a flower that resembles white bluebells, and pointy narrow leaves. They are often first to appear and are best for Saint Brigids Day Champ. If you can find some of the pretty white flowers, scatter them over the top.

Homemade Jersey Butter

You dont absolutely need timber butter bats when making butter, but they do make it much easier to shape the butter into blocks. Theyre more widely available than you might think, considering butter making a somewhat alternative enterprise although its now becoming super cool to make handmade butter. Keep an eye out in antique shops and charity shops and if you find some, snap them up. A good pair will bring you butter luck. Unsalted butter should be eaten within a few days, but the addition of salt will preserve it for two to three weeks. You can make butter with any quantity of cream (even a punnet). Make extra and share with friends, theyll be mightily impressed.

Darinas Top Tips

Remember, sunlight taints butter (and milk) in a short time, so if you are serving butter outdoors, keep it covered .

Always keep butter covered in the fridge, otherwise it will become tainted by other flavours (rarely a bonus).

*This recipe may be halved for a small quantity.

* We use 2% salt.

Makes about 1kg butter and 1 litre buttermilk

2.4 litres unpasteurised or pasteurised rich double cream at room temperature (we use our own Jersey cream)

2 tsp pure dairy salt (optional)

pair of butter bats or hands

Soak the wooden butter bats or hands in iced water for about 30 minutes so they do not stick to the butter.

Pour the double cream into a cold, sterilized mixing bowl. If its homogenised, it will still whip, but not as well. If youre using raw cream and want a more traditional taste, leave it to ripen in a cool place, where the temperature is about 8C (46F), for up to 48 hours.

Whisk the cream at a medium speed in a food mixer until it is thick. First it will be softly whipped, then stiffly whipped. Continue until the whipped cream collapses and separates into butterfat globules. The buttermilk will separate from the butter and slosh around the bottom of the bowl. Turn the mixture into a cold, spotlessly clean sieve and drain well. The butter remains in the sieve while the buttermilk drains into the bowl. (The buttermilk can be used to make soda bread or as a thirst-quenching drink - it will not taste sour). Put the butter back into the clean mixer bowl and beat with the whisk for a further 30 seconds to 1 minute to expel more buttermilk. Remove and drain as before. Fill the bowl containing the butter with very cold water. Use the butter bats or your clean hands to knead the butter to force out as much buttermilk as possible. This is important, as any buttermilk left in the butter will sour and the butter will deteriorate quickly.

Note: If you handle the butter too much with warm hands, it will liquefy.

Drain off the water, cover and wash twice more, until the water is totally clear. Drain and divide the butter into 110g, 225g or 450g slabs. Pat into shape with the wet butter hands or bats.

N.B. Make sure the butter hands or bats have been soaked in ice-cold water for at least 30 minutes before using to stop the butter sticking to the ridges. Wrap in greaseproof or waxed paper and keep chilled in a fridge. The butter also freezes well.

Weigh the butter and calculate 2% of the total weight of pure salt. Spread it out in a thin layer, sprinkle evenly with the dairy salt and mix well. Mix thoroughly using the butter pats, then weigh into slabs as before.

For unsalted butter , omit the salt, cover well. Use the unsalted butter ASAP because it deteriorates faster  salt is a preservative.
A little bit lost in the pre-Christmas frenzy was the launch of the 50th edition of Irelands Blue Book, a remarkable achievement for the bible of a very special arm of Irish hospitality.

The unique collection that is the Irish country house experience includes the likes of the luxurious Ballyfin Demesne to the more homely charms of the wonderful Mustard Seed, in Co Limerick; the impressively made-over Liss Ard Estate, outside Skibbereen, and two of The Menus favourite Irish hotels, Gregans Castle Hotel, in the Burren, and No 1 Pery Square Hotel & Spa, in Limerick City.

Granted, the bulk of the offerings may be of the old-school variety, short on hirsute and heavily tattooed young Turks dishing out whatever is currently on trend, and while The Menu is most Catholic and wide-ranging in his appetites (literal and otherwise) he will always remain especially partial to the bucolic charms of the Irish country house and it is no coincidence to find Ballymaloe on the front cover of the latest edition, for it was the wonderful Myrtle Allen who kickstarted both the concept and the Blue Book way back when even The Menu was but a young un!

St Brigid's Cloak at the K-Club

Ending dry January with finesse

As patron saint of babies, dairy workers, farmers, midwives, nuns, poets, printers, sailors, beer, and Ireland, while youre at it, youd imagine St Brigid has more than enough going on but, hung for a sheep as a lamb, The Menu suggests that she tack falling off the wagon on to that list as the new bank holiday at the start of February in her honour has already become a fine excuse for ending dry January in style.

The K Club, in Co Kildare, hosts a special feast (February 2) in partnership with Wicklows Powerscourt Distillery, an exclusive and intimate dinner in the resorts acclaimed Barton Restaurant, beginning with a special St Brigids Cloak cocktail and then on to a delectable three-courser with special Bordeaux pairings. Overnight packages are also available.

Maria Walsh, The Dairy Queen

Making life beautiful

The Menu highly recommends anything at all that Maria The Dairy Queen Walsh, of Ballymaloe Cookery School puts her hand to  and the list extends far beyond her work with milk and various dairy byproducts, along with fermented foods and beverages.

Her upcoming St Brigids Day Wellness course perfectly encapsulates her holistic approach to food and nutrition and their importance in overall wellbeing.

The day-long course covers various aspects of health including diet, meditation, self-care hacks and treating oneself with love. To quote Maria: It is the simple things that make a life beautiful!

A pint at the Blackbird, Ballycotton

Wild West in East Cork

Writing as yet another tempest batters the turrets of Menu Towers, it is no great stretch to think of those poor souls caught at sea in such conditions, so The Menu is delighted to mention the Wild West fundraiser (February 9) in aid of Ballycotton RNLI, to be held in the ever splendid Blackbird pub in the lovely East Cork clifftop village.

Complimentary cocktail on arrival is followed by a hearty ranch-style menu from local food heroes, The Trawler Boyz Ballycotton, to be then followed by live music from country/folk band Rag Order and a set from DJ Mossie.

Rossmore Oysters

TODAYS SPECIAL

In such straitened times for the food world, The Menu will take any and all good-news stories going, and he is especially delighted with the continuing and increasingly successful re-emergence of Rossmore Oysters, in East Cork. David Hugh-Jones first established his oyster farm in Cork Harbour in 1969 and it is now run by his sons Tristan and Rupert.

One recent and bitterly bracing Saturday morning, The Menu visited the Rossmore Oysters stall at Douglas Farmers Market (which, along with Mahon Point Farmers Market is run by Rupert) where he breakfasted on their very fine native Irish oysters which, when as good as these, are extremely hard to beat.

In a flatter shell than more common gigas, natives present with a delicate blushing coral pink but there is nothing fey about the flavour: Plump, tender, and succulent flesh sporting a perfectly poised salty-sweet nuttiness with just the faintest hint of cucumber.

The Menu took away a boxful to savour later that evening, intent on deep-frying them in tempura batter, a favourite method of cooking oysters, but, upon opening a delicious crisp white from the Loire, and sampling a raw oyster, the remaining contents of said box followed directly into The Menus gob, as raw, naked, and uncooked as nature intended.
Sometimes when I meet new people, they tell me they hate me. Its invariably uttered after I tell them what I do for a living, and I like to assume its said in jest.

For years I was a travel editor at one of the big daily newspapers in Britain, overseeing all things luxury. During that time I cavorted around the world checking out presidential suites, opining on the merits of Michelin-starred menus, and skipping through superyachts.

Its not the full story but, if you were to look at my Instagram, youd be forgiven for thinking Im on one endless holiday.

Just writing those words here, I know I sound insufferable. But luxury travel is big business, and if a place or property manages to seduce the elusive, lucrative UHNW (Ultra High Net Worth) community, the financial rewards can be colossal. The global luxury-travel industry was worth US$241 billion (222bn) in 2022; its estimated it will be worth US$440 billion (405.25bn) by 2030.

After I left that job, I founded a consultancy and content agency called LUTE (lute.co) that advises luxury-travel companies on things such as their branding, positioning, services and creative strategy. I work with a lot of hotels: nowadays new property launches can represent investments that teeter into the hundreds of millions, so its crucial everythings in tip-top shape from the moment the very first guest is handed their room key.

Thats partially why this sector places so much emphasis on the innumerable best of lists that purport to rank the leaders of the industry. The competition in this sector can be intense and those accolades can significantly ramp up a propertys credibility and desirability.

Among the latest awards to attract significant interest, the inaugural Worlds 50 Best Hotels asked 500-plus industry experts to rank their favourite properties. The results were revealed in a flashy ceremony in London last September. The winners enjoyed a surge of publicity and, we can assume, a jump in room rates as travellers clamoured to make a reservation.

I attended the ceremony, and when the top 50 were revealed, it turned out Id visited 27 of the properties (and stayed overnight in 21 of them). There are some corkers featured, and the majority of the room was delighted for the top-ranking property, Passalacqua, in Lake Como, Italy.

Passalacqua, Lake Como: No 1 in the World's 50 Best Hotels

But there are others I dont especially like and was surprised to see. When considering the list, its important to understand the voting process: the 500-plus judges must have personally stayed in their chosen properties within the previous two years.

As many of the judges are travel journalists, theyre likely to visit the more recently launched, newsworthy hotels, so some deserving grande dames might miss out (Passalaqua launched in 2022), and I expect in future the list will predominantly feature large-scale addresses with big inventories  though the judges remain anonymous, the simple ability to accommodate more guests year-round will work in favour of more capacious hotels.

So, while lists like this are useful, no ranking can deliver 100% accuracy. When Im planning my own holidays, the endorsements I trust the most are those from informed, like-minded friends or professional contacts. Now that you know me a little bit better, perhaps I can share a few of my own prerequisites when it comes to deciding what constitutes a world-class property.

The most important attribute of all is the ability to deliver heartfelt, and efficient, hospitality.

A beautiful building and flash fitness facilities wont salvage a pricey stay if the service is rubbish.

For me, thats why the best hotels in Ireland stand shoulder to shoulder with anything you might find in the Maldives, Tuscany or Serengeti. Ashford Castle or Adare Manor are remarkable architecturally and feature every conceivable amenity, but they have also nurtured long-standing team members who seem to genuinely care about their guests wellbeing.

Adare Manor, one of John's favourite Irish hotels

Youd struggle to feel comparably valued in one of New Yorks supposed top properties, where every obsequious smile seems to demand another gratuity. As far as hotels go, I think its one of the worlds most over-hyped, overpriced cities. (In contrast, Hong Kongs service culture is stellar: expect note-perfect delivery and so many unexpected thoughtful touches at the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong, in particular.)

A sense of place is also vital. Its obvious, but if I travel halfway across the world I want my resting place to convey that destination. I was awed by Udaipurs Taj Lake Palace, a former royal residence in shades of ivory that seems to float majestically in the centre of a lake that is encircled by ancient gold-stone buildings.

From somewhere up above, someone dropped intensely fragrant rose petals upon me when I first entered the building, apparently a traditional welcome for dignitaries; inside, an attendee led me on a private tour, pointing out where princes once played and revealing the family secrets indicated in grand old portraiture and intricate marble carvings.

The dramatically located One&Only Mandarina, in Riviera Nayarit, Mexico, is No 8 on the list of the Worlds 50 Best Hotels.

I was similarly wowed by Buahan, an intimate spread of lodges embedded in a densely forested mountainside in central Bali. The retreat isnt for everybody. Like the restaurant, bar and pretty much everywhere else, those lodges were built without walls or doors. At night, thick curtains are unfurled to temporarily provide some protection from the substantially-sized insects that proliferate in this wild environment, but at all other times it feels as though youre out in the open, immersed in the elements.

Although frogs crawled up our toilet on three occasions and I would discover grasshoppers the size of saucers checking out my duvet, theres a magic to this place. Wallowing in the handmade copper bathtub on my terrace one evening, I was illuminated by scatters of fireflies.

Each morning, I watched as tendrils of mist rose from the valley floor beneath me. It might sound schmaltzy, but my three-night stay reminded me how wonderful and beautiful the world can be.

Im also often moved by the places that make a genuine effort to engage with, and support, their communities. While we often think of hotel sustainability in simplistic terms (do they use single-use plastics; whats the story with renewable energy), the most progressive properties make momentous contributions to local economies by supporting educational programmes and providing meaningful employment opportunities.

I love the ethos of 700000 Heures Impact, which popped up in remote locations around the world for a few months at a time before laying down roots in an isolated village in southern Morocco. Previous outposts established links with local artisans and small-scale producers to showcase their talents, simultaneously teaching them about opportunities in tourism; this latest property is collaborating in similar ways with overlooked communities tied to a region where meaningful investment is hard to come by.

La Mamounia, Morocco - No 6 in the World's 50 Best Hotels

In Tanzania, the momentous Serengeti Grumeti occupies a 350,000-acre nature reserve. There are just a small number of rooms and it is astronomically expensive to stay here, but those fees support the protection of this precious ecosystem.

I will always remember meeting one of the anti-poaching brigade, who told me he was hired because he had been a poacher who had personally slaughtered elephants and rhino. Singita understood his actions were born of necessity, so they provided an escape route from poverty. He told me how he was able to support two sons to attend university and become teachers.

Though so many addresses trumpet their fine-dining restaurants, spas and suites, these are the types of memories that tend to stick with me. Time and again I find that the best hotels are these places that still have soul, a commitment to sincere hospitality, and a sense that they continue to value people and community just as much as room rates and profit margins.
The Palestinian ambassador to Ireland has called on the Government to join a genocide case against Israel following a ruling by the UNs top court.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ordered Israel to take measures to prevent and punish direct incitement of genocide in its war in Gaza but stopped short of calling for a ceasefire.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin has now asked his officials to urgently prepare legal advice around joining South Africas genocide case against Israel at the ICJ.

However, the Government has indicated that it will not make a final decision until after it has scrutinised the full details of the case due to be put forward by South Africa.

Officials and politicians are working in the background with other EU allies who may also join the case, at the same time as Ireland, to ensure the State is not isolated at a European level in taking action.

Trocaire CEO Caoimhe de Barra said an immediate ceasefire was needed, but added that the charity 'is now calling on the Irish Government to ensure that Israel complies with all of the provisional measures imposed by the ICJ...' Picture: Leon Farrell/Photocall

Speaking after the ruling, which ordered Israel to take immediate and effective measures to ensure basic services and humanitarian assistance are provided in Gaza, Palestinian ambassador to Ireland Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid said: From the beginning, Ireland was consistent in saying that they will intervene as soon as the ruling comes out.

I hope that Ireland will be joining the South Africans and Im finding a positive response from the Government.

More than 26,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel began its bombardment of the Palestinian enclave in the wake of the October 7 Hamas attacks.

Gaza officials said 183 people had been killed in the 24 hours before the ICJ ruling.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu fully dismissed the ruling, claiming the genocide case is outrageous and that Israel will continue to do what is necessary to defend itself.

However, Mr Martin said the court orders are binding and they include a stipulation that Israel must report in one month to demonstrate compliance with its orders.

We expect Israel to implement all provisional measures that have been ordered by the court, in good faith and as a matter of urgency, he said.

As agreed by the Dail earlier this week, the Government will strongly consider intervention in the case, following detailed analysis of the courts decision.

I have therefore asked my officials to prepare legal advice for my consideration on an urgent basis.

The ICJ decision is only an interim one and it could take years for the full case to be brought by South Africa to be considered.

Trocaires chief executive Caoimhe de Barra said an immediate ceasefire was needed, but added: We welcome the provisional measures which we hope will serve to protect the people of Gaza.

Trocaire is now calling on the Irish Government to ensure that Israel complies with all of the provisional measures imposed by the ICJ and that Ireland engages with its partners in the EU and US, in particular, to achieve this.
Tanaiste Micheal Martin has said there are "no plans" for Ireland to suspend funding to the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees.

His comments come as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) said on Friday it sacked "several" employees after Israel made accusations that 12 UNRWA staff members were involved in the October 7 Hamas attacks.

Following the accusations, the British government said it was "temporarily pausing any future funding of UNRWA whilst we review these concerning allegations".

Australia, Italy, Finland and Canada have all decided to suspend financing of UNRWA.

However, in a statement on social media on Saturday, Mr Martin said that Ireland would not be following suit.

Posting on X, formerly known as Twitter, the Tanaiste said he has "full confidence" in the commissioner-general of UNRWA Philippe Lazzarinis decision to immediately suspend staff suspected of participation in the "heinous attacks of October 7".

"Ireland has no plans to suspend funding for UNRWA's vital Gaza work," Mr Martin added.

"UNRWAs 13,000 employees provide life saving assistance to 2.3m people and at incredible personal cost - with over 100 staff killed in last four months".

Mr Martin noted that Ireland provided the agency with 18m in 2023 and "will continue our support in 2024".

Meanwhile, Two women and a man were killed early on Saturday in what witnesses said was an Israeli air strike on a home in the southernmost part of Gaza, as Israel pursued its military offensive against the Palestinian enclave.

The strike came less than a day after the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to do all it can to prevent death, destruction and any acts of genocide in Gaza.

As part of its binding ruling, the top United Nations court asked Israel for a compliance report in a month, meaning the militarys conduct will be under increasing scrutiny.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to conduct a review of how news of a gas oil spill into Cork Harbour was communicated to the public.

But it has defended its own pollution alerts system and said there is a duty of care on its licensees to keep the local community informed of significant events that may affect their area.

It was responding to criticism of how it alerted the public to the incident at the Irving Oil refinery in Whitegate, Co Cork, last week.

The company detected the leak at 9am on Monday, repaired the damage and notified the EPA that evening.

But the EPA did not publish details of the incident on its website until Wednesday, with advice to the public to avoid the area.

Midleton-based Social Democrats Cllr Liam Quaide said few people regularly consult this website, and a serious public health measure could easily have been missed.

"This important information should have been conveyed via a press release, he said.

In response to a series of questions from the Irish Examiner about its incident alerts system, the EPA said the operators of EPA licensed sites are obliged to report incidents to them as soon as practicable after the event, by telephone and in writing.

Licensees are also obliged to notify other public bodies as set out in their licence conditions, and that these public bodies have specific duties in response to particular types of incidents, it said.

The licensee (Irving Oil) reported the gas oil spill to the EPA by telephone at 7.25pm on Monday 22, it said.

They also notified the Port of Cork, Irish Coast Guard, Cork County Council, and the Health and Safety Authority. The licensee also contacted a number of local businesses.

It said there is a duty of care on licensees to keep the local community informed of significant events and issues that may affect the locality, and that it has issued guidance to licensees on how this can be done.

Part of our investigation will involve a review of the licensees actions and communications in response to the incident, it said.

The EPA said it inspected the site on Tuesday as its investigation into the spillage got underway and to assess the extent of the incident, and that it published details of the incident on its website on Wednesday morning.

It said subsequent inspections were completed on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday with another update published on its website on Thursday evening.

We will continue to issue updates until the incident has been closed, it said.

The EPA will continue to investigate the cause and extent of the impacts of this incident.

The EPA will require the licensee to take all required corrective actions to remediate any environmental damage caused by this incident.

In addition, the licensee will be required to implement preventative actions to prevent a similar situation from occurring again.
Its the little things, isnt it? I remember feeling almost giddy when I found my mothers recipe for cherry and walnut cake tucked into the pages of an old recipe book in a drawer. We had thought it long lost, but there it was; a worn scrap of paper presenting me with the perfect reason to trip off down memory lane.

I took off at a clip, gathering the ingredients, including the first tub of glace cherries I think Ive ever bought. (Oh, sickly, synthetic sweetness, how Ive missed you).

It is only a fool who would attempt to recreate the work of a star-baker mother but then, thankfully, fools are known to rush in.

Recipe collections must be one of the most potent records of our lives. Almost every house has a battered book somewhere, stuffed with clippings from magazines and newspapers. They are biographies of our lives told in hot dinners, scones, and, in our case, cherry and walnut cake.

I set about making the latter without the time-honoured brown, glazed mixing bowl and without my mothers light touch. I remember her wheeling the completed, sandwiched sponge through a tray of crushed walnuts with the steady hand of a surgeon. The nuts stuck to the butter-creamed sides evenly and aesthetically.

HISTORY HUB If you are interested in this article then no doubt you will enjoy exploring the various history collections and content in our history hub. Check it out HERE and happy reading

Lets just say my crushed walnuts did not find their way into place in the same dexterous way, but they got where they were meant to be anyway.

It was striking to see how little buttercream icing was needed. But then, this was an era when cupcakes were called fairy buns which were a third of the size. Speaking of which, my final attempt was also about a third of the size of my mothers cake, but my flatter effort still sent us off taste-travelling (that should be a phrase).

The cut-out recipe had been hiding among the well-thumbed pages of All in the Cooking, a book first written as a textbook for a home management course in Cathal Brugha Street, Dublin. It went on to become the go-to cooking bible in many homes.

When it came out in 1946, it was universally praised, not least because it was one of the first cookery books to be wholly produced in Ireland. This paper noted that it was a most instructive book and said the compilers  Josephine B Marnell, Nora M Breathnach, Ann A Martin and Mor Murnaghan  were to be congratulated.

Read More Darina Allen chooses her favourite recipes from the new edition of All In The Cooking

A second and equally successful volume followed. As writer Clare Boylan wrote in the Irish Press in 1967: I can say with certain knowledge that both of those volumes have saved many a young bride from embarrassment and many a young husband from starvation.

If that observation sounds very dated now, the work done by the women who produced the cookbooks does not.

Take one of the authors, Mor Murnaghan, for instance. She was elected chairman of the Womens Advisory Committee when, in 1964, the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards finally recognised that it needed input from women some 18 years after its formation.

The Institute, formed to encourage scientific research and improve the technical processes used in Irish industry, relied on the new womens committee to advise on standard specifications relating to food, textiles, and building materials.

Im thrilled about this committee, Darinas gossip column in the Irish Press proclaimed in 1964: The views of the women at home are at last being sought. The women of this country simply havent been heeded. Their needs arent studied.

Those needs were outlined, again and again, by Mor Murnaghan in the 1960s and 70s and many of the other unsung women in organisations such as the Irish Housewives Associations who shone a light on the domestic sphere.

Housewives had at least 70% of the spending power, Mor Murnaghan pointed out in a later role as chair of the National Consumer Advisory Council. She campaigned for the rights of consumers and suggested that communities should be involved in setting up advice centres.

It is only in recent times that consumers have begun to shed the passive cloak which has been a character of their approach to their fight, she said at a conference in 1979.

The authors of All in the Cooking didnt just develop the first comprehensive guide to Irish cooking, they also started the conversation about improving the links between food producers and consumers and tackling food waste.

We forget how much we owe the women who went before us. They fought for better standards and better deals for consumers.

Take their fierce campaign against sad vegetables in 1969, as an example.

Mor Murnaghan and Philomena Moore of the Irish Housewives Association displayed cool, feminine logic  a description in the Irish Independent  when they told a conference what women wanted from glasshouse food crops.

For I must say loudly and clearly: we are sick and tired of sad-looking vegetables with either a glut or none at all, of mixed quality (dirty, badly presented fruit and vegetables), of embargoes that only benefit the producers and export markets never the home consumer, Philomena Moore said.

She said consumers were also sick of soaring prices and wanted freshness, flavour, and variety.

And here are her revealing thoughts on what that variety might look like: You already grow tomatoes, peppers, mushrooms, lettuce. What about chicory endive iceberg lettuce, asparagus, cucumbers, herbs, aubergines, artichokes, grapes, peaches, and  for the distant future  citrus fruits?

With that bounty, you might return to All in the Cooking and plan what to do with it.

Though I wonder how many of us still think of dinner like this? It is a meal of three or four courses  except on special occasions when there may be more. Hors doeuvre, soup, fish, entree, joint or poultry, vegetables, pudding or sweet, cheese or savoury, dessert, coffee. This order should always be followed?

Dinner preparers were also warned against including pork or curries, as many have difficulty digesting either.

Having said that, much within the pages of All in the Cooking still resonates deeply, partly because what we eat and how we prepare it says so much about who we are. Little wonder OBrien Press reissued both volumes in 2015.

At the time one of the original authors, Anne A Browne (nee Martin), said she was delighted, in her 97th year, to see the book in print again. I am so pleased to know that traditional Irish preparation and cooking of good food are enjoying renewed admiration, and I hope this book will also be appreciated by a new generation.

And it is. Thats the (glace) cherry on the top.
Actress Anastasia Karpenko ("How is Katya?", "Carrier", "House of Hope", "Doctor Kovalchuk"), who starred in both parts of the film "Servant of the People", told us what she thought of working on the set of Volodymyr Zelenskyy's film. The famous actor, now the President of Ukraine, played the main role in the movie.

ADVERTISIMENT

Anastasia Karpenko was given the role of opposition journalist Yana Klymenko in Servant of the People. In an interview with OBOZ.UA, the actress readily recalled the time of filming.

"I have positive impressions of meeting and communicating with Zelensky," says Anastasia. - "Volodymyr is sincere and open, easy to communicate with all the departments of film production. He treated people of any profession with respect, whether you are an editor or an actor. I watched this and, frankly, I was delighted. I was delighted with his simplicity, his indifference, his professionalism. He didn't have the attitude that this is not my job, I won't do it. He dealt with absolutely everything, quickly resolved any issues. And he treated his colleagues as if they were his personal family, not a film crew. As if he was doing it for himself, his wife and children."

ADVERTISIMENT

Earlier, OBOZ.UA wrote that actor Serhiy Kalantai, who starred in The Servant of the People alongside Volodymyr Zelenskyy, told details from the movie set. Serhiy Kalantai played the head of the IMF, Otto Adelweinsteiner, in the TV movie.

"I've heard versions that the story of the movie was conceived a long time ago so that Zelensky would become president," Kalantai admitted. I can only say that I had a good colleague and a great organizer on the set. "Servant of the People" was made very sincerely, it is a worthy work. In terms of material support, the movie was fully in line with the European level."

Years after filming, actor Kalantai had the opportunity to meet Zelensky once again: "All the memories of that life, when I knew Volodymyr as Volodya, are very pleasant for me. When he awarded me the title of Honored Artist of Ukraine on the stage of the Franko Theater, I was afraid to hug him. But I couldn't. We winked at each other, shook hands - it's a different relationship, and it's understandable."

ADVERTISIMENT

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
There were few tears for Ian Bailey when news broke last Sunday he had died of a heart attack while walking along Barrack St in Bantry.

It is unlikely we will ever know whether or not he murdered Sophie Toscan du Plantier, but even if Bailey had lived for another 20 years, would a re-investigation of the old evidence and witness statements have been able to prove anything worth a judicial hearing?

Unlikely, considering the original investigation descended in to bungling: Disappearing evidence, a missing farm gate spattered with blood, and alleged witness harassment by some gardai.

Nor was Baileys cause aided by his behaviour and his bizarre revelations, which continued until shortly before his death.

Bailey, the chief suspect in the murder of the French film director in December 1996, had become an enigma in recent years as a result of two widely acclaimed films, a successful podcast, and numerous documentaries and bestselling books. He dominated the storyline. He was a star because of his own self-sabotage.

Bailey could regularly be seen courting the company of the true-crime tourists who visited Schull hoping to catch a glimpse of him, maybe even the chance of a selfie to show to their friends, to prove they had met this grotesque character.

He became a celebrity as a result of his notoriety, which he courted like a Shakespearean actor, along with the infamy all the international attention brought. He had become a bizarre reality-television-like star to a generation not around in 1996, who saw him as a true-crime villain in a story with a cast of one.

Bailey could regularly be seen courting the company of the true-crime tourists who visited Schull hoping to catch a glimpse of him, maybe even the chance of a selfie to show to their friends, to prove they had met this grotesque character.

Some of these visitors were content simply to stand beside Bailey and have their photo taken, in return for buying his poetry books. But others were more fanatical, from the weird end of the true-crime spectrum, the type of people who write letters to murderers on death row.

Bailey, a freelance journalist, always denied knowing the French woman, but several witnesses disputed this. Bailey was informed of the murder at 1.40pm that day by an Cork Examiner reporter who was not aware the victim was French. Witnesses stated Bailey had told them before midday that he was reporting on the murder of a French woman.

Bailey would hold court in Schull most Sundays, to the annoyance of locals, sitting on a low wall overlooking the boats in the harbour, chatting to anyone who wanted to hear his story. On Fridays, he sold poetry books, pizza slices, and wooden artefacts at the farmers market in Bantry, and in Skibbereen on Saturdays.

So, it is not unlikely it was at one of these busy markets that he met another artist, Sophie Toscan du Plantier. What they had in common was their talent for writing and painting, and a need for isolation and peace. The Mizen peninsula is overwhelmingly remote, and Schull, one of the loveliest villages in West Cork, is at the centre of this area of outstanding natural beauty.

After I had a health setback some years ago, Schull became a favourite breakaway for me, miles from the madness of what people regard as reality. So it wasnt surprising that our paths crossed one evening just as darkness was falling.

The footpaths on Market St are narrow, and as Ian Bailey walked towards my wife, Paula, and me, we stood aside to let him pass. He stopped and we shook hands. We chatted briefly. I had interviewed him years before. He remembered. I asked him how he was.

Im broken. My health is bad. My life has been destroyed. Im a prisoner in a land where I came to find peace. He nodded to a Garda car parked further up the street. Theyre always watching. Theyll only be happy when Im dead.

He was a towering, colossus of a man, dressed like someone who enjoyed being intimidating, perhaps as a form of self-defence against those who intimidated him.

Ill never forget his handshake. I thought he would break my wrist. His hands were like shovels, his face rough and pale, his lips blueish grey, and his piercing, black-rimmed eyes empty, almost dead.

Ian Bailey moved to Bantry, where he felt he would be more inconspicuous in a bigger town  words I found strange, considering he craved the adrenaline rush that came with being recognised by the true-crime tourists.

Ian Baileys dark shadow hung over the village of Schull, and all those who live there, for 25 years, until he moved to Bantry, where he felt he would be more inconspicuous in a bigger town  words I found strange, considering he craved the adrenaline rush that came with being recognised by the true-crime tourists.

Was he a murderer? Possibly. Any man who violently and intentionally raises his hands against a woman and lashes out at her might also be capable of murdering her. In 2001, Bailey was convicted in Skibbereen District Court of assaulting his former partner.

While a violent assault cannot be equated with murder, theres a fine line of division. A prolonged assault can lead to death.

While he might not have murdered Sophie Toscan du Plantier, Baileys propensity for violence, which he claimed was as a result of alcohol, sealed his fate in the eyes of those who believed he was guilty from the start. If he could beat up his partner, he could do the same to anyone who crossed him.

Robbery, jealousy, and vengeance are the three motives for nearly all murders. In these terms, Bailey doesnt come across as being the murderer he was claimed to be by the gardai.

He was an artist, a loner, a fantasist, odd, messy, self-absorbed. He wanted to be perceived as a dandy, a beatnik like Andy Warhol. It has been suggested his only interest in Sophie was to hitch his wagon to hers and bring his art and poetry to a wider audience.

However, during a phone conversation with a news editor at the long-demised Sunday Tribune newspaper, Bailey had said, by way of a dark-humoured joke, that he had killed Sophie because I needed a story.

He also told a 14-year old neighbour that everything was fine before I went up there with a rock and bashed her fucking brains out. He also said that was a joke, but the odds thereafter of quashing the publics guilty-by-suspicion tag had collapsed. In the eyes of most people, Ian Bailey was a murderer.

If he was a murderer, he did not match the criteria. If he did not murder Sophie, then the Garda investigation destroyed his life, based on the lies that were told, as he had said to me that night I met him five years ago.

However, if Ian Bailey did murder her, then the investigators mismanagement failed both her and her family, and the people of West Cork.

Perhaps now that Ian Bailey is dead, the beautiful town of Schull can move on from this dark period, and, hopefully, the true-crime tourists will move on, too, to somewhere else, in their insatiable search for brutality and vulgarity.

He became a celebrity as a result of his notoriety, which he courted like a Shakespearean actor, along with the infamy all the international attention brought.
Mattie McGrath is a man who has always come at politics from a different angle but he has now taken a dramatic swerve to the right.

Increasingly out-there rhetoric on everything from vaccines to covid and the World Economic Forum (WEF) have all raised eyebrows, but his recent comments which equated the arrival of asylum seekers to a new wave of colonisation have sparked sharp criticism and raised concerns both inside and outside the Dail.

He was always just controversial, liked a little bit of controversy and liked to give out about things and that was fine, but, like, hes gone totally off on another scale now, said one Leinster House source this week.

We talk about how were worried about a right-wing individual coming into Leinster House, but he is that, hes there already. Hes absolutely there, the only difference is he wasnt there when he came in first, but he is 100% there now.

He has gone down so many rabbit holes, particularly on covid, and now on the WEF and migration stuff and there a lot of people who agree with him on it.

'Man with the van' politics

Since leaving Fianna Fail in 2011 amid claims of being let down and double-crossed, McGrath has successfully created his own brand of man with the van politics, an eccentric style with the cupla focal thrown in.

Back during the 2016 general election, McGrath, just like the slogan on the side of his canvass van, was getting the work done and even double-jobbing.

When the Irish Examiner spent a day out canvassing with him in Tipperary, he was simultaneously trying to investigate the theft the previous night of a horsebox festooned with Mattie McGrath posters while directing his van driver down a street in a bid to steer clear of a funeral cortege.

The hearse avoided, McGraths van continued on its way down a narrow street in Cashel blaring out a diddly-diddly country tune penned especially for this election.

The day included multiple dousings of holy water, kisses from elderly women, a quick stop for a cup of tea, and multiple entries on the little bundle of white report cards that he uses to record constituent issues.

Given his unique and sometimes outlandish style, McGraths contributions in the Dail have often been laughed off, with the Government and opposition only too eager to rile him further with jibes and heckles.

But even those who previously enjoyed his contributions are now taking note with concern.

While his comments on immigration have caused the most chatter, observers say there have been previous signals that McGrath was being drawn into what many would describe as conspiracy theories and anti-vax arguments.

In 2017, he called for then head of the HSE Tony OBrien to be fired after he hit out at disinformation that was being spread about the HPV vaccine.

At the time, take-up of the jab had slid to around 50% and OBrien had warned that parents were being subjected to scare tactics by those against the vaccination of young people.

This is a pathetic and brutalising assault on all those parents and children who, from Mr OBriens perspective, have had the temerity to raise questions about the effectiveness and impact of the Gardasil vaccine, said McGrath at the time.

Out on the campaign trail ahead of the 2020 general election, McGrath happily posed with chairwoman of the Irish Freedom Party and fellow Tipperary candidate Dolores Cahill; the picture was then posted on the Facebook page of Cahills party.

It is understood McGrath remains in contact with Cahill who was a prominent anti-vaccination and anti-lockdown activist during the pandemic and who at one stage claimed that globalists had pushed for mandatory mask wearing because oxygen-deprived people are easy to manipulate.

In 2021, as covid conspiracy theorists went into overdrive, McGrath was strongly criticised by the Auschwitz Museum when he said covid certificates for indoor dining were akin to something from 1930s Nazi Germany.

In many respects, McGrath is his own man and trying to ascertain how he has arrived at the positions he now holds can be difficult.

While politics is a family affair for the father-of-eight who has employed a number of his children, including his daughter Maureen who is seen as his heir apparent, McGrath also seeks counsel from a number of others in the constituency.

Observers have also pointed to his appearances at a number of protests alongside individuals who would be considered to have significant involvement in the far right.

In September last year after angry and nasty scenes outside the Dail where a far-right demonstration resulted in scuffles and arrests, McGrath put forward the bizarre suggestion that the protest may have been infiltrated and he was waiting for Garda intelligence to find out.

When asked by the Sunday World who he thought could have infiltrated the group, he said: We have these people who will do anything to damage the cause.

A relatively newfound interest in the WEF, held in Davos each year and founded by German engineer Klaus Schwab, has also caused many to raise questions about who may be influencing the Independent TD.

During one of his numerous WEF-themed contributions, McGrath told the Dail that the people of Ireland have questions they want answered about the powerful globalist forces who are having a huge impact on the way our country is being run.

Citing a number of books written by Schwab, he claimed the theories put forward sound the very same as Mussolinis very definition of fascism when he said that fascism is equal to corporatism because it is a merger of state and corporate power.

This all might sound like some sort of conspiracy and I wish it was, but it is not, warned McGrath.

Amid heckling and laughter he added: All right, we will see who will have the last laugh.

One issue that is certainly not a laughing matter is a growing anti-migrant sentiment that has resulted in the burning of hotels and protests outside accommodation earmarked for those seeking asylum here.

Speaking in the Dail in the wake of the protests outside Racket Hall in Roscrea, McGrath sought to push much of the blame onto the gardai. He said he had written to the chief superintendent and superintendent over a total mishandling and besmirching of good people.

Feeding into an Ireland is full narrative that aims to dehumanise and other asylums seekers, McGrath told a rally in Roscrea: We need to respect our culture, our heritage, our faith, our language were trying to be colonised here again.

Were not anti-refugee, but enough is enough and the Government have to listen. Our schools are full, our hospitals are full, and we cant get a GP.

Its a comment that has been condemned by both opposition and Government TDs.

But some in his constituency believe that McGraths stance, especially on the recent protests in Roscrea, has only bolstered his standing and he is now regaining votes from a disillusioned cohort who may have given their first preference to Sinn Fein in the last election.

His more unorthodox leanings may have previously been met with an eye-roll and a snigger, but observers of the rise of the far right realise he can no longer be dismissed.
A new Munster property price record, likely to be between 30m and 35m, is being set for a country estate in Co Waterford, Ballynatray near Youghal, with local sources associating the purchase with one of Britains richest men and one of its most prominent household names, James Dyson.

The off-market multimillion-euro sale of the pristine Georgian mansion on 850 acres on the Waterford side of the Cork border is due to close in February, having been quietly available for a lengthy period with its steep price tag via Savills Private in London for its owner Henry Gwyn-Jones.

Serial entrepreneur and inventor James Dyson has been linked with the purchase of Ballynatray in Co Waterford but the transaction is subject to numerous non-disclosure agreements. Picture: Gareth Fuller/PA

Henry Gwyn-Jones had paid over 11m for Ballynatray on 400 acres 20 years ago, describing it as love at first sight, and since then has done a second series of renovations as well as more than doubling the estates land bank to 850 acres, with up to three miles of frontage on the River Blackwater, historically one of Europes great salmon rivers.

If  as has been suggested  James Dyson or his investment companies emerge as the purchaser, Ballynatrays new owner may be able to visit the remarkable riverside estate by air or by sea: Dyson owns several private jets, a 15-seat helicopter, and a 91m private super yacht, Nahlin, built in Scotland in 1930.

The Ballynatray estate, with the riverside sixth-century Molana Abbey on its boundary and courtyard cottages, set a Munster price record in 2004 when it was sold to Henry Gwyn-Jones by the Boissevain family. Picture: Larry Cummins

Ballynatray has been used as a shooting estate for driven and clay shoots and as a bijou wedding and function venue. It has also been a private Irish home to London-based Henry Gwyn-Jones, whose family comes from the Lough Cutra Estate in Gort, Co Galway (previously visited in 2014 by Britains now-monarch, King Charles and Camilla) and who has extensive international property interests, primarily in Britain and Eastern Europe.

Local speculation suggests that Deirdre and James Dyson may be about to purchase one of Ireland's finest riverside estates, Ballynatray on the River Blackwater. Picture: David Benett/Getty/AquaShard

The Ballynatray estate, with the riverside sixth century Molana Abbey on its boundary and courtyard cottages, set a Munster price record back in 2004 when it was sold to Gwyn-Jones by a European industrialist family the Boissevains, whod bought it in a raw state in 1997 for 1.5m from its historic owners, the Ponsonby family, and who added a security panic room to the 230-year-old house, as well as adding a basement swimming pool and other 21st century features.

The Boissevain family who sold Ballynatray to Henry Gwyn-Jones, had bought the estate in a raw state in 1997 for 1.5m from its historic owners, the Ponsonbys. Picture: Ballynatray.com

Its now set to forge a new price threshold once more, having met or surpassed its 30m+ guide in the private sale which is now proceeding.

The very advanced transaction of the world-class property is subject to numerous non-disclosure agreements and no parties to the sale have commented, or returned queries from the 'Irish Examiner' as to the purchasers identity, background, and purpose.

Attempts this week to get a comment from James Dyson and his foundation also went unanswered.

Head gamekeeper Martin O'Riordan with Niamh McCaughey and Neil Porteous heading out for a simulated driven shoot in 2011 at Ballynatray on the River Blackwater on the Cork-Waterford border. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

However, sources have linked the inventor and entrepreneur with the purchase: Hes among Britains five richest individuals, worth c25bn according to various wealth tables.

The multi-billionaire Dyson is a household name, thanks to his various domestic and household inventions from vacuum cleaners to washing machines, to hand driers, boats, and wheelbarrows, as well as his various interventions in British politics, most recently as a pro-Brexit campaigner and thorn in the side of various British prime ministers.

Ballynatray House Estate on the Waterford Cork border. Picture: Denis Scannell

As recently as last week, Dyson attacked British PMs Rishi Sunaks tax policies as shortsighted and stupid, leaving the country in a state of covid inertia, adding that growth has become a dirty word.

In the global economy, companies will simply choose to transfer jobs and invest elsewhere. Our country has an illustrious history of enterprise and innovation, born of a culture which we are in the process of extinguishing. We have got through the worst of Covid, but risk wasting the recovery, he wrote in the Daily Telegraph.

Dyson, aged 76, and his wife, artist and designer Deirdre Dyson (nee Hindmarsh) with whom he has three adult children, currently owns a 300-acre Georgian estate, Dodington Park in Gloucestershire since the early 2000s.

The couple had previously bought an estate and winery in France 25 years ago and have a London home in Chelsea.

Recently, Dyson bought and resold a 21,000sq ft triplex apartment in Singapore having temporarily changed his place of residence, and maintains another residence there as well as manufacturing interests in Asia.

Away from his main business interests, over the years Dyson has invested heavily in agricultural land in Lincolnshire, Gloucestershire, and Oxfordshire, and his Singapore-based Weybourne Holdings Pte is reported as controlling about 30 British properties, many of them commercial investments, worth c300m.

Is he now about to hoover up one of this countrys finest and largest riverside estates, on the Irish Rhine?
An oil tanker is on fire off the coast of Yemen after a missile strike claimed by the Houthis.

Multinational firm Trafigura said the safety of crew on the Marlin Luanda, a vessel operated on its behalf, is its foremost priority.

Military ships in the region are on the way to provide assistance, it said.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported an incident 60 nautical miles south-east of Aden on Friday.

It comes after an earlier incident in which two missiles were reported to have exploded in the water and vessel and crew are safe and no damage reported.

The Yemeni armed forces claimed it had targeted Marlin Luanda, which it described as a British oil tanker, in the Gulf of Aden.

Shipping data suggests the vessel sails under the flag of the Marshall Islands.

UKMTO said authorities have been informed and are responding to the latest strike, warning other vessels to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity.

We continue to call on (the Houthis) to step back from such action. We're clear that this is illegal and unacceptable

The Houthis have repeatedly launched attacks on ships in the Red Sea since November over Israels war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

But they have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, endangering shipping on a key route for global trade.

Alongside numerous air strikes on key Houthi targets, Britain and the US are also targeting key figures in the Iran-backed militant group with sanctions.

A second series of British and US air strikes, carried out at the start of the week, appears to have done little to deter Houthi action.

A Trafigura spokesperson said in a statement: Earlier on 26th January, the Marlin Luanda, a petroleum products tanker vessel operated on behalf of Trafigura, was struck by a missile as it transited the Red Sea.

Firefighting equipment on board is being deployed to suppress and control the fire caused in one cargo tank on the starboard side. The safety of the crew is our foremost priority.

We remain in contact with the vessel and are monitoring the situation carefully. Military ships in the region are underway to provide assistance.

Earlier on Friday, a spokeswoman for the British prime minister Rishi Sunak said: We continue to call on (the Houthis) to step back from such action. Were clear that this is illegal and unacceptable.
China has sent more than 30 warplanes and a group of navy ships towards Taiwan, according to the islands defence ministry.

The military pressure comes on the heels of an announcement that senior US and Chinese representatives were expected to meet in the Thai capital as the two countries seek to cool tensions.

The Chinese Peoples Liberation Army sent 33 aircraft, including SU-30 fighters, and six navy vessels around Taiwan, between 6am on Friday to 6am on Saturday. Of these, 13 warplanes crossed the midline of the Taiwan Strait  an unofficial boundary that is considered a buffer between the island and mainland. Taiwan has monitored the situation and employed its own forces in response to the activities.

China claims self-ruled Taiwan as its own territory and in recent years has shown displeasure at political activities in Taiwan by sending military planes and ships.

Taiwan said six Chinese balloons either flew over the island or through airspace just north of it days after the self-governing island elected Lai Ching-te as its new president. Mr Lais Democratic Progressive Party largely campaigned on self-determination, social justice and a rejection of Chinas threats.

Lai Ching-te celebrating his election victory in Taipei earlier this month (AP)

United States national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi were both in Bangkok for talks, though it was not clear when the meeting would take place or if it already had.

US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on the sidelines of a summit in November in an effort to patch up frayed relations due to quarrels over a range of economic and geopolitical issues. US National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said the planned meeting in Bangkok continues the commitment Mr Biden and Mr Xi made to maintain strategic communication and responsibly manage the relationship.

During talks, Mr Wang would make clear Chinas position on Taiwan and on US-China relations, and discuss international and regional concerns, ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Friday.

An immediate international concern to both countries is tensions in the Red Sea that have upended global trade by forcing many shippers to avoid the Suez Canal. Beijing said it has been making positive efforts to de-escalate the situation in which Iran-backed Houthi rebels have fired missiles at international ships.
A man put to death using nitrogen gas shook and convulsed for minutes on the gurney as Alabama carried out a first-of-its-kind execution.

Breathing through a nitrogen-filled face mask that deprived him of oxygen, 58-year-old convicted killer Kenneth Eugene Smith convulsed in seizure-like spasms for at least two minutes of the 22-minute execution by nitrogen hypoxia on Thursday.

The force of his movements at times caused the gurney to visibly shake. That was followed by several minutes of gasping breathing until his breath was no longer perceptible.

Smiths supporters expressed alarm at how the execution played out, saying it was the antithesis of the states promise of a quick and painless death. But Alabamas attorney general characterised the execution as textbook during a news conference.

Kenneth Eugene Smith was executed in Alabama with nitrogen gas (Alabama Department of Corrections via AP)

As of last night, nitrogen hypoxia as a means of execution is no longer an untested method. It is a proven one, Alabama attorney general Steve Marshall said, extending an offer of help for states considering adopting the method.

Asked about Smiths shaking and convulsing on the gurney, Alabama corrections commissioner John Q Hamm said they appeared to be involuntary movements.

That was all expected and was in the side effects that weve seen or researched on nitrogen hypoxia, Mr Hamm said. Nothing was out of the ordinary from what we were expecting.

Mr Marshall said he anticipated Alabama will definitely have more nitrogen hypoxia executions.

More than 40 death row inmates have selected nitrogen as their preferred execution method over lethal injection but did so at a time when the state had not developed nitrogen procedures.

Lawyers for those inmates have asked the court to order Alabama to turn over records and information about Smiths execution. Litigation will almost certainly focus on Smiths convulsions and movements during the execution.

Anti-death penalty signs placed by activists stand along the road heading to Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Alabama (AP Photo/Kim Chandler, File)

The state promised the world the most humane method of execution known to man. Instead, Mr Smith writhed and thrashed before he died. No further executions should take place by this method until the events of this evening are examined by an independent body, assistant federal defender John Palombi, who represents death row inmates who requested nitrogen, said in a statement.

Smiths spiritual adviser, Rev Jeff Hood, agreed that the execution did not match the state attorney generals prediction that Smith would lose consciousness in seconds followed by death within minutes.

We didnt see somebody go unconscious in 30 seconds. What we saw was minutes of someone struggling for their life, said Mr Hood, who attended the execution.

Dr Philip Nitschke, a euthanasia expert who designed a suicide pod using nitrogen gas and appeared as an expert witness for Smith, said the description of Smiths thrashing matches what he would expect to happen when nitrogen gas is used in a mask and someone holds their breath or takes the smallest possible breaths.

I think this outcome is inevitable if the nitrogen gas is to be used in execution where people do not want to die and will not co-operate, Dr Nitschke said.

Outside the country, the European Union and the UN Human Rights Office expressed regret on Friday over the execution. The 27-nation EU and the Geneva-based UN rights office say the death penalty violates the right to life and does not deter crime.

Smith, who was paid 1,000 dollars to kill an Alabama woman more than 30 years ago, said in a final statement: Tonight Alabama causes humanity to take a step backwards. Im leaving with love, peace and light.

He made the I love you sign with his hands towards family members who were witnesses. Thank you for supporting me. Love, love all of you, Smith said.

Alabama governor Kay Ivey said the execution was justice for the murder-for-hire killing of 45-year-old Elizabeth Sennett in 1988.

After more than 30 years and attempt after attempt to game the system, Mr Smith has answered for his horrendous crimes, Ms Ivey said in a statement. I pray that Elizabeth Sennetts family can receive closure after all these years dealing with that great loss.

Mike Sennett, the victims son, said on Thursday night that Smith had been incarcerated almost twice as long as I knew my mom.

Mike Sennett, son of Elizabeth Sennett, and other family members speak after Kenneth Eugene Smiths execution (AP Photo/Kim Chandler)

Nothing happened here today is going to bring mom back. Its kind of a bittersweet day. We are not going to be jumping around, whooping and holler, hooray and all that, he said. Ill end by saying Elizabeth Dorlene Sennett got her justice tonight.

Alabama had previously attempted to execute Smith in 2022, but the lethal injection was called off at the last minute because authorities could not connect an IV line.

The execution came after a last-minute legal battle in which his lawyers contended the state was making him the test subject for an experimental execution method that could violate the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment. Federal courts rejected Smiths bid to block it, with the final ruling coming on Thursday night from the US Supreme Court.

Liberal justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented.

Having failed to kill Smith on its first attempt, Alabama has selected him as its guinea pig to test a method of execution never attempted before. The world is watching, Ms Sotomayor wrote.

The White House also expressed concern over the execution method, with press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre saying during a media briefing on Friday that reports about Smith and his death were very troubling.

Ms Sennett was found dead in her home on March 18, 1988, with eight stab wounds in the chest and one on each side of her neck. Smith was one of two men convicted in the killing. The other, John Forrest Parker, was executed in 2010.

Prosecutors said they were each paid 1,000 dollars to kill Ms Sennett on behalf of her pastor husband, who was deeply in debt and wanted to collect on insurance. The husband, Charles Sennett Senior, killed himself when the investigation focused on him as a suspect, according to court documents.
French farmers are maintaining traffic barricades on some of the countrys major roads after saying measures announced by the government do not fully address their demands.

The farmers movement, seeking better remuneration for their produce, less red tape and protection against cheap imports has spread in recent days across the country, with protesters using their tractors to shut down long stretches of road and slow traffic.

They have also dumped foul-smelling agricultural waste at the gates of government offices.

Farmers block a highway near Ableiges, north of Paris (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)

While some of the barricades were gradually being lifted on Saturday, highway operator Vinci Autoroutes said the A7, a major highway heading through southern France and into Spain, was still closed. Some other roads were also partially closed, mostly in southern France.

Vinci Autoroutes noted that the blockades on two highways leading to Paris have been removed. The highway from Lyon, in eastern France, to Bordeaux, in the south-west, also reopened on Saturday, the company said in a statement.

Some angry protesters were planning to give a new boost to the mobilisation next week, threatening to block traffic around Paris for several days, starting from Sunday evening.

President Emmanuel Macrons new prime minister, Gabriel Attal, announced a series of measures on Friday during a visit to a cattle farm in southern France. They include drastically simplifying certain technical procedures and the progressive end to diesel fuel taxes for farm vehicles, he said.

Mr Attal also confirmed that France would remain opposed to the European Union signing a free-trade deal with the Mercosur trade group, as French farmers denounce what they see as unfair competition from Latin American countries. The agreement has been under under negotiation for years.

Protesting farmers shut down long stretches of some of Frances major motorways (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)

In response to Mr Attals announcement, Frances two major farmers unions quickly announced their decision to continue the protests, saying the governments plan does not go far enough.

The protests in France are also symptomatic of discontent in agricultural heartlands across the European Union. The influential and heavily subsidised sector is becoming a hot-button issue ahead of European Parliament elections in June, with populist and far-right parties hoping to benefit from rural disgruntlement against free trade agreements, burdensome costs worsened by Russias war in Ukraine and other complaints.

In recent weeks, farmers have staged protests in Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and Romania.
A group of survivors of Nazi death camps marked the 79th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp during the Second World War in a modest ceremony on Saturday in southern Poland.

About 20 survivors from various camps set up by Nazi Germany around Europe laid wreaths and flowers and lit candles at the Death Wall in Auschwitz.

Later, the group will hold prayers at the monument in Birkenau. They were remembering about 1.1 million camp victims, mostly Jews.

The memorial site and museum are located near the city of Oswiecim.

Holocaust survivors and relatives arrive at the Auschwitz Nazi death camp in Oswiecim, Poland (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Nearly six million European Jews were killed by the Nazis during the Holocaust  the mass murder of Jews and other groups before and during the Second World War.

Marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the survivors will be accompanied by Polish senate speaker Malgorzata Kidawa-Blonska, culture minister Bartlomiej Sienkiewicz and Israeli ambassador Yacov Livne.

The theme of the observances is the human being, symbolised in simple, hand-drawn portraits.

They are meant to stress that the horror of Auschwitz-Birkenau lies in the suffering of people held and killed there.

A Holocaust survivor holds a candle while waiting in line to place it next to the Death Wall at Auschwitz (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Holocaust victims were commemorated across Europe.

In Germany, where people put down flowers and lit candles at memorials for the victims of the Nazi terror, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that his country would continue to carry the responsibility for this crime against humanity.

He called on all citizens to defend Germanys democracy and fight antisemitism, as the country marked the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

Never again is every day, Mr Scholz said in his weekly video podcast. January 27 calls out to us: Stay visible! Stay audible! Against antisemitism, against racism, against misanthropy  and for our democracy.

Holocaust survivors and relatives light candles at the Death Wall in the Auschwitz Nazi death camp in Oswiecim, Poland (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, whose country is fighting to repel Russias full-scale invasion, posted an image of a Jewish menorah on X, formerly known as Twitter, to mark the remembrance day.

Every new generation must learn the truth about the Holocaust. Human life must remain the highest value for all nations in the world, said Zelensky, who is Jewish and has lost relatives in the Holocaust.

Eternal memory to all Holocaust victims, Zelenskyy tweeted.

In Italy, Holocaust commemorations included a torchlit procession alongside official statements from top political leaders.

Italian premier Giorgia Meloni said that her conservative nationalist government was committed to eradicating antisemitism that she said had been reinvigorated amid the Israel-Hamas war.

Ms Melonis critics have long accused her and her Brothers of Italy party, which has neo-fascist roots, of failing to sufficiently atone for its past.

Later on Saturday, leftist movements planned a torchlit procession to remember all victims of the Holocaust  Jews but also Roma, homosexuals and political dissidents who were deported or exterminated in Nazi camps.

Police were also on alert after pro-Palestinian activists indicated that they would ignore a police order and go ahead with a rally planned to coincide with the Holocaust commemorations.

Italys Jewish community has complained that such protests have become occasions for the memory of the Holocaust to be co-opted by anti-Israel forces and used against Jews.

The Nazis, who occupied Poland from 1939-1945, at first used old Austrian military barracks at Auschwitz as a concentration and death camp for Polands resistance fighters.

In 1942, the wooden barracks, gas chambers and crematoria of Birkenau were added for the extermination of Europes Jews, Roma and other nationals, as well as Russian prisoners of war.

Soviet Red Army troops liberated Auschwitz-Birkenau and the surviving inmates on January 27 1945.

Since 1979, the Auschwitz-Birkenau site has been on the Unesco list for sites of World Heritage.
Astronomers have discovered strange stars that emit plumes of smoke. The space objects, dubbed "old smokers," challenge the notion of what happens to giant stars at the end of their lives.

ADVERTISIMENT

This is stated in a study published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. The New Scientist publication tells the details of the scientists' findings.

It is known that when red giant stars age, they begin to pulsate. In the process, they become brighter or dimmer while shedding their outer layers. Such pulsating stars are known to science as Mira Stars (or stars like Mira Ceti). It is believed that the pulses of these stars are caused by internal plasma waves that help them eject matter into space.

These are the stars that Philip Lucas from the University of Hertfordshire in the UK and his colleagues came across while studying the center of our Milky Way galaxy using the Visible and Infrared Astronomy Telescope in Chile. However, they discovered not only Mira stars but also another unique phenomenon.

ADVERTISIMENT

It turned out that the old red giants do not pulse but are in a steady state and then suddenly dim for six months or several years.

Further observation allowed scientists to find out that the stars emit huge plumes of dusty smoke that prevent starlight from reaching us. Months or years later, when the smoke dissipates, the light reaches observers on Earth again.

Lucas and his colleagues believe that the phenomenon they discovered may be a new way for giant stars to end their lives. Why the process is exactly like this and how it happens is a mystery to researchers.

Scientists believe that these giant stars have such a powerful gravitational field that they cannot eject any of their material into space.

ADVERTISIMENT

Lucas notes that the fact that there is no pulsation makes it even more difficult to explain the smoke plumes. It is likely that this phenomenon may be due to the high concentration of relatively heavy elements near the galactic center, where most of these "old smokers" are located. Such a location could facilitate the formation of dust particles, which then fly away as smoke.

However, scientists are not sure if this is really the case.

Now researchers are looking for more such strange stars and have already discovered about 90 of them. It is possible that their prevalence indicates that "old smokers" may be important for the environment in the center of the Milky Way.

ADVERTISIMENT

Subscribe to OBOZ.UA on Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events.
1371138342::cfb49c8e-2422-11e5-99a3-d7f5c6e8b241

A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more.
Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site.

0108263 License for publishing multimedia online



Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349
The new third season of White Lotus is to feature a new actor, Serbian Milos Bikovic, who has been the subject of a scandal. The HBO streaming platform, which will be filming the series, was heavily criticized by fans for the poor casting, and even the Ukrainian ministry joined the movement.

ADVERTISIMENT

When inviting him, HBO overlooked the fact that the actor actively supports Russia in the war against Ukraine, which was pointed out by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine on social media.

"Milos Bikovic, a Serbian actor who has been supporting Russia since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, is now going to play the lead role in season 3 of HBO's White Lotus. HBO, is it okay for you to work with a person who supports genocide and violates international law?" the Foreign Ministry tweeted.

ADVERTISIMENT

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also attached a video to its tweet, which provided evidence of Bikovic's active support for Russian politics. This includes a meeting with Putin, being awarded Russian medals for culture, appearing in Russian shows, and even holding a passport of the occupying country.

"Russia has accepted me since my first visit here. I feel at home here. I have inherited Russian values and they resonate with mine," Milos Bikovic was quoted in the video.

Bikovic even appeared in the TV series Pilgrimage by traitor Oksana Marchenko, who is known to Ukrainians as the heroine of the memes and the wife of Viktor Medvedchuk, who is accused of treason.

He also previously traveled to the occupied Crimea and claimed that Russians live there and that the locals voted to join their eastern neighbor in an illegal referendum voluntarily.

ADVERTISIMENT

Only verified information is available on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The distant and unexplored Indonesia has always aroused the interest of tourists. The island nation has still preserved ancient traditions, but it is also developing rapidly and introducing innovations into people's lives. What surprises foreigners in this country is in the OBOZREVATEL selection.

ADVERTISIMENT

1. It seems that Indonesia is a small country in Asia. However, it occupies more than 17,500 islands. At the same time, the country is ranked 4th in the world in terms of population.

2. Indonesians speak about 720 languages. Only one of them has the status of an official language, but not all locals know it.

3. The most popular clothing in the country is sarong. It is usually made of large pieces of fabric that are wrapped around the body. Light colors such as white, purple, and green are chosen for everyday use. On holidays, they wear red, yellow, and blue sarongs with bright embroidery.

4. Indonesians love rice dishes. The most popular local delicacy, nasi goreng, is made from fried rice grains and chicken. Everything is sprinkled with fresh chili peppers and hot spices.

ADVERTISIMENT

5. The locals are much more sympathetic to tourists who know at least a few simple phrases in Bahasa. It is not difficult to learn them. This can give you additional discounts and favor with the Indonesians.

6. Traffic jams are a common thing in a country where almost no one follows traffic rules. That's why a new service is gaining popularity here - motorcycle taxis. There are even apps for ordering this type of transportation.

7. Drunk driving is officially allowed in the country. But riding a moped without a helmet is prohibited. You can get a fine for this.

8. Indonesia is not among the poorest countries in the world. However, the average salary of ordinary workers here is $2. That's why tourists think that vacationing in this country is very cheap.

ADVERTISIMENT

9. Indonesians are active users of social media. Everyone from children to the elderly post their lives on Twitter. In total, more than 71 million locals use the Internet.

10. Young girls aged 12 to 16 are practically isolated from the world. They have the right to go only to specialized schools, communicate with a small circle of people, and cannot do anything without parental supervision. This is one of the oldest traditions that is still followed.

11. It would seem that with such an attitude towards girls, there should be problems with the gender issue. But this country has one of the highest rates of women's involvement in leadership positions.

ADVERTISIMENT

12. Residents of Bali, one of the most popular islands in Indonesia, often remove 6 teeth. It is believed that they symbolize human sins. Therefore, those who pull them out will never leave the right path.

13. Indonesians are very religious people. They give their children at least four names, and at least one of them is hidden from everyone they know. This is done to protect the child from dark forces.

14. In this country, you can see children with cigarettes right on the streets. Most likely, no one will even notice them, because this issue is not regulated at the legislative level.

15. However, the country is actively fighting against alcohol. Many tourist islands have banned the sale of strong drinks.
Nearly 200 Ukrainian filmmakers wrote an open letter to the President of Ukraine, the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, and the Prime Minister of Ukraine, expressing their distrust of the leadership of the Ukrainian State Film Agency . In particular, representatives of the national film community called on the responsible authorities to redirect this year's budget of the agency, which reached a record high of UAH 589.6 million, to the needs of the Defense Forces.

ADVERTISIMENT

This amount of money was allocated from the state budget to "support cinematography, including the documentation of war crimes." Meanwhile, in the letter, the filmmakers stated that the State Film Agency is "systematically unprofessional, dishonest in its work and fails to work with international partners ."

"Undoubtedly, Ukrainian cinema, like all culture in general, requires a lot of attention and budget support for the development and representation of Ukraine in the world, and is a powerful element of cultural diplomacy. Unfortunately, the years of incompetent and dishonest work of the State Film Agency leadership convince us that the allocated funds will be used inefficiently and with numerous violations," the letter says.

The filmmakers also clarified that the agency has no right or authority to document war crimes. The signatories believe that the record 589.6 million hryvnias allocated to the State Film Agency would be better spent on the needs of Ukraine's defenders.

ADVERTISIMENT

"At a time when many filmmakers have become military personnel and need adequate support, from foot warmers to drones, the government plans to allocate record funding to the State Film Agency, which operates without an approved strategy, is led by an incompetent head, and decisions on the effective use of funds are made by the Cinema Support Council, which was supposed to resign in March 2023," the letter said.

So far, the letter has been signed by 195 film personalities and NGOs such as the Ukrainian Film Academy, Babylon 13, Contemporary Ukrainian Cinema CUC, Ukrainian Directors Guild, Art of Cinema, 86 and UMIND. Anyone can also join the signing.

ADVERTISIMENT

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Donot fall for fakes!
( Code Pink )  In the topsy-turvy world of corporate media reporting on U.S. foreign policy, we have been led to believe that U.S. air strikes on Yemen, Iraq and Syria are legitimate and responsible efforts to contain the expanding war over Israels genocide in Gaza, while the actions of the Houthi government in Yemen, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Iran and its allies in Iraq and Syria are all dangerous escalations.

In fact, it is U.S. and Israeli actions that are driving the expansion of the war, while Iran and others are genuinely trying to find effective ways to counter and end Israels genocide in Gaza while avoiding a full-scale regional war.

We are encouraged by Egypt and Qatars efforts to mediate a ceasefire and the release of hostages and prisoners-of-war by both sides. But it is important to recognize who are the aggressors, who are the victims, and how regional actors are taking incremental but increasingly forceful action to respond to genocide.

A near-total Israeli communications blackout in Gaza has reduced the flow of images of the ongoing massacre on our TVs and computer screens, but the slaughter has not abated. Israel is bombing and attacking Khan Younis, the largest city in the southern Gaza Strip, as ruthlessly as it did Gaza City in the north. Israeli forces and U.S. weapons have killed an average of 240 Gazans per day for more than three months, and 70% of the dead are still women and children.

Israel has repeatedly claimed it is taking new steps to protect civilians, but that is only a public relations exercise. The Israeli government is still using 2,000 pound and even 5,000 pound bunker-buster bombs to dehouse the people of Gaza and herd them toward the Egyptian border, while it debates how to push the survivors over the border into exile, which it euphemistically refers to as voluntary emigration.

People throughout the Middle East are horrified by Israels slaughter and plans for the ethnic cleansing of Gaza, but most of their governments will only condemn Israel verbally. The Houthi government in Yemen is different. Unable to directly send forces to fight for Gaza, they began enforcing a blockade of the Red Sea against Israeli-owned ships and other ships carrying goods to or from Israel. Since mid-November 2023, the Houthis have conducted about 30 attacks on international vessels transiting the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden but none of the attacks have caused casualties or sunk any ships.

In response, the Biden administration, without Congressional approval, has launched at least six rounds of bombing, including airstrikes on Sanaa, the capital of Yemen. The United Kingdom has contributed a few warplanes, while Australia, Canada, Holland and Bahrain also act as cheerleaders to provide the U.S. with the cover of leading an international coalition.

President Biden has admitted that U.S. bombing will not force Yemen to lift its blockade, but he insists that the U.S. will keep attacking it anyway. Saudi Arabia dropped 70,000 mostly American (and some British) bombs on Yemen in a 7-year war, but utterly failed to defeat the Houthi government and armed forces.

US, UK Launch Fresh Strikes Against Houthi Rebels In Yemen | India Today Video

Yemenis naturally identify with the plight of the Palestinians in Gaza, and a million Yemenis took to the street to support their countrys position challenging Israel and the United States. Yemen is no Iranian puppet, but as with Hamas, Hezbollah, and Irans Iraqi and Syrian allies, Iran has trained the Yemenis to build and deploy increasingly powerful anti-ship, cruise and ballistic missiles.

The Houthis have made it clear that they will stop the attacks once Israel stops its slaughter in Gaza. It beggars belief that instead of pressing for a ceasefire in Gaza, Biden and his clueless advisers are instead choosing to deepen U.S. military involvement in a regional Middle East conflict.

The United States and Israel have now conducted airstrikes on the capitals of four neighboring countries: Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen. Iran also suspects U.S. and Israeli spy agencies of a role in two bomb explosions in Kerman in Iran, which killed about 90 people and wounded hundreds more at a commemoration of the fourth anniversary of the U.S. assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in January 2020.

On January 20th, an Israeli bombing killed 10 people in Damascus, including 5 Iranian officials. After repeated Israeli airstrikes on Syria, Russia has now deployed warplanes to patrol the border to deter Israeli attacks, and has reoccupied two previously vacated outposts built to monitor violations of the demilitarized zone between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

Iran has responded to the terrorist bombings in Kerman and Israeli assassinations of Iranian officials with missile strikes on targets in Iraq, Syria and Pakistan. Iranian Foreign Minister Amir-Abdohallian has strongly defended Irans claim that the strikes on Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan targeted agents of Israels Mossad spy agency.

Eleven Iranian ballistic missiles destroyed an Iraqi Kurdish intelligence facility and the home of a senior intelligence officer, and also killed a wealthy real estate developer and businessman, Peshraw Dizayee, who had been accused of working for the Mossad, as well as of smuggling Iraqi oil from Kurdistan to Israel via Turkey.

The targets of Irans missile strikes in northwest Syria were the headquarters of two separate ISIS-linked groups in Idlib province. The strikes precisely hit both buildings and demolished them, at a range of 800 miles, using Irans newest ballistic missiles called Kheybar Shakan or Castle Blasters, a name that equates todays U.S. bases in the Middle East with the 12th and 13th century European crusader castles whose ruins still dot the landscape.

Iran launched its missiles, not from north-west Iran, which would have been closer to Idlib, but from Khuzestan province in south-west Iran, which is closer to Tel Aviv than to Idlib. So these missile strikes were clearly intended as a warning to Israel and the United States that Iran can conduct precise attacks on Israel and U.S. crusader castles in the Middle East if they continue their aggression against Palestine, Iran and their allies.

At the same time, the U.S. has escalated its tit-for-tat airstrikes against Iranian-backed Iraqi militias. The Iraqi government has consistently protested U.S. airstrikes against the militias as violations of Iraqi sovereignty. Prime Minister Sudanis military spokesman called the latest U.S. airstrikes acts of aggression, and said, This unacceptable act undermines years of cooperation at a time when the region is already grappling with the danger of expanding conflict, the repercussions of the aggression on Gaza.

After its fiascos in Afghanistan and Iraq killed thousands of U.S. troops, the United States has avoided large numbers of U.S. military casualties for ten years. The last time the U.S. lost more than a hundred troops killed in action in a year was in 2013, when 128 Americans were killed in Afghanistan.

Since then, the United States has relied on bombing and proxy forces to fight its wars. The only lesson U.S. leaders seem to have learned from their lost wars is to avoid putting U.S. boots on the ground. The U.S. dropped over 120,000 bombs and missiles on Iraq and Syria in its war on ISIS, while Iraqis, Syrians and Kurds did all the hard fighting on the ground.

In Ukraine, the U.S. and its allies found a willing proxy to fight Russia. But after two years of war, Ukrainian casualties have become unsustainable and new recruits are hard to find. The Ukrainian parliament has rejected a bill to authorize forced conscription, and no amount of U.S. weapons can persuade more Ukrainians to sacrifice their lives for a Ukrainian nationalism that treats large numbers of them, especially Russian speakers, as second class citizens.

Now, in Gaza, Yemen and Iraq, the United States has waded into what it hoped would be another US-casualty-free war. Instead, the U.S.-Israeli genocide in Gaza is unleashing a crisis that is spinning out of control across the region and may soon directly involve U.S. troops in combat. This will shatter the illusion of peace Americans have lived in for the last ten years of U.S. bombing and proxy wars, and bring the reality of U.S. militarism and warmaking home with a vengeance.

Biden can continue to give Israel carte-blanche to wipe out the people of Gaza, and watch as the region becomes further engulfed in flames, or he can listen to his own campaign staff, who warn that its a moral and electoral imperative to insist on a ceasefire. The choice could not be more stark.

Medea Benjamin and Nicolas J. S. Davies are the authors of War in Ukraine: Making Sense of a Senseless Conflict, published by OR Books in November 2022.

Medea Benjamin is the cofounder of CODEPINK for Peace, and the author of several books, including Inside Iran: The Real History and Politics of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Nicolas J. S. Davies is an independent journalist, a researcher for CODEPINK and the author of Blood on Our Hands: The American Invasion and Destruction of Iraq.

Via Code Pink
By Shaun Narine, St. Thomas University (Canada) | 

The western worlds feeble response to Israels attack on Gaza has severely damaged the Wests already tenuous moral credibility in the Global South and undermined the foundations of the human rights regime and international law developed after the Second World War.

The West claims it champions a liberal rules-based international order and human rights on the global stage. This rhetoric now appears completely disingenuous to most of the Global South.

The Wests inability to rally the world against Russias invasion of Ukraine reflects the Global Souths rejection of what it views as western hypocrisy. Few states supported Russia, but fewer accepted the Wests claim that punishing Russia was a moral imperative when the western commitment to morality is so selective.

This has been particularly exemplified by the illegal invasion of Iraq by the United States in 2003 and Israels illegal occupation of Palestine.

Russia condemned, Israel supported

The Wests position on Gaza has done even more consequential damage to the notion of western global leadership. Even as Russia escalates its violence against civilians and infrastructure in Ukraine, most Global South states find the American condemnation of Russia grotesquely hypocritical as the United States supports Israels war in Gaza an attacks on civilians that are even more devastating than Russias.

Hamas launched a brutal attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. But one war crime shouldnt justify another. What Israel has done to Gaza in response is exponentially worse in terms of the loss of human life and the widespread infliction of human suffering.

Israel is using starvation, dehydration and disease as weapons of war against a captive population of 2.3 million people, half of whom are children.

Long list of atrocities

American public health researcher Devi Sridhar projects that 500,000 Palestinians may die of preventable diseases in 2024 if the war continues. More than 400,000 Gazans are experiencing severe hunger now, with the entire population at risk of famine. Rates of diarrhea in children under four are 100 times the norm.

Aljazeera English Video: Gaza University destroyed: Israel accused of targeting education centers

Israel is indiscriminately bombing civilians with an intensity not seen since the Second World War. Its destroyed more than 70 per cent of the homes in Gaza and has bombed areas that it declared safe for refugees.

Gazas health-care system has collapsed. Childrens limbs are being amputated and pregnant women are enduring Caesarean sections without anesthetic. On average, Israel is killing 160 civilians a day, including journalists, and the cultural and intellectual elites of Gaza are being targeted.

This list of atrocities goes on and on. International aid workers say Israels attack on Gaza is the worst situation they have ever seen.

Violations of international law

The Wests failure to protect the rights of Palestinians under international law contributed directly to this disaster.

For decades, Israel has blatantly violated international law in its treatment of Palestinians. In contravention of Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, Israel settled occupied Palestine and employed progressively more violent and oppressive instruments of control to consolidate that settlement.

Israel kept Gaza under a 16-year illegal blockade that created mass poverty and left Gazan children malnourished and without access to potable water.

Today, Jewish settlers and the Israeli military are using the distraction of the Gaza war to displace Palestinians from large parts of the occupied West Bank.

If the West had held Israel to account, Oct. 7 might never have happened. Palestinians may have had their own state. Instead, the U.S. has used its veto in the United Nations 45 times since 1972 to protect Israel from the consequences of its actions.

The Wests leaders have effectively sided with the occupier against the occupied, leaving Palestinians at the mercy of an increasingly brutal apartheid state.

Valuing the rule of law

South Africa recently accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). South Africas turn to international law to stop the war illustrates that states in the Global South value the rule of law.

Most states understand their self-interest in maintaining the legitimacy of the international legal system. Its the West, led by the U.S., that has most frequently abused the rules it claims to support.

Namibia has condemned Germanys support for Israel at the ICJ, asserting that Germany has learned nothing from its genocide of the Herero and Nama peoples between 1904 and 1908. The Israel-Hamas conflict is presented in the West through a European, colonial mindset that rationalizes the history of the displacement of Palestinians.

In the U.S., Germany, the United Kingdom and elsewhere in the West, anti-Semitism has been weaponized to silence pro-Palestinian voices. Numerous reporters have been fired for offending pro-Israel sensibilities.

Disillusionment grows

Nonetheless, protests against the war continue unabated and Israel is losing the youth of America. Eventually, this could have serious political consequences, but that wont save Palestinians today.

Turkeys foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, recently said:

What happened in Gaza has caused the West and Europeans to suddenly lose all their reputation and all the credit they had accumulated. They have spent all their credit in the eyes of humanity, and especially our generation. It wont be easy for them to get it back.

The West no longer has credibility when it criticizes Russia, China, Iran, Myanmar or any other state for human rights abuses or breaches of international law.

Disgust and disillusionment with the West is growing in the Global South. Western hypocrisy in Gaza is having real geopolitical implications.

Shaun Narine, Professor of International Relations and Political Science, St. Thomas University (Canada)

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
A number of K-dramas are continuously dominating Netflix, following the global rise of "Squid Game" as the most streamed work in the platform.

This 2024, viewers have their eyes set on Kim Hyun Joo's newest occult horror drama "The Bequeathed" with Ryu Kyung Soo, Park Hee Soon and more.

The actress plays a troubled professor who suddenly inherits a cemetery from her estranged uncle, subjecting her into bizarre and murderous events.

If you loved her performance in the show, then this is for you. Here are five fun facts you must know about Kim Hyun Joo.

1. Kim Hyun Joo has been in the industry for more than two decades.

Kim Hyun Joo made her acting debut in 1996 after starring in Kim Hyun Chul's music video for the song "One's Lifetime."

This opened doors for her career and in the same year, she participated in the film "If It Snows On Christmas" which marks her film debut as a lead actress.

Since then, she appeared in various works including her breakthrough project "Glass Slippers" that was released in 2002.

"The Miracle We Met," "Watcher" and "Undercover" are also some of her most note-worthy K-dramas.

2. Kim Hyun Joo played five lawyer roles in her entire career.

Since her debut, Kim Hyun Joo has played various intriguing roles from being a detective to a professor.

But interestingly, the actress has played the lawyer role for five times. In the Netflix show "Hellbound," she transformed into a lawyer who goes against a pseudo-religion cult.

READ MORE: Kim Hyun Joo's 'The Bequeathed' Receives Mixed Reviews- Is It Hit or Miss?

Before that, she took on the lawyer roles in her previous works "I Have A Lover," "Partner," "Watcher" and "Undercover."

When asked why she has been playing the role in various projects, Kim Hyun Joo reasoned that she has no specific reason. She just gives off the vibe of someone trustworthy.

3. Kim Hyun Joo is a goodwill fairy.

For more than a decade, Kim Hyun Joo has been an ambassador for Good Neighbors, a non-government organization that focuses on children's rights after her father passed away.

The Hallyu star traveled to less fortunate countries like Bangladesh, and sponsored a child and its needs. She also shared her knowledge by being an instructor under the organization.

4. 'What Happens To My Family?' is her most memorable work.

According to the actress, "What Happens To My Family?" is the drama that she most resonated with.

She described the work as the production where "she felt the most like her true self," thanks to their resemblance in their personalities.

Kim Hyun Joo shared that she also leads two different lives at home and when she's outside her home due to the nature of her profession as an actress.

5. Kim Hyun Joo is multitalented.

Although she's known for her iconic performances in the home and silver theaters, Kim Hyun Joo is also musically inclined.

ALSO READ: Kim Hyun Joo's Best Works To Check Out This Week: 'Hellbound,' 'Jung_E,' More

In the past, she boasted her talents in playing the violin and the drums. Check them out below:

KDramaStars owns this article.

Written by Elijah Mully.
The Korean drama landscape is on the brink of a crisis as actors push for unprecedented fees, reaching up to 1 Billion KRW (748,000 USD) per episode. This surge in demands is sending shockwaves through the industry, leading to fewer dramas being produced.

Rising Costs Prompt Emergency Meeting

To tackle the escalating issue of soaring production costs, the Korean Drama Production Companies Association convened a crucial meeting on January 16 in Seoul.

Representatives from various drama production companies and TV platforms gathered to strategize ways to rein in costs and ensure a more sustainable production landscape.

Actor Fees at the Core of the Crisis

The meeting highlighted the major challenges faced by production managers, with a spotlight on the escalating fees demanded by lead actor.

The consensus among attendees was that urgent action is needed to address this critical issue, as high actor fees not only lead to a decrease in drama production but also pose a significant threat to the entire Korean TV and video industry.

Broadcasting Company Weighs In

A representative from a broadcasting company shed light on the frequent issues arising during negotiations, emphasizing the rapid uptick in actors' fees.

The vicious cycle of increasing costs has been triggered by lead actors demanding exorbitant fees, leading production companies to pay hefty sums to secure their involvement.

Global Impact of Streaming Platforms

The restructuring of the drama industry, influenced by the rise of global streaming platforms like Netflix, has intensified the challenges.

While actors' fees surge globally, domestic industry capital struggles to cover production costs. The absence of a viable solution adds to the growing concern among production companies.

Disparity in Fees and Global Standards

Production company heads expressed difficulty in competing with global streaming giants, citing significant differences in production budgets.

Calls for guidelines similar to those in China, where actor fees are capped at a certain percentage of total production costs, echoed through the discussion.

Proposed Resolutions and Challenges

Suggestions were tabled during the meeting to calculate fees based on production periods, shooting days, and hours instead of per episode.

However, challenges persist, particularly in addressing the glaring disparities in actor fees between traditional broadcasting and over-the-top (OTT) platforms.

Netizens' Perspectives

Korean netizens weighed in on the issue, expressing concerns about the disparity in pay between staff and actors on OTT platforms, advocating for specific regulations on pay percentages, and questioning the sustainability of production companies in the face of escalating costs.

In this critical juncture, the future of the K-Drama industry hangs in the balance, with stakeholders grappling to find a viable solution to the rising tide of actor fees.

KDramaStars owns this article.

Written by Michelle Williams.
The DIU confirmed that 65 Ukrainian captured defenders from the list previously published on Russian propaganda resources were indeed planned to be returned to Ukraine as part of the planned exchange on January 24. However, there is currently no true evidence of their deaths in the crash of the Il-76M aircraft.

ADVERTISIMENT

This was reported by the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War. According to the head of the headquarters, Kyrylo Budanov, the Russian propaganda version of the death of the prisoners still raises many questions.

"We are collecting and carefully analyzing all available information on this matter from many sources. Currently, there is no information that would indicate that there could have been that many people on that plane. At the same time, the version of Russian propaganda that the said Il-76M could have transported 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war for exchange still raises many questions," Budanov said.

It is noted that relatives of Ukrainian defenders who allegedly could have been on board the IL-76 plane that crashed in the Belgorod region of the Russian Federation watched the video from the crash site, which was distributed by Russian propagandists. In the footage showing fragments of bodies, they found no specific signs that would indicate their relatives.

ADVERTISIMENT

The representatives of the Coordination Center emphasized that the families of the prisoners of war will be informed about the fate of their relatives as soon as the authorized bodies have clear and verified information on this issue.

As a reminder, on the morning of January 24, an Il-76 military transport plane crashed in the Belgorod region of the Russian Federation. Immediately after the crash, Russian propagandists began to actively disseminate a statement by the Russian Defense Ministry that there were allegedly Ukrainian prisoners of war on the plane.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, the DIU confirmed that another prisoner exchange was to take place between Ukraine and Russia on January 24, and the Ukrainian side had fulfilled all the agreements. The security of Ukrainian prisoners was to be ensured by the Russian side, they said.

ADVERTISIMENT

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!


Saturday, January 27, 2024 - Political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi has sounded an alarm, accusing Cabinet Secretaries of working against President William Ruto.

Venting on X, Ngunyi warned Trade Investment and Industry Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano against promoting herself instead of Rutos agenda.

He advised CS Miano to sell Rutos programmes instead of seeking self-glory.

According to Ngunyi, the Presidency is a jealous institution if its agenda is not promoted to the public.

Why do Cabinet Ministers sell themselves instead of selling Ruto's agenda? This is a question for Rebecca Miano. Remember: The Presidency is a very jealous Institution. Sell his programmes, Ngunyi stated.

Ngunyi appeared to be reacting to a hashtag that was promoting CS Rebecca Miano on the X platform.

Miano was trending on X for the better part of Thursday in what appeared to be a sponsored hashtag praising her works in the Trade docket assigned by President Ruto.

In the hashtag, MITI delivers, social media users praised the Trade CS for delivering in her ministry and providing policy directions to key government agencies.

A section of Influencers claimed that CS Miano played a key role in the Kenya-EU trade agreement and the Kenya-India trade forum.

The Trade CS was also commended for coming up with sustainable initiatives that have led to improved food security.

CS Miano previously headed the East Africa Community, The Arid and Semi-Arid Lands, and the Regional Development docket.

She was moved to the Ministry of Trade by President Ruto during a cabinet reshuffle in October 2023.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.
Saturday, January 27, 2024 - Following a spike in reported cases of stealing of motor vehicles from various residential and social parking yards within the Nairobi region and neighbouring counties, detectives drawn from the Nairobi regional Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau, Operations and DCI Kayole mounted an intelligence-led operation that saw a prime suspect, Timothy Ndegwa, arrested at his residence in Thika Makongeni Estate.

A registration plate number KBR 957C was found in Ndegwa's house, who upon interrogation led the officers to Kenyatta Road in Juja where his accomplice George Kimani Wangechi was also arrested with a suspected stolen white Toyota Fielder fitted with registration plate nos. KCC 458K.

On further interrogation, the suspects confessed to have earlier stolen a red Isuzu DMAX within Kayole, which they sold to a buyer in Nyeri through one of their accomplices by the name of Stephen Kamau Maganjo.

The team proceeded to Narumoru where the said vehicle was recovered while being driven by Antony Wanjohi Theuri, who was also arrested and escorted to DCI offices in Nairobi.

After investigative interviewing of the suspects, a fourth accomplice, Boniface Gitemengo Gachanja, was cornered and arrested within Githurai, who led the sleuths to Limuru's Flyover area where his partner in crime Josphat Ikua Mwangi was arrested.

Mwangi was found in possession of a suspected stolen Toyota Corolla fitted with registration no. KBA 163Y. The vehicle was recovered at detained at DCI offices. Later this evening, another of their accomplices, Alois Tabu Ojiambo, was traced to and arrested at Kariobangi.

The suspect is currently being interrogated with detectives hoping to make more recoveries in Nairobi and Nakuru counties.


Saturday, January 27, 2024 - Detectives investigating the brutal murder of blogger Daniel Muthiani alias Sniper have recovered a vehicle believed to have been used to abduct him and dispose of his body at Mutonga River in Chiakariga area of Tharaka Nithi.

DCI said the silver Toyota Premio was found at a home in the Canopy area of Meru County following an intelligence-led operation.

The identification and subsequent recovery of the vehicle, a silver Toyota Premio registration number KCR 742N followed thorough forensic analysis of crucial leads, which pointed to a residential place at Canopy area of Kithoka, Meru county, read a statement by DCI.

Governor Kawira Mwangazas confidant Vincent Mureithi Kirima alias Supuu was identified as the driver who hired the vehicle on the date of the abduction and gruesome murder of Sniper.

The vehicle was reportedly ferrying other three occupants including Brian Mwenda, Christus Manyara Kiambi, and Boniface Kithinji Njihia alias DJ Kaboom on the fateful day.

Further investigations are ongoing with the Homicide team working expeditiously on the case.

Sniper disappeared on December 2, 2023, before his body was discovered two weeks later.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.


Saturday, January 27, 2024 - Kwale County Governor Fatuma Achani has given former Prime Minister Raila Odinga seven days to apologise to her after he claimed she has been sleeping with Mining and Blue Economy Cabinet Secretary, Salim Mvurya.

In his speech on Wednesday, Raila claimed Achani was former Salim Mvurya's wife.

"The statement by Raila Odinga, specifically the phrase "huyo ni bibi ya Mvurya." is deemed defamatory.

"The people of Kwale County demand a formal apology within the next 7 days.

"Failure to comply will result in legal action against ODM as a party and Raila Odinga as an individual," read the statement.

Achani further stated that the remarks were uncalled for, showed a lack of respect for her leadership, and undermined progress made in bridging the third-gender rule in the country.

"These demeaning and uncalled-for remarks are not only disrespectful to Governor Achani but also undermine the progress made in bridging the third-gender rule gap in the country.

"Governor Achani, a married woman and devoted Muslim, deserves respect for her leadership role in Kwale County," she added.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.
Saturday, January 27, 2024 - Kwale Senator Issa Boy Juma has pleaded with ODM Leader Raila Odinga to forgive him for working with the Kenya Kwanza administration.

Speaking at Kwale Baraza Park in Matuga, Kwale County as part of the partys mass recruitment drive in the region, the senator expressed his regrets for working with President William Ruto, saying it wont happen again.

The prodigal senator said he was happy to have come back home.

Baba naomba msamaha Nimerudi nyumbani, the senator emotionally said.

Since being elected, Boy, together with Kwale Woman Rep Fatuma Masito, has been working closely with President William Rutos allies.

They, however, assured the former Prime Minister of their support ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The senator said he was mentored by Raila politically and that in the next general election, ODM will secure all the seats in the county.

Dont worry Baba. We are with you and we will support you to our last breath, Boy said.

The former Prime Minister accepted the apologies of Kwale Senator Issa Boy and Woman Representative Fatuma Masito, who have been seen as working closely with Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani, who is allied to the ruling alliance.

Raila while leading the recruitment drive in several parts of the country received several defectors from other parties.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.


Friday, January 26, 2024  The International Court of Justice ruled on Friday that at least some of Israels actions in the Gaza Strip during the ongoing war against Hamas could fall within the terms of the Genocide Convention before saying they must take a series of preventative measures.

The court stated that there is plausibility to South Africas claims that Palestinians require protection from genocide, which is damaging to Israel.

However, the court did not take the action most desired by South Africa and feared by Israel that of ordering an immediate, unilateral ceasefire which would have stymied the war effort and indicated that the court believes genocide is actively taking place.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has issued an interim ruling concerning the Israel-Gaza conflict and the accusations of Genocide against the Israeli government.

The case brought forward by South Africa, alleging genocidal acts by Israel on the Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip, saw the ICJ issue six provisional measures. But didnt order a ceasefire.

Among these measures is an order for Israel to ensure regional humanitarian access, and measures to prevent any acts that could be considered genocidal  killing members of a group, causing bodily harm, or preventing births.

The measures also include an order that the Israeli military does not commit any genocidal acts, and prevent and punish any public comments that could be considered incitement to commit genocide in Gaza

However, the ruling is temporary, and the court is not expected to render a final decision on South Africas genocide claims for several years.
Saturday, January 27, 2024  Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga is not interested in becoming president anymore.

This was revealed by outspoken lawyer, Miguna Miguna, who stated that Raila may not be on the ballot come 2027, going by what is happening.

This comes even as the ODM Leader dropped the clearest hint that he will vie for the presidency in the 2027 General Election.

Raila, who was speaking in Kwale during the ongoing party recruitment drive, compared himself to a sturdy tree that may be shaken by the wind but remains standing.

Raila said the ODM party has good plans for Kenyans and will only achieve that if more residents register themselves as members.

Wanasema ati mti mkuu ukianguka wanandege huyumbayumba. Mimi sikuanaguka nilitingishwa tu kidogo na upepo lakini niko Imara, Raila said.

However, responding to Railas remarks, Miguna said Raila was not interested in occupying the countrys top seat.

Miguna, an ally-turned-fierce critic of the opposition leader, said Raila was only interested in being the Luos kingpin, adding that his sixth stab at the presidency is already predictable.

Predictable. Just like his sixth failure. Raila is not interested in the presidency. He only wants to control and continue pauperizing Luos until he dies, Miguna said on the X platform.

Raila, who unsuccessfully vied for the fifth presidency in the 2022 polls, said his goal was to protect democracy and ensure justice for all Kenyans.

These people are not following our fathers foundation and dream of fighting, poverty, hunger, illiteracy and bringing freedom and fairness, he says.

Raila will be seeking to battle it out with Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka for the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party presidential ticket in the 2027 polls.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.


Friday, January 26, 2024  A Memphis DJ was discovered decapitated in his Tennessee home.

Rick Buchanan, known by his DJ name 'Slick Rick,' was allegedly gruesomely beheaded in a suspicious incident which is being investigated by the police.

Buchanan's brother John found the DJ dead in his Berclair home on Angel Avenue on Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 24.

I walked in and found him, and I just called 911, John told FOX13.

I thought his coat was up over his head like it was cold or something, John Buchanan said.

I ran out and then I ran back in. And, then I realized it was something worse.

The DJ was still gripping his keys upon John's discovery and he was found with his pants pulled down.

Buchanan had been performing locally around Memphis for decades and was a huge personality known in the community.

In 2014, he had been shot outside of a night club, which John said changed his brother forever.

John said Slick Rick became a recluse after the shooting as he had a hard time finding work.

Buchanan became a home-body following the shooting and preferred to stay at his house with his dog Lucky, according to John.

John plans to adopt Buchanan's beloved dog Lucky following his tragic death.

The brother said Buchanan's family are still very shaken up over the gruesome way his body was discovered on Wednesday.

Family members of the Memphis DJ are desperate for answers and Memphis PD say they are investigating the suspicious incident.

He was wild but he was a good man, Kathy Calaway shared. He had the energy of an entire power plant, would, and did help anyone if he was able and was such a positive, kind man.

I am so damn sad, frustrated, shocked & angry but I shall bite my tongue & go turn up some bad ass rock n roll for a while, Karen Dillard Brown said.


Saturday, January 27, 2024 - Kiharu Member of Parliament, Ndindi Nyoro, has quelled the ongoing succession battle in the Mt Kenya region by saying he is solidly behind Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

A fortnight ago 15 UDA MPs endorsed Nyoro as the regions political kingpin and said they wanted him to replace Gachagua as deputy President in 2027.

But speaking on Friday in Garsen, Nyoro dismissed claims that he plans to dethrone Gachagua as second in command and said he is solidly behind him with President William Ruto.

"We are giving our president and his deputy full, total, and unconditional support as they lead our nation.

"As they lead us from the front, ours is to back them as their footsoldiers," Nyoro said.

Nyoro spoke a day after President William Ruto read riot act to youthful leaders from Mt Kenya who have started a succession debate.

The Head of state urged them to shut up and concentrate on implementing the Kenya Kwanza Alliance manifesto.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.


Friday, January 26, 2024  The Mogwase Regional court in South Africa has sentenced a 41-year-old man, Joel Lempaletse Moatshe, to life imprisonment for attempted murder of his girlfriend.

North West regional spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Henry Mamothame, in a statement on Friday, January 26, 2024, said Moatshe was sentenced to a further five years for assault and was declared unfit to possess a firearm.

According to Mamothame, the convict was arrested for assaulting his girlfriend and was granted bail on August 16, 2022. A protection order was also granted against him.

Two months later, he accosted his girlfriend while she was on her way to work and he subsequently attacked her with a knife, stabbing her several times on her stomach, disembowelling her.

"The Mogwase Regional Court sentenced Joel Lempaletse Moatshe (41), to life imprisonment for attempting to kill his girlfriend. He was sentenced to a further 5 years for assault and was declared unfit to possess a firearm, the statement read.

"Moatshes conviction emanates from an incident that occurred in the early hours of 16 August 2022, wherein he assaulted his 26-year-old girlfriend with open hands and fled afterwards.

"Neighbours and other members of the community gathered after hearing her scream and went after the accused at his workplace where they conducted a citizens arrest and handed him over to the authorities, a case of assault was registered. He was granted bail, and a protection order was granted against him.

"On 12 October 2024, he met his girlfriend while she was on her way to work and he subsequently attacked her with a knife, stabbing her several times on her stomach, leaving it exposed, and also on her hand and back.

"She screamed for help and her colleagues came to her rescue, leading the accused to flee the scene. She was immediately rushed to a medical facility to receive medical attention. The accused was later rearrested and the court denied him bail. He pleaded not guilty to all charges levelled against him.

"In aggravation of sentence, the state prosecutor, Sicelo Moselakgomo, argued that the merits of the case are legislated for life imprisonment to be imposed, as the accused attempted to murder someone he was in a relationship with.

"He further highlighted the trauma suffered by the victim during and post the ordeal. Magistrate Lebogang Raborife agreed with the state and remarked on the remorseless posture displayed by the accused. She further described him as being disrespectful to the victim and the legal system.

"The Director of Public of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari, lauded the prosecutor, Warrant Officer Sandstone Molefe from the South African Police Service (SAPS), Mpho Ramoloto who is the Court Preparation Officer and other role players who ensured that justice is served.

She urges society to unite in the fight against against gender-based violence and femicide.
The DIU cyber specialists have dealt another powerful blow to the Russian Federation. They destroyed the IT infrastructure of more than 60 terabytes, dozens of servers and databases of the Russian company IPL Consulting.

ADVERTISIMENT

This company specialized in the implementation of information systems in the Russian industry. The details were published on the Telegram channel of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine.

"The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine informs about another successful cyberattack in Russia: the entire IT infrastructure of IPL Consulting, which specialized in the implementation of information systems in the Russian industry, has been destroyed," the statement said.

ADVERTISIMENT

Ukraine's military intelligence emphasized that the Russian company attacked by Ukrainian hackers specialized in the implementation of information systems in Russian institutions engaged in the design, production of automotive and aviation components, heavy engineering, and the manufacture of equipment and devices. In particular, these were institutions that worked for the Russian defense industry.

"A devastating attack against IPL Consulting was carried out by DIU specialists who penetrated the company's internal network and destroyed its entire IT infrastructure of more than 60 terabytes, dozens of servers and databases. The cost of the digital data array lost by Russia is being calculated," the DIU noted.

ADVERTISIMENT

However, whatever the financial losses of the aggressor state as a result of the attack, they will be extremely painful for the enemy, military intelligence believes. After all, under sanctions pressure, it will be difficult for the Russians to repair the damage caused. And the consequences of the attack will be felt by dozens of Russian companies working for the Russian defense industry.

ADVERTISIMENT

ADVERTISIMENT
Saturday, January 27, 2024  Outspoken Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba has termed President William Ruto's flagship project on affordable housing as the "biggest scam in Kenyan history".

This issue will be the biggest scam in the history of this country, Wamuchomba stated.

She went on to explain that the motive behind the program is to collect revenue through the housing levy.

The reason why I have been criticizing this housing levy is because somebody is using the name housing levy to collect tax but the said tax is not going to the housing programme, Wamuchomba stated during an interview.

She further slammed the affordable housing project, affirming that it is punitive and that there are other alternative ways to solve the housing crisis in the country.

The Githunguri MP went on to allege that the government is using the housing levy as a cover-up to pay the national debt.

The thinking behind the housing levy is a means of collection of money that we desperately need to pay loans.

Someone wittingly crafted it as a housing program so that people can accept it because lack of decent housing is one of the countrys pressing needs, the Githunguri MP mentioned.

The legislator pointed out that most of the houses being launched by Ruto were initiated by the former regime.

She called out the current government for imposing the controversial housing levy tax yet former President Uhuru Kenyatta did not take that route.

Right now the houses Ruto is launching were started by the previous regime. The houses in Ruiru were started by Uhuru Kenyatta... It is a private partnership thing that was started earlier on, asserted the MP.

Wamuchomba further questioned whether the houses launched by the former President were financed by the housing levy.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
Saturday, January 27, 2024 - Muranga County Woman Representative, Betty Maina, has apologised to President William Ruto after days of heated debate about Mt Kenya succession politics.

In a video that has since gone viral, Betty said they did not mean to anger Ruto and used a biblical incident to highlight the consequences of irking the president.

She likened the president to the king in the bible who saw people suffer drought after they disrespected him.

We have seen in the Bible how when the king was angry, they sent Queen Esther.

"I want to tell the president of Kenya that we, as Murang'a people, have said things that did not please you.

"We, as women, are saying sorry.

"We do not want to anger the president of Kenya.

"We do not want the president to be angry, and we start seeing collapses.

"We do not want the president to be angry, we start seeing scorching sun like in the desert.

"We are asking the president to forgive us. We were not doing that in jest. We are his children." she said.

Maina also emphasized that the whole of Murang'a leadership, from the governor to the Members of the County Assembly (MCAs), was rallying behind Ruto and will follow him even beyond 2027.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.


Friday, January 26, 2024  The UN agency for Palestinian refugees said on Friday, January 26, it had sacked several employees accused by Israel of involvement in Hamass unprecedented October 7 attack.

Following the move, the US has also stopped critical funding of the agency.

The decision had been taken to protect the agencys ability to deliver humanitarian assistance, said UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini.

Any UNRWA employee who was involved in acts of terror will be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution, he said.

The United States was the agencys biggest bilateral donor in 2022, contributing more than $340 million, according to UNRWAs website.

Israeli authorities had provided information about the staff members alleged involvement, Lazzarini said.

UN chief Antonio Guterres is horrified by the accusations and an urgent and comprehensive independent review of UNRWA will be conducted, said his spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

The US State Department said it was extremely troubled by the allegations. It said it has temporarily paused additional funding while it reviewed the claims and the UNs plan to address concerns.

Twelve employees may have been involved, it added.

The unprecedented October 7 Hamas attack resulted in the death of around 1,140 people in Israel. Most of the victims were civilians.

Militants also captured about 250 hostages. Israel says around 132 of them remain in Gaza, including the bodies of at least 28 dead captives.

At least 26,083 Palestinians, around 70 percent of them women, young children and adolescents, have been killed in the Gaza Strip in Israeli bombardments and ground offensivee according to the Hamas governments health ministry.
Saturday, January 27, 2024  President William Ruto has come up with sweeping changes that will see Kenyans renew their national IDs every 10 years.

The Kenya Kwanza Government has confirmed the configuration of microchips on Kenyan Identification Cards to comply with the current international standards.

A source at the Ministry of Interior explained that the microchips will operate for a certain duration before expiring. In this case, the IDs will be renewed after every 10 years.

The source added that the new configuration has nothing to do with Maisha Namba as the government still adheres to the High Court's ruling which halted its rollout.

The High Court suspended the rollout pending the outcome of a case that questioned the legality of the Maisha Namba process.

"We respect the decision of the court but we had already configured our systems to accommodate the microchip. It has nothing to do with Maisha Namba and collection of money as people speculate online," the source explained.

"A chip operates for a certain duration. For instance, an ATM card has a chip that lasts on average five years. So, in this case, the microchip will last for 10 years. It's the same logic for everything that requires a microchip."

Further, the source revealed that the configuration of the microchip is a global practice that provides an extra layer of security in safeguarding the biometric data.

"It's a global practice that is not just in Kenya," he stated but did not divulge if Kenyans with old IDs will be required to apply for new ones.

However, Kenyans have accused the government of using the plan as a scheme to increase its income bracket.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
27 Shares Share

Its a narrative that has become disturbingly familiar: different health care providers, yet the same traumatic story.

Ramon, an idealistic new nurse, was drawn to nursing to make a meaningful impact in the lives of the most vulnerable. But in an instant, his love for nursing changed. After just six months as a nurse, a patients son viciously attacked Ramon, enraged over his mothers COVID-19-related hospitalization. In a blind fury, the son placed Ramon in a chokehold and brandished a fixed-blade knife, threatening deadly consequences unless the hospital immediately released his mother. Fortunately, a police officer who was guarding a nearby prisoner patient happened to witness the incident and intervened, saving Ramons life. But the psychological scars of the assault left a deep mark. Haunted by the fear of another attack and unable to reconcile with the trauma, Ramon quit nursing.

This incident is just one example of the dangers health care workers face, highlighting a broader, unspoken fear that pervades the profession. Often, its not even the act of physical violence but the ever-present threat of physical violence, like the ICU nurses op-ed on how the lack of support and absence of basic safety measures drove her from the field entirely. These professionals are serving people who are vulnerable and in need of health care. But at what cost?

Workplace violence against health care workers is not a new phenomenon, yet its an issue that is increasingly worsening. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals a striking 63 percent increase in injuries from violent attacks on medical professionals between 2011 and 2018. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this surge, with hospital safety directors noting a significant increase in aggression towards staff, primarily attributed to factors like overwhelmed health care systems, short staffing, and longer wait times. According to an analysis by Press Ganey, the second quarter of 2022 alone witnessed an average of over two assaults on nursing personnel every hour in the USthis equates to a staggering 57 daily assaults, 1,739 monthly assaults, and 5,217 quarterly assaults.

Under common law, assault constitutes a crime when it involves the intent to threaten, inflict, or attempt to inflict bodily harm on another person. Why wouldnt the same elements of the law be applied in the health care setting?

While hospitals and health care systems should be responsible for creating a safe space for their employees to perform their calling, there is also a substantive need for state and federal legislation to protect health care workers. Some states like Wisconsin and Florida have enacted laws making assault and battery against health care personnel a felony. Other states, such as Montana, believe violence against health care workers needs to be documented by the health care entity and studied before enacting protective laws criminalizing this activity.

Although forty states have enacted legislation to increase penalties for workplace violence against health care workers, the absence of a federal law underscores a critical gap in providing uniform protection for health care professionals across the nation. A federal law would ensure consistent standards and protections, regardless of state borders, offering a comprehensive framework to address the varying degrees of legal recourse currently available. Particularly for the ten states lacking specific legislation, a federal mandate would provide much-needed legal protection and serve as a powerful deterrent. Furthermore, federal involvement could bring additional resources for safety improvements, enforcement, and support for victims, including legal and financial aid.

Amidst these concerns, the introduction of the bipartisan Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees (SAVE) Act represents a renewed effort by federal lawmakers to address workplace violence in the health care setting. The SAVE Act would implement more substantial legal penalties for people who knowingly and intentionally assault or intimidate hospital employees. This law is essential to protect our health care workforce, which has been decimated by the extraordinary challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. There are laws protecting politicians and employees in the postal service and airline industry. Its time for stronger state and federal laws to be put in place to protect the health care industrys most precious resource: its people.

Scott Ellner has been a general surgeon for over 20 years, and can be reached at PEAK Health. He has transitioned into health care executive roles due to his passion for patient safety, quality, and value-based care delivery. His authentic leadership style inspires team members to navigate challenging situations, such as resistance to change and innovation, in order to bring about meaningful transformation. Most recently, he served as the CEO of Billings Clinic, the largest health system in Montana. During his tenure, Forbes recognized the clinic as the best place to work in the state. It was also at that time that he formulated a strategic growth plan that included the development of a level 1 trauma network and a rural-based clinically integrated network.
On the morning of January 27, locals reported explosions in the temporarily occupied Sevastopol. A series of explosions were heard in the city, after which a cloud of smoke appeared in the sky over Sevastopol.

ADVERTISIMENT

The information about explosions on the territory of the Russian-occupied peninsula was also confirmed by the spokesman for the Ukrainian Volunteer Army "South" Serhii Bratchuk. At the same time, "Agent Kolobok," also known as the so-called "governor" of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhayev, was quick to say that the situation in the city was under control and that locals should not worry.

"The temporarily occupied Sevastopol wakes up Agent Kolobok! Loud coffee!" Bratchuk said.

ADVERTISIMENT

At the same time, Razvozhayev himself said after the explosions in the city that it was a military training exercise involving grenade launchers of the Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) units.

"The loud noises heard in the city center were the military training anti-submarine warfare units with grenade launchers. Everything in the city is under control," Razvozhayev said.

ADVERTISIMENT

Only verified information on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
1 of 1

                

khaskhabar.com : , 26  2024 9:44 PM
Kilkenny-based mastercraftsman Eric Phillips with the David Shaw Smith Legacy Award by the Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI).

This award was developed by DCCI to honour the legacy of David Shaw Smith, the legendary Irish filmmaker. It has been created to recognise that Irish craft is driven by heritage and creativity. It will support and acknowledge the achievements of key master craftspeople in the creative development of their craft each year.

The award has a value of 5,000 and each recipient is awarded an engraved glass cylindrical, created by Jerpoint Glass. Rosemary Steen, CEO of Design & Crafts Council Ireland; Peter Hynes, Chair, Design & Crafts Council Ireland, and Daniel Shaw Smith, Davids son presented the award to Eric Philips in a ceremony held in the RDS.

Eric is from Bennettsbridge, where he leads a design and build workshop that merges contemporary designs with traditional craftsmanship. Specialising in crafting high-quality interiors and furniture for both residential and commercial spaces, Erics creations are a testament to his dedication to his craft.

His preferred medium is wood, which he often combines with elements such as steel, glass, and lighting to produce stunning and functional pieces. Not only does he possess an artistic flair, but he is also committed to sustainability by sourcing wood from FSC certified suppliers and local wood providers, ensuring that his work is as environmentally conscious as it is beautiful.

Presenting the David Shaw Smith Legacy Award, Rosemary Steen, CEO of Design & Crafts Council Ireland, said: We are delighted to present The David Shaw Smith Legacy Award today to Eric Philips. We take great pride in championing the master craftspeople of Ireland and showcasing their work to a wide audience. The award aims to recognise the achievements of master craftspeople and support the growth of their craft. Its an honour to present Eric with the first David Shaw Smith Legacy Award, alongside his son Daniel Shaw Smith."

Eric Philips, David Shaw Smith Legacy Award recipient 2024, added: The world of Irish craft owes immense gratitude to David Shaw-Smith. His documentary work, along with his wife Sally, generated interest and pride in the traditions and excellence of craft practiced here in Ireland.

"His legacy as both film maker and long-standing member on the board of the Craft Council of Ireland, is the continued interest in Irish craft across the world, which has allowed makers to sustain their practices and traditions. It is with much honour I receive this award. As a maker working in rural Co. Kilkenny, recognition of my work by a panel of international level means a great deal to me.

"The award granted will allow me to continue to develop and experiment with new designs, combining traditional techniques of joinery with contemporary technology. I am very grateful to the Design and Craft Council of Ireland for their support.

Daniel Shaw-Smith said: As Davids son and representative for Davids wife Sally Shaw-Smith, I am thankful and appreciate the opportunity to present this award for excellence in Irish design and craft which honours my fathers legacy. As a filmmaker, David knew great talent in the crafts when he saw it and was aware that it should be acknowledged and celebrated.

"I know David would have been honoured to have such an award in his name which will help highlight great talents in design and crafts, subjects which were very close to his heart. He would also be grateful to the basket maker Joe Hogan for suggesting that an award might be set up to champion the achievements of the masterclass craftspeople who are passionate about crafts and design in Ireland.

"As a family, the Shaw-Smiths are delighted that the Design & Crafts Council Ireland has developed the award in Davids honour and chosen to name their recently renovated library at the DCCIs headquarters in the Castle Yard, Kilkenny after him. We hope that this award will support many artists and craftspeople who are driven by Irish heritage and creativity.

"It is very important that the rising talents in design and crafts in Ireland are recognised, and this award is a wonderful way to support them.
Scroll down to read about the celebration and click NEXT to see more photographs!

Members of Kilkennys Malayali community came together to celebrate the new year and festive season, in the city recently.

The Kilkenny Malayali Association (KMA), which is one of the leading Indian Associations in Ireland in terms of attendance and membership, organised Christmas and New Year celebrations this year, like every year.

At the opening ceremony for the Christmas New Years Eve celebration, held at the OLoughlins GAA Club Hall, Kilkenny County Councilor Cllr. Joe Lyon was the guest of honor and Reverend Malayali priest Rev Fr. Godfrey Perera was the special guest.

Celebrations

On that day there was a Christmas carol singing competition, a cake making competition and various art programs for children and adults were held.

This was followed by a musical feast by Dublins famous musical band Blue Diamonds.

Association Vice President Jomi Jose, Secretary Roy Varghese, Treasurer Savi Shaji, PRO Anil Joseph Ramapuram, other committee members Tony Martin, Pradesh Sebastian, Raveesh Vembalath and youth representatives Melvin Benny and Jincy Babu presided over the programme.

KMA Reels

In the KMA Reels Competition 2023 which was conducted through the associations Facebook page from the month of November, the associations excellent artist participated and the competition was a huge success.
When Worlds Collide, a solo exhibition of recent work by the Irish-based, USA born artist, Mollie Douthit will open at the Butler Gallery On February 4 and runs until March 24.

Mollie Douthit explores ideas of intimacy, domesticity and memory in her work. Her paintings celebrate everyday moments and personal experiences where her singular sense of humour prevails. Her paintings of interiors are representations of the sensory and remembered qualities of space and objects sourced from the visual filing cabinet of her mind.

As works of auto-fiction, the process of painting has developed my awareness of memorys fragility and truths flexibility. As I develop the work, I try to make an object or space as emotive as it is in my mind. I notice the distance between the actual event and its existence as memoryone operates in the physical world, the other in the mental place; the act of painting bridges these two. Though these memories are my own, I trust that my process of remembering and imagining translates to something universal Douthit explains on her artist statement on her website.

Over time Mollie has developed a palette distinctly her own, expressing emotion using saturated vibrant colours, reminiscent of technicolour films from childhood. The body of work exhibited is mostly drawn from memories of Mollies beloved grandparents uniquely designed holiday home, situated on Pelican Lake in Minnesota, where Mollie spent summers as a child in the 1980s and 90s. It was a magical world that firmly remains in her mind as a place of hope and love.

In 2022, Mollie met her Swedish husband Arvid and he has had a significant impact on her life, cracking it wide open for her and creating even more overlap in life and work. The relationship has encouraged her to be more open and fluid with her days, something reflective in a number of these new paintings.

Mollie Douthit enjoys a simple quiet life outside Ballydehob in West Cork, where living and working takes place in a studio/home cabin situated down a winding boreen. Here, the closeness of nature provides her with a quality of life that informs her exceptional paintings.

Mollie Douthit is originally from North Dakota and has resided between Ireland and the US since 2012. She holds a BFA from the University of North Dakota, a Post Baccalaureate from Tufts University, Boston and an MFA from Burren College of Art at National University Ireland in Galway.

Mollie Douthit in conversation with writer Sara Baume will take place from 6pm to 8pm on Thursday, February 8 at Butler Gallery.
On January 27, 2024, Russian occupants opened fire on a vehicle with civilians in the Khotyn community inSumy region . The driver of the car, a 54-year-old man, and his 68-year-old sister were killed in the enemy shelling.

ADVERTISIMENT

A photo of the car in which the Russians shot the brother and sister was published on the Telegram channel of the Prosecutor General's Office. The Sumy Regional Prosecutor's Office initiated a pre-trial investigation into the violation of the laws and customs of war combined with premeditated murder - part 2 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

Currently, prosecutors, together with other law enforcement agencies, are recording the consequences of the shelling. The pre-trial investigation is conducted by the SBU Office in Sumy region.

Earlier it was reported that on the night of January 27, the Russian terrorist army attacked Sloviansk, Donetsk region, with an Iskander M ballistic missile. As a result of the attack, significant damage to civilian infrastructure was recorded in the city.

ADVERTISIMENT

As reported by OBOZ.UA, on the night of January 27, Russian troops attacked Ukraine with four Shahed-136/131 strike UA Vs. Air defense forces destroyed all air targets. The enemy also attacked Donetsk region with an Iskander-M missile.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and inViber. Do not fall for fakes!
Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.
In eastern Ukraine, the situation at the front remains difficult. Russian occupation forces are increasing the intensity of offensive actions in the Siversky and Bakhmut directions.

ADVERTISIMENT

This was announced by the Commander of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi on his Telegram channel. On Friday, January 26, he visited the combat areas, where commanders reported to him on the situation at the fronts.

Thus, in the Siversk sector, the Russians continue to advance, trying to improve their tactical position and create conditions for the development of an offensive towards the city of Siversk. The enemy is making unsuccessful attempts to attack in the direction of Kreminna-Hryhorivka. There, the Russian army is acting with assault groups with active support of mortar and artillery crews.

"At the same time, the enemy compensates for its failures in offensive actions by increasing the intensity of fire. In particular, over the last two days, it has been actively shelling the city with artillery and using air strikes and kamikaze drones," Syrskyi noted.

ADVERTISIMENT

In the Bakhmut direction, the invaders are conducting offensive actions, trying to break through the Ukrainian Armed Forces' defenses north and west of Bakhmut and develop an offensive on Chasiv Yar. The invaders are regrouping their forces and means and using units of the "volunteer corps". Russian troops are also unsuccessfully trying to regain lost ground in the areas of Klishchiivka and Andriivka.

"Due to the lack of tactical success in certain areas, the enemy has temporarily switched to defensive actions while keeping assault groups ready for offensive actions," the Land Forces commander writes.

ADVERTISIMENT

About the new tactics of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Syrskyi said that the Ukrainian Defense Forces on the Eastern front are relying on identifying important occupant targets by means of intelligence, delivering precision fire strikes, using kamikaze drones and protecting positions with electronic warfare.

"Despite the fact that our goal is to inflict maximum losses on the enemy, our top priority is always to save the lives of our soldiers. We continue to hold the line and destroy the enemy in all directions," he said.

The commander added that the staffs and commanders of the Armed Forces of Ukraine respond in a timely manner to any changes in the operational situation. During his stay in the combat zone, Syrskyi discussed with the commanders certain tasks and further actions of the Ukrainian forces. A number of decisions were also made to improve the effectiveness of enemy defeat.

ADVERTISIMENT

Only verified information on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The administration of US President Joe Biden is allegedly developing a new strategy to support Ukraine in its war with Russia for 2024. This strategy will focus on the long-term goal of helping to repel possible new Russian offensives by strengthening the country's armed forces and economy.

ADVERTISIMENT

The Washington Post writes about this, citing sources. However, according to the journalists, the strategy may "de-emphasize the return of territory" and instead focus on "helping Ukraine repel new Russian offensives."

One senior U.S. official told the publication that the idea now is to allow Ukraine to hold its ground on the battlefield for now, but "put it on a different trajectory so that it is much stronger by the end of 2024 and put it on a more sustainable path."

The second administration official emphasized that this strategy does not mean that "Ukrainians are just going to build their own defense trenches and sit behind them all year."

"As before, there will be exchanges of territory in small towns and villages with minimal strategic value, missile and drone launches on both sides, and Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure," the official said.

ADVERTISIMENT

The West wants Kyiv to focus on long-range tactics, including French cruise missiles, deterring Russia's Black Sea Fleet to protect sea transit from Ukraine's ports, and tying up Russian forces inside Crimea with missile strikes and special operations sabotage.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, White House National Security Council Coordinator John Kirby said that the next few months will be critical to protecting Ukraine from Russian aggression. Therefore, he called on the US Congress to urgently approve the presidential request for additional funding for Ukraine.
An aerial view of Turkish Air Force F-16 fighter aircrafts in Balikesir, Turkey, on May 22, 2022.
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Snow this morning will give way to lingering snow showers this afternoon. Temps nearly steady in the low to mid 30s. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 70%. Snow accumulations less than one inch..

Tonight

Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. A few flurries are possible. Low 27F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph.
Auburn, IN (46706)

Today

Snow this morning will give way to lingering snow showers this afternoon. Temps nearly steady in the mid 30s. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 80%. 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.
On the night of January 27, a road accident involving a passenger bus from Ukraine occurred in Poland. As a result of the accident, 18 people were injured.

ADVERTISIMENT

In total, 61 people were in the vehicle. This was reported by TVN24.

The accident occurred at about 4 a.m. on a road bend near the village of Goebie, Lublin Voivodeship. The bus drove off the roadway and rolled over on its side.

According to a representative of the State Fire Service in Hrubieszow, Senior Captain Marcin Lebiedowicz, it was snowing and icy on this section of the road at the time of the accident. At the same time, rescuers said that weather conditions were unlikely to have caused the accident.

Emergency service representatives also noted that there were 59 passengers and two drivers on the bus, all citizens of Ukraine. Of these, 18 people were hospitalized with various injuries. The rest of the bus passengers were transported to the nearest community center.

In addition, rescuers warned that traffic on the highway where the accident occurred was significantly hampered. According to preliminary data, the bus was headin to Warsaw from Odesa.

ADVERTISIMENT

According to the updated information from the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Oleh Nikolenko, 20 Ukrainian citizens sustained injuries of varying severity as a result of the accident. They are currently hospitalized, and all the injured are being provided with the necessary medical care.

The Consulate General of Ukraine in Lublin is cooperating with Polish law enforcement officers to clarify all the circumstances of the accident, and is monitoring the treatment of the injured citizens. The issue of providing another bus for the passengers is also being resolved.

ADVERTISIMENT

Only verified information is available on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden has approved the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey for $23 billion. Notably, the decision was made immediately after Ankara ratified Sweden's membership in NATO.

ADVERTISIMENT

According to preliminary data, the deal includes the sale of 40 new F-16s and equipment for the modernization of 79 existing F-16s for Turkey. This was reported by The Washington Post.

U.S. officials noted that this step is an important event in the expansion of the alliance, which has gained additional importance after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Interestingly, Turkey has long sought to upgrade its F-16 fleet and has made the ratification of Sweden's membership contingent on approval of the sale of new aircraft.

In turn, the Biden administration has supported the sale, but several congressmen have raised objections over human rights concerns. According to officials, these objections, including those of Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman and Ranking Member Ben Cardin and Idaho Republican Jim Risch, have now been overcome.

ADVERTISIMENT

Cardin said in a statement on Friday that he still had concerns about Turkey's human rights record but agreed to the sale based on commitments made by Turkey to improve it.

"I look forward to beginning this new chapter in our relationship with Turkey, expanding the NATO alliance, and working with our global allies to confront Russia's ongoing aggression against its peaceful neighbors," the senator said.

At the same time, the U.S. State Department announced the sale of modern F-35 fighter jets to Greece for $8.6 billion. The deal includes 40 F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter aircraft and related equipment.

As a reminder, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has officially approved Turkey's ratification of Sweden's membership in NATO. Thus, the process of Ankara's approval of the Scandinavian kingdom's membership in the Alliance is officially completed.

ADVERTISIMENT

As OBOZ.UA reported, on January 23, the Turkish parliament approved Sweden's application for NATO membership. Out of 346 votes in the Turkish parliament, 287 were in favor of Sweden's membership in NATO, 55 were against, and the rest abstained.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Ranchi, Jan 27 (PTI) Amid the Enforcement Directorate issuing a fresh summons to Chief Minister Hemant Soren asking him to join the investigation in a money laundering case, the JMM leader on Saturday departed for the national capital sparking off speculations regarding the sudden visit.

His trip to Delhi came in the backdrop of the ED asking him whether he would be available for questioning on either January 29 or January 31.

Also Read | NCC Cadets Rally: World Is Watching India's Nari Shakti Prove Their Mettle in Every Field, Says PM Narendra Modi.

"The visit was not planned. The sudden plan was made after the issuance of a fresh summons by the ED. He has his scheduled events lined up including a programme in Chaibasa on January 29, in Palamu on January 30 and in Giridih on January 31," an official who did not wish to be quoted said.

A source said he went to Delhi for legal consultations. However, this could not be corroborated from the Chief Minister's Office though officials confirmed that he left for Delhi.

Also Read | Mahatma Gandhi Punyatithi 2024 Date: Know Significance of Martyrs Day That Marks the Death Anniversary of the Father of the Nation.

So far as known, the CM is scheduled to return on Sunday, said the source.

Earlier in the day, Soren visited Raj Bhavan to participate in a programme, but he was there for a brief period.

The central agency had recorded the JMM executive president's statement on January 20 after its investigators went to his official residence in Ranchi and stayed there for nearly seven hours. It was recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

It has been learnt that the fresh summons was issued as the questioning had not been completed that day.

The investigation pertains to a "huge racket of illegal change of ownership of land by the mafia" in Jharkhand, according to the agency.

The ED has so far arrested 14 people in the case, including 2011-batch IAS officer Chhavi Ranjan who served as the director of the state's Social Welfare Department and deputy commissioner of Ranchi.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Lucknow, January 27: Following the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya Ram Temple, there has been an upsurge in tourist inflow to visit the temple. This uptick has spurred increased investment in the hospitality sector to enhance tourism potential and cater to the growing influx of visitors.

"In line with this trend, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on January 27 in the presence of Tourism Director Prakhar Mishra, sealing a partnership with the American firm Anjali Investment LLC at Paryatan Bhawan," as per a press release from the Chief Minister's office. Ayodhya: Ram Temple Extends Darshan Time Till 10 PM for Devotees To Deal With Rush.

The agreement focuses on the construction of a 100-room resort in Ayodhya. This development is poised to elevate the amenities available to tourists and guests, fostering the growth of tourism in the region and offering top-notch facilities to visitors.

The American firm involved, M/s Anjali Investment LLC, led by Ramesh Nangurnoori, an entrepreneur from Hyderabad currently engaged in real estate and other businesses in the United States, is set to construct a 100-room resort in Ayodhya. Ram Mandir Inaugurated: Devotees Take Darshan of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya on First Day Post Pran Pratishtha Ceremony (Watch Video).

"The resort aims to enhance the facilities available to tourists and guests, thereby contributing to the overall growth of tourism in the region. Ramesh Nangurnoori emphasised the strategic decision to invest in Ayodhya's hospitality sector, citing the substantial tourism potential after the consecration of the Ram temple. Suitable land has already been identified, and with the signing of the MoU with Uttar Pradesh Tourism, the construction work is slated to commence soon. The investor praised the investor-friendly policies of the tourism department," the release stated.

Director of Tourism, Prakhar Mishra, highlighted that the construction of the hotel and resort would enhance the overall experience for tourists and devotees visiting the Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The anticipated increase in the number of tourists is expected to generate new employment opportunities for the local population.

"Echoing these sentiments, Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh emphasised the rapid development of Uttar Pradesh in the tourism sector. The state currently leads in domestic tourism, and continuous efforts are underway to attract more foreign tourists," as per the release.

The inauguration of the Ram Temple has already led to an unexpected surge in tourist numbers, prompting a proactive approach to encourage investments in hotels and resorts for improved facilities for touring visitors.

The 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony of Lord Ram was held on January 22, with the main rituals performed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The idol of Ram Lalla was unveiled after the rituals. Later, on January 23, the Ram Temple was thrown open to the general public.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Kolkata, Jan 24 (PTI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah's scheduled two-day visit to West Bengal from January 28 has been postponed, a BJP leader said here on Saturday.

"Amit Shah-ji's two-day visit to West Bengal from January 28 has been postponed. The new dates for his visit will be announced shortly," he said.

Also Read | 'Pariksha Pe Charcha' Records 2.26 Crore Registration on MyGov Portal, Says Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Shah was scheduled to address a public gathering at Mecheda in Purba Medinipur district on January 29 afternoon and to hold organisational meetings to evaluate the party's readiness for the Lok Sabha polls.

The BJP, which clinched 18, out of the state's 42 parliamentary seats, in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, has set ambitious goals of securing over 35 seats in the upcoming elections.

Also Read | Amit Shah Cancels West Bengal Visit Amid Growing Political Crisis in Bihar.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) [India], January 27 (ANI): Blowing the poll bugle, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has called upon his party's cadre to publicize the good governance and transparent implementation of welfare schemes that benefitted majority people immensely in the last 56 months.

Addressing a mammoth public meeting of Party cadre here on Saturday, the Chief Minister unveiled the roadmap for the cadre to follow in the next 70 days for making a clean sweep in the ensuing elections by explaining the Jagan Mark transformation that appears from Kuppam to Ichhapuram.

Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Congress Manifesto To Be Ready Before General Polls Dates Are Announced, Says Shashi Tharoor.

"Why cannot we win all 175 assembly seats and 25 Lok Sabha seats as we have brought revolutionary changes in educational, agricultural, health and medical and administrative sectors and implemented a slew of welfare schemes without bias and transparency," he asked his party workers.

He also asked the YSRCP activists to visit door-to-door and convey the message that the slew of welfare schemes would continue in future only after his government returns to power.

Also Read | COVID-19 in India: Country Reports 159 New Coronavirus Cases, One Death in 24 Hours.

Describing the cadre as his star campaigners and army, he also asked to visit door-to-door and advise the people to become the party's star campaigners while explaining the necessity of continuing YSRCP in power to get the welfare benefits.

"While the welfare schemes implemented in the last 56 months are our arrows and ammunition, irrelevant and feudalistic parties, aided by their friendly media, are sharpening their ammunition with false promises and vicious propaganda to wage a war against the poor and the Government that stood by the SCs, STs, BCs and minorities," he said.

He further accused the opposition parties of misleading the people for electoral gains, and said, "It is necessary for YSRCP cadre to explain about the welfare schemes that benefitted people of all communities and all regions."

"Also, explain to the people how TDP president Chandrababu Naidu has cheated almost every section of society after winning the 2014 elections by dumping the election manifesto into the dustbin and defaulting on more than 600 promises and in contrast, how YSRCP fulfilled 99 per cent of the election promises in the last 56 months," he said.

He also claimed that the TDP is looking for alliances to contest the elections as Naidu 'can't go to people alone and ask votes'.

"People should be made aware of the social justice that resulted from SC, ST, BC and minorities getting 50 per cent in nominated posts and 68 per cent cabinet berths besides 4 deputy CM posts," he said.

He further said that out of the 213, 000 new government jobs created in the last 56 months, 80 per cent were bagged by members of the SC, ST BC and minorities who also received 75 per cent of the Rs.2, 53, 000crore DBT amount spent by the Government. (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 27 (PTI) Havildar Preeti Rajak, who is a champion trap shooter, has become the first woman to hold the rank of Subedar in the Indian Army after she was promoted on Sunday.

Subedar Rajak joined the Army in the Corps of Military Police in December 2022.

Also Read | SpiceJet Flight Bomb Threat: Man Held for Making Hoax Call Regarding Darbhanga-Delhi Flight.

"In a proud moment for the Indian Army as well as women of the country, today Havildar Preeti Rajak, trap shooter, was promoted to the rank of Subedar," the Army said.

"Subedar Preeti Rajak is now the first woman Subedar of the Indian Army. Her achievement is an extraordinary display of Nari Shakti," it said.

Also Read | PM Narendra Modi To Launch Digital Supreme Court Reports on January 28.

Subedar Preeti Rajak joined the Army in the Corps of Military Police on December 22, 2022.

She was the first meritorious sportswomen in the shooting discipline enrolled in the Army as a Havildar.

During the 19th Asian Games, held at Hangzhou in China, Rajak won a silver medal in the trap women team event.

Based on her extraordinary performance, she was awarded the first out of turn promotion to Subedar, the Army said in a statement.

Subedar Rajak is currently ranked sixth in India (trap women event) and is training at the Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU) in preparation for the Paris Olympic Games 2024.

"Her great achievement will motivate generations of young women to come forward to join the Indian Army as well as carve a niche for themselves in professional shooting," the Army said.

Today, Padma Shri and Arjuna awardee Subedar Major and Honorary Lieutenant Jitu Rai was promoted to the rank of Subedar Major and Honorary Captain for his meritorious service, the Army added.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Patna (Bihar) [India], January 27 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will hold a meeting with its MLAs and MPs in Patna to chalk out its strategy over the latest political situation in Bihar amid speculations that former ally, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, might pull his party out from the ruling grand alliance in the state.

The meeting, scheduled for Sunday will take place at 9 am.

Also Read | Delhi Shocker: Man Attacked With Knife and Shot at by Four Assailants in Shastri Park Area; Disturbing Video Surfaces.

Leaders of the BJP in Bihar gathered here on Saturday also to discuss the political situation in the state which was attended by several MLAs, MPs and senior leaders.

The BJP has the largest number of 17 MPs in Bihar, where the total number of Lok Sabha members is 40. The JD(U), headed by Kumar, has 16 while another NDA ally LJP, now split up between the uncle-nephew duo of Pashupati Kumar Paras and Chirag Paswan, has six.

Also Read | Chicken in Punjab Gets Security Cover: Know Why This Rooster in Bathinda Given Police Protection.

In the Bihar Assembly of 243, the RJD has 79 MLAs; followed by the BJP's 78; the JD(U)'s 45' the Congress's 19, the CPI (M-L)'s 12, two each of the CPI(M) and CPI, the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular)'s four seats, and the AIMIM's one, plus one Independent legislator.

The ruling JD(U)-RJD-Congress alliance in Bihar is on the brink of collapse, as there is a likelihood that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar could cross over to the NDA again, the alliance he parted his ways in 2022 to form the 'mahagathbandhan'.

If Nitish crosses over, this would be the fourth time he would be switching sides.

An NDA ally since the 1990s, Kumar had quit the coalition in August 2022, suspecting the BJP of trying to engineer a split in the JD(U), and having conspired to bring down his party's tally in the 2020 assembly polls.

In 2000, Nitish became CM for the first time after campaigning against RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav's 'Jungle Raaj'. Till now, he has been Bihar's CM on eight occasions.

In 2013, Nitish broke ranks with the NDA after a 17-year alliance following the announcement of Narendra Modi as the BJP's prime ministerial candidate.

He expressed his displeasure to the BJP over Modi's selection as the PM face, and after the BJP decided not to change its decision, Kumar left the alliance.

In 2017, Nitish forged a grand alliance with the RJD and Congress and returned as chief minister in 2015.

He walked out of the grand alliance in 2017, accusing the RJD of corruption and choking governance in the state.

In 2022, Nitish Kumar snapped ties with the BJP once again, alleging the BJP was conspiring against him and trying to influence JD-U MLAs to rebel against him.

However, Bihar BJP chief Samrat Choudhary set it aside, stating that the party's high command has 'no clue' about it.

"Neither has Nitish Kumarji resigned nor has anybody withdrawn support. Only if something happens, then we will have any information. At present, the BJP wants to assess the situation of Bihar and then, we will make a decision accordingly," Chaudhary said while speaking to reporters in Bihar's Patna.

"We will get informed only if Prime Minister Narendra Modi receives information regarding the same," he added. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi [India], January 27 (ANI): The Delhi Traffic Police has issued an advisory for commuters to avoid India Gate C-Hexagon on Saturday from 2 pm till midnight, as due to the weekend and post-Republic Day celebrations, a heavy volume of visitors and pedestrian movement is expected in the area.

"Due to weekend and post-Republic Day celebrations, a heavy volume of visitors and pedestrian movement is expected at India Gate C-Hexagon from 2 PM till midnight. Motorists are advised to avoid India Gate C-Hexagon and plan their journey accordingly," Delhi traffic police said in a statement.

Also Read | Union Budget 2024 Expectations in Crypto Industry: From Low TDS Rates to Policy on Cryptocurrency Regulation, Know What the Crypto Experts Expect From the Budget This Year.

India celebrated its 75th Republic Day on Friday in the national capital. The parade on the momentous platinum celebrations of India showcased 'women-led development at Kartavya Path, boosting the 'Viksit Bharat' envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

'Nari shakti' took centre stage as women soldiers marched down the Kartavya Path on the occasion of the 75th Republic Day on Friday.

Also Read | 'Pariksha Pe Charcha' Records 2.26 Crore Registration on MyGov Portal, Says Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

President Droupadi Murmu commenced the celebrations on Friday by unfurling the national flag at Kartavya Path.

President Murmu and her French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, who is the chief guest at this year's Republic Day celebrations, arrived at Kartavya Path in the 'Traditional Buggy', a practice that made a comeback after a 40-year gap.

The cultural extravaganza at Kartavya Path highlighted the diversity and vibrancy of India's cultural tapestry, captivating the audience with a fusion of artistic expressions from across the country.

Viksit Bharat's rich cultural diversity and the 'Aatmanirbhar' military prowess were the themes that graced Kartavya Path, apart from the dominating theme of 'nari shakti' in the 90-minute parade.

The 75th Republic Day March Past began on Kartavya Path with the proud winners of the highest gallantry awards, the Param Vir Chakra and the Ashok Chakra, following Parade Commander Lieutenant General Bhavnish Kumar.

For the first time, an all-women contingent of the Armed Forces Medical Services marched on Kartavya Path, led by Major Srishti Khullar, with Capt Amba Samant from the Army Dental Corps, Surg Lt Kanchana from the Indian Navy, and Flt Lt Dhivya Priya from the Indian Air Force.

French troops and aircraft also participated in the "Platinum Republic Day Parade' at the Kartavya Path.

The French Foreign Legion music band, led by Captain Khourda and consisting of 30 musicians, marched first, playing the Legion's anthem called "Le Boudin."

The distinguished band, comprising 112 women artists, played a variety of folk and tribal percussion instruments, becoming a powerful symbol of women's strength and prowess.

As many as 16 states and Union Territories also displayed their heritage diversity with the help of cultural performances and tableaux.

After the conclusion of the 75th Republic Day parade, Prime Minister Narendra Modi walked down the ceremonial boulevard of Kartvya Path and waved to spectators. (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, Jan 27 (PTI) The Kerala High Court has suspended two of its officials from service for allegedly showing derogatory content and criticising the Central government in a stage show performed on Republic Day.

The Registrar General of the High Court said that both the officials -- one an Assistant Registrar (higher grade) and the other a Court Keeper (higher grade) -- shall be on suspension, with immediate effect, pending an enquiry into the incident and resultant disciplinary action.

Also Read | Delhi ACP's Son Killed in Haryana Over Loan Dispute, Body Disposed in Canal; One Arrested.

"They (the two officials) shall return all government properties held by them, if any, including the identity card issued to them," the Registrar General said in the order issued on Friday.

The order also stated that the Chief Justice has directed the Registrar (Vigilance) to carry out a detailed enquiry about the incident and submit a report at the earliest.

Also Read | Maratha Reservation March: Quota Activist Manoj Jarange Patil Ends Protest As Eknath Shinde Led-Government Concedes Marathas' Demands (Watch Video).

"The Registrar (Administration) is directed to furnish a detailed explanation as to the circumstances in which the above said incident took place," it said.

During the period of suspension, the two shall be paid the subsistence allowance and other allowances admissible as per the relevant rules in practice, the order said.

The stage show was performed on Republic Day in the High Court Auditorium here.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], January 27 (ANI): The Enforcement Directorate has filed a prosecution complaint under the provisons of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act against three persons in a case related to terror financing in the Kashmir valley, the agency said in a statement.

The complaint was filed in the Special Court (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) on January 25 in Srinagar.

Also Read | Union Budget 2024: From Changes in Income Tax Slabs to Additional Allowances, List of Changes Salaried Class Expects From the Interim Budget This Year.

https://x.com/dir_ed/status/1751154996744528194?s=20

"ED has filed a Prosecution Complaint (PC) under the provisions of PMLA, 2002, against Mudasir Ahmad Sheikh, Mushtaq Ahmad Kambay, Mohd. Iqbal Khan before the Special Court (PMLA), Srinagar (J&K) in the case related to terror financing in the Kashmir valley. The Special Court has taken cognizance of the PC filed on January 25, 2024." (ANI)

Also Read | Union Budget 2024 Expectations in Crypto Industry: From Low TDS Rates to Policy on Cryptocurrency Regulation, Know What the Crypto Experts Expect From the Budget This Year.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Shivamogga, January 27: In a major embarrassment to Karnataka Congress, its senior leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa urged Shivamogga LS constituency public to re-elect BJP MP BY Raghavendra, son of former chief minister BS Yediyurappa. MLA Shivashankarappa asked people to re-elect Raghavendra at the Guru Basavashri Award Pradhan and Spirituality Conference organised at Bekkina Kalmata in Shivmogga, where he received the Guru Basavashri award.

"I noticed that the development works are in Shivmogga district. You have chosen a good MP. The public must elect him further. Shimoga district needs to develop more. You are blessed to have Lok Sabha members like BY Raghavendra. All the work to be done in the district has been completed and has progressed. Development work for the people should be the first priority," said Shivashankarappa at the conference. Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan Angry With Police, Stages Sit-In Protest on Road After SFI Holds Black Flag Protest Against Him (Watch Videos)

"Lok Sabha members who have worked as per the will of the people should win in the upcoming elections as well. Veerashaiva Lingayats have many sub-sects. All of them should be removed, and everyone should feel that they are the same; only then will there be unity," he added. This is the second instance in the chain of surprising events for Congress in the state of Karnataka, as earlier on Thursday, former Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, who had joined the Congress ahead of the 2023 legislative elections last year, returned to the BJP.

Shettar rejoined the BJP in the national capital in the presence of former Karnakata chief minister BS Yediyurappa, Union Minister Bhupender Singh Yadav, Karnataka BJP president Vijayendra Yediyurappa, and Union Minister of State Rajeev Chandrasekhar. "Bharatiya Janata Party is my home. I came back to my home," Shettar said speaking to reporters on Thursday. Shettar said he had a meeting with the party's national leadership, Amit Shah and JP Nadda, on Thursday, as well as state leaders BY Vijayendra and BS Yediyurappa, and joined the BJP following their guidance.

"Today I joined the Bharatiya Janata Party. Today morning, I met our national leaders, Amit Shah and JP Nadda. They heartily welcomed me. In Karnataka, I met the state party president, BY Vijayendra, BS Yediyurappa, and other leaders. They also welcomed me. I joined them according to their guidance," he said. Responding to a question asked by a reporter on contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, the former Chief Minister said, "Whatever the high command directs, I will do." Bihar Political Turmoil: BJP President JP Nadda Arrives at Union HM Amit Shah's Residence, Lok Janshakti Party President Chirag Paswan also Present (Watch Video)

Senior BJP leader BS Yediyurappa welcomed Jagdish Shettar to the party and said that the latter was thinking of rejoining the party for the last few days. "He (Jagadish Shettar) was thinking of coming back to BJP and today we welcomed him back to the party...Today he met Amit Shah and discussed many things and without any condition he has joined our party. We welcome Jagdish Shettar to our party," Yediyurappa said speaking to reporters.

Responding to a question by a reporter whether former BJP leader Laxman Savadi, who had also quit the party ahead of the Assembly elections will rejoin the party, Yediyurappa said, "I could not contact him. Today I will contact him." Shettar rejoined the BJP in the national capital in the presence of former Karnakata chief minister BS Yediyurappa, Union Minister Bhupender Singh Yadav, Karnataka BJP president Vijayendra Yediyurappa, Union Minister of State Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

There had been ongoing rumours about Shettar's return to the BJP for the past few days, to which the Congress leaders in Karnataka had responded by saying that the BJP's leadership crisis in the state prompted the party to head towards Shettar. Shettar had quit BJP and joined Congress in April 2023, ahead of the Karnataka assembly elections.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
North Korea continues to develop programs for the creation of long-range ballistic missiles. Its efforts in this direction pose a threat not only to South Korea and Japan but also to the United States. However, the US leadership knows what to do in this regard.

ADVERTISIMENT

This was announced by the chairman of the White House National Security Council, John Kirby. According to him, Washington has relevant intelligence information on the DPRK and is taking the necessary steps to protect its interests.

"We know that North Korea continues to develop advanced capabilities, including ballistic missiles," Kirby said but warned that he would not disclose intelligence. "Obviously, we're going to do what we have to do to make sure that we can protect the United States, protect our allies and partners," he added.

North Korea is also planning provocations aimed at the South Korean general election and the US presidential election. However, the U.S. government is working with Japan and South Korea "to have a robust capability to protect our interests." "No foreign actor should interfere in our elections, period. We will be as vigilant in this election cycle as we have been in the past, doing everything we can to detect and stop any attempts to interfere with the election," Kirby said in this regard.

ADVERTISIMENT

Earlier, North Korea tested a new strategic cruise missile, the Pulhwasal-3-31. It is under development, and the launch "did not affect the security of neighboring countries," the DPRK said.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, the DPRK may attack South Korea in the coming months. North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un has moved to a tougher and more hostile policy towards the neighboring country. Such rhetoric is part of provocations, but it should be taken seriously.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Don't fall for fakes!
New Delhi [India], January 27 (ANI): The Rouse Avenue court on Saturday issued summons to former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi, Misa Bharti, Hema Yadav, Hridyanand Chaudhary and other accused in the Land for Job money laundering case.

Special Judge Vishal Gogne issued summons to the accused persons after taking cognizance of the charge sheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The court issued a production warrant to produce Amit Katyal on the next date of hearing.

Also Read | Union Budget 2024: From Changes in Income Tax Slabs to Additional Allowances, List of Changes Salaried Class Expects From the Interim Budget This Year.

Two firms, namely A K Infosystem and A B Export, have also been accused in this case. Cognizance has been taken against these firms.

The next date of hearing is February 9.

Also Read | Union Budget 2024 Expectations in Crypto Industry: From Low TDS Rates to Policy on Cryptocurrency Regulation, Know What the Crypto Experts Expect From the Budget This Year.

While taking cognizance of the charge sheet, the court said that there is sufficient ground to take cognizance.

ED had submitted that in 2006-07, AK Infosystem was formed by Amit Katyal and its business was IT data analysis. No real business was done. Instead, several land parcels were bought by the company. One land parcel pertains to the main predicate offence, which is land for a job.

This company was transferred in the name of Rabri Devi and Tejaswi Yadav in 2014 for the consideration of Rs one lakh, ED submitted.

Advocate Manish Jain, special public prosecutor (SPP) for the ED submitted that Amit Katyal is only arrested as an accused.

Other accused are Rabri Devi, Misa Bharti, Hema Yadav, AK Infosystem, AB Export, and Hridyanand Chaudhary.

On January 9, the ED filed a prosecution complaint (charge sheet) in Land for a job scam money laundering case.

ED has named Bihar's ex-CM Rabri Devi, her daughters Misa Bharti and Hema Yadav, Hridyanand Chaudhary, and Amit Katyal. Two firms, AB Export and AK Infosystems, have also been accused.

SPP Jain submitted that Amit Katyal was the director of AK Infosystem. Rabri Devi is also accused of a predicate offence in a CBI case. Misa Bharti is accused of the predicate offence. Hridyanand Chaudhary is also accused of a predicate offence and was arrested.

Advocate Manish Jain and Ishan Baisla also submitted that AB Export was supposed to be in the business of export. It was incorporated in 1996. In 2007, Rs five crore came through five companies, and a property in the New Friends colony was purchased.

In this case, seven land parcels are involved. Out of these, Rabri, Hema Yadav, and Misa Bharti got land parcels. Later on, they sold out their land parcels.

ED's Special Public Prosecutors Manish Jain and advocate Ishan Baisla had apprised the court that the Yadav family members are beneficiaries of the proceeds of crime.

Katyal has been arrested and is in custody. The other accused persons have been charge-sheeted without arrest.

Katyal's firm was chargesheeted in the CBI case as well.

On November 23, 2023, the Rouse Avenue Court sent businessman Amit Katyal, promoter of AK Infosystems, to judicial custody.

He was arrested by the ED in an alleged land-for-jobs scam case. Katyal is said to be a close aide of former railways minister Lalu Prasad Yadav.

The Delhi High Court had refused to quash Enforcement Directorate (ED) proceedings against Amit Katyal, who is accused of engaging in transactions with the family members of former railways minister Lalu Prasad Yadav.

Earlier, the lawyers for Katyal had submitted the original FIR registered on May 18, 2022, by the CBI, and the period of the transaction was 2004-09. ED registered ECIR on August 16, 2022, in relation to this. The CBI has concluded the investigation, and I am cited as a protected witness. My arrest is illegal and is contrary to Section 19. The lawyer argued for Katyal.

According to the ED in March, based on the specific intelligence inputs, searches were conducted at 24 locations at various places in Delhi NCR, Patna, Mumbai, and Ranchi in the Railways Land for Job Scam, which resulted in the recovery of unaccounted cash of Rs 1 crore, foreign currency including USD 1900, 540 gms gold bullion, and more than 1.5 kg of gold jewellery (about Rs 1.25 crores), several other incriminating documents, including various property documents, sale deeds, etc., held in the names of family members and benamidaars, indicating illegal accretion of huge land bank and electronic devices.

Searches resulted in the detection of proceeds of crime amounting to Rs 600 crore at this point in time, which are in the form of immovable properties of Rs 350 crore and transactions of Rs 250 crore routed through various benamidaars, ED stated.

According to the ED PMLA investigation conducted so far, several pieces of land at prominent locations in Patna and other areas were illegally acquired by the family of the then Rail Minister, Lalu Prasad Yadav, in lieu of jobs provided by railways. The current market value of these land parcels is more than Rs 200 crore. In this regard, several benamidars, shell entities, and beneficial owners of these lands have been identified.

Further, investigation under PMLA revealed that the property situated at New Friends Colony, Delhi (an independent 4-story bungalow registered in the name of M/s A B Exports Private Limited, a company owned and controlled by Tejashwi Prasad Yadav and his family) was shown to have been acquired at a value of mere Rs 4 lakhs, the present market value of which is approximately Rs 150 crore. It is suspected that a huge amount of cash or proceeds from crime has been infused into purchasing this property, and a few Mumbai-based entities dealing in the gems and jewellery sector were used to channel the ill-gotten proceeds of crime in this regard. The property has been, on paper, declared as the offices of M/s A B Exports Private Limited and M/s AK Infosystems Pvt ltd, It is being exclusively used as residential premises by Tejasvi Prasad Yadav, son of Lalu Prasad Yadav. During the searches, Tejasvi Prasad Yadav was found to be staying at this house and was found to be using this house as his residential property.

An ED investigation has found that four parcels of land acquired by the family of Lalu Yadav for just Rs 7.5 lakhs from poor Group-D applicants were sold to Syed Abu Dojana, ex-RJD MLA, by Mrs. Rabri Devi with huge gains of Rs 3.5 crore in a collusive deal. The ED investigation further revealed that a major portion of the amount thus received was transferred to the account of Sh. Tejashwi Prasad Yadav.Investigations revealed that, in a similar fashion, lands were taken from several poor parents and candidates in lieu of Group D jobs in the railways. It has been revealed during the investigation that in many railway zones, more than 50 percent of the recruited candidates were from Lalu Yadav families' constituencies, according to ED. (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 27 (PTI) The Congress on Saturday said constructive seat-sharing talks are on between senior party leader Ashok Gehlot and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, and it will inform when a formula is finalised.

The Congress' assertion came soon after Yadav said his party's alliance with the Congress is "off to a good start" with 11 "strong" Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh.

Also Read | Karnataka Shocker: Teenage Girl Raped by Neighbour Dies by Suicide After She Was Found Pregnant in Mandya.

The state sends 80 members to the Lower House of Parliament and elections are due in April-May.

Asked about Yadav's remarks at a press conference, Ramesh said Gehlot is in direct contact with the SP chief and talks are going on in a positive and constructive manner.

Also Read | Madhya Pradesh: Ex-BJP Worker, Wife Killed in Ujjain; Congress Blames States Law and Order Situation.

"When a seat-sharing formula is finalised we will inform you. But today Akhilesh ji has spoken on this that talks are on and he is happy with the talks. I would say from my party's side, talks are on between Ashok Gehlot and Akhilesh Yadav ji and they will meet soon," Ramesh said.

The seat-sharing pact that will happen will be beneficial for the Congress, the SP, and the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), he asserted.

Asked if the seat sharing was not final, Ramesh said, "It is final only when it is final."

Ramesh's remarks came minutes after Yadav, in a post in Hindi, on X said, "Our cordial alliance with the Congress is off to a good start with 11 strong seats. This trend will move forward with the winning equation. 'INDIA' team and 'PDA' strategy will change history."

Elaborating further on the developments, SP chief spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary told PTI, "We (Samajwadi Party) have offered 11 seats to them (the Congress), so that there is a respectable mutual coordination among us, and we defeat the BJP."

Chaudhary also said the party's top leadership is in continuous touch with the Congress.

He said the number of seats offered, which stands at 11 now, is not likely to go up in the future.

"We have given 11 seats to the Congress (in UP) and seven seats to the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD). This comes to 18 seats. The SP will contest 62 seats in the Lok Sabha election," the chief spokesperson of SP said.

In the current Lok Sabha, the Samajwadi Party has three MPs and the Bahujan Samaj Party has 10 MPs. Sonia Gandhi is the lone Congress MP from the state representing the Rae Bareli constituency. The Apna Dal (Sonelal) has two MPs. The BJP has 64 MPs from the state.

Earlier, on January 19, the SP and the RLD announced their alliance for the Lok Sabha polls, with the latter saying that the other party will leave seven seats in western Uttar Pradesh for its nominees.

Saturday's development comes amid strong indications that Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar may do yet another volte-face and return to the BJP-led NDA.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], January 27 (ANI): The commission regarding Other Backward Caste (OBC) reservation in the municipal bodies in Uttarakhand under the chairmanship of retired Justice BS Verma submitted its report to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami at his residence on Friday.

In Uttarakhand, in the year 2022, a commission regarding OBC reservation was formed under the chairmanship of Justice BS Verma on the order of the Supreme Court.

Also Read | Delhi ACP's Son Killed in Haryana Over Loan Dispute, Body Disposed in Canal; One Arrested.

The Commission has sent its suggestions regarding OBC reservation to the government.

Meanwhile, the session of the Uttarakhand Assembly will be convened on February 5 in Dehradun.

Also Read | Maratha Reservation March: Quota Activist Manoj Jarange Patil Ends Protest As Eknath Shinde Led-Government Concedes Marathas' Demands (Watch Video).

A note issued on Friday from the Uttarakhand Assembly Secretariat stated that Uttarakhand had summoned the Fifth Vidhan Sabha of Uttarakhand to meet for the second session.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday said that the tenure of the expert committee preparing the draft of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) for the state has been extended by 15 days.

"UCC committee has almost completed its task. A little more time is needed to compile it and complete some other formalities, so the time period has been extended by 15 days. We are going to get the draft soon. As soon as we get it, we will take further steps and convene an Assembly session," the Uttarakhand Chief Minister said.

The tenure of the committee headed by Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai has already been extended three times earlier, with the latest being an extension of four months in September last year.

The UCC was promised to the people of the state in the run-up to the 2022 assembly polls in Uttarakhand.

Article 44 of the Constitution of India says that the State shall endeavour to secure a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) throughout the territory of India. The UCC proposes a common set of laws dealing with marriage, inheritance, adoption, and other matters.

The UCC, which had been a hot topic that had polarised opinions over the last 4 years, hit the forefront in June last year after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a strong case for the implementation of uniform legislation in an address in Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi [India], January 27 (ANI): Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday slammed the centre over the issue of thousands of Indians seeking jobs in Israel amid the war with Hamas.

He said that there has been widespread rural distress and so the people are willing to risk their lives during the ongoing war.

Also Read | US Woman Tortures and Kills Chickens, Rabbits and Other Animals Live on YouTube for Likes and Views; Arrested.

He further slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, highlighting that in 2022-203, the daily wages for men in rural India was Rs 212, whereas, it was Rs 220 in 2014.

"Thousands of Indians made a beeline seeking JOBS in Israel, willing to risk their lives during a war. Why? In past 5 years, under Modi Govt, growth rate of real rural wages has become negative for both agriculture (-0.6%) and non-agriculture (-1.4%), which means there is widespread RURAL DISTRESS. Daily wages in rural India for men in 2022-23 is Rs212, which is lower than Rs220 in 2014," Kharge said in a post shared on X.

Also Read | US Shooting: Two Teenagers Killed in Shooting in Chicago While Exiting High School.

He underscored that the formal job creation has fallen to a 30-month low, which signifies that there are no jobs for the educated youth.

"Demand for work under MGNREGA is escalating by the day. Modi Govt had slashed its funds in the Budget 2023-24, but was forced to allocate Rs28,000 Cr more, due to high rural joblessness. Formal job creation has fallen to a 30-month low, which means there are no jobs for our educated youth," he added.

He further said that the actual disbursement of funds to Panchayats has been 10.4 per cent less than what was promised in the 14th Finance Commission (2015-2020) and the trend has continued.

Moreover, Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sales did not see any increase in 2023, again indicating why household savings are at a 50-year low.

"Growth in Private consumption expenditure, which is a catalyst of creating jobs, is a 21-year low. Between 2018-19 to 2022-23, individual tax collection from the public has increased by 50.55 per cent, but corporate tax collection has increased only by 2.72 per cent," he said.

Emphasising that this shows ever-widening economic inequalities, Kharge said that the prices of vegetables have increased by 60 per cent in the last year which has heavily burdened the people.

Furthermore, criticising the Modi government, he stressed that the "final budget of Modi Govt is due in a few days...Will an arrogant Modi Govt, drunk with power, ever atone for the miseries that they have inflicted on the People of India?"

https://x.com/kharge/status/1751155759688138906?s=20

In December last year, the Uttar Pradesh and Haryana governments invited applications from construction workers for job openings in Israel. The government plans to send at least 10,000 workers to the conflict-hit nation. The workers will be selected by the National Skills Development Corporation (NSDC).

Earlier this month, emphasising that India has a labour mobility partnership with Israel, Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that India remains committed to safe and legal mobility as Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have begun screening Indians wishing to travel to Israel for labour jobs.

"We have a labour mobility partnership with several countries across the world and we have an agreement now with Israel as well. The agreement itself started long before the conflict erupted...The idea behind the agreement was to put in place an institutional mechanism that regulates migration to that country," he said.

MEA Spokesperson further said that a large number of Indians are already working in the caregiving sector in Israel and ensured that there is regulated migration.

"We already have a large number of people, especially in the caregiving sector, in Israel and we want to ensure there is regulated migration and the rights of the people who go there are protected," he said. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Johannesburg, Jan 27 (PTI) South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has said the International Court of Justice has vindicated his country's decision to charge Israel of genocide during its military offensive in Gaza.

The top UN court on Friday stopped short of ordering a ceasefire in Gaza but demanded that Israel try to contain death and damage in its military offensive. South Africa, which brought the case, had asked for the court to order Israel to halt its operation.

Also Read | Republic Day 2024: Indian Envoy to Ukraine Harsh Jain Unfurls Tricolour at Embassy Premises in Kyiv.

The top UN Court court decided not to throw out genocide charges against Israel for its military offensive in Gaza, as part of a preliminary decision in the case.

In a national TV broadcast on Friday evening, Ramaphosa said the International Court of Justice on Friday issued a ruling that is "a victory for international law, for human rights, and above all, for justice".

Also Read | India Has Highest Economic Growth Rate Due to PM Narendra Modi's Leadership, Says Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"The court has concluded that pursuant to Article 9 of the (1948 Genocide) Convention, it has jurisdiction to adjudicate our application. The effect of the order that the ICJ has granted today is that there is a plausible case of genocide. This follows the unprecedented action taken by South Africa to take another country to the International Court of Justice," he said.

The president said the ICJ ruling marked an important first step in South Africa's quest to secure justice for the people of Gaza.

"Some have told us to mind our own business. Others have said it was not our place. And yet it is very much our place, as people who know too well the pain of dispossession, discrimination, and state-sponsored violence.

"We are also a people who were the victims of the crime of apartheid. We know what apartheid looks like. We experienced and lived through it. Sadly, many people died and were exiled like our beloved leader Oliver Tambo and others, others were jailed, like the father of our democracy (Nelson Mandela) and others were maimed," Ramaphosa said.

He said, "We, as South Africans, will not be passive bystanders and watch the crimes that were visited upon us being perpetrated elsewhere. We stand on the side of freedom for all. We stand on the side of justice."

Paraphrasing a statement by Nelson Mandela made 30 years ago when he was elected South Africa's first democratically elected president, Ramaphosa said, "We say again today, never, never and never again shall it be that acts of genocide are perpetrated with impunity as we, the international community look on."

The president said he firmly believed that following this judgment there should now be a more concerted effort towards a ceasefire.

"Negotiations should commence on a permanent two-state solution, to enable Israel and Palestine to live side by side as independent states," he said as he thanked those in the international community who had supported South Africa's application to the ICJ.

"We will not waver in our commitment to the Palestinian people and their quest for self-determination. Our own painful history obliges us to do no less. We thank the International Court of Justice for upholding its role of achieving justice, promoting peace, preventing genocide and holding those guilty of genocide accountable," Ramaphosa said.

South Africa filed the ICJ application on December 29 last year, arguing that Israel was in breach of its obligations under the 1948 Genocide Convention.

The ICJ, as the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, handed down a ruling that Israel should immediately implement a set of provisional measures to prevent any further acts of genocide in Gaza, desist from such acts, and take effective measures to prevent the destruction and ensure the preservation of evidence relating to acts of genocide.

"As the South African Government, we welcome the decision of the ICJ. We note the court's statement that it is acutely aware of the extent of the human tragedy that is unfolding in the region and is deeply concerned about the continuing loss of life and human suffering and that the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is at serious risk of deteriorating further before the court renders its final judgement.

"This order is binding on Israel, and must be respected by all states that are party to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide," Ramaphosa said in a veiled reference to the US, UK and other countries who are supporting Israel.

"We expect Israel as a self-proclaimed democracy and a state that respects the rule of law to abide by the measures handed down by the International Court of Justice. After more than half a century of occupation, dispossession, oppression and apartheid, the Palestinian people's cries for justice have been heeded by an eminent organ of the United Nations," Ramaphosa concluded.

(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 27 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron have appreciated the growing counter-terrorism and intelligence cooperation between the two countries, including through the mechanism of the India-France Joint Working Group on counter-terrorism.

The two countries have welcomed the formalisation of cooperation between the National Security Guard (NSG) of India and the Groupe d'intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale (GIGN) of France for agency-level cooperation in the field of counterterrorism, as per the India-France joint statement following President Macron's state visit to India for the Republic Day celebrations.

Also Read | Republic Day 2024: Indian Envoy to Ukraine Harsh Jain Unfurls Tricolour at Embassy Premises in Kyiv.

Prime Minister Modi and French President Macron reaffirmed their unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism, and shared their resolve to stand together in the common fight against global terrorism.

They further agreed that no country should provide safe haven to those who finance, plan, support, or commit terrorist acts. The leaders also called for concerted action against all terrorists, including through designations or individuals affiliated with groups that are listed by the UN Security Council 1267 Sanctions Committee.

Also Read | India Has Highest Economic Growth Rate Due to PM Narendra Modi's Leadership, Says Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The two sides emphasized the importance of upholding international standards on anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism, consistent with Financial Action Task Force recommendations. Both countries reiterated their commitment to work together in FATF, NMFT and other multilateral platforms.

Both leaders strongly condemned the terrorist attack on Israel on October 7 and expressed solidarity with the people of Israel. Condemning the huge loss of civilian lives in the ongoing conflict, they emphasised the need to respect international humanitarian law and to create conditions, including through a humanitarian ceasefire, for aid to flow to the affected population in the Gaza region.

Both leaders also called for an immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. The two leaders reaffirmed that a political process leading to a two-state solution for the Israeli and Palestinian people is required for lasting peace and stability in the region, as per the joint statement

They also expressed grave concern at the possibility of further expansion of the conflict in the region, including in the Red Sea, which already has a significant economic impact in the world.

PM Modi, French President Macron recalled the utmost importance of upholding freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and of respecting the international law of the sea. They had detailed conversations aimed at coordinating their efforts in that region in this regard. They expressed deep concern over the war in Ukraine and its tragic humanitarian consequences.

They underscored the need for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine in accordance with international law, and consistent with the principles of the UN Charter. They underscored the growing impact of this war on the global economic system and food security, with consequences predominantly affecting developing and least developed countries, as per the joint statement. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Gilgit-Baltistan, January 27: The lives of people in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir's (PoK) Gilgit-Baltistan have come to a standstill with a complete shutter down and wheel-jam strike being observed against an increase in the subsidised wheat rate and other grievances across the region, as reported by Dawn. People have been holding big protest demonstrations and rallies in all districts of Gilgit-Baltistan, and hence the traffic has been suspended in all the regions.

Moreover, shops, markets, restaurants and trade centres were closed on Friday in various areas of Gilgit, Skardu, Diamer, Ghizer, Astore, Shighar, Ghanche, Kharmang, Hunza and Nagar. The Awami Action Committee (AAC) gave the strike call, in consultation with the associations representing traders, transporters and hotel owners, according to Dawn. However, it was the next phase of the protest that has been going on for the last month against the Gilgit-Baltistan government's decision to raise the subsidised wheat prices. Gilgit-Baltistan: Awami Action Committee to Hold Protest over Surge in Wheat Prices on Dec 21

Maryam S Khan, a researcher at the Institute of Development and Economic Alternatives (IDEAS), Pakistan, posted on social media X, stating that the largest telecom operator of PoK, Special Communications Organization, has blocked internet services in Gilgit-Baltistan. "As protests grow stronger over wheat subsidy issue, SCOM @hq_sco has blocked internet services in Gilgit-Baltistan," Khan reposted on X.

Whereas, an X user shared a video of Senator Farhatullah Babar, stressing that Gilgit-Baltistan is the only region of Pakistan where people do not own their lands. "Gilgit-Baltistan is the only region of Pakistan where people do not own their lands, Pakistan does not implement the 18th amendment in GB because after that people will become the owners of their own lands. This is an area being denied," he said.

Meanwhile, as the protests continued, attendance in private and government offices and educational institutions remained thin owing to the unavailability of transport, hence, causing difficulties for people to purchase essential commodities and travel. Notably, the AAC announced that marches from various areas of the region towards Gilgit and Skardu will begin today, as reported by Dawn. Protests in Gilgit-Baltistan Against Shortage of Fuel, Food and Power

Furthermore, on Friday, a large number of people participated in a protest demonstration, held at Siddiq Akbar Chowk in Chilas, the district headquarters of Diamer, after Friday prayers. The speakers condemned the Gilgit-Baltistan government's decision to raise the subsidised wheat rate, terming it a failure of the chief minister. They further warned that if their demands were not fulfilled, the Karakoram Highway would be blocked, Dawn reported.

Moreover, protest rallies and demonstrations were also held in Tangir, Astore, Kharmang, Skardu, Shigar, Ghanche, Hunza, Nagar and Ghizer after Friday prayers. However, the main demonstrations were staged at Garibagh in Gilgit and Yadgar-i-Shuhada in Skardu where thousands of people gathered for their daily, hours-long sit-in. The AAC chief organiser, Ehsan Ali, said that GB residents had been deprived of their basic rights for the past seven decades.

"Currently, the GB people have been facing 22 hours of electricity outages, despite spending billions of rupees annually from public funds," he said. Amidst all these protests and demonstrations, GB Governor Syed Mehdi Shah held a meeting with President Arif Alvi in Islamabad on Friday and discussed the overall situation in the region, including wheat subsidy and other issues, as reported by Dawn. According to a statement issued by the Presidency, the president told the governor that he had raised the issue with the caretaker prime minister and finance minister and hoped that it would be resolved soon.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Ottawa [Canada], January 27 (ANI): Canada's outgoing National Security Advisor Jody Thomas on Saturday emphasised that India is cooperating in the investigation of the killing of India-designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, and called the changing relationship an "evolution", as reported by Canada-based CTV News.

Thomas said that Canada has "made advancements in that relationship."

Also Read | US Woman Tortures and Kills Chickens, Rabbits and Other Animals Live on YouTube for Likes and Views; Arrested.

In an interview with CTV's Question Period host Vassy Kapelos which airs this Sunday, Thomas said that her discussions with her Indian counterpart have been fruitful.

"My discussions with my counterpart in India have been fruitful, and I think they've moved things forward," she said.

Also Read | US Shooting: Two Teenagers Killed in Shooting in Chicago While Exiting High School.

In September last year, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had claimed that there were "credible allegations" that the Indian government may have been involved in the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in Surrey in June 2023.

However, India denied the allegations as absurd and motivated. Following that relations between India and Canada have been strained

In December last year Justin Trudeau said that he had made the allegations public as he expected the information to be leaked.

Later in December, in a parallel development, the US Justice Department unsealed an indictment against an Indian national for his alleged involvement in a foiled plot to assassinate Pannun.

The Justice Department claimed that an Indian government employee (named CC-1), who was not identified in the indictment filed in a federal court in Manhattan, recruited an Indian national named Nikhil Gupta to hire a hitman to carry out the assassination, which was foiled by US authorities, according to prosecutors. Gupta is currently in custody and has been charged with murder-for-hire, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

In its response India said it would cooperate with the United States in this probe.

When asked by CTV news whether Canada's improved relationship with India was a result of the US indictment, outgoing NSA Jody Thomas said "The two are connected for sure."

"The information that they revealed supported our position and our assertions with India. India is working with us, and my counterpart, in particular, far more closely to resolve this," said Thomas.

In December, the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had also said that he believes India's relations with Canada may have undergone "a tonal shift" in the days since the unsealing of the US indictment. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Kech [Pakistan], January 27 (ANI): A young Baloch poet identified as Qasim has been missing from the Kech district of Pakistan's Balochistan province.

According to the Balochistan Post, a local news portal, Qasim hails from the Dasht Chat area and is now missing after he was arrested in Turbat, the central city of Kech district in Balochistan.

Also Read | Very Concerning: Elon Musk on New Apple App Store Changes in European Union Ahead of Digital Markets Act.

Qasim was apprehended and subsequently vanished after being taken into custody at the Civil Hospital. The news portal cited relatives of the poet.

The report said, "This incident unfolds against the backdrop of ongoing protests against enforced disappearances in Balochistan, where a wave of demonstrations has surged in recent months. Protesters are demanding an end to the forced disappearances affecting the entire region, which has witnessed a growing number of cases on a daily basis."

Also Read | US Shocker: 49-Year-Old Army Veteran Fakes Using Wheelchair for Twenty Years To Claim Over USD 660K Benefits.

The resource-rich but poorest province of Pakistan has been facing continuous protests by the locals against frequent incidents of enforced disappearances, torture and killing of political activists and students by the country's secret agencies.

The Balochistan Post reports that the demonstrators in Balochistan continue to voice their concerns against the relentless occurrence of enforced disappearances, urging the authorities to take immediate measures to curb these violations of human rights.

However, daily reports of new cases of enforced disappearances in Balochistan underscore the persistent challenges in addressing this grave issue.

The situation remains tense as the region grapples with the disturbing trend of individuals disappearing without a trace. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Streaks of Light Seen in California. (Photo Credits: Video Grab)

Piedmont (US), Jan 27 (AP) Authorities in South Carolina were investigating on Saturday the fatal shooting of a man by sheriff's deputy.

Deputies with the Greenville County Sheriff's Office responded Friday night to a call about a disturbance and a possible assault, a sheriff's office news release said.

Also Read | Indian Warship Contains Fire Onboard Missile-Hit Cargo Vessel With 22 Crew in Gulf of Aden (Watch Video).

Deputies encountered two people, and at least one had a gun, the sheriff's office said. One deputy fired at one of the people, and that person was killed, the sheriff's office said.

The second person was arrested and charged with assault, the sheriff's office said.

Also Read | Alien Invasion: US Not Ready for Extraterrestrial Attack, Says Pentagon Watchdog.

The Greenville County Coroner's Office said a white man was killed, but his name was not immediately released. An autopsy was planned Saturday. The deputy's race was not immediately released.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division was investigating the shooting. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin's strategy of waiting for Donald Trump to return to the presidency of the United States is another miscalculation by the Kremlin. Putin hopes that Trump can help make a "dirty deal" to end the war in Ukraine, but this is unlikely to happen.

ADVERTISIMENT

This opinion was expressed by former NATO Secretary General (1999-2004) and former British Defense Secretary George Robertson, Bloomberg reports. According to him, Trump does have Russian-friendly rhetoric, but as president of the United States, he has actually strengthened American defense and increased contributions to the Alliance.

Robertson believes that Putin is hoping for a Trump presidency because his criminal army cannot make progress on the battlefield.

"Putin seems to have no choice but to wait until Trump is elected, who he hopes will cut some kind of dirty deal to end the war. But even this strategy, if you can call it that, is not correct," said the former secretary general of the bloc.

He noted that during their meetings in the UK, Republican congressmen clearly stated that such a strategy of the president of the aggressor state was wrong.

ADVERTISIMENT

"During his term in office, contrary to his rhetoric, President Trump has sent missiles to Poland, increased NATO funding, and significantly strengthened the power of his own army. This is starting to look like another miscalculation by the Kremlin," Robertson said.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, Putin wants Donald Trump to win the US presidential election in 2024, according to former White House Russia expert Fiona Hill. According to her, the Kremlin chief "knows how to manipulate Trump" and still considers him an "asset."

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Taipei [Taiwan], January 27 (ANI): Taiwan's Foreign Ministry on Saturday congratulated Tuvalu on completing its elections smoothly while rejecting media reports that the self-governing island might be dealing with another diplomatic blow in the Pacific region, the Central News Agency of Taiwan reported.

Ling Tung-heng, Taiwan's ambassador to Tuvalu, congratulated Tuvalu's Governor-General Tofiga Falani and elected legislators on Friday's elections, according to a MOFA news statement.

Also Read | Alien Invasion: US Not Ready for Extraterrestrial Attack, Says Pentagon Watchdog.

Notably, Taiwan and Tuvalu established formal diplomatic relations in 1979, and bilateral relationships have remained "stable and strong" for the past 45 years, reported the Central News agency of Taiwan.

Taiwan expressed a desire to continue collaborating with Tuvalu to promote the Pacific island nation's development and reaction to climate change.

Also Read | COVID-19: Coronavirus Infection No Longer Perceived As Serious Health Problem, Says Study.

In a second statement published Saturday, MOFA disputed recent media allegations that Tuvalu, like Nauru, may terminate diplomatic ties with Taiwan in favour of China following its parliamentary elections.

"The majority of the newly elected members of the parliament are supportive of the Taiwan-Tuvalu relationship," the Taiwanese MOFA said, according to the Central News Agency of Taiwan.

Notably, Tuvalu's Taiwan-friendly Prime Minister Kausea Natano lost his parliamentary seat in Friday's (January 26) election, casting doubt on the two nations' future diplomatic ties.

According to media reports, Tuvalu's finance minister, Seve Paeni, is expected to head the country.

The prime minister will be chosen in the next few days, following the recently concluded polls in Tuvalu. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Taipei [Taiwan], January 27 (ANI): Taiwan detected 33 military aircraft and six naval vessels from China between 6 a.m. Friday (Jan. 26) and Saturday around the nation, the Ministry of National Defence of Taiwan reported.

Taiwan responded by sending planes and navy ships, as well as deploying air defence missile systems, to track the People's Liberation Army (PLA) actions.

Also Read | Alien Invasion: US Not Ready for Extraterrestrial Attack, Says Pentagon Watchdog.

According to Taiwan News, the country's defence ministry reported that 13 Chinese aircraft breached the southern and northern air defence identification zones (ADIZ).

It did not offer information on all of the planes and drones.

Also Read | COVID-19: Coronavirus Infection No Longer Perceived As Serious Health Problem, Says Study.

The military "monitored the situation and tasked appropriate forces to respond."

It also sent combat patrol planes, sent out navy ships, and deployed land-based air defence missile systems.

According to media reports, the pressure from Beijing has mounted on Taiwan at a time when US national security advisor Jake Sullivan and Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi were set to meet in Bangkok.

Since September 2020, Beijing has increasingly used "grey zone tactics" such as deploying military aircraft and naval vessels across the middle line and into Taiwan's ADIZ.

According to CSIS, gray zone tactics are "an effort or series of efforts beyond steady-state deterrence and assurance that attempts to achieve one's security objectives without resorting to direct and sizable use of force," Taiwan News reported.

So far this year, the Taiwan military has identified 266 Chinese military aircraft and 116 naval vessels. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Bangkok [Thailand], January 27 (ANI): Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin attended the reception hosted by the Indian Embassy in Bangkok on the occasion of India's 75th Republic Day. Thailand's Minister of Culture Sermsak Pongpanit was the chief guest at the event, attended by more than 1,000 guests from Thailand's government, businesses, media, academia, the diplomatic corps, and members of the Indian community in Thailand.

In a post on X, the Indian Embassy in Bangkok stated, "75thRepublicDay Reception was hosted by the Emb of India, Bangkok. Amb @Nageshsinghifs received H.E. PM @thavisin who graced the occasion. A special & magnanimous gesture on part of H.E. PM underscoring the special civilizational relationship between India & Thailand."

Also Read | Middle East Crisis: US, UK Launch Retaliatory Strikes on Houthi Sites in Yemen's Red Sea After Attack on British Oil Tanker.

"A rare appearance by the Thai PM at a National Day event is a reflection of Thailand's keen interest to further intensify engagement with India and to take this relationship to a higher trajectory," Indian Embassy in Bankok said in a statement on Facebook.

While addressing the gathering, Sermsak Pongpanit greeted the government and the people of India and highlighted the strong linguistic, religious and cultural connection between the two nations which forms the foundation for deeper bilateral ties in contemporary times.

Also Read | Very Concerning: Elon Musk on New Apple App Store Changes in European Union Ahead of Digital Markets Act.

Speaking on the occasion, India's Ambassador to Thailand Nagesh Singh "underlined the deep connection between Buddhism and democracy in ancient India and India's phenomenal progress as a democracy navigating multiple challenges."

He spoke about the opportunities and the imperatives to intensify bilateral relations between the two nations in various sectors, including political exchanges, economy and trade, defence, security, education and culture, for the benefit of the people of both nations, according to the statement.

In a post on X, the Indian Embassy in Bangkok stated, "Reception hosted by Embassy on the occasion of #75thRepublicDay of India. Addressing over 1000 guests, Ambassador @NageshSinghifs& Chief Guest H.E. Sermsak Pongpanit, Minister of Culture of Thailand, reaffirmed everlasting friendship & promising future for & relations."

In another post, the Indian Embassy in Bangkok stated, "Scintillating recital of Ramayana in fusion style showcasing our civilizational ties."

In a statement shared on Facebook, the Indian Embassy in Bangkok stated, "Another highlight of the evening was a mesmerizing performance of Ramayana, known as Ramakien in Thailand, in a fusion between Bharatnatyam and Khon style from Thailand. This dance recital was presented by Mr. Ekkalak Nu-ngoen along with a group of students from the Faculty of Music and Drama, Bunditpatanasilpa Institute in Bangkok. The retelling of the timeless epic depicting the glory of Lord Ram in seamless harmony blending traditional dance forms of both countries received wide appreciation."

According to the Indian Embassy in Bangkok, the timeless epic of Ramayana holds a "very special place" in India and Thailand and has been adapted as Ramakien in Thailand. It further stated, "It is a story of Lord Rama, the Prince of Ayodhya or Ayutthaya. In the Thai adaptation, Lord Rama becomes Phra Ram. Both versions, however, extol the same virtues of sacrifice, duty, devotion, and triumph of good over evil. This epic is an exemplar of shared cultural conscious of India and Thailand as similar values are cherished in both cultures." Garima Arora, a Michelin Star Indian chef in Bangkok presented an "innovative and contemporary selection" of Indian cuisine to the guests, according to the statement. In the statement, the Indian Embassy in Bangkok called India and Thailand "civilizational neighbours" with shared interests in strengthening bilateral relations in all its dimensions. (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 27 (ANI): The US has temporarily paused additional funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in light of recent allegations that the agency's employees may have been involved in the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

Secretary of State Antony J Blinken spoke with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on January 25 to emphasize the necessity of a thorough and swift investigation of this matter, the US State Department said in a statement.

Also Read | Republic Day 2024: Indian Envoy to Ukraine Harsh Jain Unfurls Tricolour at Embassy Premises in Kyiv.

Notably, on October 7, more than 3,000 women, children and men, ranging from the age of 9 months to 80 years in Israel were attacked by the terror group Hamas. Many women were brutally raped and killed. Around 1,405 people lost their lives, and over 200 were taken as hostages.

US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said: "The United States is extremely troubled by the allegations that twelve UNRWA employees may have been involved in the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel."

Also Read | India Has Highest Economic Growth Rate Due to PM Narendra Modi's Leadership, Says Russian President Vladimir Putin.

He said the State Department has temporarily paused additional funding for UNRWA "while we review these allegations and the steps the United Nations is taking to address them."

Miller said the US welcomes the UN's decision to investigate the matter.

"We welcome the decision to conduct such an investigation and Secretary General Guterres' pledge to take decisive action to respond, should the allegations prove accurate. We also welcome the UN's announcement of a 'comprehensive and independent' review of UNRWA. There must be complete accountability for anyone who participated in the heinous attacks of October 7," the US State Department spokesperson said.

Miller said UNRWA plays a critical role in providing lifesaving assistance to Palestinians, including essential food, medicine, shelter, and other vital humanitarian support. "Their work has saved lives, and it is important that UNRWA address these allegations and take any appropriate corrective measures, including reviewing its existing policies and procedures."

The US has meanwhile reached out to the Israel government to seek more information about these allegations, and "we have briefed Members of Congress. We will remain in close contact with the United Nations and Israeli government regarding this matter," he added. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Delhi, January 27: Lakshya Chauhan, a 24-year-old lawyer at Tis Hazari court and son of Delhi Polices Assistant Commissioner Yashpal Singh, was found dead in a canal in Haryana. The tragic incident unfolded after Chauhan attended a wedding in Sonepat with two friends, Vikas Bhardwaj and Abhishek.

Chauhans disappearance triggered a search operation when he failed to return home the following day, reported NDTV. As the investigation progressed, it was revealed that a financial dispute between Chauhan and Bhardwaj had escalated, leading to a sinister plot to murder Chauhan. Bhardwaj alleged that Chauhan had taken a loan and consistently refused to repay, causing tension between the two. Odisha Road Accident: Three Killed After Speeding Car Collides With Autorickshaw, Bikes in Koraput, CM Naveen Patnaik Announces Ex-gratia of Rs 3 Lakh Each (Watch Video).

Abhishek, who was detained after a week-long search, disclosed that the duo had hatched a plan to murder Chauhan during their return journey from the wedding. They allegedly pushed Chauhan into the Munak Canal and fled the scene in his car. Agra Shocker: Fed Up With His Drinking Habit, Woman Electrocutes Husband to Death; Arrested.

When asked how the police confirmed Chauhans death, the officer said that they have ascertained that Bhardwaj has contacted two-three people close to him, seeking legal help after informing them that he has killed Chauhan by pushing him into the canal at Panipat following a heated argument in the early hours on January 23.

The police have registered a case based on Abhisheks statement and are intensifying efforts to trace Bhardwaj.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 27, 2024 08:35 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Kolkata, January 27: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said that the first draft of the party's manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections would be released by February 15 and the final one would come out before the poll dates are announced. He also expressed hope that the opposition bloc INDIA might choose elements from the manifestos of parties in the alliance and come up with one having a list of the core issues.

"We have our internal procedures. The first draft should be ready by February 15 but thereafter it has to be agreed upon and adopted by our working committee. But certainly, by the time the Election Commission announces the elections, our manifesto will be ready and out," he said. Lok Sabha Election 2024: MVA's Nana Patole, Ashok Chavan, Balasaheb Thorat to Finalise Seat-Sharing With Prakash Ambedkar's VBA.

Tharoor participated in 'Shape the Future', a programme jointly hosted by the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee and the All India Professionals' Congress, for constructive input from cross-sections of the civil society for preparing the party's manifesto. The Thiruvananthapuram MP is also a member of the committee to prepare the party manifesto.

"I think each party is going to be working on its own manifesto... It is entirely possible that the INDIA alliance will choose elements from all the manifestos in common and come up with a core list of issues," he added. Tharoor said the manifestos would focus on the issues of unemployment, price rise, the need for income support for the poor, women's rights, youths and farmers. Lok Sabha Elections 2024: BJP Appoints Election In-Charges, Co-in-Charges for 23 States and Union Territories.

The objective of Saturday's interactive session was to gather impartial, spontaneous, and value-added views from different segments of the society on issues that they felt to be addressed by a union government, a Congress leader said. Tharoor heard stakeholders from the Industry, Economy, Healthcare, Banking, Education, Information Technology, Human Resources, Literature, Cultural, Legal and Diversity segments.
Hyderabad, January 27: The BJP's preparations in Telangana for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections will begin with Union Home Minister Amit Shah attending three key meetings at Hyderabad, Karimnagar and Mahabubnagar on Sunday. Shah would attend the election management committee meeting of Mahabubnagar Lok Sabha constituency at 1.30 PM, followed by a polling booth committee meeting of Karimnagar at 4 PM and a convention of professionals of Secunderabad constituency at 6 PM in Hyderabad, BJP sources said on Saturday.

The Mahabubnagar event would be a closed-door event, they said. Shah, who had visited the state on December 28, 2023, had set a target for the party to win at least 10 seats and secure a 35 per cent vote share in Telangana in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Lok Sabha Elections 2024: PM Narendra Modi Likely To Kick-Start First Electoral Rally From Uttar Pradeshs Bulandshahr on January 25.

The BJP had won Secunderabad, Karimnagar, Nizamabad and Adilabad constituencies out of the total 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana in the 2019 polls. In the recent Telangana Legislative Assembly elections, the BJP won eight out of the total 119 seats. Modi Ko Chunte Hain: BJP Launches New Campaign Song for Lok Sabha Elections 2024 (Watch Video).

BJP National General Secretary and Lok Sabha member Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Saturday said about 10,000 to 20,000 activists would attend the convention at Karimnagar. Kumar, who on Friday reviewed arrangements for Shah's meeting, said he would undertake a 'padayatra' for about 20 days in villages in his Karimnagar constituency from February 5 and explain about the Centre's development activities to the people.
Patna, January 27: Amid the turmoil in Bihar's ruling 'Mahagathbandhan', the opposition BJP has called a meeting of its MPs and MLAs on Saturday apparently to discuss the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. According to BJP state unit chief Samrat Choudhary, the meeting will deliberate on the party's strategy for the general elections, the dates for which are yet to be announced.

Asked about speculations that the BJP is set for another innings with Nitish Kumar's JD(U), Choudhary told reporters, "No such thing has been discussed at our level." The BJP leaders on Friday dropped major hints about Kumar's reported discussions with the party's senior leaders. Meanwhile, talking to reporters, senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi said, "No door is closed in politics. The door can be opened if needed." Bihar CM Nitish Kumar Likely To Form New Government With BJPs Support Next Week

In a separate development, Bihar Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed Khan has called a meeting of party MLAs and former legislators in Purnea at 2 pm on Saturday. He also denied reports that the meeting had anything to do with the latest political developments in the state. Nitish Kumar Government Transfers 45 Officers of Bihar Administrative Service Amid Political Turmoil in State

"Yes, all Congress MLAs (present and former) and senior party leaders are meeting in Purnea tomorrow to discuss preparations related to the 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' of Rahul Gandhi when it enters Bihar on January 29," Khan said. The yatra is scheduled to enter the state on January 29 and the first public meeting will be held in Kishanganj on the same day. It will be followed by two more rallies on January 30 and 31 in Purnea and Katihar, respectively", Khan said.
X owner Elon Musk on Saturday joined the debate around Apples App Store changes in the European Union (EU) ahead of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) in March, saying these changes are very concerning.
Chicago, January 27: At least two teenagers were killed in a shooting in Chicago when they were returning from their school, local media reported. The incident occurred around 12.25 p.m. when two vehicles pulled up and several people exited and opened fire on the boys who were returning from the school along with four people, Chicago Tribune reported. US Shocker: Illinois Mass Shooting Suspect Who Allegedly Killed Eight People Kills Himself in Texas

They were rushed to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in critical condition, and were pronounced dead a short time later, Chicago Fire Department spokesperson Larry Langford said. Police are investigating the case.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 27, 2024 10:01 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will meet with U.S. President Joe Biden in Washington to discuss aid to Ukraine. The German politician's visit to the United States will take place in the first half of February.

ADVERTISIMENT

Bloomberg reports this, citing its anonymous sources. The publication adds that Scholz's and Biden's officials have not yet commented on the planned meeting.

It is known that the leaders plan to enlist each other's support to provide additional military assistance to Ukraine. The bilateral meeting will take place at the White House in the second week of February. The talks will be officially announced after the parties agree on the details of the meeting.

Only verified information on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Democracy in Venezuela just hit a major snag as the highest court in the country upheld the ban on opposition candidate Maria Corina Machado from holding office. This means she could not run against President Nicolas Maduro in the upcoming 2024 elections.

The ban came after repeated attacks from Maduro, who even did a counter-rally against Machado. The leftist president even claimed that the deal that the government had with the opposition in Barbados last year could collapse.

Earlier this week, the Maduro regime claimed that there are "conspiracies" against the Hugo Chavez successor, as well as other high-ranking Venezuelan government officials. The claims stated that the plot against Maduro was dismantled last year, leading to the government arresting nearly three dozen civilians and military personnel, according to Reuters.

This could be problematic for Venezuela, as the country also has a deal with the United States where the Biden administration agreed to partially lift sanctions against Venezuela in exchange for it holding free and fair elections.

This recent upholding of the ban against Machado, as well as pinning her in the "conspiracy" against Maduro, may be seen as an effort by the Maduro regime to stop the agreed upon "free and fair" elections from happening, resulting in the Biden administration re-imposing its sanctions.

The arrests made by the Venezuelan government included several prominent members of the opposition, and the US has already expressed its concern regarding the matter.

Nicolas Maduro Says Barbados Deal Is 'Mortally Wounded'

Maduro himself is hinting that the agreed-upon elections might not happen, too, as he went on a rant against the opposition over the "conspiracies" he claimed that were being done against him.

READ MORE: Latin America Politics 2023: Election, Conflicts, Other Major Issues in the Region

"Today the Barbados agreements are mortally wounded, they're in intensive care, they were stabbed, kicked," said the president in a televised statement on state TV. "Hopefully we can save the Barbados agreements and, through dialogue, reach real overarching agreements through national consensus."

In addition, El Pais reported that the Ministry of Popular Power for Defense announced that a division general, two colonels, six lieutenant colonels, and several captains were all demoted or dispelled for their alleged involvement in the "criminal and terrorist" activities against "the legitimately constituted authorities."

Other Maduro allies also lambasted the opposition, with the president of the National Assembly of Venezuela, Jorge Rodriguez, stating that the Barbados agreements "were hanging" and that he was "tired of hearing about free and fair elections."

Maria Corina Machado Vows To Continue Fighting Despite Ban

Despite the Supreme Court reaffirming its ban, Maria Corina Machado, who won the united opposition's nomination with over 90% of the vote last year, remained defiant and rejected the ban, saying that she never received an official notification of the ban and insisted that voters are the rightful decision-makers of her candidacy, according to the Associated Press.

She then said in a statement that her campaign's "fight to conquer democracy through free and fair elections" is not over before blasting Maduro. "Maduro and his criminal system chose the worst path for them: fraudulent elections, that's not gonna happen," she tweeted. However, she did not reveal any details on what her next steps would be.

READ MORE: Guyana Culture: Essequibo Identifies More as Guyanase and Not With Venezuela

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Maria Corina Machado gets support in Miami - WPLG Local 10
After a rainy end to 2023 and similar start to 2024, Pennsylvania environmental regulators on Friday announced the end of a drought watch in the Lehigh Valley.

The drought watch was lifted for Northampton and seven other counties. Also returning to normal status, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection announcement, were Bucks, Dauphin, Huntingdon, Lancaster, Lebanon, Montgomery and Perry counties.

Adams, Cameron, Cumberland, Fulton and Westmoreland counties remain in drought watch, the DEP said. York Countys status was changed from to drought watch from a more serious drought warning.

Drought warnings continue for Clinton and Franklin counties.

Pennsylvania county drought statuses as of Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024, said a drought watch was lifted for Northampton and seven other counties. Also returning to normal status, according to the announcement, were Bucks, Dauphin, Huntingdon, Lancaster, Lebanon, Montgomery and Perry counties.Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

As of early Friday, the National Weather Service climate station at Lehigh Valley International Airport outside Allentown recorded 13.61 inches of precipitation since Dec. 1, which is 7.07 inches or 108% more than the normal 6.54 inches. The 4.99 inches of precipitation recorded since Jan. 1 was 2.31 inches or 86.2% more than the normal 2.68 inches.

Drought watch, warning and emergency status declarations arent based, however, on one indicator alone, such as precipitation, the DEP said. Department officials assess information provided by public water suppliers and data on four hydrologic indicators: precipitation, surface water (stream and river) flow, groundwater level and soil moisture.

For a map of drought declarations updated daily, see the DEP drought web page at dep.pa.gov.

Stay up-to-date with National Weather Service advisories for our region at weather.gov/phi, and visit lehighvalleylive.com/weather for your local forecast from AccuWeather, plus radar. Check airnow.gov for current air quality conditions in your area.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com.
Laois County Council Fire Service have put out a call for new retained Fire Fighters across all stations.

The work of a Retained Fire Fighter is so different to most jobs. One minute you are going about your normal day, then the pager bleeps and within a few minutes you find yourself dealing with an emergency situation, the recruitment notice states.

As a Fire Fighter you will serve your community in an exciting, dynamic and fulfilling role with structured time off and a minimum annual salary of 18,050 in Year 1.

Retained Fire-fighters are called upon to tackle a wide range of emergency situations where problem-solving skills and initiative will be vital to resolve issues quickly and calmly. Incidents vary from tackling fires and rescuing people, to dealing with chemical spillages and road traffic collisions.

There are certain personal attributes that you will need to help you fulfil your role as a Fire-fighter. They include confidence, resilience, adaptability, effective communication skills, integrity and a commitment to diversity, the council said.

For those interested, application forms are available here: https://laois.ie/departments/human-resources/vacancies/

For further information contact hr@laoiscoco.ie or the local fire station.
2024 marks the 80th anniversary of an unusual crash landing involving Flight Officer Iris Dillon of the USA Air Force on an Offaly bog.

The pilot's story takes us from San Diego to the skies of World War II, to Colorado, with one significant stop at Clonsast bog near Bracknagh, Co Offaly, between the towns of Edenderry and Portarlington, not far from Offaly's border with Kildare.

The D-Day landings had just occurred a month beforehand, and it was just days before Anglo-American forces broke free of the Normandy beach heads to advance towards Paris, when Iris Dillon took off in his plane, named Shuu Shuu Baby, from Chalgrove airfield near Oxford in the UK on July 20, 1944. He flew for more than two hours after becoming lost over the Irish Sea, and when he sighted land he began to descend.

The 20-year-old pilot, who was on just his second mission, was unaware that he was about to fall onto Clonsast. The incoming plane left local bog workers bemused, but Iris thought he was landing on a perfect piece of tarmac, only to catch up in the cleaned strip of bog and flip and partially bury his aircraft into the soft surface.

The pilot survived and called out anybody there? as the bog workers rushed to his aid. In a letter written by Iris Dillon to an Irish historian in the 1990s, the veteran recalled that day: I flew over water for more than two hours and when I sighted land, I applied power to the engines and climbed until I was above the overcast, he recounted.

I elected to extend the landing gear to make the landing when I spotted what I thought was a suitable surface. The plane rolled about 200 yards, then the nose gear collapsed, and the plane flipped ending upside down.

The grandfather of noted Edenderry historian and Maynooth University professor Ciaran Reilly, Paddy Farrell, was working on Clonsast that day. He recalled his grandfathers memories of the plane crash: My grandfather, Paddy Farrell, was working on the bog that day with several men and they saw the plane flying in very low and thought that it was going to land until they saw the propellers throwing up soil.

At this point the men realised the plane had crash landed as it flipped over on its back. Iris Dillon recalled in the 1990s that it would have been impossible for him to exit the plane without the assistance of the peat workers.

PICTURED: Irish Dillon during his time in the US Air Force

I was unable to exit the plane until some of the workers cleared some of the bog away, he said.

Paddy Farrell brought home a fragment of Iris Dillons aircrafts windscreen and the Reilly family have retained this piece of World War II history now for 80 years. The plane, of which there were 10,000 manufactured, was nicknamed the fork-tailed devil by the German Luftwaffe, while the Japanese dubbed it two planes, one pilot. Iris Dillons particular aircraft was furnished with 26 mission markings, meaning it had seen considerable action before its demise in Co Offaly that day.

Dillon was treated like any other American pilot who found themselves stranded in Ireland during that time, and after Local Defence Force members acted as an unarmed guard to Mr Dillon into Portarlington, the San Diego man was transported to the Curragh camp.

According to official records recovered by historian Declan OConnor, Iris Dillon was provided with some stimulant and food before being interviewed and transferred to Baldonnell, where he was returned to Northern Ireland.

This was not the first time Offaly and the area around Edenderry had been caught up in World War II fighting. The town was reported to have been awoken from its sleep one night in 1941 as the Luftwaffe thundered overhead on its way to bomb Belfast. Another incident involved a single dog fight between RAF and Luftwaffe fighter jets in the sky directly above Edenderry while the Garda Sergeant of the day, Sergeant Byrne, attempted to urge onlookers to go indoors.

Iris returned to active duty with the US Air Force and records suggest he was active again in the skies over France as soon as August 1944, just weeks after being dazed in an Offaly bog.

Dillon ascended through the ranks of the Air Force and eventually retired as a Major in 1965. Mr Dillon, who was of Irish extraction, lived most of his life after service in Aurora, Colorado, where he died in 2010. Dillon had married his High School sweetheart at the age of 19 before he flew into the war-ridden skies over Europe, and they were married for 55 years until his wifes death in 1999.

Dillon had three children, four grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren in his lifetime, and he married for a second time to one Billie Ruth Davis, and they remained married for nine years until Davis died in 2009.

PICTURED: Iris Dillon beside a plane like the one he crash landed on Clonsast bog in 1944

Dillons official obituary bears the story of Clonsast bog, where his daughter Len recalled her father telling them about the day some Irishmen rescued him on a peat bog. In that same obituary, it is documented that Iris enjoyed the outdoors, jogging ten miles a day for much of his life, as well as fishing and camping excursions that he liked to take with his family.

His daughter laments her fathers life: One thing is for sure, we will miss him; his wit, subtle love, demonstrated guidance through actions and the momentum of family spirit.

Iris Dillon never returned to Offaly or Ireland after his retirement, but with this obituary, and his fascinating life, the county has been written into his history, while his story and the memory of World War II will be forever etched into the ground of Clonsast bog.
The launch of The Valley Star Project  a reimagining of a Laois town's former famous Christmas Tree through the lens of climate action, took place on Friday January 19 at The Balcony Theatre in Mountmellick Community Arts Centre.

Mountmellick Christmas Tree Committee have begun their exciting new initiative for O Connell Square, promised by Christmas 2026. It followed the unavoidable dismantling of the town's famous metal framed tree last year, as it had deteriorated to a dangerous level.

They received funding for generate ideas, public engagement and prototyping for Dec 2024 of a new year round sculptural Christmas Tree that is also climate friendly and sustainably powered.

The committee was awarded 50,000 under the Creative Ireland Programme - Spark Creative Climate Action Fund II to establish prototypes of Christmas Trees with sculptural structures that creatively respond to climate action and explore energy transitions from fossil fuels to green renewables.

The Valley Star Project is the only initiative in Co. Laois awarded the funding for 2024, giving it the potential to become a flagship example of how people adapt to, and live with climate change as it becomes part of our daily lives.

Chair of Mountmellick Christmas Tree Committee is Paddy Buggy.

Paddy Buggy speaking at the launch of the Valley Star Project.

As we embark on this exciting journey, we find ourselves on a path that is not just forward-thinking, but downright innovative. The Valley Star Project isn't merely about a tree at Christmas; it's about reimagining, reinventing, and renewing. It's about weaving the threads of sustainability into the festive fabric of our community.

In this first year of the initiative, we will have an engaging programme of workshops & collaborative events that will serve as the foundation for The Valley Star Project.

These activities will not only be an opportunity for us to learn & grow, but will also be a crucial phase where we gather essential data, harness the power of community engagement, and move forward in alliance towards our shared vision.

This endeavour is a unique opportunity for community groups and the people of our town to come together, showing a united front. Our Georgian Square, already steeped in history and charm, is set to become the canvas for a beautiful aesthetic piece that reflects our commitment to a greener and more sustainable future.

Ruairi Conroy, John Payne and Trish Kelley at the launch of the Valley Star Project (a reimagining of Mountmellick Christmas Tree through the lens of climate action) in Mountmellick Arts Centre. Picture: Alf Harvey.

The town has had a Christmas tree in its market square since 1956 when the first Christmas tree was brought into town on a pony and cart and placed in a barrel. Later it became a tall timber pole with metal spokes. After that blew sideways in a storm in the 1980s, a steel girder stood for some 40 years.

The beloved changing light sequences were strings of individual bulbs, with volunteers gamely climbing up to change them, all controlled by a record player spinning in the crib. It was the brainchild of electrician Ger Lynch, a founding committee member with his brother Brian. Brian organised the visit by Santa to the cinema hall giving free wrapped gifts to every child in town, and fuel to the elderly, and as a painter decorated the crib and statues too.

Their volunteer work was all funded by door to door donations and a flag day, generously supported by locals. The Community Employment Scheme later came on board to help erect the tree.

The committee deservedly retired after 63 years in 2020 and after an engineer's report commissioned by the new committee found the steel pole was badly rusted, it had to be removed in 2023.

Committee Member Maurice Lynch, spoke at the meeting about that pivotol time.

Was there a problem? No- there were several! As the saying goes, rust never sleeps and this emerged as the main problem, making the structure a health and safety hazard. Added to that were several electrical issues, resulting in the voluntary committee members, having to repair them during the 2022 Christmas period, he said.

Maurice outlined their new vision, how it evolved, what the committee hopes to achieve, and how.

By moving away from things just being done to us, or for us, to a situation where things are done with us and by us. Via Active community participation co-creation, research, collaboration, and partnership, we will get there, he said.

The committee welcome and encourage the community to feed into their journey, with Paddy Buggy echoing Maurices words.

Community participation allows for each of you to become an integral part of The Valley Star Project journey. Whether you are an artist, a student, a business owner, or simply someone passionate about our community, your input is invaluable. Together, we can shape & mould this project into something that transcends the ordinary - a symbol of unity, creativity, and environmental stewardship, the chair said.

Catherine Casey, Head of Climate Change at the Heritage Council was the guest speaker at the launch.

Former Heritage Officer for almost two decades with Laois County Council, Catherine has an in-depth knowledge of Mountmellick, and its rich heritage - from its landscape, archaeological sites, and architectural heritage, to its setting in the bend of the Owenass river, at the foot of the Sliabh Bloom Mountains.

In her new national role, Catherine focuses on the intersection of heritage conservation and climate action. This position was established in response to the climate crisis, acknowledging that our cultural heritage is both affected by and can be a powerful tool in combating climate change. The creation of this role within the Heritage Council underscores the importance of integrating heritage considerations into climate action strategies.

Committee member Declan Furlong and Niamh Lynch at the launch.

Catherine spoke highly of the community spirit of Mountmellick and this new initiative.

The Valley Star Project in Mountmellick is a perfect example of how powerful this intersection between climate, heritage and communities can be. What makes The Valley Star Project particularly important is its potential to be a model for other towns across Ireland.

It is not just about reimagining a Christmas tree; it's about reimagining the future of Mountmellick and setting an example for communities nationwide. It's a project that perfectly encapsulates how heritage and climate action can work hand in hand for a sustainable future, she said.

Led by the Mountmellick Christmas Tree Committee, visual artist Martina Coyle, and science communicator Catherine McGuinness, and managed by Creative Producer Ann Lawlor, this project team will spend 2024 engaging with the community and gathering data.

Armed with this knowledge, the project will have the knowledge to be a beacon of innovation, community engagement and climate heritage.

The Valley Star Project will demonstrate how community collaboration and creative activity can marry local interests, heritage, and cultural assets, while integrating tools to adapt to climate change.

At the end of the event, Paddy Buggy on behalf of the Mountmellick Christmas Tree Committee thanked everyone who attended and took part in the Q & A session, and registered interest in participating in the upcoming project programme.

Florence Fennelly, Kathleen Horan and Ger Lynch at the launch of the Valley Star Project (a reimagining of Mountmellick Christmas Tree through the lens of climate action) in Mountmellick Arts Centre. Picture: Alf Harvey.

The Creative Climate Action Spark fund has funded 24 projects nationally that are piloting new ideas for public engagement at a local, community level, or communities-of-practice.

The programme for creative, cultural and artistic initiatives under the Creative Climate Action Fund II is supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications and the Department of the Taoiseach.

For more about the project, contact hello@thevalleystar.ie and follow the project on the Mountmellick Christmas Tree social media accounts. Upcoming consultation sessions, creative workshops, surveys, and community events will be publicised.
Against the backdrop of the US migration crisis and the confrontation between federal and state authorities, led by Texas, President Joe Biden said that the country's border "was broken a long time ago" and "it's time to fix it." He stated that his team had been negotiating with a bipartisan group of senators for two months to resolve the border crisis and assured that if the proposals were approved, the United States would receive "the toughest and fairest set of border security reforms" ever implemented in the country.

ADVERTISIMENT

Biden also appealed to Congress, calling for the adoption of the draft law if congressmen really want to solve the problem. Biden's address was published on the White House website.

The US President emphasized that the problem at the US border has existed for a long time.

"For too long, we have all known that the border has been breached. It is high time to fix it. That's why two months ago, I directed my team to begin negotiations with a bipartisan group of senators to seriously and finally address the border crisis. That's what they have been doing for several weeks. We are working around the clock, on holidays and weekends," the Head of State emphasized.

He also noted that the proposals developed by the working group could help remedy the situation.

"What has been agreed upon, if adopted into law, will be the toughest and fairest set of reforms to ensure border security that has ever been carried out in our country. It would give me, as president, new emergency powers to close the border when it becomes congested. And if I were given this authority, I would use it the day I sign the bill," Biden said.

ADVERTISIMENT

The US President also reminded that since October, Congress has not approved funding for border security at his request. These funds were planned to be used, in particular, for 1,300 additional patrol officers to control the border, 375 immigration judges, 1,600 asylum officers, and more than 100 advanced inspection vehicles to help detect and stop fentanyl on the country's southwestern border.

"Securing the border through these negotiations is a victory for America. For anyone who wants stronger border controls, this is the way to go. If you are serious about the border crisis, pass a bipartisan bill, and I will sign it," Biden addressed Congress.

Earlier it became known that the Texas authorities staged a demarche over the "wall" on the border. They officially refused to comply with the White House's demands to remove the barbed wire wall that was being built along the border with Mexico.

ADVERTISIMENT

Governor Greg Abbott declared Texas' constitutional right to self-defense and assured that Texas "will not comply." At the same time, he was supported by 24 Republican governors who issued a joint statement.

In addition, Texas has mobilized the National Guard and military personnel at the US-Mexico border, where there have already been clashes with migrants. Local security forces do not allow federal border guards to enter the border.
A man who claims he is King of Ireland has told a Tipperary judge that she is his employee.

James Patrick Carey appeared before Judge Elizabeth MacGrath at Thurles District Court wearing a crown and his drivers licence on a lanyard around his neck.

He told the court that he intended to enforce a claim notice against a garda superintendent regarding the ownership of two roads in Tipperary.

While it was not clear which roads Mr Carey was intending to claim, he said that he owns the Land Commission, which he said owns the world.

However, Judge Elizabeth MacGrath said she did not have such a notice in the paperwork given to her in a brown A4 envelope in court, and the case was not yet before her.

She told him that he would have to apply to the court before she could hear his case.

Mr Carey told the court that another judge who was also his employee had assured him the paperwork was in order.

But even if it was not, he was not required to apply to the court because he was the King.

He said he believed his drivers licence with his Brehon title and full name was evidence of this and handed it to the judge.

Kings instruct. They do not apply, said Mr Carey.

Mr Carey told the court that he wished the case to be adjourned so that representatives from Australia, New Zealand and Africa could come to Ireland to verify his claim to the roads.

This, he said, was quite an undertaking and would take some time.

Its like moving a juggernaut, said Mr Carey.

Mr Carey told the court that this matter was of great importance in his work to mitigate a threat from Vladamir Putin and Russia.

During his submission Mr Carey continuously referred to the judge as Ms MacGrath despite being corrected several times.

Judge MacGrath said she would put the matter back to April 16 for mention to allow Mr Carey to get his paperwork in order.

However, she made it clear to Mr Carey she was not hearing the case that day, simply looking at the paperwork.
The owner of a cafe in Portlaoise has paid tribute afterbthe death of her beloved grandad who was also one of her best customers.

Kelly Lou Ging posted the tribute on social media on Saturday after the death of her grandfather John Dowling.

She said: "With heavy hearts yesterday we said goodbye to one of lifes true gentlemen, my Granddad Yaya.

"If you are a frequent visitor to the cafe Im sure you have seen Yaya there many a time enjoying his extra hot latte.

"Always first to like all of my Instagram posts he has been one of my biggest supporters through my career and life.

"My siblings and I are so lucky to have spent so much of our lives with him and we treasure all the memories we have.

"Our sons, his five great grandsons also had the privilege of knowing their Yaya and they meant the world to him.

"Words cannot describe how much he will be missed, always loved and forever in our hearts," she concluded.

Funeral Arrangements:

Reposing at Keegans Funeral Home on Sunday evening from 6.30 pm to 8 pm with Rosary at 8 pm. Removal on Monday to SS Peter and Paul's Church for 12 noon Requiem Mass. Interment will follow afterwards in SS Peter and Paul's Cemetery, Portlaoise. Family flowers only, donations if desired to the Irish Cancer Society.
A car which was involved in chase with gardai in County Kildare was stolen from Dublin Airport.

That's according to gardai present in Naas District Court on Thursday, January 25 last.

Earlier this month, the man appeared before Judge Desmond Zaidan during an in-camera (in private) court session.

A garda who was sworn in at the time told the judge that the man faces 11 charges in total: eight of which relate to dangerous driving offences.

The defendant has also been charged with the breach of a domestic violence protection order and simple drug possession.

The garda also told Judge Zaidan that gardai were informed about a car which was allegedly stolen by the defendant.

The case was heard in Naas District Court.

On the latest court date, new charges concerning alleged public disorder offences were brought again the man.

A garda who was sworn in also told the judge that the car the accused was allegedly driving on the date of the alleged offence was stolen from Dublin Airport.

Judge Zaidan asked the garda: "How did he get past the barriers with the car?"

The garda replied: "The CCTV footage taken shows that he quickly drove straight through when the car in front of him went through the barrier."

Judge Zaidan accepted jurisdiction over all of the cases and remanded the accused on continuing bail until the case resumes next month.

The judge also marked the case for progress on this date.
A convent in Co. Limerick is set for a new lease of life as it is being turned into apartments - almost 120 years after it was built.

St Paul's Convent in the village of Kilfinane has been empty for a number of years, and now Sophia Housing Association and Limerick City and County Council have begun works to renovate the building.

Sophia works with people who, for any number of reasons, find themselves out of their own home. They provide homes and support to vulnerable people throughout Ireland.

Permission was granted, in 2021, for the housing body to turn the convent into nine self-contained apartments.

The organisation applied for permission for change of use, refurbishment and alterations to the existing convent building and school, in part a protected structure.

The apartments will be constructed within the existing convent, which was built in 1905.

Eight one-bed and one two-bed apartments will be built as well as a new lift and lobby.

Works will include the demolition of two ancillary buildings, internal alterations, layout changes and the provision of nine car parking spaces.

Local councillor PJ Carey says the projects is great news for the locality.

It is good to see the building being renovated and there are more houses being refurbished and built in the town as well. Two of the Sisters of St Paul who once lived in the convent will be housed in the new apartments as well which is great.

While they no longer teach, they are still very much a part of the school community.

Four Sisters of St Paul first arrived in the village in 1903 and taught in the local primary school, Scoil Fhionain as well as the secondary school, Scoil Pol.

Works are expected to be complete by the end of 2024.
Cllr Brendan Barry noted that according to the UN, between October 7 and January 11, over 25,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza and over 8,000 people are missing in the rubble with 10,000 children killed and 8,000 women killed.

70% of these victims are women and children. Over 59,600 have been maimed and injured, while nearly 85% of the population of Gaza (1.9 million out of the 2.3 million population) have been displaced.

Cllr Barry said that water and electricity supplies were off in Leitrim due to the storm but the people of Gaza "controlled by Israel which is occupying that area and they're turning it off to deprive those people of electricity and water as well as restricting the access of food, medical supplies, etc. They are starving the people there with 2.3m people at risk of famine."

He continued: "These crimes against humanity are genocide. As a state party to the Geneva Convention, Ireland should support South Africa in referring Israel to the International Court of Justice in solidarity with the people of Palestine."

He said the war has raged on for 106 days now and said that while "it's happening right in front of our eyes but so many countries and world leaders are doing nothing to stop it."

Cllr Paddy O'Rourke remarked that there also "seemed to be a step back in supporting Ukraine in their efforts".
Refined Metals Corp. Announces Proposed Share Consolidation





VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Refined Metals Corp. (CSE: RMC; OTC: RFMCF; FRA:CWA0) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that its board of directors has approved a consolidation (the "Consolidation") of the common shares of the Company ("Common Shares") on a two-to-one basis. The Company has 57,288,955 Common Shares outstanding and, if completed, the proposed Consolidation would reduce the issued and outstanding Common Shares to approximately 28,644,478 Common Shares.



The Company anticipates that the proposed Consolidation will take effect on or about February 15, 2024, at which time the Common Shares are expected to trade on a consolidated basis under the existing name and trading symbol. The Company will issue a subsequent news release, following its filing of all necessary documentation with the CSE in respect of the proposed Consolidation, announcing the effective date of the proposed Consolidation, the new CUSIP and ISIN for the consolidated Common Shares and any other relevant details regarding the proposed Consolidation. No fractional Common Shares will be issued as a result of the proposed Consolidation. Any fractional Common Shares resulting from the proposed Consolidation will be rounded up, in the case of a fractional interest that is 0.5 or greater, or rounded down, in the case of a fractional interest that is less than 0.5, to the nearest whole number of Common Shares, and no cash consideration will be paid in respect of fractional Common Shares rounded down to the nearest whole Common Share.

About Refined Metals Corp.

Refined Metals Corp. is a junior mining company dedicated to identifying, evaluating and acquiring interests in mineral properties in North America. The Company's business is currently focused on the exploration and development of the Simard Property, a prospective, exploration stage lithium property located in the Lac Simard region of Quebec. The Company is also party to an option agreement in respect of the Horizon South Property, a prospective, exploration stage lithium property located in Tonopah Nevada. The Company continues to review other mineral properties in North America for possible acquisition in the future.

For further information, please contact:

Phone: (604) 398-3378

Email: [email protected]

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current 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 proposed Consolidation, including the proposed consolidation ratio, the anticipated effective date of the Consolidation and the anticipated effect of the Consolidation on trading in the Common Shares.

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 assumption that the Canadian Securities Exchange will not object to the proposed Consolidation and that the Consolidation will be completed as currently anticipated and on the timeline currently anticipated.

Although forward-looking information is based on the reasonable assumptions of the Company's 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, that the Canadian Securities Exchange may object to the proposed Consolidation and use its discretion to prohibit the proposed Consolidation; that the Consolidation may not be completed by the Company on the timeline anticipated, or at all; and that the board of directors of the Company retains discretion over the terms and implementation of the Consolidation. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof, and the Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein.

The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not reviewed, approved, or disapproved the contents of this ?press release.?

26 january 2024 at 18:30

News published onand distributed by:
The administration of French President Emmanuel Macron published the formal text of a new immigration law on Saturday, January 26, with the first instructions on applying the legislation already presented to officials.

France's Constitutional Council recently censured certain contentious additions to the bill, including contentious additions insisted on by the right, such as measures restricting access to social benefits and the introduction of immigration quotas.

While the bill was seen as one of the signature reforms of Macron's second term, some in his camp had balked at the stricter version, with about a quarter of his allies in parliament voting against it or abstaining.

The final text upheld by the council retains key elements initially desired by the government, with a large part of it dedicated to simplifying procedures for expelling delinquent foreigners  one of the objectives of Interior Minister Gerard Darmanin. An article on the regularization of undocumented workers in industries facing shortages was also kept in the text.

Read more Macron's dangerous game on immigration

After the Constitutional Council's decision, Macron had called on Darmanin to do "everything in his power" to "implement the immigration law as quickly as possible", a member of the president's team told AFP. Darmanin, who had previously said some measures were "clearly contrary to the constitution", described the council's ruling as a win for the government.

Anger on the right

The decision, however, sparked condemnation from the right, with Jordan Bardella, president of the far-right Rassemblement National (RN) party, criticizing what he called a "coup by the judges, with the backing of the president" in a post on social media platform X. He called for a referendum on immigration as the "only solution".

The president of the conservative Les Republicains (LR) party, Eric Ciotti, accused the council of colluding with Macron against the "will of the French people, who want less immigration".

Only three of the articles censured by the council were rejected based on their content, with the rest tossed out because they were deemed to be outside the scope of the law. As such, nothing is stopping Parliament from voting on them again later as part of different legislation.

The LR head of the Senat, Gerard Larcher, urged the administration to "resubmit a text that conforms to the agreement" reached with the right. The head of the far-left La France Insoumise (LFI) party, Manuel Bompard, also called for the law to be withdrawn, saying "the text validated by the Constitutional Council corresponds to the text rejected by the Assemblee Nationale" and therefore has "no legitimacy".

But Interior Minister Darmanin poured cold water on the possibility of further legislation, saying the executive "will not present a bill" on the subject.
THE HUNT Museum has partnered with Greensource to give hundreds of children across Limerick the opportunity to explore the pressing issue of climate change through primary school workshops.

The workshops will be linked to the museum's Night's Candles are Burnt Out exhibition which takes place until February 29.

Renewable energy firm Greensource has sponsored the initiative, ensuring access for many pupils who might not otherwise have the chance to participate in this transformative, immersive and fun, learning opportunity.

Schoolchildren from Kilmeedy, Feenagh, Ahalin, Coolcappa, and Bruff national schools have already participated in the Nights Candles Are Burnt Out workshop programme and more workshops are planned for pupils from Adare and Bruree.

Nights Candles are Burnt Out, the latest interactive and experiential exhibition at the Hunt Museum, aims to ignite conversations and inspire action regarding climate change drawing inspiration from Ireland's history of positive change.

The Nights Candles are Burnt Out school workshop programme is cross-curricular and interactive, exploiting the art, technology, and storytelling displays in the exhibition.

Activities enable pupils to build on their existing knowledge of climate change while also empowering them to find simple ways to reduce their carbon footprint. They also explore the technology behind different renewable energies and the immense green energy potential that the Shannon Estuary can provide us with helping us to transition away from fossil fuels.

Maria Cagney, curator of education and outreach at the Hunt Museum, thanked Greensource for their collaboration.

"Thanks to Greensource, we can extend the transformative experience of Night's Candles are Burnt Out workshops to children across Limerick. This collaboration not only increases access to this exciting and innovative learning opportunity but helps young minds become champions for a sustainable future."

Speaking on the partnership, Greensource communications manager Nadine Walsh stated: The Greensource team regularly works with primary schools to teach our younger generations about climate change, climate action and environmental sustainability. Over the past ten years we have been conducting tours of operating wind farms for students to help them understand how renewable energy plays a part in our world now, our future.

For us, partnering with the Hunt Museums STEAM programme was a great next step for those students to further their learning on the need for us all to reduce our carbon emissions, she added.
After Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban called on his country's parliament to ratify Sweden's NATO membership application, the United States expects a quick positive decision from Budapest on this issue. The United States says it is not aware of any possible conditions from Hungary for Sweden to join the Alliance.

ADVERTISIMENT

This was stated on Friday, January 26, by the coordinator of the White House National Security Council, John Kirby, during a briefing in Washington.

According to the White House representative, Hungary has already made it clear that it is moving forward with the ratification of Sweden's membership in NATO. With this in mind, Kirby urged Budapest to complete the procedure quickly.

"We're very optimistic that Sweden will soon become a new NATO member, and Hungary has indicated that it will not be a delay," the White House official added.

Journalists asked John Kirby whether the US administration was aware of any conditions that Budapest might impose.

"I'm not aware of any specific demands from Hungary," Kirby replied.

As you know, Hungary remains the only country that has not yet ratified Sweden's membership in NATO.

ADVERTISIMENT

On January 23, the Turkish parliament approved Sweden's application to join the Alliance. The next day, Ankara officially approved the ratification of Sweden's accession to NATO. The decision was published in the Official Gazette and signed by the country's president, after which it came into force.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, Orban called on the Hungarian parliament to ratify Sweden's accession to NATO. He made this call immediately after NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg had a telephone conversation with him.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
LIMERICK champions Monaleen are set to face off Clare opponents Wolfe Tones Na Siona when they head to Raheenagh for their Munster Junior B Hurling semi-final this afternoon.

Monaleen will face Tipperary's Drom & Inch in the final if they can overcome the challenge of Wolfe Tones. Drom & Inch had a big win over Cork outfit St Oliver Plunketts in last week's first semi-final. Monaleen's semi-final was due to also take place week but was postponed due to the death of clubman Timmy Cosgrove.

Killeedy have hosted the the Munster and All-Ireland series since 2006 in all but one year. The 2021 competition was cancelled due to Covid.

Monaleen have returned to Junior A for the 2024 season following victory in the County Junior B final over fellow city outfit Ballybrown. They were relegated to Junior B in 2021.

A Limerick club are the current holders after Bruff won last year's Munster title after an epic battle with Tipperary's Thurles Sarsfields at Killeedy's ground in Raheenagh.

The south Limerick outfit then reached the All-Ireland final, also hosted by Killeedy, but fell to a heartbreaking defeat to Galway side Sarsfields on a 1-9 to 0-9 scoreline.
WHAT WAS once one small step for man has become one big parish for a Limerick man, with a Corbally native holding the title of Bishop of the Moon thanks to a strange set of circumstances.

It may sound as if it is a sketch worthy of Fr Ted, but the truth is often stranger than fiction and an obscure law from over 100 years ago means that Bishop John Gerard Noonan can count the Moon as part of his diocese.

The rule in question was set out in the 1917 Code of Canon Law and it states that any newly-discovered land falls under the diocese that the expedition set out from.

Given that the Apollo 11 mission, which first landed humans on the Moon, launched from Orlando, Florida in the United States, the Moon now falls under the jurisdiction of Orlando and Bishop Noonan.

Bishop Noonan wasnt the first to hold the title. The first to do so was Bishop William Donald Borders, who found himself Bishop of the Moon in 1969, an event that even Pope Paul VI was reportedly surprised by at the time.

Given that the surface of the Moon is 38 million square km, which is a long way to travel to say Mass, the diocese is one of the larger ones under the church's domain, as well as one of the furthest away from Rome, 384,400 km away to be exact.

Corbally-born Bishop Noonan, who has relatives in Abbeyfeale, has not made any trips to the Moon, on behalf of the church or otherwise, and is unlikely to be giving sermons there anytime soon - but his life has still been one of adventure.

At the age of 18, he left Ireland to go to New York. He would later relocate to Miami where his calling to the priesthood led him to St John Vianney College Seminary.

He would be ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Miami, and after dedicating many years in service of the church, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him bishop of Orlando on October 23, 2010.
LIMERICKS Local Enterprise Office (LEO) helped create 453 new jobs in 2023.

The facility, based out of Cecil Street in the city centre, is run by the council, with staff there responsible for supporting start-up companies which employ less than 10 people.

As well as funding, Limericks LEO provides training programmes and mentoring in a range of areas from financial skills and product innovation to starting your own business and maximising your presence online.

Mike Cantwell, the head of LEO in Limerick said: The results announced are a testament to Limericks small business community. When faced with adversity, they have adapted, pivoted, upskilled and did whatever it took to sustain themselves.

The figures show that companies have seen the opportunities in the challenging trading conditions they have faced.

Established in 2014, there is a LEO in each county in the Republic of Ireland.

Figures provided by the government reveal that staff at Limericks LEO support 313 client companies.

All taken together, these companies employ 2,049 people, with a total of 453 new jobs created through the calendar year.

When downsizing of some companies is taken into account, it led to a net gain of 238 new positions across the city and county.

Minister of State for Housing and Planning, local TD Kieran ODonnell said: LEOs play a hugely important role in supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs right across the country, providing expert advice, mentorship, as well as financial supports.

From supporting businesses to move online through the trading online voucher scheme, to helping businesses go green with the green for business scheme and the new energy efficiency grant, LEO support can make a huge difference to our small businesses, he added.

Across the State, the LEO network supported more than 38,700 jobs from over 7,000 businesses in 2023.

Nationwide, a total of 6,640 jobs were created with the support of LEOs in 2023.

Fine Gael is always proud to back business and our LEOs; in Budget 2024, an additional 9 million in funding was secured to ensure that LEOs can continue to support our entrepreneurs across Limerick, Mr ODonnell concluded.
A new mother has been ordered to community service for money laundering.

Money mule Sentebaleng Selebalo was spared prison when she appeared before Letterkenny Circuit Court.

Judge John Aylmer said that he considered such charges to be serious and imposed 240 hours of community service.

Selebalo, a 30-year-old whose address was given as Clonard Park, Ballybeg, Waterford - but who has recently moved to Clare - pleaded guilty to a charge that on June 26, 2020, at a place within the State, converted, transferred, handled, acquired, possessed or used the property, namely 2,015 in a Revolut account in her name knowing that or was reckless to whether or not the property was the proceeds of criminal conduct.

Sergeant Maurice Doyle told Mr Donal Keane BL that Selebalo, who is originally from South Africa, opened a Revolut account on June 12, 2020.

On June 26, 15 was transferred from a card and four further transfers, each of 500, were made later the same day.

Three days later, 1,750 was transferred to another account, while 260 was moved to a banking circle. After the remaining 5 was spent in Tesco, the account was closed on July 3, 2020.

Selebalo told gardai that she was unaware that there was money coming through the account, but admitted that the account was hers.

Sergeant Doyle told the court that Selebalo was a small part of a wider investigation. She was a very minor part of a much larger investigation, he told Judge John Aylmer.

It emerged during the investigation that a brother of Selebalos ex-partner, who was part of a wider probe into the activity, had benefited from the transfer of 1,750.

Bar the 5 spent in Tesco, Selebalo did not have any financial gain out of the incident Ms Fiona Crawford BL, barrister for the accused, said.

She didnt in any way duck or dive, Ms Crawford said. She pleaded guilty in June on a full facts basis.

Selebalo was on Jobseekers benefit at the time and she has since separated with the man in question. Selebalo is in a new relationship and gave birth in December 2022.

Ms Crawford outlined that Selebalo has managed to put money aside and has saved up 2,015 which she was willing to donate to charity. Ms Crawford said this showed the embarrassment and shame the matter had caused Selebalo.

The Probation Service deemed her a low risk of reoffending and she has not come to adverse garda attention before or since.

Judge Aylmer said it was through recklessness that Selebalo allowed the Revolut account to be used by her partner and hence how his brother came to benefit from the money that was passed through her account.

While placing the offence on the lower end of the scale, Judge Aylmer said it still merited a custodial sentence of 18 months before considering the mitigating factors.

Selebalo, Judge Aylmer said, is a young woman without any previous or subsequent convictions who entered an early plea.

It appears that she had no knowledge of what was going on and she was as cooperative as could be, Judge Aylmer said. It is clear that she is remorseful, embarrassed and very anxious about the situation.

Judge Aylmer said Selebalo is a young mother who has modest circumstances.

Judge Aylmer said it was appropriate to deal with the matter on a non-custodial basis and imposed 240 hours of community service in lieu of 12 months imprisonment. Selebalo was given 12 months for the community service to be completed. The 2,015 is to be given to the local branch of St Vincent de Paul.
Ireland could be about to return to colder weather with a new snow threat on the latest weather models.

Forecaster Cathal Nolan from Ireland's Weather Channel made the prediction in his latest update to followers on social media.

"Its hard to believe that a little over a week ago I was able to whizz about the frozen ponds of the Bog of Allen, which was abruptly followed by Storms Isha and Storm Jocelyn and a return to much milder weather for the time of year.

"But with the final month of meteorological winter ahead the question remains as to whether or not winter will make a return in advance of March and the beginning of our spring season. In short, the answer is increasingly yes," he added.

"Indications are now pointing towards a more wavy and somewhat weaker jet towards the end of the first week of February with colder interludes of air to the north likely to push south across Ireland, leading to an increased risk of wintry precipitation.

"Given the timelines its impossible to give any more details just now, other than theres an increased risk of colder spells through the beginning of February. Between now and then our weather looks rather mixed for the week ahead as we lie between the warmer and colder air masses.

"On Monday, Ireland lies directly under this boundary with an areas of low pressure to the southeast and weather fronts draped across the country. This will lead to outbreaks of rain for many, though some models point towards a risk of snow in some upland areas.

"At the moment the snow risk is highest above 400 metres in southeast Munster, Leinster along with the Mourne Mountains and Slieve Gullian in Ulster. There may be some issues with snow or ice on higher routes across these regions, such as the Wicklow or Sally Gaps.

"For now its a dry picture picture for most across the country except for some outbreaks of drizzle in the far northwest. Tomorrow will be overcast for many with rain spreading from the west as low pressure tracks to the southeast of the country," he concluded.
Yes Bank Q3 results 2024: Yes Bank shares traded flat last ahead as the market is eagerly waiting for the announcement of Q3 results 2024 . Trading range-bound throughout the week, Yes Bank share price registered a marginal gain of 0.20 per share in the week gone by and ended at 24.90 on NSE on Thursday.

According to stock market experts, Yes Bank may announce a healthy set of numbers in Q3FY24 on Saturday. They said that recoveries in the past few quarters are expected to keep the asset quality of the Yes Bank stable condition. With ARCs submitting bids for its two NPA loan books, the market is expecting healthy bottom-line growth in Q3FY24.

Yes Bank Q3 results 2024 expectations

Expecting healthy Q3 results today, Shreyansh V Shah, Research Analyst at StoxBox said, "We expect Yes Bank to come out with a healthy set of numbers in Q3FY24 as the banks asset quality is expected to remain stable due to the improvement seen in the recoveries in the past few quarters. This can be further nominated by the SMA book remaining flattish sequentially. The traction in retail and MSME indicates that the bank is gradually picking up pace in strengthening its retail franchise. Also, traction on disbursements in retail and MSME segments was quite healthy in its Q3FY24 business updates. With ARCs submitting bids for its two NPA loan books, we believe the bank will have healthy bottom-line growth in Q3FY24."

Also Read: World Markets today: US stocks trade flat, Intel down 6-week low, slumps 12%

Expecting a bumper rise in net profit of the Yes Bank, Sonam Srivastava, Founder and Fund Manager at Wright Research said, "As of now, the market is anticipating YES Bank's Q3 results with a positive outlook, as reflected in the estimates provided by analysts. The net profit is projected to increase 705.6% year-on-year to Rs. 415.1 crore, if realized, would mark a significant turnaround for the bank, highlighting its recovery and potential for growth. Such a substantial rise in profitability could be indicative of effective cost management, improved asset quality, and successful implementation of strategic initiatives.

YES BANK More Information

"The expected 4.5% year-on-year increase in Net Interest Income (NII) to Rs. 2,059 crore, along with a 5.3% rise from the previous quarter, suggests a steady growth in the bank's core revenue-generating activities. This is a positive sign, as NII is a crucial metric for assessing a bank's financial health," Sonam added.

However, the anticipated 6.6% year-on-year decline in Pre Provision Operating Profit (PPOP) could be a point of concern, although the quarter-on-quarter increase of 2.7% might offset some negative perceptions.

Also Read: Nifty 50 slid for the second week in a row, 27 stocks shut in the red

Sonam Srivastava went on to add that the market's reaction to YES Bank's actual Q3 results 2024 will depend on how closely these projections align with the reported figures and the bank's guidance for future quarters. Investors and analysts will also be keenly observing the management's commentary during the post-results conference for insights into the bank's strategic direction and operational focus areas.

Yes Bank share price outlook

On the outlook of Yes Bank shares, Shiju Koothupalakkal, Technical Analyst at Prabhudas Lilladher said, "Yes Bank share has picked up quite well in the last 3 months from 16 zone and has maintained an uptrend with series of higher low formation on the daily chart with currently consolidating having the near-term support at 23.70 levels. On the upside, a decisive breach above 25.70 to 26 zone is much needed to confirm a breakout and thereafter can anticipate further rise with next targets of 28.50 and 31 levels visible."

Informing Indian stock market exchanges about the board meeting date and its agenda, Yes Bank said, "Notice is hereby given that a meeting of the Board of Directors of YES Bank Limited (the "Bank") will be held on Saturday, January 27, 2024, at Mumbai, inter alia, to consider and approve, the Unaudited Standalone and Consolidated Financial Results of the Bank for the Quarter (Q3) and nine months ended December 31, 2023."

Disclaimer: The views and recommendations made above are those of individual analysts or broking companies, and not of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed  it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
Walter Schloss, an iconic American investor, garnered significant success through his adoption of the value investing methodology. A dedicated follower of Benjamin Graham, the pioneer of value investing, Schlosss investment strategies continue to be scrutinized and implemented by contemporary investors.

Walter Schloss gained invaluable experience while working directly with Graham at Graham-Newman Corp. in the 1950s. During this time, he absorbed Grahams principles of value investing, laying the groundwork for his successful approach.

In 1955, Schloss initiated his investment partnership, initially managing funds for family and friends. Remaining steadfast in his commitment to value investing, he consistently produced impressive returns over the ensuing years.

Over 45 years, Walter J. Schloss Associates achieved an average annual return of 15.3%, surpassing the S&P 500s 10.5% return. This outstanding performance solidified Schlosss status as a master of value investing. His inclination to invest in smaller, overlooked companies resulted in several hidden gems in his portfolio. Notable triumphs include the 50-fold return from Blue Chip Stamps and the tenfold growth of Emerson Radio.

Below are some fundamental tenets of Walter Schlosss investment philosophy:

Concentrate on underpriced stocks

Schloss advocated for acquiring stocks that were trading well below their intrinsic value. He employed various metrics, including the price-to-book ratio, price-to-earnings ratio, and dividend yield, to pinpoint undervalued stocks.

Schloss transcended mere metrics to gain a profound comprehension of a companys intrinsic value. He scrupulously delved into annual reports, industry publications, and personally visited companies to acquire firsthand insight into their operations and prospects. In his assessment of potential investments, Schloss took into account factors such as management quality, brand strength, competitive advantages, and the broader economic climate. Unafraid to swim against the current, he invested in stocks that were unpopular and overlooked by others. Schlosss independent analysis enabled him to uncover hidden gems ahead of the crowd.

Exercise patience and maintain discipline

Schloss, as a long-term investor, advocated for the practice of holding onto stocks for extended periods. He displayed no hesitation in waiting for his investments to mature, even if it required enduring phases of market volatility.

Schloss became renowned for dismissing short-term market fluctuations, steadfastly refusing to let daily or quarterly swings sway his investment decisions. He comprehended the potential for emotional mistakes and straying from a solid, long-term strategy when fixating on the markets daily gyrations.

Throughout his investing career, Schloss confronted multiple market crashes and periods of intense volatility. Yet, his unshakeable confidence in his research and the intrinsic value of his holdings enabled him to remain composed and weather the storms. Recognizing that short-term downturns often presented opportunities for patient investors, he maintained his calm approach.

Through the discipline of holding onto his investments for the long term, Schloss harnessed the power of compounding, where earnings were reinvested and grew exponentially over time. This approach resulted in significantly higher returns compared to frequent trading activities.

Implement portfolio diversification

Schloss adhered to the principle of distributing his investments across a diverse array of stocks to mitigate risk. Typically, he maintained a portfolio comprising 50 to 100 stocks.

Diversification played a crucial role in Walter Schlosss investment strategy. By maintaining a variety of stocks spanning different sectors and industries, Schloss effectively mitigated the impact of any individual companys underperformance on his overall portfolio. This method shielded him from scenarios where the weakness of a single investment could adversely affect the entire collection.

The practice of holding a diversified portfolio enabled Schloss to explore a broader range, enhancing the likelihood of discovering hidden gems in overlooked sectors or smaller companies. This diversified approach expanded his access to potential sources of alpha, representing excess returns beyond the market average.

Diversification played a role in helping Schloss navigate emotional biases that could impact investment decisions. With his investments spread across various holdings, he reduced the likelihood of becoming excessively attached to any particular stock, thus mitigating the potential for making irrational choices driven by emotions such as hope or fear.

Maintain emotional composure

Schloss exemplified a composed and rational approach to investing, steering clear of succumbing to his emotions. He steered away from impulsive decisions, remaining steadfast in adhering to his established investment plan.

Schloss acknowledged the significant influence of emotions on investment decisions. He proactively countered emotions such as greed during market highs and fear during downturns, adhering to his carefully crafted investment plan and avoiding impulsive reactions.

He disregarded the emotional manipulation often prevalent in financial news and market commentary. Instead, Schloss prioritized hard data, extensive research, and his analysis to make decisions grounded in information rather than emotional knee-jerk reactions.

Embracing a long-term investment horizon, Schloss distanced himself from daily market fluctuations and emotional rollercoasters. This perspective enabled him to make informed decisions based on fundamentals rather than succumbing to short-term anxieties.

Walter Schlosss impact reaches well beyond his remarkable individual returns. His legacy is rooted in enduring success and a commitment to disciplined value investing. The principles he espoused, emphasizing long-term and disciplined approaches to value investing, retain their relevance and provide valuable lessons for investors at all levels of experience. Whether youre a seasoned investor or a novice, delving into Schlosss approach can furnish valuable guidance.

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed  it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
Over the last few years, we have seen Bollywood heroes wear a soldiers uniform and beat the baddies. This time it is two beautiful people - Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone - who wear the Air Force uniforms. He is a fighter pilot and she flies helicopters. No matter how predictable the story of us against them is, this combination of real events, Hollywoods Top Gun set in Kashmir is two and a half hours of tiring yet thrilling action. The film is about avenging events in Pulwama and how the Air Force creates a special unit of the best fighter pilots and helicopter units to anticipate or retaliate the next attack.

The fighter pilots, their bosses are spirited to say the least, not unlike you, dear investors.

Also Read: Fighter Box Office Collection Day 1: Deepika Padukone, Hrithik Roshan's film mints 25 crore in India

Daring, Risk Taker Squadron Leader Shamsher Patty Pathania: Hrithik Roshan

Patty is the best pilot, and arrives on the screen a la Maverick of Top Gun flying his fighter plane upside down to the Air Force Base. Hes good at his work, but brash and someone who doesnt take orders like everyone else but tends to follow his own path.

How do you deal with your money? Are you also a great risk taker? Do you have a high-risk tolerance? Want bigger returns so are able to take bigger risks investing in currencies, emerging markets or stocks, choosing to risk more as you play for big bucks.

Controlled, Responsible Commanding Officer Rakesh Rocky Jaisingh: Anil Kapoor

To handle the team of the best pilots of the Indian Air Force, you need to have a man who is better than them all. He is responsible for the missions. He is reserved, He has seen pain in his life and he does not keep his dislike for pilots who show off at all. He needs team players who will obey him.

Hes the kind of investor who wants to minimise risks and maximise returns. His investment portfolio will comprise of blue chip stocks and he is invested for the long term. He will act on tips from the market, but caution is his middle name.

Angry, Vengeful Villain Azhar Akhtar: Rishabh Sawhney

He is made to look like a horror movie version of Jim Morrison, but if you can get over the rhetoric of hate he is made to spout. But if you look beyond that, you realise that the villains in the movies are always single-minded, focused. In a movie like this, Azhar wants to destroy India, and will do anything to reach his goal. He even stops the young mujahideen from stabbing a pilot in the dark alley. He tells the young man, Dont do anything in haste. We dont want to kill one man. Our target is all of them.

I am sure you are not anything like the villain, but as a savvy investor, you might want to not be distracted by get-rich-quick schemes, but concentrate on winning with one thing that will make you a winner. Azhar knows his ammunition and is an expert, and you know money, right? Be the expert in whatever financial instrument you choose.

Loyal Friends and True Patriots, Sartaj Taj, Bashir Bash and Minal Mini

Karan Singh Grover (Taj), Akshay Oberoi (Bash) and Deepika Padukone (Mini) are among the best pilots and a foil to the brash ace pilot Patty Pathania. They are each very different, but together, they are what we want our fierce patriots of our Armed Forces to be.

Are you the investor that picks instruments that work best with one another, like a team? Then you are like this winning team.

The film Fighter released a day before Indias Republic Day, and it checks every box of patriotic zeal even though it keeps the enemies with our neighbours cliche alive. Watch the film as you would invest: with intelligence rather than fervour.

Manisha Lakhe is a poet, film critic, traveller, founder of Caferati  an online writers forum, hosts Mumbais oldest open mic, and teaches advertising, films and communication. She can be reached on Twitter at @manishalakhe.

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed  it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
Opting for an equity-linked savings scheme (ELSS) represents a prudent approach to attain both investment growth and tax benefits. These funds predominantly allocate investments to equities, known for historically delivering superior returns compared to asset classes such as debt or fixed deposits. Consequently, ELSS emerges as an attractive choice for those seeking to create long-term wealth. Nevertheless, investors with an inclination towards ELSS must be prepared to initiate online systematic investment plan (SIP) accounts for investing in these funds.

Offering an excellent method to steadily build your wealth and reach your financial objectives, putting in money through SIPs eliminates the need for market timing and instill a sense of discipline in your investment practices.

However, for newcomers to the world of investing, the prospect of opening an online SIP account may appear intimidating. Fear not! This step-by-step guide is designed to lead you through the process within minutes, enabling you to quickly begin enjoying the advantages of SIPs.

Step 1: Collect your documents

Before immersing yourself in the online realm, make sure you have the following documents readily available:

PAN Card: Essential for any financial transaction, this serves as your tax identification number.

Proof of address: Any valid document, such as an Aadhaar card, driving license, utility bill, or bank statement with your current address, will suffice.

Cancelled cheque: Required for linking your bank account for automatic SIP payments.

Step 2: Select your platform

Various platforms provide SIP investment options, ranging from mutual fund websites and investment platforms to your banks website. Research different platforms to identify one that aligns with your requirements and provides the SIPs that pique your interest.

Step 3: Fulfill the KYC requirements

Know Your Customer (KYC) verification is a compulsory procedure for all financial transactions in India. Many platforms provide e-KYC, allowing you to upload your PAN card and Aadhaar card, and finalize the process with a video call for immediate verification.

Step 4: Enroll and establish an account

On your selected platform, furnish your fundamental details such as name, email address, and phone number for registration. After completing the registration, proceed to follow the prompts to establish your investment account.

Step 5: Select your SIP

Now that your account is configured, explore the range of available SIP options. Take into account factors such as investment objectives, risk tolerance, and fund performance before making your choice. Keep in mind that investing is a long-term endeavour, so opt for a SIP that aligns with your extended financial goals.

Step 6: Configure your SIP particulars

Define the SIP amount you intend to invest, choose the frequency (monthly, quarterly, etc.), and set the starting date. Alternatively, you have the option to initiate a lump sum investment initially and commence your SIP at a later date.

Step 7: Connect your bank account

Submit your bank account details, including the cancelled cheque information, to establish the link for automatic SIP payments.

Step 8: Review and validate

Thoroughly examine all the information youve input, including your SIP amount, frequency, and bank account details. Once everything is accurate, confirm your SIP to initiate your investment journey.

The procedure for initiating an SIP may exhibit slight variations based on the selected mutual fund company and your existing investment accounts. Before determining the timing and location for SIP investments, investors should contemplate examining additional factors, including

Minimum investment threshold : SIPs come with diverse minimum investment requirements. Select one that aligns with your budget and financial objectives.

: SIPs come with diverse minimum investment requirements. Select one that aligns with your budget and financial objectives. Exit load : Certain SIPs impose exit loads, comprising penalties applied if you withdraw your investment before the designated lock-in period concludes. Ensure to review the exit load terms before investing.

: Certain SIPs impose exit loads, comprising penalties applied if you withdraw your investment before the designated lock-in period concludes. Ensure to review the exit load terms before investing. Distinguishing SIP from lump sum investment: While SIPs advocate consistent investments in smaller amounts, you may contemplate a lump sum investment if you have a substantial sum at your disposal. Nonetheless, keep in mind the challenge of market timing, and recognize that SIPs provide the advantage of spreading costs over time.

Engaging in any SIP or investment necessitates meticulous thought and planning, taking into account factors such as risk tolerance, return expectations, financial goals, and the regular investment amount. Keep in mind that whether you opt for SIP or another method, conducting thorough research and gaining a clear understanding of the specific SIP and its associated terms is essential before making any investment decisions.

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed  it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
Representatives of Colorado have called on the US Supreme Court to uphold a court ruling that bans odious US politician Donald Trump from participating in the state's Republican primary. The reason was the storming of the Capitol in January 2021 by supporters of former President Trump.

ADVERTISIMENT

The application was filed by six voters from Colorado - four Republicans and two independents, supported by the liberal watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. Reuters reports.

The plaintiffs believe that Trump is not eligible to run for president. On January 6, 2021, he could have incited his aides to "rebel" against the vote count.

"Instead of peacefully transferring power, Trump intentionally organized and incited an aggressive mob to attack the United States Capitol in a desperate attempt to prevent the counting of electoral votes cast against him," the plaintiffs said in their lawsuit.

The Republican primary in Colorado is scheduled for March 5, 2024. Trump's only rival is Republican Nikki Haley, former governor of South Carolina and former US ambassador to the United Nations.

ADVERTISIMENT

The lawsuit, filed by Colorado voters, is part of a broader effort to deprive Trump of his right to run for office under the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. "Therefore, a possible ruling by the judges on the Colorado primary could affect the outcome of this campaign," Reuters suggested.

The third section of the 14th Amendment prohibits any "officer of the United States" who has taken an oath to support the Constitution and then "shall have participated in a rebellion or insurrection against it, or shall have given aid or comfort to its enemies" from holding public office.

Trump's lawyers, for their part, argue that he did not participate in the 2021 "uprising". Representatives of the politician's interests also say that presidents are exempt from the "disqualification clause" of the US Constitution.

ADVERTISIMENT

Earlier, the media reported that Nikki Haley's refusal to leave the presidential race alarmed Trump, and he criticized his rival in private and publicly.

As OBOZ.UA wrote:

- Donald Trump recently lost the second case against writer Jean Carroll. The jury found the former US president guilty of publicly denying the writer's rape accusations in 2019 and using derogatory words against her. Now he has to pay $83.3 million.

- Former White House counsel under President Donald Trump, Peter Navarro, was sentenced to four months in prison in the United States for contempt of Congress. He was also ordered to pay a fine of $9,500.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The domestic mutual fund industry has witnessed its corporate bond holdings largely stagnate over the past five years, reported Business Standard .

Actively-managed debt funds were managing 6.73 lakh crore at the end of April 2019. Last month, their assets grew by 9 per cent to 7.3 trillion.

This happened while the overall industry assets under management (AUM) doubled during this period, according to the Association of Mutual Funds in India (Amfi) data.

The AUM includes the assets of fixed-term plans and Bharat Bond ETFs, and excludes overnight, liquid, money market and gilt funds.

The AUM of corporate bond-focused MF schemes, however, doesn't accurately reflect investors aversion to corporate paper. Many of these schemes also invest in government securities (g-secs), state development loans (SDLs), and money market instruments, which continue to be favoured.

Ananth Narayan, a member of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), said at an event earlier this week that the drop in participation is largely due to a loss of investor confidence triggered by the IL&FS crisis and is hurting capital formation.

Weve lost five years of capital formation in the debt markets because people lost trust in the ecosystem," he said

Impact on corporate bond investments

Fund managers preference for sovereign bonds in the recent past has also impacted MFs corporate bond investments.

G-secs remain the go-to option for duration above five years, a preference accentuated by low spreads between g-secs and corporate bonds until recently.

Our g-sec position is largely driven by our belief that yields are bound to move lower. Thus, we prefer to add longer maturity papers in our funds. G-secs turn out to be our preferred route as corporate bonds for longer maturity are few and illiquid. Moreover, we believe the fall in the yield curve will be driven by higher demand for g-secs. This again makes g-secs more lucrative," said Sandeep Yadav, senior vice-president, head-fixed income, DSP Mutual Fund.

Most dynamic bond funds, the most actively-managed debt funds, have seen the share of g-secs rise over the past years. For example, Kotak MFs dynamic bond fund now has a 64 per cent exposure to g-secs compared to 63 per cent in December 2021. Fund houses like Nippon India and Bandhan have been managing dynamic bond funds with g-secs alone.

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed  it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the state of West Bengal and stayed all further proceedings before the Calcutta High Court following a rare conflict between a single judge and a division bench. The matter pertains to alleged irregularities in the issuance of reserved category certificates and admission of MBBS candidates in state-run medical colleges and hospitals.

The top court has taken suo moto cognisance of an order passed by a single bench of the Calcutta High Court that termed as "illegal and ignored" an order of the division bench in a case of alleged irregularities in the admission of MBBS candidates in state-run medical colleges and hospitals.

A five-judge constitution bench led by Chief Justice CJI DY Chandrachud will now take up the matter in a special hearing on January 29.

The conflict arose after Calcutta High Court's single judge bench and division bench passed orders disagreeing with each other. An order from Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay had accused Justice Soumen Sen  who is heading the division bench  of acting for a political party in the West Bengal state. He accused the latter taking the decision to save some political party in power and suggested Justice Sen's actions were tantamount to misconduct.

The single judge bench also directed authorities to ignore the division bench order and asked the CBI to begin its probe into the fake caste certificate matter. On January 24 is also asked the Bengal Police to give the CBI documents related to the matter.

The order was stayed earlier this week after it was mentioned before a division bench of Justice Sen and Uday Kumar. However this was short lived. The single judge bench of Justice Gangopadhyay again took up the matter on and asked the West Bengal police to give paper to CBI. The division bench disagreed on Thursday following which the single judge heard the matter once again and passed remarks against Justice Sen.

(With inputs from agencies)

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed  it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange on Saturday called off his protest as the Maharashtra government accepted his demands. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde met Jarange in Navi Mumbai where the latter has been camping with thousands of protesters over the demand for reservation to his community. Shinde and Jarange together garland the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Navi Mumbai. The activist also ended his fast today after the state government accepted the demands. His meeting was significant because the Maharashtra government on Friday night came out with a draft ordinance regarding the reservation demands of Marathas, and a team of government officials visited him last night at the campsite. During his speech on Friday, Jarange had warned that he and his supporters would enter Mumbai on Saturday for their planned protest at Azad Maidan ground if their demands were not met by Friday night, PTI reported.

He also made a fresh demand that the government amend its free education policy to include all Marathas until the benefit of reservation becomes available for the entire community.

He has sought data on the 37 lakh Kunbi certificates issued by the state government. Kunbi, an agrarian community, falls in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category, and Jarange has been demanding Kunbi certificates for all Marathas.

The activist suddenly emerged into the limelight in September 2023 when police used force to break up the gathering at his indefinite fast at Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district. He launched another round of fast later, forcing the government to initiate talks with him.

The Maharashtra government had earlier enacted a law to provide reservation in government jobs and admissions to educational institutes to the politically as well as numerically dominant Maratha community, but it was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2021.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Shinde had earlier reiterated his government was committed to providing reservation to Marathas without disturbing the existing quotas of other communities.

"My government will give reservations which will pass the legal scrutiny. A total of 1.4 lakh people are participating in the survey that is currently underway. They are working in three shifts. So far, discussions with Jarange have been positive," the chief minister said.

Shinde had last month said a special session of the state legislature would be held in February, if necessary, to provide reservation to the Maratha community.

In October last year, the Maharashtra government published an order asking officials concerned to issue fresh Kunbi caste certificates to eligible Maratha community members, paving the way for them to avail reservation benefits under the OBC category.

A government resolution (GR) had asked the officials to translate old documents having references to Kunbis and written in Urdu and 'Modi' script (which was used to write the Marathi language in earlier times)

(With PTI inputs)

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed  it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said on Saturday it is not India's fault that relations are not as good with Maldives under its present ruling dispensation as was during the previous government in the island nation. He said one has to see it in the context of that country's policies.

"Gratitude doesn't go very far in international affairs," he was quoted by PTI as saying. He added India has done a lot for the Maldives  from putting down a coup against their government, supplying plane-loads of water to it  but that does not go a long way in deciding such relationships.

The Congress leader was speaking at a talk show at the Kolkata International Book Fair. According to the report, he said that while relations with Maldives at present are not good, that with Sri Lanka was not too bad, while that with Bangladesh is pretty good.

"Relations with Pakistan are in bad shape, Nepal is more and more subject to Chinese influence and Chinese influence is also increasing in Bhutan," Tharoor said while talking about India's position vis-a-vis smaller countries in the periphery.

ALSO READ: Maldives Opposition parties flag Mohamed Muizzu government's anti-India pivot: Long-standing ally will be

"On the whole, we are not doing very well in the border areas, but not all of it is India's fault," he said that it is important that India's foreign policy takes into account its national interest first.

On China

Shashi Tharoor said it is not possible for India to remain truly non-aligned" with China sitting on India's frontiers. He said that the world, being in disorder, has shaken some of the assumptions of India's foreign policy.

"We are still non-aligned and a member of the non-aligned movement. But what does that mean anymore is not very clear, because the two superpowers are no longer the US and the (erstwhile) Soviet Union. They are the US and increasingly China," Tharoor was quoted by PTI as saying.

ALSO READ: India-Maldives row: Jaishankar holds 'frank conversation' with Zameer on Indian troop withdrawal

Tharoor added that in this situation, India cannot be truly non-aligned with a hostile China "sitting at India's frontiers". He said that if China were to take a "more directly belligerent posture, there is every likelihood that hard choices will have to be made by India".

ALSO READ: India-Maldives row: Why does Maldives want Indian troops out | Explainer

On India's partnership

The Lok Sabha MP from Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram also highlighted that that even though India is not part of a treaty like the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), it has partnered with the US, Australia and Japan in the QUAD (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue).

"We do have a partnership that counts, similarly we are in a situation in which we are seen by the Chinese as more aligned with their enemies or with those countries trying to contain them," Tharoor was quoted by PTI as saying.

The Congress leader said India is also a member of a new grouping I2U2 comprising India, Israel, United States and the United Arab Emirates. He said India has become much closer to Israel than it was in the past. "I don't know what the future of I2U2 is in the aftermath of the Gaza conflict," he added.

Tharoor said that strong bilateral relations exist between the two countries with Narendra Modi being the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Israel and his counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu coming to this country twice.

Voice of the global south

Stating that India is also going through a state of flux in view of the international developments, Tharoor said that PM Modi is trying to position India as the voice of the global south. "That is an updated version of the non-aligned movement," the Congress leader said.

Tharoor reportedly said the one thing India wanted after Independence was not to be tied down to any other country's perspective on the world, and that it wanted the right to decide for itself on the merits of every issue.

"When we signed the 20-year treaty on peace, friendship and cooperation with the Soviet Union, the world perceived us of having tilted to it, and similarly, with a lot of agreements signed now give to the world the perception that we are tilting towards the US, even if we profess to be non-aligned," Tharoor said.

(With inputs from PTI)

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed  it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
A 58-year-old convicted killer Kenneth Eugene Smith was put to death using nitrogen gas shook and convulsed for minutes on the gurney as Alabama carried out the first-of-its-kind execution that has ignited debate over the humaneness of the method.

He was convulsed in seizure-like spasms for at least two minutes of the 22-minute execution by nitrogen hypoxia Thursday. The force of his movements caused the gurney to visibly shake. Breathing through a nitrogen-filled face mask that deprived him of oxygen.

For the first time, a new method has been used to kill a prisoner in the United States which has put the country at the forefront of the debate over capital punishment again. The US officials have been using lethal injection to kill prisoners, a method introduced in 1982.

The state had previously attempted to execute Smith, but the lethal injection was called off at the last minute because authorities couldn't connect an IV line.

Nitrogen hypoxia not an untested method

Smith's supporters expressed alarm at how the execution played out, saying it was the antithesis of the state's promise of a quick and painless death. However, Alabama's attorney general termed the execution a textbook" during a news conference on Friday.

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall extended an offer of help for states considering adopting the method, saying, As of last night, nitrogen hypoxia as a means of execution is no longer an untested method. It is a proven one."

That was all expected and was in the side effects that weve seen or researched on nitrogen hypoxia. Nothing was out of the ordinary from what we were expecting," said Alabama Corrections Commissioner John Q. Hamm as quoted by AP.

White House 'deeply troubled' by Alabama nitrogen gas execution

The White House on Friday said it was "deeply troubled" by the first-ever execution in the United States using nitrogen gas, an untested method that also drew condemnation from the United Nations and European Union.

The use of nitrogen gas -- it is troubling to us. We are deeply troubled by it," White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre told media persons.

Jean-Pierre, the White House spokeswoman, noted that President Joe Biden suspended federal executions after taking office.

"The president has long said, and has had deep, deep, deep, concerns with how the death penalty is implemented and whether it is consistent with our values," she said.

UN, EU call Alabama nitrogen gas execution cruel, inhuman

UN human rights chief Volker Turk, the EU and US civil liberties groups expressed concern about the manner of Smith's execution, which has reignited debate about the use of capital punishment, AFP reported.

"This novel and untested method of suffocation by nitrogen gas may amount to torture, or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment," Turk said.

Ravina Shamdasani, spokeswoman for the UN human rights office in Geneva, said Smith was "clearly suffering."

"Rather than using such untried methods to conduct executions, let's just bring an end to the death penalty. This is an anachronism that doesn't belong in the 21st century," Shamdasani said.

A spokesperson for the 27-member EU, which opposes the death penalty, denounced the method of execution as "a particularly cruel and unusual punishment."

Yasmin Cader of the American Civil Liberties Union said Smith "should have never been killed, let alone in such a gruesome manner. "It's past time for our country to put an end to the death penalty instead of inventing new and more heinous ways of carrying it out," Cader said.

Kenneth Eugene Smith's case

Smith was one of two men convicted in the 1988 murder-for-hire slaying of Elizabeth Sennett. Prosecutors said he and the other man were each paid $1,000 to kill Sennett on behalf of her pastor husband, who was deeply in debt and wanted to collect on insurance.

Sennett, 45, was found dead March 18, 1988, in her home with eight stab wounds in the chest and one on each side of her neck, according to the coroner. Her husband, Charles Sennett Sr., killed himself when the investigation focused on him as a suspect, according to court documents. John Forrest Parker, the other man convicted in the slaying, was executed in 2010.

Smith's 1989 conviction was overturned, but he was convicted again in 1996. The jury recommended a life sentence by 11-1, but a judge overrode that and sentenced him to death.

(With inputs from agencies)

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed  it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
Israel vowed Saturday to stop the UN agency at the heart of humanitarian efforts in Gaza from operating after the war following the sacking of staff over accusations they were involved in the October 7 attack.

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said Friday it had fired several staff over Israel's accusations, promising a thorough investigation into the claims, which were not specified.

Donors including Australia, Canada and Italy have followed the lead of the United States, which said Friday it had suspended additional funding to the agency over the accusations.

"UNRWA will not be a part of the day after," Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on X, formerly Twitter, adding that he was trying to gather support from the United States, European Union and other major donors to the agency.

Hamas on Saturday slammed Israeli "threats" against UNRWA, urging the United Nations and other international organisations not to "cave in to the threats and blackmail".

Relations between Israel and UNRWA deteriorated in recent days, with the UN agency saying tank shelling had hit a shelter for displaced people in Gaza's main southern city of Khan Yunis.

The agency said tens of thousands of displaced people had been registered at the shelter and Wednesday's tank shelling killed 13 people.

Asked about the incident, the Israeli army said "a thorough review of the operations of the forces in the vicinity is underway", adding it was examining the possibility that the strike was a "result of Hamas fire".

UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini slammed Wednesday's bombardment as a "blatant disregard of basic rules of war", with the compound clearly marked as a UN facility and its coordinates shared with Israeli authorities.

The Israeli army is the only force known to have tanks operating in the Gaza Strip.

- 'Vital role' -

The war in Gaza was sparked by Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attacks that resulted in about 1,140 deaths in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official Israeli figures.

Militants also seized about 250 hostages and Israel says around 132 of them remain in Gaza, including the bodies of at least 28 dead captives.

Israel has vowed to crush Hamas and Gaza's health ministry says the Israeli military offensive has killed at least 26,257 people, about 70 percent of them women and children.

Before fighting broke out, UNRWA struggled to meet funding requirements.

The agency's chronic budget shortfalls worsened dramatically in 2018 when former US president Donald Trump cut support to the agency.

But US President Joe Biden's administration has fully restored support, providing $340 million in 2022, making it the agency's largest donor.

The US State Department said Friday it had "temporarily paused additional funding" to the agency while it reviewed the claims as well as the UN's plan to address concerns.

Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell praised the agency Friday for "playing a vital role over many years supporting vulnerable Palestinian refugees".

But he said the bloc expected "full transparency on the allegations" as well as "immediate measures against staff involved".

Italy on Saturday became the latest country to stop funding to the agency, after Australia and Canada said they had also suspended their funding.

The Palestinian Authority urged donors to reverse their suspension, calling Saturday for "maximum support for this international organisation and not stopping support and assistance to it".

UNRWA had not reacted on Saturday to the announcement of the suspension of funds.

Johann Soufi, a lawyer and former director of UNRWA's legal office in Gaza, told AFP the agency had "always had a zero-tolerance policy for violence and incitement to hatred".

"Sanctioning UNRWA, which is barely keeping the entire population of Gaza alive, for the alleged responsibility of a few employees, is tantamount to collectively punishing the Gazan population, which is living in catastrophic humanitarian conditions," he said.

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed  it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
The International Court of Justice has asked Israel to prevent genocidal acts amid its war in Gaza. It however stopped short of calling for a ceasefire in the ongoing case filed by South Africa.

At least some of the acts and omissions committed by Israel in Gaza appear to be capable of falling within the provisions of the genocide convention. In light of the following, the court concludes it has prima facie jurisdiction to entertain the case on the basis of Article 9 of the Genocide Convention.....The court cannot accede to Israel's request that it not entertain the application," said Judge Joan E Donoghue.

While an ICJ verdict is legally binding, it is difficult to enforce. Legal experts also said it could take years for a final ruling on whether Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinians.

Here are some highlights from the verdict:

At least some of the acts and omissions alleged by South Africa to have been committed by Israel in Gaza appear to be capable of falling within the provisions of the (Genocide) Convention," Donoghue said.

The Court said that South Africa had standing in its case and ruled in favour of its request for provisional measures against Israel. It said the court cannot accede to Israel's request that it not entertain the application".

Judges at The Hague determined that Palestinians were a protected group under the Genocide Convention. It noted that at least some of the rights claimed by South Africa and for which it is seeking protection are plausible and highlighted the right of Palestinians in Gaza to be protected from genocide'.

Israel has been ordered to take measures to ensure its military does not indulge in genocidal acts and prosecute the incitement of such behaviour. The ICJ also demand Israel take measures to punish public solicitations to genocide.

The ICJ also asked Israel to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.

The Benjamin Netanyahu-led nation has been asked to report back to the ICJ within a month. The UN body also demanded that the country preserve evidence of actions impacting the Genocide Convention.

(With inputs from agencies)

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed  it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
The Biden administration suspended funding for the UN agency that aids Palestinian refugees over Israeli allegations that some of its staff joined the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants on southern Israel.

The US is extremely troubled" by allegations that 12 staff with the UN Relief and Works Agency, or UNRWA, may have been involved in the attack, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement. There must be complete accountability for anyone who participated in the heinous attacks of October 7," he said.

The US announcement came shortly after UNRWA said it fired the staff in question and announced it would investigate the claims against them. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is horrified by the news" and asked UNRWA Director-General Philippe Lazzarini to refer the accused for prosecution, his office said in a statement.

The claims will be a black eye for UNRWA, which provides humanitarian assistance and protection to Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the West Bank. It has long been regarded with suspicion by Israel and Republicans in the US, who argue that it only fuels the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and money going to food, education and health care frees up Hamas to fund hostilities against Israel.

Those allegations became even more charged after Hamas launched its surprise attack on Israel, killing some 1,200 people and taking about 240 hostages. But the group has also paid a heavy price in Israels bombardment of Gaza, with more than 150 of its staff killed in the violence.

Former President Donald Trump slashed US funding for UNRWA early in his administration. President Joe Biden restored much of that funding, and the US contributed more than $296 million to the group in 2023.

Senator James Risch, the Idaho Republican who serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he had warned the Biden administration for years about resuming funding for the group, which he said has a history of employing people connected to terrorist movements like Hamas."

Despite the allegations, the US signaled it continues to support the group. UNRWA plays a critical role in providing lifesaving assistance to Palestinians, including essential food, medicine, shelter, and other vital humanitarian support," Miller said in the statement.

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed  it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
The 'Make in India' initiative has played a pivotal role in expanding India's manufacturing capacity, attracting significant investments across several industries. In sectors like manufacturing, infrastructure, and technology, this initiative seeks to draw foreign businesses and investment into India.

The government has taken several steps to streamline regulatory procedures and reduce bureaucratic red tape. It has helped India receive diversified FDI inflows. India is becoming a global manufacturing hub for foreign investment.

Commerce ministry data shows manufacturing sector's foreign direct investment (FDI) equity inflow surged 76% to $21.34 billion in FY 2021-22 from $12.09 billion in FY2020-21. Another trend is post-covid FDI rising 23% between March 2020 and March 2022.

The economy of India has benefited from the growth in FDI in several ways, including the creation of jobs, the improvement of infrastructure, the transfer of technology, and increased industry competitiveness. It also shows how desirable India is as a location for foreign investment.

Post-covid, FDI rose 23% between March 2020 and March 2022. The influx of FDI has bolstered India's economy, creating jobs, improving infrastructure, transferring technology, and enhancing industry competitiveness, affirming India's attractiveness for foreign investment.

View Full Image ...

Despite global pandemics and geopolitical unrest, FDI has established the tone of India's growth story. However, FDI cannot tell the entire story of India's growth; therefore, we must consider a few additional indicators, such as the knowledge economy and technological progress to understand the stability and sustainability of future growth. We can certainly go a long way with increased FDI and the Make in India initiative. Still, we would need a solid technological foundation, such as R&D in the primary alternative energy sector and the high-end technology sector, to realize the Prime Minister'svision of 2047.

As business and manufacturing landscape changes, there might be a greater understanding of the value of intellectual property protection, particularly patents. Because of this awareness, more companies may decide to protect their inventions with patents.

Foreign businesses regularly transfer technology and intellectual property to their Indian partners or subsidiaries as part of their investments in India. As these companies attempt to safeguard their innovations and intellectual property in the host country, this technology transfer may increase patent filings in India. Between 201415 and 202021, India's non-resident patent filings will expand at an average annual rate of 1.08%. This growth is estimated to be between 4% and 6% for 2018-19 and 2019-20, respectively (Annual Report, 2020).

View Full Image ..

Some companies in India's highest patent filing rates include Samsung Electronics, Qualcomm, Huawei Technologies, Oppo, Microsoft, Koninklijke Philips, and Honda Motor. These companies are pioneers in numerous innovation- and technology-driven sectors, and their presence in India's patent landscape indicates their commitment to safeguarding their intellectual property.

Their patent filings in India protect their intellectual property and strengthen India's ecosystem for innovation and technological advancement by facilitating collaboration with local businesses and institutions and fostering the exchange of knowledge. Foreign companies registering for patents frequently contribute cutting-edge inventions and technologies in India. Local Indian enterprises were given access to this technology through partnerships, licensing deals, or knowledge-sharing agreements, which improved their knowledge bases. However, one of the most concerning aspects of this figure is that no Indian companies are among the top ten patent filers. The top ten applicants in the patent corporation treaty (PCT) and the India filing are foreign companies (Patentscope database).

In line with the initiative's focus on promoting domestic production, multinational corporations have increasingly engaged in research and development activities within India. The average growth rate of research and development (R&D) expenditure by foreign enterprises in India from 2015 to 2020 was approximately 7%. This figure indicates a consistent commitment to conducting R&D activities within the country. The observed rise of 20% in R&D investments during the year 2019 indicates substantial growth, which can be attributed to various factors such as emerging market opportunities, advancements within the industry, or changes in the competitive environment. R&D investments frequently result in job creation and the development of a robust innovation ecosystem in a country. It increases competitiveness by encouraging domestic firms to improve their R&D and scale up their product.

View Full Image ..

To ensure a resilient and sustainable industrial environment, three indicators need close monitoring: FDI inflow into the green sector, Indian firms' R&D expenditure across industries, and the global presence of Indian products. There are several boxes that India has already checked at the start of this decade, including overcoming the pandemic, increased FDI post-pandemic, and improving its global innovation ranking to 40th in 2022.

(Madan Dhanora is assistant professor, Institute for Excellence in Higher Education, Bhopal, India. Mohd Shadab Danish, assistant professor in Economics and Public Policy at IIM Raipur and Niranjan Shastri, associate professor - finance at School of Business Management, SVKMs Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS)Deemed-to-be-University,Indore, India)
The new year has brought no respite from tensions over Taiwan. On January 13th its people elected an independence-minded candidate, William Lai Ching-te, as their next president, infuriating China. Two days later it was Chinas turn, with its officials announcing that little Nauru was cutting ties with Taiwan in favour of China. On January 24th the US navy sent a warship through the Taiwan Strait, which China described as a provocative act". Amid this drama a new diplomatic battle is intensifying that risks setting the stage for war.

For over 70 years the government in Beijing led by the Communist Party has fought for official recognition from the world. Lately, it has opened up a novel front in this campaign. The party wants not only to be the sole representative of China, it also wants countries to adopt its view that Taiwan is an alienable part of it. Victory in this struggle would give Chinas leaders a big diplomatic cudgelas well as a legal basis for invading the island.

When Nauru made the jump it became the 183rd country to recognise China. That compares with around 160 two decades ago and between 80 and 90 three decades before that (when there were fewer countries). Most big states switched a while back. Britain and many other Western countries established ties with China in the early 1970s. America, a laggard, did so in 1979. When it comes to recognition, then, China is winning and has been for a while. Only 11 countries (and the Vatican) continue to formally recognise Taiwan.

The new front is more complicated. Those 183 countries view Taiwan in very different ways. At one end of the spectrum are states that treat the island as a de facto independent country, even if they dont recognise it. At the other end are those that endorse Chinas claim. The Economist has analysed Chinese foreign-ministry statements from 2023, all in Mandarin. We assess that at least 28 countries have affirmed Chinas view of things. For example in October Pakistan said it firmly supports" Chinas push for reunification (there is no mention of it being peaceful); a statement by Syria in September uses similar language. Pushing that number higher is now a preoccupation of Chinese officials. In their eyes, such support helps China make the case that unification is justified, by force if necessary.

Most Western countries sit at the pro-Taiwan end of the spectrumand are moving further in that direction even as they formally maintain a policy of non-recognition. America has loosened restrictions on interactions between its officials and those on the island. A trip there by Nancy Pelosi, then speaker of the House of Representatives, sparked a crisis in 2022. America has increased military aid to Taiwan. President Joe Biden has even said that America would defend it from invasion, though his aides often walk back such statements in order to maintain strategic ambiguity".

Perhaps most frustrating to Chinese officials is that America is pulling its allies along with it. The Biden administration has encouraged countries to expand engagement with Taiwan". A steady stream of Western parliamentary delegations has visited the island. Australia, Britain, Canada and France have sent warships through the Taiwan Strait (which China calls its territorial waters). The EU and G7 have made a point of calling for stability in the area.

The Czech Republic has been active in this regard. It has its own history of resisting an authoritarian power. Now it is embracing Taiwan. Czech parliamentary leaders have visited the island with large delegations in tow. Petr Pavel, the Czech president, spoke on the phone with his Taiwanese counterpart, Tsai Ing-wen, last year. Mr Pavel was also the first European head of state to congratulate Taiwan on its elections this month. Czech officials say that none of this implies formal recognition and that their actions are consistent with the countrys one-China policy. But in China there is a growing sense of crisis, as democratic countries hollow out the meaning of one China", says Fukuda Madoka of Hosei University in Japan.

China has therefore focused its efforts (and economic pressure) on the developing world. Most of the countries that have affirmed its stance on Taiwan are poor. China has woven its views into declarations with various groupings of African, Arab, Central Asian and Pacic countries. It has also promoted them in new forums, such as the Group of Friends in Defence of the Charter of the United Nations", which includes Iran, Russia and North Korea. At a recent group meeting, China styled itself a defender of the international order".

Recently China has claimed that the UN itself endorses its view of Taiwan. China points to Resolution 2758, passed in 1971, which recognised the government in Beijing as the only lawful representative of China at the UN. The measure expelled the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek, then leader of Taiwan. But it did not mention Taiwan by name. American officials argue that it leaves the islands status up in the air. China, though, has successfully pressed countries such as Nauru to cite the resolution when talking about Taiwan. It scored another victory in January when Dennis Francis, a Trinidadian diplomat who is serving as president of the UN General Assembly, suggested that the bodys work would adhere to Chinas view of things and be guided by Resolution 2758.

So on this front, too, China can claim some success. It has also convinced many countries to adopt its jargon on things like human rights and development. With Taiwan, the struggle risks going beyond language. In recent years China has increased its aggressive activity in the Taiwan Strait, flying planes close to the island. China is changing the status quo militarily and on the diplomatic stage, says Lai I-Chung of Taiwan Thinktank, a policy outfit. That bodes ill for the future. As China sees it, the more countries that adopt its view of Taiwan, the more cover it has to turn words into action.
Egypt was the first Arab country to recognize Israel in 1979 after an embarrassing military defeat. Ties have rarely been cordial. Civilians seldom encounter each other away from Red Sea beach resorts, while Egyptian leaders frequently make a point of showing their support for a separate Palestinian state.

Now the relationship between the two countriesamong the most important pivot points in the Middle Eastis moving from tetchy to breaking point as Egypt warns Israel against pushing large numbers of Palestinians out of Gaza and into the Sinai Peninsula as it pursues its war against Hamas. A slump in Suez Canal traffic is worsening the situation.

Egypt raised the prospect of a Palestinian influx several times, as Israeli and Egyptians officials worked to contain the tensions rippling out from Hamass lethal attack on Israel on Oct. 7. Egyptian officials and others familiar with the situation say that relations between the two countries are at their lowest point in at least two decades, when the Palestinian uprising of the early 2000s also threatened to bring a wave of refugees to Egypt, including Islamist leaders whom the Egyptians view with deep suspicion.

The relationship is now pressured further by Houthi rebels in Yemen who are targeting shipping in the Red Sea destined for the Suez Canal in a show of support for Palestinians. That prompted a wave of counterstrikes from the U.S. and its allies. Global shippers are avoiding the area.

Egypt has lost around 40% of its Suez Canal transit revenue this year compared with the same period last year, while ship transit traffic declined around 30%, according to the Suez Canal Authority. If the crisis continues, the economically struggling country stands to lose billions of dollars.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi havent spoken in recent weeks. Sisi has turned down several calls from the Israeli leader, according to Egyptian officials.

The so-called cold peace has further cooled both on the governmental and civilian levels," said Ofir Winter, a senior researcher at Israels Institute for National Security Studies.

The deepening chill could have far-reaching consequences.

Despite the difficult political relationship between the two, Egypt is an important security partner for Israel. It helped broker a deal in November that freed hostages seized from Israel in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and a cease-fire in the conflict.

The two governments had also drawn closer under Sisi, a former military chief who came to power following a 2013 military coup, as the two sides worked together against common enemies. Israel agreed to allow Egypt to move additional troops into northern Sinai to battle Islamic State militants, bending the rules of a 1970s-era peace treaty that limited the number of troops allowed near the border.

The Gaza war has tested the relationship unlike any crisis in years. Egypts decision not to issue an official condemnation of the Oct. 7 attack rankled Israeli officials. Warning signs began early, when Israeli shelling hit the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, wounding Egyptian security officials.

Israel has also pushed Egypt in recent weeks to accept an Israeli military presence along the Gaza-Egypt border and to allow Israeli personnel to conduct patrols in Egyptian territory to clamp down on what it says is Hamas weapons smuggling. Egypt rejected the proposal as a violation of its sovereignty.

Israel has also accused Egypt of allowing Hamas to smuggle weapons through Gazas border with Egypt. Egypt has not done a good job of checking whats flowing into Gaza," said a senior Israeli military official. Egyptian officials reject the accusation.

The war has hurt the fragile economic and civilian ties. Direct flights between Cairo and Tel Aviv stopped. Israeli tourism in Egypt has all but halted. Meetings of an eastern Mediterranean natural-gas organization, a cornerstone of what had been warming economic ties, was also put on ice.

Since the war started in Gaza, it doesnt look good. It looks like there is a lack of trust," said Mohamed Anwar Sadat, a former member of the Egyptian Parliament and the nephew of the Egyptian president who was assassinated after signing the peace treaty with Israel.

Egypt is particularly sensitive to suggestions that Palestinians should seek refuge across its border. During the first week of the war, Cairo responded sharply when an Israeli military spokesman encouraged Palestinians to leave Gaza through the border with Egypt to shelter there.

Egypt argues that Israel should be responsible for the fate of a civilian population in a territory it occupies. Egypt is also concerned that Hamas and other militants would enter along with civilian refugees, creating a security risk in a country long suspicious of Islamist movements.

Still, Netanyahu has continued to pressure Egypt to accept large numbers of Palestinian refugees, according to Egyptian officials. Sisi and Egypts ruling generals were alarmed by talk by politicians and in Israeli media in November that Gazas population should be forcibly moved to Egypt, Egyptian officials said. Egyptian military intelligence found no evidence of a plan to expel the Palestinians, but the statements convinced Egypts government that there was such a secret Israeli program, according to Egyptian officials. Israels government didnt respond to a request for comment.

Egypt said any attempt to transfer millions of displaced Palestinians would rupture" relations between the two countries, the Egyptian officials said, a first warning of the sort.

Egyptian officials repeated their warnings as the number of Palestinians swelled near the border with Egypt late last year. They told the U.S. that their relationship with Israel would suffer if Palestinians were pushed into the Sinai Peninsula, and that security risks for both sides would worsen if Hamas fighters joined them.

In recent weeks, Israel has pushed Egypt to accept a military operation to secure control of Egypts border with Gaza as it accused Cairo of failing to prevent Hamas from smuggling arms into Gaza.

Egypt rebutted the accusation. It must be strictly emphasized that any Israeli move in this direction will lead to a serious threat to Egyptian-Israeli relations," said Diaa Rashwan, the chairman of Egypts State Information Service.

Meanwhile, the Israeli legal team at the International Court of Justice, where it is defending the country against a genocide charge, argued that Cairo is to blame for failures in delivering humanitarian aid into Gaza from Egypts side of the Rafah crossing.

Top Egyptian intelligence and security officials called a meeting the same day to discuss pulling the Egyptian ambassador from Tel Aviv in response to the comments.

After almost five hours of discussions, they decided it was best to instead issue a statement denying the claims, leading some who are familiar with the thinking of both sides to conclude there is still scope for calmer heads to prevail.

Youre in the middle of the war and tensions are natural," said Daniel Kurtzer, a former U.S. ambassador to both Egypt and Israel. They are in a bear hug. Now. They need each other."

Write to Jared Malsin at jared.malsin@wsj.com and Summer Said at summer.said@wsj.com
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said the party is hopeful that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee will continue to be part of the INDIA bloc. He said the "situation could be better" as that it is not a good sign for the image of INDIA alliance.

Amid several reports suggesting Nitish Kumar's alliance with the BJP in Bihar, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the party chief Mallikarjun Kharge is trying to speak with the Bihar chief minister". Ramesh said Kharge made several attempts to speak with Nitish Kumar, but as both of them are very busy, no conversation could be held between them.

Follow Bihar politics LIVE Updates here

There will be a timethey have called back but no conversation could be held between them so farthis happens sometimes," Ramesh said. He added that former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has been given the task to handle the situation in Bihar.

Meanwhile, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge was quoted by ANI as saying that he will speak only after getting proper information and "those interested in saving democracy will not change their minds and will stay with us". Kharge said he would have full information when he reaches Delhi.

"I wrote a letter and tried to talk with them... What they have in mind is not clear. I am travelling to Dehradun tomorrow, then move to Delhi. I will get full information. Otherwise, it creates confusion. Let us see what will happen. We don't know...if they are approaching Governor," Kharge told reporters in Karnataka's Kalaburagi.

At the press conference on Saturday, Jairam Ramesh also highlighted the importance Nitish Kumar has in the INDIA bloc. He said one of the architects of the alliance is the Bihar Chief Minister and one of the co-architects is the West Bengal Chief Minister.

Ramesh said, "On June 23 (2023), Nitish Kumar had invited 18 political parties and the first meet of opposition parties was held in Patna and the Bihar Chief Minister had hosted it. The second meeting was held in Bengaluru on July 17-18. The alliance was named INDIA...In that meeting too, Nitish Kumar played an important role. The third meeting was held on August 31 and September 1 in Mumbai. In that meeting also...Nitish Kumar's contribution was important."

The statement by Congress leaders came as uncertainty looms over the JD(U)-RJD alliance in Bihar. Several reports claimed that Nitish Kumar may ditch the INDIA alliance and return to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). However, there has been no official confirmation on these claims. Meanwhile, RJD and Congress leaders have sought clarification on the same, asking Kumar to "clear the confusion" on the matter.

On TMC going solo in Lok Sabha Elections

Jairam Ramesh also commented on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee declaration that her party, the TMC, will go solo in the state for the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections. The Congress said Banerjee expressed some reservation she ended up saying that she will fight the BJP uncompromisingly". He said, This gives us hope for the middle-path".

"Her (Mamata Banerjee) target is defeating the BJP...she wants to beat the BJP and this is also the target of the Congress and the INDIA alliance. Therefore, this is not a matter of controversy," Jairam Ramesh said while invited the West Bengal CM to participate in the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

He said Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi respect Mamata Banerjee and know that the TMC and Mamata Banerjee's presence will be important to beat the BJP.

He added the INDIA bloc is not imploding but showing our democratic credentials", adding that the optics could have been better".

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed  it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav said on Saturday his party's alliance with the Congress is "off to a good start" with 11 "strong" Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh. "Our cordial alliance with the Congress is off to a good start with 11 strong seats. This trend will move forward with the winning equation," Yadav said in a post in Hindi on 'X'.

The SP chief added, 'INDIA' team and 'PDA' strategy will change history." Akhilesh Yadav's 'PDA' strategy refers to targeting the "Pichada (backward), Dalit (oppressed), and Alpsankhyak (minority)" communities. ALSO READ: Want Nitish Kumar to stay: Akhilesh Yadav blames Congress for Bihar political turmoil Uttar Pradesh sends 80 members to the Lower House of Parliament. The SP chief's statement came as the Lok Sabha Elections are due in April-May this year.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, "Constructive seat-sharing talks are on between Congress's Ashok Gehlot and SP's Akhilesh Yadav. We will inform when formula is decided."

Sources to India Today that the Congress leadership in the state has not accepted the deal. Accoridng to the report, the Congress is eying to contest 50 seats in the Lok Sabha Election 2024.

The development came amid strong indications that Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar may return to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

ALSO READ: INDIA can't win against BJP if Akhilesh Yadav hits out at Congress over caste census

Nitish Kumar had joined hands with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), founded by his former arch-rival Lalu Prasad, in August 2022 after he severed ties with the BJP.

Kumar, the longest-serving chief minister of Bihar, thereafter, embarked upon a drive to bring together all opposition parties across the country to take on the BJP. This culminated in the formation of the opposition bloc INDIA.

In case Kumar decides to return to the NDA fold, the opposition united front will take a big hit.

Earlier this week, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that her party, the TMC, will fight the Lok Sabha polls "alone" in the state, a remark that rattled the Congress and sent political ripples in the INDIA bloc. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also ruled out of an alliance with the Congress in the state.

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed  it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress have geared up to deal with any unexpected developments in case Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar switches alliances and return to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Speculations are rife that Nitish Kumar would soon resign as the Bihar Chief Minister and take oath for the ninth time, with an NDA cabinet.

Follow Bihar politics LIVE Updates here

Nitish Kumar's JD(U) is currently in alliance with the RJD and the Left parties in Bihar. His move to snap ties with the Lalu Yadav's party would come as major hit to the Opposition's INDIA bloc ahead of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024.

Here's how the Congress and the RJD plan to deal with JDU's possible switch over:

At a press conference, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has been given the task to handle the situation, likely to unfold in next "two-three days" in Bihar.

Meanwhile, Lalu Yadav's party, the RJD, reportedly has a "game plan". RJD leader Manoj Jha said on Saturday that Lalu Prasad Yadav, the chief of the party, has been authorised to take all the decisions.

After holding a meeting with RJD leaders, Jha said, "Discussion on several things was done. All the issues, whether from the national or state level, everything were discussed during the meeting. It was a legislature meeting, Lalu Yadav, Deputy CM (Tejashwi Yadav) all MLAs, everyone was present. We all have authorised Lalu Yadav to take the decision...".

ALSO READ: 'Mallikarjun Kharge tried to speak with Nitish Kumar, but...': Congress says situation could be better

Besides, Lalu Prasad Yadav reportedly asked all MPs to stay in Patna for the next few days. Sources told India Today that the former Bihar chief minister has also asked MPs not to switch off their mobile phones and be prepared for all adverse situations.

Sources also said that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called Hindustani Awam Morcha chief Jitan Ram Manjhi, requesting him to join the INDIA bloc. It was being reported that Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel, who was appointed as senior observer for Bihar, is likely to meet Manjhi.

However, HAM spokesperson Shyam Sunder Sharan told reporters on Saturday, It is clear that we are part of the NDA and will continue to stand firmly with the decisions of the alliance under leadership of PM (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi."

ALSO READ: Amid Nitish Kumar 'ghar wapasi' reports, Akhilesh Yadav says alliance with Congress off to good start with

Manjhi has reportedly been offered the post of Chief Minister by Lalu Yadav's party.

Meanwhile, according to a Times Now report, sources said that lalu Yadav approached 10 JD(U) MLAs and convinced them to be remain absent on the day of the floor test. Meanwhile, Aaj Tak reported that the RJD may try to contact 16 JD(U) MLAs for that matter.

This way, the JD(U) is likely to fall short of the half-way mark in the 243-member Bihar assembly. Aaj Tak reported that the RJD may promise seats to 16 MLAs during the upcoming elections  Lok Sabha polls, Rajya Sabha polls, MLC elections and Bihar Assembly Elections.

However, India Today had earlier reported that more than 10 Congress MLAs were in touch with the BJP. READ MORE HERE: What numbers in Bihar Assembly look like if Nitish Kumar switches alliance?

A lot seems to be going on in Bihar political arena over rumours that Nitish Kumar would return to the NDA. An official confirmation on the same is yet to be received. However, political parties are hold a series of meetings in the wake of these speculations.

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed  it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is set to resume on 28 January after a two day break. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi will re-join the Nyay Yatra in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district on Sunday, according to PTI report. However, the West Bengal Police has denied the Congress Nyay Yatra permission for a public meeting scheduled to be held in Siliguri, reports Hindustan Times.

The development comes amid reports of rift between Bengal's ruling party and INDIA bloc ally Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee and the Grand Old Party.

According to a senior official of Congress, uncertainty also looms over Gandhis programme at Falakata in Alipurduar on Sunday.

Two examinations, including a police recruitment test, are scheduled on January 28. Permission to play loudspeakers cant be given. These exams were scheduled long back," C Sudhakar, the police chief of Siliguri, told Hindustan Times.

The Nyay Yatra commenced on January 14 from Manipur and traversed into the Cooch behar district of West Bengal from Assam on Thursday morning.

After holding a roadshow in Coochbehar on January 25, Gandhi departed for New Delhi as the Yatra underwent a two-day recess.

"Rahul Gandhi Ji will arrive at Bagdogra airport at 11:30 am. Subsequently, he will proceed to Jalpaiguri, where the Yatra will recommence. This time, the Yatra will proceed both by bus and on foot, with a night stopover planned near Siliguri on Sunday night," Suvankar Sarkar, a state Congress leader told PTI.

On January 29, the Yatra is slated to head towards Islampur in Uttar Dinajpur district before transitioning into Bihar in the afternoon, Sarkar added.

The Nyay Yatra is programmed to re-enter West Bengal on January 31 via Malda, traversing through Murshidabad, both renowned Congress bastions, before exiting the state on February 1.

The Congress alleged that posters of Gandhi and the Yatra were ripped apart in Jalpaiguri.

On Friday, West Bengal Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury voiced concerns over encountering obstacles in securing permission to host certain public gatherings during the 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' in the state.

The ruling Trinamool Congress rejected the allegations, terming them as unfounded, while accusing Chowdhury of echoing the Bharatiya Janata Party's rhetoric.

The Yatra in West Bengal began in the state after Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee's announcement that the party will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections independently, and not as part of the opposition bloc INDIA.

The TMC pointed an accusing finger at the Congress for the impasse over seat-sharing.

This marks Gandhi's first visit to the state since the 2021 assembly elections.

The Nyay Yatra is anticipated to span 6,713 kilometres over 67 days, traversing 110 districts across 15 states before concluding in Mumbai on March 20 or 21.

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed  it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
Congress MP from Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram, Shashi Tharoor has remarked that every party in the INDIA bloc is going to have a one-size-fits-all solution", as the opposition alliance faces spilt threats from several states.

The Opposition INDIA bloc is plagued by rift reports arising from Trinamool Congress (TMC)'s Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab and Haryana, and now Janata Dal (United)'s Nitish Kumar in Bihar. As Rahul Gandhi leads the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra from Manipur, and the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections near, the INDIA bloc seems to be facing extreme distress in keeping all allies together. Shashi Tharoor commented on the ongoing rift between the INDIA bloc allies and said, This whole alliance & seat-sharing is being discussed on a state-by-state basis. No one is going to have a one-size-fits-all solution. In each state, the story is going to be different". "I think we are all focused on the imperative need to change the Union govt & that is the ultimate objective...Opposition is planning to attend the Parliament session..." Shashi Tharoor added.

Power politics in Bihar intensified amid strong indications that Chief Minister and JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar may do yet another volte-face and return to the BJP-led NDA.

BJP sources declined to comment on whether a decision has been taken to join hands with the JD(U). Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president J P Nadda have been holding meetings over the developments in Bihar.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had joined hands with RJD, founded by his former arch-rival Lalu Prasad, in August 2022 after he severed ties with the BJP which he accused of having tried to engineer a split in the JD(U).

The longest-serving CM of Bihar, thereafter, embarked upon a drive to bring together all parties, across the country, to take on the BJP that culminated in the formation of the opposition bloc INDIA.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has announced to go solo in Haryana in the Lok Sabha polls. Earlier, the party announced that it would contest all Lok Sabha seats in Punjab alone.

TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee has already announced that her party will fight the Lok Sabha elections "alone" in West Bengal. In case Nitish Kumar decides to return to the NDA fold, the opposition united front will also take a big hit.

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed  it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
Police say the woman took her two small children to the woods at night while she had cocaine and marijuana in her system.
If you do not have a current print subscription to the Lodi News-Sentinel, but want to view unlimited articles for the month, please choose this option.
See the social reaction to Ireland's Eurovision 2024 entry (Bambie Thug: Doomsday Blue) by CLICKING THE ARROWS ABOVE OR NEXT!

Photography Credit: Andres Poveda

Bambie Thug, with the song 'Doomsday Blue', will represent Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, having emerged victorious on The Late Late Show Eurosong special on Friday night.

The artist, from Macroom in Co. Cork, will now travel to Malmo, Sweden in May, where Ireland will compete in the 68th Eurovision Song Contest, bidding to qualify for the grand final on Saturday, May 11.

The Irish public took to social media to react to Ireland's entry for Eurovision 2024.

One 'X' user posted: "Bambie Thug has all the delicious ingredients for a big Eurovision moment. They need to amp up the staging and concept, add support vocals, and lean into the witchcraft. The crowds are already loving it. They smashed that encore performance."

While another social user said: "Bambie Thug with a proper Eurovision production, it could at least get us to the finals. Right choice."

See more reaction to the song by CLICKING THE ARROWS ABOVE OR NEXT!
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: January 26 2024

New York District of the Army Corps Extreme Storm Determination Triggers Expedited Process for Significant Federally Funded Repairs of Coastal Damage on Eastern Fire Island.

Governor Kathy Hochul, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced a determination by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that recent seasons extreme coastal storms provide eligibility under Public Law 84-99 for the process to assess, fund, and repair damaged Army Corps coastal projects on Fire Island in Suffolk County. The approval allows the Corps to begin an expedited evaluation of needed repairs on eastern Fire Island while the Corps continues to assess Governor Hochuls formal request for the repair of three other coastal projects  West of Shinnecock Inlet, Fire Island Inlet and Shores Westerly, and Downtown Montauk  to protect public safety and mitigate the severity of potential damage wrought by future storms.

Long Island's iconic beaches are a treasured natural resource and I'm doing everything in my power to protect them for the next generation, Governor Hochul said. New Yorkers are grateful for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers response to our request for support to address severe coastal erosion, along with the continued support of Senators Schumer and Gillibrand. I am committed to working with the Army Corps to immediately begin repairs on eastern Fire Island and at other Army Corps projects that were damaged by recent storms.

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer said, Today, we have made good progress and the Army Corps is fired up to help Fire Island. And that is a good thing because the Island is a mess from recent storm damage. But even more succinct: this is an emergency. I am glad the Army Corps has heeded this call and can now work with a designation that allows emergency dollars to be sought and used to remediate the wide damage we have seen to beaches, shorelines and inlets. I thank Brigadier General Lloyd, Colonel Young and his team at the Corps for their work and will continue to advocate for continued help across Suffolk as it relates to this storm damage.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, I am thrilled that the US Army Corps of Engineers will be starting this expedited process to address the extensive damages that the eastern Fire Island communities have recently experienced. I am committed to helping ensure this critical work begins as soon as possible, and I will also continue supporting Governor Hochul's request for the repair of the three other coastal projects. Restoring the South Shore of Long Island is one of my top priorities and I will keep fighting to help secure the federal assistance communities need.

Earlier this month, Governor Hochul requested expedited approval of the State Department of Environmental Conservation's (DEC) request to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for emergency rehabilitation assistance for multiple Army Corps Coastal Storm Risk Management Projects along the coast of Suffolk County in connection with excessive damage caused by storms such as Hurricane Lee and Tropical Storm Ophelia last September, and more recently in December 2023. New Yorks repeated requests initiated a process under a program termed PL 84-99" that allows the Army Corps to use significant federal repair funds to fix Corps projects damaged by storms determined to constitute an extreme weather event. The Army Corps determination today will trigger an intensive assessment of resilience measures needed in eastern Fire Island communities ranging from Seaview in the west to Cherry Grove, Fire Island Pines, and Davis Park to the east.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos said, Todays determination by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is a critical step in New York States ongoing efforts to fully assess the damage wrought by recent winter storms and help bolster the resiliency of Long Island communities, especially the barrier islands on the frontline of these storms. Under the leadership of Governor Hochul, New York State is working with our local, State, and federal partners, including the Army Corps and New Yorks Congressional delegation, to advance post-storm recovery and coastal restoration work in the region.

Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said, With an increase in severe weather events here on Long Island, we are seeing significant damage to our coastal communities, especially the communities on Fire Island. I want to thank Governor Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for their commitment to safe guarding our shores and for expediting vital funding to allow us to quickly make coastal repairs. Our coastlines are critical to our way of life and in this new and increasing reality of extreme weather, we must work together to bring solutions to this critical issue.

Town of Brookhaven Supervisor Daniel J. Panico said, I thank our federal representatives and Governor Hochul for taking these actions that will hopefully result in sand renourishment for the communities of Fire Island. We need this time for the state and federal governments to develop more permanent solution because this constant scrambling after the fact is becoming unsustainable given the frequency and ferocity of these storms.

East Hampton Town Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez said, The Downtown Montauk area has been battered and damaged by repeated storms over the last several months and is at risk of catastrophic failure if immediate action is not taken. We are grateful to Governor Hochul, Majority Leader Schumer, Senator Gillibrand, and the Army Corp of Engineers for their commitments to our Town residents and we look forward to our continued collaboration on this critical coastal issue.

Concerned Citizens of Montauk Chairman David Freudenthal said, Coastal Resiliency is a top priority at Concerned Citizens of Montauk (CCOM) and we are thrilled by this announcement. The commitment by Governor Hochul, Majority Leader Schumer, Senator Gillibrand, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reaffirms our collective efforts to protect our coastline and community from the impacts of climate-driven storms.

On Tuesday, Governor Hochul announced additional state funding to support critical resiliency projects to stabilize communities and restore impacted beaches along Long Islands South Shore, including Fire Island and Gilgo State Park. New York State is providing $2 million to the town of Babylon through the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022 to protect existing park infrastructure at Overlook Beach in Cedar Beach. New York State is also partnering with Suffolk County and providing $3 million to support local government efforts to undertake additional beach replenishment to further protect eastern Fire Island communities.

Earlier this month, Governor Hochul recently announced a comprehensive resiliency plan to protect New Yorkers from extreme weather as part of her 2024 State of the State Address and included $435 million in the Executive Budget proposal to help implement the initiatives. Highlights include:

Creating the Resilient & Ready Program to establish a flexible fund to support resiliency efforts for low- and moderate-income homeowners ahead of future storms. The program will enable State Homes and Community Renewal to assist households that experience flood damage to make necessary repairs in the aftermath of storms and will cover the cost of proactive flood mitigation improvements.

Creating the Blue Buffers Voluntary Buyout Program , with $250 million included in the 2024-25 Executive Budget to encourage buyouts in communities most vulnerable to flooding. The program will prioritize outreach and education first and then begin identifying voluntary projects based on the level of flood risk, ensuring we protect our communities that are most vulnerable to high water and storm surges.

Making major investments in statewide disaster response to put more boots on the ground, improve training and preparedness, and address evolving threats as they come.

Update Coastal Erosion Hazard Area (CEHA) Maps, which are essential to the protection of beaches, dunes, and bluffs that maintain and enhance flood resilience, so that communities and permit applicants quick quickly determine if a property is within a CEHA.

The voter-approved $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022 is helping to support these and many other initiatives, including leveraging funding for water quality improvement and resilient infrastructure. The Bond Act is advancing historic levels of funding to update aging water infrastructure and protect water quality, strengthen communities' ability to withstand severe storms and flooding, reduce air pollution and lower climate-altering emissions, restore habitats, and preserve outdoor spaces and local farms. Disadvantaged Communities will receive at least 35 percent of the benefits of Bond Act funding, with a goal of 40 percent. For more information about the Bond Act, go to www.ny.gov/BondAct.
The Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen continue to launch strikes against U.S. warships and commercial vessels in the Red Sea, Bab Al Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden despite American and British efforts to end the attacks.

The Houthis, a militia also known as Ansar Allah that has taken control of much of northern Yemen, including the capital of Sanaa, fired an anti-ship ballistic missile at the USS Carney, an Arleigh-Burke class destroyer, as it was patrolling in the Gulf of Aden today. The Carney shot down the missile, U.S. Central Command reported.

Also today, the Houthis struck the MT Marlin Luanda, a British-owned oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden. The Marlin Luanda is carrying naphtha, a highly-flammable refined or partially refined petroleum product, according to gCaptain, a news site that tracks maritime issues. The ship is on fire and has requested assistance. The Houthis claimed credit for hitting the Marlin Luanda.

Yemeni naval forces carried out a targeting operation on the British oil ship (MARLIN LUANDA) in the Gulf of Aden, using a number of appropriate naval missiles, the strike was direct, and resulted the burning of the vessel, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree posted on his official X feed.

Additionally, the Houthis forced two U.S. merchant marine vessels, the Maersk Detroit and Maersk Chesapeake, which are carrying cargo belonging to the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of State, USAID, and other U.S. government agencies, to turn back from the Bab al Mandeb Strait after coming under attack, gCaptain reported. The USS Gravely shot down two Houthi missiles while one impacted in the sea near the Maersk Detroit, CENTCOM reported.

All three attacks took place in the Gulf of Aden, where the Behshad, an Iranian intelligence ship that is passing intelligence and targeting information to the Houthis to conduct their attacks, is operating. The U.S. and U.K. have launched several attacks against Houthi missile launch and storage sites, radars, and other infrastructure but have refrained from targeting the Behshad and other Iranian assets that facilitate Houthi attacks.

American officials have insisted that the U.S. is not at war with the Houthis even as the latter continues to escalate attacks off the Yemeni coast. The U.S. has struggled to assemble a coalition to contest the Houthis. Only 11 countries have signed onto Operation Prosperity Guardian, the defensive mission to escort ships through the troubled waters. A subset of six countries involved in Operation Prosperity Guardian are participating in offensive attacks against the Houthis, and only two of those, the U.S. and the U.K., are providing the military muscle.

Joe Truzman is a research analyst at FDD's Long War Journal focused primarily on Palestinian militant groups and Hezbollah. Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal.
Luxembourgs national alert system was hit by a cybersecurity attack using SMS mobile text messages to dupe people into giving sensitive information, an effort also known as SMS phishing or smishing.

The LU-Alert system was not taken over by hackers and remained operational during the incident on Friday night, the Home Affairs Ministry said on Saturday. The ministry on Monday confirmed that the messages came from a fraudulent account that used the LU-Alert name but had not accessed the alert system itself.

Meteo Remich posted a warning about the scam on its Facebook page with an image of the message asking viewers to order a new social security card via a malicious link.

People who received the message should delete it and never share any information or passwords.

The alert system is a modification of the GouvAlert.lu mobile app launched in 2018 that was heavily criticised after it failed to send warnings ahead of the floods in July 2021 which followed torrential rain and caused rivers to flood entire towns and villages, driving thousands from their homes, and causing traffic chaos. A government minister later conceded that just 15,000 people had signed up to receive messages from the GouvAlert system.

(This article was updated at 11:12 on 29 January with the ministry confirming the messages came from a fraudulent account that used the LU-Alert name but had not accessed the alert system itself..)
PHILADELPHIA  In a game where the Philadelphia Flyers honored their distant past, they paused to honor a recent standout who was back in town with the Bruins.

James van Riemsdyk spent the first three years of his career and the last five of his career with Philadelphia with six years in Toronto in between.

BetMGM BET $5, GET $158! BONUS BETS CLAIM OFFER Promo code: MASS158 STATES: MA, KY, AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA. Visit BetMGM.com for Terms and Conditions. 21 years of age or older to wager. MA Only. New Customer Offer. All promotions are subject to qualification and eligibility requirements. Rewards issued as non-withdrawable bonus bets. Bonus bets expire 7 days from issuance. In Partnership with MGM Springfield. Play it smart from the start with GameSense. GameSenseMA.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org.

Van Riemsdyk, who was a first-round pick of Philadelphia, was a popular player on some good Flyers teams. He had 146 goals and 151 assists while wearing Orange.

The Flyers spent most of the media timeouts showing tributes to Mark Recchi, another Flyer-turned-Bruin who was inducted into the Flyers Hall of Fame on Saturday. But early in the first period they welcomed back the 34-year-old New Jersey native.

Wells Fargo Arenas enormous video board showed highlights of Van Riemsdyk both scoring big goals and working in the Philadelphia community.

Van Riemsdyk scored 1:15 into the second period.
SPRINGFIELD  Some like it hot, as they say. Others, cold. And there are even some who like it infused with CBD.

Its tea, and the Springfield Museums hosted a big name in the tea world for their recent Listen & Learn: Museums a la Carte series.

Michael Harney, vice president and tea taster of Harney & Sons Fine Teas spoke to an audience of almost 100 museum goers about the history of tea and the science of what constitutes different varieties. After the lecture, guests were guided through tea tastings of four of Harney & Sons popular teas in the Fine Arts Museum.

Harney & Sons was started in 1983 by Michaels father, John Harney, as a way to provide a tea service to the guests at his hotel, The White Hart Inn in Salisbury, Connecticut. He was mentored by Stanley Mason, a retired tea professional from the London area, whose grandfather was in the tea business at the same time as Sir Thomas Lipton was starting grocery stores.

Samples of tea at the Springfield Museums a la carte lecture and tasting by Michael Harney, vice president of Harney & Sons tea company. The lecture and tasting was held at the D'Amour Museum of Fine Arts. (Don Treeger / The Republican) The Republican

Upon John Harneys death in 2014, his wife, Elyse, was made company president and sons Michael and Paul both vice presidents, oversaw different departments, keeping their fathers vision alive to make tea an everyday luxury. Michaels wife and children also work for the company, making the family business three generations strong.

The thing that my father started to do was to make tea more specialized, says Harney. Put a story behind it, have special flavors. He was lucky enough that people enjoyed that.

The family-run tea company has two stores, one in Millerton, New York, and its flagship in Soho, New York City. They sell internationally, and, according to Harney, the teas are consumed on all seven continents, as they have a customer in the NASA station in Antarctica who regularly places orders.

The company was approached by the Historic Royal Palaces of England to create teas honoring the countrys monarch lineage, which can be found in its Historic Royal Palaces Tea Collection. Other notable partnerships have been with the Disney company and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where Harney & Sons created specific blends that come boxed in carefully crafted metal tins.

Along with their 300-plus varieties of traditional teas and blends, Harney & Sons sells a line of iced teas, decaffeinated herbal infusions, sundries, a line of CBD teas and a vast selection of tea wares.

While Harney & Sons continues to grow, it keeps in mind issues like diversity in the workplace, its global footprint as an international company and providing fair trade certified and organic options for their customers. It supports the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and is a member of 1% for the Planet, where 1% of its total profits is donated to environmental charities of its choice.

Guests sample teas at the Springfield Museums a la carte lecture and tasting by Michael Harney, vice president of Harney & Sons tea company. (Don Treeger / The Republican) The Republican

With humor and ease, Harney instructed the audience how to discern the differences between Chinese, Japanese and Taiwanese varieties, as well as what makes the popular British legacy teas sourced from India and Sri Lanka. He explained how chemical processes like oxidation can result in a sweeter tasting tea, such as Oolong, a semi-oxidized variety and with visual slides, and how tea leaf sizes also determine the profile of the tea. The bigger the leaf, the less antioxidants, sugar and caffeine, says Harney.

Family and tea seem to be a cornerstone for the company, as Harney related how he created different blends to honor his wife, mother and grandmother, and how his granddaughters name was inspired by the Indian tea hills that his son frequently visits.

The bud is the baby of the tea plant, and thats the future. Just like my granddaughter or grandson, we try to take care of them, the plant does the same thing. In the springtime, all the goodness in the roots is pushed up, so it has extra sugars for energy, extra antioxidants to protect it from all the bugs that find it interesting to eat, extra caffeine which also is bug repellent.

Michael Harney, vice president of Harney & Sons tea company, pours tea samples during his lecture and tea tasting that was held at the D'Amour Museum of Fine Arts at the Springfield Museums. (Don Treeger / The Republican) The Republican

Harney says that, while the pandemic has led to an uptick of tea drinkers, climate change has proved difficult for tea production and distribution. Colder weather in northern China, heavy rains in Darjeeling and severe droughts in Panama have all affected the tea business. Harney says that typically the tea season starts in Japan on May 1, but with changing temperatures, it has now been pushed out two weeks.

Shifts in labor also have affected how tea leaves are picked, with many companies now using machines instead of people for harvesting.

When we go over there, we can taste the difference between handmade and machine-made, says Harney. So when were buying an expensive tea, like an Ali San, we make sure its going to be handmade, but its harder to get and more expensive.

The tea tastings were presented in the museums galleries filled with impressionist, 19th-century American art and Italian baroque artwork, providing a chance for guests to enjoy both the tea and the paintings.

Jean Clark of Enfield, Connecticut, Mary Alice of Feeding Hills, and Kathy Arnold also of Feeding Hills, are regulars for the Thursday lecture series. They say they appreciate the variety of speakers, and that they always learn something new when they come.

Its a gift, says Arnold. We are fortunate to have something like this in Springfield.

Deborah and Ed Chrzanowski of Chicopee have been Harney & Sons tea drinkers for eight years, so when they saw the event, they made sure they could come. Deborah says her favorite teas by the company are Earl Grey Supreme, Paris Tea and the Valentines Day blend. Eds favorites are Green Hot Cinnamon Spice and Ginger Peach.

We love it, says Deborah.

Clarissa Leverich, the museum school and lecture coordinator, is also a big fan of Harney & Sons teas and the impetus behind the tea event.

He was one of the first people I thought of when I took this position a year ago, says Leverich. While Leverich envisioned a lecture, Harney offered to also add the tea tastings, which brought old and new museum-goers to the event.

The Springfield Museums holds different lectures every Thursday through their Museums a la Carte series.
WASHINGTON  With Republicans saying any new legislation on border security is dead on arrival, U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal called out former President Donald Trump for undermining negotiations.

The number one responsibility of the federal government is national security, Neal said Friday in a statement.

While President Biden and congressional Democrats have been working to negotiate a reasonable solution, those efforts are being undermined by the former president. Legislating is not easy, but its particularly difficult when you are negotiating with bad-faith actors, Neal said.

Donald Trump and his Republican colleagues are more concerned with electoral politics, prioritizing the issue rather than the solution, Neal said. The adults in the room want results.

Neal was especially pointed in his criticism of Trumps comments concerning immigrants themselves.

I reject the position made by the former president that immigrants are poisoning the blood of America, Neal said. My grandparents were immigrants  they did not poison the blood of America. They had children who went on to serve in our nations military, they paid their taxes, and they were good citizens.

We can support sound policy that allows us to know who is entering the country, while creating what I believe is a reasonable path to citizenship, he said. Unfortunately, my colleagues are more concerned with doing the former presidents bidding than the difficult work of legislating.
A 2-year-old who died in Winthrop on Friday was found in the home of a Winthrop police officer charged last month with child rape and indecent assault, MassLive has confirmed.

James Feeley, 56, of Winthrop, was placed on leave in December 2023 from the Winthrop Police Department pending the outcome of a criminal investigation, the department said.

His license to work in law enforcement has also been suspended by the states police oversight board, the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission, pending the outcome of his trial. If found guilty, Feeley would be banned from future police work in Massachusetts.

Feeley was arraigned on Dec. 27 on charges of child rape and two counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, the Suffolk County District Attorneys Office said.

Read more: Winthrop police lieutenant facing child rape charge placed on leave

He was held on a $200,000 cash bail, which he did not post, and has been at Suffolk County Jail since. His next court date is Jan. 29 for a probable cause hearing.

But on Friday, three days before Feeleys expected court appearance, the district attorneys office announced a 2-year-old child has been found unresponsive at a home in Winthrop and later died. MassLive has confirmed the child was found in Feeleys home.

The initial investigation indicated no signs of foul play or physical trauma, the district attorneys office said. Officials were awaiting an autopsy to confirm the childs cause of death.

Local officers and troopers were investigating the childs death in Winthrop as of Friday, Jan. 26, State Police said. It is not known at this time whether the childs death is considered suspicious, and no additional information on the investigation was available, the department said.

According to court documents obtained by WCVB, Feeley had been a foster parent through the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families.

The department confirmed to the outlet it was investigating the disturbing allegations against a foster parent, and that there are no foster children currently at the home. DCF did not confirm to the outlet when or if children had been removed due to the investigation, and cited federal privacy requirements.

The victim of the rape and indecent assaults had said the crimes began a year ago, which are believed to have happened in Winthrop, the outlet reported from the documents.

The court documents also revealed Feeley had confessed to the rape and indecent assault on Christmas night, standing in a cemetery near his parents gravesite to multiple family members and to Winthrop Police Chief Terence M. Delehanty, the outlet reported. Feeley was holding a gun and threatening to hurt himself, the outlet said.

He was taken afterwards to Massachusetts General Hospital for an evaluation, where he surrendered his service weapon, the outlet gleaned from the documents.

When the police chief asked Feeley why he was in the cemetery, Feeley answered, What do you think? according to WCVB.

Feeley was promoted from sergeant to lieutenant in 2020 after holding the rank for three years. Before that, Feeley served as patrolman for six years and reserve police officer for eight years. According to his LinkedIn, Feeley has been with the department for 22 years.

The investigation is being conducted by State Police detectives assigned to the Suffolk County District Attorneys Office.
A former teacher from Foxborough High School was sentenced to prison after nearly 40 images of child sex abuse material was found on his laptop, the office of the acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy announced Friday.

Thomas Davis, 43, of Mansfield, was sentenced to five years in prison with five years of supervised release after pleading guilty last February to one count of possession and receipt of child sex abuse material, the office said.

A search warrant was executed at Davis residence on Aug. 26, 2021 and officers seized his laptop, the office said. Opening and looking through it on the site, officials found about 40 pictures of child sex abuse material on the laptop, including images of prepubescent minors under the age of 12.

The forensic analysis of the former teachers laptop found additional child sex abuse material, the office said.

As a teacher, Mr. Davis was entrusted with protecting and safeguarding our children. Clearly, he violated that sacred responsibility. We remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring that our children grow up in an environment free from predators, Levy said in a statement, adding child sex abuse material is not a victimless crime.

The fact that Thomas Davis, a former teacher, was involved with such material is extraordinarily disheartening to all of us, and todays sentence ensures he will remain locked behind bars so he cant extend the trauma of the children he already victimized, said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division in a statement.

The Mansfield Police Department assisted in the case, the office said.
A West Yarmouth school bus driver was indicted after a second student came forward and told police they were inappropriately touched by the driver, the Cape and Island District Attorneys office announced Friday.

Jeffrey Hyland, 80, was indicted Friday on two counts of aggravated indecent assault and battery on a child less than 14 years old, two counts of reckless endangerment of a child and intimidation of a witness, a statement from District Attorney Robert Galibois office said.

This new incident was reported to police on Oct. 3, 2023, from a student who said Hyland inappropriately touched them on or around Sept. 5, 2023, Galibois office said.

The first incident was reported Sept. 13, 2023, at around 1:30 p.m., when the Barnstable Police Department received a report of indecent assault and battery from a female student, Galibois office said. Police investigated and recovered corroborating evidence from that incident and arrested Hyland.

Read more: 2 accused in August double murder in Springfield held without right to bail

Hyalnd was arraigned Sept. 14 in Barnstable District Court where the Commonwealth requested $10,000 cash bail, and that he must stay away from the victim, not make contact with any minors under 18 years of age, stay away from schools and wear a GPS monitoring device.

The court ordered that he be released on personal recognizance with no cash bail, the district attorneys office said.

Following this new indictment, a date for Hylands arraignment has not yet been scheduled.
HOLYOKE  Vibrant, fresh, homemade and high-quality ingredients will be on the menu at Holyoke Malls newest food court eatery.

The newest Terra Nossa Brazilian Grill will be a fast-casual restaurant that will feature the big bold flavors of Brazilian barbecue, pastries, sugar cane juice, acai, coxinha, sandwiches and more.

Locally owned by Joao and Karla Jardim, Terra Nossa, meaning our land in Portuguese, encapsulates the restaurants mission of staying true to the Brazilian way, the Jardims said in a statement.

From our land, our Brazil, to yours, the Jardims said.

Construction began this month on the 950-square-foot space and is expected to open in the spring.

Terra Nossa is the state-based franchises fifth location, and its first west of Interstate 495.

Its a unique concept. Shoppers can experience Brazilian barbecue in a quick and causal mall food court setting, said Ruth Hastings, Holyoke Mall marketing director. Were excited to add another food option for the community to enjoy while spending time in the center.
A jury has awarded an additional $83.3 million to former advice columnist E. Jean Carroll, who says former President Donald Trump damaged her reputation by calling her a liar after she accused him of sexual assault.

Fridays verdict was the second time in nine months that a jury addressed Carrolls claim that Trump assaulted her in a New York City department store in 1996. Another jury last May found Trump liable for sexual abuse and ordered him to pay $5 million. This defamation trial was over things Trump said about Carroll while he was president. Trump continues to insist he was falsely accused.

Read more: Trump threatened to be kicked out of NY courtroom during civil trial

The verdict was delivered Friday by a seven-man, two-woman jury in a trial regularly attended by Trump, who abruptly left the courtroom Friday during closing arguments by a Carroll lawyer before returning to hear his own lawyers closing and the full rebuttal argument by another Carroll attorney. He stayed in place to hear the judges instructions to the jury as well.

It was the second time in nine months that a jury returned a verdict related to Carrolls claim that a flirtatious, chance encounter with Trump in 1996 at a Bergdorf Goodman store ended violently. She said Trump slammed her against a dressing room wall, pulled down her tights and forced himself on her.

In May, a different jury awarded Carroll $5 million. It found Trump not liable for rape, but responsible for sexually abusing Carroll and then defaming her by claiming she made it up. He is appealing that award.

Trump skipped the first trial. He later expressed regret for not attending and insisted on testifying in the second trial, though the judge limited what he could say, ruling he had missed his chance to argue that he was innocent. He spent only a few minutes on the witness stand Thursday, during which he denied attacking Carroll, then left court grumbling this is not America.

This new jury was only asked how much Trump, 77, should pay Carroll, 80, for two statements he made as president when he answered reporters questions after excerpts of Carrolls memoir were published in a magazine  damages that couldnt be decided earlier because of legal appeals. Jurors were not asked to re-decide the issue of whether the sex attack actually happened.

Carrolls attorneys had requested $24 million in compensatory damages and an unusually high punitive award.

Read more: Republican politicos push Nikki Haley to drop from 2024 primary election

Her lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, urged jurors in her closing argument Friday to punish Trump enough that he would stop a steady stream of public statements smearing Carroll as a liar and a whack job.

Trump shook his head vigorously as Kaplan spoke, then suddenly stood and walked out, taking Secret Service agents with him. His exit came only minutes after the judge, without the jury present, threatened to send Trump attorney Alina Habba to jail for continuing to talk when he told her she was finished.

You are on the verge of spending some time in the lockup. Now sit down, the judge told Habba, who immediately complied.

The trial reached its conclusion as Trump marches toward winning the Republican presidential nomination a third consecutive time. He has sought to turn his various trials and legal vulnerabilities into an advantage, portraying them as evidence of a weaponized political system.

Though theres no evidence that President Joe Biden or anyone in the White House has influenced any of the legal cases against him, Trumps line of argument has resonated with his most loyal supporters who view the proceedings with skepticism.

Carroll testified early in the trial that Trumps public statements had led to death threats.

He shattered my reputation, she said. I am here to get my reputation back and to stop him from telling lies about me.

She said shed had an electronic fence installed around the cabin in upstate New York where she lives, warned neighbors of the threats and bought bullets for a gun she keeps by her bed.

Previously, I was known as simply as a journalist and had a column, and now Im known as the liar, the fraud, and the whack job, Carroll testified.

Trumps lawyer, Habba, told jurors that Carroll had been enriched by her accusations against Trump and achieved fame she had craved. She said no damages were warranted.

To support Carrolls request for millions in damages, Northwestern University sociologist Ashlee Humphreys told the jury that Trumps 2019 statements had caused between $7.2 million and $12.1 million in harm to Carrolls reputation.

When Trump finally testified, Kaplan gave him little room to maneuver, because Trump could not be permitted to try to revive issues settled in the first trial.

It is a very well-established legal principle in this country that prevents do-overs by disappointed litigants, Kaplan said.

He lost it and he is bound. And the jury will be instructed that, regardless of what he says in court here today, he did it, as far as theyre concerned. That is the law, Kaplan said shortly before Trump testified.

After he swore to tell the truth, Trump was asked if he stood by a deposition in which he called Carroll a liar and a whack job. He answered: 100 percent. Yes.

Asked if he denied the allegation because Carroll made an accusation, he responded: Thats exactly right. She said something, I consider it a false accusation. Asked if he ever instructed anyone to hurt Carroll, he said: No. I just wanted to defend myself, my family, and frankly, the presidency.

The judge ordered the jury to disregard the false accusation comment and everything Trump said after No to the last question.

Earlier in the trial, Trump tested the judges tolerance. When he complained to his lawyers about a witch hunt and a con job within earshot of jurors, Kaplan threatened to eject him from the courtroom if it happened again. I would love it, Trump said. Later that day, Trump told a news conference Kaplan was a nasty judge.
New details have been released by the Winthrop Police Department about the death of a 2-year-old on Friday after the child was found unresponsive at a home believed to belong to a former officer facing charges from a separate incident involving child rape.

Winthrop Police Chief Terence M. Delehanty held a press conference around 4 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 26 and told reporters it had been a tragic, traumatic day here in Winthrop, for both the first responders and family of the dead child.

Winthrop is part of a peninsula in Greater Boston in the harbor directly next to Boston Logan International Airport.
A dead body was found in the water near the New England Aquarium in Boston early Saturday, according to police.

Police from the A-1 district of the city received a 911 call shortly after 10:20 a.m. Saturday about a persons body in the water at 85 East India Row, which is a stones throw away from the aquarium. Officers then responded to the scene, Officer Jason Villanueva, a spokesperson for the Boston Police Department, told MassLive.

Boston Fire Department personnel pulled the body, which was determined to be non-viable, from the water, according to Villanueva.

Full notifications have been made, so [the Boston Police Homicide Unit] is going to investigate it unless its determined not to be foul play, the officer said. Its just normal operating procedure.

The age, gender and race of the person who died are unknown at this time, according to Villanueva.

No further information about the discovery of the body was immediately released by police to the public Saturday morning.
A fire in Boston in the pre-dawn hours of Saturday displaced a child and six adults and caused roughly $450,000 in damages, according to officials.

Firefighters were working to extinguish the blaze on the first and second floors of the homes at 83 and 85 West Selden St. in the Dorchester neighborhood of the city around 12 a.m. Saturday, the Boston Fire Department said in a series of posts to X, the site formerly known as Twitter.

Shortly after 12:20 a.m., the heavy fire had been knocked down and firefighters were continuing to chase hot spots from the blaze, according to the department.

All the people inside the homes were safely evacuated, and no injuries were reported, the department noted in its posts.

A child and six adults were displaced by the fire. The Victims Assistance Unit of the department and the American Red Cross of Massachusetts were at the scene of the blaze to provide assistance, according to the posts.

Damages from the fire were estimated to be around $450,000, the department said.
The Lenox Hotel in Boston was evacuated after a transformer exploded in the back of the building Saturday, officials said.

Firefighters ordered the second alarm to evacuate the Lenox at 61 Exeter St. in Boston as a result of the transformer exploding in the back of the hotel. The explosion caused excessive smoke through the building, the Boston Fire Department said in a post to X, the site formerly known as Twitter, around 1 p.m. Saturday.

Nobody was injured, the department noted.

There was no fire in the hotel. There were high carbon monoxide levels in the building, which later dropped. Firefighters vented the building of smoke with multiple fans throughout the building, the department said.

Eversource crews were at the scene to determine the cause of the transformer explosion. The building and electrical inspectors will inspect the hotel for any damages, according to the department.
A man was shot in the South End neighborhood of Boston late Friday, according to police.

Officers responded around 10:10 p.m. Friday to reports of a person who was shot near Parmelee Street and Northampton Street in the South End. When police arrived at the scene of the shooting, they located a man who was suffering from a gunshot wound, Officer Jason Villanueva, a spokesperson for the Boston Police Department, told MassLive.

The man was taken to the hospital to be treated for wounds that are not life-threatening, according to Villanueva.

No suspects have been arrested, Villanueva said.

No further information about the non-fatal shooting was immediately released by the department to the public Saturday morning.
A pilot who was trapped in the wreckage of a plane crash in Londonderry, New Hampshire early Friday is now in critical condition at a hospital in Massachusetts, according to authorities.

The pilot, the sole person on board the plane at the time of the crash, was trapped within the wreckage of the collision near 5 Colonial Drive in the New Hampshire town Friday morning, the Londonderry Police Department said in a statement.

Londonderry Fire Department personnel then freed the pilot from the wreckage and took him to Elliot Hospital in Manchester, New Hampshire for treatment. The seriously injured pilot has since been taken to a Boston-area hospital, where he remains in critical condition, according to the police departments statement.

Police received multiple emergency phone calls about a possible plane crash shortly before 7:30 a.m. Friday. The callers reported a small aircraft had crashed in the area of Colonial Drive and Wiley Hill Road, according to the statement.

Londonderry police officers and fire department personnel arrived in the area and were immediately directed to the back of the home at 5 Colonial Drive. Emergency responders then located the heavily damaged Beechcraft Model 99 plane at the rear of property near the woods, the statement said.

The pilot was found heavily entrapped with severe injuries, the fire department detailed in a statement. First responders freed him from the wreckage within 11 minutes, gave him emergency care and transferred him to a Derry, New Hampshire ambulance to be driven to the hospital.

Once the patient was transported to an area hospital, the focus shifted to hazard mitigation, the fire department said. The HazMat team was called to assist with aviation fuel spill control. The NH Department of Environmental Services was requested to the scene as well as multiple other agencies necessary for the incident investigation.

The crash scene was brought under control by around 8:07 a.m., but emergency crews remained there for several hours afterward, the fire department noted.

Officers remained at the scene of the collision to assist the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board, which will be leading the investigation into the crash, according to the police department.

We respectfully request that the public avoid the area so as to not interfere with the ongoing investigation and recovery operation, the police department said.
A 2-year-old girl who died after being found unresponsive in Winthrop on Friday suffered an illness recently when her mother called 911 to report a medical emergency, according to police.

The child was in life-threatening condition Friday morning when she was rushed from a Winthrop home to the hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. Law enforcement found no signs of trauma to the girl and no evidence of foul play, Massachusetts State Police said in a statement.

The toddler was found in the home of James Feeley, a former police officer with the Winthrop Police Department, who was charged last month with child rape and indecent assault, MassLive confirmed. The 56-year-old Winthrop man was placed on leave in December 2023 pending the outcome of a criminal investigation, according to the department.

Winthrop firefighters and police officers went to a home on Pleasant Street around 10 a.m. Friday in response to a report about a toddler in need of immediate emergency medical. The girl was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston in life-threatening condition, state police said in the statement.

Troopers with the state police Detective Unit for Suffolk County and Crime Scene Services Section responded to assist in the investigation roughly 30 minutes later, according to the statement.

State police detectives who went to Mass. General were notified the child was pronounced dead at the hospital around 11:19 a.m. after life-saving measures were unsuccessful, the statement said.

Read more: Winthrop police lieutenant facing child rape charge placed on leave

Preliminary investigation and observations found no signs of apparent trauma to the victim and no evidence suggesting foul play, state police noted.

A preliminary investigation suggested the child had an illness in recent days. The toddler was at home with her mother, who made the call to 911 around 10 a.m. Friday to report the apparent medical emergency involving the girl, according to state police.

The state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will conduct a post-mortem assessment of the girl to determine the cause and manner of her death. This child death investigation remains open pending that determination, state police noted in the statement.

According to the Massachusetts Registry of Deeds, Feeley bought a home at 26 Pleasant St. in Winthrop in 2020. The address is where the child was found, MassLive confirmed. The former police officer is next expected in court on Jan. 29.

Along with being placed on leave, Feeleys license to work in law enforcement was also suspended by the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission, the states police oversight board, pending the outcome of his trial. If found guilty, he would be banned from future police work in Massachusetts.

During a press conference Friday, Winthrop Police Chief Terence M. Delehanty would not confirm whether Feeley owned the home, but Delehanty announced the department has severed ties with the former police officer.
The African Development Bank and Attijariwafa bank Europe, European subsidiary of the Attijariwafa bank group, have signed a 100 million risk-sharing agreement to strengthen businesses and trade across Africa.

The pact is expected to catalyse nearly 500 million worth of trade for companies operating in more than twenty African countries. It will help to diversify production capacity in beneficiary countries and bolster competitiveness, generate higher tax revenues and create new jobs.

The agreement will position Attijariwafa bank to scale up financing to firms in the health, agriculture and agri-food, renewable energy, telecommunications and services sectors. Businesses focused on sustainable development projects and those run by women, will also benefit.

The risk-sharing mechanism will guarantee African companies stable access to financing for their foreign trade operations, which is an important vector for accelerating the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

African businesses have faced limited access to commercial financing due to the tightening of capital and compliance regulatory standards across the continent. As a result, several international banks have reduced their commitment and activities in Africa.

 By joining forces with Attijariwafa bank, we are not just sharing risks. We are creating new opportunities for all those who undertake and project themselves in Africa , said Mohamed El Azizi, African Development Bank Director General for North Africa.

 We want to break the continents financial isolation by supporting African champions who can strengthen the financial inclusion of businesses and help them to expand on the continent,  said Achraf Tarsim, African Development Bank Country Manager for Morocco.

Younes Belabed, Managing Director of Attijariwafa bank Europe, said:  For more than a decade, the Attijariwafa bank Group has been committed to the development of the African continent in a spirit of inclusive and mutually supportive growth. With the partnership set up between the African Development Bank and Attijariwafa bank Europe, our Group is consolidating its position as a major player in strengthening the African economic fabric and a major contributor to the revitalisation and development of North-South exchanges. 
Keem Bay beach on Achill Island is the only beach in Ireland to be named as one of the top 100 beaches in the world by travel publisher Lonely Planet.

The Achill beauty spot is one of 30 European beaches to get a mention in Lonely Planets new book, Best Beaches: 100 of the Worlds Most Incredible Beaches.

Keem Bay is the jewel in the crown of Mayo's tourism destinations and its beauty wowed the Lonely Planet authors who described it as 'vertiginous yet jaw-droppingly beautiful' and 'one of Irelands most glorious, secluded strands.

A vertiginous yet jaw-droppingly beautiful 4.9-mile (8km) drive from Keel village, at the distant western end of County Mayos Achill Island, sets the scene for one of Irelands most glorious, secluded strands. Sloping green hillsides spill down to a deep-set horseshoe bay, where a Blue-Flag delight of a pale-blonde beach sits framed by the Croaghaun Cliffs (Irelands highest sea cliffs) and the thundering moody-blue Atlantic, wrote Lonely Planet when describing Keem.

Keem Bay has won numerous accolades for its stunning beauty and was one of the locations used during the filming of the Academy Award nominated movie, 'The Banshees of Inisherin'.

The majority of the 30 European beaches included in the Lonely Planet guide are located in sunny southern Europe with four in the UK.

Amongst the other beaches included in the list include the world famous Ipanema Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Bondi Beach in Sydney, Venice Beach in Los Angeles and Blue Lagoon Beach in Fiji.
by Tanya Gazdik , January 25, 2024

In-N-Out is closing one of its locations due to crime  a first for the 75-year-old burger chain.

The Oakland, California location, which has been open for nearly two decades, will close on March 24, according to CNN Business.

The burger chain said in a statement that despite taking repeated steps to create safer conditions, our customers and associates are regularly victimized by car break-ins, property damage, theft, and armed robberies.

While several of its stores have relocated, the Oakland location, which is in a busy corridor near the airport, is the first to close, according to the statement.

A host of businesses have closed in Oakland and cited crime as the reason, including a Raising Canes that closed its dining room in March, NBC Bay Area reported. Oakland police have increased patrols and cameras to help combat crime.

advertisement advertisement

Oakland has seen an increase in property crime and robberies throughout the city, according to theSan Francisco Chronicle.

Since 2019, police have logged 1,335 incidents in the vicinity of the restaurant on Oakport Street  more than any other location in Oakland, the newspaper reported.

"They have been long patient with us and there is no more patience," said Councilmember Treva Reid, according to NBC Bay Area. "They have given us grace and they want action. They want to see how and when and where we are going to work with them.

Oakland cut back on police to pay for public-worker pensions.

You might also say it is the victim of a progressive backlash to law enforcement and soaring government-worker pension costs that have squeezed spending on public safety, according toThe Wall Street Journal in an opinion piece about the closure. In-N-Outs store by the Oakland airport drew hordes of travelers, but its packed parking lot and long drive-through line were frequently targeted by thieves.

Starbucks, Target, CVS and other stores have closed across the country over concerns about crime.

A CVS store in a Washington, D.C neighborhood that has been the target of multiple retail thefts in recent months will close at the end of February, a company spokesperson told ABC 7News WJLA.

Last year Starbucks closed one of its Detroit locations next to a Whole Foods Market due to safety issues. The coffee chain closed 16 stores around the country in 2022 due to safety concerns. Those stores were in Seattle, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Washington and Portland, Oregon, according toThe Detroit News.
Highlights: Guitarist Christian Nolen aids brain surgery by playing rock hits

Awake craniotomy performed at the University of Miami for real-time brain function monitoring

Successful tumor removal, a unique medical experience for Nolen

  Trusted Source

Awake brain surgery



Go to source Trusted Source

Behind the Strings: Christian Nolen's Journey from Diagnosis to Surgery

A Harmonious Success: Tumor-Free and Strumming into Recovery



Guitarist plays through awake craniotomy to remove brain tumor. Mind meets melody in medical performance. #awakecraniotomy #tumorremoval #medindia

Awake brain surgery - (https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/awake-brain-surgery/about/pac-20384913)

In a remarkable medical procedure, a Florida man, Christian Nolen, assisted surgeons in the removal of a brain tumor by playing rock music from the 1980s and 90s. Nolen, a professional guitarist from Coral Gables, underwent an awake craniotomy at the University of Miamis Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. During the procedure, conducted in early January, Nolen played songs by the Deftones and System of a Down as instructed by doctors to assess and protect brain functions ).The decision for an awake craniotomy was made because the surgery involves the patient being alert to monitor brain functions. Nolen, initially diagnosed with a glioma on the right frontal lobe after experiencing symptoms affecting his left side, agreed to play the guitar during the operation to assess his dexterity. Dr. Ricardo Komotar, director of the University of Miami Brain Tumor Initiative, emphasized the importance of keeping the patient awake during surgery to detect any impairment to vital brain functions Although initially surprised by the proposition, Nolen, intrigued by the unique experience and the impact on his motor skills, agreed to play the guitar during the surgery. The surgical team at the Comprehensive Cancer Center, having prior experience with awake craniotomies, specifically chose Nolen due to his background as a guitarist Nolen was initially under anesthesia for the start of the two-hour surgery, after which he was awakened to play the guitar. Despite finding the process overwhelming initially, he managed to stay calm and expressed his amazement, stating, "This is wild." The surgical team successfully removed the entire tumor, and Nolen was discharged the day after the surgery, with plans for further treatment, including weeks of radiation and chemotherapy Awaiting the final pathology results, Nolen reflected on the unique and challenging experience, emphasizing the significance of his motor skills being put to the test during the procedure.Source-Medindia
Highlights: Comprehensive TB services under one roof in Tamil Nadu

Expansion plans to cover all 424 upgraded Primary Health Centres

Data-driven approach identifies causes and percentage increase in TB cases

  Trusted Source

National TB elimination programme - What has changed



Go to source Trusted Source

Unified Tuberculosis Services



Did you know? The Walk-in Centre identifies TB causes, contributing to Tamil Nadu's quest for a TB-free state. #TB #tuberculosis #medindia

Data-Driven Eradication

National TB elimination programme - What has changed - (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9672688/)

In the battle against Tuberculosis (TB), the state of Tamil Nadu has taken a significant stride with its innovative initiative, the "Walk-in Centre - One Stop TB Solution." This pioneering scheme is designed to provide comprehensive TB services all under one roof, with the ultimate goal of eliminating TB from the state ().At the core of this initiative is the distribution of TB kits to all primary health centers across Tamil Nadu. These kits are equipped with essential components to facilitate a streamlined approach to TB diagnosis and treatment. Included in the kit are diagnostic tests to identify TB, medications for effective treatment, and first-aid kits to address immediate health concerns.One of the key features of the scheme is its ambition to extend its reach to all 424 upgraded Primary Health Centres (PHC) in the state. This expansion aims to ensure that the benefits of the Walk-in Centre are accessible to a larger population, contributing to the broader mission of TB eradication.The Walk-in Centre plays a crucial role in identifying the root causes and assessing the percentage increase in TB cases . By providing all the necessary tools and resources, the scheme enables healthcare professionals to conduct thorough examinations and diagnostic tests. This data-driven approach aids in understanding the dynamics of TB spread, allowing for targeted interventions and a more effective allocation of resources.Beyond merely treating the symptoms, theadopts a holistic strategy by integrating prevention, diagnosis, and treatment within a unified framework. This comprehensive approach aligns with global efforts to combat TB and positions Tamil Nadu as a leader in the fight against this infectious disease.As the Walk-in Centre continues to evolve and expand, it signifies a beacon of hope in the battle against TB. By consolidating resources, expertise, and technology, Tamil Nadu is not only addressing the immediate health needs of its citizens but is also making substantial strides towards a TB-free future for the entire state.Source-Medindia
  Trusted Source

Effectiveness of a self-assessment application in evaluating the care coordination competency of intensive care unit nurses in managing patients on life support:



Go to source Trusted Source



The NCCCS app provides prompt feedback to nurses overseeing critically ill patients on life support, evaluating their care coordination behaviors through self-assessment of frequency. #nurses #criticallyill #patientcare #mobileapp

Addressing Gaps in Nurse Education for Critical Care Coordination

The group that engaged in self-assessment and received feedback through the NCCCS app demonstrated an increase in the frequency of care coordination behaviors after one month, in contrast to the self-assessment group without feedback. Notably, the participants with less experience in managing critically ill patients did not exhibit a corresponding increase in the frequency of these behaviors.

The group, whose NCCCS score was below the national average as of 2017 experienced an increased frequency of care coordination behaviors one month later, following feedback from the NCCCS app, compared to the group without feedback.

The group receiving feedback on their self-assessment scores through the NCCCS app exhibited heightened attention, confidence, and interest in learning about care coordination, in contrast to the group without feedback. Additionally, they reported that the use of the NCCCS app fostered teamwork and enhanced the quality of care.

Effectiveness of a self-assessment application in evaluating the care coordination competency of intensive care unit nurses in managing patients on life support: - (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jjns.12584)

The newly developed NCCCS electronic app aims to enhance the care coordination skills of nurses responsible for managing critically ill patients on life support. (The NCCCS app utilizes the scoring system referred to as the Nurses' Care Coordinate Competency Scale (NCCCS), developed by Dr. Takiguchi et al. in 2017, and it is currently being translated into Chinese, Italian, Polish, and Persian.The NCCCS app was tested in the study and found to be highly effective in training when used by individuals who had certain years of critical care management experience but had low care coordination competencies.While the significance of care coordination for appropriate critical care is recognized, there is a lack of established educational methods for nurses engaged in care coordination. The quality of care, especially concerning the success or failure of multidisciplinary care for critically ill patients on life support, has been demonstrated to be linked not only to survival rates but also to the development of physical, mental, and cognitive dysfunction in post-intensive care patients.Dr. Takiguchi said, "Our NCCCS app will help nurses enhance their care coordination competencies in the management of critically ill patients. It offers a new strategy to improve the physical, mental, and cognitive outcomes of critically ill patients."Key HighlightsThe findings of this study may provide a new strategy for improving outcomes in critically ill patients on life support.Source-Newswise
An Army officer who led an ROTC program at a California university was handed a reprimand this week after pleading guilty to hiding a camera in a changing room at a clothing store.

Lt. Col. Jacob Sweatland, who formerly led California Polytechnic State University's ROTC program and served as a senior instructor, was arrested in September 2022 after being caught hiding a camera in a changing room at a PacSun, a clothing retailer predominantly for teens and young adults, at Pismo Beach, California.

According to reporting from the San Luis Obispo Tribune, a girl found the camera while changing. Sweatland later called the store, asking whether they had found his "key fob." When he came to the store, he was met by authorities and fled on foot but was later taken into custody. Army officials swiftly fired him from his ROTC position.

Read Next: Marine Corps' New Amphibious Vehicle Will Deploy in Pacific After 2022 Rollover Restricted Its Use

Reprimands are administrative censures, effectively about as low on the totem pole of military justice as punishments go, and act as career blemishes.

"Col. Jacob J. Sweatland was convicted by a military judge, pursuant to his pleas, of one specification of indecent visual recording and one specification of conduct unbecoming an officer in violation of Articles 120c and 133, UCMJ," Ian Ives, a spokesperson for U.S. Army Cadet Command, told Military.com in a statement. "The military judge sentenced the accused to be reprimanded. The sentence was consistent with the terms of a plea agreement."

Sweatland and his attorney could not be reached for comment.

He was still in the service as of Friday, assigned to the 8th Reserve Officers' Training Corps Brigade based out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

It was unclear if the Army will eventually remove him from service and whether he will be allowed to retire with an honorable discharge. Because Sweatland was not convicted of a felony, if he is allowed to retire with full honors, he will hold onto his full retirement and any benefits and disability from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The case was originally being tried in a San Luis Obispo County court, but was transferred to an Army court as prosecutors felt the service had stronger punishments for the type of crimes Sweatland committed; local law could charge Sweatland only with misdemeanors. However, civilian courts commonly hand cases over to military authorities to ease the burden on the court.

"In 2023, California law has very limited criminal sanctions available for someone charged with the crimes Mr. Sweatland committed," District Attorney Dan Dow said, according to reporting from Cal Coast News. "We have confidence that the U.S. Army will obtain an appropriate resolution that appropriately addresses the significance of harm caused by his actions."

Editor's note: This story was corrected to reflect the specific type of reprimand handed down to Sweatland.

Related: Army Reveals It Fired Female Commander in Troubled Brigade After Claims of Sexual Assaults on Male Soldiers
B-1B Lancers at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota, as well as some of the airmen who maintain and fly them, are temporarily relocating to Texas for several weeks amid an investigation into a crash of one of the bombers earlier this month.

On Thursday, airmen at Ellsworth Air Force Base, located near Rapid City, began flying an undisclosed number of Lancers to Dyess Air Force Base near Abilene, Texas, officials from both bases told Military.com.

The move comes after a B-1B Lancer crashed earlier this month during a training mission at Ellsworth, which caused damage to the runway and paused flight operations at the base.

Read Next: After Early Troubles, New Marine Corps Amphibious Vehicle Is Headed to Okinawa

"The airfield is closed again until further notice as the Safety Investigation Board continues its work," the 28th Bomb Wing said in a statement. "Until then, we will continue operations out of Dyess AFB."

The base did not disclose the number of Lancers that were flown to Dyess. The 28th Bomb Wing also said that approximately 250 aircrew, maintainers and other support personnel are expected to work from Texas for several weeks alongside the planes.

Col. Derek Oakley, the 28th Bomb Wing commander, said the mission serves as a reminder that the B-1 force is still ready to deploy if need be, marking the first flights at the base since the crash.

"It also reassures our allies and partners that we are steadfast in supporting them when needed and reminds our nation's adversaries of the capabilities we are able to bring to any fight, anywhere around the globe," Oakley said in an emailed statement. "And while our airfield operations are currently on hold as part of the investigation, today we proved that this weapon system is mission capable."

The B-1B bomber crashed in South Dakota on Jan. 4 while trying to land at Ellsworth.

The incident, which occurred around 5:50 p.m. local time, happened during a training mission with a crew of four, Ellsworth said in a Facebook post at the time.

Two Lancers were involved in the training mission. The first one landed successfully, while the second crashed. All four crew members ejected and received medical care.

As of Friday, the damaged aircraft had not been moved and the investigation was still ongoing at the scene of the crash, the 28th Bomb Wing said.

The B-1B has been in service with the Air Force since the mid-1980s, and about 60 of the aircraft are left in the fleet. Typically, the planes are divided between Dyess in Texas and Ellsworth in South Dakota.

Each of the bombers costs roughly $317 million, according to a service fact sheet. The B-1B 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," the 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."

The crash earlier this month marks the latest incident involving a Lancer. In 2022, Military.com reported that a B-1B at Dyess caught fire, sending two people to the hospital.

The last crash of a B-1 was a little over a decade ago, when a Lancer out of Ellsworth crashed on Aug. 19, 2013, near Broadus, Montana. The crew safely ejected and no civilians were harmed, although there was damage to private property when pasture land caught fire. The loss of the aircraft was estimated at $317.7 million, according to a news release at the time.

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.

Related: South Dakota Air Force Base Stops B-1B Lancer Flights Following Runway Crash
WASHINGTON  The White House is laying out a new set of guidelines to ensure it will be informed any time a Cabinet head can't carry out their job after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's secret hospitalization this month was kept for days from President Joe Biden and his top aides.

The new guidelines include a half-dozen instructions for Cabinet agencies to follow when there is a delegation of authority," or when secretaries temporarily transfer their authority to a deputy when unreachable due to medical issues, travel or other reasons. White House chief of staff Jeff Zients launched a review of existing notification procedures earlier this month shortly after Austin's hospitalization was disclosed, along with the Pentagon's failure to immediately alert the White House.

"Through your submissions, you demonstrated your commitment to notifying the White House in the event of a delegation  and upon assumption of a delegation, establishing contact with the White House," White House chief of staff Jeff Zients wrote in a memo sent to the rest of the Cabinet on Friday. The memo was obtained by The Associated Press.

Zients noted that some existing guidelines among agencies differed because of various laws, regulations and executive orders.

But through this process we are assured that all agencies have a set of standard protocols they must follow in the event of a delegation of authority," he wrote.

From now on, Cabinet agencies must notify the White House Office of Cabinet Affairs and Zients' office when they're anticipating a delegation of authority and again when the delegation actually happens. It must also put in writing that the delegation is in effect and once that delegation has ended.

Once the interim leader has assumed authority, that person must contact his or her primary counterpart at the White House and the agency must follow any other notifications that are required under law  such as informing key lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

Agencies should ensure that authority is transferred when a Cabinet official is traveling to areas with limited or no access to communication, undergoing hospitalization or a medical procedure requiring general anesthesia, or otherwise in a circumstance when he or she may be unreachable, the memo reads.

The Pentagon said earlier this month that Austin had a prostatectomy to treat prostate cancer on Dec. 22, for which he underwent general anesthesia at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. He did not tell the White House about the procedure, but he did temporarily transfer some of his authorities to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks.

Austin returned to Walter Reed on Jan. 1 after being in severe pain and was admitted to intensive care. The next day, he again transferred some authorities to Hicks, who was on vacation in Puerto Rico. In both instances, Hicks was not told why she was having authorities delegated to her.

The Pentagon did not tell the White House about Austin's hospitalization until Jan. 4, when national security adviser Jake Sullivan was informed and in turn told Biden.
JERUSALEM (AP)  The crew aboard a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker hit by a missile launched by Yemen's Houthi rebels extinguished an hourslong fire onboard the stricken vessel Saturday sparked by the strike, authorities said.

The attack on the Marlin Luanda further complicated the Red Sea crisis caused by the Iranian-backed rebels' attacks over Israel's war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The tanker carried Russian-produced naphtha, a flammable oil, drawing Moscow further into a conflict that so far it had blamed on the U.S.

Early Saturday, U.S. forces conducted a strike against a Houthi anti-ship missile that was aimed at the Red Sea and prepared to launch, the U.S. militarys Central Command said. That attack came after the USS Carney, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, had to shoot down a Houthi missile targeting it.

The Marlin Luanda burned for hours until being extinguished Saturday, said Trafigura, a Singapore-based trading firm. Its crew of 25 Indian nationals and two Sri Lankans were still trying to battle the blaze sparked by the missile strike, it said. No one was injured by the blast, it added.

We are pleased to confirm that all crew on board the Marlin Luanda are safe and the fire in the cargo tank has been fully extinguished, Trafigura said. The vessel is now sailing towards a safe harbor.

The Indian navy said its guided missile destroyer INS Visakhapatnam was assisting the Marlin Luanda's crew in fighting the fire. It posted images showing the blaze still raging Saturday, likely fueled by the naphtha on board.

The ship, managed by a British firm, is carrying the Russian naphtha bound for Singapore, the company said. It described the flammable oil as being purchased below the price caps set by G7 sanctions placed on Russia over its ongoing war on Ukraine. It wasn't clear what environmental impact the attack had caused.

Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed the attack on the Marlin Luanda in a prerecorded statement late Friday, describing it as a British oil ship. He insisted such attacks would continue.

Since November, the rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea over Israels offensive in Gaza against Hamas. But they have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, imperiling shipping in a key route for global trade between Asia, the Mideast and Europe.

Since the airstrike campaign began, the rebels now say theyll target American and British ships as well. On Wednesday, two American-flagged ships carrying cargo for the U.S. Defense and State departments came under attack by the Houthis, forcing an escorting U.S. Navy warship to shoot some of the projectiles down.

China, which relies on the seaborne trade through the area, has called for calm. The U.S. had sought to get China to apply pressure on Iran, as Beijing remains a major buyer of Western-sanctioned Iranian oil.

But Russia so far has condemned the U.S. and the United Kingdom for carrying out its strikes targeting the Houthis, while also meeting with the rebel group in Moscow in recent days.

The U.S. Navys top Mideast commander told the AP on Monday that the Houthi attacks were the worst since the so-called Tanker War of the 1980s. It culminated in a one-day naval battle between Washington and Tehran and also saw the U.S. Navy accidentally shoot down an Iranian passenger jet, killing 290 people in 1988.

Meanwhile Saturday, authorities reported a separate incident in which a vessel in the Arabian Sea reported seeing people armed with assault rifles and a rocket-propelled grenade off their vessel.

The small craft approached within 300 meters (about 985 feet), the British military's United Kingdom Trade Operations agency said. The onboard security team fired warning shots and post an exchange of fire, the small craft then retreated.

It said all those onboard were safe. The private security firm Ambrey described the incident as involving a Somali-style small boat aided by a larger mothership. As the Houthi attacks have escalated, there's been an increase in suspected Somali pirate activity as well.

___

Associated Press writer Aijaz Hussain in Srinagar, India, contributed to this report.
The Angels announced that first baseman/outfielder Trey Cabbage has been designated for assignment. The transaction creates a 40-man roster spot for Matt Moore, whose one-year, $9MM deal is now official.

Cabbage was a fourth-round pick for the Twins in the 2015 draft, and he was a member of the Angels organization for the last two seasons after signing as a minor league free agent. He didnt show much at the plate over his first five pro seasons, but after sitting out 2020 due to the canceled minor league season, Cabbages bat suddenly caught fire. A .283/.377/.574 slash line over 414 Double-A plate appearances was followed up by a .306/.379/.596 slash line in 474 PA at the Triple-A level, and it resulted in Cabbage getting a look on the Angels active roster this past season.

Despite only a .553 OPS over 56 PA in the Show, Cabbage at least finally made the big leagues, debuting slightly after his 26th birthday. He might now find himself on the move to another team in the event of a waiver claim or if the Halos opt to simply release him after the DFA period, though one would imagine Los Angeles might just hang onto a player who has performed so well against minor league pitching. Cabbages age could be a slight caveat to his numbers, though his performance cant even be chalked up just to the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, given how Cabbages breakout started when he was still in Minnesotas farm system.

After getting some time as a third baseman and shortstop earlier in his career, Cabbage has settled into a first base/corner outfield role. His DFA could indicate that the Angels simply prefer other options at those positions  Nolan Schanuel is penciled in for regular first base duty and Brandon Drury can also play the position, while Miguel Sano and Hunter Dozier were recently signed to minors contracts. The corner outfield picture is also pretty crowded, and could be even more crowded if Mike Trout is moved to left field in order to both help keep him healthy and to improve the defense with a more glove-focused center fielder.
The Padres announced their list of non-roster Spring Training invitees this evening. Among the acquisitions not previously covered at MLBTR: reliever Matt Festa and utility player Tyler Wade. San Diego also brought back catcher Chandler Seagle on a new minor league pact after hed elected free agency.

According to Wades transaction log at MLB.com, he inked his deal back in November. The transaction eluded MLBTR at the time. The Marietta native sticks in California after spending the prior two seasons with the Angels and As. Wade tallied a career-high 163 plate appearances with the Halos two years ago but only got into 26 contests for Oakland.

Previously a utility player with the Yankees, Wade has appeared in seven MLB seasons. The speedy left-handed hitter owns a .217/.293/.300 batting line in just over 700 plate appearances. Hes coming off a solid .291/.384/.409 showing through 91 games with Oaklands Triple-A affiliate. Wade stole 42 bases in 51 attempts in the minors a year ago. Hes a versatile depth option who can cover either middle infield position or play anywhere in the outfield.

Festa signed with San Diego today, according to the transaction tracker. The 30-year-old righty (31 next month) had lingered in free agency since he was released by the Mariners last August. Festa was on the minor league injured list with an undisclosed malady at the time, explaining why he didnt catch on with another team for the stretch run.

Injuries have been an issue for Festa, who lost a good portion of the 2020-21 seasons to Tommy John surgery. The former seventh-round draftee returned to the mound in Triple-A at the tail end of the 21 campaign. He made Seattles roster the following year and logged a personal-high 54 innings. Festa worked to a 4.17 ERA behind a very strong 29.2% strikeout percentage, although he allowed an alarming 1.67 homers per nine innings.

Seattle only gave Festa eight MLB appearances last season. Before going on the IL, hed pitched 28 times for the Ms top affiliate in Tacoma. His ERA there could hardly have been better. He allowed only two earned runs in 34 frames (0.53 per nine) for the Rainiers. Despite the nearly immaculate run prevention, his strikeout and walk profile was middling. Festa only fanned 21.9% of opponents while issuing free passes at an alarming 12.5% clip. An unsustainably low .114 batting average on balls in play against him was a big reason for the ERA being as impressive as it was.

Seagle, a 27-year-old depth catcher, has spent his entire career in the San Diego system. A 30th round pick in 2017, hes a .204/.277/.287 hitter in more than 1000 minor league plate appearances. While he clearly isnt going to provide much at the plate, the Padres seem happy enough with his defensive ability to keep him in the minors. San Diego called Seagle up for the final weekend of 2023 after losing Luis Campusano to injury. He got into a game and received one at-bat. The Padres placed him on waivers at the start of the offseason but brought him back last week in a non-roster capacity.
The Rockies have signed Josh Rogers to a new minor league deal, according to Rogers MLB.com profile page. The left-hander has now signed minors contracts with the Rox in each of the last two offseasons.

Even though Colorado was beset by pitching injuries in 2023, Rogers didnt get any big league action during his first year in the organization. Rogers had his own struggles to worry about, as he posted an 8.02 ERA over 104 1/3 innings (starting 13 of 30 games) for Triple-A Albuquerque. The southpaw had only a 13.1% strikeout rate, and opposing batters had a whopping 22.8% homer-to-fly ball rate.

Even accounting for the hitter-friendly nature of the Pacific Coast League, Rogers 31 home runs allowed is an eye-popping number, and it continues the extreme homer problems that have plagued Rogers for the better part of five years. Rogers underwent a Tommy John surgery in 2019 that sidelined him for most of that season and all of the 2020 season, and he simply hasnt been able to keep the ball in the park since his return.

Since his fastball barely cracks the 90mph threshold, Rogers doesnt have much margin for error with his pitches, leaving him susceptible to heavy damage if a batter guesses correctly. The introduction of the three-batter rule may have also cursed Rogers career  left-handed batters have a .411 OPS over 121 plate appearances against Rogers in the majors, while right-handed hitters have an absurd 1.048 OPS against Rogers in 268 PA.

An 11th-round pick for the Yankees in the 2015 draft, Rogers was dealt to the Orioles as part of the Zack Britton trade in July 2018, and Rogers ended up making his MLB debut with Baltimore about a month later. Rogers has a 5.42 ERA over 88 career innings with the Orioles and Nationals at the big league level, with 22 homers surrendered in that pretty brief sample size. His last MLB appearance came on June 2, 2022 with Washington, and after being released by the Nats, Rogers didnt get a call-up during a brief stint in the Marlins minor league system.

The PCL isnt exactly the best place for a homer-prone pitcher to find his form, but Rogers will return for another season as a depth option for Colorado. Rogers has started 12 of his 30 career Major League games and 117 of his 142 minor league games, though his extreme splits suggest that a relief role might be best so Rogers team can shield him as best they can from right-handed batters.
Dear Amy: A few close co-workers (including me) recently attended a destination wedding of a colleague and friend.

Our department leader was also invited and attended.

Everything went well and a nice time was had by all.

Fast-forward to today, and our department leader now wants to have quarterly get-togethers for the group that attended the wedding.

I have hesitations about this for a few reasons. First, if word gets out about this exclusive outing, others on the team will feel like were getting preferential treatment (which I definitely understand). Second, while the leader said anyone is welcome to come, I feel like this will seem more like an obligation outside of work that you cant say no to.

My colleagues and I are unsure how to bring these concerns up without causing hurt feelings.

What should we do?

 Troubled Team

Dear Troubled: You have valid concerns about these outings.

I agree that gathering some members of the team for scheduled outings is not a good idea, and anyone is welcome to come is quite different from all team members are invited and included.

You might assume that this idea grew out of that unique sort of post-party glow when the hangover fades but the good feelings linger, and that given some time to consider the professional ramifications in terms of team morale, your fearless leader might reconsider this idea and let it quietly go away.

Im not sure how it would cause hurt feelings for you and other team members to react to this idea by bringing up the professional challenges it might cause, as well as the unexpressed pressure that is exerted when a boss plans team outings. Are these gatherings compulsory? Will people who cant attend because of other obligations (or because they dont want to) miss out on intangibles important to professional success?

You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.

2024 Amy Dickinson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
DEAR ABBY: My husband and I have been together for 12 years, but things have changed. We sleep in separate beds, we both work and we spend little time together, and we cant have a decent conversation. I feel like I have a roommate who just comes and goes as he pleases. He always has an excuse for not spending time with me and our daughter. I dont feel like we are married anymore. What should I do? -- DISSATISFIED IN VIRGINIA

DEAR DISSATISFIED: Tell your husband you feel like you are living with a roommate rather than a spouse. Tell him you miss the closeness you once shared, and ask if he is willing to work on it. What is currently happening isnt fair to you or your daughter. Then make an appointment with a marriage counselor to discuss the state of your marriage -- with him, if hes willing -- or without him.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
First BanCorp. (NYSE:FBP  Get Free Report) posted its earnings results on Wednesday. The bank reported $0.49 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.35 by $0.14, Briefing.com reports. First BanCorp. had a return on equity of 22.13% and a net margin of 26.19%. The company had revenue of $299.09 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $227.75 million. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.40 earnings per share.

First BanCorp. Price Performance

Shares of NYSE FBP traded up $0.38 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $17.20. The stock had a trading volume of 1,645,473 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,121,682. First BanCorp. has a 1 year low of $10.18 and a 1 year high of $17.23. The company has a market capitalization of $2.97 billion, a PE ratio of 10.12, a P/E/G ratio of 4.87 and a beta of 1.23. The company has a quick ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 0.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $15.93 and a 200-day simple moving average of $14.62.

Get First BanCorp. alerts:

First BanCorp. Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 8th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 24th were issued a $0.14 dividend. This represents a $0.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.26%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, November 22nd. First BanCorp.s dividend payout ratio is presently 32.94%.

Insider Activity

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

In other First BanCorp. news, EVP Carlos Power sold 9,433 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $16.50, for a total transaction of $155,644.50. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 246,793 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,072,084.50. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink . In other First BanCorp. news, EVP Carlos Power sold 9,433 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $16.50, for a total value of $155,644.50. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 246,793 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,072,084.50. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website . Also, COO Donald Kafka sold 65,000 shares of First BanCorp. stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $15.79, for a total value of $1,026,350.00. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 213,486 shares in the company, valued at $3,370,943.94. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 139,433 shares of company stock valued at $2,207,895. 2.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in FBP. Legal & General Group Plc increased its stake in First BanCorp. by 32.4% in the 4th quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 2,863 shares of the banks stock valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 700 shares during the last quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in First BanCorp. by 56.1% during the second quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 4,296 shares of the banks stock worth $52,000 after acquiring an additional 1,544 shares in the last quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC lifted its position in shares of First BanCorp. by 151.5% during the third quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 9,453 shares of the banks stock valued at $127,000 after purchasing an additional 5,695 shares in the last quarter. Shay Capital LLC bought a new stake in First BanCorp. in the first quarter worth about $131,000. Finally, Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC purchased a new position in First BanCorp. during the second quarter valued at approximately $126,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 91.80% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

FBP has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on First BanCorp. from $12.50 to $13.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 24th. StockNews.com started coverage on First BanCorp. in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their price objective on First BanCorp. from $18.50 to $19.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday. Finally, Bank of America reduced their price target on First BanCorp. from $17.00 to $16.00 in a report on Tuesday, October 10th.

View Our Latest Research Report on First BanCorp.

First BanCorp. Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

First BanCorp. operates as a bank holding company for FirstBank Puerto Rico that provides a range of financial products and services to consumers and commercial customers. The company operates through six segments: Commercial and Corporate Banking, Mortgage Banking, Consumer (Retail) Banking, Treasury and Investments, United States Operations, and Virgin Islands Operations.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for First BanCorp. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for First BanCorp. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Kimberly-Clark (NYSE:KMB  Get Free Report) posted its earnings results on Wednesday. The company reported $1.51 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.53 by ($0.02), MarketWatch Earnings reports. Kimberly-Clark had a net margin of 8.63% and a return on equity of 284.06%. The company had revenue of $5 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.99 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.54 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up .7% compared to the same quarter last year.

Kimberly-Clark Stock Performance

NYSE:KMB traded up $0.68 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $121.17. 2,579,671 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,211,354. The firm has a market capitalization of $40.95 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.15, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 0.39. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $121.88 and a 200 day moving average price of $124.34. Kimberly-Clark has a twelve month low of $116.32 and a twelve month high of $147.87. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 8.81, a current ratio of 0.84 and a quick ratio of 0.54.

Get Kimberly-Clark alerts:

Kimberly-Clark Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 2nd. Investors of record on Friday, March 8th will be given a dividend of $1.22 per share. This represents a $4.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.03%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 7th. This is an increase from Kimberly-Clarks previous quarterly dividend of $1.18. Kimberly-Clarks dividend payout ratio is currently 90.77%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Kimberly-Clark

In other news, insider Jeffrey P. Melucci sold 3,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $121.71, for a total transaction of $365,130.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 25,169 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,063,318.99. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website . In other Kimberly-Clark news, insider Tristram Wilkinson sold 3,720 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $121.00, for a total value of $450,120.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 17,229 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,084,709. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link . Also, insider Jeffrey P. Melucci sold 3,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $121.71, for a total value of $365,130.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 25,169 shares in the company, valued at $3,063,318.99. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . 0.67% of the stock is owned by insiders.

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC acquired a new position in Kimberly-Clark in the second quarter valued at about $34,000. First Capital Advisors Group LLC. bought a new position in shares of Kimberly-Clark in the second quarter valued at $37,000. Tyler Stone Wealth Management bought a new position in Kimberly-Clark during the second quarter worth about $44,000. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL bought a new stake in shares of Kimberly-Clark during the first quarter worth approximately $48,000. Finally, Cowa LLC bought a new position in shares of Kimberly-Clark during the first quarter worth approximately $54,000. 74.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms recently commented on KMB. Piper Sandler started coverage on shares of Kimberly-Clark in a report on Friday, November 17th. They set an overweight rating and a $146.00 price target for the company. StockNews.com upgraded Kimberly-Clark from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, October 4th. Sanford C. Bernstein raised Kimberly-Clark from an underperform rating to a market perform rating and lowered their price target for the company from $125.00 to $118.00 in a report on Thursday, October 12th. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price target on Kimberly-Clark from $147.00 to $132.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, October 10th. Finally, Citigroup lowered their target price on Kimberly-Clark from $126.00 to $111.00 and set a sell rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, October 11th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $130.14.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on Kimberly-Clark

About Kimberly-Clark

(Get Free Report)

Kimberly-Clark Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and markets personal care and consumer tissue products worldwide. It operates through three segments: Personal Care, Consumer Tissue, and K-C Professional. The company's Personal Care segment offers disposable diapers, training and youth pants, swimpants, baby wipes, feminine and incontinence care products, reusable underwear, and other related products under the Huggies, Pull-Ups, Little Swimmers, GoodNites, DryNites, Sweety, Kotex, U by Kotex, Intimus, Thinx, Poise, Depend, Plenitud, Softex, and other brand names.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Kimberly-Clark Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kimberly-Clark and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Teledyne Technologies (NYSE:TDY  Get Free Report) announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $5.44 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $5.04 by $0.40, MarketWatch Earnings reports. The company had revenue of $1.43 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.46 billion. Teledyne Technologies had a net margin of 15.72% and a return on equity of 11.03%. The businesss revenue was up .5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $4.94 EPS. Teledyne Technologies updated its Q1 guidance to $4.55-4.65 EPS and its FY24 guidance to $20.35-20.68 EPS.

Teledyne Technologies Stock Performance

TDY stock traded down $5.95 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $418.96. 212,957 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 225,214. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $423.03 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $408.06. The firm has a market capitalization of $19.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.67, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.54 and a beta of 1.03. Teledyne Technologies has a one year low of $364.98 and a one year high of $448.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 1.68 and a quick ratio of 1.10.

Get Teledyne Technologies alerts:

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Michael T. Smith sold 1,071 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $395.00, for a total transaction of $423,045.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 56,492 shares of the companys stock, valued at $22,314,340. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, CFO Sue Main sold 9,461 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $421.34, for a total value of $3,986,297.74. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 40,127 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $16,907,110.18. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Michael T. Smith sold 1,071 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $395.00, for a total transaction of $423,045.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 56,492 shares in the company, valued at approximately $22,314,340. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 70,766 shares of company stock valued at $29,178,338. 2.14% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Teledyne Technologies

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Point72 Middle East FZE purchased a new stake in shares of Teledyne Technologies during the 4th quarter valued at about $231,000. Axxcess Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Teledyne Technologies during the 4th quarter valued at about $227,000. Cetera Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Teledyne Technologies during the 4th quarter valued at about $223,000. Federated Hermes Inc. grew its stake in shares of Teledyne Technologies by 7.5% during the 1st quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 431 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock valued at $204,000 after acquiring an additional 30 shares during the period. Finally, Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. grew its stake in shares of Teledyne Technologies by 10.4% during the 2nd quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. now owns 445 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock valued at $183,000 after acquiring an additional 42 shares during the period. 87.57% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on TDY. StockNews.com lowered shares of Teledyne Technologies from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday. BNP Paribas began coverage on shares of Teledyne Technologies in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They issued an outperform rating and a $530.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Needham & Company LLC reduced their target price on shares of Teledyne Technologies from $522.00 to $510.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $515.67.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Teledyne Technologies

Teledyne Technologies Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, together with its subsidiaries, provides enabling technologies for industrial growth markets in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and internationally. The company's Instrumentation segment offers monitoring and control instruments for marine, environmental, industrial, and other applications, as well as electronic test and measurement equipment; and power and communications connectivity devices for distributed instrumentation systems and sensor networks.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for Teledyne Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Teledyne Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
You are already a Moneycontrol Pro user.

OK
Spring Festival travel rush kicks off with record-breaking trips expected

Xinhua) 09:47, January 27, 2024

Passengers are seen at Hohhot Railway Station in Hohhot, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Jan. 26, 2024. China officially ushered in its largest annual population migration on Friday, 15 days ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Lunar New Year, with record-breaking journey numbers expected.

An estimated 9 billion passenger trips are likely to be made during the 2024 travel rush period, according to the country's transport ministry.

Of the total, 7.2 billion trips or about 80 percent will be made by self-driving, while 1.8 billion trips will be made via railways, highways, waterways, and civil aviation, the ministry said.

China's railway operator on Friday said the country's railways are expected to handle 480 million passengers during this travel season, with an average of 12 million trips daily, an increase of 37.9 percent compared with the previous year. About 10.6 million train trips are expected to be made on Friday, the first day of the travel rush. (Xinhua/Bei He)

Tourists watch a performance at Changchun Railway Station in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, Jan. 26, 2024. China officially ushered in its largest annual population migration on Friday, 15 days ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Lunar New Year, with record-breaking journey numbers expected.

An estimated 9 billion passenger trips are likely to be made during the 2024 travel rush period, according to the country's transport ministry.

Of the total, 7.2 billion trips or about 80 percent will be made by self-driving, while 1.8 billion trips will be made via railways, highways, waterways, and civil aviation, the ministry said.

China's railway operator on Friday said the country's railways are expected to handle 480 million passengers during this travel season, with an average of 12 million trips daily, an increase of 37.9 percent compared with the previous year. About 10.6 million train trips are expected to be made on Friday, the first day of the travel rush. (Xinhua/Zhang Nan)

A policeman helps a child heading for destinations in China's northeast provinces at Nanning Railway Station in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Jan. 26, 2024. China officially ushered in its largest annual population migration on Friday, 15 days ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Lunar New Year, with record-breaking journey numbers expected.

An estimated 9 billion passenger trips are likely to be made during the 2024 travel rush period, according to the country's transport ministry.

Of the total, 7.2 billion trips or about 80 percent will be made by self-driving, while 1.8 billion trips will be made via railways, highways, waterways, and civil aviation, the ministry said.

China's railway operator on Friday said the country's railways are expected to handle 480 million passengers during this travel season, with an average of 12 million trips daily, an increase of 37.9 percent compared with the previous year. About 10.6 million train trips are expected to be made on Friday, the first day of the travel rush. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua)

Passengers pose for photos in hanfu, a type of traditional clothing of the Han ethnic group, at Xuzhou East Railway Station in Xuzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 26, 2024. China officially ushered in its largest annual population migration on Friday, 15 days ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Lunar New Year, with record-breaking journey numbers expected.

An estimated 9 billion passenger trips are likely to be made during the 2024 travel rush period, according to the country's transport ministry.

Of the total, 7.2 billion trips or about 80 percent will be made by self-driving, while 1.8 billion trips will be made via railways, highways, waterways, and civil aviation, the ministry said.

China's railway operator on Friday said the country's railways are expected to handle 480 million passengers during this travel season, with an average of 12 million trips daily, an increase of 37.9 percent compared with the previous year. About 10.6 million train trips are expected to be made on Friday, the first day of the travel rush. (Xinhua/Mao Jun)

This photo taken on Jan. 26, 2024 shows the Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station in east China's Shanghai. China officially ushered in its largest annual population migration on Friday, 15 days ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Lunar New Year, with record-breaking journey numbers expected.

An estimated 9 billion passenger trips are likely to be made during the 2024 travel rush period, according to the country's transport ministry.

Of the total, 7.2 billion trips or about 80 percent will be made by self-driving, while 1.8 billion trips will be made via railways, highways, waterways, and civil aviation, the ministry said.

China's railway operator on Friday said the country's railways are expected to handle 480 million passengers during this travel season, with an average of 12 million trips daily, an increase of 37.9 percent compared with the previous year. About 10.6 million train trips are expected to be made on Friday, the first day of the travel rush. (Xinhua/Wang Xiang)

Passengers on train No.K4177 wait for departure at Shanghai South Railway Station in east China's Shanghai, late on Jan. 25, 2024. China officially ushered in its largest annual population migration on Friday, 15 days ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Lunar New Year, with record-breaking journey numbers expected.

An estimated 9 billion passenger trips are likely to be made during the 2024 travel rush period, according to the country's transport ministry.

Of the total, 7.2 billion trips or about 80 percent will be made by self-driving, while 1.8 billion trips will be made via railways, highways, waterways, and civil aviation, the ministry said.

China's railway operator on Friday said the country's railways are expected to handle 480 million passengers during this travel season, with an average of 12 million trips daily, an increase of 37.9 percent compared with the previous year. About 10.6 million train trips are expected to be made on Friday, the first day of the travel rush. (Xinhua/Xin Mengchen)

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Wu Chaolan)
Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day
Faizal Khan is an independent journalist who writes on art.
Shinie Antony is a writer and editor based in Bangalore. Her books include The Girl Who Couldn't Love, Barefoot and Pregnant, Planet Polygamous, and the anthologies Why We Dont Talk, An Unsuitable Woman, Boo. Winner of the Commonwealth Short Story Asia Prize for her story A Dogs Death in 2002, she is the co-founder of the Bangalore Literature Festival and director of the Bengaluru Poetry Festival.
Nivedita Jayaram Pawar is a Mumbai-based freelance journalist, who writes on food, art, design, travel and lifestyle.
Pallavi Aiyar is an award-winning independent journalist who has reported from, and parented in, China, Europe, Indonesia and Japan. She is the author of 'Babies and Bylines: Parenting on the move'.
Betty Diamond Katsuta has returned home after she was last seen at her residence in Yigo on Dec. 21, 2023.
Colombia has been on fire for almost a week. This Thursday alone there were 31 active forest fires in the country, according to the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD). These are unprecedented figures. Between January 1 and 23, 508 forest fires were recorded, 200 more than at the same time last year, according to the National Fire Department. And the authorities warn that they will not stop until April, when the rains return. According to several experts, at the moment three factors are converging to make Colombia particularly vulnerable: the usual dry season, a strong El Nino phenomenon and very high temperatures due to climate change. It is the perfect recipe for a country to catch fire, explains Johana Herrera, World Wildlife Fund Colombias forest and climate change officer, by telephone.

There is a very well-defined weather pattern in Colombia, Herrera says. From December to April, and from June to September, there are two dry seasons, with little rainfall. The rainy seasons occur from April to May, and from October to December. It is normal, then, that the first weeks of the year are sunny. But this year the lack of rainfall has been greater than usual. For example, the capital city has now gone nine consecutive days with less than 0.2 mm of rain, according to the District Institute for Risk Management and Climate Change (IDIGER). And the people of Bogota are suffering.

At the beginning of the week, a forest fire in the Cerros Orientales filled the northeast of the city with a strong burning smell. Authorities extinguished it on Wednesday, after fighting it for two days. But several more fires had already started in other areas and, hours later, in another section of the same mountains, El Cable, burst into flames. It is not just a problem in Bogota. Herrera says that El Ninos arrival has exacerbated the aridity of this dry season and turned much of Colombia into a tinderbox.

Smoke from a forest fire rises from Bogota's Cerro del Cable on January 24, 2024. LUISA LUISA GONZALEZ (REUTERS)

What is El Nino?

Yolanda Gonzalez is director of the El Nino Research Center (CIIFEN) and headed Colombias state-run Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (IDEAM) for four years. It is normal for El Nino to result in more forest fires, she tells this newspaper. It is a cyclical phenomenon that occurs due to the warming of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Together, El Nino and La Nina, the opposite phase, are the cause of the greatest sign of climate variability in the tropical Pacific strip.

El Nino manifests in two ways, depending on the region. In Peru it means rain, while in Colombia, especially in high mountain areas, it usually causes droughts. During this dry season, the phenomenon is creating conditions conducive to fires. In addition to the thirty fires, 28 of the 32 departments are on alert for forest fires. Over half of the countrys 1,102 municipalities are on high alert.

Frailejones burned by the fire in the Santurban wildnerness, Santander, Colombia, on January 24, 2024. STRINGER (REUTERS)

El Nino is a cyclical natural phenomenon that alternates with periods of normality and La Nina. It usually occurs every four years, but lately it has been occurring more frequently. It has a tendency to become stronger and stronger. Climate change is strengthening the impacts of El Nino, as well as its frequency and intensity, says Gonzalez.

The populations responsibility

In these conditions that are so conducive to fires, experts agree that the population has a great responsibility to prevent them. According to the Ministry of the Environment, 95% of the fires in Colombia are caused by human beings. Most of them start due to human beings carelessness, imprudence, lack of attention or irresponsibility, the Ministry says. Herrera adds that many of these disasters occur in remote areas, where roads are precarious and access is difficult for firefighters and rescue workers.

To prevent more areas in the countryside from catching fire, the forestry engineer urges Colombians: Avoid burning. Do not burn garbage, do not throw cigarette butts in areas where there is vegetation. Do not light gunpowder or balloons with wicks. It is very dangerous. Juan Carlos Orrego, an expert in risk management and climate change adaptation at the Red Cross Bogota, echoes this message, adding that it is important not to leave bottles or glass items that can produce fire in natural areas.

The local and national governments also have a responsibility. They control everything related to risk management, Herrera points out. They have to take action to avoid or prevent these fires. That requires work agreements and investment, he says. For his part, Orrego calls on the authorities to prepare protocols for accessing the sites when a fire breaks out. The first minutes are of vital importance for limiting it and defining the approach strategy, he says in a video shared with the media.

A firefighter works to put out the fire in the Cerros Orientales in Bogota, Colombia, on January 24, 2024. ANTONIO CASCIO (Reuters)

Faced with the growing threat of fires, President Gustavo Petro has announced that Colombia will ask the UN for help. We activated all protocols to seek international assistance. To the extent that we know that crisis events are going to increase, we want to be sure that we have the physical capacity to address and mitigate them, he said on Thursday at a press conference from Tumaco (Narino), Colombia. Petro adds that at this moment, practically all [our] physical capacity  over 600 men trained to put out fires  are on the ground.

Like the experts, the president also predicts that the current situation will last for at least two more months. And he warns that it will continue to worsen. We are heading for an increasingly tougher stage. The prediction for this weather crisis is that it will go through the whole month of February and a good part of March. We expect the end of March to be the end of the cycle, he said.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
Special Agent Gary France, second right, Dr. Francis Wood and Woods children stand next to the John Opie painting that was stolen from Woods parents' home in 1969 in Newark, N.J. Jan. 11, 2024.

An 18th century British painting stolen by mobsters in 1969 has been returned more than a half-century later to the family that bought the painting for $7,500 during the Great Depression, the FBIs Salt Lake City field office announced Friday.

The 40-inch-by-50-inch (102-cm-by-127-cm) John Opie painting  titled The Schoolmistress is the sister painting of a similar work housed in the Tate Britain art gallery in London.

Authorities believe the Opie piece was stolen with the help of a former New Jersey lawmaker then passed among organized crime members for years before it ended up in the southern Utah city of St. George. A Utah man had purchased a house in Florida in 1989 from a convicted mobster and the painting was included in the sale.

When the buyer died in 2020, a Utah accounting firm that was seeking to liquidate his property sought an appraisal for the painting and it was discovered to likely be the stolen piece, the FBI said.

The painting was taken into custody by the agency pending resolution of who owned it and returned on Jan. 11 to Dr. Francis Wood, 96, of Newark, the son of the paintings original owner, Dr. Earl Wood, who bought it during the 1930s, the FBI said.

Opie was a British historical and portrait painter who portrayed many people, including British royals. His paintings have sold at auction houses including Sothebys and Christies, including one that sold in 2007 for almost $1 million.

According to the FBI, The Schoolmistress was taken from Earl Woods house by three men working at the direction of former New Jersey state Sen. Anthony Imperiale. But the claims against the state lawmaker, who died in 1999, were not sufficiently corroborated and he was never charged, the agency said.

Authorities say the men broke into the house in July 1969 in a bid to steal a coin collection, but were foiled by a burglar alarm. Local police and Imperiale responded to the attempted burglary, and the homes caretaker told the lawmaker that the Opie painting in the home was priceless, the FBI said.

The men returned to the house later that month and stole the painting, the FBI said, adding that one of the men later admitted to the theft and testified that they had been acting under Imperiale.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
LIBERATION war stalwart Colonel (Retired) Kenny Ridzai Mabuya, who died on Tuesday, has been declared a national hero in recognition of his sterling contribution during the liberation struggle that saw Zimbabwe attain its independence in 1980.

Col Mabuya, whose Chimurenga name was Kenny Ridzai, died at West End Hospital in Harare after a short illness.

Last Saturday, Vice President Kembo Mohadi visited him at West Hospital.

Defence Minister, Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, who is also Zanu PF Chairman, yesterday visited Tynwald South in Harare, where mourners are gathered and conveyed the message that Col Mabuya had been declared a national hero.

She said President Mnangagwa, together with everyone in the party and Government, were satisfied that Col Mabuya should be declared a national hero owing to his contribution before and after independence.

Burial arrangements will now be agreed on between the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage and the family of Col Mabuya.

We were assigned by His Excellency, the President on behalf of the party and the Government to convey a message to the Mabuya family that the party has decided to confer a national hero status on our late Colonel Mabuya, said Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri.

The party considers a number of attributes before conferring such an honourable status, tracing the history, contribution of an individual not necessarily in the revolution in the sense of the war, but other categories that were added.

In this particular case, we traced the history of Cde Ridzai, who joined the struggle at a very tender age, when he was in Form 2 when the family had relocated to Zambia.

He decided at that very early stage to join Zanu that time, approached Zanu PF in Zambia and was received by Cde (Josiah) Tongogara. After three months he was sent to undergo training in Tanzania for two years.

Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri chronicled the journey travelled by Col Mabuya from the time he joined the liberation struggle until after independence.

He sacrificed his life to liberate Zimbabwe; we are independent because of that supreme sacrifice. After independence, he decided not to venture into other areas. He had interest in his country, defending the countrys independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, so he remained in the army.

He received a number of awards (for his outstanding work). He demonstrated his patriotism, he was a principled person, he persevered, he remained resolute to the values of the struggle (and) we will miss him

He was also humble. We will miss him but we are celebrating his legacy and that he will inspire the youths, said Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri.

A colleague who worked with him in the liberation struggle, Cde Happison Muchechetere said Col Mabuya was a hardworker and disciplined.

He was on the quiet side. He never had open quarrels with anybody. He would speak softly, even when he is angry you would never know it. We first met in 1974 in Tanzania when it was just after training.

He was in the security department and I was in the Command and when we came home, he joined the army and I went into journalism, joining the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation. After I left ZBC, we pioneered the War Veterans League together with Cde Mabuya. He was an active member and was Secretary for External Affairs in Mashonaland West province, said Cde Muchechetere.

His daughter, Sifiso described her father as caring.

I have lost my father. He was lovely, a true comrade who stood with his children and family. We will miss him.

We are celebrating his life. He lived as a true father. He never abandoned us. I want to say rest in peace. We are very happy that he was declared a national hero. We want to thank the President for recognising my fathers effort, she said.

Born on January 12, 1952 in Matabeleland South Province, Filabusi District, Col Mabuya was the second born in a family of five, comprising two boys and three girls.

Sometime in 1954, the family relocated to Zambia where he did his primary and secondary education up to Form 2 at Kamwala in Lusaka.

Col Mabuya and his brother became politically conscious but while the brother joined ZAPU military wing, ZIPRA, he wanted his younger brother to complete school.

Cde Kenny Ridzai decided to join the ZANU military wing as a way of avoiding his brother in ZIPRA since he knew that the brother would send him back to school, before he later joined the liberation struggle whilst in Form 2.

Having been shortlisted at the ZANU offices, the late Col Mabuya left Lusaka for Itumbi Training Camp in Tanzania through Mbeya, together with other recruits.

They commenced training in December 1969, with initial military training coming in January 1970 under the tutorship of Cde Chimedza and some Chinese military instructors.

Cde Kenny Ridzai belonged to that crop of military strategists whose training centred mostly on mass mobilisation tactics, which were critical for the commencement of full throttle guerilla warfare based on the water and fish concept and their training took two years.

In 1972, Cde Ridzai entered Zimbabwe through the Zambezi Valley under the command of Cde Kenneth Gwindingwi and Cde George Rutanhire.

In August 1972, the group registered its first successes in combat when they carried out an ambush in the Chunye area of Mutoko District.

Following the ambush in Mutoko, the group lost contact with each other and Cde Ridzai found himself alone in the area.

He operated as a lone figure along the Nyadire river into Chief Makuni where he was to get refuge in the area, orchestrating mass mobilisation doing it under cover, pretending to be one of the Chiefs sons.

After leaving the Chiefs homestead, the national hero had a memorable ordeal at the hands of Frelimo comrades after they suspected him of being a sellout, but was rescued by one of the visiting commanders who eventually reconnected him with his colleagues.

Cde Ridzai was to later receive further military training in China.

After independence he was attested into the Zimbabwe National Army on May 5 1981.

He rose through the ranks to become Lieutenant Colonel and retired in June 1994 after holding several positions.

Some of the courses he attended include Weapons Course at Zimbabwe School of Infantry, Basic Intelligence Course at Zimbabwe School of Military Intelligence, Officers Foundation Course at Zimbabwe Military Academy.

He was awarded several medals for his continued dedication, selfless and exemplary service to the nation.

The awards include the Liberation Medal for his contribution towards the independence of Zimbabwe, Independence Medal for his contribution towards the Independence of Zimbabwe, and Ten-Year Service Medal.

He is survived by children and grandchildren.

Mourners are gathered at 6924 Davidson Park, Tynwald South, Harare.

Breaking News via Email
Yves here. Weve commented from time to time about the lame-brained way energy transition and Green New Deal advocates, along with sympathizers in the media and political classes, act if consumers and businesses can be bribed or forced to buy products that are greener, however defined, it will go a long way to limiting climate change damage. Perilous little thought is given to total power consumption, and that that need to be contained or reduced for real progress to occur (as we call it, radical conservation).

One of the examples of how hopium-tinged fantasies about a no-pain shift to greener outcomes make matters worse comes below. If anyone were serious about protecting the climate, there would be serious taxes on data center use and growth, with serious thought as to how to limit energy-hogging, dubious value uses like AI. Does it make sense to destroy the planet so teenagers can have ChapGPT do their research?

Similarly, experts have been pointing out that the US (and I assume quite a few other advanced economies) lacks the grid capacity to handle the planned conversion away from gas-fueled cars to EVs. AI is going to make that capacity problem worst. So we can expect to see rationing by price, which will discourage conversion to EVs because operating costs will rise, or rationing by limiting consumption, as in use caps or unplanned consumption curbs, as in outages.

By Tsvetana Parakskova, a writer for Oilprice.com with over a decade of experience writing for news outlets such as iNVEZZ and SeeNews. Originally published at OilPrice

AI data centers have become a significant burden for utilities.

Some utilities in the eastern and southern parts of the U.S. are proposing build-outs of new natural gas-fired capacity alongside renewables to support the growth in electricity consumption coming from data centers.

Many tech companies want clean energy to power their new data centers, but utilities are struggling to keep up with this demand.

Data centers, especially those powering AI technologies, have seen such explosive growth that they are taxing utilities beyond what soaring power demand is calling for. Some utilities in the eastern and southern parts of the U.S. are proposing build-outs of new natural gas-fired capacity alongside renewables to support the growth in electricity consumption coming from data centers. Others have planned to delay the timeline for retiring coal-fired capacity to ensure grid reliability. Many tech companies want clean energy to power their new data centers, but utilities are struggling to keep up with this demand. These utilities cannot hook up new solar and wind power to the grid fast enough to allow a timely start to new data center operations. There is concern that unless huge investments in transmission lines and grid upgrades are made soon, and every year, the U.S. economy of the future of data centers and EV and battery manufacturing growth would be forced to slow up.

Thats the ultimate concern everybody has: that well be short on power, Rob Gramlich, founder of consulting firm Grid Strategies, told Bloomberg.

The U.S. needs at least $20 billion in investments annually in long-distance transmission lines, according to Gramlich, who noted that the current spending is basically zero.

Grid Strategies published a report last month in which it analyzed data from utilities regulatory findings. The analysis found that over the past year, grid planners nearly doubled the 5-year load growth forecast, the key drivers being investment in new manufacturing, industrial, and data center facilities.

The U.S. electric grid is not prepared for significant load growth, Grid Strategies said in the report, noting that a recent surge in data center and industrial development caused sudden, shockingly large increases in 5-year load growth expectations.

Dominion Energy  which serves Virginias Eastern Loudoun County, dubbed Data Center Alley and the worlds largest data center market,  has said that The big drivers of current and future growth include: migration to the cloud as companies outsource information technology functions, smartphone technology and apps, 5G technology, digitization of data, and artificial intelligence.

In its 2023 integrated resource plan (IRP), Dominion Energy Virginia detailed last year a range of possible resource additions by 2048, including up to 9 gigawatts (GW) of new natural gas-fired capacity due to reliability concerns.

Further west of Virginia, Kansas City-based utility Evergy said in June 2023 that it would retire coal operations at its Lawrence Energy Center only in 2028, compared to earlier plans for end-2023 retirement. At that time, one unit is expected to fully retire, while the remaining unit will remain available for operations with natural gas to meet customer needs during times of high electricity use.

Our service area is experiencing some of its most robust electricity demand growth in decades, including very large projects like the Panasonic electric vehicle battery manufacturing factory and the Meta datacenter, as well as broad-based economic development in both Kansas and Missouri, Evergys president and CEO David Campbell said.

NextEra Energy Resources president and CEO Rebecca Kujawa said just this week on the Q4 earnings call that Clearly, theres an enormous amount of demand being driven across the U.S. economy by the growth in data centers, driven by a lot of things, of course, but specifically generative AI.

And that growth is pretty explosive at this point.

So explosive is the growth that Boston Consulting Group (BCG) says that data center electricity consumption accounted for 2.5% of the U.S. total (~130 TWh) in 2022 and is expected to triple to 7.5% (~390 TWh) by 2030.

Thats the equivalent of the electricity used by about 40 million U.S. houses  almost a third of the total homes in the U.S. said BCG.

Globally, electricity consumption from data centers, AI, and the cryptocurrency sector could double by 2026, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in its Electricity 2024 report this week.

After consuming an estimated 460 terawatt-hours (TWh) globally in 2022, electricity consumption from data centers could reach more than 1,000 TWh in 2026roughly the same as Japans total electricity consumption.

Depending on the pace of deployment and AI and crypto trends, the additional electricity consumption of data centers in 2026 compared to 2022 would be roughly equivalent to adding at least one Sweden or at most one Germany to demand, the IEA says.
Yves here. Nima of Dialogue Works uses the inability of the US (actually the entire Collective West, as described in late 2022 by Alex Vershinin of the Royal United Services Institute) to match Russian artillery output as a point of departure with Richard Wolff and Michael Hudson to discuss the shortcoming of late-stage capitalism. They come to a similar conclusion to the one Andrei Martyanov has made energetically: US arms makers are profit-driven while the Russian military procurement system (even allowing for occasional corruption scandals) is purpose-driven.

Below is the first part of this talk.

By Nima. Originally published at Dialogue Works

Dialogue works (Nima): when it comes to capitalism, theyre talking about that capitalism is by far the most effective and productive economic system. Ohio Senator, James Vance, just recently said that Russia produces as much ammunition in a day as the U.S. does in a month. whats the problem with the U.S. economy that theyre not capable of producing enough ammunition to help Ukraine?

Richard D. Wolff: Well, let me begin with a comment. I do not believe it is an exaggeration to say that the spokespersons for every economic system in the history of the world have included people who say that whatever system they are, the spokesperson of is the best and the most efficient and the most equitable and the most and the most fill in the blank with positive adjective.

This is childish, and yet you would imagine that a reasonably mature people would get beyond this kind of cheerleading if theyre involved in a serious conversation. It is actually very easy to show whether you are looking at ancient tribal economy or village economies or slave economies or feudal economies that they had their areas where they were remarkably efficient side by side with areas where they were remarkably inefficient.

Assuming that there is a standard that enables you to distinguish between them, which frankly, I dont believe there ever was or is.

Let me explain briefly,

When you notice that theres profitability in a particular industry and the CEO, all of the CEOs in that industry are asked, why are you profitable? And they give that wonderful answer that they should have outgrown in fourth grade.

Were a very efficient company here. The only appropriate response is laughter. Why? Well, what does efficiency mean conventionally in economics? Efficiency purports to do the following thing. It looks at the consequences of some act. Lets take a, for example. Is it sufficient to expand the hospital to add a new wing to that hospital or for a company?

Is it efficient to buy a fleet of trucks or to hire 50,000 more people or whatever, whatever the issue is? Heres what you taught. You look at all the benefits that flow from this act and you look at all the costs of this act and you compare them. If the benefits are larger than the cost, why then its efficient and you go ahead and do it.

And if the costs are better than or larger than the total of benefits, well then its inefficient and you dont do it. Okay. All right. Now, here are two simple problems. And here Im simply talking basic philosophy. Or if you like, basic mathematics. How do you know all of the costs or all of the benefits of anything that has ever happened or that could ever happen?

And the answer is, you cannot do that. And no one ever has. Part of the reason is that costs and benefits lie in the future, and its kind of hard to get a good number on what they will be. And if there is an economist who knows what the costs will be. Well, then that economist is going to become very rich because they have figured out how to tell the future, which of course is a scam.

They cant do that. Number two, the costs and benefits are infinite in number and variety. To go back to my example. Suppose theres a hospital considering building a new wing. Well, if they build that new wing, it will change traffic patterns in that area. Change traffic patterns will alter, real estate prices change, traffic patterns will change. The number of people that get injured or die in automobile accident.

How in the world can you know in advance what all the costs from doing this are? And the answer is you cannot. So here is what all cost benefit analysis has in common. They are frauds because they cannot do what they claim to do. What they actually do is look at a selection of the costs that you can do and a selection of the benefits that you can do.

But then the only interesting thing is the principle of selection, because it isnt a comprehensive comparison. Long story short, if you do any serious investigation, then you cannot evaluate the efficiency of any economic system and the people who claim that it is the most efficient are giving you the use a technical term total bullshit. And they ought to be called on the carpet for doing that.

There is. It really is kind of childish. CBS did the report 60 Minutes back in May of last year, and in that report, they showed that the Defense Department of the United States is a place that doesnt have enough ammunition because the company is producing defense equipment, you know, planes, ships, missiles, guns are engaged in. And you can see the statements there from all the relevant officials.

Price gouging and the price gouging is not modest, but price gouging is outrageous. And they give you the figures. Theyre a price thats 100 times what it ought to be or more. Here is the irony. Its not that Russia can produce what we can produce. My guess is the United States cannot produce Russia. Lets remember the GDP with all the problems which we have discussed about what the GDP means.

But the GDP of the United States is 21, $22 trillion, and the GDP of Russia is one and a half trillion dollars. We are talking about vastly different industrial systems. And the reason why the United States doesnt have enough ammunition and by the way, that is part of the reality of why Russia is doing as well in the war in Ukraine as it is.

Its not because they produce more or better, its because they dont have and this has going to affect a lot of Americans if they take this seriously. They dont have the level of corruption that we do. We have outdone them. And you know what this is like. This is the same story that has afflicted every empire in human history.

This is the story of why the Romans could not defeat the barbarians in the fifth century. Its why medieval kingdoms fell apart. Its not because they couldnt produce enough knives and guns and spears and all the rest of it, but that the internal mechanisms of the system made it no longer functional and bullshit like efficiency calculus is part of the mental corruption, if you like, these make-believe categories.

We look back on the Middle Ages and we smiled to one another when decisions were made by kings and queens who consulted their advisers, who read the appropriate passage in the Bible to find the answer. We think were better than that. The Bible, we say, was a book. There were lots of books. I picked that one. Yeah, well, the notion that you can do the right thing by following Jesus is exactly on a par with the notion that you can do the right thing by choosing the official alternative, as if you were in a position to do that.

I used to tell my students all the training in the world will not enable you to leap over the Empire State Building. You just cant jump over it. So you dont bother training to do what you know you can do. Why do we train people in cost benefit analysis? It is a mirage. It is an ideological exercise in order to sanction whatever decisions are made for altogether different reasons by pretending they have been authorized by an objective outside absolute, totally true arbitrator.

Well, in medieval times that was called God. Today we call it efficiency analysis. It is the same fantasy.

Michael Hudson: Well, I think that you dont have to look at the future in order to make projections. I think efficiency is in the eye of the beholder. Boeing, for instance, is much in the news. And Boeing found it very efficient.

Instead of making airplanes that were adjusted to new fuel-efficient engines, it found it more efficient to make airplanes and crashed to the executives. That was efficient because they could use their money instead of changing the engineering around, instead of building a new airplane. They could use the revenue that they were getting simply to do for stock buybacks and to pay out of dividends.

So that was very efficient, you know. And in terms of prices, of course, you can forecast prices if youre in a monopoly position and you can charge whatever you want. You decide what price youre going to charge. Its at your will. And you can you have control over costs, especially its the government. Thats what the Pentagon capital system is.

That I think was really what the interview was talking about under Pentagon capitalism. I think a decade ago it was making a toilet seat for $20 and charging 30 $500 for it. But now theyre even more egregious overruns. Its very efficient if youre a Boeing or another military contractor. Its not efficient for the whole economy. So, I think the really the real question, since our talk is about capitalism versus socialism is whats efficiency under capitalism and whats productive and productivity?

Well, the textbook presentation of industrial capitalism says its very efficient and it was efficient in the 19th century. It was more efficient than feudalism. And that was really what industrial capitalism set out to be. To cut it, not to raise the costs of Pentagon capitalism and what youre talking about, but to cut costs in it and cut the economys overall costs by getting rid of the landlord class.

So instead of paying land rent to a hereditary aristocracy, you would use that as the tax base. You would essentially get rid of monopoly rent and youd get rid of financial rent. In other words, what made capitalism efficient was that it was moving toward socialism and it was moving toward socialism by having the government take the lead in providing basic needs for the what?

For the cost of living and for the cost of doing business so that the employers didnt have to pay them. These costs were to be paid essentially by progressive taxation of the wealthiest property owners and the wealthiest finance shell operators. And I think as we discussed the last time, the income tax in America in 1913 fell, only on the wealthiest 1%.

So, in the 19th century, industrial capitalism certainly looked productive to the extent that it was supporting a mixed economy, a private public economy that was moving towards the government, producing all of the communications, education, health services, transportation that could otherwise be monopolized or that labor would have to pay for and hence the employers would have to pay for.

So, the question is, you know, what went wrong or what went wrong was that the the rent recipient class fall back and they fought back for the last century, ever since World War Two and especially since the 1980s, we dont have industrial capitalism anymore. Sometimes its called monopoly capitalism, but I prefer to call it finance capitalism because banks are the mother of monopolies and its the financial sector that has promoted monopolies because they can efficiently make money much, much easier simply by charging whatever they want and not having to take the customers into account, not by producing good materials.

Efficiency today is a race to the bottom. If the race to the bottom in employment, its a race to the bottom. Inequality. Its a race to the bottom for Boeing making airplanes that sudden that dont really have much oversight and regulatory control and they their doors blow open and they crash. So, again, were living in a world where the whole concept of efficiency changes and productivity is no longer simply the physical productivity of output per man hour.

Its how do you create wealth and you create wealth and being productive in the way that Goldman Sachs had said that Goldman Sacks Partners or the most productive workers in the United States because they make the money and they make the most money financially, they make the most money by taking over companies, breaking them up, smashing them down, and then slowly industrializing them.

So today, the most efficient capitalism is post-industrial capitalism or finance capitalism. You say its corrupt and they say, no, weve just made politics a free market. And if Boeing and other military spending people have the ability to back the campaigns of the congressmen on the military, on the military committees and the monopoly committees and if they dont back what were doing, if they criticize us, well just use the free market to back their political opponents in the next primary election. So, again, what is efficiency? Its no longer what it used to be.

Richard D. Wolff: Theres a point that Michael made that is recognized, at least in the textbooks in economics. Its one of those topics that you blow through in 10 minutes of some lecture and never return to it, because it is embarrassing if you return to it, since it invalidates most of the rest of the semesters work.

Its a distinction between private profitability and social profitability or private costs and social costs. And the argument is really very simple. Lets take a situation where a capitalist decides it is, quote unquote, more efficient. I am going to buy this new machine, and that will allow me to fire 50 workers because the new machine can do what those 50 workers used to do.

So, our capitalist compares the machine only costs 100 and the money he saves by firing 50 workers is 200. So, hes ahead. If he buys the machine and fires the workers. So, he does. Theres a net gain to him of 100. The difference between the money he had to lay out for the machine and the money he saved from firing the work, though, is simple, very logical.

Now the question, are we done? Have we now seen an efficient act, as are capitalists pursuing the profitable outcome made the right decision? Well, to do that, wed have to look at the costs and the benefits. And let me tell you about the costs. They are not just the buying of the machine by Mr. Capitalist. The costs are everything that happens to those 50 workers, their spouses, their children, the neighborhood they live in, the real estate values of the homes they occupy, the viability of the stores they used to patronize.

I could go on. We know from a thousand studies that those 50 unemployed people will have higher rates of alcoholism, spousal abuse, mental physical injury and illness. All that costs society is going to have to bear those costs. The doctors, the social workers, you know, the difficulties, the fired workers children are now going to have in school because theres turmoil at home, because a mother or father or out of work, nobody can sit it because capitalism refuses to take any responsibility for those 50 workers.

We in the world of analysis, thinkers, professors, whatever we are, we are supposed to somehow blindly go along with complete bullshit that we are finished when we compare the cost of the machine that automates with the loss of those jobs. And the minute you dont do that, the minute you admit that their social costs are not exhausted by those private costs that are counted by the capitalist, remember, he only counts what he has to pay for.

The only thing he has to do is pay for the new machine. He doesnt have to pay for the mental health counseling of the children, of the fired workers. Not his responsibility. So, for him, that cost does not exist. But for those of us that are interested in the community as a whole, the costs do exist, and a system that constantly pretends otherwise is going to mean making one decision after another.

That is the end of vision, because if you look at all the costs, they far exceed the benefits. And heres whats worse the benefits flow to one part of the community and the costs are borne by another part of the community, making it a political explosion of whats going on here. Automation is profitable all to the employer class, and it is an enormous burden and cost to the employee class.

And because of that, it comes back and bites the employer in the rear end as well. It is a social economic disaster, and if you were honest in economics, youd know that, and you wouldnt teach the rest of the course on the premise that profit as an incentive is some successful mechanism. It isnt. Its idiotic.

Michael Hudson: Well, when you talk about social costs, youre really talking about the long run costs in the sense of what are the results of this automation youre talking about.

But finance lives in the short run, and if you have corporations controlled by the financial sector, they live in the short run and they dont care about financial costs. And even more they try to make the government pay the cleanup costs. You can take for instance, oil for fracking. It pays for the oil frackers to pump chemicals into the ground to force the gas or oil up to the surface.

And the result is to pollute the water supply so you can light a match to the water that comes out of your tap and it catches on fire. For the oil companies and for the financial for the banks and the financial investors, this is a very this is high productivity you can take. And if you have the financial sector writing the laws that shape the marketplace, you have something like the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

That said, suppose you have an oil company that pollutes the land. For instance, of Ecuador or in Kazakhstan. If a government passes a law saying now the oil company has to pay the cleanup costs of cleaning up the pollution that its caused in the waterways or in the land, they have to reimburse the company for the entire fund because thats an external economy.

Well, what youre talking about, Richard, is, though, the external economy is society, so that if a government imposes a cost that benefits society at the cost of the American foreign investor or any other foreign investor, thats against the law legally and no government and end up receiving any money for the clean-up costs that it doesnt have to immediately pay.

Right back into the company. So in effect, the role of government is to protect the polluters and to protect what you call profits, and I call economic rent, because increasingly, the profits of oil companies and mining companies and monopolies are unearned income. Theyre not theyre not producing value. Theyre producing a right to charge whatever you want to charge so that you dont have to project the value of something in terms of the costs, the labor costs and the raw material cost.

Again, youre getting a free lunch without working, without producing value just by collecting rent. And of course, the GDP accounts, the national income accounts calls all of this earnings. But theyre not really earned income, theyre not profits. Again, theyre economic rent. And thats the kind of rent seeking economy that weve come into. Its a tunnel vision of the economy.

You call it corrupt. The economics are corrupt. Theyre really tunnel vision. They dont want to take in the social costs because that would reduce the returns to the financial owners of the companies that are imposing these costs on society at large.

Richard D. Wolff: If I could add, I agree completely, but I want to take it kind of another step, if I could. There is a bizarre phenomenon going on here that we should understand.

When Michael says that the government is called in to clean up, the government is called in to protect the government is called in to serve, whether its the cap, the employer class as a whole or a subdivision of it that gets into a dominant position like finance capital in recent decades.

Heres the remarkable thing about that. Not only is the government called in to bail out the failed capitalist system. Lets all remember in 2009, all of the major banks in the United States, the big ones were bankrupt by the definition of liabilities relative to assets. They were busted. They could not. They didnt trust each other to give each other overnight loans the way they normally do every day because they werent confident that Bank of America or Citibank or Wells Fargo would give back in the morning what was lent to them the night before, because they might do on Lehman Brothers or a Bear Stearns or any of the others that folded.

Okay. Okay. Heres the wonderful part about that. At the same time that the government is the servant, the faithful, desperate servant of the employer class, it develops an ideology which says that capitalism is a perfect system, except when the government messes up. We call these people because they like the label libertarians but have nothing to do with liberty.

Its an ironic Aldous Huxley kind of inversion of the word meaning. This has nothing to do with liberty. This is a hustle. This is a person selling you a major interest in the Brooklyn Bridge. Blame the government. Brilliant. Every flaw that capitalism has. You can now admit and use it to beat up on the government with the effect that all the government is left with the responsibility of doing is bailing out capitalisms failures.

Because otherwise it has been beaten to death with demonization as if it were the problem. Most of the people who will become powerful in the United States if Donald Trump wins the election, it will be libertarian infused policy makers who are going to act on this lunacy with, by the way, the predictable results, which are not pretty.

Michael Hudson: Im glad you mentioned the concept of liberty and libertarians.

Youre absolutely right. Libertarianism supports a centrally planned economy, much more centrally planned than a mixed economy. More centrally planned than an economy like China. But the central planning is done not by elected government officials, but by Wall Street and the financial sectors. So when people say theyre a libertarian, they say they want liberty from government regulation so they dont have to follow rules to protect society.

They want liberty from being taxed so that its labor and the productive sectors that are taxed, not the corporate sector and the financial sector that owns the sector. So, the question is liberty from whom? And this is what again, the language has been inverted from what it was during the heyday of industrial capitalism from Adam Smith and John Stuart Mill and Marx into just the opposite.

The way to respond to these guys is, again, the meaning of words. And thats what made George Orwell discussion of double think and double speak so great.

Richard D. Wolff: Enormously important, this topic, because these are not just pathological behaviors. These are not just the objects of what Michael and I can say critically.

These are symptoms of a system that is done, that is overreach, peak, that is in decline. Holding on to these nonsensical ideas becomes irrational because the system is spinning out of control. Here you have a again, Im going to use Ukraine, even if it provokes some people. On one side, the United States, the G7, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Japan and the United States.

I come blind to GDP and again, without lauding that statistic, its just a very rough measure. But a combined GDP, by my count, about $32 trillion in a war in Ukraine with a country, Russia with a GDP of one and a half trillion dollars. This is a joke. What kind of war is this? This is David and Goliath.

Only their day that were Goliath is ridiculous. And the fact that it isnt that the Russians have actually won the war, at least so far, tells you that something is terribly amiss. Mr. Zelensky is explaining that they dont have enough ammunition. Theyve used up the shells, the tanks, the missiles, not just from the United States, but from Britain, France, Germany and so on.

What in the world is going on? How does a one and a half trillion-dollar economy find itself inadequately producing, what, $32 trillion worth of economy is? Right. Something is crazy here. And I think that is where people ought to take this kind of thinking. If a university is teaching people that there is an efficiency, you learn how to count costs and benefits.

This is the exact modern equivalent of having taught medieval scholars how to count the number of angels that dance on the head of a pin. Angels have no dimensions. The head of the pin is very small. But how many angels can very small accommodate an infinity if they have no dimensions? Those And then what? Debates about this.

And we think its funny, but I can assure you in the future therell be people who look back on this nonsense about efficiency and the nonsense about libertarianism shaking their heads in disbelief that reasonably educated adults got caught up in this sort of stuff.
Its time for American Jews to abandon the Democratic Party

This is an open message to the American Jewish community. For generations now, the vast majority of American Jews have pledged their support to the Democrat Party , but in view of events that have transpired in American cities and universities since the unprovoked October 7 Hamas attack on Israeli citizens, the time has now come for Jews to rethink that support.

(Article by Steven Baldwin republished from TheNewAmerican.com)

Indeed, it has become abundantly clear that American Jews have been stabbed in the back by the Progressive movement, a movement that today controls the Democratic Party, the media, and much of our culture.

For some time now, the Jewish donor class has been responsible for half of all the money raised by the Democrat Party, and when it comes to the Left in general, Jewish billionaires such as George Soros are among its biggest donors. Clearly, the American Jewish community has been propagandized by the Left to believe that whatever Christian influences exist in America are somehow a threat to their existence.

Indeed, the Left promised the Jews that its goal was a secular society based upon a civil-rights agenda that would always protect the Jewish people. Of course, that narrative was pure propaganda. It is precisely due to Americas Christian heritage that many Jews immigrated to the United States to begin with. It was our Christian heritage that deeply influenced the creation of our Constitution, including the Bill of Rights, which protected religious minorities from persecution. Indeed, while all over the world Jews were being persecuted  even before Hitler  Jews were immigrating to America in large numbers to seek freedom and opportunity.

But somehow over the years that was forgotten, and the vacuum created by the attack upon Americas Christian values was not filled by secularism, but by a hateful socialist ideology that today couldnt care less about the Jewish people or the Bill of Rights. In the early years of the Progressive movement, this anti-Jewish sentiment was kept under the cover, as the Left turned the Jewish donor class into the most prolific money machine in American political history.

Meanwhile, the ties between the Progressives and the Islamicist movement gradually grew, and by the time October 7 came along, it was no longer possible to hide this alliance. Surely, Democrat strategists were hoping this day would never come, but when millions of Islamic immigrants were recruited by the Left, it became impossible to hide their presence or their influence within the progressive coalition.

It is becoming clear that the Jewish donor community had little idea how much the Progressive leadership was pushing radical Islamic ideology in our universities, within the Democrat Party, and inside our media institutions. These are all institutions in which Jewish Americans had assumed they had great influence. This is a testament to how hard Democrat organizers must have worked to play down the Islamic-Progressive coalition so as to not alarm the Lefts largest source of funds  the Jewish donor community.

The harassment of Jewish citizens on campuses, at their homes, and at their businesses has shocked the Jewish community to the core. Never did they think that an ideology that calls for the elimination of Israel and the genocide of the Jewish people would have so much influence with the Progressive movement of which they have been a key part of for so many years.

The time has come for the Jewish leadership of America to wake up and understand that they have not only been stabbed in the back, but their very existence is being called into question. Author Mark Steyn, in his book America Alone, demonstrates that, based on demographics alone, Muslims will be the majority in most European countries by 2060, and since very few Muslim immigrants assimilate into Western culture, much of Europe will be anti-Jewish sometime in the next 40 years. But the same immigration policies converting Europe into an anti-Jewish nightmare are also in place here in the United States. If we lose America to the Left and Israel is defeated by its Islamic enemies, the Jewish community will have nowhere to go.

The American Jewish community needs to understand that the Lefts acceptance of advocates of Sharia Law is truly stunning, as it shows that in the interest of gaining and holding power, the Left is willing to accept those who believe that all non-believers must be annihilated, especially the Jews. In other words, all the talk among the Left over the last few generations about making America a secular society safe for Jews was apparently poppycock just to obtain the support of Jewish donors.

It is difficult today to find any Republican and/or conservative who is antisemitic. You might be able to find a few who are anti-Israel, but you would have to hire a detective to locate them. Indeed, contrary to the Lefts phony narratives, hate crimes against Jews are overwhelmingly being committed not by conservatives, but by blacks, many of them citing leftist conspiracy theories fed to them by the Progressive movement. If thats news to you, it is because the media has misrepresented this issue in order to give cover to the Left.

As someone who has spent 50 years organizing activists for political action and having often been the target of protests, I noticed the Islamicist crowd subtly creeping into key positions on the Left in the 1980s.

When Barack Obama was elected president in 2008, this trend accelerated. As seen here and here, Obama had ties to the Muslim Brotherhood group that spawned Hamas and even covertly supported coups in a few countries that brought the Muslim Brotherhood to power. Regarding Iran, the principal financier of all terrorism targeting Israel, Obama signed a deal that gave them a green light to develop a nuclear bomb and then made covert efforts to pressure Israel to not bomb Irans nuclear facilities. He also denied weapons to Israel, declared that the Golan Heights was not part of Israel, and even tried to block Israelis from building homes in Israeli territory. He promoted the leftist idea that Israel and Palestinians were morally equivalent, but none of this should be surprising given Obamas longtime connections to radical Jihadists and his early education at a Muslim school in Indonesia, all of which was carefully concealed so as to not scare Jewish donors away from his campaign.

It was during the Obama years that Progressives not only cemented relations with radical Islamic groups but themselves became increasingly hostile to Israel. While Obama was elected with heavy Jewish support, it is now clear he lied to them as he became the most anti-Israel president in American history. Indeed, his land for peace policies created the conditions for the destruction of Israel by giving Hamas a base by which to stage attacks on Israel.

The election of Joe Biden in 2020 accelerated the effort to isolate Israel, and he actually populated his State Department with the same pro-Iran advocates Obama used to sell out Israel with his nuclear deal. Of course, Biden has been working frantically to restart the Iran nuclear deal, claiming that such a deal will contain Irans efforts to destroy Israel. Like Obama, Biden has been pouring money into rabidly antisemitic mosques and pro-Hamas charities. And, of course, like Obama, Biden continues to fund Israels enemies such as Iran and even the pensions of Hamas terrorists.

More recently, the Biden administration has tried to dictate to Israel how and when to defeat Hamas and advocates ceasefires so that Hamas can resupply itself. In a confidential meeting with Islamic leaders, Biden even apologized to them for questioning its phony numbers concerning civilians killed due to Hamas using them as human shields. And when Biden hosted a Hanukkah party at the White House, he refused to invite families of Americans held hostage by Hamas.

Biden is playing the same game Obama played. He will make statements that appear to be pro-Israel but then pursue policies that strengthen Hamas and Iran, both of whom have repeatedly declared that their intent is to destroy Israel and commit genocide against the Jewish people. The Democrat policies regarding Israel are nothing short of a death sentence for the Jewish people.

What should the American Jewish community do?

Many of the largest donors to Americas leftist groups are Jews, and they have been led to believe that the groups theyre supporting are somehow supportive of their value system. These are folks such as Mark Zuckerberg, George Soros, Donald Sussman, Tom Steyer, and James Simons. However, the activist groups they fund are anti-Israel, and many of these groups funded by George Soros favor wiping Jews off the face of the Earth. Want more proof? Has anyone seen a protest in favor of Israel or against Hamas since October 7 organized by the Progressive movement or any group affiliated with the Democrat Party? The Jewish community needs to use its networks to pressure these Jewish billionaires to cut off funds to the Islamic-Progressive alliance.

The media coverage of what transpired on October 7 has been horrendous, mostly just repeating the anti-Israel narratives fed to them by the Left. Whats shocking is that many of the reporters themselves are Jewish but, either out of ignorance or stupidity, are carrying water for Hamas. Jewish citizens need to bombard these reporters and demand that they tell the truth and quit parroting Hamas propaganda.

Jewish Americans need to demand that our politicians stop the flow of Illegal aliens across our borders. America allows in more legal immigrants than other country in the world, so, clearly, we are not a xenophobic country. However, leftists favor the massive influx of illegals  more than eight million since Bidens election  because they hope to convert them to Democrat voters in order to secure permanent power in America. But with the Democrat base increasingly hostile to Israel, how will that help Israel, and what about the thousands of illegals who are Muslims and are hostile to Israel? Indeed, just this year, more than 160 Muslims who appear on the terrorist watchlist have been detained by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, and those are just the ones who were caught. Indeed, one wonders if there are more Islamic terrorists illegally entering our country than those who attacked Israel. However, securing the border under Biden will be difficult due to the pro-Muslim and pro-illegal alien bias of his administration.

Jewish Americans should demand that our legal immigration system be merit and skills-based instead of allowing everyone into the country who wants to enter. Indeed, assimilation should be the key here, and Islamic immigrants have proven they have no desire to integrate or accept Western values.

Demand that Biden quit funding Hamas and groups that support Hamas.

Jewish donors need to boycott universities that have allowed Hamas and other Islamic radicals to intimidate and harass Jewish students, which, by the way, has been ongoing for at least 10 years. The claim by these schools that they support free speech is bogus, as they have systematically fired conservative professors and blocked conservative and pro-Israel speakers for years. Indeed, if a student called for the elimination of the black race he would be expelled within hours, but calling for the extermination of the Jews is apparently just fine with our college leaders. This is unlikely to change unless thousands of Jewish donors to these schools make their voices heard.

AIPAC is supposedly the main group in America representing Israel, but they have been around for decades and have developed such close relations with the Democrats they have no desire to shake the boat. This is why you hear very little from them. Theyve become part of the permanent political establishment and are otherwise useless. Jews need to form some new groups that will look out not just for Israel, but for the rights of Jews in America, because as of right now, no one is representing them.

Dont think America will become a nation hostile to Jews? Everyone said that about Germany at one point. Just like Germany in the 1930s, leftists are spraying the Star of David on the walls of Jewish homes. And Dearborn, Michigan, has become an Islamic enclave in which Christian preachers have been beat up and Jews do not even dare venture. Dont believe it? Then try walking down Dearborns main street wearing a yarmulke.

As we continue to allow millions of Muslims into the country both legally and illegally, there will be many more Dearborns, and pretty soon entire areas of our largest cities will become off-limits to Jews, just as many European cities have such as Malmo, Brussels, and London.

Even after what was perhaps the largest and most organized attack on Jews since the Third Reich, the Biden administration continues to misdirect the American people with press conferences and false statements claiming that white supremacy is a threat to Jews and others. Thats a phony narrative designed to deflect from the real threat to Israel and American Jews: The coalition between the American Left and the radical Islamic community.

Read more at: TheNewAmerican.com
Battle lines are being drawn for the coming CIVIL WAR  look who stands with Texas

As Texas continues to fight the Biden administration and assert its right to enforce its borders amid a record-setting influx of migrants, several states are pledging their support for the Lone Star State.

Oklahoma

One of the first states to stand behind Texas was neighboring Oklahoma, whose Republican governor, Kevin Stitt, made a post on X featuring footage of Texas National Guard troops marching with the caption Oklahoma stands with Texas.

His post quickly attracted a slew of comments supporting his stance, with some users asking him to offer the Oklahoma National Guards help with Texass plight.

Virginia

Virginia has also expressed support for Texass right to defend itself, with Governor Glenn Youngkin posting on X that his state stands with Texas. He added: @GregAbbott_TX is doing the job Joe Biden and his border czar refuse to do to secure our border. The Biden administration has turned every state into a border state. We must stop the flow of fentanyl, save lives and secure our southern border.

South Dakota

Kristi Noem, the Republican governor of South Dakota, said on X that Abbott was making the right move, adding that the Biden administrations policies are putting the American people in danger and compromising national security.

Alabama

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey told Texas they have her states support, adding that she has had enough of the White Houses handling of the border situation. However, it is not yet clear how her administration plans to back Abbott.

Louisiana

In a video message pledging his support for Texas and Governor Abbott, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry said his state supports legal immigration and safe and secure borders, not open border policies that pave the way for human trafficking and drugs to enter the U.S. He added that states are still sovereign, and we have the right to protect our citizens.

Florida

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis reiterated his support for the Lone Star State as well, offering personnel and assets to help Texas defend itself.

He weighed in on X, posting: If the Constitution really made states powerless to defend themselves against an invasion, it wouldnt have been ratified in the first place and Texas would have never joined the union when it did. TX is upholding the law while Biden is flouting it.

Montana

Meanwhile, the governor of Montana, Greg Gianforte, said that Abbot is doing what Biden wont. He called for the southern border to be secured and said Bidens refusal to act is "inviting cartels, illegal drugs and human trafficking into the United States.

Texas installs more razor wire in a desperate bid to keep dangerous illegals out

The U.S. Supreme Court recently issued a decision that sided with the Biden administration's open border policies, ordering Border Patrol agents to cut down razor wire installed by the state to protect its borders and citizens.

Abbott then released a statement outlining how the Constitution gives Texas the right to defend its sovereignty.

He noted: The failure of the Biden administration to fulfill the duties by Article IV,  4 has triggered Article I,  10, Clause 3, which reserves to this State the right of self-defense. For these reasons, I have already declared an invasion under Article I,  10, Clause 3 to invoke Texass constitutional authority to defend and protect itself.

Texas has doubled down on its border position in response, installing additional razor wire to slow the steady stream of illegal immigrants making their way across the border.

Not surprisingly, many liberal politicians have sided with the Biden administration on this matter, most likely because his open borders policies are adding a considerable number of individuals to the Democrat party's voter base.

Sources for this article include:

InfoWars.com

AL.com
In the five seasons of sci-fi series Orphan Black (2013-2017), actress Tatiana Maslany played more than a dozen clones. As they tried to find out their true identities, they immersed in an intricate conspiracy in which their lives were at stake. The production, which introduced the world to the acting prowess of its protagonist, and for which she won an Emmy, among other awards, became a cult series and garnered a massive following. Its universe is now expanding with Orphan Black: Echoes, which is now streaming new episodes on AMC+. Its another sci-fi tale that, just like the original, explores human identity and pushes todays science to its limits.

In Orphan Black: Echoes, a woman wakes up with no knowledge of her past. Soon, she discovers that she is in a place full of cutting-edge technology where, she is told, human body parts are created with revolutionary, four-dimensional printing technology. We didnt want to go back to clones, we didnt want to do the exact thing again. So, instead of exporting the conflict between nature and nurture, we opened it up a little bit more to the idea of how technology is becoming more and more part of our creation story, says Anna Fishko, the series creator, in an interview by videocall. We ask similar questions about what makes us who we are, but we wrap those in technology, which I think is very relevant, given where science is today, she says.

With a slower pace than the original series, Orphan Black: Echoes puts its focus, in addition to scientific concerns, on the emotions of its characters. Although she wanted to put a distance between this and the original story (in fact, the new production is set in the future, in 2052), there will be some winks at the series origins, easily recognizable by fans, such as the return of certain characters. But, the scriptwriter stresses, it was important to the team that first-time viewers be able to understand the new series plot. That made writing it tough. Its always difficult trying to give everyone what they want. We tried to figure out what things we needed that people loved in the original series, and what things could connect the story to people who didnt see [the original series]. And then, take into account what television is like today, ensuring that the series has a contemporary feel. It was tricky, says Fishko.

Keeley Hawes, in 'Orphan Black: Echoes.'

Although it seems like fiction, the technology that appears in the series is based on reality. We spent a lot of time talking with a scientist from Wake Forest University who runs a tissue printing lab, and he gave us some very interesting information. Theyre making incredible advances in printing brain tissue, printing little hearts  I didnt know it had come that far. They were fascinating conversations, but they were a little scary, says the series writer and producer.

Actress Krysten Ritter (Jessica Jones, Breaking Bad) plays the new series protagonist in a role that is very different to the one that Maslany played. While her predecessor embodied a multitude of characters, with incredibly varied physical appearances, accents and personalities  at times, several of the clones would be on-screen simultaneously  Ritter is able to focus on playing a single character. She was chosen for her ability to combine toughness and vulnerability in her facial expressions, according to Fishko. I was imagining someone who was a survivor, who had gone through something very difficult and who had found her way to building a whole new life. She had that toughness on the outside and a vulnerability on the inside, in search of connection and stability, explains the writer. In the series, Ritter is joined by the British Keeley Hawes (The Durrells, Bodyguard) in a mysterious role that is related to the technological aspect of the story.

Fishko, who has worked on series like Fear the Walking Dead, Tyrant and Pieces of Her, says that for her, its more complicated to work with an existing universe when creating a new story, as she has done on this occasion, than to newly invent a fictional world. Theres always a lot of people giving their opinion about how you have to deal with it. Also, this time we wanted to figure out how to honor the followers of the original series and the great work that they did with it. And I was working with some characters that people have already spent a lot of time with, and you have to think about how they would have changed in the 35 years that have passed in the story, says the writer.
Can Texas constitutionally engage in war and protect itself from imminent danger?

No State shall, without the Consent of Congress  engage in War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay.  Article I, Section 10, Clause 3 of the U.S. Constitution

(Article by Joe Wolverton, II, J.D. republished from TheNewAmerican.com)

As each state will expect to be attacked and wish to guard against it, each will retain its own militia for it own defense.  James Madison, speech at the Virginia Ratifying Convention, June 16, 1788

This is not over. Texas razor wire is an effective deterrent to the illegal crossings Biden encourages. I will continue to defend Texas constitutional authority to secure the border and prevent the Biden Admin from destroying our property.

Thats the message sent via X (formerly Twitter) by Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Tuesday.

Obviously, Governor Abbott remains resolute. His declaration that his states battle with the federal government is far from over follows a divisive ruling by the Supreme Court on Monday. In a surprising turn of events, the Court, typically leaning conservative, granted a victory to the Biden administration. The ruling allows federal agents to dismantle razor wire that Texas had erected along a stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border.

The installation of this razor wire, strategically placed near the border city of Eagle Pass, was just one of the bold measures taken by the Republican governor in his ongoing efforts to curb illegal immigration. However, the Supreme Courts decision, delivered with a tight 5-4 vote, saw Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett, both known for their conservative leanings, siding with the Courts three liberal justices in support of the administrations position.

This verdict temporarily permits Border Patrol agents to remove the razor wire that had been placed along the banks of the Rio Grande, pending the outcome of an ongoing lawsuit. The Biden administrations argument hinges on the belief that the presence of this wire impedes Border Patrol agents from efficiently reaching migrants as they attempt to cross the river. They assert that federal immigration law takes precedence over Texas determined efforts to stem the tide of migrants. This decision comes in the wake of a federal appeals courts ruling last month, which had compelled federal agents to cease their efforts to cut the wire.

As this contentious issue continues to unfold, Governor Abbott remains steadfast in his commitment to secure the border, while the Supreme Courts decision serves as a significant turning point in the ongoing battle over immigration policy.

For his part, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton stands solidly behind the governor. Paxton issued the following statement after the Supreme Court decision was announced:

The Supreme Courts temporary order allows Biden to continue his illegal effort to aid the foreign invasion of America. The destruction of Texass border barriers will not help enforce the law or keep American citizens safe. This fight is not over, and I look forward to defending our states sovereignty.

Before turning to the expected analysis of federalism, state sovereignty, and the so-called Supremacy Clause, lets look a lesser-known, little spoken-of clause in the Constitution that could serve as a strong legal basis for Texas refusal to retreat in the face of federal aggression.

As quoted above, Article I, Section 10 of the U.S. Constitution preserves to the states the authority to engage in war if actually invaded or in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay.

Given the number of immigrants and their age and gender (young adult, male), Governor Abbott and AG Paxton could make a very compelling argument that the conditions of invasion and imminent danger are clearly present along the southern border.

The first question, then, for applying this clause to the case of Texas and the crisis at the border with Mexico is: Is Texas being invaded? If not, then the inquiry turns to: Has the influx of undocumented adult males into Texas risen to the level that a reasonable person would consider the danger so imminent as to preclude any delay, such as that of recurring to Congress for help?

That is to say, even if one makes the argument that Texas is not being invaded, as that term would be understood by the Founders, there is still a very strong argument to be made that the state is in imminent danger, thus constitutionally covered in its effort to secure its borders.

Not to put too fine a point on this, but as it stands right now, the most imminent danger posed to Texas is that coming from the statists in D.C.

Evidently, within the framework of state sovereignty and constitutional principles, the entitlement of a state to embark upon warfare when it finds itself in a situation of imminent danger as will not admit of delay inherently implies the notion of preemptive action. This constitutional provision affirms a states prerogative to proactively initiate a conflict in anticipation of potential hostilities, without being obligated to await an actual attack before taking action to defend its inhabitants.

The question naturally arises, then, does the term danger within the phrase imminent danger harken back to the previously mentioned term invaded, or does it stand independently? In other words, does a states prerogative to engage in war hinge solely on the risk of actual invasion, or does it encompass any form of impending peril?

Regrettably, the records of the Constitutional Convention provide no definitive guidance on this matter.

The origin of this constitutional clause can be traced to Article VI of the Articles of Confederation, which stipulated: No State shall engage in any war without the consent of the United States in Congress assembled unless such State be actually invaded by enemies or shall have received certain advice of resolution being formed by some nations of Indians to invade such States, and the danger is so imminent as not to admit of a delay until the United States in Congress assembled can be consulted.

During the 1787 Constitutional Convention, the Committee of Detail closely adhered to this terminology, except for the reference to the Indians. They proscribed a state from entering into war unless it shall be actually invaded by enemies, or the danger of invasion be so imminent as not to admit of delay until the Legislature of the United States can be consulted. This formulation persisted throughout the deliberations, even when the Committee of Style issued their report on September 12.

However, in the final deliberations, just two days prior to the conventions adjournment, the provision underwent a transformation: The term invasion in the latter part of the sentence was omitted, as was the reference to the legislature. Consequently, the provision now read: or in such imminent danger as will not admit of delay.

How this oft-overlooked constitutional clause applies to the impasse in Texas is undoubtedly the crux of the contention.

The images and data reveal that the situation is certainly unsustainable, and the flow of military-aged male immigrants must be stanched, lest the crisis crescendo into something much more sinister and much less manageable.

It is here where the sovereignty and independence of the states, as described by James Madison in Federalist 39, 45, and 46 become ballasts of liberty, keeping the ship of state afloat as it sails through uncharted constitutional waters.

The federal governments primary contention is that border security falls under the purview of federal authority, particularly immigration control. However, Texas position is rooted in the concept of federalism, state sovereignty, and the right to protect its people from invasion. Texas argues that it has the right to step in, especially when the issue directly affects its citizens safety and economic well-being.

Furthermore, the states decision to exclude federal agents from certain areas can be interpreted as an assertion of its right to manage its own law-enforcement resources and strategies. While the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution ensures that federal law generally takes precedence over state law, it does not grant the federal government an unlimited mandate to intervene in state-controlled areas, especially when the federal actions are perceived as inadequate or counterproductive to the states objectives.

Critically, Texas actions should also be understood in the context of the states unique historical and geographical position. Sharing a vast border with Mexico, Texas has been uniquely impacted by federal border policies. The state has repeatedly voiced concerns about illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and other cross-border issues. By taking matters into its own hands, Texas is not only seeking to protect its citizens but also sending a clear message to the federal government about the urgency of effective border management.

Its essential to recognize that this conflict isnt merely about border security, but is a profound constitutional dialogue about the balance of power between the federal government and the states.

Regarding the majority of the Supreme Courts apparent advocacy of the absolute supremacy of the federal government, Article VI does not support that view, regardless of how many black-robed oligarchs proclaim it to be so.

Now, as for this so-called Supremacy Clause, as well as the pretended power of the Supreme Court to be the ultimate judge of constitutionality:

First, notice the things that Article VI lists as the supreme law of the land:

The Constitution

Laws of the United States made in pursuance of the Constitution

Treaties made under the authority of the United States

What do you find missing there? Supreme Court opinions! The opinions of the Supreme Court are not listed as being part of the supreme law of the land, so how in the world can their opinions be considered the definition of the supreme law of the land? That is absolutely ridiculous!

There is an ancient legal maxim that reads: Expressum facit cessare tacitum.

Translated into English, it reads, What is expressed makes what is implied silent.

In other words, if the Founders had intended to include Supreme Court opinions in the list of those things making up the supreme law of the land, then they would have done so. They didnt, therefore they arent.

Furthermore, the fact is the Supremacy Clause does not declare that all laws passed by the federal government are the supreme law of the land, period. A closer reading reveals that it declares the laws of the United States made in pursuance of the Constitution are the supreme law of the land.

In pursuance thereof, not in violation thereof. Any act of the federal government not permissible under any enumerated power given to Congress in the Constitution is not made in pursuance of the Constitution, therefore it is not the supreme law of the land and may be declared null and void by the states.

As Alexander Hamilton clearly explained in Federalist 78:

There is no position which depends on clearer principles, than that every act of a delegated authority, contrary to the tenor of the commission under which it is exercised, is void. No legislative act, therefore, contrary to the Constitution, can be valid.

Next, the Tenth Amendment plays a pivotal role in this debate. It serves as a bulwark of state sovereignty, ensuring that powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved to the states. This amendment underpins Texas argument that in areas where either the federal government has failed to act or its actions are insufficient, the state has the authority to step in, particularly in matters that directly impact the safety and well-being of its residents. Texas decision to install barriers and restrict federal patrolling can be seen as an exercise of its reserved powers, especially considering that law enforcement and public safety are typically state-regulated domains.

Moreover, the Invasion Clause of Article IV, Section 4 is central to this discourse. This clause obligates the federal government to protect each state against invasion. Texas interpretation of this provision is crucial. The state argues that the continuous illegal crossing of its borders constitutes an invasion that the federal government has failed to adequately repel. Consequently, Texas claims the right to take necessary measures, including the erection of physical barriers and the regulation of law-enforcement activities within its territory, to protect itself against this perceived invasion.

This interpretation by Texas raises profound questions about the nature of federal responsibilities and the scope of state rights in responding to what they consider an invasion. While the traditional understanding of an invasion pertains to hostile foreign entities, Texas expands this definition to include unregulated border crossings that threaten its security and order. This expanded interpretation challenges the federal governments authority and responsibility in border management and opens a constitutional dialogue about the limits and extents of state and federal powers in such unique circumstances.

The bottom line is that the Biden administration is either interfering in the sphere of state sovereignty, or refusing to comply with the mandate that it protect the states from invasion. Either way, it is not complying with the Constitution, and Texas  and every other state  is within her constitutional and moral rights to step into that breach and protect the life, liberty, and property of the people of that state.

Finally, it is noteworthy to remind readers that although the Supreme Court has permitted the continued destruction of Texas border security measures, this appeal remains ongoing, and the Office of the Attorney General will argue the case in front of the Fifth Circuit on February 7.

Read more at: TheNewAmerican.com
Canadian court deems PM Trudeaus attacks on Freedom Convoy truckers UNCONSTITUTIONAL

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's attacks on truckers who joined the Freedom Convoy were both unconstitutional and unreasonable , according to a Canadian court.

Justice Richard Mosley of the Canadian Federal Court (FCT) made this proclamation in a Jan. 23 ruling. He wrote: "I have concluded that the decision to issue the [Emergencies Act] does not bear the hallmarks of reasonableness  justification, transparency and intelligibility  and was not justified in relation to the relevant factual and legal constraints that were required to be taken into consideration."

The magistrate also ruled that the act violated the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (CCRF)  particularly against freedom of thought, opinion of expression. Moreover, the act was also found to have infringed on the right to security against unreasonable search and seizure.

Mosley's decision followed an application for judicial review requested by the the Canadian Constitution Foundation (CCF), the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) and others. These parties cried foul over the Trudeau government's use of emergency measures to quell Freedom Convoy protests in the federal capital Ottawa. Under the Emergencies Act the prime minister enacted in 2022, the government froze protesters' bank accounts; conscripted tow truck drivers to haul away vehicles part of the protest; and arrest people for participating in assemblies deemed illegal.

Christine Van Geyn, the CCF's director of litigation, lauded the decision in a post on X. "The Trudeau government's use of this extraordinary law may be the most severe example of overreach and violations of civil liberties that was seen during the [Wuhan coronavirus] pandemic," she earlier remarked. (Related: Poll: 67% of Canadians feel everything in the country is "broken" under Trudeau.)

"The use of this powerful law was unauthorized because the legal threshold to use the law was not met. The Emergencies Act contains a last resort clause: it can only be used when there is a national emergency and there are no other laws at the federal, provincial and/or municipal levels which can address the situation. [The Canadian] Parliament cannot use the Emergencies Act as a tool of convenience, as it did in this case."

No need for emergency powers

At the time, critics of the use of emergency powers said Trudeau's government unnecessarily usurped people's bigger rights for what was essentially a policing issue contained to one city, Ottawa. Meanwhile, the CCLA said the FCT's decision "sets a clear and critical precedent for every future government seeking to use the Emergencies Act.

Pierre Poilievre, the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, also posted the news of the ruling on his X profile. He accused Trudeau of breaking "the highest law in the land" with the Emergencies Act. Poilievre continued: "He caused the crisis by dividing people, then he violated [CCRF] rights to illegally suppress citizens.

Last year, a judicial inquiry said the Freedom Convoy protest was the result of simmering social, economic and political grievances exacerbated by the pandemic. Despite this, the inquiry concluded that Trudeau was justified in invoking emergency powers. It argued that senior officials had information about threats of "serious violence," and added that a series of local policing mistakes "contributed to a situation that spun out of control."

Meanwhile, Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said the government will appeal Mosley's ruling. "Our national security, which included our national economic security, was under threat," she said in defense of the Emergencies Act. "We were convinced at the time  [that] it was the right thing to do."

Head over to Resist.news for more stories like this.

Watch Justin Trudeau run away from Alexa Lavoie of Rebel News after she asked about the FCT's ruling in the clip below.

This video is from the Pool Pharmacy channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Justin Trudeau throws God, Christ out of Canada.

Trudeau gov't to fund $75k of trans surgeries for each federal employee.

Trudeau pressuring the World Health Organization to include "climate change" in pandemic treaty.

Gaslighting at its finest: Trudeau claims he DID NOT force anyone to get vaccinated.

Palestinian rights group seeks prosecution of Canadian PM Justin Trudeau for complicity in Gaza war crimes.

Sources include:

ZeroHedge.com

TheCCF.ca [PDF]

TNC.news

Brighteon.com
BORDER FEUD: Democrats call on Biden to seize control of Texas National Guard to ensure an endless INVASION by illegals

In response to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's call for the Texas National Guard to secure the state's southern border with Mexico, a pair of Texas Democrats is calling on President Biden to seize control of the Texas National Guard before Abbott gets his way.

Reps. Joaquin Castro and Greg Casar warn that Abbott is attempting to defy the Supreme Court's order to allow Border Patrol agents to cut the razor wire he had installed as barriers in the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass.

"Governor Greg Abbott is using the Texas National Guard to obstruct and create chaos at the border," Castro wrote on X. "If Abbott is defying yesterday's Supreme Court ruling, @POTUS needs to establish sole federal control of the Texas National Guard now."

Casar echoed Castro's words with a similar statement of his own:

"I agree with @JoaquinCastrotx: if Abbott is defying yesterday's Supreme Court ruling, @POTUS needs to establish sole federal control of the Texas National Guard."

(Related: Did you know that a "shadowy network" of secretive non-governmental organizations [NGOs] is behind the southern border invasion?)

Abbott defies Supreme Court ruling, tells Texas National Guard to set up more razor wire

Failed Texas gubernatorial and senatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke joined in on the fun by making a similar call on Biden to take control over the Texas National Guard so Abbott is unsuccessful in keeping the razor wire installed at Eagle Pass.

In case you missed it, the Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 decision that Border Patrol can cut the razor wire barriers that Abbott had installed at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, pending further review of a lawsuit.

Abbott responded to the SCOTUS ruling by continuing to defend the sovereignty of Texas, ordering the National Guard to proceed with erecting razor wire barriers along the border regardless.

"This is not over," Abbott declared. "Texas' razor wire is an effective deterrent to the illegal crossings Biden encourages. I will continue to defend Texas' constitutional authority to secure the border and prevent the Biden Admin from destroying our property."

The Texas National Guard continues to hold the line in Eagle Pass. Texas will not back down from our efforts to secure the border in Bidens absence. pic.twitter.com/0IhF7x9b8X  Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) January 23, 2024

Abbott proceeded to call on the Texas National Guard to install more razor wire in defiance of the Supreme Court order. Invoking the Founding Fathers, Abbott said that Biden's refusal to protect America's southern border leaves Texas with no other choice but to do it itself.

"The federal government has broken the compact between the United States and the States," Abbott wrote in a letter addressing the standoff between his state and the feds in Eagle Pass.

"The Executive Branch of the United States has a constitutional duty to enforce federal laws protecting States, including immigration laws on the books right now. President Biden has refused to enforce those laws and has even violated them. The result is that he has smashed records for illegal immigration."

Texas National Guard soldiers are setting up more razor wire here in Eagle Pass to repel illegal crossings. Yesterday, the Supreme Court allowed the Biden administration to remove this wire but Texas is still blocking Border Patrol from processing migrants in this area. pic.twitter.com/edptUKNobz  Camilo Montoya-Galvez (@camiloreports) January 23, 2024

Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution only allows the president to invoke the use of the National Guard if it becomes federalized, which can only occur with the governor's permission. Biden could potentially get around this by invoking the Insurrection Act, some legal experts say.

The latest news about the escalating crisis on the southern border can be found at InvasionUSA.news.

Sources for this article include:

Infowars.com

NaturalNews.com
European Union adopts resolution that criminalizes hate speech  which can mean almost anything

The European Parliament in Brussels has adopted a resolution listing "hate speech" as a crime  a move set to redefine free speech in the entire bloc.

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) cast their vote on the resolution on Jan. 18. The resolution passed in a 397-121 vote, with only 26 MEPs abstaining. Most lawmakers who abstained expressed concern that the law may be used to silence anti-Israel voices, according to the European Conservative.

"As always, only the two conservative blocs  ECR [European Conservatives and Reformists] and ID [Identity and Democracy]  voted against it. [Meanwhile], all leftist parties and the center-right EPP [European People's Party Group] supported the [resolution]."

Spanish MEP Maite Pagazaurtundua explained prior to the vote: "The current EU legal framework only covers hate speech and hate crimes on some bases. But there is currently no common, comprehensive legal definition at Union level."

"With the new social dynamics, the normalization of hate evolves very quickly. We must protect ourselves as a society and protect people who are attacked, persecuted and harassed."

According to the European Conservative, the resolution seeks to include hate speech among "particularly serious crime[s] with cross-border dimensions" like terrorism, human trafficking, drug and arms trafficking, money laundering, and organized crime."

Brussels' official explanation said hate speech causes serious harm not only to individuals and communities, "but also society as a whole by undermining the functions of the EU." It added that social media gives hate speech a "cross-border dimension" as well.

Moreover, the resolution also seeks to expand "the definition of hate speech and hate crimes to cover several additional victim categories. Currently, EU laws define them as hatred only toward a specific race, skin color, religion, nationality or ethnicity  which leftist lawmakers argued is not nearly enough in today's world."

"Therefore, the document calls for extending the definition to 'sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sex characteristics, age, disability and any other fundamental characteristic.' Absent an objective definition, it's easy to imagine the last one functioning as a blank check to cover whatever anyone might be offended by."

Resolution draws comparisons to Orwell's Big Brother

Critics argue, however, that this could lead to overreach and the ultimate suppression of free speech. Some have even compared the measure to "Big Brother," the overarching antagonist of George Orwell's novel "1984". Brussels nevertheless remains firm, asserting that this radical change is a crucial step in combating hate. (Related: EU signs draconian anti-free speech law to "police" the entire internet, take down websites containing "unapproved" speech.)

"You don't want a political debate, you want an inquisition," lamented French MEP Patricia Chagnon.

"If I were to say  I dont want minors to receive hormonal treatment or other medical treatment, that's not hate speech against transgender persons. That is a declaration of love for children. If I fight against excessive migration into my country [and] our continent  I'm not moved by hatred, but love for my country and for our continent."

Italian MEP Silvia Sardone meanwhile minced no words in condemning Brussels. "You're the Big Brother. You establish thought crimes to limit the freedom of speech and expression,  and to attack anyone who's against your ideology."

Ahead of the vote, Austrian MEP Harald Vilimsky stressed that the whole resolution "must be seen as politically motivated." He continued that the text's supposed guarantee of the freedom of expression can no longer be taken seriously, adding: "Such statements are Orwellian Newspeak in Brussels and have become part of the standard repertoire."

Visit SpeechPolice.news for more similar stories.

Watch this episode of "The Fascist New World Order Podcast" that touches on hate speech.

This video is from the Puretrauma357 channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Twitter unveils new "hate speech" shadow ban policy.

Ireland passes controversial hate speech law: Those caught misgendering someone will face five years in prison.

Irony and hate crimes: Local U.K. politician arrested for DEFENDING FREE SPEECH.

Hate speech bill passes the Michigan House, conservatives warn it threatens First Amendment rights.

Judge strikes down New York online hate speech law for violating the First Amendment.

Sources include:

ReclaimTheNet.org

EuropeanConservative.com

Brighteon.com
French farmers join German farmers in blocking highways with tractors, throwing manure to stop globalist agenda that targets farms for destruction

Up in arms over their nation's crippling globalist "climate change" policies, French farmers from primarily the southwest region of the country dumped loads of manure and waste this week in front of the prefecture in Agen, while others blocked highways with tractors in protest of the anti-food and anti-human agenda of their national and EU-bloc governments.

Similar to what their German and Dutch counterparts did in recent months, French farmers are doing everything they can to make their voices heard in support of agricultural freedom, i.e., tractor demonstrations, road blockades and other public spectacles. They are sick and tired of being told that carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen and other natural elements involved with farming are "pollutants" that must be eradicated in order to stop "global warming."

According to reports, French farmers blocked the A64 highway in both directions as well as Highway A16, these being two major travel corridors in France. The farmers are also planning to install a roadblock on another undisclosed main road in southern France.

Incredible. French farmers have effectively BLOCKED Highway A64 near Toulouse for the third consecutive day. And they seem to be in it for the long haul, establishing a campsite on the highway, with amenities such as restrooms, a consistent food supply, water tanks, and a pic.twitter.com/xQkb7iQk18  The Vigilant Fox ? (@VigilantFox) January 21, 2024

(Related: Be sure to check out our earlier coverage about the Dutch farmer protests that occurred last year to see how this all started.)

France's largest agricultural union considering nationwide farmer protests

Rising fuel prices and an uptick in cattle disease, among other problems, are also prompting farmers in France's Occitanie region to petition their regional government to release more emergency aid to keep their operations intact. They are also hoping the government will pass a more favorable water policy suitable for crop irrigation needs.

Located about 45 km southwest of Toulouse, the primary location of the farmer protests, Carbonne is similarly seeing an uptick in farmer protests. Numerous farmers in that region have set up a makeshift camp on the highway to Bayonne for their demonstration.

Incredible. French farmers have now created a blockade on highway A64 near Toulouse. Similar to their German counterparts, French farmers are also fed up with crippling, globalist policies in the name of curbing climate change. Earlier this week, French farmers dumped more than pic.twitter.com/aUcDNDcM5A  The Vigilant Fox ? (@VigilantFox) January 18, 2024

Much to the "regret" of local politician Pierre-Andre Durand, an almost three-hour meeting between himself and five representatives of the farming community failed to reach a decision about lifting the blockade.

"Major traffic problems are expected in both directions," commented the prefect of Occitania about a roadblock that was expected to be set up there as well at a roundabout in Tarascon-sur-Ariege.

FNSEA, France's largest agricultural union, announced plans to consider a nationwide protest in the coming weeks that would extend the actions of the farmers in southwest France who are spearheading the protests, blockades and manure and trash dumping operations.

The main issues affecting farmers in France are heavy taxes and government restrictions, these being some of the same gripes of German farmers who last week drove tractors from all corners of the country to Berlin to stage similar protests.

Meanwhile in France ?? Farmers protesting in Toulouse dont hold back with how they show their displeasure against the French government. You mess with a French farmer at your peril. pic.twitter.com/Bk3HIM0NjU  James Melville ? (@JamesMelville) January 16, 2024

The world's farmers are rising up against the anti-agriculture globalists who want to depopulate the world. Find out more at WorldAgriculture.news.

Sources for this article include:

Twitter.com

Twitter.com

RMX.news

NaturalNews.com
Iranian-backed Houthi, al-Qaeda plan SUICIDE ATTACKS against Western targets

Iran-backed Houthi rebels have engaged in covert discussions with Al-Qaeda, exploring potential collaboration on coordinated actions, including suicide attacks against Western targets , according to western media sources.

The Houthis, based in Yemen, purportedly sought to enlist support from their Islamist counterparts to bolster their activities in the Red Sea region, targeting perceived shared adversaries. Secret meetings between Houthi clerics and Al-Qaeda leaders reportedly occurred in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, as well as the Houthi stronghold of Hodeidah along the Red Sea.

These discussions unfolded amid accusations by Yemeni officials linking the Houthi group to recent assassinations in Aden, suggesting cooperation with al-Qaeda members.

For over two years, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, identified by the U.S. as the terror group's most dangerous branch, has engaged in conflicts with government forces, leading to a resurgence of insurgency within Yemen.

The terror group, once led by Osama Bin Laden and notorious for the 9/11 attacks, appears to be leveraging the escalating crisis in Yemen and the broader Red Sea region to launch additional attacks.

The Houthis, controlling a significant portion of Yemen, have been implicated in indiscriminate maritime assaults on commercial vessels, including U.S. and U.K. Navy warships in the Red Sea. (Related: Houthis step up offensive operations with new drone attacks on U.S.-owned commercial ships.)

The rebels claim their actions are in retaliation for Israel's offensive in Gaza against Hamas.

This has turned one of the world's major shipping lanes, the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, into an active warzone, posing a threat to approximately 12 percent of global trade that typically transits through this critical waterway.

As geopolitical tensions escalate in the region, the reported collaboration between Houthi rebels and Al-Qaeda raises concerns about the potential for an intensification of hostilities and its broader implications for international security.

The strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait, also known as the "Gate of Tears," has become a focal point in the ongoing conflict, impacting global trade and maritime activities.

Al-Qaeda in Yemen gaining strength

The al-Qaeda affiliate in Yemen, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), has experienced a significant resurgence amid Yemen's prolonged civil war.

The conflict, marked by regionalization and state collapse, has created favorable conditions for AQAP's growth, allowing it to evolve from a small, primarily externally focused group to a potent insurgent force controlling territory.

AQAP has demonstrated pragmatism by adapting to local norms, forming alliances with Sunni groups and integrating into various militias. It has become embedded in the political economy of smuggling and trade, collaborating with factions across the conflict spectrum, including the Huthi/Saleh alliance.

The war's complex dynamics have enabled AQAP to exploit security vacuums, benefit from shifting alliances, and engage in a war economy.

Addressing AQAP's resurgence necessitates a multifaceted approach, according to the International Crisis Group.

Firstly, efforts should focus on securing an overarching political settlement to end the civil war, garnering support from diverse constituencies, including Sunni Islamists.

Simultaneously, immediate steps are required to contain AQAP's growth. This involves enhancing governance in vulnerable areas, differentiating between Sunni Islamist groups, and using military measures judiciously in coordination with local authorities.

It is crucial to avoid military actions that disregard the local context and result in high civilian casualties, as seen in past incidents.

The international community, particularly states interested in countering AQAP, should adopt measures that consider Yemen's intricate dynamics and refrain from actions that unintentionally aid the group.

In summary, the International Crisis Group said AQAP's resurgence underscores the need for a comprehensive and nuanced approach, combining immediate containment measures with a long-term strategy focused on achieving a negotiated end to the civil war in Yemen.

Watch this report about the Houthis joining Iran in plotting revenge against Israel.

This video is from the channel The Prisoner on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

ESCALATION: U.S. strikes Iran-backed Houthi rebels after Iran hijacks oil tanker in Gulf of Oman.

Houthi missile hits U.S.-owned cargo ship, says U.S. government.

U.S., U.K. continue airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen.

Sources include:

The-Sun.com

Brighteon.com
Israeli minister says Iran is legitimate target for missile strikes

Economy and Industry Minister Nir Barkat of Israel, a prominent candidate to succeed Benjamin Netanyahu as the leader of the Likud Party, made bold statements in an interview with the Telegraph, asserting that Iran has evolved into a "legitimate target" for Israeli missile strikes.

Barkat, known for his direct approach, drew parallels with the Cuban missile crisis, suggesting that Israel should adopt a strategy akin to President Kennedy's firm response during that historical event.

In the interview, Barkat emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, "Iran is a legitimate target for Israel. They will not get away with it. The head of the snake is Tehran."

He called for an unambiguous message to be sent to Iran, warning them against using proxies to threaten Israel's security. (Related: Iran just proved it can hit Israel with "Kheibar Shekan" ballistic missiles.)

Drawing inspiration from historical confrontations, Barkat proposed a stance reminiscent of Kennedy's, indicating that a missile attack from Iran should be met with a proportional response targeting Tehran.

Furthermore, Barkat expressed a deep-seated concern about Iran's intentions towards Israel. He remarked: "We believe them when they say they want to destroy Israel. If anything, what we have learned from October 7 is to believe our enemies and the wickedness in their evil, their goals, thoughts, and actions, and we are not going to allow another Holocaust."

Addressing the complex geopolitical landscape, Barkat confidently claimed that Israel could effectively manage simultaneous conflicts with both Hamas and Iran.

Strikingly, he saw an opportunity in the crisis, suggesting that other governments would seek Israel's expertise in combating jihadism, positioning the nation as a valuable ally in the global fight against terrorism.

On the domestic front, Barkat hinted at potential policy changes, proposing a prohibition on Palestinians in the West Bank from working in Israel.

In an unexpected move, he suggested recruiting foreign immigrants to fill the labor void, with a specific focus on Indians who could potentially earn up to 10 times more in Israel than in their home country.

As tensions in the region escalate and global leaders issue warnings about the potential for conflict, Israel's readiness for decisive action adds a layer of complexity to the already intricate geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East.

Barkat emphasizes need to eliminate Hezbollah threat

Barkat expressed a strong stance on Israel's security concerns, particularly regarding the threat posed by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. The Israeli official emphasized the need to eliminate the Hezbollah threat "whatever it takes."

He also noted Israel's economic resilience, expecting a two percent growth despite the challenges posed by recent conflicts. Addressing the displacement of Israelis, Barkat urged a swift return for those evacuated from the south, emphasizing the importance of secure living conditions.

However, he also suggested a cautious approach, stating that the return of those displaced from the north should be expedited but ensuring their safety is paramount.

In the aftermath of recent events, Barkat hinted at a political shift to the Right in Israel, presenting himself as a potential replacement for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the Likud Party leader.

As a successful high-tech entrepreneur and former Mayor of Jerusalem, Barkat brings both economic expertise and military experience to the political landscape.

Regarding the labor market, Barkat ruled out the return of Palestinian laborers, citing concerns about their support for hostile actions against Israel. He proposed recruiting foreign workers, with a focus on Indians, offering higher wages, and seeking to increase the foreign workforce from 130,000 to 300,000.

Barkat's statements reflect a resolute approach to security, economic considerations and potential political shifts in Israel. The nation's response to regional threats, coupled with domestic policy adjustments, underscores the complexity of the challenges it faces.

Iran is now a legitimate target for Israeli missile strikes. Watch this video.

This video is from the DWP97048 channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Iran claims missile strikes targeting Iraq and Syria destroyed Israeli spy base.

Iran warns that Israel will be ANNIHILATED if war on Gaza expands.

Irans supreme leader calls for SANCTIONS against Israel, demands halt to Gaza bombing.

Sources include:

InfoWars.com

Telegraph.co.uk

Brighteon.com
Pro-abortion VP Kamala Harris blames Trump for Roe v. Wade overturn

Vice President Kamala Harris has blamed former President Donald Trump for the June 2022 overturn of the Roe v. Wade ruling.

The second-highest official in the land made this remark during an interview with CNN's Laura Coates. "The previous president expressed his intentions quite clearly  and fast forward to just recently, says he's proud of what he did," Harris said.

"By inference, he is proud that women have been deprived of fundamental freedoms to make decisions about their own body. [He is also] proud that doctors are being penalized and criminalized for providing health care  [and] that women are silently suffering because they don't have access to the health care they need. So, let's understand that the stakes are so very high."

Harris, a known supporter of infanticide, has made comments in support of the practice. She has dubbed as "immoral" the practice of protecting babies conceived as a result of rape. Moreover, the vice president has refused to identify any acceptable cutoff point for legal abortion.

The remarks by the former U.S. senator for California pertained to Trump's comments at a Jan. 10 town hall meeting by Fox News, where an audience member asked him about the U.S. Supreme Court's overturn of the 1973 abortion ruling. "Nobody else was going to get that done but me, and we did it," Trump answered. "We did something that was a miracle."

Three of the five Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn the ruling  Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett  were appointed by Trump during his presidential term. The other two justices were Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, who were appointed during the first and second Bush administrations. (Related: Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, sending issue of abortion back to states where it always belonged.)

Abortion is non-negotiable for Dems

It is worth noting, however, that the overturn of the Roe ruling and the support of the related Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Organization ruling only sent the issue of abortion back to the states. Thus, the issue of abortion bans fall back to the states. Red states quickly enacted prohibitions on infanticides, while blue states such as California  where Harris hails from  touted themselves as "abortion sanctuaries."

"Regardless, [the] Democrats' decision to make abortion one of their main talking points for driving left-wing turnout to reelect President Joe Biden indicates that Trump's efforts to moderate on the issue will not change the overall narrative of the race," LifeSiteNews pointed out.

In one example, the Biden-Harris campaign released an advertisement featuring Dr. Austin Dennard. The Texas ob-gyn lectured on women's supposed "need" for abortion, citing her own experience aborting a baby diagnosed with anencephaly (an undeveloped head).

The incumbent president seeking a second term has also promised to uphold infanticide instead of fighting for children's right to live. He has called for Congress to send to his desk a federal law that would "codify Roe  to protect every woman's constitutional right to choose" abortion.

Proposals such as the Women's Health Protection Act or Freedom of Choice Act would impact the sovereignty of individual states in two years. First, such measures would prohibit abortion bans at the state level. Second, they would make it impossible for states to enact any meaningful limits or regulations on abortion.

Moreover, Biden has boasted that his administration has "launched a whole-of-government effort to protect 'reproductive rights'"  the latter a popular euphemism for legal abortion on demand. Such efforts include increasing taxpayer funding for abortion both at home and abroad, and attempted waiving of federal safety regulations against distributing abortion pills by mail.

Visit KamalaHarris.news for more stories about the incumbent vice president.

Watch this Sky News segment about how the Democrats will rely on abortion "front and center" during the 2024 presidential debates.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Grotesque hypocrisy: Kamala Harris supports murdering babies in the womb, demands everyone be vaccinated because Bible says so.

Kamala Harris says the key to clean water and air is GENOCIDE against humanity  "reduce population" the order of the day.

In scripted speech, Kamala Harris says we need to "reduce population" to deal with climate change and achieve "clean air."

Pro-abortion Kamala Harris honored as 'champion of kids' at Nickelodeon awards.

Kamala Harris hates the First Amendment and loves abortion.

Sources include:

LifeSiteNews.com

TODAY.com

Brighteon.com
Senior NATO official warns there could be a major war with Russia in the coming years

Although the situation between Russia and Ukraine has been largely contained to the two embattled countries so far, one high-ranking NATO official believes that its time for Europe to prepare for the possibility of an all-out war with Russia in the coming years.

The warning came from the NATO Military Committee Chairman Admiral Rob Bauer after a meeting in Brussels. He told reporters that government officials need to get ready and consider the possibility of large numbers of civilians being mobilized should a wider war break out in Europe.

He said: We have to realize its not a given that we are in peace. And thats why we [NATO forces] are preparing for a conflict with Russia.

But the discussion is much wider. It is also the industrial base and also the people that have to understand they play a role.

He cautioned that the next two decades could see fighting, adding: The realization that not everything is plannable and not everything is going to be hunky dory in the next 20 years.

Bauer also commended Sweden for telling its citizens to brace for war. The country is poised to join NATO and sits very close to Russia. Recently, Sweden has seen a spike in volunteers for its civil defense organization as well as a run on sales of battery-powered radios and flashlights.

Germany is also worried about the possibility of war, with German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stating: We hear threats from the Kremlin almost every day ... so we have to take into account that Vladimir Putin might even attack a NATO country one day.

Although he said he does not believe an attack is imminent, he told the media that they believe this could happen within five to eight years. He also said that it is time to prepare from a social, military and civil defense standpoint.

Major NATO drill to be held with 90,000 troops

NATO troops are set to participate in a major military exercise known as Steadfast Defender 2024. Some 90,000 troops will be taking part in what is the biggest effort since the end of the Cold War; it is getting underway next week and will last for several months. The intention is to demonstrate that the alliance is capable of defending all its territory up to the Russian border and to rehearse how American troops can reinforce European allies should the conflict between Russia and Ukraine escalate.

Along with the troops, more than 1,100 combat vehicles, 533 infantry fighting vehicles, 133 tanks, 80 fighter jets and 50 ships are expected to take part. Sweden will join NATO troops in the drills as the country is hoping to join the alliance in the near future.

Drills will be held in places like Poland and Germany, along with the Baltic states, which are considered to have a higher risk of potential attacks from Russia.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko has warned that the drills could provoke military incidents. In comments to a Russian state-run news agency, he said: "These exercises are another element of the hybrid war unleashed by the West against Russia.

"An exercise of this scalemarks the final and irrevocable return of NATO to the Cold War schemes, when the military planning process, resources and infrastructure are being prepared for confrontation with Russia," he said.

He went on to add that "any events of this scale significantly increase the risk of military incidents and further destabilize the security situation."

On several occasions, Russian officials have implied that the country could attack NATO members for helping Ukraine.

Sources for this article include:

Modernity.news

Reuters.com

Newsweek.com

Independent.co.uk
25 Republican governors pledge their support to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and his DEFIANCE of Bidens illegal orders to allow an unlimited INVASION of the USA

Republican governors have pledged their support for Texas amid Gov. Greg Abbott's ongoing feud with the federal government of President Joe Biden over the state's right to defend itself against the ongoing migrant invasion at the border.

Twenty-five Republican governors have so far spoken out against the Biden administration and lent their support to Abbott. As of press time, the only Republican governor to not release a statement backing Abbott is the self-proclaimed liberal Republican Gov. Phil Scott of Vermont.

The ongoing feud escalated after the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Biden administration when it said that federal Border Patrol agents could remove the razor wire barriers installed by Texas along the border. (Related: Supreme Court says federal government can REMOVE RAZOR WIRE Texas installed along the border but Gov. Abbott DEFIES the order.)

This feud comes as record-breaking numbers of illegal immigrants are pouring across the border into the United States. In December 2023 alone, a record 225,000 illegal immigrants crossed the border.

In a joint statement published on Thursday, Jan. 25, these Republican governors stated their support for Abbott's efforts to exercise what he claims is Texas's "constitutional right to self-defense."

"President Biden and his administration have left Americans and our country completely vulnerable to unprecedented illegal immigration pouring across the southern border," read the statement. "Instead of upholding the rule of law and securing the border, the Biden administration has attacked and sued Texas for stepping up to protect American citizens from historic levels of illegal immigrants, deadly drugs like fentanyl, and terrorists entering our country."

"We stand in solidarity with our fellow governor, Greg Abbott, and the State of Teas in utilizing every tool and strategy, including razor wire fences, to secure the border," added the statement signed by every other Republican governor in the United States except Scott. "We do it in part because the Biden administration is refusing to enforce immigration laws already on the books and is illegally allowing mass parole across America of migrants who entered our country illegally."

Governors share messages of solidarity with Abbott and Texas

Some of these governors have used their personal social media accounts to share messages of support for the embattled Abbott.

"Virginia stands with Texas," wrote Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin. "[Abbott] is doing the job Biden and his border czar refuse to do to secure our border. The Biden administration has turned every state into a border state. We must stop the flow of fentanyl, save lives and secure our southern border."

"Wyoming stands in solidarity with Gov. Abbott and the State of Texas in utilizing every tool and strategy to secure the border and protect American citizens," said Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon. "We are all border states now."

"Our southern border is a warzone. When I visited the border over the summer, I saw just how much Joe Biden has deteriorated our national security," said South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem. "I will continue to support [Abbott] in his fight to secure our southern border."

"If the Constitution really made states powerless to defend themselves against an invasion, it wouldn't have been ratified in the first place and Texas would have never joined the union when it did," said Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. "Texas is upholding the law while Biden is flouting it. Florida will keep assisting Texas with personnel and assets."

Some of these governors have also expressed their repugnance at Democratic Texas Reps. Greg Casar and Joaquin Castro, who have called for Biden to take federal control of the Texas National Guard over Abbott's refusal to bow down to the Biden administration.

"We can create an immigration system that is safe, orderly and humane," said Casar on his personal X account. "It's Democrats' job to push back on razor wire, inhumane cages and broken policies of the past."

Watch this Jan. 25 episode of "Brighteon Broadcast News" as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, discusses how Texas and the conservative governors of other states have pitted themselves against the Biden administration over their right to defend their jurisdictions against the migrant invasion.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

U.S. Supreme Court betrays America and authorizes the total INVASION of illegals by ordering Texas to remove wire fencing.

Biden regime threatens WAR with Texas over border security: "Give us access, or else."

Texas takes control of park in Eagle Pass along the U.S.-Mexico border to halt endless flow of migrants.

50 Texas counties have now passed resolutions declaring an INVASION.

ICE data: Illegal immigrants have less than 5% chance of getting deported under current Biden administration policies.

Sources include:

InfoWars.com

CommonDreams.org

BBC.com

Politico.com

RGA.org

Brighteon.com
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

It is not a pleasant experience to watch 20 Days in Mariupol, the documentary filmed by reporter Mstyslav Chernov in the coastal Ukrainian city during the Russian siege of February and March of 2022. One does not enjoy this Oscar-nominated film, now streaming on Amazon Prime, because it speaks of a reality so cruel as to turn your stomach. Within minutes from its beginning, a little girl has already died in front of the camera: four-year-old Evangelina. Then comes Kiril, who perishes at only 18 months old. Here, the dead are named. This hurts. But it has to hurt, insists the voice-over by the award-winning Associated Press photojournalist, who decided to stay when the rest of the media left, and who, for almost three weeks, became the only eyes of the West on this barbarism. He narrates what he sees and records in a low voice, almost a whisper; often, as if his thoughts were escaping him.

Chernov bravely traverse Mariupols devastation, from the beginning of the bombing until the tanks emblazoned with the letter Z take over the city, or rather, its ruins (save the Azovstal steelworks, which would be the site of fierce fighting until May). He sees civilians, their fear, their hopelessness, their isolation. In the oppression of shutting themselves away in shelters, in the dread of hearing planes, in the macabre lottery of the missiles that fall on residential areas. He sees a bloodied pregnant woman carried on a stretcher (her name was Irina Kalinina, 32 years old. She died, and so did the child she was expecting) after the atrocious bombing of a maternity hospital. He sees men throwing piles of corpses into mass graves. Children who cry and cry from fear, who have been orphaned or are viewing the rubble that was their house. A man dragging his possessions in a cart, because there is nothing left of his home. Doctors and firefighters, the great heroes of these stories.

Without electricity or water, without the internet, without phones that work as anything besides flashlights, neighbors set to work at surviving without knowing whats happening, nearly cut off from news from the outside. We see their bewilderment. Chernov, who is from Kharkov (about 400 kilometers north), thinks of his daughter when he sees other daughters suffer; he sees himself in those around him, because he is one of them.

Irina Kalinina, a 32-year-old pregnant woman, is carried on a stretcher after being injured in the bombing of the Mariupol maternity hospital, in an image from the documentary. Mstyslav Chernov

During the 20 days of the Russian siege, the journalist took advantage of the rare occasions in which he was able to connect (via satellite or in some corner where he could find a trace of internet) to send 10- or 12-second video fragments to AP. These images had a huge impact around the world. The end of the documentary shows his fraught exit from the razed city with the material he collected, a treasure that could well have been taken from him at a checkpoint. Moscow tried, clumsily, to discredit the reporter, saying (through its official spokespeople, television channels and propagandists) that the scenes we had seen thanks to him were filmed with actors, misleadingly cut. This convinced no one. This documentary, so honest and sparsely edited, does.

What may decide the war being waged in Europe is patience. Putin has proven that he is patient. If the West dithers over Ukraine, if Trump, Orban and company get their way by undermining support for Kiev, if we stop paying attention because there is another, equally dreadful war in Palestine, the world will become even more sinister. One of the most feared enemies, in Mariupol just as in Khan Younis, is the indifference of those who believe that none of this affects them.
WHOs Tedros demands COMPLIANCE from the world, citing hypothetical Disease X

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is demanding compliance from the world using the hypothetical "Disease X" as a justification

Steve Watson and professor Michel Chossudovsky expounded on this conspiracy in a Jan. 25 piece published by the Center for Research on Globalization. They quoted a piece by Forbes about Disease X, which is used by medical tyrants to "encourage the development of countermeasures, including vaccines and tests, to deploy in the case of a future outbreak."

According to the article, the WHO convened a group of more than 300 scientists in November 2022 to study Disease X. This disease, caused by an "unknown pathogen that could cause a serious international epidemic," reportedly has a mortality rate "20 times that of [the Wuhan coronavirus] (COVID-19)."

During the globalist World Economic Forum's (WEF) meeting at Davos, Switzerland, Tedros stressed that governments must prepare for the outbreak of Disease X. Nevertheless, the WHO head admitted that the momentum for this preparation "had been slowed down by entrenched positions and a torrent of fake news, lies and conspiracy theories."

But according to Watson and Chossudovsky, this supposed preparation isn't for the hypothetical Disease X  but for the globalists' bigger designs through the Pandemic Treaty. Under this treaty, the entire eight billion people in the world would see their data being digitized and tied to the digital ID and central bank digital currency.

"Three hundred scientists to study something which is unknown and hypothetical? The media propaganda buzz, quoting 'scientific opinion,' is [that] 'Disease X is 20 times more dangerous than COVID-19,'" the two wrote. (Related: Globalist World Economic Forum now parroting "Disease X" narrative to instill FEAR in the public.)

"A renewed 24/7 fear campaign has been launched, reporting on an alleged new wave of COVID-19 deaths while totally ignoring the tide of excess mortality resulting from the COVID-19 'vaccine.'"

Disease X featured in two tabletop simulations

According to the two, the idea of a Disease X was first developed by a WHO expert committee made up of virologists and disease experts between 2017 and 2018. It was subsequently envisaged in two events in May 2018 and October 2019. The two events were held under the auspices of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security (JHCHS), with the support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF).

The WHO expert committee met in Geneva in early 2018, categorizing Disease X as a "global threat." This was reinforced during a May 2018 tabletop simulation held in Washington, D.C. titled "Parainfluenza Clade X." According to the event's description, "the scenario begins with an outbreak of [a] novel parainfluenza virus that is moderately contagious and moderately lethal, and for which there are no effective medical countermeasures."

Later, the idea of Disease X reared its head once more during the "Event 201" tabletop simulation. The event, held in October 2019 at a New York City hotel, simulated the outbreak of a deadly coronavirus pandemic. This outbreak became partly true five months later in March 2020, when the WHO declared the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I fully expect that we will be confronted by a fast-moving pandemic," said Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of the WHO's Health Emergencies Program. Even Microsoft founder Bill Gates, who shares close ties with Tedros, warned of the same. The technocrat stressed that while the risks of severe disease from COVID-19 "have dramatically reduced," another pandemic "is all but certain."

Watch this video that explains what Disease X is all about and its links to the WHO's Pandemic Treaty.

This video is from the Cisco Girl channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Why did Congress help craft a bill last summer called the "Disease X Act"  do they know another bioweapon is about to be released?

With 'Disease X' the 'cover story' for the coming mass deaths from the release of the globalists new bioweapons, their 'blood lust' won't end until they are stopped.

Globalist WEF claims MISINFO and DISINFO are the greatest threats to humanity.

Top Archbishop: WEF plotting 'global coup' to enforce 'Great Reset.'

Globalist World Economic Forum now parroting Disease X narrative to instill FEAR in the public.

Sources include:

GlobalResearch.ca

Brighteon.com
The world's first malaria vaccine, approved by the World Health Organization (WHO), is currently underway in Cameroon, the first country in Africa to receive the vaccine against the mosquito-borne parasitic disease. After decades of development, the vaccine program could be a game-changer not only in Cameroon but also across the African continent, where most deaths are associated with malaria.

The WHO recommended the distribution and use of the malaria vaccine, officially called RTS,S. The rollout of the vaccine in Cameroon aims to decrease the risk of malaria in children, including the frequency of infection and severity of the parasitic disease. The malaria vaccine may not prevent an infection but it reduces the chance of a child suffering from serious malaria symptoms and death.

World's First Malaria Vaccine

The rollout of the world's first malaria vaccine has been officially initiated in Cameroon, according to the WHO African Region earlier this week in its post on X, previously called Twitter. Cameroon's malaria vaccine program saw parents bringing their children to vaccination sites, with "Baby Daniella" being the first child to be administered RTS,S with four doses.

It's official!



Cameroon has now introduced the RTS,S malaria vaccine into its expanded vaccination programme, following a 4-dose schedule.

Baby Daniella is the first baby to be vaccinated!#VaccinesWork pic.twitter.com/GIYhS8lpBw  WHO African Region (@WHOAFRO) January 22, 2024

Malaria is a life-threatening disease and can be acquired by humans through mosquito bites, particularly from a female Anopheles mosquito. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), only infected Anopheles mosquitoes can transmit malaria. The said disease is caused by parasites, including Plasmodium falciparum, the deadliest malaria parasite known globally.

Also Read: Climate Change Poses Threats To Kenya's Fight Against Malaria

Malaria Symptoms

Malaria, as mentioned earlier, is a life-threatening disease which means that it is sometimes severe and even fatal for the infected person. According to the CDC, people infected with the parasitic disease typically get very sick, with the most common malaria symptoms such as high fever, shaking chill, and flu-like illness. Diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting may also occur once infected, the US health agency adds.

Aside from P. falciparum, which is one of the four kinds of malaria parasites that infect humans, the CDC says that other similar pathogens such as Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale, and Plasmodium malariae cause the mosquito-borne disease. Among all these parasites, P. falciparum is the most likely to cause severe malaria conditions. It is also the main target of the RTS,S malaria vaccine.

Malaria Cases

Malaria cases often occur along the Earth's tropics, which are regions surrounding the Equator. This geographical zone is generally characterized by having a warm climate. Having either hot or humid environments, the tropics are ideal habitats for mosquitoes to grow, multiply, and survive. With this, Africa is the most affected region when it comes to malaria transmissions and related deaths.

According to the WHO as of December 2023, there was an estimated 249 malaria cases worldwide with 608,000 malaria deaths in 85 countries. In 2022, Africa recorded 94% of malaria cases equivalent to 233 million infections and 95% of malaria deaths or 580,000 people. Children under the age of 5 accounted for most malaria deaths in the continent.

Related Article: Cone Snail Venom Might Hold the Cure for Malaria, Study Shows
Hermit crabs have been observed by scientists to be using trash or plastic waste as shells for protection and shelter. These findings are according to a new study led by experts in Poland, who found that the majority of land hermit crab species worldwide are squeezing themselves inside a variety of artificial marine waste such as plastic materials, ranging from pipes to plastic scoops, bottles, and LEGO bricks.

The 'hermit crab plastic shell' phenomenon also made its way on the internet, showing the different kinds of trash the crustaceans are using to go underneath. Bizarre as it may seem, these events are causing concerns among the scientific community since hermit crabs typically use empty mollusk shells to protect their bodies, described as fragile exoskeletons.

The said study, which utilized online data sources (including images posted online), identified hundreds of terrestrial hermit crabs that now use the plastic shells instead of natural shells to cover their exoskeletons. The Poland-based scientists reported that the phenomenon is part of an emerging novel behavior among hermit crabs in the current Anthropocene geological epoch.

Hermit Crab Plastic Shell

Researchers from the University of Warsaw in Poland documented their observations and findings about the hermit crab plastic shell events in their study. It will be published in late February 2024 in the journal Science of The Total Environment. The research paper reports the identification of 386 crabs with artificial shells, accounting for 10 of 16 land hermit crab species globally exhibiting the novel behavior.

The authors of the study posit that there are several factors that drive the behavioral shift in shell choice among the land-dwelling crustaceans, including sexual signaling, shell weight, odor cues, and pollution. The research team also acknowledged that further research is needed to determine the impact of the new behavior on hermit crab evolution.

The online data sources were extracted by the team through internet Ecology (iEcology) as a new tool in ecological research. The Poland university researchers also cited previous research literature and reports to support the framework of their paper. Regardless of the uniqueness surrounding artificial shells, scientists are certain that global plastic pollution is behind the behavioral shift among hermit crabs.

Also Read: Monster Coconut Crabs: Did Giant Land Crabs Kill Missing American Pilot Amelia Earhart?

Plastic Pollution Threat

Plastic pollution is a growing environmental and ecological problem in both marine and terrestrial systems on Earth. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), an equivalent of 2,000 garbage trucks full of plastic waste are dumped into the world's oceans, lakes, and rivers every day. Annually, 19 million to 23 million tons of plastic debris leak into aquatic ecosystems.

In this context, pollution can change natural habitats and natural processes, UNEP emphasizes. This means that the plastic pollution threat impacts living organisms, such as the case of hermit crabs and their chosen plastic shells, where the researchers describe the animals as being "excited" by the pollution.

Related Article: Hermit Crabs Meet to Kick Out Neighbors from Shells
Experts said that the Santorini volcano had ejected pumice and ice that were 15 times more than what was unleashed by the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai Volcano in 2022.

They said that Santorini's eruption took place 500,000 years ago.

Eruptions From Island Arcs

Scientists pointed out that the large explosive volcanic eruptions from island arcs pour pyroclastic currents into marine basins, impacting ecosystems and generating tsunamis that threaten coastal communities and infrastructures.

The Santorini eruption ejected at least 21.6 cubic miles (90 cubic kilometers) of volcanic rock and ash, while the Tonga eruption of 2022, by comparison, produced 1.4 cubic miles (6 cubic km) of debris.

The Santorini volcano last erupted in 1950, emitting lava that did not pose a significant threat. However, the magma chamber is seen to continue to feed eruptions of lava and small explosive eruptions for the coming decades and maybe even centuries.

The risk assessments require robust records of such highly hazardous events, which is challenging as most of the products lie buried under the sea.

Recently, experts have reported the discovery by IODP Expedition 398 of a giant rhyolitic pumice deposit placed at water depths of 200 to 1000 m during a high-intensity, shallow submarine eruption of ancestral Santorini Volcano.

They stated that pyroclastic currents discharged into the sea transformed into turbidity currents and slurries, forming a >89  8 km3 volcaniclastic megaturbidite up to 150 m thick in the surrounding marine basins, while breaching of the sea surface by the eruption column laid down veneers of ignimbrite on three islands.

The study stressed that the eruption was one of the largest recorded on the South Aegean Volcanic Arc as it also highlighted the hazards from submarine explosive eruptions.

The processes and impacts of submarine explosive eruptions are poorly understood in comparison to their terrestrial equivalents, according to the study.

However, submarine calderas are common on island arcs and shallow submarine eruptions can be very violent as shown by that of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai Volcano in 2022.

Pyroclastic currents from such eruptions had poured into the sea, entraining water and transforming into water-supported gravity flows.

Although the resulting deposits can be studied in ancient successions, those within marine sediments around modern island volcanoes have been difficult to access except by deep drilling.

Read Also: Eruption of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai Volcano In 2022 Spawns New Studies About Climate Change

Submarine Volcanoes

The South Aegean Volcanic Arc lies in the heart of Europe, and its submarine volcanoes are potentially a major hazard.

While the eruptive history of the arc has been investigated through onland mapping and marine tephrachronology, the record of submarine volcanism has only been broadly constrained by offshore seismic imagery.

From 2022 to 2023, IODP Expedition 398 drilled the marine rifts of the central island arc to depths of up to 900 m below the seafloor in order to ground-truth the seismic stratigraphy and to use the basin sediments as time capsules to recover a complete record of Neogene-Quaternary volcanism.

This was also done to seek deposits from past submarine eruptions.

The twelve drill sites lie in and around the Christiana-Santorini-Kolumbo Volcanic Field (CSKVF), which hosts Santorini caldera.

The CSKVF is situated within a 100-km-long, NE-SW rift system that cuts across the volcanic arc and consists of three basins (Anhydros, Amorgos, Anafi) containing up to 1400 m of sediments and volcanic above continental basement.

Related Article: Future Volcanic Eruption Imminent as Magma Chamber Grows Under Mediterranean Volcano [Study]
Sorry, something doesn't look right.

Something seems unusual about your device or browser. Please contact support.
Three women claim to have suffered sexual violence at the hands of Spanish filmmaker Carlos Vermut, winner of the San Sebastian Film Festivals Golden Shell for the neo-noir movie Magical Girl (2014). A film student, an employee of one of his productions and a worker in the cultural sector have reported to EL PAIS that the director allegedly took advantage of his prominence in the world of cinema in order to have violent sexual relations with them  relations that they didnt consent to.

The events they describe took place between May of 2014 and February of 2022. In one of the womens testimonies, she describes how Vermut immobilized her, choked her and forced her to have sex. She remembers showing opposition not only verbally, but also physically: she explains that she tried to get away by kicking him.

In the second story, an aspiring director recounts how the filmmaker lunged at her to kiss her and touch her breasts without her consent. She explains that he tore off her bra. And, in the third testimony, the woman who worked for him  who claims that he had promised her a better job  describes an episode in which he locked her up in his house one day, after she had been on the receiving end of months of degrading treatment, both verbal and physical. She describes how she was subjected to a level of violence that she didnt consent to during the sexual relations that they maintained.

Vermut, who has been interviewed by EL PAIS on three occasions, claims not to have been aware of having exercised sexual violence against any woman.

I have always practiced rough sex in a consensual manner, because I believe that consent is very important, he repeated, when asked by this newspaper about these testimonies. Its another thing if the person if she later felt bad  and maybe, at the time, was afraid to say it  I cant know that.

I would like it to be published, he asks, that Ive had many relationships of many types, always wanting the other person to be ok. And I think that having had a promiscuous sexual life  and having had many different types of sex  can lead you to situations like these.

None of the women reported what happened to the police because  according to what they say  two of them were afraid of losing their jobs, while another was afraid of not being able to get one. According to data from Spains Ministry of Equality, only 8% of victims of sexual violence dare to report it.

The three women who have made allegations against Vermut dont want their names to be published, as they all work in positions related to the audiovisual sector and claim to fear retaliation. This newspaper has obtained sworn statements from these three women, in which they confirm everything that theyre denouncing.

EL PAIS also has documentary material on which this investigation is based: e-mails, photos, WhatsApp conversations with the director and the people around him, as well as interviews with 31 workers in the film industry, none of whom wished to have their names made public. Most of them were aware of the testimonies of the women, while some provided information that served to contextualize these complaints. Among those who offered input were actresses, heads and members of technical and artistic teams, casting directors, representatives of film associations and institutions, journalists, producers and directors. EL PAIS also obtained the testimonies of six people around Vermut.

Vermut, during the promotional tour for his latest film, Manticora, in 2022. Juan Barbosa (Europa Press)

Carlos Lopez del Rey, better known as Carlos Vermut, the stage name he has used since his professional beginnings as an illustrator, began to make inroads in Spanish cinema with his debut film, Diamond Flash (2011). With his second feature film, Magical Girl (2014), the 43-year-old director was crowned, winning various awards in Spain. From that moment, which coincides with the first testimony of this investigation, his career took off.

In the last edition of the Goya Awards, Spains equivalent of the Oscars, Vermut competed for the Award for Best Director. The industry considers him to be a special director, the only [member] of his generation who could enter the Cannes awards list, according to a producer. And all the workers in the film sector consulted for this report agree that he has the aura of an independent, daring and authentic filmmaker.

The three women accusing him look alike physically. Two of them are younger than him: they were 21 and 26 years old at the time of the alleged assaults. Theyre all small in stature and say that they felt unable to shake him off or defend themselves, for fear that something worse could happen to them.

Testimony #1. May of 2014. Madrid.

On May 8, 2014, this woman had met a friend to party with a group of people from the film industry, at a pub in Malasana, a bohemian district of Madrid. There, according to her testimony and that of another witness, Carlos Vermut was present with other filmmakers. She remembers that he was a trending director at the time, as he had just won Best Picture at the San Sebastian Film Festival. He was about to become one of the most important auteur directors on the scene. She was working as a freelancer at the time, as this newspaper has been able to confirm. One of her clients was Vermuts friend and a collaborator in one of the filmmakers future projects.

I remember how, that night, we started fooling around. And I admit, with some shame, that I was impressed that Vermut noticed me. I admired him a lot. In short, we ended up going to my [apartment], she says. When we arrived at my door, he kissed me in a very beautiful and tender way. And I told him to come up, she adds.

Once inside, she remembers what happened: He threw himself on top of me, he started to choke me. I didnt see him coming. I started kicking him. I was very scared. After kicking him more, I pulled away and said something like: I dont deserve this. I dont know why, [maybe because] I was very confused. I even told him: Okay, sorry, sorry. And he did the same thing again, with the same violence, I mean. I couldnt move anymore, because he tackled me. Hes a very big guy, I didnt have a chance to do anything, she says. The only thing I remember clearly is that I asked him: Please put on a condom, please put on a condom, which he didnt do. I remember that because, back then, I was obsessed with diseases. In the end, it was the only thing I managed to say. Then, according to her story, he left her house. And I was left lying there. He didnt ask me if I was okay. Nothing. He took [what he wanted] and left.

Vermut, questioned about the episode that this woman narrates, denies having reached a point where a person is [physically] struggling [with him]. Thats never happened to me, he insists. Then, he acknowledges: Ive choked people, yes, but consensually. Im not denying it. Regarding her saying that he didnt use a condom when she asked him to, he explains: Ive made love without a condom. Sometimes, I havent used it; other times, yes. [If someone] tells me to put it on, I do. Honestly, Im not aware of someone telling me that they didnt want to have sex with me and [then I continued] having it, he says.

At 3:13 a.m. on May 9, 2014, this woman wrote to a friend, according to a WhatsApp conversation to which EL PAIS has had access. She considers it important to point out that, at the moment, she didnt fully understand what had happened to her: I was only able to say that something had happened that wasnt right. And until quite some time later, I didnt realize that it had been a sexual assault.

Heres a fragment of what they talked about that same day:

Ive hooked up with Carlos Vermut. It was fucking shit.

What happened? Whats wrong?

Uhm, lets see, he even slapped me twice because I didnt want to [perform oral sex]. Dont say anything.

Okay. You escaped, I guess?

He came to my house. He wanted to force me. I got scared.

Obviously. Did he leave?

Yeah.

So nothing happened?

Yeah. But it was horrible.

But if you didnt feel like it, you should have stood your ground!

I told you, I was scared.

That morning, she spoke with another friend, also from the film industry. This newspaper has confirmed that this conversation indeed took place. The friend remembers seeing that she was very nervous [about this incident] becoming known in her circle.

The woman accusing Vermut explains that she assured her friend that she had genital injuries. This friend then recommended that she go to the hospital, or to the police. But she didnt want to. I didnt report him because he was Carlos Vermut, a well-known person, a film director who was related to my [social] environment and my work circle, the woman laments.

Six months later, she saw him again, for work. He was promoting his movie Magical Girl. He acted as if nothing had happened. He was [actually] very kind, she acknowledges. We slept together other times, sporadically, over a year and a half. It was never like the first time, although there were always struggles and violence during sex. Thats the only way he got excited. And I, stupidly, came to believe that it was wild, that it was good, she recalls. Now, I dont recognize myself in that person. I think I was denying what happened and, in some way, trying to pretend that it hadnt happened to me.

I dont remember how it ended. We just didnt see each other anymore, she shrugs.

Two criminal experts in gender violence  the criminal law professor Maria Acale and the attorney Amparo Diaz  explain this type of behavior. To cope with the fact that theyve lost their sense of security, many women minimize what has happened to them and try to adapt by having, for example, more sexual relations with their attackers when theyre close to them. The resource of denial is often used by victims of sexual violence to remain calm and regain a sense of security. Also, sometimes, they fear retaliation or negative consequences if they dont normalize what has happened to them, Diaz points out. The violent act is independent from what she or they decide to do later, Acale emphasizes.

EL PAIS has confirmed that at least 17 people, including producers, actresses, directors and specialized journalists, were aware of this story. As were three members of the San Sebastian Film Festival and a member of the board of directors of the Association of Women Filmmakers and Audiovisual Media: it was in September of 2022 that this woman revealed to them that Vermut had forced her to have sex. According to the responses provided by the sources consulted  who didnt want their names to appear in this investigation  some decided to wait for her to file a complaint and encouraged her to do so, while others simply didnt believe her. And then, there are those who dont remember the reason as to why they remained silent.

Testimony #2. May of 2016. Madrid.

This woman says that, on May 15, 2016, she received a message from Carlos Vermut, inviting her for a drink at the San Isidro festivities in Madrid. She was 21 years old (at the time, the filmmaker was 36) and she had one year left to graduate from college. She explains that he told her that he had seen how she was very interested in cinema and that he could help her in whatever way she wanted to get into the industry. She admits that it touched her that one of her favorite film directors said something like that to her. Carlos Vermut is writing to me and hes also telling me that he can get me a job, she remembers thinking to herself.

The filmmaker had her phone number because, a month earlier, he had participated in some lectures on film at the university where she was studying. They went from strictly professional contact by e-mail to personal messages and phone calls.

She accepted the proposal and they went to have a few beers in the Madrid neighborhood of La Latina. Vermut later invited her to a concert with some friends  among them another well-known filmmaker and a younger woman, whom she estimates was around her age.

The night didnt end there. The four later joined a producer  also Vermuts friend  and two other young women at the Cafe Berlin in Madrid. We sat with them. And I remember that the producer was looking at me, he asked me: And what about you? What do you want to be? Screenwriter? I told him yes. But what have you written? he asked. I felt like it was in a job interview. Now, I analyze it and it was like he was saying: Girl, what do you want?

Carlos Vermut during an interview at a movie theater in Madrid. Juan Barbosa (Europa Press)

That night was one of the few face-to-face meetings that this woman had with the filmmaker, according to her story. However, the late-night calls and messages multiplied. The topic they talked about the most was the script for the film Who Will Sing To You? (2018), Vermuts third feature film. He sent me the first and second drafts, she says. Honestly, I didnt like it very much. When I gave him negative feedback on the script, he didnt love it. He was on edge.

He wrote to her almost daily, according to her story, until, one day, he suggested that she come over: Why dont you come to my house and, since you like my movies so much, well watch Diamond Flash? That way, we can analyze it together. She accepted, as she had done so many times with other classmates and professors at the university.

She remembers that she went to his house, which is located in a working-class neighborhood of Madrid. They were alone. They watched the movie and, when it was over, Vermut jumped her. According to her testimony, he kissed her and put his hand between her breasts. I was wearing a t-shirt that had a little drawstring I remember it because it was difficult for me to put it back on and because I was wearing a strapless bra. He put his hand between my breasts and my bra, and pulled, she recalls. The force was so strong that it tore. I stayed very still, I didnt know what to do. He noticed it and said: Is something wrong with you? She answered no, hesitantly: It was instinctive. I stayed still.

Vermut stood up and started shouting. I no longer remember what he told me. He went to his room, opened his laptop, got on the bed and started chatting with another girl to meet up. I know because I went over I got a little closer and I saw [the screen]. She told him that she was going home. And Vermut answered: Yeah, I dont know why you havent left already.

Ive never ripped off anyones clothing to have sexual relations, the filmmaker swears, when asked by EL PAIS about this testimony. And he adds: Imagine that Ive gone to my house with a person and were in bed or on the sofa talking. I assume theres a sexual intention. Maybe Ill get close to her, touch her breasts. If the person tells me to get away from her, I wont do anything else. It depends on the context.

This woman remembers that she left the directors house crying. I walked as fast as I could to the subway. [His place] was more than an hour from my house. And I remember doing everything I could to keep my bra from falling off.

The last time she heard from Vermut was through an email, in which the filmmaker asked her how she was doing. [It was as] if nothing had happened, the woman adds. She answered: Im fine, but I dont want to talk to you anymore. Thats where their relationship ended. Shortly afterwards, she realized that he had blocked her on WhatsApp.

Testimony #3. From the end of 2019 to February of 2022. Madrid.

At the end of 2019, the third woman met Carlos Vermut at an informal meal. That night, she remembers, they slept together. It was the first of a series of encounters that occurred for almost two years in which, she says, they had sexual relations with a violence that she claims she didnt consent to. Shortly after meeting him, the company she worked for took charge of one of his films. She joined the team that was going to work for him. Then, the personal relationship continued, along with the professional one, this woman admits. She was 26 years old at the time (Vermut was 39) and had just started her professional career.

In each of their encounters they always had sexual relations which involved violent practices. There was never a prior or subsequent conversation regarding the terms of those [interactions], this woman explains. I remember a situation in which he pressed my head very hard against him, to the point that I nearly retched. All of this was accompanied by degrading verbal and physical expressions that made me feel at a disadvantage and inferior, she explains to EL PAIS. Maybe he didnt really want to, but he [must have known] that was going to happen. And I was afraid not to do it. I tried to convince myself that I had to like that way of [having sex], she continues. On many occasions, I dissociated, or tried to redirect him so that he was tender but I couldnt do it.

She remembers that she entered into a violent spiral. She didnt know how to escape from it without being harmed. At work, she was his subordinate. He even promised her a job. And, in her personal relationship, he sometimes caused her to be fearful. I was very careful [regarding how I] addressed him, because I didnt want to upset him, she remembers. Shortly after leaving him, she went to a psychologist, who diagnosed her with relationship anxiety. When you have low self-esteem like me, you always put the needs of others before your own. If someone pays attention to you  [someone] within the world in which you work, [who] has a certain [level of] power and prestige  its even more important, she says, referring to her state at the time.

In response to this story, Vermut tells EL PAIS: Ive never had the need to attack anyone, nor do I get excited by that type of practice [if the] other person isnt excited by it. When asked if, on any occasion, he has perceived that one of his partners was scared, he denies this. A person may feel uncomfortable [they may] believe or remember that they were being clear in wanting to end [a relationship]. And maybe they dont convey it in a way that the other person can understand. [I also understand] that a person may feel afraid of aggravating the situation.

What do you mean by aggravating the situation?

I mean imagine that youre with a person whos twice your size and you want to [stop]. OK. And you want to say it to make them stop, but maybe you dont want to be so blunt that the other person [gets] more angry, you know? Or [you dont want to say something] thats going to make the situation worse.

Six months after they met, Vermut offered this woman a job at a production company that the filmmaker assured her he would set up. This newspaper has had access to the conversation that this woman had with a friend, in which she showed her excitement about this supposed job opportunity. The messages about the subject began on August 10, 2020, at 10:57 in the morning:

I have a firm job offer from Carlos for the future. Hes going to open the production company and, when he starts things, he says that he wants me on his team. Vermut!.

How cool!

Were going to pitch it to [a streaming platform].

However, the woman explains that this job never materialized. Now I realize that his promises made me feel special it was a way of keeping me there, she laments.

The last time she saw Carlos Vermut was in February 2022. After a few beers, she recalls, they went to the filmmakers house. He didnt treat me well. When we went to his bed, he fell asleep. I felt bad I couldnt be there next to him, this woman continues. She claims that she got up, got dressed and tried to escape. But when she reached the door, Vermut, by then awake, stood in front of her and didnt let her out. She remembers that the door was bolted.

You cant leave me alone, she claims the filmmaker said. It was a very violent situation. I thought that if I refused to stay, it could lead to something worse. I was very scared. Hes much bigger [than me]. So, she went back to the room and got into bed. A part of me was saying, Go to sleep, wake up and go to work. The next morning, she left his house. She then received a message from Vermut, in which he ended the relationship. She remembers that he claimed that she drank a lot and that he didnt feel comfortable with a person like that.

This womans current partner has assured EL PAIS that he hasnt met anyone with so much fear in the bedroom.
PM Modi expresses gratitude to world leaders for Republic Day wishes

New Delhi, January 27

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed gratitude to world leaders for their Republic Day wishes to India.

"Thank you @PM_nepal_ for your Republic Day wishes. India cherishes the longstanding friendship with Nepal," PM Modi wrote on 'X'.

The Nepal PM had said: "On the occasion of the 75th Republic Day of India, I extend my best wishes to PM Shri @narendramodi ji, the government and friendly people of India for good health, peace and prosperity. I am confident that the ties of friendship between our countries will continue to grow further."

In reply to Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth's wishes, PM Modi said he looks forward to the continued strengthening of the India-Mauritius bilateral partnership.

"Thank you Prime Minister @KumarJugnauth for your warm wishes. Looking forward to the continued strengthening of our robust bilateral partnership, this year and always," PM Modi said.

The Mauritian PM had said: "Warmest congratulations to Prime Minister Shri Modi Ji @narendramodi and our Indian sisters and brothers on the glorious occasion of the 75th Republic Day of India."

The PM also thanked French President Emmanuel Macron for joining India's Republic Day celebrations.

"Thank you to the President @EmmanuelMacron for joining our Republic Day celebrations. Your presence will add great impetus to Indo-French relations," the PM said.

The French President had said: "My dear friend @NarendraModi, Indian people, My warmest wishes on your Republic Day. Happy and proud to be with you. Let's celebrate!"

PM Modi earlier said: "Thank you President @EmmanuelMacron for being a part of our Republic Day celebrations. Your presence will add great momentum to India-France ties."

Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar also expressed his gratitude to world leaders for their Republic Day wishes.

The EAM thanked Tanzania's Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation January Makamba, Iran's Foreign Minister H.Amirabdollahian, and Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan among others.

(ANI - Posted on 27 January 2024)

PM Modi expresses gratitude to world leaders for Republic Day wishes

Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us!
Fatima Sana Shaikh returns to Punjab for her next film

Mumbai, Jan 27

Actress Fatima Sana Shaikh, who was recently seen in the theatrical film 'Sam Bahadur,' has returned to Punjab for the shoot of her upcoming film 'Ul Jalool Ishq'.

Getting to shoot at the locations in the villages of Gujjarwal, Narangwal, Kila Raipur, Dango, and Leel in Punjab and Haryana during the making of 'Dangal', Fatima is immersed in a wave of nostalgia.

'Ul Jalool Ishq' also stars Naseeruddin Shah, Vijay Varma and Sharib Hashmi.

Fatimas last release, 'Sam Bahadur,' saw her receiving love and adoration for her portrayal of the former Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi.

Fatima completed seven years in the industry last month with 'Dangal'. The film wasn't just a cinematic treat but it was a cultural phenomenon, with Fatima's portrayal of the real-life wrestling champion earning her accolades and adoration in equal measure.

Reflecting on her journey, Fatima had said, "Its been 7 years since 'Dangal', a film that marked my debut in cinema and gave me happy tears, joy, and timeless memories. From Dangal to Dhak Dhak my film career has been a roller coaster ride of emotions with happiness, tears, joys and sorrows.

Geeta Phogat will always hold a special place in my heart and Im grateful for all the love this character received. Heres to seven years of stepping into her shoes, to the Dangal family that made it possible and to the magic of this amazing film.

(IANS - Posted on 27 January 2024)

Fatima Sana Shaikh returns to Punjab for her next film

Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us!
Ram Charan says father Chiranjeevi's contribution to Indian cinema, society has shaped him

Mumbai, Jan 26

Star Ram Charan has congratulated his father Chiranjeevi on being feted with the Padma Vibhushan and said that his contribution to Indian cinema and society has played an instrumental role in shaping him.

The RRR star then thanked the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the recognition.

Immense gratitude to Government of India & @narendramodi Ji for this honour and recognition. A big shout-out to all fans & well-wishers for their support. Heres to your well-deserved honour #Megastar #PadmaVibhushan #PadmaVibhushanChiranjeevi.

Chiranjeevi has been feted with Padma Vibhushan, the second-highest civilian honour in the country on the eve of Republic Day on Thursday.

Thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the actor said that he has done so little and yet, he has been given such recognition.

Chiranjeevi took to Instagram, where he shared a video thanking everyone after he was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan.

(IANS - Posted on 27 January 2024)

Ram Charan says father Chiranjeevi's contribution to Indian cinema, society has shaped him

Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us!
Mohit Sehgal, Sanaya Irani celebrate 8 years of marital bliss in Greece

Mumbai, Jan 26

Actors Mohit Sehgal and Sanaya Irani celebrated their eight wedding anniversary in Santorini, Greece, and shared some dreamy pictures from their vacation.

They tied the knot on January 25, 2016 in Goa.

On the eight years of marital bliss, the couple is in mesmerising country Greece, celebrating their love and togetherness.

The photos that were shared on the social media by the actors, features Sanaya in a red sleeveless short dress, with her hair styled in beautiful curls.

Mohit is wearing a white tee and blue denims. The couple is enjoying a wine against the beautiful backdrop of the country, and are posing candidly for the lenses, laughing their heart out.

The string of photos were captioned as: "Happy (infinity symbol) to us", followed by a red heart emoji.

Mohit took to Instagram Stories, and shared a happy picture with his better half, as they can be seen sitting for their lunch.

It was captioned as: "Brunch date with my Number 8".

Sanaya's BFF and actress Dhami Drashti dropped red heart emojis in the comment section.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Sanaya was recently seen in the web series 'Cyber Vaar  Har Screen Crime Scene'.

Mohit last featured in 'Naagin 5'.

(IANS - Posted on 27 January 2024)

Mohit Sehgal, Sanaya Irani celebrate 8 years of marital bliss in Greece

Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us!
Download Now

The News-Gazette mobile app brings you the latest local breaking news, updates, and more. Read the News-Gazette on your mobile device just as it appears in print.




In the early 1980s, Peruvian artist Pablo Amaringo began painting the visions that ingesting ayahuasca produced in him. He did so at the invitation of Colombian anthropologist Luis Eduardo Lima, who later published a book with descriptions of the canvases. The paintings, full of colors, not only represented the fauna and flora of the Amazon, but also celestial palaces and mythological beings. The Quai Branly Museum in Paris showcases his work and that of others in an exhibition that explores the relationships between the hallucinogenic substance and artistic creation.

Ayahuasca is made from a vine, which gives its name to the brew, and the leaves of a bush called chacruna, where DMT, a psychedelic compound, is found. Upon entering the body, the substance produces alterations in perception and can cause intense emotional experiences.

The infusion is used by around one hundred communities in the Amazon rainforest for ritual and healing purposes. But it has also generated growing interest internationally, as demonstrated by research into its possible therapeutic benefits and the emergence of shamanic centers that attract a Western clientele.

'Ayahuasca Dream' (1994), by Robert Venosa.

The brew, also known as yage, is prohibited in France and is in legal limbo in Spain. But in Peru, the traditional knowledge and uses linked to ayahuasca have been declared part of the nations cultural heritage.

It is a topic that arouses many passions, many oppositions and tensions. I found it interesting to approach it from a different perspective, through art, David Dupuis, anthropologist and curator of the exhibition, explains by phone. Shamanic Visions. The arts of ayahuasca in the Peruvian Amazon, is on display until May 26.

The exhibition opens with two murals painted by a local association in Lima that brings together women from the Amazonian Shipibo Konibo people. Both represent geometric shapes that resemble labyrinths of clear lines. They are the so-called kene, an iconography with multiple meanings that is also reflected in bodies, textiles and ceramics.

The designs are an integral part of the culture of these communities and are often passed down from mother to daughter. Its origins are in the worldview of this people and according to ancestral belief, they are inspired by the anaconda, which on its skin would combine all variations of motifs. But also there is a whole series of discourses that associate kene with the [ingestion of] ayahuasca, says Dupuis, who has been working for more than 10 years on the rise of shamanic tourism and the globalization of psychotropics.

The Shipibas Muralistas collective of Lima, for example, explains by email that the patterns come first from the piri piri plant, whose extract is usually placed with a drop in the eyes of small children. He also cites ayahuasca, which allows visions to be channeled into designs. The group is made up of four Shipibas artists who migrated from Pucallpa, in the Amazon jungle, to the Peruvian capital, where they have created more than 50 murals.

'Mermaid Dreams', by Anderson Debernardi.

Not everyone claims that link. The Austrian ethnomusicologist Bernd Brabec de Mori, from the University of Innsbruck, points out by email that the designs were found on ceramics hundreds of years before ayahuasca began to be used. The reasons that are known today mostly emerged during the rubber rush, when the concoction began to be used as a means of healing. The relationship between patterns and visions dates back to the last few decades, says the researcher, who studied the designs for years.

What interested Commissioner Dupuis, however, is the way in which the populations of the Amazon used the attraction generated by ayahuasca as a way of valuing their art, their crafts and their culture. Shipibo art and crafts achieved notoriety at the same time as shamanic tourism, says the anthropologist.

The exhibition reveals how the kene have inserted themselves into the world art market, with artists such as Sara Flores, Chonon Bensho or Celia Vasquez Yui. The three live in Peru, but are part of the Shipibo Conibo Center in New York, a non-profit organization that seeks to enhance their creations, now on display in Paris. But the exhibition also includes works that break with the tradition of the kene and opt for a more figurative register, always related to the mythology, environment and ways of life of the Amazonian communities. And sometimes, with ayahuasca-induced visions.

Shipibo-Konibo painters

This is the case of Pablo Amaringo, who together with the Colombian researcher Luis Eduardo Lima created the Usko Ayar painting school in the Amazonian city of Pucallpa in 1988. Or Roldan Pinedo, who is part of the first generation of Shipibo-Konibo painters who emigrated to Lima, among others, to publicize their creations. Of his painting The Vision of the Rainbow, he says: It is an illustration of the world that is in the rainbow, which I saw during an ayahuasca ceremony. Painting that vision seemed like evidence to me.

Through art, the exhibition also seeks to reflect on the globalization of the brew, driven by the rise of shamanic tourism. Popularized in 1963 by writers William Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg with Yage Letters, the growing interest in this hallucinogen has generated profound cultural and economic transformations in the area. And it has opened the way to the emergence of another, more psychedelic form of art.
Staying hydrated and consuming appropriate amounts of salt is essential for the survival of terrestrial animals, including humans. The human brain has several regions constituting neural circuits that regulate thirst and salt appetite, in intriguing ways.

Previous studies suggested that water or salt ingestion quickly suppresses thirst and salt appetite before the digestive system absorbs the ingested substances, indicating the presence of sensing and feedback mechanisms in digestive organs that help real-time thirst and salt appetite modulation in response to drinking and feeding. Unfortunately, despite extensive research on this subject, the details of these underlying mechanisms remained elusive.

To shed light on this matter, a research team from Japan has recently conducted an in-depth study on the parabrachial nucleus (PBN), the brain's relay center for ingestion signals coming from digestive organs. Their latest paper, whose first author is Assistant Professor Takashi Matsuda from Tokyo Institute of Technology, was published in Cell Reports on January 23, 2024.

The researchers conducted a series of in vivo experiments using genetically engineered mice. They introduced optogenetic (and chemogenetic) modifications and in vivo calcium imaging techniques into these mice, enabling them to visualize and control the activation or inhibition of specific neurons in the lateral PBN (LPBN) using light (and chemicals). During the experiments, the researchers offered the mice-;either in regular or water- or salt-depleted conditions-;water and/or salt water, and monitored neural activities along with the corresponding drinking behaviors.

In this way, the team identified two distinct subpopulations of cholecystokinin mRNA-positive neurons in the LPBN, which underwent activation during water and salt intake. The neuronal population that responds to water intake projects from the LPBN to the median preoptic nucleus (MnPO), whereas the one that responds to salt intake projects to the ventral bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (vBNST). Interestingly, if the researchers artificially activated these neuronal populations through optogenetic (genetic control using light) experiments, the mice drank substantially less water and ingested less salt, even if they were previously water- or salt-deprived. Similarly, when the researchers chemically inhibited these neurons, the mice consumed more water and salt than usual.

Therefore, these neuronal populations in the LPBN are involved in feedback mechanisms that reduce thirst and salt appetite upon water or salt ingestion, possibly helping prevent excessive water or salt intake. These results, alongside their previous neurological studies, also reveal that MnPO and vBNST are the control centers for thirst and salt appetite, integrating promotion and suppression signals from several other brain regions.

Understanding brain mechanisms controlling water and salt intake behaviors is not only a significant discovery in the fields of neuroscience and physiology, but also contributes valuable insights to understand the mechanisms underlying diseases induced by excessive water and salt intake, such as water intoxication, polydipsia, and salt-sensitive hypertension." Dr. Takashi Matsuda, Assistant Professor from Tokyo Institute of Technology

Prof. Noda mentions, "Many neural mechanisms governing fluid homeostasis remain undiscovered. We still need to unravel how the signals for inducing and suppressing water and salt intake, accumulated in the MnPO and vBNST, are integrated and function to control intake behaviors."
To improve the care coordination competency of nurses involved in the management of critically ill patients on life support, an electronic app-; NCCCS-; was developed by Associate Professor Chie Takiguchi of Toho University and Professor Tomoko Inoue of International University of Health and Welfare.

The NCCCS app utilizes the scoring system referred to as the Nurses' Care Coordinate Competency Scale (NCCCS), developed by Dr. Takiguchi et al. in 2017, and it is currently being translated into Chinese, Italian, Polish, and Persian. This app offers immediate feedback to nurses caring for critically ill patients on life support based on their self-assessment of the frequency of their care coordination behaviors.

The NCCCS app was tested in the study and found to be highly effective in training when used by individuals who had certain years of critical care management experience but had low care coordination competencies.

While the significance of care coordination for appropriate critical care is recognized, there is a lack of established educational methods for nurses engaged in care coordination. The quality of care, especially concerning the success or failure of multidisciplinary care for critically ill patients on life support, has been demonstrated to be linked not only to survival rates but also to the development of physical, mental, and cognitive dysfunction in post-intensive care patients.

Our NCCCS app will help nurses enhance their care coordination competencies in the management of critically ill patients. It offers a new strategy to improve the physical, mental, and cognitive outcomes of critically ill patients." Dr. Chie Takiguchi, Associate Professor of Toho University

The research findings were published in the Japan Journal of Nursing Science on January 25, 2024.

Key Highlights

The group that engaged in self-assessment and received feedback through the NCCCS app demonstrated an increase in the frequency of care coordination behaviors after one month, in contrast to the self-assessment group without feedback. Notably, the participants with less experience in managing critically ill patients did not exhibit a corresponding increase in the frequency of these behaviors.

The group, whose NCCCS score was below the national average as of 2017 experienced an increased frequency of care coordination behaviors one month later, following feedback from the NCCCS app, compared to the group without feedback.

The group receiving feedback on their self-assessment scores through the NCCCS app exhibited heightened attention, confidence, and interest in learning about care coordination, in contrast to the group without feedback. Additionally, they reported that the use of the NCCCS app fostered teamwork and enhanced the quality of care.

The findings of this study may provide a new strategy for improving outcomes in critically ill patients on life support.
Following federal approval for over the counter emergency contraception in 2006, emergency departments across the U.S. saw dramatic decreases in related visits and medical charges, a new study suggests.

Emergency room visits related to emergency contraception fell by 96 %, from 17,019 to 659, while total related hospital expenses decreased by $7.2 million  from $7.6 million to $385,946  between 2006 and 2020. The most notable decrease was between 2006-2007 for people primarily seen for emergency contraception.

The Michigan Medicine led findings appear in JAMA Network Open.

"Emergency departments are important sites for accessing emergency contraception given their 24-hour access and high acuity care," said senior author Erica Marsh, M.D., professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Michigan Medical School and chief of the division of reproductive endocrinology and infertility at U-M Health Von Voigtlander Women's Hospital, of Michigan Medicine.

"We believe this is the first study to specifically examine the association between relevant policy changes and disparities and trends in emergency department visits related to emergency contraception utilization."

A disproportionate rate of younger, low income, Black, Hispanic and Medicaid insured patients were also seen for emergency contraception related visits compared to other emergency department services, researchers found.

We found an overrepresentation of certain demographic groups utilizing emergency departments for emergency contraception. This aligns with previous outpatient research suggesting ongoing barriers to over the counter emergency contraception access and or increased emergency department utilization for other reasons, including sexual assault." Erica Marsh, M.D., professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Michigan Medical School

Previous research led by Marsh and colleagues found that sexual assault related ER visits increased by more than a tenfold over the last decade.

Emergency contraception traditionally includes contraceptive methods used to prevent pregnancy in the first few days after unprotected intercourse, sexual assault, or contraceptive failure.

Although the FDA approved the first dedicated product for emergency contraception in 1998, over the counter approval didn't come until 2006 for adults, followed by minors in 2013. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act also mandated emergency contraception insurance coverage in 2012.

While decreases in emergency contraception ER visits may have started before 2006, the steep decline between 2006-2007 suggests an association, authors say.

Barriers still persist

Researchers analyzed national data of more than 2 million emergency department visits among female-identifying patients aged 15-44 during the 14 year period.

Northeast hospitals comprised 44 to 59 % of emergency contraception related emergency room visits despite comprising only 17-19 %t of other ER visits.

Meanwhile, southern hospitals made up 4.5 to 17 % of emergency contraception related visits despite consistently averaging more than 40% of other types of emergency department visits in 2006.

"Our analysis suggests ongoing barriers in over the counter emergency contraception and disparities in utilization for certain populations," Marsh said.

"Future policies should reduce barriers to make emergency contraception safe and affordable to all."
ARIES

Ganesha says today will be moderately fruitful for you. You can expect immense support and companionship from your spouse in all matters. Your opponents at work will fall out among themselves and be unable to harm you, so theres no need to worry. However, there may be a dispute related to ancestral property in your family. Students should focus on improving their weak subjects to achieve success. Job seekers may get a good opportunity today.

Lucky Colour: Red

Lucky Number: 8

TAURUS

Ganesha says today you will achieve success in your social work. If you want your life partner to start a new business, it will be prosperous. You may need your brothers help to complete a long-pending task. If anyone in the family is ready for marriage, you may introduce them to a suitable partner. However, the health of a senior family member could deteriorate, causing you worry. You will be happy to see your children participating in social work today.

Lucky Colour: Mint

Lucky Number: 19

GEMINI

Ganesha says today will be extremely fruitful for you. People doing business abroad will hear good news. Those in jobs may face reprimands from their seniors, so they must focus fully on their work. You will spend the evening serving your parents. Your familys prestige will increase today. Your suggestions will be welcomed in the workplace, and those in government jobs might hear about promotions. In the evening, you can participate in an auspicious program with your family.

Lucky Colour: Yellow

Lucky Number: 11

CANCER

Ganesha says today will be a normal day for you. People in love relationships may hear good news from their partners. Investing in the stock market or lottery today could be beneficial. However, avoid borrowing money, as you might struggle to repay it. Business owners must learn to be diplomatic to get work done from people. Students should keep their secrets to themselves to avoid regret later.

Lucky Colour: Orange

Lucky Number: 3

LEO

Ganesha says today is a day for wise and discreet decision-making. Pay attention to your childrens company, as they might make bad choices. You could be worried due to being deceived by a family member. Avoid arguing with your father, as its better to listen to elders sometimes. Guests may arrive in the evening, leading to some expenses. You will also spend on daily necessities.

Lucky Colour: Green

Lucky Number: 1

VIRGO

Ganesha says today, the environment around you will be pleasant. You will receive good news, keeping your spirits high. If you have a business partnership, you will receive your desired share of profits, boosting your confidence. Any family discord will resolve today, bringing happiness to everyone. There may be discussions about an auspicious event in the family, requiring everyones input.

Lucky Colour: Blue

Lucky Number: 9

LIBRA

Ganesha says today promises to be a day of progress for you. Youll approach everything you do with enthusiasm. Students, if youre considering enrolling in a course, today is an auspicious day. If youre thinking of buying or selling something, carefully assess its movable and immovable aspects, or you may regret it later. In the evening, consider planning a picnic with your family. The younger ones will especially enjoy it. If your business is slow, consider consulting someone for advice. It may be beneficial to seek guidance from an elder.

Lucky Colour: Purple

Lucky Number: 18

SCORPIO

Ganesha says today, your confidence will soar. You may receive praise for past decisions, but remember to maintain a pleasant demeanor with colleagues and be cautious in your work approach. If you need to travel a short distance for business, do so confidently. The travel will be enjoyable. You may face a disagreement with your partner. Explain your perspective clearly to avoid them misconstruing your actions. Buying property will be easy for you today.

Lucky Colour: Brown

Lucky Number: 7

SAGITTARIUS

Ganesha says today, youll be immersed in cultural and auspicious events. You may receive a promotion at work or home. Your family members might bring you a gift, raising your respect and prestige. If tensions existed with your in-laws, theyll begin to ease. If youve been procrastinating on daily tasks, tackle them today, or youll risk jeopardizing other responsibilities. Spend the evening planning with your family.

Lucky Colour: Golden

Lucky Number: 12

CAPRICORN

Ganesha says today, your relationships will gain strength. New connections will be formed. The completion of a long-pending legal matter will bring joy, but it might also generate some enemies. Be cautious of their intentions. Your involvement in social work will increase, and you may incur some expenses related to it. Ensure your father completes his obligations today, or he might become displeased. In the evening, consider reconciling with an old friend.

Lucky Colour: White

Lucky Number: 5

AQUARIUS

Ganesha says today will be busy, but some pointless concerns may cloud your focus and dampen your work motivation. Dont let them sway you. At work, identify new opportunities, formulate plans, and put them into action to reap their benefits. Your spiritual interest will intensify, and your wise decisions will help you solve many problems today. You may face minor concerns about a relatives health.

Lucky Colour: Maroon

Lucky Number: 16

PISCES

Ganesha says today bodes well for politicians, as theyll receive full support from the government and public, boosting their happiness and confidence. However, avoid financial risks today. If a conflict arises at home, maintain a calm and conciliatory tone to avoid creating lasting tension in your relationships. You may find yourself listening to your childrens concerns in the evening.
Union Budget 2024: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has achieved a milestone by delivering her sixth consecutive budget presentation on February 01, encompassing five annual budgets and one interim budget. This accomplishment mirrors the historic feat of former Prime Minister Morarji Desai.

Budget 2024 Date

By presenting the interim Budget on February 1, Sitharaman surpassed the records of her predecessors like Manmohan Singh, Arun Jaitley, P Chidambaram, and Yashwant Sinha, who had presented five budgets in a row. Desai, as Finance Minister, had presented five annual Budgets and one interim Budget between 1959-1964.

After the Modi government came to power in 2014, Arun Jaitley took charge of the finance ministry and presented five Budgets in a row from 2014-15 to 2018-19.

It was in 2017, that Jaitley departed from the colonial-era tradition of presenting Budget on the last working day of February to 1st of the month.

Piyush Goyal, who was holding the additional charge of the ministry due to the ill health of Jaitley, presented the interim Budget for 2019-20 on February 1, 2019. Goyal had hiked standard deduction for salaried taxpayers by Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000. Also, the tax rebate for taxpayers whose annual taxable income did not exceed Rs 5 lakh was increased from Rs 2,500 to Rs 12,500.

After the 2019 general elections, in the Modi 2.0 Government, Sitharaman was given the charge of the finance portfolio. She became the second woman to have presented a Budget after Indira Gandhi, who had presented the Budget for financial year 1970-71.

That year, Sitharaman did away with the traditional budget briefcase and instead went for a bahi-khata with the National Emblem to carry the speech and other documents.

Under Sitharaman, India has weathered the Covid pandemic with an array of policy measures announced for the poor and continued its tag of the fastest-growing major economy and a bright spot in the world economy.

India is racing to become a USD 5 trillion economy by 2027-28 and a USD 30 trillion by 2047.

Former Prime Minister Morarji Desai who holds the tag of presenting 10 Budgets  the maximum by any finance minister  had presented six of them, including one interim, in a row.

The first Budget of Independent India was presented by the first finance minister R K Shanmukham Chetty.

Interim Budget 2024

The interim Budget 2024-25 presented by Sitharaman, was a vote-on-account that will give the government authority to spend certain sums of money till a new government comes to office after the April-May general elections.

As the Parliamentary elections are due, Sitharamans interim budget did not contain any major policy changes.

Speaking at an industry event last month, Sitharaman had ruled out any spectacular announcement in the interim Budget, saying it would just be a vote-on-account before the general elections.

A vote-on-account, once approved by Parliament, will authorise the government to withdraw money from the Consolidated Fund of India on pro-rata basis to meet expenditure for the April-July period.

The new government, which is likely to be formed around June, will come up with a final Budget for 2024-25 sometime in July.

Usually, interim Budgets do not contain major policy announcements, but nothing stops the government from taking steps that are necessary to deal with the urgent issues facing the economy.

In the last interim budget for FY 2019-20, while the overall tax structure remained unchanged, there were certain specific tax rebates and standard deduction concessions.

(With PTI inputs)
Budget Expectations 2024: Given the upcoming elections, budget 2024 will be an interim one with limited policy announcements. However, there are a few expectations that still represent the general aspirations of the Indian insurance industry.

Several of these expectations relate to the governments Insurance for All vision, aiming to achieve universal insurance coverage by 2047.

The insurance industry is crucial to Indias economic growth and financial stability, so the government is likely to focus on measures that boost its development and accessibility.

With the interim budget 2024 coming up on February 1, here are some key expectations from the insurance sector:

Digital Health Records

Rupinderjit Singh, VP, retail health, ACKO, highlights that in 2023, the health industry saw sweeping developments driven by regulatory measures, such as the introduction of Bima Sugam, the National Health Claims Exchange (NHCX), and the insurance amendment bill.

The year 2024 will witness further exciting developments in the industry owing to a growing demand for seamless digital experiences, personalised offerings, and increased accessibility. With the harmonious synergies between the National Health Association, IRDAI, and NHCX, the sector is poised to thrive and promises to amplify these transformations, offering customers unparalleled developments, Singh said.

In the upcoming budget, Singh anticipates that the government will take steps toward Indias Digital health mission by promoting ABHA ID which will enable digital health records and create a seamless health insurance claims experience.

GST Exemption

Ankit Agrawal, co-founder & CEO, InsuranceDekho, said, We anticipate that the finance minister will exempt insurance policies from GST, which will bring down insurance premiums. This step will increase insurance affordability and help fulfil Prime Minister Modis dream of insurance for all Indians by 2047.

Tax Exemption Under 80C

Agrawal says that the industry is also expecting the government to increase the tax exemption limit under 80C, which will encourage savings, promote insurance coverage, and stimulate economic growth.

Various studies have shown that increased insurance penetration multiplies the economy by reducing overall financial distress and making long-term growth capital available to important nation-building industries, Agrawal added.

Remove Tax From Annuity Returns

Tejas Jain, founder, BimaKavach, also urges a lower GST rate on insurance premiums.

Jain says that experts in the insurance industry are pushing for significant adjustments in taxation, regulation, and technology in the budget. They support lowering the deductibility limits to provide tax benefits on life insurance products, especially term plans. To improve affordability, another is to remove taxes from annuity returns to increase their appeal.

Jain also underlines a composite licence, a relaxation of the minimum capital requirements, and the promotion of microinsurance for low-income populations among the regulatory expectations.

InsurTech Businesses

Jain says support for InsurTech businesses and a cybersecurity emphasis are sought in the technology sphere to encourage innovation and guard against cyber dangers, ultimately encouraging ubiquitous, inventive, and affordable insurance.

Minimum Capital Requirements

Jain says to promote competition and simplify operations, minimum capital requirements for new insurers should be loosened.

The need for a more efficient industry is evident in the idea for a composite licence.

Jain also adds that to ensure data security and promote technological breakthroughs, a legal framework that supports InsurTech businesses and cybersecurity measures is necessary.

Overall, the insurance industry hopes that the forthcoming budget will provide more regulatory flexibility, easing some of the strict regulations that impede market expansion and innovation.

Keep in mind that these are just some of the key expectations, and the actual budget may differ. Well have to wait and see what the finance minister announces on budget day.
The National Medical Commission (NMC) on Thursday sought comments from all stakeholders on the implementation and conduct of the National Exit Test (NExT). As per the recommendations of the Committee constituted by the approval of Union Health Minister to examine the implementation/preparation of conducting the National Exit Test (NExT) exam, the valuable feedback of all the stakeholders is invited by the NMC, the Commission said in a public notice.

In this regard, the stakeholders are requested to go-through the NMC, National Exit Test Regulations, 2023, the notice stated. All the stakeholders concerned have been asked to submit their feedback online by February 7.

Last October, the Union Health Ministry constituted a seven-member committee to examine the preparedness of states and medical colleges for the implementation of the NExT for final-year MBBS students of the 2020 batch. The committee will examine the application of NExT as a final year examination, PG entrance and licentiate exam and if there is a need to limit its application.

It will examine the preparedness of the states, universities and medical colleges for implementation of the proposed system for the batch 2020 and suggest measures for preparations and provide a roadmap for operationalisation of NExT for batch 2020 or later, an official order had stated. According to the NExT (National Exit Test) Regulations 2023 issued in June last year, the NMC said the exam will be held in two phases with the NExT Step 1 and NExT Step 2 exams being held twice a year.

The NExT shall form the basis of certifying the eligibility of the medical graduate to register to practice the modern system of medicine in India and therefore serve as a licentiate examination. It will also form the basis for determining the eligibility and ranking for the purpose of admission of those desirous of pursuing further postgraduate medical education in the country in broad medical specialities and therefore serve as an entrance examination for admission to courses of PG medical education.

The Commission shall specify, from time to time, by appropriate regulations and/or notification the applicable manner of utilizing the results of the NExT for the purpose of admission to postgraduate courses in broad medical specialties through mechanisms such as common counselling by designated authority. It is implied that whenever the NExT is in force, the corresponding equivalent existing examinations shall be phased out/cease to be applicable for the purpose for which the NExT shall be appropriate, the regulations said.

However, if for previous batches the existing examinations are applicable as may be decided by the Commission, then the existing examinations shall continue for such time as deemed appropriate to the Commission with the understanding that the NEXT shall eventually replace the corresponding equivalent existing examinations. Medical students can make multiple attempts at National Exit Test (NExT) Step 1 provided they pass it and NExT Step 2 examination within 10 years of joining the MBBS course, even though the scores obtained in the last attempt of NExT Step 1 will only be considered for admission into postgraduate courses, the regulations stated.

The NExT Step 1 shall be a theory examination and the questions shall be one or more than one type of multiple-choice type with the examinations being conducted through a computer based online mode. The NExT Step 2 examination results shall be declared as only Pass/Fail based on the acquisition of appropriate competence that is being evaluated while the marks from NExT Step 2 will be considered to prepare a merit list for admission into broad speciality PG seats.

The NEXT Step 2 shall be a practical/clinical and viva voce examination covering seven clinical subjects/disciplines  medicine and allied disciplines, Surgery and allied disciplines, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Otorhinolaryngology, Ophthalmology and Orthopaedics and PMR (Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation). There shall be a regular NExT Step 2 examination twice a year, the NMC said. The Commission will specify by regulations and/or by notification the manner of conducting common counselling by the designated authority for admission to the postgraduate broad specialties seats in the medical institutions.
Female PG students of Osmania University alleged there was a security breach at the womens hostel in Secunderabad on Friday night. The students staged a protest against it on Saturday by gathering at the campus. They started raising slogans We want justice.

According to media reports, two men entered the Secunderabad Osmania PG Ladies Hostel on Friday night and attempted to assault the students. According to the police, the students inside the ladies restroom caught hold of one of the intruders and handed him over to the police. They are currently probing the matter.

Both female and male students started a protest alleging a lack of security at the universitys girls hostel. They conducted a sit-in demonstration and demanded better security measures as well as the installation of CCTV cameras to monitor the campus.

#WATCH | Hyderabad: Female students protest at the Osmania University PG College, Secunderabad, alleging a security breach at the womens hostel last night. Police present to probe the matter. pic.twitter.com/jY4KEoWYod ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2024

The Osmania University principal has assured that the varsity will take action against the matter and address the issue with appropriate measures soon.

ALSO READ | Students At Osmania University Protest Over Insect-Infested Hostel Food

Cases of security breaches in womens hostels across colleges in India have been a growing concern among students for the past few years. In 2022, a worker of the IIT Bombay canteen was arrested by the police for allegedly peeping into the hostel bathrooms. The accused was caught after a female student spotted him at the duct of her hostel bathroom and alerted the authorities. The man had allegedly climbed the duct pipe. The students also alleged that the canteen worker had filmed videos of the students while they were in the bathroom.
Right after TMC boss Mamata Banerjee declared that she will not go with the Congress in West Bengal for the Lok Sabha elections, she stressed that she was not informed about the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. Hearing this, the top leadership of the Congress immediately went into damage control mode.

From Rahul Gandhi to Jairam Ramesh, all said Mamata is an integral part of the INDIA bloc and requested via the media route to join the yatra. But, the chief minister is in no mood to reconsider her decision, top sources of the TMC told News18.

She has turned the page and is not thinking anything about the alliance in Bengal. Its over, said the sources.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge reached out to Mamata on Friday, but TMC insiders denied this. The CM was left injured after she was involved in an accident while returning from Burdwan.

Sources said Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had also messaged her, asking her about her health but nothing more than that.

TMC insiders said Mamata did not react when JD(U) veteran Nitish Kumar was proposed as the convener of INDIA bloc because she sensed something and also alerted the alliance members. They also claimed that from the very first day, she said they were keen on giving the Baharampur (Adhir Ranjan Chowdhurys seat) and South Maldah to the Congress; they might have given them three seats, but the Congress wanted 10.
A Spirit commercial airliner prepares to land at San Diego International Airport in San Diego, California, U.S., January 18, 2024.

JetBlue Airways warned that it may end its bid to acquire low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines as soon as this weekend after a federal judge blocked the deal, sending Spirit shares sharply lower Friday.

Spirit shot back that finds no reason to terminate the deal and will continue to meet its obligations, and it expects JetBlue to do the same.

A federal judge sided with the Justice Department and blocked JetBlues proposed $3.8 billion purchase of Spirit last week. The Justice Department sued to block the merger, saying it would drive up fares by eliminating Spirit, the nations biggest low-cost airline.

Both airlines have filed their intention to appeal with a higher court.

JetBlue said in a regulatory filing Friday it told Spirit that certain conditions of their deal might not be met by the deadline set in the airlines 2022 agreement. JetBlue said that could lead it to terminate the deal as early as Sunday.

Spirit responded hours later with its own filing that disputed JetBlues position.

Spirit believes there is no basis for terminating the Merger Agreement, Spirit wrote. Spirit will continue to abide by all of its obligations under the Merger Agreement, and it expects JetBlue to do the same.

Shares of Spirit Airlines Inc., based in Miramar, Florida, slumped 11% in midday trading, while JetBlue Airways Corp. gained 3%.

JetBlue, based in New York, had argued that it needed to buy Spirit to grow quickly and better compete against bigger rivals that dominate the U.S. air-travel market. Together, the two carriers would control about 10% of the domestic air-travel market, still smaller than American, Delta, United and Southwest.

Both JetBlue and Spirit have struggled financially and have been slower than some other airlines to recover from the pandemic. Since the start of 2020, JetBlue has lost $2.1 billion, and Spirit has lost $1.7 billion.

Spirit is dealing with rising costs, softer demand for its mix of rock-bottom fares but higher fees, and the sidelining of dozens of its Airbus jets because of problems with the Pratt & Whitney engines. It must figure out how to pay or refinance $1.1 billion in debt due next year.

Spirit tried to merge with Frontier Airlines, another low-cost carrier, in early 2022, but JetBlue won a bidding war to push Frontier aside.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
The 26-year-old son of a Delhi Police assistant commissioner was allegedly pushed into a canal by two of his friends amid a long-standing financial dispute in Haryanas Panipat, police said on Friday.

A search operation has been launched to find the victim, Lakshya Chauhan. Meanwhile, police have arrested one of his two friends and efforts to catch the other one is underway.

Chauhan and his two friends  Vikas Bhardwaj and Abhishek  had gone to Haryanas Sonipat on Monday to attend marriage ceremony.

However, when he did not come home on Tuesday and his phone was switched off, his father ACP Yashpal Singh, lodged a missing complaint on Tuesday. Singh was posted as ACP (Operations) in Outer-north Delhi.

During the probe, police suspected foul play in Chauhans disappearance and converted his missing complaint into an abduction FIR. A police official involved in the matter said that on Friday, charges of murder were also added to the case and one person was arrested.

Chauhan, an advocate by profession, lived with parents in outer Delhis Samaypur Badli area. He was practicing at the Tis Hazari court. While Abhishek was his acquaintance, Bhardwaj was working as a clerk for another lawyer at Tis Hazari.

Three days after Chauhan went missing, the 19-year-old Abhishek was detained by the police for questioning. During the interrogation, he told the cops that Bhardwaj had called him on Monday noon, asking him to attend a marriage function with him and Chauhan in Sonipat.

Bhardwaj had also told him that Chauhan had loaned some money from him but whenever he asked him to return it, he misbehaved with him. Following this Bhardwaj conspired with Abhishek to eliminate the top cops son, the official said.

ACP Singhs son picked the accused up near Rohinis Mukarba Chowk. They reached the marriage function venue by night and left from there after 12 am, another official noted.

On their way back, the trio stopped the car roadside to attend natures call near the Munak Canal. Finding this to be the right time, Bhardwaj and Abhishek allegedly pushed Chauhan into the canal and fled the scene in his car.

After entering Delhi, Bhardwaj dropped Abhishek near Narela and left from there. A police official said that Abhishek detained from his near in Narela on Thursday.

On the basis of Abhisheks statement, his arrest was made and Section 302 (murder) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was also added to the abduction FIR.

We arrested Abhishek after he confessed to murdering Chauhan along with Vikas by pushing him into the Munak canal that is nearly 16-feet deep and has four channels, of which two flow towards Delhi and the other two towards Haryana. The search for Chauhans body continued on Friday. But divers are yet to find it, an official was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

Meanwhile, police said they have discovered that Bhardwaj is trying to seek legal help from people close to him after telling them that he killed Chauhan by pushing him into the canal after a heated argument in the wee hours of Tuesday, January 23.

A massive search operation to find Lakshyas body and nab the other accused is underway, Vikas Bhardwaj.

(With PTI inputs)
The Indian Navy on Saturday announced that INS Visakhapatnam, which is a guided missile destroyer, responded to a distress call from MV Marlin Luanda on the night of Republic Day.

The missile destroyers have been deployed in the Gulf of Aden and are assisting in firefighting efforts onboard. The MV has 22 Indian and 01 Bangladeshi crew onboard, the Indian Navy said.

#IndianNavy's Guided missile destroyer, #INSVisakhapatnam, deployed in the #GulfofAden responded to a distress call from MV #MarlinLuanda on the night of #26Jan 24.The fire fighting efforts onboard the distressed Merchant Vessel is being augmented by the NBCD team along with pic.twitter.com/meocASF2Lo SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) January 27, 2024

Based on the request from the MV Merlin Luanda, INS Visakhapatnam has deployed the Ships NBCD team along with firefighting equipment to assist the crew towards augmenting firefighting efforts onboard the distressed MV.

US Central Command has confirmed a missile attack by the Houthis and an alleged distress message by the ships captain is doing rounds on social media.

Yemeni naval forces carried out a targeting operation on the British oil ship Marlin Luanda in the Gulf of Aden, using several appropriate naval missiles. The strike was direct, and resulted [in] the burning of the vessel, Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree said on Friday.

Sources have informed CNN-News18 that the UK tankers crew has initiated firefighting using a fixed foam system and inert gas. They have reported that the crew members remain safely on board.

According to the onboard crew, they have sought the assistance of firefighting experts.

Earlier reports suggested that the crew had abandoned the ship due to the hazardous nature of the cargo and its potential consequences. However, reliable sources have confirmed that this has not occurred yet, and the crew is still actively trying to extinguish a fire on the ship.

(With inputs from Akash Sharma)
KERALA LOTTERY KARUNYA KR-638 RESULT ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 27, LIVE UPDATES: The Kerala State Lottery Department has announced the results of the Karunya KR-638 lucky draw for Saturday, January 27. Check the full list of winning numbers below.

ALSO READ: Kerala Lottery Result Today LIVE: Nirmal NR-365 WINNERS for February 2, 2024; First Prize Rs 70 Lakh!

FULL LIST OF WINNING NUMBERS FOR KARUNYA KR-638 LOTTERY

WINNING NUMBERS FOR CONSOLATION PRIZE WORTH RS 8000 ARE

KA 208488

KB 208488

KC 208488

KE 208488

KF 208488

KG 208488

KH 208488

KJ 208488

KK 208488

KL 208488

KM 208488

WINNING NUMBER FOR 1ST PRIZE WORTH RS 80 LAKH IS KD 208488 (THRISSUR)

Agent Name: K R SANTHOSH KUMAR

Agency No.: R 5646

WINNING NUMBER FOR 2ND PRIZE WORTH RS 5 LAKH IS KA 846825 (GURUVAYOOR)

Agent Name: SAVITHRY A G

Agency No.: R 8927

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 3RD PRIZE WORTH RS 1 LAKH ARE

KA 646003 (MOOVATTUPUZHA)

KB 125414 (ADIMALY)

KC 741906 (PUNALUR)

KD 226013 (PALAKKAD)

KE 129980 (KARUNAGAPALLY)

KF 124607 (KAYAMKULAM)

KG 304452 (KATTAPPANA)

KH 733333 (PATTAMBI)

KJ 494108 (GURUVAYOOR)

KK 802045 (KOLLAM)

KL 137538 (CHITTUR)

KM 280040 (VADAKARA)

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 4TH PRIZE WORTH RS 5,000 ARE

0190 1005 1641 2006 3494

4904 5070 5830 5851 5917

6248 6251 6330 6638 7284

8671 9176 9209

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 5TH PRIZE WORTH RS 2,000 ARE

0576 0661 0844 5263 6824

7914 8033 8312 8338 9152

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 6TH PRIZE WORTH RS 1,000 ARE

0157 0545 1783 2329 2769

2870 2944 4611 5221 5567

6446 7129 9088 9145

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 7TH PRIZE WORTH RS 500 ARE

0001 0006 0179 0316 0504

0623 0786 0949 0975 1083

1339 1362 1415 1640 1728

1801 2053 2112 2134 2209

2220 2224 2273 2413 2494

2712 2739 2829 2905 2955

3145 3252 3315 3327 3652

3711 3910 3980 4120 4145

4426 4475 4663 4895 4989

5236 5294 5691 6022 6030

6391 6453 6464 6844 6927

6974 6992 7161 7206 7231

7528 7532 7549 7584 7626

7750 7895 8006 8182 8478

8487 8768 8773 8883 9114

9204 9339 9422 9513 9626

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 8TH PRIZE WORTH RS 100 ARE

0057 0100 0127 0159 0286

0289 0384 0432 0497 0681

0819 1223 1294 1449 1612

1668 1678 2028 2169 2182

2238 2252 2304 2345 2415

2459 2474 2666 2698 2704

2727 2763 2880 2918 2958

2965 2987 3029 3082 3187

3282 3300 3497 3558 3648

3823 3865 3891 4151 4385

4404 4494 4636 4748 4808

4879 4907 5072 5153 5356

5655 5689 5762 5795 5947

5969 6039 6042 6097 6103

6113 6136 6145 6261 6273

6385 6508 6519 6588 6652

6714 6739 6776 6860 7039

7200 7260 7417 7423 7442

7446 7594 7719 7744 7779

7884 7890 7910 7920 8005

8063 8127 8236 8387 8417

8436 8509 8595 8608 8727

8800 8866 8869 8928 8943

9039 9149 9185 9306 9430

9448 9664 9756 9813

KERALA LOTTERY RESULT TODAY: KARUNYA KR-638 PRIZE STRUCTURE

1st Prize: Rs 80 lakh

2nd Prize: Rs 5 lakh

3rd Prize: Rs 1 lakh

4th Prize: Rs 5,000

5th Prize: Rs 2,000

6th Prize: Rs 1,000

7th Prize: Rs 500

8th Prize: Rs 100

Consolation Prize: Rs 8,000

HOW TO VERIFY KERALA KARUNYA KR-638 LOTTERY RESULTS?

Participants eager to verify the results of the Kerala Karunya KR-638 Lottery can conveniently do so by visiting the official website of the Kerala Lottery Department at www.keralalottery.info. Another reliable option is to cross-check the winning numbers at the Kerala Government Gazette office for official confirmation. It is strongly recommended to rely on these official sources to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the lottery results.

HOW TO CLAIM PRIZE MONEY?

To confirm whether youve secured a prize in the Kerala Karunya KR-638 Lottery, compare the numbers on your lottery ticket with those officially published in the Kerala Government Gazette. If your numbers match, visit the Kerala Lottery Headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram within 30 days of the draw date to claim your prize. Dont forget to carry your winning ticket and a valid ID for verification.
Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil on Saturday called off his protest after the Eknath-Shinde led Maharashtra government came out with a draft ordinance regarding his demands for the Maratha community.

Patil ended the indefinite hunger strike after drinking a glass of juice offered to him by CM Shinde as thousands of supporters surrounded them.

#WATCH | Navi Mumbai: Amid a huge crowd of supporters, Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil ends his fast in the presence of Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde, after the state government accepted all demands. pic.twitter.com/NBuMRawZDb ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2024

Patil earlier said that he would enter Mumbai but had camped outside Navi Mumbai with a sea of his supporters on Friday night. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde held meetings with officials over the activists demands and sent a delegation with a draft ordinance later at night.

The delegation consisted of social justice department secretary Sumant Bhange, Aurangabad divisional commissioner Madhukar Arangal, chief ministers personal secretary Amol Shinde and others.

Following the draft ordinance, Patil said Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has done a good job. Our protest is now over. Our request has been accepted. We will not accept the letter from him. I will drink juice by the hands of the Chief Minister tomorrow (Saturday).

#WATCH | Navi Mumbai: Maratha reservation activists celebrate after Manoj Jarange Patil announces to end the protests today as the government has accepted their demands pic.twitter.com/V1KxosEHRm ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2024

The Maratha activists celebrated in Navi Mumbai after Patil announced the end of his protests following the acceptance of his demands by the state government.

TOP UPDATES

The Maharashtra government on Saturday issued a notification to recognise as Kunbis all blood relatives of the Maratha community members whose Kunbi caste records have been found. It said the draft rules may be called the Maharashtra Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, De-Notified Tribes, Nomadic Tribes, Other Backward Classes and Special Backward Category (Regulation of Issuance and Verification of) Caste Certificate (Amendment) Rules, 2024. CM Eknath Shinde assured that Maratha Community that they will be given all the benefits given to the OBCs till the whole reservation issue is sorted. I give my word that all the promises made to Marathas will be fulfilled. No community will face any injustice while doing this, Shinde was quoted as saying by the Indian Express. Maharashtra CM Shinde congratulated the Maratha community for a successful and peaceful protest. Citing that he also belongs to a farmer family, Shinde said he knows the pain of poor Marathas. The chief minister said that he is fulfilling the oath he took in front of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. After ending his protest, the Maratha activist said that this four-month long struggle was for the Maratha reservation. More than 300 people committed suicide. We will not allow any rift between OBCs and Marathas, but they are trying to create a rift between us, but this will not happen. There is a lot of love between OBC and Marathas, we are all together he said while addressing his supporters. Activist Manoj Jarange Patil ended his fast in the presence of Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde on Saturday amid a huge spectating crowd of Patils supporters. CM Shinde offered Patil juice to end his indefinite hunger strike. The 40-year-old Maratha quota activist has called off his protest after getting a draft ordinance from the Shinde-led government regarding his demands. Maharashtra Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha said, A movement which was going on in Maharashtra for Maratha reservation under the leadership of Manoj Jarange Patil has reached a solution today He further noted that Patil announced the end of his protests as a solution to his demands was received. Minister Lodha noted that CM Shinde will break the Maratha activists fast by feeding him juice. However, clarifying his stance, Patil said We have not shunned our plans to march to Azad Maidan. We will go there to celebrate if the government issues all orders pertaining to our demands. If not, we will hold an indefinite hunger strike from tomorrow, he was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times. CM Eknath Shinde had sent a delegation to meet Patil with a draft ordinance on Friday night. Earlier, Patil had planned on a hunger at South Mumbais Azad Maidan after demanding amendments in the free education policy that would include all Marathas until the benefit of reservation becomes valid for all. Giving an ultimatum of 11 am to the government, Patil had said I am taking a step backward, adding that he had stopped having food from Friday and was only taking water. If an ordinance is (to meet his various demands) is not promulgated tonight, I will come to Mumbai tomorrow, he added. He had said that once he sets on his decision to go to Azad Maidan, then there will be no turning back. His demands asked for the free education policy to be amended such that the boys also get free education besides girls, and all Marathas should get free education from KG to PG (Kingergarten to post graduation) until the entire community gets reservation. Patil said that he has sought data of the 37 lakh Kunbi  agrarian community  certificates issued by the state government. Kunbi falls in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Patil has been asking for Kunbi certificates for all Marathas. The government has told me that 54 lakh Kunbi records (records showing that a Maratha person/family belongs to Kunbi community) have been found, of which 37 lakh certificates have been given. Who are these people? We need data, he said. He also noted that the government job recruitment process at the moment should be carried out by keeping some seats reserved for the Marathas. He also asked for withdrawal of cases filed against Maratha activists during these protests. Following Patils announcement of strike at Azad Maidan, a team of senior Mumbai police officials including Additional Commissioner of Police (Special Branch) Virendra Mishra, Additional Commissioner of Police (East) Vinayak Deshmukh and Deputy Commissioner of Police Purushottam Karad had gone to meet the 40-year-old activist. Following which, Patil said that they are cooperating with the police. Despite Mumbai Police denying him permission for a hunger strike in the city, Patil on Thursday had announced that he would commence his hunger strike at Azad Maidan from Friday.

What is Maratha Quota?

Manoj Jarange Patil came under the limelight in September 2023 when police used force to break up the crowd at his indefinite fast at Antarwali Sarati. He had later launched another round of fasting, which forced the state government to initiate discussions with him.

While the Marathas in the past have demanded reservation for the community in government jobs and education, Jarange is demanding Kumbi caste certificates for Marathas so that they can be included into the OBC groups.

The Kunbi community in the state is associated with agriculture-related occupation and are grouped under the OBC category. The other OBC groups have opposed the inclusion of Marathas in the OBC category for reservation benefits. While the Marathas make up 32% of the states population, OBCs comprise 52% and are fragmented into 382 castes in the state.

The demand for Maratha reservation has been going on for decades now. The demand for quota for Marathas began in 1981 when Mathadi Labour Union leader Annasaheb Patil staged a morcha in Mumbai in support of the proposal.

The Maharashtra government had earlier made the law to provide reservation in government jobs and admissions in educational institutes to the politically and numerically dominant Maratha community. However, the enacted law was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2021.

(With PTI inputs)
At least two people died every week in 2022 due to tiger attacks, according to data from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The data, analysed by News18, also shows that the number of deaths per year has increased five times between 2018 and 2022.

Among the states, Maharashtra has suffered most human deaths due to tiger attacks, accounting for about 70-75% in the last few years.

In 2022, there were exceptionally high human deaths due to tiger attacks when compared to the last few years. Out of the 112 people killed in 2022, 85 were from Maharashtra. Next in line was Uttar Pradesh with 11 such deaths.

According to the ministry, the main reasons for human-wildlife conflict included degradation of the habitat, depletion of the natural prey base, resource use in the wildlife habitat by human beings for various reasons as well as increase in population of wild animals due to sustained protection efforts.

As per the latest All India Tiger Estimation 2022 Report, the estimated tiger population in India is 3,682 (with lower limit 3,167 and upper limit 3,925). In 2018, tiger population in India was estimated to be 2,967 (being lower and upper limits 2,603 to 3,346). Tiger population is increasing at a rate of 6% per annum in India when compared from 2006 to 2018.

2022 Saw One Tiger Death Every Third Day

In 2022, 121 tigers died  one tiger every third day, according to the ministry data. Between 2018 and 2022, a total of 550 tigers died, making it 110 deaths annually on average.

At least 128 tigers died due to natural causes, while 114 died due to poaching. A total of 290 cases were under scrutiny as per latest details from the ministry.

Explaining the high rate of cases under scrutiny, the ministry said the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) follows a stringent protocol in assigning the cause of tiger death. It involves collection of visceral samples, post mortem of carcass, histopathological analysis, and circumstantial evidence.

Unless all the relevant documents and supporting documents are submitted by the states the tiger mortality cases are put under the category under scrutiny.
A golden history of Indias Independence movement is buried in Assams Patharighat, a town situated in Darrang district, located about 45 km away from Guwahti. It is the site of the Patharughat massacre, which occured on January 28, 1894 by the British during the peasant uprising, the day which is commemorated as the Krishak Swahid Divas.

The uprising, which most of us must have seen in Amir Khans Lagaan is the battle for revenue between the British and Indian farmers. The farmers of Patharighat, in Darrang district of Lower Assam revolted against the British Empire in January 28, 1894.

In the year 1833 the British Colonial government-imposed plough tax in Darrang district and an amount of Rs 3 was fixed as tax against every plough. In this way they had collected a sum of about Rs 41,000. The tax was later increased to Rs 5 making it unbearable for the farmers, who decided not to pay the unreasonable and illegal tax imposed on them.

A prominent historian and writer of Darrang district Nagendra Nath Sarma cited the incident, saying, After refused by the British authority, the farmers had no option but to revolt.

On January 28, 1894, all farmers gathered in a field at Patharighat. While the farmers were discussing on the issue in the meeting, Deputy Commissioner of Darrang JD Anderson, Superintendent of Police Barrington and SDO Remington reached the place and a huge force of police personnel accompanied them. The British officials clearly stated that British will not reduce the tax which triggered the farmers.

They started shouting against the British government, when situation became more tensed, following which SP Barrington ordered to fire and the police opened fire on the gathering present there. 140 farmers were killed on spot and about 150 were injured.

According to Nagendra Nath Sarma, Though initially 140 farmers declared death in that incident more people died later. However, the British suppressed the incident and because of their conspiracy this brutality of British remained unknown for rest of the state and country.

Probably after the incident, the British feared that if the news spread to other places there may be revolt. So, hurriedly they collected the bodies and buried in a single pit. following which it became a place of interest for both Hindus and Muslims.

The recognition and irony was such, that neither the state government nor any organization had taken any initiatives to pay proper tribute to these martyrs untill 2017. In 1994, AASU observed 100 years anniversary of this incident.

Sarbananda Sonowal was the leader of AASU by that time. After becoming CM of Assam, Mr. Sonowal officially arranged a special function to pay tribute to the martyrs officially and said that every student should know about this incident, about the Uprising of Patharighat.
Indias Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has left many visiting foreign leaders amazed at the technology. The latest to be smitten by the same is French President Emmanuel Macron.

I wouldnt forget the chai we (he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi) shared together, because this was a chai paid with UPI this is innovation, Macron mentioned in his speech at the official banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu for him at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Macron and Modi had kulhad tea at a shop near Hawa Mahal in Jaipur on Thursday. Modi paid for the tea using UPI on his phone. A surprised Macron watched on and noticed how Modi showed that the shop owner had also got a confirmation of the payment on his phone.

Macron also mentioned at the banquet on Friday that he was honoured to be part of such an important day (Indias Republic Day function) and said India and France had a strong relationship. We dont seem to be able to stay apart. Our meetings have warmth of friends meeting again, without losing the freshness of new discovery. You were in July in France and I am here in Delhi today, Macron said.

UPI Catches Fancy of Visiting Leaders

France has shown strong interest in adopting UPI from India. During his visit to France in July, Modi said India and France have agreed to use UPI payment mechanism which will begin from the iconic Eiffel Tower and Indian tourists in France will now be able to make payments in rupees. The international arm of the National Payments Corporation of India (NCPI) has also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Frances Lyra Network to accept UPI and RuPay.

Last year, Japanese Digital Minister Kona Taro was in India and had met some senior ministers like Ashwini Vaishnaw who advised him to check out the usage of UPI in India for himself. The Japanese minister went to a coffee shop in Khan Market, Delhi and was amazed to find everyone scanning QR codes there to make online payments. Upon his return to Japan, the minister immediately called for a high-level meeting to discuss the UPI issue for adoption.

A top government official told News18 that 35-40 countries are now considering adopting UPI with India being actively engaged with them on the issue. Japan was the latest to say last year that it was considering joining the UPI system. Other countries that have evinced interest in the UPI payments system include Bhutan, Malaysia, UAE, Nepal, France, the UK, Russia, Oman, Qatar, Australia, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, South Korea and Bahrain.
Embarking on a social media break might seem like a daunting task, especially when the allure of constant updates and the fear of missing out (FOMO) loom large. We have all been there, announcing our departure only to find ourselves scrolling through our feeds again within a day or two. But fear not, for taking a break is not an insurmountable challenge.

Lets see some down-to-earth strategies to make your social media hiatus a success, drawing insights from Dr Vishesh Kasliwal, CEO and founder of Medyseva, as reported by The Indian Express.

Set goals for your breakIts crucial to set clear goals for your break. Identify why youre stepping away, be it to reduce stress, boost productivity, or enhance mental health. Having these objectives in mind will keep you on track. Inform your online circle about your break; this not only manages expectations but also garners support from your digital community. Establish a specific timeframe for your hiatus, whether its a few days gap or for a couple of weeks. Minimise all the notificationsTo curb the incessant urge to check your apps, disable notifications. Minimise distractions and temptations during your break. Replace social media with alternative activities like picking up a hobby, reading a book, or spending quality time offline with friends and family. Take it a step further by uninstalling social media apps from your phone; the inconvenience will deter you from mindless scrolling. Do activities that dont involve social mediaCraft a schedule for your break, outlining activities that dont involve social media. Use this time for self-reflection, understanding your relationship with these platforms, identifying triggers, and contemplating long-term adjustments. If possible, meet friends face-to-face. Real-world interactions offer a refreshing break from the virtual world. In-person interactionTry to meet friends in person. Face-to-face interactions can help give you a refreshing break from all your virtual connections. Access benefits of the breakRegularly assess your progress and be open to adjustments. If certain aspects of your social media use negatively impact you, consider making permanent changes.

Taking a hiatus can lead to improved mental health by reducing exposure to negative news and online drama. With fewer interruptions, productivity often experiences a boost. Disconnecting from social media before bedtime can enhance sleep quality. Real-life connections flourish, fostering a sense of community beyond the digital realm. Minimising exposure to negative content contributes to lower stress levels and reduced anxiety. Stepping away also diminishes the inclination to compare oneself to others, promoting healthier self-esteem and a more positive self-perception.

In a world inundated with constant updates, taking a step back from social media can prove to be a transformative and beneficial experience. So, set those goals, inform your circle, and embark on a social media break tailored to your well-being.
A professional dancer from New York died after eating cookies bought from Stew Leonard, a popular supermarket in the USA. Orla Baxendale died on January 11 after she suffered an anaphylactic shock caused by a severe allergic reaction to peanuts that were in the mislabelled cookies. The peanut allergy is the most common cause of food-induced anaphylaxis. During anaphylaxis, the immune system triggers a flood of chemicals that can cause the body to go into shock. Cookie brand Stew Leonard has issued a recall of its Florentine cookies after it found that they contain undeclared peanuts and eggs.

Orlas attorneys said in a statement, published on January 24, Preliminary investigation has revealed that Orlas death occurred due to the gross negligence and reckless conduct of the manufacturer and/or sellers who failed to properly identify the contents of the cookie on the packaging. This failure in proper disclosure has led to this devastating yet preventable outcome.

Stew Leonards president and CEO Stew Leonard Jr. said in a statement that they are devastated by the news of Orlas death. He said the company was not notified of a change in the products recipe by the supplier. The CEO explained, We bought it (the cookies) from an outside supplier and unfortunately, the supplier changed the recipe and started going from soy nuts to peanuts and our chief safety officer here at Stew Leonards was never notified. He added, We have a very rigorous process that we use as far as labelling. We take labels very seriously, especially peanuts.

As per ABC News, the supermarket brand released an updated statement on Thursday and said that it is working with the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection and the supplier to determine the cause of the labelling error.

Connecticuts Department of Consumer Protection released a press note on January 23, warning consumers with nut allergies to immediately dispose of the cookies or return them to the point of sale and seek medical attention if necessary.

Department of Public Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani, emphasised the importance of correct labelling in a press statement and said, Correct labelling so that people who have food allergies can appropriately protect themselves is of utmost importance. I am devastated to learn of this incident and will work with partners to ensure that we can protect people with food allergies. I cannot stress enough the importance of food allergy awareness so that an avoidable tragedy like this doesnt happen again.
Wedding bells are ringing for Marathi actress Pooja Sawant and her boyfriend Siddesh Chavan. The lovebirds exchanged rings last year in November, and since then they have become the talk of the town. Fans are eager to know their wedding date. Amid the much-anticipated excitement among her fans, director Chandrakant Kanse added fuel to the buzz by revealing when Pooja Sawant and Siddesh Chavan are planning to get married. Chandrakant Kanse, who is an active user on social media, recently took to Instagram to wish Pooja on her 34th birthday. Along with the wishes, the director wrote that Pooja Sawant will tie the knot next month, that is February 2024.

Chandrakant Kanse shared a lengthy post in Marathi and wrote, The two wives seen in the above photo  sorry, one is a lady and the other is due next month. The ladys name is Renuka, and the due name is Pooja. If you look closely, both names are related to goddesses. So, these two goddesses came into my life, one as my dearest wife and the other as my dearest friend. The reason for writing so much today is that it is the last birthday of my best friend. Sorry, sorry, last birthday in independence, as she is getting married next month. So, I wish her a happy independent birthday.

He added, I will wish you good luck from next year  because from next year you will have the name husband around your neck, so live your last birthday in freedom today to your hearts content, have a lot of fun, and have a blast. You are not a girl who believes in bonds and fears anyone (except me) (sic).

Pooja Sawant replied to the post and expressed, Thank you so much Chandu sir. What a beautiful write up and only you can do it. I have no words to express my feelings. Stay by my side forever.

Before embarking on her acting career, Pooja Sawant won a beauty pageant for the Maharashtra Times Shrawanqueen in 2008. She is well-known for her remarkable performances in movies such as Vrundavan, Poshter Boyz, Junglee, and 1962: The War in the Hills, among others. The Marathi actress made her last appearance in the sequel to her 2015 Marathi film Daagadi Chawl 2 as Sonal.
Amazon has conquered a lot of aspects of our cultural and consumer world, but when it came to bricks-and-mortar bookstores, they biffed, big time. Every single physical location closed back in 2022.

In Kyle Chaykas terrific new book, Filterworld: How Algorithms Flattened Culture, he uses the failure of Amazons bookstores as an illustration to show the limited meaning algorithmic aggregation (like ratings) can provide. For example, Amazon stores had sections dedicated to books that were rated 4.5 and above, a metric thats meaningless independent of other information about the books. We dont look for books with a certain rating. We look for books that are about things were interested in, or that convey stories that grip our attention. In Filterworld, Chayka argues for the embrace of curation over aggregation as a way to bring yourself into better contact with the media and experiences youll find most meaningful.

I agree with Chaykas premise, which is why in honor of the failure of Amazons bookstores, and in the spirit of curation, Im going to give you some of my favorite books about bookstores.

For a year, Paul Collins moved his family to Hay-on-Wye in rural Wales, a town with fewer than 2,000 residents, but with 40 bookstores. Once there, he secures lodging above a bookstore and gets busy exploring the innumerable oddball books and oddball people of the town while in the midst of writing his own book, which becomes the book youre reading, Sixpence House: Lost in a Town of Books. A love letter to both the futility of thinking that your words will endure, and the awesome possibility that a book may be a bid for immortality.

In Praise of Good Bookstores by Jeff Deutsch, director of Chicagos Seminary Co-Op Bookstores, is a series of ruminations on and explorations of what it truly means to collect a bunch of books under one roof through a series of individual acts of curation. In Deutschs view this results in the good bookstore, an indispensable part of the community in which is exists. I think patrons of the Seminary Co-Op Stores will agree with this sentiment.

Have you ever fantasized about moving to Tuscany and opening a small bookshop thats doomed to failure, but manages to catch the fancy of people near and far and becomes a going concern that fills your life with the great joy of interacting with the stores customers and volunteers, while being surrounded by books you love? Well, Alba Donati beat you to it and collected her experiences in the slim and charming Diary of a Tuscan Bookshop. Am I jealous of Donati? Yes.

The essays in Josh Cooks The Art of Libromancy: On Selling Books and Reading Books in the Twenty-First Century add up to a treatise on the ways commerce shapes what and how we read. Cook manages to simultaneously make you appreciate the romantic side of books and reading, while also recognizing the ways this romantic side may exclude some groups from being able to access the unique pleasures of books.

Finally, as an antidote to the romance of book selling, we have Shaun Bythells The Diary of a Bookseller, which describes what it is like to be both seduced and trapped by books as Bythell tries to make his used book shop in a small Scottish hamlet of Wigtown work without driving himself batty. The aged building is crumbling. The customers are difficult. The work is dirty and dusty. As the diary entries pile up, we get an intimate portrait of how close observation can render our ordinary lives, extraordinary.

Each bookstore unique. Each bookstore story, special.

John Warner is the author of Why They Cant Write: Killing the Five-Paragraph Essay and Other Necessities.

Twitter @biblioracle

Book recommendations from the Biblioracle

John Warner tells you what to read based on the last five books youve read.

1. The Lost Man by Jane Harper

2. Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver

3. Mating by Norman Rush

4. The Story of Bones by Donna Cousins

5. The Anomaly by Herve Le Tellier

 Donna V., Chicago

For Donna I want a satisfying novel that maybe also turns up a surprise or two. Im going with Jim Craces Being Dead, which is both a murder mystery and not a murder mystery.

1. The Burning of the World: The Great Chicago Fire and the War for a Citys Soul by Scott W. Berg

2. Killers of The Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann

3. Andrew Jackson: His Life and Times by H.W. Brands

4. Stealing Lincolns Body by Thomas J. Craughwell

5. To Rescue the Republic: Ulysses S. Grant, the Fragile Union, and the Crisis of 1876? by Bret Baier and Catherine Whitney

 Russ W., Naples, Florida

Clearly, I have to find some interesting work of history. How about Great White Fathers: The Story of the Obsessive Quest to Create Mount Rushmore the full telling of the complicated story of that national landmark by John Taliaferro.

1. Big Vape: The Incendiary Rise of Juul by Jamie Ducharme

2. The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession by Michael Finkel

3. The Accidental President: Harry S. Truman and the Four Months That Changed the World by A.J. Baime

4. A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klans Plot to Take Over America and the Woman Who Stopped Them by Timothy Egan

5. The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelts Darkest Journey by Candice Millard

 Peggy H., Woodstock, Illinois

Peggy needs a book that she can discuss with her reading companion, and while they lean toward history, theyre not exclusive about it. How about an all-time classic that gets underneath the story we all think we know well, but probably not as well as we think: All the Presidents Men by Carl Bernstein and Robert Woodward.

Get a reading from the Biblioracle

Send a list of the last five books youve read and your hometown to biblioracle@gmail.com.
The armed conflict in Chiapas is spreading beyond the states borders. While federal and local governments continue to talk about peace, evidence that large sections of Mexicos poorest state are under the control of drug traffickers is mounting daily, contradicting this official narrative. The Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG, in its Spanish acronym), the two most powerful criminal groups in Mexico, are fighting a turf war for control over this southern region in a conflict that has taken an especially heavy toll on the civilian, peasant and indigenous population. The consequences of the violence are also beginning to spread to the international sphere: tourist agencies in France, the United Kingdom and Belgium have decided to stop taking clients to the Lacandon Jungle, while across the border in neighboring Guatemala, authorities have reported incursions and gun battles between members of the CJNG and government forces.

This week, ATC Touroperadores, which describes itself as the first tourist agency operating in Chiapas since 1984, announced that the French, British and Belgian agencies that we represent have decided to stop taking tourists anywhere in the Lacandon area, one of the states main attractions. In justifying its decision, the company said that for more than three months, the tourism environment has been drastically disrupted in certain regions of Chiapas as a result of situations that took place in the past two weeks involving three groups of French tourists, though the agency did not providing any further details about these situations.

However, in the same statement, which was shared on the companys social media, ATC mentions incidents involving foreign tourists in which company vehicles were forced to advance through rock-throwing and gunfire. In the statement, the company also refers to threats and extortion by organized crime: Armed men, armed to the teeth, will say: You can pass through here with tourists, but you have to pay, and then they tell you what time you can enter Bonampak [an archaeological site]  in their cars, of course, which you also pay for  and then tell you that you also have to pay a security guard, with the title of tourist guide, who accompanies you the whole time, and then they ask you for a thousand pesos and you cant negotiate anything, because the person is carrying a pistol on his belt and theres a guy behind him with a rifle, and so you pay either way, and if theres an operation, then they dont let you through at all.

And then, the statement continues, you realize that the Lacandon and Chol natives have an offensive force capable of confronting the Mexican Army and the National Guard, and so you say, loud and in the open: This state is screwed! The affected area, where ATC says it will no longer operate, is home to the Mayan archaeological sites Yaxchilan and Bonampak, among other attractions. The US State Department advises citizens to exercise increased caution to due to crime if traveling to the State of Chiapas.

The violence spreads to Guatemala

More and more, Guatemala views its shared border with Mexico with apprehension. Authorities in the Central American country have alerted Mexicos Foreign Ministry to the growing presence of CJNG members in their territory. The criminal group has gained strength in the region of Frontera Comalapa and Motozintla, municipalities linked by a highway that the cartel blocks and unblocks at will, using its own checkpoints. The population is fleeing the area, displaced by the violence and a lack of protection in the absence of a significant state presence, and spurred by fears of being killed or forcibly recruited by organized crime.

Specifically, in recent weeks, the CJNG set up a checkpoint on the border between Motozintla, on the Mexican side, and in Canton Cheguate, on the Guatemalan side. According to the Mexican newspaper Milenio, the criminals were heavily armed and wore bulletproof vests. According to the outlet, those same cartel members were involved in the initial confrontation with Guatemalan armed forces that took place during the second week of January, when an armed unit of the cartel crossed into Guatemala and clashed with a military unit, which returned fire and managed to capture two of the attackers. Both confessed to being from Chiapas and belonging to the CJNG. The police also located two safe houses.

Guatemala has deployed 2,000 military personnel to Canton Cheguate. The strategy is part of an operation that has been underway for months, aimed at reinforcing the border in the face of disorder and violence in Chiapas. Last September, Guatemalan authorities announced the deployment of more than 300 soldiers to the Department of San Marcos, which shares a border with Motozintla, Amatenango de la Frontera and Mazapa de Madero in Mexico. In December, 10 Guatemalan chicken sellers disappeared in Frontera Comalapa. They were never heard from again.

Chiapas has yet to get a break from the violence as it deals with the daily consequences of the infiltration of organized crime, with no government counterweights others than an increasing militarization that has not managed  or, according to many human rights organizations working on the ground, has not even tried  to tackle the problem. The population displaced by the violence is in the thousands, while massacres have become part of the daily vocabulary and the region suffers a growing sense of abandonment  a sense that the only law governing the territory is the one imposed by drug traffickers.

Even the Church has raised its voice in open protest. This is how the Diocese of San Cristobal de las Casas summarized the situation in a message published this Thursday: We unite our voices in protest to testify to the endless abuses and injustices that our towns and communities are experiencing, especially the insecurity, violence and territorial disputes provoked by organized crime, in the face of which all three levels of government are either overwhelmed, permissive, or colluding in the system of control that these groups exercise in Mexico [...] This has had very serious consequences for our municipalities and our communities, including: violence and confrontations between armed groups and drug traffickers, which result in kidnappings, disappearances, forced displacements of people and entire families, as well as the loss of assets and savings that these families have earned through so much effort [...] On top of this  out of fear of reprisals, impunity and the non-exercise of the rule of law  people do not want to report crimes to the authorities. This has also created power struggles between organizations that have been manipulated by political parties, caciquismo, and corrupt local officials and businessmen.
With the Bigg Boss 17 finale just around the corner, fans are eagerly anticipating the announcement of the winner. The remaining five contestants, Arun Mashetty, Ankita Lokhande, Abhishek Kumar, Munawar Faruqui, and Mannara Chopra, are vying for the coveted title.

This season was filled with drama, from heated arguments to controversies, such as the clash between Abhishek and Isha Malviya and complaints from Anurag Dobhal. Amidst the chaos, Ankita Lokhande and Vicky Jains relationship also remained in the spotlight, marked by constant disagreements, discussions about Sushant Singh Rajput, special treatment from the Bigg Boss team, and even pregnancy speculations. Lets delve into the journey of the Pavitra Rishta star in the Bigg Boss house.

Ankita Lokhandes Repeated Fights With Husband Vicky Jain

The clashes between husband and wife Vicky Jain and Ankita Lokhande started in the second week itself when the actress expressed feeling emotionally neglected by her businessman husband. She requested him to invest more time and support, to which he initially agreed. However, their relationship took a sour turn, leading to multiple heated arguments. These conflicts took an emotional toll on Ankita, who was seen breaking down during several intense exchanges. In one of the episodes, Ankita also asked Vicky if he wanted to take a break from her.

When a Massive Secret About Ankita and Vickys Marriage Was Revealed

While sitting with Isha Malviya, Abhishek Kumar and others, Ankita Lokhande once disclosed the true motive behind her and Vicky Jains participation in Bigg Boss 17. She revealed that Vicky is a passionate fan of the Salman Khan show and had expressed his desire to be a part of it. During another instance, Ankita even shared that their time in the BB house marked the longest duration she and Vicky Jain have spent together. It was then revealed that the couple does not live together otherwise. While Ankita lives in Mumbai, Vicky stays in Bilaspur.

When Ankita Was Accused of Seeking Sympathy

Ankita Lokhande candidly discussed her ex-boyfriend, late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, on multiple occasions in the Bigg Boss house. In a media interaction on the show, Ankita emphasised that she doesnt bring up Sushant to seek sympathy. Instead, she stated that she talks about the positive aspects of his personality with a sense of pride.

When Ankita and Vickys Special Treatments Were Exposed

Bigg Boss once exposed Ankita and Vickys special treatment in the house after fellow contestants observed changes in their appearance. It was later found out that the couple were receiving hair treatments and spa services, which left other participants upset. However, Neil Bhatt informed the housemates that Vicky uses a hair patch that needs to be changed every two weeks. This revelation led to a mutual decision among the contestants to discontinue Ankitas services, while Vicky was exempted as it involved a medical procedure.

When Ankita Lokhande Sparked Pregnancy Rumours

In one of the earlier episodes, Ankita Lokhande informed Vicky Jain that she missed her menstrual cycle and was feeling nauseous. She shared her concerns about the unusual feelings. Later, Ankita was even called to the medical room where she took a pregnancy test, but the results came out negative. Despite this outcome, she continued feeling ill.
The highly anticipated Bigg Boss 17 grand finale is almost here and the tension is building. Locked inside the house for over three months, the journey of the final contestants has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride, filled with drama, laughter, fights and unexpected twists. Heres everything you must know about the grand finale of Salman Khans show:

When And Where To Watch Bigg Boss 17 Grand Finale?

The Grand Finale is set to be a spectacle, and fans can catch all the action on Jio Cinema and Colors TV on January 28, Sunday. The finale of the controversial reality show will be six hours long and will begin at 6 pm on Sunday.

Five contestants competing for the trophy are  Abhishek Kumar, Ankita Lokhande, Abhishek Kumar, Mannara Chopra, and Arun Mahashetty. Voting lines for the Bigg Boss 17 winner are currently open. Reportedly, the winner is

expected to get Rs 30-40 lakh as prize money. Besides the trophy, the winner will also receive a car.

Adding to the excitement, the Grand Finale will feature special performances. A star-studded lineup of entertainers will take the stage, adding glamour and glitz to a thrilling night.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by ColorsTV (@colorstv)

View this post on Instagram A post shared by ColorsTV (@colorstv)

View this post on Instagram A post shared by ColorsTV (@colorstv)

One cannot ignore the fact that staying in the Bigg Boss house isnt a piece of cake. Its rigorous and can sometimes get mentally and physically exhausting. Over the years, contestants have broken down inside the house, demanding early exit.

This season also witnessed some brutal fights, personal relationships took the ugliest turns and friendships ended after fights. From Ankita Lokhande-Vicky Jains constant arguments and Abhishek-Isha-Samarths love triangle to Munawar Faruqui getting accused of two-timing, some of the most controversial things happened inside the house this year.

The tasks also werent a walk in the park and were designed to test the contestants. Their physical endurance, mental strength and ability to native through complex situations. From heart-pounding challenges to emotional confrontations, the contestants faced it all. Not everything that happened in the house was bad, it also witnessed laughter echoing through its walls and friendships blooming amidst the chaos.
One of the most talked-about and controversial reality shows, Bigg Boss 17, is in its final stages and is gearing up for a grand finale. Known for hitting the headlines for contestants, interesting tasks, controversies, and all the drama, the show has managed to capture the audiences attention from the very beginning. Now that fans are eagerly waiting for the finale episode, with everyone having chosen their own favourite contestants, a group of celebrities has also come forward, sending their support. Among them is Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez, who was recently rooting for Munawar Faruqui.

Munawar, one of the strongest contenders for the winners trophy, is quite a favourite among many. From his personal life becoming the hot topic of discussion inside the house to serious allegations against him, the stand-up comedians journey inside the house was indeed a dramatic one. Now that the Bigg Boss 17 grand finale is approaching, the Bollywood actress was seen showing her support for Munawar.

Taking to her Instagram story, Jacqueline shared a poster of the voting page along with the link and urged fans to vote for him.

Notably, Jacqueline is not the first actor to come out in support of Munawar. Earlier, many other stars were seen rooting for the stand-up comedian.

Rapper Badshah, in a recent appeal, took to his social media and shared a video, asserting that Munawar will win Bigg Boss. He further shared the voting link and urged fans to vote for him. Waise to mujhe kehne ki zarurat nahi hai, lekin Bigg Boss mein Munawar hi jeetega, he said.

Shame on @Its_BadshahWho is supporting anti hindu munawar FARUQI pic.twitter.com/3UTA5jcm36 Rebel  (@Rebel_1star) January 25, 2024

On the other hand, Rapper King, known for his song Tu Maan Meri Jaan was also seen supporting Munawar and encouraging fans to vote for him. In a video shared on social media, he said, Hello, everyone, this is King, and I dont usually do this, but its about my brother from another mother. So, you must have been following Bigg Boss. Waha pe mera bhai Hai Munawar, and if you think he deserves to win the show, then please click the link below for him. And in case you are not following the show, still click the link and vote for him.

Besides the music sensations, stars like Karan Kundrra, Prince Narula, MC Stan, Karanvir Bohra, and Suyyash Rai, among others, have also shown their strong support for Munna aka Munawar.

For the unversed, the Bigg Boss 17 grand finale will take place on Sunday, 28 January.
Bobby Deol is celebrating his 55th birthday on Saturday, January 27. On this special day, the makers of his upcoming movie Kanguva surprised all by releasing the first-look poster of the actor. In the poster, Bobby Deol looked ruthless, powerful, unforgettable. He sported long untidy hair and a necklace of bones with blood marks on it. Deol was also seen surrounded by hundreds of people as he kept a stern look on his face.

Read More: Bobby Deol Turns Ruthless, Powerful In FIRST Look Poster From Suriyas Kanguva | Check Here

Chiranjeevi was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan Award on Thursday, January 24. Chiranjeevi is among the five people this year to have been honoured with Padma Vibhushan, the second-highest civilian honour awarded for exceptional and distinguished service. While director Ram Gopal Varma expressed his joy for the veteran actor, there is a catch!

Read More: Ram Gopal Varma UPSET With Padma Vibhushan Award 2024 Winners: If Chiranjeevi Gaaru Is

Bobby Deol was spotted in town, posing and interacting with paps on his birthday when a fan joined him and asked him for a selfie. Bobby politely obliged and took her phone to take the photo. However, as he took the photo, the woman kissed him on his cheeks, shocking everyone. Bobby Deols fans have reacted to the video, expressing their shock and anger.

Read More: Bobby Deol Fans SHOCKED As Woman Kisses Animal Star While Taking A Selfie: She Should Be Jailed

Nitesh Tiwaris Ramayana has been making headlines for a long time now for its interesting casting. While it is no secret that Ranbir Kapoor will be playing the role of Ram in the film, it has now been reported that Sunny Deol will play Hanuman in the movie.

Read More: Sunny Deol CONFIRMED As Hanuman In Ranbir Kapoor Starrer Ramayana; Details About Role Revealed

Vicky Jain hosted several parties at his house following his eviction from Bigg Boss 17 recently. Several pictures from the party in which Vicky was seen posing with Isha Malviya, Ayesha Khan, Sana Khan and actress-influencer Purva Rana went viral on social media, leaving Ankita Lokhandes fans in shock. This news has now reached Ankita Lokhande, thanks to the shows latest guest, Rohit Shetty.

Read More: Ankita Lokhande REACTS As Rohit Shetty Teases About Vickys Romantic Photo: Thappad Hi Khayega
Bobby Deol has been getting an overwhelming response for his performance in the last released film Animal. The actor was even emotional when fans lauded him as Lord Bobby. Well, today he has turned a year older. He is celebrating his 55th birthday and wishes are pouring in from all corners. Esha Deol has also wished him well and shared a heartfelt note.

Taking to her official Instagram handle, Esha shared a photo of Bobby Deol with Abrar music in the background. She wrote, Happy Birthday Bahiya! So proud of you. Earlier in the day, Sunny Deol also sent him wishes. Sunny shared a series of pictures with his brother and called him My Lil Lord Bobby. In the first picture, the two brothers were seen sharing a warm hug. Another photo was was duos recent appearance on Karan Johars chat show, Koffee With Karan 8. One of the pictures also featured the actors posing with their father, veteran actor Dharmendra.

Check out the wish here:

On this special day, the makers of his upcoming movie Kanguva surprised all by releasing the first-look poster of the actor. In the poster, Bobby Deol looked ruthless, powerful, unforgettable. He sported long untidy hair and a necklace of bones with blood marks on it. Deol was also seen surrounded by hundreds of people as he kept a stern look on his face.

Kanguva marks Bobby Deols Tamil debut. In December 2023, the actor shared that his character in the Suriya-starrer goes beyond his usual comfort zone. This role is definitely out of my comfort zone, also I dont know the language, so that is again totally out of my zone. I cant even learn Tamil in a month or two, but I will work on it, he told India Today.

Featuring Suriya and Disha Patani as the titular characters, the film is directed by Siva, the creator of many blockbuster hits in his career. Other star casts of the film will be revealed in due course. The film features cinematography by Vetri Palanisamy and musical score by Rockstar Devi Sri Prasad. Reportedly, Suriya has wrapped up shooting for the film.
Mouni Roy is celebrating her second wedding anniversary with her husband Suraj Nambiar. On this special day, the Brahmastra actress took to her Instagram handle and shared a series of never-seen-before pictures with her baby. While some of the pictures were from the couples wedding ceremony, one of the clicks also saw Suraj planting a kiss on his ladyloves cheeks. It looked like from one of their Karwa Chauth celebration.

In the caption of her post, Mouni wrote, 2 years married, 730 days of countless memories, & 63,072,000 seconds of me talking and you pretending to listen Happy anniversary baby  Wuvv you! Check it out here:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by mon (@imouniroy)

Soon after the pictures were shared, fans and friends rushed to the comments section to shower love on the couple. While Tiger Shroff dropped a red-heart emoji, Disha Patani also called them Most beautiful couple. Shraddha Arya, Arjun Bijlani, Sonam Bajwa, Pulkit Samrat, Karan Tacker, Drashti Dhami and Aashka Goradia Goble also congratulated the couple. Sayantani Ghosh, who worked with Mouni in Naagin, also commented, Congrats and lots of love to you guys  God bless you.

Mouni Roy tied the knot in 2022 to Dubai-based businessman and investment banker Suraj Nambiar. Last year, in an exclusive interview with News18 Showsha, the actress talked about her love story when Suraj when she said, I am a hard-core romantic person. I believe in old school romance and for me writing letters and having long conversations over the phone is romantic. Suraj and I have known each other for five years and it was very organic with us. It was a typical boy-meets-girl and we realised that we complement each other in many ways.

Mouni Roy has come a long way ever since she made her television debut with Ekta Kapoors Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. She became a popular name after she starred in Naagin. Mouni made her Bollywood debut with Akshay Kumars Gold in 2018. In 2022, Mounis performance in Ayan Mukerjis magnum opus, Brahmastra was also widely appreciated. Recently, she was also seen in a music video titled Dotara along with Jubin Nautiyal. She was also a part of Temptation Island India recently.
India celebrated its 75th Republic Day on January 26, 2024. The celebrations, held at Kartavya Path, showcased Indias rich cultural diversity, military prowess and Nari Shakti. The French President, Emmanuel Macron attended the event as the chief guest. Bollywood actor, Ayushamann Khurrana posted videos of the parade while enjoying the Republic Day in Delhi. Similarly, other celebrities also wished their fans, Happy Republic Day in their own style. While some posted photos of the Indian flag others shared snaps of Republic Day events in the country. On this occasion, the Marathi actresses were also not far behind in wishing their fans on this auspicious occasion. Let us take a look at some of the Marathi actresses who wished their fans on this day.

Pooja Birari

Pooja Birari is now one of the most popular Marathi serial actresses. As per media reports, the actress rejected the offer to study in London and decided to pursue acting. She started her career as a model and stepped into the TV industry with Zee Yuva Channels Marathi serial Saajna in 2019. The actress attended a Republic Day event on January 26. She posted a photo in which she was wearing a white shirt and was seen holding the Indian flag in her hands. The actress wished her fans  Happy Republic Day. Take a look at the post,

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pooja Birari (@biraripooja)

Sonali Khare

Sonali Khare is an actress who has proved her mettle in the film industry as well as the STV industry. The actress is popularly known for her roles in Prabhas starrer Adipurush, the Marathi thriller film Sawarkhed: Ek Gaav (2004), and the Hindi drama Crashh (2021). On the eve of Republic Day, the actress posted a photo in which is seen hoisting an Indian flag. The actress wore a white sleeveless salwar kurta. Take a look at the post

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sonnali K khare (@iamsonalikhare)

Urmila Nibalkar

Marathi actress Urmila who debuted with the Hindi serial Diya Aur Baati Hum in 2011 has wished her fans Republic Day in a unique way. Instead of posting her photo, she uploaded a picture of a kid who is wearing a shirt which says  I Love India. The actress is now a full-time YouTube content creator. Take a look at the post.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Urmila| Actor Marathi Youtuber (@urmilanimbalkar)

The netizens called the kid cute and wished her Happy Republic Day in return under the comment section of the post. Marathi Actresses Pooja Sawant and Smita Gondkar also wished their fans through Instagram posts.
Indias first-ever strategic partnership was with France, signed on January 26, 1998. Twenty-five years after that, a French President is in India, reinforcing the already established ties when New Delhi is known as a global commercial player and is looking to emerge as a military supplier.

In 1998, just days after the relations were elevated, India carried out its nuclear explosions. Though France collectively condemned it along with other countries of the western world, it did not impose any sanctions.

What highlights the ties? The country had always understood Indias position and posture in the world. India, being the largest democracy in the world, could never be ignored by any free and democratic country. France recognised it from the very beginning.

India has emerged as a successful example of a modern and free nation since its independence in 1947. It has maintained its independent global geopolitical stature by following policies like the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) or the Global South Initiative or demand for a multipolar, multilateral world.

Indira Gandhi imposed Emergency in India in 1975 that was criticised around the free, western world. Yet Jacques Chirac was the Republic Day Chief Guest in 1976. France was the key player that pushed for the Nuclear Suppliers Groups waiver for India in 2008 for its civil nuclear deal programme.

A French President is in India again this year to relive the age-old trusted ties.

SIGNIFICANT TIME FOR THE VISIT

France was angered at the AUKUS deal. According to the deal signed, France was to supply 12 conventional submarines to Australia in a multi-billion-dollar agreement. Meanwhile, secretly, the US, the UK, and Australia were discussing a partnership on nuclear submarines. The deal was announced in September 2021. It basically meant that the deal with France was cancelled. French newspapers called it duplicity and treason. France said Australia betrayed it.

India is angered at the stand taken by the US and Canada. The UK, the US, and Canada have significant numbers of Khalistani separatists residing on their soil. Many of them are declared terrorists in India, like Sikhs for Justices Gurpatwant Singh Pannu. They keep spreading anti-India venom while staying in the US, the UK, and Canada. They keep demonstrating in front of, and sometimes, vandalise Indias High Commissions and embassies. They threaten India and Indian diplomats. They vandalise Hindu temples. Yet seldom we see credible action taken against them, despite Indias repeated appeals.

Pannu being a free man in the US or Canada or letting go of Talwinder Singh Parmar, the mastermind of the Air India Kanishka bombing of 1985, raises valid questions. The flight in 1985, travelling from Canada to India via London, exploded midway, killing all 329 on board. It had mostly Indian or Indian-origin passengers. The case against Parmar was so weak that he was soon released. Canada allegedly had prior information of the attack, but failed to act on the information.

Indias democracy is considered a functional role model across the world with a successful and transparent electoral process. It is the worlds most populous nation. It is the worlds fifth-largest economy. Soon, it will be the third largest. It is the worlds fastest-growing major economy and is expected to remain so for many years to come. A developing country that is working to become developed by 2047, when it completes 100 years of independence. It is known as the voice of the Global South. It pushed the African Unions inclusion in the G20 bloc.

So, when the US and Canada allege that India or Indian officials were involved in the murder of a Khalistani terrorist in Canada or attempted murder of a Khalistani terrorist in the US, and demand India to act, at the same time, they should also respect the Indian governments demand to take action against Khalistani terrorists active there. They dont do it but expect India to follow suit.

That should not be the case anymore, it is Indias message to the outside world. It is a give-and-take policy that matters in a geopolitical environment. It is mostly driven by the internal concerns of the participating nations. Though we cannot link US President Joe Biden saying no to this Republic Day event to Indias alleged involvement in the murder or attempted murder of a Khalistani terrorist, at the same time, it was expected that when India clarified that it was not involved and it was not its policy approach to do, the US and Canada should have given a full stop to this discussion further.

SOVEREIGNTY IS THE CORE

France and India started diplomatic relations in 1947 and it has strengthened over the years. Six French leaders, including Macron, have been Republic Day Chief Guests so far. That is the highest for any country. From India, former prime minister Manmohan Singh and current Prime Minister Narendra Modi were invited to the Bastille Day Parade, a national holiday in France to celebrate its national day.

During PM Modis visit, Horizon 2047, the document to further strengthen ties for the next 25 years, was adopted. The future roadmap is focused on Indias sovereignty and its need for Atmanirbharta in critical sectors like advanced tech in defence, space, civil nuclear, and digital pushes. The focus is on co-development and not dependence on crude import with know-how exclusively to remain with the supplier country only.

Respect for sovereignty is at the core of the India-France ties. They understand internal matters of every country are judged by it only with no room for any external interference but not many countries in the western and rich world bloc share this view. Internal compulsions many times put external policy decisions and both India and France accept it, but not many countries in the western and rich world bloc share this view.

That means the external policy communication of India and France is silent on internal incidents that other countries of the western world would like to speak on like the US reports international religious freedoms or different democracy or press freedom indexes.
For how long can a falsehood be glorified and sold as truth? For how long can history be made to wear a burkha? For how long can the cap of deceit be worn to prevent India from its Bharatiya identity? The idea of India, coined by past historians and felicitated by the Congress party after the Partition, is a con job of great magnitude. It was the lie that was thrust into our mindsets to make us glorify an invaded past by foreign plunders and looters, who came to reign, destroy, bully, hurt, convert and try their best to erode our ancient culture. Sadly, in our schools, we were only taught about those people and their ancestors.

To make that false narrative of brotherhood and the notion of a truly blended culture saleable, a term was coined and it began to be called the Ganga Jamuna Tehzeeb. This new term gave the impression that India was the land of a synchronised culture of sorts, where a foreign, forced and indoctrinated religion that arrived with our invaders, blended seamlessly with our centuries-old traditions and culture, resulting in a cultural ecosystem that has thrived for centuries in its bi-religious environment.

Shall I call this a lie, a misconception or merely a narrative to diminish the strength, depth, reality and existence of the age-old Hindu religion and culture in its original land and geography?

The lies even extended to our language. Urdu, a blended language, was given legitimacy as though it was a twin to Hindi, and above Sanskrit. Akbar, the Badshah was given precedence over the Maharana Prataps and Shivajis of Bharat. The Taj Mahal and not the beautiful Dilwara Jain Temples, exquisitely carved in pure white marble and an architectural wonder, became known as a wonder of the world. The Taj Mahal became synonymous with India and our splendid temples of the south of India were put aside from mention. The post-independence political appeasement extended to our Hindu Bhajans too where Ishwar and Allah took the context of Ram and Shyam.

The ridiculous and absurd idea and theory of India, a gimmick was sold and proliferated by the Congress party to dilute the pride of the Hindus only to appease the Muslims. The Hindu elite of New Delhi, mostly those from Lutyens neighbourhood, got so swayed by the falsehood and narrative the Congress was creating about the idea of India that those from Lutyens Delhi became ambassadors of the idea. Most still hold their faith in that lie till now.

Some Congress politicians have even gone to the extent of glorifying the Mughals by saying that they were not conquerors but one of us since they did not plunder and leave, but stayed in India for generations together! Which sensible invader would ever want to leave a land that promised every goodness on Earth? Which plunderer would let the golden goose fly away? Which conqueror would ever want to give up land where they could forcibly convert masses of people to follow their Islam through force, torture, fear and reprimand?

In recent decades, Delhis Khan Market became the Burra Bazaar of the most distorted thoughts and beliefs which Indias students, particularly Hindus from elite urban backgrounds, easily gobbled up like chaat. They were the lot who were brainwashed into loving the so-called idea of the combined tehzeeb to the extent that removing Aurangzebs name from an elite road in Lutyens Delhi and replacing it with the name of a much respected and loved President, APJ Abdul Kalam, irked them no end. Such a mentality became rampant since it was promoted and encouraged by the Congress who had more love for the Mughals than for India and more respect for evil conquerors like Khilji, Babur and Aurangzeb, than Indian Hindu sentiments.

It was only the BJP, a nation-loving, nationalistic political party which made it their mission to undo the past and return India to its lost glory. The only reason Aurangzebs name was not removed by the Congress party was because they believed that their exercise to make the Indian Muslims feel a special affinity towards the Mughals, the gifters of Islam to them had been so successful that removing the name of that terrible man would hamper their Muslim votes and negate their covert initiative to influence the Indian Muslims into believing that the Mughals were their people. Their hopeless mindset was so putrid that they, the Congress, wanted to ensure that the Mughals were continuously glorified at any cost. Even if our once Hindu Muslim converts felt no affinity towards the Mughals, the Congress party did all to somehow make them feel as if they were from Mughal blood and Aurangzeb was their beloved king as was Babur, the ruler who gave them their most important mosque!

It is ironical that for the Lutyens lot and pseudo-secular Indians, it was okay that our Ram temple had been destroyed by Babur, but it was not okay when the Babri masjid was demolished. The act of the destruction of the Babri masjid, for them, was a crime and a shame for India; a moment that would tarnish the reputation of Hindu-majority India, forever.

India that is Bharat, fully emerged as Bharat on January 22, 2024. That ridiculous idea of India once sold as Indias social and cultural foundation has finally been buried. January 22 was a day for the Indian civilisation to rejoice and revel, party and pray, holiday and heal. When people ask what Narendra Modi and the BJPs biggest contribution to India has been, one can proudly say that they have given to India what was once beyond our dreams or expectations  the return of our Ram Temple in Shri Rams own Janmabhoomi. PM Modi has ensured the strong return of Bharats Hindu identity, Hindu values, Hindu sense of nationalism, Hindu religious comfort, Hindu sense of brotherhood and so much more. He has cleared our heads and eradicated forever any confusion about who we are and what our identity is.

India, instead of being known for its Hindu identity, was presented as a secular nation, as if secularism was equal to a singular national identity and secularism preceded the Ramayana and Mahabharata. As if secularism denoted the religious and cultural genetics of India and was our tradition and history. Look how secularism was sold to overshadow Indias identity as the worlds only Hindu-majority nation or its Hindu character. Instead of being a Hindu nation, we took on a multi-religious identity. Instead of being defined by Sanskrit or Hindi, we became a multi-lingual democracy where Urdu became more significant at a national level than many other Indian languages. This led to repercussions. It caused a rift between the states and the Indian nation where some states vociferously began to reject the national language, Hindi, on the pretext that recognition of Hindi as Bharats common language would diminish the value and significance of their own languages.

Everything was tried by the Congress under Nehru to devalue, diminish and desecrate the Hindu civilisation and its vintage identity, from day one of Indias independence. The purpose was to create an environment which made India appear as if it was only born in 1947 and was a gift from the Moghuls to the Congress. The Congress then sold the notion that Bharat and Moghul India were an inseparable partnership since time immemorial, hence their proximity could never be separated.

On January 22, 2024, India, that is Bharat proudly defined itself in a manner befitting its greatness. We can now proudly say that we are Bharat, the land of Hinduism and Lord Ram, without worries about what anyone will think, because it is the whole truth, our original identity and our permanent introduction.

When an identity is returned, any fear or complexity from the past gets removed. Thank you, dear Prime Minister, for unburdening us of our centuries-old and post-independence complex of if we wear our Hindu identity with pride then we might not appear secular or that we cannot pride in our religion and culture since it might make the minorities feel inadequate and unequal Indians thought.

Prime Minister Modi has returned to us everything we were nearly forgetting. We are back to recognising our ancestry and antecedents and are unfearful of saying Jai Shree Ram, Jai Jai Shree Ram, a call that once echoed on Bharats soil and would escape into the skies above Ayodhya.

Today, if you ask an Indian about his culture, his answer will not be confused as it was before. Earlier, he thought Indias culture could not be separated from Indias Mohammedan and Mughal history and this knowledge came from the biased and politically pleasing education curriculum, set by the Congress, which was more bothered about the inclusiveness of Mughal history rather than the memory and glory of our great kings and warriors. It was more important to teach us the ancestry of the Mughals than to acquaint us with our famous temples, our historical structures and our discoveries and contributions in the fields of medicine, math, astrology and science.

Akbar was made an icon and Maharaja Ranjit Singh was forgotten. This was the irony we have now overcome. The books that we read as students were specially commissioned so that they would ensure that the glory and importance of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was relegated to the space of a region and not the entire India, which he had protected from the north to the south against the very same Mughals that the Congress revers till today.

From now on, Mahabharata and Ramayana will be taught to our children whose identity will be developed with pride as Indians, from the great land of Hinduism, aptly depicted by the character and persona of Lord Ram of Ayodhya. The Vedas, Puranas and Upanishads will once again become a part of our school curriculum and Indian art forms will find a place in the art classes at schools. In short, Bharat will once again return to India in its original form through an education system that will not separate the knowledge of the great south Indian kings and Indian empires from people of the north and vice versa. Where English will be considered important but not at the cost of the beauty and significance of a plethora of Indian languages and where the greatness of Bharat will be forged in the minds of our future generations.

Remember, how in the Congress days of India, titles of Hindi movies appeared in only three languages, English, Hindi and Urdu. The inclusion of Urdu was a political ploy. Why not Bengali or Gujarati or Marathi or Malayalam, one wonders. It was another plot to keep the Indian identity divided and in conflict with one another. Language was another means to achieve a divided mindset amongst one nation, one people.

Lord Ram returned to Ayodhya after fourteen long years of vanvaas and today, we are returning from decades of blindness to light, a blindness inflicted upon us by the Congress party and a light gifted to us by PM Modi and BJP. May darkness never return to the skies of Bharat. May our motherland thrive in the blessings of Lord Ram. May Ayodhya once again find glory. Long live Bharat. Vande Mataram!

The author is a columnist, educationist, social worker, advisor to Indian and foreign organizations and trainer and mentor of senior executives in corporate India. She is also a member of the BJP. Views expressed are personal.
A stray remark by my young Bihari driver in Kolkata added a new dimension to the issue of the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi, for me. Only, he was talking about Ayodhya, not Kashi. Voicing his intention to visit Ayodhya with some of his friends as soon as the rush wanes a bit, he was surprised to learn from me that there used to be a Mughal-era masjid on the spot where the new grand Ram Mandir now beckons a wide range of devout Indians.

What followed, obviously, was a potted history of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, which he listened to with a mixture of concern and amazement. Why was a mosque built where Sri Ramji was born, he asked, clearly unaware of the tumultuous events of the early 16th century, much less the last decade of the 20th century. Born in the 1990s, he was also bemused by the fact that there could be any resistance to a Ram temple being built there again.

But at least hehis friends motivations and emotions are unknowndoes not seem to harbour any animus towards those who had thwarted the rebuilding of a temple, through the courts and otherwise. That is probably because the medieval-era mosque at that site did not retain any architectural remnantsspoliaof any older preceding structure, so there was no immediate recall or incontrovertible proof of what had been there. What will he make of Gyanvapi?

For decades a tiny but influential minority of historians have tried to paper over the grim truth of the oddly named Gyanvapi masjid, denying evidence in Maasir-i-Alamgiri, written by Saqi Mustaid Khan, of Aurangzeb ordering the destruction of the Vishwanath temple and the building of the extant mosque. These historians even cancelled the brilliant Sir Jadunath Sarkar for highlighting Aurangzebs zealotry, calling the Bengali historian communal instead!

Had the temple been entirely destroyed (like the one in Ayodhya) the fiction that Gyanvapi was not an act of communal vandalism could have been maintained. But Aurangzebs decision to retain an entire wall of Kashis most prominent temple in the design of a new mosque that would sit on the plinth of the razed Hindu place of worship, however, reveals that he wanted the Hindus to feel the pain of that demolition for centuries and generations to come.

The temple was the target of earlier Muslim rulers too, with the first demolition ordered by the Ghurid conqueror Qutubuddin Aibak in the 12th century. It was rebuilt a few decades later, away from the original site, only to be destroyed again in the late 15th century in Sikandar Lodis reign. Akbars Rajput generals, Raja Man Singh and Raja Todar Mal rebuilt it yet again in the late 16th century only for Aurangzeb to zealously decree its final humiliation in 1669.

When the Marathas gained control of Kashi in the 18th century, the holy citys remaining temples got another lease on life, the ghats were refurbished and an abode for Lord Vishwanath was built anew by Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar on an adjacent site as the Nawab of Awadh thwarted any reversion of the Gyanvapi mosque. But, poignantly, the statue of the faithful Nandi bull looks steadfastly in the direction of the destroyed temple. In anticipation.

Now the report of the Archaeological Survey of India has revealed the extent of what happened to the templewhether of Vishweshwar or Avimukteswar or any other Hindu deitywhere Gyanvapi mosque stands today. Not only was the entire Hindu structure demolished except for the western wall, its spolia (debris) were reused in the mosque. That is not surprising, as the first mosque built in India, in Mehrauli, also used temple spoliaand declared it.

The ASI report says its recent survey of the Gyanvapi premises revealed 34 inscriptions on spolia used in the mosque commissioned by Aurangzeb, in Devanagari, Grantha, Telugu and Kannada, and that they mention deities such as Rudra, Umesvara and Janardhana. It also claims that sculptures of Hindu deities and carved architectural members were found buried under the soil in a cellar inside the compound. The implications are quite apparent.

It is clear that there was a Hindu temple on that spot before the mosque, even if some people refuse to acknowledge the one intact wallcomplete with Hindu imagery and motifsas evidence of its existence. It is also clear that the temple was demolished (barring that wall) to make way for a mosque, which was built on the existing plinth. And it is clear that the rest of the rubble left from the demolition was used in various parts of that mosque as well.

The discovery of spolia with south Indian epigraphs including in a script specially developed to write SanskritGranthaalso belies current assertions that the southern part of the subcontinent had little or no ties with the north. Though the inscriptions are yet to be translated, they perhaps note donations to the temple that stood there by pilgrims and notables from the south. Thus, it was an important temple; so the retention of one wall was doubly significant.

Keeping that wall intact served as a reminder to the majority community about its position in an empire ruled by the minority: beaten and subjugated. And this incongruity was made possible by the inability of the majority community to realise its common plight, divided as it was by caste and regional loyalties, which were assiduously played up and perpetuated by different vested interests for centuries. It was also a warning to stay down and be quiet.

Aurangzebs act was both supremely arrogant and very foolish. He evidently did not feel the need to hide his iron hand in a velvet glove unlike many of his forebears. He wanted to rub the Hindus noses in the dirteven though they made up roughly 85 per cent of his subjectssecure in the belief that they would never do anything about it. That the Gyanvapi mosque with its temple wall still stands 350 years later, is a resounding vindication of his belief.

But Aurangzeb was also foolishto think that the tide would never turn. Brazenly leaving evidence in Varanasi has made it tough for his defenders today to deny his true bigoted motivation, as excavations at Kashi and many other places reveal the extent of the destruction. Incidentally, the Rudra Mahalaya temple at Patan also has a mosque built amid the visible remnants of a temple. Only, the whole site is ASI-protected and hence there is no tussle about worship.

Even if the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 pushed through by the Congress government freezes their status as they existed on August 15, 1947, prohibiting the reversionsome call it liberationof the temple at Kashi (and other places), the mountain of evidence pointing to deliberate destruction of temples to erect mosques needs discussion, not denial. Only then can inter-community relationshipsnot just places of worshipbe rebuilt.

Meanwhile, a new generation of Indians visiting the grand, new Ram Mandir at Ayodhyalike my driverwill inevitably learn about what preceded its construction. And also, what the current situation is at Kashi and Mathura, even if thousands of similar desecrations of the past centuries remain sequestered from public consciousness. The role of the courts in deciding such emotive issues will be contested, as has happened with the Ayodhya judgement. But the feelings of the majority can no longer be ignored, derided or derailed.

The author is a freelance writer. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
Javier Gutierrez Becerril and Jose Guadalupe Valdes, accused by Mexicos Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) of having signed natural gas contracts improperly during the administration of former president Enrique Pena Nieto, won a legal battle on Thursday. At a hearing, Judge Roberto Omar Paredes decided not to link the accused to the legal process underway for a case of alleged corruption between American company Whitewater Midstream and former officials of the Mexican utility. The Thursday ruling affects one of the more than 10 investigations for alleged corruption that the Prosecutors Office has opened. The CFE will seek to appeal the decision.

A story by EL PAIS first exposed ties between former CFE official Guillermo Turrent, his colleague Javier Gutierrez, and executives of the Texas-based natural gas company Whitewater Midstream. After the article publication, in 2022, CFE accused Turrent and Gutierrez of rampant corruption, cronyism, and conflicts of interest by awarding the company multimillion-dollar contracts through a sham open tender, according to documents that are part of an open case in the United States. The Mexican government also opened an investigation in Mexico and brought a case against Gutierrez to the Special Prosecutors Office for Combating Corruption.

On Thursday, at a 13-hour hearing in the South Prison of Mexico City, this offices representative, Blanca Peralta, presented as evidence documents that indicate that companies that won six contracts awarded by a private subsidiary of CFE, CFE International, were incorporated only one day before the agreements were signed. The companies were founded by WhiteWater Midstream executives with pre-existing ties to Guillermo Turrent, then general director of CFE International, exposed for the first time in EL PAIS in 2021. Peralta described the granting of the contracts as a transaction between friends. Turrent was not part of this case, since only the signatures of Gutierrez and Valdes appeared on the contracts.

The Prosecutors Office also presented evidence to show a previous relationship between Gutierrez and one of the executives of the American private companies, Matthew Calhoun, including the fact that they shared a postal address in Texas prior to Gutierrez joining CFE in 2014. According to a source with direct knowledge, the case resolved on Thursday is just one of more than 10 investigation folders in the hands of the Prosecutors Office that revolve around the deals made between Turrent, Gutierrez and two WhiteWater executives, Arlin Travis and Matt Calhoun.

The defense team for Gutierrez and Valdes requested that the investigation be definitively closed, arguing that the contracts were made between two private companies abroad. Judge Paredes agreed with this argument and said that, if a crime had been committed by improperly signing said contracts in December 2016, this was done in Houston, Texas and not in Mexico, and said Mexicos federal criminal code does not apply to events that occurred outside the country. Judge Paredes also argued that the alleged crime had already passed the statute of limitations.

CFE has taken the WhiteWater case to courts in the United States, where Turrent and Gutierrez are accused of corruption in a civil procedure. Both will face a jury in a trial that is expected to take place in 2025. The Mexican government has said that, in addition to the civil case led by CFE in the United States, the authorities of the neighboring country are carrying out their own investigation into the business activity. Gutierrez has dual American-Mexican nationality.
I remember traversing the length and breadth of the country before the 2019 general elections. The Congress had formed governments in three Hindi heartland states and was perceived as being on an upswing. I recall many election analysts and journalists in the run-up to 2019, calling it a revival of Congress, however, when my team and I were gathering and analysing data in the same states as others, our findings indicated that more than 50 per cent of the people were unanimously clear that Narendra Modi should come back as Prime Minister in 2019.

Even in the state of Uttar Pradesh, which saw SP and BSP coming together to form an alliance, my data showed that the core voters of either party preferred Narendra Modi over their party in 2019. The people voted and PM Narendra Modi formed an absolute majority government with a higher vote share and seat share than in 2014, to the surprise of many, but not to me and my team. If 2014 was an anti-incumbency verdict, a verdict for hope, then 2019 was a verdict for delivery.

Moving on to January 2024. Sitting in Ayodhya, interacting with people and analysing data that my team of analysts are collecting from across the country, I wont be wrong to conclude that the people of India have already made up their minds. They want to see Narendra Modi back as Prime Minister in 2024.

In my interactions, a whopping 75 per cent of people thanked PM Narendra Modi for supporting and expediting the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. This included people from southern and non-Hindi heartland states as well. A group from Telangana, who voted for the Congress in the 2023 assembly elections, was completely clear that they want Modi. Similar sentiments resonated in Gopalganj, an RJD bastion where youth in their 20s echoed  Jo Ram ko laaye hain, ham unko laayenge. These youth had voted for RJD in the assembly elections. Even in southern parts of Tamil Nadu, data suggests that unlike in 2019, there was no antipathy towards Narendra Modi and the BJP.

PM Modis ability to attract people hinges on three factors  a) the atmosphere of civilisational renaissance, b) welfarism for people at the bottom of the pyramid and c) peoples belief that India will attain an all-time high global position. These are three strong pillars and are sturdier than what they were in 2019. Elections are not won by pure arithmetic, they are won by chemistry.

The Congress has been getting roughly 1011 crore votes since the 2009 Lok Sabha Elections, whereas the BJP has increased its tally from 7,80,00,000 votes to roughly 22 crore votes. This increase of 15 crore is the leadership impact. This general election, data suggests a further swing in favour of Narendra Modi with the BJP gaining more strength in UP, Telangana, Odisha, Bengal, and Tamil Nadu than in 2019. There is more than a 90 per cent probability of the BJP increasing its vote share than it had in 2019. With PM Narendra Modi, the India Shining campaign of Vajpayee cannot be repeated. The BJP is neither weak in UP like it was in the run-up to 2004, nor is there any lack of motivation in workers of the BJP and RSS. The cadre seems more motivated than in 2019.

When sampled, around 68 per cent are resolute to go door-to-door to seek votes for Narendra Modi in the run-up to general elections. In the absence of any significant pull factor towards the Opposition, the floating voters tend to drift toward the winner. In this case, the BJPs chance to attract the floating voters is 78 per cent higher than that of the INDI alliance. When I travelled on the ground in 2019, I could still sense some pockets that were green-field states for the BJPTelangana, Odisha, and Bengal. In 2024, the BJP is not starting from zero base vote in any of these states; Narendra Modis reach has only expanded, and he enjoys one-sided support in 50 per cent of the electoratethe women. The recently concluded Assembly elections are a testament to how womens vote surpassed all arithmetic electoral conclusions.

Strong and popular leaders either win convincingly or lose convincingly. There are no half-hearted or hung verdicts when they are at the helm of affairs. The state or national elections, post-2014, have indicated an era of decisive verdicts. At present, PM Narendra Modis social base has increased over 2019, his welfare schemes have reached more people than in 2019, his cadre is more motivated than in 2019, more women support him than in 2019, his ability to attract new voters is more than in 2019, and the Opposition parties are weaker than in 2019.

I wont be surprised if Narendra Modi wins with a higher vote share and seat share than in 2019. As things stand, at present, only Narendra Modi can defeat Narendra Modi and 2024 is a closed chapter for the Indian Opposition.

The author is Founder, Jan Ki Baat, Psephologist & Broadcast Journalist. He has predicted 39 Indian Elections accurately including 2019 Lok Sabha Elections. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
Amid speculation of JDU chief Nitish Kumars exit from Mahagathbandhan in Bihar and possibly from the grand INDI alliance as well, attributed majorly to the Congresss failure to unite the regional parties on the seat-sharing arrangement, the grand old party seems to have gotten into the damage control mode.

The Congress is now reaching out to major regional parties like Akhilesh Yadavs Samajwadi Party and Mamata Banerjees Trinamool Congress in an attempt to keep the alliance in place ahead of the crucial 2024 Lok Sabha Elections.

Congress-Samajwadi Party Seat Sharing Understanding

In a social media post on Saturday, Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav asserted that the alliance with Congress is off to a good start with consensus on 11 strong seats in Uttar Pradesh.

The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister also said that this trend will only move forward with the winning equation and reiterated confidence in the INDIA team and PDA strategy. The state sends 80 members to the Lower House of Parliament and elections are due in April-May.

   11                                   Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) January 27, 2024

This came a day after Yadav blamed the Congress for the ongoing fissures within the INDIA bloc and said that the enthusiasm the party needed to show in discussing and engaging with alliance partners was not visible.

Congress Reaches Out to Mamata Banerjee

Amid bad news likely from Bihar, the Congress is attempting to secure the grand alliance in West Bengal by reaching out to Mamata Banerjee. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday spoke to Trinamool Congress supremo to find a solution to the seat-sharing impasse in the state.

The efforts to reach out to Mamatas party came after TMCs announcement that no INDIA seat-sharing talks were on in Bengal and that the party would contest the Lok Sabha polls alone in the state.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh spoke to Banerjee once again and requested her presence in Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra as a show of opposition unity.

Without her, we cannot fight the BJP in Bengal and the rest of the country. She is the integral, essential pillar of the opposition bloc INDIA. She has played a crucial role in making the INDIA bloc a reality, Ramesh earlier said.

Notably, former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel was appointed as Senior Observer to coordinate the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Bihar.

INDIAs Bihar Crisis

Recent political activities in Bihar have once again ignited speculations that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar might be considering switching sides and returning to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in less than two years after the controversial breakup with its saffron partner.

The Bihar CM indicated that he is contemplating parting ways with the Mahagathbandhan, which consists of Lalu Prasad Yadavs Rashtriya Janata Dal and Congress party.

Top leaders of the JD(U) on Saturday rushed to the residence of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the party president, amid strong indications that he was planning to quit the ruling Mahagathbandhan.
Madhya Pradesh minister Prahlad Patel has said that the findings of ASI about the Gyanvapi mosque will be accepted by the country and world, referring to the claim by the lawyer representing the Hindu litigants that the mosque was built after razing a temple.

The MP minister of panchayat rural development and labour told reporters in Jabalpur that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which surveyed the mosque on the Supreme Courts direction, is renowned not only in the country but across the world.

If anyone does the work of looking at history through the prism of history, it is ASI. Hence, the country and the world will accept its facts.

The ASIs report presented before the court will enhance everyones knowledge, he said on Friday. Patel, who is a former Union minister for tourism and culture, said that ASIs retired officers go abroad for archaeological conservation and research work.

ASI has an important contribution to the archaeology of the world, he stressed.

The minister said that the ASI experts involved in the Ram Janmabhoomi case were eminent archaeologists.

Earlier, the lawyer of the Hindu petitioners in the Kashi Vishwanath-Gyanvapi case had claimed that the report of a scientific survey by ASI suggests the mosque was built on the remains of a pre-existing temple.

The lawyer, Vishnu Shankar Jain, claimed after copies of the 839-page report were made available to the parties concerned by the court late Thursday evening.

Jain said the report makes it clear that the mosque, which stands adjacent to the Kashi Vishwanath Mandir, was built on the remains of a grand Hindu temple after it was demolished in the 17th century during the reign of Aurangzeb.
Bihar News: Amid the political upheaval in Bihar over speculation of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar breaking the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) and reuniting with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), all the parties in the state corralled their lawmakers for meetings on Saturday. The BJP held a meeting of its state executive council, following which the saffron party reached a consensus with JD(U) over forming the new NDA government in the state, according to sources.

RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha said that a positive meeting was held and discussion on several things from the national or state level were discussed. Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi dialed former Bihar CM Jitan Ram Manjhi and asked him to join INDIA bloc. A team of ED is scheduled to interrogate Lalu Prasad Yadav day after tomorrow. JD(U) MLAs met CM Nitish Kumar at his residence on tea at 7 pm. On the other hand, BJP President Nadda is likely to visit Patna on Sunday.

History Of Nitish Kumar Switching Sides

Kumar had joined hands with RJD, founded by his former arch-rival Lalu Prasad, in August 2022 after he severed ties with the BJP which he accused of having tried to engineer a split in the JD(U).

The longest-serving CM of Bihar, thereafter, embarked upon a drive to bring together all parties, across the country, to take on the BJP that culminated in the formation of the opposition bloc INDIA. Over the past two decades, Kumar has frequently switched alliances between the BJP and the RJD-Congress-Left coalition while retaining his position in office.
The Vishva Hindu Parishad on Saturday said the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee, representing the Muslim side in the Gyanvapi case, must hand over the original site of the Kashi Vishwanath temple to the Hindu side. It said the ASI survey report has concluded that a large Hindu temple existed on the same spot before the mosque.

The Muslim side, however, has questioned the ASI findings, saying it is only an elaborate version of a previous survey. It has also said the remains of idols of gods and goddesses found by the ASI belong to sculptors, who worked in the mosque premises as tenants.

The Hindutva outfit said handing over the site and respectfully moving the Gyanvapi mosque to another appropriate place will be righteous action on part of the Muslims, and an important step towards creating amicable relations between the two prominent communities of Bharat.

According to VHP international working president Alok Kumar, the evidence collected by the ASI from the Gyanvapi mosque reconfirms that the structure was constructed after demolishing a temple. A part of the temple structure, particularly the western wall, is the remaining part of the Hindu temple.

Kumar said the report proves that parts of the pre-existing temple, including pillars and pilasters, were reused with modifications to extend the span of the mosque and for the construction of the sahan. He said the shivling in what was called the wazukhana leaves no doubt that the structure does not have the character of a mosque.

The VHP leader and senior advocate also said the report had found such names, including Janardana, Rudra and Umeswara, in inscriptions found in the structure. He said these were telltale evidence of the site having a temple.

He said the evidence collected and the conclusions provided by the ASI show that the religious character of this place of worship existed on August 15, 1947, and is that of a Hindu temple. Hence, as per Section 4 of the Places of Worship Act, 1991, the structure should be declared a Hindu temple, he added.

Here are the suggestions made by the VHP with regard to the Gyanvapi-Shringar Gauri case:

Hindus should be permitted to offer sewa puja to the shivling found in the so-called wazukhana area. The mosque committee should respectfully agree to move the Gyanvapi mosque to another appropriate place and hand over the original site of Kashi Vishwanath to the Hindu society.

Muslim side questions ASI survey

The mosque committee has said the ASI survey is nothing but an elaborate version of a short survey carried out during the time of the advocate commission. It has also raised a question mark on a part of the report about the recovery of the remains of idols of gods and goddesses from the premises of the Gyanvapi mosque. The committee said it belongs to their sculptor tenants and has nothing to do with the mosque.

The reaction came two days after the Varanasi district court on January 24 ordered that the report of the scientific survey should be made public so that all petitioners  Hindus and Muslims  can access it. District judge AK Vishvesha had given the order while hearing a bunch of petitions filed by Hindu petitioners seeking access to the report.
Leaders of the opposition INDIA bloc including its member party Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam have stressed on putting on an united front to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) organised a conference Democracy Will Win on Friday in Tamil Nadu. Among the attendees were leaders from the INDIA bloc parties  Congress, DMK, the Left parties  namely TN Chief Minister MK Stalin, CPI(M)s Sitaram Yechury and CPIs D Raja among others.

Headed by Lok Sabha MP Thol Thirumavalavan, VCK is a key ally of DMK in the southern state.

The conference came amidst the heated situation in Bihar with the strong probability of JD(U) President and state CM Nitish Kumar making yet another shift and returning to the saffron party-led NDA.

In the past week, two other members of the INDIA bloc  Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)  had announced that they would not contest the Lok Sabha polls with Congress in West Bengal and Punjab respectively.

Stalins Dig At The Saffron Party

Addressing the conference, Stalin pointed at the need for the INDIA bloc leaders to realise that BJP was rattled at the thought of opposition alliance winning even at a Mayor poll level. He said unity among the INDIA parties will dislodge the saffron party from the Centre.

He slammed the BJP-led Centre for cancelling the mayor-level election because victory for the AAP-Congress tie up was more probable.

When they cancel even a mayor level poll, the INDIA alliance leaders must realise the fear of the BJP. We have to use this. We have to clasp the opportunity that we have now got. If we remain united, the BJP will be defeated. Democracy will win and time will say that. Thirumavalavan will also win and time will say that too, the Tamil Nadu CM said.

Stalin in fact termed the saffron party to be more dangerous than Coronavirus, saying that tears were shed for those who walked hundreds of kilometres during the pandemic and even got crushed by trains. Now the government is trying to divert peoples attention by consecrating the Ram temple, Stalin said while taking a dig at BJP.

Kharges Reference to Ambedkar

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge who couldnt take part in the conference sent his address to be read out by his partys Lok Sabha MP Su Thirunavukkarasar.

Kharge underlined Dr BR Ambedkars warning against the cult of personality and appealed for a political culture based on reason and dialogue.

Today, as we navigate a nation, where personality often overshades principles, let us follow Ambedkars words and strive for a political culture based on reason, dialogue and inclusivity, Kharge was quoted as saying in his address.

Further slamming the saffron party, Kharge said even funds for any disaster is released on the basis of a states ruling party. He cited the funds held up for ration shops in Bengal as they did not have supreme leader Prime Minister Narendra Modis pictures.

CPI(M) & CPIs Slam on BJP

Meanwhile, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said that INDIA bloc was committed to protecting the character of our republic and that Tamil Nadu was leading the country in putting up a united fight against the BJP.

The only slogan we have to give today is to save India in order to change India for the better, Yechury said.

He said that the Opposition bloc should prepare itself for the big political battle against the forces dominating the secular democratic republic.

Meanwhile, CPI General Secretary D Raja referred to Ambedkars draft of the Constitution and said that he would not have wanted India to become a Hindutva rashtra.

Earlier, VCK Chief Thirumavalavan  in a resolution  had said that all EVMs in the general elections should be 100 per cent linked to Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) system and electors should deposit the VVPAT slips in separate boxes.

Only on the basis of VVPAT slips, should the results be declared by the election authorities, his resolution said.

In total, 33 resolutions proposed by Thirumavalavan were adopted in the meet.

(With PTI inputs)
Amidst the political turmoil in Bihar, the JD(U) on Saturday made it clear that the INDIA bloc government in Bihar is on the brink of fall.

Hitting out on Congress for repeatedly insulting Chief Minister Nitish Kumar , the alliances spokesperson K C Tyagi said that he sees no possibility of the opposition putting up a real fight to the all-powerful BJP. The party is also facing the task of keeping its smaller allies like Chirag Paswan and Upendra Kushwaha, both staunch critics of the JD(U) president in a good humour.

In a meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president J P Nadda and is learnt to have sought assurance that his party will not have to compromise on its share of seats in the Lok Sabha polls after Kumars entry in the National Democratic Alliance. Later, the party leader told media that he has received assurances on several of his issues but added that he will finalise his partys stand on developments in Bihar after the situation becomes clear.

It is not yet clear if and when Kumar is joining hands with the BJP, he said. As the leaders of all three main parties, the BJP, RJD and the JD(U) held meetings in Patna amid the possibility of Kumar resigning on Sunday and then announcing a tie-up with the former ally, his close aide Tyagi clearly indicated that his party is all set to dump the INDIA bloc.

Asserting that their leader was misunderstood, Tyagi said, The INDIA bloc is on the verge of collapse. The alliance of INDIA bloc parties is almost over in Punjab, West Bengal and Bihar, he told reporters. The goal and intentions with which Kumar, the JD(U) president, succeeded in bringing non-Congress parties with the Congress have come unstuck,

Kumar never hankered after a position in the alliance but a section of the Congress leadership repeatedly insulted him, he said. Tyagi said he could not see as to how the INDIA bloc parties could fight the all-powerful BJP.

The Bihar chief minister succeeded in bringing together several parties in Patna but the entire process became so limp that the INDIA bloc has failed to evolve a joint leadership and agenda even though the Lok Sabha elections are now round the corner, he said. The BJPs top brass decision to reach out to existing state allies, especially Paswan, underscores its effort to rule out a repeat of the 2020 assembly polls when the LJP leader walked out of the alliance to contest mostly against the JD(U), leading to a steep fall in the rally of Kumars party.

The chief minister blamed the BJP for it and snapped their ties in 2022 to join hands with the RJD-Congress-Left alliance. Paswan also wants that any new NDA government in the state headed by Kumar should have an agenda drawing from the positions of all allies, sources said.

He, however, did not reveal what Shah and Nadda told him about ongoing political developments in the state. He said, We have had our concerns which grew amid these media reports but without any authorised information on the developments in Bihar. I strongly raised my concerns in the meeting and received assurances on many issues. He added that he had been in touch with BJP leaders lately and come to know that there is some truth in these murmurs, a reference to the reports of political realignment in Bihar.

(with inputs from PTI)
The Congress on Saturday said constructive seat-sharing talks are on between senior party leader Ashok Gehlot and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, and it will inform when a formula is finalised.

The Congress assertion came soon after Yadav said his partys alliance with the Congress is off to a good start with 11 strong Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh.

The state sends 80 members to the Lower House of Parliament and elections are due in April-May. Asked about Yadavs remarks at a press conference, Jairam Ramesh said Gehlot is in direct contact with the SP chief and talks are going on in a positive and constructive manner.

When a seat-sharing formula is finalised we will inform you. But today Akhilesh ji has spoken on this that talks are on and he is happy with the talks. I would say from my partys side, talks are on between Ashok Gehlot and Akhilesh Yadav ji and they will meet soon, Ramesh said.

The seat-sharing pact that will happen will be beneficial for the Congress, the SP, and the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), he asserted.

Asked if the seat sharing was not final, Ramesh said, It is final only when it is final. Rameshs remarks came minutes after Yadav, in a post in Hindi, on X said, Our cordial alliance with the Congress is off to a good start with 11 strong seats.

This trend will move forward with the winning equation. INDIA team and PDA strategy will change history. Elaborating further on the developments, SP chief spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary told PTI, We (Samajwadi Party) have offered 11 seats to them (the Congress), so that there is a respectable mutual coordination among us, and we defeat the BJP.

Chaudhary also said the partys top leadership is in continuous touch with the Congress. He said the number of seats offered, which stands at 11 now, is not likely to go up in the future.

We have given 11 seats to the Congress (in UP) and seven seats to the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD). This comes to 18 seats. The SP will contest 62 seats in the Lok Sabha election, the chief spokesperson of SP said.

In the current Lok Sabha, the Samajwadi Party has three MPs and the Bahujan Samaj Party has 10 MPs. Sonia Gandhi is the lone Congress MP from the state representing the Rae Bareli constituency. The Apna Dal (Sonelal) has two MPs. The BJP has 64 MPs from the state.

Earlier, on January 19, the SP and the RLD announced their alliance for the Lok Sabha polls, with the latter saying that the other party will leave seven seats in western Uttar Pradesh for its nominees.

Saturdays development comes amid strong indications that Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar may do yet another volte-face and return to the BJP-led NDA.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is all set to make his second political volte-face in less than two years, with sources saying that the JD(U) President is likely to tender his resignation on Sunday morning.

RJD leaders, meanwhile, held extensive deliberations on Sturday evening over the course of action to be followed in the event of Kumar calling off the alliance and returning to the NDA camp.

The BJP leaders met in Patna on Saturday, where the saffron party stopped short of making a formal announcement of support to the JD(U) chief in the event of his pulling out of the Mahagathbandhan. The BJP has called another meeting of the party MLAs and MPs at 9 am on Sunday.

#WATCH | Patna: On Bihar political situation, BJP Bihar President Samrat Chaudhary says, " Nitish Kumar has not resigned and nobody has withdrawn support, if something happens, then only we will have any informationBJP wants to know the situation of Bihar and then only we will pic.twitter.com/eXi9S4pvJ7 ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2024

Nitish Kumar has called a meeting of JD(U) MPs and MLAs at his residence at 10 am on Sunday. As per sources, some JD(U) MLAs have already met the Bihar CM and will be staying in Patna. Those MLAs who havent reached the state capital have been asked to reach as soon as possible, they said.

#WATCH | Patna: On Bihar political situation, BJP leader Hari Sahni says, "Khela to hoga In the situation that has arisen (in Bihar), some results will come out. When it will come out this cannot be said" pic.twitter.com/Elp4foUce5 ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2024

The BJP MLAs are expected to come to Nitish Kumars residence and hand over the letter of support to the chief minister. After a joint NDA meeting, Nitish will be chosen as the leader of the NDA legislators, sources further said.

The MLAs will then head of Raj Bhavan with the letter of support, while Nitish will tender his resignation and stake claim for a new government with the support of BJP MLAs. Then a time will be sought from the governor for oath-taking ceremony, they added.

Nitish Kumar will also sack all ministers of Lalu Prasad Yadav-led Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) tomorrow, sources have said. He is likely to replace the sacked ministers from the RJD with BJP faces.

The BJP and JD(U) have also finalised a seat-sharing agreement for the Lok Sabha election due in three months, as per reports.

So far, BJP leaders have refrained from making categorical statements about extending support to Nitish Kumar.

How the Crisis Unfolded?

The crisis in Bihar comes month after Nitish, the longest-serving CM of Bihar, embarked upon a drive to bring together all parties, across the country, to take on the BJP that culminated in the formation of the opposition INDIA bloc.

Kumar had also virtually declared Tejashwi Yadav as his successor, announcing that the RJD leader would head the Mahagathbandhan in the next assembly polls, scheduled in 2025. This had fuelled resentment in the JD(U), causing a close aide like Upendra Kushwaha to quit the party, float a new outfit and walk back to the NDA fold.

However, signs of mistrust between JD(U) and RJD became apparent last month when Kumar formally took over as the party president, replacing Rajiv Ranjan Singh Lalan amid reports of Lalans proximity with the RJD camp. However, Lalan had insisted that he gave up the top party post on his own because he wanted to concentrate on Munger, his Lok Sabha seat, in view of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Moreover, Kumar has also been voicing his anguish over the way things were unfolding in the INDIA coalition, in which he was not offered the post of a convenor until last month, when he turned it down. Kumar has maintained that he has no personal ambitions while remaining critical of the delay in arriving at a seat-sharing deal.
Walking out of the NDA in 2013 over secularism, dumping the RJD in 2017 over corruption, again turning his back on the BJP in 2022 over sabotage, and now seemingly on the verge of once more cutting ties with the RJD and Congress over his insult  Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar always seems to find a convenient reason for a political somersault. He would have done four of them in the last 10 years if he now walks back to the BJP.

One thing has remained constant in all this  Nitish on the CMs chair. He has been on the seat since 2005 when he first joined hands with the BJP. But in 2013, with Narendra Modi becoming the prime ministerial candidate of the BJP, Kumar cited his discomfort over the front of secularism. Tilak bhi lagana padega, topi bhi pehnani padegi, Kumar famously said to showcase his secular credentials and pulled out of the NDA. His party crashed to a low of just two seats in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and Kumar resigned, taking moral responsibility, anointing Jitin Ram Manjhi as the chief minister.

2015 mahagathbandhan googly and 2017 collapse

Ahead of the 2015 assembly elections in the state, Kumar did the unthinkable. He returned as the CM and joined hands with his arch-rival, Lalu Prasad Yadav, to form the mahagathbandhan (grand alliance), shocking the BJP. The new alliance swept the assembly elections and though the RJD won more seats, it settled for the deputy CM post for Tejashwi Yadav and Nitish continued as the chief minister. But in 2017, as central agencies started cracking down on Tejashwi Yadav in corruption cases, Kumar opened an unlikely line to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and stitched an alliance back with the BJP. This was the same Modi whom Kumar had painted as communal in 2014. While Lalu was on an overnight journey by road from Patna to Ranchi for a court appearance in a fodder scam case, Kumar did a political coup with the BJP and dumped the RJD.

Kumar continued as the CM and BJPs Sushil Modi became his deputy, like before 2013. The BJP and JD(U) fought the 2019 Lok Sabha polls together, along with the LJP, and swept the state. The RJD got no seat. The BJP and JD(U) contested the 2020 assembly elections together too, and as per alliance dharma, the BJP made Kumar the CM as announced before the elections though the saffron outfit had emerged as the single-largest party.

2022 switch that left BJP stumped

In 2022, it was the BJPs time to get shocked. Citing attempts by the saffron party to break the JD(U), regarding which Kumar never offered any evidence, the CM pulled the rug out from under the alliance with the BJP and re-joined hands with the RJD. Kumar had cited his no-corruption plank in July 2017 to pull out of an alliance with the Lalu Prasad-led RJD but was now re-allying with it when the corruption taint against the RJD had only deepened. Lalu Prasad by then stood convicted in five fodder scam cases, with four convictions coming since July 2017. There has been little progress in the cases lodged against Tejashwi Yadav though.

Kumars party till then had stayed non-committal on an alliance with the BJP in Bihar in 2024 and also opted not to have participation in the union cabinet from its ranks. What had further strained ties with the BJP was Kumars unhappiness with the Speaker choice in the state assembly, the Centre not agreeing to a caste census, and the BJPs growing footprint in Bihar. So Tejashwi Yadav became the deputy CM again with Nitish remaining the chief minister. This time, however, Kumar openly said that Yadav would succeed him as the CM in due course in 2025.

Nitish unhappy again

But just 17 months into this government, Nitish Kumar is again unhappy with his current allies, the RJD and Congress. He is now feeling insulted by the Congress over not naming him the convener of the INDIA bloc. Kumar is also in no mood anymore to hand over the CM chair to Tejashwi Yadav as his own national role in INDIA is uncertain.

A new reason has been found by Nitish to desert a partner. It is now a case of twice-bitten, never shy for his allies.
In the third year of his war against Ukraine, Vladimir Putin decreed that this would be the year of the family in Russia. But now, two months before the presidential elections, some of those families are starting to become a headache for the government. Late last summer, a small group of mothers, wives and girlfriends of civilians, whom the Kremlin forced into military service in the Ukraine war in autumn 2022, started a Telegram channel to call for the soldiers return. The Road Home platform  Put Domoi, in Russian  now has over 30,000 followers. They are a minority, largely out of fear, but a growing group of women are calling for measures to bring their relatives home from the front. They are expressing their discomfort on the channel, have addressed deputies and held protests.

I dont wish the terror I feel on any other woman, one of the channels administrators tells this newspaper; as she does so, she is always uneasy at the prospect of a notification from the Ministry of Defense. During her pauses, her son can be heard shouting for her on the other end of the phone. I have my husband, my brother and some friends on the front, she laments. Nevertheless, she assures us that those affected have no choice but to show their discontent; she requests anonymity for security reasons. We all say the same thing to each other, why be afraid? Im more afraid of losing him and blaming myself if I dont do anything at all.

This Thursday, a group of women lay flowers in memory of those who died in the plane crash on Wednesday in Belgorod. AP

There are also many girls who stress that they dont want to send anyone to the front, she notes. Her initiative calls for total demobilization, not just the replacement of some soldiers with others, so that only those who want to serve in the army by contract would serve. We would like a ceasefire, but we dont know how much strength we have to achieve that, she adds, before repeating that their main goal is a demobilization.

We think that if the special military operation [thats what Putin calls the offensive on Ukraine] ends, our men will be back home, but we need a demobilization decree because it is possible that they will be left there or moved elsewhere, the channel administrator explains. In addition, her group calls for greater control by prosecutors and human rights ombudsmen at recruitment points and for compulsory military service to be replaced by social services away from the frontlines.

Putin ordered the first mobilization on September 21, 2022, despite the fact that, weeks earlier, the Kremlin itself denied that it had planned to take such a step. According to the Defense Ministry, the goal was to recruit 300,000 civilians, but the decree did not include a figure. The Kremlin called a halt to the mobilization in early 2023, but never issued another decree or document confirming the end of the process. The Russian government assured then that the presidents word was enough.

We formed our platform in the summer [of 2023]. Several girls were in different groups and realized that this would not help. Before, we were all fighting alone and we decided to get together, says the Road Home administrator. However, they have faced a slew of problems and silence from the regime.

A poster advertising enrollment in the Armed Forces on a street in St. Petersburg on January 11. ANATOLY MALTSEV (EFE)

At first no one wanted to bring our subject to light; it seemed like a secret under lock and key. If we wrote to some governor when he spoke on a live program, he answered the most banal questions and ignored the hundreds of messages about the return of the mobilized, she recalls.

After appealing en masse to the State Duma, the lower house of the Russian legislature, these women managed to meet with some deputies. They often told us that we could solve this problem with vacations, and that was it, she recalls. There are no rotations there. Those who are lucky go on vacation and those who are not, tough luck. Its been over a year and some of the conscripts have not come home, she complains.

The pressure on Road Home began to grow after some women and mothers of soldiers conveyed their problem to the Communist Party in November. They put propagandists and bots [on social media] to speak against us, and so on, until today: [they say] that we are from the CIA or people from abroad are paying us, the administrator decries. In addition, Telegram labeled the channel fake after receiving complaints of allegedly usurping the identity of some women. We asked for a verification request immediately and there was no response. Several journalists also tried to contact Pavel Durov  Telegrams founder  but there was no official response either.

On January 17, the pressure on these women intensified. Some laid flowers and individually picketed with signs at the places where the Eternal Flame commemorates Russian soldiers. As reported by On the Way Home, some balaclava-wearing members of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Center for Combating Extremism approached the woman on the subway to identify them. However, these efforts did not frighten them, and the women continued their initiative in the days that followed.

The act of laying flowers is different for everyone. Anyone can put two carnations here for his truth. For his freedom. For his life. For the life of their loved ones (...). Honor the memory of our boys or laying flowers for never again, the group said last weekend.

In another of its posts, the channel noted that Putin had declared January 23 as the beginning of the year of the family. We dont want to answer a childs question that is like a stab in the heart every time they ask it: When is daddy coming? We dont know the answer. For some reason no one does, and, apparently, neither does the president. The all-knowing, all-powerful president doesnt know.

Some group members views on the war differ, but all the platforms participants share the desire for it to end now. We also sympathize with the other side, this channel administrator says of the suffering of Ukrainians. Those women are also suffering mothers; theyre brought the same coffins as we are. There are also ordinary people there, like our people, who were simply steamrolled by this [war] machine.

Political demonstrations have been banned de facto in Russia since the pandemic, although the repression has undergone several twists and turns with the invasion of Ukraine. According to the website OVD-Info, which specializes in political persecution, some 19,850 people have been arrested for protesting since February 24, 2022. For this reason, the Kremlin is suspicious of the demands of the female relatives of conscripts.

Political scientist Tatiana Stanovaya, the founder of the R. Politik think tank, says that Putin may perceive these womens activities as a betrayal: The authorities take seriously the protests they consider legitimate, such as demonstrations over the lack of heating, illegal construction or even radically anti-Semitic speeches, but they see protests by the wives of mobilized people, those in Bashkiria - over the conviction of a local ethnic defender - and harmless individual pickets in support of political prisoners as illegitimate and should therefore be harshly repressed.

The Kremlin is confronting a sensitive issue because the protesting women are the wives of the very people on whom the future of the Ukrainian war depends. Shortly after the mobilization, Putin staged a meeting with several wives and mothers of servicemen who support his cause in Ukraine, although it later emerged that many of them had some connection with the government.

However, the fear and pain of many households threatens to open a rift between the people and the Kremlin. This week, Road Home posted a video on its channel in which an alleged Russian soldier confronted policemen for trying to prevent the women from laying flowers. We will come back and ask each of you why you confronted our women while we confronted the Khojli (the derogatory term by which Russians refer to Ukrainians for the traditional Cossack lock of hair, the oseledets), the soldier, his face covered by a balaclava, told the officers, encouraging them to go to the front instead of pressuring soldiers wives.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge will arrive here on Sunday to address a public meeting and launch the partys campaign in the state for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. He is going all over the country. We are grateful that he has chosen Uttarakhand to give his call for a change, senior party leader and former chief minister Harish Rawat said.

Justice is what Rahul Gandhis Nyay Yatra is all about. The party presidents programme is a part of it, he said. All sections of society are asking for justice, be it women, unemployed youths or farmers. Kharges meeting will be held in the Bannu School ground in the Race Course area. The party had sought the district administrations permission to hold the public meeting on the Parade ground but it was not allowed as the venue has been renovated as part of the Dehradun Smart City project and no major public programmes are being held to protect it. The Congress alleged that it was the BJP governments conspiracy to sabotage the partys programmes throughout the country as was evident in the manner Rahul Gandhis Nyay Yatra was disrupted in Assam.

Congress workers also staged a dharna outside the state police headquarters here in protest against the administration declining to allow Kharges helicopter to land at the GTC helipad here on Sunday. Led by PCC president Karan Mahara and Leader of Opposition Yashpal Arya, the workers sat outside the state police chiefs office in protest. On repeated request by the officials including Dehradun SSP Ajai Singh, they shifted outside the gates of the state police headquarters but continued their dharna. They ended the dharna after the intervention of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and the administration consenting to the helicopter to land at the Bannu School ground where Kharges meeting is to be held. There are five Lok Sabha seats in Uttarakhand, all currently held by the the ruling BJP.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said that he will share the name and address of the body double purportedly used by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in the state.

Sarma had brought up the allegation of the Congress MP using a body double during the Yatra at a press conference on Thursday, during which he quoted a media report claiming that the person sitting and waving at people from the Yatra bus was probably not Rahul Gandhi at all.

I dont just say things. The duplicates name, and how it was done  I will share all details. Just wait for a few days, the chief minister said in Sonitpur district on the sidelines of a programme, when asked by reporters about the allegation against Gandhi.

I will be in Dibrugarh tomorrow, and the next day also I will be out of Guwahati. Once I am back in Guwahati, I will give name and address of the duplicate, the BJP leader said.

The Manipur-Maharashtra Nyay Yatra, being led by Gandhi, had travelled through Assam from January 18 to 25, during which the Congress MP had alleged that Sarma is the most corrupt CM of India. The opposition party also alleged denial or problems in route permissions through the state by the BJP-led government.

The situation reached a flashpoint when Congress leaders and workers broke police barricades erected to prevent them from entering the main city limits of Guwahati. An FIR was registered against Gandhi and others over the incident, with Sarma later stating that they would be arrested after the Lok Sabha polls as he did not want to politicise the issue prior to the elections.

Sarma maintained that the Congress will need all the Gandhis  Sonia, Priyanka and Rahul  to defeat him in the state. Let them bring Priyanka Gandhis son also, he said.

They have already put up their hands (in surrender). They couldnt do it through Rahul, so they will now get Priyanka and then Sonia, Sarma said, referring to the Congress proposed programme in the state involving Priyanka Gandhi.

On BJP and its allies Lok Sabha poll prospects in the state, the CM said, We have 11-and-a-half assured seats. We are working on how to convert it into 12. We are not bothered about any Congress list (of candidates).

The state sends 14 members to the Lok Sabha, of which nine are currently held by the BJP, three by Congress, one by AIUDF and one Independent.
Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Friday announced that the Centre will establish the India Semiconductor Research Centre and roll out the Digital India futureLABS initiative soon.

The minister made the announcement during his virtual address at the India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA) Vision Summit in Bengaluru. We will establish the India Semiconductor Research Centre shortly, which will serve as a hub for semiconductor innovation spanning all spectrums that will drive future systems, Chandrasekhar said.

Late last year, after the submission of a comprehensive report by the India Semiconductor R&D Committee  a panel comprising officials, industry experts, and academicians  the IT Ministry disclosed plans to establish the Bharat Semiconductor Research Centre in 2024. The announcement outlined a collaborative effort involving industry experts and academia, with the research facility set to be developed in a public-private partnership (PPP) mode.

At the same time, Chandrasekhar emphasised that this establishment will serve as a foundational institution in Indias expanding proficiency in semiconductors. It is poised to be Indias counterpart to globally renowned entities such as nano-electronics R&D hub IMEC, Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), and the MIT Microelectronics Lab, all of which have been trailblazers in pioneering cutting-edge technologies worldwide.

Separately, during the IESA event, the minister said: We will launch our upcoming program called Digital India futureLABS very soon. This program will be a collaboration and partnership involving government labs, Indian start-ups, large enterprises and corporations in the electronics space. It will also include tier-1 suppliers and automotive industrial platforms, focusing on designing and innovating systems for the future.

The initiative of Digital India futureLABS seeks to enhance Indias electronics & IT sector by creating a research and innovation framework, championing leadership in standards, intellectual properties (IPs), systems, and platforms. The emphasis is on fortifying the domestic innovation ecosystem through collaborative efforts, promoting sustainable growth, and nurturing technological advancements.

The futureLABS, led by C-DAC as the central coordinating agency, will focus on key sectors such as automotive, mobility, compute, communication, strategic electronics, and industrial IoT. It will facilitate partnerships between startups, multinational corporations (MNCs), research and development (R&D) institutions, and academia to collectively pioneer the development of systems, standards, and IP cores.

Chandrasekhar also underscored the vision and path set forth by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in fostering the electronics manufacturing ecosystem. Reflecting on Indias strides in establishing a thriving innovation ecosystem, particularly in the consumer internet space, the minister highlighted the exponential growth of start-ups, unicorns, and significant investments.

He outlined the logical expansion of this ecosystem with a keen focus on deep tech initiatives, including the expansion of the semiconductor ecosystem.

As a logical expansion of this innovation ecosystem and a reimagining of our national ambitions, we have looked towards our Prime Minister, who has established a framework and investments to expand our semiconductor ecosystem.

This deep tech initiative ensures that future systems meet the performance requirements driven by increased digitization for consumers, enterprises, and governments worldwide. The focus covers the entire spectrum including automotive, computer, wireless telecommunication, industrial applications, IoT, and strategic technologies, he noted.
Scientists at the University of Western Ontario in Canada and the Chinese Academy of Sciences have created a remarkable invention. They have inadvertently created the smallest and the tightest knot ever, consisting of a mere 54 atoms. With this invention, the scientists at these universities have also surpassed a 2020 record in China. Chemists in China have created a similar knot with 69 atoms. Now, the knot of 54 atoms has occupied the top spot in the Guinness Book of World Records. The 54 atoms in this incredible microscopic tangle twist around three times into an interlacing loop called a trefoil knot. These atoms have no loose ends and also hold importance in the Mathematical Knot Theory. This theory implies the study of closed curves in three dimensions, and their possible deformations without one part cutting through another. Also, an interesting feature of this knot is that it is in the shape of a clove and is the simplest of the nontrivial knots.

The achievement of making this knot of 54 atoms happened when scientists experimented with Metal Acetylides, which are essential for organic chemical reactions. The scientists aimed to make a gold chain or catenane through this experiment. They, however, formed a trefoil knot when connecting gold acetylide with a diphosphine ligand. The lead researcher, Richard Puddephatt from the University of Western Ontario, expressed uncertainty about the experiment. He stated, Its quite a complicated system and, honestly, we dont know how it happens.

The strength of this molecular knot is inversely proportional to the ratio of its atoms to back crossings. It implies that the knots strength increases as the ratio of atoms to back crossings increases. The 2020 knot created in China had a backbone crossing ratio (BCR) of 23. The current record-holder boasts a lower BCR of 18. This accomplishment has brought scientists closer to understanding the microscopic knots found in DNA, RNA, and proteins within our bodies. This 54-atom knot can also potentially help in the development of advanced materials such as plastics and polymers. Polymers, whether natural or artificial, are big molecules made by linking up smaller repeating chemical units.
Bengaluru is renowned for its delightful weather and notorious traffic. While the city is celebrated for its pleasant climate, the constant traffic congestion remains a prominent feature in the headlines. Online, Peak Bengaluru memes particularly focusing on the citys traffic woes have become a source of laughter. However, breaking away from tradition, a bride in Bengaluru recently garnered attention for her innovative approach to beat the traffic. Opting for a unique solution, she chose to forgo the conventional bridal car entry and instead boarded the metro to ensure she reached the venue on time.

A viral video capturing the bride, accompanied by her entourage of family and friends, has been circulating on the internet. With over 19,000 views, the clip captures the bride waving as she navigates the metros automatic entry gate and boards a train. Shared on the X platform (formerly known as Twitter), the video comes with a caption that reads, Whatte STAR!! Stuck in Heavy Traffic, Smart Bengaluru Bride ditches her car and takes the Metro to reach the Wedding Hall just before her marriage muhoortha time!! Peak Bengaluru moment.

Watch the video here:

The video quickly caught the attention of online users, with one user humorously commenting, Now screening: Metrowaale Dulhania Le Jaayenga.

Whatte STAR!! Stuck in Heavy Traffic, Smart Bengaluru Bride ditches her Car, & takes Metro to reach Wedding Hall just before her marriage muhoortha time!! @peakbengaluru moment pic.twitter.com/LsZ3ROV86H Forever Bengaluru  (@ForeverBLRU) January 16, 2023

Another one said, Practical person. Wish her great future.

Practical person. Wish her great future. Anup Sayare (@sayareakd) January 21, 2023

A user, expressing admiration for the brides innovative thinking, wrote, She will live a happy life This smart thinking will ensure it

She will live a happy life This smart thinking will ensure it Krishna Sathyanarayana (@krishna_sathya) January 19, 2023

Brave and spontaneous..

Brave and spontaneous.. praveen garimalla (@prav_garimalla) January 19, 2023

In the past, various unique incidents involving brides and grooms have captured public attention. In a noteworthy incident from Uttar Pradesh, a newly-wed bride named Krishna Rajput went viral for her dedication towards education. Despite her wedding day, Krishna appeared for her college examination donned in her bridal attire.

My wedding is important and so are the examinations. My vidai will be after I write my exam, the bride told ANI.

#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh: A BA final year student and newlywed bride, Krishna Rajput took the exam for Sociology paper on 16th May.My wedding is important and so are the examinations. My vidai will be after I write my exam, she says. pic.twitter.com/SFpHPkI3fB  ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) May 17, 2023

People praised the bride for taking her college exam on her wedding day and applauded her dedication.
The US State Department said it is pausing additional funding for the UN Palestinian refugee agency on Friday after Israel alleged 12 members of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) were involved in the Hamas-led October 7 attacks.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), set up in 1949, carries out direct relief and works programmes for Palestine refugees.

This is the first time the Biden administration took steps against the UNRWA after renewing US funding to the agency. The Trump administration completely cut off funding to the UNRWA.

(The US is) extremely troubled by the allegations. (The Biden administration has) temporarily paused additional funding for UNRWA while we review these allegations and the steps the United Nations is taking to address them, US state department spokesman Matthew Miller said.

The Israeli military and Shin Bet citing intel told the Israeli government that they found active participation of UNRWA staffers and use of UNRWA vehicles and facilities during the October 7 attacks.

According to US-based news outlet Axios, Israeli officials obtained the information from interrogating terrorists arrested during the attacks that staffers of the UNRWA were involved in the attacks.

This was strong and corroborated intelligence. A lot of the intelligence is a result of interrogations of militants who were arrested during the Oct. 7 attack, the official was quoted as saying by Axios.

UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said he has terminated the contracts of the accused staff members and ordered a probe. Any UNRWA employee who was involved in acts of terror will be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution, Lazzarini said.

I have taken the decision to immediately terminate the contracts of these staff members and launch an investigation in order to establish the truth without delay. Anyone who betrays the fundamental values of the United Nations also betrays those whom we serve in Gaza, across the region and elsewhere around the world, he further added.

The UN will conduct an urgent and comprehensive independent review of UNRWA, Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said.

The UNRWA also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all Israeli hostages and their safe return to their families.

US secretary of state Antony Blinken spoke to UN secretary general Antonio Guterres and highlighted the need of conducting a speedy probe into the matter.

(He emphasized) the necessity of a thorough and swift investigation of this matter. UNRWA plays a critical role in providing lifesaving assistance to Palestinians, including essential food, medicine, shelter, and other vital humanitarian support. Their work has saved lives, and it is important that UNRWA address these allegations and take any appropriate corrective measures, including reviewing its existing policies and procedures, Miller said.

Israel defence minister Yoav Gallant thanked the Biden administration for taking the step. (It is) an important step in holding UNRWA accountable. Terrorism under the guise of humanitarian work is a disgrace to the UN and the principles it claims to represent, Gallant said.
Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu completed his high-profile state visit to China and noted that the two countries respect each other with Beijing fully supporting them, especially in the Indian Ocean islands sovereignty.

His statement comes against the backdrop of the India- Maldives strained relationship.

He further noted that the country has assisted in the development of the Maldives since establishing diplomatic relations in 1972.

Many foreign experts claim that President Mohamed Muizzus trip to China comes with an aim to strengthen their ties and elevate them to a strategic partnership.

He also said that Chinas Belt and Road Initiative has taken bilateral relations to a new level, reported Chinas state-run CGTN channel, adding that China is a country that would not interfere with the internal affairs of the Maldives, which is why the two countries have a strong relationship, said Muizzu.

A Chinese Communist delegation held talks with Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu to promptly implement 20 agreements signed between the two countries during his recent visit to China, including increasing flights from China to boost tourist numbers to the archipelago nation.

The delegation, led by Sun Haiyan, the deputy head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC), concluded the three-day visit to Male after meeting Muizzu and several other officials. The visit coincides with the permission granted by the Maldives government for the Chinese research vessel Xiang Yang Hong 03 to berth at Male.

China was looking for new avenues to berth its controversial research ships frequenting the Indian Ocean on surveillance missions after Sri Lanka banned them for a year following concerns expressed by India. During the visit of the CPC delegation, the two sides agreed to deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

She expressed interest in strengthening strategic bilateral relations and offering training possibilities for Maldivians in various fields, the readout said. Muizzu,45, who is regarded as pro-China, signed 20 agreements during his recent China visit, mostly various infrastructure and housing projects.

The Chinese government has also announced a USD 130 million grant to Maldives during his visit. Muizzu has requested China to boost Chinese tourist numbers by increasing flights to Maldives. Chinese tourists figure third in numbers to Maldives after India and Russia.

(with agencies inputs)
The fire on the merchant vessel Marlin Luanda, caused by a Houthi strike, has now been extinguished. On Saturday, the US Central Command reported a missile attack in the Gulf of Aden on a vessel owned by UK-based Oceonix Services, with a multinational crew of 22 Indians and 1 Bangladeshi.

Yemeni naval forces carried out a targeting operation on the British oil ship Marlin Luanda in the Gulf of Aden, using a number of appropriate naval missiles. The strike was direct, and resulted [in] the burning of the vessel, Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree said on Friday. After a distress message from the ships captain, USS Carney, the French Navy Frigate FS Alsace and the Indian Navy Frigate INS Visakhapatnam responded quickly, providing critical firefighting material and assistance to the civilian crew.

Read More: INS Visakhapatnam Responds to Distress Call From Missile-hit Merchant Ship; 22 Indians Onboard

An audio recording from Marlin Luanda after being hit by Yemens missile. pic.twitter.com/jdo4564Jlg Warfare Analysis (@warfareanalysis) January 27, 2024

Yesterday, the Iranian-backed Houthis struck the Marshall Islands-flagged, Bermuda-owned M/V Marlin Luanda with an Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile (ASBM) in the Gulf of Aden. Marlin Luanda is transporting for commercial use a cargo of Naphtha, a highly flammable liquid hydrogen mixture. Following the missile strike, a major fire ensued in one of the cargo holds, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement on Sunday.

Thanks to this rapid response by the U.S., Indian and French navies, the fire is now extinguished. There were no casualties in the attack, the ship remains seaworthy, and has returned to its previous course, the statement added.

Yesterday, the Iranian-backed Houthis struck the Marshall Islands-flagged, Bermuda-owned M/V Marlin Luanda with an Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile (ASBM) in the Gulf of Aden. Marlin Luanda is transporting for commercial use a cargo of Naphtha, a highly flammable liquid hydrogen pic.twitter.com/BHCCqMltiY U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) January 27, 2024

87000MTS of Naphtha

On Saturday, sources informed CNN-News18 that the UK tankers crew initiated firefighting using a fixed foam system and inert gas. They have sought the assistance of firefighting experts. The ship was carrying 87000MTS of Naphtha. Earlier reports suggested that the crew had abandoned the ship due to the hazardous nature of the cargo and its potential consequences. However, reliable sources have confirmed that this has not occurred yet, and the crew is still actively trying to extinguish a fire on the ship.

This latest maritime attack comes as the US and the UK have conducted airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen following warnings from the US and its allies. The strikes were in response to the groups attacks on the international shipping lane. The Houthis, in turn, have declared their intent to continue their attacks until the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza concludes.

Houthi leader Abdul Malek al-Houthi expressed satisfaction in confronting the US directly, saying it is a great honour and blessing. These attacks have led major shipping and oil companies to halt transit through a crucial maritime trade route, with tankers opting for longer routes around the African continent instead of using the Suez Canal.

Crisis Hurting Trade

On Friday, the top UN trade body warned about the disruption in global trade due to chaos in the Red Sea shipping route, saying that the ongoing crisis would hurt developing nations such as India. The United Nations trade and development body, UNCTAD, said that the crisis is impacting global food prices, with longer distances and higher freight rates.

Red Sea, Black Sea and Panama Canal: @UNs trade & development body raises alarm on global trade disruptions.@UNCTAD warns that escalating attacks on ships in the Red Sea are adding strain to shipping routes already hit by conflict and climate change. https://t.co/eO47oAIP2S pic.twitter.com/YnmopB6PII UNCTAD, the UN trade & development body (@UNCTAD) January 26, 2024

Disruptions in grain shipments from Europe, the Russian Federation and Ukraine pose risks to global food security, affecting consumers and lowering the prices paid to producers, UNCTAD said in a statement. The UN body stressed the urgent need for swift adaptations from the shipping industry and robust international cooperation to navigate the rapid reshaping of global trade dynamics. The current challenges underscore trades vulnerability to geopolitical tensions, demanding collective efforts for sustainable solutions, it added.
Australia and Canada have suspended their funding to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, after Israel accused a dozen employees of involvement in Hamass October 7 attack. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Saturday she was deeply concerned by the allegations against the agency, UNRWA.

We are speaking with partners and will temporarily pause disbursement of recent funding, she wrote on social media platform X. We welcome UNRWAs immediate response, including terminating contracts and launching an investigation, as well as its recent announcement of a full investigation into allegations against the organization, she added.

Allegations UNRWA staff were involved in the abhorrent October 7 terror attacks are deeply concerning.Australia welcomes UNRWAs swift response and will engage closely on investigations. We are speaking with partners and will temporarily pause disbursement of recent funding. pic.twitter.com/Havwserjh3  Senator Penny Wong (@SenatorWong) January 27, 2024

Canadas International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen on Friday announced that Ottawa had temporarily paused any additional funding to UNRWA while it undertakes a thorough investigation into these allegations. Canada is taking these reports extremely seriously and is engaging closely with UNRWA and other donors on this issue, he wrote on X.

Should the allegations prove to be accurate, Canada expects UNRWA to immediately act against those determined to have been involved in Hamass terrorist attacks. The moves come after the United States halted its funding to UNRWA on Friday, saying the allegations were against 12 employees who may have been involved in the Hamas attack that triggered the war in Gaza.

Canada unequivocally condemns the October 7th attack on Israel. I am deeply troubled by the allegations relating to some UNRWA employees. I have instructed Global Affairs Canada to pause all additional funding to UNRWA pending the outcome of the investigation. Read my statement: pic.twitter.com/YfEbwhKvzx Ahmed Hussen (@HonAhmedHussen) January 26, 2024

On Friday, UNRWA said it had sacked several employees accused by Israel of involvement in the October 7 attack. The head of the agency, Philippe Lazzarini, has vowed to hold accountable, including through criminal prosecution any UNRWA employee found to have been involved in acts of terror. UN chief Antonio Guterres has pledged to conduct an urgent and comprehensive independent review of UNRWA.
Unidentified gunmen have killed nine foreign nationals in southeastern Iran near the Pakistani border, the semiofficial Iranian Mehr news agency reported on Saturday.

The report said no individuals or groups claimed responsibility for the shootings in the restless region. The attack follows tit-for-tat military action in the border region of Balochistan that had stoked regional tensions inflamed by the Israel-Hamas war.

Read More: Why Are Iran and the US Blaming Each Other for Airstrikes in Pakistan?

Sistan-Balochistan is one of the Sunni Muslim provinces in Shiite-dominated Iran. It has seen persistent unrest involving cross-border drug-smuggling gangs and rebels from the Balochi ethnic minority, as well as jihadists.

On January 18, Pakistan launched air strikes on militant targets in Iran, two days after Iran had launched strikes on its territory. Tehran said it had targeted Jaish al-Adl, a jihadist group which has carried out a spate of deadly attacks in Iran in recent months. Formed in 2012, the group is blacklisted by Iran as a terrorist organisation.

The Iranian strikes, which Pakistan said killed at least two children, drew a sharp rebuke from Islamabad, which recalled its ambassador from Tehran and blocked Irans envoy from returning to Islamabad. Tehran also summoned Islamabads charge daffaires over Pakistans strikes, which left at least nine people dead.

The two countries, however, announced last Monday that they had decided to de-escalate and resumed diplomatic missions with the two ambassadors returning to their posts.

(With agency inputs)
Palestinians arrive in the southern Gaza town of Rafah after fleeing an Israeli ground and air offensive in the nearby city of Khan Younis on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024.

The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees fired a number of its staffers in Gaza suspected of taking part in the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas and other militants on southern Israel, its director said Friday, prompting the United States  the agencys biggest donor  to temporary halt its funding.

The agency, known by its acronym UNRWA, has been the main agency providing aid for Gazas population amid the humanitarian disaster caused by Israels offensive against Hamas in Gaza triggered by the Oct. 7 attack. UNRWA officials did comment on the impact that the U.S. halt in funding would have on its operations.

UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said it terminated contracts with several employees and ordered an investigation after Israel provided information alleging they played a role in the attack. The U.S. State Department said there were allegations against 12 employees. UNRWA has 13,000 staffers in Gaza, almost all of them Palestinians, ranging from teachers in schools that the agency runs to doctors, medical staff and aid workers.

In a statement, Lazzarini called the allegations shocking and said any employee involved in acts of terror will be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution.

He did not elaborate on what the staffers alleged role was in the attacks. In the unprecedented surprise attack, Hamas fighters broke through the security fence surrounding Gaza and stormed nearby Israeli communities, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping some 250. Other militants joined the rampage.

UNRWA reiterates its condemnation in the strongest possible terms of the abhorrent attacks of 7 October and calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all Israeli hostages, Lazzarini said.

Since the wars start, Israels assault has killed more than 26,000 Palestinians, most women and children, and wounded more than 64,400 others, Gazas Health Ministry said Friday. The ministry does not differentiate between combatants and civilians in its death toll. More than 150 UNWRA employees are among those killed  the highest toll the world body has suffered in a conflict  and a number of U.N. shelters have been hit in bombardment.

More than 1.7 million of Gazas 2.3 million people have been driven from their homes by the war  with hundreds of thousands of them crowded into schools and other shelters run by UNRWA.

Israels near-complete seal on Gaza has left almost the entire population reliant on a trickle of international aid able to enter the territory each day. U.N. officials say about a quarter of the population now faces starvation.

The U.S. State Department said it was extremely troubled by the allegations against the UNRWA staffers and has temporarily paused additional funding for the agency. It said the U.N. had promised a comprehensive and independent review of UNRWA. The U.S. is the biggest donor to the agency, providing it $340 million in 2022 and several hundred million in 2023.

Thousands of Palestinians fled the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis on Friday as fighting between Hamas militants and Israeli forces intensified. Families were seen traveling on foot down roads, carrying possessions as smoke filed the skies above them.

Also Friday, the Israeli military ordered residents of three Khan Younis neighborhoods and the refugee camp in the city to evacuate to a coastal area. The military said its troops were engaging in close urban combat with Hamas fighters around the city.

The Khan Younis camp, like others in Gaza, was initially settled by Palestinians who fled or were driven from their homes during the 1948 war surrounding Israels creation and has since been built up into an urbanized district. The leader of Hamas in Gaza, Yehya Sinwar, and the commander of the groups military wing, Mohammed Deif, both grew up in the Khan Younis refugee camp.

In central Gaza, the other main focus of Israels offensive currently, Israeli airstrikes on the Nuseirat urban refugee camp overnight killed at least 15 people, including a 5-month-old baby, an AP journalist at the hospital where the casualties were taken said.

The intense fighting came as the United Nations top court ordered Israel to do all it can to prevent death, destruction and any acts of genocide in Gaza. But the International Court of Justice stopped short Friday of ordering it to end the military offensive. South Africa has accused Israel of genocide in its offensive, and the court dismissed a request by Israel, which rejects the accusation, that the case be thrown out.

Aid groups have struggled to bring food, medicines and other supplies to northern Gaza, where Israels ground invasion first targeted and where Israel says it now largely has control.

Uday Samir, a 23-year old Gaza City native, said many of the basic foods such as flour, lentils and rice are now impossible to find across the city.

Now, what is available is animal feed, said Samir. We grind it and bake it.

All supplies enter Gaza in the south, either through the Egyptian-controlled Rafah border crossing or Israels Kerem Shalom crossing. Aid groups say fighting and Israeli restrictions have made deliveries to the north difficult. When convoys do travel north, supplies are often snatched by hungry Palestinian before the trucks reach their destination.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
Reverend Jeff Hood, who was the spiritual advisor to Kenneth Eugene Smith, 58, the first man in the US to be executed with nitrogen gas, said prison staff on Thursday were unable to mask their shock. He described the event as a horror show as Smith writhed about and appeared like a fish outside water.

There was clear shock and surprise on their faces. They were told this is going to be quick, easy and painless. They kept saying this is the most humane way society has ever figured out how to execute people, Hood was quoted as saying by the New York Post. He said it took 22 minutes for Kenneth E Smith to die. He was executed at Alabamas WC Holman Correctional Facility.

The whole thing was just horrific. Its a scene that will never leave me. Some of [Smiths] struggles looked produced for Hollywood, the reverend said. He said that the setting looked like it was a movie set. (It was) some sort of horrible creation gone amok, he further added.

The capital punishment using nitrogen gas meted out to Kenneth Eugene Smith, sentenced to death for the 1988 murder-for-hire of Elizabeth Sennett, a pastors wife, sparked outrage. The European Union, United Nations and the White House expressed concern over the use of nitrogen gas.

After the nitrogen gas was administered, Smith began writhing and thrashing for approximately two to four minutes, followed by around five minutes of heavy breathing, according to a separate report by local news media outlet AL.com.

UN human rights chief Volker Turk, the European Union (EU) and US civil liberties groups expressed concern about the manner of Smiths execution. This novel and untested method of suffocation by nitrogen gas may amount to torture, or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, Turk said.

Ravina Shamdasani, spokeswoman for the UN human rights office in Geneva, said: Lets just bring an end to the death penalty. This is an anachronism that doesnt belong in the 21st century.

(It was) a particularly cruel and unusual punishment, a spokesperson from the EU said.

The use of nitrogen gas  it is troubling to us, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters. We are deeply troubled by it.

Like a Fish Out of Water

Several states in the US recently carried out executions using lethal injection but Alabama and two other states  Oklahoma and Mississippi  have authorised the use of nitrogen gas. Alabama attorney general Steve Marshall on Friday defended the decision to put Smith to death through nitrogen asphyxiation. (The execution has been carried out in a) professional manner. We will definitely have more nitrogen hypoxia executions in Alabama, I believe that number is 43, Marshall said.

Smiths case garnered national attention after he was subjected to a botched execution attempt in November 2022, when prison officials were unable to set intravenous lines to administer a lethal injection.

Reverend Hood said he had a birds-eye view of the prison staffers overseeing Smiths execution. He said there was sudden change in the facial expressions and body language of the staff led by Alabama Department of Corrections Regional Director Cynthia Stewart-Riley.

He looked like a fish out of water, flapping over and over again. As all of that happened, Stewart-Riley was behind the gurney to his right. She was so disturbed and nervous that she kept tapping her feet over and over again, he said.

In that circumstance its hard to know what is what, but I know what I saw in terms of the horror on the faces of people in front of me, the priest told the New York Post.

The Associated Press in a separate report said that Smith was conscious for several minutes during the more than 20 minute execution period.
Georgians Amy Khvitia and Ano Sartania recently found that they are twin sisters who were taken away from their mother at birth and sold off to separate families weeks apart. Their discovery also revealed that up to 100,000 babies in eastern Europes Georgia were stolen and sold off to parents who could not have children, broadcaster BBC revealed in a report. Some of these children were sold as recently as 2005.

Amy and Ano, according to the BBC report discovered each other by chance thanks to a TV talent show and a TikTok video. They finally met each other in Germany. I always felt like there was something or someone missing in my life. I used to dream about a little girl in black who would follow me around and ask me about my day, Ano was quoted as saying by the broadcaster.

Their reunion was part of a BBC documentary titled Geogias Lost Children. During the course of filming, the broadcaster along with Georgian journalist Tamuna Museridze found out that there were countless parents who were told that their children died at birth but later turned out that their children were sold to couples as far as the US, Canada, Cyprus, Russia and Ukraine.

There have been official attempts to probe the case of the lost children but no one has been held accountable. The Georgian government launched a probe into the trafficking of children and spoke to over 40 people but told the broadcaster that the cases were very old and historic data has been lost.

Journalist Tamuna Museridze, who herself does not know who her biological parents are, also set up a Facebook group named Vedzeb  a Facebook page dedicated to help Georgians reunite with their lost parents and children.

It was Vedzeb that helped Amy and Ano reunite with their mother with their birth mother, Aza, in Germany.

The journalist also discovered a black market in adoption that stretched across Georgia and went on from the early 1950s to 2005, the broadcaster said.

The government made over four attempts to find out what led to the separations and launched a probe in 2003 into international child trafficking which led to a number of arrests but information available to the public is less. In 2015, after another probe, the general director of the Rustavi maternity hospital, Aleksandre Baravkovi, was arrested but charges brought against him were cleared and he was allowed to return to work.

It was also through the Facebook group that Amy and Ano found out they had the same genetic disease, a bone disorder called dysplasia. They also found out that they liked the same music and even had the same hairstyle.

It was like looking in a mirror, the exact same face, exact same voice. I am her and she is me, Amy Khvitia was quoted as saying by the BBC.
An Indian-origin senior citizen has been sentenced to 10 months in jail for outraging the modesty of a woman and assaulting another person with a dangerous weapon. Sixity-one-year-old Singaram Palianeapan was jailed after he pleaded guilty to using criminal force to molest a domestic worker and voluntarily causing hurt to another man using metal chain.

Four other similar charges were also taken into consideration during sentencing by the court.

On September 28, 2022, Singaram followed a domestic worker into a lift where he molested her, keeping her trapped for nearly 90 seconds, according to a news report.

Court documents showed that the woman was buying food when Singaram offered her money to buy herself a drink. She initially refused the offer but later accepted the money when he insisted.

After getting her food, she proceeded to head back to her employers residence as Singaram followed her. The two reached the lift of the housing block and Singaram pressed the button for level 17 but when the woman tried to press the button for level five, he stopped her.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Jordy Kay said that once the lift started to move, Singaram began to molest the worker. The lift arrived at level 17 and Singaram stood by the lift doors asking the victim to follow him.

When she refused, he went back into the lift and selected the seventh floor. As the lift moved, he continued to molest the domestic help.

Singaram was in the lift with the victim for about a minute and 28 seconds, and all of his actions were captured on the lifts CCTV camera, Kay said.

Singaram was arrested on September 28 and released on bail the next day.

Around a month on October 28, while he was out on bail, Singaram punched a man at a bicycle shop three times with a metal chain wrapped around his fist.

Victim Yeoh Su Kai was at his friend Hu Jianpengs bicycle shop when Singaram confronted the shop owner about the problems he was facing with the personal mobility device that he bought.

A dispute broke out between the two following which Singaram took out a metal chain from his personal mobility device, wrapped it around his right fist and punched Yeoh thrice.

Seeking a jail term of between nine and 11 months for Singaram, Kay argued that even though the degree of sexual exploitation was low, there was still an attempt to touch the domestic workers chest area.

DPP Kay also addressed the assault on Mr Yeoh, highlighting that the metal chain used was serious given that the injuries were to the victims head.

(With PTI Inputs)
India is cooperating with Canada and relations between the two countries are improving after tensions increased over the killing of a Sikh separatist in British Columbia, a top Canadian official has said.

I wouldnt describe them (the Indians) as not cooperating. I think weve made advancements in that relationship, Jody Thomas, Trudeaus national security adviser, told CTV in an interview published on Friday. My discussions with my counterpart in India have been fruitful, and I think theyve moved things forward, said the outgoing National Security and Intelligence Advisor.

India-Canada ties soured after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last September said that Ottawa was actively pursuing credible allegations that Indian agents were potentially linked to the June killing of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Canada has been asking India to cooperate in its investigation of Nijjars killing.

Meanwhile, New Delhi has strongly rejected the accusations and asked Ottawa to furnish solid proof. What heightened tensions was the US assertion of preventing a plot to harm a Sikh separatist in the United States. The information that they (the Americans) revealed supported our position and our assertions with India, and India is working with us  far more closely to resolve this, Thomas told CTV. Trudeau said in December he sensed a change in New Delhis tone with Ottawa after the US case.

Always been collaborative

However, India has maintained that its approach right from the beginning was collaborative and wanted to deal with the concerns raised by Canada through diplomatic channels. Our approach towards resolving this issue has always been collaborative. What we have been saying right from the beginning is that unless you share something specific and relevant with us, what do we look into? How do we help you? Indian high commissioner to Ottawa Sanjay Verma in an interview last month.

Amid the frayed diplomatic ties that have delayed talks on a free-trade deal, India has continued to push its core issue with Canada, which remains the space given to separatists, terrorists, and anti-India elements in that country. Our position has been consistent. We have highlighted how we see the problem and frankly, the core issue remains the space that is given to extremists, terrorists and anti-India elements in that country, then-Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in December.

Bagchi said that New Delhis positions have remained consistent and it would hope that they would take action on such extremist elements that are misusing freedom of speech and expression. India believes that said that relations between the two countries will return to normalcy only if Ottawa takes note of Indias concerns in Canada.
India today stands tall as a marker of peace, innovation, and prosperity, the outgoing US Ambassador to India, Taranjit Singh Sandhu said this week, underlining that the country with over a billion people has proved to the world that Science and Spirituality can converge.

Today, India stands tall as a marker of peace, stability, innovation, and prosperity, Indias Ambassador to the US, Sandhu, said in his address to the community leaders and embassy officials after unfurling the national flag on the occasion of 75th Republic Day. A large number of the Indian-American community leaders along with embassy officials attended the unfurling of the national flag and Republic Day celebrations at the Indian Embassy in downtown Washington DC on Friday.

India has proved to the world that Science and Spirituality can converge; ancient and modern can converge; unity and diversity can converge; physical and digital can converge; bilateral friendships and plural-lateral bondings can converge. We are unique; Bharati-yatra ensures synergy and convergence, he said. When we look at our journey of the last 75 years as a nation, we are proud of our achievements; we are equally inspired, to make more strides, in our journey ahead. We have lived the dream of our forefathers; our children give us more confidence and hope to aim bigger, he was quoted as saying by PTI.

Warm greetings to all on Indias 75th Republic Day. Honoured to unfurl the tiranga , listen to Rashtrapati jis address to the nation, and pay floral tributes to Gandhi ji in #WashingtonDC. pic.twitter.com/vImSmUfeYV Taranjit Singh Sandhu (@SandhuTaranjitS) January 26, 2024

G20 presidency

Our G20 presidency, where we brought together diverse opinions, and generated consensus; Our commitment to being, a voice for the global south, reflected in the Summit as well as in the inclusion of Africa in the G20; India reaching the moon- our Chandrayaan; and the launch of the Global Biofuels Alliance, reflecting our commitment to green growth, he said. On a bilateral level  Prime Minister Modis historic state visit to the US in June last year  the ceremonial & substantive aspects were clearly visible, President Joe Bidens visit to India in September; Launch of iCET, taking our tech partnership to the next level, he said.

Be it technology or trade, space or semiconductors, healthcare, energy, or people-to-people exchanges the two countries are closely cooperating in all areas of human activity. Our engagements in multilateral forums, such as G20, Quad, I2U2, and many others, demonstrate that our partnership delivers, not only for the citizens of our two countries but also for the world at large, Sandhu said.

Attended a farewell reception organized by @USISPForum thank my friend @MukeshAghi and his team for organizing, and industry leaders for attending.Appreciate USISPFs efforts in forging closer tech, trade, commercial & investment ties. pic.twitter.com/tbXRQgeLZz  Taranjit Singh Sandhu (@SandhuTaranjitS) January 26, 2024

Sandhu Retires

The 61-year-old Indian envoys address comes as he is set to retire from the foreign service after 35 years of diplomatic career this month. Sandhu has been one of the leading architects of the flourishing India-US relationship. In his remarks at a farewell reception hosted in honour of the outgoing Indian envoy this week, Mukesh Aghi, the president and CEO of US-India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF), said Sandhus resume of achievements remains long and impressive.

When Ambassador Sandhu took the helm in Washington in February 2020, ominous times were about to upend the economies and suspend daily lives, Aghi said, adding that a cataclysmic pandemic meant new challenges even for a veteran diplomat. Sandhu steered through Covid-19, helping Indian students return home, working through visa backlogs for the diaspora, and strengthening vaccine diplomacy between the two countries.

(With agency inputs)
India has emerged as the fifth-largest contributor to the tourism industry in the United States, projecting a 30 percent growth in 2024. In an exclusive interview with TOI, Staci Mellman, Chief Marketing Officer of Brand USA, unveiled insights into this trend driven by a growing middle class and younger travelers.

Mellman underlined the substantial spending power of Indian tourists, surpassing global averages and contributing significantly to the $173.9 billion spent by international visitors in the US. The surge in spending, from January to October 2023, aligns with improvements in visa processing, enhanced flight connectivity, and an expanded array of tourism offerings.

With 1.7 million Indian visitors in 2023, there is a growing interest in exploring beyond the traditional gateways that the US has to offer. Notably, this encouraging figure is despite visa processing challenges, including a current wait time of hundreds of days.

In the past year, 1.2 million new visas were issued and the US added 2.5 lakh new tourist visa appointments for Indians. The Consulate in Hyderabad, processing 3,500 appointments daily, aims to streamline operations even further, including weekend processing.

Last year, it was reported that outbound trips from India will surpass USD 42 billion by 2024 and the government could bring about certain policy changes to boost this growing market. India is experiencing what industry experts describe as a tourism boom.

Looking to take advantage of the situation, the US aims to attract more Indian tourists in the coming years. The US National Travel and Tourism Office expects the current numbers to reach 2 million by 2027, according to a recent report by Business Standard.
Canadian authorities have upgraded murder charges against a Canadian under investigation in several countries for allegedly selling suicide kits online, his lawyer said Friday.

In mid-December former cook Kenney Law, 58, was charged by Toronto area police with 14 counts of second-degree murder in Canadas Ontario province. Law denies the charges.

These have now been upgraded to first-degree murder, according to court filings, reflecting the prosecutions position that the homicides were planned and deliberate.

He intends to defend (himself against) these new charges just as hed plan to defend the previous ones, defense attorney Matthew Gourlay told AFP.

Its surprising. We dont yet know the theory by which the Crown is proposing to ask a court to convict him of murder, he added.

Law was arrested in May for marketing a substance that is used as a food additive but can kill if misused. He is said to have targeted vulnerable people online.

He is believed to have sent as many as 1,200 packages to people in more than 40 countries since 2020.

Canadian police said last month they were coordinating their investigation with law enforcement agencies around the world.

In Britain, at least 272 people purchased products from Laws websites and 88 of them died, police there have said.

Alerted by Interpol, several other countries have launched investigations, including New Zealand and Italy, where nine buyers have been identified and one victim has died.

The Canadian victims were both male and female between the ages of 16 an 36, according to police.

Law is scheduled to appear in court next week.
President Vladimir Putin said Friday that Russias future ruling class should be made up of army veterans, and not weirdos who show their backsides.

His comments appeared to be a veiled attack on a raunchy naked-themed celebrity party held in Moscow last month that drew a fierce public backlash and the ire of many Russian politicians.

In a televised government meeting, Putin said he met earlier in the day with students who interrupted their studies to fight on the battlefield in Ukraine.

These are the people who should form the elite of the country in the future, not those who expose their genitals or show their backsides, Putin said.

Well, we need them, too  weirdos. Theyre allowed in, too. But the real elite of the country should be formed from these people, the president said, referring to veterans.

The Kremlin has ramped up conservative rhetoric since launching its military assault on Ukraine, casting the conflict as a battle against the West and its values.

Numerous high-profile Russian celebrities and household names attended the so-called Almost Naked party in Moscows Mutabor nightclub last month.

The event flew in the face of the family-oriented image Moscow has been trying to portray, and prompted calls for investigations from conservative politicians.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is likely to make a full recovery from prostate cancer and his prognosis is excellent, two doctors said after he was seen at Walter Reed hospital for a follow-up appointment.

Austin controversially kept US President Joe Biden in the dark about the cancer diagnosis for weeks, and did not inform either the commander-in-chief or Congress until days after he was hospitalized on January 1 for complications from his treatment.

Secretary Austin was seen today at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for a scheduled post-prostatectomy surveillance appointment, the doctors said in a statement released by the Pentagon.

He continues to recover well and is expected to make a full recovery. Secretary Austins prostate cancer was treated early and effectively, and his prognosis is excellent, they added.

Austin, a 70-year-old career soldier, initially underwent minor surgery to treat the cancer on December 22, returning home the following day.

But he was readmitted due to complications including nausea and severe pain on January 1.

The White House was not informed about Austins hospitalization until January 4, while Congress was not told until the following day, and Biden did not learn of the cancer diagnosis until January 9.

Austin was released from Walter Reed last week, and made his first public appearance since his hospitalization on Tuesday, speaking via videolink from his residence at the opening of a meeting on aid for Ukraine.

Republican lawmakers have called for Austin to be sacked, but Biden, while lamenting Austins lapse in judgment, has said he remains confident in his defense secretary.
The parents of an 18-year-old Indian-American student studying at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), who reportedly died of hypothermia last week, have filed a complaint against the schools police department for negligence.

Akul B. Dhawan went missing last Saturday a little before 1:30 am and was found dead almost 10 hours later on the back porch of a building near the university campus in west Urbana in the US state of Illinois, according to the police.

Though the exact cause of his death is under probe by the campus police, the Illinois State Police and the Champaign County Coroners Office, said that preliminary findings of an autopsy performed on Tuesday showed signs of hypothermia. The preliminary findings showed no evidence of significant trauma, said the Champaign County Coroner in a news release. There was evidence of hypothermic skin changes. The final autopsy report is pending toxicology studies.

No foul play

University police also say that preliminary information suggests that there was no foul play involved, and the death is initially believed to be accidental. An investigation is ongoing. Illinois and much of the Midwest experienced brutal cold and freezing temperatures in the latter half of January, with wind chills dipping between -20 to -30 degrees.

Dhawans parents have accused the universitys police department of negligence and have filed a complaint against them over how the search was handled, according to The News-Gazette newspaper. Ish Dhawan and Ritu Dhawan said on Wednesday that their son was found just 400 feet from where he was reported missing based on location-tracking data on their sons phone.

This is bizarre

This is bizarre, that a kid is never found who was just less than a block, like one minute away, sitting there, dead, frozen to death, Ish Dhawan told the newspaper. Imagine whats going through in our mind as a dad and mom. I visualise every minute that my son froze to death on a university campus. We need answers, his mother said. What is the proof that they searched in this area, around the area theyre talking (about), this half-block? My kid would have been found.

When Akul Dhawan was reported missing, university police searched where he was last seen, his residence hall. Local hospitals were also checked, and the police attempted to reach the student via telephone. However, they were unable to locate him. The next morning, shortly after 11 am, an employee of the university notified police and emergency medical services of a man on the back porch of a building. Police said that he was deceased at the time he was found.

Dhawans parents, based in California, said they met with top university officials while in the city. His uncle, Rishab Mehandru, told the media outlet that the family wants to know more about UIs search policy so that no one else would have to endure the same pain as them. Dhawan, who turned 18 in September, according to The News-Gazette, came to the University of Illinois Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering to study robotics despite his parents opposition, who wished him to be closer to home.

(With agency inputs)
Cimate activist Greta Thunberg, third right, takes part in a march to Farnborough Airport in southern England, Saturday Jan. 27, 2024.

Climate activist Greta Thunberg joined a march in southern England on Saturday to protest the use of private jets and the expansion of an airport.

Hundreds of local residents and activists holding banners and placards that read Ban Private Jets marched to Farnborough Airport, which mostly serves private aircraft. Some beat drums while others lit pink smoke flares.

The airport, located in Hampshire County about 40 miles (64 kilometers) southwest of London, applied last year to increase its maximum number of flights from 50,000 to 70,000 a year.

Groups working to fight climate change, including the organizer of Saturdays protest, Extinction Rebellion, say private jets are much more polluting than commercial passenger airliners. Flights to and from Farnborough Airport carried an average of 2 passengers per flight in 2022, the group said.

It is clear that private jets are incompatible with ensuring present and future living conditions on this planet, Thunberg said in a video that Extinction Rebellion posted on social media.

Were not going to let this continue. Were not going to let the rich few who are responsible for the majority of aviation emissions get away with sacrificing people and the planet, she added.

Farnborough Airport said that it was an important hub for business and corporate travel, and that it recognized the importance of reducing its environmental impact.

The airports environmental footprint is a fraction that of a traditional commercial airport, yet it serves as one of the largest employment sites in the region, it said in a statement.

Thunberg, 21, a Swedish environmental campaigner who inspired a global youth movement against climate change, is expected to appear at a court in London next week to face a public order offense charge. She was arrested in October during a demonstration against a major oil and gas industry conference.

Thunberg was among the activists who were charged for seeking to block access to the Energy Intelligence Forum. She denied the charge.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
She emerged from the cave joking with reporters and singing. But as the New Yorker explains in a story about the incredible feat of Spain's Beatriz Flamini, the true story of her self-imposed isolation of 508 days was much darker. Flamini entered the cave in the mountains near Motril, Spain, in November 2021 and returned to the world in April 2023. During her stay, she had no direct human contact, though she received assistance from spelunkers who would drop off supplies on a shelf of the cave. She also had a panic button and a one-way computer that didn't allow her to receive return messages. Flamini, who turned 49 and 50 during her stay, made recordings on a GoProher "Wilson," writes DT Max, a reference to Tom Hanks' volleyball in the movie Castaway. (Flamini "can't stand" to watch the raw footage now.) But she spent all that time alone in the dark save for what her camping lamps illuminated.

"I didn't exactly lose consciousness, but the darkness saps you of life," she says. "The solitude, the social uprooting, it consumes you. Or, to put it a better way, you eatyou down nutrientsbut you consume yourself." The story describes her auditory hallucinations; the times she became "severely depressed"; the damage (temporary, it's hoped) to her peripheral vision and her gait; the times she would convey messages of distress in her monitored videos, though they were soundless; her PTSD-like symptoms after her exit; her split with the scientists she invited to study her; and much more. Flamini had hoped to break the world record of 463 days in a cave, but the story reveals that at about the 300-day point, she brought her tent up to the cave exit and stayed for eight days, which will likely disqualify her. The full story is worth the time. (Or check out other Longforms.)
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, allied with Hamas, said its fighters were engaging Israeli forces in the area and had fired rockets into Israel.

The Gaza Health Ministry said Israeli strikes hit near the largest functioning medical facility in the south, Nasser Hospital, and Al-Amal Hospital, where one person was killed in the courtyard, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society.

The Israeli bombardment was compromising healthcare and endangering the lives of doctors, patients and displaced people, said ministry spokesman Ashraf Al-Qidra.

The Israeli military says it is in contact with hospital directors and medical staff by phone and on the ground to make sure that they are running and accessible. Israel says Hamas operates in and around medical facilities, an allegation the group denies.

In a ruling on Friday, the World Court stopped short of ordering a ceasefire but ordered Israel to prevent acts of genocide against Palestinians and do more to help civilians. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said afterwards that the war aimed at eliminating Hamas would continue.

In the southern city of Rafah, Zainab Khalil, 57, displaced with her family several times until reaching shelter not far from the border with Egypt, said the International Court of Justice's ruling was important but not enough. "We want a ceasefire now," she said.

UNRWA PROBE

Israel launched its air, sea and land offensive after militants from the Hamas group that rules Gaza stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and abducting 253.

Some 26,257 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 65,000 wounded so far, including 174 killed in the last 24 hours, Gaza health authorities said on Saturday. The majority of the enclave's 2.3 million population has been displaced.

Israel says 220 soldiers have died since it launched its ground offensive. It says it has killed at least 9,000 Gaza militants so far, a figure that Hamas has dismissed.

Residents and Hamas militants reported fighting on Saturday in the central and northern parts of the enclave, where heavy rain flooded tents of those displaced, forcing some to seek alternative shelter in the middle of the night.

On Friday, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said it had opened an investigation into several employees suspected of involvement in the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks and that it had severed ties with those staff members.

The Palestinian foreign ministry criticised what it described as an Israeli campaign against UNRWA, and Hamas condemned the termination of employee contracts "based on information derived from the Zionist enemy".

In Rafah, where over half of Gaza's people are now taking cover in shelters and tents, the Gaza Health Ministry said an Israeli air strike killed three people in a house there.

It was not immediately clear who the casualties were and there was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.

In the occupied West Bank, one man was killed in an exchange of fire with Israeli forces near Jenin, residents said.

Reuters
The U.S. government on Saturday condemned the decision of Venezuelas highest court to block the presidential candidacy of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.

The Biden administration, however, remained noncommittal about reimposing economic sanctions on Venezuela, which it has threatened to do if the government of President Nicolas Maduro failed to ensure a level playing field for the countrys next presidential election.

The United States is currently reviewing our Venezuela sanctions policy, based on this development and the recent political targeting of democratic opposition candidates and civil society, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement.

Machado won a presidential primary held in October by the faction of the opposition backed by the U.S. She secured more than 90% of the vote despite the Venezuelan government announcing a 15-year ban on her running for office just days after she formally entered the race in June.

The former lawmaker and longtime government foe was able to participate in the primary because the election was organized by a commission independent of Venezuelas electoral authorities. Machado insisted throughout the campaign that she never received official notification of the ban and said voters, not ruling-party loyalists, were the rightful decision-makers of her candidacy.

Venezuelas Supreme Tribunal of Justice on Friday upheld the ban, which was based on alleged fraud and tax violations and accuses Machado of seeking the economic sanctions the U.S. imposed on Venezuela.

The ruling came months after Maduro and the U.S.-backed opposition reached a deal on basic conditions for a fair election, which the two sides agreed would take place in the second half of 2024. The deal led Washington to ease some economic sanctions on Maduros government.

Miller said Fridays decision from Venezuelas Supreme Tribunal of Justice runs contrary to the commitments made by Maduro and his representatives under the agreement signed in October in the Caribbean island of Barbados.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Five Bahraini MPs have made an urgent motion to extend the weekend in the kingdom to three days: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

This proposal comes in light of the global developments witnessed in various fields and the advancement of technological capabilities that contribute to societal progress on all levels.

There is an urgent need to keep pace with global advancements, including global economic systems," said MP Mohammed Al Aliwi, one of the proposers.

"However, Bahrain, as an Islamic country with its customs and traditions regarding Friday, which is considered a sacred day, makes it difficult to accept working on this day, even for a limited number of hours, due to its more emotional impact than economic effect, he added.

Fundamental

He further emphasized that taking advantage of Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays as holidays will contribute to improving the work-life balance.

"Employees will be able to spend more time with their families and engage in personal activities and interests, enhancing their overall satisfaction and raising their well-being."

The new system will also be in line with the social and cultural dimensions of Bahrain, known for its great concern for children and the elderly. Therefore, the decision supports family cohesion and social solidarity and enhances the quality of employees lives."

The other MPs who support the proposal are Hamad Al Doy, Ahmed Qaratah, Mohammed Al Balushi, and Badr Al Tamimi.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The Kingdom of Bahrain is committed to developing a cultural and urban environment based on the principles of sustainability.

This was emphasised by Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) President, His Excellency Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, as he received Dr. Fernanda Leonardoni, Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme.

Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed bin Abdullah noted the importance of strengthening cooperation mechanisms with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme.

During the meeting, consolidating the prospects for joint cooperation was discussed, especially related to strengthening cultural infrastructure and striving to achieve a sustainable and comprehensive future in the Kingdom within the framework of supporting sustainability efforts.

Dr. Leonardoni expressed her admiration for the efforts of Bahrain, which constitute a role model in developing and developing cultural infrastructure.

The meeting is an important step towards strengthening relations between Bahrain and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, and opens new horizons for achieving sustainable development in the region.
11 rescued as two boats capsize at sea in the Philippines

11 rescued as two boats capsize at sea in the Philippines

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Eleven people were rescued at sea after two small passenger boats capsized in bad weather off the western Philippine island of Palawan, authorities said yesterday.

The boats were ferrying local residents of tiny islands around the municipality of Araceli in the Sulu Sea when they separately ran into strong winds in the same area on Wednesday, Araceli police said.

A coast guard rescue vessel found all seven people alive from one boat at midday yesterday, the agency said in a statement.

Video footage released by the coast guard showed seven people huddled precariously side by side on top of the white hull of an upturned outrigger that was being tossed by rough waves.

Nearly a fourth of the hull was ripped off.

On Thursday all four on board the other boat were rescued elsewhere in the area, Araceli police Captain Orland Sagaro said.

Those rescued yesterday were treated for cuts and swaddled with blankets. There was no storm but the northeast monsoons are quite strong in these parts.

They likely took in water before they flipped over, Sagaro said. The navy coast guard, and rescuers from the municipal government took part in the search.
When IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel met privately with senators recently, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee asked for his assessment of a startling report: A whistleblower estimated that 95% of claims now being made by businesses for a COVID-era tax break were fraudulent.

He looked at his shoes and he basically said, Yeah, recalled the lawmaker who posed that question, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore.

The answer explains why Congress is racing to wind down what is known as the employee retention tax credit. Congress established the program during the coronavirus pandemic as an incentive for businesses to keep workers on the payroll.

Demand for the credit soared as Congress extended the tax break and made it available to more companies. Aggressive marketers dangled the prospect of enormous refunds to business owners if they would just apply. As a result, what was expected to cost the federal government $55 billion has instead ballooned to nearly five times that amount as of July. Meanwhile, new claims are still pouring into the IRS each week, ensuring a growing price tag that lawmakers are anxious to cap.

Lawmakers across the political spectrum who rarely agree on little else  from liberal Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., to conservative Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis.  agree its time to close down the program.

I dont have the exact number, but its like almost universal fraud in the program. It should be ended, Johnson said. I dont see how anybody could support it.

Warren added: The standards were too loose and the oversight was too thin.

The Joint Committee on Taxation estimates that winding down the program more quickly and increasing penalties for those companies promoting improper claims would generate about $79 billion over 10 years. Lawmakers aim to use the savings to offset the cost of three business tax breaks and a more generous child tax credit for many low-income families. Households benefitting from the changes in the child tax credit would see an average tax cut of $680 in the first year, according to an estimate from the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center.

The package was overwhelmingly approved by a House committee last week, 40-3, showing it has broad, bipartisan support.

But passage through Congress is not assured because many key senators have concerns about aspects of the bill. Wyden said a strong vote in the House could spur the Senate into quicker action. Still, passing major legislation in an election year is generally a heavy lift.

Under current law, taxpayers have until April 15, 2025, to claim the employee retention credit. The bill would barsnew claims after Jan. 31 of this year. It also would impose stiff penalties on those who are promoting the employer retention tax credit if they know or have reason to know their advice will lead to an underreporting of tax liabilities.

When Congress created the tax break for employers at the pandemics onset, it proved so popular that lawmakers extended and amended the program three times. The credit, worth up to $26,000 per employee, can be claimed on wages paid through 2021.

To qualify, generally businesses must show that a local or state government order related to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in their business having to close or partially suspend operations. Or the businesses must show they experienced a significant decline in revenues.

Larry Gray, a certified public accountant from Rolla, Missouri, said he had concerns early on about how the program could be abused.

There was no documentation really to speak and the IRS just sent out the checks, Gray said. They just started printing the checks and I believe Congress was wanting them to print the checks.

His hunch has proven correct, judging by the filings that he has reviewed. He has even lost clients who didnt want to hear that they did not qualify when others were telling them they did. Generally, he said, the businesses that dont qualify are failing to cite the government order that resulted in their closure or partial suspension. They are also routinely citing reasons for reimbursement that dont meet the programs criteria. For example, one company said it was struggling to find employees and had to raise wages as a justification for qualifying.

If I go through the narratives on the filings that Im looking at, every business in America qualifies, Gray said.

The IRS paused accepting claims for the tax credit in September last year, until 2024 due to rising concerns that an influx of applications are fraudulent. At that point, it had received 3.6 million claims.

Some fraud has been prolific. For instance, a New Jersey tax preparer was arrested in July on charges related to fraudulently seeking over $124 million from the IRS when he filed more than 1,000 tax returns claiming the employment tax credits.

In an update issued Thursday about the program, the IRS said that it has thousands of audit in the pipeline and that as of Dec. 31, it has initiated 352 criminal investigations involving more than $2.9 billion in potentially fraudulent claims. Separately, it has opened nine civil investigations of marketers that potentially misled employers on eligibility to file claims.

Werfel briefed the Senate Finance Committee recently on the measures that have been put into place to address the fraud, including developing a special withdrawal program for those with unprocessed claims and a voluntary disclosure program for those who believed they were improperly paid. Since then, the IRS has seen an immediate 40% decline in average weekly claims, he said.

Lawmakers emphasize that cutting down on the fraudulent claims should also help the IRS more quickly resolve the legitimate claims that businesses have filed and are still awaiting resolution. In early December, the IRS had a backlog of about 1 million claims.

Congress routinely has difficulty finding offsets to pay for new spending or tax cuts. But in this case, the employee retention tax credit appears to have few friends left on Capitol Hill.

Well-intentioned, but boy oh boy, said Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., in summing up the program.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
New YouTube short film series "On the Frontline" will follow inspiring changemakers protecting threatened species and ecosystems around the world

Diving deeper into the film industry, Age of Union Founder Dax Dasilva also invests in three new environmental documentaries

MONTREAL, Jan. 26, 2024 /CNW/ - Age of Union Alliance, the non-profit environmental organization led by Emmy award-winning executive producer, Dax Dasilva is harnessing the power of film by launching a short film series about the changemakers behind their global conservation projects. These mediums have proven to be effective tools for raising awareness, fostering positive change, and forging strong alliances dedicated to safeguarding our planet's species and ecosystems.

Balandra Beach, 2023. (CNW Group/Age of Union Alliance)

Released today, " On the Frontline ," is Age of Union's new YouTube series following the people driving change and protecting our planet's vulnerable wildlife and ecosystems across their grassroots projects. The series brings you up close and personal with the environmental guardians making a real difference on the planet. Each episode is a bite-sized window into Age of Union's world, showcasing the highs and lows of conservation efforts. From Canada to Trinidad and more, these films explore diverse corners of our planet, bringing you stories that transcend borders in the global mission of environmental preservation.

The launch of the series follows Age of Union's global acclaim in 2023 for Wildcat which Founder Dax Dasilva co-executive produced and was awarded with the prestigious distinction of "Outstanding Nature Documentary of 2023" at the 44th Annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards. In 2024, Age of Union is sustaining its momentum by executive producing three additional film projects crafted by renowned figures in the industry.

Firstly, the team behind the Emmy award-winning documentary Wildcat has partnered with Dax Dasilva and Age of Union again to produce their second feature documentary about a father and son who are wildlife rescuers in South India. The film is tentatively titled The Snake Rescuer's Son, and Dasilva is executive producing alongside Melissa Lesh and Trevor Frost who are directing and producing. Principal cinematography is underway and will largely take place in India, and post-production will begin in 2025. Wildcat partner 30 West is also on board as the sales agent.

Dasliva will also serve as an executive producer on Malaika Pictures' latest film, set to be announced later this year. The film is produced by the acclaimed Richard and Anita Ladkani and directed by Richard, whose previous work includes the Oscar shortlisted The Ivory Game (2016), available on Netflix, and Sundance winner Sea of Shadows (2019), currently streaming on National Geographic and Disney+. Both films were executive produced by Oscar-award-winning actor and producer, Leonardo DiCaprio.

Lastly, Dasliva will be an executive producer of an upcoming National Geographic Society film. The film is a project of the Society's Impact Story Lab, an award-winning creative unit that combines world-class storytelling with social and behavioral science in order to drive positive change for National Geographic Explorers.

"Film possesses an unparalleled capacity to evoke emotion, challenge perspectives, and inspire change," says Dax Dasilva, Founder of Age of Union. "At Age of Union, we believe in the profound influence of cinema to not only grab people's attention but to serve as a catalyst for positive change on a global scale."

Since the initial launch in October 2021, Age of Union has produced an array of short independent documentaries, including The Heart of a Mission , spotlighting a small startup non-profit of local and international conservationists, Junglekeepers, who come together to protect an area of rainforest in the Peruvian Amazon the size of Rhode Island; We Are the Saint Lawrence River , educating the public on how changing our behaviors will make a difference to the future of the Saint Lawrence River as well as the communities and wildlife that depend on it; and CAUGHT , unveiling the shocking consequences of industrialized fishing and bycatch, which has led to the depletion of oceanic ecosystems and the loss of marine life. As a result of the film CAUGHT and Sea Shepherd France's efforts, The Council of State recently ordered the French government to establish no-fishing zones and implement other measures to protect dolphins in the Atlantic. Age of Union's latest short film, The Corridor, follows Congolese environmentalist Dominique Bikaba and a team of international partners, who are on an ambitious mission to secure twenty-one interconnected land titles in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This would establish one of the largest wildlife corridors of community-managed forests on the planet.

"Although we have only recently begun our work in the film industry, we have already seen incredible triumphs," adds Dasilva. "I look forward to working on many more exciting cinematic projects over the coming years that will shed necessary light on the greatest challenges our planet and its most vulnerable species face today."

About Age of Union Alliance

Age of Union is a non-profit environmental alliance that supports and makes visible a global community of changemakers working on the ground to protect the planet's threatened species and ecosystems. Launched in October 2021 by tech leader and environmental activist Dax Dasilva in Montreal, Canada, Age of Union seeks to ignite a flame within every person through conservation efforts that solve critical environmental challenges around the world and inspire high-impact change by showing the positive impact that every individual can make. Age of Union is also actively involved in environmental documentary filmmaking. The organization has produced impactful short and feature documentaries that delve into the stories of dedicated changemakers. One such production, "Wildcat," earned acclaim as the "Outstanding Nature Documentary of 2023" at the prestigious 44th Annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards.

For more information, please visit: AgeofUnion.com

On social media: Facebook, Instagram , YouTube, and Twitter

SOURCE Age of Union Alliance

For further information: Press Contacts: Alexandra Ricciardella, [email protected], +1-647-407-3600; Victoria Baker, [email protected], +1-416-726-8002
A roundup of the most newsworthy press releases from Cision Distribution this week

TORONTO, Jan. 26, 2024 /CNW/ - With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on Cision. To help journalists and consumers stay on top of the week's most newsworthy and popular releases, here's a recap of some major stories from the week that shouldn't be missed.

The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each story. Click on the press release headlines to access accompanying multimedia assets that are available for download.

Cision Canada - The Weekly Round-Up (PRNewsfoto/Cision Canada)

Read more of the latest releases from Cision, see our resources for journalists, and stay caught up on the top press releases by following @cnwnews.

About Cision Canada

Cision is a comprehensive communications platform enabling more than 100,000 public relations and marketing professionals around the world to understand, influence and amplify their stories. As the market leader, Cision enables the next generation of communication professionals to strategically operate in the modern media landscape where company success is directly impacted by public opinion. Cision has offices in 24 countries through the Americas, EMEA and APAC, and offers a suite of best-in-class solutions, including Newswire, Brandwatch, Cision Communications Cloud and Cision Insights. To learn more, visit www.cision.ca and follow @CisionCA on Twitter.

SOURCE Cision Canada

For further information: For questions, contact the team at [email protected].
First Ascent Ventures, Spring Mountain Capital, BDC Capital and Espresso Capital lead Thentia's latest $38M Series B extension round, supporting the company's continued growth.

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla., Jan. 26, 2024 /CNW/ - Thentia, a leading innovator in regulatory technology, announced today that it has closed a US$38 million Series B extension round. The fundraise, led by existing investors including First Ascent Ventures, Spring Mountain Capital, BDC Capital, and Espresso Capital, reflects a continued commitment to Thentia's vision. The funds will be strategically utilized to scale operations, propel accelerated growth, invest in artificial intelligence, and enhance Thentia's ability to meet the evolving needs of its rapidly expanding global client base.

First Ascent Ventures, Spring Mountain Capital, BDC Capital and Espresso Capital lead Thentias latest $38M Series B extension round, supporting the companys continued growth. (CNW Group/Thentia Corporation)

"We are thrilled to continue our support for Thentia with this latest investment. The remarkable strides they've made, coupled with their unwavering dedication to innovation in the government technology space, solidify our confidence in their inevitable global prominence," says Richard Black, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, First Ascent Ventures. "As existing investors, we remain excited about the impressive momentum they have gained, and we look forward to witnessing their continued success in shaping the future of government technology and regulation," Black adds.

"Thentia's cutting-edge platform stands as a cornerstone for government agencies embarking on the journey of digital transformation. By seamlessly transitioning processes into the 21st century, Thentia empowers organizations to elevate user experiences for citizens while delivering indispensable data crucial for informed decision-making. These strides signify a pivotal shift in advancing government capabilities," says Jamie Weston, Managing Director, Spring Mountain Capital.

"We're pleased to continue our ongoing partnership with Thentia as it enters a new phase of rapid expansion and growth. The company's cutting-edge platform delivers tremendous value to customers across North America and Europe by bringing innovation and efficiency to the regulatory industry," says Will Hutchins, Managing Director, Espresso Capital.

"Thentia has brought together an exceptional group of leaders and subject matter experts who grasp the unique challenges facing regulators" says Mark Smith, Partner of BDC Capital's Industrial, Clean and Energy Technology (ICE) Venture Fund, which has been an investor in the business since 2020. "Their differentiated expertise is what truly sets them apart and has enabled them to develop a platform that addresses key regulatory functions, and positions Thentia as a leader in the regulatory licensing category."

Designed for regulators, by regulators, Thentia's end-to-end SaaS ERP platform, Thentia Cloud, adeptly digitizes, streamlines, and consolidates all essential regulatory functions within a single and secure cloud-based environment. Empowering regulators with a comprehensive 360-degree view of all licensee activities, the platform facilitates a shift from suboptimal and inefficient processes to a modern, streamlined approach, elevating their ability to fulfill their paramount duty of safeguarding the public. Customers of the platform have demonstrated manifold improvements in their ability to regulate effectively and efficiently.

Trusted by millions of licensed professionals, businesses, and entities globally, Thentia has gained recognition from regulators worldwide for its unmatched blend of technological innovation and regulatory proficiency.

"We're grateful for the steadfast support of our investors who have played a pivotal role in our journey. Together, we have not only built the regulatory platform of the future, but have also achieved remarkable success, becoming a leading force in enabling regulators to stay a step ahead with the rapidly evolving technology landscape," says Julian Cardarelli, CEO, Thentia.

"Looking ahead in 2024, we are poised to unveil an array of innovations that promise to redefine the industry landscape. These transformative capabilities are not just enhancements; they are industry-altering advancements that will set a new standard for what is possible, forever changing the way we operate and leading us into a new era of excellence and innovation."

As Thentia charts its course for continued growth, the company stands resolute in its dedication to excellence and the ongoing innovation of its platform that is committed to supporting regulators in their mission of public protection. Moving forward, Thentia will strategically allocate the recently secured funds to drive geographical expansion, unveil new cutting-edge features, and attract top-tier talent. This comprehensive strategy aims to elevate every aspect of its team, ultimately ensuring a world-class experience for its valued customers.

About Thentia

Thoughtfully built for regulators, by regulators, Thentia is driving regulatory transformation for hundreds of regulators and regulatory agencies worldwide with a platform that handles all key department functions including licensing, investigations, enforcement, fitness to practise, quality assurance, scope of practise, continuing education, board management, data analysis, and more. Thentia Cloud empowers regulators to transcend the constraints of legacy processes, custom-built solutions, and a web of disparate applications with a single unified 360-degree platform, setting new standards in efficiency and effectiveness.

Thentia Cloud is available on all major cloud providers, including Google Cloud, Amazon Web Services (AWS), IBM Cloud, and Microsoft Azure. For more information, visit thentia.com.

About First Ascent Ventures

Founded in 2015 by Richard Black and Tony van Marken, First Ascent Ventures invests in early-stage, emerging, and growth-oriented enterprise software companies in the information technology sector. The First Ascent Ventures team bring deep bench strength as operating executives and investors having built and invested in significant, global enterprise software companies.

About Spring Mountain Capital

Spring Mountain Capital is a New York-based investment management firm with $1.7 billion of assets under management that focuses on alternative asset investing. The SMC Growth equity team focuses on providing expansion capital to companies capitalizing on breakthrough innovations, paradigm shifts, or fundamental market or behavioral changes. SMC invests in two sectors of the U.S. economy undergoing the most change and with the highest growth potential: enterprise technology and healthcare companies. For more information, visit: smcgrowthcapital.com.

About BDC Capital

BDC Capital is the investment arm of BDC, Canada's bank for entrepreneurs. With over $6 billion under management, BDC Capital serves as a strategic partner to the country's most innovative firms. It offers businesses a full spectrum of capital, from seed investments to growth equity as well as ownership transition solutions, supporting Canadian entrepreneurs who have the ambition to stand out on the world stage. Visit bdc.ca/capital.

About Espresso Capital

Espresso Capital has been empowering fast-growing technology companies with innovative venture debt solutions since 2009. During this period, we've funded over 330 companies in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K., helping to accelerate growth, extend runway, and increase strategic flexibility with non-dilutive capital. Espresso is headquartered in Toronto, with offices in San Francisco, Chicago, and London. To learn more about how you can use venture debt to grow your business, visit espressocapital.com.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Kerri-Lynn Kilbey

Communications Manager

T: (437) 703-9412

E: [email protected]

SOURCE Thentia Corporation
Former President Donald Trump leaves Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue on his way to Federal Court for the defamation trial brought by E.Jean Carroll.

For years, Donald Trump hurled insults at E. Jean Carroll, saying the advice columnist fabricated a sexual assault allegation against him to sell a book.

Will Trump keep that up, now that hes been hit with a $83.3 million defamation judgment?

A jury on Friday found that Trump had maliciously damaged Carrolls reputation in 2019 after she went public with her accusations. Jurors awarded her $18 million to compensate for the personal harm she experienced, then added $65 million more to punish Trump  and maybe prevent him from continuing to go after her on social media.

A different jury concluded last May that Trump was responsible for sexually abusing Carroll in a Manhattan department store dressing room in 1996. Those jurors awarded Carroll $5 million. If both judgments stand, Trump would owe her a total of $88.3 million.

Trump and his lawyers have promised to appeal.

A look at the verdict and where the case might go from here:

The accusation

Carroll said she was shopping at the Bergdorf Goodman store on Fifth Avenue in 1996 when she bumped into Trump, who lived nearby. She said they recognized each other. At the time, Carroll had a column in Elle magazine and was the host of a cable TV talk show called Ask E. Jean.

In court testimony and in her memoir, Carroll said she and Trump went to the stores lingerie section and then into a dressing room as each tried to persuade the other to try on a lacy item. When they moved into the dressing room, she said, Trump pushed her into a wall, pulled down her tights and sexually assaulted her. Carroll said she broke free and ran.

After she wrote about the alleged encounter in 2019, Trump, who by then has been elected president, told reporters he had no idea who Carroll was, that her accusation was totally false and that she motivated by a desire to sell books.

The first trial

Carroll sued Trump for defamation in 2019, saying his statements about her were false and damaged her reputation. That claim wound up being bogged down for years over the legal question of whether, in denying the allegations, Trump had been fulfilling his duties as president. Trump claimed that the presidency shield him from liability against the defamation lawsuit.

In the meantime, New York changed its law to give sexual abuse survivors a fresh chance to sue over attacks that happened in the distant past. Carroll was one of the first people to take advantage, filing a new legal claim against Trump alleging that he had raped her. She also sued over things he had said about her after leaving the White House.

A jury heard testimony in that lawsuit last year and found that while Carroll had not proved she had been raped, under New Yorks definition of that crime, Trump had sexually abused her.

The jury awarded Carroll $2 million for the abuse and nearly $3 million for Trumps public comments about her, which it said were defamatory  and therefore not protected free speech.

The second trial

With the main legal issues resolved, one matter remained: Had Carroll also been damaged by Trumps comments while he was still in the White House.

U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan ruled that there would need to be a new trial to decide that claim, but that trial did not need to revisit the issue of whether Trump had assaulted Carroll or whether the things he had said about her were defamatory. This trial would decide how much more, if anything, Trump owed Carroll for things he had said about her on June 21-22, 2019.

Trump and his lawyers have been outraged that they did not get a chance to make a new argument that he was innocent, but Kaplan said they had already lost that fight.

It is a very well-established legal principle in this country that prevents do-overs by disappointed litigants, Kaplan told the lawyers on the day Trump testified in the second trial. He lost it and he is bound. And the jury will be instructed that, regardless of what he says in court here today, he did it, as far as theyre concerned. That is the law.

Whats next?

Trumps legal team is appealing the verdict in the first case and has promised an appeal of the second one, too.

It will not deter us. We will keep fighting. And I assure you, we didnt win today, but we will win, said Trumps lawyer, Alina Habba.

Among other things, his team wants higher courts to rule that Trump was within his rights to forcefully deny Carrolls allegations and suggest she had ulterior motives.

Everyone has a right to defend themselves, Habba said.

Trumps lawyers also are contesting Kaplans ruling that the jury in the second trial did not need to revisit whether Trump was liable for sexual assault, and that the judge unfairly limited what Trumps lawyers could say in front of the jury.

Appeals will go to a panel of judges in New York. The appeals eventually could reach the U.S. Supreme Court for the justices to consider.

In the meantime, Trump has put more than $5.5 million in an escrow account to potentially cover the cost of the first verdict while the appeals play out.

Carroll could bring a new lawsuit over each new comment. Potentially, new trials would have to be held at which juries could pile on additional damages.

The $88.3 million in judgments against Trump are actually less than what some of his supporters have faced in recent defamation cases.

A jury last year decided that Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor and Trump ally who tried to keep the-then president in power after he lost the 2020 election, owed $148 million to two former Georgia election workers for spreading a conspiracy theory about them. Juries in Texas and Connecticut have hit Infowars host Alex Jones with $1.5 billion in defamation judgments for promoting a false claim that the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was a hoax.

Unlike Giuliani and Jones, Trump might have the financial resources to pay a huge judgment. He reported having about $294 million in cash or cash equivalents on his most recent annual financial statement, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021. Thats in addition to the value of his real estate assets, which Trump has claimed are worth billions of dollars.

Still, Trump faces other potential financial liabilities. He is awaiting a verdict in a civil fraud trial, where New York state has asked that he forfeit $370 million in what officials say were ill-gotten gains from loans and deals made using financial statements that exaggerated his wealth.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition




The Nigerian Navy has described the allegations against the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, as untenable and baseless.





The Peoples Gazette in a report had accused the Naval Chief of facilitating an unorganised bunkering of Nigerian crude and a multimillion-naira contract-splitting fraud.





Ogalla, in the report, was also accused of releasing several oil tankers impounded for transporting stolen crude oil off Nigerian shores after receiving kickbacks in millions of dollars.





The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, had said that the allegations against Ogalla would be investigated.





However, the Nigerian Navy, in a statement by the Director of Information, Rear Admiral Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, denied the allegations against Ogalla.





He said the arrested vessels mentioned in the report were involved in crude oil theft and illegal oil bunkering, noting that they have not been released as alleged.





The statement read, The allegations that the Chief of the Naval Staff accepted over $170 million in bribes as well as alleged involvement in multi-billion naira contract splitting fraud in the last six months are untenable, baseless and untrue.





Firstly, there are clear procedural requirements in the arrest, detention, and release of any vessel or persons found culpable in the maritime environment. It is not until these processes are duly concluded that such vessels are released to appropriate prosecuting agencies for further action.





Indeed, all arrested vessels mentioned in the publication that were involved in crude oil theft and illegal oil bunkering are being investigated and none of such vessels has been released as alleged. 





Ayo-Vaughan also said it was not within the power of the Chief of Naval Staff to award oil bunkering contracts, adding that only the NNPCL had such power.





The CNS does not award or oversee oil bunkering contracts; the award of such is the sole prerogative of NNPCL.





Also, all contracts awarded by the Navy follow due process in line with the laws of the Federation. The Nigerian Navy and her roles are an offshoot of the constitutional provisions and duly guided by extant laws and regulations of the land.





The policing roles of the Navy empowered her to monitor the maritime domain of the Nation. These among others include the arrest of vessels that contravene any of the maritime laws and SPOMO Act 2019,  he added.





He accused some unarmed persons described as disgruntled elements who he said were feeling the heat of the several operations by the Navy of making efforts to blackmail Ogalla.





Ayo-Vaughan added that the elements had believed no individual could confront them, but following the operations, they had been put on their toes, adding that this had resulted in blackmail.





The Service is aware of the coordinated frantic efforts to blackmail the office and person of the CNS by some disgruntled elements who are feeling the heat of the Nigerian Navys renewed vigour to fight crude oil theft and illegalities in the maritime domain as well as those who have in one way of the order shortchanged the Navy before now.





Specifically, the continuous rejuvenated operations towards curbing oil theft has given the oil thieves sleepless nights hence the decision to engage in the malicious publications. It would be recalled that the Nigerian Navy recently launched OPERATION DELTA SANITY which provided for a holistic, more robust roadmap towards the reinvigorated stance of the NN towards the fight against crude oil theft and other forms of illegalities in the Nations maritime environment.





Indeed, the NN is aware of these antics as it is expected considering the current resolve of the NN to engage oil thieves head-on. The cartel hitherto believed no individual could confront its ranks. Fortunately, the recent achievements of the NN in this regard have put them on their heels hence the resort to cheap blackmail through immoral and compromised online media publishers,  the statement added.





He also assured Nigerians that the blackmail wouldnt distract the service in their resolve to deny oil thieves freedom in the country.





Pertinently, the NN will continue to ensure legitimate businesses in the maritime domain thrive seamlessly. Also, these distractions will in no way retract the NNs resolve to confront these criminals who must be brought to justice for Nigerias economy to rebound. The security and economy of the Nation are greater than any group of persons that think they must continue to drain the country.





Accordingly, members of the public are therefore enjoined to discountenance completely the malicious publication that emanated from Peoples Gazette because it is totally untrue and completely baseless being a figment of the shallow imagination of the writer, his publishers, and their unpatriotic sponsors, he said.




The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Festus Keyamo, on Friday was in London to discuss with the UK officials in the transport department, on how to overcome the issue of direct flights from Lagos to London.





This was disclosed in a statement released on Saturday stating that the minister had the meeting with the management of NORSE Atlantic Airways, led by its CEO, Ben Boiling, in London on Friday.





The discussions centred on the partnership of NORSE Atlantic Airways with Nigerias domestic carrier, Air Peace Airline, emphasising that NORSE Atlantic Airways is a major carrier in the UK and Europe.





The statement quoted the Chief Operating Officer of Air Peace Airline, Oluwatoyin Olajide, who was also present as saying, We are hopeful that the fallout of the meeting would achieve its purpose of enabling Air Peace Airline to commence its flight operations into the United Kingdom, which Nigerians have been yearning for.





According to the statement, Keyamo made it clear that one of his main goals in office was to help Nigerias domestic airlines grow and improve, supporting President Bola Tinubus Renewed Hope Agenda.





Boiling told Keyamo that NORSE Atlantic Airways was ready to start the partnership with Air Peace Airline the moment the final authorisation was granted to the airline for the commencement of direct flights into Gatwick Airport in London from Lagos, Nigeria.





Air Peace has since been permitted to fly into the UK but has been having trouble getting time slots at the Gatwick Airport in London.





Since securing its authorisation to fly into the UK, after satisfying all the requirements, the issue of slot allocation at Gatwick Airport has been the major obstacle preventing the Airline from commencing the direct flight into London, the statement read in part.





However, the Department for Transport told Air Peace at the meeting that the UK government has no authority over the allocation of slots needed.





The officials of the Department for Transport at the meeting made it known that the Government of the UK had no authority over the allocation of slots at the eight primary airports in the UK.





However, they agreed to raise the concern of the Federal Government of Nigeria with the relevant authorities on the three major issues presented on behalf of Air Peace Airline which were the staggering departure time; restrictive turnaround time; and approval for the 2024 summer schedule, the statement added.




The Abia State Police Command, on Saturday, confirmed the kidnap of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) of Abia State University Uturu, Prof. Godwin Emezue, while purchasing fuel at a filling station at Umuopara.





The commands Public Relations Officer, Maureen Chinaka, disclosed this in a statement issued on behalf of the state Commissioner of Police, Kenechukwu Onwuemelie.





The statement read, On 26/01/2024, at about 9.30 p.m., the Abia State Police Command received information that on the same date, at about 7 p.m., the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Uturu ABSU, ProfGodwin Emezue, while in the company of his wife in their vehicle, was abducted by hoodlums while purchasing fuel at a petrol station in Umuopara, Umuahia South LGA.





During the incident, the hoodlums confiscated his wifes ATM card, dragged the Deputy Vice-Chancellor into a Lexus SUV, and drove away with the victim.





The Abia State Police Command is deploying resources and assets including intelligence and technical aid towards unravelling the crime, and safely rescuing the victim from his captors.





The statement noted that the police urged Abians to remain calm and continue their legitimate activities while maintaining vigilance and being security conscious





Furthermore, we seek the cooperation of the public, especially by way of providing any useful information that could be helpful in these particular circumstances, and in attaining enhanced security in the state, generally.





Meanwhile, an ABSU source said as of the time of filing this report, the abductors have not made any contacts as regards any ransom.




The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Osun State has asked the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to investigate the alleged brutal assault meted out to Bunmi Adigun, an Ogun-based journalist, by security personnel attached to Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State.





Adigun, the Secretary of the Ogun Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, and a journalist with the State-owned Ogun State Television, OGTV, with his cameraman, was brutalised on Friday by Adelekes security aides at Joga-Orile in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State.





It was also gathered that the Abepa of Joga-Orile, Oba Adeyemi Adekeye, was conferring the chieftaincy title of Baba Oba on Adeleke as part of his 66th birthday celebration when the incident happened.





Sympathising with the victims, the Osun APC in a statement by its Chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, described the action of the security aides as overzealous and unruly.





Lawal, in the statement issued by Kola Olabisi, the Osun APC spokesperson, also accused the security aides of conductting themselves in a manner which cast doubt on their professionalism.





The attack on the journalists by the Adeleke security operatives was sadistic and wicked which should be condemned by all the right-thinking members of the society.





Governor Adeleke has been attracting negative media reportage to the State of Virtues which hitherto was known for her Omoluabi ethos before the ascension of Adeleke into the political leadership of the state.





What is the rationale behind the Adeleke security operatives putting on a different uniform from the normal police uniform, no name tag, covering their noses and faces with nose masks.





It is incumbent on the Inspector-General of Police(IGP) to investigate the needless and brutal attack on the innocent journalist and the cameramen who were rough handled and attacked thereby subjecting the image of the police into disrepute.





The IGP should also find out if the indecorum Adeleke security aides who threw caution to the wind by assaulting the journalist and cameramen are either fake or authentic police because of their uniform which is different from the one accustomed to by the citizenry.





It is high time Governor Adeleke stopped exporting vices to another state as this is telling on her corporate image which has always been in the news for negative events, Lawal cautioned the governor.





Responding, the spokesperson to Adeleke, Olawale Rasheed, apologised to the Ogun NUJ for the assault on Adigun and his crew.





Assuring that such an incident would not happen again, he stated that the aides in the reported viral video did not belong to the convoy of Governor Adeleke since several dignitaries attended the event with their security personnel.





In the statement obtained by newsmen, Olawale stated that, On behalf of the State Governor, I apologize to the Ogun State Secretary of the NUJ and any other journalist who may have been affected by the incident.





However, we want to put it on record that several dignitaries attended the event with several security personnel of various sections and departments. The officials shown in the video do not belong to the convoy of the Osun state Governor.





He insisted that the security team operates with strict guidelines to ensure full respect not just for journalists but also to members of the public.





While an internal investigation has been conducted, Governor Adeleke team, especially the security apparatus, operates strict guidelines to ensure full respect not just for journalists on their legitimate assignments but also to members of the public in the discharge of their duties.





Governor Adeleke is a deeply media friendly leader who recently hosted the South West team of the NUJ with all state chairmen and officials in attendance.





The Governor is also working to support the South West NUJ to host the national NUJ Conference later this year as the grand patron of NUJ for Osun State, he added.




A Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain and former member, Atiku Abubakar 2023 Presidential Campaign Council, Dr Adetokunbo Pearse, says the party does not need any merger ahead of the 2027 general elections.





Pearse, who spoke on Friday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, ruled out the possibility of any merger between the PDP and other political parties.





He noted that the PDP is not dead but only needed to close ranks and put its house in order to win elections.





PDP cannot be running away. Let us forget merger. Are you talking about PDP merging with some of these political parties which do not have offices?





We should look inward, reposition ourselves and improve the party, that is what we need to do.





PDP is not finished if we do right thing. President Tinubu will be gone in 2027 if we do the right thing, he said.





According to Pearse, there is no party PDP can merge with: PDP needs to stand on its own and build what it has. If we build what we have we will defeat anybody.





We have 13 governors now, we have 40 per cent of the National Assembly. What do we need merger for and with who? What can merger bring to PDP?





On the outcome of the 2023 presidential election, Pearse said PDPs candidate, Alhaji Abubakar Atikus failure to reconcile with ex-Rivers governor, Nyesom Wike, and others, paved the way for President Bola Tinubu to win the election.





It was Atiku that failed to do his job. He didnt do what he needed to do. He should not have fought against Wike, even if he didnt want to use him as his vice, he could have promised to make him minister of petroleum.





Wike will do the work and release money to prosecute the election and ensure victory for the party. He didnt do it, he said.





NAN reports that some politicians and analysts have been advocating a merger of opposition political parties ahead of the 2027 general election.




The Abia State Police Command has nabbed four men in Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, uniforms operating with toy gun.





The Command said that the arrests were made on Tuesday based on credible intelligence received by the Central Police Station, Umuahia, that a four-man gang in EFCC uniforms came to Enyioma Christ Lodge, Umudike, and dispossessed some students of their phones at gunpoint and forced them to transfer a total of N120,000 to their bank account.





In a press release signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, ASP Maureen Chinaka, upon receipt of the information, officers from Central Police Station (CPS) Umuahia commenced an investigation and visited the crime scene, where they arrested three men from the Man O War base namely, Onyedikachi Ihechukwumere M, 25 years; Onwuka Christopher M, 26 years; and Tochukwu Obinna M, 30 years.





The press release said the following items were recovered during from the suspects which includes three out of the six stolen phones, a tricycle with REG No. HAF 011VG FLEET NO 5868, which was used to facilitate their criminal act.





Giving details of the arrest, the Police press release said, On 24/01/2024, James Prince Victor M (39 years) of Ohuhu Umuahia North, who claimed to be an EFCC personnel and led the Man O War suspects to the student lodge, was arrested together with Chidozie Onwuzuruike M (40 years) of same address. The following items were recovered from them: four red-coloured jackets with EFCC inscription, two EFCC ID cards, one of the stolen phones, one toy gun, four EFCC search warrants.





The Command advised Abia residents to be security-sensitive and report to the police immediately in cases of suspicious activity, whether the individual is in uniform or not, saying that such collaborative responsibility would help the police to do their work better.




Al-Nassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo has hinted he would be fit again soon, as he prepares to face eternal rival Lionel Messi.





The Saudi Pro League side have cancelled their tour of China this week because Ronaldo sustained an injury.





This has sparked fears he could miss Al-Nassrs friendly game against Inter Miami.





But the five-time Ballon dOr winner has hinted that he will not be out for long.





Ronaldo posted on Instagram an image of himself waving to Al-Nassr fans and captioned it: See you soon.





Al-Nassr will hope to have the 38-year-old fit and ready to rekindle his iconic rivalry with Messi. The pair will meet at the 2024 Riyadh Season Cup.
Shayonne Nicole Thompson was excited about her future, her mother says.

The former Atlantic City resident was living in Philadelphia and attending culinary school, following her dream of becoming a chef like her father.

She had recently bought a car and was proud to show it to her parents. After having breakfast with her dad in Atlantic County and showing off her new wheels, she was on her way back from the Jersey Shore to Philadelphia on the morning of Oct. 29, her mother said.

Thompson was driving on the Atlantic City Expressway in Winslow Township in Camden County when her car veered off the roadway and struck several trees shortly before 6:30 a.m., New Jersey State Police said.

Thompson, 41, died at the scene.

Nearly three months later, the pain of losing her daughter is still fresh, said LaTania Thompson. Equally painful, she said, is not knowing what caused the crash.

The cause of the wreck remains under investigation, a State Police spokesman said.

I dont know if somebody ran her off the road, if a deer came out, if she fell asleep, if she had a seizure. I have no idea what happened to my daughter for her just to veer off the road, LaTania Thompson said. She wasnt drinking.

Police told her a witness saw her daughters car leave the roadway and he stopped at the crash scene, but LaTania Thompson wasnt given his name.

The mother said she would like to speak to the witness and see any highway camera video that might offer clues about why her daughters car left the highway.

That would be really helpful so I could have closure, because that was my baby, Thompson said, breaking down in tears. I cry every day, all day. I dont sleep. I have no rest.

LaTania Thompson (left) with her daughter, Shayonne Thompson. (LaTania Thompson)

In addition to attending culinary school, her daughter previously worked as a model, her mother said.

She was beautiful. She modeled for a lot of designers out of New York, Thompson said. If you knew her, you would love her. If you needed anything, she was there. She had a heart of gold.

After spending $12,000 on her daughters funeral, LaTania Thompson said she is struggling to afford a headstone for her grave.

She has placed flowers and stuffed animals on the Atlantic City Expressway near the site of her daughters crash  near milepost 37.6 westbound  both to honor her daughter and to warn other drivers to slow down.

State accident figures for 2023 listed six fatal crashes along the entire length of the 44-mile Atlantic City Expressway, including a May fatal hit-and-run crash in the eastbound lanes in Winslow Township. A motorist driving westbound at milepost 36.3 died in August 2022 after striking a vehicle stopped on the shoulder of the expressway.

I dont know what it is at that point where everybodys having accidents, if a deer ran out and she tried to avoid it. I dont know, Thompson said. I dont know anything.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com.
The annual MusiCares Person of the Year dinner will pay tribute to Jon Bon Jovi, and Bruce Springsteen will be among the musicians honoring the fellow Jersey rock icon. The dinner will take place ahead of the 66th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles Feb. 2.

It was announced in October that Bon Jovi, 61, was this years honoree, recognizing his decades of philanthropic work, most notably his Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, an organization dedicated to disrupting the cycle of hunger, poverty and homelessness, according to MusiCares. The foundations JBJ Soul Kitchens, a series of non-profit community restaurant, operate in Red Bank and Toms River as well as campus dining in Newark (Rutgers-Newark) and Jersey City (New Jersey City University).

In a previous statement, Bon Jovi said he was truly humbled to be this years MusiCares honoree.

Comedian Jim Gaffigan will host the event, while presenters will include Gayle King and Kylie Minogue.

Other performers from the star-studded lineup include Shania Twain, Melissa Etheridge, Brandy Clark, Jason Isbell, Lainey Wilson, Jelly Roll, the War and Treaty, Damiano David of Maneskin, Goo Goo Dolls and Marcus King. Bon Jovi is also set to perform himself.

Jon Bon Jovi is a rock n roll trailblazer, influencing countless artists over the years, Laura Segura, MusiCares executive director, said in a statement. MusiCares is honored to pay tribute to him as our 2024 Person of the Year. Bon Jovi has also lent his lifes work to philanthropic efforts that align with the health and human services mission of MusiCares, forever changing the lives of those in need.

Saleah Blancaflor may be reached at sblancaflor@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @saleyley and Instagram.
By Donican Lam, KYODO NEWS - Jan 27, 2024 - 15:10 | Feature, All, Japan, Travel/Tourism

Like many other parts of Japan, the Noto Peninsula had been enjoying a post-pandemic recovery in tourism before a magnitude-7.6 quake on New Year's Day drastically changed its trajectory.

Wajima, one of the hardest hit cities in Ishikawa Prefecture, was once a popular base for exploring the peninsula, with its rich artisan culture of lacquerware, morning market and rice fields drawing visitors from around the world.

Now the streets around the city's famous morning market, gutted by a major blaze that broke out following the quake, are lined with collapsed buildings and charred debris, with roads leading into its most famous sites severely damaged.

As of Tuesday, among the more than 200 people who died in the disaster, 98 were in Wajima, with 15 in the city still unaccounted for.

In the nearby city of Nanao, where an earthquake registered 6 on the country's seismic intensity scale of 7, numerous tile-roofed townhouses on the centuries-old Ipponsugi-dori shopping street are in various states of ruination. Even the surface of the landmark Sentai Bridge is lifted and cracked in parts.

While the damage in the city's famous Wakura Onsen hot spring resort town is not as severe as in Wajima and Suzu, the path to recovery remains uncertain, according to Atsushi Endo, executive and administrative director of Nanao Nakanoto DMO, an organization promoting tourism in the area.

"When you look at the buildings from the outside, they seem fine. However, inside, it's a mess. We need to get specialized architects and inspectors in to assess the damage," Endo said.

"Now is supposed to be the time for those who borrowed money during the coronavirus pandemic to pay it back, but after being hit by the earthquake, they just don't have that capacity," he added.

With running water still not restored to large parts of the peninsula, many are simply taking the challenges they face day by day, with any light yet to appear at the end of the tunnel.

"All industries have come to a standstill, and there are quite a few people who may have lost their jobs. We haven't been able to grasp the current situation," said Hajime Koyama, director of the inbound tourism team at Noto DMC.

The business-to-business travel company, which specializes in tailored Noto Peninsula tours, helped plan trips for over 500 foreign visitors in 2023, with many wealthy travelers from countries like France, Canada and the United States utilizing their services.

The prefectural capital of Kanazawa, some 95 kilometers south of Wajima, has become a popular tourist stop on the new "Golden Route" that passes along the Sea of Japan coast on the way from Tokyo to Kyoto.

According to Koyama, the Noto Peninsula saw around 50,000 international visitors before the pandemic in 2019, with figures for last year likely to have also reached the same level.

But with the earthquake and ensuing chaos keeping tourists away, Koyama said his company is currently focusing on helping the area make a quick recovery while remaining prepared to once again receive visitors.

"Fortunately, there have been hardly any cancellations (by inbound tourists) for trips to Kanazawa. Maintaining this stability is crucial because it contributes to building relationships that ensure a swift return when Noto bounces back," he said.

With daily news reports detailing the devastation causing the number of domestic travelers to Kanazawa to plummet despite the city being relatively unscathed, foreign tourists have kept arriving.

At the popular Higashi Chaya district, the largest of the city's historical geisha districts, Taiwanese tour groups and other foreign travelers continue to crowd the streets.

Aurora Chen, 36, who was visiting Japan for the first time with her boyfriend Roe Hu, said they had been planning their trip since June last year and did not feel deterred as "Taiwan also has a lot of earthquakes, so it is not something out of the ordinary for us."

Gail Digate, an American on a group tour with her husband, echoed similar sentiments, saying they had been planning their trip for around a year. Born in Sendai, northeastern Japan, the 71-year-old said her nostalgic connection with Japan meant "nothing stops me."

"I wasn't worried because I figured there would be some aftershocks, but I wasn't leaving until (weeks after the quake). So, I figured it would be all right. And if it's my time, it's my time. I started here, I could end here," she said with a laugh.

Indeed, many on the peninsula are pinning their hopes on Kanazawa to give tourism another much-needed kick-start, in the hopes that money spent will flow into Noto as well, said Nanao Nakanoto DMO's Endo, who also called on the central government to present clear reconstruction support measures as soon as possible to give everyone a sense of direction.

Despite the future of the largely destroyed Wajima morning market remaining uncertain, Nagatake Tomizu, who heads an association supporting the market, said the attraction will likely become "a symbol of recovery."

"We want to revive it, even if we don't know how many years it will take," he said.

Related coverage:

FEATURE: Quake leaves deep scars on famed Noto sake brewers
In Caldwell, there were high hopes back in 2021 when the borough council adopted an ambitious downtown redevelopment plan to build a new municipal complex and create more parking for the small businesses and restaurants along Bloomfield Avenue.

Led by then mayor John Kelley, Caldwell hoped to capitalize on low interest during the coronavirus pandemic and replace its antiquated borough hall and give downtown businesses a boost. To do it, the town took on about $41 million in new bonded debt  a borrow now, pay later strategy that pushed the Essex County borough of 9,000 residents to its debt limit allowed by the state.
A man re-tried in the killing of his roommate, who was bound to a wheelchair, was for a second time convicted in the nearly decade-old case, Essex County authorities said Friday.

Police arrested Edwin Andujar, now 59, for the 2014 death of 59-year-old Thomas Parent, after the disabled man was stabbed at least a dozen times, authorities said. Andujar was convicted and handed a 45-year prison sentence, but his conviction faced challenges in the last decade.

The New Jersey Appellate Court granted him a new trial because prosecutors did a background check on one of his jurors, who was Black. Andujars attorney appealed his conviction, arguing, among other things, that the assistant prosecutors background check, which led to the jurors arrest, was a way to get around the courts rules that a prosecutor cannot strike someone from the jury pool based on race.

Andujar was again found guilty on Thursday of murder and weapons offenses, the Essex County Prosecutors Office said Friday. His trial lasted several weeks and was heard before Superior Court Judge Michael L. Ravin.

After his second conviction, Andujar now faces life in prison.

Assistant Essex County Prosecutor Michele Miller following the second conviction said the prosecution managed to defeat Andujars self-defense claim, calling the murder an unthinkable, cowardly, intentional act.

We and the family of the victim are very grateful that the jury came to the same conclusion, Miller said in a statement.

Attorney information for Andujar was not immediately obtainable.

Both Andujar and Parent lived together on Wallace Street in Belleville at the time of the Aug. 7, 2014, homicide.

Police responded to a second-floor apartment where they resided, finding Parent in his wheelchair stabbed in his stomach and back. Prosecutors say he also sustained an injury to his arm believed to be a defensive wound.

Andujar was arrested after a witness told police he was seen standing over Parent, holding a bloody steak knife later found under the wheelchair. Prosecutors said Andujar told police, I stabbed him, I couldnt take it anymore.

Reporter Rebecca Everett contributed to this report.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Eric Conklin may be reached at econklin@njadvancemedia.com.
A 240-year-old original painting by John Opie was returned to its owner in Newark on Jan. 11 after it was allegedly stolen by mobsters over 50 years ago, the FBIs Salt Lake City field office said Friday.

The painting, titled The Schoolmistress was returned to Dr. Francis Wood, 96, at his home in Newark after a federal judge in Utah settled the question of ownership. The painting was allegedly stolen by mobsters in 1969 from Dr. Woods Newark home.

The oil on canvas was painted in 1784 by Opie. A sister painting is featured in the Tate Britain art gallery in London.

The painting was reclaimed in 2021 after a Utah accounting firm was hired as a trustee to liquidate the estate of a Washington County, Utah resident after his death in 2020. The painting was appraised while being prepared for auction and was identified as an original Opie and likely the same one stolen from the Wood residence. Authorities did not release its appraised value Friday.

It was an honor playing a role in recovering a significant piece of art and culture, and reuniting a family with its stolen heritage, Special Agent Gary France said. In a world where criminal investigations often leave scars, it was a rare joy to be a part of a win-win case: a triumph for history, justice, and the Wood family.

Dr. Francis Wood, 96, admires the John Opie painting, "The Schoolmistress", stolen from his parents' Newark, New Jersey home in 1969 and recently returned to him as the rightful owner.FBI Salt Lake City

Dr. Woods father, Dr. Earl Leroy Wood, purchased the painting in the 1930s for $7,500. According to court documents, on July 7, 1969, three men identified as Gerald Festa, Gerald Donnerstag and Austin Costiglione, broke into the Wood home to steal a coin collection but were foiled by a burglar alarm.

Court documents say police, as well as then Newark city councilman Anthony Imperiale, responded to the scene where the homes caretaker explained to the Senator that the Opie painting was priceless.

Imperiale, a former state assemblyman and senator, was a polarizing figure in Newark that first entered politics in the 1960s to oppose busing to desegregate schools and advocated for white self-defense during the 1967 race riots, according to a 1999 New York Time obituary.

Two weeks later, the same three men returned to the Wood home and stole the Opie painting on July 25, 1969, authorities said. At Donnerstags trial in 1975, Festa confessed to the theft during testimony and said he acted at the direction of Imperiale.

Festa testified that prior to the burglary, the men had a meeting at Imperiales clubhouse and were told where the painting was in the Wood home. Authorities said Festa also testified that Imperiale possessed the painting for a time, although the Senator was never charged and the allegations were never sufficiently corroborated.

Authorities believed pressure from law enforcement forced the paintings transfer to another mobster. And according to authorities, the paintings whereabouts were unknown between 1969 and the late 1980s.

According to authorities, the painting resurfaced in 1989 after the Utah accounting firm who represented the deceased client in 2021, helped the same client purchase a home in Hallandale, Florida that was previously owned by convicted mobster Joseph Covello.

Authorities said the painting was included in the sale of the home, unbeknownst to the purchaser. The painting was eventually moved to Utah when the resident sold the home in Florida.

The Wood family, as well as the FBIs legal attache office in London and the UK Metropolitan Police Art & Antiquities Unit, assisted in determining and identifying the history and validity of the painting.

Editors Note: This story has been updated to correct the description of Anthony Imperiale.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Matt on X.
Free at-home visits from a specially trained nurse are now available for newborns and their mothers in five counties in New Jersey, state officials announced this week.

The visits are part of the Family Connects NJ program, which recently launched to offer support for families and newborns within two weeks of their deliveries.

Officials are implementing the initiative in phases. The program began offering the nurse visits in Cumberland, Gloucester, Mercer, Middlesex and Essex counties on Jan. 15, officials said. Participation is voluntary.

In addition to mothers who gave birth, those eligible for the program include adoptive parents and parents who experienced a stillbirth, officials said. It is also open to relatives or others who take on the responsibility of caring for a newborn.

Its such an emotional and exciting time when you first bring your newborn home, but it can also be quite chaotic and overwhelming, said state Department of Children and Families Commissioner Christine Norbut Beyer.

To have a specialized nurse provide that personalized attention and care during those first couple of weeks postpartum  in the comfort of the familys home  is truly an incredible way for us to help facilitate the health and overall wellbeing of both moms and newborns, she said.

A nurse will check the babys well-being and the mothers physical and mental health during the home visits. The nurse will also provide postpartum education, feeding and sleeping tips and may connect the family to community programs, including food assistance and doulas.

The launch comes after Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation to create a statewide, universal home visitation program for newborns in July 2021.

New Jersey is the second state to launch a program, officials said. Oregon was the first.

Officials said the goal is to expand the program to additional counties over the next few years, until it is fully implemented statewide.

A universal home visitation program was a key recommendation of First Lady Tammy Murphys Nurture NJ Maternal and Infant Health Strategic Plan, which aims to reduce maternal mortality rates and eliminate racial disparities in the state.

Infant deaths are at a record low in the state, according to federal data. But, a Black baby is nearly three times more likely than a white baby to die before his or her first birthday.

Black mothers also continue to face high mortality rates, as outlined in a Star-Ledger editorial last month.

More than 50% of maternal deaths occur after childbirth, officials said. The visits are part of an effort to catch complications as early as possible.

State Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz, D-Essex, said she sponsored the bill to create the program based on her own experience with a lactation nurse who visited her home after Ruiz had her daughter.

The time spent with her changed my whole outlook, Ruiz said. She answered my questions and gave me the reassurance I needed as a first-time mother.

The program is free to all families, regardless of income, insurance or immigration status. More than 50 families have signed up for a nurse visit through the online interest form, officials said.

Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative, Central Jersey Family Health Consortium and the Partnership for Maternal & Child Health of Northern New Jersey are the organizations currently contracted to offer nursing services for the program in the first five counties.

More information about the program is available at www.FamilyConnectsNJ.org. Interested families can schedule a nurse visit through the website.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Brianna Kudisch may be reached at bkudisch@njadvancemedia.com.
STAMFORD, Conn. (AP)  Wrestling icon Vince McMahon resigned Friday from WWEs parent company the day after a former employee filed a federal lawsuit accusing him and another former executive of serious sexual misconduct, including offering her to a star wrestler for sex.

McMahon stepped down from the board of directors at WWEs parent company, TKO Group, according to a statement released late Friday. He continued to deny wrongdoing following the lawsuit filed by Janel Grant, who worked in the companys legal and talent departments.
The charges may come by the pound for a pair of vandals that left a Manville porch peppered with pepperoni last week, the woman who lives at the home said.

Heather Dougherty awoke to a virtual deli counter on her doorstep and car after the salami assailants were caught on a neighbors surveillance camera slicing up and tossing about two pounds of the spicy stuff across her yard.

I opened up the front door Wednesday morning and said, What the hell is this? Dougherty told NJ Advance Media in an interview.

Dougherty said she reported the incident to police and was helping them identify the suspects.

Lt. Craig Jeremiah of the Manville Police Department declined to comment or provide any reports on the incident Saturday, saying only that the investigation is ongoing.

Dougherty said Saturday that her car was keyed during the vandalism and also suffered damage from cats clawing their way up the side of the car to get to the thick slabs of spicy meat.

The story went viral after Dougherty posted in the Manville People community Facebook group asking questions about whether any pizza shops were missing significant amounts of pepperoni in order to do some sleuthing of her own to identify the vandals.

News stations across New Jersey and New York picked up the story and Dougherty is now widely recognized around town for the peculiar incident.

Just last night, I went out to the store and people recognized me from the news coverage, she said. Spreading sliced-up pepperoni around someones property is just such a bizarre thing to do.

Although puzzled, Dougherty said she is happy that the nature of the incident was so strange that it brought positive attention to the town shes called home virtually all her life.

Manville can get a bad rap sometimes, and even though there was a crime committed, its bringing humorous news to our town, she said.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Matt on X
Six-day (Tuesday through Sunday) print subscribers of the Watertown Daily Times are eligible for full access to NNY360, the NNY360 mobile app, and the Watertown Daily Times e-edition, all at no additional cost.

If you have an existing six-day print subscription to the Watertown Daily Times, please make sure your email address on file matches your NNY360 account email. You can sign up or manage your print subscription using the options below.
KYODO NEWS - Jan 27, 2024 - 23:24 | All, World

China's top diplomat Wang Yi has warned U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan against Taiwan independence during their two-day meeting in Thailand through Saturday, the Foreign Ministry said.

Wang was quoted by the Chinese ministry as calling that issue the greatest challenge to relations between Beijing and Washington, apparently thereby urging the United States in his meeting with Sullivan not to interfere in issues concerning the island.

The White House said Sullivan "discussed cross-Strait issues" with Wang and he "underscored the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait."

China and the United States, meanwhile, agreed to hold their first governmental talks on artificial intelligence this spring, the ministry added.

The meeting continued the commitment by U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping at their summit in November near San Francisco to "maintain strategic communication and responsibly manage the relationship," the White House said.

It was the first time for U.S. and Chinese high-ranking officials to meet in-person since the presidential election was held in Taiwan earlier this month, in which Lai Ching-te of the ruling, independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party won.

China has reacted harshly to the visit by a U.S. delegation to Taiwan shortly after the presidential race, as Beijing regards the self-ruled island as a renegade province to be reunified with the mainland, by force if necessary.

Communist-led China and democratic Taiwan have been governed separately since they split in 1949 as the result of a civil war.

In 1979, when Washington switched its diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing, the U.S. Congress passed the Taiwan Relations Act.

Under the act, the United States maintains substantive though unofficial relations with Taiwan and supplies the island with arms and spare parts to enable it to secure sufficient self-defense capabilities.
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Snow this morning will give way to lingering snow showers this afternoon. High 38F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 100%. About one inch of snow expected..

Tonight

Mainly cloudy with snow showers around this evening. Low 26F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 50%.
While growing up in Jackson, Mississippi, chef Hunter Evans visited New Orleans often because his grandmother lived here. Now, he usually comes back around this time to ride in a Carnival parade. But this year, hes doing a pop-up dinner at Mister Mao. Hes showcasing the Southern-meets-French cuisine of his Jackson restaurant, Elvies, which he named for his grandmother. Hes presented dinners by chefs from Commanders Palace, Mister Mao and Palm & Pine at Elvies. Now, hes at Mister Mao at 5-9 p.m. Monday, Feb. 5. Diners can chose from his special menu and Mister Maos regular menu. For more information, visit mistermaonola.com or elviesrestaurant.com.

Gambit: How did your grandmother influence your interest in cooking?

Hunter Evans: I grew up in Jackson, about three hours or so away. She grew up on Smith Drive, right behind Dorignacs. Traveling to visit her, I got exposure to New Orleans, and how food is such a big part of its lifestyle and culture.

Wed go downtown and see the grand dining rooms of the old classic restaurants. Wed peek through and see the tuxedos and mysteries of fine dining, but we didnt really partake. We never went out to eat because we could get the same good crab and shrimp at a local market. But when I was little, that world fascinated me.

I dont have a story of tugging at my grandmothers apron and cooking with her, but I remember her leaning over the sink peeling fresh shrimp.

Gambit: How did you start cooking?

Evans: I didnt know anyone in restaurants. I didnt see it as a career at first. In high school, I would cook all the time. If I slept over at a friends house, Id wake up and help the parents cook breakfast. It was something that I loved to do.

I was trying to figure out what I was going to do after high school. I went to a small college in Florida. I started thinking food and cooking could be a career, so I went to Ole Miss and started studying hospitality management. It was all classroom. So I started cooking at (John Currences) Boure in Oxford. I got on the line, and I fell in love with the culture and the work and the food.

I had a professor that went to the Culinary Institute of America in Upstate New York, and he encouraged me to go. Every other weekend I was in Manhattan eating food or looking for any opportunity in a restaurant. I fell in love with the precision, the drive and the hours to do something well executed.

After I finished school, I moved to New York and worked for Danny Meyer at North End Grill. Thats where I learned and witnessed the hospitality end.

All of that experience culminated in me missing the South and coming back here. Its all a blend of being from the South, being connected to New Orleans, having some exposure to fine dining restaurants to find my own voice.

Elvies turns four on Jan. 31. The dining room is hand painted to look like plaster walls in old-school New Orleans restaurants. Were in an old house that we renovated. We have a white marble bar. Its a nod to those classic old restaurants.

One of our most popular dishes is redfish amandine. Redfish is a huge staple in Mississippi. We have beef tartare, raw oysters and really good french fries. We play around. We have cassoulet, a classic, French hearty winter food, and match it with head cheese, which I fell in love with at Cochon. We put a fat slice on top of the cassoulet and bake it so it melts into the cassoulet.

Were trying to make our name and our voice. People have no problem saying theyre going to New Orleans for a fine dining restaurant. Were like, Hold up. Weve got fine dining here in our backyard. Were drawing from my background and history of New Orleans, but were trying to ask what is Mississippi cuisine? We love using local purveyors and farmers. We get stuff from the Gulf, and we like to use Mississippi oysters and Mississippi beef. We take our staff on trips to places where animals are raised. Thats part of our story and success.

Gambit: What will you serve at Mister Mao?

Evans: Were going to do a boudin-stuffed trotter. Figuring that out was fun. I never had trotters unless they were in a pot of collard greens. I was looking through old French books and came across classic French stuffed trotter. I was looking at that recipe and using boudin, something very regional.

I love open fire cooking. Mister Mao has a wood fire. I bought a flambadou. Its an old piece of equipment, like a triangle that gets super hot over the fire. I made a crab fat sausage. You take hunks of sausage and throw it on the red-hot thing, and it melts over the oysters. Some people use wagyu fat. But you dont see it much.

Hush puppies and caviar is Southern meets French, and high brow-low brow. Weve had caviar on the menu since we started. Weve demystified it. You dont have to wear a tuxedo. At the restaurant, we serve it with Zapps chips. It breaks that barrier of how you should eat caviar.

Gumbo ze escargot is a play on gumbo zherbes. Its going to be lots of greens and Ive done a lot of iterations of escargot on the menu. So I am going to roast some garlicky, parsley snails and float them in the gumbo. Weve done escargot hush puppies and escargot boudin and all sorts of fun stuff.
Jeff Landrys signature issue as a candidate for governor was crime. His TV ads painted a dystopian picture of Louisianas majority-Black cities as violent hellholes where criminals roam unchecked because local district attorneys werent doing their jobs. He promised to hold them accountable.

He also promised to call a special session dealing exclusively with crime.

Weeks prior to Landrys inauguration, new House and Senate leaders informed lawmakers that the crime session would run Feb. 19 to March 6. Thats 17 days  more than twice the length of Landrys eight-day first special session, which began Jan. 15.

A federal judge required that session when she ordered lawmakers to draw new congressional maps  with a second majority-Black district  by Jan. 30. They complied, finishing the task in just four days and adjourning early.

Landry reluctantly endorsed the judges order, having exhausted the states appeals as attorney general. But he added a dozen more items to the sessions agenda without giving lawmakers or the public any advance notice. It did not go over well.

The governors 14-item call included some highly controversial proposals, such as ditching Louisianas popular open or jungle primary system for a restrictive  and highly unpopular  closed party primary system.

Other items included changing the makeup of the state Supreme Court, changing campaign finance laws and changing the states Election Code  none of which lawmakers anticipated or appreciated.

They did what the judge ordered them to do regarding congressional districts, but they seriously diluted Landrys closed-primary proposal. Landry called it a victory, but few others saw it that way.

The Legislatures rejection of Landrys overreach sent him a message: Dont take us for granted. Respect our independence. And dont ambush us with a surprise agenda.

Did he get the message?

If he did, theres no need for the next special session to run 17 days.

Truth is, as Louisianas Irritant-in-Chief Bob Mann noted on his new blog, Something Like the Truth, we dont need a special session on crime. In every Louisiana city except Shreveport, violent crime dropped significantly in 2023  as it did nationwide, only more so here. Moreover, the criminal justice reforms enacted in 2017 dealt exclusively with non-violent criminals, and citizens still support those reforms.

Lawmakers could easily dispose of whatever changes Landry wants to propose to Louisianas criminal statutes in the regular annual session that begins March 11. It also would save lawmakers time and taxpayers money.

Landry doubtless is keen to keep his campaign promise, however. Hell likely summon legislators into another special session on or around Feb. 19. The state constitution requires him to issue the call at least seven days before the session begins.

When that happens, well know if Landry got lawmakers message after the first session.

Either way, in the interest of transparency (and for his own political sake), the governor should give citizens and lawmakers lots of advance notice  and details  about his agenda next time.

If he doesnt, lawmakers should send him the same message again  only louder.
OSWIECIM, Poland  A group of survivors of Nazi death camps marked the 79th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp during World War II in a modest ceremony Saturday in southern Poland.

About 20 survivors from various camps set up by Nazi Germany around Europe laid wreaths and flowers and lit candles at the Death Wall in Auschwitz, where the Nazis executed thousands of inmates, mostly Polish resistance members and others.

Later the group, along with state officials and other participants gathered for a ceremony by a brick womens barrack at Birkenau that has recently undergone conservation. Next, they prayed and lit candles at the monument in Birkenau, near the crematoria ruins. They were memorializing around 1.1 million camp victims, mostly Jews. The memorial site and museum are located near the city of Oswiecim.

Observances were also held in many other countries Saturday. Nearly 6 million European Jews were killed by the Nazis during the Holocaust  the mass murder of Jews and other groups before and during World War II.

Marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the survivors were accompanied by Polish Senate Speaker Malgorzata Kidawa-Blonska, Culture Minister Bartlomiej Sienkiewicz and Israeli Ambassador Yacov Livne.

The theme of the observances was the human being, symbolized in simple, hand-drawn portraits that were beamed on a screen during the observances in Birkenau. They were meant to stress that the horror of Auschwitz-Birkenau lies in the suffering of people held and killed there.

In Germany, where people laid flowers and lit candles at memorials for the victims of the Nazi terror, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said his country would continue to carry the responsibility for this crime against humanity.

He called on all citizens to defend Germanys democracy and fight antisemitism as the country marked the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

Never again is every day, Scholz said in his weekly video podcast. Jan. 27 calls out to us: Stay visible! Stay audible! Against antisemitism, against racism, against misanthropy  and for our democracy.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose country is fighting to repel Russias full-scale invasion, posted an image of a Jewish menorah on X, formerly known as Twitter, to mark the remembrance day.

Every new generation must learn the truth about the Holocaust. Human life must remain the highest value for all nations in the world, said Zelenskyy, who is Jewish and had relatives who were lost in the Holocaust.

Eternal memory to all Holocaust victims! Zelenskyy tweeted.

In Italy, Holocaust commemorations included a torchlit procession alongside official statements from top political leaders.

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni said that her conservative nationalist government was committed to eradicating antisemitism that she said had been reinvigorated amid the Israel-Hamas war. Melonis critics have long accused her and her Brothers of Italy party, which has neofascist roots, of failing to sufficiently atone for its past.

Police were also on alert after pro-Palestinian activists indicated that they would ignore a police order and go ahead with a rally planned to coincide with the Holocaust commemorations. Italys Jewish community has complained that such protests have become occasions for the memory of the Holocaust to be co-opted by anti-Israel forces and used against Jews.

In Bosnia-Herzegovina, Jews and Muslims from the country and from abroad gathered in Srebrenica to jointly observe Holocaust Remembrance Day, and to promote compassion and dialogue amid the Israel-Hamas war.

It was organized by the center preserving the memory of Europes only acknowledged genocide since the Holocaust  the massacre in 1995 of more than 8,000 Muslim Bosniaks in Srebrenica in Bosnias interethnic war.

The event underscored the message that the two communities share the experience of persecution and must stay united in their commitment to peace.

New York law professor Menachem Rosensaft told The Associated Press on the eve of his participation in the Srebrenica commemoration that this years observances were especially important. He said thats because they come just months after the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Israel, which became the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.

We need to bring people together and find common ground, said Rosensaft, the son of Holocaust survivors. To make sure it doesnt happen again, this has to become the conscience of the world.

He said the international commemoration day, created by the United Nations in 2005, is important to ensure the world remembers the Holocaust long after the survivors and their forbears are gone.

Earlier in the week, the countries of the former Yugoslavia signed an agreement in Paris to jointly renovate Block 17 in the red-brick Auschwitz camp and install a permanent exhibition there in memory of around 20,000 people who were deported from their territories and brought to the block. Participating in the project will be Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia.

Preserving the camp, a notorious symbol of the horrors of the Holocaust, with its cruelly misleading Arbeit Macht Frei (Work Makes One Free) gate, requires constant effort by historians and experts, and substantial funds.

The Nazis, who occupied Poland from 1939-1945, at first used old Austrian military barracks at Auschwitz as a concentration and death camp for Polands resistance fighters. In 1942, the wooden barracks, gas chambers and crematoria of Birkenau were added for the extermination of Europes Jews, Roma and other nationals, as well as Russian prisoners of war.

Soviet Red Army troops liberated Auschwitz-Birkenau on Jan. 27, 1945, with about 7,000 prisoners there, children and those who were too weak to walk. The Germans had evacuated tens of thousands of other inmates on foot days earlier in what is now called the Death March, because many inmates died of exhaustion and cold in the sub-freezing temperatures.

Since 1979, the Auschwitz-Birkenau site has been on the UNESCO list of World Heritage.

Associated Press writers Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin, Nicole Winfield in Rome, Joanna Kozlowska in London and Anita Snow in Phoenix, Arizona, contributed to this report.
KYODO NEWS - Jan 27, 2024 - 22:54 | All, Japan

A man thought to be the suspect on a decades-old wanted list for one of a series of bombings in the 1970s may have worked in Kanagawa Prefecture near Tokyo before being admitted to a hospital for cancer treatment earlier this month, investigative sources said Saturday.

The man, believed to be Satoshi Kirishima, is likely to have kept himself hidden in the prefecture, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department is investigating whether anyone was supporting him, the sources said.

Also, the man was undergoing treatment at the hospital in Kanagawa Prefecture at his own expense without using a health insurance card, the sources said, adding he initially gave a different name upon admission to the facility. If he is the suspect, he might have tried to conceal his identity.

The man, meanwhile, had worked for an extended period at a building contractor in the prefecture, using the same alias that he gave at the hospital, the sources said.

While Tokyo police's Public Security Bureau is questioning the man, who is receiving treatment in the hospital in Kamakura for terminal cancer, it will likely take time to determine his identity through DNA testing and other measures.

His physical features, including his height, seem to match those of the bombing suspect pursued by the police. The man also mentioned details of suspect's family makeup, the sources said.

Even if he is confirmed as Kirishima, the police may not be able to arrest him due to the severity of his health condition caused by stomach cancer, the sources said.

As his condition worsened to the point that he crouched on the street, he was hospitalized this month, the sources said, adding that he was accompanied to the hospital by a coworker.

The sources quoted the man as saying, "I want to draw the curtain on my life under my real name."

The man told police he was Kirishima on Thursday, they said.

Kirishima, who would now be 70, was a member of the radical group East Asia Anti-Japan Armed Front. He has long been wanted on suspicion that he planted and detonated a homemade bomb in a building in Tokyo's Ginza district on April 19, 1975.

The extreme left-wing group Kirishima belonged to carried out a number of attacks on Japanese companies and entities, including the bombing of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd.'s headquarters in central Tokyo in 1974 that killed eight people and injured 165 people.

The group also targeted companies operating overseas, including major trading house Mitsui & Co. and construction companies Taisei Corp. and Kajima Corp., as a protest against Japan's military and commercial expansion in East Asia before and after World War II.

In May 1975, police arrested eight individuals, including Masashi Daidoji, over their involvement in the attacks. Daidoji died in May 2017 of blood cancer while in prison after his death sentence was finalized in March 1987.

Related coverage:

Police question man believed to be 1970s bombing fugitive
Drinking fountains for key locations in Torridge wont be going ahead any time soon as there is no evidence they help the climate emergency, it has been claimed.

Despite a drive in cities like London and Hull to install water fountains and their subsequent popularity with the public, councillors were told there are other issues to consider in rural areas including the cost, potential vandalism, footfall and hygiene, In Northam Burrows the fountains might be frequented by sheep!

Torridge District Councils community and resources committee decided it isnt worth 44,000 over 10 years for five water fountains as it couldnt be guaranteed they would reduce single-use plastic waste.

The recommendation for water fountains had come from the authoritys climate change working group which was concerned that on average people use 120 single-use plastic bottles a year and only seven per cent of bottles are recycled.

However, there is no hard evidence that fewer plastic water bottles are bought after water fountains are installed.

Cllr Peter Hames (Green, Appledore) said in 2022 ten million plastic bottles of water were consumed every day in the UK and as water stations are also refill facilities, they can wean people off plastic.

He proposed Victoria Park in Bideford, Castle Hill, Torrington, the Northam Burrows Centre and Stanhope Park, Holsworthy as priority sites.

But Cllr Chris Leather (Ind, Northam) said there is no demand from the public for such fountains and that people could use a free app to find refill stations, with 19 cafes or shops in Bideford and 20 in Westward Ho! where people could fill up.

Why would we take on another capital expense when there is no demand just because the climate group is scratching around for things to spend money on, he said.

Repondants to an online article about the idea generally showed opposition, with people saying money is better spent on things like public toilets.

Officers said there was no identified funding in the budget nor outside funding opportunities for the water stations.

Councillors decided not to proceed with the water fountains but will hold a review if funding becomes available. But they agreed to support World Refill Day.
KYODO NEWS - Jan 27, 2024 - 19:24 | All, Japan

Former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso pledged Saturday to maintain his faction within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party as a "policy group," with the latest political funds scandal increasing public distrust in politics.

Aso has become the first leader of the LDP's factions to declare the continuation of such a group, as four of them, including one that Prime Minister Fumio Kishida headed until late December, decided to disband earlier this month.

In internal reform proposals approved on Thursday, the LDP promised to move away from factions as vehicles for securing funds and allocating important government and party posts for lawmakers, but the party allowed them to continue as "policy groups."

Opposition lawmakers have expressed doubt about the effectiveness of the proposals, claiming that it is difficult to distinguish between factions and policy groups and that the proposals lack substantial solutions to prevent the abuse of political funds.

The ruling party, led by Kishida, has come under intense scrutiny amid allegations that some of its factions failed to report revenue from fundraising events and accumulated hundreds of millions of yen in slush funds.

Among the six factions within the LDP, the group headed by Secretary General Toshimitsu Motegi has yet to decide whether to dissolve, while some members, such as the party's election campaign chief Yuko Obuchi, have left recently.

The faction was previously led by former Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, the father of Yuko Obuchi.

In the Aso faction, former Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya told reporters on Friday that he will leave it, urging all such groups to disband in order to "rebuild" the LDP. The party has been in power for most of the period since 1955.

Related coverage:

Japan lawmaker Ikeda indicted, bringing ruling party slush fund cases to 10

Japan's Diet starts 150-day regular session, funds scandal in focus

FOCUS: LDP reforms unlikely to restore skeptical public's faith in politics
CROWN POINT  Arriving at a crime scene where a child has been shot is one of the most horrifying scenes imaginable.

"The screeching squeals, sounds you never want to hear," Case Files Chicago Executive Producer Lisette Guillen said. "Blood everywhere. It's scene like you're never seen before."

The power behind the bullet projecting from a handgun and into the body of a child is powerful enough to break thousands of hearts. To prevent more broken hearts and lives lost from children shooting themselves with unsecured guns, the Lake County prosecutor's office is partnering with numerous community organizations to hand out free gun locks and provide training on how to practice gun safety.

"It took a mother nine months to bring a child into this world," community activist Andrew Holmes said. "It takes one second for that child to lose their life."

Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter held a press conference at the prosecutor's office Friday morning to announce the initiative. He was joined by Guillen, Holmes and various other supporters to discuss the program.

"This issue is so important," Carter said. "We are trying to workout how to get this information out to parents. We need this on our lips and in action."

The initiative targets families and individuals who own guns in home with children. Community partners will distribute gun locks in churches, businesses, schools resource fairs and more. Recipients will receive links to YouTube videos called "How to Store Your Gun" and "How to Use a Safety Lock" to make sure their weapon stays out of the hands of anyone who should not be using it--primarily children.

Since July 2022, there have been six fatal incidents in the Region in which children under 8 have gotten ahold of unsecured firearms and shot themselves. Countless more have unintentionally injured themselves or others with guns because of adult neglect.

Prosecutors filed charges Thursday against two different men who carelessly left their guns unattended around young children. In both situations, a young child innocently grabbed the gun and shot himself.

"You never use the term 'accident' when it pertains to guns in the household," Carter said. "Children are very observant. They may see you handle a gun, see where you put the gun."

Carter's office is reviewing approximately eight other related cases and determining whether or not criminal charges are appropriate, he said.

Supervisory Deputy Prosecutor Bernard Johnsen outlined another component of the program where citizens can take gun safety classes modeled off Illinois' concealed and carry firearms training course. Upon completion of the program, one receives a free t-shirt and a plethora of knowledge on gun safety.

"Gun safety is done through education," Johnsen said. "As far as I know, there has been no prosecutor's office in the state of Indiana for sure, let alone the United States, that has put on any programs like this. Prosecutors always deal with the aftermath. We're going to try to prevent these things from happening."

The press conference included sentiments from partners and supporters of the initiative from the Indiana State Police, Lake County police agencies, local clergy, state officials and representatives from Hard Rock Casino and NiSource. The Hard Rock Casino and NiSource companies have both made sizeable donations to help fund the cost of the gun locks and safety courses.

Many of the speakers said they hope this initiative sets an example to other counties in Indiana and states around the U.S. who might have a need for similar programs in their communities. Guillen spoke specifically to politicians who were in attendance and cited the need for lawmakers to use their privilege and power to take action.

"What it took to get here was the loss of lives of many children," Guillen said. "We have been asking for help for years. We cannot afford to lose another baby."

The gun locks are inexpensive and easily available, she said. They only cost $3.50 a piece, but are free to the public through the prosecutor's office.

"What is $3.50 to a human life?"
When Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, the billionaire owner of The Los Angeles Times, hired Kevin Merida to be the newspapers top editor nearly three years ago, he hailed the journalist as someone who would maintain the publications high standards and journalistic integrity.

By this winter, the professional warmth between the two men had chilled. Their relationship was strained in part by an incident in December when Dr. Soon-Shiong tried to dissuade Mr. Merida from pursuing a story about a wealthy California doctor and his dog, three people with knowledge of the interactions said. The doctor was an acquaintance of Dr. Soon-Shiongs, the people said.

The previously unreported incident occurred as The Los Angeles Times, the largest news organization on the West Coast, struggled to reverse years of losses amid a difficult market for newspapers. Mr. Merida resigned this month. Shortly afterward, the company laid off roughly 115 journalists, or about 20 percent of its newsroom.

It is not unheard-of for the owner of a publication to be consulted on sensitive reporting, particularly if it could jeopardize the newspaper legally or financially. But it is unusual for an owner or a publisher to pressure editors to stop reporting on a story well before publication, especially in cases that do not put government secrets or human lives at risk.
Times Insider explains who we are and what we do and delivers behind-the-scenes insights into how our journalism comes together.

There was no telling what I would find when I arrived in Seoul.

I knew the greatest hits of South Korean pop culture  BTS, Oldboy, Psy, Parasite, Blackpink  but I had never visited the Korean Peninsula. North Korea, though the subject of endless fascination among both beltway pundits and TMZ aficionados, seemed eerily unknowable.

And yet, as a new editor on the International desk at The New York Times, I was tasked with running coverage of the Koreas. Not only that, I would be based in Seoul, not Hong Kong, as was originally planned. (More on that later.)

Little did I know that the unexpected change in my Asia itinerary would lead to three of the most thrilling years of my career as a journalist.

In the fall of 2020, before the United States presidential election, the world was still in the thick of the coronavirus pandemic. South Korea had introduced robust measures to mitigate the spread of infection. There were limits on gatherings. You needed a QR code to enter public spaces. Masks were required everywhere.
KYODO NEWS - Jan 27, 2024 - 20:39 | All, Japan

All Nippon Airways resumed its flights to and from an airport in central Japan on Saturday, almost a month after a magnitude-7.6 earthquake hit the region on New Year's Day and left its runway damaged.

While regular flights connecting Noto airport in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, and Tokyo's Haneda airport are limited to one round-trip per day on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays through February, it is hoped they will help bring volunteer workers to the quake-hit area to assist in recovery from the disaster, which left more than 230 dead.

Before the quake struck the Noto Peninsula on the Sea of Japan coast, there were two round-trip flights between the two airports each day. But the airport was forced to suspend services after a gap measuring 10 centimeters in depth and 10 meters in length was found on a runway following the quake.

After temporary repairs were made, the airport started accepting Self-Defense Forces aircraft on Jan. 11 and decided to widen the service to commercial flights as it completed full restoration work.

A 40-year-old woman living in quake-hit Suzu on the peninsula was among 62 passengers aboard a flight that departed for the region from Haneda earlier in the morning. She was visiting her hometown in Saitama Prefecture near Tokyo with her two children when the earthquake struck and has been unable to return until now, she said.

"My car is parked at Noto airport so I was waiting" for flights to resume, she said. "The house was built recently, so I don't think it has collapsed, but we will have to clean up the inside."

Passengers were handed two-liter bottles of water by cabin crew as they boarded the plane. While greeting passengers after takeoff, the plane's captain said, "Please take great care in the area."

Among them were some of the 75 registered volunteer workers who entered Ishikawa Prefecture Saturday to join cleanup efforts.

Partly because landslides and cracks had severed roads leading to the quake-hit area, local governments were not ready to accept such volunteers until now, with prefectural authorities saying more than 15,000 people have registered from across Japan as of Saturday.

So far, over 43,000 homes have been damaged by the quake and around 230 people have been confirmed dead, the prefecture said.

Among the fatalities, nearly 90 percent of the 129 people whose names were released were found to be victims of collapsed houses, many of whom appear to have died from crushing or suffocation.

Some quake-hit areas with a high proportion of elderly residents have a large number of old wooden houses, suggesting seismic reinforcement work was hindered by financial constraints.

As the Ishikawa prefectural government had been asking individuals to refrain from coming to the quake-hit area, those eligible for volunteer work had previously been limited to people who belonged to organizations with disaster relief knowledge and experience.

Among the newly arrived volunteers was Shuto Kaji, a 30-year-old office worker from western Tokyo, who has been visiting Nanao in Ishikawa Prefecture once or twice a year for the past seven years to teach tennis to local children

"This is my first time volunteering for disaster recovery, but I hope I can be of a little help to Nanao," he said.

Volunteers worked in pairs to remove water-damaged tatami mats and other debris from homes affected by the disaster. "I can only be grateful," said local resident Kenichi Kawamura, 55, after receiving assistance.

At a ceremony prior to embarking on their activities, Ishikawa Gov. Hiroshi Hase addressed participants who had gathered wearing blue vests emblazoned with the words "Ishikawa Prefecture volunteer."

"I thank you for your warm sentiments. I hope you will take good care of yourselves as well," Hase said.

Related coverage:

Commercial flights to resume at quake-hit Japan airport on Jan. 27

Quake chaos forces Wajima kids to leave families to continue studies

U.S. forces to join relief efforts for central Japan quake from Jan. 17
FRONT PAGE

An article on Dec. 31 about details showing a pattern of rape, mutilation and extreme brutality against women in the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Israel misstated the age of Sapir, the woman who has become one of the Israeli polices key witnesses to the attack. She is 26, not 24.

METROPOLITAN

A picture caption with an article on Sunday about the former boxer Mike Tysons move into the cannabis market in New York misstated the year of the bout in which Mr. Tyson bit Evander Holyfields ear. As the article correctly notes, it was 1997, not 1987.

MAGAZINE

An article on Page 7 this weekend about the Calvin Klein underwear ad campaign featuring the actor Jeremy Allen White misspells the surname of an actress in The Bear. She is Ayo Edebiri, not Edibiri.

An article on Page 26 about student deaths and a mental-health crisis at Worcester Polytechnic Institute includes several errors. It omits the given name of the former president of Worcester Polytechnic Institute. She is Laurie Leshin. It misspells the surname of the assistant director at the schools counseling center. He is Matt Barry, not Berry. And the article incorrectly identifies the nationality of a student at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He was Chinese, not Chinese American. The article also misidentifies the type of glasses used in lab sessions during the Covid pandemic. While they were augmented reality glasses, they were not Air glasses.
A military jury at Guantanamo Bay sentenced two prisoners to 23 years in confinement on Friday for conspiring in the 2002 terrorist bombing that killed 202 people in Bali, Indonesia. But the men could be freed by 2029 under a secret deal and with sentencing credit.

Mohammed Farik Bin Amin and Mohammed Nazir Bin Lep, both Malaysians, have been held by the United States since the summer of 2003, starting with three years in C.I.A. black site prisons where they were tortured. They pleaded guilty to war crimes charges last week.

About a dozen relatives of tourists who were killed in the attacks spent an emotional week at the court and testified to their enduring grief. A jury of five U.S. military officers, assembled to decide a sentence in the 20-to-25-year range, returned 23 years after deliberating for about two hours on Friday.

But, unknown to the jurors, a senior Pentagon official reached a secret agreement over the summer with the defendants that they would be sentenced to at most six more years. In exchange for the reduced sentence, they were required to provide testimony that might be used at the trial of an Indonesian prisoner, known as Hambali, who is accused of being a mastermind of the Bali bombing and other plots as a leader of the Qaeda affiliate group Jemaah Islamiyah.
A British businessman who disappeared from public view in China in 2018 was sentenced to five years in prison in 2022, Chinas Foreign Ministry said on Friday, in its first public acknowledgment of the case.

The businessman, Ian J. Stones, had lived in China since the 1970s, working for companies like General Motors and Pfizer. For years after he vanished, there was no public information about his whereabouts, though some in the business community privately discussed his secret detention.

A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry said that Mr. Stones had been convicted in 2022 of buying and unlawfully supplying intelligence for an organization or individual outside China. Mr. Stoness appeal of the verdict was rejected in September 2023, said the spokesman, Wang Wenbin.

Mr. Wang was responding to reporters questions at a regularly scheduled news conference, after The Wall Street Journal reported Mr. Stoness case on Thursday.
Protests by farmers angered by complex regulations, administrative hassles and low wages spread across France on Friday, blocking several highways, snarling traffic for miles and forcing the countrys new prime minister to tear up his schedule and head to a remote farm in the region where the demonstrations began.

Gabriel Attal, the 34-year-old prime minister who took office this month, arrived late in the afternoon in southwestern France to try to ease the tension.

Without our farmers, we are no longer France, he declared at a cattle farm in Montastruc-de-Salies, in the Haute-Garonne region. He appeared intent on convincing his rural audience that its angry message had been received, even as some tractor convoys inched closer to Paris.

Mr. Attal said that the government would scrap plans to reduce state subsidies on the diesel fuel used in trucks and other farming machinery, and he promised that it would significantly cut back the time-consuming bureaucratic regulations farmers must follow. For example, 14 different regulations on hedges would be merged into one.
The U.N. agency that provides aid to Palestinians has been a vital lifeline in the Gaza Strip for generations  and it was a point of contention with Israel long before some of the agencys employees were accused of involvement in the Hamas-led Oct. 7 assault on Israel.

The allegation, made by Israel, is a serious blow to the reputation of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, generally known as UNRWA. The claim was acted on by both the United Nations, which said on Friday that it had fired the accused workers and was investigating, and the United States, which said it was suspending some funding for the agency.

Heres a closer look at the organization and its work.

What does UNRWA do?

UNRWA provides an array of social services for people registered as Palestinian refugees in the wars surrounding the formation of Israel, and for their descendants in Gaza, the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

The agency looms especially large in Gaza, where most of the population of more than two million people are registered as refugees. Gaza has been under a longstanding Israeli blockade, and Hamas  considered a terrorist group by much of the world  wields control. No nations government takes even partial responsibility for governing the territory, and the Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited powers in the West Bank, was effectively expelled from Gaza in a 2007 power struggle with Hamas.
The meeting turned ugly fast.

In October 2022, Roberta Kaplan flew to Donald Trumps estate, Mar-a-Lago, in Florida, to question him under oath in the defamation lawsuit that her client, the writer E. Jean Carroll, had filed against him after she accused him of sexually assaulting her.

Shes not my type, Mr. Trump said when he was asked if he raped Ms. Carroll in the mid-1990s in a dressing room at the Bergdorf Goodman department store in New York.

Then he shrugged, looked at Ms. Kaplan and pointed at her.

You wouldnt be a choice of mine either, to be honest with you, he said, according to a transcript of the deposition. I would not, under any circumstances, have any interest in you. Im honest when I say it.

She began another question, then paused and reminded him, Im an attorney.

That early skirmish was part of a battle that began in 2019 when the lawsuit was filed; it culminated in a Manhattan courtroom on Friday, when a jury of seven men and two women decided that Mr. Trump should pay Ms. Carroll $83.3 million for defaming her.
Michael Mullen, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is concerned enough about the risk of war between the United States and China that he is listening to the audiobook version of Barbara Tuchmans The Guns of August, the classic history of how the major powers in 1914 stumbled into World War I.

I think this is the most dangerous time since I was a kid in 1962, during the Cuban missile crisis, he told me. The world war potential is really, really significant.

I came to Taiwan to gauge that risk and assess how to manage it better. For what its worth, I greatly respect Admiral Mullen  few people know as much about global hot spots and how wars happen  but my best guess is that Americans may be overestimating the risk of conflict, particularly of an all-out invasion of Taiwan by China.

Moreover, I worry that American anxiety about the risk of war with China may inadvertently exacerbate it. The Guns of August is, as Mullen noted, a useful prism for reminding us how miscalculation, misunderstanding and escalation created a world war that no one wanted. So we should be alert not only to the risk that China poses to peace in the region but also to the risk we Americans unintentionally pose, and to the possibility that our legitimate efforts to confront China can lead to accidents at sea or air that lead to war.
Most of my writing this week was on the recent elections in Iowa and New Hampshire, but most of my reading was focused elsewhere. In particular, I want to highlight this report from Jessica Valenti, published in her excellent newsletter, on proposed travel bans for abortion care in Tennessee and Oklahoma. The Tennessee ban, proposed by State Representative Jason Zachary, would make it a felony to take a minor out of state to obtain an abortion. As Valenti notes, That means a friend, aunt or grandmother who helps a teenager get an abortion could be sent to prison for 15 years. The Oklahoma bill, if signed into law, would punish anyone who helped a minor obtain abortion care with up to five years in prison.

I have written about how abortion bans implicate a broad set of rights tied to our personal and bodily autonomy, including the right to travel between states. And I have analogized this dynamic to the legal and political conflicts over slavery, which were about not just labor but also the right of free citizens to enjoy the privileges and immunities of U.S. citizenship, wherever in the country they happen to live.

One thing to recognize about the scope of states power from the founding to the Civil War is that it was broader and more expansive than we tend to recognize under modern conceptions of constitutional law. States, as most Americans understood them at the time, were governments of general jurisdiction with far-reaching police powers that gave them almost total discretion to regulate internal affairs. The federal government, by contrast, was a limited government of enumerated powers  a government that could take only such action as allowed by the Constitution.

The police power, the historian Kate Masur notes in Until Justice Be Done, was grounded not in the idea that a governments duty was to protect individual rights but, rather, in the conviction that governments most important obligation was to secure the health, safety and general well-being of a community.
If you can imagine the lobby bar of the Manchester Marriott as an Anglo-Saxon mead hall, I can explain how it felt to cover the New Hampshire primary.

I will need the help of the late Seamus Heaney, who described what it was like to be quaffing in Heorot Hall while Grendel lurked and swooped through the frost-stiffened north.

In his lyrical translation of Beowulf, Heaney described Grendel as the terror-monger, the captain of evil and the dread of the land.

He wrote that the fiend ruled in defiance of right and was malignant by nature, he never showed remorse.
It has become clear that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel is not the leader for this critical moment.

The devastation of Gaza is at intolerable levels and getting worse; the Israeli government is under intense pressure from the families of hostages to do far more to free them before they perish; the United States and Arab states, anxious to avoid a regional war, are trying to mediate an end to the conflict. But Mr. Netanyahu blocks the way.

As a majority of Israelis and their allies can see, Mr. Netanyahu and his insistence on total victory over Hamas, with no consideration of the consequences or costs, have become a part of the problem. He is playing a cynical game, using the war to serve his political ends, and Israelis, most of whom support the effort to wipe out Hamas, are getting tired of it.

He has even managed to alienate Israels most important ally. Despite President Bidens display of total support for Israel  and Mr. Netanyahu  after the atrocious attack by Hamas on Oct. 7, including the presidents personal visit to the Jewish state, Mr. Netanyahu has deliberately and publicly defied American advice as contrary to Israels vital interests. A particularly contentious conversation in late December ended with Mr. Biden angrily declaring, This conversation is over. It was a month before Mr. Biden phoned again.
KYODO NEWS - Jan 27, 2024 - 22:00 | All, World, Japan

The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.

----------



Airline resumes flights to quake-hit airport in central Japan

KANAZAWA, Japan - All Nippon Airways resumed its flights to and from an airport in central Japan on Saturday, almost a month after a magnitude-7.6 earthquake hit the region on New Year's Day and left its runway damaged.

While regular flights connecting Noto airport in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, and Tokyo's Haneda airport are limited to one round-trip per day on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays through February, it is hoped they will help bring volunteer workers to quake-hit areas to assist their recovery from the disaster, which left more than 230 dead.

----------

1970s bombing fugitive may have worked in Kanagawa Pref.: sources

TOKYO - A man thought to be the suspect on a decades-old wanted list for one of a series of bombings in the 1970s may have worked in Kanagawa Prefecture near Tokyo before being admitted to a hospital for cancer treatment earlier this month, investigative sources said Saturday.

The man, believed to be Satoshi Kirishima, is likely to have kept himself hidden in the prefecture, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department is investigating whether anyone was supporting him, the sources said.

----------

Tennis: Oda wins Aussie Open wheelchair title, Sakamoto junior champ

MELBOURNE - Tokito Oda won his third Grand Slam wheelchair tennis singles title, while another 17-year-old Japanese player, Rei Sakamoto, took the junior boys' singles crown at the Australian Open on Saturday.

In their respective finals, Oda defeated Britain's Alfie Hewett 6-2, 6-4, while Sakamoto came from a set down to beat Jan Kumstat of the Czech Republic 3-6, 7-6(2), 7-5 at Melbourne Park.

----------

Ex-Japan PM Aso vows to maintain LDP faction as "policy group"

TOKYO - Former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso pledged Saturday to maintain his faction within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party as a "policy group," with the latest political funds scandal increasing public distrust in politics.

Aso has become the first leader of the LDP's factions to declare the continuation of such a group, as four of them, including one that Prime Minister Fumio Kishida headed until late December, decided to disband earlier this month.

----------

Tuvalu's pro-Taiwan prime minister loses seat in national election

SYDNEY - The pro-Taiwan prime minister of the Pacific islands nation of Tuvalu, Kausea Natano, lost his seat in a general election watched closely by Taiwan, China and the United States, local media reported Saturday.

Tuvalu is one of Taiwan's three remaining Pacific allies, after Nauru earlier this month severed ties with the self-ruled island in favor of mainland China. Natano, who took office in 2019, had pledged Tuvalu's continuing support for Taiwan during his visit there in 2022.

----------

N. Korea, China agree to strengthen "tactical cooperation"

BEIJING - North Korea and China agreed to strengthen "tactical cooperation" and keep pace with each other to defend their common core interests during a meeting of senior officials, the state-run Korean Central News Agency said Saturday.

North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong also agreed in their meeting Friday that the two countries will jointly mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations being established to boost friendship and to be "true to the noble intentions of the top leaders," KCNA said.

----------

NASA unveils images of Japan's SLIM moon probe after landing success

TOKYO - NASA on Friday unveiled images taken by one of its satellites of Japan's Smart Lander for Investigating Moon on the lunar surface after it succeeded in making a pinpoint landing.

The images, taken by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter at an altitude of about 80 kilometers before and after the landing, show a slight change in reflectance around the lander due to engine exhaust sweeping the surface, the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration said.

----------

Museum names plaza after 1st Japanese American member of Cabinet

LOS ANGELES - The Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles has named its historic plaza after the first Asian American appointed to a Presidential Cabinet.

Commemorating the late Secretary Norman Mineta, the museum in Little Tokyo named the plaza "Norman Y. Mineta Democracy Plaza" and held a ceremony on Friday attended by his relatives, government officials and others.

Video: Kumano Hayatama Taisha shrine in Shingu in Wakayama Prefecture makes "kiccho" lucky willow branch decorations for Setsubun
Nikki Haley lost the New Hampshire primary but found a cause: getting under Donald Trumps not exactly rhinoceros-thick skin. The story of the Republican primary campaign in the days since Trumps victory has been one where the victor acts like a sore loser and the likely loser loosens up, goads her stronger rival and finds a pool of small-dollar donors to keep her in the race.

Haleys turn toward mockery and confrontation has created modest excitement in the disillusioned world of NeverTrump punditry. Maybe the remaining non-Trump Republican is giving up on being vice president or winning some future G.O.P. primary campaign. Maybe shes ready to make Trumps unfitness her exclusive theme. Maybe, as The Dispatchs Nick Catoggio speculates, by needling and attacking and bringing out Trumps worst behavior, she can even bring about the long-awaited Republican crackup that would finally defeat Trump on the scale that he deserves.

I dont think this hope makes a lot of sense. The idea that there exists some form of elite Republican denunciation, combined with egregious Trumpian misbehavior, that could shatter the G.O.P. coalition and send him to a Barry Goldwater or George McGovern-style defeat, seemed plausible enough eight years ago. Its what I expected and what Republicans deserved.

But I should have heeded the wisdom of Bill Munny in Clint Eastwoods Unforgiven: Deserves got nothing to do with it. Because since then weve seen all kinds of terrible behavior, coupled with attempted repudiations from all sorts of Republicans, including Trumps own aides and cabinet appointees. And yet the rule has held: Ask people if they like Trump and majorities do not, but put Trump up against the current Democratic Party, and he becomes a viable candidate for president.
Former President Donald J. Trump, who has been itching for months to focus on a likely matchup between him and President Biden in November, previewed on Saturday a likely general-election message, extensively attacking Mr. Biden at an event in Nevada, a critical battleground state.

Further proof of Nevadas importance could be seen a mile away, where Vice President Kamala Harris cast the fight against Mr. Trump, should he wrap up the nomination, as a battle for democracy.

Though Mr. Trump was ostensibly visiting Las Vegas to encourage his supporters to turn out for the Nevada caucuses on Feb. 8, he devoted much of his speech to Mr. Bidens handling of the surge of crossings at the southern border, which he called a weapon of mass destruction internally destroying the United States.

And Mr. Trump, who currently faces four criminal cases that he casts  without evidence  as attempts by Mr. Biden to wrest the election from him, wielded the language of the justice system to suit his purposes.
A man in Washington State has pleaded guilty to federal charges stemming from several hoax calls he made to law enforcement agencies in which he falsely reported bombs, shootings and other threats that sometimes led police officers to enter victims homes with their weapons drawn, prosecutors said.

The man, Ashton Connor Garcia, 21, pleaded guilty to two counts of extortion and two counts of threats and hoaxes regarding explosives, federal prosecutors said on Thursday.

From June 2022 through March 2023, Mr. Garcia made 20 swatting calls to police in several states and Canada, according to court records.

Mr. Garcia, who described himself as a cyberterrorist, would often broadcast these calls on the social platform Discord to encourage others to watch and participate, according to the plea agreement.
While it varies by province, in many communities police budgets are debated by police boards, which then pass on their recommendations to city councils for final approval. In Toronto, the Council is looking at a proposal to raise police spending by 18.3 million Canadian dollars, to 1.35 billion dollars.

But in social media and at City Hall, the police service is pushing for the Council to adopt the police boards recommendation and add a further 12.6 million dollars to the increase. Chief Myron Demkiw said that not doing so would create unacceptable risk and imperil the services ability to ensure public safety, to offer community policing, and to proactively patrol the city.
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets across Germany on Holocaust Memorial Day on Saturday to demonstrate in support of democracy and against the rise of a far-right party, the Alternative for Germany, or AfD, which is on track to make political gains in state elections this year.

In towns and medium-sized cities like Dusseldorf, Kiel, Mannheim and Osnabruck, demonstrators held aloft signs that read: Theres no Alternative to Democracy, Kick out Nazis and Voting for the AfD is so 1933, a reference to the period in which the Nazis rose to power.

In Germany, Holocaust Memorial Day, which this year marks the 79th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp by the Soviet army, is associated with the pledge Never again. That vow has taken on a new resonance amid the Hamas-led Oct. 7 attack on Israel, a rise in antisemitic incidents in Germany, and the likelihood that a far-right party with extremist elements will gain further political power.

I always thought that our next generation would live even more openly, more tolerantly, without fear and concerns, said Dursiye Ayyildiz, who leads an organization that speaks out for migrants in Kiel and addressed the crowd there. However, I can see that right-wing ideas are unfortunately being passed on  and that worries me for the next generation, she said.
The derelict rail bridge stretches across a busy north London street, green foliage peeking out of the gaps between the beams overhead, where bright blue paint flakes from rusting steel.

Farther east, the railways grand Victorian-era arches span a small slice of park wedged between two streets, where tents belonging to homeless people, a discarded mattress and broken bottles are scattered about.

While the elevated train line and some of the areas it cuts through may look neglected now, if all goes according to plan, it will become the site of the Camden Highline, a planned public park that aims to turn this disused stretch of the city into a thriving green space.

Theyre all unloved bits of Camden, said Simon Pitkeathley, the chief executive of Camden Town Unlimited, the business improvement district behind the initiative, of the areas that will one day provide the ground-level entrances to the Highline.
Ireland's Eurovision 2024 entry will be selected on the Late Late Show tonight (Friday January 26).

A very special Late Late Show Eurosong will air this evening featuring six of Ireland's Eurovision hopefuls who will battle it out to represent their country in Malmo, Sweden in May at the 68th Eurovision Song Contest.

Viewers have the opportunity to cast their vote for their favourite song, with the winner decided by a combination of National Jury, International Jury and Public Vote.

This year's competing acts include Erica-Cody (Love Me Like I Do), AILSHA (Go Tobann), JyellowL (AKA Jean-Luc Uddoh) (Judas), Isabella Kearney (Let Me Be The Fire), Bambie Thug (Doomsday Blue), and Next in Line (Love Like Us).

The artists were selected from hundreds of entries received by RTE following a callout for submissions last year.

Host of The Late Late Show Eurosong Special, Patrick Kielty said, "I am really looking forward to hosting my first Late Late Eurosong party this Friday. Like so many people, Im part of the generation who cheered on Ireland when we became the high kings and queens of Eurovision.

"It would be amazing to think that one of our six acts this year might be able to go to Sweden and bring back the glory days. Heres to us picking a Eurovision winner on Friday night!"

Ireland now shares the record with Sweden for most Eurovision wins with a tally of seven victories each, with Ireland becoming the first country to win three times in a row in the 1990s.

The selected act will perform to a worldwide audience of over 160 million people in Sweden this May.

Watch the special at 9.35pm on RTE One and RTE Player.

Photography: Andres Poveda
2024 marks the 80th anniversary of an unusual crash landing involving Flight Officer Iris Dillon of the USA Air Force on an Offaly bog. The story of this man takes us from San Diego to the skies of World War II, to Colorado, with one significant stop at Clonsast bog near Bracknagh, Co. Offaly, between the towns of Edenderry and Portarlington.

The D-Day landings had just occurred a month beforehand, and it was just days before Anglo-American forces broke free of the Normandy beach heads to advance towards Paris, when Iris Dillon took off in his plane, named Shuu Shuu Baby, from Chalgrove airfield near Oxford in the UK on July 20, 1944. He flew for more than two hours after becoming lost over the Irish Sea, and when he sighted land he began to descend.

The 20-year-old pilot, who was on just his second mission, was unaware that he was about to fall onto Clonsast bog near the village of Bracknagh, Co Offaly. The incoming plane left local bog workers bemused, but Iris Dillon thought he was landing on a perfect piece of tarmac, only to catch up in the cleaned strip of bog and flip and partially bury his aircraft into the soft surface.

The pilot survived and called out anybody there? as the bog workers rushed to his aid. In a letter written by Iris Dillon to an Irish historian in the 1990s, the veteran recalled that day: I flew over water for more than two hours and when I sighted land, I applied power to the engines and climbed until I was above the overcast, he recounted.

I elected to extend the landing gear to make the landing when I spotted what I thought was a suitable surface. The plane rolled about 200 yards, then the nose gear collapsed, and the plane flipped ending upside down.

The grandfather of noted Edenderry historian and Maynooth University professor Ciaran Reilly, Paddy Farrell, was working on Clonsast that day. He recalled his grandfathers memories of the plane crash: My grandfather, Paddy Farrell, was working on the bog that day with several men and they saw the plane flying in very low and thought that it was going to land until they saw the propellers throwing up soil.

At this point the men realised the plane had crash landed as it flipped over on its back. Iris Dillon recalled in the 1990s that it would have been impossible for him to exit the plane without the assistance of the peat workers.

PICTURED: Irish Dillon during his time in the US Air Force

I was unable to exit the plane until some of the workers cleared some of the bog away, he said.

Paddy Farrell brought home a fragment of Iris Dillons aircrafts windscreen and the Reilly family have retained this piece of World War II history now for 80 years. The plane, of which there were 10,000 manufactured, was nicknamed the fork-tailed devil by the German Luftwaffe, while the Japanese dubbed it two planes, one pilot. Iris Dillons particular aircraft was furnished with 26 mission markings, meaning it had seen considerable action before its demise in Co Offaly that day.

Iris Dillon was treated like any other American pilot who found themselves stranded in Ireland during that time, and after Local Defence Force members acted as an unarmed guard to Mr Dillon into Portarlington, the San Diego man was transported to the Curragh camp.

According to official records recovered by historian Declan OConnor, Iris Dillon was provided with some stimulant and food before being interviewed and transferred to Baldonnell, where he was returned to Northern Ireland.

This was not the first time Offaly and the area around Edenderry had been caught up in World War II fighting. The town was reported to have been awoken from its sleep one night in 1941 as the Luftwaffe thundered overhead on its way to bomb Belfast. Another incident involved a single dog fight between RAF and Luftwaffe fighter jets in the sky directly above Edenderry while the Garda Sergeant of the day, a Sergeant Byrne, attempted to urge onlookers to go indoors.

Iris Dillon returned to active duty with the US Air Force and records suggest he was active again in the skies over France as soon as August 1944, just weeks after being dazed in an Offaly bog.

Iris Dillon ascended through the ranks of the Air Force and eventually retired as a Major in 1965. Mr Dillon, who was of Irish extraction, lived most of his life after service in Aurora, Colorado, where he died in 2010. Dillon had married his High School sweetheart at the age of 19 before he flew into the war ridden skies over Europe, and they were married for 55 years until his wifes death in 1999. Dillon had three children, four grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren in his lifetime, and he married for a second time to one Billie Ruth Davis, and they remained married for nine years until Daviss death in 2009.

PICTURED: Iris Dillon beside a plane like the one he crash landed on Clonsast bog in 1944

Iris Dillons official obituary bears the story of Clonsast bog, where his daughter Len recalled her father telling them about the day some Irishmen rescued him on a peat bog. In that same obituary it is documented that Iris Dillon enjoyed the outdoors, jogging ten miles a day for much of his life, as well as fishing and camping excursions that he liked to take with his family. His daughter laments her fathers life: One thing is for sure, we will miss him; his wit, subtle love, demonstrated guidance through actions and the momentum of family spirit.

Iris Dillon never returned to Offaly or Ireland after his retirement, but with this obituary, and his fascinating life, this county has been written into his history, while his story and the memory of World War II will be forever etched into the ground of Clonsast bog.
TEN years ago, in November 2014, the Equality Tribunal instructed NUIG (now University of Galway) to immediately promote Dr Micheline Sheehy Skeffington and pay her 70,000 in damages. The Tribunal had determined that Dr Sheehy Skeffington had clearly been discriminated against of the grounds of her gender.

Dr Sheehy Skeffington then donated the 70,000 to five other women academics who had also been passed over for promotion, thus kickstarting the Michelines Three Conditions Campaign. This four-year epic struggle, filled with twists and turns, aimed to secure promotions for the five deserving women, and ended with a triumphant and uplifting finale.

Micheline has joined journalist Rose Foley in documenting the entire campaign in the book Michelines Three Conditions: How We Fought Gender Inequality at Galways University and Won. It is a chronicle of Micheline's remarkable achievements and offers an invaluable blueprint for those seeking similar justice. Through extensive research, including interviews and archival materials, Rose Foley and Micheline Sheehy Skeffington have created a compelling narrative that candidly explores the highs and lows of their incredible journey.

On St Brigid's Day, Sheelagh na Gig bookshop in Cloughjordan, Tipperary is welcoming Micheline to talk about this historic campaign. After Micheline's talk, there will be time for questions and reflections on what has changed in the ten years since the Equality Tribunal verdict.

The event, hosted by Sheelagh na Gig bookshop, takes place in the Thomas MacDonagh Museum on Thursday, February 1st at 7.30pm. Michelines visit to the museum is exciting and significant as her grandparents, Hanna and Francis Sheehy Skeffington, were close friends of Thomas and Muriel MacDonagh. A reception and book signing follows in Sheelagh na Gig bookshop, Main Street, Cloughjordan.

Tickets are free but limited and can be booked on Eventbrite or directly with Sheelagh na Gig bookshop.
A Tullamore man has recalled a horror flight from Copenhagen, which attempted to land in Dublin twice and then Belfast before eventually landing in Liverpool almost 12 hours later, to the BBC News.

Cormac Kelly works in Copenhagen in Denmark and was due to return home to Ireland on Monday, but Storm Isha had other ideas, causing mayhem for the passengers on board the Ryanair flight.

He recounted that the flight from Copenhagen to Dublin was relatively smooth until they came close to Dublin when it "started to go downhill from there".

As they made their first attempt to land in Dublin, the plane "came back up in the sky," Cormac said.

The pilot said they were going to try again after a go-around, but the second attempt was unsuccessful and Cormac said, "it just wasn't going to work".

"The plane was going from side to side, it was very rough," he said.

The plane then landed in Manchester smoothly, with little incident. However, they were then held on the plane for 5 or 6 hours. "We weren't let off the plane, and nobody knew what was happening," he said.

Some passengers disembarked in Manchester, but people who stayed on were told they had the option of returning to Dublin.

"We were told that the weather had subsided in Dublin and it would be possible to land," he said.

This was about 5.30pm. Cormac's phone had died mid-flight, so he couldn't contact anyone, and then they were told they were diverting to Belfast. His parents were expecting him to land in Dublin but were tracking his flight path online.

"The captain said we couldn't even land in Dublin, the winds were way too strong, they were 60 to 70 miles an hour, he said. We tried to land in Belfast, and Belfast was a disaster - it was very scary. The tension in the air was so thick. Everybody was looking at each other. No one knew what was going to happen, as we tried to land," Cormac said.

"We got to about 1,500 feet and the pilot had to go back into the sky, because he couldn't land. It was just so dangerous," he said.

They were then heading for Newcastle, and then back down towards Liverpool. "What was meant to be a 45 minute to an hour flight ended up being three hours, back to Liverpool," Cormac said.

The BBC presenter remarked that it was a "most incredible story" and added: "I'm surprised you can remember and work out where you are" during the ordeal.

Cormac managed to book a hotel with the help of his parents, Seanchail and Marie, in Liverpool and had to rebook his own flight. There was confusion over luggage and hotel accommodation for everyone after the arrival in Manchester which the BBC presenter noted "was a whole new story". He hoped the young Offaly man eventually managed to get home.
KYODO NEWS - Jan 27, 2024 - 13:03 | Arts, All, World, Japan

The Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles has named its historic plaza after the first Asian American appointed to a Presidential Cabinet.

Commemorating the late Secretary Norman Mineta, the museum in Little Tokyo named the plaza "Norman Y. Mineta Democracy Plaza" and held a ceremony on Friday attended by his relatives, government officials and others.

Located in front of the museum, the plaza was once a site on which Americans of Japanese ancestry were forcibly removed from the area and incarcerated in camps for the duration of World War II.

"The plaza is hallowed ground, one of the ground zero points in the civil rights history of this country. The anchor that gives us a power of place, and the bridge that connects us to the past, the present, and future," said Ann Burroughs, JANM President and CEO.

Erika Moritsugu, the White House Deputy Assistant to the President, delivered a message from President Joe Biden that read, "Norman Mineta was one of the finest public servants in the history of our great nation, like few others, his light will forever endure through the storied legacy he left behind."

Born and raised in California, Mineta and his family were forcibly removed from their home in San Jose, California, and incarcerated along with 120,000 others of Japanese ancestry.

Mineta eventually returned and represented the city for over 20 years in the House of Representatives.

Among his many accomplishments as a public official, Mineta worked tirelessly to have Congress address the wartime internment of Japanese Americans.

Through his and many other people's efforts came the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, which provided reparations to Japanese Americans and acknowledged that they were wrongly imprisoned.

As a member of multiple Presidential Cabinets, Mineta served as commerce secretary for Bill Clinton from 2000 to 2001 and transportation secretary for George W. Bush from 2001 to 2006.

In 2006, Secretary Mineta received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian award. He died in 2022 aged 90.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said at the ceremony that it was symbolic and meaningful to attend and honor an American hero who fought for democracy and the preservation of history.

Related coverage:

U.S. author of World War II-related book urges youth to learn war history

English Hiroshima peace declaration book published amid nuke worries

U.S. records confirm 12 U.S. soldiers died from Hiroshima A-bomb
KYODO NEWS - Jan 27, 2024 - 11:45 | All, World

A U.S. federal court jury awarded $83.3 million in damages Friday to a columnist over defamatory comments made by former President Donald Trump when he was in office in 2019 in reference to the claim that he had sexually assaulted her in the 1990s.

The 77-year-old front-runner in the Republican presidential nomination race described the jury's decision as "absolutely ridiculous" and said he will appeal.

The columnist, Jean Carroll, claimed in a 2019 memoire and on various occasions that Trump raped her in a dressing room at a department store in New York in the mid-1990s.

Trump denied the allegation, saying Carroll was lying to sell her book.

Carroll's side demanded Trump pay at least $24 million in compensatory damages, saying he took advantage of his position as U.S. president to attack her character.

The jury on Friday awarded $18.3 million in compensation and $65 million in punitive damages.

Trump was ordered to pay $5 million in May last year in another civil suit that convicted him of sexually assaulting Carroll.

The former president is facing 91 criminal charges in four separate cases, including over the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.

Related coverage:

Trump surrenders at jail, becomes 1st ex-U.S. president to have mug shot

Trump hit with 4th indictment, this time in Georgia

Trump pleads not guilty to charges over bid to undo 2020 election
Laurent Fabius, president of the Constitutional Council and former French prime minister, speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Paris, France, Dec. 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

PARIS, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Since the establishment of diplomatic ties 60 years ago, France has been viewing China as an essential partner in resolving global challenges and both sides have committed to developing ties from a global perspective, former French Prime Minister Laurent Fabius has said.

Noting this year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between both countries, Fabius, now president of the Constitutional Council, recalled that France became the first major Western country to recognize the People's Republic of China in 1964.

"It was extremely audacious and positive, in 1964, for General de Gaulle's France to be the first major Western country to recognize China," he told Xinhua in an exclusive interview.

He expounded on three aspects of the special friendship between both countries.

First, France and China are both very attached to independence. "It's something key in the developing world."

Second, both countries are committed to multilateralism and peace. "We do not want a bloc policy, with the risks of conflicts that this entails."

Third, France and China are both great civilizations with very advanced technology, and both are permanent members of the UN Security Council.

The relationship has been deeply rooted in exchanges between the two peoples, Fabius said, reminiscing about his days in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin and the Nankai University in the city and his efforts in promoting the cooperation between France's Normandy and Tianjin, while he was president of the Agglomeration Community of Rouen-Elbeuf-Austreberthe from 2008-2012.

"There is no better way than for men and women to come together, to exchange ideas, for students to exchange ideas and that the work be done together, the cultural work, the economic work, the environmental work," he said.

During the years, despite differences on some issues, France and China have attached great importance to developing bilateral relation and cementing their friendship from a global perspective, he stressed.

He urged both sides to continue charting "a reasonable path, a path of modernization, a path of balance," and to keep in mind such key words as "cooperation, multilateralism, sustainable development."

Fabius chaired the 2015 UN Climate Change Conference (COP21), which established the framework for the Paris Agreement, the first universal agreement to fight climate change.

Calling for multilateral efforts against climate change, he warned that eight years on, the world isn't on track to meet its target of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees increase.

"You have seen the extreme heat, the rains, the famines, the damage of all kinds, the problems of pollution, health. This is an absolutely major point and we can only address multilaterally," said Fabius.

Optimistic about the future of Franco-Chinese relations, he said, "I come back to our starting point, in this dangerous world of ours, there must be powers of peace and sustainable development, and this must obviously be, beyond our differences, a major mission of China and France." 

Laurent Fabius, president of the Constitutional Council and former French prime minister, works in Paris, France, Dec. 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

The building of France's Constitutional Council is pictured in Paris, France, Dec. 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

Laurent Fabius, president of the Constitutional Council and former French prime minister, works in Paris, France, Dec. 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

Laurent Fabius, president of the Constitutional Council and former French prime minister, works in Paris, France, Dec. 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)
An employee assembles multi-wire sawing equipment at a workshop of Yantai Likai Numerical Control Technology Co., Ltd. in Yantai, east China's Shandong Province, Dec. 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Li An)

BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- China's major industrial firms saw their combined profits increase for a fifth straight month in December 2023, official data showed on Saturday.

The profits of major industrial firms with annual main business revenue of at least 20 million yuan (about 2.8 million U.S. dollars) increased by 16.8 percent year on year in December last year, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed.

In 2023, the profits of major industrial firms reached 7.69 trillion yuan, down 2.3 percent year on year, with the pace of decline narrowing by 2.1 percentage points from the first 11 months.

Power, heating, gas, and water production and supply sectors emerged as top performers last year, with combined profits recording a remarkable year-on-year increase of 54.7 percent. The surge contributed 3.1 percentage points to the country's overall growth in industrial profits.

The profits of the equipment manufacturing sector increased by 4.1 percent in 2023, 2.4 percentage points higher than the growth rate registered in the previous year.

Among the 41 industrial categories monitored by the bureau, 27 recorded growth in profits, according to the NBS.

Bolstered by the steady growth in fixed-asset investment, the raw material manufacturing sector saw significant improvements in profitability last year. The sector's profit decline narrowed by 17.8 percentage points in 2023 compared with the previous year.

The consumer goods manufacturing sector saw its profit decline shrink by 10 percentage points from the previous year, thanks to the implementation of various measures aimed at stimulating consumption, the NBS said.

Speaking about Saturday's data, NBS statistician Yu Weining noted that China's industrial profits maintained an overall trend of recovery in 2023. He added that efforts should be continued to expand domestic demand, build up market confidence, enhance the vitality of businesses, and expedite the establishment of a modern industrial system. 
In 2024, the Asian gambling market stands as a beacon of growth and diversity. Amidst a global economic rebound, this sector is witnessing unprecedented expansion, with unique regulatory landscapes shaping the future of gambling across various Asian countries.

In Slotegrator's comprehensive 2024 report on Asian gambling markets, we delve into the intricate landscapes of India and Singapore. Discover how regulatory shifts, cultural dynamics, and technological advancements shape these diverse markets, offering unique insights into their burgeoning gambling sectors.

The Asian Market: A Landscape of Growth and Opportunity

The Asian gambling market, known for its dynamic and enthusiastic stakeholders, is experiencing a strong recovery after the pandemic. According to the July 2023 report by ASEAN, the Asian economy is expected to grow by 5% in 2024, regaining its momentum. This revival is also visible in the online gambling sector, which is estimated to generate revenues of US $1.23 billion by 2024, according to Statista. Spotlight on Key Markets.

China: The Colossus with Constraints

Despite stringent legal restrictions, China continues to dominate the Asian gambling scene. Macau, often termed "the Las Vegas of Asia," primarily attracts high-rollers, with revenues expected to exceed $26.8 billion in 2024. Meanwhile, Hong Kong's Hong Kong Jockey Club maintains a gambling monopoly. However, the limitations in mainland China have fueled a rise in offshore online gambling, prompting regulatory responses.

Philippines: The Resilient Powerhouse

The Philippines stands out with its swift recovery post-COVID-19. PAGCOR forecasts a substantial increase in Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) from PHP 285.27 billion in 2023 to PHP 336 billion in 2024, underscoring the country's robust growth in the gaming sector.

Japan: The Emerging Giant

Japan, with its large economy and population, is making significant strides in the gambling industry. Japan's gambling industry is on the verge of a bright future with the recent legalization of integrated resorts and the establishment of the Japan Casino Regulatory Commission. These positive developments are expected to improve the overall gambling ecosystem in the country. Osaka plans to open its first casino resort by 2030, signaling a new era of gambling in Japan.These developments are expected to contribute to the growth of the industry and attract both local and international players to the Japanese market.

South Korea: Strict but Steady

South Korea maintains a rigid stance on gambling, with online gambling banned and land-based casinos primarily catering to foreigners. The legal framework is clear-cut, and transgressions face severe penalties. Despite these restrictions, the market continues to attract international interest.

India: A Dynamic and Expanding Gambling Frontier

In 2024, India's gambling market continues to be one of Asia's most dynamically evolving sectors, poised to become one of the world's largest markets with estimates projecting an annual value between $8-10 billion by 2028. This growth is fueled by a combination of increasing digital penetration, a burgeoning middle class, and a gradual shift in regulatory attitudes toward gambling.

Regulatory Evolution

Federal Oversight : In 2023, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) amended the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021. The objective of these changes was to regulate digital media and ensure that ethical practices are followed in the dissemination of information. These changes aimed to modify the current rules and regulations concerning intermediary liability and digital media ethics. The purpose of these modifications was to ensure that the guidelines and code remain relevant and effective in the rapidly evolving digital landscape. The new guidelines are intended to regulate and monitor digital intermediaries and online content to ensure that ethical practices and accountability are maintained in the digital media industry. The modifications made were quite significant, marking a decisive shift from state-centric to federal-level regulation.

: In 2023, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) amended the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021. The objective of these changes was to regulate digital media and ensure that ethical practices are followed in the dissemination of information. These changes aimed to modify the current rules and regulations concerning intermediary liability and digital media ethics. The purpose of these modifications was to ensure that the guidelines and code remain relevant and effective in the rapidly evolving digital landscape. The new guidelines are intended to regulate and monitor digital intermediaries and online content to ensure that ethical practices and accountability are maintained in the digital media industry. The modifications made were quite significant, marking a decisive shift from state-centric to federal-level regulation. Self-Regulatory Bodies : A novel framework emerged with the creation of self-regulatory bodies, comprising industry experts and representatives from various sectors, including education and mental health. These bodies are tasked with overseeing the operations of online gambling platforms, ensuring data and monetary security for players.

: A novel framework emerged with the creation of self-regulatory bodies, comprising industry experts and representatives from various sectors, including education and mental health. These bodies are tasked with overseeing the operations of online gambling platforms, ensuring data and monetary security for players. Online Gambling Categories : Online gambling is divided into two main categories as per the regulations. The first category includes online games that do not involve real money and are considered permissible. The second category comprises online real-money games that must undergo verification by the self-regulatory body and are considered acceptable. It is important to note that the self-regulatory body ensures the fairness and safety of online gambling activities.

: Online gambling is divided into two main categories as per the regulations. The first category includes online games that do not involve real money and are considered permissible. The second category comprises online real-money games that must undergo verification by the self-regulatory body and are considered acceptable. It is important to note that the self-regulatory body ensures the fairness and safety of online gambling activities. Taxation Framework: The introduction of a flat 28% Goods and Services Taxes (GST) on online gambling, casinos, and horse race betting in 2023 marked a significant move towards a uniform tax structure across the gambling sector.

Market Trends and Player Behavior

Rapid Digital Adoption : In recent years, India has experienced a rapid expansion in its digital infrastructure, paving the way for the emergence of numerous online gambling platforms. In recent years, online betting and gaming platforms have gained significant popularity in India. These platforms offer Indian users many options and experiences to indulge in, making it a convenient and exciting way to engage in betting and gaming activities. With the ease of access and wide range of options available, it's no surprise that more and more Indians are turning to online platforms for their betting and gaming needs.

: In recent years, India has experienced a rapid expansion in its digital infrastructure, paving the way for the emergence of numerous online gambling platforms. In recent years, online betting and gaming platforms have gained significant popularity in India. These platforms offer Indian users many options and experiences to indulge in, making it a convenient and exciting way to engage in betting and gaming activities. With the ease of access and wide range of options available, it's no surprise that more and more Indians are turning to online platforms for their betting and gaming needs. Cultural Factors : Gambling, deeply rooted in social and cultural practices, sees heightened activity during festivals like Diwali, reflecting a cultural normalization of betting activities.

: Gambling, deeply rooted in social and cultural practices, sees heightened activity during festivals like Diwali, reflecting a cultural normalization of betting activities. Youth Demographic: A young, tech-savvy population drives the demand for innovative and engaging gambling experiences.

Singapore: The Regulated Haven of Gambling

Singapore's gambling market in 2024 remains a study in controlled liberalization. The government's approach carefully balances allowing limited gambling opportunities and implementing stringent regulations to mitigate social risks.

Regulatory Landscape

Limited Casino Licenses : Marina Bay Sands Casino and Resorts World Sentosa Casino are restricted with the number of licenses they hold in Singapore. This strategy aims to regulate the impact on society while maximizing the economic advantages.

: Marina Bay Sands Casino and Resorts World Sentosa Casino are restricted with the number of licenses they hold in Singapore. This strategy aims to regulate the impact on society while maximizing the economic advantages. Entry Levies : It is worth noting that the local casinos may require an entry fee that is associated with the vehicle's license plate number. This measure may be seen as a step towards responsible gambling practices, as it aims to discourage problem gambling by imposing a certain level of deterrence.

: It is worth noting that the local casinos may require an entry fee that is associated with the vehicle's license plate number. This measure may be seen as a step towards responsible gambling practices, as it aims to discourage problem gambling by imposing a certain level of deterrence. Public Operator Dominance: Online gambling is restricted mainly to state-run entities like Singapore Pools and the Singapore Turf Club, with these organizations monopolizing lottery-type games and horse racing betting.

Online Gambling and Enforcement

Prohibition and Penalties : Despite banning private online gambling platforms, Singaporeans often use VPNs to gamble at foreign casino operators sites. This practice underscores the challenge of enforcing online gambling restrictions in the digital age.

: Despite banning private online gambling platforms, Singaporeans often use VPNs to gamble at foreign casino operators sites. This practice underscores the challenge of enforcing online gambling restrictions in the digital age. Stringent Penalties: The legal framework imposes heavy fines and prison sentences for illegal gambling activities, reflecting the government's firm stance against unregulated gambling.

Future Prospects and Challenges

Growing Tourism and Integrated Resorts : The limited but high-quality casino offerings continue to attract tourists, contributing significantly to Singapore's strong economy.

: The limited but high-quality casino offerings continue to attract tourists, contributing significantly to Singapore's strong economy. Debate over Regulations: Discussions continue about the balance between economic benefits and social risks, particularly in the context of online gambling and the effectiveness of existing regulatory measures.

Vietnam and Malaysia: The DiveIndia'saths

Vietnam, which once wholly banned gambling, is gradually opening up with regulations allowing foreign passport holders in casinos and a pilot project for local participation. Contrastingly, Malaysia, primarily an Islamic nation, maintains a strict prohibition on gambling, with limited exceptions.

The Role of Slotegrator in the Asian Market

Slotegrator, since its inception in 2012, has been pivotal in shaping the iGaming industry. SpeSingapore'sn software development and supporting online casino platforms integrate game content and payment systems, providing comprehensive solutions to operators. Slotegrator's expertise extends to consulting services for gambling license acquisition and business incorporation, making it an indispensable ally in navigating the complex Asian gambling market.

Read more about Slotegrator's global expansion in this extended report.

Navigating the Future

The Asian gambling market is in a state of constant evolution, offering both challenges and opportunities. Due to the varying regulations and market dynamics in countries such as China, the Philippines, Japan, South Korea, India, Singapore, Vietnam, and Malaysia, the industry is multifaceted in nature. Stakeholders and investors must remain informed and adaptable to take advantage of this growth and navigate the inherent regulatory complexities in these promising markets.

Slotegrator's iGaming Report for 2024: Predictions and Trends for a Dynamic Industry.

Slotegrator, a well-known provider of software and business solutions in the iGaming industry, has recently published an informative report highlighting the trends in iGaming that are expected to emerge by 2024. The report intends to assist operators and B2B service providers by offering insights from a survey of online casino operators and gaming content developers. This survey provides a valuable glimpse into the future of the gambling market.
I recently traveled home to America for three weeks to visit with family and friends. I very much missed and enjoyed being home, especially in the fall and at Christmas time with all of the comforts of family, friends, food, familiar places, sights, and sounds. But after six years of living in the European Union, and gaining some valuable insight and outside perspective, it's been heartbreaking to witness the metamorphosis that we have undergone as a people and as a nation.

On January 21, 2017, in New York City, a group of my friends and I met at a restaurant a few blocks northeast of Grand Central Terminal. The air was filled with a charged electric energy. Millions of other women who joined us all around the country were as determined and pissed off as we were. It was palpable and it felt like the beginning of a genuine movement of, by, and for the people. The signs were everywhere - literally, and figuratively. We were not going away quietly. We were taking action and making ourselves seen and heard. And we were resolute.

Fast forward seven years and what I see and feel everywhere from nearly everyone in America now is exactly the opposite of that day at that period, not too long ago. The energy and passion? Gone. Informed debates and discussions? Less likely. Resolve toward a better future? Meh. Protest? Nope. In a climate where an open, rapidly growing threat of an authoritarian or even neofascist takeover from the Republican Party in America is evident, it has been frightening to witness the current, general response, which seems like high-stakes apathy. When I've been home more recently, I feel like I am the only one who notices this massive elephant in the room.

Has the barrage against democracy by the wealthy and powerful created a learned helplessness? Have we been intimidated into complacency? Have we been woefully uninformed of the true nature, or the stakes involved in the threat? After my many conversations with fellow citizens, any scan of social media on any single day, listening to US radio shows, or regularly reading what comes out of the American press, sadly, it may well be all of the above.

A recent New York Times digital cover caught my eye from December 21, 2023, and is just one small example indicative of where we are in this present moment.

The right side top story: "Just How Rich Were the McCallisters in 'Home Alone'?" In the sub-title: "We asked the Federal Reserve for answers". Several stories down the page, and in much smaller print, read: "Federal prosecutors were given access to phone messages of a G.O.P. lawmaker who discussed overturning the 2020 election." Really? Are we supposed to care more about the wealth of a fictional family, and not so much about audio proof of a real coup attempt on our country by the Republican half of our political system? Why wasn't this a huge top story? This is one of our country's leading legacy newspapers after all.

Unfortunately, journalism in America has been failing miserably to report the full and honest truth about what's happening around us. Why else would so many hard-working Americans consistently vote against their own best interests in favor of what benefits only the very wealthy? Deficiency to outright propaganda in the American media landscape, has made too many people want to lump all Democrats and Republicans in the same corrupt pile or just tune out altogether. The result is groupthink confusion, disengagement, and apathy.

The United States is currently ranked 45th in the world for press freedom (Ireland, where I live now, is ranked 2nd). From the outside looking in at various media reporting, or lack thereof, it is no surprise. The guardrails on media companies, once put in place to protect the public, have since been removed. If eyeballs, ratings, and profits are all that matter to a shrinking news media owned by a small billionaire class, truth and democracy will inevitably suffer. Public perceptions of reality will continue to become even more deeply skewed and warped.

Sabrina Haake stated it perfectly in a brilliant recent article on the subject for Raw Story:

"-- democracy depends for its survival on an informed public. Addictive anger-tainment is the opposite of information, and it is ripping us apart."

There is another area that I find extremely alarming for the future of our democracy. That is the intentional creation of an atmosphere of paranoia, fear, and despair to silence dissent. Authoritarians know that a despondent populace is much easier to manipulate and control than an empowered one.

I could make a very long list of successful, ongoing efforts by the far right to target, and take down progress, and remake our policies, laws, and institutions from public education and universities to the court system and even our own constitution. Racial equality, voting rights, women's and LGBTQ rights, history itself, and much more have also been in their crosshairs. As a woman of color, it's been downright frightening to experience. There has been some good reporting on it that I will leave to the experts, but this is just a piece of an insidious long-game effort that we should all be well aware of.

The other piece of it is well-funded campaigns to intimidate the media, fake ("pink slime") publications to spread propaganda and disinformation, targeted campaigns of bullying, sophisticated troll operations, threats of violence by white supremacist and extremist groups, swatting, social media algorithms boosting hate and distortions. There has also been an ongoing normalization of violence, easy access to weapons of war, and mass gun deaths in our country that do not exist in other industrialized nations. With that, there is open spouting of "second amendment solutions" by right-wing extremists. All of these tactics have the intended consequence of coercion, fear, and intimidation of the general public, but in particular those of us in marginalized groups.

The net objective is for the powerful to maintain their grip on power and privilege at all costs, as they see it begin to slip away. This includes maintaining their massive tax breaks, preserving racial order, and gender hierarchies, controlling the freedom of speech, critical thinking, and education, and manipulating the workings of government and the courts to benefit themselves. To inflict pain, to control. They see any passion and resolve for democracy as a threat to their power.

Next Page 1 | 2

(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator

When US President Joe Biden was elected in 2020, he had first considered appointing William J. Burns as Secretary of State, but eventually chose Antony Blinken. Burns was later tapped to be the Director of the CIA. Sources close to Biden say that should Biden be re-elected in 2024, he may replace Blinken with Burns.

Burns left a diplomatic career in 2014 after 32 years, and took the position of president at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace before becoming the head of the CIA in 2021. Last month, Zaha Hassan wrote on their website, "For Palestinians, the 'Day After' Starts with a Plan for Ending Israel's Occupation".

The mission of Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is "reducing global conflict, and promoting active international engagement between the United States and countries around the world." At the CIA, Burns does not make US policy, but at the State Department Blinken does.

Blinken told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that his visit to Israel was "not just as secretary of state, but also a Jew".

Blinken's statement, as an American-born official representing the government of the United States as Secretary of State in a secular government and society, is repugnant, unacceptable and undiplomatic.

Blinken arrived in Israel on an US government plane, fuel by gasoline that the US tax-payers paid for. He did not go to Israel as a private citizen on vacation.

Blinken does not represent the American people in the current Israeli war on Gaza. He represents the interests of Israel. He has been called an "Israeli agent" anonymously behind his back in diplomatic circles in Washington, DC and dozens of staffers have sent him letters of protest against his handling of the Gaza war.

A diplomat can only work representing one country at a time. Blinken is on the US government payroll, but also working for the benefit of Israel, making him a double-agent.

Biden won 2020 in part because he appealed to the younger voters. Now, the younger voters are disgusted with Biden's handling of the genocide in Gaza. If Biden loses in November, it could be in part because of the Israeli attack on the people of Gaza, in an act of revenge for the horrific attack on the Israel by Hamas on October 7, in which 1,300 died, and 200 were taken as hostages to Gaza.

Israel receives its weapons, humanitarian supplies and cash benefits from the US, paid for by the American taxpayers. In good times, the taxpayers don't seem to mind, but when they see images out of Gaza showing the wholesale destruction of homes, infrastructure, and the accompanying slaughter of over 23,000 people, most of which are women and children, they want it to stop immediately.

Americans are independent thinkers, value hard work and struggle, and have an entrenched sympathy for the under-dog. The US mainstream media has covered the plight of the Palestinian civilians suffering, but they also cover the domestic election, which prevents the American people from being over-whelmed by the news and videos coming out of Gaza. The closest any American media gets to the story is their journalists reporting from Tel Aviv, which means the audience will hear the Israeli spin on the story.

In the age of internet, where young people, and increasingly middle-aged people, are spending a great deal of time on their mobile phone, the viewers are see the images and reports coming out of Gaza directly. Americans have an innate hatred of injustice, and have a growing distrust in their own government.

If the current situation was made into a Hollywood movie, with an actor like George Clooney playing the US president, the actor would forcefully tell the Israeli Prime Minister to stop the wholesale bombing of civilians in Palestine, or face being cut off from US funds and weapons. The actor would make a speech to the American people, saying that a fundamental American value is human rights, the value of every life, and the hope of freedom for all peoples, everywhere, even in Palestine. But, we are not in Hollywood.

If freedom and human rights are an American value, then why doesn't Biden call for a ceasefire in Gaza? He can't because it is an election year. AIPAC is the Israel lobby that exerts control on the US government and Congress. Every politician knows that if you come out against Israel on any issue, you face being targeted by AIPAC. The lobby will make your re-election impossible, and their attack can ruin careers, and even families.

Reported by Medium recently, anonymous members of Biden's campaign staff demanded in a letter that Biden call for a ceasefire, citing concerns for the election outcome.

Next Page 1 | 2

(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
A federal judge on Friday ordered The Oregonian/OregonLive not to publish information from documents it obtained last week from an attorney in a high-profile sex discrimination lawsuit against Nike and told the news organization to return or destroy the records.

The attorney, Laura Salerno Owens, who represents the plaintiffs in the case, sent a file of documents to a news reporter on Jan. 19. She subsequently asked The Oregonian/OregonLive to return them and the news organization declined.

She filed a sealed motion late Thursday with the court, asking in the title of the motion that inadvertently disclosed documents be returned. The Oregonian/OregonLive was not provided a copy of the motion.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Jolie A. Russos Friday order said The Oregonian/OregonLive must return the documents, agree not to disseminate that information in any way; and to destroy any copies in its possession.

The Oregonian/OregonLive plans to immediately appeal the order.

Prior restraint by government goes against every principle of the free press in this country, said Therese Bottomly, the editor and vice president of content for The Oregonian/OregonLive. This is highly unusual, and we will defend our First Amendment rights in court.

The sexual discrimination lawsuit, filed in 2018, claims Nikes workplace is hostile towards and devalues women and the company underpaid female corporate workers. Its one of the most visible pieces of corporate #MeToo litigation.

The newsroom was working on a separate article based on independent reporting when it received the documents.

The Oregonian/OregonLive, as part of a media coalition, had previously intervened in the lawsuit in an effort to get certain legal records unsealed.

In the order posted Friday on the electronic docket, Russo said the documents provided to The Oregonian/OregonLive were subject to the cases protective order, which withholds some of the legal documents from public view.

The Oregonian/OregonLives lawyers have not been provided a copy of the motion seeking return of the documents and were not given notice of any hearing or arguments related to the motion before Russos order was posted.

Salerno Owens, of the Portland law firm Markowitz Herbold, declined to comment. Nike could not immediately be reached for comment.

Among the thousands of pages of documents already made public in the case are a handful of responses to an informal internal survey, circulated in late 2017 and 2018, that repeatedly describe Nike as a boys club and allege corporate bullying, fear of retaliation and a lack of faith in Nikes human resources efforts.

A five-page summary of the survey responses, obtained separately by The Oregonian/OregonLive, describes common themes cited by employees, including allegations of workplace harassment and sex-based discrimination. Survey respondents also noted fears of retaliation and complained about what they considered the companys minimal efforts to address the problems, according to the summary.

The responses were given to Nikes senior leadership in early 2018 and set off a series of changes at the company, including executive departures and an admission from then-CEO Mark Parker in March 2018 that the company had become aware of reports of behavior occurring within our organization that do not reflect our core values of inclusivity, respect and empowerment.

In court records, Nike previously said it hired an outside law firm to investigate claims in the surveys, but it has not released its findings. It did not turn the investigation over in discovery in the lawsuit after successfully arguing it was protected by attorney-client privilege.

The Oregonian/OregonLive, Business Insider and the Portland Business Journal intervened in the lawsuit in April 2022 and argued for the public interest in unsealing more records in the case. Many documents associated with the case were withheld from the public record, or partially redacted, under a protective order, a common legal mechanism in lawsuits that include sensitive information, such as complaints filed with human resources.

In September 2022, a judge ruled in favor of the news outlets. Roughly 5,000 pages of documents were unsealed in late 2022, including 10 of the surveys.

In August 2023, the news outlets went back to court to challenge a handful of remaining redactions in documents that have been made public, again arguing for the public interest in the release of the information, including names of executives who were subjects of internal complaints.

Nike has argued against the release of additional information, arguing it would do little more than embarrass and shame people.

Russo has not found that argument convincing, siding with the news outlets.

The mere fact that the production of records may lead to a litigants embarrassment, incrimination, or exposure to further litigation will not, without more, compel the court to seal its records, Russo wrote in October.

After U.S. District Judge Marco Hernandez in January affirmed Russos ruling, Nike appealed the decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the records remain under seal.

Late Friday, Nike asked the Ninth Circuit for a 90-day delay, arguing the inadvertent disclosure needed to first be resolved in district court.

Do you have information about Nike to share? Get in touch with an Oregonian/OregonLive reporter.

 Matthew Kish, mkish@oregonian.com
Portland police responded to a missing person report Friday morning in the Lents neighborhood and found the man dead inside a home.

Officers arrived at the 9300 block of Southeast Sun Crest Drive at about 8:45 a.m. and began looking for the man. When they learned he might be inside the locked home, they forced entry and found the man dead.
A 17-year-old student was sexually assaulted by another student during a study abroad program in Costa Rica in fall 2021, but the Verto Education-run program failed to safeguard the teen and then largely left her on her own to navigate the aftermath in a foreign country, a lawsuit alleges.

The suit was filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court against Verto Education Inc., a company that was originally incorporated in Oregon in late 2019 and operates the study abroad program for first-year college students. The company was later dissolved as an Oregon corporation and is now based in Colorado.
Last February, the team at Toyshop Ramen was prepping for its grand opening just as snow began falling outside. By nights end, the Northeast Portland bar had sold 120 bowls of ramen, and the city had recorded its second snowiest day since 1943.

But after opening during last years big winter storm, Toyshop couldnt make it through this years. The bar held its final day of service on Sunday.
TEHRAN, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Nine non-Iranian nationals were killed Saturday in Iran's southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan by unidentified armed individuals, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported.

The armed individuals killed the foreign nationals in a house in Saravan County in the early hours of Saturday, Mehr quoted informed people as saying.

According to Mehr, no group or individual has so far claimed responsibility for the incident.

Mehr said it was following up on the incident to obtain further information. 
Actors of ethnic minorities offer wine to railway constructors on the train No. 5640 in southwest China's Guizhou Province, Jan. 26, 2024. A "village gala" was held on the train No. 5640 running on the Shanghai-Kunming railway on Friday, during which folk customs and specialty food of Miao and Dong ethnic groups were displayed for passengers along the way.

The pair of "slow trains" No. 5640 and No. 5639 run in Guizhou Province between Yuping Dong Autonomous County of Tongren City and Guizhou's capital Guiyang City. The trains pass through several townships in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, connecting more than 100 ethnic minority villages along the 337-km route.

Temporary fairs are also held aboard the trains where passengers are able to purchase goods in preparation for the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

Passengers are pictured on the train No. 5640 in southwest China's Guizhou Province, Jan. 26, 2024. A "village gala" was held on the train No. 5640 running on the Shanghai-Kunming railway on Friday, during which folk customs and specialty food of Miao and Dong ethnic groups were displayed for passengers along the way.

The pair of "slow trains" No. 5640 and No. 5639 run in Guizhou Province between Yuping Dong Autonomous County of Tongren City and Guizhou's capital Guiyang City. The trains pass through several townships in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, connecting more than 100 ethnic minority villages along the 337-km route.

Temporary fairs are also held aboard the trains where passengers are able to purchase goods in preparation for the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

Actors of ethnic minorities chat on the train No. 5640 in southwest China's Guizhou Province, Jan. 26, 2024. A "village gala" was held on the train No. 5640 running on the Shanghai-Kunming railway on Friday, during which folk customs and specialty food of Miao and Dong ethnic groups were displayed for passengers along the way.

The pair of "slow trains" No. 5640 and No. 5639 run in Guizhou Province between Yuping Dong Autonomous County of Tongren City and Guizhou's capital Guiyang City. The trains pass through several townships in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, connecting more than 100 ethnic minority villages along the 337-km route.

Temporary fairs are also held aboard the trains where passengers are able to purchase goods in preparation for the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

Actors of ethnic minorities prepare to perform on the train No. 5640 in southwest China's Guizhou Province, Jan. 26, 2024. A "village gala" was held on the train No. 5640 running on the Shanghai-Kunming railway on Friday, during which folk customs and specialty food of Miao and Dong ethnic groups were displayed for passengers along the way.

The pair of "slow trains" No. 5640 and No. 5639 run in Guizhou Province between Yuping Dong Autonomous County of Tongren City and Guizhou's capital Guiyang City. The trains pass through several townships in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, connecting more than 100 ethnic minority villages along the 337-km route.

Temporary fairs are also held aboard the trains where passengers are able to purchase goods in preparation for the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

An actor of ethnic minorities prepares to perform on the train No. 5640 in southwest China's Guizhou Province, Jan. 26, 2024. A "village gala" was held on the train No. 5640 running on the Shanghai-Kunming railway on Friday, during which folk customs and specialty food of Miao and Dong ethnic groups were displayed for passengers along the way.

The pair of "slow trains" No. 5640 and No. 5639 run in Guizhou Province between Yuping Dong Autonomous County of Tongren City and Guizhou's capital Guiyang City. The trains pass through several townships in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, connecting more than 100 ethnic minority villages along the 337-km route.

Temporary fairs are also held aboard the trains where passengers are able to purchase goods in preparation for the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

Actors of ethnic minorities perform on the train No. 5640 in southwest China's Guizhou Province, Jan. 26, 2024. A "village gala" was held on the train No. 5640 running on the Shanghai-Kunming railway on Friday, during which folk customs and specialty food of Miao and Dong ethnic groups were displayed for passengers along the way.

The pair of "slow trains" No. 5640 and No. 5639 run in Guizhou Province between Yuping Dong Autonomous County of Tongren City and Guizhou's capital Guiyang City. The trains pass through several townships in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, connecting more than 100 ethnic minority villages along the 337-km route.

Temporary fairs are also held aboard the trains where passengers are able to purchase goods in preparation for the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

Villagers with goods for sale wait to board the train No. 5640 at Liugeji Railway Station along the Shanghai-Kunming Railway in southwest China's Guizhou Province, Jan. 26, 2024. A "village gala" was held on the train No. 5640 running on the Shanghai-Kunming railway on Friday, during which folk customs and specialty food of Miao and Dong ethnic groups were displayed for passengers along the way.

The pair of "slow trains" No. 5640 and No. 5639 run in Guizhou Province between Yuping Dong Autonomous County of Tongren City and Guizhou's capital Guiyang City. The trains pass through several townships in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, connecting more than 100 ethnic minority villages along the 337-km route.

Temporary fairs are also held aboard the trains where passengers are able to purchase goods in preparation for the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

Villagers with goods for sale wait for the train No. 5640 at Liugeji Railway Station along the Shanghai-Kunming Railway in southwest China's Guizhou Province, Jan. 26, 2024. A "village gala" was held on the train No. 5640 running on the Shanghai-Kunming railway on Friday, during which folk customs and specialty food of Miao and Dong ethnic groups were displayed for passengers along the way.

The pair of "slow trains" No. 5640 and No. 5639 run in Guizhou Province between Yuping Dong Autonomous County of Tongren City and Guizhou's capital Guiyang City. The trains pass through several townships in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, connecting more than 100 ethnic minority villages along the 337-km route.

Temporary fairs are also held aboard the trains where passengers are able to purchase goods in preparation for the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

Actors of ethnic minorities perform on the train No. 5640 in southwest China's Guizhou Province, Jan. 26, 2024. A "village gala" was held on the train No. 5640 running on the Shanghai-Kunming railway on Friday, during which folk customs and specialty food of Miao and Dong ethnic groups were displayed for passengers along the way.

The pair of "slow trains" No. 5640 and No. 5639 run in Guizhou Province between Yuping Dong Autonomous County of Tongren City and Guizhou's capital Guiyang City. The trains pass through several townships in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, connecting more than 100 ethnic minority villages along the 337-km route.

Temporary fairs are also held aboard the trains where passengers are able to purchase goods in preparation for the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

Actors of ethnic minorities perform on the train No. 5640 in southwest China's Guizhou Province, Jan. 26, 2024. A "village gala" was held on the train No. 5640 running on the Shanghai-Kunming railway on Friday, during which folk customs and specialty food of Miao and Dong ethnic groups were displayed for passengers along the way.

The pair of "slow trains" No. 5640 and No. 5639 run in Guizhou Province between Yuping Dong Autonomous County of Tongren City and Guizhou's capital Guiyang City. The trains pass through several townships in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, connecting more than 100 ethnic minority villages along the 337-km route.

Temporary fairs are also held aboard the trains where passengers are able to purchase goods in preparation for the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

Villagers carrying vegetables for sale prepare to board the train No. 5640 at Liugeji Railway Station along the Shanghai-Kunming Railway in southwest China's Guizhou Province, Jan. 26, 2024. A "village gala" was held on the train No. 5640 running on the Shanghai-Kunming railway on Friday, during which folk customs and specialty food of Miao and Dong ethnic groups were displayed for passengers along the way.

The pair of "slow trains" No. 5640 and No. 5639 run in Guizhou Province between Yuping Dong Autonomous County of Tongren City and Guizhou's capital Guiyang City. The trains pass through several townships in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, connecting more than 100 ethnic minority villages along the 337-km route.

Temporary fairs are also held aboard the trains where passengers are able to purchase goods in preparation for the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

The train No. 5640 arrives at Zhenyuan Railway Station along the Shanghai-Kunming Railway in southwest China's Guizhou Province, Jan. 26, 2024. A "village gala" was held on the train No. 5640 running on the Shanghai-Kunming railway on Friday, during which folk customs and specialty food of Miao and Dong ethnic groups were displayed for passengers along the way.

The pair of "slow trains" No. 5640 and No. 5639 run in Guizhou Province between Yuping Dong Autonomous County of Tongren City and Guizhou's capital Guiyang City. The trains pass through several townships in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, connecting more than 100 ethnic minority villages along the 337-km route.

Temporary fairs are also held aboard the trains where passengers are able to purchase goods in preparation for the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 26, 2024 shows the train No. 5640 arriving at Liugeji Railway Station along the Shanghai-Kunming Railway in southwest China's Guizhou Province. A "village gala" was held on the train No. 5640 running on the Shanghai-Kunming railway on Friday, during which folk customs and specialty food of Miao and Dong ethnic groups were displayed for passengers along the way.

The pair of "slow trains" No. 5640 and No. 5639 run in Guizhou Province between Yuping Dong Autonomous County of Tongren City and Guizhou's capital Guiyang City. The trains pass through several townships in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, connecting more than 100 ethnic minority villages along the 337-km route.

Temporary fairs are also held aboard the trains where passengers are able to purchase goods in preparation for the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

A villager carrying vegetables prepares to sell them aboard the train No. 5640 at Liugeji Railway Station along the Shanghai-Kunming Railway in southwest China's Guizhou Province, Jan. 26, 2024. A "village gala" was held on the train No. 5640 running on the Shanghai-Kunming railway on Friday, during which folk customs and specialty food of Miao and Dong ethnic groups were displayed for passengers along the way.

The pair of "slow trains" No. 5640 and No. 5639 run in Guizhou Province between Yuping Dong Autonomous County of Tongren City and Guizhou's capital Guiyang City. The trains pass through several townships in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, connecting more than 100 ethnic minority villages along the 337-km route.

Temporary fairs are also held aboard the trains where passengers are able to purchase goods in preparation for the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

Villagers carrying goods for sale board the train No. 5640 at Liugeji Railway Station along the Shanghai-Kunming Railway in southwest China's Guizhou Province, Jan. 26, 2024. A "village gala" was held on the train No. 5640 running on the Shanghai-Kunming railway on Friday, during which folk customs and specialty food of Miao and Dong ethnic groups were displayed for passengers along the way.

The pair of "slow trains" No. 5640 and No. 5639 run in Guizhou Province between Yuping Dong Autonomous County of Tongren City and Guizhou's capital Guiyang City. The trains pass through several townships in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, connecting more than 100 ethnic minority villages along the 337-km route.

Temporary fairs are also held aboard the trains where passengers are able to purchase goods in preparation for the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (PANA) - Ethiopia's longest serving Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen quit three positions, including the post of Third Vice Chairmanship of the ruling Prosperity Party on Saturday, the local media reported
Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - As the risk of famine grows, and more people are exposed to deadly disease outbreaks, a fundamental step change in the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza is urgently needed, United Nations agencies warned Saturday
Photo: (Photo : CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)

Tahoka Elementary School classes were canceled after a school staff discovered a potentially threatening note on the campus premises.

Tahoka Elementary School incident

On a brilliant Monday afternoon, Tahoka Independent School District implemented a lockdown in response to an incident near the school, as seen in a social media update.

The lockdown, linked as a safety precaution, was finished shortly before 5:00 p.m., with Tahoka High School guaranteeing the safety of learners during the temporary measure.

Tahoka ISD is actively working on the situation, giving priority on the safety of students and staff. As a precautionary measure, classes were called off for the day, parents were informed to pick up their children.

A school security footage recognized the 13-year-old girl as the suspect of the incident. The teenager was arrested for making a threat involving a firearm, which is considered a felony charge.

School Shooting Threat Calls for Investigation

A minor was taken into custody by the law enforcement for allegedly writing a threatening note targeting Tahoka schools. This led to the cancellation of classes for a day by the Tahoka Independent School District.

The Tahoka Police Department released a statement confirming the apprehension of a juvenile female in connection with the incident.

The district is fully aware of the threat around its premises and assured everyone in social media posts that every precautionary measure is being taken into account for the safety of the students and its staff.

The decision to cancel classes was made after staff discovered a potentially threatening note at Tahoka Elementary School,. This discovery has promped a notification to the police. The specific details of the threat against the school district were not immediately disclosed

Read Also: Teenager Targets Young Boy with Anti-Semitic Threat at NYC Playground

During the investigation, the 13-year-old girl emerged as a suspect and was later arrested for making a threat against the school. The identity of the girl was revealed through a school security video footage.

Being the main suspect, she is now facing charges of threatening or exhibiting a firearm, a felony according to officials.

The Tahoka Police Department received support from the Lynn County Sheriff's Office, a Tahoka ISD officer, and the Texas Department of Public Safety, who are assisting in the investigation.

Similar Cases of School Shooting Threats

Similarly, a girl in Georgetown County, South Carolina also faces criminal charges after expressing a desire to bring a gun to school and harm fellow students. She was identified as a 10-year-old child.

The law enforcement found secured weapons at her home during a search. The child was charged with student threats and will also undergo disciplinary action from the local school district.

Another incident in the same county involved an 11-year-old girl making threats, prompting a search of her home, although no weapons were found. The school continued its normal operation.

These incidents contribute to a broader pattern of children facing charges for making threats against classmates or school staff across different regions, including a 14-year-old in Virginia arrested for social media threats against his school.

Related Article: 4-Year-Old Fatally Shot in Front of Parents in California Road Rage Tragedy
Photo: (Photo : Hugh Hastings / Getty Images)

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has been one of the threats to children's and vulnerable adults's hospitalization across the country.

After numerous years of developing a vaccine against it, the breakthrough RSV vaccine, both for infants and adults, has been approved and is already rolling out to the public to those who wish protection.

However, doctors across America have been experiencing mixed reactions from their parents, displaying vaccine hesitancy amidst the present supply chain challenges.

Breakthrough RSV Vaccines for Infants and Seniors

Following decades of relentless efforts, RSV vaccines are now accessible for adults aged 60 and older, alongside pregnant individuals between 32 and 36 weeks gestation.

Simultaneously, an injectable monoclonal antibody shot designed to shield infants aged 8 months and younger, along with high-risk children under 24 months, has entered the market.

These advancements have garnered anticipation within the medical community, fostering the belief that they hold the potential to revolutionize RSV prevention.

Despite the optimistic outlook, doctors nationwide report varied responses from their patients.

Infant immunization and elderly vaccination from RSV have been hampered with supply chain problems. At the same time, some parents and adults are expressing their doubts about the protection the vaccine can provide.

A professor of pediatric infectious diseases at the University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children's Hospital, Dr. Allison Bartlett, expressed that there are disappointing numbers of families choosing to refuse infant immunization for RSV.

This is especially saddening knowing the efficacy and protection the vaccine can give, knowing that most children acquire the disease before their second birthday. Although it is worth noting that there are also parents who have expressed interest in vaccinating their children against RSV.

RSV Vaccine Hesitancy

Healthcare experts believe there are several reasons for the uneven uptake of immunization.

First, some parents expressed apprehension about the vaccine since it is new, despite the thorough study conducted and the date confirming its efficacy.

Awareness of the vaccine's availability is another factor, alongside the phenomenon of shot fatigue, a result of the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Eric Biondi, Associate Chief Medical Officer for the Johns Hopkins Children's Center, notes a lack of inquiries about the RSV immunization, indicating potential hesitancy or a lack of awareness.

Furthermore, supply chain issues play a pivotal role in hampering immunization efforts.

High-level meetings between Biden administration officials and RSV immunization manufacturers, including Sanofi, AstraZeneca, and Thermo Fisher, underscore the urgency to address the alarming shortage.

Sanofi, a key manufacturer of the newly introduced Beyfortus monoclonal antibody shot, acknowledges "implementation barriers" and commercial payer coverage issues that have outpaced demand.

As of December 2023, a CDC survey revealed that only 28% of mothers with infants under 8 months opted for the RSV shot, highlighting the need for improved awareness and accessibility.

Read Also: FBI Alarms Parents on Soaring Sextortion Cases Involving Minors With Recorded 13,000 Victims; Here's How to Protect Your Kids

Hopeful Future Amidst Supply Chain Challenges

Despite prevailing challenges, healthcare professionals maintain hope that increased awareness and rectified supply chain issues will lead to higher adoption rates in the upcoming years.

Dr. Bartlett anticipates more in-depth conversations with parents, emphasizing the real-world implications of the monoclonal antibody shot, with the overarching goal of reducing RSV-related hospitalizations among infants.

In conclusion, the availability of breakthrough RSV vaccines and monoclonal antibody shots marks a significant stride in preventing the severe impacts of this respiratory virus.

However, surmounting vaccine hesitancy, addressing supply chain challenges, and bolstering public awareness are pivotal in ensuring widespread adoption and, ultimately, reducing hospitalizations associated with RSV infections.

Related Article: Pandemic's Toll: Babies' Respiratory Distress Linked To Mother's With COVID-19 During Pregnancy
Photo: (Photo : Mario Tama / Getty Images)

The Utah transgender bill has already been passed by lawmakers.

The controversial transgender bathroom access law in Utah will now prohibit them from accessing school and government bathrooms that do not align with their corresponding biological identity.

The bill has now progressed and is waiting for implementation. The House Bill 257 is titled "Sex-based Designations for Privacy, Anti-bullying and Women's Opportunities," which states the definition of a female and male is based on a person's genitalia rather than their chosen gender identity.

This is not the first time that Utah has placed stringent regulations targeting the transgender and LGBTQ communities in the state. In fact, this is the third year in a row where politicians in the state have placed limitations on the rights and freedoms of the LGBTQ community in Utah.

Utah Transgender Bill Applies in Schools and Government Buildings

On the recent Friday session, Utah legislators voted to approve House Bill 257, officially titled "Sex-based Designations for Privacy, Anti-bullying, and Women's Opportunities."

This bill introduces a notable legal nuance by defining "male" and "female" based on anatomical characteristics rather than gender identity.

Notably, its focus is specific, honing in on transgender bathroom access within educational institutions and government-owned facilities. This legislative development is part of a larger pattern of restrictive measures impacting the rights of transgender individuals in the state.

The recent legislative move in Utah inevitably draws parallels with North Carolina's infamous House Bill 2 (HB 2), enacted less than seven years ago.

While the North Carolina legislation garnered nationwide outrage and led to widespread boycotts, Utah's House Bill 257 has, surprisingly, evoked relatively muted responses outside local LGBTQ advocacy circles.

The controversy surrounding the bill revolves around its potential to curtail the transgender community's access to public facilities, reigniting a national debate on bathroom access and individual freedoms.

Advocates vs. Critics Unraveling

The divide over House Bill 257 is pronounced between its supporters and critics. Proponents argue that the legislation is a necessary step to prevent potential harm to women in bathrooms and changing facilities.

Utah State Representative Kera Birkeland, lead sponsor of the Utah transgender bill, believes in the importance of having separate spaces and maintaining boundaries with the personal spaces of men and women.

However, LGBTQ advocacy groups, the Human Rights Campaign, and critics of the bill believe that the implementation of this legislation puts transgender people and the LGBTQ community at risk of harm.

The community expresses concern for their safety and also believes that the implementation is a direct infringement on the basic freedoms of the students.

Read Also: Woman Seen Dragging Newborn Baby's Umbilical Cord After Giving Birth on Sidewalk

Controversial Transgender Bathroom Access Law in Utah

The destiny of House Bill 257 now rests in the hands of Republican Governor Spencer Cox.

Given the governor's historically varied stances on transgender-related legislation-vetoing a similar bill in 2022 while approving a ban on gender-affirming care for minors last year-uncertainty shrouds whether he will endorse this latest measure.

Simultaneously, LGBTQ advocacy groups, exemplified by Equality Utah, actively continue their endeavors to safeguard transgender youth.

This underlines their unwavering commitment to resisting political attacks on transgender and nonbinary individuals in the state.

This recent legislative development, while echoing debates on transgender rights seen across the nation, surprisingly avoids the same level of public attention observed in previous instances.

As the bill awaits its final approval, it has intensified the ongoing discourse on transgender rights, weaving its narrative into the fabric of a national conversation without the anticipated spotlight.



Related Article: 5 Toxic Phrases to Avoid When Raising Successful Kids
These new items have appeared on the nearly comatose and virtually moribund website of the Interpreter Foundation. Happy weekend! We hope that you will enjoy them.

An Important Addition to the Library, written by

Review of Grant Hardy, The Annotated Book of Mormon (New York: Oxford University Press, 2023). 912 pages; $37.95 (hardcover). Abstract: Oxford University Press has published an annotated edition of the Book of Mormon. This represents a significant event and provides a useful study resource. At the same time, the authors determination to follow the conclusions of mainstream biblical scholars inevitably generates tensions on issues where the Book of Mormon conflicts with those conclusions. The author also assures readers that the commentary follows the plain meaning of the text, which ought to acknowledge Joseph Smiths foundational observation that different teachers of religion may understand the same passages very differently, depending on their framing context. In this review, I introduce the content and contributions of the volume, and in a future review Ill address the possibilities for resolving conflicts.

Joseph Smith and the Red Sea in 2 Nephi 19:1, written by E. Jan Wilson

Abstract: When Nephi quotes Isaiah 9:1 in 2 Nephi 19:1, Isaiahs the way of the sea (KJV translation) becomes the way of the Red Sea in the Book of Mormon, a change that is often said to reflect an egregious blunder by Joseph Smith or a scribal error. However, there may be a scenario in which it could reflect a reasonable interpretation of an authentic ancient passage.

Interpreting Interpreter: A Sea of Red, written by Kyler Rasmussen

This post is a summary of the article Joseph Smith and the Red Sea in 2 Nephi 19:1 by E. Jan Wilson in Volume 60 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the Interpreting Interpreter articles may be seen at https://interpreterfoundation.org/category/summaries/. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/. The Takeaway: Wilson seeks to address a difference between Isaiah 9:1 and 2 Nephi 19:1 by suggesting that the difference arises due to a misunderstanding by later Hebrew scribes. Specifically, the word sea in Isaiah may have been originally represented by the term sufah as a place name, which could have then been translated within the Book of Mormon as Red Sea. This would have required that the word be changed by a later scribe to the current yam.

Sacred Time, Sacred Space, & Sacred Meaning: The Choreography of Genesis: The Book of Abraham as a Ritual Text, written by David M. Calabro

Part of our book chapter reprint series, this article originally appeared in Sacred Time, Sacred Space, & Sacred Meaning, Proceedings of the Third Interpreter Matthew B. Brown Memorial Conference The Temple on Mount Zion, 2 November, 2016, edited by Stephen D. Ricks and Jeffrey M. Bradshaw. For more information, go to https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/sacred-time-sacred-space-sacred-meaning/. David Calabro illuminates the function of the Book of Abraham as a ritual narrative, outlining how words and artwork come together to create a compelling temple text.

For reasons that will soon become evident, Ive lately been reading a bit about New Zealand. One of the books that Ive been looking at is the late Michael Kings 2003 Penguin History of Aotearoa New Zealand, from which the following passages come.

A few years ago, my wife and I spent a night in a beautiful little hotel on the shore of tranquil Lake Taupo. Apparently, the area hasnt always been quite so serene:

The Chinese chronicle Hou Han Shu recorded that, in the reign of the Emperor Ling Ti (168-189 AD), the sky was for many days as red as blood. This reference is corroborated by a Roman document, the Historia Augusta, which reports that some time before the Deserters War (186 AD) the sky was seen to burst into flame. Another historian of the Roman era, Herodian, lists strange portents seen in the reign of the Emperor Commodus (180-192 AD): Stars remained visible by day, and others became elongated, seeming to hand in mid-air. Such celestial displays could be consistent with the aftereffects of a massive volcanic eruption. The only eruption known to have occurred on such a scale at about that time is that of the Taupo rhyolitic vent. This explosion, possibly the most powerful and destructive anywhere on Earth in the past 5000 years, emerged from the crater now known as Lake Taupo in the centre of the North Island of New Zealand. It was almost ten times as powerful as the better-known Krakatoa eruption in 1883 and is likely to have sent tsunami radiating into the Pacific, over-running low-lying islands and reaching the mainlands of Asia and America . . . Carbon dating of the bones of kiore, the Polynesian rat, suggests that the creature may have become established in New Zealand as long as 2000 years ago. The contemporary decline of birds  the owlette-nightjar, for example, and one species of duck  appears to support the presence of rats at that time. Should these dates be confirmed and the supporting evidence verified, they would support an irrefutable argument in favour of an early Polynesian landing on the coast of New Zealand. The only means of transport available to kiore was Polynesian vessels. The rats presence in the country so far ahead of organised human settlement, for which there is as yet no evidence, suggests that a discovering canoe landed in both the North and South Islands around 2000 years ago and then headed back to Island Polynesia, or that the occupants of a canoe remained somewhere in New Zealand at that time but failed, because of low numbers, single gender or lack of adequate resources, to establishing a continuing colonising population. A third possibility is that a small founding group abandoned the country or was wiped out because of some unexpected natural disaster, such as the catastrophic effects of the Taupo eruption. The inescapable fact remains, however, that to date no direct evidence has been found of a human occupation of New Zealand  no hearth fires, no tools, no human remains or the remains of creatures butchered by humans  earlier than the thirteenth century AD. . . . [A] fragment of the supercontinent of Gondwana became the islands of New Zealand, which humankind began to colonise around 800 years ago. (5-7)

The islands of New Zealand apparently represent the last land mass on Earth to have been occupied by human beings.

As is my frequent custom, I close with some selected abominations from the Christopher Hitchens Memorial How Religion Poisons Everything File:

Volunteering at Transitional Services Offers Relief and Fulfillment for Cancer Patient: Working at Deseret Industries and then Transitional Services helps woman during her journey

How JustServe Helps Utah Valley Residents Come Together to Serve Those in Need: Youth, families and people of various faiths are using JustServe to serve with their communities

California High School JustServe Club Strives to Draw Community Closer: Teenage siblings show others how service connects people

There is, however, light at the end of the tunnel; there are grounds for hope that such horrors will eventually come to a long-overdue end: Religious Nones Now Outnumber All Individual Religious Cohorts, Outpacing Catholics and Evangelicals
Including the Biblical Case for Prophets as Inspired and Infallible Authorities Besides Holy Scripture

Gavin Ortlund is a Reformed Baptist author, speaker, pastor, and apologist for the Christian faith. He has a Ph.D. from Fuller Theological Seminary in historical theology, and an M.Div from Covenant Theological Seminary. Gavin is the author of seven books as well as numerous academic and popular articles. For a list of publications, see his CV. He runs the YouTube channel Truth Unites, which seeks to provide an irenic voice on theology, apologetics, and the Christian life. See also his website, Truth Unites and his blog. His words will be in blue. I use RSV for Bible passages.

*****

Im responding to Gavins video, Sola Scriptura Defended in 6 Minutes (1-17-24).

Sola Scriptura means that Scripture is the Churchs only infallible rule. It doesnt mean that Scripture is the only authority.

This is the standard Protestant definition and one that many Catholics dont understand. Even some Catholic apologists dont; for example, John Martignoni. In his case, I myself (as the editor of many of these particular tracts) tried to correct him by noting that the definition is as Gavin states here, but to no avail. In his tract, The Bible Alone? (St. Paul Street Evangelization), John wrote about sola Scriptura: Many Christians believe that the Bible, and the Bible alone, is the sole authority, or the sole rule of faith, that one needs in order to know what is and is not authentic Christian teaching and practice. . . . nowhere in the Bible does it say that the Bible should be used by Christians as the sole authority . . . He never mentions the words infallible or infallibility, which are an essential part of the actual definition, as Protestants understand it to be.

Sola Scriptura simply means that popes, councils, and other post-apostolic organs of the church are fallible.

I submit that sola Scriptura is not in the Bible, and is not an accurate statement of what the Bible teaches. Its a Protestant tradition of men (Mk 7:8). Therefore, by Gavins and Protestantisms own criteria, it itself is fallible. If thats the case, then anyone can dissent against it and disbelieve it. The Bible teaches the infallibility of the Church (1 Tim 3:15; see my detailed argument about that) and of the Jerusalem council, in which the decree made was described as being verified by the Holy Spirit Himself: For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us (Acts 15:28). That is virtual inspiration; it is at the very least certainly infallible, since God agreed with it. Right off the bat, then, sola Scriptura is ruled out as a rule of faith by the Bible itself. Its not only shown to be fallible, but contrary to inspired Scripture. Moreover, logically speaking, its self-defeating and viciously circular.

Gavin then argues that Scripture is ontologically unique because it is the inspired Word of God. The Bible is certainly unique, and Catholics wholeheartedly agree. But sola Scriptura doesnt inexorably follow from this fact alone, because, as I just demonstrated, this same Bible teaches the infallibility of Church and of the one Church council that we have recorded in the Bible: in Jerusalem. Therefore, the Bible is not the only infallible authority according to the Bible. It only is according to extrabiblical  and therefore fallible and arbitrary  Protestant tradition

Prophets in the Old Testament are another example of infallible authorities. They were not simply walking Bibles. They said many things that were not recorded in the Bible, but were still from God, and as such, effectively inspired. So, for example, the prophet Samuel told Saul that he would make known to him the word of God (1 Sam 9:27). It was written that the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God (1 Kgs 12:22). The Word of the LORD appears 243 times in the Protestant Old Testament (RSV); mostly coming through men. For example:

Genesis 15:1 . . . the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision . . . Numbers 3:16 So Moses numbered them according to the word of the LORD, as he was commanded. 1 Samuel 3:21 . . . the LORD revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the LORD. 2 Samuel 7:4 But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, 2 Samuel 24:11 . . . the word of the LORD came to the prophet Gad, Davids seer . . . 1 Kings 6:11 Now the word of the LORD came to Solomon, 1 Kings 14:18 . . . the word of the LORD, which he spoke by his servant Ahijah the prophet. 1 Kings 18:1 . . . the word of the LORD came to Elijah, . . . 2 Kings 20:19 Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, The word of the LORD which you have spoken is good. . . . 2 Chronicles 36:21 to fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah . . .

Etc., etc. . . .

The prophet Ezekiel wrote down the phrase, the word of the LORD came to me 49 times.

Nor is this only in the Old Testament. Prophets still exist in the New Testament, too, such as the prophetess Anna (Lk 2:36). St. Luke again wrote: Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world; and this took place in the days of Claudius (Acts 11:27-28; cf. 21:10-11, where he predicts Pauls captivity, prefacing his words with Thus says the Holy Spirit, . . .). Luke almost casually mentions the fact that in the church at Antioch there were prophets . .  (Acts 13:1) and that Judas and Silas . . . were themselves prophets (Acts 15:32).

St. Paul includes prophets  whom God has appointed in the church  as one of the Church offices (1 Cor 12:28-29; 14:29, 32, 37; Eph 4:11), and refers to prophesy[ing] (1 Cor 14:1, 3-5, 24, 31, 39) and prophecy (1 Cor 14:6, 22). Paul even wrote that the mystery of Christ, . . . has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit (Eph 3:4-5) and noted the prophetic utterances that accompanied the ordination of Timothy (1 Tim 1:18; 4:14). Philip the evangelist had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied (Acts 21:8-9).

Therefore, there are many examples of infallible and virtually inspired revelation in both Testaments that are distinct from Holy Scripture itself. Whatever of it was recorded, would be part of Scripture, but of course there was a lot that wasnt recorded. It still had the same ontological essence nonetheless (just as Jesus hundreds of thousands of words to His family or disciples that are unrecorded, remained inspired and infallible). And all of this disproves sola Scriptura, as classically formulated, because it claims that only Scripture is infallible (let alone inspired). The word of the LORD given to a prophet is just as God-breathed (the literal meaning of inspiration) as Scripture, because it comes straight from God, as Scripture does.

It sure takes a lot more than six minutes to go through the literally scores of biblical arguments against sola Scriptura. Refuting falsehood always takes a lot more words than the assertion of it does. But Im trying to be as brief as I can be.

Ironically, Gavin cites 2 Peter 1:21 as evidence of the unique inspiration of Scripture. Yet this very passage is about prophets (!): because no prophecy ever came by the impulse of man, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. Ive just shown how prophets (including prophets after Pentecost) are inspired, too, on the same basis, and that the first Christian council was inspired, since the Holy Spirit agreed with it (Acts 15:28). The first pope, Peter, even made an infallible declaration in the council (Acts 15:7-11) that was crucial in its determination.

This in turn was largely based on a vision (Acts 10:17) that God gave to Peter (Acts 10:11-16), while he was in a trance (Acts 10:10). Peter was at first perplexed by it (10:17), but then God showed him the meaning by sending to him the Gentile centurion, Cornelius (Acts 10:25 ff.), to whom He had communicated by an angel (10:22, 30-32). The larger point is that so much of this had nothing directly to do with Scripture at all. Yet it was infallible (and arguably inspired as well).

So what Gavin believes to be a prooftext for sola Scriptura actually blatantly contradicts it, at least in part. Peter also mentions no prophecy of scripture in 1:20. But the prophetic word (1:19) and prophecy (1:21) are categories that clearly go beyond Scripture, as the Bible itself testifies.

Scripture is divine speech, or the words of God.

Absolutely. But this proves too much since the same thing occurs in Gods communication to prophets or to others through visions and direct encounters. In other words, it goes far beyond only Holy Scripture. Moreover, when Jesus was talking to His disciples about future persecution, He said, do not be anxious how or what you are to answer or what you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say (Lk 12:11-12). Mark in his parallel passage puts it even more strongly: it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit (Mk 13:11). Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied (Lk 1:67). Simeon also had a close relationship with the Holy Spirit (Lk 2:25-26).

Now, if the Holy Spirit can talk to Jesus disciples in that way (and by extension possibly to any follower of Christ), or literally talk through them, is that, too, divine speech? Is it the words of God? Since the Holy Spirit is God, the answer must be yes. But again, thats not Scripture. Paul also refers to two spiritual gifts that seem to involve direct communication from God to human beings: To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit (1 Cor 12:7-8). Here again God the Holy Spirit is communicating to persons. Is that inspired? Is it divine speech and the words of God? It seems to me that all words that authentically come from God must be so.

So Scripture  though amazing and extraordinary and the greatest revelation, as all Christians agree it is  is not as unique as Gavin makes out. It shares some characteristics  inspiration and revelation  with non-biblical things like prophecy and words of knowledge and wisdom.

Ive only gotten through two minutes of the video!

Gavin cites Romans 3:2 as a self-description of Scripture in the Bible: the oracles of God. Once again, prophecies and visions and other direct communications between God and man also are that. So Romans 3:2 cant and doesnt prove sola Scriptura. This is how it always goes when Protestants try to prove it from Scripture. Its always doomed to failure. Catholics always have a superior explanation of all of the factors brought to the table, considered together in a harmonious whole.

This explains why Scripture is infallible, or as Jesus puts it, it cannot be broken [Jn 10:35].

Of course Gavin is contending that only Scripture can have that characteristic. But in fact, so can these other things I have detailed. When the apostles and elders at the Jerusalem Council stated that it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us that was equally as infallible. When Paul in the Bible states about the Church, that its the pillar and bulwark of the truth (1 Tim 3:15), that is clearly infallible as well. When Agabus in the NT prophesied that a famine would come, and it did, that was infallible before it was recorded in the Bible, and it was verified by its coming to pass. It was no different from the state of affairs in the Old Testament:

Deuteronomy 8:20-22 But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die. [21] And if you say in your heart, `How may we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?  [22] when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously, you need not be afraid of him.

If the prophets prediction was proven to be wrong in the old covenant, he was killed. He had better be infallible, then. His life depended upon it.

God is infallible, and Scripture is Gods speech.

And several other things besides Scripture also entail God speaking, as shown. Gavin could have figured this out. Hes a very sharp guy. But he doesnt because he is overly biased by this false tradition and erroneous premise of sola Scriptura. Protestants repeat it ad nauseam without properly scrutinizing it by that same Scripture.

As Scripture is unique in its nature, so it is correspondingly unique in its authority.

This is untrue. I have already shown several instances of infallible extrabiblical authority. And I relentlessly used the Bible itself to do this, just as I did in my book, 100 Biblical Arguments Against Sola Scriptura (Catholic Answers Press: May 2012).

Gavin says we must test non-biblical teachings by the Bible. Sure; I do that every day. Im doing it right now. Thats not the same thing as sola Scriptura. The early Christians didnt simply use a biblical prooftext to solve every problem that came up. They called a council (Acts 15) and worked through it. And then the council, led by the pope and the Holy Spirit, made an authoritative pronouncement.

About this, Luke recorded that Paul and Timothy went on their way through the cities and delivered to them for observance the decisions which had been reached by the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem (Acts 16:4). These cities were in Asia Minor (Turkey): many hundreds of miles away. So we see that it was not simply local jurisdiction in play, but a seemingly universal decree for all Christians everywhere. Thats infallible conciliar and ecclesial authority, folks. There is no way out of it. And this  among many many other things  demolishes sola Scriptura.

Gods speech has greater authority than other speech.

Exactly! I totally agree. But I see many incidences of Gods speech outside of the Bible alone. Gavin seems to be blind to those; not even aware that he is virtually self-refuting as he goes along making his presentation.

In the New Testament there is not even a hint of any post-apostolic infallible entities in the Church,

Untrue. The Jerusalem Council was infallible, since the Holy Spirit led it. The entire Church was and is, according to Paul (1 Tim 3:15). Agabus prophecy about the famine was infallible. Utterances of other prophets, insofar as God gave them a word (which He does by the definition of a prophet), were infallible. Peters vision was infallible (so was Pauls when he was taken up to heaven). Even the Jewish high priest Caiaphas, who persecuted Jesus, uttered a true and infallible prophecy, according to St. John:

John 11:49-52 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, You know nothing at all; [50] you do not understand that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation should not perish. [51] He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation, [52] and not for the nation only, but to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.

Etc., etc. How are any of those things not infallible? Thats plenty of hints that Gavin claim dont exist at all.

. . . despite the fact that we have so much detailed information about the offices and nature of the Church.

While he was stating this, Ephesians 4:11-13 and 1 Corinthians 12:28, both of which included prophets as one such office of the Church, flashed onto the screen. So again he was refuting himself and didnt even know that he was doing so. Then he claims that the early Church wasnt aware of any non-biblical infallible authority, and cites (who else?) St. Augustine praising Scripture, as if he advocated sola Scriptura. He did not at all, as I have proven many times, including in debate with Gavin himself (my only reply to his material so far  some ten times  that he actually responded to):

Augustine & Sola Scriptura (vs. Gavin Ortlund) (+ Part Two) [4-28-22]



Early Development of the Papacy: Random Reflections (includes St. Augustines views) [2-26-02]

St. Augustine (d. 430) vs. Sola Scriptura as the Rule of Faith [8-1-03]

Bible and Tradition Issues: Reply to a Bible Christian Inquirer (Particularly Regarding St. Augustines Position) [3-1-07]

Reply to a Reformation Day Lutheran Sermon [Vs. Nathan Rinne] (Including St. Augustines View on the Rule of Faith & the Perspicuity of Scripture; Luther & Lutherans Belief in Falling Away) [10-31-23]

Its only much later in Church history that such an idea develops, and when it does come in, it frankly doesnt have a good track record.

This is massively, absurdly untrue. It couldnt be further from the truth. I have studied the Church fathers view with regard to this matter of the rule of faith more than anything else I have researched in terms of patrology. Examine for yourself, what they believed (I have saved you many hundreds of hours of research):

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

St. Jerome, Papacy, & Succession (Vs. Gavin Ortlund) [1-20-24]

Ignatius Of Antioch On Monarchical Bishops [1-25-24]

*

***

*

Practical Matters: Perhaps some of my 4,500+ free online articles (the most comprehensive one-stop Catholic apologetics site) or fifty-five books have helped you (by Gods grace) to decide to become Catholic or to return to the Church, or better understand some doctrines and why we believe them.

Or you may believe my work is worthy to support for the purpose of apologetics and evangelism in general. If so, please seriously consider a much-needed financial contribution. Im always in need of more funds: especially monthly support. The laborer is worthy of his wages (1 Tim 5:18, NKJV). 1 December 2021 was my 20th anniversary as a full-time Catholic apologist, and February 2022 marked the 25th anniversary of my blog.

PayPal donations are the easiest: just send to my email address: apologistdave@gmail.com. Heres also a second page to get to PayPal. Youll see the term Catholic Used Book Service, which is my old side-business. To learn about the different methods of contributing (including Zelle), see my page: About Catholic Apologist Dave Armstrong / Donation Information. Thanks a million from the bottom of my heart!

*

***

Photo credit: geralt (5-2-17) [Pixabay / Pixabay Content License]

Summary: Reformed Baptist Gavin Ortlund makes his six-minute case for sola Scriptura as the rule of faith. I absolutely demolish it, with relentless, numerous biblical arguments.
Recently I received a note asking about my meditation on David Loys book Nonduality in Buddhism and Beyond

The writer said it was all so abstract. And wondered what it had to do with anything actually important.

Fair question, and I responded. Much of the content of that follows. Although Ive had a chance to reflect for a minute or two and have deleted here and there and expanded a bit here and there from my original response. Still close to off the top. Its a bit of a confession through two books. I am, after all, in addition to a Zen Buddhist, also a long time Unitarian Universalist, a strange sect with roots in Christianity and later humanism and now this and that, who seem to believe in salvation through bibliography.

In this case, Loys Nonduality and Stephen Protheros God is Not One . I recommend each for its different gifts.

The thing about David Loys Nonduality, and really why it is the more important of the two for me, is that it attempts to unpack the underlying view of reality that informs the whole Zen project. And does a good job, I feel. It was originally his doctoral dissertation, so it has that academic wash to the read, which was a problem for my correspondent. And I get that, its true, theres tons of terminology. So, its not going to be everyones cup of tea.

And.

Stephen Protheros intriguing book God is Not One. In it he notes all the worlds religions have different views about what is wrong and what can put it right. For me the underlying point he seems to miss is that pretty near universal sense there is something wrong. He also notes that there appears to be something close to or perhaps universal in the Golden Rule.

But this is his big gift, all the great world religions arising with an observation that something is wrong that can be put right. Noticing the wrong, naming it in a useful way, and dealing with it certainly is the Zen project.

Perhaps you dont notice some wrong in the world. The truth is one can profit from Zen as a self help thing, getting a bit bigger perspective, maybe relaxing a little. The mindfulness thing, and maybe more specifically the secular mindfulness thing has value.

And thats not the project I care about. Thats not what drove me to fifty plus years of practice. I am interested in the wrong and how to address it.

As I look at it from the position of a product of the mid twentieth century global north, and in particular North America, I call that wrong existential angst. Im good with most of the other terms available including those of the world religions, like sin and disobedience and what not, although they all require a level of unpacking that I find problematic. Dukkha is the best of the terms as I experience it. Dis-ease. Ultimate unsatisfactoriness. That constellation of things. I find the clearest resonance with that observation, that naming of the wrong.

Buddhism actually has two different takes on what the problem is and how to fix it. Or at least angles.

The story that the Buddha addressed was how our suffering, anguish, angst, the worm in every apple, continues over many many lifetimes, bound up with our intentions and the actions that arise from those intentions. Until we see past the stories, let go of it all, and find our liberation. From Nagarjuna on theres a bit of a shift, small in some ways, but gigantic in others. This arc of existence and nonexistence isnt rejected. Not precisely. But it doesnt demand that story. The problem in the great swath of the Mahayana is articulated as a fundamental misunderstanding of how things are. And that grasping becomes more immediate, not an over many lifetime thing, but here and now. To be dealt with here and now.

As some say pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional.

Mahayana Buddhism and specifically Zen addresses the optional thing. Here. Now.

Nonduality in its Buddhist expression, most clearly the Mahayana Buddhist view of what how to go for the option of not suffering. The suffering that is not pain. That pain we live through as articulated in a play of causal conditions over which we have minimal control. How we meet it and how we live out of that meeting is the Zen project.

David Loys Nonduality outlines that in philosophical theological terms.

What is super important to me in that book is how it shows our Mahayana Buddhist analysis is only one of several ways that deeper story of our intimate connection can be understood. I find it amazingly liberating. It tells me that no religion gets it all right, thank you Professor Prothero for underscoring that; not even mine. With some good news. There are corrections and invitations in noticing how others have engaged pretty much the same question through similar but different lenses.

Does one have to study all this to profit from Zen and its disciplines? No. Absolutely not.

But for me Loys work and others pointing to those places where the insight I consider most important to who I am and how I meet the world, is expressed somewhat differently, but recognizably, has been helpful. On my own path of clarification it has helped me to see a bit more clearly how my own religious cultural assumptions that were shaped at my grandmothers knee and in my childhood Sunday school form me in ongoing ways, even as I wholeheartedly embrace a basically Mahayana world-view.

And it has also opened for me the fact that the healing vision has both personal and social consequences. Consequences in the here and now.

On the personal level as Ive engaged this path that can be called Zen Buddhist nonduality, informed by some examination of other nondual perspectives, for me most intimately what is found in Christian mysticism, it has led me on a path where I get to the bones my bones, but also see how who I am does not end at my skin, launching me into a life that is mysterious and beautiful even as it is harsh and dreadful.

But I find a social level, as well. I dont end at my skin. And therefore I find myself caught up in other peoples lives. I find I care profoundly about what happens in our moment in Gaza and Israel with sympathies that dont end at borders and are owned by one group of people but not another. I care about those who are caught up in systems of inequity. I worry most about hunger and homelessness, everything that can be called poverty. Poverty of spirit, totally. Poverty, naked poverty, absolutely.

And I see my limitedness. I am now seventy-five years old. As I watch the collagen melt away in my body, as arthritis brings pain that I cannot ignore in my hands and spine, as I stand up with increasingly complications; I am very, very much aware of limitations that are present and progressing.

Nonduality describes the relationships between my life and the lives of other people. It sings a story, mine, and everyone elses in ways that make sense. And offers doors, only some of which I can walk through.

The human thing is to see the wrong and seek to name it and to seek to alleviate it.

It explores the nature of intimacy. And the vitality of things. And to use a mammalian naming, the family of things.

Nondual expressions seem the best for me. They help me to understand the play of my uniqueness and commonness, how I am precious and passing  and how I am related. Both among the persons, only some of whom are people, of this world, and the stuff of the cosmos.
The police in Kasoa have arrested Shadrach Agoya, 35, for allegedly transporting fake electrical meters.



Mr. Issah Salifu, Chairman of the GPRTU Kpando Station in Kasoa, who confirmed the incident to DAILY GUIDE, explained that a parcel was brought to the station which was to be transported to Kpando in the Volta Region.



According to him, after interrogation, they found out that they were electrical meters.



Mr. Salifu then hinted to the police at Kasoa Under Bridge, who apprehended the suspect.



The station officer, Chief Inspector Benjamin Asunkey then contacted the Kasoa North District Manager, Ing. Phaney Adiko to help identify the meters.



Ing. Phaney indicated that those were fake meters which did not come from the outfit of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).



The suspect, upon further interrogation by the police, refused to give information about the sender or receiver of the fake meters.



He was then arraigned before the Akweley Magistrate Court on January 18, 2024 and remanded to reappear on February 6, 2024.



The General Manager of ECG in the Central Region, Mr. Emmanuel Lumor, reacting to the incident stated that ECG is the only company mandated in the Southern sector to distribute electricity and to provide meters for service connection.



He said these fake meters are substandard and can cause fire outbreaks, overloading of transformers and outages.



Mr. Lumor therefore advised customers to desist from acquiring meters from other sources apart from ECG.



The company is clamping down on these fake meters because of the adverse effect on our operations, he added.



He added that customers should not hesitate to visit ECGs offices for service connection requests and other related services.

Source: dailyguidenetwork.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
RAFAH, Gaza Strip  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday pushed back after an International Court of Justice ruling to limit death and destruction in the militarys Gaza offensive, declaring that we decide and act according to what is required for our security and vowing to press on until complete victory.

Witnesses said three Palestinians were killed earlier Saturday in an airstrike that Israels military said was targeting a Hamas commander in southern Gaza.

Israels military is under increasing scrutiny now that the top United Nations court has asked Israel for a compliance report in a month. The courts binding ruling on Friday stopped short of ordering a cease-fire, but its orders were in part a rebuke of Israels conduct in its nearly 4-month war against Gazas Hamas rulers.

The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, the main organization aiding Gazas population amid the humanitarian disaster, saw more countries suspend its funding following allegations that a number of Gaza staff members participated in the Oct. 7 Hamas attack that sparked the war. Britain, Italy and Finland joined the United States, Australia and Canada in placing aid to UNRWA on hold.

The Israel-Hamas war has killed more than 26,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, destroyed vast swaths of Gaza and displaced nearly 85% of the territorys 2.3 million people. The Hamas attack in southern Israel killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and about 250 hostages were taken.

At least 174 Palestinians were killed over the past day, the Health Ministry in Gaza said. The ministry does not distinguish between combatants and civilians in its tolls, but has said about two-thirds are women and children.

Israel holds Hamas responsible for civilian casualties, saying the militants embed themselves in the local population. Israel says its air and ground offensive in Gaza has killed more than 9,000 militants.

The Israeli military said it had conducted several targeted raids on terror targets in the southern city of Khan Younis in addition to the airstrike in nearby Rafah targeting a Hamas commander.

Bilal al-Siksik said his wife, a son and a daughter were killed in the Rafah strike, which came as they slept. He said the U.N. court ruling meant little since it did not stop the war.

No one can speak in front of them (Israel). America with all its greatness and strength can do nothing, he said, standing beside the rubble and twisted metal of his home.

More than 1 million people have crammed into Rafah and the surrounding areas after Israel ordered civilians to seek refuge there from the fighting. Designated evacuation areas have repeatedly come under airstrikes, with Israel saying it would go after militants as needed.

In Muwasi, a narrow coastal strip once designated as a safe zone but also struck in recent days, displaced Palestinians tiptoed on sandaled feet through garbage-lined puddles in damp and chilly weather. Walls of sheets and tarps billowed in the wind. A mother wept after rain leaked in and soaked mattresses and blankets.

This is our life. We have nothing and we left (our homes) with nothing, said Bassam Bolbol, whose family ended up in Muwasi after leaving Khan Younis and finding no shelter in Rafah.

Frustration with the uncertainty grows. As thousands of Gazans fled the fighting in Khan Younis toward Muwasi, Israel shared video showing a crowd appearing to call for bringing down Hamas.

Gaza residents expressed dismay that the U.N. court did not order an immediate end to the fighting. The case brought by South Africa alleged Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian territorys people, which Israel vehemently denies. A final ruling is expected to take years.

The court did order Israel to urgently get basic aid to Gaza, where the U.N. and partners have said aid entering the territory remains well below the daily average of 500 trucks before the war. The U.N. says access to central and northern Gaza has been decreasing because of excessive delays at checkpoints and heightened military activity.

UNRWA did not immediately comment on how operations would be affected by countries suspending funding, or on details of the allegations against its staffers. The agency, which relies almost entirely on countries contributions, has sheltered hundreds of thousands of people during the war and helped to provide medical care.

The World Health Organization and the medical charity MSF issued urgent warnings about the largest health facility in Khan Younis, Nasser Hospital, saying remaining staff could barely function with supplies running out and intense fighting nearby.

WHO footage showed people in the crowded facility being treated on blood-smeared floors as frantic loved ones shouted and jostled. Cats scavenged on a mound of medical waste.

These are the only painkillers left we have. If you want to count them, they are only for maybe five or four patients, Dr. Muhammad Harara said.

Gazas Health Ministry spokesperson Ashraf al-Qidra said in a statement that Nasser Hospital lacked anesthesia and other medicines for intensive care units and had dangerous shortages of blood.

The United States, Israels closest ally, has increasingly called for restraint and for more humanitarian aid to be allowed into Gaza while supporting the offensive.

More mediation lies ahead in search of a deal to secure the release of hostages who remain captive in Gaza in exchange for a pause in the fighting. Over 100 were released in a swap for Palestinian prisoners during a week-long cease-fire in November. An unspecified number of the remaining 136 are believed to be dead.

The U.S. CIA Director Bill Burns will meet in Europe with the head of the intelligence agencies of Israel and Egypt and with the the prime minister of Qatar, according to three people familiar with the matter who insisted on anonymity to discuss the sensitive talks.

Netanyahu in his address said he would not take back a single word of his earlier criticism of Qatar, again accusing it of hosting Hamas leaders and funding Hamas.

If they position themselves as a mediator, so please, let them prove it and bring back the hostages, and in the meantime deliver the medicines to them, he said.

While the prime ministers comments appeared to be aimed at his right-leaning base of supporters, other Israelis again gathered in Tel Aviv and outside Netanyahus residence in Jerusalem to call for new elections, frustrated with the governments failure to bring all hostages home.

Hamas has said it will only release the hostages in exchange for an end to the war and the release of large numbers of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

Shurafa reported from Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip. Aamer Madhani, Matthew Lee and Zeke Miller in Washington, Julia Frankel in Jerusalem and Elena Becatoros in Athens, Greece, contributed.
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Honolulu Police Department (HPD) has arrested a male for attacking a Chinese citizen in downtown Honolulu of the U.S. state of Hawaii, according to a release from the police department.

Shortly before 9 p.m. Thursday, HPD officers arrested the 29-year-old male in the Nimitz area in Honolulu for second-degree attempted murder. Charges will be sought with the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, according to HPD.

A Chinese citizen was splashed with chemical liquid on a street in downtown Honolulu on Tuesday evening. The Chinese citizen was seriously injured and received medical treatment in hospital, according to a release of the Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles.

Based on initial investigation, the 25-year-old victim told witnesses that she was walking near Planet Fitness when an unknown male threw an unknown liquid on her, causing her skin and clothes to burn, according to local police.

Chinese Consul General in Los Angeles Guo Shaochun made representations to the person in charge of the Hawaii state government and strongly condemned the incident.

Guo requested the Hawaii state government facilitate the medical treatment of the injured, and urged the police department to speed up the investigation and bring the perpetrator to justice as soon as possible. 
The embattled Chief Executive Officer of the defunct gold dealership firm Menzgold, Nana Appiah Mensah, affectionately called NAM1, has described the acquittal and discharge of (ACP) Dr Benjamin Agordzo, who was one of the people standing trial for allegedly plotting a coup, as an enviable feat under Ghanas democratic dispensation by the judiciary, under the 1992 Constitutional rule.



NAM1s statement was contained in a tweet on January 26, 2024, sighted by GhanaWeb.com where he also paid tribute to the many preyed accused coup plotters down history lane from 1981-1992, who never had their day in Court.



The businessman, along with his companies Menzgold Ghana Limited and Brew Marketing Consult Ghana Limited, currently faces thirty-nine (39) counts of defrauding by false pretense, inducing members of the public to invest, and money laundering.



In the initial charge sheet presented to the court, the three were accused of inducing the public to invest a total of GH1,680,920,000. However, this figure has now significantly decreased to GH340,835,650. This reduction is attributed to some complainants being unwilling to testify.



The trio faces a total of 39 charges, encompassing one count of selling gold without a license, one count of operating a deposit-taking business, one count of inducement to invest, 22 counts of defrauding by false pretense, seven counts of fraudulent breach of trust, and seven counts of money laundering.



The charges brought against NAM1 and his companies Menzgold Ghana Limited and Brew Marketing Consult Ghana Limited pertain to defrauding their customers of various sums of money between 2016 and 2018.



Agordzos acquittal



The High Court convicted six out of nine alleged coup plotters for counts of conspiracy to commit high treason and committing high treason.



The Court, however, acquitted Benjamin Agordzo, Colonel Samuel Kodzo Gameli and one other junior military officer, Corporal Seidu Abubakar.



The six convicted for plotting a coup have been sentenced to death by hanging.



The six persons, including three soldiers, are; Donya Kafui, aka Ezor (a blacksmith) and Bright Alan Debrah Ofosu (a fleet manager), were found guilty of conspiracy to commit treason and treason, while Johannes Zikpi (a civilian employee of the Ghana Armed Forces) was found guilty of conspiracy to commit high treason.



The three soldiers  Warrant Officer II Esther Saan Dekuwine, Lance Corporal Ali Solomon, and Corporal Sylvester Akanpewon, were found guilty of conspiracy to commit high treason.



Dr. Frederick Yao Mac-Palm, the Chief Executive Officer of Citadel Hospital (now deceased) and ACP Dr. Agordzo together with eight others were charged variously on April 24, 2021, for conspiracy to high treason, abetment to high treason and high treason.



Dr Mac Palm (A1- now Deceased), Donya Kafui alias Ezor (A2), Bright Allan Debrah Ofosu alias Bright Alan Yeboah (A3), Yohannes Zikpi (A4), Warrant Officer Class Two Esther Saan Dekuwine (A6), Cpl Seidu Abubakar (A7), Lance Corporal Ali Solomon (A8) and Cpl Sylvester Akanpewon (A9) were charged for conspiracy to commit high and high treason.



Col. Samuel Kodzo Gameli (A5) and ACP Dr Benjamin Agordzo (A10) have each been charged for abetment.



All 10 accused (then) pleaded not guilty and had been granted bail while standing trial.



However, following the death of Dr Mac-Palm (A1) who was then in the witness box giving testimony, his evidence was deleted from the records after his passing away was confirmed to the Court.







Source: ghanaweb.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says Africa has been blessed with rich natural resources and must make good use of them.



To him, the perception that the continent is poor is far from the truth, reiterating that the country should never face poverty due to its resources.



We all know that Africa is blessed, Africa is not a poor continent she is too rich to be poor. A continent that has every natural resource imaginable; oil, gas, minerals and an abundance of sunlight. We have some 65 per cent of all arable land available to feed 9 billion people globally by 2030 and our continent is filled with the most youthful population in the world.



"Everything we need to transform Africa into a global powerhouse of the future, President Akufo-Addo was speaking at the second edition of the Africa Prosperity Dialogues in Peduase, Eastern region, on Thursday, January 25, 2024.



He also emphasized the importance of economic integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).



Im now encouraged that Africa now has a private sector that is ready, deliberate and eager to see that the 60-year-old dream of the United Africa manifests. The difference perhaps, of the then and today is that the focus is on an area where there can be no debate economic integration."



How we facilitate the free movement of people, goods and services across this vast and resourceful mass Africa is what we must devote our energies to President Akufo Addo said.

Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com/ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Business Mogul and the Head of Operations at Agazy Group of Companies, Richmond Amoateng has donated some medical equipment and also paid the bills of some patients at the Tema General Hospital of the Greater Accra Region to mark his birthday.



The items donated include; liquid Soaps, Savlons, Kol roll, paper towels, bottle water, medical supplies, among other things.



He also donated an undisclosed amount of money to help pay the bills of some of the patients at the hospital.

Speaking at a short ceremony, Mr. Amoateng said the donation forms part of his Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to his community.



I am very grateful to God for adding another wonderful year to my age. As I celebrate my birthday, I thought it wise to do something that will serve as lasting memories, hence the need for the donation", he said.



Mr. Amoateng also took the opportunity to urge well-meaning individuals, philanthropists, civil society groups and corporate entities to also give back to the society.



Meanwhile, the Medical Director at the Tema General Hospital, Dr. Richard Anthony who received the items on behalf of the Hospital was extremely excited for such a nice gesture.



According to him, the items will go a long way to help patients and the hospital at large.



"Today is a great day, we are happy for such a great donation to this hospital. We wish Mr. Amoateng all the best in life as he celebrates his birthday. We are indeed grateful ", Dr. Richard Anthony noted.

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 Ghana Police Service will soon meet with various stakeholders ahead of Election 2024.



ACP Grace Ansah-Akrofi, the Director of the Public Affairs Directorate of the Ghana Police Service (GPS), speaking in a one-on-one interview on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo' said the Service has already started meeting with security agencies to ensure a peaceful general election.



"We believe elections should be peaceful and we've already started preparing for election 2024. We have met with security agencies and arranged to meet other stakeholders involved in the election...



...when it comes to security you can't take anything for granted...most often we sit with all the political parties and come to an understanding. Any situation of disorder can affect the entire country and so we can't take anything for granted".



Meanwhile, ACP Grace Ansah-Akrofi has indicated that the Service is ready for the upcoming Parliamentary primaries of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Saturday.



"As far as security is concerned, we're ready" she indicated.



Listen to her in the video below





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 auditorium of the Church of Pentecost at Ejisu witnessed a full gathering on Wednesday, January 24, as chiefs and constituents convened for an acclamation ceremony honouring the Member of Parliament for Ejisu, John Ampontuah Kumah.



In the New Patriotic Partys Parliamentary primaries, the Ejisu MP secured an uncontested victory, necessitating the party's constitutional requirement of an acclamation.



As the Deputy Finance Minister, Mr. Ampontuah Kumah stands out as the first incumbent MP in the Ejisu Constituency to go unopposed. Notably, he is among the five NPP MPs in the Ashanti Region who faced no contest in the partys Parliamentary primaries.



The acclamation event, officiated by officials of the Electoral Commission and attended by some NPP regional executives, officially designated Mr. Ampontuah Kumah as the party's candidate for the upcoming 2024 Parliamentary elections.



Expressing his gratitude to constituents after the acclamation, Mr Kumah acknowledged their support, emphasising that going unopposed reflects the positive impact he is making in Ejisu.



He affirmed his commitment to ongoing efforts in empowering the youth, fostering infrastructure development, and tirelessly advocating for the constituency's development in Parliament.



We are not just going to work in Ejisu, the entire Ashanti Region is going to be on our shoulders, and we are going to make sure to work hard to break the 8."



"We are going to do that through One on One, room-to-room campaign, Church-to-Church campaign, Mosque-to-mosque campaign, and it will be hard work from now until we meet the target, he said.





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
As delegates of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) vote tomorrow to elect parliamentary candidates in constituencies where the party has sitting Members of Parliament (MPs) across the country, the stakes are high for a few incumbents whose reign have come under serious threat.



The seats of Sarah Adjoa Safo (Dome-Kwabenya), Francis Asenso-Boakye (Bantama) and K.T. Hammond (Adansi Asokwa) have come under the spotlight following intriguing events in the lead-up to tomorrows polls.



Ms Safo survived the previous primary in 2020 by eight votes before going on to annex the seat.



For a greater part of the past three years, however, she was based in the United States and party faithful, including fellow parliamentarians publicly questioned her loyalty, given the NPPs numerical handicap in the hung Parliament.



She goes head-to-head with the Chief Executive of the Ghana Free Zones Authority Michael Oquaye Jr, who lost the 2020 internal contest narrowly and Sheela Oppong Sakyi, a legal practitioner and strategist at the Office of the First Lady in a defining moment for the partys fortunes in what has become a safe seat for the NPP in the Greater Accra Region.



In the Adansi Asokwa Constituency in the Ashanti Region, the incumbent MP and Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Hammond, one of the longest-serving MPs, is facing stiff competition from three others.



They are the Managing Director (MD) of the Ghana Publishing Company, Samuel Binfoh Darkwa; Dr Enoch Acheampong and Kwabena Nkansah Asamoah.



It is expected to be a two-horse race between the incumbent and Mr Darkwa.



In the Bantama Constituency, also in the Ashanti Region, the contest is also a two-horse race between the incumbent MP and Minister of Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye and Raphael Agyapong, a brother of former NPP presidential hopeful and MP for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong.



Delegates

The delegates, made up of polling station and constituency executive, electoral area coordinators, council of elders and patrons, and founder members (if any), would decide the fate of incumbents and new entrants.



A total of 322 aspirants who were cleared to contest in the primaries will slug it out in 101 constituencies in 15 out of the 16 regions. The NPP has no seat in the Oti Region.



In an interview, the NPP National Director of Elections, Evans Nimako, said elections had been put on hold in Akuapem South in the Eastern Region, Mampong in the Ashanti Region and Agona West in the Central Region.



Mr Nimako said the General Secretarys office had been served with a court order in respect of the primaries in Mampong and Agona West constituencies, while that of Akuapem South was due to petitions received from the constituency and regional secretariats of the party.



However, the contests are expected to be keen and interesting in some constituencies in the Ashanti, Eastern, Central, Greater Accra and Western regions where the seats are considered safe.



Ashanti

Other constituencies of interest in the Ashanti Region are Bekwai, Asokwa, Suame, Subin, Kwadaso, Obuasi West, Offinso North, Asante Akim Central, Asante Akim North, Asante Akim South, Afigya Kwabre East, Ahafo Ano North and Oforikrom.



For the Bekwai Constituency, four aspirants have put themselves up to succeed the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei-Owusu, who is bowing out of Parliament after serving four terms.



Those gunning to occupy the seat are private legal practitioner, Ralph Poku-Adusei; Henry Opoku-Ware, Kinsley Opoku Agyemang and retired Commissioner of Police (COP), George Alex Mensah.



In the Asokwa Constituency, two men are seeking to unseat Patricia Appiagyei, affectionately called Mama Pat. Mrs Appiagyei is serving her fourth term in Parliament and comes up against Francis Nana Yaw Boakye and Edmund Kyei.



For the Suame Constituency where the Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, is not seeking re-election after being in Parliament for seven terms, the four aspirants seeking to succeed him are Kwabena Osei-Adubofour, Pius Acheampong, John Darko and Maxwell Ofosu Boakye.



The contest in Asante Akim Central will be interesting as the Chief Executive Officer of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), Kofi Nkansah is seeking to unseat the incumbent, Kwame Ayimadu-Antwi.



Eastern

In the Eastern Region, the contest will be keen in Nsawam-Adoagyiri, where the Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, is seeking a fourth term bid in Parliament.



He is being challenged by the Director of the Ghana Library Authority, Hayford Siaw and David Adu-Tutu Jr.



Incumbent MP and Deputy Minister of Education, Gifty Twum-Ampofos seat in Abuakwa North; Okere where six aspirants are vying to succeed the Minister of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, Dan Botwe; Ofoase Ayirebi where incumbent MP and Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, is facing a former Deputy Clerk of Parliament, Eric Owusu-Mensah and Maxwell Osei Gyamerah of the Ghana Revenue Authority, and Akyem Swedru where the Controller and Accountant General, Kwasi Kwaning-Bosompem, and a Tema-based private businessman, Jerome Kwame Okyere Akordor, will sort things out with the incumbent, Kennedy Osei Nyarko, are among the interesting places to watch.



Greater Accra

In the Greater Accra Region, Ablekuma West will be among the tough grounds for candidates.



The incumbent MP and Minister of Communication and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, is facing stiff competition from his sole contender, Roni Kwesi Nicol.



Ahafo

For the Ahafo Region, the main contest will be in the Tano North where the incumbent and Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Dr Freda Prempeh, is facing stiff competition from Dr Gideon Boako, the spokesperson for the Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.



Goodwill message

The National Chairman of the party, Stephen Ayesu Ntim, in a goodwill message, wished the aspirants the best in the primaries, and urged them to let the results propel them towards a resounding victory in the December general election.



Let us demonstrate to the nation that the NPP is a party that values respectful discourse, healthy competition and democratic processes, he said.



Guidelines

Part of the protocols outlined by the party for the primaries said the police would be heavily present at all centres to ensure order before, during and after the polls.



It added that the police, in collaboration with the Electoral Commission, had been mandated to prevent delegates from entering the voting area with phones or any photographic gadgets, while influencers, including "machomen", had been warned to stay off the voting perimeter or risk being arrested.



It said the polls would start at 7 a.m. and close at 2 p.m, and that there would not be any proxy voting and no constituency would be allowed to replace the names of deceased delegates in the voters albums.



The EC may decide to create additional polling centres at a voting centre to speed up the process if the number of delegates is large, it said.



All voting will take place in an open place in the full glare of the public.



It is an offence for non-accredited persons to enter the voting perimeters, it stated.

Source: graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
The Opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), has rejected the proposal of the Electoral Commission to change the election date from December 7 to November 7.



This response comes after the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting held on Monday, January 22, 2024, where the Electoral Commission suggested a shift in the election date as well as well as declaring that day as a national holiday.



The EC further justified that the proposal, initially put forth by the political parties, aims to allow sufficient time for the commission to effectively manage its operations, particularly in the event of a run-off.



The proposals were put forward during the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting held on Monday, January 22, 2024, as the EC also wants election days to be designated as national holidays to boost public participation in the electoral process.



It will be recalled that the Seventh-Day Adventist Church recently petitioned the Electoral Commission and the Attorney General to shift the voting date for the 2024 general elections from December 7 to any other date because the voting day, which falls on a Saturday, conflicts with the Sabbatha holy day they dedicate to the worship of God.



Referring to the 1996 general elections, the church said about 95 percent of their members were unable to vote because the elections were held on a Saturday.



The SDA church recommended the adoption of the first (1st) or second (2nd) Tuesday of November as the new date for Ghanas general elections, seeking codification to ensure Adventists are free to worship and to enable them to vote in the parliamentary and presidential elections.



But the Director of Elections for the NDC, Dr Omane Boamah reacting to the EC decision said in a Facebook post on Wednesday, January 24, 2024 that the NDC does not support the November date for elections thus, December 7 should be maintained, supporting their argument that voting on prayer or worship days does not affect the overall turnout of the elections since 1992.



According to him, instead of cherry-picking, the NDC calls for a comprehensive review of the electoral process through inclusive and proper dialogue which proposal has been sent to the Electoral Commission.



He further explained that even though the party is not in favor of the proposed date, they are ready to engage in discussions about voting on prayer or worship days.



He said We (NDC) do not support the November date for elections. Instead of cherry-picking, we (NDC) call for a comprehensive review of the electoral process through inclusive and proper dialogue; we already submitted our proposals to the EC.



On voting on prayer/worship days, we (NDC) are open to discussions. NB: Details of Election Years, Days, & Voter Turnout since 1992



Giving some breakdown of the Year, day, and turnout of the elections from 1992, he said On 1992- Tuesday 50.16 %, 1996 Saturday 78.20%, 2000 Thursday 61.74%, 2004 Tuesday 85.12%, 2008, Sunday 71.00%, 2012 Friday 79.43%,



2016 Wednesday 69.25% and 2020 Monday 78.89% he stated on his Facebook post.

Source: dailyguidenetwork.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
Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Mahama, has once again taken a swipe at the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) over its alleged selective defence of people's rights that are abused under the current NPP administration.



The former president, who is seeking another term on the ticket of the NDC, is in the Ashanti region for the 24-hour Economic tour.



While meeting with labour unions at the Great Hall of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi, Mr. Mahama criticized the professional integrity of the Bar Association in defending the rights of oppressed Ghanaians under the NPP government.



'When journalists are oppressed, when people's freedom of expression is affected, it is the duty of organised labour and unions to speak out, GBA spoke about perception, does GBA go to sleep when NPP is in power and wakes up when NDC comes? We will see in 2025 whether you will wake up, he said.



He made known that the impression that the Bar is biased towards the NDC administration is true.



You know yourselves that when NPP is in power, they do the most outrageous things and you are quiet, and yet when NDC is in power, the least mistake and GBA has issued a press release, you know it's true, he stated.



Bench Packed With NPP-Inclined Judges



John Mahama in 2023, addressing the closing ceremony of the 3rd Annual Lawyers Conference of the NDC claimed that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo had deliberately appointed the most judges to the bench in order to have people who would do his bidding when he was out of office and called on NDC members to balance out the bench.



Mr. Mahama alleges that the judicial bench is packed with NPP-inclined judges because this government has carried out a deliberate policy of putting their people onto the bench.

Source: Kobina Darlington/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
Evans Nimako, the Director of Elections for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), has expressed confidence in his party to win the upcoming December 7 polls.



Speaking in an interview on Peace FM's morning show "Kokrokoo", Evans Nimako noted that the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), led by John Dramani Mahama, is no match for the New Patriotic Party.



"NDC is not lucky. They still have the same person, Mahama, as their candidate. We all saw what happened when he contested us in 2012, 2016, and 2020," he said.



Evans Nimako was well-convinced that the NPP would win the 2024 elections like they did in previous general elections.



Watch video below





Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Seasoned journalist, Kwesi Pratt has charged the delegates of the New Patriotic Party to vote against any candidate who after being elected to represent them in Parliament has been using his power to bulldoze them or treat them like nonentities.



Mr. Pratt commenting on the New Patriotic Party's parliamentary election to be held this Saturday, January 27, noted that there are some MPs who after getting the people's votes have been behaving arrogantly towards them or treating them like subordinates undeserving of his care and attention.



To him, now is the time for the people to teach such candidates a big lesson.



"Vote against any person who made himself Champion Atta. Teach them a lesson to know that you didn't vote for them because they are beautiful or more intelligent...Vote against them for the politicians to know that they are not special than any person", he told the delegates during a panel discussion on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show.



He reiterated; "Those who have become arrogant, lifting their shoulders and so forth, vote against them. Let them come home and learn sense."





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
ISLAMABAD, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan on Saturday night confirmed the killing of nine Pakistani nationals in Iran's southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said.

"It is a horrifying and despicable incident and we condemn it unequivocally," spokesperson of the ministry Mumtaz Zahra Baloch was quoted as saying in a statement.

Pakistan is in touch with Iranian authorities and has underscored the need to immediately investigate the incident and hold to account those involved in the crime, she said.

"Pakistan's consul in Zahedan city of southeastern Iran is on way to the hospital where injured people are being treated and will reach there in a few hours due to long distances and security imperatives involved," Baloch said.

The consul will also meet local authorities, and among other things, impress upon them the urgent need for strong action against the perpetrators of this crime, she added.

Nine non-Iranian nationals were killed Saturday in Sistan and Baluchestan by unidentified armed individuals, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported.

The armed individuals killed the foreign nationals in a house in Saravan County in the early hours of Saturday, Mehr quoted informed people as saying.

"We are fully seized of this grave matter and are taking all necessary measures in this regard, and the embassy will do its best to repatriate dead bodies at the earliest," said the Pakistani spokesperson. 
A Lancaster man was sentenced to life in prison without parole after he was convicted of first-degree murder for shooting another man in a convenience store over a phone bill.

Carlos Almanzar-Torres, 23, was found guilty of shooting and killing 19-year-old Damian Santiago at the Sunoco/A-Plus convenience store on the 100 block of Orange Street on March 14, 2022, according to a press release from the Lancaster County District Attorneys Office.

We are here for the actions of an angry man, said Assistant District Attorney CJ Restemayer. This is a man who hunted another human being and tried to shoot him five times. He then punched the victim multiple times as he lay dying. On that day, he ended two lives: Damian Santiagos and his own.

The incident started as an argument and fist fight over a $50 phone bill outside the store around 10 p.m., according to the DAs office.

The fight then continued in the store, where Almanzar-Torres fired a shot toward Santiago. The bullet passed through his sweatshirt and hit one of the stores freezers. Almanzar-Torres was then seen on video surveillance tracking Santiago through the store while unjamming his gun.

Once his gun was able to fire again, Almanzar-Torres raised it over one of the stores aisles and fired a shot through Santiagos shoulder and lodged in his lungs, stopping his heart. Almanzar-Torres then punched Santiago several times after he fell to the ground.

Almanzar-Torres was also convicted of recklessly endangering the two employees working at the convenience store during the killing, which added 20 months to four years on top of his mandatory life sentence.

He completely disregarded the value of their lives as well, Restemayer added.

President Judge Ashworth noted that Almanzar-Torres did not have any criminal history leading up to the shooting.

This situation was entirely and completely avoidable and entirely and completely unnecessary, Ashworth said.

Almanzar-Torres and his defense counsel did not make a statement during the hearing, according to the DAs office.

Lancaster City Bureau of Police Detective Ryan Burgett led the investigation and Assistant District Attorney Kyle Linardo co-prosecuted the case.
A man and woman from Lancaster were arrested and charged with murder and related offenses Friday after police say they shot and killed a man in early January.

Police say Tajhon Veal, 20, and Joy Cleveland, 19, were involved in the shooting death of 19-year-old Elliot Corbin on Jan. 6.

The two are charged with murder of the first degree, criminal homicide, and conspiracy to commit criminal homicide. Veal also was charged with one count of carrying a firearm without a license, court documents said.

Police responded to the 400 block of South Prince Street just before 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 6 after getting reports of shots fired in the area. When first responders arrived they found Corbin with a gunshot wound and transported him to a hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

Veal and Cleveland are both being held in the Lancaster County Prison with bail denied. Preliminary hearings for both are scheduled for Feb. 2.
An Amish dairy farmer in Lancaster County who sold thousands of guns despite lacking a federal firearms dealer license must pay a $35,000 fine and will spend three years on probation.

During a sentencing hearing Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge Joseph F. Leeson Jr. also ordered Reuben King, 56, to forfeit more than 600 rifles and shotguns.

The sentence Leeson imposed was less than both federal prosecutors and the defense were seeking. The maximum sentence is up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both.

In court filings ahead of the sentencing, federal prosecutors argued for 41 to 51 months incarceration.

Kings attorney, Robert Barnes, of Los Angeles, argued for five years of probation and community service.

Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives seized guns from Kings farm during a January 2022 raid, leading a grand jury to indict him that June on a single count of dealing in firearms without a license.

A federal jury in Allentown convicted King on May 17, 2023.

King told an LNP  LancasterOnline reporter who visited the farm shortly after the 2022 raid that his business is running a dairy. He said he sold some guns from his personal collection, but didnt advertise and didnt sell handguns.

Prosecutors wrote that they discovered King advertised guns for sale as far back as 2014 and going up to January 2022 in a local newspaper, though the memorandum did not specify the paper.

LNP classified ad records show a Reuben King at his propertys address in Leacock Township paid to advertise a rifle for sale in 2008.

Kings actions, prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memorandum, required that he be sentenced to prison.

King repeatedly violated federal law by running an unlicensed firearms dealership from his barn, for which he maintained an inventory of over 600 longarms, including pallets of new-in-the-box firearms, and even posted newspaper ads for his wares. He did this both before and after receiving the extraordinary benefit of a warning letter from ATF, prosecutors wrote.

Prosecutors wrote that a person can get a license to sell firearms and noted that the investigation was triggered by the complaint of one such legitimate firearms dealer.

In arguing for probation, Barnes downplayed Kings actions.

King was not running guns to criminal cartels, forging documents, scraping off serial numbers, marketing guns to drug dealers or selling firearms for unlawful use, Barnes wrote in his sentencing memo. The government would treat King as if he is the Merchant of Death, rather than the Amish farmer with an 8th grade education, no criminal record, a key supporting member of his community, who simply ran afoul of the licensure rules our government increasingly imposes on more and more people.

Another attorney for King, Berks County attorney Joshua Prince, said ahead of Tuesdays sentencing that King intended to appeal his conviction but could not do so until he was sentenced.

Kings attorneys contend the law requiring a federal firearms license is unconstitutional because it is vague. Prince on Tuesday said the ATF itself has acknowledged there is no bright line rule as to whether an individual requires a federal firearm license.

According to a 15-page document posted to the ATFs website titled Do I need a license to buy and sell firearms?, a person needs a license if they repetitively buy and sell firearms with the principal motive of making a profit. Licenses are not required for someone who engages in occasional sales of firearms from your personal collection.

Prince said another issue in Kings favor is a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in a different case holding that firearms regulations had to be consistent with the countrys historical tradition of firearm regulation.

In that case, Prince said, the Supreme Court looked at what laws were in place when the country was founded and declared that mid- to late-19th century laws come too late to provide any insight into the meaning of the Constitution in 1787.

Prince said firearms dealers werent required to be licensed until 1938, or 147 years after the Second Amendment was ratified.

King also claimed in court filings as the case made way to trial that his right to practice his Amish faith under the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act was burdened by the requirement that a licensed dealer be photographed. The Amish contend their religious beliefs prevent them from posing for photographs. King never sought the license.
Pennsylvania Republican state Senate leaders have joined a growing chorus of conservatives across the country who are publicly backing Texas Gov. Greg Abbotts controversial efforts to thwart illegal immigration into his state.

In a joint statement, Senate President Pro. Tempore Kim Ward, Majority Leader Joe Pittman and Appropriations Committee Chairman Scott Martin of Lancaster County said the deeply troubling crisis at the southern border presents an imminent threat to the country.

They also called on Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, to join 25 Republican governors who have offered support to Abbott and they asked Pennsylvanias congressional delegation to pressure President Joe Bidens administration to protect Texas.

Unfortunately, the Biden administration continues to flout our nations laws and ignore its solemn legal and constitutional responsibility to protect American citizens against the catastrophic impacts of unchecked illegal immigrations, the Senate leaders said. For that reason, we stand in support of Texas Governor Greg Abbottts efforts to use every tool at his disposal to protect the border.

Those tools have included installing razor wire between a park and the Rio Grande River that serves as the border between the United States and Mexico and putting large buoys in the river to block migrants.

Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward speaks while at left are Sen. Scott Martin, center, and Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman. The three released a statement on Friday backing Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's fight against illegal immigration into his state. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

On Jan. 12, a woman and two children attempting to enter the United States drowned near the park and U.S. Border Patrol agents said that Texas authorities would not let them enter the site to help the victims. Texas officials have said National Guard troops investigated the situation, but did not see the woman and children.

Abbott has fought the federal government over the border by keeping Border Patrol agents from accessing the park near the river and continuing to have state troopers and Texas National Guard members install more razor wire along the river, according to the Texas Tribune.

Earlier this week, the majority-conservative U.S. Supreme Court narrowly overturned a lower court ruling and allowed Border Patrol agents to cut the razor wire to apprehend those illegally entering the country.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott at a news conference at the Governors Mansion in March 2023.Leila Saidane | The Texas Tribune

Abbott, though, has claimed his state is under an invasion and that President Biden has failed to enforce immigration laws.

Governor Abbott is clearly exercising his Constitutional authority to defend his state against the consequences of the Biden administrations inexcusable indifference toward the suffering its policies are inflicting upon border communities, including skyrocketing crime, human trafficking, unprecedented volumes of narcotics like fentanyl flowing into our communities around the country and numbers of individuals who wish to do our country harm, said the Senate leaders.
The government wants your doctor to start taking a closer look at your blood in 2024.

That probably made you raise an eyebrow because  well, why? Right?

Turns out, theres a good, and very important reason. Specifically, according to multiple reports, the Center for Disease Control is now asking doctors to consider doing more blood tests that search for PFAS  cancer causing forever chemicals  in their patients blood.

This information is intended for individuals and communities around the country, who are concerned about exposure to PFAS to have productive conversations with their medical providers, Dr. Aaron Bernstein, Director of CDCs National Center for Environmental health and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, told ABC News.

Bernstein told ABC that over 90% of people in the United States have bene exposed to PFAS.

Weve learned more and more in recent years about how exposures to PFAS may increase risk for many diseases, Bernstein said.

PFAS are called forever chemicals, because they can linger in water and air for thousands of years. And they are, particularly, bad for humans once inside the body. PFAs, as they are known, have been linked to cancer, liver damage and other health issues.

Most are exposed to PFAS through drinking water, but the chemicals have increasingly been found in food and even in animals.

The move to begin blood testing more for PFAS is designed to try to help guide exposure reduction or provide psychological relief to patients, per the report.

Currently, according to ABC, there are no approved treatments to help reduce the level of PFAS in a persons body.

A PFAS level is one piece of data that needs to be taken in a broader context, Bernstein said. We need to understand the individuals health history, their family history, what other exposures they may have that might increase the risk of diseases that can also be associated with PFAS.
B.C. Premier David Eby speaks during a news conference in Vancouver, B.C., Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024. The B.C. government is taking three major steps to protect children from online threats, including restricting cellphone use in schools, setting up a service to remove photos from the internet and pursuing predators and creating legislation to hold social media companies accountable for harms they have caused. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns
Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, holds talks with U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in Bangkok, Thailand, Jan. 26, 2024.

Wang held a new round of talks with Sullivan here on Friday and Saturday. During the talks, the two sides had candid, substantive and fruitful strategic communication on implementing the consensus reached by leaders of the two countries in San Francisco and properly handling important and sensitive issues in China-U.S. relations. (Xinhua/Wang Teng)

BANGKOK, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, held a new round of talks with U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan here on Friday and Saturday.

During the talks, the two sides had candid, substantive and fruitful strategic communication on implementing the consensus reached by leaders of the two countries in San Francisco and properly handling important and sensitive issues in China-U.S. relations.

Wang, also director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, noted that as this year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the U.S., both sides should take this opportunity to draw experience and lessons, treat each other as equals rather than condescendingly, seek common ground while reserving differences rather than accentuate differences, genuinely respect rather than undermine each other's core interests, and work together to respect each other, live together in peace, and pursue win-win cooperation, finding the right way for China and the United States to get along with each other.

Wang emphasized that the Taiwan question is China's internal affair, and the recent election in the Taiwan region cannot change the basic fact that Taiwan is part of China. The biggest risk to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait comes from "Taiwan independence", which also poses the biggest challenge to China-U.S. relations. The U.S. side must abide by the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques, put its commitment not to support "Taiwan independence" into action and support the peaceful reunification of China.

Wang pointed out that every country has its national security concerns, but these concerns must be legitimate and reasonable. There should be no politicizing or overstretching of the concept of national security, nor can these concerns be used as a pretext to suppress and contain other countries' development.

Both sides agreed to carry out further discussions on the boundaries between national security and economic activities.

During the talks, the two sides agreed to jointly implement the San Francisco vision: leaders of the two countries will maintain regular contact to provide strategic guidance to bilateral relations; promote exchanges in various fields and at various levels between China and the United States, make good use of current strategic communication channels as well as dialogue and consultation mechanisms in such areas as diplomacy, military, economy, finance, business and climate change; continue discussions on the guiding principles of China-U.S. relations; launch a China-U.S. counter-narcotics cooperation working group in the near future; hold the first meeting of China-U.S. intergovernmental dialogue mechanism on artificial intelligence this spring; and take further steps to expand people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

The two sides also discussed regional and international issues, including the Middle East, Ukraine, the Korean Peninsula and the South China Sea. 

Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, holds talks with U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in Bangkok, Thailand, Jan. 26, 2024.

Wang held a new round of talks with Sullivan here on Friday and Saturday. During the talks, the two sides had candid, substantive and fruitful strategic communication on implementing the consensus reached by leaders of the two countries in San Francisco and properly handling important and sensitive issues in China-U.S. relations. (Xinhua/Wang Teng)
Opposition coalition presidential hopeful Maria Corina Machado speaks to supporters at a campaign event in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024. An election date has not been set yet, when the opposition's one candidate, Machado, will run against current President Nicolas Maduro. (AP Photo/Jesus Vargas)
Trumps first response to a jury awarding E. Jean Carroll more than $83 million is to blame President Joe Biden for his defamation.

Trump posted Truth Social, Absolutely ridiculous! I fully disagree with both verdicts and will be appealing this whole Biden Directed Witch Hunt focused on me and the Republican Party. Our Legal System is out of control, and being used as a Political Weapon. They have taken away all First Amendment Rights. THIS IS NOT AMERICA!

Yes, this is America. In America, people cant abuse their positions of power to smear and defame others.

To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily.

Donald Trump doesnt have special immunity or privileges that allow him to continue to defame a woman that he was found to have raped.

Trumps conspiracy theories and cries of witch hunt play well with the MAGAs, but polling has shown that the rest of Republicans and the country arent buying it.

Donald Trumps only strategy is to try to twist each piece of legal bad news to fit the political narrative of his presidential campaign, but E. Jean Carroll got some justice today. Money and verdicts cant make Trumps rape go away or restore her reputation, which Trump has harmed, but it can send a message to people like the former president that there are consequences for even his words and actions.

A Special Message From PoliticusUSA

If you are in a position to donate purely to help us keep the doors open on PoliticusUSA during what is a critical election year, please do so here.

We have been honored to be able to put your interests first for 14 years as we only answer to our readers and we will not compromise on that fundamental, core PoliticusUSA value.
BOGOTA, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- The government of Colombia decided to recall its ambassador to Argentina for consultations on Friday, following contentious remarks made by Argentine President Javier Milei, who labeled Colombian President Gustavo Petro a "communist murderer."

In an interview with journalist Patricia Janiot, Milei referred to Petro as "a communist murderer who is ruining Colombia." The interview, disseminated on Janiot's YouTube account, has caused diplomatic tensions between the two South American countries.

In response to Milei's comments, Colombia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement, condemning the Argentine president's remarks as "disrespectful and irresponsible."

The statement emphasized that such comments "violate the deep ties of friendship, understanding, and cooperation that have historically united Colombia and Argentina." 
Aiken Standard Reporter

Erin Weeks is a reporter with the Aiken Standard. She covers education in Aiken County.

Erin is a graduate of the University of South Carolina Aiken. Her first poetry book, "Origins of My Love," was published by Bottlecap Press in 2022.

To support local journalism, sign up for a subscription. See our current offers 
The federal fiscal year ended and the performance grades for the contractors at the Savannah River Site have been released.

Savannah River Nuclear Solutions and Savannah River Mission received grades of "very good" according to recently released Department of Energy evaluations of their performance.

Battelle Savannah River Alliance and Centerra received grades of "excellent."

Savannah River Nuclear Solutions

Savannah River Nuclear Solutions is the manager and operator of the Savannah River Site, a Department of Energy-owned facility 20 miles south of Aiken.

Two Department of Energy offices, the Office of Environmental Management and the National Nuclear Security Administration evaluated the company's performance.

The Office of Environmental Management is the Department of Energy office responsible for cleaning up the waste generated as the country developed nuclear weapons during the Cold War.

The National Nuclear Security Agency is a quasi-independent part of the Department of Energy tasked with producing the materials and components of nuclear weapons.

Both offices gave Savannah River Nuclear Solutions a grade of "very good."

The Office of Environmental Management listed 17 accomplishments in its evaluation.

The top accomplishment listed is "excelled in sound financial execution, achieving $15 million hard dollar cost savings, 150% of goal, and productivity and efficiency cost savings of $48 million, 134% of goal.

There are four area of improvement listed.

The top area of improvement is that the company received a notice of violation from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control after a miscommunication between the company and the state agency.

The National Nuclear Security Agency divides its evaluation into four goals: nuclear weapons delivery (the site produces tritium), nuclear weapons security, mission enablement and mission leadership.
One of the first signs of spring is related to the seasonal activity of our avian friends. Here in Aiken, birds are actively building their nests. Read moreMEDICAL INSIGHTS: Spring is a prime time for birdwatching
North Augusta reporter

Elizabeth Hustad is a reporter with The Post and Courier North Augusta. She covers government, growth and development, and business.

Elizabeth is a graduate of the University of Minnesota and previously worked with a Twin Cities weekly. Her work has appeared in the Minneapolis Star Tribune and MinnPost.

To support local journalism, sign up for a subscription. See our current offers 
Like most presidential budgets before it, President Bidens fiscal 2025 tax and spending blueprint is more of a political statement than an actual legislative proposal. Basically, its a reelection pitch straight from the Middle Class Joe playbook he ran on in 2020: raise taxes on the rich Read moreGuest editorial: Bidens budget is a lot more realistic than Trumps on taxes
An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 26, 2024 shows light installations for an upcoming lantern show in Zigong, southwest China's Sichuan Province. The city of Zigong is well known for the large number of dinosaur fossils that have been unearthed in past decades.

Lantern shows in Zigong can be traced back to the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties, which have developed into an international cultural activity with performances and night markets since 1987.

The 30th International Dinosaur Lantern Show, featuring high-tech installations such as artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) devices, will kick off here on Feb. 2 this year to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan)

An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 26, 2024 shows light installations for an upcoming lantern show in Zigong, southwest China's Sichuan Province. The city of Zigong is well known for the large number of dinosaur fossils that have been unearthed in past decades.

Lantern shows in Zigong can be traced back to the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties, which have developed into an international cultural activity with performances and night markets since 1987.

The 30th International Dinosaur Lantern Show, featuring high-tech installations such as artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) devices, will kick off here on Feb. 2 this year to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan)

An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 26, 2024 shows light installations for an upcoming lantern show in Zigong, southwest China's Sichuan Province. The city of Zigong is well known for the large number of dinosaur fossils that have been unearthed in past decades.

Lantern shows in Zigong can be traced back to the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties, which have developed into an international cultural activity with performances and night markets since 1987.

The 30th International Dinosaur Lantern Show, featuring high-tech installations such as artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) devices, will kick off here on Feb. 2 this year to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan)

A drone photo taken on Jan. 26, 2024 shows light installations for an upcoming lantern show in Zigong, southwest China's Sichuan Province. The city of Zigong is well known for the large number of dinosaur fossils that have been unearthed in past decades.

Lantern shows in Zigong can be traced back to the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties, which have developed into an international cultural activity with performances and night markets since 1987.

The 30th International Dinosaur Lantern Show, featuring high-tech installations such as artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) devices, will kick off here on Feb. 2 this year to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan)

A photo taken on Jan. 26, 2024 shows light installations for an upcoming lantern show in Zigong, southwest China's Sichuan Province. The city of Zigong is well known for the large number of dinosaur fossils that have been unearthed in past decades.

Lantern shows in Zigong can be traced back to the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties, which have developed into an international cultural activity with performances and night markets since 1987.

The 30th International Dinosaur Lantern Show, featuring high-tech installations such as artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) devices, will kick off here on Feb. 2 this year to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan)

An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 26, 2024 shows light installations for an upcoming lantern show in Zigong, southwest China's Sichuan Province. The city of Zigong is well known for the large number of dinosaur fossils that have been unearthed in past decades.

Lantern shows in Zigong can be traced back to the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties, which have developed into an international cultural activity with performances and night markets since 1987.

The 30th International Dinosaur Lantern Show, featuring high-tech installations such as artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) devices, will kick off here on Feb. 2 this year to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan)

An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 26, 2024 shows light installations for an upcoming lantern show in Zigong, southwest China's Sichuan Province. The city of Zigong is well known for the large number of dinosaur fossils that have been unearthed in past decades.

Lantern shows in Zigong can be traced back to the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties, which have developed into an international cultural activity with performances and night markets since 1987.

The 30th International Dinosaur Lantern Show, featuring high-tech installations such as artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) devices, will kick off here on Feb. 2 this year to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan)

A drone photo taken on Jan. 26, 2024 shows light installations for an upcoming lantern show in Zigong, southwest China's Sichuan Province. The city of Zigong is well known for the large number of dinosaur fossils that have been unearthed in past decades.

Lantern shows in Zigong can be traced back to the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties, which have developed into an international cultural activity with performances and night markets since 1987.

The 30th International Dinosaur Lantern Show, featuring high-tech installations such as artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) devices, will kick off here on Feb. 2 this year to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan)

An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 26, 2024 shows light installations for an upcoming lantern show in Zigong, southwest China's Sichuan Province. The city of Zigong is well known for the large number of dinosaur fossils that have been unearthed in past decades.

Lantern shows in Zigong can be traced back to the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties, which have developed into an international cultural activity with performances and night markets since 1987.

The 30th International Dinosaur Lantern Show, featuring high-tech installations such as artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) devices, will kick off here on Feb. 2 this year to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan)
The name Einstein has long been synonymous with genius, but it goes back to a man and his equation, E = mc. In his lifetime, Albert Einstein was the worlds most famous man and most famous Jew and most famous refugee (the last two being connected, as he had to flee his native Germany when t Read moreGuest editorial: Ruth Gottesmans genius gift: The end of tuition at Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Moncks Corner, SC (29461)

Today

Sun and clouds mixed. High 67F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 39F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.
Two faith leaders  one a rabbi, the other an AME pastor  with nearly 700 miles between them along the East Coast didn't know each other until they experienced separate targeted acts of violence inside their houses of worship.

For the Rev. Eric S.C. Manning of Mother Emanuel AME Church, this tragedy happened on June 17, 2015, when a white supremacist entered the church during an evening Bible study and murdered nine church members.

While Manning was not working for the church at the time  instead he was pastoring a church in Georgetown  he still remembers where he was when he heard the news.

He said all he could do in that moment was pray.

He traveled to Charleston the next day for a community gathering at Morris Brown AME Church.

"Everyone from every walk of life was there to comfort each other and kind of to take inventory on how could this ever happen in our space in our time," said Manning, who became the pastor of the church about a year after the tragic event.

On Oct. 27, 2018, nearly three years after the Charleston shooting, Rabbi Hazzan Jeffrey Myers was inside the Tree of Life Congregation synagogue in Pittsburgh when an antisemitic gunman entered the sacred space and murdered 11 attendees.

When Manning heard the news of the tragedy, he reached out to Tree of Life, offering support and guidance. He ended up visiting Pittsburgh days later to meet Myers.

"There's this picture of us embracing as if we were old friends," Manning said.

During an Interfaith Partners of South Carolina virtual event called Confronting Hate, Manning and Myers planned to share their experiences leading their congregations in the aftermath of tragedy. Myers could not attend the panel on Jan. 23 due to an unforeseen family emergency, but Manning continued on with the event.
GREENVILLE  It's impressive enough that two Greenville chefs have been nominated for prestigious 2024 James Beard Foundation Award honors. This year, both are competing at a national rather regional level.

Tania Cienfuegos Harris and Joe Cash are the two Greenville chefs nominated Jan. 24 in what is colloquially considered the Oscars of the food world.

Cienfuegos is executive pastry chef at Topsoil Kitchen & Market and is nominated in the category of Outstanding Pastry Chef and Baker. Cashs Scoundrel restaurant was nominated as Best New Restaurant.

Want the latest food and dining news from Greenville? Sign up to receive our free newsletter every Thursday to keep you informed on everything happening in the Upstate culinary scene. Email

Sign Up!

Per the James Beard Awards website, the Outstanding Pastry Chef and Baker award honors a pastry chef or baker who makes desserts, pastries or breads and who demonstrates exceptional skills and who contributes positively to their broader community.

The Best New Restaurant award is given to a restaurant that opened between Oct. 1, 2022, through Sept. 30, 2023, and demonstrates excellence in cuisine, along with consistency in quality and excellence in food, atmosphere, hospitality and operations, that is likely to make a significant impact in the future and that contributes positively to its broader community.

Harris and Scoundrel are one of 20 nominees from across the country nominated for each award.

O-Ku, which is Charleston-based and has a location in Greenville, also received a nomination for Outstanding Restaurateur.

The two Greenville chefs add to the growing number of Upstate culinary talent that has been recognized by the foundation.

Last year, chef and owner of Comal 864 in West Greenville was nominated in the foundation's Best Chef: Southeast. Also last year, Furman University sociology professor Ken Kolb was nominated in the foundation's Media Award for his book, Retail Inequality: Reframing the Food Desert Debate.

Scoundrel's Joe Cash

Scoundrel, the playful French-inspired restaurant in downtown Greenville, is Cashs homage to his hometown. The chef grew up in Taylors and cut his teeth at restaurants like 33 Liberty in Greenville before venturing to New York City. There he worked at Per Se before departing to cook at the famed Copenhagen, Denmark, restaurant NOMA.
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
Among the sea of brightly colored sticky notes on which hundreds of people scribbled their dos and don'ts for the reimagining of Union Pier, one theme rose to surface: water.

People want access to the water at the 65-acre site that sits on the eastern edge of the Cooper River in downtown Charleston.

Over two days this week, the team tasked with developing a new plan for the cruise ship terminal collected feedback about desired uses for Union Pier. Designers offered a range of ideas within categories of residential, commercial, institutional, recreational, cultural and historical uses. Visitors indicated their selections with stickers and added their own ideas with Post-it notes.

"Boat ramps," "a sailing center," "public marina" read some of the notes stuck to dozens of displays at the Charleston Visitor Center and the Arthur W. Christopher Community Center. The comments from the workshops, and future ones, will be transcribed by the design team and considered in their eventual plan. A draft is expected in May or June, when the public will have the chance to weigh in again.

"The fact that we can't easily access the water in a city surrounded by water is incredible," said McKenna Joyce, a member of the city's Planning Commission.

Aside from actually getting in or on the water, Joyce said people want to be able see it, which means potentially limiting the height and density of buildings on the site. Height and density, along with criticisms of a lack of public input, were reasons an earlier plan was scrapped.
When I was in third grade, my teacher had a vegetable tasting day for us. We each brought in a vegetable from home and shared it with our classmates. I remember coming home, excited, and announcing to my mother that I had fallen in love with rutabaga. After a startled moment or two, she sm Read moreStevens: For the love of rutabaga  and our children
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.
URUMQI, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- During his maiden visit to northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Thai journalist Supachai Wuthichuwong was impressed by the local tasty food and diversified cultures.

The fruit in Turpan City are the best I have ever tasted, both fresh and dried! They are very delicious and very sweet, he said.

Apart from the fruit, the city's burgeoning "seafood" industry also surprised him, especially as the region is landlocked. He said that Xinjiang is far from the sea, but people are developing aquaculture. People can taste fresh seafood. "It's really amazing."

While visiting Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar in Urumqi, the regional capital, Wuthichuwong tried on a purple patterned doppa hat. It's a region with a mixture of cultures. Xinjiang is really a peaceful and harmonious place, he said.

He said there are a lot of Thai tourists who want to come to Xinjiang because the culture, attractions and food are different from Thailand, adding that he expects more exchanges between China and Thailand, not only in cooperation projects and economic trade but also in people-to-people exchanges.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia. Ho Lee Ping, deputy executive editor of Sin Chew Daily of Malaysia, called for more agricultural technology cooperation between the two countries, after being impressed by unmanned harvesting machines and large-scale farming in Xinjiang.

During his recent trip to Xinjiang, Beat Schneider, a Swiss writer and retired professor at Bern University of the Arts, was especially impressed by the happy faces and smiles of the people he encountered.

In Schneider's opinion, the various ethnic groups in Xinjiang are very satisfied with their lives. During his first trip to Xinjiang, he visited Urumqi, Kashgar Prefecture and Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture.

As China's development is becoming increasingly rapid, his interest in China is growing rather than diminishing. After visiting the comprehensive bonded zone in Kashgar, he said that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has brought tremendous opportunities for the development of BRI participating countries.

Many Western reports are fake news of Xinjiang. The Western media's overwhelming focus on negative news about China is not objective journalism, said Schneider.

He said he would share these positive impressions and feelings with his family and friends in Switzerland and with the wider Western public. He would also tell the true story of Xinjiang, as well as China, through writing books or giving lectures. Enditem

(Intern Subati Subi contributed to the story.)
WEST COLUMBIA  First Lady Jill Biden praised teachers and painted a dismal picture of public education under a second Donald Trump presidency at a campaign stop in West Columbia Jan. 26.

Appearing at the Brookland Baptist Church alongside the National Education Associations President Becky Pringle, Biden talked up her husbands efforts to forgive student loan debt and emphasized the stakes of a nearly sealed general election rematch.

A community college professor herself, Biden waxed about the two drastically different visions of education  a Biden one, where educators are valued and student loan relief is expanded, or a Trump one, where public school funding is gutted, teachers unions are marginalized, lesson plans are censored and books are banned.

In America, we dont ban books, she said to a cheering crowd.

While Bidens remarks mostly centered on a November contest with Trump, the visit comes as her husbands reelection campaign looks to drive enthusiasm ahead of the Feb. 3 South Carolina Democratic primary, which he is widely expected to win soundly.

The first-in-the-nation contest comes an election cycle after Palmetto State Democrats  particularly Black voters  revived the presidents 2020 campaign, earning the state this year's first official slot in the partys primary calendar over Iowa and New Hampshire.

Four years ago, you gave us wings, and Joe and I will never forget it, Biden told the crowd. Without South Carolina, there is no President Biden.

And while New Hampshire held an unsanctioned primary Jan. 23 with only challengers on the ballot, a victorious Biden write-in campaign seemingly laid to rest any fledgling thought that either author Marianne Williamson or U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., could pose any threat to his renomination.
FORT MILL  Kassie Netherland's life plan appeared to be curtailed when doctors told her she would need open-heart surgery last year.

But a new opportunity was opening close to home.

The 23-year-old Rock Hill resident and University of South Carolina graduate thought 2023 would be the year she would begin earning her master's degree.

But an irregular heartbeat, known as supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), began affecting her health and she returned to her parents' home to recover and prepare her Plan B.

As Netherland had her surgery last summer, Laurel Institute of Technology prepped to open in September its campus in Fort Mill off of State Road 160 south of the Tega Cay area.

Officials there said based on feedback from Rock Hill area employers, the first program they wanted to launch was for cardiovascular technology.

Given her field of study  exercise science  and her physical ailment, Netherland said her interest was piqued and she enrolled as one of the first 15 students. She and others in the courses are learning to perform cardiac sonography and echocardiogram procedures.

"Our family has had a history with cardiac conditions," she said. "And I always wanted to be in a hospital setting."

Netherland is on her way to completing Laurel's 16-month certificate program for cardiovascular technology. The Fort Mill site is the Laurel's fourth, following their locations in Morgantown, W.V., and the outskirts of Pittsburgh, Penn.

"We noticed a lot of people moving from western Pennsylvania to the Charlotte area," Laurel President Douglas Decker said. "It kind of became a natural place to look to expand. We wanted to serve an area that's growing. We spent over two years prior to opening the school just meeting with people, seeing where there was a need for what we do."

They met with local leaders like Dean Faile, CEO of the York County Chamber of Commerce, who connected school officials with area hospitals and medical offices. That allowed the school to choose cardiovascular technology as the initial program, Decker said, based on the feedback.
BAGHDAD, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The first round of dialogue to discuss ending the U.S.-led international coalition's mission in Iraq was launched Saturday, the Iraqi government said.

A statement by the media office of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani said al-Sudani sponsored the launch of the first round of the dialogue without giving further details, while publishing a picture showing al-Sudani chairing a meeting attended by senior Iraqi military officers and U.S. officials.

On Thursday, Iraq said it agreed with the United States to form the Higher Military Commission to discuss the end of the U.S.-led international coalition's mission in Iraq.

Iraq noted that the commission will assess the threat posed by the Islamic State and evaluate the capabilities of Iraqi security forces, in order to formulate a clear timetable for the gradual reduction of international coalition advisors in Iraq and the end of the coalition's military mission. 
PR-Inside.com: 2024-01-27 00:45:25

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 544 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

NEWTOWN, PA / ACCESSWIRE / January 26, 2024 / Edelson Lechtzin LLP is investigating securities fraud claims on behalf of all purchasers of Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM) common stock between April 30, 2020, and January 22, 2024, inclusive (the "Class Period").Investors who purchased ADM common stock may move the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois to appoint them as lead plaintiff, no later thanMarch 25, 2024 . Current holders of ADM stock may pursue corporate governance reforms. Please contact Edelson Lechtzin LLP at 844-696-7492 to discuss your investment losses, or by e-mail at elechtzin@ edelson-law.com . Click here if you wish to join the case.Background on Archer-Daniels-Midland CompanyADM is an agricultural supply chain manager and processor with three business segments: Ag Services and Oilseeds, Carbohydrate Solutions, and Nutrition. The Nutrition segment produces and distributes various ingredients and solutions, including plant-based proteins, natural flavors, natural colors, emulsifiers, and specialty food and feed ingredients.The Securities Fraud AllegationsThe complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or omissions regarding ADM's business, operations, and prospects, including that: (i) the Nutrition segment's financial reporting and accounting practices did not provide investors with an accurate impression of ADM's performance and prospects, including reported operating profits; (ii) the Nutrition segment's accounting practices created a heightened risk of regulatory scrutiny and adverse impacts to ADM's business; and (iii) based on the foregoing, Defendants lacked a reasonable basis for their positive statements about ADM's Nutrition segment and related financial results, growth, and prospects.On January 21, 2024, ADM announced that it had placed its CFO, Vikram Luther, on immediate leave. The reason for this was an ongoing investigation being conducted by outside counsel for ADM and the Board's Audit Committee. The investigation pertains to certain accounting practices and procedures followed by ADM's Nutrition segment, including some intersegment transactions.ADM initiated the investigation following its receipt of a voluntary document request from the SEC. As a result of the SEC request, ADM postponed the release of its Q4 and full year 2023 earnings and also withdrew its prior guidance for its Nutrition segment. On this news, the price of ADM stock dropped by $16.23 per share, or approximately 24%, from $68.19 per share to close at $51.69 on January 22, 2024.For more information, please contact:Marc Edelson, Esq.Eric Lechtzin, Esq.EDELSON LECHTZIN LLP411 S. State Street, Suite N-300Newtown, PA 18940Phone: 844-696-7492 or 215-867-2399 ext. 1Email: medelson@ edelson-law.com Email: elechtzin@ edelson-law.com Web: www.edelson-law.com Edelson Lechtzin LLP is a national class action law firm with offices in Pennsylvania and California. In addition to cases involving securities and investment fraud, our lawyers focus on class and collective litigation in cases alleging violations of the federal antitrust laws, employee benefit plans under ERISA, wage theft and unpaid overtime, consumer fraud, and dangerous and defective drugs and medical devices.This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions. No class has been certified in this case, so you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. Your ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.SOURCE: Edelson Lechtzin LLP
PR-Inside.com: 2024-01-27 13:03:40

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 324 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / January 27, 2024 / The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of The Boeing Company ("Boeing" or "the Company") (NYSE: BA) for violations of the securities laws.The investigation focuses on whether the Company issued false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors. Boeing is the subject of a Wall Street Journal article published on January 7, 2024, titled: "FAA Orders Grounding of Some Boeing 737 MAX 9 Jets After Emergency Landing." According to the Journal, "the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a temporary grounding and immediate inspections of dozens of Boeing 737 MAX Jets, after one of the planes made an emergency landing when a section of the aircraft ripped away in midair. Passengers and flight attendants described a harrowing incident during an Alaska Airlines flight on a 737 MAX 9 jet Friday night that left a gaping hole at 16,000 feet in the sky. Alaska and United, two of the biggest users of the jets, canceled dozens of flights each on Saturday but said inspections were underway." Based on this news, shares of Boeing dropped by more than 8% on the next day.If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com , or by email at bschall@ schallfirm.com The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.CONTACT:The Schall Law FirmBrian Schall, Esq.310-301-3335 info@ schallfirm.comwww.schallfirm.com SOURCE: The Schall Law Firm
PR-Inside.com: 2024-01-27 00:00:23

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 689 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

From Segregation to Celebration: The Lincoln School Project's Journey of RediscoveryWEST PLAINS, MO / ACCESSWIRE / January 26, 2024 / In a nation grappling with its complex history and the unsettling erasure of marginalized voices, the restoration and preservation of black historic sites has emerged as a powerful tool for education, healing, and community building.These sites stand as tangible reminders of the struggles, triumphs, and invaluable contributions of African Americans throughout history. Shockingly, The Washington Post reports that black history is not taught in its entirety in some states, underscoring the urgent need to reclaim and revitalize these spaces. By doing so, we have the opportunity to unearth hidden narratives, bridge educational gaps, and foster a deeper understanding of our shared past.The Lincoln School Project in West Plains, Missouri, stands as a testament to the transformative potential of these initiatives. By breathing new life into the once-segregated Lincoln School, not only is there restoration of the building itself, but there is also a rejuvenation of the spirit and culture of the West Plains community.In an interview in Veranda Magazine, Brent Leggs, executive director of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, asserts that preserving black historic sites can help bridge the education gap. Safeguarding tangible reminders of our shared history provides essential platforms for learning and dialogue.The Lincoln School restoration project serves as a case-in-point. Once a symbol of segregation, the school now stands as a beacon of hope. There are plans to offer educational programs that highlight the stories and struggles of the past. Through these initiatives, communities gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by African Americans and the ongoing journey towards equality.The restoration of the Lincoln School is spearheaded by cultural restoration advocate Crockett W. Oaks III. Oaks recognized the lack of cultural identity, particularly for African Americans, in the region. Motivated by the desire to preserve their heritage, he embarked on a mission to restore cultural institutions like the Lincoln School.These restoration efforts not only rejuvenate the physical structures but also breathe life into the community's spirit and pride. By reclaiming and celebrating their cultural heritage, communities find a renewed sense of identity, fostering unity and reconciliation.Preservation initiatives thrive when the community becomes actively engaged. Oaks emphasizes the importance of garnering upfront buy-in and involving stakeholders from diverse backgrounds. By championing the cause and rallying like-minded individuals, a movement can begin to take shape.The Lincoln School Project goes beyond the physical restoration of a 100-year-old school building; it represents a renewal of community pride. Through engaging programming, the project honors the past while embracing new beginnings and endless possibilities for the future. By telling the stories of Lincoln School in various mediums, from documentaries to interactive exhibits, the project ensures that the diverse narratives of African American history are preserved and shared. This comprehensive approach fosters a sense of collective ownership and respect in the community's heritage.Preserving black historic sites is an essential endeavor that goes beyond the mere conservation of physical structures. It serves as a catalyst for education, healing, and community unity. By restoring and reimagining once-segregated spaces, we create opportunities for dialogue, understanding, and reconciliation. Through these efforts, we can build a stronger, more inclusive future for our country, one that honors and learns from its past.ABOUT THE LINCOLN SCHOOL PROJECTThe Lincoln School Project, led by Crockett Oaks III, is revitalizing a century-old, one-room black school from the segregation era in rural Missouri. Associate Vice Chancellor of Missouri State University West Plains, Oaks and The Lincoln School Project are driving a restoration initiative that honors the school's history while steering it toward a promising future. With a distinguished 33-year U.S. Army career as a Colonel and expertise in business and criminal justice administration (holding two master's degrees), Oaks is also spearheading other ambitious cultural restoration projects following the work with The Lincoln School Project - and since 2020 has been sharing insights into the transformative journey.For more information, visit theLincoln School Project . For additional information, visit the Lincoln School Project onFacebook .CONTACT:Crockett Oaks IIIinfo@ lincolnschool.com281-706-3420 SOURCE: Lincoln School Project
At the just concluded 54th convocation ceremony of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, Aminat Ige-Ariyibi was the cynosure of all eyes as she walked to the rostrum to deliver an emotional valedictory speech as the overall best graduating doctoral thesis award winner.

Mrs Ige-Ariyibi, in her late 30s, who lectures at the Lagos State University (LASU), bagged a PhD in Mathematics.

In an emotion-laden narration, Mrs Ige-Ariyibi recounted how she went through several episodes of miscarriages, eight courses of chemotherapy to a bad case of chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM).

Before she enrolled for the PhD programme, Mrs Ige-Ariyibi battled cancer, went through chemotherapy sessions and suffered miscarriages. But as soon as she was certified fit medically, the awardee said she picked continued her life journey as she enrolled for the PhD programme.

Expectedly, Mrs Ige-Ariyibi still experienced the vicissitudes of fortune while the PhD programme on- she was divorced, suffered depression, armed robbery attacks, and had surgical operations, but overcame it all.

But when she announced that she was remarried to the most adorable man, Nasir Ariyibi, who is the Director of Health Services at LASU, the entire hall became ecstatic.

While the programme was winding up, I started a mentorship community, and the beautiful part of it all, while on the programme I got married. This time around to the most adorable man I think of. A man who supports my dreams and ambition, she said.

In this exclusive interview with PREMIUM TIMES, Mrs Ige-Ariyibi speaks about her educational background, journey with Mathematics, and her career trajectory from the banking industry to academia.

From banking to academia

As an undergraduate student, Mrs Ige-Ariyibi said she always looked forward to teaching at the university after school but as fate would have it, her first major career was in banking.

She said: I taught briefly at Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) Ikorodu, now Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), then I moved to Sterling Bank.

While at Sterling, I had my people reminding me of my ambition to teach, including my supervisor during my M.Sc programme at UNILAG, he was reminding me that I had the goal of going deeper into Mathematics, so I applied for a doctorate degree.

Taking a doctorate in Mathematics, I need to teach to refresh my brain and to also help young researchers grow. At that point, I had to yield to the call of the former VC of LASU, Professor Olanrewaju Fagbohun, to teach at LASU.

She left Sterling Bank officially in 2018 for the academia and started from scratch  from graduate assistant, regularised to assistant lecturer, and later promoted to lecturer II.

And very soon, I am looking forward to getting promoted to lecturer 1. I would say it has been smooth so far and I look forward to more promotions in the future, she said.

Honorary title for impacts

As an academician, Mrs Ige-Ariyibi is also the Yeye Oge of Akesan (YOA) Kingdom, an honourary title conferred on her by the first king of Akesan, Oba Abayomi Fagbohun.

Akesan is a small town in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State.

According to her, she combines both the academia and the traditional title so beautifully because the title of YOA came as an honour for my contributions to the youth and the society.

Majority of these contributions were educational based. So, they dont contradict each other. In fact, in corporate settings, aside from your core organisational goals, we have something called Corporate Social Responsibiity (CSR).

My call to serve and my contribution to my kingdom and my community is part of the CSR. It is my love for the people that made me accept the title. And I have been living well up to it, she said.

She added that she has been able to motivate and inspire a lot of girls and women with the title, because education does not end in the four walls of the classroom, and being in academia gave me a better leverage.

Significance of PhD, plans

Giving insights into her project, Mrs Ige-Ariyibi said with a focus on functional analysis, her PhD introduced a completely new metric type space, O-metric. According to her, O-metric is going to change the world of Metrical fix point theory and Metrical topology.

These are mathematical concepts I wont want to bore you with the details. My PhD research result is going to expand the scope of the application of functional analysis to real-life situations, she said.

She added that going for a post-doctoral in an Ivy League university is her next plan after her PhD.

After post-doctorate, I will take on the career from there. However, I have launched a mentorship community, called the Brave Hearts Mentoring Hub. I have always had the idea and I was planning to finish my PhD to start fully, she said.

Education background

Mrs Ige-Ariyibi explained that her educational background, from primary to tertiary institutions, contributed to her academic success.

I attended Federal Government Girls College, Omu-Aran, Kwara State before I returned to Medal Merit High School, Igando in Lagos to complete my secondary education. I bagged my first degree in Mathematics from LASU and my primary education was at Temijids Nursery and Primary School, Akesan, she said.

READ ALSO:

My interest in Mathematics deepened in secondary school, where I had interactions with Mr Olajide who was my Mathematics teacher then, so that school contributed. I must confess, that my primary school, Temijids built a good foundation for me. So yes, the schools I attended contributed, she said.

Even LASU was rugged, we always say that if you survive in LASU, you can survive anywhere. In LASU, you have to read. Resilience and perseverance were those things we learnt at LASU.

Apart from your personal goals of doing well at school, you also want to do well for your parents. In my university, the bountiful opportunities that are available for scholars in Lagos, from bursary to scholarship helped me. So yes, they contributed positively to my success.

Welfare of lecturers

In her valedictory speech, she advocated for the increased welfare of university lecturers.

It is not unpopular that university lecturers are poorly rewarded and students dont want to be like us when they grow up. I therefore appeal to President Bola Tinubu and the governor of my state, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and other state governors to look into the state of their academics and bring us renewed hope.

The private sector is not left out. They are the highest beneficiary of the products of our institutions, she said.

She, however, commended the government for the scholarship awards available to eligible students, describing them as life savers. Mrs Ige-Ariyibi is a beneficiary of the Federal Government and Lagos State Government scholarships for tertiary institutions.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The Nigerian Army says its troops from 82 Division have discovered burnt corpses of police operatives in a camp belonging to suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed militant wing, Eastern Security Network (ESN).

Jonah Unuakhalu, the spokesperson of the 82 Division of the army, in a statement on Thursday, said the troops made the discovery when they raided the camp and other nearby IPOB/ESN camps.

Mr Unuakhalu, a lieutenant colonel, said the camps are located along Umulolo-Umukele-Amousu and Agbobu in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigerias South-east.

The army spokesperson said the troops destroyed the camps despite encountering several improvised explosive devices (IED) planted by the terrorists.

He said the troops consequently cordoned off the area and searched several buildings used by the terrorists during the operation which was conducted in collaboration with personnel of the Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Air Force and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps.

During the search, signs of terrorists activities, occultic and acts of cannibalism by the group were discovered. The troops also destroyed the IED-making factory of the terrorists.

The troops recovered rank badges of two policemen that were kidnapped along Enugu-Port Harcourt road. Two suspects were arrested and also burnt policemens corpses were recovered for proper burial, Mr Unuakhalu said.

Other items recovered, according to the army, include Biafra currencies, fake US Dollar bills, Biafra Liberation Army T-shirts, other Biafra insignia, military kit bags, cables used for IED detonation and axes.

Foiled kidnap attack

Mr Unuakhalu said, in a separate operation in Owerri, the Imo State capital, the troops foiled a kidnap attack by suspected IPOB/ESN terrorists.

The army spokesperson said the troops foiled the kidnap attack during their night patrol in the area.

The troops engaged the criminals in a gun duel forcing them to abandon the victim. Troops recovered one AK-47 rifle and magazine, a G-3 rifle with mounted magazines and the vehicle used by terrorists, he said.

The General Officer Commanding, 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Hassan Taiwo-Dada, has appreciated the incredible cooperation of other security agencies for the successes achieved so far in the South-east, Mr Unuakhalu said.

Mr Taiwo-Dada, a major general, urged residents of the South-east to support security agencies by continually providing them with timely, reliable and credible information to fight insecurity in the region.

The army, according to the statement, will continue to protect the lives and property of the residents of the region within the ambit of the law.

Police operatives and officials of other security agencies have been the target of deadly attacks mainly in the South-east and South-south by gunmen said to be part of Biafra agitation in the two regions.

IPOB, a group leading the agitation for the creation of an independent state of Biafra from the South-east and some parts of the South-south, has been accused of being responsible for the deadly attacks in the two regions.

However, the group has repeatedly denied their involvement in the attacks.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The Lokoja Metropolis went agog on Saturday as Usman Ododo took over the mantle of leadership from Yahaya Bello as Governor of Kogi State.

Mr Ododo and Joel Salifu were sworn in as governor and deputy governor by the states Chief Judge, Justice Josiah Majebi.

The Muhammadu Buhari Square Lokoja, was full to capacity as early as 8 a.m. as thousands of party supporters, families, friends, and well-wishers who were mobilised from the 21 LGAs of the state thronged the square to witness the inauguration of Mr Ododo of the All Progressive Congress (APC)

Messrs Ododo and Salifu were elected on the platform of APC on November 11, 2023, during the off-cycle governorship election.

Mr Ododo was declared winner after scoring 446,237 votes to defeat his closest rival Murtala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) who polled 259,052 votes.

Mr Ododo succeeded Mr Bello who served two terms from January 27, 2016 to January 27, 2024.

Present at the ceremony were the Vice President, Kashim Shettima; the Kwara State governor and Chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum, Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman and the deputy governor of Benue State.

Government officials, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and some federal and state lawmakers led by the Speaker of the state assembly, Umar Yusuf, also witnessed the event.

But the SDP candidate, Mr Ajaka, who is challenging the election, urged the people of Kogi not to be disillusioned by the swearing-in of Mr Ododo as governor.

Mr Ajaka, in a statement by the partys Campaign Director of Communications, Faruk Adejoh-Audu, said the enthronement of Mr Ododo was just a temporary distraction as the case challenging his victory was before the Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja.

(NAN)

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The Police have rescued nine persons involved in the kidnap incident of the Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Philip Aivoji.

In an interview with PREMIUM TIMES, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Ogun State Police Command, Omolola Odutola, said they were rescued during police pursuit of the abductors of Mr Aivoji.

Ten people were captured. But nine of them, including females, were rescued in the early hours of Friday. One Philip Aivoji is the only one still being held.

So, what the Deputy Commissioner of Police did with the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and other security agencies, was to try and chase after those people. But it has not been successful, she said.

Mrs Odutola noted that two persons lost their lives in the attack, one of which is a 37-year-old woman, Bilikisu Kazim, who was travelling in a Mazda 626 car with registration Number OGUN WDE986MM.

She disclosed that an AK-47 gun, containing 28 live ammunition belonging to the gunmen, and a car key were recovered from the incident.

The PPRO also clarified that the attack took place near Bamboo bush, Isara, inward Lagos, along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

READ ALSO:

The incident happened near a place called Bamboo bush area, not Ogere as earlier reported. Some people just suddenly came out from the bush, they blocked the highway and started firing indiscriminately into the air, causing commotion for oncoming vehicles.

In the process, a lot of people came out from their vehicles and hid in the bush. Nearby police officers retaliated. There was also an army vehicle that was in transit that retaliated with gunfire. That was why they were unable to kidnap all 10, Mrs Odutola said.

She stressed that the police will do everything possible to rescue the kidnapped Lagos PDP chairman.

When asked to confirm if the kidnappers were demanding a N200 million ransom from the family, the Ogun State Police spokesperson said she could not disclose such information for security reasons.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


An exemplary Nigerian, Murtala Ibrahim, has returned a cash of three million naira he found in a road accident scene in Bali Local Government Area of Taraba State.

Mr Ibrahim was travelling from Bali to Jalingo with his family when they arrived at the accident scene.

He helped evacuate the victims to a hospital; and when he later realised that one of the victims bags contained cash, took it to the police.

Magaji Abdullahi, who witnessed the return of the money to the owner at the palace of the paramount ruler of Jibu Chiefdom, Abubakar Mamhoud, told PREMIUM TIMES about the good act of Mr Ibrahim.

He stopped and asked his family members to drop and he quickly rushed all the accident victims to the hospital.

While conveying the victims with their items, he discovered a bag containing a large sum of money which he later took to the police at Maihula station for safekeeping. But the police asked him to keep it until the true owner was ascertained.

Subsequently, the money was discovered to belong to one of the accident victims, Mr Abdullahi explained.

Mr Abdullahi, who said he is from Jibu, applauded Mr Ibrahim for the act, despite the economic hardship and challenges in the country.

He said during the presentation of the money to the owner, Mr Ibrahim said he was controlled by the fear of God not to take what does not belong to him, just as he would not want anyone to take what belongs to him.

The Kuru Jibu also applauded him for his sincerity and for being a good ambassador of Jibu Chiefdom.

This singular act is indeed worthy of emulation because even when the owner offered him some money, Ibrahim respectfully refused to accept.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The legal battle between the federal government and the Taraba State Government may hinder the ongoing construction of the Jalingo multi-billion naira trade fair complex.

PREMIUM TIMES on Friday learnt that the Federal High Court in Jalingo ordered the state government to stop work at the trade fair ground.

The court granted the order in a suit filed by the federal government claiming that the Jalingo trade fair ground was sold to it by the immediate past administration of Governor Darius Ishaku for the building of a federal secretariat in the state.

In August 2022, the Controller of Housing in the Taraba Field Office of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Ahmed Rabiu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the federal government had secured 5.6 hectares of land in Jalingo from the state government for the construction of a federal secretariat complex.

Mr Rabiu said that all the procedures required for the award of the contract had almost been completed.

He also said The secretariat project is situated at the present State Trade Fair ground, close to the Taraba Secretariat complex.

The state government had already approved a new site for the trade fair complex, Mr Rabiu said.

Speaking on the issue, the state Commissioner for Commerce and Industries, Peter George, however, said the sale of the Jalingo trade fair ground was not contained in the handover document presented to the present administration in Taraba State.

ALSO READ: Taraba commissioner accused of obtaining fake degree from foreign university

The purported selling of the Trade Fair Complex is illegal and counter-productive, the Taraba State government will try its best to recover its landed property, Mr George said.

He said Governor Agbu Kefas has already allocated land for the building of a federal secretariat in Jalingo.

The trade fair ground is strategically located along Hammaruwa Way in the heart of the state capital and has over the years hosted many important events, including the inauguration of governors. But since it was abandoned by the administration of Mr Ishaku, residents turned it into farmland.

A few months after assuming office, Mr Kefas awarded a contract for the construction of a modern trade fair complex on the land and the contractor mobilised to the site late last year.

The court has now ordered the project to stop until the dispute over the land is settled.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


A coalition, under the aegis of Concerned Nigerians, has asked President Bola Tinubu to order the investigation of the Chief of Naval Staff, Emmanuel Ogalla, for allegedly engaging in large-scale corrupt practices.

In a petition signed by its key members, namely Pelumi Olajengbesi, Mohammed Suleiman, Aisha Waliki, Deji Adeyanju and Ogunwoye Samson, the group accused Mr Ogalla of crude oil theft, contract splitting, procurement fraud, and corruption.

In the petition submitted to the President through the Office of the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, the group, which comprises of lawyers, human rights activists and anti-corruption crusaders, expressed concerns over the allegations.

At a time when the country is grappling with significant revenue losses due to crude oil theft, it is distressing to discover that the Chief of Naval Staff, whose primary responsibility it is to safeguard Nigerias waterways against oil theft and other forms of criminality, is allegedly colluding with the perpetrators of these heinous crimes against the Nigerian state, the statement read.

The coalition cited specific incidents involving vessels allegedly engaged in crude oil theft, such as the MT PRAISEL vessel, where the Nigerian Navy allegedly allowed it to continue patrolling the waterways under the protection of naval officers supervised by Mr Ogalla.

It claimed to have evidence, including an authenticated video, showing personnel of the Nigerian Navy escorting the MT PRAISEL vessel during the night.

The coalition also highlighted incidents involving the MT KALI and MT Tura vessels, where military gunboats purportedly belonging to the Nigerian Navy were seen protecting vessels allegedly engaged in oil theft.

It also mentioned what it said was the recent case of the MT VANNALARIS vessel, allegedly loading crude oil illegally in Ondo State, with Nigerian Navy personnel preventing a private security firm from boarding or inspecting it.

It emphasised that the Navys involvement in the cases of alleged theft were consistent and alarming.

The group alleged that crude oil theft has persisted because the Navy, under Mr Ogallas leadership, is allegedly colluding with the criminals, and that the corruption could be traced to the top echelon of the Navy.

The group also accused the Naval chief of involvement in procurement fraud and contract splitting, in violation of Nigerias procurement laws, particularly the Procurement Act.

It urged Mr Tinubu to ensure a thorough investigation of the allegations of corruption against Mr Ogalla, and to take decisive action to prevent further economic losses to the nation.

Neither Mr Ogalla nor the Nigerian Navy has officially reacted to the allegations.

However, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Minister of State for Defence, Mr Matawalle, has pledged to investigate the allegations against the naval chief.

In a statement by the Director, Information, Press and Public Relations of the defence ministry, Henshaw Ogubike, Mr Matawalle noted that the administration of President Bola Tinubu had zero tolerance for corruption in the public service.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


SACRAMENTO, the United States, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Utility giant Pacific Gas and Electric will pay 45 million U.S. dollars in penalties for its involvement in the Dixie Fire, the second-largest wildfire in California's history, according to state regulators.

On Thursday, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved a settlement agreement between the commission's Safety and Enforcement Division and Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), the state's largest utility.

Under the settlement agreement, PG&E will allocate 40 million dollars in shareholder funding to make hard copy records into an electronic system, improving "the timeliness of inspections and preventive maintenance," said CPUC's news release.

The company will also pay 2.5 million dollars in fines to the California General Fund and 2.5 million dollars to tribal communities impacted by the fires, said the news release.

The 2021 Dixie Fire started on July 13, 2021 and was ignited after a Douglas fir tree fell and struck the equipment owned and operated by PG&E.

Burning for over 100 days, the wildfire scorched nearly 1 million acres across five counties in Northern California before its full containment on Oct. 25, 2021. It destroyed more than 1,300 structures, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the state's firefighting agency.

The utility company must also submit an implementation plan for the new record-keeping project and annual reports for ongoing oversight regarding progress.

In recent years, PG&E has been involved in several multi-million-dollar settlements related to destructive wildfires.

Last year, the CPUC fined PG&E 150 million dollars for its role in the 2020 Zogg Fire, which caused four deaths and one injury and destroyed 204 structures.

In 2021, the company was fined 125 million dollars for the 2019 Kincade Fire in Sonoma County, which burned more than 77,000 acres and destroyed nearly 374 structures.

In 2020, PG&E pleaded guilty to 85 counts, including involuntary manslaughter and unlawfully starting the 2018 Camp Fire. The blaze was California's deadliest, killing 85 people and destroying thousands of structures. 
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has pledged to maintain continuous interactions with the six area councils.

Mr Wike made the pledge during the concluding session of the security town hall meeting series held in Kuje Area Council on Saturday.

Apart from the fact that we are faced with security challenges now, we have decided that FCT is not just Abuja and therefore we have to be interacting with other areas that make up the FCT.

If you dont interact with them, you wont know their peculiar problems. We cant be sitting in the city without coming to you, finding out what your problems are, your immediate problems so that we will be able to tackle them, he said.

The minister engaged directly with residents to identify solutions to the security challenges plaguing the nations capital.

He underscored the importance of these interactions in gaining valuable insights into the pressing issues affecting communities across the FCT.

The FCT extends beyond Abujas city centre; it includes the area councils. By actively engaging with residents, we gain a deeper understanding of their unique challenges, allowing us to address them effectively, he stated.

He assured that the FCT Administration has procured essential resources, including vehicles, motorbikes, and communication gadgets, to support security agencies in their efforts to secure the territory.

Provision of infrastructure

Mr Wike expressed concern about the state of infrastructure in Kuje Area Council, particularly the lack of good motorable roads.

He revealed plans to address the issue by signing contracts for road construction projects, emphasising the importance of connectivity in enhancing security and improving residents quality of life.

Mr Wike1 also said he had signed the contract for the construction of the road from Rubochi to Kuje.

He added, Today, let me tell you, I will go back and take those projects and complete them for youIts not that we are doing you any good. You are entitled to it. It is our responsibility to provide the infrastructure to make life easy for you. So, we are not doing anything extraordinary. Its our job and under this administration, and promises made by Mr. President and me as your minister, by the grace of God, you will see changes in this FCT.

We have purchased vehicles, motorbikes, communication gadgets, name them. So, it will no longer be logistics problems, we are ready for it.

He called on the council chairpersons to work with the security agencies to ensure that the local vigilantes are profiled and empowered, in addition to also holding regular security meetings in the council, at least once a month.

Also, he urged the chairpersons of the six area councils to stay in their domain and do what they have been elected to do, rather than stay in the city centre.

You cant run away from your responsibility. Make sure you stay here and know the problems of your people and you will be able to relate it to us, then we will be able to know how we can support you, he said.

The minister called for the support of local leaders and residents in providing vital information to security agencies to combat criminal activities effectively.

He further reiterated his commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of all residents in the FCT.

Earlier in his remark, the Kuje Council Chairman, Abdullahi Sabo said the council was still experiencing kidnappings despite the presence of security personnel.

Mr Sabo assured Mr Wike that his visit had boosted the morale of the people, including the community leaders, and the security agencies and commended the ministers intervention in road construction across the six area councils.

He pleaded with the minister to intervene in the construction and dualisation of critical road projects in Kuje Area Council, which he said were making life difficult for motorists and other road users as well as contributing to insecurity.

Mr Sabo added that mining activities in the council were also connected to the security challenges and called for proper regulation of the activities of miners.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited recorded a profit after tax of N2.5 trillion for the 16 months to December 2022, its latest audited financials show.

The new report breaks away from the previous tradition that set the annual financial year end of the oil firm at around August, with subsequent financials likely to follow a 12-month cycle ending on 31 December like most companies.

Revenue for the period stood at N8.8 trillion, more than half of that supplied by proceeds from refined petroleum product sales.

Yet, the contribution of that income source would have been bigger if not for the depleting effect of PMS Under Recovery, which accounts for the cash used for subsidising petrol, on revenue.

The company spent N2.4 trillion during the period on fuel subsidies, which President Bola Tinubu abolished at his inauguration last May because it had been a big drain on the governments purse.

Fuel subsidies were the single biggest expense incurred by NNPC during the period, alone accounting for 35.8 per cent of the cost of sales.

Under general and administrative expenses which totalled N1.7 trillion, the cost described as other expenses remains a grey area needing further clarification from the company, given its significance as the largest cost in this section, gulping as much as N496.4 billion.

Profit before tax for the period stood at N1.8 trillion.

ALSO READ: NNPC seeks private operators for Port Harcourt refinery

The group realised N2.2 trillion from exchange differences in translation of foreign operations, made possible by increased value from earnings in foreign currencies after conversion to naira.

NNPC issued its first audited accounts for the first time in 43 years in 2020 and transitioned into a limited liability company two years later as part of efforts to free the monolithic enterprise from government control.

Its push to become a publicly traded company has stalled after missing the target to launch its initial public offering last year.

Independent auditor PwC did not raise any key audit issue in its report attached to the document.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


A former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, has spoken publicly for the first time about allegations of embezzlement of funds at Nigerian embassies in Jamaica and Namibia.

Mr Onyeama, who served as Nigerias foreign affairs minister for about eight years under former President Muhammadu Buhari, spoke on Friday while testifying in a libel suit at the Federal Capital Territory High Court at Zuba in Abuja.

The former minister sued Lilian Onoh, a former Nigerian ambassador to Jamaica and Namibia, after the latter accused him of condoning grand corruption at Nigerian foreign missions.

Mr Onyeama alleged that Ms Onoh, who was his sister-in-law, sponsored newspaper articles that were critical of him on issues of sleaze while he oversaw the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

$5 million Haitian earthquake fraud

At Fridays hearing, Mr Onyeama mounted the witness box and testified before the judge, Keziah Ogbonnaya, on whether he probed allegations of fraudulent financial transactions raised against Nigerian diplomats in Jamaica and Namibia by Ms Onoh.

Ms Onoh had raised the alarm that the sum of $2.8 million was being frittered away out of the $5 million donations by the Red Cross in Nigeria to victims of the deadly 2010 Haiti earthquake by Nigerian diplomats in Jamaica.

The Nigerian mission in Jamaica was saddled with the responsibility of applying the $5 million donations to the humanitarian disaster occasioned by the earthquake in the Caribbean country.

In Namibia, prior to her arrival as Nigerias High Commissioner, Ms Onoh had said about $600,000 was embezzled by officials, including shortchanging the Namibian government in VAT remittances.

Every single complaint that I received from whatever source or whomever, I took action on them by referring such issues to the Permanent Secretary ( Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and directing that investigation be conducted, Mr Onyeama responded while being cross-examined by Ms Onohs lawyer, Monday Ejeh, on Friday.

In his response to the issues in Jamaica and Namibia, the former minister said, With regards to two major complaints in respect of Jamaica and Namibia, I was informed that the cases had been passed on to the EFCC (Nigerias anti-corruption agency).

He expatiated that the Permanent Secretary was charged with dealing with financial transactions and irregularities.

The two matters she (Ms Onoh) brought to my attention were about her predecessor and some people in Namibia defrauding the Namibian government. In Jamaica, it was about misappropriation of funds meant to assist Haiti in the aftermath of the earthquake, Mr Onyeama acknowledged the whistleblowing efforts of Ms Onoh.

He told the court that he took interest in those two incidents because of their impacts on Nigerias bilateral relationship with Jamaica and Namibia.

I went to the office of the Auditor-General (of the Federation), and requested for a comprehensive audit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he said.

When Mr Ejeh asked about the outcome of investigations into the malfeasance, Mr Onyeamas lawyer, Agada Elachi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), raised an objection.

Determined to get a response, Mr Ejeh pressed further asking if the allegations were true or false, Mr Elachi objected to the question.

These questions are immaterial as they have nothing to do with the issues at hand, Mr Onyeamas lawyer said while objecting to several other questions bordering on his clients roles as foreign minister.

The objections were sustained by the judge.

How Ms Onoh sponsored libellous publications

Before closing his case on Friday, Mr Onyeama informed the judge that the former Nigerian envoy to Namibia forwarded several media articles to his phone number.

The minister disclosed that many people advised Ms Onoh to desist from those libellous (articles) emanating from the social media, but that she would not listen.

She wrote to me, indicating that I was trying to prevent certain media houses from publishing her defamatory articles, Mr Onyeama said in his reply to Mr Ejehs enquiry as to how Ms Onoh sponsored media houses to defame him.

After the cross-examination exercise, Mr Onyeama informed the court that he had concluded his suit against Ms Onoh.

Subsequently, the judge adjourned the case until 12 February for Ms Onoh to commence her defence in the suit.

Earlier, the judge expressed her dissatisfaction about the absence of Ms Onohs lawyer from court on 25 January without a prior notice.

Mr Ejeh had said he sought an adjournment in February to enable him ample time for his clients case, but the judge turned it down, insisting on having the suit heard on 25 and 26 January.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The 6 Brigade, Nigerian Army, operating in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State, on Saturday, said its troops engaged bandits and recovered rifles from them after a fierce battle.

Olubodunde Oni, the spokesperson for the brigade, stated this in a statement in Jalingo, the state capital.

He said the clash occurred following the sound of gunshots near a disputed land along Tsukundi Road.

Upon receiving the information, the troops of 93 Battalion, under 6 Brigade, swiftly mobilised to the scene. They discovered two individuals already lying dead, presumably shot by unknown persons.

Additionally, one person sustained a gunshot wound and was immediately given medical attention.

In a display of bravery and professionalism, the gallant troops combed the surrounding bushes near the incident area. Upon encountering the armed groups, the troops effectively deployed their superior firepower, compelling the militias to abandon their positions and flee the scene.

Exploiting the general area, the troops successfully recovered a cache of weapons, including 2 AK 47 Rifles with 36 Rounds of 7.62 MM Special ammunition, 10 empty cases of 7.62 MM, 1 Double Barrel Rifle and 1 Single Barrel Rifle with 14 live cartridges, Mr Oni stated.

Mr Oni, a lieutenant colonel, said the encounter serves as a testament to the unwavering commitment of the military in maintaining peace and security in Taraba State.

The residents and general public are rest assured that troops of 6 Brigade will not relent in their efforts until all criminal elements within the state have been flushed out from their enclaves, he said.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


Aisha Achimugu, an Abuja-based businesswoman who shut down Grenada with her talk-of-the-town 50th birthday party, has spoken about the controversies surrounding the event.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how Nigerian personalities and public office holders, including Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, graced the celebration held in the Caribbean Island of Grenada.

On 22 January, Mrs Achimugu turned 50. In celebrating her golden jubilee birthday, she spared no expense for a seven-day extravaganza, filled with numerous festivities that took place between Calivigny Island and Silversand, an intimate luxury resort nestled on the sands of Grand Anse Beach in Grenada.

A website created to commemorate the occasion highlighted details and an itinerary for the birthday.

A dedicated website for the seven-day birthday party included information regarding visa arrangements, available chauffeurs, travel schedules, and the nearest airport to the event venue, among other details for the guests.

The festivities commenced on 16 January with the arrival of guests. The following day, the event started with a welcome breakfast, exploring the resort and mingling. Day three featured activities such as kayaking, swimming, and treasure hunting.

On day four, attendees wore vibrant African attire for special performances, including drum dances. A bonfire provided a cosy backdrop as guests gathered for an evening of warmth and music.

Day five showcased performances by a local band, various cocktails, and a retro disco party. On the sixth day, guests embarked on an island excursion.

On 23 January, the seventh and final day began with an all-white breakfast culminating in a luxurious dinner-themed glitz and glam before guests bid farewell to Grenada.

Grenada party

This newspaper reported that Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu flew in a private aircraft to attend the party, leaving his constitutional duties unattended to.

While Mr Sanwo-Olu was away partying at Calivigny Island, an 80-acre private and exquisite location that costs about $132,000 per night, a Mandilas building in the state burned down on 21 January.

The whereabouts of Mr Sanwo-Olu during his time on the Caribbean Island of Grenada were unknown to many officials of his government.

Some officials claimed he attended an official engagement in London, while others stated he was travelling abroad.

Those familiar with the governors itinerary stated that he left Nigeria on 17 January to attend Mrs Achimugus birthday carnival but joined the party on 18 January, the third day of the festivity.

He remained there until January 23rd, leaving his state without leadership for several days.

But the governor, in his reaction to this newspapers report on his official X account @jidesanwoolu, said he travelled on purpose to Grenada to advance his states economic interests.

His tweet read: Last weekend in St. Georges, Grenada, I presented Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell with a miniature of the Blue Line Rail, and we engaged in extensive discussions on various aspects of our bilateral relations, focusing mainly on tourism, agriculture, and other economic interests that could benefit both our regions.

Prime Minister Mitchell also shared exciting plans for Grenadas upcoming 50th-anniversary celebrations in February. It was a productive and enriching exchange, setting the stage for deeper collaboration between our regions.

Additionally, I had the opportunity to attend some social events, further strengthening the ties between our two nations.

This newspaper discovered that the governors tweet was edited multiple times to mislead the public.

Aisha Achimugus statement

Good evening, everyone, lovers of mine. This is not an official thank you for being there for me and coming to Grenada. It is a very tough time. It was a moment for me to thank everyone whom I should be concerned over the pleasant media help about this famous Aisha.

And I want to congratulate myself for being the most popular person in the entire world, apart from the Gaza and Israeli fight, I guess something thats most popular on the news globally. I give God the glory, and I thank God for my life. And for those who have genuinely shown concern over the media, I want to assure you that Im well, Im in a high spirit,

I really dont give a hoot. Im doing me; Ive always done me, a happy soul, doing what makes me happy.

And again, celebrating people who love me, genuinely love me, who have always been there for me in the last 50 years and even less, but feels like theyve known me all my life. I thank you all. Thank you to everyone who has called me privately, those who have shown concern on the platform, and even those who have been quiet about it and praying in their own time. I want to say Im extremely, extremely very grateful.

READ ALSO:

But I want to assure you all that this girl is moving ahead. Im having a great time, and Ill continue to have a great time and have a ball today, tomorrow, and Sunday for those of you who are going to be around. And for those who are genuinely not concerned, I love you all.

For those who are a player of what it is, I love you all. Its just me, Aisha Achimugu, and I remain me, continue to shine, I continue to do me, and Im not doing anyone else. And Im all not apologetic about it.

So, relate my message to those outside who are also calling you to show their concern and tell them that this young lady here is just starting, and they will hear more of me.

Ive not been in a media space, but since theyve made it a duty for me to do that, I promise youll see more of my face in the media. So, in a lighter mode, just to let you know, Im happy and looking forward to today.

My most exciting moment is my charity ball, ten years of self, and then tomorrow to party and shut Nigeria down again. So I will give them things to talk about for the entire week. Thank you. Thank you for the entire week. God bless you, and I look forward to seeing you and celebrating with you again. Thank you very much. Bye.

Who is Aisha Achimugu?

Mrs Achimugu is the founder and managing director of Abuja-based Felak Concept Group.

Mrs Achimugu holds a bachelors degree in Accounting from the University of Jos, Nigeria.

The Commonwealth University, Belize, also awarded her an honorary doctorate.

She married Sulaiman Achimugu, a former Managing Director of the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), and they have three children.

However, she lost her husband to Coronavirus in 2020.

This newspaper reported that Mrs Achimugu changed clothes at the party at least 30 times, with each dress reportedly costing thousands of dollars. These were in addition to the high-end clothes she wore for a photo shoot with a celebrity photographer before her event.

Throughout the evening, she wore herself with costly diamond jewellery, wore designer shoes, and carried Hermes crocodile leather handbags, each estimated to cost between $50,000 and $80,000.

One of the many gatherings occurred aboard the Silver Angel, a yacht sailing on the Caribbean Sea under the flag of the United Kingdom.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The failure of Governor Agbu Kefas to return to Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, since the Supreme Court affirmed his victory in the 2023 election last Thursday has dampened celebrations by his supporters across the state.

The apex court on 18 January affirmed the decision of the Court of Appeal dismissing the petition of Sani Yahaya, the candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), challenging the return of Mr Kefas of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the 18 March poll.

The judgement was greeted with jubilation by PDP supporters across the state, especially in Jalingo.

At the state secretariat, workers sang songs of victory, while supporters displayed placards with inscriptions such as Governor Agbu Kefas is Gods project, Mr. Infrastructure carry go, Moving Forward 2023-2027.

In the Ibi Local Government Area, motorcyclists and boat riders put up displays to express their joy over the verdict of the court.

A few hours after the judgement was delivered, a large crowd gathered at the Jolly Nyame Stadium in Jalingo to await the arrival of the governor for a celebration.

Unfortunately, journalists, government officials and supporters who had trooped to the Danbaba Suntai airport and the stadium left disappointed after waiting till 5 p.m. in vain.

Later, an airport source who spoke under anonymity said the governor could not make the trip due to bad weather. No flight is expected for the day because of bad weather.

READ ALSO:

The expectation of the supporters was also dashed the following day as the governor again failed to show up.

Hundreds of supporters and journalists gathered at the airport in the early hours of Friday were disappointed when an Overland Airline aircraft landed without the governor on board.

We were in the airport from 10 a.m., we waited for hours with the expectation that the governor would come. When the Overland aircraft arrived there was a celebration, but we were disappointed as the governor was not on board, only some of the supporters and loyalists that accompanied him to Abuja arrived, Kenneth Augustine, a supporter, told PREMIUM TIMES.

Civil servants are disappointed too

A civil servant, Emmanuel Moses, said We were expecting the governor to come back and order the immediate release of our January salary so that we can celebrate his victory.

Mr Moses said Mr Kefass victory was worth celebrating considering the wonderful things Kefas is doing in the state. But unfortunately, there is no money to make the celebration lively.

Also speaking with PREMIUM TIMES, Hassan Kona, a PDP loyalist and former aspirant for the Jalingo local government chairmanship seat, said the Supreme Court ruling brought the state joy.

He said Mr Kefas has begun good work in the state and he will do more for the people who massively voted for him.

We are happy with the judgement of the Supreme Court. We are out here to rejoice and express our joy over the outcome. Kefas has a lot to offer the people of the state. He should continue the good work. We are solidly behind him. As you can see, everyone is celebrating and happy, he said.

When asked the reason why the governor was not yet back in the state, his Senior Special Adviser on Media and Digital Communication, Emmanuel Bello, confirmed that Mr Kefas did not return to the state immediately after the judgement last Friday as earlier scheduled, because of weather conditions.

But Mr Bello too did not know when the governor would return to his desk in Jalingo. I will check and get back to you, he said when prodded by our reporter.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


A traditional ruler in Imo State, South-east Nigeria, has refuted claims that the police in the state rescued him from kidnappers.

The traditional ruler, Samuel Ohiri, was abducted by some gunmen on 6 January from his palace in Orodo, a community in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.

Mr Ohiri, who is the traditional ruler of the Orodo Community, was released after 12 days in captivity.

The police in the state had claimed that their operatives rescued the monarch when they raided the kidnappers hideouts in a forest in the state.

But speaking to reporters on Friday, Mr Ohiri said, contrary to the claim, police operatives did not rescue him from the hoodlums, TheCable reported.

The monarch said that although police operatives might have made efforts to rescue him, the kidnappers only released him after his family paid ransom to them.

Contrary to what the police said about my release, there is no hiding the fact that the police (in the state) never played any role, he said.

I actually do not want to speak on this but I am doing it just to set the records straight. It was my relationship with God and the help from my family people that made it possible. Although, that was after we paid the ransom.

I saw hell in the kidnappers den

Mr Ohiri, while recounting his experience, said he saw hell in the hands of the kidnappers.

I came back home to celebrate Christmas and New Year with my people in Obi-Orodo. Then, on the 6th of January, I decided to visit one of my old boys and senior students of Emmanuel College Secondary School in those days, he said.

When I was coming back after visiting my friend around 8:30 pm, I met able-bodied men in front of my palace gate who came in their vehicle.

They double-crossed me and forced me into their vehicle. My cousins brother smartly introduced himself as my driver and they set him free. They now blindfolded me and zoomed off to an unknown destination.

I was first kept in an uncompleted building before I was transferred to another location. Within the 12 days I spent in their den, I saw hell.

Bitterness for traditional rulers, politicians in South-east

Mr Ohiri said the hoodlums did not hide their bitterness for traditional rulers and politicians in Nigerias South-east, but that luck smiled on him.

It looked so much as if they (kidnappers) had some scores to settle with the traditional rulers and politicians, but luckily for me, their leader came out and ordered them not to torture me, that I am a decent man, he stated, suggesting that they could have killed him.

Negotiations began between my people and the kidnappers which eventually resulted in setting me free after we paid the first and second ransom.

They later took me and another victim to Eziama Obiato, a community in Mbaitoli Local Government Area, along Owerri-Onitsha Expressway at night after I spent 12 days in their dungeon, the monarch said, without saying the amount of money his family paid as ransom.

And from there I found my way back to Owerri at the Assumpta Cathedral Roundabout where my people came and conveyed me back to my palace.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The rivalry between the Super Eagles and the Indomitable Lions dates back to 1960. In their 25 encounters, spanning friendly and competitive matches, the Nigerians have secured 12 victories, suffered five losses, and settled for one draw.

In their head-to-head clashes at the Nations Cup tournament, they have faced each other seven times, with both the Indomitable Lions and Super Eagles claiming three wins each and registering one draw.

An interesting observation regarding their AFCON meetings is that the Lions have never defeated the Eagles, except in final matches of the competition.

Three Cameroon wins

18 Mar 1984 Cameroon v Nigeria 3-1 [Final]

27 Mar 1988 Cameroon v Nigeria 1-0 [Final]

13 Feb 2000 Nigeria v Cameroon 2-2 [4-3 pens][Final]

Can we then surmise that the Eagles have a better chance of flying over the Lions when they meet in a round of 16 clash on Saturday in Abidjan?

Former Super Eagles captain Segun Odegbami has said he believes the Eagles will defeat the Lions. Could his optimism come from the fact that Cameroons Indomitable Lions have never beaten Nigeria, apart from in final matches?

I can tell you without blinking that this game against Cameroon will be our easiest game, Odegbami told the Vanguard.

Its going to be a free-flowing game on a typically good pitch. And thats where our boys will catch them.

While Odegbami was emphatic that the Eagles would win, Cameroon legend Roger Milla would not be drawn to say his country was the favourites.

Milla, who was in the Lions team that beat Nigeria in 1984, said, Its going to be an intense match. Its a game between two brothers who know each other very well.

In the interview on RTI, he added that It is difficult to predict who will win the match at the moment.

Other AFCON encounters

17 Mar 1988 Nigeria v Cameroon 1-1 [Group Phase]

25 Jan 1992 Nigeria v Cameroon 2-1 [Third place]

08 Feb 2004 Nigeria v Cameroon 1-2 [Quarter Finals]

06 Jul 2019 Nigeria v Cameroon 3-2 [Round of 16]

Today, will history repeat itself at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan, or will it be rewritten?

Join Premium Times at 8 p.m. for live commentary from the venue with Tunde Eludini.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


Vice President Kashim Shettima has expressed the absolute confidence of the Tinubu administration in the new Governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo, to deliver the dividends of good governance to the people of the state.

He said the change of baton from one progressive to another will not disrupt the dividends of good governance, noting that Kogi State remains bound by the ideals and promises of a unified council of leaders and the largest party in Africa, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

VP Shettima spoke on Saturday during the inauguration of Mr Ododo and Salifu Joel Oyibo as the governor and deputy governor of Kogi State respectively at the Muhammadu Buhari Square in Lokoja, the state capital.

Delivering his speech titled, Standing Together, Standing for the People, the vice president conveyed what he described as the heartfelt goodwill of President Bola Tinubu to the people of Kogi State, saying the president holds absolute confidence in Mr Ododo as the new helmsman of the state.

He stated: The president remains committed to collaborating to optimise the vast potentials of Kogi State and bring to fruition the aspirations of its illustrious people.

This historic day is not an orphan; it is born from a collection of sacrifices and an inventory of commitments to serve the people. This historic day is the ultimate demonstration of faith in Alhaji Usman Ahmed Ododo, a man fit for the shoes he is about to step into.

For the outgoing governor, Yahaya Bello, VP Shettima who described him by his nickname, indefatigable White Lion, the peoples lion, pointed out that the historic inauguration of Ododo as his successor is an eloquent referendum on Bellos stewardship.

We are not here by accident, for none of us would ever escape our destiny. Its this fatalism in our service to humanity that inspires our humility to stay on track. We are here merely because we are chosen by the people to represent their ideals.

While political parties embody ideologies, it is the people who uphold the value system that appeals to our humanity, and Kogi State is fortunate to have our trusted patriots safeguarding their interests, he added.

The VP further observed that Mr Ododo is stepping in as the next governor of Kogi at a time when it may seem difficult to assume a leadership position in Nigeria, especially as Nigeria adjusts to geopolitical events that have exerted pressure on our economy and the inherited greed and grievances that have threatened our national security.

He, however, implored the governor not to despair, averring that while it is precisely during these tumultuous times that a leader of note proves their resilience, it is the same resilience that sets Nigerian leaders apart, as they navigate through challenges that shape the nations collective destiny.

Calling for collective efforts in governance and teamwork among members of the APC in the state, Vice President Shettima added, Today, as we celebrate a well-won victory, let us remember that nobody functions in isolation.

A defining principle of sound leadership is the wisdom to acknowledge ones roots and the collective effort that propels success. The power of collectivity is the backbone that makes the summit exhilarating, proving that it is never lonely at the top.

As His Excellency, Governor Usman Ahmed Ododo assumes the weight of leadership today, we must appeal to the pillars of the party in Kogi State to work as a team. Our ability to manage this weight shapes our future and influences our image, and we must remain ambassadors of the party, wherever we are and in whatever we do.

In his inaugural speech, Mr Ododo pledged to build on the achievements of his predecessor in order to move the state forward.

The governor who promised not to betray the peoples trust also pledged to pay attention to the health, education, agriculture and infrastructural sectors.

Mr Ododo singled out President Tinubu for praise for his commitment to the conduct of free and fair elections.

The brand new governor pledged to hit the ground running by completing critical projects left behind by Mr Bello.

To match his words with action, the governor announced the appointments of the Secretary to the State Government, his Chief of Staff and his Chief Press Secretary, among others, even as he also forwarded the list of his commissioner nominees to the State House of Assembly.

READ ALSO: Ododo sworn in as Kogi governor

Dignitaries who also graced the occasion included the National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje; members of the National Working Committee of the APC; members of the National Assembly representing the state; Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Shuaibu Abubakar; Governor of Kwara State and Chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

Others are the deputy governors of Benue, Nasarawa and Ogun States; Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President), Ibrahim Hadeja, and royal fathers, among others.

The colourful event also featured a parade by officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force, Kogi State Command.

Stanley Nkwocha

Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media & Communications

(Office of The Vice President)

27th January, 2024

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani was accorded a rousing welcome at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria by a large number of students who thronged the universitys main gate to receive him upon his arrival for the universitys 43rd convocation ceremony.

The student community expressed their appreciation to the governor for his decision to reduce fees in all state-owned institutions. The reduction in fees has alleviated the financial burden on students and made education more accessible and affordable.

The atmosphere was filled with excitement as the students danced and chanted oyoyo (meaning you are welcome). The students applauded Mr Sani for his efforts in prioritising education and ensuring that every student has the opportunity to pursue his academic aspirations.

The students expressed their solidarity and support for the governor. They encouraged him to continue working towards the betterment of the education sector in the state.

The students equally thanked him for his commitment to repositioning the Kaduna State Scholarships and Loans Board, which has been beneficial to both local and international students.

The governors presence at the convocation ceremony not only highlighted his support for the academic community but also demonstrated his commitment to creating an enabling environment for students to thrive.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


BANGKOK, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- China and the United States have agreed to launch a joint working group on anti-drug cooperation, the first meeting of the China-U.S. intergovernmental dialogue mechanism on artificial intelligence this spring, and take further steps to expand people-to-people exchanges.

Wang Yi, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, held a new round of talks with U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan here from Friday to Saturday. 
Gunmen have abducted the deputy vice-chancellor of a Nigerian university.

The victim, Godwin Emezue, of Abia State University, Uturu, was abducted from a petrol station at Umuekwule, Amachara, a community in Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State, south-east Nigeria.

Mr Emelue, a professor, was said to have driven into the station alongside his wife to buy fuel for their vehicle on Friday night when the gunmen attacked them.

Sources told PREMIUM TIMES that the hoodlums, numbering about three, dragged the professor into their waiting Lexus SUV, collected his wifes ATM card and zoomed off.

When contacted on Saturday morning, the spokesperson of the university, Chijioke Nwogu, told PREMIUM TIMES that the police in the state have confirmed that there was a kidnap attack in Umuahia on Friday, but that the university only heard of Mr Emezues kidnap through the social media.

The news is everywhere. It has gone viral, Mr Nwogu said of the kidnap.

However, a lecturer at the university, who asked not to be named, told this newspaper that the university management, on Saturday, announced on a WhatsApp platform that is restricted to the university staff members, the kidnap of the deputy vice-chancellor.

READ ALSO:

He said Mr Emezue must have been kidnapped late Friday given that the professor had made a post on the WhatsApp platform earlier on Friday.

The police in Abia State later confirmed the incident.

In a statement, on Saturday, the police spokesperson in the state, Maureen Chinaka, said the incident happened at about 9:30 p.m. on Friday.

The Abia State Police Command is deploying resources and assets including intelligence and technical aid towards unravelling the crime, safely rescuing the victim from his captors, Ms Chinaka, an assistant superintendent of police, assured.

The police spokesperson asked residents of the state to remain calm, vigilant and security conscious while going about their legitimate activities.

She appealed to the residents to cooperate with the police by providing useful information that could help in tracking down the hoodlums as well as enhancing security in the state.

Abduction for ransom

Abduction for ransom has increased in Abia State in recent times.

Last year, a Chinese national was abducted in Lokpanta, a community in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State.

The Chinese, Li Peiyin, a site manager, was rescued some days later.

Gunmen, in August 2022, abducted a Catholic priest and a seminarian along Okigwe-Umunneochi Road, a boundary between Imo and Abia States.

The victims were released two days later after reportedly paying a ransom to the kidnappers.

Barely 24 hours before the attack on the clerics, gunmen abducted a police officer at Mbala Divisional Police Headquarters in Isuochi Community, Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abi State.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


( Read 2782 Times)

In a significant move, the expansion of the Farkka Express connecting Ayodhya to Bathinda has been completed, enhancing regional connectivity. On the occasion of Ganatantra Diwas, MPs Sunita Duggal and Dr. Arvind Sharma flagged off the train from Tohana and Rohtak Railway Station, respectively.

Nihalchand, the MP from Sri Ganganagar, has also advocated for the extension of this train to Sri Ganganagar for better regional connectivity. Bhim Sharma, former member of JRUCC, mentioned that due to yard issues in Sri Ganganagar, the expansion is currently limited to Bathinda.

Train number 13483 Maldah Town to Bathinda Express will run on every Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Tuesday from Rohtak at 6:23 AM, reaching Bhindta at 6:25 AM. The return journey, train number 13484 Bathinda to Maldah Town Express, will depart from Bhindta every Wednesday, Friday, Sunday, and Tuesday at 4:25 PM.

This train brings direct travel opportunities for devotees to Ayodhya and connects distant cities like Delhi through different routes. The North Railways has issued a notification regarding the train's schedule and routes. The move is expected to benefit the local population, providing them with direct access to cities like Kanpur, Lucknow, Varanasi, Patna, and Bhagalpur.

Source :
The inaugural event takes place at Expo City Dubai from January 26 to February 4

from The first Emirati-led light art festival features works by seven local artists

features works by seven local artists Sisters of the Desert projection show features works by Emirati Dhabia Jumaa Lamlah , Australian Rene Kulitja and South Africa's Dr Esther Mahlangu

projection show features works by Emirati , Australian and Event partnered with Liter of Light to provide high-quality solar lighting to disadvantaged communities

DUBAI, UAE, Jan. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Dhai Dubai, the first-ever Emirati-led light art festival, has launched its illuminating 10-day programme at Expo City Dubai. The event celebrates the rich artistic tapestry of Emirati talent through a series of awe-inspiring artistic projections, interactive installations, enlightening talks and creative workshops. The free-to-attend festival is created and organised by Expo City Dubai, in partnership with AGB Creative and Dubai Culture and Arts Authority and will run from January 26 to February 4.

Dr. Najat Makki - The Scent of Memories - Dhai Dubai Light Art Festival (PRNewsfoto/Dhai Dubai)

Artists lighting up the inaugural event include Mattar Bin Lahej, known for designing the calligraphic facade on the Museum of the Future; pioneering artist Dr Najat Makki, honoured with the French Chevalier of Arts and Letters; Emirates Fine Arts Society co-founder Dr Mohamed Yousef; designer Abdulla Almulla, who participated in last year's London Design Biennale; multi-disciplinary artist Maitha Hamdan; esteemed designer Khalid Al Shafar, renowned for his collaboration with Louvre Abu Dhabi; and celebrated visual artist Reem Al Ghaith.

Meanwhile, Al Wasl Plaza's iconic 130-metre-wide dome comes to life with a series of special projection shows titled Sisters of the Desert, inspired by the late Emirati artist, Dhabia Juma Lamlah, who produced more than 200 remarkable artworks despite not being able to use her right hand. Reflecting Dubai's spirit of multicultural collaboration, the show also features special guests, Australian artist Rene Kulitja and South African artist Dr Esther Mahlangu, who weave together a narrative of resilience and cross-cultural connectivity.

Dhai Dubai is supporting the Liter of Light initiative  a global grassroots movement  to provide high-quality solar lighting to people with limited to electricity in the floating images of Agusan Marsh in the Philippines. Festival visitors can also pledge to contribute toward Liter of Light's mission in communities across the Philippines, Kenya, Cameroon, and India.

For more information, please visit www.dhaidubai.com and sign up to receive updates.

Images



Videos

Merwat Hussein

[email protected]

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2328175/Dhai_Dubai.jpg

SOURCE Dhai Dubai
WASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The following statement was released by Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), in response to today's release of CBP Nationwide Encounters of illegal aliens for the month of December:

December 2023 has the dubious distinction of being the worst month of illegal immigration in the nation's history. In December, total nationwide encounters reached a record 371,036, eclipsing the previous monthly record set in September by some 30,000. These record encounters were fueled in large part by the cartel-driven flows through Arizona points of entry such as Lukeville. In total, there were 302,034 encounters along the besieged Southern border. These alarming figures do not include hundreds of thousands of 'gotaways' who are known to have entered the country illegally, but were not apprehended by CBP.

"Even more alarming, the vast majority of the illegal aliens who are encountered are being released into the United States. Earlier this month, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who is facing impeachment by the House of Representatives, publicly acknowledged that more than 70 percent are released into the United States. Later, he privately admitted to Border Patrol agents that more than 85 percent of those encountered at the southern border are being released.

"Unless Congress acts decisively to remove Secretary Mayorkas from office and force the Biden administration to secure our borders, these unsustainable levels of illegal immigration will continue through 2024. The House of Representatives has already approved H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act, but it is stalled in the Democratic-controlled Senate. The Republican-led House must insist that the bill be included either as part of the FY 2024 budget, or in the supplemental foreign aid package that President Biden has requested."

Contact: Joey Chester, [email protected], 202-742-1827

SOURCE Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR)
NEW YORK, Jan. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Pompe Disease Drugs Market is to witness substantial growth, with a projected increase of USD 294.7 million at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.16% between 2023 and 2028, as forecasted by Technavio. Pompe disease, characterized by acid alpha-glucosidase deficiency, presents challenges in diagnosis due to its rarity and diverse symptoms. Public awareness campaigns, facilitated by patient advocacy groups like the National Organization for Rare Disorders and the International Pompe Association, are playing a crucial role in empowering individuals to recognize symptoms promptly. These collective efforts to raise awareness are to drive market growth during the forecast period. For a better understanding of market dynamics and trends, download a free sample report.

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Pompe Disease Drugs Market 2024-2028

Market Segmentation and Challenges:

The report explores market drivers, trends, and challenges, with a focus on factors influencing growth. Expanding newborn screening programs for Pompe disease and growing advancements in genetic diagnostics are identified as key drivers, while the small patient population poses a challenge due to the rarity of the disease.

The report segments the market based on Distribution Channel, Therapy, and Geography.

Distribution Channel: Hospital Pharmacies, Retail Pharmacies, and Online Pharmacies

Therapy: Enzyme Replacement Therapy (ERT) and Substrate Reduction Therapy (SRT), and others

Regional Analysis: North America is projected to contribute 41% to the global market growth during the forecast period.

"Hospital pharmacies are set to witness significant market share growth, serving as integral components in the distribution and dispensing of medications for Pompe disease treatment."  Technavio Explore the market contribution of different segments by downloading the free PDF sample report.

Pompe Disease Drugs Market 2024-2028 : Companies Analysis

We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the Pompe Disease Drugs Market, including some of the vendors such as vendors Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the Pompe Disease Drugs Market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support.

The report features detailed analyses of the competitive landscape and information about market players, like Amicus Therapeutics Inc., Astellas Pharma Inc., AVROBIO Inc., Bayer AG, EpiVax Inc., F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd., JCR Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd., Johnson and Johnson, Maze Therapeutics Inc., Sanofi SA, and others. The qualitative and quantitative analysis helps stakeholders understand the business environment and assess the strengths and weaknesses of key market players. Buy the full report to get a detailed overview of the competitive landscape.

Market Segmentation

Pompe Disease Drugs Market is segmented as below:

Distribution Channel

Hospital Pharmacies



Retail Pharmacies



Online Pharmacies

Therapy

Enzyme Replacement Therapy



Substrate Reduction Therapy



Others

Geography

North America



Europe



Asia



Rest Of World (ROW)

Pompe Disease Drugs Market 2024-2028 : Scope

Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our pompe disease drugs market report covers the following areas:

Pompe Disease Drugs Market size

Pompe Disease Drugs Market trends

Pompe Disease Drugs Market industry analysis

This study identifies Approval for new drugs for Pompe treatment as one of the prime reasons driving the pompe disease drugs market growth during the next few years.

Related Reports:

The global fabry disease drugs market size is estimated to grow by USD 859.06 million, at a CAGR of 7.43% between 2023 and 2028.

The preclinical respiration and inhalation lab equipment market size is forecast to increase by USD 4.16 million, at a CAGR of 4.29% between 2023 and 2028.

Table Of Contents :

1 Executive Summary

2 Market Landscape

3 Market Sizing

4 Historic Market Size

5 Five Forces Analysis

6 Market Segmentation by Distribution Channel

7 Market Segmentation by Therapy

8 Customer Landscape

9 Geographic Landscape

10 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

11 Vendor Landscape

12 Vendor Analysis

13 Appendix

About US

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides 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.

Contact

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
NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until February 20, 2024 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Inspire Medical Systems, Inc. (NYSE: INSP), if they purchased the Company's shares between May 3, 2023 and November 7, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota.

Get Help

Inspire investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-insp/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options.

About the Lawsuit

Inspire Medical and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

On November 7, 2023, post-market, the Company disclosed disappointing financial results for 3Q 2023, including "a decline in prior authorization submissions for patients seeking Inspire therapy," as well as problems with its highly touted "Acceleration Program" requiring "some corrective action."

On this news, shares of Inspire Medical plummeted approximately 20%, from a closing price of $161.74 per share on November 7, 2023, to a closing price of $129.95 per share on November 8, 2023.

The case is City of Hollywood Firefighters' Pension Fund v. Inspire Medical Systems, Inc., No. 23-cv-03884

About ClaimsFiler

ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations.

To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com.

SOURCE ClaimsFiler
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A Lancaster jury yesterday awarded $42.4 million to a pregnant mother who has been in a coma ever since a head-on collision in 2015. With interest, the award will likely reach $55 million.

Diana Estevez was a 23-year-old nursing student with a two-year-old son and a second child on the way when the June 1, 2015 accident occurred. Her Saab was struck head-on by a Ford Explorer pickup driven defendant Gregory Kadlec. Kadlec's pickup veered across Avenue M directly into Estevez's vehicle.

Estevez suffered massive skull and facial injuries. She gave birth to son, Leon, now 8, via emergency cesarean section while in a coma. She remains in a vegetative state with no awareness of her surroundings and no chance of recovery, doctors testified at trial. Her older son, Ethan, is now 10 years old.

Kadlec blamed the crash on the City of Lancaster, saying he lost control after hitting a pothole. But the jury rejected that story after deliberating for just one hour. It unanimously found Kadlec's negligence caused the accident.

Estevez was represented at trial by Ricardo Echeverria and Samuel Bruchey of Shernoff Bidart Echeverria LLP.

Kadlec did not attend the trial in person. But Estevez's attorneys played the jury a recorded statement he gave a sheriff deputy on the day of the crash, where he said nothing about a pothole.

"This case was about taking responsibility," Echeverria said. "It took almost nine years for Diana to get justice. But in the end, the jury got it right."

The case is Diana Estevez v. Gregory Kadlec, Los Angeles Superior Court, Case No. MC026448.

About Shernoff Bidart Echeverria LLP

At Shernoff Bidart Echeverria LLP, we lead the nation in protecting policyholders from insurance companies' refusal to pay claims. The firm has been protecting the rights of insurance consumers, both individuals and businesses, for over 50 years after having set the legal precedent requiring insurance companies to act in good faith.

CONTACT: Joe Marchelewski, [email protected]

SOURCE Shernoff Bidart Echeverria LLP




People walk past a foreign exchange office in Cairo, Egypt, on March 21, 2022. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

The hysteria over "Chinese hegemony" reflects a narrow political mindset, while China continues to leverage its influence for the global good.

BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Western assumptions of "Chinese hegemony" reflect their own biases and illustrate a preconceived notion that any powerful nation will inevitably seek supremacy.

The public policy journal platform Pearls and Irritations observed that the West sees China through its own eyes. It ascribes to China the actions the West would take in similar situations.

It is not hard to apprehend this inaccurate but traceable motivation. "Western analysts reach back into European history for solutions to geopolitical contexts which are inevitably based on concepts of hegemony," as the platform notes.

Historically, many Western powers, including Spain, the Netherlands, Britain and France, established hegemonic dominance through military aggression, colonial exploitation and oppression. Their pursuit of hegemony often unfolded amidst conflicts and wars in past centuries.

Western hegemony came with colonialization and the tragic plunder of developing countries, as Pakistani scholar Ikramul Haq observed. However, the mindset of hegemonism did not die with the two World Wars, and some Western countries are still trapped in a hegemonic mindset.

While many developing countries have gained sovereignty after long years of struggles, they continue to face oppression and blockades under the Western-dominated international order. The specter of hegemony persists, shaped by a history of colonization and violence.

Firefighters attend a celebration of the 66th anniversary of Malaysia's independence in Putrajaya, Malaysia, Aug. 31, 2023. On Aug. 31, 1957, the then Federation of Malaya gained independence from British rule. (Photo by Chong Voon Chung/Xinhua)

Therefore, the belief that powerful countries tend to pursue hegemony has dominated the Western world.

However, Western observers must recognize stark distinctions between China and the West in culture, history and development trajectory.

Despite its strength, China refrained from military expansion and invasion. In the Ming dynasty, Chinese navigator Zheng He embarked on seven voyages, establishing friendly relations with more than 30 states, in contrast to the Western subjugation of other nations.

China's political philosophy prioritizes peace, harmony and global well-being. This aligns with its developmental principles and strategic concept of enhancing national strength without seeking hegemony, as Thai scholar Wirun Phichaiwongphakdee said.

Contrary to Western-centric paradigms, China embraces inclusivity, mutual respect among civilizations and every country's fair approach to development. Its pursuit of harmony helps foster a more inclusive world order defined by exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations.

When China and Nicaragua established a strategic partnership, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega said that China came to shake hands with Nicaragua. He noted that imperialist countries should learn from China and strive for peace. He also underscored China's significant contributions to helping people in developing countries achieve shared prosperity and raise living standards.

People welcome Chinese naval hospital ship Peace Ark in Indonesia's capital Jakarta, Nov. 10, 2022. Peace Ark is China's first hospital ship that has a capacity of over 10,000 tonnes. The ship arrived in Indonesia's capital Jakarta on Nov. 10 and has since provided free medical checkups for members of the public. (Photo by Peng Bingjie/Xinhua)

In a world where a hegemonic mindset still holds sway, China's pursuit of peaceful development offers valuable lessons to other nations. The country's rapid development has captured the attention of many interested in exploring new ways to advance human civilization.

"Chinese modernization offers many valuable lessons to developing countries," said Phichaiwongphakdee. He said the Belt and Road Initiative serves the interests of developing countries with its infrastructure cooperation and technological innovation and helps them participate in global governance.

Resonating with Phichaiwongphakdee, Gabriel Merino, adjunct professor at the National University of La Plata, Argentina, said that with hegemonism still rampant worldwide, China has successfully blazed a path of peaceful development, providing excellent experience and reference for other developing countries.

China's steadfast commitment to peace in the international community reflects its broader vision of global cooperation and shared prosperity. The country has no interest in seeking hegemony. The hysteria over "Chinese hegemony" reflects a narrow political mindset, while China continues to leverage its influence for the global good. 
NEW YORK, Jan. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of common stock of The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE: EL) between August 18, 2022 and May 2, 2023, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important February 5, 2024 lead plaintiff deadline.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Estee Lauder 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 Estee Lauder class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=21096 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 5, 2024. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: The Complaint alleges that during the Class Period, defendants misled investors with unrealistic and materially false statements about market demand regarding Estee Lauder's products, as well as supply chain issues and mismanagement of inventory levels in Asia and the United States. These statements concealed the truth about Estee Lauder's weakness in the market until, on May 3, 2023, Estee Lauder announced weaker sales and profit for the year than estimated and accordingly cut its fiscal year outlook for a third consecutive time. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Estee Lauder class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=21096 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.
OTTAWA, ON, Jan. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - In launching the latest issue in its ongoing Commemorating Black History fine silver coin series, the Royal Canadian Mint is honouring the community of Amber Valley, Alberta, founded in 1910 by African American families from Oklahoma, Texas and other surrounding states. Seeking a life away from segregationist laws, racial hostility and violence, they journeyed to Northern Alberta in response to the government of Canada's offer of free land in the Canadian west. By 1910, approximately 300 men, women and children endured and overcame new hardships as they tamed the Alberta wilderness to carve out a new life in a thriving community that was renamed Amber Valley in 1931. Their inspiring tale of spirit and determination is forever preserved on a beautiful 99.99% pure silver collector coin.

The Royal Canadian Mint's 2024 Commemorating Black History: Amber Valley Fine Silver Coin (CNW Group/Royal Canadian Mint)

Released in conjunction with the annual observance of Black History Month, the 2024 $20 Fine Silver Coin  Commemorating Black History: Amber Valley celebrates the legacy of an exceptional group men and women who built one of Western Canada's earliest Black settlements. It is available as of today.

"I appreciate the recognition this coin represents," said Myrna Wisdom, Historian and Co-Founder of The Black Settlers of Alberta and Saskatchewan Historical Society. "The Black Settlers of Amber Valley are indeed deserving of this recognition, which includes both my paternal and maternal grandparents, as well as my parents."

"The Royal Canadian Mint is proud to contribute to the national celebration of Canada's Black History Month through a continuing series of silver collector coins that captures important stories that define our shared heritage," said Marie Lemay, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. "We are delighted to share the inspiring story of Amber Valley and the pioneering Black settlers who succeeded in building a new life in a new land, as yet another example of the spirit and resilience of Black communities across Canada."

The reverse design of this 99.99% pure silver coin, by artist Valentine De Landro, is centered on an imagined scene of a homesteader family arriving in Pine Creek, Alberta in 1909 and peering over the land that would become the thriving community of Amber Valley. The design includes a map outline of the province of Alberta, enhanced by a bough of maple leaves. The lower portion of the reverse depicts a wagon train of settlers completing their long journey from the southern United States. The scene is framed by log cabins, which were the first houses built by the intrepid Black pioneers who were determined to make a new home in Northern Alberta.

"For the composition, I needed to find a balance between what I thought were two prevailing characteristics: the journey and the community," said artist Valentine De Landro. "The pioneering imagery was essential to communicating the spirit of Amber Valley, crossing through harsh terrain to reach a virtually unknown destination and to begin a legacy centred on the goal of a better life for their family."

The obverse of the coin features the Susanna Blunt-designed transitional effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, which includes a special marking consisting of a vertical inscription of the dates "1952" and "2022", separated by four pearls to symbolize the four effigies that have graced Canadian coins throughout the reign.

Limited to a mintage of 5,500, the 2024 $20 Fine Silver Coin - Commemorating Black History: Amber Valley retails for $104.95. This new collectible may be ordered as of today by contacting the Mint at 1-800-2671871 in Canada, 1-800-2686468 in the US, or at www.mint.ca. It will also be available at the Royal Canadian Mint's boutiques in Ottawa and Winnipeg, at participating Canada Post outlets, and through the Mint's global network of dealers and distributors.

Images of this coin are available here.

About the Royal Canadian Mint

The Royal Canadian Mint is the Crown corporation responsible for the minting and distribution of Canada's circulation coins. The Mint is one of the largest and most versatile mints in the world, producing award-winning collector coins, market-leading bullion products, as well as Canada's prestigious military and civilian honours. As an established London and COMEX Good Delivery refiner, the Mint also offers a full spectrum of best-in-class gold and silver refining services. As an organization that strives to take better care of the environment, to cultivate safe and inclusive workplaces and to make a positive impact on the communities where it operates, the Mint integrates environmental, social and governance practices in every aspect of its operations.

For more information on the Mint, its products and services, visit www.mint.ca. Follow the Mint on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

SOURCE Royal Canadian Mint
OTTAWA, ON, Jan. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In launching the latest issue in its ongoing Commemorating Black History fine silver coin series, the Royal Canadian Mint is honouring the community of Amber Valley, Alberta, founded in 1910 by African American families from Oklahoma, Texas and other surrounding states. Seeking a life away from segregationist laws, racial hostility and violence, they journeyed to Northern Alberta in response to the government of Canada's offer of free land in the Canadian west. By 1910, approximately 300 men, women and children endured and overcame new hardships as they tamed the Alberta wilderness to carve out a new life in a thriving community that was renamed Amber Valley in 1931. Their inspiring tale of spirit and determination is forever preserved on a beautiful 99.99% pure silver collector coin.

The Royal Canadian Mint's 2024 Commemorating Black History: Amber Valley Fine Silver Coin

Released in conjunction with the annual observance of Black History Month, the 2024 $20 Fine Silver Coin  Commemorating Black History: Amber Valley celebrates the legacy of an exceptional group men and women who built one of Western Canada's earliest Black settlements. It is available as of today.

"I appreciate the recognition this coin represents," said Myrna Wisdom, Historian and Co-Founder of The Black Settlers of Alberta and Saskatchewan Historical Society. "The Black Settlers of Amber Valley are indeed deserving of this recognition, which includes both my paternal and maternal grandparents, as well as my parents."

"The Royal Canadian Mint is proud to contribute to the national celebration of Canada's Black History Month through a continuing series of silver collector coins that captures important stories that define our shared heritage," said Marie Lemay, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. "We are delighted to share the inspiring story of Amber Valley and the pioneering Black settlers who succeeded in building a new life in a new land, as yet another example of the spirit and resilience of Black communities across Canada."

The reverse design of this 99.99% pure silver coin, by artist Valentine De Landro, is centered on an imagined scene of a homesteader family arriving in Pine Creek, Alberta in 1909 and peering over the land that would become the thriving community of Amber Valley. The design includes a map outline of the province of Alberta, enhanced by a bough of maple leaves. The lower portion of the reverse depicts a wagon train of settlers completing their long journey from the southern United States. The scene is framed by log cabins, which were the first houses built by the intrepid Black pioneers who were determined to make a new home in Northern Alberta.

"For the composition, I needed to find a balance between what I thought were two prevailing characteristics: the journey and the community," said artist Valentine De Landro. "The pioneering imagery was essential to communicating the spirit of Amber Valley, crossing through harsh terrain to reach a virtually unknown destination and to begin a legacy centred on the goal of a better life for their family."

The obverse of the coin features the Susanna Blunt-designed transitional effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, which includes a special marking consisting of a vertical inscription of the dates "1952" and "2022", separated by four pearls to symbolize the four effigies that have graced Canadian coins throughout the reign.

Limited to a mintage of 5,500, the 2024 $20 Fine Silver Coin - Commemorating Black History: Amber Valley retails for $104.95. This new collectible may be ordered as of today by contacting the Mint at 1-800-2671871 in Canada, 1-800-2686468 in the US, or at www.mint.ca. It will also be available at the Royal Canadian Mint's boutiques in Ottawa and Winnipeg, at participating Canada Post outlets, and through the Mint's global network of dealers and distributors.

Images of this coin are available here.

About the Royal Canadian Mint

The Royal Canadian Mint is the Crown corporation responsible for the minting and distribution of Canada's circulation coins. The Mint is one of the largest and most versatile mints in the world, producing award-winning collector coins, market-leading bullion products, as well as Canada's prestigious military and civilian honours. As an established London and COMEX Good Delivery refiner, the Mint also offers a full spectrum of best-in-class gold and silver refining services. As an organization that strives to take better care of the environment, to cultivate safe and inclusive workplaces and to make a positive impact on the communities where it operates, the Mint integrates environmental, social and governance practices in every aspect of its operations.

For more information on the Mint, its products and services, visit www.mint.ca. Follow the Mint on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

Media are asked to contact: Alex Reeves, Senior Manager, Public Affairs, Telephone: 613-884-6370, [email protected]

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2326067/Royal_Canadian_Mint_ROYAL_CANADIAN_MINT_COMMEMORATES_BLACK_HISTO.jpg
NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq., a partner at the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF"), announces that KSF has commenced an investigation into Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV).

On December 22, 2022, the Company announced that it was canceling flights scheduled for December 22-23 ahead of Winter Storm Elliott, which ultimately caused a technical and logistical meltdown resulting in more than 16,700 flights being cancelled over the next several days, stranding an estimated 2 million passengers and employees during the holiday season. Subsequently, news agencies reported that, based on information from industry insiders, the difficulties posed by the severe weather were greatly exacerbated by the Company's use of outdated and ineffective technology and an aggressive flight scheduling system that left it more prone to such cancellations, and that Company executives had ignored warnings of these and other problems over the years. The Company estimated the cost of the meltdown at up to $825 million.

Thereafter, the Company has suffered arguably the most extensive damage to the Southwest brand in its 51-year history and been subjected to investigations by the U.S. Department of Transportation and U.S. Congress, consumer class action lawsuits, and a securities class action lawsuit, charging the Company and its executives with failing to disclose material information in violation of federal securities laws, which remains ongoing.

KSF's investigation is focusing on whether Southwest's officers and/or directors breached their fiduciary duties to its shareholders or otherwise violated state or federal laws.

If you have information that would assist KSF in its investigation, or have been a long-term holder of Southwest shares and would like to discuss your legal rights, you may, without obligation or cost to you, call toll-free at 1-833-938-0905 or email KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn ([email protected]), or visit us at https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-luv/ to learn more.

About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

KSF, 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, Delaware, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.

To learn more about KSF, you may visit ksfcounsel.com.

Contact:

Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

Lewis Kahn, Managing Partner

[email protected]

1-877-515-1850

1100 Poydras St., Suite 960

New Orleans, LA 70163

SOURCE Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq., a partner at the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF"), announces that KSF has commenced an investigation into Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SPR).

On January 4, 2024, Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, a Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft, was forced to make an emergency landing just six minutes after takeoff when a panel of the plane (called a door plug) snapped off at 16,000 feet, leaving an open gaping hole and a harrowing experience suffered by the passengers.

The resulting investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, which grounded 171 of the 737 Max 9 aircraft indefinitely, has recently expanded to include Spirit, a major supplier to Boeing responsible for manufacturing about 70 percent of each 737 aircraft, including the fuselage, and the initial installation of the panel that broke off in Flight 1282.

KSF's investigation is focusing on whether Spirit's officers and/or directors breached their fiduciary duties to its shareholders or otherwise violated state or federal laws.

If you have information that would assist KSF in its investigation, or have been a long-term holder of Spirit shares and would like to discuss your legal rights, you may, without obligation or cost to you, call toll-free at 1-833-938-0905 or email KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn ([email protected]), or visit us at https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-spr/ to learn more.

About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

KSF, 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, Delaware, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.

To learn more about KSF, you may visit ksfcounsel.com.

Contact:

Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

Lewis Kahn, Managing Partner

[email protected]

1-877-515-1850

1100 Poydras St., Suite 960

New Orleans, LA 70163

SOURCE Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
WASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Holocaust survivors speak with visitors to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum for International Holocaust Remembrance Day. International Holocaust Remembrance Day was established by the United Nations in 2005 to commemorate the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust and to promote Holocaust education. Learn more about International Holocaust Remembrance Day here. Learn more about the Holocaust here.

SOURCE United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Under a hazy fog darkened Saturday morning sky, about 900 eager runners, some in festive and cartoonish attire, braved low visibility and choppy Lake Michigan waters off Oak Street Beach to participate in the annual Polar Plunge.

The Polar Plunge asks people to jump into frigid Lake Michigan to raise money to support Chicago families in need. The event, run by the Chicago Polar Bear Club, has happened annually for 22 years after founder Brian Marchal wanted to jump in the lake and recruited a small group to join him.

The first plunge on Jan. 1, 2002 had just three participants, according to the Chicago Polar Bear Club. The tradition has only grown since that day.

A participant sips from a cup as another hurries out of the water during the Chicago Polar Bear Clubs annual Polar Plunge at Oak Street Beach Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024, in Chicago. According to organizers, more than 800 people signed up to plunge, and $85,000 was raised to help Chicagoland families.

This years hundreds of plungers ran in the water for only a few seconds before running back to frantically warm up on the beach under a cloudy sky.

First-time plunger Matt Gortney of River North said he was inspired to participate after seeing the event for the first time last winter. His toes were numb as he walked further inland with his wife Jessica who came to support. Despite just emerging from the freezing water, he wore a bright smile on his face.

Its freezing, Gortney said with a laugh. But at least its not snowing like last year.

While some participants waded in the water knee deep, others dove all the way under, including Gortney who said he fell over and ended up submerged. Gortney said he already plans to join again next year.

Other participants, like Abdul Alkahtani, joined the dip in the lake on a whim. Alkahtani was going on a run along the lakefront on Saturday when he saw signs advertising the Polar Plunge. He signed up on the spot and came back for the main event.

It was incredible, said Alkahtani, a second-year graduate student at University of Illinois originally from Saudi Arabia. I loved the idea behind the event and just decided to do it.

The first group of participants head for the water during the Chicago Polar Bear Clubs annual Polar Plunge at Oak Street Beach Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024, in Chicago. According to organizers, more than 800 people signed up to plunge, and $85,000 was raised to help Chicagoland families. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

He tried to recruit some of his friends, but none could come in such short notice, leaving him to jump in with hundreds of strangers supporting the same cause. About 10 minutes after the plunge, Alkahtani said he felt warm again with the help of the clothes he packed and the excitement of the day.

Many participants wore swim trunks and bathing suits, but some were decked out in costumes for the event from hot dogs to a Chicago flag. Tasher Losenegger and Peter Phillip dressed up as The Little Mermaid, complete with bright red wigs, green shorts and makeshift purple bikini tops made of cardboard.

Losenegger said they made the costumes earlier that morning, and the attention had exceeded their expectations.

Weve been asked f, people jump in frigid Lake Michigan while raising money to support Chicago families in need. The event, run by the Chicago Polar Bear Club, has happened annually for 22 years after founder Brian Marchal wanted to jump in the lake and recruited a small group to join him.

Phillip added they wanted to wear something tropical for the event, which was the first time that both of them participated in the citys polar plunge.

I wanted to do more Chicago events since moving here, and this was the next one, so we decided to do it, Phillip said.

aguffey@chicagotribune.com
BANGKOK, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The United States must abide by the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques and put into action its commitment not to support "Taiwan independence", and support the peaceful reunification of China, China's senior diplomat Wang Yi has said.

Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, held a new round of talks with U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan here from Friday to Saturday. 
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
Moscow, Jan 27 : The North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) Steadfast Defender drills are "provocative", and could potentially lead to "tragic consequences" for Europe, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova has said.

"For several months, 90,000 forces from 31 NATO member countries, as well as Sweden, will be actively operating near Russian borders on the territory from Norway to Romania," Zakharova was quoted by Xinhua news agency as saying on Friday.

Such a step was "provocative," and "deliberately aimed at escalating the situation," she said, warning that it could increase the risk of military incidents and "ultimately lead to tragic consequences for Europe."

NATO kicked off the "Steadfast Defender 2024" exercises, its largest military drills in decades, on Wednesday. The exercises will take place in several locations and run until May 31.
Los Angeles, Jan 27 : The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned that measles cases are rising in the country, urging health providers to watch for the outbreaks.

Between December 1 last year and January 23 this year, the CDC was notified of 23 confirmed cases of measles, including seven direct importations of measles by international travellers and two outbreaks with more than five cases each, Xinhua news agency reported, citing a report of the agency.

Most of these cases were among children and adolescents who had not received a measles-containing vaccine.

Measles cases often originate from unvaccinated or under-vaccinated US residents who travel internationally and then transmit the disease to people who are not vaccinated against measles, according to the CDC.

The increased number of measles importations seen in recent weeks is reflective of a rise in global measles cases and a growing global threat from the disease, said the CDC.
Tehran, Jan 27 : Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moqaddam has returned to Islamabad to resume his diplomatic duties after a brief tension between the two neighbours.

He left Islamabad for Iran on January 16 before the recent flare-up between the two countries.

The deep-rooted relations between Iran and Pakistan can help solve the issues affecting their ties, Iran's official news agency IRNA quoted the Iranian diplomat as saying on Friday.

The ambassador also expressed hope that the two countries would cooperate to counter terrorism, Xinhua news agency reported, citing IRNA.

The IRNA also reported that Pakistan's Ambassador to Iran Muhammad Mudassir Tipu went back to Tehran earlier on Friday.

Tipu said in a post on the social media platform X that he returned to Tehran with the "sincere and good wishes" of Pakistan's leadership, adding it was time to "turn a new leaf".

Iran and Pakistan said in a joint statement on Monday that they had agreed to send back their ambassadors by Friday.

The statement said the decision was made following a phone call between Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Pakistani counterpart Jalil Abbas Jilani. It noted that Amir-Abdollahian would visit Pakistan on January 29 at Jilani's invitation.

On January 16, Iran carried out a series of missile and drone strikes within Pakistan's Balochistan province, claiming that it had targeted the terrorist group Jaish ul-Adl. Pakistan then denounced Iran's "violation of its airspace" and recalled its ambassador from Iran.

On January 18, Pakistan launched a missile strike on a border village in Iran's southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan, prompting Iran's protests.
Moscow, Jan 27 : Russia's Investigative Committee has said that the Il-76 military aircraft was hit with a missile that was launched from the Kharkov region in Ukraine.

The committee on Friday said that the investigation has established that the anti-aircraft missile system that was used to hit the Il-76 aircraft was located in the Liptsy village of the Kharkov region, Xinhua news agency reported, citing a Telegram post.

It said that documents were found at the crash site of the aircraft in Belgorod, which belong to the Ukrainian military personnel that were killed.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the missile hit the Il-76 aircraft was obviously fired from the territory controlled by the Ukrainian side.

The Ukrainian leaders knew Ukrainian prisoners were on board the plane, said Putin.

A Russian Il-76 transport aircraft with 65 Ukrainian prisoners, six crew members, and three accompanying persons on board crashed in the country's Belgorod region on Wednesday.
Sanaa, Jan 27 : Yemen's Houthi armed group has said it has launched a new missile attack on a British oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden, setting it on fire.

"Our forces today (Friday) targeted the British oil vessel Marlin Luanda in the Gulf of Aden with several naval missiles. The hit was accurate and caused a fire on the ship," Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said in a statement aired by the group's al-Masirah TV.

Earlier in the day, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a British maritime observer agency, said it received a report of an attack on a vessel 60 nautical miles southwest of Yemen's Aden. It said two missiles exploded near a vessel, adding that the US-UK maritime coalition had responded to the attack, Xinhua news agency reported.

In an updated report, the UKMTO said the vessel was struck and caught on fire, adding that the vessel had asked for urgent help.

In the meantime, the U.S. Central Command said earlier on Friday that the Houthi group fired one anti-ship ballistic missile toward the US destroyer USS Carney in the Gulf of Aden.

"The missile was successfully shot down by USS Carney. There were no injuries or damage reported," the Central Command, which oversees US military operations in the Middle East, said in a post on X, the social media platform previously known as Twitter.

Tensions have been rising in the Red Sea, where the Houthis say their attacks on commercial vessels are in solidarity with the Palestinians, while the US and the UK, since January 12, have been launching airstrikes on Houthi targets to deter the militant group from disrupting maritime traffic.
Mumbai, Jan 27 : Tha Maharashtra government has conceded all the demands of the Maratha community, after which the community agitation has been called off, here early on Saturday.

The Shiv Sanghatana leader Manoj Jarange-Patil and the government delegation held detailed discussions around midnight which were successful.

Later, the government issued an official notification (Government Resolution), a copy of which was handed over to Jarange-Patil around 5 a.m. Thereafter, he consulted his team and decided to call off the agitation.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will go to Navi Mumbai around 8 a.m. and offer a glass of fruit juice to Jarange-Patil, who will end his 3-day hunger strike.

Among those who were engaged in the night long operation included Ministers Mangal Prabhat Lodha and Deepak Kesarkar, top officers like Social Justice Department Secretary Sumant Bhange, Aurangabad Divisional Commissioner Madhukar Arangal, and CM's Private Secretary Dr. Amol Shinde.

Lakhs of Marathas who had gathered in Navi Mumbai erupted into dawn celebrations, playing drums, dancing and singing at the success of the 6-month long campaign.

The Marathas leaders have announced that they will not enter Mumbai as planned and after a victory rally today, the lakhs of people who came here from all over the state will start returning home.
Gaza, Jan 27 : A complete power blackout has hit the Nasser Hospital in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, the official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.

Photos circulating on social media showed complete darkness shrouding the hospital, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Gaza-based Health Ministry said in a statement on Friday that the Israeli forces deliberately disabled the hospital through attacks and blockade and prevented its ambulances from operating.

The Israeli army continued military operations in Khan Younis on Friday, resulting in at least 28 deaths, according to the state-run Palestine TV.

The report added that the Israeli army launched on Friday evening an airstrike on a house in Deir el-Balah in central Gaza, killing at least six people.

Khan Younis has witnessed during the past days the intensification of Israeli attacks, the fiercest since the Israel-Hamas conflict erupted last October.
BANGKOK, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Thailand is poised to launch its first commercial green hydrogen project in partnership with a Chinese firm to catalyze the country's transition to green and low-carbon practices.

Chinese new energy company Beijing Mingyang Hydrogen Technology Co., Ltd. on Friday signed an agreement with Thailand's first liquefied natural gas distributor, IBCLNG Co., Ltd. to jointly develop a 25-MW electrolysis project.

Under the deal, the IBCLNG will source cutting-edge electrolyzer from Mingyang Hydrogen. The Chinese company will provide technical expertise and personnel support to construct an integrated "generation, storage, and utilization" green hydrogen infrastructure in Thailand.

The resulting green hydrogen will be channelled downstream to steel enterprises, fostering the "green" production of environmentally friendly steel, reducing carbon footprints and enhancing production sustainability.

Charernsook Siriyong, deputy managing director of the IBCLNG, said hydrogen is significant as a clean and versatile secondary energy source and pivotal in the global energy transition.

He told Xinhua in an interview that Thailand predominantly relies on gray hydrogen which was derived from fossil fuel combustion or industrial by-products, releasing substantial carbon dioxide during production.

He said green hydrogen, produced through water electrolysis using renewable energy sources like wind, hydropower and solar, offers a carbon-neutral alternative.

Charernsook said that the European Union is gradually implementing a carbon border adjustment mechanism, imposing "carbon tariffs" on products such as cement, aluminum, fertilizers, and steel imported from countries and regions with relatively lenient carbon emission restrictions.

"Failing to do so, it could increase future export costs and result in losing the first-mover advantage in the market," he said.

Shen Zhongmin, vice chairman of Mingyang Hydrogen, said that hydrogen is a major source for green energy, noting that the collaboration is not only about selling products but also providing a high-quality international cooperation solution for climate change.

Thailand is dedicated to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and net-zero emissions by 2065. The government has laid out a roadmap to achieve the goals, urging relevant stakeholders to take actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Some major energy companies in Thailand have already started investing in hydrogen technology and supplying hydrogen for electricity generation to businesses in industrial parks or converting hydrogen into synthetic fuels for easier transportation and use. 
Cape Town, Jan 27 : The South African Parliament has welcomed the "landmark ruling" of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the country's genocide case against Israel, calling on the international community to apply pressure on Israel to comply with the order.

The ICJ has determined that Israel's actions in Gaza are "plausibly genocidal" and has indicated provisional measures on that basis, Xinhua news agency reported, citing a statement issued by the parliament on Friday evening.

Calling it "a significant human rights victory", the parliament said "the ruling vindicates South Africa's position on an immediate ceasefire and cessation of hostilities in Gaza".

In the statement, the South African parliament called on Israel to respect the binding measures and to cease all plausibly genocidal acts in Gaza and against the Palestinian people.

"There is now no credible basis for Israel and its supporters' indiscriminate military actions in the name of self-defense. The ruling is a clear demonstration of Israel's non-compliance with international law, including the Genocide Convention," said the parliament.

Therefore, it noted, the ruling compels Israel to stop immediately all hostilities in Gaza and allow more UN humanitarian aid.

"Considering the measures ordered by the court, we call on governments, parliaments, and the international community to respond by applying pressure on Israel to comply with the order," it added.

The parliament also called on the United Nations Security Council, upon formal notification of the ICJ's order and pursuant to its statute, to ensure swift action as "no government or state is above the law."

On December 29, 2023, South Africa filed an application to the ICJ for proceedings against Israel, concerning alleged violations by Israel of its obligations under the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide related to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Chicago, Jan 27 : At least two teenagers were killed in a shooting in Chicago when they were returning from their school, local media reported.

The incident occurred around 12.25 p.m. when two vehicles pulled up and several people exited and opened fire on the boys who were returning from the school along with four people, Chicago Tribune reported.

They were rushed to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in critical condition, and were pronounced dead a short time later, Chicago Fire Department spokesperson Larry Langford said.

Police are investigating the case.
Tel Aviv, Jan 27 : The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has sacked several of its employees suspected of involvement in the October 7 terror attacks on Israel.

UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini in a statement said that the agency had sacked several of its employees after Israel's accusation. He however did not mention number of employees who were sacked.

Sources in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) told IANS that 12 of UNRWA staff had participated in the violent terror attacks of October 7 leading to the brutal slaughter of 1,200 people in Israel. They also said that the information on the alleged involvement of UMRWA staff members was provided by the terrorists who were arrested by Israel.

The UNRWA chief in a statement on Friday night said, "Any UNRWA employee who was involved in acts of terror will be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution."

He also said that Israel authorities had provided information on the alleged involvement of its staff members.

The Israeli side has also alleged that UNRWA vehicles were also used during the terror onslaught of October 7.

Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, in a social media post after the UNRWA sacked its staffers for the alleged involvement, said, "Terrorism under the guise of humanitarian work is a disgrace to the UN and the principles it claims to represent."

The spokesperson of the Secretary General of the United Nations in a statement on Friday said, "Urgent and comprehensive review of UNRWA will be conducted."

The statement also said that United Nations chief Antonio Guterres was horrified on the accusations against an UN agency and hence has issued a comprehensive review on the functioning of the UNRWA.

The US state department also said in a statement that it was extremely horrified by the accusations and that it had temporarily paused additional funding to the UNRWA. It may be noted that the US had contributed a whopping $340 million to the UNRWA in 2022

Israel's Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan in a statement said, "How symbolic that precisely on International Holocaust Remembrance Day it was proven what we have been claiming for years: that UNRWA employees are collaborators of the terrorist organisation Hamas and that the UN has become not only a place where the existence of the State of Israel is delegitimized, but that its employees physically participated in the attempted extermination of Israel and the murder of innocent citizens."

UNRWA provided services including providing relief aid to the Gaza Strip, and parts of the West Bank which help prevent a major chaos in the area for lack of basic necessities.

UNRWA also provides relief to Palestinian refugees in Syria, Jordan and Lebanon.

The outbreak of war deteriorated relations between Israel and UNRWA. The agency had charged that Israel was targeting civilian areas including its schools and its first responder stations.

Israel said UNRWA was, willfully or under threat, providing cover for Hamas terrorists.

The Palestinian authorities have accused IDF for killing more than 26,000 Palestinians including women and children.
Bengaluru, Jan 27 : The Karnataka BJP, once humiliated for being in disarray, has managed to bounce back in the state amidst the euphoria created by the inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

Post the Ayodhya event, shedding its defensive approach, the state BJP unit delivered a formidable blow to the Congress by successfully pulling former CM Jagadish Shettar back into its fold ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Every town, village, and city, including the IT capital Bengaluru, was inundated with saffron flags, posters, buntings, and cutouts of Lord Ram before and after January 22.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) reached out to every doorstep with 'Mantrakshate' (sacred grains of rice from Ayodhya) and posters of Lord Ram. Karnataka, known as the birthplace of Lord Hanuman, the greatest devotee of Lord Ram, saw every village organizing special worship in every temple.

Even Congress leaders concede that the euphoria swept everyone's hearts, challenging the image that the Congress government managed to build through the implementation of guarantee schemes.

After the arrival of Jagadish Shettar, former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai claimed that many leaders from the Congress would join the BJP soon. He said that it was only the beginning, as there would be a 'Ghar Vapsi' of not only BJP leaders but also important Congress leaders. "The Congress would likely divide into factions."

Sources in the BJP explained that the party's state President B.Y. Vijayendra and Parliamentary Board Member B.S. Yediyurappa have been given a free hand to strengthen the party.

According to Yediyurappa, the BJP is working towards winning more than 25 out of the total 28 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Leader of Opposition, R. Ashoka says that there would be a 'Congress choro' trend in Karnataka in the coming days. "The Congress leaders used to claim that BJP leaders joined them. Now, they will be gagged. They do not have leadership, and that is why the Congress is trying to pull our leaders," he adds.

The ruling Congress party seems to be losing momentum. Events such as the "naked parade" of a Dalit woman in Belagavi district, the gangrape of a Muslim woman by moral policing vigilantes in Haveri district, and communal clashes in Shivamogga and other places have raised serious questions on the ruling party.

Infighting in the Congress is also escalating, with Minister of Cooperation K.N. Rajanna and Minister for Home G. Parameshwara raising a banner of revolt against the party high command over appointments to boards and corporations. Minister Rajanna has even that he is "not a slave".

Unable to take action as both identify with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's camp and hail from oppressed classes, Deputy Chief Minister and party's state President Shivakumar has pointed fingers at the high command.

Fearing backlash, Siddaramaiah chanted the 'Jai Shri Ram' slogan during a programme on January 22 and claimed that the slogan did not belong to any particular party or person. The Chief Minister allowed tilak to be applied to his forehead and flaunted it throughout the programme.

The move surprised many as Siddaramaiah had been criticized for not showing reverence to Hindu rituals at temples. "The slogan 'Jai Shri Ram' is the slogan of the whole society. Some think the slogan is their property. The slogan is about showing reverence to Shri Ram, which is to be echoed by everyone," Siddaramaiah said, asking the crowd to chant the 'Jai Shri Ram' slogan.

Political analyst Basavaraj Soolibhavi tells IANS that it's not only through the Ram Mandir that the BJP is trying to create its wave. "The BJP has been pursuing politics of religion and using the religious feelings for its gain continuously. Ram Mandir is one of the party's agendas."

"It won't stop here. The inauguration of Ram Mandir has created a frenzied mood among devotees and followers. It might lead to incidents of attacking symbols of other religions. The attack on Dharwad's Idgah Maidan tower is one such incident. The BJP has systematically reached out to the bottom of the society through the Ram Mandir inauguration in Ayodhya," he adds.

Soolibhavi says the Congress party has never tried to shed its image and pursue active politics. Most of the time, it came to power due to the anti-incumbency factor and negativity surrounding other parties. "It is not able to come to power by winning over people with its principles, agendas, and ideologies."

"Though guarantee schemes are implemented by the Karnataka Congress, 'Modi's guarantee' by the Prime Minister is popularized more among people. Every department of the Central government is involved in systematically disseminating the welfare programmes. The chances of winning 15 to 20 seats in Lok Sabha elections out of 28 seats are looking bleak for Congress. There is an equal fight now in the state," he concludes.
Gandhinagar, Jan 27 : The recent 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya has sparked a political and social ripple effect, particularly in Gujarat, where the BJP is leveraging the event to consolidate its position ahead of the forthcoming general elections this year.

Gandhinagar, Jan 27 (IANS) The recent aPran Pratishthaa ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya has sparked a political and social ripple effect, particularly in Gujarat, where the BJP is leveraging the event to consolidate its position ahead of the forthcoming general elections this year.

Soon after the consecration ceremony, BJP National President JP Nadda, while inaugurating the election office in Gandhinagar, underscored the party's achievements under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Nadda cited a substantial poverty reduction in India, with reports from the IMF and NITI Aayog supporting this claim.

He emphasised that the BJP's continued governance was essential for fulfilling Modi's vision of eradicating poverty.

The BJP's campaign strategy in Gujarat is multifaceted, focusing on economic achievements and social, religious and cultural aspects.

The inauguration of election offices across all 26 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state indicates the party's commitment to a robust electoral presence.

Naddaas mention of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, which aims to provide quality housing for all, highlights the party's focus on welfare schemes.

Another significant development was the induction of around 1,500 former leaders and members from the Congress and other parties into the BJP, a move that strengthens the saffron partyas position in Gujarat.

This influx of new members, which includes notable figures like Indrajitsinh Thakor and Vipul Patel, indicates a strategic consolidation of support for the BJP.

The BJP's narrative around the construction of the Ram temple plays a pivotal role in their political strategy.

Gujarat BJP chief CR Patil emphasised Modi's commitment to social harmony, suggesting that the peaceful construction of the Ram temple exemplifies national unity and cultural pride.

The BJP's ideology of aVasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the whole world is a family)a welcomes members from various political backgrounds, indicating a broad-based approach to the partyas expansion and inclusivity.

This strategy appeals to a broader electorate, transcending traditional party lines.

In contrast, the Opposition's response to this narrative is not explicitly outlined in the State due to a lack of leadership, internal conflicts in the Congress party, and the resignation of party members.

The impact of the Ram temple and the associated cultural symbolism on the BJP's prospects in Gujarat and other states is likely to be significant.

The temple's construction has long been a cornerstone of the BJP's cultural and political agenda, resonating deeply with a large section of its support base.

In Gujarat, a state with a strong BJP presence, this could further bolster the party's chances in the forthcoming elections.

Overall, the BJP's strategy in Gujarat post-aPrana Pratishthaa appears to be a blend of highlighting developmental achievements, cultural pride, and a broad-based political approach.

This strategy, coupled with the emotive appeal of the Ram temple, could strengthen the BJP's position in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Chennai, Jan 27 : The election manifesto committee members of AIADMK, the principal opposition party of Tamil Nadu, will be touring across the state from February 5 to 10 in a bid to elicit the views and opinion of the public.

AIADMK has formed an election manifesto drafting committee for the 2024 general elections, the dates of which are yet to be announced.

Senior party leaders Natham R. Viswanathan, C. Ponnaiyan, Pollachi V. Jayaraman, D. Jayakumar, C.Ve. Shanmugam, S. Semmalai, B. Valarmathi, O.S. Manian, R.B. Udhayakumar and Vaigaichelvan are part of the 10-member panel.

The committee is expected to receive inputs from all the 38 districts of the state within this six day tour of the state. These 38 districts are classified as nine zones and committee members will split as different teams and cover all the zones for public response.

AIADMK general secretary amd opposition leader of Tamil Nadu, Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) called upon his party cadre to facilitate meetings between the panel and various sections of the society.

In a statement on Friday, EPS called upon the people to express their needs and expectations from the MP and the Central government.

The committee would meet farmers, weavers, fishermen, government officials, teachers, those in unorganised sectors, women, students, industrialists, entrepreneurs, among others.

EPS in the statement said that the panel would receive inputs from Chennai and Vellore Zones on February 5 and from Villupuram and Salem Zones the following day. It would visit Thanjavur and Tiruchi Zones on February 7 and on the following day, it would receive inputs from Coimbatore Zone. It would visit Madurai and Tirunelveli Zones on February 9 and 10 respectively.

It is to be notes that since the 2019 loksabha elections, AIADMK has fared poorly in elections. While the party lost ita face in the 2019 general elections with AIADMK winning only one out of the 39 seats, in the 2021 assembly elections it lost power to DMK. The AIADMK top brass is in the process of connecting public and to regain the lost ground in electoral hustings.
Bogota, Jan 27 : The Colombian government has recalled its ambassador to Argentina for consultations after Argentina President Javier Milei's contentious remark that Colombian President Gustavo Petro was a "communist murderer".

During an interview with journalist Patricia Janiot, Milei referred to Petro as "a communist murderer who is ruining Colombia," Xinhua news agency reported.

The interview, disseminated on Janiot's YouTube account, has caused diplomatic tensions between the two South American countries.

Condemning the Argentine president's remark, Colombia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs termed it as "disrespectful and irresponsible."

The statement emphasised that such comments "violate the deep ties of friendship, understanding, and cooperation that have historically united Colombia and Argentina."
(edited) (POLITICS AFTER RAM MANDIR) BJP makes its job easier by returning Ram Mandir to the centre of its narrative. Image Source: IANS News

Lucknow, Jan 27 : It is a perfect recipe - more perfect than what the BJP had imagined it to be.

Lucknow, Jan 27 (IANS) It is a perfect recipe  more perfect than what the BJP had imagined it to be.

With careful planning, the BJP has managed to bring the Ram temple in Ayodhya to the centre of the electoral narrative and the response from the common man will make sure that it stays there till the elections are held, sometime in April-May.

The 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony reached every household in India through live telecast and streaming on January 22.

Temple memorabilia is on sale across the country, making sure that there is a bit of Ram Lalla in every heart, every house.

The surging crowds that reached Ayodhya after the consecration ceremony on January 22, was more than what the BJP expected.

The Yogi Adityanath Government had to stop bus services, appeal to the people to wait longer for 'darshan', increase darshan timings and even reschedule Ayodhya-bound trains.

Crowds that are pouring into the holy city from all parts of the country, will, perhaps, make sure that the BJP reaches its target of 50 per cent vote share  or maybe even more.

The manner in which the BJP has built up the temple narrative, has put the Opposition in the anti-Hindu camp.

"It is clear  if you have declined the invitation to the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony, you are perceived as anti-Ram. For the moment, the BJP and Ram are almost synonymous and you cannot separate the two. Even the VHP which spearheaded the entire Ayodhya movement seems to have taken a back seat. VHP leaders' presence was not very visible at the ceremony," opined a political analyst.

A senior BJP Legislator said, "If this is so, then we have toiled for it. Yogi Adityanath put infrastructure development in Ayodhya on the fast track and ensured that the development of the holy city took place faster than the temple construction. Prime Minister Modi also ensured that the airport, railway station and other facilities came up in record time. Those who are going to Ayodhya, are seeing the magnificent temple and also a new Ayodhya."

The BJP is now planning to take groups of devotees from every Assembly constituency to offer prayers at the Ram temple. The campaign will continue till Holi, which falls on March 25.

After a gap of about a week, Ayodhya will start celebrating Chaitra Navratri which will culminate in Ram Navami on April 17  celebrations for which will again be on a grand scale.

The BJP clearly visualised and pushed the temple plank to the doors of the Lok Sabha elections and a host of programmes will broaden the outreach.

These include the likes of the Kalash Yatra, Ayodhya Darshan, Mandir Deep Jyoti, distributing booklets among the people on the history of the Ram temple movement, and reaching out to people to sport the Ram flag in their homes and vehicles.

Besides, the BJP has also unveiled a 'Gaon Chalo' campaign as part of the party's bid to go to the rural parts of India.

The Opposition, on the other hand, has not only failed to counter the temple narrative set by the BJP but has even started imploding.

The INDIA bloc seems to be cracking up sooner than expected with JD-U, Trinamool Congress and AAP baring their fangs. In this situation, the road to victory in 2024 seems to be getting smoother for the BJP.

The Ram temple has been fed into the BJP's cultural-nationalism discourse and 'Jai Shri Ram' is the all-important war cry for the upcoming general elections.
London, Jan 27 : A British-Indian student has been acquitted by a Spanish court after he was accused of public disorder for joking about blowing up a plane in which he was travelling along with his friends.

Aditya Verma, a student of economics at Bath University, was on his way to the island of Menorca with friends in July 2022 when he made the remarks on Snapchat, claiming that he is a member of the Taliban.

"On my way to blow up the plane. I'm a member of the Taliban," the message, sent before Verma departed Gatwick airport, said.

In a trial held at the National Court in Madrid, a judge in Madrid ruled on Friday that "no explosive... was found that would lead one to believe it was a real threat," the BBC reported.

A court in Madrid heard on Monday that the message was picked up by the UK security services on Gatwick's Wi-Fi network, who then alerted Spanish authorities, following which two Spanish F-18 fighter jets were sent to flank the aircraft with Verma onboard.

However, a spokesperson for Gatwick Airport told BBC News that its Wi-Fi network "does not have that capability," even as Snapchat, an encrypted app, refused to comment on the case.

The judge's resolution said that the message, "for unknown reasons, was captured by the security mechanisms of England when the plane was flying over French airspace," the BBC said, citing Europa Press news agency.

It was not immediately clear how UK authorities were alerted to the message, with the judge noting "they were not the subject of evidence in this trial".

Verma, who was 18 at the time of the incident, was arrested and kept in a police cell for two days and was later released on bail.

Back in the UK, he was questioned by the British intelligence agencies MI5 and MI6, before he returned home to Orpington, Kent.

Appearing in the court on Monday, Verma said the message was "a joke in a private group setting" and that "the intention was never to cause public distress or cause public harm".

"It was just sent to my friends I was travelling with on the day... Since school, it's been a joke because of my features... It was just to make people laugh," he was quoted as saying in the BBC report.

If he had been found guilty, the student faced a fine of up to 22,500 euros (19,300 pounds) and a further 95,000 euros in expenses to cover the cost of the jets being scrambled.
Seoul, Jan 27 : South Korea delivered a state military medal for late US General Douglas MacArthur, who led UN troops against North Korea in the 1950-53 Korean War, 74 years after deciding to confer the decoration, the Defence Ministry said on Saturday.

MacArthur, the first commander of the UN Command, had received a certificate for the First Class Order of Military Merit on September 29, 1950, by then South Korean President Rhee Syng-man, after South Korean and US-led UN troops recaptured Seoul from North Korean forces earlier that month, Yonhap news agency reported.

At the time, South Korea promised to bestow the medal once it was produced but it was never delivered. The Ministry said officials only recently discovered the mishap after being tipped off by a citizen interested in Korean War medals.

A ceremony to deliver the medal, now named the Taegeuk Order of Military Merit, to the MacArthur Memorial in Norfolk, Virginia, took place on Friday (local time) at the memorial, attended by Norfolk Mayor Kenneth Alexander, according to the Ministry.

MacArthur's son, Arthur MacArthur IV, sent a letter thanking South Korea, noting the award is a "testament" to his father's legacy and an honour that "forever binds him to the people of Korea," according to the Ministry.

MacArthur and his wife, Jean MacArthur, are laid to rest at the memorial in Norfolk.

The US General spearheaded the amphibious landing of Incheon, just west of the capital, in September 1950, which led to the recapture of Seoul.

The 1950-53 Korean War ended in a cease-fire rather than a peace treaty, leaving the two Koreas technically at war.
Tourists visit the Mount Tai scenic area in east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 26, 2024. With its natural and cultural values well interconnected, Mount Tai was listed as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage site by UNESCO in 1987, the first ever in China. In 2023, the Mount Tai scenic area received over 8.61 million visitors, a new record over the years. (Xinhua/Zhu Zheng)

Tourists visit the Mount Tai scenic area in east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 26, 2024. With its natural and cultural values well interconnected, Mount Tai was listed as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage site by UNESCO in 1987, the first ever in China. In 2023, the Mount Tai scenic area received over 8.61 million visitors, a new record over the years. (Xinhua/Zhu Zheng)

A tourist poses for photo at the Mount Tai scenic area in east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 26, 2024. With its natural and cultural values well interconnected, Mount Tai was listed as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage site by UNESCO in 1987, the first ever in China. In 2023, the Mount Tai scenic area received over 8.61 million visitors, a new record over the years. (Xinhua/Zhu Zheng)

Tourists visit the Mount Tai scenic area in east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 26, 2024. With its natural and cultural values well interconnected, Mount Tai was listed as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage site by UNESCO in 1987, the first ever in China. In 2023, the Mount Tai scenic area received over 8.61 million visitors, a new record over the years. (Xinhua/Zhu Zheng)

Tourists visit the Mount Tai scenic area in east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 26, 2024. With its natural and cultural values well interconnected, Mount Tai was listed as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage site by UNESCO in 1987, the first ever in China. In 2023, the Mount Tai scenic area received over 8.61 million visitors, a new record over the years. (Xinhua/Zhu Zheng)

Tourists visit the Mount Tai scenic area in east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 26, 2024. With its natural and cultural values well interconnected, Mount Tai was listed as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage site by UNESCO in 1987, the first ever in China. In 2023, the Mount Tai scenic area received over 8.61 million visitors, a new record over the years. (Xinhua/Zhu Zheng)

Tourists visit the Mount Tai scenic area in east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 26, 2024. With its natural and cultural values well interconnected, Mount Tai was listed as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage site by UNESCO in 1987, the first ever in China. In 2023, the Mount Tai scenic area received over 8.61 million visitors, a new record over the years. (Xinhua/Zhu Zheng)

Tourists visit the Mount Tai scenic area in east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 26, 2024. With its natural and cultural values well interconnected, Mount Tai was listed as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage site by UNESCO in 1987, the first ever in China. In 2023, the Mount Tai scenic area received over 8.61 million visitors, a new record over the years. (Xinhua/Zhu Zheng)
New Delhi, Jan 27 : KASHISH Arts foundation is organising a 2 day-long Indian language LGBTQ+ film festival as part of the recently launched Mumbai Festival 2024 activities by Maharashtra Tourism. The event titled 'KASHISH Chalchitra Utsav 2024' will be held on January 27th & 28th from 11.00am to 9.30pm at Veda Kunba Theater, Andheri West.

This Indian language festival is coming after a hiatus of 4 years, to also coincide with the ongoing Mumbai Queer Pride month activities.

The festival will feature 37 Indian LGBTQ+ films in Hindi, Marathi, Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali, Panjabi, Urdu and Sanskrit. These are films which have won awards, acclaim or audience favourites at past editions of KASHISH Pride Film Festival, earlier known as KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival.

"KASHISH has for the past 14 years been an integral part of Mumbai, and we are very happy to be celebrating KASHISH Chalchitra Utsav with our collaboration with the government-supported Mumbai Festival, and also the community-led Mumbai Queer Pride month activities. We want to continue to build bridges between the LGBTQ+ community and society, to mainstream LGBTQ+ narratives and lives," said Sridhar Rangayan, festival director.

"We want to bring Indian language LGBTQ+ cinema to the forefront, so that we can have diverse narratives which can speak and convey to our fellow citizens in their own languages," said Saagar Gupta, director of programming.

An interactive story building contest and a panel discussion on emerging trends in Indian LGBTQ+ representation in cinema and web series are also planned.

The Mumbai Queer Pride March will be held on February 3, 2024 starting from August Kranti Maidan.

KASHISH Pride Film Festival is South Asia's biggest LGBTQ film festival and the first mainstream LGBTQ+ film festival in India. It has been held in Mumbai for the past 14 years and the 15th edition will be held June 5-9, 2024 at Liberty Cinema and other venues.

More information about KASHISH at mumbaiqueerfest.com and details of the festival are available here.

IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in

--IANS

os/ tb
New York, Jan 27 : MacKenzie Scott continues to sell billions of dollars in Amazon stock, the media reported.

In 2023, she unloaded nearly 65.3 million shares of Amazon, currently worth more than $10 billion, according to a filing, CNN reported.

After her divorce from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos was finalised in 2019, Scott became the wealthiest woman in the world, receiving about 19.7 million shares, equal to four per cent of Amazon's total outstanding shares, in the settlement. She has since sold off portions of her Amazon stake, donating billions of dollars to charity, CNN reported.

Bezos retained the voting rights to Scott's shares as part of the agreement, which is why he reported them to the Securities and Exchange Commission when disclosing his 11.5 per cent stake in the company.

In 2019, Scott signed the 'Giving Pledge', a promise signed by hundreds of the world's richest people to give away the majority of their wealth. The pledge has been signed by business titans like Warren Buffett, Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg, CNN reported.

Bezos is not a signatory, though he said in 2022 that he planned to devote the bulk of his wealth to fighting climate change and supporting people who can unify humanity.

In December, Scott announced that she had made $2.15 billion in donations over the past year through her foundation, Yield Giving. The non-profit body had donated to 360 organisations, according to the announcement.

Although Scott has sold billions of dollars worth of Amazon shares in recent years, her net worth is still more than $37 billion, according to Bloomberg's Billionaire Index, CNN reported.
Spotify plans to hike price of premium plan by $1 in US: Report. Image Source: IANS News

San Francisco, Jan 27 : Swedish music streaming service Spotify's CEO Daniel Ek has criticised Apple's proposed App Store changes ahead of the EU Digital Markets Act (DMA), saying the changes are "at best vague and misleading" and a "new low for the company".

In a blog post, the Spotify CEO alleged that under the false pretense of compliance and concessions, Apple has put forward a new plan "that is a complete and total farce".

"Essentially, the old tax was rendered unacceptable under the DMA, so they created a new one masquerading as compliance with the law," he argued.

Earlier, Epic Games' CEO Tim Sweeney, whose company sued Apple over antitrust practices, also condemned Apple's plan, saying it was a case of "malicious compliance" and full of "junk fees".

Ek said that a completely new 0.50 cent Euro fee per download, every year, in perpetuity, to Apple for just allowing developers to exist on iOS "is extortion, plain and simple".

"If Apple's already charging a commission of 17 per cent (and 10 per cent for recurring payments) on digital goods purchased, why would they also need to charge an annual flat fee for every user?" he argued.

"From our read of Apple's proposal, a developer would have to pay this fee even if a user downloaded the app, never used it and forgot to delete it. This will hurt developers, potential start-ups and those offering free apps".

Under the new terms, if Spotify stays in the App Store and wants to offer its own in-app payment, "we will pay a 17 per cent commission and a 0.50 cent Euro Core Technology Fee per install and year".

"This equates to us being the same or worse as under the old rules. With our EU Apple install base in the 100 million user range, this new tax on downloads and updates could skyrocket our customer acquisition costs, potentially increasing them tenfold," Ek noted.

Apple has announced changes to iOS, Safari, and the App Store in the European Union in response to the DMA coming into force in March.

For users, the changes include new controls and disclosures, and expanded protections to reduce privacy and security risks the DMA creates, the company said in a statement.

The key news is that third-party app stores will be allowed on iOS for the first time. The changes will arrive with iOS 17.4 in March.
New York, Jan 27 : Parents of an Indian-American teen, who was found dead last weekend with signs of hypothermia, have filed a complaint alleging negligence by the police department of the university where the son studied.

Akul B. Dhawan, an 18-year-old studying electrical engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, was reported missing last Saturday just before 1:30 a.m. by his friend, the USA Today reported.

According to the University of Illinois Police, he was found nearly 10 hours later on the back porch of a building near the university campus in west Urbana, which experienced brutal cold and freezing temperatures dipping between -20 to -30 degrees.

Ish and Ritu Dhawan said on Wednesday that their son was found just 400 feet from where he was reported missing based on location-tracking data on their son's phone

Accusing the university's police department of negligence, they filed a complaint against them over how the search was handled, The Today reported, citing The News-Gazette.

"This is bizarre, that a kid is never found who was just less than a block, like one minute away, sitting there, dead, frozen to death. Imagine as a dad and mom what's going through in our mind. I visualise his every minute that my son froze to death in a university campus," Ish Dhawan told The Gazette.

"We really need answers," his mother said.

"What is the proof that they totally searched in this area, around the area they're talking (about), this half-block? My kid would have been found."

Dhawan came to the University of Illinois' Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering to study robotics despite his parent's opposition, who wanted him to study closer to home in California.

The exact cause of Akul's death is under investigation by the campus police, the Illinois State Police and the Champaign County Coroner's Office.

Preliminary investigations by the University police suggest that "there was no foul play involved, and the death is initially believed to be accidental".

According to the coroner's office, preliminary findings of an autopsy performed on Tuesday showed signs of hypothermia.

"The preliminary findings showed no evidence of significant trauma. There was evidence of hypothermic skin changes. The final autopsy report is pending toxicology studies," the Champaign County Coroner said in a news statement.

University of Illinois Police have requested anyone with information on the incident to contact the department.
Mumbai, Jan 27 : Actress Hina Khan has bravely bared it all, shedding light on her current health struggles, by sharing a candid no-filter selfie revealing red rashes under her eyes and blisters on her lips.

Hina, who is known for her work in 'Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai', 'Naagin 5', 'Kasautii Zindagii Kay', 'Damaged 2', and 'Bigg Boss 11' among others, on December 28, 2023, had shared the news with her fans of her being hospitalised, and having four terrible nights of high grade fever.

Days after getting discharged from the hospital, Hina went for a pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, for Umrah.

On Saturday, she took to Instagram Stories, and dropped a no-filter selfie. She is wearing a white tee shirt, and kept her hair open.

The picture was captioned: "No-filter selfie.. red rashes under my eyes, blisters/ cold sores on lips Sab Bukhaar ki wajeh se."

Meanwhile, on the work front, she was last seen as a challenger in 'Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 13'.
Dharwad : , Jan 27 (IANS) A 30-year-old youth studying MBBS was killed in a road accident on national highway after his car turned turtle in the wee hours of Saturday in Dharwad district of Karnataka.

The deceased has been dienitified as Deepak while his friend Vinay sustained severe injuries in the incident. He has been admitted to a private hospital.

The incident took place near Mummigatti village on the outskirts of Dharwad city. According to police, the authorities had given a deviation route from the national highway due to repair work. The victim who was driving the car, failed to notice the deviation sign and entered the stretch of the road under repair.

Though Deepak tried to stop the vehicle, but he lost control over the car and it turned turtle after hitting the edge of the road. As a result of the impact, Deepak sustained severe injuries and succumbed at the hospital.

Deepak hailed from Yadgir district and was studying MBBS at the SDM Medical College in Dharwad. Garag Police has registered a case in this regard and taken up the investigation.
Scholz to meet with Biden in US to discuss aid to Ukraine. Image Source: IANS News

Washington, Jan 27 : German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will visit Washington in the first half of February and meet with US President Joe Biden to discuss the two leaders' efforts to provide additional support to Ukraine, media sources reported.

A bilateral meeting between Scholz and Biden is planned to be held at the White House during the second week of February, Bloomberg's sources noted as reported by European Pravda on Friday.

The meeting is being planned at a time when the US presidential administration's emergency request for $61 billion is stuck in Congress as Republicans demand significant concessions on immigration policy.

Meanwhile, the EU is holding a special summit next week to agree on an additional a50 billion package of support for Kiev.

Scholz has called on European countries to increase arms supplies to Ukraine, fearing that US aid could stop.

Earlier, it was reported that the German Chancellor wants to use the EU summit on February 1 to urge its allies to send more weapons to Ukraine.

Ukraineas Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba reiterated that he was confident that the US Congress would approve supplemental funding for Ukraine despite the differences between the two parties on the issue of migration.

Prior to this, the White House said that a decision on assistance to Ukraine must be made as soon as possible, as the next few months would be critical.
Manila, Jan 27 : Philippine troops killed nine suspected militants in a clash in Lanao del Sur province in the southern Philippines, a military spokesperson said on Saturday.

Colonel Louie Dema-ala of the Philippine Army said government forces killed the alleged members of Dawlah Islamiyah, an Islamic armed group, in fighting in a town in the province located in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, on Thursday.

He said that nine of the 15 militants were confirmed dead, including two who were allegedly involved in the deadly bombing in Marawi City in December 2023, Xinhua news agency reported.

Dema-ala added that the troops recovered eight high-powered firearms left behind by the fleeing militants.
Gurugram, Jan 27 : Doctors here have successfully executed a complex medical procedure, removing a massive 4.5 kg tumour measuring 23 cm from the breast of a woman.

The tumour, identified as a phyllodes tumour, necessitated a full breast removal and subsequent breast reconstruction surgery.

The patient initially noticed a small lump in her breast but neglected seeking medical attention for five months, during which time the lump grew from 2 cm to a staggering 23 cm.

Doctors at CK Birla Hospital Gurugram diagnosed it to be a phyllodes tumour. While not classified as breast cancer, it had grown to an extent that preserving the breast was no longer an option.

"The patient came to us with a huge lump involving the entire breast, which was identified as a phyllodes tumour. Despite initial identification as a breast lump she had ignored the lump for an extended period as it was painless. Looking at the size, she underwent tumour removal surgery where her left breast could not be preserved," said Dr Rohan Khandelwal, Lead Consultant and Head of the Breast Centre at the Hospital, who led the surgery, in a statement.

"However, the breast was reconstructed successfully after removing the tumour. This case highlights the importance of not underestimating painless lumps, especially when they are increasing in size," he added.

Phyllodes tumours are a rare condition that, if detected early, can often be treated without resorting to chemotherapy. However, in this particular case, the size of the tumour necessitated full breast removal.

"If patients seek medical attention promptly, we can often save the breast. However, in situations where the tumour has grown significantly, as in this case, reconstruction becomes a crucial aspect of the treatment plan," Rohan said.

The patient, now on the path to recovery, will require radiotherapy as part of her treatment plan, the doctors said.
Chen Xu, permanent representative of China to the UN office at Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland, gives an interview to Xinhua in Geneva, Switzerland.(Xinhua/Lian Yi)

GENEVA, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- China has delivered good performance in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) conducted by the United Nations Human Rights Council, China's top diplomat in Geneva Chen Xu told Xinhua on Friday.

Chen's remarks came after the UPR Working Group adopted the recommendations made to China, whose achievements in human rights won international acclaim at its fourth review earlier this week.

The UPR is a mechanism under which all UN member states undergo a review of their human rights record every four and half years.

In an interview with Xinhua, Chen, permanent representative of China to the UN office at Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland, outlined the highlights of China's efforts to improve human rights.

Adhering to the people-centered development philosophy, China has realized its first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, Chen said.

China has won the largest battle against poverty in human history, lifted nearly 100 million rural population out of poverty. That means the country has eliminated absolute poverty, meeting the poverty eradication target set out in the United Nation's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 10 years ahead of schedule.

Adhering to the development of whole-process people's democracy, China implements democratic elections, consultation, decision-making, management and oversight in accordance with the law. Simultaneously, China is committed to improving people's livelihoods while pursuing high-quality development to ensure that more benefits of national development will reach all its people more fairly, Chen said.

China has built the world's largest education, social security and medical and health-care systems, and made a historic leap forward in terms of education accessibility, Chen noted.

Across the country, old-age insurance covers 1.06 billion people and basic healthcare security coverage rate reached 95 percent of its population, Chen said. With an annual average of over 13 million new jobs created in urban areas, housing conditions for both urban and rural residents have significantly improved, Chen added.

China is dedicated to safeguarding the rights of specific groups, implementing the basic national policy of gender equality, formulating and implementing four consecutive cycles of outlines for children's development, the diplomat said.

China is steadily advancing an elderly-friendly society and promoting the cause for people with disabilities. China continues to safeguard human rights in accordance with the law, and respect and safeguard human rights through legislation, law enforcement, judiciary and observance of the law, according to Chen.

China also emphasizes the equality of all ethnic groups, and all the 56 ethnic groups coexist in unity, working together and prospering like closely-knit pomegranate seeds, the ambassador said.

China believes that lucid water and lush mountains are invaluable assets, and that the ecological environment should be protected like one's eyes. Over the past decade, China's sky has become bluer, mountains lusher and water clearer, and China's PM2.5 density has dropped by 57 percent, making it a country with the fastest improvement in air quality, the largest-scale utilization of renewable energy and the largest growth in forest resources in the world, Chen said.

China boasts nearly half of the world's installed capacity of photovoltaic power generation, more than half of electric vehicle sales worldwide, and a quarter of the global increase in green area, he added.

China actively leads global human rights governance, putting forward the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative. China advocates safeguarding human rights through security, promoting them through development and advancing them through cooperation.

China is also committed to upholding international justice and enhancing the representation and voice of developing countries in the Human Rights Council and other multilateral human rights bodies, and has provided Chinese wisdom and proposals for global human rights governance, the diplomat said.

The key to China's historic achievements in human rights lies in combining the principle of universality of human rights with its national realities, and in finding a development path that is in line with the trend of the times and suited to the country's national conditions, Chen said.

China will continue to take the future of humankind and the well-being of its people into account, always hold high the banner of peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit, advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, he noted.

China will provide the world with new opportunities through its own development, helping move global human rights governance toward greater fairness, justice, rationality and inclusiveness and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for humankind, Chen said. 
Ranchi, Jan 27 : On the day of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the wave of religious fervour that swept through the Hindi heartland was not limited to just Ayodhya but Jharkhand, with its population of nearly four crore people, was equally immersed in the spirit of Ram.

Every corner of this state was infused with a sense of devotion. If the impact of this surge of emotions continues for the next three to four months, the BJP could hope for enthusiastic results in its favour.

However, on the other hand, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-Congress-RJD coalition, led by Hemant Soren, counters the BJP's Ram wave by tapping into the state's local sentiments, making the battle neither one-sided nor easy here.

Jharkhand has 14 Lok Sabha seats. As of today, 12 of these seats are with the BJP-All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) coalition.

In the 2014 elections, the BJP had won the same number of seats. Despite efforts to focus on emotive issues like the Ram temple this time, maintaining the 2014 and 2019 scores for the third time is a significant challenge.

The state BJP President, Babulal Marandi, claims, "This time, we will win all 14 Lok Sabha seats in the state. The country is now with the BJP. Just as the BJP achieved victories on tribal majority seats in the Assembly elections of Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh, similar results will come in the Lok Sabha as well as the state Assembly elections in Jharkhand. The people, troubled by corruption in the Hemant Soren Government, are in the mood to remove him from power."

During the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP coalition, led by Raghubar Das in Jharkhand, had a favourable position. The results were in line with expectations -- they won 12 out of 14 Lok Sabha seats and secured a lead in 54 out of the state's 81 Assembly seats in terms of votes.

Encouraged by this, Das had chanted the slogan of 'Abki baar 65 paar' in the subsequent 2019 Assembly elections. However, the coalition led by Hemant Soren turned the tables, defeating the BJP and forming the government.

While leading the government for the last four years, Hemant Soren has taken several decisions for the welfare of tribals and the indigenous people of Jharkhand.

Due to these measures, he has strengthened his grip on the core voters of his party, compared to the previous government.

Despite actions by agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), conflicts with the Raj Bhavan on several important issues, legal and court entanglements related to mining leases, and continuous attacks by the Central and state BJP leaders, Soren has kept the coalition government stable.

Moreover, after each such incident, he engages with his supporters, voters, and activists, launching strong attacks on the Central Government and the BJP.

For instance, when the ED questioned him for nearly seven hours regarding the alleged Ranchi land scam on January 20, immediately afterward, he came out of his residence and stood on the car's bonnet, addressing a large gathering of his supporters and workers, saying, "I have not committed any theft. We have answered all their questions. We will never let Jharkhand fall into the hands of corrupt people. The government was formed with great difficulty. Since its formation, there has been a conspiracy against us. We have thwarted these conspiracies along with the state's development."

Through proposals such as providing a monthly pension of Rs 1,000 to people from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and women of all categories above the age of 50; a seven-year relaxation in the maximum age limit for SC/ST candidates in the JPSC civil services examination; convening a special session of the Assembly to pass the Sarna-Adivasi Dharam Code in the census; reservation of up to 75 per cent for local people in jobs paying up to Rs 40,000 in private companies, and increasing reservation for SC/ST and OBCs, the Hemant Soren government has built a strong narrative in favour of local issues and sentiments.

However, it is difficult to say how effective the Soren Government's campaign will be in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections in Jharkhand. There is a short interval of only three to four months between the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Jharkhand, and the voting patterns in both these elections have been quite different.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP received nearly 51 per cent votes in the state.

The JMM and the Congress had to settle for just one seat each. However, in the subsequent Assembly elections a few months later, the BJP's vote share decreased to 33.37 per cent, resulting in the party being ousted from power in the state.

Before this, in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP had received 41 per cent votes, winning 12 seats. The Congress was completely wiped out from the state, while the JMM had secured only two seats.

In the Assembly elections held in November of the same year, the BJP's vote share remained at 31.28 per cent. However, it won 37 out of 81 seats, forming the government in coalition with AJSU. Two months later, the BJP also managed to bring eight MLAs from Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) into its fold, governing for the full five years.

Senior journalist Surendra Soren said, "The voting pattern in Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Jharkhand has never been the same. National issues become quite effective in Lok Sabha elections, while small local issues also play a significant role in reversing results in Assembly elections."

However, this time the BJP has a powerful emotional issue like the Ram temple. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's charismatic leadership is also a factor. The party has initiated a strategic campaign at the village and booth levels to influence the masses.

From February 4 to February 11, the party has planned a programme called "Gaon Chalo Abhiyan". During this period, BJP leaders and workers will embark on a 24-hour journey to 32,000 villages across the state.

Amar Bauri, state BJP leader, said, "There is an atmosphere of spontaneous support in every village for Prime Minister Modi's leadership. Party workers will visit every village as Modi's ambassadors. The journey is from the resolution of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony to its fulfillment. There is tremendous enthusiasm among the people."
Raipur, Jan 27 : The politics surrounding Ayodhya's Ram temple is gaining momentum in Chhattisgarh, which is considered the birthplace of Lord Ram's mother Kaushalya.

Apart from being the maternal home of Lord Ram, the tribal state is also associated with Shabari.

The BJP, which recently came to power after winning the Assembly elections, is eyeing the 11 Lok Sabha seats of the state. At present, nine seats are held by the saffron party while two are with the Congress.

Now, with the Lok Sabha elections drawing closer, the BJP is targeting to win all 11 parliamentary seats in the state.

Ahead of the elections, the 'Pran Pratishtha' of Ram Lalla in the Ayodhya temple seems to have a deep impact on the politics of the state.

Considering the close bond that the state shares with Lord Ram, the previous Congress government led by Bhupesh Baghel proposed the development of the 'Ram Van Gaman Path', work was done on it and statues of Lord Ram were also installed.

Now, the ruling BJP, along with the development of the Ram Van Gaman Path, is also emphasizing on the development of other places associated with Lord Ram.

The Vishnu Deo Sai-led BJP government had sent rice grain and vegetables to Ayodhya on the occasion of the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony, which were offered as prasad there. A team of doctors was also sent to Ayodhya.

Apart from this, a team of 60 workers has been recently sent from the state capital Raipur to Ayodhya to serve the Ram devotees for 60 days. The team will organise 'Bhandara' for 60 days in Ayodhya.

In the Republic Day function on Friday, Chief Minister Sai, while mentioning the relationship between Lord Ram and Chhattisgarh, said that "unwavering devotion towards Lord Ram is our identity and we follow Raghukul's tradition  thus the promises made are being fulfilled".

The BJP even fiercely attacked the Congress for "refusing to attend the Pran Pratishtha ceremony", claiming that the grand old party has been opposing the temple at Ram Janmabhoomi since the beginning.

On the other hand, Congress has been accusing the BJP of doing politics in the name of the Ram temple.

Chhattisgarh Congress President Deepak Baij said that the BJP has "always been doing politics in the name of Lord Ram and asking for votes but the Congress never did politics in the name of Lord Ram".

"Lord Ram is associated with our faith, he is in our hearts. Even Shankaracharya opposed the consecration of Ram temple but his words were also ignored. This is an insult to religious gurus," he said.

Political analysts in the state believe that in the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP, besides counting on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's face and his welfare schemes, will not lag behind in making the Ram temple a key poll issue.

They say that when there was a Congress government in the state, it also left no stone unturned in the development of places related to Lord Ram, but it lagged behind in publicizing them.

Now as the Ram temple has been inaugurated, the BJP is actively trying to an atmosphere in its favor in view of the elections.
Koppal : , Jan 27 (IANS) Mining baron-turned-politician Gali Janardhana Reddy showered praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a function organised in Gangavathi town in Karnataka's Koppal district on Saturday.

The statements assume importance amid speculations that Reddy may return to BJP.

"Modi must be congratulated for getting the statue of Lord Ram installed in the Pran Pratishtha event at Ayodhya in a way that the whole world appreciated him," he said.

Sources in BJP stated that it is being contemplated to pull Reddy back into the party fold who had floated his own Kalyan Rajya Pragathi Paksha (KRPP) party. Though he could win only his seat, he had delivered a blow to the BJP in the Kalyana-Karnataka region districts.

More than his capacity and resourcefulness, the BJP is worried over his ability to spoil the chances of winning of party candidates. In that situation, the Congress will take the advantage. To avoid this, BJP leadership is mulling to take him back to the party fold.

Reddy had played an important role in bringing the BJP to power in 2008 through aOperation Lotusa. Reddy was close to late Union Minister Sushma Swaraj and developed differences with then Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa. His political dream ended with his arrest by the CBI on charges of illegal mining.

After his release, Reddyas attempt to gain prominence in BJP failed as the party maintained distance in the backdrop of serious charges against him. Though his close aide Sriramulu and his brothers returned to party fold and held positions, the party did not entertain Reddy.

However, State President B.Y. Vijayendra has stated that so far he had not held any discussion with Reddy. Sources say that in the changed circumstances, the BJP leadership is contemplating to get him back into the party fold.
Patna: Poll strategist Prashant Kishor addresses a press conference as he launches 'Jan Suraaj' campaign in Bihar, in Patna on Thursday, May 05, 2022. . Image Source: IANS News

Patna, Jan 27 : Ace poll strategist Prashant Kishor on Saturday said that drinking tea at high-end hotels and holding press conferences have no impact on the ground and there will be a lot of political bickering because of INDIA bloc in coming days.

"When INDIA bloc was formed I have said it then that leaders drinking tea at luxury hotels, holding press conferences while showing they are united have no impact on the ground," Kishor told media persons in Begusarai.

He said that people will see a lot of political bickering in the coming days due to the internal strife in the INDIA bloc.

"Social and political status on ground do not have any impact unless you set a narrative. You need to have an issue, face, and an organization," Kishor said.

He said that when no efforts are made it does have an impact and political stampedes are expected.

"Downfall is natural. People will go away from you," Kishor said.

He said that the first meeting of the INDIA bloc was held in Patna eight months ago. "Journalists started asking whether Nitish Kumar is a prime ministerial candidate or not and there was no clarity over it from the INDIA bloc," he said.

He said that in the last six months not a single public meeting of the INDIA bloc took place.

"How can you expect that the entire country will stand with you?" Kishor asked.
Seoul, Jan 27 : North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui has met with a visiting senior Chinese diplomat in Pyongyang, its state media reported on Saturday, as North Korea appears to be seeking to strengthen ties with Beijing amid its stepped-up cooperation with Russia.

On Friday, Choe met with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong, who is visiting North Korea this week, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in a brief statement as quoted By Yonhap news agency report.

Noting that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between North Korea and China, the two sides agreed to "continue to strengthen tactical cooperation and keep pace with each other to defend the common core interests," the KCNA added.

The talks took place in "a comradely and friendly atmosphere," it added.

Their meeting came after Choe returned from her visit to Russia this week, during which she met with President Vladimir Putin and her Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, in a show of deepening bilateral ties.

North Korea is stepping up military cooperation with Russia, while ratcheting up tensions with South Korea, which it has branded as an "invariable primary foe".

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been seeking to strengthen solidarity with China and Russia vis-a-vis the strengthening of security cooperation among South Korea, the US and Japan.

China is North Korea's traditional ally and key economic benefactor.

Sun's visit to Pyongyang is seen as a reciprocal trip after the North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Pak Myong-ho visited China last month.

Also present at Friday's meeting were Pak and Wang Yajun, Chinese ambassador to Pyongyang, the KCNA said.

Friday's meeting came one day after the Vice Foreign Ministers of the two countries held talks.

Pak and Sun had also "discussed the issues related to celebrating the 'year of North Korea-China friendship' and agreed to expand and develop the friendly exchange and practical cooperation between the two countries," the KCNA reported in a separate statement.

"They reaffirmed the importance of cooperation between the diplomatic fields of the two countries in dealing with various regional and international issues, including the situation in Northeast Asia," the report added.
New York, Jan 27 : Researchers have found more clarity on which patient populations are at higher risk for prolonged infections -- and hints that this fear is likely unwarranted.

Early in the pandemic, clinicians noticed that certain immunocompromised patients were experiencing persistent SARS-CoV-2 infections, some lasting weeks to months at a time.

This raised concerns that one of these cases could be the source of an emerging viral variant that has benefited from an extended battle with the immune system.

"We were specifically looking at who was at risk for prolonged infection, such that they never cleared the virus," said Adam Lauring, of the Division of Infectious Disease at Michigan University Medicine.

The study, published in the journal Lancet Microbe, followed 150 immunocompromised patients with Covid infections from five US health systems in 2022.

Each patient was surveyed and tested using nasal swabs collected from onset of SARS-CoV-2 infection until they tested negative.

The study participants had a diverse set of immunocompromising conditions, ranging from people with B-cell cancers or receiving anti-B cell therapy; solid organ or stem cell transplant recipients; people living with AIDS; and those with non-B cell cancers and autoimmune or autoinflammatory conditions.

The team found that just 25 per cent of patients tested positive using the gold standard, highly sensitive PCR test for 21 days or longer after onset of illness.

Only 8 per cent tested positive for live virus for 21 days or longer. The median time to last positive test overall was nine days.

"In contrast to a lot of case reports, we were finding that very few people had prolonged infection," said Lauring.

Specifically, people living with AIDS and those with B-cell cancers, like certain leukemias and lymphomas, were more likely to have prolonged infections than patients with autoimmune disease or non-B cell cancers.

And of the 59 enrolled patients with a solid organ transplant with T-cell immunosuppression, only one had an infection lasting longer than 56 days.

Patients receiving treatment with rituximab or CAR-T therapy, which targets B cells, were more likely to have longer lasting infections -- pointing to the importance of antibodies (which are produced by B cells) for immunity.

Importantly, the team also notes that mutations within the subset of patients who had prolonged infections rarely, if ever, matched those of variants circulating within the wider global community.

"A lot of what makes a successful virus is its ability to escape immunity," said Lauring.

"However, immunity is heterogeneous -- what might lead a virus to escape the immune system in an immunocompromised patient vs. patients at the population level are different."
Civilians killed in Russian attacks on Donetsk and Kherson oblasts. Image Source: IANS News

Kiev, Jan 27 : Russian forces have killed two people and injured one more in Donetsk and Kherson oblasts over the past 24 hours, said Donetsk oblast military administration and Kherson oblast military administration as quoted by media sources on Saturday.

The Russians killed two residents of the settlements of Serebrianka and Krasnohorivka (Donetsk Oblast) on January 26, European Pravda reported.

One more civilian was injured in the town of Novohradivka.

Meanwhile, the Russians attacked Kherson Oblast 85 times with mortars, artillery, multiple launch rocket systems, tanks and UAVs.

One person was injured, and an educational institution in the city of Kherson was damaged.
Oil tanker on fire in Gulf of Aden after missile attack by Houthis. Image Source: IANS News

London, Jan 27 : An oil tanker is on fire in the Gulf of Aden, its operator says, after Houthis said they hit it with a missile as reported by media sources.

The Yemeni movement said it targetted the Marlin Luanda on Friday evening, BBC reported.

Operator Trafigura told the BBC the strike caused a fire in one of the ship's cargo tanks and firefighting equipment was being used to contain it.

US officials told the BBC's US partner CBS that the tanker was hit by an anti-ship ballistic missile and a naval ship was responding to its distress signal.

The officials said no injuries were reported.

It is the latest attack on commercial shipping by the Iran-backed Houthis in and around the Red Sea, BBC reported.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said that the incident took place 60 nautical miles south-east of Aden.

The UKMTO said warships were in attendance and supporting the vessel, adding all crew had been reported safe.

It warned other vessels to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity.

Later, the US Central Command said its forces had conducted a strike at 3:45 local time on Saturday "against a Houthi anti-ship missile aimed into the Red Sea and which was prepared to launch". They "destroyed the missile in self-defence," CentCom said.

Trafigura earlier confirmed the Marlin Luanda tanker had been struck by a missile in the Gulf of Aden on Friday and military ships were on their way to provide assistance, BBC reported.
Kiev, Jan 27 : Ukrainian officials held a new round of talks with France regarding security guarantees in line with the G7 Framework Declaration adopted at the NATO summit in July 2023, and work has begun on drafting the bilateral agreement, the media reported on Saturday, with reference to the Office of the President of Ukraine.

Ihor Zhovkva, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, headed the Ukrainian negotiating group, European Pravda reported.

"In the course of the talks, the parties moved on to (working on) the draft agreement and exchanged (their views) on the key elements of the document. The parties agreed on a schedule of further bilateral negotiations in the near future," the Office of the President said in a press statement.

French President Emmanuel Macron has said that he will visit Ukraine in February in order to finalise the bilateral agreement on security guarantees for Ukraine.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Thursday that Berlin and Kiev may soon agree on security commitments in line with the G7 Framework Declaration adopted at the NATO summit in July 2023, European Pravda reported.

Most of the bilateral agreements between Ukraine and countries that have joined the G7 Framework Declaration are still being negotiated.

In mid-January, the first agreement, between Ukraine and the UK, was finalised and signed during British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's visit to Kiev.
Kalaburagi, Jan 27 : AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday said that efforts are on to keep the constituents of opposition bloc INDIA united.

Talking to reporters at the Kalaburagi airport, Kharge said he had written letters to all in the bloc in this regard including West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee.

On speculation that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar may quit today, Kharge said: "I don't have information regarding Nitish's resignation. I even don't know whether he had met the Governor.

"If democracy has to survive, we have to be united. Our efforts are in that direction," he said.

If any statement is made right now, it will create confusion, he said.

"I will speak after reaching Dehradun and gathering all the information. It will be good if like-minded political parties contest under the India bloc," Kharge said.
Passengers are seen at Hohhot Railway Station in Hohhot, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Jan. 26, 2024. China officially ushered in its largest annual population migration on Friday, 15 days ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Lunar New Year, with record-breaking journey numbers expected.

An estimated 9 billion passenger trips are likely to be made during the 2024 travel rush period, according to the country's transport ministry.

Of the total, 7.2 billion trips or about 80 percent will be made by self-driving, while 1.8 billion trips will be made via railways, highways, waterways, and civil aviation, the ministry said.

China's railway operator on Friday said the country's railways are expected to handle 480 million passengers during this travel season, with an average of 12 million trips daily, an increase of 37.9 percent compared with the previous year. About 10.6 million train trips are expected to be made on Friday, the first day of the travel rush. (Xinhua/Bei He)

Tourists watch a performance at Changchun Railway Station in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, Jan. 26, 2024. China officially ushered in its largest annual population migration on Friday, 15 days ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Lunar New Year, with record-breaking journey numbers expected.

An estimated 9 billion passenger trips are likely to be made during the 2024 travel rush period, according to the country's transport ministry.

Of the total, 7.2 billion trips or about 80 percent will be made by self-driving, while 1.8 billion trips will be made via railways, highways, waterways, and civil aviation, the ministry said.

China's railway operator on Friday said the country's railways are expected to handle 480 million passengers during this travel season, with an average of 12 million trips daily, an increase of 37.9 percent compared with the previous year. About 10.6 million train trips are expected to be made on Friday, the first day of the travel rush. (Xinhua/Zhang Nan)

A policeman helps a child heading for destinations in China's northeast provinces at Nanning Railway Station in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Jan. 26, 2024. China officially ushered in its largest annual population migration on Friday, 15 days ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Lunar New Year, with record-breaking journey numbers expected.

An estimated 9 billion passenger trips are likely to be made during the 2024 travel rush period, according to the country's transport ministry.

Of the total, 7.2 billion trips or about 80 percent will be made by self-driving, while 1.8 billion trips will be made via railways, highways, waterways, and civil aviation, the ministry said.

China's railway operator on Friday said the country's railways are expected to handle 480 million passengers during this travel season, with an average of 12 million trips daily, an increase of 37.9 percent compared with the previous year. About 10.6 million train trips are expected to be made on Friday, the first day of the travel rush. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua)

Passengers pose for photos in hanfu, a type of traditional clothing of the Han ethnic group, at Xuzhou East Railway Station in Xuzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 26, 2024. China officially ushered in its largest annual population migration on Friday, 15 days ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Lunar New Year, with record-breaking journey numbers expected.

An estimated 9 billion passenger trips are likely to be made during the 2024 travel rush period, according to the country's transport ministry.

Of the total, 7.2 billion trips or about 80 percent will be made by self-driving, while 1.8 billion trips will be made via railways, highways, waterways, and civil aviation, the ministry said.

China's railway operator on Friday said the country's railways are expected to handle 480 million passengers during this travel season, with an average of 12 million trips daily, an increase of 37.9 percent compared with the previous year. About 10.6 million train trips are expected to be made on Friday, the first day of the travel rush. (Xinhua/Mao Jun)

This photo taken on Jan. 26, 2024 shows the Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station in east China's Shanghai. China officially ushered in its largest annual population migration on Friday, 15 days ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Lunar New Year, with record-breaking journey numbers expected.

An estimated 9 billion passenger trips are likely to be made during the 2024 travel rush period, according to the country's transport ministry.

Of the total, 7.2 billion trips or about 80 percent will be made by self-driving, while 1.8 billion trips will be made via railways, highways, waterways, and civil aviation, the ministry said.

China's railway operator on Friday said the country's railways are expected to handle 480 million passengers during this travel season, with an average of 12 million trips daily, an increase of 37.9 percent compared with the previous year. About 10.6 million train trips are expected to be made on Friday, the first day of the travel rush. (Xinhua/Wang Xiang)

Passengers on train No.K4177 wait for departure at Shanghai South Railway Station in east China's Shanghai, late on Jan. 25, 2024. China officially ushered in its largest annual population migration on Friday, 15 days ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Lunar New Year, with record-breaking journey numbers expected.

An estimated 9 billion passenger trips are likely to be made during the 2024 travel rush period, according to the country's transport ministry.

Of the total, 7.2 billion trips or about 80 percent will be made by self-driving, while 1.8 billion trips will be made via railways, highways, waterways, and civil aviation, the ministry said.

China's railway operator on Friday said the country's railways are expected to handle 480 million passengers during this travel season, with an average of 12 million trips daily, an increase of 37.9 percent compared with the previous year. About 10.6 million train trips are expected to be made on Friday, the first day of the travel rush. (Xinhua/Xin Mengchen)

A young volunteer helps a tourist at Xuzhou East Railway Station in Xuzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 26, 2024. China officially ushered in its largest annual population migration on Friday, 15 days ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Lunar New Year, with record-breaking journey numbers expected.

An estimated 9 billion passenger trips are likely to be made during the 2024 travel rush period, according to the country's transport ministry.

Of the total, 7.2 billion trips or about 80 percent will be made by self-driving, while 1.8 billion trips will be made via railways, highways, waterways, and civil aviation, the ministry said.

China's railway operator on Friday said the country's railways are expected to handle 480 million passengers during this travel season, with an average of 12 million trips daily, an increase of 37.9 percent compared with the previous year. About 10.6 million train trips are expected to be made on Friday, the first day of the travel rush. (Xinhua/Mao Jun)

A train pulls into the Hohhot Railway Station in Hohhot, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Jan. 26, 2024. China officially ushered in its largest annual population migration on Friday, 15 days ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Lunar New Year, with record-breaking journey numbers expected.

An estimated 9 billion passenger trips are likely to be made during the 2024 travel rush period, according to the country's transport ministry.

Of the total, 7.2 billion trips or about 80 percent will be made by self-driving, while 1.8 billion trips will be made via railways, highways, waterways, and civil aviation, the ministry said.

China's railway operator on Friday said the country's railways are expected to handle 480 million passengers during this travel season, with an average of 12 million trips daily, an increase of 37.9 percent compared with the previous year. About 10.6 million train trips are expected to be made on Friday, the first day of the travel rush. (Xinhua/Li Zhipeng)

Passengers check in at Tianjin Binhai International Airport in north China's Tianjin, Jan. 26, 2024. China officially ushered in its largest annual population migration on Friday, 15 days ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Lunar New Year, with record-breaking journey numbers expected.

An estimated 9 billion passenger trips are likely to be made during the 2024 travel rush period, according to the country's transport ministry.

Of the total, 7.2 billion trips or about 80 percent will be made by self-driving, while 1.8 billion trips will be made via railways, highways, waterways, and civil aviation, the ministry said.

China's railway operator on Friday said the country's railways are expected to handle 480 million passengers during this travel season, with an average of 12 million trips daily, an increase of 37.9 percent compared with the previous year. About 10.6 million train trips are expected to be made on Friday, the first day of the travel rush. (Xinhua/Li Ran)

A staff member helps a tourist at Hankou Railway Station in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Jan. 26, 2024. China officially ushered in its largest annual population migration on Friday, 15 days ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Lunar New Year, with record-breaking journey numbers expected.

An estimated 9 billion passenger trips are likely to be made during the 2024 travel rush period, according to the country's transport ministry.

Of the total, 7.2 billion trips or about 80 percent will be made by self-driving, while 1.8 billion trips will be made via railways, highways, waterways, and civil aviation, the ministry said.

China's railway operator on Friday said the country's railways are expected to handle 480 million passengers during this travel season, with an average of 12 million trips daily, an increase of 37.9 percent compared with the previous year. About 10.6 million train trips are expected to be made on Friday, the first day of the travel rush. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

Passengers wait to board their trains at Zhengzhou East Railway Station in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province, Jan. 26, 2024. China officially ushered in its largest annual population migration on Friday, 15 days ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Lunar New Year, with record-breaking journey numbers expected.

An estimated 9 billion passenger trips are likely to be made during the 2024 travel rush period, according to the country's transport ministry.

Of the total, 7.2 billion trips or about 80 percent will be made by self-driving, while 1.8 billion trips will be made via railways, highways, waterways, and civil aviation, the ministry said.

China's railway operator on Friday said the country's railways are expected to handle 480 million passengers during this travel season, with an average of 12 million trips daily, an increase of 37.9 percent compared with the previous year. About 10.6 million train trips are expected to be made on Friday, the first day of the travel rush. (Xinhua/Li An)

Children have fun at Chongqing North Railway Station in Chongqing, southwest China, Jan. 26, 2024. China officially ushered in its largest annual population migration on Friday, 15 days ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Lunar New Year, with record-breaking journey numbers expected.

An estimated 9 billion passenger trips are likely to be made during the 2024 travel rush period, according to the country's transport ministry.

Of the total, 7.2 billion trips or about 80 percent will be made by self-driving, while 1.8 billion trips will be made via railways, highways, waterways, and civil aviation, the ministry said.

China's railway operator on Friday said the country's railways are expected to handle 480 million passengers during this travel season, with an average of 12 million trips daily, an increase of 37.9 percent compared with the previous year. About 10.6 million train trips are expected to be made on Friday, the first day of the travel rush. (Xinhua/Huang Wei)
New Delhi, Jan : Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday said that the autocracy of corruption has been replaced by the meritocracy of democracy as the country is witnessing an overall growth under the present day political dispensation.

"Today corruption and middlemen have been eliminated and youth have immense opportunities to realise their potential. The autocracy of corruption has been replaced by the meritocracy of democracy," the Vice President said while addressing National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers in the Parliament House.

He said that every walk of life is dotted by exponential growth, commitment and involvement of girls.

"Our girls are the qualitative premium component part of our youth power," he said.

He also lauded the performance of the girls and female participants in the Republic Day parade.

The Vice President also expressed his happiness over the recent provision of one-third reservation for women in Parliament and State Legislature and termed it a historic step.

He said that the young volunteers present to be innovative and focus on research and entrepreneurship and be proud Indians and always keep the nation first.
Kiev, Jan 27 : The Russian army bombarded the town of Kupiansk in Ukraine's Kharkiv Oblast on the intervening night of January 26 to 27, and firefighters extinguished four fires caused by the attack, State Emergency Service of Ukraine said on Saturday.

Four fires broke out as a result in two residential buildings and two garages, over a total area of about 100 square metre. The State Emergency Service employed four fire appliances and 15 firefighters to extinguish the fires, European Pravda reported.

A private residential building in the village of Synelnykove also caught fire as a result of the night attack.

However, no casualties were reported.
Guwahati, Jan 27 : Two persons were arrested in Assam's Nagaon district for allegedly demanding extortion money from a local businessman using the name of the banned militant outfit ULFA-I, police said on Saturday.

Guwahati, Jan 27 (IANS) Two persons were arrested in Assamas Nagaon district for allegedly demanding extortion money from a local businessman using the name of the banned militant outfit ULFA-I, police said on Saturday.

The arrested persons have been identified as Fakar Uddin and Hussain Ali.

Fakar is a native of Ruporihat area in the district.

Abdul Hasim was a supari businessman and the accused Fakar Uddin demanded Rs 50 lakh in cash on the name of ULFA-I, according to police.

A senior police officer said that the accused had threatened to shoot Hasim's two kids if he didn't give the demanded amount of money.

Hasim had also earlier filed a complaint at the Ruporihat Police Station.

Based on the FIR, Fakar Uddin, who was allegedly demanding money in the name of ULFA-I was arrested by the police on Friday night.

Police said Fakar has confessed during the interrogation regarding the involvement of another individual, Hussain Ali, who was also later arrested by the police.

Whether the arrested persons have any direct links with the ULFA-I is not clear yet. The police mentioned further investigation in the matter is underway.
Mastermind behind attack on ED officials somewhere in his locality, claims TMC legislator. Image Source: IANS News

Kolkata, Jan 27 : Trinamool Congress is divided over attack on ED personnel and in supporting the alleged mastermind Trinamool leader Sheikh Shahjahan.

State Municipal & Urban Development Minister and Kolkata Municipal Corporation Mayor Firhad Hakim said that Shahjahan has committed a "crime".

"I have seen in the media how the government officials attacked and got injured. It was a crime," Firhad Hakim said.

Local Trinamool Congress from Sandeskhali assembly constituency in North 24 Parganas district Sukumar Mahato said that the Shahjahan has been playing a key role in uniting people of Sandeshkhali that is why he is being harassed by BJP.

"People associated with Trinamool Congress are being hounded by central agencies and because Shahjahan tried to target the local people of Sandeshkhali that is why he is being harassed. But we will never be scared of such threats," Mahato said.

On January 5, ED and CAPF personnel were attacked in Sandeskhali assembly constituency in North 24 Parganas in which few security personnel belonging to CAPF and ED were injured. It has been alleged that Trinamool leader Sheikh Shahjahan was behind the attack.
Sanaa, Jan 27 : The US-British maritime coalition launched two strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen's Red Sea port city of Hodeidah on Saturday morning, the media reported.

The strikes, which came a few hours after the Houthis struck a British oil tanker, hit the Ras Issa coastal area in the northwestern part of the city, the report said.

Meanwhile, the US Central Command said it conducted a self-defence strike against a Houthi missile, Xinhua news agency reported.

"On January 27 at around 3:45 a.m. (Yemen time), the US Central Command Forces conducted a strike against a Houthi anti-ship missile aimed at the Red Sea and which was prepared to launch," the US Central Command said on X.

"The US Forces identified the missile in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined it presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and the US Navy ships in the region. The US Forces subsequently struck and destroyed the missile in self-defence," it added.

The US retaliatory strikes came a few hours after the Houthis claimed responsibility for a missile attack on a British oil tanker, Marlin Luanda, in the Gulf of Aden on Friday.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, a British maritime observer agency, confirmed the attack on the tanker and said on X that the tanker called for assistance after it caught fire following the Houthi missile attack.

The Houthi forces control much of northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa and the strategic Red Sea port city of Hodeidah.

On January 17, the US re-designated the Houthi group as a "global terrorist organisation" and said the designation would take effect next month.
New Delhi, Jan 27 : Four men involved in supplying and managing bank accounts of the cyber fraudsters were nabbed after a massive hunt in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh (UP), an official said on Saturday.

He said that money trail of 60 lakh have been unearthed so far and the syndicate had links with Chinese nationals.

The accused were identified as Harish Kumar, Vipul Sharma, Shiv Pratap and Om Prakash a.k.a Monu.

Their arrest came after a complaint was received by police on August 12, 2023, in which the complainant Ashish Kumar Tomer -- a resident of west Delhi alleged that on August 9, 2023 -- he was approached by some fraudster through WhatsApp, claiming to be Anitai from Career Builder ltd. India.

She offered him to earn money by rating restaurants on Google. The complainant accepted the offer.

"On August 11, the complainant was added to a Telegram group and he was assigned tasks to rate restaurants on Google Map. After completion of tasks, he was paid some money and then was asked to invest Rs 1,000 to get Rs 1,300. One account i.e. www.yt6ba.top was made for him in the name of Sony Corp platform and he was asked to invest for business," said the Deputy Commissioner of Police (southwest) Rohit Meena.

Tomar was also added by @david6687 to another group Task Force G305388. "Thereafter, he was asked to pay a huge amount for investment with assured returns. The complainant got trapped and transferred Rs 23,23,260 for good returns. When he tried to deny them and asked to return his money, the fraudsters told that he won't be able to withdraw without more investment," said the DCP.

During the investigation, the details of the beneficiary accounts were obtained and it revealed that the cheated amount was credited in ICICI Bank of Harish.

"Harish was arrested, who on interrogation disclosed that he came in contact with Vipul and sold his account for five percent commission basis. During further investigation, accused Vipul was also arrested who disclosed that he had joined many telegram groups for providing bank accounts to fraudsters," said the DCP.

Vipul further disclosed that he came in contact with Om Prakash through Telegram who was an active member of telegram groups where bank accounts were being sold and purchased.

"Subsequently, another accused, Shiv and Om Prakash were also arrested in the said case. Om Prakash told police that he came in contact with two persons namely Vipul Sharma and Amit," said the DCP.

The DCP said that Amit is running a big syndicate of providing fraud accounts and has links with the Chinese nationals who are operating the telegram fraud syndicate from abroad.
United Nations, Jan 27 : The UN Chief Antonio Guterres said on Saturday that he hopes Israel will "duly comply" with the ruling from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), ordering it to take action to prevent acts of genocide being carried out in war-torn Gaza, the media reported.

Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary General, told reporters in New York that Guterres had taken note of the orders from the UN's top court, which made the ruling as part of a genocide case brought by South Africa, CNN reported.

In the statement, Guterres reiterated the legally binding nature of ICJ decisions, adding that he trusts "that all parties will duly comply with the Order from the Court".

The UN Chief has repeatedly called for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, expressing deep concern about the "unprecedented" number of civilian casualties and the "catastrophic" humanitarian situation in the enclave, CNN reported.

In a rebuke of Israel, the ICJ on Friday said Israel must "take all measures" to limit the death and destruction caused by its campaign in Gaza but stopped short of calling for a ceasefire.

The ICJ's decisions are binding and cannot be appealed, but it has no way of enforcing them, CNN reported.

Israel previously indicated it would not abide by the ruling.
Arjun Dwivedi: Being on Rohit Shetty set feels like stepping into a dream world. Image Source: IANS News

Mumbai, Jan 27 : Actor Arjun Dwivedi, who recently featured in the action thriller series 'Indian Police Force' (IPF) shared that being on a Rohit Shetty set feels like stepping into a dream world, adding that he loves the vibrant energy and the universe he creates.

Doctor turned actor, Arjun is known for his work in 'The Vaccine War', and 'Baadshaho'.

Talking about his experience working with filmmaker Rohit Shetty, Arjun said: "Being on a Rohit Shetty set feels like stepping into a dream world. I absolutely love the vibrant energy and the universe he creates, where my passionsautomobiles, driving, action, and adventurebecome the pulse of the film. Working with sir is a privilege. He's an incredible director, human being, and collaborator."

The cop universe IPF' created by Rohit, stars Sidharth Malhotra, Shilpa Shetty, and Vivek Oberoi in the lead roles.

"Our coordination as director and actor was seamless. I easily understood his vision for my character, and we worked in perfect harmony. Rohit Sir's passion, focus, and work ethic are an inspiration. He's more than a director; he's an institution. Our shared love for automobiles, especially the Scorpio, only strengthened our bond. It was an experience I'll cherish forever," said the 'CID' fame actor.

Arjun essays the character of the Bangladesh intelligence head who clashes with the Indian Police team in a high-octane Rohit Shetty-style climax set in Bangladesh in 'IPF'.

He shared: "Taking on the mantle of Bangladesh's intelligence head in the 'Indian Police Force' was a dream come true. The climax explodes in true Rohit Shetty style, with a thrilling clash between my character and the Indian police team on Bangladeshi soil."

Arjun, who also featured in Sunny Deol-starrer 'Gadar 2' has been roped in for Rohit's 'Singham Again', starring Ajay Devgn.

'IPF' also stars Nikitin Dheer, Shweta Tiwari, Sharad Kelkar, Isha Talwar, and Rituraj Singh in pivotal roles.
San Francisco, Jan 27 : X owner Elon Musk on Saturday joined the debate around Apple's App Store changes in the European Union (EU) ahead of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) in March, saying these changes are "very concerning".

San Francisco, Jan 27 (IANS) X owner Elon Musk on Saturday joined the debate around Apple's App Store changes in the European Union (EU) ahead of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) in March, saying these changes are "very concerning".

The world's richest man reacted to Spotify CEO Daniel Ek who posted on X that Apple's DMA announcement is, "at best vague and misleading".

To which, Musk said these changes are very concerning. He, however, did not divulge more on the hot issue.

Apple has announced changes to iOS, Safari, and the App Store in the European Union in response to the DMA coming into force in March.

The key news is that third-party app stores will be allowed on iOS for the first time. The changes will arrive with iOS 17.4 in March.

However, the upcoming new App Store tax is the real bone of contention.

In August last year, the tech billionaire had said he will speak to Apple CEO Tim Cook to lower the App Store Tax.

"While we had previously said that X would keep nothing for the 12 months, then 10 per cent, we are amending that policy to X keeps nothing forever, until payout exceeds $100k, then 10 per cent. First 12 months is still free for all," he posted.

He further said that Apple does take 30 per cent, "but I will speak with @tim_cook and see if that can be adjusted to be just 30 per cent of what X keeps in order to maximise what creators receive".
Logistics firm Flexport to lay off another 20% of its workforce: Report. Image Source: IANS News

San Francisco, Jan 27 : Logistics company Flexport is reportedly planning additional layoffs, around 20 per cent of its workforce.

According to a report in The Information, Flexport is likely to trim its workforce in the next few weeks. Flexport in October last year slashed the company's workforce by 20 per cent -- affecting about 600 workers.

"It would mark the SoftBank-backed logistics startup's third major round of cuts in just over a year," the report noted.

The company had approximately 2,600 employees after October job cuts. CEO Ryan Petersen had said that with this decision, "we'll be able to get back to profitability without raising prices or placing our fortress balance sheet at risk."

"Instead, our path to profitability runs through delivering outstanding global logistics and technology solutions that solve customer problems," he had said in a blog post.

Last week, Flexport said it raised an additional $260 million in funding from Shopify.

"Flexport raised $260 million on an uncapped convertible note from Shopify. Thank you @tobi and your entire team for this tremendous vote of confidence in our business and partnership," Petersen posted on X.

"Our fortress balance sheet continues to be one of our most strategic assets as we navigate the uncertain waters of global trade in the 21st century in pursuit of this vision," he added. Back in May, Shopify sold its logistics business to Flexport in exchange for a 13 per cent stake in the company.

--IANS

na/dan
URUMQI, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The import and export cargo volume through land ports in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region reached a record high of 74.7 million tonnes in 2023, up 8.6 percent year on year, according to the regional bureau of commerce.

The bureau attributed the growth to the improved efficiency of customs clearance, with a priority on ensuring the smooth transportation of the China-Europe freight train service. The inspection time of each train through customs was reduced from 70 minutes to 35 minutes last year.

Meanwhile, the "green channel" for rapid customs clearance of agricultural products covers all eight highway ports bordering Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Li Xuan, deputy director of the regional bureau of commerce, said that in 2024, Xinjiang will continue to improve port functions to facilitate cargo trade efficiency, promote the "smart port" construction and deepen exchanges and cooperation on port affairs with neighboring countries. 
Patna, Jan 27 : The meeting of the JD-U core committee headed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is over in Patna and sources have said that he will take the oath for the ninth time in Bihar on Sunday.

During the core committee meeting, leaders like Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, Lalan Singh, Ashok Chaudhary, Sanjay Kumar Jha, Bijendra Yadav and others were present. JD-U has also taken the signatures of all MLAs of the party.

Besides JD-U, BJP has also held the core committee meeting at its headquarters where all MLAs are present. They will also take the signatures of the MLAs and hand it over to Nitish Kumar.

Sources have said that Nitish will visit the governor house till 7 p.m. on Saturday (today) and hand over the list of MLAs followed by resignation. He will also stake claim to form new government.

The indication about the swearing-in ceremony in Raj Bhawan is getting stronger with the facts that the CMO has directed the officials to open the cabinet secretariat on Sunday. Normally Sunday is a weekly off for the officials.

The second indication is coming from Raj Bhawan Patna where governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has cancelled the leave of all the officials.
New Delhi : Union Home Minister Amit Shah addresses the inauguration ceremony for the e-bus service in Jammu via video conference. Image Source: IANS News

Kolkata, Jan 27 : Home Minister Amit Shah has cancelled his two-day visit to West Bengal amid growing political uncertainty in the neigbouring Bihar.

"We have now been informed from New Delhi that the Home Minister will not be able to visit Bengal this time," a BJP state committee member said.

The BJP state committee member said that Shah was supposed to arrive in Kolkata on Sunday, with a packed schedule for two days.

He was scheduled to have an organisational meeting at Barasat in North 24 Parganas district to discuss the organisation affairs in the four Lok Sabha constituencies in the district.

In Kolkata, he was scheduled to hold an organisation meeting with the top state BJP leadership to take stock of the preparations of forthcoming Lok Sabha polls.

During the tour he also was scheduled to hold a public rally at Mecheda in East Midnapore, which is the native district of Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari.

JD-U Chief Nitish Kumar is likely to take oath as Bihar Chief Minister for the 9th time on Sunday. Bihar had a coalition government head by Nitish Kumar and supported by RJD along with other alliance parties. Nitish Kumar's JD-U was also an ally of Congress-led INDIA bloc.
London, Jan 27 : Former British Prime Minister and incumbent Foreign Secretary David Cameron's activities at the scandal-hit Greensill Capital finance company are a "matter of interest" in a wider investigation by the Serious Fraud Office, the media reported.

The SFO, which investigates and prosecutes fraud, bribery and corruption in the UK, has questioned interview subjects about the UK foreign secretaryas involvement with the now-defunct company, sources claim, The Guardian reported.

The Guardian understands that Cameron's activities have been discussed in sensitive interviews with witnesses in the long-running SFO investigation.

A spokesperson for Cameron declined to answer specific questions about the investigation and his involvement with Greensill, but said that the foreign secretary had not personally had "any contact" with the SFO.

Senior figures who worked at Greensill have been questioned as part of the SFO's broader inquiry into "suspected fraud, fraudulent trading and money laundering" at companies within the Gupta Family Group Alliance (GFG) steel, energy and commodities empire, an investigation announced in 2021.

GFG, owned by the steel tycoon Sanjeev Gupta has consistently denied any wrongdoing, The Guardian reported.

Greensill was the main financial backer of the loose industrial grouping of energy, steel and commodities assets founded by Gupta.

Witnesses have been questioned on the role Cameron played in promoting Greensill to investors and his engagement with and promotion of GFG, the Guardian understands.
Washington, Jan 27 : Texas Governor Gregg Abbott is heading for a constitutional crisis with the Joe Biden government on the southern borders issue after he said the Constitution gives him the right to secure the US border with Mexico, but the federal government disagrees.

And they're almost certainly headed for a confrontation from a political crisis to a constitutional crisis according to media reports.

Texas was the last state to join the union of states after it liberated itself from the yokes of Spanish rule and later from Mexico. It is the only state that's allowed to fly its Lone Star flag at the same height and level with the national flag of Stars and Stripes. Other states can fly the state flag but only six inches below the national flag. Texas has also enshrined in its constitution, as a precondition for joining the union of states, that it can at any time secede from the Union if the state legislature decides so by passing a resolution and approved by the Congress.

Abbott is well aware of the above provisions and is virtually pushing the federal government to the edge citing a constitutional provision that he says allows him to secure the US border with Mexico by any means necessary to defend against what he and other Republicans have characterised as an invasion of migrants who are smuggling drugs, draining resources and generally wreaking havoc on the American way of life.

The Democratic party is pledged to keep its borders open, especially asylum seekers who fear persecution from dictatorships and authoritarian regimes in South America and Central America. Texas and California bordering Mexico have seen a massive influx of illegal migrants across the porous borders by "Coyotes" and a few narco smugglers also slip in. The US has seen a massive migration of people from Venezuela numbering over 300,000 till date due to the unstable political regime there.

Given the above scenario, the stalemate Republican Abbot has created for President Biden and Democratic Mayors in New York Eric Adams has been horrendous. Abbot along with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis have shifted their responsibility of taking care of the migrants and instead shipped them in busloads to mainly New York city and Michigan.

New York City mayor Eric Adam has time and again appealed to President Biden to increase funding for the world's financial capital as his administration was pushed beyond the limits to deplete the treasuries to take care of the migrants. In fact, Adams had sued some of the bus companies over $700 million dollars for bringing them to New York city without his consent, reports said.

Though the federal government led by Biden has the final authority over the borders which its pledged to keep open and republicans want it fenced or wall bordered, Abbot has created a constitutional crisis catapulting the nation and the immigration issue from a humanitarian crisis to a constitutional crisis a" potentially teeing up yet another controversial issue for the Supreme court ahead of the 2024 presidential election, which Republicans are keen on making a referendum on border security. To counter democrats who have put the right to abortion of women on top of the election agenda.

The Biden administration, bolstered by a ruling from the high Court earlier this week, contests that it has the ultimate authority over what strategies can and cannot be employed to stem the flow of migrants. Seeking his own interpretation of the constitution , far-from universally accepted - interpretation of the Constitution, Abbott is seeking for Texas the right to act on its own, media reports said .

"The federal government has broken the compact between the United States and the States," Abbott charged in a statement issued on Wednesday, citing Article IV of the Constitution, which guarantees to states that the federal government "shall protect each of them against Invasion."

"The Executive Branch of the United States has a constitutional duty to enforce federal laws protecting States, including immigration laws on the books right now. President Biden has refused to enforce those laws and has even violated them," Abbott charged.

Abbot accused Biden of being a "lawless president who does nothing to stop external threats like cartels smuggling millions of illegal immigrants across the border."

The failure of the Biden administration to protect the border, Abbott argued, triggers Article I of the Constitution, which is where things get legally tricky. A section of that article prohibits states in most cases from entering independent compacts with foreign governments or waging wars. But it adds the key qualifier that the prohibitions apply to the states "unless actually invaded, or in such imminent danger as will not admit of delay."

As Republicans resort to using the term "invasion" to characterise the movement of immigrants and goods into the country, Abbott appears to be forcing a confrontation with the White House and the federal government. "For these reasons, I have already declared an invasion," he wrote, "to invoke Texas' constitutional authority to defend and protect itself. That authority is the supreme law of the land and supersedes any federal statutes to the contrary."

Many constitutional scholars say Abbott's legal arguments are shaky. "The argument that Abbott is seeking to make - that immigration across the border constitutes an act of invasion - is a very broad interpretation of the word invasion," says Bertrall Ross, law professor at the University of Virginia and director of the Karsh Center for Law and Democracy. "It's more in line with the rhetoric of our politics than with what the founders had in mind."

James Madison dedicated part of his 'Report of 1800' to specifically note that illegal immigration is not a form of invasion. "I don't know how serious Texas is about litigating this," he says. "The legal claims seem extraordinarily weak." "I don't see it having any legs in court."

Abbott's actions came on the back of a 5-4 Supreme Court decision to vacate a preliminary injunction previously granted by the US Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, which had barred US Border Patrol agents from removing razor wire that the Texas National Guard had placed along the border.

While the high court's order does not bar Texas troops from continuing to erect razor wire, it allows Border Patrol agents to remove it.

Trump , the front runner of the GOP for the 2024 presidential nomination, has raised the stakes when he issued a late-night statement backing Abbott's characterisation of the situation at the border as a national security, public safety and public health catastrophe, and calling on states to mobilise and deploy their National Guard troops to secure the border in Texas.

"Texas has rightly invoked the Invasion Clause of the Constitution, and must be given full support to repel the invasion," Trump said. "We encourage all willing States to deploy their guards to Texas to prevent the entry of illegals, and to remove them back across the border."

The charge comes at a precarious moment for US politics, in which former president Trump, who continues repeating unfounded claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him, has amassed an ardent army of far-right supporters and has all but formally captured the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, has been increasingly calling the shots for state and federal lawmakers - despite not holding office himself, media reports such as those appearing in USA TODAY said.
New Delhi: Inauguration of the National Kala Utsav at National Bal Bhava. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Jan 27 : Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday said that the 7th edition of 'Pariksha Pe Charcha' has recorded a remarkable 2.26 crore registrations on the MyGov portal.

"The registration highlights the widespread enthusiasm of 'Pariksha Pe Charcha' among students nationwide which is scheduled for January 29 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi," the minister said.

The minister said that 'Pariksha Pe Charcha' has become an annual tradition which students, parents and teachers all look forward to.

"Pariksha Pe Charcha will host approximately 3000 participants and will also interact with PM Modi. Two students and a teacher from each state and union territory, along with winners of the Kala Utsav, have been invited. A hundred students from Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) will also attend for the first time," the minister said.

He said that 'Pariksha Pe Charcha' is a unique initiative led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the stress associated with examinations and promote a celebratory approach towards life, aligning with the larger movement of 'Exam Warriors.'

The Ministry of Education said that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the fourth edition was held online, while the fifth and sixth editions returned to the town-hall format.

"Last year saw enthusiastic participation, with 31.24 lakh students, 5.60 lakh teachers, and 1.95 lakh parents," the ministry said.

The ministry said that with 2.26 crore registrations, the upcoming 7th edition of Pariksha Pe Charcha will generate immense anticipation.
Patna, Jan 27 : Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Saturday decided not to withdraw support from the Nitish Kumar government in Bihar.

The decision was taken in a meeting held at the official residence of deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav located at 5 Circular Road in Patna where all MLAs unanimously decided not to withdraw support from Nitish government.

"We formed the government in Bihar with the aim of providing jobs to the common people, improved health infrastructure and others. How could we kill our own efforts? We have decided not to withdraw support from the Nitish Kumar government," said RJD's Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha, who was present in the meeting.

"The MLAs have also made the decision and authorised Lalu Prasad Yadav to take the decision in the present circumstance. He is our leader and whatever decision he makes will be acceptable for every party worker," Jha said.

During the meeting, Tejashwi Yadav also said that the people of Bihar are the actual masters. "They have elected us as the single largest party in the state and we have to go before them and struggle for their interest," he added.
'730 days of countless memories,' says Mouni Roy as she wishes Suraj on 2 yrs of marital bliss. Image Source: IANS News

Mumbai, Jan 27 : Actress Mouni Roy, who is celebrating two years of marital bliss with Suraj Nambiar, has shared some unseen dreamy wedding pictures, giving a sneak peek into their South Indian style wedding ceremony.

Mouni and Suraj were in a three years of relationship, before they got married in traditional Bengali and Malayali ceremonies on January 27, 2022, in Panaji, Goa.

Taking to the social media, Mouni shared a series of wedding pictures, and gave the tune of 'Om Namah Shivaya' to the post.

In the photo, we can see the couple candidly smiling, hugging each other, as they are dressed up in beige and golden traditional outfits. One photo shows Suraj applying sindoor on Mouni's forehead.

Another click is from their Karwachauth celebrations, wherein we can see Mouni dressed in a golden saree, sporting sindoor and red bangles. Suraj is giving a kiss on his ladylove's cheeks.

The next two solo pictures of Mouni show her smiling ear to ear while she gets ready for her wedding. She is also flaunting her beautiful mehndi on both the hands.

The post is captioned as: "2 years married, 730 days of countless memories, & 63,072,000 seconds of me talking and you pretending to listen Happy anniversary baby Wuv you! x @nambiar13".

Mouni's bestie Disha Patani commented: "Most beautiful couple". Arjun Bijlani wrote: "Happy anniversary".

Nupur Sanon said: "Happy anniversary cuties". Shamita Shetty said: "Happy anniversary to both u lovebirds".

Sayantani Ghosh commented: "Congrats and lots of love to you guys God bless you."

Meanwhile, on the professional front, Mouni last featured in 'Brahmastra', starring Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt in the lead. She portrayed the character of Junoon in the fantasy action adventure film.

She next has 'The Virgin Tree' in her kitty.
Mumbai, Jan 27 : Actress Fatima Sana Shaikh, who was recently seen in the theatrical film 'Sam Bahadur,' has returned to Punjab for the shoot of her upcoming film 'Ul Jalool Ishq'.

The actress shot for her debut vehicle 'Dangal' in the state in which she essayed the role of Indian wrestler Geeta Phogat, who clinched gold for the nation at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Getting to shoot at the locations in the villages of Gujjarwal, Narangwal, Kila Raipur, Dango, and Leel in Punjab and Haryana during the making of 'Dangal', Fatima is immersed in a wave of nostalgia.

'Ul Jalool Ishq' also stars Naseeruddin Shah, Vijay Varma and Sharib Hashmi.

Fatima's last release, 'Sam Bahadur,' saw her receiving love and adoration for her portrayal of the former Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi.

Fatima completed seven years in the industry last month with 'Dangal'. The film wasn't just a cinematic treat but it was a cultural phenomenon, with Fatima's portrayal of the real-life wrestling champion earning her accolades and adoration in equal measure.

Reflecting on her journey, Fatima had said, "It's been 7 years since 'Dangal', a film that marked my debut in cinema and gave me happy tears, joy, and timeless memories. From 'Dangal' to 'Dhak Dhak' my film career has been a roller coaster ride of emotions with happiness, tears, joys and sorrows."

"Geeta Phogat will always hold a special place in my heart and I'm grateful for all the love this character received. Here's to seven years of stepping into her shoes, to the 'Dangal' family that made it possible and to the magic of this amazing film."
Srinagar, Jan 27 : J&K Police on Saturday said that it has busted a cross border terror module in Kupwara border district.

Police said that acting on credible information and corroborated by other sister agencies, Kupwara police along with 9 Para Field Regiment busted a terror module involved in smuggling of arms and ammunition sent by two Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) based handlers of LeT namely Manzoor Ahmad Sheikh alias Shakoor and Qazi Mohammad Khushal.

"Both at present are operating from across the border," police said in a statement.

Police said that one person identified as Zahoor Ahmad Bhat of Karnah in Kupwara district was arrested from whose possession one AK, one AK Magazine, 29 rounds, two pistols and two pistol magazines were recovered.

"Two PoK based handlers from across were in touch with the Zahoor who hails from a village which is close to the LoC," police said.

Police said that the consignments dispatched to this side from across were thereafter delivered to other terror associates who were in contact with Zahoor Ahmad Bhat and the PoK based handlers.

"In addition to Zahoor, four more terror associates namely Khursheed Ahmad Rather, Mudasir Shafiq, Gulam Sarwar and Qazi Fazal, all residents of Karnah, have been arrested," police said.

Police said that the arms and ammunition and other incriminating material recovered from them including five AK Rifles (short), five AK magazines and 16 AK rounds (short) were recovered.
Bhopal, Jan 27 : A former Sarpanch and his wife were allegedly killed by some unidentified persons at their residence in Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain, police said on Saturday.

The shocking incident came to the fore after a neighbour visited the couple's house and found them lying in a pool of blood on Saturday. Subsequently the local area police was informed.

Upon receiving information, the police recovered a middle-aged couple in a pool of blood and sent the bodies for postmortem.

The deceased were identified as Ramniwas Kumavat and his wife Munni Kumavat. As per the report, Ramniwas was associated with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and he was a former mandal adhyaksh of the party.

The couple were living at their home located in Piplonda village in Ujjain, while their son lives in Dewas. The police were yet to reach any conclusion in the double murder case, and suspected that the couple was killed by knife.

Police said the deep cut injuries were found on the necks of the couple which suggested that the killers were in a group. The house was also ransacked, however, it wasn't confirmed if some valuables were missing from the couple's house.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to investigate the matter. Prima-facie the police suspected that some unidentified persons killed the couple due to some unknown reasons, however, the police have not ruled out the possibility of a planned conspiracy.

Meanwhile, the opposition Congress has questioned the law and order situation in the state. Notably, the shocking incident has occurred in Ujjain, the home district of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.

Reacting to the incident, senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister Kamal Nath said the State's law and order situation has been deteriorating day by day under the BJP government. The Congress leader also cited some other incidents that occurred in the past few days and asked CM Mohan Yadav to step in to strengthen the law and order situation in Madhya Pradesh.

"After the murder of police personnel in Chhindwara and Seoni and the theft of TI's (Traffic Inspector) jeep from the police station in Ratlam, now the murder of a BJP leader in the Chief Minister's home area speaks volumes about the situation in the state. I would request the Chief Minister to take meaningful steps to ensure law and order in the state and work towards making Madhya Pradesh a safe state for everyone by giving strict punishment to the criminals," Kamal Nath said in a social media post.
RAMALLAH, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- A senior Palestinian official on Saturday urged countries that have announced the suspension of support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) to reconsider their decisions to avoid political and humanitarian risks.

Hussein Al-Sheikh, secretary-general of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, said on the social media platform X that "especially at this time, amid the ongoing (Israel's) aggression against the Palestinian people, we are in desperate need of support from this international organization."

The United States and Canada on Friday announced a temporary suspension of their new funding for the UNRWA after Israel accused some of the UN agency's employees of participating in the attack launched by Hamas on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

In a statement posted on his X account, Israeli Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz praised the U.S. and Canada's decisions to pause funding for the UN agency, saying, "We commend the U.S. administration's decision to halt funding for the UNRWA after it became clear that some of its employees were involved in the heinous massacre (Hamas attack) that occurred on Oct. 7 last year."

On Saturday, Australia announced that it would join the U.S. and Canada in pausing the funding for the UNRWA.

The UNRWA, established as a subsidiary organ of the UN General Assembly in 1949, serves to support the relief and human development of Palestinian refugees and is entrusted with the mission of providing humanitarian assistance and protection to registered Palestinian refugees in the agency's operational areas until a just and lasting solution to their plight is achieved. 
Baghdad, Jan 27 : The first round of dialogue to discuss ending the US-led international coalition's mission in Iraq was launched on Saturday, the Iraqi government said.

A statement by the media office of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani said that al-Sudani sponsored the launch of the first round of the dialogue without giving further details, while publishing a picture showing al-Sudani chairing a meeting attended by senior Iraqi military officers and US officials.

On Thursday, Iraq said it agreed with the US to form the Higher Military Commission to discuss the end of the US-led international coalition's mission in Iraq, Xinhua news agency reported.

Iraq noted that the commission will assess the threat posed by the Islamic State and evaluate the capabilities of Iraqi security forces, in order to formulate a clear timetable for the gradual reduction of international coalition advisors in Iraq and the end of the coalition's military mission.
Mumbai, Jan 27 : The Bombay High Court has directed the Mumbai Police to preserve the audio-video CCTV footage of the Malvani Police Station premises vis-a-vis the communal flare-up that rocked the Malvani area during Ram Navami fest on March 30, 2023.

The January 22 order of a division bench comprising Justice Revati Mohite-Dere and Justice Manjusha Deshpande came in a plea filed by a social activist Muhammad Jameel Merchant.

Merchant, who was made an accused in the case, has contended that he was being falsely implicated though he was actually trying to defuse the tensions that night in Malvani, a minority-dominated area in Malad west.

The petitioner said that the Mumbai Police are withholding the CCTV footage as they are aware it would exonerate him as he was innocent.

Merchant further claimed that certain political leaders who were present at the Malvani Police Station had allegedly pressured the police to include his name in the FIR though he was actually helping and cooperating with the police to control the crowd that had gathered outside his building premises.

Advocates Sanjeev Kadam, Prashant Raul and B.V. Bukhari appeared on behalf of Merchant, while the state was represented by Special Public Prosecutor Kaushik Mhatre and Assistant Public Prosecutor R.M. Pethe.

Besides his plea in the high court, Merchant has earlier filed complaints against Guardian Minister of Mumbai Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Joint Commissioner of Police Satyanarayan Choudhary, Additional Commissioner of Police (North Region) Rajeev Jain, Deputy Commissioner of Police Ajay Bansal and the Malvani Police Station, the Maharashtra Lokayukta, and the State Human Rights Commission.

Incidentally, the high court on August 9, 2023 had directed the police to preserve the CCTV recording from the 21 cameras installed in the Malvani Police for nearly 12 hours of the period 10.30 p.m. of March 30-till 10 a.m. of March 31, and had asked the DCP (Zone-XI) to comply with the same.

The court also permitted the petitioner -- who was provided copies of the footage -- to file an independent substantive petition in view of breach of the Supreme Court directions on CCTV video/audio footage.
Mumbai, Jan 27 : Filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani has joined hands with the Election Commission of India (ECI) in producing a short film on voter awareness.

Released on National Voters' Day (January 25), the short film is titled as 'My Vote, My Duty', based on the theme 'Value of One Vote'.

The film features messages from Amitabh Bachchan, Sachin Tendulkar, Rajkummar Rao, R. Madhavan, Raveena Tandon, Vicky Kaushal, Boman Irani, Arshad Warsi, Bhumi Pednekar and Mona Singh.

Talking about the same, the ECI said in a statement: "The film aims to address attitudinal barriers such as indifference and apathy, reaffirming the importance of each vote."

"Produced by Rajkumar Hirani and directed by Sanjiv Kishinchandani, the film aspires to inspire citizens to recognise the significance of their votes. The film highlights the impact of every single vote," the statement added.

Meanwhile, Hirani's recent release 'Dunki' starring Shah Rukh Khan has been loved by audiences of all age groups across the world.

The film made its place through action-packed cinemas with its heartwarming story. It also stars Taapsee Pannu, Vicky Kaushal and Boman Irani in pivotal roles.
New Delhi, Jan 27 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that the world is witnessing that the daughters of India are proving their mettle in every field be it land, sea, air or space.

"There was a time when the role of women in society was limited to cultural arrangements and organisations. But today the entire world is witnessing the daughters of India are proving their mettle in every field: land, sea, air or space," the Prime Minister said while addressing the annual NCC PM rally at the Cariappa Parade Ground in New Delhi.

He said that the historic 75th Republic Day was dedicated to Nari Shakti. "The country showcased the strides made by the daughters of India in every walk of life," Modi said.

He highlighted the determination of the women participants in the Republic Day parade and said that it is not a result of overnight success but the dedicated efforts of the last 10 years.

"Nari has always been considered as Shakti in Indian traditions," Modi remarked as he mentioned valiant warriors like Rani Lakshmi Bai, Rani Chennamma and Queen Velu Nachiyar who crushed the British.

He said that removing all obstacles in the entry of women into sectors which were once barred or limited and gave examples of opening up the front line of all three defence forces, permanent commission for women in defence, and command roles and combat positions.

"Be it Agniveer or fighter pilots the participation of women is only increasing," Modi said.

He also informed about the opening of admission for girl students in Sainik Schools.

"Number of women in the Central Armed Forces has more than doubled in the last 10 years, while states are being encouraged to recruit more women in the state police force," Modi said.

He also talked about the change in mentality of calling the border village as the last village. "Now these villages are the 'first villages' the 'Vibrant Villages'. These villages are going to become big tourist centers in the coming days," Modi said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence said that Subedar Preeti Rajak, Trap Shooter, has created history as she has become the First woman Subedar of the Indian Army.

The Indian Army said that it is breaking barriers and setting new records.

"Her journey is a testament to the indomitable spirit of Nari Shakti," the ministry said.
Patna, Jan 27 : As the political crisis deepens in Bihar, the Hindustani Awam Morcha-Secular (HAM-S) has called the meeting of its core committee at the residence of Jitan Ram Manjhi which is currently underway in Patna.

Sources said that Jitan Ram Manjhi, his son Santosh Kumar Suman and all other four MLAs are present in the meeting to discuss the future strategy.

Jitan Ram Manjhi has also got an offer from RJD for the Chief Ministeras post. RJD has also offered him that any MLA from his party can take the post of the Chief Minister.

It is believed that Jitan Ram Manjhi may not go with the RJD but may form an alliance with JD-U and BJP.

BJP State President Samrat Choudhary also reached out to Jitan Ram Manjhi and assured him that his partyas interest will be taken care of after the next government is formed in the state.

Manjhi is already an ally of NDA and is likely to go with Nitish Kumar.

JD-U's Chief Nitish Kumar is likely to take oath as Bihar Chief Minister for the 9th time on Sunday. Bihar had a coalition government head by Nitish Kumar and supported by RJD along with other alliance parties. Nitish Kumar's JD-U was also an ally of Congress-led INDIA bloc.
New Delhi, Jan 27 : A team of Delhi Police has apprehended a 25-year-old man for allegedly making a hoax bomb threat call on a SpiceJet flight flying from Darbhanga in Bihar to the national capital, an official said on Saturday.

The accused, Jay Krishan Kumar Mehta, a resident of Bihar's Supaul's district, made the call on January 24 -- two days before the Republic Day, to delay the flight's departure as he reported late, and was denied boarding by the airline at Darbhanga airport, said the official.

According to the police, on Wednesday, the police received a call at IGI airport police station at around 6.15 p.m. from CISF Control Room that they had received a call from Security Manager of SpiceJet airlines stating that they received a call at their call centre in Gurugram from a person named "Kishore" who stated that he overheard a conversation between two boys talking about a bomb on a Delhi-bound SpiceJet flight.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (IGI Airport) Usha Rangnani said that based on the information received and considering the gravity and sensitivity of the call, the Delhi Airport was put on high alert and a "full emergency" was declared at the Delhi airport.

"The flight landed safely at Delhi airport after which the aircraft was moved to an isolated bay for security search. The said call created panic among the passengers in the flight, however, all the passengers were deplaned safely and the aircraft went through a thorough search by the security agencies," said the DCP.

However, after thorough search, the bomb threat call was found to be a hoax.

"After proper verification, the said call was transferred to Udyog Vihar police station, Gurugram and a case was registered," said the DCP.

During the probe, the details of the hoax caller's number was obtained from SpiceJet airlines and technical surveillance was made but not enough clues were found about the caller.

"The team further checked records of all the passengers who booked the flight from Darbhanga to Delhi and after checking the records, it was revealed that one passenger namely Jay Kumar missed the flight at Darbhanga Airport as he did not show on time," said the DCP.

Based on suspicion, technical surveillance was mounted over him and manual intelligence was collected as he was regularly changing his locations.

"He was nabbed from Noida and on grilling, he confessed to the offence. He said that he graduated from Magadh University and presently working in a BPO company. He further disclosed that he had made the hoax call intentionally to delay the flight as he was late at the departure counter at the Darbhanga Airport," said the DCP.
Kolkata, Jan 27 : Acclaimed Bengali actress Sreela Majumdar, who was known for her roles in both 'parallel' and mainstream cinema, passed away at the age 65 after losing her battle against cancer, here on Saturday afternoon.

The actress is survived by her husband S.N.M. Abdi, a journalist and columnist, and their son Sohail Abdi.

Her husband told IANS that Majumdar was suffering from cancer for the last three years and was admitted to a hospital earlier this month. However, she was brought back home where she breathed her last on Saturday.

Majumdar was an integral part of several iconic movies directed the late Mrinal Sen.

Be it 'Dugga' in 'Akaler Sandhane', 'Minu' in 'Ekdin Pratidin', or 'Srija' in 'Kharij', all directed by Sen, Majumdaras acting skills received criticsa accolades.

She made her acting debut at the age of 16 in Sen's 'Parashuram' in 1980. In due course, she was casted in several alternate Indian movies against big names such as Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi and the late Smita Patil, among others.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has issued a condolence message after Majumdar's death, saying: aSaddened by the news of the demise of film actress Sreela Majumdar today afternoon. Sreela was a noted and powerful actress who played outstanding roles in several significant Indian films.

"It is a big loss for the Bengal film industry. We shall miss her stellar presence. My condolences to her family."
New Delhi, Jan 27 : The Delhi High Court has directed the Principal District and Sessions Judge of Patiala House Court to locate the untraceable 60,000-page record related to a 2007 cheating case against one S.K. Thapar, as it deals with a petition challenging the refusal to release an attached property in Uttarakhand by the Delhi Police.

Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma ordered the principal district judge to produce the missing record within two months. The court pointed out the voluminous nature of the judicial record and granted the specified time for retrieval.

The high court's directive stemmed from a petition filed by the legal heir of the deceased Amarpal, challenging an order passed by ACMM-II, Patiala House Courts, on April 28, 2023.

The order pertained to the refusal to release an attached property in Uttarakhand by Delhi police, citing the untraceability of a crucial order within the extensive 60,000-page judicial file.

"In these circumstances, since this document is the most essential document that would become the basis of adjudication of this matter either before this Court or the court below," noted the high court.

The matter is scheduled for further hearing on April 15. The petitioner's counsel argued that the land in question had been mutated in the applicant's name, calling their status as a bona fide purchaser.

The state opposed the application, asserting that it was premature to determine the applicant's bona fide status at the current stage of the case. The trial court, in its previous order, had noted that the applicant was neither the victim/investor nor the accused, but a purported bona fide purchaser.

It also noted that the land in question was allegedly purchased by the accused using fraudulent means, leading to an imposed embargo on its sale, as per an order dated December 10, 2009.

--IANS

spr/pgh
Islamabad, Jan 27 : At least nine Pakistani nationals were killed while three others were critically injured in an attack on a vehicle repair shop in the Sirkan area of Saravan City in Iran's Sistan-Baluchistan Province, an Iranian news outlet reported, citing Iranian and Pakistani officials as well as local media.

Islamabad, Jan 27 (IANS) At least nine Pakistani nationals were killed while three others were critically injured in an attack on a vehicle repair shop in the Sirkan area of Saravan City in Iranas Sistan-Baluchistan Province, an Iranian news outlet reported, citing Iranian and Pakistani officials as well as local media.

The victims hailed from districts including Multan, Muzaffaragarh and Bahawalpur, according to initial reports, The Qorasan Diary reported.

The armed assailants responsible for the attack remain unidentified, Express Tribune reported.

Pakistanas Ambassador to Iran, Muhammad Mudassir Tipu, confirmed the tragic incident and urged Iran to extend full cooperation in the matter.

In a statement posted on his social media handle, Ambassador Tipu expressed deep shock over the killings and assured that the Embassy would provide support to the bereaved families.

He also mentioned that a counselor from Zahidan is enroute the incident site and the hospital where the injured are receiving treatment.

The attack comes amid recent tensions between Pakistan and Iran, triggered by a series of incidents, Express Tribune reported.

On January 16, Iran conducted missile and drone strikes within Pakistan's Balochistan province, purportedly targeting the terrorist group Jaish ul-Adl. In response, Pakistan condemned the "violation of its airspace" and recalled its Ambassador from Iran.
Bengaluru, Jan 27 : Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday said that the state government is committed to construct the Parallel Balancing reservoir near Navali across Tungabhadra River.

"We have written letters to Telangana and Andhra Pradesh chief ministers seeking time to discuss the project as it involves the three states. Our government is fully committed to building this balancing reservoir," the Deputy Chief Minister told media persons.

He said that the Koppal district in-charge minister and MLAs of Koppal and Bellary districts have demanded construction of the balancing reservoir.

"Andhra Pradesh administration hasn't given time yet as they may be preparing for elections. All the three states will sit and discuss usage of excess 30 TMC of water as it is beneficial to all the three states," the Deputy Chief Minister said.

He said that the Chief Minister has already discussed this project in the Legislative Assembly.

"This issue was discussed when I was the Irrigation Minister in the past. We will take the project forward this time," he said.

"I am very happy to be participating in the mega fair of the Gavi Siddeshwara Mutt. I have heard of this mutt a lot and I had visited it a couple of times in the past," the Deputy Chief Minister said.

He said that the seer of the Mutt is bringing in social revolution in the region.

"I have come here as a representative of the government to support and encourage the good work of the Mutt. We are with the people of this region," he said.
Citizens choose New Year decorations at a wholesale market in Loudi of central China's Hunan Province, Jan. 14, 2024. (Photo by Wu Yonghua/Xinhua)

China has delivered good performance in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) conducted by the UN Human Rights Council, China's top diplomat in Geneva said after the UPR Working Group adopted recommendations made to China, whose achievements in human rights won international acclaim at its fourth review earlier this week.



GENEVA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- China has delivered good performance in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) conducted by the United Nations Human Rights Council, China's top diplomat in Geneva Chen Xu told Xinhua on Friday.

Chen's remarks came after the UPR Working Group adopted the recommendations made to China, whose achievements in human rights won international acclaim at its fourth review earlier this week.

The UPR is a mechanism under which all UN member states undergo a review of their human rights record every four and half years.

In an interview with Xinhua, Chen, permanent representative of China to the UN office at Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland, outlined the highlights of China's efforts to improve human rights.



Adhering to the people-centered development philosophy, China has realized its first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, Chen said.

China has won the largest battle against poverty in human history, lifted nearly 100 million rural population out of poverty. That means the country has eliminated absolute poverty, meeting the poverty eradication target set out in the United Nation's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 10 years ahead of schedule.

A villager shows freshly harvested bamboo fungus at a planting base in Gaonan Village of Rongjiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Sept. 18, 2020. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

Adhering to the development of whole-process people's democracy, China implements democratic elections, consultation, decision-making, management and oversight in accordance with the law. Simultaneously, China is committed to improving people's livelihoods while pursuing high-quality development to ensure that more benefits of national development will reach all its people more fairly, Chen said.

China has built the world's largest education, social security and medical and health-care systems, and made a historic leap forward in terms of education accessibility, Chen noted.

Across the country, old-age insurance covers 1.06 billion people and basic healthcare security coverage rate reached 95 percent of its population, Chen said. With an annual average of over 13 million new jobs created in urban areas, housing conditions for both urban and rural residents have significantly improved, Chen added.

China is dedicated to safeguarding the rights of specific groups, implementing the basic national policy of gender equality, formulating and implementing four consecutive cycles of outlines for children's development, the diplomat said.

Senior citizens take a piano lesson at the culture center of Hexi District, north China's Tianjin, April 4, 2023. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue)

China is steadily advancing an elderly-friendly society and promoting the cause for people with disabilities. China continues to safeguard human rights in accordance with the law, and respect and safeguard human rights through legislation, law enforcement, judiciary and observance of the law, according to Chen.

China also emphasizes the equality of all ethnic groups, and all the 56 ethnic groups coexist in unity, working together and prospering like closely-knit pomegranate seeds, the ambassador said.

China believes that lucid water and lush mountains are invaluable assets, and that the ecological environment should be protected like one's eyes. Over the past decade, China's sky has become bluer, mountains lusher and water clearer, and China's PM2.5 density has dropped by 57 percent, making it a country with the fastest improvement in air quality, the largest-scale utilization of renewable energy and the largest growth in forest resources in the world, Chen said.

Migratory birds rest at Nanchang Five Stars Siberian Cranes Sanctuary by the Poyang Lake in Nanchang, east China's Jiangxi Province, Dec. 21, 2022. (Xinhua/Wan Xiang)

China boasts nearly half of the world's installed capacity of photovoltaic power generation, more than half of electric vehicle sales worldwide, and a quarter of the global increase in green area, he added.

China actively leads global human rights governance, putting forward the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative. China advocates safeguarding human rights through security, promoting them through development and advancing them through cooperation.

China is also committed to upholding international justice and enhancing the representation and voice of developing countries in the Human Rights Council and other multilateral human rights bodies, and has provided Chinese wisdom and proposals for global human rights governance, the diplomat said.

The key to China's historic achievements in human rights lies in combining the principle of universality of human rights with its national realities, and in finding a development path that is in line with the trend of the times and suited to the country's national conditions, Chen said.

China will continue to take the future of humankind and the well-being of its people into account, always hold high the banner of peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit, advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, he noted.

This photo taken on Oct. 17, 2023 shows a floral decoration for the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) near China National Convention Center in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Chen Bin)

China will provide the world with new opportunities through its own development, helping move global human rights governance toward greater fairness, justice, rationality and inclusiveness and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for humankind, Chen said. 
Gujarat to host 69th edition of Filmfare awards in 2024. Image Source: IANS News

Gandhinagar, Jan 27 : Gandhinagar is buzzing as it gears up to host the 69th Filmfare Awards 2024. The event is being organised in collaboration with Gujarat Tourism.

This marks the first time Gujarat is hosting the awards, with a special curtain-raiser event at Mahatma Mandir in the state capital.

The preliminary event, featuring technical awards, a fashion show, and a music concert, is set to mesmerize attendees on Friday.

The main ceremony is eagerly anticipated for January 28 in the GIFT City.

Pre-event preparations are witnessing actors rehearsing in Gandhinagar for their stage performances.

A fashion show and a vibrant music concert at Mahatma Mandir will take place on Friday.

Personalities like Karan Johar, Ayushmann Khurrana, Manish Paul, and Janhvi Kapoor are expected to grace the event with their presence.

The celebration, the 69th edition of the Filmfare Awards, is scheduled for January 28 at GIFT City, Gandhinagar.

The event promises an evening filled with performances by Bollywood stars.

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel is also expected to attend the ceremony.

A star-studded line up, including Ranbir Kapoor, Varun Dhawan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Janhvi Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan, and Kartik Aaryan, is set to captivate the audience with their performances.

The trio of Karan Johar, Ayushmann Khurrana, and Manish Paul will share hosting duties for the night.
Islamabad, Jan 27 : The Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) said on Saturday that it is in touch with the Iranian authorities over the "horrifying and despicable" killing of Pakistani nationals by terrorists in the neighbouring country, a media reports said.

Islamabad, Jan 27 (IANS) The Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) said on Saturday that it is in touch with the Iranian authorities over the "horrifying and despicable" killing of Pakistani nationals by terrorists in the neighbouring country, a media reports said.

Iran's Mehr news agency earlier reported that "according to witnesses, this morning unknown armed men killed nine non-Iranians in a house in the Sirkan neighbourhood of Saravan city" in the Sistan-Baluchistan province, Dawn reported.

The agency added that no group or individuals have claimed responsibility for the attack yet.

The Baluch rights group Haalvash said on its website that the victims were Pakistani labourers, who lived at an auto repair shop where they worked. Three others were wounded, it said, Dawn reported.

A statement issued by FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch in response to media queries on the matter said: "It is a horrifying and despicable incident and we condemn it unequivocally. We are in touch with the Iranian authorities and have underscored the need to immediately investigate the incident and hold to account those involved in this heinous crime."

She said Pakistan's consul in Zahedan was enroute the hospital where the injured were being treated and would reach in a "few hours due to long distances and security imperatives involved", Dawn reported.

Baloch said the consul will also meet local authorities and "impress upon them the urgent need for strong action against the perpetrators of this crime".

At least nine Pakistani nationals were killed and three others critically injured in an attack on a vehicle repair shop in the Sirkan area of Saravan City, located in Iran's Sistan-Baluchistan Province, Iranian news outlet The Qorasan Diary reported, citing Iranian and Pakistani officials as well as local media, as per reports.

The victims hailed from districts including Multan, Muzaffaragarh and Bahawalpur, according to initial reports. The armed assailants responsible for the attack remain unidentified, Express Tribune reported.

Pakistan's Ambassador to Iran, Muhammad Mudassir Tipu, confirmed the tragic incident and urged Iran to extend full cooperation in the matter.

In a statement posted on his social media handle, Ambassador Tipu expressed deep shock over the killings and assured that the embassy would provide support to the bereaved families.

The attack comes amid recent tensions between Pakistan and Iran, triggered by a series of incidents, Express Tribune reported.

On January 16, Iran conducted missile and drone strikes within Pakistan's Balochistan province, purportedly targeting the terrorist group Jaish ul-Adl. In response, Pakistan condemned the "violation of its airspace" and recalled its Ambassador from Iran.
Lucknow, Jan 27 : Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav announced on Saturday that the Congress will contest 11 seats in Uttar Pradesh in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. However, sources said that Congress has not agreed to this formula.

"Our cordial alliance with the Congress is off to a good start with 11 strong seats. This trend will move forward with the winning equation. 'INDIA' team and 'PDA' strategy will change history," Akhilesh said in a post on X.

As per sources, the Congress leadership in the state has not accepted the deal, saying that the decision is Akhilesh Yadav's, and not Congress'.

Uttar Pradesh has 80 Lok Sabha seats, the highest in the country. In the 2019 elections, the BJP and its ally Apna Dal (S) had won 62 of the 80 seats, the SP-BSP alliance won 15 seats, while the Congress could only win one seat.

Party sources had earlier said that Congress is keen to contest more seats in the Lok Sabha polls this time.

Following reports of Congress leaders rejecting the 11-seat alliance, Samajwadi Party issued a clarification, stating that it was a proposal and could be increased if Congress informs Akhilesh Yadav about candidates who could win more seats.

Notably, earlier, Akhilesh Yadav had blamed the Congress for the ongoing fissures within the INDIA bloc and said that the enthusiasm the party needed to show in discussing and engaging with alliance partners was not visible.

"Congress should have come forward. The enthusiasm that Congress needed to show in discussing and engaging with the INDIA bloc was missing," he said.

Akhilesh Yadav's seat sharing announcement came just a few days after the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal and the Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab rejected the alliance with Congress in their respective state for the 2024 polls.
New Delhi, Jan 27 : China's smartphone sales bottomed out in Q4 2023, increasing 6.6 per cent YoY to mark the first quarterly YoY growth after 10 consecutive quarters of YoY declines, according to Counterpoint's Market Pulse Service.

Huawei's comeback with its own 5G chipsets continued to attract consumers, while Xiaomi and HONOR sustained strong performance with double-digit growth.

Despite a 9 per cent YoY drop, Apple retained its first position in Q4 with 20.2 per cent market share, followed by Xiaomi (16 per cent) and HONOR (15.2 per cent).

However, from an annual perspective, China's smartphone sales still declined 1.4 per cent YoY, compared to a 13.9 per cent YoY decline in 2022.

Apple ranked first with 17.9 per cent share, followed by vivo (16.9 pr cent) and OPPO (16.2 per cent).

"There are several factors behind the YoY growth in Q4 2023. The market was at a low point in Q4 2022, making YoY comparisons more favourable," said Associate Director Ethan Qi.

Research Analyst Archie Zhang said that Huawei's Kirin chipset was the primary driver of the brand's growth.

In Q4 2023, Apple faced stiff competition from Huawei. Besides, the iPhone 15 series' performance was lukewarm, something which was also indicated by the strong sales of the iPhone 14 series in H1.

"It seems OPPO and vivo are yet to benefit from the market recovery so far," said the report.

The market is expected to record low single-digit YoY growth in 2024, the first one since 2018.
Darjeeling may join six other non-attainment cities in Bengal in 2024: Report. Image Source: IANS News

Kolkata, Jan 27 : In order to combat the acute shortage of teachers in the hills of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong in North Bengal, a spate regional school service commission has been constituted for the hills.

The term of the regional school service commission exclusively for the hills will be till January 2028. The seven-member commission will be headed by retired teacher and Kalimpong resident Vijay Kumar Rai, according to a notification issued by the West Bengal Education Department.

Welcoming the development, the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration's (GTA) chief executive and Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM) chief Anit Thapa said that the long-standing demand for the hills has been finally fulfilled.

"The commission will work to strengthen the education system in West Bengal. The people of the hills have started realizing how important it is to have a cordial relationship with the state government," said Thapa, whose party has a political understanding with the ruling Trinamool Congress.

Another popular leader from the hills, Harka Bahadur Chhetri, also welcomed the decision for a separate regional school service commission for the hills.

"This will make the process of appointment of teachers in the state-run schools in the hills smoother. At the same time, the school boards in the hills will be able to operate with bigger autonomy," Chhetri said.

Currently, there are around 1,000 primary schools, 300 junior high schools and 700 high schools in the hills.
Imphal, Jan 27 : A large number of school students took to the streets on Saturday staging a sit-in at trouble torn Manipur's Moreh town along India-Myanmar border in the state's Tengnoupal district, demanding resumption of regular classes.

At a time when the state government is intensifying its efforts to strengthen strategic measures to combat the persistent attacks by militants on the state police commandos stationed in the Tengnoupal district's Moreh town.

Moreh has been grappling with intense firing since the eruption of the ongoing ethnic conflict in the restive state on May 3 last year, resulting in destruction of thousands of homes, shops, thousands fleeing the border town, deaths, casualties and injuries, including security forces.

Expressing their concerns over the impact of the ongoing conflict on their education, students, predominantly from the non-Meitei communities, particularly the Kukis, took to the streets with placards bearing slogans such as "Education, our birthright," "We want reopening of schools," and "Remove police commando so that we can go to school".

"There was a deliberate attempt to destroy the educational institution by burning three high schools in Moreh town," submitted the students, who are from the 36 government and private schools in Moreh.

They alleged that the state government was jeopardizing their future.

Meanwhile, Meitei community residents of Moreh, currently residing in relief camps in Thoubal district after their homes were torched, claimed the school students are being used as pawns to further the demand for the removal of state forces and commandos from the border town under the guise of educational concerns. "Their agenda is to lobby for the removal of the state forces, particularly the commandos and grab our Meitei lands after they have razed our houses to the ground," alleged S. Manglem, a displaced resident.

Another non-Meitei resident, speaking over the phone from Moreh, provided clarification that on January 17, three high schools in Moreh were completely destroyed when a rocket-propelled grenade accidentally struck the schools during an attack by suspected Kuki militants on state forces.

The sustained assault resulted in the tragic loss of at least two state forces personnel, Takhellambam Saileshwor and Wangkhem Somorjit Meitei on that day.

In response to the heightened attacks on the security personnel in Moreh, leading to the tragic deaths of the two jawans, the state government has established a strategic post in and around the town.

According to official sources, some combatant police officers have relocated to the town and commenced duty. Security advisor to the state government, Kuldiep Singh, said that the special commando unit in Moreh has been moved to a more strategic location, enhancing their ability to respond to militant attacks effectively. Manipur's Director General of Police, Rajiv Singh, interacting with the media, highlighted the security scenario in Moreh, stressing the presence of a joint coordination committee of the combined security forces deployed in Moreh comprised Manipur Police's Inspector General, Deputy Inspector General, and various armed forces, including the BSF and Assam Rifles.

Singh asserted that the strategic and tactical moves undertaken cannot be disclosed openly due to their sensitive nature.

"The situation at Moreh is moving towards normalcy, and it will improve with the cooperation of the public and leaders from both communities," reassured Rajiv Singh.

While the call for the resumption of classes in Moreh by the students to prioritise education despite the challenging circumstances is an issue to be taken seriously, the sequence of events also shed light on the complex interplay of socio-political dynamics in the international border town, an official observed.

--IANS

sc/pgh
Imphal, Jan 27 : Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, while referring to the reported recent physical assault of the party's Manipur unit chief by the cadrs of the radical Meitei group 'Arambai Tenggol', urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to take urgent action to ensure that democracy and rule of law prevail in the state.

Three Manipur MLAs -- including state Congress President Keisham Meghachandra Singh and two from the ruling BJP -- were reportedly "beaten up" and "compelled" to take an oath by the members of Arambai Tenggol at the Kangla Fort in Imphal on January 24.

In his letter to Shah, Kharge said a meeting was convened of the ministers, MPs and MLAs in the historical Kangla Fort in Imphal with heavy presence of Central and state security forces.

"Many members present at the meeting were compelled and coerced to attend it by an armed group. Not only that, Keisham Meghachandra Singh, the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee President who is an MLA from the Wangkhem constituency, was brutally assaulted and tortured during the meeting," Kharge said.

He said that so far, no action has been taken by the Manipur Chief Minister or the Home Ministry in this matter.

"It is shameful that the Prime Minister's eloquent silence when it comes to Manipur seems to be the prevailing strategy from all important stakeholders in both the state and the Centre," the letter read.

Referring to his visit to Manipur during the launch of Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra on January 14, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's visit in June last year, Kharge said the Manipuri society remains bitterly divided and no concrete steps have been taken towards peace, relief and justice for those still suffering from the aftermath of the violence in the state that broke out on May 3 last year.

"All these events point to a complete collapse of the administration in Manipur. The continuing silence and inaction of the Prime Minister is an injustice to the people of Manipur," the Congress leader stated.

Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said earlier in a post on X: "The Indian National Congress strongly condemns the brutal physical assault on Manipur PCC President K. Meghachandra in a meeting of all-party MLAs/MPs/Ministers, under full security protection of state and central forces at Kangla in Imphal. The PM, however, continues with his eloquent silence on the enormous tragedy that has overtaken Manipur."

On January 24, Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Education, Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, Rajya Sabha member Leishemba Sanajaoba, and all 37 Meitei community MLAs, including ministers and opposition legislators, signed a resolution, including six charters of demands put forth by the Arambai Tenngol.

Five Congress MLAs, including former Chief Minister and veteran party leader Okram Ibobi Singh and the state Congress President, also attended the meeting with top leaders of the Arambai Tenngol, presided over by the group supremo Korounganba Khuman.

While Chief Minister N. Biren Singh did not physically attend the meeting, he signed the resolution paper, as per sources.

The demands include abrogation of the Suspension of Operation (SoO) signed between the Central and state governments and 23 Kuki militant outfits in 2008, implementation of National Register of Citizens (NRC), replacement of Assam Rifles with other Central forces, removal of illegal Kuki immigrants from the Scheduled Tribes list, relocating all Myanmarese refugees to Mizoram, and border fencing along the India-Myanmar border.

Unprecedented security measures were taken with the deployment of the huge contingent of central paramilitary and state security forces around the Kangla Fort, which served as the royal seat of the Manipur Kingdom till 1891.
New Delhi, Jan 27 : A court here on Saturday allowed Delhi Police's application seeking production warrant for all the six accused persons in the December 13, 2023 Parliament security breach case.

All six accused -- Manoranjan D, Sagar Sharma, Amol Dhanraj Shinde, Neelam Devi Azad, Lalit Jha, and Mahesh Kumawat -- were scheduled to be presented before the Patiala House Courts on Saturday on expiry of their judicial custody.

But due to non-availability of required police force, the accused could not be produced before the court on Saturday.

Link judge Sudhanshu Kaushik issued a production warrant and directed the jail authorities to produce the accused on January 31.

On January 18, Additional Sessions Judge Hardeep Kaur had denied bail to Azad.

During the last hearing, Azad alleged that a woman officer had forcibly made her sign over 50 blank papers on the preceding Friday.

Special public prosecutor Akhand Pratap Singh had objected to the allegations, as the court recorded the submissions from both sides.

Earlier, except Azad, the five others gave their consent before the court to undergo polygraph test, as sought by the Delhi Police which had moved an application seeking permission for the same, saying the investigators need to get more details to make the case strong and gather more evidence to unearth the entire conspiracy.

The police had 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 into the Lok Sabha chamber from the visitorsa gallery before they were overpowered by the MPs present in the House.

Two others -- Azad and Shinde -- also burst smoke canisters and raised slogans outside the Parliament. Jha is believed to be the mastermind of the entire plan, who reportedly fled with the mobile phones of the four other accused persons.
New Delhi, Jan 27 : Two persons on Saturday were arrested here in connection with the fire that broke out at a residential building in the national capital's Shahdara area in which four members of two families were killed, the police said.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Bharat Singh (72), the building owner, and Mohit Chauhan (27).

"A case under section 204, 285 of the Indian Penal Code was registered, and the duo has been placed under arrest after initial probe," a senior police officer said.

The police said that Bharat Singh is the owner of the building.

"The ground and first floor are in the possession of the owner, while the other floors were rented out," the police said.

Four persons, including a nine-month-old infant, were killed while two others sustained burn injuries after they got trapped in the building which caught fire in Delhi's Shahdara area on Friday.

The deceased have been identified as Gauri Soni (40) and her son Pratham Soni (17), Rachna (28), and her daughter Ruhi (nine months).

The injured were identified as Radhika (16) and Prabhawati (70).
Bengaluru, Jan 28 : Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Saturday wondered why there had been worries over Chief Minister Siddaramaiah completing his full-term of five years in office.

Responding to a question while interacting with the media, Shivakumar said: "He is the Chief Minister, why are you worried about it now?"

According to political analysts, the response assumes importance as Shivakumar did "answer in a convincing" fashion, as Shivakumar's "camp" has claimed that Siddaramaiah will be the CM for a 2.5 year-term.

Asked if the Congres High Command changed the Boards and Corporations appointment list, Shivakumar said: "High Command has not changed any list. It has approved the list sent by us."

Shivakumar said the appointments to Boards and Corporations were done only after taking everyone's opinion.

He further said: "The Chief Minister, General Secretary and myself had thoroughly discussed the choices. Many leaders had even given letters recommending certain people for the positions, but we can't make the letters public."

Asked about ex-CM Jagadish Shettar's statement that it is natural to switch parties, he said: "We have also been saying the same thing. Politics is not stagnant water. People come and go and it won't affect the party."

Replying to a claim by the BJP that the guarantee schemes will be stopped after the general elections, he said: "The Congress will not discontinue them but BJP will surely stop the guarantee schemes if they come to power in the Centre."
BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- China's major industrial firms saw their profits increase 16.8 percent year on year in December last year, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed on Saturday.

In 2023, the profits of major industrial firms with annual main business revenue of at least 20 million yuan (about 2.8 million U.S. dollars) reached 7.69 trillion yuan, down 2.3 percent year on year, with the pace of decline narrowing by 2.1 percentage points from the first 11 months. 
Chennai, Jan 28 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has left for an eight-day trip to Madrid, Spain to woo investments to the state.

Stalin is accompanied by his wife Durgavathy Stalin, Industries Minister T.R.B. Raja and a high level delegation.

The Chief Minister's Office (CMO) in a statement on Saturday said that the Tamil Nadu Investor Conclave would be held in Madrid, during which the Chief Minister would promote the state as an investment-friendly destination.

Major companies, business organisations, investors and entrepreneurs will participate in the investor conclave,the CMO said.

Stalin said that during the trip, direct talks will be held with some major industrial companies including ROCA, Edibon, Acciona, CIE, GE Stamp and Invest Spain.

According to the Chief Minister, the state garnered investments worth Rs 7,442 crores and provided jobs to 17000 people after his visits to UAE, Singapore and Japan in 2021.

Japanese companies like Omran and Mitsubishi have already set up their factories in Tamil Nadu. Singapore's Capital amd IT parks have also started operations in the state while UAE's Lulu Group have set up supermarket in Coimbatore, the CMO said.
As of 2022, Hispanics made up 40.2% of the population of Texas, giving them a slim plurality over the states non-Hispanic white population. According to the most recent statistics published by the U.S. Census Bureau, of the 27.3 million residents of Texas, 7.8 million speak Spanish at home, putting the state at the forefront of a burgeoning movement in the book business to serve Spanish-language readers.

Among the most popular efforts catering to these readers is Hablemos, escritoras. Launched in January 2018 as a podcast featuring interviews with a focus on Mexican women writers, it has since become a valuable repository of information about these writers, with 487 episodes of the podcast and an online encyclopedia covering 1,300 authors and 2,000 books.

Hablemos began as a project focused on novelists, but its scope soon expanded, says founder and producer Adriana Pacheco. We brought female translators, critics, journalists, editors, and artists into the fold, she adds, noting that such diverse perspectives have the potential to leave indelible marks on readers and scholars.

Pacheco, who was born in Puebla, Mexico, has had a long affiliation with the University of Texas, where she earned a PhD and served on the schools international board of advisers. Shes also written and edited several works of academic criticism.

When I first started thinking of this project, Pacheco says, the literary landscape for female writers in the Spanish-speaking world was very different from what we see today. With a few exceptions, it was largely dominated by men or else focused on a handful of women writers. But over the past decade shes seen a significant shift, with independent publishing houses in Spain, Latin America, and Mexico championing a new generation of women authors.

Pacheco cites several examples of women who have risen to prominence, including Argentinas Mariana Enriquez, Ariana Harwicz, and Samanta Schweblin; Ecuadors Monica Ojeda; and Mexicos Cristina Rivera Garza, Valeria Luiselli, and Fernanda Melchor. All have had titles translated into English, and many have won awards. Most recently, Schweblins Seven Empty Houses won the 2022 National Book Award for translated fiction, and Garza was shortlisted in 2023 for National Book Award for Nonfiction for Lilianas Invincible Summer: A Sisters Search for Justice. In 2020, Garza was awarded a MacArthur genius grant.

In 2020, Hablemos opened an online store with Bookshop.org selling books in Spanish as well as English translations of Spanish-language works, and the company has recently begun its own publishing program. Hablemoss first title was Arrythmias by Mexican writer Angelina Muniz-Huberman, which was published in October 2022 as a co-edition with Houstons Literal Publishing, in a translation by D.P. Snyder. Last September saw the publication of the companys second title, Free Radicals by Mexican author Rosa Bletran, which was also published as a co-edition, this time with Miami-based publishing house Katakana Editores, translated by Robin Myers. Then, at the end of last year, we took a leap and published a Spanish-language audiobook original with Andor, a novella by Venezuelan writer Raquel Abend van Dalen, Pacheco says.

Abend van Dalen had previously published several books in Venezuela, but her new work was published while she was living in the U.S. and came as a result of her having graduated from the University of Houstons newly minted PhD program in creative writing in Spanish. (Its the only program of its type in the United States, though three universities currently offer MFAs in creative writing in Spanish: New York University, the University of Iowa, and the University of Texas at El Paso.)

Houstons program was founded six years ago by Garza, who comprises the faculty with Bolivian novelist Rodrigo Hasbun. They are joined by guest speakers and authors from Mexico and Latin America. It feels like all Latin American writers know each other, so often all it takes is a phone call, Hasbun jokes.

Hasbun, whose novel Affections was published by Simon & Schuster in an English translation by Sophie Hughes, says that the U.S. has become fertile ground for Spanish-language authors. Throughout the 20th century, Europe used to be the most common destination, he explains. Historically, a great deal of Latin American literature has been written in exile. Think of the authors of the Latin American boom or Bolano, who spent most of their productive working lives abroad. Nowadays, the U.S. seems to be taking its place.
In March 2020, Shilpi Somaya Gowda wanted a moment to exhale. Her third novel, The Shape of Family, had just been published, and she planned to take her customary time off to recharge between books. Ideas werent rushing in, and she was fine with that.

Then the outside world began encroaching. The Covid-19 pandemic put the country on edge. In May, George Floyd was murdered by Minneapolis police, igniting massive protests. Tempers flared as Donald Trump squared off with Joe Biden during a contentious presidential election cycle. Reports of violence against Asian Americans surged. Gowda took it all in.

There was so much happening, and it felt like such ripe material to dissect and debate and look at from different sides, Gowda says via Zoom from her home in San Diego, Calif. I wanted to step back and use fiction as a way of exploring those issues.

The resulting novel, A Great Country (Mariner, Mar.), explores those tumultuous days by following the Shahs, an Indian immigrant family thrust into chaos when their lives in Orange County starts to crumble. Ashok and Priya have worked hard chasing their American dream, achieving enough financial success to move the family from working-class Irvine to the tony fictional community of Pacific Hills. One day, their 12-year-old son, Ajay, who is cued as being autistic, brings his drone to John Wayne Airport to observe flight patterns. He is apprehended and roughed up by the police as a terrorism suspect. A media frenzy ensues, and suddenly the Shahs realize they arent as insulated from the countrys problems as they thought.

For Gowda, A Great Country was a means of processing the loud and volatile rhetoric that came to dominate Americas discourseto turn down the volume and turn up the understanding. The type of conversations I was hearing around me were so extreme and polarized and desperate, she says. People were so ungenerous to their fellow citizens and there was so much emotion, and everything was driven so much by fear. I found it very rare to witness a reasoned conversation about any of these things, whether it was online or in the news or amongst my friends or people I heard on the street. And I found myself really longing for that. I just wanted to be able to have a different tone of conversation.

In 1968, Gowdas parents emigrated from India to Toronto, where she was born and raised. Her father was a mechanical engineer; her mother worked as an economist for the Canadian Ministry of Finance. Gowdas initial career path was similarly practical: she earned an MBA from Stanford and worked on Wall Street at Morgan Stanley from 1992 to 1994. She was also a strategy consultant for startup and retail companies as they made the transition into the internet age.

But she always loved books. And she always talked about them with her husband, who works in private equity. Finally, he posed the question: Why dont you just try to write one?

They were living in Dallas at the time, and in 2006 she enrolled in creative writing courses at Southern Methodist University with the goal of finishing a novel. That novel, Secret Daughter, was published by William Morrow in 2010 and became a New York Times bestseller. Suddenly, she says, my publisher, who didnt really know my name before that, was asking me what else I was working on. And like that, she had a new career.

In a sense, A Great Country represents the closing of a circle for Gowda. In summer 1989, she interned with the Minneapolis Police Department as part of her college scholarship program. On ride-alongs she witnessed everything from raids on crack houses to prostitution stings. The program was designed to help us see different slices of life, and it definitely did that, Gowda says. It was very eye-opening for me. There was cooperation and there was communication and there was support that went both ways. Im sure there were some things censored for me because I was an intern, but I saw an awful lot.

Those memories came flooding back after the murder of Floyd, and as she began conceiving the Shah familys odyssey, including their interactions with various police representatives. It gave me a context for societal problems, whether it was poverty and how people survive on food stamps or other types of things that I would have no context for understanding as a 20-year-old, she recalls. I think it helped broaden my view of society and its problems.

It also gave her a valuable lesson in one of fictions most important qualities: empathy.

Fiction for me has always been the best way of exploring things, Gowda says. It lets you investigate someone elses personal trauma. You can try to lean into empathizing with different characters. You can engage in a discussion with a book club or with your friends or with your other fellow readers.

Gowdas previous novelsSecret Daughter, The Golden Son, and The Shape of Familyhave some sprawl to them: they unfold over the course of years, in some cases decades. A Great Country, by contrast, takes place over a two-week period. It scarcely gives the reader time to breathe.

I wanted it to feel like drinking from a fire hose, Gowda says. I wanted the reader to have this sense that theyre caught in this tornado that the family is in, where every day when you wake up, you dont know whats going to happen, and you have not yet resolved that thing that you were thinking about last night before the next thing hits you. It was actually very invigorating for me to be able to write that way, because its so different than my previous books.

A Great Country is the third book Gowda has worked on with Mariner v-p and editorial director, fiction, Katherine Nintzel. And her editor approves of the new direction the author took with the novel.

This one is the most plotty of all of her books, Nintzel says. Its the tightest and the fastest. Its the shortest time frame. I read it in two sittings, and I couldnt put it down. Thats a real step forward for her, and its pretty exciting to see.

Thus far, it seems this new approach is paying off. PW gave A Great Country a starred review, calling the novel scorching and adding that Gowdas light touch is refreshing and graced with nuance, allowing her to find the truth in a wide range of perspectives. Readers wont want to put this down.

As for Gowda herself, with her latest novel finished, is she finally taking a moment to exhale?

Im currently focused on the launch and publicity around this book, and not writing anything new, she says. Though some ideas are spinning in the back of my mind that will hopefully be there when things settle down and its time for me to start writing again.

Chris Vognar is a freelance culture writer and was the 2009 Nieman Arts and Culture Fellow at Harvard University.
Author Jillian Dodd has proved that perseverance and savoring the process are key to success. To date, she has written 50 books, including seven series and one standalone title. Dodd has amassed a mighty fan base and sold more than 4.5 million books. In addition to her success on the page, Dodds That Boy series is currently in development for a television show. She spoke with BookLife about capturing young adult voices in her fiction and taking the reins of her publishing journey.

How did you start writing YA romances?

Ive always had a crazy imagination and full-blown dreams. I had a series of dreams about three best friends, two guys and a girl. And, because Ive always been a huge reader, I needed to know the rest of their story, and which guy she ended up with! So I wrote the story for me. It turned out pretty good, and I thought, I might have something here. Those dream scenes are in my first book, That Boy, which is in development as a series! YA fits my voice and writing style, probably because I have the inner voice of a 16-year-old.

Why did you choose self-publishing over traditional publishing?

I tried the traditional routesent queries, sometimes my manuscript, and tried to get an agent. But Im not really a rule follower; Im sure my submissions were awful, even though the story was not. My husband came home one day with a Wall Street Journal article about Amazons new self-publishing platform and told me that I should do it myself. I loved the idea of owning my business and controlling every aspect of my journey and the rights to all my books. Humble beginnings, though. I sold 36 copies my first three months, but I was thrilled because I hadnt told anyone I knewwhich meant strangers were reading something I had written. I asked myself what would happen if I really tried to sell them. The following month, I sold 300; the next, 900; the next, 1,800. And I was at a $9.99 e-book price point when, unbeknownst to me, most indies were priced at under $2. The business has changed so much over the years, and its pushed me to learn more. I always want to be ahead of the curve and keep growing.

How do you research your books?

I love to travel, so almost all of the wonderful places that show up in my books are places Ive been. I spend months, sometimes years, doing research before I begin a new series. I need my characters to be real in my head. I want them to have full-blown personalities, from the clothes they wear, cars they drive, places they live, family relationships, favorite foods, horoscopes, and what type of kissers they are. Ive researched everything from nuclear bomb destruction to boarding school class schedules. Research is a huge part of making my characters and stories come to life. Although I tend to write as a pantser, Im meticulous in my planning.

Your website showcases not only your books but also merchandise related to the books, such as clothing and accessories. What inspired you to market your own branded merchandise? And do you find it profitable?

If you asked me this question when I started publishing 12 years ago, my answer would have been the same. Once I realized I could create books that would sell, my business goal became to write stories with characters that readers would obsess over and have my own branded store. With a retail and design background, Im able to be creative in lots of different ways and give superfans all the fun swag and apparel they want. I also have to give a shoutout to my daughter, Kenzie, who has been working with me from the beginning. Shes my brand manager and is a force in keeping me on-brand with everything we do. We most definitely find our store to be profitable, but mostly I love that we fully control the readers experience. They cant get that direct access to me anywhere else.

If you could be the heroine of one of your books for a day, which one would you be and why?

I want to be Huntley Von Allister from my Spy Girl series. Shes 18, has been training to be a spy since her mother was assassinated in front of her six years ago, and is a badass. For her first mission, shes sent to protect a handsome playboy prince and learns the plot to overthrow his countrys monarchy might be related to her mothers death. Each book is a different mission, but, while saving him, she also discovers a plot to end the world as we know it. And its up to her to save the prince, save his country, and save the world in the process. Not your typical fairy tale, but it is still heavy on romance, has big romantic fairy-tale vibesand, as is typical for my books, two hot guys vying for her attention.

Are there any final thoughts youd like to share?

I just want to thank you for having me. And I should probably mention my newest series, Eastbrooke Academy. Its a next-gen series, with the daughter of Keatyn from the Keatyn Chronicles going to the East Coast boarding school her mother made famous. Gossip Girl vibes, but over the top. Lots of friend drama, boy drama, and family drama from the kids of the outrageously wealthy. And they dont disappoint. Book three, Kisses Dont Stay Secret, releases February 29, and most of the book takes place on a megayacht of a 17-year-old.

Karen Clark is a freelance writer and editor who owned an antiquarian bookshop on Manhattans Upper West Side for over a decade.
PRH Lands Harari Penguin Random House global CEO Nihar Malaviya has announced the acquisition of Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI by Yuval Noah Harari, author of the 2013 global blockbuster Sapiens. Harari negotiated the deal directly through his organization, Sapienship. Random House will publish in the U.S., with Andy Ward editing. PRH will also publish in Brazil, Canada, Germany, Portugal, Spain, the U.K., and Latin America. The publisher said the book explores how the flow of information has made, and unmade, our world from the Stone Age, through the Bible, to early modern witch hunts, Stalinism, Nazism, and the resurgence of populism today. Nexus is set for a September publication.

Graywolf Picks Up Yamashitas Latest

Yuka Igarashi at Graywolf Press has acquired world English rights to Q27/Q28 by Karen Tei Yamashita, recipient of the National Book Foundations 2021 Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. Graywolf said the book examines the impact of the Loyalty Questionnairedistributed to 120,000 Japanese Americans evacuated to internment camps during WWIIwithin the larger story of Japanese migration to the U.S. and the formation of Asian American identity. Yamashita was represented by Chris Fischbach. Publication is planned for winter 2026.

Heaphy Sings for Steerforth

In an exclusive submission, Chip Fleischer at Steerforth Press has acquired world rights to An Honest Reckoning: Charlottesville, January 6, and the Path Forward, by former U.S. attorney and MSNBC contributor Timothy Heaphy. Heaphy, who is unagented, was the lead investigator for the House Select Committee on the January 6 attack on the Capitol and for the City of Charlottesville, Va., on its handling of the Unite the Right rally of 2017. Steerforth said the book will include Heaphys personal story, his analyses of the two events, and suggestions for repairing and sustaining American democracy. The book is set for February 2025.

Harper Takes Adlingtons Sweaters

Sara Nelson at Harper has acquired North American rights to Four Red Sweaters by Lucy Adlington (The Dressmakers of Auschwitz). The deal was negotiated by Allison Hellegers at Stimola Literary Studio, on behalf of Kate Shaw at the Shaw Agency. Hellegers said the nonfiction book tells the story of four women who resisted, sacrificed, or survived the Nazi death camps through resilience, skills, and kindness, and with the help, in each case, of a fragile red sweater. The book will be published in 2025.

Davidson, Dahl Flourish at Avid

In her first acquisition for Avid Reader, Caroline Sutton has taken world rights to Born to Flourish: How to Thrive in a Challenging World by bestselling author Richard J. Davidson, founder of the University of Wisconsins Center for Healthy Minds, written with Tergar Foundation founder Cortland J. Dahl. Linda Loewenthal at the Loewenthal Company brokered the deal. Avid said the book is based on "decades of original research, and will show that flourishing, well-being, and resilience are skills that can be sharpened through simple forms of mental training. Born to Flourish is set for spring 2026.

Shah Sells Two to Park Row

In a preempt, Nicole Luongo at Park Row Books has acquired world English rights to two books from The Direction of the Wind author Mansi Shah. Gordon Warnock at Fuse Literary brokered the deal. Park Row will publish the first title, A Good Indian Girl, this fall. The publisher said the novel tells the story of a disgraced Indian American divorcee and former chef who spends a summer in Italy, where she reckons with a life-changing decision. Details were not announced for the second book.

This article has been updated for clarity.
In this edition of Endnotes, we take a look at The Asteroid Hunter (Grand Central, Mar.) by Dante Lauretta, a behind-the-scenes account of NASAs OSIRIS-REx mission. PW gave the book a starred review, saying, "Armchair astronomers should consider this a must read."

Here's how the book came together.

Lauren Sharp, Agent, Aevitas Creative Management

Dantes pitch included the lines, There is an asteroid on a collision course with Earth. In 2011, NASA gave me a billion dollars and told me to learn everything there is to know about it. They also want me to bring a piece of it home. I was hooked then and there.

Maddie Caldwell, Agent, Senior Editor, Grand Central Publishing

I was hooked from the moment I first read the proposal for The Asteroid Hunter, which not only took the reader into the inner workings of a groundbreaking NASA mission but also introduced me to Dante, who is the kind of scientist and thinker I couldnt help but want to work with. Everyone at Grand Central was enthusiastic, and we won the book in a heated auction.

Dante S. Lauretta, Author and Principal Investigator for NASAs OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Return Mission

The books journey began with the idea of sharing the incredible journey of OSIRIS-REx with the world. It was important to convey the scientific significance and human stories behind the mission. The writing and revision process involved collaboration with a talented team of editors and designers who helped translate my vision into a cohesive narrative. One of the challenges was finding the right balance between scientific accuracy and engaging storytelling.

Caitlin Sacks, Senior Designer, Grand Central Publishing

The giant asteroid on the cover is a concept rendering of what Bennu looks like. There is a subtle glow around the type, to mimic the way stars twinkle in the night sky. The subtitle font is a throwback to vintage sci-fi books, while the title is modern. The balance of contemporary and vintage elements in the type reflects the way the book explores the past, present, and future.
Two years after Winter Institute was abruptly canceled in 2022 due to an upsurge in Covid-19 cases, booksellers are poised to descend upon Cincinnati for four days of education, networking, parties, authors, books, and, of course, organized bookstore tours spotlighting the Queen Citys vibrant mix of venerable older stores and sassy little neighborhood shops.

Everyone is excited: its been a long time coming, says Chris Weber, the co-owner of The Bookshelf, Cincinnatis oldest bookstore selling new books, which is housed in a 1,400-sq.-ft. building in the inner-ring suburb of Madeira. Founded by three women as a collective in 1975, The Bookshelf traditionally emphasized high-minded literary offerings, but Weber broke down a year or two ago, she says, and began selling romance. She also started stocking graphic novels for young readers and the Marvel reissues. Customers seem to appreciate it: sales were 20% higher in 2023 than in 2022.

Joseph-Beth Booksellers, east of downtown, is a local institution founded in 1986, with a bistro, a coffee shop, and a large selection of gifts and sidelines supplementing the 42,000 titles in its inventory. At Joseph-Beths peak, there were five branches in Ohio and Kentucky. Today, two outlets remain: the original flagship store in Lexington, Ky., and the 35,000-sq.-ft. store in Cincinnati.

Describing the stores robust programming, including daily story times, as the backbone of what we do, Joseph-Beth CEO Adam Miller says that, due to the stores large size and marketing expertise, it regularly draws major national authors. Supporting local, regional, and national authors is part of what it means to be local. We take it very seriously.

Miller adds that it has had a halo effect on the smaller indies dotting Queen City neighborhoods.

A burst of neighborhood stores

Bookstores have long thrived in Cincinnatisome selling new books and many others, including Household Books, selling used, vintage, and rare titles. Cincy Book Rack on the east side of town is renowned for its genre fiction and manga selections, as well as for games and gaming. Scarlet Rose Retail sells books alongside clothing and accessories; Shake It Records sells comic books, vintage paperbacks, and books on music and popular culture.

Most people dont think of Cincinnati as a book mecca, Miller observes. It surprises people from elsewhere when they see the book culture here and how strong it really is.

Michael Link, Joseph-Beths manager of events and community relations, says that the number of bookstores in the metro area has doubled in the 15 years hes lived there, with some really different and innovative models in a city that residents describe as a cluster of small towns. Several small bookstores have opened in recent years to serve neighborhoods that previously lacked general bookstores.

Greg Kornbluh, owner of Downbound Books, moved back to his hometown six years ago after working in marketing and sales at Harvard University Press. He launched Downbound Books in October 2019 in a 550-sq.-ft. space on the Northside because, he says, there was no bookstore on my side of town, and there hadnt been for a while. Sales in 2023 were 5% higher than in 2022, he adds. On the whole, things are trending in the right direction.

Haixia Joy Niu, a former scientist, and Matt Stonecash, a former engineer, opened Joy and Matts Bookshop in summer 2021 in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. Joy and Matts sells 75% new and 25% used books in its 550-sq.-ft. space. We wanted a general bookstore close by that we could walk to, Stonecash says. People told us they feel the same way, so since were lovers of books and reading, we decided to connect people in our neighborhood to new books and ideas.

More recently, Bookery Cincy opened in January 2022 by David and Sierra Hollabaugh as an online store, and it moved into a 1,200-sq.-ft.bricks-and-mortar space in Cincinnatis oldest neighborhood, Columbia Tusculum, that October. Its a general bookstore that prides itself on its large selection of childrens books. We intended to open a bookstore when we retired, says Sierra, a former English teacher. But we sold books online during the pandemic and it went really well; people kept coming back for recommendations. So we said, what are we waiting for?

While the store primarily serves the neighborhood, a bookstore crawl it participated in this past fall with 11 other bookstores has drawn in new customers from around the city.

Booksellers with a mission

Five years ago, retired school teacher Melanie Moore launched Cincy Book Bus to sell primarily adult fiction from the bed of a mint-green 1962 VW pickup truck, which she parks outside coffee shops and boutiques around the metro from May through October. In November 2022, Moore expanded into suburban Sharonville by opening the Book Bus Depot, a 5,000-sq.-ft. bricks-and-mortar store. Moore parks the VW bus inside the building from November to April, and a volunteer staff sells new and used books in all genres.

The store, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, donates 100% of its profits to Cincinnatis inner-city school literacy programs. Last year was a record year, Moore says, with $81,000 donated to the schools.

In October 2022, Amanda Ackley opened The Bookmatters, a general bookstore that maintains the commitment to literacy of her previous venture, the Blue Manatee Literacy Project. For every childrens book sold, The Bookmatters donates a book to the As Told By Foundation, which promotes literacy among Black youth. We get customers from all over the metro, even from Kentucky, due to our social media, says buyer Isa Fernandez.

Four years ago, Dave Richardson left The Blue Marble childrens bookstore in nearby Fort Thomas, Ky., after 19 years to launch his own childrens bookstore, 451 Books. Due to the pandemic, he pivoted to a pop-up model. Besides operating a weekend pop-up inside a local cookie shop, Richardson now sells online and to schools and libraries.

Across the Ohio River

The Queen City areas wealth of bookstores extends beyond Ohio into Northern Kentucky. On the south side of the Ohio River, The Blue Marble is marking its 45th anniversary this year. It is the first stop on the bookstore tour set for February 11, when it will serve locally roasted coffee and bakery treats to booksellers and offer 10% discounts on purchases.

In Covington, Ky., Roebling Point Books & Coffee can be found on the ground floor of the mid-19th-century building housing the offices of publisher AdventureKeen. Its a great walking neighborhood, says AdventureKeen president Richard Hunt, and the Covington and Northern Kentucky communities deserve bookstoresunique, friendly, fiercely First Amendmentdriven places to work, hang out, welcome friends, and make new ones.

AdventureKeen is co-hosting with a number of industry organizations a party honoring the Book Industry Charitable Foundation (Binc) on February 12 at Covingtons Second Story Bar from 7 to 10 p.m.

Return to the main feature.
Alex Correa, CEO of Lectorum, the largest independent distributor of Spanish-language books in the U.S., says the demand for Spanish-language titles continues to grow, noting Lectorums 2023 print sales were up 7% over 2022, with e-books up 15% over the previous year.

Were seeing more and more interest from middle and high schools, especially for graphic novels, Correa notes. Indeed, two of the companys bestselling titles of 2023 were graphic novels: El clon de Dani by Kristin Gudsnuck, the Spanish translation of Making Friends, published by Editorial Maeva; and Heartstopper 5, the Spanish translation of the book of the same name by Alice Oseman, published by V&R.

Sales to school and public libraries are central to Lectorums business, and many of Correas direct sales to librarians take place in Mexico, at the Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL). The fair, which is held annually in late November and early December, attracts U.S. librarians looking to buy books they cannot source at home and supports their attendance through its Free Pass travel program, run in conjunction with the American Library Association.

In 2023, 120 U.S. librarians traveled to Guadalajara for the fair. Thats down from prepandemic levels, when FIL often drew more than 200 librarians, but a solid showing. In 2023, Lectorum worked directly with 40 attending librarians, helping them navigate the fair and source books.

However, despite the growing demand for Spanish-language books from readers and interest from U.S. librarians, pressure on school library budgets remains the biggest obstacle for Lectorum. This will be felt throughout 2024, Correa says.
The good news: travel is back. The bad news: travel is back, so much so that popular destinations are seeking to curtail unchecked tourismsee, for instance, Amsterdams stay away campaign aimed at unruly partiers or the daily cap on visitors to the Acropolis. Guidebook publishers are doing their part, steering readers away from overwhelmed destinations and toward spots that arent all over social media.

Another reason to avoid the throngs: Popular and crowded usually also means expensive, says Allyson Johnson, executive editor at National Geographic. Forthcoming books from NatGeo and others could help travelers save time and money, travel more responsibly, and, publishers hope, maybe even change the way they see the world.

Expect the unexpected

In April, National Geographic is releasing Andrew Nelsons Here Not There, which offers 100 alternatives to the most widely visited destinations. We wanted to highlight the surprising and unexpected, Johnson says, while showing travelers that the experiences theyre after exist outside of the usual hot spots.

For instance, those in search of a rollicking music scene, good food, and quality beer could head to popular Austin, Tex.; Here Not There recommends Raleigh, N.C., as a worthy substitute. Repeat visitors to Italy have likely visited Florence, but perhaps not Nelsons suggestion: Lecce, an architecturally rich city in the south.

Amy B. Scher and Mark Jason Williams, the authors of NatGeos forthcoming Out in the World: An LGBTQIA+ (and Friends!) Travel Guide to More Than 100 Destinations Around the World (May), were tired of seeing the same destinations marketed to LGBTQ travelers, who are often treated as a guidebook afterthought, Johnson says. Their book highlights well-known inclusive destinations such as Palm Springs, Calif., plus the less expectedEureka Springs, Ark., for instance, has long been home to a vibrant queer community. Johnson says the guide not only serves LGBTQ vacationers but also allies looking to support the community when they travel.

Lonely Planets 2022 release Offbeat: 100 Amazing Places Off the Tourist Trail covered destinations on six continents. In May, the publisher zooms in on Offbeat North America, suggesting, for instance, Milwaukee as an alternative to Chicagoit too boasts a major art museum, thriving breweries, and lakefront attractions, and as a bonus, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum.

The book also promotes Central Alberta, where, not far from Calgary and Banff, visitors can wander nearly alone through ghost towns abandoned after coal mines were depleted in the early 20th century. This book inspires you to go somewhere thats not on everyones Instagram, says Becca Hunt, publisher, illustrated and gift, at Lonely Planet. There are still all these amazing, crowd-free experiences that people dont know about.

Lonely Planet Best Beaches (Feb.) likewise caters to an appreciation for the unexpected. The publishers top 100 picks include tropical stunners from Oceania to the Caribbean, but also a rare stretch of pink and orange sand in northwest Iceland, formed from pulverized scallops rather than lava, and beaches in Scotlands Outer Hebrides and in Antarctica.

By expanding their notions of what constitutes beach activities, visitors open themselves up to new experiences, Hunt says. This book has rocky beaches, and cold beaches you have to hike to with no bathrooms in sight. We wanted to change what people immediately think about when they hear beach.

Continental drift

Publishers who focused last year on updating existing Europe guidebooks in preparation for what turned out to be a blockbuster summer expect similar levels of interest this year. Were seeing improved sales for guides to Japan, Mexico City, and Costa Rica, but Europe is still the top, says Jaimee Callaway, v-p and associate publisher at Avalon Travel, which publishes Moon Travel Guides and Rick Steves.

Moons first region-spanning guide to Europe, Grand European Journeys by Lucas Peters (Feb.), aims to inspire readers who are just beginning to make summer plans. Organized into 40 trips to be made by road, rail, or sea, the 700-page-plus book offers bullet-pointed, multiday itineraries for each route.

Though the title alludes to a specific itinerary followed by 17th19th-century aristocracy, the book pays keen attention to lesser-known attractions. For example, on a seven-day rail journey through Prague, Vienna, and Budapest, Moon foregoes naming the famed Prague Castle among its top three sites and instead lists Vysehrad, a 10th-century fort that Moon editor-in-chief Grace Fujimoto says is quieter but no less beautiful.

People are going to find Prague Castle anyway, Fujimoto says. Of course, we include it in the itinerary, but it didnt need to be highlighted as a top pick.

Rick Steves is wrapping up what he describes as a two-year process revising his entire line of country guidebooks, in an effort to capture all of the changes since the onset of the pandemic. Rick Steves Iceland (Feb.) and Rick Steves Scandinavia (July) feature destinations that are increasingly popular with travelers seeking cooler summer climates while the rest of Europe broils. Steves had timed his research in Mediterranean countries to coincide with shoulder seasons and spent the peak season north of the Alps: I took screenshots showing that my weather app was always in the 70s.

Scandinavian cities have undergone major revitalizations in the past few years, Steves says, transforming former industrial zones along their waterfronts into lively pedestrian centers that prioritize space for people rather than cars. With its abundance of open, undeveloped landscapes, Scandinavia is also the best destination in Europe for those who want to steer clear of other tourists, he says.

Points west

Even as European travel thrives, domestic outdoor experiences retain their appeal. Hiking numbers are still popping, Moons Fujimoto says.

In February, Moon is adding two destinations to a hiking series it launched in 2020: Colorado Hiking by Joshua Berman and Northern California Hiking by Ann Marie Brown and Felicia Kemp. The books depart from comprehensive, directory-like trail listings with detailed, richly photographed descriptions of fewer hikes, with color maps and recommendations for nearby eateries, breweries, and other attractions.

Another outdoor pursuit, open-water swimming, has been gaining momentum in recent years. Hardie Grant released Places We Swim by Caroline Clements and Dillon Seitchik-Reardon, a pan-Australia guide, in 2018; Places We Swim Sydney followed in 2020. April sees the release of the authors Places We Swim California, which showcases swimming holes, hot springs, river bends, and wild stretches of the Pacific coast. Suggested itineraries may encompass all of the above, as in an eight-day road trip from Mendocino to the Smith River.

Covid really gave us an appreciation of being outside and things we may have overlooked, says Hardie Grant Explore commissioning editor Megan Cuthbert. By focusing on some of the worlds underappreciated attractions, travel publishers are happy to show readers all theyve missed.

Jasmina Kelemen is a freelance writer in Houston.

Correction: An earlier version of this article misspelled Lucas Peters's name.

Read more from our Travel Books feature:

New Culinary Travel Guides

Eateries and watering holes in Charleston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and beyond are on the menu.

Whats New in Travel Books? Going Niche.

New books appeal to cannabis users, electric car owners, spiritual seekers, and more.

Pro Tips for Aspiring Travelers

Travel influencers inspire readers to follow in their well-documented footsteps.
Xinhua News Agency President Fu Hua delivers speeches at the inauguration ceremony of China Economic Information Service (CEIS) Shanghai headquarters in east China's Shanghai, Jan. 27, 2024. CEIS, a subsidiary for the economic information services of Xinhua News Agency, unveiled its Shanghai headquarters on Saturday. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

SHANGHAI, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- China Economic Information Service (CEIS), a subsidiary for the economic information services of Xinhua News Agency, unveiled its Shanghai headquarters on Saturday.

Chen Jining, secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, and Xinhua News Agency President Fu Hua attended the inauguration ceremony and delivered speeches.

Chen said that as Shanghai is striving to build an international center for economy, finance, trade, shipping and sci-tech innovation, the CEIS Shanghai headquarters is expected to enhance economic information services, financial information in particular, to better serve the development of businesses and Shanghai.

Noting that Xinhua has been a pioneer in China's economic information service sector, Fu said that Xinhua is ready to take the launch of the CEIS Shanghai headquarters as a new starting point for deepening all-around cooperation with Shanghai.

Xinhua will support Shanghai to play a greater role in building a financial system with Chinese characteristics and promoting high-quality development of China's financial sector, Fu said.

At the ceremony, Xinhua and the city's banks and governmental agencies exchanged documents of cooperation in fields such as digital transformation, big data, index development and think tank service.

With more than three decades of development, CEIS has evolved into one of the providers of the most comprehensive and trusted economic information products and services in China. It comprises over 1,000 analysts and experts, supported by an expansive information collection network spanning across China as well as 180 countries and regions globally. 

Zhao Jiaming (L), a standing committee member of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and head of the publicity department of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee, and Jing Ruyue, secretary-general of Xinhua News Agency, attend the inauguration ceremony of China Economic Information Service (CEIS) Shanghai headquarters in east China's Shanghai, Jan. 27, 2024. CEIS, a subsidiary for the economic information services of Xinhua News Agency, unveiled its Shanghai headquarters on Saturday. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)
Premium online access is only available tosubscribers. If you have an active subscription and need to set up or change your password, please click here

New to PW? To set up immediate access, click here.

NOTE: If you had a previous PW subscription, click here to reactivate your immediate access. PW site license members have access to PWs subscriber-only website content. If working at an office location and you are not "logged in", simply close and relaunch your preferred browser. For off-site access, click here. To find out more about PWs site license subscription options, please email Mike Popalardo at: mike@nextstepsmarketing.com.
Property details:

21315 Wyoming Pass, Lago Vista TX 78645LOT 11109 Bar-K Ranches Plat 11 APN: 45919210,320 Square FeetLatitude: 30.49516 Longitude: -97.9736445-minutes for downtown Austin ** 0% INTEREST AVAILABLE**** SELLER FINANCED **** NO CREDIT CHECK **PRICE IS FOR DOWN PAYMENT ONLY Immerse yourself in the natural beauty and allure of Texas Hill Country with this stunning, 0.24-acre vacant lot located at 21315 Wyoming Pass, Lago Vista Texas, 45-minute drive from Austin, Texas. Offered at $29,999 (appraised val...

Price: $ 450 Seller State of Residence: California Type: Homesite, Lot Property Address: 21315 Wyoming Pass Zip/Postal Code: 78645 Zoning: Residential City: Lago Vista State/Province: Texas Location: 786**, Leander, Texas

You will be redirected to eBay



Nearby Texas
Tracy Neal, principal of Johnnie Lay Burks Elementary School, has resigned from her position, effective Jan. 31, according to a Clarke-County School District press release.

Matthew Snow, assistant principal of Burks Elementary, will be taking on the role of interim principal while the district office and Burks local school governance team begin searching for qualified candidates.
'Now that we are a pure-play India business, many investors are open to investing.'

IMAGE: Aster Medcity Kochi, Ernakulam. Photograph: Kind courtesy Aster DM Health Care

Hospital and pharmacy chain operator Aster DM Healthcare said in November it will sell its stake in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) business for $1 billion, as part of a strategy to separate its India and Gulf businesses to unlock value.

The hospital chain, led by Azad Moopen, got 73 per cent of its business from Gulf operations in the first half of Financial Year 2023-24 (FY24) and the rest came from India.

Dr Nitish Shetty, group chief executive officer of Aster DM Healthcare, India, told Sohini Das/Business Standard about the company's plans for the country post the separation.

There has been market speculation that private equity (PE) and other investors are interested in picking up stake in your India business. Your comments.

When we listed as one entity (GCC and India businesses) we had thought that the Indian market would also appreciate and reward us for our GCC business.

This, however, did not happen, and once we had clarity on this we made this conscious, difficult decision to segregate the GCC and the India businesses.

In our recent roadshows, from Mumbai to Hong Kong to London, we have noticed that investor perception is very upbeat.

Now that we are a pure-play India business, many investors are open to investing in Aster DM as also PE players have a mandate to only invest in India.

We have confidence in our brand coming out of the shadow of GCC.

Having said that, we will be exploring all this after the segregation is completed, and more clarity emerges. Our plan is to be among the top three in India.

One of our investors who have been with us for a long time are also kind of seeking an exit.

Probably they may try to talk to some other PE investors who want to come on board.

We want to ensure that people who come on board with us should be like-minded and align with our future prospects of what we want to achieve in the next four-five years.

We do not need an investor on board for our present organic growth plans, but we have the aspiration of being among the top three or four players in India.

Therefore, probably an investor with a good track record, and fairly aligned with the vision our chairman (Azad Moopen) has, may come on board.

Smartness lies in being open to all ideas and opportunities. There is no way our promoters are selling out and exiting the India business.

Our chairman is very passionate about the business and what we have done in India in the last 10-15 years.

You plan to add 1,500 beds in India with an investment of Rs 850 crore. Will this be mostly brownfield?

We plan to add another 1,500 beds in the next two to three years, taking the total tally of beds in India to over 6,000 beds, which will include the upcoming Aster Capital in Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram) with over 350 beds in the first phase by FY26 and Aster MIMS Kasargod with about over 200 beds then we would be looking at adding bed capacity to our existing hospitals in Medcity, MIMS Kannur by about 100 beds each and Aster Whitefield with 159 beds.

We currently operate 19 hospitals in India, totaling close to 4,800 beds across these facilities.

Out of these 19 hospitals, seven are located in Kerala, seven in Andhra, and another four in Karnataka and one in Maharashtra.

Among these beds, the Greenfield projects include around 350 beds each, commencing two years from now.

The one in North Kerala is situated in the extreme North, and another Greenfield project in the extreme South consists of a 250-bed hospital. The rest of our projects involve Brownfield expansions.

Apart from South India, any other geographies you are keen on?

We are actually looking out. See, if you really look at us, we had a clustered approach where, wherever we are, like Bangalore (Bengaluru), for example, Kerala, we have had a presence for a long time.

In Bangalore in the last seven years, we added 1,200 beds across three hospitals.

That has given us credibility and visibility, and whatever we are doing in healthcare, it helps because the business is driven by word of mouth, referrals, and talent association.

As we have grown and become more visible, a lot of talent has associated with us, contributing to our growth.

Something similar we are keen on doing in Maharashtra.

However, it requires a strategy similar to what we implemented in Bangalore. We aim to avoid being one of those players with a token presence through a single hospital.

We have moved away from the traditional strategy of being present in major cities like Bangalore, Mumbai, or Delhi merely to showcase a pan India presence.

Presently, we believe in being visible and recognised wherever we operate based on the quality of our work.

We aim to be among the top three players in every market we enter, a position we have already achieved in our existing locations.

Our plan is to further enhance our presence both inorganically and organically, with a focus on dominating the market.

However, we refrain from experimental moves until we have clarity on our strategy.

Margins of your India business have gone up from 8.7 per cent in FY21 to 15.2 per cent in FY23. By when do you think you can catch up with your peers?

Margins are improving. We do know that compared to our competition our margins are on the lower side, but that is because of several reasons - around 70 per cent of our business is in Tier-II and Tier-III cities.

But we do high-end work. However, things are changing.

In the next three years you will see things change and all our parameters will be at par or better than what our peers are doing. Improving margins is a factor of scale.

We were deploying hospitals in clusters, and they are working as one entity at a cluster-level.

In the last one or two years, we are centralizing things like purchase etc to take advantage of the economies of scale.

This is yielding dividends. So as we keep growing we will keep bringing in efficiency parameters.

We are also in a market where the cash patients are more as of now compared to other geographies.

Aster is mainly present in Kerala and Andhra and Karnataka, but in Kerala, at least 60 percent to 70 percent of them are cash patients.

So there is headroom for us to take price corrections.

The Kerala market is more employee-friendly in terms of minimum wages and on the higher side compared to other geographies.

That has put a little pressure on our margins. For example, in Kerala, minimum wages for nurses are Rs 30,000, whereas in other geographies, they get 18,000.

So, that has put some pressure, but then we believe that the market has to absorb that cost, which we are working on.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
Telecom services providers have urged the Ministry of Finance to suspend the universal service obligation (USOF) till the existing corpus is exhausted.

In their Budget recommendations, they have also pressed for an exemption from the service tax on assignment of right to use natural resources and the slashing of Customs duty on telecom equipment to zero.

The Cellular Operators Association of India (Coai), which represents private sector telecom operators Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea, called for abolishment of USOF levy.

Further, licence fee should be brought down from 3 per cent to 1 per cent at the earliest to cover only administrative costs by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), it said.

USOF inflows come from the collection of universal access levy (UAL) from telecom service providers who have to pay 5 per cent of their adjusted gross revenues yearly to the fund.

As on December 31, a cumulative Rs 1.55 trillion has been collected by the government historically as UAL, official figures show.

More importantly, the fund continues to have an unused surplus of Rs 77,113 crore, reaching its highest levels ever.

The Coai has requested exemptions on Customs duty on certain telecom equipment, which presently increases the cost of rolling out this critical infrastructure.

Rising over a period of five to six years, duties have now hit 20 per cent.

Currently, operators are paying goods and services tax (GST) under a reverse charge mechanism (RCM) on payment made to the DoT towards license fees, spectrum usage charges, and payment of spectrum acquired in auction.

Payment of GST in cash on a reverse charge basis and subsequent input tax credit (ITC) utilisation has resulted in substantial accumulation of ITC within telecom firms, leading to a significant blockage of working capital and thereby, imposing a substantial financial burden on these companies, the Coai said.

The industry body has also requested the introduction of a special regime for the telecom operators under Section 72 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, where busi-ness losses can be carried forward and set-off till 16 assessment years from eight years now.

The Coai has called for clarification of the definition of gross revenue, which currently includes revenue from all telecom activities.

The term telecom activity is not defined but may include revenue from activities believed to be incidental to telecom activity.

"Therefore, the definition of gross revenue should make it abundantly clear that the revenue from activities for which no licence is required, should not be part of gross revenue, the Coai said.
I have had some trouble sleeping.

I have been worrying about a lot of things, like the recent blood test showing a jump in my glucose levels. The 1099 tax form that arrived too late. The loud ticking sound when my car is idling. And the silent treatment from Marianne since our argument about new carpeting (which we really dont need).

Sleep is important, and youre supposed to talk to your doctor. Or a therapist. My friend Mike raves about Ambien.

But I cant deal with any of that right now because my little sister, Nancy, and her husband, Jay, are coming for a short stay. One more thing to worry about, right?

I shouldnt say that since they have stayed with us before and are good guests. The best, in fact, of all our Midwest friends and relatives who escape the Hawk and visit our winter home in Florida. Theyre upbeat. Not complaining about the traffic. No political arguments.

We dont have to entertain or even pay attention to them when theyre here. They come and go, sometimes vanishing all day. And when they return, theyre relaxed and grinning, as if they know a secret.

On their first evening here, Nancy picks up the guitar and Jay his drumsticks, twirling one of them in his left hand, and they first play something modern and then the older classic Blue Bayou.

My baby sister could have been a rock star. She even met Cat Stevens. Her life took a different direction, but she sure still can sing.

The second morning theyre here, we get the boat ready to go out on the Gulf of Mexico. The wind is calm enough to head offshore to the grouper grounds. But then I remember myself and ask Jay if theyre up to handling a long boat ride.

He has had multiple rounds of chemotherapy and infusion therapy for lymphoma and takes a slew of medications you cant pronounce. Doctors say he is in remission, but theres no guarantee, and he has to take for the rest of his life a drug that gives him painful headaches at night.

Yeah, were good, he says.

He means both of them, since not long after his diagnosis, Nancy was told she has a rare form of carcinoma, and she had to travel to the Mayo Clinic and then to Houston for a doctor who could treat her. Shes had her kidney removed and had painful radiation and chemo treatments but was cleared for this trip.

The Gulf is frisky with 2-foot seas, and I watch from the helm to where they sit up front, Nancy portside, Jay starboard, their faces into the wind.

But neither is seasick, and every few minutes, they glance at one another across the bow, smiles showing beneath their sunglasses.

I think back to my own first time offshore, so I know what theyre feeling, how the sea has become part of them, the ancient connection. Something pure coursing through their veins, for a change.

After an hour, I throttle down and shut off the engine. We rock gently, utterly alone on the Gulf.

Jay Anderson, David McGraths brother-in-law, battles a red grouper 30 miles offshore west of Boca Grande, Florida, in 2023.

Jay hooks a heavy fish almost immediately. An experienced freshwater angler, he expertly raises the bent rod above his shoulders, then gains line by lowering it quickly as he cranks the reel. When the fish surges back to the bottom, reclaiming the line, Jay whistles at its tenacity and strength.

After we finally net, photograph and release his 10-pound red grouper, Nancy shouts for help on the portside. She, too, has hooked something and is waving her rod from side to side, as if the fish were leading her in a frantic dance.

She exclaims and wails with that singular voice, and Jay smiles and moves beside her to give counsel.

He tenderly helps his wife boat her own grouper, and when I ask my sister if she would repeat the battle along with her squeals and screams for my video camera, she shoots me a look of mock anger before throwing a kiss.

Not long after they return home, Nancy sends pictures from her phone: she and Jay posing with her fish. Another photo with both of them beaming, hanging on to the boat rail.

The photos arrive with her text: Ill tell you what, there isnt a day that goes by when cancer isnt on my mind. But sometimes, like when were on your boat, I forget all about it. Nothing else really matters except for that moment in time.

Im jolted with the realization of the ridiculousness of my worries and petty obsessions.

And with the life lesson from my little sister and her husband of whats really important: loving and holding each other close, while cherishing every precious moment on this earth.

David McGrath is an emeritus English professor at the College of DuPage and author of the newly released book Far Enough Away, a collection of Chicagoland stories. He can be reached at mcgrathd@dupage.edu.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
TEHRAN, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani on Saturday denounced as "meddlesome" a joint statement issued by the E3 group of France, Britain and Germany on a recent satellite launch by Iran.

He made the remarks in a statement released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry, highlighting Iran's "inalienable" right to make scientific and research advances in different areas.

Iran recently announced the launch of a domestically developed lightweight 47-kg research and telecommunication satellite, dubbed Soraya, using the homegrown Qaem-100 three-stage solid-fuel launch vehicle.

In its statement, the E3 group condemned the launch, claiming the Qaem-100 space launch vehicle "uses technology essential for the development of a long-range ballistic missile system."

The group warned that launches like this "allow Iran to test technology that could be used to further develop its ballistic missile program, which poses a significant threat to regional and international security."

Kanaani said the E3 statement was "biased and condemned," adding that "making scientific and research advances, especially in the aerospace sector, is an inalienable and legitimate right of the Islamic Republic of Iran."

According to international rules and regulations and in line with upholding its rights, especially the right to development, Iran reserved the right to use "peaceful" technologies in its path of promoting scientific and research development, he added. 
After the governments online monitoring system for the import of electronic hardware items went live on November 1, inbound shipments of laptops and tablets slipped in November to a nine-month low at $225 million, contracting 17.15 per cent year-on-year.

Photograph: Andrea Comas/Reuters

This decline was primarily driven by reduced imports from Singapore (down 43.7 per cent), Hong Kong (down 27.4 per cent), and China (down 14 per cent), according to the data released by the commerce department.

China accounts for approximately 83 per cent of such imports.

In addition to personal computers, another significant item on the IT hardware import monitoring list  data processing units or servers  saw a contraction of 31.8 per cent in inbound shipments at $140.2 million in November.

Imports from major sources, such as China and the US fell by 8.8 per cent and 3.6 per cent, respectively.

On August 3 last year, the Centre announced plans to categorise products in the information technology hardware segment, such as laptops, tablets, all-in-one personal computers, ultra-small form factor computers, and servers, under the restricted label.

Following this, the import of laptops and tablets shot up in September (by 41.8 per cent) and October (by 29.7 per cent) amid fear of licensing requirements.

However, the government deferred the implementation until November 1 after the industry expressed serious concerns over the decision, which was originally aimed at reducing import dependence on China and ensuring a trusted supply chain.

In a further step-down, the government announced that it would not restrict the import of such electronic products from any territory, while also introducing a new contactless import authorisation system.

With the import monitoring system now in place, the government is able to collect data about specific products coming in from different sources.

Indias key trading partners have expressed concerns over the online monitoring system at the World Trade Organization.

US Trade Representative Katherine Tai raised the issue last week during the India-US Trade Policy Forum (TPF), which she co-chaired with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.

Tai commended India for implementing the import management system in a facilitative manner that has so far minimised the impact on trade, and urged India to ensure that the end-to-end online system currently in operation and related policies do not restrict trade going forward.

Tai later told reporters that she stressed the need for India keeping the country, as well as relevant stakeholders informed about its plan for the import monitoring system for laptops, tablets, and select IT hardware. India has already said that the system has been put into place until September 2024.
'Bharat is the core value that has to be lived by and if you deny it, then the people will discard you.'

IMAGE: A devotee clicks a selfie along with the cutout of Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi at Dharam Path in Ayodhya. Photograph: Ishant/ANI Photo

When he witnessed the pran pratishtha in Ayodhya on January 22, it was the culmination of a lifelong dream for Tarun Vijay, former editor of the RSS weekly Panchjanya and a former Bharatiya Janata Party member of the Rajya Sabha.

The Hindu Right ideologue has been espousing the cause of the Ram temple when it had few takers.

The Ram temple poses no threat to India's secularism, or to the religious minorities, Tarun Vijay tells Saisuresh Sivaswamy/Rediff.com. The first of a two-part interview.

IMAGE: The gathering at the Ram Janmabhoomi temple on the occasion of the pran pratishtha ceremony. Photograph: ANI Photo

What explains the religious outpouring we see in Ayodhya over the Ram temple?

The Hindu world, across the country, across continents, celebrated one single event, the consecration of Lord Ram's temple.

There has never been a celebration ever in the memory of the Hindu people, that has seen such an outburst, a spectacular show, where millions of people in various countries, in India's every corner from Arunachal Pradesh to Okha and and Ladakh to Kanyakumari.

They were one in celebrating the arrival of Sri Ram Lalla in Ayodhya. Whether it was Germany or Shanghai, or Dubai, or the USA or Europe, we were all one in one moment. And that moment brought tears of joy in the eyes of the millions.

It was as if the soul of Bharat had woken up. And now, the march of India towards prosperity and development, for the welfare and kalyan of the universe, is unstoppable as per the Rig Vedic concept that all the people on this Earth must feel happy, joyous, healthy, prosperous, and working towards the path of god, whichever path they believe in.

But all Sarva deva namaskaram keshavam prati gachati (the worship of any divinity ultimately leads to the Supreme Being), that was the great message given to the world.

IMAGE: People celebrate the opening of the Ram temple in a street in New Delhi, January 22, 2024. Photograph: Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters

Can we draw the conclusion that Hindu Rashtra is now a reality?

No, sir. This is the rashtra of Hindus as well as all those who believe in compassion, togetherness, who believe in the Vedic concept of Sangat chatvam, samvadadhvam, samvo manamsi janatam (May you move in harmony, speak in one voice; let your minds be in agreement). All religious groups, across borders, and no one was denied entry.

The rashtra is having its soul in Sanatan Dharma. As Sri Aurobindo had predicted, Sanatan Dharma is the soul of this nation. The Vedas were produced and the message of Vasudev Kutumbakam was given by those who espoused the principles of Sanatan Dharma. This is a Sanatan Rashtra, with eternal values for a changing society.

We never believed in a theocratic society.

We never believed in a theocratic State.

Nobody in the nation's living memory has created that, it's a Semitic concept. But only Asoka's rule was Buddhist, not a single rule in India was every theocratic, it's Islamic, or the Church of England, or the Bible for the American president.

But not in India. India believes in Vasudev Kutumbakam and Sarva Dharma Samabhav.

IMAGE: Modi addresses a gathering after the pran pratishtha ceremony. Photograph: ANI Photo

What was the political message from the prime minister's temple inauguration?

Political message is that in India you have to respect the soil of India, its soul of India, denying the core values of Bharat Varsh. Don't rule India like the viceroys, or like a Mughal emperor, rule India like an Indian ruler will do.

Those who said they are secular have proved themselves to be the worst kind of believers in ideological apartheid. I and like me thousands of people have been victims of their ideological apartheid.

Rediff was the only channel available to us in the last 30 years, when I was working for Panchjanya. And for those of us who worked in Panchjanya, all doors were closed. This was discrimination.

We don't believe in these kinds of things, we believe that we, Bharatiyas, work for Bharat and work for Bharat's future.

Bharat is the core value that has to be lived by us and if you deny it, and bring the Semitic concept like a British emperor, then the people will discard you.

It's the people's support that Narendra Modi and Yogi Adityanath, and the RSS had received in the last several years that has resulted in the realisation of the dream of the people of India.

Those who denied the dreams and the aspirations and the core values of Bharat, they are rejected by the people of India. This is the message.

IMAGE: Modi completes his 11-day fast by taking Charanamrit from Swami Govind Dev Giri Maharaj after the pran pratishtha ceremony. Photograph: ANI Photo

There have been concerns expressed over the prime minister performing religious duties in a secular State.

Sir, this is a national celebration. Babar did not demolish a temple. He demolished the soul and symbol of India's independence. Like if the Statue of Liberty was demolished by Osama bin Laden, what will the American people do? They will resurrect it.

It is a resurrection of India's glory.

It is a resurrection of India's pride.

It is a resurrection of India's honour.

It's more than religious. Ayodhya represents the core values of Bharat Varsh.

Like Tyagaraja, M S Subbulakshmi.

The Somnath temple was resurrected by Sardar Patel and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru opposed it. The Nehruvian concepts are now rejected by the people of India and it's the spirit of Somnath and the spirit of Ayodhya that gives power to the development, progress and new future for Bharat Varsh.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
The Samajwadi Party on Saturday announced that it has offered 11 Lok Sabha seats to the Congress in Uttar Pradesh, with former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav asserting that their alliance is 'off to a good start'.

IMAGE: Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav along with party secretary Shivpal Singh Yadav and others during a party meeting in Lucknow. Photograph: ANI Photo

Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai said that the decision on the matter will be taken by his party's national leadership.

Yadav said in a post in Hindi on X, 'Our cordial alliance with the Congress is off to a good start with 11 strong seats. This trend will move forward with the winning equation. 'INDIA' team and 'PDA' (Picchda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) strategy will change history.'

The Congress, meanwhile, said constructive seat-sharing talks are on between senior party leader Ashok Gehlot and the SP chief, and it will inform when a formula is finalised.

Asked about Yadav's remarks at a press conference, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said Gehlot is holding talks with Yadav over seat-sharing and it is taking place in a positive and constructive environment.

"We will inform you once a formula is finalised," he said.

The agreement that will be reached in Uttar Pradesh will be beneficial for the Congress, the SP and the INDIA bloc.

The development comes at a time amid strong indications that Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal-United president Nitish Kumar may do yet another volte face and return to the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance.

Kumar had joined hands with the Rashtriya Janata Dal, founded by his former arch-rival Lalu Prasad Yadav, in August 2022 after he severed ties with the BJP.

The longest-serving CM of Bihar, thereafter, embarked upon a drive to bring together all parties across the country to take on the BJP that culminated in the formation of the opposition bloc Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA).

In case Kumar decides to return to the NDA fold, the opposition united front will take a big hit.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday appeared all set to make his second political volte face in less than 18 months, with a highly-placed source close to Kumar saying that the Janata Dal-U president is likely to tender his resignation by Sunday morning.

IMAGE: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar in the presence of Union Minister Ashwini Choubey, offers prayers at the Brahmeshwarnath Temple in Buxar on Saturday. Photograph: ANI Photo

The source, who requested anonymity, told PTI that though there was a possibility of Kumar resigning by late Saturday evening, "It would definitely take place by Sunday morning."

The comments came even as Rashtriya Janata Dal leaders held extensive deliberations over the course of action to be followed in the event of Kumar calling off the alliance and returning to the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance.

Before submitting his resignation, Kumar will hold a customary meeting of the legislature party, the source added.

He also said government offices like the secretariat have been asked to remain open on Sunday 'in view of hectic activity expected during the day' that may see the installation of a new government with the BJP's support.

Meanwhile, JD-U's political adviser and spokesperson K C Tyagi told reporters in Delhi that the grand alliance government in Bihar is on the verge of collapse, and accused a section of the Congress leadership of repeatedly 'insulting' Kumar.

"The INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) bloc is on the verge of collapse. The alliance of INDIA bloc parties is almost over in Punjab, West Bengal and Bihar," he said.

Also on Saturday, state BJP leaders, who held a meeting in Patna, stopped short of making any formal announcement of support to the JD-U chief in the event of his pulling out of the Mahagathbandhan.

Requesting anonymity, BJP sources said instructions have been received from the top leadership to put on hold 'any formal announcement' till Kumar, who had dumped the NDA less than three years ago, put in his papers.

For Kumar, who has maintained a deafening silence over the turmoil in the 'Mahagathbandhan', ignoring pleas from allies RJD, Congress and the Left to clear the air about the intense political speculation on his future step, it was business as usual.

Apart from flagging off new fire brigade engines at Patna's veterinary college ground, he visited Buxar for the inauguration of a beautification project of a renowned temple, a project of the tourism department that is held by his deputy Tejashwi Yadav, who remained conspicuous by his absence.

The attendees included senior BJP leader and Union minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey, who is the local MP. He declined to comment on the ongoing upheaval.

BJP state in-charge Vinod Tawde, who was in Patna to attend the meeting, also kept cards close to the chest but blamed the Congress for the imminent 'break up' of Nitish Kumar with the opposition bloc INDIA, of which the JD-U leader was seen as the veritable architect.

Upon Kumar's return to Patna, top leaders of the JD-U started gathering at the official residence of the party president amid strong signals that he may put in his papers as chief minister and stake claim for the formation of a new government with the BJP's support.

Leaders of the RJD also gathered at the residence of national vice-president and former chief minister Rabri Devi, who shares her government bungalow with Tejashwi Yadav, her son, and husband Lalu Prasad, who is the party president.

All party leaders were made to deposit their mobile phones outside the gates of 10, Circular Road, the house situated at a stone's throw from the chief minister's residence.

Sources claiming to be in the know of things said the deliberations were about the course of action to be followed in the event of Kumar calling off the alliance.

While some RJD leaders are said to be in favour of staking claim to form the new government, hoping to cobble up the support of eight MLAs the 'Mahagathbandhan' requires to go past the majority mark, others, including Tejashwi Yadav, appear to be not impressed with the idea since the JD-U and the BJP together have more than 122 members in the 243-strong assembly.
FSSAI is looking to tap the Airport Health Organisation to ensure that such incidents aren't reported in the future.

IMAGE: Kushboo Gupta says she discovered a worm in the sandwich she was served on a recent flight. Photograph: Photograph: Kind courtesy Kushboo Gupta/Instagram

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the food regulator, has inspected major flight kitchens across the country after a sandwich with a live worm was found on an IndiGo flight recently, top officials said.

IndiGo, on its part, also undertook a thorough review of its catering partner's production and packaging processes, the company said in response to an e-mail questionnaire sent by Business Standard.

The live worm in one of the in-flight refreshments caused a furore in social media and elsewhere with netizens questioning the sanitisation process.

Following the episode, the FSSAI had issued a show cause notice to the airline and sought an explanation.

'With reference to the show cause notice from FSSAI, IndiGo regrets the incident and has already taken steps to avoid such incidents in the future,' Indigo said in a statement shared with Business Standard.

'As part of these measures, IndiGo has undertaken a thorough review of its catering partner's production and packaging processes.

'In addition, a comprehensive refresher of sanitisation protocols has also been conducted with the catering partner.

'IndiGo remains committed to providing its passengers with the best possible in-flight experience and ensuring compliance to all food and hygiene standards.'

Majority of flight kitchens in the country are run by three big companies -- Oberoi Flight Services, TajSATS and Ambassador's Sky Chef.

Oberoi Flight Services confirmed that its facility was inspected and the unit scored 94 per cent on various laid-out parameters by the authorities.

"A surprise check was conducted by officials of the Central Food Safety Office and a team of FSSAI, Mumbai, on January 2. The unit scored 94 per cent on various parameters by the authorities,' a spokesman of Oberoi Flight Services told Business Standard.

"Minor suggested improvements by the officials will be implemented immediately by the unit," the spokesman added.

TajSATS, the 50:50 joint venture of the Indian Hotels Company Limited and SATS, and one which runs the highest number of flight kitchens in India, told Business Standard that it did not cater to Indigo's flight concern.

'We are always committed to serving the highest quality food following all safety, quality and hygiene protocols. We are part of various audits from the statutory and other authorities, which keep happening on a regular basis,' the company said in an official statement.

Sources said FSSAI is looking to tap the Airport Health Organisation to ensure that such incidents aren't reported in the future.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
The Indian Navy on Saturday said its guided missile destroyer INS Visakhapatnam has deployed a team to help fire-fighting efforts on board British oil tanker MV Marlin Luanda which has got 22 Indian and one Bangladeshi crew members.

IMAGE: INS Vishakhapatnam responds to distress call from merchant vessel in Gulf of Aden. Photograph: ANI on X

According to foreign media reports, the tanker caught fire after a missile attack by Yemen's Houthi militants, the latest incident linked to the Iran-backed group in the key shipping route Gulf of Aden.

On a request from MV Marlin Luanda, INS Visakhapatnam has deployed its NBCD team along with fire-fighting equipment to render assistance to the crew towards augmenting fire-fighting efforts on board the distressed ship, a Navy spokesperson said.

"The Indian Navy remains steadfast and committed towards safeguarding MVs (merchant vessels) and ensuring safety of life at sea," the Indian Navy said.

The operator of the British oil tanker has said the vessel had been 'struck by a missile in the Gulf of Aden after transiting the Red Sea', according to the reports.

The Indian Navy has significantly increased its surveillance apparatus in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden by deploying frontline destroyers and frigates in view of recent incidents of attacks on merchant vessels.

Earlier this month, the Indian Navy responded to a drone attack distress call from MV Genco Picardy in the Gulf of Aden on the night of January 17, and on January 5, it had thwarted an attempted hijacking of Liberian-flagged vessel MV Lila Norfolk in the North Arabian Sea and rescued all its crew members.

Earlier, 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 Indians.
The opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) was in the grip of a crisis on Saturday with the Janata Dal-United saying the alliance was collapsing amid indications that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will switch back to the National Democratic Alliance, prompting the Congress to allege that the Bharatiya Janata Party is doing its best to cause a 'mini implosion' in the coalition.

IMAGE: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, during a press conference after an INDIA bloc meeting in Mumbai on September 1, 2023. Photograph: Amit Sharma/ANI Photo

The Congress, however, also exuded confidence that both Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, being co-architects of the INDIA bloc, would remain a part of the alliance and said efforts were on by the Congress president to reach out to both of them.

Earlier, West Bengal Chief Minister Banerjee had announced that her party TMC will fight the Lok Sabha elections 'alone' in the state, and if Kumar decides to return to the NDA fold, it will be another big blow to the opposition front formed to take on the BJP.

"Personally, yes the optics could have been better. There is no implosion. But the BJP is working overtime to ensure there is a minimum implosion if not a maximum implosion," Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said when asked about the developments.

Ramesh said Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge has been trying to speak with Kumar and his office has responded. But the two are unable to connect due to their pre-occupations, the Congress general secretary said.

'We are willing to take any step to strengthen the INDIA' bloc, he said.

He also claimed that no one is unhappy, but admitted that the seat-sharing talks are difficult as everyone wants more seats.

"We expect INDIA to move forward. The situation could be better. I won't say it is tense," he said.

Ramesh also claimed that they have finalised seat-sharing in many states but have not announced yet.

In the crucial state of Uttar Pradesh, which has 80 Lok Sabha constituencies, the Samajwadi Party announced that it has offered 11 seats to the Congress, with former chief minister and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav asserting that their alliance is 'off to a good start'.

Ramesh said senior leader Ashok Gehlot is holding talks with the SP chief over seat-sharing and it is taking place in a positive and constructive environment.

"We will inform you once a formula is finalised," he said.

Speaking in Karnataka, Kharge said his party expects that those who have the desire to protect the country's Constitution and democracy, will definitely not take any hasty steps.

He said the Congress will make all efforts to keep the INDIA bloc united, though he added that he has no clarity as to what is in the JD-U leadership's mind.

Responding to a question on the possibility of JD-U going out of the INDIA, Kharge said, "Are they (JD-U) going out? I have not got any information about it so far. I have written a letter to them (JD-U leadership) and have tried to talk to them. I don't know clearly what is in their minds."

JD-U general secretary K C Tyagi said the INDIA is on the brink of collapse.

"We had succeeded in bringing all non-Congress parties together but the (alliance) is falling apart. In Punjab and Bihar, the (INDIA) alliance has nearly collapsed. Similarly, in West Bengal, the alliance is falling apart. Meanwhile, in Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav has asked Congress to work with an open heart," Tyagi said.

He said Kumar never hankered after any position in the alliance but a section of the Congress leadership repeatedly insulted him.

Tyagi said he could not see how the INDIA bloc parties could fight the 'all-powerful' BJP.

The Bihar chief minister succeeded in bringing together several parties in Patna but the entire process became so limp that the INDIA bloc has had no joint meetings on leadership and agenda even though the Lok Sabha elections are now round the corner.

The Congress, however, asserted that the INDIA bloc is not imploding even though the BJP is trying its best to cause 'mini-implosions' in the opposition alliance.

Ramesh said Kharge has been trying to speak with Kumar and his office has responded. But the two are unable to connect due to their pre-occupations, the Congress general secretary said.

He also recited a Bhagwad Gita shloka which talked about betrayal with friends while taking a swipe at Kumar.

He claimed that Kumar has been categorically saying that we have to fight and defeat the BJP.

Ramesh also said that Kharge has already established contact with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and has also written to her.

"I am hopeful that Mamata Banerjee and Nitish Kumar, being co-architects of the opposition alliance, will continue to be part of the INDIA bloc," Ramesh said.

"I am sure the BJP is doing its best but I believe even insofar as the CM of Bihar is concerned, he was the co-architect of the INDIA bloc and hosted the meeting in Patna on June 23, the first meeting of the opposition parties. He came to Bengaluru and Mumbai and made major contributions," Ramesh said.

He also said that during the INDIA bloc meetings, Nitish Kumar had categorically stated that 'we have to fight the BJP and defeat it'. He had also criticised the prime minister.

All eyes were, meanwhile, on Nitish Kumar with the JD-U chief appearing to be inching towards another U-turn.

For Kumar, who has maintained a deafening silence over the turmoil in the 'Mahagathbandhan', ignoring pleas from allies Rashtriya Janata Dal, Congress and the Left to clear the confusion, it was business as usual as he attended official events in Patna and Buxar.

Meanwhile, at a party meeting, state BJP leaders stopped short of making a formal announcement of support to the JD-U chief in the event of his pulling out of the 'Mahagathbandhan'.

BJP sources said instructions have been received from the top leadership to put on hold 'any formal announcement' till Kumar, who had dumped the NDA less than three years ago, resigns.

The RJD separately held a party meeting in Patna and the Congress convened a meeting of its legislators in Purnea.

Kumar had joined hands with RJD, founded by his former arch-rival Lalu Prasad, in August 2022 after he severed ties with the BJP.

In view of the fast-moving political developments in Bihar, the Congress appointed former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel as senior observer and he is headed to Patna on Saturday itself to talk to other parties and take stock of the situation within the party.

Congress' Bihar in-charge Mohan Prakash said this time the people of the state may not consider this an appropriate step and will give their verdict in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

He also exuded confidence that the Congress MLAs would not switch and stay united, asserting that 'no one will be able to take even a twig away from the Congress'.
Last updated on: January 27, 2024 11:18 IST

Thousands of Kashmiris attend the 75th Republic Day celebration at the Bakshi stadium in Srinagar.

All photographs: Umar Ganie for Rediff.com IMAGE: Students perform the traditional Kashmiri Rouf dance.

IMAGE: Students perform a cultural dance.

IMAGE: Students give a musical performance.

IMAGE: Students march during the parade.

IMAGE: NCC cadets march during the parade.

IMAGE: The Jammu and Kashmir police contingent smartly march during the parade.

IMAGE: The large crowd inside the Bakshi stadium witnesses the parade.

IMAGE: People queue to attend the Republic Day celebrations.

IMAGE: Tight security outside the Bakshi stadium.

IMAGE: A large screen in Srinagar displays the Republic Day parade at Kartavya Path in New Delhi.

IMAGE: Security personnel on the streets of Srinagar.

Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff.com

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
By PRAVIN TALAN and RUPALI SAAGAR

The NSG calendar of 2024 is here!

It's a combination of art, action and style, featuring mesmerising shots of the elite Black Cat Commandos in action, and is created by ace action photographer Pravin Talan and his associate Rupali Saagar.

This year's calendar features some unique shots as those of CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear) attack combat team, drone killers and CornerShot gun.

Maximum force: A hit team of NSG commandos in classic formation.

Fearless and ferocious: Crawling through mud with daggers, enhancing commandos' skill set, adaptability, endurance and teamwork.

Masked and mighty: CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear) team in action.

Shielding from terror: Commandos of Close Protection Force using a ballistic shield.

Limitless: A woman commando of NSG takes the reverse splash in muddy waters, a scenario demanding extreme physical and mental resilience.

Striking on the move: A commando strikes on the move while using Power Quick Ascender.

Double impact: The NSG has one of the best K9 units with advanced K9 Vision System. They are used assault, IED detection and tracking functions.

Silencing turbulent skies: Commando with dronekiller to counter growing drone menace.

Fire and fury: Fire obstacle training simulates real-world scenarios, allowing commandos to practice skills in conditions they may face in actual combat.

Shattering barriers: Commandos undertaking room intervention exercise.

Swift, silent and deadly: Commandos train extensively at all potential targets for terrorist activities.

Negotiating corners: A commando makes use of the unique ability of a CornerShot gun to bend around the corners and shoot.
CHICAGO, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Two teenagers were killed in a shooting in downtown Chicago on Friday, Chicago police and fire officials said.

The boys, 16-year-old and 17-year-old respectively, were leaving their high school with about four other people around 12:25 p.m., when two vehicles pulled up and several people exited and opened fire, Chicago Tribune reported Friday.

Each boy was shot in the chest, and the older boy was also shot in the hip. They were rushed to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in critical condition, and were pronounced dead a short time later, Chicago Fire Department spokesperson Larry Langford said.

Police are investigating the case.

Teenagers have been killed or wounded in shootings in Chicago's downtown area in recent years. According to local media, two teen boys, also 16 and 17, were shot in the downtown area in April 2023. A year earlier, a 16-year-old boy was shot and killed near the "Bean" sculpture in Millennium Park. 
BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese automaker Beijing Automotive Group Co., Ltd. (BAIC Group) sold some 1.7 million vehicles in 2023, a robust year-on-year growth of 17.6 percent, the company said on Saturday.

The Beijing-based company achieved annual revenue of approximately 480.3 billion yuan (about 67.58 billion U.S. dollars) last year.

Additionally, the company reported a year-on-year increase of 73.5 percent in its exports of vehicles that totaled 190,000 in the year.

Notably, the company's iconic "Beijing"-branded cars saw sales increase by 60 percent in 2023, and their overseas sales more than doubled from 2022.

BAIC Group continued to expand its international footprint in 2023. Beiqi Foton, a subsidiary of BAIC, secured orders for over 2,000 new-energy buses in the Indian market, while the company's first overseas passenger car production base in South Africa went operational last year.

Currently, the company has presence in 49 countries and regions worldwide. 
The Arakan Army's battlefield successes, and separatist inclinations, add complexity to an already fraught conflict.

Arakan Army forces pose with a large amount of captured arms and ammunition after recent fighting with Myanmar junta army units, Jan. 21, 2024.

The Three Brotherhood Alliance of ethnic armies that launched Operation 1027 three months ago is consolidating their gains and establishing administrative control over newly acquired territory across large swathes of Myanmar.

While a Chinese brokered ceasefire in Shan state has been repeatedly violated, the loci of violence has shifted north to Kachin, where the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has made steady advances, and west to Rakhine, the domain of the The Arakan Army (AA).

It is the fighting in Rakhine that is the most consequential for both the civil war and the inclusive federal democracy espoused by the opposition National Unity Government (NUG).

Junta soldiers man a checkpoint along the Yangon-Sittwe highway to restrict traffic from entering Sittwe during certain hours, May 22, 2023. (RFA)

Residents have been fleeing the Rakhine capital Sittwe in anticipation of a looming battle between the rebel ethnic Arakan Army (AA) and junta soldiers. The fall of the fortified administrative and military hub in far western Myanmar would be the latest in a string of victories by the ethnic Rakhine forces.

The Arakan Army (AA) had fought the military to a stalemate in 2020. Following the Feb. 1, 2021 coup detat, the AA made a tepid pledge of support for the NUG.

But the AA did not break its ceasefire with the military, instead consolidating its political power, especially in the north of Rakhine, Myanmars westernmost state.

Although the Rakhine ceasefire broke down in 2022, neither side had a stomach for a wider war. The military could ill afford a new front, while the AA realized that it was achieving substantially more autonomy by not fighting, leaving the army to focus their efforts elsewhere. The AA and their political arm stepped-up civil administration and neutralized rivals.

To the dismay of the NUG, the AA and military negotiated a ceasefire in November 2022, though tensions remained.

After Cyclone Mocha ravaged Rakhine in May 2023, the military blocked international aid agencies into the state  further legitimizing the AA, which provided the majority of humanitarian assistance to the local population.

Arakan Army on a roll

Following Operation 1027, the AA  a member of the Three Brotherhood Alliance - broke its ceasefire with the government on Nov. 13. Since then they have captured over 40 military and police posts and several towns.

On Jan. 18, the entire Light Infantry Battalion 539 surrendered to the AA. Video, shared widely on social media, shows the soldiers and their family members being marched in handcuffs and under guard.

Arakan Army forces stand with captured arms and ammunition after recent fighting with Myanmar junta army units, Jan. 21, 2024. (AA Info Desk)

The AA has captured large caches of weapons, including artillery and multiple launch rocket systems, which has allowed the offensive to continue.

On Jan. 25, the AA took over Kyauktaw and are currently moving south, with fierce clashes in Mrauk-U and Minbya townships.

AA now controls almost all of northern Rakhine. As important, they captured the river port city of Paletwa in southern Chin state. That has resulted in steady air attacks, which forced over 50,000 people from their homes.

On Jan. 8, the AA attacked the Danyawaddy Naval Base near Kyaukphyu. The navy plays a key role in ferrying troops in the region, but has also been used to attack civilian populations. On Jan. 21, the AA again fired a barrage of rockets into the naval base, though its not clear the extent of damage they caused.

Rethinks by India and China?

The war in Rakhine matters for five reasons.

First, the AAs offensive has forced the military to deploy men, planes, and other resources that they desperately need elsewhere. The military cannot countenance a counter-offensive in Shan state, when they are now fighting one of the best armed and largest ethnic armies. Indeed, additional troops are being deployed to Rakhine.

Second, the AAs success is forcing India to reevaluate their stance.

Narendra Modis government, which has seen substantial democratic backsliding of its own, has since the coup sided with Myanmars military, fearful that a weak and isolated junta would become too dependent on China.

India has not only not disarmed some 700 Myanmar troops who crossed into Mizoram, but flew some troops to Sittwe, the Rakhine capital. A Myanmar Air Force transport plane that was dispatched to return several hundred troops skidded off the runway on Jan. 23.

Arakan Army troops stand in front of the captured Paletwa Township General Administration Department office after seizing Paletwa, Jan. 14, 2024. (AA Info Desk)

But the AAs gains complicate the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project, a project connecting the eastern Indian seaport of Kolkata to northeastern India's landlocked Mizoram state via Sittwe and Paletwa ports

The $484 million project includes a 110-kilometer (68-mile) road from Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram, to the border and then a 62-kilometer (38-mile) road to Paletwa, where goods continue to Sittwe via the Kaladan River. A parallel train route between Aizawl and Sittwe is being planned.

New Delhis insecurity over eastern India, which is connected by the 22-kilometer (13-mile) wide Siliguri Corridor in Sikkim, is palpable.

Mizoram, Assam, Nagaland and Manipur are home to several insurgencies and transnational criminal groups, with several Myanmar ethnic armies and peoples defense force (PDF) militias situated along the border. Chinas encroachment in Bhutans Doklam Plateau, just north of the Siliguri Corridor, further heightens Indias insecurity.

Rakhine megaprojects

India has been no friend of the NUG, participating in and hosting Thai-led Track 1.5 dialogues.

India said nothing when Myanmar Air Force jets bombed the Chin National Fronts headquarters Camp Victoria on Jan. 10 and 11, 2023, violating Indian air space.

India has also turned over anti-government forces to the junta.

But with AA taking control over Palweta, and thus the Kaladan project, New Delhi may be forced to rethink its relationship with the State Administrative Council, the three-year-old Myanmar juntas formal name.

Indian security personnel inspect a Myanmar army plane after it skidded off the runway at Lengpui Airport in India's northeastern state of Mizoram, Jan. 23, 2024. The plane was landing to collect soldiers and repatriate them to Myanmar. (Mizoram State Government/AFP)

Mizorams economic growth is dependent on connectivity to Sittwe, and the Kaladan corridor is the analog to the nearby China Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC) to Kyaukphyu.

That leads to the third implication: China, too, might have to reevaluate its position. Beijing is known to be frustrated with the lack of progress on the CMEC and the Kyaukphyu port and special economic zone, which date to a 2011 memorandum of understanding.

In December 2023, the junta offered additional terms to placate China, which didnt extend an invitation to regime leader Min Aung Hlaing to the October Belt and Road Initiative summit in Beijing.

Fighting has intensified in the ports neighboring Ramree. The loss of control even around Kyaukphyu, the terminus of Chinas oil and gas pipelines, will further stall the project.

Clashing visions for Rakhine

Fourth, the AAs advances have important implications for the countrys inclusive, democratic, and federal future.

Of all the ethnic resistance organizations, the Arakan Army is the most predisposed towards independence; and have expressed skepticism towards the NUGs proposed Federal Democratic Charter for the multi-ethnic country of 55 million people.

The AA mistrusts the majority Bamar population to ever fully share power and agree to substantial devolution of political authority. Likewise, the AA had a bad relationship with the deposed National League for Democracy government of Aung San Suu Kyi, whose members still dominate the NUG.

More importantly, the AA is not in favor of democracy. Their political arm, the United League of Arakan, has moved to eliminate rivals and the AA leadership has shown little interest in sharing power. They see Rakhines future as a one-party state.

The AAs capture of Palweta has also caused tensions with the Chin National Front (CNF) and other Chin organizations, who view the strategic river town as theirs and mistrust the AAs long-term intentions.

Oil tanks that are part of China's oil pipeline project are seen on Maday island, Kyaukpyu township, Rakhine state, Myanmar, Oct. 7, 2015. (Soe Zeya Tun/Reuters)

Indeed, on Jan. 25, the Mara Defense Forces, a local peoples defense force under the AA, attacked the Chinland Defense Forces, a PDF under the CNF. While this could be merely a localized conflict, it could erode trust.

Finally, the AAs advance will impact the return of the one million Rohingya refugees who are living in squalid and dangerous refugee camps in neighboring Bangladesh.

The Buddhist-dominated AA has fought the Arakan Rohingya Solidarity Organization, whose attacks led to the militarys 2016-2017 ethnic cleansing campaign.

The AA has stated that the Rohingya can return  but talk is cheap, and they have been less clear than the NUGs stated position that the Rohingya are an ethnic group of Myanmar who deserve full legal rights.

The AAs advances may be key to the defeat of the Myanmar military, but they also pose challenges as planning for a post-military union is deliberated.

Zachary Abuza is a professor at the National War College in Washington and an adjunct at Georgetown University. The views expressed here are his own and do not reflect the position of the U.S. Department of Defense, the National War College, Georgetown University or Radio Free Asia.
COMBO) This combination of pictures created on Jan. 25, 2024 shows U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in Davos, Jan. 16, 2024 and China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Brasilia, Jan. 19, 2024.

U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has asked Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to use Beijings influence on Iran to push it to stop the Houthis in Yemen from attacking Red Sea trade routes.

The appeal came during two days of meetings in Bangkok between the pair, according to a senior Biden administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity according to rules set by the White House.

Over 12 hours, the pair also discussed Russias invasion of Ukraine, Myanmars civil war, North Korea, Israels war with Hamas, the South China Sea, fentanyl and artificial intelligence, the official said.

Just finished two days of meetings with Director Wang Yi in Bangkok to follow up on the Woodside Summit between President Biden and President Xi last November. pic.twitter.com/JcaXLbBBz1  Jake Sullivan (@JakeSullivan46) January 27, 2024







It was their first meeting since Oct. 26, when Wang visited Washington in the run-up to Chinese President Xi Jinpings trip to San Francisco in November for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, during which he also held direct talks with U.S. President Joe Biden.

The official said the meeting was meant to build on the commitments made during that summit, including to reinstate military-to-military talks and to stem illicit Chinese exports of precursors for fentanyl, which has been called a leading cause of death for American adults.

A working group on counternarcotics would be established on Tuesday and both Military-Maritime Consultative Agreement Meetings and talks about regulating artificial intelligence would be held in the Spring.

The two sides are committed to continuing these strategic channels of communication, the official said, adding there would be a telephone call between the two leaders at some point in the coming months.

Diplomatic telephone

On the apparently widening conflict in the Middle East that began with the attack on Israel by Hamas on Oct. 7, the White House official said Sullivan had pressed Wang to use Beijings influence on Iran to push it to end attacks by Houthis on trade ships transiting the Red Sea.

The Houthis latest attack took place Friday and this time directly targeted a U.S. warship, the USS Carney, which was patrolling the area to try to prevent further attacks in the lucrative trade route.

Both Hamas and the Houthis have been labeled proxies of Iran by the United States, with Tehran not viewed as having direct control of either group but being accused of funding and training both. The Houthis, meanwhile, are accused of targeting trade ships off Yemens coast in response to Israels invasion of Hamas-controlled Gaza.

As a major trading nation, China had its own interests in stopping the attacks on the Red Sea route and had the ability to pressure Iran as one of the biggest buyers of its oil, the White House official said.

We would characterize both the economic and trade relationship as giving Beijing leverage over Iran to some extent. How they choose to use that, of course, is China's choice, the official said.

Irans influence over the Houthis, and the Houthis destabilization of global shipping, raises serious concerns not just for the U.S. and China but for global trade, they added. There should be a clear interest in China in trying to quiet some of those attacks.

The civil war in Myanmar was also discussed by Sullivan and Wang, building off talks between Sullivan and Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on Friday, during which the official said Sullivan stressed the importance of getting humanitarian aid into Myanmar.

However, the official said the United States was less hopeful about Chinas assistance in pushing North Korea to end its growing nuclear weapons program or its recent provision of ballistic missiles to Russia.

I'm not sure I would characterize anything recently as constructive, the official said, adding the United States still hoped China would come round to helping bring us back to the path of denuclearization.
S. Leo Chiang's emotive piece on Kinmen is nominated for this year's Oscars in the 'short documentary' category.

S. Leo Chiang speaks during the 2020 Sundance Film Festival January 24, 2020 in Park City, Utah. His short documentary "The Island Between" is nominated for an Oscar this year.

S. Leo Chiang, whose short documentary "The Island Between" has just been nominated for an Oscar, grew up under the Kuomintang government of Taiwan, singing patriotic songs about how the Republic of China would one day join forces with the United States and run the evil communists out of mainland China.

Three decades later, revisiting the frontier island of Kinmen, just two miles across the sea from the southeastern Chinese city of Xiamen, he is more conflicted and pensive amid ongoing tensions  often military in expression  across the Taiwan Strait.

"Kinmen has been in the spotlight since the visit to Taipei by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in August as cross-Strait tensions rose and China conducted large-scale military drills around Taiwan," reads the promotional material for his film, which had garnered more than 174,000 views by Wednesday on The New York Times YouTube channel.

The island was a key battlefield at the beginning of the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis in 1958 when Chinese troops fired nearly half a million artillery shells on the archipelago, which is roughly the size of Brooklyn, it says.

This Dec. 7, 2023 image shows a statue with a banner that reads "Turn your Will into Strength" in Kinmen. It is one of many reminders of the conflict decades earlier with Chinese communist forces. (Sam Yeh/AFP)

More recently, Kinmen has been visited by Chinese drones, prompting Taiwans Democratic Progressive Party government to bolster the island's anti-drone defenses. The island has been shocked by the discovery that one of its generals was a Chinese spy.

Since then, Chiang has been putting his camera to work at the frontline of a war that has never been officially declared over by China, although it appears to have largely moved online for the time being.

"I knew that Kinmen had been the front line for Taiwan during the Chinese Civil War," Chiang says in the autobiographical film that includes family video clips and photos of his father who spent his national service on the island in 1968. "But it was still a shock to see that China is literally right there."

Island outpost

Chiang's camera lingers lovingly on the relics of the Chinese civil war: an abandoned tank on a beach; anti-landing spikes; a World War II era cannon fired to a ripple of applause for a tour group; a massive concrete speaker that plays sentimental hits by Taiwanese pop diva Teresa Teng and extols the benefits of a democratic way of life across the two miles of busy shipping lane that divides Kinmen from China.

His film portrays an island that has gotten used to its status as an outpost, whether of strident Republic of China nationalism in increasingly progressive Taiwan, or of resistance to China's far-reaching territorial claims on the democratic island and its 23 million residents, most of whom identify as Taiwanese, not Chinese.

"We were taught that we Taiwanese were Chinese in exile," he muses. "And, one day, with help from the U.S., we would retake China, freeing the mainland from the evil Communists, and Kinmen would be the launching pad."

A retired military tank sits on the beach in Kinmen, with China in the background, Dec.r 20, 2023. (Ann Wang/Reuters)

Since then, Chiang has spent plenty of time in China, discovering instead "an exhilarating place, bursting with colors and possibilities," and wondering about his own identity as a holder of Taiwanese and U.S. passports, as well as a Chinese-issued travel document for "Taiwan compatriots."

He finds kindred spirits in Kinmen, where "folks ... were still expected to defend Taiwan, even though they have family and history just on the other side of the divide," allowing the viewer to eavesdrop on a conversation between two women with ties on both sides, who have no time for war. They just want the ferry links that were closed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 to reopen.

"More and more, I feel like a kid whose parents are involved in a three-way custody battle  hostile, codependent, manipulative  each pair with their own dysfunctions," Chiang says. "They all think they know whats best for me. They dont care what I want."

And the residents of Kinmen have their own special take on current tensions.

"Many in Kinmen think that China will never attack Taiwan, and the U.S. should stop interfering," he says in the film.

Special permit required

Meanwhile, Taiwanese need to get a special pass to visit Kinmen.

"It feels like a visa," Chiang told Radio Free Asia in a recent interview. "You have to get a permit, which implies that Kinmen isn't actually a part of Taiwan."

"One person even told me that they expect Taiwanese to flee to Kinmen if China invades ... because it would be the safest place [in Taiwanese territory]," he said, adding that he had run across a number of people born in China who had made their homes in Kinmen.

Another young man gave Chiang an interview for the film, but then withdrew permission for it to be used, citing concerns about Chinese agents "settling scores" once the film went public.

Kinmen, shown here on December 5, 2023, is only 3 kilometers from Xiamen, China. It's so close, Taiwanese can see Chinese signs calling for unification. (Sam Yeh/AFP)

Other interviewees followed suit, citing similar reasons  a cultural habit of caution that further divides those who live on Kinmen from other Taiwanese.

"It's a sensitive topic, and they felt that there was always the danger that anything they said would come to the ears of China," Chiang said. "It felt a little sad, because [Taiwan] is so free. Can't they even express their own thoughts about their own families?"

"Kinmen still lives in fear, despite the ending of its status as a battlefield 32 years ago," he said.

Past ghosts

While intended mostly for an international audience who may not be familiar with the details of life on the island, Chiang's poignant film appears to have struck a chord with a number of different people, judging from its YouTube reception.

"I was born in Kinmen," commented YouTube user @shanchang6488. "People in Kinmen don't want war to happen, there are traces of war everywhere we can see. We know the horrors of war."

"When I was young, I often heard stories from my grandparents and family about the war," they said. "It can be said that Kinmen people have not yet emerged from the shadow of the war."

"A lot of scenes had me hitting the pause button, and I was moved for a long time afterwards," user @shanlin2554 commented. "[This film] is worth your time."

Anti-landing barricades remain on a beach in Kinmen December 20, 2023, that faces China's Xiamen. They serve as reminders of their armed conflict during the 1950s. (Ann Wang/Reuters)

User @headoverheels88 picked up on the casual way that Chiang's parents ask him what he plans to do in the event of a Chinese invasion.

"It's like watching past ghosts for a war that hasn't happened yet," they wrote. "Ghosts from the future."

Chiang ends his film with a nod to those ghosts, noting that Taiwanese compulsory military service has been extended to one year for all eligible men, starting in 2024.

"When these young men arrive in Kinmen, will they be surprised, like I am, by the peaceful sunsets the same ones that my father must have seen when he served here all those years ago  and by the kindness of the people here who are forever caught in between?"



Translated by Luisetta Mudie.
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 the White House National Security Council spokesperson saying they "are obviously not free nor fair given how Mr. Putin has imprisoned political opponents and prevented others from running against him."

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said "this is not what free and fair elections look like," adding in his message on X, formerly Twitter, that illegal elections have also been held on occupied Ukrainian territory.

The French Foreign Ministry said Putin's reelection came amid a wave of repression against civil society. It also praised in a statement the courage of "the many Russian citizens who peacefully protested against this attack on their fundamental political rights."

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 importants 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.

WATCH: Leading psychiatrists discuss how excessive power can impact brain functioning and what the impulse for total control reveals about the mind and personality traits of authority figures.

Putin was opposed by three relatively unknown, Kremlin-friendly politicians whose campaign was barely noticeable. The main intrigue was whether Russians would heed opposition calls to gather at polling stations at noon on March 17 to silently protest against Putins rule.

Russian media had reported in the months leading up to the election that the Kremlin was determined to engineer a victory for Putin that would surpass the 2018 results, when he won 77.5 percent of the vote with a turnout of 67.5 percent.

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 overwhelming support for Putin and his war, experts said.

Independent election observers were barred from working at this years presidential election for the first time in post-Soviet history, experts said. Russian elections have been notorious for ballot stuffing and other irregularities.

The vote was also held in Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, where hundreds of thousands of Russian soldiers are located.

The United States called the elections neither fair nor free.

'Noon Against Putin'

With options to express resistance severely limited by the lack of competition and repressive laws, opposition leaders called on voters opposed to Putin to gather near polls at noon to show the Kremlin and the country that they were still a force.

Russia's opposition movement suffered a serious blow last month when Aleksei Navalny, 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.

Long lines formed at polling stations across Russia's 11 time zones at the designated time for the "Noon Against Putin" protest, including in Novosibirsk, Chita, Yekaterinburg, Perm, and Moscow among other Russian cities.

"We're not really expecting anything, but I'd somehow like to make a record of this election for myself, tick the box for myself, so, when talking about it later, I could say that I didn't just sit at home, but came and tried to do something," said one Russian who came to vote at noon.

"The action has achieved its goals," Ivan Zhdanov, the head the Anti-Corruption Foundation formerly headed by Navalny, said in a YouTube video. "The action has shown that there is another Russia, there are people who stand against Putin."

The Moscow prosecutor's office had earlier warned of criminal prosecution against those who interfered with the vote, a step it said was necessary due to social-media posts "containing calls for an unlimited number of people to simultaneously arrive to participate in uncoordinated mass public events at polling stations in Moscow [at noon on March 17] in order to violate electoral legislation."

Lawyer Valeria Vetoshkina, who has left the country, told Current Time that if people do not bring posters and do not announce why they came to the polling station at that hour, it would be hard for the authorities to legitimately declare it a "violation."

But she warned that there were "some basic safety rules that you can follow if you're worried. The first is not to discuss why you came, just to vote. And secondly, it is better to come without any visual means of agitation: without posters, flags, and so on."

Ella Pamfilova, head of Russia's Central Election Commission (TsIK), on March 16 said there had been 20 cases of people attempting to destroy voting sheets by pouring liquids into ballot boxes and eight incidents of people trying to destroy ballots by setting them on fire or by using smoke bombs.

Russians living abroad also took part in the "Noon Against Putin" campaign, with hundreds of people lining up at 12 p.m. outside the Russian embassies in Sidney, Tokyo, Phuket, Dubai, Istanbul, Berlin, Paris, and Yerevan among other capitals.

"It's not an election. It's just a fake. And so we're here to show that not Russians elect the current leader of Russia, that we [are] against him very severely, and that lots of people had to flee their country to be free," said Anna, a Russian citizen living in Berlin and who gathered outside the embassy in the German capital.

Putin was challenged by Liberal Democratic Party leader Leonid Slutsky, State Duma deputy speaker Vladislav Davankov of the New People party, and State Duma lawmaker Nikolai Kharitonov of the Communist Party, none of whom opposed the war.

The Russian leader had the full resources of the state behind him, including the media, police, state-owned companies, and election officials.
In the winter of 1924, inhabitants of a small village near Tehran looked up as a metal-bodied airplane swooped in to land, bumped along a field, then collapsed in a cloud of dust after its landing gear broke.

The pilot of the plane was Swiss aviator Walter Mittelholzer, who had received an invitation from the Persian government to deliver a new Junkers aircraft to the country, which would be renamed Iran in 1935.

Kaspar Surber, a Swiss journalist who wrote a book on Mittelholzer, told RFE/RL the aviator was chosen for the flight to Persia in part to "popularize flying" through aerial images he would take there.

Mittelholzer was famous at the time for becoming the first person to extensively photograph Switzerland's mountains from an airplane.

In the 1920s, Surber says there was something of a "race" between German and British aviation companies to begin air services in Persia, making Mittelholzer's photography skills a key promotional advantage.

A Swiss newspaper wrote of the aviator, "The Swiss people know what to expect from their Mr. Mittelholzer, who can not only pilot a plane across unknown countries but also photograph and film in flight."

After their ignominious landing 40 kilometers outside of Tehran, Mittelholzer and mechanic Ernst Bissegger had a tense confrontation with villagers before help eventually arrived from the Persian capital and their aircraft was repaired.

Mittelholzer and Bissegger's flight of more than 3,000 kilometers from Switzerland to Persia included a standoff with Turkish authorities who confiscated their plane, troubles with poor-quality gasoline purchased in Baghdad, and erroneous maps that forced them into the ill-fated landing during which their plane's landing gear collapsed.

Mittelholzers initial impressions of the territory of Persia from above were of "areas that lie desolate and empty and wander past the observing eye for hours. Huge alluvial fans, piles of rubble, and deltas of saline rivers [that] characterize the country."

Isolated settlements occasionally came into view as the pair flew over Persian territory.

"Here and there a green patch shines," Mittelholzer wrote, "a space in the center of which features residents' mud huts rising on narrow and winding streets. Silver bands mark the irrigation channels at the edges of the gardens."

Mittelholzer seized the opportunity to photograph Persia extensively from above in photographs that are now held by the ETH Zurich library.

The Swiss aviator and photographer also made use of his camera on the ground to capture a country on the cusp of dramatic change under Reza Shah Pahlavi, a ruler who would become known as Persia's "modernizing strongman."

At the time of Mittelholzer's visit to Persia, the country was without major rail or road networks, and camel caravans were still in use as a means of foreign trade, making air transport an enticing possibility for the country's rulers.

With the aviation industry still in its infancy in Persia, Mittelholzer and Bissegger had the sky virtually to themselves as they swept low over urban centers to snap images that would soon stun European audiences.

Mittelholzer predicted that aerial photography would play a significant role in documentary imagery of the future.

"Another hitherto unseen world opens up before us. It is as if the Earth has thereby gained a new face, and man a new, unflawed eye," he wrote in 1928.

After spending several weeks inside Iran, the two Swiss aviators eventually made the long trek back to Central Europe by car. Mittelholzer would later co-found a company that became Swissair, Switzerland's national carrier until 2002. He died in a mountaineering accident in 1937 aged 43.

In a newspaper obituary, a friend noted that Mittelholzer's death in the mountains that he loved, and that had sparked his extraordinary career, had a certain tragic poetry: "They have embraced him 0n his last wanderings and claimed him, and perhaps he would not have wished for a better end, but alas it came all too soon, there was so much more for him to do."
A rare trip to prison by a Uzbek rights activist to see two bloggers who many say are unjustly jailed revealed one hopeful of an early release and life without journalism, while the other's mood was grim.

Abdurahmon Tashanov, the head of the human rights group Ezgulik (Goodness), was recently allowed to see Otabek Sattoriy and Dauletmurat Tajimuratov, who are serving 6 1/2- and 16-year prison terms, respectively, in different prisons.

The sentencing of the men has been widely condemned by Uzbek and international rights groups as a gross miscarriage of justice and blow to any hope of freedom of speech in the country.

In describing his meetings with the bloggers, Tashanov says he noticed two entirely different moods -- one really down and the other optimistic about his future.

Sattoriy's plans for life after prison include learning a new profession in the IT industry, according to Tashanov.

Sattoriy, 42, is known for investigating corruption allegations against local officials and criticizing regional authorities in his native Surkhondaryo Province on his vlog People's Opinion, which was on YouTube and Telegram until his arrest in 2021.

But Sattoriy says now he will not go back to blogging in the future and wants to "live a quiet life," Tashanov told RFE/RL after the prison visit in the southern city of Qarshi on January 13. "Otabek told me, 'I burned all my notes, I have no intention of blogging ever again,'" Tashanov said.

Sattoriy is "counting the days" until his expected early release in April, Tashanov said, adding that prison authorities told him Sattoriy would soon be freed.

He was convicted of extortion and slander in May 2021 in a case human rights groups say was politically motivated to punish the Termez-based blogger for his journalistic work.

Sattoriy's lawyer said the charges against him were fabricated and that the prosecution was unable to present any material evidence of wrongdoing by the blogger.

But Uzbek authorities reject the criticism, saying Sattoriy's arrest and conviction were lawful. His arrest was described by Human Rights Watch as blow to freedom of speech in Uzbekistan.

Sattoriy was transferred in December from a prison to a dormitory-like penitentiary located near an industrial facility where convicts work alongside regular employees. He works in a sewing factory, Tashanov said.

'Far From Optimistic'

In the prison in Navoi, in central Uzbekistan, there is no evidence of early release for 44-year-old Tajimuratov, a lawyer and blogger who is serving a 16-year sentence for anti-government protests in his native Karakalpakstan region in July 2022.

"Rather nervous and far from optimistic," Tashanov described Tajimuratov's mood after visiting him on January 12.

"He told me that on December 25 he was accused of violating internal prison rules," Tashanov told RFE/RL. "He also complained that letters and parcels sent to him from outside came after a delay, and that it's very difficult for his own letters to get out of the prison."

Tajimuratov, a lawyer for the El Khyzmetinde (At The People's Service) newspaper, was sentenced early last year with 21 other defendants accused of undermining the constitutional order of the country for taking part in mass protests in Karakalpakstan's capital, Nukus. Tajimuratov denies the charge.

In September 2023, his lawyer said Tajimuratov was being kept in solitary confinement with no access to information from the outside world -- such as newspapers or radio -- and wasn't allowed to use the prison library.

The lawyer added that Tajimuratov was also being denied access to adequate health care and not given proper meals. But Tashanov said Tajimuratov told him he was no longer being mistreated in prison.

Tashanov told RFE/RL he was allowed by prison authorities to have a private meeting with the incarcerated lawyer, though he said Tajimuratov told him prison officials exercised "excessive control of inmates' meetings with relatives that breaches prisoners' rights."

Uzbekistan says 21 people died in the Nukus protests that were sparked by Tashkent's announcement of a planned change to the Uzbek Constitution that would have removed the region's right to self-determination. The violence led the government to scrap the proposal.

The rights group Ezgulik said the meetings between Sattoriy and Tajimuratov took place after it asked the authorities to allow access to a "number of prisoners."

Uzbekistan has jailed several bloggers and even ordinary people who criticized the government and the authoritarian president, Shavkat Mirziyoev, online.
BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Two senior officials of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region have been subjected to disciplinary Party penalties for neglecting their duties and failing to fulfill their responsibilities in a deadly restaurant gas explosion last year, according to an official statement on Saturday.

Chen Chunping, vice chairman of the regional government of Ningxia, was given a warning within the Party, while Zhao Xuhui, Party chief of Yinchuan, the regional capital, was handed a severe warning. Both Chen and Zhao are standing committee members of the Communist Party of China (CPC) committee of Ningxia.

The decision to hand down penalties was made by the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) and approved by the CPC Central Committee.

The blast occurred on June 21, 2023, at a barbecue restaurant on a busy street in Yinchuan, when liquefied petroleum gas leaked from the restaurant, leaving 31 dead and seven injured.

A CCDI investigation found that Chen, who was in charge of Ningxia's affairs related to workplace safety, had neglected his administrative and supervisory duties related to the gas safety work of the autonomous region.

Zhao was found to have neglected his duties related to supervising the law-enforcement work of relevant departments and overseeing the gas and catering sectors.

Public security authorities of Ningxia launched a probe into 15 persons suspected of crimes in the incident, including the owner of the restaurant, and 11 of them have been arrested.

Besides, a total of 66 public servants have been held accountable for suspected violation of discipline and law, including five that are under disciplinary review and supervisory investigations for suspected serious violations of discipline, law and duty-related crimes.

The other 61 public servants, including officials of several departments of the autonomous regional government and a vice mayor of Yinchuan, were dealt with accordingly. 
Michael Bolton

Gardai investigating the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier have seized items from the flat of chief suspect Ian Bailey.

The body of Ms Toscan du Plantier, a 39-year-old French producer, was found badly beaten outside her holiday home in Schull, Co Cork, in December 1996.

Mr Bailey died from a suspected heart attack last Sunday in Cork. His remains were cremated on Tuesday in a private ceremony.

A team of 10 officers, made up of detectives based in Bantry, assisted by officers from the Serious Crime Review Team from Dublin, began searching Mr Baileys rented ground floor flat on Barrack Street in Bantry on Friday morning.

Gardai seized a large quantity of personal items, including several notebooks with his writings, as well as his mobile phone, laptop, hard drives and memory sticks and other electronic storage devices.

In a statement, a Garda spokesman said: As part of the ongoing investigation into the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier in 1996, gardai conducted a search under warrant of a residential property in Bantry, County Cork earlier today.

Gardai left items they felt would be of no evidential value in their investigation, including Mr Baileys clothing, his large collection of CDs and his wooden carvings.

Mr Bailey had been living in a flat in Glengarriff after he separated from his partner of 30 years, Jules Thomas, in March 2021.

He had been convicted of her murder in his absence by a Paris court in May 2019, which imposed a 25-year sentence.

Mr Bailey had always vehemently denied any involvement in Ms Toscan du Plantiers death.

Her son, Pierre-Louis Baudey-Vignaud, said his family is continuing efforts for truth and justice.

Earlier this week, he said: An investigation is still under way in Ireland and we are confident that the discovery of new evidence, the hearing of new witnesses, and the revelation of possible complicity will enable Irish police to close the case, finally, 27 years after my mothers murder.
Former councillor Domnick Connolly who resigned from Fine Gael in 2011 over the Roscommon Hospital issue will now run as a candidate for the party in this summers local elections.

Mr Connolly and sitting councillor John Naughten were ratified at a Fine Gael convention in the Athlone Springs Hotel yesterday evening (Friday), and both will run in the Athlone Municipal District.

While a sitting Fine Gael councillor in 2011, the Fuerty native resigned along with fellow party councillor Laurence Fallon over the controversial closure of the A&E department at Roscommon County Hospital.

This week, Mr Fallon, who is currently a sitting Independent councillor in the Athlone Municipal District, confirmed he will seek re-election to Roscommon County Council in this years local elections.
KIGALI, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- At least 11 people have been confirmed dead and four more missing after a boat capsized on a river in eastern Rwanda, an official said Saturday.

The accident occurred on Friday evening on River Mugesera in Rwamagana District. The boat was carrying passengers, mainly farmers who were returning from harvesting their produce in Rukumberi sector in Ngoma district, heading to Rwamagana district, when it capsized due to a strong wind that sank the boat, according to local officials.

"There were 46 passengers on board; as of Saturday morning, 11 bodies were recovered, while 31 people were rescued," the district mayor Radjab Mbonyumuvunyi told reporters.

"The search for four more people is still ongoing," said Mbonyumuvunyi, attributing the accident to overloading.

He said the boat was overloaded with passengers and agricultural produce including maize and beans, as several people were returning from harvesting their produce across the river. 
India-spec Hyundai Creta N Line will get a 1.5L turbo petrol powertrain with 160 PS and 253 Nm, unlike Brazil-spec model with a 1.0L turbo

Creta has been Hyundais highest-seller for a long time. Updating it periodically is paramount for Hyundai. Especially when the newcomer Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara is brooding over Cretas neck at 2nd spot with the gap closing every month. Honda Elevate and Citroen C3 Aircross will enter this space soon too. Hyundai recently updated Creta in the form of a facelift. Now, they are getting ready to launch the N Line version of the same.

2024 Hyundai Creta N Line

Ahead of launch, the new 2024 Hyundai Creta N Line has been spied undisguised while it was out for a TVC shoot in Mumbai. It is seen in the signature dark blue shade as well as a matte finish.

India will get the 1.5L turbo petrol motor. This engine generates 160 PS of power and 253 Nm of torque, a far cry from the 1.0L unit. A 6-speed manual and a 7-speed DCT transmission options are likely. In Verna, this engine can propel from 0-100 km/h in 8.1 seconds. Given Cretas less streamlined SUV crossover design, 0-100 km/h under 9 seconds is highly possible.

N Line gets special treatment

Hyundai Creta N Line will get some extra goodies not offered on regular variants. A throatier exhaust, stiffer suspension, red exterior and interior highlights, and a weighty steering wheel are possible. 2024 Creta N Line gets 18 wheels like Seltos X Line. It does lend Creta some muscle.

On the outside, Hyundai Creta N Line will get multiple design elements to distinguish it from regular models. Wheels will get N badging instead of Hyundais logo. Multiple N Line badges at front grille, side fenders and rear tailgate are likely as well.

Cretas first N Line variant in India

Features list will be extensive with the facelift. Not that Creta is under-specced in any way, to begin with. Panoramic sunroof, all four disc brakes, electrically adjustable drivers seat, cruise control, climate control, auto headlights and wipers, and a large touchscreen system with smartphone connectivity, rear sun blinds and recently offered rear seat recline function are notable elements.

Creta facelift gets ADAS to the table and N Line will get it too. Hyundai Creta N Line primarily rivals Skoda Kushaq 1.5 turbo, Volkswagen Taigun 1.5 turbo, upcoming Seltos X Line and MG Astor 1.3 turbo. Expect prices of the new Creta N Line to be about Rs 1 lakh more than respective turbo petrol Creta variants on offer currently.

1 of 11

Source
A man was shot in his arm on a street in Linda Vista Friday, and San Diego police detained another man for questioning.

The victim called police himself about 8:40 a.m. Officers found him in a home on Crandall Drive, near Gateshead Street.

He had a gunshot wound to his left arm, police said.

Advertisement

Police said the victim related that hed been outside and heard at least one shot, and realized he was wounded.

Officers detained a 38-year-old man for questioning and later booked him into jail on a count of assault with a deadly weapon.

Medics were called in to assist the wounded man.
ACCRA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- A Sierra Leonean minister has called for the removal of various barriers that hinder the trade within the African continent.

Minister for Trade and Industry Ibrahim Alpha Sesay made this call on Friday during a panel discussion at the Africa Prosperity Dialogue in Ghana's Eastern Region.

"Most of the systems we apply on the continent are still not automated and not digitalized, so we still have a lot of bureaucratic bottlenecks, and where there is bureaucracy, the cost of doing business increases," the minister said.

Sesay said due to these barriers, there is a long delay in the movement of transit cargo between countries, increasing the cost of doing business and making the goods uncompetitive.

He, therefore, called for a rapid transformation of border and port control and tariff systems to enhance intra-Africa trade and boost the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Sesay also urged African leaders to improve trading regulations to promote a seamless continental trade area.

The three-day Africa Prosperity Dialogue, which closed on Saturday, is organized annually by the AfCFTA Secretariat and the African Prosperity Network, a think tank, to create a platform for technocrats, political and business leaders to formulate ideas that will help transform Africa into a global powerhouse. 
BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- A test version of the reusable Kuaizhou rocket completed a vertical takeoff and landing experiment on Friday afternoon.

The test rocket, developed by the Expace Technology Co., Ltd., a company affiliated with the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation Limited, used a liquid oxygen methane engine. The flight time lasted 22 seconds, and the rocket hovered in the air for nine seconds, with a height accuracy of 0.15 meter.

The landing posture of the test rocket was stable, the landing position accurate and the rocket body in good condition, signifying the success of the experiment, according to the company.

This has laid a foundation for the development of the reusable Kuaizhou rocket series, the company said. 
XIAMEN, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- In recent years, the coastal city of Xiamen in east China's Fujian Province has drawn on technological innovation to enhance the protection of its nearby sea areas.

At a marine environment management station of Xiamen's environmental hygiene center, the main screen displayed a comprehensive digital map of the city and its nearby sea areas. The map depicted many red and green arrows constantly shifting and creating trails minute by minute.

"These arrows indicate the possible routes of ocean trash," said Zhang Lianghua, director of the station. He explained that the detection and collection of ocean trash became more efficient thanks to the newly developed intelligent marine hygiene platform.

The platform, developed by Xiamen University for the station, was put to use in 2022. Liang noted that the platform features an algorithm for ocean garbage forecasts, which takes multiple factors into consideration, such as weather conditions and water dynamics.

"In accordance with the estimated route of the trash, we can dispatch our cleaning teams to intercept it in time," said Liang, adding that after the job is done, field data will be compared with the statistics provided by the platform, the results of which will be used to improve the algorithm's accuracy.

The station is now working closely with Xiamen University to develop a function for identifying different types of ocean trash for the platform, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2024, Liang said.

Apart from improving the environment of sea areas, technological advancement has also improved the city's capability of marine life preservation, especially some endangered species.

At a national-level nature reserve for rare marine species in Xiamen, an extensive system has been set up to monitor the activities of Chinese white dolphins, a species under first-class protection in China. According to Cai Libo, an official with the reserve, the system is equipped with cameras, hydrophones and drones, and patrol teams are routinely deployed for effective monitoring and management.

"Through this system, we can easily pinpoint the whereabouts of Chinese white dolphins," said Cai. "For instance, during important periods, such as their breeding period, we can quickly locate their area of activities, and notify vessels to avoid these areas."

With the help of the system, the reserve can more efficiently track the dolphins and respond to emergencies. Over the years, it has seen steady growth in its white dolphin population. 
PHNOM PENH, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- A seven-month-old endangered Asian elephant was spotted dead in Cambodia's Mondulkiri province, with a sharp force injury in the lower part of its chest, said a Ministry of Environment's statement on Saturday.

Rangers found the 200-kg elephant dead in a forest in Kaoh Nheaek district on Friday, the statement said.

"An autopsy was carried out, but authorities did not find a bullet in the mammal," the statement said, adding that a further probe is underway.

"The Ministry of Environment would like to express its deepest condolences for the loss of this rare species in Cambodia's protected area and condemn the perpetrators for their crime against the Law on Natural Protected Areas," it said.

The ministry also called on relevant authorities to launch a thorough investigation into the case to arrest the perpetrators for prosecution in accordance with the law.

Listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) are some of the largest mammals on the planet.

According to the statement, it is estimated that there are currently 500 to 600 Asian elephants in Cambodia's natural forests, mainly in the Cardamom Mountains and eastern plains of Mondulkiri, Ratanakiri and Stung Treng provinces. 
HAIKOU, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Legislators in China's southernmost province of Hainan on Saturday gathered to vote on government projects concerning people's wellbeing, an embodiment of the country's efforts in promoting whole-process people's democracy.

The 365 deputies to the Hainan Provincial People's Congress, the provincial legislature, voted on 12 candidate projects, selecting 10 to be implemented with government funding in 2024. The chosen projects include free vaccination against hepatitis B and a drive to make infant care more accessible.

It marks the first time that a provincial-level legislature has voted on the government agenda on improving people's wellbeing.

The voting was held after the provincial people's congress approved a decision to set rules on such voting and to demand people's congresses at all levels in the province follow suit by the end of 2025.

The 12 candidate projects come from suggestions and proposals raised by legislators, local authorities and the public, according to Bateer, vice governor of the province.

The government used to be the final decision maker on livelihood projects. Giving the final say to the people's congress is expected to boost public participation in governance, deputies said.

"Next, the people's congress will enhance supervision to ensure effective enforcement of the projects," said Wang Guang, a researcher with the Hainan Provincial People's Congress Standing Committee.

Voting on quality-of-life projects by local legislators was started in 2008 in two townships in the city of Ningbo, Zhejiang Province. The practice has previously been implemented at the city and lower-level people's congresses in Chinese provinces including Anhui, Gansu and Shaanxi. 
India and France have committed to enhancing collaboration in the Southwest Indian Ocean, leveraging joint surveillance missions conducted from the French island territory of La Reunion in 2020 and 2022. The extension of these engagements in India's maritime vicinity was warmly received by both nations. The India-France Joint Statement, released after French President Emmanuel Macron's visit for Republic Day celebrations, notes the potential positive impact of securing strategic sea lanes of communication.

Prime Minister Modi and French President Macron reiterated their commitment to further deepen the long-standing partnership between the two countries, based on their common vision for the Indo-Pacific region. The leaders emphasized the region's significance for their respective sovereign and strategic interests. They also acknowledged the crucial role of their partnership in the region for the advancement of a free, open, inclusive, secure and peaceful Indo-Pacific and beyond. Referring to the Comprehensive Roadmap for the Indo-Pacific, which was finalized in July 2023, they expressed satisfaction at the expanding nature of their engagement in the region.

According to the joint statement, the defense and security alliance has been pivotal to the India-France collaboration in the Indo-Pacific, encompassing a broad spectrum of bilateral, multinational, regional, and institutional endeavors, particularly in the Indian Ocean Region. Prime Minister Modi and President Macron have pledged to rejuvenate trilateral cooperation with Australia, enhance ties with the UAE, and consider new partnerships in the region, as stated in the release.

Noting the importance of joint and multilateral initiatives, for supporting sustainable economic development, human welfare, environmental sustainability, resilient infrastructure, innovation and connectivity in the region, the two leaders asked their governments to identify concrete projects. Furthermore, the two leaders called for the early launching of the Indo-Pacific Triangular Development Cooperation Fund to facilitate the scaling up of green technologies being developed in the region, as per the joint statement. They agreed to explore opportunities for coordinating economic projects and programmes in the Pacific. Both leaders acknowledged projects being carried out by the French Development Agency in India.

The leaders reflected on the inauguration of the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC) during the G20 Summit in Delhi in September 2023. President Macron commended Prime Minister Modi for his leadership in spearheading this momentous initiative. Both leaders concurred on the project's considerable strategic significance, acknowledging its potential to substantially bolster the efficiency and resilience of trade and energy flows among India, the Middle East, and Europe.

Prime Minister Modi welcomed the appointment of President Macron's Special Envoy for the project. The two leaders further recalled their discussions in their July Summit in Paris on various other connectivity projects from Southeast Asia to the Middle East and Africa and agreed to explore specific projects. PM Modi and Macron reiterated their call for reformed and effective multilateralism to sustain an equitable and peaceful international order, address pressing global challenges and prepare the world for emerging developments, including in the technological and economic domains. The two leaders stressed, in particular, the urgent need for the reform of the United Nations Security Council and called for the early commencement of text-based negotiations at the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) in the UN.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A Staten Island man has admitted to passing counterfeit currency at several out-of-state retailers, according to a press release issued this week by federal prosecutors.

Ahmed Brima, of New Brighton, during a hearing Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to passing counterfeit federal reserve notes.
WASHINGTON  House Speaker Mike Johnson took a strong stand Friday against a bipartisan Senate deal to pair border enforcement measures with Ukraine aid, sending a letter to colleagues that aligns him with hardline conservatives determined to sink the compromise on border and immigration policy.

Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, said that the legislation would have been dead on arrival in the House if leaked reports about the legislation were true. While the core group of senators negotiating the deal have not yet released text of the bill, it has nevertheless come under fire from Republicans, including Donald Trump, the likely presidential nominee, who eviscerated the deal this week as a political gift to Democrats.

Johnson in the letter said, Rather than accept accountability, President Biden is now trying to blame Congress for what HE himself intentionally created.

The message added to the headwinds facing the border and Ukraine deal, closing a week in which Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell acknowledged to his colleagues that the legislation faced tough opposition from Trump that could force them to pursue Ukraine aid another way. He later clarified that he was still supportive of pairing border measures with Ukraine aid  an arrangement that Senate Republicans initially demanded to gain their votes for funding Ukraines war.

The diminishing prospects for a deal leave congressional leaders with no clear path to approving a $110 billion White House request for emergency funding for Ukraine, Israel, immigration enforcement and other national security needs. President Joe Biden has made it a top priority to bolster Kyivs defense against Russia, but his administration has run out of money to send ammunition and missiles. Ukraine supporters warn that the impasse in Congress is already being felt on battlefields and leaving Ukrainian soldiers outgunned.

Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford, the lead GOP negotiator in the border talks, has repeatedly urged lawmakers to refrain from passing final judgment on the bill until they receive legislative text and said some of the reports of its contents in conservative media are not accurate depictions of the bill. Negotiators were hoping to release text next week, but have struggled to finalize the package.

The Republican speaker was already deeply skeptical of any bipartisan compromise on border policy. On Friday, he again pointed to a sweeping set of immigration measures that the House passed last year as being the answer to the nations border challenges. But that bill failed to gain a single Democratic vote then and has virtually no chance of picking up Democratic support now, which would be necessary to clear the Senate.

As they enter an election year, Republicans are seeking to drive home the fact that historic numbers of migrants have come to the U.S. during Bidens presidency. His administration has countered that global unrest is driving the migration and has sought to implement humane policies on border enforcement.

They have to choose whether they want to solve a problem, actually solve a problem like the Senate is trying to do in a bipartisan way, said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, of House Republicans. Or, you know, get in the way and score political points.

Leaning into the push on immigration, the speaker said in his letter that the House would hold a vote on impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas as soon as possible after a committee advances articles of impeachment against him next week. Johnson also said he was standing with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who has refused to give federal Border Patrol agents access to a riverfront park that is a popular corridor for migrants illegally entering the U.S.

But the speaker is also under potential pressure himself.

If the Senate were to pass an immigration and Ukraine package, he would face a decision about whether to bring the measure to the floor. And while the speaker is skeptical of continued funding for Ukraine, he has also expressed support for halting Russian President Vladimir Putins advance in Europe.

At the same time, hardline House conservatives have become vocal opponents of any compromise on immigration policy. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a hard-right Republican of Georgia, has threatened to initiate an effort to oust Johnson if he put the Senate deal on the House floor.

This bill represents Senate Republican leadership waging war on House Republican leadership, said Sen. Ted Cruz, a Republican of Texas, at a news conference this week.

Still, other Republicans have lamented that conservatives are throwing away an opportunity to gain a victory on an issue they have talked about far more than Democrats. The proposal would enact tougher standards on migrants seeking asylum as well as deny asylum applications at the border if daily migrant encounters grew to be unmanageable for authorities.

But reports about the details of the bill among conservative advocacy groups and in conservative media have focused on the measures intended to aid migrants already in the country.

Opposition from the right has stymied efforts to reform immigration law in Congress for decades. Trump allies have argued that Congress does not need to act because presidents already have enough authority to implement tough border measures.

Johnson echoed that sentiment in his letter, arguing that Biden could start to fix the border problems with the stroke of a pen.

Sen. Markwayne Mullin, an Oklahoma Republican, said earlier this month that conservative reports on the bill had ginned up a lot of the base voters against the proposals, even as the policy represented meaningful changes to immigration enforcement.

This is a national security issue, Mullin said. And if youre waiting until another president gets in, youre playing politics with it.

Associated Press writer Aamer Madhani contributed.
URUMQI, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Three days after a 7.1-magnitude earthquake jolted Aksu Prefecture in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, shops and restaurants have gradually reopened while people in resettlement sites have received an ample supply of essential items.

Kuatibek Jumahun, who owns a barbershop in Aksu, told Xinhua that he resumed business on Thursday afternoon, and by Friday he had already served more than 30 customers.

After the earthquake, more than 40 industrial enterprises in the prefecture's Wushi County halted operations to ensure safety. As of Friday, except for one company that is still undergoing safety maintenance, all the other enterprises have resumed normal production.

As of Friday, despite aftershocks in Wushi and neighboring Akqi County, the resettlement sites in the two counties have maintained consistent water, heating and power supply. The local fire, health and power supply departments have ensured the secure functioning of the resettlement sites.

At present, 8,714 people in Wushi and 9,632 people in Akqi are living in the resettlement sites, while safety inspections of their houses are being carried out.

Zeng Jun, a firefighter from Alaer City who was involved in the relief efforts, told Xinhua that upon reaching the earthquake-affected area, they promptly engaged in tasks such as inspecting houses, erecting tents, and assisting the locals in locating their cattle and sheep.

The 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Wushi at 2:09 a.m. Tuesday, leaving 3 people dead and five others injured in Wushi and Akqi. As the outside temperature dropped to minus 13 degrees Celsius around 9 p.m., a resettlement site was built in close proximity to the epicenter in Wushi, with relief supplies and volunteers continuing to pour in.

According to Turak Aishah, a local resident who joined the relief work, there were no casualties in the village. The houses constructed with assistance from the local government demonstrated earthquake resistance. However, to further ensure safety, authorities have mobilized villagers to temporarily relocate to the resettlement site while inspections of their homes are conducted.

"During the tremor, the closet in my home fell, and bowls were shattered on the ground, but the house is intact," said Turak, adding that with so much care and assistance received over the past days, he is confident about returning home soon.

Wang Yongqiang, a volunteer from Urumqi, said that he and his colleagues rushed to Aksu following the earthquake, delivering 34 tonnes of flour and 10 tonnes of salad oil to the affected people just two days after the seismic event.

"I wouldn't have been able to arrange so many supplies in such a short time without people's support. There is a collective desire among everyone to offer help," he added. 
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The father of a Staten Island lawyer who was shot to death while on vacation in Chile shared a touching tribute he penned about his son a year after the slaying.

As I flew to Santiago, I was an angry father, who didnt believe I could manage a civil conversation with any Chilean, wrote Eric D. Garvin, the father of homicide victim Eric E. Garvin, 38, of Stapleton, in a heartfelt message he shared with the Advance/SILive.com. Understandably, I was consumed by and obsessed with anger.

The past year has been a bitter reminder to the family of the gun violence that took their beloved son and brother on Jan. 14, 2023.

The younger Garvin, who was known as Gene, was innocently taking a photo of a building in a crime-infested area of Santiago when he was set upon by three unknown men who shot and killed him, his father previously told the Advance/SILive.com.

Eric Garvin at the Staten Island Advance Women of Achievement luncheon in 2012. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)

During our visit to Chile, my daughter and I met so many wonderful Chileans from all walks of life, that were genuinely empathetic about my sons tragic death, said the father, a retired United States Air Force Colonel. Along this journey, my daughter and I realized that Genes murder was not only a tragedy to our family, but also to Chile.

An avid traveler and lawyer who had visited over 40 countries, Gene was targeted because the assailants likely mistook him to be working with police, according to previous reports.

It was only after searching nearly a week for their relative that the Garvin family was informed that his body had been discovered in a hospital morgue by Santiago police.

My sons murder was a reminder to Chileans of the growing violence that is threatening to ruin their magnificent country, said the father in the tribute.

In the letter, he recalled how, one by one, Chileans, with their kindness and compassion, melted away his anger  something that he thought was impossible.

From left, Eric E. Garvin, poses with his family, 2012 Women of Achievement honoree Marjorie Garvin, and his parents, Anna and Eric Garvin. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel) (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)

I couldnt see beyond my anger, the father wrote. Fortunately, God spoke to my heart, using Chileans as his instruments to touch my heart.

The murder prompted the United States Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs to change Chiles travel advisory from a Level 1 to a Level 2, calling for increased caution for Americans visiting.

Ironically, my sons original travel plans were to travel to Peru. However, due to the civil unrest and violence in Peru, he decided at the last minute to travel to Chile because he thought it would be safer, the letter read.

A SENSELESS SLAYING

According to Advance/SILive.com reports, the killers accosted Garvin the night of the murder after encountering him at an intersection near the restaurant where he had set out to eat dinner.

Two suspects arrested are reportedly immigrants to Chile and alleged members of a violent gang, reports indicate. According to the father, police said the guns used in Garvins murder have been linked to four other homicides that occurred in 2022.

The U.S. State Departments travel advisory did not reflect the growing violence in Chile, penned the father. The travel advisory focused exclusively on civil unrest.

Chilean authorities apprehended the men during a March raid, in the proximity of Santiago. More than 150 officers were present to carry out the raid, police said.

One of the men arrested, an immigrant from Peru, died in prison in July of tuberculosis, the father said. The second is currently awaiting trial in a Chilean prison.

Our enduring commitment to seeing justice is an emphatic statement that Genes life mattered, said the dedicated dad. We are going to fight non-stop until justice is done.

A RESPECTED REPUTATION

In February, community leaders, family and loved ones united to remember Genes legacy. Malcolm Penn and Mike Perry of Penn & Perry Inc., in partnership with Chris Foye of the Chris S. Owens Foundation, hosted a remembrance ceremony and balloon release in his honor.

Balloons are released in memory of Eric E. Garvin on Feb. 11, 2023. (Staten Island Advance/Luke Peteley)(Staten Island Advance/Luke Pete

In May, the New York State Legislature in Albany honored Genes life with a proclamation on the floor of the Assembly and Senate. Assemblyman Charles Fall (D-North Shore) and state Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (D-North Shore/South Brooklyn) co-sponsored the honor for the life and humanitarian work of the slain lawyer, who was an advocate against gun violence in New York City.

Eric E. Garvin, 38, posthumously receives a resolution and proclamation at the New York State Capital.The Office of Assemblyman Charle

In August, Councilwoman Kamillah Hanks (D-North Shore) sponsored the renaming of the intersection at Front Street and Navy Pier Court in Stapleton  where Gene once called home  to be renamed Eric Garvin Way.

Councilwoman Kamillah Hanks (D-North Shore) sponsored the renaming of the intersection at Front Street and Navy Pier Court in Stapleton to be renamed Eric Garvin Way. (Garvin Family photo)Garvin Family photo

Borough President Vito Fossella declared Aug. 13, 2023, as Eric Eugene Garvin Day in the borough. The posthumous honor came on what would have been Garvins 39th birthday.

The Eric E. Garvin Day ceremony at Central Family Life Center on Aug. 13, 2023. (Staten Island Advance/Shaina McLawrence)Shaina McLawrence

In October, Genes alma mater, the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, established the Eric E. Garvin 10 Exploration Fellow Endowment to assist law students who aspire to expand their legal education by studying or working abroad.

Garvin endures in his loved ones memories.

As some people journey through life, they leave footprints whenever they go  footprints of kindness, compassion, inspiration and love, wrote the father. Even when they are gone, we still look back and see the trail they left behind. A trail is bright with hope that invites us to follow.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Borough President Vito Fossella announced Friday an updated complaint in his federal court case against New Yorks congestion pricing plan  likening it to one of Staten Islands greatest environmental disasters.

Fossella brought the lawsuit earlier this month with the United Federation of Teachers, led by Staten Islander Michael Mulgrew and a host of the citys public school teachers.

The updated complaint filed Friday added a host of new complainants, including a bi-partisan group of the states elected officials, and an additional cause of action.

This plan is nothing more than another toll and tax on the people of Staten Island, Fossella said. This tolling plan will essentially shift air pollution from Manhattan to Staten Island, and to parts of Staten Island, especially the North Shore, which already suffer from some of the worst air pollution in the City of New York. It is unconscionable that the city would knowingly and deliberately increase the air pollution of our borough for the next 50 years, especially after making Staten Island suffer from 50 years of the Fresh Kills Landfill.

Borough President Vito Fossella and the United Federation of Teachers have filed a lawsuit in federal court in an attempt to block the implementation of New York City's congestion pricing program. (Staten Island Advance/Erik Bascome)Staten Island Advance/Erik Bascome

The MTAs new program would see motorists charged as much as $15 for entering Manhattan below 60th Street starting in May if the agency gets its way.

However, several lawsuits, including Fossellas, might delay the program that became law in 2019 but has since drawn pushback from New Yorkers and elected officials.

Staten Island elected officials Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/South Brooklyn), State Sen. Andrew Lanza (R-South Shore), State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (D-North Shore), Assemblyman Michael Reilly (R-South Shore), Assemblyman Michael Tannousis (R-East Shore/South Brooklyn), Councilman Joseph Borelli (R-South Shore), Councilman David Carr (R-Mid-Island), and Councilwoman Kamillah Hanks (D-North Shore) joined the lawsuit.

Cliff Hagen, a Staten Island public school teacher and environmentalist who heads the Protectors of Pine Oak Woods organization, also joined the lawsuit, citing negative impacts to air quality thanks to traffic diverted from Manhattan.

Off-borough elected officials who joined the lawsuit include State Sen. James Skoufis (D-Hudson Valley), Assemblyman David Weprin (D-Queens), and Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther (D-Sullivan).

Additionally, the latest filing in Fossellas lawsuit in the Eastern District of New York argued that the congestion pricing plan violates New Yorkers right to clean air and water, and a healthful environment, as enshrined in the state constitution.

Today, we filed a lawsuit in Federal Court (the Eastern District of New York) to protect the people of Staten Island from the implementation of a congestion pricing plan that will inflict environmental and economic harm and damage to the people and the neighborhoods of Staten Island, the borough president said.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  New Yorks tuition-free college scholarship application deadline is fast approaching, and Gov. Kathy Hochul is urging students to act quickly to take advantage of the opportunity for the Spring 2024 semester.

The state scholarship program offers free tuition to eligible City University of New York (CUNY) and State University of New York (SUNY) students, and applications will be accepted through Feb. 1.

The Excelsior Scholarship program applications are now open for the spring 2024 term, and are available to first-time students and those who never received the scholarship prior. They must live in a household that makes less than $125,000 a year, the governor announced in December 2023.

The scholarship provides a potential for a tuition-free college experience for eligible state residents by filling a tuition gap after federal and state financial aid.

New York states college finance programs led to more than 263,000 students receiving state financial aid in the 2021-2022 academic year. That includes approximately 30,000 students who attended a SUNY or CUNY college tuition-free because of the Excelsior Scholarship.

The Excelsior Scholarship is a game changer for students across New York state who might not have the financial means to pursue higher education, Hochul said in December. This program is making college more affordable and accessible for low- and middle-income families, giving them the opportunity to obtain their college degree. By investing in our future workforce, we are investing in our economy and ensuring a strong and prosperous future for all New Yorkers.

In addition to the household income requirements, first-time students also need to plan to attend a SUNY or CUNY two- or four-year college, completing an associates or bachelors degree while reaching 30 credits per year toward their program of study.

The Excelsior Scholarship has enabled thousands of CUNY students to attend college tuition-free, said CUNY Chancellor Felix V. Matos Rodriguez. Since its inception, the program has become an important asset to our historical mission of opening doors to educational advancement, career success and upward mobility for New Yorkers of all backgrounds. We thank Governor Hochul for her continued support of the Excelsior program and urge all eligible students to apply for the scholarship.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Speaker Adrienne Adams announced Friday that the New York City Council is set to override Mayor Eric Adams vetoes of two controversial public safety bills.

Mayor Adams and his allies have been on a political blitz against the bills that would require cops to track their investigative interactions with the public and ban solitary confinement in city jails.

Speaker Adams said in her Friday statement that the Council has no intention of reversing course on the bills that it passed at the end of last year.

We should all be united in advancing our city by recognizing the harmful legacies of injustice that undermine the health and safety of our city and its neighborhoods, said Speaker Adams. The Council has no interest in prolonging a conversation that has been made unnecessarily toxic by the spreading of fear and misinformation, and we plan to override the mayors recent vetoes on Tuesday.

City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams speaks at a podium on Friday, April 29, 2022. (John McCarten/NYC Council Media Unit)

Both pieces of legislation passed the Council with veto-proof majorities, and Speaker Adams will need 34 votes to override Mayor Adams vetoes made earlier this month.

City Councilwoman Kamillah Hanks (D-North Shore) was the only Staten Island councilmember to vote in favor of the two pieces of legislation, with Councilman David Carr (R-Mid-Island) and Councilman Joseph Borelli (R-South Shore) voting against.

Opponents of the How Many Stops legislation have framed the bill as requiring officers to track every single interaction they have with members of the public, but the language of the legislation specifies investigative encounters, while excluding everyday casual conversations.

The NYPD Sergeants Benevolent Association (SBA) issued a scathing statement against Hanks, who had chaired Councils Committee on Public Safety, shortly after the How Many Stops legislation passed.

District Attorney Michael McMahon also penned an op-ed criticizing the How Many Stops legislation, but a spokesperson said he would not like to comment specifically on Hanks vote.

While Hanks isnt considered far left in Staten Islands political circles, her votes marked some of her careers most significant breaks with her local Republican colleagues.

A resident of Stapleton, Hanks said she understood the concerns of police officers, who mostly complained about an increased paperwork load in regard to the legislation, but that her support for the law was about balancing that with concerns from communities like the one she calls home.

For folks who do not live in neighborhoods where there is an excess and a history of violence, the How Many Stops bill may seem counterproductive. However, as Chair of the Committee on Public Safety and the representative of the 49th District, my family and I live in such a neighborhood, she said Tuesday. We unfortunately and statistically will have more interactions with police  whether we are the bad actors or not. This reporting bill is for the hardworking families who live in these communities that have dealt with both the violence and the enforcement. That is who I voted for on Wednesday.

The ban on solitary confinement has also received pushback, including from Federal Monitor Steve Martin, who oversees city jails as part of a 2015 court agreement.

Martin, who has had a rocky relationship with the Department of Correction under Mayor Adams, sent a Jan. 12 letter laying out his concerns with the legislation.

The Monitoring Team believes that eliminating solitary confinement is necessary and important, he wrote. However, the Monitoring Team has deep concerns about many of the bills provisions related to the use of restrictive housing, de-escalation, emergency lock-ins, and the use of restraints and escort procedures. Many of the provisions, as currently drafted, could inadvertently undermine the overall goals of protecting individuals from harm, promoting sound correctional practice and improving safety for those in custody and jail staff.

Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, one of the citys most liberal elected officials, was the main backer of the bills.

Mayor Adams office staff did not respond to a request for comment by the time of publication, but told the New York Post Friday that they urge the City Council to uphold the mayors veto.

We share the Councils goal of increasing transparency in government and tried to work with them to achieve that  the answer is not to compromise public safety or justice but to work together to craft real solutions, a spokesperson told the tabloid.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The NYPD is seeking the publics assistance in locating a 36-year-old man who was reported missing from his home in Port Richmond.

Nelson Gonzalez, who lives in the vicinity of Castleton Avenue and Port Richmond Avenue, was last seen leaving his residence at around 3:10 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 25, according to a statement from the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information.

Police describe the man as standing about 5-feet, 10-inches tall and weighing approximately 180 pounds. Gonzalez is also noted for having brown eyes, black hair, a black beard and a thin build. He was last seen wearing a black jacket, black hoodie sweater, gray sweatpants and gray sneakers.

The NYPD supplied a photo of the missing man to the media.

Anyone with information in regard to his whereabouts is asked to call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, or on Twitter @NYPDTips.

All calls are strictly confidential.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Developers say the Big Friendly is ready to overtake the Big Apple.

An Oklahoma City development called the Boardwalk at Bricktown will feature the nations tallest building, the Legends Tower  at 1,907 feet  if local government grants a variance to AO Architecture and Matteson Capital, the two companies said in a January press release.

If successful, the buildings height would eke out the current tallest building in the U.S.  Manhattans One World Trade Center, which stands at 1,776 feet.

Scott Matteson, CEO of the California-based Matteson Capital, said he hopes the Bricktown development will be the pride of Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma City is experiencing a significant period of growth and transformation, making it well positioned to support large-scale projects like the one envisioned for Bricktown, he said. We believe that this development will be an iconic destination for the city, further driving the expansion and diversification of the growing economy, drawing in investment, new businesses, and jobs.

The Boardwalk at Bricktown would feature the nation's tallest building in Oklahoma City if local government grants developers a variance. (Courtesy: AO Architecture)AO Architecture

Legends Tower would be the fifth tallest building in the world, and the tallest in the Western Hempisphere. Its height would be symbolic of the year 1907, when Oklahoma became the 46th state.

The top floors of the tower will consist of a public observatory, restaurant and bar where visitors will be able to enjoy the sweeping views of Oklahoma City, according to the development teams press release.

Overall, the Boardwalk at Bricktown would span about 5 million square feet, comprise more than 1,700 residential units, and feature over 110,000 square feet of commercial space.

Initial plans called for the Legends Tower to be 1,750 feet, making it the second-tallest building in the U.S., but developers last week changed that goal and announced their plan to seek a variance to top the 300-foot city maximum height zoning limit.

City officials have said the area would need to be rezoned.

Currently, the plot of land for the targeted development is a parking lot in the midwest city that had a 2020 U.S. Census population of about 680,000.

Rob Budetti, a managing partner at AO Architecture, said the firm is excited to embark on the endeavor.

Crafting a project of this significance is an honor, and the collaborative process with the city, Matteson Capital, Hensel Phelps, and a top-notch team of engineers, consultants, and development partners has been exceptional, he said. Managing the intricacies of such a project, ensuring seamless integration of all components, is a significant challenge. Fortunately, this aligns with one of AOs core strengths.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Pest control giant Orkin announced Monday that it performed more bed bug treatments in New York City last year than it did in all but one U.S. city.

Each year, Orkin releases a list of the top U.S. cities where it performed bed bug treatments, and the five boroughs ranked second only to Chicago in its 2023 list.

The Big Apple ranked second in 2022, as well.

The company tied Americas bed bug issue to a supposed citywide infestation in Paris after countless news stories reported the pests, which only feed on blood, invading across the French city.

Bed bugs are extremely resilient, making them difficult to control, said Ben Hottel, Orkin entomologist. As travel plans ramp up, its important that Americans know how to protect themselves through pest identification and proper control. While bed bugs are visible to the naked eye, they are excellent at hiding. Involving a trained professional at the sight of a bed bug introduction is recommended.

Known for rapid population growth, female bed bugs can deposit one to five eggs a day and may lay 200 to 500 eggs in their lifetime. The pests can survive for several months while waiting for their next meal, according to Orkin.

Identifying bed bugs

Orkin provided the following proactive tips for homeowners and travelers to prevent bed bug infestation. Though theyre difficult to spot, the pests are visible to the naked eye, experts say.

When you check into a hotel room, Orkin said you should conduct a full inspection before unpacking. The experts say to use the acronym S.L.E.E.P. when inspecting for bed bugs.

1. Survey the hotel room for signs of infestation, including colored stains on mattress seams, in soft furniture and behind headboards.

2. Lift and look in the mattress, box spring, furniture, behind baseboards, pictures and even in torn wallpaper.

3. Elevate luggage away from the bed and walls. Its safest to store bags on a counter or in the bathroom.

4. Examine your luggage carefully when you return home, and store it away from your bed.

5. Place all dryer-safe clothing into the dryer immediately when you return. Run dryer for at least 30 to 45 minutes at the highest setting.

Bed bugs are 4 mm to 5 mm in size, are dark brown and wingless, and have a flat, oval-shaped body, according to Orkin.

Symptoms of bed bug bites

Some people who are bitten by bed bugs develop itching, red welts or swelling the day after being bitten. Remember, though, that bites may not become obvious for several days or at all on some individuals. Many people do not react at all to the bite of a bed bug  many bites leave no mark and go completely unnoticed.

Bed bug cities

Chicago holds the top spot on Orkins Top 50 Bed Bug Cities List for the third year in a row, while Philadelphia landed in third place.

Greensboro, N.C. saw the largest jump this year, moving up 25 spots into the top 20, with Milwaukee moving up the list by 15 and Tampa moving up by 10, according to Orkin.

Below is the list of the metropolitan areas where Orkin performed the most bed bug treatments from Dec. 1, 2022 to Nov. 30, 2021.
What exactly is a Christian nationalist? I asked Google. It said: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_nationalism

The anti-disestablishment phrase included in the Wikipedia description of the movement -- which used to just be a tongue twister -- means the group insists that the church lead the way in establishing the laws of a country.

Apparently, there was a rise in it in Canada during COVID lockdown. Putin is said to be a Christian nationalist (oh, dear!). The term neo-Nazi Christian nationalist is bandied about. The Scottish Family Party has been described as Christian nationalist, as well as being anti-LGBTQ+. The South African minister BJ Vorster (who is quite pro-apartheid) said he stands for Christian nationalism. Wikipedia states that, in the USA, Christian nationalists believe that the U.S. is meant to be a Christian nation and want to take back the U.S. for G-d.

Last time I looked, G-d, didnt need any help taking things back, or giving them, for that matter. And, also, the USA is a joyful mix of many religions, not just one.

Some elected officials who are part of the conservative right have begun declaring support for Christian nationalism. Marjorie Greene and Lauren Boebert count themselves as members. Ron DeSantis is mentioned as favoring similar beliefs.

Now, full disclosure here, I am a practicing Roman Catholic, although I do have issues with some of the churchs teachings. I am pro-choice, I believe celibacy should be voluntary and that nuns should be able to serve mass, Im guessing some might identify me as a cafeteria Catholic, but I think everybody has a right to believe in the way they see fit.

Except, all of the folks I mentioned dont seem very Christian to me.

Lets start with Putin: currently engaged in a land grab, killing civilians. Doesnt seem very Christian, unless youre thinking of the Crusades. People who are anti-LGBTQ+ or anti-women arent behaving in a Christian fashion of inclusion. Anybody who stands for apartheid is out. Marjorie Greene has made anti-Semitic comments, and, last time I looked, Jesus mom was Jewish. And Boebert was caught engaging in lewd public behavior, and that isnt very Christian.

My point is: How are people in any sense Christian if they follow Nazi and apartheid principles and wage war? Im sorryam I missing something?

Because, theyre not. It states, very clearly in the Bible: feed the hungry, clothe the naked, comfort the sorrowful, visit the imprisoned, welcome the stranger. I dont see any of these people doing that. Quite the opposite. So, again, how are they Christian?

Nationalist I get. Citizen Kane nationalism, which is to say William Randolph Hurst nationalismlets start a war somewhere and profit from it. I thought, originally, this was basically a group of Evangelicals, waiting to be swooped up into heaven, leaving the rest of us to burn in a Hell of our our making. And, you know, part of their belief is the destruction of Jerusalem, so, that seems to be going well for them.

You do get that supporting one side over the other in that conflict is hastening the Rapture, dont you?

Strange bedfellows, indeed. Listen, any time a civilian is killed in the name of some spurious goal, its not a holy war anymore. Its just greed and lust for power, which is something the so-called Christian nationalists share with war mongers of all ages.

And what about the separation of church and state? Some of these folks claim to be originalists, people who follow the original intent of the Constitution, which means none of the women involved would have a seat at the table, chaired by old white guys. That Constitution clearly states that there should indeed be a separation of church and state because thats what the founding fathers were running away from: England, where the state declared what the official religion of the people was going to be, and they were having none of it.

Religion doesnt belong anywhere near the state. Religion is a personal thing, your personal relationship with G-d or a Higher Power or whatever you conceive G-d to be or not be. It shouldnt be telling people how to make laws, especially laws that exclude women and LGBTQ+ people. And when Mike Johnson (two steps away from being the President) says his agenda is the Bible.even as a practicing Catholic, I know that aint right. It doesnt speak to or for everybody in this country. Thats governments job. And these bozos aint doing it. Theyre not following the will of the people, who have already voiced their strong support of LGBTQ+ people, womens rights, anti-assault weapons legislation and the right to vote. Theyre doing what will grant them more power, more control. They can believe anything they want to. They do NOT have the right to make me believe it, too.

So we stand at the threshold of another year, another almost 12 months of bickering and in-fighting, of media wars and polls and predictions. And, to what end? If we wind up with a government run by this howling mob of lunatics, were no better than the French Revolution. And frankly, I value my head and my mind too much for that.

Hold your magnificent heads high. Keep the faith!

Comments may be submitted to Talk To The Old Guy on Facebook.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  With February less than a week away, its worth analyzing some climatological outlooks on what the coming month can hold for New York in terms of precipitation and temperature.

While the January outlooks are yet to be deemed accurate or not, the National Weather Service (NWS) Climate Prediction Center foresees a warmer, yet drier month for most of New York state.

FEBRUARY TEMPERATURE OUTLOOK

In breaking down these graphics, we first take a look at the monthly temperature outlook.

According to the NWS Climate Prediction Center, February has a 33% to 40% chance of seeing temperatures above normal throughout New York. The exception to this broad classification is those parts of New York state far to the north, along the Canadian border, which yield an even greater chance of seeing warmer than normal temperatures, with those odds at 40% to 50%.

For February, the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administrations (NOAA) Online Weather Data for Central Park, gathered between 1991 and 2020, shows that the mean average temperature for the month sits at 35.9 degrees.

FEBRUARY PRECIPITATION OUTLOOK

The precipitation outlook looks a little different by comparison. Unlike the temperature outlook, the precipitation outlook shows us a picture of a typical February for most of downstate New York, including New York City. Central Park typically receives 3.19 inches of precipitation in February, according to NOAA Online Weather Data collected from 1991 to 2020.

The monthly precipitation outlook for February 2024 shows New York, as reported by the National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center, with equal chances of being above or below expected precipitation levels. (Courtesy of the National Weather Service)(Courtesy of the National Weathe

However, Syracuse and Lake George are firmly given a 33% to 40% chance of seeing below average levels of precipitation.

If we go out west toward Erie County, we find that Buffalo and Rochester alike are both within a stretch of land slated with a 40% to 50% probability of seeing less than normal amounts of precipitation.

JANUARY DATA THUS FAR

As we draw near the end of the month, we can reflect on the conditions that made their way through New York, particularly New York City.

Weve seen temperatures sit with a low of 15 degrees on Jan. 17., and then a week later, on Jan. 24, the low sits at a relatively elevated 37 degrees, as recorded by the Advance/SILive.com weather station.

On Thursday, temperatures peaked at a high of 56, nearly reaching the high of 59 we experienced back on Jan. 13, as reported by the Advance/SILive.com weather station.

Overall, as of Jan. 25, average temperatures for 14 of the 25 days in January have exceeded the average monthly temperature for January, which the NOAAs Online Weather Data collected from 1991-2020, showing 33.7 degrees for Central Park. Now, a week still remains to skew the data either way, however, if the month were to end Thursday, Jan. 25, temperatures would have predominantly trended warmer than normal, proving a prediction made by the NWS Climate Prediction Center true.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  While the boundaries may vary as we get closer to Sundays storm, it still looks like New York City will see rain ahead of an overnight wintry mix.

And, as the mix looks to dump several inches of snow in upstate New York counties, AccuWeather forecasts that there will be 625 U.S. flight cancellations Sunday.

More seasonal temperatures will take over early next week with highs in the 30s and lows at or below freezing.

Following a stretch of mild temperatures that could pass for spring, cooler temperatures will make their way into the New York City area, but not before this next wave of precipitation.

Thursdays high clocked in at 56 degrees, as reported by the Staten Island Advance/SILive.com weather station. Sundays high looks to drop to 40, with a low of 36, according to AccuWeather.

With these persistent mild temperatures lingering about, it stands to reason that well see the initial precipitation come in as rainfall.

THE START: SUNDAY MORNING

Raindrops will likely begin to fall down on New York City streets sometime Sunday morning, AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tom Kines said.

This rainfall will characterize much of the day. Yet, despite this, the city will only see somewhere between half an inch and three-quarters of an inch, Kines reported. The forecast from the National Weather Service (NWS) calls for something closer to an inch of rainfall/liquid equivalent for the New York City area.

There is going to be enough precipitation, if it was all snow, to cause problems, but with the temperatures being well above-freezing for most of the storm, there shouldnt be any issues in and around the city, Kines said.

An AccuWeather map shows weather conditions for New York the night of Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. (Courtesy of AccuWeather)(Courtesy of AccuWeather)

However, as night comes upon us, Kines says that we could see temperatures dip low enough to foster a wintry mix of rain and snow overnight before potentially turning over entirely to a non-accumulating wet snow Monday morning.

Unlike some recent systems, wind does not look to pose a serious threat to residents.

I suspect winds will pick up some maybe during the day tomorrow (Sunday), or maybe tomorrow night, and even after the storm leaves, but I dont think its going to be anything that causes damage, Kines said.

THE END: MONDAY MORNING

Monday commuters could potentially rise to spot some falling flakes, but the storm system should then be moving out of the area to give way to a dry day, Kines notes.

New York City road surfaces will likely be too warm to see any real accumulation, but some areas outside of the city might provide a different picture.

Enough snow may fall to bring a small accumulation on non-paved surfaces, especially to areas outside of the immediate New York City metro area, AccuWeather Radio Personality and Meteorologist Dean DeVore said.

An AccuWeather graphic shows the anticipated track of a clipper storm that could change course and impact New York. (Courtesy of AccuWeather)(Courtesy of AccuWeather)

An early AccuWeather forecast predicts that a clipper storm could potentially impact the Northeast late in the coming week. As defined by the NWS, a clipper storm is a fast-moving snow storm which drops down from the Northwest across the Great Lakes from Central Canada.

This potential storm is expected to bring snow to parts of the Midwest and the southern Appalachians before potentially garnering some new life as it moves over the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday, according to AccuWeather. Should the jet stream impact the track, the storm could make a turn and make its way up the coast and into the Northeast Friday into Saturday.
SANAA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Tens of thousands of Yemenis who support the Houthi group protested Friday in solidarity with Palestinians, rejecting U.S.-British sanctions on Houthi senior officials and denouncing airstrikes on northern Yemen.

Participants waved Palestinian-Yemeni flags, held placards with images of Houthi leaders and chanted slogans against the United States and Israel.

Hatem al-Mahaqri, a protester, said they came to stand by the oppressed people in Gaza and share their suffering. "Our participation shows our steadfast position on the Palestinian issue and our brothers in Gaza."

Earlier Friday, Yahya Sarea, a Houthi military spokesman, said in a statement that their naval forces fired several missiles at a British oil tanker, Marlin Luanda, in the Gulf of Aden, causing a fire.

The United States re-designated the Houthi group as a "Specially Designated Global Terrorist" on Jan. 17, a move the group dismissed as politically motivated.

The Houthis have stepped up their attacks in the Red Sea since the Israel-Hamas conflict erupted on Oct. 7, 2023, demanding an end to Israeli assaults and siege on Gaza.

The Houthis have controlled much of northern Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa, and the strategic Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, since they drove out the internationally recognized Yemeni government in 2014. 
Support the Peninsulas only locally-owned newspaper. Subscribe!

Subscribing annually brings you big savings. We also offer monthly and weekly subscriptions.

Premium Subscription

As low as $8.25 per month

Premium Includes:

Access to the Daily Journals e-Edition: a digital replica of our daily newspaper including crossword puzzles, games, comics, classifieds and ads.

The ability to download a digital replica of the Daily Journal for offline reading.

The ability to clip & download articles or images to share with others.

Access to the last 90 days of e-Editions with search, downloading and clipping options.

Unlimited access to our award-winning online content

Commenting access on all stories as a valued member of the DJ community
San Mateo, CA (94402)

Today

Some clouds this morning will give way to generally sunny skies for the afternoon. High 68F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low 49F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size This story is part of the January 28 edition of Sunday Life. See all 12 stories . Jacqueline McKenzie is quietly one of Australias most accomplished actors, her extensive credentials spanning feature films, television and stage performances, including on Broadway. She established herself with breakout roles in Romper Stomper (1992) and Angel Baby (1995) and has worked solidly since, often alongside Hollywood royalty. Despite this, the 56-year-old remains delightfully warm and humble, still lighting up with an infectious zest when she talks about her work. The Sydney-born star is based in Los Angeles but has increasingly found herself back in Australia in recent years, having taken on TV projects that include Savage River, Safe Harbour and Bloom. Her latest film, Force of Nature: The Dry 2, also sees her back on Aussie soil, this time in the Victorian bush. McKenzie plays Federal Agent Carmen Cooper alongside Eric Bana as Federal Agent Aaron Falk as they head deep into the mountains in search of an informant who has disappeared. Its the second instalment in the trilogy based on Jane Harpers bestselling novels and boasts a cast including Deborra-Lee Furness, Anna Torv, Richard Roxburgh and Sisi Stringer. McKenzie had already worked with some of the cast members  multiple times in the case of Roxburgh and Furness  but says she took the role immediately because it was offered to her by director Robert Connolly. The pair met in 1989, when they were studying at NIDA, and struck up a friendship while Connolly was working at the front-of-house bar. Ever since, McKenzie says, shes celebrated his work from afar. I got this email out of the blue, says McKenzie. This is how your life can change. You can be sitting there knitting one moment and this gorgeous letter appears from Robert asking me to play Carmen. The minute I told my friends I was doing it  you have no idea how many people have read that book and how many people are Eric Bana fans! Perhaps surprisingly, she had never worked with Bana, who is also a producer on the film, bar one memorable experience in the 90s. A long time ago  and I reminded him of this  I was on The Eric Bana Show Live in Melbourne. I was very young and promoting a few films. He had another guest on whod gained a level of celebrity because his wife had severed his penis  his name was John Wayne Bobbitt. It was absolutely nuts.

Advertisement

Ill never forget being on the show. Im sitting there and Eric is asking me questions, then all of a sudden hes running across the other side of the studio, changing costumes to become another character, shooting a hilarious segment before ripping the costume off and racing back over to pick up the questions again. Id never seen anything like it. Zimmermann leather jacket. Henne dress. Alias Mae boots. Dinosaur Designs jewellery. Credit: Corrie Bond I later watched him in Chopper and the rest is history. Hes so beautiful and decent and compassionate. And hes hardcore, too. If youre on time, youre five minutes late. Which I now try on my daughter to get her to school. I say, Eric Bana says youre five minutes late. She just looks at me like, What? Hardcore is a running theme of the production on Force of Nature. Jane Harpers novels encapsulate the various extremities of the Australian landscape, with the second story focusing on luscious mountain rainforest and the perils of being lost in the wilderness. The cinematic result is breathtaking. Shot in freezing temperatures in remote locations in Victoria during winter, McKenzie still bears battle scars from filming. We had to hike 15 minutes to one of the spots in the Otway Ranges. I had two wetsuits on, so everything was airtight, but look, I have leech scars on my knuckles, she says, holding up her hands. I remember showing the camera guys and they all went, Me too! We shoved our knuckles together and had the same scars. They were the only parts of our bodies exposed, besides our faces.

Advertisement

The make-up department had to come up with ways to kill them without alerting actors to the fact they had a massive, engorged slug behind their ear because they numb your skin before they bite, so you dont know theyre there until you see the blood. Robert Connolly had one the size of a thumb up his nose at one point. Zimmermann faux fur coat, Bianca Spender dress, Alias Mae boots. Credit: Corrie Bond I took a shower after filming once and looked down to see all these leeches swirling down [the drain]. I have a thing about them after that. McKenzie says she kept making the steep trek back to civilisation between takes to go to the bathroom, even when she didnt need to, as the emergency alternative was using a female urinating device or Shewee. It looks like an oxygen mask, but rather than put it on your face, it goes down there, she explains. Loading While city-bred McKenzie admits she has limited experience of the bush, she recently enjoyed a camping trip with her 14-year-old daughter, Roxy. My daughter is a member of the Girl Guides, she explains. I was never a member; I was deeply suspicious of all those places. But her best friend from school joined, so she did too. They had a mother-daughter camping trip and I thought, Were doing it. Ive got a little motto: Youve got to live to tell the tale. I said, Rox, whatever happens, its either going to be horrific but we will have such tales, or itll be fabulous, and well still have tales. It was gale force winds when we were out on canoes on a lake and we all ended up in mangroves, but were all still talking about it.

Advertisement

The pair have a permanent base in Los Angeles, but Roxy goes to school in Australia. McKenzie says Roxy has inherited her passion for musical theatre. Shes a natural. She loves singing and loves musicals, which is hilarious because I love them too. I started out singing and I always wanted to be in musicals. Scanlan Theodore shirt and trousers, Dinosaur Designs jewellery. Credit: Corrie Bond The only thing Id love to do that I havent done is a musical. Thats what Im doing at the moment  developing a couple of ideas. This isnt counting her first forays into acting, with McKenzie playing Nancy in Oliver! when she was still at high school. She was also in Brigadoon with a young Hugh Jackman playing the male lead when they were at Sydneys Pymble Ladies College and Knox Grammar respectively. McKenzie laughs about going on to work with his future wife, Deborra-Lee Furness. Recalling their first meeting in 1993 during rehearsals for Ben Eltons TV series Stark, she says, I was a bit nervous because she was this famous actress whod done Shame. The door smashed open and sunlight blasted the room and that was meeting Deborra-Lee. She is like a sunlight that enters your life. Funny, down to earth, self-deprecating, talented and not remotely anti-women. I got to know Deb, we were close and then suddenly she and Hugh were working together. I remember thinking Thats so funny, he was in Brigadoon. With an illustrious career under her belt, McKenzie remains philosophical about the roles she takes. You dont get what you want in life, you get what you need. Thats how I feel about roles. I obviously get what I need, and I go for it. Ive been so fortunate and worked with amazing people.

Advertisement

Its more about what story I want to be in than what medium. And more and more, its about who I want to tell that story with. I want to work with people who embrace everyone on the journey. You dont get what you want in life, you get what you need. Thats how I feel about roles. I obviously get what I need, and I go for it. JACQUELINE MCKENZIE Loading This is overwhelmingly apparent in her praise of those she worked with on Force of Nature. McKenzie has an enduring love for her craft and every facet of the process, excitedly gushing about the wardrobe and make-up teams, the producers and the unit crew who she says would have walked on hot coals for Robert Connolly. McKenzie remains humble about the longevity of her career, crediting her love of acting and working with excellent directors as the keys to her success. I love being directed  I dont want to do it on my own, she says. When youre coming out of acting school, you believe you can do it all, but I dont believe that now. I do believe that Ill give anything a red-hot f---ing go. Force of Nature: The Dry 2 is in cinemas February 8.
It has never been more dangerous to be a Christian than today. According to the newly released 2024 World Watch List  an authoritative survey by Open Doors, an organisation that supports persecuted Christians  365 million Christians, or one in seven, are at high or extreme risk of persecution every day because of their faith.

In 2007, British intelligence agency MI6 reported that 200 million Christians were in daily danger. That number has almost doubled.

Open Doors says physical attacks on Christians have risen almost 370 per cent in the past year.

North Korea tops the list as it has every year, bar one, since 2002, and Hindu-majority India  which has accelerated up the list in recent years  comes in 11th. Buddhist-majority Myanmar is 17th, China is 19th, and the rest of the top 20 are all Muslim-majority nations.

Here are the 20 most dangerous nations to be a Christian, in order: North Korea, Somalia, Libya, Eritrea, Yemen, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan, Iran, Afghanistan, India, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Mali, Algeria, Iraq, Myanmar, Maldives, China and Burkina Faso.
Warning: This article contains images that may be distressing for some readers.

In the late 1960s, an Arnotts biscuit tin was donated to Sydney Universitys antiquities museum. Inside was a mummified hand, which had been in a Pymble family for generations. It was the second grisly donation in an Arnotts tin. The first contained a mummified foot, which had been plucked from the sand near a desecrated Egyptian tomb.

Both sit on display in Mummy Room of whats now known as the Chau Chak Wing Museum, next to the preserved feet and partial shins of a child propped up in a glass dome, and a partly bandaged adult head. But they will not be there for long.

Dr Melanie Pitkin, senior curator of the Nicholson collection of antiquities and archeology, at Chau Chak Wing Museum. Credit: Dion Georgopoulos

In April, the museums curators will remove those fragments of mummified bodies from public display as an intense global debate rages over the ethics of displaying human remains in museums. The intact, wrapped mummified bodies will remain.
There are many issues to explore when it comes to the question of whether the structure of our school system has adapted to meet the changing needs of our communities.

These include whether school hours and holidays should be reviewed given most families have two working parents, how to address school refusal and the decline in completion rates, as well as how to attract and retain teachers from a profession that sees them struggling with excessive administrative workloads.

Expanding the ability of schools to cater to a wider spectrum of needs will have many benefits. Credit: iStock

Another major challenge for our education system, as we report today, is how to ensure schools can offer enough support to the growing number of students with a disability.

The appointment of one of the worlds leading autism experts, Professor Andrew Whitehouse, to the National School Resourcing Board is significant recognition that serious weight is being given to addressing this challenge.
It looks exactly like the Hopetoun Tea Rooms. The famous cafes golden signage even sits out front, in the same spot it has for more than a century.

But the ornately decorated business in Melbournes Block Arcade has nothing to do with the original cafe  and trouble is brewing.

The Tea Room 1892 in the Block Arcade has been accused on mimicking the likeness of the iconic Hopetoun Tea Rooms that used to be located there. Credit: Luis Ascui

Court documents claim the new business that opened in the shop in 2020  after the Hopetoun Tea Rooms moved out  too closely mimics its predecessor.

Hopetoun Tea Rooms owner Vikram Singh told The Sunday Age that establishing a near-identical cafe in the same location was misleading customers.
BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- As today's world is once again at a critical crossroads, China and France should jointly open up a path of peace, security, prosperity and progress for human development, Chinese President Xi Jinping said here on Saturday.

Xi made the remarks as he exchanged congratulations with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, on the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

China and France broke the ice of the Cold War and crossed the divide between different blocs to establish diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level 60 years ago, Xi noted, adding that this historical event has pushed the global landscape to evolve in the right direction of dialogue and cooperation, which still offers inspirations for today.

Over the past 60 years, the two countries have adhered to making strategic choices independent of external influence, and have always been committed to achieving common development through mutually beneficial cooperation, promoting mutual learning among civilizations through exchanges on an equal footing, and jointly addressing global challenges through multilateral coordination, Xi said.

There is more than one "first" and fruitful accomplishments concerning China-France relations, which have not only benefited the people of both countries, but also played a vital role in maintaining global peace and stability, promoting multi-polarization of the world, and advancing the democratization of international relations, Xi said.

Facing the question of the times and of history on where the world should be headed, China and France, both as independent major countries and permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, should stay true to the original aspiration of establishing diplomatic relations, shoulder their responsibility, undertake their mission, and jointly open up a path of peace, security, prosperity and progress for human development, he said.

Attaching great importance to the development of bilateral ties, Xi said he stands ready to work with Macron to take the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations as an opportunity to uphold fundamental principles, break new ground, build on past achievements, open up a new future, and make China-France comprehensive strategic partnership more solid and dynamic, so as to further contribute to improving the well-being of the two peoples and of humanity.

Macron, in his congratulatory message, stated that the establishment of diplomatic relations between France and China 60 years ago was a visionary and historic decision.

In the face of unprecedented global challenges today, cooperation between France and China, as well as between Europe and China, is more crucial than ever in search of common solutions for global challenges, he added.

The year 2023 witnessed a comprehensive revitalization of France-China relations, and in 2024, cooperation between the two nations is expected to be further enhanced, he noted.

Macron said he looks forward to working with President Xi to promote bilateral economic, cultural, and youth exchanges, strengthen communication and coordination on global issues, and continually deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership between France and China so that both sides can infuse renewed vitality into bilateral relations for the next 60 years. 
The Sunday Age has spoken to a dozen current and former Victorian politicians and associates who have worked with him at one stage over the past decade. Most describe the young man as hard-working, polite, a nice guy and importantly, trusted by Andrews. He worked consistently in a premiers office where loyalty and discretion were prized values, and which tasked ministers with visiting China once per term prior to the pandemic. Marty Mei is Daniel Andrews new business partner. Mei was exposed to significant media coverage in the lead-up to the 2018 election, when details of the BRI deal were made public alongside details of Meis local associations and that he had accompanied Andrews to China multiple times. One source said it was telling that Andrews brought Mei on stage at the celebration of Labors landslide 2018 victory, a sign of loyalty and their relationship in the face of the coverage.

Hes an outstanding Victorian, he happens to be of Chinese origin. He is very proud of that, I am proud of him, Andrews said in November that year. Mei is from the Hunan province in China, the fourth-largest landlocked province in the country, and arrived in Australia around 2006 to study at RMIT. The university described Mei as a rising star of the Australian Chinese political community in 2016. The profile, copied from local Chinese media lauds the mainland newcomer for his smooth integration into local political circles. Mei got his start in politics working as a translator and interpreter for former Labor MP Hong Lim, who is ethnically Chinese but grew up in Cambodias Phnom Penh, where he was taught only in Khmer.

Loading I dont speak any Mandarin myself, Lim says. So people like Marty helped me. Hes a very good worker. Lim and Mei worked together to build relations with Melbournes Chinese communities  a diverse and important voting bloc. Lim said Mei was not necessarily a rising star but stood out because he was willing to put in the extra hours, attending community events on weekends or late at night. We were on 24/7. Its pretty demanding. Not many people at that time wanted that lifestyle, he said. But there are people who feel very strongly about helping the community and responding to their needs and being there for them. Marty is one of them.

The duo travelled to Hunan at one stage, where they visited the Mao Zedong Museum and met Meis aunt, who is the deputy mayor of the province, according to Lim. While media reports have suggested Mei harbours political ambitions for himself, Lim rejects this. I dont think he had any political ambitions. He never helped for recruiting, Lim says. Most Chinese kids have no political ambition at all. Hes not hungry as a politician. His real skill was networking, developing a Rolodex of contacts through diligent research.

He appeared to know who to contact, and who to talk to, Lim said. He would research their background, activity, business network. All that sort of thing. Therefore we know who we are dealing with and what they are after and respond accordingly. This became a key asset, and he landed a job in Daniel Andrews office in 2014 following the premiers historic election victory. Daniel Andrews attending a multicultural banquet. In this role, Mei became the governments unofficial spokesman on international students, immigration and free trade in the Chinese press. As a Labor government, our attitude has always been very clear, he told Chinese media in 2016. We support free trade agreements, and the premier has repeatedly stated that free trade agreements are of great benefit to Victoria.

Officially, Mei took on a multicultural adviser role  helping the government form ties with not just the Chinese community, but Jewish, Muslim and Indian constituents, according to one source. Later, he worked with Labor MP Josh Burns, who says: In my time, I always found Marty to be a really good colleague and a nice person and someone I enjoy working with. Mayoral candidate Jennifer Yang, Credit: Eamon Gallagher While most of his time over the past decade has been spent in state politics, he has also provided unofficial assistance to local campaigns  including businesswoman Jennifer Yang in her bid to oust Melbourne lord mayor Sally Capp in 2018, according to one source who did not want to be named. He was working with Jen in terms of making introductions with the view to lift her profile, said one source working on the campaign. But also helping with basic stuff, posters on windows.

New business? Loading Andrews and Mei have been tight-lipped on the nature of their new business venture. However, contacts Mei and Andrews formed during their time in public office will no doubt form the most lucrative part of their business. While this has become a well-trodden path for former politicians, integrity questions remain when contacts and information gained through public office is later used for personal gain in the private sphere.

Former Victorian MP Ken Coghill, who is a founding member of the Accountability Roundtable and adjunct professor at Swinburne University, said politicians must be ever vigilant and cautious to avoid conflicts in post-public life. The information which a minister has acquired is the property of the state, not the property of the minister. Coghill called for a cooling-off period of two years so politicians are prevented from taking roles in industries they have worked in during parliament, which for Andrews, would include China. In the end, the first consideration is the integrity of the former minister.
More funding for long doctors appointments and free yearly health checks for Australias 5 million children should be the next steps for Health Minister Mark Butler as he tries to make healthcare more affordable, the countrys GPs have told the federal government.

Doctors want the Medicare rebate for long appointments and mental health consults to be boosted by 20 per cent  at a cost of $433 million a year  in a bid to make GP visits cheaper for patients with chronic and complex illnesses, as well as to relieve the mental health system.

GPs want the Medicare rebate for long appointments and mental health consults to be boosted by 20 per cent. Credit: iStock

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has given Treasury a list of policies it says will help Australians struggling financially, a year after its push to triple the bulk-billing incentive for GP visits became the Albanese governments major budget night announcement.

Last years budget was a critical first step to rebuild Medicare and general practice after decades of underfunding, said college president Nicole Higgins.
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 In 2016, three years before his death, Bob Hawke was growing frailer. But the Labor titan was able to perform one last service for his party. Wielding every ounce of his still considerable authority, the then 86-year-old starred in a series of prime-time ads warning Australians that the Liberal Party was out to privatise and destroy that most cherished of Labors reforms, Medicare. Hawkes warnings carried particular weight  he was, after all, the prime minister whod launched Medicare three decades earlier, in 1984. The 2016 mediscare campaign, as it was soon dubbed, had tenuous foundations. Labor weaponised a Coalition plan to investigate outsourcing the schemes back office payment functions  hardly a wholesale dismantling. Even so, the campaign was stunningly successful, nearly carrying then opposition leader Bill Shorten into the Lodge. Labor campaigned hard in 2016 on claims the Coalition would dismantle Medicare. Credit: AP In 1993, then-prime minister Paul Keating, had made similar mincemeat out of then opposition leader John Hewson, when Hewson proposed dismantling key elements of Medicare as part of his much-maligned Fightback! package. Universal health insurance was really the defining fault line in Australian politics for 25 years at least, from the time that Gough Whitlam first proposed it [in the 70s] until the time that the Liberal Party raised the white flag after the 1993 election, federal Health Minister Mark Butler recalls.

Advertisement

Establishing Medicare and firmly implanting it as part of Australias social fabric was a long, long fight for Labor  and one we are very proud of. As Medicare approaches its 40th anniversary on February 1, the schemes political potency endures, much to the astonishment of Dr Neal Blewett, the health minister under Hawke who oversaw its introduction. We had no expectation [at the time] that it would survive so long, the now 90-year-old recalls. We hoped it would, but we didnt expect it given the Liberals were so clearly out to destroy it if they got back into power. Today I look back with a sense of amazement that its still there as the basic health system of this country. Paul Keating celebrates Medicares ninth birthday in 1993, even as he accused opposition leader John Hewson of planning to rip the heart out of the scheme. Credit: Troy Howe Dr Rachel David, the CEO of Private Healthcare Australia, describes Medicare as by far the most popular brand that any political party in Australia has ever associated itself with, more popular than the age pension  a telling observation from a body that represents the private health funds, once among the most vociferous opponents of the scheme. To mark the 40th anniversary, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Butler will use the resumption of parliament on February 6 to open an exhibition on the schemes history, which will tour halls and libraries around the country. Yet, there are cracks in the ageing edifice  and they are starting to widen, raising fears its increasingly becoming a two-tier scheme, especially for those who do not have concessional status.

Advertisement

AMA federal president Professor Steve Robson likens it to a cherished family home thats in need of a reno; I think its still liveable, but its been neglected. John Menadue, who was Gough Whitlams chief aide and later head of his department, believes the ALP has been living off the legacy of Medicare for 40 years  and after 40 years, everything needs change and reform. Menadue was privy to the earliest discussions inside Labor that eventually led to the first iteration of Medicare, dubbed Medibank, in 1974-75, developed by then social security minister Bill Hayden. Medibank replaced a hodgepodge of private insurance arrangements and a ragged government safety net which had left many Australians without medical cover. (Despite the yearnings of some in the party, there were constitutional obstacles against setting up a British-style nationalised health service here.) Bob Hawke with the first Medicare card. Credit: David James Bartho But Medibank didnt survive the ousting of the Whitlam government by Malcolm Fraser in 1975, and by the time Hawke came to power, the Fraser government had largely dismantled it. Some 2 million Australians were again living without protection against the potentially devastating financial consequences of ill health. Hawke was in a tearing hurry to get the new Medicare scheme up and running after his election in 1983, Blewett recalls. He wanted it within a year because it was part of the accord with the unions  in return for wage restraint hed promised them the social wage, and the most important feature of the social wage for unions at that stage was Medicare.

Advertisement

The 1984 scheme, rising phoenix-like from the ashes of its 1975 predecessor, built on the key features of the original: universal, compulsory, funded by a taxpayer levy, with a single payer (the federal government). Doctors were offered incentives to charge standard fees across the system and minimise out-of-pocket costs to patients by bulk-billing (also known as direct billing)  that is, charging government directly for consultations, and accepting that as full payment, rather than leaving patients to seek refunds. Not only would Medicare offer the fairest form of health cover, its designers hoped, but it would be cheaper too. While medicos would not be obliged to keep their fees to the level the government was prepared to reimburse (the so-called scheduled fee), it was thought many would do so because of its administrative simplicity. Hawke minister Neal Blewett says he never expected Medicare to survive the next Coalition government. Credit: BC An important aspect of Medicare, the PHAs David points out, was that it allowed the private sector to find a complementary place in the overall scheme, particularly on private hospital cover and a range of ancillary services. And the public hospital systems benefited from the extra funds the Hawke government poured in under new agreements with the states. The speed with which Medicare was set up in 1984 was breathtaking, recalls Bill Bowtell, then the chief aide to Blewett. From September 1983 there was a huge campaign to enrol people and give them a Medicare card  we had over 90 per cent of the population enrolled by the following February. It was a remarkable achievement.

Advertisement

Today the oppositions health spokesperson, Anne Ruston, says the Coalition has a steadfast commitment to ensure the ongoing sustainability of the scheme, while the original hostility of the doctors groups to the scheme has long since evaporated. The AMAs Robson says, Medicare is embedded in the national psyche; the current generation of medical practitioners have grown up with it and have a sense that it has delivered for Australia in a way that we have not seen in countries like the UK and US. Yet for many Australians, Medicare is no longer delivering on the rosy promise of the early days, when Hawke promised that all are guaranteed, as a basic right, protection against the financial impact of essential medical and hospital treatment. Cost pressures and a six-year freeze on Medicare scheduled benefits prior to 2019 have eroded the willingness or ability of GP practices to bulk-bill regular (that is non-concessional) patients, millions of whom are struggling with their own cost-of-living pressures. The Australian Patients Association reports that only 10 per cent of the 9000 people it surveyed recently said their regular GP was fully bulk billing. Nearly two-thirds reported shelling out between $21 and $60 out of their own pockets, and 73 per cent said the cost of living, combined with rising gap fees, was affecting their health care decisions. In November, a start-up called Cleanbill asked around 6300 GP practices around the country how many were bulk-billing every patient who walked through their door. Only 24.2 per cent said they were.

Advertisement
The number of fires caused by ebikes and scooters in NSW almost tripled last year, as a planned state parliamentary inquiry on electric car batteries shifts focus to the significantly more fire-prone devices.

Fire and Rescue NSW attended 61 fires caused by ebikes and scooters in 2023, an increase from 22 in 2022. A further six fires have been recorded this month.

A North Bondi unit was destroyed in a blaze caused by an e-bike battery left on charge overnight. Credit: Fire and Rescue NSW

A North Bondi unit was destroyed last week when an ebike exploded while on charge, forcing the South American tourists inside to escape out a window. Three food delivery riders were hospitalised, one with extensive burns, after an ebike battery caught fire in their Annandale apartment in December.

The NSW Joint Standing Committee on Road Safety has established a parliamentary inquiry into electric and hybrid vehicle batteries, with submissions closing this week.
TOKYO, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The number of people who killed themselves in Japan in 2023 has decreased from the previous year by 63 to 21,818, marking its first decline in two years, government data showed.

According to health ministry data based on National Police Agency statistics, the suicide rate, or the number of suicides per population of 100,000, came to 17.5.

Of the total, male suicides made up 14,854, up by 108, while 6,964 were females, down by 171, data showed Friday.

Regarding age demographics, people in their 50s accounted for the largest group of suicides at 4,186, up by 93, followed by people in their 40s at 3,624.

The total also includes 13 elementary school children, 152 junior high school students and 342 high school students. The combined number for the three groups was down by seven.

As for reasons, 12,336 cases were due to health problems, down by 438, while the number of suicides related to economic or livelihood problems came to 5,157, up by 460.

The health ministry said that although the figures are preliminary, they showed increases particularly among middle-aged and older men and young women and girls. 
In particular, the Irish government must now act to meet its obligations to prevent genocide under the Genocide Convention by imposing lawful sanctions on Israel and complicit corporate entities, including ending the bilateral arms trade and implementing the Occupied Territories Bill and Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill (Bills proposed by opposition politicians in the Oireachtas that would legislate for sanctions on Israel).
It comes after the UNRWA said it had sacked several of its employees in Gaza suspected of taking part in last years assault by Hamas and other militants on southern Israel.
I also know that if we think that war is impossible, or that the current run of relative tranquillity will never end, then I am afraid we are deluded. History teaches us that the best way to preserve peace is to be vigilant.
"He told one of the nurses on duty, but... she said it was not that wet and laid him back down in the bed until I arrived to see him, which was six hours later."
UNRWA said on Friday that it had opened an investigation into several employees suspected of involvement in the October 7 attacks in order to establish the truth without delay. It also confirmed it had immediately terminated the workers' contracts.
Chen Xu (C, Front), permanent representative of China to the UN office at Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland and head of the Chinese delegation for the Universal Periodic Review, attends the fourth round of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) conducted by the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, on Jan. 26, 2024. The recommendations made to China were adopted here Friday by the 45th session of the UN Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

GENEVA, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- The recommendations made to China were adopted here Friday by the 45th session of the UN Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group.

China took part in the fourth round of the UPR this week.

China is ready to collaborate with the global community to steadfastly advance and safeguard human rights, said China's top diplomat in Geneva, Chen Xu, after the adoption.

Chen, permanent representative of China to the UN office at Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland, also said China will play an active role in global human rights governance, advocate for common human values, support the establishment of a global community of shared future, and collaborate to create a better improved world.

The year 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, noted Chen, adding that China aims to ensure that the benefits of modernization are distributed more fairly among its people, enhance protection of human rights, and support free and comprehensive development of individuals.

UPR serves as a crucial platform for countries to engage in equitable and candid discussions on human rights matters within the framework of the UN, fostering constructive dialogue and collaboration. China participated in previous three reviews in 2009, 2013, and 2018 respectively. 

Photo taken on Jan. 26, 2024 shows the fourth round of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) conducted by the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland. The recommendations made to China were adopted here Friday by the 45th session of the UN Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)
Social Democratic Party (PSD) Chairman, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, on Saturday, told the PSD Satu Mare County Conference, that we must return to a normality of public speech on Transylvania, because both Romania and Hungary are members of NATO and the European Union and have agreements signed for eternity.

"I am firmly convinced that there will be breaking news: 'Ciolacu has been talking to Hungarian ethnics. Where? I hope there will be no more breaking news that we have sold Transylvania. Folks, Transylvania is Romanian land, we are part of the European Union and Hungary is part of the European Union. We are NATO members and we and Hungary have signed agreements for eternity from now on. Let's put an end to the nonsense that Transylvania is not Romanian land. This can't happen as we can't, after 35 years of democracy, reheat this soup just to make enemies. And after two months of campaigning, let's forget that we married a Romanian Hungarian woman or a Romanian Hungarian man and that we have children together, that we see each other in the morning for coffee and lunch, at work and that we live together," said Marcel Ciolacu.

The PSD leader said that those times when the speech about Transylvania aroused emotions and that the future in Europe looks different are over.

Prime Minister Ciolacu pointed out that things evolved a lot and that each public figure, through the politics they make, must direct things towards normality.
YANGON, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar will use a computer-assisted personal interviewing system for the 2024 national census in October, official media reported on Saturday.

At a meeting on Friday, State Administration Council Chairman Min Aung Hlaing said that a national database was being built to apply the e-ID system to register all citizens in each Unique ID, the official daily The Mirror said.

He added that the government, with upgrading creativity, was making digital transformation in commercial and administrative sectors.

Myanmar is set to conduct a national population and housing census for 2024 from Oct. 1 to Oct. 15, according to local reports.

As a preparation for the national census, some regions and states including Yangon region have already made arrangements such as compiling fundamental lists, formation of supervisory committees and taking trial census, the reports said. 
On Jan. 27, 1977, a St. Louis judge issued an order closing the Stardust Club, 309 DaBaliviere Ave. The closing was not contested by owner Al Charles or his wife, Aimee, who under the name Evelyn West performed as a stripper known for her $50,000 "treasure chest."

When a police officer climbed through a rear bedroom window of a cream-colored duplex at 708 Columbus Parkway on Nov. 14, 2004, he found the body of a St. Louis legend.

Amy Charles had not been seen for several days. Friends from Tampa, Fla. -- those who had known her in her heyday -- had called and e-mailed repeatedly but got no response. They called the police, who found the door locked and no one to answer the knock.

As it turned out, Charles had died in her sleep. Nearby were medications for thyroid and heart problems. Officer William Comeford filed his report -- death apparently from natural causes -- and returned to business as usual.

He ignored the clues that this 83-year-old woman once had been famous. They could be found in the stacks of provocative photographs all about her quarters; three bedrooms stacked with boxes that made it impossible to walk through the rooms. Some contained the outfits she donned backstage and then discarded onstage to the cheers of hundreds each night.

Amy Charles was known in St. Louis as Evelyn "$50,000 treasure chest" West. Her chief claim to fame: her 39 1/2-inch bust that Lloyds of London insured for the $50K. She performed twice nightly in a striptease act at the Stardust Club on the old DeBaliviere Strip, just north of Forest Park and its Jefferson Memorial. In St. Louis in the '50s and '60s, her name was as familiar to male adolescents and young adults as that of Stan Musial, though, of course, the two inspired different forms of adulation.

Evelyn West performed before as many as 1,500 customers a week at the Stardust, earning 90 cents for each patron. She enjoyed a national reputation, appearing in clubs from Los Angeles to Miami Beach and in 50-cent magazines with names like Blush, Wolf Bait and Fever for Men. She starred in a movie, "A Night at the Follies," and you could find her posing on a deck of playing cards and in color photos suitable for a barracks or a frat house wall.

She may be best remembered for the ads that appeared in this newspaper and the old Globe-Democrat, touting her treasures and their ties to that very dignified London insurance agency.

And yet, Evelyn West's death went unnoticed for months. She had no next of kin to make her funeral arrangements or to call the newspapers. Her body was cremated, and the disposition of her remains is still a bit of a mystery.

Evelyn West was born Amy May Coomer in Adair, Ky., and grew up on a farm in Petersburg, Ill., (population 2,400) just northwest of Springfield, Ill. When it comes to performers like West, it can be difficult to separate truth from legend. One story has it that her husband and promoter, Al Charles, discovered her in a farm field in Petersburg, immediately appreciated her potential and put her on the circuit. Another story has it that the two met much later in the San Francisco Bay area when West was already in the business.

Raymond Montgomery, a longtime Petersburg resident and contemporary of West's -- they both went to the one-room Brush School -- recalled that she lived with her family for a time in a three-room house and that "she had a sad life as a child." He remembers Amy's mom taking a stick and "switching her all the way" from school to her house.

No one was particularly surprised to learn that Amy got into the profession. Petersburg was home to circuses and people who worked in the carnival business. Soon enough she was performing in a sideshow at the Illinois State Fair.

Her career was first recognized in newspaper clippings in the 1940s when she performed in Calumet City, south of Chicago. That was back when it was a mob-controlled striptease town with steamy B-girl joints up and down the main street.

In many respects, West was a kind of crossover artist. Burlesque, in the words of Francine du Plessix Gray writing in The New Yorker, was a "venerable American genre." It included music, dance and comedy, with the stripping just one aspect. Jimmy Durante, Milton Berle, Lenny Bruce and Rodney Dangerfield all honed their acts in burlesque theaters.

West embraced the comedic aspects, too. But at some point, burlesque as art form began to veer off into what many consider pornography and an increasing focus on the female anatomy, lust and prostitution. Over the years, West would get in and out of trouble with the law.

But it was her bust that drew the most attention and became a part of her legacy. In fact, she went to the Menard County Circuit Court in Petersburg in 1953 to have her name changed to Evelyn "$50,000 Treasure Chest" West.

"Evelyn is the girl generally credited with making burlesque bust-conscious," wrote Lou Felice, a writer for Sir!, a men's magazine from the 1950s. "Before she entered the strip picture, burlesque movements emphasized a sexy walk with the bumps and grinds. Relatively little importance had been attached to an eye-stopping bosom."

As West's fame increased, she began to market her wares. "The Post Office Department banned her pin-up pictures from the mails," Felice wrote. "Postal examiners ruled that 22 of her photos, which were advertised for sale at one dollar, had a 'lewd' aspect. They also charged that other pictures of Miss West were being offered at rates that went up as the exposure increased. This is probably the first time a dancer has been accused of performing a striptease by mail."

West starred in a "A Night at the Follies," an hour-long black-and-white movie, apparently filmed shortly after the end of World War II, although the video box says 1956. Coming out in a skimpy dress and a fur, she opened by saying: "I know you're looking at my shoes."

By the 1950s, West had married Al Charles, the club promoter, and the two found their way to St. Louis and the Stardust Club on the old DeBaliviere Strip.

The DeBaliviere area had as many as five strip clubs -- including the Stardust, Tic-Toc and Little Las Vegas -- the Apollo Theater, bookie and gambling joints, and a famous old Garavelli's restaurant. They are all gone now. The old strip district is now a strip mall.

Police raids and arrests were frequent occurrences on the strip, and West was occasionally taken to the pokey. Her longtime bondsman, Bob Block, said they never put her in a holdover. "We went to a judge and got the bond. I got her out six or eight times," said Block.

Even given the numerous police raids, former Deputy Police Chief James Hackett, a St. Louis police legend, admired West's moxie and her moves. He once called her "the Babe Ruth of stripteasing."

The Stardust Club thrived in the '60s, when hundreds of young men flocked to see West and a bevy of other dancers entertain in pasties and g-strings.

Rodney Dangerfield performed there once. Briefly. Pete Johnstone, then a drummer at the Stardust and now a jeweler in Crestwood, remembers it this way: "Al Charles was operating the green spotlight, and Dangerfield said, 'The green spotlight makes me look dead.' And Charles said, 'Why don't you take your junk and get out of here?'"

The Stardust remained open until 1977, but business had fallen off well before then. West and Charles left St. Louis in 1977, with the headline reading: "Stardust's End Brings Strip Down To Nothing." The club had been declared a "bawdy house," and St. Louis Circuit Judge Gary M. Gaertner ordered it padlocked. Charles later admitted that the club was used for prostitution.

(An ironic footnote: The judge acted on a complaint filed by Circuit Attorney George Peach. In April 1992, after 16 years as a vigorous opponent of prostitution and pornography, Peach was arrested at a hotel near Lambert Field after offering a woman he thought was a prostitute $150 for sex. She was a St. Louis County decoy detective.)

West and Charles moved to Florida, and West gradually retired from the stage. After Charles died at age 95 in 2001, acquaintances said, West led a rather reclusive life. But she kept in touch with old friends in the burlesque business through e-mail. Among them was Eugene Hanlon of Tampa, whose wife was a stripper named "Candy Baby" Caramelo. It was he who called the Hollywood police when he hadn't heard from West for several days.

"The last time I talked to her on the phone, she said, 'I'm pooped,' and that was the last I heard from her," said Hanlon.

A Vietnam War veteran, named Terry Klasek had caught West's act many times in his youth and established a brief online relationship with West the months before her death. The two exchanged memories. Klasek sent her some brassieres (size 42D); she sent back pictures and warm thoughts.

West wanted to know what had become of the DeBaliviere Strip. She said she still kept up with the Cardinals and told Klasek, "You are tops on my list!"

Now Klasek has only his pictures and his memories.

"I learned that all fame is fleeting as I mourn my friend," Klasek wrote in an e-mail to STLtoday after West's death. "The end of an era for sure."

Or as her Florida landlady, Muriel Kirschner, said: "I have to tell you, she was a beautiful woman. The strip-geezers were right -- she was quite an attraction."
JEFFERSON CITY  A state representative from St. Louis County believes local governments shouldnt require landlords to accept tenants who use federal housing assistance vouchers.

A proposal by Rep. Ben Keathley, R-Chesterfield, would block local ordinances that prohibit landlords from turning down tenants because they use federal housing assistance vouchers commonly known as Section 8.

The House General Laws Committee is scheduled to consider the legislation Tuesday  days after the City Council of Kansas City approved an ordinance that will require acceptance of housing vouchers.

The bill itself doesnt stop anyone from taking Section 8 vouchers, Keathley said Friday. Parties to a private contract really dont need the government interfering, saying, well, you must accept this.

So-called source-of-income anti-housing discrimination rules already exist in the city of St. Louis, Clayton, Maplewood and Webster Groves.

St. Louis, Maplewood and Webster Groves make it unlawful to refuse to sell or rent ... a dwelling to any person because of ... source of income.

Claytons ordinance makes it unlawful to discriminate against any person in the terms, conditions or privileges of sale or rental of a dwelling, or in the provision of services or facilities in connection therewith, because of ... lawful source of income.

In St. Louis County, Councilwoman Lisa Clancy in 2019 ditched an anti- source-of-income discrimination effort amid opposition by county residents, the Call Newspapers reported at the time.

Nick Dunne, spokesman for St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones, said major cities across the country were seeing higher need for affordable housing. He called the state legislation under consideration yet another attempt at preemption by the state that leaves our most vulnerable families out in the cold.

While the city has made great strides in investing in the construction of affordable housing, we must ensure that low-income people seeking housing are not left out of the fold, Dunne said.

Housing advocates celebrated the vote this week in Kansas City.

KC Tenants leader Brandon Henderson told radio station KCUR that there are a lot of folks who have the money to pay for a place to live, but for whatever reason are not considered or written off because of their source of income.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said in a statement that legislation approved there had been the product of years of discussion and months of hard work and negotiation.

My office has been working with landlords and renters alike since 2019 to strike an appropriate balance between housing more Kansas City families, regardless of how they lawfully earn their income, while also securing enhanced protections for housing providers, Lucas said.

Kansas City will be a better place because of this policy, he said. I urge lawmakers in Jefferson City to respect the broad consensus this compromise policy secured at the local level.

Keathleys legislation is one of several bills looking to alter local governance this year.

The House Economic Development Committee is scheduled to take up Wednesday proposals that would exempt workers earning less than 150% the federal poverty level  or less than $22,590 annually  from the 1% city earnings tax.

A Senate committee last week heard testimony on a measure that could return the St. Louis Police Department to state control.

The legislation is House Bill 2385.

Editors note: The federal poverty level for an individual in 2024 is $15,060; 150% of that amount is $22,590. An earlier version of this story was pegged to prior year poverty level.
EAST ST. LOUIS  Administrators found an unloaded gun Friday afternoon at Mason-Clark Middle School, prompting them to dismiss school early.

One student, a juvenile, was taken into custody, said Police Chief Kendall Perry. He said the investigation was ongoing.

Sydney Stigge-Kaufman, executive director of communications and strategic partnerships for East St. Louis School District 189, said no one was injured.

"The school was placed in lockdown as law enforcement quickly arrived to do a more thorough check of the building and assist with student dismissal," according to the statement released by Stigge-Kaufman.

"We appreciate the cooperation of the students, our staff, families, as well as law enforcement as we continue to focus on safety."
Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect new information from police.

ST. LOUIS  Police on Wednesday identified the man who was found dead early Saturday morning south of downtown.

Fire and EMS crews responded to a call for a one-vehicle crash at about 1:30 a.m. Saturday near the intersection of Hickory and Seventh streets in the LaSalle Park neighborhood.

When firefighters and paramedics reached the SUV, which had struck a light pole, they found Kerry Carter, 49.

Police initially thought Carter had been shot in the head, but authorities on Wednesday said the injury was caused by the impact of the crash.

Carter was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Police said Carter lived in the 5200 block of Highland Avenue in the city's Kingsway East neighborhood.
FLORISSANT  Lauryn Fitzgerald has an increasingly rare career goal: She wants to be a fire chief.

And Fitzgerald, 17, is determined to do it  even if she doesnt fit the typical demographic for a firefighter.

Few firefighters nationwide are Black. And even fewer are women. The disparity doesnt sit right with Fitzgerald, and its something she aims to fix.

I would like to have that position to show women can do just as much as men can do, especially as a Black woman, Fitzgerald said.

According to 2021 Census data compiled by Data USA, just 7.4% of firefighters nationwide were Black. In the same year, just 4.4% were women.

But the McCluer High School senior has known she wanted to run a fire department since firefighters visited her elementary school about 13 years ago. And this week, a visit by a fire chief to Fitzgeralds school helped fuel that goal.

Fitzgerald had no idea Kinloch Fire Protection District Chief Kevin Stewart planned to interrupt her forensics class to drive her to North Technical High in a firetruck on Thursday. The schools Firefighting and Emergency Medical Technician program takes up the second half of Fitzgeralds school days.

Is Lauryn in the room? Stewart asked as students in the classroom all looked up from their desks at McCluer North. Fitzgerald, confused and in her North Tech uniform, walked slowly out of the classroom to find a group of journalists, her mother, and school officials waiting for her in the hallway.

I was told I was just taking pictures for Tech, she later said. I was very surprised.

Stewart doesnt regularly visit schools. But like Fitzgerald, Stewart knew from a young age he wanted to get into firefighting. His path was difficult, he said. He had no idea how to branch into the industry and had no one to show him how.

I took the phone book and I called every fire department in St. Louis County asking if they could do a ridealong for me, Stewart said.

Stewart, now an industry veteran, wanted to make it easier for young people to branch into firefighting. So he and his colleagues created the St. Louis County Public Safety Workforce Development Group, an alliance of public safety professionals that visits schools and assists students interested in joining their industries.

We noticed, within all of the departments, we have a lot of people retiring who have been on the job for years, and we dont have a way to replace them, Stewart said. So were coming up with innovative ways to recruit younger people.

Fitzgeralds drive to become a fire chief isnt just about the perceived glamor or respect of the title. Even as an elementary school student, Fitzgerald said, the first thing she noticed was a lack of diversity among the fire personnel who visited her school.

There werent a lot of women, Fitzgerald said. But I want to give back to the community I was raised in.

Stewart provided plenty of encouragement for Fitzgerald and told her that as soon as she turned 18, she could apply to start real-world training.

Stewarts professional career began around the same age. Thats when he started as a volunteer firefighter in his hometown with the Kinloch Fire Protection District.

Here I am, 23 years later, and Im the fire chief, Stewart said.

The public safety workforce will see really high turnover over the next five to seven years as veterans of the industry retire, Stewart said. He hopes to ignite a passion for the field among young people.

It takes a special person who wants to do this job, Stewart said. You have to have a heart of compassion, a heart of service.
WASHINGTON  When IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel met privately with senators recently, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee asked for his assessment of a startling report: A whistleblower estimated that 95% of claims now being made by businesses for a COVID-era tax break were fraudulent.

He looked at his shoes and he basically said, Yeah, recalled the lawmaker who posed that question, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore.

The answer explains why Congress is racing to wind down what is known as the employee retention tax credit. The program was established as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), signed into law by President Donald Trump during the coronavirus pandemic as an incentive for businesses to keep workers on the payroll.

Demand for the credit soared as Congress extended the tax break and made it available to more companies in the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which was signed by President Joe Biden in 2021. Aggressive marketers dangled the prospect of enormous refunds to business owners if they would just apply. As a result, what was expected to cost the federal government $55 billion has instead ballooned to nearly five times that amount as of July. Meanwhile, new claims are still pouring into the IRS each week, ensuring a growing price tag that lawmakers are anxious to cap.

Lawmakers across the political spectrum who rarely agree on little else  from liberal Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., to conservative Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis.  agree it's time to close down the program.

I dont have the exact number, but its like almost universal fraud in the program. It should be ended, Johnson said. I dont see how anybody could support it.

Warren added: The standards were too loose and the oversight was too thin."

The Joint Committee on Taxation estimates that winding down the program more quickly and increasing penalties for those companies promoting improper claims would generate about $79 billion over 10 years.

Lawmakers aim to use the savings to offset the cost of three business tax breaks and a more generous child tax credit for many low-income families. Households benefiting from the changes in the child tax credit would see an average tax cut of $680 in the first year, according to an estimate from the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center.

That tax credit is $2,000 per child, but only $1,600 is refundable, which makes it available to parents who owe little to nothing in federal income taxes. An agreement reached earlier this month by congressional tax-writers would increase the maximum refundable child tax credit to $1,800 for 2023 tax returns, $1,900 for the following year and $2,000 for 2025 tax returns. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a liberal think tank and advocacy group, projected that about 16 million children in low-income families would benefit from the child tax credit expansion.

The package was overwhelmingly approved by a House committee last week, 40-3, showing it has broad, bipartisan support.

But passage through Congress is not assured because many key senators have concerns about aspects of the bill. Wyden said a strong vote in the House could spur the Senate into quicker action. Still, passing major legislation in an election year is generally a heavy lift.

Under current law, taxpayers have until April 15, 2025, to claim the employee retention credit. The bill would bars new claims after Jan. 31 of this year. It also would impose stiff penalties on those who are promoting the employer retention tax credit if they know or have reason to know their advice will lead to an underreporting of tax liabilities.

When Congress created the tax break for employers at the pandemics onset, it proved so popular that lawmakers extended and amended the program three times. The credit, worth up to $26,000 per employee, can be claimed on wages paid through 2021.

To qualify, generally businesses must show that a local or state government order related to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in their business having to close or partially suspend operations. Or the businesses must show they experienced a significant decline in revenues.

Larry Gray, a certified public accountant from Rolla, Missouri, said he had concerns early on about how the program could be abused.

There was no documentation really to speak" and the IRS just sent out the checks, Gray said. They just started printing the checks and I believe Congress was wanting them to print the checks.

His hunch has proven correct, judging by the filings that he has reviewed. He has even lost clients who didnt want to hear that they did not qualify when others were telling them they did. Generally, he said, the businesses that dont qualify are failing to cite the government order that resulted in their closure or partial suspension. They are also routinely citing reasons for reimbursement that dont meet the programs criteria. For example, one company said it was struggling to find employees and had to raise wages as a justification for qualifying.

If I go through the narratives on the filings that Im looking at, every business in America qualifies, Gray said.

The IRS paused accepting claims for the tax credit in September last year, until 2024 due to rising concerns that an influx of applications are fraudulent. At that point, it had received 3.6 million claims.

Some fraud has been prolific. For instance, a New Jersey tax preparer was arrested in July on charges related to fraudulently seeking over $124 million from the IRS when he filed more than 1,000 tax returns claiming the employment tax credits.

In an update issued Thursday about the program, the IRS said that it has thousands of audit in the pipeline and that as of Dec. 31, it has initiated 352 criminal investigations involving more than $2.9 billion in potentially fraudulent claims. Separately, it has opened nine civil investigations of marketers that potentially misled employers on eligibility to file claims.

Werfel briefed the Senate Finance Committee recently on the measures that have been put into place to address the fraud, including developing a special withdrawal program for those with unprocessed claims and a voluntary disclosure program for those who believed they were improperly paid. Since then, the IRS has seen an immediate 40% decline in average weekly claims, he said.

Lawmakers emphasize that cutting down on the fraudulent claims should also help the IRS more quickly resolve the legitimate claims that businesses have filed and are still awaiting resolution. In early December, the IRS had a backlog of about 1 million claims.

Congress routinely has difficulty finding offsets to pay for new spending or tax cuts. But in this case, the employee retention tax credit appears to have few friends left on Capitol Hill.

Well-intentioned, but boy oh boy, said Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., in summing up the program.

Updated at 12:30 p.m.
What a sad state of affairs it is when one of Missouri's gubernatorial candidates ends a written statement the way state Sen. Bill Eigel, R-Weldon Spring, did, with the assertion: When I'm governor, there will be hell to pay. ("Kehoe lands big check in race for Missouri governor, extends fundraising lead," Jan. 20.)

Taken at face value, how are voters  friend or foe  supposed to respond to that? Can Eigel or anyone else possibly think that's what effective leadership is? Do today's politicians not see that so many people, regardless of party affiliation or lack thereof, are tired of the acrimony, the chaos and the gridlock that modern politics have become?

Election years are tough enough with the inevitable division of candidates into winners and losers. But maybe we can reduce the wear and tear on the entire electorate by dialing down the diatribes and returning to rhetoric that respects individuals and has more to say about issues and ideas than retribution and who can scream the loudest.

Julie Sharamitaro

St. Louis
HOUSTON, TX / ACCESSWIRE / January 27, 2024 / In the world of cosmeceuticals, a visionary leader emerges: Audrey Ajakaye, the youngest-ever Ivy League-educated CEO in the industry, introduces Audaja, a groundbreaking skincare line. This innovative brand, boasting nine exceptional products, is crafted in an FDA-regulated lab, epitomizing the fusion of science and skincare excellence.

Audaja's inception was more than just a business endeavor; it was a personal crusade for Ajakaye, who has battled with eczema since childhood. This journey, marked by challenges and resilience, fueled her ambition to create a skincare line that addresses a multitude of skin concerns, from eczema to aging signs, with gentle yet potent formulations.

Ajakaye's accomplishments extend beyond Audaja. At 16, she developed an AI-driven solution for skin disease detection, integral to the globally used "LoveMySkin" app, symbolizing a revolution in personalized skincare. Her role in the Penn Wharton Investment Fund and as a GivingTuesday ambassador further illustrates her multifaceted impact on health innovations and societal change.

Each product in Audaja's lineup is a testament to the brand's core values: innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability. Audaja is not just about addressing diverse skin needs; it's about reshaping societal perceptions and championing ethical production. The brand's commitment to these principles is evident in its approach to product development, customer feedback, and its advocacy for skin health and positivity.

Audaja's journey, however, was not without its hurdles. Formulating products that met stringent FDA regulations while ensuring efficacy and sustainability was a formidable challenge. Overcoming these obstacles, Ajakaye has positioned Audaja as a beacon of excellence and innovation in the saturated skincare market.

Ajakaye's advice to budding entrepreneurs is anchored in passion, market research, and a robust business plan. Her approach underlines the importance of aligning one's passion with business objectives, understanding the market landscape, and having a clear, strategic vision.

For Ajakaye, success transcends financial gains. It encompasses personal fulfillment, societal impact, and continuous growth. Her vision of success is deeply interwoven with Audaja's mission: to deliver effective, inclusive, and sustainable skincare solutions that resonate with consumers worldwide.

As for the future, Ajakaye teases upcoming projects, promising that, like Audaja's initial range, they will be innovative, science-backed, and aligned with the brand's ethos. The biggest obstacle she's overcome - formulating products that meet the highest standards of effectiveness and ethical responsibility - stands as a testament to her commitment to excellence.

Differentiating itself from competitors, Audaja's focus on innovation, inclusivity, sustainability, and ethical production sets new benchmarks in the cosmeceutical industry. Ajakaye's journey with Audaja is a compelling narrative of breaking barriers, redefining beauty norms, and championing a global impact through transformative skincare initiatives.

For more information about Audaja and its revolutionary products, visit www.audaja.com or follow the brand on Instagram @audajaskin .

Media Contact

Organization: Audaja

Contact Person: Audrey Ajakaye

Website: http://www.audaja.com

Email: [email protected]

City: Houston

State: Texas

Country: United States

SOURCE: Audaja

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Field trial results confirm nitrogen-fixing microbial seed treatment products increased yields and reduced fertilizer use in vegetable crops like potatoes

DAVIS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- BioConsortia, Inc., a leading agricultural technology company that designs and licenses advanced microbial products to reduce the ecological impacts of agriculture while ensuring crop productivity, today announced that the Company has developed nitrogen-fixing products to expand the addressable market to new crop opportunities.

2023 field trial results have confirmed that levels of nitrogen-replacement from BioConsortias seed and soil treatment products met or exceeded performance expectations when evaluated in potatoes, tomatoes, and lettuce. This important step expands the potential market for BioConsortias nitrogen-fixing products and their impact in addressing the environmental impacts of fertilizer runoff and overuse beyond cereals markets.

The field results in potatoes and other vegetables continue to impress, and were excited to continue our work with vegetable seed developers, input providers and growers around the globe, as we get one step closer to product launch, said Dr. Hong Zhu, Senior Vice President of Research and Development at BioConsortia, Inc.

This is an exciting development for BioConsortia and the vegetable industry, added Marcus Meadows-Smith, CEO at BioConsortia. Products like these allow growers to reduce their reliance on synthetic nitrogen fertilizers and better meet the challenges of balancing crop productivity with ecological safety.

BioConsortias nitrogen-fixing seed treatment products have already been validated through hundreds of field trials in cereals like wheat, rice and corn, where the products routinely deliver increased yield or enable nitrogen displacement. In fruit and vegetable markets, BioConsortia will offer both seed treatment and formulations designed for application to soil or through drip irrigation.

Company representatives will attend the American Seed Trade Organization Vegetable and Flower Seed Trade Conference in Monterey, California, January 26 through 30.

ABOUT BIOCONSORTIA

BioConsortia, Inc. develops superior microbial products that protect plants, enhance fertility, and increase yields while improving the sustainability of agriculture for our environment. Pioneering the use of directed selection within microbial communities, BioConsortias patented Advanced Microbial Selection (AMS) process and cutting-edge GenePro genomics and gene-engineering platform enable the Company to predict, design, and unleash the natural power of microbes.

BioConsortias microbial products deliver superior efficacy, higher consistency, and easier grower adoption. The Companys rich pipeline includes nitrogen fixation microbes to replace synthetic nitrogen fertilizers; nutrient use efficiency and biostimulants to increase crop yields; bionematicides and biofungicides to protect crops from pests and diseases; and products for post-harvest pathogen control to safeguard food waste in the distribution chain, retail store and home. BioConsortia is producing breakthrough solutions for growers in major agricultural markets with multiple environmental benefits.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240129899019/en/

For further information, please contact [email protected].

Source: BioConsortia, Inc.
MANILA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- A seven-year-old boy was killed after the motorcycle driven by his father crashed into a concrete post in Batangas province, south of Manila, police said Saturday.

The accident happened at around 8:30 p.m. local time (1230 GMT) on Friday in Rosario town. Initial investigations showed the father lost control of the motorcycle which hit the gutter and crashed into the roadside post.

The boy was a back rider along with his cousins, an 11-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl, police said. The boy's father and cousins sustained injuries.

Only one back rider is allowed on a motorcycle in the Philippines. But seeing more than one back rider on the streets is common, especially in provinces. For instance, it is common to see an infant sandwiched between the driving father and mother in the back. 
IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Patient Safety Movement Foundation (PSMF) convened its annual Mid-Year Event to discuss safety challenges in the healthcare system that result in millions of preventable deaths around the world. Keynote addresses and roundtable discussions with renowned patient safety experts in a variety of fields focused on macro-level strategies to create a safer healthcare system with zero preventable harm.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240126619652/en/

Patient Safety Movement Foundation Founder Joe Kiani speaks about the road ahead in global efforts to eliminate preventable patient harm at the PSMF's annual Mid-Year Event. (Photo: Business Wire)

PSMFs Mid-Year Event invites patient safety thought leaders and advocates, hospital administrators and clinical executives, medical technology executives, major healthcare system payers, patients and their families, and government officials from around the world to review best practices and to chart a course of action for the year.

A keynote by Carol Peden, MD, Co-Chair of the Right Care Initiative, discussed lessons learned from the implementation of evidence-based strategies, including data transparency, and ways to reduce racial and socio-economic disparities in healthcare. Another keynote from David C. Stockwell, MD, the Chief Medical Officer at Johns Hopkins Childrens Center, examined next steps in applying the recommendations of the recent PCAST report to President Biden on the urgent need to addresses widespread preventable harms at U.S. hospitals. Albert Wu, MD, Director at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Services and Outcomes Research, discussed the importance of just culture and creating a blame-free culture in which individuals are able to report errors without fear of punishment.

Joe Kiani, Founder of the Patient Safety Movement Foundation, stated, From day one, weve worked to break the silos across the entire healthcare ecosystem to develop solutions informed by all stakeholders, including patients, and with multidisciplinary expertise. The mid-year meeting this year looked at solutions that will help us reach zero preventable harm faster. Momentum is everything. We see a clear pathway toward eliminating preventable medical errors, but we all have a part to play. We need to take action out of kindness.

We have an enormous opportunity to save lives around the world, stated Dr. Mike Durkin, Chair of the Patient Safety Movement Foundation. Its now time to bounce back from the impact of the pandemic, during which we learned firsthand of the dangers to patients and healthcare workers. We now need to maintain our momentum to reduce harm and work ceaselessly and collaboratively in all healthcare settings. This year, the World Health Organization will focus on diagnostic safety. We must continue to listen to our patients, their families, and healthcare workers and provide them a platform so that they feel safe in telling their stories without fear.

We can have a safer healthcare system today, but we all need to make it a priority, stated Dr. Michael Ramsay, Chief Executive Officer for the Patient Safety Movement Foundation. We also need to demand transparency and access to real data from our healthcare providers. I am encouraged by the passion of the meeting attendees and believe 2024 will be a pivotal year for patient safety.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the To Err Is Human report, stated Sanaz Massoumi, Chief Operating Officer for the Patient Safety Movement Foundation. We now clearly know that practicing evidence-based medicine prevents patient harm, and there is no question that it saves millions of lives and billions of dollars. We hope to partner with more healthcare institutions in 2024. We also hope to empower patients and patient advocates.

This years meeting also featured a presentation by Michael Millenson, President of Health Quality Advisors, LLC, who shared why he believed progress has been slow and what needs to be done to accelerate change and transform our healthcare system. Also presenting today were Dr. Neelam Dhingra, who heads the World Health Organizations Transformative Flagship Initiative; Dr. Edward Kelley, Chief Global Health Officer of ApiJect; and Dr. Howard Hu, Chair and Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences of the University of Southern California.

Panel recommendations included:

Board and C-suites role in patient safety

Resilience in healthcare

Engaging the patient and patient families

Pediatric safety

Diagnostic safety

The presentations and roundtable discussions at the Mid-Year Event laid the groundwork for the PSMFs two-day 11th Annual World Patient Safety, Science & Technology Summit scheduled for later this year, on September 67, 2024. For more information, updates, and to register for the Summit, please visit https://psmf.org/summits/11th-annual-world-patient-safety-science-technology-summit/.

ABOUT THE PATIENT SAFETY MOVEMENT FOUNDATION

In 2012, Joe Kiani founded the non-profit Patient Safety Movement Foundation (PSMF) to eliminate preventable medical errors in hospitals. His team worked with patient safety experts from around the world to create Actionable Evidence-Based Practices (AEBP) that address the top challenges. The AEBP are available without charge to hospitals online. Hospitals are encouraged to make a formal commitment to ZERO preventable deaths, and healthcare technology companies are asked to sign the Open Data Pledge to share their data so that predictive algorithms that can identify errors before they become fatal can be developed. The Foundation's annual World Patient Safety, Science & Technology Summit brings together all stakeholders, including patients, healthcare providers, medical technology companies, government employers, and private payers. The PSMF was established through the support of the Masimo Foundation for Ethics, Innovation, and Competition in Healthcare. For more information, please visit psmf.org.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240126619652/en/

Patient Safety Movement Foundation

Irene Mulonni, [email protected] | (858) 859-7001

Source: Patient Safety Movement Foundation
Today, United States Steel Corporation (NYSE: X) signed a Consent Decree with the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD), Clean Air Council, and PennEnvironment to address the Clairton Plant fire in 2018, and power outages at the Plant in 2019 and 2022. We regret that these accidental incidents occurred and believe this Consent Decree greatly benefits Mon Valley communities.

Under the Consent Decree, U. S. Steel agrees to:

Contribute $4.5 million to projects supporting public health and welfare and/or air quality improvement in the Mon Valley. Project funds will be managed and distributed by the Jefferson Regional Foundation and Allegheny County Department of Economic Development.

Invest approximately $19.5 million in upgrades to coke oven gas cleaning facilities.

Cover part of the litigation costs for PennEnvironment and Clean Air Council.

Pay $500,000 to the Allegheny County Clean Air Fund.

Permanently idle Battery #15 at Mon Valley Works - Clairton Plant, which has been on hot idle. The permanent idle will take place without job reductions. This permanent idling may lead to additional emissions reductions.

U. S. Steel also agreed to a lower hydrogen sulfide limit in coke oven gas and other environmentally beneficial changes to facilities at the Clairton Plant.

At U. S. Steel, there are more than 3,000 hardworking men and women in the Mon Valley who strive every day to make essential steel in a way that complies with all environmental regulations. When we miss that mark, we will make changes so we can do better, said Kurt Barshick, Mon Valley Works Vice President. Were glad that a significant amount of funds from this agreement will make their way back into the communities where we live and work.

According to the Allegheny County Health Department, in the past 12 years, hazardous air pollutants have decreased by 80% in Allegheny County. U. S. Steel has invested roughly $750 million in its Mon Valley operations in the past five years and invests more than $100 million per year on environmental compliance efforts at Mon Valley Works. This work has contributed to an environmental and permit regulation compliance rate above 99%.

All material terms of the Consent Decree were agreed to last summer, and since that time the parties have been cooperating to finalize it and prepare it for filing in Federal District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. As this Consent Decree resolves a lawsuit, it is subject to Court approval.
SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On January 24, 2024, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Administrative Law Judges assigned to California Water Services (Cal Water) 2021 General Rate Case issued a proposed decision; the assigned Commissioner issued an alternate proposed decision.

Cal Water is currently reviewing both the proposed decision and the alternate proposed decision. The decisions are available on the CPUCs website at docs.cpuc.ca.gov/SearchRes.aspx?DocFormat=ALL&DocID=523965968 (proposed) and docs.cpuc.ca.gov/SearchRes.aspx?DocFormat=ALL&DocID=524105168 (alternate).

Parties to the General Rate Case may submit comments on the proposals by February 13, 2024, and the earliest the Commission may consider the proposals is March 7, 2024. At that time, the Commission could adopt all or part of a proposal as written, amend them, or postpone consideration until a future Commission meeting.

The 2021 General Rate Case was filed by Cal Water in July 2021. When the Commission adopts a final decision, it will be retroactive to January 1, 2023.

About California Water Service and California Water Service GroupCalifornia Water Service provides high-quality, reliable water and/or wastewater services to about 2 million people statewide through 496,400 service connections. It is the biggest subsidiary of California Water Service Group (NYSE: CWT), the largest regulated water utility in the western United States. In total, Group serves more than 2 million people in California, Hawaii, New Mexico, Washington, and Texas through its regulated subsidiaries, California Water Service, Hawaii Water Service, New Mexico Water Service, and Washington Water Service, and its utility holding company, Texas Water Service.

What sets Cal Water and Group apart is their commitment to enhancing the quality of life for their customers, communities, employees, and stockholders. Guided daily by their promise to provide quality, service, and value, the companys employees lead the way in working to protect the planet, care for people, and operate with the utmost integrity. Integral to Cal Water and Groups strategy is investing responsibly in water and wastewater infrastructure, sustainability initiatives, and community well-being. The company has been named one of Americas Most Responsible Companies and the Worlds Most Trustworthy Companies by Newsweek and a Great Place to Work, and Cal Water is No. 1 in Customer Satisfaction Among Large Water Utilities in the West Region* by J.D. Power. More information is available at www.calwater.com and www.calwatergroup.com.

*California Water Service received the highest score in the West Large segment of the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Water Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study of customers satisfaction nationally among water customers in the US. Visit jdpower.com/awards for more details.

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 ("PSLRA"). The forward-looking statements are intended to qualify under provisions of the federal securities laws for "safe harbor" treatment established by the PSLRA. Forward-looking statements in this news release are based on currently available information, expectations, estimates, assumptions and projections, and our management's beliefs, assumptions, judgments and expectations about us, the water utility industry and general economic conditions. These statements are not statements of historical fact. When used in our document, statements that are not historical in nature, including words like will, would, expects, intends, plans, believes, may, could, estimates, assumes, anticipates, projects, progress, predicts, hopes, targets, forecasts, should, seeks or variations of these words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. They are based on numerous assumptions that we believe are reasonable, but are subject to uncertainty and risks. Actual results may vary materially from what is contained in a forward-looking statement. Factors that may cause actual results to be different than those expected or anticipated include, but are not limited to: governmental and regulatory commissions' decisions; consequences of eminent domain actions relating to our water systems; changes in regulatory commissions' policies and procedures; the outcome and timeliness of regulatory commissions' actions concerning rate relief and other actions; changes in water quality standards; changes in environmental compliance and water quality requirements; electric power interruptions; the impact of opposition to rate increases; our ability to recover costs; availability of water supplies; issues with the implementation, maintenance or security of our information technology systems; civil disturbances or terrorist threats or acts; the adequacy of our efforts to mitigate physical and cyber security risks and threats; the ability of our enterprise risk management processes to identify or address risks adequately; changes in customer water use patterns and the effects of conservation; the impact of weather, climate change, natural disasters, and actual or threatened public health emergencies; the impact of market conditions and volatility on unrealized gains or losses on our operating results; risks associated with expanding our business and operations geographically; and other risks and unforeseen events described in our SEC filings. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release. When considering forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the cautionary statements included in this paragraph, as well as in our Annual 10-K, Quarterly 10-Qs, and other reports filed from time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). We are not under any obligation, and we expressly disclaim any obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Media ContactYvonne Kingman[email protected]310-257-1434

Source: California Water Service Group
TORONTO, Jan. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- KOHO Financial Inc . (KOHO) a leading Canadian fintech company advances into their next phase of securing a banking license in Canada.



This strategic move is part of the companys core mission to democratize access to the best financial products and marks a significant milestone in KOHOs eight year journey.

If we want to build the best products in the country, we need the best infrastructure in the country. This is a crucial next step in that journey, says KOHO CEO, Daniel Eberhard.

KOHO is also excited to announce Peter Aceto will be joining the leadership team to lead KOHO's efforts to obtain a bank license. Peter spent nine years as the CEO of Tangerine Bank (formerly ING Direct) from its early formation through to its acquisition.

"I have always admired the business that KOHO has built and the success they have achieved. I am excited to join the team, help them obtain a Canadian banking license, and contribute to their mission of providing transparent, innovative customer first financial products to everyday Canadians, says Peter Aceto.

Entering phase two of applying for a banking license will bring KOHO closer to its mission, highlighting the company's steadfast commitment to financially empowering Canadians while providing them with the tools they need to succeed.

About KOHO

KOHO is a fintech company on a mission to make financial products that are transparent and intuitive. KOHO offers a full-service spending and savings account with no hidden fees that gives cash back on every purchase, and an integrated app that helps users spend smart and save more. KOHO partners with a variety of banks and federally regulated financial institutions to deliver our products. For more information, please visit koho.ca .
TORONTO, Jan. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sulliden Mining Capital Inc. (Sulliden or the Company) (TSX: SMC) is pleased to announce the appointments of Peter Michel as the chief financial officer of the Company and Peter Hooper as the chair of the board, each effective immediately. The appointments of Messrs. Michel and Hooper follow the resignations of Ryan Ptolemy and long-time board member William Clarke, respectively.

Peter Michel is a CPA, CA and obtained a Bachelor of Accounting and Financial Management from the University of Waterloo. Mr. Michel formerly served in leadership roles in both public and private companies with most recent focus in healthcare. Additionally, he worked as a Senior Manager at BDO Canada LLP where he worked in its audit and assurance practice. He has expertise in strategic planning, financial reporting, budgeting, acquisitions, cash management and audit.

Management and the board of directors of the Company would like to thank Messrs. Ptolemy and Clarke for their services and extensive contributions and wish them well in their future endeavours.

About Sulliden

Sulliden is a mining company focused on acquiring and advancing brownfield, development-stage and early production-stage mining projects in the Americas, Australia, and Africa.

Sulliden Mining Capital Inc.

For more information:Rennie MorkelChief Executive Officer[email protected]+1 (416) 861-2267

THE TSX HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OF THIS NEWS RELEASE.

Source: Sulliden Mining Capital Inc.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 26, 2024) - INCA ONE GOLD CORP. (TSXV: INCA) (OTCQB: INCAF) (FSE: SU92) ("Inca One" or the "Company") a gold producer operating two mineral processing facilities in Peru, (the "Plants") is pleased to announce it will be attending The Microcap Conference on January 30, 31 and February 1, 2024 at Caesars Atlantic City Hotel & Casino, in Atlantic City, NJ.

Registered attendees may schedule one-on-one meetings with Inca One management via the conference scheduling platform. For more information about The Microcap Conference, please refer to the conference website https://themicrocapconference.com/. The Company presentation times will be as indicated below.

Presentation times:

Tuesday, January 31, 3:40 pm, Track 3, third floor.

Wednesday, February 1, 10:25 am, Track 3, third floor.

Now in its tenth year of commercial operations, Inca One is an established and trusted leader servicing Peru's permitted artisanal and small-scale mining (ASGM) sector. A highly mineral-rich country, Peru is one of the world's top producers of gold, silver, copper, lead and zinc, with substantial production from artisanal and small-scale miners who need government permitted milling facilities to process their gold bearing material.

The Company will display its minted 1 oz gold coins that will also be available for purchase.

We look forward to seeing you in Atlantic City.

For More Information Contact:

Konstantine Tsakumis

[email protected]

www.incaone.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/195925
Latest thought leadership piece by Qamar Zaman Covers Navigating Urgency Vs. Importance In The PR

Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands--(Newsfile Corp. - January 27, 2024) - Kiss PR Brand Story and Qamar Zaman, founder of KISS PR Digital Marketing and a respected author, delivers vital insights for business owners in his latest Forbes Agency Council post. This article, conforming to Forbes Councils Content Submission Guidelines, is essential for those aiming to enhance their brand's narrative and visibility.





Qamar Zaman, Forbes Agency Council Influencer, a Cayman Islands Based Digital PR and Marketing Expert



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8033/195927_bda9658584a82b89_001full.jpg

Key Highlights by Qamar Zaman, Thought leader on Forbes Agency Council

Zaman merges personal insights with Charles E. Hummel's "Tyranny of the Urgent" principles into PR.

Focuses on differentiating urgent tasks from those critical for long-term objectives.

Includes strategies like strategic planning, clear communication, and leveraging technology.

Stresses the importance of introspection and regular reflection for setting priorities.

Real-world PR scenarios demonstrate the consequences of prioritizing urgent over important tasks.

Applies Hummel's teachings for a balanced approach in both professional and personal life.

Encourages aligning actions with one's true purpose for meaningful growth.

Read the article Navigating Urgency Vs. Importance In The PR World at Forbes Link

About Qamar Zaman

Qamar Zaman, a distinguished member of the Forbes Council and an expert in digital marketing, SEO, and copywriting, demonstrates his expertise in blending storytelling with marketing. His work serves as a valuable guide and source of inspiration for business owners and marketers worldwide.

To learn more about Qamar Zaman, a prominent figure on the Forbes Agency Council, follow his profile. You can also find his articles on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

For media contact:

Agnes Zang [email protected]

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/195927
Edmonton, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - January 26, 2024) - TrustBIX Inc. (TSXV: TBIX) ("TrustBIX" or the "Company") announced today financial results for the year ended September 30, 2023, and the related Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A").

For the year ended September 30, 2023, compared to 2022, the Company posted:

Revenue of $2,128,401, up $453,296 or 27.1%;

Operating expenses of $4,435,699, down $1,205,684 or 21.4%;

Non-cash operating expenses related to stock-based compensation to incentivize our team and amortization and depreciation expense, decreased to $861,361, down $131,600 or 13.3%;

Excluding these non-cash items, operating expenses decreased by $1,074,084 or 23.1%; and

Overall net loss and comprehensive loss of $3,073,808, down $993,335 or 24.4%.

"Throughout this last summer and fall, the executive team and board of directors considered how best for TrustBIX to pivot its business to adapt to the new post-COVID reality. We are delighted to already see the benefits from our aggressive and strategic changes. The Company was able to achieve both a 27.1% increase in revenues combined with a 21.4% reduction in total operating expenses. The team will continue to execute on our plan throughout 2024," said Hubert Lau, TrustBIX CEO.

The Company's financial results for the year ended September 30, 2023, and the related MD&A, have been filed and are available on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR+) at www.sedarplus.ca.

About TrustBIX (TSXV: TBIX)

TrustBIX is an agricultural technology company providing Gate to Plate solutions to create a world where we trust more, waste less, and reward sustainable practices. Our award-winning technologies offer practical tools trusted by local and international agri-food organizations.

www.TrustBIX.com

Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains certain forward-looking information and reflects the Company's present assumptions regarding future events. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, levels of activity, performance, and/or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

Certain statements contained in this document constitute forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. When used in this document, the words "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "intend", "plan", "propose", "anticipate", "believe", "forecast", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions used by any of the Company's management, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the Company's internal projections, expectations, future growth, performance and business prospects and opportunities and are based on information currently available to the Company. Since they relate to the Company's current views with respect to future events, they are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Given these risks and uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update any such factors or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments except as required by applicable securities legislation, regulations or policies.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Hubert Lau

President and CEO

Telephone: (780) 456-2207

Email: [email protected]

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 of accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/195922
Paid press release content from The Financial Capital. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation.

Reyna Law Firm (956-450-8294) has enhanced its legal solutions for catastrophic injuries by introducing new services designed to uncover faulty equipment at oilfields, specifically catering to injured workers in McAllen, Texas.



The oil extraction sector has a reputation for its risky environment, often marred by avoidable hazards. For individuals who have suffered due to inadequate safety measures and faulty equipment, McAllen's Reyna Law Firm stands ready to provide assistance.

McAllen's Reyna Law Firm is dedicated to shedding light on the common injuries occurring in and around oilfields, particularly in the McAllen area where numerous such sites are located. Their legal team identifies defective equipment and lax safety standards as primary factors contributing to accidents in the oil and gas industry. Need to pursue a damage claim? This firm is prepared to offer support.

Explore https://www.reynainjurylaw.com/mcallen now.

Reyna Law Firm specializes in handling workplace accidents resulting from gas leaks, blowouts, explosions, and other incidents caused by equipment defects and inadequate safety measures. Their injury attorneys thoroughly evaluate the circumstances of the accident to determine potential liability of third parties, companies, or insurers.

According to the firm, when oil companies provide workers with faulty equipment, the risk of serious workplace accidents escalates. Reyna Law Firm ensures that clients understand their rights in such situations and any eligibility for compensation. Seek assistance from their McAllen office.

Reports of corroded pipes, damaged cables, and worn-out metal at oil sites highlight potential risks to workers and the community. Reyna Law Firm draws from experience representing victims who have suffered head injuries, falls from heights, and loss of limbs. Struggling with hefty medical expenses? The firm aims for prompt reimbursement.

In addition to case evaluations at its McAllen offices, Reyna Law Firm offers professional guidance to the injured and their families. Initial consultations enable the firm to estimate the potential value of a claim based on factors such as injuries, future medical expenses, lost wages, and more.

Legal advisors in McAllen emphasize that inadequate site maintenance and irregular safety inspections constitute serious lapses for which companies may be held accountable. Investigative efforts are integral to Reyna Law Firm's services, involving systematic gathering of evidence to support the case.

Upon establishing liability, Reyna Law Firm assists in achieving full settlement recovery. Their McAllen team is adept at initiating and managing negotiations with insurance companies to secure fair compensation for their client's needs.

Oilfield workers and their loved ones matters to Reyna Law Firm, with fair compensation and the best recovery being their primary focus.

Whether in McAllen or elsewhere in Texas or New Mexico, visithttps://www.reynainjurylaw.com/mcallen for comprehensive information about Reyna Law Firm and its legal support options for oilfield injury cases.

Contact:

Reyna Law Firm

7001 N 10th St Ste. G2, McAllen, TX 78504

(956) 450-8294

https://www.reynainjurylaw.com/mcallen

Contact Info:

Name: Juan Reyna

Email: Send Email

Organization: Reyna Law Firm McAllen

Address: 7001 North 10th Street #Ste. G2, McAllen, Texas 78504, United States

Website: https://www.reynainjurylaw.com/mcallen



Release ID: 89119895

If you encounter any issues, discrepancies, or concerns regarding the content provided in this press release that require attention or if there is a need for a press release takedown, we kindly request that you notify us without delay at [email protected]. Our responsive team will be available round-the-clock to address your concerns within 8 hours and take necessary actions to rectify any identified issues or guide you through the removal process. Ensuring accurate and reliable information is fundamental to our mission.
Paid press release content from The Financial Capital. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation.

The website design service aims to help businesses in Michigan transform their online presence and ensure effective audience connections.



In an era where the digital landscape is constantly evolving, PGN Agency is set to transform the website design industry in Michigan. With unwavering dedication to their craft, PGN Agency is proud to introduce exceptional website design solutions tailored to meet the distinctive requirements of local businesses.

People often underestimate the significance of professional website design, assuming that anyone can create a functional online presence. While this may hold for basic websites, PGN Agency recognizes that a website should be more than just functional. It should be an extension of a brand's identity, engaging its audience and delivering a compelling message that converts visitors into loyal clients.

PGN Agency's professional website design services in Michigan can make businesses stand out. The team of experts at the marketing company understands the intricacies of web design and ensures that websites are visually appealing and provide an exceptional user experience. Every element of the design process is meticulously curated to convey clarity, conciseness, and persuasiveness.

According to a spokesperson from PGN Agency, "Our mission is to deliver websites to clients across Michigan and the United States that adhere to the utmost industry standards. Your brand will not be just another ordinary site on the internet. Instead, it will turn heads and grow faster than you could ever imagine."

When businesses choose PGN Agency for their web design needs, their websites gain the potential to rank higher on search engines. These websites can adapt seamlessly to various delivery devices, from legacy desktops to the latest smartphones.

As a full-service marketing and advertising firm, PGN Agency offers various services beyond website design. They specialize in building memorable brands, utilizing social media, crafting stunning websites, capturing perfect pictures, and creating shareable videos. With their expertise, they provide comprehensive solutions for branding, rebranding, social media management, web design, photography, and much more.

"At PGN, we believe that your brand matters, so we work tirelessly to ensure the world thinks so too," added the spokesperson. "We help build your brand's image through stunning websites, boost online presence, create attention-grabbing collateral, and listen to your goals."



About the company: For businesses in Michigan looking to make a lasting impact in the digital landscape, PGN Agency's website design services offer an unmatched opportunity to enhance their online presence. Professionals at this agency are trained to offer an efficient way of engaging with their intended audience.

Contact Info:

Name: Media Contact

Email: Send Email

Organization: PGN Agency

Address: 1504 E 11 Mile Rd, Royal Oak, MI 48067

Phone: 248-414-6860

Website: https://pgnagency.com/



Release ID: 89119874

In case of detection of errors, concerns, or irregularities in the content provided in this press release, or if there is a need for a press release takedown, we strongly encourage you to reach out promptly by contacting [email protected]. Our efficient team will be at your disposal for immediate assistance within 8 hours  resolving identified issues diligently or guiding you through the removal process. We take great pride in delivering reliable and precise information to our valued readers.
PARIS, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- "The anniversary will strengthen our bonds in our shared history," said Eric Alauzet in a recent exclusive interview with Xinhua, referring to the 60th anniversary of the establishment of China-French diplomatic relations.

As president of the France-China Friendship Group of the French National Assembly and an acupuncturist doctor, his experiences reflect the history of mutual understanding and cooperation between France and China.

His passion for Chinese culture began with Chinese medicine, particularly acupuncture. At the end of his medical studies in Paris, the University of Bobigny started offering a course called "alternative medicine" that included acupuncture.

"I immediately had a very strong interest in acupuncture. Why? Because I had this sensitivity to consider health from a holistic point of view, meaning our health should not only take into account psychological and physical dimensions, but also the influence of the environment," he said.

He highlighted that unlike the rigid duality of the West, Chinese philosophy sees an interplay and transformation between yin and yang, creating a harmonious balance through their dynamic relationship.

After 35 years of study and passion for Chinese culture, Alauzet went to China last April for the first time, accompanying French President Emmanuel Macron during a visit to China.

Six months later, he returned to China as the president of the France-China Friendship Group of the French National Assembly. The group focuses on parliamentary diplomacy, distinct from official trips, aiming to enhance mutual understanding and build on dialogues between presidents and ministers.

"We do not engage in formal commitments. Instead, our discussions aim to foster better understanding and to potentially build upon the dialogues initiated between our presidents and ministers. We're resuming routine discussions," he said.

During the visit, the French delegation discussed global issues such as health, environment, and economic exchanges with the Chinese side. Emphasizing the importance of mutual understanding and goodwill, he highlighted the significance of friendship in these discussions.

For Alauzet, this year holds significance for both France and China. "I notice heightened activity between China and France. Sixty is an incredibly important milestone in China -- it marks the conclusion of one cycle and the commencement of a new era," he said.

He further said former French President Charles de Gaulle was a visionary who not only foresaw China's awakening and progress, but also anticipated China's role on the global stage. "Today, China is a heavyweight," he said.

"I think that in the exchanges between France and China, all of this will be extremely precious, and the 60th anniversary is really going to be an additional opportunity to strengthen our ties and the joint influence of China and France," he said.

France, for its part as a heavyweight in Europe, can extend its global influence through collaboration with China, Alauzet noted. In a multipolar world, the dominance of a singular Western model is unlikely.

He highlighted that 60 years of ties are an achievement, and the shared festivities offer an opportunity to forge stronger connections. "It enables us to meet more, fostering new friendships," he said.

"I'm optimistic about our success, as it will bolster culture and human relations -- the foundation of all relationships, including diplomatic and strategic ones," he added. 
Paid press release content from The Financial Capital. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation.

The company's focus on these technologies aligns with its mission to set new benchmarks in wastewater treatment efficiency.



Technology Sales Associates, Inc., a well-established entity in the water and wastewater treatment sector, is propelling forward with its focus on biological treatment screening technologies tailored for efficient biological wastewater treatment. With roots dating back to 1977, the company remains at the forefront, recognized for its excellence and ethical business practices.

"In the dynamic field of water and wastewater treatment, our dedication to innovation has been a driving force since our establishment. We are proud to introduce these advanced biological treatment screening technologies, marking another stride in our journey of providing cutting-edge solutions to our valued clients," says a representative from Technology Sales Associates, Inc.

The company highlights that this set of advanced biological treatment screening technologies is from renowned manufacturers. They are intended to reshape the water and wastewater treatment landscape.

The featured technologies include AGS (Aerobic Granular Sludge) from Aqua Aerobics / Nereda, SBR (Sequencing Batch Reactor), RBC (Rotating Biological Contactor), and BNR Oxidation Ditch (Carousel) from Aqua Aerobics, MBR (Membrane Bioractor) from Ovivo, and Attached Growth/Fixed Film from Suez. Each technology highlights the company's mission to deliver comprehensive, reliable solutions for diverse water and wastewater treatment needs.

Founded on principles of honesty, ethical conduct, and customer-centricity, Technology Sales Associates, Inc. emphasizes its relentless commitment to excellence. The company collaborates with manufacturers that strive to deliver the same high-quality and performance standards.

"As we look towards the future, our mission is clear - to continue being at the forefront of technological advancements in water and wastewater treatment, ensuring sustainable and effective solutions for the benefit of our clients and the environment," concludes the representative.



About the company: Since 1977, Technology Sales Associates, Inc. has been a trusted leader in the water and wastewater treatment industry. The company's commitment to innovation, ethical business practices, and excellence has solidified its position as a go-to partner for engineers, owners, and manufacturers. Those looking for biological treatment screening technologies tailored for biological wastewater treatment can check out this firm.

Contact Info:

Name: Media Contact

Email: Send Email

Organization: Technology Sales Associates, Inc.

Address: 402 Amherst St Ste 301 Nashua, NH 03063 US

Phone: 978-838-9998

Website: https://techsalesne.com/



Release ID: 89119871

In the event of encountering any errors, concerns, or inconsistencies within the content shared in this press release, we kindly request that you immediately contact us at [email protected]. Our dedicated team will be readily accessible to address your feedback within 8 hours and take appropriate measures to rectify any identified issues or facilitate press release takedowns. Ensuring accuracy and reliability are central to our commitment.
LANSING, Mich., Jan. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Avelo Airlines' first international service takes flight this weekend from Lansing's Capital Region International Airport (LAN) in partnership with Apple Vacations. The partnership's new scheduled public charter service will serve three international destinations from LAN.

Avelo and Apple Vacations offer nonstop flights and vacation packages between LAN and three tropical international destinations: Cancun, Mexico ; Montego Bay, Jamaica ; and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic beginning tomorrow, Jan. 27 through April 3, 2024 . Booking information and specific flight dates and times can be found at AppleVacations.com.

Beginning Jan. 27 : Lansing to Cancun International Airport (CUN)  three times weekly on Saturdays, Mondays, and Wednesdays

: Lansing to (CUN)  three times weekly on Saturdays, Mondays, and Wednesdays Beginning Feb. 2 : Lansing to Montego Bay's Sangster International Airport (MBJ)  one time weekly on Fridays

: Lansing to (MBJ)  one time weekly on Fridays Beginning Jan. 28 : Lansing to Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ)  two times weekly on Sundays and Thursdays

Avelo Airlines Chairman and CEO Andrew Levy said, "These three tropical destinations Avelo will operate for Apple Vacations from Lansing are the perfect debut of Avelo's international service. We look forward to offering the same reliable and friendly experience to Apple Vacations' Customers that we've been providing Avelo's Capital Region Customers since we took flight at LAN 15 months ago. Apple Vacations' selection of Avelo to operate their flights to these three popular destinations is a testament to positive reputation we've built in Michigan and across the country."

Additionally, Avelo offers twice-weekly scheduled service between LAN and Orlando International Airport (MCO). Avelo is the only airline offering nonstop service between LAN and MCO. Nonstop service to Orlando can be booked at AveloAir.com.

Since Avelo began service at LAN on October 26, 2022 , the airline has flown over 30,000 Customers on nearly 300 flights. Avelo also leads LAN in reliability with a 100% completion factor, meaning there have been no Avelo cancellations at LAN since the airline inaugurated served there 15 months ago.

Capital Region Airport Authority President and CEO Nicole Noll-Williams said, "We are thrilled that Apple Vacations is back at LAN for our 2024 international season. And we couldn't be more excited that Apple selected Avelo Airlines to operate these flights with their exceptional track record for reliable and friendly service. These nonstop flights to Mexico , the Dominican Republic , and Jamaica for 2024 are another reminder that LAN is a gateway to popular vacation destinations around the world  and it's not too late to book your trip!"

America's Most Convenient Airline

Avelo was founded to Inspire Travel by saving its Customers time and money. Since taking flight on April 28, 2021 , Avelo has flown 4.2 million Customers on over 30,000 flights. Today, Avelo serves 43 destinations in 23 states and Puerto Rico .

Along the way, Avelo has unlocked a new era of convenience, choice and competition by flying unserved routes to primarily underserved communities across the country. Every Avelo flight is nonstop, and at least one airport on every Avelo flight is a small, easy to use airport  making every Avelo journey easier and more enjoyable.

Avelo is distinguished by its reliability. In 2023, Avelo achieved the lowest flight cancellation rate and the second-best on-time performance in the U.S. airline industry.

Avelo Customers can always change or cancel their itineraries with no extra fees. Additionally, families can travel with ease knowing every child 13 and under will always be automatically seated with an accompanying adult at no additional cost.

Additionally, Avelo offers advanced seat assignments for sale. One third of its seats are extra leg room seats, ranging from 32 inches to more than 36 inches, offering a more comfortable experience for Customers who value more space. In addition to advance seat assignments, Avelo offers several unbundled travel-enhancing options that give Customers the flexibility to pay only for what they value, including priority boarding, checked bags, carry-on overhead bags, and bringing a pet in the cabin.

About Avelo Airlines

Avelo Airlines was founded with a simple purpose  to Inspire Travel. The airline offers Customers time and money-saving convenience, low everyday fares and a refreshingly smooth, caring and reliable travel experience. Operating a fleet of Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft, Avelo serves 43 popular destinations across the United States , including its six bases at Los Angeles' Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR), Southern Connecticut's Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN), Orlando International Airport (MCO), the Philadelphia and Delaware Valley region's Wilmington Airport (ILG), Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) and Las Vegas' Harry Reid International Airport (LAS). For more information visit AveloAir.com or the Avelo Newsroom at AveloAir.com/Newsroom.

Media Contacts:

Avelo Airlines

Courtney Goff

[email protected]

Capital Region International Airport (LAN)

Katherine Japinga

[email protected]

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/avelo-airlines-first-international-service-takes-flight-from-lansing-through-apple-vacations-partnership-302046094.html

SOURCE Avelo Airlines
The inaugural event takes place at Expo City Dubai from January 26 to February 4

from The first Emirati -led light art festival features works by seven local artists

features works by seven local artists Sisters of the Desert projection show features works by Emirati Dhabia Jumaa Lamlah , Australian Rene Kulitja and South Africa's Dr Esther Mahlangu

projection show features works by , Australian and Event partnered with Liter of Light to provide high-quality solar lighting to disadvantaged communities

DUBAI, UAE , Jan. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Dhai Dubai , the first-ever Emirati-led light art festival, has launched its illuminating 10-day programme at Expo City Dubai . The event celebrates the rich artistic tapestry of Emirati talent through a series of awe-inspiring artistic projections, interactive installations, enlightening talks and creative workshops. The free-to-attend festival is created and organised by Expo City Dubai , in partnership with AGB Creative and Dubai Culture and Arts Authority and will run from January 26 to February 4 .

Artists lighting up the inaugural event include Mattar Bin Lahej , known for designing the calligraphic facade on the Museum of the Future; pioneering artist Dr Najat Makki , honoured with the French Chevalier of Arts and Letters; Emirates Fine Arts Society co-founder Dr Mohamed Yousef ; designer Abdulla Almulla , who participated in last year's London Design Biennale; multi-disciplinary artist Maitha Hamdan ; esteemed designer Khalid Al Shafar , renowned for his collaboration with Louvre Abu Dhabi; and celebrated visual artist Reem Al Ghaith .

Meanwhile, Al Wasl Plaza's iconic 130-metre-wide dome comes to life with a series of special projection shows titled Sisters of the Desert, inspired by the late Emirati artist, Dhabia Juma Lamlah, who produced more than 200 remarkable artworks despite not being able to use her right hand. Reflecting Dubai 's spirit of multicultural collaboration, the show also features special guests, Australian artist Rene Kulitja and South African artist Dr Esther Mahlangu , who weave together a narrative of resilience and cross-cultural connectivity.

Dhai Dubai is supporting the Liter of Light initiative  a global grassroots movement  to provide high-quality solar lighting to people with limited to electricity in the floating images of Agusan Marsh in the Philippines . Festival visitors can also pledge to contribute toward Liter of Light's mission in communities across the Philippines , Kenya , Cameroon , and India .

For more information, please visit www.dhaidubai.com and sign up to receive updates.

Images



Videos

Merwat Hussein

[email protected]

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2328175/Dhai_Dubai.jpg

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dhai-dubai-stunning-new-light-art-festival-featuring-world-class-lineup-launches-at-expo-city-dubai-302046129.html

SOURCE Dhai Dubai
LOS ANGELES , Jan. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A Lancaster jury yesterday awarded $42.4 million to a pregnant mother who has been in a coma ever since a head-on collision in 2015. With interest, the award will likely reach $55 million .

Diana Estevez was a 23-year-old nursing student with a two-year-old son and a second child on the way when the June 1, 2015 accident occurred. Her Saab was struck head-on by a Ford Explorer pickup driven defendant Gregory Kadlec . Kadlec's pickup veered across Avenue M directly into Estevez's vehicle.

Estevez suffered massive skull and facial injuries. She gave birth to son, Leon, now 8, via emergency cesarean section while in a coma. She remains in a vegetative state with no awareness of her surroundings and no chance of recovery, doctors testified at trial. Her older son, Ethan, is now 10 years old.

Kadlec blamed the crash on the City of Lancaster , saying he lost control after hitting a pothole. But the jury rejected that story after deliberating for just one hour. It unanimously found Kadlec's negligence caused the accident.

Estevez was represented at trial by Ricardo Echeverria and Samuel Bruchey of Shernoff Bidart Echeverria LLP.

Kadlec did not attend the trial in person. But Estevez's attorneys played the jury a recorded statement he gave a sheriff deputy on the day of the crash, where he said nothing about a pothole.

"This case was about taking responsibility," Echeverria said. "It took almost nine years for Diana to get justice. But in the end, the jury got it right."

The case is Diana Estevez v. Gregory Kadlec , Los Angeles Superior Court, Case No. MC026448.

About Shernoff Bidart Echeverria LLP

At Shernoff Bidart Echeverria LLP, we lead the nation in protecting policyholders from insurance companies' refusal to pay claims. The firm has been protecting the rights of insurance consumers, both individuals and businesses, for over 50 years after having set the legal precedent requiring insurance companies to act in good faith.

CONTACT: Joe Marchelewski , [email protected]

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/la-jury-awards-42-4-million-to-young-mother-in-coma-for-nearly-nine-years-after-head-on-collision-302046060.html

SOURCE Shernoff Bidart Echeverria LLP
TAMPA, Fla. , Jan. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Thyroid Disease Awareness Month (January) is a pivotal time for raising awareness about the pros and cons of thyroid surgeryone of the most common operations performed in the US. Unfortunately, about 20% of patients having a thyroid operation have something go wrong, resulting in a less than desirable outcome.

"Choosing a high-volume thyroid surgeon is pivotal in ensuring successful outcomes and minimizing complications."

Thyroid surgery, or thyroidectomy, is typically performed on individuals dealing with thyroid growths, thyroid nodules, thyroid cancers, or overall enlargements of the thyroid gland which are called goiters. Too little thyroid hormone productioncalled hypothyroidismis usually not an indication for thyroid surgery. But too much thyroid hormone production (hyperthyroidism) is occasionally treated with thyroid surgery.

The relatively high rate of undesirable outcomes stems from the fact that thyroid surgery is highly technical, but many surgeons with little or no specific training are performing this operation. In the US, it is estimated that 80% of thyroid surgery is performed by surgeons who perform less than 10 thyroid operations per year. As predicted, the outcomes for these patients are not as good, with complication rates up to 10 times higher and cure rates for cancer often being up to 25% lower. Thyroid surgery, like most things in life, has better outcomes and higher cure rates when performed by surgeons who do more than 100 of these operations per year.

Dr. Gary Clayman , Founder of the Clayman Thyroid Center at the Hospital for Endocrine Surgery in Tampa, Florida emphasizes, "Our mission has always been to provide the highest standard of care for patients. Choosing a very high-volume thyroid surgeon is pivotal in ensuring successful outcomes and minimizing complications, but unfortunately, most people don't do their homework and simply go to the 'local guy' they were referred to. Our thyroid surgeons perform thyroid surgery onlythey don't do any other type of surgery."

Understanding Thyroid Surgery:

Thyroid surgery typically involves removal of half or the entire thyroid gland, depending on the size of the problem and the disease that is being treated. Like all operations, there are potential complications, but these can be decreased to almost zero when the operation is performed by a thyroid surgeon who performs hundreds of thyroid operations per year.

With this article for Thyroid Disease Awareness Month, the Clayman Thyroid Center and its world-renowned surgeons hope to educate the public and encourage them to take control of their thyroid health. Dr. Rashmi Roy , widely recognized as the "Goiter Guru" on YouTube, adds, "Informed decisions about who will be your surgeon is the first step toward optimal thyroid health. Education empowers individuals to make choices that positively impact their lives."

Common Complications of Thyroid Surgery:

Voice Changes: Damage to the vocal cord nerves can lead to hoarseness or changes in voice. The thyroid gland is situated right on top of the recurrent laryngeal nerves and their branches, which control vocal cord movement. Even a slight damage to one of these nerves can cause the patient to lose their voice for monthsor even permanently.



Dr. Nate Walsh, senior surgeon at the Hospital for Endocrine Surgery , emphasizes, "Inexperienced surgeons have a 10-times higher rate of inadvertently damaging this nerve, leading to temporary or even permanent voice changes, difficulty swallowing, or worst case, difficulty breathing if both nerves are damaged at the same time. That's why it's so important to be mindful in who you are selecting as your surgeon. There can be serious consequences."



High-volume surgeons are much more adept at identifying and preserving these very small and delicate nerves to the voice box. The nerves are isolated routinely by high-volume surgeons in every operation whereas low-volume surgeons simply try to avoid this area of the neck which can lead to cancer being left behind. This is a very technical aspect of the operation that is performed with magnification and requires many years of training to become an expert.



Dr Clayman adds, "Preservation of vocal cord nerve function is so important that we place an amniotic membrane cover over each nerve during the operation to protect it and help the healing process. It has made a huge difference, to the point that we won't perform thyroid surgery without a biologic covering over the nerve."





Damage to the vocal cord nerves can lead to hoarseness or changes in voice. The thyroid gland is situated right on top of the recurrent laryngeal nerves and their branches, which control vocal cord movement. Even a slight damage to one of these nerves can cause the patient to lose their voice for monthsor even permanently. Dr. Nate Walsh, senior surgeon at the , emphasizes, "Inexperienced surgeons have a 10-times higher rate of inadvertently damaging this nerve, leading to temporary or even permanent voice changes, difficulty swallowing, or worst case, difficulty breathing if both nerves are damaged at the same time. That's why it's so important to be mindful in who you are selecting as your surgeon. There can be serious consequences." High-volume surgeons are much more adept at identifying and preserving these very small and delicate nerves to the voice box. The nerves are isolated routinely by high-volume surgeons in every operation whereas low-volume surgeons simply try to avoid this area of the neck which can lead to cancer being left behind. This is a very technical aspect of the operation that is performed with magnification and requires many years of training to become an expert. adds, "Preservation of vocal cord nerve function is so important that we place an amniotic membrane cover over each nerve during the operation to protect it and help the healing process. It has made a huge difference, to the point that we won't perform thyroid surgery without a biologic covering over the nerve." Bleeding: Excessive bleeding during or after surgery can be a concern, necessitating the expertise to control it. High-volume thyroid surgeons have learned to minimize the risk of bleeding through experience, learning where the potential bleeding points can be hiding. Only by performing a high number of thyroid operations annually (more than 100 per year) can a surgeon gain an in-depth knowledge of the anatomy and the surgery itself along with common and uncommon variations and challenges that may arise with both. This significantly reduces the risk of bleeding during and after a thyroidectomy.





Excessive bleeding during or after surgery can be a concern, necessitating the expertise to control it. High-volume thyroid surgeons have learned to minimize the risk of bleeding through experience, learning where the potential bleeding points can be hiding. Only by performing a high number of thyroid operations annually (more than 100 per year) can a surgeon gain an in-depth knowledge of the anatomy and the surgery itself along with common and uncommon variations and challenges that may arise with both. This significantly reduces the risk of bleeding during and after a thyroidectomy. Hypoparathyroidism: The four parathyroid glands live on the back side of the thyroid and control the amount of calcium in the bones and blood. The most common complication following thyroid surgery is hypoparathyroidism which occurs when these tiny glands are damaged. As many as 80% of patients undergoing thyroid surgery will experience this problem resulting in low blood calcium problems for weeks or months---or even for their lifetime in 5% of cases. During a thyroidectomy, it is imperative to identify and preserve all the parathyroid glands. Unfortunately, this is difficult to do, with most low-experienced surgeons being unable to find and preserve these tiny glands. Again, multiple medical publications have shown that low-volume surgeons experience this complication as much as ten times more frequently than high-volume thyroid surgeons.





The four parathyroid glands live on the back side of the thyroid and control the amount of calcium in the bones and blood. The most common complication following thyroid surgery is hypoparathyroidism which occurs when these tiny glands are damaged. As many as 80% of patients undergoing thyroid surgery will experience this problem resulting in low blood calcium problems for weeks or months---or even for their lifetime in 5% of cases. During a thyroidectomy, it is imperative to identify and preserve all the parathyroid glands. Unfortunately, this is difficult to do, with most low-experienced surgeons being unable to find and preserve these tiny glands. Again, multiple medical publications have shown that low-volume surgeons experience this complication as much as ten times more frequently than high-volume thyroid surgeons. Scar Formation: A visible and unsightly scar is often a concern for patients undergoing thyroidectomy. Although the appearance of scars varies from person to person, experienced and skilled thyroid surgeons employ techniques to minimize scarring and promote optimal healing. High-volume thyroid surgeons typically use a plastic surgery type of closure, which helps to ensure a scar that is not visible once completely healed. Dr. Roy has released several YouTube videos about the strategic placement of the incisions and how well the scars heal.



The ultimate in scar outcomes is to avoid an incision in the neck altogether. Only a few surgeons offer robotic thyroid surgery, which hides the incisions in the arm pits. The highest volume robotic thyroid surgeon in the US is Dr. Hyunsuk Suh, Medical Director of the Robotic Thyroid Surgery Center at the Hospital for Endocrine Surgery . He performs state-of-the-art robotic thyroid surgery exclusively which leaves behind no neck scar and states: "Robotic thyroid surgery offers the potential for zero scars on their neck, providing patients with both medical and cosmetic benefits."

Choosing the Right Thyroid Surgeon:

When selecting a thyroid surgeon, do your homework! Dr. Roy created a video to guide you in questions to ask your potential thyroid surgeon. You should also consider:

Credentials: Verify specialized training in thyroid surgery. Just being a board- certified general surgeon is not enough.





Verify specialized training in thyroid surgery. Just being a board- certified general surgeon is not enough. Referrals & Reviews: Seek recommendations from healthcare providers and trusted resources. Check the practice's Google reviews and look up the surgeon on HealthGrades. Seek out testimonials and see what past patients have to say.





Seek recommendations from healthcare providers and trusted resources. Check the practice's Google reviews and look up the surgeon on HealthGrades. Seek out testimonials and see what past patients have to say. Experience: Inquire about the surgeon's experience and success rate. Ask how many thyroid operations they perform each year, and ask about their complication rates. If they can't tell you, then you may want to seek another opinion.





Inquire about the surgeon's experience and success rate. Ask how many thyroid operations they perform each year, and ask about their complication rates. If they can't tell you, then you may want to seek another opinion. Communication: Choose a surgeon who promotes open and transparent communication.





Choose a surgeon who promotes open and transparent communication. Hospital Affiliation: Ensure affiliation with a reputable medical center.

Conclusion:

As we observe Thyroid Disease Awareness Month, it is crucial to prioritize thyroid health and informed decision-making. If you have thyroid cancer, thyroid nodules or another type of thyroid disease, surgery may be necessary  but keep in mind there are steps you can take to minimize the complications, and they begin with choosing an expert thyroid surgeon.

About the Clayman Thyroid Center:

Founded by one of the nation's best-known thyroid surgeons, the Clayman Thyroid Center is the highest volume thyroid cancer referral center in the United States . The Center boasts the most experienced thyroid surgeons in the US who provide personalized care allowing the greatest opportunity for cancer cure, wellness, and cosmetic, and functional, outcomes via all types of thyroid surgery from minimal incision to scarless thyroid surgery to advanced cancer care.

www.thyroidcancer.com | (813) 940-3130

About the Hospital for Endocrine Surgery

The Hospital for Endocrine Surgery is a campus of HCA Florida South Tampa Hospital focused on compassionate patient care and highly specialized treatment of endocrine tumors. We provide a wide array of services necessary for the diagnosis and surgical treatment of tumors of the thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal glands. Our team includes doctors, surgeons, nurses, and technicians who have dedicated their careers to delivering the highest cure rates using the most advanced techniques available. HCA's Hospital for Endocrine Surgery is the nation's highest-volume hospital for thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal tumors and cancers.

www.hospitalforendocrinesurgery.com

Media Contact:

Julie Canan , Director of Marketing

941.468.3002 | [email protected]

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/minimizing-complications-of-thyroid-surgery-avoid-the-low-volume-thyroid-surgeon-302045730.html

SOURCE Clayman Thyroid Center
WASHINGTON , Jan. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA has awarded a contract to Booz Allen Hamilton Inc. of McLean, Virginia , for the maintenance and operation of incident reporting programs and continuing development to improve current and future reporting systems.

The Aviation Safety Reporting System and Related Systems award is a cost-plus-fixed-fee indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract managed by the Human Systems Integration Division at NASA's Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley .

The contract will support NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System and the agency's Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS). The award for continuation of work includes a 60-day phase-in period beginning Friday, Feb. 9 , a two-year base period beginning April 9 , followed by a two-year and a one-year option ending on April 8, 2029 . The potential total value of the contract is roughly $38.4 million .

The Aviation Safety Reporting System, managed out of NASA Ames on behalf of the Federal Aviation Administration, collects voluntarily submitted aviation safety incident and situation reports and alerts the FAA to related hazards. The group also works to diagnose the underlying causes of each reported event. The C3RS railroad reporting system, also managed by Ames, collects and analyzes reports on unsafe conditions or events in the railroad industry to help prevent more serious incidents in the future.

Work performed under the contract will be conducted at Booz Allen Hamilton's facilities in Sunnyvale, California , may include development of additional related systems by providing maintenance and operation of voluntary, independent, and confidential incident reporting programs.

For more information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nasa-awards-contract-for-aviation-railroad-safety-reporting-systems-302046032.html

SOURCE NASA
OTTAWA, ON , Jan. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - In launching the latest issue in its ongoing Commemorating Black History fine silver coin series, the Royal Canadian Mint is honouring the community of Amber Valley , Alberta , founded in 1910 by African American families from Oklahoma , Texas and other surrounding states. Seeking a life away from segregationist laws, racial hostility and violence, they journeyed to Northern Alberta in response to the government of Canada 's offer of free land in the Canadian west. By 1910, approximately 300 men, women and children endured and overcame new hardships as they tamed the Alberta wilderness to carve out a new life in a thriving community that was renamed Amber Valley in 1931. Their inspiring tale of spirit and determination is forever preserved on a beautiful 99.99% pure silver collector coin.

Released in conjunction with the annual observance of Black History Month, the 2024 $20 Fine Silver Coin  Commemorating Black History: Amber Valley celebrates the legacy of an exceptional group men and women who built one of Western Canada 's earliest Black settlements. It is available as of today.

"I appreciate the recognition this coin represents," said Myrna Wisdom , Historian and Co-Founder of The Black Settlers of Alberta and Saskatchewan Historical Society. "The Black Settlers of Amber Valley are indeed deserving of this recognition, which includes both my paternal and maternal grandparents, as well as my parents."

"The Royal Canadian Mint is proud to contribute to the national celebration of Canada 's Black History Month through a continuing series of silver collector coins that captures important stories that define our shared heritage," said Marie Lemay , President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. "We are delighted to share the inspiring story of Amber Valley and the pioneering Black settlers who succeeded in building a new life in a new land, as yet another example of the spirit and resilience of Black communities across Canada ."

The reverse design of this 99.99% pure silver coin, by artist Valentine De Landro , is centered on an imagined scene of a homesteader family arriving in Pine Creek , Alberta in 1909 and peering over the land that would become the thriving community of Amber Valley . The design includes a map outline of the province of Alberta , enhanced by a bough of maple leaves. The lower portion of the reverse depicts a wagon train of settlers completing their long journey from the southern United States . The scene is framed by log cabins, which were the first houses built by the intrepid Black pioneers who were determined to make a new home in Northern Alberta.

"For the composition, I needed to find a balance between what I thought were two prevailing characteristics: the journey and the community," said artist Valentine De Landro . "The pioneering imagery was essential to communicating the spirit of Amber Valley , crossing through harsh terrain to reach a virtually unknown destination and to begin a legacy centred on the goal of a better life for their family."

The obverse of the coin features the Susanna Blunt-designed transitional effigy of Queen Elizabeth II , which includes a special marking consisting of a vertical inscription of the dates "1952" and "2022", separated by four pearls to symbolize the four effigies that have graced Canadian coins throughout the reign.

Limited to a mintage of 5,500, the 2024 $20 Fine Silver Coin - Commemorating Black History: Amber Valley retails for $104.95 . This new collectible may be ordered as of today by contacting the Mint at 1-800-2671871 in Canada , 1-800-2686468 in the US, or at www.mint.ca. It will also be available at the Royal Canadian Mint's boutiques in Ottawa and Winnipeg , at participating Canada Post outlets, and through the Mint's global network of dealers and distributors.

Images of this coin are available here.

About the Royal Canadian Mint

The Royal Canadian Mint is the Crown corporation responsible for the minting and distribution of Canada 's circulation coins. The Mint is one of the largest and most versatile mints in the world, producing award-winning collector coins, market-leading bullion products, as well as Canada 's prestigious military and civilian honours. As an established London and COMEX Good Delivery refiner, the Mint also offers a full spectrum of best-in-class gold and silver refining services. As an organization that strives to take better care of the environment, to cultivate safe and inclusive workplaces and to make a positive impact on the communities where it operates, the Mint integrates environmental, social and governance practices in every aspect of its operations.

For more information on the Mint, its products and services, visit www.mint.ca. Follow the Mint on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/royal-canadian-mint-commemorates-black-history-with-silver-coin-recognizing-the-settlers-of-amber-valley-alberta-302043679.html

SOURCE Royal Canadian Mint
Historians estimate that 1.1 million people perished in Auschwitz. Some 1 million were Jews.

LOS ANGELES , Jan. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Each year, Scientology Churches hold conferences and open house events to mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day and honor the memory of the victims of the Holocaust on the anniversary of the 1945 liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. Historians estimate some 1.1 million men, women, and children were murdered in Auschwitz between 1940 and 1945.

With the bulk of Holocaust survivors now in their 80s and 90s, Scientologists believe it is vital that their stories not be forgotten. And it is even more important to do so now in light of today's polarized social climate and spiraling antisemitism.

These open-house events provide insight into the source of Hitler 's "Final Solution," documented in The Age of Fear , a feature-length film produced by CCHR, Citizens Commission on Human Rights. CCHR is an international mental health watchdog founded in 1969 by the Church of Scientology, inspired by visionary humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard whose belief in the importance of human rights for all members of the human family is enshrined in the Creed of the Church of Scientology .

The Scientology Network features The Age of Fear on International Holocaust Remembrance Day January 27 at 8 p.m. ET /PT.

The Scientology Network is available on DIRECTV Channel 320, DIRECTV STREAM, AT&T U-verse and streams at Scientology.tv , on mobile apps and via the Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV platforms.

Since launching with an introduction by Scientology ecclesiastical leader Mr. David Miscavige in March 2018 , the Scientology Network has been viewed in 237 countries and territories in 17 languages.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/scientology-churches-honor-the-memory-of-victims-of-the-holocaust-302046182.html

SOURCE Church of Scientology International
FILE PHOTO: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese participates in a bilateral meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden (not pictured) at Navy Gateway Inns and Suites, in San Diego, California U.S., March 13, 2023. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo

(Reuters) - Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned on Saturday domestic neo-Nazi activity after a black-clad group was arrested on the country's national day, which saw rallies in support of its Indigenous people.

Police said late on Friday, a holiday known as Australia Day, that they arrested six people and issued 55 others with infringement notices for offensive behaviour at a train station in Sydney, the capital of New South Wales state.

The group was "heavily disguised", police said.

"I was horrified," Albanese told reporters in the town of Orange, about 203 kilometres (126 miles) from Sydney, when asked about the group on Saturday.

"I don't want to see people in balaclavas dressed in black from head to toe, who are engaged in neo-Nazi activity in this country," Albanese said.

Such activity "is rightly being condemned by all decent people," he said, adding that Australia had seen a rise in neo-Nazism.

Australia Day commemorates the day Britain established New South Wales as a penal colony, but many Indigenous Australians reject it as marking the start of injustices suffered since European colonisation.

Friday saw thousands rally at "Invasion Day" events in state capitals backing the Indigenous community, many of whom want to drop celebrations or move the date.

Earlier this month, new laws banning the Nazi salute and display or sale of symbols associated with terror groups came into effect in Australia in response to more antisemitic incidents following the Israel-Gaza war.

At the time, the centre-left Labor government said the laws sent a clear message there was no place in Australia for those who glorify the Holocaust or terrorist acts.

(Reporting by Sam McKeith in Sydney; Editing by Kim Coghill)
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Joe Biden delivers a speech during a campaign event at the Mother Emanuel AME Church, the site of the 2015 mass shooting, in Charleston, South Carolina, U.S., January 8, 2024. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

By Nandita Bose, Ted Hesson and Costas Pitas

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President Joe Biden said on Friday that the border deal being negotiated in the U.S. Senate was the "toughest and fairest" set of reforms possible and vowed to "shut down the border" the day he signs the bill.

The bipartisan talks have hit a critical point amid mounting Republican opposition. Some Republicans have set a deal on border security as a condition for further Ukraine aid.

Earlier in the day, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson said the deal is "dead on arrival" in its current form, according to a letter to Republican lawmakers in the House of Representatives reviewed by Reuters.

Biden, a Democrat seeking another term in the Nov. 5 elections, has grappled with record numbers of migrants caught illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border during his presidency. Republicans contend Biden should have kept the restrictive policies of Republican former President Donald Trump, the frontrunner for his party's nomination.

"What's been negotiated would  if passed into law  be the toughest and fairest set of reforms to secure the border we've ever had in our country," Biden said in a statement.

"It would give me, as President, a new emergency authority to shut down the border when it becomes overwhelmed. And if given that authority, I would use it the day I sign the bill into law," he said.

The White House has agreed to new limits on asylum at the border, including the creation of an expulsion power that would allow migrants who cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally to be rapidly returned to Mexico if migrant encounters surpassed 4,000 per day, three sources familiar with the matter said.

If encounters passed 5,000 per day, the use of the expulsion authority would become mandatory, according to the sources who requested anonymity to discuss details of the private negotiations.

In December, encounters averaged more than 9,500 per day, according to U.S. government statistics released on Friday.

The sweeping authority would be comparable to the COVID-era Title 42 policy put in place under Trump during the pandemic and which ended under Biden in May 2023.

Migrants trying to claim asylum would still be able to do so at legal border crossings if the expulsion power was in effect, one of the sources said.

The U.S. would be required to allow at least 1,400 migrants per day to approach legal crossings to claim asylum if the expulsions were in effect, the source added.

The bill aims to resolve asylum claims in six months without detaining migrants, the source said, faster than the current process, which can take years.

Trump, however, took to social media last week to warn against any deal that fails to deliver everything Republicans want to shut down border crossings.

Biden also urged Congress on Friday to provide the funding he asked for in October to secure the border.

"This includes an additional 1,300 border patrol agents, 375 immigration judges, 1,600 asylum officers, and over 100 cutting-edge inspection machines to help detect and stop fentanyl at our southwest border," the president said.

(Reporting by Nandita Bose, Ted Hesson, Costas Pitas and Ismail Shakil; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. Over the past decades, giant pandas have played the role of "ambassadors," fostering a bridge of friendship between the two countries.
A truck, marked with United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) logo, crosses into Egypt from Gaza, at the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, during a temporary truce between Hamas and Israel, in Rafah, Egypt, November 27, 2023. R

LONDON (Reuters) -Six European countries paused funding for the U.N. refugee agency for Palestinians (UNRWA) on Saturday, following allegations that some of its staff were involved in the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.

Britain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Finland on Saturday joined the United States, Australia and Canada in pausing funding to the aid agency, a critical source of support for people in Gaza, after the allegations by Israel.

"Palestinians in Gaza did not need this additional collective punishment," Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA commissioner-general, said on X. "This stains all of us."

The agency said on Friday it had opened an investigation into several employees and severed ties with those people.

Encouraging more donor suspensions, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said UNRWA should be replaced once fighting in the enclave dies down and accused it of ties to Islamist militants in Gaza.

"In Gaza's rebuilding, @UNRWA must be replaced with agencies dedicated to genuine peace and development," he added on X.

Deputy U.N. spokesperson Farhan Haq, asked about Katz's remarks, said: We are not responding to rhetoric. UNRWA overall had had a strong record, which we have repeatedly underscored.

Lazzarini said the decision by the nine countries threatened its humanitarian work across the region, especially in Gaza.

It is shocking to see a suspension of funds to the Agency in reaction to allegations against a small group of staff, especially given the immediate action that UNRWA took by terminating their contracts and asking for a transparent independent investigation," he said in a statement.

The Palestinian foreign ministry criticised what it described as an Israeli campaign against UNRWA, and Hamas condemned the termination of employee contracts "based on information derived from the Zionist enemy".

AGENCY PLAYS BIG ROLE IN GAZA AID

UNRWA was set up to help refugees of the 1948 war at Israel's founding and provides education, health and aid services to Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. It helps about two thirds of Gaza's 2.3 million population and has played a pivotal aid role during the war that Israel launched to eliminate Hamas after the Oct. 7 attacks.

Announcing the investigation, Lazzarini said on Friday that he had decided to terminate the contracts of some staff members to protect the agency's ability to deliver humanitarian assistance.

Lazzarini did not disclose the number of employees allegedly involved in the attacks, nor the nature of their alleged involvement. He said, however, that "any UNRWA employee who was involved in acts of terror" would be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution.

During weeks of Israeli bombardment of the Palestinian enclave, UNRWA has repeatedly said its capacity to render humanitarian assistance to people in Gaza is on the verge of collapse.

Hussein al-Sheikh, head of the Palestinians' umbrella political body the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), said cutting support to the agency brought major political and relief risks.

"We call on countries that announced the cessation of their support for UNRWA to immediately reverse their decision," he said on X.

The Foreign Ministry in Germany, a major donor to UNRWA, welcomed UNRWA's investigation, saying it was deeply concerned about the allegations raised against agency employees.

"We expect Lazzarini to make it clear within UNRWA's workforce that all forms of hatred and violence are totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated," it said on X.

(Reporting by James Davey in London, Gavin Jones in Rome, Dan williams in Jerusalem, Nidal al-Mugrahbi in Doha, Toby Sterling in Amsterdam, Thomas Escritt in Berlin, Michelle Nichols in New YorkEditing by William Maclean, Andrew Cawthorne, Frances Kerry and Nick Macfie)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Houthi anti-ship missile damaged an oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden on Friday but no injuries were reported and a U.S. Navy ship was providing assistance, the U.S. military said.

The Marshall Islands-flagged Marlin Luanda issued a distress call and reported damage, U.S. Central Command said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. The USS Carney and other coalition ships were providing assistance to the oil tanker, it said.

About eight hours later, the U.S. military destroyed a Houthi anti-ship missile that was aimed into the Red Sea and ready to launch, Central Command said.

The missile "presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and the U.S. Navy ships in the region," it said.

(Reporting by Eric Beech; Editing by Kim Coghill and Edwina Gibbs)
FILE PHOTO: France's President Emmanuel Macron speaks as India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi listens during a meeting at The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Paris, France on July 14, 2023. JULIEN DE ROSA/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

By Manoj Kumar

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India and France have agreed to work together on the joint production of defence equipment including helicopters and submarines for the Indian armed forces and production for friendly countries, New Delhi said.

The deal was reached during a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron, who met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and attended a state banquet hosted by President Draupadi Murmu, the government said in a statement late on Friday.

Macron and Modi agreed to expand bilateral ties in defence production, nuclear energy, space research and the use of artificial intelligence for public services like climate change, health and agriculture, the statement said.

It did not specify the value of any deals.

After Russia, France is the largest arms supplier to India, which has relied on its fighter jets for four decades.

The leaders welcomed the setting up of maintenance, repair and overhaul services by France's Safran for leading-edge aviation propulsion (LEAP) engines in India and adding such services for Rafale engines, and a helicopter partnership.

The bilateral summit during Macron's 40-hour visit, was the fifth Macron-Modi meeting since May.

India's Tata Group and France's Airbus have signed an agreement to manufacture civilian helicopters together, Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said.

French jet engine maker CFM International also announced an agreement with Indias Akasa Air to buy more than 300 of its LEAP-1B engines to power 150 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.

Akasa Air previously ordered 76 aircraft powered by the engine, of which 22 are in use.

India and France agreed to intensify cooperation in the southwest Indian Ocean, building on joint surveillance missions carried out from the French island territory of La Reunion in 2020 and 2022, the government statement said.

Macron also said France would create conditions to attract up to 30,000 Indian students a year for higher education.

(Reporting by Manoj Kumar; Editing by William Mallard)
Iran's national flags are seen on a square in Tehran February 10, 2012. REUTERS/Morteza Nikoubazl/File Photo

(Reuters) - Iran on Saturday dismissed three European countries condemnation of its launch of the Soraya satellite, saying peaceful technological advancement in the aerospace field was the countrys legitimate right.

France, Germany and Britain on Friday condemned the launch of the Soraya last week using the Ghaem-100 Space Launch Vehicle (SLV).

The SLV uses technology essential for the development of a long-range ballistic missile system, which could also allow Tehran to launch longer-range weapons, the countries said in a joint statement.

Such interventionist statements, said foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani in a post on X, will not make a dent in Irans determination to advance in science and technology.

Iran, he said, considers the use of peaceful technologies as its given right.

Last week, the Soraya satellite, which is being developed by the research arm of the civilian Iranian Space Agency, was put into a 750 km (470 mile) orbit, the highest successfully reached by Iran, according to Iranian media.

The 50 kg (110 lb) satellite was launched by the Qaem 100, a three-stage solid-fuel rocket built by the elite military Revolutionary Guards, they said.

Tehran denies U.S. assertions that such activity is a cover for ballistic missile development and says it has never pursued the development of nuclear weapons.

Iran, which has one of the biggest missile programmes in the Middle East, has suffered several failed satellite launches in recent years due to technical issues.

([email protected]; Editing by Giles Elgood)
(Reuters) - A young man has died after being detained this month in Russia's Bashkortostan region after it was jolted by a series of rare protests, a rights group said on Saturday.

OVD-Info, which reports on freedom of assembly in Russia, quoted a relative as saying that Rifat Dautov had not taken part in demonstrations called to denounce the jailing of an activist defending the local language and culture.

Dautov was detained briefly in Ufa, chief town of the region in Russia's Urals mountains, on the day of a protest and later in a town to the south where he was taken away by a group of men identifying themselves as police.

Local authorities subsequently said he had died but granted his family no access to the morgue. OVD-Info quoted local media as saying Dautov fell ill while being transported to a courthouse and medics pronounced him dead.

Police used tear gas and batons to break up a demonstration in a small town in Bashkortostan to denounce the sentencing of activist Fail Alsynov to four years in a penal colony.

Hundreds attended a protest days later in Ufa in response to the jailing of Alsynov, regarded as a hero by many of the region's ethnic Bashkir people.

He led successful protests in 2020 to prevent mining operations on a hill that residents consider sacred, and has spoken out over the dispatching of local men to serve in the war in Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov played down the significance of the protests, saying they could not be described as mass riots or disorder.

(Reporting by Ron Popeski, Editing by Franklin Paul)
FILE PHOTO: People attend the 2023 graduation ceremony at the United States Military Academy (USMA), at Michie Stadium in West Point, New York, U.S., May 27, 2023. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz

By John Kruzel and Andrew Chung

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A group opposed to affirmative action on Friday asked the Supreme Court to block the U.S. Military Academy at West Point from considering race as a factor in admissions decisions while a dispute over the practice proceeds in a lower court.

The request came from Students for Fair Admissions, the group behind a successful Supreme Court challenge to race-conscious collegiate admissions policies in cases involving Harvard University and the University of North Carolina.

West Point is a prestigious military service academy in New York state that educates cadets for commissioning into the U.S. Army. Students for Fair Admissions said that West Point's application deadline for the class of 2028 is Jan. 31, and asked the Supreme Court to decide the request for an injunction by that time.

The U.S. Justice Department in court filings has said that West Point is a "vital pipeline to the officer corps" and that its race-conscious admissions practices help the Army achieve its "mission critical" goal of having officers as diverse as its enlisted military personnel.

Edward Blum, president of Students for Fair Admissions, in a statement called race-conscious admissions "antithetical to our nation's military institutions and mission."

"It is our hope that the Supreme Court will forbid West Point from using racial classifications and preferences in their admissions process for their incoming class going forward from today," Blum said.

His group's Supreme Court filing came after a federal judge rejected its request for a preliminary injunction on Jan. 3 and rebuffed its request for an emergency injunction the next day. The group appealed to the New York-based 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which has yet to rule on their request.

The group sued last September challenging West Point's admissions process on behalf of two Students for Fair Admissions members - a high school student applying for the first time and a first-year college student applying for the second time. Both students "are fully qualified but white," the group said.

The lawsuit said West Point's admissions practices discriminated against white applicants and violated the principle of equal protection in the U.S. Constitution.

In invalidating admissions policies at Harvard and UNC last year, the Supreme Court did not address race in admissions at military academies, which Chief Justice John Roberts in a footnote said had "potentially distinct interests."

President Joe Biden's administration, in defending the race-conscious admissions policies used by the U.S. military academies, said that senior military leaders long have recognized that a scarcity of minority officers can create distrust within the armed forces.

Although Black people make up 20.2% of the Army's active duty enlisted personnel, only 11% of officers are Black, the Justice Department said. Hispanic people constitute 18% of active personnel but only 9% of officers, the department said.

White people by contrast constitute 51.7% of the Army active duty enlisted corps and 68% of its officers, the Justice Department said.

(Reporting by John Kruzel; Additional Reporting by Nate Raymond; Editing by Will Dunham)
An entrance sign to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. (U.S. Air Force)

Army investigators are expanding their probe into allegations of sexual abuse by a doctor at Joint Base Lewis-McChord to include bases in Hawaii, Maryland and Iraq where he had been stationed, service officials said.

Maj. Michael Stockin is scheduled to be arraigned Feb. 23 on charges of abusive sexual contact and indecent viewing of 42 male patients at Madigan Army Medical Center, the hospital at Lewis-McChord.

Stockin, 38, faces 54 charges stemming from incidents between November 2019 and April 2022 at the combined Army-Air Force base near Tacoma, Wash., according to Michelle McCaskill, spokeswoman for the Army Office of Special Trial Counsel at Fort Belvoir, Va.

Stockin will be the first soldier prosecuted under a new law that removes commanders from deciding whether to proceed with certain criminal cases, including most sex crimes. The new Office of Special Trial Counsel will handle the prosecution.

The new law covers 13 offenses, including murder, manslaughter, kidnapping, domestic violence, stalking, child pornography offenses and most sexual assault and sexual misconduct offenses. Sexual harassment will become part of the counsels jurisdiction on Jan. 1, 2025.

All the allegations against Stockin occurred when he was a staff anesthesiologist and pain management physician at Madigan, the Armys second-largest hospital. Some patients claim they were abused multiple times.

Madigan Army Medical Center at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. (U.S. Army)

While we cannot state with certainty that this case involves the largest number of sexual assault/sexual abuse victims the Army has prosecuted, however, an accurate characterization is that this case is one of the largest in regard to the number of victims for a case of this type, McCaskill said.

More charges are possible. McCaskill said the Army Criminal Investigation Division is reviewing whether Stockin could face more charges of sexual abuse from earlier assignments, starting in 2013 when he joined the Army to his latest assignment at Lewis-McChord, which began in July 2019.

In the six years before arriving at Lewis-McChord, Stockin was assigned to Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii for a year, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., for five years, and a five-month deployment to Iraq.

The investigation is ongoing, and as such, we are unable to discuss the underlying facts and circumstances of the charges at this time, McCaskill said.

Robert Capovilla, a former Army lawyer representing Stockin, could not be reached Friday for comment.

Stockin is facing 48 charges under Article 120 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. It deals with four levels of sex crimes: rape, sexual assault, aggravated sexual contact and abusive sexual contact.

Stockin is also charged with five violations of Article 120c of the UCMJ, which deals with other sexual misconduct, including looking at private areas of another person, recording or distributing materials of a sexual nature, pandering (inducing into prostitution), and indecent exposure. Stockin is charged with indecent viewing.

The maximum sentence for each charge of Article 120 is seven years and the maximum sentence for Article 120c is one year, McCaskill said. If convicted of multiple offenses, the judge can order sentences be served concurrently or consecutively. If served consecutively, the maximum sentence for the Article 120 offenses would be 336 years and the maximum sentence for the Article 120c offenses would be six years.

If convicted, a judge could allow for shorter sentences.

Conviction would also result in Stockin losing all pay and veterans benefits and dismissal from the Army. For an officer, dismissal is equivalent to a dishonorable discharge for an enlisted soldier.

Abusive sexual contact is defined in the UCMJ as touching of the genitalia, anus, groin, breast, inner thigh, or buttocks of any person.

In most instances, if Stockin is found guilty, he would have to register as a sex offender in states where he lived, according to the Army website sections on the UCMJ convictions for sex crimes.

The Army has said when allegations of sexual abuse surfaced against Stockin, the doctor was ordered to stop seeing patients in February 2022.

The patients who Stockin is accused of abusing include current service members and veterans.
U.S. and Japanese soldiers train together during the North Wind exercise at Camp Higashi Chitose, Hokkaido, Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes)

CHITOSE, Japan  U.S. soldiers from a division that specializes in extreme cold-weather operations are putting their skills to the test alongside Japanese troops on the northern island of Hokkaido this month.

Blackfoot Company, 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment  part of the 11th Airborne Division based at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska  is training at Camp Higashi Chitose of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force.

The 150 U.S. soldiers and 650 troops from Japans Northern Army are together for North Wind, a bilateral exercise that began Jan. 22 and wraps up Wednesday.

The airborne division was reactivated in Alaska 18 months ago as part of a renewed effort to train and equip soldiers to fight in the Arctic, a region the Pentagon had largely ignored for decades.

Pentagon leaders in recent years have said U.S. troops must be prepared for potential conflict in the Arctic as near-peer competitors, including Russia and China, increase operations in the region rich in natural resources and where melting ice has opened new sea routes.

U.S. and Japanese soldiers train together during the North Wind exercise at Camp Higashi Chitose, Hokkaido, Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes) Japanese soldiers prepare for cold-weather training with their U.S. counterparts during the North Wind exercise at Camp Higashi Chitose, Hokkaido, Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes) U.S. and Japanese soldiers train together during the North Wind exercise at Camp Higashi Chitose, Hokkaido, Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes)

Blackfoot Company soldiers also took on their Japanese counterparts Friday in a marksmanship competition at Camp Higashi Chitose.

The contest required troops to sprint across snow for about 50 yards, turn, and sprint back to a firing position and engage targets 30 yards away.

Crowds of soldiers gathered to watch their comrades slip and slide across the range, provoking loud cheers when marksmen fell or received a red flag for missing their target.

One competing paratrooper, Spc. Nicholas Konieczny, an avid snowboarder, moved smoothly across the snow and hit all his targets.

Im used to walking in this kind of stuff, he said.

Northern Army officials declined interview requests at the range Friday.

The snowy conditions are normal for the Alaska-based troops, Blackfoot Company commander Capt. Dylan Davis said ahead of the marksmanship contest. He said the unit is prepared to fight anywhere in the Indo-Pacific and in November parachuted onto Hawaii before loading up and parachuting back into Alaska.

U.S. and Japanese soldiers train together during the North Wind exercise at Camp Higashi Chitose, Hokkaido, Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes) U.S. and Japanese soldiers train together during the North Wind exercise at Camp Higashi Chitose, Hokkaido, Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes)

On Thursday, the paratroopers practiced skijoring, said Sgt. 1st Class Jacob Wood, the companys first sergeant. Skijoring involves towing troops on skis behind a tracked vehicle, something the U.S. Army practices in Alaska.

A field exercise Sunday to Tuesday involves a mock attack by the Americans and a mock defense by a combined force of American and Japanese troops, Wood said.

Equipped with rifles, machine guns, land mines and anti-tank weapons, the troops will drag sleds laden with Arctic space heaters, tents and shovels for about 7  miles to prepare camp sites, he said.

The Hokkaido trip isnt all field training for the paratroopers, who arrived in Japan on commercial flights.

Before they reached the exercise area, Spc. Justin Catilla, an assistant machine gunner, rode a train to Sapporo, the largest city on Hokkaido, and explored its markets.

We saw lots of neon signs with Japanese writing, he said.

Catilla said he bought souvenirs and posters and went to McDonalds and had a Godzilla burger.
LHASA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- "To be or not to be, that is the question."

The Tibetan version of "Hamlet" was performed in Beijing during its latest tour in 2023, following its 2021 premiere in Shanghai. It was translated by Nyima Dondrup, a national first-level playwright of Tibetan opera.

Nyima Dundrup has been busy writing plays for various new year galas in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region as the Tibetan New Year and Spring Festival approach. However, his mind and heart are still focused on the classic works of William Shakespeare, and he plans to stage the play at more theaters in the new year.

Nyima Dondrup translated the Tibetan version of the play with his wife, and they feel extremely fortunate and thankful to see their work performed beyond the autonomous region.

"There are a thousand Hamlets in a thousand people's eyes. In my eyes, 'Hamlet' belongs to all of humanity. Therefore, it is worthy of being translated into Tibetan," he said.

Nyima Dondrup, who is now in his 50s, was born in a village under the city of Xigaze. The oral stories told by the elders, the most ancient form of Tibetan opera, accompanied most of his evenings throughout his childhood.

"It got fairly cold during winter, but the whole family kept warm by gathering around the stove listening to my mother's stories," recalled Nyima Dondrup. "I wept over a story about a sister and brother becoming homeless after being framed by a witch."

Such stories, he added, were the inspiration for his creative writing.

In 2001, Nyima Dondrup's first work staged was nominated for the Cao Yu Drama Literature Award, a national-level award for dramatic literature.

"This was my true encounter with 'Hamlet,' as the prize was a set of complete works by William Shakespeare," said Nyima Dondrup. He became engaged with the works in no time and every reading left him with a different understanding of them.

His wife Kalzang Drolkar said they had made a plan to translate the complete works of Shakespeare after they retire, which they expected would take 17 to 18 years.

However, the opportunity came knocking before retirement.

In late 2020, Shanghai Theater Academy sent Nyima Dondrup a script of "Hamlet," inviting him to translate it into Tibetan. The script was for a graduation performance at the academy and would be directed by Pu Cunxin, a renowned actor in China.

"It felt like someone had offered me yogurt just as I was craving tsampa (toasted highland barley). My dream came true ahead of schedule," said Nyima Dondrup.

The realization of this dream has not been easy.

Every day, the couple spent more than 15 hours translating the script. "Sometimes tears streamed down our faces due to the long working hours. We would go to the yard and use cold water to soothe our eyes," recalled Nyima Dondrup. "But we took pleasure in the translation process."

Nyima Dondrup has watched many Shakespearean plays performed in Mandarin, including those by Pu. He said Shakespeare's works are replete with rhetorical devices such as metaphors, similar to old Tibetan literature.

He watched the Tibetan version with his son Tenzin Yonten, a university student who has a strong interest in literature and even wrote a 20-page review of "Hamlet" during high school.

"I hope that one day my son will critique my work in more than 20 pages as well," said Nyima Dondrup. 
U.S. President Joe Biden meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office on Dec. 12, 2023. (Bill OLeary/The Washington Post)

Still smarting from last years failed counteroffensive in Ukraine, the Biden administration is putting together a new strategy that will de-emphasize winning back territory and focus instead on helping Ukraine fend off new Russian advances while moving toward a long-term goal of strengthening its fighting force and economy.

The emerging plan is a sharp change from last year, when the U.S. and allied militaries rushed training and sophisticated equipment to Kyiv in hopes that it could quickly push back Russian forces occupying eastern and southern Ukraine. That effort foundered, largely on Russias heavily fortified minefields and front line trenches.

Its pretty clear that it will be difficult for them to try to mount the same kind of major push on all fronts that they tried to do last year, a senior administration official said.

The idea now is to position Ukraine to hold its position on the battlefield for now, but put them on a different trajectory to be much stronger by the end of 2024  and get them on a more sustainable path, said the senior official, one of several who described the internal policymaking on the condition of anonymity.

The U.S. planning is part of a multilateral effort by nearly three dozen countries backing Ukraine to pledge long-term security and economic support  both out of necessity, given the disappointing results of last years counteroffensive and the conviction that a similar effort this year would likely bring the same outcome, and as a demonstration of enduring resolve to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Each is preparing a document outlining its specific commitments spanning up to a decade in the future. Britain made its 10-year agreement with Ukraine public last week, signed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv. It outlined contributions to Maritime Security, Air, Air Defense, Artillery and Armor as well as fiscal support and access to its financial sector. France is expected to be next, with an upcoming visit to Ukraine by President Emmanuel Macron.

But the success of the strategy depends almost entirely on the United States, by far Ukraines largest donor of money and equipment, and coordinator of the multilateral effort. This spring the administration hopes to release its own 10-year commitment, now being compiled by the State Department with the blessing of the White House  assuming that President Joe Bidens $61 billion request for supplemental Ukraine funding is approved by a recalcitrant Congress.

The shaky ground on which that assumption currently rests  with House Republicans appearing to dig in ever deeper in refusing the money  has worried both Western allies and Ukraine itself.

Definitely the leadership and the engagement of the U.S. in the long term, but also in this very important phase, is paramount, a senior European official said. The supplemental is a must-have to continue  not only on the ground, but as a show of Western resolve  to make [Putin] understand that he will not win.

We wouldnt survive without U.S. support, its a real fact, Zelensky said in a television interview last week.

Future-proofing Ukraine against Trump

According to U.S. officials, the American document will guarantee support for short-term military operations as well as build a future Ukrainian military force that can deter Russian aggression. It will include specific promises and programs to help protect, reconstitute and expand Ukraines industrial and export base, and assist the country with political reforms needed for full integration into Western institutions.

Not incidentally, a U.S. official said, the hope is that the long-term promise  again assuming congressional buy-in  will also future-proof aid for Ukraine against the possibility that former President Donald Trump wins his reelection bid.

As the White House continues to try to persuade lawmakers, a second senior administration official emphasized that the strategy doesnt mean that the Ukrainians are just going to build their own defensive trenches and sit behind them all year. There is still going to be swapping of territory in small cities and villages with minimal strategic value, missile launches and drones from both sides, and Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure, this official said.

Rather than the massive artillery duels that dominated much of the fighting in the second half of 2022 and much of 2023, the Wests hope for 2024 is that Ukraine will avoid losing any more territory than the one-fifth of the country now occupied by Russia. Additionally, Western governments want Kyiv to concentrate on tactics where its forces have had greater recent success  longer-distance fires, including with French cruise missiles promised for delivery within the next few months; holding back Russias Black Sea Fleet to protect naval transit from Ukraines ports; and tying up Russian forces inside Crimea with missile strikes and special operations sabotage.

Zelensky insists that Ukraine remains on the offensive. Plans for 2024 are not just defense, he said in a recent video address. We want our country to retain the initiative, not the enemy.

But U.S. policymakers who have met recently with him in private say Zelensky has doubts about how ambitious to be in the coming year without clarity about U.S. aid.

We get asked whats our plan, but we need to understand what resources were going to have, Ukrainian lawmaker Roman Kostenko said. Right now, everything points to the possibility that we will have less than last year, when we tried to do a counteroffensive and it didnt work out.  If we will have even less, then its clear what the plan will be. It will be defense.

Nobody is taking offensive actions out of the equation, said Serhii Rakhmanin, another member of parliament. But in general  its very hard to imagine a serious, global strategic offensive operation in 2024. Especially if we look at the general state of foreign aid, not just from the U.S.

Even those who believe that Ukraine could eventually beat back Russia concede that 2024 will be lean and dangerous. Most probably there are not going to be huge territorial gains, Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics said in an interview. The only strategy is to get as much as you can to Ukraine to help them first of all to defend their own cities  and second to help them simply not to lose ground.

We are a little taken hostage by time, agreed Kusti Salm, permanent secretary of the Estonian Defense Ministry. Its just a question of whether we can walk through this valley of death.

You have to have something to fight with

Along the front line, the Ukrainian military has started preparing accordingly, aiming to replicate Russias layered defenses of trenches and minefields in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region that hampered last years counteroffensive.

Normal soldiers arent very interested in [Ukrainian] politics and foreign politics, said a Ukrainian commander in the eastern Donetsk region, who was not authorized to speak publicly. But when you feel for yourselves that its not enough, like now with ammunition, mortars, shells, that immediately triggers worry. You can fight, but you have to have something to fight with.

U.S. policymakers say they expect the war will eventually end through negotiations  but also that they dont think Putin will be serious about talks this year, in part because he holds out hope that Trump will win back the presidency in November and dial back support to Kyiv.

Trump, who has long touted a special relationship with Putin, said months ago that if he is returned to the White House, he will have that war settled in one day, 24 hours. Zelensky, in last weeks television interview, called that claim very dangerous and invited Trump to Kyiv to share whatever plan he might have.

The long-term strategy to transform Ukraine for the future has its roots in a G-7 declaration of support last summer in which Western leaders promised to build a sustainable military force interoperable with the West, and to strengthen Ukraines economic stability and resilience.

Even so, the policy holds risks, including political ones, if Ukrainians begin to blame their government for stagnant front lines. Likewise, in Western capitals, officials are keenly aware that their citizens patience with funding Ukraines war is not infinite.

Amid the planning, Washington also seems to be readying the argument that even if Ukraine is not going to regain all of its territory in the near term, it needs significant ongoing assistance to be able to defend itself and become an integral part of the West.

We can see what Ukraines future can and should be, irrespective of exactly where lines are drawn, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said earlier this month at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. And thats a future where it stands strongly on its own two feet militarily, economically, democratically.

No silver bullet for arming Ukraine

In conversations with lawmakers, administration officials have emphasized that only about half of the requested $61 billion is targeted at the current battlefield, while the rest is directed toward helping Ukraine undergird a secure future without massive Western aid.

The U.S. document, according to U.S. officials closely involved in the planning, is being written with four phases in mind: fight, build, recover and reform.

What is needed most immediately for the fight phase is artillery ammunition, some replacement of vehicles lost in the counteroffensive, a lot more drones, said Eric Ciaramella, a former CIA intelligence analyst and now a senior fellow in the Russia and Eurasia program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, who has consulted with administration officials. A lot of electronic warfare and counter-drone technology  where the Russians have achieved an edge. They need more air defense systems to cover more cities.

Although Ukraine is still anxiously awaiting the promised delivery of fighter aircraft and more armored vehicles this year, these are expensive systems with single points of failure, Ciaramella said. I think the Ukrainians are realizing there is no silver bullet, having seen a million-dollar tank destroyed by a $10,000 mine during the counteroffensive.

The build phase of the strategy is focused on pledges for Ukraines future security force on land, sea and air, so that the Ukrainians can see what theyre getting from the global community over a 10-year period and  come out of 2024 with a road map to a highly deterrent military, the first senior administration official said. At the same time, some of the requested supplemental money is targeted at developing Ukraines industrial base for weapons production that, along with U.S. and allied increases, can at least keep pace with Russian production.

The plan also includes additional air defense to create protective bubbles around Ukrainian cities beyond Kyiv and Odessa and to allow key parts of the Ukrainian economy and exports, including steel and agriculture, to recover. Biden last fall named former commerce secretary Penny Pritzker as U.S. envoy to lead an effort to rebuild Ukraines economy and mobilize public and private investment.

Enticing foreign investment back into Ukraine will also require additional efforts to stem corruption, U.S. officials acknowledge. Zelensky has taken some steps, including firing and in some cases arresting allegedly corrupt military procurement officials and judges; other initiatives have been demanded by the European Union as it considers eventual E.U. membership for Ukraine.

But as conversations and planning for the future continue, not every Ukraine backer thinks this is the right moment to shift focus away from sending Ukraine what is necessary to confront the Russians as quickly and decisively as possible on the battlefield this year.

Whatever strategy you use, you need all the weapons you can think of, former NATO secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen said during a visit last week to press Republican lawmakers to approve Ukraine funding.

You cannot win a war by pursuing an incremental step-by-step approach, he said. You have to surprise and overwhelm your adversary.

Khurshudyan reported from Kyiv and Rauhala from Brussels. Kamila Hrabchuk and Anastacia Galouchka in Kyiv contributed to this report.
Facade of the Treasury Department building in Washington, D.C. The building is a National Historic Landmark. (Wikimedia Commons)

(Bloomberg) -- Israeli officials estimate Hamas is getting $8 million to $12 million a month through online donations, much of it through organizations posing as charities to help civilians in Gaza.

That would equate to a multi-fold increase for online funding compared to what the group was receiving before its attack on Israel on Oct. 7, according to several Israeli financial-intelligence officials. They all spoke to Bloomberg on condition of anonymity, citing the sensitivity of their work.

Washington also believes that Hamas receives significant funding from online-donation sites and it is determined to help Israel put a stop to that, according to a senior US official.

All the officials said tracking and quantifying Hamass fund raising is difficult because the organization has years of experience of getting around financial sanctions and other tools designed to choke off or restrict its access to money.

Financial Jihad

There is no question that there is a sharp increase in legitimate and illegitimate charitable giving to Palestinians in wake of the Gaza hostilities, said Matthew Levitt, a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy whos spent years covering groups such as Hamas, including while previously working at the US Treasury.

An uptick in the interest to donate gives increased cover for Hamas, said Levitt. Ive seen charities that were previously designated by the US popping up, some under new names, but there are also lots of new ones.

Hamas officials publicly call for cash gifts for their fight against Israel.

This is not just a humanitarian issue, despite its immense importance and Gazas need for any aid it can get, Ismail Haniyeh, a Hamas political leader, said in January. This is financial jihad.

Israel has stepped up efforts with its allies to counter Hamass fund raising. It is part of a 16-nation task force established since the war to trace the groups financial activities. Other members include Germany, the Netherlands, the UK and Canada.

The Israeli government also constantly updates a list of crowd-funding campaigns it says are run by Hamas, and pushes countries to clamp down on them.

The US has announced more financial sanctions on Hamas since Oct. 7 and pressed Gulf Arab states and other nations, including Turkey, to follow suit. All deny theyre hubs for Hamas to raise money and say theyve stepped up efforts to curb money laundering.

Before the war, once donations were made to charities, money reached Hamas in different ways, including through aid convoys, the Israeli officials say. Another process is known as TBTF, or Trade-Based Terror Funding. This camouflages donations by asking local Gazan business owners to transfer money to Hamas, which has governed the territory since 2007. The businesses are then paid back in the form of goods, the Israeli officials said.

The officials say their most challenging task is determining whether a charity is legitimate or covertly assisting Hamas. They describe this process as an endless game of cat-and-mouse.

The US and European Union have considered Hamas a terrorist group for years, making it illegal in those countries to provide the group with money.

To get around the restrictions in the US and EU, Hamas raises money through organizations in other countries and which arent clearly linked to the group, the Israeli and US officials said.

War Rages

Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas after its militants swarmed southern Israeli communities from Gaza, killing around 1,200 people. More than 25,000 people have been killed since Israel retaliated by attacking Gaza, according to health officials in the Hamas-run Palestinian territory.

Much of Gaza has been reduced to rubble, inflaming tensions globally and leading to an outpouring of support for Palestinians, particularly from Arabs and Muslims.

The conflict continues to rage and Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says it could last many more months.

After Hamas took over Gaza in 2007, Israel imposed severe sanctions on it. But over the past decade, it allowed more goods and money in on the belief that Hamas was deterred and increasingly focused on improving the local economy, rather than fighting Israel.

Iran Funding

Starting about five years ago, Hamass expenditure was funded by about $30 million a month from Qatar alongside an allowance from the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority, all with Israeli approval. Those complemented meager local tax revenues.

Iran is said by Israeli intelligence to be funding Hamas military efforts with more than $100 million a year, money that comes alongside proceeds from Hamas investments in several countries and donations.

Iran has never commented on the extent to which it funds Hamas, but it openly supports the group. Hamas leaders have previously said Iran provides money because of their anti-Israel stance.

Despite the increase in donations, Hamas isnt able to use them all at the moment because the wars made it more difficult to move goods and equipment into Gaza, according to Levitt. Still, the group may save the funds for later, even if it loses power in Gaza, he said.

Hamas is probably not able to transfer all that money right away, neither do they have the capacity to absorb it all immediately, said Levitt.

With assistance from Ben Bartenstein and John Bowker.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Salah Daher, 62 on the streets of Bourj al-Barajneh. (Diego Ibarra Sanchez/Washington Post)

BOURJ AL-BARAJNEH, Lebanon - At 84 years old, Amsha Haj Sleiman is blind in one eye and struggles to walk. But she still remembers fleeing as a young girl from her village in historic Palestine.

We walked so much, through the lands, as Israeli forces advanced some 75 years ago, she recalled this month. I remember how we left on foot, how we slept out in the open, on the ground, with just the clothes on our backs.

Sleiman is one of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who were driven from their homes during the 1948 founding of Israel and the subsequent Arab-Israeli war, an exodus Palestinians remember as the Nakba - Arabic for catastrophe. For Sleiman, her familys flight began a lifetime of displacement.

Its been 75 years and were still refugees, she said from the Bourj al-Barajneh refugee camp on the southern edge of Beirut. I wish we had died under the olive trees, instead of leaving like that and seeing what Ive seen.

Scenes of nearly 1.9 million Palestinians displaced by Israels offensive in Gaza - many of them, again, fleeing their homes on foot - are deepening a communal wound for Palestinians that spans generations.

In Lebanon, the risk of the conflict spreading into the country is adding to the alarm. Israeli warnings of war, and cross-border fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, have put people across Lebanons many divides on edge.

That includes Nadia Hamid, who cooks for Soufra, a Palestinian women-run catering company, tucked away in the crowded camp.

The strikes keep getting closer, and their rhetoric is escalating, she said. I live in fear, because if the war comes, there would be no escaping it.

Hamids job helps provide for her family, but it also helps her keep Palestinian traditions alive for her four children. I tell them the stories of my parents too, so that they dont forget. She worries for their future. The camp is a maze of crumbling walls and tangled cables. There really isnt anything for them here.

Some Palestinians in Lebanon see their lives in exile as a warning of what could lie ahead for Gazans if calls by some Israeli officials for the mass displacement of people from the besieged enclave become reality. Some worry Israels war with Hamas further dims hopes of a resolution to the never-ending conflict.

Many described this war, live-streamed on their phones and blaring through their televisions, as a searing reminder of why they hold on to a communal memory and why they pass it down through their families.

The Nakba is never far from Shatat Gedeon. The Arabic word shatat, often translated as diaspora, evokes a sense of dispersal - something that has been separated into pieces and scattered.

Some 5.9 million Palestinians in the Middle East, survivors of the 1948 exodus and their descendants, are registered as refugees, according to the United Nations. Many more live elsewhere in the world.

Shatats parents gave him the name soon after his pregnant mother fled their Palestinian village. He was born across the border in Lebanon in 1948.

Near the ruins of their village sits an Israeli town today. His parents left almost everything behind, he said. Maybe they didnt have time. Or maybe many thought it would be temporary.

This life in limbo is perhaps most evident in the 12 refugee camps around Lebanon where many of the countrys estimated 200,000 Palestinian refugees are still stateless.

Their history in Lebanon remains fraught. Palestinian militants were embroiled in Lebanons civil war, fought from 1975 to 1990 along sectarian lines.

The fragile sectarian balance in Lebanon makes talk of granting refugees citizenship sensitive. The rights of Palestinian refugees, from working to owning property, are heavily restricted.

This has fueled the feeling of permanent uncertainty, said Saada Ghattas, a 54-year-old grandmother of two.

Its like youre always carrying your bag and waiting, she said. I swear I keep a bag in the house for emergencies. We never know when something might happen and we have to grab it and go.

In her hilltop community in Dbayeh, northeast of Beirut, Ghattas and others want to prepare shelters in case the conflict expands into Lebanon.

Relatives in Gaza, members of a small community of Christian Palestinians there, are sheltering in a church that has come under Israeli fire.

People who are uprooted cant return. Thats what happened to our grandparents, Ghattas said. Thats why, even as they are dying every day, they tell us the same thing will happen to them if they leave.

As the death toll in Gaza mounts, Ghattas and other Palestinians describe waiting desperately for word from relatives and friends in the enclave.

The current conflict began with a surprise attack by Hamas on Oct. 7 that killed 1,200 people in Israel, most of them civilians, and around 253 more were taken hostage, Israeli authorities say. Israel has responded with a military campaign to eradicate Hamas that has killed more than 26,000 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, the health ministry there says.

In the months since, Ghattas has rarely turned off her TV. She has watched as the Israeli barrage has leveled neighborhoods and forced displaced people into one corner of Gaza.

Her 86-year-old neighbor, Boulous al-Dik, recounted watching rescuers pull children from under the rubble and erupted into tears.

My heart is bursting. God protect us from whats coming, he said. What right of return is there to talk about?

Elias Habib, director of the Joint Christian Committee charity in the small Dbayeh camp, says its important to safeguard the memories of the few remaining survivors there of the 1948 dispossession.

Habib displayed an identification document he found in his fathers belongings. A stamp across the photograph reads, in English, Government of Palestine.

Others described their families heirlooms: documents showing land ownership, house keys, small copper pots.

Its different when you have a person who lived through it, both the stories of the good days and the pain of the Nakba, Habib said. But nothing can make a person forget their roots, their rights.

Its still an open wound, he said, because the displacement is ongoing.

Salah Dahers family formed a committee to trace their genealogy and collect old documents from the Palestinian village his parents fled in 1948. He ended up in Bourj al-Barajneh after fleeing fighting in southern Lebanon ahead of the 1978 Israeli invasion.

We still have the key to my grandpas house, said Daher, 62. My father kept it. He still had hope, until the day he died, that he would return to his land. And we will carry it forward.
Officials and residents in St. Charles ignored wintry, wet conditions recently to celebrate the grand opening of the new First Street Plaza along the Fox River at Main and First streets downtown.

The private- and publicly-funded project broke ground back in September 2021 and includes a paved walkway connecting it to the east side of First Street, benches and shaded seating areas, a trellis surrounding the plaza topped with solar panels as well as a riverwalk along the Fox River.

Officials said to date, a total of nearly $2 million of the $6.4 million project cost has been raised through the St. Charles Initiative, a group of volunteers who spearheaded a private fundraising effort for the plaza. The rest of the funding is coming from the city of St. Charles.

The St. Charles Initiative is a partnership between the city of St. Charles and the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley formed to support public projects in St. Charles.

One of the largest donations for the project came from the mosquito control company Clarke.

The company donated $250,000 to the project as a way of paying it back, said Lyell Clarke of St. Charles, chairman of Clarke.

When we were looking for a place to move to, St. Charles welcomed us with open arms into the city and gave us an incentive to come out here over five years that really equated to about $250,000 and so I wanted to give that back, he said. The second reason is I raised my kids in St. Charles. Its a wonderful city and this is going to be a great center for people.

Clarke said the third reason for supporting the project was that his very best friend was the architect for the project.

Architect Marty Serena, also of St. Charles, said that Serena Sturm Architects did design the project and that the challenge was to adequately serve the client and making sure you interpreted their vision and executing it.

In this case the client was a community and there were a lot of expectations as it was a very important project, he said. We went through a process where the community had input and created a vision statement which we always went back to if there were bumps.

Wednesdays event included a donor reception and program that began at 4:30 p.m. at Sterling Bank at 10 Illinois St. in St. Charles, followed by the brief grand opening ceremony at the plaza that began at 6 p.m.

St. Charles Mayor Lora Vitek said conversations about the project began about four years ago when I was an alderwoman and at that time, City Council wanted to partner with property owner Joe Salas who owns the Hotel Baker.

St. Charles Mayor Lora Vitek and Ald. Ed Bessner, 5th Ward, greet a crowd of well over 100 people at the grand opening Wednesday night of the new First Street Plaza in the citys downtown.

We did create the Initiative which is the advisory group that helped identify this was a project that both the city and the community wanted, she said of the plaza. Because of a grant we were given from Exelon worth $600,000, the city put in $400,000 and we purchased the property. This was a public-private partnership and some communities do it but not to the level we do. The burden wasnt all on the public.

Vitek said it important to keep people wanting to come and business to come to keep St. Charles a destination site in the area.

You have to continue to (make changes) or other cities begin to catch up, so for us this will be a spotlight of something new that people can visit and the public can utilize and it also enhances the outdoor dining, she said. This keeps people in town and introduces people from the other side of town to the area.

Vitek added that the city has just finished its pedestrian bike plan and is looking to encourage more people to bike rather than travel by car to the downtown area.

We want people to be outside and commute here other than by car, she said.

This is something to get people outside, she said of the new plaza, something downtown to create a place for people to go to.

St. Charles Ald. Ed Bessner, 5th Ward, headed up the Initiative group and said the new project is a winner.

Its right on the river, its right on Main Street and its right in the heart of downtown in St. Charles, he said. This is open space that will be utilized by residents in the years to come.

David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
People visit an interactive exhibition to commemorate the 80th anniversary of lifting the Leningrad blockade in St. Petersburg, Russia, Jan. 28, 2024. The event was held here on Sunday to commemorate the complete liberation of Leningrad from the Nazi siege.

The military siege of Leningrad, known as St. Petersburg today, by Nazi Germany lasted 872 days from Sept. 8, 1941 to Jan. 27, 1944. The Battle of Leningrad went down in history as one of the longest and bloodiest battles of World War II. (Photo by Irina Motina/Xinhua)

ST. PETERSBURG, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Several ceremonial and memorial events were held here and in the nearby Leningrad region Saturday to commemorate the complete liberation of Leningrad from the Nazi siege.

On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of lifting the Leningrad blockade, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Landmark Stone monument at the Nevsky Pyatachok military-historical complex in St. Petersburg and the Piskarevskoye Memorial Cemetery in Leningrad region.

According to St. Petersburg's officials, various events, including commemorative rallies, concerts, lectures, themed exhibitions and interactive projects have been held recently in the city. Some of them started in December last year and would last for months.

The military siege of Leningrad by Nazi Germany lasted 872 days from Sept. 8, 1941 to Jan. 27, 1944. The Battle of Leningrad went down in history as one of the longest and bloodiest battles of World War II. 

People visit an interactive exhibition to commemorate the 80th anniversary of lifting the Leningrad blockade in St. Petersburg, Russia, Jan. 28, 2024. The event was held here on Sunday to commemorate the complete liberation of Leningrad from the Nazi siege.

The military siege of Leningrad, known as St. Petersburg today, by Nazi Germany lasted 872 days from Sept. 8, 1941 to Jan. 27, 1944. The Battle of Leningrad went down in history as one of the longest and bloodiest battles of World War II. (Photo by Irina Motina/Xinhua)

A child visits an interactive exhibition to commemorate the 80th anniversary of lifting the Leningrad blockade in St. Petersburg, Russia, Jan. 28, 2024. The event was held here on Sunday to commemorate the complete liberation of Leningrad from the Nazi siege.

The military siege of Leningrad, known as St. Petersburg today, by Nazi Germany lasted 872 days from Sept. 8, 1941 to Jan. 27, 1944. The Battle of Leningrad went down in history as one of the longest and bloodiest battles of World War II. (Photo by Irina Motina/Xinhua)

People visit an interactive exhibition to commemorate the 80th anniversary of lifting the Leningrad blockade in St. Petersburg, Russia, Jan. 28, 2024. The event was held here on Sunday to commemorate the complete liberation of Leningrad from the Nazi siege.

The military siege of Leningrad, known as St. Petersburg today, by Nazi Germany lasted 872 days from Sept. 8, 1941 to Jan. 27, 1944. The Battle of Leningrad went down in history as one of the longest and bloodiest battles of World War II. (Photo by Irina Motina/Xinhua)

People visit an interactive exhibition to commemorate the 80th anniversary of lifting the Leningrad blockade in St. Petersburg, Russia, Jan. 28, 2024. The event was held here on Sunday to commemorate the complete liberation of Leningrad from the Nazi siege.

The military siege of Leningrad, known as St. Petersburg today, by Nazi Germany lasted 872 days from Sept. 8, 1941 to Jan. 27, 1944. The Battle of Leningrad went down in history as one of the longest and bloodiest battles of World War II. (Photo by Irina Motina/Xinhua)
Stephen Hamilton and his wife Hazel are now awaiting sentencing.

A CO Tyrone man has been convicted in Scotland of animal neglect and running an illegal puppy farm.

Stephen Hamilton and his wife Hazel are now awaiting sentencing at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court for causing unnecessary suffering to animals at their farm in East Ayrshire.

The convictions come 20 years after Stephen Hamilton faced charges of animal cruelty and importing dogs illegally after allegedly being caught driving a truck with 102 puppies.

However, he walked free from Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on that occasion when the charges were not proven.

In 2002, the Sunday Mail revealed many Scots had reported buying pups that had fallen ill and even died just days after being bought from Stephen Hamiltons Waterside Farm near Galston, Ayrshire.

This time, Hamilton and his wife pleaded guilty to three charges after initially being charged with 15 offences.

Stephen Hamilton had applied to East Ayrshire Council for a dog breeding licence, but that was rejected following objections from animal welfare groups and Police Scotland.

Despite this, Hamilton and his wife brazenly ploughed on with their plan at their New Intax Farm near Galston.

A petition containing 20,000 names opposing the bid was also submitted. But they carried on regardless and were found running a major breeding programme that brought misery to animals.

The court was told this week Stephen and Hazel Hamilton failed to get their dogs urgent veterinary treatment and kept them in cramped conditions during the operation.

The animals  kept in industrial kennels in different buildings  were left with painful ear problems, chronic dental disease, dermatitis and broken nails.

They failed to take steps to make sure the needs of the dogs were met and did not provide them with what experts say is a suitable environment.

The pair failed to give the dogs adequate exercise and socialisation and failed to protect them from suffering.

Court proceedings were launched against them following an investigation by the Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Stephen (53) and Hazel (51) were facing a total of 15 charges and were due to go on trial at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court over the claims last month.

But they struck a deal with prosecutors to plead guilty to just three charges and have certain abuse claims removed.

They admitted one charge of causing an unspecified number of dogs unnecessary suffering between November 2018 and November 2020 in breach of Section 19(2) of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006.

They also pleaded guilty to a second charge of failing to meet the animals needs, in breach of Section 24 of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006.

They also pleaded guilty to a third charge which said they did keep a breeding establishment for dogs other than under the authority of a licence in breach of Sections 1(1) and (3) of the Breeding of Dogs Act 1973.

The pair returned to the dock this week to be sentenced over the offences, but Prosecutor Martina McGuigan asked for the case to be continued for 10 weeks to allow for Proceeds of Crime documents to be prepared and served on the Hamiltons.
A number of potential witnesses are expected to be formally interviewed once Mr Delaneys FAI emails have been reviewed by investigators.

The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from former Football Association of Ireland (FAI) chief executive John Delaney over a legal battle that has delayed a criminal investigation into him and the FAI for almost four years.

The legal defeat means Delaney, who is now based in England, faces a 2m legal bill having previously lost at the High Court and Court of Appeal.

The ruling also allows the stalled Corporate Enforcement Authority (CEA) criminal investigation into Mr Delaney and the FAI to proceed.

A number of potential witnesses are expected to be formally interviewed once Mr Delaneys FAI emails have been reviewed by investigators.

The ruling brings to an end an almost four-year legal battle between Mr Delaney and the CEA over whether 1,123 emails and a small number of hard-copy documents seized by gardai from FAI headquarters on February 11, 2020, were covered by legal privilege.

In a determination made on Thursday, a three-court panel including the Chief Justice Donal ODonnell, said an application from Mr Delaney for leave to have his appeal of a Court of Appeal ruling heard at the Supreme Court was not in the interests of justice and does not raise any issue of general public importance.

The determination said Mr Delaneys application for an appeal was seeking a further hearing on arguments that have already been fully ventilated in both the High Court and Court of Appeal and was in respect of a matter that was ancillary in nature.

The CEA has previously told the High Court it believed the emails might have been used in the course of criminal or fraudulent activity.

Among the issues under investigation by the CEA are payments totalling 95,000 to Susan Keegan by the FAI.

Ms Keegan was in a relationship with Mr Delaney from 2012 to 2014.

It is also investigating why Mr Delaneys 3m bonus and his 100,000 loan to the FAI in 2017 were not declared in the FAIs audited accounts.

The investigation is also delving into Mr Delaney's involvement with Pillarview, a company set up by two of his friends that became deeply involved in his personal finances. That companys liquidation has been blocked by Revenue.

In his application to the Supreme Court, Mr Delaney argued that the ruling on whether his emails were protected by legal privilege involved a decision on a provision of the Companies Act 2014 that involved an issue of general public importance because of the novelty of the procedure.

He questioned whether the judge should have been required to review the documents herself. He also complained that there had been no clarity from the High Court judge as to why she rejected a report by two court-appointed assessors who recommended that 1,123 emails should be shielded from investigators due to legal privilege.

In the High Court the CEA complained that the assessors, who were barristers who reviewed the emails before determining that 1,123 were covered by privilege, had done so after receiving a legal submission from Mr Delaneys side that the CEA had not been given an opportunity to respond to. After this, Judge Leonie Reynolds ordered Mr Delaney to provide a detailed report on why each email should be protected by legal privilege but Mr Delaney failed to do so.

Instead, Mr Delaney swore an affidavit maintaining that it was not appropriate to conduct a deep dive of the documentation. He provided a numerical analysis of the documents which he described as providing a broad flavour of what the assessors report contained.

The Supreme Court said the Court of Appeal considered it was clearly evident from the terms of the order itself that the judge was not prepared to accept the conclusions of the assessors at face value for the reasons highlighted by the CEA.

It was clear from the context therefore, why the High Court had departed from the advice and assessment of the assessors, it said.

The determination said the emails can only by used for the purposes of the investigation and for the purposes of any prosecution, if one is commenced. This is why it is rare that the Supreme Court would accept an application for leave to appeal in respect of interlocutory or ancillary matters.

It would only accept such an appeal if it is clear that the issue raised is one of real and general public importance, giving rise to substantive issues of law, which would justify the additional delay in this and in any related proceedings.

The Supreme Court panel noted that that the emails in Mr Delaneys case were obtained almost four years ago and the resolution of this application has delayed the investigation.

While it said the procedure for determining whether legal privilege applied to the emails under the Companies Act was novel, there was substantial jurisprudence on the issue.

The procedure provided for, however, does not, in itself, raise any issue of complexity or general public importance, it said.
Ex-UFF drug chief Dee Coleman has been moved to Maghaberrys isolation wing amid claims he is dealing drugs behind bars.

The one-time leading loyalist, who is awaiting trial with four other men on charges of kidnapping and attempted murder, is understood to have been moved from his cell within the last week.

Prison sources say the move could lead to increased tension at the maximum-security facility.

Despite a major fallout with the UFF, he has support in the prison and questions are being asked about how and why he was targeted.

It is well known that a number of prisoners pass information to prison staff in return for a more comfortable time behind bars.

Coleman is understood to be paranoid about his personal security while in prison.

While serving previous sentences, he lived in constant fear of attack.

Dee is furious and terrified in equal measure, a prison source told us. He struggles to do his time at the best of times but this will hit him hard.

Coleman is believed to have blown 1 million of his ill-gotten gains on a lavish lifestyle.

Hes never come to terms with being in jail, the source added.

Prisons:HMP Maghaberry

Hes constantly saying I shouldnt be here, and is constantly blaming everybody else for his troubles.

Ironically, joining Coleman behind bars is former UVF drug dealer Darren Moore, who is serving a nine-month jail sentence for shoplifting.

The pair have much in common, having been kicked out of their respective paramilitary organisations.

They both moved to Ballymena, where they joined forces with mobster and drug dealer Paul Gray.

Coleman moved to the Bible-belt town after his former pals in the UFF made it clear he was no longer welcome on his native Shankill Road.

It was a dramatic fall from grace for the man who was once second in command to Mo Courtney in UFF C Company in the lower Shankill where they controlled the flow of drugs.

In Ballymena, he hooked up with then-UVF chief Gray and Moore.

But the trio fell out and went their separate ways.

Coleman soon found himself back behind bars. He and four others were ordered to stand trial accused of kidnapping and attempting to murder a man who was brutally beaten and left almost naked in a field to die.

The five accused of attempted murder and kidnap are Coleman (37), from Fountain Place in Ballymena; Mark Bradshaw (52), from High Street in Ballymena; David Philip Cherry (40), from Waveney Park in Belfast; Sean Davies (40), from Queens Park in Saintfield; and Glen Sheridan (46), from Florence Walk in Belfast.

Coleman, Bradshaw and Davies are also charged with arson by setting fire to the alleged victims Volvo jeep.

During court appearances, the victim was described as being left a hairs breadth from death after he was allegedly beaten and tortured in Colemans Ballymena flat.

Darren Moore. Photo Pacemaker Press

Its alleged the victim was summoned to Colemans property over a drugs debt and, once there, was stabbed with a hot knife and had his jaw and skull smashed with a hatchet.

It was claimed the man was forced to use his own clothes to mop up his blood, before being forced into the boot of a car and driven to a field outside the town. There, on October 11, 2021, he was dumped unconscious wearing just his shoes and boxer shorts.

He was not able to make a statement until November 19 due to being under sedation in an intensive care unit.

He claimed that Coleman had produced a knife, heating it on a gas hob and stabbed him in the chest, close to his heart, before slicing his face to the bone.

At around 8am that morning, a passing bin lorry spotted the near-naked victim in a field.

Doctors have offered the opinion that the victim  who was only spotted because of the extra height of the vehicle  was within an hour from death from hypothermia or blood loss.

Moores fall from grace has been equally dramatic.

Once a key member of the UVFs notorious Mount Vernon unit, life changed after he was unmasked as a Special Branch informer.

He subsequently suffered a number of attacks from his former paramilitary pals and is understood to have been under death threat.

Last month, he found himself in court charged with a variety of shoplifting and driving charges.

A court heard Moore walked into his local Tesco, loaded up a trolley with groceries and simply walked out.

He stole 20 legs of lamb, bedding and cooking pots worth 534 on a single day.

Charges relating to another incident revealed he stole food, electrical items, alcohol and groceries worth a total of 462.

He had also admitted making off without paying for 20 and 35 worth of fuel, and to driving without insurance and driving while banned.

It was also revealed that Moore stole items from a branch of Boots while on his way to a court appearance.

Defence lawyers said he stole the goods to help feed his crack cocaine addiction.
Jamie Donnelly (30) allegedly stole 800 from the boy and left him bruised and grazed, a court heard. He is also accused of threatening to stab a foreign businessman in an attempted robbery in a city hotel.

A 15-year-old French schoolboy was mugged in Dublin city centre when he asked directions from a man who guided him down a laneway and robbed him, it is alleged.

Jamie Donnelly (30) allegedly stole 800 from the boy and left him bruised and grazed, a court heard. He is also accused of threatening to stab a foreign businessman in an attempted robbery in a city hotel.

Judge Bryan Smyth refused him bail and adjourned the case for DPP directions.

Mr Donnelly, from Finglas and of no fixed address, is charged with robbery, attempted robbery and theft.

Objecting to bail, the prosecuting garda cited the seriousness of the allegations and the nature and strength of the proposed evidence, which he said was compelling.

He said the robbery of the French student was alleged to have happened at Williams Lane in the north city centre on July 23, 2022.

According to the prosecution, the student asked the accused for directions to a restaurant and Mr Donnelly guided the boy into the laneway, where he robbed him of 800.

The boy was left with bruises and grazing to his body, the garda said. It was alleged the accused was readily identifiable on CCTV and made no effort to conceal himself.

The attempted robbery was alleged to have happened at the Marlin Hotel, Bow Lane, on July 3, 2022.

This alleged victim was visiting the country on business when Mr Donnelly allegedly threatened to stab him in a robbery attempt inside the hotel. He again made no efforts to disguise himself, the garda said.

A theft charge against the accused relates to 50 cash which was allegedly snatched from a person at Circle K on OConnell Street, on July 28 last year.

Another robbery is alleged to have taken place on Lower Abbey Street on January 18 this year. Mr Donnelly is accused of robbing a man of Bluetooth earpods.

Mr Donnelly was allegedly caught red-handed with this property concealed in his waistband.

The garda said the potential maximum sentence for robbery on conviction on indictment was life imprisonment. Theft carries a maximum jail sentence of 10 years.

The garda said the 2022 charges were only brought now because gardai had been unable to locate the accused.

Applying for bail, defence solicitor Kate McGhee said it was accepted the allegations were serious but the accused was presumed innocent and had made no admissions.

The delay in bringing the charges matters a great deal to the issue of bail, she said.
Neil Dolan (31) is accused of nonchalantly exposing himself as he walked in broad daylight in an area popular with shoppers and tourists.

Prosecutors have been given more time to prepare their case against a man accused of flaunting his genitals at passers-by while walking in Dublin city centre.

Neil Dolan (31) is accused of nonchalantly exposing himself as he walked in broad daylight in an area popular with shoppers and tourists.

Mr Dolan, with an address at a city centre hostel, is charged with offensive conduct of a sexual nature on November 23 last year.

He was arrested, charged and bailed that month and the case came back before Dublin District Court for DPP directions to be given.

A garda sergeant told Judge Bryan Smyth a file was being prepared and directions were not available yet.

Judge Smyth granted an adjournment to a date in March and remanded the accused on continuing bail.

Previously, the court heard the accused had exposed himself in public during the afternoon in a built-up area, at a popular tourist attraction and in an area popular with shoppers, especially at this time of year.

Objecting to bail, a garda said he was on patrol at Bachelors Walk at 3.15pm on November 23 when he saw Mr Dolan, who allegedly had his genitals out, walking past the Arlington Hotel.

He was walking in the direction of the Ha'penny Bridge in a nonchalant manner, flaunting his genitals at passers-by as he approached them, the garda alleged.

When gardai approached Mr Dolan, his explanation was that he had soiled himself, the court was told.

He was granted bail subject to conditions, including requirements to sign on daily at a garda station and to be contactable at all times by mobile phone.
There have also been reports that associates of Hennessy Snr have been attempting to source grenades for use in revenge attacks over his killing

Shooting victim Jason Hennessy Snrs mob are forming alliances with figures based in south Finglas as fears heighten of revenge attacks over his death in the wake of last Christmas Eves brutal shooting.

A volatile criminal with close links to slain Hennessy Snr was observed at the afters of last weekends funeral in the company of a south Finglas based associate of deceased gunman Glen OToole.

Both individuals are understood to be united by a deep, rooted hatred of the west Finglas based leader of the gang with whom killer Tristan Sherry was linked prior to carrying out the attack.

Hitman Glen OToole (39) took his own life in Cloverhill Prison in 2017, a week after he was arrested in possession of a firearm while on his way to kill the same gang-leader.

OToole had strong links to the Hutch crime gang while his target was aligned with the Kinahan cartel.

Jason Hennessy Snr's funeral

Sources say the image of O'Toole's associate paying his respects at the afters of Jason Hennessy Snrs funeral will be seen as an indication that Hennessys criminal associates are actively securing alliances as tensions over his murder continue to mount.

There have also been reports that associates of Hennessy Snr have been attempting to source grenades for use in revenge attacks over his killing.

The gang have also retained possession of the automatic rifle used by Tristan Sherry to carry out the attack in Brownes steakhouse that eventually claimed Hennessy Snrs life.

The gang are continuing to hunt for the second gunman who joined Sherry in the initial stages of the attack but fled when it became apparent the murder mission had gone pear shaped.

And they are intent on establishing the identities of those who provided Sherry with logistical supports, including the weapons used, on the night of the attack.

Sherry died of injuries he sustained after he was disarmed in Brownes steakhouse.

A number of individuals have so far been brought before the courts to face charges in connection with his death.

Earlier this week, a schoolboy, who is facing a murder charge arising from his alleged involvement in Sherrys killing, was refused bail after a High Court judge ruled to release him would create a substantial risk for the community and those around him.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named because he is a minor, was previously remanded to Oberstown detention centre on January 12 following a brief hearing. Gardai objected to his bail application in the High Court.

Mr Justice Tony Hunt, who had seen CCTV evidence and heard defence pleas to release the boy, subject to a range of conditions and parental supervision, delivered his ruling on Wednesday.

Refusing bail, Mr Justice Hunt said a gangland-type scenario sprang to mind, and he found it incredible to contemplate that the boy could resume his life as before the incident.

He said everybody around, in an unconscious way, "would be expected to run the risks that now undoubtedly surround this young man", and to suggest otherwise was untenable.

Hennessy's funeral took place amid tight security

One part of the bail objection focussed on concerns that releasing him would endanger others and the community.

Despite the application being heard in camera, meaning the public is excluded and there are media reporting restrictions put in place, Mr Justice Hunt said information may "dribble out" and "was capable of becoming well-known".

He said to suggest that releasing the teenager was free from risk was "naive in the extreme", and the boy was on one side of a very dangerous situation, which presents dangers which cannot be ignored.

He was also satisfied that there was a substantial risk to the community or people wittingly or unwittingly around the defendant, adding that allowing him to return to school would also be an unacceptable risk.

Earlier, Garda Tom McCarrick objected to bail and said Mr Sherry died from blunt force head trauma at Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown.

Gda McCarrick said it was alleged the teen ran to the toilets when two gunmen entered, and he then tried to get out a fire exit, which was locked.

The court heard he went back to the toilet, but came out two minutes later and allegedly got involved in the attack on Mr Sherry.

The garda agreed that the attack had commenced at that point, and that Mr Sherry had been disarmed before the teen returned to the main part of the restaurant.

A photo from the scene and (inset) Tristan Sherry

The court heard that when interviewed, the teen told investigating officers he was "in fear".

The garda said the two guns involved in the incident had not been recovered, and the second shooter has yet to be arrested.

Defence barrister Ronan Prendergast, instructed by solicitor Simon Fleming, said the boys mother would lodge 1,000, a significant sum for her, and the teen could surrender his passport and obey conditions.

Counsel said the teen wished to return to school and attend evening study.

However, Mr Justice Hunt had said the defence "had another thing coming" if it were "blithely" suggesting letting the accused walk back to school, "wandering in and out of classrooms" after what had happened.

In reply, the defence said the teen would make other educational arrangements.

At the teenager's first hearing, Gda McCarrick said the boy "made no reply to the charge after caution".

Two further men have been charged with Tristan Sherry's murder, and three other males are facing further charges in connection with the incident.
PARIS, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Four decades of nuclear power collaboration remains a noteworthy feature of the France-China relationship and continues to hold potential as the two countries mark the 60th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties.

Nuclear energy cooperation between China and France dates back to the establishment of the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant. The power plant in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen had its roots in the early 1980s when China was opening up.

France, which became one of the first major Western countries to recognize the People's Republic of China and whose nuclear industry had been enjoying a golden age since the 1970s, was approached.

"China entrusted France with the responsibility for building the plant, with a guarantee, and EDF undertook to ensure that the plant would be built, which, in 1984, given the international context at the time, was quite a gamble," said Herve Machenaud, former technical director for EDF, France's state-owned electric utility company, from 1984 to 1989 for the construction of China's first nuclear power plant.

"EDF put its trust in China, and China put its trust in EDF, a contract of trust that has kept the parties together for 40 years," he said.

The Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant went into commercial operation in 1995. EDF and its Chinese partner, China General Nuclear Power Group, kicked off another project nearby -- Ling Ao Nuclear Power Plant, which started commercial operation in 2002. In 2008, the two partners set up a joint venture to construct and operate two nuclear reactors based on European Pressurized Reactor (EPR) technology in Taishan, also in Guangdong province.

"We were the teacher, and now the pupil has surpassed the master," said Philippe Taurin, who worked at Daya Bay as a safety adviser from 1993 to 1995 and then at Taishan as deputy general director from 2014 to 2018. "In the nuclear industry, you can't stay at the same level; you have to keep trying to progress, and progress means learning from the experience of others."

After the golden age in the 1970s and 1980s, the French nuclear industry fell victim to its historic success. Over 50 reactors were constructed during that period, ensuring France an ample supply of affordable electricity.

However, the industry has seen a significant decline since then, marked by a scarcity of new reactor constructions and a gradual decrease in the number of skilled professionals over the past decade.

In the 2020s, nuclear power has returned as a necessary part of France's energy mix and a tool to hit carbon reduction targets. This shift was announced by French President Emmanuel Macron in 2021 as part of the "France 2030" investment plan, with the construction of 14 EPR reactors.

Such momentum is manifested throughout Europe, demonstrated by the success of the most recent World Nuclear Exhibition in Paris in November 2023.

Meantime, China has grown to become a significant player in the industry. "After launching 10 new plants in 2022, another 10 were launched in 2023," said Fabrice Fourcade, EDF's current general delegate in China, noting that China's nuclear fleet has become one of the largest in the world.

"Globally, more and more people are realizing that nuclear power is a useful and, in some places, even indispensable tool for decarbonizing our economies and combating climate change. In this context, the nuclear partnership between France and China must continue and be consolidated," Fourcade said.

Felix Torres, a historian specializing in the history of French companies and author of "The Shared Path," a book on the history of EDF in China from 1983 to 2011, also called for "a renewal of France-China cooperation on a large scale."

"Today, the two countries with the biggest construction ambitions are France and China," said Fourcade. "There is a real interest in capitalizing on our 40 years of technological partnership, on the industrial proximity between our nuclear fleet, to ensure the best possible success for new construction programs in France and more widely in Europe." 
Additionally, a quantity of suspected cocaine and items related to the street supply of illegal drugs were seized during the operation

Part of the seizure made by gardai this afternoon

A man has been arrested in Dublin City Centre this afternoon after heroin worth an estimated 300,000 was discovered by gardai during a raid on an apartment.

The man in his 30s is currently being quizzed at a Garda station in the Dublin region following the seizure made by gardai attached to the Bridewell Garda Station.

Officers conducted a search of an apartment under warrant this morning in the Smithfield area and seized heroin worth in excess of 300,000, gardai said.

Additionally, a quantity of suspected cocaine and items related to the street supply of illegal drugs were seized during the operation.

Gardai added that the search was conducted by uniformed officers attached to the Bridewell Garda Station as part of a local operation targeting street crime.

An adult male (30s) was arrested in connection with the seizure and is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda Station in the Dublin Region, gardai added.

The seized drugs will now be sent to Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) for analysis.

Investigations are ongoing.
Spain's National Police announced the arrest of six people this week in the long running investigation which has been underway for five years

The individual has been identified as Karim B, an alleged kingpin from Amsterdam

Spanish cops have nicked a man known as "the most wanted and dangerous criminal in the Netherlands.

The individual has been identified as Karim B, an alleged kingpin from Amsterdam seen as the main rival to Ridouan Taghi, who is currently facing legal proceedings in the Marengo Trial.

Spain's National Police announced the arrest of six people this week in the long running investigation which has been underway for five years.

The gang were nabbed in Malaga and Melilla on accusations of laundering over 6m earned from drug trafficking, and participating in a crime organisation.

Police said they seized assets including three million euros and 172 properties valued at a combined total of 50m.

Cops also seized 75,000 in cash, 10,000 in jewellery, and two firearms.

Detenido en #Marbella uno de los lideres de la Mocro Maffia por blanqueo de capitales



Delincuente buscado y peligroso de #PaisesBajos



Detectadas operaciones de blanqueo procedente del trafico de #drogas por valor de 6.000.000



Detenidos6

Intervenidos75.000 pic.twitter.com/zGKptA3D4P  Policia Nacional (@policia) January 25, 2024

In dramatic footage posted on social media, police can be seen raiding numerous properties, including a large villa with a swimming pool.

"During the investigation, it was possible to verify the existence of a complex company based in Morocco, the Dominican Republic, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates and Spain," police said.

The crew allegedly used the infamous Hawala-style system where money and assets change hands in a complicated set of transactions with various brokers and fronts.

The gang then invested their cash into buying houses and apartments, it is believed. The arrested man is described as "one of the leaders of the so-called Mocro Maffia," considered Hollands most wanted and dangerous crime gangs.

This man was alleged to be "a long time drug trafficker in the Costa del Sol.

The alleged gang boss  Karim B - saw his brother, Samir, assassinated in Marbella a decade ago. Karim is then thought to have taken over the day to day running of the massive operation.

Ridouan Taghi

Assassins blasted Samir Scarface B as he walked out of the Monte Halcones shopping center in Benahavis in 2014. Scarface was shot numerous times in the ruthless killing.

It has been reported that Karim B. was an assassination target named in encrypted chat messages sent by associates of Ridouan Taghi, including Rico the Chilean, Raffaele Imperiale, (both linked to the Kinahans).

Dutch cops intercepted the messages and they have been used in multiple trials. Apparently, Imperiale recently began cooperating with Italian police also.

The Italian mafioso is said to have shared information about where Karim B went for exercise, coffee and the restaurants he liked to frequent.

Meanwhile, a verdict in Taghis Marengo trial is due at the end of February.
The search of the flat in Bantry, Co Cork - where Mr Bailey had been living for the past year - took place five days after he collapsed and died while out walking in the west Cork town.

THE rented flat of Ian Bailey (66), the chief suspect in the Sophie Toscan du Plantier murder investigation, has been searched by Gardai on foot of a warrant.

The search of the flat in Bantry, Co Cork - where Mr Bailey had been living for the past year - took place five days after he collapsed and died while out walking in the west Cork town.

A number of items have been seized for analysis including personal diaries, correspondence, files, scrap books as well as electronic devices.

The electronic devices removed for examination include a personal computer, memory sticks and digital discs.

It is understood that the search operation - which involved the removal of a quantity of material from the property - was conducted by local detectives who have been working on the investigation into the murder of the French mother of one.

Gardai refused to comment beyond confirming that a search of a residential property took place in the Bantry area on foot of a warrant.

All the items will now be examined to determine if they have any evidential value or any relevance to the ongoing murder investigation.

Mr Bailey left an estate comprising only clothing, wood carvings, books and voluminous files about the Sophie Toscan du Plantier (39) case.

The chief suspect in the investigation into the December 1996 murder was living in modest rented accommodation in Bantry in west Cork and had been dependent on a State pension.

One friend admitted that he was effectively penniless when he died.

It is understood that Mr Bailey did not leave a will - and had not left any letters or documents with instructions that they should be opened after his death.

His only other source of income was the sale of wood turnings and his poetry books at farmers markets around west Cork.

The Manchester-born former freelance journalist collapsed and died while walking on Barrack Street in Bantry at lunchtime last Sunday.

Despite desperate efforts by pedestrians, first responders and paramedics to help him, he was pronounced dead before he could be transferred to Bantry General Hospital (BGH).

Because he had a history of cardiac problems and had suffered a number of heart attacks last year, no post mortem was required.

Mr Bailey was cremated after a low-key ceremony on Tuesday morning attended only by funeral director staff and crematorium personnel.

His ashes will now be shipped to his next of kin, his UK-based sister Kay Reynolds.

It is expected that a private funeral service will be held in the UK at a future date.

Mr Bailey had no property, savings or assets in Ireland.

Following the break-up of his 30 year relationship with Welsh artist Jules Thomas (73) in March 2021, he had to leave her property at The Prairie in Liscaha, just outside Schull.

For the past three years he had lived in various rented accommodation in Glengarriff and Bantry in west Cork having been unable to secure a landlord willing to have him as a tenant in either Schull or Skibbereen.

Mr Bailey's only possessions are clothing, his books which include poetry, history and law volumes, a small collection of wood carvings and multiple boxes of files in relation to the 27 year investigation into the killing of Sophie Toscan du Plantier.

These include correspondence with his legal team over the years and a vast collection of cuttings from newspaper and magazine reports on the Garda investigation.

The case has been the focus of six books, several podcasts and a number of high-profile TV documentaries including productions by VirginMedia, Sky TV and Netflix.

Just last year, Mr Bailey completed his own podcast series and how his life was destroyed through being wrongly associated with Sophie's killing.

Mr Bailey was arrested twice by Gardai in 1997 and 1998 for questioning in respect of Sophie's murder.

He was released without charge on both occasions and has vehemently protested his innocence for the past 27 years.

No one has ever been charged in relation to Sophie's death in Ireland.

Mr Bailey sued eight Irish and British newspapers for libel in 2003 after claiming he was branded as the murderer.

He also took an action - which he lost - against the State for wrongful arrest in 2014/15.

After an eight year French investigation, he was prosecuted for Sophie's murder at a Paris trial in May 2019 and convicted of her murder.

He was sentenced to 25 years in prison - but had to be tried in absentia after he refused to attend the French hearing which he dismissed as "a show trial" and "a mockery of justice."

The French failed on three separate occasions since 2010 to have Mr Bailey extradited to France.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) studied the Garda case file but ruled out any charges in 2000/2001 citing lack of evidence.

A Garda cold case review is currently underway and will continue despite Mr Bailey's death.

The Garda investigation into Sophie's death has been open and active over the past 27 years.

It is planned that a revised and updated file will be submitted to the DPP.

Mr Bailey's long-time solicitor, Frank Buttimer, spoke with the poet and former freelance journalist just a few days before his death - and admitted it was apparent Mr Bailey was very ill.

He had suffered a number of heart attacks late last year - but doctors were unable to perform bypass and stent surgery until his health improved and he regained his strength.

"I do know that he felt his time was close," Mr Buttimer said.

"Looking back now - at one message I received from him - I picked up on the impact of it after his death."

Mr Buttimer said Mr Bailey had endured a terrible ordeal over the years through being constantly associated with the murder investigation despite his constant protestations of innocence.

"This was a State and media construct over the years....(I am convinced he) had nothing whatsoever to do with this crime."

Mr Buttimer refused to comment on whether Mr Bailey had left a will.

However, it is understood the poet never completed such a document.

Further, Mr Bailey did not leave any documentation with specific instructions that it was to be opened only after his death.

"Ian contacted me shortly before his death and we discussed his health and his personal circumstances and how those things might be addressed moving into the future. We did not progress our discussion very much I have to say. Regrettably, events overtook him."
Teegan (16), Miley (15) and Daniel (12) Redmond OCallaghan are being raised by their grandmother

Three children whose father died and mother ended up with a catastrophic brain injury after a crash between a car and a tractor are to receive 300,000 in settlement of a High Court action.

The settlement against Cork County Council is without an admission of liability.

Teegan (16), Miley (15) and Daniel (12) Redmond OCallaghan are being raised by their grandmother, Norma Redmond, of Fairhill, Co Cork, who brought proceedings on their behalf.

Mr Justice Paul Coffey was told the two Redmond OCallaghan girls were less than four years old when the collision happened on the old Glanmire to Cork road in 2011.

Their father, Myles OCallaghan, Donoughmore, Co Cork, was the driver of the car. He died in hospital four days after the crash.

The childrens mother, Olivia Redmond OCallaghan, was 28 years of age and left with massive brain damage, needing 24-hour care for the rest of her life. In 2021, she settled an action over the crash for 14.75million.

She had sued her late husbands estate, the Motor Insurers Bureau of Ireland (MIBI), which compensates victims of uninsured or untraced driving accidents, and Cork County Council. This settlement was against the MIBI and Cork County Council, who both denied the claims.

In its defence to that case, the MIBI claimed Ms Redmond OCallaghan failed to have regard for her safety and permitted herself to be carried in a car for which she knew there was no valid insurance policy in place.

The court heard then that Ms Redmond OCallaghan was 12 weeks pregnant at the time of the accident and gave birth to a healthy baby boy, Daniel, in March 2012 but she never realised she has a son and did not recognise her children.

In the proceedings against the council, Norma Redmond claimed there was a failure to erect warning signs along the old Glanmire to Watergrasshill Road to indicate there were dangerous bends ahead.

It was further claimed the camber of the stretch of road leading up to the site of the accident had been caused to become allegedly dangerous.

The council denied all claims and denied the camber of the road was dangerous or in a defective state. It contended the road surface was in a very good condition and the road was designed and constructed per best practice at the time. It further claimed the bend was visible for 210 metres.

Counsel for Ms Redmond, Hugh Mohan SC, told the court liability was significantly at issue in the case. He said the horrific collision was the beginning of all the trouble for the Redmond OCallaghan family. Olivia Redmond OCallaghan, who is now aged 40, remains in a non-communicative state.

Counsel said that in the crash, Mr OCallaghans car which was going down a hill on its approach to a sharp left-hand bend appeared to veer over onto the opposite carriage and collided with a tractor and trailer.

Counsel said Ms Redmond is in effect a mother now to her grandchildren.

Approving the settlement and the division of a further 25,000 statutory mental distress payment, Mr Justice Coffey said it was fair and reasonable.

He told Ms Redmond he wished to salute her for all she has done for her grandchildren and he was delighted that the matter has been resolved.
The Stunnings Steve Wall reveals the characters he met when his family relocated to Co Clare inspired him as he gears up to take to the stage in John B. Keanes Sive. By Eddie Rowley

Steve Wall is about to embark on his first play with Sive

Rocker and actor Steve Wall of The Stunning tells how relocating from Dublin to Ennistymon in his teens was a culture shock  but it has given him a deep understanding of rural life and its people that he now brings to his acting roles.

Set to star in John B. Keanes powerful drama Sive at Dublins Gaiety Theatre, Steve (61), whose previous roles included Uncle Danny in Chris ODowds Moone Boy, remembers encountering many people similar to the characters in John Bs plays.

His mother was from The Liberties in Dublin, but when Wall was 13 the family moved to his fathers native town of Ennistymon.

Growing up in Ennistymon we would have met and known people who were just like these people in John B Keanes plays, Steve tells Sunday Worlds Magazine+.

Steve, as Uncle Danny in Moone Boy, says writer Chris ODowd spotted his inspirations

I grew up beside The Matchmaker Willie Daly. We had a shoe shop on the main street and his pub was just four doors down from us.

" These were the people wed be chatting to on the street every day, people like Willie Daly and old farmers.

There would be a Fair Day once a week, so coming from the leafy suburbs of Rathfarnham, which was the last place we lived in Dublin, to coming out your front door and seeing goats running around and auld fellas walking up the road with massive overcoats and big sticks was a shock to the senses.

"And then trying to understand them, with their accents, we didnt know what they were saying to us.

But it has been a huge help to me with acting.

"When I did the audition for Moone Boy to play Uncle Danny, that character was modelled on a few lads that I knew, a few local latchycos who played a bit of guitar and did a bit of travelling.

Steve Wall with The Stunning

Chris ODowd saw that straight away when I went into the audition room, him being from a small town as well he could see that.

" And he has brought that to his acting as well, even the writing with Moone Boy, you couldnt have written a series like that if you hadnt grown up in the country.

Despite roles in movies and TV, Sive, where he plays a Traveller called Pats Bocock, is Walls first stage outing  and he reveals that he landed the role through The Stunnings former tour manager.

The casting director Maureen Hughes got in touch with me, Steve says.

Back in the early 90s Maureen worked with The Stunning when we hired her to be the bands tour manager. So we have a shared history, wed often talk and we just happened to be chatting when she was casting Sive. She just had this brainwave and asked, Would you be interested?

My calendar was pretty empty, which for an awful lot of people in the music and acting world is normal, it can be like that.

How scary is that? Ive kind of gotten used to it. I used to get more scared by it looking at my calendar and just seeing the year ahead with maybe a couple of dates in it, gigs that have been booked for next summer.

Its very easy to get panicky. But this has been my life since my early 20s. You just go, Look, Im alive, I can live, I have a roof over my head, Ive got a daughter, who is now going to college things have been OK.

Steve Wall with The Stunning

But you do worry a bit youre getting older, obviously. You worry about if you got sick or anything like that and you couldnt work. For me, my pension is to be able to continue working and I would hope, as an actor, to do that.

The striking performer with chiseled features says his initial ambition was to be an actor, and he started off as an assistant stage manager with the Druid Theatre in Galway.

After a couple of years of that I wanted to have a stab at acting and thats when I moved to Dublin, Steve recalls.

I was then on the dole for a year.

"There was a small enough theatre scene and I had no idea how to break into it. I remember an actor said to me that there were two pubs you had to drink in if you wanted to find out what was going on  The Flowing Tide and Sheehans on Chatham Street. He said thats where the actors drink.

" I kind of got frustrated [failing to find acting jobs] and thats when I decided to start a band and thats when The Stunning were born

For me it was the powerlessness of the acting world that got to me  having no control, that somebody else decided when youd work.

And thats still pretty much the case.

So I do really value music, I think even more. If you can make music, write a song or whatever, then at least you can get the ball rolling yourself. You can get on the phone and hustle gigs. You see all the young artists doing that now, theyre self-releasing. There are a lot more tools at an artists disposal now with social media.

It does give you the power to do things and keep motivated as opposed to hoping the phone is going to ring.

The Stunning  the band today are the same five lads who teamed up together in Galway in 1987  spent the last two years working on a film called We Come Alive, which was screened on RTE last month and is now available to watch on RTE Player.

The Stunnings film is on RTE Player

It was filmed as the country came out of lockdown and features eight guest artists  Mundy, Mairtin OConnor, Camille OSullivan, Zoe Conway, Faye ORourke, Niwel Tsumbu, Shobsy and Jon OConnell  and there are plans to release the soundtrack in the near future. We met up in a school hall in Dublin to reconnect and make some music at last [after the lockdowns)], Steve says.

We reunited with some longstanding musician friends and some we hadnt met but admired, to see what magic sparked.

The reviews were great and its there now to watch on RTE Player. And there is a soundtrack in the pipeline.

But right now Steve is caught up in the challenge of his acting role in John B. Keanes theatre classic, Sive.

For me, its a new thing to find that level of expression because youre on a stage and you dont have a wireless microphone, so you have to make sure that the person on the balcony at the back can hear you just as well as somebody up the front, he explains.

So thats a new experience being able to find that and also to take care of my voice because there are eight shows a week.

Im looking at these other actors like Fionnuala Flanagan and Denis Conway who Im working alongside, and Im learning from them. Its a great learning experience for me.
New Zealand Blood Service has reached one of its highest-ever summer collection targets thanks to the continued generosity of New Zealanders.

With more than 18,000 appointments nationally still to fill throughout the remainder of January and into February, its encouraging people to keep donating to help continue that momentum.

Many regions achieved a record-breaking number of donations, most notably with the Waikato region hitting an all-time weekly high of 1050 blood donations and the Central region setting a new weekly record with 506 blood donations.

More than 21,000 units of blood, plasma and platelets were collected across New Zealand between December 11 and January 14, an almost 59 per cent increase during the same period in 2022/2023.

NZBS National Marketing and Communications Manager Asuka Burge says the service wants to thank everyone for the tremendous support they showed.

As some people rolled out their towels, others rolled up their sleeves, and we are extremely grateful for everyone who donated, says Asuka.

December is an exceptionally busy period with the Christmas rush, and January is when people are getting back from their holidays, so the fact that we were able to reach our collection targets for blood is absolutely amazing.

The public response has been phenomenal, and the number of donations in some regions was the highest weve ever seen over the holiday season. Our regular donors continued to step up, but we also saw familiar faces returning after some time off, as well as a surge of newcomers.

Our stocks for blood have remained consistently high, a testament to the kindness and generosity of our donor Whanau.

A total of 11,669 blood donations, 9,309 plasma donations, and 304 platelet donations were collected between December 11 and January 14.

The notable summer collection milestones during that period included:

December 13, 2023 - national record for the largest number of Wednesday donations, with 778 blood donations collected across the country.

December 18-23, 2023 - Waikato (1050 blood donations) and Central (506 blood donations) regions achieved their biggest-ever weekly collection of blood donations. Nationally, a total of 3162 blood donations were collected during the week, setting a new record for highest national weekly collection.

December 29, 2023 - the North Shore, Epsom and Manukau regions hit an all-time high of Friday blood donations with 224 blood donations. The Central North Island region reached the same milestone with 83 blood donations.

January 9, 2024 - Christchurch and Dunedin regions set a new record for the highest number of Tuesday plasma donations with 156 contributions.

That said, the need for blood and plasma is ongoing and NZBS would like to see people continuing donating to maintain healthy stock levels.

To meet demand year round, more than 5000 donations are needed each week.

There are 18,095 appointments available across New Zealand between now and mid-February.

Blood only lasts 35 days, and the need for plasma is growing by 10 percent a year, so we need ongoing donations of both types to have a continuous supply, says Asuka.

The easiest way to donate is by downloading the NZ Blood Service Donor App. It lets you check your eligibility, find a nearby location and book an appointment.

The app will also notify donors when their donation has been used. Its a very rewarding feeling knowing that the hour you took out of your day to donate helped save a life.

Please if you havent already, join ourwhanau of lifesavers. The need for blood or plasma never stops, no matter the time of year.

Download the NZ Blood Service Donor App, visit www.nzblood.co.nz or call 0800 448 325 to book an appointment to donate.
While a lot of us may have given up on the CBD, new Mainstreet Tauranga manager Genevieve Whitson is not somebody that gives up on things easily.

Having sunk her teeth into the role over the past three months, Genevieve says she is someone who likes a challenge.

When she arrived in Tauranga in 2020, Genevieve recalls her reaction to seeing our city centre.

I was like: Whoa this city needs some serious help, and I never would've dreamt that I'd actually have an opportunity to really assist with that process, she says.

I see so much potential here and believe in all the businesses that also want to see the city centre thrive.

Genevieve has more than a decade of experience in event management, communications, fundraising and marketing in the UK.

She also competed as a professional cyclist in Europe for several years, where she self-marketed to advance her career.

As the Mainstreet Tauranga manager, Genevieve says it's definitely challenging but really rewarding.

It also resonates with a lot of the key skills that I've learned previously.

So what are the biggest challenges facing Downtown Tauranga?

Right now the businesses need more advocacy and support to ensure that their voice is heard  so that's going to include working closely with the council.

Genevieve says a lot of the developments going on in the city have been a non-stop stampede.

The good news is that early this year quite a lot of the disruption is going to settle down especially at the top of Elizabeth Street.

Genevieve and the Downtown Tauranga team have been working hard on the draft annual plan for the city.

We've got a number of key items we're advocating on, and also mapping out a really strong marketing and promotion strategy for 2024 to ensure that the businesses downtown get greater visibility so that we can draw more people back in.

Upcoming Downtown Tauranga events people can look forward to is the Jazz Festival and school holiday promotions in March, and Flavours of Plenty in April.

To see what Genevieve and the Downtown Tauranga team have in store for the CBD in 2024-2025, view the annual plan at: https://www.tauranga.govt.nz/council/working-with-organisations/mainstreet-organisations/downtown-tauranga
A lucky Powerball player from Canterbury will be toasting an incredible win after winning $17.25 million with Powerball First Division in Saturday nights live Lotto draw.

The winning ticket was sold on MyLotto to a player from Canterbury.

The prize is made up of $17 million from Powerball First Division and $250,000 from Lotto First Division.

Saturday nights winner is the first Powerball multi-millionaire of 2024, and the win comes just one month after a $12.2 million Powerball prize was won by a couple in Auckland. The couple are looking forward to supporting their family with their win.

Three other lucky Lotto players will also be celebrating after each winning $250,000 with Lotto First Division in Saturday nights live Lotto draw. The winning tickets were sold at Highpoint Temptations Lotto in Birkenhead, Four Square Mangapapa in Gisborne and on MyLotto to a player from Franklin, Waikato.

Meanwhile, a lucky Strike player will also be celebrating after winning $400,000 with Strike Four. The winning Strike ticket was sold at Mitchell's Paper Power in Northcote.

20 Lotto players win Second Division

Twenty lucky Lotto players had luck on their side tonight after each winning $17,932 with Lotto Second Division in tonights live Lotto draw.

The winning Second Division tickets were sold at the following stores:

Store Location MyLotto Auckland Logan Park Foodmarket One Tree Hill Pak n Save Sylvia Park Mt Wellington New Zeal Superette Glen Eden MyLotto Manukau MyLotto Waitakere Royal Heights Dairy & Lotto Massey East Leabank Superette Manurewa MyLotto Taupo MyLotto Bay of Plenty MyLotto Napier Paper Plus Select Pahiatua Pahiatua Countdown Maidstone Upper Hutt MyLotto Lower Hutt MyLotto West Coast Fendalton New World Christchurch MyLotto Christchurch MyLotto Queenstown Lakes MyLotto Dunedin City Countdown Waikiwi Invercargill

Anyone who bought their ticket from any of the above stores or on MyLotto should check their ticket as soon as possible in-store, on MyLotto, or through the MyLotto App.

Players can phone Lotto NZ on 0800 695 6886 if they want to enquire about the best way to claim a prize.

Lotto NZ exists to return 100 per cent of its profits to Kiwi communities through lottery grants programmes run by Te Puna Tahua NZ Lottery Grants Board.
TEHRAN, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Unidentified gunmen have killed nine foreign nationals in southeastern Iran near the Pakistani border, the Iranian Mehr news agency reported on Saturday.

No individuals or groups have claimed responsibility for the shootings. 
Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription.

Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service.
Happy weekend, everyone!

This week NY Cannabis Insider dove into some under-covered issues in the weed industry, because were lucky enough to have readers who dig the in-the-weeds content. Thanks to all our readers who support our efforts to produce serious journalism about this emerging industry.

Lets take a look at the stories we covered:

Yesterday we ran a story that takes a look at Brooklyn, where a Cresco-owned medical dispensary has been closed (temporarily, according to Cresco), as an adult-use shop is opening in the borough. The situation seems to be par for the course when it comes to the medical market  which, some stakeholders say, is being ignored as regulators focus on adult-use.

Its been very frustrating to watch all these other adult-use stores open, especially in areas where the closest medical location they can access is hours away by car, said Tim Mitchell, a medical cannabis patient and advocate.

We dove into the details of a lawsuit brought by cannabis beverage companies currently suing New York regulators over strict limits on hemp-derived THC. Plaintiffs say they believe they will ultimately prevail in their efforts.



Sign up for the NY Cannabis Insider Newsletter

Enter your email address to get exclusive reporting on NY's cannabis market delivered to your inbox:









Plaintiffs enjoyed a brief victory in November, when Albany County Supreme Court Judge Thomas Marcelle blocked regulators from enforcing the emergency regulation. Since then, the Cannabis Control Board has codified the rules as official policy, but litigants say theyre cautiously optimistic about their long-term chances  considering state regulators seemed unable to demonstrate public health risks that existing cannabinoid hemp products pose to the public.

Reporter Mel Hyman talked to critics of Gov. Kathy Hochuls proposal to repeal and replace New Yorks THC potency-based tax structure for the legal cannabis industry. These folks told Hyman the replacement for cannabis potency tax is unrealistic and destructive.

Cannabis industry stakeholders who spoke with Hyman said Hochuls plan to repeal the potency tax and replace it with a 9% tax on the sales of wholesale cannabis products will put New York at a disadvantage to neighboring states.

Tax attorney Paula Collins contributed a guest column about cannabis taxes in New York, which explains how weed companies in the Empire State can (and cannot) book losses when filing taxes.

Unfortunately, a lot of people in NY cannabis closed the year 2023 with significant losses. In some cases, the investments are simply waiting for someday to turn into revenue streams, Collins wrote. In others, the money spent is long gone.

Joe Rossi, the Cannabis Practice Group Leader at Park Strategies, wrote a guest column making the case that New York regulators should simply license everyone ready to open legal cannabis dispensaries so that legal shops have a better opportunity to compete with illicit stores.

We need [regulators] to significantly increase the number of licenses issued for retail dispensaries. Period, Rossi wrote. If these retail licensees will not have enough product on their shelves, which has been suggested and is also highly debatable, that will be their problem.

We added a new entry to our People to know in NY cannabis series: Ellis Soodak, the owner of Verdi, the first licensed dispensary in Manhattans Chelsea neighborhood.

Lastly, we posted attorney Jeffrey Hoffmans latest Ask Me Anything segment, in which he answered questions about the new Variscite case, cannabis tax revenues in New York versus other legal states and more.

Have a great weekend everyone, well be back with plenty more next week.
The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime.
Thank you for reading!

Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue.
napster Newbie

Join Date: Jan 2024 Location: Pune Posts: 4 Thanked: 10 Times

Re: Bangalore - Pune - Mumbai : Route updates & Eateries



I recently did Pune -Bangalore - Pune journey using both the route Options (Onward via Kolhapur/Belgaon and return via Vijaypura/Solapur).



I travelled from Pune to Bangalore on 23rd December. Started the from Hadapsar, Pune at 5:30 am but encountered a significant traffic all the way due to holiday rush. The Journey from Karad to Belgaon as everyone pointed out was very painful with many diversions and it slows you down significantly. The Road after Belgaon till Tumkuru is still pretty smooth (except for Hubballi-Dharwad bypass). Overall the drive time was 14 hours and breaks of almost 3 hours.



I returned from Bangalore to Pune on 7th January. For the return journey I was in dilemma whether to stick to the regular route or try the new route via Solapur. My preference was to have a peace of mind in the journey considering the horrible time I had while coming via Belgaon, and since we were carrying food I thought of taking the plunge and took the route via Hospete-Solapur. We had started from Bangalore at 5 am and managed to cover the distance till Chitradurga till 8:30 am where I had to decide which route to go for. Overall as many people have mentioned the eatery options are less on this route, the road is 4 lanes throughout till Pune (except for a couple of bypasses which are 6 laned). The road condition is pretty good and the less traffic on this route till Solapur helps you not miss the 6 laned road on the existing highway till Belgaon.

Chitradurga - Hospete : Probably the best road on this route option. You just cruise through the road with absolutely no issues regarding the road surface while enjoying the nice scenery and large number of wind mills on both side of the road. The Bypass for Hospete is 6 lanes, though not the smoothest surface but still you can cruise just around 3 digit speed. Hospete - Vijaypura : Again a 4 laned road, however there are speed bumps at many intersections, the worst part; A few of these speed bumps are absolutely unmarked and would take you by surprise. Though you can still cruise on this section, but you need to be watchful of these speed bumps appearing suddenly. I observed that the road section near these Speed bumps is relatively darker than rest of the road so that kind of helped predict the approaching speed-bumps and slow down the vehicle. Vijaypura - Solapur: Last section where you can cruise through without much of an issue due to low traffic. The road is in better condition and the Speed bumps are gone so you are not caught off guard because of that in this section. Solapur - Pune: This road needs to be expanded to 6 lanes. The current road though pretty smooth cannot take the huge volume of traffic. The drive from Mohol all the way till Pune is bit painful as the entire stretch is full of reckless drivers which would give you tough times and to make matter even worse, there are few diversions due to ongoing bridge work which leads to congestion. Overall this stretch you can compare with Tumkuru-Nelamangala section albeit for more than double the distance though!

Overall the drive time was 12:30 hours and 3 hours of stops. Personally I would prefer to use the Solapur road for any journey to Bangalore till the time Option 1 gets to the better condition as it was around an year ago!



Note: Option 2 is suitable only if you intend to go to any eastern part of the Pune, otherwise you may need to traverse through entire Pune city. Limited food options available throughout the route between Chitradurga-Solapur. Though there are ample number of Petrol Pumps on this stretch throughout, if you are looking for any specific branded fuel (XP95, SPEED, POWER) then there availability is sparse on this route. I couldn't find XP95 on any of the Indian Oil fuel pumps, including an IOCL COCO right outside the IOCL Depot! Thanks to the admins for approving my account, this is my first post on the forum so kindly excuse me if there are any rookie mistakes in the post.I recently didjourney using both the route Options (Onward via Kolhapur/Belgaon and return via Vijaypura/Solapur).I travelled from Pune to Bangalore on 23rd December. Started the from Hadapsar, Pune at 5:30 am but encountered a significant traffic all the way due to holiday rush. The Journey from Karad to Belgaon as everyone pointed out was very painful with many diversions and it slows you down significantly. The Road after Belgaon till Tumkuru is still pretty smooth (except for Hubballi-Dharwad bypass). Overall the drive time was 14 hours and breaks of almost 3 hours.I returned from Bangalore to Pune on 7th January. For the return journey I was in dilemma whether to stick to the regular route or try the new route via Solapur. My preference was to have a peace of mind in the journey considering the horrible time I had while coming via Belgaon, and since we were carrying food I thought of taking the plunge and took the route via Hospete-Solapur. We had started from Bangalore at 5 am and managed to cover the distance till Chitradurga till 8:30 am where I had to decide which route to go for. Overall as many people have mentioned the eatery options are less on this route, the road is 4 lanes throughout till Pune (except for a couple of bypasses which are 6 laned). The road condition is pretty good and the less traffic on this route till Solapur helps you not miss the 6 laned road on the existing highway till Belgaon.Overall the drive time was 12:30 hours and 3 hours of stops. Personally I would prefer to use the Solapur road for any journey to Bangalore till the time Option 1 gets to the better condition as it was around an year ago!
CANBERRA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Australian researchers have identified an immune system protein that can be manipulated to help overcome bowel cancer.

In a study published on Saturday, researchers led by a team at the Australian National University (ANU) described how the protein Ku70, which plays a role in DNA repair, can be activated using drugs to fight bowel cancer in its early stages.

Abhimanu Pandey, the lead author of the study from the ANU College of Health and Medicine, said that once activated, Ku70 detects signs of damaged DNA in cells.

"Damaged DNA is a sign of danger that can turn healthy cells into cancer cells," he said in a media release.

"Our research shows that Ku70 can 'cool off' cancer cells and mop up damaged DNA. The protein prevents the cancer cells from becoming more aggressive and spreading throughout the body, essentially deactivating them and keeping them in a dormant state."

Also known as colorectal cancer, bowel cancer is the fourth-most common type of cancer in Australia with an estimated 15,300 diagnoses in 2023, according to the Cancer Council.

Data from government agency Cancer Australia shows that there were 5,350 deaths from bowel cancer in Australia in 2021, but Saturday's study said 90 percent of cases can be treated successfully if detected early.

Australians aged between 50 and 74 receive a free at-home screening test every two years under the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.

Si Ming Man, a co-author from ANU, said that in the future screening methods could also check levels of Ku70 in pre-cancerous polyps to help predict who will fare better or worse if they develop bowel cancer.

In a separate study published by the University of Adelaide and South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) on Wednesday, researchers made a breakthrough in detecting bowel cancer without a stool test by engineering a probiotic bacterium to reveal early tumors. 
Why it matters: The sanctions process is broken or at least highly inefficient because Russia has managed to import many advanced goods to fuel its war machine in Ukraine. The complexity of global supply chains also doesn't help, as enforcers find it impossible to trace from where a chip originated. Meanwhile, chip manufacturers say they are adhering to the law.

Despite sanctions and export controls put in place to prevent Russian President Vladimir Putin from obtaining technology from the West that would help advance the war in Ukraine, the country still managed to import more than $1.7 billion of advanced US and European chips last year, according to classified Russian customs service data shown to Bloomberg.

The data indicated that in the first nine months of 2023, more than half of the imported semiconductors and integrated circuits were brands like Intel, AMD, Analog Devices, Infineon Technologies, STMicroelectronics, and NXP Semiconductors, to name a few. The data didn't show which companies or entities exported the technologies to Russia. It also lacked any other identifying information, such as the point of departure or the date of manufacture.

Russia's ability to obtain chips is an indictment of the inefficiency of the global sanction process. It illustrates the complexity of global supply chains, particularly for chips, which go through distributors with multiple resellers.

Also, many of these chips made their way into Russia via re-exports from third-party countries such as China, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. The US and EU have been trying unsuccessfully to block these passageways, especially re-exports of dual-use and advanced goods that are fueling the Russian war machine in the Ukraine.

Unnamed chip manufacturers claim they have adhered to the sanctions and have rigorous processes to ensure compliance. Bloomberg notes that there's no suggestion the companies breached international laws.

Bloomberg notes that the customs values have dipped slightly in the latter half of last year, indicating efforts by the US, EU, and Group of Seven allies to enforce sanctions on Russia became more successful. Still, Russia has become adept at evading sanctions and export controls by the West.

Late last year, Russia managed to overcome sanctions and export controls to expand its missile production beyond prewar levels. Anonymous American officials told The New York Times that Russia was running illicit networks of smugglers through its intelligence services and Ministry of Defense to export critical components to other countries from which they can be shipped to Russia more easily.
In a shocking report, a letter addressed to the US Director of National Intelligence exposes the National Security Agency (NSA) for allegedly acquiring personal data illicitly harvested from smartphone users through various apps.

The sender of this open letter is none other than US Senator Ron Wyden, a member of the Select Committee on Intelligence, who fervently implores US security agencies to immediately cease this questionable practice.

Furthermore, Senator Wyden urges the agencies to expeditiously eliminate any existing data procured through illegal means.

Illicit Data Trading Done by NSA

The core issue centers around app developers who, by legal mandate, are obligated to transparently disclose the utilization of personal information gathered from users.

However, a clandestine aspect of this process involves the surreptitious sale of users' data, encompassing sensitive details like location history, to entities such as the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and NSA through data brokers.

According to 9to5Mac, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), acting as the de facto federal privacy regulator in the US, has declared this practice illegal. Legal actions were initiated against one implicated data broker, X-Mode Social, by the FTC.

Despite these measures, the latest missive from Senator Wyden contends that both the DIA and NSA persist in procuring such data.

Related Article: [UPDATE] Deepfake Biden Robocall Linked to Silicon Valley's Top Voice-Cloning Startup ElevenLabs

Evasion of Warrant Requirements

Senator Wyden clarifies that if security agencies like the NSA sought to directly obtain this data from developers or internet service providers, it would necessitate a search warrant. However, the indirect acquisition of data through purchasing circumvents this stringent requirement, prompting Senator Wyden to call for an immediate cessation of such practices.

FTC's Stance on Illegitimate Data Sales

Referencing the FTC's prior ruling on the matter, Senator Wyden points out the illegality of these transactions since app users were kept uninformed about the data sale.

Specifically, the FTC insists that developers must explicitly disclose not only the sale to data brokers but also the subsequent sale to US intelligence agencies for such practices to be considered lawful.

The FTC contends that sensitive data sales violate the law unless users provide informed consent for such transactions.

Safeguarding Sensitive Information

Highlighting the profound privacy breach associated with location data, Senator Wyden highlights the FTC's concerns about its potential misuse. Location data, a highly sensitive aspect of personal information, can be exploited to track individuals to places such as medical facilities, religious institutions, and other locations that might disclose sensitive aspects of their identity.

Senator Wyden's Three-Point Directive

In his letter, Senator Wyden calls upon the US Director of National Intelligence to orchestrate a three-step initiative within the intelligence community:

Conduct a comprehensive audit of personal data held on US citizens. Identify data that was unlawfully collected and subsequently sold. Execute the prompt and complete purging of such unlawfully obtained data.

This is not the first time that the NSA has been involved in data leaks and access. Back in October 2023, a former NSA employee pleaded guilty to federal charges after admitting that he leaked classified information to Russia.

A decade ago, NBC News reported that the NSA had access to users' data on smartphones. Some of the personal data that the agency might have accessed were call lists, notes, and contacts to name a few.

Until the US remains soft when it comes to federal privacy laws, the data of the citizens will continue to get compromised-either within an agency or a group of cybercriminals.

Read Also: Security Researchers Unearth Compilation of Multiple Breaches, Citing it 'Mother of All Breaches'

 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Microsoft Teams, a widely-used collaboration platform, faced a significant outage on Friday, disrupting services for users worldwide. The outage, which began around 11 a.m. Eastern Time, caused access issues and functionality limitations for many users, including delays in message delivery and graphic display problems.

(Photo : Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

The Microsoft logo is illuminated on a wall during a Microsoft launch event to introduce the new Microsoft Surface laptop and Windows 10 S operating system, May 2, 2017 in New York City.

DownDetector, a platform for tracking outages, observed a swift escalation of the issue, with users expressing frustration over service disruptions. Microsoft addressed the problem on X (formerly Twitter), acknowledging a "networking issue impacting a portion of the Teams service." To mitigate the problem, the company initiated a transition to backup systems, AP News reported.

By 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time, Microsoft reported completing the backup transition for Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, noting improvements. However, backup switchovers for North and South America were still ongoing. DownDetector data showed a decline in outage reports by 3 p.m. Eastern Time.

According to DownDetector, 67% of reported issues were related to the Microsoft Teams app, 25% were service connection problems, and 8% were website-related. Users encountered difficulties using the service, highlighting messaging delays and graphic display issues.

We've completed the failover in the EMEA region and service telemetry is showing some improvement. The failovers for the North and South America regions are ongoing and we continue to monitor. Additional information can be found under TM710344 in the admin center. January 26, 2024

Despite efforts to address the problem promptly, US-based X users continued to express dissatisfaction, with some sarcastically thanking Microsoft for resolving the issue in regions where the workday had ended. Microsoft admitted that the switchover did not immediately relieve all users in North and South America but emphasized ongoing mitigation efforts, per ABC News.

Microsoft Update: Situation Has Improved

Users encountering the issue saw error messages stating, "We've run into a server error. Some functions might not work right now, but you can continue to use the app."

Microsoft Teams users attempting a cold boot experienced login issues, and unlocking devices displayed missing messages.

Microsoft provided updates through its incident report (TM710344) in the Microsoft 365 admin center, citing a networking issue impacting a portion of the database infrastructure. The company assured users of continuous investigation to isolate the cause and implement remediation actions, according to BleepingComputer.

Read Also: Taylor Swift Considering Legal Action Against Deepfake Porn Site Circulating Explicit AI Images

In an update at 13:28 EST on January 26, Microsoft reported ongoing failovers for North and South America were being closely observed. "We've completed the failover in the EMEA region, and service telemetry is showing some improvement. The failovers for the North and South America regions are ongoing, and we continue to monitor," Microsoft posted on X.

Details on Exchange Online Accounts Hack

In a separate update, Microsoft confirmed that the Russian hacking group Midnight Blizzard, associated with the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), targeted various organizations beyond Microsoft in a malicious campaign, BleepingComputer reported.

The group, also known as APT29 or Nobelium, focuses on government bodies, NGOs, software developers, and IT service providers in the US and Europe.

In November 2023, the group breached Microsoft's systems, stealing emails from leadership, cybersecurity, and legal teams. Microsoft revealed that the threat actors employed residential proxies and "password spraying" techniques, targeting accounts, including a legacy test tenant account lacking multi-factor authentication (MFA). The compromised account had access to an OAuth application with elevated privileges, enabling the attackers to create additional malicious OAuth apps and gain access to other corporate mailboxes.

Microsoft identified the malicious activity through Exchange Web Services logs, uncovering similar tactics used by Russian state-sponsored hacking groups. The tech giant is now notifying other targeted organizations based on insights gained from its investigation into Midnight Blizzard's activities, urging vigilance and awareness about the ongoing threat.

Related Article: Microsoft Cuts 1,900 People Across its Video Game Divisions in Recent Layoff Following Activision Blizzard Merger

 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has voiced his concern over the emergence of sexually explicit AI-generated images featuring Taylor Swift.

According to The Verge, in an upcoming interview with NBC Nightly News, Nadella addresses the issue, deeming the spread of nonconsensual simulated explicit content as "alarming and terrible."

The interview, scheduled to be aired on January 30, touches on the challenges posed by such content and the need for swift action.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella Response to Taylor Swift Deepfakes

In a preview of the interview, Lester Holt asks Satya Nadella about the internet being flooded with fake sexually explicit images of Taylor Swift. Nadella responds by emphasizing the responsibility to establish guardrails around technology to ensure the creation of safer content.

He suggests the importance of global societal convergence on certain norms and highlights the potential for collaboration between law enforcement, tech platforms, and legal frameworks to address the issue.

The controversy surrounding AI-generated explicit images of Swift is linked to a report from 404 Media, indicating their origin in a Telegram-based nonconsensual porn-making community.

The report suggests using a Microsoft Designer image generator within the community despite the Designer's theoretical refusal to produce images of famous individuals. This technical vulnerability presents a challenge for Microsoft to address.

The situation underscores the broader challenges associated with controlling the creation of fake explicit content using AI tools. Despite major tech platforms strengthening their safeguards, tools like Stable Diffusion can reportedly still be manipulated to produce NSFW content.

The Taylor Swift incident underscores the potential widespread sharing of such content from smaller communities.

Read Also: Taylor Swift's Deepfake Scandal Sparks Concerns Over AI Regulation Gaps

Taylor Swift Considering to Take Legal Action

In response to deepfake images, Taylor Swift is reportedly contemplating legal action against the adult site responsible for hosting AI-generated explicit photos without her consent.

The images depict her involved in sexual acts while wearing Kansas City Chiefs memorabilia in a stadium setting. A source close to Swift stresses the offensive nature of the fake images and emphasizes the need for their immediate removal.

Social media platforms, including X, Facebook, Instagram, and Reddit, are actively removing the posts, with Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, saying that the content violates their policies.

The incident raises broader concerns about the unauthorized creation and dissemination of explicit AI-generated content, highlighting the global challenges of addressing such issues.

Related Article: Daily Bad-Actor AI Activity Will Escalate by Mid-2024, the Year of Global Elections, New Study Finds

 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
GAZA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Israel continues its military operations in Gaza, resulting in deaths and injuries among Palestinians, sources said on Saturday.

Over the past hours, fierce clashes have erupted between Palestinian factions and advancing Israeli forces in various areas in Khan Younis in southern Gaza.

The Palestinian medical sources said "a large number of deaths and wounded have been admitted to hospitals in Gaza as a result of Israeli airstrikes on different areas."

The recent Israeli bombardment targeted a house belonging to the "Al-Saksak" family in Rafah City, southern Gaza, and another house in the Al-Hukr area in the city of Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, resulting in the deaths and injuries of several residents inside.

The Israeli army shelled the surroundings of the compound belonging to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in Khan Younis, resulting in a large number of injuries.

The Palestinian Red Cross and Red Crescent Society issued a statement condemning Israel's targeting of Al-Amal Hospital and the headquarters of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society in Khan Younis for the fifth consecutive day.

They called on the international community to "urgently move to protect its working teams there."

The western and southern areas of Khan Younis city are witnessing explosions and the firing of machine guns as a result of clashes between Palestinian factions and Israeli forces, according to a Palestinian security source.

On Saturday, the Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, announced the targeting of an Israeli military convoy with a "Yasin 105" shell in the Al-Amal neighborhood west of Khan Younis city in southern Gaza.

It also announced that its members were engaging in clashes with the Israeli army using machine guns and anti-tank shells in the advancement axes west and south of Khan Younis city.

Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee said on Saturday in a post on social media platform X that Unit 98 continues to eliminate saboteurs and monitor combat tools and military equipment in Khan Younis, while Magellan unit fighters raided several targets in the depths of Khan Younis, including a warehouse for combat tools, where many ammunitions, weapons, and various technological means were found.

The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 26,257 since Oct. 7, 2023, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said on Saturday.

The Israeli army killed 174 Palestinians and wounded 310 others over the past 24 hours, the ministry said in a press statement.

It added that the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict had wounded at least 64,797 Palestinians, noting that a large number of victims were still under the rubble as ambulance and civil defense crews could not reach them. 
ALGIERS, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Algeria on Friday expressed regret and deep concern following the Malian authorities' cancellation of the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali, an outcome of the Algiers process.

The Algerian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Algiers acknowledges this decision's gravity, emphasizing its impact on Mali, the broader region's pursuit of peace and security, and the international community.

On Thursday, the military junta in Mali abruptly terminated the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in 2015 between the government of Bamako and northern independence groups, citing changes in posture among signatory groups and alleging acts of hostility and exploitation by Algerian authorities, who lead the mediation efforts, as reasons for this decision.

Since 2012, Mali has been plagued by insurgencies, jihadist incursions, and inter-community violence that have left thousands of people dead and hundreds of thousands displaced.

Algeria has been a key player in efforts to bring peace to Mali. The Algiers process, hosted by the North African country, led to the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in 2015, but its implementation has faced difficulties. 
They simply had nowhere to evolve: a Russian paleontologist on the progress of scientific ideas about dinosaurs

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

Guangxi's 15 cultural tourism projects plan to attract investment in Guangdong with a total investment of more than 80.7 billion yuan

International newspapers: Gaza is bringing Washington back to the region, and Netanyahu may lose his position

Annoyed by a kissing couple: woman attacks the person sitting next to her on the train

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"

9th day of the Grand Sumo Spring Tournament New entrant with only one winner Takafuji 9 consecutive wins

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

The first batch of imported exhibits of the 135th Canton Fair entered the country smoothly

Yen exchange rate: The yen depreciates to the low 149 yen level to the dollar, due to speculation regarding monetary policy.

Daihatsu's name announced by the FTC: ``We were waiting, but we will set up a forum for discussions.''

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.

A court in the DPR sentenced ten Azov militants to terms ranging from 26 to 27 years in prison

Operation seduction of the head of Chinese diplomacy in New Zealand and Australia

On display ! - On the Poster Planete Afro: Hiro is back with his new album Ame

Putin expressed gratitude for conducting the election campaign according to the law

It warms the heart: the president of Puy du Fou reacts to the prize for best show in the world

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

The Court describes the role of Puigdemont's right-hand man as "essential" and endorses the Tsunami investigation

Civil servants will have the salary increase after Easter and before the Budgets are approved

Niger: what follow-up after the denunciation of the military agreement between Niamey and Washington?

TikTok is at the heart of the US election season

Putin: all traitors fighting against Russia will be identified by name and they will not be given peace

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.

Operation seduction of the head of Chinese diplomacy in New Zealand and Australia

Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant First detection of object that may contain nuclear fuel debris on water

Defeat in the FA Cup: Klopp breaks off interview  I have no nerves for you

In light of the confrontation with Israel... where has the Hezbollah-Free Patriotic Movement alliance reached?

 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.
They simply had nowhere to evolve: a Russian paleontologist on the progress of scientific ideas about dinosaurs

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

International newspapers: Gaza is bringing Washington back to the region, and Netanyahu may lose his position

Annoyed by a kissing couple: woman attacks the person sitting next to her on the train

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?

9th day of the Grand Sumo Spring Tournament New entrant with only one winner Takafuji 9 consecutive wins

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

The first batch of imported exhibits of the 135th Canton Fair entered the country smoothly

Yen exchange rate: The yen depreciates to the low 149 yen level to the dollar, due to speculation regarding monetary policy.

Daihatsu's name announced by the FTC: ``We were waiting, but we will set up a forum for discussions.''

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.

Operation seduction of the head of Chinese diplomacy in New Zealand and Australia

On display ! - On the Poster Planete Afro: Hiro is back with his new album Ame

Putin expressed gratitude for conducting the election campaign according to the law

It warms the heart: the president of Puy du Fou reacts to the prize for best show in the world

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

The Court describes the role of Puigdemont's right-hand man as "essential" and endorses the Tsunami investigation

Italy: the four Egyptians accused of the murder of Giulio Regeni will be tried in absentia

Civil servants will have the salary increase after Easter and before the Budgets are approved

Niger: what follow-up after the denunciation of the military agreement between Niamey and Washington?

TikTok is at the heart of the US election season

Putin: all traitors fighting against Russia will be identified by name and they will not be given peace

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.

Operation seduction of the head of Chinese diplomacy in New Zealand and Australia

Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant First detection of object that may contain nuclear fuel debris on water

Defeat in the FA Cup: Klopp breaks off interview  I have no nerves for you

In light of the confrontation with Israel... where has the Hezbollah-Free Patriotic Movement alliance reached?

 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.
HARARE, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe received cholera treatment commodities and supplies worth 265,000 U.S. dollars from international organizations to combat cholera, said the country's health minister on Friday.

Stressing the high rate of cholera infections among children, Zimbabwean Health and Child Care Minister Douglas Mombeshora noted that the received treatment supplies, which include antibiotics and oral rehydration salts, will cater to the children.

"Today, we thank the Health Resilient Fund, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), United Parcel Services Foundation and all the partners that contributed to this donation of cholera medicines and commodities worth 265,000 dollars that will go a long way to address case management of cholera cases," he said.

Of the reported cholera cases to date, 31 percent are found in those below 15 years of age, compared with 14 percent in those under five years of age, he said.

UNICEF has lately expressed concern over the high infection rates among children in Zimbabwe, noting that one in six new cholera cases in Zimbabwe affects children under five years old and calling for increased focus on children in the national cholera response.

Zimbabwe recorded a cumulative 20,446 suspected cholera cases as of Jan. 24, 2024, since the outbreak began in February last year, according to the Ministry of Health and Child Care.

The country is set to roll out an oral cholera vaccination campaign starting on Monday, after receiving an initial batch of 892,286 doses from the International Coordinating Group. 
Somewhere on his family tree, Mike Hill of Lafayette believes, is rooted a little sugar cane.

Specifically, he learned one of his forebears may have been a sugar broker working out of New Orleans famed Sugar Exchange building. That made him curious.

After his initial research turned up frustratingly limited information about the exchange, Hill decided to write to Curious Louisiana.

What can you tell me about (the Sugar Exchange)?, he asked. Where was the building located? Is the building still standing? Are there photos of the building, inside and out? Are there other collections of documents relating to the exchange other than those at the Public Library?
Yellowed and peeling at the edges, Philip Gargetts Opal card has been with him on every train trip he has taken from his home in North Strathfield to his city office since June 2013.

Well, almost every trip. There was that time he found a less cared-for Opal on the station floor. He called the hotline to see if he could return it, but was told the $40 balance on the unregistered card was now his.

I guess Ive just been careful with it, he said of his own card, which is among the oldest still in use as more Sydney commuters pay with bank cards and their phones.

Philip Gargetts Opal card will have been tapping on and off for 11 years in June. Credit: Wolter Peeters

Ive just kept it in my wallet and its on automatic top-up, so I dont really need to think about it.
. Credit: Matt Golding

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.

Look to September

Those suggesting a change of name, not the date, dont seem to understand that January 26 is a day of mourning for Indigenous people. It is not a day for celebrating anything. The same goes for those suggesting changing the date to the last weekend in January. That will regularly include January 26 and will still be a day of mourning. Indigenous people are not asking the rest of us to join their mourning, nor to not celebrate Australia Day. They simply ask us to be sensitive and choose another date so we can celebrate this country together.

I support those who propose to give new life to the already existing Wattle Day, September 1, as our Australia Day celebration. It is both neutral and optimistic as it marks the transition from winter to spring and looks forward to better things for all of us, both personally and nationally. And the beautiful wattle is already an Australian emblem, no flag required.

Margaret Callinan, Hawthorn

Australia, grow up

If, as the prime minister declared at the citizenship ceremony in Canberra on January 26, Australia is the greatest country on Earth, why do we have a foreign, non-resident head of state (Charles III) and the ensign of our colonisers in the top-left corner of our national flag? Grow up, Australia.
Integrations include CarNow, Skaivision, Orbee & Tealium with connectors via the Mastermind API Solutions Suite

NEW YORK, Jan. 26, 2024 -- automotiveMastermind (aM), part of S&P Global Mobility and the automotive industry's trusted data and technology provider, today announced it has made significant enhancements to its Mastermind technology through strategic integrations that will make it easier for dealers to connect mission critical data across their technology stack to drive improved consumer experiences and streamlined marketing.

Mastermind's latest integrations incorporate a unique set of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and connections that will enhance its powerful predictive analytics to provide unique insights into consumer profiles and vehicle preferences. The value these integrations provide is deeper consumer intelligence enriched by Mastermind data and machine learning AI, enabling dealers to more effectively offer the right vehicle for the right price to the right customer at the right time. Mastermind has also augmented its assets by integrating Polk Signals data attributes, part of S&P Global Mobility's Polk Automotive Solutions product suite.

Over the past year, Mastermind has focused on deeper integrations with dealers' operational systems, including the industry's most prominent dealer management systems (DMS)  Reynolds & Reynolds, DealerTrack, CDK and Tekion  and customer relationship management tools (CRM)  Elead, Dealer Socket and VinSolutions.

Mastermind can now embed data into critical areas of the dealers' operational workflow through expanded integrations with digital retailers like CarNow, who will be able to surface Mastermind intelligence and insights within their platforms to drive a truly unique consumer experience completing the journey from demand generation to purchase. The Mastermind API set allows these mission critical dealer systems to work together as a cohesive unit as opposed to stand-alone solutions.

aM has also focused on developing additional integrations with dealers' marketing stacks by enabling customer data platforms (CDPs) like Orbee and Tealium to provide clean, enriched first-party data. CDPs have gained momentum in both the OEM and dealer space in the past couple of years with the promise of unifying customer records and providing visibility into customer lifecycles. The Mastermind CDP integration provides this clean, rich data set and makes it available to any dealer marketing partner for campaign activation and execution.

"In today's competitive auto retail environment, dealership and dealer group sales and marketing teams must be able to harness as much data and insights as possible," said Mastermind Chief Technology Officer Kos Jha. "Unfortunately, this data tends to be disparate and locked away in silos through different partners, including Mastermind. These new Mastermind integrations give our dealer partners the ability to unlock comprehensive data sets and produce seamless, real-time connections with other technology platforms, ultimately enabling dealers and groups to create the best possible experience for consumers. Our hope is the quality of Mastermind data and predictions will power the dealership's end-to-end sales and marketing operations."

With these new integrations, Mastermind will provide access to the advanced data enrichment, data cleansing and identity resolution services that has defined the quality of Mastermind data in the automotive industry. These new APIs give dealers access to enrich their data beyond Mastermind by providing advanced abilities to identify customers in real-time, unifying customer records and appending data with the most current information. This data can be easily connected to CRMs, CDPs, Digital Retailers and more, making it easier for dealers and dealer groups to create a unified data strategy via the Mastermind API.

Mastermind has also partnered with Skaivision, a computer vision AI technology that integrates with a dealership's existing security camera network. Through Mastermind, dealers can leverage the plate recognition technology to provide a consumer look-up, real-time equity valuation in the car and real-time notifications when a customer visits the service drive. The introduction of this new type of data provides Mastermind with unique insights on physical activity within the dealership.

"Computer vision AI is a new frontier for automotive," said Mastermind Chief Product Officer Aaron Baldwin. "Our partnership with Skaivision gives Mastermind a new type of real-time behavior data. This unique data will help uncover insights for dealers that the industry has struggled to provide for decades. It's truly exciting!"

Visit automotiveMastermind at booth #2927W at NADA Show to learn more about its latest integrations to the Mastermind technology.

About automotiveMastermind

Founded in 2012, automotiveMastermind, part of S&P Global Mobility, is the automotive industry's trusted data and technology provider, driving value through actionable intelligence and personalized experiences. The company's proprietary Mastermind solution uses the power of predictive analytics to enable retailers to connect with buyers and deliver an exceptional purchasing experience. Through a combination of behavioral predictive analytics, targeted marketing outreach and expert consulting, Mastermind empowers dealers and OEMs to deliver automotive retail sales by seamlessly blending data and intelligence with personalized insights. automotiveMastermind is headquartered in New York City. For more information, visit automotiveMastermind.com .

About S&P Global Mobility

S&P Global Mobility is a division of S&P Global . S&P Global is the world's foremost provider of credit ratings, benchmarks, analytics and workflow solutions in the global capital, commodity and automotive markets.

SOURCE automotiveMastermind
NEW DELHI, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- A guided-missile destroyer of the Indian Navy, INS Visakhapatnam, responded to an SOS call by a merchant ship struck by a missile in the Gulf of Aden, officials said Saturday.

The merchant vessel (MV) Marlin Launda was hit on Friday night, following which it caught fire.

According to officials, the MV has 22 Indian and one Bangladeshi crew onboard.

"The firefighting efforts onboard the distressed MV is being augmented by the Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Defence (NBCD) team along with firefighting equipment, deployed by INS Visakhapatnam to assist the crew onboard the MV," a statement issued by the Indian Navy said.

The navy further said it remains steadfast and committed to safeguarding MV and ensuring the safety of life at sea. 
SYDNEY, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the activity of a group of heavily disguised people who boarded a train in Sydney on Friday, saying that he doesn't want to see people in balaclavas dressed in black from head to toe, who are engaged in neo-Nazi activity in this country.

"It has no place and it is rightly being condemned by all decent people," he said on Saturday in Orange, Australian state of New South Wales (NSW).

The NSW Police Force announced on Friday that six among the group of approximately 61 heavily disguised people were arrested and taken to the police station following a police operation, and a further 55 men were issued Rail Infringement Notices for offensive behavior.

Two men had since been released and issued infringement notices for offensive behavior, the police added.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported that these people were wearing all black, including balaclavas, and they produced a banner referencing a neo-Nazi group.

Albanese said he was shocked by the number of people. "We have seen a rise in neo-Nazi activity on extreme right-wing activity," he added.

Held every year on Jan. 26, Australia Day marks the anniversary of the 1788 landing of the British First Fleet in the country. 
Standing outside a crude but somehow impressive hovel in a wooded area along the Fox River in Aurora, Jose acknowledges hes learned how to survive.

Using his skills with simple construction tools, he knows how to create makeshift shelters like this one that uses multiple sleeping bags as insulation over scavenged particle boards.

Using face coverings and his own breath, he knows how to create additional body heat when the temperature drops dangerously low.

And when I can no longer feel my toes, Jose knows its time to come in from the cold.

Thats when he heads to Hesed House in Aurora, where the 38-year-old immigrant from Mexico not only finds a warm bed and meal but the assurance that even when he is out of sight, he is not out of mind.

Thank you, thank you, he says through a translator Thursday night as a team of Hesed House staffers and Aurora police officers stop by to drop off bags of food and other supplies for him and four others who huddle inside this secluded  and hard-to-reach  shelter not far from the North Avenue bridge.

The goal of this visit, however, is more than a wellness check.

Hesed House employees and officers from the Aurora Police Department meet Thursday before the start of the 2024 Point in Time count of the homeless on the streets of Aurora.

Each year on the same date in January, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requires a Point in Time count to be made across the nation of those living on the street.

Seven years ago a photographer and I accompanied a Hesed House team on this mandated census that also is used to help determine state and national policy decisions. But I wanted to go out again this year because things have changed significantly since then. And not for the better.

The drastic increases in numbers of men, women and children in our community experiencing homelessness and experiencing unsheltered homelessness is terrifying, says Hesed House Executive Director Joe Jackson, not holding back when he describes this gut-wrenching situation.

Hesed House employees Adam Zapfel, left, and Neil McMenamin grab supplies to give to Auroras unhoused residents during the 2024 Point in Time count in Aurora on Thursday.

There are people on the streets here locally, across the state, and across the country fighting to survive in horrific conditions because theres no place for them to live, he said.

The impact of the pandemic lockdown, the affordable housing crisis and most recently the influx of those seeking asylum hitting Chicago have put added pressure on shelters that are not only filled to capacity now but have formidable waiting lists.

Despite record-setting numbers for successfully providing shelter, Hesed House for the first time in its 41-year history also has a waiting list. Associate Director Neil McMenamin, who has worked at the Aurora shelter since 1998, tells me hes never seen anything like it.

As the influx of asylum seekers overcame Chicago shelters, it pushed the problem further out, said McMenamin. And as those collar shelters became overwhelmed, people were told to go to Hesed House because it always had room.

Until it did not.

Hesed House Executive Director Joe Jackson leads his team toward a known homeless encampment Thursday night during the 2024 Point in Time count in Aurora.

They drive an hour to get out to us  but we cant take anyone else, says McMenamin. And we dont even have places where we can tell them to go.

What makes the issue even more concerning, adds Jackson, is the success his organization has achieved in the past several years. Total housing outcome, which includes homeless prevention, finding homes for people and family reunification, went from 587 in 2019 to 1,130 in 2023, according to Hesed House numbers.

We are doing more work and doing it more efficiently and effectively than weve ever done before to end homelessness, says Jackson, citing affordable housing as the bedrock of a solution to this crisis.

Yet we still cannot keep up with the growing demand.

On this 2024 Point in Time survey, 23 unsheltered adults were counted on the streets of Aurora, compared to seven in 2021, 13 in 2022 and 14 in 2023.

A dozen more were taking refuge Thursday night at the overnight warming center that was quickly opened Jan. 20 at Wesley United Methodist Church after the city-run warming center at the Aurora Transportation Center unexpectedly closed following an incident with a man accused of wielding a gun.

Hesed House Case Worker Deede Burdett shines a flashlight on an abandoned homeless encampment during the 2024 Point in Time count in Aurora on Thursday.

There are also 297 men, women and children now sheltering at Hesed House. But a growing number have simply learned how to survive outdoors since the pandemic lockdown.

They enjoy that independence, says McMenamin. For some, being around two or eight people is easier than being around 100.

Included in that group is Brenda, who on Thursday night was found hunkered down in a small tent with her friend Henry inside a closed park district area. Understandably startled by this 10:30 p.m. invasion, only her face appears from inside the dwelling until she recognized McMenamin. Then she reaches an arm out to gladly accept the bag of supplies, asking only for more hand sanitizer the next time anyone comes checking on the pair.

It is nice and cozy in here, she insists as the cold rain creates a steady rhythm atop the nylon tarp she calls home.

We got food  been eating all night and sleeping, Brenda says, admitting theres not much else to do in this kind of weather.

And when it gets really cold, I stay with a friend. 

Hesed House employees Adam Zapfel and Cristhian Alvarez make their way back to their vehicle after speaking with residents of a known homeless encampment in Aurora during the 2024 Point in Time count on Thursday night.

The Hesed House staff are very familiar with Brenda, as they are Jose and the majority of those who are counted in this survey. But more than ever, admits McMenamin, there are people out there we dont know. And he will be the first to admit we know there will be people we miss.

Jackson says if theres a silver lining in any of this, its that elected officials, social service organizations, as well as the general public, are starting to understand how drastic this affordable housing crisis is and that plans are being put in place to address it.

Im excited about the local projects with Lincoln and Todd schools, he says of the work to remodel two former West Aurora elementary schools into affordable housing. Im also excited about our partnership with the Neighbor Project and (Association for Individual Development) to create an innovative approach to affordable and supportive housing locally.

But we cant stop there, he adds.

We as a society have to do better, he said. If we can get over the stigmas and inaccurate stereotypes of what it means to be a person experiencing homelessness and instead start to believe that housing is a basic human right, our communities will become stronger, healthier, more diverse and better in just about every sense.

Standing outside his makeshift shelter on Thursday night, Jose reflects on his situation during the 2024 Point in Time count in Aurora.

On this miserably damp night, Jose seems to enjoy the visit from the Hesed House team, chatting easily in the dark while standing outside his shanty with a shadowy tapestry of bare trees serving as a backdrop.

More talkative than usual, according to translator Cristhian Alvarez, at one point he becomes emotional when asked what it is like to be in this situation.

I wish to not have to live with my head down, he says, adding that his hope is to someday be someone important.

But even of greater significance, adds Alvarez, he wishes to be loved.

dcrosby@tribpub.com
QALAT, Afghanistan, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Work for constructing two dams has begun in south Afghanistan's Zabul province, the official news agency Bakhtar reported Saturday.

Built at 300 million afghanis (about 4.08 million U.S. dollars) along the Kabul-Kandahar highway in Zabul province, the dams would benefit thousands of families, including farmers, by bringing more land with water to increase their agricultural products, the report said.

War-torn and cash-strapped Afghanistan has been importing power from its neighboring countries of Iran, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to meet domestic demands. 
MANILA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Philippine troops killed nine suspected militants in a clash in Lanao del Sur province in the southern Philippines, a military spokesperson said Saturday.

Colonel Louie Dema-ala of the Philippine Army said government forces killed the alleged members of Dawlah Islamiyah, an Islamic armed group, in fighting in a town in the province located in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, on Thursday.

He said that nine of the 15 militants were confirmed dead, including two who were allegedly involved in the deadly bombing in Marawi City in December 2023.

Dema-ala said that troops recovered eight high-powered firearms left behind by the fleeing militants. 
Chen Jianghong, a French artist of Chinese origin who designed a pair of stamps to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, signs for a philatelist in Paris, France, Jan. 26, 2024. France's La Poste Group unveiled a pair of stamps on Friday to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, the Year of the Dragon.

One stamp depicts a flying dragon against a blue background, and the other features a dragon against a red background with its head thrown back. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

PARIS, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- France's La Poste Group unveiled a pair of stamps on Friday to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, the Year of the Dragon.

One stamp depicts a flying dragon against a blue background, and the other features a dragon against a red background with its head thrown back.

The style combines the techniques of traditional Chinese realistic and Xieyi paintings, literally meaning "writing the idea," which invites people into fairy tales and mythological stories about the Chinese dragon, explained Chen Jianghong, a French artist of Chinese origin who designed the set.

La Poste Group has celebrated the Chinese Lunar New Year in France by issuing Chinese zodiac stamps since 2005. This year's ceremony occurred on the eve of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France.

"A revered totem of the Chinese nation since the dawn of time, the Chinese dragon was considered an auspicious animal, as our ancestors attributed to it the ability to bring rain, ward off disaster and bless mankind," said Lu Shaye, Chinese ambassador to France. "It also embodies our national spirit of dynamism, perseverance and tolerance."

"With this magnificent symbol, we wish even more progress to the China-France relations," he added.

The release of the special stamps provides an excellent opportunity to discover more about this part of Chinese culture, said Jean-Paul Forceville, director of European and International Affairs of La Poste Group.

As 2024 marks the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism, numerous events will be held to celebrate the bilateral friendship, Forceville said, adding La Poste Group will continue to work closely with China Post. 

Chen Jianghong, a French artist of Chinese origin who designed a pair of stamps to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, signs for a philatelist in Paris, France, Jan. 26, 2024. France's La Poste Group unveiled a pair of stamps on Friday to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, the Year of the Dragon.

One stamp depicts a flying dragon against a blue background, and the other features a dragon against a red background with its head thrown back. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

Chen Jianghong, a French artist of Chinese origin who designed a pair of stamps to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, shows the stamp set in Paris, France, Jan. 26, 2024. France's La Poste Group unveiled a pair of stamps on Friday to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, the Year of the Dragon.

One stamp depicts a flying dragon against a blue background, and the other features a dragon against a red background with its head thrown back. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

Chen Jianghong, a French artist of Chinese origin who designed a pair of stamps to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, shows the stamp set in Paris, France, Jan. 26, 2024. France's La Poste Group unveiled a pair of stamps on Friday to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, the Year of the Dragon.

One stamp depicts a flying dragon against a blue background, and the other features a dragon against a red background with its head thrown back. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

Chen Jianghong, a French artist of Chinese origin who designed a pair of stamps to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, shows the stamp set in Paris, France, Jan. 26, 2024. France's La Poste Group unveiled a pair of stamps on Friday to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, the Year of the Dragon.

One stamp depicts a flying dragon against a blue background, and the other features a dragon against a red background with its head thrown back. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

Chen Jianghong, a French artist of Chinese origin who designed a pair of stamps to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, signs for a philatelist in Paris, France, Jan. 26, 2024. France's La Poste Group unveiled a pair of stamps on Friday to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, the Year of the Dragon.

One stamp depicts a flying dragon against a blue background, and the other features a dragon against a red background with its head thrown back. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

This photo taken on Jan. 26, 2024 shows a pair of stamps issued by La Poste Group to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year in Paris, France. France's La Poste Group unveiled a pair of stamps on Friday to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, the Year of the Dragon.

One stamp depicts a flying dragon against a blue background, and the other features a dragon against a red background with its head thrown back. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

This photo taken on Jan. 26, 2024 shows a pair of stamps issued by La Poste Group to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year in Paris, France. France's La Poste Group unveiled a pair of stamps on Friday to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, the Year of the Dragon.

One stamp depicts a flying dragon against a blue background, and the other features a dragon against a red background with its head thrown back. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

This photo taken on Jan. 26, 2024 shows a pair of stamps issued by La Poste Group to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year in Paris, France. France's La Poste Group unveiled a pair of stamps on Friday to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, the Year of the Dragon.

One stamp depicts a flying dragon against a blue background, and the other features a dragon against a red background with its head thrown back. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles hosted a reception on Friday to commemorate the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the United States.

Addressing the event, Chinese Consul General in Los Angeles Guo Shaochun said over the past 45 years, despite ups and downs, China-U.S. relations have grown to become the most important bilateral relationship in the world.

The three principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation are not only the lessons drawn from history of China-U.S. relations, but also the right way for China and the United States to get along with each other.

During her address at the reception, U.S. Congresswoman Judy Chu emphasized that there are compelling reasons for increased cooperation between the United States and China today, be it in addressing climate change or fostering economic collaboration.

In the decades "since our economies have grown immensely, we partnered on important scientific endeavors and maintained relative peace" in Asia-Pacific, she said.

California State Senator Josh Newman said Chinese immigrants and Chinese Americans have played an instrumental role in building a dynamic and prosperous California.

"It is an undeniable fact that all of us -- China, California and the United States as a whole -- are profoundly better and more prosperous as a result of the past four-and-a-half decades of reciprocal cooperation, mutual investment and expansion of cultural ties," Newman noted.

Nearly 400 people from various circles of both countries joined the reception. 
Description

Looking for something to keep your little ones busy on the weekend? Want to support a good cause while meeting other parents and children? The Learning Experience in Kings Park is hosting a mommy and me class with Drama With Your Mama. The event will take place Saturday, January 27th from 10-11am. We are asking for a $25 donation to the Make-A-Wish foundation to help grant a wish for a critically ill child. Drama With Your Mama will be hosting a Broadway Babies class.

Drama with your Mama aims to engage the youngest performers, building confidence and skill through acting, music and dance. Taught by theater professionals who are also moms, our class uses a variety of activities including live music, storytelling and imaginative play to create a safe, fun and warm atmosphere for both parents and their little stars. Please call 631-663-3694 to RSVP by January, 19th as spots are limited! We cannot wait to see you there.
In this article, we will look into the 15 fastest growing states in the US. If you want to skip our detailed analysis, you can go directly to the 5 Fastest Growing States in the US.

Growth Trends Across the US

Population trends are reverting to pre-pandemic levels in the United States. According to the US Census Bureau, annual deaths decreased in 2022 and migration patterns returned to pre-pandemic levels. These factors are the key drivers of the population growth in the US. Population in the country increased by 1.6 million people in 2022, expanding by 0.5%, to a total population of 334,914,895.

The South is the most populous region of the country, accounting for 87% of the growth in 2023. The region gained more than 1.4 million people, increasing the total population to 130,125,290. The growth in 2023 was driven by the South's migration patterns, with an increase of 706,266 people via domestic migration, while international migration added nearly 500,000 to the total population in the region. On the other hand, the population surge in the West was slower than in 2022. The population in the region expanded by 137,299, compared to 157,480 people in 2022. Population in California, Oregon, and Hawaii continued to decline but at a modest pace as compared to 2022. The Northeast experienced a decline in 2023 but at a slower pace as compared to the decline in 2022 and 2021. The population levels plunged by 43,330 in the Northeast, compared to a 216,576 decline in 2022. This can be attributed to a significant decline in outmigration to other regions. New York and Pennsylvania experienced population loss in the region, but the decline was significantly lower, compared to 2022.

In 2023, more states experienced a population surge that has been observed since the start of the pandemic. A total of 42 states and the District of Columbia witnessed a population rise, an uptick from 31 states and the District of Columbia in 2022. These growth trends across the US states represent the national decline in deaths, an upsurge in international migration patterns, and a decrease in total domestic outmigration in some states.

Story continues

Aging Population - Key Driver of the Healthcare Market

The growing population trend, driven by a decrease in annual deaths, is raising the aging population in the country. The increase in the aging population is one of the key growth drivers of the US healthcare market. According to a report by the McKinsey and Company, the healthcare market in the US reached $654 billion in 2021. The market is anticipated to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 4% and reach $790 billion in 2026.

Some of the key players in the US healthcare market include Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY), Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT), and Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK).

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) is a leading healthcare company in the United States. As of January 26, the company has a market cap of $603.45 billion. On December 27, 2023, the company announced that it had completed the acquisition of a pharmaceutical company specializing in radioligand therapies in development for cancer treatment, POINT Biopharma Global Inc. Talking about the acquisition, Executive Vice President Jacob Van Naarden and President Loxo of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY), said:

"Next generation radioligand therapies hold great promise for delivering meaningful advances against a range of cancers and we are excited to enter this space through the addition of POINT. We welcome POINT colleagues to Lilly and look forward to working together to build on their work as we create this new capability within Lilly. In time, I hope we can bring several new radioligand therapies to patients with cancer and improve their outcomes."

On January 4, the company announced the launch of its new digital healthcare platform for patients in the US, suffering from migraine, diabetes, and obesity, LilyDirect. The digital healthcare platform provides resources for disease management, including access to healthcare providers, customized support, and home delivery for certain medicines via third-party pharmacies. LilyDirect Solutions offers patients access to medications, affordability programs, and free shipping. The digital pharmacy platform aims to empower patients by providing them with educational resources, potential telehealth consultations, and a search tool to find healthcare providers.

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) is a multinational medical devices corporation in the US. On January 24, the company reported its earnings for the fiscal fourth quarter of 2023. The company reported an EPS of $1.19, in-line with EPS estimates. Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) reported revenue of $10.24 billion and outperformed market estimates by $55.95 million. The company's revenue for the quarter grew by 1.49% on a year-over-year basis.

On January 25, the company announced that it had received approval from the US FDA for the launch of the world's smallest rechargeable deep brain stimulation (DBS) device, the Liberta RC DBS system. The system aims to treat people with movement disorders with the help of remote programming. The Liberta RC DBS system is nearly 31% smaller than other DBS devices currently available in the country and is approximately the same size as a smartwatch face. The system requires very few recharges and can operate for 37 days with one recharge. The Liberta RC DBS system also provides helpful notifications and tailored settings for users.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) is a major multinational pharmaceutical company in the US. On January 12, the company announced that the US FDA had approved Mercks anti-PD-1 therapy, KEYTRUDA. The therapy will be used in combination with chemoradiotherapy for treating patients with the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) 2014 Stage III-IVA cervical cancer. The therapy was approved based on the data from Phase 3 trials. The KEYTRUDA plus CRT exhibited an improved progression-free survival, decreasing the disease progression risk or fatality by 41%, compared to placebo plus CRT. On January 8, Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) announced that it had acquired Harpoon Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:HARP), through a subsidiary. The transaction is processed for $23 per share in cash for approximately $680 million in equity. The partnership aims to strengthen the company's oncology pipeline. With this context, let's have a look at the 15 fastest growing states in the US.

15 Fastest Growing States in the US

15 Fastest Growing States in the US Methodology

To compile our list of the fastest growing states in the US, we utilized the US Census Bureau database of state-wise population change. We have ranked the states based on the 2020 to 2023 population change and have also listed their 2023 population in their description. Our list ranks the states in ascending order of their population change.

By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a consensus approach, we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Whether you are a beginner investor or a professional one looking for the best stocks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders.

15 Fastest Growing States in the US

15. Oklahoma

Change in Population (2020-2023): 2.4%

Oklahoma is ranked 15th on our list of the fastest growing states in the US. According to the US Census Bureau, the population in the state grew by 2.4% from 2020 to 2023. In 2023, Oklahoma reported a total population of 4,053,824.

14. Maine

Change in Population (2020-2023): 2.4%

Ranked 14th on our list, Maine reported a total population of 1,395,722 in 2023. The total population in the state has grown by 2.4% from 2020 levels.

13. Nevada

Change in Population (2020-2023): 2.9%

Nevada ranks 13th on our list. In 2023, the total population in Nevada reached 3,194,176. Nevada reported a population change of 2.9% from 2020 to 2023.

12. Georgia

Change in Population (2020-2023): 2.9%

Georgia is ranked 12th on our list of the fastest growing states in the US. According to the US Census Bureau, the population in the state grew by 2.9% from 2020 to 2023. In 2023, Georgia reported a total population of 11,029,227.

11. Tennessee

Change in Population (2020-2023): 3.1%

Tennessee is one of the fastest growing states in the US. In 2023, the state reported a population of 7,126,489. The total population in the state has grown by 3.1% in 2023 from 2020 levels.

10. South Dakota

Change in Population (2020-2023): 3.7%

South Dakota is ranked 10th on our list. The state reported a population change of 3.7% from 2020 to 2023. South Dakota has a total population of 919,318, as of 2023.

9. North Carolina

Change in Population (2020-2023): 3.8%

North Carolina is ranked among the fastest growing states in the US. According to the US Census Bureau, the population in the state grew by 3.8% from 2020 to 2023. In 2023, North Carolina reported a total population of 10,835,491.

8. Arizona

Change in Population (2020-2023): 3.8%

Ranked 8th on our list, Arizona reported a population of 7,431,344 in 2023. The state's total population has grown by 3.8% from 2020 to 2023, as reported by the US Census Bureau.

7. Delaware

Change in Population (2020-2023): 4.2%

Delaware is one of the fastest fastest growing US states. In 2023, the state reported a total population of 1,031,890. The total population in the state has grown by 4.2% from 2020 levels.

6. Utah

Change in Population (2020-2023): 4.5%

Utah is ranked 6th on our list of the fastest growing states in the US. According to the US Census Bureau, the population in the state grew by 4.5% from 2020 to 2023. In 2023, Utah reported a total population of 3,417,473.

Click to continue reading and see 5 Fastest Growing States in the US.

Suggested Articles:

Disclosure: None. 15 Fastest Growing States in the US is originally published on Insider Monkey.


remaining of

Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading.
West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose on Friday promised to intervene in the matter of denial of police permission for Congress leader Rahul Gandhis proposed public meeting in Siliguri in Darjeeling district on Sunday as a part of the partys Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.

The matter is being looked into by the administration. If the administration fails to act, I will personally look into the matter, the Governor told mediapersons, hours after it surfaced that the police have denied permission for the proposed public meeting.

As per the plans of the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee (WBPCC), a meeting was scheduled in Siliguri on Sunday, followed by Rahul Gandhi addressing a gathering.

Advertisement

However, according to state Congress leaders, the Siliguri Metropolitan Police have denied permission for the public meeting at the last moment citing certain examination to be held in Siliguri on that day.

The Congress leadership has now decided to go ahead with the proposed rally and cancel the meeting.

Meanwhile, state Congress chief and five-time MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has launched a scathing attack against the state administration over the denial of permission.

The Nyay Yatra faced a lot of resistance in Manipur from the BJP-led government there. But it was unexpected that we would receive similar non-cooperation from the administration in West Bengal as well. It is most unfortunate that police permission has been denied for our proposed meeting on Sunday, Chowdhury said.

The Congress leadership also alleged that the party is facing administrative hurdles in conducting the Nyay Yatra in West Bengal ever since it entered the state through Boxirhat in Cooch Behar district on Thursday morning.

The original stage that was set up to welcome Rahul Gandhi had to be dismantled and raised at an alternative private place following police objections. State Congress leaders said that the schedule of Nyay Yatra at Jalpaiguri town will also have to be changed to an extent following the insistence of the district police authorities.
University Grants Commission (UGC) has cautioned that as many as 21 universities in West Bengal have defaulted in appointing ombudsmen meant for addressing the grievances of the students there.

Among the 21 universities, 17 are state-run while the remaining four are private operating universities.

UGC has not disclosed the names of the universities.

Advertisement

Sources said among 21 universities also include two iconic institutions: University of Calcutta and Jadavpur University (JU).

However, the JU authorities have claimed that there might be some miscommunications regarding the name of the university appearing among the list of defaulters since an ombudsman has already been appointed by the university authorities within the specified date.
In this article, we look at the 15 highest quality boot brands in the US. You can skip our detailed analysis on the thriving footwear industry with a focus on the boots market by heading over directly to the 5 Highest Quality Boot Brands in the US.

The global footwear industry had a market size of $409 billion in 2022, and is projected to cross $725 billion by 2032, at a CAGR of 5.9% during the period. According to Allied Market Research, this is an industry that is significantly impacted by consumer behavior. A survey conducted by Bata Corporation, an Asia-Pacific shoes retailer, concluded that while women purchase a pair of footwear every two months, men buy a pair every four months.

Likewise, choices and preferences matter as well, with some consumers taking into account their comfort, whereas others choose to go with the latest fashion trends. There are a variety of footwear options to choose from today as well, ranging from boots and heels to sneakers, loafers, and sandals. All of these combine to have a bearing on the level of expansion that takes place in the market on a whole, and the segment in particular.

While recent trends have been dominated by sneakers, sandals, and ballet flats, boots continue to remain in fashion. Their market size exceeded $32 billion in 2022, as noted by Global Market Insights, and is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 5.8% over the next decade to touch $56 billion by 2032.

A prominent name in the industry is Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (NYSE:WWW), which was founded in 1883, and is now a footwear powerhouse, and is known for its brands like Wolverine Boots and Shoes, Hush Puppies, and Merrell. Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (NYSE:WWW) today has 15 brands operating in 200 countries worldwide, which earned it a revenue of $2.24 billion in 2023, with a full-year gross margin of over 39%.

The Rockford-based company this month stated that it was two-thirds of the way through a restructuring plan that has already seen brand divesting, layoffs, and leadership replacement as part of the strategy to improve cash flow and pay down debt. Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (NYSE:WWW) generated $227 million in proceeds from asset monetization transactions in 2023.

Story continues

Deckers Outdoor Corporation (NYSE:DECK) is another large producer of footwear, with a diverse portfolio of brands including UGG, Sanuk, Koolaburra, and Teva. UGG in particular is known for its high quality sheepskin boots. The brand was founded in California in 1978 by an Australian surfer who, after a chilly surf in Malibu, Santa Monica, realized that boots were not as widely available in the US like they were in Australia.

The strength of demand for UGG is driving exceptional growth for Deckers Outdoor Corporation (NYSE:DECK), with shares rising more than 9.6% in its second quarter FY 2024 results published in October 2023  beating Wall Streets expectations.

FPA Queens Road Small Cap Value Fund made the following comment about Deckers Outdoor Corporation (NYSE:DECK) in its Q3 2023 investor letter:

Deckers Outdoor Corporation (NYSE:DECK) is a footwear and apparel company that owns the UGG, Hoka, Teva, Sanuk, and Koolaburra brands. Management has done a masterful job growing and extending the UGG franchise. Now they are repeating their success with Hoka running shoes which surpassed $1 billion in sales last year. At over 20 times earnings (as of Sep 30, 2023), we have weighed Deckers full valuation against the quality of the management team, strong brands, and net cash balance sheet and are comfortable with the Funds current position.

Rocky Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ:RCKY) is another footwear company that is a top performer in the industry and has seen its retail sales surge by 4.7% over the last year. The company, founded in 1932 and headquartered in Nelsonville, Ohio, produces western outdoor, work and military footwear for consumers in the US, Canada, and Europe. Rocky Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ:RCKY) has been striving in recent times to drive down its operational expenses, and has achieved some success in doing so.

Tom Robertson, the Chief Operating Officer, of the company shared the following remarks in Rocky Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ:RCKY) Q3 2023 Earnings Call:

Operating expenses were $32.3 million or 25.7% of net sales in the third quarter of 2023 compared to $40.3 million or 27.3% of net sales last year. On an adjusted basis, operating expenses were $30.7 million this year and $39.5 million a year ago, with the decrease driven primarily by lower outbound freight expense, improved distribution center efficiencies and other variable expenses associated with lower sales volumes. As a percentage of adjusted net sales, adjusted operating expenses improved 290 basis points to 24.5% in the third quarter of 2023. Income from operations was $14.3 million or 11.4% of net sales compared to $11.6 million or 7.9% of net sales in a year ago period. Adjusted operating income was $15.8 million or 12.6% of net sales compared to adjusted operating income of $11.3 million or 7.9% of adjusted net sales a year ago.

15 Highest Quality Boot Brands in the US

kal-visuals-1YET7ksfk9c-unsplash

Methodology

We have used consensus methodology to list the highest quality boot brands in the US, by consulting similar reports on the topic from five sources  Stridewise, The Manual, Honest Brand Reviews, BootSpy, and Mens Flair.

We included brands that were mentioned on these sources, and assigned them a score based on the number of times they were ranked for their high quality boots. For instance, if a brand appeared on two of these five lists, it received a score of two. The highest quality boot brands in the US are ranked in ascending order of these scores in this article. In cases where two or more brands had the same score, we outranked one over the other by considering the views of American consumers about these brands on Reddit.

By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a similar consensus approach, we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Whether you are a beginner investor or professional one looking for the best stocks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders.

Lets now head over to the list of the highest quality boot brands in the US.

15. HELM Boots

Score: 2

We begin our list with HELM Boots, a brand that was only recently launched in 2009, and that sends a message that all high quality American-made boot companies do not necessarily have to be 100 years old like most others in the industry are. These boots have received acclaim for adding a contemporary twist to classic boots, and offer a large assortment of options to pick from that are fit for every occasion.

14. Alden Shoe Company

Score: 2

The Alden Shoe Company was founded way back in 1884, when boots had to be both comfortable and durable, because walking was the most common form of commute then. Alden is the oldest shoe manufacturer in New England, and continues to remain in the region despite several shoemakers moving out to cheaper locations over the past century. Alden 403, which is worn by Dr. Indiana Jones in all his movies, is the most popular model of Alden Shoes, and is renowned for its comfort.

13. The Frye Company

Score: 2

Frye has played a key role in Americas love affair with leather boots. These stylish and versatile boots are as old as they come, with the brand starting its business way back in 1863. Fryes boots come in various designs for both men and women, and are constructed with high quality leather, suede, and rubber. A pair of Frye boots can cost anywhere between $279 and $479.

12. White's Boots

Score: 2

Whites Boots in Spokane, Washington produces hand-made work boots, using American leather and other materials. According to Stridewide, Whites boots are best for consumers who are looking for well-made, durable, and long lasting boots. Whites MP Sherman Boots are one of its bestsellers, and can cost up to $720.

11. Allen Edmonds

Score: 2

Next on our list of the highest quality boot brands in the US is Allen Edmonds, which is a pricey but highly versatile brand with its boots made with the finest materials. The company was founded in 1922, and it is difficult to write a list of the top footwear brands in the US without Allen Edmonds. Higgins Mill is among the finest models of Allen Edmonds boots for their formal and urban look, coupled with these being water resistant.

10. Chippewa Boots

Score: 3

Chippewa Boots is one of the highest quality boot brands in the US, which received acclaim on three sources analyzed for this list. Their shoes are designed for what we know as the hard-working men and outdoor enthusiasts because of features such as high durability, waterproofing, heat resistant technology, cushioned insulation, and puncture resistant textiles. Chippewa offers boots for both men and women, and is considered to be a reputable brand in the American industry.

9. Oak Street Bootmakers

Score: 3

Oak Street Bootmakers are renowned in the US for their boots being designed for longevity. The company was founded in Chicago in 2010. Their boots continue to be handcrafted in the city, with their leather being sourced from Chicagos famous Horween Leather Company. Their shoes and boots are available in a variety of designs and styles, and are prepared using Goodyear welts and stitch downs.

8. L.L.Bean

Score: 3

Halfway through our list is L.L. Bean, a privately owned clothing and outdoor recreation company. It is one of the most popular brands in the US for jackets, tops, bottoms, and so much more. Their boots are primarily made for all sorts of outdoor activities, including hiking, and you can buy yourself a pair of their boots for between $80-239.

L.L. Bean also finds itself on the list of the 12 Highest Quality Down Comforter Brands in the US.

7. Wolverine

Score: 3

Wolverine is owned by Wolverine World Wide, Inc. along with other brands such as Hush Puppies and Merrell. This is a brand that is etched with American history and created pigskin gloves for the US Navy during World War II. In 1910, Wolverine designed its 1000 Mile boot, which continues to remain a hot seller. It was designed through an innovative technique that involved converting shell horse ride into soft, flexible leather.

6. Thorogood

Score: 3

Thorogood is a brand within Weinbrenner, and 65% of its boots are made in the US. Stridewise has rated Thorogood as the best value work boot in the country. Heritage Moc Toe and Steel Toe Moc are among the most popular models of Thorogood.

Click to continue reading and see the 5 Highest Quality Boot Brands in the US.

Suggested Articles:

Disclosure: None. 15 Highest Quality Boot Brands in the US is originally published on Insider Monkey.
In conjunction with the state visit of the French President Emmanuel Macron to India, Akasa Air and France origin company, CFM International on Friday announced an agreement to purchase CFM LEAP-1B engines to power 150 Boeing 737 MAX airplanes, the sale of which was announced last week.

The agreement also includes spare engines and a services contract.

Akasa Air, the Mumbai-based operator launched its operations in August 2022 and had previously ordered a total of 76 LEAP-1B- powered 737-8 aircraft, of which 22 are currently in service.

Advertisement

This significant, long-term agreement is testament to the confidence that CFM International has in Akasa Air. Continuing to partner with CFM as our engine maintenance provider not only reaffirms our focus on operational reliability but equally underscores Akasa Airs relentless pursuit of world class safety, said Vinay Dube, Founder and CEO of Akasa Air.

With CFM as our long-term engine maintenance provider, we remain confident in our path to becoming one of the top 30 leading airlines in the world, by the turn of this decade, he said.

This new order grows CFMs footprint in India, with more than 400 CFM-powered aircraft in service and 2,500 LEAP engines in the backlog.

Both CFMs parent companies GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines have also significantly invested in India to build state-of-the-art facilities dedicated to LEAP production and maintenance, while signing strategic partnerships with Indian aerospace companies as part of the Make in India policy.

Our customers, including Akasa, are seeing 15 to 20 percent better fuel efficiency with their LEAP-powered fleets and it has the highest reliability and daily utilisation rates in this thrust class, said Gael Meheust, president and CEO of CFM International.

Meheust said that todays order will continue to bring these benefits to Akasa and support their continued growth, as well as play an important role in Indias economic development.
The 88th train under the Mukhyamantri Teerth Yatra scheme of the Delhi government left for Rameshwaram with 780 elderly pilgrims from Safdarjung railway station here on Saturday.

Before the journey, a devotional evening was organized by the government at the Thyagaraj Stadium for all pilgrims. Delhi Revenue Minister Atishi met the pilgrims and handed them journey tickets and travel kits.

On this occasion, Atishi said: I would like to express gratitude on behalf of all the elderly in Delhi to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who considers all the elderly in Delhi as his own parents and, playing the role of a son, is organizing pilgrimage journeys for them in Delhi.

Advertisement

She said the Kejriwal government has sent over 83,000 elderly individuals on pilgrimage through 87 trains from Delhi so far.

Informing that more than 80 per cent of the elderly going on pilgrimage trips in recent times are women, the minister said: This is a very positive development because, in Indian society, a woman often dedicates her entire life to serving her family and tends to put her family ahead of herself. In such circumstances, it brings great joy that we are sending those mothers who have devoted their entire lives to serving their families on a pilgrimage at this stage of life.

Under the Mukhyamantri Teerth Yatra Scheme, the Delhi government has been organizing visits for its elderly citizens to various pilgrimage sites across the country for the past two to three years.

The Mukhyamantri Teerthyatra scheme facilitates journeys for senior citizens to visit Rameshwaram, Dwarkadhish, Somnath, Nageshwar, Jagannath Puri, Baba Mahakal, Shirdi, Tamkeshwaram, Tirupati Balaji, Ayodhya, Mata Vaishno Devi, Pushkar, Fatehpur Sikri, Golden Temple in Amritsar, Kartarpur Sahib, Mathura-Vrindavan, and Haridwar. Eligible travelers can choose their preferred pilgrimage destination, and the government covers the expenses for the visit.

To participate in these pilgrimages, all pilgrims need to apply through the online portal. After scrutinizing the applications, the Delhi government arranges for comfortable trains to take them to their desired pilgrimage destinations.
A 25-year-old man has been apprehended for allegedly making a hoax bomb call regarding a SpiceJet flight from Bihars Darbhanga to Delhi, the police said on Saturday.

The man has been identified as Jay Krishan Kumar Mehta, who is a native of Supaul district in Bihar.

He had made the call on January 24, two days prior to the Republic Day, in an alleged bid to delay the flights departure because he arrived late and was denied boarding at Darbhanga airport.

Advertisement

According to the police, on Wednesday, a call was received at the IGI airport police station from the CISF Control Room regarding a call from SpiceJet airlines, which informed about a call from a person who stated that he had overheard two boys talking about a bomb on the said flight of SpiceJet.

According to police, considering the gravity of the situation and the call which had been made two days prior to the R- Day, the Delhi Airport was put on high alert.

The flight landed safely at Delhi airport after which the aircraft was moved to an isolated bay for security search, the police said.

Later, after complete search and verification, the threat call was found to be a hoax, and after that a case was registered.

It was during the investigation of the case the callers number obtained from the airline was subjected to technical surveillance, while the police team also scanned through the records with the airlines in connection with the flight bookings, which revealed about a passenger missing the flight.

After tracking the suspect, he was nabbed from Noida.

Based on suspicion, technical surveillance was mounted over him and manual intelligence was collected as he was regularly changing his locations.

The accused was interrogated, who confessed his crime and disclosed that he graduated from Magadh University and presently working in a BPO company. He further disclosed that he had made the hoax call intentionally to delay the flight as he was late at the departure counter at the Darbhanga Airport. Accordingly, accused has been arrested, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, IGI Airport, said.
Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Arvinder Singh Lovely on Saturday claimed that no force can crush the Congress party as its booth-level workers were more active and efficient to solve the problems of the people than the MLAs of other parties. He alleged they were not available to address issues faced by the people, who elected them to power.

Lovely said that despite not being in power at both the Centre and in Delhi for the past 10 years, the Congress workers held their ground as they have the capacity, drive and dynamism to bounce back.

He said that it was time for the Congress workers to plan a strategy to strengthen the party at the booth-level, and go to people for understanding their problems and find solutions, and expose the failures of the BJP MPs and to gear up for upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

Advertisement

Lovely on Saturday addressed Congress workers of North West and South Delhi Parliamentary constituencies at Swaroop Nagar and Madangir respectively for the Workers Convention to be held at Geeta Colony Ramlila ground in East Delhi on February 3.

The convention will be addressed by party president Mallikarjun Kharge.

Lovely further accused the BJP MPs of vanishing from their constituencies after winning the Lok Sabha elections and said that the saffron party is to be blamed for the same for picking such candidates.

He also hit-out at the ruling dispensation at the centre alleging it had led the country to a foreign debt of Rs 200 lakh crore till December 2023, which was in addition to the internal debt burden rising three fold, imposing a heavy financial burden on every Indian.

Lovely said that the IMF (International Monetary Fund) had warned that the global economy was heading for its weakest growth since 1990, which will severely impact the countrys GDP growth as well.

Besides Lovely, prominent other leaders who participated in the meetings were ex-Congress MPs including Krishna Tirath, Ramesh Kumar, Dr Udit Raj, Congress Working Committee member and AICC In-charge Devendra Yadav, former Delhi Ministers Haroon Yusuf and Rajkumar Chauhan and former Congress MLAs including Surender Kumar, Charan Singh Kandera, Darshana Ramkumar and Vijay Lochav.
The Samajwadi Party on Saturday announced that its INDI bloc partner Congress would contest 11 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh.

Earlier, the SP had allotted 7 seats to the Jayant Choudhury-led Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD). After allocating 11 seats to the Congress, the SP would now focus on 62 seats, mostly in the eastern, central, and Bundelkhand regions.

In light of these developments, it was concluded that the BSP would not be a part of this alliance. The Congress had tried its best to persuade the BSP to join the alliance.

Advertisement

The Congress leadership in UP kept mum on the unilateral decision of the SP and maintained that the central leadership of the party would take the final call. The Congress had been demanding at least 25 seats in UP as part of the alliance.

In a post on X, SP president Akhilesh Yadav said: Our cordial alliance with Congress is off to a good start with 11 strong seats. This trend will continue further with the winning equation. The team of India and the strategy of PDA will change history in UP.

Media reports suggest that disagreement prevails within the Congress regarding Akhilesh Yadavs offer. The party feels that Akhilesh Yadav has taken this decision and that the Congress has nothing to do with it. As of now, no official statement has been issued by any Congress leader regarding the matter.

When contacted, UP Congress president Ajay Rai tried to skirt the issue, stating that the party high command is the sole competent authority to provide any information in this regard.

SP sources revealed that the Congress was adamant on 25 seats and that a consensus was reached on 11 seats after the Gandhi family intervened in the issue.

The Congress and the SP held a meeting in Delhi on 17 January to finalise the allocation of seats. However, no consensus could be reached between the two INDI bloc partners. After the conclusion of the meeting, Congress leader Salman Khurshid said that the party would hold another round of discussion with the SP over the issue. He even opined that in the absence of any unanimity, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi or Mallikarjun Kharge will speak to Akhilesh Yadav.

Those who attended the meeting regarding seat allocation included Ajay Rai, Salman Khurshid, and Aradhana Mishra from the Congress and Ram Gopal Yadav, Javed Ali Khan, and Udayveer Singh from the SP.

According to reports, both parties discussed all the aspects regarding each seat in UP and explored all possibilities of victory in the Lok Sabha elections. Sources said that the Congress and the SP held three rounds of discussions. Notwithstanding Congresss persistent demand for 25 seats, the SP conceded only 11 seats. Currently, the Congress represents only the Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seat in UP.

According to sources, apart from Rae Bareli and Amethi, the Congress may contest Pratapgarh, Varanasi, Kanpur, Ghaziabad, Allahabad, Saharanpur and Moradabad seats. It is believed that the SP will retain most of the seats in eastern UP.

The SP and the RLD recently struck an alliance in UP. It was decided that the RLD will contest 7 seats in UP. Among the seven seats on which an agreement was reached between the SP and the RLD, Meerut, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Baghpat, Mathura and Hathras are prominent. RLD may be offered one more seat  Bijnor or Amroha.

Except for 2009, Congresss performance in the last three elections has not been impressive. In 2009, the Congress contested elections on 69 seats and won 21 while the SP contested 75 seats and won 23 seats. The BSP contested 69 seats and won 20.

However, in 2014, the Congress won only two seats after fighting 67 seats. The SP won five seats out of the 75 it contested and the BSP failed to win even a single seat out of the 80 it contested.

In 2019, the SP and the BSP contested elections in alliance. The Congress fought on 67 seats but managed to win only the Rae Bareli seat. The SP contested 37 seats but won only five while the BSP contested 38 seats and won 10. After losing Rampur and Azamgarh, the SP now has only three MPs.
The stage is set for yet another Nitish Kumar flip-flop. The Bihar Chief Minister is likely to ditch the Grand Alliance (Congress-RJD-JDU) once again and join the BJP-led NDA.

According to sources, Kumar is likely to tender his resignation anytime soon and take oath for the record ninth time on Sunday. This time, he will be supported by the BJP and some other NDA allies.

Nitish is an expert in changing his political partners. In 2017, he dumped the Congress-RJD alliance to form government with the help of the BJP.

Advertisement

In 2022, he again ditched the BJP, accusing the saffron party of trying to split the JD(U) and reunited with Grand Alliance of RJD and Congress. Speculations are rife that is once again ready to take a saffron plunge ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Here is what we know so far:

Until Lalan Singhs resignation from the post JD(U) president in December last year, all seemed well within the Mahagathbandhan.

However, after his resignation, rumours started doing the rounds that Singh was asked to step down as Nitish grew suspicious of his growing proximity with Bihar deputy CM and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav.

It was alleged that Lalan Singh and few JD(U) MLAs were planning a coup detat to remove Nitish Kumar as chief minister.

Within days, the ruling alliance in Bihar came on the verge of a potential collapse. Nitish Kumars dynastic politics jibe and Rohini Acharyas response brought all the internal rift out in open.

Acharya, the daughter of RJD supremo Lalu Yadav, had taken indirect pot shots at Nitish Kumar over his habit of frequent ideological changes. The tweet was later deleted but the damage was done already.

Nitish held meetings of JDU MPs and MLAs earlier this week and Bihar BJP leaders rushed to Delhi to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The BJP has also changed his stance on Nitish Kumar. His former deputy and senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi yesterday said that doors are never closed in politics.

He was refering to his earlier statement in which he had said that the doors of BJP-led NDA for Nitish Kumar has been closed.

Meanwhile, Tejashwi Yadav has reportedly called a meeting of RJD MLAs. He has given a clear message to his lawmakers that they will try their best to avoid the collapse of the government.

He said that RJD is the leader of the grand alliance in Bihar and toppling the government will not be easy. The Congress party has also called a meeting of its lawmakers.

The ruling alliance partners have sought clarity form Nitish Kumar. A final decision is expected by Sunday.
President Droupadi Murmu expressed confidence that the comfort of friendship and strength of partnership between India and France will illuminate the path forward.

President Murmu made the remarks as she hosted a banquet in honour of the French President Emmanuel Macron at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and other dignitaries were present.

In her address, President Murmu said India and France are on a shared journey to the future and added that the two nations are building a future that matters to the people of both nations, especially the youth. She said that the two nations are building a strong and successful France and a secure and developed India.

Advertisement

President Murmu said, From handicrafts and space, India and France are on a shared journey to the future. Together we are building a future that matters to our people, especially our youth. A future of hope, of equal opportunities, of quality education, of research and innovation, and of a clean environment, we are building a strong and successful France, a secure and developed India, and a world at peace.

President Macron, along with our Prime Minister, you have outlined an ambitious vision of our partnership for Indias Amrit Kaal 2047. Your presence with us today has strengthened our resolve to realize this vision. Today we stand together before the world two great nations, each with a distinct contribution to human progress, independent in our thought, responsible in our actions and sensitive to the needs of the world. I am confident that the comfort of our friendship and the strength of our partnership will illuminate the path forward, she added.

She noted that both nations have influenced each other with specialities. She called the French language a popular choice for students in India. She recalled her visit to Puducherry in August and spoke about the union territorys unique confluence of diverse cultural streams. Calling Puducherry a living bridge between India and France, President Murmu noted that the architecture and lifestyle of people in the union territory showcase French influence.

President Murmu said, In matters of food and drink too, we have influenced each other with our specialities. Just as there are impressive scholars of ancient Indian languages and Vedic studies in France, the French language is a popular choice for students in India. If we look towards cinema, we again find ourselves connected, be it the influence of the French New Wave on our most eminent directors or the increasing presence of Indian films and film stars on the Cannes Red Carpet.

Last year in August, I had the opportunity to visit Puducherry, where I witnessed a unique confluence of diverse cultural streams. The architecture, festivals and lifestyle of the people of Puducherry are part of a vibrant heritage which also reflects the French influence. The people also have a close linkage to the Indian diaspora community of France. While I was there, I felt that indeed, Puducherry is a living bridge between France and India, she added.

Highlighting the ties between India and France, President Murmu said, This is a historic and memorable moment in many ways. It would rarely have happened that the leaders of two countries have been the guests of honours in each others successive national day parade and celebrations. There can be no better symbol of the depth of our friendship and the strength of our partnership than 14 July 2023 and 26 January.

She said the two nations have enriched each other through philosophy, literature, art, scriptures, languages, jewellery and textile art. She called Paris a beloved destination for Indian tourists.

She stated, If our troops marching on Champs-Elysees and Kartvaya Path are symbols of our solidarity, the International Day of Yoga at Eiffel Tower or a Dior Fashion show at Gateway of India equally reflect our deep connections. Paris is a beloved destination for Indian tourists. France, in turn, is among the top contributors to tourism earnings in India from abroad. Last year, four major Paris museums hosted Indian exhibitions.

Speaking about the importance of Indias Republic Day, She said, Today is the 75th Republic Day of India. On this very day, India got into force the longest-written constitution of the world, just over two years after gaining independence, making India a Republic. For us Indians, this was not a new system of governance as we had known this concept since millennia ago.

She stressed that the Constitution has shaped Indias journey as an independent nation. She stressed that the Constitution has been a guiding beacon of Indias social and economic progress.

This constitution has shaped our journey as an independent nation. It has united the worlds largest and most diverse societies. It has knitted together the worlds largest democracy and most diverse society. It has been a guiding beacon of our social and economic progress. Liberty, equality, fraternity, justice are at its very foundation.

In a post on X, Rashtrapati Bhavan stated, President Droupadi Murmu hosted a banquet in honour of His Excellency Mr Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic at Rashtrapati Bhavan. President Murmu expressed satisfaction that both sides have outlined an ambitious vision of our partnership for Indias Amrit Kaal and added that this visit has strengthened our resolve to realise this vision.

Earlier in the day, French President Macron participated as the Chief Guest in the 75th Republic Day parade. President Droupadi Murmu and PM Narendra Modi warmly greeted him. French contingents marched alongside Indian forces on the Kartavya Path.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Himachal Pradesh Media Department in-charge Randhir Sharma has accused the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh of stalling the projects of the Central government.

In a statement issued here on Saturday, he said: The Central University was sanctioned in Kangra district by the centre and for this, land was identified at both Dehra and Dharamshala for two separate campuses to be built at both the places. During the previous BJP government matters of forest clearance of the land was expedited. The work for the campus of the university to be built in Dehra was started, the foundation stone of which was laid by the then Union Minister Prakash Javadekar.

He further said: The foundation stone of the campus to be built in Dharamshala was also laid. However, the case of forest clearance of the land was going on and since last year, the Central Forest Department had asked the state government to pay Rs 30 crore for the forest department land and the trees in that campus. This application came from the Central Government on July 1, 2023, however state government still has not deposited the Rs 30 crore due to which the NOC from the Forest Department is still pending and the construction work of the campus to be built in Dharamsala is hanging in balance.

Advertisement

The BJP has demanded the incumbent state government to immediately deposit Rs 30 crore, so that the work of Central University can be started in Dharamshala as well.

It is clearly visible that the Congress government is making every effort to stop this ambitious Rs 510 crore Central University project, he alleged.
The Indian Navy on Saturday responded to a distress call from British oil tanker MV Marlin Launda with 22 Indians onboard. The vessel in the Gulf of Aden was reportedly hit by missiles filed by Houthi rebels.

Navy deployed INS Visakhapatnam comprising ten Indian Naval personnel with specialist firefighting equipment which extinguished the fire after six hours of operation.

Responding to the distress call from MV Marlin Luanda PM 26 Jan, INS Visakhapatnam proceeded to provide assistance. A US and French warship also responded to the distress call. Based on a request from the master, a firefighting team from INS Visakhapatnam comprising ten Indian Naval personnel with specialist firefighting equipment embarked on MV Marlin Luanda in the early hours of 27 January 2024, the Indian Navy said.

Advertisement

The Navy said that a team is currently out there to monitor the situation to rule out the possibility of re-ignition.

After six hours of battling the fire along with a crew of MV Marlin Luanda, the Indian Naval firefighting team successfully brought the fire under control. The team is currently monitoring the situation to rule out any possibility of re-ignition, the Navy added.

The Iran-backed Houthi rebels have increased attacks on oil tankers since November last when.

Meanwhile, the British Government has said that it reserve the right to respond appropriately after its vessel was attacked.

We are aware of reports that the M/V Marlin Luanda, a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker, has sustained damage from attack in the Gulf of Aden. Current reports suggest no casualties and nearby coalition vessels are on the scene. We have been clear that any attacks on commercial shipping are completely unacceptable and that the UK and our allies reserve the right to respond appropriately, a UK government official said.
The Union Home Ministry has on Saturday provided a Z-plus category security to Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, a few hours after he got out of his vehicle and sat in front of a wayside shop, protesting against the polices failure to prevent the Students Federation of India (SFI) activists protest against him.

Union Home Ministry has informed Kerala Raj Bhavan that Z+ Security cover of CRPF is being extended to Honble Governor and Kerala Raj Bhavan, the Governor posted on social media platform X on Saturday.

A 60-member detail would take charge of the Governors security. While a 10-member team of the National Security Guard (NSG) would be in charge of his security, 50 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officers would be guarding his residence, Raj Bhavan sources said.

Advertisement

The move comes after high drama played out at Nilamel in Kollam district of Kerala today when Governor Khan, facing SFIs black flag protest, got out of his car, took on the agitating Left student wing members, sat in front of a wayside shop and hit out at Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Raj Bhavan sources said that after the protest, the Prime Ministers Office called the Governor on the phone and inquired about the matter. It is reported that Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar and Union Home Minister Amit Shah also called the Governor on the phone.
Dividend stocks don't have to be boring. Some can really spice up your portfolio by providing diversification, extra income potential, or a supercharged yield.

In that category, Franco-Nevada (NYSE: FNV), Diamondback Energy (NASDAQ: FANG), and Energy Transfer (NYSE: ET) stand out to a few Fool.com contributors as strong contenders to enhance any dividend stock portfolio.



All that's gold doesn't glitter

Reuben Gregg Brewer (Franco-Nevada): As a streaming and royalty company, Franco-Nevada provides cash up front to mine operators in exchange for the right to buy gold and other precious metals from them at reduced rates in the future. It is best to think of such companies as managing portfolios of mine investments. Right now, though, Franco-Nevada's largest investment is, effectively, shut down. That explains why the stock is drastically underperforming its closest peers, which has pushed its yield up toward its highest levels in five years.

FNV Chart

There's going to be some uncertainty around the company's business for a little while, but management is confident that the situation at the shuttered Cobre Panama mine will be worked out equitably in time. That's not based on hopes and dreams: Management has seen similar situations in the past. However, thanks to the concern around this mine's future, dividend investors can buy Franco-Nevada at what appears to be a very attractive price, historically speaking.

Here's the problem. The yield is only 1.2%. But the company has increased its payout annually for 16 years, which income investors should find appealing. And, here's the really important fact: It's a way to buy a reliable dividend stock that also adds the diversification benefits of precious metals to your portfolio. In other words, Franco-Nevada allows you to own a gold company without having to forgo your broader dividend approach.

The potential to pay a high-octane dividend

Matt DiLallo (Diamondback Energy): Diamondback Energy can really add some spice to your dividend portfolio. It has increased its base dividend payout at a blistering 9% average quarterly rate since its inaugural payment in 2018. The oil producer gave investors two raises last year, boosting its payout by 7% in February and another 5% in July. The current base rate of $0.84 per quarter ($3.36 annually) gives Diamondback a 2.2% dividend yield at its current share price -- exceeding the S&P 500's 1.5% yield.

Story continues

That above-average and steadily rising base payment is pretty tasty on its own. However, Diamondback Energy really amps things up with the other part of its payout -- its variable dividend. For example, it paid a $2.53 per share variable dividend in the third quarter. The total payment was a monster 300%-plus increase from the second quarter's level. That gave Diamondback an 8.3% annualized dividend yield at the time.

The problem with those variable payouts is that they fluctuate from quarter to quarter based on the company's oil-fueled cash flows and its flexible return of capital program. Diamondback aims to return 75% of its free cash flow to investors each quarter. While the base dividend takes priority, Diamondback can also return cash to shareholders through stock repurchases and variable dividends. Due to market conditions, it limited its stock buybacks in the third quarter and paid a higher variable dividend instead. However, it has prioritized repurchases in the past. (Indeed, it didn't pay any variable dividend in the second quarter because it used all its excess free cash to buy back shares.)

At a minimum, Diamondback Energy pays an above-average and steadily rising base dividend. However, it has the potential to add some zest through variable dividends, making it an exciting option for your dividend portfolio.

Slow but steady

Neha Chamaria (Energy Transfer): Energy Transfer, which yields 8.7% at its current share price, is a great dividend stock to add to your portfolio now, given the midstream energy giant's commitment to grow its payouts while investing in its business.

Management is targeting an annual dividend growth rate of 3% to 5%, and wants to pay out more than half of its distributable cash flow as dividends. That's an achievable goal, considering how Energy Transfer has been growing steadily through organic projects and acquisitions. Last year alone, the company made two important purchases, one of which was Crestwood Equity Partners, which it bought for $7.1 billion. That acquisition, completed in November, gave Energy Transfer entry into the Powder River Basin, and was immediately accretive to Energy Transfer's distributable cash flow per unit. That should only make its dividend growth goal even more sustainable.

On Jan. 25, Energy Transfer announced a 3.3% hike to its payout. That may not sound much, but the master limited partnership's dividend growth has contributed significantly to shareholder returns in recent years and will likely continue to do so.

ET Chart

Energy Transfer has a balanced asset mix and is spreading its investments across all of its asset categories, including midstream gathering and processing, crude oil, natural gas liquids and refined products, and interstate transport and storage. With the company also adopting a balanced capital allocation policy that prioritizes dividends and investments in growth while maintaining a manageable balance sheet, investors can rely on this stock for steady extra income.

Should you invest $1,000 in Energy Transfer right now?

Before you buy stock in Energy Transfer, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Energy Transfer wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*.

See the 10 stocks

*Stock Advisor returns as of January 22, 2024

Matthew DiLallo has positions in Energy Transfer. Neha Chamaria has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Reuben Gregg Brewer has positions in Franco-Nevada. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

3 Great Dividend Stocks to Spice Up Your Portfolio was originally published by The Motley Fool
The Kerala High Court has suspended its two officials, including an Assistant Registrar, over staging a skit that allegedly had derogatory content against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and criticised the Central government in a Republic Day event.

The Kerala High Court Registrar General P Krishna Kumar on Friday has suspended its Assistant Registrar Sudhish TA and Court Keeper Sudheesh PM pending enquiry in relation to the skit performed during the Courts official Republic Day function mocking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Central Government schemes

Chief Justice A.J. Desai has also sought a detailed explanation from the Registrar (administration) as to the circumstances in which the incident took place.The Registrar (vigilance) has been asked to conduct a detailed inquiry and submit a report

Advertisement

The skit was performed by the staff of the High Court during the Republic Day Celebrations held on 26 January 2024 at the High Court Auditorium.

Complaints were filed by Bharathiya Abhibashaka Parishad and Legal Cell Ernakulam alleging that the skit mocked the Central Government initiative Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and Jal Jeevan Mission. It was alleged that the skit was performed to defame and insult the administrative heads of the country by copying the words and style of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Further, it was alleged that the skit was politically motivated, derogatory,objectionable and contrary to the Code of Conduct and Service Rules of the High Court of Kerala.The most unfortunate incident in the history of Kerala High Court wherein an official programme of the High Court had been used as a platform to mock the Honble Prime Minister of India by insulting him personally and criticising social welfare schemes of the Central Government, says the complaint by Bharathiya Abhibashaka Parishad sent to Chief Justice of India, Chief Justice of the High Court, Union Law Minister and the Prime Minister

It has been reported that Cow dung jibe has been used against supporters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, without naming the Prime Minister.Assistant Registrar Sudhish TA reportedly wrote the dialogues for the skit.

As per reports, at least three Judges of the High Court were in the audience during the official function watching the skit. Apart from the staff of the High Court, the staff of the Advocate Generals office and Advocates Clerks were also part of the skit

If I say that it has medicinal value, my followers will even eat cow dung. That is my strength, a political leader looking like Prime Minister Modi, with a white beard, reportedly saying in the skit.

I have left my family to travel the world. Yet the people are ungrateful, the political leader reportedly in the skit. It has been reported that the skit mocks Jal Jeevan Mission of the Central government, calling it Jal Dhara Mission instead
Amid the ongoing turmoil in the politics of Bihar, Congress on Saturday said that its president Mallikarjun Kharge tried to speak to Nitish Kumar but the latter was busy.

Speaking to reporters, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, I am not sure if he spoke to Lalu Yadav but I can formally say that Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge tried to talk to Bihar CM Nitish Kumar not just once, but several times. However, the Bihar CM is busy.

His remarks came shortly after JD(U) leader KC Tyagi held Congress responsible for the cracks in the INDIA bloc and said that the alliance is now tattered and is headed towards its decline.

Advertisement

The effort and intention with which Nitish Kumar had formed the INDIA alliance is on the verge of breaking due to the irresponsible and obstinate attitude of Congress, he said.

The JD(U) leader further cited difference between the Congress and AAP in Punjab and the grand old partys ongoing tussle over seat-sharing with Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal.

There is a big possibility of Akali Dal and BJP coming together in Punjab and the possibility of a fight between Congress and AAP. Similarly, Akhilesh Yadav is also unhappy with the attitude of the Congress Party and has also suggested that they should behave more responsibly. The worst situation is in West Bengal where Congress leaders want to hand over TMCs elected government to Presidents rule. Chief Minister Mamata has further increased the controversy by not allowing Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. The INDIA alliance that we had is now tattered and is headed towards its decline, Tyagi said.
Amid the ongoing political developments in Bihar, the Congress on Saturday said its party president Mallikarjun Kharge tried to talk to Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) president Nitish Kumar but he was busy.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge tried to talk to the Chief Minister of Bihar. He tried not just once, but several times. The Bihar Chief Minister is busy, said Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh at the party headquarters in response to a question on speculation that Kumar may join the BJP-led NDA again by severing ties with the INDIA bloc.

Ramesh, who is also the Congress MP in Rajya Sabha, also informed that Kharge got a call-back stating that the Chief Minister is in meetings.

Advertisement

There is no communication between the two. Efforts are on. Unless the Congress president is able to speak to the Bihar Chief minister, I cannot make a comment, he added.

Recalling the contribution of Kumar in the formation of the INDIA alliance, Ramesh said, He made major contributions in the formation of the INDIA alliance. He is one of the architects of this alliance.

Underlining that it is the responsibility of all the Opposition parties to stregthen the INDIA allinace, he said, Congress party is ready to take every step so that the alliance can be further strengthened.

He also informed that former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, who has been appointed as senior observer to coordinate the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra (BJNY) and other party activities in Bihar, will reach the state today and hold meetings with the MLAs and other parties.

Attacking the BJP, Ramesh said, The BJP is working over time to ensure that there is a mini implosion if not a maxi implosion (in INDIA alliance). The BJP is doing its best.

In Bihar, the Congress is part of the Mahagathbandhan (JDU and Rashtriya Janata Dal) government.
Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil on Saturday ended his protest after the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government accepted all his demands.

Patil, who has been leading the struggle for the last few months, announced that the government has submitted a draft, and that all of their demands have been accepted.

He has been demanding reservation in education and jobs for the Maratha community under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.

Advertisement

Few of his key demands included Kunbi certificates for all Marathas, free education from nursery to postgraduate level, and reservation of seats for the community in government jobs.

He has asked the Maharashtra government to start issuing Kunbi certificates recognising the community under the Other Backward Classes (OBC).

Patil also threatened to return to Azad Maidan for protest if the government fails to fulfill their demands.

Meanwhile, CM Shinde congratulated Patil for holding the protest peacefully and promised to fullfill their demands

The agitation held peacefully, for which I congratulate all of you. I am also a son of a farmer. I know their problems and sufferings, and thus took an oath of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. said Shinde, adding I do what I say.

He further said that his government takes decisions in the interest of people and not eying their votes.

Our government is a government of common people. We take decisions in the interest of the people and not eyeing their votes. Maratha community made many big leaders, but they did not stand by the community when it was needed, Shinde added.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra minister and leader of NCP (Ajit Pawar), Chhagan Bhujbal said that the decision of the Shinde government is illegal and unfair on OBCs.

Bowing to pressure from the Maratha community, the government today announced some illegal and unfair decisions on OBCs. Even if the government succumbs to the pressure, we will not remain silent. We will raise our voice strongly against this injustice on OBC community. Soon the direction of the next struggle of OBCs will be decided!, he said.
CPI-Ms Kerala state secretary M.V. Govindan on Friday clarified that the February 8 event at Delhis Jantar Mantar, led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his entire cabinet besides law makers is not a meeting, but a protest against the Centres wrong attitude towards the state.

Vijayan and his team from Kerala will march from the Kerala House to Jantar Mantar and stage a sit in protest.

Govindan was peeved after the media here reported that the protest that was earlier announced has been changed to a meeting. What more hurt the CPI-M the most was when the Congress-led opposition took pot shots against Vijayan and his cabinet that they changed from protests to meeting because they are scared of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Advertisement

The media made this assessment based on the letter that Vijayan had written to his counterparts in Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Odisha, Punjab, and Delhi besides former Chief Ministers Sharad Pawar, Farooq Abdullah, his son Omar Abdullah that it was a meeting against the dilution of federal principles by the Modi government.

Its not a meeting but its a protest, Govindan told the media, adding that when the protest will be staged in Delhi, all across Kerala, Left Front activists will stage protests expressing solidarity with the Delhi protesters.

Of late, numerous state ministers and even Vijayan have slammed the Centre for its anti-Kerala attitude, which is going to be the highlight of the Delhi show.
Shortly after Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde met Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil and announced acceptance of all their demands, his own minister from NCP (Ajit Pawar), Chhagan Bhujbal has termed the decision illegal and unfair on OBCs.

Bhujbal, the Minister of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection in Shinde Cabinet, said that the while the state government has succumbed to the pressure from Maratha community, they will raise strong voice against the injustice on OBC community.

Bowing to pressure from the Maratha community, the government today announced some illegal and unfair decisions on OBCs. Even if the government succumbs to the pressure, we will not remain silent. We will raise our voice strongly against this injustice on OBC community. Soon the direction of the next struggle of OBCs will be decided!, Bhujbal said.

Advertisement

His remarks against his own government came after CM Shinde met Patil in Navi Mumbai and announced all his demands have been accepted.

The agitation held peacefully, for which I congratulate all of you. I am also a son of a farmer. I know their problems and sufferings, and thus took an oath of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. said Shinde.

He has been demanding reservation in education and jobs for the Maratha community under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.

Few of his key demands included Kunbi certificates for all Marathas, free education from nursery to postgraduate level, and reservation of seats for the community in government jobs.
Saint-Laurent, CA (H4T1V6)

Today

Moderating temperatures will change morning scattered snow showers to rain showers by late day. High 41F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Rain and snow this evening then remaining overcast overnight. Low 26F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precip 50%.
Before graduating from Waukegan High School in May, senior Maya De Santiago Moreno wants to do something for the community to generate pride among her schoolmates.

Moreno designed a hoodie students can purchase at the schools PBIS Pride Store with Bulldog Bucks earned by modeling good behavior. She displayed it for the first time at a recent meeting of the Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 Board of Education.

What Moreno did not anticipate was the reaction some board members would have as she handed a hoodie to each one during a presentation of the schools PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) effort, when one immediately donned hers.

Waukegan High School senior Maya De Santiago Moreno hands a Bulldog hoodie to school board member Jeff McBride, while board President Brandon Ewing shows his to the audience.

It was exhilarating, she said. I was thinking, Oh my God, she is actually putting it on. I felt incredible. I was almost in tears.

Moreno introduced the hoodie she designed for her classmates to wear showing their pride in Waukegan High School during the District 60 Board of Education meeting Tuesday at the Lincoln Center administration building in Waukegan.

While board President Brandon Ewing unwrapped his and held it up for the crowd of more than 100 people to see, board member Christine Lensing both removed hers from the package and wore it the rest of the evening.

I love to represent Waukegan, and when a student is involved and has produced such wonderful work the only thing to properly celebrate them is to immediately show your excitement and gratitude, Lensing said.

Planning to major in biochemistry at a four-year university before going to medical school, Moreno said she will also minor in art. Art is a longtime passion she used to create the design for the hoodie.

Feeling an allegiance to the Waukegan public schools she attended in elementary, middle and high school, Moreno said the hoodie was a way to give back. She was a participant in a contest to create a product for the store.

I wanted to design something for us to show our pride, she said. Hoodies are something we all wear.

After designing the hoodie on paper, Crystal Del Rio, a culture and climate specialist for the district who was involved with the project, said they discussed ways to enhance the design before the order was placed. When the sweatshirts arrived, Moreno was pleased.

It was unreal to see my creation come to life she said. It was a real sense of accomplishment.

Dan Hill, the high school co-principal who oversees the Washington Street campus where juniors and seniors attend, said Bulldog Bucks are part of the way students are recognized for modeling good behavior. Morenos creation contributes to that.

I like it, Hill said. Its a fun way to get the kids involved. Maya had a very good idea, and she developed it.

Though motivating students to be prepared, respectful, involved, dependable and ethical has long been a goal, Hill said the P.R.I.D.E. program started two years ago as part of the five-year High School Transformation Plan.

Its a team effort involving administration, students and teachers he said.

Waukegan Board of Education President Brandon Ewing shows his Bulldog hoodie to the audience as Superintendent Theresa Plasencia watches.

Hill said earning Bulldog Bucks are earned by being prepared, having what they need to be successful like bringing their laptop to school each day, being respectful by honoring themselves and others in the school community, as well as being involved in it.

Along with being prepared, respectful and involved, Hill said students earn points by being dependable so members of the school community can count on one another, as well as being ethical by being honest and making good choices.

These are universal expectations for all students, he said. They can all succeed regardless of academic performance. These are our expectations of them.
Key Insights

Given the large stake in the stock by institutions, TH Plantations Berhad's stock price might be vulnerable to their trading decisions

Lembaga Tabung Haji, Endowment Arm owns 74% of the company

Ownership research, combined with past performance data can help provide a good understanding of opportunities in a stock

A look at the shareholders of TH Plantations Berhad (KLSE:THPLANT) can tell us which group is most powerful. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 74% to be precise, is institutions. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn).

Because institutional owners have a huge pool of resources and liquidity, their investing decisions tend to carry a great deal of weight, especially with individual investors. As a result, a sizeable amount of institutional money invested in a firm is generally viewed as a positive attribute.

Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about TH Plantations Berhad.

Check out our latest analysis for TH Plantations Berhad

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About TH Plantations Berhad?

Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices.

We can see that TH Plantations Berhad does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. 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 TH Plantations Berhad's earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters.

Institutional investors own over 50% of the company, so together than can probably strongly influence board decisions. TH Plantations Berhad is not owned by hedge funds. Lembaga Tabung Haji, Endowment Arm is currently the largest shareholder, with 74% of shares outstanding. This implies that they have majority interest control of the future of the company. In comparison, the second and third largest shareholders hold about 4.6% and 1.1% of the stock.

Story continues

While it makes sense to study institutional ownership data for a company, it also makes sense to study analyst sentiments to know which way the wind is blowing. There is some analyst coverage of the stock, but it could still become more well known, with time.

Insider Ownership Of TH Plantations Berhad

While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it.

I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions.

We can see that insiders own shares in TH Plantations Berhad. It has a market capitalization of just RM482m, and insiders have RM46m worth of shares, in their own names. This shows at least some alignment, but we usually like to see larger insider holdings. You can click here to see if those insiders have been buying or selling.

General Public Ownership

The general public-- including retail investors -- own 14% stake in the company, and hence can't easily be ignored. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies.

Next Steps:

It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand TH Plantations Berhad better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 3 warning signs with TH Plantations Berhad (at least 1 which doesn't sit too well with us) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

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.
Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri hailed the inauguration of eight new compressed biogas plants in Uttar Pradesh as an indication of the states great clarity on the issue of clean energy.

Speaking at Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's residence, the Union minister said that while the PM had set clear targets for the country, when it came to the state, the ambitions were higher. While 37 such plants have been sanctioned/inaugurated, the (state) government has committed to 100 plants, Puri said.

A plant in Badaun, spread over 50 acres, in which Rs 135 crore is invested, will produce 14 tonnes of compressed biogas in a day. This was inaugurated on Friday and eight new plants got the go-ahead today.

In addition to the incentives given by the Union government, the state offers a grant of upto Rs 20 crore under the bio energy policy. The leased rent is low and electricity subsidies are also offered. Since agriculture residue is available for a short period of time, machines are needed to collect it optimally and the state government provides grants for the same.

Burning of agriculture residue releases a number of toxic emissions which are hazardous to health. India uses some 5 million barrels of petroleum every day, with about six crore people visiting pumps daily. Our economy is growing three times faster than any other economy in the world; hence it is crucial that we turn to bio-fuels, Puri said.

UP government implemented the State BioEnergy Promotion Programme2018 to promote bio-energy enterprises in the state. In addition to the above mentioned facilities, the programme also offers 100 per cent reimbursement of state GST for 10 years and 100 per cent exemption in stamp duty on the purchase of land for the establishment of these enterprises.

Adityanath, meanwhile, said that his government was committed to implementing the prime ministers vision of waste to energy.

Not only do we tackle the problem of pollution, we also increase farmers income by paying for agricultural residue. It also provides new employment opportunities and investment possibilities, he said.

The states policy also focuses on alternative arrangement of feed stock for bio-energy plants, non-edible oil seeds/plantation of crops like karanj, neem, castor and jatropha. Small rotation crops likes jowar and energy grass are to be planted to create additional feed stock for the production of bio-energy in the state. The work of plantation and production and value chain development of non-food oilseed crops, small rotation crops and energy grasses is to be done through farmer-producer companies or rural entrepreneurs on barren and infertile lands of farmers and village panchayats.
The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) companies is not just redefining algorithms, it's also reshaping the office market.

The United States is home to 65 of the top 100 globally ranked AI company headquarters, according to Pitchbook. As the number of AI companies rises and the scale at which they operate increases, the data center industry is under pressure to meet the new demand.

In California, the cities that have the most AI company headquarters are San Francisco with six; Palo Alto with three; Santa Clara with three; San Jose with two and Campbell with two.

Seven of the nine AI companies headquartered in Texas are in the Austin area.

Demand is highest in the San Francisco Bay Area, where tenants are looking for about 2.5 million square feet of office space mostly in Silicon Valley, according to Cushman & Wakefield's recent report "From AI to Absorption: Office Demand, AI Talent Concentrations and What it means for Data Centers." Austin has the second-highest tenant demand, but it's concentrated with a single large tenant requirement.

With the need for office space also comes demand for the talent to fill it. An average of 5,550 jobs seeking AI talent in the U.S. are posted each month. Demand for AI talent started increasing in 2021 after it saw slight downward pressure from the pandemic.

California is a force for AI-related talent with three of the state's cities in the top 10 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) for the tech workers. Companies in the state hire more AI-related employees than any other state. California also has the highest concentration of AI firms in the U.S., most of which are in the San Francisco Bay area.

In Texas, hiring is concentrated in the Texas Triangle: Dallas, Austin, Houston and San Antonio.

The semiconductor market is expected to see significant growth through 2030, which will prompt an increase in spending on data center systems, infrastructure and public cloud services.

Story continues

Semiconductors address two phases of the AI lifecycle: training and inference. In training, AI chips process vast amounts of existing data and perform complex calculations. In the inference phase, AI chips are used to make inferences on the data on which they've been trained.

By 2030, the leading application in the global semiconductor industry is expected to be servers, data centers and storage. In 2020, the market was valued at $76 billion and is expected to increase by 227% by 2030.

Read Next:

Elon Musk has reportedly bought 6,000 acres of land just outside of Austin. Heres how to invest in the citys growth before he floods it with new tech workers.

Warren Buffett once said, "If you don't find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die." Here are 3 high-yield investments to add significant income to your portfolio.

Collecting passive income from real estate just got a whole lot simpler. A new real estate fund backed by Jeff Bezos gives you instant access to a diversified portfolio of rental properties, and you only need $100 to get started.

"ACTIVE INVESTORS' SECRET WEAPON" Supercharge Your Stock Market Game with the #1 "news & everything else" trading tool: Benzinga Pro - Click here to start Your 14-Day Trial Now!

Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga?

This article How AI Innovators Are Reshaping Office Real Estate Byte by Byte originally appeared on Benzinga.com

 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
The Congress on Saturday asserted that the INDIA bloc is not imploding even though the BJP is trying its best to do "mini-implosions" in the opposition alliance.

The remarks came amid reports that Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar may return to the BJP-led NDA. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh told a press conference in New Delhi that party chief Mallikarjun Kharge is trying to get in touch with Kumar but the two have not been able to connect yet.

He said Kharge has been trying to speak with Kumar and his office has responded. But the two are unable to connect due to their pre-occupations, the Congress general secretary said. Ramesh also said that Kharge has already established contact with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and has also written to her. "I am hopeful that Mamata Banerjee and Nitish Kumar, being co-architects of the opposition alliance, will continue to be part of the INDIA bloc," Ramesh said.

TMC supremo Banerjee has already announced that her party will fight the Lok Sabha elections "alone" in West Bengal, and in case, Kumar decides to return to the NDA fold, the opposition united front will take another big hit.

Kumar had joined hands with RJD, founded by his former arch-rival Lalu Prasad, in August 2022 after he severed ties with the BJP. The longest-serving CM of Bihar, thereafter, embarked upon a drive to bring together all parties across the country to take on the BJP that culminated in the formation of the opposition bloc INDIA.
Since 2019, a whopping 130 crore saplings have been planted across the country under Jal Shakti Abhiyan, the union government data has revealed. This is nearly as much as the population of India. More than 1 crore water-related works (water harvesting structures) have also been undertaken in the past 5 years.

In the period March 2023 to December 2023 alone, 6.64 crore afforestation activities were carried out along with creation of almost 10.6 lakh water harvesting structures, renovation of over 2.5 lakh traditional water bodies and completion of 12.4 lakh watershed development structures among others, as per national water mission, the implementing organisation of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan under department of water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation 2023-24.

These numbers are both inspiring and inundating at the same time.

Bharat Bhushan Tyagi, a doyen of natural farming, the sector that gets directly affected by the work under Jal Shakti Abhiyan, said, These numbers clearly show that there is a strong intent to work in the direction of water conservation, of which afforestation is an important part, and the sector has received the attention it deserves. Agrees Subhajit Mukherjee, a water hero and ambassador, Majhi Vasundhara Abhiyan, Maharashtra. There is no doubt that efforts have increased exponentially in the past 5 years and an awareness has developed in people to plant more and more trees and save water. I have myself planted about 27,000 trees in Mumbai and get requests on a daily basis for such activities, said Mukherjee.

Also, there is a considerable increase in creation of water harvesting structures in villages. This is evident when you see ponds in the middle of the agricultural fields during train journeys, he added.

Amid the renewed interest in water conservation and afforestation in the country, the quantifiable impact of the efforts is what bothers the experts.

Bhim Rawat, an environmentalist and associate coordinator, South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers, People (SANDRP), said, There is some positive difference vis-a-vis water conservation efforts in the country, especially the government recognising individuals committed to the cause.

But, one cannot entirely trust the numbers, showcased by the government. Numbers can be manipulative, especially in the case of afforestation activities, where the issue of mortality of planted saplings remains a big concern, added Rawat.

A good number of planted trees gets washed away especially in the monsoon season. There are a lot of factors that ensure the survival rate of the plants is good and varies from state to state and region to region.

Tyagi, who is also a recipient of Padma Shri, added, There is no paucity of efforts and intent by the government and other stakeholders. But, efforts should also correspond with results. I believe that there is an urgent need to effectively review the outcome of the efforts (including the finances) that are being put in place.

In the absence of proper evaluation, data sometimes can be repeated, especially in case of afforestation activities. I think a proper study of the mortality rate of the planted trees should also be done by the government to ascertain the exact outcomes, said Tyagi.

Fortunately, the numbers of activities are huge. But what is lacking is impact, which is the true result and is awaited in the near future, said Mukherjee.
The Union Home Ministry has extended Z+ security cover to Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan. The development comes after he staged a dharna on Saturday alleging lack of police action against SFI members who protested against him.



The Kerala Raj Bhavan tweeted, Union Home Ministry has informed Kerala Raj Bhavan that Z+ Security cover of CRPF is being extended to Honourable Governor and Kerala Raj Bhavan.

On Saturday, while the governor was en route to Kollam to attend a private event, members of the Students Federation of India waved black flags and protested against Khan at Nilamel, Kollam. Khan, who is at loggerheads with the State government, got down from the vehicle on seeing the protests and tried to confront them. Reportedly, police personnel intervened and tried to pacify the situation. Khan condemned the lack of police action against the protesters and questioned why they were not removed from the place despite prior information about the protests.

Khan refused to leave the place and re-enter his vehicle until police action was taken and he also briefed the union home ministry about the situation in the state. The governor charged that police did not take action against SFI protesters due to orders of the chief minister. He charged that the chief minister was promoting lawlessness in the state.

After sitting there for over two hours, Khan left the place only after the police showed him a copy of the FIR registered against 17 SFI activists under non-bailable provisions of the law.

SFI has been protesting against Khan, accusing him of favouring Sangh Parivar members in University bodies over the list provided by authorities. Earlier, in a similar situation, Governor Khan got down from his vehicle and confronted SFI protesters in Thiruvananthapuram. Khan, who was en route to Delhi then.

-with PTI inputs.
If Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar exits the opposition bloc and returns to the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance, it will be a crushing irony indeed for the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA).

The INDIA alliance stares at the huge damage the development will have in terms of perception for the opposition grouping just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. A plus for the BJP from such a turn of events and a negative for the INDIA bloc of parties will be the talk about the return to the NDA fold of the very leader who had initiated the efforts to bring the opposition parties together for the general elections.

It was Nitish who had in the middle of 2023 begun efforts to bring the opposition parties on a common platform to take on the BJP jointly in the Lok Sabha elections. He had travelled to Delhi and set the ball rolling by meeting Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi. He had travelled to other state capitals, too, to meet other opposition leaders. He had then played the role of the original convenor of the opposition bloc, hosting the leaders of the parties for their first formal gathering in Patna on June 23, 2023.

He is credited with placing on the table the proposal that the opposition parties should ensure one-to-one contests between their candidates and those of the BJP in at least 400 Lok Sabha seats so that the anti-BJP votes do not get divided and their chances of defeating the BJP are maximised.

It is learnt that Nitish was extremely upset for some time now on how the INDIA alliance had shaped up. During the course of the meetings the parties had over the past several months, he found himself sidelined in the scheme of things. He felt slighted, according to JD(U) leaders, especially since he had kickstarted the opposition talks and chaired its first meeting in Patna.

His expectation that he would be named the convenor of the alliance was an open secret. It did not go down well with him when West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal proposed at the INDIA meeting in December that the grouping should consider putting forth Kharge as its face for the Lok Sabha elections. Their argument was that projecting a Dalit leader would give the grouping an instant moral advantage over the BJP in the elections. The proposal was seen as an attempt to cut Nitish to size.

The developments in the JD(U), including Nitish replacing Lallan Singh as the party chief, were seen as signs of the Bihar leader changing tack. Lallan Singh was seen as being pro-Rashtriya Janata Dal and Nitish was upset about Lalu Prasad not agreeing to his proposal that the Assembly polls in the state be held together with the Lok Sabha elections. That the Congress could not ensure that the INDIA alliance named him the convenor did not help matters.

The Congress is wary of how the developments in Bihar would especially reflect on its leadership. It could be argued that a tall leader exited the INDIA alliance because of the Congress's failure to act swiftly on alliance matters, including the structure of the grouping and the different roles to be assigned to various leaders as also seat sharing.

The immediate concern for the Congress is that the Rahul-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra will soon be entering Bihar, and it had planned a rally in Purnia on January 30. Nitish as well as Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav have been invited by the Congress to take part in the rally, which was intended to showcase the INDIA unity in the politically crucial state.

In the light of the fast moving developments in Patna, the Congress has named former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and ace political organiser Bhupesh Baghel as senior observer to coordinate the yatra during the Bihar stretch and also to oversee other party activities in the state.

The Congress is wary of the domino effect that the Bihar developments can have on the INDIA alliance, already under tremendous pressure to come up with a compelling narrative and a counter strategy to deal with the Ram Temple-boosted Hindutva campaign of the BJP. That explains the damage control exercise put in motion in West Bengal to bring the Trinamool Congress back on board and the relative swiftness with which an alliance was announced in Uttar Pradesh.
A political storm is brewing in Bihar with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is reportedly set to break alliance with the RJD and the Congress and join the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.

The developments that come just a few months ahead of the Lok Sabha elections due in April-May have left the grand alliance in Bihar on the brink of collapse and the opposition INDIA bloc on tenterhooks.

The JD(U) has 45 MLAs in the 243-member state assembly and Nitishs exit would mean that the Mahagathbandhan would fall eight members short of majority.

JD(U) general secretary K.C. Tyagi even said the INDIA alliance, formed to take on the BJP at the national level, is on the brink of collapse.

"We had succeeded in bringing all non-Congress parties together but the (alliance) is falling apart. In Punjab and Bihar, the alliance has nearly collapsed. Similarly, in West Bengal, the alliance is falling apart. Meanwhile, in Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav has asked Congress to work with an open heart," Tyagi said.

The opposition grouping had suffered major setbacks earlier this week with the Trinamool Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party announcing that they would go it alone in the Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal and Punjab, respectively.

Tyagi said Kumar never hankered after any position in the alliance but a section of the Congress leadership repeatedly insulted him.

Meanwhile, a source close to the chief minister told news agency PTI that he would submit his resignation on Sunday. The source also said government offices like the secretariat have been asked to remain open on Sunday "in view of hectic activity expected during the day" that may see the installation of a new government with the BJP's support.

However, according to an NDTV report, Nitish is likely to sack the RJD ministers from the cabinet and replace them with BJP MLAs. The report also claimed that both Nitish and the BJP have already finalised the seat-sharing agreements for the Lok Sabha elections.

The state BJP leaders, who held a meeting in Patna, however, stopped short of making any formal announcement of support to the JD(U) chief in the event of his pulling out of the Mahagathbandhan.
The Congress on Saturday said constructive seat-sharing talks are on between senior party leader Ashok Gehlot and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, and it will inform when a formula is finalised.

The Congress' assertion came soon after Yadav said his party's alliance with the Congress is "off to a good start" with 11 "strong" Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh.

The state sends 80 members to the Lower House of Parliament and elections are due in April-May.

Asked about Yadav's remarks at a press conference, Ramesh said Gehlot is in direct contact with the SP chief and talks are going on in a positive and constructive manner.

"When a seat-sharing formula is finalised we will inform you. But today Akhilesh ji has spoken on this that talks are on and he is happy with the talks. I would say from my party's side, talks are on between Ashok Gehlot and Akhilesh Yadav ji and they will meet soon," Ramesh said.

The seat-sharing pact that will happen will be beneficial for the Congress, the SP, and the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), he asserted.

Asked if the seat sharing was not final, Ramesh said, "It is final only when it is final."

Ramesh's remarks came minutes after Yadav, in a post in Hindi, on X said, "Our cordial alliance with the Congress is off to a good start with 11 strong seats. This trend will move forward with the winning equation. 'INDIA' team and 'PDA' strategy will change history."

Elaborating further on the developments, SP chief spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary told PTI, "We (Samajwadi Party) have offered 11 seats to them (the Congress), so that there is a respectable mutual coordination among us, and we defeat the BJP."

Chaudhary also said the party's top leadership is in continuous touch with the Congress.

He said the number of seats offered, which stands at 11 now, is not likely to go up in the future.

"We have given 11 seats to the Congress (in UP) and seven seats to the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD). This comes to 18 seats. The SP will contest 62 seats in the Lok Sabha election," the chief spokesperson of SP said.

In the current Lok Sabha, the Samajwadi Party has three MPs and the Bahujan Samaj Party has 10 MPs. Sonia Gandhi is the lone Congress MP from the state representing the Rae Bareli constituency. The Apna Dal (Sonelal) has two MPs. The BJP has 64 MPs from the state.

Earlier, on January 19, the SP and the RLD announced their alliance for the Lok Sabha polls, with the latter saying that the other party will leave seven seats in western Uttar Pradesh for its nominees.

Saturday's development comes amid strong indications that Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar may do yet another volte-face and return to the BJP-led NDA.
Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil called off his protest, claiming the Maharashtra government has accepted their request. The move came hours after he gave an ultimatum to the government yesterday to amend its free education policy to include all Marathas. Jarange had also demanded the policy be amended to include boys, too, along with girls.

Patil had warned that if his demands were not met within 11am on Saturday, he and his supporters would enter Mumbai today for their planned protest and hunger strike at the Azad Maidan ground. They had reached Navi Mumbai yesterday and camped there.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has done a good job. Our protest is now over. Our request has been accepted, he said at a press conference late on Friday night. We will accept the letter from him. I will drink juice by the hands of the chief minister tomorrow (Saturday).

Shinde, after meeting officials to discuss Patil's demands, sent a delegation late Friday night with a draft ordinance addressing the concerns. The delegation, reportedly, included social justice department secretary Sumant Bhange, Aurangabad divisional commissioner Madhukar Arangal, chief minister's personal secretary Amol Shinde among others.

Referring to the demand of giving a Kunbi certificate to all 54 lakh people whose proof of being Kunbi has been found till now, Patil said they will be given the certificates soon.

Maharashtra Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha said that the ordinance that was passed attended to all the demands made by Patil. "A movement which was going on in Maharashtra for Maratha reservation under the leadership of Manoj Jarange Patil has reached a solution today. The ordinance that was passed today has the solution to all the problems. Manoj Jarange Patil has announced that since the solution has been received, there is no need to continue the protest. CM Eknath Shinde will end Manoj Jarange Patil's fast with juice. The movement has reached a solution," Lodha had said on Friday.

On May 5, 2021, the Supreme Court struck down reservations for the Maratha community in colleges, higher educational institutions, and jobs, after noting that there was no valid ground to breach 50 per cent reservation while granting Maratha reservation.
Amid speculations that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar may break alliance with RJD and Congress, reports claimed that he may submit his resignation by Sunday morning to form a new government with the support of the BJP.

In the 243-member state assembly, Nitishs JD(U) has 45 MLAs, which would mean that the Mahagathbandhan would fall eight members short of majority if the chief minister swapped alliance.

In the ruling front, the RJD has 79 MLAs and the Congress 19. The BJP has 78 seats.

News agency PTI quoted a source close to the chief minister as saying that though the possibility of resignation by late Saturday evening could not be ruled out, "it would definitely take place by Sunday morning".

Nitish, who is also the JD(U) president, is likely to hold a legislature party meeting before putting in his papers.

The source told PTI that government offices like the secretariat have been asked to remain open on Sunday "in view of hectic activity expected during the day", which may see a new government with the BJP's support.

The reports of Nitish planning to break its alliance with RJD and Congress have come as another major blow to the INDIA bloc which had already suffered setbacks after the Trinamool Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party decided to go it alone in the Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal and Punjab, respectively.

Interestingly, it was Nitish who initiated the process of forming a grand opposition bloc to take on the BJP in the general elections.

Meanwhile, the BJP has not yet made any formal announcement on the support to Nitish in the event of his pulling out of the Mahagathbandhan. Leaders of partys state unit met in Patna on Saturday afternoon to discuss the political situation.

We have come here to deliberate on the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The current situation in Bihar will also be taken up for discussion, state BJP president Samrat Choudhary told reporters.
A jury awarded USD 83.3 million to E. Jean Carroll on Friday in a stinging and expensive rebuke to former President Donald Trump for his continued social media attacks against the longtime advice columnist over her claims that he sexually assaulted her in a Manhattan department store.

The award, when coupled with a USD 5 million sexual assault and defamation verdict last year from another jury in a case brought by Carroll, raised to $88.3 million what Trump must pay her. Protesting vigorously, he said he would appeal.

Carroll, 80, clutched her lawyers' hands and smiled as the seven-man, two-woman jury delivered its verdict. Minutes later, she shared a weepy three-way hug with her attorneys.

She declined comment as she left the Manhattan federal courthouse, but issued a statement later through a publicist, saying: This is a great victory for every woman who stands up when she's been knocked down, and a huge defeat for every bully who has tried to keep a woman down.

Trump had attended the trial earlier in the day, but stormed out of the courtroom during closing arguments read by Carroll's attorney. He returned for his own attorney's closing argument and for a portion of the deliberations, but left the courthouse a half hour before the verdict was read.

Absolutely ridiculous!, he said in a statement shortly afterward. Our Legal System is out of control, and being used as a Political Weapon.

It was the second time in nine months that a civil jury returned a verdict related to Carroll's claim that a flirtatious, chance encounter with Trump in 1996 at Bergdorf Goodman's Fifth Avenue store ended violently. She said Trump slammed her against a dressing room wall, pulled down her tights and forced himself on her.

In May, a different jury awarded Carroll USD 5 million. It found Trump not liable for rape, but responsible for sexually abusing Carroll and then defaming her by claiming she made it up. He is appealing that award, too.

Trump is also awaiting a verdict in a New York civil fraud trial, where state lawyers are seeking the return of USD 370 million in what they say were ill-gotten gains from loans and deals made using financial statements that exaggerated his wealth.

As for Trump's ability to pay, he reported having about $294 million in cash or cash equivalents on his most recent annual financial statement, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021. Testifying at his civil fraud trial last November, he Trump boasted: I have very little debt, and I have a lot of cash.

Trump skipped the first Carroll trial. He later expressed regret for not attending and insisted on testifying in the second trial, though the judge limited what he could say, ruling he had missed his chance to argue that he was innocent. He spent only a few minutes on the witness stand on Thursday, during which he denied attacking Carroll, then left court grumbling this is not America.

This new jury was only asked how much Trump, 77, should pay Carroll for two statements he made as president when he answered reporters' questions after excerpts of Carroll's memoir were published in a magazine - damages that couldn't be decided earlier because of legal appeals. Jurors were not asked to re-decide the issue of whether the sex attack actually happened.

Carroll's attorneys had requested USD 24 million in compensatory damages and an unusually high punitive award. The jury awarded USD 18.3 million in compensatory damages and another USD 65 million in punitive damages meant to deter future behaviour.

Carroll's lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, urged jurors in her closing argument on Friday to punish Trump enough that he would stop a steady stream of public statements smearing Carroll as a liar and a whack job.

Trump shook his head vigorously as Kaplan spoke, then suddenly stood and walked out, taking Secret Service agents with him. His exit came only minutes after the judge, without the jury present, threatened to send Trump attorney Alina Habba to jail for continuing to talk when he told her she was finished.

The trial reached its conclusion as Trump marches toward winning the Republican presidential nomination a third consecutive time. He has sought to turn his various trials and legal vulnerabilities into an advantage, portraying them as evidence of a weaponised political system.

Though there's no evidence that President Joe Biden or anyone in the White House has influenced any of the legal cases against him, Trump's line of argument has resonated with his most loyal supporters who view the proceedings with scepticism.

Carroll testified early in the trial that Trump's public statements had led to death threats.

He shattered my reputation, she said. I am here to get my reputation back and to stop him from telling lies about me.

She said she'd had an electronic fence installed around the cabin in upstate New York where she lives, warned neighbours of the threats and bought bullets for a gun she keeps by her bed.

Previously, I was known as simply as a journalist and had a column, and now I'm known as the liar, the fraud, and the whack job, Carroll testified.

Trump's lawyer, Habba, told jurors that Carroll had been enriched by her accusations against Trump and achieved fame she had craved. She said no damages were warranted.

When Trump finally testified, Kaplan gave him little room to manoeuver, because Trump could not be permitted to try to revive issues settled in the first trial.

It is a very well-established legal principle in this country that prevents do-overs by disappointed litigants, Kaplan said.

He lost it and he is bound. And the jury will be instructed that, regardless of what he says in court here today, he did it, as far as they're concerned. That is the law, Kaplan said shortly before Trump testified.

AP
Along with the United States, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom and Italy has suspended financing of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) on Saturday.

Taking to X, Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said, "The Italian government has suspended financing of the UNRWA after the atrocious attack on Israel on 7 October.

The move follows after it was alleged that UNRWA's staff were involved in the October 7 attacks by Hamas in Israel.

Expressing shock over the allegations, Penny Wong, Australias foreign minister, said that she was deeply concerned by the allegations against UNRWA. We are speaking with partners and will temporarily pause disbursement of recent funding, she wrote on social media platform X.

Amid the suspensions, Hussein al-Sheikh, secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) said that the decision entails great political and humanitarian relief risks.

"We call on the countries that announced the cessation of their support for #UNRWA to immediately reverse their decision, which entails great political and humanitarian relief risks, as at this particular time and in light of the continuing aggression against the Palestinian people, we need the maximum support for this international organization and not stopping support and assistance to it," Hussein wrote on X.

Israel foreign minister said that his nation would seek to stop UNRWA from operating in Gaza after the war.

The UN agency had rejected the allegations. We stress the importance of the role of these agencies in providing relief to our people and documenting the crimes of the occupation, it said.

UNRWA said on Friday it had severed ties with the staff members accused by Israel of involvement in the 7 October Hamas attack.

Meanwhile, Israel continued its attacks in south Gaza. Heavy aerial and tank fire across Khan Younis dominated the region on Saturday. The Israeli military said it killed at least 11 gunmen who were trying to plant explosives near troops and other firing rifles and rocket-propelled grenades at soldiers in Khan Younis.

Even hospitals in Khan Younis are being attacked by the troops. At least three people were killed in Israeli strikes near Rafah border region, where people are taking shelters in tents.

According to the Gaza Health Ministry, at least 26,257 Palestinians were killed so far in the Israel-Hamas war.

Hamas said in a statement that Israel is on a "campaign of incitement" against UN agencies delivering aid to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Spending trails North America but adoption, effectiveness, and growth are among the highest globally

MELBOURNE, Australia, Jan. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Companies across Asia-Pacific (APAC) are quickly ramping up investments in generative AI (GenAI) and entering a higher stage of maturity, according to new research from the Infosys Knowledge Institute (IKI), the research arm of Infosys (NSE, BSE, NYSE: INFY), a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. While APAC companies currently lag behind their North American counterparts in GenAI spending, the research forecasts a bigger increase than in any other region  140% in the next year. This translates to an estimated US$3.4 billion to be invested across Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan, India, and Singapore.

Infosys Logo

Infosys's Generative AI Radar APAC report includes insights from interviews with business leaders and AI practitioners and a survey of 1,000 respondents from Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan, India, and Singapore. The report also highlights the following insights.

ANZ GenAI spending growth is among the highest in the APAC region and globally

Enterprises across APAC are investing heavily in GenAI. China leads the region, with investment expected to grow by more than 160% to US$2.1 billion, with Australia and New Zealand growth close behind.

ANZ investment is expected to grow by more than 150%, from US$60 million to US$151 million in 2024.

Australian companies are more likely to deliver business value from GenAI investments than European and North American counterparts

While Australia lags Europe and North America in current investment (as a proportion of GDP), the money it does spend, it spends more effectively.

Biggest obstacles to APAC adoption are caution around responsible AI, concerns about impact on reputation, and employee readiness

Responsible AI (data privacy, data usability, ethics and bias) is a concern for APAC countries, though ANZ is less concerned about data usability.

APAC is more cautious about GenAI's business impact than North America and Europe; almost 10% expect a negative impact on reputation versus less than 5% for North America and Europe.

ANZ has the lowest level of employee readiness for generative AI, at 56%, compared to nearly 70% in other companies in the region. Firms in Australia and New Zealand are mostly looking to upskill their existing workforce to fill that gap.

Story continues

APAC companies are more likely than other regions to see product development and content generation areas of greater impact

More companies in APAC (30%) than North America (20%) and Europe (25%) expect GenAI to be effective for streamlining product development and design  China drives this view, with nearly 35% emphasising this area for maximum GenAI impact.

APAC companies are also more likely to believe GenAI will transform content generation and creativity. Twenty-two percent of APAC firms held this sentiment, led by 30% Japanese companies holding this view.

Andrew Groth, Executive Vice President, Asia Pacific, Infosys, said: "Generative AI is clearly a transformative technology. Although company leaders across APAC have been more cautious than companies in the rest of the world, they are set to outpace firms in other regions. Additionally, they are already delivering more value from their spending on generative AI. To continue to make the most of this technology and to become AI-first organisations, they should focus on talent development and making AI more accessible through a platform ecosystem."

To read the full report, please visit here.

About Infosys

Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. Over 300,000 of our people work to amplify human potential and create the next opportunity for people, businesses and communities. We enable clients in more than 56 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With over four decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer clients, as they navigate their digital transformation powered by cloud and AI. We enable them with an AI-first core, empower the business with agile digital at scale and drive continuous improvement with always-on learning through the transfer of digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem. We are deeply committed to being a well-governed, environmentally sustainable organization where diverse talent thrives in an inclusive workplace.

Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NSE, BSE, NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise navigate your next.

Safe Harbor

Certain statements in this release concerning our future growth prospects, or our future financial or operating performance, are forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the 'safe harbor' under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding the execution of our business strategy, our ability to attract and retain personnel, our transition to hybrid work model, economic uncertainties, technological innovations such as Generative AI, the complex and evolving regulatory landscape including immigration regulation changes, our ESG vision, our capital allocation policy and expectations concerning our market position, future operations, margins, profitability, liquidity, capital resources, our corporate actions including acquisitions, and cybersecurity matters. Important factors that may cause actual results or outcomes to differ from those implied by the forward-looking statements are discussed in more detail in our US Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company unless it is required by law.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/633365/Infosys_Logo.jpg

Cision

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/apac-businesses-expected-to-nearly-triple-spending-on-generative-ai-to-us3-4bn-in-2024-infosys-research-302046074.html

SOURCE Infosys
Tens of thousands of people marched in cities across France to protest against President Emmanuel Macron's immigration legislation. The bill, which was passed by the National Assembly last month, has faced significant opposition and has been a subject of controversy. The protests were organised by a coalition of groups from various sectors, including the arts, unions, and human rights organisations.

The protesters expressed concerns about the perceived discriminatory nature of the bill and its potential violation of human rights. Critics argue that the legislation enables a preference for the French population, as opposed to foreigners, which they believe goes against the principles of equality and human rights. The bill includes measures that restrict family reunifications and access to social welfare for immigrants, which has also been a cause for opposition.

The new immigration bill represents a significant hardening of immigration rules in France. It allows for the deportation of foreigners with criminal convictions, regardless of their length of stay or age of arrival in the country. Even individuals who arrived in France before the age of 13 or have lived in the country for over 20 years could face expulsion if they receive substantial jail terms and are considered a "grave threat to public order". The bill also requires applicants seeking to join their spouses in France to demonstrate knowledge of the French language, which many consider an additional barrier to family reunification. Critics argue that the law fails to provide a clear pathway to legal status for undocumented migrants, leaving them in a state of uncertainty and vulnerability.

The interior ministry reports a 10.7% increase in the number of foreign offenders expelled in 2023 compared to the previous year, although still below pre-pandemic levels. Asylum applications rose by 8.6% in 2023 but at a slower rate than the previous year.

The controversial immigration bill came before the Constitutional Council on Thursday. The council, which reviews laws to ensure their conformity to the Constitution, struck down many measures that had been added to the bill under right-wing pressure. In their Thursday ruling, the nine members of the highest constitutional authority dismissed 32 out of 86 articles adopted by Parliament on December 19, 2023 over procedural concerns. They partially or wholly rejected three articles as being substantively anticonstitutional.The council's decision to reject certain added measures has been seen by critics as based on technicalities rather than their substance While government figures have hailed the ruling as a victory, emphasising that the original measures proposed by the government remained intact, critics argue that the council's decision does not address the fundamental concerns raised by the protesters.

The timing of the protests, just months before the European Parliament elections in June, underscores the political significance of the issue. With the far right gaining popularity, President Macron's centrist Renaissance party is facing a strong challenge and is reliant on external support to pass legislation due to its lack of a majority in the National Assembly. The immigration bill has become a contentious issue in the political landscape of France, with different parties and groups expressing their positions and concerns.
Ukraine officials on Saturday said that Russia had no credible evidence backing the claim that their own forces shot down a military plane carrying prisoners of war (POW), who were swapped for Russian POWs.

Russian officials had provided a list of 65 Ukrainians who they claim to have been killed in the plane crash in Russia's Belgorod region.

Ukraine's Coordination Staff for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said relatives of the named POWs were unable to identify their loved ones in crash site photos provided by Russian authorities.

Ukraine's military intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov was cited saying that Kyiv had no verifiable information about who was on the plane.

However, Russian Defense Ministry said that missiles fired from across the border brought down the transport plane that it said was taking the POWs back to Ukraine. All 74 people onboard, including 6 crew members were killed in the crash, said local authorities.

Earlier Friday, Mykola Oleshchuk, Ukraine's air force commander, described Moscow's assertion as rampant Russian propaganda.

Ukraine had confirmed that a prisoner swap was set to happen on Wednesday, the day of the plane crash, but said it was called off.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for an international investigation into the crash. Russia has sole access to the crash site.

Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged Friday to make the findings of Moscow's crash investigation public. There are black boxes, everything will now be collected and shown, said Putin.

(With PTI inputs)
Nashik, Jan 27 (PTI) Union minister BL Verma on Saturday said the Centre will provide all help for the development of the cooperative sector in Maharashtra.

The Union minister of state for cooperation was speaking at the Maharashtra State Urban Cooperative Banks Conference (MSUCBC) 2023-24 being held here.

"Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and guidance of Union Minister for Cooperation Amit Shah, many steps have been taken for development in the country through the medium of cooperation. The Union government will provide all help for development of the cooperative sector in Maharashtra," Verma said.

He said the Narendra Modi government had created a separate ministry for cooperation, which was ensuring all stakeholders were getting support and solutions were being found for problems facing the sector.

Speaking on the occasion, Union minister of state for health Bharti Pawar said the government must provide help to the Nashik District Central Cooperative Bank so that the institution can tide over problems.

Pawar is Lok Sabha MP from Dindori in the district.

Maharashtra has a glorious tradition of cooperation and cooperative institutions, which have contributed greatly in the development of the nation, state cooperation minister Dilip Walse Patil said.

"The state government has prepared a scheme to protect depositors of cooperative credit societies and has allotted Rs 100 crore for it. The Union government must also give Rs 100 crore so that these institutions can be strengthened," he said.
New Delhi (India), January 27: DivineTalk Astrology, a premier astrology app, will spend a whopping amount of INR 65 Crores exclusively dedicated to its marketing in 2024. This substantial budget, translating to an impressive daily spend of 15-20 lakhs, signals DivineTalk Astrologys ambitious plans to increase market share and global expansion.



DivineTalk Astrology is a pioneering app that provides astrological guidance by offering unique celestial guidance. The company is dedicated to innovation and customer service, which are key to redefining astrology. Reports suggest that the global Astrology application is assumed to expand its market size at a CAGR of 24.76%, reaching USD 9715.98 million by 2028.



The Founder and CEO of DivineTalk Astrology, Dr Paras Shah, explained his vision for the company's growth, focusing on the importance of globally expanding the brands unique blend of astrology. He briefs, The budget reflects the brands commitment to providing high-quality astrological services. The brand is solely committed to providing valuable insights to its users, not only in India but across the globe.



Dr Paras Shah has been conferred with the Pride of Gujaratis 2023 for the BEST STARTUP AWARD for the STARTUP 2023 LIFESTYLE CATEGORY.



Allocation of such a significant amount on marketing reflects DivineTalk Astrologys confidence in its offering and commitment to maintaining its existing market position as one of the trusted astrology brands among users. Also, the application is expected to expand into new areas, making it more effective in both, the domestic and international markets.



Highlights of Divinetalk Astrologys 2024 Marketing Strategy:



 PAN India Penetration: DivineTalk Astrology is set to expand its presence across India with personalised astrological guidance from premium astrologers.



 International Expansion: DivineTalk aims to serve people across the globe with its services. It offers a unique experience to its global users with a unique combination of innovation and convenience.



With DivineTalk Astrology's unparalleled marketing strategy, users can expect an enriched platform experience that perfectly gives astrological guidance in 2024.



For more information, please visit:-

https://divinetalk.com/app



(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PNN and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR

PWR
Surat (Gujarat) [India], January 27: Following Prime Minister Modi's recent visit, Lakshadweep has swiftly emerged as the coveted tourist destination on everyone's radar. The archipelago's enchanting beauty and cultural richness, accentuated by the Prime Minister's endorsement, have sparked a tourism renaissance. Recognizing the immense potential, numerous hotel brands are now gearing up with ambitious projects, ready to weave luxurious experiences into the scenic tapestry of Lakshadweep.



A national hotel chains resort at Suheli is expected to have over 100 villas and 100 rooms, while at its another resort at Kadmat too will comprise of over 100 villas and 100 rooms.



The sustainability-focused development will aim to create minimal footprint while preserving the fragile eco-system in yet another unexplored location.



Moduco, a modular infra brand, on the other hand aims to manufacture 300 - 400 villas as manufacturing partner for such hotel companies and builders, which can be executed in 1-1.5 years of time, half as compared to traditional construction. To cope up with manufacturing of such units, Moduco is expanding its manufacturing facility in Surat by investing additional USD 1.2 million.



Moduco's products are 90% manufactured in controlled environment at factory and assembled on site, use recycled material, thus helping to reduce carbon footprints and create green and sustainable product.



Our collaboration in Lakshadweep reflects MODUCO's unwavering commitment to innovation, sustainability, and community development. We believe, with our products and services, we can influence and make positive difference in our Community, Industry and Environment. Usually, if a builder tried to take up similar projects they would have to invest at least 3 years in construction alone which would pose environmental challenges. However, with our expertise and technique, that challenge gets completely eliminated, said Naitik Lakhani, CEO, MODUCO.



Most importantly, MODUCO prioritises the upskilling of the Lakshadweep population for on-site installations in order to solve local employment problems. Moduco's installation policy allows upskilling of local people and generate employment by training local force to install units. This dedication embodies the company's philosophy of improving construction techniques while simultaneously advancing the socioeconomic advancement of the areas in which it conducts business.



From an environmental standpoint, MODUCO's products align seamlessly with green building principles, falling under the category of temporary structures to ensure minimal environmental impact.



Established in response to challenges posed by conventional construction methods, As MODUCO expands its footprint globally, operating in multiple Indian cities and internationally in the USA, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and UAE-GCC countries, the company plans to extend its services to 50 cities in India within the next two years.



About MODUCO



The company, founded in 2014, has consistently pursued a vision of revolutionizing construction while maintaining a steadfast commitment to environmental sustainability without compromising quality. It was founded with a vision to break conventional construction limits and develop a sustainable approach. Additionally, MODUCO's technique resolved high inventory holding issues in construction. The manufacturing plants are strategically located in Surat, India, and Texas, USA, positioning MODUCO as a key player in addressing future infrastructure challenges.



For more information, kindly visit https://moduco.com/contact-us/



(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PNN and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR

PWR
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], January 27: NHDC Limited, the leading power-producing company in the state of Madhya Pradesh celebrated the country's 75th Republic Day with fervor & enthusiasm on 26th January 2024 at its Corporate Office, Bhopal. The national flag was hoisted by Shri Vijay Kumar Sinha, Managing Director in the presence of all employees and their family members by saluting the tricolor national flag followed by National Anthem collectively. While addressing employees & family members, Shri Vijay Kumar Sinha, Managing Director commemorated and applauded all the freedom fighters, martyrs, and constitution makers for this day.



On this occasion, while sharing the companys achievements, he congratulated employees for the first phase of the 8 MW solar project in Cultural Heritage City Sanchi, 03 MW project work of which has been completed in Nagori and power generation has also started. The second phase of the 5 MW project work at Gulgaon, is nearing completion. Apart from the above, 88 MW floating solar project at Omkareshwar Reservoir will also be completed by March 2024. The Managing Director shared that the Corporation's proposal for a 640 MW pumped storage project on existing reservoirs is under consideration before the Central Electricity Authority.



The Managing Director appealed the employees to be prepared for future challenges and praised all the employees for their commitment and dedication in producing power thereby energizing the Nation. He wished all the employees and their families on this Republic Day. During the programme, the atmosphere became pleasant with cultural & musical programme.



NHDC Limited is a Joint Venture of NHPC Limited and Government of Madhya Pradesh, which was established in the year 2000. At present, under its two power stations, Indira Sagar (1000 MW) and Omkareshwar (520 MW), 100 percent power is being supplied to Madhya Pradesh. NHDC is also now working in solar power projects in the state under New & Renewable Energy production.



(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PNN and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR

PWR
Mumbai, Jan 27 (PTI) Actor Dev Patel is set to unleash his desi-John Wick in "Monkey Man", the upcoming action thriller set to release in theatres worldwide on April 5.

Hollywood studio Universal Pictures unveiled the official trailer, featuring well-choreographed and spectacular fight and chase sequences, of the film, which also marks Patel's directorial debut, on Friday night.

Inspired by the legend of Lord Hanuman, "Monkey Man" is set in Mumbai and features the "Lion" star as a man on a quest for vengeance against the corrupt leaders who murdered his mother and continue to systemically victimise the poor and powerless.

The actor plays Kid, an anonymous young man who ekes out a meagre living in an underground fight club where, night after night, wearing a gorilla mask, he is beaten bloody by more popular fighters for cash.

"After years of suppressed rage, Kid discovers a way to infiltrate the enclave of the citys sinister elite. As his childhood trauma boils over, his mysteriously scarred hands unleash an explosive campaign of retribution to settle the score with the men who took everything from him," the official logline read.

The film also stars popular Indian actors Sobhita Dhulipala, Vipin Sharma, Ashwini Kalsekar, Adithi Kalkunte, Sikandar Kher, Pitobash and Makarand Deshpande, along with Sharlto Copley.

The trailer sees Patel fighting in a ring, engaging in hand-to-hand combat with Kher and also taking on multiple criminals in a style reminiscent of Keanu Reeves' retired assassin from four "John Wick" movies.

Incidentally, Thunder Road Films, one of the producers of "John Wick" franchise, is also backing "Monkey Man".

The film is produced by Patel, Jomon Thomas, Oscar-winning filmmaker Jordan Peele, Win Rosenfeld, Ian Cooper, Basil Iwanyk, Erica Lee, Christine Haebler, and Anjay Nagpal.

Patel has developed the movie from his original story. He wrote the screenplay along with Paul Angunawela and John Collee.
London, Jan 27 (PTI) A Spanish court has acquitted a British-Indian man of public disorder after he joked to friends about being a member of the Taliban and planning to blow up a flight from London's Gatwick to Menorca in Spain in 2022.

Aditya Verma admitted to telling his friends in July 2022: "On my way to blow up the plane. I'm a member of the Taliban."

He however said he had made the joke in a private Snapchat group and never intended to "cause public distress", the BBC reported.

A judge in Madrid ruled on Friday that "no explosive... was found that would lead one to believe it was a real threat".

The judge at the trial, held at the National Court in the Spanish capital, on Monday - a year-and-a-half after the incident took place -- ruled that Verma, of Orpington, Kent, should be cleared of any wrongdoing.

The message he sent to friends, before boarding the plane, went on to be picked up by UK security services. They then flagged it to Spanish authorities while the easyJet plane was still in the air.

Two Spanish F-18 fighter jets were sent to flank the aircraft. One followed the plane until it landed at Menorca, where the plane was searched.

Verma, who was 18 at the time, was arrested and held in a Spanish police cell for two days. He was later released on bail.

If he had been found guilty, the university student faced a fine of up to 22,500 euros and a further 95,000 euros in expenses to cover the cost of the jets being scrambled.

A key question in the case was how the message got out, considering Snapchat is an encrypted app.

One theory, raised in the trial, was that it could have been intercepted via Gatwick's Wi-Fi network. But a spokesperson for the airport told BBC News that its network "does not have that capability".

The judge in the resolution said that the message, "for unknown reasons, was captured by the security mechanisms of England when the plane was flying over French airspace".

The message was made "in a strictly private environment between the accused and his friends with whom he flew, through a private group to which only they have access, so the accused could not even remotely assume... that the joke he played on his friends could be intercepted or detected by the British services, nor by third parties other than his friends who received the message," the judgement added.

It was not immediately clear how UK authorities were alerted to the message, with the judge noting "they were not the subject of evidence in this trial".

A spokesperson for Snapchat said the social media platform would not "comment on what's happened in this individual case".
Lahore, Jan 27 (PTI) As many as 11 suspected terrorists of ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and TTP have been arrested from different parts of Punjab province of Pakistan, the police said on Saturday and claimed it has foiled a major terror plot.

The terrorists include Muhammad Ejaz, a key commander of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), who took terrorism training in Afghanistan. He was nabbed from the Bahawalpur district of Punjab, some 400 kms from Lahore.

The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab police said that the terrorists had planned to sabotage across the province by targeting important installations. In a statement, they said Punjab police have foiled a major terror plot by arresting these 11 suspected terrorists.

According to the CTD, it conducted 135 intelligence-based operations in different districts of the province during this week to effectively deal with any untoward incident of terrorism.

As many as 135 suspected persons were interrogated and 11 alleged terrorists were arrested with weapons, explosives, and other prohibited materials. They belong to Daesh (ISIS), Al-Qaeda and TTP, the statement said.

The 11 suspected terrorists were arrested in Sargodha, Bahawalpur, Sahiwal, Jhelum, Lahore, Narwal, Jhang, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad and Gujranwala cities.

The police have registered 10 cases against the terrorists and shifted them to an unknown location for interrogation.

Explosive material, one explosive jacket, two IED bombs, 11 detonators, banned literature, and cash have been recovered from the possession of the terrorists.
Washington, Jan 27 (AP) President Joe Biden spoke on Friday with his Egyptian and Qatari counterparts ahead of a trip by his CIA director meant to press toward a deal to secure the release of more hostages held by Hamas in exchange for a pause to fighting with Israel in Gaza.

US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Biden spoke with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and Qatar's ruling emir, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani. He added that while talks have been constructive, "We should not expect any imminent developments."

"We continue to do everything we can to facilitate another hostage deal, just as we did in November," Kirby added.

CIA Director Bill Burns is slated to soon meet in Europe with David Barnea, the head of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel, according to three people familiar with the matter who insisted on anonymity to discuss the sensitive talks.

The meeting will focus on the release of hostages in exchange for a pause in hostilities. The Biden administration's hope is that an agreement could lead to an extended cease-fire that could eventually bring an end to the conflict, according to a US official.

The CIA and the White House National Security Council declined to comment on the meeting.

Burns' trip comes after a visit to the Mideast by White House senior envoy Brett McGurk this week focused on winning the release of the remaining hostages in Gaza.

McGurk has also been laying the groundwork for another trip to the region by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who next week could make his fifth trip to the Middle East since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October.

Some 1,200 people were killed and Hamas and other militants abducted around 250 people during their Oct. 7 rampage in southern Israel. Around 100 hostages were freed under a weeklong cease-fire deal in November in exchange for the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

Around 130 remain captive, but some have since been confirmed dead. Hamas has said it will free more captives only in exchange for an end to the war and the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners. (AP)



NSD

NSD
When Masphal Kry was taken into a back room for questioning at New Yorks J.F.K. International Airport one morning in November 2022, it wasnt immediately apparent to him that he was going to miss his connecting flight.

The director of wildlife and biodiversity for Cambodias Ministry of Agriculture, Forest, and Fisheries (MAFF), Kry was en route to an international wildlife conference in Panama when agents of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ushered him into the interview room. They informed the 46-year-old bureaucrat that the United States had a warrant for his arrest, charging him with smuggling wild primates. Kry assured them they had made a mistake, according to a transcript of the encounter later released in court proceedings.

Im from a conservationist background, he told them. He encouraged them to check his bag (perhaps to show it contained no monkeys) and to talk with his friend, a more capable English speaker, who was headed to the same conference and out in the airport with Krys luggage.

The transcript suggests that Kry was confused, a man whose day had taken an unexpected turn but who was mostly worried about making his plane. He could not have guessed then, of course, that more than a year later hed still be in the U.S.on house arrest, awaiting trial on charges that carry a maximum sentence of 145 years in prison.

Nor could he have imagined that his arrest would entangle him in an epic, messy, international drama thats still dragging on. It set off a chain of events that has left more than 1,200 monkeys in caged limbo in U.S. corporate labs, shaken a lucrative trade sector for his country, and kneecapped Americas multibillion-dollar pharmaceutical testing industrycritical for the development and approval of drugs and medical treatments.

Operation Longtail Liberation

For the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, apprehending the Cambodian official was a victory in a yearslong investigation. Operation Longtail Liberation had uncovered deep and alarming flaws in the supply chain of captive-bred lab monkeys used in Americas biomedical research and pharmaceutical industries. Implicated in the scheme was one of the trades supposed regulators: Krys employer, the agency charged with protecting wildlife in Cambodia, which was and remains responsible for issuing permits to ensure the legal trade of animals. (Cambodian government offices in the U.S. and Phnom Penh did not respond to requests for comment. In a statement at the time, MAFF said it was surprised and saddened by Krys arrest and that it upheld the laws and principles of international wildlife trade.)

Story continues

The eight-count, 27-page indictment, unsealed after the arrest, alleges a sprawling criminal scheme enabled by officials at the top of Cambodias bureaucracy. Kry, along with the Forest Administrations top boss and six employees of a Hong Kongbased company with monkey breeding farms in Cambodia, is accused of conspiring to sell hundreds of wild-caught monkeys, packaged with falsified permits, into the highly regulated pipeline of captive-bred animals for laboratory testing. Two unnamed American companies are also mentioned as unindicted co-conspirators.

There is even grainy cell phone video that purports to catch Kry in the act. In the video, submitted as evidence in the court case and viewed by Fortune, Kry, dressed in a blue gingham shirt and sunglasses, watches as workers unload caged monkeys from the back of a pickup truck at the Cambodian breeding facility.

Undercover Delivery: In a video submitted as evidence against Masphal Kry, the Cambodian wildlife official (dressed in a blue gingham shirt and sunglasses) watches as workers unload caged macaques from the back of a pickup truck. Courtesy of Governments Exhibit/Case USA v. Masphal Kry, No. 1:22-CR-20340 (S.D. Fla.)

In the scheme, the U.S. government alleges, wild monkeys were given identification tags transferred from sickly captive-bred animals that would later be euthanized. And, it alleges, the wild-caught macaques were exported to the U.S. with Cambodian government-issued permits that falsely identified them as captive-bred.

The practice of illegally taking [macaques] from their habitat to end up in a lab is something we need to stop, declared Juan Antonio Gonzalez, thenU.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, after Krys arrest. Greed should never come before responsible conservation.

The monkeys arent the only victims, said Edward Grace, assistant director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in a press release. Wild-caught monkeys passed off as captive-bred can present disease risks, and can skew scientific research: The health and well-being of the American public [is] put at risk when these animals are removed from their natural habitats and sold illegally in the U.S. and elsewhere.

Few would disagree with that rationale. But in Americas $586 billion biopharmaceutical industry, Krys arrest created a crisis: It effectively halted the import of Cambodian long-tailed macaques, which had made up some 60% of the industrys lab monkey supply. Known in the field by the more clinical, distancing term nonhuman primates, or NHPs, these animals were used in the quick development of vaccines for Ebola and COVID, and in research involving everything from fertility disorders to gene therapies.

The sudden severing of the industrys main monkey supply chain was a jolting debacle for drug development companies that rely heavily on monkeys to test the safety of new medicines. (Pharmaceutical companies generally dont do this work themselves, but outsource it to contract research organizations.)

For much of the past year since Kry's arrest, the homepage of the National Association for Biomedical Research has screamed, ADDRESS THE NHP CRISIS TODAY! and warned that the throttling of the Cambodian NHP supply chain has put the development of new drugs to treat thousands of diseases for which there is no treatment or cure at significant risk. Some in the industry even argue that the U.S. is ceding its scientific edgeand national security, especially in another pandemicto China, which has both a robust monkey-breeding infrastructure and world-dominating biotech ambitions.

And industry insiders whisper that the crackdown isnt so much about conservation or the purity of the lab testing supply chain as it is about catering to the interests of their longtime adversary: animal rights activists, who want to put a stop to all primate testing. (Read more about why Big Pharma can't seem to quit animal research here.)

In any case, the controversy has thrown a spotlight on an aspect of biomedical work that many prefer to keep in the shadowsthe uncomfortable and unpopular reality that medical progress, at least for now, depends on sacrificing some of our closest mammalian relatives. (If lab animals dont perish in pharmaceutical testing, they are generally euthanized.) And it adds new urgency to an age-old question: Do benefits to humans justify undeniable harm to so many other living, breathing, sentient creatures?

Industry insiders and critics agree, the best long-term solution is to not use animals in research at all. But the technology is not there yet. For now, America still needs its lab monkeys.

Mans reliance on monkeys for medical insight goes back centuries: Galen, famed physician of ancient Rome, used macaques for his influential anatomical studies in the second century AD. Today, monkeys make up just 0.5% of all animals used in scientific research, but they are in high demand for some of the most urgent areas of science: Their close relation to humans makes them key to infectious disease and brain research, and they are often considered the only relevant animal model for testing the fast-growing class of drugs known as biologics. At least 20% of drugs use NHPs in their required safety testing.

Fortune talked to dozens of primatologists, research scientists, conservationists, animal rights advocates, and biotech industry representatives. Each sees the issues at the core of this still-unfolding story as incredibly high-stakesa matter of life and death, reallybut for vastly different reasons, and for different beings.

They disagree over nearly every aspect: Is Kry a craven wildlife trafficker, or simply a government official who carried out orders on the job, in the interest of public health? Is the biomedical supply chain riddled with monkey-smuggling, or are crimes like those described in the indictment rare, isolated incidents? Are long-tailed macaques endangered, or a hyper-abundant nuisance? Does the industry desperately need monkeys to create lifesaving drugsor could we be doing better, more humane science without them?

Most urgently: Whats to be done now? More than a year after that fateful day at J.F.K. airport, Krys case moves slowly through the federal court system of Floridas Southern District. A key supply chain that feeds Americas pharmaceutical research apparatus remains snarled. And the future of a primate species mankind has relied upon for medical advancement hangs in the balance.

For the biopharmaceutical industry, a chaotic aftermath

Krys arrest and its knock-on effects arrived at the worst possible moment for the biomedical research community, which was already years into a cascading, geopolitically fraught monkey supply crisis. The Kry incident was just the latest domino to fall.

When China, previously the largest source of lab monkeys for the U.S., cut off exports of the animals at the beginning of the COVID pandemic, the looming shortage that had long been an anxiety for scientists and researchers became acute. U.S. importers pivoted almost overnight to breeding farms in Cambodia to fill the massive shortfall. Between 2020 and 2022, Cambodia provided the U.S. with about 18,000 of the roughly 30,000 nonhuman primates that were imported each year. Still, as the COVID vaccine race ramped up, there simply werent enough monkeys. In that period, prices increased tenfold, soaring from around $2,000 per animal to more than $20,000. Unborn Asian monkeys were even being purchased as futures in the frenzy, one U.S. government official said.

This picture taken on May 23, 2020 shows a baby monkey interacting with a laboratory employee in the breeding centre for cynomolgus macaques (longtail macaques) at the National Primate Research Center of Thailand at Chulalongkorn University in Saraburi. After conclusive results on mice, Thai scientists from the centre have begun testing a COVID-19 novel coronavirus vaccine candidate on monkeys, the phase before human trials. (Photo by Mladen ANTONOV / AFP) (Photo by MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP via Getty Images)

The high-profile arrest and its aftermath threw another major wrench into the worksand as Cambodian macaques disappeared from the market, the price of monkeys rocketed up even higher, to $55,000 per animal or more in some cases.

The problem now, gripes the industry, is the federal government. Its effective ban on Cambodian long-tailed macaques is clear to see by the numbers: In 2022, 17,992 Cambodian long-tailed macaques traveled to the U.S., and in 2023, just 189 made that journey. (Imports from Vietnam and Mauritius have increased in that period.)

Since late 2022, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has refused to clear shipments from Cambodia without incontrovertible evidence that the animals were genuinely bred in captivity. Thats a hurdle the industry still hasnt managed to clear. Its working on potential solutions including genetic testing to prove monkeys were bred in captivity, but more than a year later, industry representatives grumble that the agency has never explained the abruptly implemented policy or whats required of them.

Fish and Wildlife disputes this characterization. In an email to Fortune, a spokesperson said that the Service hasnt implemented any new policies, but is simply upholding its obligations to ensure wild-caught macaques are not illegally imported or exported. To the U.S. regulators, the role of Cambodias wildlife permitting authority in the alleged conspiracy raised questions about the legality of all monkey trade from the country. Meanwhile, a spokesperson with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration suggests that the industrys concerns about the NHP shortage are, at least for now, overblown, telling Fortune, We are not aware of a slowing of innovation.

Caught up in the confusion are those 1,200 Cambodian monkeys, which Charles River Laboratories, one of Americas largest contract research organizations, imported between late 2022 and early 2023. Those animals, an inventory worth $20 million by the companys estimate, now inhabit an odd and indefinite limboresiding at the companys labs but off-limits for scientific use.

Some say this government crackdown is overdue, and that the biomedical research industry has willfully ignored smuggling in the monkey supply chain for yearsan explosive allegation. The Cambodian NHP pipeline runs to the labs that serve Americas largest pharmaceutical companies and most renowned institutes (some of them, like the National Institutes of Health, belonging to the U.S. government itself). None of these entities were eager to contemplate the possibility that monkeys they used to develop American medicines were nabbed from the woods or streets by traffickers in Southeast Asia.

Meanwhile another storm cloud hovers for the industry: the possibility that the long-tailed macaque, the monkey most used by far in private industry, will be declared entirely off-limits. In 2022, the respected International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classified the species as endangered, naming demand for research animals as one of its primary threats. The designation doesnt immediately impact the monkeys trade, but it leaves the industry fighting another awkward accusation: that its driving the long-tailed macaque to the brink of extinction. Its a narrative that the industry outright rejects, arguing that the creature is plentiful, running rampant in Southeast Asia.

Meet the macaque

At the very center of this global, high-stakes tug-of-war is the long-tailed macaque (pronounced ma-CACK), a scrappy everyman of the monkey kingdom that ranges across Southeast Asia and is the worlds most traded primate.

In the U.S., 95% of monkeys imported for lab work are long-tailed macaques, the species Kry was accused of smuggling. A monkey of many namesMacaca fascicularis, the crab-eating macaque, and the cynomolgus monkey (cyno, for short)the brownish-gray primate is about the size of a very large house cat, possessing neither the physical majesty nor the spectacular colors of the great apes.

As its name indicates, the long-tailed macaque does have an impressively long tail, which it uses to balance as it leaps great distances, as well as sharp teeth, close-set eyes, and a tuft of Trumpian hair that can spike into a fluffy gray mohawk. It can be seen swimming and scurrying, and is so adept at using toolsto, say, forage for food or floss its teeththat its own intelligence is a hot topic of academic study.

Long-tailed or crab-eating macaque juvenile aged 18-24 months peering with curiosity - wide angle perspective (Macaca fascicularis). Bako National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia. Apr 2010.

Above all, the long-tailed macaque is adaptable, a trait that has served it well as deforestation and development have transformed Southeast Asia. Macaques seem to do really well in complicated, edgy, messed-up habitats, says Agustin Fuentes, a Princeton professor and primatologist who has studied the species for decades. They actually prefer living near people"interacting, competing, getting alongto the deep cover of jungle, he adds.

These days, the animals often amass at temples and other tourist sites, where theyre well fed and engage in spectaclesshowing off their dexterity by taking selfies with tourists, for example. They tend to thrive in human proximity, growing fat, reproducing prodigiously, and creating a sense theyve taken over. Theyre known to raid crops, break into homes and stores, and snatch things like cell phones to cleverly ransom back for food.

You cant blame monkeys for being monkeys (especially when theyve been displaced by people), but managing the human-macaque interface is a real issue for governments in Southeast Asia. Facing public outcry, some resort to sterilization or even mass culling.

Opportunistic trappers are also out to get the long-tailed macaque, for sale into the TikTok-fueled pet monkey market or other channels of their illegal trade. According to the indictment, Kry and his superior also found a way to profit from the countrys wild monkeysfunneling them into the biomedical supply chain.

The long-tailed macaque only became industrys favored lab monkey in recent decades. It was the rhesus macaque that played a starring role in the polio vaccine race: Between the 1930s and the 1950s, America sometimes imported more than 100,000 per year from Indiamonkeys that were taken from the wild, as was common practice then. That brisk trade ended in 1978, when India, already concerned about depleting stocks, banned exports after learning the U.S. used some of the monkeys in military experiments during the Cold War arms race.

Readily available across Southeast Asia, the long-tailed macaque emerged as a winning alternative. The species had the virtue of being slightly nicer (less likely to bite handlers) and smaller (saving money on drugs in preclinical studies) than the rhesus macaque.

A ripple effect

As it turns out, the monkey-breeding operation that Kry is accused of conspiring with in Cambodia, part of the Hong Kongbased company Vanny Bio-Research, is no bit player in the industry. (Vanny did not respond to requests for comment, but in a statement at the time of Krys arrest, the company denied any wrongdoing.)

Up until then, Vanny had been the principal monkey supplier to one of Americas top importers of nonhuman primates, the Indiana-based contract research organization Inotiv. In 2022, Cambodian monkeys accounted for a quarter of the company's revenues, roughly $140 million. Fish and Wildlifes investigation into Inotivs NHP sourcing began years ago, with two of its subsidiaries receiving grand jury subpoenas in 2019 and 2021. In May 2023, Inotiv was notified that the SEC was investigating its monkey imports. (Inotiv also made headlines in early 2022 when the government seized 4,000 beagles, 446 in acute distress, from its Virginia dog-breeding facility.) Inotiv did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

At Inotivs Boston-area competitor, Charles River Laboratorieswhich uses more nonhuman primates than any other American company and had sourced 60% of them from Cambodiaexecutives quickly heard of Krys November 2022 arrest, which set the industry aflutter. But they werent worried about their own monkeys, says Birgit Girshick, the companys chief operating officer. Vanny was not among Charles Rivers direct suppliers, and its own Cambodian breeder had been a trusted partner for some years (and has not been indicted).

But by February, Charles River had become ensnared in the governments investigation too. That month, it received a grand jury subpoena from the Department of Justice related to shipments from its Cambodian supplier. Since then, the company has disclosed that its the subject of parallel federal criminal and civil investigations, as well as an SEC probe, related to its nonhuman primate sourcing from Asia. The company stresses that its cooperating with the investigations and believes it has done nothing wrong.

Speaking on an earnings call several days after the company received its subpoena in February 2023, Charles River CEO James Foster framed the governments effective block on Cambodian monkey imports as an industry-hobbling headache. We have to get through this logjam, he told investors. This is not an acceptable situation for patients or for drug development.

Charles River employee working in animal room in Massachusetts. -- Test site Charles River Laboratories works with every major drug company and 80% of their medicines. Courtesy of Charles River Laboratories

It was also potentially very bad for business: In recent years, the lucrative work of conducting preclinical safety tests for pharmaceutical companies had delivered blockbuster growth for Charles River, in part because of the soaring price of monkeys and the panic over their scarcity. In 2021 and 2022, drug companies were booking animal-testing services two years in advance, simply to reserve a spot in line. The Cambodian NHP impasse with the U.S. government could shave up to $160 million off Charles Rivers revenues in 2023, Foster warned.

Indeed, the freeze on Cambodian monkeys had the whole industry spooked. NHPs are a particularly tricky supply chain to rebuild because monkeys arent widgets. Captive-bred monkeys take years to breed, and the global competition for those animals is stiff. Rumors swirled: Would the government go after Vietnams breeders next?

What made the situation frustrating, Foster said, was that this urgent supply crunch had an obvious solution. Its not like there literally arent enough animals in the world to satisfy demand, Foster told analysts. The animals are available.

Adding insult to injury, Charles River already had enough monkeys in its labs to fill a large elementary schoolthose 1,200 from Cambodia that it had already purchased, imported, and transported to its facilities. It just wasnt allowed to use them.

An important, often invisible, cog in the drug industry

Charles River Laboratories began humbly 77 years ago when a bow-tie-sporting veterinarian named Henry Foster purchased 1,000 rat cages from a Virginia farm and set up a one-man lab in Boston. Before long, he was breeding rodents for other researchers in the region. (Their progeny later included the Astromice, the first earth animals exposed to moondust.)

(Original Caption) Monkey Gets an Antipolio Shot. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Dr. L. James Lewis, a research associate of Dr. Jonas Salk, injects a monkey with some of the antipolio vaccine. Firstly the monkey is put to sleep with an anesthetic, then the leg is shaved and swabbed with antiseptic to sterilize the area. Finally Dr. Lewis plunges the needle into the muscular tissue, about an inch deep. This demonstration was put on for a news crew of 50 just four days before the evaluation report of the vaccine by Dr. Thomas Francis, Jr., director of the U. of Michigan polio evaluation center. Bettman/Getty Images

Over time, Charles River became an increasingly sophisticated, full-service partner to life sciences companies and researchers. Today, under the leadership of Henrys son James, the company doesnt just provide the animals; it designs and runs studies, identifying drug targets and evaluating the safety and efficacy of new medications. Its clients include big pharmaceutical companies and the National Institutes of Health, as well as small biotechs, academic researchers, and even the occasional parent trying to develop a cure for a childs rare disease.

In the wider business landscape, Charles River doesnt particularly stand out: Its $4 billion in annual revenue makes it just Americas 745th largest company. But the contract research organization based in Wilmington, Mass., with 21,000 workers has quietly become an outsize player in Americas pharmaceutical and biotech industries: It works with every major drug company and on more than 80% of the medications that come out of them.

Put simply, Girshick says, They couldnt get drugs to market without us.

When I first spoke to Girshick last April, Charles River had enough monkeys in the U.S. to do its scheduled studies, but Girshick said they were down to a couple of months supply. The time is really ticking, she told me.

Meanwhile Matthew Bailey, longtime president of the Foundation for Biomedical Research as well as the National Association for Biomedical Research (NABR), industry groups that represent academic institutions and multinational companies like Charles River, wasnt just frustrated with the federal crackdown on Cambodian NHP imports: He was also suspicious.

To the career lobbyist, hardened by years of battles with the industrys most persistent nemesis, the whole federal case smacked of animal activismfrom the code name, Operation Longtail Liberation, to the deployment of undercover video, a common tactic of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and similar groups. A Fish and Wildlife spokesperson said "the Service's Office of Law Enforcement rejects the idea that its decisions are driven by activist pressure; its actions are driven by its conservation mission and its obligations to enforce the law. (A former investigator noted agents often engage in creative wordplay when selecting code namesas with Operation Ornery Birds.)

The activist battle

On a warm Friday morning in April 2023, a handful of protesters from PETA stood in a line outside a Miami federal courthouse. A few hoisted signsNo gag order on monkey-smuggling evidence!while others held macaque masks over their faces.

Lisa Jones-Engel, a senior scientific advisor with the organizations laboratory investigations department, previewed the days expected proceedings in front of a camera for a PETA broadcast, while a middle-aged man in a suit who didnt identify himself filmed the scenea menacing gesture, Jones-Engel thoughton his cell phone.

Once a globe-trotting field primatologist, Jones-Engel is now four years into a battle to dismantle the industry she once worked for, on a mission to end the use of primates in biomedical research, full stop.

Macaque-tivism: Lisa Jones-Engel, (right) and other animal activists want to end all primate lab testing.

She celebrates Operation Longtail Liberation as a blow to a despicable and corrupt trade, and had come all the way to Florida from her home in Utqiagvik, Alaska, to watch the case against Kry unfold. She gasped when the video of Kry at Vannys farm played in the courtroomdisturbed, she told me later, by the distinct vocalizations of young long-tailed macaques in distress.

The suffering and death of animals for the sake of science has always been an ethically fraught and divisive issue. Animal rights organizations and the scientific community have been duking it out for years. Vocal activists tend to dominate the public debate, arguing that animal research, which they consider a form of intolerable cruelty, is unnecessary (couldnt technology do that?) and misleading (can we really understand a human disease by studying a monkey?).

Scientists and industry representatives reflexively rebut both those pointsand complain mightily about the misinformation that some animal advocates spread. But many prefer not to engage for fear of being targeted by a group like PETA, a 9-million-member-strong organization whose tactics have included protesting at researchers homes and infiltrating labs. (The general public is split on the matter, with 52% of Americans opposing animal research in a 2018 survey by the Pew Research Center.)

Its worth noting that the question of whether animal testing is right or should continue is not whats at issue in the case against Kry and his codefendants, or the restrictions on Cambodian monkey imports. The animal advocates outside the courtroom in Miami were there to cheer on the governments case, but Fish and Wildlifes Operation Longtail Liberation is not, on its face, aligned with their efforts to end all animal testing on moral grounds.

Conservationthe protection of wildlife and upholding of the rules governing its international tradeis the focus of the federal case. (Read more about the thorny question of whether the long-tailed macaque is endangered here.)

The industry of captive breeding farms that took root in Southeast Asia was supposed to reduce pressure on the wild population of long-tailed macaques. Still, the 2022 IUCN assessment asserted that demand from the biomedical trade is one of the threats endangering the species. If U.S. or international wildlife regulators adopt a similar stance, the industry faces a far more serious supply disruption: A ban or severe restriction of the species trade could end its use in research for good.

PETAs Jones-Engel, who has petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to do just that, talks openly about this being her end game. And if the effort is successful, Bailey, the industry lobbyist, says that would be a disaster: I think the net effect is that preclinical research for this species in the United States is over.

Industry insiders and critics agree, the best long-term solution is to not use animals in research at all. The FDA opened the door for pharmaceutical companies to use nonanimal alternatives in safety testing several years ago. And promising tech, including AI and organs-on-a-chipminiature systems that mimic the properties of human tissues and organsare advancing quickly and helping reduce the number of animals used in studies. But those technologies are not yet robust or established enough to adequately assess the risk of drugs to humans in most cases, the FDA told Fortune.

In other words, America still needs lab monkeys.

The tip of the iceberg?

The biomedical community professed shock at the allegation that a wide-ranging wild-caught macaque smuggling scheme existed in its supply chain. Industry representatives said they believe smuggling is largely prevented by in-country regulation and company audits.

Girshick of Charles River Laboratories told me that she remembers being dumbfounded when she first heard about Kry and Vannys alleged crimes: That a breeder would take the risk of infecting the captive-bred population with diseases from wild monkeys just didnt make sense, Girshick said, purely from a self-interested business point of view.

But conservationists, primatologists, and others who have tracked the issue in Southeast Asia say the Kry case is the tip of the iceberg, and that for years wild long-tailed macaques have been smuggled into the regions breeding farms to prop up the industrys inadequate supply chain.

Dave Windley, a financial analyst who covers Charles River and Inotiv for Jefferies, has struggled to square the industrys claims that it has sufficient safeguards to prevent these kinds of shenanigans with his own research. Weve dug out a bunch of news stories and white papers and things like that, that just talk about how prevalent smuggling is, and honestly how its been going on for a long, long time, he says. (This reporter found a similarly robust and persuasive historical record.)

As for the Cambodian breeding facility, Vanny Bio-Research, that Kry is accused of delivering monkeys to, it should have been obvious that there was a problem, says Tim Santel, a retired Fish and Wildlife Service special agent who oversaw Operation Longtail Liberation until his retirement in 2020. The light bulb was like, theres actually zero way that the tens of thousands that are being brought in, [from] a facility that only has X amount of animalsit cant be, he says. Those numbers dont jibe.

A lucrative business that's hard to scale up

Indeed, theres an inescapable math that makes breeding NHPs a several-years-long, complicated process. Female long-tailed macaques arent sexually mature until the age of 4 or 5. Theyll give birth to a single monkey after a gestation period of 165 days; the baby will be weaned after six to eight months. Biomedical research and pharmaceutical testing require monkeys of varying ages, but most need to be at least three years old.

The European Union requires that monkeys used for research must be at least two generations removed from their wild forebears, and while the U.S. has no such requirement, its considered desirable here too. Because of all this, there are limits to a monkey farms potential productivity.

Even so, Cambodia somehow managed to ramp up its monkey exports very quickly, according to wildlife trade data. Between 2019 and 2020, the year that China stopped its outbound trade, Cambodia more than doubled its worldwide exports of captive-bred long-tailed macaques, from 13,992 to 29,466.

Chart shows U.S. imports of long-tailed macaques, by country of origin

Its a big business that some say is interwoven with the countrys government. Radio Free Asia has reported on links between powerful politicians and the nations monkey farms. In a country where the GDP per capita is $1,800, the economic incentive to catch and sell a macaque for a couple hundred dollars is strong.

On its web page, Vanny Bio-Researchs two Cambodia operations look more tropical resort than monkey farm, with stately white villas and lush topiary trimmed into the word VANNY. Media photographs and recent drone footage offer a somewhat different view: a vast expanse of cleared land dotted with rows and rows of uniformly placed monkey sheds.

Founded in 2000, the Hong Kongbased company has campuses in Phnom Penh and in Pursat, a mountainous province with dense forest. Up until the U.S. government indicted six of its employees, Vanny had the industrys highest seal of approvalan accreditation from the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC International), the industry nonprofit body that audits breeding farms and animal laboratories in 50 countries around the world. AAALAC removed Vanny from its list of accredited organizations in the days following the indictment.

Vanny is accused of paying millions of dollars to several black-market distributors between 2017 and 2022 to purchase thousands of wild long-tailed macaques for the companys farms, bolstering the numbers it was breeding in captivity.

Among the alleged black-market suppliers was Krys employer, Cambodias MAFF, which the U.S. government says sourced monkeys from national parks and protected areas. The agency collected $150 to $220 for each animal it delivered to Vanny, charging the higher $220 price for unofficial monkeys that it agreed to hide from local officials, according to the indictment. Kry is singled out for dropping off 92 wild monkeys at Vanny on four dates between August 2019 and June 2020 and, on one of those occasions, advising Vanny personnel to create a back road to the farm that would be more safe for the smuggling. (The latter incident is captured on a cell phone video surreptitiously recorded by a confidential informant, who was then working at Vanny; Fortune has viewed the video, which is an exhibit in the case.)

In a motion to dismiss the case, Krys defense attorneys argue that he was a bureaucrat simply doing his job, carrying out official duties that he was authorized to perform. Documents purporting to support this claim include communications from 2018 that show Cambodias MAFF granted Vanny permission to collect 2,000 long-tailed macaques from public places in order to reduce the risks to people and tourists. In exchange for conservation and royalty fees, the government allowed Vanny to raise, care, and breed the animals.

Krys defense attorneys argue that Kry had no idea whether Vanny planned to misrepresent those wild monkeys as captive-bred and export them to American labs. And they accuse the U.S. government of improperly launching a full-on assault on a foreign ministry. (Its unclear whos footing Krys legal bills, but he is represented by attorneys from Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, an American firm that the Cambodian government had hired for lobbying purposes in early 2022.)

A tourist gives food to a herd of Long Tailed Macaques (Macaca Pasicularis) in the Sangeh Monkey Forest tourist area, Badung Regency, Bali Province, Indonesia, Friday, April 5 2019. A journal of Animal Science and Health of the Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) says, Long-tailed Apes in four distribution areas on the Badung Peninsula, Bali Province is considered to be quite high with a density reaching 114 birds per hectare so it needs to be controlled to reduce the negative effects caused. (Photo by Basri Marzuki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

What's so hard about breeding monkeys in America?

Kry and his associates stand accused of fudging paperwork certifying wild monkeys as captive-bred, but the implications are broader than that: Animals misidentified as captive-bred can bring unknown disease risks to one another and humans, and unwittingly introduce variables into the controlled scientific process.

Amid those concerns and the broader lab-monkey supply crisis, some in the industry argue the only way to guarantee the U.S. has a reliable, high-integrity supply is to expand domestic breeding.

But breeding monkeys in America just doesnt work, Foster of Charles River Laboratories told an investor audience last March. He knows this from experience: Charles River tried to get into the monkey-breeding business in the 1970s when the company started a colony of rhesus macaques on two uninhabited islands in the Florida Keys. By the mid-1980s, the animals numbered over 1,000, and neighboring communities were complaining that the monkeys had destroyed mangroves, polluted the water with their poop, and even escaped to other islands. A judge finally evicted the colony, but not before Hurricane Georges hit in 1998killing eight monkeys and loosing 150.

Theres actually zero way that the tens of thousands [of monkeys] that are being brought in [came from] a facility that only has X amount of animals Those numbers dont jibe. Tim Santel, a retired Fish and Wildlife agent

Foster recalled the operation as a nightmare. Hurricane aside, Foster said, it had been a money pitcash-flow-negative for 12 years. Meanwhile, he pointed out, the animals are running wild in Asia and Africa. All you have to do, he added, is take those feral animals and breed them. Put another way: The business of raising lab monkeys is easier and cheaper to do somewhere other than the United States.

That truth sets up a strange and jarring disconnect that underpins the global nonhuman primate supply chain: The monkeys that end up in Americas gleaming, high-tech labs often started their lives in open-air monkey farms in much poorer countries, where workers wearing only light PPE are paid little to raise and handle animals.

With only basic technology and the practice of keeping the animals in large pens, Girshick concedes that until recently, recordkeeping was basically nonexistent at such breeding operations deep in the woods.

Caged limbo

Will Cambodian NHPs ever return to America? Foster, Charles Rivers CEO, isnt so sure, and he doesnt particularly care. For now, his company has averted the NHP doomsday scenario that Girshick had worried about with a crafty workaround: Canada.

As a global company, Charles River has labs outside the U.S. where it can ship Cambodian monkeys. It just had to move the contract work. (PETA has appealed to the Canadian government to block Cambodian monkeys, but the country stands by its process.)

The company still maintains that the governments claims are without merit, but it is running a tighter ship when it comes to its monkey suppliers: stepping up audits that had fallen by the wayside during the COVID pandemic, and making further investments to help breeding farms upgrade their processes.

Meanwhile, demand for NHPs has eased with 2023s biotech slump, leading Charles River to use 25% fewer NHPs in 202311,400 compared with 15,272 in 2022. Still, Bailey and others in the research community stress that the shortage remains dire.

PETA celebrates the reduction, taking its wins where it can. Last March, after flooding the Fish and Wildlife Service with calls and stationing members outside Charles Rivers facilities, it declared victory in stopping the company from sending the 1,200 Cambodian monkeys back to Cambodiato be funneled back into the forest-to-laboratory pipeline, in the organizations words. (Charles River denies that it ever planned to send the animals back to their origin country.)

But PETAs proposed solutionto send the stateless monkeys to a sanctuaryhasnt yet worked out, partly because its dauntingly expensive. Angela Grimes, CEO of Born Free USA, which runs a primate sanctuary that holds 250 monkeys in Texas, says it would cost $125 million to buy the land, equipment, and supplies necessary to provide lifetime care for all those monkeys. She wants to help the animals, but says theres no funding mechanism for such strange circumstances. So the monkeys remain at Charles Riverin cages at a lab, but not used as lab monkeys.

Kry remains in a sort of caged limbo as well, awaiting trial in March and living under house arrest in the northern Virginia suburbs. Last summer, the judge granted the former wildlife official a few nightly walks around the neighborhood per week.

He is still the only one of the eight indicted individuals in U.S. custody. Cambodia continues to export monkeys for biomedical researchjust not to the U.S. And Vanny is still in business. According to its website, it now offers paternity testing and microchipping to assure clients their monkeys didnt come from the wild.

Kry remains the silent center of the case. Through his defense team, he declined to comment for this story. At the time of his arrest, his profile on the social media app Telegram offered, as a sort of personal statement, the saying often attributed to Mao: Everything under heaven is in utter chaos; the situation is excellent.

This article appears in the February/March 2024 issue of Fortune with the headline, Big Pharma's monkey business.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Rafah (Gaza Strip), Jan 27 (AP) Two women and a man were killed early on Saturday in what witnesses said was an Israeli airstrike on a home in the southernmost part of Gaza, as Israel pursued its military offensive against the Palestinian enclave.

The strike came less than a day after the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to do all it can to prevent death, destruction and any acts of genocide in Gaza. As part of its binding ruling, the top United Nations court asked Israel for a compliance report in a month, meaning the military's conduct will be under increasing scrutiny.

The court stopped short of ordering a cease-fire, but the orders its judges issued were in part a stinging rebuke of the army's conduct so far in Israel's nearly 4-month-long war against Gaza's Hamas rulers. Friday's decision came in a case brought by South Africa, which alleged Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian territory's people, a charge Israel vehemently denies.

The war has killed more than 26,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, destroyed vast swaths of Gaza and displaced nearly 85 per cent of a population of 2.3 million people. It was triggered by an unprecedented Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7 in which militants killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took about 250 hostages.

The overall Palestinian death toll in the war rose to 26,257 as of Saturday, with 174 deaths over the past day, the Health Ministry in Gaza said. The ministry does not distinguish between combatants and civilians in its count, but has said about two-thirds are women and children. It said the total number of wounded surpassed 64,000.

Israel holds Hamas responsible for civilian casualties, saying the militants embed themselves in buildings used by civilians. Israel says its air and ground offensive in Gaza has killed more than 9,000 militants.

Bilal al-Siksik, who lost his wife, a son and a daughter in Saturday's strike in Rafah, a town on Gaza's border with Egypt, said the decision by the world court meant little since it did not stop the war.

No one can speak in front of them (Israel). America with all its greatness and strength can do nothing," he said as he stood beside the pile or rubble and twisted metal that was once his home. "What can people do, who have no power or anything?" He said his family was asleep when their residence was struck.

Rafah and its surrounding areas are crammed with more than 1 million people after the Israeli military ordered civilians to seek refuge there from the fighting elsewhere in the territory. Despite those orders, the designated evacuation areas have repeatedly come under airstrikes, with Israel saying it would go after militants as needed.

Some Gaza residents expressed dismay that the UN court based in The Hague, Netherlands, did not order an immediate end to the fighting as South Africa had requested.

The court's decisions were disappointing to us, Yahya Saadat, who was displaced from the northern city of Beit Hanoun and now lives in the central town of Deir al-Balah, said late Friday. We were waiting for the International Court of Justice to issue stricter decisions than that, such as a cease-fire, our return to our homes in the north, and stopping the bloodshed in the Gaza Strip.

Others saw Friday's rulings from a 17-judge panel as a significant, if symbolic, step.

The measures approved by the court are mostly in the interest of the Palestinian people regarding human suffering, violation of international law, and many other issues, said Mazen Muhaisen, who also was sheltering in Deir al-Balah.

The court ruled that Israel must refrain from harming or killing Palestinian civilians while doing all it can to prevent genocide, including punishing anyone who incites others to support the destruction of Gaza's people. The judges also ordered Israel to urgently get basic aid to Gaza.

The interim orders did not address the substance of the case  the genocide allegations  and a final ruling is expected to take years.

Although the provisional measures issued Friday are legally binding, it is unclear if Israel will comply. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to move ahead with the war, saying the fact that the court did throw out the genocide charges was a mark of shame that will not be erased for generations".

The Israeli military said Saturday it had conducted several targeted raids on terror targets in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, killing numerous terrorists. It did not mention Rafah.

The United States, Israel's closest ally, has strongly supported the offensive but has increasingly called for restraint and for more humanitarian aid to be allowed into Gaza.

Almost four months after the Hamas attack in southern Israel, dozens of hostages remain captive in Gaza. More than a 100 were released in a swap for Palestinian prisoners during a week-long cease-fire in November, and an unspecified number of the remaining 136 hostages are believed to have been killed.

US President Joe Biden spoke with his Egyptian and Qatari counterparts Friday ahead of a trip by his CIA director that is intended to seek progress toward a deal to secure the release of more hostages in exchange for a pause in the fighting.

CIA Director Bill Burns is slated to meet in Europe soon with the head of the intelligence agencies of Israel and Egypt and with the the prime minister of Qatar, according to three people familiar with the matter who insisted on anonymity to discuss the sensitive talks.

Hamas has said it will only release the hostages in exchange for an end to the war and the release of large numbers of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. (AP) PY

PY
Tehran, Jan 27 (AP) Unknown gunmen on Saturday shot to death nine people in the southeastern part of Iran that borders Pakistan, media reports said.

A report by the semiofficial Mehr news agency said the shooting took place in a home near the town of Saravan, in Iran's Sistan and Baluchestan province. It added that the victims were not Iranian.

No official news outlet reported the shooting and no group has yet taken responsibility for the attack.

HalVash, an advocacy group for the Baluch people, shared images online that appeared to be bodies of victims and said three more people were wounded. It said they were Pakistani nationals and identified four of them, saying all the victims were workers at an auto repair shop.

Last week, Pakistan launched retaliatory strikes on the same area, allegedly targeting militant hideouts, an attack that killed at least nine people. The strikes followed Iran's attack Tuesday on Pakistani soil that killed two children in the southwestern Baluchistan province.

The tit-for-tat attacks appeared to target two Baluch militant groups with similar separatist goals on both sides of the Iran-Pakistan border. The two countries have accused each other of providing safe haven to the groups in their respective territories.

On Friday, media reports said both nations' ambassadors resumed activities in each other's capital that were idled following the attacks.(AP)



RUP

RUP
Kathmandu, Jan 27 (PTI) The border dispute between Nepal and India can be sorted out in a cordial manner through dialogue instead of making it a big political issue between the two countries which share history and geography and are bound together by common culture, Foreign Minister N P Saud said on Saturday.

Saud was speaking as a chief guest at an interaction programme organised by the Nepal-Bharat Friendship Society here on the occasion of Indias 75th Republic Day which was celebrated on Friday.

Nepal is considered an important country for New Delhi as it shares a border of over 1,850 km with five Indian states  Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Ties between the two countries had come under severe strain after Kathmandu published a new political map in 2020 that showed three Indian territories -- Limpiyadhura, Kalapani and Lipulekh -- as part of Nepal. India reacted sharply, calling it a unilateral act and cautioned Kathmandu that such artificial enlargement of territorial claims would not be acceptable to it.

In June 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Nepalese counterpart Pushpakamal Dahal 'Prachanda' vowed to resolve the boundary dispute under the spirit of friendship during the latters visit to India.

As there is more than 1,800 km long, open border between Nepal and India, some dispute and debate relating to the border is inevitable between the two neighbours. But the joint technical committee of the two countries has sorted out most of the disputes, Saud said.

He also pointed out: Susta and Kalapani-Lipulekh are the only two border points, which need to be resolved.

The two countries can sit together to sort out the differences in a cordial manner through dialogue, the Foreign Minister said, adding, Instead of making this a big political issue, we can work together and work out a concrete solution in this regard.

Saud also said, No force can damage the age-old friendly relations existing between Nepal and India even though there are ups and downs in government-to-government relations from time to time as they are made by history and geography and bind together by a common culture and people-to-people ties.

Landlocked Nepal's access to the sea is through India, and it imports a predominant proportion of its requirements from and through India.

The India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1950 forms the bedrock of the special relations between the two countries.

The two countries are intimately dependent on each other, Saud maintained.

(Therefore), We should utilise the relations in our favour to achieve development, peace and stability for the country, he pointed out.

Saud also reminded that Nepal is sandwiched between two big neighbours, India and China, and said, We never compare our relations with one neighbour with the other. Nepal can benefit from its relations with both, the southern and the northern neighbour, as well as other friendly countries such as the US and Japan.
Bangkok, Jan 27 (PTI) Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin attended a reception to celebrate India's 75th Republic Day hosted by the Indian Embassy here, in a special gesture reflecting Bangkoks keen interest in further intensifying engagement with New Delhi.

India and Thailand are civilisational neighbours with shared interests in strengthening the bilateral ties in all its dimensions.

A rare appearance by the Thai Prime Minister at a National Day event is a reflection of Thailands keen interest in further intensifying engagement with India and taking this relationship to a higher trajectory, sources said.

The event was attended by over 1,000 guests from the Royal Thai Government, businesses, media, academia, the diplomatic corps, and members of the Indian community in Thailand.

Sermsak Pongpanit, Minister of Culture of Thailand was the Chief Guest.

In his remarks, Pongpanit greeted the Indian government and the people of India on this important occasion and spoke about the strong linguistic, religious and cultural connection between India and Thailand which forms the foundation for deeper bilateral ties in contemporary times.

Addressing the gathering, Ambassador Nagesh Singh underlined the deep connection between Buddhism and democracy in ancient India and Indias phenomenal progress as a democracy navigating multiple challenges.

Singh also highlighted the opportunities and the imperatives to intensify bilateral ties between India and Thailand in areas including political exchanges, economy and trade, defence and security, education and culture, for the benefit of the peoples of both countries.

There was also a performance of Ramayana, known as Ramakien in Thailand, in a fusion between Bharatanatyam and Khon style from Thailand. This dance recital was presented by Ekkalak Nu-ngoen along with a group of students from the Faculty of Music and Drama, Bunditpatanasilpa Institute in Bangkok.

The retelling of the timeless epic depicting the glory of Lord Ram in seamless harmony blending traditional dance forms of both countries received wide appreciation.

The timeless epic of Ramayana holds a very special place both in India and Thailand. It has been adapted as Ramakien in Thailand.

It is the story of Lord Rama, the Prince of Ayodhya or Ayutthaya. In the Thai adaptation, Lord Rama becomes Phra Ram. Both versions, however, extol the same virtues of sacrifice, duty, devotion, and triumph of good over evil. This epic is an exemplar of the shared cultural consciousness of India and Thailand as similar values are cherished in both cultures.

Bangkok is also known for its gastronomic diversity and richness.

Befitting the event, Garima Arora, a Michelin Star Indian chef in Bangkok presented an innovative and contemporary selection of Indian cuisine to the guests. Ms Arora became the first Indian woman to win a Michelin star in 2018 and she got her second star in 2023.
Rajgarh, Jan 27 (PTI) The authorities have initiated a probe after a sarpanch from Madhya Pradesh alleged that he was not allowed to hoist the tricolour in their village on Republic Day due to his caste. Congress Digvijaya Singh said he faced discrimination for being a Dalit.



The alleged incident took place in Tarena village panchayat under Biora tehsil in Rajgarh district.

Instead of him, sarpanch Man Singh Verma alleged, an employment assistant named Lakhan Singh hoisted the national flag during an event in their village on January 26. It happened because I am a Varma, he said.

Biora Janpad Panchayats Chief Executive Officer Ishwar Verma said that the sarpanch has complained that he was not allowed to hoist the tricolour on Republic Day.

A probe is being conducted and further action will be taken after it, Verma said.

Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh demanded action against the employee, who hoisted the flag in place of the sarpanch, and asked if it was a crime to be from the Scheduled Caste.

Does the sarpanch not have the right to hoist the flag in the Panchayat Bhawan? I request the chief minister that such guilty Rojgar Sahayak Lakhan Singh should be immediately suspended and action should be taken under Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Mumbai, Jan 27 (PTI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will meet Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange on Saturday at Vashi in neighbouring Navi Mumbai, where the latter has been camping with thousands of protesters over the demand for reservation to his community, officials said.

CM Shinde's meeting with Jarange assumes significance after the state government on Friday night came out with a draft ordinance regarding the reservation demands of Marathas.

The government came out with the ordinance as per Jarange's demand, and a team of government officials visited him last night at the camp site.

During his speech on Friday, Jarange had warned that he and his supporters would enter Mumbai on Saturday for their planned protest at Azad Maidan ground if their demands were not met by Friday night.

He also made a fresh demand that the government amend its free education policy to include all Marathas until the benefit of reservation becomes available for the entire community.

He has sought data of the 37 lakh Kunbi certificates issued by the state government. Kunbi, an agrarian community, falls in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category, and Jarange has been demanding Kunbi certificates for all Marathas.

The activist suddenly emerged into limelight in September 2023 when police used force to break up the gathering at his indefinite fast at Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district. He launched another round of fast later, forcing the government to initiate talks with him.

The Maharashtra government had earlier enacted a law to provide reservation in government jobs and admissions to educational institutes to the politically as well as numerically dominant Maratha community, but it was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2021.
Mhow, Jan 27 (PTI) Renowned trap shooter Preeti Rajak has become the Indian Army's first woman subedar following an out of turn promotion after her silver medal performance at the 19th Asian Games held in Hangzhou in China, an official said on Saturday.

Rajak joined the Army in the Corps of Military Police in December 2022 on the basis of her performance in Trap Shooting, and she was also the first sportswomen from the shooting discipline to be inducted in the rank of havildar, Mhow-based Army Marksmanship Unit's Subedar Major Rajendra Thapa said in a press release.

Based on her stellar performance in the 19th Asian Games held in Hangzhou in China in 2022, where Rajak won a silver medal in the Trap Shooting Team Event, she was awarded an out of turn promotion to the rank of subedar, Thapa said.

"Rajak is now the first woman subedar of the Indian Army," Thapa said, adding that the AMU imparts training to Army personnel and prepares them for shooting competitions.

Apart from Rajak, among those who have trained at the AMU are Olympic medallists Colonel Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore (now a Rajasthan BJP MLA) and Subedar Major Vijay Kumar, the official said.

Subedar Rajak is currently ranked 6th in India (in Trap Shooting event among women) and is preparing for the Paris Olympic Games 2024, the AMU release said.
Buxar (Bihar), Jan 27 (PTI) Amid speculation that he may do yet another volte-face and return to the NDA, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday visited Buxar district, bordering Uttar Pradesh, to attend a function where senior BJP leader and Union Minister Ashwani Kumar Choubey was also present.

Kumar, who was accompanied by his colleague and state minister Ashok Choudhary, inaugurated the beautification work at the famous Baba Brahmeshwar Nath temple in Brahmpur, Buxar.

Notably, the project was undertaken by the state tourism department, a portfolio held by Deputy Chief Minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav who skipped the function.

No other RJD leaders were present there on the occasion.

Notably, Tejashwi did not attend the high tea ceremony at the Raj Bhavan in Patna on Friday, organised every year on the occasion of the Republic Day.

Immediately after the inauguration of beautification work at the famous Baba Brahmeshwar Nath, the CM offered puja there and left for Patna.

Union Minister Ashwani Kumar Choubey, who is Lok Sabha MP from Buxar, did not say much with the media and left the venue.

When specifically asked about the reason for his presence, Choubey said, When I contested Lok Sabha polls from Buxar for the first time, I had come to this temple along with the CM. This time also I was present here when the chief minister came for the inauguration. There is nothing to comment on this.

It may be recalled that Kumar had in July 2022 laid the foundation stone for the beautification project at Baba Brahmeshwar Nath temple complex. It is an ancient temple of Lord Shiva.

Devotees throng the shrine to offer prayers throughout the year, especially during Falgun and Shravan months.

Local people have been demanding for the last several years that Raghunathpur railway station in Brahmpur division be renamed after Baba Brahmeshwar Nath.
Kolkata, Jan 27 (PTI) Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday asserted that the presence of opposition leaders at the consecration of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya could have relegated them to a supporting role in a programme which, he claimed, belonged to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Supporting the Congress leaderships decision to skip the January 22 event, Tharoor expressed willingness to visit the temple after the general elections are over when all the political focus on the shrine dies down.

"The Congress' position is very very clear. The Congress party members are free to have their own religion and religious beliefs, and everyone's religion is respected by the party. So I go to temples to pray, and not to political events," the Thiruvananthapuram MP said here.

"This particular event (consecration of Ram temple) was essentially going to relegate the opposition invitees to a kind of supporting role for a prime ministerial starring spectacle. I did not think that Congress needed to play such a supporting role," he told reporters.

Senior Congress leaders including party president Mallikarjun Kharge, former chief Sonia Gandhi and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury have 'respectfully declined' the Ram Temple consecration ceremony invite.

Tharoor further emphasised that people should understand that the BJP has no monopoly on either Lord Ram or any of the Hindu deities.
New Delhi, Jan 26 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron expressed "grave concerns" at the possibility of further expansion of the conflict in the Middle-East, including in the Red Sea.

A joint statement issued late on Friday night said the two leaders called for upholding the freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and underlined the need for respecting the international law of the sea.

Modi and Macron held wide-ranging talks at a luxury palace on Thursday. The French President was the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations in Delhi.

The two leaders expressed "grave concern at the possibility of further expansion of the conflict in the region, including in the Red Sea", which already resulted a significant economic impact, the statement said.

The Houthi militants have been attacking merchant vessels in the Red Sea since November, apparently in response to Israel's military offensive in Gaza.

"They (Modi and Macron) recalled the utmost importance of upholding freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and of respecting the international law of the sea," the statement said.

"They had detailed conversation aimed at coordinating their efforts in that region in this regard," it added.

Modi and Macron also "strongly condemned" the terrorist attack on Israel on October 7 and expressed solidarity with the people of Israel, it said.

"Condemning the huge loss of civilian lives in the ongoing conflict, they emphasised the need to respect international humanitarian law and to create conditions, including through a humanitarian ceasefire, for aid to flow to the affected population in the Gaza region," it said.

"Both leaders also called for an immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. The two leaders reaffirmed that a political process leading to a two-state solution for the Israeli and Palestinian people is required for lasting peace and stability in the region."

Modi and Macron also expressed deep concern over the war in Ukraine and its tragic humanitarian consequences.

"They underscored the need for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine in accordance with international law, and consistent with the principles of the UN Charter," the statement said.

"They underscored the growing impact of this war on the global economic system and food security, with consequences predominantly affecting developing and least developed countries," it said.

The two leaders also reaffirmed their unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism, and shared their resolve to stand together in the common fight against the global menace.

Modi and Macron further agreed that no country should provide safe haven to those who finance, plan, support, or commit terrorist acts.

"The leaders also called for concerted action against all terrorists, including through designations or individuals affiliated with groups that are listed by the UN Security Council 1267 Sanctions Committee," the statement said.

"The two sides emphasised the importance of upholding international standards on anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism, consistent with Financial Action Task Force recommendations," it added.
By Lisa Barrington

(Reuters) - The first Boeing 737 MAX jet delivered to a Chinese airline since March 2019 landed in China on Saturday, ending an almost five-year import freeze on the planemaker's most profitable jets and heralding the potential delivery of a backlog of dozens of finished MAXs to China.

The 737 MAX 8 left Seattle Boeing field in Washington state on Wednesday after being handed over to China Southern Airlines, stopping in Hawaii and the Northern Mariana Islands before its final leg to Guangzhou in southern China, tracking data from FlightRadar24 shows.

China, which was the first country to ground MAX jets after two MAX 8 accidents in 2018 and 2019 that killed nearly 350 people, gave Boeing permission last month to resume deliveries of its 737 MAX 8 to local customers.

While safety bans on the MAX have been lifted, new MAX deliveries had remained on hold since early 2019 as tensions between Washington and Beijing over issues ranging from technology to national security intensified.

China's green-light is a boost to the U.S. planemaker, which has been hit by the fallout from a mid-air blowout of a cabin panel on a 737 MAX 9 jet operated by Alaska Airlines, including the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration barring Boeing from expanding production of its best-selling narrowbody planes. No Chinese airlines operate MAX 9 aircraft.

Chinese airlines have at least 209 MAX planes on order from Boeing, according to aviation data provider Cirium.

Boeing said in October that 85 of 250 finished MAX planes it had in its inventory were being held for customers in China. More MAX jets were being held for Chinese customers but due to the import freeze Boeing last year remarketed 55 of them to other customers.

The FAA's unprecedented intervention in production schedules could further delay some deliveries of new planes to airlines and hurt suppliers already reeling from an earlier MAX crisis and the pandemic.

Providing Beijing continues to permit MAX imports, China looks unlikely to be affected by Boeing's production constraint as dozens of planes for Chinese customers stand ready for delivery.

Story continues

Chinese airlines are estimated to take delivery of 64 MAX 8 jets in 2024, and 58 in 2025, Cirium data shows.

"Our data indicates that every single one of these expected (2024) deliveries has already flown and is in Boeing's current production inventory," said Rob Morris, head of global consultancy at Ascend by Cirium.

"There is potential for a significant number of these aircraft to be delivered," Morris said.

The MAX handover comes after Boeing in December made its first direct delivery of a 787 Dreamliner to a Chinese customer since 2019.

China is one of the fastest-growing aerospace markets, which Boeing projects will account for 20% of the world's aircraft demand through 2042.

Boeing declined to comment on the delivery. China Southern and the Civil Aviation Administration of China did not respond to requests to comment.

(Reporting by Lisa Barrington; Editing by Kim Coghill)
New Delhi, Jan 27 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Diamond Jubilee celebration of the Supreme Court on Sunday, his office said.

Unveiling the 75th year of the Supreme Court, Prime Minister Modi will launch citizen-centric information and technology initiatives that include Digital Supreme Court Reports (Digi-SCR), Digital Courts 2.0 and a new website of the apex court, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

He will also address the gathering on the occasion.

The Supreme Court held its inaugural sitting on January 28, 1950.

Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate the Diamond Jubilee celebration of the Supreme Court of India on January 28 at 12 noon at the Supreme Court auditorium, the statement said.

The Digital Supreme Court Reports (SCR) will make Supreme Court judgments available to citizens free of cost and in the electronic format, it said.

The key features of Digi-SCR are that all 519 volumes of Supreme Court reports since 1950, covering 36,308 cases, will be available in the digital format, bookmarked, user-friendly and with open access, the statement said.

The Digital Courts 2.0 application is a recent initiative under the e-Courts project to make court records available to judges of district courts in the electronic form. This is coupled with the use of artificial intelligence for transcribing speech to text on a real-time basis.

Prime Minister Modi will also launch the new website of the Supreme Court which will be in a bilingual format in English and Hindi, and has been redesigned with a user-friendly interface, according to the statement.

This would be followed by the sitting of a Ceremonial Bench of the Supreme Court in the Chief Justice Court at 3:30 pm. It will be presided by the Chief Justice of India along with companion judges of the court.

The chief justices of high courts and former judges of the Supreme Court will also be a part of this occasion which will be also addressed by the Chief Justice of India, the Attorney General for India and the President of the Supreme Court Bar Association.
New Delhi, Jan 27 (PTI) Crisis gripped the INDIA bloc as JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar indicated a switch to the NDA and his party said on Saturday that the opposition alliance was collapsing, with the Congress alleging that the BJP is doing its best to cause a "mini implosion" in the coalition.

The Congress, however, also exuded confidence that both Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, being co-architects of the INDIA bloc, would remain a part of the alliance and said efforts were on by the Congress president to reach out to both of them.

Earlier, West Bengal Chief Minister Banerjee had announced that her party TMC will fight the Lok Sabha elections "alone" in the state, and if Kumar decides to return to the NDA fold, it will be another big blow to the opposition front formed to take on the BJP.

"Personally, yes the optics could have been better. There is no implosion. But the BJP is working overtime to ensure there is a minimum implosion if not a maximum implosion," Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said when asked about the developments.

He also claimed that no one is unhappy, but admitted that the seat-sharing talks are difficult as everyone wants more seats.

"We expect INDIA to move forward. The situation could be better. I won't say it is tense," he said.

Ramesh also claimed that they have finalised seat-sharing in many states but have not announced yet.

In the crucial state of Uttar Pradesh, which has 80 Lok Sabha constituencies, the Samajwadi Party announced that it has offered 11 seats to the Congress, with former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav asserting that their alliance is "off to a good start".

Ramesh said senior leader Ashok Gehlot is holding talks with the SP chief over seat-sharing and it is taking place in a positive and constructive environment.

"We will inform you once a formula is finalised," he said.

Speaking in Karnataka, Kharge said his party expects that those who have the desire to protect the country's Constitution and democracy, will definitely not take any hasty steps.

He said the Congress will make all efforts to keep the INDIA bloc united, though he added that he has no clarity as to what is in the JD(U) leadership's mind.

Responding to a question on the possibility of JD(U) going out of the INDIA alliance, Kharge said, "Are they (JD(U)) going out? I have not got any information about it so far. I have written a letter to them (JD(U) leadership) and have tried to talk to them. I don't know clearly what is in their minds."

JDU general secretary K C Tyagi said the INDIA alliance is on the brink of collapse.

"We had succeeded in bringing all non-Congress parties together but the (alliance) is falling apart. In Punjab and Bihar, the (INDIA) alliance has nearly collapsed. Similarly, in West Bengal, the alliance is falling apart. Meanwhile, in Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav has asked Congress to work with an open heart," Tyagi said.

He said Kumar never hankered after any position in the alliance but a section of the Congress leadership repeatedly insulted him. Tyagi said he could not see how the INDIA bloc parties could fight the "all-powerful" BJP.

The Bihar chief minister succeeded in bringing together several parties in Patna but the entire process became so limp that the INDIA bloc has had no joint meetings on leadership and agenda even though the Lok Sabha elections are now round the corner.

The Congress, however, asserted that the INDIA bloc is not imploding even though the BJP is trying its best to cause "mini-implosions" in the opposition alliance.

Ramesh said Kharge has been trying to speak with Kumar and his office has responded. But the two are unable to connect due to their pre-occupations, the Congress general secretary said.

He also recited a Bhagwad Gita shloka which talked about betrayal with friends while taking a swipe at Kumar. He claimed that Kumar has been categorically saying that we have to fight and defeat the BJP.

Ramesh also said that Kharge has already established contact with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and has also written to her.

"I am hopeful that Mamata Banerjee and Nitish Kumar, being co-architects of the opposition alliance, will continue to be part of the INDIA bloc," Ramesh said.

"I am sure the BJP is doing its best but I believe even insofar as the CM of Bihar is concerned, he was the co-architect of the INDIA bloc and hosted the meeting in Patna on June 23, the first meeting of the opposition parties. He came to Bengaluru and Mumbai and made major contributions," Ramesh said.

He also said that during the INDIA bloc meetings, Nitish Kumar had categorically stated that "we have to fight the BJP and defeat it". He had also criticised the prime minister.

"We are willing to take any step to strengthen the INDIA" bloc, he said.

All eyes were, meanwhile, on Nitish Kumar with the JD(U) chief appearing to be inching towards another U-turn.

For Kumar, who has maintained a deafening silence over the turmoil in the 'Mahagathbandhan', ignoring pleas from allies RJD, Congress and the Left to clear the confusion, it was business as usual as he attended official events in Patna and Buxar.

Meanwhile, at a party meeting, state BJP leaders stopped short of making a formal announcement of support to the JD(U) chief in the event of his pulling out of the 'Mahagathbandhan'.

BJP sources said instructions have been received from the top leadership to put on hold "any formal announcement" till Kumar, who had dumped the NDA less than three years ago, resigns.

The RJD separately held a party meeting in Patna and the Congress convened a meeting of its legislators in Purnea.

Kumar had joined hands with RJD, founded by his former arch-rival Lalu Prasad, in August 2022 after he severed ties with the BJP.

In view of the fast-moving political developments in Bihar, the Congress appointed former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel as senior observer and he is headed to Patna on Saturday itself to talk to other parties and take stock of the situation within the party.

Congress' Bihar in-charge Mohan Prakash said this time the people of the state may not consider this an appropriate step and will give their verdict in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

He also exuded confidence that the Congress MLAs would not switch and stay united, asserting that "no one will be able to take even a twig away from the Congress".
Dehradun, Jan 27 (PTI) Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar is the initiator of the INDIA bloc and his return to the BJP-led NDA will harm his image, senior Congress leader Harish Rawat said on Saturday.

He also asserted that if Kumar has any grievances, they will be addressed. "The RJD and all of us are ready to find a solution," Rawat said.

Kumar had joined hands with the RJD in August 2022 after he severed ties with the BJP. He, thereafter, embarked on a drive to bring together all parties across the country to take on the BJP and that culminated in the formation of opposition bloc INDIA.

Rawat, a former chief minister of Uttarakhand, said, "His (Kumar's) grievances, if any, will be addressed within the alliance. The RJD and all of us are ready to find a solution. He does not need to make a U-turn and taint his image."

"I do not want him to commit the mistake of taking the shelter of a party about which he used to say he would rather die than going back to it," Rawat told PTI, referring to the BJP.

"He (Kumar) was the initiator of the INDIA bloc. He holds an important position in the bloc. Grievances in a family are normal. But then solutions are also found within it," the Congress leader said.

To a question on whether the alliance was shaping along expected lines, Rawat said though its constituents are each other's rivals in many states and differences are likely to arise among them, these can be settled.

Citing the example of West Bengal, he said the communist parties, the Congress and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) are rivals in that state but none of them have said they are going out of the alliance.

On West Bengal chief minister and TMC supremo Mamata Bannerjee, he said she is the soul of the INDIA bloc and the symbol of struggle.

Banerjee has, however, announced that her party will fight the Lok Sabha elections "alone" in West Bengal

Asked about the AAP's allegations that the BJP was trying to buy its MLAs, Rawat said horse-trading of MLAs to topple democratically elected governments has always been the BJP's agenda.

"In 2016, the BJP tried to do it with my government in Uttarakhand but it failed. If the Supreme Court had not snubbed it and forced it to revoke President's Rule in Uttarakhand... then (Arvind) Kejriwal's government (in Delhi) would have been toppled and many others like the government in Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka. The BJP has done the same thing in Maharashtra also," he said.
New Delhi, Jan 27 (PTI) The Delhi Police has arrested one member of a gang of thieves who would pose as deaf and mute orphans to gain people's sympathy and access to their houses, and steal their valuables.

The police claimed that with the arrest of the 19-year-old Venkatesh, a native of Andhra Pradesh, they have solved five cases of burglaries in Hazrat Nizamuddin, South Campus, Lajpat Nagar and Rajinder Nagar area of Delhi, and one case in Uttar Pradesh's Noida.

According to a police officer, a case of burglary was reported in Jungpura of Nizamuddin on January 16 in which the victim, a lawyer by profession, stated that some unidentified persons entered his house and stole his two Apple MacBooks, a Bose portable speaker and several other miscellaneous items.

A case under sections 380 (committing theft in any building) and 454 (lurking, house-trespass or house-breaking in order to commit offence punishable with imprisonment) was registered at the Nizamuddin police station and a team led by sub-inspectors Akash Tomar and Jitendra was formed to pursue the case.

With the help of CCTV cameras and local intelligence, the team managed to apprehend Venkatesh from Sarai Kale Khan in southeast Delhi. They recovered the stolen items pertaining to the case, the officer said.

On his instance, other stolen items connected with different cases of Delhi-NCR were also recovered, he said.

During interrogation, Venkatesh said he and his associates sought financial aid from unsuspecting people by showing printed pamphlets which presented themselves as deaf and mute. They would also carry a bag to keep the stolen items.

While roaming in localities between 8 am and 10 am, they targeted the vulnerable houses, which were found to be open, the officer said.

During the morning time, the residents usually remain busy in their work and often lower their guards about unknown people at the door, the officer further said.

Posing themselves as deaf and mute and standing at the door of houses with pamphlets in their hands, they would demand financial aid. By the time the house owner got busy leaving the doors open, the thieves stole their valuables.

The pamphlets recovered from them had messages like "Request to Public" and "issued on behalf of an orphanage charity school" written on it, the officer said. It was written on the pamphlets that the donation was for "deaf and dumb" and "orphans".

Venkatesh also told the police that his other associates are from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka and commit similar crimes in various parts of Delhi and NCR, the officer said.

Another officer said CCTV footage were scanned during the investigation of the Jangpura case, which also revealed the same person had committed a theft in Lajpat Nagar in May, 2023. He had stolen Apple MacBook and a laptop from there.

"Venkatesh has confessed to committing three more similar burglaries in South Campus, Rajinder Nagar and Noida," the officer added.

The police have recovered six laptops, three mobile phones, one DSLR digital camera along with lens, one tablet, three smart watches and one JBL speaker from Venkatesh.

The police of other districts in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh have been informed about the gang and their modus operandi, the official added.
Jaipur, Jan 27 (PTI) Rajasthan Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani on Saturday expressed concern over the "decreasing" number of sittings of the House and said there is a need for it to meet more often to hold the executive accountable.

Devnani was addressing a session organised on the first day of the 84th Presiding Officers' Conference at the Maharashtra Assembly in Mumbai.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh and Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde were among those who attended the conference.

Due to the "decreasing" number of sittings of the Rajasthan Assembly, it is not possible to hold detailed discussions on all subjects. Therefore, in order to hold the executive accountable, there is a need to increase the number of sittings, Devnani said.

Committees should not be formed on the basis of parties but keeping in mind the qualifications, interests and experience of members, he said.

House committees are important and discuss various issues. Their reports can give a new direction to the working system, he added.

The speaker said such conferences should be organised in Houses across the country to train new members.

Devnani also met assembly speakers from other states, including Maharashtra's Rahul Narvekar.
Jaipur, Jan 27 (PTI) Expressing confidence of the BJP winning all 25 Lok Sabha seats in Rajasthan, party's national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi on Saturday said the popularity of India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has increased across the world.

He was addressing a media and social media workshop at the party's state office here regarding preparations for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Trivedi, according to a statement issued by the BJP, said that today Prime Minister Modi calls this period 'Amrit Kaal' because the government led by him has provided freedom from mental slavery in the country,

Today, India is moving ahead in economic growth rate and the popularity of India and Prime Minister Modi is increasing in the world, he added.

Trivedi said, "The BJP government is going to be formed at the Centre for the third time and the people of Rajasthan have made up their mind to make the BJP win 25 Lok Sabha seats for the third consecutive time."

He also emphasised on connecting with the new voters.

Rajasthan BJP chief CP Joshi said the party's aim is to win all the 25 Lok Sabha seats.

"We have to go among the public about the historic works of Prime Minister Modi in the last 10 years," he said.

Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on his part said that the workers should fulfil the responsibilities given by the party with full dedication and hard work.

"We have to work in an organised manner and win all the 25 Lok Sabha seats in the state," he said.
Thane, Jan 27 (PTI) A court in Thane district of Maharashtra has acquitted a man accused of sexually harassing and threatening a 15-year-old girl in 2016 citing lack of evidence.

Special court judge D S Deshmukh passed the order on Monday, but it was made available on Saturday.

Accused Swapnil Shrikant Kambale, 32, was booked under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment of the nature of unwelcome physical contact and advances, 354D (stalking), 506 (criminal intimidation), and under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) Act.

According to the prosecution, the incident had occurred in 2016 and the first information report (FIR) was filed that year on October 14 at the Shreenagar police station in Thane.

The victim, who was a school student at the time, accused Kambale of stalking her, making advances, and threatening her family. The charges were framed on May 4, 2018.

In the judgment, the court said there was a lack of substantial evidence to prove the guilt of the accused and acquitted him from the case.
Puducherry, Jan 27 (PTI) The opposition Congress in Puducherry will meet the President soon and seek a CBI probe into the modalities adopted by the territorial government in procuring laptops for distribution to the school students, senior party leader V Narayanasamy said here on Saturday.

The former Puducherry Chief Minister told reporters that a detailed petition would be presented by the party to President Droupadi Murmu soon, bringing to her notice the alleged 'Himalayan corruption involved in the choice of the company for purchase of the laptops at a cost of Rs 63 crore.'

He said that the government should have called for a global tender to procure the laptops but had decided on a company and purchased the computers meant for students of higher secondary schools.

He said there were several companies who could have supplied laptops of high quality, but one was at a loss to know as to why the government did not choose them and instead selected a company unilaterally for the supply of laptops.

Narayanasamy also charged the Lt Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan with running a parallel government here and said that she was indulging in only 'publicity' by claiming that the Puducherry government had implemented several Centrally-sponsored schemes to ameliorate the lot of the people.

"Soundararajan has been holding functions at various places associating only officials while the Chief Minister, Ministers and legislators were absent either at the inauguration of centrally sponsored schemes or in handing over benefits of the schemes to the targeted sections," he alleged.

He further said Puducherry was now cutting a sorry figure with "the Lt Governor running a parallel government."

The smart city scheme of the Central government involving Central funds had been kept on hold since the last one year, he claimed.



He also charged the Chief Minister with having failed to deliver on the promises made to the people during the run-up to the Assembly polls here in 2021.

"Nothing had been done to get statehood for Puducherry. There are no firm measures on the part of the Chief Minister to get Puducherry included in the Central Finance Commission," he alleged.
Elon Musk and Sam Altman Slaven Vlasic / Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / Getty

xAI is reportedly in talks to raise as much as $6 billion in funding.

Last week, Elon Musk denied a report that xAI had raised $500 million toward a $1 billion goal.

Musk has positioned his AI startup as an alternative to OpenAI.

Elon Musk's artificial intelligence startup xAI is reportedly looking to lock down billions more in funding as it continues to take aim at OpenAI.

The company wants to raise as much as $6 billion at a proposed valuation of $20 billion, the Financial Times reported on Friday. The publication said that xAI is still in the process of discussing the funding.

Musk's company is in funding talks with investors in Hong Kong, according to the FT report, which cited multiple sources with knowledge of the issue. One individual told the publication that xAI had also spoken with investors in the Middle East. One source told FT that Morgan Stanley is leading the fundraising.

Musk did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment ahead of publication. Morgan Stanley declined to comment.

The FT report comes just a week after Bloomberg reported that xAI had secured $500 million in funding toward a goal of $1 billion. Bloomberg said the company was in talks for a valuation between $15 billion to $20 billion, but Musk denied the report on social media, calling it "fake news" without further specification.

Musk has positioned xAI as an OpenAI challenger from the get-go. The billionaire initially helped found OpenAI alongside Sam Altman, but left the company's board in 2018 and has since taken several digs at the ChatGPT creator.

Musk launched xAI in 2023 and the company released its Grok chatbot the same year.

While the billionaire is aiming to compete with OpenAI, his company will have some catching up to do. In December, Bloomberg reported that OpenAI was circling a potential $100 billion-plus valuation, which would make it one of the most valuable US startups, not too far behind SpaceX.

Story continues

News of xAI's reported efforts to raise a war chest could also be a sign that Musk is doubling down on building AI products outside of Tesla. Musk appeared to give Tesla's board an ultimatum last week, saying he wants 25% voting control at Tesla or he'll stop growing AI development at the electric-car maker.

Do you work for one of Musk's companies or have insight to share? Reach out to the reporter from a non-work email and device at gkay@insider.com

Read the original article on Business Insider
A British banker is in the frame to become JP Morgan's first female chief executive.

Single mother Marianne Lake, 54, who grew up in the UK, is heavily tipped to take on the world's top banking job following a reshuffle.

JP Morgan boss Jamie Dimon handed her new responsibilities overnight, granting her sole control of the consumer and community bank.

The promotion gives her oversight of a sprawling unit that in itself would be the sixth-largest US bank by assets.

It includes credit cards, small business lending and wealth management and accounted for half of the bank's profits in the final quarter of last year.

Top job: JP Morgan boss Jamie Dimon handed Marianne Lake new responsibilities overnight

The high stakes reshuffle by Dimon comes after JP Morgan achieved the largest annual profit of any bank in US history in 2023, while its shares are up almost a quarter in the past year.

The question of who might take over from Dimon, 67, is one that looms over the industry with gossip rife on Wall Street about who will take the top job.

Dimon has repeatedly brushed aside suggestions he might step aside amid speculation that he has political ambitions.

He has been at the helm since 2006, and in 2021 the board gave him a special incentive package worth more than 40m to stay until at least 2026.

Under Dimon, JP Morgan has become the largest bank in the United States, even outgunning the mighty Goldman Sachs.

Lake has been part of the rise, succeeding in a notoriously male-dominated industry to be named one of the most powerful women in banking. If she were to land the top job she would become the second British woman to lead a Wall Street titan, alongside Jane Fraser, 56, who has run Citigroup since 2021.

But Lake, who has dual nationality, faces stiff competition from internal rivals Jennifer Piepszak and Troy Rohrbaugh, who were promoted to co-heads of the commercial and investment banking division.

Lake has been well-known to investors since she was named chief financial officer in 2013.

She held that position until 2019, when she was assigned to oversee consumer lending.

Known for her tough demeanour and self-deprecating sense of humour, Lake juggles her high-profile job with raising three children.

The Reading University graduate has joked about her reputation for enjoying a tipple  an admission that has raised eyebrows among Wall Street's largely teetotal major players.

She had her first child at 42 and twins when she was 45, deciding on both occasions to do so without a partner.

On juggling family life with the demands of her high-profile career, Lake has previously said she relies on 'a small circle of friends and my great nanny'.

Lake was born in Maryland in the US to a British father and American mother.

The family moved to the UK when she was just two.

She went to the US with JP Morgan in 2004 and rose rapidly through the ranks, impressing Dimon as she went.

Dimon said: 'JP Morgan Chase is stronger today than it has ever been, and this is thanks to our hundreds of thousands of employees and our superb senior management team.'

He has made it clear he has no near-term plans to leave but also openly mused about life after JPMorgan.

'I can't do this forever, I know that,' Dimon told analysts last summer.
Investors are often guided by the idea of discovering 'the next big thing', even if that means buying 'story stocks' without any revenue, let alone profit. Unfortunately, these high risk investments often have little probability of ever paying off, and many investors pay a price to learn their lesson. A loss-making company is yet to prove itself with profit, and eventually the inflow of external capital may dry up.

If this kind of company isn't your style, you like companies that generate revenue, and even earn profits, then you may well be interested in MGB Berhad (KLSE:MGB). Even if this company is fairly valued by the market, investors would agree that generating consistent profits will continue to provide MGB Berhad with the means to add long-term value to shareholders.

View our latest analysis for MGB Berhad

How Quickly Is MGB Berhad Increasing Earnings Per Share?

If a company can keep growing earnings per share (EPS) long enough, its share price should eventually follow. That makes EPS growth an attractive quality for any company. MGB Berhad's shareholders have have plenty to be happy about as their annual EPS growth for the last 3 years was 41%. That sort of growth rarely ever lasts long, but it is well worth paying attention to when it happens.

It's often helpful to take a look at earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) margins, as well as revenue growth, to get another take on the quality of the company's growth. EBIT margins for MGB Berhad remained fairly unchanged over the last year, however the company should be pleased to report its revenue growth for the period of 24% to RM812m. That's encouraging news for the company!

In the chart below, you can see how the company has grown earnings and revenue, over time. For finer detail, click on the image.

Of course the knack is to find stocks that have their best days in the future, not in the past. You could base your opinion on past performance, of course, but you may also want to check this interactive graph of professional analyst EPS forecasts for MGB Berhad.

Story continues

Are MGB Berhad Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?

It's pleasing to see company leaders with putting their money on the line, so to speak, because it increases alignment of incentives between the people running the business, and its true owners. Shareholders will be pleased by the fact that insiders own MGB Berhad shares worth a considerable sum. To be specific, they have RM63m worth of shares. That's a lot of money, and no small incentive to work hard. That amounts to 17% of the company, demonstrating a degree of high-level alignment with shareholders.

Does MGB Berhad Deserve A Spot On Your Watchlist?

MGB Berhad's earnings per share growth have been climbing higher at an appreciable rate. This level of EPS growth does wonders for attracting investment, and the large insider investment in the company is just the cherry on top. The hope is, of course, that the strong growth marks a fundamental improvement in the business economics. So based on this quick analysis, we do think it's worth considering MGB Berhad for a spot on your watchlist. We should say that we've discovered 1 warning sign for MGB Berhad that you should be aware of before investing here.

Although MGB Berhad certainly looks good, it may appeal to more investors if insiders were buying up shares. If you like to see companies with insider buying, then check out this handpicked selection of Malaysian companies that not only boast of strong growth but have also seen recent insider buying..

Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Lawmakers are inching closer to a deal on a bipartisan tax package that would temporarily restore some popular business tax breaks.

The Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024 would reinstate three major business-friendly benefits intended to spur investment and economic growth, allow companies to deduct more for things like research and development, equipment investments, and interest expense.

The deductions are mostly temporary extensions of former policies. Even so, experts are already at odds on whether they should be on the table in 2025 when a much larger tax negotiation is expected to take the stage.

"You often hear proponents of these business tax breaks talk about how this is going to put money in American workers' pockets," David Mitchell, senior fellow for tax and regulatory policy at the Washington Center for Equitable Growth, a think tank researching economic inequality, told Yahoo Finance. "They say it's going to increase productivity and that's going to eventually trickle down to workers, and you just don't see that."

On the other side, proponents of the trio of business incentives say they will stimulate growth across the board.

"By reducing that cost of capital, they encourage investment across the board for small business, big business, any business in any industry," William McBride, vice president of federal tax policy at the Tax Foundation, told Yahoo Finance. "Lots of studies by economists showed that this policy has been very effective in boosting business investment."

United States Capitol Building in Whashington DC with Flag (eric1513 via Getty Images)

What are the proposed business tax breaks?

If passed, they are available to qualified companies, business owners, and investors for the upcoming tax season and can be retroactively applied to past investments. While some business reliefs received bipartisan support, Jason Smith (R-Mo.) brokered the deal by exchanging business cuts for an expanded child tax credit with Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

Story continues

Deduction for research and experimental costs: Companies could immediately deduct domestic R&D investment expenses, instead of spreading them over five years. The provision would run until the end of 2025 and be retroactive to 2022.

100% bonus depreciation: The act would allow businesses to again expense the full cost of machinery and equipment until the end of 2025. The 100% bonus depreciation started to phase out in 2023. The new provision would apply retroactively to 2023.

Deduction for business interest expenses: The tax bill would restore a more generous way to calculate business interest expense deductions.

Taken together, the incentives are intended to spur investments, remove competitive barriers for US businesses and ultimately augment employment opportunities. Not to mention they are simpler for small businesses to track.

"Most of the cost for research and development is actually salaries for scientists and researchers, and the standard policy in every country has been to allow full deduction in the year they incurred so companies dont have to lock up their working capital," McBride said. "They are also particularly beneficial to smaller companies that dont have an army of tax lawyers that can deal with the complexities of the tax law."

But Mitchell argues that lawmakers are overly optimistic that the incentives will boost capital growth, and that the growth will trickle down to workers in the form of improved wages.

"On the claim that bonus depreciation will help workers, the evidence is pretty clear that the benefits just simply don't trickle down," Mitchell said. "Shareholders and executives tend to gobble up any tax windfall before it can be shared with workers or consumers."

Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO)

(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) (Alex Wong via Getty Images)

Companies that often take advantage of the interest deduction dont adjust their investment strategies to policy changes, Mitchell wrote in a research piece. Case in point: the 2017 Trump tax cuts actually tightened how much interest expense companies could deduct. A study by three Princeton researchers examined how that affected private sector investment and found no meaningful reduction.

"Companies continue to make their decisions that they're going to make regardless of this [interest] business deduction," Mitchell said.

But many companies do base other considerations based on tax laws. And one major impact is where the investments should be located.

"Many conversations I've had with companies is that it probably doesn't impact the amount of R&D investment that a company does, but it impacts where they do it," Ray Beeman, principal and leader of Washington Council at Ernst & Young, told Yahoo Finance. "Companies obviously invest in R&D out of necessity and competitiveness, but it impacts the marginal decision of where to make the R&D investment."

Mitchell contended that giving retroactive tax cuts to businesses is unjustified as "you can't induce investment that has already happened."

While that may be true, Beeman explained that retroactive credits helps Congress incentivize companys future behavior. "Congress has many, many times done tax extenders retroactively on things," he said.

Business groups such as the US Chamber of Commerce and Business Roundtable, a lobbying association based in Washington D.C., have voiced their support for the proposed legislation.

"Failing to act will only compound the harm of recent automatic tax increases on companies that are investing in research and development and buying new equipment," Neil Bradley, chief policy officer at the US Chamber of Commerce, said, "the very activities we need them to do to help grow our economy and lift wages."

While experts dont see eye to eye on the value or validity of business tax cuts, they agreed that thrashing out a substantial deal like this one is a step in the right direction.

"Putting a bipartisan bill together will always require compromises," Mitchell said. "So trading the business tax provisions for the child tax credit, a powerful and proven way to reduce childhood poverty, is worthwhile."

Rebecca Chen is a reporter for Yahoo Finance and previously worked as an investment tax certified public accountant (CPA).

Click here for the latest personal finance news to help you with investing, paying off debt, buying a home, retirement, and more

Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance
Former City Council General Seat Councilman Richard Ollis laughs with City Manager Jason Gage before the Springfield City Council meeting on Monday, April 17, 2023.

The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce presented its prestigious 2024 Springfieldian Award to Richard Ollis on Friday. The announcement was made at the Chambers 2024 Annual Meeting at the Oasis Hotel & Convention Center, where Ollis was honored for his transformative impact on both the business landscape and community spirit of Springfield.

Our Springfieldian is not a status quo person, he is a change agent, former Chamber president Jim Anderson said in the release. Hes innovative, hes creative. He leads by example and does the right thing."

A lifelong resident of Springfield, Ollis is a fourth-generation Springfield business leader. Ollis earned his bachelors degree in finance from Missouri State University and currently serves on the College of Business Advisory Board. He also oversees 50 professionals as CEO of Ollis/Akers/Arney Insurance & Business Advisors. Ollis has also hosted the radio show Insurance Talk, and publishes regular columns in the Springfield Business Journal.

Ollis is dedicated to public service. He is a veteran of the U.S. Navy and served two terms on city council. According to the Chamber news release, Ollis has been a driving force behind vital community initiatives. One such is example is Restore SGF, an effort to reinvest in Springfields historic neighborhoods.

Richard has three qualities which I think make him a very deserving recipient, Springfield Mayor Ken McClure said in the release. The first I found is a vision, whether that relates to the business in which he works, or other community activities. The second is the ability to articulate that vision. And finally, the ability to figure out what steps need to be taken to carry out the vision.

About the Springfieldian Award

The Springfieldian award is the most coveted honor awarded by the Springfield Chamber of Commerce. It is given each year to an individual who exemplifies outstanding community service, excellence in his or her field, and dedication to improving the quality of life in Springfield.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Richard Ollis named 2024 Springfieldian by Chamber of Commerce
Shanghai remains magnet for global companies, with record foreign investment utilization in 2023

Xinhua) 10:12, January 27, 2024

Photo taken on Nov. 3, 2021 shows the night scenery in east China's Shanghai. (Photo by Zhang Qiangjun/Xinhua)

SHANGHAI, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Standing at the forefront of China's reform and opening up, Shanghai registered record high actual utilization of foreign investment totaling 24 billion U.S. dollars in 2023, remaining a much favored destination for international investments.

The city's gross domestic product (GDP) hit 4.72 trillion yuan (about 664.1 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, up 5 percent year on year, according to the government work report delivered at the annual session of the municipal people's congress.

Last year, Shanghai saw an increase of 65 regional headquarters of multinational companies and 30 foreign-funded research and development centers, bringing the total number to 956 and 561, respectively.

"The data shows that Shanghai's attractiveness to foreign investment has not declined. The city is still regarded as a pioneer and pacesetter of China's reform and opening up by international investors," said Chen Huawen, head of Shanghai's Minhang District and a deputy to the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress.

Dora Liu, deputy CEO of Deloitte China, also a deputy to the municipal legislature, said that as the foreign investment utilization reached a record high, the structure and quality of foreign investment have also been optimized, which echoes with China's high-quality development.

Moderna, a biotech giant from the United States, signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization and the Minhang District government in July last year. With an estimated investment of 3.6 billion yuan, the project is one of the largest foreign investments in China's biomedical field.

To facilitate the investment, the district set up a special work team working around the clock to address relating issues. It took the company about only three months to start the construction of its first pharmaceutical plant in China following the signing of the investment agreement.

Allen & Gledhill LLP, one of the leading law firm from Singapore with a history of 120 years, opened its first representative office in China on Wednesday in Shanghai's Pudong District.

The promising market in Shanghai and the welcoming business environment are the key reasons to invest in Shanghai, according to the firm.

"We are looking forward to expanding our business in China and eager to see how we can better serve our clients with this new venture," said Jerry Koh, Managing Partner of Allen & Gledhill LLP, also expressing his confidence on the Lujiazui Financial City, which has advantages including a high level of internationalization and business service.

According to Shanghai's government work report, a new round of reform on business environment with 150 tasks and measures will be carried out this year. It will improve the communication mechanism, upgrade the service for key enterprises and take steps to align with high-standard international economic and trade rules.

"To attract more quality enterprises and businesses from all over the world, we plan to visit more headquarters of international companies abroad this year. We will communicate with their executives face to face, to enhance their confidence of investing and developing their businesses in Shanghai," said Chen, head of Minhang District.

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Wu Chaolan)
Naperville is no longer looking into the possibility of a city-curated sign-up sheet for local residents willing to host migrant families.

City staff, at the suggestion of Naperville City Councilman Josh McBroom at a council meeting last week, had been researching the idea and found other agencies are pursuing similar work and therefore it was not necessary for further city consideration, City Manager Doug Krieger said this week in a memorandum to council members.

Consequently, the matter will not appear on a future city council agenda, the memo said.

Since August 2022, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has sent more than 34,900 migrants to the Chicago area on the grounds that his state cannot handle the influx of people arriving from the south on its own. Typically, the migrants have been brought to Illinois by buses that drop them at designated locations in Chicago or deliver them to suburbs, where they are taken to the city by Metra trains.

To date, six buses carrying migrants have left passengers at Napervilles downtown Metra station since Dec. 21, according to city spokeswoman Linda LaCloche.

With the new precedent of buses arriving unannounced at suburban stations, McBrooms suggestion of a sign-up list was made for those who might willing to offer migrant housing, which he described as a way the city could offer help without setting up initiatives requiring the use of taxpayer dollars.

He said that while some suburbs have responded with regulations establishing when and where buses can drop off migrants, that was not something he thought the city should pursue.

There was enough support from the council for staff to be directed to vet the sign-up sheet idea.

McBroom said Friday he had not heard from any resident wanting to be placed on the housing list.

I guess we dont have any demand in the town for it, he said. I mean, I made this proposal and not a single person in our entire town contacted me and said, Hey Josh, is the list ready? Wheres the list? Can I sign up  and house a migrant?'

The city, however, did receive a significant amount of feedback regarding McBrooms proposal, Krieger said in his memo.

Asked about the nature of the feedback, LaCloche said people offered their opinions via email and phone calls but she declined to elaborate on the content of the comments received.

Staff believed it was redundant to explore McBrooms idea further once they learned several organizations were already collecting names of people willing to house migrants, LaCloche confirmed.

Those organizations, she said, include the Federal Emergency Management Agencys Shelter and Services program, the Illinois Department of Human Services, Housing Action Illinois, Catholic Charities and New Life Centers.

According to McBroom, the sign-up sheet idea was conceived as a polite challenge to individuals in our community and surrounding communities who support open border policy, he said.

Theres people that maybe (thought) I was pulling a stunt. Or Ive been accused of making a joke. Im proposing a solution. Not with tax dollars. Not with anything publicly funded. But if people arent going to pressure their congressmen and congresswomen to get a hold of the border and secure it, then heres a sign-up sheet.

Theres thousands of homeless people. It is a humanitarian crisis. If youre not going to demand that your government secure the border, and you support these policies, then maybe you can open up your house. And I say that sincerely. It sounds like we dont have anyone that wants to.

tkenny@chicagotribune.com
Key Insights

Significantly high institutional ownership implies Prudential's stock price is sensitive to their trading actions

50% of the business is held by the top 22 shareholders

Insiders have been buying lately

A look at the shareholders of Prudential plc (LON:PRU) can tell us which group is most powerful. With 82% 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).

Institutional investors would probably welcome last week's 8.9% increase in the share price after a year of 36% losses as a sign that returns may to begin trending higher.

Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about Prudential.

Check out our latest analysis for Prudential

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Prudential?

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.

Prudential already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. 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 Prudential's earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters.

Investors should note that institutions actually own more than half the company, so they can collectively wield significant power. We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in Prudential. Our data shows that BlackRock, Inc. is the largest shareholder with 10% of shares outstanding. Meanwhile, the second and third largest shareholders, hold 4.2% and 3.1%, of the shares outstanding, respectively.

Story continues

After doing some more digging, we found that the top 22 have the combined ownership of 50% in the company, suggesting that no single shareholder has significant control over the company.

While studying institutional ownership for a company can add value to your research, it is also a good practice to research analyst recommendations to get a deeper understand of a stock's expected performance. There are a reasonable number of analysts covering the stock, so it might be useful to find out their aggregate view on the future.

Insider Ownership Of Prudential

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. The company management answer to the board and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board themselves.

Insider ownership is positive when it signals leadership are thinking like the true owners of the company. However, high insider ownership can also give immense power to a small group within the company. This can be negative in some circumstances.

Our information suggests that Prudential plc insiders own under 1% of the company. But they may have an indirect interest through a corporate structure that we haven't picked up on. As it is a large company, we'd only expect insiders to own a small percentage of it. But it's worth noting that they own UK21m worth of shares. In this sort of situation, it can be more interesting to see if those insiders have been buying or selling.

General Public Ownership

The general public-- including retail investors -- own 16% stake in the company, and hence can't easily be ignored. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies.

Next Steps:

While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. For example, we've discovered 1 warning sign for Prudential that you should be aware of before investing here.

But ultimately it is the future, not the past, that will determine how well the owners of this business will do. Therefore we think it advisable to take a look at this free report showing whether analysts are predicting a brighter future.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
LONDON (AP)  Climate activist Greta Thunberg joined a march in southern England on Saturday to protest the use of private jets and the expansion of an airport.

Hundreds of local residents and activists holding banners and placards that read Ban Private Jets" marched to Farnborough Airport, which mostly serves private aircraft. Some beat drums while others lit pink smoke flares.

The airport, located in Hampshire County about 40 miles (64 kilometers) southwest of London, applied last year to increase its maximum number of flights from 50,000 to 70,000 a year.

Groups working to fight climate change, including the organizer of Saturday's protest, Extinction Rebellion, say private jets are much more polluting than commercial passenger airliners. Flights to and from Farnborough Airport carried an average of 2 passengers per flight in 2022, the group said.

It is clear that private jets are incompatible with ensuring present and future living conditions on this planet," Thunberg said in a video that Extinction Rebellion posted on social media.

Were not going to let this continue. We're not going to let the rich few who are responsible for the majority of aviation emissions get away with sacrificing people and the planet, she added.

Farnborough Airport said that it was an important hub for business and corporate travel, and that it recognized the importance of reducing its environmental impact.

The airports environmental footprint is a fraction that of a traditional commercial airport, yet it serves as one of the largest employment sites in the region," it said in a statement.

Thunberg, 21, a Swedish environmental campaigner who inspired a global youth movement against climate change, is expected to appear at a court in London next week to face a public order offense charge. She was arrested in October during a demonstration against a major oil and gas industry conference.

Thunberg was among the activists who were charged for seeking to block access to the Energy Intelligence Forum. She denied the charge.

___

Follow AP's coverage of climate change at https://apnews.com/climate-and-environment.
The HSE in the mid-west is appealing to people in north Tipperary, Limerick and Clare to avail of flu and COVID-19 vaccines as cases of respiratory illness rains high.

New figures for the mid-west show that between December 10, 2023 and January 7, 2024 cases of flu more than doubled from 26 cases to 59, reaching a high of 63 in the previous week.

Cases of Covid-19 went from 40 cases on December 10 to 63 on January 7.

The highest amount of COVID-19 was as of New Year's Eve with 102 cases.

RSV peaked at 77 cases in the week of December 10 and has declined in recent weeks to 36 cases as of January 7.

However, the HSE say they continue to manage high levels of acute respiratory infections across the Mid-West region.

In statement this week, they said:

While the rate of increase appears to be slowing, levels of respiratory infections remain high in the region with a number of new outbreaks in healthcare settings and long-term care facilities. Public Health is currently managing ten outbreaks of flu, COVID-19 and RSV in long-term care facilities across the Mid-West.

"The most vulnerable in our community, including the elderly and those with weak immune systems remain at risk of serious illness from these respiratory infections."

The HSE is reminding the public that winter vaccines are still available from GPs and pharmacies.

Dr Breda Cosgrove, Consultant in Public Health Medicine at Public Health HSE Mid-West, said some groups in particular should consider getting vaccinated.

Flu and COVID-19 can cause serious illness for many people. Thats why were urging anyone eligible to get their flu and COVID-19 vaccines. This includes older people, healthcare workers, those with long-term health conditions and pregnant women. If you havent already had your vaccines, its not too late.

Dr Patrick Stapleton, Consultant Microbiologist, UL Hospitals Group, said:

Getting vaccinated for Flu and COVID-19 offers the best protection available against becoming seriously ill and potentially having to attend hospital for emergency care. Our data on emergency department viral illness presentations and hospital outbreaks shows now is the time of highest risk for these infections, and vaccination significantly lowers those risks.
Rather than follow the same path of so many chubby middle-aged dudes who have all of the dialogue from the mostly mediocre Batman movies memorized . . . A quote from The Bard seems apropos for Friday night in regards to progressive housing policy put forth by KC Tenants & Mayor Q:

'His jest shall savour but a shallow wit, when thousands more weep than did laugh it.'



With that, here's a couple of far more practical quotes on why IT NO LONGER MAKES FINANCIAL SENSE FOR SMALL BIZ TO OWN RENTAL PROPERTY IN KANSAS CITY . . .



David Stokes, director of municipal policy at The Show-Me Institute free-market institute: Youre just basically telling (Landlords) that they have to accept anybody who applies, no matter if they dont have any money, if they have terrible credit, if theyve been evicted all over the place. Anybody they refuse now is going to be able to sue and file a complaint. And perhaps thats what some of the people sponsoring this bill want.



Its unnecessary. Its not going to help anybody. But it is going to hurt people. And it is a total intrusion of local government into the business of being a landlord in a way that they have no right to do  and no need to do.



The ordinance will do no less than kill the rental market in Kansas City, likewise warned Stacey Johnson-Cosby, landlord and president of the Kansas City Regional Housing Alliance.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Kansas City Council passes ordinance limiting landlords' ability to screen tenants; housing providers expected to flee market A crowd of tenants' activists cheered lustily Thursday at passage of Kansas City's ordinance prohibiting landlords from asking about renters' source of income and other items. But rental experts...

KC Tenants celebrate victory in source of income discrimination ban The City Council supported the ordinance with a 10-3 vote.

Developing . . .
The arctic freeze of gun violence in Kansas City seems to be over as the weekend starts with a spate of shooting.



Here is the first report . . .

Homicide 3600 block of E 58th St.



Tonight just after 6pm officers were dispatched to 58th and Swope pkwy on a disturbance/nature unknown.



On arrival officers were led to the front of the convenience store, just outside, to the victim, an unresponsive adult male who appeared to have been shot.



Officers rendered aid and summoned EMS into the scene. EMS declared the victim deceased at the scene.



People who were at the scene when police arrived told officers there was an argument inside the business between the victim and at least one other person. That argument escalated and shots were fired, and the victim was struck.



Detectives and crime scene investigators are processing the scene for evidence, canvassing for witnesses and speaking to people who were at the scene.



There is not anyone in custody at this time and there is not any suspect information.



If anyone was in this area tonight and has any information they are asked to contact Homicide detectives directly at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted anonymously to the TIPS hotline.



We are committed to assisting victims of violent crimes through use of Missouris Protection Program for Victims/Witnesses of Violent Crime. Funding for temporary, or even permanent relocation, may be available but is subject to pre-approval by the States administering agency.



We are working with Partners for Peace in all our homicide investigations to monitor risks for retaliation and provide social services to affected residents.

##################



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

KCPD investigating homicide near E. 58th, Swope Parkway The shooting was reported just after 6 p.m. in the area of E. 58th Street and Swope Parkway.

Kansas City police investigating homicide at 58th Street, Swope Parkway There's no information on what led to the violence or the suspect.

Argument inside business leads to shooting death of man in KCMO The Kansas City Police are investigating a homicide near the area of the 3600 block of East 58th Street.

Man dies in shooting outside Country View Market in east Kansas City, police say A man died in a shooting Friday night in east Kansas City, Missouri, police said. Officers were called to 3600 block of east 58th Street about 6:08 p.m.

Developing . . .
We can readily understand why investors are attracted to unprofitable companies. For example, biotech and mining exploration companies often lose money for years before finding success with a new treatment or mineral discovery. But while the successes are well known, investors should not ignore the very many unprofitable companies that simply burn through all their cash and collapse.

Given this risk, we thought we'd take a look at whether Australian Vanadium (ASX:AVL) shareholders should be worried about its cash burn. In this article, we define cash burn as its annual (negative) free cash flow, which is the amount of money a company spends each year to fund its growth. The first step is to compare its cash burn with its cash reserves, to give us its 'cash runway'.

See our latest analysis for Australian Vanadium

How Long Is Australian Vanadium's Cash Runway?

A company's cash runway is the amount of time it would take to burn through its cash reserves at its current cash burn rate. In June 2023, Australian Vanadium had AU$27m in cash, and was debt-free. Looking at the last year, the company burnt through AU$17m. So it had a cash runway of approximately 19 months from June 2023. That's not too bad, but it's fair to say the end of the cash runway is in sight, unless cash burn reduces drastically. Depicted below, you can see how its cash holdings have changed over time.

How Is Australian Vanadium's Cash Burn Changing Over Time?

Whilst it's great to see that Australian Vanadium has already begun generating revenue from operations, last year it only produced AU$31k, so we don't think it is generating significant revenue, at this point. Therefore, for the purposes of this analysis we'll focus on how the cash burn is tracking. With the cash burn rate up 39% in the last year, it seems that the company is ratcheting up investment in the business over time. However, the company's true cash runway will therefore be shorter than suggested above, if spending continues to increase. Admittedly, we're a bit cautious of Australian Vanadium due to its lack of significant operating revenues. We prefer most of the stocks on this list of stocks that analysts expect to grow.

Story continues

Can Australian Vanadium Raise More Cash Easily?

Given its cash burn trajectory, Australian Vanadium shareholders may wish to consider how easily it could raise more cash, despite its solid cash runway. Issuing new shares, or taking on debt, are the most common ways for a listed company to raise more money for its business. Commonly, a business will sell new shares in itself to raise cash and drive growth. By looking at a company's cash burn relative to its market capitalisation, we gain insight on how much shareholders would be diluted if the company needed to raise enough cash to cover another year's cash burn.

Australian Vanadium's cash burn of AU$17m is about 17% of its AU$99m market capitalisation. Given that situation, it's fair to say the company wouldn't have much trouble raising more cash for growth, but shareholders would be somewhat diluted.

How Risky Is Australian Vanadium's Cash Burn Situation?

On this analysis of Australian Vanadium's cash burn, we think its cash runway was reassuring, while its increasing cash burn has us a bit worried. Even though we don't think it has a problem with its cash burn, the analysis we've done in this article does suggest that shareholders should give some careful thought to the potential cost of raising more money in the future. On another note, Australian Vanadium has 5 warning signs (and 3 which can't be ignored) we think you should know about.

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of companies insiders are buying, and this list of stocks growth stocks (according to analyst forecasts)

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Lots to consider in this post as we share some of the notes we've been reading on regarding local legacies, neighborhoods, nice people and family friendly reporting.



Check TKC news gathering . . .

'Mother Teresa of Kansas City': Remembering Sister Berta Sailer, the co-founder of Operation Breakthrough A woman dubbed the "Mother Teresa of Kansas City" has died at the age of 87.

Kansas City business uses Chiefs Championship cookies to bring people together Best Regards Bakery & Cafe always has Chiefs cookies on deck, but during the playoffs, they bring out their best ideas yet.

Overland Park became the latest JoCo city to allow residents to keep backyard chickens. Overland Park became the latest JoCo city to embrace a popular movement and allow residents to keep backyard chickens.

Kansas City mom saw home as path to a better life; it gave her sons lead poisoning instead When Heather Ross moved into a rental home in the Blue Hills neighborhood in October 2020 to escape domestic violence, she described it as the moment she thought she found her freedom.

Brittany Mahomes: Son Bronze's 'severe allergic reaction' that led to ER visit was 'one of the scariest experiences of my life' The Kansas City Current co-owner revealed in August that she had to rush the 1-year-old to the ER after learning he is "highly highly allergic to peanuts."

Kansas City has plenty of kid-friendly restaurants and bars to enjoy with the whole family Going out with little ones doesn't have to mean sacrificing a delicious meal or cool atmosphere. These Kansas City-area coffee shops, restaurants and breweries offer comfortable spaces for parents and caregivers to enjoy their time out of the house with the wiggly bunch.
The booming economy under the leadership of Prez Biden is a constant refrain voters have endured for months leading into campaign season.

Now mainstream news sings the chorus this week:

CNBC: The U.S. economy grew at blistering 3.3% pace in Q4 while inflation pulled back

We don't dispute the numbers . . .

But for those of us on the low end . . . They really don't matter.

A quick look KCMO doesn't offer much confirmation of an economic boom in the aftermath of a historic year for homicides and continued fighting over low-income housing and hobos stinking up the bus.

Still . . .

We'll also stipulate that KCMO is much cheaper than other places.

Meanwhile . . . Rampant emigration from California doesn't always go so smoothly.

Also . . . New York sees largest population decline of 50 states in 2023: census



Subtitle for this post:

CALIFORNIA & NEW YORK EXODUS THREATENS KANSAS CITY?!?!

On the topic of the Left Coast . . . Internets is littered with stories of culture shock and threats of Californians attempting to turn their new homes into places just as dysfunctional as the cities they abandoned.

Still . . .

KC is known as a friendly & welcoming place . . . At least to start out.

And a recent report shows us that this cowtown MIGHT enjoy yet another influx of economic American refugees who will brave the MUCH SLOWER PACE in order to save money . . . Check-it:



It is half as expensive to live in Kansas City.



In New York, I paid $2,100 for a small one-bedroom apartment in Astoria. Another time, I paid $1,000 for a railroad apartment  but my bedroom was the living room. I paid $2,300 for a one-bedroom in Long Island City. In Los Angeles, I paid $1,100 for one room in a three-bedroom in the Van Nuys neighborhood.



Right now, in Kansas City, I pay $900 for a two-bedroom apartment. I have parking, a whole basement, a front patio, a back porch, and an in-unit washer and dryer. And I'm in a great neighborhood. It's called Columbus Park, and I'm right next to the river and 10 minutes from downtown.

As always . . .

Let's not underestimate hidden costs . . .

Right now the bargain on rent in this neighborhood near downtown might not be worth it if/when a "low-barrier" homeless shelter is built thanks to the efforts of Mayor Q . . . Thereby creating a little bit of sketchy "progressive" housing policy right here in Kansas City.



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
For the record, the only kind of dueling this blog advocates is traditional old school banjo contests on Hee-Haw which are still far more sophisticated than what's happening in state capital right now.

This tidbit is so silly that we saved it for Friday night . . .

To be fair, our Missouri Democratic Party pals are scared of this kind of talk because so many amongst the GOP super-majority are packing heat in Jeff City.



Here's the basics that NOBODY should regard seriously . . .



A Missouri state senator proposed reinstating a practice used by Americas founding fathers to settle disputes as tensions flare in the statehouse: duels.



If a senators honor is impugned by another senator to the point that it is beyond repair and in order for the offended senator to gain satisfaction, such senator may rectify the perceived insult to the senators honor by challenging the offending senator to a duel, states the proposal which was written by state Sen Nick Schroer.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
Its hibernate-with-hot-chocolate season, which means its already time to plan where youll be pitching a tent come summer.

It is prime time for booking summer camping right now. Ontario Parks allows campers to book sites (online at ontarioparks.com or by phone at 1-888-ONT-PARK) up to five months in advance, so everyone will soon be booking trips for the popular July long weekend, explains Dave Hunt, a spokesperson for Ontario Parks, noting that the vast majority of their parks are open for camping starting in May.

Reserving a sought-after campsite has become increasingly competitive, given that Ontario Parks visitor numbers have been climbing over the past decade, surpassing 12 million total visits in 2022.

Its hardest to score a sleepover in Algonquin, Killbear, Pinery, Bon Echo and Sandbanks  Ontarios five busiest provincial parks in the summer. Collectively, these parks account for more than 50 per cent of bookings made in the January-to-March window, Hunt explains.

But if you dont luck out with those five perennially popular spots? Consider these alternatives recommended by Ontario Parks. These parks were all chosen as they are in relatively close proximity to their busier park option, and have traditionally had more availability, says Hunt.

Instead of Algonquin: Bonnechere Provincial Park

Zoom out from Algonquin Provincial Park on a map and near the edge of the bigger-than-P.E.I. expanse, you can see comparatively quiet and wee Bonnechere. Here, youll find car camping grounds and rustic cabins, a sandy beach overlooking Round Lake, plus an easy base for exploring the Ottawa Valley. Those favouring serene recreation can paddle the Bonnechere River, while adventure seekers are within day-tripping distance of the rapids that make the Ottawa Valley the whitewater capital of Canada.

Instead of Killbear: Restoule Provincial Park

Want to brave the backcountry for the first time? In Northern Ontario, Restoule Provincial Park offers backcountry camping thats considered beginner-friendly and easy to access via canoe, kayak or paddle board. The much more experienced and ambitious can undertake a multi-day canoe trip down the French River. But if all of thats too daunting? Theres always car and RV camping in the maple forest.

Instead of Pinery: Point Farms Provincial Park

On the shores of Lake Huron, north of pretty Goderich, this stretch of southwestern Ontario has been attracting summering families since the 1870s  back when a Victorian resort, the Point Farm Hotel, opened on whats now provincial parkland. Today, you can hike through former farm fields and orchards; swim off a sandy beach; take in the regions famously impressive sunsets; and camp out with family and friends (select sites can accommodate groups of up to 45 people).

Instead of Bon Echo: Charleston Lake Provincial Park

Under an hours drive from Kingston, Ont., Charleston Lake Provincial Park offers a kid-pleasing motley of activities, including swimming, hiking, birding, canoeing, kayaking and paddle boarding. A discovery centre, open seasonally, also runs educational programming for little guests, including talks about wildlife they might spot while theyre here.

Instead of Sandbanks: Ferris Provincial Park

No, Ferris Provincial Park isnt a lazing-on-the-beach destination. But at this Ontario Parks-recommended alternative, youll get scenic lookouts (including views of Ranney Gorge from the pedestrian suspension bridge), hiking trails winding through forest and along the river, and close proximity to cute Northumberland County communities like Warkworth. And while you wont find sand dunes and swimming at Ferris, the often-full Sandbanks Provincial Park is about a 90-minute drive away  just remember to book your day-use permit in advance.
On Jan. 1, IBM put the brakes on its dollar-for-dollar 5% employee match in its 401(k) plan and began providing most of its US workers a portable "retirement benefit account."

In other words, the company has backed off a portion of its defined-contribution plan and added something more like an old-school pension.

While traditional defined-benefit pensions remain scarce in the private sector, the IBM move could inspire other companies to rethink their approach to retirement plans.

"We expect to see a continued evolution and even the emergence of additional types of employer-based retirement plans," Dylan Tyson, president of Prudential Retirement Strategies, told Yahoo Finance.

How IBM is flipping the switch on pension plans

IBM (IBM) contributes 5% of an employees salary to the accounts, which provide a 6% guaranteed, tax-deferred return for the first three years. And from 2027 through 2034, theyll yield a guaranteed return equal to the 10-year Treasury rate (currently about 4.2%).

"It helps save for retirement automatically, with no contribution required from the employee, and they can continue to contribute to their 401(k) plan as they do today," an IBM spokesperson told Yahoo Finance. The new benefit "is stable, well-funded and also helps diversify their retirement portfolios."

IBM will put 5% of employees' salaries in a retirement account instead of a 401(k) match. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

When someone moves on from Big Blue, the money that has piled up in the account can be paid out as a lump-sum amount (and be rolled over into an IRA or 401(k) plan) or as an annuity that pays out monthly benefits for the life of the participant or their survivor.

If that setup sounds familiar, the concept is not entirely new. The IBM account has the ring of a traditional defined benefit (DB) pension: Employers contribute, invest, and manage retirement funds for their workers, who receive guaranteed monthly checks for life after they retire.

The particular plan IBM launched, however, is known as a cash balance plan, which is a bit different than a classic DB plan. With a cash balance plan, employees do not have individual accounts; instead, the plan "defines" a benefit it will pay from its general assets.

Story continues

For many employees, this accounts guaranteed return without employee involvement could be a relief for a couple of reasons.

First, sweating the swings of the markets is part of the territory for 401(k) retirement savers who watch their balances rise and fall, often with little knowledge of how to adjust.

Second, its hard to get people to save at all in their retirement plans without some encouragement. When I was early in my career, it wasnt easy because I wasnt making much and felt like I needed every cent to cover my bills. Luckily, I did start thanks to my dads nagging, and I quickly realized that I didnt really miss it when the funds were lopped off pre-tax.

Starting in 2025, the SECURE 2.0 Act will require companies with new 401(k) plans to automatically enroll their employees at a minimum contribution rate of 3%. Employees, however, may opt out.

This approach has already made a sizable difference in the amount people have been able to sock away for retirement. The average total employee retirement account contribution rate is 11% of their salary for those in plans with auto-enrollment, nearly 40% higher than the rate of 8% for those hired under voluntary enrollment, according to Vanguards 2023 "How America Saves" report.

Read more: Retirement planning: A step-by-step guide

Plans with automatic enrollment had higher total contribution rates across all demographic variables, with the widest gaps for younger, less-tenured, and lower-income employees.

The IBM move is tapping into an employer benefit thats becoming an identifiable perk sought by among job seeker. (Getty Creative) (Portra via Getty Images)

Pensions as a recruiting tool

The IBM move is tapping into an employer benefit thats becoming an identified perk sought by job seekers.

"After decades of declining pension access, a pension can help employers stand out among their peers," Daniel Zhao, Glassdoors lead economist, told Yahoo Finance.

"Employees consistently rate benefits packages with a pension better than packages with just a 401(k)," he said.

More evidence of the appetite for the old-style retirement account: Roughly 4 in 10 workers with 401(k)s said "investment options that provide guaranteed retirement income" would be the most valuable improvement to their plan, according to a survey by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) and Greenwald Research.

"Ive received more calls about pensions in the past year than I have in the past decade," Jonathan Price, national retirement leader for Segal, a benefits and HR consulting firm, told Yahoo Finance.

"Recruiting teams are recognizing that pensions play a crucial role in attracting top-tier talent," he said. "I predict that at least two more companies will announce their own pension plans in 2024."

A quick history of pensions

Let me back up and share a brief recap of this seismic shift in the retirement world.

More than two decades ago, droves of employers began shuttering traditional defined-benefit pensions and substituting 401(k) retirement plans that employees contributed to themselves with a small match in funds from the employer. Today, just 11% of private employers offer pensions, compared with 35% in the early '90s. More than half of private-sector employees have a 401(k) plan, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

While pensions still rule among public-sector state and municipal employers, they have all but vanished in the private sector.

Thats why IBMs move has the retirement industry abuzz.

"Theres been talk for more than a year about the idea that corporations who have frozen defined benefit (DB) pension plans might unfreeze them, for several reasons," Mark Miller, a retirement expert and author of Retirement Reboot, told Yahoo Finance. "First, many DB plans are overfunded at this point, so dollars are available. Second, pensions are perceived as a desirable perk in the war for talent. Last, more employers are recognizing that many retirees will struggle to generate enough retirement income from savings and Social Security."

But dont expect a sea change quite yet. "Plan sponsors have been approaching this cautiously," Miller added.

Whats noteworthy is that IBM has typically been a leader in the corporate world when it comes to employee benefits. "In fact, IBM was one of the first large employers to announce a shift to an all-defined contribution (DC) retirement program in 2006," Miller added. "And that turned out to be a harbinger of a plunge in the number of employers offering traditional pensions in the years that followed."

More employers are recognizing that many retirees will struggle to generate enough retirement income from savings and Social Security. (Getty Creative) (shapecharge via Getty Images)

The retirement readiness crisis

One driver behind the curiosity over a defined benefit is that many workers face decades in retirement with a dearth of savings set aside.

While the average employer-provided 401(k) balance was $107,700, according to a Fidelity Investments report published last fall, a large portion of working Americans simply arent saving. In 2022, although almost three-fourths of non-retired adults had at least some retirement savings, about 28% did not have any, up from 25% in 2021, according to a report by the Federal Reserve.

At the same time, the retirement chasm is worsening for older, low-wage Americans. In 2019, only 1 in 10 low-income workers between the ages of 51 and 64 had set aside anything for retirement, versus 1 in 5 in 2007, according to a recent analysis by the US Government Accountability Office.

And lets toss in one more red flag rising. This year, there will be the greatest upsurge in the number of Americans turning 65 in US history  about 4.1 million. Its been dubbed the "Peak 65 Zone" in a new report from the Alliance for Lifetime Income.

Moving forward, over 4 million Americans will turn 65 each year through 2027, which is more than 11,200 every day.

Whats so magical about age 65? In general, youre now eligible for Medicare health insurance, and thats likely to trigger more formal retirements since many workers delay retiring until they no longer need employer-provided medical insurance.

So for many workers, that means their peak earnings years are in the rear view mirror, and theyll begin to tap their accumulated retirement savings and Social Security. Thats problematic for Americans who havent saved adequately, or lack the financial acumen to figure out how to spend down their savings without outliving their nest egg.

"The countrys public and private sector retirement systems have become obsolete, as has the now-antiquated retirement planning approach of focusing solely on accumulating a lump sum of savings rather than the actual income people will need for a retirement that could last 20, 30 or more years," Jason Fichtner, chief economist at the Bipartisan Policy Center, told Yahoo Finance.

"Actual income" for retirement is exactly what IBMs plan is promising  and why its getting so much attention.

Read more: How much money should I have saved by 40?

If not pension, then 'pension-like'

Even so, no one is predicting a "large-scale comeback of traditional pensions," Tyson said.

Jessica Sclafani, senior defined contribution strategist at T. Rowe Price, called IBMs new accounts an "interesting structure," but expects adoption of such plans will be limited.

Most 401(k) and similar plan sponsors arent racing to "implement retirement income solutions, but they are significantly more engaged on the topic," she added.

For instance, Fidelity Investments, which administers accounts for more than 43 million participants and 24,000 employers, announced Thursday a Guaranteed Income Direct option, which allows employees to convert all or a portion of their retirement savings  from a 401(k), 403(b), or 457(b) account  into an immediate income annuity to provide pension-like payments throughout retirement.

"The transition to retirement can certainly be an anxious time, with many people worried about not having enough money to last their lifetime," Fidelitys Keri Dogan, senior vice president of financial wellness and retirement income solutions, told Yahoo Finance. "This allows employees greater choice in their retirement income planning."

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.

Click here for the latest personal finance news to help you with investing, paying off debt, buying a home, retirement, and more

Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance
While not a mind-blowing move, it is good to see that the James Fisher and Sons plc (LON:FSJ) share price has gained 20% in the last three months. But will that repair the damage for the weary investors who have owned this stock as it declined over half a decade? Probably not. Five years have seen the share price descend precipitously, down a full 81%. So we don't gain too much confidence from the recent recovery. The million dollar question is whether the company can justify a long term recovery. While a drop like that is definitely a body blow, money isn't as important as health and happiness.

Now let's have a look at the company's fundamentals, and see if the long term shareholder return has matched the performance of the underlying business.

View our latest analysis for James Fisher and Sons

To quote Buffett, 'Ships will sail around the world but the Flat Earth Society will flourish. There will continue to be wide discrepancies between price and value in the marketplace...' 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).

James Fisher and Sons 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. Other metrics might give us a better handle on how its value is changing over time.

Arguably, the revenue drop of 4.9% a year for half a decade suggests that the company can't grow in the long term. This has probably encouraged some shareholders to sell down the stock.

The company's revenue and earnings (over time) are depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers).

We know that James Fisher and Sons has improved its bottom line lately, but what does the future have in store? You can see what analysts are predicting for James Fisher and Sons in this interactive graph of future profit estimates.

Story continues

A Different Perspective

We regret to report that James Fisher and Sons shareholders are down 8.7% for the year. Unfortunately, that's worse than the broader market decline of 1.2%. Having said that, it's inevitable that some stocks will be oversold in a falling market. The key is to keep your eyes on the fundamental developments. However, the loss over the last year isn't as bad as the 13% per annum loss investors have suffered over the last half decade. We would want clear information suggesting the company will grow, before taking the view that the share price will stabilize. 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 2 warning signs for James Fisher and Sons (of which 1 is potentially serious!) you should know about.

We will like James Fisher and Sons better if we see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out this free list of growing companies with considerable, recent, insider buying.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on British exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Those people are our people too. The words of UNC Senator David Nakhid, following the deadly
Another Blow for Ruto as Court Rules He Cannot Deploy Police in Haiti

Udaku Special

AJIRA ZA UHAKIKA NJE NJE, BONYEZA HAPA

President William Ruto on Friday afternoon received his second blow.

Just hours after the court of appeal declared the housing levy unconstitutional, another court has halted yet another of his high profile programmes.

The high court in Nairobi has termed the deployment of police officers to Haiti as illegal.

Making the determination, Justice Chacha Mwita stated that the National Security Council, which includes President Ruto, lacks the authority to deploy regular police forces outside the country.

This puts a stop to a programme that catapulted Ruto to international acclaim, more so with the West, just months after he took office.

Last month, the head of Haitis national police visited Kenya to check on the preparations for the deployment, with abut 1000 officers expected to take part.

At least 300 Kenyan police officers would have left for Haiti this February.

Although not publicly specified, they were expected to take home several thousand US dollars a month, on top of their Kenyan salaries. The entire process was financed by the United States.

It remains to be seen whether the government will appeal.
Defining joint steps to increase the production of drones for the Ukrainian Armed Forces was the key topic of talks between the Ukrainian and Lithuanian foreign ministers.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said this at a joint press conference with his Lithuanian counterpart Gabrielius Landsbergis in Kyiv on Saturday, January 27, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"We devoted a large part of our conversation to defining joint steps to increase the production of drones for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Lithuania has the technology, and we can scale up production. This was a key topic. There is a clear understanding of what, how and when to do, so that Ukrainian-Lithuanian cooperation in drone production could give the maximum result in the shortest time," Kuleba said.

He added that a "classic" agenda had also been discussed during the negotiations with his Lithuanian colleague - Ukraine's accession to the EU and NATO.

"We have common approaches here, and Lithuania, as a member of both institutions, is helping us as much as possible on the way to membership in them," Kuleba said.

According to him, the topic of the negotiations was also the issue of frozen Russian assets, sanctions and "everything that needs effective solutions."

"We have common hopeful expectations from the upcoming meeting of the European Council on February 1. There is progress regarding the opening of the European Peace Facility, which has been blocked for a long time due to the position of individual EU members. We are working to unblock it, and there are encouraging steps in this direction," the minister said.

Read also: Ukraine and Denmark to hold Defense Industry Forum with focus on drone production

Earlier reports said that Ukraine and Denmark would hold a Ukrainian-Danish Defense Industry Forum with a focus on joint projects in drone production.

Landsbergis arrived in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, on January 25.

On January 26, he visited the Kharkiv region, where a shelter will be built at the expense of the Baltic country.
The Netherlands has joined the IT coalition at a recent meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group.

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry said this in a post on Facebook, Ukrinform reports.

The new member of the coalition has already contributed EUR 10 million.

According to the post, the objective of the IT coalition is to support the Ukrainian Defense Ministry and the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the field of IT, communications and cyber security. In addition to the Netherlands, 11 more countries are part of the initiative, including Ukraine, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, and Japan.

Apart from the Netherlands, Denmark allocated DKK 91 million (over EUR 12 million) for the cyber defense of Ukraine as part of the IT coalition. The funds will be spent on the cyber security projects of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the Ukrainian Defense Ministry and are an important contribution to the long-term support of the country's cyber defense.

"Technology can help turn a positional war into a maneuverable one. The IT coalition is set to provide the necessary digital foundation for the deployment of any new technological solutions. I am grateful to the partners who continue to support us in every area, but especially in IT, cyber defense and innovation," said Kateryna Chernohorenko, Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Defense for Digital Development, Digital Transformations and Digitalization.

The IT coalition is a special group of states within the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, led by Estonia and Luxembourg. Contributions to the IT coalition were earlier made by Estonia (EUR 500,000) and Luxembourg (EUR 10 million). Lithuania and Latvia also provided assistance in the form of licenses and equipment.

Photo from clarusapex.com
Defense Minister Rustem Umerov met with Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, during which he proposed to hold a joint forum of the defense industries of Ukraine and the Baltic states.

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported this on its Facebook page, Ukrinform reported.

"Representatives of governments, the military industry, and investors will be invited to participate in the forum, and we need to convince them that these are good investments that will have a high level of capitalization," Umerov said.

The Defense Minister briefed Landsbergis on the current situation at the frontline and expressed gratitude to the government and people of Lithuania for their "unwavering support of Ukraine," in particular for their leadership in the demining coalition.

Landsbergis expressed Lithuania's interest in studying Ukraine's military experience in repelling Russian aggression, as well as in deepening cooperation in the field of advanced military technologies.

"We appreciate the fact that in a state of war, you find opportunities to share your experience with us and offer your assistance to Lithuania. We will continue to train your soldiers, but we, in turn, need to train our generals," the Foreign Minister said.

Read also: Lithuanian Foreign Minister arrives in Kyiv

As reported, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis arrived in Kyiv on Thursday, January 25. As part of his visit, the minister visited, in particular, the Kharkiv region, where a shelter will be built at the expense of Lithuania.

On January 27, Landsbergis held talks with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. The key topic was the identification of joint steps to increase the production of drones for the needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
The heads of the customs services of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia have agreed on unified control during the implementation of the European Union's sanctions against Russia and Belarus.

The Lithuanian broadcaster LRT reported this with reference to the Customs Department, Ukrinform reported.

The agreement confirms the declaration signed by the prime ministers of the Baltic states on December 20 last year. The customs authorities of the Baltic states agreed to strengthen control over sanctioned goods exported to Russia and Belarus or subsequently transiting through them to third countries. For example, they plan to require a declaration from the manufacturer of the goods.

Read also: Ukraine initiates joint defense industry forum with Baltic States

As reported, last week the relevant ministers of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia supported the decision to include Russian and Belarusian grain in the EU sanctions package.
U.S. Senate negotiators have reached a deal that should significantly restrict illegal migrant crossings at the southern border and unblock the approval of aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.

That's according to CNN, which cites sources familiar with the matter, Ukrinform reports.

"The Senate deal, which is expected to be unveiled as soon as next week, would also speed up the asylum process to consider cases within six months  compared with the current system, under which it could take up to 10 years for asylum seekers," the news story reads.

The details provide a new window into high-profile negotiations that have been going on for months  as Senate leaders hold out hope they can attach the deal to aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan as domestic and international crises loom.

President Joe Biden said the deal that Senate negotiators have worked toward is both tough and fair.

"What's been negotiated would  if passed into law  be the toughest and fairest set of reforms to secure the border we've ever had in our country," he said in a statement on Friday.

The plan would also put pressure on Republicans to decide whether to greenlight these new authorities or reject the plan as former President Donald Trump has urged the GOP to defeat anything short of what he calls a perfect bill.

Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, said in a letter to his colleagues on January 26 that Senate legislation addressing the border and aid to Ukraine and other countries would have been "dead on arrival" in the House, if reports about its terms are true.

Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images
snyferok / iStock.com

Im relatively new to Costco fanaticism. In fact, I married into it five years ago.

One of the ways my now-husband wooed me during the dating phase? By picking up body wash and shampoo for me that was a fraction of the cost that I was paying in Manhattan drugstores.

Read More: The Best Day of the Week To Shop at Dollar Tree

Check Out: 8 Aldi Meals That Are Cheaper Than Buying Takeout

I thought it was a bit extreme that he shopped at Costco for himself as a single guy. But he lived in a single-family house in Queens which had much more storage space than my 300-square foot Manhattan apartment so buying his food in bulk wasnt an issue-thanks to a second freezer of course.

After a few years together, I drank the Costco juice-the two-pack one gallon jugs, of course.

Now, the membership warehouse is where we shop for a family of four every other week and Im always finding new ways to save.

Sponsored: Owe the IRS $10K or more? Schedule a FREE consultation to see if you qualify for tax relief.

Here are 15 Costco Services to Look Into With Your Membership

Learn how you can save-even if you dont live in a home with a ton of storage.

Travel

When my husband and I got married, we wanted to go to Hawaii. We searched honeymoon travel options and got a package flight/hotel/rental car from NYC > Maui for about 5 nights/6 days for around $4000 for two people in 2018. When I tried researching round-trip flights on my own and hotels for our stay-I was a travel writer for a few years-I couldnt get anything close to that deal. So, Costco it was. They have a few international and stateside offerings to explore. You can also research flights only, hotels only, or rental cars only, or package deals with combinations of those offerings. They even have cruise options available.

Prescriptions and Pet Medications at the Pharmacy

I couldnt write this article without a nod to my father-in-law who is Mr. Costco himself (lets just say a big fan) and told us to look into pet prescriptions at Costco after hearing that our dogs daily medication costs were rising. We previously were having our dogs prescription refilled at the veterinarian but at our request, they transferred it to Costco and now we save about $20 to $30 each refill. They now offer deals on Figo pet insurance as well.

Story continues

The pharmacy also offers immunizations, prescription home refills or pickup at the warehouse, and even teamed up with the virtual doctor visit company, Sesame. Now you can use your membership to save on a primary care doctor visit.

Premium Tires

I got new tires on my used car from Costco a few years ago and was very satisfied with the service. You can schedule the installation service online or call the tire center and theyll install your tires while you shop. Costco offers a 5-year road hazard warranty and Lifetime Maintenance Services that extend throughout the life of the tires you purchase-which includes flat repairs. So when I got two nails in various tires within six months, they patched one and replaced another at no cost to me.

Home Insurance

Its always a good idea to shop around when youre looking to add a new service. When my husband and I were looking to buy our first home, we compared a few lenders and found the best rates and savings through a Costco member program, FirstBank which was part of Consumer Direct Mortgage. This service is no longer available. But, they will help you insure your home.

We saved several hundred dollars off of our annual home insurance cost by going with Costcos referred company. Costo offers business insurance, renters insurance, and umbrella policies under CONNECT.

Auto-Buying Program

We arent in the market for a new car just yet but you can bet that Ill check out Costcos auto loan program to see if it could translate into a discounted rate that we wouldnt find elsewhere.

Moving Cost Savings

Costco offers deals with Budget truck rentals to members. If you need to rent a truck or van-heck, just to get a furniture set from the warehouse home-you can save with your membership card. Members get 25 percent off the retail rates of certain rentals and products from Budget.

Baby Supplies

While it isnt surprising that Costco has a lot of products for babies, whats worth noting is that their Kirkland signature brand products are pretty good. In fact, quite a few moms recommended their baby wipes brand to me before I had kids. I discovered Kirkland formula near the end of my oldest childs first year and decided that I would try it early on for my next baby. The Kirkland Signature ProCare Infant Formula Milk-Based Powder with Iron worked great for my family and at about $28 for each 42 ounce container, I was saving nearly $15 on each package from what I was spending on other products at my local grocery store.

Specialty Cakes

My family has ordered large sheet cakes from the Costco bakery for my baby shower, christening, and birthday parties. A half-sheet cake that feeds 48 people is only $24.99. You can even get a 2-tier special occasion cake (think small wedding) that serves 16 to 22 people and is about $300 when you order it online.

Wedding and Special Event Planning

Oh yes, they went there. I heard about this service when planning my own wedding and looking into the flower costs but the logistics werent feasible. They have a lot of floral offerings-from bouquets to table runners to wedding collections, starting at $219 for their four-piece collection. If youre planning a wedding on a budget and they ship to your area, this could be a great option. They also sell rings, other jewelry, and have a partnership with Shutterfly that gives Costco members 51% off every order if youre looking for prints and gifts.

Gas

Some Costco locations also have Kirkland signature gasoline. The members-only club opened its first gas station in 1996. If youre shopping and need to fill up, why not do it with premium gasoline at a quality price. Oh, and the best day of the week to buy gas may surprise you.

Business Health Plans

Costco teamed up with the CBC Health Insurance marketplace to help you find the best health insurance options for your employees. They have consumer advocates that can help answer questions along the way while you decide on the best health, dental, vision, and voluntary options for you and your small business.

Free Tech Support

Whether you need help setting up that new TV you just bought, could use a hand with an appliance or need help troubleshooting an issue on your desktop computer or tablet, you can check out Costcos guides online or call their support number.

Free Delivery

When youre looking to buy something big and bulky from the warehouse mecca, look for free online delivery options in your area. Weve had freezers, mini fridges, furniture, food and staples delivered to our home for free once we hit the minimum. They also offer same-day delivery services for some items by teaming up with Insta-Cart.

Checks

The warehouse paired up with Harland Clarke Check printing company to offer an assortment of personal and business checks, with additional benefits if youre an Executive member. They even offer high-security checks with features like Foli holograms and thermogenic ink. Personalize checks and reorder them easily when you run out.

Costco Business Delivery

If you run a small business, you should look into a Costco membership for items you need to buy in bulk, as well as office furniture, office supplies, and storage options. You can also get bottled water delivered to your business or home through Primo Water.

Other Costco Services That You Should Explore?

Optical offerings, home solar panels, garage doors, and oh yea, caskets.

But dont look for them near the checkout aisles (ha!), theyre available online.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Im a Costco Fanatic  Here Are 15 Ways You Are Not Using Your Membership to Its Potential To Save Money
How much crime do you have?: Joe Rogan slammed this major country for going after farmers  then mocked another for slaughtering cows in the name of climate change. Here's his solution

German farmers recently made headlines for setting up tractor convoy blockades across the European nation, in protest of government tax hikes and subsidy cuts for agricultural diesel. This event caught the attention of comedian and podcaster Joe Rogan.

In a recent episode of the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Rogan launched into an expletive-laden critique of the German government.

Dont miss

How about let them be f farmers, you f c-, he expressed vehemently.

Rogan questioned the rationale behind a country's government antagonizing its farmers  the very people responsible for feeding the nation.

They're the people that grow your food, goddamn it, he asserted. Wake up, wake up to why anybody would do that  What government would make it harder on the farmers?

For its part, the German government is in a tough spot fiscally. A constitutional court ruling in the fall has forced it to revise its budget, resulting in a shortfall of 30 billion ($32.6 billion) for 2024. And its left the government under immense pressure to balance its budget, while also trying to find ways to meet its carbon emission commitments.

Rogan, however, argued that the government should prioritize other, more pressing issues instead of targeting the agricultural sector. Rogan posed rhetorical questions to highlight the range of societal problems he believes should take precedence: You're telling me that that's your number one problem is the farmers? How much crime do you have? How many murders? How many thieves? How many rapists?

He then firmly concluded, And youre going after farmers? There's no way that's positive.

Story continues

Rogans outburst underscored the significance of agriculture, a sector vital to any country for an obvious reason: we all need to eat. In the U.S., the federal government allocates over $30 billion annually to farm business subsidies and agricultural support, according to the Cato Institute.

Read more: Retire richer  why people who work with a financial advisor retire with an extra $1.3 million

Cows and climate

In that same podcast episode, Rogan didn't limit his criticism to Germany; he also scrutinized Ireland. He took issue with a proposal by Irelands Department of Agriculture to cull 200,000 cows in an effort to address climate change and meet the EUs climate goals.

Rogan posited that the real problem lies in pollution from coal power plants, not methane emissions from cows. He proposes nuclear power as a solution.

If you think you have a carbon problem, and you have thousands of coal power plants that are just pumping into the actual air that we all breathe  that's way worse, kids, and that can be fixed with nuclear power, Rogan stated.

That's what we should be concentrating on, not killing f 2,000 cows in Ireland or whatever the f they're doing, he added.

Rogan acknowledged the inherent risks of nuclear power, referencing past disasters. However, he expressed optimism about our improved ability to manage such risks today.

In our mind we connect nuclear power to destroying the environment, danger, Chernobyl, ruin forever, which is true in those areas. It is absolutely true. It's also true that it doesn't have to be that way. It's also true that they know how to do it better now. It's also true that they have better methods of containing these plants and they can actually shut them down now, unlike the Fukushima one, he remarked.

What to read next

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
In a groundbreaking move to address the long-standing issues plaguing higher education in Pennsylvania, Governor Josh Shapiro has unveiled an ambitious proposal that could make a semester at state universities or community colleges cost just $1,000 for many students. This initiative, set to be detailed in the governor's upcoming budget address, aims to tackle the challenges of disinvestment, declining enrollments, and soaring costs within the state's public higher education system.

The Broken System: A Call for Reform

Governor Shapiro, who assumed office in 2022, campaigned on a promise to improve access to higher education and enhance Pennsylvania's workforce to boost the state's economy. His commitment to this cause was evident in his first budget address last February when he declared the state's higher education system broken. Pennsylvania's public universities have faced disinvestment for three decades, resulting in diminished affordable options for students and a decline in enrollment by about a third.

READ ALSO: Idaho's LAUNCH Program Exceeds Expectations, Emerging As A Success In Workforce Development Scholarships

The Three-Pronged Plan

Governor Shapiro's proposed plan to rejuvenate public higher education in Pennsylvania is threefold:

1. Unified Governance

The plan involves uniting the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education universities with the state's 15 community colleges under a new governance system. This strategic collaboration aims to streamline operations, eliminate duplications, and enhance overall efficiency.

2. Affordable Tuition

For low and moderate-income students, tuition at these institutions would be set at a groundbreaking $1,000 per semester. This bold move is intended to make higher education more accessible and alleviate the financial burden on students and their families.

3. Performance-Based Funding

The distribution of state appropriations to Pennsylvania's state-related universities-University of Pittsburgh, Penn State, Temple, and Lincoln universities-would be based on a performance-based formula. This approach seeks to ensure accountability, transparency, and positive outcomes for students.

Support and Skepticism

Democratic lawmakers have expressed support for the plan, emphasizing its potential to alleviate the burden of student debt and make education more affordable. House Democratic leaders noted the importance of removing barriers for students transferring between schools within the Commonwealth.

While some Republican lawmakers acknowledged the need to prioritize students, they raised concerns about the plan's lack of details, emphasizing the importance of careful examination. Questions about funding, taxpayer impact, and the plan's consequences on communities hosting state universities were highlighted as key considerations.

Criticism and Concerns

State Rep. Seth Grove, the GOP's ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, criticized Governor Shapiro's plan, describing it as a "three-step plan for financial disaster." He raised concerns about unsustainable spending increases, depletion of the state's surplus, and potential future tax increases. Grove argued that the plan creates more bureaucracy and does not align with the Republican position of funding students, not institutions.

Governor Shapiro's Vision: Collaboration and Accountability

Despite the criticism, the heads of the state university system and state-related universities expressed support for the proposal. PASSHE Chancellor Dan Greenstein highlighted the benefits of collaboration between state universities and community colleges, emphasizing the potential for creating a more extensive system that adapts to the changing needs of students and employers.

Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi praised the call for a predictable performance-based funding formula, emphasizing its potential to improve transparency and accountability while ensuring positive outcomes for students.

Governor Shapiro's proposed overhaul of Pennsylvania's higher education system signals a bold and transformative vision for the future. While met with both support and skepticism, the plan addresses critical issues such as affordability, governance, and accountability. The upcoming budget address is anticipated to provide more details, and the ensuing discussions will play a crucial role in shaping the landscape of higher education in the Commonwealth.

RELATED ARTICLE: Georgia's Bold Fiscal Move: Governor Kemp Breaks Tradition With A $5 Billion Boost
EmirMemedovski / iStock/Getty Images

Americans know how pricey it is to live in the U.S., especially in major cities like New York, Boston, or San Francisco. But you might be shocked to realize that living in the United Kingdom can be just as costly  and perhaps more so!

See: 5 Ways the Middle Class Can Build Wealth Over the Next 5 Years

More: Pocket an Extra $400 a Month With This Simple Hack

Granted, the United Kingdom has one of the largest universal healthcare systems in the world, the National Health Service (NHS). This alleviates some financial strain for residents who get sick or injured. But wait times and outdated technology can impact patients quality of care.

Since healthcare costs can make up roughly 13.5% of an average American retirees expenses, even with Medicare, according to figures recently published by GOBankingRates, older Americans may consider retiring to a country with universal healthcare.

How much do you need to live comfortably in major cities across England, Ireland, and Scotland? And what other advantages do these areas offer for retirees and other expats? Lets explore the cost of living in seven major European cities.

Sponsored: Owe the IRS $10K or more? Schedule a FREE consultation to see if you qualify for tax relief.

London, England

Much like New York and Boston, London has a rich history, known globally as a thriving metropolis. And, just like its U.S. counterparts, it also has a high cost of living.

London also has plentiful opportunities for those still working, with the highest concentration of businesses in the U.K.

A single person can expect to spend anywhere from $2,852 to $3,580 monthly, depending on whether they live on the outskirts or in the city center. GlobalCitizenSolutions.com reported these figures.

Manchester, England

Second to London in terms of business and culture, Manchester is often called Englands second city, according to Hotels.com. It boasts an international airport, universities, museums, shopping and nightlife.

Story continues

However, the cost of living is roughly half what you might spend in London. Theres also less difference between living in the city center and on the outskirts.

The cost of living in Manchester, including rent, ranges from $1,712 to $1989, according to statistics from Numbeo.com, as reported by GlobalCitizenSolutions.com.

Brighton, England

England, in general, may have a reputation for being rainy and gloomy. But thats not always the case. Consider the seaside resort city of Brighton, home to a five-mile-long pebble beach lined with shops and hotels, the University of Sussex, and friendly residents. According to the University of Sussex website, it was rated 14th in the U.K. for affordability and desirability.

Its less than an hour from London, but much more affordable than Englands largest city. The cost of living for a single person, based on statistics from Numbeo, ranges from $2,083 to $2,338, depending on whether you live within or outside the city center.

Oxford, England

Home to the famed University of Oxford, this English city combines education, culture, history and a host of amenities for individuals and families at every stage of life. The Thames River offers a prime picnic location, while the city center offers a range of shopping, restaurants, and museums.

But all this culture and convenience comes at a price. Oxford is one of Englands more affordable cities than Brighton and especially London. The cost of living, according to a study completed by Budget Direct and reported by MarieClaire.co.uk, is $1,906 in U.S. dollars.

Glasgow, Scotland

Residents often praise Glasgow, Scotland, for its vibrant culture and low cost of living compared to English cities like Manchester and London, according to data from Numbeo. As Scotlands largest city, the thriving metro boasts a convenient public transportation system, low unemployment rates, and an award-winning nightlife loaded with bars and restaurants, according to InvestGlasgow.com. Startups Cities Index rated it the second-best U.K. city for work-life balance, which is important to natives and expats seeking a different way of life.

The Budget Direct study shared that the cost of living is roughly $1,281 per month, making it one of the lowest-cost cities on this list.

Edinburgh, Scotland

If youre seeking a historic city in the U.K., Edinburgh, Scotland, has you covered. Edinburgh is home to Scotland Castle, the National Museum of Scotland, sprawling parks, and cobblestone streets. The walkable city is just a few hours away from London by train and is also home to an international airport. Edinburgh is often rated one of the safest cities in Europe, according to TheInternGroup.com.

Despite all these benefits, living in Edinburgh costs less than many other U.K. cities. Individuals can expect to spend roughly $1,401 in U.S. dollars monthly.

Belfast, Northern Ireland

When were talking about U.K. cities, you dont want to forget Ireland, with its rolling green countryside, historic castles, and Irish pubs. The Northern Island capital, Belfast, is regarded as one of the safest cities in the U.K. Its also a city in the midst of a revival, with a thriving culture and nightlife.

The cost of living in Belfast is lower than Dublin, but comparable to many other U.K. cities. Monthly costs fall between $1560 and $1,875, according to data from Numbeo reported by GlobalCitizenSolutions.com.

Final Note

Whether youre looking to relocate or just visit, it helps to be prepared and know how much you can expect to spend in these famous U.K. cities. The region, as a whole, offers plenty of job opportunities, a thriving culture, gorgeous landscapes, and a rich history.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How Much You Need To Live Comfortably in 7 Major Cities in the UK
Punjab University (PU) Institute of Punjabi & Cultural Studies and Allama Iqbal Open Universitys (AIOU) Centre for Languages & Translations Studies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to stride towards fostering cooperation in education and research

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jan, 2024) Punjab University (PU) Institute of Punjabi & Cultural Studies and Allama Iqbal Open Universitys (AIOU) Centre for Languages & Translations Studies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to stride towards fostering cooperation in education and research.

In this regard, a signing ceremony was held at PU VCs office, said a press release issued on Saturday. PU VC Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood, AIOU VC Dr Nasir Mahmood, Dean Faculty of Oriental Learning Prof Dr Ghulam Moeen-ud-Din Nizami, Director Institute of Punjabi & Cultural Studies Prof Dr Nabila Rehman and others were present.

According to the MoU, both institutions will collaborate in various areas for enriching the academic experiences of students and faculty. The instructions will jointly work on research projects, seminars, conferences, workshops, publications and sharing data to facilitate faculty and students.

PU VC Dr Khalid Mahmood congratulated both institutions and hoped that the MoU would bring positive results.
President Dr Arif Alvi Saturday said the financial inclusion of special people would have a positive effect on the social and economic progress of the country

KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jan, 2024) President Dr Arif Alvi Saturday said the financial inclusion of special people would have a positive effect on the social and economic progress of the country.

He was presiding over a meeting of Chief Executive Officers and Presidents of banks on the financial inclusion of special people here.

He appreciated the efforts of the banking industry for the special people during the last two years.

He said the policy of the banking sector for the special people could also be followed in other sectors.

He urged the CEOs of banks to review the issues and challenges regarding facilities given by them in the sector of microfinancing.

The banking sector could encourage women and special persons in availing facility of microfinancing, he said adding special people could play an important role in the economy of the country with financial inclusion and education.

He expressed concern over the incidents of fraud in the banking sector and advised banks to work further on their monitoring system to detect fraudulent transactions.

He said under the instructions of the State Bank the alert system for tackling fraud in the banking sector should be strengthened.

He stressed that banks should support female employees in taking forward their careers and in achieving a better living standard for their families.

Governor State Bank Jamil Ahmed told the meeting about the policy framework of the State Bank regarding financial inclusion.

He said since June 2021, the State Bank was in contact with all the commercial and microfinancing banks and had issued instructions for the financial inclusion of special people.

He thanked Dr Arif Alvi for providing consistent support for the financial inclusion of special people.

During the briefing, he said that 387 model branches were established in 108 districts for special people, adding special people were given internships in the fields of Islamic finance, audit and branch operations. 400 special people participated in the internship programme. About 22 percent of the internees were female.
Paris, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jan, 2024) The government of French President Emmanuel Macron published the formal text of a new immigration law in its Official Journal on Saturday, with the first instructions on applying the legislation already presented to officials.

France's Constitutional Council had previously censured certain contentious additions to the bill made under insistence from the right, including measures restricting access to social benefits and the introduction of immigration quotas.

Macron had called on Interior Minister Gerard Darmanin after that ruling to do "everything in his power" to "implement the immigration law as quickly as possible", a member of the president's team told AFP.

Darmanin, who had said some measures were "clearly contrary to the constitution", described the ruling as a win for the government.

But the council's decision sparked condemnation from the right, with Jordan Bardella, president of the far-right National Rally party, criticising on X what he said was a "coup by the judges, with the backing of the president".

He called for a referendum on immigration as the "only solution".

sde/tmt/smw/pbt
Washington, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jan, 2024) Ending months of negotiations, the US government on Friday approved a $23 billion deal to sell F-16 warplanes to Turkey, after Ankara ratified Sweden's NATO membership, the State Department said.

As required by US law, the State Department notified Congress of the agreement, as well as a separate $8.6 billion sale of 40 F-35s to Greece.

Turkey will get 40 new F-16s and upgrades to 79 of the jets in its existing fleet, the State Department said in a news release.

The United States did not green light the transaction until Turkey's instruments of ratification of Sweden's membership had arrived in Washington, a US official said, highlighting the highly sensitive nature of the negotiations.

All instruments of ratification must be deposited in the US capital -- a city NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will visit next week, and which will host a summit in July to mark the 75th anniversary of the trans-Atlantic alliance.

Turkey's parliament ratified Sweden's NATO membership on Tuesday after more than a year of delays that upset Western efforts to show resolve in the face of Russia's war on Ukraine.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan initially objected to Sweden's NATO bid over Stockholm's perceived acceptance of Kurdish groups that Ankara views as "terrorist."

Sweden responded by tightening its anti-terrorism legislation and taking other security steps demanded by Erdogan.

But Erdogan then turned to an unmet US pledge to deliver a batch of F-16 fighter jets that has met resistance in Congress because of Turkey's perceived backsliding on human rights and standoffs with fellow NATO member Greece.

The powerful chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Democrat Ben Cardin, said Friday he would permit the F-16 sale to Turkey but that it was "not a decision I came to lightly."

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Turkey over two visits in the past three months that the Swedish candidacy's ratification could help break congressional resistance to the F-16 sale.

Athens has meanwhile strongly opposed the sale due to unresolved territorial disputes with Turkey in the energy-rich Mediterranean region.

The US agreement with Turkey hinged first on Athens not obstructing the sale, for which it was given access to more F-35s, the US source said.

Turkey's ageing air force would benefit from new F-16s, as it has suffered from Ankara's expulsion from the US-led F-35 joint strike fighter program in 2019 over Erdogan's decision to acquire an advanced Russian missile defense system.

Turkey's green light of Swedish NATO membership leaves Hungary as the last holdout in an accession process that Sweden and Finland began in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine nearly two years ago.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Tuesday invited his Swedish counterpart to Budapest to discuss the bid, although hints emerged of strains between the two countries.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has said he will meet with Orban, but that he would "not negotiate" with Hungary over Stockholm's NATO bid.

In Washington, it is thought that the process will take a few more weeks, with hopes of a flag-raising ceremony during the next NATO ministerial in Brussels in April.

lb/wd/acb
HARARE, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jan, 2024) Zimbabwe received cholera treatment commodities and supplies worth 265,000 U.S. Dollars from international organizations to combat cholera, said the country's health minister on Friday.

Stressing the high rate of cholera infections among children, Zimbabwean Health and Child Care Minister Douglas Mombeshora noted that the received treatment supplies, which include antibiotics and oral rehydration salts, will cater to the children.

"Today, we thank the Health Resilient Fund, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), United Parcel Services Foundation and all the partners that contributed to this donation of cholera medicines and commodities worth 265,000 dollars that will go a long way to address case management of cholera cases," he said.

Of the reported cholera cases to date, 31 percent are found in those below 15 years of age, compared with 14 percent in those under five years of age, he said.

UNICEF has lately expressed concern over the high infection rates among children in Zimbabwe, noting that one in six new cholera cases in Zimbabwe affects children under five years old and calling for increased focus on children in the national cholera response.

Zimbabwe recorded a cumulative 20,446 suspected cholera cases as of Jan. 24, 2024, since the outbreak began in February last year, according to the Ministry of Health and Child Care.

The country is set to roll out an oral cholera vaccination campaign starting on Monday, after receiving an initial batch of 892,286 doses from the International Coordinating Group.
Human rights experts are dismissing Beijing's latest claim, made again this week, that North Koreans fleeing into China are not political refugees but only illegal migrants seeking economic opportunities.

Several experts said they see the claim as simply a way of supporting Pyongyang's authoritarian system, which is similar to Chinas own.

"There [are] no so-called DPRK defectors in China. People who illegally entered into China for economic reasons are not refugees," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Wednesday at a press briefing.

His remarks came after South Korea called on Beijing to protect North Korean defectors in China during a Tuesday U.N. meeting examining China's rights records.

The meeting in Geneva was the fourth review by the U.N. Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group since February 2009. The council held previous reviews in October 2013 and November 2018.

South Korea's ambassador to the U.N. office in Geneva, Yun Seong-deok, said Beijing should stop repatriating North Koreans. He also said Beijing should consider making its refugee law comply with the 1951 Refugee Convention.

This was the first time South Korea addressed China at the UPR for its treatment of North Korean defectors. They face harsh treatment, including torture and death sentences, when they are forcibly repatriated, according to Human Rights Watch and the advocacy group Liberty in North Korea.

China is a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol. This means Beijing is obligated to comply with the principle of nonrefoulement. This "asserts that a refugee should not be returned to a country where they face serious threats to their life or freedom," according to the convention.

China's constitution says it "may grant asylum to foreigners who request it on political grounds."

William Nee, a research and advocacy coordinator at Chinese Human Rights Defenders, said, "China has consistently refused to set up a screening system" in coordination with the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees "to determine whether North Koreans who have fled to China qualify as refugees."

He continued, "Unfortunately, since the Chinese and DPRK government share the same Leninist system, it is highly unlikely that China would admit that there are political defectors in North Korea because this could indirectly cast doubt on the CCP's own system."

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been China's ruling party since the People's Republic of China was established in 1949.

China and North Korea rooted their government systems in communist ideology espoused by the former Soviet Union's first leader, Vladimir Lenin, who ruled the country with dictatorship and severe control of its population.

Robert King, who served as the U.S. special envoy for North Korea's human rights in the Obama administration, said Beijing refers to North Korean defectors as "economic migrants" because in its view, North Koreans want to take advantage of its economy.

But, King said, China is "not willing to admit that North Koreans may want to leave North Korea and go to South Korea or elsewhere" because that would suggest there is a problem in North Korea's political system and pose "concern for communism."

He said this is a way to protect China's own authoritarian government and support its restrictions on freedom, human rights and information so that it can "maintain control" of people and power.

Wang, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said during the Wednesday press briefing that Beijing "advocated the protection and promotion of human rights through security," following its own "development path" based on "the socialist nature of China's human rights cause."

Roberta Cohen, former deputy assistant secretary of state for human rights in the Carter administration, said, "China fears being held complicit in North Korea's crimes against humanity, against North Koreans who escape the country."

She continued, "China's denial of the situation is an effort to ward off international criminal charges that could well be leveled one day."

A 2014 U.N. Commission of Inquiry report on North Korea's human rights conditions concluded the regime's acts, including murder, torture and enslavement, are tantamount to crimes against humanity.

Greg Scarlatoiu, executive director for the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, said that for China to consider North Korean defectors as refugees, it would have to honor its obligation under the 1951 Convention "instead of engaging in blatant breaches of these international human rights instruments it ratified."
China sent more than 30 warplanes and a group of navy ships toward Taiwan, the island's defense ministry said Saturday.

The military pressure comes on the heels of an announcement that senior American and Chinese representatives were expected to meet in the Thai capital as the two countries seek to cool tensions.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army sent 33 aircraft, including SU-30 fighters, and six navy vessels around Taiwan, between 6 a.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday. Of these, 13 warplanes crossed the midline of the Taiwan Strait  an unofficial boundary that's considered a buffer between the island and mainland. Taiwan has monitored the situation and employed its own forces in response to the activities.

China claims self-ruled Taiwan as its own territory and in recent years has shown its displeasure at political activities in Taiwan by sending military planes and ships. Taiwan said six Chinese balloons either flew over the island or through airspace just north of it days after the self-governing island elected Lai Ching-te as the new president. Lai's Democratic Progressive Party largely campaigned on self-determination, social justice and a rejection of China's threats.

U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi were in Bangkok for talks, although it wasn't clear when the meeting would take place or if it already had.

U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on the sidelines of a summit in November in an effort to patch up frayed relations due to quarrels over a range of economic and geopolitical issues. U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said the planned meeting in Bangkok continues the commitment Biden and Xi made "to maintain strategic communication and responsibly manage the relationship."

During talks, Foreign Minister Wang would make clear China's position on Taiwan and on U.S.-China relations, and discuss international and regional concerns, ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Friday.

An immediate international concern to both countries is tensions in the Red Sea that have upended global trade by forcing many shippers to avoid the Suez Canal. Beijing said it has been making positive efforts to de-escalate the situation in which Iran-backed Houthi rebels have fired missiles at international ships.
The U.S. Navy is starting to enlist individuals who didn't graduate from high school or get a GED, marking the second time in about a year that the service has opened the door to lower-performing recruits as it struggles to meet enlistment goals.

The decision follows a move in December 2022 to bring in a larger number of recruits who score very low on the Armed Services Qualification Test. Both are fairly rare steps that the other military services largely avoid or limit, even though they are all finding it increasingly difficult to attract the dwindling number of young people who can meet the military's physical, mental and moral standards.

Under the new plan, Navy recruits without an education credential will be able to join as long as they score 50 or above on the qualification test, which is out of 99. The last time the service took individuals without education credentials was in 2000.

"We get thousands of people into our recruiting stations every year that want to join the Navy but do not have an education credential. And we just turn them away," said Vice Admiral Rick Cheeseman, the Navy's chief of personnel, in an interview Friday with The Associated Press.

He said that of the more than 2,400 who were turned away last year, as many as 500 of them could score high enough to get in. He said he has already sent an order to his recruiters to start the new expanded effort, adding, "I'm hoping all my recruiters have called all 2,442 of them in the last 72 hours, and we'll see how it goes. ... We'll try to get some test takers this weekend."

In the wake of the pandemic, the services have faced significant enlistment challenges. COVID-19 forced the military to shut down recruiting stations, and they were closed out of high schools and many public events where they historically found success reaching prospective candidates.

But even as things opened up, the military struggled to compete with higher-paying businesses in the tight job market, particularly as companies began to offer the types of benefits  such as college funding  that had often made the military a popular choice. Those economic problems were only exacerbated by the sharp political divide in the country and young people's fears of being killed or injured going to war.

Last fiscal year, which ended September 30, the Navy, Army and Air Force all failed to meet their recruitment goals, while the Marine Corps and the tiny Space Force met their targets. The previous fiscal year, the Army fell 15,000 short of its enlistment goal of 60,000, and the other services had to dig into the pools of delayed entry candidates in order to meet their recruiting numbers.

Last year, the Navy's enlistment goal was 37,700, but the service brought in just 31,834. This year, Cheeseman said, he set the goal higher  at 40,600. The total size of the Navy for 2024 is set at 337,800.

"I need these sailors. So it's a stretch goal. We're telling our recruiters to go get 40,600 people to join the Navy," he said. "We don't fully expect to get that many. But we're going for it."

The other services have largely balked at such changes.

The Navy is the only service that enlists anyone considered a "category four" recruit, meaning they scored 30 or less on the qualification test. The service expanded the number of those category-four recruits arguing that a number of jobs  such as cook or boatswain mate  don't require an overall high test score, as long as they meet the job standards.

The Army will only take those lowest scoring candidates into their so-called Future Soldier Prep Course, which gives them weeks of instruction and the opportunity to increase their score in order to make the grade and enlist. The Navy allows low-scoring recruits to go through its Future Sailor Prep Course but doesn't require an increased score to enlist.

In addition, the Army and Marine Corps require a high school diploma or GED equivalent, and the Air Force said it will only take recruits without a diploma if they score a 65 or higher on the qualification test. Those numbers are very small  just 110 of the nearly 26,900 Air Force recruits brought in last year, either had a GED or no education credential at all.

Other services cite concerns that lower-performing recruits may be more likely to wash out of boot camp or could present more disciplinary problems over time.

Cheeseman said he believes the biggest risk is that they do fail boot camp at higher rates, but he said the difference hasn't been significant so far for the low-scoring recruits brought in last year. Overall, 11.4% of those recruits didn't finish boot camp, compared with less than 6.5% of the high-scoring sailors.

He said Navy leaders had been talking about opening up enlistment to those without high school credentials for a while in an effort to expand the pool of potential sailors.

"We just finally decided, OK, let's go," he said, adding that the service was looking for other ways to reach untapped talent. "My, argument for accepting that risk is that we have capacity of boot camp. We're not filling the seats. So I'm willing to take a risk."
It was a busy Saturday morning at Marcia Gonzalez's church. A bishop was visiting, and normally she would have been there helping with logistics, but on this day she was teaching sex education at a local school.

"I coordinate activities at the church, and my husband is a deacon," Gonzalez said. "The bishop comes once a year, and children are being confirmed, but I am here because this is important for my community."

For 40 years, Gonzalez and her husband have pushed for broader sex education in the Dominican Republic, one of four Latin American nations that criminalizes abortion without exceptions. Women face up to two years in prison for having an abortion; penalties for doctors or midwives range from five to 20 years.

With a Bible on its flag, the Caribbean country has a powerful lobby of Catholics and evangelicals who are united against decriminalizing abortion.

President Luis Abinader committed to the decriminalization of abortion as a candidate in 2020, but his government hasn't acted on that pledge. For now, it depends on whether he is reelected in May.

To help girls prevent unplanned pregnancies in this context, Gonzalez and other activists have developed "teenage clubs," where adolescents learn about sexual and reproductive rights, self-esteem, gender violence, finances and other topics. The goal is to empower future generations of Dominican women.

Outside the clubs, sex education is often insufficient, according to activists. Close to 30% of adolescents don't have access to contraception. High poverty levels increase the risk of facing an unwanted pregnancy.

For the teenagers she mentors, Gonzalez's concerns also go beyond the impossibility of terminating a pregnancy.

According to activists, poverty forces some Dominican mothers to marry their 14- or 15-year-old daughters to men up to 50 years older. Nearly 7 out of 10 women suffer from gender violence such as incest, and families often remain silent regarding sexual abuse.

For every 1,000 adolescents between 15 and 19, 42 became mothers in 2023, according to the United Nations Population Fund. And until 2019, when UNICEF published its latest report on child marriage, more than a third of Dominican women married or entered a free union before turning 18.

Dominican laws have prohibited child marriage since 2021, but community leaders say that such unions are still common because the practice has been normalized and few people are aware of the statute.

"In my 14-year-old granddaughter's class, two of her younger friends are already married," Gonzalez said. "Many mothers give the responsibility of their younger children to their older daughters so, instead of taking care of little boys, they run away with a husband."

Activists hope education can help prevent girls from facing this situation.

"There are myths that people tell you when you have your period," said Gabriela Diaz, 16, during a recent encounter organized by the Women's Equality Center. "They say that we are dirty or we have dirty blood, but that is false. We are helping our body to clean itself and improve its functions."

Diaz calls Gonzalez "godmother," a term applied by Plan International to community leaders who implement the programs of this U.K.-based organization, which promotes children's rights.

According to its own data, San Cristobal and Azua, where Gonzalez lives, are the Dominican cities with the highest rates of teenage pregnancy and child marriage.

To address this, its clubs accept girls between 13 and 17. Each group meets two hours per week, welcomes up to 25 participants and is led by volunteers like Gonzalez.

In San Cristobal, also in southern Dominican Republic, the National Confederation of Rural Women, or CONAMUCA, sponsors teenage clubs of its own.

"CONAMUCA was born to fight for land ownership, but the landscape has changed, and we have integrated new issues, such as food sovereignty, agrarian reform, and sexual and reproductive rights," said Lidia Ferrer, one of its leaders.

Its clubs gather 1,600 girls in 60 communities, Ferrer said. The topics they study vary from region to region, but among the recurring ones are adolescent pregnancy, early unions and feminicide.

"The starting point is our own reality," said Kathy Cabrera, who joined CONAMUCA clubs at age 9 and two decades later takes new generations under her wing. "It's how we live and suffer."

Migration is increasingly noticeable in rural areas, Cabrera said. Women are forced to walk for miles to attend school or find water, and health services fail in guaranteeing their sexual and reproductive rights.

"We have a government that tells you 'Don't have an abortion' but does not provide the necessary contraception to avoid it."

She has witnessed how 13-year-old girls bear the children of 65-year-old men while neither families nor authorities seem to be concerned. On other occasions, she said, parents "give away" their daughters because they cannot support them or because they discover that they are no longer virgins.

"It's not regarded as sexual abuse because, if my grandmother got pregnant and married at an early age, and my great-grandmother too and my mother too, then it means I should too," Cabrera said.

In southern Dominican communities, most girls can relate to this, or know someone who does.

"My sister got pregnant at 16, and that was very disturbing," said 14-year-old Laura Perez. "She got together with a person much older than her, and they have a baby. I don't think that was right."

The clubs' dynamics change as needed to create safe and loving environments for girls to share what they feel. Some sessions kick off with relaxation exercises and others with games.

Some girls speak proudly of what they have learned. One of them mentioned she confronted her father when he said she shouldn't cut any lemons from a tree while menstruating. Another said that her friends always go to the bathroom in groups, to avoid safety risks. They all regard their godmothers as mentors who have their backs.

"They call me to confide everything," Gonzalez said. "I am happy because, in my group, no girl has become pregnant."

Many girls from teenage clubs have dreams they want to follow. Francesca Montero, 16, would like to become a pediatrician. Perla Infante, 15, a psychologist. Lomeli Arias, 18, a nurse.

"I want to be a soldier!" shouted Laura Perez, the 14-year-old who wants to be careful not to following her sister's footsteps.

"I was undecided, but when I entered CONAMUCA, I knew I wanted to become a soldier. In here we see all these women who give you strength, who are like you, but as a guide," Perez said. "It's like a child seeing an older person and thinking: 'When I grow up, I want to be like that.'"
Analysts say new draft regulations announced by the European Union this week are likely to hit Chinese exports when approved and further strain relations between Beijing and Brussels.

The regulations, unveiled Wednesday, are intended to protect the blocs economy and keep sensitive technology from falling into the hands of geopolitical rivals. A statement accompanying the draft described the regulations as part of an initiative to boost the blocs economic security at a time of growing geopolitical tensions and profound technological shifts.

The package includes measures to strengthen export controls, identify potentially risky foreign investments in the tech sector, enhance the security of sensitive research and screen foreign investments.

In recent years, Chinese foreign direct investment into Europe has slowed, hitting an eight-year low in 2022, while concern about the security of supply chains, technology and infrastructure has risen, said Clara Brandi, professor of economics and political science at the German Institute of Development and Sustainability in Bonn.

The initiative puts a strain on relations with China and Chinese firms, although China is explicitly mentioned very little in the relevant EU texts, Brandi told VOA.

An EU Commission spokesperson told VOA the new proposal responds to growing concerns about certain foreign investors seeking to acquire control of EU firms that provide critical technologies, infrastructure or inputs, or hold sensitive information, and whose activities are critical for security of public order at EU level.

China wants curbs eased

The new measures come despite calls from China for the EU to relax restrictions on high-tech products. Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, last week.

During that meeting, Li called on the EU to uphold justice, compliance and transparency in economic and trade matters and to treat Chinese enterprises fairly. Li also asked the EU to act prudently as it introduces restrictive economic and trade policies.

On the day the economic security package was unveiled, Chinas Chamber of Commerce in the EU released a statement noting that more than half of its surveyed companies were concerned about the impact of the new screening mechanism.

More than one-fifth of the 180 Chinese companies surveyed said they planned to expand their presence in Europe over the next one to three years and to increase their investment and merger and acquisition activities.

Ian Choong, an associate professor at the National University of Singapore who specializes in security and Chinese foreign policy issues, said that with the new measures, exports of certain, but not all, technologies to China were likely to decrease.

Of course, the EU limits will reduce technology exchange to some degree. I expect Beijing to reciprocate, which will further limit exchanges. Beijing will seek to impose some penalty on the EU in retaliation, he predicted.

Asked if the new proposal might discourage foreign investment, the EU Commission spokesperson said the investment screening mechanism was targeted, and that there was no evidence that such screening procedures would slow down investments.

Security concerns

Still, the EU has become increasingly wary of security breaches initiated by countries such as Russia and China, even as it tries to boost its own market competitiveness.

The EU is trying to get rid of its strong dependence on third countries, which it became painfully aware of after Russias invasion into Ukraine. The EUs new China doctrine task is about de-risking, said Brandi.

She said the blocs concerns were largely justified.

The EU has been wary of Chinas growing use of economic power to pursue political goals, including what it called an economic blockade in 2022, when Beijing slapped trade restrictions on Lithuania after it moved to withdraw from the Belt and Road Initiative and sought to open an office with representatives from Taiwan.

That and dozens of other examples, including Chinese students studying in the fields of dual-use technology, were cited in a recently adopted European Parliament resolution on the security and defense implications of Chinas influence on critical infrastructure.

The bloc believes Chinese students studying in the tech field pose a risk of espionage, while Chinas growing capability in AI, cloud computing and other fields is seen as a national security risk.

There are concerns that China could use EU technologies to engage in the use of force or even aggression in the East and South China seas, or against Taiwan, Chong said. Such action could be very disruptive and costly to world trade, including to EU members.

And as friction among NATO, Russia and China shows no signs of abating, Chong said the initiatives are also a strategic decision.

Many EU members also are NATO members. They probably do not want to see their technologies being used against their U.S. ally in the event of a contingency in Asia, or for that matter against allies of the U.S. that align with the EU on democratic values, he said.
The Hong Kong Stock Exchange's benchmark Hang Seng index is having a rocky start to the new year, trading around the same level it was at when the British handed the city to Beijing 27 years ago and losing its place as the fourth-largest capital market in Asia to India. Last year it was the worst-performing major market in the world.

The Hang Seng has been trading below 16,000 points, declining in value for about 90% of the trading days so far this year.

On January 22 alone, the Hang Seng dipped sharply to 14,961 points, below the psychologically sensitive 15,000 mark and hitting a 15-month low.

Alicia Garcia-Herrero, chief economist for Asia Pacific at French investment bank Natixis, said the index reflects investors' disappointment in the Chinese economy. Based in Hong Kong, Garcia-Herrero told VOA, "The years of high growth for the Chinese economy are over, and investors are fully aware."

China's economy has been struggling to recover from strict COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns and restrictions that wreaked havoc on trade, sparked rare public protests against the government and ended only in late 2022. A collapsed property market and shrinking population have added to the woes.

Chinese equities have fallen by more than U.S. $6 trillion in value from a 2021 high while Hong Kong's market is getting fewer newly listed companies through initial public offerings.

Chung Kim-wah, a retired assistant professor in the Department of Applied Social Sciences at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, described the city as the ruins of an international financial center.

Almost all economic indices in Hong Kong are performing poorly, he said, with high office vacancy rates, falling building prices and the withdrawal of foreign funds. He also cited reductions in the number of international institutions maintaining their headquarters in Hong Kong and personnel of foreign institutions stationed in the city.

Chung said the only bright spot is Hong Kong's unemployment rate, which is holding steady at less than 3%

"But now because some people emigrated, [the jobs] they left behind can be filled immediately, which is why the unemployment rate has not risen significantly with the outflow of funds," he said. "So, in fact [Hong Kong] is already in ruins. But now we have to wait and see when it will reach the bottom."

Analysts say Beijing's strengthening grip on dissent is also fueling the city's decline.

The Beijing-installed Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu aims to complete controversial security legislation this year that will allow more prosecutions for treason and theft of state secrets.

"National security risks are real," he said during a question-and-answer session in the Legislative Council on January 25, emphasizing that the law should be completed "as soon as possible."

Once national security risks are eliminated, he said, Hong Kong can focus on boosting the economy, expanding markets, exploring business opportunities and improving people's livelihoods.

However, Lew Mon-hung, a former member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, a political advisory body in the Chinese government, said China's long-arm control of the city will cause more capital flight as investors become increasingly pessimistic about Hong Kong's long-term economic development.

"Hong Kong's stock market is built on the cornerstones of freedom and the rule of law," he told VOA. "If you go to destroy Hong Kong's freedom and rule of law, then you will drain the foundation of its stock market."

Li Chen-yu, chief economist of Taishin Financial Holding Co. in Taipei, said, "China should first go through economic and then political affairs. It should stabilize China's economy as a whole and then discuss so-called political stability. When the economy is unstable, forcefully promoting so-called political stability could be counterproductive."
On January 20, Sudans army-allied government suspended its membership in the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, or IGAD, after the eight-country East African trade bloc offered to mediate a peaceful resolution in the civil war-ravaged country.

Troops loyal to Sudanese Armed Forces chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan have been fighting for control over Sudan with the Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, troops led by Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti. The nine-month war has left at least 15,000 people dead and displaced more than 7.5 million others.

IGAD was created in 1996 to promote cooperation on peacebuilding, security, agriculture, environment, and economic and social development in the region. In early January, IGAD invited the two warring Sudanese leaders to meet and negotiate a cessation of hostilities.

Hemedti accepted the invitation and later attended an extraordinary meeting IGAD held on January 18 in Entebbe, Uganda.



However, Burhans government interpreted the blocs peacemaking efforts as a threat to its rule and did not attend.



On January 16, Ali Al-Sadiq, the Sudanese foreign minister loyal to Burhan, accused IGAD of violating Sudans sovereignty and setting a dangerous precedent by inviting RSF leader Hemedti to IGAD's assembly.



Sudan considers these actions to be a violation of its sovereignty and a serious breach of IGADs charters, Al-Sadiq said in a statement.

That is false.

IGADs efforts to end Sudans bloody civil war are in line with its mission. Conflict mediation implies the conflicting sides entering a constructive dialogue facilitated by a neutral third party, the IGAD. That is the opposite of infringing on Sudans sovereignty.

Moreover, the Burhan governments refusal to take part in negotiations reduces the already slim chances that the war-torn country can reach a peaceful resolution, as all previous international peace efforts have failed, leaving IGADs peace commitment essential to ending the war.

The United States and Saudi Arabia suspended similar talks last June, after the two sides systematically violated the cease-fire agreement.

On January 18, with Burhan voluntarily absent and Hemedti present, along with a score of foreign envoys and United Nations observers, IGADs extraordinary assembly adopted a communique reinstating conditions for a roadmap to peace.

The document reiterated IGADs commitment to facilitate an all-inclusive peace process to end the conflict in close collaboration with all Sudanese stakeholders, African Union, and regional and international actors.

IGAD stated that [t]he Republic of the Sudan does not belong to the parties to the conflict, only to the Sudanese people. It called for an immediate and unconditional cease-fire as well as cessation of hostilities and gave the warring generals 14 days to meet for peace talks.

The bloc member states promised to utilize all means and capabilities to ensure the conflict in the Sudan is resolved peacefully.

Sudan's government responded by suspending the countrys membership in IGAD, with its foreign ministry saying the reason for the suspension was the language of IGADs resolution.

"The communique included a language that Sudan deemed disrespectful to its sovereignty and offensive to the families of victims of atrocities committed by rebel [RSF] militias, Al-Sadiq said in a statement, ignoring the fact that his own side stands accused of committing similarly large-scale atrocities.

People are being killed inside their homes, or while desperately searching for food, water and medicine, Amnesty International Secretary-General Agnes Callamard said last August introducing the watchdogs report on the crimes committed by the warring sides in Sudan.

She added:

They are being caught in crossfire while fleeing and shot deliberately in targeted attacks. Scores of women and girls, some as young as 12, have been raped and subjected to other forms of sexual violence by members of the warring sides. Nowhere is safe.

The United States formally determined last December that both warring sides in Sudan have committed war crimes.



Calling the conflict needless, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the parties must "stop this conflict now, comply with their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law, and hold accountable those responsible for atrocities."

The United Nations Office of Humanitarian Affairs, or OCHA, reported last December and on January 15 that the nine-month conflict had brought to Sudan one of the fastest unfolding crises globally, with unprecedented needs emerging in such a short period. It warned of an impending humanitarian catastrophe.

Some 25 million people, including 14 million children, need humanitarian aid, the report said.



With close to 80% of Sudans hospitals no longer functional, and no access to medical and hygiene supplies, water or electricity, Sudan faces a rapid spread of infectious diseases, including nearly 10,000 suspected cholera cases.



The OCHA also warned that Sudan is slipping into catastrophic hunger conditions.

In September 2023, both Hemedti and Burhan were given the opportunity to address the 78th session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York.



The two generals said they were committed to negotiations and ending the conflict.

Burhan, however, asked the U.N. to designate the RSF as a terrorist organization. He claimed the RSF had brought in thousands of foreign mercenaries to help it in the ongoing war.

However, the U.S. said in 2020 that Russias Wagner was providing arms and training to both military and paramilitary factions in Sudan.

Since 2017, news media and international observers have reported about the RSFs leader Hemedtis ties with Wagner Group.

While Hemedti and Yevgeny Prigozhin, the now-deceased Wagner founder, denied the connection, numerous journalistic investigations documented Wagners footprints in Sudan.

CNN reported in July 2022 that Russias meddling in Sudans gold began in earnest in 2014 after its invasion of Crimea prompted a slew of Western sanctions.

The U.S. Treasury Department said in a July 2020 Russian sanctions announcement that a Prigozhin-owned company called M Invest was serving as a cover for PMC Wagner forces operating in Sudan.

The U.S. said M Invest was awarded concession agreements to explore gold mining sites in Sudan. An M Invest subsidiary engaged in the actual gold extraction. The U.S. imposed sanctions on both companies.

U.S. Secretary of State Blinken said last April that Wagner simply brings more death and destruction, adding that it is very important that we not see its further engagement in Sudan.

Hemedti has since denied any involvement with the Russian mercenary group, saying that he advised the Sudan government to cut ties with Wagner after the U.S. government put sanctions against the group.

Hemedti has been gaining ground in the war in Sudan. With his RSF now controlling 70% of the countrys territory, Hemedti has established authority over 30 million of Sudans 45 million people.

The RSF leader recently toured six African countries, including IGAD members states, seeking diplomatic legitimacy.

Kenya was among those countries, and his visit there was not taken lightly.

Sudans army-aligned government recalled its ambassador, condemning the Kenyan government for giving Hemedti a warm reception.

While the two warring sides in Sudan have repeatedly stated their openness to mediation efforts led by regional and international actors, so far, those efforts have not resulted in a sustained cease-fire.

Last July, Burhan ended mediation talks led by the Kenyan President William Ruto, accusing him of favoring RSF and having business deals with Hemedti.

Burhan and Hemedti took power in Sudan in April 2019 following a coup that ended the 30-year rule of Omar al Bashir.

After the coup, Hemedti was appointed Burhans deputy. They later formed a partnership with Sudans civilian government and promised to hand over power to the civilians.

But in October 2021, when Burhan was supposed to transfer power to a civilian government, he instead spearheaded a military coup and dissolved the civilian-military partnership, splitting with Hemedti.

The fighting between the two broke out on April 15, 2023.
On Friday, Gallup released findings of its latest poll gauging how willing Americans are to vote for presidential candidates with different backgrounds than themselves.

The poll, taken from January 2 through January 22, measured Americans' willingness to vote for candidates based on such factors as their gender, religion, race, sexual orientation, age and criminal record.

Support is widespread for a candidate who is a woman, Hispanic, Black, Catholic or Jewish, with about nine in 10 Americans being willing to support a candidate with those traits. Support for a Jewish candidate, though, has gone down slightly since 2020, hitting 88%.

Support is lower, although still at a majority, for a gay or lesbian candidate, a candidate over 70 years old, a Muslim or an atheist  coming in at between 60% to 74%.

The poll also shows that less than half of Americans would vote for a socialist nominated by their party.

Another finding from the poll indicates that less than a third of Americans would vote for a candidate over 80 or a candidate who is charged or convicted of a felony.

These findings are particularly pertinent for the upcoming presidential election, given that if President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump were to emerge as the two nominees this November, the two most objectionable traits would be on the ballot: someone in their 80s and someone charged with a felony, according to Gallup News.

Visit Gallup's website for its analysis of the poll.
Unknown gunmen shot to death nine people Saturday in the southeastern part of Iran that borders Pakistan, media reports said.

A report by the semiofficial Mehr news agency said the shooting took place in a home near the town of Saravan, in Irans Sistan and Baluchestan province. It added that the victims were not Iranian.

No official news outlet reported the shooting, and no group has yet taken responsibility for the attack.

HalVash, an advocacy group for the Baluch people, shared images online that appeared to be bodies of the victims and said three more people were wounded. It said they were Pakistani nationals and identified four of them, saying all the victims were workers at an auto repair shop.

Last week, Pakistan launched retaliatory strikes on the same area, allegedly targeting militant hideouts in an attack that killed at least nine people. The strikes followed Irans attack Tuesday on Pakistani soil that killed two children in the southwestern Balochistan province.

The tit-for-tat attacks appeared to target two Baluch militant groups with similar separatist goals on both sides of the Iran-Pakistan border. The two countries have accused each other of providing a safe haven to the groups in their respective territories.

On Friday, media reports said both nations' ambassadors resumed activities in each others capital that were idled following the attacks.
Former US President Donald Trump came away from Tuesdays New Hampshire Primary with the most votes, but his chief opponent, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, wasnt too far behind. US President Joe Biden also won his write-in campaign in the state and garnered a big union endorsement. How is the 2024 US Presidential election shaping up? To discuss the results and what's next, University of Mary Washington Political Science and International Affairs chair Rosalyn Cooperman joins the program. Chads lead visited Moscow as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken toured four African nations. Christine Cheng, professor of war studies at Kings College London, discusses the continents strategic importance to both nations. As the world marks Holocaust Remembrance Day on Saturday, many people in Israel are comparing the genocide of the Holocaust to the Hamas massacre of October 7. Some of those affected by October 7 were Holocaust survivors themselves.
"I just want my mother back," Kaung Sett Lin told reporters outside Insein Prison in Yangon on January 4. He was among the nearly 10,000 prisoners released during a mass amnesty announced by the ruling junta on Myanmars Independence Day on January 4.

"My mother passed away eight months ago while I was in prison," Kaung Sett Lin told VOA in a recent interview. "She died at the age of 48 from cancer. The last time I saw her, or the rest of my family, was when I appeared in court for sentencing in December of 2022."

The junta had, until recently, stopped all prison visitation since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 30-year-old journalist faced charges under article 505(a) of the penal code, a broadly worded provision penalizing incitement and the spreading of "false news." Despite being released under the banner of amnesty, "In fact, I had already completed my two-year sentence," Kaung Sett Lin said.

Kaung Sett Lin was sentenced to three years in prison in December 2022. However, according to Myanmar law, prisoners are eligible for multiple sentence reductions.

Since the military coup on February 1, 2021, at least 176 journalists have been arrested, and four killed, with as many as 50 still in jail or in police detention according to the International Federation of Journalists 2023 report.

Tragic day on Pan Pin Gyi Street

Kaung Sett Lin and his fellow photojournalist and friend Hmu Yadanar Khet Moh Moh Tun, both with the independent Myanmar Pressphoto Agency, were arrested in December 2021 along with about 15 protesters while covering a coup protest in Yangon.

While the protest was taking place on Pan Pin Gyi Street in Kyi Myin Daing township, junta soldiers reportedly rammed into the crowd of young protestors with a truck, injuring several, including the two journalists.

"A military vehicle careened into us unexpectedly," Kaung Sett Lin told VOA. "We started running and helping young protesters to flee when the military opened fire on the crowd."

The vehicle then began swerving as it cut through the crowd, hitting him and crushing his colleague under its wheels, he said. "Hmu Yadanar was dragged by the truck and her entire body bore the weight of the military vehicle. I was then thrown into a nearby concrete wall and lost consciousness."

Kaung Sett Lin suffered a broken back and leg, as well as serious head and eye injuries. His colleague would suffer even more severe injuries, having been run over by the military truck. "Her whole body and her legs were completely crushed," he said.

"We were later taken to Military Hospital No. 2 in Yangon, where we were initially treated, but we didnt receive the long-term intensive treatment we needed."

As a result, according to Kaung Sett Lin, the two were forced to suffer from their injuries while languishing in prison. "Especially Hmu Yadanar. She ended up disfigured by scars on her face and head," he said.

Kaung Sett Lin claims their injuries were not sufficiently treated in prison, leading to a worse outcome. According to her family members, the young female journalist would go on to have several bones replaced with steel rods in her legs and would need crutches to walk.

After spending a year in prison, recovering from their injuries, the two journalists were both sentenced under article 505(a), a broad provision that criminalizes incitement and the dissemination of false news.

Kaung Sett Lin and his colleague received three-year sentences. However, Hum Yadanar Khet Moh Moh Tun was sentenced in May 2023 to an additional 10 years on a terror charge. She was accused of supporting People Defense Forces, who are engaged in an armed revolution against the coup. She was charged under section 50(j) of the Counter Terrorism Law, a provision related to terror financing.

Kaung Sett Lin said he last saw his colleague when they appeared in court for their sentencing hearing in December 2022.

"The junta did not want to release Hmu Yadanar from prison," he told VOA. "They lied about the case and unjustly sentenced her to a long prison term. I think that the junta did not want the public to see the disfigured face of Hmu Yadanar because of the injuries they inflicted on her."

Voices from the front line

Despite the risks, Kaung Sett Lin still sees it as his mission to document the brutality of the junta and the bravery of the young protesters.

"We hope [the] international community recognizes that we have been able to obtain the right information, and to get it out to the world," he said. "No matter what kind of oppression or violence we face under the military coup, we, as journalists, will continue to do our job."

Nathan Maung, an American journalist of Burmese descent, spoke to VOA via Zoom recently. "It's disheartening to acknowledge that as the military's failed coup approaches its third year, individuals wielding cameras in our country, especially those recording the sounds of life, face threats to their lives and the lives of citizens, including journalists," he said.

"They stand at risk of being killed on the spot, whether holding a camera, facing gunfire, or being struck by a car and losing their lives."

Maung endured 98 days in detention in 2021, after junta soldiers raided his Yangon-based newsroom. He says he was tortured during the initial interrogation process. He was later released and deported to the United States.

Journalists in Myanmar face the real possibility of being killed for simply doing their job, Maung said. "On a daily basis, they face many kinds of threats on the streets. Then there are the frequent detentions by junta soldiers. They can be interrogated at any time and for any reason, and even tortured."

Ongoing struggle of Myanmar's journalists

Research by the VOA Burmese Service indicates about 40 journalists are still being held in prisons across Myanmar, even after the recent mass pardon.

Among the journalists still held by the junta is VOA contributor Sithu Aung Myint, sentenced to 12 years in prison. Sithu Aung Myint had been providing news analysis to a VOA Burmese weekly program until his arrest in August 2021.

"Losing their parents and not being allowed to attend their funerals, not being permitted to see their loved ones, losing friends. All of this is the heavy price journalists are paying in Myanmar," Maung told VOA.

"This struggle is taking a toll on all of us as Burmese people. One day, this will all be over, and we will finally be able to tell our story. We will be able to share the story of how we endured this with the whole world. We are waiting for that day."
The chief negotiator for Moldova's Russian-backed separatist Transniestria region said Friday that his team would no longer attend talks on the country's future in areas under government control because he feared arrest.

Transniestria split from Moldova before the 1991 collapse of Soviet rule and fought a brief war against the newly independent country, but it has existed for more than 30 years on the country's eastern fringe with little turmoil.

The two sides hold periodic talks on resolving their differences, but tension has risen in the new year over Moldova's imposition of customs duties that the separatist side says will hurt its businesses. Moldovan officials described the latest session of talks earlier this month as "difficult."

Transniestria's foreign minister, Vitaly Ignatiev, said he was wary of recent changes to Moldova's criminal code toughening its provisions against separatism. He said he could no longer abide by the principle of alternating the talks between the Moldovan capital, Chisinau, and Tiraspol, the separatist region's main town.

"No resident of Transniestria can be safe from criminal prosecution if he is on the other side of the Dniester River," Ignatiev said, referring to the government-controlled area of Moldova.

"Within the context of our talks, we have repeatedly asked for guarantees against the use of repressive measures against citizens of Transniestria. But Chisinau won't provide them."

Given the new criminal provisions, he said, talks could be held only in Transniestria or by video conference.

The pro-European government in Moldova, one of Europe's poorest countries, has pledged to press on with a drive to join the European Union.

President Maia Sandu has denounced Russia's invasion of Ukraine and accused Russia of plotting to remove her. She says that Moldova could join the EU initially without Transniestria, citing membership granted to the divided island of Cyprus.

Moldova's chief negotiator, Deputy Prime Minister Oleg Serebrean, said last week that authorities were not insisting on the current practice of alternating the site of talks.

The country's criminal code, he said, sought to uphold Moldova's territorial integrity and was not aimed at Transniestria's residents, though he could not offer security guarantees "because I am not a prosecutor."

Ignatiev holds Ukrainian and Russian citizenship, and Kyiv has ordered him appear in a Ukrainian court this month to answer charges of welcoming Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea and for more recent hostile statements about Ukraine.
A group of survivors of Nazi death camps marked the 79th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp during World War II in a modest ceremony Saturday in southern Poland.

About 20 survivors from various camps set up by Nazi Germany around Europe laid wreaths and flowers and lit candles at the Death Wall in Auschwitz.

Later, the group was to say prayers at the monument in Birkenau. They were memorializing around 1.1 million camp victims, mostly Jews. The memorial site and museum are located near the city of Oswiecim.

Nearly 6 million European Jews were killed by the Nazis during the Holocaust  the mass murder of Jews and other groups before and during World War II.

Marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the survivors will be accompanied by Polish Senate Speaker Malgorzata Kidawa-Blonska, Culture Minister Bartlomiej Sienkiewicz and Israeli Ambassador Yacov Livne.

The theme of the observances is the human being, symbolized in simple, hand-drawn portraits. They are meant to stress that the horror of Auschwitz-Birkenau lies in the suffering of people held and killed there.

Holocaust victims were commemorated across Europe.

In Germany, where people put down flowers and lit candles at memorials for the victims of the Nazi terror, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that his country would continue to carry the responsibility for this crime against humanity.

He called on all citizens to defend Germanys democracy and fight antisemitism, as the country marked the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

"'Never again is every day, Scholz said in his weekly video podcast. January 27 calls out to us: Stay visible! Stay audible! Against antisemitism, against racism, against misanthropy  and for our democracy.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose country is fighting to repel Russia's full-scale invasion, posted an image of a Jewish menorah on X, formerly known as Twitter, to mark the remembrance day.

Every new generation must learn the truth about the Holocaust. Human life must remain the highest value for all nations in the world," said Zelenskyy, who is Jewish and has lost relatives in the Holocaust.

"Eternal memory to all Holocaust victims! Zelenskyy tweeted.

In Italy, Holocaust commemorations included a torchlit procession alongside official statements from top political leaders.

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni said that her conservative nationalist government was committed to eradicating antisemitism that she said had been reinvigorated amid the Israel-Hamas war. Melonis critics have long accused her and her Brothers of Italy party, which has neo-fascist roots, of failing to sufficiently atone for its past.

Later Saturday, leftist movements planned a torchlit procession to remember all victims of the Holocaust  Jews but also Roma, gays and political dissidents who were deported or exterminated in Nazi camps.

Police were also on alert after pro-Palestinian activists indicated that they would ignore a police order and go ahead with a rally planned to coincide with the Holocaust commemorations. Italys Jewish community has complained that such protests have become occasions for the memory of the Holocaust to be co-opted by anti-Israel forces and used against Jews.

In Poland, a memorial ceremony with prayers was held Friday in Warsaw at the foot of the Monument to the Heroes of the Ghetto, who fell fighting the Nazis in 1943.

Earlier in the week, the countries of the former Yugoslavia signed an agreement in Paris to jointly renovate Block 17 in the red-brick Auschwitz camp and install a permanent exhibition there in memory of around 20,000 people who were deported from their territories and brought to the block. Participating in the project will be Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia.

Preserving the camp, a notorious symbol of the horrors of the Holocaust, with its cruelly misleading Arbeit Macht Frei (Work Makes One Free) gate, requires constant effort by historians and experts, and substantial funds.

The Nazis, who occupied Poland from 1939 to 1945, at first used old Austrian military barracks at Auschwitz as a concentration and death camp for Polands resistance fighters. In 1942, the wooden barracks, gas chambers and crematoria of Birkenau were added for the extermination of Europe's Jews, Roma and other nationals, as well as Russian prisoners of war.

Soviet Red Army troops liberated Auschwitz-Birkenau on January 27, 1945, with about 7,000 prisoners there, children and those who were too weak to walk. The Germans had evacuated tens of thousands of other inmates on foot days earlier in what is now called the Death March, because many inmates died of exhaustion and cold in the sub-freezing temperatures.

Since 1979, Auschwitz-Birkenau has been on the UNESCO list of World Heritage sites.
Nvidia's (NASDAQ: NVDA) stock price has more than quadrupled over the past three years. Most of that rally was driven by the rapid expansion of the artificial intelligence (AI) market, where its data center GPUs are used to process complex AI tasks.

Two of its better-known customers are OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, and its top backer Microsoft. However, Meta (NASDAQ: META) has also been spending billions of dollars on Nvidia's data center GPUs every year.

Image source: Getty Images.

That's why it wasn't all that surprising when Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently said his company would install 350,000 of Nvidia's top-tier H100 GPUs in its data centers by the end of 2024. Zuckerberg didn't disclose how many H100s Meta had purchased so far, but Nvidia only launched the GPU with a limited supply in late 2022.

Nvidia is currently selling the H100 for $25,000 to $30,000 each, according to analysts at Raymond James, which implies that Meta will probably spend roughly $8.8 billion to $10.5 billion on Nvidia's GPUs over a two-year period. Let's see why that's a bright green flag for Nvidia -- and what it tells us about Meta's near-term challenges and longer-term plans.

Why Meta's support is great news for Nvidia

Nvidia generated $29.1 billion in revenue, or 75% of its top line, from its data center chips in the first nine months of fiscal 2024, which started last January. That's up from 52% of its total revenue in the first nine months of fiscal 2023.

The bulls believe this business will continue expanding as the AI market grows, but the bears expect the AI market to cool off and for new competitors to enter the ring. Meta's big GPU purchases counter those bearish claims in two ways.

First, Meta probably wouldn't spend about $10 billion -- equivalent to about 17% of its combined capital expenditures (capex) of $31 billion in 2023 and $28 billion in projected capex for 2024 -- on Nvidia's H100 GPUs if it thought the AI market was cooling off. Instead, the social media giant probably expects that market to heat up as cloud leaders including Amazon, Microsoft, and Alphabet's Google expand their own AI ecosystems.

Story continues

According to Precedence Research, the broader AI market could grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19% from 2023 to 2032. Fortune Business Insights expects the generative AI niche to expand at an even faster CAGR of 47.5%. Providing the building blocks for that booming market could drive Nvidia's stock a lot higher.

Second, Meta allays some concerns that Nvidia's largest customers will replace its GPUs with their own in-house chips. Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, and Google have all been developing their own AI chips, but their ongoing purchases of Nvidia's GPUs suggest it could still be years before they produce comparable chips. Instead, their custom chips will probably work in tandem with Nvidia's GPUs to process AI tasks for the foreseeable future.

What Meta's GPU purchases tell us about its future

But for Meta, its massive purchases of Nvidia's GPUs raise some questions about its future. It's still burning billions of dollars on the expansion of its Reality Labs segment, which racked up steep operating losses of $13.7 billion in 2022 and $11.5 billion in the first nine months of 2023 as it rolled out new augmented and virtual reality devices. Its big GPU purchases from Nvidia could exacerbate that pressure -- which already reduced its operating margin from 41% in 2019 to 25% in 2022.

Meta's revenue growth accelerated throughout 2023 as its core advertising business recovered, but that recovery was mainly driven by Chinese e-commerce marketplaces including PDD's Temu and Shein, which ramped up their spending on Meta's platforms to promote their products to overseas customers. If those companies rein in their ad purchases as Meta increases its spending on the expansion of its data centers and Reality Labs segment, its operating margin will shrink again.

But over the long term, Meta's data center investments could pay off by making its AI algorithms more effective at crafting targeted ads, figuring out which Reels keep viewers engaged, and calculating the best prices for its programmatic ads. Meta's collection of first-party data should also completely eliminate its dependence on Apple, which cut off Facebook and Instagram from its third-party iOS data with a major update in 2021.

It's good news for both companies

Meta's commitment to Nvidia indicates that the chipmaker will remain a linchpin of the AI market for years to come. It should boost Nvidia's data center GPU sales and widen Meta's own moat against other ad-driven tech giants such as Google. Simply put, this big GPU purchase is great news for both companies -- although Nvidia will initially generate more sales growth from that deal at the expense of Meta's near-term margins.

Should you invest $1,000 in Nvidia right now?

Before you buy stock in Nvidia, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Nvidia wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*.

See the 10 stocks

*Stock Advisor returns as of January 22, 2024

Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Leo Sun has positions in Amazon, Apple, and Meta Platforms. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Nvidia Is Selling $10 Billion in GPUs to This AI Tech Giant (Hint: It's Not Microsoft) was originally published by The Motley Fool
A military panel at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, recommended 23 years in detention Friday for two Malaysian men in connection with deadly 2002 bombings in Bali, a spokesperson for the military commission said.

However, under a previously secret provision of the plea agreement disclosed after the panel's recommendation Friday, and a separate sentence reduction Friday by the presiding judge, both men may face a far shorter sentence: about five years.

Mohammed Farik Bin Amin and Mohammed Nazir Bin Lep already have spent about 17 years awaiting trial at Guantanamo.

The winding down of the case against them marks comparatively rare convictions in the two decades of proceedings by the U.S. military commission at Guantanamo.

The extremist group Jemaah Islamiyah killed 202 Indonesians, foreign tourists and others in two nearly simultaneous bombings at nightspots on the resort island of Bali in October 2002.

The two defendants denied any role or advance knowledge of the attacks but under the plea bargains admitted they had over the years conspired with the network of militants responsible. The sentence recommendation still requires approval by the senior military authority over Guantanamo.

The two are among a total of 780 detainees brought to military detention at Guantanamo under the George W. Bush administration's "war on terror" following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the U.S. There have been only a handful of convictions over the years  eight, according to one advocacy group, Reprieve.

Defendants in some of the biggest attacks, including 9/11, remain in pretrial hearings. Prosecutors are seeking negotiated agreements to close that case and some others.

Overall, the prosecutions at Guantanamo have been plagued by logistical difficulties, frequent turnover of judges and others, and legal questions surrounding the torture of detainees during CIA custody in the first years of their detention.

The military's head of defense for the Guantanamo prosecutions on Friday blamed the Bush administration's early handling of the detainees  which included holding at secret "black sites" and torture in CIA custody  for the more than 20-year delay in the trial.

The slow pace "was extremely distressing and frustrated the desire of everyone for accountability and justice," Brig. Gen. Jackie Thompson said in a statement.

Thirty detainees remain at Guantanamo. Sixteen of them have been cleared and are eligible for transfer if a stable country agrees to take them.

"The time for repatriating or transferring the cleared men is now," Thompson said. He said the same for three others held at Guantanamo but never charged.

As part of their plea bargains, the two Malaysian men have agreed to provide testimony against a third Guantanamo detainee, an Indonesian man known as Hambali, in the Bali bombings.

Under military court rules, Bin Amin and Bin Lep normally would receive no credit for the roughly two decades they have already spent in detention. The pretrial agreement disclosed Friday would spare them from serving the much longer recommended sentence on top of their years awaiting trial, the defense lawyers for the two men said.

Relatives of some of those killed in the Bali bombings testified Wednesday in a hearing in advance of sentencing, with the two accused in the courtroom and listening attentively.

A panel of five military officers delivered the recommendation after listening to the sentencing testimony.

The U.S. and Malaysia may agree to transferring the two to their home country, said Brian Bouffard, the attorney for Bin Lep.
Pakistan confirmed Saturday that nine of its nationals were killed by gunmen in neighboring Iran, demanding an immediate investigation into the "terrorist incident" to punish the perpetrators.



Iranian media reported that the early morning shooting occurred in a home in the southeastern city of Saravan in Sistan-Baluchistan province bordering Pakistan.



"It is a horrifying and despicable incident, and we condemn it unequivocally," said Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, the Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesperson.



"We are in touch with Iranian authorities and have underscored the need to immediately investigate the incident and hold to account those involved in this heinous crime," Baloch said.

No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the deadly attack that targeted a group of Pakistanis reportedly working at an auto repair shop in the Iranian border region.



Baloch said that a senior Pakistani diplomat was on the way to the hospital where several injured people were being treated, promising to arrange for an urgent repatriation of the victims' bodies.



"We are fully seized of this grave matter and are taking all necessary measures in this regardSuch cowardly attacks cannot deter Pakistan from its determination to fight terrorism," she said.



Saturday's incident came more than a week after Pakistan's military launched cross-border retaliatory strikes, targeting alleged militant hideouts in the same Iranian city. Iran said that attack in Saravan killed nine people, mostly women and children.



Islamabad said the Pakistani military had hit bases of outlawed Baluch militant groups orchestrating attacks against Pakistan from Iranian border areas.



The unprecedented strikes came two days after Iranian security forces staged "drone and missile strikes" against what Tehran said were the "strongholds" of the anti-Iran Jaish al-Adl militant group in Pakistan's southwestern border province of Balochistan.



Islamabad condemned the Iranian raid as a "blatant breach" of its territorial sovereignty, saying it resulted in the deaths of two children. Pakistan immediately recalled its ambassador from Iran and barred the Iranian ambassador from returning to the country.



Both countries have long accused each other of not doing enough to deny fugitive militants safe havens in their respective territories.



The military tensions raised fears of a broader conflict between Iran and Pakistan. However, the two countries announced last Monday that they had decided to immediately "de-escalate" and restore diplomatic relations.



Officials on both sides confirmed Friday that Pakistani and Iranian ambassadors had returned to their respective embassies to resume their routine diplomatic missions.



Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian is also due to arrive in Islamabad on Monday for official talks with his Pakistani counterpart, Jalil Abbas Jilani.
Two British museums are returning looted gold and silver artifacts to Ghana under a long-term loan arrangement as U.K. institutions face increasing demands to hand over treasures acquired at a time when the British Empire ruled over people around the globe.

The British Museum and the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, together with the Manhyia Palace Museum in Ghana, announced the "important cultural'' collaboration on Thursday. The loan sidesteps U.K. laws that bar the repatriation of such cultural treasures and have been used to prevent the British Museum from returning the Parthenon Sculptures, also known as the Elgin Marbles, to Greece.

Seventeen items are involved in the loan arrangement, including 13 pieces of Asante royal regalia purchased by the V&A at auction in 1874. The items were acquired by the museums after British troops looted the royal palace in Kumasi during the Anglo-Asante wars of 1873-74 and 1895-96 and represent a small fraction of the artifacts held in the U.K.

"These objects are of cultural, historical and spiritual significance to the Asante people,'' the museums said in a statement. "They are also indelibly linked to British colonial history in West Africa, with many of them looted from Kumasi during the Anglo-Asante wars of the 19th century."

Countries that include Nigeria, Egypt and Greece, as well as indigenous peoples from North America to Australia, are demanding the repatriation of artifacts and human remains amid a global reassessment of colonialism and the exploitation of local populations.

Nigeria and Germany recently signed a deal for the return of hundreds of Benin Bronzes, a general term for a trove of sculptures, cast plaques and royal regalia created from the 16th century onward in the West African kingdom of Benin. That followed French President Emmanuel Macron's decision to sign over 26 pieces known as the Abomey Treasures, artworks from the 19th-century Dahomey kingdom in present-day Benin, a small country west of Nigeria.

But the U.K. has been slower to respond. Officials argue that the objects were acquired legally and that institutions such as the British Museum have long preserved them in an environment where they can be seen and studied by people from around the world.

The British government said the Ghana deal did not set a precedent for the Parthenon Marbles, which are the subject of a long-running diplomatic battle between the U.K. and Greece. The sculptures originally decorated the frieze of the Parthenon in Athens and were acquired by Lord Elgin, a British aristocrat and collector, in the early 18th century.

"This isn't a new approach," said Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's spokesperson, Max Blain. "There have been a number of loans. These take place from time to time between museums."

He added that Britain "would expect the items to be returned at the end of that loan period."

The items covered by the loan agreement include a "soul disk," which the Asante king wore to protect his soul, as well as a peace pipe and seven sections of sheet-gold ornaments. They represent a small portion of the Asante objects held by British museums and private collectors around the world. The British Museum alone says it has 239 items of Asante regalia in its collection.

Nana Oforiatta Ayim, special adviser to Ghana's culture minister, said the deal was a "starting point," given British laws that prohibit the return of cultural artifacts. But ultimately the regalia should be returned to the rightful owners, she told the BBC.

"I'll give an analogy: If somebody came into your house and ransacked it and stole objects and then kept them in their house, and then a few years later said, 'You know what? I'll lend you your objects back,' how would you feel about that?" she said.
The U.S. Central Command said early Saturday its forces struck an anti-ship missile it said was in Houthi-held territory and "aimed into the Red Sea and which was prepared to launch."

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, CENTCOM said U.S. forces destroyed the missile in self-defense after it determined that the "missile in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen" presented "an imminent threat" to merchant vessels and U.S. Navy ships in the region.

Earlier Friday, the USS Carney was targeted by a Houthi missile as it patrolled in the Gulf of Aden. The destroyer shot down the missile, but it was the first time a U.S. warship was targeted by the Yemen-based rebels.

The Marlin Luanda, an oil tanker, was hit by a missile Friday evening, causing a fire. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said the rebels used "a number of appropriate naval missiles, the strike was direct."

CENTCOM reported that the British oil tanker issued a distress call and reported damage. The USS Carney responded, along with other ships, to offer assistance. No injuries have been reported, according to CENTCOM, which oversees U.S. forces in the Middle East.

Finally on Friday, a Panama-flagged, India-affiliated oil products tanker reported that two missiles exploded in the water as it sailed in the Red Sea near Yemen. No damage or injuries were reported.

The Friday attacks come after a week in which Britain and the United States launched a new round of strikes targeting the Iran-backed rebel sites in Yemen. The U.S. military said the attacks hit radar installations, missile launch sites and, most significantly, an underground weapons storage facility.

The Houthis have been attacking commercial and military vessels operating in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden since November. They say they launched the attacks in support of Palestinians who are embroiled in an ongoing conflict with Israel.

The U.S. says the Houthis have disrupted international supply chains and infringed on navigational rights and freedoms.
The Biden administration is expected to award billions of dollars in subsidies to top semiconductor companies, including Intel and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, in the coming weeks to help build new factories in the United States, The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday.

The forthcoming announcements are aimed at kick-starting manufacturing of advanced semiconductors that power smartphones, artificial intelligence and weapons systems, The WSJ reported, citing industry executives familiar with the negotiations.

The executives expect some announcements to come before U.S. President Joe Biden's State of the Union address on March 7, The WSJ report said.

Among the likely recipients of the subsidies, Intel has projects underway in Arizona, Ohio, New Mexico and Oregon that will cost more than $43.5 billion, the paper said.

Another likely recipient, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company has two plants under construction near Phoenix for a total investment of $40 billion. South Korea's Samsung Electronics, also a contender, has a $17.3 billion project in Texas.

Micron Technology, Texas Instruments and GlobalFoundries count among other top contenders, The WSJ said, citing industry executives.

The U.S. Department of Commerce, Intel and TSMC did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

In December last year, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said she would make around a dozen funding awards for semiconductor chips within the next year, including multibillion-dollar announcements that could drastically reshape U.S. chip production.

The first award was announced in December, of over $35 million to a BAE Systems facility in New Hampshire to produce chips for fighter planes, part of a $39 billion "Chips for America" subsidy program approved by the U.S. Congress in 2022.
Boeing 737 Max 9 jetliners will carry passengers in the United States again, starting this weekend, for the first time since they were grounded after a panel blew out of the side of one of the planes.

Alaska Airlines resumed flights with its Max 9s on Friday, and United aims to follow suit Sunday. Those are the only two U.S. airlines that operate this particular model of the Boeing 737.

After seeing video of the frightening flight of a plane with a gaping hole in its side, passengers might reasonably be asking questions about safety.

The Federal Aviation Administration has detailed the process that airlines must follow to inspect  and if necessary, repair  the panels, called door plugs, one of which broke loose on Alaska Airlines flight 1282 on January 5. The plugs are used to seal holes left for extra doors on the Max 9 when an unusually high number of seats requires more exits for safety reasons.

FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker says his agency's review of everything that has happened since the accident, including gathering information about inspections of door plugs on 40 other planes, gives him confidence that they will be safe so long as the new inspection process is followed.

Why were the planes grounded?

Alaska Airlines grounded all 65 of its Max 9 jets within hours after one of the two door plugs in the back half of the cabin of flight 1282 blew away while 16,000 feet above Oregon. The FAA grounded all Max 9s in the U.S. the day after the blowout.

Even though none of the passengers were seriously injured, regulators acted quickly because the accident could have been far worse.

By a stroke of luck, the two seats closest to the panel that blew off the plane were empty when flight 1282 took off from Portland, Oregon. And the plane had not yet reached cruising altitude of more than 30,000 feet, when passengers and flight attendants might have been walking around instead of being belted into their seats.

Airlines found problems on other planes. Alaska CEO Ben Minicucci told NBC this week that "many" of the planes they inspected had loose bolts that are supposed to help secure the door plug to the airframe of the jet. United Airlines made similar similar findings.

What is being done about it?

The FAA is requiring airlines to conduct "detailed visual inspections" of the door plugs and other components, adjust fasteners and fix any damage they find before putting Max 9s back into service. The agency says the process was developed by what they learned from inspections of 40 grounded planes.

United says the process involves removing an inner panel, two rows of seats and a sidewall liner from the cabin. Technicians open the door plug, inspect it and the surrounding hardware, and make any necessary repairs before resecuring the panel.

Will people avoid the planes?

Alaska Airlines officials said Thursday that they have lost a few sales among people purchasing flights into February  a phenomenon called "booking away" in the airline business. They didn't say how many people have booked away from the Max 9, but they predicted it would only last a few weeks.

Minicucci, the Alaska CEO, said "at first, people will have some questions, some anxiety," but that "over time" confidence in the plane's safety will be restored.

Travelers returned to the Boeing 737 Max 8 after two of them crashed in 2018 and 2019, killing 346 people. In that case, Boeing had to redesign an automated flight-control system before the FAA would let Max 8s and Max 9s resume flying after a 20-month grounding.

Most people don't bother to look up the type of plane they are booked to fly, although there was an uptick after flight 1282. Scott Keyes, founder of the travel site Going, said once the FAA clears the planes to fly  and if there are no more incidents  the public's memory will quickly fade.

Is flying safe?

It's much safer than driving and also safer than rail travel on a per-mile basis, according to U.S. Department of Transportation figures.

Airline officials and aviation regulators like to point out that there has not been a fatal crash of a U.S. airliner since 2009. However, in the past year there has been a sharp increase in close calls being investigated by federal officials.

Is Boeing in trouble?

The FAA is investigating whether Boeing and its suppliers followed proper safety procedures in manufacturing the part that blew off the Alaska jet. That could lead to sanctions.

In addition, the FAA says it won't let Boeing expand production of Max jets until it's satisfied that quality-control concerns about the company have been resolved.

Rival Airbus has pulled far ahead of Boeing, beating the U.S. company last year in both orders and deliveries of new passenger planes. Boeing's latest crisis could make things worse. United CEO Scott Kirby says his airline will consider alternatives to the upcoming Max 10 because of uncertainty about when and whether the FAA will certify the plane, which is already years behind schedule.
Contribute: Leave a comment if you find a particular report interesting or want to add to it. Flag as inappropriate. Mark as helpful or interesting. Send your own user report!

User reports estimate the perceived ground shaking intensity according to the MMI (Modified Mercalli Intensity) scale

Translate

Sanur (400.5 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / very short : Very weak, but the monitors on my desk were moving a bit so I noticed it, barely felt anything myself.

Wewa East Sepik province / Light shaking (MMI IV) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 1-2 minutes : The shake suprise me while I was cooking in the house every thing felt to the flow and I run out of the house..

Sideman Bali / Weak shaking (MMI III) / complex motion difficult to describe / 2-5 s : I was playing mobile legends and wow this game felt more immersive but no an earth quake, my partner came out to hug me, all good

Tabanan Bali (411.4 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Kuta (400.7 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single lateral shake / 2-5 s

Kuta (400.7 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single lateral shake / 2-5 s

Legian, Bali (399.9 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single vertical bump / 1-2 s : weak shaking on my sunbed

Ubud, Bali (419.3 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s

Tabanan Bali (411.4 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Legian, Bali (399.9 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single vertical bump / 1-2 s : weak shaking on my sunbed

Kuta (452.8 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : The bed shook

Matalam, Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (463.4 km NE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) (reported through our app / Weak shaking (MMI III)

Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali (420 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : The whole house rattled I was sitting on my couch.

Seminyak (396 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single lateral shake / 2-5 s

Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali (412.1 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / not felt (reported through our app / not felt

Kuta (400.7 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single lateral shake / 2-5 s

Sanur, Kota Denpasar, Bali (399.8 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / 1-2 s

Seminyak Beach (396.1 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 10-15 s : Felt very similar to the one 2 days ago

Penida Island (419.9 km NE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 5-10 s : Felt bed wobbling

Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali (420 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) (reported through our app / Weak shaking (MMI III)

Nusa Dua (437.8 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III)

Ubud, Bali (417.5 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / single lateral shake / 2-5 s

Legian, Bali (396.9 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) (reported through our app / Weak shaking (MMI III)

Sanur, Bali (413.5 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 30-60 s

Bajalali, Jawa Tengah (564.2 km NNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) (reported through our app / Very weak shaking (MMI II)

Ambarawa, Central Java (605.4 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / not felt (reported through our app / not felt

Kuta, Kabupaten Badung, Bali (394.1 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) (reported through our app / Very weak shaking (MMI II)

Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali (419.1 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) (reported through our app / Weak shaking (MMI III)

Kuta, Kabupaten Badung, Bali (393.8 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : At the airport terminal

Legian, Bali (398 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 1-2 s

Denpasar (398.3 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s (reported through our app / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s
Photo-Illustration: Vulture. Photos: Cindy Ord/Bravo via Getty Images, Virginia Sherwood/Peacock via Getty Images

Caroline Manzo has sued Bravo over allegations of sexual harassment tied to filming of an upcoming season of The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip in Morocco. In a lawsuit filed in New York and obtained by Variety, Manzo alleges that fellow cast member Brandi Glanville forcibly kissed her, groped her vagina and breasts, and held her down on a couch while humping her, among other allegations. People previously reported last January that Glanville and Manzo had exited the show early because Glanville had kissed Manzo without her consent multiple times. A spokesperson for Glanville denied Manzos allegations to Page Six, noting in a statement, While filming, Brandi followed what the producers asked of her, and there was no sexual assault. She is innocent of these absurd accusations that have weighed on her mental and physical health for far too long without a word of support from Peacock, Shed or Bravo.

Glanville is not actually named as a defendant in Manzos suit. Manzo is taking action against Bravo and other NBCUniversal entities, claiming that they allowed the alleged harassment to happen. The suit alleges that the defendants regularly ply the Real Housewives cast with alcohol, cause them to become severely intoxicated, and then direct, encourage and/or allow them to sexually harass other cast members because that is good for ratings. It further claims that Bravo knew of Glanvilles history of sexual misconduct, yet still hired her and even encouraged her to get drunk on set so she would be more likely to commit outrageous and harassing acts. Representatives for Bravo/NBCUniversal declined to comment on the suit to Vulture.

Last October, a butler sued Bravo over claims that Glanville had sexually harassed and abused him during filming of Ultimate Girls Trip in Massachusetts. Per Deadline, the suit similarly alleged that Bravo allowed, condoned, and even encouraged Glanvilles conduct. Glanville took to social media in December to claim that producers encouraged cast members to drink alcohol. She added, I am completely innocent, the producers ask you to do something. And then you get in trouble for it!!!! the producers need to follow the rules!
Photo: Araya Doheny/Getty Images

Early Sunday afternoon at the Sundance Film Festival, dozens of protesters gathered at the base of the Park City bus loop, passing around keffiyehs and handmade signs with painted watermelons and slogans like Grow a spine for Palestine. They made their way past the DoorDash brand activation and Napoleon Dynamite 20th-anniversary food truck over to Main Street, and soon the dozens grew to more than a hundred, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. For years, the Sundance Institutes messaging has focused on uplifting global independent voices, and on the festivals landmark 40th anniversary, there is ample programming meant to align Sundances identity as a festival with activism and social justice.

But this year, there has been mostly silence on the ground about human-rights crises that directly affect the artistic communities at the core of Sundance. On Friday, January 19, just one day into the festival, the Utah House of Representatives passed HB257, one of the most dangerous, overreaching trans bathroom bills in the country. A mere 45-minute drive up the mountain from the State Capitol, meanwhile, some of Sundances biggest films of the year were by trans directors and about trans subjects. On January 25, the bill passed in the Senate. Sundance has yet to release an official statement.

Another matter of silence from festival officials is Israels ongoing bombardment of Gazan civilians and infrastructure following the Hamas attacks of October 7. Festival organizers have been quiet on Israel and Gaza in official statements, events, and panels; with rare exceptions, artists havent brought it up in speeches or on press lines  a trend this awards season, too. I heard from a colleague that at a Q&A following a screening of Reality Winner biopic Winner, an audience member asked a question that tied the political story of the film into calls for a ceasefire and was greeted with boos from the crowd. The moderator quickly pivoted away from the topic. This year also sees no official feature entries into the festival from Israel or Palestine. The overall atmosphere of silence prompted over 700 people in the industry to sign a Film Workers for Palestine letter, released around the start of the festival, calling for an end to genocide, apartheid, and repression, stating:

Theyre enabling the Zionist panel. Shut it down. Sundance: What do you have to say for yourself?

We recognize the calls made by the Palestine Film Institute to hold international film festivals accountable, and in this moment of urgency we echo their call for filmmakers to use their platforms during Q&As, talks, and panels to read statements highlighting the Palestinian struggle. In spaces where safety and solidarity are lacking, we will create and ensure it.

So daily vigils have been held on Main Street in the mornings, and a protest was planned by organizers over WhatsApp. At the protest, I spoke with a white-haired Park City resident who told me that she was meeting a Palestinian friend and was protesting because she doesnt want to see the United States government funding weapons. The thing about the media is, its been a hundred days, so they figure, we can move on to something else. Melissa Barrera, who is at the festival for Your Monster and who has been an outspoken supporter of human rights in Gaza, accepted a keffiyeh from an organizer who thanked her for her support, and she was soon joined by Ponybois Indya Moore, who livestreamed the event to her followers and took the megaphone to deliver a speech emphasizing the common cause: The Semitic diaspora will find liberation through the freedom of the Palestinian people  This is not a Jews-versus-Palestinians issue, this is about everybody getting free from violence  We are asking, we are begging, we are demanding [ceasefire] with our lives, our careers, with our souls, that this ends. Because if it doesnt end, it will continue to destroy the planet. All of these issues are interconnected.

Other protesters shared messages in their own speeches expressing the link between film workers and the Palestinian cause, saying, The people of Palestine are using art as resistance  theyre making movies, theyre livestreaming their genocide. Two passing bros booed, and soon around five or six counter-protesters gathered across the street, including leader in pro-Israel activism Noa Tishby, who had spoken earlier in the day at a panel at noon called Sects, Lies and Videotape: Debunking deadly tropes about Jews and Israel in TV, film, and media, presented by a group called Jew in the City. They brought out a sound system to play Hatikvah and waved an Israeli flag, with one woman motioning to the crowd and yelling, Look at all of these people in support of October 7! In response to chants for ceasefire now, the counter-protesters chanted, Bring them home / ceasefire tomorrow.

Photo: Araya Doheny/Getty Images

I recognized a few of the counter-demonstrators from a private and unofficial Sundance event held two days earlier at a CrossFit gym. It had advertised the opportunity to meet survivors, freed hostages, families of those still in captivity, and other notable guests, in a one-of-a-kind gathering and featured a large mural (photo op? Step and repeat?) that said Bring Them Home. The event was being held by a variety of Zionist groups, including Taglit Birthright Israel and various pro-Israel on-campus initiatives dedicated to quashing criticism of Israel on American college campuses. There were no freed hostages in attendance, but a survivor of the October 7 massacre at the Nova Music Festival was there, as was the parent of a hostage (an American who moved to Israel and volunteered to join the army as a lieutenant commander operating tanks). He shared that he and other American parents of hostages had met with President Biden for two hours, and that the president showed them his Zionistic, real passion for Israel. That parent had also flown out to meet with the president of Qatar, and his stories about access to world leaders contrasted vividly with stories of Gazas thwarted communication efforts, from blackouts to journalist deaths. Were at fucking Sundance  Were going to get through this! an emcee declared.

At the Sunday protest, I asked Alkhateeb why organizers felt the need to organize this demonstration at Sundance, specifically. Art is a way of communicating through culture  and since were not seeing that, since were not seeing [many artists] actually get involved with the issue, we have to call them out  Were telling them, Were watching you.

Four activists laid down in front of a ceasefire banner, posing as dead Palestinians, and a counter-protester heckled, This is bad acting, youre at Sundance! As the protest continued marching en masse further up Main Street, I caught up with I Saw the TV Glow star Brigitte Lundy-Paine in the crowd. I think that Sundance is complicit in the genocide, through its sponsorships, advertising the funders of war, they said. The fucking Chase Sapphire Lounge, lets burn it down. Lets smash the windows. Stop Cop City. Theyre enabling the Zionist panel. Shut it down. Sundance: What do you have to say for yourself?

Photo: Araya Doheny/Getty Images

The demonstration ended peacefully, and as the police eventually opened Main Street back up to cars, I saw a man in a keffiyeh sharing his umbrella with a woman from the pro-Israel side of the street, having a conversation; I watched them exchange numbers. The protest didnt disrupt any festival programming, but it was covered by the news, and it in some ways broke the silence that had been hanging over the past few days in Park City. That night, documentarians Brett Story and Stephen Maing gave a speech expressing grief for the victims of ongoing violence in Gaza and loss of human life on both sides of the border wall at the premiere of their film Union. Story spoke about how being raised in the West Bank taught her the skills that helped her become a filmmaker. Elsewhere that same night, Bangladeshi-American filmmaker Farihah Zaman quoted the Film Workers for Palestine letter on a panel at the festivals Muslim House. And on Monday, documentarian Jules Rosskam called for a permanent ceasefire at the premiere of their film, Desire Lines, hoping that the audience can hold space for the lands histories and potentials  so that we may make more liberated futures together.

Ultimately, though, the two sides at the festival seem to remain entrenched in their differences. Speaking with Variety, Tishby said protesters at the festival were supporting a jihadi genocidal organization that is fully committed to your annihilation.

One publicist at the festival told me anonymously that the prevailing atmosphere of silence by the majority of people speaking at the festival had them disillusioned about not just Sundance, but the industry entirely. I always wanted to work in film, they said. Now I think Ill go to grad school. Over 1,500 film workers have since signed the Film Workers for Palestine letter since it was released last week.

Correction: According to organizers, the number of Film Workers for Palestine letter signatories was over 7,000 at the time of publication.
Photo: Grasshopper Film/Gratitude Films

Recife, in northeast Brazil, is filmmaker Kleber Mendonca Filhos birthplace, his home, and his recurring muse. When Filho, who began his career as a critic, began making scripted features, the dramas he constructed didnt just take place in the city, but delved into its changing textures. Neighbouring Sounds explores the paranoia of middle-class residents in a developing area who are approached by a private security film, while Aquarius is about the ruthless efforts of a developer determined to throw out the last holdout in a grand old beachside apartment building. Filhos beguiling new work, Pictures of Ghosts, is a documentary, one that makes explicit how personal the themes and images in his work are. Its a meditation on architecture, history, and cinema, but its also about what it means to be a capturer and viewer of images that outlast the places and memories of what youve managed to place in your frame.

Pictures of Ghosts begins with the apartment Filho moved into when he was a child  a spot near the beach in Boa Viagem, which as Filho demonstrates by cutting between old photographs of the area from the 60s and current ones, is now dense with high rises and an influx of capital. He skips between time periods frequently in the film, which is part personal meditation and part historical essay, and which he narrates, weaving together shots of the present day with archival photos, old footage that he shot himself, and clips from movies by him and by others. Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis, on vacation decades ago, walk in dreamlike slow motion in black-and-white along the sidewalk of a downtown now hollowed out and half-abandoned. A 70s polyester sofa becomes a plush-armed present day one in the space of an edit.

Filho was apparently inspired to make Pictures of Ghosts when he and his family moved to a new place in the city, leaving behind that childhood home. He didnt just grow up in that apartment, which represented a new start for his mother after her divorce  he shot movies there, both as a student and as a full-fledged filmmaker. The dog next door, forever barking, became an element in Neighbouring Sounds and made cameos on screen. Years after the animals death, Filho hears that familiar ruckus again, and realizes its audio from his movie, which is being shown on television and watched by his neighbors. Time may eventually come for everything and everyone, but the camera creates its own afterlife. Filho dredges up an old photo he took in the living room that has a mysterious blurred figure he describes as a ghost, but the specters that haunt his film are less literal  all that history that remains in spaces, even after that have been abandoned, revamped, resold, or demolished and rebuilt.

When Pictures of Ghosts leaves Boa Viagem for Downtown Recife, a once grand neighborhood thats fallen into disuse (though its still home to Carnival), it finds more apparitions from the past in the form of the cinemas that Filho used to frequent. Most are gone, having undergone transformations into churches or retail spaces, their past lives preserved only in recollections and in old images. The temptation to get maudlin about the moviegoing past has been irresistible for filmmakers, but while theres a certain amount of nostalgia to the way that Pictures of Ghosts regards the grand movie palaces of another era, the films prevailing sentiment is one of rueful bemusement at the way things change, and the way a building that was once one of the gravitational centers of your life can be awkwardly repurposed as a mini-mall. Its kind of sad to become attached to a product, Filho muses. The problem lies in the fact that you spent years of your life going to this cinema, so the relationship gets emotional and confusing.

Theres a sense of loss there, but Filho isnt interested in giving the past a rosy gloss. He includes his own deeply affectionate footage of Mr. Alexandre, the late projectionist at the Art Palacio, working shirtless to withstand the heat in the booth and talking about how sick he became of the score for The Godfather after it ran for four months. But Filho also doesnt elide the fact that the Art Palacio, which now has a flower stand crouched under its crumbling edifice, was originally built to be a cinema for the German distributor UFA as a venue for Nazi propaganda (Pretty good story, he notes, wryly). That, too, is a layer of history lost under the patina of years. The question of what becomes of a filmmaker and film lover if the world moves on goes unspoken but is deeply felt. What happens if the medium that once drew 200,000 in Recife to see Hair in defiance of the government, who thought it anti-military, no longer merits the same huge spaces that were once dedicated to it? But Pictures of Ghosts is so lovely and alive that, if anything, it only reassures you that movies arent going anywhere.
A Gary man is facing charges after a five-year-old boy found and fatally shot himself in the head with a loaded gun.

Jacorri Danzy, 32, was charged Thursday with reckless homicide, a Level 5 felony. Court records indicate he posted a $3,000 bond Friday.

Edan Johnson, 5, of Chicago, was pronounced dead Aug. 30 at Methodist Hospitals Northlake in Gary.

The death was one of several in recent months where a child found an unsecured gun. Danzy was the second man charged this week in different cases.

Gary Police responded at 9 a.m. Aug. 30 to the 2400 block of Fillmore Street.

Danzy said he arrived at the house at 6 a.m. as the boys grandmother gave him a key. She usually watched the boy, but was away on a cruise that week. The boys mother was working an overnight shift at the hospital.

Danzy said he thought no one was home.

He put his Smith & Wesson .40-caliber handgun on the living room floor and fell asleep on a sofa. He woke up at some point, briefly spoke to his niece, 17, then went back to sleep.

He woke up around 8 a.m. to a loud boom. Danzy saw the boy slumped over and realized he shot himself with the gun.

The niece told police that she and the boy woke up that morning, then went downstairs. The child was watching cartoons on TV in the living room.

She saw Edan playing with something on the ground, then realized it was a gun. She told him dont touch it, pushed it under the sofa, then went upstairs, before she heard a gunshot, according to the affidavit.

The boys mother told police that normally the grandmother watched the boy while she was at work. That morning, she usually got off around 7:15 a.m., but had to stay longer for training.

Crime scene investigators found the gun on the floor. Cartoons were still playing on the television. The casing was still in the chamber  known as limp-wristing  which happens when someone like a child shoots a gun without a firm enough grip.

Danzy told police he forgot he put the gun on the floor. It had 10 rounds and no safety.

Aint nobody fault but mine, he said on an Aug. 31 jailhouse call.

The grandmother told investigators she banned him from having a gun in her house.

In an unrelated case, Kyle C. Penro, 28, of Merrillville, was also charged Thursday after his son, King Penro, 3, fatally shot himself in the chest on Dec. 4 after finding his fathers unsecured gun.

mcolias@post-trib.com
MILLERSBURG  Pomerene Hospital has been surveyed by the Center for Improvement in Healthcare Quality (CIHQ) and has met the requirements for Hospital Accreditation.

The hospital demonstrating compliance with CIHQ Standards and the Conditions of Participation by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The recognition reflects the hospitals commitment to safety and quality patient care.

Pomerene was subjected to a unannounced onsite assessment. The CIHQ team toured the hospital, reviewed medical records, observed care practices, and interviewed staff and patients.

CIHQ goal is to partner with hospitals to improve the care provided in our communities, said Richard Curtis, chief executive officer of CIHQ, in a news release. CIHQ is proud to recognize Pomerene Hospital for achieving accreditation.

"This achievement is a testament to our unwavering commitment to caring for our communitys health, said Jason Justus, CEO of Pomerene Hospital. We are proud to partner with CIHQ in their mission to enhance healthcare services for those we serve."

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Pomerene Hospital in Millersburg obtains CIHQ accreditation
Photo: Shutterstock

Rest in peace, Pussy Island. Well always remember how it felt when Deadline reported back in 2021 that Zoe Kravitz had sentenced Channing Tatum  who is reportedly now her fiance  to Pussy Island, casting him in this incredibly named genre thriller that also serves as her directorial debut. But the movie, co-written by Kravitz and E.T. Feigenbaum, has now been renamed to a more family-friendly option: Blink Twice. (Incidentally, thats what we did when we heard that the title was changing.) Tatum will star as tech mogul Slater King, who meets young, clever, Los Angeles cocktail waitress Frida (Naomi Ackie) at a fundraising gala. He later brings her and her friends to a private island where the party vibes turn sinister. Something, says the plot description, is a bit terrifying. No kidding. The movie used to be called Pussy Island. Thats Little Saint James vibes. Heres everything we know so far.

Why did the title change?

Its hard to say. Regarding the original title, Kravitz previously told Deadline:

I started writing this story in 2017. As a woman in general, and a woman in this industry, Ive experienced some pretty wild behavior from the opposite sex. The title was kind of a joke at first, this place where people would go, bring women, party, and hang out. The story evolved into something else, but the title wound up having multiple meanings. And it alludes to this time and place we claim to not be in anymore, in terms of sexual politics. People are evolving and changing, but there is still a bad taste in a lot of peoples mouths from past behavior. Its a nod to that, but its also playful, and a really playful film in a lot of ways. I like that the title leads with that and has some heavy meaning beneath it.

Representatives for Kravitz and Amazon MGM Studios did not immediately respond to Vultures request for comment on the title change.

Who else is in the cast?

In addition to Tatum and AckieAccording to Deadline, Simon Rex, Christian Slater, Geena Davis, Adria Arjona, Haley Joel Osment, Kyle MacLachlan, and Alia Shawkat are also set to star.

When is it coming out?

Blink Twice is scheduled to release in theaters on August 23.

And will Channing Tatum wear Crocs?

Very unlikely. Tatum recounted to Deadline in 2021 that in his first meeting with Kravitz for the project, she told him to stop wearing that particular brand of foam clogs. Already making bold directorial choices, we see.
FILE PHOTO: Logo of Swiss cement maker Holcim is seen in Zug

(Reuters) -Swiss building materials giant Holcim is nearing a deal to separate its North America business that could be worth more than $30 billion, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday.

The deal could be announced this coming week, assuming the plans dont fall apart at the last minute, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter.

Holcim did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report.

Holcim has close to 350 sites in 43 states in the U.S. and employs 7,000 people, according to its website.

In July last year, the Swiss company said North America was on track to reach around 40% of group sales, increasing to roughly $12 billion, up from $10 billion the previous year.

The Swiss cement maker has been banking on new business in the United States from manufacturers shifting production home to avoid supply chain jams and taking advantage of government subsidies.

North America remains an attractive market for Holcim's investments and acquisitions, the head of the cement maker's Europe region told Reuters this month.

Today, 40% of our business is North America. And we have been in North America for the past 50-plus years. So, we have a very strong geographical footprint in U.S., but also in Canada," said Miljan Gutovic, in an interview on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

"We have many initiatives across North America to increase the capacity to de-bottleneck our plants. And also, we are looking at the M&A," Gutovic added.

(Reporting by Jyoti Narayan in Bengaluru;Editing by Andrew Cawthorne and Nick Macfie)
Authorities order pro-Palestinian rallies in Rome and Milan to be rescheduled.

Police chiefs have banned pro-Palestinian rallies from taking place in Rome and Milan on Saturday 27 January, Holocaust Remembrance Day, following calls from the Jewish community in Italy and the Italian government.

The order for the marches to be rescheduled to another date, on the recommendation of Italy's interior minister Matteo Piantedosi, was backed by the mayors of both cities.

Piantedosi on Friday said that while the right to demonstrate must be guaranteed, in this case it must be "reconciled" with the significance of the Giorno della Memoria, adding that he was "confident" a compromise solution would be reached.

Earlier this week the president of Rome's Jewish community, Victor Fadlun, said that Saturday's planned "anti-Semitic march" would be a "defeat for everyone" if it went ahead, claiming that it would "reopen the wound of the Holocaust" and create a risk for "public order and security".

Fadlun's calls were backed by his counterpart in Milan, Walker Meghnagi, who described a pro-Palestinian rally planned in Milan on Saturday as "a disturbing initiative".

The Palestinesi d'Italia association on Friday said it will respect the police order, moving its demonstration in Milan to Sunday, and scheduling a press conference on Saturday afternoon to outline its reasons.

However the Giovani Palestinesi group told news agency ANSA that it would defy the order and go ahead with its demonstration in Milan on Saturday, with protesters also likely to take to the streets in Rome.

"It is extremely serious that the Jewish community affects a decision already taken by the competent authority that authorised the rally", Maya Issa, president of the Palestinian Students Movement told ANSA, describing it as "a decision that increases anger".

Issa said the students would "reserve the right to decide" whether to demonstrate on Sunday "but we cannot guarantee that there will not be people who will take to the streets" on Saturday.

Cover image: Pro-Palestinian rally in Milan on 18 November 2023. Photo credit: pcruciatti / Shutterstock.com
Linda Wenhold was blown away by the Patriot Academys classes, which tap into a growing fear among some evangelical Christians that their faith and its rightful place at the center of American culture and government were under siege.
In a new documentary, Stormy Daniels alleges that Donald Trump cornered her in a hotel room and says the fallout tore her life apart.
From luminaries to luxury buys, this series spotlights the people and products changing the game

Having dressed Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Australian designer Karen Gee has earned the right to compare herself with luxury labels such as Stella McCartney and Gabriela Hearst. Instead, Gee turns to fast food for inspiration.

Ive always related to something like Coca-Cola or Kentucky Fried Chicken, Gee says proudly, as she prepares to launch her first ready-to-wear collection. There are key ingredients to my dresses that people can copy, but they dont know all the elements involved.

Designer Karen Gee wearing a dress from her ready-to-wear collection at her Sydney home. Credit: Flavio Brancaleone

Before 2018, few people knew about Gee, or her recipe for streamlined dresses offering sophistication without stuffiness. The former Mrs Australia Globe pageant winner had started her label four years earlier, with the assistance of one pattern maker and modern technology making up for no formal fashion training. You can do a lot with Google, she says.

Then along came Meghan, wearing Gees deceptively simple-looking white shift Blessed dress, on a visit to Australia immediately following the announcement of her first pregnancy.
Theyre happy, happy lower tax days, even if the top end of town is upset about it.

But the governments backflip to spread the stage 3 tax cuts beyond just higher earners puts money back in all of our pockets at the very same time many of us are looking for ways to receive interest rate cuts.

All these changes pose an enormous opportunity for mortgage holders: simply keep your repayments the same when your rates start to fall later this year. Credit: AFR

The suite of sweet savings means a massive opportunity to save on your home loan. In fact, play your cards right, and you could keep for yourself an incredible $224,788 in interest, and get out of debt 4.5 years earlier. Let me explain.

The plunge to a 4.3 per cent monthly inflation reading now sees money markets counting on 42 basis points of rate cuts this year. Thats nearly two.
The federal government has called for feedback through a discussion paper focused on the retirement phase of superannuation. They are actively seeking insights from the super industry regarding retirement, and the deadline for submissions is approaching next week.

I seized the opportunity to tap into the perspectives of everyday Australians approaching or currently experiencing retirement. The aim was to gauge their sense of support during this phase and identify areas where improvements could be made.

The government and the superannuation industry knows they have a problem when it comes to superannuation literacy. Credit: Simon Letch

The government and the superannuation industry knows they have a decent-sized problem. Theres at least four big challenges to tackle in the years to come. And theyre all interwoven  you cant tackle one if you dont tackle the others.

The insight into what average Australians facing retirement right now are seeing and feeling might just make this feel a bit more real to all of us.
But economists say Clare must also close a key loophole that allows states to claim 4 per cent of their share of public school funding in capital depreciation and non-school spending. The clause means that last year all states and territories, except the ACT, collectively claimed they spent $2 billion that never actually reached classrooms. Gonski was meant to be real money, for real schools, said education economist Adam Rorris, who helped the Commonwealth devise the minimum standard requirements and analysed funding projections as part of independent work commissioned by the AEU. This is an accounting trick. Its a rort. And it only applies to public schools, not the privates, he said. The SRS is not a lofty aspiration. Its the bare minimum needed, calculated to get at least 80 per cent of students above the minimum standard for NAPLAN testing. And were still nowhere close.

Meanwhile, Rorris said, private school funding continued to grow in a way never intended by Gonski, overfunded by hundreds of millions of dollars a year until at least 2029. Loading Clare did not answer questions on whether he would scrap the 4 per cent allowance for states or introduce tougher accountability on their funding pledges, as Labor previously committed to do while in opposition. But he stressed he was committed to the full 100 per cent funding standard. We have to fix the funding gap, he said, adding short-term, extra resources should be targeted to things that help children who fall behind catch up, such as tutoring support.

AEU federal president Correna Haythorpe said under the 4 per cent loophole, jurisdictions could claim everything from regulatory agencies, early learning and even private school buses as part of their public school funding. The accountability has been stripped out of these deals and this [federal] government has a historic moment to fix it, she said. My nephew is about to start school. Will he go through another decade of underfunding? In Australia, the states are meant to cover 80 per cent of public school funding and 20 per cent of Catholic and private. Credit: Quentin Jones Last month, a major report commissioned by the federal government called for public schools to be fully funded urgently, as the achievement gap between the richest and poorest students grows and inequality becomes entrenched in the school system. But most politicians have shied away from committing to a timeline. So far, NSW has vowed to fully fund public schools by 2029 under the next deal with the Commonwealth.

In Victoria, where a tight budget looms ahead this May, a Department of Education spokeswoman said that since coming to power just under a decade ago, the Labor government had invested $14.9 billion in school infrastructure that was not included in SRS figures, and had ramped up its spending per student more than other states. Victoria continued to advocate for more Commonwealth spending on public schools, she said, as all students, no matter their circumstances, deserve the best start in life. Deakin University researcher Dr Emma Rowe has been surveying school principals across the country and says the divide between the school sectors is staggering. Loading While you have one elite [private] school importing special limestone to build a literal castle, [public] principals across the board talk about the struggle with their budgets, she said.

They are fighting for absolutely everything, putting in lengthy applications for basics like heaters and airconditioning, working toilets. Some primary schools dont have playgrounds. Others hold fetes and fundraisers to crowd-source extra funds. Rowe said one principal had been applying for five years to fix classroom windows that didnt open or would slam shut suddenly, which could take off a little kids fingers. Another to fix a leaking roof creating mould. Public schools are being starved of money. Thats why parents are going private. Education expert Matthew Sinclair agreed that Australia is unique on the world stage for the scale of its funding of private schools. Overseas, government support for private schools is very limited, and usually tied to the fees schools charge parents.

Here, its unregulated, Rowe said. Fees are going up faster than house prices. Sinclair said there was no clear rationale to Australias funding split that leaves the majority of public school funding to the states, which have less revenue-raising power than the Commonwealth. Loading Why couldnt it be 50-50 for all schools? I think if it was better balanced, wed be in a much better position, he said, flagging the idea of a national agency to dole out money based on need. But the politics of entitlement ... the lobby groups of the private and the Catholic sector, keep trumping the reality of need [for] our students.
Low-cost index funds make it easy to achieve average market returns. But in any diversified portfolio of stocks, you'll see some that fall short of the average. Unfortunately for shareholders, while the The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSE:TD) share price is up 13% in the last three years, that falls short of the market return. Unfortunately, the share price has fallen 10% over twelve months.

So let's investigate and see if the longer term performance of the company has been in line with the underlying business' progress.

View our latest analysis for Toronto-Dominion Bank

In his essay The Superinvestors of Graham-and-Doddsville Warren Buffett described how share prices do not always rationally reflect the value of a business. One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement.

During the three years of share price growth, Toronto-Dominion Bank actually saw its earnings per share (EPS) drop 3.6% per year.

The comparison of the modestly falling earnings per share, and the relatively resilient share price, suggests the market is less cautious about the stock, these days. Having said that, if the EPS falls continue we'd be surprised to see a sustained increase in share price.

The image below shows how EPS has tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail).

It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on Toronto-Dominion Bank's earnings, revenue and cash flow.

What About Dividends?

It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. Whereas the share price return only reflects the change in the share price, the TSR includes the value of dividends (assuming they were reinvested) and the benefit of any discounted capital raising or spin-off. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. As it happens, Toronto-Dominion Bank's TSR for the last 3 years was 29%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return.

Story continues

A Different Perspective

Toronto-Dominion Bank shareholders are down 5.7% for the year (even including dividends), but the market itself is up 3.5%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Longer term investors wouldn't be so upset, since they would have made 7%, 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. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with Toronto-Dominion Bank , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

Of course Toronto-Dominion Bank may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of growth stocks.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Canadian exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
A leading autism researcher will join the national board that oversees school funding arrangements, in a sign the federal government is taking fresh steps to make sure the education system accommodates students with a disability, which is now almost a quarter of all pupils.

It comes weeks after schools were asked to shoulder more responsibility for supporting children with autism and developmental delays, to stop families flocking to the National Disability Insurance Scheme because it is their only source of help.

Autism expert Professor Andrew Whitehouses appointment to the school resourcing board was welcomed. Credit: Trevor Collens

The number of students with a disability has been rising each year and the latest data from the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority showed there were 991,272 school students who received an educational adjustment due to disability in 2023. This represented 24.2 per cent of total school enrolments, up from 22.5 per cent in 2022 and 18 per cent in 2015.

Education Minister Jason Clares appointment of Professor Andrew Whitehouse, head of the Autism Research Team at the Telethon Kids Institute, was welcomed as a positive signal those students will be prioritised as state and federal governments negotiate a new school funding agreement this year.
As Norways higher education minister, Sandra Borch was responsible for making sure that students played by the rules. When one of those students was acquitted of the offence of plagiarism, Borch appealed, taking the case to the nations Supreme Court.

So it shocked the country when, just a few days later, Borch had to resign after it emerged that parts of her masters thesis seemed identical to other reports that she had not referenced.

Research and Education Minister Sandra Borch attends a press conference, in Oslo, Norway where she announced that she is resigning as a minister. Credit: AP

When I wrote my masters thesis around 10 years ago, I made a big mistake, Borch said at a news conference when she stepped down. I took text from other assignments without stating the sources.

The person who uncovered Borchs misdeeds was Kristoffer Rytterager, a 27-year-old student in Oslo, who said he got a bit pissed that the minister went after an individual student for what he considered a minor mistake, and decided to look into the ministers own academic work.
Jerusalem: The UN World Court has come down hard on Israels war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, calling on Israel to take all measures to prevent a genocide of the Palestinians. But it has stopped short of demanding an immediate cease-fire, as the South African sponsors of the case had hoped.

All sides tried to claim victory with the ruling, seizing on different elements that buttressed their positions.

An Israeli tank moves along the border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel. Credit: Getty

Israel celebrated the courts rejection of the cease-fire request and said it had endorsed the countrys right to self-defence. Yet harsh criticism of Israels campaign in Gaza could further dent its image in the court of public opinion.

The Palestinians welcomed what amounted to an overwhelming rebuke of Israels wartime tactics by a lopsided majority of judges over the heavy death toll and humanitarian disaster in Gaza. The six measures in the ruling were approved by margins of 15-2 and 16-1, with even Israels representative on the court joining the majority on two of the questions.
The United Nations has fired 12 of its employees in the Gaza Strip and began an investigation into them after accusations by Israel that they had helped plan and participated in the October 7 terrorist assault that left about 1200 Israelis dead and more than 240 others captured.

The workers, all men employed by the UN agency that aids Palestinians, known by the acronym UNRWA, are subject to a criminal investigation, two UN officials said.

Palestinians try to extinguish a fire at a building of an UNRWA vocational training centre earlier this week. Credit: AP

UNRWA reiterates its condemnation in the strongest possible terms of the abhorrent attacks, said Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the agency. Any UNRWA employee who was involved in acts of terror will be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution.

In addition, a senior UN official, briefed on the accusations, called the allegations extremely serious and horrific.
Washington: Former US president Donald Trump has been ordered to pay more than $US83 million ($127 million) to a New York writer he sexually abused and defamed, in a potential blow to his campaign for re-election.

Three days after his decisive victory in the New Hampshire primaries, a civil jury in Manhattan has ordered the former US president to pay damages to E. Jean Carroll, who claims he attacked her in the lingerie dressing room of a Manhattan department store in the mid-1990s.

E. Jean Carroll and Donald Trump.

Trump has consistently denied the claims, even though a civil jury found him liable for the battery and defamation during a separate trial last year.

Carroll, 80, clutched her lawyers hands and smiled as the seven-man, two-woman jury delivered its verdict. Minutes later, she shared a weepy three-way hug with her attorneys.
A clip of a Fox News interview with UAW President Shawn Fain is getting attention from viewers on YouTube not because the labor organization endorsed President Joe Biden for the 2024 election cycle but because the union leader listed so many reasons why former President Donald Trump didn't deserve the support of working-class people.

Podcast host David Pakman, who has more than 2 million subscribers, spotlighted Friday the 3:53 minute segment where Fain gave a withering series of examples on why he advises his union, which has an estimated 400,000 members, that include an estimated 150,000 autoworkers from the Detroit Three.

Initially Pakman said the endorsement of the Democrat seemed obvious despite the fact that Fain has said for months that the union gave no free rides to any politician for this election cycle, that the endorsement would need to be earned. The UAW has long been a political mix of workers, especially when Trump faced Hillary Clinton in 2016.

UAW President Shawn Fain speaks to the media in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. Fain visited the Volkswagen plant with workers, community and faith leaders, and CALEB (Chattanoogans in Action for Love, Equality, and Benevolence). The group delivered a letter to Volkswagen management, "demanding the company end its union-busting and intimidation."

When Fox host Neil Cavuto asked on Thursday why the UAW didn't endorse Trump. Fain calmly responded, "If you look just at the facts and the body of work of both candidates and both of them, in their own words. Nowhere in history has Donald Trump ever stood for the American worker. He stands against pretty much everything we stand for."

Fain continued, "We had to look at a lot of things and overall, you know, we decided our contract fight with the Big Three, our most successful contract in history, President Biden stood there with us on the picket line, unlike President Trump back in '19, when GM was on strike for 40 days and he was completely not existent and silent on the issue. I can go through a list of things, the difference in the candidates. it's very clear to us who stands with working-class people in this country and who stands against them."

Then Caputo pointed out that Teamsters President Sean O'Brien met with Trump and other major presidential hopefuls, while Fain did not.

Story continues

More: Let me be blunt: UAW VP for GM has strong words about Trumps visit to Michigan

Fain said, "In 2008-2009, the economic recession, Donald Trump blamed the workers for what was wrong with these companies. In 2015, he talked about doing a rotation of good paying jobs in the Midwest, somewhere where they pay less and have people begging for their jobs back at lower wages. Also, in '15, when Volkswagen workers voted to organize, he put an NLRB (National Labor Relations Board) in place that killed the organizing. ... In '19, when he was president, he didn't support the strike. He told the workers at Lordstown (Ohio) Assembly Plant, which was closing, 'don't sell your houses.' Then he did nothing to support them. You know, versus President Biden, who, in 2023, when a plant was going to close in Belvidere, Illinois, for Stellantis, he stood with those workers. He helped us save a community and helped bring not one plant but two plants back to life and he stood with our members on the picket line in our fight for economic justice."

Fain, who endorsed Biden on Jan. 24, called Trump a "scab." He earlier said workers can't continue to elect members of the "billionaire class" and expect them to help factory workers and middle-class Americans.

The UAW won a record contract with Ford Motor Co., General Motors and Stellantis in 2023 after striking all three automakers. After union members ratified contracts, Honda, Toyota, Hyundai and Tesla announced pay raises for their nonunion U.S. workers.

More: Trump campaigned in '16 on remaking Michigan manufacturing. Did he deliver?

More: Ford begins $50,000 buyout offers for skilled, production UAW members

The Detroit-based union is currently attempting to organize nonunion carmakers, including Tesla and Volkswagen and others, some of which work with organized labor outside the U.S.

Contact Phoebe Wall Howard: 313-618-1034 or phoward@freepress.com. Follow her on X at @phoebesaid

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: UAW President skewers Trump on Fox when explaining union endorsement
When it comes to higher education in the state of Pennsylvania, Governor Josh Shapiro says it's getting a failing grade in affordability.

His administration said Pennsylvania spends less on higher education than every other state, except New Hampshire. That means more financial burden for students who attend colleges and universities in the state.

The governor believes that needs to stop, and on Friday, he released what he calls a, "Blueprint for Higher Education."

Democratic state Sen. Judy Schwank said, "I truly believe that we need to look at this statewide, it's state related, as well as the state system, looking at how we've funded private institutions as well."

Schwank serves on the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, or PASSHE, which consists of 10 state-owned universities, including Kutztown University.

Under this "blueprint," the governor wants to unite PASSHE universities with the 15 community colleges and create a new governance system.

Under the new system, he also wants Pennsylvanians making up to the median income to pay no more than $1,000 in tuition and fees per semester, while increasing state funding to colleges and universities on the basis of performance.

Not everyone is happy with the "blueprints" laid out. Republican state Rep. Seth Grove said the plans are just about more spending that the state can't afford. He also noted the plan looks a like a "copy and paste" of Minnesota's higher education plan. In statement he said, "To put it mildly, if the higher education 'blueprint' was for a house, I wouldn't step foot inside of it."

Governor Shapiro said he will lay out more details of his plan on February 6th during his budget address.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - A local Girl Scout is getting creative  taking things to new heights - when it comes to selling boxes of those tasty cookies.

The 8-year-old - with a little help from some older and taller girl scouts - has deployed the family's gigantic skeleton to help earn her an Entrepreneur pin.

Every Halloween, Pinky  a 12-foot tall skeleton  haunts neighbors on Dellwood Street in Bethlehem. Then, the holidays roll around, and Pinky gets a bit more festive. She's usually put to rest afterwards, but not this year.

"We wanted to do Girl Scouts," 8-year-old Noemi Reign Starks-Richardson explained.

"Building the uniform wasn't quite the problem; getting it on Pinky was the problem," laughed Maria Zullo.

Maria Zullo retired her troop leader uniform; now, she's an active grandma. She tells 69 News the family got the idea for Pinky from social media.

"We're all a little bit fanatical and passionate about our skeletons, and it's like, everybody's like, 'That is so great!' As a former Brownie, myself, I love it," added Zullo.

Her granddaughter - Noemi or "Mimi," as everyone calls her - is currently a Brownie who attends Thomas Jefferson Elementary School. This year, she's trying her hardest to sell 500 boxes of Girl Scout cookies.

"It saves money for my Girl Scout troop," said Mimi.

Pinky helps to raise awareness about the scouts' annual cookie sale and the cookie sale helps teach Mimi critical life skills.

"That idea of entrepreneurship and building self confidence," explained Zullo.

"They teach you how to be good leaders and how to treat other people," said Rosa Richardson, Mimi's mother.

Mimi is learning how to count money and keep track of orders. With every box, Mimi gets closer to earning her Brownie cookie Entrepreneur family pin. In addition, she hopes to raise enough money so her troop can participate in two of her favorite activities.

"Go to the Crayola Factory and go camping," added Mimi. "I like camping because you're out in the woods."

No cash? No problem. The Girl Scouts have gone digital and can accept credit card payments.

"Just look for your neighborhood Girl Scout, because they will be out and knocking on doors and setting up tables," added Richardson. "Especially when the weather gets cold, they appreciate folks stopping by."

This year, people can choose from eight tasty types of cookies. Regular boxes are $5; Gluten free cookies are $6.
PALMER TWP., Pa. - Police in part of Northampton County are looking for a man they say should be considered armed and dangerous.

Paul Smith, 45, with an alias of Kadafi Miller, faces multiple charges, including possession with intent to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to a news release from the Palmer Township Police Department.

His possible whereabouts are Easton or Plainfield, New Jersey, police said.

Although no weapons have been mentioned, Smith is considered armed and dangerous, according to township police.

Police say he is 5-foot-7 and weighs 170 pounds and has brown eyes.

In a separate news release, police said Smith had been at a home in the township where about $11,000 worth of drugs were seized. Police say they took Marci Jo Clayman, 42, into custody and charged her with numerous drug offenses, including endangering the welfare of a child.

Marci Clayman is out on $20,000 unsecured bail. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 15.

If you see Smith, do not approach, police said. Dial 911 and report his location to police.

If you have any information as to his whereabouts, people can submit a tip or contact the Palmer Township Police at 610-759-2200.
HARRISBURG, Pa. - Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro's office is proposing an overhaul of the state's higher education system.

Shapiro's plan has three major goals.

One: Bring together Pennsylvania's 14 state-owned universities and 15 independent community colleges under one system.

Two: Slash tuition to $1,000 a semester for low-income students.

Three: Base state funding on school performance.

Shapiro says Pennsylvania ranks among the worst in the nation for college affordability.

The governor plans to go into greater detail in his state of the state address early next month.
By David Shepardson

(Reuters) - United Airlines said it had resumed use of its Boeing 737 MAX 9 jets Saturday for passenger flights after U.S. regulators gave the green light following a mid-air cabin blowout on an Alaska Airlines flight earlier this month.

United said the first MAX 9 flight with passengers on board since Jan. 6 departed from Newark bound for Las Vegas around 10:30 a.m. ET (1530 GMT) with 175 passengers and six crew. The Chicago-based carrier expects a few passenger flights to operate on MAX 9s Saturday.

The blowout of a cabin panel on Jan. 5 on an eight-week-old MAX 9 operated by Alaska Airlines led the Federal Aviation Administration to ground 171 Boeing 737 MAX 9 jets, which resulted in the cancellation of thousands of flights by Alaska Airlines and United.

The FAA on Wednesday lifted its grounding order as it approved new inspection and maintenance checks and said Boeing could not expand 737 MAX production or add new 737 production lines pending quality improvements.

The 737 MAX 9 enhanced maintenance process requires inspection of specific bolts, guide tracks and fittings along with detailed visual inspections of mid-cabin exit door plugs and dozens of related components.

Alaska Airlines resumed MAX 9 service on Friday. CBS News reported the airline's Chief Operating Officer Constance von Muehlen was on the first MAX 9 flight and sat next to the window in the same row where the blowout occurred on the earlier flight.

Alaska Airlines said Friday it expects inspections on its MAX 9 to be completed by the end of next week, allowing the airline to operate its full flight schedule. The grounding impacted about 20% of its fleet.

Boeing Commercial Airlines President Stan Deal told employees late Friday the company had "worked diligently" to create inspection criteria that would allow aircraft to be put back in service, and Boeing is now in the process of evaluating "hundreds" of ideas submitted by employees for quality improvements.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; editing by Diane Craft)
WASHINGTON  Arrests for illegal border crossings from Mexico reached an all-time high in December since monthly numbers have been released, authorities said Friday, exposing a growing vulnerability for President Joe Biden in his campaign for a second term.

The Border Patrol tallied 249,785 arrests on the Mexican border in December, up 31% from 191,112 in November and up 13% from 222,018 in December 2022, the previous all-time high.

Arrests fell more than half during the first two weeks of January, consistent with historical trends and enhanced enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a statement. CBP previously said a crackdown by Mexican authorities contributed to the January decline.

Mexicans accounted for 56,236 arrests in December, while Venezuelans were second with 46,937, erasing much of the decline that followed the start of deportation flights to Venezuela in October. Arrests of Guatemalans surged, with Hondurans and Colombians rounding out the top five nationalities.

Tucson, Arizona, was again the busiest corridor for illegal crossings among nine sectors on the Mexican border, with 80,185 arrests. Del Rio, Texas, the focus of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's enforcement efforts, was second with 71,095 arrests. San Diego, where nearly 6,000 Chinese were arrested, was a distant third.

Del Rio, Texas, the focus of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's enforcement efforts, was second with 71,095 arrests. San Diego, where nearly 6,000 Chinese were arrested, was a distant third.

When including migrants who were allowed to enter the United States under new or expanded legal pathways, migrant encounters totaled 302,034, topping 300,000 for the first time and shattering the previous high of 269,735 in September.

U.S. authorities admitted 45,770 people at land crossings with Mexico in December through an online appointment system called CBP One, bringing the total to more than 413,000 since it was introduced a year ago.
In the aftermath of World War II and the murder by Nazi Germany of 6 million Jews in the Holocaust, the world united around the pledge: Never again. A key part of that lofty aspiration was the drafting of a convention that codified and committed nations to prevent and punish a new crime, sometimes called the crime of crimes: genocide. The convention was drawn up in 1948, the year of Israels creation as a Jewish state. Now that country is being accused by South Africa at the United Nations highest court of committing the very crime that is so deeply woven into its national identity. Israel vehemently rejects the claim and accuses Pretoria of providing political cover for Hamas.
JERUSALEM  Yemen's Houthi rebels launched a missile Friday at a U.S. warship patrolling the Gulf of Aden, forcing it to shoot down the projectile, the U.S. military said Friday.

The attack on the destroyer USS Carney marked a further escalation in the biggest confrontation at sea the U.S. Navy has seen in the Middle East in decades, as Houthi missile fire set another commercial vessel ablaze Friday night.

The Carney attack represents the first time the Houthis directly targeted a U.S. warship since the rebels began their assaults on shipping in October, a U.S. official said on condition of anonymity because no authorization had been given to discuss the incident.

That contradicted a statement by the U.S. military's Central Command, which said the Houthis fired toward the Carney. As it has in previous strikes, the Pentagon said it was difficult to determine what exactly the Houthis were trying to hit.

Ever since the Israel-Hamas war broke out, the U.S. has tried to temper its descriptions of the strikes targeting its bases and warships to try to prevent the conflict from becoming a wider regional war.

Acknowledging Friday's assault as a direct attack on a U.S. warship is important, said Brad Bowman, a senior director at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies.

Theyre now finally calling a spade a spade, and saying that, yeah, theyre trying to attack our forces, theyre trying to kill us, he said.

Tempering the language, while aimed at preventing a wider war, has had the opposite effect of further enabling the Houthis, he said.

In Fridays attack, an anti-ship ballistic missile came near the USS Carney, an Arleigh-Burke class destroyer thats been involved in American operations to try and stop the Houthi campaign since November, Central Command said.

The missile was successfully shot down by USS Carney, it said. There were no injuries or damage reported.

The attack was the latest assault by the rebels in their campaign against ships traveling through the Red Sea and surrounding waters, which has disrupted global trade amid Israels war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree did not acknowledge the Carney attack, but claimed a missile attack on a commercial vessel that set it ablaze. He identified the vessel as the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker Marlin Luanda. The Associated Press could not immediately reach the ship's British managers.

The British military's United Kingdom Maritime Operations, which oversees Mideast waterways, acknowledged a vessel had been struck by a missile and was on fire in the Gulf of Aden. It wasn't immediately clear if anyone had been hurt.

The U.S. and Britain have launched multiple rounds of airstrikes since the Houthi attacks began targeting Houthi missile depots and launcher sites in Yemen, a country that's been wracked by conflict since the rebels seized the capital, Sanaa, in 2014.

Since November, the rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea, saying they were avenging Israels offensive in Gaza against Hamas. But they have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, imperiling shipping in a key route for global trade between Asia, the Mideast and Europe.

Since the airstrike campaign began, the rebels now say theyll target American and British ships as well. On Wednesday, two American-flagged ships carrying cargo for the U.S. Defense and State departments came under attack by the Houthis, forcing an escorting U.S. Navy warship to shoot some of the projectiles down.

The U.S. Navys top Mideast commander told the AP on Monday that the Houthi attacks were the worst since the so-called Tanker War of the 1980s. It culminated in a one-day naval battle between Washington and Tehran, and also saw the U.S. Navy accidentally shoot down an Iranian passenger jet, killing 290 people in 1988.
(Bloomberg) -- US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said her department is exploring how to force cloud companies to disclose when a foreigner taps their computing power to fuel artificial intelligence applications, signaling the next phase of the tech war between Washington and Beijing.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Were beginning the process of requiring US cloud companies to tell us every time a non-US entity uses their cloud to train a large language model, Raimondo said at an event Friday, without naming any countries or firms.

President Joe Biden in October directed the agency to require such disclosures in an effort to detect foreign actors that might use AI to launch malicious cyber-enabled activity, according to Bidens directive.

The Commerce Department has also been looking into ways to regulate the cloud via export controls, following up on sweeping restrictions limiting Chinas access to the most powerful semiconductors. The worry in Washington is that Chinese companies can access the same computing power of those chips through cloud providers such as Amazon.com Inc.s Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Corp.s Azure and Alphabet Inc.s Google Cloud.

Read More: US to Tighten Rules Aimed at Keeping Advanced Chips Out of China

We want to make sure we shut down every avenue that the Chinese could have to get access to our models or to train their own models, Raimondo said in an interview last month.

Chinas development of AI and other next-generation technologies is a top concern for the administration, which sees Beijing as its primary global strategic competitor. Washington has tried to rein in Chinas advances by restricting chip exports to the country and sanctioning individual Chinese firms, but the countrys tech giants have managed to make significant breakthroughs despite US curbs.

Story continues

The US in October tightened its controls to capture more chips, equipment and geographies. One key update targeted Chinese-headquartered companies operating in more than 40 countries, an attempt to prevent those firms from using other nations as intermediaries to secure semiconductors they cant access at home.

But what the rules didnt address is Chinese firms ability to tap into the capabilities of those chips via the cloud.

Its unclear exactly how the US would regulate that type of activity. Cloud services dont involve the transfer of physical goods, and Commerce has specifically said they are beyond the domain of export controls. Thea Kendler, assistant secretary for export administration, told lawmakers last month that we may need additional authority in that space.

US cloud providers have worried that restrictions on their activities with overseas users without comparable measures by allied countries risks disadvantaging American firms.

The Commerce Department will separately survey companies that are developing large language models about the results of their safety tests, Raimondo said Friday, though she didnt provide details about what they will request. Large language models, or LLMs, are the software behind AI tools like ChatGPT.

The potential new requirements come as the Federal Trade Commission opened a separate antitrust inquiry into AI partnerships.

Read More: Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft Face FTC Inquiry on AI Partners

Microsoft, Amazon and Alphabet didnt immediately respond to requests for comment.

--With assistance from Dina Bass and Matt Day.

(Updates with details and context throughout.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Jennifer Dayton, store manager, and Amy Satterfield, owner of Wadoo, watch Jake Green of Hagen's Junk Removal load a truck with water-damaged furniture and goods from the store on Friday in Fort Collins. A fire suppression water line burst during a frigid spell, flooding Wadoo and adjacent business C3 Real Estate. Wadoo is closed while cleanup takes place.

Amy Satterfield has spent the last week cleaning up and wringing out soggy, waterlogged inventory at Wadoo Home and Gifts after a fire sprinkler line froze, thawed and burst Jan. 17 after the subzero cold snap days earlier.

Water rained down on thousands of dollars of goods, through the ceiling and insulation and down the walls, swamping the floor with 2 inches of standing water in her unit and two others in the 200 S. College Ave. condominium complex.

Wadoo has been closed for a week as Satterfield and staff clean up and clean out the store. She expects she'll be closed for at least another month while work crews bring down and repair ceilings, dry out the walls, repaint and clean.

"It made a huge mess," she said. On Friday, a junk hauler removed the last "ugly heap" of soggy material. She and her team have sorted through everything to see what was damaged and what wasn't, cleaning and storing everything that was salvageable.

With the store now empty, Satterfield said, "I'm nervous people might think we've gone out of business. We will be back as soon as we can."

Satterfield opened Wadoo in 2006 but moved into 200 College Ave. in 2011.

Poudre Fire Authority responded to reports of the water line break at 2:09 p.m. Jan. 17 after temperatures had plummeted as low as minus 15 in the days leading up to the event.

Wadoo Home and Gifts, 200 S. College Ave., Suite 150, Fort Collins, was flooded Jan. 17 when a sprinkler pipe burst. The store is expected to be closed for at least a month while the cleanup occurs.

The building's insurer said they'd have to bring down the entire ceiling, remove the "nasty, wet" insulation and rebuild it, she said. They've cut holes in the drywall to pump air into the walls to dry them out.

Satterfield estimates she lost about $20,000  about one-third  of her inventory as well as her checkout counter and cash register. "I don't think we will be open for at least a month, maybe two," she said.

Satterfield said she has insurance to cover the space, loss of business income, and payroll and inventory, "but you never know what (or how much) insurance will cover."

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Wadoo closes after flooding damages inventory, store in Fort Collins
When considering the addition of an investment property to your portfolio, the choice between focusing on cash flow or appreciation is crucial. Each strategy has its unique set of advantages, challenges and implications for long-term wealth creation. Understanding the nuances of cash flow and appreciation will help you align your investment with your financial goals and market trends.

Cash Flow In Real Estate Investment

Cash flow in real estate investment, defined as the net income from a property after deducting expenses, is crucial for generating a consistent income stream. Its particularly appealing for investors seeking regular returns to cover expenses or reinvest. Properties with strong cash flow typically have high rental demand.

Cash flow investments require active management and can face challenges such as tenant turnover, missed rent and unexpected repairs. For instance, tenant turnover can be a significant cash flow killer, requiring additional expenses beyond the security deposit. Missed rent payments can reduce cash flow and force investors to cover property expenses out of pocket. Repairs and maintenance are routine expenses that reduce cash flow and can become problematic when unplanned, like a $20,000 air handling system breakdown.

To maximize cash flow, you can employ strategies such as increasing rent, encouraging long-term tenants, appealing property taxes, making renovations, conducting preventative maintenance and seeking additional revenue sources.

Don't Miss:

Investing in real estate just got a whole lot simpler. This Jeff Bezos-backed startup will allow you to become a landlord in just 10 minutes, and you only need $100.

Passive income investments are one of the most trusted methods for riding out a recession, so it's no surprise that people are turning to these high-yield commercial real estate notes that pay a fixed 10%  12%.

The 1% rule is a quick guideline to determine whether a property can generate positive cash flow: A property should rent for at least 1% of the purchase price. For example, a $100,000 property should be rented for at least $1,000 per month to cash flow. Cash flow expectations can vary depending on the market, with some areas generating cash flow of $150 to $200 per unit, while others, like properties in high-rent areas, can generate significantly higher cash flow.

Story continues

Net cash flow is an essential metric for real estate investors. For example, if a building is rented for $2,000 per month, and all costs amount to $1,200, the net cash flow would be $800. Negative cash flow indicates a problem with the propertys expenses or tenant payments. Cash-on-cash return is another important metric, calculated by taking the net cash flow after debt service and dividing it by the total cash invested in the deal. This metric helps in evaluating the best way to finance a new investment and forecast returns.

Appreciation In Real Estate

Appreciation, the increase in property value over time, is a fundamental aspect of long-term wealth accumulation in real estate. It is particularly attractive for investors who aim to grow their net worth and capitalize on market trends. For instance, the average home appreciation rate in the U.S. is now around 3.8% per year, slightly less than the 25-year average of 3.9%. However, appreciation rates can vary significantly based on location and market conditions.

Real estate markets are unpredictable, and focusing on appreciation can be a long-term strategy that requires patience and resilience. For example, states like Delaware, Illinois, Minnesota and Iowa have seen varying appreciation rates over the years, with Minnesota experiencing a 284.8% increase since 1991. In contrast, places like North Dakota and Alaska have seen lower appreciation rates of 280.6% and 222.4%, respectively over the same period.

This variability underscores the risks associated with appreciation-focused investments. While properties in areas with strong economic growth, infrastructure development and increasing demand are likely to appreciate, there is also the risk of short-term depreciation resulting from economic downturns or local market changes. Rapid growth in certain areas can hurt a propertys long-term appreciation potential if it leads to being overvalued.

Balancing Cash Flow And Appreciation

For many investors, a balanced approach that combines both cash flow and appreciation may offer the most strategic path. Diversifying your portfolio with properties that provide immediate rental income, alongside those with high potential for future value increase, can create a robust investment strategy. This approach allows you to enjoy stability and regular income from cash flow properties while positioning for capital gains through appreciation.

*This information is not financial advice, and personalized guidance from a financial adviser is recommended for making well-informed decisions.

Jeannine Mancini has written about personal finance and investment for the past 13 years in a variety of publications including Zacks, The Nest and eHow. She is not a licensed financial adviser, and the content herein is for information purposes only and is not, and does not constitute or intend to constitute, investment advice or any investment service. While Mancini believes that the information contained herein is reliable and derived from reliable sources, there is no representation, warranty or undertaking, stated or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of the information.

Read Next:

Elon Musk has reportedly bought 6,000 acres of land just outside of Austin. Heres how to invest in the citys growth before he floods it with new tech workers.

Warren Buffett once said, "If you don't find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die." Here are 3 high-yield investments to add significant income to your portfolio.

Collecting passive income from real estate just got a whole lot simpler. A new real estate fund backed by Jeff Bezos gives you instant access to a diversified portfolio of rental properties, and you only need $100 to get started.

"ACTIVE INVESTORS' SECRET WEAPON" Supercharge Your Stock Market Game with the #1 "news & everything else" trading tool: Benzinga Pro - Click here to start Your 14-Day Trial Now!

Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga?

This article I Want To Add An Investment Property To My Retirement Portfolio. Should I Focus On Cash Flow Or Appreciation? originally appeared on Benzinga.com

 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) is off to a mediocre start in 2024. The tech giant received a couple of analyst downgrades recently owing to potential weakness in iPhone demand, patent-related lawsuits, and a potential antitrust suit by the Justice Department.

However, there was some relief for Apple investors after Bank of America Securities analyst Wamsi Mohan upgraded the stock from neutral to buy and also hiked the price target to $225 from $208. The upgraded price target points toward a 16% jump from current levels, and Apple's stock price jumped following Mohan's note.

The BofA Securities analyst pointed out that Apple could benefit from a couple of strong tailwinds in the form of an iPhone upgrade cycle and the upcoming Vision Pro headset. According to Mohan, the growing adoption of additional artificial intelligence (AI) features in smartphones could drive a multiyear upgrade cycle for Apple's biggest product -- the iPhone.

But will this catalyst be enough to drive solid gains for investors over the next five years? Let's find out.

Will AI iPhones help Apple stock sustain its rally?

Shares of Apple have jumped an impressive 393% in the past five years, significantly outpacing the S&P 500's gains of 81%. So, a $1,000 investment in Apple stock half a decade ago is now worth almost $5,000.

AAPL Chart

Apple's revenue during this period went from $265.6 billion in fiscal 2018 to $383.3 billion in fiscal 2023. That translates into a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.6%. Meanwhile, the company's net income increased from $59.5 billion in fiscal 2018 to $97 billion in fiscal 2023, a CAGR of just over 10%.

It seems the market rewarded Apple despite the modest growth that it has clocked over the past five years. It's a bit surprising, but investors should note that Apple's earnings increased at a faster pace than the S&P 500's earnings over the same period.

AAPL EPS Diluted (TTM) Chart

The good part is that the new growth drivers that BofA Securities points out could help Apple outgrow the S&P 500's earnings again over the next five years.

Story continues

For instance, the integration of additional AI features in smartphones is expected to become a crucial growth driver for a market that has been under pressure of late. Investment bank Morgan Stanley predicts that global smartphone sales could rise 4% in 2024 and 4.4% next year following last year's decline of 5%.

The growth will be driven by new smartphones capable of running AI applications directly on the device instead of the cloud. The good part is that original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), such as Vivo and Xiaomi, saw solid growth in sales of their AI-enabled smartphones. Even Samsung joined the bandwagon with its new Galaxy S24 models, integrating on-device generative AI features into its latest smartphones.

It is not surprising to see why OEMs are rushing to offer AI in smartphones. After all, a total of 1 billion generative AI-enabled smartphones are expected to be sold between 2024 and 2027, according to Counterpoint Research. The market for these phones is expected to clock a terrific CAGR of 83% during this period, hitting annual shipments of 522 million units in 2027 as compared to an estimated 100 million units this year.

Given that Apple is the global leader in the smartphone market with a share of 20%, it is in a nice position to capitalize on this lucrative opportunity. What's more, Apple managed to increase its iPhone shipments in 2023 by 3.7% to 234.6 million units, overcoming the broader smartphone market's decline of 3.2%. It is also worth noting that Apple's closest rivals Samsung and Xiaomi saw their shipments decline 13% and 5% last year.

Even better, Apple dominated the premium smartphone market (for devices priced at $600 or more) last year with an impressive share of 71%. All this puts Apple in a solid position to capitalize on the opportunity presented by AI smartphones, especially considering that the company is reportedly looking to integrate AI-focused features into its next-generation iPhones.

Apple's pricing power could help drive solid revenue growth

Based on IDC's estimate of 1.17 billion smartphones shipped in 2023 and an average selling price (ASP) of $438 per smartphone, the overall smartphone market generated $512 billion in revenue. Apple, however, commanded an ASP of $1,038, which was a nice jump of 24% over 2019 levels. Using IDC's iPhone shipment estimate of 234.6 million units and the estimated iPhone ASP in 2023, the company's smartphone revenue reportedly stood at $243 billion last year.

So, Apple commanded 47% of the smartphone market's revenue last year even though it accounted for just 20% of shipment volumes. Mordor Intelligence expects the global smartphone market to hit 1.85 billion units in 2029. If Apple can manage to increase its share to 25% thanks to developments such as AI, it could ship 460 million iPhones annually after five years.

Again, it won't be surprising to see the iPhone maintain its pricing power and witness higher ASP in five years on account of AI-powered features. Assuming the ASP of an iPhone hits $1,100 in 2029, Apple could generate $506 billion in iPhone revenue after five years. That would be more than double the 2023 levels. More importantly, this suggests Apple's iPhone revenue is set to increase at a faster pace over the next five years. The company generated an estimated $164 billion in iPhone revenue in 2018, indicating that its revenue from this product increased 50% over five years.

Now, the faster growth in iPhone revenue should translate into stronger overall growth for Apple since it relies on this product for 52% of its top line. Throw in the potential of the company's high-margin services business and other opportunities such as AI-powered personal computers, it won't be surprising to see Apple clocking faster growth in the next five years as compared to the last five.

This could eventually lead to a healthy upside, which is why investors should consider buying this tech stock before it goes on an AI-fueled surge.

Should you invest $1,000 in Apple right now?

Before you buy stock in Apple, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Apple wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*.

See the 10 stocks

*Stock Advisor returns as of January 22, 2024

Bank of America is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Harsh Chauhan has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple and Bank of America. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Where Will Apple Stock Be in 5 Years? was originally published by The Motley Fool
Gary Mayor Eddie Melton is condemning a Republican-backed Indiana Senate bill aiming to allow the state attorney general sue the city over its welcoming city ordinance.

I believe this bill is unnecessary and that it is unproductive for the States Attorney General to insert himself in this national crisis, Melton wrote in a statement to the Post-Tribune on Wednesday.

In 2017, the Gary Common Council voted 6-3 in favor of the ordinance, which requires that any investigation by city officials into a persons immigration status be court-ordered, and holds that city resources will not be used to enforce federal immigration law.

Karen Freeman-Wilson, then the citys mayor, backed the legislation, which was drafted in response to a Trump administration crackdown on undocumented immigrants.

Garys ordinance prompted a lawsuit from four Indiana residents who claimed that it violated a 2011 Indianas law banning so-called sanctuary cities, which prohibits cities and other local governments from refusing to communicate or cooperate with federal immigration authorities in order to shield people who have entered the country without legal permission.

The lawsuit was dismissed in 2022 after the Indiana Supreme Court ruled the plaintiffs had not suffered an injury and thus had no standing to sue. Later the same year, the state appellate court held that two plaintiffs who challenged a similar East Chicago ordinance also lacked legal standing.

East Chicago Mayor Anthony Copeland did not return a request of comment.

Senate Bill 181, a revival of a bill that failed in 2023, was authored by Sen. Eric Koch, R-Bedford in response to the litigation. The bill would enable and compel Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, a Munster native, to bring lawsuits aimed at forcing governmental entities and educational institutions to comply with federal immigration authorities.

The Senate passed the bill on Tuesday with a party line vote, sending it to the Indiana House of Representatives.

In his statement, Melton invoked the ongoing migrant crisis facing cities around the country, including nearby Chicago, where nearly 35,000 asylum-seekers been sent in buses by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott over the last two years.

We are experiencing a national humanitarian crisis at our borders and cannot forget that there is a human cost to inaction, Melton wrote. Men, women, and children are suffering needlessly. Local communities are being asked to make up for a lack of leadership at a federal level.

U.S. Senate negotiators were hoping to release text of a legislative package on immigration enforcement and funding for Ukraine and Israel next week, but House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, said Friday that if the bipartisan deal resembles leaked details then it is dead on arrival in the House, according to The Associated Press.

Gary City Councilman Ron Brewer, D-At Large, voted against the welcoming ordinance, a decision he said he stands by.

With so many illegal immigrants coming inside the country now, it definitely opens Gary up as a destination for them to come, he told the Post-Tribune, noting that the cash-strapped city already struggles to care for residents without housing.

Anything resembling Chicagos migrant crisis has yet to materialize in Gary, where census records show that only about 2% of residents are foreign born. Brewer acknowledged this, but still believes that Gary should revisit the ordinance.

Its just a matter of time, before they look and say look what Gary has on the books, lets go to Gary.

Melton, for his part, wrote that if and when this issue begins to affect Gary, our citizens should know that I am committed to addressing this crisis in a humane and ethical way.

Freelance reporter Carole Carlson and the Associated Press contributed.

adalton@chicagotribune.com
A huge chunk of student-loan borrowers simply arent paying. The pandemic pause on payments may have ended in October, but roughly 40% of borrowers who had bills due that month sat on their wallets and didnt send a dime to the government. Some experts estimate that even that figure is an undercount, because it likely doesnt include borrowers whose loans were paused because of servicer errors.

Most Read from MarketWatch

The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia recently offered an explanation for this situation. It reported that more than half of borrowers who didnt make a payment in October  including some who were on plans allowing them to make payments as a percentage of their income  said it was because they couldnt afford it.

Meanwhile, roughly a quarter of borrowers who skipped their October payment did so because of servicing errors. Another 21% said they chose not to make a payment even though they could afford to do so, according to the Philly Fed.

MarketWatch spoke to borrowers who missed at least one payment this fall. Heres what they told us about why they didnt pay their student loans.

Richelle Brooks: Protesting the student-loan system

Richelle Brooks hasnt been paying her student loans for a while. After graduating with a doctorate in education in 2018, she enrolled in more schooling in part because the move froze her student-loan payments at a time when she struggled to afford them.

Richelle Brooks spoke at a student-debt protest in Washington, D.C., in 2021. - Richelle Brooks

It became, okay, if I stay in school, I can pay my bills and I dont have to worry about paying my student loans back, said Brooks, 36, a resident of Los Angeles. I started striking without knowing I was striking.

Story continues

During this period, Brooks read a book called Cant Pay, Wont Pay: The Case for Economic Disobedience and Debt Abolition. The book, authored by the Debt Collective, a debtor activist group, discusses the power of debtors uniting to push for change to a system that requires so many people to go into debt for education, healthcare and other necessities.

I was like, holy crap, these are all of the words that explain my experiences, Brooks, who estimates she has about $260,000 in student debt, said after reading the book. Im figuring out a way to not pay these student loans. Now Im going to politicize that. Im going to talk about it.

Brooks is now part of a broader debt strike organized by the Debt Collective. The latest version of the strike kicked into gear following the resumption of student-loan payments in October. The idea is that borrowers not pay their student-loan bills in a way that doesnt harm them financially, and that they use that decision to call attention to the challenges facing student-loan borrowers and to push for mass debt cancellation.

Borrowers or debtors have a lot of power in bringing awareness to the predatory system, Brooks said. If we publicize and politicize our inability to pay the student loan, it gets rid of that shame that a lot of people are feeling.

The Debt Collective has already had some success using this tactic. In 2015, the group organized former students at for-profit colleges as part of a debt strike that ultimately resulted in the Obama administration streamlining a process for students who were scammed by their schools to petition the government for debt relief.

They also helped push the idea of student-debt cancellation into the mainstream. So far, the Biden administration has taken steps to cancel roughly $136.6 billion in student debt for certain borrowers, and officials are also in the process of developing a broad-based debt-forgiveness program after the Supreme Court struck down the administrations initial plan in June.

For now, borrowers like Brooks who are participating in the debt strike have the protection of the on-ramp, a 12-month grace period following the end of the pause on student-loan payments that allows borrowers who dont pay to avoid the harshest consequences of the student-loan system. Once that ends, Brooks said, shell have to figure something out. Shes considering taking on a third job, in addition to her work as an educator and occasional Uber driver. Her application for SAVE, the repayment program the Biden administration launched last year, has been mired in paperwork challenges.

Brooks is also helping her two oldest children, 16 and 14, prepare for college. Its terrifying, Brooks said of the prospect of figuring out how to help them pay for a degree. Education changed Brookss life, she said: As a teenager, she got into trouble and was homeless for a period, but her degrees helped her change the trajectory for her family.

That experience is part of the reason shes pursued a career in education. Still, she said, its frustrating that she had to rack up so much debt in order to teach.

Biden ran on the premise that this is going to be a priority for him, she said of student-debt relief and college affordability. Brooks said she plans to push the president during this election year to fulfill that promise.

Making college free and accessible to the poorest people, the most vulnerable, the public servants, is the bare minimum, Brooks said. Im not asking for a lot. I want my kids to be able to learn and be able to get a job.

Michelle Rose: Waiting on approval for a new payment plan

Michelle Rose waited for months for paperwork to go through that would give her a more affordable repayment plan for her student loans. When student-loan payments resumed last fall, the approval had still not come, and Rose decided not to make payments in November or December.

Michelle Roses experience with student loans has made her believe its an absolutely broken system. - Michelle Rose

A resident of Toledo, Ohio, Rose, 45, twice applied for the new SAVE repayment program. She was rejected by her servicer the first time, even though the governments loan calculator said she was eligible, and after reapplying, she waited to hear back for months.

She was not alone in this predicament. By the end of October, more than 450,000 applications for income-driven repayment plans, including SAVE, had been pending at servicers for more than 30 days, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. A senior Education Department official told reporters in January that the backlog had receded since October.

Borrowers who are waiting for their applications for repayment plans to be processed are often placed in administrative forbearance, a status in which payments are paused while an application is reviewed. Rose is in forbearance but said she found the process very confusing because her servicer wasnt always explicit about it.

It just says no due date or no payment due. Im like, what does that mean? she said in early January, as she was still waiting for the paperwork to be sorted out. I just have no idea whats going on, and you cant really get anyone on the phone.

Rose recently learned her SAVE application had been approved. She plans to make her first payment in months in February.

Roses experience of trying to get a manageable student-loan payment plan has exacerbated her feeling that the way we finance college is an absolutely broken system on many fronts.

Rose went back to college at the age of 31. She had spent a year in college right after graduating from high school but had to drop out due to an injury. During her first stint in college, Rose acquired about $7,000 in student loans. That debt made her nervous about going back.

Ultimately, she returned to community college and graduated with a bachelors degree after transferring to a four-year school. She found a job in information technology that shes had ever since.

Although shes employed, she had a hard time affording her student-loan payments before the pandemic. She even went back to school for a period in part to put the payments on pause.

Thats not a good reason to go to school, she said. I was paying for my school out of pocket at that point because the debt was overwhelming. It was crippling one way or the other.

The presence of her student-loan debt has pushed Rose to make sacrifices. Shes lived with roommates, not taken vacations and put off having children in part because of her loans.

It definitely feels like its designed to keep poor people poor, Rose said of the student-loan system. Youre doing the right thing and getting the wrong result. Youre doing what everyone told you to do, yet youre still buried in debt.

Its demoralizing and its really rough, she added.

Elli England and Michael Baugh: Waiting on debt cancellation

Elli England and her husband, Michael Baugh, who live in Anaheim, Calif., made a payment of $230 in October and $100 in November as they waited on debt forgiveness. But in December, they decided to stop paying. Baugh, who took out loans in 2010 to pay for his special-education certification, fits into two different categories for which the Biden administration has tried to streamline debt relief.

Elli England and Michael Baugh stopped paying off his loans while waiting on debt relief. - Elli England

He worked as a special-education teacher and made payments on his student loans for more than a decade  except for a one-year pause when he was undergoing cancer treatment  up until the pandemic. That means he at least meets the spirit of the requirements to have his debt forgiven under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.

The couple applied for PSLF, but they were told that Baugh is 20 payments short of the 120 necessary to qualify for relief. Some temporary Biden administration fixes to the program aim to adjust borrowers accounts so that more payments that had previously been disqualified would count toward forgiveness.

In addition, Baugh, who is 57, had to quit his job last year due to early onset dementia. He wont be able to work again and, as a result, is likely eligible to have his debt canceled under a law that wipes away federal student loans for people who are totally and permanently disabled.

England, who is 56, and Baugh began going through the application process last year to have his debt discharged under the law, but their healthcare provider wouldnt fill out the forms they needed.

In 2021, the Biden administration announced a fix aimed at cutting down on the paperwork required for many borrowers to receive a disability discharge. Through a data match with the Social Security Administration, the Education Department identifies borrowers who are eligible to have their debt wiped away. Because it administers disability benefits, the Social Security Administration has the data necessary to determine whether someone meets the threshold for a disability discharge.

The problem for Baugh: His application for disability benefits with the Social Security Administration had been pending for a year.

Are you telling me this is the best thing to do? Just to wait for disability? England said in October. When payments resumed that month, Baughs application for disability benefits still hadnt been approved.

Obviously we got a reprieve during the pandemic and so didnt really think about it. At that time we were dealing with my husbands health, she said. We assumed that hes not able to work  we can get it forgiven. Didnt work. Hes worked in special education for many years we can get it forgiven as has been promised many times. Didnt work.

She added: The whole process has been so frustrating, made worse by the fact that you cannot get a straight answer out of everybody.

In November, the couple received word that Baughs application for Social Security disability benefits had been approved. The couple immediately submitted his application for total and permanent disability discharge of his student loans. In December, they received a request for more information and as of January were still waiting for the application to be approved.

While they wait for debt relief, England and Baugh are taking advantage of the flexibilities provided by the government that will hold borrowers harmless during this time. Even so, they received a statement from their servicer saying theyre two payments late. Although the government has assured borrowers that if they miss payments in the year following the resumption of student-loan payments, they wont face the harshest consequences of the student-loan system, the situation has been stressful for the couple.

Theyre the kind of people who prioritize getting rid of debt. Before the pandemic, they aggressively paid off $20,000 of the $40,000 Baugh had in loans.

We busted our butts. We dont carry debt, England said. Any chance we get, we pay down debt. Were good for it if its reasonable. Now is the time that were in a situation that we need some help and support. We didnt expect this to happen, as nobody does.

The Education Department didnt respond to a request for comment.

Most Read from MarketWatch
Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) is about to trade ex-dividend in the next 4 days. Typically, the ex-dividend date is one business day before the record date which is the date on which a company determines the shareholders eligible to receive a dividend. The ex-dividend date is important as the process of settlement involves two full business days. So if you miss that date, you would not show up on the company's books on the record date. Therefore, if you purchase Wells Fargo's shares on or after the 1st of February, you won't be eligible to receive the dividend, when it is paid on the 1st of March.

The company's next dividend payment will be US$0.35 per share, on the back of last year when the company paid a total of US$1.40 to shareholders. Looking at the last 12 months of distributions, Wells Fargo has a trailing yield of approximately 2.8% on its current stock price of US$50.32. We love seeing companies pay a dividend, but it's also important to be sure that laying the golden eggs isn't going to kill our golden goose! We need to see whether the dividend is covered by earnings and if it's growing.

Check out our latest analysis for Wells Fargo

Dividends are typically paid from company earnings. If a company pays more in dividends than it earned in profit, then the dividend could be unsustainable. That's why it's good to see Wells Fargo paying out a modest 27% of its earnings.

When a company paid out less in dividends than it earned in profit, this generally suggests its dividend is affordable. The lower the % of its profit that it pays out, the greater the margin of safety for the dividend if the business enters a downturn.

Click here to see the company's payout ratio, plus analyst estimates of its future dividends.

Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing?

Businesses with strong growth prospects usually make the best dividend payers, because it's easier to grow dividends when earnings per share are improving. If business enters a downturn and the dividend is cut, the company could see its value fall precipitously. With that in mind, we're encouraged by the steady growth at Wells Fargo, with earnings per share up 3.0% on average over the last five years.

Story continues

Another key way to measure a company's dividend prospects is by measuring its historical rate of dividend growth. In the past 10 years, Wells Fargo has increased its dividend at approximately 1.6% a year on average.

Final Takeaway

Has Wells Fargo got what it takes to maintain its dividend payments? It has been growing its earnings per share somewhat in recent years, although it reinvests more than half its earnings in the business, which could suggest there are some growth projects that have not yet reached fruition. Wells Fargo ticks a lot of boxes for us from a dividend perspective, and we think these characteristics should mark the company as deserving of further attention.

While it's tempting to invest in Wells Fargo for the dividends alone, you should always be mindful of the risks involved. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for Wells Fargo you should know about.

A common investing mistake is buying the first interesting stock you see. Here you can find a full list of high-yield dividend stocks.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.


Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading.
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.
Blossoms Shanghai, Hong Kong filmmaker Wong Kar-wai's hit about the heady opportunities and possibilities during the early 1990s in China's financial hub, has captured the collective nostalgia of an entire nation, in more ways than one.

Fans of the wildly popular 30-episode drama have been flocking to the restaurants, bars and clubs featured and visited by the show's protagonist since its release on December 27. His Huanghe Road neighbourhood, a hub for Shanghai's Xiao Long Bao (dumplings with a filling of minced pork) and other time-honoured delicacies, is now the must-go destination for out-of-town visitors.

Set in 1992, Blossoms tells the story of A Bao, who struck it rich by punting on the earliest stocks listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, highlighted by a concoction of buying craze, wild price swings and insider trading subplots. At the end, A Bao transformed into Mister Bao as he emerged triumphant against a powerful rival in a stock market showdown.

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.

At the time of the drama's setting, Shanghai's equity market in real life was barely two years old. The all-share Shanghai Composite Index soared 167 per cent that year, on top of 129 per cent in its debut year, according to exchange data. That back-to-back rally was Shanghai's best two years on record.

"It is all tears and sorrow now, when people like me look back at the stock market," said Lu Shunxi, a stock punter since trading first began in Shanghai in November 1990. "The birth of China's stock market gave an opportunity to novice investors who were drawn to a casino-like market to gamble and prosper."

For a quarter of a century, Shanghai's stock market rode on China's economic engine, which roared along at an average of 10 per cent every year from 1994 to 2007. After the 2008 Beijing Olympics, annual growth slowed to an average clip of 7.6 per cent through 2022.

Story continues

The largest nation of communists also boasted the world's second-largest capitalist market, valued at US$13 trillion at its peak in December 2021. China was minting dollar billionaires like the fictional A Bao in Blossoms Shanghai at the rate of almost one every day in 2020, before everything came crashing down.

Today, not much resembles the reels in Blossoms Shanghai. China's legion of 200 million retail investors - double the membership of China's Communist Party - can be forgiven for hankering for the gravity-defying bygone era. Photo: Weibo/Peter Pau alt=Today, not much resembles the reels in Blossoms Shanghai. China's legion of 200 million retail investors - double the membership of China's Communist Party - can be forgiven for hankering for the gravity-defying bygone era. Photo: Weibo/Peter Pau>

China's government responded to the Covid pandemic in 2020 with quarantines and extreme travel restrictions. Shanghai was locked down for two months in the summer of 2022, when every school, factory, restaurant, shop and office within the city's limits was ordered to shut. Shanghai's 25 million residents were mostly kept at home or quarantined at health facilities.

The result was a severe disruption to global supply chains, businesses and livelihoods, from which the economy is still struggling to recover. China's economy grew at a scant 0.4 per cent in the second quarter of 2022, and only managed to eke out a 5.2 per cent growth in the final quarter of 2033, months after all Covid-19 restrictions were lifted.

Frustrated investors voted with their feet, pulling a record amount of money from the stock market over the past six months, punishing China's reluctance to deploy a stimulus programme to rescue the economy. Shanghai-listed stocks have lost US$1.45 trillion of value since the market's peak in December 2021. The nation's equity market shrank by US$4.2 trillion over the same period, according to market data.

"Trading shares has become my biggest mistake in life since I keep losing money over the past two decades," said Li Yan, an employee with a state-owned media company in Shanghai. "I have had to deposit more money into my brokerage account to try to overturn the losses. But the attempts have all resulted in more nightmares."

Li is not alone. Even veterans and hedge fund stars have been brought to their knees in China's market slump for misreading the tea leaves. Singapore's hedge fund Asia Genesis Asset Management threw in the towel earlier this month, wrong-footed by its bullish view on Chinese stocks over the past year, as well as its bearish bets on Japanese equities.

Retail investors, shorn of the financial firepower and acumen of institutional fund managers, habitually pin their hopes on government incentives to spark a rally. Beijing has already rolled out a series of market-boosting measures, from stamp-duty cuts to liquidity injection, to put a floor under the plummeting stock prices.

As panic set in this week, China's top leadership and policymakers - from Premier Li Qiang to central bank governor Pan Gongsheng - stepped in to stem a loss of confidence. The People's Bank of China said this week that it would return 1 trillion yuan (US$140 billion) to commercial banks on February 5 to spur lending, after surprising the market with a cut in their reserve-requirement ratio.

The Shanghai Stock Exchange has recouped US$330 billion of value, when the market rebounded by almost 3 per cent this week from a five-year low.

"Retail investors have been eagerly awaiting a rally to recover their losses," said Ivan Li, a fund manager at Loyal Wealth Management in Shanghai. "They want the authorities to show substantial support to the market."

Many of China's retail investors want to believe that Blossoms Shanghai is making an oblique reference to a lasting turnaround in the stock market and the economy. The drama has already effectively bolstered retails spending and tourism in Shanghai. It's a shot in the arm for Gong Zheng, the mayor of Shanghai, after yet another underperforming year of growth.

Some of the world's biggest money managers, including Fidelity International and Franklin Templeton, are forecasting a rebound in Chinese stocks. More state support will help revive economic growth and confidence, they said, and investors will soon be lured by deeply discounted valuations.

A view of the Shanghai Stock Exchange trading floor on 19 December, 1997. Photo: AFP alt=A view of the Shanghai Stock Exchange trading floor on 19 December, 1997. Photo: AFP>

"The price-to-earnings ratio is standing at a low level," UBS' strategist Meng Lei said. "Most investors, without sufficient understanding of the economy, are just not confident that the share prices will rise."

China opened up its economy in 1978 by giving capitalist forces a greater play in business activities. Shanghai established its stock exchange in November 1990, becoming the first of its kind in the socialist nation. The Shenzhen Stock Exchange was formed in the following month. Beijing did not have one until September 2021.

Today, the Shanghai Stock Exchange is the largest of the three mainland bourses, and home to about 2,300 listed firms with a combined market capitalisation of 44 trillion yuan (US$6.2 trillion), larger than Hong Kong's US$4.6 trillion market.

Stocks on the Shanghai exchange have gotten cheaper, trading at a price-earnings multiple of 13.4 times future earnings, compared with a five-year average of 14.6 times. The current multiple is 11 times for members of the MSCI China Index, a universe of 700-odd stocks listed at home and abroad.

Market consultant Ying Jianzhong, who played the character of a stock commentator in Blossoms Shanghai, agreed that understanding economic and company fundamentals are indispensable priorities in investing. Confidence among investors, he said, comes from knowing what they buy into.

"In the early days, investors like me had faith in company earnings," he said in an interview. "We bought bread baked by a listed company we invested in, because we believed that everything we did for the company would help boost its profitability."

Retail investors and stock punters thronged the trading hall of a brokerage firm in western Beijing on December 16, 1996. Contrary to global convention, China's stock market denotes losses in green and uses the red colour to represent gains and profits. Photo: Reuters alt=Retail investors and stock punters thronged the trading hall of a brokerage firm in western Beijing on December 16, 1996. Contrary to global convention, China's stock market denotes losses in green and uses the red colour to represent gains and profits. Photo: Reuters>

Spurious purchases, driven by excessive speculation, have been the undoing of individual investors in China's equity market. Some 92 per cent of them lost money in securities trading in 2022, according to a January 2023 survey by state-run broadcaster China Central Television or CCTV.

The hoopla once heightened fears of social disorder. Deng Xiaoping, the late paramount leader and architect of China's capitalist reforms, soothed the concerns of his comrades, telling them that the market could be closed if the experiment flopped.

Some bold residents got rich overnight from dabbling in the initial batch of eight stocks, which surged by more than 20 times within three years. But wild swings in prices also left many unlucky punters nursing steep losses.

Stock investors checked stock prices at a brokerage firm in Shanghai on June 5, 2007. Photo: AP alt=Stock investors checked stock prices at a brokerage firm in Shanghai on June 5, 2007. Photo: AP>

During a market rout of 2015, more than US$5 trillion of value was erased from mid-June to late August. This prompted Beijing to pump about 1.5 trillion yuan in rescue funds to support the market. China' securities regulator has long been tasked with stabilising the key market indicators, to pre-empt any social unrest.

Blossoms Shanghai re-enacted several scenes from the early days of the market history. There is the rented ballroom in Astor House Hotel on the bund, where the stock exchange's first trading floor was located. Also featured is the trading counter inside the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China outlet on Xikang Road.

For some of the early stock investors, the scenes are also a rude reminder that years of hard-earned savings could evaporate within minutes of trading.

The street scene of Huanghe Road in Shanghai on January 10, 2024. Photo: Xinhua alt=The street scene of Huanghe Road in Shanghai on January 10, 2024. Photo: Xinhua>

"Traders at that time were so naive that they believed all the stocks were safe bets, guaranteed to eventually produce handsome returns," said Jiang Guangyuan, a Shanghai native who has been dabbling in the market since its inception. "I suffered heavy losses in the 1990s because I was aggressive [in chasing returns], unaware of the risks and basics of the market."

The latest episode or drama, playing out real-time before the global audience this week, is a wake-up call for policymakers in Beijing, said Andy Rothman, a strategist at Pennsylvania-based money manager Matthews International.

"Confidence among entrepreneurs and households has been shaken by poorly explained and poorly implemented economic and regulatory policies," said Rothman, who previously served as a junior US diplomat in China. "Confidence can be restored if Beijing takes steps that demonstrate it is creating a clear and stable policy environment which supports the private sector."

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.
US director Alexander Paynes The Holdovers (scripted by David Hemingson) is set during the winter break in 1970 at fictional Barton, a posh New England boarding school. At the center of the narrative is cranky Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti), an exacting classics teacher. Years before, Hunham attended the school on scholarship, something he doesnt forget as an element of his resentment toward his often privileged students.

The Holdovers, an amiable and perfectly generous, but not greatly challenging effort, has received more than 180 nominations globally for film awards, and has won more than 100 awards. Most recently, it was nominated in five categories at this years Academy Awards (best picture, actor, supporting actress, original screenplay and film editing).

The Holdovers

As the film opens, Hunham is grading papers, mostly with Ds and Fs, and complaining to himself (and later to others) about his students being philistines, hormonal vulgarians, troglodytes and snarling Visigoths. In turn, he is generally despised by his charges who call him Walleye, due to a false eye, and other nicknames pertaining to allegedly congenital body odor.

In his lifes work, Hunham has chosen to sacrifice popularity as part of his pedagogical mission ( always found myself drawn to the ascetic. Like a monk. The forgoing of sensual pleasure for the achievement of spiritual goals).

The isolated, unpopular Hunham has a penchant for Marcus Aurelius and whiskey, not necessarily in that order. He hands out odious punishments to errant boys, all the while telling them: Consider yourselves lucky. During the third Punic campaign, 149-146 B.C., the Romans laid siege to Carthage for three entire years. By the time it ended, the Carthaginians were reduced to eating sand and drinking their own urine. Hence the term punitive.

In one early scene, Bartons cognac-sipping headmaster, Hardy Woodrip (Andrew Garman) berates Paul for costing the academy an important donor by giving a legacy student a failing grade. Hunham reminds the headmaster that the school used to live by the notion that it could not sacrifice its integrity on the altar of their [the affluent families] entitlement.



When a colleague backs out, Paul is tasked with supervising the holdovers, presumably those adolescents whose rich, neglectful families care the least about them, left on campus at the holidays. Troublesome student Angus Tully (Dominic Sessa), whose mother has canceled a family trip to honeymoon with her new husband, is one of the unlucky bunch.

Also staying behind at Barton over Christmas is the likable African American cafeteria supervisor Mary Lamb (Davine Joy Randolph), whose son Curtis, a former star student at Barton on scholarship, has been killed in Vietnam. He only enlisted in the military to obtain a college education. This is a heartbroken Marys first Christmas without her son. Paul is sensitive to her grief and the two toast to Marys jibes such as rich and dumb  [a] popular combination around here. When the need arises to defend Curtis, Paul snarls: How many boys do you know who have had their hands blown off? Barton boys dont go to Vietnam. They go to Yale or Dartmouth or Cornell, whether they deserve to or not.

One father, a Pratt & Whitney executive, swoops in by helicopter to fly those boys able to obtain parental permission off to a ski resort. Angus is left with Mary and Paul, becoming part of an ostracized, marginalized trio.

Predictably, Paul and Angus end up establishing a strong emotional connection, with Mary playing the role of a tough, endearing arbitrator.

The Holdovers is a pleasant, digestible film and the three leads are appealing. It is well made, as are all Paynes films, characterized by elegant cinematography and conscientious design and production. However, it is not a genuine advance for the director. The comedy-dramas general trajectory and ultimately heartwarming denouement are set out for all to see virtually from its opening sequence. Inevitably, a work that lives up to expectations to this degree is not capable of offering a strong comment on life or society. It is too much with and part of the world as it is.

As compared to Paynes angrier, more hard-hitting works, The Holdovers is relatively safe and conventional.

Different impulses are clearly at work in Paynes filmmaking, as they are in the work of some of his directing contemporaries, such as Ethan and Joel Coen, David O. Russell, Todd Haynes, David Fincher and Steven Soderbergh. Stretches of cynicism and misanthropy alternate in their work with sequences or more of genuine insight and feeling. The official ideological reaction of the 1980s and 1990s disconcerted and disoriented these individuals, rendering them, at best, neutral or non-committal for the most part in relation to society as a whole. They are largely unaware at present that wide layers of the population have been radicalized. They remain far behind that development.

Payne has shown himself capable of throwing well-deserved punches. Election (1999), for example, a lampooning of the American political landscape, is to date a high point. The films central character, Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon), a conniving, ambitious and utterly devoid-of-principles high school girl running for student government president, represents the movies sharpest edge and spoke to something about the debased political and cultural situation in America. Payne has yet to create another character that so captures a particular social type and era, although he comes close in About Schmidt (2002) and Nebraska (2013). Downsizing (2017) too has its moments.

It would help if Payne were more aware of the pressures pushing him to soften or weaken his work.

Roman Polanskis The Palace

The Palace is a dark satire directed by Roman Polanski, cowritten by Polanski, Jerzy Skolimowski and Ewa Piaskowska. It has been excluded from North American distribution by the current neo-McCarthyite blacklisting of Polanski.

The setting is Gstaad, Switzerland. Its New Years Eve 1999 and the Palace Hotel staff is taking orders from manager Hansueli (Oliver Masucci), who awaits a collection of demanding guests.

The Palace

Among the bizarre luminaries who will arrive are world-renowned plastic surgeon Dr. Lima (Joaquim de Almeida), a retired porn star called Bongo (Luca Barbareschi), Mr Crush (Mickey Rourke), Texas oligarch Arthur William Dallas III (John Cleese) and his decades-younger wife Magnolia (Bronwyn James). Fanny Ardant plays The Marquise who feeds her precious little pooch the best caviar with unfortunate results.

With cinematography by DP Pawel Edelman and a lively score by Alexandre Desplat, the story unfolds in the elite, Gothic Swiss ski resort. On the eve of the year 2000, slaving over the guests are a collection of abused waiters, porters, and cooks.

In a statement, Polanski said: For almost half a century I have been visiting the Gstaad Palace in Switzerland, host to an extremely rich and polyglot elite, served by the proletariat of the hotel staff. These two worlds are, each in their own way, hilarious, at times even grotesque. A gulf separates them, commencing with their political views. The only thing that unites them is the figure of the hotel manager, who takes care of everyone and tries to satisfy them all, a task that in truth means he sometimes has to suck up to both guests and staff. He uses his diplomatic skills to find a way out of the most improbable situations.

The idea of making a film about this exotic world came to me at once. It had to be a comedy, a rather brusque and sarcastic one, stern in its attitude toward the characters of the film, but not without a hint of indulgence and affection.

The film, cowritten by Skolimowski, Polanskis collaborator on his first feature-length film, Knife in the Water (1962), is certainly far from Polanskis best. The humor is often labored, and the overall satire lacks sharpness. But it is certainly not inferior to most of the pointless, bombastic rubbish churned out by Hollywood on a weekly basis, generally celebrated or at least taken seriously by the American media.

In other words, the ferocious critical attacks on The Palace are out of proportion to its weaknesses.

A small sampling of the universal onslaught: from the Standard in the UKPolanskis name as a filmmaker is in the toilet, along with the humour; Hollywood ReporterRoman Polanskis Dreadful Class Satire Attempts to Eat the Rich; Guardian in the UKRoman Polanskis tacky hotel farce is the worst party in town; VarietyRoman Polanskis New Years Eve Hotel Comedy About a Bunch of Wealthy Idiots Is a Laughless Debacle; DeadlineRoman Polanskis Dreadful Hotel Comedy Makes The Controversial Director A Laughing Stock.

This politically motivated and dishonest venom is a continuation of Polanskis persecution at the hands of #MeToo fanatics, or those who are intimidated by the latter.
In mid-January, the Republic of Bashkortostan, also known as Bashkiria, (including the regional capital Ufa) was shaken by protests in support of Fail Alsynov, a leading Bashkir nationalist activist. Bashkiria is home to about 4 million people and named after its native Bashkir people, a Turkic ethnic group. The Republic is one of the most important oil-producing regions in Russia. It is also rich in other raw material resources.

Bashkiria or Bashkortostan on the map of the Russian Federation [Photo by Stasyan117 / CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

The protests were reportedly the largest in Russia since the NATO-provoked invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which marked the eruption of open conflict between the NATO imperialist powers and Russia.

The protests developed initially in the small town of Baymak during the court hearing and after the verdict in the case of Alsynov. The court scheduled the verdict announcement for January 17. On January 16, he was classified as a terrorist and extremist, and the next day he was sentenced to four years of imprisonment in a general regime penal colony.

The number of protesters on January 15 was in the hundreds or thousands. Already by January 17, it had grown to potentially tens of thousands, according to some media reports. During the first protest on January 15, people gathered near the court where Alsynov was tried to support him. They chanted the words Freedom! in Russian and Bashkir, Freedom to Fail Alsynov! and Fail, we are with you! The police did not intervene.

The January 17 protest in Baymak started in the same place near the court building where the activist was sentenced. People refused to disperse and shouted Shame! This time there were clashes with law enforcers after the announcement of the prison sentence. The footage showed officers of the National Guard of Russia, armed with shields and batons, pushing back the protesters, who threw snowballs in response.

The protesters managed to block the truck carrying Alsynov from passing for quite a long time. Messenger apps and social networks, such as WhatsApp and Telegram, were disrupted by authorities, and the entrance to the city was blocked. By the end of the day, the situation in the city had stabilized.

Later, police in the region opened a criminal case against the protesters for being involved in mass riots, while Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary of Russian President Vladimir Putin, rejected the categorization of them as riots.

Already on the morning of Friday, January 19, a rally in support of Alsynov took place in Ufa, the capital of Bashkiria, in one of the citys main squares. Reports indicate that between several hundred and more than a thousand people took part in the protest. When people began to dance and sing national songs, the police warned the crowd that the rally was unauthorized, arrested several people and eventually forced the people out of the square.

The immediate basis for Alsynovs arrest in August 2023 was a phrase he used in April 2023 at a rally against a gold mining company: Kara khalyk. It literally means black people, a derogatory and racist term in Russian to denote people from the Caucasus and Central Asia. Alsynov claims that his words have been mistranslated. Regardless of the interpretation of that word, the statement for which he was sentenced oozes of nationalism. He said, Armenians will go to their homeland [after the war in Ukraine], the kara khalyk to their own, Russians to their Ryazan, Tatars to their Tatarstan. We wont be able to resettle, we have no other home, our home is here!

Prior to his August arrest, in March 2023, his home was raided by officers of the FSB, the Russian secret service, and he was charged with discrediting the Russian army. Alsynov has described the war in Ukraine as a genocide of the Bashkir people, pointing to the large number of Bashkirs drafted into the Russian army.

Of course, the Kremlins persecution of Alsynov has nothing to do with concern with the right of immigrants and non-Bashkir national minorities. The Kremlin itself has pursued a viciously racist policy of discrimination toward immigrants from the Caucasus and Central Asia who are brutally exploited by Russian companies.

In order to understand what is at stake in the case of Alsynov, it is necessary to review his political history and the character of Bashkir bourgeois nationalism.

Fail Alsynov

Fail Alsynov became known as a leader of the Bashkir nationalist and separatist movement for serving first as the deputy chairman of the Bashkir national organization Kuk-Bure and then as the leader of the nationalist organization Bashkort, which was banned and categorized as extremist in Russia.

Bashkir bourgeois nationalism originated at the end of 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries. It erupted into the open after the overthrow of the Tsar in the February Revolution in 1917. Already then Bashkir nationalists began to issue ecological demands, such as the demand to stop cutting down Bashkir forests. Such demands remain central to the Bashkir nationalist movement to this day, and they have also prominently been raised by Alsynov. Like other bourgeois nationalist movements in the former Russian Empire, the Bashkir nationalists were bitterly anticommunist and fought against the Soviet power.

With the establishment of the Soviet Union in December 1922, which acknowledged the equal rights of national minorities in its constitution, and the creation of autonomous republics, the early Bolshevik regime under Lenin and Trotsky fought for the internationalist unification of the oppressed masses of the former Russian Empire. This involved, in the case of the Bashkir people, the granting of significant rights of autonomy to what was then the Bashkir Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.

The borders of the Soviet Union of Socialist Republics as it was constituted on December 30, 1922

However, the nationalist reaction under the Stalinist bureaucracy encouraged the resurgence of the most vile forms of bourgeois nationalism, including Great Russian chauvinism but also extreme nationalism of national minorities.

After the destruction of the Soviet Union and the restoration of capitalism in 1991, nationalist organizations mushroomed in Bashkiria. In 2006-2007 Kuk-Bure was founded, and Alsynov, then only in his early 20s, became its deputy head. The ideology of the organization was inspired by both the Turkish and Russian far right. Kuk Bure means Grey Wolf, an allusion to the Grey Wolves movement, a far-right Turkish paramilitary organization that has been involved in terrorist attacks and assassinations. Kuk-Bure reportedly also used the Grey Wolves salute.

A close friend and associate of Alsynov, Ruslan Gabbasov, recalled in his memoirs, Notes of a Bashkir nationalist, that the organization was also principally influenced by the neo-fascist ideology of the Russian National Unity (RNE) party, the largest fascist organization in Russia in the 1990s, which demanded the expulsion of all non-Russians from the country and idealized Adolf Hitler. He wrote, Azat Salmanov [one of the founders and leaders of the organization] ... borrowed the entire ideology of Kuk Bure from his classmate, a Russian skinhead named Maxim. Maxim was a member of the Bashkir branch of the RNE [Russian National Unityan ultranationalist, neo-fascist organization in Russia]. At that time, Azat was not very interested in Bashkir nationalism, but gradually, communicating with Maxim, he began to adopt the ideas of the RNE. According to Gabbasov, Salmanov would then later apply the ideology of the RNE in the formation of Bashkir nationalist ideology. ... Subsequently, he used it all in Kuk Bure.

Members of Kuk-Bure were reportedly involved in violent clashes with both Russian nationalists and immigrants from the Caucasus.

After the dissolution of Kuk-Bure, Alsynov became a leading figure in the organization Bashkort, which largely recruited from disaffected rural youth. Like Kuk-Bure, the organization embraced a pan-Turkic ideology and reportedly maintained ties to nationalist circles in Kazakhstan. Its demands included greater autonomy for the Republic of Bashkortostan within the Russian Federation, national quotas for Bashkir people and the nationalization of enterprises that were involved in the processing of raw materials.

In 2019-2020, Alsynov led protests against the development of Mount Kushtau by the Bashkir Soda Company (the regions largest industrial company). After that, his organization was banned as extremist, and the governor of the region, Radiy Khabirov, wrote a statement denouncing Alsynov.

With his protest against companies and demands for environmental protection, Alsynov no doubt seeks to appeal to widespread and legitimate social discontent over extreme levels of poverty, as well as the destruction of the environment. However, there is nothing progressive about Alsynovs political program. It expresses the interests not of the people of Bashkiria but rather those of a small stratum of the Bashkir elite and upper class that benefited from the restoration of capitalism and see the Putin regime as an obstacle to their further self-enrichment. They hope to benefit from more direct links with American and European imperialism and immediate access to the world market.

Bashkiria is one of the richest regions in Russia. It provides for a large share of Russias oil reserves and also holds significant natural gas, coal, ferrous metal ores, timber and other raw material resources.

Consequently, the social interests of a section of the regional elite and upper middle class coincide with the aims of the US and the European imperialist powers, which seek to bring about the disintegration of Russia and its transformation into a raw material appendage of imperialism. As was the case in the break-up of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, the fueling and exploitation of national, ethnic and religious tensions is a central component of that strategy.

There are many indications that significant ties already exist between the Bashkir nationalist movement and the imperialist powers. The above-quoted Ruslan Gabbasov, whom the Russian outlet Novaya Gazata, which is itself sympathetic to the pro-US liberal opposition in Russia, described as Alsynovs closest associate, is a former journalist at Idel.Realii, the Tatar-Bashkir service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). Radio Free Europe is widely known to be associated with the CIA since the Cold War. Today, Gabbasov lives in Lithuania, a NATO country and one of the key bulwarks in the war against Russia.

The Putin regime, for its part, has nothing to counterpose to the growing nationalist and separatist tendencies within the oligarchy and upper middle class other than the promotion of Great Russian chauvinism and state repression, combined with ongoing attempts to find a negotiated settlement with the imperialist powers. It sees its greatest enemy not in the imperialist powers or rival factions of the oligarchy, but the working class.

Ultimately, the imminent danger of the carve-up of the Russian Federation and a new world war are the historical end product of the Stalinist counter-revolution and the restoration of capitalism out of which all factions of the oligarchy in the former Soviet Union emerged.

Workers and youth in Russia, regardless of their nationality and religion, can only find a progressive way out of this impasse through a revival of the internationalist and socialist traditions of the October Revolution and by constructing a new, Trotskyist leadership in the working class.
The state of Alabama put Kenneth Eugene Smith to death Thursday evening at the Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore. With his execution, Alabama has earned the macabre distinction of being the first US state, and likely the first government entity internationally, to utilize nitrogen asphyxiation to deliberately kill a human being.

Kenneth Eugene Smith [Photo: Alabama Department of Corrections]

By all accounts, Smiths execution was a gruesome event, evoking revulsion from witnesses and prison officials alike. It proceeded after the US Supreme Court declined Smiths last appeal to stop the execution.

According to the Montgomery Advertiser, when the drapes were opened at 7:53 p.m. local time, revealing the death chamber, witnesses saw Smith wearing a full face mask with a plastic tube running out of it connected to the nitrogen gas outside the room. He was strapped to the gurney cruciform, with his arms and body secured by straps.

He made the sign language sign for I love you toward the witnesses, which included his wife. Tonight, Alabama causes humanity to take a step backwards, he said. His next words were inaudible due to the mask. He added, Im leaving with love, peace and light.

At 7:57 p.m., the nitrogen appeared to begin to flow. For the next four minutes, Smith writhed and convulsed on the gurney. He took deep breaths, his body shaking violently with his eyes rolling in the back of his head.  Smith clenched his fists, his legs shook under the tightly tucked-in white sheet that covered him from his neck down. He seemed to be gasping for air. The gurney shook several times during this time, the Advertiser reported.

Alabama's lethal injection chamber at Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Ala., is pictured in this Oct. 7, 2002 file photo. [AP Photo/Dave Martin]

Other media witnesses said Smith grabbed violently at the restraints. He appeared to lose consciousness at 8:02 p.m. After about 20 seconds, he took several large gasps for air. Smith appeared to take his last breath at 8:07 p.m., and the curtains to the witness room were closed at 8:15 p.m. He was pronounced dead at 8:25 p.m.

Rev. Jeff Hood, Smiths spiritual adviser, who was with him in the execution chamber, told CNN afterward, When they turned the nitrogen on, he began to convulse. He popped up on the gurney over and over and over again. He shook the whole gurney.

Hood said that audible gasps could be heard coming from the witness area. An unbelievable evil was unleashed tonight in Alabama, he said. He held the Alabama governor, Republican Kay Ivey, and state Attorney General Steve Marshall, as well as the corrections officers involved, responsible for the horror show that just happened in there. He added, I have never, ever seen anything like that. That was torture.

Rev. Jeff Hood. [AP Photo/Eric Gay]

The US Supreme Court had obliged Alabama authorities by denying Smiths earlier legal challenge, which contended that a second execution attempt by Alabamaafter a first failed attempt in 2022 caused him severe traumawould violate the Eighth Amendments protection against cruel and unusual punishment.

Experts from the United Nations called on the United States to halt Smiths execution because the experimental execution technique could inflict grave suffering, in violation of the International Convention against Torture, which the US ratified in 1994. Religious and anti-death penalty organizations also strongly objected to the use of this method to execute Smith. All of these protests fell on deaf ears.

In a phone call to the Guardian earlier this week from his cell, Smith said he was not prepared to return to the death chamber. He said he had not recovered from the trauma of the nearly four-hour attempt to execute him by lethal injection in November 2022. When prison authorities determined that they would be unable to complete the execution before the death warrant expired at midnight, they returned him to his cell.

They havent given me a chance to heal, Smith said. He had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after the failed attempt by his executioners to insert the IV lines necessary to inject him with the deadly chemicals. Im still suffering from the rst execution and now were doing this again. They wont let me even have post-traumatic stress disorder.

I was strapped down, couldnt catch my breath, Smith told NPR recently about the first attempt to kill him. I was shaking like a leaf. I was absolutely alone in a room full of people, and not one of them tried to help me at all, and I was crying out for help. It was a month or so before I really started to come back to myself.

This time around, the Alabama executioners were determined not to fail. Prison officials announced Tuesday that they would deny Smith all solid food beginning at 10 a.m. on Thursday, execution day, after the condemned mans lawyers reported that Smith had been vomiting continuously for several days, a condition they said was likely due to PTSD caused by the failed execution attempt in 2022.

At an evidentiary hearing in December, Smiths counsel presented expert evidence that he could vomit while fitted with the mask and aspirate or choke to death on his own vomit. But rather than calling off the execution, or postponing it, they made the last-minute change to protocol to deprive Smith of food on Thursday. He was not given the traditional last meal of his choice.

To set out the optimal conditions for the state to successfully kill Smith, in January of 2023 the Alabama Supreme Court announced a rule change that granted the Alabama governor new and unrestricted discretion over when executions are carried out, usurping the state high courts own powers, delegated by the state legislature, to schedule execution dates.

Under the rule change, the governor is not required to schedule an execution on a specific date, or within a limited period, but instead can schedule executions within a time frame. In Smiths case, his death warrant was active from 12 a.m. Thursday to 6 a.m. Friday. Had the new rule been effect in November 2022, the prison execution teams attempts to set an IV line could have been extended for an undetermined number of torturous hours.

The US has been no stranger to barbaric execution methods in its nearly two-and-a-half centuries of existence. But the last half-century in America has seen a mad scramble by the states that practice capital punishment to keep the death penalty alive by devising new methods to carry it out. State authorities have struggled to find the chemicals to use for lethal injections, the most common execution method since it was introduced in 1982.

Nitrogen asphyxiation is the modern update to the gas chamber, which was replaced by lethal injection as the method of choice in the 27 states that still have the death penalty on the books. Other methods that are still legal, in various combinations, include electrocution, hanging and the firing squad.

Attorney General Marshall said Friday that nitrogen gas is now a proven method of execution. What occurred last night was textbook, he said Friday at a press conference. And I now suspect that many states will follow.

Marshall said that 43 of the staggering 167 inmates on Alabamas death row had already chosen the new execution method. Inmates are being forced to choose their preferred poisoninjected lethal chemicals or nitrogen gas inhaled through a breathing tube.

Nitrogen hypoxiawhich rightly should be called nitrogen asphyxiation or nitrogen suffocationdeprives its victim of oxygen by forcing him or her to breathe pure nitrogen. When nitrogen or another inert gas is inhaled, and carbon dioxide is exhaled, bodily tissues become starved of oxygen and organ systems begin to fail, resulting in death.

While this suffocation method had not been tested before its use on Smithas such a test would result in deaththe method has been tested on animals. In its 2020 guidelines, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) stated that hypoxia resulting from exposure to [argon (another insert gas) or nitrogen] gas mixtures is acceptable for euthanasia of chickens and turkeys.  [and] is acceptable with conditions for euthanasia of pigs, but that it is unacceptable for other mammals.

In experiments studying euthanasia of rats with this method, signs of panic and distress were evident before the rats collapsed and died, according to the AVMA. States that authorize the use of nitrogen gas for executions, which now include Mississippi and Oklahoma in addition to Alabama, are sending a message that this barbaric method is legitimate to be used against humans, the highest species of mammal.

Kenny Smith was the first casualty of this perverse technique. That he found himself on death row was itself a travesty of justice. He was convicted and sentenced to death for the 1996 murder of Elizabeth Sennett, after being offered $1,000 to kill her by the victims husband, a pastor, who was seeking an insurance payout.

Smiths first conviction was overturned. At his second trial, the jury voted 11 to 1 to sentence him to life in prison, but the judge overruled the jury and sentenced him to death. Alabama abolished judicial sentencing overrides in 2017, but the state has not applied this retroactively to those sentenced prior to this date, including Smith.

Speaking of his crime, Smith told the Guardian he wished he had done things differently. He added, Ive been in prison for 35 years, how have I not been punished? Thirty-five years, I have not gone unpunished for 35 years. I have suffered doing this. So has my family.

At least 2 million people are currently incarcerated in the US in 1,566 state prisons, 98 federal prisons, 3,116 local jails, 1,323 juvenile correctional facilities, 181 immigration detention facilities, and 80 Indian country jails, as well as in military prisons, civil commitment centers, state psychiatric hospitals, and prisons in the US territories, according to the Prison Policy Initiative.

In this massive system of imprisonment, the concept of rehabilitation is virtually nonexistent and is subordinated to retribution and victims rights. The US stands alone with Japan among G7 countries with the death penalty, which has not been shown to serve as a deterrent to crime or to provide closure to murder victims families. Mass incarceration in America is above all a product of social inequality, with workers, the poor and oppressed making up the vast majority of the prison population.

There is a connection between the naked brutality on display Thursday evening and the Biden administrations war policy. The same government that has armed Israel and supports the Netanyahu regimes genocide in Gaza, which has now claimed the lives of more than 25,000 Palestinians, had no comment on Thursdays execution in Alabama or any response to the international protests against it. The introduction of yet another method of capital punishment is aimed at accustoming the population to this assembly line of death and is yet another demonstration of the US ruling elites descent into barbarism.
Join the fight against the CFAs betrayal! Join the Academic Workers Rank-and-File Committee by filling out the form below.

East Bay California State University workers on strike, January 22, 2024.

The Academic Workers Rank-and-File Committee at San Diego State University (AWRFC-SDSU) and the World Socialist Web Site (WSWS) held a successful public online meeting Thursday evening in opposition to the betrayal of California State University (CSU) lecturers and faculty by their union, the California State Faculty Association (CFA).

Nearly 60 academic workers and students attended the call and dozens more registered and were unable to attend. Attendees participated from across the CSU system, including from Stanislaus, Humboldt, Long Beach, Fresno State, Fullerton, Cal Poly SLO, and SDSU. There were also workers of the CSU Employees Union (CSUEU) and the United Auto Workers present, breaking through the artificial barriers between different sections of workers set up by the CFA and other unions at the state universities.

Throughout the meeting, these workers gave voice to the immense anger that erupted Monday evening, when the CFA undemocratically called off its announced week-long strike after only a single day based on claims that a tentative agreement had been reached. They at the same time expressed the need to unite their struggles with other sections of workers, particularly other sections of academic workers, in a common fight.

The opening report was given by Norisa Diaz, a writer for the World Socialist Web Site, which placed the CFAs betrayal in its political context. This contract and the one-day strike was the plan all along. CSU workers are beginning to see firsthand the role of the corporatist trade union bureaucracies that are really only unions in name and are working against the interests of workers. How could it be any other way? The bureaucracy is dependent on its close ties to the state and the Democratic Party, a capitalist party that serves the ruling class; the state of California is run from head to toe by the Democratic Party.

It oversees the most extreme wealth inequality in the state; record levels of homelessness, child poverty, immigration detention centers, and a vast array of prisons. The Democratic Party is the party of Wall Street, war and austerity, whose mask has been torn off and exposed in their full support for the destruction of the Gaza Strip, and full support for the genocidal actions of the Netanyahu government. This party has also spearheaded privatization and charterization of K-12 schools, attacking the very right to public education. They have overseen the growth of class sizes, crumbling infrastructure, and the lack of health and safety protections, especially in light of a lethal and debilitating pandemic that has resulted in a widespread exodus of educators.

Following her report, professors, lecturers and students spoke powerfully on the need to continue their struggle in the face of the CFA betrayal.

A CSU professor commented, People were really looking forward to getting back on the picket on Tuesday and we know from our conversations our students and staff were also interested in joining in. It came as a shock to everyone that the CFA folded.

Many consider the CFAs acceptance of the 5 percent salary increase cap as a betrayal of not just the faculty, but other unions, because a lot of faculty now really are making the point that our connection is with the staff and with the students. And so we are all looking for a way to build something together. So thank you for having this meeting.

A professor at San Diego State University spoke on the history of broken promises by the CFA, as far back as the mid-2000s. At one point, I really was involved in the local CFA chapter, it seemed like we were about to go on strike. I think this was 2006 or 2007. At that time, we settled shortly before the strike was going to happen. And there was a similar pattern as to what just happened: If one looked closely at the prior proposal for the CFA and the prior proposal for the CSU, the substance of the agreement that was reached was very close to the CSU proposal. But the CFA presented it as an overwhelming victory.

Scott, a California State employee, noted the immense social crisis facing students, staff and faculty. We need solidarity with all the unreleased unions, we need to stop the theft of student tuition dollars for Wall Street hedge funds, we need to end high prices and bring all that money back and reinvest it in our university, including subsidized housing for graduate students, and subsidized housing for new faculty. We need to end homelessness and hunger among our students. And we need to move towards free tuition for every California resident paid by the egregious salaries of all those people were going to fire.

Among the egregious salaries he was referring to includes that of CSU Chancellor Mildred Garcia, whose annual salary and benefits amounts to an estimated $1 million each year.

Andreas, a member of the AWRFC-SDSU, exposed how little a 5 percent raise really is. If you're a TA making $17 per hour, it amounts to $17.85 per hour, which over four weeks at 20 hours a week, is an increase of only $73.67 for the month.

He continued, It was due to the anti-democratic and conciliatory nature of our trade union that we formed the academic worker rank and file committee. These agreements from the CFA, and the UAW, with CSU have been consciously adopted and accepted to keep workers from a united struggle to rightfully seek ways that raise their wages in the face of rabid attacks on public education.

In fact, as the other professors have mentioned, if the CFA had actually sought to fight for and meet the rank-and-file members demands of 12 percent, CSU would be obligated to reopen wage negotiations for us academic workers and other unions with similar contracts. This not only exposes the lack of solidarity and collaboration between both trade union bureaucracies, but also the ultimate betrayal of the CFA leadership and its conceding to the 5 percent.

Andreas concluded his remarks with a call to workers to continue to build the network of rank-and-file committees. It is therefore up to the rank-and-file to take advantage of the rising labor action to organize an independent and unified struggle composed of all CSU workers. That means all of you here on this call, through this organic working class, organization and collaboration, we will be capable of leveraging the labor action that has been historically required to win truly transformative demands that we rightfully deserve.

Marcus Day, a writer for the WSWS who focuses on autoworkers struggles, addressed several questions that had emerged about the bankruptcy of trade unions as a form of organization. It's important to understand that you are all part of the developing international struggle of the working class against many different life and death problems, enormous social inequality, continuing attacks on democratic rights, the destruction of public education. And this is, of course, taking place, certainly within the United States under both of the capitalist parties, the pro-corporate parties, but it's a process which is taking place internationally.

This international process is why the trade unions, which are fundamentally nationalist organizations, are a major obstacle to workers advancing their interests.

Maria, a graduate student at SDSU, spoke on her experiences during the betrayal by the United Auto Workers (UAW) during the strike in the fall of 2022 of 48,000 academic workers. What happened to the CSU faculty is exactly what happened to us. The UAWs slogan was more than four and the contract they gave us was just 5 percent. Were all bifurcated, but if we can form our own committees and work against the unions, because were all going through such similar things, Im just really excited about that prospect.

Critical lessons must be drawn from the struggle, in particular the role of trade unions. It is not merely this or that rotten bargaining committee or leadership slate of the CFA, but the fact that, as Day noted, unions are nationally-based organizations in an increasingly globalized economy.

The next stage of the struggle now begins, and it must be led by the working class. The first task is to decisively break with the CFA at every campus and form new rank-and-file committees. These are democratically controlled organizations of workers, by workers and for workers where demands can be raised and discussed, and a genuine fight can be organized to win those demands.

The WSWS urges every worker that agrees with this strategy must also agree to fight for it. Campaign among your coworkers, explain how the tentative agreement threatens public education and is a betrayal of both faculty and lecturers, as well as staff and students, make clear the need for new independent forms of organization. In the coming days, the WSWS will be announcing another rank-and-file committee meeting to organize a campaign for a No vote on the tentative agreement. Every worker must be prepared not just to vote down the TA, but to renew and build the fight.
The NATO war against Russia over Ukraine is increasingly taking on the character of a massive and coordinated military mobilisation by the imperialist powers. In several interviews following last weeks announcement of operation Steadfast Defenderthe largest NATO manoeuvres since the end of the Cold WarDefence Minister Boris Pistorius declared that Germany had to prepare for a direct war with Russia, a nuclear power.

Last Monday, he told the TV news programme heute-journal that we have to put ourselves in a position to fight a war that is forced upon us, not one that we start, that goes without saying. He then said, But if we are attacked, we have to be able to wage war and that is crucial, and we have to prepare for that.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius speaks during a press conference at Exercise Griffin Storm 2023, held last June in Lithuania. [AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis]

The entire interview made clear how concretely the ruling class is discussing war scenarios that would result in the deaths of millions and the destruction of the entire continent. If Moscow were to organise an uprising by the Russian minority in the Baltic states or attack one of those states, according to one such scenario, Germany would have to respond militarily and be in a position to wage all-out war.

Thats exactly the point, Pistorius said, which is why a German combat brigade with 5,000 soldiers was currently being set up in Lithuania, to be present on the ground right away. The brigade, he explained, would be ready for deployment in 2027.

Pistorius added that according to military experts, Russian aggression could occur within five years. But, he cautioned, this was an estimate and nobody knows for sure. In any case, he stressed, the next three to five years had to be used to intensively arm ourselves.

In an interview with the Tagesspiegel, Pistorius stated that an attack by Russia was possible in a period of five to eight years. He therefore considered understandable the Swedish homeland security ministers call to arm ourselves for warnow. But Germans also had to learn to live with the danger again and prepare ourselvesmilitarily, socially and in terms of civil defence.

This is tantamount to a declaration of war on Russia. The defence minister, who has declared that his goal is to make Germany fit for war again, is talking publicly about a possible direct war with Russia. The propaganda line about a war of defence turns reality on its head, echoing the old lies of German imperialism. German aggression in the First and Second World Warsincluding the war of annihilation against the Soviet Union, which cost the lives of 30 million Soviet citizenswas also described by the German elites in the Kaisers Empire and under the Nazis as self-defence, or imposed self-defence.

Today, German imperialism, in alliance with the other leading NATO powers, is once again the aggressor. With the systematic military encirclement of Russia and the 2014 anti-Russian coup in Kiev, NATO provoked the reactionary intervention of the Putin regime. Now it is continually escalating the conflict in order to force resource-rich Russia into an even bigger war so as to subjugate it militarily.

Regardless of the exact timetable that Pistorius and the other NATO warmongers have in mind, the mere announcement that Germany and NATO are preparing for war will fuel the escalation. In view of the threats, the Russian government and military leadership will deem themselves forced to prepare for a possible NATO attack and all-out war.

The large-scale exercise Steadfast Defender, which is currently underway, involves the biggest NATO manoeuvres since the end of the Cold War. According to NATO, 90,000 soldiers will be mobilised by the end of May, including some 40,000 from the US, 20,000 from the UK and 12,500 from the Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces). More than 50 warships, 80 fighter planes, helicopters, and drones and over 1,000 armoured vehicles, including 133 battle tanks and 533 infantry fighting vehicles, will take part in the war exercise.

Geographically, the manoeuvres extend across Scandinavia and the Baltic states to Poland, Romania and Germany. The Bundeswehr boasts that Germany is assuming leadership responsibility for the exercise, and serving as a huge hub for the necessary troop deployments of national and international forces.

Berlin is also forging ahead with further arms deliveries to Ukraine. This year, Germany will massively expand its support for Kiev, Pistorius said at a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, the so-called Ramstein Format, on Tuesday. Among other things, it is planning to deliver six SEA KING Mk41 multipurpose helicopters from Bundeswehr stocks. The delivery includes a full package of accessories and spare parts, as well as flight and technical training support.

According to Pistorius, the Sea King helicopters will help the Ukrainians in many areas: from reconnaissance over the Black Sea to the transport of soldiers. In the war against Russia, he added, air defence remains the number one priority. He was therefore pleased that Germany, together with France, would assume responsibility in the air defence capability coalition and jointly coordinate with more than 20 partners. The goal of training 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers in Germany in 2024 was also being pursued.

The German governments official list of military support services for Ukraine is getting longer and longer, and shows the extent to which Berlin is already waging war against the Russian army in Ukraine. The following items are listed in the in preparation/implementation section:

105 LEOPARD 1 A5 main battle tanks

30 MARDER infantry fighting vehicles

42 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC)

15 GEPARD anti-aircraft tanks

9 IRIS-T SLM air defence systems

In addition, there are armoured recovery vehicles, armoured bridge-laying vehicles, and armoured mine-clearing vehicles, as well as various types of ammunition, including 250,000 rounds of 155 mm artillery ammunition and 259,680 rounds of Gepard ammunition.

In an interview with Tagesspiegel, Pistorius boasted that Germany was the second largest supporter of Kiev in terms of military aid, after the US, and thus the largest in Europe. According to official figures from the German government, the funds for the defence budget amounted to about 5.4 billion in 2023 (after 2 billion in 2022). And the commitment authorisations for 2024 and the following years already amounted to some 10.5 billion. These gigantic sums are only a fraction of the total amount of money being channeled into the arms race.

What are the factors driving the ruling class towards total war? In a recent perspective on the NATO war escalation, the WSWS wrote:

As in the two world wars of the 20th century, the imperialist ruling elites feel that they have little time, and that only rapid escalation can counteract powerful political forcesin the military situation and the international class strugglethat are working against them.

This applies in particular to German imperialism. The ruling class is reacting to the debacle of the Ukrainian offensive, which, despite tens of thousands of dead soldiers, has not brought any significant successes. It is also responding to the possibility of Trumps return to the White House by beating the drum ever more aggressively in favour of war and a more independent German-European great power policy.

Pistorius demanded in Tagesspiegel:

We need more European capacity to actregardless of the outcome of the US elections. We need to make the defence industry in particular more efficient.

What the elites fear most is that the working class will thwart their war plans. For months, millions worldwide have been protesting against Israels genocide in the Gaza Strip, which is cynically supported by the ruling class in Germany under the banner of Never again. In Germany, following massive farmers protests, train drivers are currently on strike, and millions have demonstrated against the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the sharp shift to the right by the ruling class as a whole.

In order to conduct the fight against fascism and war, opposition must be developed into an international movement of the working class against capitalism, armed with a clear socialist leadership and perspective. This is precisely what the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party, SGP) is fighting for, together with its sister parties across Europe and internationally, in the upcoming European elections in June. The SGPs election statement declares:

The only legitimate conclusion that can be drawn from Nazi Germanys war of extermination and the Holocaust, the worst crimes in human history, is this: The working class must never again permit war and fascism, and must eliminate once and for all the root of this horror, capitalism. ... We demand: Stop the NATO war in Ukraine! No sanctions or arms deliveries! Two world wars are enough! Stop the warmongers! 100 billion for daycare centers, schools and hospitals, instead of for armaments and war!
South African, left, and Israeli delegation, right, stand during session at the International Court of Justice, or World Court, in The Hague, Netherlands, Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. [AP Photo/Patrick Post]

On Friday, the International Court of Justice issued an 86-paragraph written decision on the request for provisional measures in the pending case by the government of South Africa accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza in violation of the 1948 Genocide Convention.

Employing restrained but nevertheless damning language, the judges wrote, At least some of the acts and omissions alleged by South Africa to have been committed by Israel in Gaza appear to be capable of falling within the provisions of the Convention.

At the same time, the ICJ declined to call for a halt to Israels months-long assault against the civilian population of Gaza, merely ordering as provisional measures that Israel comply with its existing obligations under international law and submit a report within a month. This blatant failure to demand an end to the slaughter--a demand that follows logically from the courts findings--will be seen for what it is: a capitulation to political pressures exerted by the imperialist powers.

The ICJ stops well short of the resolution passed by the UN General Assembly itself in December, in which 153 member states out of the 193 voted for a ceasefire, with 10 voting against (including the US and Israel) and 23 abstaining (including the UK and Germany).

Instead, the ICJ merely ordered that Israel file a report in 30 days regarding its implementation of the order.

At this early stage of the proceedings, which were initiated on December 29, the judges are only tasked with determining whether the allegations are plausible before issuing interim orders. The case itself is likely to drag on for years before reaching any definitive conclusion.

The ICJs ruling will rightly be seen as a damning indictment, not only for the Israeli government, but for US-NATO imperialism, which has supplied, financed, justified and defended the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

On January 3, for example, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby denounced the case as meritless, counterproductive and completely without any basis in fact whatsoever. On Friday, the ICJ decided the precise opposite.

The ICJ decision is also a stinging rebuke to figures such as US State Department spokesman Matt Miller, who dismissed the allegation of genocide with a wave of the hand earlier this month, telling reporters that the US government is not seeing any acts that constitute genocide.

The German government, which sought to intervene in the case on behalf of Israel, likewise stands exposed. So does New York Times columnist Bret Stephens, who authored a prominent column on January 16 calling the genocide charge against Israel a moral obscenity.

For tens of millions of students, workers, and young people who continue to attend protests and demonstrations around the world in defiance of all the repression, violent provocations and witch-hunting accusations of antisemitism, the ICJ decision will justifiably be seen as a vindication.

The ICJ decision presents the following figures: 25,700 Palestinians have been killed, over 63,000 injuries have been reported, over 360,000 housing units have been destroyed or partially damaged and approximately 1.7 million persons have been internally displaced.

The decision quotes UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths contradicting Israeli government assertions that it does not target civilians or hospitals: Areas where civilians were told to relocate for their safety have come under bombardment. Medical facilities are under relentless attack.

The decision also quotes Commissioner-General of the UN Relief and Works Agency Philippe Lazzarini:

In the past 100 days, sustained bombardment across the Gaza Strip caused the mass displacement of a population  constantly uprooted and forced to leave overnight, only to move to places which are just as unsafe. This has been the largest displacement of the Palestinian people since 1948.

The ICJs decision juxtaposes this human suffering inflicted on a mass scale with genocidal rhetoric issuing from the highest levels of the Israeli state, including Defense Minister Yoav Gallants assertion that Gaza is populated by human animals and his declaration that We will eliminate everything.

The ICJ also quoted Israel Katz, then-minister of energy and infrastructure of Israel, who wrote on October 13, All the civilian population in [G]aza is ordered to leave immediately.  They will not receive a drop of water or a single battery until they leave the world.

The ICJ concluded that these facts are sufficient to conclude that at least some of the rights claimed by South Africa and for which it is seeking protection are plausible, including the right of the Palestinians in Gaza to be protected from acts of genocide.

While the proceedings at the ICJ have been underway, Israel has continued carrying out war crimes and massacres at a relentless pace. In the hours leading up to the ICJs decision Friday, Israeli forces fired on a crowd of thousands waiting for humanitarian aid in Gaza City, killing 20 and injuring 150. In a 24-hour period from Wednesday to Thursday, Israeli forces killed over 200 Palestinian civilians.

Referencing Israels ongoing blockade of food, energy, medical supplies and fuel to Gaza, the ICJ decision states that the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is at serious risk of deteriorating further before the court renders its final judgment, which in turn justifies adopting provisional measures.

The hollow character of the ICJs provisional measures is underscored by the fact that Israels own appointee to the court, Aharon Barak, joined in many of them, including the admonition that Israeli officials refrain from further genocidal incitement and enable humanitarian assistance to reach Gaza.

For all of its significance as a rebuke to the accomplices in the genocide, as Foreign Affairs magazine noted yesterday, the ICJs decision was a political one: an attempt to find a middle ground, acknowledging on the one hand the overwhelming world concern for extraordinary loss of life in Gaza (mass popular protests around the world that continue in the face of all efforts to discourage and repress them), but without actually ordering an end to Israels military operation, which Israel and the United States would have almost certainly dismissed.

Responding to the decision yesterday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the courts failure to call for a ceasefire as a recognition of Israels right to defend itself. At the same time, he denounced the courts citation of genocidal actions and statements by Israel as outrageous. Israels fascistic minister of national security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, who is named in the case, denounced it as hypocrisy. Netanyahu had previously stated that Israels operations in Gaza would continue no matter what orders the ICJ gave, saying, No one will stop usnot The Hague, not the axis of evil, and not anyone else.

The refusal of the ICJ to even call for a ceasefire in the face of overwhelming evidence of the genocide unfolding in Gaza underscores its character as an imperialist institution. In March 2022, within weeks of the start of the war in Ukraine, by contrast, the ICJ had no such qualms about ordering that Russia shall immediately suspend the military operations that it commenced on 24 February.

Fridays ruling confirms the warning made by the World Socialist Web Site at the conclusion of the South Africas devastating presentation to the ICJ earlier this month: It is necessary to draw the opposite conclusion from Thursdays proceedings than those who are now encouraging illusions that they herald some rebirth of democratic, humane and rational sentiments in the halls of the United Nations.

Stopping the genocide, disarming the perpetrators, and bringing the war criminals to justice will require the mobilization of the international working class on the basis of its own independent policies and class interests, in opposition to all of the bourgeois parties, politicians, and imperialist states, which will be tainted forever by their complicity and participation in Israels genocide against the Palestinian people.
Will Lehman, the Pennsylvania Mack Trucks worker and socialist candidate for United Auto Workers president in last years union election, issued the following statement denouncing the dragging out of pro-Palestinian protesters at the UAWs conference endorsing Biden for president this week.

UAW presidential candidate Will Lehman speaking with striking adjunct professors at The New School in Manhattan, New York. [WSWS Media]

My name is Will Lehman. Im a rank-and-file worker at Mack Trucks in Macungie, Pennsylvania. I emphatically denounce the anti-democratic attack on pro-Palestinian protesters at the UAWs CAP (Community Action Program) conference this week.

Shortly after President Biden took the stage at the conference, several UAW delegates stood up and chanted Ceasefire now! calling for an end to Israels genocide in Gaza.

The union bureaucrats assembled at the conference immediately began shouting, U-A-W, in an effort to drown the protest out. The protesters were then surrounded by UAW thugs and Secret Service agents and violently dragged from the hall while Biden and UAW President Fain looked on.

This flagrant violation of freedom of speech and freedom to protest was aimed not just at the protesters but all UAW workers.

Because opposition to the genocide in Gaza is so widespread among workers, the UAW executive board was recently compelled to adopt a resolution nominally supporting a ceasefire. But the endorsement of Genocide Joe by this same executive board shows that their ceasefire resolution was nothing but a cynical fraud.

Somewhere between 25,000-35,000 have been killed in Gaza, mostly women and children, and it wouldnt have been possible without Biden and the US governments military and financial support of Israel.

It is a grotesque lie for the UAW leadership to claim that it is advancing the cause of workers in the US, while endorsing Biden, who is responsible for genocide in Gaza. It is impossible to support the interests of workers in the US while supporting a president and political party which are responsible for the mass murder of workers and youth in any other country.

The same ruling class that is carrying out genocide in Gaza is attacking our wages and jobs in the US and in other countries. And the reality is that workers cant fight for our rights here in America without standing up to defend the rights and lives of our class brothers and sisters around the world.

The decision by the UAW bureaucracy to endorse Biden for president was completely illegitimate. It was made by the UAW executive board without any say or involvement by rank-and-file workers. It is a further confirmation that Fains administration has nothing to do with bringing democracy or reform to the UAW apparatus.

Workers have been forced to listen to Fain proclaim the glories of the stand-up strike, but we see the reality of the contracts being pushed through, and we see through the lies. Biden is a lifelong defender of corporate America and is being presented as a supposed friend of the working class for spending a few minutes at the picket lines. Who can seriously believe this?

After the CAP conference, Fain reportedly told the press that the protesters were exercising their democratic rights, but gave no explanation of why they were forcibly removed.

As a rank-and-file worker and UAW member, I demand that the UAW leadership provide a full accounting of who made the decision to drag the pro-Palestinian protesters out of the conference and how that decision was made.

I also restate my support for the appeal by the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions, which called on workers internationally to refuse to build weapons destined for Israel  refuse to transport weapons to Israel  [to] take action against complicit companies involved in implementing Israels brutal and illegal siege.

In a video I posted in November that was later shared hundreds of thousands of times, I demanded that the UAW cease production of all equipment intended for the Israeli military and that all workers affected by such shutdowns be provided their full incomes by the corporations.

The attacks on our jobs and wages and war cannot be stopped by supporting or appealing to big business politicians, whether Biden or Trump. They will only be stopped by workers around the world uniting our struggles for our common class interests.
Students and faculty at Columbia University protest against the genocide in Gaza, in New York City, Friday, January 19, 2024

On January 19, Columbia University students were assaulted by two Zionist hoodlums, themselves Columbia students and former members of the Israel Defense Forces. The former IDF soldiers used a chemical spray to attack a pro-Palestinian protest on Columbias Morningside Heights campus in Manhattan. As of this writing, 10 students have sought medical treatment after being sprayed with what appears to be a noxious substance known as skunk water.

The Israel Defense Forces has used the substance on Palestinian demonstrators on the West Bank. As Al-Jazeera has noted, Skunk water is a liquid compound with an overpowering odour that has been described by those who have experienced it as the smell of sewage mixed with rotting corpses. In reality, it is a concoction of chemicals that causes intense nausea, obstructing normal breathing, causing violent gagging and vomiting.

This is an accurate description of the substance used on the students, who have since exhibited the same symptoms.

While the Zionist student attackers have been identified and banned from campus, other students have reported seeing them on campus. The university administration has taken no serious disciplinary action, and the New York City police, to whom the incident has been reported, have made no moves to arrest the perpetrators.

Instead, the university blamed the victims in the attack with a news release on Monday that said, Fridays protest violated University policies and was therefore unsanctioned and that these policies exist to maintain personnel on scene for the safety of the community. Sanctioned or not, campus security made no effort to protect anti-genocide protesters from infiltration and harassment by Zionists.

As one victim noted yesterday on Twitter:

What more proof do we need for @Columbia to listen to us? 10 students are hospitalized. Their own employees got skunked. We have photos + videos and eyewitnesses. This stuff could have killed someone. Does one of us have to die before they do anything besides send emails?

As news of the attack spreadprimarily though social media and not through mainstream media outlets, which did not report it at firstoutrage spread among thousands of students and workers.

In particular, educators throughout New York state, who themselves have been threatened, silenced, doxxed and witch-hunted for opposing the genocide against Palestinians, have expressed anger. Social media posts, however, represent only the tip of the iceberg of disgust at the incident and Columbias reaction, and at the broader series of attacks on free speech on campuses, including the forced resignations of the presidents of Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania.

The World Socialist Web Site spoke to educators and other workers in New York City and state about the Zionist attack on peaceful protesters. Here is some of what they said:

Mohammad Ahmad, the educator who was witch-hunted by the New York Post for his defense of Palestine and opposition to the US/Israeli genocide told the WSWS:

The impunity with which Zionists engage in violence (and in this case literal terrorism) is buttressed by institutions facilitation of their victim narrative, despite their being active instigators and oppressors. Columbia, in their victim blaming of student activists, the NYPD, in their foot dragging, and city leadership, in their dehumanization of anti-Zionists, are complicit in this act of violence and the long-term impacts it has on the victims. Columbia has shown distinct bias in its handling of incidents concerning pro-Palestinian students and those concerning Zionists, with a preference for the racist Zionists. What a shameful time for a university that once counted Edward Said among its faculty.

A teacher in Westchester County, New York who wished to remain anonymous said:

Do these Zionists not realize that those who are protesting the genocide of Palestinians today would be the very same ones protesting the genocide of Israelis if the tables were turned? These are people who care about people and about equality and justice for all. It is the brave and outraged defenders of humanity who risk their lives hiding Jews in the attic or African slaves in the safe houses along the Underground Railroad. If we silence these voices, who will come to the rescue next time theres a genocide? And there will be a next time, because there always is.

A teacher from Rockland County who retired because of the governments refusal to stop the spread of COVID-19 in her school asked to remain anonymous:

Im appalled. We live in a world of hypocrites and their followers who cant think for themselves and see what is happening so blatantly, right before their eyes.

All that fuss for Zionist students who dont feel safe because people are protesting a genocide and calling for freedom for Palestine. People are being physically attacked and its not even newsworthy. Its all about supporting the acceptable narrative.

I just feel like the [WSWS] article covers it very well. What more can I add other than my reaction and frustration... I have family members whom I barely speak with anymore because they are not interested in context or truth. Its nothing new, Im afraid. Its just never been this glaring. Im disgusted about the violence in Yemen now as well, of course.

A middle school teacher in the Bronx told us:

There are no two sides to genocide. Anyone who uses violence to defend violence against a whole people stands on the wrong side of history.

A Brooklyn teacher who asked to be identified only as a Muslim said:

It is remarkably clear that Palestinian and pro-Palestinian allies are not safe in this political climate. Calling for peace, calling for justice, calling for an end to the killing is met with animosity, threats, anti-Arab racism, Islamophobia, and now unprovoked acts of violence. Whats worse is that this event has barely registered any outrage, let alone attempts at accountability for the attacks. I have no faith whatsoever that either Mayor Adams, Columbia University President Minouche Shafik, the City Council or the NYPD has any intention of taking meaningful measures to change it.

An educator and librarian in upstate New York said:

As a librarian and writer, I am appalled at the attacks on free speech, protest, and dissent at American universities. The university is supposed to be a place where students are challenged and encouraged to examine ideas. How can the university carry out this function when dissenting speech is suppressed? Still worse are the attacks on students, who should at a minimum be physically safe. Columbia no longer deserves to be considered a great university if it silences dissenting voices and fails to keep its students safe.

A Manhattan educator said:

The shocking news of the chemical attack on peaceful pro-Palestinian protestors at Columbia University on Friday rattled me. In recent months Ive seen or participated in protests that made loud noises, expressed strong emotions, even blocked roads to car trafficbut this attack (carried out by former soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces, using weapons developed by Israel to target protestors in Palestine) marked a serious escalation. Zionists have warned that a failure to crack down on and contain Palestinians over there will bring terror and war over hereyet thats exactly what they did to peaceful Columbia students. Columbia responded by chiding the victims, calling the protest unsanctioned and having violated policies.

In October, City Council Member Inna Vernikov illegally displayed a gun, intimidating peaceful pro-Palestinian protestors at Brooklyn College. Vernikovs allies in the NYPD sabotaged the case and caused her charges to be dropped. The message is clear: threats, terror and attacks are allowed against pro-Palestinian protestors, and the system will defend the perpetrators.

Joe Allen, a railway freight worker, said:

I cannot allow myself the comfort of anonymity in the midst of such suffering. What is most noteworthy for me about the chemical attacks on the students at Columbia University is that this attack was very strategic. While Palestinian protestors have been targeted specifically before, this attack targeted a coalition of student protestors to, of course, silence the protestors. But also to disrupt the unity coalition. Its goal is to isolate, silence, and destroy.

April, a paralegal for a social services agency in New York, told the WSWS:

The chemical attack on the pro-Palestinian student protestors at Columbia University must be condemned in the strongest terms! Over the past several months, we have seen increasingly dangerous language used to describe anyone or any organization that opposes Israels apartheid policies and its genocidal war against Palestinians as supporters of terrorism. On college campuses and elsewhere, those who dissent or have a different perspective on Israel/Palestine not only risk being labeled as antisemitic, but they risk losing internship opportunities, funding for research, their livelihoods or worse. Now these verbal attacks and threats have escalated to violence against protesters. Our constitutional right to freedom of speech and to peaceably assemble under the First Amendment is in serious jeopardy of being taken away by those who exert their power through wealth and brute force. We must stand in solidarity with the students at Columbia University, and demand the reinstatement of the campus organizations Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace.
Saturday

Special Fremont City Council meeting, 8 a.m., Keene Memorial Library, 1030 N. Broad St., Fremont. The purpose of the special meeting is to have a facilitated discussion and consideration of the Citys long-term opportunities and responsibilities. The meeting is open to the public.

HomeStore open, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., 701 E. Dodge St., Fremont. The HomeStore sells donated items at discounted prices. Proceeds support the mission of Fremont Area Habitat for Humanity.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 10 a.m., Chapter 5 Club, 136 N. Main St., Fremont.

Alcoholics Anonymous womens heart-to-heart group, noon, Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Fremont Eagles Club open, noon to midnight, 649 N. Main St., Fremont. The club may stay open later or close early depending on business. Open microphone night will begin at 6 p.m. on the main floor.

Cedar Bluffs Sons of American Legion Post 158 Steak Fry, 5-8 p.m., Cedar Bluffs American Legion Hall. A meal includes a grilled steak, baked potato, salad and bread. Tickets are $20.Tickets may be purchased in advance from any SAL member.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 5:15 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Family dinner, 6:30 p.m., Fremont Izaak Walton Park, 2560 W. Military Ave., Fremont. Turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, vegetables, salad, dessert, coffee or juice will be served. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under. Twenty free games of bingo will be included with a paid dinner. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Spiritual 12-Step Recovery Program, 7 p.m., Lighthouse, 84 W. Sixth St., Fremont.

Narcotics Anonymous The Lie is Dead meeting, 8 p.m., LifeHouse, 723 N. Broad St., Fremont. The hotline number is 402-459-9511.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 10:30 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Sunday

Alcoholics Anonymous Happy Sober Sunday Group, 9 a.m., Chapter 5 Club, 136 N. Main St., Fremont.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 10 a.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Narcotics Anonymous Seekers of Serenity meeting, 10:30 a.m., LifeHouse, 723 N. Broad St., Fremont. The hotline number is 402-459-9511.

Fremont Eagles Club open, noon to midnight, 649 N. Main St., Fremont. The club may stay open later or close early depending on business. There will be a coin auction at noon.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 5:15 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Narcotics Anonymous Freedom Works Group, 7 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1440 E. Military Ave., Fremont.

Alcoholics Anonymous Sunday speaker, 7:30 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Monday

Archbishop Bergan Catholic Schools Chamber Coffee, 9-10 a.m., Bergan Catholic High School, 545 E. Fourth St.

TOPS Club (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), 9 a.m., First United Methodist Church, 850 N. Broad St., Fremont. Weigh-ins begin at 8 a.m. Visitors (preteens, teens and adults  male and female) are welcome. The first meeting is free. For more information, call 531-281-9288.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 10 a.m., Chapter 5 Club, 136 N. Main St., Fremont.

Lightkeepers Womens Group, 10 a.m., Lighthouse, 84 W. Sixth St., Fremont.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, noon, Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Fremont Eagles Club open, 3 p.m. to midnight, 649 N. Main St., Fremont. The club may stay open later or close early depending on business. There will be a trustees meeting at 4 p.m.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 5:15 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Celebrate Recovery, 6:30 p.m., Fremont Church of the Nazarene, 960 Johnson Road.

Fresh Hope Mental Health Support Group, 7 p.m., Lighthouse, 84 W. Sixth St., Fremont.

Narcotics Anonymous Freedom Works Group, 7 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1440 E. Military Ave., Fremont.

Alcoholics Anonymous 12x12 meeting, 8 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, 136 N. Main St., Fremont.
LINCOLN  Giving sterile needles to drug addicts to reduce the spread of infectious disease drew widespread support Friday from Nebraska lawmakers.

Legislative Bill 307 would allow local jurisdictions to permit public health programs to distribute hypodermic needles. Introduced by State Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha, the bill made it through the first of three rounds of floor debate in a 37-2 vote.

Needle distribution programs are often referred to as Syringe Service Programs (SSPs), which are growing in popularity across the states as a way to encourage treatment of drug addiction and reduce the spread of infectious diseases like HIV. In addition to providing sterile syringes, SSPs can offer a range of other services, including on-site vaccinations and referrals to various other treatments.

When a person steps into an SSP, they build trusting, non-judgmental relationships with clinic providers, staff  often many of these staffers, including providers, are people who have experienced addiction themselves, Hunt said. And they get the care they need where they can get to a better place.

Hunt listed a range of benefits associated with SSPs, such as reducing the spread of used needles and the fact that addicts who access the programs are more likely to seek drug treatment. It also reduces the risk of first responders receiving needlestick injuries, she said.

If LB 307 passes, Nebraska would be one of the last states in the U.S. to legalize SSPs, Hunt said, and she argued that Nebraska has a particular need for them. The states HIV infection rate is rising even as the nationwide rate is falling, she said, with a 26% increase in infections recorded in 2021. She said Nebraska also logged 229 deaths linked to fentanyl use in 2022.

LB 307 was supported by all senators who spoke on the bill during Fridays debate, even though several of them said they were initially hesitant on the proposal. Sen. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue said he was swayed by a letter of support from Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson, who said he is hopeful that the legislation will facilitate the safe distribution of resources to help addicts treat their addiction.

We need an umbrella approach to reducing addiction, Hanson said in his letter.

Holdcroft and other lawmakers also said they appreciated that LB 307 gives local governments the power to make the call on establishing an SSP, rather than mandating it. However, Speaker of the Legislature John Arch asked that Hunt include more clarity on which local jurisdictions have that power, and add some restrictions on locations where SSPs should not be created.

Hunt agreed to negotiate an amendment before the second round of debate, and Arch voted to advance the bill.

I see this as dealing with reality, Arch said. We have an issue, and while we would all like to see drug abuse completely go away, I dont think this increases the issue. I dont think this encourages drug use, and I think that it actually helps with the spread of communicable disease.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of January 2024
Southern Front Range education leaders presented their collective vision for a multimillion-dollar trade school campus northeast of Colorado Springs to a visiting Gov. Jared Polis on Friday.

They described the planned 87-acre Pikes Peak Education Park as the solution to a growing demand for skilled workers, a dearth of qualified grads, and a generation of teens and young adults poised to enter the workforce but lacking direction and accessible training opportunities.

Initial $14 million build-out on the project is set to begin early next year on land previously purchased by the Pikes Peak Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) at the northeast corner of Judge Orr Road and Elbert Road.

The planned education park will provide tuition-free high-quality, career-connected training in a range of trades that high school students can learn while also earning credits toward graduation at their home schools.

There's a huge need for culinary arts  (law enforcement) dispatch, community service ... (and) its going to sound odd to you, but I fully intend on putting a meat-processing facility there, because we dont have one in the state of Colorado to train kids how to cut meat, said Pat Bershinsky, executive director of Pikes Peak BOCES.

I can envision a day when were slaughtering cattle for local ranchers."

Bershinsky imagines the array of training offered as ever-evolving alongside community and business needs, he said. Partnerships with unions and trade groups already are a core piece of the project.

The heart and soul, however, are the students the park hopes to bring in.

If we can get these kids going, whether its dispatch, community service specialist, kitchen or culinary  its a pipeline to getting them into much-needed jobs in the community, Bershinsky said.

Last November, voters in Colorado Springs rejected a city plan that proposed setting aside almost $5 million to establish a new police academy.

Programs offered at the new education park could help train workers for careers that support law enforcement and set them up to continue in the field, Bershinsky said.

I would love to envision a day where we have 50 or 60 kids in these, dispatch training, criminal justice training, and by the time they're 21, were starting to fill a huge need with our local sheriffs office.

Featured Local Savings

"Its not just about employers and filling jobs."

Calhan Superintendent Dave Slothower said the new education park will address one of the biggest hurdles rural students face when trying to chart a course for a living-wage future.

At the heart of this is  putting that training opportunity in our area that we can access more easily, Slothower said. The biggest obstacle we face in getting our students to the job site, to the training site, is proximity.

The BOCES program focuses on supporting students in rural districts surrounding the Springs, including Big Sandy, Calhan, Edison, Elbert, Ellicott, Hanover, Miami Yoder and Peyton, but the Education Parks courses will be open to all district students, Bershinsky said.

The park also will house the relocated home of the Colorado Springs School of Excellence, which serves students with diverse social, emotional and behavioral needs.

Bershinsky said the choice of property  in the middle of nowhere  was by design.

Given the exponential growth of Colorado Springs and already-approved construction projects on the near horizon, it wont be the middle of nowhere for long.

If Pikes Peak BOCES were to establish a central water system to support the school, future homeowners in the area could pay to tap in, providing a vital financial pipeline for the project.

At the end of the day, part of the discussion has been  we struggle for money, Bershinsky said. I think if we can do something like this, it makes us different and it puts us in a position where we dont struggle for money anymore.

Polis listened to the visions and projections for the near future Friday, and offered an educated heads-up about what may be to come.

"It probably means there will need to be a (new) elementary school sooner rather than later, if there are 500 families moving in in the next couple years, he said.
This article contains affiliate links; if you click such a link and make a purchase, Digital Trends and Yahoo Inc. may earn a commission.

Columbia Pictures

There is less than one week before Netflix removes a crop of films from the service. Some of the marquee films leaving by February 1 include La La Land, Damien Chazelles musical romance starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone; 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, Michael Bays action thriller about an infamous attack in Libya; and Call Me by Your Name, Luca Guadagninos coming-of-age story that kick-started Timothee Chalamets rise to stardom.

January 31 is the last day to watch these select movies. Below, youll find three more films leaving Netflix at the end of January 2024. Our picks include a romantic drama with an A-list actress, an animated film that started a franchise, and a 1990s thriller starring one of Hollywoods greatest action stars.

Eat Pray Love (2010)

Sony Pictures

Eat Pray Love is the definition of a vibes movie. The audience gets to spend 133 minutes with Julia Roberts as she travels to beautiful locations and experiences the culture firsthand. While Eat Pray Love is a vibes movie, there is a plot. It revolves around Roberts Liz Gilbert, a woman suffering from a midlife crisis.

With a seemingly perfect life, Liz divorces her husband (Billy Crudup), engages in an affair with a young actor (James Franco), and sets off on a globe-trotting mission of self-discovery. Liz samples delicious cuisine in Italy, learns about the power of prayer in India, and gains another shot at love in Bali. It doesnt get much better than hanging out with the legendary rom-com queen in exotic locations.

Stream Eat Pray Love on Netflix.

How to Train Your Dragon (2010)

DreamWorks Animation

Its remarkable how far How to Train Your Dragon, one of the best kids movies on Netflix, has come since 2010. The films success spawned a billion-dollar franchise, with two sequels and one live-action film set for 2025. Relive the magic of the first film before it leaves Netflix. In the village of Berk, a young Viking named Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) wishes to join his father, Stoik the Vast (Gerard Butler), in the towns fight against dragons.

Though hes deemed too small and weak to fight, Hiccup manages to shoot down the dragon Night Fury, but elects to keep it alive. Hiccup later ventures into the forest and finds Night Fury unable to fly because of his injuries. Instead of killing it, Hiccup befriends Night Fury and nicknames it Toothless. However, their newfound friendship does not sit well with the villagers, forcing Hiccup to protect Toothless and convince his people that dragons dont have to be the enemy.

Stream How to Train Your Dragon on Netflix.

In the Line of Fire (1993)

Columbia Pictures

Considering Clint Eastwood (The Mule) is still directing films at the age of 93, the fact he starred in In the Line of Fire 30 years ago is an unfathomable accomplishment. Directed by Wolfgang Petersen, In the Line of Fire stars Eastwood as the cynical Frank Horrigan, a former Secret Service Agent who failed to protect President John F. Kennedy on the day of his assassination. This stain on Franks career has tormented him for decades.

However, Frank receives a shot at redemption when he learns about a future assassination attempt against the current president by a mystery man named Booth (John Malkovich), who taunts Frank over the phone about his career mistakes. Frank is then assigned to the current president. Determined to save the president, Frank sets off on a manhunt and goes toe-to-toe with Booth in this invigorating 1990s action thriller.

Stream In the Line of Fire on Netflix.
90 Day Fiance star Ashley Michelle is seemingly ready to start her life with her fiance, Manuel Velez, but she has yet to formally meet his two sons.

The Ecuador native moved from South America to Ashleys hometown of Rochester, New York, but its clear Manuels kept secrets from his family as even his own mother was unaware of his overseas move.

How Old Are 90 Day Fiance Star Manuels Sons?

Manuel has two sons; their ages are 12 and 14 years old.

Why Doesnt 90 Day Fiances Manuel Want Ashley to Meet His Sons

Ashley found out that Manuels family knew nothing about her upon the dad of twos arrival in the United States, immediately sparking red flags. The New York native admitted that Manuel was more of a f--kboy than he is now back then in his 20s and was worried he was keeping their relationship a secret.

Hes still guarded with me about certain things. About family dynamics and all that, she explained to a therapist during the November 19, 2023 episode of the franchise, admitting she felt like a woman on the side. I havent met his children yet and we are getting married  Like, sometimes, I just dont think he thinks about what the shoe looks on the other foot. Like, now, Im this lady that his boys have no clue who I am. All they know is that I took their dad away.

However, Manuel revealed the real reason why he hasnt introduced Ashley to his children.

There will be time, he responded, adding the language barrier might be difficult. She wont be able to understand the kids, maybe. Or the kids might not understand her  In the sense, the way the kids talk, she may lose her patience or something like that and you cant do that with kids.

In a private confessional, the construction worker admitted Ashley could be very intense at times with a fast temper, comparing her to a matchstick.

She lights up quickly, he told the cameras. You scratch her head and she fires up  I still have to protect their [his kids] well-being but I hope with time everything changes.

Are 90 Day Fiance Star Manuels Sons Still in Ecuador?

Manuels sons are still in Ecuador. The 90 Day Fiance alum shared a tribute post dedicated to his young sons on January 1, 2023, writing in Spanish, Always carrying them in the heart. I love you.
Kal Penn, Kiefer Sutherland, Maggie Q and more posed for an Instagram photo in front of a marquee in Iowa

Maggie Q/Instagram Adan Canto remembered by his 'Designated Survivor' castmates at memorial service

Adan Canto's Designated Survivor castmates and colleagues are paying tribute to the late actor with a touching reunion.

Weeks after news broke that Canto died at age 42 following a reported private journey with appendiceal cancer, fellow stars of the ABC and Netflix drama gathered outside of a memorial service in Iowa for an emotional get-together.

In a photo shared by friend and actor Maggie Q, Canto's other castmates can be seen smiling and posing in front of a theater marquee which read, "In loving memory of Joseph Adan Canto, 1981-2024."

Canto's wife Stephanie, former costars Kiefer Sutherland, Kal Penn, Italia Ricci and LaMonica Garrett, series creator David Guggenheim and costume designer Nancy Gould were all tagged in the photo.

"We all came to say goodbye ," Maggie Q captioned the image. "Love you forever friend, till we meet again  ."

Guggenheim shared the same image with the caption, "Family forever. Miss and love you, Adan." Garrett also posted the group image on his page, calling the last few days "a rollercoaster of emotions" as he tagged the location of Clear Lake, Iowa  where Canto's obituary noted a funeral service took place at the Surf Ballroom & Museum on Friday.

"Back and forth from tears to laughter at the drop of a dime. Truly was a celebration of life for a great human being. And going through this with our Designated Survivor family was special. @adancanto you will be missed brother, @stephanie.a.canto we love you and we'll be back soon.  #adancanto ."

Related: Kiefer Sutherland Mourns Designated Survivor Costar Adan Canto After His Death at 42: 'Heartbroken'

Canto played the role of Aaron Shore in Designated Survivor, which ran from 2016 to 2019 and starred 57-year-old Sutherland as Tom Kirkman.

Paying tribute earlier this month, Sutherland called the fellow actor a "wonderful spirit," sharing an Instagram image of the pair laughing together.

"It seems lately I have had to make too many posts like this one, but I am heartbroken by the loss of Adan Canto," Sutherland wrote at the time. "He was such a wonderful spirit. As an actor, his desire to do well, to be great, and then do better, was truly impressive and he will be greatly missed."

"I am also heartbroken for his wife Steph and his two young children," he added. Adan, may you rest in peace."

Penn, who played Seth Wright on the show, shared his own carousel post of on-set photos, calling the news of Canto's death "absolutely heartbreaking."

"He was so genuine and warm, immensely talented; such a good person who was simultaneously calm and motivating," Penn, 46, wrote. "And funny. He was very, very funny. Im so lucky to have known him. My heart goes out to Steph, the kids, and the whole family."

Other castmates, including Ricci and Garrett, shared posts this month in honor of Canto, whom Garrett remembered as someone who "exuded both confidence and humility effortlessly."

Ben Mark Holzberg/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images Adan Canto (left) and Kiefer Sutherland in 'Designated Survivor'

Related: Adan Canto's Wife Stephanie Speaks Out After His Death at 42: 'Forever My Treasure'

Canto's wife paid tribute to her husband  and the father of their son, Roman Alder, 3, and daughter, Eve Josephine, 1  by quoting the Bible verse Mathew 6:19-21 shortly after his death.

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal," she wrote on Instagram. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Stephanie concluded, "Forever my treasure Adan, see you soon ."



For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.
David Kenner pleaded guilty to leaking grand jury information to reporters about the case against Prakazrel "Pras" Michel. - Credit: Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

David Kenner, a lawyer who unsuccessfully defended convicted Fugees rapper Prakazrel Pras Michel, pleaded guilty on Friday to misdemeanor criminal contempt and was sentenced to one year of probation after admitting he leaked confidential material to reporters in 2023.

Federal prosecutors said Kenner was representing Michel in the federal conspiracy case over the rappers role in a multimillion-dollar government influence campaign that involved both the Obama and Trump administrations. After Kenner had been provided discovery materials in order to prepare for Michels defense, as is typical in criminal cases, the attorney agreed to share the materials with two reporters from Bloomberg, prosecutors stated. While Kenner requested the reporters sign a protective order, which they did, the members of the news media ripped Protective Order, in the presence of the Defendant, shortly after.

More from Rolling Stone

Despite this, Kenner allowed an individual acting with his authorization to give the reporters access to a database holding the discovery materials, according to prosecutors, and in March 2023, they published multiple articles containing information derived from the discovery materials.

Kenner told the judge who sentenced him that it was a low point in his 56-year legal career. Obviously, I made a terrible mistake, he said. Kenner also agreed to pay a $5,000 fine.

Michels spokesperson Erica Dumas said in a statement that although Mr. Kenner argues that he was merely trying to mount the best possible defense for Pras Michel, his client, Mr. Kenners reckless actions crossed critical ethical lines, failed his duties as counsel, and ultimately have cost him dearly. She added, This plea conviction represents a breach of client trust that strikes at the heart of the attorney-client relationship.

In April 2023, Michel was convicted of all 10 counts against him including money laundering, illegal lobbying, witness tampering, and campaign finance violations. As Rolling Stone previously reported, the charges against Michel were tied to his relationship with Malaysian financier Jho Low, who is accused of stealing $4.5 billion from Malaysias 1MDB sovereign wealth fund. Prosecutors claimed Michel pocketed millions from helping Low run foreign-influence campaigns against the U.S. government. (Low was named as a co-defendant in the case, but is currently a fugitive.)

Michel was accused of funneling money from Low to Barack Obamas 2012 reelection campaign, as well as lobbying Donald Trumps administration to drop an investigation into Low and extradite dissident Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui.

Michels new lawyers are seeking a new trial pending before U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly in Washington.

Best of Rolling Stone
The aircraft went down shortly after takeoff as it was headed to Maine

WMUR-TV/youtube plane crashes in Londonderry

A pilot whose airplane crashed in New Hampshire is lucky to be alive after he narrowly missed colliding with a home.

While the identity of the man has been withheld, officials said he was the only person on board. He was conscious and able to dial 911 afterward.

Related: 2 Pilots Survive 'Miraculous' Escape from Boeing 737 Tanker Crash While Fighting Fires in Australia

He ought to play the lottery, for sure, Londonderry Fire Chief Bo Butler said at a press conference on Friday following the incident. This was a very significant emergency response that we responded to and a lot of things could have gone wrong further than the aircraft crashing itself.

As Butler addressed the media, he stated that the plane crash happened at approximately 7:30 a.m. local time. The aircraft had just taken off from Manchester-Boston Regional Airport and was en route to Maine.

Minutes later, first responders arrived at the scene near Wiley Hill Road and Colonial Drive and confirmed the twin-engine Beechcraft 99 cargo plane had landed between 70 and 100 feet away from a residence.

The pilot sustained serious injuries. He was taken to a Boston-area hospital and listed in critical condition.

Several neighbors spoke to news outlets, sharing their accounts of what happened.

One family shared security footage that captured the crash with NBC 10 Boston.

Brian Croteau, a resident who rushed to the scene to help, told the outlet that the pilot was pinned up against the dash and trying to get his belt off when he found him.

WMUR-TV/youtube

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Another resident, Eddie Saktanaset, recalled his familys confusion: "We just heard a loud thump behind the house, you know, like a lightning sound. A lot of trees were coming down."

Butler called the crash an incredibly high risk, low frequency event that was professionally and competently mitigated by the members of the Londonderry Fire Department.

It was one of those situations where theres not a lot of experience, so thats where training comes into play, he said.

AP Photo/Charles Krupa Firefighters near the site of a small plane crash

Debris was scattered around the plane and the area was taped off. Londonderry Deputy Fire Chief Phillip LeBlanc told 7NEWS that the plane was carrying just over 250 gallons of fuel, which spilled into the woods where he landed.

Gasoline could be smelled throughout the neighborhood after the crash, and Butler said crews were working to minimize any pollution.

"We have been actively booming the area for hazardous relief mitigation," he said. "We do have some wetlands behind the residences where the plane went down that we're taking into consideration with our booming measures going on."

According to a press release shared by the Londonderry Police Department, the FAA and NTSB are involved in an active investigation of the situation.

Im deeply appreciative of the response of the first responders to be on the scene as quickly as possible and very appreciative of just this entire collaborative effort that we have had thus far, Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais said.



For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.
Distilled from fermented sugarcane juice or molasses and aged in oak barrels, rum is a spirit steeped in culture and can be found in the majority of the world's sugar-producing regions. Its history goes back centuries, with strong ties to the Caribbean and the maritime operations of privateers and imperial naval forces.

Rum's diverse history means it can be found in a huge range of styles that make it perfect for mixing or sipping, and the premium rum market is experiencing something of a revival. Established brands are rejuvenating their efforts to elevate their offerings, enticing rum enthusiasts and casual drinkers alike with a variety of uniquely flavored and aged expressions.

The ranking and quality of the brands below are based on my own extensive experience in the alcohol industry and personal love of rum, having met with representatives of many of the producers and created cocktails with their products. Regarding their popularity, the majority of these brands sit at the top of global sales lists, while others are highly renowned in the industry and by rum lovers around the world.

Read more: The 27 Best Bourbon Brands, Ranked

Malibu

Malibu rum in ice - monticello/Shutterstock

While Malibu is technically a flavored rum liqueur, its global recognition and association with the cocktail world have earned it a position on the list of the most popular rum brands. While purists might disagree, and it's not what you'd consider a sipping rum, few bar shelves don't hold a place for it.

Despite Malibu's tropical branding, the liqueur was actually invented by a Cornishman, Tom Jago, in the 1970s -- the same brain behind the invention of Bailey's Irish Cream and Johnny Walker Blue Label. However, Malibu is still made in the Caribbean, with its white rum base distilled and flavored in Barbados at the West Indies Rum Distillery. Originally, Malibu was mostly used in tiki cocktails like pina coladas, but the brand's astounding growth has seen a range of different flavored versions emerge that beg for experimentation, as well as a large selection of pre-mixed cocktail cans.

Bacardi

bacardi rum bottle in ice - monticello/Shutterstock

There are few rum brands as iconic as Bacardi, the second-best-selling rum on the planet from the world's largest privately-owned spirits brand. Despite having hundreds of spirits in its portfolio, Bacardi's iconic white rum was the drink that started it all.

Bacardi rum was originally created in 1862 by Spaniard Facundo Bacardi Masso in Cuba, in an attempt to create a more palatable version of the readily available rum that was considered rough and unrefined. Eventually, Cuba's political situation in the 20th century forced the company to relocate to Bermuda, where they're still headquartered to this day.

Although most would consider Bacardi an entry-level rum best saved for cocktails and mixing, the company has expanded its range considerably over the years. Now, the brand offers flavored editions, a spiced rum, pre-mixed cocktails, and a selection of aged, premium expressions that can hold their own against some of the best-sipping rums around. They've even started to experiment with using different casks for maturation, including ex-rye whisky barrels.

Don Q

Don Q rum bottle - John Hanson Pye/Shutterstock

Like Bacardi, Don Q is a brand that also has its roots in Spain. However, its founder, Juan Serralles, settled in Puerto Rico instead of Cuba over 150 years ago. Named after the famed literary character Don Quixote, it's hard to understate the popularity of Don Q rum, especially in Puerto Rico, where it outsells its Cuban competitor.

Typically, Don Q is considered a more premium rum with a renowned smoothness and quality that's rare in mass-produced spirits. Complementing the base range of white, gold, and overproof rums is a flavored selection that offers bartenders plenty of choice for fruity concoctions and tropical cocktails.

Where the Don Q range truly shines is with its Serralles Collection, which bolsters a range of premium rums with a distinctive approach to barrel-aging. While most rums are aged in ex-bourbon barrels, the Serralles Collection features expressions matured in a variety of casks that impart truly unique flavors, including ex-cognac, wine, sherry, and port barrels.

Kraken

Kraken rum bottle - Q77photo/Shutterstock

Kraken spiced rum, with its iconic Victorian-style hoop-handled bottle, is a relative newcomer to the rum world, but that hasn't stopped it from becoming one of today's best-known brands. Created in 2010 by Jersey-based drinks giant Proximo Spirits, best known for producing Jose Cuervo tequila, Kraken's base rum comes from Trinidad's famed Angostura distillery.

Although the brand has experimented with special editions and limited releases, the original, jet-black Kraken is by far the most ubiquitous, offering a depth that sets it apart from almost every other spiced rum. The rich molasses base provides toffee-like flavors that harmoniously blend with notes of warming cinnamon and sweet vanilla, and while it's not quite smooth enough to be an ideal sipping rum, it's perfect for adding a new dimension to cocktails. For the best results, it's worth trying Kraken as a substitute in classic cocktails like a Dark 'n Stormy, Mai Tai, or Daiquiri, but its caramel profile means it works just as well paired with cola or lemonade.

Mount Gay

Mount Gay rum bottle - Radomir Rezny/Shutterstock

While it's likely that rum has existed in some form or another before its existence was first documented, the earliest records we do have come from the West Indian island of Barbados. Furthermore, the Mount Gay distillery on Barbados has a deed dating back to 1703, making it the oldest commercial rum distillery in the world.

While age doesn't always equate to experience, it's fair to say that Mount Gay's centuries of rum-making, combined with its use of ultra-pure, coral-filtered water results in some of the finest expressions of the spirit. The Mount Gay range is an excellent value for the money, starting simple with its crisp Eclipse, bold Black Barrel, and complex XO rums. However, like Don Q, Mount Gay has released numerous special edition, top-shelf rums alongside versions that make use of different barrels for aging. They've even released a scotch-inspired rum aged in ex-Islay whisky casks, combining the smoky maritime features of the Scottish isles with the nautical influence of the tropical Caribbean.

Captain Morgan

Captain Morgan rum bottle - monticello/Shutterstock

The third best-selling rum globally is Captain Morgan, owned by the British drinks powerhouse, Diageo. Keeping with rum's association with sailors and the sea, the famous spiced spirit is named after Welshman Henry Morgan, a famous 17th-century "privateer" who continued to gain notoriety for years after his death.

Morgan's name was likely chosen purely for its recognizability and connection with the British Empire's presence in the Caribbean, as he doesn't appear to have much connection to the rum industry, but that hasn't stopped the brand's success. Captain Morgan Original Spiced Gold is the flagship rum, bringing together sweet notes of vanilla, oak, and dried fruits, but the range has expanded slightly to include a white and dark version. While Captain Morgan might not win over hardcore rum aficionados, it's an easy-drinking, affordable option that can be paired with most mixers and subbed into plenty of iconic rum cocktails.

Angostura

Angostura rum bottles - MDV Edwards/Shutterstock

To most, the name Angostura is associated with the most famous of the cocktail bitters, a concoction that was originally developed as a medicinal tincture in Venezuela in 1830. When the product's inventor, Dr. Siegert, passed away, his descendants eventually moved the company to Trinidad.

In the early 1900s, Angostura Limited began experimenting with rum production, but it wasn't until the 1940s that they launched their very own distillery. Now, Angostura is one of Trinidad and Tobago's most famous exports, with a well-earned reputation for crafting smooth and luxurious rums that can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or in a range of cocktails. Such is their esteem that the company even went as far as releasing the world's most expensive rum, Legacy, which sets buyers back a cool $100,000 per bottle. The rest of us might have to settle for one of their more affordable bottles, but even Angostura's base range consists of rums that are the envy of other distilleries.

Sailor Jerry rum bottles - MDV Edwards/Shutterstock

Despite being one of the most famous rums in the world, particularly in the spiced rum category, the Sailor Jerry brand wasn't born out of the drinks industry. Sailor Jerry was the nickname of a tattoo artist, sailor, and musician called Norman Collins -- the man who not only popularized the art style seen on the Sailor Jerry bottle, but arguably revolutionized modern tattooing.

When Collins died, he handed over his legacy to his proteges who formed a company to commercialize the Sailor Jerry brand. In 1991, the company launched a rum in his name, showcasing Collins' artwork while paying homage to his sailing roots. Spiced rum was chosen as it was a common way for sailors to make their rum rations more palatable, and the rest is history. Although there's only one expression of Sailor Jerry rum, it's versatile enough to be used in a huge range of drinks. It's not a perfect sipping rum but it's lighter and smoother than the likes of Captain Morgan or Kraken, working well in cocktails where you want the rum to play a supporting role instead of taking over the show.

Goslings

Goslings dark n stormy cocktail - Foodio/Shutterstock

Like many of today's most well-known rum brands, Goslings has a history that combines the old world with the new. The original company was launched in Bermuda in the early 1800s by two English brothers who'd become waylaid on their way to America, but it wasn't until 1860 that they launched their first rum.

Today, most people know Goslings as the key ingredient in the classic rum and ginger beer-based cocktail, the Dark 'n Stormy, a name the company managed to trademark in the USA in 1988. Their flagship product, Black Seal, got its name from the way the rum was originally sold in reclaimed champagne bottles and sealed with black wax and was renowned for its smoothness and rich fragrance. While Goslings is still primarily associated with the rich and spicy Dark 'n Stormy, today the brand offers a handful of more unique expressions, including pre-mixed cans, a rye barrel-finished rum, an overproof rum, and Spirited Seas, a spirit that pays homage to Goslings' roots by spending time aging on a vessel out on the ocean.

Havana Club

Havana Club bottle in ice - monticello/Shutterstock

The fifth best-selling rum in the world, Havana Club was born in Cuba and created at the Arechabala family distillery in 1934. However, like the Bacardi family, the Arechabalas were forced to flee Cuba and eventually lost their trademark, with the Cuban government nationalizing the brand and sharing ownership with French spirits powerhouse, Pernod Ricard.

America's embargo on Cuban products meant the Pernod version couldn't be sold in the U.S. market, but the Bacardi family bought the original recipe to develop their own rum under the same name. To this day, legal battles rage on to determine who makes the real Havana Club. The Cuban selection includes a range of supreme rums of different ages and styles and is revered for its versatility. The rums are of a high enough quality for sipping but make exemplary bases for cocktails, especially considering their affordability. Expressions like the 3-Year and Especial are excellent in tropical drinks and classic tipples like mojitos and daiquiris, while at the other end of the spectrum are premium, limited releases like Maximo unparalleled in their representation of an authentic Cuban rum.

Don Papa

Don Papa rum bottle glass - mmpixel91/Shutterstock

Although rum has undeniably strong ties to the Caribbean region, it can be easy to overlook the spirit's connection to the Philippines. The region is home to what many consider some of the highest quality sugar cane in the world, and when Remy Cointreau executive Stephen Carroll visited the island of Negros Occidental, he saw the potential for creating a world-class rum.

Don Papa was initially launched solely in the Philippines market, but it wasn't long before the premium small-batch, oak-aged rum gained international popularity, ultimately being bought earlier this year by Diageo for an impressive 260 million. Don Papa is the ultimate sipping rum, exemplifying the magnificent flavors of the distiller's world-class molasses while aged and finished in a unique array of casks. Rye, sherry, and port barrels are all used to mature different Don Papa rums resulting in a complex range that meets the standards of even the most discerning rum aficionados.

Pusser's

Pusser's navy rum jug - Tony Dunn/Shutterstock

Throughout rum's extensive maritime heritage, it arguably has no closer tie than the one that connects it to the British Royal Navy. For hundreds of years, sailors were allocated a rum ration by the ship's "purser," a title which became colloquially known as the "pusser."

Although the British Admiralty abolished the rum ration in the 1970s, permission was given to continue producing the rum using the navy's original recipe, making Pusser's the closest you can get to the traditional sailors' spirit. Distilled in the British Virgin Islands and embodying a distinctive, full-bodied flavor with notes of molasses, oak, and dried fruits, Pusser's award-winning range is relatively small but features a gunpowder-proof version and an extra mature 15-year-old expression. Like Goslings' Dark 'n Stormy, Pusser's has its own trademarked cocktail, a richer twist on a Pina Colada called the Painkiller, but the rum makes for excellent sipping neat or on the rocks and is intense enough to mix deliciously with all manner of mixers.

El Dorado

El Dorado bottle - Jose R. Aguirre/Getty Images

Named after the legendary lost city of gold, El Dorado rum hails from the Demerara region of Guyana, a location long associated with its sugar production. Over the centuries, the area's multitude of rum distilleries eventually either closed or became part of Demerara Distillers, the sole producer now operating in the region.

This combination of history, experience, and fine ingredients has led to a brand created in 1992 that's renowned for exceptional craftsmanship and a distinct character. El Dorado rums are smooth and velvety across a diverse range that uses a variety of aging and finishing techniques. Whether blended or drawn from a single still, toffee, caramel, and tropical fruits are mainstay flavors that are emboldened with maturation for up to 25 years in unique casks and barrels, including port, Madeira, and sauternes. While the most premium expressions don't come cheap, they're worth every penny, and there are plenty of more affordable editions that are easy to get your hands on.

Appleton Estate

Appleton Estate rum bottles - Irik Bik/Shutterstock

With a legacy stretching back to 1749, Appleton Estate is arguably Jamaica's most famous rum brand, exemplifying the unique qualities of the country's rum. Distilling the rich molasses of Jamaica's superior sugarcane in copper pot stills results in a robust, full-bodied rum and a profile that boasts notes of berries, pineapple, caramel, banana, and warming spice.

Combined with its sister brand, Wray & Nephew, Appleton Estate is one of the top ten best-selling rums in the world and is lauded for its approachability. Alongside expressions that are perfect for sipping, like its 12- and 15-year-old releases, Appleton Estate rums are an extremely popular choice for tropical cocktails, blending styles for Mai Tais and daiquiris, and can be used to add a Jamaican twist on tiki drinks. Although limited editions such as their 25-year-old Joy blend can cost up to four figures, their standard releases are exceedingly good value and are a must-try for any rum fan.

Ron Zacapa

Ron Zacapa rum bottle - Irik Bik/Shutterstock

Ron Zacapa is a relatively new rum that was launched in 1976 to celebrate the anniversary of the founding of the Guatemalan town of Zacapa. Since its inception, Ron Zacapa has garnered international acclaim as an exceptional rum that makes use of unique production methods to create its premium products.

Instead of molasses, Ron Zacapa is distilled with the first press of sugar cane juice rather than molasses and is aged at high altitudes to arrest the maturation process. It's also aged using what's known as the solera system, a method most commonly associated with wines but has since found some use in the spirits world. By stacking rums of different ages, drawing bottles from the oldest barrels, and replacing what's taken with younger distillate, Ron Zacapa rums offer unparalleled depth, balance, and consistency. The Ron Zacapa range is small and relatively expensive, but the brand is highly sought after by rum enthusiasts around the world, and not especially difficult to find considering its excellent reputation.

Methodology

rum glass inside barrel - Smit/Shutterstock

The methodology for selecting and ranking these rums is based on a combination of global sales figures, as well as their overall reputation. I've tried rums from every single one of the brands listed, having listed them at bars I've managed and used them in a range of cocktails, testing them in personal creations or substituting them in existing classics. While many of these brands offer expressions that are rare, expensive, and hard to find, they also all have bottles that are easily accessible and come in at a reasonable price point.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.
Recently, we asked the BuzzFeed Community about *that one relative*  aka, the weird cousin, the bonkers aunt, or the creepy uncle  that is sort of infamous in your family. Some of the answers were hilariously stupid, while some were horrifying, and others were...well, just see for yourself. Here are 27 wild stories about family members.

We also included some replies from these two Reddit threads.

1."My cousin stole her mom's boyfriend, whom the mom had a child with, then had two children of her own with this guy. Yeah  [try to] make sense of the connection between siblings, step-mom, step-brother, uncle, aunts, etc."

u/mattymaniac

2."There is a story in my family about my hillbilly cousins who lived in the bustling metropolis of rural Western Kentucky. Their toilet pipes had become clogged somehow and since they were so handy, they figured that the best way to fix the toilet would be to unclog it using a hand grenade. Shockingly, this tactic managed to ignite the house and burn it to the ground, although I think the toilet did get unclogged in the process."

u/JustPlainSimpleGarak

3."My cousin got his hands on a pet alligator. He brought it to my mom's house one day and claimed that it was technically legal to have one until it got to a certain size. The police raided him later for selling drug paraphernalia (he's a glass blower, so yeah, he was  though he did have a license for selling tobacco products at least) and seized the gator. I hope he's doing well (the gator I mean)."

u/PostPostModernism

Andre Pinto / Getty Images

4."Once, in the middle of a conversation in the living room of a family member, [my uncle] stood up, walked towards the corner, turned around so his back was to everybody, and proceeded to pee into a plastic solo cup. His reasoning? 'I didn't want to miss the conversation.' Needless to say, the conversation effectively stopped once this happened."

u/words_happen

5."[In the] early 2000s, I took my cousin Bubba to a house party. He knew no one there besides me and my husband. He ended up living there for the next six months."

u/MissSassifras1977

6."We were camping once, and my cousin walked off into the woods to smoke a joint and take a morning poop. He took a gun along to keep himself entertained. When he finished his joint and poo, he looked back at his pile and naturally decided to shoot it. He returned to the campsite covered in the shrapnel of his bad decision."

u/SchrodingersNutsack

7."My dad's second cousin went to prison for stealing. When he came back, he tried to get back with his girlfriend. But his son was already dating her."

u/chiefocc

CBC

8."At Thanksgiving, my cousin snuck her IUD into the mashed potatoes. I still dont know why she did that."

Anonymous

9."One Thanksgiving dinner a few years ago my cousin got really drunk and proceeded to pull his dick out at the dinner table in front of my whole extended family and point at his genital warts saying, 'look what she did to me!', referring to his girlfriend. That sure got a good reaction from my grandma."

u/PrancingGophers

10."My cousin was arrested with some weed, was bailed out and then broke back into the police station that night to try and steal his weed back. He's a family gem."

"EDIT: Been receiving a lot of questions regarding his success in this mission. Let's just say, who knew police stations were difficult to break into?"

u/Havins

11."He was in the news for stalking Taylor Swift a while back."

Anonymous

Daniele Venturelli / WireImage via Getty Images

12."My grandpa had a habit of putting things up his nose and sneezing them out for comedic effect. One Sunday night at dinner, he shoved three kernels of corn up his nose. We laughed pretty hard until we realized only two kernels came out. The third one didn't come out until the following Tuesday. We called him 'the kernel' for at least three months."

u/Forever_Man

13."My older cousin is a raging alcoholic. For our family Christmas party, he asked in the family group chat if he could bring two female companions with him (escorts). When his mom told him no, he took himself out of the family group chat and said he wouldn't be attending. He still showed up and got completely hammered and was mad the entire night. The next day, he was posting on social media that he was enjoying a sober life and he was engaged to his ex-girlfriend a week later. (The engagement lasted two days.)"

Anonymous

14."My uncle took one look at my nieces perfectly clean, stainless, white couch, and then pooed on it."

Anonymous

15."My cousins on one side of my family suck and are the trashiest people ever. One cousin (female) dated this poor guy, got pregnant, then had his kid. He was a super nice guy but dumb as hell. Anyway, they split up and my cousin immediately gets knocked up by her ex-boyfriend's brother and had another kid. So her kids are cousins and brothers at the same time. Jerry Springer shit."

u/bobbybouchier

The CW

16."Everyone likes to tell this one story from when my uncle was in middle school (the same middle school I would attend 30 years later) where he got into a fight with one of his teachers. The fight was a literal fist fight that had the teacher throwing my uncle into a nearby row of lockers by his collar and my uncle spitting blood at the teachers face and shirt. I dont believe the teacher faced any repercussions (my uncle was suspended) but he continued to wear the shirt that got spit on throughout the year and everyone could see the blood stain on it. Made my uncle a legend and anyone with his last name, aka my dad, cousin, brother and I, wary of being associated with him."

Anonymous

17."My obscenely rich, condescending, entitled uncle sent out Christmas cards to our working class extended family that said 'proud to be part of the 1%' on the back. That was five or ten years ago and we still quote it frequently  and no, he hasn't improved."

Anonymous

18."My cousin is a criminal, but an inept one. Unable to hold down a real job, he turned to petty burglary one Christmas when he stole all the presents from under the tree while the family was all out at a Christmas show. No signs of forced entry, everyone suspected him but couldn't prove it until he was caught a month later actually using the laptop that was one of the Christmas gifts. But because he's family, no one pressed charges."

Anonymous

19."My stepfather once kicked in my door at 4 a.m. and threw a live chicken on my head. All he said was 'Put that up when you go to school.' Never found out what he was doing with that chicken."

u/psychosythe

Hulu

20."My uncle on my father's side, a famous musical artist here in Colombia. He does shows and performances often and has this song where he invites a woman on stage to dance with him for a bit of banter. When I was a teenager I was invited to see his show and for this particular number he invited my mother on stage. He danced with her, then leaned in and gave her a big kiss right in front of my family, including my brothers and my father, as well as my aunt, which resulted in my father leaving the stadium with my mother while she cried."

Anonymous

21."My stepbrother 'Wayne' is a Grade-A moron. At a family reunion, he told my brother that it was 'Gods cruel joke that we have so many hot cousins.' One time, Wayne decided he wanted to work at a locally owned vegetable farm despite having zero experience. He went right up to the owner of this farm and asked for a job. Apparently impressed by my stepbrothers boldness, the owner hired him. A few days into the job, Wayne decides instead of walking around and spraying weed killer on all the individual weeds, he can save a bunch of time by adding the weed killer directly to the water supply of the automatic watering system."

"Long story short, he caused this poor farmer tens of thousands of dollars by killing all his plants. Another time, he decided to take a chainsaw to our old Christmas tree while it was still in our living room rather than just drag it out to the curb. It made an unbelievable mess and brought an end to a decades-long family tradition of bringing home live Christmas trees."

jess_tha_best

22."My cousin robbed a taxi driver at knifepoint when the taxi had arrived at the destinationwhich was my cousin's house. Yes, he went to jail."

u/spcarlin

23."I have a cousin who is a nurse. She rose to a small bit of TikTok fame by posting videos talking about how she would have no problem unplugging someones ventilator at the hospital to plug in her phone. There were a few of these videos and each one made you wonder what was wrong with her. She was promptly fired from her job."

u/Letspostsomething

HBO

24."My cousin lied to our entire family about getting into a prestigious university. They spent so much money buying him supplies, clothes, and equipment for his dorm room and on the day of enrollment, obviously it all blew up in his face. He continued to deny that he'd lied and insisted that someone had messed up, so they went to his school to get copies of his results which were NOT AT ALL what he'd claimed."

"Needless to say, he eventually came clean but we have not discussed it since. It's just this big, strange lie. It's weird too as our family are not academic, only one of us kids graduated university so definitely not an ounce of competition!"

jessicalynch86

25."My aunt embezzled money from the family company. Close to $250k in cash. The same aunt did the books for the company and had all three of her sons' cars in the company name. She also taught her sons how to commit insurance fraud (Katrina and BP oil spill), ... ran up close to $10k on my grandmother's credit cards AT A FUCKING CASINO, tried to steal belongings of my grandmother's to pawn...She is finally getting what is coming to her. She's been taken out of the will and the embezzlement and fraud cases are pending."

u/Smarter_not_harder

26."My cousin robbed my dying uncle, then Walmart, then sold a car he did not have a title to. He got arrested for it. Then the story was in the news (online local paper). It read "[Cousin] is charged with robbery, breaking and entering, and car theft. Cousin decided to comment on the story: 'I didn't steal a car.' Trashiest thing ever."

u/TranslatorBoring2419

27.And finally..."My uncle gave my dad a drunken lap dance at his birthday party, so there's that."

u/ElementXero

Got any wild family members of your own? Let us know in the comments below  or via this anonymous form  and you could be featured in an upcoming BuzzFeed Community post.
Editor's note: Some events were incorrectly listed in the original version of this list. Dates and event names have been changed to accurately represent the Black History Month events planned in Fort Collins this year.

Commemorate Black History Month this year with a February full of speakers, performances and even a self-guided tour of local Black history in Fort Collins.

Here is a sampling of Black History Month events to plan for next month:

Black History Month kick-off at CSU

When: 4 p.m. Feb. 1

Where: Lory Student Center Theatre, Fort Collins

It will be a month of celebration, education and awareness at Colorado State University, where multiple student organizations, CSU alumni, university departments and community members plan to come together for a February filled with Black History Month programs. These programs kick off Feb. 1 in the Lory Student Center Theatre. For a full list of CSU's Black History Month events, visit baacc.colostate.edu.

Symphony presents Colorado premiere of 'Ethiopia's Shadow in America'

When: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 3

Where: The Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St., Fort Collins

Growing up Black in Little Rock, Arkansas, in the late 1800s, Florence Price fostered a childhood passion for piano and eventually grew up to become a classical composer, pianist, organist and music teacher. In 1932, she composed orchestral work "Ethiopia's Shadow in America." Following her 1953 death, much of Price's work was lost to time until 2009, when a collection of her unpublished manuscripts were discovered in her former Illinois home. "Ethiopia's Shadow in America" was performed by the University of Arkansas Symphony Orchestra in 2015  83 years after its composition. Now, it prepares to make its Colorado debut as The Fort Collins Symphony plans to play the piece at its Dvorak Discovery on Feb. 3. The concert also features a unique collaboration with artist Louise Cutler, who will unveil a new painting inspired by the music at the concert. Regular tickets range from $25 to $67 and can be purchased at lctix.com.

Community comes together: Fort Collins day of service honors Martin Luther King Jr. despite march's cancellation

Black History Month films

When: 6-9 p.m. Feb. 6 and 6-8 p.m. Feb. 27

Where: Lory Student Center Room 335 and Behavioral Science Building A101, 410 W. Pitkin St.

Come to CSU's campus for the Black/African American Cultural Center's annual Black History Month film showing. The month will start with a surprise film in the cultural center's Lory Student Center office on Feb. 6. "The Cost of Inheritance," a film exploring the complex issues of reparations in the U.S., will be shown on Feb. 27. Both showings are free and open to the public. RSVP to "The Cost of Inheritance" online at actfilmfest.colostate.edu.

Youth painting with a twist

When: 4:30-6:30 p.m. Feb. 8

Where: 140 W. Oak St.

Painting with a Twist will lead this free paint and sip class for youth of color to celebrate Black History Month. Space is limited to reserve your spot on The BIPOC Alliance's Eventbrite page.

Black Opry Revue

When: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 16

Where: The Lincoln Center, Fort Collins

After long being overlooked, Black artists' contributions to country, blues, folk and Americana music are getting a fresh look with this eye- and ear-opening performance. Experience a diversity of sounds with a traditional small group Southern "guitar pull," where five artists will take turns playing songs on the guitar. Regular tickets start at $22 and can be purchased at lctix.com.

Looking ahead in 2024: Here are 18 exhibits, performances and arts happenings coming up in Fort Collins

Rap writing workshop

When: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 17

Where: Foothills, 215 E. Foothills Parkway

This workshop will help you take on the art of rap writing, from creating catchy hooks and powerful verses to mastering the rhythm. This event, put on by The BIPOC Alliance, is free and open to all ages. To reserve a spot, visit The BIPOC Alliance's Eventbrite page.

Dream Create Inspire workshop

When: 4-7 p.m. Feb. 17

Where: Cultural Enrichment Center of Fort Collins, 1825 E. Mulberry St.

This art-based workshop, put on by The BIPOC Alliance and the Cream Create Inspire Tour, is meant to inspire collective healing, liberation and social connection. While it is designed for youth, people of all ages are welcome It is free to attend. To reserve a spot, visit The BIPOC Alliance's Eventbrite page.

Grown n' Sexy: A Night Out

When: 6-10 p.m. Feb. 23

Where: Smok Barbecue, 327 E. Foothills Parkway

Head to Smok for a night of live music, friends, fun, food and drinks. To reserve a spot, visit The BIPOC Alliance's Eventbrite page.

'Thurgood' at The Lincoln Center

When: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 24

Where: The Lincoln Center, Fort Collins

In celebration of Black History Month, Michael Anthony Tatmon and In Living Colored Productions bring "Thurgood" to the Lincoln Center stage. The production tells the story of Thurgood Marshall, America's first Black Supreme Court justice. Regular tickets are $25 and can be purchased at lctix.com.

United Women of Color and United Men of Color present 'The Hair Show'

When: 5:30-8:30 p.m. Feb. 22

Where: Lory Student Center Theatre, Fort Collins

United Women of Color and United Men of Color  CSU groups that seek to build community and celebrate people of color  are hosting a hair and fashion show, which will showcase various types of hair textures and styles and celebrate Black beauty, style and culture through hair and fashion.

Black History Month meal

When: 5-6 p.m. Feb. 29

Where: Rams Horn Dining Center, 820 W. Pitkin St.

Taste the rich flavors of the South and traditional dishes tracing back to the African diaspora as CSU honors Black cuisine with time-honored recipes at this special Black History Month meal.

A self-guided Black history tour

When: Anytime

Where: Various locations in Fort Collins

Want a glimpse into Black history in early Fort Collins? Check out the city's self-guided tour of homes, businesses and former building sites where Fort Collins' Black community lived, worked and fought against the city's widespread racism and discrimination. Download the city's complete walking and biking tour brochure at fcgov.com/historicpreservation/blackfortcollinstour.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: 12 things to do this Black History Month in Fort Collins
Pink Stanley cups were the rage earlier this month. Now it's floor mirrors.

But not just any floor mirror. Shopping sharks recently spotted a specific mirror sold at Costco that resembled a mirror selling for nearly $1,000 more at another retailer, the upscale chain Anthropologie.

Anthropologie's Luisa Mirror ($1,198) is 72 inches high, 34 inches across and 2 inches deep and "Delicate hummingbirds and gilded flowers adorn the trim of this ornate mirror," according to the retailer site.

The Costco mirror is not quite as big, but it's eye-catching, too. "Anthropology dupe floor mirror at Costco  it comes in silver and gold $149.99 great price!!!" posted @costconew on Instagram.

Look at your 401(k): The S&P 500 and Dow just hit record highs.

Why do consumers go crazy for an item? What is so special about Stanley cups? The psychology behind the year's thirstiest obsession

Shoppers create buzz around Costco floor mirror dupe on social media

TikTok user @costcohotfinds, who says they are a "Costco obsessed mom," posted a video about the Ravena Floor Mirror ($149.99) at Costco last week that caught the eye of many of her 1.5 million followers. In her video on Instagram, where she has 2.4 million followers, @costcohotfinds said, "The Costco mirror is making its rounds through the regions and it was worth the wait!!! 30W x 65H."

Very quickly, supply of the Ravena Floor Mirror ran out at most sites, according to updates from the TikTok shopping crew. "Thanks for the tip! Got one today. Just 5 left in Loves Park, IL," posted one TikTok follower on Jan. 10.

"The item number is not found I checked online," posted another two days later.

Some shoppers suggested calling local stores because the mirror didn't appear to be showing up in the Costco app.

The Krazy Coupon Lady site, run by Heather Wheeler and Joanie Demer, noted that the "availability of this mirror is limited to select Costco locations and isn't online yet. For specific details regarding this item, including pricing and inventory, you can contact your local Costco and ask about item number 1695517."

Anthropologie Mirror Look-alike, Only $149.99 at Costco

Costco and Sam's Club both have dupes of luxury mirror

Simultaneously, some followers noted that Sam's Club had its own gold metal-framed "dupe" of the mirror, the Azalea Park Filigree Floor Mirror ($149.98), which measures 72 inches high, 36 inches wide and is 1 inches deep, and is in stock at least in Northern Virginia.

"Sams one is prettier but Costco is still cute," posted one follower.

"I got a Sams membership solely for their anthropology dupe a year ago," posted another.

The hubbub over the mirrors has led to media coverage in Parade, Fox Business and the New York Post.

Costco selling dupe of viral $1K mirror as shoppers sound off on social media https://t.co/OauKTobVJK pic.twitter.com/Ds7w1hlsLw  New York Post (@nypost) January 19, 2024

So far, Anthropologie, Costco and Sam's Club haven't commented on the situation.

Some social media users not impressed by viral mirror craze

Not everyone saw value in the viral mirror matter. "Someone please explain to me why someone would pay even $150.00 for a mirror that sits on the floor?" posted the podcast A Black Man in Seattle, An Asian Man in LA on X, the social network formerly known as Twitter.

Someone please explain to me why someone would pay even $150.00 for a mirror that sits on the floor?



"It measures 65 inches tall and 30 inches wide, weighs an estimated 45 pounds and costs around $150, according to Costcos item description."https://t.co/2rxnwrxsDK  A Black Man In Seattle (@black_seattle) January 20, 2024

Another semi-interested shopper on X noted that another Anthropology mirror, the Cecilia floor mirror ($898), actually looked more like the Costco mirror. But in reality, they wondered, "Why is this newsworthy?"

The mirror that actually resembles the costco mirror. They pictured a Luisa, which is more expensive than the Cecilia. Either way, why is this newsworthy? pic.twitter.com/kG9swDTidJ  Grutte Pier (@GruttePier17) January 19, 2024

Follow Mike Snider on X and Threads: @mikesnider & mikegsnider.

What's everyone talking about? Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Costco is selling $150 dupe mirror that shoppers say rivals $1K option
Claim:

Norwegians say Texas as slang to mean wild or crazy.

Rating:

Rating: True

A claim about Norwegian slang has regularly been shared on Texas-oriented social media accounts for nearly a decade: Residents of the Scandinavian nation use the name of the U.S. state as a word for something crazy and lawless. For example, the assertion was shared to the subreddit r/Texas in this September 2023 post:

The claim is true. This bit of linguistic trivia became popular internet fodder following an October 2015 story in Texas Monthly that reported on the phenomenon:

Apparently the word Texas is slang for crazy or wild, as in, the end of the [whatever sport they play in Norway] game was totally Texas! [...] Usually, when the word texas as an adjective, most often without capitalization  appears in Norwegian, the context involves the phrase, det var helt texas, which translates to, roughly, it was totally/absolutely/completely bonkers. You wouldnt call a person totally texas; it usually describes a chaotic atmosphere.

As reported by the BBC in 2015, this usage has a fairly long history in Norway and is linked to the popularity of American Western films and books:

It became part of the language when Norwegians started watching cowboy movies and reading Western literature, according to Daniel Gusfre Ims, the head of the advisory service at the Language Council of Norway. "The genre was extremely popular in Norway, and a lot of it featured Texas, so the word became a symbol of something lawless and without control," he says. [...] Nowadays, the word is widespread all over Norway. It's frequently used in the phrase "helt texas" [completely crazy], which has appeared in Norwegian newspapers 50 times this year, he says.

Snopes confirmed current Norwegian use of this phrase by performing a search of Norwegian-language media outlets for "helt texas." The search demonstrated its wide use in Norway.

For example, a November 2023 headline in the Norwegian outlet Stavanger Aftenblad (shown translated with Google below) used the phrase to describe the large volume of cars sold abroad by a used-car dealer:

The phrase was also used in a January 2023 report from the Norwegian outlet VG (also translated with Google) to describe rising food prices:

Because the use of "Texas" as slang in Norway for wild, crazy or out of control is a historically documented phenomenon, and because it is in use today, we rate the claim "True."

Sources:

Forskrekket over deler av matbransjen:  Helt Texas. 30 Jan. 2023, https://www.vg.no/i/ab4pPL.

Han har aldri solgt flere biler til utlandet:  Helt texas, sier bransjesjef. 27 Nov. 2023, https://www.aftenbladet.no/i/GM72am.

Solomon, Dan. Yall, Norwegians Use the Word Texas as Slang to Mean Crazy. Texas Monthly, 20 Oct. 2015, https://www.texasmonthly.com/the-daily-post/yall-norwegians-use-the-word-texas-as-slang-to-mean-crazy/.

Why Do Norwegians Use texas to Mean Crazy? BBC News, 23 Oct. 2015. www.bbc.com, https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-34622478.
Mashed potatoes are best served at dinnertime -- but mashed plantains are just as great in the morning. For a well-rounded and delicious breakfast that captures the flavors of the Dominican Republic, try pairing your eggs with mashed plantains. The latter -- known as mangu -- add a new dimension, texture, and flavor to your otherwise standard start to the day.

Indeed, the starchy fruit may resemble a banana in appearance, but its taste is entirely unique. Take just one bite, and you certainly won't confuse the flavors of the two fruits. This is because mashed plantains are simple yet hearty; they make for a light, versatile, and flavorful side to eggs. Plus, when mashed, the texture is smooth and creamy a la mashed potatoes. They anchor the popular Dominican Republic breakfast known as los tres golpes (the three hits), which otherwise consists of fried cheese, salami, and eggs, often with pickled onion slices served alongside.

Of course, mashed plantains aren't limited to just breakfast; you can also enjoy them with all kinds of foods -- and at any time of the day. Yet regardless of when -- or how -- you savor them, there are a few tricks to making and mashing plantains. With a little effort, you'll perfect the recipe in time for breakfast.

Read more: Hacks That Will Make Boiling Your Eggs So Much Easier

Boiled Or Fried, Mashed Plantains Pair Well With Eggs

Green plantains - engagestock/Shutterstock

Mashing plantains for the first time? Take a cue from Tasting Table's shrimp mofongo recipe, which outlines the steps for mashing the fruit. While that recipe uses the plantains in an entirely different context than breakfast -- hello, delicious shrimp dinner -- the same tactic applies.

Ideally, you want firm greener fruit, not strongly yellow, which will be too sweet for this recipe. Start by peeling and chopping your plantains -- just as you would bananas. Then, Tasting Table suggests soaking the pieces in water for about 15 minutes. Once they've had time to soften, dry them and fry in oil until golden. Afterward, mash them with something sturdy enough to alter the texture.

However, if you'd rather forgo the frying altogether, you can, instead, boil your plantains. After peeling, add them to a pot of salted, boiling water until they turn soft enough to mash with a bit of butter. Just under half an hour should do the job.

Of course, if you want a completely authentic taste of mangu with los tres golpes, head to the Caribbean to experience the Dominican breakfast tradition at its best. All-inclusive resort Club Med Punta Cana serves traditional mashed plantains alongside scrambled eggs, fried cheese, and local salami. What better way to start the day?

Read the original article on Tasting Table.
An exciting new project is exploring how seaweed could feed humans, rehabilitate ecosystems, and bring our Earths temperatures back in check.

Brian von Herzen, founder and executive director of the Climate Foundation, has developed a futuristic-looking platform covered in seaweed that floats off the coast of the Philippines.

This 40-meter pizza, as von Herzen calls it, allows the seaweed to soak up nutrients from deeper, cooler waters while submerged and then be lifted to receive sunlight, as reported by the Guardian. The seaweed grows up to three times faster than seaweed that stays on the surface.

We could change humanitys relationship with the ocean, from extraction to regeneration, von Herzen told the news outlet.

Von Herzens goal is to scale up these platforms to reforest oceans with fast-growing seaweed. This could benefit coastal communities by supporting seaweed farmers whose crops struggle in warming waters.

As oceans heat up because of rising global temperatures, many farmers have seen their seaweed yield fall by about 20% or be overcome by the discoloring ice-ice disease. Von Herzens platforms offer a solution by giving seaweed access to the cool temperatures and nutrients it needs to thrive.

Seaweeds rapid growth also makes it excellent at absorbing carbon dioxide from the air, just like trees on land. This means expanding seaweed forests could help fight the overheating of our planet.

While some of the Climate Foundations more controversial techniques  like pumping up cold, deep water  have risks, as the Guardian noted, von Herzen said the platforms allow a natural process of seaweed growth. They also provide fertilizer to help local rice and fish farmers get better yields. Von Herzens team in Bohol, Philippines, creates fertilizer from the harvested seaweed.

Many see the opportunity for life-giving win-wins from von Herzens process.

Rice farmer Gliceria Limbaga has swapped her pesticides for seaweed fertilizer, reported the Guardian. This saves her money while maintaining the soils health. The outlet also reported that aquaculture farmer Crestito Garcia mixes the seaweed into fish and shrimp feed, increasing his yields.

Of course, to store carbon long-term, seaweed must sink (or be incorporated into certain products) after harvesting. Von Herzen estimated that 20-40% of the seaweed crop breaks off naturally and sinks, locking away carbon.

We can measure the seaweed that sinks down from the platform, von Herzen told the Guardian. But we need to provide food security and ecosystem regeneration, so that we can regenerate healthy ecosystems on land and in the ocean for future generations.

While a silver-bullet solution remains elusive, von Herzens platform offers hope for what simple, natural climate solutions could achieve.

Everything we work with is recycled, old or repurposed, Sam Donohue, von Herzens Australian head of engineering, told the Guardian. Since I met Brian, I had the opportunity to do something good for the Earth.

Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the coolest innovations improving our lives and saving our planet.
Even though Jack in the Box boasts 2,200 locations, it only spans 22 states. The chain is predominantly concentrated in the Western continental United States. Yet even if you live elsewhere, chances are you've heard the name Jack in the Box before. It is already the fifth-largest quick-service burger chain in the U.S. That's not a small thing.

The San Diego-based fast-casual burger chain recently opened new restaurants in Salt Lake City and Louisville, Kentucky to massive success, raking in same-store figures more than 200% above the national store average, reports Restaurant Business. Last year, the chain sold off nearly half of the Del Taco stores it owned and never looked back. Now, riding on the wave of its first new market openings in over a decade. the (for now) Western chain has its sights set on a much larger expansion.

Jack in the Box signed 90 agreements for the construction of 389 new restaurants, signifying the chain's official expansion into Florida, Arkansas, Montana, Wyoming, and Mexico. By 2027, Jack in the Box aims to increase its unit growth by 2.5% per year. The brand has shared that it is currently anticipating 35 to 55 combined new Jack in the Box and Del Taco stores to open by the end of fiscal year 2024, increasing to between 55 and 85 units in 2025, 70 to 100 in 2026, and 90 to 120 in 2027, per QSR.

Read more: Restaurant Foods That Always Taste Better Than What You Make At Home

A Taste Of The West Goes Nationwide

Jack in the Box exterior - Bob Berg/Getty Images

Jack in the Box is coming in hot out of the gate momentum-wise in 2024 with the success of the Smashed Jack burger, which marked the first time the chain released a new burger in eight years. It took two years to build, and it sold out in two weeks  all without a paid marketing campaign. The burger was intended to be a limited-edition item, but it was expected to last for six weeks. The viral burger is slated to become a permanent menu item and receive a national release in February  all of which bodes well for the larger expansion plan.

Jack in the Box currently boasts over 80 menu items and promises that even more offerings are on their way, including egg rolls, curly fries, all-day breakfast, and milkshakes. It recently experimented with other innovations like the Oreo-based cookie bar that hit menus in December and the revamped restaurant concept that ditched the dining room altogether, which was tested in 2022. During Jack in the Box's fourth-quarter earnings call in late 2023, CEO Darin Harris shared, "We're going to pace ourselves into these markets, but we're very excited about the way we've entered it. We are excited about the playbook that we've used to enter the markets and we're going to continue to look for new opportunities like this," via Nation's Restaurant News.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.
Anyone who dabbles in home cooking and who uses Instagram or TikTok is undoubtedly familiar with the many, many trendy kitchen tools on the market right now. These items have devoted influencer fan bases and look really pretty in photos and videos, but some professional chefs question their effectiveness and their dollar value.

We asked a group of kitchen pros to name the popular cookware pieces that theyd never add to their own shopping lists, and these are the eight that earn the most skepticism from folks who cook for a living.

1. Vegetable and herb choppers

Generic vegetable choppers take up a whole lot of space in your cabinet. Fotosearch via Getty Images

For those with physical limitations, vegetable choppers can be a lifesaver. But if youre able to master some basic knife skills, they might just be a big use of valuable space.

The inescapable zoodle trend from a few years ago led to the rise in spiralizers (devices designed to cut zucchini into thin ribbons) and other forms of specialized chopping devices for fruits, vegetables and herbs saw similar popularity growth. But according to Manuel Hewitt, the owner and executive chef of The Barrel Room in San Francisco, these items arent worth the money or the kitchen drawer real estate.

These kitchen gadgets that only serve one function just get in the way, and [they] are hardly ever used due to their specialization. All the various chopper style gadgets usually replace what could be considered a basic knife skill, and its better to just use a knife rather than clutter up your kitchen with more plastic junk, Hewitt explained.

2. Garlic presses

Erika Bunea / Getty Images/ 500px

On a similar note, garlic presses, which solely exist to squish garlic cloves into small pieces, arent seen as crucial tools by Scott Smith, head chef of The Oarsman in Marlow, United Kingdom. Smith finds that, when he uses a garlic press, the garlic comes up round the edge and makes a mess, and [the press] takes longer to clean than the time you save crushing the garlic.

Rather than purchasing a press, Smith recommends that you instead just roughly chop the garlic and mince it into a paste using the side of the knife. Adding a pinch of coarse salt to the garlic as you crush it with the side of the knife can help create a paste thats less chunky (but still very flavorful).

Not to mention, your garlic press could be the reason you have garlic breath  it produces a smelly enzyme called allicin when it presses down on the clove.

3. Rice cookers

Stefan Tomic / Getty Images

A lot of home cooks will probably take issue with this one, since rice cookers are so popular. After all, the set it and forget it convenience of electric rice cookers is a marketable feature and one that many home cooks value. But if you aspire to cook a perfect batch of rice, Oscar Gonzalez, food and beverage director of the Hard Rock Hotel New York, doesnt see the rice cooker as the right move. [Rice cookers] either overcook the food or dont cook everything evenly. Rice is delicate and needs attention, Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez urges home cooks to ditch the rice cooker and cook rice traditionally  it takes the same amount of time, and you can create a fluffier rice with the ability to add layers of flavor. His preferred piece of rice cookware is a Le Creuset Dutch oven. Its perfect for retaining heat and creating the best rice.

4. Classic stovetop pressure cookers

Stovetop pressure cookers are a whole different beast from Instant Pots. Cris Canton via Getty Images

During the pandemic, ardent fans of the Instant Pot were legion, and social media overflowed with testimonials about how easy it was to make a fast and satisfying meal using the Instant Pots pressure cooker setting. That spurred a renewed interest in all types of pressure cookers, with some amateur gourmands deciding to avoid the trendy Instant Pot in favor of a more analog stovetop version. Jason Goldstein, a chef, cookbook author, can see the appeal: It feels like magic when you see short ribs and tough cuts of meat cook so much faster than the low and slow method you use in a slow cooker.

Yet when it comes to classic pressure cookers, Goldstein warns that they are harder to use than you think. If it is not set to the right temperature, you can ruin your food, and if it is not locked well, you can really hurt yourself. Theres also the matter of space; stovetop pressure cookers are cumbersome items, especially when you consider that they only perform one single function. For that reason, Goldstein recommends that you stick with the trend and buy an Instant Pot instead. It mimics a pressure cooker but is super easy to use and has a foolproof locking system. It also serves as a slow cooker, so its a win win!

5. All-in-one pans

Maryna Terletska / Getty Images

Its hard to think of a more Instagrammable piece of cookware than the beautiful, pastel-hued Always Pan from direct-to-consumer brand Our Place. These coverable skillets claim to braise, sear, steam, strain, saute, fry, boil, bake, serve [and] store, and the social media fervor around the Always Pan inspired other brands to release their own all-in-one pan models. But unfortunately, some chefs expressed concern about the validity of the Always Pans do it all claims.

My main concern is its poor heat distribution, which can be a significant drawback for recipes requiring precise temperature control, said Kevin Ashton, former restaurant chef and current culinary advisor for Restaurantji. He also mentioned that certain versions of the Always Pan arent oven-safe (the upgraded Always Pan 2.0 is oven-safe up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit), which limits its versatility in a kitchen setting. For me, cookware needs to be both versatile and reliable under various cooking conditions.

When Ashton needs a skillet that can perform regardless of the dish and the cooking method, he reaches for a good old cast-iron skillet. Its versatile, durable, and great for a variety of cooking styles. Plus, it adds a fantastic flavor to almost any dish.

6. Mini blenders

Ib_photo / Getty Images

A blender thats just the right size for a single beverage appeals to plenty of small-space dwellers (including our food editor), and Akhtar Nawab, executive chef of Alta Calidad in Brooklyn, New York and co-CEO of Hospitality HQ, concedes that mini blenders from prestige brands like Ninja are great for making smoothies and are cost-effective. But he avoids keeping one in his own kitchen because he finds them limiting and would rather invest in a powerful blender that can whip ingredients together on a bigger scale.

I prefer a commercial restaurant blender like the Vitamix, which provides a range of high-low speeds and a much smoother puree. Nawab does acknowledge that top-of-the-line blenders in a full size are significantly more expensive than their single-serve counterparts, but if theyre well cared for, he insists that they can last for many years.

7. Panini presses

A panini press, according to chef Glenn Rolnick, is a luxury but not a necessity. mikroman6 via Getty Images

Our consulted chefs generally frowned upon any item thats only designed to complete one culinary task, as they can contribute to clutter and can often be replaced by items that you already have in your kitchen. Case in point? The panini press, which Glenn Rolnick, chef of Carmines and Virgils Real BBQ in New York City, calls not a necessary piece of equipment.

In lieu of a specialized press for paninis, Rolnick suggests using a non-stick griddle pan. When paired with a small weighted grill press (which can be purchased more inexpensively than a full-scale panini press), these pans are great for all types of sandwiches, including melts and burgers, along with French toast and even griddled vegetables like carrots, asparagus, green beans, and zucchini.

8. Cooking torches

John Joh / Getty Images

A torch in the kitchen might feel a bit high-and-mighty to many home cooks, but in addition to being essential to a perfect creme brulee, torches can be a quick, easy and undeniably fun way to add a touch of browning and caramelization to just about anything. Amazon and other big retailers carry countless kitchen cooking torches, which are miniature models with flames fueled by butane cans. Unfortunately, as Casey Doody, pastry chef of Boka Restaurant Group in Chicago, puts it, these small torches are great for use a few times, but what home cooks may not understand is that the torches dont come with [extra] butane, and theyll have to buy the butane cans [separately] to refill them. These costs can add up, and the fire that results from them is not very strong. [Plus,] the torches break easily.

Instead of opting for a kitchen torch, Doody advises amateur pastry chefs to head to the hardware store and grab a legit blowtorch. You can pick up the Bernzomatic MAP-Pro 14.1 high heat torch kit for $59.99 at your local Ace Hardware and it will last until the [much larger] butane tank needs to be swapped out, she told us. In addition to creme brulee and meringue, Doody uses her blowtorch to heat up my knife when slicing brownies, cakes, cheesecake  its my secret to getting sharp clean-cut edges!

This post originally appeared on HuffPost.
The art market is no stranger to blockbuster sales, but an upcoming one this year is quite a marvel.

A Gustav Klimt painting last seen in the mid-1920s is expected to hammer down for up to 50 million euros ($54.4 million) when it goes to auction in April, The Washington Post reported on Friday. Portrait of Fraulein Lieser was exhibited around 1925 before it disappeared. It resurfaced in 2022, when the anonymous owner approached the auction house im Kinsky, which is now holding the sale.

More from Robb Report

The rediscovery of this portrait, one of the most beautiful of Klimts last creative period, is a sensation, im Kinsky said in a statement. A painting of such rarity, artistic significance, and value has not been available on the art market in Central Europe for decades.

The 31-by-55-inch portrait depicts an unknown member of the Lieser family, who were part of Viennas upper class. The subject visited Klimts studio nine times in 1917, according to the auction house, and parts of the painting were still unfinished when the artist died in early 1918. The work, though, was given to the Lieser familyand its journey since then is a bit unknown.

Ernst Ploil, a managing director at im Kinsky, told the Post in an email that the painting had been passed down in the current owners family since the 1960s. The auction house did its due diligence and could not find any evidence that the portrait had been looted, confiscated, or taken out of Austria during the Nazi era. Still, its not sure whether the Klimt was ever stolen, so it reached an agreement with the current owner and the Lieser family to bring the painting to auction.

Prior to the April 24 sale, Portrait of Fraulein Lieser will travel around the world, including to Germany, Switzerland, Britain, and Hong Kong. While its set to bring in some $50 million, thats still far less than other Klimt paintings: In 2006, his Adele Bloch-Bauer I hammered down for $135 million. And last year, Lady With a Fan achieved $108 million.

Fraulein Lieser may not be anticipated to reach into the hundreds of millions, but she has a pretty great story to back up a multimillion-dollar price tag. Worth the 100-year wait, indeed.

Best of Robb Report

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

Click here to read the full article.
STAC Volunteer and STAC Executive Director Robin Thompson. STAC serves as a referral agency for the National Human Trafficking Hotline and is a direct service provider to their clients.

Recently, I learned about a new not-for-profit organization in our community.

It was born of the concern and passion of a 2018 FSU Law School graduate who, while a student, worked with the Public Interest Law Center and volunteered with the FSU Center for the Advancement of Human Rights. Ashley Hamill, Esq., who has been a tireless advocate for improving the lives of immigrants and refugees in their communities, has opened the Family Immigration and Rights Center.

The center works with low-income, non-citizen children and families across North Florida, South Georgia, and South Alabama to overcome barriers to economic and social justice.

New nonprofit advocates for immigrants

Through internships, externships, law clerk positions, and volunteer work, FIRC aims to provide students and pro bono attorneys with education on substantive immigration and family law, training in fundamental advocacy skills based on best practices in client-centered, trauma-informed lawyering, and practical experience managing a law practice.

The website, firclaw.org has helpful links including resources for individuals and materials for pro-bono attorneys.

I am deeply moved by the courage and hope of a young, bright, brave woman to tackle such a controversial, monumental, and needed mission to assist the stranger in our land. A cherished principle of most religions and spiritual practices, seeing others as persons with the same fundamental needs and aspirations as our own, is central to becoming the best humans we can be.

Respecting the humanity and worth of others elevates our own humanity and worth. Bahai, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Sikhism, Unitarian Universalism, and Humanitarianism, among others, encourage us to love our neighbors as ourselves. How meaningful to see this sort of positive human regard for others, all others, in action through the work that Ashley Hamill has invited us all to support.

I am reminded of another FSU Law School graduate whose passion for others has resulted in a lifetime mission of advocating for those whose human worth has been so disregarded they are seen as objects to be used for personal gain. She graduated from the FSU College of Law in Tallahassee in 1984, the same year she earned a Master's degree in International Studies and, to our betterment, has spent her career in Tallahassee, while serving the world at large.

Longtime advocacy leader

Robin Hassler Thompson, left, and Candace McKibben at the Holocaust Education Resource Council Remembrance Dinner, 2023.

Robin Hassler Thompson was the first in her family to pursue higher education and was a law-school classmate and friend of my husband, Bruce. She recalls Bruce giving her a ride home after classes when it was raining, and she could feel the force of the road water through the sliver-thin floorboard of his dilapidated car.

In a remarkable interview with the founder of Fiori Communications, Robin shares her life story. How I Got Here, with Dave Fiori. Found at fiorecommunications.com, Fiori focuses on Tallahassee-area leaders, business owners, and neighbors.

From her high school days, Robin knew she was interested in politics and in making a meaningful difference in the world. She has been inspired most in life by her mother, and at her mothers suggestion was able, while still in high school, to be a volunteer chairperson in Jimmy Carters election campaign, even attending his inauguration. It was for her a pivotal event along with several others in her life, including listening to powerful mentors and being opened to life-changing opportunities.

After volunteering for Lawton Chiles Gubernatorial Campaign in the early '90s, Robin was hired by his administration as one of four policy advisors. Her area of expertise was criminal justice and womens rights. Later, she helped to lead the first Task Force on Domestic Violence in Florida, work that is still impactful to this day. After her service in the Governors office, Robin opened her own consulting practice in 1999 to continue her human rights and justice work.

In 2001, she was invited by the US State Department on a mission to Bangladesh to study domestic violence fatalities. While there she visited a shelter where domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking victims were cared for. She found her heart touched deeply, and particularly by the 6-to 7-year-old boys she met who had been kidnapped into Saudi Arabia to serve as camel jockeys.

Their light body weight and shrill cries while on the camels made the animals run faster. She was horrified. While she was not certain of what to do, she knew that she had to do something, and committed at that time to do all she could to end human trafficking.

An intern with the FSU Center for the Advancement of Human Rights (far right) introduces art therapy in Thailand to victims of child sex trafficking.

Survive and thrive

Once back in the states, and within a few weeks, Robin received a call from Terry Coonan at the Florida State University Center for Advancement of Human Rights. He wondered if she was interested in working with the Center to target human trafficking here in Florida. Her enthusiasm could be felt through the phone.

After years of continued focus on the topic, making community presentations, writing significant publications, and serving on important focus groups and councils, like the National Advisory Council On Violence Against Women, Robin opened in 2015 the Survive and Thrive Advocacy Center (STAC) to end human trafficking, a goal she first set in 2001 while in Dhaka.

The name itself tells a story of resilience and hope, which is exactly what Robin has shown in remaining true to her desire to make a positive difference in the world. STAC is doing amazing work partnering with many organizations in the community and the nation. It has two focal points, direct aid and support to victims of sex or labor trafficking, and creating awareness of the issue in the community.

Like the website for FIRC that Ashely Hamill has recently launched, STAC has a website with excellent information, resources, training, and ways you can help. See, surviveandthriveadvocacy.org.

Month to raise awareness of human trafficking

During January, communities around the nation are encouraged to raise awareness of the ongoing threat of human trafficking. First named a national awareness day on Jan. 11, 2000, to coincide with the passage of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, a significant piece of legislation in the US aimed at preventing and combating human trafficking, it extends beyond a day to the entire month.

The Survive and Thrive Advocacy Center will hold its Imagine Freedom Fundraiser on Jan. 30, 2024.

STAC has planned several events for January, including their annual Imagine Freedom Fundraiser from 5:30-7 p.m. Jan. 30, at 621 Gallery. For tickets or to help sponsor the event, please go to the website, surviveandthriveadvocacy.org or email stac@surviveandthriveadvocacy.org or call 850-597-2080.

I find these local women inspirational, and hope we all will find ways to support them in the important work they are doing for the good of our community and the world.

Robin said recently what I believe Ashley would affirm, I hope to never stop doing work I find meaningful. I pray we might have the same spirit of loving our neighbors as do these powerful women as we encourage them in their work.

The Rev. Candace McKibben

The Rev. Candace McKibben is an ordained minister and pastor of Tallahassee Fellowship.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Lives that inspire: Advocating for immigrants, fighting trafficking


"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."



Researchers in Texas crafted a device meant to help isolate the brain for scientific study.

By keeping the brain alive and functioning separate from the body for hours, experts believe that they can improve heart-lung bypass technology.

This sci-fi-like concept was first modeled in pigs, but humans could be next.

When a pig recently went under anesthesia at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, it was for anything but a routine procedure. Researchers were able to isolate blood flow to the brain, separate that brain from the rest of the body, and use a new device to keep the brain alive and functioning.

The pig brains were all on their own for five hours. And they did just fine, thanks to the new extracorporeal pulsatile circulatory control (EPCC) device.

This novel method enables research that focuses on the brain independent of the body, allowing us to answer physiological questions in a way that has never been done, Juan Pascual, professor at UT Southwestern, said in a statement.

The UTSW teamwho published their findings in the journal Scientific Reportssaid that this new way to study the brain not only allows research without influence from other bodily functions, but could also help researchers design improved machines for human cardiopulmonary bypass that better replicate natural blood flow to the brain.

Making sure this newfangled way of isolating the brain would work, though, wasnt simple. To test it all out, the researchers first had to redirect the pig brains blood supply. The team physically detachedthe official word is redirectedthe key arteries running from the body to the brain, and connected the brain to the EPCC to ensure blood flow remained fluid.

Our primary objective was to preserve brain function under EPCC to achieve circulatory isolation from the majority of the rest of the body in fully controllable fashion, the authors wrote in the study.

What sets the new EPCC device apart from cardiopulmonary bypass devices already in use is its ability to use a pulsative flow akin to a human heart to keep blood flowing to the brain. The team says that this may help prevent brain-related side effects sometimes caused by the traditional bypass machines. The pump features algorithms that allow the team to maintain and adjust variables, including blood pressure, volume, temperature, oxygenation, and nutrients. They reportthanks to electrocorticography and brain-depth electrodes evaluating the brain activitythat there were minimal to no changes in brain activity over the five-hour procedure.

Once the organ was isolated, the team then researched sugars effect on the brain without any concerns about influence from the rest of the bodys organs muddying the findings. This is the first time, according to Pascual, that researchers have ever been able to fully study the brains function without worrying about the impact of the rest of the body.

Our approach, the authors wrote, enables the study of neural activity and its circulatory manipulation in independence of most of the rest of the organism.

Are humans next on the to-study list?

You Might Also Like
It's safe to say that folks in the city of Philadelphia probably make the best cheesesteak in America. However, if you're looking for a saucy spin on the classic recipe, then you should consider visiting Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. The cheesesteaks there feature a lot of the staples you would expect such as well-cooked steak, peppers, cheese, and fried onions, but they also keep things extra saucy. Restaurants in the region lather the sandwiches in a tomato-based sauce.

Kelly Huth, the features editor of the Express-Times, explained to Serious Eats, "Whenever we would ask why the sauce was on it, we were told, 'That's just how you make a Lehigh Valley cheesesteak." Though each restaurant has its spin on the recipe, the cheesesteak sauce is generally made from tomatoes -- some use tomato puree, crushed tomatoes, or other ingredients to make the sauce. Some variants taste sweet like at Matey's, some taste tangy like at the Brass Rail. Mike Matey who runs a restaurant called Matey's explained to the outlet, "It's thinner than ketchup, but it's more of a jus, just a little thicker. And we have a secret ingredient, and it's something so off-the-wall, you'd never guess."

Meanwhile, the family-based Tallarico Foods intentionally created a sauce that would complement steak but was different from current offerings like ketchup or pizza sauce. Despite the variations, the region is united in its fondness for sauce on cheesesteaks, something that makes the region's sandwiches different from Philly.

Read more: The 101 Best Pizzas In America

History Behind The Sauce

steak sub with stringy cheese - Gmvozd/Getty Images

The now-defunct Brass Rail, once located in Allentown, is believed to be the first restaurant to sell cheesesteaks in the area. Former owner Mark Sorrentino told Lehigh Valley Live that his grandfather Phillip introduced the sandwich at a local fair in 1937. The cheesesteak that Phillip sold featured sauce. Sorrentino explained, "I'm not exactly certain, but I would imagine it came with sauce because that was his signature way of making it. That's the history I've always been told."

It became extremely popular, selling an average of 9,600 sandwiches a day. As for the tomato sauce, Sorrentino believes that his father picked up the idea while in New York. He ended up combining the tomato-based sauce with cheesesteaks, and thus a local legend was born. Unfortunately for fans of the sandwich, the COVID-19 pandemic put too much economic strain on the restaurant causing it to close its doors for good. However, other restaurants in the Lehigh Valley have carried on the saucy tradition.

Many of these restaurants have a storied history of their own. Take the aforementioned Tallarico Foods, which began selling products in the 1920s. Over time, the family looked to capitalize on the growing fondness for cheesesteaks in the region, creating a sauce that they sell independently in stores today.

Pizza Steak Vs Cheesesteak

pizza steak on plate - Baileystable/Getty Images

Depending on who you ask, putting sauce on a cheesesteak is either acceptable or a faux pas. As restauranteur, Tony Luke Jr. told Philly Voice, "Where I have a problem is when people use sauce on their steaks to get more flavoring. If you need sauce to make your cheesesteak better, you should go somewhere else to get a cheesesteak." Likewise, chef Bobby Flay prefers to let the sandwich's cheese do a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to flavor.

However, sauce variants of the cheesesteak do exist outside of Lehigh Valley in a slightly different form. Just don't call them cheesesteaks. Instead, Philly natives refer to them as pizza steaks. Unlike the sauce-filled cheesesteaks in Lehigh Valley, pizza steaks are generally made with a thick marinara sauce. They also switch from provolone or white American cheese to mozzarella. As one Redditor observed, "You can get sauce in Philadelphia but usually you are ordering a pizza steak, and the cheese often is switched to mozz."

So you'll probably have to travel to Lehigh Valley if you want to try a cheesesteak done in their particular style. The Philly cheesesteak typically doesn't come with sauces unless it's Cheez Whiz.

Read the original article on Daily Meal.


"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."



Sofia Vergara is taking on her first role since the final season of Modern Family six years ago, and it is like nothing she's ever done before.

Vergara co-produced and stars in Netflix's Griselda, a new biopic from the creators of Narcos. Set in Miami in the '70s and '80s, Vergara portrays one of the most notorious cocaine queenpins of all time: Griselda Blanco. Griselda's Columbian roots, ruthless nature, and knowledge of the drug trade earned her respect and billions of dollars before her arrest.

"Most of the people know of Griselda as the ruthless, violent drug lord that she was, Vergara said in the press notes. So we were very careful not to glorify her in the series. But we also wanted to take time to uncover the deeper story of Griselda, how beyond all odds, a poor, uneducated woman from Colombia managed to create a massive, multi-billion dollar empire in a male-dominated industry, in a country that was not her own, through tactics that she devised that were both ingenious and cruel."

Netflix

Who was the real Griselda Blanco?

Griselda Blanco was born Griselda Blanco Restrepo in Cartagena, Columbia on Valentine's Day of 1943. When she was just three years old, Blanco moved with her mother to Medellin, Columbia, where she was first exposed to the criminal lifestyle and the cartel. Blanco's mother was a prostitute, and it is thought that Blanco was abused by some of her mother's clients as a child.

As an adult, Blanco immigrated from Columbia to New York City with her husband and three young sons. This is where she first began her drug smuggling empire before being indicted in 1975. Before her arrest, Blanco fled back to Columbia, later returning to the United States in the late '70s when she moved to Miami.

Griselda is thought to be one of the first to participate in large-scale smuggling of cocaine from Colombia to the United States, according to the BBC. She even created some of the smuggling routes later used by members of the Medellin cartel including her rival Pablo Escobar. In Miami, she became well-known by several nicknames including La Jefa (the boss), Godmother, and Black Widow. At the height of her career, Griselda's net worth was estimated to be over $2 billion.

In 1985 Griselda was arrested and charged by the DEA and sentenced to 15 years in prison. While in prison she was also charged with 3 counts of first degree murder which, due to an issue with the key witness, was reduced to a plea deal where she pled guilty to 3 counts of second degree murder, resulting in an additional 20 year sentence. In 2004 after suffering a heart attack in prison, Griselda was released due to health problems and deported back to Columbia.

Eight years after being released from prison, Griselda was assassinated in 2012 at the age of 69. She was shot twice by an assailant on a motorcycle as she was leaving the butcher in Medellin. This assassination style was commonly used by Griselda's hitmen, as it enabled them to escape the scene of the crime quickly.

How to Watch 'Griselda'

Griselda is available to watch on Netflix now. The biopic is a limited series with a runtime of six hours. Vergara describes the series as the origin story of "the making of a monster."

You Might Also Like
Think twice about a tropical getaway to the Caribbean this winter.

The U.S. embassy in the Bahamas has released a security warning and travel advisory that the island nation is currently unsafe for tourists amidst 18 murders  primarily motivated by gang violence  in January alone.

Safety concerns have reached a point of severity where U.S. officials say people shouldnt even try to physically resist being robbed.

Murders have occurred at all hours including in broad daylight on the streets, the embassy wrote in a release, also recommending the use of extreme caution on the eastern side of the Bahamas capital city of Nassau.

The embassy also says that Americans should be especially vigilant at nighttime and keep a low profile always.

The U.S. State Department, which on Friday put the Bahamas on an exercise increased caution warning, noted that the danger persists in tourist and non-tourist areas.

U.S. officials warn that gang violence surges in the Bahamas pose a risk to tourists. yujie  stock.adobe.com

Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis addressed the frightening violence last week, saying that there will be roadblocks and covert police action initiated to contain the crisis, according to the Nassau Guardian.

This may make you late for your appointments, or delay plans you have, but this is a small price to pay for the collective benefit of having our streets made safer, and our lives less blighted by murder and other violent crimes, he said.

There is also concern over unregulated recreational watercraft activities, which according to the state department may not be properly regulated or maintained for safety, and improper judgment has been used in the past by boaters.

Commercial watercraft operators have discretion to operate their vessels regardless of weather forecasts; injuries and fatalities have occurred.

U.S. officials advise Americans to reconsider travel to the Bahamas currently. cicols  stock.adobe.com

Earlier this week, the State Department also put nearby Jamaica on a level three of four reconsider travel advisory  the only higher threat being a do not travel warning.

Violent crimes, such as home invasions, armed robberies, sexual assaults, and homicides, are common, the department warns.

Sexual assaults occur frequently, including at all-inclusive resorts.
Detailed information is coming to light in a murder case that shocked the Front Range just before the holidays and remains a curiosity. Little information has been released in the ongoing investigation, which has an international twist.

Kimberlee Singler, 35, is awaiting extradition from the United Kingdom, arrested and accused of killing two of her children and injuring a third.

She and her ex-husband were experiencing a contentious divorce and custody battle after their April 2018 split. Singler had missed a date to drop off the children at a police department for their father's scheduled visitation on Dec. 16 and was facing several motions to comply with the order.

In divorce documents obtained by The Gazette, the Colorado Springs mother described her injuries in a motion filed two days after the attack.

In the Dec. 20 court document, Singler explained why she could not make a scheduled in-person court hearing in Larimer County.

In the motion, she said that she needed time to grieve and therefore was unable to make it to the hearing.

Two days earlier, on the day of the alleged attack, a clerk with the Larimer County Court left Singler a voicemail telling her that she and her children were ordered to appear in court Dec. 20 if she was unable to exchange the children with her ex-husband, Kevin Wentz, before then.

In the document she wrote asking for a continuance, Singler claimed to have also been injured in the alleged fatal break-in. I am unable to attend in person/ virtually/ or otherwise, because I have lacerations on my neck and wrists, she wrote.

Singler told the courts that she was writing from a library computer because her home was locked down and she had no access to a phone or laptop.

In the official request for a continuation, she informed the courts that she needed to delay the hearing because she was weak and grieving the loss of her two children.

Featured Local Savings

Someone broke into my residence at 11 a.m. and attacked the children and myself, she explained. Singler said that she was weak and would be unable to attend a hearing for at least another 10 days.

It is the first inkling of her possible defense in the troubling case since the murders occurred.

In the document, she explained that a burglar entered her home before noon on Dec. 18, killed two of her children and left her and a third child to die. "But we survived," she said. Singler explained that she was not able to call 911 until the morning of Dec. 19, just after midnight.

Three days later, police said, was the last time Singler was seen in the United States. On Dec. 26, investigators issued a warrant for her arrest and on Dec. 30, she was taken into custody in London.

Another court document contends that Singler actually told police that her ex-husband was a suspect in the break-in and murders of their own children.

In a Jan. 2, 2024, court request made by Wentz, the childrens' father indicated that Singler tagged him as the intruder in their home that morning, but, according to the document, investigators determined that Wentz was not involved in the childrens murder.

The document was a request by Wentz to release a Child and Family Investigative report.

Details that would normally be found in a police affidavit, such as how police determined it was not a burglary, are not available because the document was immediately sealed when it was signed, Colorado Springs police spokesman Ira Cronin said.

Singler is in custody in the United Kingdom and is scheduled for a court date Monday. The 4th Judicial District is requesting that she be extradited to Colorado on 10 charges including two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder in relation to the couple's three children.

Legal experts said not to expect for Singler to be extradited for months because the process is a long one. "This is just red tape," said University of Denver associate law professor Ian Farrell. "I imagine there are Is to be dotted and Ts to be crossed. They have to make sure everything is in order before they hand someone over."
The Biden administration told Congress it intends to sell F-16 fighter jets to Turkey after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed off on Swedens accession to NATO on Thursday  a development that caps off more than a year of quiet, complicated negotiations.

The State Department sent the formal notification about the proposed $23 billion sale to Congress on Friday after Turkeys instruments of ratification were formally deposited at the department. The State Department also sent Congress a formal notification of its intent to sell $8.6 billion worth of F-35s to Greece. Congress is expected to approve both sales.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken was extensively engaged for months with Turkish officials and US lawmakers to reach the deal to stop Erdogans obstruction of Swedens NATO bid that would see Turkey receive the fighter jets  one of its top requests of the US.

When Sweden, along with Finland, first applied to join the defensive alliance in May 2022, Turkey sought to pull the US directly into the negotiations  a move the US rebuffed, according to a US official. However, the administration was cognizant the US had a key point of leverage  the F-16s  if that became necessary.

Once Turkey approved Finlands accession in March 2023, Blinken worked intensely behind the scenes to try to get Swedens approval done by last summers NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.

During a trip to Turkey in February 2023, Blinken met with Erdogan, who stressed the need for the US to give Turkey the F-16s before he would approve Swedens membership into the alliance. Blinken, in turn, told the Turkish president multiple times that members of Congress would not approve the sale of jets until Turkey allowed Sweden to join NATO.

It was at this point, the US official said, that the administration decided to leverage the jets more directly. The process moved forward more quickly with the appointment of Hakan Fidan as Turkeys foreign minister. Fidan was seen as having a closer relationship to Erdogan than his predecessor. Blinken and Fidan met on the margins of a conference in London in late June 2023 to hash out details of a potential deal.

Following that meeting, Blinken discussed the matter with then-Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Robert Menendez  who had long opposed the sale of the jets to Turkey  and other members of Congress. The New Jersey senator and others made clear that they wanted to ensure Greeces support. Blinken engaged extensively with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to discuss what Greece would need to feel comfortable with neighboring Turkey receiving the jets. Turkey and Greece have an incredibly tense relationship.

After those initial months of negotiations, the first hurdle was cleared at Vilnius, when Erdogan publicly committed to move forward on Swedens accession.

The intensive effort shifted to ensuring that the Turkish parliament would vote in favor of accession. As the US worked to solidify the deal, Blinken and Fidan spoke weekly over the autumn and winter, the US official said. The top US diplomat spoke with Greek Prime Minister half a dozen times. He spoke extensively with Menendez and his successor, Sen. Ben Cardin, and the leadership of the House Foreign Affairs Committee to try to assuage their concerns about the F-16 sale.

The Turkish Parliament finally voted in favor of Swedens NATO accession Tuesday, and Erdogan signed off on the instruments of ratification Thursday.

The documents were then sent from Turkey to the US to be physically deposited in a vault at the State Department, which serves as the treaty depositary for NATO, on Friday.

This was the final step needed before the agency sent the formal notifications about the F-16 sales to Congress. The US official said this was to assure Congress there was no way for Turkey to back out of the deal.

Hungary still must approve Swedens NATO bid for the nation to finally become a member.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
EYEWITNESS NEWS (WBRE/WYOU)  A man originally from Bronx, NY was sentenced on Thursday for his role in a grandparents mail scheme based in the Dominican Republic.

The United States Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced Friday that Yeurys Peguero-Rosario, age 25, of Bronx, NY, was sentenced on Thursday, January 25, 2024, to 1 year and 9 months in prison, to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release, for his role as a courier in a Dominican Republic-based grandparents fraud scheme that targeted elderly victims from states across the country.

According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, from around June 2020 to October 2020, Peguero-Rosario along with a group of men from Bronx, NY, regularly traveled from New York City to locations in Pennsylvania to retrieve UPS and Fed Ex packages containing thousands of dollars in cash.

Caught on Camera: Motocross enthusiast allegedly burglarizes Rosarios Pizzeria in Clarks Summit

Karams says these packages were sent by elderly victims, who were tricked into sending the money based on false claims that their grandchildren had been arrested and required money.

U.S. officials say these false claims were made to elderly victims during phone calls that they received from co-conspirators in the Dominican Republic, who posed as the victims grandchildren or as attorneys representing the victims grandchildren.

Peguero-Rosario was also ordered to pay $220,000 in restitution to the victims of the scheme.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com.
In Senegal, rising sea temperatures and years of overfishing have depleted the country's stocks of fish which are crucial to the economy and the population's diet. A third of the country lives in poverty, and even with an education, its difficult for many to find sustainable jobs.

Thats why Djiby, a Senegalese man, told ABC News that he saw no other choice but to embark on a small wooden boat called a pirogue, hoping to reach Spains Canary Islands via the Atlantic.

Im going to Spain to support my family," he told ABC News before he set out for his journey.

PHOTO: Djiby said he has been looking to leave Senegal. (ABC News)

The Canary Islands are roughly a thousand miles away from the shorelines of Senegal. Its also one of the most used routes by migrants hoping to reach Europe, according to international migration experts. But the journey across the water is dangerous, and at worse, deadly.

MORE: Inside the deteriorating conditions forcing South American migrants to flee north from country to country

More than 3,500 people died last year alone trying to reach Europe according to UNCHR. Other NGOs estimate the death toll is much higher.

And still, people are willing to risk paying the ultimate price for a chance at a better life.

Mbene Kane is a single mom and has been considering taking that trip to the Canary Islands with her 6-year-old daughter. Kane used to work selling fish and said that rising prices and lower supply have left her unable to provide the life she wants for her daughter.

Having all those needs and assuming that there is somewhere you can go and satisfy those needs, you dont care about the risks - you go, Kane told ABC News.

PHOTO: Mbene Kane said she has been seeking to flee Senegal for a better life. (ABC News)

Kane attempted to make the journey once before, but her boat was struck by dangerous waters that forced her to return to shore.

"The water was getting into the boat. As the water came in, we tried to scoop it out, but more waves were coming in," she recalled.

Kane said she does have concerns about her and her daughter's safety if she decides to attempt the trip once more.

And for good reason.

PHOTO: Senegalese groups head on a boat to head to the Canary Islands. (ABC News)

One of the deadliest incidents last year took place in August off the coast of Cabo Verde when a boat of 100 Senegalese migrants sank.

Assane was one of the passengers on the boat and he described the harsh conditions he faced.

MORE: 63 presumed dead after boat carrying migrants sinks near Cabo Verde off the coast of Senegal

"The boat didnt move for two days. Two bars of cookies were given to everybody daily. When we were out of food, a lot more people were dying," he told ABC News. "All I was thinking about was death. It was just a question of days, but I was convinced I would die."

Assane still has scars on his face and neck from the ropes that were used to save the boat he was on for 35 days. He vowed never to make the journey again.

PHOTO: Assane talks to ABC News Live about his experience on a migrant boat. (ABC News)

"We rely on the sea but there is nothing left in this sea," he said.

While the ocean is the deadliest migrant route of all, many Africans hoping to get to Europe have to cross the grueling Sahara Desert first.

Georgette is from Benin in West Africa and decided to make the journey through the desert with her son so she could meet her husband in Libya. Once there, they plan on heading to Italy for a better life.

MORE: 61 migrants drown in 'shipwreck' off Libyan coast, migration organization says

"If you don't have money, you have nothing in life. You cant just make a baby. A baby cant find food. Its not good," she told ABC News.

Georgette waited three weeks in Niger to cross more than 800 miles of desert. She and her son rode in the back of a pickup truck with dozens of other migrants for six days.

The trip cost Georgette $500 but the physical and emotional toll of the trip was much higher.

After days under the relentless sun and with little water left, Georgette found herself weak, exhausted and dehydrated.

The sun bothers me too much. In this route, there is too much of suffering," she said.

More than 5,600 people have died or gone missing in the Sahara since 2014, according to the United Nation's International Organization for Migration. However, the route is so dangerous and the smuggling shrouded in secrecy, that the actual death toll is thought to be much higher.

Georgette and her son were lucky, they made it to Libya. If and when they take a boat to cross the Mediterranean to Italy, theres no doubt another dangerous journey awaits.

ABC News' Sohel Uddin, Aicha El Hammar and Adoum Moussa contributed to this report.

Climate change forces African migrants into dangerous treks by sea, desert originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
A cross-party group of more than 20 MPs and peers has written to the Culture Secretary expressing their deep concern at the prospect of The Telegraph being taken over by a United Arab Emirates-backed fund.

They have urged Lucy Frazer to refer the proposed takeover to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) for a so-called Phase Two review, to ensure that the deal is subject to thorough and independent scrutiny.

The media regulator Ofcom had been due to report back to Ms Frazer this week after she asked it to review the proposed deal over concerns about press freedom. That deadline is expected to be pushed back following an11th-hour restructuring of RedBird IMI, which is 75 per cent funded by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the vice-president of the UAE.

The signatories to the letter come from the Conservatives, Labour, Lib Dems, and SNP and include former cabinet ministers, a former justice secretary, and former chairmen of the Public Accounts Committee.

It is highly unusual for such a broad coalition of politicians to come together in writing to a secretary of state on the issue of a takeover.

Foreign government ownership

Their concern relate to the principle of a foreign government assuming ownership of a newspaper of record. The letter states that this would be a transaction that is unprecedented in its nature, and says that scrutiny has been made significantly more difficult by the corporate restructuring announced by RedBird IMI this week.

The group is particularly concerned about the risk to journalistic independence and editorial freedom posed by the deal.

The letter also calls on the Government to take its investigation a step further by issuing a new Public Interest Intervention Notice on the initial debt purchase which lies at the centre of the planned takeover. The Barclay family, owners of the Telegraph, borrowed 1.2 billion to pay off a debt to Lloyds Banking Group, and propose to hand over ownership of The Telegraph to RedBird IMI as part repayment of the debt.

This week Redbird IMI, which is fronted by the American media executive Jeff Zucker, established an English limited partnership to replace a Delaware holding company in an apparent attempt to address the concerns about the perceived threat to press freedom from the involvement of an autocratic state.

Trying to pull wool over our eyes

It would bring the ownership structure under UK company law, but Ms Frazer said on Wednesday: I do not consider this is conducive to the full and proper functioning of the process.

A signatory to the letter said: It is clear that this UAE-backed enterprise is trying to pull the wool over our eyes and interfere with the Governments legitimate efforts to fairly scrutinise this unprecedented deal.

This is the second time in a matter of months that they have attempted to circumvent due process. The importance of referring this to a Phase Two review by the CMA where it can be properly assessed has only been made clearer by these obfuscating tactics.

Ms Frazer has said she is minded to order a second investigation into the deal.

She is also expected to give Ofcom more time to consider its response.

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.
I was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and have lived there for most of my life.

After spending time in the US and England, I learned Scottish traditions weren't considered typical.

From Burns Supper to bagpipes, here are all the traditions I grew up with.

I've lived in Scotland, UK, for almost my entire life.

A map showing Scotland in the UK. Google Maps

I was born in Scotland, a small country in the United Kingdom with about 5.4 million residents, according to the National Records of Scotland.

While Scotland is part of the UK, there are traditions that I grew up with that aren't celebrated by the rest of the nation  or the world.

I've lived in the country for most of my life, except for a short study-abroad semester in Pennsylvania in 2016, and over the past few years, I have spent time in London for work.

It was only when I made friends who weren't from Scotland  particularly my US friends  that I realized just how unique some of our traditions were.

Every January, we celebrate Burns Night in honor of the famous poet Robert Burns.

Robert Burns. Kean Collection/Getty Images

Burns Night falls on January 25 every year in honor of Robert Burns, or "Rabbie Burns," as he's known in Scotland.

Burns was an 18th-century poet from Dumfries and is considered the country's national poet. He's best known for writing the lyrics to "Auld Lang Syne," a song often performed on New Year's Eve in Scotland and in other countries.

When I was in elementary school, our teachers used Burns Night to teach us about poetry. I remember performing in "The Burns Factor," a competition in which we had to recite our favorite Burns poem by memory.

On Burns Night, we eat a traditional Scottish meal known as "Burns Supper."

Haggis, neeps, and tatties. Colin McPherson/Corbis via Getty Images

On Burns Night, many families across Scotland enjoy a "Burns Supper" for their dinner.

A Burns Supper consists of haggis (spiced meat encased in animal intestines), neeps (turnips), and tatties (potatoes). While it's most popular on Burns Night, my family eats haggis several times a year, and it can usually be found served at restaurants any time of the year.

Some people might also choose to have a Burns Supper on St. Andrew's Day, Scotland's national day, which falls on November 30 every year.

Traditional haggis has been banned in the US since 1971 because the recipe includes sheep lung. But you can get a vegetarian version of it in some stores, according to iNews, as well as versions that omit the banned ingredient.

Men wear kilts at important celebrations, such as school proms, weddings, and graduations.

A photo of Mikhaila's parents, Debbie and David Friel, on their wedding day in 1995. Mikhaila Friel/Insider

Kilts are a tartan skirt-type garment that originated in the Scottish Highlands in the 16th century, according to Lochcarron of Scotland.

It's not something men walk around in every day. Kilts are saved for special events, such as school proms, graduations, and weddings.

When I showed the above photo of my parents on their wedding day to some of my student friends in the US, they were surprised that my dad got married wearing a "skirt." But in Scotland, it's the norm.

At school dances, we don't dance to modern music. Instead, we have traditional Scottish dancing, known as ceilidhs.

People dance on the Royal Mile during the Hogmanay celebrations in Edinburgh. Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty Images

A ceilidh is a gathering that involves dancing to traditional folk music, either in partners or in groups, in choreographed routines, all of which have their own names. For example, one of the most popular routines is called the "Gay Gordons."

When I was growing up, our school threw a ceilidh every year before Christmas. For the full month of December, every gym class was dedicated to learning and practicing the different routines.

When I studied in the US, it had been years since I had been to a ceilidh  yet I still remembered every move of the "Gay Gordons" and (unsuccessfully) attempted to teach it to my roommates.

Bagpipes are played at important events.

Bagpipe player at the Braemar Games in Scotland. Tim Graham/Getty Images

Bagpipes are played at a wide variety of events, including parades, weddings, funerals, and school assemblies. It's also common to see bagpipers busking on the streets of Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Bagpipe music is popular in Scotland, and there are several piper bands, including the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, that have made a name for themselves  despite the instrument's sometimes negative portrayal in pop culture.

New Year's Eve  known as Hogmanay in Scotland  involves several traditions.

Fireworks in Edinburgh on New Year's Eve 2013. Roberto Ricciuti/Redferns via Getty Images

Hogmanay, the Scottish word for New Year's Eve, is believed to be linked to the French word "hoginane," which means "gala day," according to BBC Newsround. The publication added that the term was first used widely after the return of Mary, Queen of Scots, to Scotland from France in 1561.

The Hogmanay tradition I remember most vividly is called "first footing," which means being the first person to enter someone's house (usually a relative or a friend) after midnight for good luck.

Another tradition involves having steak pie on New Year's Day. But that's something I've done on only a handful of occasions.

Read the original article on Business Insider
India not pulling out its defence personnel from Maldives yet, says navy chief

India has not pulled out its defence personnel from Maldives and said it was awaiting a decision from the archipelago in its southern nook, navy chief said on Thursday.

On being asked about the return of Indian defence personnel from Maldives, navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar told broadcaster CNN-News 18: We await instructions, whatever is the decision.

Delhi has not really issued any communication to its naval forces stationed in Maldives so far, he said. Delhi and Male are engaged in a diplomatic tussle after Maldives president Mohamed Muizzu showed diplomatic bent towards Beijing in the region as India and China compete for influence.

At least 88 Indian soldiers are reportedly posted in Maldives, along with 12 medical personnel from the Indian armed forces. The Indian troops have been deployed in the archipelago for maintaining and operating two rescue and reconnaissance helicopters, and a donated Dornier maritime surveillance aircraft.

Maldives had used the Indian military equipment to carry out search and rescue operations and surveillance of its Exclusive Economic Zone. Maldives has used the aircraft for humanitarian assistance and relief operations by ferrying people in medical emergencies from outlying islands.

Mr Muizzus critical election plank, which also catapulted him to victory last year, was to end Maldivess India First policy, followed by asking India to withdraw its troops by 15 March.

A breakdown in relations could affect the Maldives more since many of its citizens travel to India for healthcare and education while most staples and medicines are imported from that country.

In a breakaway move, Mr Muizzu said Maldivians will now be able to also go to hospitals in Thailand and the United Arab Emirates and staples will be imported from Turkey.

Throughout the election campaign, the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), led by Mr Muizzu, asserted that India intended to utilise the military base under construction on Uthuruthilafalhu Island, near Male, as part of a plan to seize control of the country.

Several factors contributed to the fear and apprehension about India in the Maldives. Observers say one was a controversy over helicopters provided by India for humanitarian purposes.

Another was a perceived lack of transparency in dealings with India by the Ibrahim Mohamed Solih-led government and reliance on India for maritime security.

The move could benefit Beijing significantly as it will earn a regional ally near Indias maritime limits in south Asia, providing it direct access to central Asia where it has many allies.
Iowa's private schools saw an enrollment increase last fall of several thousand students under a new state law that allows families to use taxpayer funds to pay for nonpublic education.

The Oct. 1, 2023, statewide student count showed private school enrollment rose just over 7% from the previous year for a 2023-24 school year count of 36,195 students, according to numbers released by the Iowa Department of Education Friday.

Of those students, 16,757 used the state's recently created education savings accounts to pay for their school expenses, the department's news release states. The state had approved almost 19,000 students to access the funds ahead for the current 2023-24 school year.

Royal Legacy Christian Academy in Waterloo and its mission of inclusion and diversity are benefiting from Iowa's education savings accounts program.

Gov. Kim Reynolds signed education savings accounts into law during the 2023 legislative session. The accounts allow Iowa families to apply for about $7,600 per student for private school expenses including tuition and fees.

The accounts use funds that otherwise would have followed the student to the public school district he or she attended.

Related: Nearly 19,000 Iowa students approved for education savings accounts. What that means:

Roughly two in three students using the ESA accounts had previously attended a private school, the news release states. About 21% using the accounts started kindergarten this year and more than 12% previously attended a public school.

Statewide, public school enrollment was down about .57% from last year for a total of 483,699 students, the release stated. Certified enrollment numbers are used to determine public school funding for the next school year.

Related: Gov. Kim Reynolds touts passage of 'school choice' law as conservative group honors Iowa

Previously, Reynolds, a proponent of school choice, has said education savings accounts would raise the bar for everyone.

"It will make education better across the board," she said at the time.

Critics denigrated the plan as a giveaway for families who already could afford to send their kids to private school at the expense of public schools, particularly in rural areas.

Samantha Hernandez covers education for the Register. Reach her at (515) 851-0982 or svhernandez@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @svhernandez or Facebook at facebook.com/svhernandezreporter.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa private school enrollment rises with education savings accounts
Israel has demanded that the leaders of the United Nations aid agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) be sacked amid allegations that some of its members took part in the October 7 attacks.

Britain, the United States and several other countries have suspended their funding to the UNRWA while the allegations are investigated.

Israel Katz, Israels foreign minister, urged more countries to join the boycott of the UNRWA and said its leadership should be dismissed.

I call for more nations to join in, he said. UNRWAs ties with Hamas, providing refuge for terrorists, and perpetuating its rule are undeniable.

The leadership of UNRWA should be dismissed and thoroughly investigated for their knowledge of these activities.

The UNRWA is led by Philippe Lazzarini who was appointed by UN secretary general Antonio Guterres in March 2020.

05:02 PM GMT

That's all for today

Thank you for following The Telegraphs live coverage of the war in Gaza.

05:01 PM GMT

Today's headlines

The United States, Canada, Australia, Italy, Britain and Finland suspended funding to the United Nations aid agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) after it sacked 12 employees accused of participating in October 7

Israel said it would ban the agency from operating in Gaza after the war, demanded its leadership be sacked and called on other countries to also suspend their funding

Hamas condemned the moves and said the accusations were blackmail

Amnesty International accused the British government of prioritising its diplomatic and business relationships with Israel and the US by joining the suspensions

The fire on the Marlin Luanda fuel tanker which was struck by a Houthi missile on Friday night was extinguished at midday

British defence secretary Grant Shapps said the attack was intolerable and illegal

A large number of Hamas terrorists were killed in operations in the southern Gazan city of Khan Younis, the Israel Defense Forces said

The IDF also killed four Hezbollah terrorists in an air strike

04:51 PM GMT

Anti-government demonstrators gather in Tel Aviv

Approximately 100 people have gathered in Tel Aviv ahead of tonights protests demanding elections to replace the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Protestors shout We wont form a government of racists, we wont form a government of criminals.

The main demonstration is expected to begin at 6.30pm local time (IST).

04:41 PM GMT

US asks China to pressure Iran to rein in Houthis

The United States has asked China to pressure Iran to rein in their Houthi allies attacks on Red Sea shipping.

A senior White House official told Reuters that national security adviser Jake Sullivan pressed Wang Yi, Chinas foreign minister, on the matter as the pair met in Bangkok, Thailand, on Satuday.

Beijing has told Washington that it will raise the issue with Iran. The US official said Washington would wait to see if China follows through on its promise.

04:34 PM GMT

'Large number' of Hamas gunmen killed in Khan Younis, says IDF

A large number of Hamas terrorists have been killed in operations in the southern city of Khan Younis, the Israel Defense Forces have said.

Commando and infantry units have engaged in heavy fighting in the past 24 hours in the once densely-populated city.

The Givati Brigade, an infantry formation, also killed a large number of their enemy in separate clashes in the city including a seven-man cell that fired rocket propelled grenades at Israeli soldiers.

The Maglan commando unit raided multiple Hamas sites in Khan Younis while the Egoz unit eliminated many armed terrorists in close quarters fighting.

The IDF said commandos also directed an airstrike on three Hamas terrorists who were attempting to plant explosives near their positions.

04:11 PM GMT

Hostages families protest outside Netanyahus home

Demonstrators, including family members of those held hostage by Hamas in Gaza, have gathered to protest outside Benjamin Netanyahus home in Caesarea.

The protestors are holding posters of hostages being held in Gaza, calling out their names as well as demanding that the government bring them home now.

Over 130 hostages are believed to still be held by Hamas and its affiliates after being seized in the October 7 attacks, although several dozen are thought to have died since.

03:51 PM GMT

Grant Shapps condemns Houthi missile attacks

Grant Shapps has condemned the intolerable and illegal attack after an oil tanker was hit by a Houthi Missile in the Red Sea.

In a post on social media platform X, the Defence Secretary vowed to defend the major shipping route. This intolerable and illegal attack on maritime shipping is the latest on innocent people and global trade. It is our duty to protect freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and we remain as committed to that cause as ever, he wrote.

The crew on the Marlin Luanda fought the flames for hours after it was struck last night, with the fire on the tanker now fully extinguished, according to Trafigura.

03:33 PM GMT

US mulls ousting Abbas from post-war Palestinian Authority government

The United States is considering ousting Mahmoud Abbas from the Palestinian Authority as part of plans for the post-war governance of Gaza and the West Bank, it has been reported.

The New York Times reported that Mr Abbas, who has been President of the PA since 2005, would be moved into a ceremonial role in that scenario.

The US is leading a group of 10 countries working on the release of hostages and a ceasefire deal, as well as overhauling the PA and normalising Saudi relations with Israel in return for the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Benjamin Netanyahu has routinely criticised the creation of the Palestinian Authority as a result of the Oslo Accords in 1993-5, and was quoted that the historic deal had caused as many deaths as the October 7, though over a longer period.

03:21 PM GMT

Switzerland to consider suspending $23 million funding

Switzerland has said no decision would be made regarding an expected aid payment to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) until serious allegations made against staff regarding their involvement in October 7 were clarified.

The Swiss foreign ministry said the countrys annual contribution to UNRWA, approximately 20 million swiss francs ($23 million), had yet to be approved for 2024.

03:03 PM GMT

Amnesty International condemns UK withdrawing UNRWA funding

Amnesty International has condemned Britain for suspending its funding for the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) after it sacked 12 employees accused of participating in the October 7 terror attacks.

This is a terrible decision and should be reversed immediately  UNRWA has already said its urgently investigating these claims, said Kristyan Benedict, Amnesty International UKs crisis response manager.

UNRWA is desperately trying to assist Palestinian civilians facing famine and disease in Gaza amid Israels ongoing bombardment and blockade, and its these civilians wholl be punished by the UKs decision.

Coming soon after the Governments spurious criticism of the ICJ genocide case, it looks like the UK is again prioritising its diplomatic and business relationships with Israel and with the United States over the catastrophic plight of the Palestinian people.

02:54 PM GMT

Jenrick welcomes UK suspension of UNRWA funding

Former immigration minister Robert Jenrick has welcomed the governments decision to suspend funding for the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).

He has previously accused the government of being too blase about who we have funded and for what purpose.

Mr Jenrick told The Telegraph: Im pleased the UK has followed the US in pausing support to UNRWA whilst these allegations are investigated.

Its an organisation whose leadership has fallen into a moral morass of complicity with Hamas, turning a blind eye to the terrorists.

We need a new mechanism to support the people of Gaza that can drive economic development, demilitarisation and deradicalisation, once Hamas have been eradicated.

Read the full story here

02:44 PM GMT

Yemen leader calls on the US and Saudis to eliminate Houthi threat

Yemens internationally recognised leader has called on the US and Saudis to eliminate the Houthi threat in the Red Sea.

Rashad al-Alimi, head of the Saudi-backed presidential leadership council, said that defensive US and British strikes on Houthi rebels arent enough, and called for US and Saudi support to eliminate the Houthis capabilities to attack ships in the key trading passage.

The Houthis and the Yemeni government have been locked in conflict for decades, with a Saudi Arabia-led coalition backing Mr al-Alimis government in an attempt to stop Houthis taking over Yemen and turning the country into an Iranian satellite. The Houthis control the majority of the Western half of Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa.

02:20 PM GMT

Anti-government protests planned to take place across Israel

Protests against the government and the war are due to be held in several locations across Israel this evening.

Demonstrations demanding elections will be held in Tel Aviv, Haifa, Beer Sheva and Caesarea, whilst an anti-war protest and a demonstration calling for the release of the hostages are also both planned to take place in Tel Aviv.

01:50 PM GMT

UNRWA funding suspensions 'hurt those literally starving to death'

The suspension of funding to the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) will penalise people who are literally starving to death, a think tank director has said.

Chris Doyle, director of the Council of British-Arab Understanding, made the remarks to Sky News before Britain announced it was joining the United States, Canada, Australia and Finland in pausing its funding for the agency.

Its hard to think that the US reputation across the world could sink much lower, he said.

But on the basis of allegations that have been made... it has suspended aid to the most vulnerable people, not just in the Gaza Strip, but on the planet.

Mr Doyle added: So the United States thinks in this situation that it should penalise people who are literally starving to death. It beggars belief.

01:28 PM GMT

Finland suspends funding to UNRWA

Finland has joined the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia and Italy in suspending funding for the the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).

Ville Tavio, its development minister, said: We must make sure that not a single euro of Finlands money goes to Hamas or other terrorists.

The suspicion that employees of an organisation receiving humanitarian assistance are involved in a terrorist attack is the reason for suspending the payments.

The case must be investigated thoroughly.

01:22 PM GMT

New evacuation route opened for Khan Younis civilians, IDF says

The IDF says it has opened a new evacuation route for civilians in Khan Younis to allow movement away from areas of fighting.

Theres been intense fighting in the city in Southern Gaza over the past few days.

01:07 PM GMT

UK to suspend funding for UNRWA after October 7 allegations

Britain is suspending its funding for the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) after 12 of its workers were sacked following accusations they participated in the October 7 terror attacks.

In a statement, the Foreign Office said the UK was appalled by the claims.

The UK is appalled by allegations that UNRWA staff were involved in the October 7 attack against Israel, a heinous act of terrorism that the UK Government has repeatedly condemned, it said.

The UK is temporarily pausing any future funding of UNRWA whilst we review these concerning allegations.

We remain committed to getting humanitarian aid to the people in Gaza who desperately need it.

01:04 PM GMT

Fire on Houthi-attacked Marlin Luanda extinguished

The fire on the Houthi-targeted Marlin Luanda container ship was extinguished shortly after midday on Saturday, its owner has said.

Traifigura said the fire in the vessels cargo tank had been fully extinguished and the ship was sailing towards a safe harbour.

It praised the exceptional dedication and bravery of the ships master and crew, who it said brought the fire under control in highly difficult circumstances.

12:53 PM GMT

UK Foreign Office has considerable concerns over ICJ ruling

The Foreign Office has said it has considerable concerns over the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling on Friday that stated Israel should do everything it can to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza.

A spokesperson said South Africas legal case is not helpful for achieving a sustainable ceasefire.

The spokesperson also refuted the claim that Israel has breached the 1948 UN Genocide Convention, labelling it as wrong and provocative, and maintaining that Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas in line with IHL (international humanitarian law).

12:36 PM GMT

Torrential downpour in the Gaza Strip 'worsens humanitarian situation'

A torrential downpour in the Gaza Strip has worsened the humanitarian situation, according to a report in Haaretz.

Videos on social media have shown flooding in the refugee camps in the southern Gaza Strip. Makeshift tents appear to have collapsed due to rain and mud.

12:24 PM GMT

Pictured: Oil tanker attacked by Houthis remains ablaze

The Marlin Luanda was transporting Russian lighter fuel when it was attacked late on Friday - @indiannavy

The Houthis said the attack on the ship was revenge for British and American air strikes on its positions in Yemen - @indiannavy

12:17 PM GMT

Two children carrying Israeli flag climb under Gaza border

On Thursday, two young Israeli children managed to climb under the Gaza border fence, carrying an Israeli flag with them. They attempted to plant a flag, but did not cross into Gaza territory in the process.

The incident occurred as settler activists gathered at a closed military zone near the border in Mefalsim to plant trees for the Jewish holiday of Tu Bishvat.

Right-wing groups have called for the resettlement of Gaza after the war, but the government has stated that it has no intention to do this.

In the video, an adult is heard in the background telling one child to plant the flag well. The children climbed back under the fence after the army arrived to disperse the illegal gathering.

11:44 AM GMT

Senior Palestinian politicians demands UNRWA funding cuts are reversed

A senior Palestinian politician has called on the countries that suspended their funding to the UNRWA to reverse their decision.

Hussein al-Sheikh, the secretary-general of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), said the funding cuts represented great political and humanitarian relief risks in a time of continuing aggression against the Palestinian people.

He added: We call on countries that announced the cessation of their support for UNRWA to immediately reverse their decision.

11:31 AM GMT

IDF kills 11 Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists in Khan Younis

The IDF has confirmed the killing of 11 gunmen from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group in Khan Younis, a city in southern Gaza.

It said the terrorist group, which is allied with Hamas, was attempting to plant explosives near troops and other gunmen were firing rifles and throwing grenades at its soldiers.

11:16 AM GMT

Gaza civilian death toll rises to 26,257

The number of civilians killed in Gaza has risen to 26,257 after 174 people were killed in the past 24 hours, Gazas Hamas-run health ministry has said.

11:02 AM GMT

Egypt almost recalled ambassador over Israels ICJ accusations

Egypt almost recalled its ambassador to Israel after it accused Cairo at the International Court of Justice of failing to deliver humanitarian aid into Gaza, it has been reported.



The Wall Street Journal said that senior officials in Cairo discussed the possibility of recalling the ambassador but decided to publish a statement refuting Israels claims.

Egyptian officials told the newspaper that relations between Cairo and Jerusalem are at their lowest point for at least two decades.

10:51 AM GMT

Cutting funding to UNRWA over 'tiny proportion' of staff is 'troubling'

The suspension of funding to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) because of a tiny proportion of its staff is troubling, a former Pentagon adviser on the Middle East has said.

Jasmine El-Gamal, who advised the department of defense from 2008 to 2017, said Palestinians in Gaza depend on UNRWA for pretty much everything.

She said suspending funding at a critical time because of the alleged actions of a tiny proportion of staff is fairly troubling.

The United States, Canada, Australia and Italy have all suspended funding the UNRWA in the wake of allegations that 12 of its workers participated in Hamass October 7 attacks.

10:31 AM GMT

Hamas condemns Israel 'blackmail against UNRWA

Hamas has condemned Israels allegations against the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) as blackmail.



Hamass press office warned the UN and international organisations to not cave in to the threats and blackmail.

The UNRWA suspended 12 workers on Friday after Israel alleged that they had been involved in the October 7 attacks.

10:22 AM GMT

IDF kills four Hezbollah terrorists in air strike

The IDF killed four Hezbollah terrorists in an air strike on southern Lebanon on Friday in response to earlier rocket fire.

Fighter jets struck three sites across the villages of Beit Lif and Deir Aames, which the IDF said were being manned by the Iran-backed terror group.

In response, Hezbollah fired rockets towards the central Galilee.

A total of 171 Hezbollah terrorists have now been killed since October 8 when the terror group first launched attacks on Israeli towns and military posts along the border.

10:13 AM GMT

UK needs to end UNRWA funding, Jenrick says

Robert Jenrick, Britains former immigration minister, has called on Britain to follow the United States and other Western countries in suspending funding for the UNRWA.

The UK should follow the US in pausing support to UNRWA whilst these serious allegations are investigated, he said.

Its an organisation staffed by many well meaning people, working in the most challenging circumstances, but whose leadership has fallen into a moral morass of complicity with Hamas, forever turning a blind eye to the terrorists.

09:57 AM GMT

Australia and Italy suspend UNRWA funding after Israeli allegations

Australia and Italy have suspended their funding to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) after Israel alleged a number of employees were involved in October 7.

Penny Wong, Australias foreign minister, issued a statement on Saturday saying she is deeply concerned by the allegations and would temporarily pause disbursement of recently announced funding while it investigates.

Italy followed suit, with foreign minister Antonio Tajani announcing: The Italian government has suspended financing of the UNRWA after the atrocious attack on Israel on October 7.

The United States and Canada have also suspended their funding.

09:48 AM GMT

Israel vows to ban UN agency from Gaza after the war

Israel has said it will attempt to ban the United Nations aid agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) from operating in Gaza once the war is over.

UNRWA is not the solution  many of its employees are Hamas affiliates with murderous ideologies, aiding in terror activities and preserving its authority, foreign minister Israel Katz said.

Under my leadership, the foreign ministry aims to promoting a policy ensuring that UNRWA will not be a part of the day after, addressing other contributing factors.

We will work to garner bipartisan support in the US, the European Union, and other nations globally for this policy aimed at halting UNRWAs activities in Gaza.

09:38 AM GMT

In pictures: IDF operations today

Two Israeli soldiers in the Gaza strip - IDF

IDF soldiers are pictured behind a wall in Khan Younis, southern Gaza - IDF

09:32 AM GMT

US and Canada suspend funding to UN in Gaza after October 7 allegations

The United States and Canada have suspended funding to United Nations aid operations in Gaza after it sacked 12 employees accused of participating in October 7.

The UNs agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said on Friday that Israel had provided information alleging that some of its workers were involved in the attack in which 1,200 Israelis were killed and 240 taken hostage.

The US and Canada have both now suspended their financial support for the UNRWA and will direct the funds to Gaza in other ways.

Ahmed Hussen, Canadas aid minister, said the country was deeply troubled by the allegations relating to some UNRWA employees.

The US state department said on Friday that it paused its funding while we review these allegations and the steps the United Nations is taking to address them.

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.
FORT LAUDERDALE  The second-highest ranking Democrat in the U.S. House on Friday expressed skepticism that Capitol Hill Republicans will rebuff Donald Trump's demand they shelve discussions on an watershed immigration bill.

"I doubt it. Donald Trump's reach in House Republicans goes very deep," said U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark, the Massachusetts Democrat who serves as the caucus' whip, or vote-counter. "I'm not sure that the Senate Republicans are going to be able to say no to Mr. Trump."

Clark was in South Florida on Thursday and Friday touring the scene of the horrific 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland and then visiting the Jack & Jill children's center in Fort Lauderdale.

Clark's visit to the child care center along with U.S. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston, was meant to highlight the need for added affordable and accessible childcare options. The two touted the benefits of Child Tax Credit and expanded Affordable Care Act subsidies provided by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act.

Back on Capitol Hill, Senate Democrats and Republicans struggled to overcome Trump's opposition to a deal on an issue that has vexed federal lawmakers for decades.

U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark, the Massachusetts Democrat who serves as the caucus' whip, was in South Florida this week.

Campaign 2024: Donald Trump wins New Hampshire handily, but then delivers "not your typical" victory speech

After years of inaction, Senate Democrats and Republicans were moving toward compromise immigration bill

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell this week appeared inching toward a comprehensive bill to alleviate an ongoing and still surging crisis. Beyond border cities and states, the influx of immigrants  6.3 million since early 2021  is putting cities as far as New York, Chicago, Boston and Denver in hardship.

Immigration has also been a seismic fault line in the American political landscape as well. Like abortion rights, it has been a polarizing, if not intractable, issue, further widening the gulf between liberals and conservatives.

But efforts to reach a bipartisan compromise were torpedoed Thursday when Trump told Republicans "we are better off not making a Deal" in a social media post. He said the United States needs "a Strong, Powerful, and essentially 'PERFECT' Border," but did not specify what his objections were to the bill being discussed in the Senate.

Trump's posting also seemed to confirm reports this month that he had been pressuring House Speaker Mike Johnson to block a Senate immigration bill from reaching the House floor. On Jan. 18, Johnson said in an interview that he been "frequently" discussing the immigration dealing with Trump.

And it belies the urgency with which the former president has spoken about immigration, particularly since announcing his current White House comeback campaign in November 2022. Trump has said, without attribution, that he believes the number of people who have crossed the border unannounced to be closer to 15 million.

He has also said they are coming from prisons and mental institutions and include terrorists who intend to harm people living in the United States. All of which should prompt a desire to seize the moment and bolster security along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Top Democrat said Republicans "explicit" they don't want to give Biden another legislative W

Trump's missive, Clark said, made "explicit" why her Republican counterparts were suddenly recalcitrant on immigration reform and border security enforcement after years of haranguing Democrats and the Biden administration, including seeking the impeachment of Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas.

Clark said the Biden administration has amassed a long list of legislative achievements, including a landmark infrastructure plan and the first meaningful gun-safety law in 30 years. The last thing the former president wants is for the current president to log another milestone achievement.

"What he doesn't want to do is to let the president also be successful on delivering on immigration and border security," Clark said. "And he will choose (to block that) to influence the Republicans in the House to reject any compromise in order to keep the issue (alive)."

But Clark said a stiff-arm of an immigration deal would not be out of character for the GOP House majority.

Clark pointed out that Republicans have spent the past year in "civil war" among themselves. That has required Democrats to serve as the "adults in the room" with the votes to approve debt-ceiling measures and avoid a devastating default as well as to avert federal government shutdowns in October, November and this month.

"They are choosing the politics of this over creating a solution," she said of the threat to stymie immigration reform. "We know that in divided government, the only way we get to an answer around immigration is coming together and working together and compromising."

Clark said the GOP is choosing to "run campaigns off of immigration" rather than pass legislation that is essential to national security and the U.S. economy. In addition to a security issue, the border is an entry point for deadly fentanyl shipments, and the country desperately needs a system that offers a "humane" way for people seeking asylum to have their claims fairly decided.

The only way to achieve that, she said, is for bipartisan give-and-take.

"That's what compromise takes," Clark said. "That's what's necessary to fix our immigration system, and it is really dangerous and sad to watch the Republicans again choose to create an issue rather than a solution."

Antonio Fins is a politics and business editor at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at afins@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Katherine Clark doubts Republicans can rebuff Trump, pass immigration bill
The U.S. failed in two days of talks to prod China into pressuring Iran to stop Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea, an administration official said Saturday.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan raised U.S. concerns about the ongoing attacks in the meetings with Chinas Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday and Saturday. But the talks ended with no sign that China is willing to take decisive steps to use its economic influence on Iran  which funds and equips Yemens Houthi militia  to stem the threat to global supply chains.

Those attacks, which began two months ago, have prompted multiple U.S. and British air strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen in recent weeks.

Beijing says they are raising this with the Iranians  but we're certainly going to wait before we comment further on how effectively we think they're actually raising it, a senior administration official told reporters during a call on Sullivans meeting on Saturday.

The Biden administration has been making the case to Beijing that it should help in terms of quieting some of those attacks, but whether it chooses to use that leverage in that way I think that remains to be seen, the official said.

The Biden administration is also hitting a brick wall in trying to prod Beijing to convince close ally North Korea to scale back its nuclear weapons program, curtail support for Russias war on Ukraine and ease up on its increasingly hostile rhetoric toward South Korea.

I wouldnt characterize anything recently as constructive in terms of Beijings influence on Pyongyang, the officials said.

Sullivan had better luck engaging with Wang on the ongoing civil conflict in Burma, where a military offensive by an alliance of ethnic militias launched in October has inflicted a series of defeats of government forces.

Much of the fighting, which has fueled a humanitarian crisis by displacing large numbers of civilians, has occurred along Burmas border with China, which has closeties to Burmas military dictatorship. Sullivan and Wang discussed the ongoing crisis and we hope to have follow up discussions at lower levels in the coming weeks and months, the official said.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry readout of the meeting published Saturday called the Sullivan-Wang talks frank, substantive and fruitful, but didnt make any specific mention of the Red Sea shipping crisis.

The readout instead described the perceived threat of Taiwan independence as the biggest challenge to China-U.S. relations.

The statement also reiterated Beijings concerns that the U.S. is using export restrictions to contain and suppress the development of other countries and said that the two countries will discuss the boundary between national security and economic activities in future meetings.

Chinas reluctance to use its diplomatic and economic heft to support U.S. moves to address the Red Sea disruptions or temper North Koreas provocations underscores the limitations of the Biden administrations diplomatic outreach efforts to Beijing over the past eight months.

That has included a series of cabinet officials trips to Beijing that climaxed with President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinpings meeting in San Francisco in November.

Biden and Xi will follow up that meeting with a phone call this spring at some point in the coming months, the official said. But Beijings deaf ear to U.S. calls for Chinese assistance in the Red Sea and on the Korean Peninsula suggests that China sees greater value in sitting by the sidelines of two ongoing international crises rather than actively siding with the U.S. against two key allies.

The two-day meeting was a follow-up to Wangs visit to Washington in October in the run-up to the Biden-Xi encounter in San Francisco in November. That meeting ended with agreements to resume military-to-military contacts, bolster bilateral counter-narcotics cooperation and to begin discussions on the use of artificial intelligence.

Bilateral efforts to deliver on those agreements are bearing fruit. A U.S.-China Counternarcotics Working Group will have an inaugural meeting in Beijing on Tuesday, the official said. And a series of military-to-military contacts that Beijing suspended in 2022 in reprisal for then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosis Taiwan trip  including communication between theater commanders and at the Minister-Secretary level"  will resume in the coming months, the official said.

A U.S.-China initiative to address safety and risks posed by advanced forms of AI will culminate in a joint meeting sometime in the spring, the official added.
The United States has given its approval for Turkey to receive 40 F-16 fighters - Mindaugas Kulbis/AP

The United States has approved a $23 billion (18 billion) deal to sell state-of-the-art F-16 fighter jets to Turkey after it backed Swedens accession to Nato.

Turkeys parliament voted to ratify the Scandinavian countrys membership of the alliance on Tuesday after delaying the decision for more than a year.

Its air force is now set to receive 40 new F-16s and upgrades for the 79 models it already has as part of the multi-billion dollar agreement.

An F-16 plane belonging to the Turkish Air Forces - Orhan Akkanat /Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

These new and refurbished aircraft will provide Turkey with a fleet of modernised multi-role combat aircraft to enable it to provide for the defence of its airspace, contribute to Nato missions to preserve regional security and defend Nato allies, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said.

Hungary is now the only Nato member that has not approved Swedens application to join Nato.

On Tuesday, Viktor Orban, Hungarys prime minister, invited Ulf Kristersson, his Swedish counterpart, to Budapest to negotiate.

Nato hopes Sweden will be formally welcomed into the alliance by April, almost two years after it first applied to join in May 2022 in response to Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkeys president, originally objected to its application and accused Stockholm of supporting Kurdish separatist organisations that Ankara says are terrorist groups.

Sweden responded by tightening anti-terror laws and making other security concessions demanded by Turkey.

Mr Erdogan then demanded the US fulfil a pledge to deliver F-16 fighters that had been bogged down in Congress over allegations that Turkey was becoming more authoritarian.

Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, refused to hand over the F-16s unless Turkey approved Sweden joining Nato.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan (right) shaking hands with Antony Blinken, the US swecretary of state, earlier this month - AFP

Fellow Nato member Greece will also receive 40 of the more advanced F-35 fighter jets worth $8.6 billion (6.7 billion) as part of the deal.

It had initially opposed the sale of F-16s to Turkey because of unresolved territorial disputes with Ankara in the energy-rich eastern Mediterranean region.

The US Congress has 15 days to review the deal but it is not expected to oppose it.

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.
After the first two presidential primary contests in Iowa and New Hampshire, the Republican field has been whittled down to two candidates.

But where does Wisconsin fit into the primary timeline?

Voters in Wisconsin will head to the polls April 2 to select their presidential preferences. And while the state has an earlier contest this year, on Feb. 20, that election is a primary for local, nonpartisan offices.

Here's what to know about Wisconsin's presidential preference election, whether you can still vote for candidates who dropped out, and key registration and absentee voting deadlines to keep in mind:

More: What are Wisconsin's 2024 elections, and when are they? Four dates to put on your calendar.

Which other states have held their caucuses and primaries?

Iowa kicked off the presidential voting process with its caucus on Jan. 15, followed by New Hampshire's primary on Jan. 23.

Only two major Republican candidates remain: former President Donald Trump and former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley. Trump won in a landslide in Iowa, and defeated Haley in New Hampshire.

The next Republican primaries will take place in Nevada and South Carolina  where Haley has been elected governor twice.

The Badger State is toward the end of the presidential primary schedule  12 states hold their Republican primary after Wisconsin does. Connecticut, Delaware, New York and Rhode Island share Wisconsin's April 2 primary date.

More: What's the difference between a caucus and a primary election? Here's how each works.

Who's on the April ballot in Wisconsin?

Voters will make their selections for president on the April ballot, in addition to making final choices for the local, nonpartisan races.

On Jan. 2, Wisconsin's Presidential Preference Selection Committee met to determine which presidential candidates will appear on the ballot. The state Democratic party presented one name: President Joe Biden.

The state Republican party named six candidates: former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former United Nations Ambassador and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy and former President Donald Trump.

Will candidates who dropped out still be on the Wisconsin ballot?

Even though all the presidential candidates above except Haley and Trump have dropped out, their names will still appear on the April ballot in Wisconsin.

So you could vote for a candidate who dropped out, if you choose. Writing in a candidate's name is also an option.

However, candidates have until 5 p.m. Jan. 30 to notify the Wisconsin Elections Commission if they no longer want to be included on the ballot.

When do voters elect the president?

Voters will choose the next president in the general election  Nov. 5, 2024.

The parties formally nominate their tickets at conventions this summer  including the Republican National Convention July 15-18 in Milwaukee.

In Wisconsin, voters will also determine if Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin wins a third term and choose who will represent the state in the U.S. House. The primary for those elections is Aug. 13.

When do I need to register to vote?

The Wisconsin Elections Commission has a list of key dates and links for registration, requesting ballots and finding your local clerk. If you need to register to vote before the Feb. 20 election, here are the dates to keep in mind:

March 13 : Deadline to send your voter registration form by mail or register to vote online.

March 29: Deadline to register to vote at your local clerk's office.

April 2: You can also register to vote at your polling place on Election Day.

What's the deadline for absentee ballots?

If you're planning to vote absentee, here are the dates to keep in mind:

Feb. 15 : Deadline for clerks to send absentee ballots to military or overseas voters with requests already on file.

March 12: Deadline for clerks to send absentee ballots to most voters with requests already on file.

March 28: Deadline for most voters, including overseas voters, to request an absentee ballot.

March 29 : Deadline for military and indefinitely confined voters to request an absentee ballot.

March 19 through March 31: Voters may be able to vote in-person absentee through March 31, but contact your local clerk for exact dates and times.

April 2 at 5 p.m.: Deadline for hospitalized voters to request an absentee ballot be brought to them.

April 2 at 8 p.m.: Local clerks must receive your ballot by the time polls close on Election Day, so plan ahead if you're mailing your ballot back. You can also return it to your clerk's office, or your polling place or absentee ballot counting location on Election Day.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin 2024 presidential primary: Date, who's on the ballot
Younger workers are actually using AI on the job less than Gen X and millennials

Digital natives like Gen Z may appear to be more open to using AI than older workers.

But a recent Ernst & Young study suggests the opposite could be true.

Gen Xers and millennials employed in the US were found to use ChatGPT at work more than Gen Zers.

Many would think that digital native Gen Zers, who grew up using smartphones with facial recognition, would be more open to embracing AI at work to boost productivity than older generations. However, a recent study suggests the opposite may be true.

Ernst & Young worked with a third-party research group to survey 1,000 full-time and part-time Americans across different age groups. Researchers wanted to understand how concerns around AI usage varied by generation.

Surprisingly, the consulting giant found that older American workers appear to be more open to using AI than their younger counterparts. When asked who uses the technology at work the most, 74% of millennial respondents (born between 1981 and 1996) and 70% of Gen X respondents (born between 1965 and 1980) said they've used tools like OpenAI's ChatGPT on the job.

But Gen Z respondents were a different matter. Only 63% of Americans born between 1997 and 2005 said they have used AI at work.

One reason that Gen Zers seem to trust AI less than older workers, researchers suggested, is that younger Americans may be less convinced that AI can add real value.

"While this may come as a surprise to many, for the youngest and oldest generations in the workplace, trust in AI isn't just about safety and security: it's whether the technology works," Marcie Merriman, EY's cultural insights leader in the Americas, wrote in the study.

Another explanation, according to Merriman, could be the varying degrees of comfort younger and older folks have with deploying new technologies.

Gen X may feel more compelled to learn how to use AI at work to keep up with rapid change and will work through any technical challenges. Meantime, Gen Zers  who grew up with AI tools like GPS as part of their everyday lives and have high expectations of technology  may shift more quickly when it doesn't serve them.

"Gen Z grew up in a technology native space, and they're much more exposed to when AI works and when the AI doesn't work," Dan Diasio, EY's global AI leader, told Business Insider. "If AI doesn't work, they move on to the next thing."

For some Gen Zers, using AI has helped in their jobs. Morgan Young, a 20-year-old content creator as of last August, previously told BI she uses ChatGPT to help do research and brainstorm pitch proposals to brands, which she claims saved time and made her content better. Others are using AI to plan for earlier retirement than their older colleagues.

One thing that isn't yet clear: whether AI makes employees do better in the workplace. While some studies find that generative AI has saved hours of work, others suggest that using ChatGPT can make workers perform worse.

Read the original article on Business Insider
You are the owner of this article.
Former Deputy Yakima County Prosecuting Attorney Alvin Lee Guzman hugs a woman after a jury acquitted him of charges of indecent liberties and fourth-degree assault Friday, Jan. 27, 2024, in Yakima County Superior Court.
An Ohio teen implicated in a string of threatening calls to area high schools was charged as an adult Thursday in Lake County.

A 17-year-old from Medina, Ohio, was charged Thursday in Lake Superior Court with two counts of intimidation and one count of false reporting.

His case was waived to adult court Thursday and he posted a $5,000 bond Friday.

Authorities argued his actions were part of a repetitive pattern in their bid to charge him as an adult. Ohio officials said the teen started making swatting calls in 2019 when he was 13, including claims that he had shot and killed his father. But when police responded, the person was uninjured. The teen is a suspect in more than 30 other swatting cases, including one involving a leader of Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles and another involving the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Police responded Jan. 26, 2023 to Hobart High School.

School administrators showed a voicemail left at 9:26 a.m. via a 1-800 number.

Hello. You have an hour until I come into your school and blow everything the (expletive) up! And, Im going to shoot everybody who remains, the message said. Do you understand? Im not having a (expletive) good day here. So you can enjoy that.

The investigator noted schools in Valparaiso, Portage and Wheeler got similar calls.

The Hobart detective looked at Krajewski, who Valparaiso had already pinned as a suspect and had arrested on prior bomb threats and swatting calls.

Investigators believed Krajewski made the same threatening calls to Hobart and Valparaiso High Schools from the same spot in Medina, Ohio during a two-hour timeframe.

He was waived to adult court in Porter County for their intimidation case on June 16. He was extradited from Ohio to the Porter County Juvenile Center last March.
If you are sending a Letter To the Editor, please be sure to follow these rules:

Letters have a firm 200-word limit and will be edited for grammar, clarity and accuracy.

The person who signs the letter must be the author. Anonymous letters will not be considered. Letters must address the editor, not a third party.

We will not print form letters, libelous letters, business promotions or personal disputes, poetry, open letters, letters espousing religious views without reference to a current issue, or letters considered in poor taste.

Letters reflect the opinion of the writer. The Yakima Herald-Republic cannot verify the accuracy of all statements made in letters.

Writers are limited to one published letter per calendar month.
Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business.
Un politist de la Rutiera s-a sinucis! Ce a anuntat sotia lui cand a sunat la 112

Un nou caz socant in Politia Romana! Un politist de 39 de ani, de la Biroul Rutier Roman, s-a sinucis, luni, in timpul serviciului. Aceasta drama ridica un nou semn de intrebare asupra modului in care se fac testele psihologice [citeste mai departe]
New Delhi: Falguni Nayar, the visionary founder of Nykaa, has redefined the beauty and cosmetics industry in India. Born in Mumbai to a middle-class family, Nayar's journey from a banking career to the helm of one of India's most successful e-commerce ventures is nothing short of inspiring.

Family Background:

Falguni Nayar was born in 1963 into a middle-class family with a strong emphasis on education. Her father was a government servant, instilling in her the values of hard work and perseverance. Growing up in a modest household, Nayar imbibed the importance of financial prudence and determination from an early age.

Education And Career Beginnings:

She is a graduate in B.Com from Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics.

The Spark:

Despite achieving considerable success in the corporate world, Nayar's entrepreneurial spirit remained unquenched. The turning point came when her daughter faced difficulties in finding quality beauty products in India. Recognizing the gap in the market, Nayar decided to leverage her financial acumen and business expertise to establish Nykaa in 2012.

Nykaa's Genesis:

Nykaa started as an online platform offering a curated selection of beauty and cosmetic products. The platform's unique selling proposition lay in its commitment to providing authentic products from well-known brands, coupled with expert advice. Nayar's emphasis on customer trust and satisfaction set Nykaa apart in a rapidly evolving market.

Overcoming Challenges:

Building a startup in a competitive market was not without challenges. Nayar faced skepticism from traditional retail outlets and initial funding struggles. However, her unwavering determination and strategic vision propelled Nykaa forward. The company expanded its product range, introducing private labels, and ventured into offline retail, cementing its status as a beauty powerhouse.

Unprecedented Success:

Nykaa's success soared, making it a unicorn within a few years. The company's IPO in 2021 further solidified its position as one of India's most valuable startups. Nayar's leadership, coupled with her ability to adapt to market dynamics, has been instrumental in Nykaa's remarkable journey.

Legacy And Impact:

Falguni Nayar's success goes beyond Nykaa. As a trailblazing entrepreneur, she has inspired countless women to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams. Her story underscores the transformative power of passion, resilience, and a keen understanding of market needs. Her entrepreneurial spirit has not only reshaped the beauty industry in India but also serves as a beacon for aspiring entrepreneurs seeking to make a mark in the business world.
UPSSSC PET Result 2023: The Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UPSSSC) will release the results of the Preliminary Eligibility Test (UP PET 2023) on its official website, upsssc.gov.in. The final/revised answer key has been released, and results are expected shortly. Candidates can find the solution keys for all exam days and shifts on the official website, upsssc.gov.in. The provisional answer key for the PET examination was released on November 6, and the objection window concluded on November 15. The commission considered these objections before preparing the final key.

Qualifying the UP PET is essential for joining Group C recruitment in UP. Successful prelims candidates proceed to the main examination. Those clearing both stages undergo interviews and document verification, leading to the final selection process.

UPSSSC PET 2023: Steps To Check Result

Visit the UPSSSC's official website, upsssc.gov.in.

Open the PET final/revised answer key download or the result link, as appropriate.

Log in by entering your information.

Take a printout for future reference.

The exam was conducted across the state in two shifts on October 28 and 29 in two shifts 10 am to noon and 3 pm to 5 pm. More than 20 lakh candidates had applied for it, but more than 7 lakh candidates were absent from the examination. The examination was conducted in more than 1,000 centres in a total of 35 districts. The final anwer key was released on January 24.

The UPSSSC Preliminary Eligibility Test comprises 100 multiple-choice questions with applicable negative marking. The syllabus includes General Science, Social Science, Geography, Indian Constitution, Indian Economy, and History of India.
New Delhi: The political scenario in Bihar is changing every moment. The distance between Nitish Kumar and Lalu Yadavs party RJD is clearly visible. According to sources, there is no communication between Lalu and Nitish. On Friday, Lalu had called Nitish Kumar five times. But Nitish did not answer Lalus phone. There are also reports that Nitish will meet with his party JDUs legislators on 28 January and then go straight to the Raj Bhavan to meet the Governor.

It is believed that after this, the oath-taking of Nitish Kumar and the formation of a new government in Bihar will begin. But, in the meantime, the RJD camp is saying that it will not be easy to topple the government. In such a situation, all eyes are on the Speaker of the Bihar Assembly, Awadh Bihari Chaudhary. He can play a big role in proving the majority.

Will Lalu Yadav Play A Big Game?

It should be noted that Tejashwi Yadavs statement on the political events in Bihar has come out. Tejashwi told Zee News in an informal conversation that it will not be easy to overthrow the government. A new government cannot be formed easily without the RJD. There are also reports that Lalu and his party are not silent on the political turmoil in Bihar. The RJD can go to the Governor and claim to be the largest party. Lalu has prepared to stop Nitish.

Why Is The Speaker So Important?

Know that Awadh Bihari Chaudhary is the Speaker of the Bihar Assembly and he can play a big role in proving the majority in the House. We are saying this because the Speaker has the power to declare the legislators as eligible or ineligible. Even if Nitish separates, the RJD is only 8 seats away from the majority figures. It is being speculated that the RJD, Jitan Ram Manjhis party HAM and JDUs legislators are trying to break away. If those legislators change their sides, the Speakers role can be important in proving the majority in the House.

Break Down Of The Bihar Assembly

Know that the Bihar Assembly currently has 79 RJD, 19 Congress, 16 Left and 1 AIMIM legislators. That is, adding all these, there are 114 legislators with the Lalu camp. On the other hand, the BJP has 78, the JDU has 45, the HAM has 4 and 1 legislator is independent. If the RJD wants to form its own government, it will have to break the BJP, JDU and HAMs legislators.

Changing Party Not Easy For Legislators

However, it will not be easy for the legislators to change the party. Because they may have to face the anti-defection law made in 1985. They can be declared ineligible. Under the anti-defection law, the legislators can only change the party when two-thirds of the legislators of a party leave the party together. If any legislator in Bihar wants to change the party, he will also have the anti-defection law in his mind.
New Delhi: In a dramatic turn of events, sources reveal that after successfully passing a crucial resolution during the BJP meeting, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is poised to take a bold step towards forming a new government. Letters of support from the party's MLAs will be formally handed over to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, along with the precise count of supporting legislators.

In a strategic move, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is scheduled to visit Raj Bhavan today at 7 pm. During this visit, he is expected to tender his resignation and subsequently form a new government with a fresh alliance. The political landscape is abuzz with anticipation as the Chief Minister prepares to present the claim for the new government.

The swearing-in ceremony is set to take place at Raj Bhavan tomorrow marking a swift and decisive transition of power. This development adds a new layer of complexity to the political dynamics in the state, as alliances are reconfigured and power dynamics undergo a significant shift.

As the day unfolds, political analysts and citizens alike are closely watching the unfolding events, eager to witness the outcome of this political maneuver. Stay tuned for more updates on this evolving story.
New Delhi: Nitish Kumar, the chief of Janata Dal (United), is expected to be sworn in as the Chief Minister of Bihar for a record ninth time tomorrow, with the backing of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) - a repeat of the 2020 election scenario. The political turmoil in the state has sparked a series of actions, including massive transfers of officials, adding to the uncertainty. There are widespread reports of a looming change in the government, casting a dark cloud over the existing Mahagathbandhan ruling alliance.

The BJP has called for a meeting of its MPs and MLAs today, ostensibly to plan for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The state unit chief Samrat Choudhary played down the rumours of a revived partnership with Nitish Kumar, but BJP leaders gave significant clues about the ongoing talks.

Sources have said that Nitish Kumar has summoned a meeting of the legislative party at 10 am today. Sources have also said that extensive transfers of district magistrates are taking place in Bihar, coinciding with the speculations of an impending shift in the government.

Nitish Snubs Tejashwi On Republic Day

Nitish Kumars solo attendance at the Republic Day tea at Raj Bhavan yesterday, without his deputy Tejashwi Yadav by his side, signalled a growing rift between Janata Dal (United) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).

In the midst of this political chaos, Congress, Nitish Kumars Janata Dal (United)'s ally in the opposition INDIA bloc, has convened a meeting in Purnea, while denying any link to the changing political situation. The Congress plans to discuss the preparations for Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, which will enter Bihar on Monday, with public rallies scheduled in Kishanganj, Purnea, and Katihar.

While the immediate focus seems to be on the Lok Sabha elections, sources suggest that the Bihar Assembly wont be dissolved anytime soon. Both the BJP and JD(U) are interacting with their respective MPs and MLAs to firm up their strategies, paving the way for a complete overhaul in Bihars political landscape.

Nitish Kumars Return To NDA Not Without Hurdles

However, Nitish Kumars return to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is not without its challenges. Sources have told NDTV that the complex game plan involves the appointment of an Assembly Speaker and a cabinet reshuffle.

Nitish Kumars former Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modis enigmatic remark, No door is closed in politics. The door can be opened if needed, has added another twist to the development.

Former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and his Hindustan Awam Morcha are also part of this political puzzle, wooed by the BJP to secure a tactical alliance.

Nitish Kumars political journey, once associated with stability and development, has become a story of U-turns and realignments. From the lauded Sushashan Babu to the mysterious Paltu Kumar, his path reflects the changing dynamics of Bihars politics.
New Delhi: In a significant development, sources suggest a strong probability of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal-United (JDU) collaborating to establish a new government in Bihar.. BJP is set to hold a meeting with its MLAs on Sunday after which Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will tender his resignation to the governor and subsequently form a new government with a fresh alliance.

The swearing-in ceremony is slated to take place between 4 to 5 pm on Sunday, with preparations underway in the Durbar Hall of Raj Bhavan. The ceremony is expected to see the oath-taking of key leaders, including the Chief Minister, with 3 MLAs from JDU, 3 from BJP, and 1 from another party also set to participate in the event. Stay tuned for more updates as the political landscape in Bihar undergoes a transformative shift.

As part of the preparations, officials from the Chief Minister's Secretariat inspected the swearing-in site. Sources reveal that Nitish Kumar is inclined against having two Deputy Chief Ministers in the new government. The stance of the BJP on this matter remains undisclosed at present.

Despite the ongoing preparations, both Nitish Kumar and the BJP have refrained from making any formal announcements regarding the formation of the new government. Nonetheless, internal preparations within both parties indicate a proactive approach to the impending government formation.

Addressing the situation, BJP state president Samrat Chaudhary stated on Saturday that Nitish Kumar has not resigned, and no withdrawal of support has occurred yet. The party is awaiting updates on the Bihar situation, and decisive action will follow when information is received from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In terms of scheduling, BJP MLAs are slated to have breakfast at the state office in Patna at 9 am on Sunday. Subsequently, BJP, JDU, and HAM MLAs will partake in a lunch meeting with Nitish Kumar. Later in the evening, all MLAs will converge at Raj Bhavan, where Nitish Kumar is expected to tender his resignation. Following this, the joint claim to form a new government with BJP and HAM will be presented.

Notably, BJP and JDU have planned separate meetings on Sunday morning. BJP leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy confirmed that the party would convene at 9 am, instructing both MPs and MLAs to be in attendance. Simultaneously, JDU has called for a party MLA meeting at 10 am on Sunday. The National spokesperson of the HAM party, Shyam Sundar Sharan, affirmed the party's steadfast support for Narendra Modi, aligning with the decisions of the NDA. The party stands ready to collaborate and act in accordance with the collective decision of the NDA alliance.
New Delhi: The India Alliance, which is gearing up for the Lok Sabha elections, has received good news from Uttar Pradesh. Actually, the Congress and the SP have agreed to fight together in UP. Akhilesh Yadav himself has said that the Samajwadi Party has given 11 seats to the Congress. However, Congress is yet accept the formula floated by Akhilesh. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, "Constructive seat-sharing talks on between Cong's Ashok Gehlot and SP's Akhilesh Yadav, will inform when formula is decided."

On the announcement of seat sharing by SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, UP Congress President Ajay Rai is saying that he has no information yet. The national leadership of Congress is still negotiating seats with SP.

Earlier taking to Twitter, Akhilesh Yadav posted on X and said, Our cordial alliance with Congress is off to a good start with 11 strong seats. This trend will move forward with the winning equation. The India team and the PDA strategy will change history.

   11                       



           Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) January 27, 2024

SP-Congress Still In Dilemma Over Seat-Sharing Formula

The talks between the SP and the Congress over seat-sharing are still going on. But after several rounds of meetings, the seat-sharing talks between the Congress and the SP have been not finalised yet.

PDA Will Be The Focus In UP

Akhilesh also said that the India alliance and the PDA strategy will change history. India is the acronym for the 28-member opposition bloc that includes the SP, the Congress, the TMC, the DMK and the AAP. PDA stands for Peoples Development Agenda, which is the common minimum programme of the alliance.

The SP and the Congress have been in talks for an alliance in Uttar Pradesh, which has 80 Lok Sabha seats. The SP has already finalised a seat-sharing agreement with the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), which will get seven seats. The talks with the Congress are still in progress.

The alliance is seen as a major threat to the BJP, which had won 71 seats in UP in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The SP had won five seats, the Congress two and the RLD none.
New Delhi: Manoj Jarange Patil, the leader of the Maratha reservation movement in Maharashtra, called off his hunger strike on Friday night after the state government assured him of fulfilling his demands. Patil had been fasting since Friday morning to press for a Government Resolution on the Maratha quota issue.

Patil praised Chief Minister Eknath Shinde for his efforts and said he would end his fast with juice offered by him on Saturday. He also said that the government had agreed to issue Kunbi certificates to 54 lakh people who had been verified as belonging to the Kunbi community, a sub-caste of the Marathas.

Earlier in the day, Patil had threatened to march to Mumbai with his supporters on Saturday if the government did not issue a Government Resolution on the Maratha quota. He had also demanded that the government withdraw all the cases filed against the Maratha protesters in the past.

The state government, on the other hand, had passed an ordinance on Friday that claimed to address all the issues raised by the Maratha reservation movement. Maharashtra Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha said that the ordinance had resolved the problems and there was no need for further agitation. He said that Patil had accepted the solution and announced the end of his protest.

The Maratha reservation movement had been going on for several years, demanding reservations for the Maratha community in education and employment. However, the Supreme Court had quashed the reservations for the Marathas on May 5, 2021, saying that they violated the 50 per cent cap on reservations.
Maharashtra News - The Mahalaxmi Racecourse in Mumbai has been famous across the country. This racecourse, which sees bets of millions of rupees on horses daily, has also been a part of the shooting for dozens of movies. Now, the government of Maharashtra has made a plan regarding the area around this racetrack, which will turn this place into an 'oxygen cylinder' for the breaths of pollution-stricken Mumbai. In fact, the Maharashtra government is planning to transform a large part of the Mahalaxmi Racetrack into a park and dedicate it to the public. Under this plan, the racetrack will be converted into a park with beautiful landscaping for the general public.

However, people trying to seize this expensive land for commercial reasons have started spreading rumours about this redevelopment plan. This includes few club members of the race course , who are trying to make this project controversial by spreading false facts. However, most members of the club are supporting the government in this project. The government has now made it clear that a park will be built here for the public.

The Club's Lease Ended in 2013

According to government officials, the club's lease on this racetrack already ended in 2013. Despite this, some political people among the club's members are continuously using this land for their benefit. It is being said that these are the people who are creating obstacles for the public to benefit from the park that will be built here, so that their commercial interests continue.

Government's Statement on Rumours

Regarding rumours related to this park, the government has already clarified that there is no proposal to build any kind of amusement park here. No new construction will be done at this place; instead, work will be done to enhance its beauty and it will be kept open for the public. The government has a complete plan to transform the Mahalaxmi Racetrack into a park. Under this plan, redevelopment of the land excluding the current club and racing track will take place. A public park and theme park will be developed on about 120 acres of land, which will be open to the public.
New Delhi: In the dynamic landscape of today's job market, job transitions have become a common occurrence as employees seek new horizons and opportunities. Amidst these changes, the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) stands as a cornerstone, playing a pivotal role in ensuring the financial security of individuals throughout their professional journeys.

Universal Account Number (UAN) is an crucial element of the EPFO system. It is a 12-digit identification that remains unchanged regardless of job transitions. Similar to Aadhaar, the UAN is crucial for various Provident Fund (PF) related tasks, underscoring the importance for employees to stay informed about their UAN numbers. (Also Read: Spotify CEO Calls Apple's New EU App Store Changes 'Extortion')

Yet, in the midst of the job changes individuals may sometimes overlook their UAN numbers. The positive aspect is that you can easily recover your UAN number from your home using the online services provided by EPFO. (Also Read: FPIs Sold Equities Worth Rs 27,000 Crore In January)

To find your UAN number online, follow these steps:

-Visit the official EPFO website: https://www.epfindia.gov.in/site_en/index.php

-Go to the "For Employees" section under Services and select "Member UAN/Online Service (OCS/OTCP)."

-Locate "Know your UAN" under Important Links on the right side of the new page.

-Provide your registered mobile number and captcha, then click to receive an OTP.

-Validate the OTP received on your mobile.

-Enter your name, date of birth, member ID, Aadhaar or PAN number, and captcha on the new page. Click on "Show My UAN."

-Your UAN number will be sent to your registered mobile number.

For those who havent activated their UAN yet, the process is equally simple:

-Visit the EPFO website and click on "For Employee" in the Services menu.

-Choose "Member UAN/Online Service" on the Services page.

-On the login page, select "Activate Universal Account Number (UAN)."

-Fill in your UAN number, date of birth, mobile number, and captcha. Click on "Get Authorization Pin."

-Enter the OTP received on your registered mobile, verify the details, agree to the terms, and activate your UAN.

It is important to note that the activation of UAN may require up to six hours. It is important to ensure that your mobile number is linked to your PF account for these online procedures, as the OTP is a vital element in the verification stages. By adhering to these instructions individuals can effortlessly recover their UAN numbers and maintain a seamless connection with their PF accounts.
New Delhi: Microsoft Teams encountered a major outage impacting users across various parts of the world. The disruption reportedly began on a Friday evening and persisted until the early hours of Saturday, causing inconvenience for many users.

What Went Wrong?

Microsoft attributed the outage to a networking issue affecting a portion of the Teams service. This glitch led to users experiencing difficulties, such as being unable to log in, encountering missing messages and attachments, as well as facing delays in the platform's functionalities. (Also Read: Now You Can Choose Any Hospital For Treatment; Know All About Game-Changing Rule For Health Insurance)

Company's Response

In response to the widespread issues, Microsoft initiated failovers to address the problem. Despite some initial challenges, the company noted "significant improvements or full remediation in many of the Teams features affected by this incident" after working on it for several hours. (Also Read: No Need For Thermometer! Now This Smartphone Can Measure Your Body Temperature)

Ongoing Efforts

Microsoft is actively monitoring and implementing fixes to address any remaining impact scenarios associated with the outage. The company acknowledged that its failover operations did not provide immediate relief to all users in North and South America regions.

Efforts to optimize network and backend services are ongoing, with Microsoft closely observing internal telemetry signals to ensure that their mitigations effectively reduce the impact on customers.

Interestingly, Microsoft Teams had a four-hour outage exactly a year ago, adding a touch of deja vu to the recent disruption. The incident serves as a reminder of the challenges that can arise in maintaining seamless digital services on a global scale.
New Delhi: Google has rolled out a fascinating feature in its Pixel 8 Pro through the January update. The highlight of this update is the addition of a body temperature measurement tool, turning the smartphone into a handy thermometer.

Since its launch in 2023, the Pixel 8 Pro featured a physical thermometer within its camera band at the back. Initially limited to reading object temperatures, the new update broadens its functionality to include body temperature measurements. (Also Read: Latest SBI Fixed Deposit Rates 2024: Check How Much Return You Will Get)

How Does It Work?

Google has designed this feature thoughtfully, describing it as "medical-grade" and accessible through the Thermometer app on the Pixel 8 Pro. To measure body temperature, users simply scan their foreheads with the phone. (Also Read: Foxconn's CEO Young Liu Awarded Prestigious Padma Bhushan Award: Check A-Z About Him)

Notably, the phone doesn't need direct contact with the forehead; the infrared sensors and camera's LDAF can accurately detect proximity to initiate the reading.

Google, now in possession of Fitbit, allows users to save the temperature readings directly to their Fitbit profiles. This integration provides a convenient way to track and monitor health metrics seamlessly.

While the body temperature tool is an exciting addition, it might not be available in all markets, especially where medical approvals are managed by different entities.

However, other anticipated features like "circle to search," "magic compose," and "photomoji" is expected to receive a broader release through a regular over-the-air update on January 31.
New Delhi: The consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya was so divine and grand that it has occupied the hearts and minds of Pakistan. Pakistan cannot bear the happiness of India and Indians. The dispute over the temple and mosque ended after decades in Ayodhya but Pakistan has formally written a letter to the United Nations (UN) to complain about the temple. When Muslims also participated in the consecration of Lord Ram, Pakistan did not approve of their union.

Pakistan Cries To The UN Over Ram Temple

Pakistans envoy to the UN Munir Akram is among those Pakistani leaders who never get tired of speaking against India. They are the ones who are okay with the poverty of the Pakistani people dying of hunger. But they cannot stop themselves from interfering in Indias affairs. They are the ones who have no interest in Pakistans development. But they enjoy giving advice to India. They are so unhappy with the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya that they have formally written a letter to the UN to complain about it.

What Did Pakistan Say About Ram Temple?

In the letter sent to the UN, Pakistans envoy Munir Akram wrote that Pakistan strongly condemns the construction and consecration of Ram Temple on the site of the demolished Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, India. This trend poses a serious threat to the social, economic and political well-being of Indian Muslims as well as to the harmony and peace in the region. There is an urgent need to intervene to ensure the protection of Islamic heritage sites in India.

What Did Pakistan Write In The Letter To The UN?

The letter also stated that the matter has gone beyond the Babri Masjid. Other mosques in India are also facing the same kind of threats. It is regrettable that this is not an isolated incident. Because other mosques, including the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi and the Shahi Eidgah Mosque in Mathura, are also facing the risks of insult and destruction.
An unusual interaction with a bird is often one way a bird lover is born.

For Debbie Barnes- Shankster, it was the black-capped chickadee that alighted on her hand when she was 6 to steal seeds a farmer had poured into her open paw.

I was immediately charmed, she said. Ive loved chickadees since then.

But not only the tiny birds with the sweet, distinctive calls. Barnes-Shankster loves them all and also loves to help people identify raptors. She teaches raptor identification classes around the Pikes Peak region, including for the Colorado State Raptor Monitors and Cheyenne Mountain State Park.

Its a challenge to find the little ones and ID them, said the Colorado Springs resident. Im always looking at wildlife when Im out hiking. I get charmed by watching them do their thing, building nests, finding food, calling, chasing off rivals.

Barnes-Shankster will present a program about the owls of Colorado during the Feb. 2-4 High Plains Snow Goose Festival in Lamar. Barnes-Shanksters free program is 2 p.m. Feb. 3 at Lamar High School, 1900 S. 11th St. Shell focus on how to prevent nest abandonment, breeding information and where they live. Shell show her owl photos and play some of their calls to help people identify them.

While the festival covers all flavors of birds found in southeastern Colorado, its selling point is snow geese. Over the last couple of decades the geese have grown into a breeding population close to 6 million, hundreds of thousands of which migrate through southeastern Colorado every year and take advantage of Prowers County ponds, lakes and reservoirs.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife keeps tabs on the snowy white birds and alerts festival organizers to their numbers and whereabouts. Weather is the biggest determining factor in the number of birds. The birds like cold weather, and if it warms up, they peace out.

The three-day festival features programs, field trips and seminars in and around Lamar, including trips to John Martin Reservoir and Colorado Mills. Many programs are free and some require pre-registration.

Featured Local Savings

There are a lot of snow geese, but it depends on the year, Barnes-Shankster said.

Theres Canada geese and a good amount of raptors from up north. Things are slow this year because theres a lot less snow north of us so there are less raptors down here. We have residential raptors, but also those that come in winter. A lot will come down here to spend winter and fly north to breed. Sometimes we have wintering bluebirds down there.

Though she fell for a chickadee early in life, it wasnt until her 30s that Barnes-Shankster became a birder. As a photographer she would shoot landscapes and wildlife and always see little birds that fascinated her, but she couldnt identify, though she was adept at recognizing big birds.

After falling into a crowd of bird-banders who helped school her on those smaller birds, in 2007 a park naturalist saw her raptor photos and asked if they could use them to put together a raptor identification training. Following that, she was invited to do a Colorado breeding bird atlas and eventually became an Aiken Audubon Society board member for a while and helped set up programs, lead field trips and spoke at annual raptor identification meetings. These days she also leads field trips for the annual Pikes Peak Birding & Nature Festival in May.

Great horned owls are the most prevalent species in the Pikes Peak region, though Barnes-Shankster also will talk about long-eared, Mexican spotted, Eastern and Western screech, boreal, northern saw-whet and Northern pygmy owls.

Its an ideal time to focus on owls, as December and January is their courtship time. Theyre likely already sitting on eggs in old raptor or crow nests or in nests in old buildings.

The great horned is the largest and easiest to find, Barnes-Shankster said. We call them a tree cancer  when theres an odd branch sticking up or a bump out on a trunk, thats usually an owl.

This is also the time to remind humans with their cameras to curb their curiosity about owls to protect the next generation of owlets.

People want the picture and if they get too close and if the eggs havent hatched theyre likely to abandon the nest because theyre being harassed, Barnes-Shankster said. Usually during the day theyre roosting and sitting quietly with eyes closed. If you see an owl opening its eyes and looking at you, youre too close.

Contact the writer: 636-0270
It was a high-flying year for the Colorado Springs Airport in 2023, as more travelers departed the facility last year than at any point in nearly a quarter century.

The numbers are big, Greg Phillips, the citys aviation director, said Friday.

In 2023, enplanements  passengers who boarded flights at the Springs Airport to travel elsewhere  totaled 1,179,108, according to figures released this week by airport officials. Last years enplanements were 10% higher than 1,071,826 in 2022 and the most since 1,214,948 in 1999.

Decembers enplanements totaled 106,474, almost one-third more than the same month in 2022.

Among the factors that drove last years enplanements was a return to travel nationwide three years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Phillips said.

As evidence, the Transportation Security Administration reported that a record, single-day total of 2.9 million travelers were screened at security checkpoints nationwide on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, according to several news reports.

During COVID, which seems like a thousand years ago, people really reduced their travel, Phillips said.

I think (theres been) a lot of tourism, business and other needs that bring people back to traveling. The airlines have seen growth kind of across the country.

Locally, Colorado Springs has enjoyed economic gains, including more jobs and new employers that have been announced over the last year, which brings more travelers through the airport, he said.

Likewise, the addition at the Springs Airport in 2023 of Avelo Airlines and Sun Country Airlines, along with more routes to cities such as Long Beach, Calif., San Diego and San Antonio, have made it easier to fly local, Phillips said.

Sign up for free: News Alerts Stay in the know on the stories that affect you the most. Sign Up For Free View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters.

Across the board, more people traveled, and in Colorado Springs, the fact that we have more opportunities makes it easier for people to choose Colorado Springs, he said.

And Phillips expects more growth in 2024.

In June, Southwest Airlines will launch daily, nonstop service to the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport starting June 4, while Delta Airlines in July will add a second daily flight to Atlanta.

Those are two big destinations, Phillips said. Those are our East Coast connections, so we certainly expect to see more travel eastbound out of Colorado Springs.

Southwest, meanwhile, has extended a flight to Houston from the Springs Airport through at least March, Phillips said; for the past few years, that route largely was operated by the carrier only during the holidays, he said.

Airport officials also continue to talk with airlines about additional flights and routes, he said.

We think there are still a number of other great opportunities for Colorado Springs, Phillips said. Our goal and our full-court press effort is to try and sort of bring those routes in.

As long as airlines see that Colorado Springs travelers are using the Colorado Springs Airport, theyll be inclined to think well of the Springs and to be open to opportunities to add service in Colorado Springs, Phillips said. The message I say just in short, if you want to see the airport grow, use the airport.

Last years spike in enplanements comes on the heels of a $34 million reconstruction of the concourse that airport officials began in September.

Upgrades will include new LED lighting, terrazzo flooring to enhance the ability of special needs travelers to pass through the concourse, additional restaurants, larger restrooms, new gate counters and charging stations. Those improvements are targeted to be completed in May 2026, according to the airports website.
National Weather Service officials extended a dense fog advisory Saturday until 3 p.m. for portions of central, east central, north central and northeast Illinois, and northwest Indiana.

Officials also issued a flood watch for portions of northern and central Illinois, and northwest Indiana and said rivers, creeks and streams may rise out of their banks due to snowmelt and runoff from rain.

Friday, areas near the Kankakee River experience flooding in Wilmington, but waters have receded, officials said.

Saturdays fog is effecting visibility decreasing to one quarter of a mile or less. Officials caution drivers to slow down, use headlights and leave plenty of distance between vehicles on road ways.

A flood watch remains in effect through Monday morning. A flood watch means flooding is possible but not certain. Residents along waterways should monitor the latest forecast and be prepared to take action if flooding develops, officials said.

Current conditions at Chicagos airports are fog at 40 degrees.
As talks bog down in Washington over a deal to address the border crisis, non-profit in Aurora are struggling to handle all the immigrants
Bob Piersant wears his snow-blowing hat Friday while clearing the sidewalk for his neighbors on North Institute Street in Colorado Springs. Piersants daughter bought him the hat about 20 years ago, and he has used it ever since.
Last year, the Boys & Girls Club of Albany opened a satellite site at Waverly Elementary School, making use of the gym and cafeteria to host programs.

Next school year, the Boys & Girls Club hopes to open its own facility right on the property.

Earlier this week, the Greater Albany Public Schools school board approved a ground lease agreement with the organization. The move paves the way for the local chapter to construct its own building on the southwest corner of the Waverly Elementary property on Columbus Street.

Politics 'A Place to Sleep' podcast: Catch all the episodes here Our podcast, A Place to Sleep, explores how Oregon cities are responding to a new law that is meant to provide homeless individuals a place to rest.

Shawn Rubesh, the chapter's board vice-president, told school board members on Jan. 22 the proposed 3,000 square-foot, one-story space consisting of two classrooms, a tech lab, a restroom and office, would ease commute concerns for parents and allow the club to serve more students.

"This really just provides us with more space," Rubesh said.

The Boys & Girls Club of Albany, which runs programs at the Ron Loney campus at 1215 Hill Street SE, partnered with GAPS in early 2023 to host programs at Waverly as a satellite site.

At the time, the local chapter said they noticed a lack of Waverly students participating in their programming. GAPS teachers and administrators found transportation was a key hurdle for parents, with buses taking students to the Ron Loney campus, but not back  hence the push for a school-based site.

Waverly Club director Brandon Ward said 67 students are now enrolled in the Waverly site, with around 44 students participating in programs each day, whether they take place at the school's cafeteria, gym, stage or outdoor space.

At the Jan. 22 school board meeting, Rubesh told board members the club's goal was to serve as many as 125 to 150 children. He cited limited school space and transportation concerns as continuing barriers.

"It isn't that the school district won't bring the kids to us," Rubesh said. "It's their parents don't have the ability to bring the kids back home at 6 or 7 p.m. at night." He added that a new facility would allow children to walk home.

Waverly Elementary is a Title I school with over 95% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunches.

"It's a very high needs school," Ward told Mid-Valley Media.

He said Boys & Girls Club programs specifically help Waverly students with socio-emotional skills, a big focus after the pandemic. On top of after-school instructional time, participating students also get snacks and a dinner at 3 p.m. each day.

"For a lot of our kids, that's their last meal of the day," Ward said.

The idea for a new space took shape last fall, according to the ground lease agreement included in the school board meeting packet, which also included draft plans for the proposed building.

Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by becoming a subscriber today.

The building, however, is still in its design phase with no cost estimates yet, Ward said.

Rubesh told school board members GAPS wouldn't be footing the bill and that construction is planned to start this spring.

With school board approval, next steps for the Boys & Girls Club include surveying the land and finalizing the building's design, Ward said.

"It was definitely good news just to be able to keep the process going along," he said.
Each January and July, local service agencies and volunteers make their way out into the area to take a "Point in Time" census of people experiencing homelessness.

In North Iowa, census nights are coordinated by Friends of the Family, a housing and advocacy agency. In conjunction with law enforcement, public health officials and other agency staff, volunteers set out in the evening and spend hours traversing streets, parks and parking lots in search of people who may be living unsheltered or at serious risk for homelessness.

The census is done at the end of the month. Residents who rely on limited sources of income such as Social Security, disability or other monthly disbursements and do not have permanent housing may find themselves unsheltered by the end of the month. Volunteers are out from early evening into the early morning hours.

On Wednesday, 53 staff, volunteers and community partners headed out in 20 counties including the cities of Mason City, Waterloo, and Waverly to locate people and determine their housing status, if possible. In total, 24 people experiencing homelessness were contacted and offered services and shelter.

The National Alliance to End Homelessness reports that in 2022, 2,419 Iowans, or 7.6 per 10,000 Iowa residents were experiencing homelessness.

"There's no way to tell someone's housing status just by looking at them," said Caitlyn Kupka, service access manager for FOF. "There are two types of homelessness; sheltered and unsheltered. Unsheltered means they live in a place that is not designed for human habitation, like a park, a vehicle or an abandoned building. Our focus is to meet everyone, but especially to get anyone unsheltered into shelter if they want it."

The Alliance's "State of Homelessness: 2023 Edition" is based on twice yearly Point in Time censuses. Done in July and January, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development census is required if communities and agencies wish to access funding for programs that address homelessness.

Kupka said that especially in Mason City, many people experiencing homelessness have high barriers to shelter access, including mental health issues, drug abuse or a combination of the two.

Nicole Jacobs serves as an outreach and diversion specialist and spends plenty of time getting to know her clients. Jacobs spends one night each month on outreach assignments, bringing needed items and checking on anyone experiencing homelessness or at risk for it.

"The Point in Time census is an extension of the regular outreach I do," Jacobs said. "The census is how we make reports to our funders about the needs in the community."

The Jan. 24 census was conducted between 6 p.m. and midnight. Divided up two or three census takers to a car, they set out to locations where unhoused people have been contacted in the past. In total, 24 people were contacted who were currently experiencing homelessness and many others were offered resources specific to their region. Of the 24 people identified, 19 were in Cerro Gordo County, three in Bremer and one each in Franklin, Howard and Allamakee counties.

In Mason City, Jacobs met a man named Mike riding his bicycle and pulling a trailer down the street. Mike is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, making him eligible for immediate shelter and a host of programs through the Veteran's Administration.

Northern Lights Alliance of Homeless Shelters is ready to receive people who want to take the necessary steps to gain housing in Mason City. During the cold winter months, NLAHS is a low-barrier shelter, but year round, staff and volunteers are eager to work with people making positive changes.

Jesse Germundson, NLAHS executive director, spoke briefly to the census takers during the pre-shift kickoff. "We have beds available. We're ready and willing to take on anyone who wants shelter tonight. Even if they say they've been to NLAHS and can't come back, bring them by. Sometimes people misunderstand the rules and think they aren't eligible for services."

The PIT census is a snapshot in time. It is not a complete count of those experiencing or at risk for homelessness, but it does give an indication to program directors about the needs in the area. In the January 2023 census, 30 individuals in need of housing were identified.

According to the Alliance to End Homelessness, "The nations progress on veteran homelessness has been particularly robust. The size of the group was cut in half over a decade-long period (2010-2020), decreasing by 50 percent. Similar attention and resources could be extended to other subgroups in an effort to attain similar success."
Email special events to news@registerbee.com. The deadline is noon Wednesday.

SATURDAY, FEB. 3

CHURCH & CLOTHING MINISTRY: The Union Hall Baptist Church Food and Clothing Ministry will be open on from 9 to 10:30 a.m.

ONGOING

GRIEFSHARE SESSIONS: GriefShare sessions meet on Mondays beginning Jan. 8 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. through April 8 at Bibleway Cathedral. Facilitators are assistant pastor Larry Campbell and elder Katherine Harvell. All are welcome to attend. The cost is $20 for workbook.

SHOCKOE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, 857 Java Road, Java, hosts a monthly Wellness Walking Ministry from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., meeting every fourth Saturday. All ages are welcome to participate. The Health and Wellness Ministry will meet at 9 a.m. before each walking session. For information, contact Kathy B. Ramsey at 434-251-0379 or atbjrk@gmail.com.

Ascension Lutheran Church, 314 West Main St., worships Sundays at 11 a.m. in the sanctuary and live on Facebook at www.facebook/ascensionlutherandanville.

Mount Vernon United Methodist Church offers in-person services at 10 a.m. each Sunday as well as online worship services every Sunday at mtvernonumc.org or www.facebook.com/MountVernonUMC.

Christ the King Lutheran Church, 1172 Franklin Turnpike, will have in-house worship services on Sundays at 11 a.m. Free books available anytime from a Little Free Library located on a post next to the driveway.

Saint Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church, 406 Gay St., has in-person services at 10 a.m. for hour of power on the first and third Sundays.

North New Hope Baptist Church, 123 Old Piney Forest Road, has resumed in church worship services at 11 a.m. and Sunday school at 9:30 p.m.

Mount Sinai Glorious Church of God, 716 Jefferson St., will hold services in the sanctuary with Sunday school at 10 a.m. and morning worship at 10:30 a.m. Participants are asked to wear a mask and to practice social distancing. The service also will be streamed on Facebook.

Mount Freeman Baptist Church, 2100 Laniers Mill Road, hosts in-person service at 11 a.m. Sunday. There will be no Sunday school.

Sacred Heart Catholic Church will livestream worship service at 9 a.m. Sundays in English and noon in Spanish at www.facebook.com/sheartchurch.

Staunton River Baptist Church, Long Island, will hold drive-in services at 10 a.m. each Sunday.

Sacred Heart Catholic Church celebrates Mass every weekend with a vigil Mass at 5 p.m. Saturday and at 9 p.m. Sunday in English and noon in Spanish.

Watson Level Missionary Baptist Church holds Sunday worship services each week at 11 a.m. Because of COVID-19, a face mask is required for all attendees and social distancing is mandatory.

Calvary Church of the Nazarene, 2450 Franklin Turnpike, from 6 to 7 p.m. every Sunday, will hold Ladies Need Encouragement, an hour of worship and prayer. Participants are asked to bring a Bible and practice social distancing. The event is for ages 10 and up with adult supervision. For more information, call 540-907-8836.

Mount Zion Temple, now located at 503 Hughes St., presents The Word Homelitic Institute at 10 a.m. every Sunday. Transportation is provided by calling Bishop David K. Fuller at 434-429-8960.
Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer for women.

Most cervical cancers are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection. It is a preventable and treatable disease if detected early. The World Health Organization recommends that girls receive the HPV vaccination before they become sexually active and that women should be screened starting at age 30.

Unfortunately, for one Black woman growing up in rural Virginia in the 1960s, the HPV vaccine wasnt around.

I still remember that day in 1998. I was in the eighth grade. My mom had just come home from working her shift at the Winn Dixies deli-bakery. She mentioned that her right side hurt, so we proceeded to the emergency room.

I sat for a few hours alone until my dad joined me after his workday at the local prison farm. We watched the sunlight turn to darkness. The doctors ran tests, and soon, it became clear that more tests were needed.

As much as I remember that day, I dont remember the exact moment when I discovered my mother had cervical cancer. I was concerned but not frantic or anxious. My parents did a good job of sheltering me from the madness.

My mom and dad would travel a little over two hours from Danville to the University of Virginia Hospital in Charlottesville. They would stay at the Sawyer House during the week, an auxiliary residence near the hospital that provided affordable lodging.

Mom beat cancer in 98. It came back in 2000. She kept a journal of her experience. On finishing treatment for the second round, she noted the following:

My experience with cervical cancer the second time around was very challenging. I had a lot of good days but some bad days also. The radiation treatment went well. I didnt have many side effects as the first time. Some days when I had a real bad day I felt like I couldnt go on but I always find the strength to keep living from God.

What drove me personally to do well was trying to make my mom proud. She fought through cancer treatments because she wanted to see her last child graduate from high school. She went on to see me graduate from college, and she lived an additional 22 years in remission. One of her favorite activities was walking in the annual Relay for Life cancer awareness event.

Every woman and family that has suffered through this disease has a story. Our collective story is the continued push to save lives. Thankfully, the HPV vaccine is now in existence, which can help prevent cancer development, and thankfully, modern medicine helps to continue fighting the disease.
RALEIGH  In July of last year, the Census Bureau estimated that some 10.8 million people resided in our state. One of the fastest-growing in the country, North Carolinas population ranks ninth, just below Georgias population of 11 million.

More generally, Southern states accounted for almost 90% of Americas net population increase last year, with migration into Texas, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and the Carolinas driving most of the regions growth.

Theres a robust debate about why this is so. Ive participated in the debate myself, long arguing that freer states  defined as having smaller governments, lower tax and regulatory burdens, and greater choice and competition in public services  tend to grow faster than their peers.

Today, however, Ill focus not on the past but on the future. What will North Carolinas population 16 years from now, in 2040? And what are the policy implications of that prediction?

In other words, lets set aside whether the current policy mix in North Carolina and most of our Southern neighbors are responsible for recent growth. Lets just assume that current population projections will come to pass.

Based on the 2020 Census head count and subsequent estimates, North Carolinas State Office of Budget and Management currently projects that our population will reach approximately 13 million by 2040. Although there is no comparable projection for other states, a somewhat-older Census projection suggested North Carolina will rank seventh in population by then, exceeded only by California, Texas, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, and Georgia.

However, the projected figures for North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Georgia are so similar, and sufficiently fuzzy, that its possible well be the fifth-most-populous state by 2040!

Within our state, the largest metropolitan areas will likely add population at a faster rate than our smaller municipalities and rural areas, with some exceptions (such as coastal and mountain communities attractive to retirees and work-from-home households). Still, if we consider the 10 counties projected to have at least 300,000 residents in 2040  Wake, Mecklenburg, Guilford, Forsyth, Durham, Union, Cumberland, Johnston, Buncombe, and Cabarrus  their combined population of 6.3 million will still be less than half the states total population.

By 2040, about 21% of North Carolinians will be 65 years of age or older, up from 18% today. About 22% of North Carolinians will be 20 or younger, down from 24% today.

For all the talk of rapid demographic change, I dont see these changes as particularly dramatic. Do you?

As for race and ethnicity, non-Hispanic whites as defined by the Census Bureau are projected to account for approximately 56% of the states population in 2040, down from 61% today. Hispanics (of any race) and people of Asian ancestry will grow as a share of the states population, as will North Carolinians whose ancestries are mixed or who reject placing themselves in such crude categories in the first place.

Indeed, all projections and demographic categories have some built-in uncertainty and ambiguity. Although most new residents will either be born here or arrive as citizens from other states, immigration from overseas will play a role  as will federal policies that either encourage or discourage such immigration in the future. And unforeseen economic, social, or even medical events might significantly influence our birth and death rates.

Nevertheless, I think its reasonable to expect that North Carolina will be much more populous in 2040 than it is today. In my view, thats a good reason for state and local policymakers to elevate such issues as infrastructure, housing, and workforce development to the top of their priority lists.

Given the eroding capacity of motor-fuels taxes, for example, North Carolina must move as quickly as possible to a more sustainable means of paying for roads and bridges. Our zoning and housing codes are too strict, keeping builders from supplying enough homes to meet rising demand. As for workforce development, continued reforms in education and occupational licensing will be necessary to fill the jobs of tomorrow and help all North Carolinians prosper.
In what was less a traditional election-year campaign stop and more a chance to applaud advances in biotechnology in the state, first lady Jill Biden stopped by Forsyth Technical Community College for a 45-minute visit that coincided with the announcement of $30 million in new investments for North Carolina.

Flanked by Gov. Roy Cooper and Atkins High School student Ashvath Ramesh inside a biotechnology lab, the wife of President Joe Biden heard from a small group of people, including elected officials, college and industry leaders and students about cutting-edge technology. She listened, smiled and added brief comments after each speaker but did not speak at length.

In all, Biden spent less than two hours in the city, leaving around 1 p.m., for a campaign fundraiser in Raleigh for her husbands reelection bid.

Former President Donald Trump, Bidens likely foe in November, won North Carolina by a 49.9% to 48.6% margin in 2020 and another tight race is expected this year.

Joe knows the future of the workforce in America starts in the high schools, goes to the community colleges and into great careers, so todays investment of $30 million into the state of North Carolina is going to support that, to create great jobs of the future. Im happy to be here as a community college professor myself, Biden said. Im excited to see your programs and what youre doing.

Announced by the National Science Foundation, the $30 million in new investments are funded through the CHIPS and Science Act, federal legislation supports research and job creation in innovative technologies.

This is about innovation. This about the economy. This is about jobs, said Russell Read, the executive director of the National Center for the Biotechnology Workforce at Forsyth Tech.

Ramesh, a junior at Atkins, told Biden about his experiences in a biotechnology class at his school and how it has taught him how to solve problems.

It goes beyond skills. Ive also learned about the importance of biotechnology in solving problems related to the environment, medicine and agriculture, Ramesh said.

He learned Wednesday from his school that he had been chosen to speak at an event about biotechnology.

I didnt know it was going to be that big of a deal, Ramesh said. I didnt know the first lady was going to be here. So it was a complete shock.

Ramesh said he was excited to give his short speech because he believes in the power of biotechnology to solve problems.

I was so nervous but super excited because this is a lifetime opportunity to be able to talk with the first lady, said Ramesh, who plans to study medicine in college. Ill never forget this.

His mother, Vidhya Chandramohan, watched a live video feed of her son talking with Biden in a nearby classroom.

Its unbelievable for him to be here. Im still processing, she said. He did really good. Im so proud of him.

The role of community colleges, and Forsyth Tech in particular, was a recurring theme in the discussion with Biden, a longtime champion of community colleges.

Mayor Allen Joines talked about Forsyth Techs program that allows recent high school graduates to attend the school for free for one year. Katie Benson, a Forsyth Tech graduate, told Biden about how she shifted her career path after reading about regenerative medicine.

I needed to go back to school, and I needed it to be affordable, flexible and done quickly and Forsyth Tech checked all those boxes, said Benson, prompting a burst of applause from Biden.

Benson now works at the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine.

I love that you came back to school. Thats what community colleges are all about, Biden said. What youre doing is amazing.

Half of the $30 million investment announced by the National Science Foundation will go to the Piedmont Triad Regenerative Medicine Engine Team, led by the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine with researchers from Forsyth Tech, N.C. A & T University, RegenMed Development Organization based in Innovation Quarter, and Winston Salem State University. The other half will go North Carolina Sustainable Textile Innovation.

PHOTOS: First Lady Dr. Jill Biden visits Triad
A new martial arts film has innovatively adapted a classic Peking Opera show, integrating action cinema with traditional Chinese opera.

The cast and crew pose for a photo at the premiere of "Blocking the Horse" in Beijing, Jan. 25, 2024. [Photo courtesy of iQiyi Pictures]

Feng Xiaojuns "Blocking the Horse," produced by and starring renowned kung fu star Wu Yue, charts a new path for the genre. The film, based on a Peking Opera show of the same name, delves into a story from the extensive saga of the legendary Yang family.

This Yang family, well-known in China, played a crucial role in the Northern Song dynasty (9601127), safeguarding its reign, as well as guarding the Great Wall and the dynasty's borders. The family boasted several generals and high-ranking military officers, such as Yang Ye and his seven sons, as well as 22 female military officials spanning four generations.

Films that draw upon opera for adaptation remain a rarity in China. This film masterfully incorporates opera elements into its production. Speaking at the premiere in Beijing on Thursday, producer and actor Wu mentioned that China's opera culture inspired him, especially the remarkable duels between individuals. "Therefore, I merged martial arts with opera, utilizing Peking Opera scenes to create exhilarating and suspenseful action sequences. This ultimately resulted in a passionate and action-packed film," he explained.

He further emphasized his belief that a film should stay true to historical reality while introducing innovative elements, making this kung fu opera film a bold and daring endeavor. Several Peking Opera masters, including Tan Zhengyan and Tan Xiaozeng, attended the premiere, praising the film and engaging with the cast and audience.

A poster for "Blocking the Horse." [Image courtesy of iQiyi Pictures]

The film made its online debut on the Cloud Cinema platform of iQiyi, one of China's major video streaming sites, on Jan. 25.
If the number of attempted crossings at the U.S. southwest land border are anything like what they were last year, there will be 1.4 million people apprehended, and more than 2 million interactions with U.S. Border Patrol.

What is increasingly likely is that there wont be a congressional vote to address the crisis. Congressional Republicans began signaling this week that they are pulling support from legislation strengthening border security. The catalyst for the about face was Donald Trumps suggestion that Republicans should oppose a bill to address a record number of immigrants crossing the border. Crossings in December exceeded 225,000, a new record according to U.S. Homeland Security.

Trump, the partys presumptive nominee for president in the 2024 general election, is discouraging GOP lawmakers from negotiating a border security package, which could hand a win to President Joe Biden.

But Democratic Sen. Jon Tester tells Lee Montana newspapers that negotiations arent over. The three-term lawmaker from Big Sandy said a Southern Border package collapse in January would portend some major problems ahead for other priority legislation, including the months past-due farm bill, and passing a federal budget by the September end of the federal fiscal year.

Congress is now five months beyond the budget deadline for 2024.

I hope its not completely collapsed. Im not going to approach it from that standpoint. Its too important of an issue to play politics with, quite honestly, Tester said of the border security package. It really upsets me that when people are making decisions based on keeping an issue alive for the next election when in fact, weve got a problem and weve got a solution in front of us.

We need to support it, or not. Vote on it. Get it to the floor. Debate it and make changes to it. We need to get the doggone thing going, he said.

Details of the border security bill are scarce, which has made it possible for critics to claim the agreement between Republican Senate leaders and Biden doesnt do enough, while supporter of agreement state the opposite.

The agreement includes new technology for detecting fentanyl during inspections, Tester said. Hes carried bills to boost the level of technology used for border security. U.S. Customers and Border Protection indicates that most fentanyl crosses the border at ports of entry hidden in vehicles, including 4,600 pounds since October. A 2-milligram dose is considered potentially lethal, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.

The fentanyl is coming across in cars and trucks. Theres some coming across in backpacks, but the vast majority is coming across in cars and trucks. And if you can, for lack of a better term, x-ray these cars and trucks, stop the ones that do and kick them out, thats a big, big, step forward, Tester said. Increased manpower with some technology, both visual and cables running across the border can help with the folks who are crossing illegally.

Senate Republicans working on the border security package told the Hill this week that it was harmful to sideline border security work because of election politics. Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell reportedly told his caucus a week ago that Republicans werent likely to pass a better deal if they had majorities in both congressional chamber and the presidency.

House Republican opposition to the agreement was more solid. Eastern District U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale was balking at the border agreement weeks before Trump weighed in. Rosendale introduced legislation January 12 to reimpose the policy turning southern border immigrants back into Mexico to wait for asylum hearings.

The U.S. Supreme Court in 2022 sided with Biden in upholding the presidents power to undo the remain-in-Mexico policy that originated during the Trump presidency.

Earlier this month, Rosendale told Lee Montana newspapers there was no need for a border security deal. House Republicans backed a border security bill over a year ago, that the congressman said would do the job.

The House of Representatives delivered HR 2 to the Senate late last spring. And it's got the provisions for the remain-in-Mexico policy so that people that are trying to claim asylum, have to wait in Mexico until their case actually has a hearing. It has provisions in there to make sure that ICE is directed to carry out their statutory obligation to identify through raids, or whatever means, where illegals are and to deport them, Rosendale said. It has provisions in there to make sure that we continue to build the security system, which includes fiber optics, cameras, lighting, roads, and all of the above to make sure that our border is actually secure.

What we have discovered is that when you start implementing those laws, that it not only slows down how many people are entering into the country dramatically, but it also reduces the amount of people that are starting to try and get to our country from other places, Rosendale said.

House Republicans plan to have a floor vote next week on whether to start impeachment proceedings against Alejandro Mayorkas, Homeland Security secretary. Rosendale was one of the lawmakers who filed the bill to calling for the secretarys impeachment.
New labor records for Montana, governor says

Gov. Greg Gianforte said Tuesday Montana set new records for total employment and labor force in December, according to data compiled by Department of Labor and Industry and the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In the last month of the year, Montanas labor force grew by more than 1,200 workers. Total employment is at an all-time high at 563,000 in December, the governor said in a news release.

Since Gianforte took office in 2021, 41,000 jobs have been created in Montana, he said.

Montanas unemployment rate of 3.2% remains below the national unemployment rate of 3.7% in December.

Invest in Montana begins in February

Invest in Helena, a program of the Helena Area Chamber of Commerce, will meet the second Tuesday of every month from February to May.

The first session on Feb. 13, from 4:30-6:30 p.m., kicks off with "Community Visioning."

The event will dive into a brainstorming session to celebrate what makes Helena special and explore avenues for growth.

Invest in Helena is focused on fostering local community development. Participants will receive valuable insights from representatives of community organizations actively addressing and meeting the real-time needs for Helena's growth.

Monthly meetings held at Lewis and Clark Brewing Co.s Power Room, at 1535 Dodge Ave., offer a space for networking and addressing challenges. The following months topics will be, "Build Your Dream Team, Funding Your Vision, and Next Steps to Invest in Your Helena.

Invest in Helena originated as a platform for people to share a common goal to preserve the essence of Helena.

Register now at https://cvent.me/LNRDQE.

Helena WINS brunch seeks retirees

The Helena WINS Retiree Brunch will be 10-11:30 a.m. Feb. 13 at Touchmark, 915 Saddle Drive.

Retirees seeking to re-enter the workforce can connect with potential employers in a relaxed environment. This is an opportunity for retirees and employers to talk about opportunities to help the Helena job market while enjoying brunch.

Attendees can inquire about positions and get more information.

Those interested in attending can RSVP to mwinkle@helenachamber.com or call 406-442-4120. We hope retirees will embrace this opportunity to connect, engage, and make a difference in our Helena job market!
DECATUR  Mount Calvary Lutheran Church will be hosting a chili and soup luncheon on Saturday, Feb. 10, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 2500 S. Franklin Street Road, Decatur.

Cost is $12 for all you can eat chili, hot dog, dessert, and drink. Chili and cheese soup will be available to purchase for take home.

There will be a silent auction of a variety of items, small handmade quilts, gift baskets, handmade trays, lazy Susan, framed photographs, Valentine and Easter wreaths, and local honey and a free will donation bake sale.

For further information contact Pastor Brett Hinrichs at 217-428-0641.

***

Deadline for items in Faith Notes is noon Monday for publication in Saturdays section. Send information to: Herald & Review, 225 S. Main St., Suite 200, Decatur, IL 62523, lmargerum@herald-review.com, or fax (217) 421-7965. Please include a contact phone number for verification.
Gin Mill's 'trendy food' earns recognition

DECATUR  The Gin Mill restaurant has been recognized for offering trendy food skillfully presented in a remarkable setting by the AAA auto club.

The downtown Decatur restaurant earned the three-diamond rating following an unscheduled visit by an AAA inspector. While there have been other three-diamond restaurants in the past, the Gin Mill is currently the only three-diamond restaurant in Decatur.

The notes on the visit read: Old-fashioned cocktails pair nicely with the distinctive variety of dishes served at this eclectic spot located in a historic downtown building. Soups and sandwiches are featured at lunch and include a fried gator po'boy and a hoagie featuring chorizo and chimichurri. Seafood and chops selections are more hearty with such options as their signature Beef Blackstone served over brioche and red pepper crab cakes. A small plates menu features street tacos and a bowl of marinated P.E.I. Mussels.

Restaurants must pass an on-site evaluation with 13 minimum requirements to be approved as a diamond property. There are 57 elements included in the score that determines a propertys diamond level.

There are five diamond levels for restaurants. The designation is good for one year.

Among the unique features that add to its appearance is the bar, which was the original lobby bar of the Congress Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland.

The Gin Mill, located at 124 E. Prairie Ave., turned 10 years old in December.

We focus on consistency with the high quality of our food, and service that you would expect at a high-end steak house in Chicago, owner Kevin Dawson said. We hope the Gin Mill will go down in Decatur history books as one of the citys famous restaurants.

Leamon earns sex abuse prevention certification

DECATUR  Decatur Family YMCAs Candace Leamon has earned the Certified Praesidium Guardian designation from Praesidium, a national leader in risk management of sexual abuse of vulnerable populations.

Leamon joins a community of professionals who have demonstrated that they are committed to creating a culture of safety through risk management and best practices in sexual abuse prevention.

To attain certification, Leamon successfully completed a robust process, where she became proficient in best practices in organizational abuse prevention that includes specific steps to prevent incidents of abuse by employees, volunteers, or program participants. Leamon also demonstrated her knowledge on how to respond effectively if an allegation or incident occurs, and how to ensure that Decatur Family YMCA stays current and consistent in the implementation of abuse prevention best practices.

Leamon will be certified for three years, and during this time will continuously work towards creating a safe environment and demonstrating their commitment to protecting those in their care from abuse.

LLCU promotes Ashley Brandenburg

DECATUR  Land of Lincoln Credit Union has announced that Ashley Brandenburg has been promoted to the role of assistant vice president controller.

Brandenburg will be monitoring Land of Lincoln Credit Unions financial health and managing its financial records.

Ashely has been with the credit union for a short time but has already made a tremendous impact while overseeing our accounting department, stated Robert Ares, LLCU chief executive officer. In her time here, Ashley has proven her vast knowledge in accounting and has implemented thorough practices in that area. I am confident that Ashley is the best fit for this role and that she will continue to serve the credit union with diligence and efficiency.

Brandenburg previously served as LLCUs accounting manager. She came to LLCU from Wolfram Research, Inc. out of Champaign, where she was an accounting specialist and tax accountant.

Her office is located at 4850 E. Prosperity Place in Decatur.

Randall Residences staffers earn dementia certifications

DECATUR  Randall Residence of Decatur is proud to announce that Beth Bolyard, Diana Voiles and Robin Luna have earned Certified Dementia Practitioner certification.

The Certified Dementia Practitioner certification is a rigorous program designed to equip professionals with the specialized knowledge and skills required to provide exceptional care and support for individuals living with dementia.

This certification underscores their commitment to excellence in dementia care and positions Randall Residence of Decatur as the go-to resource for dementia education in Macon County.

"This achievement shows our joint commitment to create remarkable living experiences for seniors in Decatur and Macon County," said Christopher Randall, CEO of Randall Residence.

The community recognizes the growing need for specialized dementia care and is dedicated to serving as a hub for education and support. Families and individuals seeking information, resources, and compassionate care for dementia can turn to Randall Residence of Decatur with confidence.

Most common causes of workplace stress Most common causes of workplace stress Interpersonal issues Change in leadership
Racking them up at Stix on 36

Pool players have a new place to rack them up with the opening of Stix on 36, located at 3645 U.S. Route 36 East, Decatur.

The new business is situated next to the Chevy Museum.

Along with the six pool tables, customers can partake in a game of darts and order food from the menu. Shuffle board is currently a choice of games; however, the owners may eliminate this recreational activity. "Because we're getting seven more pool tables," said co-owner Bryan Hott.

With a large selection of pool tables, Stix has already hosted pool tournaments, including one this weekend.

The menu lists various items, including unique burgers, Italian beef, wraps, wings, sides and salads. A fully-stocked bar is located near the front of the building.

Hott and co-owners Tom and Amber Sheets opened the business at the beginning of the week. They answered the call for another pool hall after Starship Billiards on Pershing Road was destroyed by fire in 2020.

"All of the owners used to play," he said. "Well, we still play pool."

The Hub ready to help the community

The space above the Decatur Public Library is now home to The Hub, a community-based facility housing collaborative agencies to grow a business or individual skills.

The entrance at 120 N. Franklin St. leads to five organizations  Project Read Plus, Thinkwell Makerspace, Workforce Investment Solutions, Community Investment Corporation of Decatur and, the private health clinic, Everside Health Clinic.

The process to create such a space began in June 2022.

The Decatur City Council approved a contract to renovate the partially-empty space of the library building, adding classrooms, offices, and other interior improvements, a city of Decatur news release said. Council members agreed the investment aligns perfectly with their priority goal of supporting workforce development.

Most of the funding came from American Rescue Plan Act monies.

Comfort Keepers moves to new location

Comfort Keepers, an in-home, non-medical care resource for seniors, has moved from Oakland Avenue to 332 W. Marion Ave., Ste. N2, Forsyth.

Jason Blunck and his wife Kristie are the owners of the Comfort Keepers. We offer respite care, in-home healthcare services for seniors, medication reminders, light housekeeping, he said.

The Bluncks took over ownership a year ago. However, Comfort Keepers has been located in Decatur for more than 20 years. We want to keep the jobs in Decatur, but, most importantly, take care for our seniors, he said. So this is our grand re-opening now.

Online applications for employees and residents are available through Comfort Keepers website. Were always looking for caregivers, someone who is passionate about helping seniors, Blunck said.

The move to Forsyth was a matter of convenience, the owners said. The building houses multiple businesses. We didnt need a free-standing, brick-and-mortar anymore. We just needed a small rental space, Blunck said. But this has been a huge asset so far.

23 Decatur restaurants from our past Blue Mill Brown Jug Carlos O'Kelley's Chili Parlor Country Cupboard Dante's Restaurant Elams Root Beer Stand Jimmy Ryan's Lone Star Mr. G's Ponderosa Steak House Rax Restaurant Red Wheel Restaurant Redwood Sandy's Shaw's Restaurant Shenannigans Stoney's Restaurant Swartz Restaurant Tater's Tokyo Garden Tom's Grill Tops Big Boy
EFFINGHAM  Four Central Illinois men were among those arrested as part of an anti-human trafficking operation in the Effingham area.

The Illinois State Police said in a news release that its Division of Criminal Investigation Trafficking Enforcement Bureau led the operation on Jan. 25 that focused on identifying individuals seeking to engage in commercial sex acts.

Arrested were Daniel A. Bennett, 38, of Bethany; Scott A. Grote, 38, of Centralia; David L. Hackett, 71, of Tuscola, and Thad D. White, 50, of Cowden. Also arrested was Justin P. Covey, 32, of Irvine, Kentucky.

Bennett faces preliminary charges of indecent solicitation of a child, traveling to meet a child and solicitation to meet a child. The four other men face preliminary charges of solicitation of a sexual act.

In addition to various State Police agencies, the Southern Illinois Drug Task Force, Central Illinois Enforcement Group, Effingham Police Department, Christian County Sheriffs Department, and Homeland Security Investigations participated in the operation. The Effingham County States Attorneys Office also provided support for the operation.

What is the actual cost of crime in America's largest citiesand which spend the most and least per capita? What is the actual cost of crime in America's largest citiesand which spend the most and least per capita? Key findings The safest cities in America Are larger cities safer or more dangerous? The most dangerous cities in America
Workers work at the construction site for the expansion project of Kashgar Laining International Airport in Kashgar, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Aug. 7, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]



A new air cargo route was launched on Friday, linking Kashgar Prefecture in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Moscow, capital of Russia.

Operated by Russia's Volga-Dnepr Airlines, an IL-76 freighter took off from southern Xinjiang's Kashgar Laining International Airport on Friday, carrying nearly 40 tonnes of equipment, electronic products and other goods from China. The flight was headed for Moscow.

It is the first international cargo route opened in Kashgar this year. The flight is scheduled to operate every Thursday, with a flight time of about six hours, according to the airport.

"The launch of the new route will provide strong support for trade between China and countries in Central Asia and Europe," said Zheng Dong, general manager of Xinjiang Commercial Logistics Group.

An important aviation hub along the Belt and Road, the airport connects capitals and major cities of eight neighboring countries, including Pakistan and Tajikistan, via a flight that is only one and a half hours.

Since 2019, the airport had launched six international cargo routes to Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore of Pakistan, Budapest of Hungary, Liege of Belgium and Cologne of Germany by the end of 2023.

In 2023, the airport completed the renovation and expansion projects to reach the capacity of 5 million passenger throughput and 60,000 tonnes of cargo and mail volume per year.
SPRINGFIELD  A bipartisan task force of legislators and journalism industry leaders has filed a report to the General Assembly detailing the decline of local journalism in Illinois and exploring ways the legislature can help revive it.

The Local Journalism Task Force, created in January 2022, found that about one-third of Illinois counties have either no source of local news or a single source, citing research by the Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism.

Sen. Steve Stadelman, D-Rockford, said he plans to introduce a bill this session including some of the task forces suggestions.

The policies recommended by the task force are a mix of strategies intended to increase funding, mitigate high operational costs and keep newsrooms local. Many of the recommendations have been implemented or introduced in other states.

The findings

The task force heard testimony and examined data and research from other experts and organizations around the state to create a final report detailing their findings and policy suggestions. Among its most startling discoveries is that one-third of Illinois newspapers have closed since 2005, creating an 86% decline in newspaper jobs over that span.

The report noted that as people consume more news online and local businesses are replaced by chains, subscription and advertising revenue decrease while operating costs  like buying paper and postage  continue to increase. The report said that means people have taken the hit, sometimes in the form of layoffs to help outlets lower expenses.

Rural areas are most affected, but the report noted that news outlets in urban areas like Chicago are also affected. The Chicago Tribunes staff decreased by 82% from 2006 to 2022, according to research by historian Jon Lauck. The task force also found broadcast outlets and outlets covering minority communities in urban areas are also struggling.

As a result of declining coverage, the task force said people in these underserved areas are missing out on crucial information.

In too many towns, no one is covering local city council meetings, Stadelman told reporters at a news conference. No one is covering local school board meetings. So, how can residents know whats going on?

The report noted that with about 8,500 units of local government in the state, some offices might not comply with appropriate rules and regulations. The task force said journalists can help expose those situations and hold leaders accountable.

The task force cited a story about how The Harvey World Herald caught Harvey officials violating the open meetings act and prompted reform in that area.

Recommendations

The task force suggested a series of tax credits that could give money back to people who subscribe to local outlets, small businesses that spend money advertising in local news, and outlets that pay journalists at least $50,000 a year.

The task force also suggested a tax exemption that would allow local outlets to not pay business and occupation taxes. A similar exemption was passed in Washington and took effect Jan. 1. Washingtons Office of Financial Management estimates the exemption will lower state revenue by $1.2 million when implemented for a full fiscal year, according to the report.

An advertising set-aside policy requiring a certain percentage of government advertising money be spent on advertising space in local media was also suggested by the task force. According to the report, $9.9 million of government advertising money was spent across 220 local outlets last year in New York City, which instituted a similar policy in 2019.

Other suggestions in the report include giving grant and fellowship programs state funding to help pay for journalist training and employment. Four states have implemented these strategies.

New Jerseys grant consortium program, which funds a variety of local news programs, operates with $4 million in funding, of which $3 million comes from the state. California, New Mexico and Washington each work with local universities to place fellows in local newsrooms. Californias program is potentially the largest and most expensive of these, according to the report, with $25 million allocated to it with a goal of placing 120 fellows over the course of three years.

Other solutions proposed by the task force include incentives for large media companies to share their ad revenue with local media and incentives to donate closing news outlets to community organizations before they are purchased by larger national corporations.

Next steps

Task force member Sen. Donald DeWitte, R-St. Charles, shared concerns about mixing state-sponsored support and independent journalism. He said legislators need to carefully consider any next steps to avoid infringing on free speech, influencing coverage and regulating the definition of journalism.

I just want to be sure, particularly as we head into another election season here in Illinois  any decisions we make may have an effect on our constitutional liberties, and that they are being made for all the right reasons, DeWitte said.

But Stadelman, who was previously a broadcast journalist in Rockford, said state involvement in news distribution is common, citing state public broadcasting subsidies and Europes support of its local news.

I spent most of my life and career in news. I was skeptical of government involvement in news, he said. I think were at a point where there are ways that this can be done carefully and thoughtfully.

Editors note: Two members of the Local Journalism Task Force  Sam Fisher and Jason Piscia  are also members of the Illinois Press Foundation board. The IPF operates Capitol News Illinois and provides it funding.

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 2021 State Fair 2021 State Fair
JAN. 31

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

FEB. 7

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

FEB. 10

WINTER HONEY PANCAKE BREAKFASTRichlands, Va. Richlands First Methodist Church would like to invite the community to the 12th annual Winter Honey Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, Feb. 10 from 8-10 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall of the church, located at 402 Suffolk Avenue, Richlands, Virginia. The cost for the all you can eat pancakes for your Honey is $10 for adults and $5 for children. All proceeds from your donation will go towards community mission projects. Join us for a great time of fellowship and some good eating while supporting numerous opportunities in our community. For more information, call (276) 245-7559. And dont forget the GRAND EXPOSITION on Saturday, Feb. 10, from 10 a.m.  3 p.m. at the Richlands Police Department Complex in downtown Richlands, Virginia.

FEB. 13

SUICIDE SURVIVORS SUPPORT GROUP OF THE TRI-CITIESNavigating the Ocean of Grief after the Suicide Death of a Loved One, facilitated by Barbara Sims, Ph.D., who lost her son, Christopher Michael Price, to suicide on January 5, 2018. We meet the second Tuesday of each month at the Summit Leadership offices, 3515 Bristol Highway, Johnson City, TN, 6-7 p.m. To get on the contact list for meeting notices or for additional information about this support group, contact Barb Sims at barb@bsims.net.

FEB. 14

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

FEB. 21

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

FEB. 28

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

FEB. 21

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

FEB. 28

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

MARCH 2

THE VELVETEEN RABBIT FEATURING BARTER PLAYERSAs the Velveteen Rabbit dreams of becoming a real live rabbit, the wise old Skin Horse tells him he will only become real when a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but really loves you. Is he made real through the love of a human? Saturday, March 2, 3 p.m., Tazewell Middle School Auditorium, Tazewell, Va. For more information and a brochure call 276-963-3385 or email joinCARTtoday@gmail.com. Check us out on FACEBOOK. Tickets and memberships may be purchased at the door.

MARCH 6

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

MARCH 12

SUICIDE SURVIVORS SUPPORT GROUP OF THE TRI-CITIESNavigating the Ocean of Grief after the Suicide Death of a Loved One, facilitated by Barbara Sims, Ph.D., who lost her son, Christopher Michael Price, to suicide on January 5, 2018. We meet the second Tuesday of each month at the Summit Leadership offices, 3515 Bristol Highway, Johnson City, TN, 6-7 p.m. To get on the contact list for meeting notices or for additional information about this support group, contact Barb Sims at barb@bsims.net.

MARCH 13

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

MARCH 20

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

MARCH 27

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

APRIL 3

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

APRIL 9

SUICIDE SURVIVORS SUPPORT GROUP OF THE TRI-CITIESNavigating the Ocean of Grief after the Suicide Death of a Loved One, facilitated by Barbara Sims, Ph.D., who lost her son, Christopher Michael Price, to suicide on January 5, 2018. We meet the second Tuesday of each month at the Summit Leadership offices, 3515 Bristol Highway, Johnson City, TN, 6-7 p.m. To get on the contact list for meeting notices or for additional information about this support group, contact Barb Sims at barb@bsims.net.

APRIL 10

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

APRIL 17

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

APRIL 24

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

MAY 1

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

MAY 8

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

MAY 14

SUICIDE SURVIVORS SUPPORT GROUP OF THE TRI-CITIESNavigating the Ocean of Grief after the Suicide Death of a Loved One, facilitated by Barbara Sims, Ph.D., who lost her son, Christopher Michael Price, to suicide on January 5, 2018. We meet the second Tuesday of each month at the Summit Leadership offices, 3515 Bristol Highway, Johnson City, TN, 6-7 p.m. To get on the contact list for meeting notices or for additional information about this support group, contact Barb Sims at barb@bsims.net.

MAY 15

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

MAY 22

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

MAY 29

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

JUNE 5

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

JUNE 11

SUICIDE SURVIVORS SUPPORT GROUP OF THE TRI-CITIESNavigating the Ocean of Grief after the Suicide Death of a Loved One, facilitated by Barbara Sims, Ph.D., who lost her son, Christopher Michael Price, to suicide on January 5, 2018. We meet the second Tuesday of each month at the Summit Leadership offices, 3515 Bristol Highway, Johnson City, TN, 6-7 p.m. To get on the contact list for meeting notices or for additional information about this support group, contact Barb Sims at barb@bsims.net.

JUNE 12

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

JUNE 19

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

JUNE 26

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

JULY 3

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

JULY 9

SUICIDE SURVIVORS SUPPORT GROUP OF THE TRI-CITIESNavigating the Ocean of Grief after the Suicide Death of a Loved One, facilitated by Barbara Sims, Ph.D., who lost her son, Christopher Michael Price, to suicide on January 5, 2018. We meet the second Tuesday of each month at the Summit Leadership offices, 3515 Bristol Highway, Johnson City, TN, 6-7 p.m. To get on the contact list for meeting notices or for additional information about this support group, contact Barb Sims at barb@bsims.net.

JULY 10

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

JULY 17

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

JULY 24

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

JULY 31

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

AUG. 7

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

AUG. 13

SUICIDE SURVIVORS SUPPORT GROUP OF THE TRI-CITIESNavigating the Ocean of Grief after the Suicide Death of a Loved One, facilitated by Barbara Sims, Ph.D., who lost her son, Christopher Michael Price, to suicide on January 5, 2018. We meet the second Tuesday of each month at the Summit Leadership offices, 3515 Bristol Highway, Johnson City, TN, 6-7 p.m. To get on the contact list for meeting notices or for additional information about this support group, contact Barb Sims at barb@bsims.net.

AUG. 14

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

AUG. 21

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

AUG. 28

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

SEPT. 4

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

SEPT. 10

SUICIDE SURVIVORS SUPPORT GROUP OF THE TRI-CITIESNavigating the Ocean of Grief after the Suicide Death of a Loved One, facilitated by Barbara Sims, Ph.D., who lost her son, Christopher Michael Price, to suicide on January 5, 2018. We meet the second Tuesday of each month at the Summit Leadership offices, 3515 Bristol Highway, Johnson City, TN, 6-7 p.m. To get on the contact list for meeting notices or for additional information about this support group, contact Barb Sims at barb@bsims.net.

SEPT. 11

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

SEPT. 18

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

SEPT. 25

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

OCT. 2

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

OCT. 8

SUICIDE SURVIVORS SUPPORT GROUP OF THE TRI-CITIESNavigating the Ocean of Grief after the Suicide Death of a Loved One, facilitated by Barbara Sims, Ph.D., who lost her son, Christopher Michael Price, to suicide on January 5, 2018. We meet the second Tuesday of each month at the Summit Leadership offices, 3515 Bristol Highway, Johnson City, TN, 6-7 p.m. To get on the contact list for meeting notices or for additional information about this support group, contact Barb Sims at barb@bsims.net.

OCT. 9

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

OCT. 16

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

OCT. 23

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

OCT. 30

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

NOV. 6

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

NOV. 12

SUICIDE SURVIVORS SUPPORT GROUP OF THE TRI-CITIESNavigating the Ocean of Grief after the Suicide Death of a Loved One, facilitated by Barbara Sims, Ph.D., who lost her son, Christopher Michael Price, to suicide on January 5, 2018. We meet the second Tuesday of each month at the Summit Leadership offices, 3515 Bristol Highway, Johnson City, TN, 6-7 p.m. To get on the contact list for meeting notices or for additional information about this support group, contact Barb Sims at barb@bsims.net.

NOV. 13

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

NOV. 20

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

NOV. 27

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

DEC. 4

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

DEC. 10

SUICIDE SURVIVORS SUPPORT GROUP OF THE TRI-CITIESNavigating the Ocean of Grief after the Suicide Death of a Loved One, facilitated by Barbara Sims, Ph.D., who lost her son, Christopher Michael Price, to suicide on January 5, 2018. We meet the second Tuesday of each month at the Summit Leadership offices, 3515 Bristol Highway, Johnson City, TN, 6-7 p.m. To get on the contact list for meeting notices or for additional information about this support group, contact Barb Sims at barb@bsims.net.

NOV. 13

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

NOV. 20

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

NOV. 27

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

DEC. 4

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

DEC. 10

SUICIDE SURVIVORS SUPPORT GROUP OF THE TRI-CITIESNavigating the Ocean of Grief after the Suicide Death of a Loved One, facilitated by Barbara Sims, Ph.D., who lost her son, Christopher Michael Price, to suicide on January 5, 2018. We meet the second Tuesday of each month at the Summit Leadership offices, 3515 Bristol Highway, Johnson City, TN, 6-7 p.m. To get on the contact list for meeting notices or for additional information about this support group, contact Barb Sims at barb@bsims.net.

DEC. 11

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

DEC. 18

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

DEC. 25

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.

2025

JAN. 1

AL-ANONA support group for friends and family of alcoholics and addicts meeting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the basement of Lebanon United Methodist Church in Elk Creek, Virginia. For more information, call 276-655-4941.
Chickens could soon be clucking next door to your residence in Washington County, Virginia.

The Washington County Planning Commission has given the green light to allowing chickens in residential communities to keep chickens in their backyards.

Restrictions apply.

For one, you must have at least one acre of land, and you can only have four chickens  hens only and no roosters  in the R-1 and R-2 residential districts.

Chicken coops must also be located 35 feet from any other residence and at least 20 feet from all property lines.

I think this is a good balance, said Commissioner Paul Widener at the Jan. 22 meeting of the Planning Commission in Abingdon, Virginia.

County officials have sought a solution to allowing chickens in residential communities since last year, when a pair of homeowners in the Friendship Estates subdivision requested having chickens in their yard.

Theres been a desire by some folks to have chickens, said Stephen Richardson, the countys zoning administrator, at the Jan. 22 meeting of the planning commission.

The countys Chicken Committee studied whats happening in other Virginia localities  most notably Spotsylvania County, Richardson said.

The commission voted 4-to-1 on Jan. 22 to approve the new ordinance and recommend it to be reviewed by the Washington County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 13.

The supervisors must approve the ordinance before it becomes law.

I just have major concerns that this is going to create a lot of problems for our Board of Supervisors, basically, because the brunt is going to be on when citizens start to complain about the nuisance that these chickens have caused, said Commissioner Dulcie Mumpower, who voted against the ordinance.

I just dont think we have the staff to enforce it, said Mumpower, a former member of the Board of Supervisors. Furthermore, I dont really think that its enforceable.

To that, Widener said, Anything we do, theres an enforcement mechanism issue, because one doesnt exist for our county.
EFFINGHAM  Four Central Illinois men were among those arrested as part of an anti-human trafficking operation in the Effingham area.

The Illinois State Police said in a news release that its Division of Criminal Investigation Trafficking Enforcement Bureau led the operation on Jan. 25 that focused on identifying individuals seeking to engage in commercial sex acts.

Arrested were Daniel A. Bennett, 38, of Bethany; Scott A. Grote, 38, of Centralia; David L. Hackett, 71, of Tuscola, and Thad D. White, 50, of Cowden. Also arrested was Justin P. Covey, 32, of Irvine, Kentucky.

Bennett faces preliminary charges of indecent solicitation of a child, traveling to meet a child and solicitation to meet a child. The four other men face preliminary charges of solicitation of a sexual act.

In addition to various State Police agencies, the Southern Illinois Drug Task Force, Central Illinois Enforcement Group, Effingham Police Department, Christian County Sheriffs Department, and Homeland Security Investigations participated in the operation. The Effingham County States Attorneys Office also provided support for the operation.
NEOGA  Back in 2012, then Neoga Junior-Senior High School student Allie Keck overcame stage fright as she performed "Valerie" by Amy Winehouse during the campus talent show in the gym.

"That was the first time I felt like this was something I could do without wanting to run off the stage," Keck recalled of this experience during her senior year. Keck subsequently began taking professional singing gigs while completing her college studies and then moved to Nashville, Tenn., to pursue a career in music.

On Friday, Keck returned to her hometown high school for the first time as a performer who now has the experience and nationwide exposure that comes from competing on NBC's "The Voice," where she made it to the second round in spring 2023. She sang and shared stories during an assembly for kindergartners through 12th graders in the same gym that hosted the 2012 talent show.

Keck said she needed a lot of persistence to get selected for competition on "The Voice," where she joined the team of celebrity judge and music star Kelly Clarkson. The Neoga native, sporting the Team Kelly jacket she received on the show, said she auditioned two times while in college and then four more times while in Nashville.

"I wanted to prove a point because they told me 'no' five times," Keck said of her repeated auditions. She advised the students that such steadfastness will be important for them if they choose to pursue a career in music or other fields. "Be ready to be told 'no' a lot and just keep going."

Keck was introduced at the assembly by her parents, Brad and Leah Keck. He works for Country Financial Insurance and she is a librarian at the Neoga Elementary School. Brad Keck said he hopes that his daughter's determination and experiences will serve as an inspiration for the students.

"As kids from Neoga, I want you to know that no dream is too big," Keck said. He noted that their family has gotten to hang out backstage with country band Parmalee when his daughter was their opening act and got to meet TV and radio host Carson Daly on the West Coast during her time on "The Voice." "It's been a pretty cool ride."

While on "The Voice," Keck opened her competition by singing Paris (Ooh La La) by Grace Potter and Nocturnals. Keck said she had never felt as nervous before a performance and was relieved when celebrity judges started voting for her by turning their chairs around in her direction.

Keck was subsequently paired with fellow Team Kelly member Cait Martin for the Battle Rounds, where their competitive duet featured "It Must Have Been Love" by Roxette. Keck said neither she, Martin or Clarkson were eager to have this 1980s song be the duet, but the rules of "The Voice" resulted in its selection. Although Keck lost out to Marin, she said they have stayed in touch.

"Cait is one of the sweetest people I have met in my life," Keck said. "It is very difficult to compete again someone like that."

The set list for the Neoga school performance included "Valerie" from Keck's campus talent show days; her 2022 single "Not Your Problem;" "Let it Go" from Disney's "Frozen;" her soon-to-be released single "Fall Out;" and her 2023 single "Kill Me Slower" which was released right after "The Voice."

In addition to spending time in the recording studio, Keck is continuing to work in real estate in Nashville while taking singing gigs in that area and back in East Central Illinois. She was set to perform Friday night at the Winter Social fundraiser at the Neal Center YMCA in Toledo.

Keck said she plans to continue performing music in a variety of venues because that is her passion, adding that she particularly enjoys singing for her young nieces and nephews.

"Right now, that is one of my favorite things to do," Keck said, noting that some of her young family members were in the audience on Friday at her alma mater.

Close NBC's "The Voice" spring 2023 contestant Allie Keck, who is a Neoga native, performs in summer 2023 at House Brothers Tavern in Mattoon. "The Voice" performer Allie Keck, who is a Neoga native and Lake Land College alumnus, displays her Team Kelly jacket on set. Allie Keck sings with Cait Martin on "It Must Have Been Love" in a competitive duet during the "Battle Rounds" stage of NBC's "The Voice." Neoga native and Illinois State University alumna Allie Keck is pictured during her blind auditions appearance on the episode of NBC's "The Voice" in spring 2023. Neoga native and Illinois State University alumna Allie Keck performs "Paris (Ooh La La)" during the blind auditions episode of NBC's "The Voice" that was broadcast in spring 2023. She then advanced to the next stage of the competition. Photos: Neoga native, 'The Voice' contestant Allie Keck Neoga native and Lake Land College alumnus Allie Keck has continued performing and recording music since being a contestant on NBC's "The Voice" in spring 2023. NBC's "The Voice" spring 2023 contestant Allie Keck, who is a Neoga native, performs in summer 2023 at House Brothers Tavern in Mattoon. "The Voice" performer Allie Keck, who is a Neoga native and Lake Land College alumnus, displays her Team Kelly jacket on set. Allie Keck sings with Cait Martin on "It Must Have Been Love" in a competitive duet during the "Battle Rounds" stage of NBC's "The Voice." Neoga native and Illinois State University alumna Allie Keck is pictured during her blind auditions appearance on the episode of NBC's "The Voice" in spring 2023. Neoga native and Illinois State University alumna Allie Keck performs "Paris (Ooh La La)" during the blind auditions episode of NBC's "The Voice" that was broadcast in spring 2023. She then advanced to the next stage of the competition.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnsons budget that he passed last November deliberately underfunded programs for asylum-seekers. The meager appropriation authority could be exhausted by April, but nobody knows yet what the city plans to do when it reaches that point.

Also last November, Gov. J.B. Pritzker made it clear to reporters that the state doesnt run shelters, and said he was waiting for the city to recommend shelter sites. The state doesnt control property in the city of Chicago that could provide a location. The city really has to do that.

Pritzker also criticized the city for not asking the General Assembly for additional money and noted, we have spent much more money to support the system of asylum-seekers arriving here than the city has.

In December, the state declined to fund a huge, 2,000-bed tent shelter in the citys Brighton Park neighborhood after an evaluation of a city contractors report by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency found that the remediation completed by the city did not meet IEPA standards to receive [a formal letter stating no more mediation was needed] and was therefore not approved, an IEPA spokesperson reiterated last week.

The city was furious at the denial, and Mayor Johnson complained to reporters again last week that the state still has not fulfilled its promise to open those 2,000 new beds. The state claimed then and has ever since then that, despite repeated requests, the city has not yet offered up any more sites. Mayor Johnson told reporters this was not true. Im still checking on this.

Also in December, Mayor Johnson announced a program to ticket and even impound buses carrying migrants to the city from Texas unless drivers followed rules for when and where their passengers could be dropped off. That quickly had the effect of forcing the bus companies to dump their human cargo in the suburbs and exurbs, where they are then directed to public transportation to Chicago. During the week ending January 19, not a single bus from Texas arrived directly in Chicago, according to a document released to city officials.

The city has opened no new migrant shelters since November, although Chicago officials made it appear as if they were still working on plans to do so in December, specifically a shelter on the citys Northwest Side at a site owned by the Catholic Archdiocese. Will Chicago still open and operate that shelter? No. But the city has been hoping that the state and/or the Archdiocese could open it and now Im hearing that the shelter might possibly go forward.

On January 12, city officials went even further and told state legislators the city had begun planning for rightsizing its shelter system. Thats corporate-speak for downsizing, although a city official now says they probably shouldnt have used that word.

And then last week, Mayor Johnson told reporters that the state government can build a shelter anywhere in the state of Illinois, adding the state does not have to build a shelter in Chicago.

This, of course, ignores the fact that the migrants stated preference is a Chicago destination. More importantly, its also the politically targeted destination set by the Texas governor. In other words, the mayor can say what he wants, but theyre coming regardless.

His comment also ignores the fact that the state has spent hundreds of millions of dollars on infrastructure and caring for asylum-seekers in Chicago. Expanding that out would be prohibitively expensive and disperse scarce human resources. There are only so many people who are willing to do the work and qualified to do it. Dispersing those workers throughout a large geographic area would make their task a lot tougher. It may be unfair to the city, but thats where the infrastructure is.

Not to mention that suburban mayors arent exactly falling all over themselves to take any of these folks in. When a reporter asked Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle last week if any suburban mayors had taken up her offer to open shelters, Preckwinkle said, Those conversations didn't result in offers of assistance.

Its becoming more clear almost every day that, despite his initial promises to welcome the new arrivals with open arms and share with them the citys abundance, Mayor Johnsons aim for weeks if not months has been to pull back from the task of accepting and caring for the continuing influx of asylum-seekers and return to his progressive agenda, like banning natural gas connections in most new construction.

Meanwhile, April gets closer every day.
Bobby Boy Bakeshop made the semifinalist list of the 2024 James Beard Award, nominated in the category for Outstanding Bakery.

Bobby Boy Bakeshop was the only food business or person from the Triad nominated this year. Previous semifinalists in Winston-Salem have included Peyton Smith, the chef and owner of Mission Pizza Napoletana, and Stephanie Tyson, the chef and co-owner of Sweet Potatoes; and Heffs Burger Club.

The husband-and-wife team of John and Lucia Bobby opened Bobby Boy in October 2019 at 1100 Reynolda, offering a variety of distinctive breads and pastries. The shop also often caters snacks and full dinners for Caviste wine shop, with which it shares the building.

We were completely taken by surprise. It was amazing, John Bobby said on receiving the news. As a young chef, you think, One day Id like to get a James Beard Award, but then at some point that goes on the back burner and you just focus on the work.

A line outside Bobby Boy, especially on Saturday mornings, is a common site on Reynolda Road. The bakery plans to build a larger kitchen in the old Coca-Coca bottling plant on Marshall Street. The plant is currently being renovated into a food hall.

In addition to its retail shop, Bobby Boy sells baked goods to Wake Forest University as well as farm CSAs, Sayso Coffee and the Downtown Grille.

Bobby said the new location, which he hopes will open in August, will have a larger production facility as well as a second retail shop. That will give Bobby Boy a much-needed increase in production.

Right now, in this 700-square-foot kitchen, were at the max. Were a 24-hour facility, Bobby said.

As with the last few years, North Carolina got quite a few semifinalist nods from the James Beard Awards this year.

Dean Neff of Seabird in Wilmington is a semifinalist in the nationwide Outstanding Chef category.

Two restaurants were named in the Outstanding Restaurant category: The Market Place in Asheville and The Restaurant at Gideon Ridge Inn in Blowing Rock.

Ajja in Raleigh made the list in the Best New Restaurant category

Around the state, five North Carolina restaurants chefs were named among the 20 semifinalists for the Best Chef Southeast: Daryl Cooper and Oscar Johnson of Jimmy Pearls, Charlotte; Jamie Davis of The Hackney, Washington; Jason Sellers of Plant, Asheville; Kanlaya Gun Supachana of Dalaya Thai Cuisine, Sylva; and Preeti Waas of Cheeni Indian Food Emporium, Raleigh.

Other semifinalists from North Carolina are Crawford and Son in Raleigh for Outstanding Hospitality and Bittersweet in Raleigh for Outstanding Bar.

The James Beard Awards will announce the nominees (or finalists) for the 2024 awards on April 3. Winners will be announced at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony on June 10 in Chicago.

For more information, visit jamesbeard.org.
Q: Are the private schools that receive NC Opportunity Scholarships required to offer the same services to all students, especially special needs students, as public schools? If not, why not? T.K.

Answer: No, private schools do not have to offer the same level of services as public schools, said Kathy Hastings, a spokeswoman for the N.C. State Education Assistance Authority, the agency that administers financial aid and education savings programs in North Carolina.

The N.C. General Assembly created the school voucher program in 2013 to pay tuition and fees for a student to attend an eligible private school. The amount of the scholarship is based on the familys income.

Children who are placed in a nonpublic school by their parents do not have a right to receive all of the special education and related services that they would receive if enrolled in the public schools, according to the agencys website, neseaa.edu.

Likewise, a private school does not have a legal obligation to provide special education and related services to students with disabilities.

Parents are encouraged to select a nonpublic school carefully and to establish a plan prior to enrollment which meets their childs educational needs.

Hastings said that private schools not receiving funding under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act are not required to have special education services.

However, private schools may choose to provide these services. Also, IDEA requires public schools to use a certain portion of their federal funds to provide special education services to private school students, including Opportunity Scholarship and ESA+ students, she said.

Q: Where can I get paper state and federal tax forms?  L.E.

Answer: The IRS and N.C. Department of Revenue have the forms and instructions available on their websites. The forms can be printed them out from your home computer.

For federal tax forms, you can go to www.usa.gov/get-tax-forms#item-35432, click on Get federal tax return forms and file by mail. There you can print out various federal tax forms and instructions, including the 1040 form. You can also order them and the U.S. Postal Service will deliver the forms to you.

For North Carolina tax forms, you can go to www.ncdor.gov/2023-d-400-handwritten-version/open.

Central Library Friends in need book donations

The Friends of Central Library, 660 W. Fifth St., Winston-Salem, is accepting donations of books and other media for its ongoing Lobby Book Sale and spring 2024 book sale.

All donations benefit the Central Library collections and various programs, such as the Childrens and Teens Summer Reading Programs and the Junior Library Guild subscriptions.

The group is looking for used books, DVDs, CDs and other media in good condition. Of special interest are history and military books, biographies, literary classics, North Carolina and regional titles, childrens books, academic books, current textbooks and hardcover cookbooks.

Donations are tax deductible and receipts are provided upon request. Books may be dropped off in bags or boxes at the first-floor information desk from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday.

For more information, larger donations or special collections, email FriendsofCentralLibrary@gmail.com or call 336-327-7888.
A juvenile was charged Thursday with making threats of violence toward two schools in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, authorities said Friday.

The juvenile was charged with six counts of communicating a threat of mass violence on educational property, the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office said.

The juvenile also is charged one count of extortion and 13 counts of cyber bullying, the sheriff's office said.

Between the spring of 2023 and this month, the sheriff's office received multiple reports of threats of mass violence against two local schools, the sheriff's office said.

The sheriff's office didn't identify the schools targeted by the juvenile, citing the ongoing investigation.

Investigators then linked the threats to the juvenile, the sheriff's office said.

The sheriff's office and officials with Forsyth County Juvenile Justice obtained a secure custody order Friday for the juvenile, and the juvenile was taken into custody, the sheriff's office said.

The sheriff's office didn't identify the juvenile because of his or her age.

Brent Campbell, a spokesman for the school district, declined to comment on the case.

"We will not tolerate threats of violence to a school, to staff, or students," Superintendent Tricia McManus said in a statement Friday night.

"We appreciate our partners at the Forsyth County Sheriffs Office who worked tirelessly with our security team to investigate these threats," McManus said. "These charges send a loud and clear message this behavior is disruptive and detrimental to our learning environment and the community."

"Students must understand the gravity of their actions can have lifelong consequences, McManus said.
The Ames Piano Quartet, 3 p.m. Sunday, Johnny Carson Theater at the Lied Center for Performing Arts. The Ames Piano Quartet returns to the Lincoln Friends of Chamber Music concert series Sunday. The quartet, the ensemble-in-residence at Iowa State University since its inception in 1976, has appeared in concert throughout the U.S. and Canada as well as in France, Austria, Taiwan, South Africa, Russia and, in 2003, Cuba.

Praised for their recordings  We get the two virtues that make for a superb chamber ensemble: Each player has an individual voice, and the group as a whole expresses a unified musical conception writes Fanfare magazine  the group has sought to expand the available repertoire for piano quartet by reviving neglected works and commissioning new ones.

The latter includes George Tsontakis Piano Quartet No. 4, which premiered in 2019 and will be part of Sundays concert program along with works by Mozart and Brahms.

Following the concert, a reception will be held in honor of Bob Kuzelka, a co-founder of the Lincoln Friends of Chamber Music and for many years the organizations board president. Tickets are available at lfcm.us.

Paul Barnes, A Vision of Paradise: A Retrospective Inspired by Byzantine Chant, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, University of Nebraska-Lincoln City Campus, Westbrook Recital Hall, Room 119. Pianist Paul Barnes, the Marguerite Scribante Professor of Piano at UNLs Glenn Korff School of Music, will present a recital that looks back over the past three decades of his career at the Westbrook Recital Hall.

This will be a very special evening for me personally as it is the 30th anniversary of my sacramental entry into the Orthodox Church and the birthday of Philip Glass, Barnes said in a news release. Both events have had a profound influence on the trajectory of my career as a concert pianist, teacher and chanter. I cant wait to share this with my musical community here in Lincoln.

The program will be highlighted by the Nebraska premiere of J.A.C. Redfords Variations on the Incarnation, a 2023 commissioned composition based on a Greek Orthodox hymn that Barnes has been singing for more than 30 years as the head chanter of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Lincoln.

Also on the program is Amy Beachs Dreaming, Op. 15, No. 3 dedicated to Barnes teacher Menahem Pressler, who died in 2023, and pieces by Glass  from Piano Concerto No. 2, After Lewis and Clark Part III; The Land (dedicated to Ron Hull, who served as chairman of the Nebraska Bicentennial Lewis and Clark Commission and who died in 2023), and Piano Quintet Annunciation (2018).

Barnes will be joined on Annunciation by Ruth Meints, violin; Melissa Tatreau Holtmeier, violin; Clark Potter, viola; and Karen Becker, cello.

The program also will feature the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church Choir singing four Orthodox hymns in arrangements by Kevin Lawrence (who visited the Glenn Korff School of Music and performed with Barnes in October 2023). They will sing the Megalynarion and Kontakion of the Nativity and the Apolitikion and Communion Hymn of the Annunciation.

The concert is free and open to the public. It also will be livestreamed. The link for the stream will be available at music.unl.edu/webcasts on Wednesday.
This photo taken on Jan. 24, 2024 shows the exterior view of the building where a fire broke out in Xinyu City, east China's Jiangxi Province. [Photo/Xinhua]

The State Council has set up an inquiry team to investigate the building fire that broke out on Wednesday in the city of Xinyu in east China's Jiangxi Province.



The fire that broke out at around 3 p.m. Wednesday killed 39 and left nine others injured.

The investigation team held the first meeting Friday afternoon, during which Song Yuanming, head of the team and vice minister of the Ministry of Emergency Management (MEE), delivered the investigation arrangement and put forward the work requirements.

The meeting called for efforts to identify the cause of the accident as soon as possible, find those accountable, and conduct widespread safety hazard inspections swiftly around the small-scale business premises to eliminate major risks.

The team is led by the MEE, with the participation of the Ministry of Public Security, All-China Federation of Trade Unions, the National Fire and Rescue Administration, and the Jiangxi provincial government.
Two Lincoln correctional officers suffered concussions after inmates assaulted them earlier this week, according to a Nebraska Department of Corrections news release.

On Wednesday, a corrections officer went inside an inmate housing unit to escort an inmate to a holding cell at the Reception and Treatment Center, when the inmate began punching the staff member in the head. The officer was taken to a local hospital and was diagnosed with a concussion, according to the news release.

A different staff member was assaulted on Thursday at the Nebraska State Penitentiary. An inmate was suspected of having contraband and ignored orders from corrections officers. The inmate started punching and kneeing multiple officers. One staff member fell during the incident and sustained a concussion.

An investigation is ongoing into both incidents. Findings will be provided to the Lancaster County Attorney's Office for potential criminal prosecution.

Top Journal Star photos for January 2024
Amazingly, Osceola, Neb., with a peak population of only 1,029, was named for a Florida Indian chief, was the birthplace of four state governors and was the original site of Nebraska Wesleyan University.

John Hopwood Mickey was born in 1845 on a farm near Burlington, Iowa. Mickey attended school and in 1861 had his first paid job of cutting and shocking corn at 3 cents a shock. Two years later he joined the 8th Iowa Voluntary Cavalry as a private and was mustered out in 1865 as a corporal. After the Civil War, Mickey finished high school, then used the $300 he had saved from his military salary to attend Iowa Wesleyan University at Mt. Pleasant.

On Sept. 3, 1868, Mickey arrived in Lincoln, where he took a homestead in Polk County, then attached to Butler County, becoming the first person to have a homestead issued in Nebraskas new Capital City. The land he homesteaded was in Hackberry Precinct, about 12 miles southeast of the later village of Osceola. On the land, where he also proved to be the first settler in the area, Mickey erected the first frame house in the county. Scarcely a year later, the Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in Mickeys home, where the Rev. James Query preached the first sermon.

When Polk County, with an initial population of 90, was divided from Butler County in 1870, Mickey was appointed county assessor and county treasurer. With no courthouse, the offices and records were kept in his house for two years. Although the county seat was placed in an unpopulated paper city named Osceola, probably for the Iowa town of the same name but still originally for the Seminole Indian chief, Mickey and William F. Kimmel were appointed to investigate a site nearer the center of Polk County for the actual county seat. The new 40-acre site, also to be called Osceola, was about three miles southeast of the previous one. The pair immediately drew the plat and registered it as Osceola. Two years later, the first courthouse was built, and Mickey moved from his farm into the village and at the same time was appointed land agent for the Union Pacific Railroad for Polk County.

On Jan. 26, 1874, the first birth in Osceola was a son, Evan, of course the child of John Mickey. That spring the citys future literally was guaranteed to be bright, as the Omaha & Republican Railroad arrived. Mickey also took advantage of the towns prospects by opening the Osceola Bank. Two years later, the bank was reincorporated as a state bank, with Albinus Nance as president and Mickey as cashier.

Also in 1879, Mickey and the four Fleharty brothers raised a $10,000 land and cash subscription to establish Nebraska Wesleyan University in Osceola, with Mickey as president and the Rev. J.J. Fleharty as director. Although the school opened with 11 students and four teachers, the Methodist Annual Conference failed to recognize it. When the conference again failed to give the school recognition in 1881, it was decided to move it to Fullerton. The Fleharty family withdrew support, and Nebraska Wesleyan University closed. It was then considered likely that the foundation of the universitys first, uncompleted building, the cornerstone of which had been laid by Gov. Albinus Nance on Aug. 2, 1881, would be completed as a new courthouse. It was instead used to build a parochial school. Although the Fullerton school opened with a reported 72 students, it, too, was not recognized, stumbled and ultimately became a part of the 1887 Nebraska Wesleyan University at University Place near Lincoln.

Meantime Mickey was elected to the lower house of the Nebraska Legislature in 1880 and was instrumental in forming the Polk County Agriculture Society while assuming the office of its first treasurer. The city of Osceola incorporated the following year, with Mickey appointed city treasurer and member of the City Council.

In 1882, Mickey, Nance and C.F. Morrill announced that a two-story, 25-by-43-foot building for their bank would be built on the southwest corner of the square at Hawkeye and State streets.

In 1902, Mickey, whose first vote had been cast for Abraham Lincoln as president, was nominated by the Nebraska Republican Convention as its candidate for Nebraska governor, albeit on the 13th ballot. Mickey was elected over William H. Thompson 96,471 to 91,116, becoming Nebraskas 13th, 14th or 17th governor depending on whose counting system you choose. After serving a second term, Mickey retired to Osceola but remained president of Nebraska Wesleyans Board of Trustees.

At one point, Mickey was lauded as the largest individual contributor to Nebraska Wesleyan University. The house on South State Street was enlarged several times, ultimately reaching 23 rooms. After Gov. Mickeys death on June 2, 1910, the house became a hospital and is currently on the National Register of Historic Places and houses the Polk County Museum.

As to Osceolas other governors: Albinus Nance was elected in 1879, Ashton Shallenberger, also a U.S. congressman, was elected in 1909, and Stanley Hathaway was elected in 1966 -- but as governor of Wyoming, not Nebraska.
On Wednesday, investigators executed a search warrant at a residence in 1700 block of North Iowa Avenue in York, the patrol said. Clark was arrested on suspicion of two counts of possession of child pornography.

For clarification, per the U.S. Department of Justice, the term child pornography is currently used in federal statutes and is defined as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a person less than 18 years old. While this phrase still appears in federal law, child sexual abuse material is preferred, as it better reflects the abuse that is depicted in the images and videos and the resulting trauma to the child.
Nebraska homeowners would be allowed to display political signs on their property during election season without restriction from their homeowners association, under a new bill in consideration in the Legislature.

LB886 would prohibit homeowners associations, or HOAs, from banning political signs displayed on an owners property, with some caveats. The bill was discussed in a public hearing before the Legislatures Judiciary Committee on Thursday.

State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln, who introduced the bill, said the proposal was brought by one of her constituents, who was frustrated by his inability to support candidates because of his HOAs regulations.

Grant Friedman, a legal fellow with the American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska, said the organization often hears concerns from voters about this issue. Conrad, former executive director of ACLU of Nebraska, corroborated this, adding that complaints are especially common during election season.

The signs in question must advertise candidates or ballot measures pertaining to an upcoming election, and the proposed ban only applies for the 90 days prior to that election and 10 days following it, according to the legislation.

The bill also clarifies that HOAs can impose restrictions on how signs are displayed, and limit each owner to one sign per candidate or ballot measure. Signs that are larger than 4 feet by 6 feet, contain offensive material, threaten public safety or pose a distraction to passing motorists would not apply to the new rule.

Conrad said there is a plethora of past case law relating to political signage, including some cases that made it to the U.S. Supreme Court. In most cases, she said, courts have protected the rights of free speech, with political speech being the highest valued. However, HOAs have been left in a gray area, as they do not count as a governing body, she said.

Whats most important to remember about this measure, because I really see it as having two quintessential, key issues  in it  the importance of private property, and the importance of free expression, Conrad said.

Meet the Nebraska state senators making laws in 2024
Giving sterile needles to drug addicts to reduce the spread of infectious disease drew widespread support Friday from Nebraska lawmakers.

LB307 would allow local jurisdictions to permit public health programs to distribute hypodermic needles. Introduced by Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha, the bill made it through the first of three rounds of floor debate in a 37-2 vote.

Needle distribution programs are often referred to as Syringe Service Programs (SSPs), which are growing in popularity across the states as a way to encourage treatment of drug addiction and reduce the spread of infectious diseases like HIV. In addition to providing sterile syringes, SSPs can offer a range of other services, including on-site vaccinations and referrals to various other treatments.

"When a person steps into an SSP, they build trusting, non-judgmental relationships with clinic providers, staff  often many of these staffers, including providers, are people who have experienced addiction themselves," Hunt said. "And they get the care they need where they can get to a better place."

Hunt listed a range of benefits associated with SSPs, such as reducing the spread of used needles and the fact that addicts who access the programs are more likely to seek drug treatment. It also reduces the risk of first responders receiving needlestick injuries, she said.

If LB307 passes, Nebraska would be one of the last states in the U.S. to legalize SSPs, Hunt said, and she argued that Nebraska has a particular need for them. The state's HIV infection rate is rising even as the nationwide rate is falling, she said, with a 26% increase in infections recorded in 2021. She said Nebraska also logged 229 deaths linked to fentanyl use in 2022.

LB307 was supported by all senators who spoke on the bill during Friday's debate, even though several of them said they were initially hesitant on the proposal. Sen. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue said he was swayed by a letter of support from Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson, who said he is hopeful that the legislation will facilitate the safe distribution of resources to help addicts treat their addiction.

"We need an umbrella approach to reducing addiction," Hanson said in his letter.

Holdcroft and other lawmakers also said they appreciated that LB307 gives local governments the power to make the call on establishing an SSP, rather than mandating it. However, Speaker of the Legislature John Arch asked that Hunt include more clarity on which local jurisdictions have that power, and add some restrictions on locations where SSPs should not be created.

Hunt agreed to negotiate an amendment before the second round of debate, and Arch voted to advance the bill.

Top Journal Star photos for January 2024
MONDAYAl-Anon: 8 p.m., Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 3350 Lathrop Ave.

Retired Nurses Association: Meets first Monday of every month. For more information, call Marge Orth, secretary, 262-884-0742.

WEDNESDAYCaledonia Senior Card Club: Sheepshead, for ages 55 and older, noon to 3 p.m., Franksville Memorial Park, 9614 Northwestern Ave., Franksville. For more information, call 414-856-9550.

Kiwanis Club of West of Racine: 7:30 a.m., in-person at Living Faith Lutheran Church, 2915 Wright Ave. Kiwanis is an international organization dedicated to serving the children of the world. To attend a meeting, contact Shirley Meyer, membership chair, at 262-260-8101 or email aquashirl4@yahoo.com.

FRIDAYRacine Founders Rotary Club: 7 a.m., Racine Country Club, 2401 Northwestern Ave.

DAILY/OTHERSCaledonia Historical Society Meeting: 6:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month at Franksville Park, 9614 Northwestern Ave. The meeting is open to the public. There will be no meetings December through March. https://caledoniahistoricalsociety.org.

Overeaters Anonymous: 7 p.m. Monday and Thursday, Living Faith Lutheran Church, 2915 Wright Ave., a free fellowship group for all eating disorders using the 12 steps and 12 traditions. For more information call 262-652-5635.

Racine Duplicate Bridge Club: Each week two ACBL-sanctioned duplicate bridge games are played in Racine  at 12:15 p.m. Monday and Friday at The Lanes, 6501 Washington Ave., Mount Pleasant. People must have proof of COVID-19 vaccination to play. Call Henry Kensler, club manager, at 262-652-6173 for reservations. Recent winners are:

Jan. 26: Richard Arneson and Gloria Arneson, first place; Mary Matthews and Marilyn Wescott, second place; Paul Dorsey and Donald Urquhart, third place.

Jan. 29: Lee Petzold and Richard Arneson, first place; George Urquhart and Janet Urquhart, second place; Mary Matthews and Donald Urquhart, third place.

Lighthouse Quilters Guild: Open to quilters of all skill levels, 7 p.m., on the last Monday of each month at Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, 322 Ohio St. For more information, lighthousequiltersguild.com.

VFW Post 10301: VFW Post 10301 meets at 5:30 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at Fifth Street Yacht Club, 761 Marquette St.

Racine Welcome Club: Drop in coffee 9-11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 9, at Milaegers 4838 Douglas Ave. The group is open to women interested in making new friends, learning about community resources, and being involved in philanthropic and social activities. Call 262-994-0957 for more information.

Racine Art Guild: The Racine Art Guild will meet from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8 at Wustum Museum 2519 Northwestern Ave. Rebecca Bissi, an artist specializing in large format oil paintings, will discuss her career working in fashion, business and fine art. All interested artists and friends of art are welcome to attend.
RACINE  Community members discussed characteristics they hope to see in the next Racine Unified School District permanent superintendent Tuesday during a focus group.

About 20 people attended the 40-minute virtual meeting, and about 10 spoke during it.

Traits they hope to see include being a visible leader who is invested in the community.

We need a superintendent who is out and about, out in the schools so our kids know who the superintendent is, so some of our employees know who the superintendent is, an attendee said. Be out and about in schools and be out and about and connected with the community, and I think that will go a long way to build trust.

Several people said it is important for a superintendent to hold employees to account without micromanaging.

That makes a good leader, is having that fine balance of holding people accountable and letting them do their job, one attendee said.

Some people said they would prefer that the next superintendent is someone from within RUSD who knows the district, while others said that is not necessary.

Some said an educational background is key, while others said they are open to someone from outside the education field who has leadership experience.

Mike Richie of Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates, facilitated the focus group.

In October, the RUSD Board approved a $34,729 contract for HYA to provide superintendent search consulting services.

Richie asked attendees who the firm should contact about the opening.

Multiple people said that Soren Gajewski, RUSD interim superintendent, seems to be doing a good job.

Gajewski became RUSD acting superintendent in May and interim superintendent in July after former RUSD Superintendent Eric Gallien accepted a superintendent job in South Carolina.

Gajewski anticipates holding the interim superintendent position through the end of the 2023-24 school year.

Focus group members on Tuesday also discussed the challenges and strengths of the school district.

Challenges include being too top-heavy with administrative staff and not enough people directly helping in classrooms.

Id like to see resources devoted to children and not central office personnel, an attendee said.

Other challenges include better after-school options and more investment in sports, arts and extracurricular activities.

Multiple people said the district needs to address challenges and communicate how it is going to do so.

They need to admit when theyre failing, an attendee said. I think thats something that can be brushed under the rug  I do think they need to face some of these challenges head-on and admit the challenges and show us how theyre going to tackle them.

Building safety is also a concern for students and staff.

If the folks coming in dont feel safe, we wont get the best talent, an attendee said.

Strengths mentioned included the community school structure, early childhood offerings and summer school options.

Background, next steps

An in-person focus group meeting also occurred Tuesday evening at the Cesar Chavez Community Center, 2221 Douglas Ave.

A focus group in Spanish took place Wednesday evening at the Cesar Chavez Center.

RUSD is also hosting staff and parent-specific focus groups, according to the school district.

After the focus groups, HYA will compile a report based on the feedback.

Richie will present that report to the School Board, which he said can serve as a really nice roadmap for the new superintendent.

Community members also can provide input through an online survey at survey2.ecragroup.com/index.php/136523?.

Anyone with questions or who wants to email input can contact Richie at mikerichie@hyasearch.com or Sarena Shivers at sarenashivers@hyasearch.com.

According to RUSDs website, the deadline to apply for the superintendent opening is Feb. 23.

Richie said the number of candidates so far is encouraging.

Were very happy with it, he said.

Richie said the board likely will select six to eight applicants to interview and narrow those to three finalists.

The RUSD Board plans to begin interviewing candidates in early March, host finalists for a day at the district in mid-March and conduct final interviews in late March.

The board plans to select a permanent superintendent in mid-April, and that person will start work July 1.

More information about the search is available at rusd.org/about/rusd-superintendent-search.

Close Second grader Nakarii Williams smiles with the school mascot Tuesday on the first day of class at Wadewitz Elementary School, 2700 Yout St. Kim Krause, physical education teacher, hugs two students Tuesday on the first day of class at Wadewitz Elementary School, 2700 Yout St. Breonna Paton, from left, second grader Delantiy Campbell and Emily Etchison get ready Tuesday on the first day of class at Wadewitz Elementary School, 2700 Yout St. Kim Krause, physical education teacher, welcomes a student Tuesday on the first day of class at Wadewitz Elementary School, 2700 Yout St. Aleisha Baugh takes a photo of kindergartener Kelex Jackson on the first day of class at Wadewitz Elementary School, 2700 Yout St. A student high-fives the school bear Tuesday on the first day of class at Wadewitz Elementary School, 2700 Yout St. Kindergartener Ky-ree Jones gets ready to walk into school Tuesday on the first day of class at Wadewitz Elementary School, 2700 Yout St. Students line up Tuesday on the first day of class at Wadewitz Elementary School, 2700 Yout St. Eight photos of Racine Unified's first day of school at Wadewitz Elementary Tuesday was the first day of the Racine Unified 2023-24 school year. Second grader Nakarii Williams smiles with the school mascot Tuesday on the first day of class at Wadewitz Elementary School, 2700 Yout St. Kim Krause, physical education teacher, hugs two students Tuesday on the first day of class at Wadewitz Elementary School, 2700 Yout St. Breonna Paton, from left, second grader Delantiy Campbell and Emily Etchison get ready Tuesday on the first day of class at Wadewitz Elementary School, 2700 Yout St. Kim Krause, physical education teacher, welcomes a student Tuesday on the first day of class at Wadewitz Elementary School, 2700 Yout St. Aleisha Baugh takes a photo of kindergartener Kelex Jackson on the first day of class at Wadewitz Elementary School, 2700 Yout St. A student high-fives the school bear Tuesday on the first day of class at Wadewitz Elementary School, 2700 Yout St. Kindergartener Ky-ree Jones gets ready to walk into school Tuesday on the first day of class at Wadewitz Elementary School, 2700 Yout St. Students line up Tuesday on the first day of class at Wadewitz Elementary School, 2700 Yout St.
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
Chinese Premier Li Qiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, speaks at a national teleconference on workplace safety on Jan. 26, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

Chinese Premier Li Qiang has stressed solid work to identify hidden dangers and curb the frequent occurrence of workplace accidents, therefore to protect people's lives and property and ensure social stability.



The recent accidents, which have resulted in heavy casualties, are deeply distressing and should be taken as profound lessons, Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, told a national teleconference on workplace safety on Friday.

With the Spring Festival approaching and safety risks on the rise, authorities of all localities and departments should be on high alert and take stronger and more targeted measures to ensure workplace safety, Li said.

A thorough investigation should be carried out to identify hidden workplace dangers and nip them in the bud, and other types of checks should be conducted regularly to maintain follow-up oversight, said the premier.

Li also stressed the importance of strictly performing workplace safety responsibilities, urging enterprises to speed up efforts in establishing workplace safety responsibility systems, filling the regulatory gap, and improving primary-level emergency response capabilities.
Killeen, TX (76540)

Today

Sunshine to start, then a few afternoon clouds. High near 65F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds. Low 41F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph.
One of the most confusing things is to be exposed to a person with a known COVID-19 infection and not test positive or get sick.

A recent article from Holland Hospital in Holland, Michigan, nicely listed the possibilities. I have personally (not getting too personal) encountered two situations where a person was living with others who had positive COVID tests and that person didnt test positive or get sick.

One reason for a negative test would be that the person using the sample nasal swab didnt insert it high enough (and get a brain biopsy with it) or swirl it around thoroughly enough.

Another is when using the home or antigen test too early in the infection, perhaps at first sign of symptoms, it may not show positive results because the virus has not produced a high enough quantity of protein to register. Home tests try to find the protein coat of the virus.

A third idea is that the person may be infected and even symptomatic, but the viruses have decided to infect predominantly their throat and lungs rather than their nasal cavity where the sample is taken.

A fourth very good reason for a negative result might be prior infection(s) and/or vaccinations that have created an active immune memory for the current viral variants. Sufficient antibodies are then waiting at the oral door to prevent an infection from taking hold. The virus activates that part of your immune system to gear up, create new antibodies to rapidly clear the viruses before they can bind to cells to infect them. It makes those shots worthwhile.

Another possibility might be that the symptoms are from an infection by another organism, which now frequently happens in communities. Influenza and respiratory syncytial virus infections are big competitors for the spotlight. Dont forget the cold, which technically could be one of over 200 potential varmints, but not all at once.

A crucial factor to infection potential is amount of viral exposure per time, proximity to the infected folks and, again, your immunity level. Scientists have struggled to study all these elements with each COVID incarnation. But there are too many factors to control to gather reliable data. Kind of back to the yup, nope theory.

The hospital doc from the Holland hospital quoted in the article says the obvious: No test is perfect. Getting vaccinated is very important. Vaccinated folks still need to take precautions around those infected, like wearing a mask, etc. That is not a bad idea to protect against the other germs as well. Vaccine in one person helps all others around by stopping the infections spread.

So, if you try a home COVID test after you feel sick and its negative, re-test in about two days, maybe even again two days later if that one is also negative. It may take 2-5 days for enough viruses to appear to make a test positive. It is also possible you were infected but not to the level of registering a positive test.

If you always test negative, even when you have been in a den of viral plague, dont feel cheated. You can feel positive about being negative.
A Janesville resident received a warning for having unleashed German shepherds months before one of the dogs was fatally shot after attacking a police officer on Wednesday, police said.

The unidentified owner of the dogs received a warning for letting the dogs run off leash in April 2023, Sgt. Benjamin Thompson said in a statement Friday.

The owner then installed a fence, but it appears one of the dogs opened the fence by manipulating a latch and then became aggressive toward another resident who called 911 shortly after 5 a.m. Wednesday, Thompson said. The dogs had no documented history of aggression.

When a Janesville officer got to the scene, he was immediately met by the dogs when he got out of his squad car, Janesville police Sgt. Thomas Northrop said in a statement Thursday. The dogs attacked the officer and bit him in the leg, Northrop said.

The officer tried to disengage and create distance, but the dogs continued to come after him. He eventually slipped and fell into a snowbank, where the dogs continued to attack him and he unfortunately had to shoot one of the dogs, Northrop said, adding that both dogs then ran away.

The officer suffered minor injuries and was treated at a local hospital, Northrop said.

As additional officers responded to the area, the dogs reappeared and continued acting aggressively. Another officer was unable to contain the injured dog due to its aggressive behavior and shot it again. That dog died at the scene, Northrop said.

With the second dog still acting aggressively, yet another officer deployed a Taser to control the dog, which was taken to the humane society, Northrop said.

We are relieved our officer did not sustain more serious injuries from the dog attack, Thompson said. At the same time, we are saddened that a member of our community lost their dog.

Today in history: Jan. 26 1915: Rocky Mountain National Park 1992: Bill Clinton 1993: Vaclav Havel 1998: Bill Clinton 2005: Train Crash 2009: Nadya Suleman 2012: Penn State 2017: Donald Trump 2020: Kobe Bryant 2022: Amy Schneider 2022: Neil Young 2023: West Bank raid
WAUKESHA  One of two Wisconsin women accused of stabbing a classmate nearly to death almost a decade ago to please internet horror character Slender Man is again asking a judge to release her from a mental institution.

Morgan Geyser, now 21, petitioned Waukesha County Circuit Judge Michael Bohren on Jan. 16 to order a new round of medical tests and grant her conditional release from the Winnebago Mental Health Institute if the results are favorable, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. The judge has set a scheduling conference on the request for Monday.

Geysers attorney, Tony Cotton, who has represented her since 2014, told the Journal Sentinel on Friday that Geyser has made great strides while under treatment.

Geyser filed a similar request for conditional release in 2022 but withdrew the petition two months after filing it.

Geyser and Anissa Weier were 12 years old in 2014 when they lured sixth-grade classmate Payton Leutner to a Waukesha park after a sleepover. Geyser stabbed Leutner repeatedly while Weier urged her on.

The girls left Leutner for dead but she crawled onto a bike path and was found by a passerby. Police captured Geyser and Weier later that day as they were walking on Interstate 94 in Waukesha. They told investigators that they stabbed Leutner to earn the right to become Slender Mans servants and protect their families from him.

Geyser pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree intentional homicide in a deal with prosecutors and a judge sent her to the Winnebago Mental Health Institute after determining she had a mental illness.

Weier pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree intentional homicide and was also sent to the psychiatric facility after a jury found she was suffering from a mental illness at the time of the attack.

Weier was granted a conditional release in 2021 to live with her father and was ordered to wear a GPS monitor.
Lake Geneva city officials and business representatives want to get ahead of the curve when it comes to dealing with issues that could be caused by a future road improvement project.

During the Jan. 10 Lake Geneva Business Improvement District Board meeting, business representatives and city officials discussed options for handling potential traffic concerns and parking issues that could be caused during the Wisconsin Department of Transportations Highway 50/Main Street road reconstruction project that is scheduled to be worked on in 2027 and 2028.

One proposed option includes constructing a parking garage near downtown Lake Geneva.

Spyro Condos, member of the Lake Geneva Business Improvement District Board, said a solution to the potential parking issues should be determined before the Highway 50/Main Street road reconstruction project is started.

Its more important now than ever because come 2027 and 2028 when they start working on Highway 50, were going to have an issue about what were going to do with the tourists and where they are going to park and how were going to handle all of that, Condos said. It gives us four years to put something up maybe a parking structure if we can come up with that decision. It will give people at least somewhere to go. Right now, theres nowhere.

Aldermanic candidate Sherri Ames said developing a parking garage was one of the options that was discussed when she was a member of the parking ad hoc committee last year. She feels that is an option that should be considered again for dealing with potential traffic and parking issues related to the Highway 50 project.

Ive always been for a parking garage as long as it was located in the center, Ames said. I think we really need to push that now to get this taken care of.

Business Improvement District Executive Director Alexandria Binanti said she wants to establish a committee this year to discuss options for handling issues related to the Highway 50 project, which could include constructing a parking garage.

Lake Geneva officials placed a referendum question on the ballot during the Nov. 4, 2014 election asking voters to support the construction of a proposed elevated parking garage. However, the referendum question failed.

Mayoral candidate Todd Krause said he was the City Council president during the time the referendum was on the ballot and the funding for the parking garage was approved, the location was approved and a study indicated that a parking garage would have been profitable for the city.

It was one of the most golden opportunities that we couldve had to build the structure, now it will be an uphill battle to be honest with you, Krause said. But as a candidate for mayor, I would fully support the notion of such a structure. I think regardless of the upgrades to Highway 50, its something we need anyway.

Condos said the issue of constructing a parking garage in Lake Geneva has been discussed for about 50 years.

We needed it 50 years ago so I think thats the goal and thats the direction were going to have to look at, not all this side stuff, Condos said. We need to buckle down, organize it, put all our energies that way and get it done.

During the meeting, Binanti read a statement from Mayor Charlene Klein proposing that the city establish a shuttle service for downtown business owners and employees during the Highway 50 road reconstruction project.

An employee-owner shuttle will be necessary to accommodate the workers and leave space for the customers, Kleins statement said. I believe over the next few years with planning and budgeting, a logical solution can be made to get the downtown through a difficult time.

Binanti said Business Improvement District officials surveyed downtown business owners last year about the possibly of establishing a shuttle service for employees, and many of them indicated that most employees would not use the service and that the shuttle service would not coincide with some of the businesses operating hours.

She said a shuttle service could be considered for people who visit the downtown area.

Its something to consider in the future, Binanti said. However, I dont know if it would necessarily be for employees.

Alderwoman Shari Straube, who also is a member of the Business Improvement District Board, also feels downtown business workers would not use the service.

They got too many different start times and too many different end times, Straube said. It would just be a nightmare.

Binanti said she has been working with representatives from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporations Main Street program on developing a plan to attract people to downtown Lake Geneva during the road reconstruction project.

It gives ideas for marketing, for events and strategies where we can turn it into a positive spin, Binanti said. Were keeping up on that and staying on target.

The Highway 50/Main Street project is set to include road reconstruction work, stormwater drainage improvements, pedestrian ramp upgrades, sidewalk connectivity, road resurfacing and installing additional crosswalks in downtown Lake Geneva.

The area between Forest Street and Wells Street is set to include road reconstruction work, and the area between Wells Street and Grand Geneva Way is set to include road resurfacing work.

The project is scheduled to be worked on in two construction seasons, which Wisconsin Department of Transportation officials define as being between early March through late-November, depending on weather conditions.

Representatives from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation presented preliminary plans for the project during the Dec. 6 Business Improvement District Board meeting.
A vocational trainer instructs a student to operate a machine tool at Guangdong Machinery Technician College in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Feb. 14, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

China will step up the training of highly skilled personnel urgently needed in developing new industries and new growth drivers, an official with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security said Friday.



Focusing on areas related to major national strategies, the ministry will take innovative measures and launch projects to cultivate highly skilled personnel, said Wang Xiaojun, an official with the ministry.

In particular, efforts will be made to speed up the development of training programs for digital technology engineers, she said.

Last year, China provided government-subsidized vocational training to 18 million people, and supported the building of 115 training bases for highly skilled personnel, mainly covering areas including advanced manufacturing and modern services, according to the ministry.

Wang also stressed that migrant workers are an important part of China's industrial workforce, saying that large-scale vocational training will be provided to the group in various forms.

China aims to increase the proportion of skilled talent in its labor force to over 30 percent by 2025, with highly skilled personnel accounting for one-third of the total skilled talent, according to a guideline on skilled talent unveiled in 2022.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Tuesday announced the nominees for Hollywoods highest movie awards --- the Oscars. As usual, there were surprises. And there were snubs, meaning filmmakers or films that were rejected as candidates. Here are some of the facts about this years nominees.

Fostering the Oscars

Actor Jodie Foster was nominated for her performance in a supporting role in the film Nyad. It is her fifth nomination. The first came 47 years ago when she was just 14 years old.

This year she returns as a nominee after an unusually long absence from the Oscars. Her last nomination was for Nell in 1995.

Foster has won two Academy Awards as a lead actor. Her first came in 1989 for the movie The Accused. She won again in 1992 for the film The Silence of the Lambs. Her costar in Nyad, Annette Bening, is also nominated for an Oscar in the best performance by a lead actress category. Like Foster, Bening has been nominated four other times. But she has yet to win any Academy Awards.

Foster has more nominations than the rest of the actors in her category combined. Emily Blunt, Danielle Brooks, America Ferrera and DaVine Joy Randolph are all first-time nominees.

Foster's gap between nominations is not a record, though. Last year, actor Judd Hirsch got his first nomination in 42 years for his performance in The Fabelmans.

John Williams dials in on Disney with destiny

Music writer, or composer, John Williams, is back in the running for an Oscar. The 91-year-old became on Tuesday the oldest nominee in history for his original score for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Williams broke the age record of 90 set last year by nominee John Williams.

The composer has been nominated for 54 Academy Awards. He is the most Oscar-nominated living person. He needs six more to overtake Walt Disneys record of 59 nominations.

Williams has won five Oscars. His last was in 1994 for the score of Schindlers List, which also won the award for best picture.

Women's films honored, women snubbed

A record three films directed by women were nominated for best picture: Barbie from Greta Gerwig, Anatomy of a Fall from Justine Triet, and Past Lives from Celine Song.

But only one of them  Triet  received a best director nomination.

Gerwig's snub, along with Barbie star Margot Robbie's in the best actress category, were widely protested after the nominations were announced Tuesday. But each is still in the larger group of nominees. Robbie is a producer who will get an Oscar if Barbie wins best picture. And Gerwig is nominated for best adapted screenplay.

The spirit of Spielberg and scores for Scorsese

Director Steven Spielberg was a 2024 Oscar presence even on a year off. Spielberg did not direct a movie last year that met time limits for Academy Award consideration. However, he is nominated as a producer of the movie Maestro.

If it wins best picture, Spielberg will take home his fourth Oscar.

Martin Scorsese, meanwhile, broke Spielbergs record on director nominations. Scorsese is nominated this year for the movie The Killers of the Flower Moon.

Im Caty Weaver.

Caty Weaver adapted this story for Learning English based on a report by the Associated Press.

__________________________________________

Words in This Story

category  n. one of the divisions or groupings used in a system of classification

gap  n. a space or separation : a break in continuity

original score  n. music that is written and tailored for use throughout a film
Kenya began its biggest rhino relocation project earlier this month. Workers began the difficult work of moving 21 of the endangered animals to a new home. They each weigh around one metric ton.

A previous attempt at moving rhinos in the East African nation was a disaster in 2018. All 11 of the animals died.

The latest project experienced early troubles. A rhino targeted for moving was successfully hit with a tranquilizer shot from a helicopter but ended up in a creek. Veterinarians and park rangers held the rhino's head above water with a rope to save it while a tranquilizer reversal drug took effect. It was then released.

Wildlife officials have said that the difficult project will take time, likely weeks.

The black rhinos are a mix of males and females. They are being moved from three conservation parks to the private Loisaba Conservancy in central Kenya, the Kenya Wildlife Service said. They are being moved because there are too many in the three parks. They need more space to roam and, hopefully, to breed.

Rhinos generally spend time alone and are at their happiest in large territories.

Kenya has had some success in saving its black rhino population. In the mid-1980s the rhino population fell below 300 because of poaching, raising fears that the animals might go extinct in a country famous for its wildlife.

Kenya now has nearly 1,000 black rhinos, says the wildlife service. That is the third biggest black rhino population in the world behind South Africa and Namibia.

There are just 6,487 wild rhinos left in the world, says rhino conservation group Save The Rhino. All live in Africa.

Kenyan officials say they have relocated more than 150 rhinos in the last 10 years or so.

Six years ago, Kenya moved 11 rhinos from the capital, Nairobi, to another sanctuary in the south of the country. All died soon after arriving at the sanctuary. Ten of them died from stress, lack of water and starvation, which was worsened by salt poisoning as they struggled with saltier water in their new home, investigations found. The other rhino was attacked by a lion.

Some of the 21 rhinos in the latest relocation are from Nairobi National Park. They will make a 300-kilometer trip in the back of a truck to Loisaba. Others will come from parks closer to Loisaba.

Loisaba was once home to a healthy black rhino population before they were wiped out in that area 50 years ago, said Loisaba Conservancy CEO Tom Silvester.

Kenyan wildlife officials say the country is aiming to grow its black rhino population to about 2,000. They believe 2,000 would be the best number considering the space available for them in national and private parks.

Im Dan Novak.

Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by The Associated Press.

_______________________________________________

Words in This Story

relocation  v. to move to a new place

endanger  v. to cause to be in a dangerous place or situation

tranquilizer  n. a drug that causes a person or animal to become very relaxed and calm

reverse  v. to change to an opposite state or condition

roam  v. to go to different places without having a particular purpose or plan

poach  v. to catch or kill an animal illegally

extinct  adj. no longer existing

sanctuary  n. a place where someone or something is protected or given shelter

stress  n. something that causes strong feelings of worry or anxiety
Chinese premier urges efforts to curb workplace accidents

Xinhua) 10:22, January 27, 2024

Chinese Premier Li Qiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, speaks at a national teleconference on workplace safety on Jan. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

BEIJING, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang has stressed solid work to identify hidden dangers and curb the frequent occurrence of workplace accidents, therefore to protect people's lives and property and ensure social stability.

The recent accidents, which have resulted in heavy casualties, are deeply distressing and should be taken as profound lessons, Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, told a national teleconference on workplace safety on Friday.

With the Spring Festival approaching and safety risks on the rise, authorities of all localities and departments should be on high alert and take stronger and more targeted measures to ensure workplace safety, Li said.

A thorough investigation should be carried out to identify hidden workplace dangers and nip them in the bud, and other types of checks should be conducted regularly to maintain follow-up oversight, said the premier.

Li also stressed the importance of strictly performing workplace safety responsibilities, urging enterprises to speed up efforts in establishing workplace safety responsibility systems, filling the regulatory gap, and improving primary-level emergency response capabilities.

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Wu Chaolan)
 Flash

People watch the International Court of Justice (ICJ)'s ruling of the case against Israel in The Hague, in Pretoria, South Africa, on Jan. 26, 2024. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Friday that the country welcomes the measures that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered by majority decision, which ordered Israel to take all possible measures to prevent genocide acts in the Gaza Strip. On Dec. 29, 2023, South Africa filed an application to the ICJ for proceedings against Israel, concerning alleged violations by Israel of its obligations under the Convention of Genocide related to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. (Photo by Ihsaan Haffejee/Xinhua)

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Friday that the country welcomes the measures that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered by majority decision, which ordered Israel to take all possible measures to prevent genocide acts in the Gaza Strip.

"Earlier today, the ICJ in The Hague issued a ruling that is a victory for international law, for human rights, and above all, for justice," Ramaphosa said in a televised address to the nation.

"The ICJ, as the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, has handed down a ruling that the State of Israel should immediately implement a set of provisional measures to prevent any further acts of genocide in Gaza, to desist from such acts, and to take effective measures to prevent the destruction and ensure the preservation of evidence relating to acts of genocide. As the South African government, we welcome the decision of the ICJ," Ramaphosa said.

The order is binding on Israel, and must be respected by all states that are party to the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, he said, adding that South Africa expects Israel, as a self-proclaimed democracy and a state that respects the rule of law, to abide by the measures handed down by the ICJ.

"As South Africa, we thank all in the international community who have supported our application, including a number of countries who have declared their intention to be part of our application," he said.

"It is our earnest hope and wish that this court order paves the way for an end to this crisis, for an end to the terrible loss of life and hardship, and for the crucial first steps to be taken towards reconciliation and a just, lasting peace," said Ramaphosa.

South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation on Friday also welcomed the ICJ's order, saying the ruling marks a decisive victory for the international rule of law and a significant milestone in the search for justice for the Palestinian people.

On Dec. 29, 2023, South Africa filed an application to the ICJ for proceedings against Israel, concerning alleged violations by Israel of its obligations under the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide related to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Scientists have mapped the largest coral reef off Americas Atlantic coast.

Researchers say the reef stretches about 500 kilometers from Florida to South Carolina. At some points, it is 109 kilometers wide. The researchers measured the reef using 3D mapping technology.

It's eye-opening  it's breathtaking in scale, Stuart Sandin told The Associated Press. He is a marine biologist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Sandin was not included in the research.

Ocean scientists have known since the 1960s that some coral life was present off the Atlantic Coast. But the reef's exact size had remained a mystery. New underwater mapping technology made it possible to construct images of the ocean floor in three dimensions.

The largest yet known deep coral reef "has been right under our noses, waiting to be discovered, said Derek Sowers. He is an oceanographer at the nonprofit group Ocean Exploration Trust.

Sowers and other scientists recently released maps of the reef in the publication Geomatics.

The reef was found at ocean depths from 200 to 1,000 meters. Deep-sea life cannot use sunlight to carry out photosynthesis. Instead, reef corals at extreme depths must filter food particles out of the water for energy.

Deep coral reefs are known to contain animals such as sharks, swordfish, sea stars, octopus, shrimp and many kinds of fish.

Unlike deep coral reefs, tropical reefs are better known to scientists and sea explorers alike because they are easier to reach. The world's largest tropical coral reef system, Australias Great Barrier Reef, stretches for 2,300 kilometers.

Sowers said it is possible larger deep-sea reefs will be discovered in the future since only about 25 percent of the world's ocean floor has been mapped in 3D. Only 50 percent of U.S. offshore waters have been mapped. Maps of the ocean floor are created using high-technology sound equipment, called sonar, on ships.

Erik Cordes is a marine biologist at Temple University and a co-writer of a study on the mapping operation. He said deep reefs cover more of the ocean floor than tropical reefs. But both are currently facing similar risks, including climate change and damage from oil and gas exploration activities

Im Bryan Lynn.

The Associated Press reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English.

_____________________________________________

Words in This Story

coral  n. a hard, usually pink or white substance produced by a type of small sea animal

reef  n. a collection of rocks or sand that sits below the surface of the ocean

3D (three dimensional) adj. showing the height, width and length of something rather than just two dimensions

scale  n. the size or level of something

photosynthesis  n. the process by which a plant uses carbon dioxide from the air, water from the ground, and the energy from the light of the sun to produce its own food and oxygen

filter  v. to pass a substance through a piece of equipment in order to remove solid pieces or other substances
A Dane County Circuit Court judge has indicated hell let the two biggest Housing First projects for the homeless in Madison, which face major financial challenges, be closed and sold in the coming months.

If the decision is finalized, it means a court-appointed receiver will list the buildings for sale, service and housing providers will assist tenants in finding alternative housing, with protections against eviction without cause and due process, and the city, county and a state agency approving any sale of either property.

Whats unclear is what happens if any tenants are unable to secure new housing in a tight Madison market and exactly how the buildings will be used after theyre sold.

In June, the court-appointed receiver took control of the 60-unit Rethke Terrace project for homeless singles and veterans on the East Side and the 45-unit Tree Lane Apartments for homeless families on the Far West Side.

Last month, the receiver sought court permission to shutter and secure the buildings and list them for sale while offering assistance to tenants who need help relocating. At the time, the main owner, U.S. Bank, agreed to provide up to $750,000 of equity for the Rethke project and $500,000 of equity to Tree Lane if the money is used to maintain operations and aid the voluntary relocation of residents.

The projects were largely financed by federal tax credits provided by the Wisconsin Housing and Community Development Authority, and each property is owned by a limited liability corporation affiliated with U.S. Bank, which bought the tax credits. BMO Harris Bank also holds a mortgage on the Tree Lane property.

The courts decision is not a surprise, city Community Development Director Jim OKeefe said.

We understand the properties are in financial distress; that is why the city did not object to the request, OKeefe said. Rather, we sought assurances from the court that the rights and interests of current residents remain the priority during the transition to new ownership. Were satisfied this decision does that.

Agreement details

At an online hearing that lasted less than 30 minutes on Thursday, the receiver, attorney Michael S. Polsky of Milwaukee, outlined an agreement between the receiver, U.S. Bank, Madison, Dane County and WHEDA. Each party in the agreement has its own rights in the properties that cant be taken away or changed without its consent.

Under the agreement:

Any sale of either the Rethke Terrace or Tree Lane property must first be approved by the city, county and WHEDA.

Any sale of the Tree Lane property must first be approved by BMO Harris.

Any money paid into the receivership by U.S. Bank will remain in the receivership, even if the receiver ceases in that role.

Nobody holds a lien on the cash held by either housing entity, so the cash being paid by U.S. Bank can be used exclusively for maintaining the two properties and tenant relocation.

At the hearing, Judge Stephen Ehlke said he would likely sign the agreement when formal paperwork is submitted in coming days.

In its own court filing, the city said it didnt oppose actions sought by Polsky and that its top priority is protecting the interests of tenants, including preventing displacement of those in good standing; and maintaining sound property management, support services and security.

In a separate filing, the Affordable Housing Action Alliance, a Dane County group of housing advocates, asked that the court not grant the receivers motion and instead postpone action for at least 90 days. It asked the court to order the receiver and investors to negotiate in good faith, share information and return with a plan addressing concerns that doesnt involve the eviction of current residents and allowing vacant units to be rented.

At the hearing, Polsky objected to the AHAA proposal, explaining that funds for operations at Tree Lane will be exhausted by the end of April and at Rethke Terrace by the end of May. On May 31, he said, property and liability insurance at both properties will expire and he has serious concerns about whether it can be extended.

We have a significant financial crisis, Polsky said.

Ehlke said he would not be granting the AHAA request.

I dont think this ever should have gotten this far, Dean Loumos, a representative for AHAA, said later. The city and county should have put pressure on the receiver right from the beginning to get with us here and resolve this locally.

The agreement does accept a separate request from nonprofit Housing Initiatives, which owns or manages 33 properties throughout the city. Housing Initiatives noted that the Rethke and Tree Lane facilities have operational differences and, if listed for sale, they should be listed as separate properties.

The agreement also says that the receiver and owner will abide by state eviction statutes and Madison ordinances.

Residents cannot be removed without cause and without due process, OKeefe said. It provides financial resources to help residents move to new housing, and to maintain a safe and supportive living environment at the properties while they search for new housing. And it gives the city, and the county, and WHEDA a voice in the sale, and conditions of sale, of the properties.

Regarding what happens if tenants are still present after properties are sold, OKeefe said, There is not an answer to it. And on the future use of the buildings after sales, he said, that depends on what prospective buyer emerges.

A national movement

Using a Housing First model, Heartland Housing of Chicago opened the $8.9 million Rethke Terrace project at 715 Rethke Ave. in 2016 and the $11.7 million Tree Lane Apartments at 7933 Tree Lane in 2018. Housing First, a national movement, puts the chronically homeless into permanent housing with no or few conditions and voluntary support services.

But both sites ran into trouble, and the city declared Rethke Terrace and Tree Lane chronic nuisances due to a high volume of police calls, which often involve nonresidents, a lack of security and other issues.

In June, with Heartland facing financial strains at the properties and others it operates in Milwaukee and Chicago, the court appointed Polsky as receiver.

Polsky engaged Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan as property manager, increased security, worked with key vendors who had refused to provide services due to nonpayment, obtained insurance coverage, used reserves to cover necessary expenses, and searched for an entity to replace Heartland on a long-term basis, his December court filing says.

But for months, the property managers have not been filling vacant apartments. Currently, 24 of 60 apartments at Rethke Terrace and 15 of 45 units at Tree Lane are vacant.

Polsky said he was unable to find a successor to Heartland Housing. But the city has been unable to draw any conclusions about the legitimacy of that search, and AHAA contends that a thorough, good-faith effort wasnt made.

Since summer, city staff have been working closely with city and county housing development authorities, the property manager, on-site service providers and local housing providers to help tenants who want to and are able to move to other housing.

Meanwhile, the city, county and United Way of Dane County continue to provide substantial financial support for on-site support services at the Rethke and Tree Lane properties.

Close Saltimus Prime and other Madison snow-clearing vehicles The city of Madison has named several of its snowplows and other snow-clearing vehicles and issued baseball card-like trading cards to commemorate them.
Wisconsin, like many states, doesnt have enough workers.

But help could be on the way from the Legislature. Assembly Bill 332 is under consideration in the state Senate.

Today, if I take my West Virginia drivers license and drive in Wisconsin, local authorities will recognize the credential. I will be permitted to drive. Local authorities trust that my West Virginia credential and my years of driving experience are valid.

But when it comes to occupational licenses  for cutting hair, giving a massage, taking X-rays and more  no similar process in place. Occupational licenses do not travel and function across state lines.

As a result, skilled workers may be disincentivized from moving to Wisconsin. If I cant work and do the job that Ive been trained to perform, why would I want to move there?

Wisconsin picks up the pace on issuing credentials "We are issuing more licenses, more quickly than ever," DSPS secretary-designee Dan Hereth said.

Or I might be compelled to move. But I will stay out of the labor market because my credential is no longer valid. None of these options is optimal.

Thankfully, 21 states have already passed whats called universal recognition. Universal recognition makes occupational licenses more like driver licenses. If I have a valid license that is in good standing, I will be free to work and practice my profession of choice without the typical red tape and bureaucracy. This is what AB 332 would do in Wisconsin if passed.

Working with my Knee Center colleague Kihwan Bae, we estimated the effects of states passing occupational licensing reform. First, we found that the employment of licensed workers increases by almost a full percentage point. Workers who were previously without work or discouraged from looking for work had an easier time obtaining employment. Further, we found that in-migration into states that pass universal recognition increases.

Wisconsin can benefit in the same way as 21 other states.

Are consequences or risks associated with this improvement? No. These workers are credentialed and have the necessary experience to do the job. No state that has passed this has ever eliminated or walked it back. In fact, states with universal recognition are looking to go further by including more occupations or eliminating needless hurdles for workers to take advantage.

Will existing workers be hurt? Our research suggests that workers have little to fear. We are unable to find consistent evidence of any harm to workers. And Wisconsin needs workers.

Workers wouldnt be displaced. Instead, workers would likely be given more opportunities from the enhanced economic activity resulting from employers having access to the workers they need.

The workforce shortage is particularly acute in Wisconsin. The U.S. Department of Commerce suggests Wisconsin has only 54 workers for every 100 jobs. It doesnt make sense to block existing or new workers from filling these unfilled jobs.

Quote If I have a valid license that is in good standing, I will be free to work and practice my profession of choice without the typical red tape and bureaucracy.

What about compacts among states that allow, for example, a nurse to practice in any of those states? Compacts are occupation-specific and full of additional bureaucracy. Research published by the National Bureau of Economic Research suggests that nurse licensure compacts are not effective at promoting mobility.

Universal recognition makes transfer of most licensed professions possible by eliminating, rather than increasing, bureaucracy.

Wisconsin needs workers, and universal recognition is a costless way to deliver significant and measurable economic benefit. Keeping skilled workers on the sideline in the middle of a labor shortage is not sound economic policy. Wisconsin should reevaluate its existing policies and make sure it is aligned with citizens needs.
A recent column by Martin Schram, Fill health care hole for traveling families, described the heartbreaking plight of an Illinois family with two children facing a rare congenital health disorder. They have crisscrossed the country, trying to find answers and medical resources to heal their children.

One stop was Madison.

The story grips your heart. In addition to navigating complex health care systems and new terrain with each visit, their savings are being depleted so the family can stay together through this medical journey. What parent wouldnt do the same thing?

While Schram graciously identified resources such as Ronald McDonald House Charities for some families, he was incorrect about who can access our services. Schram  and the family  were under the misconception that the Ronald McDonald House only serves families with a child facing cancer. They thought our respite was not available to the family.

Martin Schram: Fill health care hole for families so mom who rushed child to Madison has more options It is 1:30 p.m. on New Years Day. Emmalyn Freeze, who at 14 is a veteran of 54 surgeries on her brain and spinal column, had been hoping for 

In fact, the type of illness or injury a child is being treated for is not a factor. Nor does the length a child needs to be in the hospital dictate how long a family can stay. We work closely with area hospitals who refer families to our organization and have only two requirements: The child must be treated at that hospital, and the family must live more than 35 miles away.

While each of the 386 Ronald McDonald Houses worldwide vary according to the pediatric medical needs of that community, the requirements and services are similar.

The Ronald McDonald House provides a home away from home with warm, comfortable rooms, community spaces, meals, transportation and caring staff  at no cost  when a child faces a medical crisis and is far from home.

In Madison, the average stay is 12.5 days. But quite often families are guests for weeks, months or more than a year. We see families from across the globe due to the pediatric specialties at our renowned area hospitals. And when our facility is full, we host families at partner hotels, so the financial worries of staying near their child is not on their list.

As soon as we read the article, I was able to connect with the family to let them know the Ronald McDonald House was here to help, most anywhere their medical journey takes them. Over the years, it has become clear that caring for the family of a sick child is as important as caring for the child. Yet these stories remind us of the continued work we need to do to dispel myths that may prevent families from using our services.

For more than 30 years, tens of thousands of families have been cared for by Ronald McDonald House Charities in Madison. Besides our housing facility, we provide a family room at SSM Health St. Marys Hospital in Madison and bring services to local communities with a mobile care unit.

Our mission is built on the simple idea that nothing else should matter when a family is focused on their seriously ill or injured child  not where they can afford to stay, where they get their next meal or where they lay their head to rest. We keep families close to their child at area hospitals so they can better cope and heal together. We are a global organization celebrating our 50th anniversary this year with more than 386 chapters worldwide.

Supporting these families is work we can all be proud to do together.
Two men are facing forgery and grand theft charges after police say they cashed more than $14,000 in forged checks at three First Federal Savings Bank branches in Twin Falls.

Joshwa Aaron Wintrode, 43, and Stephen R. Duckworth, 31, of Boise, walked into the branches on March 15 and cashed forged checks of two southern Idaho businesses, stating to tellers that they had performed work for the companies.

The two successfully cashed checks at two branches, but a teller at the Cheney Drive branch noticed that a check that Duckworth tried to cash didnt look right, and called the owner of the business to verify its authenticity.

Duckworth, meanwhile, began to pace back and forth as if he was in a hurry, and tried to alert Wintrode, who was in the bank at the same time doing a transaction with another teller, that they needed to leave, records say.

The two left the branch, with Wintrode being successful at cashing a $3,500 check there.

Warrants for the pair were issued in July, and the two were arrested in November, court records say. Both are facing four forgery charges and three charges of grand theft.

Wintrode made his initial appearance in felony magistrate court on Thursday, with Magistrate Judge Calvin Campbell setting a $150,000 bond.

Duckworth appeared in court in November and has a $75,000 bond.

Preliminary hearings for the pair are scheduled for Feb. 2.
Daniel Tappa hasnt seen it before.

Tappa is the supervisory hydrologist at the National Resources Conservation Service, and notes the very distinct difference in Idahos snowpack situations between basins south of the Snake River Plain and those to the north.

Well-above average snowfall percentages dominate the southern border, including Salmon Falls and Goose Creek basins, with average snowpack percentages hitting 119% and 128% of average, respectively. The Owyhee Basin as of Friday had 142% of average.

But look to the Wood River Valley, and those snowpack percentages are mostly in the low- to mid-70s.

Tappa said he has looked back at past records and hasnt before seen that kind of disparity between snowpack numbers.

There have been theories, Tappa said, such as that it could be due to the El Nino weather pattern that generally sends storms southward, but he noted that Utahs snowpack numbers arent as high as whats in southern Idaho.

This just seems to be a very unique anomaly that we are seeing better conditions in that part of the state, he said.

The lower snowpack numbers in the Wood River Valley could pick up, but Tappa said its doubtful that they will reach average or above-average figures.

Its not just the Wood River Valley that is seeing below-average snowpack. Much of northern Idaho is in the mid-60 percent range, with the Clearwater and Spokane basins at just 63% of normal. The Idaho drought monitor shows the states panhandle as a mix between a moderate drought and severe drought.

Despite higher-than-normal snowpack, potential flooding in southern Idaho in the spring isnt a high concern right now, Tappa said.

Outlooks released by the National Weather Service for February forecast above average temperatures and equal chances of either higher or lower normal precipitation.

Farmers can expect full reservoirs in the Upper Snake River Reservoir System, with the basins reservoirs already at 73% capacity.

Magic Reservoir has almost three times the water in it as it normally has at this time of year, he said.

Your news on your smartphone Your story lives in the Magic Valley, 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 Times-News app is built for you and your life. Dont have the app? Download it today from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Rep. Lauren Neccochea (D-Boise) wrote on January 20 the new JFAC committee and its faults. Everything she said was true. I urge you to consider how Idahos new budgeting and appropriations procedures will harm Idaho residents. Action is needed in two directions as you instruct our state and federal office holders representing you.

Since the 1970s, Republican pundits claim the only thing standing between the average American and financial success is taxes. With this new JFAC structure, Idaho Republicans have advanced to their goal line of ineffective government through underfunding. The fallacy of the current party line starts with the facts about income in the United States.

Most of the residents of the United States do not have enough income to save for emergencies or to accumulate the investment capital to advance their net worth. Consider these statistics collected in 2022. There are approximately 133M households in the United States. Sixty-two percent (83M) make $100K or less. Of those, thirty-three percent (42M) make less than $50K per year. Twelve million households (9.2%) make between $150K and 200K, while sixteen million (11.9%) make over $200K.

Other statistics show that families with children are having a challenging time. In addition, seniors who were unable to accumulate savings beyond their income from social security are significantly more likely to be income constrained. These are the people who are voting in elections. Their reality is the money they see going to any of the ways they are taxed would make a welcome addition to their spendable monthly income.

Starting with the French Revolution, people reconsidered the right of the nobility to hold massive amounts of wealth. The Communist Manifesto, proposing an overwhelming redistribution of wealth, was the most extreme. During this time, an equal amount of academic thinking opposed the notion that people should share their wealth with anyone. Somehow governments managed to tax the wealth on both sides of the argument.

Because of the absolute failure of communism, economic speculation and research has begun to explore the middle ground. Politicians, however, hoping to forge a tribe of unwavering partisans, have been issuing pro and con volleys from the extreme positions. They are ignoring two absolute facts.

People must have enough income to provide a comfortable life for themselves and their families. The second truth is that a just and effective government must be paid for. Any underfunded duty of government becomes incompetent and prone to corruption.

When you dont want to do what laws want you to do, you want ineffective government. When you look at your burden in providing the revenue a just government requires, you want to pay less. When you combine these two discontents and provide public messaging that reinforces individual grievance while ignoring any benefit of effective government, you have the MAGA movement. Idaho, including conservative thinking but not MAGA Republicans is being taken over by extreme ideology.

Innovators are the only class of workers who might not make money directly from the work of others. Sometimes their work generates massive income, often, it does not. This fact is why small businesses are hard to establish. This is why very bright people will support the false truth that taxes take away their ability to succeed. Its understandable but obstructing the expense and helpfulness of government harms everyone eventually.

It is also true that social connections aid career growth. There are times when fairly or unfairly, justly, or unjustly, social connection provides weight to economic decisions. Resentment by the passed over and ignored is another reason for MAGA support.

The truth is that every worker is worth a living wage. Our economy will still grow if workers are paid adequately, and the investment class puts less of their profits in their pockets. Our law and our policies must facilitate that democratic point of view.

The other truth is that government requires materials and people to do its job. All government requires revenue received through taxation. Taxes should be higher for those who have a greater ability to pay and whose wealth benefits from the strength of our government.

Next week, I will be talking about an underfunded arm of government: the Judicial Branch.
This week, communities throughout the nation celebrated the enormous potential of school choice. Now, more than ever, students and families hunger for alternatives to the public school system. With a plethora of educational options available today, our government should champion and empower families to discover the best fit for their children, rather than confining them to an outdated system.

Defenders of the status quo invest significant resources, a lot of time, energy, and money, to resist efforts to give families more options. Teachers unions and the state education bureaucracy have joined forces with outspoken progressives who fear free thinking independent young people who grow up outside of their control.

As Republicans, we believe that the family is more important than the state. We believe that parents know best how to educate their children and have an inalienable right to impart their values to the next generation.

Our position on education, as outlined in Article III of the Idaho Republican Platform, underscores the belief that children are a gift from God, and stewarding and disciplining those children into being Godly and productive citizens is the paramount responsibility of fathers and mothers.

The Idaho State Constitution says in Article IX, Section 1, that The stability of a republican form of government depending mainly upon the intelligence of the people, it shall be the duty of the legislature of Idaho, to establish and maintain a general, uniform and thorough system of public, free common schools.

Notice that this doesnt say the government must indoctrinate students, or force anti-American or antifamily curricula down our students throats. It merely says we must provide a public school system that serves all students.

Article III, Section 3 of the Platform reinforces this goal through the mechanism of school choice: We believe in improving the quality of education for every child by maximizing parental choice. This will be accomplished through money following students to their parents school of choice. We support all educational environments desired by parents including public charter schools, public virtual charter schools, homeschools, schooling at home, microschools, learning pods, co-ops, private and parochial schools, and accountable public school systems.

Right now, school choice requires extra money to pay tuition, extra time to homeschool, or a public school district that is willing to be flexible. The anti-school choice lobby is spending a lot of money and political capital to keep it that way. While there are many great teachers and administrators within the public school system, there are also many who believe they know better than parents, and that children belong to them, not to you.

I urge the Legislature to make school choice a priority this session. Not only will it give families more options, it will induce competition in the current system, which we as Republicans and believers in the free market know will lead to quality improvements for all.
When I was a kid, Idaho enjoyed a fairly healthy balance of political power. Democratic Governor Cecil Andrus served alongside a Republican lieutenant governor and for one legislative term, the Idaho Senate was evenly divided. As I grew up, Idaho veered rightward. Today, new migration patterns are rapidly accelerating the trend, and an interesting paradox has emerged in Boise State Universitys new polling.

The finds newcomers are 11 percentage points more likely to identify as Republicans and 10 percentage points less likely to identify as Independents than Idahoans who have lived here for more than 10 years. One would expect the increasingly Republican voting population to align tightly with the Republican supermajority in power, but that is not the case. In fact, the polling shows that Idahoans overwhelmingly agree with Democrats on the major issues of our day.

A majority of Idahoans oppose the abortion ban the GOP enacted. Nearly 70% of voters trust their libraries to make decisions about the content they make available, while Republican lawmakers bring bills threatening librarians with jail time and expensive lawsuits. As GOP legislators push for school vouchers, only 49% of Idahoans approve, and support drops when respondents consider the diminished school funding they will cause.

For the first time in the surveys history, more voters thought Idaho was moving in the wrong direction compared with 40% who think Idaho is on the right track.

A different poll showed strong opposition to Medicaid cuts and strong support for leaving Medicaid expansion in place, while the Republican supermajority seeks to slash Medicaid and repeal Medicaid expansion. Yet another poll revealed very strong support for investing in our dilapidated school facilities, an issue Republican lawmakers have refused to act on for years.

These discrepancies underscore a stark contrast between the policy preferences of regular Idahoans and the legislation pursued by the dominant political party.

To long-time Republicans who have been left behind by their party, I invite you to take a closer look at Idaho Democrats. For newcomers to Idaho who voted Republican in their former states, I invite you to get to know your Idaho Democratic candidates and our local issues. And every Idahoan should read the Idaho Democratic Party platform and compare it to the Idaho Republican Party platform, which is squarely outside the mainstream.

For a representative democracy to function well, voters need to stay engaged, research candidates, and provide accountability when politicians ignore their views.

If you, like a majority of Idahoans, support adequate school funding and safe facilities, oppose costly voucher schemes with zero accountability, support our libraries, or want the restoration of our reproductive freedoms, a vote for Idaho Democrats is your best bet.
- Advertisement -

The UNs top court said Israel must prevent genocidal acts in its war with Hamas and allow aid into Gaza, but stopped short of calling for an end to the fighting.

The International Court of Justice said Israel must facilitate urgently needed humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territory, which has been under relentless bombardment and siege since the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the case as outrageous while Gazas Hamas rulers hailed the ICJ ruling, saying it contributes to isolating Israel and exposing its crimes in Gaza.

Soon after, the Islamist movement released a video showing three Israeli women held hostage in Gaza, two of whom said they were Israeli soldiers.

Also following the ruling, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said it had sacked several employees accused by Israel of involvement in the October 7 attack.

- Advertisement -

The UN court based in The Hague  while refraining from ordering an immediate halt to the almost four-month-old Gaza war  said Israel must do everything to prevent the commission of all acts within the scope of the Genocide Convention.

South Africa, long a vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause, brought the case against Israel, accusing it of breaching the 1948 UN Genocide Convention, set up after World War II and the Holocaust.

President Cyril Ramaphosa and senior officials erupted in cheers after the ruling, which is legally binding although the court has no enforcement mechanism.

We expect Israel as a self-proclaimed democracy and a state that respects the rule of law to abide by the measures handed down, Ramaphosa said, expressing hope the decision will lead to a new diplomatic push to end the war.

Speaking after the ruling, Netanyahu said the charge is not only false, its outrageous, and decent people everywhere should reject it.

Israel does not need to be lectured on morality, his Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said, and Israels ally the United States reiterated that genocide accusations were unfounded.

For the Palestinian Authority, the ruling showed that no state is above the law, and the European Union said it wanted immediate implementation of the courts decision.

Palestinians had welcomed South Africas case, but the courts decision left them caught between pride and frustration.

We feel that the court could have clearly called for a ceasefire in addition to facilitating the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, Mais Shabana said after watching the ruling in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

In Jerusalem, shoppers at Mahaneh Yehudah Market were dismissive.

Aryeh Schaffer, a student, called the genocide accusation absolutely ridiculous because Israelis were just defending their homeland.

The war started with the unprecedented attack by Hamas that resulted in about 1,140 deaths in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official Israeli figures.

Militants also seized about 250 hostages and Israel says around 132 of them remain in Gaza, including the bodies of at least 28 dead captives.

Israel has vowed to crush Hamas and launched a military offensive that the health ministry in Gaza says has killed at least 26,083 people, about 70 percent of them women and children.
- Advertisement -

Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte on Saturday called on the Senate to pass the Freelance Protection bill that has been passed by the House of Representatives.

Villafuerte said there is an urgent need to pass the bill because more and more 40-something and younger individuals are getting part-time jobs to make both ends meet.

The House-passed bill guarantees full protection to these unconventional workers against unfair labor practices amid the fast-growing global freelance economy, Villafuerte said.

The steady climb in the number of millennials and Gen Z-ers who have taken on part-time jobs as extra income sources gives more reason for the Senate to pass a counterpart measure to a House-approved bill that guarantees full protection for these freelancers who are highly vulnerable to labor malpractices in the absence of job contracts from their employers, Villafuerte, who is a co-author of House Bill 6718 titled Freelance Workers Protection Act.

With the rapid growth of the global freelance economy and the consequent surge in demand for the so-called gig workers not only in the Philippines but elsewhere in the world as well, it is imperative for us lawmakers to accord full job protection to Filipino freelancers, Villafuerte said.

- Advertisement -

He expressed optimism that the Senate would tackle its version of the bill that will benefit some 1.5 million individuals with the resumption of the sessions of the 19th Congress.

The House-approved bill had consolidated several same-topic measures, including HB 615 authored by Pangasinan Rep. Christopher de Venecia; and HB 1087, which was introduced by Villafuerte with fellow CamSur Reps. Miguel Luis Villafuerte and Tsuyoshi Anthony Horibata along with the Bicol Saro party-list group.

Villafuerte made his fresh appeal to senators following the release last year by business consulting firm Deloitte Philippines of a global survey showing that 71 percent of Filipino millennials and 65 percent of those belonging to Generation Z have acquired extra full-time jobs, from the previous years 61 percent and 64 percent, respectively, for additional sources of income.

He said such figures were higher than the global averages of 37 percent for millennials and 46 percent for Gen Z-ers.

Millennials are those born between the early 1980s and the mid 90s, while those belonging to Gen Z were born between 1995 and 2004.
- Advertisement -

Nine Islamist militants including three suspects in a Catholic mass bombing in the southern Philippines have been killed in a clash with troops, the military said Saturday.

Army soldiers shot it out with about 15 Dawlah Islamiyah suspects hiding out at a mountain farm close to the remote southern municipality of Piagapo, Lanao Del Sur, on Thursday, the commander of the military unit said.

The firefight left nine of the gunmen dead and four soldiers wounded, including two who were taken to hospital with serious wounds, army brigade commander Brigadier-General Yegor Rey Barroquillo told AFP.

He said three of the six suspects in the bombing of a Catholic mass at a school in the southern city of Marawi last month were among those killed in Thursdays fighting.

Of the nine, three had direct participation in the MSU bombing, Barroquillo said, referring to the December 4 blast at Mindanao State University in Marawi that left four people dead and dozens wounded.

- Advertisement -

Barroquillo said three other bombing suspects were still on the run including the alleged mastermind, a former student at the university who went by the alias of Engineer.

Army Scout Rangers, trained in jungle combat, crept up to a cluster of mountain farmhouses where the suspects had sought refuge to evade the post-bombing manhunt.

Six (gunmen) were able to escape and in our assessment the Engineer was among them, Barroquillo said, adding the farmers had left the area earlier this month after the gunmen arrived.

Militant attacks on buses, Catholic churches and public markets have been a feature of decades-long unrest in the south.

Manila signed a peace pact with the nations largest rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, in 2014, ending their deadly armed rebellion.

But smaller bands of Muslim fighters opposed to the peace deal remain, including militants professing allegiance to the Islamic State group. With AFP
The unique product in which Martinsville leads the world was celebrated Sunday during the Martinsville-Henry County Historical Societys Founders Day program.

Film production in Martinsville was started in 1956 by Julius Hermes, who originally was onto another goal: carpet fibers.

Hermes granddaughter Tracy Tate talked about how he started the company.

Hermes and Burness Frith opened Martin Processing in Collinsville. The company specialized in dying technology for polyester yarn and other materials. In all, Hermes was granted 17 patents for his inventions.

But, according to Tate, the true value of the business was the people involved.

Papa Jule truly valued and appreciated all of his employees, Tate said. He knew that there would never have been a success of Martin Processing in its three divisions had it not been for his employees behind him.

In the 1970s, she said, Hermes had the smarts and the brains to open a manufacturing division to get the machinery made to manufacture the yarn and film, and he also opened a textile division.

That machinery division, where Tate has worked, now is Smart Machines, and the textile division still runs in Rocky Mount as Ronile, she said. Martin Processing is now Eastman Performance Films.

She read a quote from the website of Llumar, the window film manufactured by Eastman Chemical Co.: The entrepreneurial initiative of Julius Hermes in 1956 was the historical cornerstone of the LLumar brand. Known as the father of dyed PET (polyethylene terephthalate)  the polyester now used in most window films  he was the right person, with the right product at the right time that moved the industry forward into the thriving business it is today.

Kristoff Lievens, the site manager for Eastman Performance Films, said that Hermes portrait is still in the hallway of our plant. The legacy continues on as we operate today under the name of Eastman.

Hermes business was once big on carpet dyeing, which was hard hit in the 1970s, so Hermes redirected the companys energy into plastic film products, said Bruce Troughton, Eastman product customization and support specialist. The more than 1 million packaged rolls the Martinsville area produces are in things everyone uses, such as cars and cellphones, he said.

Locally, Eastman has 800 employees in five locations that cover a total of 1,051,727 square feet, Troughton said. They are: Fieldale Plants 1 & 2, built in 1961; the Patriot Centre plant which opened in 1995; the Axton plant from 1990; and Films Packaging and Performance Films Warehouse, both from 2020 and in the Patriot Centre.

He gave a timeline of the companys growth:

In 1956 Martin Processing was founded to dye polyester fibers.

In 1960 a patent was issued for deep dyed polyester film.

In 1961 the 30,000-square-foot plant was built in Fieldale.

In 1987 Martin Processing went from local to international ownership when it was acquired by Courtaulds, which in 1988 bought a plant in California, closed that plant and transferred much of its assets to Martinsville; it acquired Gila River Products in 1989 and closed it in 1992.

In 1995 Commonwealth Laminating and Coating was founded at the Patriot Centre.

Solutia bought Courtaulds, including CPFilms, the Fieldale site, in 1999.

In 2010 the company acquired Novamatrix Products.

In 2012 Eastman bought Solutia, including the Fieldale site.

In 2012 Eastman acquired Commonwealth Laminating & Coating at the Patriot Centre site.

In 2014 Eastman acquired Commonwealth Laminating & Coating.

The company currently is planning for future growth and expansions, he said.

Eastmans 2022 revenue was $10.6 billion, he said, and it has 15,000 employees. The company has four divisions: additives and functional products, advanced materials, chemical intermediates and fibers. Its local plant is the largest window film manufacturing facility in the world.

The Films division makes materials for the fields of transportation, building & construction and electronics & medical, he said.

The process of making window film starts with polyester dyeing, in which dyes are infused into a polyester film. Also, aluminum metal is evaporated onto raw films, for better performance and high reflectivity. Then those two are stuck together in laminating, with additional coatings on each side. The type of adhesive depends on whether the film will be used in automotive or architectural applications.

It all goes back to Julius Hermes, who in 1960 patented the deep dyeing process on polyester textile materials, which is what the Performance Films business is based on.

Learn more about the product made in Martinsville on the LLumar Films YouTube channel.

Upcoming events hosted or co-sponsored by the Historical Society include:

Sunday Afternoon Lecture Series: 18th Century Toys with Gail Vogler, 3 p.m. Feb. 18, Historic Henry County Courthouse

Black History Month Concert: Virgina State University Gospel Chorale, 4 p.m. Feb. 24, Walker Hall at Patrick & Henry Community College, co-sponsored also by the Fayette Area Historical Initiative and P&HCCs Fellowship of Christian Athletes

Sunday Afternoon Lecture Series: The Blue Ridge Regional Library: Enriching Our Communities for 100 Years with Margaret Caldwell, 3 p.m. March 17, Historic Henry County Courthouse

The MHC Heritage Center & Museum is open with a docent for guided tours from 1-4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and also most weekdays from 9-5 (call 276-403-5361 to confirm the director will be there). Holly Kozelsky is the executive director. Visit www.mhchistoricalsociety.org for more information.
Story Time for Diverse Abilities

Join Youth Services librarians when they read a selection of engaging stories geared toward teens through adults with cognitive or other disabilities. This program is held twice a month with the next Story Time happening on Jan. 29 from 1 to 2 p.m. in the Art Box on Level Two of the library.

Talk Time

On Jan. 30 from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Imaginarium on Level Two of the library, come in and practice speaking with other English language learners. Learn about U.S. culture and meet people from around the world. Child care enrichment activities are provided onsite in collaboration with Families First Learning Lab.

MakerSpace Mending and Sewing

Bring your damaged clothing to the Makerspace and learn how to mend it during these mending and sewing-focused walk-in hours. This drop-in program is held every Wednesday and begins Jan. 31 from 2:30 to 5 p.m. in the MakerSpace on Level One of the library.

YMCA Yoga at the Library

Missoula Public Library is thrilled to partner with Missoula Family YMCA to offer free yoga at the library. On Feb. 1 from noon to 1 p.m. in Cooper Room A on Level Four of the library, we will focus on basic yoga postures, alignment principles, and breathing techniques that help balance, strengthen, and stretch the body  beginners are welcome!

Kids Cook with ChopChop

Taking inspiration from our kids magazine ChopChop, join Missoula Public Library to learn how to create tasty snacks and easy meal options you can make at home. This program is held on Feb. 1 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the Demonstration Kitchen on Level Three of the library.

Missoula Scholastic Chess Club at MPL

Join the Missoula Chess Club for this meeting held the first and third Thursdays of each month throughout the school year. Students from grades 2 to 12 are welcome to come play and learn new moves and beginners are welcome. The next club meeting will be held on Feb. 1 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in Cooper Room B on Level Four of the library.

Missoula Food Bank Friday After School Meals at the Library

After School Meals are available at Missoula Public Library! Every Friday kiddos can enjoy an after school meal in the Imaginarium on Level Two of the library from 2:30 to 5 p.m. with our next service held on Feb. 2. Missoula Public Library will serve meals to kiddos 18 and under courtesy of the Missoula Food Bank & Community Center. This service will run until June 7.

Teddy Bear Sleepover

On Feb. 2 from 4 to 5 p.m. in the Imaginarium on Level Two of the library kiddos can bring in their fluffy best friend to the library for a special Story Time, a Families First Learning Lab exhibit, and a fun teddy bear craft. Kids can choose to leave their friend overnight and pick them up on Feb. 3 from 9 to 11 a.m. when they can enjoy a slideshow of their friends' sleepover shenanigans and help Families First celebrate Ice Cream for Breakfast Day in the Art Box!

MCATs Kids Dance Party

MCAT offers a disco dance party for kids, caregivers and parents on Feb. 3 from 11 to 11:45 a.m. in the MCAT Studio on Level One of the library. Stop by after Story Time to enjoy a little quality dance time with your kids. The light show will be fantastic and the playlist is very kid friendly.

First Reads with Montana Repertory Theatre: The Thin Place by Lucas Hnath

Missoula Public Library is proud to team up with the Montana Repertory Theatre again for the staged reading series, First Reads. If youre a theater lover, if you want to be the first to hear the plays the Rep is considering, or even if you just enjoy audiobooks or radio plays, you dont want to miss Montana Repertory Theatres First Reads! On Feb. 3 from 2 to 4 p.m. in Cooper Room A/B on Level Four of the library, enjoy a reading of "The Thin Place" by Lucas Hnath. For full details and program descriptions visit: tinyurl.com/firstreads.

Family History Month Series: Family History Writing Contest

Calling all family historians! Enter genealogical writing about your Montana ancestors in Missoula Public Library's first annual Family History Writing Contest. Memorialize your familys history and compete for cash prizes. Prizes will be awarded for the top three submissions. The Writing Contest Coordinator will review any submission received by 5 p.m. Mountain Time on Friday, Feb. 16, for formatting compliance. Entries will be accepted until March 1 via Submittable: https://missoulapubliclibrary.submittable.com/submit. Full contest rules are available on our website: tinyurl.com/FamilyHistoryWritingContest.

16th Annual Missoula Writes Contest

The 16th annual community writing contest, Missoula Writes, is open for submissions. The contest is open to all Montana residents. We are seeking fiction, non-fiction and poetry submissions from the following age groups: 8-10, 11-14, 15-18 and 19+. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three contestants in each category and age group. The submission link, full contest rules, and more are available at: missoulapubliclibrary.org/home/programs-events/ongoing-programs/missoula-writes/.
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston says because of actions negotiated by Denver officials with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, migrants have been successfully integrated into the Denver community.

The U.S. needs workers. Thousands of migrants, hungry to work, are coming to the U.S. Congress is doing nothing to update antiquated 33-year old laws. A hospital in North Dakota in financial straights because only traveling U.S. nurses were available had planned to hire 200+ nurses from the Philippines. Because of antiquated laws, the hospital was told it would take two years for those nurses to work legally in the U.S.

Johnston said families with kids were living on the streets in 10-degree weather. Mayorkas used emergency measures to respond. He instituted programs to help migrants obtain immediate work authorization.

Dozens of migrants had been seen in Home Depot and Walmart parking lots every day looking for a day job or a day shift  someone to hire them to do some construction, household chores, landscaping. Johnston said, suffering people who couldnt get work and income for housing were turning to the black market where agreed wages were not paid.
Burke County residents who wonder how likely their property is to flood can soon review new flood maps.

Burke County will host an open house to review the maps from 5-7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 19, at the Foothills Higher Education Conference Center, located at 2128 S. Sterling St. in Morganton. The meeting entrance and parking are on the side of the building next to LongHorn Steakhouse.

Thats when residents and business leaders in unincorporated Burke County, the city of Morganton and the town of Drexel will be able to review and discuss the latest update to their flood hazard and flood risk data, according to a release from the county. The open house will provide an opportunity for residents and other stakeholders to see revised studies and new flood hazard areas, ask questions about the revised studies and the National Flood Insurance Program, and understand the requirements for submitting appeals or comments to the revised studies, the release said.

County and municipal employees will be at the open house to help residents locate their properties from the flood hazard data and determine their level of flood risk. In addition, representatives from the North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program will be available to answer questions about the hazard data update process, flood insurance coverage and floodplain management, the release said.

Residents also can access the flood hazard data online at http://fris.nc.gov/fris/.
Beginning Sunday, Butte Central Catholic Schools will join more than 6,000 Catholic schools with 2 million students nationwide celebrating National Catholic Schools Week. This years theme is United in Faith and Community.

The celebration will continue through Friday. Twenty-three Montana Catholic schools are participating in the event.

Throughout the week, Butte Central will hold a series of special events and activities.

On Monday, an All-School Mass that is open to the public will be held at 9:30 a.m. at St. Patricks Church. The celebrant will be Bishop Austin Vetter. Later in the day, the Butte Central Education Foundation will host a Parish Appreciation Luncheon at the Maroon Activities Center. The clergy and staffs of Buttes Catholic parishes will be honored at the luncheon.

On Tuesday, the Butte Central Education Foundation will hold its annual Awards and Dedication Ceremony at 6 p.m. at the Maroon Activity Center, honoring volunteers, benefactors and alumni.

In addition, a series of activities will be held throughout the week.
The Department of Defense has awarded $11.3 million to Butte's Universal Achemetal Titanium LLC to conduct titanium metal research and development in Montana for the U.S. Navy's Office of Naval Research, according to a company news release.

The program is being contracted through LIFT, a Detroit-based and Department of Defense-partnered national advanced materials manufacturing innovation institute, and includes a partnership with Montana Tech, which will assist with analysis and experimentation.

UAT has been working in Butte, Montana for over a decade, and this funding is critical to the next steps in the process," Dr. James Cox, UATs principal investigator for the project, said in the news release. "Weve already been able to hire four new employees plus three new interns and are looking to bring more talent to the beautiful southwest Montana area.

LIFT is a DoD manufacturing innovation institute that works at the intersection of advanced materials and manufacturing processes to support the U.S. manufacturing base and the nations military.

UAT was established to develop and commercialize the extraction and reduction process of titanium in the United States using domestic ores.
WHEATLAND, Wyo.  Oliver Baez spent two months rehearsing a scene for a school play in which his character confronts another student about bullying a gay student who takes his own life.

After much preparation, the 12-year-old's small scene turned into a big problem among school officials in Wheatland, Wyoming. At the last minute, they canceled the anti-bullying play, saying it did not conform to school values and leaving the young cast without a stage.

It was awful, Baez said. "For the school to cancel it, its like saying that LGBTQ should not be included in a society. Which is really awful and cruel.

Twenty-five years after a watershed moment for the gay rights movement  the murder of Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old student in a university town not far from Wheatland  the canceled performances of The Bullying Collection show how far the LGBTQ+ community still has to go to gain acceptance in Wyoming and elsewhere.

Wyoming is one of just two states without a hate crimes law; South Carolina is the other. Libraries around the country are facing community pressure to pull children's books with LGBTQ+ stories, drag shows have been banned in some places and a University of Wyoming sorority was sued for admitting a transgender woman.

Meanwhile, Wyoming lawmakers are preparing to consider a bill this session that would strictly define gender as one's biological sex at birth, restricting the lives of trans and nonbinary residents.

Located on the eastern Wyoming plains, Wheatland is a small farming and ranching community with about 3,500 residents. There are few restaurants, no department stores  not even a local Walmart  and few performance venues besides Wheatland High School.

A local theater group, the Platte County Players, has permission to perform there and salvaged the rights to the play and sponsored the performance a month later at the high school, as originally planned.

The students performed earlier this month before a small gathering of people who braved icy roads and subzero temperatures to see the delayed show. But if they still grow up to have bad feelings about the whole thing, they would have fair reason.

Community apathy, combined with snowy weather and extreme cold, made for a sparsely attended performance. Only about 50 people showed up, including half a dozen LGBTQ+ advocates and allies from Cheyenne, 70 miles away.

Parents were thrilled to see the play ultimately performed after weeks of practice and then delay. It was sad the principal couldn't stand up for what was right and got misguided by old mindsets, Olivers mom, Cassie Baez, said in an email.

In a changing world, such limited mindsets are harmful for children after they grow up and venture away from small-town life, Cassie Baez added.

As a kid who has been bullied, Oliver knew this was important. So he was sad and even mad that the school still wasnt backing him on a very important topic, Cassie Baez wrote.

The principal had the backing of school district leadership, however.

The board supports the administration, school board chairperson Lu Lay said in an emailed statement, citing zero negative comments from the public on the cancellation decision.

To the district's superintendent, John Weigel, the play seemed more appropriate for high schoolers than middle schoolers. He said he hadn't seen the play himself but heard from the principal that it confused some kids and some middle school teachers supported cancellation.

The play featured 10-minute skits about bullying, including politicians and parents belittling one another and a teen being teased for carrying tampons at school. It also touched on a wide range of topics, including the risk of suicide for LGBTQ+ youths and students describing what it's like to experience a school shooting.

For school administrators, a scene in which a student eulogizes another student who killed himself was especially problematic. Baez walked onto the stage from the audience to chastise the girl for not mentioning the boy was gay and how she had participated in bullying him.

When he canceled the show, Principal Robert Daniel worsened the sting by giving each cast member a $5 gift card to a Maverik convenience store, along with an apology letter saying they had done a great job.

One student tore up the letter and gave the card back. Another, Erica Biggs, 14, who played the role of the main bully opposite Baez, described the principal's gesture as demeaning after all of their hard work.

This isn't the first time kids in Wheatland have dealt with this. Just last spring, a high school performance of Mean Girls was canceled and the same local theater group stepped in to help produce the show to a full house.

A decade earlier, the school board voted 4-3 to take down banners that read No Place for Hate in schools, because the Gay and Lesbian Fund of Colorado was among the sponsors of the campaign.

Here we go again," said Jeran Artery, a former Wyoming Equality director who grew up in the town. If theres anything in Wheatland that has any kind of resemblance to any kind of association with the LGBTQ movement, its like, This must come down immediately. Our kids must not see this.

The national suicide and crisis lifeline is available by calling or texting 988; an online chat can be reached at 988lifeline.org.

6 stats you need to know about LGBTQ+ youth mental health 6 stats you need to know about LGBTQ+ youth mental health Nearly half of LGBTQ+ youth seriously considered suicide in the last year 73% of LGBTQ+ youth experienced symptoms of anxiety; 58% had symptoms of depression From 2020 to 2022, rates of LGBTQ+ youth considering suicide and experiencing symptoms of anxiety, depression rose 60% of LGBTQ+ youth desiring mental health care couldn't obtain it 93% of LGBTQ+ youth said they were worried about being denied access to gender-affirming care and 91% said they were worried about being denied access to bathrooms Suicide rates among LGBTQ+ youth are lower when they feel that their home and school are gender-affirming spaces and receive support from friends and family
A far-reaching plan to channel Europe-Asia trade through the Middle East is at risk of stalling before it even gets started.

The Israel-Hamas war has halted progress on whats known as the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor  a project touted last year by Washington and key allies that envisages building new rail links across the Arabian peninsula. As Houthi attacks disrupt Red Sea shipping and turmoil spreads across the region, IMEC is effectively on ice.

Thats a setback for U.S. strategy, because the plan served multiple purposes  to counter Chinas Belt and Road infrastructure program, build influence in the so-called Global South, and speed up the hoped-for rapprochement between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

This is a project that made Iran, China, Russia, even Turkey nervous, said Romana Vlahutin, the former European Union special envoy for connectivity whos now a distinguished fellow at the German Marshall Fund. Maybe that is the best proof of its strategic importance.

Asked about the timeline for the project, a person familiar with the plans said the outbreak of violence in the Middle East has diverted attention away from discussions on IMEC.

In their contest with China for global influence, the U.S. and Europe have struggled to win support in the developing world. Many emerging nations stayed neutral in the face of Russias invasion of Ukraine, and backed an immediate end to Israels war in Gaza  declining to follow the American line in both cases.

To bolster their leverage, Group of Seven countries are engaging in what some have dubbed a battle of offers  holding out the prospect of tangible infrastructure projects, rather than appealing to shared values.

IMEC was one of the most ambitious. It was cemented at Septembers Group of 20 summit, in a three-way handshake between an unlikely triumvirate: U.S. President Joe Biden, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The announcement caught many by surprise. Its centerpiece was a new rail route that would link up with existing maritime and truck transportation networks. Biden called it a game-changing regional investment.

Analysts also saw the project as a step toward the administrations real prize: a pact between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

In Davos last week, national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the U.S. approach had been to work towards a package deal that involved normalization between Israel and key Arab states as well as a political horizon for Palestinians. That was our goal before Oct. 7, he said.

Hamass attack that day triggered Israels war in Gaza  which threatens to spill over on multiple fronts, drawing in Iran-backed Hamas allies such as the Houthis and Hezbollah, as well as the U.S.

All this chaos put an abrupt stop to IMEC. The 3,000-mile route runs through countries now on high alert in case they get caught up in the war. Arab public outrage over the civilian death toll in Gaza means governments of IMEC participants like the United Arab Emirates must tread carefully. Saudi Arabia is ruling out any deal with Israel unless theres a clear path to a Palestinian state.

Of course, IMEC  a project that fitted neatly into American geopolitical rhetoric but remained light on detail  might have foundered even absent a Middle East war.

While IMEC certainly looked promising on paper, complex regional dynamics were always going to pose implementation challenges, said Craig Singleton, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington think tank.

Among the signers of last Septembers agreement, theres clear impetus to get the deal restarted if regional tensions ease.

The strategic rationale remains unwavering, even stronger, said Mohammed Soliman, director of the strategic technologies and cyber security program at the Middle East Institute in Washington. Participating countries remain deeply committed to this vision.

Biden has referred to the historic project on several occasions since the G-20 summit  including citing it as a way of countering Belt and Road. Were going to compete on that, the president told a White House news conference in October. Were doing it a different way.

Biden is gearing up for a November election that will likely be a rematch pitting him against Donald Trump. With both U.S. parties committed to a hard line against China, the Biden administration has been seeking to set its foreign policy apart  including by emphasizing its readiness to work with allies on multilateral projects.

Architects of the IMEC plan acknowledge that theres an urgency to such efforts right now, amid rapid shifts in the global order led by the U.S. since World War II.

Vlahutin said that with Western capital now seeking alternatives to China for investment, the countries in the so-called Global South, and in particular India, have a massive chance.

Still, in some respects the U.S. and its allies are playing catch-up with China, which launched Belt and Road more than a decade ago.

Washington is seriously struggling to counter Chinas grand economic vision, Singleton said. The collapse of IMEC is a stark reminder that grand strategic plans often stumble in the face of harsh geopolitical realities.

How Houthi attacks crimp global trade Why are Houthis attacking ships? Why is the Red Sea important? How are Houthi attacks affecting trade? What does it mean for oil prices? How is the world responding?
NEW YORK  A jury awarded $83.3 million to E. Jean Carroll on Friday in a stinging and expensive rebuke to former President Donald Trump for his continued social media attacks against the longtime advice columnist over her claims that he sexually assaulted her in a Manhattan department store.

The award, when coupled with a $5 million sexual assault and defamation verdict last year from another jury in a case brought by Carroll, raised to $88.3 million what Trump must pay her. Protesting vigorously, he said he would appeal.

Carroll clutched her lawyers hands and smiled as the seven-man, two-woman jury delivered its verdict. Emotional afterward, she shared a three-way hug with her attorneys.

She declined comment as she left the Manhattan federal courthouse, but issued a statement later through a publicist, saying: This is a great victory for every woman who stands up when shes been knocked down, and a huge defeat for every bully who has tried to keep a woman down.

Trump had left the courthouse about a half hour before the verdict was read. He had remained for more than two hours while the jury deliberated.

Absolutely ridiculous! he said in a statement shortly afterward. Our Legal System is out of control, and being used as a Political Weapon.

Nikki Haley, his last major rival in the Republican primaries, said on social media Friday that the verdict meant that people were talking about $83 million in damages rather than fixing the border or inflation.

It was the second time in nine months that a civil jury returned a verdict related to Carroll's claim that a flirtatious, chance encounter with Trump in 1996 at Bergdorf Goodman's Fifth Avenue store ended violently. She said Trump slammed her against a dressing room wall, pulled down her tights and forced himself on her.

In May, a different jury awarded Carroll $5 million. It found Trump not liable for rape, but responsible for sexually abusing Carroll and then defaming her by claiming she made it up. He is appealing that award, too.

With the Carroll civil case behind him, Trump still faces 91 criminal charges in four indictments accusing him of trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election, mishandling classified documents and arranging payoffs to a porn star.

As for Trumps ability to pay, he reported having about $294 million in cash or cash equivalents on his most recent annual financial statement, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021. Testifying at his civil fraud trial last November, he Trump boasted: I have very little debt, and I have a lot of cash.

Trump skipped the first Carroll trial. He later expressed regret for not attending and insisted on testifying in the second trial, though the judge limited what he could say, ruling he had missed his chance to argue that he was innocent. He spent only a few minutes on the witness stand Thursday, during which he denied attacking Carroll, then left court grumbling this is not America.

This new jury was only asked how much Trump, 77, should pay Carroll, 80, for two statements he made as president when he answered reporters questions after excerpts of Carrolls memoir were published in a magazine  damages that couldnt be decided earlier because of legal appeals. Jurors were not asked to re-decide the issue of whether the sex attack actually happened.

Carrolls attorneys had requested $24 million in compensatory damages and an unusually high punitive award. The jury awarded $18.3 million in compensatory damages and another $65 million in punitive damages  meant to deter future behavior.

Carroll's lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, urged jurors in her closing argument Friday to punish Trump enough that he would stop a steady stream of public statements smearing Carroll as a liar and a whack job.

Trump shook his head vigorously as Kaplan spoke, then suddenly stood and walked out, taking Secret Service agents with him. His exit came only minutes after the judge, without the jury present, threatened to send Trump attorney Alina Habba to jail for continuing to talk when he told her she was finished.

You are on the verge of spending some time in the lockup. Now sit down, the judge told Habba, who immediately complied.

The trial reached its conclusion as Trump marches toward winning the Republican presidential nomination a third consecutive time. He has sought to turn his various trials and legal vulnerabilities into an advantage, portraying them as evidence of a weaponized political system.

Though theres no evidence that President Joe Biden or anyone in the White House has influenced any of the legal cases against him, Trumps line of argument has resonated with his most loyal supporters who view the proceedings with skepticism.

Carroll testified early in the trial that Trumps public statements had led to death threats.

He shattered my reputation, she said. I am here to get my reputation back and to stop him from telling lies about me.

She said shed had an electronic fence installed around the cabin in upstate New York where she lives, warned neighbors of the threats and bought bullets for a gun she keeps by her bed.

Previously, I was known as simply as a journalist and had a column, and now Im known as the liar, the fraud, and the whack job, Carroll testified.

Trumps lawyer, Habba, told jurors that Carroll had been enriched by her accusations against Trump and achieved fame she had craved. She said no damages were warranted.

To support Carrolls request for millions in damages, Northwestern University sociologist Ashlee Humphreys told the jury that Trumps 2019 statements had caused between $7.2 million and $12.1 million in harm to Carrolls reputation.

When Trump finally testified, Kaplan gave him little room to maneuver, because Trump could not be permitted to try to revive issues settled in the first trial.

It is a very well-established legal principle in this country that prevents do-overs by disappointed litigants, Kaplan said.

He lost it and he is bound. And the jury will be instructed that, regardless of what he says in court here today, he did it, as far as theyre concerned. That is the law, Kaplan said shortly before Trump testified.

After he swore to tell the truth, Trump was asked if he stood by a deposition in which he called Carroll a liar and a whack job. He answered: 100 percent. Yes.

Asked if he denied the allegation because Carroll made an accusation, he responded: Thats exactly right. She said something, I consider it a false accusation. Asked if he ever instructed anyone to hurt Carroll, he said: No. I just wanted to defend myself, my family, and frankly, the presidency.

The judge ordered the jury to disregard the false accusation comment and everything Trump said after No to the last question.

Earlier in the trial, Trump tested the judges tolerance. When he complained to his lawyers about a witch hunt and a con job within earshot of jurors, Kaplan threatened to eject him from the courtroom if it happened again. I would love it, Trump said. Later that day, Trump told a news conference Kaplan was a nasty judge.

Read more:
Kate Benner was living in Mariupol when Russia invaded Ukraine nearly two years ago, in February 2022. During the first uncertain months of the war, she and her family, including her daughter, mother and younger sister, fled to Europe with her then-husband, where they took refuge for over a year.

But last August, Benner needed to relocate again, away from her ex-husband, so she reached out to Debbie Alter-Starr in Napa. Benner knew Alter-Starr through her son Aaron, who moved to Ukraine in 2018. Aaron lived and worked in Kyiv until the 2022 invasion, and Benner had been the one to help him flee the country when the war began.

In August, Alter-Starr repaid the favor, arranging travel for Benners family and helping them settle in Yountville, where theyve lived since.

I called Debbie and said I need help, said Benner, whose last name is an alias for safety reasons.

We needed to feel stability in life. The last year and a half, we were just hiding from someone, hiding from bombs and looking over our shoulders, and then hiding from my ex-husband, she continued. It was very difficult for my family.

Alter-Starr had already begun supporting Ukrainian refugees she met in the community through her son and her work as a social worker in Napa since the beginning of the Russian invasion. But once Benner and her family arrived in Napa, she saw even more clearly the struggles refugees arriving in the Napa Valley were facing.

I remember when we first got here, mornings when you just can go outside and feel safety, silence and it was so important for us, Benner said. But also, you know, we needed to start from scratch.

She said that despite the sense of safety she felt, it was also incredibly overwhelming to have to adjust to life in the U.S.

We didnt have really anything and, for now, were just trying to build our life again  have our kids go to school, (and) we are trying to make a business.

Benner, Alter-Starr and another one of Aarons friends from his time in Kyiv, Viktoriia Stepanenko, who had been living in the Bay Area attending school since 2018, formed Ukrainians in Napa Valley, a mutual support network for refugees.

When Kate came with her family, by then, more and more families were being referred to me at the same time, Alter-Starr explained. Kate was ready to take this on.

They enlisted support from the community liaisons for Napa County and the Napa Valley Unified School District to spread the word about the community group, then began to build a network through the Facebook and Telegram platforms.

Ukrainians in Napa Valley hosted its first formal meeting in August after Benner arrived. The dinner get-togethers, which are now held monthly, are opportunities for local Ukrainians to gather, but also programming opportunities  featuring presentations about how to apply for personal benefits, enroll in local public schools, or apply for an apartment.

Benner said such opportunities are extremely helpful for Ukrainians navigating such a different environment from home. When she and her family arrived in Yountville, she explained that one of the most challenging aspects of acclimating to the town was learning the different laws in the U.S.

The U.S. has a lot of laws that you need to know and we felt like we were blind, Benner said. Theres a lot of questions about insurance, a lot of questions about our rights, even how to go about renting a house. Its challenging.

Ukrainians in Napa Valley has partnered with Ukrainian American House, a nonprofit based in Sacramento, to provide those educational resources, since Napa Countys Ukrainian population doesnt have many experts who can provide that information in the Ukrainian language.

They can provide some of the support for our refugees that we cant do because we dont have people who speak the language or know their culture, Alter-Starr said. That really does matter sometimes.

Ukrainian American House provides mental health support, as well as guidance for navigating the legal and health care systems in California. They also offer an array of career, translation, and fiscal assistance services.

Aside from those informational gatherings, Ukrainians in Napa Valley is also organizing English practice groups, so refugees can learn and practice speaking in English.

Benner said that about half of the 40 or so members of Ukrainians in Napa Valley are learning English for the first time, and even more are not confident speakers. She said that being able to communicate in English is one of the most important skills she and others need to be able to build a life here in the U.S.

Ukrainians are very hard-working people and we want to do more, and achieve goals, she said. To do so here we just want to be closer to the American people, and so we need to communicate.  We need the language for communication; its really helpful.

English-speaking group meetings are being held the first Wednesday evening of each month, and weekly on Sunday mornings, at Napa Valley Unitarian Universalists.

Aside from more structured gatherings of Ukrainians in Napa Valley, though, Alter-Starr said that a huge impact of the group is the close-knit community it has brought together.

What has happened also now is that theyre helping each other with babysitting and with rides, planning birthday parties, she said.  Someone can type into Telegram group chat any question or thing thats come up, and now they can contact and help each other.

Alter-Starr hopes that in the coming months, the group will only continue to grow, and be able to expand the services it provides Ukrainians living in the Napa area.

Being far from your home is hard  especially for older people, but Im young and even for me, its hard to be far from home, to change my profession, Benner said. So when someone helps you with that, and can just understand your priorities and take your hands and go with you through all of these authorities and give you advice  it helps.

For more information about Ukrainians in Napa Valley, visit napaukraine.org or contact Alter-Starr at deb@napaukraine.org.

This story has been modified since the original posting to correct the name of the group Ukrainians in Napa Valley.

Photos: Meet the Romanchenkos: this Ukrainian family found a home in Napa Valley Ukraine family finds home in Napa. Ukraine family finds home in Napa. Ukraine family finds home in Napa. Ukraine family finds home in Napa. Ukraine family finds home in Napa. Ukraine family finds home in Napa. Ukraine family finds home in Napa. Ukraine family finds home in Napa. Meet the Romanchenkos Meet the Romanchenkos Meet the Romanchenkos Meet the Romanchenkos Meet the Romanchenkos Meet the Romanchenkos Meet the Romanchenkos Meet the Romanchenkos
by Malaka Rodrigo

The ancient Sanskrit epic Ramayana has it that Hanuman was a mighty ape god who marshaled an army to build a bridge linking northern Sri Lankas Mannar region with South Indias Rameswaram. Several hundred years later, a small bird species new to science is named as the Hanuman plover, as it lives and was found in the vicinity of the mythical bridge and its the first specimen to help distinguish the plover from other shorebirds.

We selected Hanuman plover as the birds common name to celebrate the mythology linked to the native land of this plover, says Sampath Seneviratne, a professor in zoology attached to the University of Colombo who conceptualized the study. The bird is scientifically categorized as Charadrius seebohmi honoring Henry Seebohm, the British ornithologist who, as far back as 1887, first suggested the Sri Lankan breeding population could be a possible distinct species, Seneviratne told Mongabay.

The Hanuman plover was initially thought to be a subspecies of the Kentish plover (Charadrius alexandrinus), hence scientifically categorized as Charadrius alexandrinus seebohmi, in 1848. The Kentish plover is a common shorebird found in Eurasia and North Africa, and those that breed north of 40 latitude are the winter migrants. Kentish plovers migrate to Sri Lanka in large numbers and fly back to breeding grounds after the migratory season  except one population that chooses to remain in the Indian Ocean island throughout the year.

Some migratory birds, known as the loiterers, do not go back for a season or two, but this Sri Lankan and South Indian population is quite different, as the birds also breed. Whenever he spotted a Kentish plover outside the migratory season, Seneviratne was driven by curiosity about where they come from and why they appear to breed on the island.

The Kentish plover is a widespread bird and the subspecies that breed in China also have been identified as a new species named as the white-headed plover. Graphic courtesy of Sampath Seneviratne.

A distinct population

Seneviratne left Sri Lanka in 2008 for his Ph.D. in evolutionary ecology, but his obsession to unravel this mystery was never quenched. During a 2009 holiday, Seneviratne specifically rented a cabin in Mirijjawila, a remote southern village in Sri Lanka, to observe a Kentish plover nest. He spent two full days observing the hatchling, ignoring the scorching sun, to record its calls.

Global reviews on plovers continue to highlight the possibility that some plover subspecies could be new and distinct species. Meanwhile, the genetic studies helped elevate the Chinese subspecies as being distinct, and in 2019, it was named as a white-faced plover (C. dealbatus) by a team led by Yang Liu of Sun Yat-Sen University in China.

After this, Seneviratnes thirst for a study of the Sri Lankan breeding Kentish plover subspecies further increased. During one of the meetings, Seneviratne showed Yang a video of a nesting plover in northern Mannar, carefully filmed by one of his students. Identifying the potential, Yang agreed to collaborate on the study of the Sri Lankan and South Indian species.

The next challenge was to find a team to conduct the field study. Luckily, Seneviratne had the perfect match  the student who filmed the ground nesting plover, Jude Janitha Niroshan. This plover lives in the arid zone, and a field study meant extensive hours under the scorching sun and dirty mud plains, yet Niroshans interest in the Mannar study overcame all of that. The team collected data from 937 birds from 29 field locations from Sri Lanka as well as the Chinese coast.

The research team collected nearly 1,000 samples from 29 field locations from Sri Lanka and China. The image shows Seneviratne and Niroshan taking measurements from a Hanuman plover. Image courtesy of the University of Colombo.

Genetic comparisons

The fieldwork is just one aspect of the study. The team had to do extensive laboratory work, too, as they wanted to study the genetics comparing specimen of similar species. The original type specimen of the C.a.seebohmi was part of Walter Rothschilds private collection in the United Kingdom and in the 1930s, was sold to American Museum of Natural History. In 2020, the team got lucky. The museum was under a COVID- 19 lockdown and was open only for official work for a limited time.

However, the teams effort didnt go to waste, as results of the genetic analysis threw up sufficient evidence to support that the Sri Lankan and the Indian breeding plover population was, in fact, a distinct species. So, a new generation of scientists are finally unraveling that a bird thought to be a distinct species over a century ago is, indeed, distinct.

The analysis also showed the breeding group is genetically and phenotypically distinct from the migratory Kentish plovers and the Chinese white-faced plover. The genetic analysis revealed the Hanuman plover diverged some 1.19 million years ago, Niroshan told Mongabay.

Despite their highly mobile nature, for the migrants, islands can be refuge from predators or places the birds have recently colonized. It is suggested that the sea level rise across Adams Bridge may have gradually created a suitable coastal nesting habitat. Over time, the individuals that bred in Sri Lanka gradually evolved to be different from those of the mainland, said Alex Bond, principal curator of birds at the Natural History Museum in Tring, in the United Kingdom, and a co-author of the research paper.

Hanuman plover is a ground nesting bird, and both eggs and chicks are well camouflaged by their surroundings. Image courtesy of Jude Janitha Niroshan.

Safeguarding endemism

In a time of global biodiversity collapse, understanding what we must protect is an important building block in conservation, and this is especially true for islands, where high rates of endemism can mean more pressure on limited funding, said Bond. In this case, the Sri Lankan population might have been passed over under the assumption that it was the same Kentish plover that existed in abundance elsewhere. But by showing that the Hanuman plover is unique, the research illustrated that conservation efforts can be more focused, Bond said.

Sri Lanka is home to about 500 bird species with 220 breeding residents and 250 migrants. Among the breeding residents, 34 bird species are endemic to the country, but a further 80 species are endemic subspecies that are found only in Sri Lanka.

A female Hanuman plover with a chick. Image courtesy of Jude Janitha Niroshan.

A subspecies is one of two or more populations of a species living in different areas of the species range and having different physical characteristics from one another such as body size, shade of the plumage, beak, tail and so on.

A common criterion for recognizing two distinct populations as subspecies rather than full species is their ability to interbreed. But in the wild, subspecies usually do not interbreed due to geographic isolation or sexual differences, so there is potential for them to in fact become distinct species. The advent of genetic research techniques helps unravel such hidden potential, and more studies like the one on the Hanuman plover may further elevate endemism among Sri Lankas avifauna, Seneviratne told Mongabay.
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

Armenia opposition MP: PM told Tavush Province residents that 4 villages must be handed over to Azerbaijan immediately

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

Armenia government plans to have Kapan city airport serve international flights as well

Zakharova on Russian border guards removal from Yerevan airport: Hardly meets Armenia security interests

Armenia defense minister, Austria envoy, military attache discuss enhancing cooperation (PHOTOS)

Armenia official: Those 4 villages in Tavush Province are not in our administrative territorial division
The National Security Service of Armenia has released a statement of the Interdepartmental Commission on Captives, Hostages and Missing Persons (whereabouts unknown).

"In response to the thesis regularly introduced into circulation by various state bodies of the Republic of Azerbaijan about the refusal of the Republic of Armenia to provide information on missing Azerbaijani citizens, we consider it necessary to emphasize that the Republic of Armenia since November 2020 has transferred to the Republic of Azerbaijan topographical materials on possible locations of bodies of 51 Azerbaijanis killed in the 44-day war, as well as bodies of about 50 people killed in the 90s, received from representatives of Nagorno-Karabakh.

In addition, bones of 140 Azerbaijanis killed in the 1990s received from representatives of Nagorno-Karabakh were handed over to the Republic of Azerbaijan.

We deem it necessary to recall that since the beginning of the 90s, during and after the 44-day war of 2020, 993 citizens of the Republic of Armenia and Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh have been considered missing, and the Republic of Armenia is seriously interested in clarifying their fates.

The Republic of Armenia has repeatedly stated, including at the highest level, that it is ready to cooperate with the Republic of Azerbaijan to clarify the fate of the missing persons.

The RA Interdepartmental Commission on Captives, Hostages and Missing Persons (whereabouts unknown) in pursuance of the agreement recorded in the joint statement of the RA Prime Minister's Office and the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan dated December 7, 2023, on the implementation of additional confidence-building measures, proposes the relevant structure of Azerbaijan to activate cooperation," the Armenian National Security Service said.
21:16

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday said Governor Arif Mohammed Khan stepping out of his vehicle was against security protocols and he should not have done that.





Vijayan also said that Governor Khan has been repeatedly taking a stand contrary to the democratic principles.





The CM, at a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram, also termed as 'strange' the handing over of the Governor's security to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and said that Khan now was part of a group that till now comprised some Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh workers who enjoy the special protection provided by the Centre.





Vijayan also pointed out that no position of authority was above law.





"Law is supreme," he said.





The CM was responding to reporters' queries regarding what transpired at Nilamel in Kollam district of the state in the morning.





High drama played out in this Kerala district on Saturday when State Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, facing SFI's black flag protest, got off his car, took on the agitating Left student wing members, sat on the roadside and hit out at the chief minister in what seemed to be yet another chapter in the Raj Bhavan vs the ruling Left Democratic Front face-off.





Thereafter, the Centre extended Z+ security cover to Khan, who lashed out at Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for 'promoting lawlessness'.





After sitting there for over two hours, Khan left the place only after the police showed him a copy of the FIR registered against 17 SFI activists under non-bailable provisions of the law. -- PTI


UNRWA chief condemns 'shocking' funding withdrawals

UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said the withdrawl of funding represented "collective punishment" for Palestinians. Photo: AP

Six European countries paused funding for the UN refugee agency for Palestinians (UNRWA) on Saturday, following allegations that some of its staff were involved in the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.



Britain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Finland on Saturday joined the United States, Australia and Canada in pausing funding to the aid agency, a critical source of support for people in Gaza, after the allegations by Israel.



"Palestinians in Gaza did not need this additional collective punishment," Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA commissioner-general, said on X. "This stains all of us."



The agency said on Friday it had opened an investigation into several employees and severed ties with those people.



Encouraging more donor suspensions, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said UNRWA should be replaced once fighting in the enclave dies down and accused it of ties to Islamist militants in Gaza.



Deputy UN spokesperson Farhan Haq, asked about Katz's remarks, said: We are not responding to rhetoric. UNRWA overall had had a strong record, which we have repeatedly underscored.



Lazzarini said the decision by the nine countries threatened its humanitarian work across the region, especially in Gaza.



It is shocking to see a suspension of funds to the Agency in reaction to allegations against a small group of staff, especially given the immediate action that UNRWA took by terminating their contracts and asking for a transparent independent investigation," he said in a statement.



The Palestinian foreign ministry criticised what it described as an Israeli campaign against UNRWA, and Hamas condemned the termination of employee contracts "based on information derived from the Zionist enemy". (Reuters)
In conjunction with the state visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to India, Akasa Air and CFM International announced an agreement to purchase more than 300 CFM LEAP-1B engines to power 150 Boeing 737 MAX airplanes, the sale of which was announced last week. The agreement by Akasa Air, India's newest airline, also included spare engines and a service contract. The Mumbai-based operator launched its operations in August 2022 and had previously ordered a total of 76 LEAP-1B-powered 737-8 aircraft, of which 22 are currently in service. The carrier launched its first commercial flight on August 7, 2022, to support the growing civil aviation demand across India. "This significant, long-term agreement is testament to the confidence that CFM International has in Akasa Air. Continuing to partner with CFM as our engine maintenance provider not only reaffirms our focus on operational reliability but equally underscores Akasa Air's relentless pursuit of world-class safety," said Vinay Dube, founder and CEO of Akasa Air. "With CFM as our long-term engine maintenance provider, we remain confident in our path to becoming one of the top 30 leading airlines in the world by the turn of this decade," he added. This new order grows CFM's footprint in India, with more than 400 CFM-powered aircraft in service and 2,500 LEAP engines in the backlog. Both CFM's parent companies, GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines, have also significantly invested in India to build state-of-the-art facilities dedicated to LEAP production and maintenance, while signing strategic partnerships with Indian aerospace companies as part of the "Make in India" policy. "Our customers, including Akasa, are seeing 15 to 20 percent better fuel efficiency with their LEAP-powered fleets and it has the highest reliability and daily utilisation rates in this thrust class," said Gael Meheust, president and CEO of CFM International. CFM International is a Franco-American aircraft engine manufacturer. The company is a joint venture between GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines and is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. "Today's order will continue to bring these benefits to Akasa and support their continued growth, as well as play an important role in India's economic development," Gael Meheust added. The LEAP engine family has the fastest accumulation of flight hours in commercial aviation history, amassing more than 45 million engine flight hours and 18.7 million flight cycles. Since entering service in 2016, the LEAP engine has helped operators save more than 30 million tons of CO2 compared to the same flights with previous-generation engines. (ANI)
BusinessWire India London [UK], January 27: Calling the UK-India relationship a "force of good", British Home Secretary James Cleverly underscored the importance of the two countries working together for global peace. Speaking at India Global Forum's 6th annual UK-India Parliamentary Lunch at the House of Lords on Wednesday, Cleverly said: "The intellectual horsepower of India is enormous and getting bigger. Whether it is dealing with potential future pandemics or dealing with non-communicable diseases or dealing with the opportunity and risks of AI or financial services or sustainable agriculture, I struggle to think of any sector where coordination and cooperation between the UK and India will not be a force for good in the world." Against the backdrop of major global conflicts, and following the first visit by an Indian Defence Minister to Britain in 22 years, the Home Secretary emphasised the vitality of the partnership in preventing conflict "spilling over". "It was incredibly important that India's Defence Minister visited the UK because in a turbulent world, and a potentially turbulent region, having strong and long-standing partners, as we do with India, closely coordinating on security on the preservation of peace is incredibly important. Of course, the military relationship between India and the UK is very long standing. I really hope that together, demonstrating a strength of purpose, demonstrating commitment to democracy, and demonstrating a willingness to defend our values, the UK and India can work together prevent conflict spilling over and engulfing other parts of the world," Cleverly stated. Co-hosted by the Indian High Commission to the UK and Lord Jitesh Gadhia, the UK-India Parliamentary Lunch convened key players from the worlds of politics, business and finance over a sit-down lunch at the House of Lords to celebrate the growing ties between the two democracies. Referring to British Foreign Secretary David Cameron's comments on the global conflict dashboard flashing red lights, India Global Forum Chairman and CEO Manoj Ladwa said: "As we have seen, approaches and responses can vary, even between the closest of partners. These divergences are more about nuance and emphasis, rather than the fundamental values of the rule of law, freedom of belief, diversity and inclusion, freer trade, and democracy, that we all so cherish. In such times, democracies must work harder to work together. Because we all know, democracies work best, when democracies work together." Highlighting the strides the Indian economy had made in recent years, Sujit Ghosh, India's Deputy High Commissioner said: "India is not just creating opportunities for its people but also for the rest of the globe. The UK is uniquely positioned to benefit from India's rise. The time has come for our friends in the UK to shed their old lenses and see India for what it is." "Though a significant element of the UK-India bilateral, agenda lies in the hands of political leaders and diplomats, especially the FTA negotiations, a lot of the activity flows from the two-way traffic of people, ideas, commerce and collaboration, which is such a defining characteristic of the UK-India axis," observed Lord Gadhia. Sponsored by Standard Chartered and Tata's, the Parliamentary lunch was followed by peer-to-peer roundtable discussions on: * Reforming Governance with Technology* Pharmaceuticals and Pandemic Preparedness. For photos from the Parliamentary Lunch and subsequent Roundtable Dialogues, please click here. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], January 27: Governor Anandiben Patel attended annual function of Rajesh Singh Dayal's charitable institution Kunwar Global School. Rajesh Singh is also known and medicine man of Salempur and is active as social worker.

Governor Anandiben Patel congratulated everyone on the occasion of UP Divas and took blessings in the Hanuman temple situated in the premises of Kunwar Global School.

The program started with the lighting of the lamp and plants were presented to everyone by Rajesh Singh Dayal.

After welcoming the Governor, Rajesh Singh Dayal raised the slogan of Jai Shri Ram and shared his thoughts with the parents and students present there. Rajesh Singh Dayal talked about dedicating his life to the society after the death of his son.

He believed that apart from loving our family one should also have love for the society and said that by giving back to the society one attains both virtue and happiness.

Governor Anandiben Patel was mesmerized after seeing the staging of Shri Ram Yug and praised the students and appreciated the social welfare work being done by Rajesh Singh Dayal.

Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Anandiben Patel expressed happiness at Rajesh Singh Dayal's information about free treatment of 1.25 lakh people and free cataract operation of 1000 elderly people in Salempur.

The program concluded with various cultural programs and dances. In the program, along with the Governor, her daughter Anar Patel, Chairman N.A.F.C.A.R.D and Gujarat Kheti Bank Chairman Dollar Bhai Kutecha, Deputy Mayor Junagadh Girish, former Union Minister Dr Sanjay Singh, Guru Raghunath Yamul, former Jal Shakti Minister Dr Mahendra Singh were present.

(ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VISION COMMUNICATION. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Bharat Rang Mahotsav (BRM), a theatre festival organised by the National School of Drama (NSD), will begin on February 1 and culminate on February 21. This 21-day theatre festival, which will take place in 15 cities across the country, will include over 150 performances as well as several workshops, talks, and masterclasses, creating a rich tapestry of Indian and world theatre traditions. In addition, this year marks the 25th anniversary of the Bharat Rang Mahotsav. The festival's theme for this year is Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, Vande Bharangam, which aims to promote artistic and theatrical harmony across all countries. Chittaranjan Tripathy, Director of NSD, expressed great excitement about the upcoming festival, saying, "As we embark on the 25th year of the Bharat Rang Mahotsav, it is truly a momentous occasion that reflects our enduring commitment to artistic excellence and cultural diversity. Over the past quarter-century, this festival has served as a guiding light, illuminating the rich tapestry of global theatre traditions. The upcoming edition promises to be a grand celebration, showcasing not only the extraordinary creativity within the theatrical realm but also emphasizing the beauty of collaboration. We are dedicated to fostering the magic of theatre, providing a platform for diverse voices and narratives to thrive. This year's festivities will not only mark a milestone but also reaffirm our steadfast belief in the transformative power of the performing arts." The National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Mumbai will host a grand inaugural celebration on February 1, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of BRM. At a special event, NSD Chairperson Paresh Rawal will be joined by Ramesh Bais, the Governor of Maharashtra, to officially launch the festival. With the grand opening play, 'Humare Ram', starring actor and NSD graduate Ashutosh Rana. NSD is launching Rang Haat this year, an annual effort aiming at developing Asia's first global theatre market and promoting international theatrical collaborations. Rang Haat will bring together theatrical artists, programmers, patrons, and supporters to promote the discovery of hidden talent. (ANI)
Ace filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani, who is known for his movies like '3 Idiots', 'Dunki' and others, has collaborated with the Election Commission for a short film on voter awareness. The film titled, 'My Vote, My Duty', features messages from Sachin Tendulkar, Rajkummar Rao, Amitabh Bachchan, R Madhavan, Raveena Tandon, Vicky Kaushal, Boman Irani, Arshad Warsi, Bhumi Pednekar and Mona Singh. While giving details about the film, EC officials said, "The film aims to address attitudinal barriers such as indifference and apathy, reaffirming the importance of each vote. Produced by Rajkumar Hirani and directed by Sanjiv Kishinchandani, the film aspires to inspire citizens to recognise the significance of their votes. The film highlights the impact of every single vote." Recently, Hirani helmed 'Dunki' starring Shah Rukh Khan, which received a positive response from the audience. It was screened even in other countries. A source close to the team informed that the makers might hold a special screening for the UK government. "Since Dunki narrates the story of illegal immigrants who take the Donkey route to enter the cross borders, the UK government has found it to be a relevant subject in today's time. The film has received tremendous love from the UK audience, as not only it talks about an important issue but also highlights the dangerous Dunki route, and hence now the government is also keen to watch the film," the source-based statement read. 'Dunki' features Shah Rukh alongside Taapsee Pannu, Boman Irani, Vicky Kaushal, Vikram Kochhhar and Anil Grover. It focuses on the issue of immigration. Its title is taken from the term "donkey journey", which refers to the long-winding, often dangerous routes that people across the world take to reach the places they want to immigrate to. Coming back to the short film, 'My Vote, My Duty', Hirani has joined hands with the Election Commission of India to produce a film on voter awareness. Based on the theme of Value of One Vote, the film was released on National Voters' Day, January 25. (ANI)
According to the police, the arrested accused has been identified as Abhishek.

As per Delhi Police, the son of the ACP was allegedly murdered by two of his friends on January 23.

The accused pushed the deceased into the Munak Canal in Haryana. The body is yet to be recovered, the police added.

Giving further details, the police said that accused Abhishek was arrested from Narela and a search operation to nab the other accused named Vikas is underway.

An FIR has also been registered in the matter under sections 302 (murder) and 201 (destruction of evidence), the police added.

Further investigation into the matter is underway. (ANI)
The commission regarding Other Backward Caste (OBC) reservation in the municipal bodies in Uttarakhand under the chairmanship of retired Justice BS Verma submitted its report to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami at his residence on Friday. In Uttarakhand, in the year 2022, a commission regarding OBC reservation was formed under the chairmanship of Justice BS Verma on the order of the Supreme Court. The Commission has sent its suggestions regarding OBC reservation to the government. Meanwhile, the session of the Uttarakhand Assembly will be convened on February 5 in Dehradun. A note issued on Friday from the Uttarakhand Assembly Secretariat stated that Uttarakhand had summoned the Fifth Vidhan Sabha of Uttarakhand to meet for the second session. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday said that the tenure of the expert committee preparing the draft of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) for the state has been extended by 15 days. "UCC committee has almost completed its task. A little more time is needed to compile it and complete some other formalities, so the time period has been extended by 15 days. We are going to get the draft soon. As soon as we get it, we will take further steps and convene an Assembly session," the Uttarakhand Chief Minister said. The tenure of the committee headed by Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai has already been extended three times earlier, with the latest being an extension of four months in September last year. The UCC was promised to the people of the state in the run-up to the 2022 assembly polls in Uttarakhand. Article 44 of the Constitution of India says that the State shall endeavour to secure a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) throughout the territory of India. The UCC proposes a common set of laws dealing with marriage, inheritance, adoption, and other matters. The UCC, which had been a hot topic that had polarised opinions over the last 4 years, hit the forefront in June last year after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a strong case for the implementation of uniform legislation in an address in Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal. (ANI)
In a major embarrassment to Karnataka Congress, its senior leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa urged Shivamogga LS constituency public to re-elect BJP MP BY Raghavendra, son of former chief minister BS Yediyurappa. MLA Shivashankarappa asked people to re-elect Raghavendra at the Guru Basavashri Award Pradhan and Spirituality Conference organised at Bekkina Kalmata in Shivmogga, where he received the Guru Basavashri award. "I noticed that the development works are in Shivmogga district. You have chosen a good MP. The public must elect him further. Shimoga district needs to develop more. You are blessed to have Lok Sabha members like BY Raghavendra. All the work to be done in the district has been completed and has progressed. Development work for the people should be the first priority," said Shivashankarappa at the conference. "Lok Sabha members who have worked as per the will of the people should win in the upcoming elections as well. Veerashaiva Lingayats have many sub-sects. All of them should be removed, and everyone should feel that they are the same; only then will there be unity," he added. This is the second instance in the chain of surprising events for Congress in the state of Karnataka, as earlier on Thursday, former Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, who had joined the Congress ahead of the 2023 legislative elections last year, returned to the BJP. Shettar rejoined the BJP in the national capital in the presence of former Karnakata chief minister BS Yediyurappa, Union Minister Bhupender Singh Yadav, Karnataka BJP president Vijayendra Yediyurappa, and Union Minister of State Rajeev Chandrasekhar. "Bharatiya Janata Party is my home. I came back to my home," Shettar said speaking to reporters on Thursday. Shettar said he had a meeting with the party's national leadership, Amit Shah and JP Nadda, on Thursday, as well as state leaders BY Vijayendra and BS Yediyurappa, and joined the BJP following their guidance. "Today I joined the Bharatiya Janata Party. Today morning, I met our national leaders, Amit Shah and JP Nadda. They heartily welcomed me. In Karnataka, I met the state party president, BY Vijayendra, BS Yediyurappa, and other leaders. They also welcomed me. I joined them according to their guidance," he said. Responding to a question asked by a reporter on contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, the former Chief Minister said, "Whatever the high command directs, I will do." Senior BJP leader BS Yediyurappa welcomed Jagdish Shettar to the party and said that the latter was thinking of rejoining the party for the last few days. "He (Jagadish Shettar) was thinking of coming back to BJP and today we welcomed him back to the party...Today he met Amit Shah and discussed many things and without any condition he has joined our party. We welcome Jagdish Shettar to our party," Yediyurappa said speaking to reporters. Responding to a question by a reporter whether former BJP leader Laxman Savadi, who had also quit the party ahead of the Assembly elections will rejoin the party, Yediyurappa said, "I could not contact him. Today I will contact him." Shettar rejoined the BJP in the national capital in the presence of former Karnakata chief minister BS Yediyurappa, Union Minister Bhupender Singh Yadav, Karnataka BJP president Vijayendra Yediyurappa, Union Minister of State Rajeev Chandrasekhar. There had been ongoing rumours about Shettar's return to the BJP for the past few days, to which the Congress leaders in Karnataka had responded by saying that the BJP's leadership crisis in the state prompted the party to head towards Shettar. Shettar had quit BJP and joined Congress in April 2023, ahead of the Karnataka assembly elections. (ANI)
A Hydrographic survey team from the INHD reached the Indian Antarctica station Bharati on January 17 to undertake a Hydrographic survey off Larsemann Hills as part of the 43rd Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica (ISEA).

The Indian Flag and Indian Naval Ensign were hosted by the INHD team in Antarctica, displaying the operational reach of the Indian Navy for undertaking benign operations, said the Indian Navy.

The Indian Navy posted pictures of the celebration on its official X handle, and said: "Celebrating #RepublicDay2024 in Antarctica, showcasing operational prowess in distant waters #IndianNavy's Hydrographic survey team from the Indian Naval Hydrographic Department, comprising Lt Cdr Rishabh Rawat & Manjeet PO(HY) at Bharati Research Station hoisted the tricolor."

Meanwhile, The Indian Navy's band, with its reverberating signature tune 'Hum Taiyyar Hai', marched past the Kartavya Path as part of the Republic Day parade.

The shimmering band of the Indian Navy was on Friday led by M. Anthony Raj MCPO (Musician) II Class, declaring to the world the Navy's might and combat readiness.

To its tune was marching the Naval Contingent of 144 young sailors both male and female Agniveers led by Lt Prajwal M as Contingent Commander and Lt Mudita Goyal, Lt Sharvani Supreiya and Lt Devika H as Platoon Commanders.

The Naval Band and the Naval Marching Contingent were followed by the Indian Navy's tableau, depicting two important and contemporary themes.

The first was of 'Nari Shakti' with the recent announcement of the Indian Navy welcoming women in all roles and in all ranks.

The second reflected Atma Nirbharta, `Sea Power across the Oceans through Indigenisation'.

The tableau depicted not only the mighty aircraft carrier INS Vikrant which is indigenously built but the entire Carrier Battle Group which has been made in India including the highly capable escort ships, Delhi, Kolkata and Shivalik, the Light Combat Aircraft and Advanced Light Helicopter, the Kalavari Class Submarine and the GSAT-7, Rukmani Satellite.

Every element on the tableau has been designed and built in India, highlighting India's growing prowess in Shipbuilding, Aerospace, Missile and Rocket technologies. The tableau commanders were Lt Cdr Bhope Juee Milind and Lt Cdr Nitheesh KS. (ANI)
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of trying to topple the elected Delhi government through a campaign dubbed "Operation Lotus 2.0". Addressing a press conference on Saturday, senior AAP leader Atishi Singh claimed that the BJP has approached several AAP MLAs with bribes and threats in a bid to induce defection. AAP leader Minister Atishi Singh said, "BJP has started 'Operation Lotus 2.0', and is trying to topple the democratically elected AAP government in Delhi. 7 MLAs of the AAP have been contacted by the BJP, and have been told, that Arvind Kejriwal will be arrested soon, after which AAP MLAs will be rifted apart. They are in touch with 21 of our MLAs, using whom they aim to topple the Delhi government. Those 7 MLAs have been offered Rs 25 crores each... Operation Lotus is the tactic used by the BJP to come into power in states, where they are not democratically elected... Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Arunachal Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh are examples..." "In Delhi, they are going to our MLAs and saying that Kejriwal is going to go to jail and then we will call all the MLAs to ourselves and form the BJP government in Delhi, but I want to say that the Aam Aadmi Party is not afraid. Not a single MLA is afraid, " added the Delhi Minister. She also revealed that the AAP possesses a recording of one such "Operation Lotus 2.0" conversation, hinting at its potential release if necessary. "Currently, 7 MLAs have been offered by BJP; we have the recording of one of them and will release it when required," said Atishi Singh. However, the BJP has rejected the AAP's claim of Operation Lotus 2.0. "Arvind Kejriwal is again lying as he has done since the last seven times. Not once has been able to tell which phone number was used to contact them, who contacted them, and where was the meeting held. he just gives out statements and goes into hiding... His partners are in jail, and he is repeatedly avoiding ED summons because he knows he does not have answers to the ED questions..." said BJP leader Kapil Mishra. AAP won 62 out of 70 seats in the Delhi Assembly polls. The BJP got just 8 seats, while the rest of the parties including the Congress, drew a blank. (ANI)
Aam Aadmi Party chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has alleged that BJP was conspiring to topple the Aam Aadmi Party government and that some of his party MLAs had been offered bribes to leave the party and break his government. Taking to microblogging site X, Kejriwal posted, "Recently, they (BJP) have contacted our 7 MLAs from Delhi and said-We will arrest Kejriwal after a few days. After that, we will break the MLAs. Talks have been held with 21 MLAs. Talking to others as well. After that, we will topple the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi. You also come, we will give you Rs 25 crore and get you to contest the elections on BJP ticket." "Although they claim that they have contacted 21 MLAs, but as per our information, they have contacted only 7 MLAs so far and all of them have refused," Kejriwal said. The Delhi CM said that this means that "I am not being arrested to investigate any liquor scam, but they are conspiring to topple the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi." "In the last nine years, they have hatched many conspiracies to topple our government. But they did not have any success. God and the people always supported us. All our MLAs are also strongly united. This time also, these people will fail in their nefarious intentions," Kejriwal said. The Delhi CM further claimed in his post that the BJP knows how much work the AAP government has done for the people of Delhi, and despite all the obstacles created by BJP, the AAP government in Delhi has accomplished so much. "The people of Delhi love 'AAP' immensely. Therefore, it is not in their power to defeat AAP in the elections. So they want to topple the government by making arrests on the pretext of a fake liquor scam," said the post by Kejriwal. Earlier this month, Kejriwal replied to the Enforcement Directorate's fourth summons issued to him related to the Delhi Excise policy case and asked why the notice had been sent to him just two months before the elections. ED had issued a summons to Kejriwal for the fourth time in a money laundering probe related to irregularities in the Delhi excise policy 2021-22 case, asking him to join the investigation on January 18. Kejriwal has so far skipped summons issued by the ED on three occasions earlier including on January 3, November 2 and on December 22, calling them "illegal and politically motivated." The ED wants to record Kejriwal's statement in the case on issues like the formulation of policy, meetings held before it was finalised, and allegations of bribery. The Excise Policy case is based on a First Information Report (FIR) alleging multiple irregularities in the formation and implementation of the Delhi excise policy (2021-22) by the Central Bureau of Investigation. The policy was withdrawn after allegations of corruption. The excise policy was aimed to revitalize the city's flagging liquor business and replace a sales-volume-based regime with a licence fee for traders. It promised swankier stores and a better buying experience. The policy introduced discounts and offers on the purchase of liquor for the first time in Delhi. (ANI)
As per sources, the ED has asked Soren to be available for questioning on January 29 or 31, or else the agency itself will go to him for questioning.

Earlier on January 25, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren responded to the summon issued to him by the Directorate of Enforcement, sources said on Thursday.

As per sources, the Jharkhand Chief Minister has said that he has received the agency's letter and will reply to this in due course.

ED issued Soren the ninth summons on January 13, asking him to be available for questioning between January 27 to 31, in the case.

Meanwhile, on January 20, the Enforcement Directorate arrived in Ranchi to question the Jharkhand Chief Minister in the land scam case.

Earlier this month, Soren wrote to the federal agency stating that it could record his statement in the land scam case at his official residence on January 20.

ED issued Soren the eighth summons on January 13, asking him to join the investigation between January 16 to 20.

ED had previously issued a summons to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren's press advisor, Abhishek Prasad, to join its investigation on January 16 into an alleged money laundering probe linked to an illegal mining case.

The central agency concluded its day-long search of Soren's media advisor Abhishek Prasad's residence in Ranchi earlier on January 3

Notably, this is the tenth summon in the land scam case. (ANI)
After the Aam Aadmi Party alleged that the BJP is trying to topple the Delhi government, Bharatiya Janata Party leaders on Saturday launched scathing attacks and asked evidence from CM Kejriwal to prove his allegations true. BJP Leader Shehzad Poonawalla said "If there was ever a world record for the biggest liar, it would be AAP and Arvind Kejriwal. This is all drama. This victim card is being played because your corruption has been exposed. Kejriwal calls himself 'Kattar Imaandar' but his leaders Sanjay Singh and Manish Sisodia are in jail. People have seen through his lies and corruption." BJP leader Harish Khurrana challenged AAP chief and Minister Atishi to name BJP leaders who tried to buy their MLAs. "You have become fond of creating new interesting stories every other day. Allegations are made but no evidence is visible. Earlier, before going to jail, Manish Sisodia had said that 'Operation Lotus' was being run by paying Rs 25 crores. Even then we asked to show the proof. Once again such false allegations are being made by them. I challenge Atishi and Kejriwal to name any BJP leader who tried to buy them. There is a message to Kejriwal ji that you cannot escape the law. ED is questioning you only under the law. You will have to answer the questions given," he said. Kapil Mishra, who was earlier with AAP but later joined the BJP said that Kejriwal is again lying as he has done since the last seven times. Not once has been able to tell which phone number was used to contact them, who contacted them, and where was the meeting held. he just gives out statements and goes into hiding. "His partners are in jail, and he is repeatedly avoiding ED summons because he knows he does not have answers to the ED questions," he added. Addressing a press conference on Saturday, senior AAP leader Atishi Singh claimed that the BJP has approached several AAP MLAs with bribes and threats in a bid to induce defection. Delhi BJP President, Virendra Sachdeva said that Kejriwal has come only to loot the people of Delhi and apart from this has not done anything. He later termed the allegations as 'Shameful'. BJP MP Manoj Tiwari said that the people of Delhi will teach CM Kejriwal a very good lesson. "When you have nothing and don't know how to work, then you are telling another lie for sympathy. Kejriwal Ji is an expert in telling lies. Anyway, how many days are left for their government? The people of Delhi will teach them a very good lesson," he said. Meanwhile, Congress looked to defend its alliance partner. Party leader Sandeep Dikshit said "BJP is adopting such tactics in many states. You saw this happening in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, the entire North-East and in many states. I would not be surprised if BJP topples an established state government, that too when Lok Sabha elections are coming. BJP has now realized that it is not able to perform that well in the elections and is doing so out of fear." (ANI)
Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit said on Saturday that he would not be surprised if the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) allegation that the BJP is trying to poach its MLAs proves to be right. "I won't be surprised if this news proves to be correct. The BJP is using such tactics in many states," Sandeep Dikshit told ANI, reacting to the AAP's allegation. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of trying to topple the elected Delhi government through a campaign dubbed "Operation Lotus 2.0." Addressing a press conference on Saturday, senior AAP leader Atishi claimed that the BJP has approached several AAP MLAs with bribes and threats in a bid to induce defection. Sandeep Dikshit alleged that the BJP is trying to topple the state governments ruled by the opposition parties in two ways. "The first is to try to bring the whole leadership of a party to their side. The second is that if the leadership is not ready for that, they will try to purchase MLAs. This has happened in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and the whole of the North East. They are especially doing this now because the Lok Sabha election is coming up," he said. Meanwhile, Atishi said that the BJP has started 'Operation Lotus 2.0' and is trying to topple the democratically elected AAP government in Delhi. "Seven MLAs of the AAP have been contacted by the BJP and have been told that Arvind Kejriwal will be arrested soon, after which AAP MLAs will be rifted apart. They are in touch with 21 of our MLAs, using whom they aim to topple the Delhi government. Those 7 MLAs have been offered Rs 25 crore each. Operation Lotus is the tactic used by the BJP to come into power in states where they are not democratically elected. Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Arunachal Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh are examples," she said. "In Delhi, they are going to our MLAs and saying that Kejriwal is going to go to jail and then we will call all the MLAs to ourselves and form the BJP government in Delhi, but I want to say that the Aam Aadmi Party is not afraid. Not a single MLA is afraid, " added the Delhi Minister. She also claimed that the AAP possesses a recording of one such "Operation Lotus 2.0" conversation, hinting at its potential release if necessary. "Currently, 7 MLAs have been offered by BJP; we have the recording of one of them and will release it when required," said Atishi Singh. However, the BJP has rejected the AAP's claim of Operation Lotus 2.0. "Arvind Kejriwal is again lying as he has done since the last seven times. Not once has been able to tell which phone number was used to contact them, who contacted them, and where was the meeting held. he just gives out statements and goes into hiding... His partners are in jail, and he is repeatedly avoiding ED summons because he knows he does not have answers to the ED questions..." said BJP leader Kapil Mishra. AAP won 62 out of 70 seats in the Delhi Assembly polls. The BJP got just 8 seats, while the rest of the parties including the Congress, drew a blank. (ANI)
The recovery was made by the BSF and Punjab police in an operation on January 26.

"On January 26, during the afternoon hours, following intelligence input, BSF Punjab Frontier troops and Amritsar Rural Police (Punjab Police India) conducted a joint search operation and recovered a Pakistani drone quadcopter model - DJI Mavic 3 Pro , made in China) and 519 grams of heroin," the BSF said in an official statement.

The narcotics were wrapped with yellow adhesive tape, and a metal ring was attached to the packet. This recovery took place in the farming field adjacent to Mode village in Amritsar District, it added.

"Once again, the vigilant BSF troops thwarted the illicit intentions of smugglers," the BSF said in the statement.

In a similar incident, the Border Security Force (BSF) on Friday recovered a China-made drone from a farming field in the Roranwala Khurd village in Punjab's Amritsar, an official statement by the BSF said.

According to the official statement, the recovery of the drone took place during the patrol by the BSF troops.

"On January 26, 2024, during the morning hours, while carrying out area domination patrolling ahead of the border fence, BSF troops observed a suspicious item at about 09:00 hrs," read the official statement.

"On reaching nearby, the suspicious item revealed itself to be a small drone. BSF troops successfully recovered it," it added.

The recovered drone is a quadcopter made in China, according to the official statement. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday attended the NCC PM rally at the Cariappa Parade Ground in Delhi. PM Modi took salute at the annual NCC PM rally at Cariappa Parade Ground in Delhi. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was also present at the event. "The event includes a cultural programme on the theme 'Amrit Kaal Ki NCC' showcasing the contribution and empowerment of the Amrit Peedhi," the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a release. PMO said that in the true Indian spirit of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', more than 2,200 NCC cadets and young cadets from 24 foreign countries are taking part in this year's rally. As special guests, more than 400 Sarpanches of the Vibrant Villages and more than 100 women belonging to various self-help groups from different parts of the country will also attend the NCC PM Rally. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday interacted with NCC cadets, NSS volunteers, and performers who were a part of this year's Republic Day programme and asked them to strengthen their resolve to achieve the goal of a 'Developed Nation'. Addressing the NCC and NSS members, the PM said that the next 25 years are very critical for the country, as it has resolved to be a developed nation by 2047. "Your generation calls itself Gen Z. However, I believe you are the 'Amrit Peedhi' because your energy will give pace to Amrit Kaal. You are aware that our country has decided to become a developed nation by 2047. The next 25 years are very critical for you and the country. I said from the ramparts of the Red Fort, "Yahi samay hai, Sahi samay hai. This time belongs to you. Your effort, vision, and capability will take India to new heights," the PM said. (ANI)
Amid speculations that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is poised to join the BJP again, a party he had parted ways with in 2022, JD (U) MLC Neeraj Kumar on Saturday warned Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) to stop issuing 'unnecessary statements' or else will face an 'unfavourable results'. Speaking to ANI, Neeraj Kumar said that there is a 'restlessness' among the leadership of the RJD, which is considered as the most important party in the grand alliance of Bihar. "RJD leadership is restless; the reason for the restlessness is clear...unnecessary statements being made, that needs to be stopped or else the results won't be good..." he said. Meanwhile, amid fears that the grand alliance in Bihar might collapse with Nitish jumping ship of NDA, RJD leaders in Bihar on Saturday gathered at party president Lalu Prasad's home here. Besides Prasad, his son Tejashwi Yadav, who is the Deputy CM, and wife Rabri Devi, a former chief minister, were present at the meeting attended by senior leaders, including members of the state legislature. The RJD is the largest alliance partner in the Mahagathbandhan which includes Congress and three Left parties and falls eight members short of a majority in the assembly in the event of Kumar's JD(U) pulling out. In the Bihar Assembly of 243, the RJD has 79 MLAs; followed by the BJP's 78; the JD(U)'s 45' the Congress's 19, the CPI (M-L)'s 12, two each of the CPI(M) and CPI, the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular)'s four seats, and the AIMIM's one, plus one independent legislator. Amid the reports, Nitish Kumar's former Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi's cryptic statement, "No door is closed in politics. The door can be opened if needed," has added another layer of suspense to the development. If Nitish crosses over, this would be the fourth time he would be switching sides. Notably, Nitish's shift would deal a severe blow to the ruling Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) in Bihar as well as the Opposition INDIA bloc at the national level that is formed to take on the BJP-led centre. Nitish Kumar, after parting ways with the BJP in 2022, took on the initiative of uniting all opposition forces to jointly take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling party in the national election. (ANI)
The Tripura Chief Minister lauded Chakma's efforts in empowering rural women through her organisation, 'Ujeia Jadha' and honoured her with a 'gamusa'.

Gamusa is a symbol of hospitality, friendship, and respect, often presented as a gift or honour to guests or important people.

He also offered sincere gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for recognising Chakma's contribution to the field of art and honouring her with this award.

Taking to his social media handle, CM Manik Saha posted, "Congratulated Rekha Chakma, who has been named for the prestigious "Padma Shri" 2024, at my official residence today. The Chakma Loinloom Shwal Weaver from Nandannagar, Agartala, and Chakma transforms eco-friendly vegetable-dyed cotton threads into traditional designs, promoting the use of natural dyes."

"Her efforts in empowering rural women through her organisation, 'Ujeia Jadha', are also inspiring. My sincere gratitude to Hon'ble PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji for recognising her contribution to the field of art and honouring her with this award. Wishing Chakma a long life and good health," he posted.

The Home Ministry announced the Padma Awards on Thursday, which included 5 Padma Vibhushan, 17 Padma Bhushan and 110 Padma Shri Awards.

The Padma Awards, the highest civilian awards in the country, are conferred in three categories: Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri.

The awards are given in various disciplines and fields of activity, viz., art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, and civil service.

'Padma Vibhushan' is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; 'Padma Bhushan' for distinguished service of high order and 'Padma Shri' for distinguished service in any field. The awards are announced on the occasion of Republic Day every year.

The awards are conferred by the President of India at ceremonial functions that are held at Rashtrapati Bhawan, usually around March or April every year.

Thirty of the awardees are women, and the list also includes eight persons from the category of foreigners, NRI, PIO, OCI, and nine posthumous awardees. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron have appreciated the growing counter-terrorism and intelligence cooperation between the two countries, including through the mechanism of the India-France Joint Working Group on counter-terrorism. The two countries have welcomed the formalisation of cooperation between the National Security Guard (NSG) of India and the Groupe d'intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale (GIGN) of France for agency-level cooperation in the field of counterterrorism, as per the India-France joint statement following President Macron's state visit to India for the Republic Day celebrations. Prime Minister Modi and French President Macron reaffirmed their unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism, and shared their resolve to stand together in the common fight against global terrorism. They further agreed that no country should provide safe haven to those who finance, plan, support, or commit terrorist acts. The leaders also called for concerted action against all terrorists, including through designations or individuals affiliated with groups that are listed by the UN Security Council 1267 Sanctions Committee. The two sides emphasized the importance of upholding international standards on anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism, consistent with Financial Action Task Force recommendations. Both countries reiterated their commitment to work together in FATF, NMFT and other multilateral platforms. Both leaders strongly condemned the terrorist attack on Israel on October 7 and expressed solidarity with the people of Israel. Condemning the huge loss of civilian lives in the ongoing conflict, they emphasised the need to respect international humanitarian law and to create conditions, including through a humanitarian ceasefire, for aid to flow to the affected population in the Gaza region. Both leaders also called for an immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. The two leaders reaffirmed that a political process leading to a two-state solution for the Israeli and Palestinian people is required for lasting peace and stability in the region, as per the joint statement They also expressed grave concern at the possibility of further expansion of the conflict in the region, including in the Red Sea, which already has a significant economic impact in the world. PM Modi, French President Macron recalled the utmost importance of upholding freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and of respecting the international law of the sea. They had detailed conversations aimed at coordinating their efforts in that region in this regard. They expressed deep concern over the war in Ukraine and its tragic humanitarian consequences. They underscored the need for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine in accordance with international law, and consistent with the principles of the UN Charter. They underscored the growing impact of this war on the global economic system and food security, with consequences predominantly affecting developing and least developed countries, as per the joint statement. (ANI)
India, France have agreed to intensify cooperation in the Southwest Indian Ocean, building on the joint surveillance missions carried out from the French island territory of La Reunion in 2020 and 2022. The two countries also welcomed the extension of those interactions in India's maritime neighbourhood. These interactions may contribute positively to the securitization of strategic sea lanes of communication, according to the India-France Joint Statement following French President Emmanuel Macron's India visit for the Republic Day celebrations. Prime Minister Modi and French President Macron reiterated their commitment to further deepen the long-standing partnership between the two countries, based on their common vision for the Indo-Pacific region. The leaders emphasised the region's significance for their respective sovereign and strategic interests. They also acknowledged the crucial role of their partnership in the region for the advancement of a free, open, inclusive, secure and peaceful Indo-Pacific and beyond. Referring to the Comprehensive Roadmap for the Indo-Pacific, which was finalised in July 2023, they expressed satisfaction at the expanding nature of their engagement in the region. As per the joint statement, the defence and security partnership has been the cornerstone of the India-France partnership in the Indo-Pacific region, which includes a comprehensive range of bilateral, multinational, regional and institutional initiatives, especially in the Indian Ocean Region. PM Modi, and French President Macron committed to revitalising the trilateral cooperation with Australia, deepening the one with UAE and exploring new ones in the region, the statement said. Noting the importance of joint and multilateral initiatives, for supporting sustainable economic development, human welfare, environmental sustainability, resilient infrastructure, innovation and connectivity in the region, the two leaders asked their governments to identify concrete projects. Furthermore, the two leaders called for the early launching of the Indo-Pacific Triangular Development Cooperation Fund to facilitate the scaling up of green technologies being developed in the region, as per the joint statement. They agreed to explore opportunities for coordinating economic projects and programmes in the Pacific. Both leaders acknowledged projects being carried out by the French Development Agency in India. The two leaders recalled the launch of the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC) on the margins of the G20 Summit in Delhi in September 2023. President Macron congratulated Prime Minister Modi for his leadership in this historic initiative. The two leaders agreed that this project would be of great strategic importance and would significantly enhance the potential and resilience of the flow of commerce and energy between India, the Middle East and Europe. Prime Minister Modi welcomed the appointment of President Macron's Special Envoy for the project. The two leaders further recalled their discussions in their July Summit in Paris on various other connectivity projects from Southeast Asia to the Middle East and Africa and agreed to explore specific projects. PM Modi, Macron reiterated their call for reformed and effective multilateralism to sustain an equitable and peaceful international order, address pressing global challenges and prepare the world for emerging developments, including in the technological and economic domains. The two leaders stressed, in particular, the urgent need for the reform of the United Nations Security Council and called for the early commencement of text-based negotiations at the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) in the UN. France reiterated its firm support for India's permanent membership of the UNSC. The two leaders agreed to strengthen conversations on regulation of use of the veto in case of mass atrocities. The two leaders agreed that the G20 Summit in Delhi and the Paris Global Financing Summit had underlined the need for the reform of Multilateral Development Banks to make them better, bigger and more effective, to able to address the related issues of development and climate in developing and least developed countries. They welcomed the report submitted by the Independent Expert Group constituted under the Indian G20 Presidency for providing concrete suggestions in this regard. They also acknowledged enhanced cooperation between the Paris Club and India in official debt restructuring cases, according to the joint statement. (ANI)
India and France have agreed to institute a Comprehensive Dialogue on Global Issues to hold consultations on political matters and other global issues such as oceans, climate change, biodiversity, pollution and digital, with a particular focus on multilateral frameworks. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron have reaffirmed their determination to end plastic pollution and called for building consensus for an ambitious outcome this year on the negotiations for the establishment of a legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution, as per the India-France joint statement following French President Emmanuel Macron's State visit to the country for the Republic Day celebrations. India, France will also increase their cooperation in the context of the three COP of the Rio Convention (climate, biodiversity and desertification) to build a joint ambition and promote synergies. The two countries have reaffirmed their commitment to jointly address the interconnected challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. Prime Minister Modi lauded French President Macron's international initiatives in 2023, including the New Global Financing Pact Summit in June, which led to the Paris Pact for People and Planet, and the One Planet - Polar Summit in Paris. The two leaders looked forward to the third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) to be held in Nice in 2025. They commended UAE's leadership in the successful conduct of COP28 in Dubai and welcomed the outcome of the COP, especially the UAE Consensus, which included decision on the First Global Stocktake, Framework on the Global Goal on Adaptation, Work Programme on Just Transition and operationalisation of the funding arrangements, including a Fund for responding to Loss and Damage. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to come forward in their next nationally determined contributions with ambitious targets, as per the joint statement. President Macron commended India's offer to host COP33 in 2028. He also affirmed France's support for India's candidacy to the International Energy Agency. India's IEA membership would be mutually beneficial and contribute to the stability and development of international energy market and energy transition. In the context of their preparation to UNOC 2025, France welcomed India's decision to join "Mercator" initiative which aims to create a global 'digital twin' of the Ocean. Finally, President Macron invited the Indian Government to participate in the Global Forum on "Buildings and Climate'', co-organised by France and the United Nations Environment Program, which will take place on March 7th and 8th 2024 in Paris. (ANI)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that the genocide charge levelled against Israel is "outrageous" and "decent people everywhere should reject it." "The charge of genocide levelled against Israel is not only false, it's outrageous, and decent people everywhere should reject it," the Israeli PM said in response to the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) decision on South Africa's genocide claim against Israel. Netanyahu said: "On the eve of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, I again pledge as Prime Minister of Israel - Never Again. Israel will continue to defend itself against Hamas, a genocidal terror organization." He said Israel's commitment to international law is unwavering and equally unwavering is the country's sacred commitment to continue to defend "our country and defend our people". "Like every country, Israel has an inherent right to defend itself. The vile attempt to deny Israel this fundamental right is blatant discrimination against the Jewish state, and it was justly rejected." The International Court of Justice in the Hague on Friday ordered Israel to 'take all measures' to prevent genocide in Gaza. However, the court did not order that a ceasefire be implemented. The ruling by the court was agreed upon by a 15 to 2 vote. Additionally, Israel was ordered to report back to the court in one month. Israeli PM Netanyahu said: "On October 7, Hamas perpetrated the most horrific atrocities against the Jewish people since the Holocaust, and it vows to repeat these atrocities again and again and again." He said that Israel's war is against Hamas terrorists, not against Palestinian civilians. "We will continue to facilitate humanitarian assistance, and to do our utmost to keep civilians out of harm's way, even as Hamas uses civilians as human shields." "We will continue to do what is necessary to defend our country and defend our people," he added. (ANI)
The Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement (JSFM), a political party working for the freedom of Sindhu Desh, have condemned the "false" sedition case against the party's leaders in Sindh, noting that the Pakistan state has registered a sedition case against them. They stated that the state has lodged a case against JSFM leaders Shoban Lashari, Adil Hameed Sargani, Jameel Ahmed Shoro and other nationalist political workers, including women. The case was registered on the celebration of the 120th birth anniversary of the founder of modern Sindhi nationalism, Sain GM Syed. "Pakistan's Terrorist State has registered a Sedition Case against Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement JSFM @JSFMOfficialOrg Leaders Shoban Lashari, Adil Hameed Sargani, Jameel Ahmed Shoro & other Nationalists Political Workers including Women on the Celebration of Sain GM Syed's 120th birthday on 17th Jan 2024. We Condemns Pakistani State False Case against Political Workers in Sindh," the Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement posted on X, citing party's chairman, Sohail Abro. https://x.com/JSFMOfficialOrg/status/1750963751849771275?s=20 Earlier this month, the JSFM highlighted that the Pakistan intelligence agencies have started an operation against them, adding that a false Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) case has been lodged against JSFM worker Sajjad Mallah. The agencies raided the homes of JSFM workers, and the humiliation of the workers and their families has been intensified and the sanctity of the chador is being violated, the JSFM stated. On January 17, JSFM held a grand rally on the 120th birth anniversary of the founder of modern Sindhi nationalism, Sain GM Syed, where, hundreds of JSFM workers, women and children participated in the grand rally from Sann City to the shrine of GM Syed. During the rally, the workers carried banners and placards against the forced conversion of Sindhi Hindu girls and the enforced disappearance of political activists from Sindh and Balochistan in Sindh. Participants in the rally shouted slogans of the displeasure of the occupation by the army. The message on the banner held by people participating in the rally stated, "Stop Enforced Disappearances of Sindhi Baloch and Pashtoons", "Stop Forcibly Conversion of Sindhi Hindu Girls" and "Stop Transfer of 52,000 acre land of Sindhi to Paki Army," "Long Live Sindhudesh" and "Long Live Sain GM Sayed. "In his speech, the exiled chairman of the Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement, Sohail Abro spoke about rights in Sindh. He raised his voice against "the brutality of the Punjabi army and the pimps, feudal lords and religious terror of the Army." The leaders urged the people not to take part in elections, according to the press release. The joint statement further stated, "The occupying state is committing atrocities on oppressed nations, Sindhi, Baloch, Pashtun, Kashmiri, and Saraiki, taking away their land ownership rights. The descendants of the first martyr of Sindh, Maharaja Dahir, the Hindu girls of Sindh, are blackmailed and forced to change their religion." They called for the safe release of forcibly disappeared political and peaceful activists from Sindh, Balochistan and Pashtunistan, according to a JSFM press release. (ANI)
Baloch activist Mahrang Baloch on Saturday highlighted that the state institutions and their backed death squads have rendered Baloch mothers forcibly "Helpless", as enforced disappearances, abduction and killings continue in the city. The ongoing challenges faced by the Baloch people have been increasing as in every corner of Balochistan, people have been abducted, killed and dumped. Activist Mahrang stressed that this is a people's resistance, and only the people themselves can resist to end such barbaric policies. "The state institutions and their backed death squads have rendered our Baloch mothers and their entire families forcibly "Helpless". From every corner of Balochistan, they have abducted, killed, and dumped our nation's fellows. What else remains but 'Resistance' and a movement against the genocidal and brutal policies of the state? This is a people's resistance, and only the people themselves can resist to end such barbaric policies," she posted on social media 'X'. https://x.com/MahrangBaloch_/status/1750952541238796344?s=20 Reportedly, two Baloch youths were forcibly displaced from the Kech district of Balochistan on Thursday, according to The Balochistan Post. As per the reports, a large number of Pakistani forces raided different houses in Bulaida Bit and detained two young men, identified as Hafeezullah and Ismail who are said to be close relatives. Meanwhile, After conducting a month-long protest sit-in in Islamabad, the participants of the Turbat long march, led by Mahrang Baloch, arrived in Quetta on Thursday. A crowd of thousands, including students and women, warmly welcomed the marchers at the Sariab area near Balochistan University, the Dawn News reported. Mahrang Baloch urged the public to join the gathering scheduled in Quetta on January 27, emphasising that the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) would unveil its next course of action during this public meeting The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) and the families of the enforced disappeared victims will hold a public gathering on a large scale in Quetta city against the enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings of Baloch people today. BYC and other rights organizations alleged that Pakistan's military institutions are behind the extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances of innocent people in Balochistan and the state's mainstream parties, government, judiciary, and media are backing these crimes. (ANI)
The Indian embassy in Panama, on Saturday extended its gratitude to the Foreign Affairs Minister of Panama, Janaina Tewaney as she wished Indians on its 75th Republic Day in Hindi. "Thank you Honorable Foreign Minister @JanainaGob for your Republic Day wishes, that too in Hindi," the Indian embassy in Panama, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica posted on X. https://x.com/IndiainPanama/status/1751052626580422693?s=20 Foreign Affairs Minister Tewaney highlighted that on behalf of Panama President Laurentino Cortizo and its government Panama was extending it wished to the world's oldest and largest democracy. "On behalf of Panama President Laurentino Cortizo and its government, I extend my best wishes because today, we are celebrating the 75th republic day of the world's oldest and largest democracy," she said in a video shared by the Indian embassy in Panama, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. Moreover, Tewaney took to her social media 'X', expressing her heartfelt congratulations to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and the people of India on Republic Day. She further hoped that the shared values of diversity, democracy and republicanism that unite Panama and India endure. "My most heartfelt congratulations to @DrSJaishankar and all the wonderful people of India on the occasion of the 75th Anniversary of Republic Day. May the shared values of diversity, democracy and republicanism that unite Panama and India endure!," she stated. https://x.com/JanainaGob/status/1750966658175320340?s=20 Notably, India-Panama relations are the oldest in the Central American region, dating back to the middle of the 19th century when groups of Indians came to Panama to work on the construction of Panama Railways and later the Panama Canal, in the early 20th century. Earlier on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed gratitude to world leaders for their Republic Day wishes to India. Meanwhile, EAM Jaishankar also expressed his gratitude to world leaders for their Republic Day wishes. President Droupadi Murmu commenced the celebrations on Friday by unfurling the national flag at Kartavya Path. President Murmu and her French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, who is the chief guest at this year's Republic Day celebrations arrived at Kartavya Path in the 'Traditional Buggy', a practice which made a comeback after a gap of 40 years. The cultural extravaganza at Kartavya Path highlighted the diversity and vibrancy of India's cultural tapestry, captivating the audience with a fusion of artistic expressions from across the country. (ANI)
Gilgit-Baltistan Governor Syed Mehdi Shah called on Pakistan President Arif Alvi and discussed the increase in the prices of subsidised wheat as the residents of the region announced that they would stage marches against the hike today (Saturday), as reported by The Express Tribune. President Alvi told the governor that he had taken up the issue of the subsidised wheat price hike with the caretaker premier and finance minister. Pakistan's president further hoped that the issue would be addressed soon. However, earlier, the elected members of the Gilgit-Baltistan Council called on the president to discuss the issue of the subsidised wheat rate hike, according to The Express Tribune. Moreover, Alvi assured them that he would take up the matter at the relevant forums. Meanwhile, the residents of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir's (PoK) Gilgit-Baltistan have been demonstrating and staging protests against the hike in the subsidised wheat price in the region. They have also pledged to stage demonstrations until the government withdrew its decision to increase subsidised wheat prices. The Awami Action Committee (AAC) gave the strike call, in consultation with the associations representing traders, transporters and hotel owners, according to Dawn. The call was issued after negotiations between an AAC delegation and the government to end the protest failed to produce any positive outcome, The Express Tribune reported. However, it was the next phase of the protest that has been going on for the last month against the Gilgit-Baltistan government's decision to raise the subsidised wheat prices. A team comprising several government officials met with the demonstrators on the orders of the Gilgit-Baltistan chief minister and requested them to call off their protest, assuring them that their demand would be met. Whereas, the other side stuck to its guns and pledged not to call off its protest until the decision to increase the price of subsided wheat was revoked. Later, the ACC chief organiser announced 'plan B' of the movement while addressing protesters in Gilgit. He called for a shutter-down and wheel-jam strike across the region on Friday while marches from various areas of the region towards Gilgit and Skardu would begin today (Saturday). Moreover, the residents of Diamer, Astore, Hunza, Nagar, and Ghizer will march towards Gilgit. Protesters from Shigar, Kharmang, and Ghanche will march towards Skardu. (ANI)
Lobsang Sangay, who served as the Tibetan Prime Minister-in-exile from 2011 to 2021 spoke about China's overarching strategy to assert itself as the sole superpower and its tactics in claiming territories. In an exclusive interview with ANI, he insisted that for India to understand China, it must comprehend Tibet's situation. "In the 1950s, when the Chinese Army invaded Tibet, Chinese leaders said Tibet is the palm, we have to take over, then we have to go after five fingers Ladakh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. Our country was occupied, then they will come after you. We have been saying that. They are trying to pressure Bhutan now. They are claiming Doklam in Sikkim. They have already shown Arunachal's area in their map. So five fingers have already been spotted" Lobsang said. While discussing the history of China, Lobsang said that 60 per cent of the Chinese territory was occupied by Beijing. "If we look at the Great Wall of China, which they proudly say that you can even see from the moon, was the permanent borders between China and all the northern neighbours. They took a thousand years to build that wall while claiming that they wanted to safeguard themselves from Mongolia. The Great Wall is inside Mongolia, Manchuria and the whole northern belt," Lobsang said while discussing Beijing's claims on Taiwan and the South China Sea. On the question of the One China policy and Taiwan issue, Lobsang sheds light on the actual dream of China. Citing leaked documents, he said that Chinese President Xi Jinping "apparently" told his US counterpart that Beijing plans to take over Taiwan. "The Communist Party of China and Xi Jinping have declared that they want to get the top position by 2049. To become no-1, they want to consolidate the things which they claim. On several occasions, Xi Jinping has told his generals to prepare themselves for the war. According to a leaked document, Xi Jinping apparently told Biden that Beijing plans to take over Taiwan" Lobsang said while discussing the threat of conflict between China and Taiwan in the near future. Lobsang Sangay is the first person without a monastic background who served as the Tibetan Prime Minister. Born in 1968 in a refugee community in Darjeeling, Sangay earned a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Delhi. He studied International law and democracy at Harvard University. Later, he became an American citizen. (ANI)
A large number of people from parts of Balochistan gathered to participate in the Baloch Yakjehti Committee's (BYC) protest in Quetta on Saturday against Pakistan's atrocities. The BYC, which recently concluded a two-month protest in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, had called for huge participation from people in the protest. People joined the protest even when Section 144 was imposed by the government in Quetta, the Balochistan Post reported, citing local media reports. According to X, the information minister of Balochistan, Jan Achakzai, had announced that due to threat alerts for the next two weeks, all forms of public gathering are forbidden in Quetta. https://x.com/TBPEnglish/status/1750940744414601545?s=20 Further, the report also mentioned that the sit-in protest organised by the BYC gained significant traction amongst the people of Quetta. The general public of Quetta welcomed the participants who had gathered in the city to raise their voices. While announcing the most recent protest to be held in Quetta, the BYC appealed to the people of Balochistan to gather in huge numbers. According to the news report by the Balochistan Post, the series of protests started after the extrajudicial killings of November 2023, eventually leading to nationwide demonstrations. A prominent leader of the BYC, Dr. Mahrang Baloch, had also released a video message urging the women of Balochistan to participate in the gathering to be held at Quetta. In the video, Mahrang Baloch mentioned that the struggle of Balochistan belongs to all people of Balochistan, regardless of their gender. Dr Baloch also asked the people to adhere to the ethical guidelines set by the BYC and avoid all actions that could be exploited. A set of instructions was also released by the BYC administration to display peaceful and ethical conduct with the law enforcement agencies. Further, the BYC has also announced directives against any vandalism, removal of political party flags, or any disruptive activities during the gathering. (ANI)
Amid the ongoing protests, political activist Dr Mahrang Baloch lambasted the imposition of Section 144 in Quetta by the provincial government, according to Dawn. The Baloch activist called it "an attempt to disrupt and disturb our right to peaceful assembly" and added that Section 144 was imposed by the provincial government in Quetta for 10 days from Friday (January 26) to prohibit public gatherings. The participants of the Turbat long march, led by political activist Mahrang Baloch, arrived in Quetta on Thursday with a plan to stage a rally in the provincial capital today. The marchers began their march in Turbat and went through other places before arriving in Islamabad. They held a sit-in in front of the National Press Club, calling for an end to the enforced disappearances of students, political activists, and human rights campaigners. They advocated for the formation of a judicial panel to examine the deaths of missing individuals. On Tuesday, the protestors stated that they will end their sit-in outside the NPC and proceed to Quetta, Dawn reported. In a recent post on X, political activist Mahrang Baloch said, section 144 has been imposed during "phase five of our peaceful movement against human rights abuses, extrajudicial killings, and enforced disappearances through a rally in Quetta". She also stated that the enforcement of Section 144 was an effort to disrupt the "peaceful gathering" of demonstrators. "I want to draw your attention to the fact that in case of any unpleasant event or anything happening to peaceful protesters and the families of missing persons, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar Ul Haq Kakar, government provincial spokesperson Jan Achakzai, the Balochistan government, and law enforcement agencies must be held accountable," wrote on X. The provincial administration in Quetta enforced Section 144 for 10 days on Friday, prohibiting public gatherings after CTD police foiled a terrorist attack and captured a prominent commander of the proscribed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). According to Dawn, Balochistan's interim information minister, Jan Achakzai, stated that Section 144 was implemented to preserve public safety following allegations of security concerns. Following the action, he stated that getting a no-objection certificate from Quetta's deputy commissioner had become required for holding election campaign meetings or other gatherings. (ANI)
TULARE, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  The fire department for the City of Tulare was awarded $1 million in funds for a new fire engine by Senator Melissa Hurtado during a ceremonial check on Friday.

Officials say the funds will reduce taxpayer burden.

It was a privilege to join community members, firefighters, and local leaders in celebrating this important budget win for public safety that will empower our first responders to continue meeting the citys needs for generations to come, Hurtado said.

Marc Mondell, City Manager of Tulare, says one of the challenges the city was facing was funding for public safety, specifically for the fire department.

If you are not aware, these things cost a lot of money, and they keep going up, Mondell said. So is very hard to just find enough local tax dollars to pay for those things, and the senator was gracious enough to offer a solution.

Tulare Mayor, Terry Sayre, says the funding will go towards the purchase of a new fire engine, which will give the City of Tulare Fire Department the ability to continually meet the demands of their citizens and to elevate firefighter safety while responding to over 7,000 calls a year.

We are so proud of our citizens, and to be able to work in partnership with the legislation and Senator Hurtado, Sayre said. She has been so gracious, and just amazing to work with us and help us, particularly in this and other endeavors, to be able to have a brand-new fire truck, and we only have to pay a minimal amount to have that in our city.

The City of Tulare Fire Department says they were able to get a fire engine for $46,000 that could last them over a decade. However, they say it will take four years for the operators to arrive, depending on the manufacturers workload.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com.
CHICAGO  Two teenagers leaving their Loop high school were fatally wounded in a midday shooting Friday that startled onlookers under a busy L station in the center of the city.

Around 12:25 p.m., the teens  16- and 17-year-old boys  were leaving Innovations High School with about four other people, Chicago Police Department Deputy Chief Jon Hein said Friday.

As the group was in the first block of North Wabash Avenue, two vehicles pulled up and several people exited before opening fire.

Each boy was shot in the chest, and the older boy was also shot in the hip. The Cook County medical examiners office identified the 17-year-old as Monterio Williams and the 16-year-old as Robert Boston. Both lived on the Near West Side.

Autopsies performed Saturday confirmed that both teens died from multiple gunshots in deaths ruled as homicides, according to the medical examiners office.

The coat of a woman standing nearby was also grazed by a bullet, but she declined medical attention, according to police.

Witnesses at the scene said they heard up to 20 shots fired at the group, and one high-ranking police official described the shooting as an ambush. No one was in custody as of Saturday morning, police said.

A representative for Chicago Public Schools deferred questions to the Youth Connection Charter School network, which operates Innovation High School, but calls were not returned Friday. Innovation with its 443 students is the largest school operated by the organization.

Mayor Brandon Johnson addressed the shooting in a statement released Friday afternoon, saying:

I extend my deepest condolences to their families and the Innovations High School community as they grapple with unimaginable pain and trauma caused by this senseless act of violence. The Chicago Police Department is actively investigating and the Mayors Office of Community Safety has activated its victim services support teams to aid victims families and fellow students. My prayers and those of my entire administration are with everyone impacted during this difficult time.

The two were taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in critical condition, Fire Department spokesperson Larry Langford said. They were pronounced dead a short time later, according to Hein.

Juan Manuel, a building supervisor at the corner of Madison Street and Wabash Avenue, said he had walked out for a lunch break and was a block north when he heard the shots. He then saw about two dozen police cars speed by.

It gets really bad around here, Manuel said. Theres physical fights and shootings in the middle of the day.

Ald. Bill Conway, 34th, also extended condolences to the families of the two teens, and said his office is in close contact with CPDs Central District (1st).

We need to do more to curb gun violence and make all of Chicago safer, Conway said. Nothing is more important, and I will do everything in my power to ensure law enforcement has the resources they need to fight and deter crime.

Police officers were investigating and taped off Wabash between Washington Street and Madison Friday afternoon. Crowds of people stopped at the scene as the rain fell.

A man who identified himself by his first name, KB, was working in a barbershop nearby when he heard more than a dozen shots outside. When he went outside, he could see someone lying on the ground.

Its crazy. They looked like a group of kids, he said.

Many of the shops and businesses near the school were closed and their doors locked about three hours after the shooting, as rain poured down. Some employees who arrived later in the afternoon said there was a heavy police presence on the block for a couple of hours, although foot, train and vehicle traffic moved along as normal.

In recent years, several other teens have been killed or wounded in shootings in the downtown area.

In April 2023, another pair of teen boys, also 16 and 17, were shot in the first block of East Washington Street  just a half-block south of where Fridays shooting occurred. A year earlier, a 16-year-old boy was shot and killed near The Bean sculpture in Millennium Park.



(Chicago Tribunes Rebecca Johnson contributed.)


"Pages of history" features excerpts from The News Journal archives including the Wilmington Morning News and the Evening Journal.

Jan. 29, 1986, The Morning News

Space shuttle Challenger explodes

A catastrophic explosion blew apart the space shuttle Challenger shortly after liftoff Tuesday, sending schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe and six NASA astronauts to a fiery death in the sky eight miles out from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

We mourn seven heroes, said President Ronald Reagan.

Front page of The Morning News from Jan. 29, 1986.

The accident defied quick explanation, though a slow-motion replay seemed to show an initial explosion in one of two peel-away rocket boosters igniting the shuttles huge external fuel tank. The tank burst into a fireball that destroyed Challenger high above the Atlantic while the crew's families and NASA officials watched in despair from the Cape.

In Delaware, though few students actually saw the heart-stopping explosion when it happened, the event will likely leave a permanent mark on their lives. The tragedy was particularly wrenching because of the drumbeat of publicity that had been given to McAuliffe and her scheduled lessons from space.

Students in Delaware and around the country were to attend classes McAuliffe was to begin teaching from space on Friday.

Jan. 30, 1936, Wilmington Morning News

Ice halts traffic in rivers, canal

Ice, 12 inches thick at some points, brought water traffic virtually to a standstill in the waterways in this area yesterday.

Near Elkton, four boats and a barge are held fast. The freighter Albany, with 400 tons of sugar aboard and towing a barge with 500 tons of sugar, has been stuck in the Elk River, seven miles from Chesapeake City, since last Thursday.

Front page of the Wilmington Morning News from Jan. 30, 1936.

The crushing ice has opened seams in the vessel. Yesterday, as the ships supply of fuel oil ran low, in the continuous pumping to keep water from reaching the cargo, fear was felt that the sugar might be lost.

Hurried arrangements were made with a Wilmington concern to rush fuel to Town Point from where it will be taken on sleds across the ice to the beleaguered freighter. Nine men aboard the boat have been buying supplies and coal from farmers along the shore for the past several days.

Ice which had already extended many yards from each bank of the Delaware River finally started choking the main ship channel yesterday. All trips of the Wilson Line steamers were cancelled after 3 oclock when the last boat sailed from Philadelphia and Wilmington, arriving at their destinations far behind schedule.

All freight is being carried by trucks.

Recent weather news: Delawareans, others show creativity with a little snow

Jan. 30, 1948, Journal  Every Evening

Gandhi assassinated by Hindu on his way to prayer meeting

A Hindu tonight shot to death Mohandas K. Gandhi, apostle of non-violence and father of Indian independence.

Police said the frail spiritual leader of Indias hundreds of millions of Hindus was killed for political reasons  because some person did not agree with his appeals against violence.

Front page of the Journal - Every Evening from Jan. 30, 1948.

Gandhi, 78, was walking to his prayer meeting grounds, on the lawn of the Birla mansion, to appeal again for an end of communal violence. Three shots rang out at close range. One found his heart.

Death came quickly to his emaciated body, wasted in a recent fast in the cause of peace amid the rival religious sects of India and Pakistan.

The assassin was held incommunicado. Police said he was a civilian from Poona, although he was wearing army clothes.

Earlier this month, a bomb had exploded near the spot where Gandhi was holding his prayer meeting.

In Bombay, widespread looting, arson and stabbings started tonight two hours after news spread of Gandhis assassination. Police fired many times into Hindu and Moslem rioters in the Nill Bazaar in central Bombay.

Tens of thousands of Indians streamed to Gandhis bier in his quarters in the palatial residence of G.D. Birla, an industrialist who long had supported Gandhi. They passed sadly in single file.

Catch up on history: Cuban missile crisis, Phillies win World Series: News Journal archives, week of Oct. 29

Feb. 2, 2003, Sunday News Journal

Space shuttle Columbia, 7 astronauts lost in fiery landing entry

High over Texas and just short of home, space shuttle Columbia fell to pieces Saturday, raining debris over hundreds of miles of countryside. Seven astronauts perished  a gut-wrenching loss for a country and world already staggered by tragedy.

The catastrophe occurred 39 miles above Earth, in the last 16 minutes of the 16-day mission as the spaceship re-entered the atmosphere and glided in for a landing in Florida.

Front page of the Sunday News Journal from Feb. 2, 2003.

The day echoed one almost exactly 17 years before, when the Challenger space shuttle exploded.

The search for the cause began immediately. One focus: possible damage to Columbias protective thermal tiles on the left wing from a flying piece of debris during liftoff Jan. 16.

Reach reporter Ben Mace at rmace@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: 2 space shuttles explode: The News Journal archives, week of Jan. 28
Rigel Robinson became Berkeley's youngest-ever city council member in 2018.

He pushed for more housing in the city, including student and supportive housing in People's Park.

Robinson resigned this month after facing overwhelming harassment over his housing advocacy.

When Rigel Robinson was elected to the Berkeley City Council in 2018  just months after graduating from UC Berkeley  he was determined to tackle the city's housing crisis as its youngest-ever council member.

Little did he know that six years later, at 27 years old, he would be handing in his resignation notice.

As an undergrad serving on Berkeley's student government, Robinson grew passionate about building more affordable student housing in the notoriously expensive city. After being elected, he built on those efforts to shape the city government as the Chair of the Land Use, Housing, and Economic Development committee.

At the forefront of the housing debate that has long roiled Berkeley is whether to move forward with the university's plans to build 1,100 units of student housing and 125 units of supportive housing for homeless residents in a green space known as People's Park.

The park was the site of anti-war protests and other progressive activism in the 1960s and has long been a gathering place for the community and a homeless encampment. Meanwhile, the university is facing a severe student housing shortage amid a broader affordability crisis.

The issue has divided the progressive community, pitting pro-housing YIMBYs  which stands for "Yes In My Backyard"  against so-called "left NIMBYs," who oppose new development on the grounds that it hurts lower-income and marginalized people. In response, advocates for new housing development point to numerous studies have found that even the addition of market-rate housing helps bring down costs in a community and lowers the risk of displacement .

Decades of debate over the future of the park has culminated in a slew of lawsuits from local opponents. Last year, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill allowing Berkeley and other universities to overcome community objections to potential noise issues from student residents. The university  which has barricaded the park while construction is on hold  won't have final go-ahead until the state supreme court weighs in .

Robinson and many other progressives believe the university's development plan would do much more to help students and vulnerable community members than keeping People's Park as a green space. And, he argued, it would better reflect the park's history.

"It's an incredibly elegant and really balanced proposal," he said, noting that most of the park would be kept as green space. "I believe that we really could better honor that history by repurposing the site."

But Robinson's advocacy for housing in People's Park was met with a wave of harassment from residents who wanted to keep the park as is. He reached his breaking point in early January when he decided to resign from the council.

"We knew that when the park was closed, it would be an intense and fraught moment for our community," Robinson told Business Insider. "But when people employ tactics like harassment and stalking and threats to try to subvert the will of the people and the votes and directions that our democratically elected city council has made, I think that creates a problem."

Rigel Robinson resigned from Berkeley's city council at 27 years old. Rigel Robinson

While it's increasingly common for public officials to face harassment and intimidation, Robinson said it was "most acute" for him when it came to People's Park.

The intensity of the pushback forced him to evaluate whether he could tolerate the opposition, or take a step back and preserve his mental health. He chose the latter, and while he doesn't regret his decision, he hopes that those opposed to building housing won't get in the way of the needs of the community.

"I ran for this office to elevate the voice of the next generation, and the most pressing challenge facing young people and working families in our city is the housing crisis," he said. "But Berkeley is a city notorious for its resistance to new growth. The NIMBY capital of the West Coast, if you will."

'Relentless efforts' to stunt housing projects

When Robinson was running for the council in 2018, some of his political mentors advised him to stay away from YIMBYs because an association with them would make it harder to get endorsements from progressive groups who view YIMBYs as "developer shills."

While that might have been the case at the time, Robinson said, he didn't take that advice  and now, "the politics of the issue have entirely changed."

"Even the candidates who are the most averse to and skeptical of new housing construction, they don't want to sound like NIMBYs," Robinson said. "And that is a titanic shift."

But that shift in the mindset of some politicians hasn't been enough to quell the pushback from Berkeley residents who don't want to see more housing units in their neighborhoods. Earlier this month, the conflict escalated as hundreds of police officers arrested dozens of protesters and cleared tents at People's Park.

"With the People's Park project, there have been relentless efforts, both in terms of protests and activism, and legal tools, to obstruct the project every step of the way," Robinson said.

Since Robinson resigned, some of his fellow council members spoke out on the harassment he endured, and the importance that abusing policymakers should not become the norm  even on controversial issues like housing.

"CM Robinson, thank you for your service to the City of Berkeley, the kindness with which you led, & your tireless advocacy for safe streets, affordable housing, & community safety," one council member Terry Taplin wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on January 9. "The harassment & abuse public servants face is real," he wrote. "This toxicity should never be normalized."

Robinson said that while he'll miss fighting for the issues he's passionate about on the council, he's happy that he's able to prioritize his mental health and his family as he figures out what's next. And when it comes to Berkeley's future, he's feeling pretty optimistic about that, as well.

"It is our job to be responsive to the community, but sometimes the right thing to do requires you to listen and then hold your ground and make the right choice in the face of a whole lot of noise and frustration," Robinson said.

"And I think that's what we've seen with this project at People's Park, which is not only going to represent a new chapter for that site, and for the story of People's Park and for the story of resistance to state violence, but really is going to provide incredible resources and meet urgent needs in the city," he continued. "There's no more precious resource in Berkeley than permanent supportive housing."

Read the original article on Business Insider
MERCED, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  Hundreds of students representing all nine University of California undergraduate campuses will descend upon Merced during the weekend for the annual Students of Color Conference, officials announced.

Organizers say the conferences mission is for students of color to come together and share their experiences to better identify targeted advocacy among different identity groups.

Officials say about 350 students are expected to attend the conference taking place from Jan. 27 until Jan. 28 at the UC Merced Conference Center. For the conferences, identity training will focus on anti-Blackness.

The focus is whatever marginalized group we think needs attention that specific year, said UCSA UC Merced External Vice President Arianne Huffman. We will give training regarding that identity or culture and how to be more mindful when interacting.

Huffman says the conferences various workshops will focus on teaching tricks of the advocacy trade while developing awareness and understanding of other groups.

This years workshops will focus on Southeast Asian culture, different Indian diasporas, and Black diasporas, among other topics.

Its a fantastic opportunity to meet people from the different campuses and better understand how the UC experience applies at all locations, said Huffman. We all have very similar struggles: it just shows up in different ways because we are all in different environments.

This conference is sponsored by the University of California Student Association (UCSA), which is the official voice of students from across the UC system.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A 63-year-old California man died Friday at Utahs Zion National Park, according to the National Park Service (NPS).

Rangers responded to a report of an unresponsive hiker on the West Rim Trail near Scout Lookout. Other hikers with emergency medical training were performing CPR on the man when rangers arrived, but he was pronounced dead.

The mans name was not released, but officials said he was from San Diego, according to the NPS news release. Based on information available at this time, the cause of death is consistent with a cardiac event, officials said.

The Washington County Sheriffs Office, Utah Office of the Medical Examiner, and the National Park Service are still investigating the cause of the mans death.

The trail was closed during the emergency response, but it has reopened.

All of us at Zion extend our deepest condolences to this hikers family, Superintendent Jeff Bradybaugh said. We also want to express thanks to the bystanders who assisted by performing CPR.

About 20 search and rescue team members responded, carrying medical equipment including a defibrillator to the hikers location.

Zion National Park is about 150 miles northeast of Las Vegas via Interstate 15.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
The North Florida Marine Association is hosting the 76th Annual Jacksonville Boat Show this weekend.

Taking place at the Prime Osborn Convention Center, this beloved North Florida event has been bringing together the boating community since 1947.

This years Boat Show aims to bring new dealers to the Convention Center while ensuring attendees will see even more boat brands than in prior shows.

Showgoers will enjoy days of water-related fun, family-friendly activities, and educational seminar. As well as amazing deals on hundreds of boats and thousands of accessories.

Click here for tickets.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

Boat Show attendees will also be among the first to see and board brand-new models of all types of watercraft, including fishing boats, cruisers, ski boats, pontoons, inflatables, personal watercraft, and more.

The 76th Annual Jacksonville Boat Show highlights include:

Daily: A wide range of vendors will feature boating accessories, resources, tips, and gear. See the latest boat models on display throughout the Prime Osborns 75,000 square-foot show floor.

Daily: Live music will be on deck, featuring Mango, the 1-Man Island Band! Mangos style has been described as Harry Belafonte meets Jimmy Buffett meets Bob Marley. An awesome vibe!

Saturday: The first 100 kids to visit the Jacksonville Sail and Power Squadron booth (#B10-11) on Saturday only will receive a FREE life vest.

Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.  1 p.m.: Donna Frantz with Fishing 101 will host FREE Kids Fishing Clinics. The first 100 kids each day to complete the interactive clinic will receive a rod and reel combo.

Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m.: During seminar presentations, Captain Kevin Faver and Captain Kirk Waltz of The Outdoors Show on 1010XL will discuss fishing tips, tricks, and tactics.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

Hours and Admission:

Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center is located at 1000 Water Street, Jacksonville, FL 32204. Boat Show hours are; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, January 27; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, January 28.

Admission is $15 for adults; $5 for children 12 and under; and $12 for seniors, military, and first responders with ID.

Food is purchased from the vendors and is not included with admission.

Pets are not allowed unless they are certified service animals.

Click here for more information.

Note: Parking for the general public is $10.00 per automobile per day.

Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Despite my being a regular and caustic critic of the courtroom tactics and performances of Donald Trump and his lawyers, Fridays whopping verdict against the former president in the second E. Jean Carroll civil case requires me to acknowledge that in this instance, they were right about one thing.

Team Trumps strategic decision to seek to avoid the result of the first Carroll triala verdict of $5 million against the former president, who was a no-show during that trialby having him regularly appear and testify (sort of) in the second Carroll trial did indeed bring about a different result. That result, however, was a disastrous $83.3 million verdict against the former president.

The jurors ability to witness, upfront and in person, the defendants grotesque, selfish, rude, and uncontrollable behavior surely made all the difference in the world.

As a decadeslong trial veteran, I can report that there are certain key courtroom realities that exist whether the case be civil or criminal, federal or state. One of these realities is directly relevant to todays Trump verdictfew jurors serve their critical role with any real understanding of the law, courtroom procedures, or legal terminology. So, the vast majority of jurors fall back on what they do knowhuman behaviorand really focus on that. This reality is exemplified by the following true story I relate in my book The Vanishing Trial.

Many years ago, a white-collar criminal defense colleague shared his experiences in a lengthy federal trial he had recently completed. After the verdict, he and other attorneys asked the trial judge for permission to interview those members of the jury willing to make themselves available to counsel. Such post-trial postmortems can provide lawyers with invaluable insights into what worked, what didnt, and how the verdict was ultimately decided. Although judges do not frequently grant such interviews, to my friends great appreciation, the judge in this case did so.

In the post-trial interview, a juror told my friend that the panel always knew, even before he opened his mouth, whether his cross-examinations would be long or short. Taken aback, he asked how that could be. The juror explained that whenever he would start a long cross-examination, he would unbutton his suit jacket. If he had just a relatively few questions to ask, the jacket would remain buttoned. While my friend had been totally unaware of this personal tic, the jurors were all over it.

How the Trump lawyers allowed their client to animate and underscorein real timethe picture being painted by E. Jean Carroll and her attorneys of a coarse, unfeeling, disrespectable, and uncontrollable person is beyond understanding.

They also ignoredor were unaware ofa second, directly applicable courtroom reality. Jurors assume (sometimes incorrectly) that the trial judge is both all-knowing and evenhanded. After all, always addressed as Your Honor, the judge presides over the proceedings seated at a bench looming high above everyone else. Each time the judge enters the courtroom, all others must stand in respect. Whenever they leave the bench, all must stand yet again and not move until the judge has left.

Every time Judge Lewis Kaplan was forced to chastise Trump or firmly repudiated something he said or did, additional, three-dimensional evidence was offered in real time to support the plaintiffs claims.

How those on Team Trump allowed their client to expose himself before the jury to Kaplan, a veteran judge famous (or infamous, depending on ones experiences) as a no-nonsense, strict enforcer of the rules in his courtroom, is inexplicable.

In a recent Slate article, I opined that what happens in Kaplans courtroom in the Carroll civil case would be an important guidepost for Judge Tanya Chutkan as to the most effective methods of keeping a uniquely uncontrollable defendant under control, with Chutkan presiding over the far more significant 2020 election interference trial in Washington. (That case was scheduled to begin in March but is facing likely delay due to a Trump appeal of Chutkans rejection of his dismissal motion.)

The events and results of the second Carroll trial should also be a significant guidepost for Trumps attorneys in the D.C. case, John Lauro and Todd Blanchetwo former federal prosecutors with far more experience and skill than the Trump attorneys in the state and federal civil cases.

In short, because Lauro and Blanches colleagues were clearly unable to resist their clients crazed, untethered dictates, disaster resulteda near $100 million verdict would be considered a disastrous result for any client, even a self-professed billionaire. Lauro and Blanche replicating their less-capable co-counsels inability to control their unruly client would surely result in yet another devastating result, this time with the stakes so much higher.

Of course, as a criminal defendant, Trump will have to appear at the D.C. trial. Given that his personal liberty will be at stake, and given his inability to ever acknowledge his own prior mistakes or admit personal limitations of any kind, Lauro and Blanche will surely have their hands full.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) said Texas is prepared in the unlikely event that President Biden federalizes the National Guard as the standoff over the southern border heats up.

Well, first, Id be shocked. That would be a boneheaded move on his part, total disaster, Abbott told conservative host Tucker Carlson on his new show Uncensored.

For one, as you might imagine, we are prepared in the event that that unlikely event does occur to make sure that we will be able to continue exactly what weve been doing over the past month and that is building these barriers, Abbott added.

This week, the Texas National Guard appeared to ignore a Supreme Court decision approving the removal of the razor wire barriers, and continued construction along the border. Abbott has justified his decision, while criticizing Biden for not enforcing immigration laws.

The governor cited the constitutional authority a state has to defend itself against invasion, as the surge of migrants arriving at the border continues.

Republican governors in several states have backed Abbott in his standoff against the federal government.

Abbott told Carlson that the state has deployed members of the Texas Department of Public Safety as well as other law enforcement officers paired with National Guard members from other states to the border  but said having even more would help.

The Texas governor said he has not spoken to Biden about the standoff, but in the past has provided the administration with letters that had enough immediate solutions that would not require any new law to be passed or signed.

Abbott said he would be shocked and disappointed if the states who pledged to support him in his efforts ended up not sending members of their National Guard to Texas.

They now are joined together with us and this is a fight for the future of American and they all know it, he said Friday. And so I believe that they will all be in on this effort.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and former President Trump each have pledged support for Abbott in the newly developing challenge at the U.S.-Mexico border.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The White House marked the 51st anniversary of Roe v. Wade this week by rolling out expanded access to contraception and steps to inform pregnant patients about their abortion options during life-threatening emergencies. The measures were another sign that President Joe Biden will place reproductive rights at the center of his reelection campaign.

The landmark 1973 case has become even more politically potent since it was overturned by the Supreme Courts conservative majority in its explosive 2022 ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization.

Since the Dobbs decision, 14 states have completely banned abortion, including Alabama, Mississippi, and South Dakota, while swath of others in the southeast have also enacted early-term bans ranging from six to 18 weeks of pregnancy. Other states have moved to protect abortion access, including Ohio, which voted in a November referendum to include the right to an abortion in the state constitution.

Roe is dead, and still powerful

And 2024 is set to include more decisive moments as abortion hits the polls in states like Maryland and New York, where voters will weigh state constitutional amendments enshrining reproductive rights. Meanwhile, a major decision from the Supreme Court is expected regarding mifepristone, the FDA-approved pill that accounts for more than half of all abortions in the United States.

"Roe is now shorthand for what has been lost," said Joshua Prager, author of "The Family Roe," a history of the legal case. "That is a very powerful thing."

Related: Election lessons: Abortion delivers for Democrats from Ohio to Virginia to Kentucky

Making abortion 'unthinkable'

Amid this complex landscape, voices on both the anti-abortion and abortion rights camps told USA TODAY they share the goal of never returning to Roe  for vastly different reasons.

The anti-abortion side wants complete, total elimination of abortion to the point it is unthinkable, said Jeanne Mancini, president of March for Life, an annual gathering in Washington that drew thousands of anti-abortion supporters last week.

While the Dobbs decision is a huge victory and milestone in building a culture of life there is much more work to be done, Mancini said.

More: Abortion restrictions repel graduating OB-GYNs from conservative states, report shows

Anti-abortion activists march and rally in front of the United States Supreme Court during the annual March for Life in Washington on January 19, 2024.

Roe was inadequate, activists say

Meanwhile, some abortion rights advocates believe the moment should be for revision, rather than reversion, back to Roe. This means legalizing abortion nationally, and protecting access, especially for members of marginalized groups who struggled to access abortion services even under Roe, said Serra Sippel of The Brigid Alliance, which supports patients traveling to seek abortion care.

It's vital we don't make the mistake of reinforcing what was there," Sippel said. "That's a 51-year-old decision.

For abortion rights supporters, Roe should be "the floor, not the ceiling," Sippel said, meaning that the decision was not only too vulnerable to being overturned but also limited in its power to assure equity in abortion access.

Compare this sentiment with the stance of President Joe Biden, who stood in front a banner with the words Restore Roe at a campaign event in Virginia on Tuesday, where he castigated his predecessor, Donald Trump, for dismantling the protections previously guaranteed by Roe.

More: Indigenous women, facing tougher abortion restrictions post-Roe, want Congress to step in

President Joe Biden arrives to speak during a Democratic National Committee event at the Howard Theatre, Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) ORG XMIT: DCEV401

Joe Biden expands access to contraception

Bidens rally came on the tails of his announcement Monday that the White House was expanding coverage for no-cost contraception through the Affordable Care Act. Federal employees will also receive greater access to contraception under guidelines issued to insurers.

The Health and Human Services Department is rolling out a plan to educate patients about the administration's position that they are entitled to care for pregnancy-related emergences  including abortion care in some cases  under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act.

Democrats have been increasingly successful in talking about abortion rights, said Jessica Valenti, a feminist writer and founder of "Abortion, Every Day," which tracks national and state-level changes in abortion laws. Valenti spoke to Senate Democrats at a briefing on abortion rights last week and said she felt hopeful after leaving the room.

Democrats, Valenti said, "need to get out of a defensive crouch. It cant be We just want to go back to way things were.

Donald Trump appointed three conservative justices to the Supreme Court during his four years in office, including Amy Coney Barrett. They were part of the five-vote majority that overturned Roe v Wade.

Trump dances around abortion

Whether conservatives, in their effort for total abolition of abortion, will gain a key ally in the White House will be decided in less than 10 months.

While former president Donald Trump appointed three of the five Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe, the GOP frontrunner has been largely mute on the issue, giving subtle and nonspecific answers on whether he would push for a national abortin ban if he beats Biden in November.

"He is strategically and deliberately feigning moderation," Valenti said. "He is hoping people who are horrified by the end of Roe ... that they won't attach him to that and think that he will make things worse. That's just not true. Things could get much worse under a Trump presidency."

More: SCOTUS' leaked Roe v. Wade opinion led to near tenfold increase in abortion pill demand, study shows

A 19th century obscenity law could target abortion pills

If Trump returns to the White House, he could order the Department of Justice to use the Comstock Act, an obscenity law from the 1800s, to ban shipments of not only abortion medication, but medical equipment used for abortion or even clinic supplies, Valenti said. The Biden administration has already ruled that sending abortion pills via mail doesnt violate the act, but a new administration could interpret the law differently.

January 19, 2024: In a snow storm anti-abortion activists march and rally in front of the U.S. Capitol during the annual March for Life in Washington on January 19, 2024. The event ended at the U.S. Supreme Court.

"Politically it's clear we need something more protective," Valenti said.

But she also remarked that many Americans may feel stranded between forceful advocates for unrestricted access and those working toward complete abolition.

For people in the middle, Valenti said, its important to consider who they trust to make a major decision about their lives: "At the heart of the matter is, do you think that this is a decision that the government should be involved in or not?

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What 51 years of Roe v. Wade means today
Tennessee is a faith-based state: We trust Gods word and aim to lead lives that honor him. Our state seal should reflect those values.

I was honored to sponsor and pass legislation last year that will add In God We Trust to the Great Seal of Tennessee. Our state seal is a reflection of who we are, and I, like many others in the Volunteer State, believe adding our national motto to it will better represent Tennessee values.

In God We Trust isnt a meaningless slogan. Its an acknowledgment that we need our Creator every second of every day and that God is sovereign over this land and every land. Most importantly, its a reminder that Jesus Christ is Lord of all and the Savior of the world.

License plates with In God We Trust are more popular than those without. After legislation was passed, the motto will be added to the state seal of Tennessee.

The legislation we passed last year simply requested Gov. Bill Lee redesign Tennessees seal by adding In God We Trust, likely as a banner near the bottom. The governor is required to submit his design back to the General Assembly by July 1, 2025, at which point legislators will have the opportunity to approve it.

When I decided to carry this legislation in the House, I thought about the significance of the saying, I considered the religious makeup and morals of our state, and I reflected on my own faith.

Tennessee is the third most religious state in the US

According to the Pew Research Center, Tennessee is the third most religious state in the country, with 73% of residents considering themselves highly religious. And U.S. News and World Report says 81% of adults in the Volunteer State identify as Christian. Take a drive down any main street in Tennessee and Ill bet you would see at least two steeples.

The history of In God We Trust in the United States is fascinating and representative of our nations Christian faith.

The history of In God We Trust

During the Civil War, Congress approved Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chases proposal to allow In God We Trust to appear on American coins, according to the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Nearly 100 years later, President Dwight Eisenhower signed a bill requiring the phrase to appear on paper currency as well. And a year after that, Eisenhower signed a bill making it the national motto of the United States.

In 1954, while advocating for under God to be added to the Pledge of Allegiance, Eisenhower explained the role of God in America well, saying, In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in Americas heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our countrys most powerful resource in peace and war.

Our country was founded by Christians who prioritized justice, liberty and morality. In Tennessee, we take those values seriously.

Tennessee's In God We Trust license plate is popular

When our state redesigned its license plate, the number of Tennesseans who opted for plates that say In God We Trust is representative of the importance of faith here. According to The Tennessean, as of March 2023, the state issued 3,197,413 license plates with In God We Trust and 2,226,408 without the saying. In Unicoi and Carter counties, which I represent, more than 70% of residents had chosen the former, the outlet reported in 2022.

I felt compelled to sponsor this legislation because I know the essential role of faith in our state and country. My constituents know this as well, and I believe adding In God We Trust to our state seal will show other states what Tennessee values most.

Proverbs 3:5 says to Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding; Isaiah 26:4 says, Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.

As an elected official, I ask God for guidance every day to help me sponsor and support legislation that not only honors him but makes life better in the district I represent. I know and understand that leading without God as my guide is not leading at all.

John Holsclaw

Serving in the House of Representatives is one of the greatest honors of my life. Im proud I was able to get this legislation passed, and I look forward to the Great Seal of Tennessee having four simple but powerful words on it: In God We Trust.

John Holsclaw lives in Elizabethtown and represents the 4th District of the Tennessee House of Representatives, which includes Unicoi and part of Carter County.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Adding In God We Trust to state seal represents Tennessee values
USSOCOM is looking for companies that can provide AESA radars for its C-130 fleet.

U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) is testing the market to see if anyone can provide rapid fielding of AESA (active electronically scanned array ) radars to replace the existing radars on AC-130J Ghostrider gunships and MC-130J Commando II special operations transport/tanker aircraft. Such a move would replace the AN/APN-241 mechanically scanned weather and navigation radars on these aircraft with an AESA radar set, bringing vastly different capabilities to the platform.

SOCOM placed a request for information (RFI) on the federal SAM.com contracting website Thursday. That was the first apparent formal step taken by the command to pursue a capability it has sought, at least to some degree, since at least 2015. That's when SOCOM revealed that it had been testing the AN/ASQ-236 Dragon's Eye radar pod on its gunships. SOCOM later decided that would not work .

A MC-130J Commando IIs assigned to the 353rd Special Operations Group, Kadena Air Base, Japan flies over Yokota Air Base, Oct. 22, 2023, during a training mission. The 353rd SOG is an operational unit of the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command, stationed at Kadena Air Base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Samantha White)



Then-Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) commander Lt. Gen. James Slife brought up the concept again at a September 2022 Air and Space Forces Association conference. Slife is now a general, serving as Air Force Vice Chief of Staff.

I think were in the terminal stages of concluding an agreement with an industry partner that will allow us to put an AESA radar on a C-130, which provides a whole host of capabilities that we havent seen up to this point, Slife told reporters during a media roundtable at the time.

AN/APG-79 AESA installed in a Hornet. (Raytheon)

An AESA radar "on a C-130 opens up a host of possibilities for everything from airborne electronic attack and airborne cyber effects and things of that nature that up to now have not been part of our portfolio, he added.

In May 2023, the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) Program Executive Office for Fixed Wing aircraft (PEO-FW) announced plans to test a Ghostrider gunship equipped with AESA radar.

Air Force Special Operations Command announced in May 2023 it was planning to test AESA radar on an AC-130J Ghostrider gunship. (U.S. Air Force photo by Yasuo Osakabe)

It is unclear what happened to the agreement Slife mentioned two years ago or the Ghostrider test, but AFSOC is apparently just now beginning to formally engage industry on a wide scale about its intentions of adding the sensor system that would greatly boost the capabilities of both aircraft.

AESA radar systems offer major benefits over their mechanically scanned array counterparts. These include near instant scanning speed, being able to execute multiple modes at once, the range at which they can spot targets and their overall fidelity. They are also more resistant to jamming and are far more reliable, mainly because they lack their predecessors moving parts.

But for the AC-130, specifically, an AESA radar could allow it to do things it current cannot, which includes engaging targets in all weather and over great ranges without external support and tracking moving targets on the ground over broad areas. These two capabilities are enabled by synthetic aperture radar imaging and ground moving target indicator modes. You can read about what an AESA could bring to the AC-130J in far greater detail i n our previous feature linked here.

A SAR image sample from a brochure for the IMSAR NSP-5 radar. IMSAR

One thing that is worth noting is that placing an AESA radar in an AC-130J's nose, unless it was installed on a swashplate , would not allow it to scan directly to its left side, where the AC-130's guns are installed. The radar could still help pick out fixed targets to hit with the guns, but directing the guns against moving targets via radar would not likely be possible without another side-mounted array. There are smaller modular solutions that exist for such an installation that could be tied into the larger forward-facing array.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wj6kCxT0mM

The MC-130J could also benefit from these capabilities, for its own navigation and surveillance uses, but also to enable others in the battlespace.

AESA radars, as The War Zone has long pointed out , additionally have the secondary potential to carry out non-kinetic attacks using highly focused beams of electromagnetic energy to jam, disrupt, and even damage the electronics within aircraft, missiles, and other systems. As a result, the MC-130J and C-130J could be turned into electronic warfare platforms with relatively long-range capabilities.

That speaks to the kind of effects Slife said he would like to see the C-130 fleet carry out.

AESAs can also work as very high bandwidth, long-range communications nodes, which could also be useful in context of both the AC-130 and MC-130, which are already equipped with advanced communications systems. This capability could be leveraged for relay duties for other platforms and personnel within line-of-sight of the Hercules, especially if satellite communications are degraded or totally unavailable.

All of this speaks to making these aircraft more relevant to a high-end fight, especially one in the Pacific against China. Just an AESA alone would drastically increase the flexibility and potential roles for these aircraft after two decades of being tailored to counter-insurgency and counter-terror operations. Such enhancements could even be critical to their survival, not just on the battlefield, but when it comes to the Pentagon's ever changing budgetary priorities.

In its market survey, AFSOC laid out a list of criteria of capabilities it is seeking in a future AESA system:

Perform all weather functions and flight situational awareness of existing AN/APG-241 radar.

Compatibility with existing radome (space and environmental)

Open source interface and willingness to work with third-party integrators and software developers.

Synthetic Aperture Radar maps and the ability to generate CAT 1 coordinates (less than six meters deviation from a target).

Ground Moving Target Indicators.

As to what radars are available for such an application, Northrop Grumman's A N/APG-83 Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR) , a version of which is currently equipping USAF F-16C/Ds, would make sense, as would a radar base don Raytheon's AN/APG-79, which equips F/A-18C/D, F/A-18E/F, EA-18G, and also soon the B-52J in enlarged form. The F-15E and F-15EX's AN/APG-82 could be a very powerful option. These are just two prominent options, among others.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wDIDzaFS8o\u0026t=2s

The RFI comes as AFSOC is already in the process of replacing the AN/APN-241 radars with Raytheon's AN/APQ-187 Silent Knight terrain-following/terrain avoidance radars on the Commando IIs as well other special operations aviation assets including Air Force C V-22B tilt-rotors and Army MH-60M and MH-47G helicopters. The Air Force plans to upgrade the entire Commando II fleet to this new configuration in the coming years, giving the planes a degree of nap-of-the-earth flight capability in hostile environments that is essential for performing their special operations missions, but has been elusive since the Commando II's introduction.

An MC-130J with the Silent Knight Radar fitted above its nose. Sierra Nevada Corporation Sierra Nevada Corporation

We dont know AFSOCs timeline for acquiring AESA radar for its C-130 fleet, which is not even mentioned in SOCOMs Fiscal Year 2024 budget proposal . It is also unclear how or if this would affect the command's plans to add the SKR to the MC-130Js. Weve reached out to AFSOC with numerous questions about its efforts to add AESA to its C-130 fleet and will publish those answers when they come.

Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com
Enshittification

Amid a massive wave of tech company layoffs in favor of AI, Google is firing thousands of contractors tasked with making its namesake search engine work better.

As Vice reports, news of the company ending its contract with Appen  a data training firm that employs thousands of poorly paid gig workers in developing countries to maintain, among other things, Google's search algorithm  coincidentally comes a week after a new study found that the quality of its search engine's results has indeed gotten much worse in recent years.

Back in late 2022, journalist Cory Doctorow coined the term "enshittification" to refer to the demonstrable worsening of all manner of online tools, which he said was by design as tech giants seek to extract more and more money out of their user bases. Google Search was chief among the writer's examples of the enshittification effect in a Wired article published last January, and as the new study out of Germany found, that effect can be measured.

With CEOs' short-sighted AI gold rush claiming ever more jobs, the termination of the Appen contract is particularly harsh not only because of how crappy Google Search has gotten, but also because of how crappy things were and are for people who work for the Australia-based AI training firm.

Hunger Games

In a shocking expose published last October, Wired revealed that people who attempt to make ends meet by doing gig work for Appen often make as little as two cents per training task, often netting only a dollar or two per day when work was slow. As one young man in Pakistan put it, working for the company was tantamount to "digital slavery."

As the union presenting workers at Alphabet, Google's parent company, stated in a press release earlier this week, the contract termination will impact at least 2,000 workers, or perhaps more given that "contracts with Google account for roughly one-third of Appens business revenues."

While Google rushes to pour billions of dollars into AI, it also, as the Alphabet union points out, chose to terminate the Appen contract without any severance benefits, much less "transparency or accountability" about how or why the decision was made.

"This news should be a wake-up call for workers in the tech industry and anyone concerned about the impacts of AI on working people," Toni Allen, the union's executive board secretary, said in the statement. "As subcontractors for Google we have been a canary in the AI coal mine calling out the precarious labor conditions we face being the human workers standing between large language models and their end users."

"This is what AI work looks like when workers have no say in the process," Allen continued. "It is time that the world heard our voices before this situation repeats itself far and wide."

More on AI layoffs: Sports Illustrated Publisher Laying Off Staff After AI Scandal
Akron Mayor Shammas Malik talks to the Akron board of education about implementing a universal pre-K program in the city.

Akron is among the last large Ohio cities without universal pre-K. Mayor Shammas Malik hopes to change that.

Malik asked Akron Public Schools board members Saturday to start reconsidering the future of early childhood education in the city. A pre-K program in the district was under consideration before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, he said.

I want to bring this back on the plate, Malik said. I hope this is something that we can achieve as a community.

The board held a retreat on Saturday that was open to the public and livestreamed on YouTube. Roughly six people attended in person and up to a dozen people watched it online.

During the eight-hour retreat, the board discussed policy changes, caught up on the roles and responsibilities of the board and superintendent and conducted team-building exercises led by an Ohio School Boards Association representative.

Universal pre-K is among APS Superintendent Michael Robinsons primary goals, he said, but he wants to ensure it will not hurt the school district, which has seen decreased enrollment since 2003.

I would ask that this is something done in conjunction with APS as to not reduce enrollment numbers," Robinson said. "I'm a huge proponent of universal pre-K, and I'm looking on how to expand it as we await speaking that into existence."

Looking to other Ohio cities

Among the speakers at the meeting was Annie McFadden of the United Way of Summit and Medina, who spoke in favor of universal pre-K.

Toledo, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton and Cleveland have universal pre-K, McFadden said, but not all of them have the same funding model.

Columbus pulls from the city's general fund, she explained, while Cleveland benefits from a Cuyahoga County levy. Toledo is a mix of city funds, public dollars and private fundraising.

"There are a myriad of ways to do it," McFadden said. "We have to figure out how to fund this. There is no timetable as of yet, but we want to keep this board involved."

Malik said a combination of levies, state dollars and increased private or public school enrollment will likely be needed to make universal pre-K a reality.

"This is important for APS and for the well-being of the community," Malik said. "We can't afford not to do this as a community."

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Mayor Shammas Malik asks Akron schools to consider universal pre-K
Alabama inmate Kenneth Smith was put to death Thursday night by nitrogen hypoxia, marking the nations first known execution using that method. Now Alabamas attorney general wants to help other states interested in using the new form of capital punishment.

Smith, 58, was sentenced to death for his role in a 1988 murder-for-hire and had previously survived a failed attempt to execute him by lethal injection in 2022. His attorneys fought the execution until the end, ultimately losing a final appeal to the US Supreme Court on Thursday evening.

Smiths legal team  alongside experts and advocates from the US to the United Nations  had voiced concern that nitrogen hypoxia could lead to excessive pain or even torture.

Alabama is one of only three states  Oklahoma and Mississippi being the others  to have approved the method, which is designed to replace oxygen in the body with a high concentration of nitrogen, causing death. So far, Alabama is the only state to have carried it out or even outlined a protocol on how to do it.

Heres what we know about the historic execution:

In Alabama, 43 other inmates have requested new execution method

After widespread discussion and speculation about how Smiths execution would unfold, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall told reporters on Friday, What occurred last night was textbook.

As of last night, nitrogen hypoxia as a means of execution is no longer an untested method. It is a proven one. Its the method that Kenneth Smith ultimately chose, along with 43 other death row inmates in our state, Marshall said.

I now suspect many states will follow.

The attorney general had a message for colleagues across the country who were monitoring developments in the nations first execution using nitrogen hypoxia:

Alabama has done it, and now so can you, Marshall said. And we stand ready to assist you in implementing this method in your states.

What happened during the execution

As the procedure started Thursday evening at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Smith was fitted with a mask, a device that would be used to administer the nitrogen.

The execution process began at 7:53 p.m. CT, and Smith was pronounced dead at 8:25 p.m., according to Alabama Department of Corrections officials.

Nitrogen flowed for about 15 minutes during the procedure, state corrections commissioner John Hamm said in a news conference.

Smith, who was on a gurney, appeared conscious for several minutes into the execution, and shook and writhed for about two minutes after that, media witnesses said in a joint report.

That was followed by several minutes of deep breathing before his breath began slowing until it was no longer perceptible for media witnesses, the media witnesses said.

When asked at the news conference about Smith shaking at the beginning of the execution, Hamm said Smith appeared to be holding his breath for as long as he could and may have also struggled against his restraints.

There was some involuntary movement and some agonal breathing, so that was all expected and is in the side effects that weve seen and researched on nitrogen hypoxia, Hamm said. So nothing was out of the ordinary of what we were expecting. Agonal breathing is an irregular, gasping breath pattern that can happen when someone is near death.

Smiths spiritual adviser, the Rev. Jeff Hood, whod previously expressed concern that the method could be inhumane, witnessed the execution and described it in more graphic terms, saying it was the most horrible thing Ive ever seen.

Smith, wearing a tight-fitting mask that covered his entire face, convulsed when the gas was turned on, popped up on the gurney repeatedly, and gasped, heaved and spat, Hood said.

It was absolutely horrific, he said.

Smith made a lengthy statement in front of the witnesses before the execution started, according to the pool reporters.

Tonight, Alabama caused humanity to take a step backward, Smith said in part, according to the reporters. Im leaving with love, peace and light. Thank you for supporting me. Love all of you.

Smith made a I love you sign in sign language with one of his hands that was facing the room where his family was witnessing, the journalists joint report said.

Kenneth Smith, left, embraces his spiritual advisor, the Rev. Jeff Hood. - Courtesy Rev. Jeff Hood

Its unclear exactly how long it took for Smith to die.

During lethal injections, the nations most common execution method, the time it takes for an inmate to die varies widely depending on the drugs used, number of injections and individual inmates reactions.

In a typical three-injection protocol, a person can die as quickly as 30 to 60 seconds after the final fatal injection, experts say. But the process does not always go as outlined. In 2014, for example, an Oklahoma inmate had an apparent heart attack 43 minutes after receiving the first injection, according to state documents and witnesses.

A controversial form of capital punishment

A tense debate has unfolded about whether Americas new execution method is humane and whether the procedure would cause undue pain.

In theory, the method involves replacing the air breathed by an inmate with 100% nitrogen, depriving the body of oxygen.

Proponents argue the process should be painless, citing nitrogens role in deadly industrial accidents or suicides, and the state indicated in court records that it believes nitrogen hypoxia is perhaps the most humane method of execution ever devised.

Others have been skeptical, fearing the method could go awry and voicing concerns that the states plan up until Thursday had been shrouded in secrecy. The protocol published by the state contained several redactions experts said shielded key details from public scrutiny.

The White House said Smiths execution by nitrogen gas was troubling to the administration.

Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters the death by the new method underscored President Joe Bidens belief in a moratorium on the federal death penalty.

The president has long said, and had deep, deep concerns, with how the death penaltys implemented and whether its consistent with our values, Jean-Pierre said.

Criticism of Alabamas new death penalty method has spread globally. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, said the death penalty is inconsistent with the fundamental right to life and called for its universal abolition.

I deeply regret the execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith in Alabama despite serious concerns this novel and untested method of suffocation by nitrogen gas may amount to torture, or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, Turk said in a statement Friday.

The European Union described the new method of execution as a particularly cruel and unusual punishment and also called for universal abolition of the death penalty, spokesperson Peter Stano said in a statement Friday.

In recent years, many states that still allow the death penalty have had difficulty obtaining necessary ingredients for lethal injections after European manufacturers refused to sell drugs to the US that would be used in executions.

Stano said the EU welcomed the fact that 29 US states have either abolished capital punishment or imposed a moratorium on executions.

Victims family is glad this day is over

Elizabeth Sennett's family speaks at a news conference following the execution. - WBRC

The family of Smiths victim, Elizabeth Sennett, said the execution is bittersweet  a final act of justice for the woman killed more than three decades ago.

Sennett was murdered in 1988 after her husband hired someone who hired two others, including Smith, to kill his wife and make it look like a burglary, court records show. The husband, minister Charles Sennett, was having an affair and had taken out an insurance policy on his wife, the records say.

Nothing that happened here today is going to bring mom back, said Sennetts son, Michael, after the execution. But, he added, were glad this day is over.

Elizabeth Sennetts sons told CNN earlier Thursday they felt it was time for Smiths sentence to be carried out, adding they believed their mother had been overlooked due to the focus on the execution method.

Whats going on is overshadowing whats actually happened, Chuck Sennett, said. Hes gotta pay the price for what he done to our mother, who should be remembered as a loving, caring woman. The brothers were in their 20s when their mother was killed.

The family has forgiven everyone involved in the killing, including Smith, Michael Sennett said at a news conference Thursday night.

His debt was paid tonight, the son said.

CNNs Isabel Rosales, Devan Cole, Christina Maxouris, Lauren Mascarenhas, Alta Spells and Jamiel Lynch contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) criticized President Biden for his decision to pause approvals of some natural gas export facilities, saying the announcement makes no sense.

Once again, they are letting the far left and John Kerry, cant wait until he leaves the White House by the way, drive policies that make no sense and this one actually makes no sense in any way shape or form, Sullivan told hosts John Catsimatidis and Rita Cosby of the Cats & Cosby show.

His comment on Kerry, who currently serves as the U.S. climate envoy, comes after reports the former Secretary of State is stepping down to assist with Bidens reelection campaign.

The White House said Friday that the current analyses the Energy Department uses to decide whether to authorize liquified natural gas (LNG) to be exported do not adequately account for domestic energy costs or planet-warming emissions.

The administration has temporarily paused pending decisions on approving exports to countries that the U.S. does not have free trade agreements with. It will be in effect until the Energy Department updates how it conducts an analysis.

Sullivan argued the decision shuts down American energy and hurts workers and the environment because when you ship clean burning American natural gas to Asia or Europe, you actually lower emissions.

The Alaska senator also suggested it could force other countries to go to Russia for oil and gas resources. The decision will empower Russian President Vladimir Putin, he said.

Theyre essentially saying, keep buying Russian gas. Keep funding the Putin war machine because the far-left radicals in America are telling Joe Biden what to do, Sullivan said. And he listens to them. Its crazy.

In a written statement, Biden said climate change was a factor in pausing the exports. He said the administration will take a hard look at the impacts of the exports and costs on Americas energy, security and our environment.

Senate Energy Committee Chair Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) vowed to investigate the pause on LNG exports and said the decision was based on political consideration instead of facts.

Members of the European Union have criticized oil companies from making Europe an excuse to continue expanding LNG exports amid Russias war with Ukraine.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Rev. Rich Hall finds beauty in barns.

Evidently others do, too, as two Facebook pages on which he shares his photos continue to grow, with A Preacher and His Barns having 13,000 followers and Hidden Barns having 57,000 followers.

Im a preacher, but I am not known for my preaching, Hall told members of Alliance Rotary Club during a recent luncheon meeting. I am known for my barn photography.

A minister's view of barns: Rev. Rich Hall's photography, preaching

Hall, who recently became pastor of Wellspring Church after serving as pastor of Atwater Community Church for 11 years, hesitates to call himself a photographer, though.

Photographers have equipment and know how to use lighting and stuff like that, explained Hall, who also takes pictures of mills and churches. I just go out with my iPhone and take photos and put them online to share with other people.

Of course, as a man of God, Hall uses those beautiful barns to save souls on occasion.

Really, thats how his Facebook fame got started.

Hall, an Atwater native who lived most of his adult life in Colorado, moved back to Ohio to help run Mens Challenge, which is now known as Challenge Ministries. After living among beautiful landscapes of mountains and scenery filled with wildlife and nature, adjusting to the bleak Ohio winter was difficult.

That is, until he noticed a couple of barns and he stopped and took some pictures.

Faith event in Carnation City: Voices raised in praise lift Alliance concert event

People dont always realize the design and architecture that go into some of these magnificent barns, he said. Some of them are truly amazing.

At the same time, he was working as a chaplain at a rehabilitation house in Hartville.

Wed get to know these guys as we helped them get their lives order, said Hall. We would get them trained and get them a job, get them a place to live, get their relationships back in order, take care of fines and license issues. And then we would send them on their way and they would fall off the map and we wouldnt hear from them.

He started texting each one a picture of a barn each morning.

I sent pictures of barns because thats what I had, said Hall, whose sisters suggested he add a Bible verse and devotionals. What I was really doing was sending them a lifeline.

Hall said drug dealers often take the phones of relapsed addicts and erase their contacts so nothing can be traced back to them.

So those guys would have no way of know how to reach us, but that picture let them know that we were still there if they needed us, said Hall.

The preacher decided to share those pictures and Bible verses with others, and it caught on.

So did his passion for finding barns and taking photos of them as he now has collected pictures of 6,231 distinct barns, including famous ones such as Manchester Round Barn in Auglaize County and Century Barn in Coshocton.

Hall says he likes to document the barns, noting they are a part of history. For most of his favorite local barns, he takes pictures a few times each year so that he has a record of how they have evolved throughout the years.

In addition to Facebook, Hall also runs barnpics.net, a website for devotionals and nightly Bible studies. He also does weekend barn talks in which he speaks for a few minutes about something in the Bible while standing in front of a barn. The barn doesnt have anything to do with the message. Its only a backdrop.

Hall said that God, at times, has used his passion for barns to help do His work.

Once, a man who was home from Alabama had stopped in front of the church in Atwater and was admiring it. When Hall asked if they would like any information, the man explained that he had wanted his wife to see the church as well as an old family barn in Marlboro Township, but lamented that the structure had been torn down. Hall inquired about where that barn had been located and was able to call up a photo of it, a copy of which is now framed in the Alabama mans living room.

But Halls favorite story is much more profound.

Our church (in Atwater) was having a plumbing problem one day and so these two young guys come out to take a look early on a Saturday morning, said Hall. Another elder from the church was there and he told these guys about my Facebook pages.

One of the workers kept telling Hall about a barn he should go see in Lodi.

When the workers were finished with the plumbing project  a simple fix of what at first was thought to be a major problem  the young man kept mentioning the Lodi barn.

I kept telling myself that Im not going to drive an hour to just get a picture of one barn, said Hall. But then the guy sent me GPS coordinates. I figured I had nothing else to do, so I went looking for this barn.

Hall headed west, but instead of taking a direct route, ended up meandering around after traffic was stopped by a train, and ended up in Seville. And the first thing he saw was a barn, of course.

Hall thought about stopping, but he saw two men were talking and he didnt want to interrupt. He drove a couple blocks, and turned around. The two men were still there, and he thought about driving away again. But he didnt.

Hall got out of his car and asked the men if he could take a couple pictures of the barn.

The owner was thrilled and started walking around the barn with Hall. The man told him all about the Giant of Seville, who at one time was believed to be the worlds tallest man. And on one part of the barn there were outlines of people, one being the Giant of Seville.

As Hall finished and got into his car, the gentleman kept on talking.

When Hall said that he should be leaving, the man said, Tell me about your church.

Hall said he immediately turned off his car and thought to himself, what kind of preacher is so anxious to get someplace that he doesnt have time to talk about God?

Later that day, the barn owner prayed to give his life to Christ.

I always told the ladies of the church that God had to sabotage the plumbing to get me to drive to Seville for that one guy that day, said Hall. For me, it just goes to show that God continues to put me where he needs me.

And if it happens to be in the vicinity of a barn, thats just fine with Hall.

This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: Minister of Wellspring Church in Alliance finds beauty in barns
A total of 98 combat clashes took place at the front over the past day, with the largest number on the Avdiivka front  29 clashes.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 06:00 on 27 January

Details: A total of 98 combat clashes took place over the last day.

In total, the Russians launched 8 missile strikes with S-300 anti-aircraft guided missiles against the civil infrastructure of Myrnohrad and Novohradivka (Donetsk Oblast) and Antonivka (Kherson Oblast), 4 airstrikes, and 78 strikes from multiple-launch rocket systems on the positions of Ukrainian troops and populated areas.

Over the past day, the Russians also conducted another airstrike, using four Shahed-136/131 attack UAVs. Ukraines air defence destroyed all drones.

The Russians hit the civilian infrastructure of the city of Sloviansk in Donetsk Oblast with an Iskander ballistic missile in the morning.

Over 120 settlements in Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson and Mykolaiv oblasts suffered from airstrikes.

In the area of responsibility of the Pivnich (North) Operational Strategic Group on the Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna fronts, Russian forces are maintaining their military presence in the border areas, conducting intense sabotage activities in order to prevent the transfer of Ukrainian troops to vulnerable areas and increasing the density of minefields along the state border in Russias Belgorod Oblast.

In the area of responsibility of the Khortytsia Operational Strategic Group on the Kupiansk front, Ukrainian forces repelled 13 Russian attacks near Tabaivka (Kharkiv Oblast) and Stelmakhivka (Luhansk Oblast).

On the Lyman front, Ukrainian soldiers repelled eight Russian attacks near Terny and Torske (Donetsk Oblast).

On the Bakhmut front, Ukraines Defence Forces repelled 11 Russian attacks near Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka and Andriivka (Donetsk Oblast).

In the area of responsibility of the Tavriia Operational Strategic Group on the Avdiivka front, Ukrainian defenders continue to restrain the Russians who do not abandon their attempts to encircle Avdiivka. Ukrainian soldiers are steadfastly holding the line, inflicting significant losses on the Russians. Over the past day, Ukraines Defence Forces repelled 20 attacks near Novobakhmutivka, Stepove, Avdiivka, as well as 9 more attacks near Opytne, Vodiane Pervomaiske and Nevelske (Donetsk Oblast).

On the Marinka front, Ukrainian soldiers continued to restrain the Russians near Heorhiivka, Pobieda and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk Oblast), where they repelled 14 attacks.

On the Shakhtarsk front, Ukrainian defenders repelled an attack near Zolota Nyva (Donetsk Oblast).

On the Zaporizhzhia front, Ukrainian defenders repelled six Russian attacks north of Pryiutne, south of Chervone, west of Verbove and Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia Oblast).

In the area of responsibility of the Odesa Operational Strategic Group on the Kherson front, Ukraines Defence Forces extend their efforts to expand the established bridgehead. Despite the losses, the Russians do not abandon attempts to dislodge Ukrainian units from their positions. During the past day, they carried out four unsuccessful assaults on the positions of Ukrainian troops.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian soldiers continue to actively inflict casualties in manpower and equipment on the Russian occupying forces, exhausting the Russians along the entire front line.

Support UP or become our patron!
ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM)  The Elmira Police Departments Detective Bureau has two new, full-time Investigators focusing exclusively on shootings and gun cases. The positions were created after Elmira P.D. received a New York State grant to join the Gun Involved Violence Elimination Initiative, also known as G.I.V.E. Data shows reported gunshots in Elmira more than doubled from 2018 to 2023.

The City of Elmira received a $383,147 grant for the G.I.V.E. initiative in the summer of 2023. Former road patrol officers Tristan Hillman and his partner Timothy Murphy were hired in September. The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services says G.I.V.E. provides state funding to local law enforcement agencies for equipment, overtime, personnel, as well as focused training and technical assistance.

Our day to day, were taking information that we get from shootings, were doing follow ups, watching video footage trying to identify the people that are doing the shootings, said Investigator Hillman. Were talking with witnesses, trying to get cooperation, were working with our partner agencies. We have these things called hotspots, which are areas in the city that are historically known for gun violence and violent crimes and things like that. Those are the areas that we focus on. People that are carrying guns in those areas, we try to get out and intercept those people and take the guns off the streets.

The hot spot map tracks all reported shootings in the City of Elmira since 2018. It was created by Acting Lt. William Goodwin.

Out of the 75 reported gun shots in 2023, 26 were confirmed to be gunfire. Not all of them involved shooting victims. In October of 2022, Detective Goodwin says the Police Department switched to a new reporting system. The old reporting system was not able to classify gunshots as confirmed or unconfirmed.

Graphic video: Scooter shooting in Elmira; suspect held on unrelated charges

The G.I.V.E. initiative is a partnership between Elmira P.D., the Chemung County Sheriffs Office, Chemung County Probation, and New York State Parole. We try to take these things further to court to get indictments, to hold people accountable for their actions, said Investigator Hillman.

Mr. Hillman says Detectives are facing new challenges in combating gun-violence. They include so-called untraceable ghost guns made by 3D printers, and something called a Glock switch.

Its a little piece that goes into the back of the slide and that makes the Glock a fully automatic handgun,  said Hillman. In the eyes of the federal government, when we work with the ATF and stuff like that, its considered a machine gun. I believe this year we recovered quite a few ghost guns. I think this is the first year that weve recovered or took possession of guns with the Glock switches. So obviously, weve seen an uptick this year.

Suspect on the run charged in Riverview Apartments shooting

Investigator Hillman says most shootings involve people who know each other. I think there are people who identify with certain gangs, but I wouldnt say that we have, set-in stone, gang-related activities here, said Hillman.

Acting Lieutenant Goodwin is currently in charge of the Detective Bureau, after Lieutenant Yuri Charlanow retired in December.

The impact that were able to show to the community members here would not be possible without funding from the GIVE program, said Detective Goodwin. We anticipate continued funding for GIVE 11, which should be announced in the near future.

GIVE 11 means the initiative is in its 11th year.

This is a busy place and we do try our best to give the community what it deserves, said Investigator Hillman. Were out there, were trying to help the people out and make the city a safer place.

The Elmira Police Department is also asking for input from residents in a crime survey.

The Elmira Police Department is conducting a short online community crime survey. Its purpose is to help determine where within the City of Elmira its citizens are observing criminal activity, what types of crimes its citizens are most concerned about, and the type of crime deterrence efforts its citizens would like to see going forward. This survey will also assist the Elmira Police Department G.I.V.E. program identify new areas for gun violence intervention. The survey will remain open for one month or until 1000 responses are received. Thank you for your participation.

You can take the survey here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM - MyTwinTiers.com.
Chinese FM to visit Thailand, hold talks with U.S. national security advisor

Xinhua) 10:42, January 27, 2024

BEIJING, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- At the invitation of Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, Thai deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, will visit Thailand from Jan. 26 to 29, foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin announced Friday.

As agreed by China and the United States, Wang Yi will hold a new round of talks with U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in Bangkok, the spokesperson said.

Maintaining strategic communication between Wang Yi and Sullivan is an important consensus reached by the two heads of state, the spokesperson told a daily press briefing when responding to a question on the visit.

During the new round of talks, Wang Yi will state China's position on China-U.S. relations and the Taiwan question and exchange views with the U.S. side on international and regional issues of common concern, the spokesperson added.

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Wu Chaolan)
The U.S. Attorneys Office recently held an event at Central York High School to promote the Department ofJustices United Against Hate initiative.

United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam said the event, which was held in the auditorium and broadcast to all classrooms, included federal, state, and local law enforcement partners and focused on educating students on how to identify, report and prevent hate crimes.

According to Karam, the United States has seen increased incidents since Oct. 7, 2023, the press release read.

During the event, presenters distinguished unlawful conduct from protected First Amendment activity, including identifying protected speech versus speech that advocates violence or encourages people to commit hate crimes.

The U.S. Attorneys Office held an event at Central York High School recently to promote the Department of Justices United Against Hate initiative.

The importance of identifying, reporting, and preventing hate crimes continues to be a priority, said Karam. "By reaching out to students, we provide them the tools to prevent further hate incidents that violate the fundamental principal of democracy.

As part of its United Against Hate programming, the U.S. Attorneys Office will continue to partner with communities across the Middle District of Pennsylvania to expand connections with those communities, further hate crimes prevention efforts, and encourage more people to report hate crimes and hate incidents. The U.S. Attorneys Office is currently scheduling events at other district high schools and will soon meet with Islamic leaders.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Anti-hate event hosted by U.S Attorney at Central York PA H.S.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders encouraged the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission to expedite an emergency $100,000 loan for the city of Helena-West Helena, Ark., after the recent water crisis which has left the town without water for over a week.

The loan is intended to help the town refurbish two wells and replace valves in the citys water system to ensure that residents of Helena-West Helena recover from the water crisis and are more secure in the future.

This is the second loan to the city that Sanders has supported. In June of 2023, the city received a $100,000 loan from the ANRC to fix water system leaks. Residents were left without drinkable water and blamed the crisis on what they called an antiquated system in dire need of repair.

Water crisis in Helena-West Helena blamed on antiquated system

My administration is prioritizing fixes to Helena-West Helenas water system to get residents the resources they need, said Sanders. Ive been in constant contact with Helena-West Helenas Mayor and deployed the Arkansas National Guard and other emergency responders to provide water and address the issue. Going forward, this loan is part of my administrations larger efforts to help the city refurbish its water system and prevent future system failures.

The National Guard was sent to Helena-West Helena after Phillips County made a verbal disaster declaration to the state on January 18, during the winter storm.

AR town receives help from National Guard during water shortage

The National Guard provided 2,000 gallons of potable water, drinking water certified, and 1,000 gallons of non-potable water for flushing toilets.

Well, I dont have any water right now. My waters not working, said West Helena resident Mary Jenkins in a previous interview. I think they need to try and work on getting a new tank. Period. We have been talking about it long enough. Do something about it.

Members of the Arkansas National Guard are now on duty seven days a week, providing water for West Helena residents.

Students in Helena-West Helena went back to school after the winter storm on January 23, but most of their homes are still without water.

Water crisis in West Helena continues as students return to school

Helena-West Helena School District Superintendent Keith McGee said in a previous interview that he plans to have portable showers and laundry services set up at Central High School by the end of this week.

McGee released an update Friday stating that residents impacted by the water crisis can start signing up to use these areas.

The water distribution site at the Phillips County Justice Complex will also be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week, to meet needs until the water issues are resolved.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
Paula Vennells, the disgraced former Post Office boss was shortlisted to be Bishop of London in 2017 - AFP

Archbishops should be held to account, clergy have said, after it emerged that Paula Vennells held four roles within the Church of England after the Post Office scandal broke.

Between 1999 and 2015, more than 700 sub-postmasters were prosecuted after faulty Horizon accounting software made it look as if money was missing from their sites.

However, fewer than 100 convictions have been overturned to date in what has been described as the most widespread miscarriage of justice in UK history.

Earlier this month it emerged that Paula Vennells, the disgraced former Post Office boss was shortlisted to be Bishop of London in 2017, despite suggestions having emerged at least two years earlier that postmasters may have been wrongly prosecuted.

The news prompted Queen Elizabeth IIs former chaplain, the Rev Canon Jeremy Haselock, to call for the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, to stand down amid suggestions that he endorsed the disgraced former Post Office boss to become Bishop of London  the third most senior role in the Church of England after the Archbishops of Canterbury and York.

Church sources claim the Archbishop was personally supportive of Ms Vennells candidacy. She was the Post Office chief executive from 2012 to 2019 and handed back her CBE earlier this month.

However, it has now emerged that Ms Vennells held four roles within the Church of England after the Post Office scandal broke  including to provide officials with ethical investment advice.

In a written Parliamentary question, Chris Loder, the Conservative MP for West Dorset, asked what role Ms Vennells had in advising the Church Commissioners after 2019, and which committees she attended.

In response, Andrew Selous, the Second Church Estates Commissioner and Conservative MP for South West Bedfordshire, confirmed that Ms Vennells held four roles during the period in question between spring 2019 and April 2021.

Held to account

In response, the Rev Robert Thompson, vicar at St Mary and St James churches in north London and General Synod member, called for Archbishops to be held to account over the influence she had in the Church.

He said: Its extraordinary that Paula Vennells had these four positions that were central to the Church of Englands Vision and Strategy.

Both Archbishops and the Archbishops Council need to be held to account for the amount of influence she had on the thinking and development of the Church of England at present.

Since the Post Office scandal broke, it is deeply, morally problematic that after the Post Office scandal had come to light that Paula Vennells could have such a central role in Church of England thinking.

Mr Selous confirmed that the roles Ms Vennells held include: in spring 2019 she was asked by the Archbishops to undertake a lessons learnt review regarding church buildings; in February 2020, she was invited to attend the Church Commissioners Board of Governors for a discussion of the Lessons Learnt report; in March 2020, she was invited to join the Archbishops Coordinating Group during the COVID-19 pandemic and to lead on its governance.

Finally, between March 2019 and April 2021, she was appointed by the Ethical Investment Advisory Group (EIAG) to provide ethical investment advice.

A Church of England spokesperson said: It is clear that more questions should have been asked about the appropriateness of Paula Vennellss involvement in various committees and working groups in the Church of England by 2019 and 2020, when more had come to light about the Horizon scandal. We recognise that and will need to reflect on that.

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.
Leer en espanol

Yuma was in the grips of a brutal 110-degree heat wave last July when Dario Mendoza collapsed working in a melon field and died.

The death of the 26-year-old father of two sparked concerns about inadequate state regulations protecting farmworkers and other employees who work in the Arizona heat, which is being exacerbated by climate change.

The Yuma County medical examiner in July declared the death heat-related.

But an inspection into the worksite death by the Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health concluded that Mendoza had adequate access to water, shade and rest. The ADOSH report also cited a Yuma County Medical Examiner report that concluded that the main cause of death was an overdose of methamphetamine. The autopsy report also said other significant conditions were "exposure to high outdoor temperatures."

The agency recommended no citations against the company, Nex Gen Farm Management Inc.

The report said Nex Gen Farm Management adopted California's higher standards for protecting workers years ago.

Those standards include "training employees on signs and symptoms of heat stress, what to do in the event of an emergency, communicating the need to hydrate before every work shift, acclimatizing employees when they come from cooler areas to work, and providing shaded spaces to seek refuge," the report said.

The company did not respond to a request for comment.

The cause of Mendoza's death does not negate the need for stronger state rules for employers to protect workers from the heat, said state Rep. Mariana Sandoval, D-Goodyear. Her district covers southwestern Arizona, including Yuma, a major farming area and the winter lettuce capital of the nation.

Representative Mariana Sandoval speaks to the press about the upcoming end of Title 42 during a news conference at the State Capitol on May 8, 2023 in Phoenix, AZ.

On Wednesday, Jan. 24, she introduced legislation that would instruct the Industrial Commission of Arizona, which oversees ADOSH, to write rules strengthening requirements for employers to protect workers exposed to the elements.

"There's people that have died and continue to die because of the heat exposure, and it's needed in Arizona," Sandoval said.

Sandoval said she was prompted to introduce the legislation by farmworkers who have died or been injured because of heat. But the bill is intended to protect all workers in Arizona exposed to the elements better.

Farmworkers' struggle: In Yuma, the heat is worsened by inadequate housing

Unlike California and other states, Arizona lacks laws and regulations to protect farm workers from the heat, Jill Guernsey de Zapien, a public health professor at the University of Arizona, told The Arizona Republic in July.

Farmworkers in Arizona are covered under federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations, but those regulations are inadequate when it comes to working in the heat, she said.

Some employers voluntarily take steps to protect workers, but Sandoval's bill would require employers to take steps to protect workers or face possible penalties, Sandoval said.

Report details circumstances of farmworker's death in July

On the day Mendoza died, the temperature in Yuma was in the mid-90s by 9 a.m. and reached a high of 116, one degree shy of the 117-degree record for that day. The area was in the midst of a nearly two-week stretch of temperatures at or above 110 degrees.

Mendoza was part of a crew removing black plastic sheets used to control weeds in a melon field when, shortly before 8 a.m., he suddenly began to run aimlessly, the report said. He was taken to a work vehicle to cool off by other employees, who contacted the supervisor and 911. Mendoza was transported to a hospital, where he died, the report said.

Farmworker safety: Laws don't protect outdoor workers from heat. Advocates say the consequences are deadly

On the day of the incident, the crew started at 2 a.m.  as part of a 2 a.m. to noon shift to avoid the hottest part of the day. The crew headed into the melon fields at 2:30 a.m., the report said.

"The crew, including the deceased employee, used long sleeve shirts, were provided water, used large umbrellas on the tractors while riding on the stand of the implement, had shades available, and a van with working A/C," the report said. "The employees were provided with multiple breaks and could take as much time as (they) needed if they were feeling hot."

The supervisor told state inspectors the crews had access to two 5-gallon water containers and two 3-gallon jugs filled with ice. If the water or ice ran out, management would be called to bring more, which took about 15 minutes to accomplish, the report said.

An operator told state inspectors that he saw Mendoza drinking a lot of fluids and constantly refilling his water jug. At 6 a.m., the employees took an assigned break. At 7:15 a.m., Mendoza asked to take another break early. He collapsed shortly after returning to work.

"Upon the employee's return to the field, the operator stated he noticed the employee working faster and acting strange. After working a little while longer the employee began running away from the operator and the field until he fell by a fence," the report said.

The operator also told inspectors he had seen Mendoza taking pills during the work shift and presumed it was medication. The crew thought the pills were for gastritis but were unsure if they were for that reason, the report said.

Reach the reporter at daniel.gonzalez@arizonarepublic.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Bill filed to protect Arizona workers from heat after farmworker death
DAVIDSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN)  Three people were arrested and nearly 425 pounds of methamphetamine were seized after an investigation involving multiple law enforcement agencies.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) said based on information gathered over the past year of an alleged drug operation within the Middle Tennessee area, agents and detectives executed a search warrant at a home on Hillwood Private Cove in Nashville. As a result, nearly 425 pounds of methamphetamine and large amounts of money were seized, and three individuals were also taken into custody.

Year-long drug investigation in Williamson County leads to 10 indictments, 56 charges

On Friday, Jan. 26, federal criminal complaints were taken out against 49-year-old Zachery Manier of Murfreesboro; 48-year-old Danny Ray Hones of Costa Mesa, California; and 40-year-old Reginald Levon Cooper of Nashville. Each is charged with one count of manufacture, distribute, or dispense or possess with intent methamphetamines a controlled substance, and one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a quality of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, according to investigators.

All three are in federal custody while the investigation remains active and ongoing.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

The TBI, Wilson County Sheriffs Office, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Violent Gang Task Force, and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Nashville Task Force Group 1 are all involved in the investigation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  Some roads in south-central Kansas were backed up on Saturday as a B1-B Lancer was transported through the state.

It traveled through Barber County on Kansas Highway 160 to Harper County, then hit Kansas Highway 42.

The Medicine Lodge Police Department told KSN the plane was being transported to Wichita from Fort Worth, Texas, and ended up in Barber County to avoid major highways.

After that, it made its way to the Wichita area, traveling on U.S. 54 all the way to Andover, where it turned onto Andover Road where it crossed the turnpike between Andover and Towanda.

The Andover Police Department helped the plane get through the town and posted pictures to its Facebook page.

Courtesy: Andover Police Department

Courtesy: Andover Police Department

Courtesy: Andover Police Department

Courtesy: Andover Police Department

Courtesy: Andover Police Department

Mike Newsum sent KSN the video below of the aircraft traveling northeast of Harper.

The National Museum of the United State Air Force says the Lancer carries the largest conventional payload of both guided and unguided weapons in the Air Force inventory and has a wingspan of 137 feet and a length of 146 feet.

The planes final destination was to NIAR, where it will be used for research.

If you have photos of the airplane making its way near you, you can send them to news@ksn.com.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
Former Barberton Mayor Kenneth Cox talks about his career during a recent interview at his Pleasant View Assisted Living apartment in Barberton.

At 95 years old, Barberton political legend Kenneth Cox is still ticking, although his days as a rising star in city and state government are long gone.

Cox served as a Barberton councilman, first elected in 1959, and three terms as mayor, from 1966-1972.

Barberton Mayor Kenneth Cox helps with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Barberton Plastics on Robinson Avenue on March 1, 1966. From left: R. Bruce Miller, Ohio Gov. Jim Rhodes, state Sen. Ed Garrigan, Larry Armour and Cox.

He rose in the political ranks to become a state representative, state senator and a key member of Democratic Gov. Richard Celeste's administration in the 1980s.

These days, his schedule is less hectic, although he continues to be a strong supporter of the Barberton Community Foundation.

From humble roots to a career in politics

Cox was born about a year before the Great Stock Market Crash of 1929 and still remembers the Great Depression and World War II that followed.

He graduated in 1946 from Coventry High School and was born on a farm where his father raised chickens, three pigs and two cows.

Going door to door in 1959

In 1959, Cox, who worked at B.F. Goodrich, decided to enter politics.

"I ran for council, door to door," he said during a recent interview.

Former Barberton Mayor Kenneth Cox flips through a folder of letters of praise from his Republican counterparts throughout his career during a recent interview at his Pleasant View Assisted Living apartment in Barberton.

His attention turned to the Barberton mayor's office in a few years.

"I decided I could do a better job as mayor and won against the incumbent," he said.

By 1966, he was elected mayor. He started off quickly with downtown improvements, a housing code and an increase in the city income tax to 1%.

Onward to Ohio politics

Cox went from mayor to the statehouse as a representative from 1973-1976. His next stop was as state senator from 1977-1982.

"I passed a lot of good legislation," he said. "I can't remember ever passing a political bill. I just wanted to do a good job and I did."

He lost a run for state treasurer, but his political career wasn't over.

In the Celeste administration

At first, Celeste, who served two terms as governor starting in 1982, offered Cox the reins to the division of liquor control, but he declined. His religious convictions, he said, made it a bad mix.

But the governor wanted him in his administration.

"How would you like to be director of (highway) safety?" the governor asked.

This time, Cox said yes.

It was his favorite job in government, he said. He was able to get seat belt legislation passed that he said has saved thousands of lives over the years.

Dealing with a crisis at Commerce

In 1985, Cox became director of the state Commerce Department and was immediately confronted with a savings and loan crisis.

"A big run started on (the) S&Ls," he said.

The crisis threatened customer deposits and became national news as the crisis threatened to spread.

"My office was being picketed daily," he said. "It was hell."

It took six months and bipartisan legislation to get the problem solved, he said.

"Not one depositor lost a dollar," he said.

Back to Barberton

When his wife's health began to decline, Cox decided it was time to trade Columbus for home.

He began consulting for United Telephone, but became involved in establishing the Barberton Community Foundation.

He continues to fight for the foundation, opposing a recent proposal for the BCF to fully fund a new city hall.

"I still have an interest in the foundation," he said. "They have done wonders."

In early 2023, he made news posing for a calendar to raise funds for the foundation.

To live free of pain

Cox said he had to fight for adequate pain medication after he broke his hip and vertebrae in separate accidents.

"For God's sake, I'm 95 years old," he told his doctors. "Can't you help?"

He did get help, and is recovering mobility with a walker.

"My goal is to live the rest of my life without a lot of pain," he said. "I've done a lot of good in this world and I'm proud of it."

More: Barberton Community Foundation selects Josh Gordon as new executive director

Do you know an interesting person in Greater Akron who would be Good to Know? Send suggestions to Alan Ashworth at aashworth@thebeaconjournal.com

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: From Goodrich to Celeste administration: Barberton's Kenneth Cox
PITTSBURGH  A local farmer and his employee have been found guilty on charges related to poisoning migratory birds traveling through the area.

According to court records, a federal jury found 52-year-old Robert Yost, of New Galilee, and 27-year-old Jacob Reese, of Enon Valley, guilty Friday of three counts related to the unlawful killing of the birds in 2020. The two used carbofuran in their plot, which is a restricted-use pesticide that can be dangerous to humans exposed to the chemical and can cause lasting damage to the environment.

Robert Yost and Jacob Reese used corn laced with an extremely toxic, banned pesticide to poison over two dozen migratory birds, said U.S. Attorney Eric G. Olshan. The defendants indiscriminate criminal conduct also put the safety and health of the farms neighbors  including small children and a man suffering from Alzheimers disease at risk. Protecting wildlife and the people who live in our communities from the illicit use of dangerous chemicals is, and will remain, a priority of this office and our dedicated partners in state and local law enforcement.

The chemical was reportedly mixed in with whole kernel corn at Yost's direction and spread around a soybean field on their leased farmland, which did business as Yost Farms. The poisoned kernels were consumed by and led to the deaths of approximately 17 Canadian geese, 10 red-winged blackbirds and a mallard duck. Once the birds ingested the poisoned feed, Yost and Reese took steps to conceal their criminal actions, including the destruction of the feed bag.

When confronted by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and Pennsylvania Game Commission about their actions, both Reese and Yost lied to the state investigators. The two were eventually charged for the act of killing the protected birds in November 2021. The jury returned with a guilty verdict on Jan. 26.

The deliberate application of a highly toxic pesticide, whose use is restricted due to the unreasonable risks to public health and the environment, threatened the health and well-being of the community and the children who played in the poison area, and resulted in the intentional killing of numerous migratory birds, said Allison Landsman, EPA-CID acting special agent in charge. The conviction of Robert Yost and Jacob Reese demonstrates EPAs resolve to vigorously, with its federal and state partners, investigate, prosecute, and hold accountable those who criminally apply toxic pesticides and target species protected under federal law.

Sentencing for the men is expected to take place in late May. The defendants can each spend a maximum of 13 months in prison and face fines of up to $31,000 for their crimes.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Beaver County farmers found guilty of poisoning protected birds
U.S. President Joe Biden's administration announced on Jan. 26 that it had approved a $23 billion deal to sell F-16 jet fighters and modernization kits to Turkey after Ankara ratified Sweden's accession to NATO.

The U.S. State Department notified Congress of the sale, as well as of a separate deal to sell $8.6 billion worth of F-35 jets to another NATO ally, Greece. Congress is expected to approve both deals.

Turkey is set to receive 40 F-16 jets and almost 80 modernization kits to upgrade its current air fleet. The Turkish Air Force operates over 240 F-16s.

Ankara made the request in October 2021, but the sale got tied down in Turkey's opposition to Sweden's NATO admission.

Both Sweden and Finland applied to join the Alliance in May 2022 in response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Turkey initially blocked both of their bids but gave the green light to Helsinki in March 2023.

Ankara said it had opposed Sweden's admission due to the Nordic country's alleged support for Kurdish groups that Turkey considers to be terrorists, which Sweden denies.

Turkish opposition began to weaken last July when the country's president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said he would forward Stockholm's bid to the Turkish parliament after Sweden had agreed to address Turkey's "legitimate security concerns."

Nevertheless, the Turkish parliament has continued to delay the ratification until earlier this week.

After Turkey, Hungary remains the last obstacle to Sweden's admission. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban told NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Jan. 24 that Budapest supports Stockholm's entry.

Read also: F-16s for Ukraine: When will they arrive and what can they do?

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) confirmed that there were a record 302,034 total encounters at the countrys southern border in December 2023.

Border Patrol recorded that 249,785 of them were between ports of entry on the border. Fox News first reported on the encounters in early January before the Biden administration confirmed the record-high numbers.

Troy A. Miller, a senior official for CBP, said in a statement Friday that officers continue to enforce immigration laws at and between ports of entry and are working with Mexico along the shared border.

CBP continues to use all available resources to ensure the safety and security of our agents and officers, and the migrants who are often misled and victimized by the transnational criminal organizations, Millers statement said. But as we have repeatedly said, CBP and our federal partners need additional support from Congress so that we can continue to effectuate consequences for those who do not use established lawful pathways.

CBP said there was a 50 percent decrease in migrant encounters in the first two weeks of January, which was consistent with historical trends and enhanced enforcement.

The numbers come at a time when Congress is still negotiating a critical border deal that has been in the works for months. Former President Trump has attempted to kill the border deal thats in the works to deny President Biden a legislative win over the controversial surge in immigration and border security.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are unhappy about the attempt, as it stalls aid for Ukraine in its war against Russia.

The record numbers also come at a time between a standoff between Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) and the federal government, after he defied a Supreme Court order to remove razor-wire barriers along the states border with Mexico.

The ruling came after state law enforcement prevented Border Patrol officers from accessing a riverside park in Eagle Pass, Texas, which is a migrant crossing hotspot. Three migrants, a woman and two children drowned in the Rio Grande just outside the park. Border Patrol officials claimed the Texas National Guard prevented them from rescuing the people.

CBP said there were 386 rescues in December, totaling 1,362 for all of 2023.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Biden administration and Democrats are pushing back against a years-long trend in energy policy that was set in motion by their own former leader.

In tandem with actions aimed at protecting the climate, former President Obama pursued an aggressive policy of natural gas exports  one which President Biden continued for most of his first term.

Early Friday morning, however, Biden  under heavy pressure from many in his own party  signaled a step back, announcing a pause on permits for the segment of the vast fleet of new gas export terminals still awaiting federal permission to build.

During that pause, the president wrote, the administration will take a hard look at the impacts of [liquified natural gas, or LNG] exports on energy costs, Americas energy security, and our environment.

Environmentalists, congressional Democrats and communities in the shadow of the export terminals have pushed Biden on the issue, fearing that the gas terminals will fuel an enormous boom in the burning of the planet-heating chemical and undercut renewables, potentially hamstringing attempts to slow climate change.

President Biden walks with former President Obama on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, in Philadelphia during a midterms campaign rally. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

The gas industry contends that because the fuel burns cleaner than coal, the expansion of U.S. gas exports will help the world at large cut emissions  and their restriction will hand the initiative to less responsible actors.

Critics, however, have pointed to findings that even relatively small amounts of leakage from natural gas pipelines can make the fuel as damaging to the climate as coal  findings the industry disputes.

The Biden administrations decision to implement the pause and review LNG exports impacts marks an elevation of critics concerns. It also represents a sea change from Obamas tenure, when the White House didnt see the themes of climate action and gas boosterism as contradictory, and when the current boom in U.S. gas exports began.

Back then, the White House embraced the idea that gas could be a bridge fuel connecting a largely coal-based U.S. power system to a glittering future of renewables  and that U.S. exports of fracked gas could do the same thing for the world at large.

Obama took office amid an epochal boom in U.S. oil and gas that he had inherited from former President George W. Bush. Starting in the second half of the Bush administration, surging gas prices  which spiked sixfold between 2002 and 2005  helped fund revolutionary new drilling methods that fueled a gas boom.

These shifts had a dramatic effects on the formerly placid world of U.S. gas, which had been largely flat for decades. In 2005  the year prices spiked  the nation produced about as much gas as it had in 1967.

That changed quickly. By 2008, when Obama took office, gas production had edged up to 13 percent over where it had been in 2005. By the time he left, it was 50 percent higher  and for the first time in history, the United States had a gas export industry.

Top Stories from The Hill

Obamas team had been bullish on gas since the beginning  with presidential advisor Rahm Emanuel touting increased production on the campaign trail in 2008 as a way to bring real energy independence to America.

This independence could be costly for those who lived near the well sites  which sometimes showed up on peoples property whether they wanted them or not. In late 2011, toward the end of Obamas first term, the Environmental Protection Agency confirmed what people living amongst Barnett and Marcellus Shales had warned of for years: that fracking fouled local water supplies, and over the following decade, numerous studies would also confirm fears over its health impacts.

But Obama told Americans that there was no contradiction between a focus on gas and care for the climate.

In his 2014 State of the Union, he attributed U.S. climate progress to natural gas, saying if extracted safely it represented a bridge fuel that can power our economy with less of the carbon pollution that causes climate change.

Obamas reasoning centered on harm reduction. Gas is mostly methane, a fossil fuel that releases only about half the quantity of planet-warming chemicals when burned as coal  as well as far fewer pernicious atmospheric contaminants like sulfur dioxide.

And as gas supplies surged, slashing the fuels price, something unprecedented happened: By 2016, gas had replaced coal as the dominant fuel in the American electric sector  by far the most planet-warming part of the economy of the country that has historically contributed more to climate change than any other.

In this way, the gas boom contributed to Obama administration efforts to clean up emissions from the power sector and shift away from coal.

It also sparked the increasing outflow of gas exports and the policies supporting them that Democrats are now grappling with.

The oil and gas industry turned to foreign markets, where gas prices were markedly higher than in the U.S., after being dealt a blow by the same factors that fueled the boom: the crash in domestic prices and the new drilling methods, which were costly.

To reach those markets, they needed the Obama administrations help  for decades, federal law has required any gas exports to countries that arent free-trade partners of the United States to be approved by the Department of Energy.

Industry got the help it needed: The Obama Energy Department approved the U.S.s first gas export terminals beginning in 2011, and released a 2012 study finding that such terminals were in the public interest  approving new terminals along the coasts of Georgia, Louisiana and Texas.

Then, in December 2015, the same month that Obama signed the pivotal Paris climate accords, Congress legalized oil exports for the first time since the Arab oil crisis in the 1970s, with the administrations strong support.

The first ship carrying a cargo of liquified natural gas left the U.S. just two months later.

Few in the environmental community understood the full magnitude of this shift at the time, political analyst Jeremy Symons told The Hill.

Even as we opposed the gas boom, we really did not conceive of the scale at which fossil fuel exports were going to surge to the point that it was transforming global energy flows and putting climate goals out of reach, he said.

That gas buildout continued full steam during the subsequent administrations.

The Trump administration went full speed ahead with expanding exports even as it moved to dismantle many of the Obama administrations other climate and energy policies  pulling the United States out of the Paris climate accords and ending the Clean Power Plant Rule, which had itself relied on gas.

Amid a continuing flurry of new export terminal approvals, federal agencies deemed gas exports in 2018 to always be an economic good and in 2019 to always be an environmental good.

Then, in 2020, the Trump administration further liberalized gas export permitting so that a terminal granted a license to ship gas could do so until 2050.

And the expansion has continued under Biden. With U.S. gas production another 40 percent above where it had been when Obama began approving terminals, the Biden Department of Energy approved a til-2050 permit for a plant approved by Obama, a controversial Alaska LNG project and an expansion to the Cameron LNG plant.

The Biden administration has previously defended its support for gas exports using similar logic as Obama  saying they represent a benefit to the climate because gas is better than other fossil fuels.

Once Russian troops rolled through Ukraine, sowing chaos through world energy markets, the administration also concurred with gas export companies that a new fleet of export terminals  beyond those already approved  was essential to support European allies in the proxy war with Russia.

In the past year, however, the president has begun to feel the heat from the partys young base, the manufacturing sector and terminal-adjacent communities in Texas and Louisiana  and the congressional Democrats and European lawmakers who have amplified the communities criticisms.

Now, with the pause on LNG export approvals and accompanying review, Biden has made a shift away from the federal support for the buildout that began with Obama and delivered at least a partial victory to those critics.

On Friday, the president announced his administration would take a hard look at the dozens of projects still in planning, evaluating their impacts of LNG exports on energy costs, Americas energy security, and our environment. This pause on new LNG approvals sees the climate crisis for what it is: the existential threat of our time.

In response, the gas industry has accused the president of acting on political motives and letting down the countrys allies.

There is no review needed to understand the clear benefits of the U.S. LNG for stabilizing global energy markets, supporting thousands of American jobs and reducing emissions around the world by transitioning countries toward cleaner fuels, Mike Sommers of the American Petroleum Institute said in a statement.

This is nothing more than a broken promise to U.S. allies, and its time for the administration to stop playing politics with global energy security, he said.

Republicans also attacked the pause, with House Energy and Commerce Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash) accusing Biden of prioritizing the wishes of radical activists over U.S. energy security and the security of our allies.

This is another gift to Putin, she said.

Some environmentalists and progressives, on the other hand, have pushed the administration to go still further and institute a more permanent block.

Thats because the Biden administrations move doesnt shut off the spigot of American gas exports from facilities permitted under Obama or Trump, or even the future exports from the facilities the current administration itself has permitted  all of which (as a coalition of left-leaning European lawmakers wrote to Biden this week) far outstrip the needs of the European Union, and will largely be sold to global middlemen.

The environmental movement, said Tyson Slocum of Public Citizens energy program, wants to a have a commonsense factual analysis of the legacy and future of the gas boom. And thats the debate that we relish to have, because the facts are on our side, he said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
President Biden released a statement commemorating International Holocaust Remembrance Day Saturday, as the war between Israel and Hamas wages on.

Biden said the United States joins nations around the world to pause and mourn one of the darkest chapters in human history, grieve the lives taken by Nazis and honor the survivors and those who risked their lives for the innocent.

This year, the charge to remember the Holocaust, the evil of the Nazis, and the scourge of antisemitism is more pressing than ever, Biden said, denouncing the pure, unadulterated evil that Hamas unleashed on Israel in its Oct. 7 attack that killed 1,200.

It was the worst atrocity committed against the Jewish people in a single day since the Holocaust, he said.

Since Hamas invaded Israel in its surprise attack and took more than 200 hostages, Biden said there has been an alarming rise of despicable antisemitism both in the United States and around the world that has surfaced painful scars of Jewish people.

We cannot remember all that Jewish survivors of the Holocaust experienced and then stand silently by when Jews are attacked and targeted again today, Biden said in the statement. Without equivocation or exception, we must also forcefully push back against attempts to ignore, deny, distort, and revise history. This includes Holocaust denialism and efforts to minimize the horrors that Hamas perpetrated on October 7, especially its appalling and unforgivable use of rape and sexual violence to terrorize victims.

Top Stories from The Hill

Biden pledged to stand up to antisemitism and to make a promise of Never Again. He said his father instilled the promise in him as a child, and it is a lesson he has passed down to his children and grandchildren. Its also a message he said he has strived to honor during his visits to Israel and meetings with Holocaust survivors and family members of people taken hostage by Hamas.

On this somber International Holocaust Remembrance Day, we hold the Jewish community and the people of Israel close in our hearts, Biden said. And we remember the enduring strength, spirit, and resilience of the Jewish people  even in the darkest of times.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who has made several trips to the Middle East since the start of the war, posted online commemorating the day of remembrance. He said the U.S. must apply the lessons of the Holocaust to combat all forms of intolerance and build a world where hate has no place.

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy asked for a commitment to stand against antisemitism. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo also said it is up to the public today and every day to stand up to antisemitism and root out hatred in all its forms.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
President Joe Biden on Friday urged Congress to pass a bipartisan bill to address the immigration crisis at the nation's southern border, saying he would shut down the border the day the bill became law.

Whats been negotiated would  if passed into law  be the toughest and fairest set of reforms to secure the border weve ever had in our country, Biden said in a statement. It would give me, as President, a new emergency authority to shut down the border when it becomes overwhelmed. And if given that authority, I would use it the day I sign the bill into law.

Bidens Friday evening statement resembles a ramping up in rhetoric for the administration, placing the president philosophically in the camp arguing that the border may hit a point where closure is needed. The White Houses decision to have Biden weigh in also speaks to the delicate nature of the dealmaking, and the urgency facing his administration to take action on the border  particularly during an election year, when Republicans have used the issue to rally their base.

The president is also daring Republicans to reject the deal as it faces a make-or-break moment amid GOP fissures.

It comes after a hectic week on the Hill, as Senate negotiators try to salvage monthslong talks to reach a border deal and unlock aid for Ukraine. The White House has continued to engage in talks and has publicly signaled optimism that a deal can be struck, even as some House Republicans say any bill is dead on arrival in the lower chamber. Donald Trump has also tried to scuttle the talks, adding another layer to complicated negotiations.

The contours of the deal are still subject to negotiation. But the negotiators have long discussed setting triggers for daily border crossings after which the Biden administration could shut down the border between ports of entry. Under the current proposal, asylum seekers would still be authorized to present claims at authorized ports of entry, although they would face a much higher standard for being granted the opportunity to apply for asylum.

Republicans who support a deal say the authority would both force Bidens hand and strengthen that of his potential successor.

This is an opportunity to put laws on the books that someone who is genuinely interested in securing the border will be able to use, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said as the Senate adjourned Thursday. President Donald J. Trump in 2017 asked for laws like this. We're going to deliver it and if he becomes president, he'll be glad that we did.

The terms of the deal under discussion, which is largely agreed to but not yet final, would also give DHS expulsion authority if border encounters hit an average of 4,000-a-day over the course of a week, a metric that includes asylum appointments. That authority would become mandatory if daily crossings average more than 5,000 people for a week or crest over 8,500 a day, according to two people briefed on the emerging agreement and who were granted anonymity to discuss the details.

This is the critical tool that allows us to reassert control of the border on day one of the law being signed, while all other provisions streamlining asylum and surging resources can be implemented, one of the people said, adding that anyone who tries to cross twice during the shutdown would then be barred from reentering the country for a year.

Senate negotiators are also moving to limit some of the ability for the president to use parole authority. Republicans have been pressing Democrats to curb that executive authority, but Democrats are reluctant to go too far.

Conservatives argue that the deal's potential triggers are too lenient, essentially blessing daily crossings up to an unreasonably high level even though it would amount to a significant cut over current numbers.

It looks like a bill ... that generally baselines this level so much higher than even the Obama administration, said Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.). To me, that looks like a Democratic victory. And I think that's where most of the Republican Party is, I think that's where Trump is and I think thats where the House is.

The deal also raises the credible fear standard, which would make it more difficult for migrants to apply for asylum. It also includes the Afghan Adjustment Act, which would provide a pathway to legal status to Afghans who evacuated with the U.S. in 2021. It also would deliver 50,000 visas a year  a mix of family and employment visas, according to the two people briefed on the deal.

The border has long been a vexing issue for the Biden White House. The president has seen record levels of migrant crossings since taking office in 2021, further inundating a border already heavily strained by irregular migration and an overwhelmed asylum processing system. Border Patrol agents reported a record 302,034 encounters with migrants over the southern border last month, according to figures released Friday by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Of those encounters, 249,785 were recorded between ports of entry.

The president on Friday also asked Congress to provide the border funding he requested in October, which would provide money for an additional 1,300 border patrol agents, 375 immigration judges, 1,600 asylum officers and improved technology to detect fentanyl.

Securing the border through these negotiations is a win for America, Biden said. For everyone who is demanding tougher border control, this is the way to do it. If youre serious about the border crisis, pass a bipartisan bill and I will sign it.

White House officials are desperate to cut a deal with the Senate, which they believe will demonstrate Bidens ability to reach bipartisan agreement and his eagerness to address the border problem. After that, the presidents team plans to cast the blame on House Republicans.

Speaker Mike Johnson earlier Friday sent his colleagues a letter saying the deal being brokered in the Senate would be dead on arrival in the House.
President Biden is once again betting big on South Carolina.

Biden is looking to the Palmetto State  which catapulted him into the drivers seat for the Democratic nomination in 2020  to get a jolt of momentum and motivate Democrats, while he turns to a likely general election rematch against former President Trump.

He will visit South Carolina on Saturday and is spending significant time there in the lead up to the Feb. 3 primary to bolster his support with Black voters and others whose support hell need come November.

While South Carolina is not expected to be a competitive state in the general election, it could give him the boost his campaign has been lacking. And, it carries symbolic significance for him after an endorsement from Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) in 2020 turned around his primary run and led him to win the White House.

Clyburn, in an interview with The Hill, said he thinks Biden doing well in the South Carolina primary next month would increase enthusiasm for Democrats.

I really believe that people are beginning to focus on things now and by time we get to the primary election on the 3rd, I think that therell be a good turnout of voters and I think that Joe Biden would beat his number from New Hampshire, the South Carolina lawmaker said.

Biden spearheaded the move to make South Carolina the first voting state in an effort to promote diverse voices in early Democratic primaries, a controversial move that led to pushback at the time from Democrats in New Hampshire.

We pick presidents and I think what South Carolina voters appreciate about Joe Biden is his loyalty to the state, said Antjuan Seawright, a Democratic strategist and close Clyburn ally.

South Carolina has a high percentage of Black voters in the U.S., and rallying those voters is essential to exciting Democrats ahead of November. But, Biden has experienced a dip in support from Black voters.

A New York Times and Siena College poll from November found that 22 percent of Black voters in six battleground states said they would support Trump, which is the highest percentage a Republican presidential candidate has seen in a half-century.

Jim Kessler, a co-founder of center-left think tank Third Way, said Bidens first order of business in his reelection bid should be solidifying support from the voters who helped put him in the White House in the first place. That includes Black voters, women voters and younger voters.

The Biden campaign this week signaled it was turning its attention fully to an anticipated general election contest with Trump, who won the New Hampshire primary by 11 percentage points, according to election results form Decision Desk HQ.

2024 Election Coverage

The campaign has been intentional in its outreach to minority communities in swing states, and in places like South Carolina.

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) announced Friday a six-figure ad campaign targeting minority voters in Nevada and South Carolina that highlights voting rights and student loan forgiveness.

You got people out there, knocking on doors. Asking people to vote for your candidate, thats got to be people who understand the culture, Clyburn said. You got to have people from these communities.

The president and other top officials have made recurring trips to South Carolina.

Biden also recently went to South Carolina for a speech at Mother Emmanuel Church, where he emphasized the threats Trump poses to personal freedoms and equated the former presidents election denialism with the refusal of some in the South to accept defeat in the Civil War.

The president in the same visit also sought to highlight how his administration has specifically helped Black Americans, pointing to legislation to lower prescription drug costs and historic investments in Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

His first visit to South Carolina in this election season with a very consequential visit to the Mother Emmanuel. I think this visit is a very critical visit, Seawright said. I think the race on the other side is shaping up to be what its gonna be, regardless of who prevails in the end, Trumpism is going to be on the ballot.

And the key ingredients to that is racism, bigotry, white supremacist and white nationalism, and Christian white nationalism, he added.

First lady Jill Biden traveled to South Carolina on Friday for her first campaign visit to the state in 2024. She headlined a special South Carolina Educators for Biden-Harris event in Columbia.

Vice President Kamala Harris went to South Carolina in November to put Bidens name on the primary ballot and returned to the state this month for Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), a top Biden surrogate, made a rare trip of his own to South Carolina this week, further underscoring the Democratic focus on the state ahead of the Feb. 3 primary.

Biden is expected to easily win the primary over challenger Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), but the emphasis on South Carolina comes as concerns are still lingering for the presidents reelection campaign heading into the general election.

And, Republicans are focused on the Palmetto State too. South Carolinas former governor, Nikki Haley, is still in the GOP primary race and not showing signs of dropping out before the contest. Trump appears to be considering South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott (R) to be his running mate after Scott endorsed him.

Clyburn said hes not concerned that Scott as Trumps running mate would take Black voters away from Biden, though.

I think that African Americans in this country are beginning to take a hard look at people and we are getting beyond skin color, he said. Both Tim Scott and Donald Trump are against the Affordable Care Act. They both are against the John Lewis Voting Rights act. They both are against what I call fixing Social Security. They both are against Medicare and Medicaid.

Im not worried about skin color of the person whos on the ticket, I want to hear what the vision is for the future of this country, the lawmaker added.

And, he expressed optimism that voters, especially Black voters and those in South Carolina, will turn out for Biden again.

[Biden] has kept his commitment to the American people, Clyburn said. Hes kept his commitments to South Carolina, the African American community.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
President Joe Biden has announced his readiness to sign the compromise agreed upon by a bipartisan group of senators to enhance security along the Mexico border as soon as both Congress chambers approve it.

Source: Biden's statement published by the White House press service, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The US president noted that two months ago he instructed a White House group to begin negotiations with a bipartisan group of senators to address the crisis at the border.

Quote: "Whats been negotiated would  if passed into law  be the toughest and fairest set of reforms to secure the border weve ever had in our country."

Biden also pointed out that the White House's request for additional funding, which was sent as early as October, includes funds for border security, specifically for the hiring of border patrol agents, immigration judges, asylum officers and cutting-edge inspection machines.

"If youre serious about the border crisis, pass a bipartisan bill and I will sign it," the US president concluded.

Background:

The bill provides for more than US$60 billion to support Ukraine and US$14 billion for Israel. But its passage has been blocked for months by far-right Republicans who are calling for tougher measures on the US's southern border.

In recent days, lawmakers have been sending cautious signals that both parties are close to a compromise. However, Mike Johnson, Speaker of the US House of Representatives stated that the deal "would have been dead on arrival".

Meanwhile, potential presidential candidate Donald Trump has begun pressuring Republicans not to agree to the current compromise deal.

However, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has reiterated his belief that the US Congress would approve additional funding for Ukraine despite the differences between the two parties on the issue of migration.

Support UP or become our patron!
President Joe Biden says a new border security bill under negotiation in the Senate would give him "new emergency authority to shut down the border when it becomes overwhelmed." Photo by Ting Shen/UPI

Jan. 27 (UPI) -- President Joe Biden has voiced strong support for a border security bill being negotiated by a bipartisan team in the Senate after its chances of approval in the House appeared to dim.

Biden called the provisions of the yet-to-released border package "tough" and "fair" in remarks issued Friday after Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson warned it would be "been dead on arrival" in the chamber should it not go far enough in cracking down on the surge of migrants along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Senate negotiators are expected to unveil the measure long sought by conservative GOP lawmakers next week, but the talks have already prompted Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump to urge his congressional allies to scuttle any proposed deal unless it is "perfect."

Some GOP lawmakers said Trump is opposing the measure in order to deny Biden a victory on the volatile topic of immigration ahead of November's presidential election.

Biden on Friday said the deal being hammered out in the Senate would "be the toughest and fairest set of reforms to secure the border we've ever had in our country," giving him "new emergency authority to shut down the border when it becomes overwhelmed.

"And if given that authority, I would use it the day I sign the bill into law," he said.

Biden, in a remark seemingly aimed at Trump and conservative GOP lawmakers, added, "For everyone who is demanding tougher border control, this is the way to do it."

Johnson warned in a letter to House colleagues on Friday that "If the rumors about the contents of the draft proposal are true, it would have been dead on arrival in the House anyway."

GOP leaders have insisted that in order to pass the House, any border security bill must be similar to a sweeping measure they approved last year banning asylum access for people who do not cross the border at official ports of entry and restarting the construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall.

According to sources cited by CNN on Friday, the emerging Senate deal would significantly restrict illegal migrant crossings, handing the Department of Homeland Security emergency authority to shut down the border if daily average migrant encounters reach 4,000 over a one-week span or if they exceed 8,500 in a single day.

There were more than 300,000 "encounters" with illegal migrants along the southern border in December alone, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Senate leaders also are aiming to attach aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan to the emerging border deal.
ABILENE, Texas (BigCountryHomepage.com)  As the week comes to a close, we like to take a look back on how our news coverage garnered significant attention. From the looks of it, our audience was most interested in a mix of hard news. Between a widespread power outage and serious car wrecks, a fun human interest piece sprinkled its way on into our Big Country Beat. Have a look.

LAST WEEK  Big Country Beat: Abilene crimes, Weather closures & delays

This weeks top 5 in BCHs Big Country Beat

5. Thousands without power in Abilene, Taylor County

We begin at the fifth spot, which was a power outage that left thousands of AEP customers without electricity early in the week in South Abilene. An official later told us it was a high voltage transmission line break that caused the outage.

4. Abilene man accused of shooting home with 2 children inside because occupant used to sleep with wife

Taylor County Sheriffs Office: Joe Fernandez (Jan. 2024)

The arrest of Joe Fernandez grabbed a lot of attention likely because of that hooking headline: Occupant used to sleep with wife.'

Fernandez is accused of shooting at an Abilene home in 2021, where children live. Court documents say the motive behind the shooting was a past romantic involvement between an occupant and the suspects wife.

However, Fernandez told BigCountryHomepage.com he maintains his innocence.

3. Abilene police investigate death in Sayles neighborhood

Last Friday, we broke the news about the Abilene Police Department initiating a death investigation after finding an unresponsive woman outside in the Sayles area of town.

2. Aspiring Abilene nature photographer snaps incredible eagle picture

Didnt I promise you some good news?

Reporter Noah McKinney spoke with Abilene amateur nature photographer Elizabeth Brooks, who gained a lot of attention on her own after snapping some incredible photos of a bald eagle spotted at Lake Fort Phantom Hill. She described developing a deep connection with the bird:

It wants you to capture its essence out in the wild I feel like I wore him out and he was just sick of seeing me, Brooks told BigCountryHomepage.com.

1. 3 Big Country crashes take 2 lives, injures 2 others

Heres the deal. This weeks true top five were just a little too grim for my liking. So, I rolled the top three together as number one because theyre the same category. Be that as it may, we did lose two lives in these awful wrecks, and they deserve recognition.

Our true number three slot went to: UPDATE: Truck driver killed on I-20 in Taylor County identified

27-year-old Truck driver Balra Singh from California was killed on I-20 near Trent this Sunday, January 21. The Texas Department of Public Safety said the roads were wet and Singh had a difficult time staying in one lane.

For our actual number two slot, that one goes to: 2 injured in crash on I-20 east of Baird, traveling at a high rate of speed

Last Friday, a helicopter was used to take car crash victim to medical care after a driver hit a guardrail while speeding, as according to officials BigCountryHomepage.com spoke with at the scene. The other injured person was taken to a nearby hospital via an ambulance.

Here we have our true number one story on web this week: Fatal rollover crash in Tye Sunday afternoon

Emergency personnel from Tye and Abilene arrived to a rollover wreck in Tye this Sunday, to find a driver trapped in his pickup truck. The firefighters were able to free the man from his vehicle, but he passed away shortly after due to his injuries.

Good weather or bad, be sure youre driving with caution. As they say, slow and steady wins the race.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.
A Black Ohio woman who was charged after having a miscarriage in her bathroom toilet last year said she does not want any other woman to go through what I had to go through.

Brittany Watts, 34, spoke with CBS Mornings in her first interview following her September arrest. Authorities got involved after a hospital nurse who consoled Watts when she sought medical help called the police, Watts said. Earlier this month, an Ohio grand jury decided to dismiss the charges.

On Sept. 19, Watts was 21 weeks and five days pregnant when she noticed an uncomfortable fluid leaking from her, she said. Her OB-GYN told Watts that her pregnancy was nonviable, according to a report by the Trumbull County Coroners Office. Watts was then transported by ambulance to Mercy Health St. Joseph Warren Hospital in Warren, Ohio, where she waited hours for the doctor to come in or call, she said during the interview.

I kept asking whoever would come in to check my vitals  I said, Have you heard anything? and they were like, Oh, well, were still waiting. Were still waiting.

Watts waited at least eight hours before deciding to leave the hospital against medical advice, according to medical records. The hospital report also states that Watts understood her risk of complications, including hemorrhage, sepsis or death.

Watts returned to the hospital the next day to get a labor induction; she waited for 11 hours, she said, but was never induced and opted to go home.

I felt frustrated, Watts said. I felt ignored.

Watts case was referred to Mercy Healths ethics committee that day, after staff reported concerns with Watts using the word abortion when discussing the next steps to her care, according to medical records shown by CBS News. In Ohio, abortions after 22 weeks into a pregnancy are banned with exceptions to life-saving care, according to the states law.

In a statement to NBC News, Mercy Health declined to give specifics about Watts care, citing patient privacy.

It is with the deepest empathy during difficult times that we care for those who have suffered a great loss, the statement said.

While waiting on a decision about an induction on Sept. 20, Watts said she was worried about her own health. She miscarried two days after leaving the hospital for a second time.

Upon arriving at the hospital a third time in the middle of her miscarriage, Watts said a nurse reassured her that everythings going to be OK. Meanwhile, that nurse, whom the hospital has not identified, called the police, Watts said. In a call with a 911 dispatcher shared by CBS News, the nurse said Watts didnt want to look at the fetus. She also alleged Watts didnt want the baby and she didnt look, according to the 911 audio. Watts said, however, this was not true.

I said I did not want to look, Watts said Friday. I have never said I didnt want my baby. I would have never said something like that. It just makes me angry that somebody would put those type of words in my mouth to make me seem so callous and so  so hateful.

Police arrested her days later on charges of abusing a corpse, under a state law that punishes those who treat a human corpse in a way that the person knows would outrage reasonable family sensibilities or community sensibilities. The fifth-degree felony charge is punishable by up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $2,500.

Warren Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

An Ohio grand jury decided on Jan. 11 that Watts would not be indicted. In a statement, Trumbull County Prosecutor Dennis Watkins said that Watts did not violate the Ohio criminal statute.

Traci Timko, Watts attorney, said his client was painted as a young, unmarried Black woman that did not comply with their orders to keep waiting. The hospital, she added, weaponized the police.

Watts said she believes her race played a role in why she was charged. She also said there are no regulations explaining what women like herself should do in the situation she experienced. Today, Watts said she is motivated that the charges have been dropped and is advocating for changes in laws for women who experience miscarriages.

As the old saying goes, History repeats itself, Watts said. I dont want it to happen in this case.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will visit Washington in the first half of February for talks with U.S. President Joe Biden as the leaders aim to ensure continued Western assistance to Ukraine, Bloomberg reported on Jan. 26, citing unnamed sources.

The purported meeting comes as over $100 billion in U.S. and EU military and financial aid remain stalled by domestic political turmoil.

Scholz and Biden plan to hold a bilateral meeting at the White House during the second week of February, two people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg.

No official announcements on the meeting have been made.

Biden signed the last U.S. $250 million aid package for Ukraine on Dec. 27. A supplemental funding bill, including $61 billion in aid for Ukraine, has been stalled due to disputes in Congress, delaying further military support for Kyiv defending against Russian invasion.

Meanwhile, in the EU, member states are set to vote on a 50 billion euro ($54 billion) financial support package for Ukraine at a summit on Feb. 1 after Hungary blocked the assistance in December.

Brussels is reportedly searching for alternatives to aid Ukraine if Budapest continues to oppose the four-year aid package.

Scholz has recently criticized other EU countries for providing insufficient defense assistance to Ukraine, saying that Germany can't make up for the deficit.

Germany is the second largest provider of military aid to Ukraine behind the U.S. Earlier this month, Berlin announced the first transfer of military helicopters to Ukraine.

Despite Scholz's pressure on EU allies to increase military support, he has also set limits on Germany's own provisions to Ukraine, blocking the delivery of long-range Taurus missiles over fears that the move will draw Germany into the war.

Read also: Border concerns take over after Trumps primary victories, Ukraine aid in question

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A Blue Springs woman is sentenced for causing a crash in June 2023 that killed a motorcyclist.

Jackson County Judge Jennifer Phillips sentenced Carly A. Rudolph on Friday to five years of supervised probation. Rudolph was found guilty in October to second-degree involuntary manslaughter.

Woman dies following early morning house fire in Harrisonville

According to court records, emergency responders were called to NE Todd George Parkway and NE Leinweber Road around 6 p.m. Saturday, June 24, 2023.

Officers arrived and found a crash involving Rudolphs car and a motorcycle ridden by Christopher M. Silvers.

A sheriffs deputy who drove up on the crash was doing CPR on Silvers when police arrived.

Emergency crews rushed Silvers to a hospital where he later died.

Court documents show witnesses told police they noticed Rudolphs car speeding before entering the intersection and hitting the motorcycle. They said it did not look like Rudolph slowed down or stopped.

Man accused of inappropriately touching teen at Shawnee store

Impact from the crash threw Silvers off the motorcycle and into a ditch.

The probable cause statement shows Rudolph admitted to an officer that she had been drinking alcohol and smoked from a THC cartridge before the deadly crash. Investigators said Rudolphs blood alcohol level was 0.093% shortly after the crash.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
Firefighters with the Bothell Fire Department say they will be raising money this weekend to combat leukemia and lymphoma.

Team members will be sitting outside the Safeway at Thrashers Corner from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Come out and support your fire department as they raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Firefighter Stairclimb as they climb for a cure, said a spokesperson.

Bothell Firefighters will be at the Safeway at Thrashers Corner from 12 pm  5pm this Sunday, January 28th! Come out and support your fire department as they raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Firefighter Stairclimb as they climb for a cure.  pic.twitter.com/NLpFNpmUQr  Bothell Fire Department (@BothellFire) January 26, 2024
Two top Idaho officials Friday cautioned lobbyists against bribing or threatening lawmakers, pointing to a rise in questions about these crimes so far this legislative session.

Recent weeks have seen an unusual increase in questions regarding bribes and threats related to the legislative decision-making process, wrote Secretary of State Phil McGrane and Attorney General Raul Labrador in a joint email to registered lobbyists. While no formal complaints have been filed thus far, it is crucial for all participants in the legislative process to be aware of the criminal provisions regarding offering bribes to public officials and making threats against them based on decisions before them.

McGrane told the Idaho Statesman by phone that his office has received multiple cryptic questions, largely from lobbyists but also from lawmakers, that McGrane said prompted him to discuss the matter with Labrador. The secretary of states office also held a training earlier this month for lobbyists and has issued new guidelines clarifying what types of activities are required to be reported under state law.

McGrane reiterated that the comments his office has received have been vague and said there have been several hot button issues since the legislative session began earlier this month that the concerns could be connected to. His office has received no specific complaints, he said.

Lawmakers have debated bills to allow lawsuits against libraries for materials kids obtain, to allow concealed guns in schools, to institute mandatory minimum sentences for fentanyl trafficking crimes, to change fetus to preborn child in state laws, to limit room for transgender people in the law and to remove barriers that prohibit state funding for religious schools. Public hearing rooms have been packed with testifiers on multiple occasions and led to emotional testimony.

Its important to us that we make sure the lines are drawn clearly for everybody, to avoid people doing something that they dont intend to do, McGrane told the Statesman. In an effort to be proactive, to prevent anything bad from happening, we thought it warranted sending out a message.

A spokesperson for Labrador did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.

People can be guilty of misdemeanors if they threaten public officials in an attempt to influence them or if public officials accept bribes. Misdemeanors are punishable by up to six months in prison and a fine of $1,000.
A bill working its way through the Florida Legislature would rename a bridge in honor of one of the three U.S. Navy sailors killed in a 2019 terrorist attack onboard Naval Air Station Pensacola.

Rep. Michele Rayner, D-St. Petersburg, introduced House Bill 841 to rename the Gandy Bridge on U.S. Highway 92 in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties as "Airman Mohammed 'Mo' Sameh Haitham Memorial Way."

Haitham, Ensign Joshua Watson and Petty Officer 3rd Class Cameron Walters were killed Dec. 6, 2019, when a Saudi Arabian military student who had been radicalized prior to attending flight training at NAS Pensacola opened fire in a training facility. Eight others were wounded in the attack, and the gunman was killed by responding law enforcement officers.

Airman Mohammed Sameh Haitham, 19, from St. Petersburg, Florida

Military officials and local authorities praised Haitham for running toward the sound of the gunfire and attempting to deescalate the attack. Though he was shot and fatally wounded by the gunman, Haitham bought precious time for others to escape and for first responders to arrive.

Rayner, in remarks to the House Transportation & Modals Subcommittee on Thursday, said it was her honor to recognize Haitham, who grew up in the St. Petersburg area.

"There was a killer that came onto the base, and instead of running away from danger, Mo decided to run to danger," Rayner said. "And he did so to protect the lives of the people on the base, and right before he died he was able to tell the deputies where the killer was so the killer could be apprehended. Mo was a patriot, was a true hero."

Haitham's mother, Evelyn Brady, was at the subcommittee meeting and tearfully read aloud the letter posthumously awarding her son the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for heroism.

Get to know Mo: Youngest victim in NAS Pensacola shooting stood up to bullies, 'wanted to help people'

Pensacola Republican Rep. Alex Andrade also spoke at the meeting and was emotional as he told Brady he had grieved and prayed for her family, and would always remember Haitham's sacrifice.

"I cried for the first time in a committee today, but I could not have been more humbled to vote in support of naming a road after Airman Mohammed Sameh Haitham," Andrade later wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter). "He was a hero. Thank you to Rep. Rayner for honoring his memory."

I cried for the first time in a committee today, but I could not have been more humbled to vote in support of naming a road after Airman Mohammed Sameh Haitham. He was a hero. Thank you to Rep. Rayner for honoring his memory. https://t.co/Za5DFVbvbc  Alex Andrade (@RAlexAndradeFL) January 25, 2024

The bill received unanimous support from 16 subcommittee members in attendance Thursday and its next stop will be the Infrastructure & Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee. If ultimately passed into law, the bill is scheduled to go into effect July 1, 2024.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: NAS Pensacola Airman Mohammed Haitham could be Gandy Bridge namesake
A bridge replacement project will close a stretch of road in Miami County through August.

Starting on Thursday, Feb. 8, Peterson Road between CR-25A and North Piqua Troy Road will be closed through August 2024.

>> Volunteer fire department responds to RV fire in Clark County

Crews will be replacing the bridge that crosses the Great Miami River.

There will be a detour from CR-25A to Eldean Rd to Piqua Troy Rd.
Reading about the execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith one cannot help feeling shocked by the gory details.

After being secured to a gurney in the death chamber, the convicted murderer  who on Friday became the first ever person to be put to death with nitrogen gas  had a tightly fitting mask strapped to his head. Eye witnesses reported that as the nitrogen began to flow from its pressurised metal container, Smith writhed and thrashed violently on the gurney, panting loudly and attempting to hold his breath. He was pronounced dead 22 minutes later.

In recent years, shortages of lethal injection drugs caused by pharmaceutical companies restricting their sales to prison agencies have encouraged certain states to look for new ways of administering the death penalty, with Alabama, Oklahoma and Mississippi permitting Nitrogen gas as an alternative since 2022. Americas mission to crack pain-free execution has been ticking over for decades, harking back to the electric chair. Kenneth Eugene Smith was its latest experiment.

Kenneth Eugene Smith became the first ever person to be put to death with nitrogen gas - Getty

For better or worse, devising new and creative ways to kill one another has been a source of ceaseless innovation throughout human history. The Ancient Persians were known to have plunged condemned people into a room full of stirred-up ash, causing them to suffocate. Meanwhile, the Greek ruler Phalaris supposedly forced his victims to climb inside a bronze sculpture of a bull before roasting them alive. But the Romans were the masters of coming up with extravagant execution techniques, from crucifixion to burying alive and throwing their enemies from a cliff in the case of Emperor Tiberius.

But in the 17th Century age of the Enlightenment  that great melting pot of scientific ideas that did away with the Roman calendar and devised the metric system  humanist ideas about the notion of dignity emerged and with them, calls for more reliable, less brutal forms of capital punishment. These are the ways in which the death penalty has evolved throughout the centuries.

Beheading by axe and sword

Beheading was widely used throughout Europe during the Middle Ages. It was most commonly practised with a sword for nobility and an axe for commoners. However, it proved an inefficient and sometimes messy means of getting the job done. It famously took up to eight blows of the axe to chop off the head of the Duke of Monmouth who was put to death by James II, while Mary Queen of Scots was subjected to three separate blows after she rebelled against Queen Elizabeth I.

Beheading was gradually phased out during the Renaissance and Enlightenment periods in Britain, with the method reserved for nobility. Meanwhile in France, the arrival of the guillotine in the late 18th Century put the old swordsmen out of business.

Hanging

Hanging was the most widespread form of capital punishment in Britain from the Anglo-Saxon era onwards. Following opposition to the brutality of the practice from the likes of Charles Dickens, the more humane long-drop gallows was invented in the late 19th century. The new method considered the weight of the condemned and the length of the drop to ensure their neck was broken, which was deemed quicker and less painful than strangling.

The art of the long-drop was perfected by Albert Pierrepoint, Britains most prolific 20th-century hangman. Pierrepoint executed more than 430 people and prided himself on limiting the time between entering the condemned mans cell and opening the trapdoor to a maximum of 12 seconds.

The last hanging to take place in Britain was in 1964, while the final hanging to take place in the US was in Delaware in 1994. Today, New Hampshire is the only US state that permits hanging as a method of execution.

The lethal injection chamber at Holman Correctional Facility in Alabama: Lethal injection has been the most common method of execution in the US since the 1970s - Dave Martin

The guillotine

The guillotine wasnt actually invented by Joseph-Ignace Guillotin at all, but rather by a harpsichord manufacturer called Tobias Schmidt. However, Guillotin proposed the device in a periodical as a machine that beheads painlessly, and it proved so popular following its first usage in 1792 that his name quickly became associated with it. During the French Revolution, up to 17,000 people were guillotined in France and its use continued well into the 20th Century, with the last such execution taking place in 1977.

The electric chair

Invented in 1881 by a New York-based dentist, the electric chair became synonymous with the death penalty in the US and involves strapping the condemned to a specially designed wooden chair and sticking electrodes to the head and legs.

Originally designed as a humane alternative to hanging, the electric chair has been in decline since the 1970s following a series of botched executions in which those convicted had to be electrocuted multiple times. As of 2024, the only states that still offer the electric chair as an option for execution are Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas and Oklahoma.

The gas chamber

Since 1976, 11 executions by gas chamber have been conducted in the US using hydrogen cyanide gas, the last of which took place in Arizona in 1999.

Firing squad

Firing squad has been one of the most common methods of execution since firearms came into common use. Joseph Stalin sentenced more than one million Soviet citizens to death by a bullet to the back of the head during the Great Purge. Meanwhile in China, Chairman Mao claimed that 800,000 people were executed by firing squad during the Cultural Revolution. Following a shortage of lethal injection drugs in the US, a string of American states have adopted the firing squad including South Carolina, Oklahoma, Mississippi and Idaho, though Utah remains the only state to have actually used the method in the past century.

Lethal injection

Lethal injection has been the most common method of execution in the US since the 1970s with sodium thiopental and Pentobarbital the most common choice of drug. Around 1,400 people have been given the lethal injection in the US in total, but in recent years international boycotts led by the UK and European governments, along with pharmaceutical companies, have led to states scrambling for other ways to execute prisoners.

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.
UPDATE: According to BVPD, Dorothy Lee Hurt has been located.

BRISTOL, Va. (WJHL)  The Bristol, Virginia Police Department (BVPD) is asking the public for help in locating a missing woman.

According to a release from the BVPD, Dorothy Lee Hurt was last seen by her family on Monday evening after being transported to the Bristol Regional Medical Center by ambulance from her home.

Jury convicts Castlewood man of abuse that led to childs leg amputation

She was discharged several hours after and has not been seen or heard from since, the police department said.

If anyone has any information on Ms. Hurts whereabouts, they are asked to contact the BVPD at 276-645-7400.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
HMS Diamond patrols the Red Sea. It has emerged no Royal Navy surface vessels can fire missiles at targets inland - CHRIS SELLARS/via REUTERS

Britains warships cannot attack Houthi targets on land because they lack the firepower, in a situation described by former defence chiefs as a scandal.

None of the Royal Navys destroyers or frigates have the ability to fire missiles at targets on land, leaving the US to carry out the majority of strikes on Houthi targets with support from RAF planes based 1,500 miles away.

A British defence source said HMS Diamond, the destroyer stationed in the Red Sea, had not joined retaliatory strikes on Houthi targets because it did not have the capability to fire to land targets. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said it had instead been directly involved in successfully destroying Houthi drones targeting shipping in the Red Sea.

This weekend, a British-linked container ship caught fire after becoming the latest vessel targeted by Houthi rebels.

One former rear admiral suggested that Britains inability to strike the Iran-backed Houthi movements bases from warships highlighted how the Navy would be unable to go toe to toe with Chinese and Russian warships.

Currently, the only weapons on destroyers that can fire at other ships or land are artillery guns at the front of each vessel. While US destroyers can fire Tomahawk guided missiles at land targets, the UKs only options for such strikes are deploying planes or submarines, five of which were reported to be unavailable at one point in the autumn.

A still from footage taken by an RAF Typhoon showing a strike against Houthi military targets - UK Ministry of Defense//UPI/Shutterstock

Tobias Ellwood, the former chairman of the Commons defence committee, warned that the situation was unsustainable and urged Grant Shapps, the Defence Secretary, to conduct an urgent review. We cant continue to do this with a surface fleet thats too small and cannot fire on land at range, Mr Ellwood said.

Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, now the head of the Armed Forces, was among navy chiefs warning of a need to speed up our acquisition processes for weapons including land attack missile systems five years ago, when he was First Sea Lord.

During the first few months of Boris Johnsons premiership, Sir Tony publicly advocated replacing Harpoon anti-ship missiles with a weapon that could be used to attack land targets.

However, the Harpoon was retired from the Navy last year and its temporary replacement, the Norwegian-made Naval Strike Missile, which can hit land targets, has only been installed on one vessel so far as part of a trial and has yet to be fired. Eventually, it will be rolled out to 11 frigates and destroyers before a new cruise missile system is expected to be introduced in 2028.

Grant Shapps is facing calls for an 'an urgent review' into the armament of Royal Navy ships - TOLGA AKMEN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

A former senior defence chief said that it was scandalous that Navy ships were not currently equipped with surface-to-surface missiles.

The ex-chief said: Its clearly a scandal and completely unsatisfactory. This is what happens when the Royal Navy is forced to make crucial decisions which can affect capability. The UK is now having to fly RAF jets thousands of miles to do the job of what a surface-to-surface missile can do.

The disclosures come after Carlos Del Toro, the US navy secretary, warned that given the near-term threats to the UK and US, investments in the Royal Navy were significantly important.

MPs said the absence of land attack missiles left UK warships akin to porcupines  well-defended vessels with insufficient offensive capabilities.

Rear Admiral Chris Parry, a former senior naval officer, said that the lack of a proper surface-to-surface missile had left the Navy exposed. He said: The Naval Strike Missile is a fudge. Its a sticking plaster to show we have some capability.

The real worry is that we are not going to be able to go toe to toe with our Chinese and Russian opposite numbers in encounter actions and we are going to see more and more of these issues. We, the UK, havent thought about the scenarios within which those weapons might be used.

You need to look at the effect you want to have and that effect should be that when a British frigate or destroyer turns up, the Chinese and the Russian say oh f, its the Brits. Thats what a deterrence is all about.

Instead they are going to say, its got a pop gun on the front, no surface-to-surface missiles and a helicopter which I can shoot down with a drone so why are we worried?

The point is you dont bring a knife to a gun fight, and at the moment we have the knives and they have the guns.

Mark Francois, the former armed forces minister, said: The lack of a land attack missile from the Royal Navys surface fleet was specifically highlighted in a defence committee report some two years ago. It is encouraging that this missile is now on order but also disappointing that it is still not yet in operational service.

Mr Francois added that it was embarrassing that one of the Navys three minesweeper vessels was taken out of action earlier this month when it collided with another British mine hunter in Bahrain. The most important naval capability that we provide for our American allies are the three mine countermeasures vessels based in Bahrain, he said.

Yesterday, Mr Shapps said: It is our duty to protect freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and we remain as committed to that cause as ever.

A MoD spokesman said: As with all coalition operations, commanders select the best equipment for the job. HMS Diamond is an air defence destroyer, which has been directly involved in successfully destroying Houthi drones targeting shipping in the Red Sea. Equally, the Royal Air Force has the capability to strike land targets with high precision, which is why Typhoon aircraft strikes have reduced the Houthis ability to conduct these attacks.

An MoD source added: We have already shown with our Typhoon capability that we are a leading force among our allies in defending the Red Sea. We are proud of our brave service men and women for all they are doing ... its nonsense to suggest anything except that we are playing a key role.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
An Ohio woman who faced criminal charges after miscarrying her nonviable foetus says she waited for two days for medical help as doctors dithered over whether her case would breach the states abortion laws.

When Brittany Watts, 34, sought medical help a third time after miscarrying her child at home, an emergency room nurse who had appeared supportive called police on her.

Ms Watts went to Mercy Health  St Joseph Warren Hospital in Youngstown twice in September last year after suffering bleeding, but told CBS News she was denied treatment while an ethics committee weighed whether doctors could legally abort the foetus.

She said she became frustrated with the lack of medical care after waiting 19 hours over two days, and suffered a miscarriage after returning to her home.

Ms Watts was then charged with abuse of a corpse after officers from the Warren Police Department found the remains of a foetus stuck in her toilet last September.

A judge ordered that the case should go before a grand jury, who declined to press charges against her earlier this month.

In a new interview, Ms Watts told CBS News that she had gone to see her doctor four days before her miscarriage after she began leaking fluid.

Brittany Watts is speaking out after facing criminal charges over a miscarriage (WKBN27/Screenshot)

She was informed that the foetus was nonviable and sent to Mercy Health.

Medical records reviewed by CBS News show that she was seen by a doctor who feared her life was at risk from an abruption and premature rupture of the membrane.

The doctor requested an inpatient consult to ethics over concerns that aborting the foetus could breach Ohios laws, which ban abortions after 22 weeks. Ms Watts was 21 weeks and six days pregnant, according to the records.

Ms Watts told CBS News that she was not informed that doctors had been waiting to hear back from the hospitals ethics committee due to concerns over state abortion laws.

She said she became frustrated after waiting for eight hours for further treatment and left the hospital.

She returned the next day where she was given IV treatment, and waited a further 11 hours to be induced, medical records show.

She said she grew tired of waiting, and checked herself out of the hospital while the ethics committee tried to resolve the remaining issues.

When she returned home, Ms Watts said she was in severe pain. Early on the morning of 22 September, she said that she felt something happening and went to the bathroom. She felt a splash and looked down to find the toilet full with blood and tissue.

Ms Watts tried to clean herself up with disinfectant wipes and in the shower, and scooped the material into a bucket and disposed of it outside, unsure if she was dreaming or awake.

She said that when she went for a scheduled hair appointment that day, the stylist noticed her discomfort and insisted that she seek medical attention.

Protesters attend a rally for the Right to Reproductive Freedom amendment in Ohio last year (Associated Press)

When she arrived at hospital, she was severely dehydrated after losing so much blood and placed on an IV drip.

Ms Watts said that a nurse comforted her, rubbed her back and told her everything was going to be OK. She said she was stunned when a police officer showed up a few minutes later.

Im wondering, Why is a police officer coming in here? I dont recall doing anything wrong, she told CBS News.

And little do I know the nurse comforting me and saying that everything was gonna be OK was the one who called police.

A 911 call obtained by CBS News showed that the nurse called dispatch to inform them she was treating a mother who had a delivery at home and came in without the baby.

She says the babys in her backyard in a bucket, and I need to have someone go find this baby or direct me on what I need to do, the nurse said on the call.

The nurse said she understood that the foetus had been disposed of in a bucket at Ms Watts home.

The dispatcher responded that she was going to be sick, and asked if the baby had survived.

She said she didnt wanna look. She said she didnt want the baby, and she didnt look, the nurse replied.

Ms Watts denied that she had told the nurse she didnt want the child in the CBS News interview.

I would have never said something like that. It just makes me so angry that somebody would put those type of words in my mouth to make me seem so callous. And so, so hateful, she said.

Police were sent to Ms Watts home to search for the foetus, and she was interviewed for an hour at the hospital.

An officer found some of the foetus after plunging his hand into the toilet, Ms Watts lawyer Traci Tim told the network.

On 5 October, Ms Watts said police turned up at her home, put her in handcuffs and took her to the station on a charge of felony abuse of a corpse.

She pleaded not guilty to the charge, which carries a maximum $2,500 fine and up to one year in prison.

On 11 January, a grand jury in Trumball County declined to indict Ms Watts.

She said she decided to speak out to educate women on their legal rights if they suffer a miscarriage, and wants to see laws changed.

I dont want any other woman to go through what I had to go through,she told CBS News.
BROCKTON  The power struggle for the Brockton School Committee vice-chair position continued Tuesday, as the committees eight members deadlocked 4-4 again for a fourth straight meeting, halting some business for the school district.

Each faction  the four members who support incumbent Vice Chair Kathy Ehlers and the other four who support nominee Tony Rodrigues  held strongly onto their vote for an eighth election at a roughly 10-minute special meeting on Jan 23.

The special meeting, where the only prominent agenda item was the vice chair election, was adjourned just nine minutes after it started, with two short rounds of voting taking place both 4-4 ties.

From left, Brockton School Committee Vice Chair Kathleen Ehlers and School Committee member Tony Rodrigues are both vying for the position of vice chair and the committee has deadlocked in three successive votes.

Recipe for stalemate: Why deadlocked Brockton school board has even number of members

Who voted for which candidate?

The following four School Committee members voted for Ehlers: Mayor Robert Sullivan  who automatically sits on the School Committee and serves as chair by virtue of being mayor  Timothy Sullivan, Judy Sullivan and Ehlers.

The following four School Committee members voted for Rodrigues: Joyce Asack, Ana Oliver, Claudio Gomes and Rodrigues himself.

From left, Brockton School Committee member Tony Rodrigues and Vice Chair Kathleen Ehlers

What about suggestion to have 2 vice chairs?

School district attorney Sarah Spatafore said at the Jan. 23 meeting that having two vice chairs is not an option. The city's laws state that one person must be elected to the position, according to Brockton's charter.

Brockton's Acting Superintendent James Cobbs and School Committee Vice-Chair Kathleen Ehlers discuss staff shortages in the school district at a meeting on Nov. 14, 2023 at Arnone Elementary School.

Broken drink machine, smoking cannabis Groups of Brockton students can stress restaurants

Who is Kathy Ehlers?

Ward 1 committee member Kathy Ehlers served as vice chair throughout 2023  a pivotal year for the school district as it was faced with the discovery of a nearly $20 million deficit, dropping enrollment and safety and discipline concerns and general chaos.

In her career, Ehlers works as the vice president of enrollment management, financial services and marketing at Urban College of Boston and has a master's in education from Southern New Hampshire University, according to her LinkedIn profile.

"We have been through a rough, rough year," said School Committee member Tim Sullivan. "I think Kathy Ehlers has held us together quite well over this past year and looks forward to doing it again in 2024."

In her third year on the board, Ehlers was reelected to her seat on the School Committee, running unopposed, in November. She joined the committee after running unopposed in 2021.

In January 2023, Ehlers was elected as committee vice chair after two tied 4-4 votes at last years organizational meeting. Former member Jared Homer, in the third round of voting last year, switched his vote from then-incumbent Joyce Asack to Ehlers.

Kathy is there for all the members and that's what is really needed, Judy Sullivan said at the Jan. 3 meeting. I thank you Kathy for everything that you've done as you've done a lot, and I thank you. And I really stand by you for everything that you've done.

Jaime Hodges and Tony Rodrigues during the Brockton Area Branch NAACP's 38th annual Marin Luther King Jr. Breakfast at the Envision Hotel in Mansfield on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024.

Brockton High principal: Kevin McCaskill named new BHS principal as district faces turmoil

Who is Tony Rodrigues?

Rodrigues, who works as a corrections officer in Brockton, joined the committee in 2019. He attended Massasoit Community College and is a Brockton Public Schools parent.

Several community members said they see Rodrigues at many BPS events throughout the year, most recently Brockton Highs National Honors Society induction on Jan. 22.

What Tony has done for us at South has been tremendous, said Jim Stapleton, a teacher at South Middle School, at the Jan. 3 meeting. He is, to me, the epitome, of a [School Committee member].

While some community members spoke at the meeting in support of Rodrigues, some expressed concerns over his becoming the vice chair. Cynthia Hodges, a Brockton resident and mother of former school committee candidate Jamie Hodges, said that he doesnt support me as an African American woman and that he cant agree with his fellow committee members.

But committee member Joyce Asack, who previously served as vice chair and said the role requires a lot of work, said she thinks the committee should switch up the chair.

We need transparency and we need leadership, she said at a Jan. 9 meeting. I nominated Mr. Rodrigues. I like Tony, I might not agree with everything he says, we do butt heads at times, but he knows our policies, he knows our procedures.

What does vice chair do?

The vice chairs responsibilities  a point of debate for the board  are succinctly described in the committees policy and the states charter: they primarily take over tasks delegated to them by the chair, who in Brockton's case, is always the mayor.

While their role is vague, the vice chair works closely with the mayor and the Brockton Public Schools superintendent and runs committee meetings in the chairs absence.

The vice chair carries the same voting power as all other members of the board.

Mayor Robert Sullivan, center, and the Brockton School Committee, along with newly appointed Acting Superintendent of Schools James Cobbs, second from left, held a press conference following an emergency School Committee meeting at the Brockton High School on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023.

Repeat of last years vice chair deadlock

The 2023 vice chair election witnessed two stalemates before Ehlers was elected  an unusual event for the committee despite an even number of voters. The election between Asack and Ehlers ended in a 4-4 tie twice a year ago.

The same bloc of members  Mayor Robert Sullivan, Ehlers, Judy Sullivan and Tim Sullivan  who voted for Ehlers last year have voted for her again this year.

Meanwhile, Asack and Rodrigues continue to vote against Ehlers, both voting for Asack in 2023 and Rodrigues in 2024. The two new members  Ana Oliver and Claudio Gomes  voted for Rodrigues, replacing former members Homer's and Cynthia Rivas Mendes' votes for Asack the previous year.

Should vice chair be a new person each year?

"I've been on for nine years and, you know, I think it should be a different person every year," Judy Sullivan said at the 2023 vice chair election meeting on Jan. 3, 2023  despite the fact she now supports the incumbent this time around.

The mayor agreed at that 2023 meeting that the school committee should consider switching out the vice chair every year, similar to how the Brockton City Council does at its yearly organizational meeting.

Last year at this time, what I said was I believe as a former city councilor it's good to change every year, the mayor said at the Jan. 3, 2024, meeting. In a normal year it's good. This isn't a normal year, ladies and gentlemen. We have a multi-million-dollar deficit we have to deal with.

This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Who are Brockton school board members locked in battle for vice chair?
A bus with 59 Ukrainians overturned near the Uhryniv-Dolhobyczow border crossing on the Polish side on the morning of 27 January.

Source: RMF FM, a Polish radio station; European Pravda

Details: The bus rolled over at around 04:00 near the village of Goebie, Lublin Voivodeship, while making a turn. It had 59 Ukrainian citizens and 2 drivers (nationality unknown  ed.) on board at the time of the accident.

The accident resulted in 18 people being taken to hospitals in nearby towns. "Early reports indicate that their lives are not in danger," said Krzysztof Tomasiak, the duty officer at the Voivodeship State Fire Service Headquarters in the city of Lublin.

The remaining passengers were given shelter in a school in Dolhobyczow until a replacement bus is arranged.

Emergency services are still working at the accident scene to establish the details, RMF FM reported.

Updated: Oleh Nikolenko, the spokesman for Ukraine's Foreign Ministry, reported that the accident involving a bus belonging to a Ukrainian company took place near the town of Hrubieszow in Poland's Lublin province.

"Early reports indicated that 20 Ukrainians suffered injuries of varying severity. They have been hospitalised and are receiving the necessary medical care. The rest of the passengers were sent to a temporary accommodation facility," he added.

Background: On 31 December, three Ukrainians were killed in a road accident in Poland on the border of the settlements of Gliwice and Zernica (Silesian Voivodeship).

Support UP or become our patron!
Cal Poly has been the site of multiple protests this week.

California State University system faculty picketed across the state in support of a strike, which ended after one day. Then eight pro-Palestine protesters were arrested in front of the universitys Recreation Center on Tuesday.

The campus has been the scene of debate and protest before.

During the Vietnam War, the campus was the site of many events related to the issue dividing the nation.

None of that eras protests were as turbulent as those at UC Berkeley or as deadly as the Ohio National Guard shooting of students at Kent State University in 1970. But the issue was more than an abstract concept.

The student newspaper, El Mustang or Mustang Daily as it was variously known during the era, carried job recruiting advertising for Boeing, Dow Chemical and the U.S. Army Reserve officer training program.

About 350 people attended a Cal Poly debate on the Vietnam War on Oct. 21, 1965, near the university snack bar.

Six Cal Poly students died in the war, making up a large percentage of the 29 veterans who died from this county.

And according to Cal Poly Archives, over 50 Vietnamese students enrolled at the university between 1950-71.

More recently, the retired CEO of defense contractor Raytheon and his wife have made significant contributions to Cal Poly, including a $100,000 donation to the Cal Poly Journalism Department to remodel the student run television studio in 2017.

In October 1965, Telegram-Tribune photographer Jim Vestal covered a Cal Poly debate about the Vietnam War, but the date on the negative sleeve was smudged and I couldnt find a story in the paper in that time frame.

This might even be the first time these photos have been published.

This debate was early in the escalation of the war by U.S. President Lyndon Johnson.

Fortunately, digitized versions of El Mustang had a story and carried a photo that was similar.

Both the Telegram-Tribune and El Mustang photographers took pictures of a homophobic banner being held by hecklers that read, Join the pansy ranks, and avoid the draft, because gay men were barred from military service.

The El Mustang story Oct. 22, 1965, by F.D. Jeans said in spite of the heckling by two students, the event had several speakers who covered a wide range of viewpoints.

The debate took place near the campus snack bar in front of 350 students and staff.

About 350 people attended a Cal Poly debate on the Vietnam War on Oct. 21, 1965. Hecklers held a banner that read, Join the pansy ranks, and avoid the draft.

Biological sciences junior Donna Cotner made an appeal to conscience declaring the U.S. is guilty of violating international accords, and this means that we are all guilty  you and I.

It was our man in Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City), Ngo Dinh Diem, who broke the Geneva Accords after the French pulled out in 1954, she said.

She described the suppression of Buddhists and other groups.

Two years earlier, the world had been shocked by photographs of a monk who had burned himself to death in protest of the South Vietnamese governments persecution.

Cotner called for withdrawal and asked, What can we lose?

Only some military contracts, and in turn, we will gain world-wide respect, she said.

Manuel Jarret, a mechanized-agriculture senior took the opposite view.

Yes, the Geneva Accords called for free elections, but how can you have free elections when over 50% of the country has been under communist domination for the past 11 years? he said.

While he spoke, the two hecklers holding the banner moved through the crowd.

About 350 people attended a Cal Poly debate on the Vietnam War on Oct. 21, 1965. A student holds a placard that has a bomber in the shape of a peace sign and the words Drop It.

In the years ahead, Johnson would send an increasing number of troops and weapons to Vietnam. More than 58,000 American service members died in the war. An estimated 2 million Vietnamese civilians died, and over 1 million in the various military groups.

Nearby countries suffered heavy casualties as well.

Presbyterian campus minister Bruce Tjaden seemed to bridge both sides of the issue and crowd at the Cal Poly protest.

Our position may not be infallible, true or moral, but we must be realistic, he said. We cannot just pull out. On the other hand, further escalation is not the answer either. The bomb is not the automatic answer to our problems.
The Caribbean nation of St Kitts and Nevis is set to demand slavery reparations from Greene King, the British brewer.

The islands were once the home of slaves owned by brewery founder Benjamin Greene, whose 21st-century successor acknowledged the companys links to slave labour in 2020.

Officials in St Kitts and Nevis are set to demand reparation from Greene King and talks with the brewery and pub chain company have been arranged.

News of the talks comes after The Telegraph revealed that Caribbean nations would pivot from frequently frustrated requests for payments from European governments, to demanding restitution directly from institutions once involved in the slave trade.

It was revealed that member states of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) were preparing to issue demands to the Royal family and the Church of England among others.

Each islands institutional connections will differ, and reparations experts on St Kitts and Nevis are now hoping to secure reparations from Greene King, the UKs largest pub brewer and a company with an annual revenue of around 2 billion.

Carla Astaphan, the head of the St Kitts and Nevis reparations committee, told The Telegraph: They have acknowledged that the genesis of the company shows a direct link to the enslavement of Africans and that owners received compensation after abolition.

Ms Astaphan said that reparations should be made, and that discussions are planned to look at some form of reparatory justice for St Kitt and Nevis.

There is understood to be disappointment that, following Greene Kings 2020 admission of historical wrongs in the wake of Black Lives Matter protests, it has made no commitment to the island where these wrongs took place.

Amid a trend of companies and institutions examining their connections to slavery, Greene King vowed to become a truly anti-racist organisation, with its leadership team to fully embrace anti-racism in philosophy and practice.

This followed research into founder Benjamin Greene, who began the company in 1799, and who owned 231 enslaved people in St Kitts, for which he was compensated the equivalent of around 500,000 in todays money following abolition in 1833.

Greene King pledged to create a culture of inclusion to leverage the Greene King brand and assets to promote racial inclusion,and to be a driver for change on race diversity locally.

The pub chain, which operates around 2,700 premises across the UK, also renamed The Black Boy Inn in Shinfield near Reading because of potential racist connotations. It was renamed The Shinfield Arms.

Repertory justice

Reparations officials in St Kitts and Nevis want to discuss how the company could contribute to the island nation, with investment in education one potential demand.

Jamaicas reparations lead and the chair of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Prof Verene Shepherd, has previously suggested that European governments owe Caribbean nations billions in reparations for centuries of slavery and subsequent colonial rule.

Caricom has a 10-point plan which sets out its demands for reparatory justice, but little progress has been made with the government, and last year the Telegraph revealed that institutions that profited from slavery in the past would face direct demands from the Caribbean Community.

Some families, such as those involved in the Heirs of Slavery group co-founded by former BBC journalist Laura Trevelyan, have volunteered to make reparations for their ancestors sale profiteering.

Nick Mackenzie, chief executive officer at Greene King, has reiterated the companys distaste for its own founder.

He said: It is inexcusable that one of our founders profited from slavery and argued against its abolition in the 1800s.

In 2020, we took decisive action, publishing an action plan for how we can play our part in Calling Time on Racism.

Since then we have been working hard to become a truly anti-racist organisation and have invested, and continue to invest, in supporting race diversity in our business, the pubs sector and our wider communities. But we know we still have more to do on this agenda.

Our focus will continue to be on listening to our teams priorities and acting to ensure racism and discrimination have no place within our company or broader society.

Following the Telegraphs report on Caricom plans to approach institutions, Lloyds of London, which insured many aspects of the the business of the slavery, pledged in November to invest 52 million in racial equality initiatives in recognition of its significant role in the transatlantic slave trade.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
The Placer County Sheriffs Office released the name of the man who was fatally shot by a California State Parks officer after, authorities said, he crashed a vehicle and wielded a knife Friday outside a hotel near Palisades Tahoe.

The man, Vinton Miller, was an employee of Palisades Tahoe, the popular and largest ski resort in the Lake Tahoe region. Miller, 29, was shot following an alleged carjacking incident about 10 a.m. in Tahoe City, according to a news release. A pursuit ensued, ending with the suspect crashing his vehicle near the Olympic Valley Inn and the Olympic Village Event Center.

The release said Miller exited the vehicle carrying a knife, which led to the officer firing. State Parks and CHP officers attempted to render medical aid, but Miller was pronounced dead.

Millers Linkedin, which is under the name Vinton Jay Miller, says he has experience working as a line cook at Palisades Tahoe.

Patrick Lacey, a spokesman with Palisades Tahoe, confirmed Saturday that Miller was an employee at Palisades Tahoe.

Our hearts go out to his family and friends during this challenging time, Lacey said in an email statement.

Gloria Sandoval, a deputy director of public affairs with the California Department of Parks and Recreation, told The Sacramento Bee on Friday that the officer who shot Miller was placed on administrative leave, per department policy.

This is all of the information that I can provide to you at this time, Sandoval wrote in an email.

The officers name has not been released.
Warning: This story contains allegations of sexual assault.

Caroline Manzo is suing Bravo  among other TV networks and studios  over alleged acts of sexual harassment and assault that took place during the filming of an unaired season of The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip.

The former "Real Housewives of New Jersey" star filed a complaint alleging that she was sexually harassed and assaulted by former "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Brandi Glanville while filming "RHUGT" in Marrakesh, Morocco, according to court documents filed Jan. 26 in New Yorks Superior Court obtained by NBC News.

Glanville's alleged harassment, the complaint stated, caused Manzo "extreme emotional distress and other loss of enjoyment of life and other damages."

Bravo declined to comment to TODAY.com when asked about the lawsuit. Manzo is also suing Bravos parent company, NBC Universal, as well as other studios involved with the show. TODAY.com has reached out to NBC Universal but has not received a response.

TODAY.com also reached out to Brandi Glanville but did not receive a response. (NBC Universal is the parent company of TODAY.com.)

Manzo's complaint argues that Bravo was aware that Glanville had an alleged history of sexual harassment on other "Real Housewives" seasons and that Bravo "allowed, condoned and even encouraged Ms. Glanvilles sexually aggressive and offensive conduct."

"Defendants profited from Ms. Glanville's sexually offensive and harassing conduct and, once again, chose ratings and profit over protecting their employees," the complaint stated.

Manzo states that on the night of Jan. 24, 2023, an "intoxicated" Glanville continually groped and kissed an unwilling Manzo at a bar during filming of "RHUGT."

Later that night, after Manzo and other castmates moved to a couch near the bar, Glanville "proceeded to mount Manzo on the couch holding Manzo down with her body, forcibly squeezed Manzo's cheeks together and thrust her tongue in Manzo's mouth, while humping her," the complaint states.

Glanville allegedly later followed Manzo into a bathroom, where she groped her and pressed her body against her, the complaint reads. Manzo called for help but no one came, despite, as the documents allege, producers listening to audio of the interaction. The complaint states that former Real Housewife of New York castmember Alex McCord unlocked the bathroom door so Manzo could leave.The documents state that Manzo emotionally explained to production heads later that night what had happened.

The next day, according to the complaint, Glanville allegedly sent a text to Manzo that read, "Im sorry I made you feel uncomfortable."

The complaint states that the "distraught" Manzo has a history of childhood sexual abuse, and that Glanville's alleged assault "made all of these dormant and horrific memories immediately resurface."

The complaint also alleges that Bravo producers "regularly ply the Real Housewives cast with alcohol," to cause them to become "severely intoxicated, and then direct, encourage and/or allow them to sexually harass other cast members because that is good for ratings."

The complaint calls Manzo "a victim of those harmful actions."

The complaint also included screenshots that appear to be Glanville's posts on X, in which she blamed the show's producers for her actions.

These producers need to be held accountable, wrote Glanville. Producers may not shove the alcohol down our throats, but they sure do encourage it even in Morocco during the day where its illegal to drink!

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
From the G-File on The Dispatch

Dear Reader (a warm welcome to both Muay Thai and mai tai enthusiasts),

Our own David Drucker had a fun, old-fashioned scoop yesterday. He got his hands on a draft resolution to declare Donald Trump the presumptive nominee of the Republican Party. The goalwhile mostly symbolic given Republican National Committee ruleswould have been to send a signal that, as far as the party is concerned, the primaries are over. A good-sized hullabaloo followed, and a few hours later Donald Trump issued a statement thanking the RNC for its attempt at groveling sycophancy but adding that he thinks he should do it the Old Fashioned way.

While I greatly appreciate the Republican National Committee (RNC) wanting to make me their PRESUMPTIVE NOMINEE, and while they have far more votes than necessary to do it, I feel, for the sake of PARTY UNITY, that they should NOT go forward with this plan, but that I should do it the Old Fashioned way, and finish the process off AT THE BALLOT BOX. Thank you to the RNC for the Respect and Devotion you have shown me! TRUMP2024

Now, I have so many mixed feelings about this. On one hand, I love having a good scoop for The Dispatch, no matter how insufferable it will make Drucker. On the other hand, Im appalled by the RNCs effort, but not for the reasons you might think. Well come back to that. On the other hand, Im kinda disappointed Trump caved to the popular backlash against this effort to rig the system. But, again, not for the reasons you might think. On another hand  oh forget it. Ive got more hands on this than a game of flinch between Vishnu and Shiva.

Let me just start over. Since 2015, perhaps the foremost argument for Trump has been of the but he fights! variety. By my rough estimate, 100 books, 10,000 op-eds, and a trillion tweets have been dedicated to the proposition that hes the fighter we need. Hes King David! Red Caesar! Cyrus! Hes a counterpuncher! He takes the gloves off. Hell go there! Hell say what others wont say! When the rules are defined as the stuff of a corrupt establishment, the refrain is hes not going to play by your rules. When the rules are defined by a paranoid conviction that the left and the deep state will do anything to hold onto power, the refrain switches to hell beat them at their own game! In short, the argument is that Trump is a juggernaut, an unstoppable force who will do anything until he wins.

Trump even managed to take the factand it is a fact, even according to him that he is an incessant whiner into a strength. I do whine because I want to win, and Im not happy about not winning, and I am a whiner, and I keep whining and whining until I win. And, amazingly, his biggest fansyou know the people who talk about the glories of manliness and strength and who think that Cry more, lib is a mic-drop response to any argument they dont likeprocessed this confession of deliberate crybabiness as something to celebrate.

But heres the thing: Its all B.S.

By their own standards, Trump is a staggering weakling and coward.

This doesnt mean hes not a bully. Indeed, the two go together. People may disagree on who is or isnt a bully, but I think everyone agrees that bullying comes from a place of weakness and insecurity. (This is one reason groups that feel oppressed often become the most vicious and brutal oppressors when given the opportunity.) This probably explains why Trump loves to associate with and praise strongmen and dictators. He wants some of that toughness to rub off by association. Like Chester, the little dog from Looney Tunes who hangs out with Spike, the big dog, he hopes people wont be able to tell the difference.

Bullies try to make others small so they can feel big. By that standard, I honestly think its impossible to persuasively dispute that Trump is the most transparent bully in modern American history. What it says about people who love his bullying and confuse it with masculinity is something worth pondering, but not today.

Anyway, back to Trump the fighter. When he was campaigning in 2016, he led chants of lock her up, but Hillary Clinton remains free. He vowed over and over again that he would build the wall, make Mexico pay for it, and that it would be easy with a Man of Strength like him at the helm. He failed. Hed repeal Obamacare, replace it with something better, and do it fast. Failed, failed, and failed. In 2020, he insisted that the election was stolenand still doesbut when the people he asked to fight for him failed to deliver, he sulked and skulked away, a consummate sore loser.

Now, you can argue, with some merit, that he failed at these, and so many other things, because others failed him. The system stopped him. But these are always the excuses of blowhards. I could have kicked his ass, but I had a doctors appointment and I didnt want his blood on my new sneakers. Whatever.

You could also argue, also with ample merit, that he failed because he wasnt smart enough or knowledgeable enough to pull off what he wanted. But this isnt an argument his biggest fans are willing to make for various reasons. One of those reasonson full display in the GOP House caucusis the deep-seated belief that angry, performative failure is preferable to sober, restrained success. Whining about complete failure plays better on TV than explaining the benefits of partial success.

But neither of these explanations get him off the hook.

National Reviews Michael Brendan Dougherty had a great piece the other day on two instances where Trump had the power to do exactly what his biggest fans wanted most from him, and Trump simply chickened-out. In When Donald Was Absent, Dougherty lays out how Trump caved during the pandemic and on urban riots. When it became apparentespecially to his peoplethat the shutdowns were counterproductive:

Trump let Dr. Anthony Fauci, Francis Collins, and other health officials set the terms of American life, in an election year.  Trump never found a way to put public health back in its box and appropriately limit the purview of a set of experts whose opinions were obviously myopically focused on the disease and ignored other priorities of American life that couldnt be put on ice for months at a time. And so Trump receded. Suddenly the Trump! Trump! Trump! of cable news gave way to Andrew Cuomo and his brother Chris; to health experts pillorying Governors Brian Kemp, Greg Abbott, and Ron DeSantis for trying to do precisely what Trump would not do  act like statesmen and reconcile the diverse interests of their people in the midst of a crisis.

And then again, during the Summer of George Floyd Trump tweeted a lot about Law and Order but did very little to restore it. Like the bully who threatens but never follows through, he opted to talk tough but do next to nothing. In June, Dougherty writes, he had law-enforcement officers use riot-control tactics not to end the riots in D.C. but to stage a photo op of himself holding a Bible outside of St. Johns Church. The guy who praised the toughness of the butchers of Beijing settled for a picture of him awkwardly holding a Bible like an inexperienced understudy for Vanna White flipping a vowel.

Again, you can say he was intimidated by the often hysterical response from the media and Democratsand youd be largely right. That is not an argument about his strength and courage, but rather his lack of both. Indeed, the anti-Trump media played a crucial role in all of this. Trump liked to pretend he was a strongman and so did his enemies, and that was good enough for him. He wanted the credit for seeming tough on TV, not the responsibility that comes with actually acting tough. Like all bullies, he cares more about the rep than the results. It was all there to be seen from the beginning. His character on The Apprentice relished firing people face-to-face. In real life, Trump fears interpersonal confrontation and has others wield the pink slips for him.

The RNC power cosplay.

This is the backdrop of my mixed response to the RNC brouhaha. In 2016, the argument for Trump was that he was the fighter we needed to take on the establishment. And anything that smacked of the establishment resisting Trumps hostile takeover of the party was seen as tautological proof that we needed Trump to destroy it. The resistance to Trump was the argument for Trump. And, if elected, he wouldnt pussyfoot with norms or rules: Hed get things done. (Never mind that once he was in power, the people who actually got things donethe McConnells, Ryans, et al.were the people who believed in norms and knew how to actually get things done.)

Now its 2024 and all the people who know what time it is are preparing to fill the government with acolytes of the Trump cult who will use power without remorse to get things done. These Heritage Foundation Sardaukar and Bannonite Leninists wont be intimidated by the deep state; they will replace it with a right-wing version of it. Like high school nerds working up their liquid courage and beer muscles, they talk giddily of willpower, regime change, Red Caesarism, and tearing down the system to build something better on rubble of their own making. Theyll fire bureaucrats by tens of thousands and erect a wall on Day 1 of Trumps dictatorship. Theyll grease the skids of their remorseless wielding of ultimate power with the tears of the libs and cucks who protest in vain.

The proposed RNC resolution seemed like the meekest of trial runs for this kind of thing. The thinking appears to have been something like this: We control the RNC, Trump will win anyway, so why should we even indulge this farce of a primary election? Were the establishment now, bitches, lets act like it. It was a harmless trial run for the historic enabling acts of 2025 theyre banking on.

And five hours later, in the face of entirely predictable ridicule, Trump says thanks, but Ill obey the norms.

I think it was the right decision, but thats hardly the point, now is it? Doing what people like me think is right is almost the definition of the wrong thing to do for this crowd.

But my conflicted feelings dont end there. I think the establishment of 2015-2016 should have used power to stop Trumpif it actually had the power to do so. But it didnt. I want a strong establishment, run by honorable and capable people, that takes its responsibilities seriously and has the power necessary for the task. Its because we didnt have such an establishment that Trump couldnt be stopped in 2016. The weakness of the parties, the strength of media-fueled virtual mobs, and the myth that the establishment was powerful in the first place made it possible for Trump to seize the nomination. The hype was that he was a battering ram; the reality was that he was pushing on open doors and pretending that they were great feats of strength.

Now Trump is the establishment. Forget all of the endorsements and fawning coverage from his helper-media. This RNC debacle alone demonstrated that he controls the GOP establishment as much as any incumbent president would. The RNC had the votes to do what it wantedand what it wanted was to use the levers of power at its disposal to vault Trump to even more power. It was go-time for Trump to assert his dominance of the party, launch his general election campaign, and then it sputtered-out on the launch pad. All because of some mild mockery and criticism about playing by the rules, mostly from liberals, and from Trump-resistant Republicans, that the party itself increasingly says it doesnt want or need anyway. It was like watching the entourage of a prize fighter stand there as their meal ticket cowered from a fight with the spit-bucket guy at the gym.

Or so it seemed. But now we learn today that Trump was in on the idea from the get-go. So once again, his willing troops are voluntold to get er done. Then he caves, and the subordinates are left holding the bag.

None of this is to say that just because Trump is a coward and a bully hed be harmless in power if elected again. Giving power to bullies with highly cultivated grievances is as dumb as giving an army to a coward happy to have others fight for him. But it does give you the sense that this crowd, as ever, is much better at talking hardball than it is at playing it.

Various & Sundry

Canine update: Generally, the beasts are all good. Though Zoe is occasionally low energy. We dont know why. There were several amusing developments this week. The other morning, Pippa, as is her wont, refused to get out of bed without first receiving her quota of belly rubs. Zoe was furious, but she subscribes to the view that the fish rots from the head down, and blamed me for not running a tighter ship. Also, neither is entirely pleased with the suddenly warm weather, though they appreciated that the meteorological shift turned their favorite spot into Brigadoon. What theyre really pissed at is the disappearance of the snow, which always brings out the best in them (though they had a good time this morning regardless). When I got back from Ohio on Wednesday, I surprised them with a reverse welcoming committee. I agree with critics that I dropped the ball when I didnt aroo or waggle at them. Finally, the most exciting news of the dayor the millennium if you ask themwas that the Fair Jessica gave them bonus ice cream. Already, Ive been ccd on dozens of complaints to Amnesty International, the International Criminal Court, and the ASPCA that Gracie was not included. It was an oversight. If it helps, she did get salmon last night. And she does get her treats first most mornings now, which doesnt keep her from yelling at me. Have a great weekend. Also, Pippa loves you.

ICYMI

I joined Kevin Williamson over at his podcast for CEI to talk about work

Telling sweet little lies in last Fridays G-File

Last weekends sinisterly self-indulgent Ruminant

Speaking legalese on The Remnant with Sarah Isgur

A Supreme Court case has revealed just how broken Congress is

The price of admission to the GOP

The Remnant with Brian Riedl on why you should eat your spinach

The Dispatch Podcast on Nikki Haleys post-New Hampshire plan

And now, the weird stuff

Sweet Missoura

Going crackers

Super size me

Afterlife

Weekend at Ritters

Horsing around

Breathless

Read more at The Dispatch

The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized 291 pounds of methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine and marijuana in just over a week at El Paso area ports of entry, authorities said.

Officers seized the drugs at various ports of entry throughout the West Texas and Southern New Mexico area between Sunday, Jan. 14 through Wednesday, Jan. 24, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials said.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized nine drug-filled bundles containing 23.36 pounds of cocaine Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, hidden in a propane tank in the trunk of a vehicle at the Marcelino Serna port of entry in Tornillo.

"CBP officers continue to perform their mission with vigilance and professionalism," CBP El Paso Director Field Operations Hector A. Mancha said in a statement. "They are able to maintain the flow of legitimate trade and travel while also executing their vital drug interdiction responsibilities."

Federal officials did not release the names of the suspects in the pending drug smuggling cases. They identified the suspects by age, sex and country of origin.

The amount of drug seizures at ports of entry "fluctuates, which is normal," CBP spokesperson Sandra Hawkins said.

The CBP El Paso Field Office seized more than 518 pounds of drugs at El Paso area ports of entry in January 2023, according to CBP statistics. In the 2024 fiscal year, which started in October, CBP El Paso seized more than 3,300 pounds of drugs.

Fentanyl, meth, cocaine seized at El Paso ports of entry

The first major drug bust was Jan. 14 at the Paso Del Norte International Bridge near Downtown El Paso.

A 36-year-old woman, who is a U.S. citizen, attempted to cross the bridge through the pedestrian lanes when she was selected by officers for a secondary inspection.

An inspection by a drug-sniffing dog and a pat-down search were conducted on the woman. Officers then found drug-filled bundles hidden in a body cavity, officials said. The bundle contained 189.8 grams of fentanyl and 65.7 grams of methamphetamine.

The next day, a 22-year-old woman, a U.S. citizen, crossed the pedestrian lanes Jan. 15 on the Paso Del Norte International Bridge when a drug-sniffing dog alerted officers to her, officials said.

A pat down and search revealed the woman was hiding a fentanyl-filled bundle in a body cavity. The amount of fentanyl totaled 119.1 grams.

Later that same day, officers selected a 45-year-old man, a U.S. citizen, for secondary inspection on the bridge's pedestrian lanes, officials said.

A drug-sniffing dog alerted the officers to drugs on the man, and a pat-down search was then conducted. The search revealed two fentanyl-filled bundles hidden in the man's body cavity, officials said. The bundles contained 143.6 grams of fentanyl.

On Jan. 16, officers at the Ysleta port of entry were alerted by a drug-sniffing dog to a vehicle driven by a 20-year-old man, who was a U.S. citizen, officials said. Officers found a mixed load of 18.56 pounds of powdered fentanyl and 63.8 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in the vehicle.

Two days later, officers at the Paso Del Norte border crossing inspected a vehicle driven by a 38-year-old woman, who is a Mexican citizen, and found 29.18 pounds of cocaine hidden in the car.

More: 'El 80' pleads guilty in US court, case gives view into Juarez drug cartel

Cocaine hidden in propane tank in Tornillo

In Tornillo, officers at the Marcelino Serna port of entry discovered anomalies Jan. 20 within a propane tank in the trunk of a vehicle, officials said. A search by a drug-sniffing dog and "non-intrusive inspection" resulted in officers finding nine cocaine-filled bundles containing 23.36 pounds of the drug, officials said. The driver was a 28-year-old man, who is a Mexican citizen.

Large amount of weed seized in El Paso

Later the same day back in El Paso, Ysleta port of entry officers found 86 marijuana-filled bundles hidden in the trunk area of a vehicle driven by a 32-year-old man, who is a U.S. citizen, officials said. The amount of marijuana totaled 100.95 pounds.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized 18.56 pounds of powdered fentanyl and 63.8 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in a vehicle Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024, at the Ysleta port of entry.

Meth hidden in gas tank in Columbus, New Mexico

On Jan. 23, officers at the Columbus port of entry in Columbus, New Mexico, found multiple methamphetamine-filled bundles hidden in a vehicle's gas tank. The vehicle was driven by a 19-year-old man, who is a Mexican citizen, officials said. The meth found totaled 55.55 pounds.

Pedestrian attempts to smuggle Fentanyl in El Paso

The final major drug bust happened Jan. 24 at the Paso Del Norte International Bridge. A 41-year-old woman, a U.S. citizen, attempted to cross the pedestrian lanes and was selected by officers for a secondary inspection.

A pat-down search was conducted, resulting in officers finding two multicolored fentanyl-filled bundles hidden in a body cavity, officials said. The bundles contained a total of 51.2 grams of fentanyl.

All of the suspected drug smugglers were detained and turned over to Homeland Security Investigations or local law enforcement for prosecution, officials said.

Aaron Martinez may be reached at amartinez1@elpasotimes.com or on Twitter @AMartinezEPT.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: CBP seizes hundreds of pounds of drugs at El Paso area ports of entry
(DENVER)  On Monday, Jan. 29, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) will hold a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) training program for Colorado law enforcement. Agencies from across the state, including the Colorado Springs Police Department, will participate.

Officers will take CDOTs advanced roadside impairment testing course in order to receive DRE certification. According to a press release from CDOT, one-third of fatal crashes in Colorado are linked to drivers impaired by drugs, alcohol or a combination of substances. CDOT wants to give law enforcement the necessary advanced skills to recognize impaired drivers.

The Colorado DRE program has been in existence since 1987, and exists to help law enforcement officers recognize drivers who are impaired by drugs other than alcohol, or combinations of drugs and alcohol. Drug use evolves and changes from year to year, and its important for officers to learn new trends.

According to data from 2022 on CDOTs website, 691 people died on Colorado roads in 2021, which was a 50% increase since 2011. Since 2019, the number of people killed in accidents involving an impaired driver has gone up 44%.

CDOT is responding to this trend by reaching out to the public, as well as law enforcement agencies, to increase awareness and training. As of 2022, Colorados law enforcement agencies had 150 trained Drug Recognition Experts, and more will be trained as CDOT continues to offer the DRE certiticate program. The training will being Jan. 29, 2024 and run through Feb. 8, 2024.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
Having analysed the collected data and statements from public Russian figures, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has emphasised that it has continued to believe that "any ceasefire would benefit Russia".

Source: ISW

Details: ISW noted that Russian demands for Ukrainian "neutrality" and a moratorium on NATO expansion have always been and remain one of the main justifications for Putin's invasion of Ukraine and any hypothetical concession to these demands would signify Putin's serious strategic and rhetorical retreat, which he is unlikely to be considering now.

Russian calls for Ukrainian "neutrality" entail demands for Ukraine to amend its Constitution to remove commitments to obtaining NATO membership and obligations not to join NATO or the European Union (EU).

Analysts, using the gathered data, emphasised that demands for such a "neutral status" have been the goal of Putin's decade-long efforts aimed at pressuring changes within NATO that would weaken the Alliance to the point that it would be unable to deter or defeat future Russian aggression in Eastern Europe.

Moreover, ISW indicated that Putin is unlikely to make concessions as he will not cease pursuing his goal of controlling Ukraine and weakening NATO unless decisively defeated.

The analysed sources indicated that Russian public figures might simulate interest in concessions regarding Ukraine's position in Western institutions, attempting to prompt the West into preemptive actions regarding Ukraine's territorial integrity.

Reports about Putin's openness to negotiations through informal channels do not mention Russia's readiness to relinquish any occupied Ukrainian territory.

Russian officials continue to show that Putin's maximalist goals do not exclude the Russian annexation of the occupied Ukrainian territories or additional territorial gains in Ukraine.

ISW added that Ukraine's accession to the EU and NATO is a prolonged process that will not be possible immediately after any ceasefire is achieved through negotiations. Russia may temporarily pretend to agree with these demands to strengthen control over the occupied territories quickly.

ISW pointed out that they continue to believe that any ceasefire will benefit Russia, giving it time to recover and regroup for future offensives with the same maximalist goals and further territorial conquests in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, experts added that "there is no reason to assess that Putin would not renege on any commitment to permit Ukraine to integrate into Western political, economic, and military institutions as long as the Russian military can pursue his objectives to prevent Ukraine from doing so".

ISW also pointed out that Putin has violated Russias previous commitments not to infringe upon Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, including Crimea, made in 1991 and 1994.

To quote the ISWs Key Takeaways for 26 January:

The Kremlin and US officials rejected rumours about Russian President Vladimir Putins willingness to engage in meaningful negotiations amid continued indications from the Kremlin that Russia seeks nothing less than full Ukrainian and Western capitulation.

Russian demands for Ukrainian "neutrality" and a moratorium on NATO expansion have always been and continue to be one of Putins central justifications for his invasion of Ukraine, and any hypothetical concession on these demands would represent a major strategic and rhetorical retreat on Putins behalf that Putin is extremely unlikely to be considering at this time.

Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated boilerplate Kremlin narratives that blame Ukraine for the war while also highlighting Russian forces in the Soledar direction.

The circumstances of the 24 January crash of a Russian Il-76 military transport aircraft in Belgorod Oblast remain unclear.

The European Union (EU) will provide Ukraine with an additional five billion euros to meet "urgent military needs" in the near future.

The Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) continues efforts to expand Russias influence and subsume previous Wagner Group operations in Africa.

Russia reportedly imported US$1.7 billion worth of advanced microchips and semiconductors in 2023, primarily from the West, skirting Western sanctions intended to deprive Russia of such technology.

Russian forces advanced near Avdiivka amid continued positional engagements throughout the theatre.

Elements of Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanins alleged personal private military company (PMC) may have deployed to Ukraine.

Russian opposition media reported on 26 January that Viktor Filonov, a Russian soldier in the 234th Airborne Regiment (76th VDV Division) serving in Ukraine, adopted a Ukrainian child from occupied Donetsk Oblast.

Support UP or become our patron!
MCPHERSON, Kan. (KSNW)  A man will face charges in McPherson County for the December crash that killed 30-year-old Ashley Austin.

Austin, a Canton-Galva teacher, died at a Wichita hospital following the Dec. 15 crash that happened on U.S. 56 at 24th Avenue between Canton and Galva. The driver of a Nissan SUV crossed the center line and struck Austins vehicle.

Man who killed QT security guard in downtown Wichita sentenced

The McPherson County Sheriffs Office says following an investigation, A 33-year-old man is facing the following charges:

Involuntary Manslaughter

Aggravated Battery

Driving Under the Influence

Aggravated Child Endangerment

No Liability Insurance

Reckless Driving

Failure to Maintain Lane

Canton Police took him into custody, and he was booked into the McPherson County Jail shortly before noon Friday. It is KSN News Policy not to identify suspects until they have been formally charged.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
China's military is improving its air-to-ground firepower and tactics.

But China appears not to have the tight air-ground coordination required for crucial missions.

Conducting airstrikes when friendly troops may only be a couple of hundred yards away is tricky.

China's air force is improving its ability to deliver close air support to the army, according to some U.S. experts, even as questions persist about whether China is capable yet of delivering the tight air-ground integration that has long been standard in US military operations.

This has deep implications for a Chinese readiness to invade Taiwan. Ground troops dropped by air or scrambling ashore lack heavy weapons such as tanks and artillery. This makes them heavily dependent on external fire support to suppress enemy defenses they'll face, including naval gunfire, missile and drone strikes, and attacks from jets and helicopters.

A key component will be close air support , or CAS, which the US Air Force defines as "air action by aircraft against hostile targets that are in close proximity to friendly forces." It's a difficult mission that can result in friendly troops being hit. The US military has long practiced CAS, including the Air Force's development of the A-10 Warthog, and Marine Corps aviation's emphasis on direct support of the ground troops.

Yet as evidenced by the Ukraine war, air-ground operations has long been a Russian weakness , and the same applies to China. However, as the People's Liberation Army, as the Chinese armed forces are known, has discarded its Soviet-era equipment and tactics, the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) has modernized its aircraft and doctrine. The PLAAF's ability to deliver "close air firepower support missions has improved over the past decades," according to a December 2023 brief by the US Army's Foreign Military Studies Office.

Previously, air support "consisted mainly of planned strikes with inadequate flexibility to address mobile or newly discovered targets on the battlefield," noted FMSO analyst Kevin McCauley. But air support became more responsive "as the ground forces became more motorized and mechanized, and PLAAF capabilities improved."

For example, China has enhanced its ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) systems, including the use of Beidou, China's counterpart to the GPS system. China's air-to-ground firepower has also become more lethal as early Cold War models, such as the Q-5 attack jet (based on the Soviet MiG-19), have been replaced by modern designs such as the J-10 and J-16 fighters and JH-7A strike jets equipped with precision-guided missiles and advanced radar and electro-optical sensors. "These upgrades represent a significant shift in speed, lift capacity, and survivability of aircraft likely to be assigned for CAFS [close air fire support] missions," McCauley wrote.

But the biggest limitation for Chinese close air support remains command and control. Conducting airstrikes when friendly troops may only be a couple of hundred yards from the target is a tricky process. During World War II, nations learned through trial and error that air support for front-line troops is only effective when armies and air forces work closely together. US Army soldiers in Normandy were so exasperated at being hit by friendly bombs that they nicknamed the US 9th Air Force "America's Luftwaffe."

The US and Britain eventually devised methods such as using forward air controllers to ensure that enemy forces are hit  and friendly forces are not. From Korea and Vietnam, to Afghanistan and Iraq, American ground troops grew to count on air support. US forces are trained to use air support to strike at encroaching threats or to attack enemy positions so ground forces can maneuver as enemy fire is suppressed.

While China is beginning to make strides here, the PLA's approach to close air support has key differences with America's. Their airpower is oriented towards targets deeper behind the front lines, like ammunition depots or staging points, which require less coordination with ground units because they're farther from friendly forces. Chinese CAS also "appears to have a simpler and streamlined command and coordination system compared to U.S. close air support," wrote McCauley. While it is "not as closely integrated with ground maneuver as U.S. CAS, it does directly support tactical ground combat."

Joint terminal attack controllers relay air support missions during a 2023 exercise that included a US Marine Corps Bell AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter. Cpl. Ethan R. Jones/USMC

McCauley sees China studying and learning from the US close air support system. "While it is unlikely the PLA will copy U.S. procedures and organizations completely, it will likely adopt features it believes will improve its aerial fire support capabilities," he concluded.

However, other U.S. experts are more skeptical. China's close air support capabilities "started from essentially nothing and have moved on to something they are trying to figure out how to do," Brendan Mulvaney, director of the US Air Force's China Aerospace Studies Institute, told Business Insider. "They are a long way from anything resembling what we would call CAS."

China's air force doesn't normally work closely with the ground troops. "We rarely, if ever, see this in exercises or training," said Mulvaney, a former US Marine Corps Cobra attack helicopter pilot with extensive experience in close air support. For example, China lacks the equivalent of US Joint Terminal Attack Controllers , specially trained ground troops in forward units who ensure that pilots know which targets to attack, guide smart bombs to those targets, and ensure that pilots know the location of friendly forces to avoid fratricide.

PLAAF operations"seem to be far closer to 'air support to ground operations' as opposed to "close air support," Mulvaney said; in other words, Chinese troops can't expect fighter jets to aid them with pinpoint strikes when they're in a jam. Yet Mulvaney does see China making efforts to improve CAS. "They know what they have to do, they have studied it, and no doubt have a plan to get there."

But in the meantime, close air support is not a Chinese strength. "Yes, they are getting better," Mulvaney said. "But that is a low bar."

Michael Peck is a defense writer whose work has appeared in Forbes, Defense News, Foreign Policy magazine, and other publications. He holds a master's in political science. Follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn .

Read the original article on Business Insider
Musician Chris Patterson is organizing a series of Songwriters in the Round events at the historic Camelot Theater in Nevada. The first event is at 7 p.m. Feb. 10 and will feature Patterson, Danny Grause and Jordan Messerole.

Mary Maurece Lydon was robbed by Bonnie and Clyde 90 years ago at the First National Bank in Stuart.

That day, April 16, 1934, inspired her grandson to write a song titled Gin Kisses, which will be one of the songs featured at Songwriters in the Round Feb. 10 at the historic Camelot Theater in Nevada.

My grandmother got robbed by Bonnie and Clyde when she was 17 years old, said Chris Patterson of Nevada, organizer of the songwriters event as well as one of the performers. Theres a lot of feeling behind that song.

A front-page Des Moines Register article about the robbery included a photo of his grandma and detailed account of the historic event.

It sparked something with me of trying to get that song out, he said.

The robbery is where the story starts, but the song evolved into more of a tale about his grandmothers life as Patterson continued to write.

More: Art on a postcard: Iowa State's annual postcard exchange shares worldwide talent

A photo of Mary Maurece Lydon was on the front page of the Des Moines Register on April 16, 1934, after she and several other people at a Stuart bank were robbed by Bonnie and Clyde.

Event inspired by experience at Nashville's Bluebird Cafe

Songwriters in the Round is similar to Patterson's performance at the famous Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, Tennessee, when he was part of the group Leaving, TX.

We had some notoriety and so I got invited to play there," he said. "The neat thing about that is their stage is in the middle of the room."

The strategic placement allowed the audience to surround the stage with the four performers facing each other.

Youre basically just sitting there focused on these three other performers and talking about the songs, asking each other questions, Patterson said. I'm hoping to create that kind of a banter amongst us at the Camelot. But then also try to include the audience if somebody has a question.

More: Bids for Ames' new indoor aquatic center are $3 million under budget. City plans to award contracts Feb. 20

The front page of the April 16, 1934, issue of the Des Moines Register and Tribune details the robbery of a Stuart bank by the Barrow Gang.

Danny Grause, Jordan Messerole also featured in songwriter event

Two other Iowa songwriters, Danny Grause and Jordan Messerole, will join Patterson on stage for Feb. 10's Songwriters in the Round performance.

Like Patterson, Grause is an alumnus of Nevada High School. Now a Boone resident, Grause recently won the Midwest Country Music Organization Song of the Year award. His songs have been featured in several TV and radio projects as well.

He sings like Lee Brice, plays guitar like John Mayer, and lays down a funky groove like Bruno Mars. It sounds so good you almost forget how good his lyrics are. Thats Danny Grause, Paul PT Thomas, radio host and Midwest CMA founder, said.

Messerole lives in Des Moines and is a multi-award-winning songwriter. An Americana musician, Messerole masterfully blends the sounds of his guitar with engaging lyrics, and often a harmonica, to tell gritty American tales that are bound to evoke emotion from all of his listeners, the Facebook event states.

Patterson has toured the United States, Ireland, and Scotland, sharing his tales of the road. He was the WAMA songwriter of the year and has released six albums fronting the bands Leaving, TX, and Great Caesars Goat, along with a 2023 solo album, Too Old To Die Young." Three of his albums have reached the top 10 in the Americana Music Charts, and he has performed at the SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas, and the Americana Music Festival.

Page 6 of the April 16, 1934, issue of the Des Moines Register and Tribune continues the story of the robbery of a Stuart bank by the Barrow Gang.

Grandmothers notebook helped tell the story

Patterson regrets not asking his grandma about Bonnie and Clyde's robbery when she was alive. Though, he stumbled upon one of her notebooks describing the event in detail.

When they finally let her out of the safe, she just collapsed, Patterson said. She knew the person who caught her as she fell to her knees.

Lydon lived about 7 miles south of Stuart at Arbor Hill. She was a cashier at a creamery and at the bank, making a $175 deposit the notorious duo entered. Clyde Barrow and another man from the Barrow Gang robbed the bank while Bonnie Parker waited in the getaway car.

They took everyones money and locked them in the safe. Fortunately, no one was harmed during the ordeal.

The song originally was going to be about how Bonnie and Clyde robbed this bank. The more I got into the song  because I never really know where a song is going to end up  it became more about my grandmas life, Patterson said.

Lydons family often held barn dances, and her father was an Irish fiddle player.

Gin Kisses gets its name from my grandfather, who liked his gin, Patterson said. And he smoked Camel cigarettes. So my grandma had a lifetime of gin kisses.

She also had a lot of faith, so the song talks about Jesus and her faith. She had five kids, buried three of them and her husband before she died when she was about 93.

More: A 60-year old Ogden man passed away from smoke inhalation in a rural house fire Jan. 20

How to get tickets to Songwriters in the Round

Advance tickets for Songwriters in the Round are available for $15 online at the Camelot Theater Foundations website, camelottheaterfoundation.org. Tickets will be $20 the day of the show, which starts at 7 p.m.

Patterson would like the showcase to become a part of the Camelot's regular rotation and hopes to seek out interested musicians.

Ronna Faaborg covers business and the arts for the Ames Tribune. Reach her at rlawless@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Danny Grause, Jordan Messerole, Chris Patterson take Nevada's Camelot stage
During a weeklong trip to Canada, Pope Francis visited a former residential school for Indigenous children in Maskwacis, Alberta, on July 25, 2022. The Ermineskin Residential School operated between 1895 and 1975 in Cree Country, the largest First Nations group in Canada.

As at many boarding schools set up to assimilate Indigenous children, students were punished for speaking their language and sometimes experienced abuse. According to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation at the University of Manitoba, 15 children died at this particular school over the years. Several of them succumbed to tuberculosis.

During his visit, the pope said he was deeply sorry for the ways in which, regrettably, many Christians supported the colonizing mentality of the powers that oppressed the Indigenous peoples.

Like many other Indigenous people of the U.S. and Canada  especially those, like me, whose family members attended the schools  I listened with interest as Pope Francis asked his audience for forgiveness for the evil committed by so many Christians. He apologized for the ways in which many members of the church and of religious communities cooperated in projects of forced assimilation while not acknowledging the role that the Catholic Church as an organization played in residential schools.

As a historian who has written about American Indian boarding schools in the United States, and as the granddaughter of school survivors, I have often been troubled by the misinformation in regional and the national media about this complex history.

Religion was a pillar of the forceful campaigns to assimilate Indigenous peoples on both sides of the border but played out differently in the U.S. and Canada. Christianitys central role is responsible for lingering resentment today, and many Indigenous people, me included, question whether the popes apology fell short in holding the church responsible.

Indigenous boys in their dormitory at a Canadian boarding school in 1950. Hulton Archive via Getty Images

Outsourcing assimilation

Canadas residential schools were different from those in the U.S. in two significant ways. First, the Canadian government farmed out First Nations education to the Catholic and Anglican churches and other Protestant denominations.

The U.S. federal government, on the other hand, operated its own Indian school system both on and off the reservations. Twenty-five were off-reservation boarding schools, the first of which was established in 1879: the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania, whose most famous student was the Olympic gold medalist Jim Thorpe. The boarding schools dominated Indian education in the U.S. for a half-century.

Significant political and educational reforms led to new Indian policies under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, backing away from the previous generations goal of assimilation. Many boarding schools closed during the 1930s as FDRs bureaucrats started to integrate American Indians into public schools. Ironically, that same decade saw the highest enrollment at boarding schools  largely at the request of American Indian families who used them as a form of poverty relief during the Great Depression so their families could survive.

In Canada, however, residential schools continued to be the dominant form of Indigenous education for another 50 years.

Civilizing students

U.S. government boarding schools and Canadas residential schools did share features in common. Family separation, enforcing the English language  or French, in some areas of Canada  manual labor training and the imposition of Christianity were core characteristics.

Though churches did not operate the U.S. schools, most Americans and lawmakers in Washington, D.C., were committed to the idea that Indian people needed to be uplifted from an uncivilized life through education and assimilation into American culture, and that included Christianity. Native spirituality came under assault at boarding schools, and students were given Christian names to replace their pagan and unpronounceable ones.

Girls from the Omaha tribe at Carlisle School in Pennsylvania in 1876. Corbis Historical via Getty Images

Christianity was also imposed on Indigenous people through the reservation system. I sometimes like to give the example of my own grandparents, Fred and Jeanette Auginash, who married before an Episcopal minister on the Red Lake Ojibwe Reservation in northern Minnesota in October 1928.

According to the Ojibwe community in which they resided, they were already married. As my mother had been told, her father asked my grandfather to marry his daughter, and he brought the family gifts of money, food, blankets, horses and other items. For an Ojibwe family, the ritual exchange of gifts is what made a marriage.

However, when my grandparents went to apply for a housing loan on the reservation, they needed a marriage certificate signed by the local Christian minister. In this way, Christianity and the federal government blended their authority in another form of settler colonialism.

Cultural survival

Not surprisingly, Indigenous children and youths were often resistant to the boarding school regimen of family separation and enforced assimilation and Christianity. Young people frequently expressed themselves through rebellions large and small, most often through running away from school. They stowed away on trains and headed home to visit their families.

Parents and other relatives, meanwhile, demonstrated their commitment to their children by writing letters, staying in touch despite the distance and school terms that could last four years without visits home. Parents of boarding school children also wrote to school administrators, insisting that their children visit the doctor and maintain their good health in an era when there was no cure for diseases like tuberculosis and trachoma, an eye infection that can cause blindness.

Pope Francis pauses in front of the site of the former Ermineskin Residential School, alongside the Maskwacis Chiefs, during his visit on July 25, 2022, in Maskwacis, Alberta. Cole Burston/Getty Images News via Getty Images

Perhaps it is not surprising that Francis visit to Alberta was met with mixed emotions on the part of Indigenous Canadians. He also blessed a Native church known for blending Christian and Native traditions that is being rebuilt in Edmonton after a fire. In Maskwacis, site of the Ermineskin school, one Cree man gave him a headdress.

The act of generosity was widely criticized and mocked on Native social media. Many Indigenous people felt Pope Francis did not deserve the honor, and that his apology did not acknowledge the Catholic Churchs role in family separation and the abuse of children in residential schools.

As many Indigenous people work to rebuild their language and spiritual traditions, Christian traditions no longer have the same influence over their lives and destinies.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Brenda J. Child, University of Minnesota

Read more:



Brenda J Child receives funding from The University of Minnesota, the Ford Foundation, the Guggenheim Foundation.
BAMBERG, SC. (WJBF)  Its now been almost 3 weeks since the EF-2 tornado hit the small town, but Bamberg is starting to move in the right direction.

But those who work there are still in shock. Brian Hefner is the VP of Member Services at Edisto Electric Cooperative.

A lot of us were here that day and saw the devastation, and the tornado going through. It actually went right beside our office, said Hefner.

Edisto Electric might have dodged a bullet as the majority of the damage was concentrated in the downtown area.

But according to SCEMD, they have accounted for 20-30 Bamberg businesses damaged by the storm, including 10 completely destroyed.

ALSO ON WJBF: The Salvation Armys Center of Hope looking to expand

Some of those destroyed include South Carolina Oak to Barrel, the historic Old City Hall, area restaurants, and several store fronts.

Officials invited several community members to pick up trash and debris around the city, in an effort to Keep Bamberg Beautiful.

Edisto Electric Co-Op, Saltcatcher Farms, the Bamberg Board of Public Works, and city council members were among those volunteering.

The student government from Denmark Technical College were also helping out, and group leaders say its an honor to give back to the community that has done so much for them.

It means a lot. It means truly immensely to help out a community, because they pour so much into us and help us as well. So its nice to be giving back to the ones who help you, said Jonta Parson.

A lot of our employees who work for us at Edisto Electric Cooperative live in the community. So to give back to the town of Bamberg  and to help this community out  its a sense of pride. Its a sense of being together and pulling through, said Hefner.

Other volunteers like Keith Patrick came from Orangeburg to pitch in. He says hes glad to be part of an effort to move Bamberg in the right direction.

We designed our organization to give back to communities, not just Orangeburg, but existing communities in the area around. So when we get invitations like this to come out  whether it be parades, or clean up crews, this and that  we jump to it, we come out and do what we can do, said Patrick.

Though the cleanup has begun, the city is not out of the woods yet.

Earlier this week, Bamberg County Council held a special meeting, voting unanimously to approve an Emergency Declaration.

City leaders say they are still waiting on everyone to file insurance claims, that way they can report any damages suffered.

The deadline to file those claims is February 8th.

A total cost of the damages will be collected from those claims, and that will determine if the city will qualify for federal funding.

In the meantime, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has come to the city over the last few days to make their own assessments on the damage.

The South Carolina Department of Transportation has cleared the lane on Main Highway, but will need to return to clear the remainder of the bricks from the destroyed buildings.

We will continue to follow this story, and bring you new developments as they come.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF.
City of Barstow officials recently announced that Public Safety Director Andrew Espinoza, Jr. has been named interim city manager.

Espinoza has served as chief of the Barstow Police Department for 2.5 of his 25 years with the agency.

I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the City of Barstow in this role and look forward to working with the Council and City team to help move Barstow into the future, said Espinoza, in a written statement.

Espinozas moves into the position after Willie Hopkins left Barstow to accept the position of Compton city manager, Barstow officials said.

City of Barstow officials recently announced that Public Safety Director Andrew Espinoza, Jr. has been named interim city manager.

Hopkins took over as Barstows city manager in Sept. 2021 via confidential recruitment by Andersen & Associates, and when 41 people applied for the job, the Daily Press reported.

At that time, Hopkins resume includes 11 years as a U.S. Army-commissioned officer, management gigs at multinational supply-chain companies, and local government roles in Florida, Georgia and Californias Bay Area.

Espinoza

The Barstow City Council unanimously agreed on Jan. 16 to appoint Espinoza to this acting position until a permanent candidate is identified through a national search, city leaders stated.

Assistant City Manager Kody Tompkins will continue serving in the role and Espinoza will continue at the helm of the Public Safety Division for the time being, city leaders said.

He will be instrumental in guiding the city in a positive light, and I look forward to working alongside him to achieve success for the city, said Tompkins, in a written statement.

As city manager, Espinoza will oversee the administrative direction and plans for the city, including directing, supervising and managing finance, budget, human resources, risk management, information technology, economic development, community services, public works and environmental services.

Espinoza has a Bachelors degree in criminal justice and holds a masters degree in public administration from California State University, Long Beach.

BNSF project

City leaders said Espinoza will be active with major city initiatives as BNSF Railway plans to invest more than $1.5 billion to construct a state-of-the-art master-planned rail facility in Barstow.

The Barstow International Gateway will be an approximately 4,500-acre new integrated rail facility on the west side of Barstow, consisting of a rail yard, intermodal facility and warehouses for transloading freight from international containers to domestic containers.

The facility will allow the direct transfer of containers from ships at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to trains for transport through the Alameda Corridor onto the BNSF mainline up to Barstow.

Once the containers reach the Barstow International Gateway, they will be processed at the facility using clean-energy powered cargo-handling equipment, and then staged and built into trains moving east via BNSFs network across the nation.

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

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: City of Barstow appoints police chief as interim city manager
LONDON, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The United Kingdom (UK) is "temporarily pausing any future funding" for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the British government said in a statement on Saturday.

It came after Israel accused some of the UN agency's employees of participating in the attack launched by Hamas on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

Britain's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said in the statement that the UK was "appalled" by the allegations, and the funding for the agency would be halted "whilst we review these concerning allegations."

Prior to the UK's action, countries including the United States, Canada, and Australia have also announced temporary suspension of their new fundings for the UNRWA.

Hussein Al-Sheikh, secretary-general of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, on Saturday urged countries that have announced the suspension of support for the UNRWA to reconsider their decisions to avoid political and humanitarian risks.

He said on the social media platform X that "especially at this time, amid the ongoing (Israel's) aggression against the Palestinian people, we are in desperate need of support from this international organization."

The UNRWA said on Friday that it had decided to "immediately terminate the contracts" of the staff members involved and "launch an investigation."

The UNRWA, established as a subsidiary organ of the UN General Assembly in 1949, serves to support the relief and human development of Palestinian refugees and is entrusted with the mission of providing humanitarian assistance and protection to registered Palestinian refugees in the agency's operational areas until a just and lasting solution to their plight is achieved. 
On Feb. 25, 2022, just a day after Russian soldiers stormed the border of Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky took a huge risk. Determined to disprove Russian disinformation that hed fled the country, the Ukrainian leader left the safety of his compound and recorded a cellphone video in the middle of Kyiv.

All of us are here protecting the independence of our country, he said in the message that went viral on Twitter. And it will continue to be this way.

One of his aides experienced a dreadful feeling of exposure to the Russian bombers in the sky, writes Simon Shuster in his new book, The Showman: Inside the Invasion That Shook the World and Made a Leader Out of Volodymyr Zelensky (William Morrow), out now. It was as though we were standing there naked, he told the author. But Zelensky was unflinching and defiant.

Everything about Zelenskys fearlessness was, at least on the surface, improbable. Before becoming a politician  he won the presidency in a 2019 landslide  Zelensky was a professional actor, standup comic, and producer for movies and TV.

Pres. Biden on a visit to Kyiv in February 2023 where he met with Pres. Zelensky and his wife Olena Zelenska. Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via Getty Images

And yet, over the course of that first year at war, something changed. In front of a worldwide audience, Zelensky transformed into a wartime president unique to our age of instant information, writes Shuster, who was afforded unprecedented access to Zelensky. But it was about something more than just rising to the occasion.

It was the showmanship he honed over more than 20 years as an actor on the stage and a producer in the movie business that made Zelensky so effective in fighting this war, writes Shuster.

This wasnt just a war about military battles. It required Ukraine not only to hold the worlds attention but to win the sympathy of people and their governments across the globe, writes Shuster.

Rarely has life imitated art quite as accurately as it did with Zelensky. In 2015, Zelensky starred in a satirical series called Servant of the People  it aired on Ukrainian TV and YouTube  in which he plays a schoolteacher who lives with his parents and is thrust into the limelight when a student shares a video of him ranting about corruption in politics.

Zelensky has become a regular on the global events circuit, including an appearance at Davos in January 2024. AP

They come to power and steal and steal and steal, and nobody gives a st, his character bellows. If I could get in there, Id show them! And thats exactly what happens. After a crowdsourced campaign, the schoolteacher is elected president of Ukraine, where he has to contend with unscrupulous oligarchs and other crooks.

The show would become his gateway into politics, writes Shuster. It invited the public to confuse Zelensky with the character he played, an eminently humble, likable, and good-hearted leader.

When he decided to run for office  nominated by a political party named after the sitcom  his success relied, much like it had on TV, on his ability to seem relatable, normal, like one of the guys, writes Shuster.

Even after winning the presidency with 73% of the vote, he didnt believe he needed to change his persona. I dont want to become politically correct, Zelensky told Shuster. Thats not my thing. His life as a showman, Shuster writes, had taught him what he needed to play the role of president.

A scene from Servant of the People, back when Zelensky was an actor playing a president  and not an actual president. AFP via Getty Images

Part of that was just the projection of confidence, even when Zelensky was learning about how to be a war leader in real-time. After the Russian invasion, conventional wisdom had it that Zelensky would leave the country. Not only did Zelensky stay, he presented the brave face of a lifetime politician who was no stranger to international conflict despite being relatively new to the job. His first wartime remark, made to Oleksiy Danilov, his National Security and Defense Council secretary, was (roughly translated from Russian), Lets kick some ass.

His confidence was a mix of showmanship and sweet naivete. During a phone call to his mother  who lived in southeastern Ukraine, right in the path of the Russian invaders  he assured her that everything would be fine. Youre the presidents mom, Zelensky said, according to an aide who witnessed it. Nothing can happen to you.

Zelensky inspecting the carnage in Kiev in April 2022 during the early days of the Russian invasion. AFP via Getty Images

His bravery often put him in greater danger than seemed necessary for his cause, the author recounts. Sometimes, while following him around, I wished he felt more of the fear.

But his real weapon, the one that Putins blustering threats couldnt compete with, was his ability to perform for the camera. Hes an actor, and he understands that he has a role to play, and he will play the role, journalist and Ukraine expert Anne Applebaum said on NPR.

His role wasnt to mastermind a battle plan but to change the way the outside world perceived the war. You have to be winning, because people love winners, Ukraines Foreign Minister Kuleba explained to Shuster. You need a clear character associated with the story to be visible to them all the time, and thats President Zelensky in our case. And you need a good story to tell. Its bad guys attacking good guys, and good guys winning. Thats what people love.

For much of 2022, Zelensky averaged roughly one speech per day, from the World Bank to the European Parliament to the Venice Film Festival. And he always found a way to connect Ukraines conflict with the unique history of his audience. When he spoke to the U.S. Congress in March 2022, he referenced Pearl Harbor and 9/11, writes Shuster. The German parliament heard him invoke the history of the Holocaust and the Berlin Wall. His German speech was so powerful, that even his translator had to pause and choke back tears.

He wasnt invited to the Academy Awards in 2022  despite Sean Penns best efforts  but he was welcomed at the Grammy Awards that April. Nonetheless, his public relations efforts paid off. A steady supply of weapons began arriving from the West. Foreign envoys  including President Biden in February 2023  felt safe enough to visit Zelensky in his capital, if only because the trips played well for their constituents back home, writes Shuster. It turned into a political rite of passage for his European allies to stand beside him for a photo.

Pres. Zelensky and his wide Olena Zelenska during a visit to Lithuania in July 2023. AFP via Getty Images

In December of 2022, the now 44-year-old leader flew to Washington for a speech before Congress, and explained how Ukraine had already defeated Russia in the battle of minds. The Russian tyranny has lost control over us, and it will never influence our minds again.

In a line that couldve come from one of his comedy performances, Zelensky referenced the $40 billion in aid from the US earlier that year. Is it enough? Zelensky asked. Honestly, not really.

Shuster, who watched from the balcony, tallied 13 standing ovations before he gave up counting. A senator told him later that he could not remember a time in his three decades on Capitol Hill when a foreign leader received such an admiring reception, Shuster writes.

Another shot from Servant of the People, which propelled Zelenskys unlikely rise to the presidency. NurPhoto via Getty Images

While his skills as a showman have certainly come in handy, Shuster frames Zelensky primarily as a man who wants to make a difference.

During one of his early press conferences, a reporter asked Zelensky how he was holding up. My life today is beautiful, he said. I feel that Im needed. That, he added, was the main purpose in life. Not just to be a blank space that breathes, walks, and eats, Zelensky said. But to liveto feel that your life matters to others.
Unusual bacteria that is bad for swimmers, pets, and jet skis and is estimated to be on 10 acres of Lake Norman. Neighbors want it treated before it gets worse.

Lyngbya cyanobacteria, a blue-green algae, is popping up more and more in Lake Norman.

Accident by contractor causes wastewater spill into Lake Norman; no swim advisory lifted

I started seeing it in the water and said, What the heck is that? resident Bob Watson said.

Watson and Bob Menzel have since learned much more than they ever thought they would about the bacteria. Its bad for lakes and not great for humans either. State health officials said people and pets should avoid it.

They said dont swim in it, dont even get near it, dont ski through it, Watson said.

Watson says officials need to treat the algae by April for it to be effective before the weather warms up and people swarm to the lake.

If they wait too long, the bacteria will create a shield around itself and continue to spread.

Residents are pushing for state funding to address the problem and in the meantime, are trying to raise money to get a head start on getting rid of it.

We got to deal with it before it gets out of hand, he said.

There is a community meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday at The Peninsula Club in Cornelius to talk about ways to pay for the treatment before state lawmakers can officially approve money for it.
As several departments prepare to move over to a new courthouse, both the 58th District Court and 20th Circuit Court will move virtual case files to a new online management system.

GRAND HAVEN  An imprisoned Coopersville man who was granted a retrial on a criminal sexual conduct case instead opted to take a plea deal this month and was sentenced back to prison, the Grand Haven Tribune reports.

Stephen Chesla pleaded guilty on Jan. 8 in the Ottawa County 20th Circuit Court to assault with intent to commit criminal sexual conduct. Two charges  criminal sexual conduct in the first degree and criminal sexual conduct in the second degree  were dismissed.

More: Coopersville man accused of assaulting step-granddaughter granted new trial

Chesla was then sentenced on Jan. 11 to a minimum of 80 months, 6.6 years, and a maximum 120 months, 10 years, in prison, with 752 days credit. Upon release, Chesla will be required to register as a sex offender.

Chesla was previously convicted of criminal sexual conduct and sentenced to 25-40 years in prison in 2021 after his step-granddaughter accused him of touching her inappropriately.

In July 2023, the Michigan Court of Appeals granted Chesla a new trial on the grounds he did not have adequate legal representation. The appeal centered around an unredacted audio recording of an interview between Chesla and a detective.

Subscribe: Receive unlimited access to your local news coverage

Chesla argued his counsel should have redacted the interview and the Court of Appeals agreed the recording improperly bolstered the victims testimony, granting Chesla a new trial.

Chesla decided to take a plea deal instead of going back on trial, circuit court staff confirmed to the Tribune on Thursday. The trial had been scheduled to begin Jan. 30.

 Sentinel reporter Mitchell Boatman contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Coopersville man accused of assaulting step-granddaughter takes plea
Arizona licenses got a facelift in 2023. There have been many overhauls of driver's license styles over the years, according to an Arizona Department of Transportation blog.

Since the first license was issued in the early 1920s, Arizona's iconic scenery has been combined with high-tech security measures to ensure fraudsters can't easily make counterfeits.

Here's a look at how Arizona motorists have seen their IDs change over the years.

Humble origins, lost history and copper key tags

Arizona's original driver licenses would probably not catch the eye of someone in the 21st century.

In the 1920s, a small oval shaped copper key tagged etched with Operators License and State of Arizona acted as motorists license.

An original copper key tag issued by the Arizona Secretary of State acted as a driver license. Photo courtesy of the Arizona Department of Transportation.

The opposite side only read: If found return to Secretary of State James H. Kerby," as shown in an ADOT archival image.

This was "because most services that are now handled by the ADOT Motor Vehicle Division fell under the Arizona Secretary of State before the State Highway Department was established in 1927," ADOT spokesperson Alexis Potter wrote in the blog.

It wasn't until 1927 that Arizona required drivers to carry a license, ADOT said.

ADOT relied less on the honor system as the years went on, revamping safety by 1951 when a driver license test became mandated in Arizona.

ADOT's archives lack record and pictures from this era, with one exception. Believed to have been taken in 1970, the black and white image showed an unknown ADOT staff processing the new driver licenses and ID cards, the image graffitied with a "25" over the body of the employee.

Potter said that the MVD introduced a new driver license the same year that at the time was touted as indestructible, even though the licenses were still handwritten by ADOT employees.

A 2001 Arizona drivers license that features a background of the Grand Canyon. Photo courtesy of Arizona Department of Transportation.

From paper to plastic: New IDs bring new safety measures

Arizona first started issuing computer printer licenses in 1988, which incorporated for the first time a banner that read "Arizona" at the top of the card with a cactus instead of the "I," according to ADOT.

Along with issuing the IDs from a central location, new technology that emerged in the 1990s allowed ADOT to add holographic film overlay as a new anti-fraud measure.

IDs for the first time in the 1990s became available over the counter thanks to advancements in digital photography, according to Potter.

A 2014 Arizona drivers license which included an intricate background design. Photo courtesy of Arizona Department of Transportation.

Those who wanted to be an organ donor could at the time identify themselves with a green sticker they could apply to the ID.

A promotion for the new over the counter licenses featured a template with none other than the Phoenix Sun's own Gorilla mascot, who posed for regular driver licenses and an under 21 variations for minors.

The design of the IDs changed in 2003 to feature a background image of the Grand Canyon, with the design remaining the same until a much larger overhaul in 2014.

The new decade brought a background design featuring Rocky the Ring tail, a tactile date of birth, a secondary ghost portrait and an iridescent overlay all acting as anti-fraud measures, according to Potter.

ADOT also returned to a model where all IDs are made at the same location as a means to reduce fraud.

Potter explained that the newest edition of Arizona IDs released in 2023, "include a solid structure made of 100% polycarbonate material fused together and black-and-white driver photos that are laser engraved, both of which are extremely difficult to alter."

Arizona was first in US to add digital wallet IDs

In 2022, Arizona became the first state in the nation to add digital licenses as an option for digital wallet platform, Apple Wallets, followed by Google Wallet and Samsung Wallet in 2023.

"With the advancement of technology comes additional security options such as the new digital wallets that allow you to hold a digital version of the driver license or ID card in your smartphone, providing even more security and control for the personal information associated with those cards," said Bill Lamoreaux of ADOT communications.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: How Arizona driver's licenses have evolved over the years
The author as a baby with her adoptive parents shortly after she arrived at their home in Pittsburgh.

The author as a baby with her adoptive parents shortly after she arrived at their home in Pittsburgh.

Late at night, in my childhood room, questions haunted me: Where did I come from? Why was I adopted? Who was my original family? Though my parents informed me of my adoption at a young age, beyond that the subject of adoption was taboo in our home.

When I gathered the courage to pose those questions, I got vague answers: In a hospital. Because we wanted you. People who couldnt keep you. Because my parents treated the details of my adoption as secret, I desperately wanted to locate my birth family. It was an almost cellular urgency that surged when I became a mother myself.

In 1986, there was little information available to adoptees. Searching was something well-adjusted people didnt do or even talk about. But on a follow-up visit to my obstetrician after the birth of my twins, I found a waiting-room magazine featuring the title of an article on the front cover that read, Adoptees Find Birth Parents With Help of ALMA.

I dove into reading about an adopted woman who had found her birth family with help from the Adoptees Liberty Movement Association (ALMA). After my doctors appointment, I slipped the magazine into my purse and brought it home. ALMA would end up shepherding me through a frustrating, emotional decade of searching for my birth family until, at last, I found them.

The author with her twins, Amanda and Kate, around the time she discovered the ALMA article and decided to search for her birth family.

The author with her twins, Amanda and Kate, around the time she discovered the ALMA article and decided to search for her birth family.

On Oct. 1, 2023, ALMAs founder, Florence Fisher, died at the age of 95. An adoptee herself, Fisher and her organization were a major force in assisting many adoptees like myself to find our origins and in pressuring states to open sealed adoption records.

Fisher was a savior and a hero to countless adoptees, a woman who would do almost anything to uncover information, including once dressing as a nun to sneak into a Roman Catholic adoption agency.

I, too, disguised my identity and even broke the law in order to unearth my own history. After finding an index card with my infant footprints and original birth name in my adoptive parents basement, I used that information to sign my original name, and later my birth mothers name, on letters. I committed these forgeries in vain as I tried to obtain my original birth certificate and medical history.

Over a 10-year period, I cold-called people from phone books in three states who had the same last name. I identified myself as Christine, from a random company I wont disclose here. I did this because I needed a way to find out who was on the other end without tipping them off to why, because my search was a breach of contract to birth parents promised anonymity. Also, had I reached a relative, not my birth parents, Id be outing their possible secret, or the person on the other end could panic and lie. What I did is called fraudulent misrepresentation, and, like the forgery, its a federal offense punishable with hefty fines and prison time.

If youre not an adoptee, you may wonder why such risky, clandestine actions are necessary. Like most adoptions in the United States, mine was closed  neither birth nor adoptive side is permitted to know the identity of the other. This is particularly true of the roughly 4 million domestic adoptions that took place during the Baby Scoop Era, from the end of World War II until the 1970s.

Occasionally, non-identifying information might be added to an adoptees file, such as mother is Catholic or father is an engineer. Once a court finalized an adoption, the adoptees original birth certificate was either destroyed or sealed by court order, and a second, amended birth certificate was issued with the adoptive parents names. On the new birth certificate, some states changed the city and county of the childs birth to where the adoptive parents lived at the time so that no one but the parents could know the child was adopted. The hospital name might be omitted, especially if it primarily served unwed mothers. This was supposed to protect privacy on all sides.

The author's original (pre-adoption) birth certificate, which notes it is

The author's original (pre-adoption) birth certificate, which notes it is "not a certified copy of a birth record."

The piece of paper I thought of as my birth certificate, with my adoptive name, issued by Suffolk County, Massachusetts, says I was born in Boston, which is true. (My adoptive parents lived in Pittsburgh.) The certificate also lists my adoptive parents names as if they were there in Boston at my beginning, which is not true. As an adoptee, Id always thought of my birth certificate almost like a document of ownership. I belong to my adoptive parents. At some point, I began to see it as what it is: a falsified legal document.

The vast majority of the now 5 million adoptees in the United States have no right, even as adults, to our original birth certificates, our medical histories or to any information regarding our identities. Only 14 states permit adult adoptees to petition for unrestricted access to original birth certificates.

Im fortunate to have been born in Massachusetts, where the law changed as of Aug. 5, 2022, to allow an adult adoptee to petition for and receive an original birth certificate. Both of my birth parents are deceased. Now in my mid-60s and without any medical history, Im aware of the myriad ways my mystery genetics could catch up with me. Id like to know my birth parents causes of death for myself and for my three children. And Massachusetts has deigned to supply my original birth certificate with my birth parents names. Should be pretty easy, right?

I called the counties where my parents died, seeking a long-form death certificate, the type that lists cause of death. In each case, the clerk told me I must provide proof that Im next of kin to obtain such personal medical information. No problem, I thought, since I have my original birth certificate. Except that original certificate cites my name as Judith Ann Stashinski, whereas my drivers license and all other ID says Im Jillian Barnet.

Because closed adoption means severing any link between who an adoptee was before adoption with who she became after adoption, I can produce no paper trail to prove Im my birth parents daughter. Even if my birth mother were still alive and I walked into the county office building with her to verify my identity, Id be turned away, just as I was by two counties, one nursing home and two funeral directors.

The author's original birth certificate provided some answers but little knowledge.

The author's original birth certificate provided some answers but little knowledge.

The original birth certificate mailed to me by Suffolk County, Massachusetts, states, This is a non-certified copy of a record of birth prior to adoption. At the bottom are these words: The contents of this birth record are being released under section 2B of chapter 46 of the Massachusetts General Laws or under a court order. This record was amended by adoption. This is not a certified copy of a birth record. In other words, this birth certificate isnt real in any legal sense and cant be used for legal purposes.

Florence Fisher and ALMA helped bring to light the injustice of these kinds of situations and to disseminate the clear scientific evidence that demonstrates closed adoptions and the alteration of birth records cause psychological damage to adopted children, in particular difficulty forming emotional attachments and struggles with low self-esteem. I recall ALMA being first to educate me about what more recent statistics confirm: that as many as 94% of adoptees report they want to search for their birth families. In the United States, thats potentially 4.7 million individuals out there with longing in their hearts thwarted by a government-sanctioned system.

Just as I had questions as a child, I question now what it might have been like to have access to information about my birth family early on  why they surrendered me, my medical history, my ethnic heritage. Suppose Id been permitted to contact or even speak to them. Suppose my parents had spoken openly about my adoption. What if Id been allowed to be Judith Ann Stashinski and that authentic self had been valued and nurtured? Suppose all the secrecy were stripped away, and along with it the shame and fear  on all sides. Would I have been OK?

But what about the privacy of the birth parents?

Heres what I know for sure: When parents have a child they arent prepared to raise, they have every right to place that child for adoption, but they dont have the right not to be approached by that child as an adult. Even if the biological parents were promised confidentiality at the time of the adoption, thats not a promise the child was party to. Knowing who you are is the most basic of human rights.

The author, shown here in 2023, says the first step in changing the secrecy surrounding adoptions is to recognize that adoptees lack basic rights.

The author, shown here in 2023, says the first step in changing the secrecy surrounding adoptions is to recognize that adoptees lack basic rights.

So why are we still struggling with these issues caused by closed adoption? Why is Fishers life work left largely undone? According to the American Adoption Congress, adoption has become a multibillion-dollar industry profiting heavily from the separation of mothers and babies. AAC asserts that the secrecy behind most adoptions has less to do with privacy of the parties and more to do with limiting liability and preserving profits  and that secrecy is protected by a multimillion-dollar lobbying effort by adoption agencies.

With the death of Fisher, the Adoptees Liberty Movement Association is no longer accepting new members (though it continues to assist existing members in finding information). Though there are other organizations fighting for adoptee rights, we cannot allow Fishers dream, or the dreams of millions of adoptees, to die with her. Knowing that adoptees lack basic rights is the first step. Talking openly about adoption is crucial. Each state controls its own adoption laws. Suppose every adoptee  domestic, transnational, everyone  and those who love them petitioned their state representatives requesting open adoption records.

Florence Fisher would be so proud.

Jillian Barnet is a writer whose work explores family, the fallout of closed adoption and transplantation to a rural farming community. She lives in the Finger Lakes region of New York, where she is at work on a memoir. Information can be found at www.jillianbarnetwrites.com or on Instagram @jillianbarnetwrites.

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 at pitch@huffpost.com.

Related...
Several key donor countries to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees joined the U.S. and said on Saturday they would halt their funding following accusations by Israel that several UNRWA staff were involved in Hamas's Oct. 7 attack.

The U.S. State Department said on Friday they suspended payments to the organization. The U.S. underlined that "UNRWA plays a critical role in providing lifesaving assistance to Palestinians, including essential food, medicine, shelter, and other vital humanitarian support." The UNRWA is the United Nations humanitarian agency that serves Palestinians.

The organization said it had opened an investigation into allegations from Israel that some of its staff members participated in Hamas' Oct. 7 attack. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said 12 UNRWA employees had been accused of participating.

UNWRA head Philippe Lazzarini said in a statement on Saturday that nine countries have suspended funding to the agency which threatens "our ongoing humanitarian work across the region including and especially in the Gaza Strip." He added, "It would be immensely irresponsible to sanction an Agency and an entire community it serves because of allegations of criminal acts against some individuals, especially at a time of war, displacement and political crises in the region. "

Palestinians walk at the entrance of a UNWRA school used as shelter in Gaza City. Key donors have paused funds to the U.N. agency after a claim staff participated in Hamas attacks on Israel. / Credit: OMAR EL-QATTAA/AFP via Getty Images



Canada's International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen also announced on Friday that Ottawa had "temporarily paused any additional funding to UNRWA while it undertakes a thorough investigation into these allegations."

UNRWA responded by saying it had fired several staff over Israel's accusations, promising a thorough investigation into the claims, which were not specified, while Israel vowed to stop the agency's work in Gaza after the war. U.N's top spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was briefed on the situation by Lazzarini and was "horrified by this news and has asked Mr. Lazzarini to investigate this matter swiftly."

Here are what the countries that have suspended funding have said about the allegations:

Germany announced late Saturday they are suspending funding to UNRWA.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Saturday that while UNRWA provides "vital, life saving work", Brisbane would "temporarily pause disbursement of recent funding."

"We welcome UNRWA's immediate response, including terminating contracts and launching an investigation," she said on the social media platform X.

Finland, which had a four-year agreement to provide five million euros ($5.4 million) annually to UNRWA, suspended its payments and called for an "an independent and thorough investigation", in a statement from its foreign ministry.

"We must make sure that not a single euro of Finland's money goes to Hamas or other terrorists," it said.



Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said it was joining the ranks of those suspending funding, adding, "We are committed to providing humanitarian aid to the Palestinian population while protecting Israel's security."



Switzerland, which has made annual contributions of around 20 million Swiss francs ($23 million) to UNRWA, said Saturday no decision would be taken on the 2024 payment until the accusations were clarified.

"Switzerland has zero tolerance for all forms of support for terrorism, and for calls to hatred or incitement to violence," it added.

Dutch Minister for Trade and Development Geoffrey van Leeuwen announced a freeze in funding for UNRWA while the investigation is ongoing, saying the government was "extremely shocked."

"The accusation is that the attack was committed on Oct. 7 with UN money, with our money," he told public broadcaster NOS on Saturday.



The British government said it was "appalled by the allegations" made by Israel and would be "temporarily pausing any future funding" while the Foreign Office reviewed the claims. The head of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, has vowed to hold "accountable, including through criminal prosecution", any agency employee found to have been involved in "acts of terror."

Canada's International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen also announced on Friday that Ottawa had "temporarily paused any additional funding to UNRWA while it undertakes a thorough investigation into these allegations."

Guterres pledged to conduct an "urgent and comprehensive independent review of UNRWA," Dujarric said.

Haley Ott contributed to this report.

Brittany Watts on being arrested after miscarriage: "I never said...I didn't want my baby."

Mysterious deaths of three Kansas City Chiefs fans who froze to death outside friend's home

U.S. scientist stirs salty debate about British tea
CREVE COEUR, Mo  In a recent social media post, Creve Coeur police provided details about an incident involving one of their police vehicles and a drunk driver, fortunately resulting in no fatal injuries.

The incident occurred shortly after 12:30 a.m. on January 27, when police were responding to a drunk driving accident on Interstate 270 near Ladue Road. While officers were actively involved in assisting with the initial wreck, a patrol car was parked on the shoulder. This patrol car was struck and totaled by another vehicle.

The longest drive in the contiguous US runs through St. Louis. How far is it?

Authorities report that the car involved in the second collision was operated by an intoxicated driver. The patrol car was rear-ended during the incident, but thankfully, the police officer was not inside the vehicle at the time of impact, leading to no serious injuries.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
CAPTION CORRECTS LOCATION TO GULF OF ADEN In this photo provided by the Indian Navy on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024, a view of the oil tanker Marlin Luanda on fire after an attack, in the Gulf of Aden. The crew aboard a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker hit by a missile launched by Yemens Houthi rebels is battling a fire onboard the stricken vessel sparked by the strike. (Indian Navy via AP)

JERUSALEM (AP)  The crew aboard a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker hit by a missile launched by Yemen's Houthi rebels extinguished an hourslong fire onboard the stricken vessel Saturday sparked by the strike, authorities said.

The attack on the Marlin Luanda further complicated the Red Sea crisis caused by the Iranian-backed rebels' attacks over Israel's war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The tanker carried Russian-produced naphtha, a flammable oil, drawing Moscow further into a conflict that so far it had blamed on the U.S.

Early Saturday, U.S. forces conducted a strike against a Houthi anti-ship missile that was aimed at the Red Sea and prepared to launch, the U.S. militarys Central Command said. That attack came after the USS Carney, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, had to shoot down a Houthi missile targeting it.

The Marlin Luanda burned for hours in the Gulf of Aden until being extinguished Saturday, said Trafigura, a Singapore-based trading firm. Its crew of 25 Indian nationals and two Sri Lankans were still trying to battle the blaze sparked by the missile strike, it said. No one was injured by the blast, it added.

We are pleased to confirm that all crew on board the Marlin Luanda are safe and the fire in the cargo tank has been fully extinguished, Trafigura said. The vessel is now sailing towards a safe harbor.

The Indian navy said its guided missile destroyer INS Visakhapatnam was assisting the Marlin Luanda's crew in fighting the fire. It posted images showing the blaze still raging Saturday, likely fueled by the naphtha on board.

The ship, managed by a British firm, is carrying the Russian naphtha bound for Singapore, the company said. It described the flammable oil as being purchased below the price caps set by G7 sanctions placed on Russia over its ongoing war on Ukraine. It wasn't clear what environmental impact the attack had caused.

Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed the attack on the Marlin Luanda in a prerecorded statement late Friday, describing it as a British oil ship. He insisted such attacks would continue.

Since November, the rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea over Israels offensive in Gaza against Hamas. But they have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, imperiling shipping in a key route for global trade between Asia, the Mideast and Europe.

Since the airstrike campaign began, the rebels now say theyll target American and British ships as well. On Wednesday, two American-flagged ships carrying cargo for the U.S. Defense and State departments came under attack by the Houthis, forcing an escorting U.S. Navy warship to shoot some of the projectiles down.

China, which relies on the seaborne trade through the area, has called for calm. The U.S. had sought to get China to apply pressure on Iran, as Beijing remains a major buyer of Western-sanctioned Iranian oil.

But Russia so far has condemned the U.S. and the United Kingdom for carrying out its strikes targeting the Houthis, while also meeting with the rebel group in Moscow in recent days.

The U.S. Navys top Mideast commander told the AP on Monday that the Houthi attacks were the worst since the so-called Tanker War of the 1980s. It culminated in a one-day naval battle between Washington and Tehran and also saw the U.S. Navy accidentally shoot down an Iranian passenger jet, killing 290 people in 1988.

Meanwhile Saturday, authorities reported a separate incident in which a vessel in the Arabian Sea reported seeing people armed with assault rifles and a rocket-propelled grenade off their vessel.

The small craft approached within 300 meters (about 985 feet), the British military's United Kingdom Trade Operations agency said. The onboard security team fired warning shots and post an exchange of fire, the small craft then retreated.

It said all those onboard were safe. The private security firm Ambrey described the incident as involving a Somali-style small boat aided by a larger mothership. As the Houthi attacks have escalated, there's been an increase in suspected Somali pirate activity as well.

___

Associated Press writer Aijaz Hussain in Srinagar, India, contributed to this report.
KHOST, Afghanistan, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The first-ever commercial flight opened from the Khost International Airport to Al Ain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), on Friday, the local television Tolonews reported on Saturday.

Two flights are scheduled to take off from the airport every week. Residents and passengers were asking for more flights, Tolonews said.

Flydubai, a UAE-based airline, resumed flights from Dubai to Kabul last November following more than two years of suspension. 
Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell said he plans to consult with the local district attorneys office to determine whether to reopen an independent criminal investigation into longtime federal agent and Mississippi law enforcement officer Benjamin Ben Taylor.

Tindell made the decision Thursday in the aftermath of a Sun Herald report about Chancery Judge Jennifer Schloegel finding Taylor committed fraud by creating, procuring and submitting a fraudulent DNA test in a child support case to deny he fathered a girlfriends child.

If we need to open it back up, then we will, Tindell said. This might be the impetus to get it going again. We will consult with the district attorneys office and look at the status of the case and make a determination. There is nothing to hide here.

The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation handles independent investigations into criminal wrongdoing by police and other matters, including police shootings. MBI operates under the umbrella of the MDPS, which Tindell heads.

Former federal agent and current Hancock County sheriffs commander over narcotics, Benjamin Ben Taylor is pictured here with Branissa Stroud, and the child Stroud identifies as Taylors daughter.

Schloegel issued the ruling in January after a two-day trial in a child support lawsuit filed against Taylor by the Mississippi Department of Human Services. A co-petitioner in the lawsuit was Taylors longtime girlfriend, Branissa Stroud, the childs mother. The suit was filed in Hancock County Chancery Court.

In addition to finding that Taylor committed fraud during the child support litigation, Schloegel found that Taylor repeatedly and consistently lied under oath about various matters, including that he created the fake DNA test results that identified someone other than himself as the childs father.

A subsequent test confirmed Taylor as the childs father.

DAs office weighs in

The Sun Herald reached out to the district attorneys office for Harrison, Hancock and Stones counties Thursday to find out what, if anything, is being done in the aftermath of the Chancery Court ruling in January.

Assistant District Attorney Matthew Burrell said that the district attorneys office referred information in the case to Attorney General Lynn Fitchs office and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation for the independent criminal investigation in June 2022. That referral was made after the Sun Herald first reported about the allegations.

Thats up to them (MBI and the AG) on how they are proceeding with that, Burrell said.

Branissa Strouds lawyer, Michael Holleman, during a court hearing for Taylors case against DHS at Hancock County Chancery Court in Bay St. Louis on Monday, Sept. 12, 2022.

The district attorneys office did send out a report to Mississippi Coast police chiefs and sheriffs after Schloegels ruling to let them know about Taylors actions and what the judge found for a Brady disclosure to defense attorneys in state cases that Taylor was involved in as a law enforcement officer.

Taylor had already been included in a Brady disclosure on federal cases that he was involved in. A Brady disclosure requires prosecutors to disclose material evidence favorable to the defendant and that includes evidence that affects their credibility.

In Taylors case, that would include information about how a judge found that Taylor committed fraud and repeatedly lied under oath during a trial, so that defense attorneys can use that information to help their clients.

Strouds attorney, Michael Holleman, said Friday he would welcome a new, thorough, independent investigation, unlike the one conducted initially in the case.

When Mr. Taylor testified in the Chancery Court hearing that it was Ms. Stroud that gave him the fake DNA test, we were able to prove beyond a doubt, with corroborating evidence, that he (Taylor) was lying, Holleman said.

Had MBI confronted Ms. Stroud with the accusation, she could have proven the same to MBI, he added Friday. This was not a serious investigation in my opinion. It was not aimed at getting to the truth of the matter. If it had been, then MBI would have reviewed the same evidence and reached the same conclusion that Judge Schloegel did.

The lead MBI investigator for the first independent investigation by MBI, Shelby Smith, retired shortly after investigation began.

During Smiths investigation, Holleman said Smith told him the MBI investigation began after a tip from Mississippi Coast Crime Stoppers instead of the district attorneys office.

Branissa Stroud and Ben Taylor, a former federal agent and current Hancock County sheriffs commander of narcotics.

Another investigation, but no charges

Taylor was first investigated for wrongdoing when he was serving as longtime supervisory agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Gulfport.

The federal investigation, conducted by now-retired federal investigator Donald Smith in the inspector generals office for HSI, centered around allegations of fraud in the child paternity case and other maters, including allegations that Taylor went to work for another law enforcement agency while still employed by HSI.

During that probe, Smith told Strouds attorney that Taylor had failed a lie detector test administered by federal authorities over the alleged fraud and other matters. The investigator asked the U.S. Attorneys Office to pursue criminal charges against Taylor, but they declined.

Taylor was forced out of his job at HSI as a result of the investigation there and went to work as commander of narcotics at the Hancock County Sheriffs Department. He was forced out of that job after the initial Sun Herald report on the case. Taylor now runs Securitran, a business that transports cash and marijuana in the state.

During the federal investigation in 2021, the HSI investigator got in touch with Stroud and Holleman said to tell him about his investigation and to set up a time to interview Stroud about the allegations.

Stroud told Taylor the federal investigator had called to do an interview with her over the wrongdoing, the records say, but Taylor told her not to meet with him, that she didnt have to and there was nothing he could do about it.

In Schloegels January ruling, she addressed Taylors actions when it came to telling Stroud not to talk to a federal investigator investigating him for wrongdoing.

Telling Ms. Stroud not to speak with a Homeland Security investigator, who is investigating whether Taylor committed fraud, may have been attempted obstruction of justice, Schloegel said in her January ruling.

Since the report on Schloegels ruling, the Sun Herald has received calls from various law enforcement officers angry over the lack of criminal action against Taylor.

This is what gives law enforcement a bad name, one of the officers said.

Prior to reports about the wrongdoing, Taylor was highly regarded in the law enforcement community, even giving a eulogy at the funeral of a Hancock County sheriffs deputy killed in the line of duty.

Disgraced MS federal agent committed fraud with bogus child paternity test, judge rules

Judge shuts out media in ex-drug officers trial over fake DNA test in Coast paternity case

Ex-Coast Homeland Security agent accused of forging DNA test to deny he fathered a child

Hancock narcotics commander embroiled in fraud investigation over DNA test has been fired

Attorney wants ex-MS Coast federal agent to pay up in fake DNA test, child support case
CLOVIS, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  An in-person forum will be held in Clovis for AT&T customers to provide input into the companys proposals to remove its obligation to provide voice services in its service territories, according to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).

According to officials, the public forum will begin with a brief overview of AT&Ts proposals, then parties to the proceedings may provide brief overviews, and then public comments will be heard. At least one representative from AT&T will be available to answer questions about individual customer bills or services.

In Clovis, the in-person forum will be held at the Clovis City Council Chambers, located at 1033 5th St. on Feb. 6 between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.

According to CPUC, AT&Ts two proposals are the following:

Approval to be relieved of its Carrier of Last Resort (COLR) obligations in certain areas of California. If approved, AT&T would no longer be required to offer landline telephone service where it is currently required to offer Basic Service in those areas. Basic Service includes nine service elements such as Lifetime rates for eligible customers, free access to 911, Telephone Relay Service, and directory and operator services.

Approval to give up its designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (ETC), which is a telephone company that operates in a specific geographic area that receives financial assistance from the federal government-established Universal Service Fund to provide high-quality and affordable telephone service to customers in all income levels.

There will be a virtual hearing as well on March 19 from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. For more information regarding the impacts of COLR and the virtual hearing, click here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com.
Another pharmacy is soon set to leave Centre County.

CVS Pharmacy inside Target (201 W. Beaver Ave.)  in downtown State College  will close Feb. 20, as part of a company restructuring that will close dozens of CVS Pharmacies inside the national retailer. The closure comes two months after competing pharmacy chain Rite Aid closed three of their four Centre County locations after filing for bankruptcy.

CVS, the nations largest pharmacy chain, currently boasts five locations in the State College area, one in Bellefonte and one in Philipsburg. Two of those locations, both in the State College area, are found within a Target  although a company spokesperson told the CDT no other closures were planned in State College.

Well be closing select CVS Pharmacy in Target locations in early 2024, the spokesperson explained in an email. The pharmacy closures will begin in February and be completed by the end of April, and impacted employees will be offered comparable roles within the company.

The closures are part of our plan to realign our national retail footprint and reduce store and pharmacy density and are based on our evaluation of changes in population, consumer buying patterns and future health needs to ensure we have the right pharmacy format in the right locations for patients.

Prescriptions will be transferred a 3-minute walk away, to the nearby CVS Pharmacy at 116 W. College Ave., the spokesperson added.

CVS is seeking to cut costs after, CBS News reported, the company told investors in August that rising pharmacy and insurance expenses would dent profits over the next few years. A plan was enacted last year to cut 5,000 positions.

Rising expenses have been an issue for the countrys three largest pharmacy chains. Besides CVS, Rite Aid filed for bankruptcy last year and Walgreens announced in the fall it is looking to cut $1 billion in expenses.

Experts have pointed to a slew of reasons for chains struggles  such as online competitors like Amazon, waning COVID-19 vaccine/testing business, lower reimbursement rates for prescription drugs, staffing issues, financial risk from lawsuits over opioid prescriptions, etc.
Daily naps could slow your brain from shrinking with age: new study

A power nap can power your brain.

A study published in the journal Sleep Health found that sneaking in a quick nap during the day may correlate with a larger total brain volume.

As we age, our brains shrink in size and weight at about 5% per decade after turning 40  and possibly faster after celebrating 70, contributing to the changes in cognitive function that come with aging, according to the National Institutes of Health.

But the new study found that tucking in for a quick nap can help that.

To be exact, those who napped often were found to have a difference of 2.6 to 6.5 years of aging than those who power through the day without a nap.

Our findings suggest that, for some people, short daytime naps may be a part of the puzzle that could help preserve the health of the brain as we get older, Dr. Victoria Garfield, senior study author, said in a statement.

A study published in the journal Sleep Health found that sneaking in a quick nap during the day may correlate with a larger total brain volume. NY Post illustration

Those who napped often were found to have a difference of 2.6 to 6.5 years of aging than those who power through the day without a nap. Viktor Koldunov  stock.adobe.com

Researchers from University College London and the University of the Republic in Uruguay analyzed health and cognitive function outcomes between those who have a genetic predisposition to want to nap and those who do not.

The team used Mendelian randomization, which examines how certain behaviors, environments or other factors lead to specific health outcomes by looking at genetic differences that affect the way peoples bodies react to the behavior, environment or other factors, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

By looking at genes set at birth, Mendelian randomization avoids confounding factors occurring throughout life that may influence associations between napping and health outcomes, lead author Valentina Paz said in a statement.

She explained that the study was able to find a casual link to show that napping did directly lead to larger total brain volume.

However, the researchers did note that all participants were of white European ancestry, meaning the results may not remain true for other ethnicities.

Our findings suggest that, for some people, short daytime naps may be a part of the puzzle that could help preserve the health of the brain as we get older, Dr. Victoria Garfield, senior study author, said in a statement. stokkete  stock.adobe.com

But this study isnt the first to prove the benefits of napping.

Setting your alarm for about 20 to 30 minutes can enhance alertness, mood and memory and reduce stress while avoiding grogginess, according to the Sleep Foundation.

Experts have even claimed that napping can make you a better employee and a better parent.

The research comes as more and more people are taking their sleep seriously  Google searches for sleep reached an all-time high last year.
The 23-year-old daredevil driver who killed two of his passengers and critically injured a third as he did doughnuts at a Bronx street corner hit the brakes just one second before the fatal crash into a parked Kenworth fuel truck, prosecutors said Friday.

Enrique Lopez was showboating in front of a group of car enthusiasts, spinning in tight circles at 70 mph in his Chrysler 300 early Sunday morning when the car slid sideways and crashed into the truck, data police recovered from the mangled car revealed.

Lopez was charged with manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and several other offenses, including reckless endangerment. A Bronx Criminal Court judge ordered him held on $150,000 bail during a brief arraignment proceeding Friday.

The crash occurred near Bryant and Viele Aves. in Hunts Point, a spot where Fast and Furious fans go to show off their stunt driving skills.

Lopezs Chrysler 300  a massive U-Haul sticker wrapped around the cars body  had a stolen Dodge Charger motor under the hood and three passengers: 21-year-old Gilvante Gio Roberson, 15-year-old Sabrina Villagomez and 17-year-old Aaliyah Torres, seated inside, police and prosecutors said.

Following the crash, Lopez and his three passengers were rushed to area hospitals, but Roberson and Villagomez didnt survive.

Torres survived the crash but remained in St. Barnabas Hospital on Friday with a fractured spine, pelvis, brain bleed and liver damage, prosecutors said. She was put in a medically induced coma as she mended.

She is recovering slowly, her aunt said Monday.

Lopez wasnt seriously hurt and was taken to Harlem Hospital. He was criminally charged and arraigned after he was discharged from the hospital Thursday.

They were having a takeover car meet where they take over the block and lock the block up and do doughnuts and stuff, said an employee of the fuel company that owns the struck truck, who gave his name only as Chad, 28. The guy was going about 100 mph, it was very fast. Hit a bump. The car skid right into the truck.

Robersons mother on Monday said her deceased son loved car stunts and wouldnt want Lopez to be punished.

Giovante was a very loving, caring person, so at that moment, he probably wouldnt even find his friend at fault, even though he could have been at fault, said the mother, Sabrina Roberson, 44. I just know my son. He wouldnt have wanted none of this for none of the people involved.

I feel so bad for all the families involved because I didnt just lose my son, the mother added. Somebody else lost their daughter. The guy that was driving lost his freedom, possibly.

The crash was so horrific, she said she suspected the worst right away.

Shortly after the crash, she said she was on FaceTime with someone at the scene who showed her the mangled car.

She said they pulled him out, and he was unresponsive, the mother said through tears. When she showed me the car, I already knew he was gone.

Roberson spent the hours before the crash documenting the car meet and posting clips of the dangerous stunts on his Instagram page, which is flooded with drivers doing doughnuts and other tricks.

In one of the posts, cars take over a Queens street and burn rubber as a crowd of people cheer the drivers on from the side of the road.

The last post made to the Instagram account was right around the time of the crash.

Lopez, who lives in Far Rockaway, was arrested Jan. 16 for allegedly stealing a 2023 Acura in Middle Village.

He fled when police tried to pull him over, but officers caught up with him and arrested him, police said. In his possession were screwdrivers and a number of key fobs, which car thieves often hack to gain easy access to vehicles, police said.

Lopez was ordered released without bail at the arraignment, court records show.

On June 6, he was charged with criminal possession of stolen property after he was found driving a car with a back seat filled with stolen electric scooter parts.

The parts were recovered by the owner of the scooter, who tracked Lopez down with the help of an Apple air tag on the stolen vehicle.

When questioned, he told the owner of the stolen scooter that he had bought the parts from a friend in the Bronx, according to court papers.

Lopez pleaded guilty to the stolen property charge, but didnt receive any jail time, court records show.
DARLINGTON, S.C. (WBTW)  Darlington city leaders earlier this month sued four companies they blame for faulty work on a $2.7 million drainage system meant to last a generation but that ended up failing after just more than years.

The legal action against Hanna Engineering, Landsdown Earth and Pipe, Lathan Consulting Corporation and Developers Surety and Indemnity comes after months of failed talks between the sides to come up with a settlement, city manager John Payne told News13 on Friday.

The system, meant to manage runoff from homes between Short and Fleming streets, went online in the spring of 2019 with an expected lifespan of up to 50 years.

A 16-page filing made on Jan. 12 in Darlington County Common Pleas Court outlines a litany of failures that officials say has taxpayers on the hook for more than $2 million in outstanding bond payments.

City Council voted to authorize counsel to work with the parties of the construction project to reach a resolution so we can make necessary repairs, Payne said. Our legal counsel was unsuccessful and has since filed a lawsuit.

The city is alleging breach of contract, breach of performance, acting in bad faith, negligence and breach of implied warranties.

Minutes from an Oct. 11 city council meeting reflect the difficult choices Payne and others had to make as they learned of the shoddy infrastructure.

I had two options: (1) do nothing and make city customers pay for the future repairs or (2) engage a forensic engineer and legal counsel to determine which parties are liable for the failure and make them pay for repairs. I chose option 2, Payne wrote in a memo attached to the minutes.

Payne told residents in a November letter that officials retained a forensic engineer and lawyer to probe the Southwest Darlington Stormwater Drainage Project.

The customers in Darlington should not have to pay twice for it, Payne wrote in the Nov. 2 letter posted to the citys website.

According to the lawsuit, the alleged missteps included:

inadequate sizing of drainage pipes

omission of necessary soil tests and reports

failure to provide a comprehensive stormwater report

substandard installation of pipes

lack of appropriate measures to prevent contamination from sewer discharge

Steve Moore, a licensed engineer with more than 40 years of experience, worked with the city to evaluate the drainage system.

It is my opinion to a reasonable degree of professional certainty that Hanna was negligent in the provision of its design and engineering services for the city in several respects, he said in a Jan. 12 affidavit.

The city is looking to recover costs from all four firms to pay for repairs, attorneys fees, court costs and other expenses related to the project.

* * *

Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
COLOMBO, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's police on Saturday arrested a couple on suspicion of defrauding people of 5 billion rupees (15.7 million U.S. dollars) through a pyramid scheme, said the police.

Police spokesman Nihal Thalduwa told the media that the two were arrested in Pilimathalawa of the country's Central Province.

One of the suspects is a teacher while the other is an actress, the police spokesman said.

The police urged people who have been defrauded by the suspects to lodge complaints and assured that they would protect the anonymity of plaintiffs. 
Michelle Troconis sheds a tear as her first interview with Connecticut State Police is presented as evidence (AP)

Police detectives harshly confronted Michelle Troconis while questioning her about Jennifer Duloss disappearance, interrogation tapes shown in Ms Tronconis murder conspiracy trial show.

Ms Troconis is standing trial in Stamford, Connecticut, for allegedly helping Fotis Dulos conceal evidence in his estranged wifes murder.

Although a body has never been found, prosecutors believe Dulos attacked and killed Jennifer in her New Canaan home on 24 May 2019, and then drove with Ms Troconis around the city of Hartford to dispose of incriminating evidence. Fotis Dulos killed himself shortly after being charged in 2019.

Retired detective John Kimball took the stand on Friday and testified about the three times that Ms Troconis was questioned following Jennifers disappearance. In one of the tapes, Ms Troconis is heard telling police that she believed Jennifer was somewhere, I hope, hiding, and that she had once heard from Dulos that Jennifer supposedly once ran away from home as a teenager and supported herself with money from an inheritance.

Ms Troconis also said that Fotis Dulos had told her Jennifer suffered from borderline personality disorder.

But Det Kimball shut down Ms Troconiss suggestions, noting that Jennifer was a loving mother to her five children and would not disappear without telling her family. Prosecutors have revealed in court that blood-soaked clothing items have been recovered from trash receptacles that Dulos and Ms Troconis visited on the day Jennifer vanished.

Would you ever leave and go hide and not tell your 12-year-old daughter where you were? Det Kimball said. ... and you got this information from Fotis? This is the man who killed this woman.

A female detective in the room also confronted Ms Troconis for staying with Dulos.

Fotis, the love of your life. The man you sleep with every night, the female detective said as Ms Troconis broke down in tears. So imagine what he could do to you ... [after what he did] to a woman he was married to for a long time, who he had five children with, two sets of twins.

Fotis lies to everybody, and the reason he lies to everybody is because he only cares about one person in the world - and thats himself, Det Kimball continued. He didnt care about his first wife, didnt care about his second wife, and doesnt care about you.

Ms Troconis then said in tears: Ill do whatever you want, but I didnt do it.

On Tuesday, prosecutors showed jurors blood-soaked clothing recovered from garbage cans that Dulos and Ms Troconis stopped by while driving around Hartford. The evidence included a shirt, bra, zip ties, gloves, plastic ponchos and other things with what State Police Sgt Kevin Duggan testified was a blood-like substance on them.

Ms Troconiss attorney, Jon Schoenhorn, has told CT Insider that Ms Troconis was distracted by her phone as Dulos repeatedly stopped near the trash receptacles and exited the vehicle to discard evidence. Mr Schoenhorn also argued in court that it was impossible for Ms Troconis to see the contents of the plastic bags because they were black.

They were supposed to be going to Starbucks and youll see thats where they eventually ended up, Mr Schoenhorn said. Its not like its a long distance. So if youre riding in the car, looking at your phone, doing whatever, you would not necessarily know. Whatever Dulos was up to, whatever he was planning, well just have to wait and see.

Ms Troconis, 49, is charged with conspiracy to commit murder, tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution. She has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Christian Sewing, CEO of Deutsche Bank and President of the Association of German Banks (BdB), speaks at the opening conference of the "Euro Finance Week" at the Kongresshaus Kap Europa. Sewing has warned of the dangers of growing right-wing extremism in Germany - including for the country's economy. Arne Dedert/dpa

Deutsche Bank chief executive Christian Sewing has warned of the dangers of growing right-wing extremism in Germany - including for the country's economy.

"Hate and racism must have no place in our country," said Sewing, who is also President of the Association of German Banks (BdB), in an interview for the Sunday edition of Die Welt newspaper seen in advance by dpa.

From an economic perspective, there are also many reasons to take a stand against this, Sewing said.

"Foreign investors are also getting involved in Germany because of its reliable democratic values and structures. They are already asking whether they can trust these in the long term."

Moreover, Germany will only get to grips with the shortage of skilled labour "if we are an attractive destination for qualified workers from abroad," he said.

Sewing emphasised that considerations of a German exit from the European Union, which he referred to as "Dexit," analogous to the British exit "Brexit," are "highly dangerous, ill-considered and economic nonsense."

The negative consequences of "Brexit" for the British economy are all too obvious, he said, adding that Europe is "the greatest trump card we have in global competition."

Leader of the right-wing extremist party Alternative for Germany (AfD), Alice Weidel, recently said in an interview that a government led by her party would try to reform the EU and give the member states more sovereignty again.

If this does not bring the desired result, she believes there should also be a referendum in Germany on remaining in the EU, as there was in the UK in 2016.
You just cant get around it. The No. 1 goal of the powerful teachers' unions that hold sway across the country is to stamp out any aspect of school choice. Its an almost hysterical need to avoid competition and maintain a rock-hard monopoly in the classroom  where the majority of students fail to meet the minimum standards in reading and math set by the state.

Once in office, governors and mayors who took millions of dollars from teachers' unions during election campaigns are loath to go against the unions wishes during contract negotiations. You dont stiff those who brought you to the dance. For the unions, its payback time. A union win in negotiations can lead to a learning loss in the neighborhoods.

Magee

We need look no further than Illinois for an example. The states Invest in Kids program provided a seventy-five percent state tax credit for donations to help families afford private schools. It granted scholarships to 9,600 low-income  and mostly minority children  to attend these schools. At any one time, the program had more than twenty thousand students on its waiting list.

The union claimed the tax credit took money from the public schools even though funding had increased by nearly two billion dollars since the inception of the Kids program. Billionaire Democrat Gov. J.B. Pritzker acceded to the views of the union. Hes phasing out the program.

Pritzkers Family Foundation donated $8.3 million to the Milton Academy, an expensive boarding school he attended  $2.5 million to Duke University  and $100 million to Northwesterns Law School which is now named in his honor.

I find no evidence that a penny of Pritzker money was donated to help the low-income students of his state.

It gets worse.

Chicago has eleven public high schools that rate academically among the best in the state and the nation. They are selective-enrollment schools. Applicants must apply for admission. The aim of the schools is to provide high-achieving students with a challenging and enriched college preparatory experience. Enrollment data shows more than half of the students enrolled in these schools come from low-income families. Seventy percent are Black or Hispanic. Last year close to 25,000 applicants competed for 3,600 open seats. Over 15,700 students were enrolled in these schools last year.

Last December Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson ordered his hand-picked school board to close the program!

Why? Because the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) wanted him to. The union declared the program had created a new form of educational apartheid where selective-enrollment schools uplift the few and usher in inequities to the many. The definition of inequities is unclear. And the claim that selective enrollment schools succeed at the expense of neighborhood schools is false. In truth, even after the demise of the selective enrollment schools, the neighborhood schools will continue to fail.

The Editorial Board Newsletter writes, The scandal reflects the bloody-mindedness of the union that wants to snuff out competition to retain its monopoly. And it reveals how little most Democrat politicians care about the children they imprison in these factories of failure.

CTU President Stacy Gates sends her son to a private school.

Johnson says he decided to chop the program because he worries about how black students who fail to meet the entrance standards feel. Oh, brother. What about the students, Black and white, who do meet acceptance standards but are denied the opportunity to excel? Its another example of dumbing down a school system that over thousands of students must suffer through. Instead of killing the program, Johnson and the union should find ways to expand it.

The Chicago School Board, with CTU pulling the strings, has also disallowed leasing empty school buildings to charter schools looking for larger quarters to serve an expanding student base. Thats how the Chicago School Board handles competition. Competition can improve performance. But it hasnt a chance in Chicago schools. Perhaps its time to apply a version of the Sherman Antitrust Act to Chicago schools.

Of course, the real reason for Johnsons decision was to thank the coalition of teachers unions who contributed $5.6 million (half the total) to his mayoral campaign.

And what about Gov. Whitmer in Michigan? I suspect shell follow the dictates of the teachers' unions, too. Look at what just happened. She vetoed a program designed to give $1000 scholarships to elementary students failing in reading. The scholarship was for private tutoring. Union-backed opponents of the bill claimed the scholarship was really a voucher in disguise  and as such  must be denied in Michigan. Whitmer, adhering to the views of the union whose members had failed in teaching the subject in the first place, vetoed the bill.

Michigan law requires kids who fail to meet reading standards by the third grade be held back a year. But few are. And they face a hard road in the years ahead. So, in Michigan its OK to hold a student back  or to push one ahead, unprepared into the future  but wrong to invest in one needing extra help.

Such a decision doesnt meet the aims as described in the lofty mission statements of schools, states or teachers' unions.

What we see happening in Chicago and Michigan, is duplicated in big blue cities. Its the students and the families there who pay the price in the short term  and the country in the long term  as our ability to compete on the world stage diminishes.

So, its no surprise that the need for and acceptance of school choice alternatives is growing dramatically. Families across the board are pushing back against political decisions that hamper instruction. They are refusing to be locked into failing schools or having little voice in programs and methods of instruction. The desperate need for unions to fight against any form of school choice will eventually lead to their undoing. Pressure from the public at large will eventually overrule the power of the union to unduly influence educational processes. The tide is beginning to turn  from the universities to the schools down the block.

Its just the way it is.

 Dick Magee is a resident of Klinger Lake and a frequent columnist for the Journals opinion page.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Dick Magee: Its just the way it is
Ball State University's Bowen Center for Public Affairs has issued the second round of the 2023 Hoosier Survey, representing "the pulse of the state regarding the most pressing issues facing Indiana residents."

This time around, the survey took aim at how Hoosiers feel about Gov. Eric Holcomb and President Joe Biden.

Here's what you need to know:

What's President Joe Biden's approval rating in Indiana?

President Joe Biden waves to the audience after speaking about funding for the I-535 Blatnik Bridge at Earth Rider Brewery on January 25, 2024 in Superior, Wisconsin.

The question was asked, "Overall, do you approve or disapprove of the job Joe Biden is doing as President?"

Approve: 32.8%

Disapprove: 57.8%

Don't know/Not sure: 9.3%

Hoosiers mindset on Biden hasn't changed over the last year, where residents previously held a 58.2% disapproval rating in 2022, while 35.3% approved of his work in office.Many national polls have found that President Biden is not popular right now and, given he lost Indiana by a large margin in 2020, it is not surprising that he remains unpopular in the state, said Dr. Chad Kinsella, director of the Bowen Center for Public Affairs and associate professor of political science at Ball State.

What's Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb's approval rating?

Gov. Eric Holcomb speaks Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, during the State of the State address at the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis.

The question was asked, "Overall, do you approve or disapprove of the job Eric Holcomb is doing as Governor of Indiana?"

Approve: 42.2%

Disapprove: 34.5%

Don't know/Not sure: 23.3%

Holcomb saw a slight dip in his approval rating by Hoosiers from 2022, where 48.7% of Indiana residents approved of Holcomb's work and 34.7% disapproved. "One aspect that is the most interesting to me is the high number of respondents who select Dont know/Not sure to this question," Kinsella said. What has been found in past Hoosier Surveys and other state surveys is that there are large numbers of peopleanywhere from 25 to 33 percent of respondentswho do not know who the governor of their state is.

Overall, Gov. Holcomb remains popular, but there are a lot of people in Indiana and across the country that are not aware of state politics and politicians.

Marijuana, abortion in Indiana: Do Hoosiers want legal abortion, marijuana? One survey has 'the pulse' of Indiana

2023 Hoosier Survey results yet to come

More questions answered by Indiana residents centered around election integrity, tax spending and more will be released Jan. 30.

The Hoosier Survey is the only Indiana-specific survey in the state that examines Hoosiers opinions on a variety of national, state, and local issues, Kinsella said.

As we move through the 2024 Indiana legislative session, we are grateful to once again provide state lawmakers with an accurate look at the issues that matter the most to Hoosiers.

The 2023 Hoosier Survey featured interviews with 600 Indiana adults age 18 or older. All data is maintained as anonymous, as no one was asked to identify themselves.

Highlights from Hoosier Survey can be found at bowencenterforpublicaffairs.org once they are officially listed for the public.

Chris Sims is a digital content producer for Midwest Connect Gannett. Follow him on Twitter: @ChrisFSims.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: President Joe Biden, Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb topic of Hoosier Survey
DIGHTON  Disgraced Dighton Police Chief Shawn Cronin on Jan. 23 pleaded guilty to one count of securities fraud in the case that charged him with insider trading violations and cost him his job.

He will be sentenced on that charge, which carries a maximum of 20 years in prison, by U.S. District Judge Gregory H. Woods on May 13, according to a written statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.

Cronin's co-conspirator, a medical doctor named Paul Feldman, 49, of Poughquaq, New York, also pleaded guilty on Jan. 23 and will be sentenced on the same day as Cronin, the written statement said.

As a law enforcement leader, Cronin was sworn to uphold the law and was trusted to set an example for junior officers. And as a medical doctor, Feldman held a position of trust and respect in our society. Rather than live up to their posts, these men broke the rules to try to make a quick buck," U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in the written statement.

Former Taunton Police Chief Shawn Cronin pleaded guilty to one count of securities fraud on Jan. 23, 2024.

Built for entertaining Dighton colonial in Richmond Hill Estates sells for over $800K

Who is acting police chief?

Cronin was placed on paid administrative leave and Dighton Police Sgt. George Nicholas was appointed acting police chief in July 2023.

Acting Chief George Nichols stands behind a podium hand-constructed by Bristol-Plymouth Carpentry and Computer-Aided Drafting/Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) students.

What is status of Cronin's job?

Cronin resigned from the Dighton Police Department in September 2023.

'A ticket to prison' Dighton Police Chief Shawn Cronin charged with insider trading

When will new chief be appointed?

Dighton Town Administrator Michael Mullen said selectmen have no comment on Cronin's guilty plea. But he provided an update on the job he resigned from.

Currently, the town is reviewing applicants for permanent chief both internal and external, Mullen said. The deadline for applications was in early January and multiple candidates have applied. He said the town is hoping to have a final choice sometime within the first two weeks of March.

What did Cronin plead guilty to?

In April 2020, Cronin, Feldman and others engaged in an insider trading scheme surrounding the announcement of Alexion Pharmaceutical, Inc.s acquisition of Portola Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the written statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Before that acquisition was publicly announced, Cronin's childhood friend, a then-vice president at Alexion gave Cronin insider information about the upcoming acquisition, the statement said. In turn, Cronin provided another friend with the insider information, both so that that friend could trade in advance of the acquisition and "so that that friend would assist Cronin in formulating trading strategies to maximize Cronin's trading profits," the statement said. The friend Cronin tipped was a doctor who went on to tip his friend and colleague, Feldman, who for his part, "aggressively bought Portola call options."

After the acquisition was announced, Cronin, Feldman and others sold their securities, "reaping millions of dollars of illegally obtained profits," the statement said.

How is D-R doing? The latest MIAA Power Rankings are out. Where do Greater Taunton area teams stand?

What were the original charges?

Cronin was originally charged with many more than the one charge he pleaded guilty to.

He was charged with three counts of securities fraud under Title 15 and three counts of tender offer fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of securities fraud under Title 18, which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison; and one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and tender offer fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, according to an earlier statement from the U.S. Attorneys Office.

Dighton reserve officer also charged

Another of Cronin's alleged co-conspirators was Dighton Police Reserve Officer Joseph Dupont, 44, of Rehoboth, who also lost his job in the wake of the charges.

He faces one count of Title 15 securities fraud and one count of tender offer fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of securities fraud under Title 18, which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.

This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Dighton Police Chief Shawn Cronin pleads guilty to insider trading
China delivers good performance in UN periodic review of human rights -- ambassador

Xinhua) 13:29, January 27, 2024

Citizens choose New Year decorations at a wholesale market in Loudi of central China's Hunan Province, Jan. 14, 2024. (Photo by Wu Yonghua/Xinhua)

China has delivered good performance in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) conducted by the UN Human Rights Council, China's top diplomat in Geneva said after the UPR Working Group adopted recommendations made to China, whose achievements in human rights won international acclaim at its fourth review earlier this week.

GENEVA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- China has delivered good performance in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) conducted by the United Nations Human Rights Council, China's top diplomat in Geneva Chen Xu told Xinhua on Friday.

Chen's remarks came after the UPR Working Group adopted the recommendations made to China, whose achievements in human rights won international acclaim at its fourth review earlier this week.

The UPR is a mechanism under which all UN member states undergo a review of their human rights record every four and half years.

In an interview with Xinhua, Chen, permanent representative of China to the UN office at Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland, outlined the highlights of China's efforts to improve human rights.

Adhering to the people-centered development philosophy, China has realized its first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, Chen said.

China has won the largest battle against poverty in human history, lifted nearly 100 million rural population out of poverty. That means the country has eliminated absolute poverty, meeting the poverty eradication target set out in the United Nation's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 10 years ahead of schedule.

A villager shows freshly harvested bamboo fungus at a planting base in Gaonan Village of Rongjiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Sept. 18, 2020. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

Adhering to the development of whole-process people's democracy, China implements democratic elections, consultation, decision-making, management and oversight in accordance with the law. Simultaneously, China is committed to improving people's livelihoods while pursuing high-quality development to ensure that more benefits of national development will reach all its people more fairly, Chen said.

China has built the world's largest education, social security and medical and health-care systems, and made a historic leap forward in terms of education accessibility, Chen noted.

Across the country, old-age insurance covers 1.06 billion people and basic healthcare security coverage rate reached 95 percent of its population, Chen said. With an annual average of over 13 million new jobs created in urban areas, housing conditions for both urban and rural residents have significantly improved, Chen added.

China is dedicated to safeguarding the rights of specific groups, implementing the basic national policy of gender equality, formulating and implementing four consecutive cycles of outlines for children's development, the diplomat said.

Senior citizens take a piano lesson at the culture center of Hexi District, north China's Tianjin, April 4, 2023. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue)

China is steadily advancing an elderly-friendly society and promoting the cause for people with disabilities. China continues to safeguard human rights in accordance with the law, and respect and safeguard human rights through legislation, law enforcement, judiciary and observance of the law, according to Chen.

China also emphasizes the equality of all ethnic groups, and all the 56 ethnic groups coexist in unity, working together and prospering like closely-knit pomegranate seeds, the ambassador said.

China believes that lucid water and lush mountains are invaluable assets, and that the ecological environment should be protected like one's eyes. Over the past decade, China's sky has become bluer, mountains lusher and water clearer, and China's PM2.5 density has dropped by 57 percent, making it a country with the fastest improvement in air quality, the largest-scale utilization of renewable energy and the largest growth in forest resources in the world, Chen said.

Migratory birds rest at Nanchang Five Stars Siberian Cranes Sanctuary by the Poyang Lake in Nanchang, east China's Jiangxi Province, Dec. 21, 2022. (Xinhua/Wan Xiang)

China boasts nearly half of the world's installed capacity of photovoltaic power generation, more than half of electric vehicle sales worldwide, and a quarter of the global increase in green area, he added.

China actively leads global human rights governance, putting forward the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative. China advocates safeguarding human rights through security, promoting them through development and advancing them through cooperation.

China is also committed to upholding international justice and enhancing the representation and voice of developing countries in the Human Rights Council and other multilateral human rights bodies, and has provided Chinese wisdom and proposals for global human rights governance, the diplomat said.

The key to China's historic achievements in human rights lies in combining the principle of universality of human rights with its national realities, and in finding a development path that is in line with the trend of the times and suited to the country's national conditions, Chen said.

China will continue to take the future of humankind and the well-being of its people into account, always hold high the banner of peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit, advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, he noted.

This photo taken on Oct. 17, 2023 shows a floral decoration for the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) near China National Convention Center in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Chen Bin)

China will provide the world with new opportunities through its own development, helping move global human rights governance toward greater fairness, justice, rationality and inclusiveness and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for humankind, Chen said.

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Wu Chaolan)
Police intimidation and lax investigations into Islamist rioting that destroyed scores of Christian homes and businesses in Jaranwala, Pakistan in August has dampened hopes of justice for the victims, sources said.

Police harassment of complainants and witnesses, officers deliberately arresting innocent bystanders instead of known assailants, and Christian leaders failure to ensure proper investigation and legal cases has resulted in most suspects walking free on bail, said former Jaranwala councillor Shakeel Bhatti.

The police deliberately picked up several people whose presence on the scene could not be corroborated with evidence, Bhatti told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. We identified several suspects who were actively involved in the attacks, and there was video evidence against them too, but they havent been arrested yet despite repeated requests.

Bhatti, the key force behind 17 Christian complainants who filed cases against those who looted and burned properties, said most suspects in five cases registered by the government had been granted bail due to ineffective police investigation. Those bails also benefitted the suspects in the 17 privately filed cases as the same Joint Investigative Teams (JIT) probed all the First Information Reports (FIRs), he said.

Instigated by mosque leaders, Muslim mobs on Aug. 16 burned more than 20 church buildings and ransacked scores of Christian homes and businesses in Jaranwala Tehsil of Faisalabad District, Punjab Province, after two Christian brothers were accused of desecrating pages of the Quran and writing blasphemous comments.

Though 600-800 unidentified suspects were implicated in 22 terrorism cases  five registered by the state and 17 by local Christians  church sources said only 283 suspects were arrested. The government registered five FIRs under sections against terrorism, blasphemy, attempted murder, arson, hate speech and others on the day of the attacks, while 17 Christians filed private FIRs on similar charges on Aug. 21.

Most of the suspects, however, have been released on bail or discharged from the cases due to defective investigation by police, unsubstantiated nomination of suspects by some Christian complainants, and lackluster attitudes of senior Christian leaders, sources said.

Bhatti said that of the 281 bail applications filed in the Faisalabad anti-terrorism court, 223 were approved and 45 were denied, with13 still pending.

The Punjab government formed 10 Joint Investigation Teams to probe the cases, but the number of suspects winning bails has exposed the polices investigation and its commitment towards the dispensation of justice to us, Bhatti told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News.

The senior officers of the Faisalabad Police who make up the 10 JITs appear to lack commitment to punish the perpetrators of the Aug. 16 attacks, said Akmal Bhatti, a Faisalabad-based lawyer and chairman of the Minorities Alliance Pakistan (MAP).

He said rights advocates were expecting the JITs to conduct a professional investigation at least in the five cases registered by the government.

We were hoping that because of the scale of the attacks and the fact that the government itself was the complainant in five cases, the polices attitude would be different, but we are extremely disappointed by the outcome, Akmal Bhatti told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News.

Blaming defective investigation for the granting of bail to the suspects, he said police did not bother to corroborate evidence that could prove their involvement, enabling them to obtain bail.

There are hundreds of video footages of the Aug. 16 attacks in which the faces of the perpetrators are easily identifiable, Akmal Bhatti told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. However, the police neither used geofencing and face recognition technology to positively identify the culprits presence on the crime scenes, nor did it make any effort to substantiate the evidence against them.

Police failed to provide the concrete evidence that courts needed to decide bail applications, he said.

The state-registered FIRs nominated several hundred unidentified people armed with petrol bombs, batons, chemicals, etc. of being involved in the attacks, but the investigation reports fail to directly connect the acts with the detained suspects, Akmal Bhatti said.

Police Denial

Faisalabad Police spokesperson Shahid Malik denied that the JITs investigations were defective.

The JITs have to date arrested 357 suspects and sent them into judicial custody, Malik said. These suspects were identified individually through video footage of the rioting, and all efforts were made to conduct solid investigations against them. Raids are being conducted to arrest the remaining suspects whenever we get information about them.

He said police were sincerely fulfilling their responsibilities, and that officers were was not responsible for suspects obtaining their legal right to bail from courts.

The Jaranwala attacks are a stigma for the Faisalabad police, therefore we have a zero-tolerance policy for any lapse in punishing the perpetrators, Malik told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. If any complainant has any concerns over the investigations, they are welcome to share it with us, and we will look into it.

At least 10 suspects, however, secured bail based on affidavits from Christian complainants making statements in their favor under fear or pressure, said the lead lawyer for Christians True Spirit (CTS), a Non-Government Organization providing legal aid group.

At one point we were representing all 17 Christian complainants, but gradually they started to buckle under pressure, attorney Nadeem Hassan told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. Some of them submitted affidavits to police without our knowledge, while some simply stopped coming to the hearings. The situation reached the point where in one instance the judge ordered the police to forcibly bring the complainants to the court.

Police played an adverse role in these cases, he said.

They intimidated and humiliated the complainants and witnesses, deterring some from even identifying the detained suspects, Hassan said. The investigating officers did not share the official record with us despite repeated requests, and we could only access the reports when they were presented in the courtroom.

Christian Leaders

Along with deficient investigations, Shakeel Bhatti said Christian leaders were equally responsible for legal setbacks.

The onus of the flawed investigation also falls on Christian religious and political leaders who focused only on raising relief funds from their Western donors in our names instead of formulating a unified strategy for effective prosecution of the suspects, he said.

Most of the Christian complainants were poor daily wage workers, he said, and expecting them to withstand pressure from the police and local Muslims, especially activists of the Islamist extremist political party Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) that instigated the Aug. 16 attacks, was unjustified.

We took a stand despite the threats to our lives after our Christian religious and political leaders assured us of complete support and protection, Shakeel Bhatti said. It was their responsibility to provide the complainants with the finances and security to appear at court hearings and before investigation officers.

Christian leaders were also responsible for ensuring that the police conducted thorough investigations and arrested the identified suspects, he said, but they started ignoring us after the media hype over the incident ended.

Two days after the attacks in Jaranwala, Catholic Archbishop of Faisalabad Diocese Inderias Rehmat formed a Joint Action Committee (JAC) to engage with police officials and JITs and follow up with the investigations and legal matters. The JACs regular meetings with the security officials, however, have proven ineffective.

The Rev. Khalid Mukhtar, a Catholic priest in Jaranwala and member of the JAC, said that police officials repeatedly assured them of justice, but the majority of suspects obtaining bail has raised serious questions about investigations.

We were shocked when we learned in December that so many suspects have walked free on bail, Mukhtar told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. Some Christian lawyers had volunteered to pursue the matter in the Faisalabad anti-terrorism court, but they only informed us about the cases in which the bails had been rejected.

He added that they only came to know about the real situation when the complainants expressed concern over the mishandling of their cases.

At a meeting on Jan. 4, the JAC decided to engage a new legal team headed by a paid Muslim lawyer and comprising three voluntary local Christian advocates to pursue the cases in the Faisalabad anti-terrorism court. Another seven-member team of Christian lawyers will follow up the cases in Lahore High Court voluntarily, Mukhtar said.

We are also considering to demand fresh investigation in all the cases, he added.

The priests house was among the Christian properties that rioters burned, and though police have registered his FIR, investigation hasnt begun, he said.

Attorney Hassan of CTS said complainants were exploited by some vested interests. CTS was providing financial support to them for transportation to court hearings, he said, but in December, some persons instigated the complainants to demand dedicated vehicles for the court hearings which was not possible to manage for us.

We were then pressured to contribute 0.5 million rupees [$1,787USD] to a 5 million PKR victims fund that the same vested interests intended to create on the pretext of facilitating the complainants, Hassan said. We refused to contribute to a fund that has no credibility or transparency and instead offered to finance some of the complainants directly. We were surprised when we learned after some days that the complainants had withdrawn their cases from us and handed them to a new voluntary legal panel engaged by the fund people.

Akmal Bhatti of MAP said that regular protests by Christians would have maintained pressure on the provincial government and police authorities to ensure justice.

But the JAC leadership rejected our suggestion, believing that meetings with the police and administration officials would suffice, he said.

Meanwhile, top Christian leaders were more interested in appeasing the government by holding interfaith meetings thar reduced pressure on police investigators, he said.

Its now evident that this pacifist approach has failed to yield the desired results, Akmal Bhatti said.

Demand for Judicial Inquiry

Church leaders said they did not trust the police to conduct a fair investigation into the Jaranwala cases from the onset, given similar outcomes in previous attacks on Christian settlements.

Church of Pakistan President Bishop Azad Marshall said he had anticipated police negligence in investigating the cases, prompting him to demand a judicial inquiry into the rioting.

I moved a petition in the Lahore High Court in September demanding the formation of a judicial tribunal to investigate the underlying causes of such attacks, holding police and district officials responsible for inaction against the rioters accountable, and provide a lasting solution to prevent similar incidents in the future, Marshall said. Unfortunately, the Punjab government has yet to respond positively to our petition.

In December, the Punjab government told Lahore High Court Justice Asim Hafeez that the provincial cabinet had already formed 10 Joint Investigation Teams to probe the incidents, and that therefore a judicial inquiry was not needed. The judge, however, asked the Punjab government to review its decision and inform the court, though the matter has remained pending due to repeated adjournments.

Marshall emphasized that convictions in the Jaranwala attacks were important to ensure the protection of the Christian community in 96-percent Muslim Pakistan.

But justice in the Jaranwala cases seems a far cry, considering the grant of bails to a majority of the suspects, he said.

The Church of Pakistan was prepared to provide financial assistance to the complainants to pursue their cases, he added.

In an open letter to Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar Ul Haq Kakar in October, the National Commission on Human Rights (NCHR) urged the government to ensure thorough investigations into the Jaranwala attacks using the latest technology, including geofencing and CCTV cameras.

Analysis of criminal case-files of minority parties demonstrates numerous problems plaguing police investigations, delays, arrests without probable cause, proceedings in flimsy cases, etc., the NCHR noted.

It recommended that the state, as a party to the prosecution, should assist the courts for early dispensation of justice and follow up on the later stages of appeal till convictions.

Pakistan ranked seventh on Open Doors 2024 World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian, as it was the previous year.
Sources close to Donald Trump reached out to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about serving as the presidential candidates running mate, per a new report by the New York Post. Trump operatives expressed an interest in Kennedy early on, but it was all premature, a source said. The connection was made right out of the box when Bobby announced in April 2023, when Kennedy went public with his presidential bid. Still, the potential duo is on the table: Anythings possible. I wouldnt write it off by any means, the source added. Kennedy was initially running as a Democrat, but has since switched to the Independent party. Per the report, Kennedy wasnt interested in joining Trumps Republican campaign. Kennedy has spoken against multiple vaccines, perhaps putting him at-odds with Trump, who funded the development of a COVID-19 vaccine during the pandemic in 2020.

Read it at New York Post

Read more at The Daily Beast.
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) grabs a rebopund from Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 26, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

ATLANTA (AP)  Luka Doncic has set the Dallas Mavericks record for points in a game  reaching 65 with almost a quarter to spare.

Doncic sank a 26-foot 3-pointer about a minute into the fourth quarter against Atlanta on Friday night, giving him a personal-best and team-record 63 points. He then quickly added another basket to push his total to 65 points with 10 minutes remaining in the game.

Doncic continued to flourish after scoring 41 points in the first half to set a franchise record for points in any half. He scored 23 points in the second quarter after opening with 18 points in the first.

Doncic, who averages 33.6 points, then took aim on his career high of 60 points, also the Dallas record, set against the New York Knicks on Dec. 27, 2022.

Doncics milestone game came in his short-lived original NBA home.

Doncic was selected by the Hawks with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft before having his draft rights traded to Dallas for Trae Young with the No. 5 pick and a 2019 first-round pick used to select Cam Reddish.

Doncic made 17 of 22 shots from the field, including 6 of 9 3-pointers, in the first half.

The Mavericks' previous high mark for points in a half was 34 by Dirk Nowitzki in the second half against Utah on Nov. 3, 2009.

Doncic's 41-point half is the 15th half with 40 or more points in the NBA's last 25 years. It came just four days after Minnesota's Karl-Anthony Towns scored 44 points in the first half of a loss to Charlotte.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Many of us were surprised when the head of the Army advocated conscription in the face of the Russian danger. Less surprised that the Prime Minister quickly dismissed the idea  it would certainly frighten the pre-election horses. We have long been told that conscription is inefficient in modern conditions, and disliked by professional soldiers who hate trying to lick stroppy teenagers into shape. Even the French, for whom the citizen soldier was a pillar of national identity, gave up in the 1990s.

But the sharp difference of opinion between General Sir Patrick Sanders and Rishi Sunak may have a deeper significance. It raises the question of how democracies respond or fail to respond  to grave external dangers. The answer is, I fear, that they are reluctant to do anything until they have no alternative. Voters dont want to be kept awake at night, told that they will have to spend money on defence, and reminded of the possibility that they or their children might actually have to risk their lives.

We in Britain may be more prone to complacency than countries like Sweden or Israel or even Switzerland: being an island helps. Pitt the Younger assured the Commons in 1792 that there never was a time in the history of this country, when, from the situation of Europe, we might more reasonably expect 15 years of peace  just before being dragged into a 20-year conflict with France. Herbert Asquith was confident in August 1914 that there seems no reason why we should be anything more than spectators. Neville Chamberlain, of course, came back from Munich in 1938 declaring it was peace for our time. These were not stupid or dishonest men. But they found it hard to grasp the looming dangers before them.

Today we seem to be somewhere between Asquith and Chamberlain. Asquith, after a century of relative peace, and confident in the power of the Navy and empire, felt Britain must be safe. Chamberlain, horrified by the disaster of the First World War, hoped against hope that Hitler could be mollified: We are all members of the human race. There must be something in common between us, if only we can find it. We are oscillating between Asquiths complacency and Chamberlains stubborn optimism. We celebrated the end of history in 1989 and set about enjoying the peace dividend, cutting defence spending and diverting resources into the NHS, welfare, working less productively and worrying about our mental health and our culture wars. We see dangers springing up around the world, but dont want to think they are dangers to us: people in comfortable democracies (which we are, however much we grumble) find it natural, like the proverbial ostrich, to think that predators if ignored will go away.

But the politicians of Asquiths and Chamberlains generations, however inadequate, were more decisive than those of today. The Liberal government had doubled naval expenditure, which by 1912 accounted for a quarter of the government spending. Stanley Baldwin in 1936 had begun major rearmament and Chamberlain expanded it, including developing the Spitfire, the Lancaster bomber, radar, battleships and the worlds first purpose-built aircraft carrier. Chamberlain also took the first steps towards conscription. And this was done in the teeth of opposition from the Labour Party and the Left (The Guardian attacked the governments 400 million or death), and a powerful pacifist movement. Such opposition does not constrain governments today.

Of course war came in both 1914 and 1939. Does this prove that increasing defence spending is not a sure deterrent? Yes, perhaps, if you are faced with a potential enemy set on making war whatever the cost. But in both cases, war came not only because of Britains still inadequate defences but in part because British governments seemed weak and irresolute, encouraging desperate enemies to take a risk.

So do we need conscription? Surely not like that of 1916 or 1939  though if (God forbid) a real war came everything would be conscripted as in 1940, men, women and even children. We do not need a mass Army. But we do need a stronger Navy and Air Force, not to be scrapping ships for want of crews. Less drastically than conscription, we need to make the Armed Forces far more attractive as careers, and seriously build up our reserve forces. Civilian skills in medicine, cyber warfare and indeed flying drones can be crucial. Pessimists think that culture wars are sapping our ability to defend ourselves, but the culture warriors, like the conscientious objectors of the 1930s, are not much of a resource anyway. We should try paying our Armed Forces better before we start worrying about the state of our national soul. That would also contribute to levelling up.

History shows that we have blundered into disaster by not seeing it coming. In the 1930s, public opinion moved faster than the politicians in realising the threat from the Nazis, but it was still desperately late in doing so. War is so terrible  modern war unimaginably so  that we cannot neglect any way of making it less likely. Retreating into neutrality does not seem an option in the modern world, as Sweden, long a proud neutral, has realised. We need politicians who are able to look without flinching at the dangers facing us, and explain to the country what needs to be done and what it will cost.

Robert Tombs is the author of The English and Their History, an updated edition of which has recently appeared

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.
ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. (WAVY)  Beginning in February, a Ruby Bridges portrait will be on loan to Elizabeth City State University.

The work comes from Nags Head artist James Melvin. It is a modern-day depiction of Ruby Bridges.

The university will have the painting on loan for three months starting on Thursday, February 8 at 2 p.m. It will be on display in the G.R. Little Library through May in partnership with College of Albemarle.

Before the painting arrives on-campus, the student-led 1704 Media Productions team will host screenings of the move Ruby Bridges.

Bridges, 69, is an American civil rights activist. She was the first Black student who was the first to integrate an all-white elementary school in New Orleans, La. in 1960, following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education that declared segregated schools unconstitutional.

It was announced this past November that Bridges is a 2024 Inductee in the National Womens Hall of Fame.

Ruby Bridges and her story are a symbol in the black community  and the world  of the ills our society has endured and how far weve come, said Clarence Goss, assistant professor of graphic design and faculty director of 1704 Media Productions.

The next screenings will take place on:

Tuesday, Jan. 30 at 6 p.m. at Ridley Student Center, Room 206

Tuesday, Feb. 6. at 6 p.m. at G.R. Little Library

Click here to find out more information.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
Its not often that you see a U.S. Supreme Court dissent cited in an official document that purports to lay out a legal rationale for taking action. After all, while the dissents are valuable for following the legal reasoning, pored over by academics and historians and used by the majority to write its own opinion  often while attempting to refute the dissenters concerns or legal arguments  they are pointedly not law.

Dissents do not carry any weight of law, and in fact exist solely to register a justices opposition to the ruling that does actually hold that weight.

No issue for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, whos made a bad habit of ignoring or misunderstanding the law. In a release, the governor cited Justice Antonin Scalias dissent in the case of Arizona v. United States the result of that states infamous SB 1070, a precursor to Abbotts own efforts to subvert the federal governments control over immigration  in arguing that the Constitution acknowledges the States sovereign interest in protecting their borders.

That was, of course, not the high courts decision, and in fact the court slapped down Arizonas attempt to preempt federal powers on immigration. Abbott, of course, knows this, and this inclusion can best be understood as more of a provocation, which the entire document practically is. Were not the only ones to have noticed that the first line about the federal government having supposedly broken the compact between the United States and the States very closely echoed language that was used by secessionist states in the run-up to the Civil War.

True to form, Abbott goes heavy on the militaristic language, arguing that he is invoking his states right to self-defense and restating that he has officially declared the state under invasion, an invasion that the Biden administration has done nothing about. All of this teeth-gnashing in response to a simple Supreme Court ruling affirming that federal Border Patrol agents were allowed to cut through concertina wire deployed, probably illegally, by state personnel.

That Abbotts entire reasoning is firmly rooted in obvious falsehoods  the asylum seekers entering the country are doing so pursuant to a flawed but existing legal mechanism, the Biden administration has maintained or reinstated several Trump-era border restrictions and so on  is neither here nor there. The governor doesnt really care about the facts at issue and he never has.

This is about saber-rattling, and its increasingly looking like its purpose goes beyond short-term political posturing. This is the language of a zealot, someone who truly was not joking when he recently lamented to an interviewer that the state of Texas could not simply murder migrants. Its also a direct challenge to federal authority, no longer tacit or de facto or good-as, but an explicit, straightforward assertion that Texas will not comply with federal law and will utilize armed agents to violate it.

So, President Joe Biden, call his bluff. If Abbott thinks that his National Guard units are Texas own troops, federalize them. If he cares little for the feds contribution to law enforcement, withhold public safety grants. If the governor believes that Supreme Court dissents are equal to decisions, begin offering federally-support abortion services in the state. Lets see who laughs last.

___
El Nino is hanging strongbut a big change is on the way

Click here to view the video

A strong El Nino raging in the eastern Pacific Ocean has had a profound effect on weather patterns the world overand it may be on borrowed time.

Forecasters see a dramatic change on the horizon.

This pattern of warmer-than-normal waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean may rapidly flip toward neutralaround averageand even tilt toward the cooler-than-normal waters of La Nina just in time for this summers hurricane season.

DONT MISS: El Nino to break Canada out of a record-cold January

Local changes lead to global effects

El Nino and La Nina are patterns of warmer- and cooler-than-normal sea surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific Ocean off the western coast of South America.

Under normal conditions, easterly winds push warm surface waters from South America toward Australia. This forces cold water from deep within the ocean to rise toward the surface off the South American coast.

(BARON) What is La Nina? Science behind

During an El Nino, those prevailing winds weaken or even reverse direction, allowing all that warm surface water to rush back toward South America and heat up the eastern Pacific Ocean.

But if those easterly winds strengthen instead of weaken, the push of warm water toward Australia accelerates and forces a tremendous amount of deep, cold water to rise to the surface off South Americas coast to create a La Nina event.

Historical ENSO Temperatures

Water temperatures rising 0.5C above seasonal for about half a year qualifies as an El Nino, while sea surface temperatures falling 0.5C below seasonal for the same length of time qualifies as a La Nina event.

Theyre seemingly small changes that have big impacts around the world.

Canadas felt El Ninos influence in a big way this winter

You dont have to be a meteorologist to understand the impacts of an El Nino pattern across Canadayouve been living it!

Canada has experienced a winter of extremes this season, and most of those extremes fell on the positive side of the freezing mark.

End of January Temperature Anomaly

The first half of winter featured temperatures well above seasonal for most of the country. This made it difficult for skating rinks to freeze and ski resorts to open.

Our pattern flipped in a hurry after the holidays. A bitter and historic chill poured across Western Canada and allowed folks to enjoy some winter activities while they could.

The frigid pattern didnt last, though, and our pattern flipped again to feature the more typical El Nino flavours of warm and mild through the last week of January.

El Nino will likely wane by springwith La Nina not far behind

Its rare for even a strong El Nino to last longer than a year, so its no surprise that were not far from this pattern finally giving way.

Researchers have found that strong El Nino events typically see a La Nina build in soon after, which is exactly what the latest forecasts reflect as we head through 2024.

El Nino Ocean Temperatures January 2024

MUST SEE: What is La Nina? And how does it impact global weather?

Our strong El Nino is on borrowed time. Were likely going to see the warmer-than-normal waters of El Nino linger into the spring months even as temperatures begin to moderate a bit.

Forecasters see decent odds that water temperatures in the eastern Pacific will return to around seasonal by the latter half of spring, putting us in neutral territory that doesnt have much of an effect on global weather patterns.

ENSO Forecast January 2024

However, signs point toward easterly winds strengthening between South America and Australia through the summer and fall, which could force water temperatures to fall into La Nina territory just in time for the peak of hurricane season.

The greatest impact La Nina has on North American weather patterns in the warmer months is minimizing destructive wind shear that blows over the Atlantic Ocean, which makes conditions more favourable for tropical storms and hurricanes to develop.

Wondering what El Nino may have in store for the rest of Canadas winter and the upcoming spring?

Stay tuned for Dr. Doug Gillhams February outlook coming out next week, and look out for The Weather Networks exclusive spring forecast on February 28th.

WATCH: December saw record-breaking warmth, do we blame El Nino or climate change?

Click here to view the video
(Bloomberg) -- Hello from Washington, where the weatherspring-like after a blast of snowis less predictable than the 2024 presidential race has been so far.

Most Read from Bloomberg

After Republican front-runner Donald Trumps easy wins in Iowa and New Hampshire, the focus shifts on Saturday to South Carolina, where President Joe Biden needs the kind of Democratic support that revived his White House bid four years ago. Florida, an increasingly important hub for deep-pocketed political donors, is another winter destination. Though both men are well-known to voters, early signs show Wall Street is more anxious about the election than at this time in 2020 and 2016. And how excited are Americans? Television viewer stats tell the story.

Bidens decision to pause approval of new licenses for US exports of liquefied natural gas shows hes determined to make fighting climate change a part of his re-election bid. But it creates new vulnerability for US allies, notably European countries that shifted to LNG from the US and other producers after Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Closer to home, Californias policies to phase out fossil fuels risk squeezing consumers by pushing up gasoline prices that are already among the USs highest. Thats according to Chevron executive Andy Walz, who questions whether the company can keep investing in its California refineries amid the green push by politicians in the state, which remains the second-largest consumer of gasoline in the US.

Squatting may conjure up hipsters taking over funky old industrial buildings. In Atlanta, its taking a rougher turn as a real-estate boom, soaring housing costs, post-pandemic homelessness and the interests of Wall Street landlords collide. Its gotten to the point that owners offer intruders money to leave illegally occupied rental homes. Many property managers wont check on suspect houses alone because squatters might get violent. They got to live in a home for seven months, wreck it and leave, says one rental home co-owner.

Fake, sexually explicit images of Taylor Swift generated by artificial intelligence are prompting calls for stronger safeguards by social-media companies, such as Elon Musks X, against so-called deepfakes that are proliferating online. The White House urged the companies to act and said Congress should consider legislation. We reported on this obstacle last fall: theres no US federal law against the creation of deepfake porn. X has said it is removing the images and taking action against the accounts involved in spreading them.

While Trump hasnt secured the Republican presidential nomination, his shadow has been looming over Congress, where pressure by the former president is making House Republicans resist a deal for tying together Ukraine aid and an immigration crackdown. A $78 billion package of tax measures, including breaks for business and an expanded child tax credit, also isnt ready yet. Both might come to a head next week.

Finally, AI also is on the minds of the spy world, which is nervously trying to harness the technology. But whose side is it on?

Enjoy your Saturday and come back tomorrow for a look at next weeks key events.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Jim O'Connor, the Arizona Corporation Commission chair and an election-conspiracy believer who wants to halt the use of machines in elections, has positioned himself as a candidate to lead the state Republican Party, which holds its mandatory annual meeting on Saturday in Phoenix.

Other candidates could be in the running as well: Donald Trump endorsed his favorite for the role. But O'Connor's interest in the job comes with some intrigue: A leaked letter from an Arizona Corporation Commission lawyer to O'Connor could indicate that O'Connor knew state Republican Party Chair Jeff DeWit might resign.

DeWit quit the post on Jan. 24, the day after Republican U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake released a March 2023 recording of DeWit offering her a lucrative job to quit her race. She released it just days before the GOP meeting, when committee members from around the state will gather to vote for new leaders.

O'Connor won't be the only choice for chair for the hundreds of state committee members at the GOP meeting. But his interest in the position raises the possibility the party leadership could move farther to the right.

The chair position wasn't supposed to be open this year: DeWit was only one year into his two-year term. But his resignation clears the path for a new chair.

O'Connor, a longtime party activist who's been on the Corporation Commission since 2020, told The Arizona Republic his preparation for the job was "coincidental."

"No one I knew had a clue Ms. Lake had such damning evidence of (DeWit's) corruption," O'Connor said. "I was approached by dozens of state committeemen asking if I was interested in that pro bono job for the final year, if the vote to remove DeWit was successful."

Former President Donald Trump has his own preferred candidate for state chair. On Friday, he endorsed Gina Swoboda, a former Trump adviser and senior policy adviser to the state Senate on elections. She's also the state GOP's current third vice chair.

"Gina is a strong fighter for election integrity and will be relentless in her work to deliver Arizona for President Trump and Kari Lake in 2024," Trump said in a statement on the same day a jury ordered him to pay $83.3 million in damages for defaming an advice columnist.

Former president loses lawsuit: Trump hit with $83.3 million in damages for defaming E. Jean Carroll

Lake soon responded on social media that she was "proud" to join Trump in endorsing Swoboda, saying she "will help deliver Arizona for President Trump and flip control of the U.S. Senate."

O'Connor said Lake's endorsement should lay to rest the idea that he coordinated his run for chair with Lake. He did not say if he would continue running but has not yet dropped out of the race.

Numerous Arizona elected officials also followed Trump in endorsing Swoboda.

But other candidates also have thrown their names in the race for the suddenly vacated chair position.

'Betrayal': Arizona GOP Chair Jeff DeWit resigns after recording of 'offer' to Kari Lake

Letter shows O'Connor prepared for party leadership role

A letter from Corporation Commission lawyer Wesley Van Cleve shows that O'Connor had asked recently if state law allowed him to serve as chair of the regulatory agency as well as chair of the state Republican Party. Van Cleve answered in the Jan. 8 letter that no law prevented him from holding two chair positions at once.

Two weeks later, Kari Lake leaked the recording after keeping it secret for 10 months.

Chairman Jim O'Connor of the Arizona Corporation Commission attends a meeting at the commission building in Phoenix on Jan. 3, 2023.

After DeWit resigned, O'Connor emerged almost immediately as a candidate for the vacant chair job. His name appears as a chair candidate in a flyer circulated to Republicans around the state this week promoting an "Ultra Grassroots" slate of candidates for state party leaders, with O'Connor's name at the top.

Last year, DeWit, a former state treasurer, Trump campaign leader and NASA executive, won out among election-denying candidates for chair by promising to shore up the party's finances.

The party has been hobbled by a desperate need for more funds after losses by Trump-endorsed statewide candidates in 2022, including Lake's loss to Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs. The situation appeared to be turning around, with the party announcing last month it had a "record-breaking" last quarter of 2023 in donations.

DeWit had replaced divisive GOP Chair Kelli Ward, who along with her husband were among 11 Republicans who in 2020 falsely certified that Arizonas votes in the electoral college should go to Trump, not Joe Biden.

DeWit's resignation raised concerns among some Republicans that the party would lapse back into disunity and infighting.

DeWit told The Republic he believes the letter to O'Connor "shows they planned this far in advance" and that he had been told by others that was so.

DeWit declined further comment.

'Disgusting': Kari Lake assails former AZ GOP boss Jeff DeWit, doesn't say why she released 'bribe' recording

Party infighting led to movement against DeWit

Republican activist Dan Farley posted his concerns about a possible conspiracy on X.com, formerly Twitter.

"Don't tell me it wasnt coordinated," he told The Republic, adding that the Jan. 8 letter shows "premeditation."

Farley is not a moderate. He's a GOP precinct committee member, GOP chair in Phoenix's Legislative District 4 and president of the Arizona Tea Party. Yet he has battled with what he calls the "tyranny" faction of the party  election deniers and "grifters" who he believes are ruining the party.

DeWit's political enemies have been moving for months toward an intended ouster of DeWit and filling the position with O'Connor, but Lake's recording streamlined the process, Farley said.

Hard-right Republican activists don't like DeWit because "he's just not part of the cult," according to Farley.

Farley also noted that O'Connor took over as acting chair of the Maricopa County Republican Party's annual meeting on Jan. 13, leading he and others to speculate it was a trial run for the state job.

If DeWit hadn't resigned, people pushing the "Ultra Grassroots" slate with O'Connor could have found the votes to call for a special election meeting in 45 days under the party's bylaws, Farley said. The bylaws also prohibit elected officials from holding the chair position, but "if they have the numbers" at the meeting, he said, O'Connor's supporters would vote to change the rules.

Other names discussed by observers for the top slot include former state Rep. Liz Harris, who was expelled from the Arizona Legislature last year for lying about disinformation she allowed an ally to present at a hearing. Asked if she was considering going for the chair position, Harris told The Republic in a text, "While I am not sure of all the candidates, I have personally been impressed with AZ Corporate Commissioner Jim O'Connor."

Farley said that last year, O'Connor asked him for his extensive list of GOP-related email contacts. When Farley refused, O'Connor teamed up with Harris "because she has a big social media following," he said.

Harris and O'Connor both work with Shelby Busch, co-founder of We the People AZ Alliance PAC and the county GOP's first vice chair, who is a close ally of Lake, Farley explained.

Farley previously has been critical of the county party's current leadership, calling it unethical, while Busch claims Farley has attacked her because of "political differences."

'Grassroots' candidate believes O'Connor just acted 'preemptively'

O'Connor has echoed some of the same election-fraud concerns of Busch and Harris, asking counties to stop using machines in elections and exploring how the Corporation Commission could hold a hearing on the use of "voting machines," which he called an "incredible risk to our republic."

Vera Gebran, who ran unsuccessfully for the Legislature last year, is running for first vice chair of the state party on the same Grassroots slate as O'Connor. She doesn't believe O'Connor knew about Lake's recording before she released it, saying he was probably "acting preemptively" by asking Corporation Commission lawyers about the position "in case DeWit did step down."

She noted that DeWit foes have been circulating petitions for weeks asking GOP members to try to oust DeWit.

"I think it was totally a coincidence," she said of the timing of Lake's audio release before the state meeting.

Jill Norgaard, the state GOP's acting chair since DeWit resigned, and her advisers are pushing for a special meeting in 45 days to elect a new chair.

But Gebran said "that is a month and a half out of the 10 we have left" before the Nov. 5 election. Having attended the Jan. 13 county meeting and having witnessed the "excitement" over the Grassroots slate there, she predicted a floor vote for chair at Saturday's meeting.

She acknowledged the division in the party, stating "there's a lot of varying perspectives." She's reluctantly running for the party position out of a sense of "duty," she said.

She said she and others on O'Connor's slate promote government based more closely on the U.S. and state constitutions. Gebran said politicians generally represent a "uniparty," adding that citizens should ask themselves if they would rather support constitutional policies or "support the globalist initiative and join a one-world government?"

Other candidates could be nominated

Another flyer circulating among Republicans touts an "America First Conservatives" slate. That one features Yuma County GOP Chair Greg Wilkinson vying for state chair and Gina Maloney running for first vice chair.

Wilkinson said after DeWit resigned, people began calling him and asking him to run for state chair. He said he didn't know with certainty whether he would be nominated or if any election for chair would take place at all on Saturday since no election for chair is on the event's agenda.

"I'm kind of going in to see what happens," Wilkinson said.

Dajana Zlaticanin, state GOP party spokeswoman, told The Republic it's a "fact" that someone could be elected chair at the meeting.

The vacancy also spurred Nico Delgado, a 16-year-old spokesman for the North Valley Young Republicans club, to give it a shot. He announced on social media Friday he is running for state chair "to raise awareness for the need of a youth advisory board" in the state party.

Chuck Coughlin, a Republican political consultant who has been critical of the party's Trump-supporting wing, said he didn't know who would end up as the party's new chair, but predicted the person would be "someone who can easily pass the MAGA ideological purity test and who is incapable of understanding and correcting the mistakes of the last three cycles."

'Shes walking a tightrope': How will Kari Lake's close ties to Trump play in Senate race?

Reach the reporter at rstern@arizonarepublic.com or 480-276-3237. Follow him on X @raystern.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Jim O'Connor, Gina Swoboda among possible candidates to replace DeWit
A former and a current head of a department in Ukraines Defence Ministry, two directors of the Lviv Arsenal firm, and a representative of an international firm have been served with notices of suspicion in the case of embezzlement of nearly 1.5 billion hryvnias (approximately US$39 million) allocated to the purchase of artillery shells.

Source: Office of the Prosecutor General; Security Service of Ukraine; Ministry of Defence of Ukraine; Ukrainska Pravda sources

Details: Ukraines Security Service said that the five men were served notices of suspicion under Art. 191.5 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (misappropriation, embezzlement or seizure of property through abuse of office committed by an organised group).

The former and current heads of the Department of Military and Technical Policy, Development of Armaments and Military Equipment of the Ministry of Defence, Lviv Arsenals CEO and commercial director, and their accomplice, a representative of a foreign commercial firm, were served with suspicion notices.

Ukraines Security Service detained one of the men when he attempted to flee Ukraine; he is currently in custody. Preventive measures for the others are currently being discussed.

The men face up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.

Ukrainska Pravda sources in law enforcement said the men served with suspicion notices were Oleksandr Liiev, the former head of the Department of Military and Technical Policy, Development of Armaments and Military Equipment; Toomas Nakhur, the current head of the department; and Yurii Zbitniev, Lviv Arsenal founder and CEO.

The Ministry of Defence said that Ukraines National Police and Security Service served the suspicion notices with the Defence Ministrys assistance, and that the Office of the Prosecutor General was providing procedural oversight.

According to the investigation, the defence ministry officials signed a contract for the purchase of a wholesale batch of artillery shells with Lviv Arsenal, an arms supplier, in August 2022. The Defence Ministry then transferred the full amount stipulated in the contract to the company's accounts.

Upon receipt of the funds, Lviv Arsenal management transferred part of the money to the balance sheet of a foreign commercial entity that was supposed to deliver the ammunition to Ukraine. However, the company did not send a single artillery shell to Ukraine, and transferred the funds to the accounts of another affiliated company in the Balkans. The rest of the amount remained on the Lviv Arsenal accounts in a Kyiv bank.

Ukraines Security Service was able to trace the embezzlement scheme and identified all persons involved in the fraud. The stolen funds have been seized, and the question of how to return them to the Ukrainian budget is being discussed.

Previously: On 26 January, the Northern Commercial Court of Appeal upheld the decision of the first instance court to recover 1.5 billion hryvnias in favour of the Ministry of Defence from Yurii Zbitnievs Lviv Arsenal, which failed to fulfil a contract to supply shells to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Background:

Earlier, Ukrainska Pravda reported that Lviv Arsenal received 1.4 billion hryvnias (about US$38 million) from the Ministry of Defence for the supply of a large batch of 120-mm and 82-mm mortar rounds, but the company is long overdue on the contract and had not handed over a single mine to the Armed Forces.

Yurii Zbitniev is the founder of Lviv Arsenal; he became one of the youngest members of the Verkhovna Rada of the Ukrainian SSR in 1990. He also took part in the creation of the Social-Democratic Party of Ukraine, but later left it.

It was reported that the Ministry of Defence signed a contract with a little-known company called Lviv Arsenal on 11 November 2022. A few days later, the then Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov authorised an advance payment under the contract  almost 100% of the contract amount.

Deliveries were supposed to begin in December 2022 and be fully completed by the end of February 2023, but, as Ukrainska Pravda reported, as of the end of July, the Ministry of Defence had not received a single mine under the prepaid contract.

Support UP or become our patron!
The Oklahoma Ethics Commissions new director announced Monday that its Guardian System, a database used for reporting and tracking campaign financial information and lobbyist registrations, will be extended through February 2025.

Ethics Commission Chairman Jared Brejcha, right, welcomes new executive director Lee Anne Bruce Boone during the commission's meeting Friday, Jan. 12, 2024. (Michael McNutt)

The Guardian System had been scheduled to lose functionality after July 1 because the software and services firm Civix had decided to shelve the underlying software used to operate Oklahomas reporting system. With July 1 landing in the middle of the 2024 election cycle, the Ethics Commissions prior director, Ashley Kemp, had called the looming expiration a nightmare scenario. In December, the commission approved hiring an attorney to pursue potential litigation with the company.

But when new executive director Lee Anne Bruce Boone started her tenure at the agency this month, she said she decided to reach out to Civix and get a sense of the situation herself.

I think with any new position comes just a little bit of room to explore things, and I just really wanted to take advantage of that, Bruce Boone told NonDoc on Monday. I had not had contact with anyone from Civix, and I just picked up the phone and called and said, Hey, Im new. Where are we? Whats happening, and what can we do to try to work things out? They were receptive. Theyve had a change in leadership also, in terms of a new CEO, and I think that made a difference as well.

Soon thereafter, the Ethics Commission sent the company a proposed addendum to extend the software support for the Guardian System eight months through Feb. 28, 2025.

I think its a great short-term solution. Its a win for the commission, its a win for the Legislature and for Oklahomans, she said. However, long-term were still back to the drawing board in terms of after February of 2025. We have to find a long-term solution. So well be doing that, and that most likely means an RFP process and moving forward in that direction. Were just not there yet.

Bruce Boone said the extension with Civix buys some much-needed time as she speaks with leaders of the Oklahoma Legislature about funding to build the next iteration of the Guardian System. In her press release Monday, Bruce Boone listed $1.6 million as an estimated cost, but in an interview she called that a best guess based off a scope of work provided in the past by Civix.

Thats whats out there right now. And being transparent, I dont think were exactly sure what the final number will need to be for a new system, Bruce Boone said. My message is that this (online) system allows us to comply with the existing rules and the constitutional requirements that are out there and it allows us to do it in a much easier way than going back to paper requirements.

Senate Appropriations and Budget Committee Chairman Roger Thompson (R-Okemah) called news of the extended timeline a great thing as the 2024 election cycle heats up.

That was a concern of mine as well, he said. Were going into an election year, and thats not a good time to be changing your software.

Thompson said he is excited about Bruce Boones early leadership at the agency, and he pointed to Sen. John Haste (R-Broken Arrow) as someone involved in discussions with the Ethics Commissions legislative asks.

I want to make sure weve got the correct software, but I want to make sure we arent spending more on it than we need to, Thompson said.

In Mondays press release, Ethics Commission Chairman Jarred Brejcha said he was pleased that Bruce Boone was able to reestablish conversations that had been trending unproductive.

Theres still work to be done with long-term funding for this service, but this ensures short-term current election support which should put people at ease and allow us to make the best use of our time for system development into the future, Brejcha said. Legislators need to know weve done well so far, but their funding is still needed.

This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: State ethics head ensures Guardian system available for 2024 election
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  Looking for a fun way to support those in law enforcement who protect our city and keep us safe? You can sign up to participate in the Support Blue Run coming to Fresnos Woodward Park.

The annual Support Blue Run supports all branches of the Fresno Police Department and is expecting to draw 6,000+ participants for the 2024 run, both civilians and law enforcement from all over the Valley.

Support Blue Fresno is a grassroots effort that aims to foster trust and confidence between officers and the community they serve.

The event features a 10k run, a 5k run, and a two-mile walk that participants will be able to choose from.

According to the Fresno Police Chaplaincy, tactical units will be on display for the public to interact with including SWAT, K-9, Mounted Patrol, and a Skywatch helicopter.

Participants will also get a long-sleeved event shirt, finisher medallion, Krispy Kreme Donuts, Dutch Bros Coffee, and more.

The family-friendly event will take place on Feb. 24. More information can be found at their website.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com.
On a quiet day, home alone with the windows open at her Michigan home, Tina Barton thought she heard a voice saying: Hello.

Her heart started beating quickly, as she believed someone uninvited might be outside her rural house. She slammed the windows shut. She called her husband and had him check the security cameras. He saw no one.

She was in an absolute panic. When she had been an elections clerk in Rochester Hills, Michigan, in 2020, Barton had faced death threats and harassment for doing her job. One man had threatened to fucking kill her. For quite some time, she hadnt known who the threatening man was. He could have been anyone. He could have been a person whod show up to her house one day.

Related: Indictments fueled extremists support for Trump, survey finds

The incident at her house came a year after shed left her job, but two years before the man would be identified and charged. That day, her daughter eventually arrived home, telling Barton shed had a scare in the garage. The noise wasnt anyone upset at a local elections official  it was the neighbors barn cat, stuck in the garage, bellowing, sounding like a human voice.

We laugh about it now, Barton said. But I realized in that moment that something was going on in my brain that was not normal for me.

Barton, now a senior elections expert at the Elections Group, tells this story to rooms of elections officials, many of whom have experienced the same harassment and threats she did when Donald Trump and his allies led a campaign to question and overturn the results of the 2020 election. Its part of a resilience training she hosts at elections conferences around the country, as well as virtually, to confront the ongoing harassment public servants face.

The election workers in the audience could also be dealing with hypervigilance, fear and post-traumatic stress from their work. They may feel isolated or like theyre overreacting. Bartons story, she said, lets them know theyre not alone.

In order for them to feel that they can be weak and vulnerable and talk about those things and open up about them, I have to first display that to them, she said.

Election threats, often based on misinformation or distortions of election processes, didnt end in 2020. Theyre now an everyday problem for election officials in the US, bringing with them the potential to turn into violence. Even without a physical manifestation, they cause stress, worry and chaos to elections offices and the people who work in them.

These harassing and threatening messages are more likely to target women and people of color, according to Princeton Universitys Bridging Divides Initiative, which studies political violence. Theyre more common in swing states like Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin and Arizona. Most do not result in criminal charges, though a justice department unit focused on election threats has charged more than a dozen people since 2021.

The problem is at a consistently high baseline, surveys of elections officials from CivicPulse found. In any given quarter, nearly half of all officials have been insulted, a third have been harassed, and nearly one in five threatened. Threats turning physical, while rare, cast worry and fear over these officials  one in five female officials worry about attacks on them or their family, CivicPulse says.

A wave of election officials have quit their jobs, often leaving less experienced people in charge of voting. Nationwide data on the departures isnt available, but a study of 11 states in the US west by Issue One showed that more than 160 chief local election officials had left their roles since the 2020 election, leaving half of the 76 million Americans living in those states with a new top election official.

For those who have stayed, the threats arent going away or getting better. Elections officials are looking for a way to commiserate and find ways to manage the ongoing harassment in their daily work lives.

Bill Gates, a Maricopa county official in Arizona who was the target of harassment by fellow Republicans for years, shared in a Washington Post story that he sought therapy and dealt with post-traumatic stress in the aftermath. Maricopa county election workers have dealt with ongoing harassment since 2020.

Groups that focus on election issues have added resources for mental wellness. The Carter Center created a wellbeing resource guide for elections officials. I think whats especially helpful is basically just being able to talk to people about it, said David Carroll, the director of the centers democracy program.

***

After the cat wakeup call in 2021, Barton said she called Harold Love, a longtime friend and retired Michigan state police captain who now works as a counselor. He told her she was having a very normal response to an abnormal situation.

A lot of things are based on fear  the fear that something is going to happen, the fear that a threat that I receive is going to be carried out. And if youve heard some of the horrific things that some of them have been subjected to, just the thought of someone carrying that out, it may put a person in a state of hypervigilance, said Love, who helped Barton with resources for the training. In other words, every noise makes you jumpy.

She tells the elections officials in the resilience trainings the same thing: youre not abnormal. Youre not alone. The fear and stress youre feeling make sense for the circumstances youre experiencing.

Sometimes I have to just repeat his statement to me when I feel anxious, this is a normal reaction to an abnormal situation, she said. Its abnormal to have someone say they want to slice your throat in public. Its abnormal for someone to say they want to kill you. Those things are abnormal. Im not abnormal.

An injury doesnt need to be physical to have a lasting effect, Love said. The body tries to protect itself by being overly vigilant and withdrawing from activities that could cause anxiety or worry. Theres also a tendency for people to downplay the way threats affect them or not talk about them, but trauma is trauma, Love said.

The sessions help officials reflect on the weight theyve been carrying for years, as theyve put their heads down to do the important work of elections despite the noise. They might not be aware of the ways harassment affects their daily lives. They may have lost sight of why theyre still doing this job. Barton likens it to carrying around her granddaughter on any given day: her weight doesnt change, but over time, it becomes more difficult to carry.

Its become backbreaking. Its become exhausting. Its making you fatigued in lots of areas. And so just kind of reminding them of, this is why youre feeling that, this is why you are in this place. And its OK to put the weight down, she said.

The trainings detail what stress, trauma and burnout can look like. She talks about ways to manage them: through changing your mindset, taking a break, deep breathing, preparing for stressful times in advance, talking with others, finding an accountability partner, going to therapy.

The mental wellness tools can help the individuals manage the daily stresses of their increasingly difficult job, but theyre working against a systemic problem thats much harder to solve  and often exacerbated by political leaders who throw more vitriol their way.

Threatening and harassing messages often dont lead to criminal charges because prosecutors weigh whether theyll be able to convict someone against free speech rights. Most messages arent actionable, even if they seem to a layperson to clearly be calling for violence or death. Those leaving the messages are often anonymous, too, creating a fear that the threatening person could be anyone.

The Department of Justice created an election threats taskforce in 2021 and has so far charged 15 people, 11 of whom have been convicted. But some people who work in elections say the department hasnt been aggressive enough, despite the attorney general, Merrick Garland, vowing to prosecute over election threats.

The Arizona secretary of state, Adrian Fontes, a Democrat, told Rolling Stone this month that hes frustrated by the department and Garland for being far too cautious.

This should be treated like the emergency that it is Adrian Fontes, Arizona secretary of state

I have a lot of respect for the attorney general, but he is not being nearly aggressive enough on this threat, which is imperiling our democracy, and he and the department are not devoting nearly enough resources to it. This should be treated like the emergency that it is.

Local officials have became a symbol for people upset with Trumps loss who were searching for someone to blame and had their fears of a stolen election stoked by politicians and rightwing news outlets. The threats often dont come from the community itself, but from people from another state who have read a post online.

When locals do weigh in, elections officials are more accessible to an enraged citizen than a congressman or senator or president. They can walk into a city hall or clerks counter and talk directly to someone they may know from around town and give them a piece of their mind. Barton helps election workers understand that these angry people dont represent their whole community, just vocal detractors.

Dont lose sight of the work that youre doing, she tells them. Give yourself grace and recognize that its a very small minority whos been given a huge megaphone in this moment.

***

She knows what elections officials are going through because she was one. And she knows why theyve stayed in it: they have a passion for service, theyre patriotic, they care about their communities.

Barton always brings the conversation back to the why, which many of them have lost in the chaos of this political moment. She asks the officials to write down three whys on a note card. It can range from needing a paycheck and insurance to caring deeply about public service. Those cards serve as a physical reminder for them to pull out during tough times and remember why theyre still at it.

Shes had attendees come up to her afterward and say they needed someone to open up this conversation, to feel like someone understood them. One election official came up to her at a conference and opened his wallet, taking out his notecard that hed written at a previous session. He said, I take this with me everywhere I go, Barton said.

Barton cant go back to who she was before her life was threatened; shell never be the same person again. Other election workers cant either. But they can find ways to commiserate and cope and try to renew their passion, she said.

When they walk out of her resilience training, she wants them to feel like theyve been heard, theyve been understood.
The row over the Post Office scandal and the hundreds of victims who are yet to be fully compensated has dominated headlines over recent days.

Here are the answers to questions you may have about the Horizon row, which still shows no sign of abating.

What caused the Post Office scandal?

The rollout of Horizon computing software - manufactured by Japanese company Fujitsu - across UK Post Office branches led to the prosecution of more than 900 sub-postmasters between 1999 and 2015. Faults in the software made it look like money was missing and sub-postmasters were charged with theft and false accounting as a result. Some were ordered to undertake community service or sent to prison and four are known to have taken their own lives.

What did sub-postmasters do when they found out they had shortfalls?

The Post Office ordered sub-postmasters to pay back money that was lost or face prosecution if they did not comply. They were contractually obliged to make up for the losses with their own funds. This resulted in some losing their livelihoods and going bankrupt as a result.

What happened to the extra money which was paid in?

Forensic accounts have said that the extra money paid in by worried sub-postmasters was likely credited to the Post Offices profit and loss account. If this was the case, then the Post Office would have declared larger profits or smaller losses that it should have done and would have needed less government subsidy as a result. If so, then the taxpayer inadvertently benefited from money wrongly taken from sub-postmasters.

When were the shortfalls attributed to the faulty computer software system?

It wasnt until December 2019 when a High Court judge ruled that Horizon contained bugs, errors and defects and there was a material risk that shortfalls in Post Office branch accounts were caused by the system.

How many sub-postmasters have had their convictions overturned since the 2019 judgment?

So far, 93 sub-postmasters have had their convictions overturned, but hundreds more have not yet come forward.

Have any sub-postmasters received compensation?

Around 138 million has been paid out to approximately 2,700 sub-postmasters across three compensation schemes, according to the Post Office. However, hundreds of others are yet to receive a payout. In September, the Government announced that every worker whose wrongful conviction was overturned would be offered 600,000 in compensation. Those who had already received initial smaller payments or had reached a lower valued settlement with the Post Office would be paid the difference. However, some lawyers who represent victims have said that even 600,000 is not enough in all cases to make up for what has been lost over two decades.

How did the Government come up with the 600,000 figure?

The first time victims of the scandal received any money was when those involved in Bates & Others v Post Office reached an out-of-court settlement with the Post Office in 2019. The Post Office did not accept liability, so this was a costs settlement not compensation. However, the group was awarded 57.75 million in total. However, some 46 million was taken in legal costs - leaving only 20,000 for each person. In April 2021, Nick Read, the chief executive of the Post Office, urged the Government to provide funding, arguing that his organisation did not have the financial resources to provide meaningful compensation. The Government went on to announce that sub-postmasters wrongly convicted of offences would get interim compensation of up to 100,000 a few months later, in July 2021. In September 2023, it confirmed that those who had had their convictions overturned on the basis of Horizon evidence would be paid 600,000 in full and final settlement of their claim.

What about sub-postmasters whose convictions have not been overturned?

Without proof of the convictions having been overturned, victims cannot currently claim compensation. People with criminal convictions typically need to go through an appeal process in court and the Post Office has said it covers all fees for lawyers and experts. On Wednesday, Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, announced that a new law would ensure those convicted as a result of the Horizon scandal are swiftly exonerated and compensated. However, experts have warned that such laws could undermine the independence of the courts and judges.

ITV drama Alan Bates vs The Post Office has helped highlight the issues raised in the Horizon scandal - ITV/Shutterstock

Who will fund the payouts?

So far the Government has funded the 138 million figure, but many have questioned whether Fujitsu - the firm behind the faulty software - should foot the bill. The multi-billion-pound Japanese firm typically receives more than 100 million in ongoing UK government contracts each year. On Tuesday, Mel Stride, Work and Pensions Secretary, told Good Morning Britain that he didnt think there was any working assumption at the moment that the taxpayer would fund the compensation payments. He said decisions going forward would be based on the outcome of an independent inquiry.

When will the independent inquiry finish?

The Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry was initially set up as a non-statutory inquiry in September 2020. Following a request from Sir Wyn Williams, the Chairman of the Inquiry, it became statutory in June 2021. Statutory inquiries have certain powers - including the ability to compel witnesses to give evidence. The inquiry was initially set to conclude in August 2022 but it is still ongoing and is now due to finish this year.

Has anyone been held criminally responsible for what happened?

The Metropolitan Police launched an investigation in 2020 which saw Fujitsu experts, who were witnesses in the trials, probed for potential perjury and perverting the course of justice. Two people were interviewed under caution as a result, but nobody was arrested. However, last week the Met confirmed that the Post Office was under criminal investigation over potential fraud offences committed during the scandal.

Why did Paula Vennells hand back her CBE?

On Tuesday, Vennells, the former Post Office chief executive, confirmed that she would hand back her CBE, which she was awarded in 2019 for services to the Post Office and charity. Her decision came after mounting calls for her to be stripped of the honour.

Paula Vennells ran the Post Office while it routinely denied there was a problem with its Horizon IT system - Anthony Devlin

What else do campaigners want Paula Vennells to do?

Campaigners would like to see Ms Vennells return the 2.93 million she received in performance-related bonus payments in lieu of a pension. Overall, she is understood to have been paid as much as 5 million in total during her tenure as the chief executive of the Post Office between 2012 and 2019.

Why has the scandal come to light again?

Newspapers, broadcasters and websites, including The Telegraph, have reported on the scandal over the years. However, the scandal has come to public attention again following the release of ITVs drama Mr Bates vs. The Post Office, which is the channels most popular drama in three years.

Who is Alan Bates?

Alan Bates was a sub-postmaster who was accused of theft when his accounts showed a shortfall. He first reported issues with Horizon in 2000 and eventually had his contract terminated in 2003 when he refused to comply with his obligations to pay back the losses from his own pocket. Mr Bates led the campaign group Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance to its High Court victory in 2019.

Will everyone get justice?

At least 33 victims of the scandal have already died without receiving compensation. Campaigners warn many involved are only getting older and that it is crucial action is taken quickly.

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.
By Alexandra Ulmer, Peter Eisler and Linda So

(Reuters) -Authorities responded to a fake emergency at the South Carolina home of Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley last month after a man claimed to have shot a woman and threatened to harm himself at her home, according to town records obtained by Reuters.

The previously unreported swatting incident is among a wave of violent threats, bomb scares and other acts of intimidation against government officials, members of the judiciary and election administrators since the 2020 election that have alarmed law enforcement ahead of this years U.S. presidential contest.

Swatting cases have surged over the past two months, targeting both allies and rivals of former President Donald Trump as he campaigns to return to the White House. The targets include figures who have publicly opposed Trump, such as Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, a Democrat who barred him from her states primary ballot. Judges and at least one prosecutor handling cases against Trump have been targeted. But Trump backers such as U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene have also faced swatting attempts.

The hoax against Haley, who is challenging frontrunner Trump for the Republican presidential nomination, occurred on Dec. 30 in the town of Kiawah Island, an affluent, gated community of around 2,000 people.

Haley's campaign declined to comment.

An unknown person called 911 and claimed to have shot his girlfriend and threatened to harm himself while at the residence of Nikki Haley," Craig Harris, Kiawah Island director of public safety, told town officials on Dec. 30, according to an email Reuters obtained in a records request for threats to Haleys home. "It was determined to be a hoax ... Nikki Haley is not on the island and her son is with her."

Swatting is the filing of false reports to the police to set off a potentially dangerous response by officers. Law enforcement experts see it as a form of intimidation or harassment that is increasingly being used to target prominent figures, including officials involved in the civil and criminal cases against Trump.

In the email, Harris said he was in contact with South Carolinas state police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the head of Haleys security team. This incident is being investigated by all involved, he wrote. The email did not mention a suspect or potential motive. In a separate email obtained by Reuters, an FBI official in South Carolina told Harris and other law enforcement officials that federal agents were tracking the hoax call and intended to open a threat assessment into the matter.

Harris and the state police had no immediate comment on the incident. The FBI declined to comment on the specific swatting of Haleys home but said, when the threats are made as a hoax, it puts innocent people at risk, is a waste of law enforcement's limited resources, and costs taxpayers. Law enforcement agencies have not publicly identified a suspect in the Haley case or in other high-profile swatting cases.

Haley and her husband bought the $2.4 million Kiawah Island residence in October 2019, local property records indicate.

Trump, famed for his incendiary rhetoric, has expressed fury at Haley in recent weeks. She has lost the first two Republican nominating contests, in Iowa and New Hampshire, but has refused to drop out of the race. Haley has ramped up her criticism of Trump, suggesting hes too old to be president again and calling him totally unhinged.

Reuters has documented at least 27 swatting incidents of politicians, prosecutors, election officials and judges since November 2023, ranging from Georgia Republican state officials to hoaxes this month against Democrat Joe Bidens residence at the White House.

Some of the calls bear striking similarities. In two cases in which Reuters reviewed 911 recordings of hoax calls, a person identifying himself as Jamal called police to say he had killed his wife.

One such incident targeted the Florida home of Republican U.S. Senator Rick Scott on Dec. 27, weeks after he endorsed Trump, according to records from the Naples Police Department. I caught my wife sleeping with another dude so I took my AR-15, and I shot her in the head three times, the caller said, referring to a popular semi-automatic rifle. Officers checked Scotts home and concluded the call was a hoax. Scott wasnt there at the time.

Jamals voice sounded as if it was computer generated/artificial, wrote a Naples Police Department official in the incident report. Scott declined to comment on the incident.

A caller identifying himself as Jamal also targeted Georgia Republican state senator John Albers on Dec. 26, according to an incident report from the Roswell Police Department. In that case, the caller said he had shot his wife and demanded $10,000 or he would shoot himself, too. In both cases, the callers were male and spoke with a similar accent, according to a Reuters analysis of the audio recordings.

A Jan. 7 call targeting Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, a strong Trump supporter, also had some similarities. The caller told police he was phoning from the officials address in the state capital, said he had shot his wife and added he was going to kill himself and hung up on the operator, according to an incident report by the Jefferson City Police Department. Ashcroft and his wife and children were home at the time, according to a statement from the Missouri Secretary of State.

Albers and Ashcroft did not respond to requests for comment.

Gabriel Sterling, a top official in the Georgia secretary of states office, said when someone called 911 on Jan. 11 to falsely report a shooting at his Atlanta suburban home, 14 police cars, a fire truck and an ambulance raced to his house. Now I bolt my doors every night, said Sterling, a Republican who faced a torrent of threats for denouncing Trumps false voter-fraud claims after the 2020 election. Thats the reality Im living in now, he said in an interview.

JUDGES IN TRUMP CASES ARE TARGETED

Similar scare tactics have been directed in recent weeks at judges and prosecutors involved in cases against Trump.

In the early morning hours of Jan. 11, police in Nassau County, New York, received a report of a bomb at the home of Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron, who is presiding over the civil fraud trial of Trump and his family real estate business. Police officers, including a bomb squad, were dispatched to the judges home in the upscale suburb of Great Neck, Long Island, at 5:30 a.m., according to the Nassau County Police Department.

But no explosive device was found and the call was determined to be a false report. A spokesman for the New York court system declined to comment on the incident.

Just days earlier, police in Washington, D.C., responded to a false report of a shooting at the home of U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is hearing the criminal case charging Trump with attempting to overturn his 2020 election defeat. Late in the evening on Jan. 7, police were dispatched to the home, where an unidentified woman advised them that she was uninjured and no one else was in the home, according to an incident report reviewed by Reuters. Police cleared the home and found no explosive device. The U.S. Marshals Service, which manages security for federal judges and prosecutors, did not respond to a request for comment on specific incidents.

Other security scares have involved hoax bomb attacks.

Over two days in early January, bomb threats were sent to state capitals and courthouses in multiple states, according to news reports and state officials, including Minnesota, Arkansas, Maine, Hawaii, Montana and New Hampshire. In Minnesota, state courts received bomb threats by email, but the threats were deemed false and did not block court proceedings, court officials told Reuters. The FBI said it was investigating the threats.

In a statement issued previously on the surge in swatting incidents, the FBI said people making the false calls were using tactics such as caller-ID spoofing technology to make it appear that the emergency call is coming from the victims phone.

The calls are dangerous to first responders and to the victims, often involving fake reports that hostages have been taken or bombs are about to go off, the FBI said. The community is placed in danger as responders rush to the scene, taking them away from real emergencies, and the officers are placed in danger as unsuspecting residents may try to defend themselves.

The recent swatting incidents follow a surge of violent threats against U.S. election workers after the 2020 election, inspired by Trumps false stolen-election claims. Reuters documented more than 1,000 intimidating messages between the 2020 election through 2021 in a series of stories that chronicled the campaign of fear against election administrators in more than a dozen battleground states. A report published on Thursday by New York University's Brennan Center for Justice said the intimidation continued well into last year. In its survey of state legislators completed in October 2023, 43% reported being threatened over the past three years.

The swatting wave coincides with the most sustained spate of political violence in the United States since the 1970s, according to a Reuters investigation last year. That report documented at least 232 politically motivated acts of violence since Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The events ranged from riots to brawls at political demonstrations to beatings and murders.

(Alexandra Ulmer reported from San Francisco. Peter Eisler and Linda So reported from Washington. Additional reporting by Ned Parker in New York. Editing by Jason Szep)
JONES, County (KTAB/KRBC)  On the eve of New Years Day in 2023, the Jones County Sheriffs Department was called to County Road 310 along Deadmans Creek with reports of a body being found. That body was identified as Chris Zarate of Abilene. Jones County Sheriff Danny Jimenez said he found Zarate in the creek riddled with numerous bullet wounds.

Man found deceased by Jones County roadway, possible homicide

Chris Zarate

Do you know how long he had been out there before he was discovered? KTAB/KRBC asked Sheriff Jimenez.

Several hours, There was obvious signs there on the scene that foul play had occurred Evidence indicates that it happened right there on the scene, Jimenez responded.

Just a few miles away, Zarates friends and family had gathered to ring in the new year together. That celebration was brought to a halt when the news arrived.

The whole day stopped. It went from BBQ and smiles to tears and wanting to be alone It was heartbreaking. It was the hardest thing Ive ever had to go through in my life, said Zarates younger sister, Meagan Zarate.

Family seeks answers about brothers death nearly four months after his body was found in Jones County

A year has passed since this discovery, and little has been released from the investigation, which now includes Taylor County and the Texas Rangers. However, Jimenez said the trail hasnt gone cold just yet.

Its frustrating not being able to answer their questions, but We do have a suspect in the case. Theyve been through ongoing problems with the family, Jimenez said.

A few days after the murder, Meagan Zarate was driving her brothers car when she said someone shot at her. Court documents reveal that a bullet hole was found in her car, as well as the car of Juan Rodriguez. Rodriguez was arrested by Abilene police in December 2023 and charged with that shooting and a number of other crimes. Other court documents named him as a suspect in Zarates murder, but law enforcement has yet to make an arrest in the ongoing investigation.

Abilene murder suspect accused of shooting at victims sister, assaulting another woman multiple times, kidnapping incident

While no motive has been released in the murder case, Meagan and her siblings have said that Zarate had a bit of a checkered history, a factor Jimenez said they are not ruling out in their investigation.

We all have a past, but nobody deserves to die that way, Meagan said.

Do yall know anything about his former dealings that may be playing into this? KTAB/KRBC questioned Sheriff Jimenez.

Its a possibility, yes, Jimenez responded.

Jimenez said the counties and Texas Rangers will meet in a weeks time to discuss the findings of the investigation so far. This comes as a glimmer of hope to Meagan and the rest of Zarates family. Meagan shared that they are desperate for answers and justice. Feeling that they have little left to keep the hope alive.

Now its just memories. Memories that break the heart all over again, said Meagan.

Anyone with information about what happened to Chris Zarate is asked to contact the Jones County Sheriffs Office at (325) 823-4605, Texas Rangers Office at (325) 795-4000, or Abilene Police Department Crime Stoppers at (325) 676-8477.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.
Dr. Francis Wood, 96, admires the John Opie painting, The Schoolmistress, stolen from his parents Newark, New Jersey, home in 1969 and recently returned to him as the rightful owner. | FBI

When FBI special agent Gary France caught wind of a stolen painting from the 18th-century, he was a little skeptical about the case. The art theft was said to have ties to organized crime in addition to its historic ties.

I was born in 1971, so the idea of investigating the crime that occurred even before I was born was quite daunting, France said in a media conference Friday.

The painting in question is called The Schoolmistress by John Opie and went missing from a private New Jersey residence after a July 25, 1969, burglary. It ended up with an accounting firm in Washington County, Utah, as the firm worked to liquidate the estate of a man named James R. Gullo.

This piece of art, what a history its had, France said. It traveled all through the U.K. when it was first painted, and owned by quite a few families in the U.K. and then it travels overseas to the United States and is sold during the Great Depression. And then stolen by the mob and recovered by the FBI decades later. Its quite amazing.

France said hes nearing retirement and the experience of working on this case was one of his top five best experiences on a case in his career.

Tom Wood assist Special Agent Gary France in unveiling the recovered painting to Dr. Francis Wood. | FBI

The artist behind the work, Opie, was hobnobbing with the Blue Stockings Society  a literary circle attached to a broader womens movement  and in tandem with his social connections, he made realistic portraits of iconic Enlightenment era figures like Mary Wollstonecraft and Edmund Burke. His portrait work, whether of famous or everyday people, was noted for its contrast between light and dark, as is apparent in The Schoolmistress.

Opie enjoyed success as an accomplished portrait artist during the late 1700s. He was similar to Rembrandt in his use of light and brushstrokes and was known for oil paintings in the style of realism. The first documented sale that emerged during the investigation occurred in 1788 and like other pieces of art, it passed through different peoples hands including a New Jersey man.

Earl Leroy Wood was drawn to The Schoolmistress during the Great Depression. He spent $7,500 on the painting in 1930. The original bill of sale indicated the painting came from the collection of the late Earl of Stamford and Warrington.

After Wood purchased the painting, theres some correspondence that it indicates he shipped it over to Spink and Son for restoration and cleaning. That was in 1954  15 years before it was stolen.

Woods home was the target of a burglary attempt in July 1969, court documents say. Three men attempted to steal a coin collection, but were driven out by a burglary alarm. Then, that same month, the painting was stolen.

It wasnt until June 1975 that there was an admission as to who carried out the burglary: Festa admitted to it in a trial testimony. During Festas testimony, he said that he and two other men carried out the art theft under the direction of Senator Imperiale. Festa testified that the painting was in the possession of Imperiale.

Imperiale never had any charges brought against him, court documents say.

The criminal subjects were tied to the Castiglione crime ring, an affidavit states. It is believed that law enforcement pressure forced the painting to be transferred to another mobster.

Copy of a historical flyer that shows the John Opie painting, The Schoolmistress, and lists a reward for its recovery. | FBI

Two decades passed and then James R. Gullo purchased a Florida home with property from Rocchina Covello and the painting was included in the sale of the home. Gullo did not know about the paintings history or where it had come from.

When James R. Gullo purchased the Covello residence, Gullo indirectly became a good faith purchaser of the painting, the affidavit says. However, it appears that Gullo neither realized the painting was an original Opie, nor understood its potential history and value as such.

A Covello family member, Joseph Covello Sr., was a reputed lieutenant of the Gambino crime family, court documents say.

While no information was discovered during the investigation to unveil the paintings location between 1969 and the late 1980s, I believe the Opie painting remained in the hands of organized crime members, and traveled in interstate commerce, until finally being observed within the residence of Joseph Covello Sr., France wrote in the affidavit. The fact that Joseph Covello Sr. was a convicted mobster, supports my belief that the painting remained in criminal hands for twenty years.

Though Gullo was born in Buffalo, New York, he moved to Florida during his life and opened up different restaurants. The Spectrum reported that he opened The Choo Choo Train Bar and Restaurant in Broward County Florida. Eventually, he moved to St. George, Utah, with his wife Marie where he spent the rest of his days before passing away on Jan. 5, 2020.

It was after then that Kris Braunberger at Hinton Burdick accounting firm began the process of liquidating Gullos assets and called the FBI about the painting.

After a lengthy investigation, France hand-delivered the painting to the Wood family  to Earl Leroy Woods son Francis  on Jan. 11, 2024. It was an experience that France described as joyful.

It was an honor playing a role in recovering a significant piece of art and culture and reuniting a family with its stolen heritage, France said. In a world where criminal investigations often leave scars, it was a rare joy to be part of a win-win case: a triumph for history, justice, and the Wood family.

Special Agent Gary France (second right), Dr. Francis Wood and Woods children stand next to the John Opie painting that was stolen from Woods parents home in 1969. | FBI
The recent and unexpected closure of westbound lanes on the Washington Bridge connecting East Providence and Providence, R.I., has triggered a federal investigation into possible fraud. Photo by GoBlue9/Wikimedia Commons

Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Investigators for the Office of the Inspector General and the Department of Justice are looking into the recent partial closure of the Washington Bridge in Rhode Island months after it was reopened following repairs.

Federal officials on Friday notified the Rhode Island Department of Transportation that they are looking into the partial closure of the Interstate 195 bridge on Dec. 11 due to the failure of some of its original structural parts, according to documents obtained by WJAR-TV.

The investigation is to determine if there is evidence of false claims filed with the federal government following work completed on the bridge in July.

"The investigation concerns the allegation that false claims for payment for services and/or false statements in support of such payments have been submitted to the U.S. government," the Rhode Island U.S. Attorney's office said in a document sent to Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee.

"These payments relate to claims submitted involving the construction, inspection, and/or repair of the I-195 Washington Bridge connecting Providence and East Providence, Rhode Island," the U.S. Attorney's letter said.

A spokesperson for McKee told the Providence Journal that state officials are cooperating with the federal investigation, which will slow the reopening of the Washington Bridge lanes. The bridge's sudden closure on Dec. 11 makes it difficult for many workers to commute to their jobs.

Federal investigators want all information and correspondence regarding the Washington Bridge inspections, maintenance and repairs dating back to 2015.

The latest bridge closure was to last for three months, but the investigation will delay the reopening by several more months.
A 55-year-old man from the Felton area has been charged with murder after his wife was killed, according to police.

Leon Reynolds was arrested by Delaware State Police and charged with first-degree murder after his wife, Virginia Reynolds, died.

At around 6:20 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 26, police went to a residence on Andrews Lake Road near Felton for a woman who was unresponsive. Upon arrival, Virginia Reynolds was found unresponsive with multiple injuries. The victim was taken to an area hospital where she died from the injuries.

After the Delaware State Police Homicide Unit investigated, detectives concluded Leon Reynolds was a suspect, according to police.

Leon Reynolds was then taken into custody and sent to Sussex Correctional Institution on a $1,000,000 cash bond.

The incident is still being investigated by the homicide unit. Police are asking those with information on the case to contact Detective B. Timmons at 302-365-8434 or brian.timmons@delaware.gov.

Information can also be sent via private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or by contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 800-847-3333.

CRIME IN DELAWARE: Jury finds former Belvedere deputy fire chief guilty of raping 15-year-old girl

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Felton-area man charged with murder after wife dies
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Findley Elementarys Zoya Shah has officially been sworn in as Oregons Kid Governor for 2024.

The fifth-graders swearing-in ceremony was held at the Oregon State Capitol on Thursday when Oregon Deputy Secretary of State Cheryl Myers and 2023 Kid Governor Lea Andrus congratulated Shah on her new accomplishments.

Portland efforts emergency relief for small businesses after ice storm

Shah was announced as the Kid Governor in November of last year. As a gubernatorial candidate, her platform was focused on raising mental health awareness and acceptance among other children. She previously explained that this platform is especially important to her because of her own experiences with anxiety.

The Findley Elementary student has launched a three-point action plan, titled CIA, to address mental health among kids: create awareness, identify triggers and act to provide support.

Even if you dont have a mental health issue, I can still help you, Shah said in her campaign video. I can help you help someone else.

Top entertainment events happening in Portland this weekend

During her recent inauguration, she announced that her first act as Kid Governor was to start Mighty Minds, a club that allows kids to share their feelings and fears.

Six other candidates vied for the Kid Governor role, and will now serve as members on Shahs cabinet. Last year, the candidates focused their gubernatorial campaigns on finding friendship in school, protecting Oregons environment and wildlife, and addressing discrimination in the state.

I look forward to working with you on our platforms and creating the change along the way, she said to her cabinet members Bassem, Kaavya, Lydia, Phebe, Remy and Shaurya. Different kids may need different support, but Im sure theres a lot more we can do.

Reser Art Gallery closes temporarily due to water damage from pipe break

Shah is the states seventh Kid Governor. The concept was first founded by the Connecticut Democracy Center, which aimed to teach children the importance of civic participation.

The Oregon program is led by the Secretary of States Office.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
By Anne Kauranen and Essi Lehto

HELSINKI (Reuters) -Centre-right candidate Alexander Stubb of Finland's National Coalition Party narrowly won the first round of the country's presidential election on Sunday and will face liberal Green Party member Pekka Haavisto in a run-off, official data showed.

With all votes counted, Stubb came first with 27.2% support, followed by Haavisto on 25.8%, and nationalist Jussi Halla-aho third with 19.0% support. A run-off between the top two will be held on Feb. 11.

Finland is electing a new president to lead the country's foreign and security policy in its new role within NATO after it broke with decades of non-alignment to join the Western defence alliance in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"You know what, we made it to the final, but the competition will only begin now," Stubb, a former prime minister, told his supporters.

Stubb's rival for the second round, former foreign minister Haavisto, is a human rights defender who has worked also as a peace negotiator.

Haavisto would become Finland's first openly gay president if elected.

"Now our task is to reach those whose candidate is not in the second round," Haavisto said in a speech to his supporters.

Voter turnout stood at 74.9%, official data showed, up from 69.9% in the last presidential election in 2018.

FOREIGN POLICY LEADER

Finland's president leads on foreign and security policy in close cooperation with the government and represents the country at NATO meetings, while also acting as a commander-in-chief of the Finnish Defence Forces.

The new president will take the helm of Finland's foreign and security policy from incumbent Sauli Niinisto, who is retiring after two consecutive six-year terms.

Both Stubb and Haavisto are supporters of Ukraine and have called for tough measures against Russia.

During their electoral campaigns, Stubb and Haavisto steered towards the political middle, while Halla-aho maintained his right-wing conservative profile.

In Helsinki one advance voter, 26-year-old Leena Boksha, said it was particularly important to vote this time because of the war in Ukraine and the difficult situation it created.

She said Stubb, seen by Finns as a cosmopolitan pro-European, was the right person to head the country's foreign policy.

"I voted Alexander Stubb because I think he's very good at dealing with other countries and he has a good relationship with people outside Finland," said Boksha, who was out with her baby to accompany a friend to vote on Sunday.

Jere Markkinen, a 22-year-old student in mechanical engineering, took a different view.

"I don't think he (Stubb) would be a very good president because he doesn't seem like he wants to represent the people, he wants to represent himself," Markkinen said, adding he had voted for Haavisto in advance.

"He is experienced in foreign politics and is known for generally acting smart, unlike some other candidates."

The Nordic country's admission to NATO last year drew threats of "counter measures" from its much larger neighbour. In December, Finland closed its entire border with Russia to passenger traffic in response to a surge in migrants trying to cross. Moscow denied Finnish charges that it was sending the migrants.

NATO PRESIDENT

The 55-year-old Stubb is a pro-European fiscal conservative, who described himself as "moderate" in an interview with Reuters ahead of the election.

Stubb said the next president would not only be the first Finnish NATO president, but also "a Western president in many ways", calling for a leaning towards countries such as the U.S, the UK and Finland's Nordic neighbours in foreign policy.

"I think that Finns are searching for a new era president," Stubb told public broadcaster Yle on Sunday.

Haavisto, who was runner-up to incumbent president Niinisto in 2018 and 2012, led Stubb in polls for months, but the tide turned in December.

During the electoral campaign, candidates have competed in setting the toughest stance against Russia, which does not benefit Haavisto, who is known as a left-leaning liberal, University of Helsinki political scientist Johanna Vuorelma told Reuters ahead of the election.

"In the discourse on border measures, there is clearly a hardening so that the human rights perspective is pretty much on the margin at the moment," she said.

"I would see that this setup benefits right-wing conservatives more than left-wing liberals," Vuorelma said, adding that Haavisto was among candidates who have had to seek a harder line to appear credible.

(Reporting by Anne Kauranen and Essi Lehto in Helsinki, and Elviira Luoma in Gdansk; Editing by Terje Solsvik, Hugh Lawson, David Holmes and Leslie Adler)
HOUSTON COUNTY, Ala (WDHN) At around 2:00 p.m. Thursday, emergency units rushed to McCallister Road in Houston County on reports of a barn on fire.

According to Rickey Stokes, when units arrived, they found a home fully engulfed in flames, and they immediately began fighting the fire.

(Courtesy of RickeyStokesNews)

(Courtesy of RickeyStokesNews)

(Courtesy of RickeyStokesNews)

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com.
The crew of an oil-tanker in the Gulf of Aden extinguished a fire which blazed for hours after being struck by a missile, according to the Associated Press. The vessel, Marlin Luanda, was carrying a Russian-produced, highly flammable oil called naphtha, causing the ship to burn long after the strike. The Indian Navy aided in the firefight on Saturday, and Trafigura, a Singapore-based trading firm confirmed that all members of the crew were safe and no one had been injured in the initial blast. A Houthi military official claimed responsibility for the attack on Friday.

Read it at Associated Press

Read more at The Daily Beast.
The exhibition is based on the Bloomsbury childrens book Brilliant Black British History by author and poet Atinuke (pictured). - Getty Images Europe

The very first Britons were Black, an exhibition on the diverse history of Britain has claimed.

The Brilliant Black British History exhibition held at Black Cultural Archives in Brixton, south London, makes a range of contentious claims about British history.

Visitors are informed that the very first Britons were Black and that Britain was black for 7,000 years before white people arrived.

The assertions appear to be based on a genetic study of the 12,000-year-old remains of Cheddar Man which suggested that ancient Britons had dark skin, but the study and these claims have since been contested by academics.

Based on Bloomsbury childrens book

The exhibition at the Black Cultural Archives, which receives funding from Lambeth council and Arts Council England, is based on the Bloomsbury childrens book Brilliant Black British History, by Atinuke, the Nigerian-born poet and author.

The first display panel in the exhibition states: By testing DNA, scientists made an amazon discovery  the first migrants to Britain around 12,000 years ago had black skin. Yes, thats right, the very first Britons were black!

By scanning a QR code, visitors can listen to audio which expands on this, claiming that the white first Britons migrated 4,500 BC years ago. Britain was Black for 7,000 years before that.

In 2018, it was announced that a genetic study of Cheddar Man, the oldest set of human remains to have been found in Briton, suggested that giveaway genes meant he likely had blue eyes and a range of possible skin pigmentations from dark to black.

Very dark skin pigmentation

A model created to represent Cheddar Man, which featured in Channel 4 documentary at the time, depicted the Mesolithic hunter-gatherers with a very dark skin pigmentation.

But the leader of the genetic study, Susan Walsh, clarified that Cheddar Mans appearance was uncertain, while a separate 2017 study from geneticist Sarah Tishkoff found that predicting likely pigmentation based on giveaway genes was inaccurate.

The Brilliant Black British History exhibition, which runs until January 28, covers the racial makeup of Britain from per-history to the modern-day

The Brilliant Black British History exhibition, which runs until January 28, covers the racial makeup of Britain from per-history to the modern-day, and claims that the 3rd century AD Roman Emperor Septimius Severus was a Black Roman ruler.

Severus, who died in what would become York, was born in north Africa, but was of Italian and Middle Eastern descent.

Exhibit claims 11 per cent of Roman York black

The exhibit claims that 11 per cent of Roman York was Black, possibly based on a 2009 study, which suggested 11 per cent of one set of human remains may have been migrants who mainly originated from northern Africa (modern Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya).

The exhibit in Brixton contains a panel with acknowledgements from Bloomsbury, who published the book on which the displays are based, which thanks the research of librarians, scientists and historians who made the exhibition possible.

Its historical and scientific claims, while toned down from the book which claims black people built Stonehenge, have nevertheless caused concern.

Cambridge historian Professor David Abulafia said: The Brixton expo is new to me but the tendentious tone seems to be exactly what I would expect. I am totally nonplussed by the obsession with the skin colour of people in Britains remote past.

They are unlikely to have existed and even if they did they didnt pass on their dark skin to modern Britons. Most black Britons are ultimately of African descent.

Judging people by skin colour is racist and I dont understand why anyone of any colour would think it is desirable.

And that applies to diatribes against white males as well as against black or brown people.

The presence of a very small number of Africans in this country over the two millennia up to the 19th century is exaggerated out of all proportion. And most of these Africans were from the north of the continent and white or light brown.

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.
Wildlife officials have reported the first endangered Florida panther death of 2024.

 WATCH CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS

The 1-year-old male was found dead Tuesday from an apparent vehicle strike on a rural road north of LaBelle in Hendry County, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said.

A total of 13 Florida panthers were reported killed in 2023, with all of them being from vehicle strikes.

Read: Kissimmee man, 21, accused of issuing thousands of drug prescriptions by hacking doctors phones

Florida panthers once roamed the entire Southeast. But now their habitat is mostly confined to a small region of Florida along the Gulf of Mexico.

Read: Girls who vanished from Sorrento foster home found safe in Louisiana; mother in custody

Up to 230 Florida panthers remain in the wild.

Read: College Park residents say proposed marijuana dispensary would be too close to local high schools

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Florida anger management therapist accused of murdering a homeless man after a dispute, say police

A Florida anger manager therapist is accused of first-degree premeditated murder.

Travis McBride, 46, is accused of fatally shooting homeless man Clinton Dorsey.

The victim's body was found stashed in the trunk McBride's car, the state attorney office said.

Travis McBride, a 46-year-old therapist specializing in anger management, was charged with alleged first-degree premeditated murder and tampering with physical evidence, NBC News reports.

Authorities in DeLand, Florida, took McBride into custody on Thursday in connection with the death of 51-year-old homeless man Clinton Dorsey.

McBride is being held in the Volusia County Branch jail without bond, per the DeLand Police Department.

According to police statements and Volusia County court records, it is alleged that McBride and Dorsey were embroiled in an ongoing dispute, said NBC News.

UPDATE: The suspect in this case has been identified as Travis McBride (DOB: 07/17/1977). McBride is charged with First Degree Murder (Premeditated) and is being held in the Volusia County Branch Jail without bond.  DeLand Police Department (@DeLandPD) January 19, 2024

The victim's body was discovered in the trunk of McBride's car during an investigation into a reported "suspicious incident" at a residence, said DeLand Police.

A witness who alerted authorities said that Dorsey lived in the nearby woods, NBC News.

The witness recounted McBride's visit the previous night, claiming he accused Dorsey of harming his dogs.

Hours later, gunshots rang out, per the witness, who reported seeing McBride shoot Dorsey.

Dorsey's body was found in McBride's 2016 Nissan Versa hatchback, said DeLand Police.

"The defendant is accused of shooting a man multiple times off of Frankfort Avenue in DeLand on January 17, 2024. The next day, McBride was seen cleaning up evidence from the roadway, and the victim's dead body was found in the defendant's vehicle trunk," said a press release from the Office of the State Attorney in the 7th Judicial Circuit.

Police received multiple 911 calls, including one from another witness who reported a murder and seeing someone "cleaning up the blood," per NBC News.

McBride is the owner of Starting Point Mental Health and worked as a therapist specializing in issues such as bipolar disorder and anger management, per his LinkedIn profile, which has since been disabled.

As the legal proceedings unfold, McBride's plea remains unclear.

Business Insider reached out to State Attorney R.J. Larizza's office for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Editor's Note: This article was updated to correct the spelling of Robert J. Galibois' name.

Former school bus driver Jeffrey Hyland, 80, of West Yarmouth, has been indicted on multiple indecent assault and child endangerment charges, Cape and Islands District Attorney Robert J. Galibois said in a statement released late Friday afternoon.

The indictments are connected to separate alleged incidents that occurred in the town of Barnstable last fall.

On Sept. 13, at approximately 1:30 p.m., the Barnstable police received a report of an alleged indecent assault and battery on a juvenile female by Hyland. Police recovered corroborating evidence of the alleged incident, according to Galibois' statement.

Hyland was arraigned in Barnstable District Court in connection with the case on Sept. 14 on charges of aggravated indecent assault and battery and reckless child endangerment. The judge released Hyland on personal recognizance under the condition that he have no contact with the female student and wear a GPS monitoring device.

On Oct. 3, Barnstable police received a report that a second juvenile victim alleged Hyland inappropriately touched them on or about Sept. 5, according to the district attorney's statement.

The grand jury indicted Hyland on two counts each of aggravated indecent assault and battery on a child less than 14 years old and reckless endangerment of a child, and one count of intimidation of a witness, according to Galibois.

Galibois would make no further comment on the case beyond his statement because of the nature of these charges, his statement said.

Denise Coffey writes about business, tourism and issues impacting Cape Cod residents and visitors. Contact her at dcoffey@capecodonline.com.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: School bus driver indicted on charges of indecent assault on a child
FORT PAYNE, Ala. (WHNT)  A former DeKalb County school resource officer was arrested by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) on Friday for having sexual contact with a student.

Authorities confirmed Jairo Alexander Castillo, 32, of Collinsville is a former employee with DeKalb County Sheriffs Office (DCSO) as a school resource officer.

How Alabama convict Kenneth Smith spent his last 24 hours before execution

Castillo was taken into custody around noon on Friday by ALEA, DeKalb County Investigators, DeKalb County Drug Task Force and DeKalb County Deputies.

The sheriffs office said it and the county board of education received complaints regarding a school employee, later identified as Castillo, having sexual contact with a student. The investigation was then turned over to ALEAs State Bureau of Investigation.

It is standard procedure that if an employee of the Sheriffs Office is being investigated, that investigation is turned over to the state or an outside agency, DCSO said.

Castillo is charged with two counts of being a school employee having sexual contact with a student, and he is currently in the DeKalb County Detention Center on a $300,000.00 bond.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
A former lawyer for Fugees rapper Pras Michel was sentenced Friday to one year of unsupervised probation and will have to pay a fine after he admitted to violating a court order by sharing protected discovery material with reporters in the run-up to his clients 2023 trial.

David Kenner, 82, agreed to plead guilty to one count of criminal contempt as part of a deal with prosecutors that ensured he would not face jail time.

It initially appeared as if U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta might reject the deal during Fridays virtual hearing, saying a lack of punishment for Kenner might send the wrong signal to other lawyers bound by protective orders. Mehta ultimately accepted the deal after the parties agreed he retained the right to impose a maximum fine of $5,000.

Maybe its a small, but symbolic thing, but it would make a difference to me, Mehta said of the fine.

Kenners lawyer, Barrett Boss, did not push back on the $5,000 fine but told Mehta that his client had spent $1.4 million out of pocket on expenses arising from Michels defense.

Kenner, appearing virtually from his office in California, called the conviction a low point in his 56-year career and admitted that his conduct was reckless.

Im deeply sorry to be standing before you and I fully accept responsibly, Kenner told the judge.

Michel fired Kenner following his April 2023 conviction on 10 felony counts stemming from his involvement with a Malaysian billionaire accused of embezzling billions from that countrys sovereign wealth fund 1MDB.

The charges against Michel, best known as a member of the 1990s hip-hop group, included acting as an unregistered foreign agent of China, conspiring to make illegal campaign contributions and witness intimidation.

The judge in Michels case is considering his motion for a new trial on the grounds that Kenner allegedly mishandled his defense, including using AI to generate his closing argument.

Kenners sentence comes nearly 11 months after Bloomberg published a series of articles about Michels case that contained grand jury materials and other nonpublic information subject to a protective order. Kenner had the reporters sign a copy of the protective order and shared the information with them because they had been investigating the circumstances around Michels case for years and he thought they could provide assistance to the defense team, Boss wrote in his sentencing memo.

Initially, the reporters agreed to that arrangement and signed the protective order, but later changed their minds and literally ripped up the protective order that they had signed, Boss wrote. Mr. Kenner acknowledges that he was reckless in not ensuring that the reporters access to the discovery materials was terminated after the reporters indicated their intention not to abide by the protective orders terms.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Former Los Angeles City Councilmember Jose Huizar was sentenced Friday to 13 years in prison in a corruption case that involved cash bribes with a local real estate developer.

U.S. District Court Judge John F. Walter handed down the sentence after receiving a letter from Huizar, who apologized for his crimes. The former councilman said he paid a huge price already, losing his reputation and ability to provide for his family and harmed his childrens future and mental health, The Los Angeles Times reported.

Huizar and two of his associates previously pleaded guilty to charges related to a $500,000 bribery from David Lee, a Southern California real estate developer. He also pleaded guilty to tax evasion and organized crime charges last January.

The former council member agreed to serve at least nine years in prison. Walter said the 13-year sentence was necessary to engender respect for the countrys anti-corruption laws.

Lee planned a major commercial and residential development in downtown Los Angeles. But when the project was halted in the city approval process, he reached out to Huizar, the Department of Justice said.

Huizar was the local member for the project and the head of the citys planning board. He asked for a cash bribe, which Lee delivered.

He was ordered to pay nearly $444,000 in restitution to the city and $39,000 to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the LA Times reported. Huizar is also required to surrender to federal authorities on Apr. 30, per the filing.

Federal prosecutors in the case argued that Huizar monetized his position in the government and had secured more than $1.5 million in cash bribes, gambling chips, luxury hotel visits, political contributions, prostitute services, expensive meals and more from developers who had projects in the downtown L.A. district he oversaw.

He served as a member of the city council from 2005 to 2020, when he was arrested and indicted.

In 2018, the FBI searched his office at the Los Angeles City Hall. He was working to elect his wife, Richelle Huizar, to take his seat at the end of his term in 2020.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A former Miami-Dade County school board member is accused of misusing funds for personal gain, including buying fake pregnant bellies.

Lubby Navarro, 49, is facing multiple charges, including second-degree grand theft, third-degree grand theft, organized fraud of $20,000 or less, and organized fraud of $50,000 or more, WPLG reported. She was taken into custody on Jan. 11.

The ex-vice chair allegedly spent an estimated $100,000 in 2022 using district credit cards for lavish trips abroad, health products, a sofa, and food, among other items, State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said during a press conference earlier this month. The purchases, some of which were made at major retail stores like Walmart, were unauthorized.

Ex-Miami-Dade County Public School Board member Lubby Navarro is accused of spending an estimated $100,000 on district-issued credit cards.

During the presser, Rundle showed photos of Navarro leaving Walmart with shopping carts overflowing with different items. Other purchases she made included household appliances found in her home and, separately, an abundance of gift cards  more than 178 of them.

It has been reported that officials started looking into her spending habits after she resigned that same year, and her purchases raised the eyebrows of a district employee.

What was discovered was that Navarros purchases were not school-related, Rundle said. Every dollar stolen and spent by Ms. Navarro is a dollar taken from our school system and therefore stolen from our children and diminishing their possibility of a better future. Lubby Navarro, who had been the vice chair of the school board and had worked for the school system since 2002, knew better. She knew better than to have gone this very pathetic path.

It was revealed that she spent more than $1,000 on business-class flight tickets on two separate vacations to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, with her mother, and to Las Vegas, Nevada, with her ex-boyfriend. Rundle claims that she also bought goods for his business.

Officials alleged that she used the credit cards to buy silicone bellies to trick her ex-boyfriend into thinking she was pregnant, the Miami Herald reported. In addition, she also reportedly bought Apple Air Tags to track his whereabouts, placing them on his vehicle.

Ben Kuehne, who is representing Navarro, told CBS News that his client will be exonerated.

The Catholic University of New Spain announced this week that it is revoking the honorary degree awarded to her in 2019, according to the report.

Former Miami School Board Member Bought Fake Pregnant Bellies While Misusing $100,000 of Districts Funds, Prosecutors Say
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  A former Scranton police officer and elected official pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges on Thursday.

The United States Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced Friday that Paul Helring, 47, a former Scranton police officer and the former elected police union president, pleaded guilty on Thursday, January 25, to the charge of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds.

According to the United States Attorneys Office, the criminal information Helring pleaded guilty to alleges that, from around March 2021 to May 2022, while serving as the coordinator of the Scranton Police Departments extra duty overtime program, Helring knowingly and fraudulently obtained over $5,000 in compensation for extra patrol shifts at local, Scranton-area, lower-income housing complexes that Helring claimed to work, but he didnt.

Bronx man gets jail time for role in grandparents mail scheme

According to the terms of his plea agreement with the United States, Helring acknowledged that the monetary loss due to his conduct was between $15,000 and $40,000 and that he abused a position of public trust that significantly impacted the commission of his offense.

Officials say Helring also agreed to pay restitution to the affected housing complexes for $17,831.40.

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 10 years in prison, a term of supervised release, and a fine.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com.
KINGS MOUNTAIN, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Four people are injured following an early-morning shooting, according to the Kings Mountain Police Department.

Officers received a call just before 5 a.m. on Saturday about shots fired at 200 Waco Road in Kings Mountain.

Two killed, two others injured in south Charlotte shooting: CMPD

Two victims were found at the scene suffering from gunshot wounds and taken to a local hospital. Shortly after, two other victims showed up at the hospital that police believe to be related to the same shooting.

Three victims are 30-year-old men and the fourth is a 37-year-old woman. Officials say the men are in critical condition and the woman suffered minor injuries.

A suspect has not been named and the investigation is still ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Kings Mountain Police Department Criminal Investigations Unit at 704-734-0444.

This is a developing story; check back for updates

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
FRAMINGHAM  Director Irene Porro's vision for a new Christa McAuliffe Center for Integrated Science Learning has come to life.

Framingham State University on Friday unveiled its newly renovated McAuliffe Center as part of a weekend-long grand reopening. The center, enhanced by nearly $8 million in renovations, will serve students from many disciplines  something Porro envisioned.

The center, created in 1994, is named for Christa Corrigan McAuliffe, a Framingham State alumnus who went on to become a teacher and astronaut. She was killed when the Challenger space shuttle broke apart just 73 seconds after launch on Jan. 28, 1986.

Climate change study: FSU shows link between hotter temperatures, urban areas

Speaking after Friday's event, Porro noted that McAuliffe was a social studies teacher, and hoped that the interdisciplinary approach would make her proud.

"I never met her, but my belief is that I'm helping carry forward her legacy," Porro said. "I hope she would appreciate the center."

Dr. Irene Porro, director of the Christa McAuliffe Center for Integrated Science Learning, welcomes guests to the center's grand reopening at Framingham State University, Jan. 26, 2024.

McAuliffe, who was 37 when she died, was chosen to be the first teacher in space. The center, which was founded to honor her legacy, is home to one of 35 Challenger Learning Centers nationwide  a partnership with the McAuliffe Center that uses experiential science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education programs to inspire students to pursue STEM careers.

The state provided nearly $5 million to redesign and modernize the aging facility. Framingham State also received federal funding, as well as grants from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and Massachusetts Skills Capital Grant Program to pay for the project, which cost nearly $8 million in total.

'Adapt to new technologies': McAuliffe Center receives $5 million funding boost

The McAuliffe Center also provides paid internships and part-time employment to 11 FSU undergraduate and graduate students.

Local and university officials commend McAuliffe Center

FSU President Nancy Niemi spoke highly of the renovated center, which seeks to not only be a space for science, but also for multi-disciplinary studies.

"The sky truly is the limit," Niemi said. "That all of us can alter the world for good and, indeed, it's teaching into the future."

Framingham Mayor Charlie Sisitsky reads a proclamation during the grand reopening of the Christa McAuliffe Center for Integrated Science Learning at Framingham State University, Jan. 26, 2024. At right is Dr. Irene Porro, director of the center.

Framingham Mayor Charlie Sisitsky discussed the importance of the center's work, nothing that it helps students find solutions to climate change. He acknowledged the legacy McAuliffe left on Framingham.

"Christa inspired all of us to reach for the stars  with this state-of-the-art facility, students will have the oppprtunity to push the boundaries of what is possible to make their own mark on the world," the mayor said. "Christa's spirit of adventure and determination lives on and we can all strive to reach for the stars, just as she did."

Lance Bush, president and CEO of the Challenger Center, made note of the center being one of 35 Challenger Centers throughout the country.

"This center is positioned to inspire for many years to come," he said. "We're really proud of the university's commitment to the community, providing educational experiences and access and resources to learn for all backgrounds."

Lance Bush, president and CEO at the Challenger Learning Center, makes remarks during the grand reopening of the Christa McAuliffe Center for Integrated Science Learning at Framingham State University, Jan. 26, 2024.

State Senate President Karen Spilka, D-Ashland, praised the educational opportunities the center provides, particularly in terms of climate change and disaster readiness. She said her first interaction with the center was when her sons visited while in elementary school.

"I'm thinking of her (McAuliffe), her family and the wonderful gifts she left behind on Earth as she reached for the stars," Spilka said.

State Senate President Karen Spilka reminisces about visiting the McAuliffe Center when her sons were in elementary school, Jan. 26, 2024.

What is the Christa McAuliffe center?

The McAuliffe Center at FSU began with a goal of fostering lifelong learning in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) with the help of a planetarium and role playing simulated space missions.

Since 1994, the McAuliffe Center has been serving more than 12,000 students from kindergarten through college each year. It hosts the only Challenger Learning Center in Massachusetts, a digital planetarium and an exhibit hall.

Framingham State is the first higher education institution to integrate a Challenger Learning Center on its campus.

Students will resume taking field trips to the McAuliffe Center next month and FSU faculty have already begun exploring new ways to use the facility.

Ligia Puma and Carlos Rodriguez, STEM Program facilitators, greet arriving guests at the grand reopening of the Christa McAuliffe Center for Integrated Science Learning at Framingham State University, Jan. 26, 2024.

The grand reopening celebration continues today and Sunday:

Saturday, Jan. 27, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.: An open house for the community to tour the new space, take in a show at the planetarium, enjoy a performance of Octave of Light, with Multiverse Lecture Series, and explore the Challenger Learning Center stations and labs under the direction of the centers flight directors.

Sunday, Jan. 28, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: The community is invited to take part in a day of remembrance, which will be focused on Christa McAuliffe and the rest of the Challenger Crew. A moment of silence will be held at 11:39 a.m., which is the exact time of the accident. An original piece of music composed by David Ibbett and written in honor of Christa will be performed.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Christa McAuliffe Center and planetarium open after $8M renovation
FRANKLIN COUNTY, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  A man was arrested on Friday after stealing a womans car, fleeing from police and striking a deputy with the stolen vehicle, according to a Facebook post by Franklin County Sheriffs Office.

Amos Breedlove broke into a womans home at around 5:53 a.m. demanding that she give him the keys to her vehicle and her cell phone. Breedlove then went outside and drove away in her Chevy Tahoe.

The post said Sergeant Tyler Ingram responded to the 911 call and attempted to initiate a traffic stop of the stolen Tahoe after locating it.

Breedlove attempted to flee from Ingram on Highway 60 before coming to a stop shortly ahead of the deputy.

The Haunting of Hill House actor arrested in Fayetteville

When Ingram stepped out of his vehicle, Breedlove made a U-turn.

The vehicle then accelerated to a high rate of speed, swerved at Sergeant Ingram striking him and his patrol unit and then continued to flee the area, the post said.

Sergeant Ingram was injured and no longer able to continue his pursuit.

The post said that an unknown citizen was able to assist Ingram and stayed with him until Franklin County EMS could arrive to treat his injuries.

Franklin County Sheriffs Department along with Charleston Police Department, Arkansas Game and Fish and Arkansas State Police all began investigating the scene and attempting to locate Breedlove.

The post said Breedlove was found at his fathers residence on Grand Prairie Road.

He attempted to flee officers on a Mahindra tractor but was caught and taken into custody.

The stolen vehicle was located and returned to the victim. Franklin County Sheriffs Office said Sergeant Ingram was taken to the closest hospital, was treated for his injuries and released.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24.
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  The Boys and Girls Club of Fresno County announced Friday that they had two first-place winners at their annual Youth of the Year event -for the first time in the organizations history.

The organizations officials say the two winners received a $3,000 Me-n-Eds Founders scholarship, a $500 gift card, pizza for a year, and other special prizes.

Organization officials say that in addition to having the two first-place winners, they also had the youngest finalist in its history, a second-place winner who is 14 years old. The third-place winner also broke a record for being the first member to compete in Youth of the Year from the Juvenile Justice Campus.

Boys and Girls Club of Fresno County

Boys and Girls Club of Fresno County

Boys and Girls Club of Fresno County

Boys and Girls Club of Fresno County

According to the Boys and Girls Club, the winners qualify to compete in the Northern California Youth of the Year competition. If they win, they are then invited to compete at the state level and then move on to the regional level. The National Boys and Girls Club of America winner goes to the White House and meets the U.S. president, wins a car, and receives a full college scholarship.

We see the Youth of the Year winners as Fresnos future leaders. Many of the finalists have gone on to impact their communities in better ways, said Diane Carbray, President of BGCFC. In a way, this tie was not a surprise. Each candidate poured their hearts out in their speeches and have worked very hard.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com.
Friends gathered to remember the life of a Charlotte man who died while celebrating his birthday in Hawaii.

They walked and prayed at McAlpine Creek Park on Saturday morning, sharing stories of their experiences with Carson Philbin.

Carson lived life to the fullest, he was only 24 years old, his friend Robin Jordan told Channel 9. And were not meant to understand why these things happen the way they do, but we know Carson is in a better place.

PREVIOUS: Charlotte man drowns after being swept out to sea in Hawaii

PREVIOUS: Friends say Charlotte man who drowned in Hawaii changed their lives

Friends said he was a dependable, action-packed person. Our partners at the Charlotte Observer report he died while cliff diving.

Witnesses rescued three of his friends from the rough Hawaiian waters, but he was swept out to sea.

The vigil Saturday morning was followed by Philbins funeral and celebration of life.

(WATCH: Loved ones, community remember legacy of Concord teacher killed in crash)
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  Nonstop flights from Norfolk International Airport to Puerto Rico are coming soon courtesy of Frontier Airlines.

ORF announced this week that the budget airline will fly to San Juan Aeropuerto Internacional Luis Munoz Marin  SJU starting on June 2.

The flights will be on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, with a departure of 7:59 p.m. from ORF and an arrival in San Juan at 11:33 p.m. Frontiers website shows one-way flights start as low as $79 for standard fare.

And because Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, you dont need a passport.

You can check out flights available starting June 2 on Frontiers website.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
Richland has quietly foregone more than $9 million in property taxes to support its dream of becoming the Northwests center for clean energy manufacturing.

The city is the first in Washington to use a new suite of tax incentives designed to encourage clean energy and other manufacturing.

The 2022 Legislature created Targeted Urban Areas or TUAs to offer 10-year property tax breaks to companies that produce new family-wage jobs.

Richland established its sprawling TUA in January 2023 and subsequently awarded property tax waivers to ATI Specialty Alloys and Components in July and to French nuclear fuels manufacturer Framatome earlier this month.

Richland established a targeted urban area to encourage manufacturing in January 2023 and later expanded it to include 1,641 acres that were formerly owned by the Department of Energy when it was annexed into the city.

ATI received a $2.6 million waiver in exchange for a $111 million expansion of its titanium melting plant in north Richland.

Framatome received about $6.7 million in tax waivers for the $360 million plant it is considering building at its campus on Horn Rapids Road.

Those are just the start.

Two more companies are eligible for the same breaks: Fertilizer giant Atlas Agro North America and battery parts manufacturer Cenate. Both are considering building plants in Richland though no final decisions have been made.

Collectively, the four represent a potential investment of more than $1.6 billion and the creation of hundreds of new jobs.

ATI Specialty Alloys and Components, 3101 Kingsgate, secured property tax breaks worth $2.6 million to expand its titanium melting facilities.

Worth the price

Richland is convinced property tax waivers support its economic diversification goals, Joe Schiessl, deputy city manager, told the Tri-City Herald.

New jobs translate to new people who buy or rent homes, shop and pay taxes that dwarf the costs. The city waivers affects its share of the tax bill and dont affect other taxing jurisdictions, including schools.

Joe Schiessl, Richland deputy city manager

The overall benefit outweighs the cost, Schiessl said. The city estimates the waived taxes will total $915,000 per year in foregone revenue once they are implemented. That wont happen until the plants are built and operating, years in the future.

This year, the city expects to collect about $20 million in property taxes to support its $77 million general fund budget, which pays for police and fire services, the library, parks, planning and other municipal services.

Under the radar

Richlands elected council approved the initial property tax waivers without public comment. Both were approved on the councils consent agenda, when routine items such as bills and meeting minutes are passed on a single vote.

Theresa Richardson

Mayor Theresa Richardson defended placing the waivers on the consent agenda instead of making them separate items for the council to discuss.

She said it discussed targeted urban areas and was comfortable with the information it had. Any member could have asked for a separate discussion and the public may comment during regular sessions, she said.

The city council voted to create the targeted urban area at its Jan. 17, 2023 session. It discussed TUAs again when it added 1,641 acres of former DOE land to the zone after it was annexed into the city.

ATI and Framatome were mentioned on the councils agenda exactly once each, when they appeared on the consent agendas.

Potential payoff

The city may have taken a low-key approach to approving tax waivers, but Mark Harmsworth, director of the small business center for the Washington Policy Center, said TUAs are worthy of the spotlight.

Before the Legislature created the current targeted urban area program, the state had few incentives to offer manufacturers.

The ones it had were limited, he said. He cited a 2015 program that allowed cities in Snohomish County to give property tax breaks to aerospace manufacturers. It was limited to counties with populations between 700,000 and 800,000, essentially limiting it to a single county.

The 2022 version offers all cities and counties a chance to waive their share of property taxes in support of their own economic priorities, he said.

Harmsworth predicts Richland will see sales tax revenue increase as new jobs lead to additional spending at local shops and businesses.

It offsets the tax that the city could have collected on the improvements of the property. That offset is a good thing, he said. He predicts more cities and counties will embrace targeted urban areas, though Richland currently stands alone.

A 10-year tax break pales in comparison to the long-term benefit of a major manufacturer, he believes.

At the end of the tax waiver, the community is left with an established business that will probably carry on, creating new jobs and supporting the community, he said.

Karl Dye

Karl Dye, president and CEO of the Tri-City Development Council (TRIDEC), said tax waivers are good policy. Its no accident Richland has commitments from two major manufacturers, with two more in the wings. Without the TUA program, that wouldnt have happened.

The waivers arent giveaways, he emphasized. Without them, the properties would have remained undeveloped, generating little to no activity.

Its honestly not luck. Its a direct correlation to the incentives, he said.

ATI Specialty Alloys and Components is building three buildings at its 100-acre campus at 3101 Kingsgate Way.

The deals

ATI Specialty Alloys and Component is already building three buildings at its 100-acre campus at 3101 Kingsgate Way. The 49,000-square-foot expansion will cost $111 million to construct and equip.

The company said it will add 93 new jobs, with 87 meeting the states family wage minimum of $23 an hour. It told the city wages will average $34 an hour.

The council agreed to waive approximately $245,300 in city property taxes annually for a total impact of $2.56 million.

Richland had to beat stiff competition for the expansion. The company secured $5 million in property tax consideration from Union County, N.C.

Framatome received property tax waivers worth $6.7 million for the $360 million expansion it is considering building at its Horn Rapids campus in Richland.

Framatome is considering a two-phased investment in fourth-generation nuclear fuel production at its Richland campus, 2101 Horn Rapids Road.

The first phase would result in a $39 million investment in a 13,459-square-foot facility that would employ 20, five fewer than the 25 required.

The second phase would dramatically expand the project, including the employment base. Phase 2 is a $335 million investment in a new 189,000-square-foot building with 200 jobs attached to the expansion.

The city estimates the total tax waived over 10 years will come to $6.7 million.

Framatome is not a done deal.

The state gives qualified companies five years to complete their projects, which isnt sufficient for a nuclear fuel manufacturer subject to Nuclear Regulatory Commission approvals.

State Rep. Stephanie Barnard, R-Pasco, sponsored two bills in the current Legislative session to support Washingtons lone nuclear fuels manufacturer. One would give it preferential rates for business and occupation taxes. The other would extend the time frame to complete its project.

House Bill 1981 would award preferential business and occupation tax rates, while House Bill 2120 would give more time to qualify for TUA incentives.

Without an extension, Richland expects Framatome to build its plant in another state.

More to come

Atlas Agro and Cenate both are eligible for property tax breaks if they finalize plans to site plants in Richlands special district.

Atlas Agro North America is considering building the worlds first green fertilizer plant in Richland. The $1.1 billion plant would be eligible for property tax waivers if it proceeds.

Atlas Agro wants to build the Pacific Green Fertilizer Plant, billed as the worlds first carbon-free fertilizer plant at the corner of Stevens Drive and Horn Rapids.

Last March, the Port of Benton agreed to sell 150 acres to support the $1.1 billion proposal. The deal included a one-year feasibility study, with a decision expected by the end of January.

Atlas still must secure up to 330 megawatts of electricity. For comparisons sake, Columbia Generating Station, the nuclear plant operated by Energy Northwest north of Richland, has a nameplate capacity of 1,200 megawatts.

Richland hasnt included Atlas Agro in the electrical load forecast it provides to the Bonneville Power Administration, the federal marketing agency that provides the citys power.

Clint Whitney, Richland Energy Services manager, explained that BPA requires 70% certainty a project will be built before it will accept it in a load forecast. The city will include Atlas once the commitment firms up.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and U.S. Sen. Patty Murray have voiced support for Atlas Agros plan to build a $1.1 billion carbon-free fertilizer plant at Stevens Drive and Horn Rapids in north Richland.

Cenate, the other potential new manufacturer, intends build a 40,000-square-foot battery parts facility in either Richland or Butte, Mont. In November, the city agreed to sell a 50-acre site near Framatome to the Cenate for $3.7 million.

Montana is a fierce competitor. In an August announcement, Cenate said Butte offered substantial tax abatements. A decision is expected in mid-2024.

Game changer

Schiessl said hes thrilled to have a TUA to promote the city and make the Tri-Cities less dependent on Department of Energy spending on the Hanford site cleanup.

Framatomes proposal is one of the most exciting hes seen in his 20 years in the business.

Framatomes growth represents true Hanford equivalent jobs, he said.

Sign Up: Boom Town Tri-Cities

Stay up to date on Tri-Cities growth and development with our weekly business newsletter. Get the latest on restaurant and business openings and closings, plus the regions top housing and employment news. Click here to sign up. In your inbox every Wednesday.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Every year since 1904, Tampa Bay has been invaded by pirates, whether by land or sea, on horseback or by galleon. Sometimes, they even take the Tampa mayor hostage to ransom for the key to the city.

The origins of Gasparilla, both invasion and parade, are owed to what Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla call the last of the Buccaneers, the legendary pirate captain Jose Gaspar.

2024 Gasparilla schedule of events

The original Gasparilla Krewe in Tampa Bay says that Gaspar terrorized the coastal waters of West Florida in the 18th and 19th centuries, with multiple tales of his background and story before reaching legendary pirate status.

The first written account of Gaspars marauding come from a brochure for the Gasparilla Inn on Gasparilla Island, located just 100 miles south of Tampa Bay in Charlotte County.

The legend of Jose Gaspar, according to an account by Andre-Marcel dAns and translated by Marie-Joele Ingalls, Gaspar was a Spanish naval officer, who in the early 1780s mutinied against his captain, stole a ship, and fled to the Gulf of Mexico to become a pirate and raid the West Florida Coast for the next 40 years.

One version of the Gaspars origin story said he escaped a naval battle with the English, lost his drive to be a naval officer, and chose to find his own wealth and fame as a pirate instead, convincing his crew to join with him and kill the ships captain, according to dAns account.

Another version of the legend says Gaspars path to piracy started at the tender age of 12, where he kidnapped a young girl and was offered a choice to join the Spanish Navy or go to prison. As an adult, the second origin story says he was made midshipman after seducing the academy commanders niece, and describing him as skilled with weapons and very intelligent.

The tale continues, alleging that Gaspar fought the Barbary pirates of Tripoli before making captain, then sailed to the Caribbean to fight and capture the buccaneers, before rising to admiral of the Atlantic Fleet and working with King Charles III. This version says the kings daughter-in-law fell in love with him, and when he rejected her, she framed him for stealing the crown jewels and he fled to be a pirate and take revenge, according to dAns.

Across all of the tales of Jose Gaspar, dAns accounts of his origins have certain common details.

In 1783, having become a traitor and a pirate, Jose Gaspar gave the name of Gasparilla to himself as well as to his ship and the island in Charlotte Harbor, on the west coast of Florida near Fort Myers, where he established his den, according to dAns.

(WFLA File Photo)

For the next 38 years, from 1783 to 1821, the self-named Gasparilla wreaked havoc on merchant ships and sailors, executing without mercy all the crews aside from some sailors who they took in to replace their own losses.

Women on the ships were taken as slaves and concubines to serve until they failed to please the crew or were replaced by fresher captures, then beheaded. They were allegedly kept on Captiva Island, near Gasparillas base on Gasparilla Island.

DAns said Gaspar chose to retire, but was tempted back into piracy with one last job, after a rich British merchant ship was seen near the pirates hide-out in Charlotte Harbor. However, dAns said the ship was actually an American warship in disguise, the U.S.S. Enterprise. It fired upon the pirate ship with deadly accuracy.

Gaspar was said to have refused to surrender, instead jumping into the sea.

While the legends of Jose Gaspar are full of alleged adventure and swashbuckling, history tells a different story.

Gaspars story is notably absent from the annals of history, fleet records and even wanted posters. Instead, history shows that Floridas 20th governor, Albert W. Gilchrist owned a hotel on Gasparilla Island. He bought land at Boca Grande in 1897, an outpost, and wanted to develop it into a town.

Writing on Gaspar was not found until 1900, in a Boca Grande Hotel advertisement brochure, according to dAns. The brochures were reported to have been handed out by Charlotte Harbor and Northern Railroad company, with the leaflets containing Gaspars legend.

Despite the distance from Tampa Bay, the legend washed ashore and took root four years later, according to Ye Mystic Krewe. History of Gasparilla published by the City of Tampa said pirates have invaded ever since.

Since 1905, pirates have invaded Tampa Bay. Every year, the unruly plunderers take over the city in honor of the mythical legendary pirate Jose Gaspar, according to event history published by the City of Tampa. The original members of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla stormed Tampa on horseback before becoming seaworthy in 1911. The success of those early invasions prompted planners to move the celebrati

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Tampa, arrrghh you ready?

More than 300,000 people  including over 50 krewes and a 120-unit parade  plundered along Bayshore Boulevard for the Gasparilla parade. Follow along with Tampa Bay Times reporters and photographers.

5:25 p.m.

At the far south end of Bayshore, its as if Gasparilla never happened. Litter crews with the city of Tampa are on the scene and working to remedy the ruckus made by parade-goers.

This concludes our live coverage of Gasparilla. Thank you for reading!

 Jack Prator

4:47 p.m.

Shelly Baksh has been coming to Gasparilla since she was a little girl. Shes not sure of the exact number, but shed guess over 40 years.

She now brings her son and husband to the festival she loves so much. Her husband rolls her around, since she wears a mermaid tail.

Baksh says there should be more mermaid representation at the parade.

Theres just something nostalgic here. I cant get enough of the general atmosphere of happiness, she said.

 Lesley Cosme Torres

4:20 p.m.

Check out these scenes from the parade route captured by Times photographers:

3:50 p.m.

Theres a range of moods visible as the Bayshore Boulevard party rages on. Some angrily jostle people in the crowd. Others stop to compliment fellow parade-goers outfits. And some are asleep in the grass.

Good luck getting internet service out here. For those trying to contact their friends, cell phone calls are also tough thanks to the thumping music.

Im calling you because absolutely nothing is going through, one guy screamed to his friend on the phone.

 Jack Prator and Lesley Cosme Torres

3:20 p.m.

Some Gasparilla fun facts for you: That Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla Pirates Parapet float is one of 12 floats that the krewe will have in the parade. The original krewe, which organizes the whole event, is so large that it cant be contained to one float. The Parapet is one of their newer ones, debuting in 2018 with a treasure chest that opens and closes. A very noisy band of pirates shoot off pop guns and cannons on a replica of a Spanish fort with four parapets.

One family has built and maintained all of YMKGs floats for the last 35 years. Heres the history.

 Sharon Kennedy Wynne

2:55 p.m.

The J.C. Newman float  a replica of their red brick cigar factory in Ybor  features a man rolling cigars along the parade route. Thats indeed a working clock tower on the float, but its also a bathroom in disguise.

For more behind-the-scenes details on the floats, check out this story.

Also spotted on the route: shirtless comic Bert Kreischer, a Tampa native who is serving as the parades grand marshal, and 101-year-old Buffalo soldier Roy J. Caldwood, honored as a community hero. His car was followed by the Buffalo Soldiers Tampa chapter Gasparilla float.

Id rather be over there talking with the fans, Caldwood told WFLA News Channel 8 meteorologist Leigh Spann, pointing at the crowd.

 Sharon Kennedy Wynne and Gabrielle Calise

2: 35 p.m.

The parade is now in full swing, and the crowds stretch curb-to-curb.

This is the worst part of Gasparilla, said one man as he pushed through a throng of screaming people.

One woman in platform boots brought a folding table to stand on that gave her an extra edge competing for the beads flying through the air.

Her advantage wasnt appreciated. Those around her yelled cheater! as she racked up a bundle of plastic necklaces.

Elsewhere on Bayshore, some buccaneers climbed trees for their chance at bling. Is this the best or worst spot for catching beads?

 Jack Prator and Lesley Cosme Torres

1:50 p.m.

Sweaty pirates seek refuge underneath a clump of palm trees, a rare shady patch on the route. Captains who wore coats to Gasparilla last year are stripping off their tricorn hats and ruffled tops today.

Temperatures are expected to hit the high 70s or low 80s in Tampa. The parade wont start for another 40 minutes, so some on Bayshore are camping out on blankets.

Is all of today gonna be this hot? one girl asked her friend.

 Gabrielle Calise and Lesley Cosme Torres

1:30 p.m.

The only thing that you can hear over the bass of the music is the jingle of pirate belts. Bayshore is lined with revelers in pointy hats, tall black boots and milk jugs, also known as borgs, filled with alcohol.

Also popular on the route: Puffy blouses, inflatable dinosaur costumes and T-shirts with naughty slogans.

Drinking rum before noon doesnt make you an alcoholic. It makes you a Florida pirate! said one shirt.

Its a bad day to be a beer, read another.

Another guy wore a shirt with a command: Show me your [insert crude anatomical word].

Oh my god, did you see that guys shirt? one girl said to her friend as she passed. Isnt he married?

 Jack Prator and Lesley Cosme Torres

1:05 p.m.

Tampa has fallen to the pirates.

The scurvy members of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla have stumbled off the Jose Gasparilla ship to demand the key to the city from Mayor Jane Castor.

I think the cost may be too high. What do we say? Do we give up the key? Castor asked the crowd at the Tampa Convention Center. If we surrender, we get a parade!

She made her decision swiftly.

Well give them the key to the city  but it doesnt open any doors, Castor said. It only opens the heart of our city... Lets have a parade, everybody!

Cue the cannon fire and get ready to catch beads by the fistful. Next, pirates will load onto their floats and parade down Bayshore at 2:30 p.m.

 Gabrielle Calise

12:55 p.m.

In Tampa, our pirates may be chaotic, but they are still prompt.

The Jose Gasparilla has already docked and will soon start unloading pirates at the Tampa Convention Center  right on schedule. Next, theyll take over the city.

 Gabrielle Calise

12:42 p.m.

Lakee Goodwin and Quentin Boyd, from Town N Country, are enjoying their third year as pirates at Gasparilla. They moved here from Chicago four years ago and said their old city didnt have anything like this.

It keeps us coming back, Boyd said.

Theyll spend the day people watching and enjoying each others company  along with removing more from their costumes as the day keeps getting hotter. According to forecasters from WFLA News Channel 8, it could reach the high 80s.

 Lesley Cosme Torres

12:37 p.m.

The Jose Gasparilla will soon reach the Tampa Convention Center. Its a dramatic look as Tampa Fire Rescue boats shoot huge sprays of water into the sky while leading the pirate ship into the harbor.

This also serves a safety purpose. Those big arcs of water keep hundreds of private boats away from the front of the pirate ship, which is basically a barge. Three tugboats are used to pull it from the front, push it forward from behind and steer it from the side. One of the tugs, the Dorothy, has been working in the ports of Florida since 1898, well before Gasparilla started. Few notice the tugs doing all the work with more than 1,000 boats and yachts swarming around the spectacle.

 Sharon Kennedy Wynne

12:23 p.m.

Whos at Gasparilla enjoying this warm weather? Photographer Jeff Woo captured these scenes along the parade route.

11:49 a.m.

Jim Merrick has lived in Pinellas County for 30 years. A Gasparilla veteran, he says a lot has changed: more people and less clothing.

The growth is a good thing, according to Merrick. For one, the celebrations are better organized now. Watching the boats and floats drift down Bayshore while enjoying the weather outside has kept him coming back.

Its a little warm this year, he said. But Id rather be warm than cold.

11:22 a.m.

Check out an early look at the crowd in front of the Tampa Convention Center. These sailors are awaiting the Jose Gasparilla pirate ship, which will launch at 11:30 a.m.

10:55 a.m.

Misty Elliott and Haley Blaire are independent filmmakers and transplants from Baton Rouge, LA. This is the mother-daughter duos second year at Gasparilla.

They moved to Tampa in 2018 and prefer the pirate fest to their home states Mardi Gras parade.

The atmosphere here is a lot better, Elliott, 49, said. A lot safer.

Still, Blaire, 22, said they feel at home catching beads and drinking on the Gulf Coast.

10:42 a.m.

For three years, Caribbean Pearle has been the star of the show on a float. Shes helped others with float decorations and costumes because Im a professional pirate, she said.

For her fourth Gasparilla  and final year living in Florida  shes enjoying the parade as a viewer. Find her strolling around Bayshore Boulevard, taking photos with strangers and making new friends.

10:20 a.m.

Boats are cruising down the Hillsborough River and out to Tampa Bay as Gasparilla festivities begin. Pirate flags are flowing and Bad Bunny is blasting from the speakers.

As swashbucklers filter in, check out the city of Tampas Gasparilla marketing video, inspired by Barbie.

We thought wed swap swords for stilettos, Castor said via text of The Barbie Pirate Movie, which is just under two minutes long and available on YouTube.

 Jack Prator and Paul Guzzo

9:40 a.m.

This is Michael Paines third consecutive Gasparilla. The 39-year-old Lakeland resident comes to Tampa often, and the annual pirate fest is one of the reasons hes stayed in Florida.

Paine hasnt had a haircut in three years. And while he says his shaggy curls and beard werent grown out with the parade in mind, it helps complete the look. He started his day hanging out on the Tampa Riverwalk and didnt know where the day might take him.

Gasparilla is about being a pirate, he said. So if I had a plan, I wouldnt be a pirate.

 Jack Prator

Gasparilla weather

Heading out early to secure your spot on the parade route? Expect temps in the mid-60s and possible patchy fog. Itll warm up to low 80s as the day goes on, or mid 70s closest to the water.

Read our full weather report here.

Gasparilla Parade and Pirate Fest schedule

Pirate invasion: The day starts with the first sighting of the fully rigged pirate ship Jose Gasparilla  actually a barge dressed up as an 18th century pirate ship that is pulled by tug boats. From 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., the movie-worthy ship with nearly 300 flags and three steel masts standing 100 feet tall will emerge at the south end of Hillsborough Bay with cannons firing.

As hundreds of members of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla hang from every fixture of the 165-foot vessel, it will lead a flotilla of hundreds of personal boats and yachts to join the invasion. Tampa Fire Rescue boats will spray dramatic arcs of water in front of the ship as it heads to the Tampa Convention Center.

Pirate Parade: The theater continues after the ship docks and those aboard demand the mayor surrender the key to the city of Tampa to the captain of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla. Once they have the key, pirates celebrate by parading through the city starting at 2 p.m. The parade will begin at Bay to Bay and Bayshore boulevards and end at Cass Street and Ashley Drive.

A Pirate Fest will take place along the Riverwalk in downtown Tampa with live music on two stages before and after the parade in Curtis Hixon Park and MacDill Park from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. After-parties will be going on all night in downtown Tampa and Ybor City.

 Sharon Kennedy Wynne

Gasparilla tips

Parking: City garages will charge $20 event parking in downtown garages, and $12 in Ybor and other outlying garages. The free TECO line streetcar will be available from 8:30 a.m.-2 a.m. running between Ybor and downtown. But be aware that some streetcar stations are closed to keep the loop moving faster. HART recommends boarding at Station 2 next to Centro Ybor. See gohart.org for schedules. Also, the free HART bus shuttle service will run 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m. to transport people between Ybor City and downtown and also the Channel District and downtown Tampa.

For $4 (cash only or the Flamingo Fares mobile app) you can get an all-day pass for the HART park-and-ride options that take you to the Marion Transit Center, 1211 N. Marion St. in downtown Tampa.

Numerous schools and businesses in the area will charge to park near the parade, usually for $15 to $40 depending on the location.

Alcohol: A large wet zone will be set up along the parade route and in Curtis Hixon Park, stretching from Gandy Boulevard to Cass Street, but open containers are prohibited outside those areas.

Packing list: Sunscreen, water, cash and snacks. Dont forget hand sanitizer and tissues for the portable toilets.

Bathrooms: There are hundreds of portable toilets lining Bayshore Boulevard and the Pirate Fest, so stay out of the bushes because police officers have no tolerance. You can also use the restrooms at Publix, 243 Bayshore Blvd.; Hyde Park Village on the west side of Snow Avenue; and Kate Jackson Park at Rome and Snow avenues.

 Sharon Kennedy Wynne

More to read:
(This column was first published in the Tallahassee Democrat on Sept. 28, 2008)

I've been saving it for that boutique hotel I wanted to open when I won the lottery. But that dream seems to be dragging its feet. So, I'll put it out there for someone else: We need to name something for Chief Neamathla.

We've got "Apalachees" and "Seminoles" everywhere you look. We've got "-hoochees" and "-hatchees" and "Nenes" aplenty. We've done great honor to Chief Osceola.

But aside from a single small residential street near Lake Iamonia, we've almost ignored Neamathla.

Neamathla - sometimes spelled "Neomathla" or even "Emathla" - was an Alabama-born Creek Indian who became a leader among the Indian separatists and fugitive black slaves who moved into Florida in the early 19th century and became known as Seminoles, or "runaways."

Yet it was Neamathla, however grudgingly, who allowed whites to take over Cohowofoochee. Or, as we know it, Tallahassee.

Neamathla - sometimes spelled "Neomathla" or even "Emathla" - was an Alabama-born Creek Indian who became a leader among the Indian separatists and fugitive black slaves who moved into Florida in the early 19th century and became known as Seminoles, or "runaways."

Tall and eloquent, Neamathla was famously fierce and intelligent. Early Florida territorial Gov. William DuVal described him as "the greatest man you have seen among the Indians, who controls his warriors with as much ease as a colonel his regiment."

In 1817, Neamathla led a skirmish against the U.S. Army that started the First Seminole War. In September 1823, a gathering of more than 400 Seminoles chose Neamathla as their chief as they negotiated the Treaty of Moultrie Creek, in which Florida Indians agreed to move onto a reservation in Central Florida.

Though Neamathla signed the treaty, he opposed the relocation of Seminoles, who had established more than 100 towns in Florida: "This country belongs to the red man. And if I had the number of warriors at my command that this nation once had, I would not leave a white man on my lands."

A month after Moultrie Creek, Florida's two-year-old territorial council dispatched John Lee Williams and William Simmons to locate a site halfway between St. Augustine and Pensacola for the new Florida capital.

The two men chose Tallahassee - the Indian word for the "old fields" that had been farmed for centuries by Indians. The name was also applied to two Indian villages in the area.

The larger of those villages was led by Neamathla, who lived on the north side of Lake Lafayette (possibly today's Welaunee Plantation). The smaller of those villages was led by the aging Chefixico, who lived on the south side of the lake (possibly today's Tom Brown Park). In his journal, Williams referred to Neamathla's village as new Tallahassee - though Neamathla called it Cohowofoochee - and Chefixico's as old Tallahassee.

Williams and Simmons visited both chiefs to seek their agreement to the new capital. Williams wrote that they were very hospitable. Chefixico served an elaborate meal and entertained them with tales of the past. Neamathla feted them with a traditional Indian ball game and an elaborate tribal dance.

But Neamathla was clearly offended by the haste and presumptuousness of putting the new capital on his turf. He gave his grudging assent to Williams but asked him not to tell his people - apparently because he had other plans.

By summer 1824, Chefixico's band had left for Central Florida. But Neamathla and his followers remained. They were stockpiling bullets and gunpowder, and he was threatening to make the "streets of Tallahassee run in blood," as one settler wrote.

In July, DuVal arrived and learned Neamathla was conspiring with eight neighboring villages to attack the white settlers in Tallahassee. DuVal demanded a meeting at St. Marks, where he had assembled a force of armed settlers and Indian allies. When Neamathla and his warriors arrived, DuVal announced he was replacing Neamathla as chief of the Seminoles and decreed all Seminoles must live by the rules of the treaty.

The confrontation - made famous in a Washington Irving story - had its desired effect. Neamathla lost face among the Seminoles and left for Georgia, where he remained a respected leader among his native Creeks. Most of the Seminoles moved to Central Florida (until after the Second and Third Seminole wars, when they were removed to Oklahoma or escaped to the Everglades).

Neamathla was no different from other famous Indian chiefs in history, including Osceola, who is lionized for leading Seminoles in the Second Seminole War. He was a brave leader who was determined to preserve his people's way of life but simply could not overcome the weight of American imperialism.

Such nobility deserves to be remembered next time Tallahassee needs a significant historical name.

Tallahassee Democrat columnist and staff writer Gerald Ensley passed on Feb. 16, 2018.

Gerald Ensley was a reporter and columnist for the Tallahassee Democrat from 1980 until his retirement in 2015. He died in 2018 following a stroke. The Tallahassee Democrat is publishing columns capturing Tallahassees history from Ensleys vast archives each Sunday through 2024 in the Opinion section as part of the TLH 200: Gerald Ensley Memorial Bicentennial Project.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

Send letters to the editor (up to 200 words) or Your Turn columns (about 500 words) to letters@tallahassee.com. Please include your address for verification purposes only, and if you send a Your Turn, also include a photo and 1-2 line bio of yourself. You can also submit anonymous Zing!s at Tallahassee.com/Zing. Submissions are published on a space-available basis. All submissions may be edited for content, clarity and length, and may also be published by any part of the USA TODAY NETWORK.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Gerald Ensley: We need to know the stirring tale of Neamathla
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz attends a press conference with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (Not Pictured) after their meeting at the Federal Chancellery. Kay Nietfeld/dpa

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for a determined fight against anti-Semitism and racism, on the occasion of International Holocaust Remembrance Day as flags flew at half-mast across the country.

"'Never again' is every day," he said in his weekly video published on Saturday.

"January 27 calls out to us: Stay visible! Stay audible! Against anti-Semitism, against racism, against misanthropy - and for our democracy."

On January 27, 1945, Soviet troops liberated the survivors of the German extermination camp Auschwitz, the site of which is located in modern-day Oswiecim, Poland.

The Nazis had murdered more than 1 million people in the camp, most of them Jews. The date has been commemorated as Holocaust Memorial Day in Germany since 1996.

In October 2005, the United Nations proclaimed January 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

In the video, Scholz emphasized that today's democracy is based on the central commitment "Never again."

"Never again marginalization and disenfranchisement, never again racial ideology and dehumanization, never again dictatorship."

Ensuring this is the central task of the state, he said. "That is why we are fighting every form of anti-Semitism, terrorist propaganda and misanthropy."

The German chancellor once again welcomed the judgement of the Federal Constitutional Court, which this week withdrew funding from the former National Democratic Party (NPD) which now operates under the name Die Heimat, or "The Homeland."

On January 23, the extremist far-right party was banned from receiving any state funding for the next six years.

Scholz also welcomed the numerous large-scale demonstrations across Germany against right-wing extremism in recent days and weeks.

"Our country is on its feet right now. Millions of citizens are taking to the streets," he said. It is cohesion among democrats that makes democracy strong, he added.

"Never again" demands everyone's vigilance, Scholz said. "Our democracy is not God-given. It is man-made. It is strong when we support it. And it needs us when it is under attack."

Neo-Nazi networks and the spread of right-wing populism are not something that should simply be accepted, he said.

Flags on German government buildings were to be flown at half-mast on Saturday. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser ordered the gesture of mourning to mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day, her ministry announced on X, formerly Twitter.

Numerous events were scheduled throughout Germany to commemorate the victims of Nazism.

Faeser was due to give a speech at the Ravensbruck Memorial in Furstenberg, 75 kilometres north of Berlin.

German Finance Minister Christian Lindner evoked the sinister past of his authority's own offices while warning against any repeat of the Holocaust.

"It was the idea of dehumanization that paved the way for the Holocaust in Nazi Germany. What happened back then must never be repeated," Lindner was quoted as saying on Saturday in a Finance Ministry post on X, formerly Twitter.

The post featured a photo of Lindner in a conference room in central Berlin.

"In this room in today's Federal Ministry of Finance, preparations were made in 1938 for what later went down in the history books as the Wannsee Conference: the coordination of the mass murder of European Jews," the caption reads.

The ministry has been based in the Detlev Rohwedder House on the capital's Wilhelmstrae major thoroughfare since 1999. The imposing edifice was built during the Nazi era in 1935-36 as the headquarters of the Aviation Ministry headed by Hermann Goring.

In Auschwitz itself, there was an exhibition of portraits mostly drawn by prisoners.

The event on Saturday will show that the drawings made in the camp symbolize the individual human being, a statement by the Auschwitz museum in Poland said.

Piotr Cywinski, director of the museum, said that too many people today associate Auschwitz primarily with its grounds - barbed wire, barracks and watchtowers.

"It is an empty space filled with relics of camp architecture. Meanwhile, the drama and significance of Auschwitz is not about the relics, but about humans," he said.

Around 20 survivors will also take part in the memorial service on the site of the former camp.

The Central Council of Jews in Germany meanwhile published a pamphlet ahead of remembrance services which warned against equating the Holocaust with other genocides.

Flowers lie on a stele at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe to mark the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust. Christoph Soeder/dpa

A demonstrator holds a sign reading "Hate makes you small" at a rally organized by the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) on "For Democracy and Solidarity". Markus Scholz/dpa
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz attends a press conference with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (Not Pictured) after their meeting at the Federal Chancellery. Kay Nietfeld/dpa

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for a determined fight against anti-Semitism and racism, on the occasion of International Holocaust Remembrance Day as flags flew at half-mast across the country.

"'Never again' is every day," he said in his weekly video published on Saturday.

"January 27 calls out to us: Stay visible! Stay audible! Against anti-Semitism, against racism, against misanthropy - and for our democracy."

On January 27, 1945, Soviet troops liberated the survivors of the German extermination camp Auschwitz, the site of which is located in modern-day Oswiecim, Poland.

The Nazis murdered more than 1 million people in the camp, most of them Jews. The date has been commemorated as Holocaust Memorial Day in Germany since 1996.

In October 2005, the United Nations proclaimed January 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

In the video, Scholz emphasized that today's democracy is based on the central commitment "Never again."

"Never again marginalization and disenfranchisement, never again racial ideology and dehumanization, never again dictatorship."

Ensuring this is the central task of the state, he said. "That is why we are fighting every form of anti-Semitism, terrorist propaganda and misanthropy."

The German chancellor once again welcomed the judgement of the Federal Constitutional Court, which this week withdrew funding from the former National Democratic Party (NPD) which now operates under the name Die Heimat, or "The Homeland."

On January 23, the extremist far-right party was banned from receiving any state funding for the next six years.

Scholz also welcomed the numerous large-scale demonstrations across Germany against right-wing extremism in recent days and weeks.

"Our country is on its feet right now. Millions of citizens are taking to the streets," he said. It is cohesion among democrats that makes democracy strong, he added.

"Never again" demands everyone's vigilance, Scholz said. "Our democracy is not God-given. It is man-made. It is strong when we support it. And it needs us when it is under attack."

Neo-Nazi networks and the spread of right-wing populism are not something that should simply be accepted, he said.

The wave of protests was triggered by a recent report by investigative journalists about a meeting in Potsdam outside Berlin of radical right-wingers on November 25.

The meeting was attended by several far-fight Alternative for Germany (AfD) politicians as well as individual members of the mainstream conservative opposition party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), and the far-right WerteUnion.

Martin Sellner, founder of the far-right, white supremacist Identitarian Movement in Austria, said he had spoken about "remigration" at the meeting.

When right-wing extremists use the term, they usually mean that a large number of people of foreign origin should leave the country - even under duress.

Flags on German government buildings were flown at half-mast on Saturday.

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser ordered the gesture of mourning to mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day, her ministry announced on X, formerly Twitter.

Numerous events were scheduled throughout Germany to commemorate the victims of Nazism.

Faeser gave a speech at the Ravensbruck Memorial in Furstenberg, 75 kilometres north of Berlin, during which she promised decisive action by the state against plans by right-wing extremists.

"Less than 80 years after the end of the Hitler regime, plans are once again being made to systematically discriminate against and harass, disenfranchise and expel people on the basis of their descent, appearance, origin or political views," she said. "We have a responsibility not to allow this to happen."

German Finance Minister Christian Lindner evoked the sinister past of his authority's own offices while warning against any repeat of the Holocaust.

"It was the idea of dehumanization that paved the way for the Holocaust in Nazi Germany. What happened back then must never be repeated," Lindner was quoted as saying on Saturday in a Finance Ministry post on X, formerly Twitter.

The post featured a photo of Lindner in a conference room in central Berlin.

"In this room in today's Federal Ministry of Finance, preparations were made in 1938 for what later went down in the history books as the Wannsee Conference: the coordination of the mass murder of European Jews," the caption reads.

The ministry has been based in the Detlev Rohwedder House on the capital's Wilhelmstrae major thoroughfare since 1999. The imposing edifice was built during the Nazi era in 1935-36 as the headquarters of the Aviation Ministry headed by Hermann Goring.

In Auschwitz itself, there was an exhibition of portraits mostly drawn by prisoners.

The event on Saturday will show that the drawings made in the camp symbolize the individual human being, a statement by the Auschwitz museum in Poland said.

Piotr Cywinski, director of the museum, said that too many people today associate Auschwitz primarily with its grounds - barbed wire, barracks and watchtowers.

"It is an empty space filled with relics of camp architecture. Meanwhile, the drama and significance of Auschwitz is not about the relics, but about humans," he said.

Around 20 survivors will also take part in the memorial service on the site of the former camp.

The Central Council of Jews in Germany meanwhile published a pamphlet ahead of remembrance services which warned against equating the Holocaust with other genocides.
Christian Lindner, German Minister of Finance, speaks at the first reading of the Budget Financing Act 2024 in the Bundestag. Michael Kappeler/dpa

On the 79th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp, German Finance Minister Christian Lindner evoked the sinister past of his authority's own offices while warning against any repeat of the Holocaust.

"It was the idea of dehumanization that paved the way for the Holocaust in Nazi Germany. What happened back then must never be repeated," Lindner was quoted as saying on Saturday in a Finance Ministry post on X, formerly Twitter.

The post featured a photo of Lindner in a conference room in central Berlin.

"In this room in today's Federal Ministry of Finance, preparations were made in 1938 for what later went down in the history books as the Wannsee Conference: the coordination of the mass murder of European Jews," the caption reads.

The ministry has been based in the Detlev Rohwedder House on the capital's Wilhelmstrae major thoroughfare since 1999. The imposing edifice was built during the Nazi era in 1935-36 as the headquarters of the Aviation Ministry headed by Hermann Goring.

On January 27, 1945, Soviet troops liberated the survivors of the Auschwitz, the site of which is located in modern-day Oswiecim, Poland.

More than 1 million people were murdered at the camp, most of them Jews. The date of its liberation has been observed as Holocaust Remembrance Day in Germany since 1996, and the United Nations proclaimed the date an international day of remembrance in 2005.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (L) meets with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi. Baerbock intends to continue her crisis talks on the Gaza war in the capital Amman. Michael Kappeler/dpa

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock met on Saturday with her Jordanian counterpart Ayman al-Safadi for talks on the Gaza war and the wider situation in the Middle East.

The consultations in Jordan's capital Amman were expected to focus on the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and the prospects after the fighting ends.

Baerbock stopped in Jordan on her way back from a three-day trip to East Africa. No details and possible outcomes were initially disclosed during the meeting of the ministers, who are regarded as having a good working relationship.

The Gaza war was triggered by the worst massacre in Israel's history, carried out by terrorists from the Palestinian Islamist organization Hamas and other extremist groups in southern Israel on October 7.

As well as the plight of the civilian population in Gaza, the search for a peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinians is also likely to play a role in Baerbock's talks with al-Safadi.

The German minister favours a two-state solution, according to which an independent, democratic and demilitarized Palestinian state should exist peacefully alongside Israel.

However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently reiterated his strict opposition to such a solution after the end of the Gaza war.

Hamas is also opposed to a two-state solution and seeks to create a Palestinian state on the entire territory west of the Jordan River, with the accompanying destruction of the state of Israel.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (L) meets with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi. Baerbock intends to continue her crisis talks on the Gaza war in the capital Amman. Michael Kappeler/dpa

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Jordanian Foreign Minister Aiman al-Safadi held talks as the war in Gaza rages on and amid fears of a widening regional crisis.

Their working meeting, held in Amman on Saturday, centred on the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and the outlook for after the war.

Israelis and Palestinians will only be able to live together peacefully if the security of both sides was "inextricably linked," Baerbock said, according to Jordanian news agency Petra.

Ending Israel's attacks was crucial to ending the humanitarian catastrophe in the coastal area, al-Safadi said.

The international community is also obliged to implement the decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague on the Gaza war, he added.

The ruling by the UN's top court demands Israel better protect the civilian population in its military operation in the Gaza Strip and allow more humanitarian aid to enter the strip, where conditions are catastrophic.

Germany is currently delivering 400,000 ($434,000) worth of medicines and medical supplies to Jordan for those in need of aid in the Gaza Strip, flying them in on regular Bundeswehr flights to the Jordanian military base in al-Asrak.

The German army has been part of an international mission combatting Islamic State (IS) terrorist militia since 2017, providing transport and aerial refuelling.

Jordan then brings the relief supplies to the Jordanian field hospitals in the Gaza Strip. A further project is also being planned.

The Gaza war was triggered by the worst massacre in Israel's history, carried out by militants from the Palestinian organization Hamas and other extremist groups in southern Israel on October 7.

The German minister favours a two-state solution, according to which an independent, democratic and demilitarized Palestinian state should exist peacefully alongside Israel.

However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently reiterated his strict opposition to such a solution after the end of the Gaza war.

Hamas is also opposed to a two-state solution and seeks to create a Palestinian state on the entire territory west of the Jordan River, with the accompanying destruction of the state of Israel.

Baerbock had stopped in Jordan on her way back from a three-day trip to East Africa.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (L) meets with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi. Baerbock intends to continue her crisis talks on the Gaza war in the capital Amman. Michael Kappeler/dpa
Sahra Wagenknecht casts a ballot at the founding party conference of the new Wagenknecht party, the "Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht - for Reason and Justice". The party was officially founded at the beginning of January with around 450 members. Kay Nietfeld/dpa

Germany's newly founded Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) was holding its first party conference in Berlin on Saturday, where it was aiming to hone ambitious plans for the 2024 election year.

The BSW's programme and list of candidates for the European elections in June are to be finalized at the event held in the capital's Kino Kosmos conference centre, once the largest cinema in the former East Germany.

The draft manifesto is sharply critical of the European Union and calls for a departure from the EU's current climate policy, among other contentious points.

Wagenknecht split from the hard-left Die Linke (The Left) party last year and formed the BSW in early January with around 40 people and accepted the first 450 members.

The 54-year-old is the party's co-chair, together with former Die Linke parliamentary group leader Amira Mohamed Ali. Both are due to speak at the party conference.

Former Die Linke member of the European Parliament Fabio De Masi and long-time member of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD) Thomas Geisel, the former mayor of Dusseldorf, will be the BSW's lead candidates for the European elections.

The draft European election programme states: "The EU in its current constitution is detrimental to the European idea." Among other things, it criticizes the "regulatory frenzy of the EU technocracy."

If necessary, Germany should not adhere to EU rules, it continues: The BSW is "in favour of the non-implementation of EU regulations at national level if they run counter to economic reason, social justice, peace, democracy and freedom of expression."

Specifically, the BSW calls for the trade in CO2 certificates to be abolished as being "completely unsuitable for achieving climate policy goals." It also favours the indefinite use of combustion engines and a return to imports of oil and gas from Russia.

"Europe must become an independent player on the world stage instead of being a pawn in the conflict between the major powers and a vassal of the United States," the draft states.

It also condemns the conflict in Ukraine as a "bloody proxy war between NATO and Russia," which although started militarily by Russia "could have been prevented by the West and ended long ago."

Commentators are critical of many of the BSW's assertions, for example the claim that trading in CO2 certificates is useless.

"Scientific studies clearly show that emissions trading reduces greenhouse gases," Europe expert Guntram Wolff from the German Council on Foreign Relations told dpa. "When something becomes more expensive, people try to consume less, as every economist knows."

Making fossil fuels more expensive drives innovation and investment in new technology, said Wolff.

He also perceives the BSW's stance towards the EU as dangerous: "If applicable law is no longer implemented everywhere, this would destroy the internal market and cause immense damage to the German economy. The internal market only works if everyone adheres to the jointly agreed rules."

Sahra Wagenknecht, party chairwoman, speaks at the founding conference of the new Wagenknecht party, the "Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance - for Reason and Justice". The party was officially founded at the beginning of January with around 450 members. Kay Nietfeld/dpa

Amira Mohamed Ali, party chairwoman, waves at the founding conference of the new Wagenknecht party, the "Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance - for Reason and Justice". The party was officially founded at the beginning of January with around 450 members. Kay Nietfeld/dpa

(L-R) Amira Mohamed Ali, designated chairwoman, Sahra Wagenknecht and Oskar Lafontaine take part in the founding conference of the new Wagenknecht party, the "Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance - for Reason and Justice". The party was officially founded at the beginning of January with around 450 members. Kay Nietfeld/dpa
In late 2022, Shimia Nord experienced such intense back pain that she failed her drivers test. Stepmom Rikelle Hendrickson took Shimia to urgent care, where doctors said it was likely a muscle strain. While a dull pain remained, in July 2023, her symptoms intensified dramatically.

I would throw up constantly, Shimia, 17, of Duluth, Minnesota, tells TODAY.com. I can barely stand, and then finally were like, something is seriously wrong.

Hendrickson took Shimia to the emergency room, and they eventually learned that Shimia had renal cell carcinoma, a rare type of kidney cancer, and shed need urgent surgery.

You dont really have much time to react when theyre like, Oh, well, we have to get it out now, Hendrickson tells TODAY.com. (I felt) scared and overwhelmed.

Consistent back pain worsens

Before her cancer diagnosis, Shimia enjoyed sports and played soccer and volleyball for years. Three years ago, she found dance and fell in love.

Shimia Rikelle (Courtesy Rikelle Hendrickson)

When I joined the dance team, it was like joining a family and I was always surrounded by love and support, she says. I (danced) six days a week from like 4 to 9:45.When she first experienced back pain in November 2022, she was in the middle of competitive dance season. Doctors at urgent care thought it was a pulled muscle. The family had also recently recovered from COVID-19, so doctors took images of Shimia's chest to make sure she didnt have a pulmonary embolism, when a blood clot gets stuck in an artery in the lungs.

They did some testing for that, and sent her home with lidocaine patches, Hendrickson explains. They didnt find anything ... because (the images were) higher than where her kidneys were.

Shimia returned to dance and school with a constant twinge in her side. By Fourth of July weekend 2023, though, the pain worsened, and she was vomiting. They went to the emergency room.

Doctors ran tests and noticed something on Shimia's kidney and said it was inflamed. They wanted her to go to Childrens Minnesota Hospital for follow-up care. On the drive there, Shimia read the paperwork and saw she had a tumor they suspected was cancerous. After they arrived, doctors told the family the mass needed to be removed immediately.

They still couldnt say for sure what it was because they hadnt been able to test it, Hendrickson says. They told us from looking at the scans that they were thinking that it was renal cell carcinoma, but there wasnt a way to say that for sure until they actually got it out.

But they knew the mass was large enough that the tumor had to come out with her whole kidney. This news felt ominous.

I was terrified, Shimia says. When I was in 10th grade, we were talking about our biggest fears health-wise and mine was literally getting cancer. To hear it was really scary for me.

Surgery went well, and she was diagnosed with stage 2 papillary renal cell carcinoma.

They said they were able to remove the tumor that was encapsulated, Hendrickson says. "They did remove (some) lymph nodes."

Shimia had an incision that ran from her breastbone to her pubic bone that caused intense pain that immobilized her.

She didnt want to get up. She didnt want to eat, Hendrickson says. She was refusing to do a lot of things.

After a few days  and a few bribes of friend visits  Hendrickson convinced Shimia to walk and shower. By July 11, she was able to go home.

When the pathology results returned, doctors believed they removed all the cancerous spots and recommended surveillance every three months. At the first three-month scan, doctors noticed spots in Shimias lungs. They continued monitoring it for another six weeks, but by December, it became clear the spots were growing. After testing her lymph nodes, doctors realized Shimia's cancer had progressed to stage 4.

It did change the treatment plan dramatically at that point, Hendrickson says.

Shimia Rikelle (Courtesy Rikelle Hendrickson)

Shes receiving immunotherapy and chemotherapy to treat her cancer. She experiences nausea, constipation and headaches from the treatment.

Its like one pill after another just to make the other pill not seem so bad, Shimia says.

Shimia recently began her new treatment plan and will undergo a scan in a few months to see if the masses in her left lung are shrinking. Future treatment will depend on how well this protocol works, but Self says she will continue to consult with her colleagues to help Shimia have the best outcome possible.

Renal cancer in young adults

The type of cancer Shimia has, renal cell carcinoma, remains rare in a pediatric population, Dr. Chelsea Self says.

In general, there are probably somewhere around 600ish new pediatric renal cancers  diagnosed every year, and only about 3% to 4% of them are renal cell carcinomas, the pediatric hematology oncologist at Childrens Minnesota tells TODAY.com. Its relatively uncommon.

Self, who is Shimias oncologist, worked with other doctors, including adult oncologists, to create a treatment plan that works for the teen. Its part of the Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology program, which treats patients from 15 up to 30.

Some of the cancers diagnosed behave more like pediatric cancers, Self explains. Some certainly behave more like adult cancers, and thats why its so important to collaborate with our adult counterparts and figure out what we need to do to optimize care for each patient.

Self says symptoms of kidney cancer can include:

Side or flank pain

Back pain

Blood in urine

Nausea

Vomiting

Unexplained weight loss

Fatigue

Bump on the side

These (symptoms) are more generally for any kind of cancer diagnosis, Self says. But really the flank pain, the lump on the side  is more tailored toward something going on in the kidneys.

Treatment usually involves surgery to remove the mass and often the kidney, she says. If cancer any remains, the treatment can vary to include chemotherapy or immunotherapy. While back pain remains a common symptom, Self wants to reassure parents that not all back pain is a sign of cancer.

It is so unfortunate what happened to Shimia, but I would remind parents that this is exceedingly rare, she says. I would also probably remind families that it highlights the importance of having a good relationship with your general pediatrician and making sure youre doing all your well child checks and you are able to call them and be evaluated if you have concerns.

High school and cancer treatment

Some days, cancer treatment makes Shimia feel lousy. But she has activities she wants to do so she persists.

I still have so much to do, so even if Im tired or I dont feel as well, I still try to do everything even feeling crappy and pretend Im not, she says.

Shimia Rikelle (Courtesy Rikelle Hendrickson)

Shimia recently danced again, the first time shed done it since undergoing a lung biopsy after the scan found the spots in her lung.

It was really tiring, she says. It was hard because its the first time Ive ever done any endurance since before the bronchoscopy.

Shimia hopes to become a lawyer and takes college classes so she can graduate college early and head to law school. The love shes received from friends and family helps her as she juggles high school and cancer treatment.

Ive always been lucky to have a supportive family, she says. "Not everybody does."

Hendrickson feels impressed by Shimias strength.

She had her kidney removed in July and was back dancing before school started. Her resilience to me is just amazing, she says. To watch her do the things she loves and push through everything thats she been doing now, lots of adults cant do it. Im so incredibly proud of her.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
The aftermath of the Russian attack on the village of Malyi Burluk on 17 January. Photo: Syniehubov on Telegram

A teenage girl, 13, who was injured in the Russian attack on the village of Malyi Burluk (Kharkiv Oblast) on 17 January, has died in hospital.

Source: Oleh Syniehubov, Head of Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote: "Unfortunately, today, a 13-year-old teenage girl who was injured in the Russian attack on the village of Malyi Burluk on 17 January died in hospital.

The enemy had struck the village with an aerial bomb."

Details: The girl had been in a coma for a long time after receiving severe shrapnel injuries.

Background: Syniehubov previously reported that a woman, 61, had been killed in a Russian attack on Malyi Burluk on 17 January, and a boy, 10, had his limb amputated due to the injury. In addition, a girl sustained shrapnel injuries.

Support UP or become our patron!




JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL)  The time of year has arrived when many across the country will begin to receive their boxes of Girl Scout cookies. But before the boxes get to the hands of customers, they have to first be picked up by the Girl Scout troops.

Troops and service units are coming to pick up their cookies today, said Lynne Fugate, CEO of Girl Scouts of Southern Appalachians. So over the next few weeks, theyll be delivered to people who preordered.

Girl Scouts of Southern Appalachians covers 46 localities including cities such as Johnson City, Knoxville and Chattanooga. According to Fugate, the troops in the region could sell up to 1.4 million boxes.

Volunteers honor veterans through wreath cleanup in Johnson City

Although the excitement begins when orders are delivered to designated cities, it takes a lot of work before the cookies land in the customers hands.

We have all of our staff here helping move cars along, said Fugate. How many Thin Mints does each service unit get? How many Trefoils do they get? And then we have the professional folks who store our cookies in their warehouse out here loading them correctly. They know how to put more in a car than we do.

While the community gets excited over the cookies, the cookie sales go beyond the product itself for the troops.

We have four pillars, Fugate said. Entrepreneurship, outdoors, STEM and life skills. And the cookie program is two of those pillars. The entrepreneurship, because these girls are entrepreneurs. They sell face to face, they sell online, and so theyre learning about goal setting and money management. But the life skill part is also learning how to talk to people.

The proceeds made from the sales go to benefit each of the troops, allowing them to do what they love with their fellow scouts.

We can make money and do fun things like got to Dollywood and camping and stuff, said Allie Johnson, a member of Troop 353 out of Unicoi, Tennessee.

[I enjoy] doing fun things, said Charity Johnson, a member of Troop 353.

While cookie preorders are completed, the public will still have a chance to purchase cookies through booth sales beginning on Feb. 16. Information about those booths can be found here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
Rudy Giuliani defended former President Trump after a jury ordered him to pay $83.3 million for defaming columnist E. Jean Carroll and called the presiding judge, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan, a disgrace.

Well, the judge is a disgrace to the greatest court in America. Its called the mother court, United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Giuliani said on Newsmax on Friday after the ruling, highlighted by Mediaite. Its had some of the greatest judges in American history. This judge is a pure disgrace.

Giuliani, the former New York City mayor-turned-Trump attorney, criticized Kaplan over his conduct with the attorneys in the trial.

Trump was ordered to pay Carroll the large sum of money for defaming her in 2019 when he denied her accusations that he sexually assaulted her in the 1990s. Its the second time Carroll has won damages from Trump at trial, adding to the previous $5 million she received last year when a verdict found Trump liable for sexually abusing her and defaming her over a separate comment.

Giuliani, defending the former president, said Trump was found not guilty or not liable for rape.

It was sexual assault. Not rape, he said. And second, you can be guilty of rape and still, a person can be a wacko.

Top Stories from The Hill

He argued that Trump was able to defend himself against Carrolls accusation and the defamation she caused him.

Trump has vowed to appeal the ridiculous defamation ruling. He said he disagrees with both verdicts and will be appealing the Biden Directed Witch Hunt that is focused on him and the Republican Party.

Giuliani, a longtime Trump ally, was ordered by a jury in December to pay $148 million in damages to two former Georgia election workers he claimed committed fraud in the 2020 presidential election.

After Trump lost the 2020 election, Giuliani led unsuccessful legal efforts that attempted to overturn President Bidens victory.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
This has been a week of shame for the global institutions of the post-war order. In an outrageous moral inversion, the top court of the United Nations, the ICJ, failed to dismiss South Africas politically-motivated claim that Israel is committing genocide in its war on Hamas. On the day before Holocaust Memorial Day, the court chose instead to impose a series of demands on Israel, even as the Jewish state fights against an openly genocidal enemy.

Such rot at the very apex of the system that is supposed to deliver impartial, global justice between nation states would be bad enough. Yet it is just one symptom of far wider failings. The UK has found itself compelled  at least temporarily  to suspend its funding for UNRWA, the UN agency with special responsibility for Palestinians. This was not so much an act of moral courage as a need to keep up with the US and other nations, who all took similar action after 12 UNRWA employees were accused of being involved in the October 7 massacre.

Should we really be surprised? For too long, transnational bodies have been given a pass by our elites. They are seen as beyond reproach, and somehow on a higher plane than democratic national governments which are held accountable by their citizens. Again and again in recent years, international law has become the weapon of choice against the decisions of Britains elected officials.

This was always a mistake. The pandemic, and the aftermath of Brexit, have shown us that transnational bodies are readily corrupted and hard to hold to account. Now, once again, we see the intolerable consequences of trusting these untouchable institutions.

After the horrors of the Second World War, the UN and allied agencies were set up to be a bulwark of Western order. Yet all too quickly, they became platforms for the interests of tyrants and the enemies of the West. First the Soviet Union and now Iran, Putins Russia and the Peoples Republic of China have all learnt how to co-opt and corrupt these well-meaning bodies to serve autocratic ends.

This is also about a failure of Western nerve. Having lost confidence in the values we stand for, our representatives have been unwilling to defend those principles in global forums. Now things risk becoming even worse, as wokeness infects our officials with radical Left views combined with a willingness to tolerate authoritarian enforcement measures.

It is past time to call out these broken institutions that have been taken over by the enemies of our values. Liz Truss was right to propose the creation of an economic Nato to unite against the threat of China. Others have proposed a new D-10 alliance of democratic states.

The free world needs to find new ways to come together. But first we must reject the widespread delusion that supranational bodies have a claim to moral superiority. Rather, they have shown themselves to be corruptible and unreformable. They posture as progressive while being in the pocket of dictators. Those who sneer at national sovereignty as old-fashioned or reactionary should take a long hard look at the proposed alternative.

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.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Glynn Simmons, a man found innocent of an Edmond murder over 48 years after his conviction and incarceration, is now suing the cities and detectives involved in the botched case.

Glynn Simmons, 71, served 48 years, one month and 18 days for a murder he did not commit.

Special Report: The Wrong Man

Its a story News 4 has been covering in depth for 20 years.

On the night of the murder, December 30, 1974, Simmons wasnt even in the State of Oklahoma.

He and a co-defendant, Don Roberts, were railroaded into a death penalty conviction in an unfair trial where the only evidence against them was the testimony of a traumatized teenager who had been shot in the back of the head.

That eyewitness picked out several other Black men in series of police lineups in early 1975.

Glynn Simmons pleaded not-guilty to the crime; he has always maintained his innocence.

Simmons and Roberts were both found guilty of the murder. Both men were originally sentenced to death.

NEWS 4 EXCLUSIVE: OK man wrongfully convicted tasting freedom after 48 years in prison

In 2003, News 4 started reporting in-depth on Simmons questionable conviction.

In 2022, Simmons attorney, Joe Norwood, asked the court to take another look.

[Glynn Simmons] had 50 years stolen from him, Norwood said. The prime earning years of his life, when he could have been getting experiences and developing skills. That was taken from him by no fault of his own.

In April 2023, the District Attorney Vicki Behenna admitted Simmons trial was unfair.

In July, Judge Amy Palumbo tossed out Simmons murder conviction.

By December, Judge Palumbo ruled, by clear and convincing evidence that the offense for which Mr. Simmons was convicted, sentenced and imprisoned. was not committed by Mr. Glynn Simmons.

That declaration of innocence cleared the way for Simmons to sue the parties involved in his wrongful conviction.

Justice was done today, finally: Judge declares wrongfully incarcerated man innocent 48 years after conviction

The federal lawsuit is filed against the City of Edmond, the City of Oklahoma City, the Estate of former Detective Sergeant Anthony David Garrett and former Detective Claude L. Shobert.

As a result of the actions of Defendants Garrett and Shobert, [Simmons] suffered loss of liberty, great mental anguish, humiliation, emotional pain and suffering, and other grievous and continuing injuries and damages, the lawsuit reads. The constitutional violations complained of by [Simmons] were a highly predictable consequence of a failure to equip Edmond and Oklahoma City police officers with the specific tools  including policies, training, and supervision  to handle the recurring situations of how to handle, preserve, and disclose exculpatory evidence; how to conduct proper identification procedures, including lineups; and how to write police reports and notes of witness statements.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
The man who served the longest wrongful conviction in U.S. history is now suing the Oklahoma police whose investigation of a murder nearly 50 years ago led to him spending most of his life in prison.

Attorneys for Glynn Simmons filed a lawsuit in federal court Friday against retired Oklahoma City detective Claude Shobert, the estate of late Edmond detective Sgt. Anthony Garrett and the investigators' respective cities.

Simmons' legal team alleges that Garrett and Shobert hid evidence that would have proven Simmons' innocence of the fatal 1974 shooting of clerk Carolyn Sue Rogers during an Edmond liquor store robbery. Convicted of murder in 1975, Simmons has always maintained he did not commit the crime and insisted he was in Louisiana at the time of the shooting, but he spent 48 years in prison until an Oklahoma County judge ordered him released in 2023 and then determined Simmons to be "actually innocent" later that year.

Simmons' lawyers argue that his constitutional rights were violated because investigators withheld a police report showing that eyewitness Belinda Brown  who was also shot in the head but survived  did not actually identify Simmons during a lineup. The attorneys point to Brown's participation in several other lineups and her identification of at least five different individuals as further proof of Simmons' innocence. They also allege that investigators falsified reports to cover up inconsistencies from Brown, who herself told Garrett in early January 1975 that her memories "would get all jumbled up."

"Garrett and Shobert suppressed the fact that they fabricated evidence and manipulated Browns identification; they never disclosed this information to (Simmons), his counsel, or the prosecutors," the attorneys wrote in the lawsuit. "(Simmons') arrest was based solely on the evidence suppressed and fabricated by Defendants Garrett and Shobert. There was never any probable cause to suspect (him) of the liquor store robbery and murder."

Judge Amy Palumbo ruled to approve Glynn Simmons' "actual innocence" claim during a hearing in December at the Oklahoma County Courthouse.

More: With Glynn Simmons free, is Carolyn Sue Rogers' 1974 murder now a cold case?

The lawsuit was filed Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma. Simmons is being represented by attorneys Jon Loevy, Jordan Poole and Elizabeth Wang of Loevy & Loevy, a national civil rights law firm headquartered in Chicago. Simmons also is being represented by Joe Norwood, his Tulsa-based attorney for several years, and John Coyle, of the Oklahoma City-based Coyle Law Firm.

Norwood and Coyle successfully advocated for Simmons' release and formal exoneration in 2023. The attorneys said Simmons needed to be found "actually innocent" in Oklahoma County court in order to begin officially pursuing financial compensation for the decades he spent wrongfully incarcerated.

"He's pursuing whatever a jury will award him, which we are certain, if this case goes to a jury trial, will be much more than $10 million," Wang told The Oklahoman Friday. "Oklahoma City has an ordinance that provided that they're required to indemnify up to $10 million. That's what they're required to do."

Glynn Simmons reads the court order as his attorneys, Joe Norwood and John Coyle, left, and his cousin, Cecilia Hawthorne, and Madeline Jones, right, look on after after Judge Amy Palumbo ruled to approve Glynn Simmons' "actual innocence" claim during a hearing in December at the Oklahoma County Courthouse.

Simmons' attorneys argue that the cities of Edmond and Oklahoma City are liable for constitutional violations "by virtue of (their) official policies."

"The Cities failed to promulgate any or adequate rules, regulations, policies or procedures on: the handling, preservation, and disclosure of exculpatory evidence; the writing of police reports and notes of witness statements; the conduct of lineups and identification procedures; and meaningful discipline of officers accused of such unlawful conduct," the lawyers wrote.

More: How much should Oklahomans wrongfully incarcerated be paid? Lawmaker working to raise the amount

When contacted Saturday by The Oklahoman, Shobert, now 79, said he did not know about the lawsuit, but confirmed he worked for the Oklahoma City Police Department from 1968 to 1988. He also said he remembers nothing about the liquor store murder, the related lineups or the Glynn Simmons case.

If its written on paper, then I have to stand by that. Im not going to change nothing, because I dont remember nothing, Shobert said. At the time, 49 years ago, if I wrote it down, then its still the same and nothings changing.

Shobert also said he regularly was tasked with investigating robberies and typically was not assigned homicide work unless homicide investigators were all tied up, and even then, he said, it was typically in an assistant role, not as a lead.

After 49 years, it had to be something really special for me to remember, and since I dont remember none of it, theres nothing I can do about it, Shobert told The Oklahoman.

Spokespeople for Edmond and Oklahoma City said Friday they could not comment on ongoing litigation.

Another man, Don Roberts, also was convicted in 1975 of Rogers' murder, although he said he was in Texas at the time of the crime. He and Simmons both were initially sentenced to death row, before a 1977 U.S. Supreme Court ruling caused their sentences to be modified to life in prison. Roberts was eventually paroled in 2008 but, according to law enforcement, his conviction still stands.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Man wrongfully imprisoned for 48 years sues Edmond, OKC investigators
Christine Choi Yuk-lin, vice-chairwoman of Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers visited the Department of Education in London this week - South China Morning Post/Nora Tam

The government has been accused of rolling out the red carpet to one of the architects of Hong Kongs crackdown on academic freedoms.

Christine Choi Yuk-lin, the education secretary in the territory, was received by Damien Hinds in the Department for Education this week, in what democracy campaigners fear is a propaganda coup for the pro-Beijing official.

A passionate supporter of the draconian National Security Law, Ms Choi has increasingly forced schools to adopt Beijing-approved curricula and practices, such as raising the Chinese flag and singing the national anthem.

She also played a key role in forcing new teachers to pass a test on national security.

Hundreds of teachers have fled the territory in the last three years, including many to the UK.

Ms Choi had been slated to attend a large international technology in schools show in London, appearing on a panel alongside Sir Anthony Seldon to discuss AI in education.

The event, the British Educational Training and Technology Show, was opened by the Education Secretary, Gillian Keegan.

Pressure to cancel

However, after human rights groups and Conservative MPs said it was inappropriate for Ms Keegan to appear at the same event, Ms Chois panel was cancelled, with the organisers citing logistical problems.

DfE had previously defended Ms Keegans presence, saying there would be no official engagement between the pair.

However, they kept quiet at the time that Ms Choi was being invited for a meeting with one of their ministers.

The department has since been unwilling to disclose what was discussed.

Sir Iain Duncan Smith, who has been sanctioned by Beijing for his criticism of its actions in Hong Kong, accused ministers of being either ignorant or naive.

I find it somewhat surprising that this individual, as someone responsible for the National Security Law which has resulted in the crackdown on students, is being welcomed to this country, he said.

Meanwhile, the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation said: Appalling that Hong Kongs pro-Beijing Education Secretary Dr Choi Yuk-lin has met with education minister Damien Hinds to discuss the education developments in Hong Kong and the UK.

We must not roll out the red carpet for hostile foreign leaders.

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.
Do you remember the Great Tomato Shortage of 2023? For a few weeks in February and March, our supermarket shelves were bereft of those gleaming, crimson, umami-flavoured globes. A combination of high energy prices and cold weather had caused a dearth across Europe.

The middle classes are not lightly denied their bruschetta, and the usual halfwits were quick to blame Brexit, ignoring the fact that there were as many empty shelves across the Channel. The Guardian positively fizzed with fury. I wonder whether poor Dominic Raab would have had to resign had he instead been accused of hurling tangerines or turnips into his bin. Discarding tomatoes, in early 2023, was akin to burning 50 notes in front of homeless people.

Oddly, though, no one pointed out that we were continuing to restrict the importation of tomatoes from non-EU states. Id like to dwell for a moment on this policy, since it perfectly illustrates not just our failure to take advantage of Brexit, but what is beginning to look very much like a determined effort by the Blob to keep us tied to EU standards in anticipation of a Starmer government.

We import 80 per cent of our tomatoes, and our chief supplier is Morocco. Because Morocco is outside the EU, its exports are subject to tariffs and quotas. This is, on the face of it, utterly bizarre. Britains tomato season runs roughly from June to September, Moroccos from October to April. Even the dimmest protectionists must struggle to explain whom they think they are protecting.

We have these idiotic tariffs because we inherited them from the EU, which maintains import quotas to protect growers in Spain. Incredibly, fully four years after Brexit came into effect, we still have not amended our schedules.

When pressed, our negotiators mutter something about tariffs being too valuable a card to throw away except as part of a final and comprehensive trade deal. But this is to misunderstand how they work. Tariffs are a tax, not on foreign exporters, but on ourselves. Exacerbating our cost of living crisis is an odd way to negotiate.

In any case, where are these final and comprehensive trade deals? We eventually got our agreements with Australia and New Zealand, both of whom wanted to go further. We joined the Pacific pact, the CPTPP. We might conclude our talks with India before the election. These deals are not nothing. But what about the rest of the world?

On Thursday, we walked away from our talks with Canada over Justin Trudeaus refusal to open his cheese market. Canada is notorious for propping up its dairy sector, much of which is in Quebec. But it left me wondering why we had so little to show after four years  eight if you count from the referendum, after which we were free to start scoping deals. Are we simply seeing the paralysis that characterises most of our departments? Or is something else going on? Are our officials deliberately holding the door ajar for Starmer to take us back into the EUs trading bloc?

Hilary Benn and Sadiq Khan have called in terms for membership of the customs union. Although David Lammy and Keir Starmer talk more vaguely about a closer relationship, it is increasingly clear that they also have the customs union in mind.

The customs union always harmed Britain more than any other EU state, because we were the only member whose trade was mainly with the rest of the world. To stay outside the single market but rejoin the customs union would be like throwing away the burger and eating the napkin. But Starmers motive is political rather than economic. He wants to appeal to disgruntled Remainers without reopening the issue of membership, so he has to sign up to something.

His problem is that, the more trade deals Britain has sealed, the harder it will be to go back in. The EU could fold our agreements with Australia and New Zealand into a new one of its own  it would regard that as a price well worth paying to recover control of Britains trade policy. The CPTPP is trickier, but feasible. India would be tougher. Is this why our officials are dragging their feet?

Morocco is a case in point. That dynamic kingdom has been hammering at our door since Brexit, nonplussed by our reluctance to deviate from the EU. Sneering Remainers dismiss Morocco, as they dismiss all non-EU countries. They should have accompanied me last week as I toured that countrys industrial sites open-mouthed.

The new port outside Tangier is the largest, not only in Africa, but in the Mediterranean. A massive car industry has grown up around it, supplying Europe as dependably as Mexico supplies North America. Over the past 20 years, an aeronautics hub has developed in Casablanca. The main cities are connected by high-speed trains that put our railways to shame. Few places are better situated for wind and solar power and their green hydrogen by-product.

Morocco made a strategic decision to diversify beyond the Francophone world, and turned to Britain as its oldest friend (our alliance goes back to Elizabeth I, which is why Shakespeares Prince of Morocco is so sympathetically drawn). English is now mandatory in school, and there is talk of applying to join the Commonwealth. Our response? To sit behind our EU tariff wall and mumble that these things take time.

The Institute for Free Trade, of which I am president, has come up with a series of ideas that would liberalise our trade. Not just scrapping tariffs but creating a digital corridor between Tangier and our ports to reduce paperwork, facilitating investment into the special zones that Morocco is happy to offer exclusively to Britain, and ensuring that our trade policy fully recognises what we de facto accept (to the fury of Corbynistas) namely Moroccan sovereignty over the Western Sahara.

Morocco is an unusually vivid illustration of the wider problem: our torpor. Brexit was a generational opportunity to become more competitive  to scrap expensive regulations and reorient our commerce towards faster-growing parts of the world. But we have been hesitant, often downright cowardly, baulking at negative headlines.

One reason our talks with Canada broke down is that we insist on sticking to the EUs rules on food standards (what trade negotiators call SPS  sanitary and phytosanitary measures). We and the EU are both breaking World Trade Organisation rules, which stipulate that SPS measures must be scientifically justified. The EU regularly uses SPS as a form of economic protectionism  beef being a prime example. The whole world, not just Canada, resents it.

Why, having left, do we retain rules that keep out beef from our traditional suppliers  Canada, Australia, Argentina, Uruguay  and reserve our market for French and Irish exporters? Again, it is hard to avoid the suspicion that this is really about easing our transition back into the customs union, accompanied by a commitment to adopt future EU rules, the so-called dynamic alignment that has been the European Commissions key objective throughout.

In his last major speech as prime minister, Boris Johnson asked in bewilderment why we still had tariffs on bananas and olive oil (as with last years tomatoes, we are about to see a spike in olive oil prices even as we impose quotas on non-EU imports). Only so much of the blame can be laid at the door of our officials.

Had they truly wanted to, ministers could have been more radical, beginning trade talks with friendly countries by offering complete mutual recognition except where there were overwhelming reasons not to. But they were cowed by scare stories about chlorinated chicken, and the moment passed.

We could, in theory, still liberalise, not least by accepting global practice on SPS. But it seems likely that, yet again, the opportunity will slip, and that nothing will prevent our re-entry into the EUs protectionist trade bloc. The waters will close above our heads and, trade-wise, it will be as if Brexit had never happened.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
The killer of Ian Coates, Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar was known to police - NOTTINGHAMSHIRE POLICE

Calls are growing for the Government to launch a public inquiry into whether the Nottingham killer could have been prevented from stabbing three people to death.

Conservative and Labour MPs said something had gone badly wrong because Valdo Calocane was known to the police and mental health services before he carried out the attacks last year.

Calocane, a paranoid schizophrenic, was last week handed an indefinite order to be detained in a high security hospital after he pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility.

The 32-year-old took the lives of 19-year-old university students Barnaby Webber and Grace OMalley-Kumar before killing 65-year-old school caretaker Ian Coates in a series of violent attacks in Nottingham on June 13, 2023.

It has since emerged that he was wanted by the police after a series of assaults and had been sectioned four times.

At the time of his arrest, Calocane had been the subject of an arrest warrant for nine months after assaulting a police officer with a knife.

Just weeks before the Nottingham attacks, Leicestershire police had also responded to a call that he had assaulted two security guards in a factory where he was working.

Emma Webber, Barnabys mother, has urged the Government to launch an inquiry to establish whether he could have been stopped.

We, as a family, of course fully support the calls for a public inquiry into this matter, she told The Times.

Devastating situation

The call has been backed by Marco Longhi, a Conservative MP who sits on the Commons Home Affairs Committee.

Mr Longhi told The Telegraph: I do support an inquiry. This is a devastating situation for so many with three lives lost. For a person to be known to the police and mental health services, and for them to have judged the perpetrator as to have been safe in our community means that something has gone very badly wrong indeed.

While I dont want to jump to conclusions, it is clear that the victims and their loved ones deserve answers and I do think that only an inquiry can bring these about fairly and independently.

Labour have also said they would support the move. Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, said: The senseless killings  have devastated the [victims] families, friends and a city still reeling from the awful events of last summer.

The police have said that mistakes were made. We need to know what went wrong and why - that is why Keir Starmer has said an inquiry is now needed. The families deserve answers and lessons have to be learnt.

Victoria Prentis, the Attorney General, is separately considering whether to refer the case to the Court of Appeal to decide whether Calocanes sentence was appropriate after a complaint was lodged with her office that it was unduly lenient.

The Government was contacted for comment.

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.
APPLETON  Grand Chute town supervisor Ron Wolff will be permitted to present evidence at trial that he acted in good faith when accepting a contract from the town for his private business, a judge ruled Friday.

Outagamie County Circuit Court Judge Mark McGinnis' courtroom was packed Friday morning for a motion hearing addressing a couple of matters in the ongoing case against Wolff, who is charged with having private interest in a public contract, a Class I felony.

In June 2021, Grand Chute hired Wolff's landscaping company, Lake Shore Cleaners Inc., to do plantings around the ponds at the Champion Center, at 5000 W. Champion Drive.

Wolff was sworn in as town supervisor April 13, 2021. His company, Lake Shore Cleaners, submitted a bid for the project about a month later, on May 11.

In March 2022, state agents conducted a search warrant on Wolff's house. Over a year later, in July 2023, Wolff was charged with the felony.

Wolff's attorney, Nathan Otis, aims to present evidence at trial that Wolff acted in good faith and his actions do not make him liable for a crime.

When Wolff submitted this bid for the project, he was "a brand new elected official within several weeks of taking office," Otis said Friday. Additionally, Wolff did not seek out for his company to do the project, but he was "directly solicited" by engineering and architecture firm McMahon Associates, Inc, which has a contract with the Town of Grand Chute, to provide a quote. He was also informed by town officials that his actions were legal.

Assistant Attorneys General Nathaniel Adamson and Robert Kaiser, Jr., who are prosecuting the case, argue that as an elected official, Wolff had ethical obligations that he failed to follow and a month to understand what he was and was not permitted to do in his new role. Adamson argued Wolff did not act in good faith because he showed "willful ignorance of his duties to his constituents."

People have attended hearings in support of Wolff since the start of the case. Prior to Friday's hearing, Wolff shared an email with Grand Chute residents inviting them to sit in.

"You won't find this in the Post-Crescent," the email stated. "Reach out to me and I will send two documents that will open your eyes as to what is going on in the Town of Grand Chute."

A reporter reached out to Wolff for details, but received no response.

Grand Chute Supervisor Ron Wolff talks with supporters in court following a motion hearing on Friday in Outagmie County Circuit Court in Appleton. Judge Mark McGinnis ruled that Wolff will be allowed to make "good faith" affirmative defense in criminal trial. In June 2021, Wolff's landscaping company, Lake Shore Cleaners Inc., was hired by Grand Chute to do plantings around the ponds at the Champion Center. Wolff was charged in July with having private interest in a public contract, a Class I felony.

What was decided at Friday's motion hearing?

McGinnis ruled on two motions.

The first, a motion from the prosecution to bar irrelevant defense arguments, was denied. Adamson and Kaiser wanted to prevent the defense from discussing at trial the facts that Wolff was the only bidder and that his bid was close to the town of Grand Chute's estimate, on the grounds that that information is not a defense to the criminal charge against Wolff.

In response, Otis argued that the amount of Lake Shore Cleaners' bid is relevant to the charge against him, because in March 2021, before Wolff was elected to the town board, Grand Chute authorized about $23,800 to be spent toward the Champion Center project, while Wolff's bid for the project was around $26,865.

Otis argued that Wolff's contract was not in excess of $15,000 required by state statute to be a felony, since his estimate was only about $3,000 more than the amount the city already approved for the project before Wolff took office.

Prosecutors and McGinnis said they had not considered that interpretation of the law. McGinnis said it is a different argument from the affirmative defense, and did not make a decision Friday about whether it will be allowed at trial.

The second motion, which was filed by the defense, asked McGinnis to either dismiss the case or allow Wolff to present "a good faith affirmative defense." An affirmative defense allows a defendant to not deny they engaged in illegal actions, but present evidence that negates liability for the crime.

McGinnis declined the request to dismiss the case but granted the defense's motion to allow Wolff to take a good faith affirmative defense at trial.

"I think this was obviously what we were hoping for," Otis told The Post-Crescent about McGinnis' ruling. "Ron was somebody who wasn't trying to do anything wrong. He was told by the town officials that what he was doing was necessary and in fact appropriate to provide a service for the town. We're looking forward to presenting that evidence at trial and I think a jury's going to reach the same conclusion."

What comes next?

Wolff is scheduled to face trial on Feb. 28 and 29  although attorneys questioned Friday if they may need more days.

Attorneys and McGinnis discussed next steps, including disclosing witnesses and picking a jury. The next hearing on the court calendar is a pretrial conference, scheduled for 1:15 p.m. Feb. 19.

Special Agent Jay Yerges, left, with the state Division of Criminal Investigation speaks with Assistant Attorney General Robert Kaiser, Jr. during a motion hearing for Grand Chute Supervisor Ron Wolff on Friday in Outagmie County Circuit Court in Appleton.

What is the timeline of related legal battles in Grand Chute?

Grand Chute is in the midst of various legal battles related to this case.

In March 2022, Wolff and his wife, Karri Wolff, filed a federal lawsuit in which they alleged their civil rights were violated when law enforcement, including Outagamie County Sheriff's deputies and Wisconsin Department of Justice state agents, executed a search warrant on his properties. The lawsuit was dismissed in October, when U.S. District Judge William Conley ruled the investigators' actions were protected under the doctrine of qualified immunity.

In May 2023, Former Town Administrator Jim March filed a federal lawsuit against Grand Chute, Town Chair Jason Van Eperen and supervisors Jeff Ings and Wolff, alleging he was fired in retaliation for cooperating with state investigation into Wolff. The case is ongoing.

In July 2023, Wolff was charged with a felony for having private interest in a public contract.

In December 2023, Wolff filed a counter-lawsuit to March's lawsuit, alleging March set him up to be charged with a crime for the Champion Center landscaping project. Wolff claims March planned to entrap Wolff either so Wolff would need to leave the Grand Chute Town Board or so that Wolff would abandon his political platform of abolishing Grand Chute's use of special assessments to pay for public improvements.

RELATED: Grand Chute town supervisor pleads not guilty to felony of having private interest in public contract

RELATED: Grand Chute supervisor says he was 'set up' for felony charge by former town administrator

RELATED: Grand Chute faces another lawsuit while awaiting the outcomes of two ethics complaints

Duke Behnke contributed to this report.

Kelli Arseneau can be reached at 920-213-3721 or karseneau@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @ArseneauKelli.

This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Grand Chute supervisor charged with felony allowed to present evidence he acted in 'good faith'
The Greendale Police Department has released body cam footage of a vehicle pursuit that ended with the suspect crashing over a snowbank and into the north side of a Chase Bank near 76th Street and Rawson Avenue in Greendale.

The driver in the fleeing vehicle, a 28-year-old Oak Creek man, is being charged with fleeing and eluding an officer and second-degree reckless endangerment  both felonies.

For each charge, the driver could face a fine of up to $25,000, and be imprisoned for up to 16 years or both.

He was also given citations for resisting an officer, operating a vehicle after suspension, unreasonable/imprudent speed and non-registration of an automobile.

According to the Greendale Police Department:

On Friday, Jan 26., at 2:54 a.m., a Greendale police officer attempted to stop a vehicle for speeding and having a registration violation near 76th Street and Hill Ridge Drive in Greendale. The officer pulled the vehicle over, but the driver took off before the officer could exit his squad car.

Police pursued the car for about 40 seconds until reaching 76th Street and Rawson Avenue. The vehicle attempted to turn east onto Rawson Avenue when it lost control and went airborne over a sidewalk covered by a snowbank, and crashed into the north side of a Chase Bank near the intersection.

The driver then exited the vehicle and fled on foot through the nearby parking lots. He was eventually arrested in a wooded area by officers from the Franklin Police Department who were called in for assistance. The suspect was then taken to the Milwaukee County Jail.

There were no injuries during this pursuit. Police did not provide information about the speed at which the vehicles were traveling during the chase.

The suspect's vehicle was towed from the scene. There was damage to the bank where the vehicle hit including an electrical box, a gas meter, a downspout and some landscaping. The total cost of the damage is unknown, police said.

Contact Adrienne Davis at amdavis@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @AdriReportss.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Greendale police chase ends in car crashing into Chase Bank
A Washington County District Court Judge, on Friday, ordered a Hagerstown teen found with a loaded gun in his backpack in school earlier in the week to be held without bond.

The 16-year-old boy was transferred to the Western Maryland Children's Center south of Hagerstown. The children's center is a "secure detention facility for youth waiting to go to court or be placed in a treatment program," according to the state's website.

Hagerstown Police have not released the boy's name.

Hagerstown Police charged the North Hagerstown High School junior as an adult after a loaded gun was found in his backpack during the school day on Thursday afternoon.

No one was injured, police and Washington County Public Schools officials have said.

The teen also was found in possession of suspected hallucinogenic mushrooms, Officer Heather Aleshire has said. Aleshire is a School Resource Officer, a Hagerstown Police officer assigned to North High.

During the Friday afternoon bond hearing, Assistant State's Attorney Michelle Flores told Judge Mark D. Thomas there was concerning information the boy had been "trying to sell" and had become aggressive with his sales. Flores did not say what the boy was trying to sell.

The judge said he had read the statement.

Assistant Public Defender Matthew Bronson asked Thomas to allow the boy, who has been living in Hagerstown with his grandmother in recent years, to be released with an ankle monitor. He said the boy was not a repeat offender in the criminal justice system.

Flores said the state opposed that measure.

Thomas said he didn't see how an ankle monitor "solves the potential problem" given the nature of the charges.

Noting the safety of the community, Thomas ordered the youth held without bond.

A transfer hearing will be scheduled to determine if the case will be transferred to juvenile court.

Bronson also asked that a social worker be assigned to the case.

Homicide victim ID'd: Hagerstown Police identify Thursday homicide victim

Talking to your kids about issues including drugs

Aleshire, on Thursday, told The Herald-Mail there has been a rise in youths with hallucinogenic drugs.

Speaking about both drugs and weapons, Aleshire said she encourages parents to be vigilant with their children. That includes knowing who their children are hanging out with and about changes in their children's behavior and moods.

It's important for parents to have "open conversations" with their children, even when that is difficult, she said.

Asked about resources parents could use if they discover an issue with their child, school system spokesperson Erin Anderson said WCPS has a student assistance program.

The program is in partnership with the Washington County Health Department.

Any student, parent or teacher concerned about a student can make an anonymous report through the program, Anderson said.

The program is promoted within the schools, she said. Families can contact their student's school to learn more about the program.

The student assistance program is a referral process to a school team to support students who may be using alcohol and/or drugs, according to a May 2023 presentation to the Board of Education.

Board members were told students and parents are referred to the health department. It is a voluntary process for the student and parent to follow up with health officials, according to a YouTube video of the meeting.

Offshore wind suffers big setback: rsted announces pullback in Maryland offshore wind plan as 'no longer commercially viable'

Charges teen faces for having gun in Hagerstown school

The teenager in this case was charged with five misdemeanors including being in possession of a firearm as a minor, Aleshire has said. It is that charge that qualified the youth to be charged as an adult.

He also is charged with having a handgun on person, having a loaded handgun on person, having a dangerous weapon on school property and possession of a controlled dangerous substance  the suspected hallucinogenic mushrooms.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Hagerstown teen held without bond after loaded gun found in school
A National Police officer patrols an intersection in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. A court in Kenya on Friday blocked the deployment of a U.N.-backed police force to help fight gangs in the troubled Caribbean country. (AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph)

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP)  Radio stations across Haiti got jammed with calls just hours after a court in Kenya blocked the deployment of a U.N.-backed police force to help fight gangs in the troubled Caribbean country.

Many callers wondered and demanded: Whats next?

Few know.

Uncertainty and fear have been spreading since Fridays ruling, with violence reaching new records as gangs tighten their grip on Haitis capital and beyond.

Absent a robust external mission that would be deployed very soon, we are facing quite a tragic scenario in Haiti, warned Diego Da Rin with International Crisis Group.

Gangs that control an estimated 80% of Haitis capital have in recent weeks attacked and seized power of previously peaceful communities, killing and injuring dozens, leading to widespread concerns that they will soon control all of Port-au-Prince.

The number of people reported killed last year in Haiti more than doubled to nearly 4,500, and the number of reported kidnappings surged by more than 80% to nearly 2,500 cases, according to the most recent U.N. statistics.

Meanwhile, Haitis National Police is losing officers at an alarming rate, while those still in service continue to be overwhelmed by gangs, according to a U.N. report released this week. More than 1,600 officers left the department last year, and another 48 were reported killed.

In addition, equipment sent by the international community to help bolster an underfunded police department has crumpled beneath heavy fights with gangs. Only 21 of 47 armored vehicles were operational as of mid-November, with 19 severely damaged during anti-gang operations or broken down, according to the U.N. report. The remaining seven vehicles are permanently disabled, it stated.

The situation has gone overboard. Enough is enough, said a man who identified himself as Pastor Malory Laurent when he called Radio Caraibes to vent about Fridays ruling. Every day, you feel there is no hope.

Kenya's government said it would appeal the ruling. Still, its unclear how long that might take and whether other countries who pledged to send smaller forces to boost the multi-national mission would consider going at it alone.

Among those who planned to send forces were the Bahamas, Jamaica, Belize, Burundi, Chad and Senegal.

All I will say at this time is that this is a major setback for the people of Haiti who yearn to have a stable country to live in, said Roosevelt Skerrit, Dominica prime minister and former head of a Caribbean trade bloc known as Caricom that has sent recent delegations to Haiti to help resolve the unrest. The decision of the Kenyan court warrants an emergency meeting of the friends of Haiti to determine with the Haitian people the plan B.

Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Davis did not return messages for comment, nor did the office of Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

Hugh Todd, Guyana's foreign minister, told The Associated Press that the trade bloc will likely meet soon to discuss the implications of the ruling as it awaits word from Jamaica.

We will have to see if there is any legal space for us to operate, he said, referring to whether there are any other legal options that might allow Kenya and other countries to move forward.

U.N. officials have not commented since the court ruling.

Edwin Paraison, a former Haitian diplomat and executive director of a foundation that seeks to strengthen ties between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, said he would be surprised if international leaders didnt have a plan B.

He said the ruling, however, would allow Haiti to implement its own solutions to gang violence, and that he believes it has enough resources to do so.

One entity that has never been mentioned, and we dont understand why its never been mentioned, is Haitis military, even if its at an embryonic stage, he said.

Paraison noted that more than 600 soldiers who recently received training in Mexico could work alongside with police.

We have to look at the resources we have at the local level to deal with this situation, he said.

But such resources might not be enough, said Andre Joseph, 50, who owns a small convenience store in downtown Port-au-Prince, one of the more dangerous areas of the capital.

The people who live and work around his store are very protective of him and his business, he said.

I hope that someone can fight for them also, Joseph said. The international force would be the best thing for these people to have here, and for me, too.

But in the absence of one, he would like to see the money set aside for the multinational mission go to Haiti instead so it can rebuild its own forces and fight gangs.

Many Haitians grumbled about Fridays ruling, including Marjorie Lamour, a 39-year-old mother of two who sells womens lingerie out of a small container she carries with her. She is forced to keep her load light in case she must run from gangs.

Some days Im here all day, and then theres a shooting and Im running, and I come back home without a cent, said Lamour, who called the ruling a major crime against Haitians.

She noted that she and her family have been forced to flee two different homes already because of gang violence, which has left more than 310,000 Haitians homeless.

I dont want to have to run a third time, she said, adding that she doesnt make enough money to properly care for her children. Feeding my kids a meal once a day is hard enough. I hope God can do something for us because no one is doing anything.

Da Rin, with International Crisis Group, noted that one silver lining is how the mission backed by the U.N. Security Council did not specify that Kenya would be the one to lead it. He said it opens the possibility that another country could take the reins without additional meetings and approval from the council.

As Haiti awaits the possibility of a plan B, Da Rin said he worries that the situation could only worsen, especially given the recent arrival of former Haitian rebel leader Guy Philippe, who has not supported the Kenyan-led mission.

With this news, the desperation of Haitians to see a way out of the security crisis increases, he said. They may make some slightly radical decisions.

__

Coto reported from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Associated Press reporter Bert Wilkinson in Georgetown, Guyana, contributed.
Year of Dragon stamp gets roar of approval in US

China Daily) 14:11, January 27, 2024

The stamp issued by the United States Postal Service to mark the Year of the Dragon. [PHOTO/CHINA DAILY]

On Thursday morning, Jason Sean joined a long line of people eagerly waiting to buy a commemorative Year of the Dragon stamp issued by the US Postal Service.

He was among the hundreds who waited at the International District/Chinatown Community Center in Seattle, Washington, for the first day of the issue ceremony for the stamp. Sean said purchasing stamps to celebrate the Lunar New Year is a tradition in his family.

"For many Asian Americans, the Lunar New Year offers the chance to leave behind the troubles of the past year and invite prosperity and good luck moving forward," said Connie So, a professor at the University of Washington.

"This Year of the Dragon stamp ceremony recognizes the importance of the diversity and cultural significance Asian Americans bring to the United States and provides Seattle an opportunity to promote the significance of the Lunar New Year," So added.

The Census Bureau's annual American Community Survey shows Seattle's Asian population stood at 135,300 in 2022, an increase of around 13,000 from 2021.

For more than three decades, the Postal Service has issued stamps highlighting the Lunar New Year, and it has been some of the most successful stamp releases in the long history of the Postal Service, said Eduardo H. Ruiz Jr, USPS vice-president of retail and delivery operations for the Postal Service's Westpac area, who served as the dedicating official.

"The Postal Service has one of the most diverse workplaces in the United States, and its customer base is as diverse as the country itself. This stamp is a great example that reflects our nation's rich, multicultural heritage and traditions," he added.

"I think we're really unleashing the power of the everyday and the power of the small," said Joel Barraquiel Tan, executive director of the Wing Luke Museum. "Everybody uses stamps. And to have it reflect the tradition of Lunar New Year is pretty incredible. That an object as small as this carries such huge intention, such big impact, is pretty amazing."

The stamp was designed by Antonio Alcala, the USPS art director, with original art by Camille Chew. It features a colorful, three-dimensional mask depicting a dragon, which is a contemporary take on the long tradition of paper-cut folk art crafts created by Chew. Gold and red colors represent prosperity in the coming year and good fortune.

The Year of the Dragon stamp is on sale now at post offices across the US and on USPS.com. In total, 22 million new stamps have been printed.

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Wu Chaolan)
Nikki Haley is facing broadening calls to drop out of the GOP primary even as she publicly signals no intention to do so ahead of South Carolinas contest next month.

The head of the Republican National Committee (RNC), the Georgia Republican Party and growing numbers of GOP lawmakers are urging her to drop out, arguing she has no realistic path to the nomination against frontrunner former President Trump.

There are incentives for Haley to keep going, but also risks. Shes up to 17 delegates after New Hampshire and has the potential to win more in the coming primaries, which could set her up to be an alternate nominee to Trump as he faces myriad legal battles.

At the same time, Haley could become demonized within the GOP if her campaign ends up angering rank-and-file Republican voters who want the party to unify behind its likely nominee.

2024 Election Coverage

By sticking in the race, Haley risks being persona non grata with MAGA world, and Trump and his entourage, said Republican strategist Brendan Steinhauser.

Shell be vilified in that space, he said, arguing Haley will be seen as being obstinate in the face of top party voices calling for support to rally behind Trump.

One Trump ally in the RNC submitted a draft resolution that made headlines this week, proposing the party declare the former president as its presumptive 2024 nominee even as he boasts just 32 of the 1,215 delegates needed to get the nod.

The draft argued there was no path forward for Haley and moved to kick the party into full general election mode welcoming supporters of all candidates as valued members of Team Trump 2024.

But although Trump has suggested Haley should suspend her campaign, he came out quickly to call for the RNC to back off reviewing the proposal for the sake of PARTY UNITY, stressing the party should finish the process off AT THE BALLOT BOX.

The draft was reportedly withdrawn before it could come under consideration at the RNCs winter meeting next week.

Trumps move to intervene in the effort  which could have cut the primary race short after just two states weighed in  suggests hes confident he can win in South Carolina, Haleys home state and the next major test in the presidential race.

He wants to be able to say, we were head-to-head, and I beat her handily, and I dont need the party to necessarily pave the way for me, Steinhauser said.

At the same time, it also indicates the former president is aware of fissures within his party, and is working to get ahead of them as he guns toward the general.

Hes got to have the support of Haleys people in the general, said South Carolina-based Republican strategist Chip Felkel.

The numbers out of New Hampshire show Haley has the backing of some disaffected Republicans, moderates and independents, Felkel noted, and Trump must work to avoid alienating those groups as he knocks his primary rival.

Hes got to have those votes if hes going to beat Biden, Felkel said.

But even though Trump stepped in to put down the RNC draft resolution, he and his allies are still upping pressure on Haley to drop out of the race on her own.

Trump  who in 2020 sought to claim victory even as votes were still being counted and continues to deny the results of the election  was noticeably annoyed by Haleys positive framing of her second-place New Hampshire win.

His campaign sent out a fundraising email with the subject line, Suspend your campaign! targeting Haley, and the Trump-aligned super PAC, MAGA Inc., said after New Hampshire that it was time for Haley to drop out.

Every day that Nikki Haley stays in the race is an in-kind contribution to the Biden campaign, Karoline Leavitt, the Trump campaigns national press secretary, wrote on X.

RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel said after Trumps back-to-back wins in Iowa and New Hampshire that the party needs to unify around our eventual nominee, which is going to be Donald Trump.

And in an unusual move that drew criticism from some conservatives, the Georgia GOP also directly urged the party to move to the general election phase of this campaign and unite behind eventual nominee Trump so resources can focus on the likely head-to-head with Biden.

The chair of the Republican Senate campaign arm, Sen. Steve Daines (Mont.), also said this week the Republican nomination fight is over and agreed that Haley should exit the field.

But as Trumps allies tighten the screws on the former U.N. ambassador, Haley is marching forward to South Carolina, which votes Feb. 24.

This race is far from over. There are dozens of states left to go, Haley said in her post-New Hampshire remarks.

South Carolinians dont want the DC swamp telling them what to do. They know this race is far from over! she said Friday on X. Her campaign is already running ads and making appearances in preparation for the first-in-the-South primary.

Strategists are nevertheless split on whether the former South Carolina governor will stay in the race until her home state contest.

Polling averages for South Carolina put Trump more than 30 points above Haley, according to The Hill/Decision Desk HQ, and some observers are skeptical of whether she has the momentum to keep going  and whether shell want to risk embarrassment on her home turf.

Steinhauser thinks the pressure to drop out is only going to increase as the next major primary nears and doesnt think its a foregone conclusion that she stays in until South Carolina.

But with the race now a one-on-one between Haley and Trump, Steinhauser suggested shes also relishing the media attention, the continued support of her backers and her elevated national profile.

Felkel predicted shell stay in until her home state  and might even hang on if she loses there, too.

Shes playing the long game. Maybe shes counting on a little help from some juries, Felkel said, with a nod to Trumps various legal battles.

Trump is campaigning amid multiple criminal indictments, and some have floated that Haley is waiting in the wings in case the former presidents bid is curtailed by his courtroom battles.

Shes leaned into her electability argument as she campaigns, highlighting polling that shows her putting up a better fight than Trump in a hypothetical head-to-head matchup with Biden.

If Republicans want to beat Biden, they should nominate Nikki Haley because shes the only candidate who crushes him by double digits in all the polls. Trump barely squeaks by on a good day. That wont change as millions more voters get to have a say in choosing our candidate, a Haley campaign spokesperson told The Hill.

As long as Haley carries on, the former president will not be able to tap into a joint fundraising deal with the RNC that would allow donors to max out contributions and boost the former presidents coffers ahead of what is shaping up to be a lengthy general election campaign.

Any day the Trump campaign is focused on Nikki Haley is a day they could be going after Joe Biden, said GOP strategist Brian Seitchik.

The longer this thing drags out, the more enemies shes going to make, the more incoming shes going to take, the less likely its going to be that she has an opportunity to get a promotion down the road, Seitchik said.

But Felkel argued Haleys probably already angered the former president on that front, and therefore unlikely to score a potential Trump Cabinet position or other gains by dropping out at this point. Whats she got to lose?

Brett Samuels contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
New Hampshires energy department is preparing to road-test a grant program meant to help disadvantaged cities and towns access the environmental and financial benefits of solar power.

The state plans to use $1.4 million from the 2021 federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Act to help fund the installation of solar projects up to 60 kilowatts on municipal buildings or land. The grant will cover up to 95 percent of the costs of a qualifying solar project for lower-income cities and towns and 60 percent for other municipalities.

New Hampshire plans to use $1.4 million from the 2021 federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Act to help fund the installation of solar projects up to 60 kilowatts on municipal buildings or land. Pictured is the Keene wastewater treatment facility in Swanzey, which uses solar panels.

In addition to cutting carbon emissions, solar can also make a community more resilient in case of power outages. Using it to power municipal facilities can save money that can be reinvested in public projects or used to hold down property tax rates in the long term.

The funding application has been submitted to the U.S. Department of Energy, and New Hampshire is now in wait-and-see mode, said Joshua Elliott, director of policy and programs in the state energy department.

The state is also looking at the program as something of a trial run, to see if it makes sense to continue and expand the grant offering in the future.

Were looking at this program as almost the guinea pig to see what demand is out there, what can we do, what we can improve, Elliott said. Then well use this process to inform what potentially a [larger] municipal program could look like.

New Hampshire lags in solar adoption

As a whole, New Hampshire lags behind the region in solar adoption. The state ranks 41st in the country for installed solar capacity, behind even lower-population New England states like Maine, Rhode Island, and Vermont, according to the Solar Energy Industry Association. State policies to encourage solar are limited, with incentives for residential solar maxing out at $1,000 per project and rebates for commercial solar limited to $10,000.

On the municipal level, though, many New Hampshire cities and towns are very interested in solar power. For example, in Hanover, a more affluent town and the home of Dartmouth College, solar arrays provide nearly all the power used by municipal facilities. Smaller towns and those with lower average incomes, however, often have a harder time realizing their solar goals.

New Hampshire property owners already have one of the highest property tax burdens in the country, so proposing that the residents of small, disadvantaged towns pay more to install solar is a big ask, even if there could be financial benefits down the line. Beyond the issue of funding, there are the logistics: researching options, hiring consultants, and assessing different grant options.

If you have the idea that you want solar on the town hall, you have to go from the idea to the implementation, said Margaret Byrnes, executive director of the New Hampshire Municipal Association. For municipalities that dont have that internal staff, its a significant lift.

The grant program aims to lighten that burden. And to maximize the benefits these towns can achieve, the grant guidelines encourage municipalities to skip entering into leasing arrangements and instead buy their solar arrays outright, so they retain the rights to sell renewable energy credits.

We want all of those benefits flowing to the community itself, Elliott said.

Small towns eager for solar grants

Colebrook, a town of roughly 2,000 people just 10 miles south of the Canadian border, is looking at the grant program as a potential way to fund a solar array on the roof of its town hall. Tourism is the main economic driver in the remote and scenic town, and there is little industry and few high-paying jobs. The median household income in the town is just over $48,000, well below the state median of $91,000.

We cant just go out and ask for $150,000 from the town to foot the bill for a solar project, said Colebrook Town Manager Tim Stevens. Any time you have to go back to the town and ask for more money than you did before, that has a negative impact on them.

Hinsdale, a small town near the states southern border, has plans to open its transfer station full-time and hopes to build a solar array on the site to help power the operation. A recent report, however, found that most residents property taxes had increased between 25 percent and 48 percent between 2018 and 2022, making it challenging to ask for yet more money. And theres a bridge in town that needs to be rebuilt and other pressing infrastructure issues.

Unfortunately, solar is not on that priority list, said Josh Green, Hinsdales community development coordinator.

He estimates that a 60-kilowatt array at the transfer station would cost about $260,000. With the grant, the town would have to pay only about $13,000 of that total tab.

The solar grant would definitely help the town out tremendously, Green said.

Though the planned grant program is modest in size  the total budget will likely be able to fund only a handful of projects  it is well-tailored to the needs of the state, said Melissa Elander of Clean Energy New Hampshire, a nonprofit advocacy group that has been working with municipalities in the northern part of the state to prepare for the launch of the grants.

Its a good fit to focus on smaller towns that often get forgotten in some of the larger grant programs, she said. I am thrilled that its going to be available at all.

This article first appeared on Energy News Network and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

This story was originally published by the New Hampshire Bulletin

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: New Hampshire launches solar grant program for less affluent towns
(NEXSTAR)  There are a handful of things that many Texans can agree on  and Buc-ees, Texas beloved gas station chain, is usually one of them. Whether youre looking for the companys famed clean bathrooms or the plethora of treats ready to eat, theres something for everyone at a Buc-ees stop.

Or so we thought.

It might sound like sacrilege  but recently, one Texas travel writer explained for Fodors Travel why, in her opinion, Buc-ees pit stop really sucks.

San Antonio-based writer Jill Robbins explains her unpopular opinion (which she says shes been told shes not a real Texan for having) is based on the chaotic atmosphere of crowded stores and vast, bustling parking lots she says dont have many parking spaces.

Robbins says while driving breaks are necessary, shes more likely to stop at a greener designated rest stop, though she does acknowledge the stores clean bathrooms and fair gas prices, she says she nevertheless hates Buc-ees with the fire of a thousand suns.

Buc-ees beaver toys (Courtesy: Buc-ees)

On X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Robbins noted that her hometown newspaper, San Antonio Express-News covered her story and people have big [feelings] about it. The Facebook post of the article currently has over 6.6K comments and over 400 shares.

Robbins piece and the reaction to it got us thinking  surely shes not the only Texan who feels this way, right? So we took to Reddit to find out.

And apparently, the unpopular opinion isnt shared by Robbins alone. Users confessed their Buc-ees hate (or ambivalence) in several Unpopular Opinion subreddit threads, in addition to several in the Texas subreddit.

Crowds and chaos were among the top reasons people tended to give for staying away from the stores.

One thread, I dont get Buc-ees, dont hate me  but please explain, received several hundred replies with people trying to guide the original poster through their love for Buc-ees. While the bathrooms were among the top reasons, one user summed up Buc-ees appeal in one highly upvoted reply: Buc-ees is nice because I can fuel up for cheap, use a nice restroom without waiting, grab food/drink from a giant selection, buy a small gift for my children (I like to buy them small gifts when I travel overnight). All of this can be accomplished for a reasonable price while not having to wait on anything at any point.

Love it or hate it, Buc-ees chokehold on roadside travelers isnt going away anytime soon. The Texas-based company is quickly expanding in many areas of the country. Aside from over 30 locations in Texas, there are now Buc-ees locations in Tennessee, South Carolina, Missouri, Kentucky, Georgia, Florida and Alabama.

As of last summer, a Buc-ees location was in the works in Huber Heights, Ohio, which Nexstars Dayton outlet WDTN notes could definitely be considered among the first northern Buc-ees locations.

Ultimately, as Robbins explains in her opinion piece, not everyone enjoys the same things. So whether youre a Buc-ees stan or a Buc-ees hater, there are different kinds of rest stops to be appreciated all across the Lone Star State. And after all, theres always a solution: like picking up some Beaver Nuggets and enjoying them in a quiet park alone!

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Hayden Panettiere has claimed that the writers of Nashville used to write stories inspired by her private life.

The 34-year-old singer and actor played the character of troubled musician Juliette Barnes on the popular AMC drama series, set in the world of country music.

Panettiere, who is now sober, has spoken openly in the past about her history of addiction and mental illness.

In an interview with The Messenger, she described her time spent Nashville, which ran from 2012 to 2018, as being very traumatising because I felt like I was acting out my own life.

Commenting on the parallels between her characters storylines and her own life, she explained: Straight from the beginning, it was like, Im dating a football player, [and then] Juliette dates a football player. And then they turned her into an alcoholic. Then they turned to her leaving her daughter and going to this crazy [place] in Europe, and it was very obvious 

They werent doing their homework. They werent creating new storylines. They were just looking at my life and going, Oh, lets just take what shes going through and put our little spin on it. And then, ta-da! Its done and done.

Panettiere also addressed the toll that the punishing filming schedule had taken on her, with shoots sometimes running for as long as 20 hours.

I didnt have time to take care of myself [and] to think about and go through the pain I was experiencing physically [and] emotionally, she said. I just wanted to drum it out and watch mindless television and great shows. Anything to keep my mind off of that because I knew that next day I was going to be back at it again.

I was like, tear central. I dont even think on a soap opera that I cried as much [as I did] on Nashville.

Panettiere on Nashville' (ABC/Lionsgate)

The Independent has contacted ABC and showrunner Callie Khouri for comment.

Last year, Panettiere spoke candidly about experiencing postpartum depression, after giving birth to her daughter, Kaya. At the time, she was also struggling with an addiction to opioids.

In 2018, Panettiere gave up custody of eight-year-old Kaya, who moved to Ukraine to live with her father, former professional boxer Wladimir Klitschko.

Since then, Panettiere and her daughter have remained close, with the actor telling People that Kaya has a beautiful life.
When Jessella Gaymon graduated from Reid Ross Classical High School with a modified ceremony during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 or started college that August without having a college freshman dorm experience, she felt like it was "the end of the world with little opportunities.

My classmates and I lost a lot that last year of high school, and then my first year of college I felt like there was no hope, no motivation, she said last week. Im glad everyone tried to make the best of what it was, but it really sucked.

Despite feeling melancholy, Gaymon persevered.

As a senior mass communications major at North Carolina Central University, she is one of 25 students from a historically Black college or university nationwide named to AT&Ts Dream in Black Rising Future Makers Class.

Fayetteville native Jessella Gaymon was named to A&T's 2023 Rising Future Makers class, which honors HBCU students.

Gaymon said national honor means a lot to her because she comes from a smaller town and goes to a smaller HBCU.

"I never thought Id see my face associated with a million-dollar company like AT&T," she said. "They could pick any 25 students. For them to sit there and review 1,001 applications and look at mine and say, This is the one, while watching videos and reading essays from other applications is incredible.

The award honors HBCU students "from diverse backgrounds, demonstrating creativity, technical prowess, and a commitment to leave a legacy of impact on society," according to a news release.

Awardees receive $5,000 each, along with an AT&T tablet with one year of complimentary service, and access to a range of mentorship and advocacy opportunities in 2024.

Deciding on an HBCU

Gaymon knew she wanted to attend an HBCU, but attending North Carolina Central University was a last-minute decision, she said.

NCCU was one of the first colleges that accepted her. But, she said, wanting to keep her options open, she waited and was also accepted to Spelman College, an HBCU in Atlanta, Georgia.

The day before she needed to make a decision, she saw a high school classmates social media post about attending North Carolina Central, stating it was the best college for them to start their own legacy.

I woke up and said, 'Im going to Central and may go to Spelman for grad school,' she said. It was the best decision I ever made. Central is a family-oriented school. If I need someone in the middle of the night, I know I can call on them.

Connecting

Gaymon said her first year of college didnt start close-knit because of the pandemic. She lived off campus and tended to only associate with fellow students from Fayetteville.

However, an academic advisor encouraged her to meet other people and become a student leader at the start of her sophomore year.

One of my mentors, who is an academic advisor at NCCU, told me The fastest way to failure is to get through life on your own, and I thought about all the moments I caught myself failing, and they were when I was alone. It reminded me that you have to have a community and you have to have a village around you.

The advice carried her through her past three years of college, she said.

Gaymon got involved in the Student Government Association, is in Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority and is NCCUs senior class president.

She said she strives to make connections, whether its with an employee at Chick-fil-A who could later work in the corporate world, or others on campus.

She said the relationships she built with NCCUs past two recipients of the Rising Future Maker award led her to apply for the same honor.

It means a lot when people see potential in you, and to be honest, if I had not gone to Central, I dont think I would be in half the rooms Ive been in, she said.

Fayetteville native Jessella Gaymon was named to AT&T's 2023 Rising Future Makers class, which recognizes HBCU students.

The support and connections have encouraged Gaymon to take risks, she said.

Switching majors

During her junior year, Gaymon said, she switched majors.

I come from a family of judges, police officers, military service and law, and when I first got to NC Central, I thought that was the route I was going to go down, she said. I was trying to keep the legacy going, but realized that wasnt me.

With interests in social media, photography and video, Gaymon decided to switch to a mass communications major with a public relations concentration.

The decision meant shed spend an extra year at NCCU, graduating in December 2024 instead of last month, but its another decision she doesnt regret.

She helps out with marketing for her sorority, the senior class council and was just accepted for an internship through the T. Howard Foundation, an organization with a mission of increasing diversity in the media industry.

Just by following my heart, Ive seen a lot of change in just a year, she said. I can keep my family legacy going by doing what I want to do while creating my own legacy. Id rather be somewhere happy and giving the best work I can than being somewhere where its not my true passion.

Why AT&T recognized this Fayetteville State University student as a rising future maker

Optimistic about opportunities

Gaymon said that while she is still figuring out what she wants to do in the public relations field, shes gravitating toward creativity through photography, videography and graphic design.

She may attend graduate school after NCCU or could start a small business, but helping others promote their passions will be at the core of what she decides, she said.

Compared to how she felt as a high school senior and college freshman, Gaymon said she now has faith that the right opportunity will present itself when its time.

Even if its a day, two months or three years, whatevers for me is there waiting, she said. Im a strong believer in that.

Fayetteville native Jessella Gaymon points to an AT&T billboard while visiting Dallas, Texas in December 2023. Gaymon was recognized by AT&T in December as one of the nation's top historically Black college and university students.

Gaymon, who has spent her life in North Carolina, said that AT&T sending her to Dallas for the ceremony opened her mind to consider going to other states,

Theres something in my heart now about Texas, whether its Dallas or Houston, so well see, she said. I feel like theres something over there for me. Whenever an opportunity lands, I know Ill be grateful.

Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at rriley@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3528.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Why AT&T recognized Fayetteville student as a rising future maker
Victoria Atkins said that extremist comments by doctors were eroding vital trust in an impartial service - AARON CHOWN/PA

The Health Secretary has warned that the doctors regulator must act swiftly against medics voicing extremist views, as the body was accused of dragging its feet over allegations of anti-Semitism.

Victoria Atkins has written to NHS England and the Professional Standards Authority, which oversees the General Medical Council (GMC), warning that it is vital for public confidence in the health system that any instances of extremism, discrimination or hate speech are dealt with in a thorough and timely manner and that those involved face appropriate and consistent sanctions.

Ms Atkins told The Telegraph that extremist comments by doctors were eroding vital trust in an impartial service, adding: I will not tolerate it ... A patient must be able to trust that the person treating them will give them the best possible care regardless of who they are, whatever their background.

Her intervention came as it emerged that Dr Wahid Shaida, who ran the Islamist extremist group Hizb ut-Tahrir until its ban earlier this month, is still licensed to practise as a GP despite being revealed as the groups UK leader in October, when it emerged that he celebrated the October 7 massacre by Hamas as a very welcome punch on the nose to Israel.

The GMC also confirmed that Dr Martin Whyte, a paediatrician who was removed as deputy chairman of the British Medical Associations junior doctors committee in April 2023 after writing on social media Hahaha zeig heil hahaha gas the jews, was still licenced to practise with no restrictions.

Last week, The Telegraph revealed that Dr Shaida, who used the pseudonym Abdul Wahid for Hizb ut-Tahrir activities, sought to justify the attempted murder of Sir Salman Rushdie to his Facebook followers as the writer fought for his life in hospital.

On Monday, three months on from the GMC being alerted to Dr Shaidas role and remarks, the NHS effectively leapfrogged the regulators process by stepping in to remove him from their list of approved doctors. However he can still operate outside the NHS, as a private doctor, without any restrictions. The GMC said it was looking into Dr Shaidas case as a matter of urgency and that it thoroughly investigates concerns that could jeopardise patient safety or public confidence in doctors.

The GMC is an independent regulator required by the 1983 Medical Act to promote and maintain public confidence in the medical profession and to promote and maintain proper professional standards and conduct for members of that profession.

Damaging message

A spokesman for the Community Security Trust (CST), which monitors anti-Semitism, said apparent delays by the GMC sent out a very damaging message. In the meantime, patients and colleagues of those facing allegations of anti-Semitism were expected to carry on as if nothing has happened.

Ms Atkins said: In recent months I have been appalled to see reports in the media of a small but vocal number of NHS staff posting extremist, discriminatory and hateful speech online.

This Saturday we marked Holocaust Memorial Day and it is beyond comprehension that a healthcare professional  someone who should approach every single patient with compassion  would wish someone from Israel harm or death.

That is completely unacceptable, and it is why this week I have sought reassurance that employers and regulators are responding swiftly and appropriately to these vile comments.

The vast majority of our healthcare professionals are devoted to all their patients and work tirelessly to maintain public confidence in the NHS. The irresponsible actions of individuals espousing extremist views must never be allowed to erode that confidence.

A Whitehall source added: The GMC should be utterly ashamed of its conduct. Allowing an extremist who places no value on Jewish life to practice medicine in the UK is a disgrace.

The CST spokesman said: These allegations have been in the public domain for a long time and it is appalling that the GMC is taking so long to act.

Meanwhile the patients and colleagues of these doctors are expected to carry on as if nothing has happened and nothing is wrong. It is a dereliction of duty for the GMC to be dragging their feet in this way and it sends out a very damaging message regarding the seriousness of antisemitism and extremism.

A GMC spokesman said: We are fully aware of the concerns that have been raised regarding Dr Wahid Asif Shaida, and are looking into this as a matter of urgency.

We consider all concerns that are raised with us and we take this responsibility very seriously. We thoroughly investigate concerns that suggest patient safety or the publics confidence in doctors may be at risk and we take action where it is necessary.

Prior to its ban Hizb ut-Tahrir insisted it did not advocate violence or make anti-Semitic statements.

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.
More than 600 guests attended the seventh annual Hospital Gala hosted by the Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation at The Ritz-Carlton in Sarasota. The event, featuring a performance by The Royals, raised more than $1.4 million to support Sarasota Memorial.

7th annual Hospital Gala raises over $1.4 million for services

The Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation raised over $1.4 million at its seventh annual Hospital Gala on Jan. 6 at The Ritz-Carlton in Sarasota.

Once again our community came together to support Sarasota Memorial and help ensure that SMH can continue to provide world class health care, Healthcare Foundation president Stacey Corley said. The foundation has provided grants to SMH to enhance patient care, facilities and technology and support clinical education and research for over 47 years.

Sponsors included Jonathan and Michelle Mitchell; Joel and Gail Morganroth; theBrian and Sheila Jellison Family Foundation; Sunset Automotive Group; Ambitrans Ambulance; Cathy and Frank Burzik; the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation; Deb Kabinoff Fund; Flad Architects; Florida Cancer Specialists; Kosloski Family Foundations; Barbara and Gary Rodkin; and Bob and Angelia Wood.

Annual Catholic Charities Ball celebrates 40 years of service

The Catholic Charities Diocese of Venice will celebrate 40 years of service at the annual Catholic Charities Ball on Feb. 17 at 6 p.m. at Michael's On East Ballroom in Sarasota.

The theme is "40 Years of Serving All." In 2023, Catholic Charities provided over 300,000 services ranging from food distribution and mental health counseling to disaster recovery assistance, senior support, housing initiatives, youth programs, and refuge and support to those affected by human trafficking. The organization operates with 106 staff members and 393 volunteers, running 60 sites and 29 programs in 10 Southwest Florida counties.

The mission is deeply rooted in extending aid, fostering hope, providing help, and believing in the fundamental principle of serving all," said Bridget Spiess, Catholic Charities Ball committee chair. For information, including sponsorships, visit catholiccharitiesdov.org; email CCBall@catholiccharitiesdov.org; or call 941-376-7854.

Longtime Sarasota teacher writes children's picture book

Mark Humphrey, a longtime Sarasota elementary school teacher and a musician, recently published a children's picture book.

Mark Humphrey's children's picture book "Behind the Pantry Door" is available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and other retailers.

"Behind the Pantry Door" tells the story of a small boy who awakens in the night to find his stuffed animal friends missing. The adventure begins with a sound behind his mother's pantry door. The debut book for young children is available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and other retailers.

Humphrey taught in Sarasota elementary schools for 29 years. "Now that I'm retired, I have found the time to finish some projects that I never could seem to get done while in the classroom," Humphrey said.

Temple Emanu-El welcomes youth programs professional

Temple Emanu-El recently welcomed Marni Mount to serve as coordinator for Bnai Mitzvah and the Tot Shabbat program for young Jewish and interfaith families.

Marni is coordinator for Bnai Mitzvah and the Tot Shabbat program for young Jewish and interfaith families at Temple Emanu-El.

I am so thankful to Temple Emanu-El for the opportunity to work with so many of the young families in our community, Mount said. My past life as a teacher for special needs students kept me interested in working with the school-aged population.

Mount also serves as facilitator for Temple Emanu-Els Parent and Me program that meets Friday mornings and works with Senior Rabbi Brenner Glickman, Associate Rabbi Michael Shefrin, Religious School Director Snait Ben-Herut, and older Temple Emanu-El students and families.

Around and about

 The eighth annual Sarasota Seafood & Music Festival continues Saturday (11 a.m. to 10 p.m.) and Sunday (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.) at JD Hamel Park. The event includes musical acts and a marketplace showcasing arts and crafts. Leashed pets are welcome. (paragonfestivals.com)

Also, the 16th annual Downtown Venice Craft Festival and 21st annual St. Armands Circle Art Festival are Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.. The Venice Craft Festival on Venice Avenue features 150 craft artisans from around the country with custom work, including pet accessories, photo albums, clothing and purses, jewelry, and paintings. The St. Armands event (1 St. Armands Circle) includes over 200 local and national artists with works across all mediums. (artfestival.com)

 The Manasota Beach Club, 7660 Manasota Key Road, in Englewood will present "The Importance of Gulf Coast Native Plants" by Annie Schiller, manager of the Florida Native Plant Nursery, on Jan. 29 from noon to 1:30 p.m. For reservations, contact the MBC at 941-474-2614.

 Boy Scout Troop 776s pancake fundraiser is Feb. 3 from 8-11:30 a.m. at Gulf Cove United Methodist Church, 100 McCall Road, in Port Charlotte. Tickets are available at the door or in advance by visiting the church office (941-697-1747) Monday through Thursday.

 Temple Sinai will host its 16th annual Sarasota Jewish Food Festival on Feb. 4 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Temple Sinai, 4631 S. Lockwood Ridge Road in Sarasota. Suncoast Blood Bank also will have a mobile unit on site and donors will receive a coupon for the festival. To sign up to give blood, visit tinyurl.com/yc4zr4yj.

 The Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation will hold a Run for the Beads Mardi Gras 5K Run/Walk on Feb. 10 at 9 a.m. at Waterside Place. Proceeds support nonprofits. Registration ($35-$45) is open at runforthebeads.com.

 Family Promise of South Sarasota County will host a Mardi Gras fundraiser on Feb. 10 from 2-6 p.m. at Shuck N Ale (648 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice) to support homeless prevention and diversion programs. The event will feature a parade, local artists and musicians, food, and raffles. Visit familypromisessc.org/mardi-gras for tickets. Sponsorships and donations: Jennifer Fagenbaum at jf@familypromisessc.org or 941-497-9881, ext. 106.

Submissions by Ticia Mahler, Kirsten Pedersen, Mark Humphrey, Rabbi Elaine Rose Glickman, Hillary Reynolds, Elizabeth Dashiell, Dana Hanson, Marty Katz, Rachel Frank, and Kelly Fores.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation raises over $1.4 million
Palestinians react as they fleeing Khan Yunis with some of their belongings to safer areas further South of Gaza Strip through the City's western exit on the outskirts of its refugee camp. Abed Rahim Khatib/dpa

Israel's army reported on Friday that intensive fighting continues in the southern city of Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip as soldiers attacked dozens of targets of the Palestinian Islamist organization Hamas.

The battles raged on the day the International Court of Justice in The Hague ruled that Israel risked genocide in its war on Gaza, but stopped short of ordering an immediate cessation. The Hamas-controlled Health Ministry says over 26,000 Gazans have been killed by the Israeli military in the four-month war. The UN regards the Palestinian casualty figures as credible.

The Israeli army said in a statement: "Terrorists were killed by the troops during fighting in the area."

The military said it also again attacked Hamas infrastructure in the north of the coastal strip.

According to eyewitnesses, thousands of people fled Khan Younis due to the fierce fighting. The largest city in the south of the Gaza Strip is considered a Hamas stronghold by the Israeli military.

A mass exodus from the embattled city to the border town of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip could have devastating consequences for the civilian population, according to a UN human rights expert.

"If you have people moving in large numbers from Khan Younis and other places, this is going to be a massive catastrophe," said Ajith Sunghay, head of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Occupied Palestinian Territory (OHCHR).

"There can be a civil disorder, a breakdown of any kind of civil order."

The city on the border with Egypt is already home to more than 1.3 million of the 2.2 million inhabitants of the Gaza Strip, Sunghay said.

The situation there is already very tense due to the masses of internally displaced people and a lack of food, he said in a UN video.

Israel believes senior Hamas officials are hiding in tunnels in Khan Younis and that militants are keeping Israeli hostages in the extensive underground network, too.

The Palestinian Red Crescent reported on Thursday that Israeli units had bombed and shelled the area around the al-Amal hospital. Rescue workers and people seeking help could no longer reach it.

The Israeli military announced that it was in contact with the medical staff of the Nasser and al-Amal hospitals in Khan Younis to ensure their continued operation.

According to the UN, some 18,000 internally displaced people have sought refuge in the Nasser hospital alone. However, according to the Israeli army, many people have voluntarily decided to leave the hospitals via an escape corridor.

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that Khan Younis's Nasser Hospitalis on the brink of collapse.

The hospital was running out of fuel, food and supplies, wrote Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus overnight on Friday night on the online platform X, formerly Twitter.

Hundreds of patients and hospital staff had fled because of the fighting and the delivery of supplies was "difficult." According to Ghebreyesus, there are currently 350 patients and 5,000 displaced people in the hospital.

The aid organisation Medecins Sans Frontieres announced that essential medical care at Nasser Hospital had collapsed.

"These systematic attacks against health care are unacceptable and must end now so that the wounded can get the care they need. The entire health system has been rendered inoperative," MSF said in a press release.

The hospital is the largest health facility in the Gaza Strip which was still functioning.

Israel's military rejected reports of sieges or attacks on the two hospitals as "blatant misinformation." The army has said that there are indications that Hamas is using both hospitals for its own purposes.

Israel launched its invasion of Gaza in retaliation to the massacre carried out by Hamas militants and other Palestinian extremist groups in Israel on October 7. Over 1,200 people, including hundreds of civilians, were killed inside Israel and more than 200 were taken hostage.

CIA Director Bill Burns will reportedly travel to Europe in the coming days to negotiate the release of the Israeli hostages still being held by Hamas.

Talks about the release of hostages have recently picked up fresh momentum.

However, an Israeli government spokesman this week rejected as "ludicrous" a Hamas proposal to release detained Palestinian perpetrators of the worst atrocities on October 7 in any hostage deal.

With the help of Qatar, Egypt and the United States, a one-week ceasefire was agreed at the end of November. During this period, Hamas released 105 hostages in several stages. In return, Israel released 240 Palestinian detainees from its prisons.

The risk of the war spreading to two fronts was outlined by Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, who accused Lebanese Hezbollah militants of fuelling tensions on the border between the two countries.

The Iranian-backed militia is refusing to withdraw its fighters from the border area, Gallant said in a conversation with US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin on Friday, according to Gallant's office.

At least four pro-Iranian Hezbollah militants were killed late Friday and three other people were wounded when Israeli warplanes struck a house in southern Lebanon, a Lebanese security and Hezbollah sources said.

The Israeli airstrike came after Hezbollah claimed two missile attacks against Israeli posts near the Lebanese border.

According to Lebanese security sources the house which was targeted was in the village in Beit Leif in southern Lebanon.

The sources added that Israeli artillery also hit a cluster of Lebanese villages close to its border.

Meanwhile, residents of the Lebanese southern village of Ghandouriyeh said they received messages on their phones from the Israeli army calling on them to leave their homes as the army will shell some areas inside the village.

Israeli tanks roll along a position as Palestinians flee Khan Yunis to safer areas further South of Gaza Strip through the City's western exit on the outskirts of its refugee camp. Abed Rahim Khatib/dpa

Palestinians react as they fleeing Khan Yunis with some of their belongings to safer areas further South of Gaza Strip through the City's western exit on the outskirts of its refugee camp. Abed Rahim Khatib/dpa
This essay was originally published as part of the Center on Reinventing Public Educations 2023 State of the American Student report. As part of the effort, CRPE asked 14 experts from various sectors to offer up examples of innovations, solutions or possible paths forward as education leaders navigate the current crisis. (See all the perspectives)

Ive always believed that education is the closest thing we have to a silver bullet for life success. A quality education leads to greater personal earnings, better health outcomes, a stronger economy, and lower community crime rates, among many other benefits. For example, bachelors and associate degree holders take home median weekly earnings of $1,334 and $963, respectively, compared to $809 for their peers with only a high school degree, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

But as the global economy rapidly evolves, we must rethink the way we educate students and our workforce. A fragmented approachwhere high schools, postsecondary institutions, and employers all work in their own silos shortchanges everyone.

Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter

We need to create more seamless pathways from school to careers. In Colorado, for example, 91.4% of jobs that can support a family of three require postsecondary education or some form of training or certification in high school beyond diploma requirements. Conventional four-year degrees alone cannot solve this problem, as more and more jobs value skills over a formal college diploma.

Blurring the Lines

In Colorado, we refer to breaking down silos as blurring. Advanced degrees and credentials are now table stakes to participate in the modern economy, but accessing them usually requires students to persist through four years of high school work that often doesnt feel relevant to their futures. Then they proceed to postsecondary programs where they must take on debt, pay tuition, or forgo work while they pursue credentials. Blurring can make high school more relevant and credentials more attainable for all students.

While Colorado has seen one of the strongest economic recoveries in the country following the pandemic, employers across our state still struggle to find the right talent for their available jobs. One factor: we have historically asked students to make choices about their careers after leaving high school, often without the appropriate data needed to identify industry-specific needs or what kind of return on investment a particular pathway will afford.

Thats why we have been laser-focused on blurring the lines between high school, higher education, and the workforce. Students and young professionals deserve more opportunities to gain skills.

By increasing those opportunities, we can save people time and money, create a better-trained workforce, and better support our businesses.

Today, roughly 53% of high school graduates in Colorado earn college credit or industry credentials through dual and concurrent enrollment while in high school, saving them an estimated $53 million annually on tuition costs. A growing number also participate in apprenticeship and learn while you earn models.

Innovative intermediaries, such as CareerWise Colorado, are working between education and business to provide youth apprenticeship opportunities in industries such as banking, finance, health care, insurance and advanced manufacturing.

Additionally, Pathways in Technology Early College High School models (PTECH) provide students the opportunity to learn on the job while in high school, earn an associate degree and be first in line for those jobs following graduation.

However, more students can and should be participating in these opportunities. Our vision is that every student will graduate with a diploma in one hand and a certificate, degree, or meaningful job experience in the other.

Thats why the Colorado Legislature created a task force that brought together partners from schools, postsecondary pathways, and industry. Its mission was to develop and recommend policies, laws, and rules to support the equitable and sustainable expansion and alignment of programs that integrate secondary, postsecondary, and work-based learning opportunities.

This past year, the task force identified several impediments to the various pathways available to students: lack of awareness, confusion about program goals, affordability, and inadequate data on outcomes. Schools are already working to better target and maximize their resources, and the task force will present a final report with clear recommendations on how to scale this work by the end of 2023.

Related

Reinventing High School: 8 Common Trends at Americas Most Innovative Campuses

Graphic from the Secondary, Postsecondary, and Work-Based Learning Integration Taskforce Interim Report

A Skills-Based Ecosystem

The four-year degree is still a great choice for many students, but we must also create opportunities for those who choose a different path. Thats why we are creating a skills-based ecosystem, where people of all ages can get the skills they need to fill jobs that will earn them a good living and support their families.

To lead by example, we implemented skills-based hiring practices for our state workforce, and we expanded apprenticeship opportunities within state government, implementing best practices already in place at many major employers in the state.

Colorado has removed or provided flexibility on degree requirements for most state jobs, such as entry-level positions, project management, IT and supervisory roles, replacing them with the opportunity to show experience and transferable skills. In the private sector, companies such as Google and Slalom Consulting now list degrees as optional for most positions in Colorado.

To ensure all students have access to these various pathways, Colorado has created a zero-cost credential program, making it completely free to pursue a number of healthcare certifications at any of our community and technical colleges. More than 1,000 students have taken advantage of this program, and we are working to expand it to other in- demand industries, such as early childhood and education, law enforcement, fire and forestry, skilled trades and green jobs. We also created a new state scholarship program that will provide eligible students who graduate in 2023-24 with $1,500 each to pursue higher education or postsecondary training.

We have also implemented a series of programs that help ensure our agencies, schools, and industry partners work together to break down silos and integrate our blurring the lines vision at a statewide level. In recent years, weve created other programs that encourage agencies, schools and businesses to collaborate in ways that offer students more opportunities to pursue credits and degrees. Those include expanded state apprenticeships, more scholarships for students in high-needs fields, and an $85 million grant program that helps businesses work with schools to grow their own talent.

All of this work creates a more integrated talent pipeline that serves students, professionals, and businesses alike. Blurring the lines means creating new opportunities, taking a bold new approach to training the workforce of tomorrow, and meeting Coloradans where they areto help everyone achieve a successful future in a career that they love.

See more from the Center on Reinventing Public Education and its 2023 State of the American Student report.
On Jan. 25, 2024, a viral rumor began to spread online that claimed some Republican governors of U.S. states were sending brand-new deployments of their state National Guard units to aid Texas in its effort to secure the U.S.-Mexico border.

The rumor was posted (archived) by the @NewsWire_US account and included a map with 15 states highlighted: "Governors from 15 states have now announced support for Texas in its border dispute with the federal government, with some sending National Guard units." The following day, a metric under the post showed it had been viewed 14 million times.

A rumor said that some of the 25 Republican governors who signed a joint statement of solidarity with Texas and Governor Greg Abbott had sent new deployments in January 2024 of state National Guard service members to Texas to aid with security along the Southern border.

The post's mention of a border dispute concerned an ever-evolving saga that was underway in January 2024 involving Texas, President Joe Biden's administration, Republican governors and the U.S. Supreme Court. The dispute was over the fact that federal Border Patrol agents were being blocked by Texas state officials from accessing a historically busy migrant entry point along the southern border.

The claim in the post on X was virally shared on Reddit  either as text or a screenshot of the post  with the headline, "LET'S F---ING GO." It was also shared on Instagram, LinkedIn, iFunny.co and at least one message board.

Hours after the first post, the @NewsWire_US account posted (archived), "UPDATE - 25 Republican governors issue a joint statement in support of Texas in its border dispute with the federal government, Vermont's governor was the lone exception."

A rumor said that some of the 25 Republican governors who signed a joint statement of solidarity with Texas and Governor Greg Abbott had sent new deployments in January 2024 of state National Guard service members to Texas to aid with security along the Southern border.

It's true that 25 Republican governors signed a joint statement of "solidarity" on Jan. 25, 2024, in support of the state of Texas and its elected leader, Gov. Greg Abbott, in regard to a dispute at the U.S.-Mexico border.

However, as of Jan. 25  the day the rumor began spreading on X  we were unable to uncover any information indicating any Republican governors had issued new orders to deploy state National Guard units to the border.

Further, missing from the posts on X that discussed the fact that the phrase "civil war" was trending with this subject was the fact that a majority of the Republican governors who signed the joint statement had, in the past, sent relatively small numbers of their individual state National Guard units to the southern border. Some of those service members remained in Texas as of January 2024.

It's possible that some of the Republican governors who signed the statement might in the days and weeks following Jan. 25 order fresh deployments of their state National Guard units to aid Texas in its border security efforts. Former President Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social platform on Jan. 25, "We encourage all willing states to deploy their guards to Texas to prevent the entry of illegals, and to remove them back across the border."

Snopes reached out to @NewsWire_US to ask for evidence that states had sent new deployments of state National Guard units to Texas, as some social media users sharing the post had interpreted it that way. In response, @NewsWire_US sent only information about deployments that occurred before January 2024.

Let's look at the facts of the case in more detail.

The Border Dispute in Shelby Park

Earlier in January 2024, the Texas Military Department began blocking federal Border Patrol agents from accessing a park named Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, Texas.

Texas officials' installation of concertina wire, commonly known as razor wire, prevented federal border agents from accessing to the park, which is situated along the Rio Grande and had been a busy entry point for migrants crossing from Mexico into the U.S. The razor wire had been the subject of reports of bloodied migrants who had sustained wounds and broken bones, including a 19-year-old woman who was found cut by the wire and having a miscarriage.

According to The Associated Press, Texas' action to block access to the city-owned park was carried out despite the fact that the area had experienced a "sharp decrease" in the number of migrants crossing the border earlier in January. At the same time, however, border agents had recorded an all-time monthly high number of migrants crossing the southern border into the U.S. in December. The majority of the crossings occurred in the Tucson, Arizona, and Del Rio, Texas, areas.

Renae Eze, a spokeswoman for Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, said in a public statement on Jan. 11, "Texas will continue to deploy Texas National Guard soldiers, DPS troopers and more barriers, utilizing every tool and strategy to respond to President Bidens ongoing border crisis."

As Snopes previously reported, the U.S. Supreme Court got involved in the dispute after the Justice Department asked the high court to order Texas to stop blocking access for Border Patrol agents.

On Jan. 22, 2024, the Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 decision that Border Patrol agents would be allowed to resume cutting the nearly 30 miles of razor wire that the state had installed near Eagle Pass. The ruling came after a federal appeals court in December forced the Border Patrol to stop cutting the wire, the AP reported.

"Texas' political stunts, like placing razor wire near the border, simply make it harder and more dangerous for frontline personnel to do their jobs," White House spokesperson Angelo Fernandez Hernandez said, in a statement also previously reported by the AP.

For his part, Abbott, on Jan. 24, released a statement declaring Texas' "constitutional right to self-defense" given that "President Biden has violated his oath to faithfully execute immigration laws enacted by Congress."

25 Republican Governors Signed Letter Supporting Texas

On Jan. 25, the Republican Governors Organization published a joint statement, naming 25 Republican governors who confirmed their "support of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas' constitutional right to self-defense."

"We stand in solidarity with our fellow Governor, Greg Abbott, and the State of Texas in utilizing every tool and strategy, including razor wire fences, to secure the border," the statement read. "We do it in part because the Biden Administration is refusing to enforce immigration laws already on the books and is illegally allowing mass parole across America of migrants who entered our country illegally."

The 25 governors who issued the statement were Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Sanders, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, Idaho Gov. Brad Little, Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte, Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen, Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice and Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon.

As of Jan. 26, the only other Republican governor whose name was missing from the letter was Vermont Gov. Phil Scott.

Previous State National Guard Deployments

Some of the Republican governors who signed the January 2024 joint statement previously sent relatively small deployments of their state National Guard units to assist with border security, including Ivey, Dunleavy, Sanders, DeSantis, Kemp, Reynolds, Reeves, Parson, Gianforte, Pillen, Sununu, Burgum, DeWine, Stitt, McMaster, Noem, Lee, Cox, Youngkin and Justice.

In DeWine's case, he posted on X that some Ohio National Guard members deployed to the southern border in October 2023 remained there as of late January 2024.

Meanwhile, on Jan. 26, both DeSantis and Stitt were both reportedly considering sending additional state service members to Texas. At press time, neither governor had made a formal announcement confirming such deployments.

The number of state National Guard service members that each of the Republican governors previously deployed to the border ranged from as few as four or 10 to as many as several hundred. This numerical information was absent from many of the posts that attempted to frame the U.S-Texas border protection dispute as a "civil war." For reference, more than 3 million men fought in the American Civil War between 1861 and 1865.

Sources:

Alaska National Guard to Deploy to U.S. Southern Border. Office of Gov. Mike Dunleavy, 6 Mar. 2019, https://gov.alaska.gov/alaska-national-guard-to-deploy-to-u-s-southern-border/.

Burgum, Dohrmann Thank Returning ND National Guard Members for Efforts to Secure Southwest Border. North Dakota Office of the Governor, 30 Aug. 2023, https://www.governor.nd.gov/news/burgum-dohrmann-thank-returning-nd-national-guard-members-efforts-secure-southwest-border.

Coronado, Acacia. Texas Troopers Accounts of Bloodied and Fainting Migrants on US-Mexico Border Unleashes Criticism. The Associated Press, 18 July 2023, https://apnews.com/article/texas-border-razor-wire-fainting-7aa811baf2708b89a0316804c3f2e35e.

Everett, Grayson. Ivey Deploys Alabama National Guard Troops to U.S.-Mexico Border. Yellowhammer News, 6 Oct. 2023, https://yellowhammernews.com/ivey-deploys-alabama-national-guard-troops-to-u-s-mexico-border/.

Gonzalez, Valerie. Mayor Says Texas Closed Park without Permission in Border City Where Migrant Crossings Had Climbed. The Associated Press, 11 Jan. 2024, https://apnews.com/article/texas-border-eagle-pass-98a0ea1c1b7c1713df9b76b5759a63ff.

Gov. Justice Authorizes West Virginia National Guard Deployment to Southern Border. Office of the Governor of West Virginia, 31 May 2023, https://governor.wv.gov/News/press-releases/2023/Pages/-Gov.-Justice-authorizes-West-Virginia-National-Guard-deployment-to-Southern-Border.aspx.

Gov. Kemp Joins American Governors Border Strike Task Force. Governor Brian P. Kemp: Office of the Governor, 19 Apr. 2022, https://gov.georgia.gov/press-releases/2022-04-19/gov-kemp-joins-american-governors-border-strike-task-force.

Gov. Noem Going to Warzone at Southern Border. News.SD.Gov, 25 Jan. 2024, https://news.sd.gov/news?id=news_kb_article_view&sys_id=01eadcd81b4802507471748d9c4bcbc8.

Gov. Pillen to Visit Nebraska National Guard Soldiers at the U.S.-Mexico Border. Governor Jim Pillen: Officer of the Governor, 21 Aug. 2023, https://governor.nebraska.gov/press/gov-pillen-visit-nebraska-national-guard-soldiers-us-mexico-border.

Gov. Reynolds Provides Results on Operation Lone Star Deployment to U.S. Southern Border. Governor Kim Reynolds, 25 Oct. 2023, https://governor.iowa.gov/press-release/2023-10-25/gov-reynolds-provides-results-operation-lone-star-deployment-us-southern.

Governor Gianforte: Joe Bidens Left Our Country Completely Vulnerable. Montana.gov, 25 Jan. 2024, https://news.mt.gov/Governors-Office/Governor_Gianforte_Joe_Bidens_Left_Our_Country_Completely_Vulnerable.

Governor Parson Provides Update on Missouri National Guard Troops at Border. Governor Michael L. Parson, 20 Aug. 2018, https://governor.mo.gov/press-releases/archive/governor-parson-provides-update-missouri-national-guard-troops-border.

Governor Ron DeSantis: Florida Is Sending Help to Texas to Secure the Southern Border. Ron DeSantis: 46th Governor of Florida, 16 May 2023, https://www.flgov.com/2023/05/16/governor-ron-desantis-florida-is-sending-help-to-texas-to-secure-the-southern-border/.

Governor Sanders Deploys Arkansas National Guard to Southern Border - Arkansas Governor. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, 5 June 2023, https://governor.arkansas.gov/news_post/governor-sanders-deploys-arkansas-national-guard-to-southern-border/.

Governor Stitt to Send Oklahoma National Guard Troops to Southern Border. Oklahoma Governor J. Kevin Stitt, 1 June 2023, https://oklahoma.gov/governor/newsroom/newsroom/2023/june2023/governor-stitt-to-send-oklahoma-national-guard-troops-to-souther.html.

@GovMikeDeWine. Ohio Has Stepped up to Assist and Has Had a Continuous Presence on the Border since October 2020, When I Deployed Approximately 115 Members of the Ohio National Guard to Support the Southwest Border Operations in Texas. X (Formerly Twitter), 25 Jan. 2024, https://twitter.com/GovMikeDeWine/status/1750632714569449790.

Hammonds, Dalton. Gov. Lee to Send 100 Tennessee National Guard Troops to the Southern Border. News Channel 5 Nashville (WTVF), 25 May 2023, https://www.newschannel5.com/news/gov-lee-to-send-100-tennessee-national-guard-troops-to-the-southern-border.

Izzo, Jack. Did Supreme Court Side with Biden Administration on Removing Razor Wire from Texas-Mexico Border? Snopes, 24 Jan. 2024, https://www.snopes.com/news/2024/01/23/texas-mexico-border-razor-wire/.

Kisluk, Jessica. Sununu Visits New Hampshire National Guard Soldiers Deployed to Southern U.S. Border. WMUR, 21 July 2023, https://www.wmur.com/article/sununu-visits-nh-national-guard-southern-border/44605830.

Knox, Sara. Gov. Cox Welcomes Home Utah National Guard Members. KUTV, 5 Nov. 2021, https://kutv.com/news/local/gov-cox-welcomes-home-utah-national-guard-members.

Mississippi Sends National Guard to US-Mexico Border, GOP Governor Says. The Associated Press, 17 May 2023, https://apnews.com/article/mississippi-governor-mexico-border-national-guard-aff6a8741893ff40a1697eaaadf6e55f.

Montoya-Galvez, Camilo. Migrant Crossings at U.S. Southern Border Reach Record Monthly High in December. CBS News, 28 Dec. 2023, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/migrant-crossings-u-s-southern-border-record-monthly-high-december/.

Oberg, Ted, et al. Virginia National Guard Finds No Fentanyl, Refers 86 Migrants a Day during $2 Million Trip to Texas Border. NBC4 Washington, 16 Oct. 2023, https://www.nbcwashington.com/investigations/virginia-national-guard-finds-no-fentanyl-refers-86-migrants-a-day-during-2-million-trip-to-texas-border/3445518/.

Phillips, Patrick. McMaster Joins Other GOP Governors in Statement on Texas Border Security. LIVE 5 News, 25 Jan. 2024, https://www.live5news.com/2024/01/25/mcmaster-joins-other-gop-governors-statement-texas-border-security/.

Republican Governors Band Together, Issue Joint Statement Supporting Texas Constitutional Right to Self-Defense. Republican Governors Association, 25 Jan. 2024, https://www.rga.org/republican-governors-ban-together-issue-joint-statement-supporting-texas-constitutional-right-self-defense/.

Sanchez, Sandra, et al. State of Texas: State Blocks Border Patrol from Area along Rio Grande. KXAN Austin, 14 Jan. 2024, https://www.kxan.com/state-of-texas/state-of-texas-state-blocks-border-patrol-from-area-along-rio-grande/.

Sherman, Mark, and Paul J. Weber. Supreme Court Allows Federal Agents to Cut Razor Wire Texas Installed on US-Mexico Border. The Associated Press, 22 Jan. 2024, https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-immigration-texas-razor-wire-9daef6bd316211b6633ece718e505187.

The Civil War | Ken Burns. PBS, https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/the-civil-war/civil-war-facts.
Harriet Galbraith posed for bridal portraits in 1959 wearing a Christian Dior gown. Courtesy Sandra Poindexter

A San Antonio woman was reunited with her bridal portraits  missing for more than 40 years  thanks to a woman who discovered them over 1,000 miles away at an estate sale in Virginia.

Retired nurse and author Sandra Poindexter bought the two portraits for $5 at an estate sale in Brookneal, Virginia, intending to use the frames.

After taking a closer look, she realized they might be of value to the woman in the photos. A piece of tape stuck to the back identified her as Harriet Elizabeth Marshall (Galbraith).

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Poindexter posted the portraits on social media, hoping to find the womans family to return them. A fellow social media user, Donna Reichard, tracked down Galbraith herself.

Galbraith, who is 84 years old and lives in San Antonio, hadnt seen the photos since the late 1970s, she told USA Today.

Her sister was storing the photos after their mother died, but when her sister moved into a retirement home and held an estate sale, the portraits were lost.

Galbraith posed for the portraits at Bachrach Studios back in 1959, when she was engaged, USA Today reported.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

She wore a Christian Dior gown and was captured by the famous photography studio, which is behind one of the only photos of Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg.

Galbraith saw the portraits for the first time in more than 40 years on Tuesday, when she received them in the mail from Poindexter.
Sheriffs deputies seek the publics help to find 61-year-old Brenda Lubak, who has dementia, and who ran away from her adult living residence in Hesperia.

Sheriffs deputies seek the publics help to find a 61-year-old woman with dementia, who ran away from her adult living residence in Hesperia.

Authorities reported that at 9:50 a.m. on Friday, Brenda Lubak left the home located at 11539 Hawthorne Avenue.

The home is between Eucalyptus and Sycamore streets and Cottonwood and Locust avenues, south of Bear Valley Road.

Lubak has dementia and other mental health issues and does not have a cell phone, or vehicle. She also has no family in the area, sheriffs officials said.

Lubak was last seen on video surveillance running east on Eucalyptus Street from Hawthorne Avenue to an unknown destination.

Sheriff's officials describe Lubak as 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing 170 pounds, with gray hair and green eyes. She was last seen wearing a pink Jacket, gray Mickey Mouse pants and white shoes.

Anyone with information about Lubak is asked to contact sheriffs dispatch at 760-951-5001, or Deputies Contreras, or Detective Oliveros at the Hesperia sheriff station at 760-947-1500. Callers wishing to remain anonymous should contact We-Tip at 800-78-CRIME (27463) or wetip.com.

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Hesperia deputies seek publics help to find missing woman with dementia
The Arizona Board of Regents has promised a swift response to Gov. Katie Hobbs' demand for sweeping changes in the oversight of the University of Arizonas financial crisis.

In a scathing letter sent to the regents on Thursday, Hobbs said there was no coherent vision for fixing the problem and called for a third-party consultant to step in, along with other measures, as she had lost trust for how UA and the regents were responding to the issue.

This is no longer about finances, this is about a lack of accountability, transparency, and at the end of the day, leadership, the governor wrote in a letter that cited reporting from The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com about the UAs acquisition of a troubled online school.

On Friday, Board of Regents Chair Fred DuVal acknowledged the governors concerns about the financial crisis and accepted a degree of responsibility.

This situation happened on our watch and we are going to fix it, DuVal said in a released statement. The governor is right to be focused on leadership that will allow our institutions of higher education to best serve our students.

He said the board will announce details of a remediation plan next week, in addition to an external team of national higher education finance experts who will provide a third-party forensic analysis of the situation.

Fred DuVal is chairman of the Arizona Board of Regents.

One day prior, Board of Regents Executive Director John Arnold assured board members that UA was on its way to pulling itself out of what was described as a financial crisis in November. Arnold was appointed as the interim chief financial officer for UA as the crisis unfolded.

But hours after that meeting, Hobbs called for Arnolds removal from the temporary position at UA as quickly as possible due to real or perceived conflicts of interest and raised concern about a fox guarding the henhouse situation.

Republic investigation cited: Governor calls out University of Arizona for mishandling financial crisis

DuVals statement on Friday did not specify if Arnold will stay on in his advisory position.

Multimillion-dollar budget shortfall discovered

Last November, UA officials said the university was experiencing serious cash flow issues and needed to correct a multimillion-dollar budget shortfall. Members of the board described the developments as a financial crisis, with administrators implementing budget cuts starting in December to address the concerns.

A few years before, in 2021, UA President Robert Robbins defended the universitys decision to acquire the for-profit online school Ashford University to the Faculty Senate, reminding members why this affiliation made so much sense.

Since then, a Republic investigation uncovered emails illustrating the extent administrators went to downplay concerns faculty had, instead saying Ashford University would help the UAs financial trajectory and incorporate a more diverse student body.

$265M cost to university: UA President Robbins OK'd online school deal despite red flags

While UA officials received multiple warnings from faculty about the acquisition of what was then Ashford University  a for-profit online college with a history of fraudulent marketing practices that saddled students with debt and questionable degrees  they focused instead on crafting a public relations narrative to counter the doubters.

The deal went through, and Ashford was shifted to nonprofit status and rebranded as the University of Arizona Global Campus.

In the regents' special meeting on Thursday, DuVal defended UAGC, saying it did not create the current financial headaches.

But Faculty Senate Chair Leila Hudson criticized the stance, calling it a strawman argument.

Without the data, without the investigation, they cant just dismiss big-ticket items like UAGC, Hudson said.

A representative from the Governors Office declined to address the situation further on Friday, saying Hobbs letter speaks for itself and that Hobbs looks forward to continuing to work with the regents on the matter.

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

Hannah Dreyfus is an investigative reporter for The Arizona Republic. You can reach her at hannah.dreyfus@arizonarepublic.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona regents respond to Hobbs' demand for UA oversight changes
Roger Lee-Canada McCracken, seated next to his attorney, Joe Hoelscher, during opening arguments. McCracken is accused of killing Ronnie Riddle, 34, in 2021. Jessica Phelps

Defense attorneys and prosecutors at a trial this week were not getting along, and the under-their-breath remarks in court reached a level Friday that prompted a lecture by the judge hearing the case.

The dustup happened well into the trial of Roger McCracken, accused of murder in the fatal shooting of Ronnie Riddle, 34, in 2021

Prosecutors Andrea Vizcarra and Neal Cordero have argued that McCracken was not justified in firing multiple shots at Riddle during a confrontation at an apartment complex in the 3400 block of East Southcross Boulevard.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Defense attorneys Joseph Hoelsher, Robert Steve Wilson, Jonathan David Chavez and Daniel Mehler contend that the shooting was an act of self-defense because McCracken saw Riddle reach behind him, where witnesses said Riddle was known to carry a gun tucked into his pants.

Tension has simmered among the lawyers since testimony began Tuesday, and the occasional muttered asides have occurred whether or not the jury has been in the room.

Judge Joel Perez is seen on the bench in the 437th District Court in this file photo. He had to admonish both teams of lawyers in a murder trial Friday for personal sniping. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News

That escalated Friday when the attorneys argued about the prosecutions intention to show the jury a recording of bystanders frantically trying to save Riddle, who was shot twice in the chest area.

Shortly before lunch, after a hearing outside the presence of the jury to discuss the video, an exchange between Mehler and Cordero appeared to include an implied threat of violence directed at Cordero. An observer informed state District Judge Joel Perez, who told both sides to cut it out.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Theres a certain etiquette that guides us, Perez said in an admonishment to Hoelscher and his team, along with prosecutors Vizcarra and Cordero. Emotions are high, and you are bound by ethics, all lawyers and judges are.

Perez told them he expected them to conduct themselves professionally and appropriately in his courtroom.
More than 200 people in Raleigh, many of them Jewish, called for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza Saturday, noting a disturbing parallel between Israels war against Palestinians and the genocide of the Holocaust.

Holocaust Remembrance Day dates to 2005, but this years vigil took a turn toward connecting the dots between global massacres throughout history with special attention on war-torn Gaza.

The event, organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, drew a spirited crowd to Moore Square downtown, where speakers called for an end to U.S. military aid to Israel and widespread humanitarian response to the famine now plaguing the Gaza Strip.

Many of those gathered wore T-shirts with the slogan Not in our Name, carrying signs that read, Jews Say Cease Fire Now.

Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians, said Marlo Kalb, a JVP member. Jews are not the only historic victims of genocide. We are not alone in our trauma, and we have a collective duty.

Student Rabbi Noah Rubin-Blose led the recitation of the Mourners Kaddish at Moore Square during a Holocaust Remembrance Day gathering in which hundreds called for a cease fire in Gaza.

Their calls for Palestinian self-determination came as part of Raleighs Holocaust Remembrance Day vigil, one of many observed nationwide. As they gathered, speakers placed a memory stone for not only the 6 million European Jews killed in the Holocaust, but also the disabled, LGBTQ and politically opposed victims.

They recognized Indigenous people killed by colonists in the United States, Armenians massacred during World War I, Tutsis killed in Rwanda and more than 26,000 Palestinians killed so far in the Israel-Hamas war.

As we mourn for the dead, Kalb said, we must fight like hell for the living. Never again is now.

And every 5 minutes and 45 seconds, a chime rang out over Moore Square  signifying the estimated time between each Palestinian death.

More than 200 gather in Moore Square in downtown Raleigh for Holocaust Remembrance Day, calling for a cease-fire in Gaza.

Gov. Roy Cooper issued a statement calling for an end to hatred and bigotry, noting that historys lessons are more urgent with the number of Holocaust survivors dwindling.

Unfortunately, he said, antisemitic incidents have skyrocketed to unprecedented levels since the horrific terrorist attacks in Israel on October 7, and we know that violence against Jewish people is not a problem consigned to history, but rather something we must confront and work to prevent every single day. Stopping the scourge of antisemitism and religious-based hatred requires all of us  no matter our faith  to stand up and speak out, and my administration continues our efforts to make North Carolina a welcoming place for all.

Raleighs City Council has heard similar calls for supporting a cease-fire, hearing from dozens of pro-Palestinian speakers in its chambers.

Those at Saturdays gathering turned their attention toward atrocities in Gaza, noting in particular Israel dropping hundreds of 2,000-pound bombs, many of them capable of killing people 1,000 feet away, according to CNN.

One speaker read a Saturday tweet posted by U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, who urged a world where hate has no place  a sentiment the crowd considered out of step with U.S. policy in Israel.

Start with you! one shouted

Shame! said many more.

We cannot keep funding these atrocities, said Kevin Georgas, pastor at Jubilee Baptist Church in Chapel Hill. We know intuitively that its never kept Jews or anyone else safe.

As he spoke, the chime rang again.
California caves dug out by people experiencing homelessness has the community and city officials concerned for the safety of those living underneath the Tuolumne River. The discovery also brings to the forefront the state's ongoing crisis with unhoused people.

The Modesto Police Department, the Tuolumne River Trust, and Operation 9-2-99, a volunteer river clean-up organization, worked together to clean up approximately 7,600 pounds of trash from the caves and the surrounding areas, according to local outlet CBS13.

The caves, which are located about 20 feet below street level, can be entered by a makeshift staircase that was built onto the hillside.

Residents who live in the area have expressed concerns over the safety of the unhoused people living in the cave that should be considered unfit for anyone to live in.

"If one of these were to collapse, it would be devastating," said Tracy Rojas, a homeowner that lives near the caves, told CBS13 in an interview. "This whole thing would come down and go into the water."

Rojas said the caves were fully furnished and included bedding, belongings, food, drugs, and items on a makeshift mantel and weapons.

"You can see the hooks on the wall where they had bottles and stuff hanging down," Rojas told CBS13. "I think there needs to be more emphasis on the homeless. They are at the point where you can see they are desperate."

'Most at risk of dying': Those without homes face challenges from Hurricane Hilary in SoCal, advocates warn

Homeless caves on the Tuolumne River bank have residents concerned

With many natural phenomenas occurring along the Tuolumne River bank, like rising water levels and erosion, the belongings of the unhoused are being washed away into the river. Another issue that is causing a concern is contamination.

"It's a hazard for not only the people who are living in there but the people who are walking up there," Rojas told CBS13.

The caves may be cleared for now, but the neighborhood near the river is feeling no real sense of peace in this problem.

"It's a safety hazard for them and the community," Rojas told CBS13.

Chris Guptill, a coordinator for Operation 9-2-99, told CBS13 that that filling in the caves likely wouldn't work. Guptill believes that the unhoused community would carve out new caves.

We really don't have a known solution on how to deal with it," Guptill said.

California has the highest rate of homelessness

California has the highest rate of people experiencing homelessness in the United States. Accounting for nearly 30% of the population, California has approximately 162,000 unhoused individuals, according to the World Population Review.

Across Los Angeles County, more people without shelter are living in low-lying areas after being pushed out of neighborhoods when sanitation workers began doing more frequent homeless sweeps in January of last year, advocates told USA TODAY back in August 2023 when Hurricane Hilary hit Southern California. The sweeps, described by Soleil Ngo of West Adams Mutual Aid as "very whack-a-mole," have prompted people to live in hard-to-access places in order to avoid being swept out again.

Increasingly, people are living in hidden spaces or hidden up under topography in order to be someplace that's out of the way," Ngo said. Orendorff said more people are living in their tents along river beds, under bridges, in tunnels, and underground.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Homeless found living in California caves on Tuolumne River bank
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) criticized President Biden Saturday for what he believes to be an increased interest in securing the southern border, as lawmakers continue to battle over a Senate-backed border deal.

While negotiations have been ongoing for weeks, Emmer said the House still has not seen legislative text for the proposed bill. He also criticized the president for undoing border measures put in place under former President Trump and questioned his recent vow to provide more security.

The only reason that President Biden is even interested in discussing this issue, Neil, is because it has now become a political liability for the White House, Emmer said in an interview with Fox News Neil Cavuto.

Show us the text, he added later. Lets make sure that what we do on the southern border is a substantive fix. Not just words.

His comments come after Biden vowed to shut down the border when it becomes overwhelmed  capped around 5,000 migrants a day, per reports of the proposed deal  if Congress passes a bipartisan border security bill.

Lets be clear, Biden said in a statement Friday. Whats been negotiated would  if passed into law  be the toughest and fairest set of reforms to secure the border weve ever had in our country.

It would give me, as President, a new emergency authority to shut down the border when it becomes overwhelmed, he continued. And if given that authority, I would use it the day I sign the bill into law.

Emmer said if Biden doesnt restore Trump-era policies such as Remain in Mexico,  where asylum seekers were required to wait in Mexico while their processing was complete  he isnt optimistic that the votes would even be there to bring the deal to the floor for a vote.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) gave similar remarks in a Dear Colleague letter on Friday. He said the legislation on border security and Ukraine aid, if the proposed terms that have come out so far are accurate, would be dead on arrival in the House.

I wanted to provide a brief update regarding the supplemental and the border, since the Senate appears unable to reach any agreement, he wrote. If rumors about the contents of the draft proposal are true, it would have been dead on arrival in the House anyway.

The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) confirmed Friday that in December, there were a record high of 302,034 encounters at the southern border.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
TYLER, Texas (KETK)  Hubbard Middle School in Tyler got a donation of winter clothes from the Vexus Fiber internet service company on Friday.

Bullard ISD opens long-awaited athletic complex

Hubbard Middle School is extremely appreciative of the generous donations from Vexus, the principal of Hubbard Middle School John Smiley said. Having more than 60% of families considered low socioeconomic status, this donation helps supplement and provide for those Husky students with food or clothing needs. Thank you, Vexus, for supporting your hometown school district and keeping the needs of children in mind.

The $1,000 donation of coats and hoodies is going to the Hubbard Middle School Care Closet and its only part of their $10,000 commitment to support schools throughout Vexuss service area.

Photo courtesy of Tyler ISD.

Photo courtesy of Tyler ISD.

Photo courtesy of Tyler ISD.

Photo courtesy of Tyler ISD.

Photo courtesy of Tyler ISD.

Vexus is very passionate about our commitment to supporting the communities we serve, said Vexuss regional vice president of operations for East Texas and Louisiana, Cameron Miller. We pride ourselves on being community builders, and we dont just mean that in the sense of the service we bring to Tyler. We live and work in this community and are dedicated to improving it for everyone.

The Fostering Collective seeks to provide more services in new location

Vexus is now one of Tyler ISDs Success Partners, meaning that theyre supporting Tyler ISD by doing things like sponsoring other Care Closets at Rice Elementary, Jack Elementary, Three Lakes Middle School and Legacy High School.

The Tyler ISD Success Partnership holds a special place in our hearts as it directly contributes to the well-being of students in our community, Miller said. Initiatives like the Care Closet are not just about addressing immediate needs; theyre a testament to our ongoing commitment to ensuring the continued welfare of those we serve, especially as temperatures drop. At Vexus, we believe in the power of connectivity, not only through fiber-optic networks but also through the threads of compassion that bind us to the communities we proudly call home.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com.
People gather outside the International Court of Justice during the session on the day it ruled on Gaza genocide case against Israel made by South Africa

This was nothing new. Ever since its birth, Israel has been subjected to empty judgments and prim finger-wagging from those fattened on the bounty of peacetime who care more about moralising than morality.

In 1975, the United Nations infamously ruled that Zionism is racism, repealing it only in 1991. And on Friday, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), while resisting the urge to demand that Israel lay down its arms and bare its neck for the slaughter, could not help but deliver a scolding. The Jews must take all measures to avoid committing genocide, the judges snorted. They must punish anyone who incites such a crime and provide humanitarian aid to Gaza. They must report back in a month. And they still might be found guilty of genocide.

As anybody who has managed to resist the tsunami of propaganda will know, Israel goes to greater lengths to avoid civilian casualties than any other nation. Take the leaflets warning people to leave the combat zone in advance of an attack, or the app showing Gazans the buildings that would be safe, or the strikes aborted when innocents are spotted in the target zone. Did the RAF do the same when we pounded Iraq, Afghanistan or the Houthis in Yemen? Did the Americans? To that question we have an answer, provided a few weeks ago by John Kirby, the White House national security spokesman. I dont know that [the United States] would do that, he told reporters.

In this way, Israel has managed to maintain a combatant-to-civilian ratio of around 1:2, even on a battlefield designed to put civilians in harms way (the global average is 1:9). If the Jewish state had intended to commit genocide, it wouldnt have bothered with any of this. It would have simply flattened Gaza with a bunker buster or two, without risking its young infantrymen.

The conclusion is obvious. Set aside the footage of bloodied Palestinians plastered across the airwaves and social media and the facts speak for themselves. The court has been captured by propaganda. But lets not quibble. As the bullish Zionist leader Zeev Jabotinsky remarked: We were not created to teach morals and manners to our enemies.

What gives the ICJ its legitimacy? Two things: the magic concept of an international institution  a cheap way to conjure universal morality around a collection of autocracies, technocrats, Davos diplomats and racists  and the sustained illusion of its members. But not all countries go along with the charade. The US withdrew from the ICJs compulsory jurisdiction in 1986. At the time, the American ambassador to the UN, Jeane Kirkpatrick, described the court as semi-legal, semi-juridical, semi-political body, which nations sometimes accept and sometimes dont. It seems that little has changed.

During the Hague hearing this month, not a single UN contributor had recognised Hamas as a terror group or criticised its crimes. Did this come as any surprise? This was the same international institution which has been unable to condemn Hamas but has been vocal in calling for Israel to stop defending itself.

South Africas case was self-evidently absurd, pernicious and dripping with the oldest hatred. Will it now address Russias invasion of Ukraine, Saudi Arabias bombing of Yemen, or Turkeys massacre of the Kurds? Will it consider Chinas genocide of the Uighurs? Its not the killing thats the problem. Its the Jewishness of the finger on the trigger.

Part of me wonders why Israel is dignifying this charade. Once again, Jabotinsky put it best: We do not have to account to anybody. We are not to sit for anybodys examination and nobody is old enough to call on us to answer. We came before them and will leave after them. We are what we are, we are good for ourselves, we will not change, nor do we want to.

Jake Wallis Simons is editor of the Jewish Chronicle and author of Israelophobia

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.
INDIANAPOLIS  An Indianapolis man shot and killed by IMPD on Indys near east side is identified as a convicted murderer.

The incident which marks the first officer involved shooting on 2024.

The shooting took place following a traffic stop near Rural and Brookside Parkway North Drive.

Stepping out of the passenger side of a car just before 5:30 Thursday night, IMPD claims a wanted felon named Raphael Dekemper immediately fired shots at officers who returned fire, killing the 48-year-old.

IMPD shared pictures of one squad car struck by bullets and insist a handgun was located next to the suspect.

This individual was wrong to pull his gun on a police officer, said Rev. David Greene.

Reverend David Greene with the Concerned Clergy has been critical of IMPD at times, but admits the use of force in this case appears justified.

We want our police officers to go home safely. We so we dont expect police to take fire and not fire back. They should fire back, said Greene.

Court records show Dekemper was convicted of murder in Marion County in 1997. After serving two decades in prison he was released in 2017.

This month the convicted killer allegedly violated a protective order and fired shots at a home on Bolton avenue.

That resulted in charges being filed and a warrant being issued for his arrest this week.

Our officers are doing what we want them to do, being focused in their approach going after the small number of people responsible for violence in our community, said IMPD acting chief Chris Bailey.

For their part IMPD pointed out only a tiny percentage of the more than 680,000 runs made last year resulted in 18 police shootings.

At the same time, the department is finalizing a plan to hire an outside group to review why officer involved shootings increased last year.

We dont want it to occur ever, said Bailey. So Im begging you, lets change this together. We can do it. This is avoidable. Lets do it.

No officers were hurt in the shooting.

The IMPD Critical Incident Response Team responded to the scene to conduct the criminal investigation. A separate administrative investigation is being conducted by IMPD Internal Affairs.

The civilian-majority Use of Force Review Board will conduct a mandatory hearing for any attempted use of deadly force against a person. This occurs after the conclusion of the criminal process.

The Police Officer Support Team (POST) responded to provide peer support for officers. The IMPD Chaplains Office responded to assist with those involved.

The IMPD Victims Assistance unit responded to assist officers and detectives.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Dustin Keedy at the homicide office by calling 317-327-3475. Alternatively, anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 317-262-TIPS.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTTV CBS4Indy.
Sienna Raley, flanked by her parents, Maria and Troy, begins the grand entrance at her quinceanera Dec. 16 in Diboll. Joel Andrews/For the Texas Tribune

LUFKIN  Sienna Raley was 13 when her parents asked her whether shed like to plan a quinceanera or get a horse.

It was a tough decision, but she decided on the horse.

Until Thanksgiving 2022. By then, Sienna had been to multiple parties and concluded she wanted one herself.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Its not about getting something  its about the moments, the memories you make, said Sienna, who is now 15.

A quinceanera is an elaborate, traditional Hispanic celebration that marks a girls 15th birthday and passage into womanhood.

Siennas December quinceanera was one of several held in her hometown of Diboll, a small East Texas town about 10 miles south of Lufkin.

The town is on a mission to be named the Quinceanera Capital of Texas, a symbolic goal meant to embrace a growing Hispanic community. The City Council already has passed a resolution and needs approval by the county and Legislature within two years. State Rep. Trent Ashby, representing Diboll, intends to champion the towns designation during the 2025 regular session.

Everybody knows how important they are, how special they are, how fun they can be, Diboll City Manager Jason Arnold said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Last year, families booked dozens of quinceaneras at Dibolls civic center, taking up more than half of the available weekends. Those parties brought visitors from across the country and Mexico to the tiny East Texas town. And a small network of party planners, florists, caterers and dressmakers is sprouting to support quinceaneras in Diboll and nearby towns.

City leadership hopes the designation will support more similar types of businesses to set up shop.

Siennas quinceanera was one of those that took place at Dibolls Lottie & Arthur Temple Civic Center. The family decorated the space like a fairy-tale tea party. Tea sets from the 15-year-olds own collection were used. The family, including Siennas great-grandfather who traveled from Mexico, danced the night away.

While many girls give up sneakers for heels, Sienna donned new cowgirl boots. She also accepted the last doll she would ever receive from her father.

Growing Hispanic population

Texas Hispanic population grows with each passing year. As of 2020, the state had the second-largest Hispanic population in the U.S. with 11.4 million residents identifying as Hispanic, a 21% increase, according to the Texas Demographic Center.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

While East Texas historically has been home to mostly white and Black Texans, the Hispanic population is growing there, too. And leaders want to embrace them.

The north entrance to Diboll on U.S. 59 South. Joel Andrews/For the Texas Tribune

About 42% of Dibolls 4,500 residents are Hispanic, according to DATA USA. In 2000, 38% of the town was Hispanic, according to the census.

Arnold hopes to conduct a study on the Hispanic populations effect on Dibolls economy in the next few years, but he can attest to the effect on the communitys culture as the population grows.

Now, when you think of Diboll, you think of the sawmill, you think of timber, the city manager said. And those are super important. But you can be known for and cherish more than one aspect of your community.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Tyler, a city of about 110,000 people about two hours north of Diboll, recently released an analysis of the Hispanic influence on its economy. Hispanics in the area earned $811.7 million, contributed $72.1 million to state and local taxes and had a spending power of $637.7 million.

Past research has underscored the critical role the Hispanic population in Texas plays in our labor force, population growth, and economy; this new research demonstrates it is no different in East Texas, Chelsie Kramer, Texas state organizer for the American Immigration Council and Texans for Economic Growth, said in the report.

Viri Cruz started her business, JCs Party Rentals, with Ruth Contreras, in March to coordinate and decorate major events. It began as a hobby, planning events for friends and family, and grew into a full-fledged business. In July, the two took over management of the civic center and planned a quinceanera expo this month.

The Hispanic community is definitely large here, and its pretty strong. I think that when the city thought about all of this, it made a lot of sense, she said.

Stepping into womanhood

Glowing with pride in a dress she designed herself, Sienna celebrated her transition to womanhood with a party that took more than a year to plan. She was nervous in the weeks leading up to the quinceanera and battled stress-induced acne.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Sienna Raley grins as her parents, Troy and Maria, give her a bite of cake during her quinceanera. Joel Andrews/For the Texas Tribune Sienna Raley dances with her father, Troy, for the father-daughter waltz at her quinceanera. Joel Andrews/For the Texas Tribune A variety of photos and memorabilia, including the designs for Sienna Raley's dress, sit on display at her quinceanera. Joel Andrews/For the Texas Tribune

Even if minor things went wrong, the party still would be wonderful, her mom, Maria Raley, assured her.

They hired a caterer, a DJ, Big Head performers dressed like Bad Bunny, a cake decorator and more; many of whom were within an hours drive of Diboll. Siennas parents made sure she was involved in the planning every step of the way so the quinceanera reflected who she is.

Raley was happy to hear about the citys declaration; a quinceanera is something special a girl will hold on to for the rest of her life. And for the city to embrace it, it means it is embracing the young girls who live there.

For Sienna, the quinceanera means its time to take on more responsibilities and make adult decisions, she said. Where she used to be shy in school, she is now outgoing and vibrant.

The teenager wants to be independent and to obtain a degree.

I want to be independent, to be able to make decisions, Sienna said.

This may mean going into fashion design, or something to do with horses  she still has a few years to figure that out.
Eliazar Posada re-adjusts the gray beanie on his head as he talks about coming out to his mom on the ride home from their getting coffee in 2013.

Posada, now 31, was a sophomore at Campbell University, working full time while studying political science and government. He knew in middle school that he was gay, and his older brother knew, but he had waited to tell the rest of his conservative family.

The conversation started with, I thought I had a son, and ended with, I hope I can be proud of you one day, Posada recalled.

It was 47 minutes of that, he said, through which he stared at the clock in his Chevy S-10 pickup truck to keep his composure.

His mom has since turned the leaf quite a bit, adjusting her expectations that he would have a traditional marriage and kids.

As a parent, you have to go through your own grieving process for the person that you thought (you knew), and I kind of get that, Posada said. So from one moment to the next, what you thought was going to happen with your kid, or who your kid was gonna be ... that changed.

This month, Posada was named interim executive director of Equality NC, after former executive director Kendra Johnson left. His tenure is six months right now, while the nonprofit LGBTQ+ advocacy group seeks a permanent hire.

It wasnt a step that he planned to take, said Posada, who was born in Florida to immigrant farmworkers from Mexico and raised in the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas. He considered law school after graduation, but took a year off because of the expense and volunteered with the nonprofit El Centro Hispano in Carrboro.

Like his mother, who advocated with farm owners to ensure fellow workers had what they needed, Posada has built a career focused on service and advocacy, first as an El Centro Hispano organizer in Carrboro and Raleigh, and later as the groups executive director.

In 2022, he won a seat on the Carrboro Town Council, making him the states first openly LGBTQ+ Hispanic person to be elected. He left El Centro to avoid a conflict of interest and started a consulting company focused on helping nonprofits. A friend shared an Equality NC job posting for an organizing director, and he got the job in May 2022.

In November, he was re-elected to a four-year council term.

At Equality NC, he is now responsible for fundraising, lobbying donors and politicians, and leading the work to implement strategy and policy. Posada and his staff are drafting the nonprofits roughly $1.6 million budget now, with an eye on the 2024 election.

My time here is really looking into how do we move that needle in our work? How do we make sure that we are setting up to reach out to as many voters as we can? We are communicating with our legislators on both sides of the aisle, Posada said.

The interview

Posada spoke with The News & Observer about whats ahead for North Carolina politics and his own future. Here are excerpts.

Youve never expressed an interest in state politics. Why make this move now?

I always have tried to make a difference for the community that Im trying to serve, and it wasnt until I really started working with local government and working on policies that I started thinking of how much local government can really impact peoples lives.

We need to strategize and make plans so that were not in this position (with white, conservative leaders who target minority groups) again, but were in this position now and change doesnt happen overnight.

Its not going to happen with us tweeting about how much we dont like Joe Biden, and how much we dont like Republicans. Its going to happen when we actually get out the vote, we organize people, we talk about the issues, and put people up for election or for these different positions of power that we want to see ourselves represented in.

How important is this election?

Were looking at some pretty consequential elections this year. Were looking at a lot of work that needs to happen with school boards across the state, as SB 49 (the Parents Bill of Rights law) is being implemented.

Note: The Parents Bill of Rights gives parents more control over their childs education, health and privacy in the classroom. The most controversial provisions require teachers to notify a parent before calling a student by a different name or pronoun, and bans K-4 instruction related to gender identity, sexuality or sexual activity.

With (Lt. Gov. and Republican gubernatorial candidate) Mark Robinson on the ticket, with some of these horribly anti-LGBTQ things that he said, and just targeting queer and trans youth and targeting queer and trans people, we realize that we need to combat that, and we need funding for it.

We have to combat all these different bills, but one party is not going to be our savior. We need to talk to everyone. Its not a super-loved strategy by a lot of folks in our movement, and I get that, but at the end of the day, Ill talk to anyone who will talk to me.

Whats your take on the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School Boards decision to reject the name and pronoun notification rule in the Parents Bill of Rights and its ban on sexual or gender instruction in grades K-4?

Our director of Education Policy (Rebby Kern) has worked with a lot of school boards, Chapel Hill-Carrboro being one of them, on how to actually combat this horrible bill. It takes a lot of guts (to oppose the law), and I get that and I want to acknowledge that folks on the school board had some real chutzpah. We need more of that.

I was one of the folks that led the fight against it in the General Assembly, so I worked with representatives to either do amendments or to make it less horrible, or help them kind of craft questions that were being asked in committees. The legislation is just so ambiguous, because I dont think they actually thought that they were going to be able to get it passed, because Republicans didnt have a super majority at the time.

I want to see more school boards around the state ... folks in other places who see this and say maybe we can join this fight. Well see. After all, we are in North Carolina in the South. Theres more conservative school boards than there are progressive ones.

What do you do when youre not working?

I proposed to (his partner) Humberto last year. We are saving up for the wedding (and) looking at the last weekend of October, first weekend in November in the mountains. And then were going to be starting the process for looking at adoption.

Im rereading the Harry Potter series, so just mind-numbing things that I dont have to think about anything else.  I just read this book called Butterfly Boy: Memories of a Chicano Mariposa, which is a personal story of a young immigrant, queer kid, growing up in Texas and navigating that, and then I also started, How the Word is Passed. Its a really cool book. Its heavy, but it really goes into deep areas of U.S. history (and) kind of dissects a lot of these places that we see as revered in the U.S.
Jan. 28 is International Lego Day, a day to celebrate the little plastic bricks that have captured the hearts and imaginations of millions. Whether you build Lego Harry Potter, Lego Star Wars, Lego Technic, Lego Architecture, or any other kind of Lego, its time to break out the bricks and build.

Where did Lego come from?

According to Lego.com, the story of Lego began in 1932, when Danish carpenter Ole Kirk Christiansen started making wooden toys, including cars and airplanes. A few years later, in 1935, he began to focus more exclusively on toy making. Christiansen allegedly held a competition to name his new company. The winning name (which Christiansen came up himself) was Lego. The name LEGO is an abbreviation of the two Danish words leg godt, meaning play well, according to Lego.

Why is International Lego Day on Jan. 28?

The holiday is celebrated on Jan. 28 because, according to the Library of Congress, that was the day the original patent was filed for Lego. The patent was filed by Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, managing director of Lego from 1957 through 1973 and founder Ole Kirk Christiansens son. Per the Library of Congress, Thanks to the patent, Lego Groupthe Lego block manufacturerbecame one of the largest toy manufacturers in the world.

What events are happening for International Lego Day?

According to the Clark Planetarium in Salt Lake City, they held a celebration for International Lego Day on Jan. 26, which included free Lego building projects and builds.

The Centerville Library held an International Lego Day party on Jan. 24 that featured Lego challenges, games, and art projects.

Bricks and Minifigs, an aftermarket reseller of Lego with several locations around Utah, will be hosting an event at their location in Orem on Jan. 27. According to their posts on Instagram, the event will feature discounts on Lego, spin the wheel drawings, activites for kids, and more.

There is also the potential for sales of the toys to be held on International Lego Day. IGN has reported that several Lego sets have been marked down in price on Amazon in the U.K. And CNET report last year that sets were discounted 20%, 30%, and even 40% on International Lego Day.
Donald Trump was a two-time loser on Friday.

First, the former president was ordered by a jury to pay writer E. Jean Carroll $83.3 million for damages from defamation, and then he had to suffer the slings and arrows of snarky social media users.

Carroll, a longtime advice columnist, has alleged that she was raped by Trump in 1996 in a dressing room at Manhattans Bergdorf Goodman department store.

After she wrote about the experience in 2019, Trump called her a whack job and a fraud, inspiring her to sue for defamation. That resulted in Trump being found liable for defaming and for sexually abusing Carroll (though not raping her). He was also ordered to pay her $5 million in damages.

Still, that first penalty did not stop Trump from defaming Carroll, which led her to sue him again and Fridays massive judgment.

Many people on X, formerly Twitter, used the verdict as an excuse for a popular social media activity: busting Trumps chops.

E Jean Caroll just grabbed Trump by the checkbook.#TrumpIsALoser  Katie Porters Whiteboard (@Amy0227) January 26, 2024

Donald Trump has two hobbies these days. The first is lying. The second is getting his ass beat by E. Jean Carroll in court.  Charlotte Clymer  (@cmclymer) January 26, 2024

Man, imagine getting paid $3.5M and your client ending up with an $83M verdict.

Yikes. Not a great return-of-investment in having Habba as your attorney.  A.J. Delgado (@AJDelgado13) January 26, 2024

Much more important than the 83 million dollar verdict is the recognition from a member of the U.S. judiciary that Trump and his supporters remain a violent threat to ordinary Americans. https://t.co/928xs61QMZ  Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) January 26, 2024

#Trump has to look at the bright side of this verdict....



It could have been $84 million!!  Desert Author (@Desert_Author) January 26, 2024

Welp! And he defamed her AGAIN while the jury was deliberating. If I was @ejeancarroll Id take that imp right back to court. She alone could bankrupt that criminal and save all of us from his desired dictatorship. He just cant stop himself. https://t.co/uyiEodZ57x  yvette nicole brown (@YNB) January 26, 2024

Trump to voters. Theyve come after me for $83.3 million. If it happened to me it could happen to you.  Karl Rosenfeld (@kneerecon) January 26, 2024

Related...
Taiwan has become the biggest exporter of metalworking equipment to Russia during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a new joint investigation by the Russian independent media The Insider and Taiwanese The Reporter, published on Jan. 27, revealed.

The investigation brings to light the latest instance of Russia's successful effort to circumvent sanctions, importing tech and equipment for defense production amid its ongoing aggression against Ukraine. Despite the West's initial expectations to suffocate Russia's war machine through sanctions, the effort has had limited success, as Russia adapted to restrictions, often using third-country intermediaries for import.

According to the media investigation, Taiwan banned export of metalworking equipment to Russia in January 2023. Moscow nonetheless received 193 pieces of Taiwanese-made metalworking machinery worth nearly $29 million from March to September 2023.

Nearly 80% of the equipment is reportedly sent to Russia via intermediaries, Turkey and China, the investigation revealed, citing data from the Russian customs service.

According to Taiwan's customs data cited in the investigation, the total price of metalworking equipment exported to Turkey increased by 45% from January to October 2023.

Such machinery is used in the production of a range of military equipment and arms, including high-precision weapons.

Taiwan has supported Ukraine in its fight against Russia's invasion by providing aid packages to Kyiv and imposing sanctions against Moscow.

Earlier on Dec. 27, Taiwan expanded its sanctions against Russia and Belarus to include additional high-tech goods that could be made into weapons, the country's Economy Ministry announced on Dec. 26.

Read also: Ukraines effort to isolate Russias economy through International Sponsors of War list

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Launch of a missile during a drill in southern Iran. Could the regime soon be able to produce a nuclear warhead? - AFP via Getty Images

Iranian scientists can produce enough weapons-grade uranium to make 12 nuclear bombs within five months, it has been claimed.

The revelation follows the disclosure by the International Atomic Energy Authority (IAEA) that the Iranian regime has increased the production rate of highly enriched uranium up to 60 per cent purity.

Modern nuclear weapons require uranium to be enriched up to 90 per cent but inspectors within the IAEA believed this could be achieved by Iran very quickly.

Now David Albright, a former UN weapons inspector in Iraq, believes that Iran could begin producing weapons-grade uranium in a matter of weeks and already has the technical knowledge to build nuclear weapons.

Growing tension

The disclosure comes amid growing tension in the Middle East following the conflict in Gaza, the Houthi shipping attacks in the Red Sea and recent cross border missile strikes between Iran and Pakistan, a nuclear power.

Mr Albright, who is also the founder of the respected Washington-based US Institute for Science and International Security, said that if Tehran continued producing enriched uranium at the same rate the regime would have enough material to make 12 bombs within five months.

He said: The unfortunate reality is that Iran already knows how to build nuclear weapons, although there are some unfinished tasks related to the actual construction of them.

Iran can quickly make enough weapon-grade uranium for many nuclear weapons, something it could not do in 2003.

Today, it would need only about a week to produce enough for its first nuclear weapon. It could have enough weapon-grade uranium for six weapons in one month, and after five months of producing weapon-grade uranium, it could have enough for 12.

He said the other major issue facing Tehran was nuclear weaponisation and delivery.

He added: Iran has a variety of delivery systems, including nuclear-capable missiles: the delivery pole is ready.

He stated in a report: Weaponisation needs more work. It involves theoretical calculations and simulations; development, testing, and construction of the other components of the nuclear weapon; the conversion of weapon-grade uranium into metallic components; the integration of all the components into a nuclear weapon; and the preparation for mounting the weapons on aircraft or missiles or for use in a full-scale underground test.

We condemn this action

The move by Iran to increase the production of enriched uranium was criticised last month by the US, Britain, France and Germany.

In a joint statement, the allies said: We condemn this action, which adds to the unabated escalation of Irans nuclear programme.

The four countries made no mention of any consequences Iran could face for the production increase but called for its reversal and said they remained committed to a diplomatic solution over Tehrans nuclear programme.

Rafael Grossi, director-general of the IAEA, has also stressed that Tehran must abide by the nuclear proliferation treaty to which it was a signatory.

At the Davos World Economic Forum in Switzerland earlier this month, he said: Iran is the only non-nuclear weapon state which is enriching uranium at this very, very high level  very close to weapons grade.

Im not saying they have a nuclear weapon, Im saying this is sensitive. And when youre doing that  you abide by the rules, he said.

Meanwhile, calls have re-emerged for the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps to be banned in the UK following allegations that the organisation sponsors terrorism around the world.

Iran malign influence around the world

The British Government is also coming under increasing pressure to ban the IRGC following the recent disclosure that counter-terror police and MI5 foiled 15 plots by Iran to either kidnap or kill British or UK-based individuals it considers enemies of the regime.

Last month, Lord Cameron, the Foreign Secretary, hinted that the IRGC could be banned when he described Iran as a malign influence around the world.

Col Richard Kemp, a former commander of British troops in Afghanistan, said it was an outrage that the British Government had not banned the IRGC in the UK.

He said: It is outrageous that the UK continues to refuse to proscribe the IRGC as a terrorist group which would help to curtail their activities here and around the world.

This failure to act endangers British citizens lives both here and abroad. The Government has a duty to immediately proscribe this murderous group.

For years, the IRGC has been attacking us at home and abroad, either directly or using their terrorist proxies.

They killed many British troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, murdered a British crew member on board a ship off the coast of Oman in 2021 and set up a bomb factory in London using their proxy Lebanese Hizbollah in 2015.

IRGC sponsored terrorist cells are in place in Britain and elsewhere in Europe, planning and preparing attacks against Iranian dissidents and British citizens, with at least 15 plots detected by our security authorities in the last year.

Meanwhile, IRGC commanders are hosted in Britain to spread their poisonous propaganda among university students including incitement to violence against non-Muslims.

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.
Palestinians react as they fleeing Khan Yunis with some of their belongings to safer areas further South of Gaza Strip through the City's western exit on the outskirts of its refugee camp. Abed Rahim Khatib/dpa

Fighting continued on Saturday in the city of Khan Younis in the south of the Gaza Strip, with further casualties being inflicted on Palestinian forces, according to the Israeli military.

Three Palestinians who had planted explosives near Israeli troops were killed in an airstrike, while soldiers killed "numerous armed terrorists at close range," officials said.

In another incident in the city, seven people were reportedly attacked and killed after firing rocket-propelled grenades at the army.

According to eyewitnesses, thousands of people have fled Khan Younis in recent days due to the fierce fighting in the city, the largest in the south of Gaza and a reputed stronghold of the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement.

Israel suspects the leadership of the militant organization and Israeli hostages to be concealed in the network of tunnels under the area.

Due to the high number of casualties and suffering among the civilian population in the Gaza fighting, the Israeli miitary is under mounting international pressure to ease its assault.

However, the Israeli government remains intent on destroying all Hamas elements in the coastal strip following the group's bloody attack on Israel on October 7.

Hamas and allied extremist groups still fire occasional rockets at Israel, with alarms reportedly sounded at different locations in the south of the country on Saturday.

According to Israeli media reports, one missile landed outside the Israeli town of Sderot, near the Gaza Strip.
Jay Leno and Mavis Leno attend "Jay Leno's Garage" series launch party in 2015 in New York. (Charles Sykes / Invision / Associated Press)

Comedian Jay Leno is seeking to become conservator over wife Mavis Leno's affairs because she has dementia.

Leno filed court documents Friday to ask a family court judge to grant the conservatorship so he can structure a living trust and other estate plans to make sure that his 77-year-old wife has "managed assets sufficient to provide for her care" should he die before her, according to a copy of the petition filed in Los Angeles Superior Court.

"Unfortunately, Mavis has been progressively losing capacity and orientation to space and time for several years," the petition said. "Jay is fully capable of continuing support for Mavis's physical and financial needs, as he has throughout their marriage."

The filing said her "current condition renders her incapable of executing the estate plan." The court documents said she was being treated for "dementia and mood disorder."

The couple has been married 43 years.

Leno, through a spokesperson, declined to comment on Saturday.

Jay Leno on the set of the game show "You Bet Your Life" in Pacoima in 2021. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

It was unclear when Mavis Leno was first diagnosed with the disease, but a doctor's report from November, filed as part of the court proceedings, said she suffered with impairments to her memory, ability to concentrate and use of reason.

The documents said a conservatorship was needed to allow Jay Leno to execute estate plans, "which will provide for Mavis and Mavis's brother [who is] her sole living heir aside from Jay." Leno, who is 73, and Mavis Leno do not have children. They live in Beverly Hills.

Read more: 'My face caught on fire': Jay Leno shares details about recent accident on 'Today'

"Jay Leno has always handled the couple's finances through the term of their 43-year marriage, and will continue to do so until his passing," the petition said.

TMZ first reported the conservatorship petition.

When he was the popular host of "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," which ran on NBC for about 20 years, Jay Leno would frequently and lovingly mention Mavis.

Read more: A sense of loss as NBC's 'Tonight Show' ends its Leno and Burbank eras

Throughout their marriage, Mavis Leno independently pursued her own progressive causes, including fighting a proposed California ballot proposition against affirmative action in the mid-1990s.

She was a board member of the Feminist Majority Foundation and chairwoman of its Campaign for Afghan Women and Girls to ensure that "the women and girls of Afghanistan are not forgotten," according to the group's website. The foundation's campaign for Afghan women was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.

Shortly after the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan, Mavis and Jay Leno donated $100,000 as seed money for the Feminist Majority Foundation's global womens rights program.

Jay Leno at NBCUniversal's Summer TCA Tour in Beverly Hills in 2015. (Richard Shotwell / Invision / Associated Press)

"She is someone with a strong sense of purpose, compassion and curiosity," author Sue Smalley wrote about a decade ago in the Los Angeles Times after interviewing Mavis Leno and her famous husband. "She arrives first, on time [and] doesn't need hair or makeup."

The couple met at L.A.'s famed Comedy Store in 1976.

"I always had this idea that I would never get married," she told People magazine in a 1987 interview. "But with Jay, I began to realize that this was the first time I was ever with someone where I had a perfect, calm sense of having arrived at my destination."

Read more: A serious task for the Lenos

Separately, she described meeting Leno in an interview with The Times.

"It was in January. ... I thought, 'Holy s--t! That comedian is gorgeous!" Mavis Leno recalled in a 2014 interview, saying friends had encouraged her to " 'hang out at the Comedy Store and the Improv  you'll meet people who can give you jobs.' "

"The first time I went, they sat us front row center. That means you're this far from the comic. And there was Jay," she said.

Read more: Happily Ever Laughter

Later that evening, she went to the bathroom, which was near an area where the comedians hung out between their sets.

"When I came out of the bathroom, he said, 'Are you that girl in front?' " Mavis Leno recalled. "I said, 'Yes, that was me.' "

Staff writer Stacy Perman contributed to this report.





Sign up for our Wide Shot newsletter to get the latest entertainment business news, analysis and insights.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Funtico is a brand new gaming ecosystem where epic fun is fueled by exciting rewards. it aims to bridge the gap between Web2 and Web3 gaming with a comprehensive ecosystem that meets gamers' needs.

Funtico is designed to be the go-to choice for game publishers and the ultimate destination for all gaming enthusiasts, offering limitless enjoyment and incredible rewards with a wide variety of game genres from casual to hardcore games ranging from indies to AAA type of quality.

The gaming industry's continuous evolution calls for something beyond technological skill to stand out truly; it demands visionary foresight, innovative approaches, and a deep commitment to forging ageless experiences. That's why Funtico has the vision to become Web3's most gamer-centric platform built upon three fundamental principles: timeless fun, smooth gameplay, and worthwhile rewards.

Key to our vision is the launch of our first game on Steam, Heroes of the Citadel. This exhilarating adventure game sets players in the mystical world of Entagon, where they must use strategy, decision-making, and resource management to overcome challenges and defend the world from the forces of Vorak, the mad god.

Whether you're conquering foes across the realm in the auto battler campaign or testing your mettle against other players in our thrilling PvP arena, Heroes of the Citadel promises a captivating, challenging experience with rewards at every turn.

Join the Funtico community

Funtico is a new gaming platform that turns your skills into prizes, allowing you to experience true ownership of your in-game items and progress.

Built by a team of hundred professionals from various gaming industry sectors, we leverage hundreds of years of accumulated experience to bring something unique to players across the globe.

Join our growing community on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

For more information, please contact:

Josh Cabrera

marketing@funtico.com
Jewish lawmakers released statements Saturday to mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day, 79 years after the liberation of Auschwitz.

Their remarks come as antisemitism has risen in the U.S. and abroad since the onset of the war between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza.

Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), who is the grandson of Russian Jewish immigrants, warned of the resurgence of hateful ideologies against Jews, calling it alarming.

We cannot accept such blatant disregard for the facts to spread. We cannot excuse the embrace of hate. We cannot be silent, Cardin wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

Silence and apathy are what allowed the Holocaust to take root, Cardins statement said. It is hard not to see the similarities to modern day events.

He also asked for a commitment to breaking the cycle of hate, denial and ignorance.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer agreed that we can never, must never, will never forget the millions of Jewish and other victims of the Nazis.

As antisemitism surges since October 7the deadliest day for Jews since WWII, We recognize International Holocaust Remembrance Day, he wrote on X.

We stand together against antisemitism and hate, Schumer added.

Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) pledged to hold up a Never Again commitment.

We remember the millions of Jews and other victims who were systematically murdered by the Nazis, he wrote.

Never again is an active commitment for all of us  to confront antisemitism and understand that history can repeat itself unless we are vigilant, Schatz posted on X.

Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) echoed their sentiments, asking for the community to honor the memory of the 6 million Jews and others killed under Nazi persecution by telling their stories and not repeating antisemitic rhetoric.

This day is particularly meaningful to me as a Jewish American, and to my community. While sadly getting smaller every year, the 9th Congressional District of Illinois has one of the largest concentrations of Holocaust survivors in the country, she said in a statement.

Schakowsky said persecution on the basis of religion, nationality, political opinion, or anything else cannot be tolerated.

With antisemitism at record levels at home and around the world, we must recommit ourselves to stopping hate-fueled violence wherever it occurs, the lawmaker posted online.

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) also commemorated the day, writing on X, We look back because we will #neverforget. We look back to learn from the darkness of the past.

Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) said the phrase Never Again has more meaning than ever before.

With rising antisemitism, lets redouble efforts to impart the lessons of the Holocaust to the next generation and ensure Never Again truly means Never Again, Goldman said.

Other non-Jewish members of both chambers also took pause on Saturday, reflecting on the day and commemorating those who died, and those who survived.

President Biden also released a statement commending the strength, spirit, and resilience of Jewish people. He said this year, the charge to remember the Holocaust is more pressing than ever.

Since Hamas invaded Israel in a surprise attack on Oct. 7 that killed 1,200 Israelis and took more than 200 people hostage, reports of antisemitism around the world have reached historic levels. Israel launched a counteroffensive that has killed more than 26,000 Palestinians, according to Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.

The FBI reported in the first month after the war in the Gaza began, the U.S. has seen a spike in both antisemitic and Islamophobic attacks. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) documented more than 300 antisemitic incidents in the U.S. during the first month of fighting.

The ADL has warned that white supremacist propaganda and antisemitic propaganda has been on the rise in the U.S. in recent years, reaching a high since the war began.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
John Cena will retire from the WWE ring at some point. When and how that will happen, hes not entirely sure yet.

Cena, 46, caused a stir in the wrestling world this week when he told Entertainment Tonight he will stop performing for WWE within the next few years. During an appearance on the 3rd hour of TODAY Jan. 26 to promote his new film, Argylle, he was asked whether he will indeed hang up his wrestling boots by the age of 50. That sounds pretty accurate, right? he answered. Like, 50 is half of 100.

In a follow-up interview with TODAY.com, Cena elaborated on his plans to retire from the performance side of the WWE.

Im giving myself, like, hey, if you dont figure it out until (the age of 50), youre just done, he explains. If we dont come up with something that we can present to our WWE universe as a wave goodbye, if it doesnt happen by then, Ill just silently announce it on X or whatever the platform is.

Cena, a 16-time world champion, debuted in WWE in 2002 and has appeared on its programming on and off in recent years, including a stint last fall. While the Barbie star has a passion for performing in the ring, hes well aware that it will become more challenging to compete as he gets older.

If I could do it infinitely, I would do it infinitely. Its that energetic, its that much of an adrenaline rush, its that rewarding, he says. But I dont think energy is  is neither created nor destroyed. And theyve got such a wonderful crop of superstars. The WWE is loaded with marquee talent, and its their time.

Austin Theory and John Cena at WrestleMania in 2023. (Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)

Historically, there are a number of examples of wrestlers whove announced their retirement, only to step back into the ring later on. Regarding how firm his intention is to retire within the next few years, Cena says, Authentically over the years, my relationship with the WWE universe is based on honesty. And when I go, Ill go.

Im not saying I wont be involved integrally with the WWE, he continues, citing his work mentoring young talent.

Ill never be away from the WWE family. But as far as in-ring and falling down and taking an ass-whooping, the clock is limited on that one.

In the short term, its natural to wonder whether hell take part in WrestleMania this April after kicking off WWEs signature event last year with a match against then-United States Champion Austin Theory. As of now, hes unsure whether hell have a match at the upcoming WrestleMania, which will be held in Philadelphia.

Thats beyond my control, he says, before later adding, Its on a weekend. I dont see myself shooting on a weekend in a movie. Id love to be there. But those decisions are beyond my paygrade.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
For House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), the easy part is over.

The untested GOP leader stormed into the top ranks of power last fall and spent the first three months negotiating a series of spending bargains with President Biden, all without suffering the same political blowback as his predecessor, former Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who was booted from the Speakership for cutting very similar deals.

But steeper challenges await in the coming weeks, when Congress confronts a pair of must-meet deadlines on long-term government spending, and Johnson will potentially face a crucial decision on how  or whether  to move more Ukraine aid through the lower chamber against the wishes of former President Trump and conservatives in Johnsons own conference.

In the meantime, the House next week is expected to take up a bipartisan tax package thats quickly incensed Johnsons right flank, both for its substance and because of the fast-track process by which GOP leaders want to bring it to the floor.

The combined agenda has created a hazardous terrain for the new Speaker. He was given early space to operate with impunity but will have to navigate gingerly through the looming legislative minefield amid new threats that a misstep could find him following McCarthy out the door.

Even some leadership allies are quick to acknowledge that Johnson is in no easy spot.

He was thrown into the deepest end of the pool with the heaviest weights around his neck and told to learn to swim. Its been a pretty brutal process, and its tough, and this is the second toughest piece of the calendar to negotiate, Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.), who served as interim Speaker between McCarthys ouster and Johnsons swearing in, told reporters in the Capitol.

Hes not been around these decisions, so hes had to learn a lot and try to feel his way through.

FILE  Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., gives a statement to reporters, Jan. 12, 2024, at the Capitol in Washington. Approaching his first 100 days on the job, Johnson faces daunting choices ahead: He can try to corral conservatives, who are pushing hard-right policies, to work together as a team, or he can keep reaching out to Democrats for a bipartisan coalition to pass legislation. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

In the early stages, Johnson has been a quick study. Since taking the gavel in late October, hes championed two short-term spending bills, known as continuing resolutions (CRs), to prevent a government shutdown. And this month, he secured a third bipartisan deal on topline numbers to govern 2024 spending through the remainder of the fiscal year, which ends on Oct. 1.

Johnsons bipartisan deal-making has won him accolades from Democrats, who have welcomed his willingness to reach across the aisle and forge agreements to keep the government running.

I think he understands [that] to govern youve got to be able to get outside the comfort zone and compromise, said Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas). And I gotta give it to him, I think hes trying to do that.

But the cooperative gestures have also infuriated conservatives, particularly those in the far-right Freedom Caucus, who had accused McCarthy of frittering away the powers of the House majority, and are now lobbing the same critiques at Johnson.

People voted for Republicans to be in the majority, not to count on Democrats to pass bad legislation that Republicans shouldnt be bringing to the floor, Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.), former head of the Freedom Caucus, said of the tax deal.

The tax legislation, which combines cuts for businesses with benefits for low-income families, passed out of the Ways and Means Committee with a resounding 40 to 3 vote. But the exclusion of a controversial credit for state and local taxes, known as SALT, has infuriated moderate Republicans in wealthier states, while conservatives are trashing the deal for providing child tax credits to families of undocumented immigrants.

Top Stories from The Hill

Some GOP lawmakers even attacked their own party for being too generous to corporations.

Im sick of these gutless cowards in Washington, Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) told Fox radio host Jimmy Failla on Thursday.

You know what were gonna put on the floor next week? he continued. A tax cut bill for corporations, because Republicans are whores for endless wars and corporations. Thats it. Thats what they stand for  Im not gonna pretend that its something else.

GOP leaders are expected to bring the tax bill to the floor using a procedural gambit known as the suspension calendar, which requires a two-thirds majority for passage. That strategy avoids the need to vote on a preceding rule, which critics of the tax deal might choose to block, but its antagonized conservatives by stealing their powers to amend.

Major legislation, Perry said, should go to the Rules Committee.

Of the coming legislative battles, only government funding is must-pass. Congress united earlier this month to adopt a CR that extends government funding, at 2023 levels, through March 1 for some agencies, and through March 8 for the rest.

Weeks earlier, Johnson had endorsed a bipartisan topline deal to govern the transition into higher, 2024 spending levels. But the tougher task is in portioning out those funds among the various agencies  a task appropriators have yet to finalize  and then enacting them into law.

Conservatives, already up in arms that Johnson endorsed topline numbers they deem too high, are also demanding that any final long-term spending bills include a host of policy riders on radioactive issues like abortion, immigration and wokeness in government  all nonstarters with Democrats.

The debate is sure to squeeze Johnson and his leadership team between a desire to prevent a government shutdown, by forging deals with Democrats, and their efforts to appease the conservatives demanding policy wins in return for keeping the government open.

Hows he going to handle the will of all of his members who want terrible things to be added? Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) wondered before the recess. So I dont think were out of the woods for a shutdown. I dont have any real confidence. And if he were to agree without any riders, will they get rid of him? Could be. I dont know how beloved he is.

For all the pitfalls of the government spending fight, the battle over Ukraine assistance might pose the greatest threat to Johnsons gavel.

While Republicans had overwhelmingly supported billions of dollars in aid to Kyiv in the wake of Russias invasion two years ago, the partys appetite for continuing that largess has waned dramatically.

A test vote on $300 million in Ukraine aid failed to win support from half the GOP conference last September. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) is vowing to file the motion to oust Johnson if he brings Ukraine funding to the floor. And Trump, the runaway favorite for the GOP presidential nomination, is amplifying his America First platform by opposing a nascent deal in the Senate combining Ukraine aid with domestic border security.

Johnson appears to be listening.

After a meeting with Biden at the White House earlier in the month, the Speaker said House Republicans would oppose any Ukraine bill that lacked strict new limits on southern migration. And on Friday he sent a letter to the members of his conference reassuring them that a Senate deal, if one emerges, would have a short lifespan in the lower chamber.

If rumors about the contents of the draft proposal are true, Johnson wrote, it would have been dead on arrival in the House anyway.

Emily Brooks contributed reporting.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
WARWICK  You touched the wrong foot! bellowed the father of the teenage boy whose foot a Providence schools official fondled in a gym three years ago.

The East Greenwich father addressed the now ex-schools administrator, Olayinka Alege, 42, at his sentencing Friday after being found guilty of simple assault and battery on the then-15-year-old boy on April 20, 2021.

The father credited his son with showing true courage in taking the stand in Aleges three trials, including the last in which Alege, representing himself, subjected the teenager to five hours of cross examination. He faulted Alege for blaming everyone but himself and for repeatedly publicly sharing his minor sons name and the familys address in social media posts and emails to Rhode Island lawyers and the media.

Did you think about what that could have done to him? No because youre sick, the father said. The Journal is not identifying the teenager or his family because the boy was a minor at the time of the crime.

Let this be a lesson to you, Alege. Youre not the victim. You never have been, the father said.

Olayinka Alege outside court for an earlier proceeding. [Paul Edward Parker/The Providence Journal, file]

Judge hands down sentence

Superior Court Judge Luis M. Matos sentenced Alege, who now lives in Florida, to a one-year suspended term with probation.

While acknowledging the former administrators otherwise clean criminal record, John Malloy, the prosecutor, had asked the judge to sentence Alege to one year in prison with six months to serve.

Malloy argued that Alege had revictimized the teenager through the aggressive five-hour cross examination and had launched a barrage of baseless allegations against the victim and his family, the prosecutors, the Warwick police and the court itself.

Three trials ultimately leads to guilty verdict

A jury in December found Alege guilty of simple assault for removing the 15-year-olds sneaker at The Edge Fitness Club and massaging the teens foot without his consent.

In 2022, District Court Judge Anthony Capraro found Alege guilty and issued a one-year filing in the case, meaning the case wouldve been removed from Alege's record in a year as long as he obeyed the law. He was ordered not to contact the teenager or his family.

The teenager testified about completing a round of leg raises at the gym, only to have a man he had never seen before move uncomfortably close to him.

The man, whom he later learned was Alege, questioned him about his low-top Converse sneakers and asked to see his shoes. The casual conversation morphed into something weird, he later told his father.

He described Alege grabbing his foot and removing the shoe without asking before massaging his right foot up and down with both hands.

Alege appealed Capraro's ruling to Superior Court and the jury at that second trial was unable to reach a verdict, prompting a third trial.

Alege came to Providence schools from Florida

Alege was hired in Providence as an assistant superintendent in June 2020 to work with middle school and high school principals as a district-level administrator. He came from the public school district in Hillsborough County, Florida, the same district then-Superintendent Harrison Peters had worked at.

An Orlando newspaper reported in 2009 that Alege, an assistant principal at a high school, had been accused of "popping" boys' toes as a form of discipline.

Five boys told sheriff's deputies Alege had "asked them on numerous occasions to take off a shoe and sock behind closed doors, and allow him to 'pop' their toes," the Sun-Sentinel reported.

The East Greenwich teenagers father on Friday said he was sickened that Alege had ever worked as an educator and hoped he never would again.

You left a trail of victims, he said.

Matos ordered Alege not to contact the teenager or his family.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Judge sentences ex-city school administrator who fondled teen's foot
A measles outbreak is happening in the U.K., forcing the U.K. Health Security Agency will declare a national health incident. This was confirmed by UKHSA Chief Executive Prof. Dame Jenny Harries on Friday, Jan. 19.

She visited Birmingham on Friday to see the extensive health and clinical protection, as well as the ongoing community and epidemiological work personally.

In July 2023, UKHSA published a risk assessment warning the possibility of such outbreaks. This January, Harries expressed her concern regarding the rising measles cases.

UKHSA Declares National Health Incident As Measles Cases Surge!

UKHSA announced that as of Jan. 18, 216 measles cases have been confirmed, as well as 103 probable infections in the West Midlands. These cases and potential infections have been recorded since October 2023.

The majority of infected individuals are children under 10 years old. The health protection agency said that around 80% of patients were seen in Birmingham. About 10% of the remaining infected people have been seen in Coventry.

Because of these rising measles cases, the UKHSA issued a national health incident. To protect children from the measles outbreak, Harries is urging parents in the United Kingdom to vaccinate their beloved kids.

"This is a call right across the country for all parents to check the vaccination rates of their children," said the UKHSA chief executive via Fox News' latest report.

If you're among the parents in the U.K., you need to vaccinate your children if you see these measles symptoms:

Feeling generally unwell

High fever

Sneezing

Sore, red, and watery eyes

Coughing

Symptoms could worsen, leading to small white spots inside the mouth. After initial symptoms appeared, health experts said that a blotchy red or brown rash on the skin would likely develop.

Read Also: South Korea to Reclassify COVID-19 to Flu Level Effective August 31

Why UKHSA Urge Vaccinations

UKHSA officials said that MMR vaccines are effective since they were able to decrease the rates of uptake of mumps, measles, and rubella over the last decade.

"Over 99% of those who have 2 doses of the MMR vaccine will be protected against measles and rubella," said UKHSA via its official press release.

"The vaccine also provides protection against mumps, which can be very painful with complications including inflammation of the ovaries and testicles, and in rare cases, the pancreas," added the health agency.

UKHSA further stated that although MMR vaccines are less effective against mumps, cases are likely to be less severe in patients who are vaccinated.

Related Article: Virginia: Alerts Issued to Passengers at Dulles, Reagan Airports About Possible Measles Exposure
Oscar winner Kevin Spacey has chosen Concord to emerge publicly for the first time after years of controversy.

Spacey will appear all three days at the Mad Monster Party 2024 con at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Feb. 16-18.

Fellow Hollywood stars Kiefer Sutherland, Jason Patric, Lou Diamond Phillips and Taryn Manning also are scheduled to appear, along with The Dukes of Hazzard stars John Schneider and Tom Wopat and WWE wrestling legend Kane.

Kiefer Sutherland stars as Tom Kirkman, a lower-level cabinet member who is suddenly appointed President of the United States after a catastrophic attack on the U.S. Capitol during the State of the Union, on ABCs Designated Survivor.

His career imploded

Spacey vanished from the Big Screen in 2017 after dozens of sexual assault allegations.

Less than a day after Spacey was accused of sexually harassing a minor more than 30 years ago, Netflix announced it would end its Emmy-winning House of Cards show after its final season in production, but without Spacey in the starring role or as an executive producer.

Spacey was never convicted of any charges, but the allegations tarnished him.

His career imploded, The Hollywood Reporter put it less gently in an article Wednesday about Spaceys planned Concord appearance.

Spacey is on a comeback tour promoting his thriller film Peter Five Eight thats scheduled for limited release on March 22, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

His Concord appearance also will be his first ever at a con, show organizers said on Facebook.

Angry comments appeared on the Mad Monster Party 2024 con site after organizers announced Spacey on the site Wednesday and Thursday.

Most all of the negative remarks quickly vanished from the site, although TMZ published a screenshot of some of the negative reaction in an article headlined, Kevin Spacey Heading to Horror Con after Acquittal ... Social Media Users Object.

Convention officials didnt reply to an email request for comment from The Charlotte Observer on Friday.

On Facebook, show organizers say only that theyre excited to welcome the two-time Academy Award winner. No table selfies will be allowed.

We will be offering House of Cards, The Usual Suspects Line Up, and Se7en Whats in the Box? Pro Photo-Ops, organizers posted on Facebook.

Support has meant so much to me

Spacey appears in a 22-second video promo on the Mad Monster Facebook site.

Hi, everybody, its Kevin Spacey here, your Maaaad Monster coming to Concord, North Carolina, February 16th through the 18th. Thats right: All three days. Im looking forward to getting there.

(Hint to his p.r. team: Its Concord, not Concurd. They say it that way up North, not in the South. Although people from around the world live here now, its still the South, and of that were sure proud.)

In the video, Spacey also thanked his fans for their support through all these years. Its meant so much to me, and I hope you can make it. It would be nice to meet you in person.
Animal rights activists have collected new evidence of the ecocide committed by the Russian military in the occupied territories of Kherson Oblast. The Russians are killing wild animals and showing them off in photos.

The UAnimals organisation said that a member of the volunteer community sent them photos in which Russian soldiers from the occupied part of Kherson Oblast show off the killed animals.

"These photos are yet another confirmation that Russians are killing all living things in Ukraine and are committing an actual ecocide," the organisation says.

The animal rights activists found that the photos depicted a shot hare and a pheasant.

A shot pheasant

In addition, Vitalii Smahol, a researcher at the Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, confirmed to animal rights activists that one of the pictures showed a male red deer shot dead.

A shot male red deer

The organisation added that the analysis confirmed that the photos were taken in Kherson Oblast, but the exact location couldnt be determined. The animal rights activists noted that before the full-scale invasion, red deer herds lived in the Askania-Nova Reserve and the Azov-Syvash National Park.

Approximately 20% of protected areas in Ukraine have been affected by the combat actions during the full-scale invasion. Due to the occupation, it is impossible to estimate how many animals have died there.

All photos: UAnimals

Nataliia Humeniuk, Head of the Joint Coordination Press Centre of the Defence Forces of Ukraines South, said that the Russians are destroying nature reserves in the occupied part of Kherson Oblast by deploying equipment and hunting unique species of animals.

Support UP or become our patron!
The Knox County Sheriffs Office has announced a law enforcement partnership with the City of Abingdon, according to a news release.

The Knox County Sheriffs Office, the Knox County Board, and the City of Abingdon entered into an agreement for law enforcement services, making the Knox County Sheriffs Office the primary law enforcement for the City of Abingdon.

Knox County Sheriffs Department (knoxcountysheriffil.com)

The Sheriffs Office will provide 24-hour, seven-days-per-week coverage within the city. In addition, the Sheriffs Office will provide an investigator to investigate certain crimes that require specialized training.

It has been difficult for many small agencies to maintain law enforcement services which has caused many to contract with their local sheriffs office. After thorough discussions it was decided contracting with the sheriffs office was the best option to provide the needed services for their community.

The City of Abingdon still will maintain ownership of the current law enforcement building and keep it as an annex for the sheriffs office. This will give residents a facility to meet face-to-face with sheriffs deputies, the release says.

The Knox County Sheriffs Office, the Knox County Board, and the City of Abingdon officials came to a mutual agreement to provide professional law enforcement services to Abingdon residents without incurring additional costs to the citizens of Knox County or the residents of Abingdon. As part of the agreement, the sheriffs office will be required to hire four additional deputies and supply all the needed equipment to ensure that the existing patrol requirements of Knox County are covered in addition to newly required 24-hour, seven-days-per-week dedicated coverage for the City of Abingdon.

The agreement also includes funding for overtime, utilities, equipment, equipment maintenance and vehicles for the additional coverage requirements which overall is less than the City of Abingdon budgetary allotments. The mayor and the City Council of Abingdon are dedicated to the community and want to provide its citizens the coverage they deserve, the release says.

Knox County Sheriff, Jack Harlan is dedicated to providing the 24-hour, 7 days-a-week police protection that the citizens of Abingdon deserve and will be working hard to ensure this transition is as smooth as possible, the release says.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
A top conservative group backing Nikki Haley in the Republican presidential primary reiterated its support for her in a closed-door briefing for major donors Saturday, while acknowledging it will be difficult to stop Donald Trump from clinching the nomination.

At a retreat in California, two top advisers with Americans for Prosperitys political spending group, AFP Action, told donors the Koch-aligned organization will continue with its current ad buys for Haley in South Carolina, according to an AFP Action official with knowledge of the meeting.

But the advisers, Emily Seidel and Michael Palmer, also acknowledged the difficult path forward for Haley. They assured donors skeptical of Trumps ability to win a general election that Haley winning the presidential primary isnt the only way to stop Democratic rule in Washington  reminding backers that taking back control of the Senate remains the organizations top priority this cycle.

Seidel and Palmer said the group will analyze data in South Carolina and other early nominating states on an ongoing basis and allocate resources in the races where they can have the greatest impact, according to the senior official, who was granted anonymity to speak freely.

Though only top AFP supporters were present for the session Saturday on the state of the presidential primary, roughly 400 donors had gathered for the retreat this weekend in Indian Wells, just outside Palm Springs.

In the closed-door session, Seidel and Palmer conveyed points similar to those the group has made publicly in recent days as they have discussed expectations about the primary and the extent of their involvement in it.

Just after the New Hampshire election, Seidel  who also serves as CEO of Americans for Prosperity  said she believes Haley is closing the gap with Trump after finishing 11 percentage points behind him there.

This is still an uphill battle, Seidel said earlier this week. Now all eyes turn to South Carolina, where she has a steeper road ahead.

Since endorsing Haley on Nov. 28, the Koch-aligned group has spent or reserved just over $2 million on cable, broadcast, satellite and radio ads in South Carolina, according to AdImpact. In early January, AFP Action announced it would spend $27 million for Haley on mail, digital, TV and grassroots efforts in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina and Virginia.

Seidel in a memo two days before the New Hampshire primary described how AFP Action is taking a nimble, business-like approach to making spending decisions this election in a dynamic environment.

AFP has been strident over the last year in its opposition to Trump and his policies, running an anti-Trump television and door-knocking campaign even before deciding on another GOP candidate to endorse. AFP Action landed on Haley after she experienced a surge in polling during the fall, after months of speculation about who they would get behind. A similar conservative group that had opposed Trump earlier in the cycle, the Club for Growth, dropped its efforts this fall as Trump maintained his substantial lead in the primary.

AFP Actions activists on the ground have spoken with more than 1 million voters about Haley in the early nominating states, and the group has gained more volunteers than in any past election, Seidel said prior to New Hampshires primary.

Her allies say donor support for Haley remains strong. On Wednesday, Mark Harris, the lead strategist of a super PAC dedicated solely to supporting Haleys bid, SFA Fund Inc., reiterated his groups commitment to backing Haley in the race. He said theyre planning to spend millions in South Carolina ahead of the Feb. 24 primary, as well as preparing to help Haley in primaries soon after in Michigan and Super Tuesday states.

SFA Fund Inc. recently announced raising more than the Trump-aligned super PAC during the second half of last year, $50.1 million to MAGA Inc.s $46 million.

Haleys campaign said it had raised $2.6 million in the 48 hours after polls closed in New Hampshire, with $1.2 million of that coming from small-dollar and digital donations after Trump announced that Haley donors would be permanently barred from the MAGA camp.

While Haley was boosted by independent and Democratic-leaning voters in New Hampshire, Harris said Haley would need to improve with base Republicans as she campaigns in her home state in the coming weeks.

I think in South Carolina, we have to continue to grow our support  we have to do better with Republicans, we have to do better with conservatives, Harris said. We definitely have to grow in those key demographics to provide us a realistic path to the nomination.
Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba believes it's realistic for Ukraine to regain control over its airspace in 2024, he said during the press conference with his Lithuanian counterpart, Gabrielius Landsbergis, in Kyiv on Jan. 27.

"If we receive F-16s, if we have combat and reconnaissance drones  that's the importance of our cooperation with Lithuania  if we have electronic warfare equipment and missiles, we will control our sky. It's achievable," Kuleba told journalists.

"All these decisions are currently being implemented. There is nothing unprecedented here. We just need to obtain all these elements in sufficient quantities and in due time," he said, adding that that is why the European Peace Facility (EPF) is so important.

EPF is the EUs funding mechanism for sustaining European military supplies to Ukraine.

Under the EPF, member states receive reimbursement for weapons they send to Ukraine, with the decisions to allocate and disburse funds requiring unanimous support.

However, EU members have argued over reimbursement rates and the use of the facility to offset purchases, while Hungary has blocked the eighth tranche of funding to compensate EU countries for supplies.

During the same press conference, Landsbergis said that even though the EU member states were "unable to reach certain agreements or coordination" on the issue, he views future steps "more optimistically."

Kuleba said they were working on unblocking the EPF, also adding that there were some positive developments. He also announced that Ukraine and Lithuania have determined joint steps in scaling up drone production for Ukraines Armed Forces.

"There is a clear understanding of what, how, and when we will do things in order for Ukrainian-Lithuanian cooperation in drone production to yield maximum results in the shortest terms, he said.

Earlier on Jan. 26, Kuleba said that preparations for transferring F-16 fighter jets from Denmark to Ukraine are proceeding as planned. In mid-August 2023, Denmark pledged to give Ukraine 19 F-16s, with the first batch of six aircraft expected to be delivered in spring 2024, and the rest by 2025.

Ukraine also expects F-16s from the Netherlands.

Read also: F-16s for Ukraine: When will they arrive and what can they do?

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Ukraine and Lithuania have determined joint steps in scaling up drone production for Ukraines Armed Forces, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said during the press conference with his Lithuanian counterpart, Gabrielius Landsbergis, in Kyiv on Jan. 27.

"Lithuania has technologies, and Ukraine has opportunities to scale up production, and this was the key theme (of our meeting)," Kuleba said.

"There is a clear understanding of what, how, and when we will do things in order for Ukrainian-Lithuanian cooperation in drone production to yield maximum results in the shortest terms."

Landsbergis arrived in Kyiv earlier on Jan. 25. His country is one of Ukraine's strongest allies.

Kulebas announcement follows President Volodymyr Zelensky's recent visit to Lithuania, during which heads of the states signed new agreements on joint defense production, including anti-drone systems, while Vilnius also approved long-term support of 200 million euros ($219 million) for Ukraine.

"Today, me and Gabrielius focused on fulfilling those agreements that the president had reached," Kuleba said on Jan. 27.

On X, Landsbergis wrote that he and Kuleba discussed "the need for Ukraine and its allies to ramp up production quicker than the enemy ramps up theirs."

"We cannot let Russia gain any advantage that would tempt them into launching more 'operations,'" he wrote.

Apart from drone production, Kuleba and Landsbergis also discussed the European Peace Facility (EPF), the EUs funding mechanism for sustaining European military supplies to Ukraine.

Under the EPF, member states receive reimbursement for weapons they send to Ukraine, with the decisions to allocate and disburse funds requiring unanimous support. However, EU members have argued over reimbursement rates and the use of the facility to offset purchases, while Hungary has blocked the eighth tranche of funding to compensate EU countries for supplies.

During the press conference, Landsbergis said that even though the EU member states were "unable to reach certain agreements or coordination" on the issue, he views future steps "more optimistically."

Kuleba said they were working on unblocking the EPF, also adding that there were some positive developments.

Read also: Ukraines Foreign Minister Kuleba: Europe doesnt know how to fight wars

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Scaffolding on the damaged section of the Kyiv subway tunnel

Current repair plans aim to resume train services between Lybidska and Demiivska metro stations in Kyiv by early June, Kyiv City councilman charged with overseeing the process, Taras Kozak, reported via Facebook on Jan. 26.

He explained that the surface above the compromised tunnel is currently being reinforced to support heavy machinery. Excavation and additional ground conditions assessment will follow. There is a preliminary plan to replace a 27-meter section of the concrete tunnel, reinforce it with external chemical soil stabilization and an internal metal frame.

Kozak stated that the Demiivska station is the only one in Kyiv built on highly waterlogged soil, with the Lybid and Sovka subterranean rivers nearby. He mentioned that ideally, the station and tunnels should have been constructed "much deeper" in solid ground.

Read also: Kyiv police launch negligence investigation over metro closure

A special tunneling shield was ordered from abroad for constructing the tunnel from the Demiivska side towards Lybidska, Kozak explained the original construction process.

Unfortunately, an accident occurred during the tunneling, resulting in fatalities, and the shield was lost. The remainder was built with manual labor. There are concerns about the construction quality and the tunnel's reinforcement.

According to him, technical issues with the tunnel section began months after it was finished in 2011. In November 2023, the situation deteriorated sharply, with sand entering the tunnel along with water.

Read also: Kyiv to reimburse travelers affected by Metro closure

We will investigate what contributed to the acceleration of the tunnel's decay, the councilman said.

Might the construction of a high-rise building a few dozen meters from the accident site be related? We are preparing to request a halt to all construction work near the tunnel section.

Read also: Kyiv Metro justified fare tops 30 hryvnias, wont be raised during war

Kozak added that an ongoing investigation is probing which Kyiv officials approved the construction project at the time, despite the risks and drawbacks being obvious even without hindsight.

Due to urgent repair needs, a part of Kyiv Metros Blue Line between Lybidska and Teremki stations was closed on Dec. 8, 2023. Additional overground public transport services were deployed to accommodate the passenger flow.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
A jury has found that former President Donald Trump is required to pay writer E. Jean Carroll more than $83 million in damages for repeatedly making defamatory statements about her.

The nine-person jury commenced deliberations in federal court in New York at 1:40 p.m. ET and swiftly reached a verdict in less than three hours.

Donald Trump Must Pay E. Jean Carroll $83 Million

The award consisted of $11 million for damage to Carroll's reputation, $7.3 million for emotional harm and other damages, and $65 million in punitive damages.

The decision was made following heated closing arguments, during which Trump abruptly left the courtroom. He attended his attorney's closing arguments but left the courthouse at 4 p.m., before the jury delivered its verdict. He quickly shared the news on his social media platform, Truth Social.

"This is absolutely absurd! They have taken away all First Amendment Rights. This is not America!" Trump expressed his intention to appeal.

Per NBC News, Carroll remained silent as she exited the courthouse. Trump had previously been held responsible for defaming Carroll during his presidency by ridiculing her accusation of sexual abuse. Therefore, this jury's sole responsibility was to determine the appropriate amount of damages she should receive.

Carroll's lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, requested the jury to award a minimum of $24 million in compensatory damages for the harm she endured. Additionally, she urged them to grant substantial punitive damages to deter any further defamation against her.

Throughout the night and into the next day, Trump took to Truth Social to express his strong opinions on the Carroll case. In a series of 17 posts or shares, he passionately criticized her credibility and questioned the judge's equality.

The jury awarded Carroll $18.3 million in compensatory damages, which included $11 million for a public relations campaign aimed at restoring her reputation, and $7.3 million for her pain and suffering.In addition to the $5 million that Trump was previously ordered to pay Carroll, he will now also have to pay defamation damages.

Read Also: RNC Mulls Declaring Donald Trump 'Presumptive' GOP Nominee; Nikki Haley Lashes Out Over Plan

Trump vs. E. Jean Carroll Defamation Case

This comes after a jury found him guilty of sexually abusing Carroll and defaming her in 2022, when he dismissed her accusation as a "con job."

The recent verdict pertains to Trump's initial denials back in 2019, when Carroll first made her allegations public about Trump raping her in a department store dressing room in the mid-1990s.

Carroll's legal team contended that Trump's extensive statements as president, in which he denied her accusation and insinuated that she fabricated it for personal gain, incited his supporters against her. A collection of messages was presented to the jury, purportedly showcasing the various attacks that Carroll has endured.

According to Carroll's testimony, she instinctively ducked when she came across a death threat from one of Trump's supporters. "I was filled with fear for my life," she recounted.

Per USA Today, Trump was absent from the initial defamation trial, but this time he made sure to be present for a significant portion of the proceedings. During his testimony on Thursday, he faced strict control from Judge Lewis Kaplan, who had previously determined that Trump could not deny assaulting Carroll based on the earlier verdict.

During the proceedings, Kaplan decided to remove the portion of the testimony where Trump vehemently denied Carroll's accusation, deeming it to be untrue.

Related Article: Trump Walks Out of Court as Closing Arguments Begin
Copper wire thefts have plagued Los Angeles for years, posing safety hazards and costing the city millions of dollars. The incidents have surged this last year, according to city officials, who in the past few months have escalated their efforts to curtail both the thieves and the buyers of the stolen wires.

In the latest move, City Councilmembers Kevin de Leon and Traci Park put forward motions this week to combat the sheer magnitude of thefts," which they say have resulted in citywide repair costs exceeding $17 million. The measures would create a task force and a standing rewards program for public assistance.

The city, quite literally, is being stripped for parts, De Leon's task force motion read.

The task force would be a collaboration between the Los Angeles Police Department and the Bureau of Street Lighting, which manages about 223,000 streetlights, according to the motion. In a statement, the bureau said it is committed to taking every necessary step to safeguard our infrastructure.

Keeping the lights on is our No. 1 priority, the bureau said.

The neighborhoods of Boyle Heights, Lincoln Heights and El Sereno have seen 3,738 streetlights targeted by thieves, according to De Leon's motion. Even then, Deputy Chief Michael Oreb of LAPDs Central Bureau said the issue is underreported and stretches back years.

Oreb said the proposed task force is a great starting point. Initially, law enforcement will focus their efforts in the northeast and south regions of the city to examine the task force's effectiveness. If we see successes and reductions, we will look into expanding into farther portions of the city," Oreb said.

Read more: Copper wire thefts on the rise, causing delays for Metro's rail lines

De Leon looks to spend at least $200,000 in council district funds to cover costs related to the task force.

We can no longer tolerate this brazen disregard for our neighborhoods, jeopardizing the well-being and safety of our residents, he said at a news conference. We are taking a firm stand against copper wire theft and sending a clear message that we will bring those responsible to justice.

City officials are also asking residents for assistance in stopping the thefts with the establishment of a standing rewards program, which would allow for law enforcement to more efficiently solicit the publics help.

The program would allow the public to, in exchange for monetary compensation, submit information through Los Angeles Regional Crime Stoppers. The motion also requested that the LAPD establish a dedicated email address for reporting copper wire thefts, as well as create a public service announcement to promote the program to residents.

Park stressed that both motions are necessary to address the thefts.

This problem is serious enough that it warrants a multi-layered approach, Park said.

Residents in Council District 11, which includes Venice, Mar Vista and Westchester, are sick and tired of the robberies, Park said.

We see it everywhere, wiring and other materials being stolen from our public infrastructure, Park said. But it's not just public infrastructure, its construction sites and other locations. If we don't crack down on it, someone is going to get very seriously hurt.

Park said metal recyclers and other businesses have been notified about the rules surrounding the intake of stolen copper wire thefts.

Read more: Copper thieves unplug 6th Street Bridge lights

What we really need to see is our task force going out into the community to those businesses conducting actual investigations, evaluating records to ensure that purchases have been made lawfully and then pursuing legal remedies where they're seeing violations, she said.

The motions are among the latest initiatives taken by the City Council to combat the thefts. On Jan. 9, Councilmember Heather Hutt introduced a motion requesting the Bureau of Street Lighting to examine the possibility of replacing copper wires with solar-powered lighting.

The use of solar-powered lights could reduce the costs to power the city's expansive streetlight network and minimize the impacts of vandalism due to copper wire and power theft, providing more reliability to the network, the motion read.

Hutts motion, which was seconded by Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky, came in the wake of extensive damage to the 6th Street Viaduct, which is in De Leons district, after thieves stole a third of the structures copper wires.

In November, council President Paul Krekorian and City Atty. Hydee Feldstein Soto also announced a joint venture to target metal recyclers and anyone who receives the stolen material, notifying them that they must comply with copper-sale laws.

The goal, Feldstein Soto said in a news release, is to help eliminate the market for stolen copper.

Krekorian added: The business owners who trade in stolen copper are just as guilty as the thieves who steal it and were putting them on notice that theyll be held responsible.

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.
La Reina parents, students, alumni and members of the community gathered for a meeting Thursday at the school gymnasium after the school announced it would be closing at the end of the year.

Students, parents and alumni of La Reina High School are refusing to let the all-girls Catholic school go quietly.

Leaders at the 59-year-old institution in Thousand Oaks announced Wednesday by email its closure at the end of the school year.

By Thursday night, more than 200 people packed bleachers and seats in La Reina's gymnasium for a raucous and combative two-hour community meeting, which started with an impromptu rendition of the school's alma mater by alumni and current students.

The president of the Thousand Oaks school, Tony Guevara, announced the closure in the email, saying La Reina was no longer able to serve its mission sustainably amid dwindling enrollment and tightening finances.

In the hours after Guevara's email, alumni organized a digital signature drive that, by Friday afternoon, listed more than 600 alumni and 100 of the school's 268 students although The Star has not verified it. A Facebook page dedicated to saving La Reina gathered more than 1,100 followers by Friday afternoon.

Heidi Vass, La Reina's music director for 18 years, said the news of La Reina's closure had fallen "like a bomb" on the school.

"What they failed to realize is they raised really strong women," she said. "Youre kicking the beehive. You made the beehive."

La Reina's enrollment has fallen by half in the last eight years  mirroring enrollment trends across both private and public county schools  and Guevara wrote that the decision came after years of attempts to "improve La Reina's sustainability."

The announcement caught many families by surprise. Vass said the faculty was also caught off-guard, only learning of the closure in a staff meeting Wednesday afternoon.

Some staff had kept an eye on the school's declining enrollment and had "inklings" that La Reina was in trouble, she said, but few, if any, understood the gravity.

"The level of immediacy was never communicated," Vass said.

School board turnover

A sign promoting @SaveLaReina on Instagram is posted on table at the entrance to the school gymnasium where parents, students, alumni and members of the community gathered Thursday for a meeting after the school announced it would be closing at the end of the year.

La Reina's board of directors is overseen by the National Ministry Corporation, an arm of the Sisters of Notre Dame, a Catholic religious order with a national branch based in Ohio.

Frustrations with the school's leadership spilled over Thursday night. Meeting attendees grilled Guevara and Laura Koehl, the corporation's CEO, on the school's finances and the closure decision-making process in an open forum.

La Reina's board has undergone a dramatic overhaul in recent weeks.

Nine members are listed on a version of the school's web page archived online in November. Only two  St. Mary Magdalen School principal Michael Ronan and Sister Gina Marie Blunck  remained on the five-member roster included in Guevara's Wednesday email.

Two of the new members, Nancy Coonis and Bruce Jarosz, are listed online as board members for the corporation and the third, Sister Mary Kristin Battles, is a member of the religious order.

Koehl did not respond to an email and phone call Friday. In a video of Thursday's meeting, she told attendees that several members resigned and several were "asked to resign" by the corporation. The new board, she said, was just installed last week.

In the same recording, Guevara told the crowd that the closure process didn't start recently, but an earlier board passed a resolution in May 2023 to shutter the school if it couldn't locate enough resources to keep operating. Guevara added La Reina has a "longstanding history" of budget deficits.

The president said school leaders worked over the holiday break to piece together a positive budget proposal.

"There was hope," he said, but the national corporation rejected the proposal.

Koehl said the corporation turned down the proposal because it was not sustainable for the coming years.

"There were too many assumptions," she said. "There was not enough there."

Contact us

This is an unfolding story. If you are part of the La Reina community, past or present, we'd like to hear from you. You can contact education reporter Isaiah Murtaugh at isaiah.murtaugh@vcstar.com or call or text to 805-437-0236.

Isaiah Murtaugh covers education for the Ventura County Star in partnership with Report for America. Reach him at isaiah.murtaugh@vcstar.com or 805-437-0236 and follow him on Twitter @isaiahmurtaugh and @vcsschools. You can support this work with a tax-deductible donation to Report for America.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: La Reina High community rallies against looming closure
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer laughs with shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves during the party annual conference in Liverpool last year - REUTERS/PHIL NOBLE

Half of business leaders have said they would prefer a Labour Government under Sir Keir Starmer to a Conservative one led by Rishi Sunak.

The polling by Opinium found that a quarter of business leaders who voted for the Tories at the 2019 general election were now backing Sir Keirs party.

The findings come as Labour prepares to hold a major business event this week, with 600 executives, investors, and ambassadors flocking to a conference in London on Thursday, indicating that many bosses expect the party to form the next government.

Labour commissioned Opinium to conduct an online survey with a sample of 500 business leaders and senior decision-makers, with respondents spread across micro, small, medium, and large businesses.

Within the sample, 44 per cent said they had backed the Tories in the 2019 election, compared to 27 per cent who had supported Labour.

However, asked for their preferred outcome at the coming general election, the positions had reversed, with 49 per cent preferring a Labour government led by Keir Starmer compared to 34 per cent who wanted a Conservative government led by Rishi Sunak.

Of the 220 business leaders who had backed the Tories in 2019, 55 (25 per cent) said they now wanted a Labour victory.

Loss of trust

The polling was similar when the business leaders were asked about the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt and the shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves. Forty-eight per cent said they would trust Ms Reeves more to manage the economy, compared to 34 per cent who opted for Mr Hunt.

The survey found that 69 per cent agreed with the statement that the Tories had lost the trust of the business community, compared to 25 per cent who disagreed. Two-thirds (66 per cent) also agreed that the Tories were out of ideas compared to 28 per cent who disagreed.

The shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the findings showed that business has given up on the Conservative Party and lost faith in them.

Business wants stability more than anything, he said. I think were in a really unusual position where I think business is looking to a change of government for greater stability than the continuation of the present one.

On Thursday, Labour will hold a conference featuring 400 business leaders and a further 200 international investors and ambassadors.

The conference is three times the size of a similar business event Labour held last year, with each ticket costing nearly 1,000 excluding VAT and the whole event selling out in just four hours.

High profile attendees include the president of the British Chambers of Commerce Baroness Lane-Fox, Googles UK managing director Debbie Weinstein, and the chief executive of Siemens in the UK and Ireland, Carl Ennis.

Earlier this month, Mr Reynolds was in Switzerland with Ms Reeves wooing global business leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

He revealed he had taken the opportunity to ask international companies whether they would consider listing in the UK.

He said: If theres a room Ive got to get into, to get more business investment, more inward investment into the UK, to tell people about what a Labour government would mean for them if theyre interested, Im happy to be in that room.

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.
Mr Reynolds (pictured), said that the deindustrialisation of the Port Talbot steelworks risked undercutting popular consent for Net Zero - David Rose

Labour has poured cold water on the prospects of the UK striking a sweeping free trade deal with a re-elected Donald Trump.

Jonathan Reynolds, the shadow business secretary, said that negotiating a comprehensive deal would be difficult because Labour had no appetite to lower food standards for US exporters.

He said Labour was instead targeting deals with Washington DC in specific sectors such as critical minerals to de-risk global supply chains and increase the Wests independence from China.

In a wide ranging interview, Mr Reynolds said that the deindustrialisation of the Port Talbot steelworks risked undercutting popular consent for Net Zero and that it was more important to decarbonise well than to do it fast.

He also said that Rishi Sunak had looked needy by publicly courting Elon Musk.

Serving as shadow business secretary since 2021, Mr Reynolds has played a key role in repositioning Labour as a more business-friendly party under Sir Keir Starmer.

In September, Sir Keir rewarded him by adding trade to his brief, meaning that Mr Reynolds will be holding the pen over Britains international trade agreements before the end of the year if Labour translates its current polling lead into victory at the general election.

How to engage America

High on the agenda will be how to engage with America. While Joe Biden has shelved plans for an expansive deal, his likely Republican rival for the presidency, Donald Trump, has previously expressed interest in a free trade agreement (FTA) with the UK.

Asked about Labours stance, Mr Reynolds said: Obviously the present position is the US is not seeking comprehensive free trade agreements, and that is just the reality.

There are some well known issues in terms of what the national interests are on either side that make a comprehensive deal difficult.

Mr Reynolds said it was more realistic to target smaller sector deals unless theres a change of US position.

There are lots of areas of potential cooperation, he said. The major one for me is critical minerals.

By striking agreements with people like ourselves, the US could significantly de-risk some of the supply chain issues around critical minerals that come from Africa where there are well known Chinese interests, he said.

He said that US demands to open up Britain to food products such as chlorinated chicken were a major barrier to an FTA. Theres no appetite on our side, excuse the pun, for lower food standards, he said. Historically with the US, theres been a lot of focus on that, and that would be an issue.

Decarbonisation risks backlash

Asked how Labour would respond to FTA overtures from a Trump Administration, he said: Any trade agreement is not between the political leaders at any given time its about the national interest of those two economies that should clearly be a longer term thing than the relatively short term tenures of political leaders.

He added: Some of the well known tensions that we talked about food standards would be the same whoevers in charge.

While Labour has put the transition to Net Zero at the heart of its economic policy - including a controversial pledge to spend 28 billion a year on green projects - Mr Reynolds said the current approach to decarbonisation risked a public backlash.

The party has criticised the Governments decision to stop the production of primary steel at the Port Talbot steelworks by closing its two blast furnaces and replacing them with an electric arc furnace which will be used to recycle scrap. The move is expected to cost 3,000 jobs.

Mr Reynolds said: While I think were more ambitious than the government on Net Zero, that isnt about how quickly you do it. Its about how well you do it. To state the obvious, you can reduce your emissions in anything by shutting that business down.

Born in Sunderland in 1980, Mr Reynolds said the backdrop to his childhood had been the decline of shipbuilding and coal mining in the North East. Its not that Im nostalgic for that but how transitions are managed is really, really important, he said.

Port Talbort marks start of difficult stuff on industrial decarbonisation

Conservative MPs may say, well Labours more ambitious on Net Zero so you want to do this quicker. Theyre not getting it. I am saying I would keep that blast furnace open for longer.

Mr Reynolds said that Port Talbot marked the start of some really difficult stuff on industrial decarbonisation, warning that public support for Net Zero would evaporate unless it was managed correctly. If people think decarbonisation is deindustrialization, thats exactly the problem, he said.

If you are going to tell a person this workplace is being shut down but you know the carbon intensity of that product is going to go up - its just going to be imported - I think thats a massive issue.

To provide new jobs in green industries Labour has promised to compete for foreign investment, with Mr Reynolds saying that the UK is only about halfway to where we need to be in building gigafactories to manufacture electric vehicle batteries.

He said Labour would part-finance new factories, but suggested the Government had been too reliant on ad hoc bilateral negotiations with individual companies because it lacks an overt industrial strategy. I want companies coming to us saying youve got the right platform to invest in, he said.

Looked dependent

On whether Labour would roll out the red carpet to encourage Mr Musk to build a Tesla factory in Britain, Mr Reynolds said he would talk to anyone whos interested in making a major investment in the United Kingdom.

However, he criticised Mr Sunaks decision to interview Mr Musk on stage during last Novembers AI Safety Summit.

To be honest, I thought when the Prime Minister was doing the AI Summit, it looked a little bit dependent. You know, the Prime Minister was the minor party.

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.
Police have confirmed to Channel 2 Action News that a man who was wanted in a double shooting that left a mother dead has been arrested.

Officers found 35-year-old Monique Miles dead from several gunshot wounds in a house in Clayton County in July 2022. Miles girlfriend was in another room in the house and had also been shot several times, but survived.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Friends told Channel 2s Ashli Lincoln after the shooting that Miles was visiting her girlfriend who was renting a room at the house.

They said a verbal altercation began between the homeowner and the two women. From there, Miles friends said things turned violent after the homeowner returned to the room, shooting both women several times.

The homeowner was identified as Charles Wise, now 71. Police confirmed that Wise was arrested in Las Vegas earlier this week.

TRENDING STORIES:

After the shooting, Wise was wanted on charges of malice murder, aggravated assault and possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime, but his exact charges are unclear.

Details on what led to his arrest have not been released.

Miles left behind a 12-year-old daughter.

Wise is currently being held in the Washoe County Jail in Nevada where he awaits extradition to Clayton County.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

IN OTHER NEWS:
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A Las Vegas judge is accused of ethics violations. The Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline filed a formal statement of charges against Clark County District Court Judge Erika Ballou on Wednesday.

Two charges Ballou faces center around social media posts, one in which she appeared to state that cases in which defendants are not in custody should be tossed out and another in which she posed with two individuals from the Clark County Public Defenders office in a hot tub and referred to tits.

In the formal statement of charges, the commission referred to Ballous Instagram post from Sept. 19, 2021. Her caption on the selfie read, Life is STILL beautiful, despite the fact that Billie Eilish doesnt start for 30 minutes and I have an 8:30 calendar tomorrow.

Ballou also posted the hashtags, Vacatethe[Explitive]OuttaOutofCustodyCases and WhereInTheWorldisCarmenSanDiego.

Evidence from the criminal complaint against Judge Erika Ballou shows the social media posts in question (District Court)

Evidence from the criminal complaint against Judge Erika Ballou shows the social media posts in question (District Court)

In reference to the first count Ballou faces due to the Instagram post, the commission alleged that Ballou violated three rules requiring a judge to promote public confidence and avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety, to put duties of the judicial office before their personal and extrajudicial activities, and to show that they can remain impartial.

The formal statement of charges also referred to a Facebook post from April 2022.

Judge Ballou posted a photograph of her Facebook page of herself in a hot tub with two public defenders, Shana Brouwers and Robson Hauser, with the caption, Robson is surrounded by great tits,' according to the formal statement of charges.

In a second count, the commission alleged that the Facebook post demonstrates that Ballou again violated three rules requiring a judge to promote public confidence and avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety, to show that they cannot be influenced, and to not participate in activities that would appear to undermine the judges independence, integrity or impartiality.

It appears a public hearing for Ballous ethics case has not yet been set.

Ballou was sworn in as a judge in January of 2021 and has previously faced criticism.

In July of 2022, the Las Vegas Police Protective Association, the union representing Metro police officers, called for Ballous resignation as well as an ethics investigation after she made comments about police officers.

Youre the one making the decisions not to walk away from cops. Youre a Black man in America. You know you dont want to be nowhere where cops are, Ballou said. You know you dont want to be nowhere where cops are cause I know I dont, and Im a middle-aged, middle-class Black woman. I dont want to be around where the cops are because I dont know if Im going to walk away alive or not.

The Clark County District Attorneys Office was seeking the revocation of the probation of the defendant who Ballou was addressing. While on probation for a previous case, the defendant was accused of committing battery against an officer.

Before becoming a judge, Ballou was a public defender and social justice organizer. She was a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, which supported her run for judge.

In 2016, Judge Ballou refused to remove a Black Lives Matter pin after a judge ordered her to. This made national headlines.

The 8 News Now Investigators reached out to Ballou for a response Friday afternoon about the ethics charges. A representative from the Clark County District Court said Judge Ballou would forgo the opportunity to comment.

8 News Now also reached out to the Clark County public defenders office Friday afternoon regarding the two public defenders, Shana Brouwers and Robson Hauser, identified in the hot tub photo. A response was not yet received.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
The former chief of the National Rifle Association (NRA), Wayne LaPierre, testified as a witness in a Manhattan trial over his alleged misuse of the agency's funds.

During the NRA corruption trial on Friday, the jury selected to hear the case bore witness to the photographs of sunshine-dappled luxury yachts and tales of pricer Bahamas getaways. These were images of yacht staterooms, yacht dining suites, and spacious yacht jacuzzis.

NRA Corruption Trial

All of them were displayed on large screens in the Manhattan civil courtroom where the civil trial was taking place, now in its third week. LaPierre was seen following along from the witness stand, flipping through hard-copy photographs of throw-pillow-strewn decks and interiors from a five-inch-thick binder of evidence against him.

An assistant New York attorney general, Jonathan Conley, asked LaPierre, "You would both stay in staterooms?" The defendant then answered, "Yes," referring to himself and his wife, Susan LaPierre. Conley also asked if the defendant disclosed the trips to the board of the NRA in advance, receiving a "Yes" answer, as per Business Insider.

LaPierre insisted that he did not need to disclose the many times that vendor David McKenzie essentially turned over the keys to his fully-staffed motor yachts so that the gun-lobby leader and his family could cruise the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and the Aegean seas.

The agency's bylaws require the defendant to report any gift from a vendor "in excess of $300," which is a language that was also displayed for jurors on the overhead screens in the court. However, LaPierre spoke from the stand on Friday that that did not matter because McKenzie and his wife Laura, were his friends.

LaPierre's defense team argued that the boat was not even a gift, saying that the friend's companies, Membership Marketing Partners and Associated Television International, received hundreds of millions of dollars in NRA business.

Read Also: Infamous Serial Killer Billy Mansfield Admits to 1980 Murders of 6 Women, Including Florida Teen Kidnapped From Hotel

Wayne LaPierre Testifies as Witness

It was also revealed that another NRA contractor, Ackerman McQueen, bought LaPierre's wife a MacBook Pro, an iPad Pro, and an iPod. The NRA chief also billed the organization for a number of expensive gifts, such as a $1,260 handbag and $860 in candlesticks for the McKenzies, according to the New York Times.

The defendant charged more than $250,000 to a clothing boutique in Beverly Hills, California, over several years, and even billed the agency $800 per year for mosquito treatment in his backyard. He is currently being tried along with the NRA itself and two other co-defendants, John Frazer and Wilson Phillips.

Frazer is the organization's general counsel while Phillips is a former finance chief. The entire case stems from a 2020 lawsuit that was brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James. Her jurisdiction over the agency comes because it is a non-profit organization that was founded in New York in 1871.

Some of LaPierre's former employees have also turned against him, including the former second-in-command of the NRA, Joshua Powell. The latter reached a settlement deal with the attorney general's office before trial.

Powell in 2020 accused LaPierre of using tragedies, including the 2012 Sandy Hook school massacre, as a way to siphon money from NRA members, said Yahoo News.

Related Article: One of NY's Most Wanted Shamar Legette, Suspect in Live Streamed Church Robbery Killed by Us Marshals
Charles Fried, a lawyer who served as the United States solicitor general under Ronald Reagan, has died at the age of 88. His passing on Tuesday was announced by Harvard Law School, where he taught for nearly 60 years. Fried was a lauded conservative legal scholar who argued for Roe v. Wade to be overturned, before pivoting later in life to defend several progressive causes. In 2021, Fried wrote an opinion column for The New York Times in which he said that to overturn Roe would be an act of constitutional vandalism. Fried was a Republican, but also a harsh critic of Donald Trump, and was dismayed by the far-right direction of the Republican party. He had recently defended former Harvard President Claudine Gay, saying she was the victim of an extreme right-wing attack on elite institutions.

Read more at The Daily Beast.
A transformer explosion at the Lenox Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts has led to the evacuation of guests and staff.

The Boston Fire Department responded to a report of a transformer exploding in the hotel around 1 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.

The department shared on social media that the transformer explosion happened in the back end of the building. They also say the explosion caused a buildup of smoke inside the hotel.

Companies ordered a 2nd alarm to evacuate the Lenox hotel , as a result of a transformer explosion in the rear of the hotel causing excessive smoke through the building. pic.twitter.com/5DZjlpDJ8D  Boston Fire Dept. (@BostonFire) January 27, 2024

Semi-truck fire: Watch as Zebras, camels, and a horse are rescued on Indiana highway

Transformer explosion caused elevated levels of carbon monoxide in hotel

The spread of smoke throughout the hotel elevated the levels of carbon monoxide inside, the fire department stated.

Multiple fans were brought in the hotel to clear out the carbon monoxide. Firefighters have now confirmed that the carbon monoxide levels have since dropped.

No injuries were reported.

The Boston Fire Department is working to determine the initial cause of the fire.

Deputy Chief Martin McCormack briefs the media on the transformer explosion behind the Lenox hotel. There were no injuries to report. @EversourceMA is on scene to determine the cause. The building and electrical inspectors will inspect the hotel for any damages. pic.twitter.com/H7SaPuB11t  Boston Fire Dept. (@BostonFire) January 27, 2024

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Boston hotel evacuated after transformer explosion
The Lenox Hotel has been evacuated after a transformer in the back of the building exploded.

According to Boston Fire, shortly before 1 p.m., companies ordered a 2nd alarm to evacuate the Lenox Hotel, as a result of a transformer explosion in the rear of the hotel causing excessive smoke through the building.

Fire crews were able to safely evacuate the building and there was no fire in the hotel.

Carbon Monoxide levels in the building were high after the explosion but have since lowered and crews are working on venting the building.

There are no injuries to report.

Boston police also responded to the scene.

The building has been safely evacuated, There was no fire in the hotel. Companies had high Carbon Monoxide levels in the building ,which have now dropped. Companies are in the process of venting the building of smoke using multiple fans throughout the building. pic.twitter.com/N6OAbBFczv  Boston Fire Dept. (@BostonFire) January 27, 2024

Companies ordered a 2nd alarm to evacuate the Lenox hotel , as a result of a transformer explosion in the rear of the hotel causing excessive smoke through the building. pic.twitter.com/5DZjlpDJ8D  Boston Fire Dept. (@BostonFire) January 27, 2024

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

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

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Etna Township should reconsider request to ban solar farms

Regarding the article published in The Newark Advocate on Jan. 19, "Etna Township asks Licking County to ban large solar developments," and later republished in The Columbus Dispatch, I suggest the township reconsider.

Solar is probably the most benign energy source available at this time. To be sure, every energy source has some degree of adverse impacts, including solar. Yet the impacts from solar are far less than other readily available energy sources. In addition, solar developments can provide many benefits to soil and water resources.

Agriculture itself can have some negative attributes, such as soil erosion/loss, as well as high runoff from stormwater carrying pesticide and fertilizer. Solar development can eliminate these agricultural impacts and enhance farmland by acting as a soil bank to build soil and sequester carbon during solar operations. Well-designed and managed solar farms will provide an herbaceous plant cover of native grasses and other native flowers and forbs which provide these many benefits while the panels are collecting energy from the sun. And, importantly, the landowner is collecting a steady and reliable lease income from the solar company that is not affected by the risk and uncertainties that one faces with farming.

Given these many positives, I believe solar farm development on agricultural land should be encouraged, not banned.

Michael Sponsler, Columbus

Ohio laws restrict solar while oil and gas wells have few limits

The Jan. 19 article published in The Newark Advocate, "Etna Township asks Licking County to ban large solar developments," and later republished in The Columbus Dispatch was a discouraging reminder of the policies adopted by the Ohio legislature in recent years that heavily favor fossil fuels over carbon-free renewable sources.

As the story states, the legislature in 2021 empowered boards of county commissioners to prohibit development of wind and solar facilities in all or part of the unincorporated areas of their counties. The law does not require the commissioners to make any findings or give any reason for restricting the rights of landowners to use their properties as they see fit, nor does it provide for any compensation to them for the taking of those rights. (Ohio Revised Code 303.57 through 303.62).

In contrast, the fossil fuel industry need not worry about any such county-level obstacle. Ohio Revised Code 1509.21 provides that the surface location of a new oil and gas well shall be no closer than 150 feet to an occupied dwelling, but that is the only restriction. No county or other local government entity is empowered to further restrict or prohibit oil and gas development.

As of October 2023, a meager 3.8% of the utility-scale electricity generated in Ohio came from renewable sources, according to information compiled by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

This percentrage of electicity generated from renewable sources compares unfavorably to the progress being made by every one of Ohios neighbors: Indiana 13.6%; Kentucky 9%; Michigan 10.6%; Pennsylvania 4.3%; and West Virginia 5%. To keep pace with the competition, Ohios energy policy should be changed to encourage, not impede, utility-scale renewable energy.

Joe Winner, Columbus

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Letters: Government should be supporting, not restricting, solar farms
Rishi Sunak with Tory MPs behind him in the Commons earlier this week

SIR  The Conservatives will lose the next election  not because of Rishi Sunak but because of the disloyalty shown by other members of the party.

Having another leadership contest now would be absolute madness, and it is very worrying that those calling for Mr Sunak to be replaced are unable to see this.

Lt Col Jeremy Prescott (retd)

Southsea, Hampshire

SIR  I am baffled by the constant sniping at Rishi Sunak. As one of his constituents, I find him to be an excellent MP, and I and many others regard him as one of the best prime ministers we have had in recent times.

He is an original thinker with integrity, courage and a clear vision for a better society. I have met and spoken to him, and, as a result, have changed my political views. I believe and trust him. Not every ill can be placed at his door.

Give the man a chance and allow him to do his job. No more experiments: let us move forward.

Bernard Borman-Schreiber

Leyburn, North Yorkshire

SIR  Camilla Tominey (Analysis, January 25) quotes a former Cabinet minister: We know Rishi is absolutely useless but

Well, who chose him as leader? Not the grassroots members of the Tory party but the very same MPs who are now privately describing him as useless.

Its no wonder there have been so many Dont know answers in recent polls of voters intentions. The whole Conservative Parliamentary Party needs to get a grip before it disintegrates completely.

Frances Braithwaite

London SE6

SIR  As a former member of the Conservative Party, I am still inundated with emails from its campaign office.

Each one loudly boasts of taxes cut under the Conservatives. I have a business and pay myself from the profit it generates. Since the Tories won their majority in 2015, corporation tax has increased from 20 per cent to 25 per cent, while new taxes on dividends extract a further 8.75 per cent from my income. This hefty chunk is taken in addition to the plethora of increased duties and frozen thresholds.

Either the Tories campaign people deliberately lie or they are content to peddle lazy gibberish. Whichever it is, they must believe we are stupid.

Louis Ingram

Ledbury, Herefordshire

SIR  I second Dale Fletchers letter (January 26) about Penny Mordaunt. PM for PM.

Michael Marks

Shobdon, Herefordshire

Israel and the ICJ

SIR  The International Court of Justice has ordered Israel to take all measures within its power to prevent genocide from occurring in Gaza (telegraph.co.uk, January 26).

Why has it not ordered Hamas to do the same  and to stop hiding behind civilians and within hospitals?

There would be no more bloodshed if Hamas were to surrender.

Simon Malcolm

Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire

Better surveillance

SIR  One question arising from the horrendous killings which took place in Nottingham last year (Letters, January 26) is whether at the time Nottinghamshire police employed facial recognition video surveillance.

If there was no such technology in place, surely what happened must at the very least require the authorities to consider deploying it in all our major cities. There must be a high probability that, if the technology had been deployed, the killer would have been apprehended before he went on so cruelly to destroy the lives of three people.

If the technology was in place, it prompts the question: why was the killer not apprehended earlier?

Charles Samek KC

London EC4

Battle-ready Britons

SIR  I disagree with Isabel Oakeshott (Britain will lose the next world war. Its too woke to fight, Comment, January 26).

I believe that, if the country faces an existential threat, the overwhelming majority will stand firm to defend our democracy and freedom, and put our petty differences to one side. This was shown to be the case in both world wars in the 20th century. The present recruitment crisis does, however, need to be addressed quickly.

Melvyn Holmes

Wakefield, West Yorkshire

SIR  Isabel Oakeshott questions whether immigrants or members of Gen Z would willingly take up arms if war broke out.

Should we really doubt that those who have given up so much  and in some cases risked their lives  to start anew in Britain might hesitate to defend the country that has welcomed them, and which they now call home? But why should it take their participation in a war to demonstrate their allegiance and belonging?

As for Gen Z, it would be a shame to mistake our attitude towards this countrys complicated colonial past for a resentment towards it, or indifference to its fate if war did arise. To interrogate history and avoid the mistakes of our past is to show loyalty to our country, not the opposite.

Harry Rogers

London SW11

SIR  My dad used to say that the Royal Marines saved his life. As a teenager, he found himself with nowhere to live, so he signed up.

National Service would give youngsters an insight into career opportunities within the Armed Forces, and would make it easier for the Armed Forces to approach and select recruits. Cadets would be involved in teamwork, learn about the importance of time-keeping and taking pride in their appearance, and acquire life skills. It would remove many from difficult situations at home. Discipline is needed to stop some teenagers going off the rails.

(My dads shoe-polishing was admirable, too.)

Jacky Staff

Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh

SIR  Our granddaughter, like Matt Bayliss-Binkss daughter (Letters, January 26), tried to join the RAF using its online portal.

She is well-educated and very keen, but spending seven hours shut in the dining room in front of a laptop was exhausting. She was failed for supposedly not concentrating.

It beggars belief. Are there no interviewers anymore?

C Warmington

Abingdon, Oxfordshire

Streamlined mail

SIR  Royal Mail (Letters, January 26) should abandon the six-day delivery obligation and deliver on the five weekdays. Weekend deliveries are not required by most businesses and are not essential for most people.

Royal Mail should also get rid of the two-tier postal system. The sorting and separation of mail is currently too expensive and uses too much manpower and storage space.

Richard Hartley

Redgrave, Suffolk

SIR  Much of Royal Mails plight stems from the competition posed by private delivery companies, which are able to cherry-pick their delivery areas.

Royal Mail has to deliver to the remotest parts of the United Kingdom. Their competitors exclude areas such as the Highlands of Scotland, enabling them to charge better rates.

Royal Mail deserves to be allowed to compete on a level playing field.

Richard A Hindle

Sheffield, South Yorkshire

Fooled by the pranks of a pitch-perfect parrot

Zoological garden in brown and yellow (1912) by the German expressionist August Macke - Alamy

SIR  My friend Peter Wood, the theatre director, had an African Grey parrot called Sid (Letters, January 26), who often accompanied him when he commuted from his house in Somerset to his flat in London.

Sid had a gift for mimicking telephone ringing tones, and would also  at the most inconvenient time  imitate Peters mobile, cackling when Peter was taken in.

Charlotte Graves Taylor

Oxford

SIR  A neighbour in the 1970s was a classical music impresario, and had a parrot with a wide musical repertoire. On one occasion, while the neighbour was giving Bernard Haitink a lift home from a concert, the parrot, sitting behind, launched into the Toreadors song from Carmen. Perfect pitch! exclaimed the conductor, adding after a pause: And tone.

Dominic Weston Smith

Faringdon, Oxfordshire

SIR  I used to go to a pub where the bartender was called Jack and kept a mynah bird at the bar. Every time someone ordered a round the mynah bird would say, And one for Jack  to which Jack would reply, Thats very kind of you; I will have a half of bitter. He got plenty of free drinks.

Peter Gilbert

Thames Ditton, Surrey

SIR  As a special constable in Shropshire I attended an address to investigate the attempted theft of a trailer. The homeowners invited me into a small kitchen, which contained a caged pet bird.

While I was learning about the case the following words emerged from the cage: Help! Help! Theyve turned me into a budgie.

Chris Jones

Mold, Flintshire

SIR  It is not only parrots that like to repeat what they hear.

When our daughter was young, her father used to drop her off at the childminders on his way to work. She was obviously listening to him on the way, and could later be heard saying, while playing with her friends or toys: Go on, go on  it is a bloody roundabout, you know.

Val Graves

Tilehurst, Berkshire

The bin cycle

SIR  Dave Holtum (Letters, January 25) brought a smile to my face with his assertion that the first green bin collection marks the beginning of the year and heralds the coming spring.

During the pandemic, with bin collection being on a Wednesday, Tuesday was designated as bin preparation day, and Monday as bin preparation eve. It passed the time.

Ray Davies

Llandrindod Wells, Radnorshire

SIR  Dave Holtum is fortunate indeed. Our council has announced that it will lengthen the winter non-collection period as well as charging for green waste collection, previously free.

Neil Bunyan

Bedford

Childhood wonder

SIR  I loved Alice in Wonderland when I read it aged eight (Letters, January 24). Perhaps the Queen, who found it scary, was exposed to it too young.

In retrospect, Alice showed a remarkable resilience to adversity, matched only by that of Winnie-the-Pooh. Please dont let Lewis Carroll be subject to trigger warnings  or AA Milne to Tigger warnings, come to that.

Fiona Wild

Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

Salted tea

SIR  The addition of a tiny pinch of salt to an over-brewed cup of tea (report, January 25) results in a chemical reaction which pushes a precipitate of the bitter tannin to the bottom of the cup. There is no magic involved.

James McNie

London SW1

SIR  A pinch of salt works equally well with scalded or bitter coffee.

John Newbury

Warminster, Wiltshire

Dark art

SIR  I am a wet shaver, using a brush and soap, and have been for many years.

Yesterday morning, however, I realised that I was shaving with my eyes tightly closed, and that this was clearly a habit.

Am I alone in this idiosyncrasy  or do I, perhaps, have a band of brothers out there?

Tim Pope

Weybridge, Surrey

Letters to the Editor

We accept letters by email and post. Please include name, address, work and home telephone numbers.

ADDRESS: 111 Buckingham Palace Road, London, SW1W 0DT

EMAIL: dtletters@telegraph.co.uk

FOLLOW: Telegraph Letters on Twitter @LettersDesk

NEWSLETTER: sign up to receive Letters to the Editor here

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.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis has said he is "more optimistic" about the future of the European Peace Fund (EPF), which EU members used to offset military aid supplies to Ukraine.

Source: Landsbergis at a joint press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba in Kyiv on 27 January

Details: Speaking about steps that Lithuania can take to further support Ukraine in its fight against full-scale Russian aggression, Landsbergis mentioned the European Peace Fund.

"And, unfortunately, it is really the only European tool that has been used to help Ukraine in this war," he added.

"We failed to reach certain agreements or coordination on this issue, but now I am more optimistic about future steps (regarding the EPF  ed.). Some member states are already considering it; they understand that it has to happen," the Lithuanian foreign minister stressed.

Since last year, the European Union has been discussing the reform of the EPF and the creation of a special fund within it exclusively for Ukraine's needs. It would be a four-year programme with a total budget of 20 billion.

Hungary actively opposed this plan, although, according to media reports, it has dropped its objections.

Hungary has also been blocking the allocation of a 500 million tranche from the EPF for months, which was to be used to offset the supply of weapons to Ukraine.

Support UP or become our patron!
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  As the city of Tampa prepares to celebrate Gasparilla, preparations are underway to make sure the event is safe for all, including our local gentle manatees.

At about 11:30 a.m. Saturday, pirates will invade Tampa as part of the Gasparilla celebration, with a flotilla going through the Hillsborough Bay toward the Tampa Convention Center.

However, to make sure the boats dont hurt any manatees, manatee watchers from both sea and air keep an eye out for the aquatic mammals.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, only 4% of manatees avoid getting injured by watercraft. In fact, its said to be exceedingly rare for an adult manatee to not be hit multiple times.

About 20 to 25% of manatee deaths are a result of collision with watercraft.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Law enforcement officials have captured two men who they believe stole or severely damaged multiple ATMs countywide.

From their investigation, authorities said five ATM machines were stolen from different businesses, and two other ATMs were either broken or had cash taken from them.

In recent memory, thieves have stolen or broken into the electronic money machines, but not to this extent.

Detectives have identified the alleged suspects as Hakeem Dantae Webb, 32, and 30-year-old Johnny Martell. Both are from Marion Oaks, according to their arrest reports. Locally, Martell and Webb do not have a criminal record.

Stolen ATMs destroyed and left abandoned in an area in Marion County

Webb, who appeared in court in front of County Judge LeeAnn Mackey-Barnes on Friday, was denied bond. He faces 13 charges that include burglary and grand theft. Martell, his alleged accomplice, was picked up several days before, and is currently free on $80,000 bond. His charges are two counts of burglary, grand theft and resisting arrest without violence.

Detectives Sgt. Mike Miley, Daniel Collier, Bryant Rodriguez, Jason Williams and other law enforcement officials from Belleview and Ocala Police Departments, as well as the Marion County Sheriff's Office, investigated the cases.

Information about the crime

Authorities said from December through this month, they've received reports about ATM thefts, attempted ATM thefts or burglaries to the machines.

Throughout the crime spree, officials said two people - suspected to be Webb and Martell - wore dark clothing, gloves and face coverings, forced their way into businesses. Inside, authorities said the suspects either removed or destroyed the machines they were too difficult to be hauled away.

In one instance, detectives said the crooks were unsuccessful in getting an ATM from one business. Both burglars used a crowbar to hit and kicked the machine repeatedly before leaving. Law officers were told it would cost approximately $3,000 to replace the ATM.

Discarded ATMs machines found in a vacant area in Marion County

In another incident, the bandits entered a second business and drove away with an ATM that had roughly $10,000 inside, officials said. And, from a third case, the thieves stole an ATM from a business that had an estimated $2,600 in cash.

Breaks in the case

Officials got a few breaks in the case that eventually led them to the alleged suspects.

The first break came from the license plate on the vehicle used in the break-ins, an older model Honda Odyssey. Officials said the plate was obstructed. Officer Tony Eaglen of the BPD was able to get the license plate number, which eventually led to Webb.

The second break came on Jan. 19 when Martell was taken into custody by sheriff's deputies after he was apprehended burglarizing a business. During the arrest, Webb, who officials believe was with Martell, managed to escape.

A warrant was issued for Webb, who turned himself into officials on Jan. 24.

Missing ATM: ATM machine stolen from Reddick convenience store

Detectives say surveillance videos from the burglaries matched the men features and they also have cellphone data from at least one of the alleged burglars that was in the area of one of the break-ins.

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

ATMs

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Authorities said they've charged two men in ATM theft ring
Venezuela's Supreme Justice Tribunal ordered on Friday to uphold a ban on the opposition presidential candidate, Maria Corina Machado, from running for office.

The person in question is a former lawmaker who won the opposition's independently run presidential primary in October last year with over 90% of the vote. Her victory came despite the local government announcing a 15-year ban on her running for office only a few days after she formally entered the race last June.

Venezuela Election Controversy

Despite the ban, Machado was able to participate in the primary election because the effort was completely organized by a commission that was independent of the country's electoral authorities. She had rejected the ban and continued to campaign for president, arguing that she never received an official notification of the ban.

Machado insisted that Venezuelan voters were the rightful decision-makers of her candidacy for the president's office. In December, the opposition presidential candidate filed a claim with the Supreme Tribunal of Justice to confirm that the ban against her was null and void, and to pursue an injunction to protect her political rights, as per Fox News.

However, the country's high court ruled against her and upheld the ban on her running for office. Preventing Machado and other presidential candidates from running would go against an agreement between the government of President Nicolas Maduro and U.S.-backed opposition figures last year.

That particular agreement was signed by the opposing sides in October last year on the Caribbean island of Barbados. It prompted the U.S. government to ease some sanctions on Venezuela's oil, gas, and mining industries.

However, United States President Joe Biden's administration has threatened to reverse some of the relief if Maduro's administration fails to lift bans that prevent Machado and others from holding office. This would also be the case if it failed to release political prisoners and wrongfully detained U.S. citizens.

Read Also: Tuvalu's Election Has Regional Players Taking Notice

Banning Opposition Candidates

The high court's ruling comes as many analysts cited Machado's popularity as giving her the chance to pose the biggest challenge that the Maduro regime has faced in recent years. They argued that the current ruler would do anything in his power to keep the opposition candidate's name off the ballot, according to Yahoo News.

The chief of staff at the Wilson Center in Washington, Eddy Acevedo, said that it was not surprising that Maduro was not allowing Machado to run in the presidential race. He argued that the Venezuelan president is afraid of the possibility of losing in a free and fair election.

Acevedo added that from the start, the Barbados agreement was not worth the paper that it was written on. He argued that the U.S. now needs to respond with decisive action by snapping back all sanctions on Venezuela, including the removal of oil licenses.

The situation comes after Maduro on Thursday warned that a deal with the political opposition for elections to be held later this year was in danger of collapse. He argued that this was a result of what he described as "conspiracies" against him, said Reuters.

Related Article: Finland Prepares for Presidential Election For First Time as New NATO Member
(COLORADO SPRINGS)  The Local Honey Collective is getting ready for what they hope will be a busy weekend, one that will help keep the business on its feet. After a fire struck in December in Downtown Colorado Springs, this boutique along with the other businesses in the Majestic Building were forced to close their doors to customers due to smoke damage.

We really just are in a little bit of a financial pickle after the fire to say it lightly, said Co-owner of The Local Honey Collective, Cara McQueeney. We are just trying to raise some funds so we can have some cash to keep going as a business and stay active in our community.

The other managing half to this store is Hailey Sardi, who explained how a friendship and shared dream brought the vision of The Local Honey Collective to life.

Cara and I met at CSU up in Fort Collins in 2018 and we ended up both moving up to the Springs and just werent happy with what we were doing, Sardi explained. The Springs is so big and we both just had this dream of having a space that we got to help women gather and a place to shop and come and meet each other.

The Local Honey Collective opened its doors in Downtown Colorado Springs in 2019, where the boutique persevered through the challenges of the pandemic. Beyond selling clothes for all to enjoy, the store also served as a space for special events to enhance its connection with the Southern Colorado community.

Just having women and people gather in our space is just truly one of the most heart and joy feeling things, and so we miss that, Sardi said. We want we want to be able to have people gather again.

In downtown Colorado Springs, The Local Honey Collective is one of several businesses that had to close its doors because of the electrical fire.

Having to close their doors during the holiday season, the Downtown Development Authority announced a gift card mob to help support both The Local Honey Collective and its neighbor Yobel with sales.

Two boutiques forced to close after downtown fire

We are so grateful for the community and the support that we received during that time, McQueeney said. That did help a lot, but yeah, just still need a lot more finances to keep going and so this is the next step to get all of our inventory that was damaged in this with the smoke from the fire, to get that out of our door and get a new inventory in.

On Friday afternoon, several people tried to look into the boutique only to realize there was barely anything inside. The Local Honey Collective is not the only one with a shuttered business, as their neighbors were also forced to close from the damage of the fire.

When you come downtown Colorado Springs, its a different experience than youll have anywhere else and its local businesses and local owners like these guys that really give it the personality, said Director of Marketing and Communications for the Downtown Partnership of Colorado Springs, Carrie Simison.

Even though their doors bear closed signs, Simison is hopeful that the Southern Colorado community will come to appreciate the significant impact of supporting local businesses.

I mean, its so easy to go online, but you get no benefit to your community by that, Simison said. When you shop local, at least $0.70 from every dollar stays in the community and it doesnt just stay here, then the taxes that you pay help for the roads, they help education, like shopping local means so much more than just buying something out of business, it really does help our community thrive

The fire sale has so much available with inventory sorted by size helping shoppers find exactly what they are looking for.

Now rows of clothes are inside of the Meanwhile Block, sorted by gender, age, and size for customers to pick out and purchase. A sign above the check out area provides recommendations for customers on removing any smoke smell the item may have.

We are really grateful all of the smoke can be removed from the product that youre buying, McQueeney said. A lot of the restoration companies that we talked to assured us that the smoke can come out. That is the only reason were not able to sell it at full price is because we would have to wash it first, so were just letting you guys do the washing it will come out with in two or three washes.

Children's clothes are also a part of the Local Honey Collective fire sale.

A row of jeans are sorted and waiting to be purchased at the fire sale.

From beanies to cowboy hats, there are a wide variety of items available for purchase at the fire sale.

Stickers appear by the price tag indicating the cost of the product ranging from $5 to $60 depending on the item. Looking ahead to the warmer months, the co-owners hope to sell current inventory to help with purchasing new clothes.

If we could get rid of everything that would be amazing, Sardi said. Our goal is to get rid of it so that we can then have cash flow to purchase new inventory to keep going for summer, spring, all of that.

The sale will be held on Jan. 27 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and will also be on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., located at 425 South Sierra Madre Street in Colorado Springs. Details can also be found on their social media page, which can be found here.

On the tags of the clothes, there are colored stickers to indicate how much a certain product costs.

Although the future remains uncertain, the co-owners are staying optimistic of keeping a storefront in Colorado Springs. For now, having support from the community serves as a main inspiration for staying in business.

We are just really holding on to that this is happening for a reason and theres a greater purpose and we just have to continue to remind ourselves that we will get to the other side and see a reason and just have to stay positive with each step, McQueeney said. Its hard, but we are just able to lean on each other, which were really grateful for and the community too, has just been incredible throughout this. 

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
ST. LOUIS  Thinking about an extreme road trip? Heres one idea. The longest drive between any two cities in the contiguous United States stretches more than 3,600 miles from Cape Flattery, Washington, to Key West, Florida.

Thats according to the research team at World Geography website StudyCountry.com, which took this curiosity a step further. They claim that going from one driving endpoint in Key Wests Fort Zachary Taylor to the other in Cape Flattery measures to 3,689 miles.

To take the most efficient route from Key West to Cape Flattery, according to Google Maps, you must drive through St. Louis.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Hypothetically, when driving in either direction, you would take Interstate 70 from the Missouri portion of the St. Louis metro all the way to or from Kansas City, and you would take Interstate 64 from the Illinois portion of the St. Louis metro all the way to or from Mt. Vernon.

From Cape Flattery, St. Louis is around 2,300 miles away. From Key West, St. Louis is around 1,400 miles away.

Google Maps predicts the trip from Cape Flattery to Key West would take around 55 hours, or more than two days, to complete in normal driving conditions. Of course, thats without gas stops, eating or sleep breaks built into consideration.

MSHP: Body recovered from river in Lincoln County, victim fell through ice

The daunting trip from Cape Flattery to Key West runs through 11 US states. West of Omaha, you would be driving through mostly rural areas. However, the most efficient route also runs through major cities like Kansas City, Nashville, Atlanta, Orlando and Miami.

Surprisingly, some people have used modes of transportations other than planes and cars to conquer the Cape Flattery to Key West route. A group of 12 dedicated bicyclists took on that challenge in 2010, spacing out their travels to more than 5,000 miles over 100 days.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
After more than 20 years of service in public health, the Clark County Combined Health Districts health commissioner announced his retirement.

Health Commissioner Charles Pattersons last day is Wednesday, Jan. 31, according to a spokesperson from the health district.

>> Inmate dead after escaping from hospital, shooting self with deputys gun

Patterson has been Clark County health commissioner since Aug. 21, 2000. In 2005, he became the health commissioner for New Carlisle.

Before his roles in Clark County, Patterson spent nearly 10 years with the Ohio Department of Health in the Lead Abatement program. He was also a health inspector for the Miami County Health Department for more than a year, the spokesperson said.

Patterson was born and raised in Clark County. He is an alumnus of Shawnee High School and Wright State University.

Within the community, he has held various leadership positions in community organizations like the Rotary Club of Springfield, the United Way Board of Trustees, and McKinley Hall, the spokesperson said.

Beyond the local level, Patterson has served as a past president of the Ohio Environmental Health Association and treasurer of the Association of Ohio Health Commissioners.

>> 7 taken into custody after high-risk search warrant in Harrison Township

During his career, the Ohio Senate appointed Patterson to the Ohio Sewage Technical Advisory Committee. He was also appointed to the Sanitarian Registration Board by a former Ohio Governor, the spokesperson said.

During retirement, Patterson plans to run for an open seat on the Clark County Commission and pursue his love of flying.

The Clark County Board of Health expressed sincere and profound appreciation for his dedication and service, the spokesperson said.

Chris Cook will take over as Clark Countys health commissioner starting Feb. 1.
Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko arrived in Russia's Saint Petersburg for an official visit on Jan. 27, according to his press service.

Lukashenko is set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss Belarusian-Russian relations, as well as "international topics," reads the announcement.

Belarus is under heavy international sanctions for its role in aiding Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russias initial assault at the onset of the invasion in 2022 was launched from Belarus. Russia has since used Belarusian territory as a launching pad for attacks on Ukraine and to train Russian troops before sending them to the front line.

In Russia, Lukashenko will also take part in the Supreme State Council meeting of the Union State, a supranational union consisting of Belarus and Russia, which was created in 1999 and aimed at eventually uniting the two countries into one. The council is set to discuss plans for 2024-2026, foreign policy, and the development of the Union State's mass media.

Lukashenko also plans to join festivities marking the liberation of Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg) from the blockade by the Axis powers that lasted more than two years during World War II.

The anniversary coincides with the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, also marked on Jan. 27.

Lukashenko has been the only president of Belarus since he came to power in 1994, in what is widely considered the first and last time free elections were held in the country since the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

In September, the European Parliament adopted a resolution recognizing Lukashenko as an accomplice to the crimes of Putin. The resolution also labeled Belarus a "satellite state of Russia."

Read also: Belarus Weekly: Belarus amends military doctrine, permits use of nuclear weapons

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Alexander Lukashenko, self-proclaimed President of Belarus, has left for a working visit to the Russian Federation, where he will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Source: a report from Lukashenkos press service

Details: The report noted that Putin and Lukashenko will mark the "80th anniversary of the liberation of Leningrad" on 27 January, the International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

The two leaders will also hold a meeting of the Union State Council to consider their plans for 2024-2026, summarise the results of 2021-2023, and "discuss international issues" [The Union State, or Union State of Russia and Belarus, is a supranational union consisting of Belarus and Russia, with the stated aim of deepening the relationship between the two states through integration in economic and defence policy  ed.].

Support UP or become our patron!
Palestinian American plaintiffs filed a lawsuit urging a California federal judge on Friday to order the White House to withdraw US support for Israel, citing the alleged genocide in Gaza.

The situation comes pending a ceasefire agreement in the war-torn region and as the plaintiffs accused United States President Joe Biden and other administration officials of abetting a genocide of the Palestinian people.

Palestinian Genocide Lawsuit

During the more than two hours of testimony before Judge Jeffrey White, plaintiffs expressed their grief and outrage. They could be seen choking back tears as they spoke of their loved ones who had lost their lives in the Gaza war.

One Palestinian immigrant in the lawsuit who lived in Fairfield, California, said that seven members of his family were killed in airstrikes in Gaza. These include the children of a cousin who he said was like a brother to him.

Another individual, who lives in San Ramon, California, said that his family had lost more than 100 members, noting that a single Israeli attack killed his cousin, his cousin's son, and 14 members of a neighbor's family, as per the New York Times.

The testimony in the lawsuit came in the second judicial proceeding in a day from Israel's bombardment of the embattled Palestinian enclave as being a potential grave violation of the 1948 Genocide Convention.

A few hours before, the United Nations' highest judicial body ordered Israel to prevent genocidal acts by its military forces in Gaza. This was part of the court's consideration of formal charges that the Middle Eastern country's response to Hamas-led terrorist attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, was crafted to deny Palestinians the right to exist.

Despite the allegations, the federal case in Northern California is unlikely to succeed in what it sets out to do. This is given legal precedents that limit judicial power over US presidents on foreign policy decisions.

Read Also: CIA Director William Burns To Help Secure Release of Israel Hostages via Diplomacy

Withdrawal of US Support for Israel

The hearing was attended by lawyers representing Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. They are facing accusations of "failure to prevent and complicity in the Israeli government's unfolding genocide," according to Aljazeera.

US civil liberties group Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) filed the lawsuit on behalf of the human rights organization, Defence for Children - Palestine; Al-Haq; a Palestinian human rights group based in the occupied West Bank; as well as eight Palestinians and US citizens who have relatives in Gaza.

The court on Friday heard from lawyers, activists, and organizers, including doctors in Gaza, regarding the situation that Palestinians in the war-torn region have been facing for nearly four months.

The lawyers who are involved in the lawsuit said that the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) ruling bolsters their case. The case comes as the Biden administration has maintained that genocide allegations against Israel are "meritless" and "unhelpful."

The situation also comes as Israel's attacks in the last few months have killed at least 25,000 Palestinians, which equates to one in every 100 residents in Gaza. One Palestinian American writer, Laila el-Haddad, described her neighborhood being left as a "large pile of sand" and the death of her relatives, said The Intercept.



Related Article: Biden Campaign Team Dismissed By Arab-American Leaders
PHILADELPHIA (AP)  A man who authorities say picked up a teenager awaiting trial in a homicide case after the youth escaped outside a Philadelphia hospital this week is now facing charges while the search for the teen continues.

Michael Diggs, 18, is accused of hindering apprehension, escape, criminal conspiracy and use of a communication facility, city police announced Friday. Court records were unavailable for these charges early Friday, and the city public defenders office said it has not been assigned to the case.

Close

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

abc27 Evening Newsletter

Authorities said Diggs was driving the vehicle that 17-year-old Shane Pryor was seen getting into less than an hour after he escaped Wednesday from a vehicle in the driveway of the emergency room at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, where he had been taken with a hand injury.

Security video shows Pryor was able to go in and out of a few buildings in the area after his escape, said Deputy Commissioner of Investigations Frank Vanore. He also was seen talking to people, asking for a phone  whatever he could do to leave the area, he said.

Investigators believe he called Diggs, who then picked him up in a car. Police stopped the vehicle in the city on Wednesday night, Vanore said, but Pryor was not in the car. Diggs and another person who was in the vehicle were questioned by police, but no charges have been filed against the other person.

Police had searched the buildings Wednesday and used dogs to search large parking garages, but no lockdowns were imposed, he said. Officers also checked the homes of his relatives in other parts of the city, Vanore said.

Close

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

abc27 Evening Newsletter

Pryor was 14 when he was charged in an October 2020 homicide and has been in a juvenile facility ever since. He faces charges including murder, conspiracy and firearms crimes. He was described as 5 feet 7 inches tall and 180 pounds and was wearing a blue sweatsuit and sandal-type footwear with socks.

Pryors mother has urged her son to turn himself in. She has said the teen fled custody because he turns 18 in two weeks, opening him to being transferred to an adult prison.

Pryors lawyer, Paul DiMaio, said his client has always maintained his innocence. He noted a judge recently declined a request to send Pryors case back to juvenile court, which may have led Pryor to lose hope.

Were trying to shrink his world down, Robert Clark, a deputy with the U.S. Marshals Service, said during a news conference Friday. If Shane Pryor wishes to contest his charges, he should be fighting his case from the courtroom and surrender to the nearest police officer immediately.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
CALIFORNIA CITY, Calif. (KGET)  California City police officers arrested a man after they said he allegedly shot at a vehicle in a Rite Aid parking lot.

According to the California City Police Department, an officer was on patrol on Monday, Jan. 22 at about 1:10 p.m. when he observed a shooting in progress in a Rite Aid parking lot. The suspect, identified as a 27-year-old man from Las Vegas, surrendered to officers after being confronted.

While no one was hurt, CCPD said an innocent bystanders vehicle window was shot out.

Two arrested for copper wire thefts, suspected methamphetamine in Oildale area

Following the mans arrest, two 9mm semi-auto firearms were seized, in addition to 12 live rounds of ammunition and three casings, CCPD said.

The alleged suspect was transported to a county jail on charges related to assault with a deadly weapon, shooting at a vehicle or dwelling, being a felon in possession of a firearm, reckless discharge of a firearm, being a felon in possession of ammunition, carrying a loaded firearm in public and an outstanding felony warrant out of Los Angeles for possession of a firearm. He is currently being held on $225,000 bail.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to call CCPD at 760-373-8606.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17.
UPDATE: According to the Angelina County Sheriffs Office, Gladden has been charged with murder.

UPDATE: Upshur County missing man found safe

ZAVALLA, Texas (KETK)  The Angelina County Sheriffs Office said a man was arrested in Arkansas on Friday in connection to the death of a man from Zavalla.

According to the sheriffs office, Lawrence Jason Wise was found dead in a shed near a residence at Hutch Hopson Road and Hopsonville Road ten miles southeast of Zavalla on Tuesday. Preliminary medical examiner findings reportedly revealed a possible gunshot wound.

Photo courtesy of Angelina County Sheriffs Office.

Early Friday morning, officials said that the Johnson County Sheriffs Office in Arkansas arrested Jeremy Wayne Gladden, 40 of Zavalla, as a suspect for unauthorized use of a vehicle.

Officials said that the vehicle, a white Chevrolet S-10, belonged to Wise and was taken from the crime scene. Deputies wanted to question Gladden, but he reportedly left town.

Man arrested with suspected meth, gun near Wiley College

Johnson County officers were contacted because Gladden reportedly had family in Arkansas. Their sheriffs office reportedly located the Chevrolet at a relative of Gladdens residence near Coal Hill, Arkansas.

Gladden was later spotted and arrested after a brief foot chase. Angelina County deputies arrived in Clarksville on Friday afternoon to interview Gladden who reportedly made statements about the incident.

The sheriffs office said their investigation is ongoing.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com.
A 24-year-old man from Moreno Valley was arrested by San Bernardino County deputies after he allegedly sexually assaulted a 16-year-old girl he met through Instagram.

Police say Shandar Washington reached out to the young girl on the popular social media app last March and they began messaging each other. The next day, Washington picked up the victim near her residence in San Bernardino. Police say the young girl thought Washington was, a nice guy, and she agreed to go out with him again.

According to the report, Washington went to meet up with the teenage girl again the following evening. After picking her up, he drove the victim to a fast-food restaurant and bought her a meal. Following that, police say Washington began kissing the young girl and eventually raped her inside his vehicle.

The teenager reported the incident to police and DNA evidence was collected. SBSDs Scientific Investigations Division received a positive hit on the DNA analysis, linking it to Washington.

After a 10-month investigation, police arrested Washington Friday morning on rape charges. He is being held on $80,000 bail.

Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to contact Detective J. McDaniel of the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Departments Central Station at (909) 387-3545.

Callers wishing to remain anonymous may contact We-Tip at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or go to www.wetip.com.

Instagram is owned by Meta, which is also the parent company of Facebook. Meta has been under fire as of late for allegations that the company fails to protect children from online harassment from adults.

The Attorney General of New Mexico filed a lawsuit against Meta, saying the company has had a historical reluctance to keep children safe on its platforms.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
A Cherokee County man has been found guilty of kidnapping his girlfriend and holding her against her will.

In March 2022, an off-duty Cobb County officer saw Cameron Burnett Long, 45, forcibly carrying a woman into an apartment in an apartment. He called 911 and reported a domestic disturbance.

Investigators say that Long and his girlfriend got into an argument and she decided to spend the night at a family members house.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

While her belongings were being packed into garbage bags, Long reportedly threw a bag at her and she ran out of the apartment.

Long is accused of chasing her into the parking lot, wrestling her to the ground, picking her up and carrying her back into the apartment, where he held her on the floor with his forearm. She eventually sprayed him with pepper spray and was able to escape.

Authorities say the couples relationship has a history of domestic violence.

TRENDING STORIES:

During the four-day trial, jurors heard testimony from eight witnesses, including the victim and off-duty officer.

A sentencing date has not yet been set.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

IN OTHER NEWS:
Chinese New Year to be celebrated in Serbia

Xinhua) 14:17, January 27, 2024

BELGRADE, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Serbia will celebrate the Chinese New Year from Jan. 29 to Feb. 19 to welcome the "Year of the Dragon" with a series of cultural events across Belgrade, Novi Sad, Nis, and Smederevo, organizers announced at a press conference here on Friday.

Organized by the Serbian government, the Chinese Embassy, and the Belt and Road Institute, the celebration will highlight diverse cultural performances, including opera by the "Zhejiang Wu" troupe in Nis and Novi Sad, along with interactive exhibitions, tea ceremony presentations, martial arts, and puppet shows in Smederevo.

Belgrade's festivities will feature events at the Galerija shopping center and a spectacular fireworks display at Belgrade Waterfront, culminating in a concert by the Chinese National Traditional Orchestra at Ilija M. Kolarac Endowment on Feb. 19.

Ambassador of China to Serbia Li Ming said the Chinese New Year is about family reunion and happiness, adding that the universal values of humanity and well-being of people are common values shared both by the Chinese and Serbian people.

"The Serbian government takes pride in showcasing different aspects of Chinese culture each year," said Danijel Nikolic, assistant to the General Secretary of the Serbian Government.

Bojan Lalic, director of the Belt and Road Institute, said the objective of the festivities is to strengthen cultural bonds and foster mutual understanding, friendship, and cooperation.

"We have planned a variety of activities, including artistic performances, opera, concerts, exhibitions, and workshops on traditional arts and Chinese culture," Lalic said

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Wu Chaolan)
France has generally failed to quell farmers' protests across the country as outrage over various agriculture-related issues continues to spread.

The country's newest prime minister, Gabriel Attal, has sought to assuage the anger of French farmers during a visit to the Haute-Garonne region on Friday. He pledged that his government would prioritize the sector and would drop plans to reduce a key agricultural tax break.

French Farmers' Protests

The situation marks Attal's first major crisis in his new position and during his visit to a cattle farm, he said that they received the message that the protesters have sent. The prime minister added that the French government would "put an end" to the rising cost of diesel fuel that is used for farming machinery.

The increase in the price of that particular fuel has been the result of tax breaks on the fuel being phased out. Furthermore, there would be an emergency fund to assist cattle farmers battle illnesses among their livestock, as per France24.

The current movement was split on how to react as the farmer who initiated the first blockade and has become a key figure in the protests, Jerome Bayle, said that having "won" on major points, he would start to reopen the freeways by midday on Saturday.

On the other hand, the head of the biggest farming union FNSEA, Arnaud Rousseau, dashed hopes of a quick end to the issue by calling for "continued mobilization." He said that what officials announced did not calm the anger of the farmers, arguing that they needed to go further.

The French government has been making efforts to keep farmers' discontent from spreading several months ahead of European Parliament elections. The issue is seen as a key test for President Emmanuel Macron's government.

Read Also: France's Macron Joins India's Republic Day Parade

Curbing the Spread of Demonstrations

The protests have already lasted for two weeks and spread across France, resulting in irate farmers blocking a major highway out of Paris on Friday. During his remarks, the 34-year-old prime minister said that they will stop the Kafka-esque system, adding that they will stop the planned trajectory of increasing tax on non-road diesel fuel, according to Reuters.

Attal also unveiled a series of other steps that seek to address farmers' anger that has resulted in the latter spraying manure over a public building and supermarket, dumping hay bales on highways, and emptying the contents of trucks carrying fresh produce from neighboring countries.

The French nation will also remain opposed to signing the Mercosur free-trade deal, which farmers argue will only flood the country with cheaper Latin American meat and produce. The prime minister noted that they will push to ease European Union rules that force farmers to leave some of their land fallow.

Attal also said that the government will strictly enforce laws that are meant to guarantee a living wage for farmers in price negotiations with retailers and distributors. He noted that emergency aid would arrive faster, including the ones aimed at helping cattle that are sick.

On Friday, unions estimated that roughly 70,000 people were protesting across France, with more than 40,000 tractors forming long convoys on some of the nation's main arteries, said the New York Times.



Related Article: Finland Prepares for Presidential Election For First Time as New NATO Member
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  A Wichita man who was convicted by a jury in October 2023 of murdering a QuikTrip security guard was sentenced on Friday.

Laroy West was sentenced to a hard 50 years in prison for the first-degree murder charge, which means he will not be eligible for parole until 50 years have been served.

On Oct. 30, 2023, West was found guilty by a jury of first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated assault and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. He was found not guilty of one count of aggravated assault.

The judge sentenced West to a various amount of months on the other charges, with a total controlling sentence of 50 years hard with 62 months (5 years and 2 months) to run consecutively after that.

Surveillance video shows theft of Jackie Robinson statue

The crimes were committed on May 5, 2021. Will Robinson, 39, was a former Wichita police officer and was shot by West after escorting him off the property of the QuikTrip at the intersection of Murdock and Broadway. Robinson later passed away shortly after.

West had his trial delayed in part due to a judge ordering that he undergo mental evaluations at Larned State Hospital.

West was also ordered to pay $1,110 in restitution for the crimes. He will have to register as a violent offender in Kansas.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
I did not speak up at the trial this morning and feel guilty that I did not do that for my dad, but honestly could not find the words through this unimaginable pain. The devastating impact of Keffers actions cannot be adequately expressed in words. The life of my father was abruptly and mercilessly taken away by the hands of Keffer as my dad waited at a bus stop with his cane. He was out enjoying a dinner with friends and in no way deserved this. His absence has left an indescribable void, the pain we endure every day is a constant reminder of the irreplaceable loss we have suffered. My dad was a loving man and extremely smart. He dedicated his life to cancer research and to providing an amazing life for his kids, wife and grandchild. He spoke with his grandchild every night on the phone and helped her with her homework and daily life as well as showing up at her sporting events. The loss has shattered our world with a void that cannot be filled. My dad was a constant source of love, joy, hope and support.

While I hold Keffer White responsible for his actions, I also hold the justice system responsible for not putting him behind bars when he attempted to strangle someone, assaulted police officers and stole a car. Had he been placed in jail, he would not have been out on the streets to commit this atrocious act. We would have my father here with us and we would not be enduring the daily suffering.

I believe everyone should be held accountable for their actions and if you choose to take drugs and have a mental illness caused by that choice, then you have to face the consequences. In Oregon, there are numerous groups ready to help people with their addictions. He had the opportunity to take medication, but made the decision not to do that. What happens when he is out on the streets again and makes that same choice.

In addition, Keffer told the detective when he was arrested that he continues to commit more crimes until he receives more money from the state. Keffer should have been sent to prison. That is where he belongs, and I will make it my mission to make sure he stays locked up at the state hospital so that no other family has to endure what we are going through. While I understand that the justice system aims to rehabilitate offenders, I firmly believe that in the case of Keffer White, the severity and nature of the crime warrants the denial of every being let out of the hospital. The safety of society and the well-being of countless individuals depend on keeping him locked up. My dad does not receive a second chance at living. Why should Keffer White receive that chance?

These pictures are just a glimpse into how special my dad was. I hope someday I can remember these memories instead of the ones of him with severe brain trauma and badly beaten. His brain swelled so much from all of the beatings that he could not even be awake to tell his family goodbye. The pain we feel is immeasurable.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said a man was shot in Southwest D.C. on Saturday afternoon.

Two teens shot in Southeast DC

Police said that at about 2 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 400 block of First St. for a shooting.

When officers arrived at the scene, they found a man who had been shot. He was conscious and breathing.

The man was transported to the hospital.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
A man was arrested on suspicion of stealing merchandise from Tractor Supply Co. in Barstow, then punching an employee, authorities said.

A man was arrested on suspicion of stealing merchandise from Tractor Supply Co. in Barstow, then punching an employee, authorities said.

Barstow sheriffs detectives received information about recent thefts in Newberry Springs being done by an unknown suspect possibly driving a silver Toyota Rav4 sport utility vehicle with a ladder attached to the roof.

On Tuesday, San Bernardino County Sheriffs Detective Faylor spotted a vehicle matching the description in the parking lot of the Tractor Supply store on Main Street in Barstow.

While surveilling the vehicle, Faylor and other deputies saw a man, later identified as Anthony Luna, 27, of Barstow, exiting Tractor Supply as several employees attempted to stop him, sheriffs officials said.

Deputies quickly intervened and detained Luna. They also learned that the suspect had stolen merchandise and allegedly punched a store employee to escape the location with the merchandise, according to sheriffs officials.

Luna was arrested and booked at the High Desert Detention Center in Adelanto on suspicion of strong-armed robbery. His bail was set at $590,000, sheriffs officials said.

Anyone with additional information about thefts related to the suspect or the involved vehicle is asked to contact the Barstow sheriff's station detective bureau at 760-256-4838. Callers wishing to remain anonymous should contact We-Tip at 800-78-CRIME (27463) or wetip.com.

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Man suspected of stealing, punching Tractor Supply. employee in Barstow
A man who almost drowned in the Tisa River

A man who hoped to swim across the Tisza River in Zakarpattia Oblast to get to Hungary failed and had to call rescuers, State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (SBGS) reported on Telegram on Jan. 27.

According to SBGS, the man planned a route to Hungary using a navigation application. However, as he was crossing the river, the current knocked him down and carried him down stream. He was lucky enough to have managed to catch onto some branches on the shore and call for rescuers.

Border guards said they helped him get out of the water and took him to their unit to warm up.

On Jan. 10, the State Border Guard Service reported that 19 people had drowned in the Tisza since the start of Russia's war in Ukraine.

In December 2023, the government registered a new bill that increased penalties for evading mobilization. It proposes raising fines and prison sentences for draft dodgers.

Read also: Nearly same number of Ukrainians who left country in 2023 returned  Opendatabot

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
A company that makes plastics for the automotive industry will invest more than $12 million to build a new manufacturing facility in Gaston County, according to a press release.

HEYCO-Werk USA, a plastics molder, will build the facility at Apple Creek Corporate Center.

Less than a year since opening, the Apple Creek Corporate Center on the Dallas-Cherryville Highway already is half full.

A subsidiary of German-based automotive parts manufacturer, HEYCO Group, HEYCO-Werk USA was established in 2014 and has had a manufacturing plant in Virginia since 2019.

The company makes plastic molding and windshield trimming for BMW and Volkswagen SUVs, among other things.

The production facility at the corporate park will be more than 60,000 square feet and will include space for production and a showroom.

We are delighted to welcome HEYCO to our region, N.C. Representative John Torbett said in a press release. Here they will find the support of a diverse and talented workforce, and the robust transportation infrastructure to help them quickly get their products around the world.

Salaries will vary by position with an average annual wage of $63,382, which exceeds the Gaston County average of $46,351. These new jobs could potentially create an annual payroll impact of more than $2.1 million for the region.

Donny Hicks, executive director of the Gaston County Economic Development Commission, said the company is expect to break ground by mid-summer.

"It fits into our manufacturing base really well. ... One they're an automotive supplier, which we have a good number of, and they're also a plastics related company," he said. "And third, another European company is located here. So we've really over the last 10, 15 years built this really strong resins cluster with a lot of European representation."

The Apple Creek Corporate Center has just three sites left that are available for companies to utilize. Hicks said that the companies moving in are paying as much as $20,000 above Gaston County's average wage, adding that the perception that manufacturing doesn't pay well "couldn't be further from the truth."

"So I think one of the one of the big things is to continue to diversify the economy, make it financially stronger, broaden the tax base and create new job opportunities," he said. "All these manufacturers that are recruiting pay well above the county average."

Daniel Dittmar, chief executive officer of HEYCO-Werk USA, said in a press release that the company is thrilled to expand into North Carolina.

"The new plant will play an important strategic role within the HEYCO Group and to our customers, he said. With this latest investment we set an important milestone for the future of HEYCO-Werk USA, ensuring both, strategic growth as Tier 1 automotive supplier, and the long-term success of our company and our employees."

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Manufacturing company to build Gaston County facility
A small group of students gathered at a vigil for victims of gun violence at the Iowa State Capitol Saturday, mourning the loss of Perry sixth-grader Ahmir Jolliff and Perry High School Principal Dan Marburger.

March for Our Lives Iowa, a nonpartisan group that encourages young people to get involved in politics, hosted the event as students advocated for a change in gun policy.

They called for an end to gun violence, leaning on their experience and a collective fear.

Were just kind of expected to bounce back and just get over major atrocities like [school shootings], so I think that vigils are a very good space to really soak in what happened, said Pratima Khatri, a diversity, equity and inclusion lead for March for our Lives.

Dylan Butler, a 17-year-old Perry High School student, shot and killed Jolliff on Jan. 4 and injured several others, including four students and three staff members, before turning the gun on himself. Several accounts said that before Marburger was shot, he tried to distract the shooter, giving other students time to escape the school cafeteria, where the shootings began during breakfast.

Marburger passed away Jan. 14 from injuries sustained in the shooting.

Perry High School has been closed since the shooting on Jan. 4, though the school board recently announced a plan to return to classes Wednesday, Jan. 31. The Perry Middle School and elementary schools reopened last week.

More: Perry High principal, shot at the school, described at funeral as a model of love, grace

during a March for Our Lives vigil for gun violence victims at the Iowa State Capitol on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024, in Des Moines.

Asking for change to prevent school shootings

Many of the youth present on Saturday believe school shootings are too frequent and they hope to bring a sense of safety back to their buildings.

Akshara Eswar, a co-executive director of March for Our Lives Iowa, said she fights for change so that she and other students don't have to live in fear.

We should be able to go to school without worrying about where my exits are, Eswar said.

More: Perry to begin reopening schools, closed since shootings, next week

Pratima Kahtri, a senior at Pleasant Valley High School, speaks during a March for Our Lives vigil for gun violence victims at the Iowa State Capitol on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024, in Des Moines.

Lauren Wessling, 17, is a senior at Johnston and a March for Our Lives member. She said a shooting shouldnt need to happen before a change in policy is made.

I think we really want to make sure that [gun legislation reform] is in constant conversation. Its not just Oh, theres a shooting. Lets have some sort of protest, Wessling said.

Other students shared their views on gun legislation, at the state level and nationally. Many of Saturday's participants agreed that a need for common sense gun legislation is urgent.

Us, as student leaders, were the future leaders of the world [we] shouldnt be expected to wait for our time to shine  we can start advocating as soon as possible, Khatri said.

Left: Lauren Wessling, Johnston High School senior, speaks during a March for Our Lives vigil for gun violence victims at the Iowa State Capitol on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024, in Des Moines.

Biong M. Biong is a reporter at the Register. Reach him at bbiong@dmreg.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: March for Our Lives vigil at Iowa Capitol mourns gun violence victims
Editors note: A version of this story appeared in CNNs Wonder Theory science newsletter. To get it in your inbox, sign up for free here.

As humans, we like to dare mighty things.

Thats the motto of NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, that borrows from a Theodore Roosevelt quote.

As a species born to live and walk on Earth, humankind has found ingenious ways to adapt to the absence of gravity as we set our sights on deep space, including building robotic explorers that can venture across the cosmos in our stead.

This week, the first photo arrived from Japans Moon Sniper, showcasing intriguing lunar rocks at its landing site, even though the lander didnt touch down as planned.

Meanwhile, the European Space Agency has selected two new missions: one that will surf through gravitational waves to unravel the mysteries of the universe and another to uncover why Venus didnt turn out like Earth.

And its time to bid farewell to one of the most delightfully plucky robots ever to explore Mars.

Other worlds

The Ingenuity helicopter, seen here on Mars in an image taken by the Perseverance rover on August 2, 2023, has flown for the last time. - NASA/JPL-Caltech

After 72 flights in the Martian skies, NASAs Ingenuity helicopter has flown for the last time.

Ingenuity served as the Perseverance rovers faithful companion and aerial scout for nearly three years since its maiden flight on April 19, 2021. The historic chopper was the first aircraft to operate and fly on another world.

While coming in for a landing on January 18, the rover lost contact with the helicopter. When communication was reestablished, the mission team saw a photo capturing the shadow of Ingenuitys damaged rotor blade. The blade likely struck the ground, which ended the helicopters mission.

The intrepid chopper outlasted its initial 30-day mission, flying higher, farther and faster than its NASA team ever expected and paving the way for the future of aerial space exploration.

We couldnt be prouder of our little tough trailblazer, said Teddy Tzanetos, Ingenuitys project manager at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Take note

During the frigid days of winter, its easy to hope that spring will arrive quickly. But in addition to blooming flowers and warmer temperatures, spring will bring about another force of nature: cicadas.

Scientists predict that billions of cicadas will surface as two different broods that typically appear every 13 years and every 17 years emerge simultaneously.

The rare event hasnt been seen in the United States since Thomas Jefferson was president, and its not expected to occur again until 2245.

A long time ago

Aiming to trace syphilis' origins, researchers used paleopathology techniques to study ancient human bones at the site Jabuticabeira II in Brazil's Santa Catarina state. - Jose Filippini

Scientists are teasing information from the ancient DNA trapped inside bones, mummified bodies and dental plaque to solve the mysteries of pathogens that have affected humans for centuries  including syphilis.

The sexually transmitted disease, still prevalent today, first made its mark in the 15th century, devastating European populations. Different nations blamed it on their neighboring countries, and its origin has been murky.

Researchers studied 2,000-year-old remains in Brazil and found the earliest known evidence of the bacterium that causes syphilis and other related diseases. The disease has a much longer and more complicated history than scientists previously believed, the finding revealed.

Ocean secrets

It turns out that the megalodon, a fearsome shark that terrorized the ancient seas, wasnt so mega after all.

The extinct megalodon has often been depicted as a massive great white shark. But the creatures cartilage wouldnt have had the strength to support such a hulking body shape, new research has suggested.

Instead, the marine predator was likely skinnier than a great white, based on a study of a fossil belonging to an Otodus megalodon that lived more than 23 million years ago.

The revelation is one more piece in the puzzle that is megalodon biology, which has largely been difficult for researchers to figure out. Thats because fossilized teeth have been much easier to find than actual fossils.

Consequences

A bumblebee visits a field pansy flower during an experiment from a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Montpellier in France. - Samson Acoca-Pidolle

Butterflies and bees have helped flowers reproduce for thousands of years, but as pollinator populations decline, some flowers are selfing, or self-pollinating.

While this shift may sound like a positive survival tactic, scientists studying wild field pansies in France determined that some modern flowers are smaller and produce less nectar because of self-pollination.

This may increase the pollinator decline and cause a vicious feedback cycle, said study coauthor Pierre-Olivier Cheptou, a professor at the University of Montpellier. The evidence indicates an evolutionary breakdown of plant pollinators in the wild, he said.

Meanwhile, scientists have traced a rapid depletion of subterranean water reserves around the world that are used for drinking and irrigation  with a few notable exceptions.

Explorations

Journey through these fascinating reads:

 There are only two female northern white rhinos on the planet, but the worlds first in vitro fertilization rhino pregnancy could save the species from extinction.

 Superbug infections have the potential to kill 10 million people per year by 2050, but scientists have turned to one of natures oldest predators to attack bacteria as a possible solution.

 Astronomers used the Hubble Space Telescope to observe the smallest exoplanet found to have water vapor in its atmosphere, and its a world that swirls with inhospitable steam.

 Officials at a British wildlife park are hoping to rehabilitate a group of potty-mouthed African gray parrots that say proper expletives  but the teams risky approach could create even more foulmouthed birds if it backfires.

Like what youve read? Oh, but theres more. Sign up here to receive in your inbox the next edition of Wonder Theory, brought to you by CNN Space and Science writers Ashley Strickland and Katie Hunt. They find wonder in planets beyond our solar system and discoveries from the ancient world.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
MATTOON, Ill. (WCIA)  A man from Wisconsin was arrested in Mattoon earlier this week after police said he brought a woman to town against her will.

Danville woman gets 27 years for 2020 stabbing murder

Officials with the Mattoon Police Department said that on Wednesday, they were contacted by Wisconsin police officers who were investigating a kidnapping in their jurisdiction. They said 31-year-old Alexander Shultz had kidnapped an adult woman and they had reason to believe they were in Mattoon.

Mattoon Police gathered further information through local resources and later found Shultzs car on Lakeland Boulevard. After performing a traffic stop, officials said the officers found Shultz driving the car with the kidnapping victim in the passenger seat.

Man arrested in shots-fired investigation in Springfield

Shultz was taken into custody without incident for outstanding warrants from Wisconsin. He is being held at the Coles County Jail, awaiting extradition to Wisconsin on those warrants and for charges stemming from the kidnapping. Officials said they later learned Shultz is on parole for sex crimes and had cut a monitoring device off his person.

The kidnapping victim was later reunited with her family members, officials added.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
Kausea Natano, the pro-Taiwan leader of the Pacific islands nation of Tuvalu, has lost his seat in a closely watched election. The outcome, eagerly anticipated by Taiwan, China, and the United States (U.S), could potentially reshape Tuvalu's foreign policy and impact the ongoing geopolitical struggle for influence in the Pacific.

Partial results from the Funafuti electorate, released on Saturday on Tuvalu TV, revealed that Natano failed to retain his seat. As of now, Natano has not made any comments about the election results.

New Leadership Contender Calls for Diplomatic Review

Tuvalu, a small nation with a population of about 11,200 spread across nine islands, has been a steadfast ally of Taiwan. However, recent shifts in alliances have raised concerns, especially after Nauru severed ties with Taiwan earlier this month, opting instead for closer relations with Beijing, which promised increased development assistance.

Natano, who had been a vocal supporter of Taiwan since 1979, had pledged to continue this diplomatic allegiance.

On the other hand, Seve Paeniu, another leadership contender, has proposed a review of diplomatic ties. The new government, Paeniu suggests, should carefully consider whether Taiwan or China is better suited to meet Tuvalu's evolving needs.

Paeniu secured an uncontested victory in the Nukulaelae island electorate and expressed his intention to form a coalition among elected lawmakers to run for the position of prime minister.

Tuvalu's parliamentary structure, unique in its absence of political parties, involves the election of two MPs from each of the eight island electorates. All candidates are running as independents.

Islands with fewer than 1,500 eligible voters frequently witness razor-thin margins, with only a handful of votes determining the winners and losers in each electoral district.

Read Also: Tuvalu's Election Has Regional Players Taking Notice

Taiwan, China Grapple With Diplomatic Strain

The diplomatic tension between Taiwan and China is unfolding against a broader backdrop of strategic competition between China and the U.S. for influence in the Pacific. The U.S. recently pledged the first submarine cable to connect Tuvalu to global telecommunications.

Paeniu, in an interview with Reuters on Saturday, emphasized that the crucial issue of diplomatic recognition for either Taiwan or China should be openly debated by the new government. He noted that the previous government, under Prime Minister Natano, extensively discussed the matter during their term.

Tufoua Panapa, Tuvalu's election commissioner, stated on Friday night that the new MPs would convene next week to vote for a prime minister. He explained that a clearer picture of the political landscape would emerge once elect-MPs from the outer islands reached the capital, a journey that can take up to 27 hours.

Enele Sopoaga, another leadership contender who lost his prime ministership to Natano in the 2019 election, is still awaiting results. While Sopoaga previously supported ties with Taiwan, he now advocates for the scrapping of a security deal with Australia.

This agreement grants Australia the authority to assist Tuvalu in response to natural disasters, health pandemics, and military aggression, while also providing veto power over any security-related agreements Tuvalu might seek with other nations, including China.

In the midst of these political developments, former foreign minister Simon Kofe, known for his dramatic climate change speech at the United Nations in 2021, has successfully retained his seat in the Funafuti parliament.

Related article: What Tuvalu Election Could Mean for Taiwan, China, Pacific
The United Kingdom is facing a measles outbreak, while cases have also popped up in a few U.S. states in recent weeks, leading to health authorities on both sides of the pond to issue urgent warnings.

The virus, which was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, is a wake-up call for the importance of vaccination to personal and public health. The U.K. only recently reachieved measles elimination status in 2021 after having lost the distinction in 2018.

Unlike COVID-19 vaccines, which help prevent serious illness but dont prevent infection, the measles vaccine is almost 100 percent effective in preventing infection. And almost everyone who has been recently infected in the U.K. and U.S. is not vaccinated against measles.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Thursday advised health care providers to be alert for potential measles symptoms, which include a rash; cough; sore or swollen eyes; and flu-like symptoms. Providers should also be aware of patients who have recently traveled abroad.

Measles cases often originate from unvaccinated or undervaccinated U.S. residents who travel internationally and then transmit the disease to people who are not vaccinated against measles, the CDCs alert stated.

The increased number of measles importations seen in recent weeks is reflective of a rise in global measles cases and a growing global threat from the disease.

Top Stories from The Hill

In the U.K., more than 300 probable cases  216 of which are confirmed  have been detected since October, with the majority centered around the city of Birmingham.

Since December, the CDC has received notice of at least 23 measles cases in the U.S., with seven having been imported by international travelers. States that have reported measles cases include Delaware, Georgia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington state.

Jenny Harries, chief executive of the U.K. Health Security Agency, recently warned the infections in her country would continue to spread without urgent action  and vaccinations.

Immediate action is needed to boost MMR uptake across communities where vaccine uptake is low, Harries said during a visit to Birmingham.

In the U.K. and the U.S., MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccinations remain high but have fallen away from the ideal 95 percent rate, which is the target countries aim to reach by 2030, as well as the coverage the World Health Organization recommends to prevent measles outbreaks.

As KFF noted last summer, MMR vaccination rates in the U.S. have seen a slight decline in recent years, reaching 93 percent among kindergartners during the 2022-23 school year, the lowest this figure has been in almost a decade. The U.K. mirrored this trend, with MMR vaccination rates at the age of 5 falling to 92.5 percent, the lowest since 2010-11.

Weve started to lose our herd immunity, Keri Cohn, physician and partnership chair for the American Academy of Pediatrics, told The Hill.

So, you really need to have 95 percent of the population vaccinated in order to have good herd immunity for measles. That number is less for other organisms, but because measles is so contagious, you really have to have such a high number, Cohn explained.

Like many health issues occurring in the world today, experts see a link between measles outbreaks and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Generally, we certainly saw a real slide in the provision of essential health services like childhood vaccines during COVID. And thats continued, said Elisha Dunn-Georgiou, president and CEO of the Global Health Council.

According to the CDC, more than 61 million measles vaccine doses were postponed or missed globally from 2020 to 2022, increasing the risk of outbreaks both in the U.S. and abroad. While measles is still considered endemic in countries like Yemen and India, Dunn-Georgiou said high-income like the U.S. and the U.K. shouldnt be seeing outbreaks.

Vaccine hesitancy and disinformation are likely contributing factors to waning immunization rates, but Dunn-Georgiou also opined that recent measles outbreaks may be a sign the U.S. is falling victim to its success in combating the disease.

I think theres another piece around infectious disease that is not so much hesitancy but complacency. Like if you dont see how terrible it is, you dont realize how terrible it is until it happens, she said. When diseases get completely under control, I think theres a little bit of amnesia.

Measles cases could potentially snowball in the U.K. Andrew Pollard, chair of the British governments Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization, recently told The Guardian there is a very large susceptible population of children in the country.

Despite the potential for spread, Dunn-Georgiou was doubtful that travel restrictions between the U.S. and the U.K. would be necessary.

Travel bans have not proven to be that effective of a public health control, Dunn-Georgiou said, noting the virus appears to so far be contained in one region of the U.K., the West Midlands.

And measles is one of those diseases where if you are vaccinated, you wont get it, she added. It would necessitate  a child under the age of seven getting on to a plane with measles and traveling to a community nobodys vaccinated.

And measles always carries the risk of becoming a serious infection. Cohn noted children who get infected are not infrequently needing hospitalization.

About 25 [percent] to 30 percent of them end up having complications that can range from otitis media to pneumonia to even death, Cohn said, though she also noted that treating measles shouldnt be a challenge for most hospitals. The real challenge when it comes to measles is identifying and isolating cases before they can spread.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
On Friday morning, the White House announced that it will pause new approvals for new liquefied natural gas, or LNG, export facilities. The decision has been framed across the board as a victory for climate activists and a concession to a constituency Biden is eager to please on the campaign trail. Thats not wholly false: The climate movement did indeed push for todays decision, and the White House explicitly cited the climate crisis and calls of young people in its statement about it. Whats shocking about the announcement is that anyone had to pressure the Biden administration to make it at all.

Left out of more bombastic coverage about some alleged annihilation of U.S. liquefied natural gas export capacity is just how modest Fridays announcement really is. Over the coming months, the White House will go through the process of reevaluating the basis on which the Department of Energy considers its approval of gas export licenses. Currently, under Section 3 of the Natural Gas Act of 1938, that is, the DOE is required to determine whether gas exports to countries with which the United States does not have a free trade agreement are consistent with the public interest and grant approvals accordingly. These kinds of long-term blanket licenses last for decades and arent subject to reviews in the interim.

To make such determinations, the Department relies on macroeconomic studies it commissions periodically. The most recent of those was published during the Trump administration in 2018, by NERA Economic Consulting. Trump cited NERA figures on the purportedly massive cost of the Obama administrations Clean Power Plancommissioned by the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricityin announcing the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. He referenced the same study in a press briefing held the night he signed an executive order rescinding the Clean Power Plan, which NERA claimed would have meaningless environmental impacts. Environmental groups have criticized NERA reports for painting a misleading picture of climate and environmental policies, as in disproven claims that increasing U.S. energy efficiency would raise consumers energy bills.

Tyson Slocum, director of the energy program at watchdog group Public Citizen, argues the NERA study the Department of Energy still uses to decide on LNG exports contains similarly questionable claims, for example downplaying costs to consumers as companies profit off shipping gas abroad. The 2018 report stated that there is just a 3 percent chance that increased U.S. LNG exportswhich only began in 2016would raise prices by any significant amount. More fantastically, the report argued that any impact of increased LNG prices on consumers would be outweighed by the additional income received by households who hold shares in companies that own liquefaction plants.

Even the Center for Strategic and International Studies, or CSISfunded by ExxonMobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, and the gas exporter Chenierenoted in an analysis earlier this month that the rapid build-out of LNG export capacity suggests a need to re-examine the impact of rising imports on domestic prices. Within five years, a CSIS commentary released earlier this month notes, LNG facilities could consume 20 percent of U.S. natural gas supply. It is reasonable to ask about the potential impact on other industries.

The Department of Energys methodology for assessing the public interest is woefully out of date, says Slocum. Until today, there has been no difference in the review process between the Trump and Biden administrations for LNG exports.

While climate activists are no doubt glad to see Biden acknowledge the outlandishness of the countrys current gas policies, the reality is that Fridays decision doesnt on its own pose a significant threat to the considerable momentum behind Americas booming liquid natural gas export business. The temporary pause on pending decisions will have no bearing on projects already built, which constitute the planets single largest source of LNG export capacity. The U.S. will remain the worlds largest gas exporter and is due for a significant expansion over the coming years. Earlier this week, Bloomberg New Energy Finance, or BNEF, found that the U.S. is on course to more than double its gas liquefaction capacity over the next five years. Four major projectswhich on their own are slated to expand export capacity by more than 80 percent if completed by 2027have already been approved and reached final investment decision. The decision still impacts high profile projects like the second stage of Calcasieu Pass, but U.S. LNG export capacity is still well positioned to see a significant increase, Enrique Gonzalez, BNEFs lead analyst for U.S. gas, wrote in an email Friday afternoon. For better or for worse, Fridays announcement is not a step toward shutting down the fossil fuel industry.

But perhaps the strangest thing about pundits and industry lobbyists hand-wringing this week is how little confidence LNGs boosters seem to have in their own claims about its benefits. Lost amid their cries about Bidens announcement endangering everything from U.S. energy security to the well-being of our European allies and even the fight against climate changethey argue, dubiously, that gas flows are essential to replace coal in emerging economiesis perhaps the most salient detail about Fridays announcement: All the White House has pledged to do is take a bit of time tofor the first time in six yearsreevaluate its framework for assessing whether LNG export projects serve the public interest. National laboratories will invite comments from all sides to inform an updated analysis of their effects on energy costs, Americas energy security, and our environment, per the White Houses press release. If the case for a doubling or tripling of LNG export capacity is so ironclad, then what are gass champions so afraid of?
In a letter to colleagues in the U.S. House, Speaker Mike Johnson stated that the current Senate legislation on U.S. border policy and aid to Ukraine would have been dead on arrival in the House if reports about its terms are true.

I wanted to provide a brief update regarding the supplemental and the border since the Senate appears unable to reach any agreement," Johnson writes. "If rumors about the contents of the draft proposal are true, it would have been dead on arrival in the House anyway."

A bipartisan group of negotiators was expected to unveil a deal in the Senate this week that would include provisions on immigration policy and funding for Kyiv. Although the deal has not yet reached the U.S. House, Speaker Johnson cites reports of its current provisions to suggest that its provisions on border security would be unacceptable.

The funding request of over $110 billion, including around $61 billion for Ukraine, has been stuck in Congress since autumn 2023. Senate Republicans blocked the approval of the $61 billion in aid last month, largely over concerns the bill did not contain border security measures.

As a way to expedite the passage of aid for Ukraine, intensified border security measures were integrated into the aid deal. House Republicans, including Speaker Johnson, state that newly developed provisions are insufficient.

Johnson's other comments on Ukraine indicated that his concerns about the ability for new aid to be passed were not limited to border issues. Republicans have a very slim majority in the House, and some members have said they are categorically opposed to further aid for Ukraine, regardless of compromises on the border and immigration.

Read also: Opinion: What happens if the West abandons Ukraine?

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Megan Thee Stallions Exciting New Single Hiss Has The Internet Buzzing | Photo: Arturo Holmes/Getty Images

Megan Thee Stallion returns with her first single of 2024, Hiss, and the whole internet is buzzing! Following the release of Cobra in November, the newly indie artist is expressing herself fearlessly as she confronts those who hold unjustified opinions about her life.

The 28-year-old rapper first teased Hiss on Monday with a graphic of the songs title on her Instagram account. She then shared a blazing voiceover on Wednesday, preparing fans for the highly anticipated release.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Megan Thee Stallion (@theestallion)

I just wanna kick this s**t off by saying, F**k yall! she says in the clip to introduce the track. I aint gotta clear my name on a motherf**kin thang. Every time I get mentioned, one of yall b***h a** n***as get 24 hours of attention. Im finna get this s**t off my chest and lay it to rest, lets go!

On Friday, fellow rapper Nicki Minaj had a few choice words for The Houston Hottie over Hiss lyrics allegedly aimed at her and her husband.

Meg started off the three-minute track by rapping about herself and then referenced Megans Law, a series of laws in the United States that require law enforcement authorities to notify the public about convicted sex offenders residing in their communities.

These hoes dont be mad at Megan, these hoes mad at Megans Law/ I dont really know what the problem is, but I guarantee yall dont want me to start/ B***h, you a p***y, never finna check me/ Every chance you get, bet your weak a** wont address me, Meg raps in the song.

Her lyrics are an apparent reference to Nickis husband, Kenneth Petty, who in 2022 was sentenced to a year of house arrest after failing to register as a sex offender, per Uproxx.

Shortly after the release, Minaj hopped on Instagram Live and repeatedly played an unreleased track in a fiery response to Meg.

Bad b***h, she like six foot, I call her Big Foot/ The b***h fell off, I said, Get up on your good foot,' Minaj raps as she references Megs injuries after being shot in the foot by Tory Lanez in 2020.

OOP! Nicki Minaj quickly responds to the shots Megan Thee Stallion threw on her newly released "HISS" by teasing a diss song and liking tweets of Meg being shot. The btch fell off, I said get up on your good foot you have 3 Grammys and you have to learn how to rap on beat. pic.twitter.com/O5bXjcIc6b  Rap News HQ (@rapnewshq) January 26, 2024

While revisiting the viral incident, Minaj also mocked Megs rapping abilities, saying, You have three Grammys and you have to learn how to rap on the beat and be comfortable in the music, then she imitated her.

The two musicians continued the back-and-forth subliminal digs at each other on Instagram and X, formerly known as Twitter.

Megs Hiss is a follow-up to the success of Cobra, which peaked at No. 32 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Friday afternoon following the single release, the rapper also dropped the music video.

With flashy backdrops, it is clear that thematically, the image in the video is solely her, sans background dancers or props.

Its Meg season!
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT)  A family from Meridianville, a community just north of Huntsville, is hoping to return to the area in February.

The Cook family has spent the past several months in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, near the Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh, where their son Liam is a patient.

Closure planned for part of Clinton Avenue next week

At a few days shy of 11 months old, Liam is doing well now, but his parents say it has been a long road to get where they are.

We watched him almost die 7 times in one year, less than one year, Molly Cook, Liams mom, said

Liam was born at Huntsville Hospital in March of 2023.

The first 24 hours, he was a normal, healthy baby, Molly said.

Natural History museum in New York closing exhibits with Native American objects

His dad, Logan, agreed. Signed off on by all the pediatricians, everyone said he looks great.

Then, going into his second day of life his body temp kind of went down and then his oxygen saturation, Molly said. They were like, well just be really careful, take him down to the NICU, monitor him.

She said after a visit down to the NICU her husband Logan Cook got worried.

Logan went down [to the NICU] and he had coded and he was hooked up to all of these machines, so Logan came back to the room, and I had never seen him like that before, Molly said. I was just like, theyre just being extra careful, and he was like no somethings really wrong with him.

Huntsville city councilman proposes improvements for response to winter storms

Shortly after, Liam was transported from Huntsville Hospital to Childrens of Alabama in Birmingham.

It wasnt until they transferred him to Childrens of Alabama in Birmingham that they told us what they thought it was, the OTC deficiency, Molly said.

The Cooks said Liam was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called Ornithine Transcarbamylase Deficiency, or OTC for short.

One of the NICU Nurse Practitioners suspected, she had seen something somewhere before and kind of like an educated guess they tested him for ammonia, Logan said. They saved his life Molly added.

A lot of the neonatal onset-OTC boys dont make it past 48 hours Molly said.

The first 10 days in Birmingham they werent sure if he was going to pull through Molly said. It was touch and go Logan added.

The Cooks referred to that time as traumatic.

It was just a whirlwind, because were not in the medical community, Im an accountant, hes an engineer, Molly said. So it was like whats a metabolic disorder?, like he needs a liver transplant, he cant process protein, so it was a lot.

The Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, defines OTC as a rare genetic condition that causes ammonia to build up in the blood. The condition  more commonly called OTC deficiency  is more common in boys than girls and tends to be more severe when symptoms emerge shortly after birth.

The genetic deficiency that he had, OTC, was wild it was rough, Logan said,

Molly said they then found out that the only cure was a liver transplant.

After waiting several months to find a donor, Liam had finally gotten big enough that he could have an adult donor.

Thats when Logan made the decision to save his own sons life.

I felt a huge relief, and I was also grateful that I was able to be a candidate, because not everybody can be a donor, Logan said.

Logan donated a piece of the left lobe of his liver to Liam in surgery on November 28, 2023.

Seeing that hes doing so well, again relief and grateful at the same time because were here at the hospital and we see a lot of sick kids, Logan said. Seeing Liam doing well is wonderful.

Logan said the recovery process for him was hard at first.

Im feeling fine now, were at nine weeks out, Logan said about the surgery. The first two weeks were really rough, and then it got better he added.

Since the liver transplant, Liam no longer has the OTC deficiency.

Even though Liam is now recovering well, the family is not out of the woods yet.

The first year after a transplant is the hardest, Molly said

She said Liams labs are being monitored and hes in multiple types of therapy including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and feeding therapy. Molly also said developmentally, Liam is only at about the six-month mark.

It changed our perspective on life, and were just grateful that Liam is doing as well as he is, Molly said.

Even with the hard journey that theyve had, the Cooks say they cherish every day with Liam and look forward to the future.

Now that he actually has a chance at growing up and getting to do all the things, even though transplant has its own complications, he actually gets to to be a kid and have a future, Molly said.

The Cook family is working with the Childrens Organ Transplant Association (COTA) to raise awareness about his situation. They are also raising funds to help his life-long medical bills, and to potentially help other children diagnosed with OTC.

The Cooks say since Liam is doing so well, they believe they will soon be able to leave the Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh and come home to Alabama.

Molly said they hope to be back in Meridianville by late February, just in time for Liams first birthday in March.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
The State Department informed Congress on Friday that it had given its approval for a $23 billion sale of F-16 fighter jets and associated equipment to Turkey.

This decision came after the country's leader signed the necessary documents to facilitate Sweden's long-awaited entry into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Officials from the department and the Pentagon confirmed this development.

US Approves F-16 Fighter Jets Sale to Turkey

Despite the potential for Congress to intervene, the State Department received confirmation from four influential lawmakers that they would not oppose the sale. This decision came after their staff members thoroughly examined the documents signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, according to US officials.

Congressional officials had requested access to the documents prior to indicating their support for the sale. As a result, the State Department requested that Turkey transport the documents to New York on Friday. The department arranged for the prompt delivery of the documents from New York to Washington, ensuring that they would be available for the lawmakers by Friday evening.

The department's formal notification to Congress indicates that the sale is highly likely to happen. This satisfies Erdogan's main condition for supporting Sweden's accession to NATO and could potentially help resolve the strained relations between the United States and Turkey.

Turkey, along with Hungary, was one of two NATO members who did not give their approval for Sweden's entry into the alliance. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has been engaged in a vigorous diplomatic effort since last year, which included a recent meeting with Mr. Erdogan in Istanbul, in an attempt to sway the Turkish leader's perspective.

A US official revealed that during a visit to Turkey in February 2023, Mr. Blinken had a discussion with Mr. Erdogan regarding the issue. The official stated that Mr. Blinken made it clear on three separate occasions that Turkey would not receive the F-16s unless it approved Sweden's accession.

The protracted negotiations with Turkey have also caused a setback in the sale of F-35 jets to Greece. This delay is a result of the diplomatic discussions between Turkey and Greece, two longstanding rivals within NATO. On Friday night, the State Department officially informed Congress that it would proceed with the sale.

Sweden and Finland expressed their desire to join NATO following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The majority of NATO members promptly supported their request. Finland became a member of the alliance in April, while Sweden's application remained unresolved.

While Hungary did not raise any particular concerns, Turkish officials placed blame on Sweden for providing shelter to Kurds who Turkish officials claimed were terrorists. The Turkish Parliament has voted in favor of Sweden's inclusion in NATO, with President Erdogan signing the measure into law shortly after, as per NY Times.

Read Also: U.S. Halts UN Funds Over Allegations Staff Involved in Oct. 7

Sweden, Finland Membership to NATO

Turkey, a NATO ally, has been eager to enhance its F-16 fleet and had linked its support for Sweden's membership to the approval of the sale of these new planes. The sale had received support from the Biden administration, although some lawmakers had raised objections over human rights concerns.

Officials have stated that the objections raised by Senators Ben Cardin and Jim Risch, including the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, have been resolved. Sweden's NATO membership approval was delayed by Turkey for over a year.

The reason behind the delay was Turkey's concern that Sweden did not adequately address its national security concerns, particularly regarding the fight against Kurdish militants and other groups that Ankara considers as security threats.

The delays had caused frustration among the US and other NATO allies, who had quickly accepted Sweden and Finland into the alliance after the Nordic states abandoned their long-standing military neutrality in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Sweden's formal accession to NATO now hinges on Hungary, as it is the only NATO ally that has yet to approve its membership. US and NATO officials have emphasized the urgency for Hungary to take prompt action, particularly in light of Turkey's recent decision, ABC News reported.

Related Article: Finland Prepares for Presidential Election For First Time as New NATO Member
Giving an overabundance of something for nothing financial earned five attorneys from the Florida Keys to Palm Beach, three South Florida judges and a Hollywood law firm laudatory notice at The Florida Bar Presidents Pro Bono Service Awards.

Though the Florida Bar requires its members to report annually the amount of pro bono work done, there is no actual minimum requirement. The Bar considers 20 hours of work done pro bono  short for pro bono publico, a Latin term that means for the public good, as Georgetown Law explains  or $350 given to legal aid organizations aspirational goals for a year.

Free work can be good work. For example, the Miami-Dade civil court summary judgment in December against Fort Lauderdale mover Shawn Thompson, whos been accused of extorting numerous customers, came from a case worked pro bono by Rasheed Nader of Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton.

READ MORE: Mover added $3,000 of fraudulent charges, then hid a Miami womans furniture and clothes

Here in alphabetical order are this years honorees from South Florida, who received their awards during a Jan. 18 ceremony.

U.S. Southern District of Florida Judge Beth Bloom and Judge Robin Rosenberg

The Distinguished Federal Judicial Service Award spotlights a judge  or, in this case, judges  for outstanding and sustained service to the public especially as it relates to support of pro bono legal services.

The bar honors Miami federal court Judge Beth Bloom and West Palm Beach federal court Judge Robin Rosenberg, joint creators of the Civil Discourse and Difficult Decisions Program (CD3).

U.S. District Court Judge Beth Bloom

The U.S. federal courts website describes the program as a national initiative of the federal courts that brings high school and college students into federal courthouses for legal proceedings that arise from situations in which law-abiding young people can find themselves.

The Bar says students from more than 30 high schools and colleges have participated in CD3, and it now includes first-year students at Duke Law School, Rosenbergs alma mater (Blooms a University of Miami School of Law graduate).

U.S. District Court Judge Robin Rosenberg

Gedeon & Morales Law Group

Nadine Gedeon and Cristina Morales, a pair of 2014 St. Thomas University School of Law graduates, founded Gedeon & Morales Law Group in 2017. Their Hollywood firm received the 2014 Law Firm Commendation after putting in more than a thousand pro bono hours in 2023.

Nadine Gedeon

In the past year, Gedeon has provided pro bono representation for five cases and low-fee (low bono) representation for eight cases, the Florida Bar said. She also devotes time each week to visit Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center, where she meets with recent immigrants, recognizing the challenges many of them face because they cant afford a lawyer.

Meanwhile, Morales provided pro bono representation to a Cuban political activist in a 2019 case and handled six pro bono asylum cases between 2022 and 2023  a combined 900 hours of pro bono service.

Cristina Morales

Alvin Lodish, Miami





Alvin Lodish, a bar member since 1986, was the circuit honoree for Floridas 11th Judicial Circuit, Miami-Dade County.

Lodish works for pay as a partner at the Duane Morris law firm. The Bar says that he has dedicated more than 500 hours to pro bono services, helping countless underprivileged children who have been abused, abandoned or neglected.

Alvin Lodish

Lodish volunteers at the Childrens Legal Collaborative, a joint effort of the states Guardian ad Litem program and Dade Legal Aid that says its role is to ensure that every childs voice is heard in Dependency, Delinquency, Family, Immigration, Probate, and Domestic Violence Court.

A Duane Morris representative emailed a statement from Lodish, I went through a difficult time, and if it werent for my family and a high school teacher who saw my value, I could have easily been on the other side of the law.

Michaels Deborah Saint-Vil, Miami

To be eligible for the Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division Pro Bono Service award, the lawyer must have been in practice five years or less and be under 35. Michaels Deborah Saint-Vil joined the Bar in 2018. She was born in December 1988 in Brooklyn and was raised in Haiti before the family moved to North Carolina.

Michaels Deborah Saint-Vil

Saint-Vil manages the Office of New Americans of Miami-Dades Immigration Legal Services and has done significant work with the Florida Immigrant Coalition, Legal Services of Greater Miami and the Catholic Legal Immigration Network.

Saint-Vil is a passionate advocate for fellow immigrants, serving as supervising attorney for Catholic Legal Services, ADOM Inc., the Bar said. CLS provides legal services to immigrants of any faith or national origin who cannot otherwise afford representation. In her role at CLS, Saint-Vil trains newer attorneys, provides legal services, and educates the vulnerable immigrant population about their rights.

Judge Bertila Soto, Miami-Dade County

Judge Bertila Soto, of the 11th Judicial Circuit serving Miami-Dade County, is the recipient of the 2024 Distinguished Judicial Service Award for outstanding and sustained service to the public especially as it relates to support of pro bono legal services.

Eleventh Circuit Probate Judge Bertila Solo

During Sotos seven years as the 11th Judicial Circuit Chief Judge, the circuit started the G.R.A.C.E. Court  Growth Renewed through Acceptance, Change and Empowerment.

According to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center, G.R.A.C.E. Court is the first specialized court in the nation devoted to the needs of children who have been identified as victims of commercial sexual exploitation and labor trafficking, the court said.

(Florida is perennially among the leaders in calls to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, ranking third behind No. 1 California and No. 2 Texas, accordint to the most recent statistics.)

Also during those years, the Bar says, Soto helped recruit more than 3,000 new attorneys for the Dade Legal Aid Put Something Back pro bono project. She also helped create the Unified Childrens Court, which created one place for family law cases that fell under multiple court jurisdictions.

Jonathan Taylor, Fort Lauderdale

Jonathan Taylor, an associate at Moffa, Sutton, & Donnini, and a Bar member since 2011, was the lawyer honored from Floridas 17th Judicial Circuit, Broward County.

Jonathan Taylor

The Bar said since 2021, Taylors donated 135 hours to the Statewide Guardian ad Litem Offices Defending Best Interest Project, which the office says recruits pro bono attorneys who write answer briefs in appeals of cases where a judge has determined (termination of parental rights) is in the childs best interests.

Taylor recently helped a pair of sisters get adopted by the family caring for them.

Tom Woods, Islamorada

Islamoradas Tom Woods, a Bar member since 2001, was honored for his work in Monroe County, Floridas 16th Judicial Circuit, particularly with the Guardian ad Litem program.

Tom Woods

In cases involving kids who have suffered abuse, a Guardian ad Litem attorney will represent that child or children.

In his two decades with GAL, Woods has acquired a reputation as a dependable volunteer who can be available at a moments notice to appear in court and provide the high-quality representation GALs children depend on, the Bar said.

Matthew Zimmerman, West Palm Beach

Matthew Zimmerman, a Bar member since 2005 and partner in Holland & Knights West Palm Beach office, was the honoree from Palm Beach County, Floridas 15th Judicial Circuit.

Matthew Zimmerman

The U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeal confirmed that sexual harassment is a form of gender discrimination because of a case Zimmerman, other HK attorneys and the Legal Aid Society handled on a pro bono basis for Rita Fox, a single mother.

Fox said Jupiter apartment complex manager Dana Gaines, the complex owners son, required not only rent for her to remain in her apartment, but sexual favors. Limited housing options cajoled Fox into submitting to Gaines extortion. When she stopped, Gaines said she was late on rent, violated her lease and started the eviction process.

At trial, Ms. Foxs trial team emphasized that a landlord cannot take away a tenants place to sleep because the tenant would not sleep with the landlord, Holland & Knight stated.

The attorneys won compensatory and punitive damages for Fox as well as $125,000 in attorneys fees that were donated to the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County.

In another team-up with the Legal Aid Society, Zimmerman led a team that represented owners at North Palm Beachs Sandpiper Village.

They successfully defended against bulk buyer Piper Ventures, which sought to terminate the condo agreement and force remaining owners out with low-ball offers, Holland & Knight stated. A Palm Beach County Circuit Court judge ruled in favor of the residents, affirming their rights under Florida law to fair market value for their properties and protecting minority condominium owners from the influence of bulk owners.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  A Michigan man has been convicted of traveling across state lines to have sex with a minor in Arkansas as well as possession of child pornography.

Federal prosecutors said 33-year-old Jeremy Robert Ward, a registered sex offender from Michigan, was found guilty of several sex crimes involving a minor in Arkansas.

Former patients, including children, sue Benton rehabilitation facility claiming sexual assault

Ward was convicted of multiple charges, including one count of interstate travel with the purpose of enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity with a minor, six counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of travel with the purpose to engage in illicit sexual activity with a minor.

According to federal prosecutors, Ward met the 12-year-old minor victim online in September 2022 when he added the victim to his Snapchat account. He exchanged messages with the victim for about three weeks before traveling to Arkansas from his home in Michigan to meet her.

On Oct. 15, 2022, he met the victim face-to-face in her neighborhood when he drove his car up to her while she was riding her bike near her neighborhood. During her encounter with Ward, the victim was able to record a part of the exchange.

Former Bryant High School teacher pleads guilty to having sex with student

Prosecutors said Ward can be heard stating, I was hoping to take you home and that the victim must think Im gonna kidnap you or something to which the victim said, You probably are about to at this point.

Officials said Ward then asked if the victim knew of any private spots in an attempt to find a more secluded place.

Around the same time, the victims father noticed that she was outside the boundary of where she was allowed to be using an app on the childs phone.

The parents then went to her location and found the victim on the ground with Ward, whose pants were around his ankles. Ward then ran into the woods. Federal prosecutors stated that the victim testified at trial that while she was in the field with Ward, he attempted to commit sexual acts with her.

Heber Springs woman arrested, accused sharing inappropriate photos of juvenile online

Investigators said they found that Ward and the victim communicated through video messages, some of which Ward recorded on his phone. The recorded videos were recovered from Wards phone and included video and images of the minor victim nude in the shower.

According to the U.S. Attorneys Office, Ward could face 25-50 years for the charge of sexual exploitation of a minor, 10 years to life for traveling with the purpose of engaging in sexual activity with a minor, 15-40 years on the child pornography charge and up to 30 years on the traveling for illicit activity charge.

In addition to prison time, prosecutors said Ward could face a potential penalty of up to $250,000 fine.

Former Arkansas teacher accused of sex with student

Ward was previously convicted on multiple charges in 2013 in Michigan, including three counts of possession of child sexual abuse material and one count of accosting a child for an immoral purpose.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI, and the case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kristin Bryant and Amanda Fields.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
A third high-ranking Millersville city official has been dismissed, bringing the total to three this week after the abrupt firing of the city manager and attorney.

Millersville police Chief Robert Richman said he was fired Friday by Interim City Manager Tina Tobin.

"I've never seen such a mess," he said by phone. "I didn't really even get an opportunity to really even do anything before having my feet cut out from under me."

Richman, who recently moved to Millersville from Texas, was sworn in as the city's fourth police chief in December. He joined the department after it came under scrutiny and investigation by the Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission last year. The chief and assistant chief at the time resigned from their positions in July during the investigation.

Richman's firing comes after a tumultuous commission meeting Tuesday, where two commissioners said they were blindsided by a decision by Mayor Tommy Long and two other commissioners to fire Scott Avery as city manager.

The reaction to the decision was swift. Many residents and city employees expressed confusion about the decision during the public comments period. Others expressed anger at not being given an adequate reason for the firing.

Long simply said that because Avery was employed for more than 12 months, under the city's charter, he is not required to give a reason for the decision.

In the same meeting, Long, Vice Mayor Milton Dorris and Commissioner Alisa Huling voted to appoint Tobin as interim manager, minutes after her resume was provided to the officials.

Wednesday morning she fired city attorney Jack Freedle, who'd been outspoken out the decision to fire Avery and begged the commission to reconsider in an effort to avoid any impropriety.

Commissioners voted unanimously late last year to hire Richman, who had more than 30 years of law enforcement experience and had retired from the Austin Police Department.

"I got the same surprise Scott Avery got," Richman said. "I didn't even have the courtesy of someone coming up and telling me in person. I literally received a phone call and then subsequently followed up with an email saying they just want to go in a different direction."

Richman said he's committed to Millersville, and now that he's a private citizen, he's not afraid to make his opinions known on city actions.

"I sold my home, uprooted my family and came here to the city of Millersville after each of them voted to bring me here," he said. "I feel worse for the citizens of Millersville because they deserve better. These citizens deserve more. I am one, too, and I deserve more."

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Millersville police chief axed 5 weeks in, 3rd official cut in 3 days
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) denounced President Bidens support of the Senate-backed U.S.-Mexico border deal, arguing he can use executive action to curtail the number of encounters the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) deals with daily.

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Johnson said that Biden does not need to pass new legislation to address the situation at the southern border.

President Biden falsely claimed yesterday he needs Congress to pass a new law to allow him to close the southern border, but he knows that is untrue, Johnson said. As I explained to him in a letter late last year, and have specifically reiterated to him on multiple occasions since, he can and must take executive action immediately to reverse the catastrophe he has created.

Johnson went on to list several actions Biden can take.

As my letter stated, President Biden can begin to secure the border by ending catch-and-release, ceasing exploitation of parole authority, reinstating the Remain in Mexico program, expanding the use of expedited removal authority, and renewing construction of the border wall, Johnson continued. The President must start by using the broad legal authority he already possesses to reclaim our nations sovereignty and end the mass release of illegal aliens into our country.

Johnsons response comes after Bidens statement on Friday when he vowed to shut down the U.S. Mexico border when it becomes overwhelmed if bipartisan border security legislation passes Congress.

Lets be clear, Biden said in the statement on Friday. Whats been negotiated would  if passed into law  be the toughest and fairest set of reforms to secure the border weve ever had in our country. It would give me, as President, a new emergency authority to shut down the border when it becomes overwhelmed. And if given that authority, I would use it the day I sign the bill into law.

The border bill is currently being negotiated in the Senate, along with the attached funding for Ukraine and other U.S. allies. Johnson said in the letter to his colleagues the negotiated legislation is dead on arrival in the GOP-led House if the rumors about the border deal are true.

The White House told Johnson that Republicans in the lower chamber have to pick between finding a bipartisan solution or landing political points.

House Republicans, they have a choice to make. They have to choose whether they want to solve a problem, actually solve a problem like the Senate is trying to do in a bipartisan way. Or, get in the way and score political points, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Friday.

CBP confirmed there were 302,024 total encounters at the U.S. southern border in December last year, setting a new record.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
MoD figures showed that, last year, 5,800 more people left the forces than joined - PAUL GROVER FOR THE TELEGRAPH

The staffing crisis engulfing the military has deepened as the flagship 1.4bn tri-service recruitment scheme has been delayed again, The Telegraph can disclose.

Presented as a recruiting solution by the Ministry of Defence, the Armed Forces Recruiting Programme (AFRP) was designed to provide a single scheme for the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force.

Currently the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force handle their own recruitment, while the Armys is outsourced to Capita.

At the start of the decade the MoD stated that all three services were looking to transform their recruiting operations over the next two to five years, with the Service Commencement due for April 2025, having already been delayed from the year before.

However, in response to a written parliamentary question from the shadow defence secretary John Healey, Dr Andrew Murrison, Minister for Defence People, confirmed that the project would not be delivered next year and that Capitas contract was extended until 2026.

He said: In June 2023 the Army signed a further two-year Recruiting Partnering Project (RPP) contract extension with Capita out to March 2026, with the inclusion of an option to further extend the contract for a third year, if required.

In September 2023 the Army commenced discussions with Capita to enact the option of a third-year contract extension to bridge the gap to the commencement of the Armed Forces Recruitment Service in 2027.

A senior defence source told The Telegraph that Capita are throwing everything at it in the hope of being selected as the recruiter to run AFRP.

They added: Capita have really upped their game.

Recruitment crisis

Earlier this month Capita gave evidence before the Commons defence select committee, where it revealed that it had only recruited 5,000 people of the 9,813 people it has been tasked with hiring this year.

It comes after recent official government figures have shown that in the 12 months to March, intake for the Army dropped by almost 15 per cent.

The recruitment crisis is affecting all services, with The Telegraph having revealed that the Navy now has so few sailors it has had to decommission two warships in order to staff its new class of frigates.

Dr Murrison told Parliament in January that the armed forces were facing a crisis in military recruitment, with the latest MoD figures showing that last year, 5,800 more people left the forces than joined.

Mr Healey said: The Conservatives have failed in defence for 14 years  failing to hit their recruitment targets every year.

The Conservatives have corroded the nations moral contract with those who serve. Personnel are living in damp and mouldy housing, satisfaction with service life has fallen to almost 40 percent, and more people are leaving than joining our armed forces.

Mark Francois, a former Armed Forces Minister, said: Einsteins definition of madness was doing the same thing over again and yet expecting a different outcome; which is exactly what we would be doing if we extended Capitas persistently failing recruitment methods to the other Armed Services as well.

A Ministry of Defence Spokesman said: We remain focused on increasing recruitment and improving retention ahead of the Armed Forces Recruiting Programme being introduced in 2027, as reflected in the Haythornthwaite Review and Defence Command Paper publications.

Investing in our people matters and this is why we have funded a number of trials to increase recruitment and retention, awarded the largest pay increase in over 20 years and committed to spend more than 4 billion to improve service personnel accommodation.

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 missile was launched by Houthi rebels towards a United States warship patrolling the Gulf of Aden on Friday. The warship successfully shot down the projectile, but a British vessel was also struck in the ongoing series of aggressive attacks on maritime traffic.

In a significant development, a commercial vessel was set ablaze on Friday night due to Houthi missile fire, further escalating the ongoing confrontation in the Middle East. This incident marks a major escalation in the naval conflict, making it the most significant one the US Navy has witnessed in the region in decades.

Yemen's Houthi Rebels Fire Missile at US Warship

According to the US military's Central Command, a strike was carried out by US forces on Saturday to neutralize a Houthi anti-ship missile that was targeting the Red Sea. Al-Masirah satellite news channel said airstrikes occurred in close proximity to the port city of Hodeida. However, no evaluation of the extent of the damage has been provided.

An anonymous US official stated that the recent attack on a US warship by the Houthis marks the first direct targeting of a warship since the rebels started their assaults on shipping in October. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity as no authorization had been given to discuss the incident, ABC News reported.

On Friday, the United Kingdom Maritime Operations, responsible for overseeing Mideast waterways, confirmed that a ship had been hit by a missile and was currently ablaze in the Gulf of Aden. Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, a spokesperson for the Houthi military, did not address the Carney attack.

However, he asserted responsibility for the missile attack on the commercial vessel, which resulted in its ignition. The vessel was identified as the Marlin Luanda, a tanker flagged under the Marshall Islands. Central Command has confirmed that the Marlin Luanda was hit by a single anti-ship ballistic missile, which was fired from Houthi-controlled Yemen.

The Carney and other coalition ships swiftly came to the aid of the distressed vessel, providing much-needed assistance. According to Central Command, there were no injuries. The recent attacks on US warships by the Houthis mark a significant escalation in their campaign in the Red Sea, reminiscent of the intensity seen during the Israel-Hamas war.

The US has been cautious in its portrayal of the Houthis' strikes, acknowledging the challenge of discerning their intended targets. This approach aims to mitigate the risk of the conflict escalating into a broader regional war. Regular action is now being taken by the US and its allies in Yemen, with a focus on destroying armed launch sites that are considered an imminent threat, even if they have not yet been fired upon.

According to Brad Bowman, a senior director at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, there has been a shift in acknowledging the reality of the situation. It is now being recognized that there are deliberate attempts to harm our forces and pose a threat to our lives.

Read Also: US Expresses Concerns Over Sri Lanka's Online Safety Bill

Red Sea Tensions: Houthi Attacks US Warship

The Yemeni armed forces reportedly used a series of naval missiles that they deemed appropriate for the operation. The fuel on board was of Russian origin. However, according to shipping records, the vessel is registered under the flag of the Marshall Islands, which is a collection of Pacific islands located northeast of Papua New Guinea. According to sources, the ship is also owned by a Bermuda-based company.

Authorities in the area are actively addressing the situation. Trafigura, the commodities supply firm that chartered the ship, has stated that they are currently in communication with the crew. Trafigura is headquartered in Singapore, with a regional hub located in London.

A spokesperson for Trafigura stated that on January 26, the Marlin Luanda, a tanker vessel transporting petroleum products on behalf of Trafigura, was hit by a missile while passing through the Red Sea. Firefighting equipment is currently being used to suppress and control a fire that has occurred in one of the cargo tanks on the starboard side. The well-being and security of the crew is our topmost concern.

Per AP News, the Marlin Luanda is currently being leased by Trafigura, a Singapore firm, from a group of investors who own the vessel through a company registered in Bermuda, a British Overseas Territory. The recent attacks mark the rebels' ongoing efforts to target ships in the Red Sea and nearby waters, causing significant disruptions to global trade.

Related Article: US, UK Militaries Launch New Strikes Against Houthi Targets in Yemen
Missing Apple Valley resident Robert Toomey, 79, died shortly after he was located in Fresno County.

An Apple Valley man who was reported missing earlier this week died shortly after he was found in Northern California.

San Bernardino County Sheriffs officials reported that on Wednesday, 79-year-old Robert Toomey was located in Fresno County.

Toomey was taken to a hospital where he died a short time later, said sheriffs officials, who offered no details on the cause of his death.

The Fresno County Sheriff-Coroner's Office did not return messages to the Daily Press on Friday afternoon.

Before Toomey went missing, sheriffs officials said the senior possibly had early stages of dementia.

Toomey goes missing

Around 10 p.m. Monday, Toomey left his home in the 13800 block of Choco Road. He was driving a 2013, gray, four-door, Honda Accord, police said.

At about 2 a.m. on Tuesday, Toomey was seen at a gas station 90 miles away in Downey, in Los Angeles County.

At 9:46 a.m., Toomeys Honda was captured on camera nearly 240 miles north in Clovis, near Fresno.

At that time, sheriffs officials reported that Toomey may be heading to San Francisco to visit his son who lives there.

Toomey left with an unknown amount of cash, and no cellphone or credit cards.

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Missing Apple Valley man dies shortly after being found
A Missouri state senator proposed reinstating a practice used by Americas founding fathers to settle disputes as tensions flare in the statehouse: duels.

If a senators honor is impugned by another senator to the point that it is beyond repair and in order for the offended senator to gain satisfaction, such senator may rectify the perceived insult to the senators honor by challenging the offending senator to a duel, states the proposal which was written by state Sen Nick Schroer.

The trusted representative, known as the second, of the offended senator shall send a written challenge to the offending senator. The two senators shall agree to the terms of the duel, including choice of weapons, which shall be witnessed and enforced by their respective seconds, it continues.

The duel shall take place in the well of the senate at the hour of high noon on the date agreed to by the parties to the duel.

Missouri Senate Democrats underscored the ongoing bitterness on the other side of the aisle, posting the proposal on X with the caption: The Missouri Republican Civil War continues to escalate as a member of the Freedom Caucus faction has filed a proposed rule change to allow Senators to challenge an offending senator to a duel.

The Missouri Republican Civil War continues to escalate as a member of the Freedom Caucus faction has filed a proposed rule change to allow Senators to challenge an offending senator to a duel. #moleg pic.twitter.com/ru9GcYCKBE  Senate Democrats (@MoSenDems) January 24, 2024

Mr Schroers chief of staff, Jamey Murphy, told Newsweek that the state senator is deeply committed to restoring a sense of honor in the Missouri Senate.

He emphasised, While the idea of a duel may have been suggested in a metaphorical sense, the core message is about fostering respect and reminding members that the words used in a debate may have real consequences.

Missouri state Senate Leader Caleb Rowden removed several members of the Missouri Freedom Caucus from their committee chairs this week after excessive party infighting.

Mr Rowden explained his decision on X: A chamber designed to be occupied with civil, principled statesmen and women has been overtaken by a small group of swamp creatures who, all too often, remind me more of my children than my colleagues.
A federal judge ordered a bench warrant to be issued for a Missouri man who failed to show up for a probation violation hearing in his Capitol riot case.

Devin Keil Rossman, of Independence, is now listed as a fugitive, according to court records. Rossman was scheduled to appear at 9:30 a.m. Friday in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The government said he had violated several conditions of his probation.

I have not heard from him, Rossmans attorney, Ronna Holloman-Hughes, said in an email to The Star on Friday evening. If I do, I will tell him to turn himself in. This is unfortunate.

Rossman, 40, was charged in May 2022 with four misdemeanors. He pleaded guilty in September 2022 to one count of parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. He was sentenced in December 2022 to 36 months probation with a condition of intermittent incarceration and a $2,000 fine.

He also was ordered to pay $500 restitution for damage to the Capitol building and costs borne by the U.S. Capitol Police, which prosecutors now say total nearly $2.9 million.

According to court records, Rossman entered the Capitol just minutes after the initial breach on Jan. 6 and remained inside for about an hour and 53 minutes.

On Nov. 15, the U.S. Probation Office filed a petition alleging Rossman had violated probation by failing to make the required payments toward restitution; using or possessing alcohol on Sept. 19, 2023; failing to notify his probation officer of a change in employment status; and failing to attend some required classes.

The report said Rossman had been complying with other substantial aspects of his supervision.

The Probation Office asked the court to issue a summons and schedule a hearing. It was set for Dec. 1, but an attorney for Rossman filed a motion to continue it and allow him to attend virtually instead of in person. U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell granted the motion and rescheduled the hearing for Jan. 5. But on Dec. 29, the judge changed it back to an in-person hearing.

Rossmans lawyer then requested another continuance, citing Rossmans continued financial struggles and saying he needed time to make more cost-effective travel arrangements. Howell reset the hearing for Friday.

But on Thursday, Rossmans attorney filed a new request, again asking the court to allow a virtual hearing instead of requiring him to attend in person. It said Rossman had experienced a loss of income and several financial setbacks in recent months and couldnt afford to pay to travel from Missouri to Washington.

The motion asked the court to authorize and direct the United States Marshal to fund noncustodial transportation arrangements for him to make the trip for the hearing if a virtual hearing wasnt an option, and to continue the court matter until those travel arrangements could be made.

Howell quickly denied the motion, noting in her order that Rossmans request was tardily filed less than 24 hours prior to the scheduled hearing leaving insufficient time to obtain any travel funding.

She added that the hearing had already been postponed for three weeks for Rossman to travel economically even though the government objected. Howell said Rossman has shown that he is demonstrably able to get to Washington given that he traveled there to commit the offense conduct on January 6, 2021, for which he was sentenced to probation.

According to court records, Rossman roamed the Capitol once he was inside the building and eventually reached then-Speaker Nancy Pelosis office suite, a restricted area.

Rossman then entered the Speakers Office suite and tried to open doors while the Speakers terrified staffers sought shelter under their desks, and he took photos and bragged to friends in Facebook messages about entering the area, according to court documents. He also expressed little remorse for his actions, the documents said.

Rossman had discussed plans with others on Facebook to bring firearms and knives to Washington, D.C., the court records said.

In one conversation, Rossman sent a picture of three knives and stated on January 5, 2021, that he intended to conceal the knives, one for my boot, one for my waist and one for my pocket, according to the documents. He also texted pictures of firearms that he intended to bring to Washington, D.C.

Rossman later told authorities he ultimately decided against taking these items to D.C.

In a court filing prior to his sentencing, Rossman blamed former President Donald Trump, right-wing media and other elected officials  including Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley  for spreading the Big Lie that led to his actions.

The document said Rossman was duped by Trump and others into believing that Democrats rigged the 2020 presidential election.

Before January 6, 2021, Mr. Rossman held a good faith belief the 2000 presidential election was in the process of being stolen by Joe Biden Democrat operatives, the filing said. Then President Trump trumpeted this claim to the nation repeatedly and loudly from the time of the 2020 election to January 6, 2021, and continues to press that claim today.
By Alexander Tanas

CHISINAU (Reuters) - The chief negotiator for Moldova's Russian-backed separatist Transdniestria region said on Friday that his team would no longer attend talks on the country's future in areas under government control because he feared arrest.

Transdniestria split from Moldova before the 1991 collapse of Soviet rule and fought a brief war against the newly independent country, but it has existed for more than 30 years on the country's eastern fringe with little turmoil.

The two sides hold periodic talks on resolving their differences, but tension has risen in the new year over Moldova's imposition of customs duties that the separatist side says will hurt its businesses. Moldovan officials described the latest session of talks earlier this month as "difficult".

Transdniestria's foreign minister, Vitaly Ignatiev, said he was wary of recent changes to Moldova's criminal code toughening its provisions against separatism. He said he could no longer abide by the principle of alternating the talks between the Moldovan capital, Chisinau, and Tiraspol, the separatist region's main town.

"No resident of Transdniestria can be safe from criminal prosecution if he is on the other side of the Dniester River," Ignatiev said, referring to the government-controlled area of Moldova.

"Within the context of our talks, we have repeatedly asked for guarantees against the use of repressive measures against citizens of Transdniestria. But Chisinau won't provide them."

Given the new criminal provisions, he said, talks could only be held either in Transdniestria or by video conference.

The pro-European government in Moldova, one of Europe's poorest countries and which lies between Ukraine and Romania, has pledged to press on with a drive to join the European Union.

President Maia Sandu has denounced Russia's invasion of Ukraine and accused Russia of plotting to remove her. She says Moldova could join the EU initially without Transdniestria, citing membership granted to the divided island of Cyprus.

Moldova's chief negotiator, Deputy Prime Minister Oleg Serebrean, said last week that authorities were not insisting on the current practice of alternating the site of talks.

The country's criminal code, he said, sought to uphold Moldova's territorial integrity and was not aimed at Transdniestria's residents, though he could not offer security guarantees "because I am not a prosecutor".

Ignatiev holds Ukrainian and Russian citizenship, and Kyiv has ordered him appear in a Ukrainian court this month to answer charges of welcoming Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea and for more recent hostile statements about Ukraine.

(Reporting by Alexander Tanas; Editing by Ron Popeskiand Leslie Adler)
MONETA, Va. (WFXR)  The Moneta Volunteer Fire Department is hosting a benefit fundraiser for their president Chris Tucker on Saturday, Feb. 17 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Tucker, who has dedicated his life to serving the community as a firefighter for many years, is currently in a battle with cancer. The fire department says although he is undergoing treatment and enduring a lot, he is staying strong through it all.

Roanoke Area Ministries announce new Jain Care Center to open 2025

The fire department says Tucker is currently facing some financial difficulties due to unexpected circumstances. Just as Tucker has always been there for anyone in need, the Moneta Fire Department wants to support him just as he has for several years as the departments president.

In light of this difficult situation, the fire department is inviting the community to a spaghetti and chicken dinner to help show support for Tucker during this challenging time. Each plate costs $10 with an option to either dine in or take out. All funds will be donated to help Tucker continue his fight against cancer.

For more information on this event for President Tucker, visit the Moneta Volunteer Fire Departments Facebook page.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.
The Monongahela Incline could reopen within the next two weeks, according to Pittsburgh Regional Transit.

The Mon Incline closed on Jan. 2, when several electrical and mechanical systems that slow the cars as they approach the stations failed.

RELATED COVERAGE >> Monongahela Incline closed until further notice while repairs are underway for several issues

While working on the initial repairs, PRT says contractors found other issues that needed immediate attention.

PRT expects repair work to be done by Monday. Then, crews move on to in-house testing.

Once testing is complete and any adjustments made, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry will inspect the 153-year-old incline.

If the inspection is successful, the incline could reopen on Feb. 9.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW

TRENDING NOW:

New videos played in court show moment just before deadly school van crash in Dravosburg Washington County man facing nearly 100 charges after a dozen dogs found neglected in home Local charity asking for help to send mother with terminal brain cancer to Disney World with her son VIDEO: Local lawmaker wants to change the way PIAA determines athletic classifications DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts
MONTICELLO, Ill. (WCIA)  Dog owners in Central Illinois have the chance to give their pups a night to remember at the Doggy Date Night event.

Willow Branch Kennel is hosting the event this Saturday, Jan. 27, from 5-8 p.m. at their doggy daycare facility in Monticello. Dog owners can drop off their dogs for a night of fun activities to keep them busy while owners can enjoy a quiet night to themselves, take their partners on a date night of their own, or just catch up on some projects theyve been needing to do.

The event comes as an early celebration of National Doggy Date Night, which is Saturday, Feb. 3. The celebration usually involves dog owners treating their furry friends to games and quality time to show their appreciation, but Willow Branch Kennel is offering a different take on the national event.

Anyone interested in attending needs to reserve a spot by messaging 217-669-2167 Ext. 3. More information can be found on the event page here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
Participants walk through the German-Polish border town in the east of Brandenburg during the "Never again is now!" demonstration against right-wing extremist activities. Patrick Pleul/dpa

More than 10,000 people joined a protest against right-wing extremism in the northern German city of Kiel on Saturday amid several similar rallies and marches around the country.

Coinciding with the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the event drew crowds to the Baltic Sea port city's historic main square in support of democracy and solidarity.

"Our democracy is more stable than the democracy of 100 years ago, but let's not be too sure," said Kiel Mayor Ulf Kampfer, who also attended.

The German Trade Union Confederation, the organizer of the rally, counted more than 15,000 participants, while the police spoke of 11,500 people.

As elsewhere, the Kiel demonstration reflected public concern at the recent electoral successes of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, whose anti-immigration platform has driven much of its growth.

"Right-wing extremists and delegitimizers are getting louder," said Schleswig-Holstein's Interior Minister Sabine Sutterlin-Waack. "One thing is certain: National Socialist ideas must have no place in our society."

The anti-extremism events on Saturday also followed a recent report by the Correctiv group of investigative journalists that several AfD figures and Austrian white supremacist Martin Sellner held a meeting in Potsdam in November.

Participants walk through the German-Polish border town in the east of Brandenburg during the "Never again is now!" demonstration against right-wing extremist activities. Patrick Pleul/dpa

Participants hold Israeli flags at a rally organized by the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) on "For Democracy and Solidarity". Markus Scholz/dpa

Demonstrators hold signs reading "Democracy needs no alternative!" at a rally organized by the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) on "For democracy and solidarity". Markus Scholz/dpa

A demonstrator holds a sign reading "Hate makes you small" at a rally organized by the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) on "For Democracy and Solidarity". Markus Scholz/dpa
Alabama's Attorney General Steve Marshall remains committed to the continued use of nitrogen gas for inmate executions, despite disturbing accounts from witnesses of Kenneth Eugene Smith's recent execution.

Steve Marshall also expressed willingness to help other states acquire the newly-developed technique, dismissing allegations that the perpetrator experienced intense suffering as he was gradually asphyxiated over a 22-minute period on Thursday evening.

Alabama Attorney General Says Nitrogen Gas Execution to be Used Again

Amidst the ongoing controversy, US prisons have found a new method for carrying out executions in the form of nitrogen hypoxia. This alternative has become increasingly popular, particularly in states that have been facing a shortage of lethal injection drugs for several years.

Marshall mentioned this in his remarks on Friday, expressing his approval of the use of nitrogen gas executions as a reliable and proven method. Authorities maintained for months prior to the execution that it would be a humane and painless process for Smith.

This assurance came after a previous execution attempt in 2022 was halted due to difficulties in inserting an IV line, causing hours of discomfort for Smith. After a failed execution in 2022, Smith took a risky move by requesting his next execution to be done using nitrogen hypoxia, hoping that officials would not go through with the untested method.

According to Marshall, out of the 165 inmates on Alabama's death row, 43 prisoners have chosen nitrogen hypoxia as their preferred method of execution instead of lethal injection. The sate's filings indicate that experts have reached a consensus that nitrogen hypoxia is a painless method as it induces unconsciousness within seconds.

According to Marshall, the events on Thursday night did not unfold as expected and took longer than anticipated. He mentioned the challenge of determining the timing, particularly when the nitrogen started to flow.

Observer of the capital punishment Lee Hedgepeth, who provided a detailed account for DailyMail.com, observed something in the chamber that directly contradicts Marshall's statements the following day.

Prior to the commencement of the execution, Smith's pastor, John Ewell, shared with DailyMail.com that the convict was grappling with the harsh reality of his impending demise. Officials also noted that he showed little appetite for his last meal, which consisted of a T-bone steak, hashbrowns, and eggs from Waffle House.

As he grappled with coming to terms with his destiny, the Alabama Department of Corrections reported that Smith's last day commenced with his rejection of a morning meal consisting of eggs, biscuits, grape jelly, apple sauce, and orange juice.

He then declined the tray of lunch, but did consume Mountain Dew, Pepsi, and coffee. Smith was instructed to consume only clear liquids starting from 4pm, after barely eating his last meal, which was a dish from Waffle House generously topped with A1 steak sauce.

In a heart-wrenching moment, his wife, Deanna Smith, cried out in desperation from the witness box. This came after she had already endured the trauma of witnessing her husband's failed execution two years ago. The execution method sparked intense debate in the weeks leading up to the final date, as opinions were divided. Some believed that Smith's crime in 1988 justified his placement on death row.

At the age of 22, Smith found himself involved in a disturbing case. He was one of two individuals found guilty in the murder-for-hire killing of Elizabeth Sennett, who was 45 years old. The victim was the wife of preacher Charles Sennet Sr., who had hired the men to carry out the crime as part of an insurance scheme.

After his initial conviction in 1989 was overturned on appeal, he faced a retrial in 1996 and was once again found guilty, ultimately receiving a death sentence. According to prosecutors, he and John Forrest Parker received a payment of $1,000 each for carrying out the hit. It is alleged that Sennett's husband had financial troubles and was aiming to benefit from her insurance policy.

The discovery was made on March 18, 1988, when the lifeless body was found in her residence in Colbert County. The victim had suffered multiple stab wounds, with eight in the chest and one on each side of her neck. Following the discovery of his alleged involvement in the plot, Charles Sennett Sr. tragically took his own life. He has been laid to rest beside his wife.

Read Also: Donald Trump Ordered To Pay E. Jean Carroll $83 Million in Defamation Case, Jury Rules

Criticisms Over Alabama's Nitrogen Gas Execution

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey praised the execution, viewing it as a form of justice for Sennett's murder. Ivey stated in a press release that Smith has finally faced the consequences for his heinous crimes, after multiple attempts to manipulate the system over the course of three decades.

Meanwhile, the administration expressed concern over Smith's execution by nitrogen gas, calling it a matter of concern. During a press briefing, Karine Jean-Pierre, the press secretary, highlighted the significance of the recent death, emphasizing President Joe Biden's strong support for a moratorium on the federal death penalty.

"The president has consistently expressed serious concerns about the implementation of the death penalty and its alignment with our core values," Jean-Pierre stated.

Alabama's new death penalty has been strongly criticized by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, who argues that it goes against the fundamental right to life. Turk has called for the universal abolition of this practice.

In a statement released on Friday, Turk expressed his profound regret over the execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith in Alabama. He raised serious concerns about the use of a new and untested method of suffocation by nitrogen gas, suggesting that it may potentially amount to torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.

In a statement on Friday, spokesperson Peter Stano expressed the European Union's condemnation of the new method of execution, describing it as "particularly cruel and unusual." Stano also reiterated the EU's longstanding call for the universal abolition of the death penalty.

Over the past few years, several states that continue to permit the death penalty have faced challenges in acquiring the required substances for lethal injections. This predicament arose when European manufacturers declined to sell drugs to the United States for use in executions. as per CNN.

According to Stano, the EU expressed appreciation for the progress made in the United States, with 29 states either abolishing capital punishment or implementing a moratorium on executions.

Related Article: Nitrogen Hypoxia: US Supreme Court Declines To Stop Alabama's First Nitrogen Gas Execution on Inmate
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Another stolen vehicle operation (SVO) led by the Portland Police Bureau led to multiple arrests, recovered vehicles and recovery of an illegally possessed firearm, officials say.

Beginning Friday afternoon, PPBs East Precinct worked with officers from the Gresham Police Department (GPD) and deputies from Multnomah County Sheriffs Office (MCSO) on this latest SVO, focusing on the Lents, Powellhurst-Gilbert, Pleasant Valley, Montavilla, Parkrose Heights, Hazelwood, Russell, and Mill Park Neighborhoods. The Facebook group PDX Stolen Cars also assisted the operation by reporting stolen vehicles.

Highlights from the SVO

Just after 3:30 p.m., East Precinct officers were behind a vehicle in the area of Southeast Powell Boulevard and Southeast 122nd Avenue when the driver tried to elude them, drove around the block, then pulled over. The driver, 34 year-old Aaron Cox, was found in illegal possession of a loaded handgun and arrested, authorities say.

Man found dead inside SE Portland home prompts homicide investigation

Cox was charged with being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Possession of a Loaded Firearm in Public. He was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC) and the cars passenger, 52 year-old Raymond Kerbs, was arrested on a felony warrant, authorities say.

MCSO deputies and PPB officers stopping a stolen vehicle on the freeway during an SVO conducted on Jan. 26, 2024 (Courtesy: PPB)

A punched ignition of a suspected stolen vehicle from an SVO led by PPB on Jan. 26, 2024 (Courtesy: PPB)

A suspect in handcuffs being interviewed by officers during an SVO conducted on Jan. 26, 2024 (Courtesy: PPB)

Just before 5 p.m., Vancouver Police Department officers, who were running a similar operation in their jurisdiction, notified PPB that a recently stolen red 2020 Mitsubishi was southbound on I-205 crossing the Glenn Jackson Bridge into Portland. Officers report locating the stolen vehicle and attempted to stop it near Northeast 122nd Avenue and Northeast Shaver Street. The driver did not stop and the officers pursued.

When the chase went eastbound on Northeast Marine Drive, the suspect sideswiped an occupied vehicle. An MCSO deputy was able to spike the tires, spinning the car to a stop at Northeast 138th Avenue and Northeast Whitaker Way. The driver immediately surrendered and was taken into custody. No injuries were reported in the pursuit, officials say.

Man who made unprovoked attack on 2 elderly men sentenced to life in Oregon State Hospital

The driver, 23 year-old Angel Rodriguez of Vancouver, was booked into MCDC on charges of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Attempt to Elude by Vehicle, Reckless Driving, Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, 10 counts of Reckless Endangering Another Person and more, authorities say.

Overall, PPBs preliminary statistics for the whole mission state 11 stolen vehicles were recovered in 25 stops, 10 arrests made and 10 active warrants given out. Three drivers attempted to elude police and two were pursued. Additionally, five vehicles were towed and one gun recovered.

PPB added there has been a 25% reduction in stolen vehicles reported to them last year compared to the year before. From January through November of 2023, there were 7,454 stolen vehicles reported. For that same time period in 2022, they say there were 10,004, making 2,550 fewer stolen vehicles.

PPB acknowledged that, while this trend is encouraging, they will continue with these operations in the future.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Former White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney said Sen. Tim Scotts (R-S.C.) decision to back former President Trump for the GOP nomination over fellow South Carolina politician Nikki Haley got his attention.

Mulvaney joined The Hill on NewsNation host Blake Burman to discuss Micks Picks, or the potential candidates that Trump may choose as his running mate. Among them, was Scott, who the former Trump official had previously ruled out.

You know, Blake, the last couple weeks I have been on the show talking about folks who might be on the vice-presidential list, he said. I always said that Tim Scott would be off the list, but his move last week to endorse Trump, before the South Carolina primary really, really got my attention.

Scott, who dropped out of the GOP primary in November, formally endorsed Trump last week, saying we need a president who will unite our country. Haleys allies quickly criticized the Palmetto State senator, noting that she appointed him to his Senate position in 2012 when she was governor.

As I mentioned before, I talked to Tim, he hold me why he did that. But again, he had the perfect excuse to stay neutral in that race until after South Carolina, Nikki Haley, after all, literally gave him a Senate seat, Mulvaney said. So this is an affirmative move on his part, and I think you have to sort of put him back on the list.

Mulvaney, who previously represented South Carolina in the House, continued, saying the list of potential vice presidential candidates signals Trump is looking to sort of broaden his appeal. Other potential running mates include Trumps former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson, Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R), he argued.

Look at that list. Theres no white males, he added. Theres two women and two African American males.

He argued that Carson might be his top choice because hes the lowest profile. Mulvaney said the former president would likely prefer someone like Carson.

As Trump and Haley barrel toward the Feb. 24 primary in South Carolina, Mulvaney said he thinks the chances her chances of becoming vice president are slim.

Following the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary, both handed to the former President, Haley has doubled down and continued her fight against Trump, who has been unrelenting in his attacks against her.

This is going to get really, really nasty if it goes the next four weeks, he said. While Donald Trump will always forgive, he never forgets and if this goes on for two or three or four more weeks, its gonna be really nasty and hard to come back from that.

Trump also warned those who donate to Haleys campaign that they will be permanently barred from the MAGA camp.

The Hill and NewsNation are both owned by Nexstar Media Group.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
GORMAN, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  A murder investigation is underway in Gorman after the discovery of a deceased man with a gunshot wound to the chest.

Courtesy of the Eastland County Sheriffs Office

A little after 6:00 p.m. on January 25th, the Eastland County Sheriffs Office was called to a residence in Gorman in reference to a deceased person. When on the scene, crews discovered a man with an apparent gunshot wound to the chest. The victim was identified as 66-year-old Jamie Webb of Granbury, Texas.

Another man, identified as 68-year-old Rodney Roberts of Gorman, Texas, was found on the scene. He was arrested and charged with Murder. He remains held in the Eastland County Jail.

The Texas Rangers are assisting with the investigation. According to the Eastland County Sheriffs Office, no further information will be released at this time pending investigation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.
As a South Carolina native, the Medical University of South Carolina has always stood out as a world-class institution, the best the country has to offer.

My mother spent much of her final months of life, in a semi-vegetative state, receiving great care at MUSC. Other family members and loved ones have been served well there as well. Thats why it was so heartbreaking to learn that MUSC gave into bad actors when their most vulnerable patients needed them to be steadfast.

Hospital officials cowered in the face of political pressure, robbing transgender youth of life-saving care, according to an extensive investigative report by ProPublica and The (Charleston) Post & Courier. They were cowed by a tweet from an erratic, bigoted billionaire, Elon Musk, who knows nothing about South Carolina, and state lawmakers comfortable lying about how MUSC was handling the care of trans youth.

Issac Bailey

After receiving phone calls from powerful people in the state, MUSC officials began shutting doctors out of the decision-making process, according to the ProPublica report. They stopped publicly supporting the LGBTQ+ community. They pulled back on providing hormones for gender transition for young people up to 17 years old, a move more extreme than the demands coming from conservatives in the South Carolina General Assembly.

Patients showed up at the hospital not realizing they were no longer eligible for the care they had been receiving for several months or longer.

I cant watch myself go back in time like that, a 17-year-old who had previously attempted suicide and was cut off from testosterone after being on it for more than a year, told ProPublica. I was like, I dont think Im gonna survive this.

Its a black mark MUSC wont easily live down.

Those families are unlikely to trust them again. The respect I had for that institution, despite its great medical personnel, has been greatly diminished. What good is a place of healing if it cant stand firm when some of the most vulnerable, neediest people in the country need them most?

Rep. Nancy Mace of the First District attacked political opponent Annie Andrews with a misleading video suggesting MUSC was performing sex-change surgeries on children. Andrews is a pediatrician at MUSC not even connected to the endocrinology clinic. It was akin to what conservative activists did when they falsely claimed three N.C. hospitals were transitioning toddlers.

I went after the Medical Center of South Carolina with 19 other of my door-kicking, rock-ribbed, and South Carolinas most Conservative legislator friends, Republican state Rep. Thomas Beach wrote in a Facebook post, ProPublica reported. It feels good to be a gangster.

Gangster is the right word, because Beach and others like him are gangsters. Because gangsters kill  and robbing trans youth of necessary care can feel like a death sentence. Because gangsters intimidate, which is what lawmakers like Beach and Mace have done to children and teens already susceptible to ungodly-high rates of suicide. Because gangsters are only concerned about their own power and glorification, not the health and well-being of the least of these.

The years-long attack on the transgender community is well-known. Politicians, mostly conservative and Republican, use them as political fodder, turn trans people into bogeymen, to gin up votes. Its not subtle. And the attacks are growing as Republicans in the S.C. General Assembly gear up to pass more bans on trans youth care the way several other red states have.

Its disgusting, particularly coming from men and women who feign a belief in parents rights, though only for parents who are ideologically aligned with those lawmakers.

But they are craven politicians. I dont expect much more from them.

I expected more from MUSC. I no longer do, and probably never will again. It now looks like just another high-profile institution run by cowards unworthy of the positions and power bestowed upon them.

Issac Bailey is a Carolinas opinion writer for McClatchy.
A meeting between Joe Bidens campaign manager and Arab and Muslim American leaders in Dearborn, Michigan was canceled Friday after invitees expressed outrage over Bidens continued support of Israels military campaign in Gaza, according to The Detroit News. A campaign manager was expected to meet with 10 to 15 Arab American officials and representatives from community organizations on Friday afternoon. Assad Turfe, who was organizing the event said, until there's a cease-fire, the overall consensus in the community is they're not welcome here, essentially. Dearborn Mayor Abdullah H. Hammoud posted a statement about the canceled event on X. Dearborn residents have tirelessly protested and organized in demand of a ceasefire. As their mayor, I follow their lead, he wrote. I will not entertain conversations about elections while we watch a live-streamed genocide backed by our government, he added.

Read it at The Detroit News

Read more at The Daily Beast.
On Saturday, Jan. 27, Elon Musk shared an FBI letter warning the U.S. government about the consequences of not closing or resolving the issue at the U.S.-Mexico border.

As of writing, numerous U.S. states, such as Texas and New York, are already taking matters into their own hands to prevent the influx of asylum seekers.

The U.S.-Mexico border dispute creates debates among American officials and civilians whether closing it is the right thing to do or whether immigrants should be given the chance to enter the United States.

But, some FBI officials warned the U.S. government regarding the consequences of allowing huge numbers of immigrants into the country.

Elon Musk Shares FBI Letter Warning US Gov. About US-Mexico Border Issue

Aside from Elon Musk, Bill Ackman, an American billionaire hedge fund manager and the CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management, also shared the FBI letter.

It was originally posted by X user Big Fish, who clarified that the letter was signed by former FBI officials who used to give "a sh*t" about the U.S.-Mexico border.

The FBI letter was signed by Chris Swecker, the former assistant director of the FBI for the Criminal Investigative Division, and Kevin R. Brock, the ex-assistant director of the FBI for the Directorate of Intelligence, and other ex-FBI leaders.

The letter they wrote was addressed to the following U.S. officials:

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer

House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chair Mike Turner

Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Chair Mark Warner

Committee on Homeland Security Chair Mark Green

Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chair Gary Peters

Read Also: Razor Wire to Be Removed From US-Mexico Border, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Vows "To Defend Texas' Property"

Consequences of Not Closing US-Mexico Border

In the letter they sent to the U.S. government on Jan. 17, the former FBI officials said that there was a "new and imminent danger." Based on their letter, they are referring to the U.S.-Mexico border.

"In its modern history the U.S. has never suffered an invasion of the homeland and, yet, one is unfolding now," they explained.

They added that the rising number of immigrants entering the U.S. is a clear sign that the country's national security is diminishing.

The two ex-FBI leaders explained why not closing the U.S.-Mexico border could endanger the lives of Americans, as well as negatively impact the entirety of the U.S.:

Immigrants entering the U.S. via the border are from hostile nations, such as Russia and China, as well as from terrorist-linked countries.

Many of these immigrants are military-aged men, who are usually traveling to the U.S. "alone."

These military-aged immigrants could be plotting a soft invasion, allowing them to gain access to a country that can't be invaded by military forces.

The Director of the FBI assessed an elevated threat level in the U.S. ever since Hamas terrorists conducted its deadly October 7 attack. Former FBI officials claim the rising threat level could be linked to the influx of immigrants.

These are just of the reasons and consequences mentioned by ex-FBI leaders in their letter. You can click here to learn more.

Related Article: House Speaker Johnson Issues Warning to Senate Over Border Deal, Predicting Its Demise Upon Arrival
Nashville District Attorney Glenn Funk has dropped all charges against Chris Young days after the chart-topping country star was arrested at the Dawg House Bar in Midtown.

Young was facing charges of resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and assault on an officer in connection with the incident.

"After a review of all the evidence in this case, the office of the district attorney has determined that these charges will be dismissed," Funk said in a Friday evening statement.

Young, a Murfreesboro native, was at Tin Roof on Demonbreun Street Monday around 8:30 p.m. when agents from the Alcoholic Beverage Commission arrived for a compliance check, according to an arrest affidavit.

The affidavit said when agents walked into the bar, Young had his ID in his hand above his head. His ID was scanned and determined to be accurate, and the agents walked away.

"Mr. Young started asking questions that were answered at that time and then began video recording us. We left the bar after finishing our check and went to Dawg House next door to continue compliance checks," the affidavit said. It noted that Young and several of his friends followed.

The agents checked the bar's credentials and began to leave when Young approached them, the affidavit said.

"While walking out the door, Mr. Young put his hands out to stop me from leaving the bar and struck me on the shoulder. I then pushed Mr. Young to create distance since I had no idea of who Mr. Young was or what he had," the affidavit reads. It adds that Young had slurred speech and bloodshot, watery eyes.

But Young's attorney said the affidavit's record of events wasn't accurate.

In a Wednesday statement, Bill Ramsey said that Young should have never been arrested, and he released video footage of the altercation between the country star and the agents.

What happened to my client Chris Young at a bar in Nashville on Monday night was wrong," Ramsey said in the statement. He also called on the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission to apologize "for the physical, emotional and professional harm done towards my client."

The video released by Ramsey showed several angles from Dawg House. No video from Tin Roof was released, and none of the video captured any of the argument between Young and the agents.

It shows Young reach his hand out toward one agent's arm or shoulder before the agent shoves Young backwards. He loses his footing, trips over a barstool and falls to the ground.

After getting up from the floor, Young puts his arms out to his side and starts to back away from the agent. Everyone at the bar stands and his friends are seen getting between Young and the agent.

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: Chris Young: Nashville DA drop charges against country star
The NBU expects a 28% reduction in the outflow of foreign currency from Ukraine by migrants

Ukrainians residing abroad continue to contribute significantly to the currency outflow; however, a 28% reduction is anticipated in 2024, decreasing from $18 billion to $13 billion, NBU deputy chief Serhiy Nikolaychuk said during a press briefing on Jan. 25.

In 2022, this outflow was nearly $20 billion. Last year, it slightly decreased to around $18 billion, he said.

This year, we expect significant reductions in these travel-related import volumes, approximately down to $13 billion, primarily due to the adaptation of our migrants abroad. Partly, this is also associated with changes in the tax residency of our migrants.

Regarding the volume of settlements of Ukrainian banks with international payment systems, from April onwards, this volume is approximately $35 million, said another deputy chief of the NBU, Yuriy Heletiy.

Read also: Ukraines estimated international currency reserves to decline by end of 2024  NBU forecast

So, we do not see any spikes, Heletiy noted. Regarding the migration forecast, Nikolaychuk reported that next year, as security risks decrease, the NBU expects the return of around 400,000 individuals.

NBU head Andriy Pyshnyi noted that despite the forecasts laid out by the NBU for 2023, predicting some return of the migration flow that left Ukraine, this did not happen. On the contrary, a certain outflow was recorded.

Similarly, the forecast for 2024 takes a cautious approach to the return of the migration flow to Ukraine, primarily due to security risks, but also, notably, the assimilation factor, the adjustment of our citizens to the life they are starting to build abroad, said Pyshnyi.

According to UN data, the number of Ukrainian refugees in Europe was estimated at 5.939 million by the end of last year, and globally at 6.343 million.

It was previously reported that the European Union officially extended temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees until March 2025.

Read also: Working in wartime  a discussion with National Bank of Ukraine Governor Andriy Pyshnyi

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
A statue of William Penn is at the center of Welcome Park in Philadelphia. A proposed redesign of the park was reversed because of backlash over plans to remove Penn's statue.

PHILADELPHIA  It was never about William Penn, members of Native American tribes say.

Their discussions with the National Park Service centered around proper representation of their nations and the deep history they have in the Philadelphia region, and at Welcome Park in particular: The parcel in the heart of Philadelphia's Old City, created in 1982 to honor the Quaker who founded Pennsylvania, is an open-air museum that tells Penn's story on a stone model of the city's original street grid.

In early January, the National Park Service issued a news release asking for public input to "provide a more welcoming, accurate and inclusive experience for visitors" at Welcome Park, adding benches, plantings and signage honoring Native American tribes who called the area home when Penn arrived.

But the release also mentioned permanent removal of a statue of William Penn and a small model of his Slate Roof House, where he lived from 1699-1701. And that set off a social media firestorm: State and national officials from both parties criticized the proposal, which was quickly withdrawn by the National Park Service.

The controversy comes amid a national reckoning over whose legacies should be honored and how to accurately reflect history, one that has drawn its own backlash.

"The preliminary draft proposal, which was released prematurely and had not been subject to a complete internal agency review, is being retracted," the NPS said in another news release days later withdrawing the proposal. "No changes to the William Penn statue are planned."

Tribal officials told USA TODAY they are still puzzled by the uproar, saying none of them asked or advocated for removal of Penn's statue. Instead, they said, they simply wanted to make the park more inviting to the public and a place where they could gather as they once did.

"We want to show the ways in which we shaped what the city became," Jeremy Johnson, director of cultural education for the Delaware Tribe of Indians, also known as Lenni-Lenape, told USA TODAY. "The areas we inhabited, how we showed the colonizers how to survive there, where to build."

Johnson has worked with museums, cultural institutions and schools in Philadelphia and its surrounding areas, though he and the Delaware Tribe are based in Oklahoma.

"We are always building on those relationships as we return in small ways to our lands," he said. "We have been in Oklahoma for 150 years, and thats the longest weve been able to stay in one place over the last 300 years. Now we are focused on revitalizing our cultural history and rebuilding relationships on our homelands."

Independence National Park did not respond to requests for comment from USA TODAY.

Welcome Park in Philadelphia is part of Independence National Park, but it's a few blocks away from Independence Hall, Congress Hall and other prominent historical landmarks. It's also bounded by a parking garage and housing and in need of renovations.

Not exactly a welcoming space

Few of the thousands of tourists who visit Independence National Park in Philadelphia seem to realize Welcome Park exists, and with good reason.

Welcome Park, in short, seems anything but welcoming.

Blocks away from Independence Hall, Carpenters Hall and the Liberty Bell, Welcome Park is near cobblestoned alleys and across from a now-closed Colonial tavern that dates to the 1770s. It's next to the Thomas Bond House, a 1769 home of a prominent physician and now a bed and breakfast.

But it's also surrounded by modern condominiums and a six-story brick parking garage attached to a movie theater. Bright blue Indego bikes are attached to metal racks for people to rent, and few people stop to take in the aging signs telling the story of Penn, Philadelphia's founding father.

Most of the people at Welcome Park are only moving through on their way to their cars or taking a shortcut between city streets. It's clear the park, built in 1982 and named for the ship that brought Penn to the state that's named for him, needs improvements.

In March 2020, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that members of an Iroquois delegation came from New York to Philadelphia to visit Welcome Park. The park in 1755 was given to the Six Nations from the Iroquois Confederacy (also called Haudenosaunee) by Penn's grandson John, according to contemporary reports cited on Hidden City Philadelphia.

Members of the 2020 Iroquois delegation were disappointed at what they found, some saying they felt Native American links to the site had been erased.

When the Inquirer asked the city about ownership of the parcel, the Philadelphia Department of Records told the paper "every inch of ground between those streets is now owned by either the United States of America or by the condominium owners at the Moravian Condos."

A history that predates Penn

"It was a place where we as tribal nations would meet, and we have many millennia of existence in that area," Johnson told USA TODAY. Tribal leaders would come to Philadelphia to meet with Colonial leaders, negotiate treaties, trade and gather with other tribes.

The Delaware nation is now based in Oklahoma; they, like several other tribes, were forcibly removed from the mid-Atlantic and its members are part of a diaspora spread throughout the United States and Canada.

Even today, though, Native Americans' imprints are all over the region, Johnson said.

"Most of the roads, like Interstate 676, are based on our trade routes and footpaths ... Our history is etched all over in so many ways. We left our mark with place names and while those meanings are not lost to us, they are lost to the general public."

Signage honoring William Penn at Welcome Park in Philadelphia shows its age. The park was completed in 1982. Some Native American tribes would like to see better representation of their ties to the park, as well as commemorations of William Penn.

Puzzled by Penn's removal

Ben Barnes, chief of the Shawnee Tribe, said no one from the National Park Service ever reached out to the tribe for input, even though the NPS' original release said theirs was among the tribal nations consulted. Typically, said Barnes, U.S. government agencies reach out "nation to nation" on such matters, though he added that communication can vary from agency to agency.

Barnes visited Welcome Park a few years ago while doing research at the nearby American Philosophical Society, not as an NPS invitee. He said he had no particular criticism for the park  but that didn't seem to mean he thought there was no room for improvement.

"We have all these places named after tribes, but we don't talk about the tribes that were there, and that's everywhere," said Barnes, who is based in Oklahoma. "All over, there's something with a (tribal) name but it doesn't tell you why it's there or what it means. They are just echoes of who we are as a people.

"There are so many more places that have so much more importance to us, that are more disappointing to me than Welcome Park."

A model of William Penn's Slate Roof House in Philadelphia's Welcome Park was also set to be removed. Penn lived in the house from 1699-1701, according to the National Park Service's website.

Barnes is puzzled not only by the Shawnee Tribe's inclusion in the NPS statement but also by any discussion about William Penn's removal from the park: "I take no offense to William Penn," he said, adding that he learned through his research at the American Philosophical Society that Penn had been pressured to force Native tribes from the area  but resisted that pressure.

Johnson said that the Delaware Tribe was part of the discussions which began in 2022, but they never raised any objections to Penn being part of Welcome Park.

"That never came up," he said. "Our community still speaks highly of (Penn). He never broke any treaties; his sons did. Our purpose was not to raise up or remove William Penn; it was to highlight our culture and history in that area in a way that was accurate."

Johnson described the park in its present state as "kind of barren in a way."

"It feels easily overlooked, and even if it's just there to highlight William Penn's history, it's still not a very inviting place."

Johnson said the tribes discussed how the National Park Service could transform Welcome Park into a greener place with native plants and trees, a place where Indigenous people can gather together and with the wider community: "We're not trying to minimize William Penn. We're trying to maximize our presence."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: William Penn statue in Philadelphia should remain, Native tribes say
Semafor Signals

Insights from The New York Times, the United States Attorneys Office, Global Times, and Semafor

The News

The American Museum of Natural History in New York will shutter two halls dedicated to Native American artifacts, it said Friday, complying with new regulations that require consent from indigenous tribes before displaying or handling cultural objects.

The closure of the galleries in the world-renowned institution comes as the Biden administration ramps up efforts to return Native American items stored in museums  a process that has spanned decades and been slammed by tribes as being overly slow and susceptible to institutional resistance, The New York Times reported.

In a letter to staff, the museums president said: Actions that may feel sudden to some may seem long overdue to others.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Supporters say repatriation of remains is a matter of human rights

Source: The New York Times

As well as funerary objects and sacred items, the Indigenous collections held by some of the United States oldest museums include human remains, and their repatriation has sparked criticism not only over delays but in the way the highly sensitive topic is discussed.

The American Museum of Natural History has so far repatriated a third of the Native human remains it held, but remains pertaining to more than 96,000 individuals are still held in other institutions, the New York Times reported, although typically they cannot be exhibited.

This is human rights work, and we need to think about it as that and not as science, the director of the Museum of Anthropology at the University of Missouri said. One repatriation expert said that he feared the language used in the new regulations made indigenous objects seem like throwaway items. This garage sale mentality of give it all away right now is very offensive to us, The New York Times quoted him as saying.

Other institutions are being held accountable for keeping cultural treasures

Sources: United States Attorneys Office, Global Times, Semafor

The move by one of the United States leading museums comes amid mounting calls for institutions across the world to return cultural treasures seen as stolen by foreign powers and pertaining to a bygone era. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York recently agreed to return 16 ancient Khmer artworks to Cambodia and Thailand, following a federal investigation into the dealings of the late antiquities dealer Douglas Latchford, who is accused of looting them from sacred sites in Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, the theft and subsequent damage of roughly 2,000 pieces from the British Museum in London prompted Chinese state media to demand the return of Chinese artifacts they believed were originally stolen from the country. Writers of a column in the Global Times said they no longer had confidence that the museum could safely care for some 23,000 Chinese relics in their possession, Semafors Diego Mendoza reported.
Peter Navarro, once an adviser to former President Trump, argued Friday that the government trying to compel him to testify was a violation of the Constitutions separation of powers.

The irony is that the Department of Justice itself has maintained a policy for more than 50 years that says that senior advisors like me absolutely cannot be compelled to testify before Congress, he argued in an interview with Fox Newss Sean Hannity.

Why? Because it violates the constitutional separation of powers and interferes with the ability of executive privilege to provide effective presidential decision making, Navarro added.

His comments come after the ex-Trump staffer was sentenced Thursday to four months in prison for refusing to comply with a congressional subpoena related to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. He was convicted in September on two counts of contempt of Congress, one for failing to produce documents related to the investigation and another for skipping his deposition.

Prosecutors argued Navarro showed utter disregard for the House committees probe and utter contempt for the rule of law.

Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.)  who chaired the House select committee investigation the Jan. 6 insurrection  celebrated the sentence.

Last summers guilty verdict and todays sentence are the consequence of Mr. Navarros stubborn insistence that his short stint in the Executive Branch somehow put him above the law. I applaud the US Attorneys for their hard work in bringing this case to a successful conclusion, he wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, following the verdict.

Top Stories from The Hill

Navarro, 74, said a four-month prison sentence at his age was a death sentence. The former Trump aide also was ordered to pay a $9,500 fine.

He told Hannity that he has a great case that he believes will go all the way to the Supreme Court. In his argument, Navarro said the sentencing is a result of prosecutors trying to come after the former president.

If anybody thinks theyre not trying to put Donald Trump in prison for 700 years, they just need to look at what they did to me yesterday, he said in the interview. Theyre not messing around.

A federal judge also sentenced Steve Bannon, a former White House adviser who was also convicted on two counts of contempt of Congress last year, to four months in prison. Bannon has yet to serve time because the judge said he could remain free pending his appeal.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
OSWIECIM, Poland (AP)  A group of survivors of Nazi death camps marked the 79th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp during World War II in a modest ceremony Saturday in southern Poland.

About 20 survivors from various camps set up by Nazi Germany around Europe laid wreaths and flowers and lit candles at the Death Wall in Auschwitz, where the Nazis executed thousands of inmates, mostly Polish resistance members and others.

Later the group, along with state officials and other participants gathered for a ceremony by a brick womens barrack at Birkenau that has recently undergone conservation. Next, they prayed and lit candles at the monument in Birkenau, near the crematoria ruins. They were memorializing around 1.1 million camp victims, mostly Jews. The memorial site and museum are located near the city of Oswiecim.

Observances were also held in many other countries Saturday. Nearly 6 million European Jews were killed by the Nazis during the Holocaust  the mass murder of Jews and other groups before and during World War II.

Marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the survivors were accompanied by Polish Senate Speaker Malgorzata Kidawa-Blonska, Culture Minister Bartlomiej Sienkiewicz and Israeli Ambassador Yacov Livne.

The theme of the observances was the human being, symbolized in simple, hand-drawn portraits that were beamed on a screen during the observances in Birkenau. They were meant to stress that the horror of Auschwitz-Birkenau lies in the suffering of people held and killed there.

Tourists visit the Holocaust Memorial in Berlin, Germany, on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. The International Holocaust Remembrance Day marks the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camp Auschwitz  Birkenau on Jan. 27, 1945. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

In Germany, where people laid flowers and lit candles at memorials for the victims of the Nazi terror, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said his country would continue to carry the responsibility for this crime against humanity.

He called on all citizens to defend Germanys democracy and fight antisemitism as the country marked the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

Never again is every day, Scholz said in his weekly video podcast. Jan. 27 calls out to us: Stay visible! Stay audible! Against antisemitism, against racism, against misanthropy  and for our democracy.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose country is fighting to repel Russias full-scale invasion, posted an image of a Jewish menorah on X, formerly known as Twitter, to mark the remembrance day.

Every new generation must learn the truth about the Holocaust. Human life must remain the highest value for all nations in the world, said Zelenskyy, who is Jewish and had relatives who were lost in the Holocaust.

Eternal memory to all Holocaust victims! Zelenskyy tweeted.

In Italy, Holocaust commemorations included a torchlit procession alongside official statements from top political leaders.

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni said that her conservative nationalist government was committed to eradicating antisemitism that she said had been reinvigorated amid the Israel-Hamas war. Melonis critics have long accused her and her Brothers of Italy party, which has neofascist roots, of failing to sufficiently atone for its past.

Police were also on alert after pro-Palestinian activists indicated that they would ignore a police order and go ahead with a rally planned to coincide with the Holocaust commemorations. Italys Jewish community has complained that such protests have become occasions for the memory of the Holocaust to be co-opted by anti-Israel forces and used against Jews.

In Bosnia-Herzegovina, Jews and Muslims from the country and from abroad gathered in Srebrenica to jointly observe Holocaust Remembrance Day, and to promote compassion and dialogue amid the Israel-Hamas war.

It was organized by the center preserving the memory of Europes only acknowledged genocide since the Holocaust  the massacre in 1995 of more than 8,000 Muslim Bosniaks in Srebrenica in Bosnias interethnic war.

The event underscored the message that the two communities share the experience of persecution and must stay united in their commitment to peace.

New York law professor Menachem Rosensaft told The Associated Press on the eve of his participation in the Srebrenica commemoration that this years observances were especially important. He said thats because they come just months after the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Israel, which became the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.

We need to bring people together and find common ground, said Rosensaft, the son of Holocaust survivors. To make sure it doesnt happen again, this has to become the conscience of the world.

He said the international commemoration day, created by the United Nations in 2005, is important to ensure the world remembers the Holocaust long after the survivors and their forbears are gone.

Earlier in the week, the countries of the former Yugoslavia signed an agreement in Paris to jointly renovate Block 17 in the red-brick Auschwitz camp and install a permanent exhibition there in memory of around 20,000 people who were deported from their territories and brought to the block. Participating in the project will be Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia.

Preserving the camp, a notorious symbol of the horrors of the Holocaust, with its cruelly misleading Arbeit Macht Frei (Work Makes One Free) gate, requires constant effort by historians and experts, and substantial funds.

The Nazis, who occupied Poland from 1939-1945, at first used old Austrian military barracks at Auschwitz as a concentration and death camp for Polands resistance fighters. In 1942, the wooden barracks, gas chambers and crematoria of Birkenau were added for the extermination of Europes Jews, Roma and other nationals, as well as Russian prisoners of war.

Soviet Red Army troops liberated Auschwitz-Birkenau on Jan. 27, 1945, with about 7,000 prisoners there, children and those who were too weak to walk. The Germans had evacuated tens of thousands of other inmates on foot days earlier in what is now called the Death March, because many inmates died of exhaustion and cold in the sub-freezing temperatures.

Since 1979, the Auschwitz-Birkenau site has been on the UNESCO list of World Heritage.

___

Associated Press writers Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin, Nicole Winfield in Rome, Joanna Kozlowska in London and Anita Snow in Phoenix, Arizona, contributed to this report.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
Editors note: The writer is a retired U.S. Forest Service employee who has photographed and worked closely with bears for more than 30 years.

More than 4,000 bears were killed in North Carolina during the 2022 bear hunting season. Now, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission wants to kill even more.

Its not just the death toll that bothers me  its the needless suffering that so many bears endure in the name of sport. Most people do not know that packs of dogs are used to pursue, harass and torment bears for hours, even days at a time.

The NCWRC is currently considering a proposal to expand bear hunting season in much of western North Carolina and to add Franklin County, northeast of Raleigh, to the list of counties where dogs can be used to kill bears.

Bears are driven by fear and hunting bears with dogs exploits that fact. Eventually the bears become exhausted and tree. Hunters hone-in on the howling hounds with their radio collars and then shoot the bear. Some hunters have been known to intentionally wound their prey so the dogs can attack the fallen bear as a morbid method of rewarding and training their dogs.

Bill Lea

It is illegal to kill mother bears or cubs, but dogs do not follow rules. Moms and cubs are often victimized by the free-roaming dogs. Cubs can be chased, separated from their mother, terrorized, attacked and killed.

Most people believe the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) cares about the wildlife it oversees. But I have to ask, does it?

Hunters often claim they should be able to use dogs to kill bears because it is part of their heritage and culture. They romanticize the hounds howling and bear killing as tradition. Cock-fighting and dog-fighting were once a part of Southern tradition, but they were eventually outlawed. That is what advanced and civilized societies do. They eliminate barbaric practices and undue suffering of innocent victims.

Yet, the NCWRC still endorses the brutal practice of pitting dogs against bears.

Remember, bear hunting with dogs is equally as cruel to the dogs. Bear hunting dogs can be nearly starved to death (so they run faster), beaten, or tied-up outside without shelter without consequence because N.C. law protects the owners of bear hunting dogs. Special N.C. laws even protect hunters from liability if their dogs attack somebody.

In 2014, Dr. Kadie Anderson and her two dogs were camping in the Nantahala National Forest when they were attacked by a pack of bear hunting dogs. Her dogs nearly died. Anderson sought help to find the bear hunters so the dogs could be tested for rabies. She says the Graham County Sheriff, U.S. Forest Service, and the NCWRC refused to help because they knew the hunters were protected by special legislation. In 2015, House Bill 71 was introduced to change the law that protects bear hunters, but N.C. legislators refused to act.

The NCWRC is proposing to open bear season early to change the composition of the Mountain bear harvest. They know pregnant bears enter their dens earlier than other bears. Opening sooner translates to killing more moms-to-be. With one shot, two to five bears die. Yes, it will help meet NCWRCs harvest and population objectives, but as a society are we morally and ethically deprived in the process?

Killing bears with dogs is not about hunting  it is about needless suffering and unbounded cruelty. Maybe it is time for a more peaceful coexistence between people and bears. The NCWRC should emphasize education over elimination. If bears must be killed, they should die with as little suffering as possible. Bears deserve that much, especially when the NCWRC wants thousands of bears to die each year.

North Carolina must say no to an expanded bear hunting season and to using dogs to kill bears in Franklin County.

The NCWRC is accepting comments until Jan. 30 on its bear hunting proposals. Comments may be submitted online or emailed to regulations@ncwildlife.org.

Bill Lea is a nature photographer, author, black bear expert and retired U.S. Forest Service employee. He has photographed bears for more than 30 years.






A popular tobacco product has caught the attention of lawmakers in Washington.

ALSO READ: North Carolina named one of worst states for tobacco use, prevention

Last week, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called for a federal crackdown on Zyn.

These nicotine pouches are a common alternative to cigarettes or chewing tobacco.

Schumer called Zyn a pouch packed with problems and said the product is being marketed specifically to young people and should be investigated.

North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis wasnt keen on Schumers suggestion. He responded on social media, sharing a picture of the Zyn container and saying, Come and take it, Chuck.

As of now, there has been no word of any federal agency plans to investigate the product.

(WATCH BELOW: ATM stolen from Tobacco and Vape shop in University City)
Marissa Luck is a senior real estate reporter at Houston Chronicle. She can be reached at marissa.luck@houstonchronicle.com.

Previously, Luck covered commercial real estate in Texas for CoStar News; real estate for Austin Business Journal; energy for Houston Chronicle; and business news for The Daily News in Longview, Wash. Shes won awards from Society of Professional Journalists and National Association of Real Estate Editors, and her byline has appeared in numerous publications nationally. Originally from Hawaii, Luck grew up in the Pacific Northwest and studied international political economy at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Wash. She now lives in Midtown Houston.
The Netherlands has joined Ukraines IT Coalition, contributing EUR 10 million ($10.9 million), announced the Ukrainian Defense Ministry on Facebook on Jan. 27.

The Netherlands became the 12th country to join. This occurred at a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG), also known as the Ramstein group, the ministry said. The coalition aims to provide support in the fields of IT, communications, and cybersecurity to the Defence Ministry and the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The initiative already involves 11 other countries, including Ukraine, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, and Japan.

During the Ramstein group meeting on Jan. 23, Denmark allocated over EUR 12 million ($13 million) for Ukraines cyber defense, with funds designated for cybersecurity projects, the ministry said.

Read also: Berlin sends Sea Kings to Ukraine for first time  What is known about them

The IT Coalition, launched by Estonia, Luxembourg, and Ukraine during a meeting at the Ramstein base in Germany on Sep. 19, 2023, is tasked with ensuring a secure and resilient IT infrastructure. This infrastructure aims to enhance Ukraine's effectiveness on the battlefield, said Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

The 18th UDCG meeting took place on Jan. 23. The meeting was focused on Kyiv's long-term needs, said Pentagon deputy press secretary, Sabrina Singh.

The meeting was held online because U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is still recovering at home after complications following prostate cancer surgery.

Read also: Pentagon Chief Lloyd Austin to participate in Ramstein meeting

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The European Union, the United Nations and a number of current and former United States and state officials are decrying the execution of Alabama inmate Kenneth Smith, who was put to death via nitrogen hypoxia Thursday night, the nation's first known use of the execution method.

According to CNN, Smith, 58, received a death sentence after participating in a 1988 murder for hire. In 2022, Smith remarkably survived the first attempt to execute him by lethal injection. His attorneys sought to halt the execution but lost a final appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court Thursday evening. They, alongside experts and advocates, expressed concern that nitrogen hypoxia would cause excessive pain and even constitute torture.

The execution began at 7:53 p.m. central time Thursday, and Smith was pronounced dead at 8:25 p.m., Alabama Department of Corrections officials said. Nitrogen flowed for around 15 minutes, according to state corrections commissioner John Hamm.

How long it took for Smith to die is unclear, CNN reported.

Media witnesses, in a joint report, said that Smith, who was strapped to a gurney and wore a tight mask that covered his whole face, appeared conscious for several minutes into the execution, then "shook and writhed" for about two minutes before breathing deeply for several more minutes. His breath eventually slowed to the point "it was no longer perceptible for media witnesses, they said.

Asked about Smith's shaking at the start of the execution, Hamm said during a news conference that Smith appeared to be holding his breath for as long as he could and possibly also struggled against his restraints.

There was some involuntary movement and some agonal breathing, so that was all expected and is in the side effects that weve seen and researched on nitrogen hypoxia, Hamm said, referring to an irregular breathing pattern that can occur as someone nears death. So nothing was out of the ordinary of what we were expecting.

Smith's spiritual advisor, the Rev. Jeff Hood described the execution at "the most horrible thing I've ever seen."

It was absolutely horrific, Hood told CNN, describing how Smith convulsed when the nitrogen began to flow, repeatedly "popped up on the gurney, and heaved, spat and gasped for air.

In a lengthy statement to the witnesses before his execution, Smith said, in part, that "Alabama caused humanity to take a step backward," according to reporters who witnessed the execution.

Im leaving with love, peace and light. Thank you for supporting me. Love all of you," he reportedly said. Smith also "made a I love you sign in sign language with one of his hands that was facing the room where his family was witnessing, the journalists' report said.

Supporters of the nitrogen hypoxia method argue it should be painless, often pointing to the gas' role in deadly industrial accidents or suicides. The state said in court records that it believes the method is perhaps the most humane method of execution ever devised" but did not provide any evidence to back the claim.

Opponents expressed concerns that the method could go wrong and that the state's plan up until the day of the execution had been kept under wraps. The protocol Alabama published featured a number of redactions that experts told CNN hid key details from the public.

The family of Smith's victim, Elizabeth Sennet, called the execution "bittersweet," viewing it as one last act of justice for the woman, whose husband in 1988 hired someone who hired Smith and another person to kill his wife and make it look like a burglary, court records show.

Nothing that happened here today is going to bring mom back, Sennetts son, Michael, said after the execution. But, he added, were glad this day is over.

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

The EU and U.N. Human Rights Office expressed regret over the execution, both saying that the death penalty infringes on the right to life and does not prevent crime, according to The Hill.

He was writhing and clearly suffering, said Ravina Shamdasani, a U.N. Human Rights Office spokesperson. Rather than looking for novel, untested methods to execute people, lets just bring an end to the death penalty. This is an anachronism that doesnt belong in the 21st century.

The diplomatic service of the EU said in a statement that "this method is a particularly cruel and unusual punishment," citing leading experts.

In a dissenting opinion authored by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who was one of three justices who dissented to Smith's execution  the others being Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson and Elena Kagan  she noted that the nitrogen hypoxia method was "untested."

Having failed to kill Smith on its first attempt, Alabama has selected him as its guinea pig to test a method of execution never attempted before, Sotomayor wrote. The world is watching. This Court yet again permits Alabama to experiment  with a human life, while depriving Smith of meaningful discovery on meritorious constitutional claims.

Sotomayor added that she was dissenting with deep sadness, but commitment to the Eighth Amendments protection against cruel and unusual punishment.

Bryan Stevenson, the executive director of Alabama nonprofit the Equal Justice Initiative, described Smith's execution as cruel and unusual in nature and discussed the injustice of the death penalty during an appearance on CNN Thursday night.

The threshold question regarding the death penalty, Stevenson told anchor Laura Coates, isn't whether a person "deserves to die" for a crime committed, but rather if "we deserve to kill."

"In our society, we don't rape people who rape. We don't torture people who torture. That's because we believe that the integrity of the law means that we have to do better than the worst offenders in our society," the public interest attorney said.

"It's not enough to say this person committed a violent crime, and I don't think we have a system that is consistently and fairly and reliably carried out the death penalty ... And that's what creates the Eight Amendment questions," Stevenson continued, noting that the jury that convicted Smith returned a verdict of life that the elected judge later overrode to sentence Smith with death.

.@eji_org Bryan Stevenson on the injustice of the death penalty, and what he perceives as the cruel and unusual nature of the Alabama execution of #KennethSmith . @CNN pic.twitter.com/3vwEFxeeml  Laura Coates (@thelauracoates) January 26, 2024

Elected officials and other legal experts also spoke out against nitrogen hypoxia and the death penalty Thursday in response to Smith's execution, with Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, D, reaffirming his commitment to not signing a death warrant in the Commonwealth.

"In my first months in office, I announced I would not sign a death warrant during my time as Governor of Pennsylvania," Shapiro wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "My position evolved over years of listening and learning  and I came to decide that our justice system is fallible, and the outcome of the death penalty is irreversible."

In my first months in office, I announced I would not sign a death warrant during my time as Governor of Pennsylvania.



My position evolved over years of listening and learning  and I came to decide that our justice system is fallible, and the outcome of the death penalty is https://t.co/yss6F5Ttj7  Josh Shapiro (@JoshShapiroPA) January 26, 2024

"Absolutely unconscionable," posted Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., before Smith's execution. "We must work to abolish the death penalty and end this cruel and inhumane punishment."

Tonight, Alabama is planning to move forward with an experimental execution involving suffocation by nitrogen gas.



Absolutely unconscionable.



We must work to abolish the death penalty and end this cruel and inhumane punishment. https://t.co/lQETfOK6if  Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) January 26, 2024

"The death penalty isnt justice, its vengeance," added former Ohio state Sen. Nina Turner, D, who is a senior fellow at the New School's Institute of Race, Power and Political Economy. "We have ways to guarantee offenders wont offend again. The death penalty is murder by the state and its must end."

The death penalty isnt justice, its vengeance.



We have ways to guarantee offenders wont offend again.



The death penalty is murder by the state and its must end. https://t.co/e02rI5rZY9  Nina Turner (@ninaturner) January 26, 2024

"Whether or not you support the death penalty, this execution established that nitrogen is no way to do it," former U.S. Attorney Joyce Vance said on X. "Alabama must discontinue."

Whether or not you support the death penalty, this execution established that nitrogen is no way to do it. Alabama must discontinue. https://t.co/MVDDlt0nHs  Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) January 26, 2024

Alabama, Oklahoma and Mississippi are the only states that have approved the method of execution, which replaces the oxygen in a person's body with nitrogen, leading to death. Alabama, however, is the only of three to have used the method or defined a protocol for carrying it out, CNN reports.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) took a swing at former President Trump Friday, claiming he is more unhinged than ever, as a rematch between Trump and former President Biden becomes even more likely in November.

He cant be beaten in a primary, but in a general election a general election, I think hes the most flawed candidate in my lifetime, Newsom said in an interview with MSNBCs Alex Wagner. He is damaged goods.

He is not as entertaining as he once was. Hes more unhinged than he ever was, more extreme, obviously more dangerous across the spectrum of issues, he added.

The Golden State governor also attacked congressional Republicans earlier this week for yielding to Trumps agenda when it comes to the southern border.

I think it is a disgrace, what the Republican Party is doing, what Donald Trump is doing, Newsom said Thursday, in a separate interview with Wagner. And this is hidden in plain sight. He sent out a tweet or some Truth whatever saying, Kill it. And these guys are so weak. How  so pathetically weak, this Republican Party.

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) told fellow GOP senators Wednesday that being able to pass border security reforms along with Ukraine aid is becoming harder than originally expected. He also noted that the former presidents antagonism toward any border security deal could be impossible to push past.

McConnell was also the one who floated splitting funding for Ukraine from border security reforms.

Mitch McConnell, I thought that was shameful, what was reported out, Newsom said. That hes just completely rolling over and capitulating.

Dont even get me started with the weakness of the current Speaker of the House, Newsom added, referring to Mike Johnson (R-La.). I mean, they dont want a deal, period. Full stop.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) said if reports about the terms of the deal are accurate, legislation on border security and Ukraine aid would have been dead on arrival in the House, in a letter to colleagues Friday.

I wanted to provide a brief update regarding the supplemental and the border, since the Senate appears unable to reach any agreement, he wrote. If rumors about the contents of the draft proposal are true, it would have been dead on arrival in the House anyway.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said he would go to the ends of the earth for President Biden in a recent MSNBC interview.

When host Alex Wagner noted Newsom was not running for president despite recent moves elevating his national profile, Newsom said there is [n]o chance of that happening. He then questioned why someone would want to run at the same time as Biden, who he said has a record of accomplishments and is man of character, a man of decency.

Im old school, Newsom said. Talk about loyalty, Ill go to the ends of the earth for this guy, I really would. Im not making that up.

The comment comes a week after the California governor announced he was set to stump for the Biden reelection campaign in Nevada and South Carolina.

In the same interview, Newsom took a swing at former President Trump, saying that he is damaged goods and more unhinged than ever.

He cant be beaten in a primary, but in a general election a general election, I think hes the most flawed candidate in my lifetime, Newsom said. He is damaged goods.

He is not as entertaining as he once was. Hes more unhinged than he ever was, more extreme, obviously more dangerous across the spectrum of issues, he added.

The Golden State governor also went after congressional Republicans earlier this week over the issue of border security, including House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).

Dont even get me started with the weakness of the current Speaker of the House, Newsom said. I mean, they dont want a deal, period. Full stop, he said, referring to GOP lawmakers in Congress.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The ongoing strike by Newton teachers will continue into a second weekend after the educators and the city were not able to reach a deal Friday.

Representatives from the city and Newton School Committee announced that the strike would continue for an eighth straight day in a press conference Friday night.

The two sides plan to return to the negotiating table on Saturday morning.

Schools were closed for a sixth day Friday as teachers and Newton School Committee members spent hours bargaining inside the citys education center.

Tensions seemed to be coming to a boiling point Friday morning.

Today the school committee showed us again they have no interest in actually negotiating....they have no interest in getting our students back into school....the school committee is not here to bargain, a member of the union told Boston 25.

The union is asking for better pay, working conditions, and benefits in bars with similar, neighboring districts.

Because teacher strikes are illegal in the Bay State, the NTA has racked up $375,000 total in fines thus far.

With another round of fines looming, the teachers asked a Middlesex County Superior Court judge for more time.

Lets take a breather, lets get the parties really concentrating over this weekend, Massachusetts Teacher Association representative Laurie Houle asked of the judge.

The judge said that fines will resume at $50,000 if the two sides are not able to reach a deal by 8:00 p.m. Sunday.

In Newton Teachers Strike, says fines will resume at $50k if teacher dont end strike by Sunday 8pm. Fines are at $375k total now. Will reconsider if strike persists. For now Im slowing down, Judge says. @boston25 pic.twitter.com/m7j8R5xgkZ  Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) January 26, 2024

We are asking the NTA to compromise and collaborate, said Newton Public Schools representative Julie McDonough in a statement. The School Committee has made multiple revisions and restructured its proposals in response to NTA requests. By contrast, the NTA has not moved from its original positions on major issues.

For some, the strike has meant finding childcare for more than a week, with the uncertainty of if theyll need it the following day.

The school system has also offered grab-and-go breakfast and lunch for children in need.

One mom said while their family is lucky her daughters havent been home alone, this has been hard on her kids.

Its been really challenging to see my childrens lives disrupted and see them face the uncertainty of when theyll return to school again, said Dena Snyder.

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

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Former Houston Police Department narcotics officer Gerald Goines talks to his defense attorney Nicole DeBorde while appearing to Harris County Judge Frank Aguilar on Monday, Aug. 26, 2019, in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee, Staff / Staff photographer Former Houston Police Department narcotics officer Gerald Goines leaves the courtroom after appearing to Harris County Judge Frank Aguilar on Monday, Aug. 26, 2019, in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee, Staff / Staff photographer Crime scene tape is shown in the yard of home at 7815 Harding Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019 where five Houston Police Officers were shot in a gun battle while serving a search warrant on Monday. Police identified the two people who died as Rhogena Nicholas, 58, and Dennis Tuttle, 59. Melissa Phillip, Staff photographer / Houston Chronicle Katelynn, Melody and Emma Becerra pray for shooting victims Rhogena Nicholas and her husband, Dennis Tuttle, after a vigil at 7815 Harding St. on the anniversary of their deaths Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020, in Houston. Steve Gonzales, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Cliff Tuttle, uncle of shooting victim Dennis Tuttle, points to several bullet holes in the kitchen on April 16, 2019 as he looked inside 7815 Harding in Houston for the first time since the raid Jan. 28, 2019. Steve Gonzales, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Steven Mallet, left, leaves with attorney, Robert Wicoff, from court Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020 in Houston after being declared 'actually innocent' of drug charges for which he was convicted. Melissa Phillip, Staff photographer / Houston Chronicle The home at 7815 Harding is shown Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019. Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle

This week, the Houston City Council approved paying $1.7 million to defend the city and former Police Chief Art Acevedo in a federal lawsuit over the Harding Street raid, a botched drug raid that left two people  Dennis Tuttle and Rhogena Nicholas  dead in their home.

Sunday is the anniversary of the raid, and in many ways legal consequences from the raid are still in limbo.

In 2019, former Houston Police Officer Gerald Goines was arrested and accused of fabricating evidence that led to the raid, of lying on reports related to the investigation as well as about years about other casework, having sex with an informant and keeping loose drugs and a stolen gun in his car.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The Harding Street house where Dennis Tuttle and Rhogena Nicholas were killed in a botched narcotics raid, photographed on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019, in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer

Five years after the Harding Street raid, neither the federal and state charges against Goines, have yet to go to trial. Of the five other officers charged in the fallout connected to the raid, one was convicted in federal court, one has had a charge against him dismissed, and three are scheduled to stand trial later this year.

Meanwhile the city is preparing to defend itself and Acevedo, who was chief at the time of the raid, in a civil rights lawsuit filed by Tuttle and Nicholas' families over the raid. A jury trial for the civil lawsuit is scheduled for Sept. 16, according to federal court records.

Heres what you need to know to get up to speed on where things stand:
A panel of 17 judges at the Hague-based International Court of Justice on Friday ordered Israel to implement a series of measures aimed at averting genocide in the Gaza Strip.

The order is part of a wider case brought by South Africa at the U.N.'s highest court into whether Israel is already committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza as it fights the war against Hamas.

Even though the ruling is not enforceable, and the actual legal case as to whether Israel is guilty of genocide is expected to take several years to wend its way through the court, the order is more than just symbolic.

A Palestinian man holds a portrait of late Palestine Liberation Organisation leader Yasser Arafat and South Africa's anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela outside a municipality building in Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, on Jan. 12, 2024.

Here's what the ICJ's order, which Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs Riyadh Maliki has described as a ruling in "favor of humanity and international law," means for the Israel-Hamas war.

What impact will the ICJ ruling have on Gaza?

Perhaps not a lot immediately in terms of a material change to conditions on the ground.

South Africa had asked the court to issue an emergency order to compel Israel to commit to a cease-fire in Gaza. It didn't do that. Instead, it ordered Israel to undertake actions to prevent the killing and harming of civilians in Gaza, such as refraining from killing members of a group and not imposing conditions that could prevent women from giving birth. It ordered Israel to prevent and punish public comments that incite genocide.

Still, even if the ICJ had demanded that Israel halt its military campaign, the court has no formal way to implement this order -- and Israel has made it clear that it only intends to stop fighting when Hamas is defeated, and Israel gets all of its hostages back. "We will continue to do what is necessary to defend our country and defend our people," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday, speaking after the court's ruling.

Meanwhile, Palestinian lawmaker Mustafa Barghouti said that because of the scale of destruction and ongoing fighting in Gaza, "Israel cannot implement ICJ decisions without an immediate and permanent ceasefire."

What pressure does this put on the U.S.?

There are some big potential implications for the U.S., long Israel's staunchest military and diplomatic ally. The U.S. is facing increasing pressure to twist Israel's arm and stop a war that has killed more than 26,000 Palestinians, mainly civilians, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.

For a start, because the ICJ has no real mechanism to enforce its decisions, the matter could be pushed to a vote in the U.N. Security Council, where members can order economic sanctions or military action.

If a U.N. Security Council vote does happen, "the Biden administration will once again face the choice of protecting Israel politically by casting a veto, and by that, further isolate the United States, or allowing the Security Council to act and pay a domestic political cost for 'not standing by Israel,'" said Trita Parsi, the co-founder and executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, a Washington, D.C. think tank.

Nancy Okail, president and CEO of the Center for International Policy think tank in Washington, D.C., said that the ruling from the ICJ "is more than a legal technicality; it's about safeguarding human rights on a global scale."

So far, the White House hasn't said much about the ICJ's ruling  even whether it respects the decision.

Okail said this sends the wrong message.

"If we support the creation of a global community based on shared rules rather than simply might makes right, it is absolutely essential that all countries, including the United States, acknowledge the legitimacy of this ruling and take necessary steps in response," said Okail, in emailed comments.

What happens now?

The ICJ has ordered Israel to report, within a month, back to the court detailing what it's doing to uphold all the measures within its power to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza. Israel has not said whether it will comply with this.

In fact, after the ruling some of Israel's most senior officials such as its Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Foreign Minister Israel Katz expressed disappointment, as well as a tone of defiance.

"The state of Israel does not need to be lectured on morality in order to distinguish between terrorists and the civilian population in Gaza," Gallant posted to social media. "The IDF and security agencies will continue operating to dismantle the military and governing capabilities of the Hamas terrorist organization."

Katz said Israel was committed to international law that existed "independently of any ICJ proceedings."

Attention now turns to reports in recent days suggesting President Joe Biden plans to dispatch CIA Director William J. Burns to the Middle East to help broker a deal between Hamas and Israel that would involve the release of all remaining hostages held in Gaza and the longest cessation of hostilities since the war began last year.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Here's what the ICJ's Gaza order means for Israel-Hamas war
WELLINGTON  After three more days of hours-long meetings deep into the night, the Village Council has punted, again, Mark Bellissimo's project to build two luxury communities in Wellington's equestrian preserve.

The lack of clearly defined conditions for the proposals  which require the removal of 96 acres out of the preserve  led the council to delay a decision until February 7.

"We want to get this out right," said Councilman John McGovern. "We don't want to get this out fast."

The council unanimously agreed on Thursday, Jan 25. to hold off voting on plans by Wellington Lifestyle Partners to build The Wellington North and The Wellington South developments until it had all the final conditions in writing.

Wellington Lifestyle Partners has agreed to several conditions, including defining the horse facilities they are required to build on 114 acres for the new showgrounds, before breaking ground on the proposed residences.

Throughout this week's meetings, with each running until nearly midnight, council members and attorneys for some of the most influential property owners in the preserve asked for additional safeguards. Those included having Wellington Lifestyle Partners agree to revert the 96 acres back to the preserve if they fail to fulfill their promises.

Wellington residents and their attorneys expressed great frustration over what they said is the lack of transparency to changes on the project's applications and the conditions the developer would be required to agree to in order to receive a green light.

"It's just not ready," said Len Feiwus, an attorney representing families in The Equestrian Club Estates. "This is an extraordinary decision and can't be done in a shooster."

It wasn't immediately clear if residents will be allowed to voice public comments during the Feb. 7 meeting regarding the updated terms and conditions.

Changing conditions delay Wellington vote

Since last year, the village has held a dozen meetings on the proposals by Wellington Lifestyle Partners, of which six have been before the council. Yet complex questions remain.

Council member Michael Napoleone said the voluntary conditions set by Wellington Lifestyle Partners still needed to be fleshed out. He said they outlined a list of facilities but failed to set quality standards.

"My concern is locking in to conditions I don't understand," said Napoleone.

Paige Bellissimo speaks during the Wellington's Equestrian Preserve Committee meeting on whether to approve the Wellington North proposal to build new luxury homes and expand the equestrian showgrounds on June 7, 2023 in Wellington, Florida. The committee denied the proposal.

McGovern told Doug McMahon and Paige Bellisimo, who are leading the project, the conditions were necessary to ensure the village would have protections in case the company didn't fulfill its promises.

"I need belts, suspenders and bubble wrap for this village," McGovern said.

Many council members weren't aware of certain elements set forth in the conditions.

Council member Michael Drahos expressed surprise that the donation of 55 acres that Wellington Lifestyle Partners promised in exchange for the approvals wouldn't be transferred to the village until 2028. The village plans to use the land for a park.

Plus, Drahos said, he believed some conditions proposed by interested parties on Wellington Lifestyle were "a far reach."

"Are we squeezing them to a point where they can't succeed?" Drahos asked.

Opponents say project is backward, lacks transparency

Opponents of the projects say the village is conducting the process backward.

Jane Cleveland, chair of the village's Equestrian Preserve Committee, told the council it shouldn't dictate the programming elements for new showgrounds based on a list of conditions tied to Wellington Lifestyle Partners' permission to build residences.

Cleveland said the process has lacked transparency as the Equestrian Preserve Committee didn't participate in the creation of the conditions, nor was it given the chance to evaluate them. She added the conditions weren't made available to the public before the meeting.

A woman wears a sticker on her shirt while attending the Wellington's Equestrian Preserve Committee meeting on whether to approve the Wellington North proposal to build new luxury homes and expand the equestrian showgrounds on June 7, 2023 in Wellington, Florida. The committee denied the proposal.

"It feels like a backroom deal," Cleveland said. "The whole Equestrian Preserve Committee should be involved in the condition."

Cleveland also urged the council to consider adding further protections to the equestrian preserve to prevent other property owners from asking to have their lands removed from the 9,000-acre preserve.

"This a big trade," Cleaveland said. "What does the preserve get in return for what you are considering doing to it?"

Feiwus raised concerns that agreeing to a set of conditions that list the elements of new showgrounds could conflict with the recommendations made by future village boards for the venue.

Feiwus urged the council to follow the recommendations issued by the village's Equestrian Preserve Committee and its Planning Zoning and Adjustments Board last year. Those were to table the decision until Wellington Lifestyle Partners submits a site plan for the horse center and the boards vet it  all before granting Wellington Lifestyle Partners approval to remove 96 acres form the equestrian preserve.

"Unfortunately, the belts aren't tight enough and the bubble wrap isn't safe enough," said Feiwus. "What you are trying to do can't be done with a condition."

Uncertain ownership of showgrounds loom over proposals

Residents also raised concerns about setting conditions for the new showgrounds that would expand the Wellington International complex, given that the venue is for sale.

"We are talking about conditions but who is going to own this in the future?" said Maureen Brennan, a Wellington resident and equestrian. "More than putting the cart before the horse, this is a mishmash."

Napoleone said defining the facilities required on the new site wouldn't permit the future owners of Wellington International to decide what is best to do with the expanded showgrounds.

Rain clings to jumping equipment during Winter Equestrian Festival events at Palm Beach International Equestrian Centers in Wellington, Fla. on January 11, 2024.

"If we lock in these conditions," Napoleon said, "the person who is looking to buy the horse show is restricted to doing this vision, as opposed to getting a blank slate."

Brennan said the council should separate the showgrounds proposal from the residential applications and find a way to build it without taking land out of the equestrian preserve to build townhomes.

"If this is really about improving the horse show, can we stop this whole conversation, separate it and let it be sold?" Brennan asked. "I think we are getting wrapped into an unknown future."

Valentina Palm covers Royal Palm Beach, Wellington, Greenacres, Palm Springs and other western communities in Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post. Email her at vpalm@pbpost.com and follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @ValenPalmB. Support local journalism: Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Wellington council delays final vote on Bellissimo equestrian projects
NEW YORK  Donald Trump must pay $83.3 million to writer E. Jean Carroll for defaming her when he was president after she accused him of rape and to stop him from continuing to drag her name through the mud, a Manhattan Federal Court jury decided Friday.

The panel of seven men and two women that heard the longtime advice columnists second case against Trump in the Manhattan courthouse handed down the damages verdict after deliberating for less than three hours.

They awarded Carroll $7.3 million for emotional harm stemming from two June 2019 statements by then-President Trump, which a judge previously ruled were defamatory, and $11 million for reputational harm.

Jurors also awarded Carroll a staggering $65 million in punitive damages for Trump continuing to defame her, which he did until and throughout the short trial.

Carroll, who smiled at the jury after the verdict was delivered and tearfully hugged her lawyers, declined to comment on her way out of the courthouse as she posed for a group photo with her legal team.

In a statement, she called the verdict a great victory for every woman who stands up when shes been knocked down, and a huge defeat for every bully who has tried to keep a woman down.

During two days on the stand, Carroll, 80, emotionally described how Trumps vitriol destroyed her sense of safety and left her in constant fear for her life while contending with a nonstop deluge of death threats and abuse from his supporters.

The former Elle magazine columnist testified about sleeping with a loaded gun at her upstate house, where she lives alone, sending her pit bull to patrol the grounds, hiring private security, and constantly checking to see if shes being followed when she goes outside.

He shattered my reputation, Carroll said. To have the president of the United States, one of the most powerful persons on earth, calling me a liar for three days and saying Im a liar 26 times  I counted them  it ended the world that I had been living in.

Trump stormed out during Carrolls attorneys closing argument on Friday morning, and left court with a motorcade shortly after the jury got the case at 1:40 p.m. He was not present when the verdict was read.

The former presidents devastating defeat comes as he awaits a final verdict in his Manhattan Supreme Court civil fraud case, in which the New York attorney general seeks to recover at least $370 million in ill-gotten gains.

In a statement on the Truth Social site, Trump labeled the verdicts Absoutely ridiculous!

I fully disagree with both verdicts, and will be appealing this whole Biden Directed Witch Hunt focused on me and the Republican Party. Our Legal System is out of control, and being used as a Political Weapon, he wrote. The statement also repeated Trumps comment to trial spectators after his testimony on Thursday: THIS IS NOT AMERICA!

Trump took the stand briefly in his own defense Thursday, going under oath in court for the third time since leaving the White House. In just a few minutes of testimony, during which he wasnt able to deny defaming or sexually assaulting Carroll, he managed to break the rules.

She said something that I considered to be a false accusation, Trump said on the witness stand. He added: I just wanted to defend myself, my family and, frankly, the presidency.

Trump put $5.5 million in escrow after losing another lawsuit Carroll brought against him at trial in May 2023. The jury in that case found the former president sexually assaulted Carroll at Bergdorf Goodman on Fifth Avenue in 1996 and defamed her as a complete con job on Truth Social after his presidency in October 2022.

At the earlier trial last year, Carroll  whose resume also incudes a stint as a daytime TV host  spent days on the stand, describing in devastating detail how Trump violently assaulted her in a changing room after they ran into each other in the luxury department stores revolving doors and he invited her to pick out lingerie for his friend. Trump didnt attend the first trial.

The older defamation lawsuit resolved by a jury on Friday primarily concerned things Trump said about Carroll when he was still in the White House  including that she was a liar, colluded with Democrats, and was not my type.

The cases progress to trial was slowed for years by Trumps effort to have it dismissed on the ground that he couldnt be sued for things he said while he was president.

The Justice Department endorsed Trumps legal argument that the presidency made him immune from Carrolls defamation suit  and maintained that position after President Joe Biden took office.

Judge Lewis Kaplan, who heard Carrolls case, in October 2020 rejected the governments effort to take Trumps place as the defendant in the lawsuit  which would have ultimately killed Carrolls suit because of its immunity. Kaplan found that disparaging a rape accuser as a liar was not part of a presidents official duties.

As Trump appealed that ruling, the government abandoned its effort to substitute him last summer after he was found liable at the first trial.

Carroll ultimately claimed victory against Trump with her second suit, filed moments after midnight on Thanksgiving 2022, among the first brought under New Yorks Adult Survivors Act, which temporarily lifted the statute of limitations to bring sex crimes claims and allowed her to sue him for the decades-old assault.

The jury in the first case took three hours to determine that Carrolls lawyers proved that Trump sexually assaulted her and defamed her on his social media platform post-presidency.

Trumps lawyer at the first Carroll trial, Joe Tacopina, abruptly abandoned the ex-president in his appeal of the last verdict before the damages trial, telling MSNBC, I had to follow my compass.

New Jersey attorney Alina Habba represented Trump at the second trial. At points during the trial, Habba infuriated Kaplan with what the judge deemed sloppy lawyering  to the point where Kaplan threatened her with jail on Friday if she disobeyed his orders again.

Kaplan also became infuriated with Trump during the trial, threatening to expel him on the second day for criticizing Carrolls testimony in front of the jury.

I would love it, Trump brazenly told the judge.

In her closing argument, Carrolls lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, asked jurors to award her $24 million in compensatory damages. She didnt specify a number for punitive damages but asked the jury to aim unusually high in light of Trumps refusal to stop defaming her. Even during the trial, Trump posted about Carroll on social media.

You saw how he has behaved through this trial  you heard him. You saw him stand up and walk out of the courtroom while Ms. Kaplan was speaking. Rules dont apply to Donald Trump, Carrolls attorney Shawn Crowley said in her rebuttal hours before the verdict.

He gets to do whatever he wants and use his massive, powerful platform to keep ruining her life.

The attorney asked the panelists to put an end to Trumps abuse of Carroll once and for all.

Donald Trump sexually assaulted her. He defamed her. He keeps defaming her. He is not the victim. This is her life. Help her take it back. Make him stop. Make him pay enough so that he will stop.

____
NEW YORK  Donald Trump must pay $83.3 million to writer E. Jean Carroll for defaming her when he was president after she accused him of rape and to stop him from continuing to drag her name through the mud, a Manhattan Federal Court jury decided Friday.

The panel of seven men and two women that heard the longtime advice columnists second case against Trump in the Manhattan courthouse handed down the damages verdict after deliberating for less than three hours.

They awarded Carroll $7.3 million for emotional harm stemming from two June 2019 statements by then-President Trump, which a judge previously ruled were defamatory, and $11 million for reputational harm.

Jurors also awarded Carroll a staggering $65 million in punitive damages from Trump continuing to defame her, which he did until and throughout the short trial.

Carroll, who smiled at the jury after the verdict was delivered and tearfully hugged her lawyers, declined to comment on her way out of the courthouse as she posed for a group photo with her legal team.

In a statement, she called the verdict a great victory for every woman who stands up when shes been knocked down, and a huge defeat for every bully who has tried to keep a woman down.

Trump;s lawyer, Alina Habba, vowed to immediately appeal, saying, This is wrong, but we are in the state of New York. We (had) a New York jury, and that is why we are seeing these witch hunts, these hoaxes, as he (Trump) calls them.

During two days on the stand, Carroll, 80, emotionally described how Trumps vitriol destroyed her sense of safety and left her in constant fear for her life while contending with a nonstop deluge of death threats and abuse from his supporters.

The former Elle magazine columnist testified about sleeping with a loaded gun at her upstate house, where she lives alone, sending her pit bull to patrol the grounds, hiring private security, and constantly checking to see if shes being followed when she goes outside.

He shattered my reputation, Carroll said. To have the president of the United States, one of the most powerful persons on earth, calling me a liar for three days and saying Im a liar 26 times  I counted them  it ended the world that I had been living in.

Trump stormed out during Carrolls attorneys closing argument Friday morning, and left court with a motorcade shortly after the jury got the case at 1:40 p.m. He was not present when the verdict was read.

The former presidents devastating defeat comes as he awaits a final verdict in his Manhattan Supreme Court civil fraud case, in which the New York attorney general seeks to recover at least $370 million in ill-gotten gains.

In a statement on the Truth Social site, Trump labeled the verdicts Absoutely ridiculous!

I fully disagree with both verdicts, and will be appealing this whole Biden Directed Witch Hunt focused on me and the Republican Party. Our Legal System is out of control, and being used as a Political Weapon, he wrote. The statement also repeated Trumps comment to trial spectators after his testimony on Thursday: THIS IS NOT AMERICA!

Trump took the stand briefly in his own defense Thursday, going under oath in court for the third time since leaving the White House. In just a few minutes of testimony, during which he wasnt able to deny defaming or sexually assaulting Carroll, he managed to break the rules.

She said something that I considered to be a false accusation, Trump said on the witness stand. He added: I just wanted to defend myself, my family and, frankly, the presidency.

Trump put $5.5 million in escrow after losing another lawsuit Carroll brought against him at trial in May 2023. The jury in that case found the former president sexually assaulted Carroll at Bergdorf Goodman on Fifth Avenue in 1996 and defamed her as a complete con job on Truth Social after his presidency in October 2022.

At the earlier trial last year, Carroll  whose resume also includes a stint as a daytime TV host  spent days on the stand, describing in devastating detail how Trump violently assaulted her in a changing room after they ran into each other in the luxury department stores revolving doors and he invited her to pick out lingerie for his friend. Trump didnt attend the first trial.

The older defamation lawsuit resolved by a jury on Friday primarily concerned things Trump said about Carroll when he was still in the White House  including that she was a liar, colluded with Democrats, and was not my type.

The cases progress to trial was slowed for years by Trumps effort to have it dismissed on the ground that he couldnt be sued for things he said while he was president.

The Justice Department endorsed Trumps legal argument that the presidency made him immune from Carrolls defamation suit  and maintained that position after President Joe Biden took office.

Judge Lewis Kaplan, who heard Carrolls case, in October 2020 rejected the governments effort to take Trumps place as the defendant in the lawsuit  which would have ultimately killed Carrolls suit because of its immunity. Kaplan found that disparaging a rape accuser as a liar was not part of a presidents official duties.

As Trump appealed that ruling, the government abandoned its effort to substitute him last summer after he was found liable at the first trial.

Carroll ultimately claimed victory against Trump with her second suit, filed moments after midnight on Thanksgiving 2022, among the first brought under New Yorks Adult Survivors Act, which temporarily lifted the statute of limitations to bring sex crimes claims and allowed her to sue him for the decades-old assault.

The jury in the first case took three hours to determine that Carrolls lawyers proved that Trump sexually assaulted her and defamed her on his social media platform post-presidency.

Trumps lawyer at the first Carroll trial, Joe Tacopina, abruptly abandoned the ex-president in his appeal of the last verdict before the damages trial, telling MSNBC, I had to follow my compass.

New Jersey attorney Habba represented Trump at the second trial. At points during the trial, Habba infuriated Kaplan with what the judge deemed sloppy lawyering  to the point where Kaplan threatened her with jail on Friday if she disobeyed his orders again.

Kaplan also became infuriated with Trump during the trial, threatening to expel him on the second day for criticizing Carrolls testimony in front of the jury.

I would love it, Trump brazenly told the judge.

In her closing argument, Carrolls lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, asked jurors to award her $24 million in compensatory damages. She didnt specify a number for punitive damages but asked the jury to aim unusually high in light of Trumps refusal to stop defaming her. Even during the trial, Trump posted about Carroll on social media.

You saw how he has behaved through this trial  you heard him. You saw him stand up and walk out of the courtroom while Ms. Kaplan was speaking. Rules dont apply to Donald Trump, Carrolls attorney Shawn Crowley said in her rebuttal hours before the verdict.

He gets to do whatever he wants and use his massive, powerful platform to keep ruining her life.

The attorney asked the panelists to put an end to Trumps abuse of Carroll once and for all.

Donald Trump sexually assaulted her. He defamed her. He keeps defaming her. He is not the victim. This is her life. Help her take it back. Make him stop. Make him pay enough so that he will stop.

____
A man who died a week ago in a Rikers Island jail on one of the coldest nights of the winter was transferred to a new cell early that morning over fears for his safety in a different jail, his brother told the Daily News Friday.

Manuel Luna, 30, whose friends call him Panda, was originally housed in a dorm in a set of structures on the island known as The Sprungs, which were supposed to be temporary but have been in place since the 1990s.

Luna was moved to cell No. 4 in unit 5A in the George R. Vierno Center at 2 a.m. on Jan. 20. He was dead 19 hours later.

He wanted to move to a cell when he would feel safer, said his brother Angel Luna, 35, a chief petty officer in the U.S. Navy stationed in Bahrain. That morning he spoke to our niece and his lawyer. He was upbeat about his case and ready to continue his life, and then this happened.

The News previously reported the 5-foot-9, 240-pound Luna was found unresponsive just before 9 p.m. by a correction captain who was bringing him a mattress on a night when, records show, the outside temperature dropped below 25 degrees.

The city Medical Examiner has yet to conclude what killed him.

Court records show Luna was arrested Oct. 5 on robbery charges. The case included allegations that while Luna stole a battery from an e-bike in Harlem, he punched a man.

On Friday, relatives and advocates gathered outside City Hall to demand accountability for Lunas death, which is subject to a series of reviews.

The Correction Department is supposed to be responsible for the welfare and safety of the inmates, said a second brother, Billy Torres, 39. We demand answers. Our brothers death will not be in vain.

Torres claimed correction officials mishandled the death notification. An officer and then a chaplain called Lunas niece but only asked for her address, and declined to say what the call was about.

They said, We cant tell you,' he said. She thought it was a scam. She called back and they still wouldnt tell us.

Correction spokesman Frank Dwyer countered that the department kept the name confidential until a relative was reached Jan. 21.

Department policy requires confirmation the correct next-of-kin has been reached and in-person notification is arranged before news of a death is disclosed.

Luna was born in 1993 in the city but grew up largely in Costa Rica. He and his sister were separated from their two brothers for years before they finally reunited in roughly 2009, Angel Luna said.

It was always a back-and-forth thing because of the distance, he said, noting his brother grew up in hardship.

In 2012, at age 19, Luna was arrested for his role in five muggings in Washington Heights, court records show. He was convicted in 2013 of robbery and burglary in Manhattan and sentenced to up to 10 years in prison. He served some portion of that time in Sing Sing Correctional Facility in Ossining.

After his release on parole from prison in November 2022, Luna was assisted by a nonprofit called Black and Pink, which supports LGBTQ and HIV-positive prisoners.

Organizer Chelsea Meacham described Luna as a sweet and gentle being, and said the group helped him navigate his housing needs and his effort to find a job.

He struggled with the red tape that often confronts former prisoners. It was sort of laughable the hoops he had to go through just to get an ID, Meacham said. There was kind of an endless loop he was stuck in. He could not catch a break.

In his bio for Black and Pink, Luna described how he was changing. I was young and ignorant, never wanted to take advice. But I realize its time to grow up and learn from my mistakes.

Luna lived in temporary housing and then moved to a shelter, Meacham said. He also participated in a post-prison program that provided job training, his family said.

Court records show Luna was arrested Sept. 24 for robbery following the incident involving the e-bike on W. 116th St. near Malcolm X. Blvd.

The victim told cops that he saw two men remove the battery from his e-bike, the records show. When the victim tried to intervene, he was punched in the chest by one of the men and then punched several times in the face by both.

The alleged assault was captured on video, the records show. Luna was arrested 11 days later.

Luna died a day after Mayor Adams vetoed a bill aimed at banning the use of solitary confinement in the jails on the grounds that it would make the system less safe.

The veto shows a disregard for low income black and brown New Yorkers, said Council Member Tiffany Caban (D-Queens).A veto says I want to keep pumping money into criminalization and I refuse to put money into housing and mental health.

Council Speaker Adrienne Adams said later Friday the council intends to vote to override the mayors veto on Tuesday. Adams said solitary confinement only makes violence worse in our jails and city.
Houston Police Chief Troy Finner speaks during a news conference in 2023. The department has launched an internal investigation stemming from a 61-year-old Texas man's lawsuit that claims his misidentification in a robbery he didn't commit led to him being sexually assaulted while in jail. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer

The Houston Police Department has launched an internal investigation stemming from a 61-year-old Texas mans lawsuit that claims his misidentification in a robbery he didnt commit led to him being sexually assaulted while falsely imprisoned.

HPD Chief Troy Finner announced the investigation Friday in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, calling the allegation of wrongful arrest and charging of Harvey Eugene Murphy Jr. deeply concerning.

Murphy, who filed the suit Jan. 18, claims that Sunglass Huts parent company, EssilorLuxottica, and Macys are to blame for him being falsely accused of a January 2022 armed robbery because the companies were using error-prone facial recognition software. Houston police are not named as responsible parties in the lawsuit.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Mr. Murphys lawsuit does not allege, nor do we believe, that the Houston Police Department did anything wrong, attorney Daniel Dutko of Rusty Hardin & Associates said in a statement. We believe the true bad actors are Sunglass Hut and Macys and it was their action in misleading the police that led to Mr. Murphys arrest and incarceration.

BODY CAMERA IN HARRIS COUNTY JAIL: Harris County Jail may be first in state to require body cameras to increase transparency, safety

In his statement on X, Finner reemphasized HPDs commitment to transparency, which led him to instruct the departments Internal Affairs Division to look into the investigation that led to Murphys arrest. He declined to comment further, saying it would be inappropriate while the investigation is underway.

Murphy is seeking $10 million from EssilorLuxottica and Macys as he claims the sexual assault that occurred in the Harris County Jail left him with lifelong injuries, according to the lawsuit. His alibi for not being able to commit the robbery of the Sunglass Hut store in Houston is that he was living in California at the time.

EssilorLuxottica said it worked with its retail partner Macys to positively identify Murphy as the robber using facial recognition software. It wasnt until Murphy came back to Texas to renew his drivers license that police arrested him.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The Harris County District Attorneys Office determined Nov. 3, 2023, that Murphy was not involved in the robbery and requested his release.
An officer from Grant County Sheriff's Office leads the group of camels after their rescue - GRANT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

Camels, zebras and a miniature horse had to be rescued from a US highway on Saturday morning after a trailer taking the animals for a weekend circus performance caught fire.

After officers saved them from the burning vehicle, the animals roamed along the high-speed road in Indiana, with some eating nearby grass.

The truck was bringing the animals from Florida to Fort Wayne for four weekend circus performances in aid of the Mizpah Shrine Circus, Steve Trump, the circus director, said.

Mr Trump said the trucks crew stopped the vehicle along the highway to check a problem with the vehicle and discovered a fire that quickly spread, threatening the animals in its trailer until they were rescued.

The zebras took the opportunity for some grazing after being taken to the roadside verge - GRANT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

One video shows some of the zebras munching on grass in a surreal scene several miles east of the city of Marion, about 60 miles north-east of Indianapolis.

Its not something we see every day, said Deputy Brent Ressett with the Grant County Sheriffs Office.

Both officers involved in the rescue were treated at a hospital for smoke inhalation and later released, but none of the animals were injured, Mr Ressett said. The truck driver, a 57-year-old man from Sarasota, Florida, was also not injured.

All northbound lanes of I-69 were closed until about 6:30 am while the area was cleaned up and the animals were taken away by another truck.

Fire crews extinguished the flames in the trailer while police looked after the animals - GRANT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

He said the performances are annual fundraisers to help pay for the upkeep of the Shrine Center in Fort Wayne to allow us to use our other fundraisers for what were known best for, taking care of kids.

The fire destroyed the truck and a second truck was sent from Fort Wayne to pick up the animals from the highway and bring them to Fort Waynes Memorial Coliseum to await their roles in the weekends circus performances, he added.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
The town of Beryslav on the DeepStateMap

Russian forces attacked the town of Beryslav (Kherson Oblast) with drones on the morning of 27 January, leaving 1 civilian dead and 1 injured.

Source: Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office

Details: Investigators reported that a local resident had been killed in the attack, and another was taken to hospital with injuries.

Houses and outbuildings were also affected.

Prosecutors opened a case into Russia's violation of the laws and customs of war.

Support UP or become our patron!
One man is dead following a shooting involving Greenville County Sheriffs deputies late Friday evening.

Deputies arrived on S. Piedmont Highway and Cemetery Street in Piedmont after a service call was received shortly after 11 p.m. about a disturbance and "possibly an assault," according to an email from Lt. Ryan Flood with the sheriffs office sent early Saturday morning.

Deputies encountered two individuals, one who was alleged to be armed. A shooting then occurred where at least one Greenville deputy fired their weapon, Flood said. The Greenville County Coroners Office pronounced the individual dead at the scene. Another individual was detained by deputies and taken into custody.

According to a release from the coroner's office Saturday evening, the individual shot was identified as 51-year-old Robert Lee Campbell. Campbell's address was listed as the same one where the incident occurred. The time of injury was recorded at 11:19 p.m., and time of death at 11:57 p.m.

Campbell's manner of death was listed as a homicide, and cause of death from "multiple gun shot wounds."

More information on the person in custody will be provided at a later time, Flood said.

More: Suspect killed in Landrum by police after house fire double homicide identified

The sheriffs office requested that the South Carolina Law Enforcement Agency investigate the incident. A critical incident community briefing regarding the shooting will be released on March 12 at 8 a.m. on the GCSO YouTube page.

Kathryn Casteel is an investigative reporter with The Greenville News and can be reached at KCasteel@gannett.com or on X @kathryncasteel.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: One man dead after shooting involving Greenville County deputies
The current situation in Avdiivka and surrounding areas was explained by a veteran of the Russian-Ukrainian war and former Aidar battalion company commander, Yevhen Dykyi in an interview with Radio NV on Jan. 25.

"The coke plant is our stronghold there now, said Dykyi.

The Avdiivka Coke Plant is like Azovstal in Mariupol. It was built according to Soviet standards, when the plant was initially designed partly as a fortress, with underground floors and strong concrete floors. There are even buildings that can withstand direct hits from KAB-500 air bombs.

Read also: Four people injured, including 17-year-old teenager, in evening Russian missile attack on Kharkiv Oblast

The former commander explained that the Ukrainian military is now entrenched at the Avdiivka Coke Plant, and the Avdiivka industrial zone has become a no mans land, "from where our troops have long since withdrawn. The Russians still cannot gain a foothold there."

As Dykyi explained, Avdiivka has become is an absolutely horrible, terrible meat grinder. It is, of course, very difficult for our defenders inside this meat grinder. But the ratio of losses there is about one to ten. Therefore, from the point of view of the terrible, absolutely inhumane arithmetic of war, holding Avdiivka is currently beneficial for us.

Read also: Ukrainian forces report temporary decrease in intensity of fighting near Avdiivka

He also said that, about a week ago, the Russians managed to advance into the former residential area in Avdiivka, but the Ukrainian military repelled them.

"On Jan. 24 [the Russians] were kicked out of there, our fighters regained their positions.

Dykyi also clarified that the Ukrainian Armed Forces not only regained their positions, but also managed to create a more advantageous tactical position.

He said that Russian troops are reporting that they are now trapped in a bottleneck.

Let's see if we can cut off this bottleneck, said Dykyi.

The meat grinder continues to work. And it will continue to work as long as Orlivka [a village near Avdiivka] is held. This is the village through which the main highway to Avdiivka Coke Plant goes. It is used to bring in ammunition and evacuate the wounded. And this route is still under our control.

On Jan. 25, the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) noted that Russian forces had recently focused their offensive operations on the southern residential area of Avdiivka and achieved very limited success there.

In addition, the occupiers continue to advance on the northern and southern flanks of Avdiivka, but the pace of the offensive is much slower than during the first waves of attacks in the fall of 2023.

The overall pace of Russian offensive operations suggests that Russian forces now prefer a block-to-block push through Avdiivka from the southern residential area of the city instead of attempting to encircle it.

Veteran of the Russian-Ukrainian war, reserve major Oleksii Hetman told Radio NV on Jan. 24 that the Armed Forces are effectively destroying enemy manpower and equipment in Avdiivka, with Russian losses being significantly higher and the loss ratio being one to 10.

Russian troops intensified their offensive on Avdiivka in October 2023, along with massive strikes on the city.

Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi stated that the aggressor country had lost about 10 thousand soldiers in one month of active assaults on Avdiivka.

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
Nearly every day at The Ventura County Star, we seek public records.

These are vital to answering questions that might otherwise stay in the dark.

Not all our requests are honored. When that happens, we weigh the cost of litigation against the value of the publics trust.

Mass shootings are of the utmost public concern. Thats why, since shortly after a gunman opened fire inside the Borderline Bar & Grill in November 2018, The Star has sought answers through public records.

Many of those requests were fulfilled but autopsy records took nearly five years and many court battles  up to the California Supreme Court  to obtain.

These records could provide a timeline to match against police and witness accounts. They could uphold or undermine official accounts. The Star has an obligation to protect the innocent and minimize harm. We also have a responsibility to the truth.

We knew that the first two officers entered the club within 20 minutes but were stopped when one was shot  and later died. Officers waited another 23 minutes to go back into Borderline.

We sought the autopsy records, in part, to evaluate whether any of the 11 victims might have lived had first responders reentered the club sooner.

We had been told that none of the victims of the Borderline shooting would have lived, even with an earlier reentry, but only the most basic details of their deaths had been released.

Without the autopsy records, which are public under California law, we could not evaluate official accounts. This proved critical for tragedies like Uvalde where responding officers to the shooting at Robb Elementary School initially told a tale of heroism. The evidence, as the Austin American-Statesman learned, revealed an entirely different story  that 77 minutes ticked away before officers acted.

The Star sought the Borderline records to verify what we were told.

Mass shootings are chaotic. They're fraught with danger and fear. Minutes matter. In the confusion and panic, peoples accounts change or degrade.

The Woolsey Fire started outside Simi Valley the next day, sweeping through Ventura and Los Angeles counties and taking attention off the shooting.

While some eyes went elsewhere, The Star continued to ask if any one of the 11 civilian victims inside Borderline would have lived with an earlier entry.

As we fought to open the records in court, we also worked to ensure proposed legislation aimed at keeping these records private for good didn't pass. In the end, we succeeded on both fronts.

All the while, we have been criticized and accused of seeking to expose intimate details about the victims. When we got the records, we did what journalists do: We shared what the documents told us. Nothing more.

Our fight, in tandem with the Los Angeles Times and the Associated Press, ensures other news outlets  from community weeklies to digital nonprofits to large metro dailies  and everyday citizens have the right to access these records.

Now, were seeking fees for the cost to get the records.

Open records lawsuits are expensive to pursue. Requesters, even media companies, could not take on these battles without the hope of recovering attorney fees if they are successful.

That is why California law permits judges to award attorney fees to a successful requester. These fees are usually awarded against the government but can be awarded against others who sue on their own initiative to block release.

This case took years to pursue and went all the way to the states highest court, which declined to hear it. The media requesters won at nearly every step, but the result was a long and costly battle.

We are seeking a fee award that reflects the cost of this battle and includes responding to the filings of the County of Ventura and those who separately sued. Under state law, if we dont seek an award against all the opponents of disclosure, we risk not receiving any fee award at all.

Moreover, we think it an important principle that costs be awarded in open records matters that reflect the true time and expense. It sends a strong message to opponents of transparency in future cases.

We hope and expect the court will award fees in their entirety against the county. But no matter the award, the Ventura County Star intends to pursue any fees awarded to it only from the government.

Stacie N. Galang is the news director of the Ventura County Star. She can be reached at 805-437-0222 or stacie.galang@vcstar.com.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: The Star is seeking fees for an open records case. Here's why
New Hampshire voters headed to the polls this week more than a month before most voters will have an opportunity to weigh in on the presidential nominations. They were preceded only by the small number of Iowans who braved subzero temperatures last week to participate in the nations first Republican caucuses.

We nevertheless appear to remain on a collision course with a Biden-Trump rematch that nobody wants . But we shouldnt blame Iowa and New Hampshire for that.

Voters in these early states, along with the political elites who fight to protect their privilege, tend to take their role very seriously and believe they are especially equipped to evaluate the candidates. They have been called  presidential wine tasters  who may not make a choice until they shake hands with every hopeful. Ever since Jimmy Carter won the 1976 Iowa caucuses and was catapulted to the nomination by the momentum  what George H.W. Bush called  big mo   voters in the early states have been widely regarded as kingmakers.

Read more: Editorial: Trump's nomination is becoming a horrible inevitability. Why can't the GOP do better?

The reality, however, is not so simple. Donald Trump is the first non-incumbent Republican to win both Iowa and New Hampshire in the modern era. On the Democratic side, since Carter, only Al Gore and John Kerry have won both. Moreover, winning either state is rarely associated with winning the presidency the following November .

The presidential nomination process was overhauled following the 1968 election with the intent of taking power from party elites and handing it to voters. The resulting system is federalist: The national parties set guidelines, and the state parties structure their contests within those boundaries. Most states are allowed to hold primaries and caucuses between early March and mid-June, but a few are granted exemptions to hold earlier contests.

In 2008, Nevada and South Carolina were added to the early contests in predominantly white and rural Iowa and New Hampshire to increase diversity. The Democratic Party sought to bring even more diversity to the front with additional changes this year.

That made the nomination process even more complicated. Now some states are holding separate Democratic and Republican primaries and caucuses (Michigan, Nevada); others wanted an early contest so desperately that they scheduled it in violation of national party rules ( New Hampshire ). States often fight for an early primary because it brings outsize attention from candidates and the media.

Read more: Opinion: The Republican presidential primary has been nothing but a giant grift

But Iowa, New Hampshire and other early states dont pick presidents so much as they help narrow the possibilities. At one point, more than a dozen Republican contenders were seeking this years nomination. Two weeks into the voting, were down to just two. Candidates often bow out early, sometimes before any voting takes place, so they are not seen as damaged goods, dont waste precious resources and preserve their political futures. Such calculations certainly played into Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis decision to withdraw days after Iowa.

Trump has only 32 of the 1,125 delegates needed to win the nomination; his onetime U.N. ambassador, Nikki Haley, is only 15 delegates behind and has pledged to stay in the race until her home state, South Carolina, votes in about a month. Yet it appears likely that there will be a presumptive nominee by the time the rest of us get a chance to weigh in.

While some nomination contests, such as the 2008 battle between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, lasted for the duration of the calendar, other competitive races have been decided quickly. In 2000, George W. Bush and Gore both became the presumptive nominees after just 45 days, before half of the states held their contests.

Though the early states dont decide, they can help shape the trajectory of the race. They have given candidates second chances, as with Bill Clinton in 1992; slowed apparent coronations, as John McCain and Bernie Sanders did against Bush and Hillary Clinton in 2000 and 2016, respectively; or effectively sealed the deal, as appears to be the case with Trump this year.

But the early contests dont winnow the field and shape our choices on their own. While the parties have less power than they did 60 years ago, party elites still influence nominations through endorsements in the invisible primary stage, before the voting begins. This year, for instance, the vast majority of Republican elites who have made endorsements have backed Trump.

Focusing on the early states can blur the bigger picture. Trump and Biden led the polls for most or all of the invisible primary period, frequently by more than 50 points. Both solidified the support of party elites and dominated endorsements early on. Iowa and New Hampshire only confirmed what was fairly clear for more than a year: 2024 is likely to yield another contest between Trump and Biden whether we want it or not.

Caitlin E. Jewitt is an associate professor of political science at Virginia Tech and the author of The Primary Rules: Parties, Voters, and Presidential Nominations. Gregory Shufeldt is an associate professor of political science at the University of Indianapolis and a former Public Voices fellow with the OpEd Project.





If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Editors note: This is part five of a five-part series addressing homelessness.

Pope Francis has taught, A strategy for real change calls for rethinking processes in their entirety. But how processes are rethought, and where change leads, should be oriented around a common definition of success. In the case of chronic homelessness, this five-part series has defined success unequivocally as improved human dignity. When we recognize that the root cause of chronic homelessness is debilitating trauma (not primarily economic distress or even lack of housing as it may be for those experiencing situational homelessness), success requires caring for and protecting these individuals with the sustained mental and behavioral care necessary for them to heal and achieve increased self-sufficiency.

Municipalities all over the country are struggling with similar difficulties. This creates a unique opportunity  if municipalities are willing to transparently track and broadcast success and failures  for each of us to learn from one another. One example of a municipality achieving both successes and failures is Houstons Coalition for the Homeless.

On the surface, Houston has reduced overall homelessness by 64%. The coalition, led by the citys mayor, empowered one designated entity  The Way Home  to coordinate communication and collaboration among all public and private stakeholders. The mayor of Houston secured cooperation by creating an advisory council comprised of community leaders across the homelessness continuum of care and only offering funding to organizations willing to align their efforts with the strategic plan. The result was unified communication and accountability systems that achieved greater efficiency and harmony.

Related

There is also an important lesson of failure that we can learn from Houstons efforts.

Houston failed to incorporate independent data monitoring and evaluation. And it did not distinguish between two patently different populations  situationally and chronically homeless  who share very little in common other than an arbitrary and highly flawed federal government classification of being homeless.

Many of Houstons efforts hyperfocused on rapid rehousing, an effective practice specific to those experiencing situational homelessness. The technical calculation for overall homelessness therefore decreased in Houston because most homelessness is comprised of the situationally homeless. Simultaneously, chronic homelessness rose each of the past six years, escalating by 22% last year alone. And the pain and hopelessness experienced by those facing chronic homelessness are circumstances from which society has historically had very low success in helping individuals ever recover.

To be clear, Houstons Coalition for the Homeless did a great deal that is positive and worthy of praise. But to help those specifically experiencing chronic homelessness, we must view their circumstances very differently and consequently the measurements and services used to achieve success must change.

In Houstons case, The Way Home focused its goals on measurable activities  placing individuals in various types of housing  rather than on the ultimate desired outcome of increased human dignity. When success is clearly defined as progress toward improved human dignity, rather than on the receipt of things, then increased emphasis is placed on efforts like individualized care plans that blend mental and behavioral care with nurturing expectations surrounding a persons capacity. By doing this, human champions kindly show that we remain confident in each individuals potential, even in their lowest moments of hopelessness.

Society helps its most vulnerable by elevating its objectives to increased self-sufficiency and accountability, healing from trauma, the cessation of incapacitating addictions, reintegration with society and improved mental and physical well-being.

These outcomes, and their accompanying proxies, are much harder to measure than activities that are important in the short term but insufficient in addressing the circumstances creating the challenges. But the investment and focus is well worth it.

In Utah we can learn from others successes and mistakes. Utahs designated entity, the Utah Homeless Council, should continue to unify service providers under a comprehensive system of shared communication, coordination and accountability that supports individuals and their personalized care plans by name. Just as importantly, the Homeless Council must unite and incentivize stakeholders on definitions and measurements of success that differentiate the unique needs of the chronically homeless to generate outcomes of sustained recovery and dignity for all.

Please go to www.utah-impact.org to engage with other Utahns committed to helping those experiencing homelessness.

Randy Shumway is the founder and chairman of the Cicero Group, the treasurer of the Utah Impact Partnership and the co-chair of the Utah Homeless Council.
There's no way to sugarcoat this: The pages in the Los Angeles Times that you have read recently have been produced under some of the most difficult circumstances we've faced in our careers. The free press, a pillar of democracy protected by name from government overreach in the 1st Amendment, faces a crisis of economic sustainability.

This week, more than 100 newsroom employees at The Times were laid off, the most recent in a string of deep cuts across the news industry. In response, readers have expressed their concern for the future of this newspaper and appreciation for the work and dedication of The Times' journalists  praise that, from my vantage point as a colleague, is warranted especially for the reporters, editors, photographers and other newsroom employees who are leaving.

Sadly, and this comes with the territory of being in media, some of the responses we received celebrated the layoffs. Of course, that's not representative of all the critical letters sent to us  several writers made earnest suggestions for expanding our readership.

What stands out the most, however, is the expression of respect and appreciation from readers for the work we do as journalists. In return, I think I can speak for my colleagues when I say this: Thank you for reading.



To the editor: I am so saddened to read about the need to lay off reporters and other staff at the L.A. Times in order for the newspaper to balance its budget. I understand the problems on both sides of the issues.

However, it seems like the best solution is to get our elected representatives to go to bat for reimbursements to print newspapers from the online platforms that are in effect plundering the content that papers such as The Times provide to them.

I think readers and supporters of the Times need to contact their local politicians immediately.

Judith Ross, Long Beach

..

To the editor: I love you and support The Times. I will continue to be a full subscriber, and I love what Kevin Merida did over his few years as executive editor before departing recently.

I am concerned for classic journalism and the free press as we move into the future, as I am sure you all are.

Just last year I attended an event that really brought home the importance of the press. At a panel discussion with the International Women of Courage Award honorees, at least half of them praised the international free press and said they wouldn't have been able to accomplish what they had without journalism.

Thank you all for what you do.

Jessica Lawson, Los Angeles

..

To the editor: Times owner Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong has spent so much of his money to save the newspaper.

Thank you, Dr. Soon-Shiong!

Cynthia Moussas, South Pasadena

..

To the editor: I was a loyal Times subscriber to the print edition since the early 1990s, but I changed to digital last year. I no longer read most of the paper because it has become more of a local social review than an international newspaper.

Go back to the old format, with real news (including more international news) than local feature stories that are far too lengthy. You are trying to appeal to younger people who don't read newspapers, and it's not working.

Catherine Babington-Plake, Long Beach

..

To the editor: Thank you for the journalists who keep writing in this difficult time at The Times. The diverse writers who have been brought on have really been a pleasure to read and watch. They are a new generation of writers who showed us a whole whole other side of Los Angeles.

Its been fun to watch young writers from the Daily Pilot in Orange County advance, and to read Gustavo Arellano's columns integrating his culture and Orange County roots with a regional and national perspective.

Laura Curran, Newport Beach

..

To the editor: Most of your readers expect and acknowledge the political leanings of the Times. Not being objective has caused many to move on. It is unfortunate.

Dave McEnany, Palm Springs

..

To the editor: Readers look to a newspaper for news, not opinion or long-form journalism. Far too much of the Times is filled with columnists sharing their opinions or experiences, along with stories that are far too long to be considered news.

Both readers and the Times itself would be better served by having more and shorter news articles (with less embedded bias), more reporters (rather than columnists), and far fewer long-form stories.

Blaine Cavena, Pasadena

..

To the editor: We all wish the paper well, since our city without a newspaper is unthinkable. We're glad you found an interim executive editor in Terry Tang, but her association with the Opinion section is worrisome.

For readers who are politically middle of the road or neutral, and there are many of them, the Opinion section can be alienating and has often driven us to consider canceling our subscription.

Theoretically, The Times is a community paper, but between its narrow editorial polemics and unaccountable screeds of self-hate like the recent feature asking if L.A. is going to hell, it may need to find different ways to connect with its readership.

David Impastato, Los Angeles

If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
People walk in front of the Harris County Criminal Courthouse on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024, in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer

A man sentenced to 20 years in prison and awaiting trial on other cases planned to use a makeshift blade to kill a prosecutor when he returned to court, had it not been discovered in a jail mattress, according to court records.

Prosecutors displayed the a thin metal spike with a wrapped handle confiscated from Victor Guzman's bed in a motion this week to urge a judge to keep his movements and communications restricted until the outcome of other charges. Guzman was charged Jan. 8 with prohibited substance in a correctional facility in connection with the weapon. The photo in the court document shows someone holding the weapon with a glove and a jail bed in the background.

George Lindsey, a Harris County District Attorneys Office prosecutor in the Public Corruption division, said detention officers did not find the blade on their own but they learned of the weapon and his plot from an unspecified source. He did not hint at where Guzman may have obtained the slab of metal to fashioned into a weapon.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

More from Houston Chronicle: Harris County Jail may be first in state to require body cameras to increase transparency, safety

The request to hinder Guzmans movements was not made until about two weeks after the new charge was filed. By then, prosecutors learned that Guzman planned to stab the prosecutor who secured a 20-year prison sentence for aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon when they returned him to court. The same prosecutor had been handling other pending cases against the defendant, according to court documents.

The stabbing was to be committed in this courtroom, Lindsey, who is taking over the prosecution, wrote in a motion.

Guzman, whose name is also spelled as Bictor in court records, is not charged in connection to the threat, records show.

A metal shank seized at the Harris County Jail is pictured in an undated photo. Harris County prosecutors contend an inmate planned to use the shank to kill a prosecutor in court. Courtesy of Harris County District Attorney's Office

Judge Brian Warren in the 209th District Court ordered Monday that Guzman remain in the Harris County Jail, without the ability to be transferred to Texas Department of Criminal Justice custody or outsourced to a jail facility elsewhere as his remaining cases continue. The order, which his defense attorneys objected to, also restricted commissary purchases and prohibited anyone other than Guzmans attorney from communicating with him.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Guzman expressed surprise when he returned to court Thursday to hear Warrens orders.

I cant call my family? the defendant asked.

Thats what happens when you threaten to murder someone, Warren said in court. There are consequences.

Jail security concerns

The judge said he believed the jail had significant safety concerns that are not being addressed" but walked back a portion of his orders Thursday after Harris County Sheriffs Office lawyer Victoria Jimenez and a member of the county attorneys office argued the jurist had overstepped his authority in sanctioning Guzman.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

I agree that I dont have the authority to keep him here, the judge later said. I dont have the right to micromanage the sheriff like that.

The lawyers had argued judges cannot decide where an inmate should be housed.

Dispatching inmates to detention facilities in Louisiana or elsewhere in Texas to free up beds in the Houston lockup is a decision left to the sheriff, Jimenez said. The outsourcing of inmates is the jails attempt to comply with Texas Commission on Jail Standards requirements, she continued.

The jail in 2023 received two notices of non-compliance for inmates being held in booking for too long, lacking an adequate number of detention officers and not giving timely medical care, state records show.

The sheriffs office also asked the court to rescind Warrens visitation, arguing the sheriffs office had already punished Guzman by taking away some privileges for two weeks for possessing the shank. The judge can specify who Guzman cannot communicate with. The new order requires the court to approve any visitation requests outside of Guzmans lawyers.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The initial order also asked that Guzman remain in solitary confinement indefinitely but the jail only allows those confinements, which officials also refer to as administrative segregation, to last 30 days.
Ronald Lamola, center, South Africa's minister of justice, stands with Ammar Hijazi, right, the Palestinian assistant minister of multilateral affairs, outside the International Court of Justice in The Hague on Jan. 11. (Patrick Post / Associated Press)

On Friday, the International Court of Justice issued an interim ruling against Israel and its war in Gaza. In the case, brought by South Africa last month, the court ruled that it is plausible that Israel is perpetrating genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. This ruling marks an end to the era of Israeli impunity in the international legal system.

The judgment pointed to dozens of explicit statements of intent to destroy by Israeli state leaders, wartime Cabinet ministers and senior army officers as well as the unprecedented levels of killing and destruction. The court also issued provisional measures, recognizing the dire situation : more than 26,000 Palestinians killed and more than 64,000 wounded in Israels bombardment, as well as almost 2 million people forcibly displaced now facing famine and the spread of infectious diseases.

The provisional measures did not include an order for a cease-fire, which South Africa had requested , but they did instruct Israel  by an overwhelming majority vote of the ICJ judges of 15 to 2  to prevent any acts of genocide in Gaza and ensure that its military does not perpetrate such acts.

As part of the courts provisional measures, Israel must also prevent and punish incitement to genocide; ensure the provision of urgent aid to Gaza; prevent the destruction of evidence and ensure its preservation; and provide the court with a report on these measures within a month. In effect, these orders do require a cease-fire, for there is no other way to carry them out.

The International Court of Justice ruling stems from the United Nations genocide convention , which was created in December 1948 and based on the view that Nazism and what we now call the Holocaust were exceptional.

This served a purpose: It separated the Holocaust from the piles of bodies and destroyed cultures that European imperialism and colonialism  still very much ongoing at the time  had left around the world in the preceding few centuries.

The exceptional status of the Holocaust rendered the new Jewish state that was established in May 1948 also exceptional, especially in view of the many Holocaust survivors who chose to try to rebuild their lives there.

Israels exceptional status led to a willful blurring of its foundational crime, the Nakba: the mass expulsion of more than 750,000 Palestinians and the destruction of hundreds of villages and towns in the 1948 war. That Israel could commit any crime under international law immediately became, in this exceptional framework, almost unimaginable. Impunity for Israel was thus baked into the international legal system after World War II. The urgent need to obscure the Nakba also emerged from the broader impetus to deny the nature of the Israeli state as a settler-colonial project. Paradoxically, Israels creation reproduced the racism and white supremacy that had targeted Jews for exclusion and, ultimately, destruction in Europe.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed this white supremacy and colonial mind-set quite explicitly in an interview on MSNBC on Dec. 5: This war is a war that is not only between Israel and Hamas, he said in response to a question about the mass killing of Palestinians in Israels attacks on Gaza. Its a war, he continued, that is intended, really, truly, to save Western civilization. We are attacked by a jihadist network, an empire of evil. This empire, he said, wants to conquer the entire Middle East, and if it werent for us, Europe would be next, and the United States follows.

The concept of genocide functioned to protect the exceptional status of the Holocaust and Israel in the international legal system and to enable rather than challenge this long-held view. Until now.

With the ICJ ruling that Israels attack on Gaza is plausibly genocidal, every university, company and state around the world will now need to consider very carefully its engagement with Israel and its institutions. Such ties may now constitute complicity with genocide.

A few hours after the International Court of Justice ruling, another court heard a related case: In San Francisco, the Center for Constitutional Rights filed a lawsuit in federal court on behalf of Palestinian organizations and individuals, against President Biden and other U.S. officials for failure to abide by U.N. legal obligations to prevent genocide in Gaza and for complicity with genocide, because of the continued U.S. military and diplomatic support to Israel.

One after the other, Palestinian plaintiffs testified Friday about their family histories during the Nakba; their own experiences of Israeli mass violence; relatives they have lost since Oct. 8; neighborhoods in which they grew up that are no more; schools that Israeli bombings and invasion have turned to rubble; and cafes where they will never be able to drink tea again.

As it happens, these accounts came just before the International Holocaust Remembrance Day , which marks Jan. 27, 1945, when Soviet forces liberated the Nazi annihilation camp at Auschwitz.

We are entering a new era of international law. For the first time, we have seen courts consider the crime of genocide as a legal framework to describe what Palestinians are enduring. Through these cases, the voices of Palestinians point to a new era of Holocaust memory, beyond the denial of the Nakba, to a world that will finally put the voices, knowledge, histories and perspectives of all people who face state violence front and center.

Raz Segal is an associate professor of Holocaust and genocide studies and endowed professor in the study of modern genocide at Stockton University in New Jersey.

If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
WALKER, Mich. (WOOD)  U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., visited the Humane Society of West Michigan in Walker Friday, calling for funding to be reauthorized for the Pet and Women Safety Act.

The bipartisan PAWS Act was originally passed in 2018 and gives funding to organizations that help house domestic violence survivors and their pets.

If youre the victim of domestic violence and youre seeking to leave that relationship and go to a shelter, you oftentimes do not want to leave if you have an animal left back at the house. In fact, we find that abusers will use that pet as a weapon against the woman, will harm that pet, threaten that pet, Peters said. Right now, were looking to fund this program for the next five years with about $3 million that can be used by shelters across the country.

Tania Jaczkowski, the executive director of the Humane Society of West Michigan, says it is a problem they see often.

I would say on average, were seeing upwards of 20 calls a week this program, Jaczkowski said. And I would say the majority of them  obviously, we see some that are due to unhoused individuals, but I would say a lot of them were hearing of domestic violence survivors.

The Humane Society of West Michigan on Jan. 26, 2024.

The Humane Society of West Michigan on Jan. 26, 2024.

The YWCA of West Central Michigan sees how programs like this can really help survivors, according to CEO Charisse Mitchell.

Having a safe place for a pet while theyre staying in shelter for 40 days. Emergency veterinarian services for pets that have been abused as a part of that relationship, Mitchell said. The pets program allows that to happen. The PAWS Act makes it possible for these types of partnership to flourish.

Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker says he has seen cases in which animals were killed in a domestic abuse situation, which often leads to additional felony charges in a case.

A pet is just like a child to many individuals. And so when youre exerting some sort of control over that pet, in essence, youre exerting control over your domestic partner, Becker said. And thats where we generally see it, and it goes to extreme levels in most cases that we get involved.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
A man was killed Friday night after he was hit by a car in south Sacramento, according to the Sacramento Police Department.

Officers responded to the collision around 6:12 p.m. in the Woodbine neighborhood near the intersection of Florin Road and Woodbine Avenue. They found a man with significant injuries who was transported to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead, said Sacramento Police spokesman Officer Cody Tapley.

The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene, and alcohol was not considered a factor in the crash, Tapley said.

The identity of the deceased man was expected to be released by the Sacramento County Coroners Office.
FILE - Muslim women walk past the site where a bomb exploded in Marawi, southern Philippines on Dec. 3, 2023. Philippine troops killed several suspected Muslim militants in the volatile south, including a few key suspects in a bomb attack last month that left four Christian worshippers dead, the army said Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Froilan Gallardo, File)

MANILA, Philippines (AP)  Philippine troops killed nine suspected Muslim militants in the volatile south, including two key suspects in a bomb attack last month that left four Christian worshippers dead, the army said Saturday.

Four army scout rangers were slightly wounded in Thursdays operation against the Dawlah Islamiyah, a small outfit aligned with the Islamic State group, in the hinterland village of Taporug near Piagapo town in Lanao del Sur province, army spokesman Col. Louie Dema-ala said.

Army forces clashed with about 15 militants in a series of shootouts from Thursday to Friday after some villagers tipped off the military of their presence, Dema-ala, adding that the surviving militants escaped and were being pursued.

Maj. Gen. Gabriel Viray III, an army infantry division commander, said the militants retreated from fierce exchanges of fire until they were trapped in a rural house, where they tried to fight back before being taken down.

We call upon the community to remain vigilant and collaborate with the army and government authorities as we collectively work towards eliminating the threat posed by local terrorist groups, the army said in a statement.

Eight of the nine bodies had been identified, including those of Saumay Saiden and Abdul Hadi, who were among the suspects in the Dec. 3 bombing that killed four Christian worshippers and wounded dozens of others during Sunday Mass in a state-run university gymnasium in southern Marawi city, he added.

Hadi allegedly assembled the bomb, which police investigators said consisted of a 60 mm mortar round and a rifle grenade, Dema-ala told reporters.

A post-battle video, which a government intelligence official showed The Associated Press, conveyed nine bodies lying side by side near a huddle of rural huts surrounded by banana trees as army officers examined each.

Military chief of staff, Gen. Romeo Brawner, said this operation sets a clear precedent: the Armed Forces of the Philippines will not tolerate those who endanger the lives and well-being of our people.

The remaining few will face our full force and unshakeable resolve in bringing every single responsible individual to account, Brawner said.

The southern Philippine region of Mindanao is the homeland of minority Muslims and has been the scene of decades-old separatist rebellions.

The Marawi city bombing in December was the bloodiest insurgency-related violence so far under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. He blamed foreign terrorists for the attack, which set off a security alarm, including in the capital, Manila. Government forces were put on high alert at the time, as the largely Roman Catholic country welcomed the busy Christmas season that marks a festive period of travel, shopping sprees and traffic jams.

The largest armed insurgent group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, signed a 2014 peace deal with the government, considerably easing decades of fighting. But smaller armed groups like the Dawlah Islamiyah rejected the peace pact and have struggled to press on with bombings and other attacks while evading government offensives.
A man was arrested Wednesday in Phoenix and accused of making online death threats against President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris and now faces several federal charges.

David Michael Hanson, 41, reportedly used a social media platform in November and December of 2023 to post threats to murder the president and vice president of the United States, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Arizona.

The U.S. Secret Service spoke to Hanson after seeing the series of threatening online statements he made on Nov. 19 and let him know it was a federal crime to post such threats, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

One of the posts stated #joeAndKamala Im asking you to resign on Monday your alternative is death brutally murdered," according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Hanson continued to make similar threats toward the president and vice president in another series of posts on Dec. 23, 2023, despite the warning, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

On Tuesday, Hanson was charged in a federal criminal complaint with five counts of threats against the president and successors to the presidency, as well as five counts of interstate communication of threats, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Each count of threats against the president and successors to the presidency carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. The same penalties apply to each count of interstate communication of threats.

Hanson's case is currently under investigation by the Secret Service. If and when his case goes to trial, it will be prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Arizona.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix man accused of making death threats against Biden, Harris